Revisiting Ed Rappe's

A large and complex layout like Ed Rappe's (the fifth layout in my 2 rail O Scale 2016 video) does not spring into existence overnight. This is a video that I took during an open house that Ed had for the Washington DC O Scale group in 2014. Compare Ed's layout to the earlier version (Ed Rappe's Layout) and the 2016 version in 2 rail O Scale 2016.

[@dwightbernheimer331]

Just the bench work itself is monumental for an O scale layout like THIS ONE... Great stuff, thanks for posting

[@popswhippersnapper9629]

I visited this layout in about 1983 with Ed's friend, the late Jim Chapman, also an advanced O scale modeler, who pointed out the work-in-progress on the Horseshoe Curve. Amazingly well-done trackwork throughout the layout, which has a spartan, well-manicured look about it.

[@K-Effect]

The "Eazy Duz It" railroad

[@MrDominick4950]

I would like to know appearing on this video it would seem to me this man redid his entire layout the first time I saw it was years ago in a model railroader issue and the layout looked completed and the one drawback was that the horseshoe curve was in the reverse due to the man’s space in his basement but it was still an unbelievable set up now I’m looking at it and it looks like a whole new layout and it obviously is under construction but one thing I noticed was that the horseshoe curve is now in the right direction not the reverse so it appears to me that Ed redid this entire layout so that’s what I’m asking is that the case did he redo this layout or did he make corrections or what I’d like to know anyway one of my top 10 favorites this layout is impeccable as a pansy fan I just enjoy it and I would love to see many more videos on this man’s layout and progress thank you for posting.

[@2railoscale]

You are correct. Ed's old layout included a Horseshoe curve that spiraled in reverse. I believe that it was also 3 tracks vs. 4; although i never saw Ed's old layout. When he retired, Ed moved from the Washington DC area to Williamsburg, VA. He built a new house with a 2200 sq. ft. basement and started this all-new layout. This one has a proper 4 track Horseshoe curve. I have 3 videos of Ed's layout, in chronological order: Ed Rappe's Layout (2010); Revisiting Ed Rappe's (2014) and as one of the layouts in 2 Rail O Scale 2016. You can see the progress of building this new layout by reviewing the three in order. Don't miss 2 Rail O Scale 2016 as Ed has commentary on his layout.