HOLIDAY TRAIN and TOWN LAYOUT

Above: The HOLIDAY TRAIN and TOWN LAYOUT built by BrickTrick artists on the hearth of an unused fireplace.

HOLIDAY TRAIN and TOWN LAYOUT

Last year we wanted to have a train set-up in our personal residence for the holiday season. Of course we don't really have any space for a train layout installation anywhere in our house. Well, until we got a little more creative, that is. We are fortunate to have a nice granite fireplace, though since we don't need it for heat and burning wood is bad for the environment, the fireplace sits empty and unused all year long.

After some careful measuring we determined that a full circle train layout would just fit on the hearth and inside the fireplace itself. We liked the idea of the train "disappearing" into a tunnel and then coming back out again. It took some careful figuring to get the tracks to stay in place, but once the track was installed we were off creating a variety of buildings and other items, which wound up including custom-built train cars. More pictures documenting this project follow in this posting.

What are we building for 2011? A train layout with two tracks, one of which is a "subway".

Enjoy!

REMINDER: Enlarge the images by clicking on them.


Above: This shot gives an overview of the project with the train tracks installed and several base plates arranged to accommodate structures.

Above: This image shows the entire fireplace which is in the corner at the end of a great room space.

Above: An area within the tracks is to serve as a public plaza for the HOLIDAY TOWN and has an ice skating area. The technique shown here where small plates and caps surround the train tracks is called "ballasting" and is intended to have the look of a gravel bed supporting the tracks.

Above: A large facade for one of the HOLIDAY TOWN "high rise" buildings was constructed on a table top and moved to the layout for installation.

Above: More buildings have been installed on the right side of the layout and a green train is being test-run on the tracks to be sure the train can clear the tunnel entrance and exit.

Above: Large "high rise" buildings have been installed to begin to enclose the fireplace opening.

Above: The powder blue building houses a costume shop on level one and two. The top floor is the "Sky Lounge" and patrons await the tree lighting ceremony.

Above: The holiday tree is installed, though it doesn't have its decorations and "lights" yet.

Above: Nearly all of the buildings have been put in place and some custom train cars in a holiday color scheme of red, green and white are being test-run on the train tracks.

Above: "Party Cars" are part of the HOLIDAY TRAIN and passengers can eat and drink while enjoying the view of the skaters on the ice, as well as the many holiday decorations throughout the "plaza" area while riding in the open-air train cars. One open-top train car has a tree and gifts which are going to be donated.

Above: An overview of the completed HOLIDAY TRAIN and TOWN LAYOUT project. The blue building on the left side of the layout is an apartment complex, the gray building with the clock tower behind the ice rink is the TOWN HALL.

Above: Cheerleaders wave their pom-poms from the side of the ice rink while the skaters show off their moves. Minifigure artists have just finished the "ice sculpture" ANGEL located in front of the holiday tree. Under the tree is SANTA in a big red chair.

Above: Some of the smaller buildings at the right front of the layout include colorful homes.

Above: The completed HOLIDAY TRAIN and TOWN LAYOUT with the RED PARTY TRAIN running around the track.

Above: Another vantage point shows the HOLIDAY TRAIN and TOWN LAYOUT completely finished with the RED PARTY TRAIN in motion.