Very nicely done! The grittiness of the industrial area in the background and rusted storage tanks reminds me some of the trackage and buildings of the former Wisconsin Steel mill site in Chicago, the nearby Cargill grain terminal, and all the trackage and road crossings. Sad it's all gone now, along with the jobs, the trains (Chicago, West Pullman and Southern) and the people. (RIP Grandpa, and the men I met through him as a boy, part of the Greatest Generation, who were screwed over by the company that bought the mill from International Harvester, then took the money and best pieces and closed it without warning.)
Man, listening to that SW work takes me back nearly 50 yrs(!) to when I used to ride my bike over to the local rail yard and watch a pair of worn out Penn Central switchers kick cars over the hump! Great layout, w/realistic operation!
Very nicely produced! I love how far the modeling has come over the years (it's been eons since I had space for any form of layout and dcc was just in its infancy). The sound reeeeally helps one get lost in the switching here, for it's just right for the pace on this well-detailed layout. It seems spot on for the switching I've watched elsewhere, as well as when I worked with the old Paducah-rebuilt geeps we had out at military post where I worked for a decade as a civilian. I love the remnants of dirty snow and the wheel loader with the snow "box" blade. Nicely done! Edit: I'll leave my original comments alone but it dawned on me in hindsight that this was the earlier version of your layout! I'll blame it on flu meds or defective coffee or some such... lol. Now I have some content to watch! :)
This is the first video of yours that I saw a couple years ago, and I was SO impressed with the sound. You have a VERY realistic sound on your engine!!! WAY COOL!!!! NICE Layout too!!!!
Your updated layout looks fantastic, and that DJI gimbal really allows for some great panning sequences. Also like some of the scene shots where your switcher is passing behind freight cars. And then there is the very realistic clumping of scrub brush at 12:31, which looks great.
No joke, I saw the word railfanning in your title and then saw the thumbnail and thought that was a real scene outside. Then I noticed the clouds and was like... wait... those look European. Great video! I mean, it’s easy to switch cars when there’s no passenger cars running by but still. ;) Your layout is awesome and so is the weathering. Looks so real. Thanks for checking out my livestream. -Mark
Hahaha thanks Mark! U know I felt I need to spice up the switching by having multiple passenger trains passing by all the time... I guess it’s time for reversing loops and a nice LRC lol I enjoyed the stream! You did an awesome job! Thank you for watching, John
@@RailserveJohn I would also like to have a passenger train passing by while switching, when I build my first layout, but like you, I'm very constrained by space. So, I found a way to scratch that itch on another YT channel, by placing an idling passenger train on a siding, while waiting for the mainline to clear.
I guess Im asking the wrong place but does anyone know a tool to log back into an Instagram account..? I was dumb forgot the account password. I love any assistance you can give me!
@Elian Kaison I really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
Gotta tell ya, watching this was awesome! Thank you! I love that switcher (have always had a thing for them) and you have me thinking of maybe putting sound in my new SW1500 coming in. It's B&N green and black and I've been trying to get one for a while. I also love the display case, it looks like a TrainVana engine vending machine! Lol!!!
Everytime I watch one of your videos I see something I've not noticed before. I've not noticed the snow before. The pile of dirty snow beside the crossing with the loader equipped with the snow plow is just perfect how you got it to look just like snow off a dirty parking lot. This layout may be small but it is awesome. I like how you put the man out flagging the crossing too. Amazing job on this layout. It doesn't get much better. You are very talented. Stay well. -Wil 👍
Thank you very much William. I enjoy throwing in those details. I for one love looking at layouts and discovering all of the details and little Easter eggs. I appreciate the comment and thanks for watching! John
John, always love railfanning your layout. 802 sounds great and the realistic throttle response and scale speed just bring it all together in fine operation. I hope you take the layout with you when you get a bigger place. Would make a great branch or industrial lead off the main layout. Cheers Rob
Thanks Rob! Yes 802 does sound pretty healthy... Just a Loksound V5 and a sugar cube speaker... I do have all of those open metal vents so maybe it helps with the tone... Definitely one of my best sounding units. I am am actually planning the next layout now. We will see how the existing track work blends into the new one... Thanks again for all of the comments. Always enjoy hearing from you. All the best, John
Excellent video! Really shows off every aspect of the layout. Best use of the sound decoder I've heard. Photo backdrop has really helped with sense of realism. Rolling stock has just the right amount of weathering.
Awesome! Thank you very much for watching! I love hearing about people starting a layout. Even a small compact design can host a lot of fun. Enjoy! All the best, John
Thanks! I finally have my switchers dialed in. I use a good amount of acceleration, Max deceleration, and about 80% brake. All of that mixed into drive hold adds up to some convincing weight. Thanks for watching, John
@@RailserveJohn Yea.I put a Loksound 5 in a BLI SW1500 a couple months back, & those features really make it look & sound ,fantastic.I nearly always put a fair bit of momentam, in my locos, even the non sound locos. Nice to watch, thankyou
Thanks Tim. I don’t glue any of my vehicles down for that reason. Even the ones with lights have internal batteries so I can move them around. Thanks for watching!
