This is so cool...great to see one that somebody is still working on. Of course, with a layout like this, there will be work forever. Great job! I wonder if that’s the Cumberland Gap...
Mr. Parks, THIS is truly a resplendent & magnificent model railroad! The vistas & the background, the country and the detail leaves one breathless. This is great artistry. I remember western Maryland as a child & you've reproduced the era & the land & the rail lines spectacularly! Thanks so much. I am a native Marylander & a very amateur model railroader since I was a kid myself. I have a powerful ancient love and attraction for the GGI and all things PRR. But I looooove your artistry here. "NO"
Just watched this a second time. For anyone who likes model trains (and especially B&O/WM) - jaws have to be hitting the floor during the staging scenes... Miles and miles of trains with dozens of engines "idling" with their sound decoders. Incredible!
Do you really want to have comments on the backdrops first and not on the layout. A backdrop is just that - a background that needs to be in support of the layout.
+David Curtis how should I best describe the layout?! As a whole, I feel the backdrop blends well into the layout and complements how it gives great distance! All I can say is the backdrop stood out to me right from the beginning and felt it was worth praise worthy.
On behalf of Mr. Parks, I thank you for your wonderful comment. I had him read it and was very thankful. Hi goal was to capture the feeling of the Cumberland area and surroundings with the deep vistas, and with the help of another friend, Mike Kotowski (an accomplished artist and painter in his own right), he was able to accomplish that. But there is still a lot to do, like all model railroads a layout is "never" finished. Cheers.
Thank you. The layout is located in California Bay Area. It is a private layout, but it is open (not to the full public) occasionally as part of layout tours during model railroad meets, PCR (Pacific Coast Railroad association) and SIGs (Special Interest Group: Layout Design and Operations) being some of them.
Yeah, there is more to do...but what is obvious to me is the love & the joy which this is done... and evidently an effort with Mr. Parks guiding hand but as with fine films and plays, there is an overall guiding unitary concept in the modelling art overall and underneath....yayeah! NO
@thewvnetwork Thank you!. This video was shot in January 2011, so there has been a lot of progress since, with new scenery on the far corner, and the peninsula with Frostburg, Helmstetter's Curve and the west end of Cumberland.
Good question. The layout was designed 12 years ago, and back then there was very little knowledge of signal cross talk, radiation, twisted bus cables, and the list goes on. At that time, just like all DC layouts before, it was thought that having all centralized made more sense for maintenance. Today we would not have this setup, and have the boosters distributed around the layout. Those are not receivers, but LNRPs or LocoNet Repeater modules. We run the layout with 3 radio receivers.
@rwproctor 1. There are blue and red switches. They are connected to electronic boards that command the tortoise to close or throw, and also to send status to JMRI running on a PC. One can also set the turnout from JMRI. Staging can only be set from the computer. 2. That is a long story; the owner was/is interested in all railroads, and just by chance at the time someone asked what railroad he was modeling, he was reading about the B&O, and so he answered "the B&O". That is how it all started.
Holy investment, Batman! I'm planning to model all rail operations in Connellsville, 1967 (to account for pre-PC merger and pre-Circus WM paint). Looks like I'm going to need about as much room as shown here to get all those yards and spans in, etc.
SP4275... Thank you for kind response... I left you a message on your channel. This beautiful beautiful work & fine American craftsmanship... Cheers... PS/ very glad you read to Mr. Parks...y'all keep up the good work keeping the trains runnin' on time! NO
The video was shot in early 2010. Since then there has been a number of additional features, and of course more scenery done. I should start thinking of making an update video. Regarding the idling engines, we have installed a number of Aux-Box boards to power up/down via JMRI the staging tracks. Works nicely.
Someone may have already asked, but when you enter the layout it shows all the boosters and stuff in one spot, what are the advantages/disadvantages of having them together like that versus having each one near it's power district on the layout? Also, it looked like a whole lineup of Digitrax radio receivers, could you explain what those all are and why they're all lined up like that? I imagined having them spread through the layout for coverage, but ended up going with a different setup(NCE)
Yes, in fact this was not supposed to be put on TH-cam originally, but just a quick recording of the scenery status. We are planning better videos to show both railroads as of today (with still a lot of work to do). Cheers.
@drumbum160 Actually this is a private layout and it is located in California. Hope you got some good stories from you great grandpa. Post videos when you start building the layout. Cheers.
Great layout !!! I am in the planning stages of Hagerstown to Baltimore, with everything west of Hagerstown to be staging. 2 questions, the blue knobs in the fascia, I believe theyare for turnout control? Are they manual control or are they electrical switches recessed. 2nd ?, how does one in CA end up modeling the Wild Mary? Just curious.
BEAUTIFUL layout. I see its still "under construction" as most layouts are, but how long did it take to get to the stage you are at here? I have "only" a 15x9 and it took me 5 years (although I only worked sporadically in my spare time). This is a pretty accurate reconstruction...can even see the WM mainline that is now a tourist railroad! Neat!
