Layout tour of American Flyer 16 ft dog bone S gauge 10 30 2021

A viewer had asked a while back for a layout tour.
This video features the items on the layout. It includes the scratch built "Big Cliff Dam", wooden trestle, and Erector trestle.
There are a couple photos of the actual Big Cliff Dam and information on how to view a fly over video (4K) Big Cliff Dam, uploaded by (neilybobmojo) in June 2016
When I started the layout I wanted to use the two trestles I had built years ago. I needed a reason for them to be in the layout. After I started the land risers for the trestles I thought there should be a dam behind them to fill space at the back wall.
I have driven past Big Cliff Dam many times while traveling to Detroit Lake and east. I thought I could make a relatively scaled version of the dam and fit it into my landscape. I think it came out well. At some point I plan on making the flood gates and possibly the bridge crane.
I used a portrait vinyl back drop on the left end of Banff National Park in Alberta Canada. That worked out well for the scene and allowed a turn around without a tunnel for the yard.
I built up the right end table for the tunnel and used an RFGCO reproduction 168 Hotel originally made by Mini-craft for American Flyer. I have had this building since the 1990's on different layouts. The tunnel was made high enough to clear "Smitty the walking brakeman" cars and 944 wrecker cranes.
I wanted the view of different elevations in the layout while still keeping the track level at all points. The wall shelving was already in place when we purchased the home and I worked around it. Fortunately the person that assembled them kept all the shelves level. I did the same with the tables so they increase with floor height to offset the garage floor slope. I had not compensated for that with my other layout, and wish I had. Lesson learned ha ha.

[@angeloavanti2538]

Very slick. I dig the Erector Set arch bridge. I miss all that. Love AF!

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Thank you, and thanks for watching.

[@track1219]

I like the house with the green roof and big porch! Nice layout.

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Thank you. The house is a reproduction of the Mini-craft hotel American Flyer sold in the 1950's. It works out well as a large farm house.

[@MartyKarczynski-mw3tk]

Looking good

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Thank you

[@jamesclose7293]

What a great layout. Thanks for sharing.

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Thank you

[@centoreflyer5969]

Nice layout closeup tour! I've driven by Big Cliff dam many times myself. The erector set bridge is a nice touch too. Thanks for posting all your AF videos.

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Thank you and thanks for watching.

[@michaelgmoore5708]

I like the big layout and the link coupler train.

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Thank you very much.

[@daveclarklumber]

Well done! Thanks for the detailed closeups. 👍🏼 for Big Cliff Dam!

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Thank you

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

A very nice tender you have made!

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Nice layout!

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Thank you

[@MartyKarczynski-mw3tk]

Still love it

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

@@MartyKarczynski-mw3tk Nice. Thanks for watching.

[@bradhamrick9197]

Can you can you put Lionel right next to a American flyer running at same time

[@pforce9]

I noticed that you sacrificed some pieces from a Gilbert Erector Set to build that bridge in front of the dam. Where is the rest of that erector set?

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

I built the trestle from miscellaneous parts picked up at an antique store. I did not have a set to start with.

[@pforce9]

@@willamettevalleyAFtrains Durn, I wanted dibs on the rest of that set. My younger brother got one of those erector sets in about 1957 or 58. I got the big foldout chemistry set. Among other chemicals, my set has Saltpeter, powdered charcoal and powdered Sulphur among other things. Good job on that bridge!

[@bradhamrick9197]

Can you run American flyer right next to a light or an old scale train set

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

I do not have any of the smaller Lionel or MTH train sets. The large prewar Lionel that I have will not go around the curves on my O gauge loop.