Model Railroad Operations

[RELeeOnTraveller]

Well done story of an 'operating' model railroad. 

[Trainz35]

The steam era and jazz tune really set a great scene!

[lowew79]

Aww sorry you lost your Railroading buddy..

[ACLTony]

Cool jazz tune!  What is the name of the artist and this tune?

[rwundrock]

@ACLTony  It's just some production music that came with my video editing software.

[VilquinProductions]

3:43, who made the SW1 in the corner? Thanx fur sharin'!

[rwundrock]

@VilquinProductions That SW1 is a custom-painted Walthers' product.

[ACLTony]

Newdad, one other thing to consider. . A few people made fun of me for being into trains. What was funny but sad was that these same people blew their money on weed, booze, and strip clubs. What a waste! Money gone, booze in the toilet, weed up in smoke, & gradual damage to their human organs. Yet, I still had my model trains to work on and enjoy! Win-win. Because of the creativity and imagination required, this hobby helped me develop my mind. I'm in my 40s. It's a hobby for young and senior.

[newdad123]

because your to old for that...

[JBofBrisbane]

@newdad123 - Nah, you're only too old for HO model trains when your eyes go and you need reading glasses. Then you go into G gauge garden railways.

[rwundrock]

Model railroad operations are an extension of modeling trains to scale. If one models trains to represent the real ones, why not operate them like a real transportation system?

That's the concept behind model railroad operations.

I suggest you read "Realistic Model Railroad Operation" By Lionel Strang & Tony Koester, available through Kalmbach Publishing.

[superjono2]

You say you love trains and are building your own, then you shoot down those who are interested in a different avenue of model railroading than you?

[rwundrock]

Kids will spend eons playing video games and what do they have when they're done?

At least I can show someone what I've spent my time on when I'm done.

[ACLTony]

Newdad123, why are you dissing this gentleman? May be hard to understand, but for many of us that are model railroaders we find it very enjoyable and relaxing. We get to use our creative skills and imagination to recreate a world in miniature, just as many "kids" today spend time creating computer/vid type games. Worst thing one can do is to have good talent potential and let it go to waste. Doctors often recommend hobbies, like this one, for good mental health.

[rains7777777]

Awsome! I'm working on a layout of my own, it's not as big, but ur above/below railraod sceme will be usefull for me to use as well! Mine's going around a 10' by 10' bedroom. One side is 27", another is 21" the next is 16" and the last is 16". It isn't that big, but with one above and one below, should be more fun!

[rwundrock]

The bottom track you see is about 35 mainline feet from the top. The track climbs a 2% grade just to left of the bottom track. The layout is operated as a point-to-point with the terminal yards about 90 feet apart.

During ops sessions I use seven operators.

Watch for an upcoming detailed video of how I operate the layout.

[RichmanJ93]

Make sure your track radius's are very wide, to accomodate for long cars, and more enjoyable/realistic operation!

I learned this the hard way!

[michaelmohrmann]

Great show of a great layout, thanks for sharing. :)

[michaelmohrmann]

That was a great video and a great job done on the model railroad.

[aaron13133]

dude, it dosent matter if you touch the cars, they are just plastic cars, and i should know i have amodel railroad it dosent affect them if u touch the cars in any way!!!

[iggytretiak]

Too many hands stuck into the layout!

[rwundrock]

I have magnets in several places, but the guys tend to use their fingers. I told them that "fingerprints" are not my weathering medium of choice.

[railman62]

Bill!!! Get your fingers off of the Cars!!!!!

[rgs455atw]

Looks like a lot of fun. Mixture of DC and DCC at the end?

[rwundrock]

That engine is a DC version with sound. It's a bit tricky to do the sounds with an old Aristocraft wireless DC throttle

[rgs455atw]

I am trying to get away from the Aristocraft wireless throttles myself. I have started to install Tsunami DC/DCC decoders. Soundtraxx is comming out with an N scale decoder that will make it easy to fit in small places. I am in Sn3 scale so I am thinking the new decoders might fit in the boiler.

Do you use a card system to deliver cars?

[rwundrock]

I use Shipit! computer generated switchlists by Albion Software. I've had it for ten years and it's the best thing I've found.

[dcalcutt]

Ever thought about letting people operate locomotive acress the internet?

[rwundrock]

The layout and my technical plant is not capable of doing that without a lot of additional expense. The layout may be open as part of the 2010 NMRA convention layout tours.

[dcalcutt]

Waht do you mean technical plant? I use a wireless camera installed in a locomotive; a video capture device to get the video into the computer and the internet. YOu can visit my home page a watch as my 9-40cw goes around the layout. You can downlaod the software and try it out, its free. Try controlling the locomotive real time. ITs a challenge

[jimsmodeltrains]

Well done with the video. I am planning to video some op sessions on my layout too.

[lyfmartin]

What kind of system control the signals?Thank you

[rwundrock]

It's a CMRI (Computer Model Railroad Interface) system.  CMRI was designed by Bruce Chubb and has been covered in Model Railroader magazine several times.

[guitars14]

cool. very professional.