Gonna try this weird way of attaching links to photos. Seems for newbies like me, if the attach function doesnt work, why is it there?  Any other forum, you just click attach & post - boom, botta bing, done...

Mine started in 2000/2000 when i realized i didnt have a Christmas tradition of my own. Started with 5 buildings from Lowes & i think the train came from a neighbors yard sale. Things started out slow, one new building a year, maybe a few figurines & trees.  Last few years it's exploded in to everything i can find at thrift stores, ebay & even new - dont care the brand as long as it's in nice condition, reasonably priced & intriguing.  Hence, the need for my current reno/expansion that is gonna expand the display another 6 feet by 4 tiers. Hopefully, i'll slow down to save room for future "must haves" - unless i get a bigger house!
BTW - about the same time as the village start, i also started collecting a new Santa, nutcracker & special tree ornament each year.  Those have remained under control to one each a year!!
Come December 24th, my house looks like Michaels & JoAnns exploded inside   
& yeah, the village stays up year round & thankfully, Alexa controlled!!

PS - i tried attaching a couple of pix - old vs now, but it says upload folder is full

Thanks for the info. I already had two 4-packs, so i put 6 pieces together & laid them over the current battery operated train track - perfect match!!!  Just ordered another new 4-pack on ebay to complete the other end of the oval.
This is gonna be so great to replace the old Dickensville set that runs around the "town square" of my Christmas village.  No more changing batteries or trying to pause the engine to hit the kill switch.  These might be good for a temp setup around a tree or something but not a permanent display.
Soon it'll be replaced with a Bachmann Jingle Bell Express.  Despite only being HO scale, i think it'll still compliment the Bachmann Wonderland Express On30 that encircles the whole bottom tier of the village.
Thanks again,
Jerry W - Largo, FL

i need to create a relatively small oval track (30" x ?) & wondering how many pieces of the 15" radius curved track i'll need for each end. i've already got straight track for the middle pieces.
Thanks in advance.
Jerry W - Largo, FL

Thanks for all the input. Sounds like i should probably replace the plastic wheels where i can on both trains. I'd think the metal sound on the metal rains would sound more realistic too.  Cars will be pretty easy, any on loco's might be another kettle of fish.

Once all set up, i doubt i'll be running them that often - just now & then. So hopefully track & wheel cleaning will be cut to a minimum.  Everything on the village is Alexa controlled, down to each individual animated building (to prolong their life cycle). Bulbs are easy to replace (tho all led so hopefully not soon) - $50-100 buildings arent!!

BTW - i read that a light hair clipper oil is one of the top options for track cleaning. Just a drop or two on a cotton cloth rubbed across the rails. Let me know if that's a bad idea cause i have hard enough time with the wheels in my head spinning, let alone those on my trains!!
Thanks again to all...
Jerry W - Largo, FL

Thanks Sid.  Will grab it for sure. Might be kinda cool to have a flash of metal at the end!
BTW - since the set didnt have any track i couldnt test it in the store.  Hospice is really good about testing stuff (if they can) & marking it good or "parts only", but i usually test anything electronic for my own piece of mind.  Actually i remember back when Good Will used to repair stuff before putting it on the shelf - now they just throw a price tag on it & buyer beware.
i set up a temp short track, plugged in the power pack & speed control that came with it & everything works fine - even the light on the engine.  Zipped around the track!
For now i'm gonna integrate it on the same track as my On30 Wonderland Express even tho the scales are noticeably different. Once i get another On30 Christmas train, i'll give the Jingle Bell one to my sister who has a village more in line with the HO scale.
Thanks again for the link & have a great week.
Jerry W - Largo, FL

Just scored a Jingle Bell Express from a local Hospice thrift store (50% off Christmas in July sale  ) for only $20.  It's missing the track but has the power pack, speed control & all cars.  Still a great steal even without the track.
Only thing is is the caboose is missing 1 axle on the front wheel truck. Tried searching the site for a replacement axle or entire truck but cant seem to spot one. Anybody know the part number for either the truck or just axle?
It's HO scale, plastic wheel. i've got a train repair place nearby but i know this is a part i can replace myself.
Thanks in advance,
Jerry W - Largo, FL

Thanks for the link Terry. That's an awesome setup. Luv the way the tracks curve around & thru the mountains. Because of the number of buildings i have, my mountain area is limited - more like the Great Plains 

