One of the Best HO Scale Model Train layout by George Sellios - The Franklin & South Manchester MR

One of the Best and Most Detailed HO Scale Model Train layout by George Sellios - The Franklin and South Manchester Model Railroad.
The Franklin & South Manchester uses the same initials as George Sellios' company and is co-located in the former FSM company office. It is a stylized model railroad set in 1935 in a fictional area of New England during the Great Depression, characterized by cluttered scenery, colorful billboards and signs, simulated dilapidation, weedy sidewalks, heavy weathering and artistic license.
George Sellios began construction of the F&SM in April 1985. He dedicated approximately three months per year to the endeavor, with the remaining nine dedicated to design and production for his business selling model structure kits. Sellios' F&SM is a large diorama occupying a space measuring approximately 1,600 square feet (150 m2). Sellios' model railroad has become one of the most recognized over the years, with several feature articles in Model Railroader and an episode of Tracks Ahead.
Special thanks to Patrick R ( / @patrickr4964 ) for the song • Nick Cave & The Bad Se...

[@dbeach4044]

Amazing detail. I could watch this forever and not see everything.

[@gotchagoing4905]

This is one of the BEST layouts I've seen on youtube. And the weathering is spot on, just the right amount. Congratulations on an outstanding layout, good show.

[@btcbob11392]

I'm dumbfounded !!! I almost cant believe my eyes. I can't fathom how much time and energy we into that. A true work of art. !!!!!!

[@frankkie3849]

I watched this now and and I have never seen its equal in depth and detail ..Even Wunderland in Hamburg Germany would bow to this layout ,,and they are the world class best,,thanks for sharing..😊

[@WilhelmForster-u1f]

Weltklasse. Super detailliert. Es ist Ddetallierter als im Miniaturwunderland.

[@m-gleis]

Super Anlage. Die Landschaft ist sehr gut in Szene gesetzt. Toller Fahrbetrieb 👍🙋‍♂️ Gruß vom Michel

[@garyh.2487]

Poverty is romantic from a distance. Very impressive layout!

[@gustavoramirez8520]

What a so,so beautiful and amazing master piece model.Everything is simply perfect,extremelly detailed,the old city ,cars ,trai.s and everything at aperfect scale and detail.All the.best condecorations and congratulations to this espectacular job.God has.Blessed.you guys with this talent.Thank you for sharing it.

[@azmike1]

The structures are original and unique. Why? We all know why. This layout gets the Oscar for most original art piece.

[@kalbert2]

It's beyond a train layout. It's a work of art that is an inspiration to us all.

[@everettthepetractionguy4222]

This is one of the best HO scale layouts I've ever seen. I truly enjoyed seeing a train of A-B-B-A F-units occasionally showing up on the famous layout. I LOVE F-units, and I appreciated seeing them running on George Sellio's layout. ❤ 07:40, 09:39 and 16:35. 😊

[@csbenzo]

Who says you can’t make a HO scale model railway look realistic? I had to look twice for it to register with me that what I was seeing wasn’t real, but an absolutely magnificent work of realistic art !!

[@redraider8439]

One of the best videos of the FSM I’ve seen. Been following this layout since it started back in 1984 85.

[@Need4Life]

Thank you so much!!!

[@andyfiala7500]

For me, this is one of the most accurate and perfect model scenery with an excellent background music!👏👍❤️

[@Need4Life]

Thank you very much!

[@jwmckinley9047]

In my mind I know this is a model but I wish these places were real! Just looking at the corner restaurants, I can smell the burgers and fries cooking and onions grilling. This is incredible.

[@azmike1]

This is what Model Railroading is. Art. This layout is truly a masterpiece. Well done. The paint is superb. Signage is glorious. And the trains run at speeds realistic. All the details. I am inspired. Thank you. I am saving this one. What a motivational presentation! Great! Thanks.

[@bearowen5480]

Where does one start to comment?! A guy could wear out a Roget's Thesaurus attempting to find enough superlatives to craft even the most humbly inadequate exposition on George's masterpiece. Laudatory comparisons to the legendary layout creations of Rod Stewart, Norm Charbonneau, Howard Zane, John Allen's Gorre and Daphetid, Frank Ellison, Bob Bartizek, Neil Schorr, Dave Hikel's Northwest Trunklines, Pelle Soeberg....all would fail to capture the magnificence of this model railroading masterpiece! One is almost overwhelmed by the level and evocative intricacies of George's cityscape level of detail. If we buy into the old shiboleth that a model railroader is saner than his unfortunate mere mortal and unenlightened fellow humans who don't have train layouts, because he gets to create the world in the miniature idealism of how he wishes the world to be, that myth explodes herewith! The universally powerful thematic impression of George's miniature slice of life is inescapably gritty Great Depression Era, in-your-face REALISM. We're witnessing Atlas shrugging here for sure. I can hear Ayn Rand asking the observer, "Who IS John Galt?" And yet, as we watch George's HO scale inhabitants busily going about their economically depressed lives, surviving somehow, there is an unmistakable hint of hope, a subtle tease suggesting, however sotto voce, a better tomorrow in their future. They don't yet know that it will take a bloody world war to get them to a better economic and social place, but meantime, they're making do with their limited resources. So, that's my humbly attempted impression of George's incredible magnum opus....superhuman artistry that captures a very compelling story of human resilience and optimism. I'm an O scale, hi-railer who hasn't subscribed to "Model Railroader" in years, so this is my first glimpse of your amazing work, George. Congratulations on a monumentally unique achievement! The video is wonderfully relaxing to watch, especially with the really somnolent jazz selections playing unobtrusively in the background. Thank you so much for making this drone's-eye tour of the layout available to us train goobers out here in cyberspace. I loved it! A++++!

