One of the most detailed model railroad layouts for America’s biggest steam locomotives in O scale
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มี.ค. 2022
- If you’ve been around model railroading in O scale for a time, you’ve likely heard of Norm Charbonneau and his superbly detailed model railroad layout which was called “Greenbrook”. This amazing layout has been featured in the hobby press and it has attained well-deserved legendary status in the world of 3-rail O gauge railroading. Unfortunately, this dreamlike miniature world no longer exists! But how to present a layout that has already been dismantled about ten years ago?
The answer is simple: If you explore Pilentum Television’s website, you will find a section called “Video Upload” on the main page, see www.pilentum-television.com/e.... Every railway modeller has the opportunity to submit video footage of his model railway layout to Pilentum Television. By doing so, Norm Charbonneau shared old video footage. This video footage is intended to give viewers the memory of one of the most impressive model railroads in the United States. When you watch this video, then you will realize that it is a modeling masterpiece in O gauge. 100 percent of this layout has weathering effects ranging from a dusting of soot to a heavy cloak of grime.
From the beginning, Norm Charbonneau assembled toy train layouts directly on the floor. After receiving a Lionel train set, he started to work on his first layout. He named it “Greensville” and it was nothing more than a chunk of plywood covered in Life-Like grass paper with a train station. After experimenting with HO Scale and N Scale for a brief time, he began to pursue O Scale again. Many years later, after he settled in Michigan and fascinated by Pittsburgh’s awesome railroad and industrial heritage, he started building a new layout in the basement of his house.
Initially, he just wanted to run a lot of trains. Wide curves were a must for some of the larger scale steamers he managed to acquire in the past few years. Furthermore, long straight shots were desired to show off long lines of freight cars. He decided on several separate loops, with two separate yards for storing engines and cars. Scenery should consist of mountains at one end and a large industrial city at the other. Benchwork for the new layout started in February, 2003. It should become a layout with overall dimensions 22.5 feet by 19.5 feet, which offers enough space for locomotives and rolling stock by Lionel, 3rd Rail, Weaver, MTH and Atlas.
The layout scenery is influenced by the places Norm Charbonneau has lived, namely New England, Pittsburgh and Detroit. He soon realized that to make anything of the size needed to convey a sense of imposing presence, he would have to scratchbuild. Scratchbuilding also helped fulfill another desire, to make the layout look as unique as possible. While there was a period when all he knew was Lionel and MTH products, he soon discovered the vast selection of detail parts from outfits like Berkshire Valley, Grandt Line, and Model Tech Studios. While often the structure retains some characteristics of original kits, he erected customized buildings featuring add-on Plasticville details and weathering effects.
Control is handled by Lionel’s TMCC system. Motive power and rolling stock started off as a mix of Lionel TMCC-equipped train sets. As the layout progressed though, he found himself drawn more and more toward powerful steam locomotives. Lionel’s efforts of late have been very accurate representations of their prototypes and their sounds, especially the RailSounds versions. His fascination with big, scale steam power grew. Driven by a keen interest in the mechanics of steam locomotives, Norm’s collection of big steamers also grew. His trains ran and sounded realistically, but compared to the scenery and structures that he worked so hard to look authentic, his big scale steamers still looked shiny and toy-like. That was the time to transfer the knowledge of kitbashing, scratchbuilding, detailing and weathering to the model trains.
Therefore, he decided that it was time to take the final step into hi-rail modeling. So he focused on making his trains, including steam and diesel locomotives, match the layout’s grimy scenery palette. His main objective was to tone down the color of the trains. He sprayed Polly Scale grimy black, rust and Dirt acrylic paint colors onto the trains. He also drybrushed reefer gray paint on some parts to help highlight the details. By doing so, his motive power and rolling stock looked like they fit into the scenery. Model trains have become part of the scenery, as opposed to being objects untouched by their environment. Norm weathered his steam locomotives by spraying the smokebox and boiler with a grimy black paint color. Wheels, frame and cylinders receive a light coat of dirt-colored paint. He also glues cinders on some running boards along the boiler.
