Very nice video and camera work of a truly stunning, fun railroad. This can be greatly inspirational, showing that you don't have to spend a million bucks on a railroad to have fun. To me, I too get more pleasure from creating exactly what you want from stuff nobody would think to use, and telling visitors and watching the expressions on their faces! Nice Job!! 🎉
@muchfunwithtrains I model in O scale 2 rail...all hand spiked with hand made turnouts. Got about 20 years into a 25x30ft. layout, point to point switching with 5 runarounds. Even developed a card system for moves, with a set of cards for freight cars, a set of cards for locos, and a set for all my industrys. Random picks of each determine which loco delivers which car to which industry. It can keep me busy...9 locos, 45 cars, and 15 factorys, and hours worth of switching with no major yard. You have to switch without blocking the main or have too many cars in your consist! Whew! Thanks for listening.
Sounds like a lot of fun. My railroad has about 8 yards supporting op sessions of up to 15 people, but I often think that I could have taken your approach and had just as much fun...
The word amazing just doesn't say it. I model HO, but I love this. No track wiring stands out as a great plus here. No DCC, no expensive sound decoder locomotives. Etc. Simple and easy. Great scenery also. Thank you!!!!
I agree! The most complicated thing is he has to keep his loco batteries charged up, using fairly "smart" chargers. But there are only 4 locos, so even that's not bad! On my railroad, there are sometimes 4 locos just on one train!!
It's an inspirational railroad, and Bob is a gracious host. Best of all, it's a FUN railroad to operate. Link and pin couplers, but not hard to use. Unbelievable building structures. be careful in what you say or do, you just might end up with an industry named after you.
@@muchfunwithtrains the pace can be as slow or fast as you make it. I have run many times. sometimes i race through my job, others it's a leisurely run with me interacting with the other operators. always a good time. and im amazed at Bob's creativity.... notice his loads on the flat cars?
True creators like these heroes of the hobby really do inspires folks like me not to just go buying stuff. This video got me looking for my brushes, paint and glue :D Fantastic work! Cheers from Sweden
EXCELLENT!! I love the concept, scale, and everything else about it! Being a frequent viewer of the Thunder Mesa Studio TH-cam channel, I’m well acquainted with the micro layouts that were the foundation of this wonderful layout. The Cheese themed micro was great! I’d like to know more about the wireless control system!
Thanks for your comment. CVP 'Airwire" has been around for quite a while, and you can probably find TH-cam videos about how it works, but everything about "dead rail" is evolving rather quickly at the moment, because of the new Soundtrax "Blunami" decoders, which basically let you program and control a "dead rail" train over wifi with your cellphone. I think Bob told me that if he was starting now he would just use the Blunami decoders and cut down on his system complexity.
I was there to operate a few years ago at OS Omaha, and was just as blown away by it all as you were. Just an absolutely incredible railroad, and to think of how different it is from “normal” in both concept and construction make it what it is.
Thankyou for posting this, and thank you to Bob for all that work. There's a lot of hours there ! And it really looks like pure joy to operate and study. I miss the Gn15 info forum 😢
Cereal box cardboard is a great material. I make "silly cars" for and with my grandson. It is really fun to use the printed side "outward" and arrange words from the box as if it were part of your model. I never thought of using it as material for model railroads. Very nice video, lots of great ideas.
Thanks for your comment, and glad you enjoyed the video. You do have to brace the cardboard with wood strips of some kind, though. I should have said more about that in the video. Especially with buildings as large as Bob's.
Awesome, beautiful little narrow gauge line, thanks for sharing. 👍✌️😊 Id love to see more of the RC in the locos, how they work. The wagons were well detailed, textures etc too👍 In Blighty we use 3 link/instanters/screwlink couplings, theyre prototypical. They can be fiddly in the smaller scales, but if theyre made of ferromagnetic metals instead of a hook a small magnet on a stick, preferably with a micro torch, will pick up and drop the couplings perfectly. Couplings are a challenge in Blighty on the real railways too, as there are several types, not always compatible with each other, its the same with our models - Im not aware of the perfect coupling. Of course three link couplings cant be auto coupled or have delayed uncoupling, but they're simple, effective and can be home made. I keep trying to simplify my railway, look for the route of least resistance (with age comes challenges but hopefully some wisdom too), adopting the K.I.S.S philosophy wherever I can. I also have a budget to work within too. Happy New Year🎉🎉🎉
I agree - the simplicity of the homemade link and pin couplers is not only inexpensive, but it was a lot of fun, making each switching move more deliberate.
