Now that you are running trains the huge size of your layout is coming into focus. How many engines and pieces of rolling stock will need to do justice to all your great track work ? It was great to see trains running
Good question! I don't know that I have the answer. I'm pretty sure it will run well with between 12 & 16 locos including yard switchers. Right now I have about 65 working cars and 7 working locomotives. I'm not how many locos I have without DCC/Sound. Total number is about 12 HOn3 I think. I have 5 Standard gauge I think. I'm working with 3 switchers at the moment, and will need two more. Current ops can have a staged train at either end of the layout with a fair number of cars spotted on yard tracks and spurs. I'm thinking another 100/150 cars will fill things up nicely but I can't be sure yet. Thanks TC
Dear Dennis, cool beans, awesome golden spike momentum! Beautiful how the train sweeps through the layout, just imagining the landscape to come. Very nifty polarity device. Cheerio
Sorry that I missed the premiere last night, Dennis, but I got to watch this morning with my morning cup of coffee! Great way to start the day and weekend. Very nice progress, and I really enjoyed the train running past other scenes and into Maroon Creek. Got my steam loco fix in for the weekend! Going to be a fun place for operations!
Thanks Paul, I was really surprised. I went back and watched the unedited run and it took 14 minutes to get from Staging to Maroon Creek! I was not expecting it to take that long!! Makes me wonder how long the entire trip will be when I complete all the track! Eventually there will be a scene underneath Frying pan, I just don't know what it will be yet. A non operational diorama that sits beneath track level that you look into from above.
Amazing progress Dennis! Truly awe inspiring and great to see a train up to Maroon Creek! Here's to some operating session videos in the near future! - James
Thanks James! I plan on filming a session in the next couple of weeks, Id' like to have one final turnout in place before I do. I'll have one more run-a-round option that I don't have right now.
@OtterCreek sounds great! Good luck. I really liked the idea of using the Triple Wye as a run around, but for sure, a crossover from far to near would be handy. Would it limit train length at all? Or do you already have plenty of room for the length you planned to run?
Yes, the mirror needs to be square with the track otherwise you get an obvious kink in the track that ruins the illusion. I'll play around with it until I get the effect I'm looking for. Thanks Paul
The folks at the yard need to block those cars a little better - oh well easily enough solved. I do have a question - did you have to cut the pink foam vertically so it would take those tight curves around the spline? oh yeah... Making real progress!
Lol, yeah I didn't really think about swapping any cars out until I got there! Just 1" foam cut at the same height as my spline which I think is 1 1/2". Ripped it on the table saw. So 1" X 1 1/2" X 8'. It takes the curves fairly well, clamps must be used of course. Thanks for stopping in!
Dennis, I didn’t get to watch this yet but I sent you a message in chat on the Trackside Live about naming freight trains. I’ll be back to watch this as soon as I can.
Now that you are running trains the huge size of your layout is coming into focus. How many engines and pieces of rolling stock will need to do justice to all your great track work ?
It was great to see trains running
Good question! I don't know that I have the answer. I'm pretty sure it will run well with between 12 & 16 locos including yard switchers. Right now I have about 65 working cars and 7 working locomotives. I'm not how many locos I have without DCC/Sound. Total number is about 12 HOn3 I think. I have 5 Standard gauge I think. I'm working with 3 switchers at the moment, and will need two more. Current ops can have a staged train at either end of the layout with a fair number of cars spotted on yard tracks and spurs. I'm thinking another 100/150 cars will fill things up nicely but I can't be sure yet. Thanks TC
Dear Dennis, cool beans, awesome golden spike momentum! Beautiful how the train sweeps through the layout, just imagining the landscape to come. Very nifty polarity device. Cheerio
Thanks for the view and comment!
Nicely done Dennis. Those long runs are going to look great when you get to adding scenery. I do love your layout. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks Larry!
nice job Dennis
Always worth waiting for.
Keep up the great work.
Thanks Charles!
Coming along great Dennis, looking forward to the next installment.
Thanks for stopping by Lewis!
Lookig great - thanks and take cae - Kevin
Thanks for stoping by Kevin!
Glad to see things are up and running. Awesome!
Glad you stopped by and dropped a comment! Thanks!
Well that sure looks like you got things running quiet good. Always nice when things go as planned. Keep them coming
Thanks Chris!
Great video! The camera work, music and editing are top notch!
Thanks Kevin!
