Really nice video and an interesting look at operations on your layout. I have subscribed and look forward to watching more of your videos. Keep up the good work.
Thanks! Operations, I can take credit for. As for the loco weathering, this particular diesel was done by a good friend of mine; it's one of my favorites. Appreciate the feedback!
Very nice video! That's a beautiful layout! From what I have been able to learn, it was UP's standard practice to operate their early diesels long hood forward (I suppose because that's how steamer's operate).
Thanks for the kind feedback. You are correct about the orientation of the early diesels. On the Willow Creek, we're in a sort of transition period: Our Alco and Baldwin diesels run long-hood forward, but our EMD diesels run short-hood forward. Puts a bit of a challenge for the Waverly Yardmaster to get the outgoing diesels properly oriented. Glad you enjoyed the video!
thank you for this... i was a model railroader but i didnt quite understand the everything involved in switching operations. i wish i had paid more attention to switching operations rather than just point to point... they seem more interesting and fun!
Fortunately, model railroading has something for everyone! Through Freights, to Local Freights and their switching, to even more intensive switching in an industrial setting. Lots of fun regardless of which way you go. Glad you enjoyed the video. Perhaps you can visit a local layout and try out switching operations yourself to get a hands-on perspective. In any case, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. And thanks for your feedback.
Wow, really well done video Rod and beautiful railroad. Came across your video quite by accident. What a pleasant way to spend a lunch break. Look forward to seeing more. ~Chris
I love your layout, and great videos. I'm planning a new layout do you have a track plan. I could use the ideas to make a plan that I can someday do operation similar to this. Thanks Russell
Glad you enjoyed the video and the layout. My website includes track plans and other information about the layout: www.sites.google.com/site/willowcreekrr/home Enjoy!
Very informative video. I am trying to change my layout to do operation sessions. Could explain why a Thru freight is used and is needed. If it goes from the Yard to point A and returns to the Yard. Why waist the run. Thanks Anthony
I think you've misunderstood. This video is about local freights, which run from the yard to point A and then back to the yard. The point is that, en route, they pick up and set down cars. So the local freight takes cars in the yard that need to be somewhere else and puts them there, and it brings back to the yard the cars that need that. Through freights don't come back to the yard. They run from Waverly to Bucky's Crossing or Spokane, without picking up or setting off cars en route. So, local freights move cars around the Willow Creek Sub and through freights move cars between Willow Creek and the rest of the world.
Glad you enjoyed the video. LCL may be handled by a local freight and/or the "Merchant Special," which frequently has an LCL boxcar that it drops off at Summit Springs. Good question, and thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated!
Thumbs up. A really good video. Great scenery. Fantastic narration. Two questions: Why do model railroaders continue to use cabooses? I haven't seen one in real life in decades. Second: Why is there only one engine? Almost all the trains I see have at least two engines, one facing forward and one facing backward. Wouldn't removing the caboose and adding a reverse facing engine make the scene even more realistic?
Thanks for the comments. First, cabooses were used on railroads until sometime in the 1960s, depending on the RR. In fact, you'll still find cabooses used in some particular situations today, such as long reversing moves. The Willow Creek is set in the early 1950s so cabooses are in order. Running a pair of locomotives is great but takes up space on a layout. The Willow Creek is a branch line and runs relatively short trains, so a single loco is sufficient, power-wise, and also takes up less track space. If you're running a high-speed mainline with long trains, enjoy the lash-up of 2 or more locos; you just won't see it on the Willow Creek. Enjoy!
Correction to the date I offered for the demise of cabooses... Cabooses were common on freight trains until safety laws changed in the 1980s. My previous timeframe of the 1960s was too soon. Sorry about that.
Glad you are enjoying the Willow Creek. This is an HO scale layout approximately 411-sq feet in size (the train room measures 20' x 25'). Thanks for your question and have a great day!
You know your history. Actually, the GP7s were delivered to UPRR numbered 700-729, but were renumbered 100-129 in late 1953, at least according to UtahRails.net (actually, they sort of contradict themselves in a couple of spots). This HO-scale model came with the "F" showing short-hood forward, so on the Willow Creek we have the EMD locos running short-hood forward. To add a bit of a challenge to our primary yardmaster, we run the Alcos and Baldwin long-hood forward ... just to keep the YM on his toes.
Absolutely. You're correct -- anytime the local is finished switching at a location, the operator contacts the DS to notify him of the completion and to request permission to re-enter the main and continue his run. As noted in the video, we purposely didn't show every contact with the DS or the Yardmasters, just to simplify the video a bit. Good question/observation.
@@evanclarke5561 I watched the video again, and never saw/hear "RN" mentioned. If you're asking about "RJ", that's the name given to the train -- the "River Job" (RJ). It's simply used to identify this particular train. Hope that helps.