Will do. I've promised photos to the ladies at the local Michaels where i get a lot of my stuff, so i'll include you guys too. i've got a short vid of the current setup on my Google acct but it doesnt show the train in action yet. Actually, when done, it'll have 4 trains - the original battery one around the town square, the Wonderland Express looping entire bottom layer, 1 stationary exiting a mountain on the upper tier (with handmade trestle), & a new Bachmann streetcar i just acquired.
The whole display is Alexa controlled so i can turn on/off individual animated pieces or different sections.  Yeah, sometimes me & her get in arguments! i had to change the name from trolley to street car cause she kept telling me she couldnt find a device named Charlie!!  Didnt know my english was that bad :-(
Will keep everyone posted as i work thru that slim-down to a smaller curve back & get everything going.
Happy 4th everyone - celebrate safe.
Jerry - Largo, FL

Thanks for the reply. Now i'll just have to grab some sharper curve pieces (get ready wallet!) & figure out how to make that swerve in to the smaller radius.
Actually, i wish i'd asked the question earlier, cause i just finished expanding the current base depth about 3-4 inches to give the track more breathing room & not be pinched! But it actually looks better & gave me room to add a Bachmann street crossing with signal arms & some Dept 56 old fashioned telephone poles & maybe even a road alongside.
Now i've gotta decide how to integrate a Bachmann Trestle kit in to the new part (bought it before i knew if i could actually use it). Dont we all do that?  "Well, that'd be nice to add - somewhere"!!
BTW - i forgot to mention in the original question, that since this is a Christmas village display, i wont have the train zipping around the track like it was trying to catch the Roadrunner - beep beep.
Thanks again for the advice & have a great weekend everyone.
Happy Chugging - whether involves a train or a stein!
Jerry - Largo, FL

i've got a Bachmann Wonderland Express On-30 with HO E-Z Track. i'm finishing up my permanent Christmas village layout which i was hoping to have the train completely encircle. However, i'd prefer to narrow the last few feet to about a 32 inches deep curve vs the rest being at 36 deep (cutting in to dining room table space!).
Of course i've got alternatives if i cant make the curve back sharper - chop off the end of the loop sooner or just eat up the dining room space.
Any advise will be greatly appreciated & thanks in advance.
Jerry W - Largo, FL

jward,
i understand your meaning, but most of the village layout is already filled with buildings & the train will be running around the outer perimeter of the layout - i'm already adding on a few inches to the original section for the new track run. The next (& final) section will be 5x3 so i might be able to work in a curve  or two there since it's gonna be for future buildings i acquire.
Believe me, if i had a spare room (vs the back wall of my living room), this thing thing would be ginormous!!!
Jerry

PS - i tried to attach a photo but got an error that gallery/album was full

Thanks to all for the advice, especially the part about removing my email address from my display name!  Didnt even notice that.

Tho i like the idea of the curves, unforunately by limited space is going to only allow a straight shoot oval. & yes, there is only going to be one train on this track - Wonderland Express with it's original engine & cars.
i guess once i get the expansion built (after the new year) & new track installed & secured so it doesnt jiggle around yet still easy to clean periodically, i'll find out what type of additional power i might need. i've currently got two power feeds, the original straight rerailer & a new curved one but right now only one transformer.

Thank God & Greyhound for E-bay cause this hobby aint cheap when ya want it to work right!!
No offense intended to our host site.
Thanks again for all the input cause i will be back for more advice i'm sure since a newbie & i hope everyone has a happy & safe new year.
Jerry - Largo, FL

i need to extend my HO E-Z Track from Bachmann Wonderless Express to about a 15x3 ft oval. Should i purchase the longer straight sections for better connections/less power loss or are the standard sections good? It will be in a permanent Christmas village display (least until, & if, i change houses!!)
Thanks in advance...
Jerry W - Largo, FL

Thanks for the reply Terry.  & i see you are a fellow member of the Chrome Dome Club, so, as fun as they are, these trains dont help in slowing that transition   Maybe they should rename those sky dome cars after us!!
i'm gonna try an experiment tomorrow on raising that back row of buildings (i'd have room to reach under & fix any wrecks or hangups).  Just have to make sure the transition looks normal.  On new portion, i created a tunnel going toward the back on elevated section that made it look like you could walk/drive/ride from one level to another - a black hole of sorts...
Since i didnt have any luck with PhotoBucket, i may try Flickr tomorrow so you guys can get a better idea of what i'm attempting.
Thanks again,
Jerry W - Largo