Bob Olson's El Layout

Bob has been building O Scale models of New York’s streetcar and el lines since 1965. He grew up in Queens and was inspired by the streetcar and el lines serving the various boroughs, Brooklyn in particular. All of the structures and most of the cars are built from scratch. This video features a digitized 8mm film of Bob’s first layout in operation, followed by action scenes on his current layout. Enjoy the thrill of a white-knuckle “ride” on his el and subway routes via a camera car! It concludes with a nostalgic “nighttime” visit to the city-in-miniature.

[@petermot645]

Absolutely stunning I grew up in the Bronx and remember when the 3rd Avenue el was torn down. Wonderful job, great video.

[@DungeonStudio]

As Grandpa Jones would say - "You boys had done exceptionally well!" :)

[@TheCloakedTiger]

That’s a dream layout right there.

[@haroldalexis4200]

That's why we need videos like these to preserve the past, of these BMT , & IRT. Third Avenue Trolley lines etc. This is wonderful the music. The buildings very realistic. The best I'm watching in subways and the el lines! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👍🙂 Excellent work Bob.

[@robertf.sirico6780]

Beautiful!

[@cliffcostello]

I was best friends with Bob's brother since junior high school, and knew Bob's dad, who also was so skilled at hand building all of his trollies as well. I've visited Bob's home a number of times over the years and always look forward to seeing all of his work on his layout, as well as the South Bend Electric Railway outside. As always Bob, you fascinate me with your talent!!!!

[@Electropickle]

Bob & Carolyn reply: "Very nice, Cliff. We miss seeing you, but understand that life gets complicated. We're glad you could come when you did."

[@eyestoenvy]

Watching from the South Bronx in NYC, near the site of the former THIRD AVENUE EL terminus at 149 St. Well done guys, thanks!

[@rbcc6730]

This reminds me of my travels by trolley in the 1950’s. Great!

[@antem1983]

Very nice setup. It did nothing but get better over time !!

[@michaelleggett3980]

Bears an amazing resemblance to Queensborough Plaza Complex-Great Job, Bob!

[@stevenwaring1111]

Looks Like alot of work It must be a blast to run,...Great!

[@henryostman5740]

I grew up in Brooklyn during the '40s and have memories of riding the els and trolleys that crossed the city at that time. My father rode the Ocean Av line into downtown Brooklyn (yes, Brooklyn had a vibrant downtown), that line used PCC cars unlike the Flatbush Av line that used older cars, the line on Cortelyou Av used trolleybuses. I remember the steetcars in Manhattan, they use an underground system much like Washington DC. I have ridden the tram system in many European cities and note that the folks in East Berlin voted to keep their trams and not have a subway like West Berlin. During the late '40s my father took me for an extended ride on the 3rd Av el before they took it down, wood cars with open vestibules. My father had grown up in Ridgewood NJ and often talked about riding the Public Service interurbans there, seems like NJ is slowly trying to build this system back. I was ported in Boston during my service years and rode the lines in that city, trolleys were a fun way of getting around but they don't mix well with auto traffic, was much of that during the 40s due to fuel rationing due to WW2. Thanks for keeping these memories alive.

[@joselauzardojr.2808]

This layout is absolutely Spectacular Astounding WOW

[@19novA68]

Awesome job I love it 😎👍

[@RF_NY1]

Beautiful layout, very nicely done track work. Would love to see some more footage at prototypical speeds.

[@petworthtraction]

The super 8 footage is awesome. The POV video footage made me feel like I was on Space Mountain. Thanks for shooting and sharing.

[@Porschedude8]

Excellent! 👏😊

[@jeffgoldenberg9579]

What a treat! Big fan of Mr. Olson's work since seeing shots of the layout way back in the April '76 issue of MR. Thanks for sharing. Very inspiring.

[@luislaplume8261]

At the 2 minute 50 second mark we see the X shaped trestle work underneath the tracks and the crossed bar El columns holding the el up.A replica of the first el line in Brooklyn in 1885 when it opened.

