PennTex layout at Brickworld Chicago 2016

[SavaTheAggie]

BW_16_Penn-Tex_001 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

Full Gallery

https://www.flickr.com/photos/savatheaggie/albums/72157670181388476

Once again, PennLUG and Texas Brick Railroad teamed up to put on a massive layout of trainy goodness for Brickworld Chicago 2016. It was definitely our best collaboration yet.

Here are just a few excerpts:

Mini Trains

BW_16_Penn-Tex_006 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

Ed's new Tank Loading Racks and pipeline bridge

BW_16_Penn-Tex_013 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

Ed's new town houses and coffee shop

BW_16_Penn-Tex_009 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

Mine and Ed's Bluebonnet Station

BW_16_Penn-Tex_010 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

Ed's new German Articulated

BW_16_Penn-Tex_005 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

TBRR's Big Cut

BW_16_Penn-Tex_019 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

The Big Cut again

BW_16_Penn-Tex_024 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

The PennLUG Roundhouse

BW_16_Penn-Tex_025 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

The PennLUG yard was sufficiently huge yet again

BW_16_Penn-Tex_031 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

Cale's Red Lion Station as a dedicated spur

BW_16_Penn-Tex_036 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

PennLUG's vineyard

BW_16_Penn-Tex_044 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

Cale's Wright Flyer, nominated for Best Airship

BW_16_Penn-Tex_046 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

Three of the Best Train nominees

BW_16_Penn-Tex_053 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

This layout marked the first time PennLUG or TBRR had ever fielded three full Grand Curve loops.

BW_16_Penn-Tex_055 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

PennLUG's custom ladder yard switches

BW_16_Penn-Tex_069 by Tony Sava, on Flickr

--Tony

[Kintobor]

What else is there to do but gush? I could stare at these images for hours and just take in all the details. Awesome stuff!

[storms26]

Looks like it was a fantastic layout!

Definitely have to attend next time!

[Cale]

Here are my own photos from the show.

https://flic.kr/s/aHskyyvKmY

The roundhouse at night.

IMG_6378a by Cale Leiphart, on Flickr

The wash rack with my N&W A class getting a good cleaning.

IMG_6368a by Cale Leiphart, on Flickr

The plan.

Brickworld 2016 Penn Tex Layout Final Draft by Cale Leiphart, on Flickr

Tony's American Freedom Train locomotive on the PennLUG turntable.

IMG_6577 by Cale Leiphart, on Flickr

My B&O Mikado making it's last run on the layout before heading off to it's new home.

IMG_6272 by Cale Leiphart, on Flickr

It was an exhausting show but also super awesome! Tony, Steve and Ed from TBRR are great friends and we at PennLUG are honored to have collaborated with them again this year for Brickworld. Both Texas and PennLUG work hard to step up our game each year and this years layout was the best. I'm proud to say this was one of the best LEGO train layouts I've ever been a part of.

Trains!

Cale

[Capn Frank]

This was my favorite train layout there.

I'm really happy I saw it in real life, even though I still missed some great details.

I love the Micro town and trains with people.

Do you guys plan to team up next year?

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

I can't handle such a beauty!

So many amazing buildings and fantastic trains!

The big cut looks incredible!

[zephyr1934]

Yet another excellent layout, you guys just put on a better and better show year after year. Can't get enough of those big curves (and the big cut) the Red Lion, and of course the PennLUG play... I mean roundhouse. Do NOT show the tank loading area to my son. The ladder track and night shots are also incredible. You guys give it about 200% to create a real model railroad layout. Of course the best thing about the layout are the trains though (grin).

[3D LEGO]

SavaTheAggie,

Thank you for the rundown and the pictures. It looks like it was an excellent collaboration. One thing that struck me while looking at your picture of the big cut: either it is a branchline or someone has been deferring preventive maintenance. All the pictures I have seen show a nice clear swath a few tracks wide giving a buffer zone devoid of foliage along the line. Then again, maybe that was more prevalent out west. Just a thought.

Also concerning your grand curves, have you considered building one using ME Rails half straights for a smoother curve?

Someone's 765 looks lost... took a wrong turn and found the branchline?

I see some entrepreneuring fellow was out hauling rakes of coal. Good old drag bulk freight. I loved the side-by-side comparison of the Hudson to the triplex.

By the way, if you ever decided you want a tunnel, this one from the Western Maryland line through Allegheny region would fit the bill perfectly. (It was a complete fluke find. Make sure you search for pictures of the tunnel portal itself.)

Cale,

Everyone knows a steamer needs some good old fashioned TLC after a hard days work. Nothing like a good scrubbing to remove evidence of its ferocious appetite. Your evening atmospherics shots are amazing, especially the last light wide angle shot of the slumbering giant. I love how you captured all the minute details

Whose caboose was that? You know, the really obvious one. And what railroad?

I see Kevin is becoming a running gag. Or is it all part of his plan?

3D LEGO

[Q3671]

Thank you for the nice foto's, fantastic layout.

[pirzyk]

The PennTex Layout is always one I look for at BW and this year did not disappoint. Many ideas for our LUG to steal in future shows, including making our yard more interesting :P

[Rijkvv]

Very nice!

I think it's a great achievement to have a lay-out this huge with a very high level of detail as well.

[Steph 104th]

Another beautiful layout.

Some stunning locomotives on display there.

I really want to build my own roundhouse now .