Hi! I am in West Yellowstone, MT, the gateway to Yellowstone National Park. I help manage a small hotel. One of the things I am doing is decorating for different holidays. Last year the only thing they had was a Christmas tree. This year I am slowly bringing in a few more decorations for other holidays. For the Christmas tree I want to build a train layout. I am looking forward to getting help and information on here to build it correctly and safely. See you around the boards!
Since you live near Yellowstone; would you please inform us if all of the scientists studying the Yellowstone caldera should suddenly move to Australia?
Nice. One of my coworker's husband is laying the fiber optics out there. People are selling there cabins out there for small fortunes right now.
Yes, sir, I definitely do. My place is close to the Henry's Outlet up on Aspen Ridge behind the Drift Lodge. I fish the Outlet quite a bit.
Hi lpproy, welcome. I'm a member of the Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum in Gulfport. We're constructing an exhibit based on a Hawthorne Village Christmas collection that was donated. I think a small layout like this might be just what you're looking for. After a quick search I realize to build an attractive under the tree layout you hope for might stress the hotel's budget. However, this year consider purchasing a loop of track, a locomotive with two or three cars, and a few buildings. Then add to it with each subsequent year, e.g., more track, more buildings, another train, etc. White bedsheets make good snowy groundcover. (I'm sure you have access to plenty. LOL) Hopefully you can find model train clubs or individuals in the area who would be happy to help you. This photo is one example of what can be done with Hawthorne Village items.
Sounds nice. I mostly fish the Madison. Quake lake is a great spot and I enjoy 3 dollar bridge. I've been waiting on a new rod since mid March. I hope it gets here soon.
That looks pretty nice. I am planning on building a few panels that can easily be taken apart and stored. The total area will be 12 x 8, with 3 panels and the tree in the middle. It will probably take me a couple of years to complete due to lack of time. We are so busy here, I am working around 60 - 80 hours at one job, and 30 hours at my second. Budget isn't too much of an issue. I have a few thousand to spend. They haven't done any decorating here to speak of for years and the new owners want some big displays. I get cheap stuff for the other Holidays and save the bulk for Christmas and trains.
There are actually three supervolcanoes in the USA. Somehow most people only hear about Yellowstone. Montana is in the top ten US States for activity, but only a tiny fraction of what Alaska endures.
Check out Mammoth Mountain in California. They found 6 inches of ash around Chicago from the last time it blew. It's another giant caldera.
Your lack of hands-on time, but ample budget, is motivation for a local, or nearby model rail club to help you. Ken, do you know of any clubs? I know Yellowstone is a little far from you, but you might have a network, or at least know of friends of friends, etc.
There are clubs or groups in Billings, Livingston, Helena, Bozeman, Missoula and? None nearby to his location.
That is one of the three I noted. Thankfully it been quiet for about three quarters of a million years now!