TRAIN TIME: Norm K's Small Standard Gauge Layout

This is kind of a quickie post today. I took these photos some years back which shows a fellow TTOS members Norm K's Christmas layout. It's not decked out for the holidays but Norm only put the layout up for a few months of the year. The layout is Standard Gauge, and those familiar with these wonderful, large, rumbling beasts know what a glorious din they make! :-) They are big, and colorful, and loud - and Grand! Anyway, the photos should show that you do not necessarily need a whole lot of room to run these big trains. Enjoy!

Issmayer Pre-war Train Station

I'm kinda pooped today so this will be short.  Our selection is what I believe to be an Issmayer Pre-war train station.  There are no manufacturer's marks but the shingle pattern and overall look point to Issmayer, a German manufacturer of toy train accessories prior to World War II and is approximately from the 1920s.  It's kind of hard to tell from the photographs but not only is all the detail lithographed, it is embossed as well!  The lithography neatly follows each brick, window, and door frame.  What an excellent job!  Although the awning sticks out quite far, there are no apparent attachment points for supporting posts.  Instead there are two sturdy beams running from the back wall to the front of the awning.  The door is missing on my example unfortunately.  Size-wise this is a large structure more suitable for Standard Gauge trains than O-gauge.  It's a wonderful example of the toy maker's art.  Enjoy!