Every time I see video of this layout I am impressed by how the design creates more with less. It’s a good balance of scenery and trackage without trying to fit in too many things that makes for a very realistic layout.
Mike, You have the nicest presentation of a layout that I have ever seen in my 40+ years in this hobby! You are a great host also! Thanks Mike for always making us feel welcome! Happy New Year! Devin Jackson Mesquite Belt RR
Managed to run a train or two today as well Mike. Always a pleasure to watch the eclectic collection of Rock equipment on your layout! All the best in 2025. -grant
Thank you Can’t believe it took me five days before I watched this video. Once again we see some surprise areas we haven’t seen before….. I know these videos are a lot to produce, so I won’t make any requests. Instead I’ll just say feel free to include the “nuts and bolts” that make this RR run in clips as well. Staging, dispatch area, even your workbench. Your staging area is impressive and organized as we would expect. I’ll bet the rest is, too. Thank you for sharing these videos with us.
That was fun to watch. It's nice to see how the "magic" happens. I tell you, the narrow bench work, the way you have the staging room set up, and the inconspicuous helix shows the research and planning you took the time to do. Everything was done with thought and because of that the trains run well with purpose. Thanks for sharing.
Love watching videos of this incredibly balanced layout! Great design, operational track plan, realistic scenery, scale speed and rolling stock! One of best I’ve seen! Thanks for sharing!
I thank you for your comments. It's always nice when someone appreciates the elements that go into planning, building and operating a model railroad. Mike
Fantastic video and my first time seeing your videos. I must say me being a custom cabinet / furniture maker your bench work fit and finish is best I've seen, very well done. Looking forward to more of your videos
I love how detailed your layout is. As a fellow Rock fan myself, my father and I model the Rock from Chicago to the Quad Cities in 1976-1977. All CTC with signals and a few portions of ABS.
Very nice video and well done layout and equipment. I model all kinds of stuff, but run very rivet counter like accurate freights for whatever road I'm choosing to operate. Got a 4 unit set of Rock Island geeps on the workbench right now, that will hopefully look as good as your train #2 once I have it done.
Thanks for the video Mike, Happy New Year to you and your Family!! Have you seen the new Classic Trains Magazine Winter on the Rails, they have a cool article on the Rock Island in 1970!!!
Fantastic video, I love seeing layouts from a few steps back to be able to see what it all looks like and how it fits in the room. Your layout is amazing! Happy New Year!
Thanks, Mike, for always inviting us along to watch this beautiful layout. Looking forward to another year of railfanning on the Rock Island railroad. You as well as many others are keeping our railroad history alive. I was just curious too, which state are you located in?
I’m located in Texas in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Thank you for your comments. Keep those great videos of your beautiful C&NW layout coming as I really enjoy them. Mike
I enjoy following your Railroad. Your modeling and concept are superb. Do you add Rail joint bars after you notch your rail for the joint simulation? Is that black ballast trimming out the regular ballast? It is the best ballast I have seen, plus your rail color is spot on. Thanks for sharing your outstanding railroad with us. Best, Wiley T
I created jointed rail on a 12' section of my layout (attached link to that video below) and, yes, I added joint bars to simulate a bolted rail joint. I placed the black colored ballast at the outer edge of the main line ballast to simulate cinders that were used in original track construction many years prior. Thank you for your comments. Mike ua-cam.com/video/KGVNnWs1z4o/v-deo.html
Happy New Years Mike. Love the layout tour, I'm always looking for changes or additions. Any projects up coming?? I know the layout is "finished" but there is akways something to do.
Not too much new. I recently added number plates to the wayside signals and installed a couple of Iowa Scaled Engineering "flange squealers". My recent focus has been on fine tuning my operating sessions so that they are completed with few issues ..... always a challenge. Thanks for your comments. Mike
I don't know the exact time/date when the Rock Island retired the last of their F units, but I believe it would have been in the 1976-1977 time frame, just a few years prior to the demise of the Rock Island. Thanks for watching the video. Mike
Outstanding video. Beautiful layout. Thanks for sharing. Dave
Thank you, Dave, I appreciate it! Mike
Every time I see video of this layout I am impressed by how the design creates more with less. It’s a good balance of scenery and trackage without trying to fit in too many things that makes for a very realistic layout.
