Layout Tour: Shorty Parker's HO Scale Layout
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- Our second layout tour is a visit to Allen (Shorty) Parker's beautiful HO scale layout. Shorty has built a Pennsylvania Railroad themed, Northwestern PA-ish layout in his basement. I was tipped off by Bill Schopf (see his layout tour video!) that Shorty was contemplating dismantling the layout in the near future. Bill said that someone MUST document his layout, as it is just too nice to have no visual record for posterity.
I was able to arrange a visit and the layout absolutely is a site to behold! It is magnificent! Shorty is a master craftsman and has built some gorgeous structures and scenes. His model of the coal loader at Sandusky, Ohio is the most impressive model I have ever seen. It is an award winning work of art.
Unfortunately I am NOT a professional video maker. I did the best I could with the equipment (or lack thereof!) I have. Due to the ambient light I had to shoot at f2.8 and ISO 800, so the video quality isn't the best. I also tried to keep the camera movements smooth, but please excuse me if the movements are a bit quick. I did try to correct for the lighting in post processing.
You will hear Shorty and I conversing throughout the video. Hopefully it isn't too distracting. I was torn between capturing the video and enjoying the layout and talking with Shorty!
Shorty tells me Model Railroader is planning to come and video the layout, but there is a two (2) year wait! Well, the layout may not be around then. So I tried my best to make a good video so we all have documentation of this wonderful model railroad. If MR is smart they will get out here asap and make a professional video of Shorty's layout!
Look for a follow-on video that will include more detail on the coal loader. Shorty gave me a wonderful review of how it works, operation of the loader, etc. It amounts to roughly 20 minutes so I decided to make it a separate video as this tour video is nearly an hour long as it is!
Sit back and enjoy. Trust me, you will not be disappointed with Shorty's layout!
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I so appreciate seeing my late husband's HO Scale Layout. He dismantled this layout before he passed away 3 years ago. Thanks to the Bennetts for the time they took to video this layout. For me, it brings back the many wonderful times our basement was occupied by Model Railroaders.
I just found this video today, Shorty was my grandpa and his trains are one of my favorite memories from growing up. I’d give anything to run another train or watch the coal dump again. I wish there was a way I could have gotten the building “Halle’s House of Pianos” since it was my favorite part to see my name in the scenery (same for my brother and cousins who were also featured). This truly was a work of art and I’m thankful I found this video and know that this has been preserved forever because of it. Thank you for your condolences in the comments, it means a lot❤️
Sorry... Very talented...
This layout was a treasure, which shoud have been preserved and put somewhere everyone could see it.
Hi Rob and Shorty,
Thanks so much for this wonderful time together.
RIP Me Shorty Parker
Your work should be kept alive for years to come
So you can look down and say
I DID THAT
That loader is an impressive piece of engineering, but I think we can all agree that the guy on the John is the highlight of the layout.
I would love to see a museum dedicated to saving and running layouts that would either be dismantled or abandoned...the layouts could be either donated or sold for minimal price to the facility...it’s tragic to see someone’s lifelong passion and work just be treated as if it is nothing
Marvellous layout from John R australia
That Is what a Train cave looks like. Love it.
I have spent a lot of time in this area, so it is refreshing t see it in this video. Just love it.
OH MY LORD ! Absolutely Speechless,If Michael Angelo was a model builder..
this is amazing! It's a shame this type of ingenuity isn't sought after and respected in today's culture. Just amazing!
For Building a Layout Like This You Don’t Have to Be A certain Fan for just One Line I See 6 maybe.Right now I am at a Loss of words Cause This is Just That Damn Good.
Thank you, thank you, thank you Rob for this awesome video. Shorty really is in a class of his own. If I spent 100 years I could not match a fraction of that ingenuity, patience and skill. So again thank you both for this.
Shorty Is a Very Talented Man The Entire Set Is Awsome
there is just one word for this and it is, WOW!
That's actually good to hear that Model Railroader has a two-year wait. Sometimes I fear this hobby, among other traditional hobbies are dying out. None of the local stores around me carry the magazines anymore.
To say Mr. Shorty was talented would be the understatement of the century!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow! I am totally amazed at what he has accomplished. If I end up being half the modeler he is .. I will be a happy man!
Wonderful layout, congratulations 👍a lot of work, lot of time and a lot of passion to acheive this result. I like it 👌
Unbelievable layout. The workmanship is phenomenal and the actual working production of the coal loading and emptying is incredible. The camera work was good. Thanks for the chance to view such a fantastic piece of workmanship.
