AM Tours

Rick Bigliardi’s North Pole, Tinseltown, Sabastian, and Bigville (NTS&B)

My wife (who passed away in 2019) was the main influence on the design of my layout (and boy was she sorry!). It features 4 layers including a 6’ diameter 2 track Helix (her requirement), 2 12’ suspension bridges and a 4’ arch bridge. It has ceramic and plastic buildings, lots of lights, and multi-levels (also her requirement). Most lights and accessories can be operated by visitors. The layout contains about 1000’ of track and can run 14 trains and a trolley on dedicated loops. The major loops include the dual 110' long mainline using Gargraves track, and the 202' helix loop with Lionel track. The most common description I've heard from visitors is that it is a fun layout. After the virtual layout tour was recorded, I renamed my layout slightly after my grandson. The name is now "North Pole, Tinseltown, Sabastian, and Bigville" instead of "North Pole, Tinseltown South, and Bigville". The town of Sabastian is now the 'Little Town with the Big Future'.

The Blue Valley Railroad is what might have been a rural town in Pennsylvania in the 60's. The layout encompasses the town along with a small yard that would be used for MOW or holding rolling stock for the local industries. The design of the layout is an outside oval with two smaller ovals inside the larger oval. All of the ovals are connected together so that trains can be switched onto or out of each loop. The layout is split into two sections the town and an industrial section separated by an open pit granite mine that has been abandoned. Scenery, Motive Power and Rolling Stock are a mixed collection of items that started in my childhood.

This is a freelance railroad located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland. It is a single track mainline with multiple passing sidings which services many industries and business along the way. Jamestown is the main town with Akers being the mining community. The layout has a large yard which services both East and West bound trains and has a large servicing center. More to come as we progress toward the completion of the Jamestown and Turtle Creek Interchange. This railroad is a product of the members of the North Atlanta Rail Barrons (NARB)

The UC&W Railroad is an operations-oriented, modern-day, Class 1 railroad. The railroad interacts with CP, CN, CSX, UP, BNSF, and VIA Rail. The railroad owns NS and all Amtrak operations in North America except for the NE Corridor and the Amtrak lines in California. The modeled portion of the railroad features sections between Salt Lake City, Utah and Seattle, Washington. Operations feature mainline freight, commuter rail, main-line passenger, steam excursions, and local freight. Scenery is about 70% complete, with the major remaining features including two town areas, an industrial area, and select industries. Visitors will notice that the layout owner has a sense of humor.