Very nice, Dennis. I just love watching you run your trains. 😁😎👍🏼
Thanks Drew!
Great progress! Your Rail Empire is looking more and more awesome with every update. Thank you, you are providing lots of inspiration.
Thank you very much!
You're welcome.
Sorry that I missed the premiere last night, Dennis, but I got to watch this morning with my morning cup of coffee! Great way to start the day and weekend. Very nice progress, and I really enjoyed the train running past other scenes and into Maroon Creek. Got my steam loco fix in for the weekend! Going to be a fun place for operations!
Thanks Paul, I was really surprised. I went back and watched the unedited run and it took 14 minutes to get from Staging to Maroon Creek! I was not expecting it to take that long!! Makes me wonder how long the entire trip will be when I complete all the track! Eventually there will be a scene underneath Frying pan, I just don't know what it will be yet. A non operational diorama that sits beneath track level that you look into from above.
WOW I like what you are doing. Nice smooth track work. Thanks for sharing the progress Dennis
Thanks Joe, good to see you, thanks for stopping by!
It's great to see how far you've come with the layout just since I was there! Fantastic job bud! And STILL the best music in model railroading!
Thanks Claude, I couldn't have done it without your clamps! :-)
Amazing stuff Dennis.😯 Thanks for the Troubleshooting 101 Class, Professor. You make it look easy peasy!🤗. . . . .🚂Lawrence
You are always welcome Lawrence! It was a relatively trouble free section of the railway.
Nice run!
Thanks Mark!
Looking Good Dennis
Thanks Gerald!
Dennis absolutely awesome!!! Great work as usual.
Thank you! Cheers!
Nice Job Dennis you have Plenty to Do keep plugging along.
Always plugging at it!
That's looking great Dennis
Thanks Ray!
Amazing progress Dennis! Truly awe inspiring and great to see a train up to Maroon Creek! Here's to some operating session videos in the near future! - James
Thanks James! I plan on filming a session in the next couple of weeks, Id' like to have one final turnout in place before I do. I'll have one more run-a-round option that I don't have right now.
@OtterCreek sounds great! Good luck. I really liked the idea of using the Triple Wye as a run around, but for sure, a crossover from far to near would be handy. Would it limit train length at all? Or do you already have plenty of room for the length you planned to run?
Try placing the mirror at an angle. Then you'd only see the caboose if it was backed right up to the end wall.
Yes, the mirror needs to be square with the track otherwise you get an obvious kink in the track that ruins the illusion. I'll play around with it until I get the effect I'm looking for. Thanks Paul
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 SUCCESS…I know track work comes first but looking forward to see how you scenic this layout
I know!!! I know, lol. I’m wanting to jump into scenery probably as bad or more than most of the viewers want me too! Thanks Anthony.
The folks at the yard need to block those cars a little better - oh well easily enough solved. I do have a question - did you have to cut the pink foam vertically so it would take those tight curves around the spline? oh yeah... Making real progress!
Lol, yeah I didn't really think about swapping any cars out until I got there! Just 1" foam cut at the same height as my spline which I think is 1 1/2". Ripped it on the table saw. So 1" X 1 1/2" X 8'. It takes the curves fairly well, clamps must be used of course. Thanks for stopping in!
@@OtterCreek Thanks! I didn't see any cuts but wondered if I was missing something.
Dennis, I didn’t get to watch this yet but I sent you a message in chat on the Trackside Live about naming freight trains. I’ll be back to watch this as soon as I can.
No problem Derek, watch when you can!
@@OtterCreek Did you see the message in chat on the latest Trackside live about naming freight trains?
@@derekalexander4030 If it's in chat, I'll have to go back and re-watch.
👍🤗🤩, Mike from Austria
Thanks for stopping by Mike!
Really help if people would talk about making soithwest scenery. People seem to NOT talk about it
Sounds like you need to start a UA-cam channel and talk about making soithwest scenery, Bob! 🤣
Dave at Thunder Mesa does SW Scenery!
Dennis, leave the crossover out. Railroading by it's very nature is....cumbersome. Making it easy makes it model railroading....lol
LOL, I had a similar thought. I presume it would be common for a railroad crew to complain about certain aspects of a yard because of inconvenience.
@@OtterCreek we always did. I'm with Amtrak these days, so my switching days are long gone. Don't make it easy. Make it realistic.
🤠🫵🚂💥💨
Thanks Larry