Copyright 2023 Nicholas Kalis
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This O scale 2 rail layout that takes its inspiration from the Pennsy main line running through New Jersey in 1956. John Sethian's layout features five scenes - the largest being Princeton Junction. One scene took the cover of the 2022 NMRA calendar. I recently (April 2023) had the opportunity to visit again as part of an NMRA/MER/Potomac Division open house.
Smith Bros. might be my favorite structure. Notice the men carrying a sheet of glass while a boy tries his hand at pitching a baseball. Don't overlook Perry Mason playing on the televisions behind the plate glass windows. I particularly like how John showcases Smith Bros by setting behind it an apartment building with both fire escapes and window air conditioners. Brilliant. The scraggly tree partially visible and partially obscuring the apartment building is also well thought out.
There is so much to love about this layout - as someone who models O scale (for the purposes of forced perspective), I particularly admire John's collection of O scale vehicles (though some might be 1:43 - I need to ask John the next time I see him).
Perhaps the most notable feature of John's layout is how he squeezes an O scale layout with broad curves into such a small space. There are two answers to this question: incredible planning and design along with hiding tighter curves inside tunnels. The thing is those hidden curves cannot be very tight as John runs scale length Pennsy passenger cars - incidentally with full interiors.
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