This is a great video about generations of model railroaders working together to build a preserve both a railroad and the memories that went with it. Thanks for all your work!
Hahaaaaa John next time i see you at Jeff's I'm going to ask you for your autograph cuz now you're celebrity UA-camr see you at rail master ( oh yeah the layout very nice job gentleman love to see it in person someday)
Let me echo what John G said; thanks for salvaging the Downey Pacific layout when nobody else could, you have done it proud, I love what you have done with it. Meeting the Docken's changed my life, which happened at Tehachapi Loop of all places, in time they became family and Gerald became a second father to me. He taught me many things, most of all to keep things simple and just model what can be truly seen at operating distances. As for that lumber area near the entrance to the High Line, it is very different now, Dennis used to have model of an Alco C415 painted up for a private lumber outfit; if memory serves, it was called Silver Bell Lumber or something like that, but this was when I first found these guys in 1975 and many dead brain cells are between then and now, I was just 19. He and his Brother Richard used to make a lot of lumber on flat car loads, even some lumber loaded truck models too (wish I could post a photo here). It was a little funny though, the Docken's and I both loved the SP when we met, but when our tastes started to vary, they went north like WP and BN in taste, and I went East, like Arizona desert and my own all Alco railroad. I really miss that family, there is big hole where they used to be in my life, too bad some things just don't last. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, best wishes, John Huey
@@ModelRailroading Yes, they were very special. We even had back yard BBQ's and played poker until late at night on Saturdays; some great conversations were had then.
WOW... what a great connection story of your empire from someone who remembers it before the 2 of you restored it. Hmmm, late 60's early 70's...my grandparents lived in Lakewood, took me to dizzyland or nuts berry farm regularly. Enjoyed hearing the history of where this cool layout originated......
How cool that this layout still exist 50+ years and almost 500 miles later. I grew up in the 1960's just to the west of Downey in South Gate and the mention of Dr. Demento and RC Cola brought back great memories. I was at the convention and busy with my own layout so did not do any of the tours, wish I had gone to see this layout. Thanks for sharing this.
Cool episode Don, love this in depth on the standard gauge part of the layout. John’s story really adds to the historical perspective of the layout in concordance with the channel name. Cheerio
Really enjoyed watching this. It's amazing how that layout has survived and morphed through the years. Glad it has a new home and owners that appreciate it for what it is. 😄
Or maybe Dockenville to match the spelling; I love that name though, good choice. If they do, a real tribute might be a small hardware store in that town called Gerald's Hardware, as he was the hardware guru of the ages, having worked as a machinist for ages.
I loved some of the "old school" techniques used on the layout like using a Baskin Robbins container for an oil tank or a red light and mirror for a line detector. Very creative. Great layout!
What a great video. Loved seeing the old pictures comparing the old layout to the current configuration. Must have been great to have one of the original builders come and see the layout. Thanks for sharing!
If I would of known your layout was open on the N scale convention and you were in the area, I would of made a larger effort to get to the N scale show. Looks like I missed out, bummer.
Creepy. I have never seen this video before this moment and yet, the red bar and starting the video somewhere near the end, teIls me that have seen almost the entire video before, according to YT. Which I have not. A Mandela Effect courtesy of the internet perhaps? But apparently, I'm going to watch this whole thing again. I'll let you know if it rings any bells. ...........
It didn't. Good content anyway though. I would have watched it. Nice to know I already did in some other timeline. Shows I still have good taste in video watching.
That's got to be one of my favorite HO layouts on UA-cam!
This is a great video about generations of model railroaders working together to build a preserve both a railroad and the memories that went with it. Thanks for all your work!
Thanks. It was a fun video to be able to do.
