MTH Big Boy & Triplex - Video (Garden Railroad)

[nscalefun]

I counted 120 coal cars and 6 engines. Awesome job. Keep the video coming and keep up the good work.

[rayman4449]

@nscalefun You counted right and Thanks!

[Mousedigits1]

is that outside, whut happens if it rains?

[rayman4449]

@Mousedigits1 Hi, the track and layout is made to withstand the elements. The trains are stored indoors.

[qora01m]

It is very rare that someone really has the space to build such huge trains! It looks great. I have to admit I'm a very little bit envious about your space. For me as an indoor g scaler the max number of cars is 30 unfortunatelly... Thanks for sharing!

[rayman4449]

@qora01m Hi there. Thanks a bunch :) I just checked out some of your videos and you have done an excellent job with your installs and conversions! I tell you that you're actually fortunate that you have the room indoors for that much train as the way my house is I have no way of running indoors so that means I really can't run in the winter so I think you're lucky! 30 cars is still a lot of train : ) You keep up the great work too and thanks for the comment!

[microbusss]

coool I want a UP 4004 & Neighbors ever complain or do they like it?

[rayman4449]

@microbusss Hi, no they never complain. Everyone I've met really seems to think they're cool. I do keep the volumes turned down normally so as not to disturb them as these things do get loud turned up.

[microbusss]

@rayman4449 so there IS volume contol ? neat

UP #4004 is on display in Cheyenne That reason I want one plus Challenger 3977

[PeteM234]

Sorry about the double post Ray. Didn't realize that I did that. Question-is the website address above this box the right place for your videos? Also where do you get the SS track? That may be right for here in Florida. (very muggy most of the time)

Damn! Look at that train coming down off the ramp. That is fantastic. What a super shot. Pete

[rayman4449]

@PeteM234 Hi Pete. That's the site, yes. I got my SS track from Ridge Road Station, I would imagine they probably still have the best price on it. I can tell you that without question, SS is the way to go, forget brass. You don't get the carbon buildup of crap on your wheels like you do with brass that makes your wheels dirty. Also with the extra humidity, brass will corrode faster. My SS is Aristo Stainless but HR Trains has some REALLY NICE SS rail but it is more expensive.

[rayman4449]

@rayman4449 Thanks again! I didn't originally plan to take a video of this but once I saw what it looked like I had to grab the camera.

[PeteM234]

Rayman I have to say I like your videos and your layout. The sound effects make the whole thing I think. But Rayman,where are all the buildings and the scenery that gives a model rr all the pizzazz? Also do you run the trains as highballs or is it all slow motion?

Now we need some more videos. I spent three hours yesterday watching these over and over so now I'm ready for new ones. Great job Ray Thanks for posting all these videos. Pete

[rayman4449]

@PeteM234 Hi Pete, thanks again. As you can see I don't have a fence so adding buildings (something that can walk away with ease) isn't a good idea. They can also add considerable expense and my focus at this point has been engines and rolling stock. Check out my website I havethe rest of my videos posted there. I do have some passenger engines high-balling.. 70SMPH+ (see the American Freedom GS-4 videos).

[rayman4449]

@PeteM234 Thank you again and you're welcome! It's folks like you that make the effort of filming and posting them worth it.

[SpeedbeetleV2]

That first train isn't long enough

[ocrailfanner1995]

ok do you have a direct connection to the tiu or or is it that anntenna from you mth system that lets it work so well ours always looses the signal please give me some advice

[rayman4449]

@ocrailfanner1995 There is no direct connection. See my website for the info on the additional wire I added to the TIU to get better range with the remote. Make sure you keep the TIU sitting horizontal (not mounted vertically) and add that extra antenna wire and you should be good to go.

[serjio712]

Супер,мне очень понравилось,привет с Украины!!!!

[rayman4449]

Спасибо!

[bike9989]

How many coal cars? Did MTH give you a deal on that many cars? Do you lay extra power cables out to the edges? Where do you store all this rolling stock for winter? When I retire I want to build something like this at my mountain place. :)

Very Nice.

[rayman4449]

Hi there, thanks. Should be a total of 120 between the two trains. lol I'm acutally using Bachmann coal hoppers to keep costs down. I have one set of 60 that is stored in 4 boxes and the other set is stacked in to stacks. I know you'd enjoy it, G scale is great.

