Toy Trains How-To Beginners Polar Express five-day layout build

Polar Express five-day layout build

By Rene Schweitzer | September 22, 2023

| Last updated on October 4, 2023

Watch the newest Classic Toy Trains' project layout come together

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The Classic Toy Trains staff built the Polar Express layout over a five day period, from benchwork to final scenery. The layout features scenes from the beloved movie, including the Hero Boy’s house, the train crossing the frozen river, and the city scene where the First Gift of Christmas is given.

Staffers Hal Miller, Roger Carp, David Popp, Jenny Freeland, and Rene Schweitzer all pitch in to make the layout. The staff used Lionel FasTrack and some Lionel Polar Express structures and figures, along with some “repurposed” items from our closet. Trees and scenery were a combination of Woodland Scenics and leftovers from other projects.

Read the entire article in the November/December 2023 issue. Read a related article on what the staff learned while building the project.

Download the track plan for this layout.

One thought on “Polar Express five-day layout build

  1. Hello All!
    Having read the article, watched the video(s) and been thoroughly perplexed. HOW did you get the “frosty” pavement look for the North Pole Square area?

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