Norm Charbonneau on TH-cam
/ normcharbonneau
Pilentum Television
www.pilentum-television.com - บันเทิง
No shakey hand held, no rented helicopters, no pan-& -zoooom, no 250 MPH freights, no 'mood' music, just excellent rail photography...excellent
I've been subbed on Norms channel
for over 2 years now, I love how he
converts O scale Lionel to more
realistic trucks and couplers!!
Now he's fixing up a K4 to pull
those sweet Brass passenger cars
he acquired!!!
Captures the era beautifully, amazing.
I figured this was Norm's work. He's since built a new RR. He's very much still in the hobby.
Nice! What a Magnificent Layout. great.
One of the best I've seen for realism. Engine control was excellent. Others take note. Trains take time to Start and stop.
Nice viewing angles and some of the best weathering I've ever seen. Very natural looking. Thanks for posting.
I like it when model trains are run at MODEL speeds! Some are run at model speeds that would equal 400 mph if it was a full size real train!!
Nice! What a Magnificent Layout. I don't think that I have seen much of the O scale Railroad Layouts. I really enjoy your channel. You are so right, this one has great detail and I love the steam engines.
Love the track side photography. And the staging of the trains to carry the visual interest from one to the other. Ronn
Awesome model railroad, I could spend so much time here watching trains run. Thank you for sharing this video!!
It's a great looking railway but I would like to see a few shots from a distance so we could see the whole overall picture of the layout.
agree, an overview short at the start or end of the video would be nice to have
@@jkristia2011 The whole layout sits on a 4x6 platform and just isn't that impressive when taken as a whole...............joking, yes, a few panoramic shots would be great. It looks like a fantastic layout.
I agree, that helps to tie everything together that we see.
This is so incredibly real! The sky just takes it a level up. I've been a fan of trains since I was a kid, watching the 1st Season of Thomas the Tank Engine :), so discovering a channel like this is a privilege. Grateful I get to sit back after a long day and enjoy these wonderful videos.
Much Love from Canada
Kinda spooky that TH-cam guessed I dreamt of model trains as a kid. 59 now.
Fantastic, one of the most detailed and genuine i've ever seen
This layout really brings out the WOW factor, Great job !!
Beautiful video! The train sounds were incredible. The train engines are so detailed and authentic looking. The video at the train yard was a lot of fun. Watching the engine on the turnstile being loaded, that was wonderful. Everything about this layout was done with details in mind, from the buildings, to the stone walls. Thank you for showing this great place.
I should mention that the locomotives and rolling stock are mass-produced. Norm simply weathers them to look as though they've been in regular use rather than brand new. Additionally, he replaces the large O-gauge coupler that has been the standard since Lionel introduced it in 1946 with smaller scale couplers (ones that are at the same 1:48 scale as the rest of the rolling stock). The sounds are recorded by the manufacturer since all high-end O-Scale locomotives these days are computerized with either DCS by MTH or in the case of Lionel Legacy [some may still use the older TMCC system by Lionel, however these are interoperable with both systems].
Nevertheless, the rest is his work. And there's no doubt that he is one of the best in model railroading. I just wanted to point out that the locomotives and other rolling stock themselves are not a differentiating factor minus the weathering and scale couplers
@@BB_Sebring no puffing smoke
Lots of detail in the trains as well I’m really impressed with this guys layout I’d visit this
A beautiful RR even with that rail running down the middle. Well done.
Excellent layout, looks so real waiting for someone to be walking around. 👍👍👍👍👍✌️
Tidak pernah bosan mengagumi detil2 dari semua bangunan, kereta, rel, batu kerikil bahkan rumput. Salut dan sangat mengagumkan. Salam penuh kedamaian dari kota di lereng gunung semeru, east java, Indonesia
Man oh man no matter what camera angle you see everything looks so detailed and awesome talk about movie quality sets this looks so real and looks like you could see this in a TV show or movie so real really nice job done on your layout awesome, awesome, awesome
Great video!!! An absolutely beautiful layout!! Thank you for the post!