@muchfunwithtrains It does make you think and engage more. On this side of the pond, some don't like seeing the "hand of god" at a model railway exhibition. Horses for courses though I say👍😊
Thanks for showing us this amazing Gn15 layout. Appreciate especially your detailed description verbally and in moving and still pictures. And fully agree with your conclusion: just do it (similarly ) and - have fun !
Wow! Just now got to watch your Great video on this Fantastic layout. I had to watch it two times, it was that good. Thanks for taking time to produce it. Jim in Illinois.
This is an absolutely gorgeous layout! I love the simplicity of dead rail. And that in this scale the ground throws are useable by 1:1 people but are in scale for the model. Just, wonderful!
Glad you enjoyed it! It's true that those ground throws look way too big in the smaller scales, and feel more realistic in G scale. Thanks for your comment.
This reminds me of some of the early articles in Model Railroader from the '30s and '40s where those pioneers built just about everything from scratch using cardboard and tin cans. And I am so happy that were was a "bang" in this video! 😁
Bob and Burr --Thank you for one of the best layout videos I have watched in some time. Just the right level of information and images. - John Geddes, Vancouver
I too have modeled Gn15 along with a regular G scale layout. I used my old On30 equipment, track, etc. and bashed some interesting locos and cars. I am surprised more people do not model in this gauge scale. Working at 1/2”=1’ is wonderful. Very cool layout, great modeling.
I'm a little surprised, too. In this part of the country (Seattle region) we are used to seeing Greg Wright's fine work in Gn15, but this is the first time I'd seen another example of it. Thanks for your comment.
That is a nice layout. 🤩 Hmm, have some Gn15 projects started years ago then put away to do HO with a club who'd never heard of Gn15, perhaps they should be dug back out ...
I think so. Dig them out, and play around with some balsa and cardboard and acrylic paint. What can go wrong?! I might have to convert my On30 switching layout to G scale, too!! LOL!
As a fellow Gn15 layout owner I am very impressed with modeling and creativity of the layout. You don’t often see a Gn15 layout operated for realistic operations. Congratulations from TravelinginMiniature
Really enjoyed this! Not my style at all, but I can still appreciate it. I saw DaVinci Resolve mentioned in the description. I bought the studio version when it was on sale. Lots to learn but loving it. Take care - Bill.
Glad you enjoyed it. I switched from iMovie to Davinci Resolve a year ago, and it's a steep learning curve, but at this point I'm really glad I did, and I'm finding I have much more flexibility to do just what I want in the edit. And it's so powerful, I haven't scratched the surface of what's possible. Hopefully you will see my slow progress on future videos. Thanks for your comment!
@@muchfunwithtrains I got tired of Corel VideoStudio. I took some time up front to set my default presets, and I can edit in half the time. And the render time is great! There are some really helpful guys doing tutorials on TH-cam. Have fun!
There will come a time where wired rail is a thing of the past in the larger scales and even HO. Batteries are getting super small and motors low drag. RC airplane and car crossover tech.
Wonderful layout! I always wondered about RC being used for trains. No wiring. No shorts or studders over turnouts. No track cleaning just slow and smooth operation. The only problem would be stopping to charge or swap batteries. Maybe a water tower tap that plugs into the stack.
Thanks for your comment. I was surprised that he gets several hours of operation out of his charged batteries, so there was no need to recharge during a three hour session. Which is longer than most people run a train most of the time.
The engines have 400mah 2 cell LIPO batteries installed. Operating sessions are usually 3 hours long. The engines run about 3 1/2 hours on a charge. I charge prior to each operating session.
It's all something else that's for sure. What a joy to visit in person. Any idea about the origins of the little high pitched steam whistle? Is it part of DCC/Sound or a separate part of the layout? Almost seems like it's just a speaker with a button somewhere and not a sound card in the engine. Edit: Just rewatched and see the whistle comes from the CVP system which I assume has their own decoders?
