Hello Ray Brown. I’m originally from Greenville PA and had modeled sections of the B&LE years ago. Unfortunately that layout had to come down with a job move to NC. I retired about 5 years ago and decided to get back into the hobby. After dabbing with a small B&O layout, working on museum layout and an O-scale travel club I recently started a HO layout at home. And, since I already had kept some of that Bessemer gear decided to do the B&LE again. Love what you’ve done. It’s inspiring to see someone else doing the orange & black.
@JohnB9474 thank you. I plan on eventually doing a detection and signaling overview as it's own video or series of videos. There's a lot to it, and very little that explains it in plain English.
Thank you! I was watching you a few days ago saying "God I'm such a hack" as you were building that grain elevator. Inspired me that maybe my fredonia feed and hardware build won't be that bad so thank you!
Nice update! Good point about 3D printing - got my first 3D printer for Christmas, and have already started designing my own parts. Just downloading free files has already “gotten old”… Happy New Year!
Yep. People get printers so they can "make anything" but that's a complete false idea if you aren't drawing for yourself. If you find your CAD lacking, the solid works maker subscription really is worth it. Just like physical things in the shop, it helps to have real, good tools. I found free cad and sketch up and all that stuff to be the harbor freight tools of 3d modeling. Just my opinion. But, I'm spoiled, I use NX (unigraphaics) in my day job so my expectations are high. Good luck on your 3d journey!
Thanks I’m at the same point with my railroad…adding scenery & landscape day by day. My Pittsburgh Terminal District Transfer PTDT is operational providing transfer service for NS using old PRR Locos. The PTDT also serves CSX with old PLE and MGA Loco’s. I also run B&P and WNYP. You can run ore on you layout down to North Bessemer interchange with the Union RR. PTDT operating the Union RR will take the iron to USS ET. You can also run scrap and lumber down to the BLE Calvin Yard and operate a BLE local to the interchange with the B&P in Butler. The PTDT operating the B&P can service customers on their line. You can video your run. I will video mine. I just need instruction how to setup a TH-cam Tube Page. Your thoughts?
Impressive layout Ray! I lived out in Plum Boro near the interchange with the URR I’m a collector of BLE URR PRR NS PLE MGA CSX B&P WNYP all running (not simultaneously) and served by my Pittsburgh Terminal District TPTD. Question do you era match your ops sessions? Or might you run the F7’s down to the URR in North Bessemer one day and SDT’ 45T’s. (tunnel motors) there in another session? Your opinion valued.
@thomassalerno5203 so to be fair, I'm only getting started hosting ops and definitely don't have it Figured out yet. My equipment is 95% transition era, this vid probably didn't make it look that way. I thought I'd run my 90's era train as a straight shot across the layout and disappear into hidden staging either as a first or last train of the session - not interacting with anything else switching or interchange wise. Since I got the t-3's, thinking I may just trade the power out different sessions. That does mean I may have a 2-8-0 waiting for tunnel motors to pass one during a session but I'm good with it. The only reason the t3's were on the train they were on was me dialing I'm speed matching and sound and needed them to have a load. All that being said - it's your railroad. Do what makes you happy and ignore the critics.
New here, kinda model whatever I feel like, but it's nice to see someone relatively young modeling late transition era ops. As of late, everything seems to be overly modern....not a fan of modern diesels to much, I prefer steam & early diesels. Yes for someone my age(early 20's) the Transition era is appealing...especially when your childhood railroad hardly gets models of both it's former liveries, or current G&W livery, and has no remaining surviving locomotives in it's original livery....anyone who models class1's are lucky they have survivors/heritage units in my opinion.
Hello Ray Brown. I’m originally from Greenville PA and had modeled sections of the B&LE years ago. Unfortunately that layout had to come down with a job move to NC. I retired about 5 years ago and decided to get back into the hobby. After dabbing with a small B&O layout, working on museum layout and an O-scale travel club I recently started a HO layout at home. And, since I already had kept some of that Bessemer gear decided to do the B&LE again. Love what you’ve done. It’s inspiring to see someone else doing the orange & black.
Thank you! They are some fabulous colors.
Thanks for the tour happy new year
Nice tour. Crazy electronics. Awesome layout. 2025 gonna be a good year.
@JohnB9474 thank you. I plan on eventually doing a detection and signaling overview as it's own video or series of videos. There's a lot to it, and very little that explains it in plain English.