I appreciate your observations and comments and thank you watching the video. Mike
Mike,
You have the nicest presentation of a layout that I have ever seen in my 40+ years in this hobby!
You are a great host also!
Thanks Mike for always making us feel welcome!
Happy New Year!
Devin Jackson
Mesquite Belt RR
Thanks, Devin …… you are much too kind. I appreciate you! All the best to you and your family in this New Year! Mike
Wonderful job that you did on your layout and Happy New Year !
Thanks Mike for sharing another excellent video of your Mid-Continent empire! All the best in the New Year!
Thank you, Robert, I appreciate it. All the best to you in the New Year! Mike
Always awesome!
I can’t think of a better way to see in the new year than doing just that.
Thank you, Loren, I appreciate it! Mike
Beautiful layout!! Thanks, and Happy New Year
Managed to run a train or two today as well Mike. Always a pleasure to watch the eclectic collection of Rock equipment on your layout! All the best in 2025. -grant
Happy New Year, Grant, and thanks for your comments. Please keep those SAR videos coming …… 5 star productions! Mike
Thank you
Can’t believe it took me five days before I watched this video. Once again we see some surprise areas we haven’t seen before…..
I know these videos are a lot to produce, so I won’t make any requests. Instead I’ll just say feel free to include the “nuts and bolts” that make this RR run in clips as well. Staging, dispatch area, even your workbench. Your staging area is impressive and organized as we would expect. I’ll bet the rest is, too.
Thank you for sharing these videos with us.
I appreciate you watching and thanks for the comments and suggestions which I’ll keep in mind for future videos. Mike
That was fun to watch. It's nice to see how the "magic" happens. I tell you, the narrow bench work, the way you have the staging room set up, and the inconspicuous helix shows the research and planning you took the time to do. Everything was done with thought and because of that the trains run well with purpose. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for your valued comments, I truly appreciate them! Mike
enjoy your channel and layout happy new year
Loved it. Well done.
Thank you, I appreciate it! Mike
Love the Rock and love this layout. Great consists.
Thank you very much! Mike
A feast for the eye. Excellent video if your superb layout. The view in the helix is amazing as well. Syl.
Thank you, Syl, I appreciate it! Mike
Love watching videos of this incredibly balanced layout! Great design, operational track plan, realistic scenery, scale speed and rolling stock! One of best I’ve seen! Thanks for sharing!
I thank you for your comments. It's always nice when someone appreciates the elements that go into planning, building and operating a model railroad. Mike
Awesomeness 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽…enjoyed the step back scenic views of trains running on your layout…Happy New Year…
Thank you very much. Keep up the great job you’re doing with the Georgia Sun Belt! Happy New Year to you! Mike
Good stuff Maynard!
Thank you for sharing. Glad to see the appearance of the EL SDP-45, FAN-tastic video. Happy New Year Mike.👍
Thanks, Gary. I figured that you'd appreciate the EL SDP45. Happy New Year. Mike
I am very impressed with the Rock Island railroad. Absolutely beautiful layout
I appreciate your comments very much! Mike
Fantastic video and my first time seeing your videos. I must say me being a custom cabinet / furniture maker your bench work fit and finish is best I've seen, very well done. Looking forward to more of your videos
I truly appreciate your comments and thank you for taking the time to watch the video. Mike
Very very nice layout, loved it.
I love how detailed your layout is. As a fellow Rock fan myself, my father and I model the Rock from Chicago to the Quad Cities in 1976-1977. All CTC with signals and a few portions of ABS.
Thanks much for your comments. It's always nice to hear from a fellow Rock Island modeler. Mike
Love the "versa racks"...must be haulin' vegas.
