That DCC programming made things so much cooler in model railroading. I'm new to it so have no clue how they got the sound prior to DCC but I have been told DCC has been around since the mid 90's. Nice set up. Love it.
If you were a model railroader (or even just ran trains) years ago using DC, you'll find that DCC is MUCH easier. When I was in my pre-teens and my early teens, my dad and I built an HO scale RR with DC. To run more than one train required two (or more) "transformers" (that supply power to the tracks), separation of the track into isolated electrical blocks, and LOTS of toggle switches (to assign each section of track, also known as a "block", to the desired power pack. Lots of work and wiring. With DCC, the motto is "run your trains not your track." So ALL of the track can be connected to the same DCC "command station" (supplies the power to the trains). Then a separate throttle (can be wired or wireless) is needed for each person who will simultaneously run their own train on the layout. The way it all works in a nutshell is, the same voltage goes to all the track (as opposed to DC where the voltage is varied to control the speed of the locomotive(s)). It is always full voltage (usually around 14-18 volts but varies by scale and other factors) goes to the track all the time. Then, a small circuit called a "Decoder" is installed in each locomotive. That chip can have sound capability (more $$) or just control the train motion and lights (can be under $20). The circuit is programmed to the locomotive's address. So you "call up" any address (usually the locomotive number) and then when you twist the throttle only that locomotive will move. It you can are comfortable doing a little wiring work, you can add decoders to existing locomotives. Some require soldering, but there are also "plug and play" decoders which you need only plug in to an existing board/connector in the loco. But if you don't feel comfortable with that, you can buy locomotives with decoders already installed - with sound or without, depending on your preference and budget. I am not affiliated with any manufacturer. However, if you know absolutely nothing about DCC, Digitrax (which is what this layout owner, my friend Sammy Carlile and I both use), they publish a book called "the big red book of DCC." Whether you actually use Digitrax or any of the many other alternatives, that book does a great job of covering all of the basics in good detail - can be as detailed as you like/need but there are plenty of illustrations and examples. I might recommend you google that book (it's been in and out of print but can be found, perhaps on EBay). Model Railroading has been a great hobby for us and you may find you enjoy it too. Good luck! -Steve Davis
Oh wow! Another great production from my favorite mad scientist, Steve Davis! Thank you sir for taking the time to put all of this together to share with this great audience!
I will second that and the only thing missing was Hoover stuck in a siding on an empty BN coal train!! Thanks for producing this Steve and I hope we can make it down to operate on both soon!!
Love to see some Texas layouts get high view numbers on UA-cam this state has soooo many good layouts that never get top algorithm feeding. Beautiful layout awesome detailed ops information only thing enjoyable to look at in the panhandle is the railroads 👍
That is a great layout, nicely explained ops, and wonderful dispatch. The screen shot are great and it looks like quite the intricate system. Very well done.
Hallo Steve, ein fantastisches Video, 👍👍, super wie hier gefahren wird und sehr realistisch der Bahnbetrieb und die tolle zusammenarbeit der Teams, enfach super, Gruß Rainer aus Erfurt in Germany, weiterhin viel Spaß und freude bei euren Zusammenkünften
Sure can tell the old head Rails running the XAMAM1 by the way they are talking with the DS, car counts, and slang of "hanging" cars. Looks like a great layout to run and operate. Keep up the great videos!
This run looks like the same loads I watched pass by my house growing up in the 90's. Tell me I'm lying....Awesome in many ways. This is all I'll be watching in between paychecks when I'm not working on my layout.
Loved this video! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. It's quite a bit of work to make it all happen, but the results are fantastic! Look forward to future videos like this.
This might be a minor insight, but I noticed that a lot of model railroaders make this mistake with telegraph poles. In areas where there are no roads crossing or high industrial areas. Telegraph poles are usually spaced anywhere from 40' to 50' apart and are not that tall. Usually about 15' tall. Telegraph wires are very thin and break easy if they sway too much in the wind, this is why they are so close together, to reduce sway. The poles on this layout are about 100 scale feet apart and most are too tall where they don't need to be, which is unrealistic. It just a minor detail. The tops of the poles in that isolated area should not be much higher than those covered hoppers. The best example to see would be the New York Central Hudson River line. Some of your poles are about 200 scale feet apart. If that was real, those wires would break just after a few wind storms. Just my input to detail. But this is one of the most common mistake model railroaders make when it comes to having telegraph poles on their layout. Maybe it is to save money on poles. But a railroad like this is all detail and so shouldn't the poles to complete it.
