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Tracks Ahead: Great Train Journeys
United States
Приєднався 31 сер 2015
This magazine-style series has a unique appeal for train lovers of all ages, for railroading novices as well as experts, as it explores every aspect of the railroads of the world. Now broadcast on more than 200 PBS stations across America, host Spencer Christian (formerly of ABC’s Good Morning America) presents the best of steam locomotives, railroad stories, model trains and art. “We’re striving for more depth in each episode,” said David Baule, executive producer and director of the series. “The stories will intrigue a variety of viewers, while walking a middle line between technical and general information. Our goal is to capture the excitement and history of railroading. We continue to explore everything involved with it, from model trains and museums to collectors and authors.”
Jim Strong's Model Railway & Garden
Strong, 64, a retired electrical engineer for NASA, has overlooked few details in building his Woodland Railway, the elaborate garden railroad he has assembled over the past 22 years in the shady half-acre around his Upper Marlboro home.
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Except for the train-shaped mailbox out front, there is little about the setting of Strong's house-on a cul de sac in a quiet development by Andrews Air Force Base-that prepares you for what's behind it. Walking into his yard is like riding the trolley from Mr. Rogers' living room into the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
Fortunately, Strong is a better host than Rogers. He doesn't talk to his visitors in cloying tones, and he can break down the intricacies of building a miniature Alpine house out of Styrofoam and concrete faster than you can say "Martha Stewart." When he talks, you can hear in the pleasant ambling of his speech how much he relishes working out the kinks that building an outdoor model railway presents. It's the process, not just the product, that fascinates him. "I care more how well [the trains] run than what they look like," he says.
But the Woodland Railway is more than a small-scale engineering feat. Red-brick walkways surround the layout, giving it the feel of a miniature Frederick Law Olmsted creation. The tracks begin on a sunny, level patch of ground that Strong calls Willow Flats, after a willow tree that once stood there. Willow Flats is now covered by immature trees and moss, which look like shrubbery roughly in proportion to the G-scale trains-which are 20 times smaller than the real thing-that run through them.
A track connects Willow Flats to what Strong has dubbed Gum Grove and Hemlock Hill, which sit on a slope under a canopy of full-grown gum and hemlock trees. The groves are but a few steps away from the flats, but the journey for the itty-bitty passengers of the Woodland Railway is treacherous. For them, the gentle slope is a steep incline made manageable by a vertigo-inducing 2-foot-high redwood trestle.
Worldwide video distribution by: www.janson.com
Please subscribe and share for more great train videos: bit.ly/TracksAheadSubscribe
Except for the train-shaped mailbox out front, there is little about the setting of Strong's house-on a cul de sac in a quiet development by Andrews Air Force Base-that prepares you for what's behind it. Walking into his yard is like riding the trolley from Mr. Rogers' living room into the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
Fortunately, Strong is a better host than Rogers. He doesn't talk to his visitors in cloying tones, and he can break down the intricacies of building a miniature Alpine house out of Styrofoam and concrete faster than you can say "Martha Stewart." When he talks, you can hear in the pleasant ambling of his speech how much he relishes working out the kinks that building an outdoor model railway presents. It's the process, not just the product, that fascinates him. "I care more how well [the trains] run than what they look like," he says.
But the Woodland Railway is more than a small-scale engineering feat. Red-brick walkways surround the layout, giving it the feel of a miniature Frederick Law Olmsted creation. The tracks begin on a sunny, level patch of ground that Strong calls Willow Flats, after a willow tree that once stood there. Willow Flats is now covered by immature trees and moss, which look like shrubbery roughly in proportion to the G-scale trains-which are 20 times smaller than the real thing-that run through them.
A track connects Willow Flats to what Strong has dubbed Gum Grove and Hemlock Hill, which sit on a slope under a canopy of full-grown gum and hemlock trees. The groves are but a few steps away from the flats, but the journey for the itty-bitty passengers of the Woodland Railway is treacherous. For them, the gentle slope is a steep incline made manageable by a vertigo-inducing 2-foot-high redwood trestle.
