Civil War Era Operations on Thom Radice’s HO scale W&ARR
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- Early Railroads and their operations are fascinating to me. The engines had such vibrance and individuality. It is clear that was there was great pride taken in the way they looked.
Short trains and small cars were the norm for the time. Also instead of automatic couplers the cars were connected with link and pin couplers.
Thom Radice has clearly done a lot of research into the area and the era that he is modeling. He incorporates it into the operations on his gem of an HO scale layout. The section of the Western and Atlanta RR the layout depicts stretches from Atlanta Georgia to Chattanooga Tennessee and incorporates many smaller towns along the way like Big Shanty made famous in the Andrews’ Raid or the Great Locomotive Chase. The engines, cars and locations are heavily researched as are what the train cars carried. All of this is incorporated into the layout operations.
I participated in an Ops session the last weekend of November 2022. We had three crews of 2 and ran three trains. A Chattanooga to Atlanta freight, a local freight from Big Shanty to Chattanooga and a mixed passenger and freight from Atlanta to Chattanooga.
It really is a wonderful and very unusual layout.
Interesting video of a beautiful layout. Thank you. I enjoy modeling this era to the 1890s.
I agree. It is a fascinating time in how much the railroads were changing. I do like researching this period.
Just saw this. Absolutely beautiful scenery. Great to see this era modeled.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it. When I saw it I knew I had to share. It really is so interesting to see more out of the ordinary paths of modeling. There is such a long history of railroads I am really happy to see more of those areas explored.
Beautiful layout. The first I've seen of that era.
I have always enjoyed the difference of the 19th century railroads versus later eras. It is certainly unusual to see a whole layout following it. I guess the more people try it the more manufacturers will offer it. I am slowly finding enough equipment to make one but it is slow going.
Amazing layout
I completely agree. Thom has done an amazing job on this. He is always working hard to make it better as well so it is not just static.
When I was a kid I wanted modern diesels, at 24 years old I want old steam engines. The more I age, the cooler the vintage trains are, this fantastic! Very nice work. Inspiring too, I might have to pick me up and old timer steam engine
I know exactly what you mean. I have been pulled whole into researching and modeling the 19thcentury stuff.
Always have been interested in the story of the "Great Locomotive Chase" from the time I was a young child. Now I am getting interested in a train set that looks authentic and it a quality set. I have the Bachman set to start with. Just have something to show. This is incredible to say the least! The time and knowledge of putting this together is an act of love for sure! So nice! Must have taken a lot of time and patience to produce it! You could film a movie using this set! Just so nice, so nice!
It is always interesting to me how a single event can so capture peoples imaginations so even many years later it still resonates an inspires. Good luck with your set I would be interested in seeing how it progresses.
My favorite era of locomotive development and superbly modeled.
Yes Thom does a great job researching and he will go back into a scene and rework it if he finds conflicting information. He is really working hard researching operations right now.
Are these locomotives custom made?
@@Hunter12396 Most are heavily modified from Mantua or Bachmann engines is my understanding.
looks great. its my retirement goal. set one up with a gettysburg theme
That would be quite a layout. I’m sure Gettysburg would be quite interesting to model. It helps that the Northern Central in New Freedom has their period replica York as well as their original station to visit. Also the station building at Gettysburg still exists as well. Consider asking the folks at American Civil War Railroad Special Interest Group for pointers. Many members(like Thom) there really have done the research.
Thanks Andy! Nicely shot video and narration. I’ll keep you posted on the next ops
Thanks Thom. It was really a pleasure to operate on such a great layout. I’m looking forward to next time.
World class!
I could not agree more! Thom does great work.
That’s an incredible layout, thank you for sharing.
Yes it really was fun to sight-see as the train moved through. There was a lot to see. Little hidden scenes all over the layout. So many little people working away.
The W&ARR is in my top 3 favorite Railroads because of its history in the area that I live and this layout is probably the closest thing to what the W&ARR actually looked like!
I agree Thom's layout really is amazing and he is always tinkering with it improving it with research. The soil he uses is all sifted soil he brought back from his visits to the area for instance.
That is not a layout style you see every day, really interesting layout.
Yes unusual for sure. Such a different era than most that you see.
Very nice video. Thanks for posting! Have a happy holiday season.
Thank you Gerald! I think Thom's Layout makes it very easy to get good footage. He has done such a nice job on it I think it would be hard to get a bad image anywhere on it. I hope you have a great holiday as well.
Nice Layout !
Yes Thom's layout is a thing of beauty.
Big Shanty? You guys have an opportunity for a Great Locomotive Chase recreation
Yes indeed. The General and the Texas are on the roster. I'm not sure about the Yonah. That would make a fun operation scenario.
The scenery looks beautiful! I just believe the steam locomotives would be much dirtier than what anyone models. But maybe I am wrong.
The engines of the time seemed like they were operated by a single crew. Since it was "their" engine they took some real pride in it and kept it clean and the brass polished. Engineers did things like commission landscape scenes painted on the sides of the headlight. These were the high tech plaything of the day so there was some show off quality to it.
I am making the same kind of Layout Where did you find your indian TP's?
I’ll ask but I think Shapeways was where they came from.
Thom told me he sourced those "selby tents" from Musket Miniatures. I hope this helps you.
As mentioned those aren't teepees; they are large military tents that slept numerous soldiers and would often have a stove in the center. Soldiers would sleep in a circle with their feet towards the center. I love how the locks have been modified to match engines on the W&ARR. Where did you find all of the period rolling stock though?
Nice video, but the commentary obscures the sounds of this excellent layout.
I’m sorry you feel that way. The point of this video was to explain some of the early era operations of the layout and talking is the best way I have found to get that across. I’m sure I’ll have more from Thom’s in the future.
@@este_Pandy_Projects I meant no offense. Glad to see these CW layouts.
@@Hendo56 Non taken. I'm just happy to get out more things that I am personally interested in. I do hope you liked it.