Layout Tour 2020 

being from new orleans and a big fan of NS i'd be interested in seeing a vid of your layout.

Nice! You've inverted the modeler's license that I use. My lines are all double track. But, I've made it single track whereas you went the other way. Sounds like a fun layout with lots of opportunity to see foreign power. -Cam

Thanks, Carl! I finally got around to explaining those changes. I think completing that siding will definitely add some flexibility to operations, so I need to get around to that. It doesn't accommodate road freights because it's too short. With two locomotives, it only holds roughly 14 cars, and all trains leaving the yard are longer than that. However, it would be useful to allow the Columbia Falls local to enter the siding on the side you're talking about rather than running past the whole thing and then backing down it. -Cam

@@railfan220 2 locos and 14 cars capacity is certainly too short for the manifest freights you are running, I didn't realize the siding is that short. But yes entering Columbia falls eastbound on the siding would be much better, operationally and for reliability, than going past and then backing into the siding. Keep up the good work and putting out these videos as often as practicable. Thanks and Cheers Carl

Thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you've enjoyed the layout. Sounds like you've got quite the railroad yourself. There's always a lot to do, and I certainly understand what you're describing. I always get more motivated when someone visits the layout, although that's rare. -Cam

I love you see video of your 1950s Leon.

Thanks, Gregg! That's pretty cool to hear. I'm obviously a big fan of helper operations. My friend was recently mentioning how helper operations on the UP Cascade Subdivision in Oregon have recently brought back helpers to accomplish exactly what you're describing. I always thought more DPUs would go hand in hand with PSR, but I guess it makes sense to only use the help when you need it. It would certainly reduce the number of locomotives you'd need to have active over the whole system. -Cam

Thanks! Helpers are super fun. It seems like a thing of the past, so seeing modern 6-axle power tack onto trains and then drift back down the grade by themselves is so cool. Also, thanks for the comment. I've been a big fan of your layout for some time now. When the time comes (and it will) that I switch to N-scale and everyone starts wondering why I abandoned them in HO land, I'm going to point to you. :) -Cam

Come to the Dark Side my friend!!!!!!! grant

Nice! That sounds like a plan. And honestly, the planning phase is one of the best parts. Easy for me to say now that I have a functioning layout, but I spend a lot of time still thinking about future layouts. -Cam

Thanks so much for watching! Glad you enjoyed it. Knowing that other people enjoy the layout too is what keeps me motivated. -Cam

Thanks, Wil! I really feel like I've been slow, but I have to remind myself that everyone, including me, has more than just model railroading to attend to. -Cam

Thanks, Roy! Glad you enjoyed. -Cam

Thanks, Tom! You know, that's not a bad thought. The problem is that it wouldn't be able to stay in the staging room. If the yard started at the outer apex of the reverse loop, the tracks could only handle about 8-10 cars (not including locomotives). What could work, however, is if I started the yard ladder just outside of the staging room above the scene of Crawford. I'd have to significantly lower the valence and lighting to accommodate that, but that's been floating around in my head. At the moment, though, I don't think I have much need for it. Between the A/D tracks, mainline and siding at Whitefish, and the 2-train reverse loop at Belmont, there are effectively 7 reversing staging tracks at either end of the layout. This still leaves 3 passing opportunities between the two points. The max number of operators that would even run a road freight at one time is 4, and most of the time, it works best if two run road freights while a third handles the yard or local. So, I think the possibility of having 7 road freights staged on the layout is plenty for the moment. However, things always change, so it's good to think about options. -Cam

Thanks Mike! The scenery has progressed slowly, but I’m getting back into it now. As all modelers know, time and money are our limiting resources, so I’ve been struggling with whether to tackle signaling/detection or continuing scenery. I think for now, I’m leaning into the TWC/dark territory operations because it’s actually quite fun and lengthens (with time) the mainline run. And you’re right about the pronunciation. I should really know that because I grew up with those narrated VHS tapes about the line, so thanks for the reminder. -Cam

