วีดีโอ

Really beautiful layout,hard to believe it's that small,love your weathering

This is a gorgeous layout. Makes me want to visit my neighbors to the south again soon and get some amazing Chicago style deep dish!!

The overpass and grade separated berm should look really cool!

I know this is 9 months old now, but I thought a couple of points might be worth bringing up:- Firstly I believe it's good to aim for a consistency of 'level of detail' for a model, which applies to any scale. Your older and lower detail models will look much worse if they are alongside highly detailed models, if you aim for a consistent level of detail then nothing should jar, even if they are not the most highly detailed models. Secondly, and particularly with reference to the larger scales, for models of older prototypes a lot of information has been lost to time. No photograph is going to show every nut and rivet, so is it valid to 'invent' detail which can't be found from reference materials to make a model look highly detailed?

Nice review of a staple of Chicago railroading near the mills and factories that are left.

Would love to know what the overall dimensions for this are? This is beautiful

Great video!

I'm not usually into "unboxing" or "review" style videos since, for me at least, I'm going to break every single one of those little details off at some point lol. As long as the car looks like how it should it's good enough for me. Brake piping and the like will 100% get broken by my clumsy fingers. That said, I have really been enjoying these review videos and have been finding them helpful as far as technical information goes, like weight and coupler info. Would be interested if you reviewed some open load cars like gondolas, flats or bulkheads. Stock that has a different weight loaded vs. unloaded. Also just want to mention your scenery work in the end cinematics is so damn good. That cracked, overgrown parking lot is so well done.

Nice job on the review. I love detail, my problem is I find some of it on the floor after a while. I have a large rolling stock fleet. I have a $10.00 rule. I try not to spend more than $10.00 per unit. I buy used and project cars on eBay. At $50.00+ per car, a 20 car train is 1k. Add in a loco and your at 1.25k. 😊😊😊

That night shot with Metra passing through is phenomenal! The lighting really adds just the right amount of ambiance to Chicago at night. You absolutely nailed this build.

Good review. One subject I'm missing from your reviews and comparisons though is ride height. When comparing this boxcar to the older MT box during the test run the different is quite big as cars with truck mounted couplers tend to ride high.

Looks like MicroTrains is trying to step up to the more 'luxury' models of ScaleTrains and Atlas Master Line. Good move since that seems to be what the hobby is asking for - and those separately applied air hoses and cut levers are a nice added detail - even if you're the one adding them. The price point is a little rough though - $50 for a boxcar seems high and i'm saying that because i just picked up a ScaleTrains hopper for $37 (i know they're different cars BUT other than door details we're not talking much variance). And why, on NONE of those examples in the video do the doors open?! I actually look for that in boxcars because i'm picky enough to want to open them and plan to detail the interiors with loads and junk debris someday. i think if those doors opened, they'd get $50 from me... probably a few times over.

Does the vertical lift bridge function? Or is that just for looks?

Very nice boxcar. I usually don’t mind the accessory packs, so that wasn’t an issue for me. The paint detail is superb. I don’t own any rolling stock from Aurora, but I would be annoyed by the proprietary couplers. I have an inventory of microtrains couplers and trucks just for that reason. Kato is the same way, and I shy away from them unless the consist will be permanently assigned, such as passenger coaches. Thanks for the in depth review. ☺️

Nice review of always improving details in N scale. We´re really far from the 70´ and 80´ when choices were really more limited. Not to mention details. I suppose that both cars can be opened for adding or removing (?) weight. Air hoses pro and con. It´s really modeler choice. When the car is uncoupled, they look awesome. But ridicously hanging while train is in motion. The Kadee style look not fantastic when uncoupled, right under coupler. For those not using magnetic uncoupling, it can be cut shorter and more bent to create sort of illusion of being coupled to an other car or locomotive. Some cut them completely. No easy perfect solution. Same with locomotives MU hoses. Illusion and pretending that... On our layouts we all do so much "pretending" , that one more or less is really modeler choice. Thanks Éric and enjoy all.😊

Have to compare the ride height of the older MT car they sit very high

Another great review, thanks.