[@GalinaKuzmina-b6d]

Как всегда профессионально и познавательно. Благодаря чему я смогла попутешествова ть во времени и пространстве. Спасибо автору!

[@volatile67]

BONJOUR. une des plus belle maquette de trains usa.... j'aimerais un jour de la voir en personne même que sa va pas arrivé, elle est magnifique . merci d avoir filmé la maquette pour qu'on puisse en profiter..

[@hughmaxwell8143]

I watch all these diorama/ model railroad you tubes. This one really is the best of all. Hope to see it in person someday.

[@gengoku_art]

That is incredible how realistic it is 😮😮

[@blainedunlap4242]

My Dad liked modeling people and all the details, he would be working on them and murmuring to himself, especially if he had been drinking a little, hashing out the conversations they were having. I would be working on wiring or something and laughing to myself. He might have 20 scenarios in a scene. He likes a scene, time period or not. He brought an 1800's Western Bar scene, horses and all. I tried to explain, we generally model the modern era. He would pout a while, and I would find a place. Told him I was going to put in a satellite ground station next to his silly bar. That would work, like the guys would get off work and go to the bar. On their horses? Miss him, we complemented each other's work pretty well.

[@David-v2t8h]

Finest detailing I’ve yet to see on a working layout. There’s a story to be found in every square inch of this creation. Amazing

[@frankkie3849]

Like everyone else said this is pure art nothing else..thanks for sharing..😊

[@DayTwo-w8n]

Great layout. Like taking a trip back in time.

[@chaostrain1927]

Wow, masterpiece is right. Such great detail and very busy but managing to not look crowded. Thank you for sharing!

[@alangeddes268]

Absolutely amazing.

[@asdasx392]

Thanks, I think this is one of the best videos I have seen on this layout. I am always amazed by the number of windows in all the buildings here, as well as all of the wooden fencing. That is some tedious work. Also, there are so many stone walls, either buildings or retaining walls, which I assume are cast metal just like in his kits. I don't think those are cheap.

[@davidkruiswyk3362]

I’ve been visiting George’s layout regularly for eight years, now. You’ve produced one fine video souvenir. Thank you for sharing it in our Facebook group.

[@RonAdams-h4s]

I have seen so many photos of this awesome layout through the years, but it is so amazing to see it in three dimensions. Takes my breath away. Thanks!

[@chuckstewart9102]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think you might be rather fond of the F&SM! Best video I’ve ever seen of the layout. Great job! Thank you so much… And thank you, George!!!

[@TwoRailfans]

What an incredible level of detail!

[@88racing1]

Absolutely outstanding detail in every aspect.Thanks for sharing. Ill be watching this again.

[@robertbiddell9638]

Absolutely outstanding work wow stunning the best I have ever seen congratulations on a top layout

[@mark8729]

Magnifique réseau

[@curly__3]

Wow! Hopefully that will be preserved in a museum or something. Thanks for these awesome vids!

[@DTor-v3q]

This is a legendary layout with unbelievable attention to detail! Amazing job capturing this 🎥

[@Need4Life]

Thank you very much!

[@jhardman4534]

My goodness, certainly looks like John Allen's work. Very nice.

[@elephantfootrisers]

Mind boggling.

[@mikeberthold1593]

Wow... it's a masterpiece!!

[@jamesemmerick8667]

Super fun well done layout

[@richardbolt4237]

beautiful layout

[@SN-ry6bl]

Thanks for these awesome vids!

[@Need4Life]

My pleasure!

[@johndudson183]

Mind boggling! Great soundtrack too.

[@PT-rg2vo]

Folks, put the video to 4K even if you don't have 4K monitor. All the detail and colours will pop.

[@susannestoffel2534]

Beautiful!

[@ratherbeflying101]

Could you even imagine if you had to move and you had to take all that down and and put it back up again?

[@atuldivekar]

amazing!

[@jamesemmerick8667]

Sure is a rolling snap shot into yester years ways... Can't even image life in that time period...

[@jamesemmerick8667]

This set up is filled with Norman Rockwell scenes, everywhere can see that guy in the street capturing these sights sounds scenes of life then .... But this maybe 🤔🤨 too soon for Mr Rockwell

[@jamesemmerick8667]

Couple more things.... Where's the churches... Then pick a road then run it through the entire layout somehow... The dawn of the car at the peak of rail society in American culture... So much to take more of... Fun layout

[@hartmutlorentzen9659]

I prefer the sound of locos, not some music! But the layout is excellent.

[@jamesemmerick8667]

Viewing via my android 📱... Can you imagine explaining this device to those folks then... To walk those streets, interacting, still holding a functioning 📱😮

[@michaelkellehertrainlord746]

👏👍☘

[@wesfletcher5465]

Great layout but for that era I would think there would be some churches, weddings, etc.

[@valentinevega7090]

Is this still open for viewing . I would love to take a trip from Colorado to MA to see this in person . If someone could let me know it would be greatly appreciated!! God bless

[@Need4Life]

Hi! You need to join their Facebook group ( facebook.com/share/g/Pu5b6Hu9c59CLDBr/ ), they posted this year's schedule two days ago.

[@davidgardner863]

This layout is amazing but the diesel locomotives look a bit out of place time wise.

[@metpatpetet7685]

The cameraman cuts much too rapidly from one view to another. Can"t take a shot in completely before he moves to something else.

[@michaelkoss2635]

A work of live😅

[@anb7408]

Yeah, I can’t handle listening to the music throughout the video. That got old really quick. Plenty of other videos of George’s layout on here.

[@azmike1]

This channel does need a better videographer. The camera angles here are boring at best. Too generic. I won't give any suggestions as it's not my place to do so. It takes a bit of talent to shoot good video. Get with it.