On a smaller layout, such as the Willow Creek, space is limited for passing sidings, yard tracks, etc. You need to keep that in mind when planning for operations. A train of 6 - 8 cars is sufficient on the Willow Creek and allows it to fit into passing sidings, et al. A longer train looks great but clogs up the layout tracks real quick when operating. If you're just going to run a train around the layout without concern for operations, then you can run a longer train. Just my thoughts.
Sorry to hear that that's been your experience. If you watch my video, Operations: Train #17 Cab Ride, you'll see guys during a live ops session. I don't think you'll find any of them looking stressed. It really depends on the layout and the operating scheme. But operations is just one part of this great hobby, so there's lots for everyone to enjoy.
Nice to see the old style C.N.R. logo on that box car. As a Canadian I remember those as a kid.
You've got good eyes! Thanks for sharing the memory.
Great video, love how you keep it simple for all of us.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for the comment.
love operations. learning all the time. great video.
Ops may be the ultimate enjoyment of model railroading; let's you put everything together in one fun package. Never stop learning -- I know, I don't.
One of the best riail operations video's I have seen in a very long time, that was very informative and well narrated. Adding to my Favorites.. Darick
Glad that you enjoyed this video. Hope you enjoy the other ops videos as well.
Looks good Bro ! Professional!
Glad that you enjoyed the Willow Creek, and thank you for your feedback. Much appreciated.
Incredible ops video! More, more!
Very glad you enjoyed the video. Next one will deal with the yardmaster's job at Waverly Yard. Stay tuned!
Beautiful video, beautiful layout... Thanks for uploading!
Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for the feedback.
Really nice video and an interesting look at operations on your layout. I have subscribed and look forward to watching more of your videos. Keep up the good work.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for the feedback!
nice loco weathering and nice operations.
Thanks! Operations, I can take credit for. As for the loco weathering, this particular diesel was done by a good friend of mine; it's one of my favorites. Appreciate the feedback!
You make great operations videos. Really enjoy them.
Glad to hear that you're enjoying the videos of the Willow Creek. Model railroad operations are a blast! Thanks for your feedback; much appreciated.
Very nice video! That's a beautiful layout! From what I have been able to learn, it was UP's standard practice to operate their early diesels long hood forward (I suppose because that's how steamer's operate).
Thanks for the kind feedback. You are correct about the orientation of the early diesels. On the Willow Creek, we're in a sort of transition period: Our Alco and Baldwin diesels run long-hood forward, but our EMD diesels run short-hood forward. Puts a bit of a challenge for the Waverly Yardmaster to get the outgoing diesels properly oriented. Glad you enjoyed the video!
thank you for this... i was a model railroader but i didnt quite understand the everything involved in switching operations. i wish i had paid more attention to switching operations rather than just point to point... they seem more interesting and fun!
Fortunately, model railroading has something for everyone! Through Freights, to Local Freights and their switching, to even more intensive switching in an industrial setting. Lots of fun regardless of which way you go. Glad you enjoyed the video. Perhaps you can visit a local layout and try out switching operations yourself to get a hands-on perspective. In any case, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. And thanks for your feedback.
Wow, really well done video Rod and beautiful railroad. Came across your video quite by accident. What a pleasant way to spend a lunch break. Look forward to seeing more. ~Chris
As the Supervisor of the D&H, your feedback is very much appreciated and respected. Thanks!
thank you for detail operation video on your detail layout and share this other
Glad you're enjoying the Willow Creek. Thanks for the feedback!
Love your ops videos!
I don't know exactly what it is, but your layout is among my very top. It could be that your videos are so professionally done.
Wow! Thanks for the great feedback! The videos are a lot of fun (and work!) to put together, so I'm glad you're enjoying them. High greens!
Great video, clear and simple. Thanks for taking the time and effort to share it, it makes my education on MRR Ops much easier... BTW, great layout!
Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for your feedback. Operations really makes a layout come alive. Thanks, again!
thank you detail operation video on local run
Again, you're welcome. Glad you're enjoying the videos.
Great video.
Glad you enjoyed the video. And thanks for your feedback.
I love your layout, and great videos. I'm planning a new layout do you have a track plan. I could use the ideas to make a plan that I can someday do operation similar to this. Thanks Russell
Glad you enjoyed the video and the layout. My website includes track plans and other information about the layout: www.sites.google.com/site/willowcreekrr/home
Enjoy!
Very informative video. I am trying to change my layout to do operation sessions. Could explain why a Thru freight is used and is needed. If it goes from the Yard to point A and returns to the Yard. Why waist the run. Thanks Anthony
Glad you enjoyed the video. Best wishes with implementing ops on your layout. Operations provides a whole new aspect to model railroading.
