Norm Charbonneau’s Northbrook Layout in O scale | Come along with Model Railroader Editor Eric White as he and Trains.com Video captures Norm Charbonneau’s 29 x 36-foot O scale (3-rail) basement layout, depicting steam-diesel transition era, Pennsy-inspired railroading action. Catch a sneak peek months before crowds arrive to visit the display during the 2025 NMRA National Convention! 
Enjoy the 1:48 scale structures and scenery Norm crafted for this layout, along with others he’s built and previously presented in the pages of Classic Toy Trains magazine.
You won’t want to miss the guided tour presented here, or as featured in the June 2025 issue of Model Railroader magazine — not to mention additional Michigan-area layouts also highlighted in MR and on Trains.com Video!
Wow. Norm is the Pelle Søeborg of O scale!
Amazing craftsmanship. I marvel at the industrial NE feel–the complete picture. Very well done.
Now I have to come to Novi.
Thanks, Daniel for the YouTube tip. I’ll check it out!
I started out with 027 three rail. I love the atlas O track with the black center rail. I did make the HUGE jump to N scale. Big fan of operations and my space was just too small at that time for O scale operations. If I ever start over, I would work in ) scale two rail and have more of a local industrial layout. Small switchers, GPs or any small 4 axle industrial are engine
Great tour. I’m subscribed to Norm’s YouTube channel. Some great video there as well.