I believe the decoder onboard is a standard Soundtraxx Tsunami, and the steam whistle is one of the whistle options on that decoder. Bob will hopefully see this comment and straighten us out if I am wrong. The speaker is in the locomotive, but I don't know which brand of speaker he uses, probably a small "sugar cube" type.
It really was a joy to see this in person. All eight of us operators spent half the time running our trains and half the time exclaiming about how amazing it was just to be seeing it! (and, in my case, a little time taking video of it...)
Steam engines are equipped with CVP Airwire boards and Soundtraxx Tsunami 2 TSU1100 decoders. All the sounds are from the Tsunami 2 decoders in the steam engines. Whistle is #61 British Rail Single Chime. Fitting for the little 3 Ton Bagnal Sipat Class 0-4-0 and 3 Ton Decauville Type 1 0-4-0.
Hi Burr, you wouldn't know the dimensions of his rollingstock would you? Height and width? I'm just getting started with low-cost Gn15, and knowing how big to make the trains is actually my big stalling point for just getting on with it. Mostly I hear "about 2 inches" wide and "maybe 4 inches high" but that leaves a lot of room for guess work. Also planning similar couplings to those here, so nice to see they work well. It's a delightful layout.
Thanks for your question. I asked Bob, and this is what he said: "Most freight cars are 2" x 5" (6" with buffers). At 1/2" per foot that is 4' x 10'. The coal cars are 4 1/2 and a couple flats are 5 1/2 not including buffers. Buffers add 1" to the length."
Railcars vary but most are 2" wide and 6" long overall. Height of boxcars and cabooses is 3 1/2". I basically scaled them from some of the diminutive cars used in England and Europe during early 20th century. That is also the basis of the little 3 ton 0-4-0 engines. British Bagnals and French Decauvilles.
It's 1/24th scale, and the track gauge on that layout, in that scale, is 15 inches wide, which is what HO standard gauge track scales out to in 1/24th scale. Hence the term "Gn15" for "G scale", 15 inch gauge".
Amazing. But sometimes people don't factor in the materials they already have on hand when counting cost. Not everyone has the same materials or left overs to use for other projects. But that's still not to say you can't build a layout cheaply, a 3d printer will save you a ton.
I know. I was hoping someone would comment on that, and you did! I almost edited that moment out of the video, but as you may know, I call this channel "reality model railroading", so I kept it in. Bob is really into saving money, so he figured what did he need to buy a track gauge for, when he could just use a wheelset? Crack me up!
@ 😂. It’s a beautiful pike and creativity really comes through when you’re on a budget. He should be very proud. I wouldn’t be ashamed to say I built that myself !
Amazing! What a creative and beautiful layout Bob has. Almost everything on here he made with little to no money is just incredible. The HO style track gauge is unique too as the rails look tiny compared to the freight cars which are very wide. Dead rail is cool.This would be the type of railway you can operate in your backyard, small enough for personal use noted by the engineer who stands while operating the steam engine. I love those toilet paper tubes modified into tanks , they look like the real thing and the couplers are cool and simple. The washed out section of trackage is fascinating as well. So many great scenes and points of interest. Awesome stuff Burr ! Bob has created a masterpiece of model railroading and scatchbuilding. 🚂🚃🚃🚃
I am a regular operator on Bob's railroad and want to thank Burr for this great video. Bob deserves recognition for his tremendous talents.
Yes, he does! Thanks for your comment.
Well, I don't eat cereal and don't know anyone that does, so I'm out of luck. LOL Seriously, amazing talent and artistry !
LOL. Consider yourself lucky! You have an excuse to procrastinate! :)
@@muchfunwithtrains It's the story of my life.
Absolutely brilliant! Beautiful layout and scenery and model railroad. Thank you.
I agree, and you're welcome!
Amazing work! Such awesome detail! Proof that where there is a will, there is a way!
Well put! Thanks for your comment.
I don't care how cheap it is, what matters to me is how beautiful everything looks. The shapes, the detailing, the weathering. Respect.
Amen!
Truly fantastic and an inspiration. This is very encouraging.
So glad you enjoyed it and found it encouraging! That's a good word for it!
This is one of the most beautiful narrow-gage layouts I've ever seen! And that much more impressive knowing it's all scratch built!
I agree! Glad you enjoyed it.
Very nice video and camera work of a truly stunning, fun railroad.
