Visiting Lance Mindheim's HO Scale CSX Downtown Spur Miami Layout! 01.30.2017
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- Опубліковано 21 жов 2024
- First of all I want to especially thank model railroader Lance Mindheim for taking time out of his busy schedule to show me his layouts and workshop.
So, as seems to be evident by my latest Metrorail upload, I was up in Washington, DC for a Physics conference. Having met with Lance last week in Hialeah for local railfanning/recon, we were able to set aside a good hour this past Monday so this Miamian can finally see his masterpiece! Since he lives near the Maryland-DC line, it was as easy as a one seat Metro ride from Woodley Park to Glenmont on the Red line. This was my first time seeing some of the NEC up close as well as MARC and VRE equipment. (I must also add this is my first time ever seeing snow so it was a total win :D).
As a warm-up, we have the Los Angeles Junction railway. I don't know the whole story about it, but it is an awesome looking industrial switching layout. One highlight is that the tank cars you see would normally have to be spotted by grade of liquid, which can add hours to the operation.
And of course, a look (and ops!) of the CSX Downtown Spur.
The layout is an almost exact recreation of the Downtown Spur which used to be Seaboard Air Line's route to the Miami station, which was demolished after Amtrak took over and moved west. It follows the Miami River for a short distance, and parallels NW 20th St into the incorporated city. The once double track main became a single track spur but remains one of the most exotic pieces of railroad ever. The likes of myself, Mike Thornton, and others have been lucky enough to catch trains on various points in this spur.
The spur unfortunately lost about half of the customers as opposed to what was being modeled here. The era is set at roughly 2007, when the switchback spur to Miami Produce Center was still there. Now, the whole switchback is gone, Trujillo & Son doesn't receive much anymore, and the main customers left are CBI, Sun Gas, Family & Son, FP&T, and Miami Iron and Metal. Another dockside customer for the Miami RIver is proposed so we'll wait and see on that. It truly is a fun stretch of railroad to run on and the model is simply accurate. The only thing I can say that was completely off was the snow outside. :P
The train we will run in this video is Y322, collecting cars from F&S and Trujillo. Forgive my bad coupling skills, the DCC system in question is different. I don't know what's up with the headlights either. But it's all cool.
Hope you guys ENJOY... and Shoutout to Lance. Check his videos out on UA-cam (search his name) and his website www.lancemindheim.com.
This scratches one item off my railfan bucket list :))
The REAL Downtown Spur can be seen here!!! ua-cam.com/video/Izyl6R7BxKA/v-deo.html
Blown away by the realism of the layout, this is modelling of the highest standards. Fantastic!!
Unbelievable! As a retired engineer who worked switch engines in areas similar to these I was blown away by the realism.
Thanks!
Fantastic! An entire layout dedicated to a neighborhood you wouldn't want to be caught in after dark. I've never seen an industrial setting so beautifully rendered before. The realism is staggering. Not a shiny item anywhere other than the occasional vehicle parked or passing through a crossing. I can't even imagine the time it took to render the copious amounts of graffiti and detritus found everywhere! From weathered rolling stock to discarded tires and overturned shopping carts, this deceptively complex layout consistently delivers a level of realism rarely seen. I absolutely LOVE the ripped up railroad track which is nothing but overgrown ties running alongside the active spur. The roadbed is a marvel of natural looking scree and overgrown weeds peeking up between and around the tracks. All this is only what we could see from the video. The layout hints at much more. Truly a marvel. Great, great, working layout. A switching enthusiast's delight. Very nice video. Many thanks for starting my weekend off right.
Hi you would not by any chance be the same Steve Ciani that drove the B103 Command Bus (before the MTA took over) that I used to take to downtown Brooklyn from Canarsie Brooklyn back in 1998?
Vaderd2k - I was going to say the same thing. The detail of discarded items is something very few people place on their layouts. I've seen some that made everything well but made it look too perfect and clean.
Beautiful! The grass, the weeds, the litter, the graffiti, the weathering, the roadways; this is one of the most realistic layouts I have ever seen.
Oh yes I agree I almost left the same exact comment one thing missing sections of abandoned tracks paved over I got a 4x8 at home that has some of that I model post 9/11/01 born in 71 I model a lot of Amtrak
Very cool that you got to hang out with @LanceMindheim for a day!
I enjoyed reading about Lance's Downtown Spur in MR, so it was a real treat to see it in actual operation. Excellent scenicking! Lance certainly has an eye for detail and the urban clutter that seems to sprout up with the weeds in abandoned right-of-way.
Thanks for sharing this great video!
Thanks for the comment! I loved every second of my visit to his layout. He has it down for sure. Inspired me to get in the game.
WOW !!!! We can all learn a thing or 10 from this guy. Model Railroading takes on a whole new meaning with this guy!! Great job your work is an inspiration to all of us fans of operation and setting,
One of most detailed and realistic HO scale I've ever seen, love the graffiti it's right on point.
This has to be the best layout in the world for realism, most impressive.
Really cool! Subscribed! This channel and Central Los Andes have inspired me a lot! Thanks!