Fair enough. There are other videos we made of this same RR (ATSF Hereford Sub) that don't show the DS or at least not as much. We tried to use that as a device to provide an overview of what was going on. Thanks for watching and posting a comment!
It's a shame that model railroading went from a kids hobby to only a hobby of the rich who can afford it now. Back in the day locos for $20 to $40 each. Now most are at least $100 to $200 each.
I agree it would be great if we could get more kids and younger people into the hobby and costs are a hurdle. However, don’t forget to adjust for inflation. $20 in 1970 is worth $157.27 in 2023. $20 in 1980 is worth $74.06 today. I think it may have more to do with the parents, their interest and level of support. When I was young, I used my allowance to add models, rolling stock and even the occasional locomotive, but thankfully my dad helped and especially built the benchwork and bought the wood, which I was definitely too young to do. Many parents will buy their kids a $400 PlayStation or XBox without batting an eye. Something to think about….
Geez, this is intense!
Just a beautiful R.R.
that runs like it's alive.
Always been a fan of this Santa Fe layout I love this.
All the railroad cars were of the right time period, as well as train symbols, weathering great. What an ops session!
That DCC programming made things so much cooler in model railroading. I'm new to it so have no clue how they got the sound prior to DCC but I have been told DCC has been around since the mid 90's. Nice set up. Love it.
If you were a model railroader (or even just ran trains) years ago using DC, you'll find that DCC is MUCH easier. When I was in my pre-teens and my early teens, my dad and I built an HO scale RR with DC. To run more than one train required two (or more) "transformers" (that supply power to the tracks), separation of the track into isolated electrical blocks, and LOTS of toggle switches (to assign each section of track, also known as a "block", to the desired power pack. Lots of work and wiring. With DCC, the motto is "run your trains not your track." So ALL of the track can be connected to the same DCC "command station" (supplies the power to the trains). Then a separate throttle (can be wired or wireless) is needed for each person who will simultaneously run their own train on the layout.
The way it all works in a nutshell is, the same voltage goes to all the track (as opposed to DC where the voltage is varied to control the speed of the locomotive(s)). It is always full voltage (usually around 14-18 volts but varies by scale and other factors) goes to the track all the time. Then, a small circuit called a "Decoder" is installed in each locomotive. That chip can have sound capability (more $$) or just control the train motion and lights (can be under $20). The circuit is programmed to the locomotive's address. So you "call up" any address (usually the locomotive number) and then when you twist the throttle only that locomotive will move.
It you can are comfortable doing a little wiring work, you can add decoders to existing locomotives. Some require soldering, but there are also "plug and play" decoders which you need only plug in to an existing board/connector in the loco. But if you don't feel comfortable with that, you can buy locomotives with decoders already installed - with sound or without, depending on your preference and budget.
I am not affiliated with any manufacturer. However, if you know absolutely nothing about DCC, Digitrax (which is what this layout owner, my friend Sammy Carlile and I both use), they publish a book called "the big red book of DCC." Whether you actually use Digitrax or any of the many other alternatives, that book does a great job of covering all of the basics in good detail - can be as detailed as you like/need but there are plenty of illustrations and examples. I might recommend you google that book (it's been in and out of print but can be found, perhaps on EBay).
Model Railroading has been a great hobby for us and you may find you enjoy it too. Good luck! -Steve Davis
This is so cool. I lived in Clovis for 6 years and watched the trains from Amarillo and Lubbock, TX to Clovis to Fort Sumner, NM!
I watched the whole video. It was super. Awesome video and layout. I thought I felt the breeze from the hotshot trains.
Oh wow! Another great production from my favorite mad scientist, Steve Davis! Thank you sir for taking the time to put all of this together to share with this great audience!
Sammy you are a true prototype modeler who has created a MASTERPIECE layout which it is my honor to share via these videos.
I will second that and the only thing missing was Hoover stuck in a siding on an empty BN coal train!! Thanks for producing this Steve and I hope we can make it down to operate on both soon!!
Nice video like and subscribed from Czech Republic 🙂👍👍👍👍
Merci pour le partage. Belle partie de jeu. J’aime 👍
Enjoyed watching all of the action. Very well orchestrated! Thanks for sharing. Mike
The 'well orchestrated' part would be thanks to our excellent dispatcher, Jay Hastings. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!
Love to see some Texas layouts get high view numbers on UA-cam this state has soooo many good layouts that never get top algorithm feeding. Beautiful layout awesome detailed ops information only thing enjoyable to look at in the panhandle is the railroads 👍
That is a great layout, nicely explained ops, and wonderful dispatch. The screen shot are great and it looks like quite the intricate system. Very well done.