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

I watched a Betty Boop cartoon from the 1930s it was called too much noise. She lived in an apartment right by the Third Avenue L in New York. The artwork was fantastic. The elevated structure is very complicated but it was drawn accurately. They also accurately Through the Wood cars with the lamps on the roof like like the kind that used to run on 3rd Avenue elevated train. When I lived in New York if the train did not go there it was not worth going. How stupid they were to scrap all of the elevated lines as well as the streetcars. In my neighborhood where the asphalt had worn away you can see the original cobblestones with the streetcar tracks still there. One time when I was a little kid I took the elevated train to trainworld in Brooklyn and talked trains with Frank Sinatra who was a toy train buff. He may have been a movie star but to me he was just another trainguy of course I was just a young boy and I did not know he was a famous person. From the second story of our home you can see the elevated trains coming and going. New York was still nice in the old days until it died

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

Amazing!!! Much more intense than the NYC El & Subway layout I've been designing in my head for 50 years!!

[@user-qt1ok2ob3f]

Do u have a videos of your layout

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

@@user-qt1ok2ob3f My layout only exists in my mind. There is no physical layout. Sorry.

[@Mnrr6131]

This is legit super cool

[@BroWCarey]

Did remind me of Brooklyn. Excellent work. (I knew right away it wasn't Manhattan, because overhead catenary wires were not allowed there. Streetcars got their power from a slot between the rails. Kind of made them look like San Francisco cable car tracks.) I miss riding the subway, particularly the N train into Stillwell Ave.

[@michaelspraggins5419]

Washington D.C. also had the center slot for power while in the city.

[@kovacssndor]

Peter cool layout you have nice

[@don679]

WOW fabulous ! Tremendous modelling.

[@Jeff-uj8xi]

Wow !! I love it. I'm impressed with the third rail and trolley wire. But "please" run the trolleys and trains slower. I've actually seen subway car models where the doors slide open and closed.

[@visionpersistance]

Wow, Bob, that is amazing!

[@JoseMorales-lw5nt]

#Electropickle: THANK YOU! In the age of Covid, seeing footage like this just really lights up your day. The craftsmanship and love that went into this project is unreal! Seeing the attention to detail made me wonder. If you've ever seen the 80's film remake of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, there's a director's cut in which Audrey 2 wins and reproduces itself across the country. One scene has a giant plant attacking a scaled down model of an NYC elevated train. I wonder if Mr. Olson had a hand in making it. Or if he knew any of the craftsmen who worked on it....🇵🇷🇺🇸😎

[@spatzvomalexanderplatz3200]

Awesome!

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

Eric bronski I remember his name from the article and model railroader magazine saying farewell to the old El. Model railroader with such a great magazine in the old days.

[@toms6756]

Thank you, this made my day!

[@heinzvonwolken6221]

Great work. A lovely and realistic layout! Bravooo!

[@glendenig9962]

Wow! This is tremendous! Is that actually an electrified third rail with trains that have a boot on the wheel sets that connects with that electrically? If so that's REALLY cool!

[@alfredbarten4901]

WOW!!

[@MarkInLA]

"Autumn in New York"

[@johnwhite4908]

Wonderful film and set up. Aren't rapid transit trains usually run in 2,4,6, or 8 car configurations because half the cars are compressor cars and the other half are generator cars? I don't know much about these things, but someone once explained to me that they are always configured in pairs.

[@Electropickle]

Early wood and steel rapid transit cars were built as single units - they were either motors or trailers. By the 1950s, "married pair" configurations became common on new equipment. In NYC, one car contained the motor generator and batteries, and its mate carried the air compressor and other brake components.

[@johnwhite4908]

@@Electropickle Thanks!!

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

I would buy the house just to get the layout in the basement 😂

[@jamesleopard8518]

Some people get these for Christmas

[@FOTZEL]

WHERE IS THIS HUGE LAYOUT?IN HOUSE/GARAGE,BARN,or SPECIAL BLDG BUILT FOR IT?

[@Electropickle]

It fills the basement of Bob's home.

[@Stanf954]

Hopefully not too many derailments happen. Nowhere to go but floor.

[@user-qt1ok2ob3f]

Does anyone no if this layout still exist?

[@Electropickle]

Yes, Bob's el trains and streetcars are still rolling!

[@everettthepetractionguy4222]

Whew!!! I had to hang on, tight!!! 🤢

[@rosephoenix4634]

Congratulations data of whoever designed this model right here and every replica from the past that already done their homework and to the president use the same one it is and to the Future data of this is before that we're used to be but this is after that it came back Pace modem model and I very up get this one for it 100% stores I mean 100% for this model and all train set

[@trainluvr]

Great video - check out some of mine.

[@devonmicheals3993]

Three people have no souls.

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

Four people work for General Motors.