One of the most detailed model railroad layouts for America’s biggest steam locomotives in O scale

If you’ve been around model railroading in O scale for a time, you’ve likely heard of Norm Charbonneau and his superbly detailed model railroad layout which was called “Greenbrook”. This amazing layout has been featured in the hobby press and it has attained well-deserved legendary status in the world of 3-rail O gauge railroading. Unfortunately, this dreamlike miniature world no longer exists! But how to present a layout that has already been dismantled about ten years ago?

From the beginning, Norm Charbonneau assembled toy train layouts directly on the floor. After receiving a Lionel train set, he started to work on his first layout. He named it “Greensville” and it was nothing more than a chunk of plywood covered in Life-Like grass paper with a train station. After experimenting with HO Scale and N Scale for a brief time, he began to pursue O Scale again. Many years later, after he settled in Michigan and fascinated by Pittsburgh’s awesome railroad and industrial heritage, he started building a new layout in the basement of his house.

Initially, he just wanted to run a lot of trains. Wide curves were a must for some of the larger scale steamers he managed to acquire in the past few years. Furthermore, long straight shots were desired to show off long lines of freight cars. He decided on several separate loops, with two separate yards for storing engines and cars. Scenery should consist of mountains at one end and a large industrial city at the other. Benchwork for the new layout started in February, 2003. It should become a layout with overall dimensions 22.5 feet by 19.5 feet, which offers enough space for locomotives and rolling stock by Lionel, 3rd Rail, Weaver, MTH and Atlas.

The layout scenery is influenced by the places Norm Charbonneau has lived, namely New England, Pittsburgh and Detroit. He soon realized that to make anything of the size needed to convey a sense of imposing presence, he would have to scratchbuild. Scratchbuilding also helped fulfill another desire, to make the layout look as unique as possible. While there was a period when all he knew was Lionel and MTH products, he soon discovered the vast selection of detail parts from outfits like Berkshire Valley, Grandt Line, and Model Tech Studios. While often the structure retains some characteristics of original kits, he erected customized buildings featuring add-on Plasticville details and weathering effects.

Control is handled by Lionel’s TMCC system. Motive power and rolling stock started off as a mix of Lionel TMCC-equipped train sets. As the layout progressed though, he found himself drawn more and more toward powerful steam locomotives. Lionel’s efforts of late have been very accurate representations of their prototypes and their sounds, especially the RailSounds versions. His fascination with big, scale steam power grew. Driven by a keen interest in the mechanics of steam locomotives, Norm’s collection of big steamers also grew. His trains ran and sounded realistically, but compared to the scenery and structures that he worked so hard to look authentic, his big scale steamers still looked shiny and toy-like. That was the time to transfer the knowledge of kitbashing, scratchbuilding, detailing and weathering to the model trains.

Therefore, he decided that it was time to take the final step into hi-rail modeling. So he focused on making his trains, including steam and diesel locomotives, match the layout’s grimy scenery palette. His main objective was to tone down the color of the trains. He sprayed Polly Scale grimy black, rust and Dirt acrylic paint colors onto the trains. He also drybrushed reefer gray paint on some parts to help highlight the details. By doing so, his motive power and rolling stock looked like they fit into the scenery. Model trains have become part of the scenery, as opposed to being objects untouched by their environment. Norm weathered his steam locomotives by spraying the smokebox and boiler with a grimy black paint color. Wheels, frame and cylinders receive a light coat of dirt-colored paint. He also glues cinders on some running boards along the boiler.

*Norm Charbonneau on YouTube*

*Pilentum Television*

[iggybeauchance]

No shakey hand held, no rented helicopters, no pan-& -zoooom, no 250 MPH freights, no 'mood' music, just excellent rail photography...excellent

[conrailfan]

I've been subbed on Norms channel
for over 2 years now, I love how he
converts O scale Lionel to more
realistic trucks and couplers!!
Now he's fixing up a K4 to pull
those sweet Brass passenger cars
he acquired!!!

[duncan.]

One of the best I've seen for realism. Engine control was excellent. Others take note. Trains take time to Start and stop.

[charlescrawford]

Captures the era beautifully, amazing.

[limited]

I figured this was Norm's work. He's since built a new RR. He's very much still in the hobby.

[theobessiris]

It's a great looking railway but I would like to see a few shots from a distance so we could see the whole overall picture of the layout.

[kenprice]

I like it when model trains are run at MODEL speeds! Some are run at model speeds that would equal 400 mph if it was a full size real train!!

[paktoysreview]

Nice! What a Magnificent Layout. great.

[Unlimited]

This is so incredibly real! The sky just takes it a level up. I've been a fan of trains since I was a kid, watching the 1st Season of Thomas the Tank Engine :), so discovering a channel like this is a privilege. Grateful I get to sit back after a long day and enjoy these wonderful videos.

Much Love from Canada

[lissanne]

Beautiful video! The train sounds were incredible. The train engines are so detailed and authentic looking. The video at the train yard was a lot of fun. Watching the engine on the turnstile being loaded, that was wonderful. Everything about this layout was done with details in mind, from the buildings, to the stone walls. Thank you for showing this great place.

[mikkiquinn]

This is an amazing video of an amazing layout! Once you 3-rail haters noticed that it was indeed 3-rail why did you continue watching if it bothered you so much? As stated in some of the replies, 3-rail allows a modeler to do more in a smaller space with a bit more ease. Not everyone belongs to a club in a big old garage or warehouse. I was so disappointed to read so many negative comments. With the realism of the scenery and the weathering (someone even complained about THAT!) it is easy to forget that middle rail. I am very happy NOT to be a rivet-counter and enjoy it for what it is.

[jtandme-otcl]

Nice viewing angles and some of the best weathering I've ever seen. Very natural looking. Thanks for posting.

[robertbeermanjr.]

Nice! What a Magnificent Layout. I don't think that I have seen much of the O scale Railroad Layouts. I really enjoy your channel. You are so right, this one has great detail and I love the steam engines.

[ronnronn]

Love the track side photography. And the staging of the trains to carry the visual interest from one to the other. Ronn

[joegarcia]

it looks so real it can be in a movie .awesome

[mischahabermehl]

Fantastic, one of the most detailed and genuine i've ever seen

[jonggring]

Tidak pernah bosan mengagumi detil2 dari semua bangunan, kereta, rel, batu kerikil bahkan rumput. Salut dan sangat mengagumkan. Salam penuh kedamaian dari kota di lereng gunung semeru, east java, Indonesia

[chessiesystemrailfanman]

Awesome model railroad, I could spend so much time here watching trains run. Thank you for sharing this video!!

[philip]

The Pennsylvania and the new York central had very impressive steam power
This layout is very detailed I really love all of it
I love that round house

[Papag]

Proud to be the first entre. Always stunning and most enjoyable. From trees to tracks.