Q-NYLA the Middendorf or Super-C! Very cool video as always and the layout has been on my list to operate!
Nice to see this layout on your channel again Steve
Nice video Steve. This layout is amazing, and I wish I could visit it. Thank you for letting me visit your layout as well. I had a great time.
Just let Sammy know and I'm sure he'll find a slot for you!
Hallo Steve, ein fantastisches Video, 👍👍, super wie hier gefahren wird und sehr realistisch der Bahnbetrieb und die tolle zusammenarbeit der Teams, enfach super, Gruß Rainer aus Erfurt in Germany, weiterhin viel Spaß und freude bei euren Zusammenkünften
Sure can tell the old head Rails running the XAMAM1 by the way they are talking with the DS, car counts, and slang of "hanging" cars. Looks like a great layout to run and operate. Keep up the great videos!
You sir have hit the nail on the head! 👍
This run looks like the same loads I watched pass by my house growing up in the 90's. Tell me I'm lying....Awesome in many ways. This is all I'll be watching in between paychecks when I'm not working on my layout.
Fantastic video Steve! Sammy’s layout is fun to run and I’ll go back anytime I’m invited!
Thank you for watching and for your part in creating this!
Loved this video! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. It's quite a bit of work to make it all happen, but the results are fantastic! Look forward to future videos like this.
Having been to Hereford you need that cattle stockyard smell too!
This was an awesome video! I feel like I learned so much about ATST and dispatching. You've got yourself a new subscriber!
Great job on the video and operating crew.
This might be a minor insight, but I noticed that a lot of model railroaders make this mistake with telegraph poles. In areas where there are no roads crossing or high industrial areas. Telegraph poles are usually spaced anywhere from 40' to 50' apart and are not that tall. Usually about 15' tall. Telegraph wires are very thin and break easy if they sway too much in the wind, this is why they are so close together, to reduce sway. The poles on this layout are about 100 scale feet apart and most are too tall where they don't need to be, which is unrealistic. It just a minor detail. The tops of the poles in that isolated area should not be much higher than those covered hoppers. The best example to see would be the New York Central Hudson River line. Some of your poles are about 200 scale feet apart. If that was real, those wires would break just after a few wind storms. Just my input to detail. But this is one of the most common mistake model railroaders make when it comes to having telegraph poles on their layout. Maybe it is to save money on poles. But a railroad like this is all detail and so shouldn't the poles to complete it.
Stunning layout, but where are the ALCO's, FM's, Baldwins, and steam specials?
Love seeing the trains run.
Bravo! That was enjoyable! Such a fun layout to operate!
Beautiful locomotives SF30C congratulations
Nice video Steve. A big hello from Houston Texas
Thanks 👍 Perhaps I'll see you at the ops sessions in November?
I love santa fe model scale trains layouts
awsome lay out thank.you.for sharing
Impressive simulation, congratulations.
Great video!
Thank you!
Was that an SD40-2B or SD45B on that coil steel train???
The sound boards add a lot to the trains.
Time to call MofW out to EAST TEXICO for a little track inspection. Three derailments in the first 5 minutes! LOL
Is Jay Cox a former Titan II or Minuteman crew member. He looks too young to be Atlas.
I was a Titan II MCCC at McConnell AFB
Would be nice to see more trains running than videos of dispatchers nice layout however
Fair enough. There are other videos we made of this same RR (ATSF Hereford Sub) that don't show the DS or at least not as much. We tried to use that as a device to provide an overview of what was going on. Thanks for watching and posting a comment!
What time period is thus based
Around 91 ish ?
Sammy needs a caboose on those trains
Kyle coubett csx 😊😊😊❤❤
It's a shame that model railroading went from a kids hobby to only a hobby of the rich who can afford it now. Back in the day locos for $20 to $40 each. Now most are at least $100 to $200 each.
I agree it would be great if we could get more kids and younger people into the hobby and costs are a hurdle.
However, don’t forget to adjust for inflation. $20 in 1970 is worth $157.27 in 2023. $20 in 1980 is worth $74.06 today.
I think it may have more to do with the parents, their interest and level of support. When I was young, I used my allowance to add models, rolling stock and even the occasional locomotive, but thankfully my dad helped and especially built the benchwork and bought the wood, which I was definitely too young to do. Many parents will buy their kids a $400 PlayStation or XBox without batting an eye.
Something to think about….