Model Train Layout in F-Scale by Michael Omartian

Enjoy this brief look at a massive train layout custom-built by Michael Omartian. He is the only Grammy Award winning music producer to chart #1 hits in three consecutive decades, and next to his lifelong passion for music, “Omar” has loved trains since childhood.

He says he’ll never finish expanding his model railroad which currently fills a 600 square foot room in his Nashville home. Michael designs and handcrafts much of the scenery, buildings, bridges, and painted treatments himself, and the overall realism is stunning.

Michael’s friend of 44 years, Bob Anderson, recently enjoyed a tour of the train set which is thematically named, “White Horse Timber Co., Established 1926.” Bob captured this brief impromptu video (just under 2 minutes) along with several stills during a half-day visit dedicated to catching up on life, lunch, and the current state of the ever-evolving train panorama.

The entire setup is in F-scale which is a ratio of 1:20.3 to reality. It’s segmented into two track circuits, the first being the Mainline comprised of 190 feet of track. Scaled up to life-size, that equals 3,857 feet or .73 of a mile. The second circuit is the Yard with 80 feet of track representing 1,624 feet.

So, Michael’s total track is 270 feet which — scaled up — is 5,481 feet or 1.04 mile in real life. If Michael runs an engine at prototypical speed, it takes 8 minutes to circle the entire Mainline.

By the way, on another track (bad pun), some of Michael’s impressive accomplishments throughout his illustrious music career will be of interest to many viewers…

Omartian has produced albums for top artists including Whitney Houston, Clint Black, Michael Bolton, Dolly Parton, Christopher Cross, Amy Grant, Benny Hester, The Imperials, The Jacksons, Rod Stewart, Donna Summer, Wayne Watson, and Trisha Yearwood.

Michael has arranged and played keyboards for all the artists listed above and others including: John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Barbara Streisand, Steely Dan, Reba McEntire, Boz Skaggs, Julio Iglesias, Richard Marx, Al Jarreau, Eric Clapton, Rikki Lee Jones, Manhattan Transfer, The Jacksons, Faith Hill, Lee Ann Womack, Lonestar, and Lori Morgan.

Michael has contributed his talents to over 350,000,000 albums and CD’s sold worldwide as a producer, composer, arranger, artist, or musician. With seventeen Grammy nominations including Producer of the Year, Album of the Year and Gospel Album of the Year, Michael is a multiple Grammy Award winner. He has also been recognized by The Recording Academy (NARAS) as Keyboard Musician of the Year and is a Yamaha sponsored artist.