@@railfan220 Hi Cam - Keep in mind that you can always go with an ABS (Automatic Block Signal) system and utilize TWC with that operation ....... just an option for consideration. Keep up the excellent effort on your beautiful model railroad! Mike

Thanks! I still have a long way to go before I feel comfortable with my ever-changing scenery methods, but I really made a mindset switch when I started this layout in December 2014. My old layout was a fun thing, but it wasn't well-modeled in my opinion. I gathered inspiration from nice layouts and made the decision that I wouldn't settle for much less than that. It's not all great, but I've definitely learned a lot, and it can only get better, I think. I also always think about what I'll take out of this layout and apply to the next to make it even better. -Cam

Haha thanks, Ben! I've been really enjoying your new layout build. I share the model railroading hobby with my dad, so the layout is at the family house. I was able to convince him to steal half the basement, but he reserved the other half for his man cave. He's collected beer cans from a young age and just never did anything with them, so he decided to make a beer can mosaic. Aside from 1 or 2, each one is unique and from all eras. He has some relatives that lived in Australia for a while, so there's a fair number of Australian beers too. He's a creative director/graphic designer with LONG hair and started collecting beer cans when he was like 10...because that was a normal thing children did in the '70s?...so that should paint a picture haha. -Cam

@@railfan220 I knew there was a great backstory there! Thanks for providing the context Cam. Your dad sounds awesome, give him a high five from me next time you see him.

Thanks! I saw Crawford Hill back in 2014. I took that trip because I knew that's what I'd model on the upper level, so we drove out there to do some research. I didn't see the lower level area until last summer, but we didn't actually stop at Whitefish or Columbia Falls. I'd love to see it in more detail at some point. -Cam

railfan220 nice!

Thanks! It is. I'll do a video on that sometime soon, but I'm currently in the midst of switching DCC systems. So once everything is settled and working, I'll do a video on how my reverse loops are set up for autoreversing. What I can tell you, though, is that I originally used Digitrax AR-1s for both reverse loops, and I switched to PSX-ARs from DCC Specialties. They are more expensive, but they work on my layout better. Both of my reverse loops are on a grade, and this has proven to be quite problematic. The auto-reversers rely on a set trip current, so when the current draw is different when a train enters and leaves the loop, it makes it tough to find that operating window. I think the cheaper AR-1s would do just fine if you have a flat reverse loop, but the PSX-ARs have a bit more internal logic that I think helps them handle my hilly reversing sections. -Cam

Thanks! The trees are going to rough, but at least it's mostly limited to one side of the peninsula. The elimination of the staging yards sounds problematic, but what I realized as I got into construction is that I grossly overestimated the length and capacity of those yards. And out of a necessity, they'd have to be stub-end. I don't know for sure, but I could only foresee clumsy slow operations with the unpowered rear half of a train being dragged into a track by hand. So I'm not sure they would allow for better traffic movement. As it is, between the A/D tracks, mainline and siding at Whitefish, and the 2-train reverse loop at Belmont, there are effectively 7 reversing staging tracks at either end of the layout. This still leaves 3 passing opportunities between the two points. The max number of operators that would even run a road freight at one time is 4, and most of the time, it works best if two run road freights while a third handles the yard or local. So, I think the possibility of having 7 road freights staged on the layout is plenty for the moment. But, it's a good point you bring up because I've only had 1 (unsuccessful) operating session. As I get into it more, perhaps it will become apparent that extra staging would help. -Cam

Thank you! Apologies for never responding. I actually just had my first successful operating session. The 2nd half was documented in a live stream that I just uploaded if you want to check it out. For this session, there were 3 operators in the layout room, and 1 dispatcher upstairs. Right now the layout is dark territory with no block detection, so we're using track warrants and an analog track schematic for the dispatcher to keep track. -Cam

Thanks! No idea, and I'm not sure it actually will get complete. For now, I'm prioritizing scenery so that I can make cool videos. Eventually, I'll get detection and signaling in, but for now track warrant control over dark territory works for operations. -Cam

@@railfan220 Thanks Cam, stay safe. Mike from Australia. (We are in stage 3 Lockdown.)