I think this layout is incredible. When I see the Narrows on the video, I can say "I've been there". WM depot in Cumberland is fantastic as is the painted B&O Queen City Station. Where is this model and is it ever open to the public?
Wow what a neat layout. My family is from Keyser and my great grandfather was actually a brakeman on the B&O. Are you located near Cumberland? This was actually what I'm planning on modeling when I start my own layout. Are you guys a club or is this a personal layout?
Where is this layout located? I am modeling the Western Maryland Railway Thomas Sub in 1952, and would love to do some operation sessions on this layout.
Simply gorgeous !! I don't like the paper back drops because their vanishing points are fixed in one view; unlike real, where the vanishing points continually change as we move about an object.. The layout is so fabulous otherwise. These paper backgrounds don't meet up with the high quality of the rest of the scenes..I'll never understand why so many modelers use this stuff. The large lake one is OK because it has no straight lines going off in the distance like structures have...
Mark, The backdrop is not paper. It is hand painted from actual photographs taken from the various positions on the prototype that match where you are standing in the aisle. The cameraman put his camera in places that you can not get to yourself, which of course messes with the perspective that you get in person.
Looks like this might be a great layout but with so much fast movement of the camera I couldn't see much and it gave me a headache. So I had to skip it after about 5 minutes. Sorry - like I said it might be a grand layout but.......
oh wow I go to Cumberland all th time to ride the Western scenic railroad. I'd love to see your layout!
Beautiful and massive layout
This is so cool...great to see one that somebody is still working on. Of course, with a layout like this, there will be work forever. Great job! I wonder if that’s the Cumberland Gap...
Mr. Parks, THIS is truly a resplendent & magnificent model railroad! The vistas & the background, the country and the detail leaves one breathless. This is great artistry. I remember western Maryland as a child & you've reproduced the era & the land & the rail lines spectacularly! Thanks so much. I am a native Marylander & a very amateur model railroader since I was a kid myself. I have a powerful ancient love and attraction for the GGI and all things PRR. But I looooove your artistry here. "NO"
Just watched this a second time. For anyone who likes model trains (and especially B&O/WM) - jaws have to be hitting the floor during the staging scenes... Miles and miles of trains with dozens of engines "idling" with their sound decoders. Incredible!
The thought of how to go about designing a layout such as this is incredible let alone actually constructing it.
This is when "Model Railroading" goes waaaay beyond, "Model Railroading".... This is next level action here!
Amazing!
The backdrops are out of this world! Great looking layout, and thanks for sharing!
Do you really want to have comments on the backdrops first and not on the layout. A backdrop is just that - a background that needs to be in support of the layout.
+David Curtis how should I best describe the layout?! As a whole, I feel the backdrop blends well into the layout and complements how it gives great distance! All I can say is the backdrop stood out to me right from the beginning and felt it was worth praise worthy.
On behalf of Mr. Parks, I thank you for your wonderful comment. I had him read it and was very thankful. Hi goal was to capture the feeling of the Cumberland area and surroundings with the deep vistas, and with the help of another friend, Mike Kotowski (an accomplished artist and painter in his own right), he was able to accomplish that. But there is still a lot to do, like all model railroads a layout is "never" finished. Cheers.
Thank you. The layout is located in California Bay Area. It is a private layout, but it is open (not to the full public) occasionally as part of layout tours during model railroad meets, PCR (Pacific Coast Railroad association) and SIGs (Special Interest Group: Layout Design and Operations) being some of them.
Yeah, there is more to do...but what is obvious to me is the love & the joy which this is done... and evidently an effort with Mr. Parks guiding hand but as with fine films and plays, there is an overall guiding unitary concept in the modelling art overall and underneath....yayeah! NO
@thewvnetwork Thank you!. This video was shot in January 2011, so there has been a lot of progress since, with new scenery on the far corner, and the peninsula with Frostburg, Helmstetter's Curve and the west end of Cumberland.
Good question. The layout was designed 12 years ago, and back then there was very little knowledge of signal cross talk, radiation, twisted bus cables, and the list goes on. At that time, just like all DC layouts before, it was thought that having all centralized made more sense for maintenance. Today we would not have this setup, and have the boosters distributed around the layout. Those are not receivers, but LNRPs or LocoNet Repeater modules. We run the layout with 3 radio receivers.
Amazing layout, I could only wish mine was as nice. The background is awesome!! I would love to see an op session. Definitely a fav!!!
Check back in 45 years.
Wow..fantastic.. thanks for sharing and keep up the great work.. Lance
Incredible work!
@rwproctor 1. There are blue and red switches. They are connected to electronic boards that command the tortoise to close or throw, and also to send status to JMRI running on a PC. One can also set the turnout from JMRI. Staging can only be set from the computer. 2. That is a long story; the owner was/is interested in all railroads, and just by chance at the time someone asked what railroad he was modeling, he was reading about the B&O, and so he answered "the B&O". That is how it all started.
Holy investment, Batman! I'm planning to model all rail operations in Connellsville, 1967 (to account for pre-PC merger and pre-Circus WM paint). Looks like I'm going to need about as much room as shown here to get all those yards and spans in, etc.