As usual, high-quality work! From the sounds, the realistic weathering of the rolling stock to the overall toned-down, yet realistic look of your layout everything just fits. It´s going to be a sunny day today yet while watching your video I felt like it was an overcast late winter day. I hope you´re doing well and look forward to more of your videos! Btw, I´m currently in the middle of building a very small n-scale industrial switching layout and it´s lots of fun to build and operate. Your work has been a great inspiration and I´m glad I found your channel! All the best from Germany!
Thank you very much for the compliment! It’s great to hear to have gotten some inspiration from my videos. It is my number 1 goal for doing these... have fun! All the best, John
Well done on your speeds, observing grade xings and level of detail. Like your "balanced" approach to how much is enough on the weathering side. Enjoy...DW 🏖
another great video my friend cant wait to see the next one. i no ur layout is small but for ur interchange u should have a track with a runaround where it shows southern as they drop off and pick up and then leave and then u come and get ur cars.
Thanks Anthony, yeah I don’t have the room for one but in my mind there would be a siding on the main where they can Run Around Lol. When the layout grows I will for sure have to include one. All the best, John
I recently was granted permission for a small layout on one wall of a spare room that we have, which is currently being used as a TV room. I went in a search for inspiration on YT and found yours and Tom’s layout. These both gave me great ideas. Thank you for sharing and your layout looks really nice. By the way, I think we worked together on an account based out of KTEB, myself being a former maintenance manager!
So cool you are into model railroading as well. A shelf layout is a great/inexpensive way to enjoy the hobby. This was my first serious layout and I used it to experiment on different things seeing what I liked and didn’t like. I’ll be moving next year and will begin a new layout. Feel free to reach out with any questions or additional info on the layout. Would love to help. Stay safe and great hearing from you!
@@RailserveJohn Yes, small world indeed. It took me a couple videos to figure out it was you, but I did have that, “ I know him from somewhere” thought bugging me LOL. When I saw you on an episode of MRL, it confirmed it for me. I’ve been an armchair model railroader for years and messed around a little bit with N scale T-trak. I quickly got bored of that and like you, wanted more. Then my wife gave me 10 feet of a wall in a spare room, game on!!!!! Im not that creative with layout ideas so I’m definitely taking inspiration and ideas from you and Tom. Oh, I still work for JAFS as a QA inspector.
Awesome! I left VJ during the transition. I’m on a 91 account now out of Boca. 150-200 hrs a year on a 300. It’s me and Kimble Hanna. I’m sure you remember him from the VJ account. I started with N scale as well but found myself really wanting to try getting into the detail. Unfortunately I stopped working on my layout as it will be coming down very soon. I am starting the planning process for the new one. It will be like my current one but stretching 2 rooms with most likely reversing loops at both ends for optional continuous running. Have fun with the build and hope to hear from you soon.
Excellent ops session video. The RSSX 802 sounds amazing. You did a great job with the switching operations, liked how you had a flag man for the grade crossing. Your layout proves that you don't need a large layout to have a great ops session. Your sequence of switching the facility made perfect sense given the limitations on the length of the tail track. The prototype has those kinds of restrictions too, so it is very realistic. The new gimbal worked perfectly, very nice smooth pan which is hard to do manually and the tracking was spot on. I would say that was a successful test. -Tom
Thanks Tom! It was a random session I did the other day. I tried some new track cleaning fluid so I was testing it out which transformed into pulling out the tripod (the new one, not the old little one on top of the computer chair ;). I folded a small piece of Tamiya tape around a piece of wire, painted it red and was able to crinkle it up so it looked like fabric. I will be filming a second part to this and am going to feature the switch list we worked on. Thanks again for all the help... all the best, John
I was going to say that your locomotive ran well, especially over that turnout you were having trouble with. I guess your track cleaning was successful as I did not notice any stalls. The flag and flag man looked great, a simple project that adds a realistic touch. I am looking forward to seeing part two. Take care and be safe.- Tom
Hi John the layout is looking awesome as always. I truly like the new extension. I knew you'd do it. One thing, your roster needs a S2/4. Love those ALCOs
Thanks John! I as well have a soft spot for Alcos... I wish Railserve had some.... Although... The next phase of this layout will have 2 Alcos as its main stars... Once I am in the new house I will start unavailing the next phase.. thanks for watching... John
One of my favorite layouts.. always good to see an update pop up for viewing. I'm not sure yet if I like your new "white" structure in the corner..in this video it seems it's going to block much of the really great detail that you've done back in the corner..We'll see. You've hit a home run on everything else. You seem to have an awesome eye for what needs to be. I'll be anxious to see how that structure shapes up and becomes part of what needs to be there.
