Your layout is spectacular particularly the roundhouse and interior. At times, one cannot tell whether we are in real life or just or the layout. Too gooooood.
What an amazing and beautiful layout and the weathering on the Berk and everything so well done. Loved that you got rid of those ugly lionel couplers. Anyway a dream layout to be sure. Could hardly tell it was 3-rail. So realistic!
I must say, you have one of the most realistic layouts I've seen! I've shown your videos to several people who thought they were looking at real trains!!! It's always been a dream of mine to plan, build, and operate my very own realistic layout. Thanks for sharing your awesome layout!!!
Incredible work! Just saw the original 1225. Locomotive and AnnArbor cars are like in reality. Specially the many little details around- very realistic. Thank you for sharing.
This is, sincerely, the best video I have seen of Model Toy Trains. It has always been a hobby of mine and my family to buy Department 56 buildings and O-Scale trains and make train tables. Also, to make my own. This video though is by far, a sweet artist's perspective of how well it can be developed. You should honestly have your own magazine dedicated for you. Thank you a million times over for deciding to make this video. This is truely a gift for me to see!! - Mark
The Pere Marquette N1’s are a series of 2-8-4 “Berkshire”-types built in 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railroad as freight use. Two of these N1’s survive: 1223 and 1225. The 1225 was used as the inspiration for the Polar Express.
The roundhouse is a custom-configured Altoona Model Works kit. The base is CNCed MDF with the pits machined out. If I had a two rail layout, the pits would be worth the effort to detail out.
Do you ever plan to give a tour of the layout? (layout plans etc.) I plan to make a similar design in the near future, i am just wondering what some of your techniques are for making such a realistic route.
TRAINMAN K like a narrated one? Not sure I want to hear the sound of my own voice haha. Maybe if I get 1000 subs I could do a layout tour vid. In any case my layout will be in OGR magazine this fall and will have a trackplan.
Oh ok. I saw one in a D3R open house video and I guess it was somebody else’s. Regardless you got a fantastic model of a fantastic engine. Now all you need is a 765.
Thank you. Ur running atlas I’m running gargraves. Ur rails a also dark. I’ve been using a rust color rust oleum but not getting the results I like. What are you doing different? Also are you airbrushing your track? And how many inch is your turn table? Thanks a lot! I’m friends with minarik btw. I’m up his place messing with trains often. Any info is greatly appreciated.
I brush painted my rails with Floquil Rail Brown then airbrushed them over with Polly/MM Grimy Black. I think the trick is to use more than one color! If I were to do it again, I'd lay some RR Tie Brown over the tie tops and ends too. Dave has a nice layout, been a while since I've been out that way....we txt back and forth on occasion.
I've just built Pere Marquette in second life but one model is as the polar express for Christmas... Secondlife is a sim... Your models are outstanding and scenery... Fantastic work... Well done... Do you have any textures?
Hey Norm, I first saw your layout in TM's World Class High Rail Layouts, which I picked up in a thrift store. A lucky find! I then hopped over here and found this video, which prompted me to get my own model of the 1225. Couldn't help myself. What a great little machine this model is. Quick question for you. I notice in this video that your marker lights aren't on. Is this intentional? I have trouble keeping mine on, I suspect a tiny short or perhaps a grounding issue.
Wow, that's cool! I keep my class lights off. IRL they weren't even used all that often and in O gauge they tend to be oversized and too bright. On this engine, this is controllable in the CAB-2 extended lighting keys.
@@normstrains gotcha! Thank you for clarifying. To date, I have a pretty basic transformer and I use the LionChief app to run some of the Legacy features. I'm not familiar with all the controls of the Cab2's and 3's, so I'm always curious to learn more about what features are available on there! Tonight's project was to start adding some of the little chains that are on each end/side of PM 1225's tender trucks. Hopefully will be done tomorrow.
![[4K] Pere Marquette 1225 - Return of the REAL Polar Express](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kzfXZx2LEfI/mqdefault.jpg)
Your layout is spectacular particularly the roundhouse and interior. At times, one cannot tell whether we are in real life or just or the layout. Too gooooood.
The only thing that would give it away as a model is the third rail in the middle of the track.
Well lit, great job of Single light source illusion... indeed !!!
I was convinced that the first few seconds was the real thing, even the lighting on the ceiling looks photorealistic!
What a smooth running engine, everything is so realistic.
They said it correctly.... you are an Artist .
What a fantastic layout!!! And the weathering on the engines and rolling stock is fantastic!!!!💯
I never knew 3 rail O scale could look so good...😎💯❤
What an amazing and beautiful layout and the weathering on the Berk and everything so well done. Loved that you got rid of those ugly lionel couplers. Anyway a dream layout to be sure. Could hardly tell it was 3-rail. So realistic!