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Відео
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Переглядів 41 тис.9 років тому
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Переглядів 20 тис.9 років тому
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Переглядів 13 тис.9 років тому
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Переглядів 81 тис.9 років тому
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Chihuahua-Pacific Railway in the Copper Canyon, Mexico
Totally awesome 💯👍🏻💯👍🏻💯👍🏻💯👍🏻💯👍🏻
Sooo cool!!
I’m liking the Lynyrd Skynyrd/Needle and the Spoon soundtrack
18:33 this shot.... ahhh the nostalgia just needs Tremont and Gulf 30s old whistle
If you're not a rail fan get the fuck up outta here bitch!
Con esa locomotora 2003 moví un tren granelero vacío de 112 unidades
I wish small train transport be tram
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
This was a great O gauge layout creation but AFAIK it has been taken down and is no longer. .
this was my most favourite scene ever seen!
This Strong guy is a legend. Some of his work is on display at the Brookside Gardens winter greenhouse garden railway display in Wheaton Maryland this December (and the past several Decembers).
I was wondering how much would THE MISSOURI RIVER EAGLE" AT JEFFERSON CITY, MO, WINTER be worth. Is a print because the Hotel Governor is backwards. Does anyone have any take on this? Thanks!
The North Platte Canteen painting was on a pillow once sold through the company store. I gave it to my late father who was actually at the canteen. It is now in my house.
Sadly, John Bromley died last month at the age of 81, as reported by #TrainsMagazine on November 9, 2023.
We're doing work for this guy!!
I wish they wouldn't limit the thumbs up
Tony is amazing!!
They have beautiful steam locomotives, like many others.
The only things that seem to be missing would be wind and flowing water. What an absolutely amazing project!.
Jim Strong's Woodland Railway I've seen was used for introducing Bachmann's large-scale locomotives
16:12 hopeful to return to Spencer sooner than later
15:11 18:56 coming soon to Durbin Greenbrier Valley RR
this train trip has "white people only" written all over it. the expression on the lady's face at 7:32 pretty much sums it all up; side eye, lmao.
Now I know who to hire to help me with my Railroad! 👍👍
Nice
Nicebest one i have seen
This man who narrated is awesome. Stunning layout with some scope to it. The easements between the features are realistic and reasonable. The curve radiuses are realistic. Just an amazing job. Congrats to the owner and his team.
That layout is something that most of us dream about having. You and your friends did an amazing job building it. I would love to see that layout in person.
Jim's advice for someone wanting to construct their own railroad, the only other advice he did not mention was have a LOT OF MONEY!.
Wonder how you keep this massive layout clean and free of dust buildup.
Go Big or Go Home...Holy Crap!!
My Childhood favorite train program
AWESOME Train layout!!! Great attention to detail 👌 👍 🚂
2:26 and rio grand 12's smokebox is white not black
1:15 is that 1919 wearing rio grand 12's whistle?
Watched this show as a kid lol
I remember watching Tracks Ahead with my grandpa when I was a kid! This is cool.
Loved watching these as a kid. Thanks for uploading them.
I can spend the rest of my life at northlands the work and effort that the people put into this. Breathtaking
Great stuff including the Organ. It would be fun to watch old silent movies and have it played .Even old Dudley Do right Cartoons. Rescuing beautiful Nell when Snidley Whiplash ties her to the Railway tracks . Great old cartoons. And YEP I am just a big kid over 50.😃😂😁
Neat!
Absolutely fantastic. I would thoroughly enjoy watching his trains running on this.
I think this layout was featured in I Love Toy Trains DVD part 8 i think.
Beautiful art to spark my imagination.
What an imaginative garden railway! I would so what to love in it.
Amazing Tony. Well done!
🚂⛰
They actually have a steam powered train with a conscious of Old Coach cars and they go on the old route and they go from one water hole to another water hole which was necessary in the old days to provide water for the steam engines. A very popular trip nowadays.
Tony has had a Great Lifetime with Trains. Nice to see his great looking Layout.
Wow