Thanks for the comment. That white building is just a stand in until I figure out how to hide the edge of the backdrop. It will most likely blend into the green building but I haven’t worked on that project yet. Thanks for the comment! John
Thanks William! Yes I love that green.... they weather up so nicely as well. I pre ordered all 4 of the patched versions from ScaleTrains. I am looking forward for them to be released. Thanks for watching. All the best, John
@@RailserveJohn Hope you're flying...last time I was up was 25 March. Running out of landing currency in two days. Don't think I'll be in for training or landings anytime soon either with the displacements. Maybe now is the time for me to make a switching railroad of my own!
Oh man that’s rough.... I have been flying actually. My boss has been getting back to work as well as visiting some of his other homes so we have been flying a bit. It’s such a crazy time for this industry... 4 months ago we were in the biggest pilot shortage in history and now we are in this mess.... hope all works out for you man... John
So awesome to watch your craftsmanship! Your videos sit up the bait for having one of my own Rail Serve locomotives. Then wal-lah, as I was driving by the former Kennecott Copper and trying to hide was four "GP9s" in very fresh black and yellow paint. One was ex ATSF, two from CP. The fourth I can't tell yet. All had their dynamic brakes inards removed and grids plated over. But one is calling my name and I'll start with a Walthers GP9 "phll". So what's the best yellow color match? Thanks for sharing!
Awesome! Thank you! I have a Chop Nose GP7 that I have built into a Railserve unit as well. It still needs a decoder but can be seen in some of my earlier videos. This latest Loco 802 I used Tru Color CNW yellow. (The dark yellow not the light zinc color) it seems to be a pretty close match. Thanks for watching! John
Great video and and great sound! I want to build a shelf switching layout like yours. I would like to see an overall shot of your layout to get some ideas.
It’s a stabilizing device for filming mostly for if you are walking of moving around it will keep the camera steady and eliminate shaking. This one has a tracking feature where it will follow an object around by itself. Almost like having a camera man while I am working the throttle lol
Thank you! Oh yes.... the build is coming along well, the project has grown and there are now “Blue Cars” on the workbench ;) I hope to have another update out next week. Thanks for watching, John
Hey John just wondering how you are doing? I've been really busy on my own new layout from ground up. It's a 2'x20' switching. Very complex in some places. I've done a slide show that I'll be posting soon.
Hi John, I am doing well and pretty busy with work which is taking a lot of my usual modeling time. A new/bigger layout is on the horizon. Looking forward to starting that project.
@@RailserveJohn l'm really glad to hear you're doing well. And I do know about being busy. Trying to get as much done before shoulder replacement surgery the 25th and being one handed for weeks. I'll be able to do ops and take notes on changes. Already thinking hard on a L extension?
Thanks. I am using an ESU V5 decoder. I have the deceleration maxed out with a rather high value on the brake. Along with using the drive hold feature you can simulate the weight of the train. Thanks for the comment! John
Thanks Tom. It is pretty neat... although one issue I am having is with the audio. When recording using the DJI app, the audio has a tendency to fade in and out. I had to record the sound from my camera. I am searching to find a fix for this or if adding an external mic to my phone will help. All the best, John
@@RailserveJohn I bought a Zhyiuh gimbal some time ago, the only issue I had was with the app, it was a little clunky and didn't follow the subject. I have to turn my phone up side down so I can use the audio jack of an external mic. I like usng an external mic with my phone for the better audio. Give & take with every product.
Hahaha well go tell your Canadian friends at Rapido to hurry up with their SW1200 switchers... lol can’t wait for my Conrail one! Thanks for the comment Bud, John
Well depending on which project lol the in laws layout and Blue Comet are slowly coming along... now my next layout.... well that’s still in planning but I’ll release some insight shortly. All the best, John
John2618 yes i am a friend of mine has been with the M&E for a while now and still misses them. 19 is owned by Tri-State railway group that’s keeps her I. Running condition
Well I may have to reach out and pick your brain a bit on their operations one day. The layout I’ll be building in a few months in my new house will be based on the M&E. I have been trying to research as much of the operation as I can and will most likely try to model around 2015. I’m trying to research certain industries and such.
The momentum programmed into 802 is excellent!
Thanks! Its pretty much maxed out with lighter break value which helps smooth things out.
Very nicely done! The grittiness of the industrial area in the background and rusted storage tanks reminds me some of the trackage and buildings of the former Wisconsin Steel mill site in Chicago, the nearby Cargill grain terminal, and all the trackage and road crossings. Sad it's all gone now, along with the jobs, the trains (Chicago, West Pullman and Southern) and the people. (RIP Grandpa, and the men I met through him as a boy, part of the Greatest Generation, who were screwed over by the company that bought the mill from International Harvester, then took the money and best pieces and closed it without warning.)