Now that was a kick ass layout!!!!
Great video of the session! I used to deliver in Miami twice a week from Atlanta back in the early 90s. Doesn't look like much has changed. Thanks for sharing. Cheers, Dan
Fantastic Switching layout!
this is so awesome
Thanks for sharing this inspiration! You are helping keep the hobby alive for another generation by this sort of thing. Blessings to you, and enjoy your trains!
Appreciate it! I would love to see the hobby live on!
So glad you got to visit with Lance and see his two excellent layouts. He is a great guy and so willing to share his knowledge with others. I highly recommend reading his books if you are building a switching layout. Thanks for posting the video of his layouts and your operations session.-Tom
Thank you for the comment Tom!
I'm now inspired to reach the level of detail that this layout has. WOW!
I remember reading this on gmr but now on the video the layout has expanded a lot
For the first like 7 min I thought it was real great job I loved it!!
GREAT job you did awesome!!
I'm not that into model trains but after watching this video... I can see why some people get hooked. This is an amazing setup. Nice work!
Thanks Trey!
As a guy who lives in Miami this is what it actually looks like!
Lance has an awesome layout, I wish I had the space for something like that. Great Video! 👍
Great video T and thanks for sharing. So good to see Lance's inspirational layouts in action. Superb!
Excellent video. I appreciate the way you weaved the story together. I think I remember seeing this layout featured in Model Railroader some time ago. If not, then there is one very similar. I love the realistic feeling. Urban railroading is overlooked too often. It is nice to see something that really does take place in an urban area.
Thank you! This has to be the one. I chuckled a bit when I saw his issue placed aptly on top of his coffeetable.
Thank you for sharing this experience with us!
Now thats PROTOTYPICAL railroading.
Thanks, a very detailed and realistic looking HO layout. I liked the scaled photos used as well for the backdrop. Nicely done!
The added commentary for instruction of prototypical ops and switching tips are ace!
Excellent layout. Enjoy the industrial switching!
Thanks! Hope to incorporate some of my own in the future!
Hi. I saw this layout in MR. Now I can see how does really it work! :) Wonderful! Great job! :) regards from Poland from polish fun of american railroads.
Super model railroading this is some of the most best videos I've ever seen you do a great job keep it up
What a cool experience. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome video
I love your road at 3:15 a lot of detail like i like
Amazing layout it’s so realistic! I love all the trash and graffiti and the grass looks so real. I’ve always thought that a switching layout would be boring but this looks like fun!
Bravo, superbe réseau qui permet de belles manœuvres comme on les aime. Merci pour ce partage.
Love the cudzo fence.
This could be any industrial area on the St. Pete side of the bay. the weeds and sand. the uneven hedges. Even the way you modeled the downspouts on the buildings. It's kinda hard to tell it's a model. Beautiful.
That's a really neat layout! I feel like I remember reading about that a while back. Cool to actually see it in action!
your detail is magnificent
Awesome, I'm a huge fan of Lance's work. Thanks for posting and subbed.
His layout inspired and showed me a switching layout can be fun to build and operate!
GREAT layout. Nicely done video. Thanks for sharing.
Great stuff.....would love to see the layout in plan form..... thanks for sharing
This is the first I've seen Lance's amazing layout in motion! I love it! Thanks for bringing this to us. (Also, it's good to see a fellow AFOL who can't get enough of Model Railroading!)
Thank you for sharing.
Wow, it is so like went i was a truck driver. I did a lot of deliveries to that area. The attention to details is amazing.
If it wasn't for the walls, I could swear it is the real thing. Nice weathering and scenic Technics.
THANK YOU FOR DETAIL OPERATION VIDEO AS GREAT TO WATCH
Los Angles Junction Locomotive. Thats neat.
Excellent video. Excellent layout. Excellent switching. This is pretty much art, completely believable👍. Thank you very much for posting this inspirational and exceptional work. Now subbed.
Is it just me or is it just satisfying to see the train go across the road at a low rate of speed
Totally awesome layout , I love it!!!!!!!
Besides agreeing with all the comments already made about the layout's realism, one thing I haven't seen mentioned is the realistic width of the streets. This is really aparent at 19:07.
Very nice layout, the scenery looks awesome.
Totally agree, thanks for the comment!
Wow man, nice work!! Loved your video, so realistic!!
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your video of this amazon layout. Great camera work. RT PS . You have a new subscriber.
Thanks man! I subscribed back! Appreciate it!
Great switching on a fantastic industrial switching layout. I've been a fan of ISLs since the '60s in fact 90% of my layouts has been industrial switching. In my experience the shipping/receiving manager will communicate with his railroad service representative about his car(s) and switching needs..
Thanks! I agree, I like the compactness of them. I guess one can say a modeler's dream is a mix of point to point and ISL but that's all but an unforeseeable reality
This is a good type of layout.
It has a purpose. You will never get bored with it.
First model railroad video I have seen where the movements are made at a somewhat realistic speed. Nice work and nice video
Thanks! I live in an area dominated by industrial switching so personally I'd cringe if I ran things too fast lol
Always enjoy this view.
