The 2013 LEGO Christmas Layout

Better Late Than Never
I am pleased to announce, with only one week before Christmas, the 2013 holiday layout. This layout will be installed beneath my Christmas tree for about one month and will be removed Martin Luther King weekend.

The reason I was late to do this was because of academia and finals. Also, the way the house was being cleaned up prevented earlier setup.

Features include the Footbridge from 2012, McDonalds, Starbucks as seen before, and new models including the Modular Building that was finished a couple of weeks ago.

The Gas Station is tentatively going to appear for the last time before a heavily needed rebuild is performed on it... it's the oldest existing building on the layout at 5 and half years of age.

There should be an industrial section with appropriate models and buildings. I am not sure if I will be doing any sort of yards or team tracks.

Just like the 2012, there will be one elongated pigtail loop, a trick that I kind of learned from the old time GFLUG layouts. However, the aim this year will be to run shorter manifest trains. As a liberty for running manifest, two new Tropicana reefers with stronger couplers have been completed over the summer and two new Conrad Yelvington hoppers were finished as well. A third may be on its way. As it stands, adding these four to my bulkhead, Florida Rock hopper, and Boxcar would yield a decently sized seven car train.

Unfortunately, the RailAmerica unit, which I believe was available last year, crumbled and will not be a part of this year's layout. 714 is in good shape, however and will run. The YN3 pair I brought to Plant City is physically in good shape, but electronically, the motors may be dead.

An aim is that this will be the last time 9V is needed to operate the layout. Beginning next year, I plan to finally kick off PF trains once and for all.

Pics and videos will follow.

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