Thanks Mark. It’s great to hear you can take a little trip down memory lane by railfanning my layout. All the best, John
Super duper awesome guy!!!
WOW. very impressive: scenery, weathering, background, buildings. Well done indeed
Thank you!
this is HANDS DOWN my favorite channel for when i want to watch HO-scale stuff
Thank you so much for the compliment Ann! And thanks for watching. All the best, John
Everything about this layout is amazing but I love those dirty snow piles the most 😉
Man, listening to that SW work takes me back nearly 50 yrs(!) to when I used to ride my bike over to the local rail yard and watch a pair of worn out Penn Central switchers kick cars over the hump! Great layout, w/realistic operation!
Thank you! Yes it sure sounds good... I’m using a LokSound decoder.
@@RailserveJohn Glad you had something like that to fall back on during this crazy Pandemic!
Very nicely produced! I love how far the modeling has come over the years (it's been eons since I had space for any form of layout and dcc was just in its infancy). The sound reeeeally helps one get lost in the switching here, for it's just right for the pace on this well-detailed layout. It seems spot on for the switching I've watched elsewhere, as well as when I worked with the old Paducah-rebuilt geeps we had out at military post where I worked for a decade as a civilian. I love the remnants of dirty snow and the wheel loader with the snow "box" blade. Nicely done!
Edit: I'll leave my original comments alone but it dawned on me in hindsight that this was the earlier version of your layout! I'll blame it on flu meds or defective coffee or some such... lol. Now I have some content to watch! :)
This is the first video of yours that I saw a couple years ago, and I was SO impressed with the sound. You have a VERY realistic sound on your engine!!! WAY COOL!!!! NICE Layout too!!!!
I miss this layout lol thank for watching
All good and I love the winter setting!!
Thank you Mark!
Your updated layout looks fantastic, and that DJI gimbal really allows for some great panning sequences. Also like some of the scene shots where your switcher is passing behind freight cars. And then there is the very realistic clumping of scrub brush at 12:31, which looks great.
You must be pretty pleased with the sound on that switcher!! Sounds excellent!!
I am! I love this little switcher. Thanks for watching -John
Enjoyed your video. Nice videography, the DJI Gimbal seems to work. I like your layout, very realistic appearance. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Michael!
Sometimes the smaller layouts become more functional than a bigger one. Great video and I like your Loco Display on the wall!
Thanks Jason! I enjoy the operations even though I don’t have much space.
Your little layout is just so great! I really love this kind of switching you did! :)
Thanks! Don’t need a lot of space to enjoy the hobby and operations
No joke, I saw the word railfanning in your title and then saw the thumbnail and thought that was a real scene outside. Then I noticed the clouds and was like... wait... those look European. Great video! I mean, it’s easy to switch cars when there’s no passenger cars running by but still. ;) Your layout is awesome and so is the weathering. Looks so real. Thanks for checking out my livestream. -Mark
Hahaha thanks Mark! U know I felt I need to spice up the switching by having multiple passenger trains passing by all the time... I guess it’s time for reversing loops and a nice LRC lol I enjoyed the stream! You did an awesome job! Thank you for watching, John
@@RailserveJohn I would also like to have a passenger train passing by while switching, when I build my first layout, but like you, I'm very constrained by space.
So, I found a way to scratch that itch on another YT channel, by placing an idling passenger train on a siding, while waiting for the mainline to clear.
John.......for such a small shelf layout I can't get over the amount of intricate detail you pack in per square inch!!! Hats off to you brother!!!
Thanks Pete. I really appreciate the compliment. All the best, John
John, this is a welcome relief from the mayhem rocking so much of the country. Thank-you.... looks and sounds great. Bill in Bellows Falls, Vermont
I guess Im asking the wrong place but does anyone know a tool to log back into an Instagram account..?
I was dumb forgot the account password. I love any assistance you can give me!
@Anson Diego instablaster ;)
@Elian Kaison I really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff atm.
Takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Elian Kaison It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D
Thank you so much, you really help me out !
@Anson Diego no problem xD
The sound on that diesel (Alco?) is awesome...nice smooth running...sweet Op session
Thanks Anthony. It’s an EMD SW1200. I do love Alcos though... all the best, John
I came down here to say just that - love the sound of that engine!
Gotta tell ya, watching this was awesome! Thank you! I love that switcher (have always had a thing for them) and you have me thinking of maybe putting sound in my new SW1500 coming in. It's B&N green and black and I've been trying to get one for a while.
I also love the display case, it looks like a TrainVana engine vending machine! Lol!!!
