I know that most of those on the forum do not need this kind of information. However, we do see a lot of newcomers enter the toy train hobby this time of year, so for them, we wrote a simple guide to building a toy train layout under the Christmas tree.

I have also seen that a some of you have your own versions of doing this, and even some videos, and would appreciate it if you would include those in your comments posted here, or in your comments on our blog.

Here is the guide

Thanks to all for all of the good information that I have read here over the years, and have an early Merry Christmas!

Here's some good stuff from another thread:

Three Times Around the Tree Track Plan and Building Instructions (.pdf)
Click here to watch the video

Make sure you have enough space to reach the tracks in the rear of the tree, keep stuff off of the tracks especially metal objects, do not run your power wires through the tree and don't drive to fast.
Now go have fun.

Thanks for the guide, Wiley! I'm sure many will find it helpful as they plan their holiday displays.

I was sorry to learn, on reading further down on your site, how vandals broke the window in your store. That's something I would never have expected to happen in scenic and sleepy Sykesville--a place I really enjoyed being a part of for several years.

Hi Wiley, I just went to your link because of what Allen said and it is really a pain when some dumb lunk-head dose something like this to innocent people. All we can do at times like these is not to let it get us down. The best revenge is happiness, that really drives the miserable up a wall.

Thanks, Alan, and gg1man for your encouragement about the broken window.
Yes, things like this happen, even in sleepy Sykesville. After being amazed that it happened, then angry, I fixed it and moved on. We lose one of these windows about every 3 years.
The first time was when a local got drunk, then smoked some pcp, and thought he could drive. He drove a giant Oldsmobile into the building.
The second time a passing local, also drunk, fell into the window.
Third time was when another local broke it for revenge when we would not hire him to work in the shop, I think I made the right choice there.
And now the pumpkin was tossed through the window.
Oh, well, all you can do is laugh and move on.

I have more important things to attend to at the shop this time of year...