Honestly mind blowingly amazing!!! Can't believe it is going to be dismantled
Wow, those scenes with the scratch built cement plant, saw mill and coal loading facilities. Hope they can be archived somewhere. Nice slow pans around the layout, from multiple angles. One of the best authentic looking layouts...I've ever seen. Thanks for filming and cu-do's to Shorty Parker.
Incredible layout. Beautiful. the Detail is great.
now that is a master model at his best thank you
Great job.
One of the best home layouts that I've ever seen. Well done Shorty. Thanks for showing us this wonderful layout.
Thanks for the video Rob nicely done,
also thank Mr. Allen for allowing you to share this master piece of a layout with us
Magnificent layout. Amazing craftsmanship. Superb level of detail. A stunning work of art.
Wow!! Shorty has a lot of time invested in the layout. Nicely done shorty.
"Great lay out" shame to take it apart. Shorty is a real Artist. Nice size & and Detail. And your Camera work did it justice.
Stunning details. Many thanks for the video. It's fascinating to which detail the scenaries are built to. Fantastic layout as well.
What has happened with Shortys layout since this video was made? You video is fantastic and yes Shorty is a Rock Star. I have no idea how many times ive watched this video but it never gets old this is golden.👍
Just freakin awesome...love the coal building.. shorty is a genius..thanks for sharing and keep up the great work...Lance that layout belongs in a museum...
What a great modeller - wonderful tribute
A fantastic layout. Super detail.
At 350,000 views, I'd say Shorty's layout is pretty well preserved. Nice job Stephen and Shorty.
Awesome! I watched every minute. Shorty should be very proud. You too, as your not as bad a videographer as you think!
I am glad to be back. I've had 2 Heart attacks and 3 strokes...Happy New Year to you and your family 👪 ❤️
From all your Layout Tour This one is my favorite. By the way thanks for all your effort providing your videos I really enjoy watching them.
Gorgeous sunset! And what a fantastic and beautiful layout! Shorty, you did a wonderful job.
Fantastic. I will have to watch this several times to take in all the details.
WoW!! What a beautiful layout and all the detail that Shorty put into it. And the coal dump is the most impressive scratch built dumps I’ve ever seen. The whole layout was just so beautiful,just can’t imagine how many hours and money that it took to get it to where it is now.!!
I cant even imagine the commitment!💓
What a beautiful layout shorty.... Stephen Bennett always talks about you highly..I can see why .. so much detail... Unbelievable....
Superb modeling, it will be interesting to see what the newest generation of modelers' imaginations bring to the hobby.
Thank you for the tour. Shorty has the touch, Loved it.
I was born and raised in erie so seeing the photograph of the skyline got me excited!
Absolutely fantastic!!!!!!!
Subscribed.
Have a Jesus filled day
Greg in Michigan
Fantasic work of the layout, Thank you Shorty for the opportunity to see one of the best layout of Model trains. The coal tower was exceptional to true operation in HO.
Shorty gets an A+ for his artistry. I give the camera man an A. You claim not to be a professional, but you did a very good job. Thank you for sharing. Shorty should contact Rod Stewart. He is a Pennsy fan. Rod might like to purchase some of the scenes for his Pennsy layout.
Beautiful layout, love the wide open style of it. Hope it stays up. Rob you did a great job filming this and telling his story. - Matt
That is beyond stunning...and very enjoyable. Those coal cars are exactly like the ones I have to wait for at the R/R crossings here in Lakeland, Florida...
Absolutely brilliant and amazing well done it’s the best I’ve ever seen
They used to flip coal cars like that at my ol' man's power plant in ashtabula. Kinda like the harbor there. Right near erie too. That was wild
The detail on this layout is unreal!!!
Wow! Amazing work! My favorite part was how he is able to think of how to make things work...often out of sight....often out of materials and objects not ordinarily used in that capacity. The over-all layout is awesome! The small things and their detail...outstanding! The mechanics not even meant to be viewed , which make things work...incredible!!! My layout is so much smaller, and in its infant stage...but this gives me so much inspiration! And so many ideas! Great still and motion filming! So well done...on the creation side and the film side!!! !!
SWEETA!!! Yes sir mighty fine layout can't believe all the work that was put into that coal unloader 2 years to build operational for 10 that is a milestone and itself definitely definitely a great find you did a great job video in his layout pass along the thank you for letting us see absolutely amazing thanks for sharing... Tom B.