Thanks! Yes I enjoy switchers as well. Thank you for the comment. I should be revealing my new layout plan shortly - John
Everytime I watch one of your videos I see something I've not noticed before. I've not noticed the snow before. The pile of dirty snow beside the crossing with the loader equipped with the snow plow is just perfect how you got it to look just like snow off a dirty parking lot. This layout may be small but it is awesome. I like how you put the man out flagging the crossing too. Amazing job on this layout. It doesn't get much better. You are very talented.
Stay well. -Wil 👍
Thank you very much William. I enjoy throwing in those details. I for one love looking at layouts and discovering all of the details and little Easter eggs. I appreciate the comment and thanks for watching! John
John, always love railfanning your layout. 802 sounds great and the realistic throttle response and scale speed just bring it all together in fine operation. I hope you take the layout with you when you get a bigger place. Would make a great branch or industrial lead off the main layout. Cheers Rob
Thanks Rob! Yes 802 does sound pretty healthy... Just a Loksound V5 and a sugar cube speaker... I do have all of those open metal vents so maybe it helps with the tone... Definitely one of my best sounding units. I am am actually planning the next layout now. We will see how the existing track work blends into the new one... Thanks again for all of the comments. Always enjoy hearing from you. All the best, John
My favorite part of model railroading is switching like this. The sound adds so much to the experience, too. Many thanks for sharing, John!
Thank you Andrew. It is fun to run these little ops session on the layout. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching, all the best John
Really nice job, like operations like this - weathering on the equipment and structures looks great - thank you for taking the time to share..
Thank you very much!
Excellent video! Really shows off every aspect of the layout. Best use of the sound decoder I've heard. Photo backdrop has really helped with sense of realism. Rolling stock has just the right amount of weathering.
Thank you Jerry, I appreciate the comment. Thank you for watching! All the best, John
Great video; excellent layout. Prototype operations, and great scenery and weathering. It all adds up! Outstanding!
Thank you Mark!
John your work is amazing. You have inspired me for my next home layouts. Hello from New Zealand
Awesome! Thank you very much for watching! I love hearing about people starting a layout. Even a small compact design can host a lot of fun. Enjoy! All the best, John
Layouts looking great...love the momentum and drive lock effects on the 1200
Thanks! I finally have my switchers dialed in. I use a good amount of acceleration, Max deceleration, and about 80% brake. All of that mixed into drive hold adds up to some convincing weight. Thanks for watching, John
@@RailserveJohn Yea.I put a Loksound 5 in a BLI SW1500 a couple months back, & those features really make it look & sound ,fantastic.I nearly always put a fair bit of momentam, in my locos, even the non sound locos. Nice to watch, thankyou
Another great video! Love seeing the trucks parked here and there. Gives a sense there is other stuff going on while RSSX does its thing.
Thanks Tim. I don’t glue any of my vehicles down for that reason. Even the ones with lights have internal batteries so I can move them around. Thanks for watching!
Really love the vegetation you put next to the lot in front of the food plant and at the other end of the layout. Kudos from France, keep it up!
Thank you for watching! All the best, John
WOW, the layout looks fantastic!!
Great layout 👍 Looking forward to your next video
Thank you
Great-looking shelf layout, excellent sound, and terrific video! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much for the compliment!
I love what you do in such a small amount of space
Thank you Pete. A lot of enjoyment is possible with the hobby in a small amount of space. Thank you for watching!
Great to see another video up. Always like to see what progress you make. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Scott!
This is absolutely wonderful to watch I greatly enjoyed it! Please keep them coming.
Thank you! I really appreciate the comment. Thanks for watching, John
As usual, high-quality work! From the sounds, the realistic weathering of the rolling stock to the overall toned-down, yet realistic look of your layout everything just fits. It´s going to be a sunny day today yet while watching your video I felt like it was an overcast late winter day.
I hope you´re doing well and look forward to more of your videos!
Btw, I´m currently in the middle of building a very small n-scale industrial switching layout and it´s lots of fun to build and operate. Your work has been a great inspiration and I´m glad I found your channel!
All the best from Germany!
Thank you very much for the compliment! It’s great to hear to have gotten some inspiration from my videos. It is my number 1 goal for doing these... have fun! All the best, John
Superb detail in the scene and realism with your operations! Really enjoyed it, thank you for sharing!
Thanks for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed it. All the best, John
Fantastic, really looks terrific, and man that sound... So good
Lol thanks Bud.... it does sound healthy doesn’t it... ;)
Well done on your speeds, observing grade xings and level of detail. Like your "balanced" approach to how much is enough on the weathering side.
Enjoy...DW 🏖
Thank you for watching and thanks for the compliment! All the best, John
Awesome switching ops video John. Your layout is looking absolutely incredible. Love your weathering, industries and scenery.