SP4275... Thank you for kind response... I left you a message on your channel. This beautiful beautiful work & fine American craftsmanship... Cheers... PS/ very glad you read to Mr. Parks...y'all keep up the good work keeping the trains runnin' on time! NO
It is a streamlined pacific for the B&O Royal Blue train. Check the Wiki for a description of this train, which has a nice picture of this engine.
@SP4275 - the building with the figure is part of a Revell Gravel Plant
Yes, David switched to JMRI 6 years ago, and it has come a long way from those beginnings.
Wow... hoping to find out more...
cheers
looks like you have alot of time and money on your hands haha.layout looks perfect.wish you all the best from new zealand.
The video was shot in early 2010. Since then there has been a number of additional features, and of course more scenery done. I should start thinking of making an update video. Regarding the idling engines, we have installed a number of Aux-Box boards to power up/down via JMRI the staging tracks. Works nicely.
Nice layout.
Someone may have already asked, but when you enter the layout it shows all the boosters and stuff in one spot, what are the advantages/disadvantages of having them together like that versus having each one near it's power district on the layout? Also, it looked like a whole lineup of Digitrax radio receivers, could you explain what those all are and why they're all lined up like that? I imagined having them spread through the layout for coverage, but ended up going with a different setup(NCE)
Yes, in fact this was not supposed to be put on TH-cam originally, but just a quick recording of the scenery status. We are planning better videos to show both railroads as of today (with still a lot of work to do). Cheers.
@drumbum160 Actually this is a private layout and it is located in California. Hope you got some good stories from you great grandpa. Post videos when you start building the layout. Cheers.
Great layout !!! I am in the planning stages of Hagerstown to Baltimore, with everything west of Hagerstown to be staging. 2 questions, the blue knobs in the fascia, I believe theyare for turnout control? Are they manual control or are they electrical switches recessed. 2nd ?, how does one in CA end up modeling the Wild Mary? Just curious.
wow. very cool.
very awesome!
BEAUTIFUL layout. I see its still "under construction" as most layouts are, but how long did it take to get to the stage you are at here? I have "only" a 15x9 and it took me 5 years (although I only worked sporadically in my spare time). This is a pretty accurate reconstruction...can even see the WM mainline that is now a tourist railroad! Neat!
@ilog0008 We are not sure as it was supplied by one of the "helpers", but Newriver mine sounds right for one of the structures.
Awesome!
I think this layout is incredible. When I see the Narrows on the video, I can say "I've been there". WM depot in Cumberland is fantastic as is the painted B&O Queen City Station. Where is this model and is it ever open to the public?
Class
Wow what a neat layout. My family is from Keyser and my great grandfather was actually a brakeman on the B&O. Are you located near Cumberland? This was actually what I'm planning on modeling when I start my own layout. Are you guys a club or is this a personal layout?
@panhandle55 Thank you!
Outstanding! Are turnouts handlaid?
I am speechless
awesome layout! is the cumberland station a kit or scratch-built?
Scratch-built, as most of the other stations. Queen Station (on the B&O) is painted, but will receive "3D" details.
thats awesome! ok, sounds good
@jimboson2010 Thank you; I wish it was mine, alas it is not, just working on it, as a few other dedicated people. Cheers!
What program are you using to run the railroad? JMRI ?
Where is this layout located? I am modeling the Western Maryland Railway Thomas Sub in 1952, and would love to do some operation sessions on this layout.
Northern California, Bay Area.
Oh. We'll im a little closer to Cumberland then you are. Oh well. Well at least its good to see someone modeling the WM.
The blue streamlined locoimotive at 7:53, what is it?
Appears to be an MTS B&O Royal Blue 4-6-2 from 1937.
Nice layout -- Thanks
A bit fast with the camera though >> grins
Simply gorgeous !! I don't like the paper back drops because their vanishing points are fixed in one view; unlike real, where the vanishing points continually change as we move about an object.. The layout is so fabulous otherwise. These paper backgrounds don't meet up with the high quality of the rest of the scenes..I'll never understand why so many modelers use this stuff. The large lake one is OK because it has no straight lines going off in the distance like structures have...
Mark,
The backdrop is not paper. It is hand painted from actual photographs taken from the various positions on the prototype that match where you are standing in the aisle. The cameraman put his camera in places that you can not get to yourself, which of course messes with the perspective that you get in person.
How did you set your CPL signals up?
at the moment they are still controlled by Digitrax SE8C, but that will change within this year (2017) as the layout is getting changed to LCC.
Cool I got one and I don't know how to hook it up lol
Its called system engineering. And then you need a crew of capable people. What you see is the result of that, and more.
Looks like this might be a great layout but with so much fast movement of the camera I couldn't see much and it gave me a headache. So I had to skip it after about 5 minutes. Sorry - like I said it might be a grand layout but.......
U have 69 subs haha
Looks like a massive fire hazard to me
OH shud up !!! Very funny !! Ha Ha.....