This can be greatly inspirational, showing that you don't have to spend a million bucks on a railroad to have fun. To me, I too get more pleasure from creating exactly what you want from stuff nobody would think to use, and telling visitors and watching the expressions on their faces!
Nice Job!! 🎉
Well said. And glad you enjoyed it!
@muchfunwithtrains I model in O scale 2 rail...all hand spiked with hand made turnouts. Got about 20 years into a 25x30ft. layout, point to point switching with 5 runarounds. Even developed a card system for moves, with a set of cards for freight cars, a set of cards for locos, and a set for all my industrys. Random picks of each determine which loco delivers which car to which industry.
It can keep me busy...9 locos, 45 cars, and 15 factorys, and hours worth of switching with no major yard. You have to switch without blocking the main or have too many cars in your consist! Whew!
Thanks for listening.
Sounds like a lot of fun. My railroad has about 8 yards supporting op sessions of up to 15 people, but I often think that I could have taken your approach and had just as much fun...
Such superb work. What a treat to see the imagination to the max to create such realism. I bow to you Bob.
Thanks for your gracious comment!
Absolutely superb! It's so refreshing to see this kind of creativity. The smaller the budget, the better the results.
Interesting comment! Thank you.
Absolutely love it!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Puts me and loads of others to shame it’s just brilliant he must have had great fun and enjoyment building this layout 😊 regards Fred
I think he did. And I didn't even get into how he named many of the buildings and such for his friends, and so forth.
The word amazing just doesn't say it. I model HO, but I love this. No track wiring stands out as a great plus here. No DCC, no expensive sound decoder locomotives. Etc. Simple and easy. Great scenery also. Thank you!!!!
I agree! The most complicated thing is he has to keep his loco batteries charged up, using fairly "smart" chargers. But there are only 4 locos, so even that's not bad! On my railroad, there are sometimes 4 locos just on one train!!
What an accomplishment! Anybody can go out and buy stuff. He "recycled" trash into a railroad he can well be proud of!
I agree. A classic example of time vs. money, too.
The tiny engines make a huge charms..!...🚂...❤
True!
great video, great work, thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it. A pleasure!
It's an inspirational railroad, and Bob is a gracious host. Best of all, it's a FUN railroad to operate. Link and pin couplers, but not hard to use. Unbelievable building structures. be careful in what you say or do, you just might end up with an industry named after you.
I agree. When I first walked in I thought the operation would be too slow for me to have fun, but I found out soon how wrong I was!
@@muchfunwithtrains the pace can be as slow or fast as you make it. I have run many times. sometimes i race through my job, others it's a leisurely run with me interacting with the other operators. always a good time. and im amazed at Bob's creativity.... notice his loads on the flat cars?
WOW, thanks for sharing with all of us! Incredible work and really slick use of inexpensive materials. I’m inspired!
It had the same effect on me! Glad you enjoyed it!
Absolutely superb Gn15 model layout. It shows you can built a great model railroad even if you only have a small budget.
Yes it does! Thanks for your comment.
That is an amazing layout ... BRAVO!
Thanks, and glad you enjoyed it!
Pretty darn impressive.
Nice work. Thanks for sharing Burr.
You're welcome. I've been meaning to get this out to everyone since I saw it in October 2023!
True creators like these heroes of the hobby really do inspires folks like me not to just go buying stuff. This video got me looking for my brushes, paint and glue :D Fantastic work! Cheers from Sweden
Well said! It had the same effect on me, and probably many other. Thanks for your comment!
The airplane got a real 'wow' out of me - it fits so nicely and really adds character.
I agree. That really gives you an idea of the time frame of the layout.
Superb work sir. Very well done.
Many thanks!
EXCELLENT!! I love the concept, scale, and everything else about it! Being a frequent viewer of the Thunder Mesa Studio TH-cam channel, I’m well acquainted with the micro layouts that were the foundation of this wonderful layout. The Cheese themed micro was great! I’d like to know more about the wireless control system!
Thanks for your comment. CVP 'Airwire" has been around for quite a while, and you can probably find TH-cam videos about how it works, but everything about "dead rail" is evolving rather quickly at the moment, because of the new Soundtrax "Blunami" decoders, which basically let you program and control a "dead rail" train over wifi with your cellphone. I think Bob told me that if he was starting now he would just use the Blunami decoders and cut down on his system complexity.
Beautiful!