Thank you very much! Thanks for watching!
great op session John..thx 4 sharing.. vinny
Thanks Vinny... I enjoy running these little sessions from time to time. All the best, John
Love the vids man. Fun fact here for you....in the industry we dont call it "off spotting"... we call it "hanging"
Thanks! Cool tip to know.
another great video my friend cant wait to see the next one. i no ur layout is small but for ur interchange u should have a track with a runaround where it shows southern as they drop off and pick up and then leave and then u come and get ur cars.
Thanks Anthony, yeah I don’t have the room for one but in my mind there would be a siding on the main where they can Run Around Lol. When the layout grows I will for sure have to include one. All the best, John
Another great ops video John. I really enjoy watching them, 👍👍
Thanks Sean! Glad you enjoyed it :)
THANK YOU FOR DETAIL OPERATION VIDEO ON DETAIL LAYOUT AS GREAT WATCHING
I recently was granted permission for a small layout on one wall of a spare room that we have, which is currently being used as a TV room. I went in a search for inspiration on YT and found yours and Tom’s layout. These both gave me great ideas. Thank you for sharing and your layout looks really nice. By the way, I think we worked together on an account based out of KTEB, myself being a former maintenance manager!
Pat what’s up?!? Wow small world. Are you still up there in TEB? Shoot me an email sometime. railservejohn@gmail.com
So cool you are into model railroading as well. A shelf layout is a great/inexpensive way to enjoy the hobby. This was my first serious layout and I used it to experiment on different things seeing what I liked and didn’t like. I’ll be moving next year and will begin a new layout. Feel free to reach out with any questions or additional info on the layout. Would love to help. Stay safe and great hearing from you!
@@RailserveJohn Yes, small world indeed. It took me a couple videos to figure out it was you, but I did have that, “ I know him from somewhere” thought bugging me LOL. When I saw you on an episode of MRL, it confirmed it for me. I’ve been an armchair model railroader for years and messed around a little bit with N scale T-trak. I quickly got bored of that and like you, wanted more. Then my wife gave me 10 feet of a wall in a spare room, game on!!!!! Im not that creative with layout ideas so I’m definitely taking inspiration and ideas from you and Tom. Oh, I still work for JAFS as a QA inspector.
@@RailserveJohn And thank you for your email address, I will definitely take you up on your offer.
Awesome! I left VJ during the transition. I’m on a 91 account now out of Boca. 150-200 hrs a year on a 300. It’s me and Kimble Hanna. I’m sure you remember him from the VJ account. I started with N scale as well but found myself really wanting to try getting into the detail. Unfortunately I stopped working on my layout as it will be coming down very soon. I am starting the planning process for the new one. It will be like my current one but stretching 2 rooms with most likely reversing loops at both ends for optional continuous running. Have fun with the build and hope to hear from you soon.
nice weathering. cool ops.
Awesome operating session. Thanks for sharing. Dave
Thanks for watching Dave. All the best, John
Excellent ops session video. The RSSX 802 sounds amazing. You did a great job with the switching operations, liked how you had a flag man for the grade crossing. Your layout proves that you don't need a large layout to have a great ops session. Your sequence of switching the facility made perfect sense given the limitations on the length of the tail track. The prototype has those kinds of restrictions too, so it is very realistic. The new gimbal worked perfectly, very nice smooth pan which is hard to do manually and the tracking was spot on. I would say that was a successful test. -Tom
Thanks Tom! It was a random session I did the other day. I tried some new track cleaning fluid so I was testing it out which transformed into pulling out the tripod (the new one, not the old little one on top of the computer chair ;). I folded a small piece of Tamiya tape around a piece of wire, painted it red and was able to crinkle it up so it looked like fabric. I will be filming a second part to this and am going to feature the switch list we worked on. Thanks again for all the help... all the best, John
I was going to say that your locomotive ran well, especially over that turnout you were having trouble with. I guess your track cleaning was successful as I did not notice any stalls. The flag and flag man looked great, a simple project that adds a realistic touch. I am looking forward to seeing part two. Take care and be safe.- Tom
Sweet action! Sounds, looks, and moves great. That new gimbal is an awesome bit of kit, got some nice professional like shots.
Thank you! It should add some interesting shots in the future.
Just subscribed, really good stuff, will be watching and asking questions..... Perry
Thanks Perry!
Man the layout is looking great. thanks for sharing. Keep it up John
Thank you for watching! All the best, John
Nice job. Really enjoyed watching. Fantastic attention to detail on everything. Structures are great. -grant
Thank you Grant! I really appreciate the comment! All the best, John
👍Now, that was FUN! Beautiful...
