Current Layout by Bill Drake

Official Web Site:

Visit

Layout Status:

active

Track Type:

Layout Style:

Loop-to-loop

Track Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Notes:

Bill's layout has two loops as peninsulas into the room, with the connecting track on shelving units around the walls. His layout actually consists of three levels. The top level is all American Flyer S. The middle level is O, and the bottom level is Lionel "Standard Gauge" from the early 1900s. The room is surrounded by display cases featuring his favorite models. There is even a second room that has more American Flyer display cases. To say that Bill loves model trains is an understatement!

This photo shows both loops next to each other, with an aisleway in between them, making it easy to get in and out of the room. To orient yourself, the turnback loop in the foreground is the first one you'll see in the next three photos, but from a slightly different angle.

This an earlier version of the loop on the right-hand side (when inside the layout space).

This is a more recent version of that same loop. Bill has moved some of the structures into position, and is starting to work on the scenery. Bill states that the track for the American Flyer level is all finished and working.

The next two photos cover some of the track that is on shelving units that go around the walls of the room, to connect the two loops.

This photo is of the loop on the left-hand side, but was taken from outside the layout space (i.e. standing near the door into the room).

Not only are Bill's train room walls covered with display cases of all of his trains (all scales), he even added shelving to display more trains just below the ceiling.