Thank you! Cheers!
I was there to operate a few years ago at OS Omaha, and was just as blown away by it all as you were. Just an absolutely incredible railroad, and to think of how different it is from “normal” in both concept and construction make it what it is.
Well said! This is one of the greats!
Outstanding!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Fabulous fun!
Yes!
AAA +++ ! Beautiful work. ! 😊
Glad you liked it!
Thankyou for posting this, and thank you to Bob for all that work. There's a lot of hours there ! And it really looks like pure joy to operate and study. I miss the Gn15 info forum 😢
You're welcome, and you're right about the hours that he put into it, just over a five year period!
GREAT ♥♥♥
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
Very cool
Glad you liked it!
Cereal box cardboard is a great material. I make "silly cars" for and with my grandson. It is really fun to use the printed side "outward" and arrange words from the box as if it were part of your model. I never thought of using it as material for model railroads. Very nice video, lots of great ideas.
Thanks for your comment, and glad you enjoyed the video. You do have to brace the cardboard with wood strips of some kind, though. I should have said more about that in the video. Especially with buildings as large as Bob's.
This is incredible... great inspiration for my future layout. Thank you for sharing!
I'm glad you're inspired! It's an amazing layout!
Very good job,
I like that it's low cost, very nice
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
Nice to see he used these little Pololu voltage regulators. Those are a wise choice. Clearly he's one smart chap.
Clearly! Quite!
Beautiful layout 👍
Thanks, I think so too!
Awesome, beautiful little narrow gauge line, thanks for sharing. 👍✌️😊
Id love to see more of the RC in the locos, how they work. The wagons were well detailed, textures etc too👍
In Blighty we use 3 link/instanters/screwlink couplings, theyre prototypical. They can be fiddly in the smaller scales, but if theyre made of ferromagnetic metals instead of a hook a small magnet on a stick, preferably with a micro torch, will pick up and drop the couplings perfectly. Couplings are a challenge in Blighty on the real railways too, as there are several types, not always compatible with each other, its the same with our models - Im not aware of the perfect coupling. Of course three link couplings cant be auto coupled or have delayed uncoupling, but they're simple, effective and can be home made.
I keep trying to simplify my railway, look for the route of least resistance (with age comes challenges but hopefully some wisdom too), adopting the K.I.S.S philosophy wherever I can. I also have a budget to work within too.
Happy New Year🎉🎉🎉
I agree - the simplicity of the homemade link and pin couplers is not only inexpensive, but it was a lot of fun, making each switching move more deliberate.
@muchfunwithtrains It does make you think and engage more. On this side of the pond, some don't like seeing the "hand of god" at a model railway exhibition. Horses for courses though I say👍😊
Wow! Thank you for sharing this!
Glad you enjoyed it! Isn't it amazing? I could hardly believe it, when I saw it!
Glad to see someone besides me seeking out free or next to free materials. Really great layout.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for you comment!
Thanks for showing us this amazing Gn15 layout. Appreciate especially your detailed description verbally and in moving and still pictures. And fully agree with your conclusion: just do it (similarly ) and - have fun !
Thanks for your comment, and glad you enjoyed the video!
Wow! Just now got to watch your Great video on this Fantastic layout. I had to watch it two times, it was that good. Thanks for taking time to produce it. Jim in Illinois.
Thanks Jim! Glad you enjoyed it!
Great vidio nice looking layout very detailed, think I'll copy your washout as it is so neat. Thanks for the morning coffee...
Glad you enjoyed it. I love the washout, too.
Incredible workmanship......thanks for sharing this. God bless ya.
Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks!
@@muchfunwithtrains Yes Sir.....very clever one of a kind. Well done.
This is an absolutely gorgeous layout! I love the simplicity of dead rail. And that in this scale the ground throws are useable by 1:1 people but are in scale for the model. Just, wonderful!
Glad you enjoyed it! It's true that those ground throws look way too big in the smaller scales, and feel more realistic in G scale. Thanks for your comment.
This reminds me of some of the early articles in Model Railroader from the '30s and '40s where those pioneers built just about everything from scratch using cardboard and tin cans. And I am so happy that were was a "bang" in this video! 😁
Bang!
Bob and Burr --Thank you for one of the best layout videos I have watched in some time. Just the right level of information and images. - John Geddes, Vancouver
Glad you enjoyed it, John, and thanks for your comment!