I must say, you have one of the most realistic layouts I've seen! I've shown your videos to several people who thought they were looking at real trains!!! It's always been a dream of mine to plan, build, and operate my very own realistic layout. Thanks for sharing your awesome layout!!!
This layout is wonderful, I first thought is was a real train. Great Job
Magnificent engine!! Great smoke, sound and camera work BRAVO NORM BEST ON THE NET!!!!!!!!!!
Amazing realism. What a great video with an outstanding locomotive.
Thunderbirds are go! Man that layout, lighting and everything are amazing.
WOW!!!!!!!! This is AMAZING!!!!!!!! This looks so real!!! You can hardly see these are model trains. AWESOME!!!!!!!
Incredible work! Just saw the original 1225. Locomotive and AnnArbor cars are like in reality. Specially the many little details around- very realistic. Thank you for sharing.
Omg beautiful. I don’t think you can get more realistic than this. Amazing!
@Norm's Trains This is an awesome display, looks REAL. Could you show the entire layout?
Wow! Never saw Lionel look sooooo good! Thumbs up!
Outstanding detail and sounds! I love the weathering and smoke on 1225! It’s just like the real 1225 I volunteer for. Keep up the great work!
I just go a half mile from the house during the Christmas season to see this awesome locomotive when I hear the horn sound off on weekends.
I've seen some weathered engines that just look damaged but this looks fantastic! Well done!
That roundhouse looks SO GOOD! That’s is one AWESOME layout. Good job man!
This is, sincerely, the best video I have seen of Model Toy Trains. It has always been a hobby of mine and my family to buy Department 56 buildings and O-Scale trains and make train tables. Also, to make my own.
This video though is by far, a sweet artist's perspective of how well it can be developed. You should honestly have your own magazine dedicated for you.
Thank you a million times over for deciding to make this video. This is truely a gift for me to see!!
- Mark
P.S. - I subscribed to see more!!
Mark Matias thx man. My layout was just featured in the September/October issue of OGR and TM Books’ Three Rail Scale video that came out in October.
As soon as I saw her pulling out of the roundhouse I hit like. Just beautiful!!
Beautiful work! I have the Polar Express version along with Nickel Plate and Wheeling Berks.
Train Wizard Productions could you maybe make a video of the W&LE Berks sometime :)
I watch your vids
This is art. Awesome work. Greetings from Argentina.
That is one IMPRESSIVE layout! WOW!
The Pere Marquette N1’s are a series of 2-8-4 “Berkshire”-types built in 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railroad as freight use. Two of these N1’s survive: 1223 and 1225. The 1225 was used as the inspiration for the Polar Express.
i suspected its G gauge, very good job - grass looks good- i rode it once with my 5 year old, chased it many times often in blizzard conditions
Perfection! Right down to the glass insulators on the telegraph poles!
norm this is a work of art a masterpiece as real as it gets........this is as good as anyone can do ..........good for you phil ambros
Superb modeling and great equipment
Like taking a trip through time and into the past. Amazing!
It looks awesome. The editing of this video is superb, and the model is amazing.
Wow such an amazing layout! I hope to someday have my UP steam engines running on something as beautiful as this
Don't get any better than this. Great video and locomotives. Subbed
I must say that's an insane layout. Hope someday I'll have a layout that epic.
Impressive! And not just the engine.
Very realistic and detailed layout! Very awesome!
One of the nicest layouts I've seen, awesome!
Nice work as always, Norm. It is always great to see you transform new locomotives into 3RS models.
Looks great, I remember the new version posted on the O Gauge Railroading forum. That was fast on the weathering.
A wonderful layout and video thanks for showing us.
Great model and great weathering too
Stunning video Norm. Every scene has so many little details. I love the big Berkshire. Great job. Al
Hi Norm great looking engine. it realy looks so rail. Greetings Nick from New Jersey
Woah I’ve never seen a working whistle on a model before, nice!
That is just cool. I know one or two of my club members that would drewl over this especially it being a Pere Marquette.
DennyDreadBassMan cool. What club is that?
@@normstrains Southwest Michigan Railroad Club.
Looks like a snapshot in time.Amazing!
What a beauty! 😍
100% realistic and awesome layout you have
Absolutely beautiful! Stunning work! Defiantly subscribed!