Que bella maqueta, con muchos detalles y hermosas locomotoras y trenes. Los sonidos son impresionantes. Muchas gracias por compartir 👌👍👍👍👍y una lástima, que ya no exista.
What excellent camera angles for great realism!
The Pennsylvania and the new York central had very impressive steam power
This layout is very detailed I really love all of it
I love that round house
That 4-6-2 #3672 was just awesome! Very realistic
I especially liked the whole video was shot at ground level. Nicely done.
Absolutely amazing I was mesmerized by it all.
Proud to be the first entre. Always stunning and most enjoyable. From trees to tracks.
The sound is brilliant.
Precise work, beautiful!👏
Amazing layout detail and videography!
Excellent video, Thanks for presentation, from Germany
Beg to differ Norms layout does still exist he made it larger,and still has all the realism
impresionante!! Muy bien filmada además!!
Most realistic layout love it great job
AMAZING 👏 So realistic. I feel like I'm there. 👍
A lot of time and a lot of money and a lot of skill and it shows. Beautiful layout.
Love the Centipedes !!
Really superb!
Magnifique vidéo. Très réaliste. Professionnel.
Superb! 👏😌
Amazing layout and top quality video. ☮️
4:11 I love the switching lights
great appreciation for the super realistic way in which you managed to film this railway route, craftsmanship.
Man this was cool to see now if only i could see one up close or drive one been on my bucket list
great layout thanks for sharing
Mega realne odwzorowanie ♥
This is an amazing video of an amazing layout! Once you 3-rail haters noticed that it was indeed 3-rail why did you continue watching if it bothered you so much? As stated in some of the replies, 3-rail allows a modeler to do more in a smaller space with a bit more ease. Not everyone belongs to a club in a big old garage or warehouse. I was so disappointed to read so many negative comments. With the realism of the scenery and the weathering (someone even complained about THAT!) it is easy to forget that middle rail. I am very happy NOT to be a rivet-counter and enjoy it for what it is.
O Gauge Lionel- nothing like it before- or since- great work
Yes, a really great work!
Just perfect!
Excellent layout very realistic
Magnificent 👏
BRAVO c est magnifique les locos au top et tout le decor merci pour le film car je ne connaissez pas cette echelle
Trains are a lot of fun . That one building at 23:21 looks just like the old 3M building in Schenectady New York
I could watch this for hours
Awesome !!! Yes it's three rail, but I could see beyond that. I too noticed the rather large wheel flanges, but not being familiar with the prototype, no comment. I loved the camera work, and some of the angles were so life like, brilliant. Have to be honest, not sure about the sounds, some better than others as in all things. Love the smoke and steaming whistles though, impressive!! Overall fantastic. If only I could be half that good I'd be happy. Thank you for sharing 🇬🇧 👍👍😀😀
Hi Robert! Even more smoke = th-cam.com/video/3QFYHmWekkc/w-d-xo.html
Top shelf !
Norm is a master
TOTALLY REAL!!!!!!!!!! BEAUTIFUL
Molto belli i locomotori anche nei dettagli fedelmente riprodotti in scala ma anche le carrozze e i carri ferroviari, veramente bello
Décors magnifiques, ralentis extrêmes, dommage que tout cela n'existe plus
So cool
I like the layout! Next you should visit the Sundance central railroad. It’s really detailed
Impressive
Very, very few 2-rail layouts are this detailed. In fact, this vedeo still shows Norm's models with their factory oversized electrosouplers which he has for some time now been replacing with scale couplers asn lowering the freight/passenger cars to their proper scale ride height. The only thing left would be to replace the track with code 148 railing (which, BTW, all 3-rail trains will roll on comfortably (excluding prewar tinplate stuff.) I have found only one locomotive which has flanges which are too big, the Lionel re-issue of their B6 Pennsy switcher which was done in 1989-90. But even then, with a good lathe, those flanges can be milled down slightly and - problem fixed. I love Norm's work, he's the best!!
Heaven. State of art.