Both beautiful cars,underbody detail on Aurora miniatures is better than Micro trains car,cut levers and airhoses,not hard to figure out to install

Looking forward to the new year.

This is a super smart layout! There's so much potential on these N scale layouts when you add structures and small curves to keep things interesting. Amazing attention to detail 👍 🚂

Keep the reviews coming. Glad to see they went with micro trains couplers.

Nice looking car, but the proprietary couplers aren't always great. It's not always easy to convert to Micro Trains couplers either. I had an Arnold SW1 and it wouldn't couple to some of my rolling stock at all, even with a shove. I wish there was more standardization in this aspect of n scale.

Overpasses will look great! and it's a great new project.

Returning home from the trip... With blue ribbon coaster, snitched from the bar. This talking head format seems really organic. Cheers for the New Year!

The multi-stage light-up sign in the background is a huge win! It adds a little dynamic element that draws your eye and breaks up your view making the layout seem much bigger. Excellent!

Hi again. Happy new year and happy model railroading in 2025. I will probably have more questions about N scale LED lightning. I will watch your video again and make sure I won't ask stupid questions before doing so. You're a king modeler.

This is a very helpful video! I was frustrated with most planning videos because i couldn't see how the plan related to the finished product, and I wasn't sure which features were useful and which ones were not. I kept making the typical error of trying to do too much with too little. Your plan ideas were great! Thanks for sharing them! I have now subscribed to your channel!

Have just started my first N gauge layout and like the idea of the 'scenic focus'. Even though mine is a tiny loop with one siding for shunting lots of ideas to take on board. Thanks for sharing your design. New year, new ideas!

makes me feel like I’m in Chicago

Hi Eric, I follow a bunch of layouts around the world and tareouts and rebuilds happen for many reasons. What I'm doing this time is making a 1 to 1 footprint plan of the layout on 30 inch wide rolls of paper. I will be able to see how it all fits together. I'm doing freelance, so it's all my own creation. I'm look forward to your journey.😊😊😊

Sounds exciting. Looking forward to watching your progress

While the tunnel won't be saved, the change to an above-grade vinette simulating some Chicago trackage (maybe a viaduct involved as well?) will fit in well with the overall "flatland" of Chicago. See also the above-grade trackage of the South Shore and Norfolk Southern near the Ford plant at 130th and Torrence Ave.

eric, btw, before retirement i had a 1 week assignment at zion nuke plant for the DOE and took the metra north out of chicago to get there ( i saw your map on the wall and it got me thinkin' about your neck of the woods !!) were you in the air force ???

Beautiful video !!! Like 244

Now that the buildings are removed, I see the military medals and a US Army red rope?

Eric. Your logic on the changes to be made is fundamentally sound, as always. Your creativity in making the changes will make each new episode magical, as always. Looking forward very much to Chicago Crossing being part of my 2025. It must please you greatly to have a firm following here of support, and encouragement. Many thanks for your efforts.

Everything sounds good that your getting into. I am N scale also and just a bit behind you in my layout. There is no rush in our hobby as things take money and time as the real world happens. Keep up the good video's.

You put a lot of good thoughts and ideas together.

When did the F5 hit Chicago Crossing?! If you are going to this extreme, have you thought of a complete redesign of the layout? Maybe move to a linear, around the walls? Don't know what your space will allow, but wow! Good luck with your plans.

Sounds like a plan! I appreciate your desire to improve the realistic feel of the layout. Really interested in the automated lights with the arduino too. Thanks for sharing!

You are kicking it up a notch! Fascinating to see the layout without the structures. You do so much in a small space. Excited to see what you come up with.

Good stuff! Looking forward to following your progress. I'm curious how you attach you buildings to the layout so they're still removable but stay in position day-to-day? As I begin work on the buildings on my new layout I'm trying to keep everything removable to save me some trouble when I move in the nearish future (and to also allow me to add lighting, etc in the future).