Wow it looks so real
Excellent steam shop & locomotive action / Cool 😎 🚂
This is the real POLAR EXPRESS ❤❤
Even the pile of stuff outside the engine house looks real 1:21! excellent layout!! 1:21
FIRST MODEL STEAM LOCOMOTIVE TO HAVE SMOKE COMING OUT OF WHISTLE AWARD goes to you.
man I wish my Lionel scout could crawl like that but both it and the rails are so old that they need a full-on repair for it to work properly
This is the coolest layout on YT. Thanks for sharing it with us!
your weathering on the locamotive is amazing
The layout is so realistic
You actually smoked that engine 😮
I love the model!
Your layout is so realistic!
The Master at work!!!
Outstanding detail and video!!!
holy smokes. everything is incredible.
Not to mention the little workstations in the garages ....
This is the best I’ve ever seen
I've always been interested in trains especially steam. It's remarkable how realistic this is.
I'm just astonished
She's a very beautiful locomotive I wish I had the money to buy it but I also dont have a lionel legacy layout😥
Nice layout
Wow that looks like real life
That’s Amazing!! I Love it!! I wanted to get the Lionel Legacy Polar Express so Bad!! I want it!!! 😁😁😁
This video deserves more likes
I would like to know how you made the pits in the roundhouse excellent work.
The roundhouse is a custom-configured Altoona Model Works kit. The base is CNCed MDF with the pits machined out. If I had a two rail layout, the pits would be worth the effort to detail out.
Why does it look so real for some reason? 😳
Do you ever plan to give a tour of the layout? (layout plans etc.) I plan to make a similar design in the near future, i am just wondering what some of your techniques are for making such a realistic route.
TRAINMAN K like a narrated one? Not sure I want to hear the sound of my own voice haha. Maybe if I get 1000 subs I could do a layout tour vid. In any case my layout will be in OGR magazine this fall and will have a trackplan.
oh wow! very good to know. ill keep an eye out for that. +1 sub
@@normstrains lol a lot can change in 4 years
That’s outstanding
Beautiful
Great work
It looks spectacular. However I could've sworn you had a 1225 already.
TrainfanJackson4014 no but I had been looking to get one for awhile when Lionel announced this one last year.
Oh ok. I saw one in a D3R open house video and I guess it was somebody else’s. Regardless you got a fantastic model of a fantastic engine. Now all you need is a 765.
TrainfanJackson4014 the 1225 and 1227 doubleheader along with all the PM cars belonged to one of the D3R guys.
Ok. That’s what confused me.
Nice Weathering (:
The bell is good and realistic
Oh hi real polar express why are YOU PULLING BOXCARS!!!
i love this train
Great job Norm!
amazing!
Thank you. Ur running atlas I’m running gargraves. Ur rails a also dark. I’ve been using a rust color rust oleum but not getting the results I like. What are you doing different? Also are you airbrushing your track? And how many inch is your turn table? Thanks a lot! I’m friends with minarik btw. I’m up his place messing with trains often. Any info is greatly appreciated.
I brush painted my rails with Floquil Rail Brown then airbrushed them over with Polly/MM Grimy Black. I think the trick is to use more than one color! If I were to do it again, I'd lay some RR Tie Brown over the tie tops and ends too. Dave has a nice layout, been a while since I've been out that way....we txt back and forth on occasion.
Driver: what are you doing train: workin
The train:
I've just built Pere Marquette in second life but one model is as the polar express for Christmas... Secondlife is a sim... Your models are outstanding and scenery... Fantastic work... Well done... Do you have any textures?
Awesome!
The thumbnail looks real
What my brain thinks what size it is: *real size*
What the size is it actually is: *lionel size*
Hey Norm, I first saw your layout in TM's World Class High Rail Layouts, which I picked up in a thrift store. A lucky find! I then hopped over here and found this video, which prompted me to get my own model of the 1225. Couldn't help myself. What a great little machine this model is. Quick question for you. I notice in this video that your marker lights aren't on. Is this intentional? I have trouble keeping mine on, I suspect a tiny short or perhaps a grounding issue.
Wow, that's cool! I keep my class lights off. IRL they weren't even used all that often and in O gauge they tend to be oversized and too bright. On this engine, this is controllable in the CAB-2 extended lighting keys.
@@normstrains gotcha! Thank you for clarifying. To date, I have a pretty basic transformer and I use the LionChief app to run some of the Legacy features. I'm not familiar with all the controls of the Cab2's and 3's, so I'm always curious to learn more about what features are available on there!
Tonight's project was to start adding some of the little chains that are on each end/side of PM 1225's tender trucks. Hopefully will be done tomorrow.
Hey, that's me!
That looks real
Excellent!👍
Cool steam locomotive i wish i had it
What do u use for ballast on the tracks. Very dark in color
Woodland Scenics Fine Cinders
Wow...