It's over..I'll have to watch it again.and again. But with my short memory it will be like watching a knew one. W ORDS DONT describe how mutch I enjoy this vidio. I was standing at mile post 51 looked to the clouds and the clouds cleared our and left the symbol Omega. So the message from God I got in the clouds ⛅is. God bless you and he did I saw you steam engines .you are very talented. My parents gave me pennsy power 2 in 1976 for my birthday I took it with me everyday they called it my Bible so u could just imagine going from black and white pictures to seeing them run .Amazing. thank you and those that help you too.I hope I live to see the brand knew T 1 run .And I hope they build a Q2 some day. God bless you a n d peace be with you .
Огромное спасибо Вам за замечательный ролик и поддержку,за тёплые слова и пожелания. Дякую.
Love that I kitty sound
Hola!. Si la maqueta ya no existe, donde esto fue filmado?. Y el material rodante, está digitalizado, no?... Me gustó ver este video; pero me quedaron esas dudas. Si me las pueden responder, agradecido. Muchas gracias por el video.... Es para compartirlo con otros ferromodelistas.
The dust and rust on the trains make it more realistic
Does anyone know what type of whistle the one at 10:55 is?
Is that a K Line K4s model pulling onto the turntable? Great looking locomotive! Beautiful layout and rolling stock!
Super!!
Looks amazing, if they recreated our railway in Britain right now they would have to spend most of the build putting fly tipping and shopping trolleys and a mass of rubbish scattered along it
beautiful...thank you for sharing...i subbed...
Another reason to be a subscriber = th-cam.com/video/3QFYHmWekkc/w-d-xo.html
Nice
Wow, the most detailed model railroad sure has some weird and funny looking train track.
Wonderful video to watch thanks for posting what a pleasure to watch such a great layout so detailed. This was well filmed I must say 😊 What make of model railways engines are these may I ask ?
These are mostly Lionel locos.
This is very nice. But my Favorite O Scale Model Railroad I've seen on youtube is from Fairmont Subdivision.
Gotta love those full length PRR coaches. Who made those?
The only thing that stops from being "Spectacular" is the 3rd rail.
Where can v get this entire model scale
How he ever got Atlas O switches that worked, of decent quality, I'll never know.
Cool
Where does one start in trying to describe how good this is?
Is there a bit too much weathering on this or is it just me, it might be the color on my phone.. i just don't remember a 2 10 0 engine..
It is a PRR I1sa, they were nicknamed "Hippos".
Awesome Railroad. NEW SUBSCRIBER HERE ♐🐎
Another reason to be a subscriber = th-cam.com/video/3QFYHmWekkc/w-d-xo.html
The best video I have seen with O gauge. Only one scene showed a smoking engine. Picky, picky!
Here is the smoking paradise = th-cam.com/video/3QFYHmWekkc/w-d-xo.html
What track brand is this? Fantastic Video.
Atlas
Wow! I love everything about it except for the green markers up front. The green class lights on the K4 are right for an extra train, but the markers on the pilot should be red in the front, and amber on the sides, and not lit except for light backing moves. Probably factory installed markers. They often got them wrong.
Yes, someone's head should fall for that mistake.
What is the middle rail for?
Power.
very unrealistic if you ask me
@@yeoldeseawitch nobody asked you tho.
good enough for Hollywood
Good
Is the 2_10_0 correct? I did not know there was such a thing. Hmmm
More info: www.steamlocomotive.com/locobase.php?country=USA&wheel=2-10-0
It is a PRR I1sa, they were nicknamed "Hippos".
Someone has some serious money.
Norm's modeling, design, operation~superb detail are 2nd to none (OK purists, it's 3-rail; making for more fool proof bi-directional operation, turn-outs, etc.) BUT: this Pilentum videography is over-the-top; l was experiencing this entire video as a Lilliputian (ref: Gulliver's Travels)
I am always overwhelmed by the massive size of the model steam locomotives.
Well laid tracks too. Very little , if any, rogue movement. Patience, pride and knowledge included with physical effort.
Which is larger, O scale or HO?
HO stands for Half O, so O scale is larger.