Indoor Trolley Layout

This is a short video of my grandfather's trolley layout, which he built from scratch in his basement. The streetcars/trolleys and electric locomotives are all replicas of the ones that ran here in St. Catharines for the N.S.&T. (Niagara, St. Catharines, & Toronto) up until around 1949-1950. I don't have any of them running during the video, although they run perfectly. The layout, as you can see, is not finished. There are some buildings, and roads, although a lot of the layout still needs stuff like grass, vegetation, etc. My grandfather is not sure what he's going to do next on the layout, he has many ideas, but it's a hard decision in someways.

My applogies for unsteady camera work. I had to move the camera through trolley poles and overhead wires, as well as change my grip on the camera.

The layout is O-gauge, and a long time friend of my grandfather makes these streetcars/trolleys,etc from brass kits, or most commonly, from scratch (he relies on mostly pictures of the actual trolley). They are extremely accurate, including the finest of details (people inside, controls inside the trolley, rivets on the outside, inside/outside lights, etc)

You can check out their website for products at:

http://www.qcarcompany.com/index.html

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• N.S.&T.
• streetcar
• trolley
• electric
• locomotive
• layout
• basement
• St.
• Catharines
• indoor

[TTC9444]

That is an awesome layout! Those are some of the most detailed models i seen! And the only NS&T models i seen so far. I am currently planning a o scale layout based on the NS&T in the 1950's! So this has given me alot of ideas, thanks!

Can you do another video? maybe running them?

Thanks!!

[Billster8724]

Sure thing. When I go over there next (not sure when that will be), I will try and remember to bring my camera with me. I'd also like to try a POV video, where a small enough camera could fit inside a Gondola or something. Hasn't worked for me so far. Will keep trying!

[pilotmanmax]

My dad and I are starting on our model railway. It is not trolleys but you catch my drift shoudl be fun! I will make a coupel videos as we progress.

[Billster8724]

That's pretty cool Max. My grandfather has had this layout since i was a baby. I swear he had one before too lol. I'd like to see how yours is coming along. Is it like a basement or outdoor layout? At my old house I had an outdoor one which was really cool

[StCatharinesRailFan8]

@Jeffbear1 Thanks! Much has been done on it since this video. The general layout of the route has changed, and a new addition added. As well, alot of scenery has been added, and new streetcars purchased. All in a new house as well. Unfortunately we wont be getting anything along those lines in the Niagara Region. Its not quite big enough. All buses :/ thanks for your comment!

[Jeffbear1]

Great layout....I'm impressed. Nice that buses and a bus terminal were included. I have most of those Corgi bus models in my collection. Great overhead trolley wire construction on the layout.

What a sad shame that the N. S. & T. was abandoned. Sooner or later, they'll be spending millions of dollars to duplicate it with modern light rail. It's happening all over North America !! But back in the old days when we protested such abandonments, we were called 'trolley jollys'. Now we're experts.

[StCatharinesRailFan8]

@drupp68 It is mostly fake. They bought it from a trolley show years back. The actual throttle piece though is apparently off of a real NS&T streetcar, which is the streetcars replicated on this layout

[drupp68]

I noticed you had a controller that looked like one that was used on an actual streetcar. Is this a homemade unit?

[StCatharinesRailFan8]

@The1snarky Thanks! And it's O-scale

[The1snarky]

what guage ? is this set its real nice

[StCatharinesRailFan8]

Thanks, its a great layout. Please subscribe to this account (StCatharinesRailFan8). As you can see, Billster8724 is no longer being used. I will occasionally upload videos of the layout, but not under most circumstances.

Bill

[Trolleymoose]

This is GREAT! I like the outer perimeter highway for Bus traffic. I got a lot of ideas for my layout from this video. Keep em' coming.

MIke.

[Billster8724]

there are 1 or 2 models (none that I have) at Niagara Central Hobbies in downtown St. Catharines. The others were ordered by my grandp[a, as it is his layout. He goes to trainshows and stuff to get them as well. Are you from St. Catharines?