REALLY TOP NOTCH SCENERY....WHERES BIGFOOT..
Good point! :)
I too have modeled Gn15 along with a regular G scale layout. I used my old On30 equipment, track, etc. and bashed some interesting locos and cars. I am surprised more people do not model in this gauge scale. Working at 1/2”=1’ is wonderful. Very cool layout, great modeling.
I'm a little surprised, too. In this part of the country (Seattle region) we are used to seeing Greg Wright's fine work in Gn15, but this is the first time I'd seen another example of it. Thanks for your comment.
Creative and gorgeous, thanks for sharing and big like!
Thanks for your big like! That's almost like my "Bang!"s! :)
Very impressive, looks great especially the details
Glad you like it!
Love the turntables being CDs! Thanks for putting this video together! Great layout!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your comment.
Nicely done,,excellent design and details,,thanks for sharing,,😊
Most welcome 😊
That is a nice layout. 🤩 Hmm, have some Gn15 projects started years ago then put away to do HO with a club who'd never heard of Gn15, perhaps they should be dug back out ...
I think so. Dig them out, and play around with some balsa and cardboard and acrylic paint. What can go wrong?! I might have to convert my On30 switching layout to G scale, too!! LOL!
Beautiful...
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks Burr that layout is very impressive and how its build
Thanks Ron - It's amazing what you can do with some simple materials and lots of (time and) imagination!
As a fellow Gn15 layout owner I am very impressed with modeling and creativity of the layout. You don’t often see a Gn15 layout operated for realistic operations. Congratulations from TravelinginMiniature
Thanks! I was very impressed too! It was a lot of fun getting the right cars spotted at the right industries using those link-and-pin couplers!
Probably more prototypical to use link and pin for a narrow gauge railroad in that era. Very intriguing.
And, using the link and pin couplers slowed down the operation, so having a max train length of 4 cars was plenty of challenge and interest.
great video and layout !
Glad you liked it. Thanks!
wow 😳
Agreed!
Really enjoyed this! Not my style at all, but I can still appreciate it. I saw DaVinci Resolve mentioned in the description. I bought the studio version when it was on sale. Lots to learn but loving it. Take care - Bill.
Glad you enjoyed it. I switched from iMovie to Davinci Resolve a year ago, and it's a steep learning curve, but at this point I'm really glad I did, and I'm finding I have much more flexibility to do just what I want in the edit. And it's so powerful, I haven't scratched the surface of what's possible. Hopefully you will see my slow progress on future videos. Thanks for your comment!
@@muchfunwithtrains I got tired of Corel VideoStudio. I took some time up front to set my default presets, and I can edit in half the time. And the render time is great! There are some really helpful guys doing tutorials on TH-cam. Have fun!
cute little trains
yes indeed!
cool.the signal is where we get the term from highball from.
True! Thanks for your comment.
There will come a time where wired rail is a thing of the past in the larger scales and even HO. Batteries are getting super small and motors low drag. RC airplane and car crossover tech.
I agree. It seems like Blunami will accelerate this.
What a great video! Thanks for showing it. Does Bob convert the Thomas engines to battery operation?
Yes. He puts a 3D printed shell over the motor & wheel mechanism and then fits in the various components needed for dead rail.
Wonderful layout! I always wondered about RC being used for trains. No wiring. No shorts or studders over turnouts. No track cleaning just slow and smooth operation.
The only problem would be stopping to charge or swap batteries. Maybe a water tower tap that plugs into the stack.
Thanks for your comment. I was surprised that he gets several hours of operation out of his charged batteries, so there was no need to recharge during a three hour session. Which is longer than most people run a train most of the time.
@muchfunwithtrains That is surprising. The set up is perfect then for running trains.
The engines have 400mah 2 cell LIPO batteries installed. Operating sessions are usually 3 hours long. The engines run about 3 1/2 hours on a charge. I charge prior to each operating session.
@@MrBR911 Very impressive! I would also like to see more of this in smaller scales. Operation looks flawless and true to scale. Thanks!
It's all something else that's for sure. What a joy to visit in person. Any idea about the origins of the little high pitched steam whistle? Is it part of DCC/Sound or a separate part of the layout? Almost seems like it's just a speaker with a button somewhere and not a sound card in the engine. Edit: Just rewatched and see the whistle comes from the CVP system which I assume has their own decoders?