Exceptional Layout, Super Detailing, I wish my layout will be half as great as Shorty's, Thanks for sharing his layout.
Dont no what to say, its beautiful!
Even if i could save this layout, I would not even know how i could dew it. It would take so long to tear it down and pack all that stuff and pack all those buildings, its a life time to build this awesome layout. Iam sorry it cant be save, to build something like this, i would even say its priceless ! :)
Super!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a piece of Art, Great detail, good job on shooting the video, sad to hear this beautiful layout maybe dismantled, hope someone can step up and preserve it. Thanks for sharing
Wow! That's realy great. I am impressed. Greatings from Magdeburg/Germany.
Druel City on this Layout. Good luck in If My Wife,my Friend and I we Would To Really Lose our Minds on this Layout.
Am watching this on my TV right now great layout
All I can say is WOW. 👍👍😇
Amazing you can tell it’s been many days and many hours to get too this
Absolutely incredible!
This is incredible. I could have spent a lot of time there. I’m starting my ho scale layout soon nice to see your only limit is your imagination.
Wow!! You did a very professional job videoing this exceptional layout!! Great job, great layout, watching over and over. He should have Allen Keller do a video so we could purchase it and always have it. I, for one, would gladly pay for a video with this layout. The price would be well worth every penny as there is so much detail and many ideas of scenes. Thanks for this video!
Jim
Fantastic layout , be sad to see it go , there has to be someone out there who could give this layout a home !!
Great vid Rob
Cheers Glynn
What did Shorty end up doing? Being its 15 months later, did he end up taking it down? Why did he want to dismantle it in the first place? Age, health, honey do's? Thanks for the video. Shorty has done some of the best work I've ever seen!
Just started my small city for the grandkids. WOW I have a lot of work to do. FANTASTIC JOB>
its nice to see that someone actually uses LIVE loads. Any engine can pull plastic covered cars, but to see actual coal being dumped and used is truly a sight to see. I use manganese greensand for my loads, and it takes three engines to pull 25 cars around my 12x12 layout
You were talking about a lake boat and coaling dock for your layout, maybe you should look into getting Shorty’s, which would help you and honor Shorty by keeping it displayed on a notable layout.
Awesome layout 👏
I love Great Lake freighters and I love model train sets so I love this video
Who is (was) Howard E. Parker? A relative of Mr. Parker?
Magnificent layout! If my Pennsy/ NYC layout turns out half as good as this one I'll be wrapped. Brilliant detail. Love it!
incredable seen alot of layouts this has to be up there 1 of the best ive seen
Incredible! TY Stephen for this. I am a Leader of TOPS out in CA and my wife lived most of her life a few miles below this town in Washington, PA. TY again...wow.
Thanks for sharing mr Bennett shorty is a very clever man
Well done! Thank you for posting.
Very nice layout looks amazing so realistic and the detail is fantastic very nice 😀😀😀👍👍
An amazing, beautifully thought out and executed model. Thank you so much for sharing this. Such gorgeous buildings, details - everything - wow!
Great stuff, magnificente work of art I was so enlaightened when I sao it. Beautiful Job!!!
*magnificent **enlightened ***saw
WOW BEAUTIFUL DETAIL RAILROAD AS LOT DETAIL ROUND LAYOUT AND THANK FOR VIDEO
Outstanding Rob thank you for the video.
Thanks for showing us this absolutely amazing layout.love wathching your vids .great updates by the way,you yanks sure know how to model railway,never ceases to amaze me how clever & skill full some guys are ,keep up the good work Steve.regards john
All I can say is WOW! Thats some amazing modelling skills
wow! Ive been thinking of buying the HO scale Edmond Fitzgerald
Wow, truly amazing !!
awesome.
Beautiful, the best I've ever seen! Super great detail, awesome Love it.
Great layout! Nice work Shorty!
The freighter Loader is well done as is the Coal Steam Facilities!
thank you for documenting this! 30:38 outhouse scene is hilarious!
Wow! That's the actual Erie skyline! Unbelievable!!!
The coal car loader is amazing, but is far surpassed by the barge loader / automatic car return hump. A fine example of modeling, design and engineering. Thanks for posting. Ps, those look like Roco Minitanks on the military flat cars.
beautiful layout!!!!!!! wow!!!!
This is so cool .I can see me at 55 .saying the basement is mine .and then going HAM lol
Yeah, I can see Shorty sawing logs on the A Saez sawmill to make scale lumber... :-)
"Close the darn door -can't you see I'm busy!??"
That transfer-table turntable in his staging yard! :-D