ABANDONED RAILROAD TRACKS (and how to model it) Part 1. 

Excellent video, DJ! Can’t wait for part 2

Looks good, don't see abandoned tracks very often on model railroads.I'm looking forward to part 2.

I had a model train set like this growing up as a kid, and my cat was mesmerized by it.

Love that old abandoned bridge. Oh the stories it could tell.

Nice upgrade, DJ. Trust your favorite Engineer folks!

Excellent. This is the kind of stuff that does not get covered nearly enough. These types of subjects enhance the realism and we need many more. Please keep it up. You do a great job.

Hey DJ, I was having a bad day and was really hoping you would upload a video… and you made my wish come true! Thank you!

I built about two feet of abandoned branch roadbed, complete with a few ties left in the cinders and depressions where the ties were removed. I also "paved over" the old crossing and just left a little rail showing on either side of the road (appropriately dark brown rusty). It now looks like the State Road fixed the highway up before the railroad tore up the branch. Your scenery it very top-notch. Great job matching up the real 3-D stuff with the background photos.

that bridge in connelsvolle i walk over that every summer, definitely very scary , as i got off it one of the ties fell into the river 😳

Where I live in Newark, New Jersey, there are two really cool abandoned railroad track bridges over the Passaic River. One is the old NX Draw, a bascule bridge welded into the upright position in 1977. It's also known as the Annie Bridge, because it was used to film a scene from the movie "Annie" where she climbs the tracks of an upright drawbridge. The other is WR Draw further north, a swing bridge welded shut in 2002 since it is high enough not to impede the rare large boat traffic. They are great examples of your point about how it was evidently easier to secure and abandon these massive structures than remove them!

I do like the water between the edge of the layout and the backdrop; a lot of depth perception 👍🏾🤔

👍👍Looks realistic to me, great work DJ. Got to go and watch part 2!🚂🚂

Another great segment, DJ. I've used Kato for a long time now. The convincer was making a change with Atlas flex one time. Ballast, track, cork removal, the new section laid. Maybe 3 hrs. With Kato, maybe 1 hour. Back in the RR club days we let the Kato switches float. Nothing like getting a bit of liquid in the mechanism, or 1 grain of ballast. Don't ask how I know this.😁 Part 2 will be great I'm sure.

Great concept, DJ.. Noted ✔️ 🚂🇨🇦🇺🇲🙋

Hi DJ, You probably already know this and I don't mean to be long winded, but for your subscribers who do not, the ex-P&WV bridge in Connellsville ( timestamp 0:33 ) over the Youghiogheny River was abandoned because the Chessie System abandoned the Western Maryland Railway between Cumberland and Connellsville. Since the N&W had leased the P&WV for 99 years (yes that lease is still in effect) a stipulation of the abandonment was giving the N&W trackage rights over the Chessie System from Connellsville to Hagerstown. That is why the connecting track was built between the P&WV and the ex-B&O mainline in Connellsville, that is still used today by the W&LE. That is some great drone video of the bridge, thank you for sharing it DJ 👍 As for your spur, A) you could always use a piece of music wire or stiff brush bristles sticking up in the middle of the gauge just enough to catch the axle of the gondola's to keep them from rolling down the hill, or B) raise the spur just enough to make it level and abandon the rest. You know me DJ, I love branch lines, short lines and free style switching ops, so the more spurs and industries ( without creating a spaghetti bowl of track ) the better. OK DJ, looking forward to Part 2. Cheers, Rich S.

Add a black bear feasting on raspberries and someone fishing off the bridge.

I always enjoy your videos and waiting in anticipation for part 2.

Great video. Thanks for sharing. Just wondering what you use to paint the rust on your rails?

Nice segment DJ, I have an abandoned crossing on my RR (by choice LOL) and like your concept. I also always seem to pick out something cool in your live footage, this time those awesome piers on the abandoned bridge. Sad I cannot get to Colorado to hang and meet in person, but other travel plans got in the way. Keep up the GREAT work

Another great video! Great tips for abandoned track

Nice video again dj as always good information and always work safe

Hi DJ. Even your abandoned areas look great. I thought that first shot with the crumbling building was still the real drone video! I think I recognized that abandoned bridge. Does it cross the Yogh?

DJ excellent, looks fantastic, great job

Draw or swing bridges left open.

I see why hand brakes are applied with rolling stock😂 wish they had them for some of my freight cars that's for sure. My travels being a OTR driver some lines I seen very much look abandoned but there not. I just can't believe that they would let tracks. Be that far gone

Hey DJ, I'm surprised you don't paint your rails. Is that an intentional choice, is it a much later step in the process?

Where was the abandoned rail bridge and barges at?

If I model a abandoned spur i will cut the switch from the main bc that’s what CSX normally does Also when I install a new CSX crossing install the bells will always stick out the side cus that’s how CSX does

I am assuming that the dock and barges shown at 1:17 are not abandoned? There has only been a discontinuance of rail service to the dock, which is now only a place for barges to tie up when not in use?

Like your Videos. Good tips on scenery. I know you’re a CSX engineer. But do you film other parts of PA ? I’m curious if Kittaning has a similar look of trains running through the town as McKeesport? I’m wanting to model the Pennsylvania Rail Road. Though I live in the Cleveland OH area. Actually about 2 miles from the CSX yard by W130th and Chevrolet plant.

Do you have a regular job yet, or are you still on call?

Hey DJ are you single?