Brian Inch's compact O scale layout at Springfield show

While at the recent Springfield train show last month, I made sure to stop by Brian Inch's booth in the Mallary building (Section 122). I visited his workshop in Maine in 2021 and was impressed with the amount of "New England" scenery he could fit into a small space. That isn't to say that he doesn't build larger layouts, or layout in different scales with different themes altogether. But as someone who wants a simple, oval type layout with minimal switching with the focus on realistic New England scenery, he is a good resource. 

He brought a layout for sale, and I head him say that it was built in about 2 weeks. Not bad! Even though the curves at the ends were tight, it still allowed 4-axle diesel locomotives and 40-foot freight cars to operate reliably. My layout will have 0-52 curves, so I can get away with more. 

Sadly, I left my camera on the bus and was too lazy to go back and get it so the only photos I had were taken by my wife. Still, I am grateful she did. In the middle of the layout was a sprawling farm scene complete with cows.

Since my layout will feature a farm area, I found it really useful to see what can be done in a small amount of space. 

I believe that the grain elevator is a repainted venerable Lionel 027 kit (#6-12726).

One side featured a nice bridge with the track cutting through a forest.

Is it a simple layout? It certainly is. But I found it very enjoyable to watch a train trundle around it, loop after loop. Sometimes that is all you want in life.