Hahaaaaa John next time i see you at Jeff's I'm going to ask you for your autograph cuz now you're celebrity UA-camr see you at rail master ( oh yeah the layout very nice job gentleman love to see it in person someday)
Thanks
Let me echo what John G said; thanks for salvaging the Downey Pacific layout when nobody else could, you have done it proud, I love what you have done with it. Meeting the Docken's changed my life, which happened at Tehachapi Loop of all places, in time they became family and Gerald became a second father to me. He taught me many things, most of all to keep things simple and just model what can be truly seen at operating distances. As for that lumber area near the entrance to the High Line, it is very different now, Dennis used to have model of an Alco C415 painted up for a private lumber outfit; if memory serves, it was called Silver Bell Lumber or something like that, but this was when I first found these guys in 1975 and many dead brain cells are between then and now, I was just 19. He and his Brother Richard used to make a lot of lumber on flat car loads, even some lumber loaded truck models too (wish I could post a photo here). It was a little funny though, the Docken's and I both loved the SP when we met, but when our tastes started to vary, they went north like WP and BN in taste, and I went East, like Arizona desert and my own all Alco railroad. I really miss that family, there is big hole where they used to be in my life, too bad some things just don't last. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, best wishes, John Huey
Thanks for all the extra info. Sounds like it really was a great bunch of people to know.
@@ModelRailroading Yes, they were very special. We even had back yard BBQ's and played poker until late at night on Saturdays; some great conversations were had then.
WOW... what a great connection story of your empire from someone who remembers it before the 2 of you restored it. Hmmm, late 60's early 70's...my grandparents lived in Lakewood, took me to dizzyland or nuts berry farm regularly. Enjoyed hearing the history of where this cool layout originated......
Glad you enjoyed the video.
That was a neat retrospective! Thanks John and Don and Don! ...Claude
Glad you enjoyed it.
Super cool!! Love the fact that you all were able to keep it workable for so long ❤
Fun to watch.🙂
Thanks
@@ModelRailroading we also have figured out your recent train trip 🙂
Great looking older layout. These guys had some monster wiring headaches to figure out when i was in diapers. Nice to see it running and updated.
The wiring has been an interesting challenge for sure. Kind of cool.some of the stuff they did with it.
Great video Guy's....Enjoyed the history of the Layout and glad you saved it. Bob
How cool that this layout still exist 50+ years and almost 500 miles later. I grew up in the 1960's just to the west of Downey in South Gate and the mention of Dr. Demento and RC Cola brought back great memories. I was at the convention and busy with my own layout so did not do any of the tours, wish I had gone to see this layout. Thanks for sharing this.
Glad it brought back good memories for you.
Wonderful! May she have another 50 years of great railroading ahead!
Cool episode Don, love this in depth on the standard gauge part of the layout. John’s story really adds to the historical perspective of the layout in concordance with the channel name. Cheerio
Thanks
Really enjoyed watching this. It's amazing how that layout has survived and morphed through the years. Glad it has a new home and owners that appreciate it for what it is. 😄
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
@16:55 Your as-yet-unnamed town up above the High Line should be named "Dawkinville" in honour of the family who began the layout.
Or maybe Dockenville to match the spelling; I love that name though, good choice. If they do, a real tribute might be a small hardware store in that town called Gerald's Hardware, as he was the hardware guru of the ages, having worked as a machinist for ages.
I loved some of the "old school" techniques used on the layout like using a Baskin Robbins container for an oil tank or a red light and mirror for a line detector. Very creative. Great layout!
All are still good ideas.
What a great video. Loved seeing the old pictures comparing the old layout to the current configuration. Must have been great to have one of the original builders come and see the layout. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks
Great job to keeping this layout alive
If I would of known your layout was open on the N scale convention and you were in the area, I would of made a larger effort to get to the N scale show. Looks like I missed out, bummer.
Very interesting to hear whats changed, and what hasn't. Its cool that John was able to visit and give you a bit of a history lesson. :)
It was cool to have him him vist.
I have a layout i started on since 81 and i an still working on it
I've been here since the 50s and I'm still not ready to be pitched out.
Hehe
But the Mystery continues he never did mention to Road or the tunnel that is now where we called Jim‘s land will have to hear the story on that
Creepy. I have never seen this video before this moment and yet, the red bar and starting the video somewhere near the end, teIls me that have seen almost the entire video before, according to YT. Which I have not. A Mandela Effect courtesy of the internet perhaps? But apparently, I'm going to watch this whole thing again. I'll let you know if it rings any bells. ...........
It didn't. Good content anyway though. I would have watched it. Nice to know I already did in some other timeline. Shows I still have good taste in video watching.