Looks killer. Activate the horn while on the approach to the crossing and also one long blast while first car or loco occupies the crossing initially.
An excellent layout. Highly inspirational. What switch points/turnouts did you use? And what radius?
I'll pass the compliments to Lance... but thanks! I know his radius is 24" and probably uses #6 or #8 turnouts.
Great stuff. Skip WashDC stuff. Purpose?
Love the layout. And the spider at 12:23. What couplers are those?
hate m8 Sargent couplers
Me: 1 more.
Train: OK!!!
* train derails *
Me: meh gosh
spider climbing up the engines nose at 12:20 coming through the crossing!!!
Who made the locomotives and the cars(train cars)
awesome job
damn this model looks real y'all did a good at it real talk
Great video! What did you film the layout with?
Thanks! Filmed with my regular camcorder. (Sony FDR-AX33)
Hi I'm Jerry from Santa Cruz ca.ilike your layout and how do you do scenery?
Who makes that flare light?
I liked that LAJ motor at the beginning with the old blue/yellow Santa Fe livery. Was that a U-25B or something similar?
EMD CF-7. These were rebuilds built by the Santa Fe from GP7s.
+Jon B. Rails Video: Thanks, Jon. Been a long time since I've seen one, model or otherwise.
Jon B. Rails Video
Actually the CF-7 are rebuilt F-7s built by Santa Fe in Cleburne, TX hence the "C" attachment. No GP-7s were made into CF-7s.
Tolga, that is AWESOME. Im gonna be in DC myself in a few months, but you certainly saw one of the bet parts that no one else gets to see. Did you do any non-Metro based railfanning wile you were up there?
Thanks, KC. Unfortunately I couldn't railfan even though I did see two CSX trains Sunday night from the Mandarin Oriental, by chance.
4:00 are you shure thats HO scale? that looks really big to be it.
Where can I get a few of those flares???
Yo!!!! Really cool video and one hell of a layout. Nice footage and really like how you started the adventure, a dusting of snow and a ride on Metro, that blew my mind. Thanks for the video and letting me ride along. Just subscribed to your channel and will be watching for more great videos from you!! Please stay in touch we live in the same area and would like to have you come by this summer and visit the Washington Terminal Co Model RR. D. Muse WTCMRR
Thanks! Appreciate the subscription - and have subscribed to you as well! I am almost definitely considering returning to the DC area at some point! I really enjoyed my ride on the Metro and what I did capture enroute just had to be added to the video.
Great video!!
What is the light on the ground at the crossing? Is it simulation of the engineers throwing a flare on the ground
Yes -- a fusee.
Thanks i looked them up i really would like to add those to a layout probably looks great in the dark
Excellent video. Loved it very much. Looks so real. Is it just me or is one of the ditch lights on the CSX unit doing the switching not functional?
It's just you. Actually, _two_ of the ditch lights aren't working. 😜 (One on each end, both on the same side of the locomotive.)
12:24 Spider!
Always like videos or reading about Lance's layouts. Mike Confalone's layouts are nice too.
Fascinating layout. just subscribed!
Thanks for the comment! Subbed back - great channel!
+brickbuilder711 Thanks!
If I'm not mistaken didn't Lance have an N scale layout based on the Monon in southern Indiana at one time?
Yes - apparently it got replaced by the Downtown Spur.
nice video wish i had a chance to operate lances layout.
Awesome video! What kind of camera were you using? That was great quality.
Thanks! It's a Sony FDR-AX33 video camera. The same I use trackside.
Very nice. Recognized the CF7 from a recent Railroad Model Craftsman article.
Also the Miami ISL is more awesome in this video than it was in the March 2017 Model Railroader.
I keep coming back.....the urban industrial is epic.....I want to bury the rails more on mine with southern pacific sw1500s
Great Job!
Never understood why they put flares by the railroad crossing can someone tell me why
to warn drivers of the presence of a train
BTW,Does lance still have the Easy DCC System?I was wondering how you liked the handheld control?Is it a cable or wireless?
He does. Personally not my cup of tea but, as advertised, a very easy system. :)
Nice set-up!
Love that tugboat at 5:47
Can I come over and join y'all? Very nice, I have a ton of n scale cars, locomotives, flex track, turn outs, and buildings. Pretty much everything I need to get a layout going. I'm in the process of scaling down an old industrial spur out here in south Austin, tx. That is now decommissioned.
Cool Video!I've always wanted to see a lengthy video of lance's layout.Very detailed and prototypical.Kinda disapointed with the low volume on the loco,could barely hear it...just sayin'.Other than that it was perfect.Thanks
Thanks for the comment! I think the volume is low for a reason - I recall Lance hooked up some external audio system so that he could hear it on a set of wireless speakers, otherwise the sound would come out too loud.
That's right,I remember Lance's blog mentioning his wireless headphone set up.Thanks for the reply.
I have a similar model but the only diffrence its number is 2121
Why did you put a flashing red LED on the street?
The light represents the flare that guards would leave on the street as trains ran across
Thanks, I've never seen this in my city.
If I didn’t know it was a model I would think it was real.