Thank you Andrew. I am glad you enjoyed it. All the best, John
Hi John the layout is looking awesome as always. I truly like the new extension. I knew you'd do it. One thing, your roster needs a S2/4. Love those ALCOs
Thanks John! I as well have a soft spot for Alcos... I wish Railserve had some.... Although... The next phase of this layout will have 2 Alcos as its main stars... Once I am in the new house I will start unavailing the next phase.. thanks for watching... John
The speaker(s) sound fantastic in the SW :O
One of my favorite layouts.. always good to see an update pop up for viewing. I'm not sure yet if I like your new "white" structure in the corner..in this video it seems it's going to block much of the really great detail that you've done back in the corner..We'll see. You've hit a home run on everything else. You seem to have an awesome eye for what needs to be. I'll be anxious to see how that structure shapes up and becomes part of what needs to be there.
Thanks for the comment. That white building is just a stand in until I figure out how to hide the edge of the backdrop. It will most likely blend into the green building but I haven’t worked on that project yet. Thanks for the comment! John
BTW.... love the PC weathered covered hopper without graffiti.... saw many of them in the early seventies..... "programmed for
progress"
Thanks William! Yes I love that green.... they weather up so nicely as well. I pre ordered all 4 of the patched versions from ScaleTrains. I am looking forward for them to be released. Thanks for watching. All the best, John
First in! Looks like you're having fun - and that's what matters!
Thanks Bud!
@@RailserveJohn Hope you're flying...last time I was up was 25 March. Running out of landing currency in two days. Don't think I'll be in for training or landings anytime soon either with the displacements. Maybe now is the time for me to make a switching railroad of my own!
Oh man that’s rough.... I have been flying actually. My boss has been getting back to work as well as visiting some of his other homes so we have been flying a bit. It’s such a crazy time for this industry... 4 months ago we were in the biggest pilot shortage in history and now we are in this mess.... hope all works out for you man... John
So awesome to watch your craftsmanship! Your videos sit up the bait for having one of my own Rail Serve locomotives.
Then wal-lah, as I was driving by the former Kennecott Copper and trying to hide was four "GP9s" in very fresh black and yellow paint. One was ex ATSF, two from CP. The fourth I can't tell yet. All had their dynamic brakes inards removed and grids plated over. But one is calling my name and I'll start with a Walthers GP9 "phll".
So what's the best yellow color match?
Thanks for sharing!
Awesome! Thank you! I have a Chop Nose GP7 that I have built into a Railserve unit as well. It still needs a decoder but can be seen in some of my earlier videos. This latest Loco 802 I used Tru Color CNW yellow. (The dark yellow not the light zinc color) it seems to be a pretty close match. Thanks for watching! John
Great video and and great sound! I want to build a shelf switching layout like yours. I would like to see an overall shot of your layout to get some ideas.
Thank you. I believe in a few of my expansion update videos I show some over plans and shots of the layout. It is pretty small and simple - John
Alright thanks for the switching video 👌😊
Thanks JacJac.... one of these Days I’m going to get that GP7 running and working the Complex
Man what happened to it? Thought you were done with it!
It’s done cosmetically I just need to put a decoder, speaker and keep alive in it.
Another great video. Love your switching ops. Inspired me to plan a smaller version of your layout which I'll start to build later this year.
Awesome! Enjoy it buddy! A lot of fun to be had on a small switching layout... thanks for watching, John
You do a good job.
Hi John 2618. Your SW 1500 RSSX appeared ( for real) on Trainutjob video. It is pulling freights under an overpass. 😃
Lol yeah the prototype of this locomotive works a chemical plant near Philadelphia.
Man, that is nice to watch.Slow, realistic switching.What decder is in that switcher?.Thankyou.
Thanks! It’s a V5 ESU
The sound is terrific! Is it the factory system or an upgrade?
Thanks Bruce. I installed a V5 ESU decoder and sugar cube speaker. Some great sound from this little switcher!
John, that loco sounds like what I dream of. Can you share what that is? Decoder etc ? Thanks allot man and thanks for the videos 👍🏻
Thanks! I’m using a V5 ESU Loksound decoder and a sugar cube speaker.
Hi John great video!
On the far right next to the display case is that your yard office?
It’s a great shelf layout!
Thanks! It was originally going to be although it ended up being a non Rail served industry, a construction company that stored its equipment there.
I loved watching the video but what is a DJI Gimbal please?
It’s a stabilizing device for filming mostly for if you are walking of moving around it will keep the camera steady and eliminate shaking. This one has a tracking feature where it will follow an object around by itself. Almost like having a camera man while I am working the throttle lol
Very nice layout! What did you use for your background buildings ?
Thank you. The background structures are all scratch built using various styrene parts - John
What are the ADM Corn Processing buildings? Are they prebuilt or scratchbuilt? I love your layout. You have inspired me to build one similar to yours.