Beautiful layout! Happy New Year
Very nice video and well done layout and equipment. I model all kinds of stuff, but run very rivet counter like accurate freights for whatever road I'm choosing to operate. Got a 4 unit set of Rock Island geeps on the workbench right now, that will hopefully look as good as your train #2 once I have it done.
Thanks for your comments and have fun with the 4 unit set of RI geeps! Mike
More fun than humans should be aiiowed !
Man, thst is an awrsome layout. I am impressed and have subbed. I run SP.
I appreciate your comments and thank you very much for subscribing. Mike
Great way to ring the bells and blow the horns for the new year.
Thank you, Ron, and best wishes to you and Susan in 2025! Mike
Excellent work!!!! Happy new year from the G&K Railroad!!
Thank you very much! Mike
Happy New Year Mike!
Thank you, Joseph, and Happy New Year to you! Mike
Mike, you have a great layout. Still working on my N-scale layout.
We are to also still working on our N scale/ HO layout to
Thanks for the video Mike, Happy New Year to you and your Family!! Have you seen the new Classic Trains Magazine Winter on the Rails,
they have a cool article on the
Rock Island in 1970!!!
I need to check out the current Classic Trains ...... thanks for the heads-up. I appreciate you watching the video and Happy New Year to you! Mike
Fantastic video, I love seeing layouts from a few steps back to be able to see what it all looks like and how it fits in the room. Your layout is amazing! Happy New Year!
Thank you very much. I enjoy watching your videos and the progress that you’re making on the C&NW Mondovi Line. Keep up the great job! Mike
Thanks, Mike, for always inviting us along to watch this beautiful layout. Looking forward to another year of railfanning on the Rock Island railroad. You as well as many others are keeping our railroad history alive. I was just curious too, which state are you located in?
I’m located in Texas in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Thank you for your comments. Keep those great videos of your beautiful C&NW layout coming as I really enjoy them. Mike
Enjoyed!
Happy new year
I bet you're pleased Athearn started releasing those older 60's & 70's uncovered autoracks.
Yes, sir, I acquired a few of the Athearn Genesis open auto racks. Thanks for watching the video. Mike
Mike,
Hope you have a good 2025 and I hope to see you in Chattanooga in 2026
I assume you signals are Atlas? With an Atlas signal system? SBD etc.???
The signals are Tomar Industries models that are operated by LogicRail electronics utilizing photo cells. Thank you for watching the video. Mike
I enjoy following your Railroad. Your modeling and concept are superb.
Do you add Rail joint bars after you notch your rail for the joint simulation?
Is that black ballast trimming out the regular ballast? It is the best ballast I have seen, plus your rail color is spot on.
Thanks for sharing your outstanding railroad with us.
Best, Wiley T
I created jointed rail on a 12' section of my layout (attached link to that video below) and, yes, I added joint bars to simulate a bolted rail joint. I placed the black colored ballast at the outer edge of the main line ballast to simulate cinders that were used in original track construction many years prior. Thank you for your comments. Mike
ua-cam.com/video/KGVNnWs1z4o/v-deo.html
Happy New Years Mike. Love the layout tour, I'm always looking for changes or additions. Any projects up coming?? I know the layout is "finished" but there is akways something to do.
Not too much new. I recently added number plates to the wayside signals and installed a couple of Iowa Scaled Engineering "flange squealers". My recent focus has been on fine tuning my operating sessions so that they are completed with few issues ..... always a challenge. Thanks for your comments. Mike
Are your mainline curves super elevated? It looks really good.
Yes, the main line curves are super elevated. I appreciate you noticing that and thank you for watching the video. Mike
When did the Rock Island RR retire the last of there F units?
I don't know the exact time/date when the Rock Island retired the last of their F units, but I believe it would have been in the 1976-1977 time frame, just a few years prior to the demise of the Rock Island. Thanks for watching the video. Mike
Just for fun? Better than watching football. One day the Hope Sub will be running. 😊
Why do model railroaders constantly over power their trains, four locomotives for a 20 car train?
Once again, I have to say that the sound coming from the locomotives are annoying. I guess you have to be there to enjoy that noise.