Amazing layout you’re building…been following your progress…Happy New Year…
Thank you for sharing. Very nice update.👍
Thank you!
Always look forward to your updates. Grand work.
Thank you!
Happy New Year Ray! I sure appreciate you sharing your wonderful build, I'm looking forward to what 2025 will bring!
Thank you! I was watching you a few days ago saying "God I'm such a hack" as you were building that grain elevator. Inspired me that maybe my fredonia feed and hardware build won't be that bad so thank you!
I love the SD45T-2s! I have one of them and it's being rebuilt and modified to fit an area of my future layout.
Nice update! Good point about 3D printing - got my first 3D printer for Christmas, and have already started designing my own parts. Just downloading free files has already “gotten old”… Happy New Year!
Yep. People get printers so they can "make anything" but that's a complete false idea if you aren't drawing for yourself. If you find your CAD lacking, the solid works maker subscription really is worth it. Just like physical things in the shop, it helps to have real, good tools. I found free cad and sketch up and all that stuff to be the harbor freight tools of 3d modeling. Just my opinion. But, I'm spoiled, I use NX (unigraphaics) in my day job so my expectations are high. Good luck on your 3d journey!
@ Thanks. So far, I’ve created a few things using Blender. Worked well enough for what I needed.
Great update Ray.
Thank you!
Thank you!
The roundhouse kid you found is based on one of the most iconic german roundhouses and is the typicall look of an German roundhouse.
Interesting! There's plenty of German heritage in western PA, I'm sure there's a connection there somewhere. Thank you for sharing!
It is still in production. After the takeover bij Viessmann, all Kibri numbers got a 5 digit number: 39452
@markbekker107 that's great! I need 2 more.
Happy New Year Ray! Good to see the Erie branch coming along. Love the trestle too.
Thanks!
Awesome update Ray. Looking good as always!
Thank you!
Thanks I’m at the same point with my railroad…adding scenery & landscape day by day. My Pittsburgh Terminal District Transfer PTDT is operational providing transfer service for NS using old PRR Locos. The PTDT also serves CSX with old PLE and MGA Loco’s. I also run B&P and WNYP. You can run ore on you layout down to North Bessemer interchange with the Union RR. PTDT operating the Union RR will take the iron to USS ET. You can also run scrap and lumber down to the BLE Calvin Yard and operate a BLE local to the interchange with the B&P in Butler. The PTDT operating the B&P can service customers on their line. You can video your run. I will video mine. I just need instruction how to setup a TH-cam Tube Page. Your thoughts?
Happy new year Ray! Your layout is by far my favorite on TH-cam. I'm curious to know how many feet your mainline is.
@CraftedJR thank you! If you enjoy mine you should look up RImodeler and the Milwaukee rail link.
The mainline Conneaut to XB is around 600ft.
Impressive layout Ray! I lived out in Plum Boro near the interchange with the URR I’m a collector of BLE URR PRR NS PLE MGA CSX B&P WNYP all running (not simultaneously) and served by my Pittsburgh Terminal District TPTD. Question do you era match your ops sessions? Or might you run the F7’s down to the URR in North Bessemer one day and SDT’ 45T’s. (tunnel motors) there in another session? Your opinion valued.
@thomassalerno5203 so to be fair, I'm only getting started hosting ops and definitely don't have it Figured out yet. My equipment is 95% transition era, this vid probably didn't make it look that way. I thought I'd run my 90's era train as a straight shot across the layout and disappear into hidden staging either as a first or last train of the session - not interacting with anything else switching or interchange wise. Since I got the t-3's, thinking I may just trade the power out different sessions.
That does mean I may have a 2-8-0 waiting for tunnel motors to pass one during a session but I'm good with it. The only reason the t3's were on the train they were on was me dialing I'm speed matching and sound and needed them to have a load.
All that being said - it's your railroad. Do what makes you happy and ignore the critics.
@@thomassalerno5203 also ^ cool collection!
New here, kinda model whatever I feel like, but it's nice to see someone relatively young modeling late transition era ops. As of late, everything seems to be overly modern....not a fan of modern diesels to much, I prefer steam & early diesels. Yes for someone my age(early 20's) the Transition era is appealing...especially when your childhood railroad hardly gets models of both it's former liveries, or current G&W livery, and has no remaining surviving locomotives in it's original livery....anyone who models class1's are lucky they have survivors/heritage units in my opinion.