[Chevytruckin365]

Ok Three mallets,Three Big boys,Three Triplexs where's the two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree ...J/K !!!!!! livining next to you would be way up there along with living

next to a College Sorority House

[rayman4449]

LOL >; )

[TommyZTrains]

That settles it, I'm movin next to you Hoss !!!!!!

DO NOT "keep it down" (volume) !!

*only an idiot would ask that!

[rayman4449]

Tom, living next to you would be a model railroader's dream come true!

Hehe actually I'm a Tom wannabe. ; )

[StrikersLG]

man at 6:46 that big boy and triplex really cut close.

[rayman4449]

They were a little close. I was actually putting them both on the same loop for the heck of it and they both barely fit.

[8010cookie]

Someone order some coal cars?

[jspots57]

Rayman, How in the world do you get the three engines to run at the same speed? Everytime I try multiple engines, there is enough difference, especially trying to push-pull as you do, that derails occur. Joe

[rayman4449]

Hey Joe, it's acutally thanks to the method used by the MTH DCS Protosound board in the engines to control the speed. Each engine has it's own sound and control board, each with it's own optical reader that monitors the engine's speed by reading black and white stripes on a motor's flywheel. You dial in what ScaleMPH you want the engines to go and each board gets the command and actively maintains that rate of speed. In fact makes a LOT of adjustments per second ....

[rayman4449]

of increasing or decreasing voltage to the motors to keep it running at the rights speed. Despite that it's still super smooth in deceleration/acceleration. So despite the load or variations in motor efficiency etc, each engine is able to maintain a balanced load factor in pulling or pushing such a long train and they all are going at the same speed because each engine is trying to actively maintain that speed. It's very precise and one of the reasons I went with DCS for my sound & control.

[7485jerry]

Ray i'll bet your neighbors love you don't they LOL I'm working on getting a triplex myself!!

[rayman4449]

LOL I try no to turn the volume up too loud.. ;)  Good deal! I think you will really enjoy this model. Excellent running and intriguing to what run.

[adfgfds]

Oh, I'm sure it did. Laying all that track and getting all the rolling stock you have must have taken years.

Totally worth it though, as I'm into HO scale :)

[adfgfds]

You must have a pretty good job to afford stuff like this. What do you do for a living?

[rayman4449]

I'd say I make an average living. I save money in other areas to put towards the trains. I drive older cars and fix and maintain them them myself, don't go out to eat very often and generally watch what I spend my money on. Overall G scale isn't that bad compared to other scales. It is more expensive for sure but a one Gauge Triplex or Big Boy can be had for 1000 dollars each. Compare that to say an MTH HO version and you don't have to spend much more to get this much larger version! :)

[rayman4449]

I would also add that I haven't had a car note in years and just one new car that most don't blink an eye buying at 25k dollars can buy a TON of G scale trains. :)

[rayman4449]

It's also important to note too, that it's taken me several years of scrimping, saving and sacrifice to get what I have. I wasn't able to get them all at one time.

[adfgfds]

Esp if you go to any model train shows near you and get tons of stuff for half or more the normal cost :)

[adfgfds]

Thats true. I got my MTH HO 4-12-2 for $513 once tax was done.

How do you power your layout with so much track?

[rayman4449]

A 4-12-2? I'm jealous! I want MTH to make one in One Gauge really bad. Because of the type of rail I use I run with 12 gauge outdoor wire for jumpers (in a buss configuration) every 24 ft or so. I honestly never have to mess with it or clean the track. The power supply is a 25amp / 24v DC power supply but even with both of those trains I think they were pulling less than 5 amps.

[adfgfds]

I'm sure MTH will come out with a One Gauge 4-12-2. They've had one in O scale for a long time....and then recently released one in HO scale. So making one in One Gauge will probably be soon.

Damn.....25amps? How do you make the jumpers? Do you solder them to the track?

[rayman4449]

I will send you a link to my website so you can see, I have photos and writeups on how I did my layout including the connections. hehe yeah but I only use that much power if I'm running multiple lighted passenger trains. running three 10 car trains can draw quite a bit of power.