I think you've misunderstood. This video is about local freights, which run from the yard to point A and then back to the yard. The point is that, en route, they pick up and set down cars. So the local freight takes cars in the yard that need to be somewhere else and puts them there, and it brings back to the yard the cars that need that. Through freights don't come back to the yard. They run from Waverly to Bucky's Crossing or Spokane, without picking up or setting off cars en route. So, local freights move cars around the Willow Creek Sub and through freights move cars between Willow Creek and the rest of the world.
Cool stuff gotta learn to do this correctly with my o scale 5x12
Absolutely. Operations in any scale is an enjoyable part of this hobby. Best wishes!
Excellent video! Question: Does a different train handle the LCL or has your railroad already discontinued the service?
Glad you enjoyed the video. LCL may be handled by a local freight and/or the "Merchant Special," which frequently has an LCL boxcar that it drops off at Summit Springs. Good question, and thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated!
Thumbs up. A really good video. Great scenery. Fantastic narration. Two questions: Why do model railroaders continue to use cabooses? I haven't seen one in real life in decades. Second: Why is there only one engine? Almost all the trains I see have at least two engines, one facing forward and one facing backward. Wouldn't removing the caboose and adding a reverse facing engine make the scene even more realistic?
Thanks for the comments. First, cabooses were used on railroads until sometime in the 1960s, depending on the RR. In fact, you'll still find cabooses used in some particular situations today, such as long reversing moves. The Willow Creek is set in the early 1950s so cabooses are in order. Running a pair of locomotives is great but takes up space on a layout. The Willow Creek is a branch line and runs relatively short trains, so a single loco is sufficient, power-wise, and also takes up less track space. If you're running a high-speed mainline with long trains, enjoy the lash-up of 2 or more locos; you just won't see it on the Willow Creek. Enjoy!
Correction to the date I offered for the demise of cabooses... Cabooses were common on freight trains until safety laws changed in the 1980s. My previous timeframe of the 1960s was too soon. Sorry about that.
Thanks Rod.@@rodvance560
really nice layout… would like to have such big space in my near and a railroadclub to do real traintraffic… Is this a H0 gauge or H0n3,5?
Glad you are enjoying the Willow Creek. This is an HO scale layout approximately 411-sq feet in size (the train room measures 20' x 25'). Thanks for your question and have a great day!
I'm confused by that GP7. They were numbered in the 100s and ran long-hood first.
You know your history. Actually, the GP7s were delivered to UPRR numbered 700-729, but were renumbered 100-129 in late 1953, at least according to UtahRails.net (actually, they sort of contradict themselves in a couple of spots). This HO-scale model came with the "F" showing short-hood forward, so on the Willow Creek we have the EMD locos running short-hood forward. To add a bit of a challenge to our primary yardmaster, we run the Alcos and Baldwin long-hood forward ... just to keep the YM on his toes.
Gotta ask..Did Travis get permission to reenter the main for his move to his train? I assumed he did because that would be the correct thing to do.
Absolutely. You're correct -- anytime the local is finished switching at a location, the operator contacts the DS to notify him of the completion and to request permission to re-enter the main and continue his run. As noted in the video, we purposely didn't show every contact with the DS or the Yardmasters, just to simplify the video a bit. Good question/observation.
What does RN mean in model railroading?
Not sure. Where are you seeing/hearing "RN"? I assume it's someplace in the Local Freights video?
@@Vigment13 Yes
@@Vigment13 Yes
@@evanclarke5561 I watched the video again, and never saw/hear "RN" mentioned. If you're asking about "RJ", that's the name given to the train -- the "River Job" (RJ). It's simply used to identify this particular train. Hope that helps.
Ho or n scale?
HO-scale (code-83 track)
The train is to short...need long trains
On a smaller layout, such as the Willow Creek, space is limited for passing sidings, yard tracks, etc. You need to keep that in mind when planning for operations. A train of 6 - 8 cars is sufficient on the Willow Creek and allows it to fit into passing sidings, et al. A longer train looks great but clogs up the layout tracks real quick when operating. If you're just going to run a train around the layout without concern for operations, then you can run a longer train. Just my thoughts.
I disagree. Even with 5-8 car trains, this captures the essence of how a prototype railroad operates.
Operations model layouts are too stressful people need to keep the hobby simple.
Sorry to hear that that's been your experience. If you watch my video, Operations: Train #17 Cab Ride, you'll see guys during a live ops session. I don't think you'll find any of them looking stressed. It really depends on the layout and the operating scheme. But operations is just one part of this great hobby, so there's lots for everyone to enjoy.
Thumbs down 👎 😢 Babies 👶
Ah ... but you can dream! And it doesn't cost you anything. High greens!