I believe the decoder onboard is a standard Soundtraxx Tsunami, and the steam whistle is one of the whistle options on that decoder. Bob will hopefully see this comment and straighten us out if I am wrong. The speaker is in the locomotive, but I don't know which brand of speaker he uses, probably a small "sugar cube" type.
It really was a joy to see this in person. All eight of us operators spent half the time running our trains and half the time exclaiming about how amazing it was just to be seeing it! (and, in my case, a little time taking video of it...)
@@muchfunwithtrains Thank you for the reply and glad you shared video. People are so creative.
Steam engines are equipped with CVP Airwire boards and Soundtraxx Tsunami 2 TSU1100 decoders. All the sounds are from the Tsunami 2 decoders in the steam engines. Whistle is #61 British Rail Single Chime. Fitting for the little 3 Ton Bagnal Sipat Class 0-4-0 and 3 Ton Decauville Type 1 0-4-0.
Hi Burr, you wouldn't know the dimensions of his rollingstock would you? Height and width? I'm just getting started with low-cost Gn15, and knowing how big to make the trains is actually my big stalling point for just getting on with it. Mostly I hear "about 2 inches" wide and "maybe 4 inches high" but that leaves a lot of room for guess work. Also planning similar couplings to those here, so nice to see they work well. It's a delightful layout.
Thanks for your question. I asked Bob, and this is what he said: "Most freight cars are 2" x 5" (6" with buffers). At 1/2" per foot that is 4' x 10'. The coal cars are 4 1/2 and a couple flats are 5 1/2 not including buffers. Buffers add 1" to the length."
Railcars vary but most are 2" wide and 6" long overall. Height of boxcars and cabooses is 3 1/2". I basically scaled them from some of the diminutive cars used in England and Europe during early 20th century. That is also the basis of the little 3 ton 0-4-0 engines. British Bagnals and French Decauvilles.
Hi Burr & it's is Randy and i like yours video is Cool & Thanks Burr & Friends Randy & Hello Burr & Happy New Year's & 2025
Thanks Randy! Happy New Year, too!
This is outstanding, what would be the scale of this layout,?
It's 1/24th scale, and the track gauge on that layout, in that scale, is 15 inches wide, which is what HO standard gauge track scales out to in 1/24th scale. Hence the term "Gn15" for "G scale", 15 inch gauge".
I'd love to find an overall track plan for this layout. Anyone?
Amazing. But sometimes people don't factor in the materials they already have on hand when counting cost. Not everyone has the same materials or left overs to use for other projects. But that's still not to say you can't build a layout cheaply, a 3d printer will save you a ton.
Well said. Thanks for your comment!
Hand laid track that never used a track gauge as the engine derails 😂
I know. I was hoping someone would comment on that, and you did! I almost edited that moment out of the video, but as you may know, I call this channel "reality model railroading", so I kept it in. Bob is really into saving money, so he figured what did he need to buy a track gauge for, when he could just use a wheelset? Crack me up!
@ 😂. It’s a beautiful pike and creativity really comes through when you’re on a budget. He should be very proud. I wouldn’t be ashamed to say I built that myself !
Hervorragende Arbeit. Danke für'S Zeigen und Grüße aus Sonneberg, auch wenn ich kein Trump-Fan bin :-)
Glad you enjoyed it!
Mrr can be as expensive as you wish to make it.
Exactly!
Amazing! What a creative and beautiful layout Bob has. Almost everything on here he made with little to no money is just incredible. The HO style track gauge is unique too as the rails look tiny compared to the freight cars which are very wide. Dead rail is cool.This would be the type of railway you can operate in your backyard, small enough for personal use noted by the engineer who stands while operating the steam engine. I love those toilet paper tubes modified into tanks , they look like the real thing and the couplers are cool and simple. The washed out section of trackage is fascinating as well. So many great scenes and points of interest. Awesome stuff Burr ! Bob has created a masterpiece of model railroading and scatchbuilding. 🚂🚃🚃🚃
I agree, this really is a masterpiece of art.
Yes for sure@@muchfunwithtrains
The "washed out" section is in reality a simple ash pit.
Outstanding !!!
Thanks Jeff!