Thanks Warren. That structure was scratch built using styrene sheets.
Great video John! Are there any updates on the Blue Comet build?
Thank you! Oh yes.... the build is coming along well, the project has grown and there are now “Blue Cars” on the workbench ;) I hope to have another update out next week. Thanks for watching, John
The sound on your switcher is fantastic. What sound card are you using?
Thanks Matt. I am using a ESU LokSound decoder and a small sugar cube speaker.
@@RailserveJohn esu seems to be the best sound.
Wonderful layout. Where did you find the background ?
I believe from Lark Products
Hey John just wondering how you are doing? I've been really busy on my own new layout from ground up. It's a 2'x20' switching. Very complex in some places. I've done a slide show that I'll be posting soon.
Hi John, I am doing well and pretty busy with work which is taking a lot of my usual modeling time. A new/bigger layout is on the horizon. Looking forward to starting that project.
@@RailserveJohn l'm really glad to hear you're doing well. And I do know about being busy. Trying to get as much done before shoulder replacement surgery the 25th and being one handed for weeks. I'll be able to do ops and take notes on changes. Already thinking hard on a L extension?
Too Cool!
I love how you little switcher sounds. Did you program the way the prime mover revs and coasts? Sounds like the real thing!
Thanks. I am using an ESU V5 decoder. I have the deceleration maxed out with a rather high value on the brake. Along with using the drive hold feature you can simulate the weight of the train. Thanks for the comment! John
Looks great John. How do you like the gimbal?
Thanks Tom. It is pretty neat... although one issue I am having is with the audio. When recording using the DJI app, the audio has a tendency to fade in and out. I had to record the sound from my camera. I am searching to find a fix for this or if adding an external mic to my phone will help. All the best, John
@@RailserveJohn I bought a Zhyiuh gimbal some time ago, the only issue I had was with the app, it was a little clunky and didn't follow the subject. I have to turn my phone up side down so I can use the audio jack of an external mic. I like usng an external mic with my phone for the better audio. Give & take with every product.
you are so close to the perfect video. just need a conrail switcher doing it . lol
Hahaha well go tell your Canadian friends at Rapido to hurry up with their SW1200 switchers... lol can’t wait for my Conrail one! Thanks for the comment Bud, John
Where did you get that foods building?
The Ferraro Foods building was scratch built using Styrene and I 3D printed the sign. Thanks for watching, John
Man, this looks similar to a place in New Jersey. Is this layout based off of New Jersey?
Yup! I wanted it to feel like NJ where I grew up
John.......anything new going on with your project?
Well depending on which project lol the in laws layout and Blue Comet are slowly coming along... now my next layout.... well that’s still in planning but I’ll release some insight shortly. All the best, John
Very nice ops session. Layout looks great. Love the weathering on the Dominos Sugar tank car, is that your work?
Thanks for sharing. 👍 👍 👍
Thanks David. Yes I have done all of the weathering on my cars and locos. It’s definitely a trial and error process lol thanks for watching, John
Wharthe vehicles beside the switcher at start up? Thanks.
They are a mix of some 3D printed models I have done
@@RailserveJohn I meant what is their function there near the switcher?
@@J.L.Edwards those were just maintenance vehicles and a fuel trailer to service the locomotive.
@@RailserveJohn great, thanks for that!
Who makes a first gen non turbo nw2?
This is the newest release from Walthers. My older Railserve 1200 is a proto2000
Hey John, can you send me that file for those lights?
Hey Brandon I’m sorry about that. I forgot. Email me at railservejohn@gmail.com
www.shapeways.com/product/EY8QXC6EJ/adjustable-small-0402-led-floodlight-n-z-ho-x25?optionId=17297417&li=marketplace
www.shapeways.com/product/U9RJAR9L7/ho-exterior-light-fixtures-cameras?optionId=40936815&li=marketplace
www.shapeways.com/product/3FHMLCD2U/ho-scale-1-87-security-lights-12-pack?optionId=59565980&li=more-from-shop
You need an M&E alco 18-19
Already have both 18 and 19 on pre order ;) actually I will be modeling the M&E on my new layout
John2618 Perfect it would be a great addition to the collection. That will be nice to see keep us updates. 19 is still in NJ and being preserved.
Cool... it was sad to see the Alcos pulled from regular service. Are you from around that area? I grew up close to Morristown.
John2618 yes i am a friend of mine has been with the M&E for a while now and still misses them. 19 is owned by Tri-State railway group that’s keeps her I. Running condition
Well I may have to reach out and pick your brain a bit on their operations one day. The layout I’ll be building in a few months in my new house will be based on the M&E. I have been trying to research as much of the operation as I can and will most likely try to model around 2015. I’m trying to research certain industries and such.
if we catch those graffitiers I'm going to make them pay for destroying those beautiful cars
Lol