Thanks, Derek! The curves at the end of the peninsula, the inside curve at the end of the aisle near Columbia Falls, and parts of the curves back in the staging room are all a 26" minimum radius. It's quite tight for my taste, but it sounded plenty wide when I was initially designing the layout. Coming from a tabletop layout where 18" was the minimum, 26" was definitely an improvement. In the future, I don't think I'll go this tight just for the aesthetics of it, and that's where I might find myself switching to N-scale. Also, it is true that I never developed a complete track plan because I was too cheap to pay for the full version of Empire Express, the planning software I've used for years. The demo version has most of the functionality and allowed me to play around with a limited number of track pieces at one time. So I basically just used it as a virtual measurement tool to assess whether a certain concept would work with enough clearance and things along those lines. I did have a complete plan in my head, but it has certainly evolved. HOWEVER, I just last week or so bought the full version and drew up a complete track plan of the layout. I posted it to my FaceBook page (@railfan220 or search BNSF Plains Division Layout). It's pinned to the top of the page. I'll also be going over it in the next layout update, so good timing on that question. -Cam

@@railfan220 Thanks for the info! Honestly I'm shocked it's only 26"rad, you did great work with that space and I've never thought it looked too tight on camera. I'm planning to do a similar double deck peninsula (100% inspired by you haha) with 28" radius, and 3" from center of track to edge of table. I believe you have 30" aisle ways but had said you'd go for a bit larger if you could have? I'm shooting for that as well but can only seem to get 24" at the tightest at on one side so I'm working thru that now. It does widen immediately around this spot, but that's the choke point of the layout walkway. Awesome! I bought scarm and have been having fun but it seems to be very laggy as the number of track pieces gets higher, hopefully your program is better with that. I look forward to the next video! Your insight is always appreciated and you are really making a positive impact on this hobby with your videos, thank you!

The modeled trees are Scenic Express Super Trees spray painted brown and coated with Scenic Express Super Leaf material. The backdrops themselves were made by me in Photoshop and then printed at home. I cover that process in Layout Update 61. -Cam

Thanks! Are you ready for a novel? This is definitely my longest comment ever... Yes, I just received all of my Digitrax equipment today. I actually really liked the ESU system, and it has even improved with time. Initially, I was disappointed that you couldn't program on the main, but with a software update that I installed, that feature was added. Here's the reason I'm switching systems: I just started to get serious about having operations on the layout. Most people don't have this system, so they can't bring their own throttles. Given that ESU only offers the Mobile Control II that goes for about $265, I don't want to spend $500+ to have enough throttles for everyone. But conveniently, it's easy to hook the system up to the internet and create a WiThrottle server with JMRI. When done successfully, anyone can use their smart phone as a throttle. I just had an operating session this past weekend where I arrogantly thought things would go smoothly, but two of the guys on their phones kept getting disconnected from the WiThrottle server. It was extremely disruptive, and there seemed to be no pattern whatsoever to the disconnection. I was quite upset because I had a similar issue in January when one of the operators visited the layout for the first time. I vowed to fix the issue, and with extensive testing, I really thought I had. Murphy's law though, and it all went to hell. Turns out, the issue was with my WiFi repeater settings, but I found this out one day too late. In order to run a WiThrottle server, you need to run the ESU system on your home network, which requires a physical ethernet connection. I don't have ethernet ports in the basement, so I used a TP Link RE205 WiFi repeater that turns a wireless signal into a wired connection. The problem was that I programmed that repeater to have the exact same SSID and password as the home network, but they effectively operate as 2 separate networks. This isn't an issue if you're just trying to load web pages because devices can switch back and forth without a hiccup, but whether it was the phones or my computer with the WiThrottle server, I believe some combination of those devices was flipping back and forth between the repeated network and the home network, breaking the continuous connection needed for operation. I stayed up until 4am tearing my hair out thinking about any possible solution, when I thought that maybe I could rename the repeated network and run all train operations (throttles and JMRI server) off of that. I tested it the next day, and it worked so smoothly. MY POINT: there's nothing wrong with the ESU system. However, my only option to have multiple operators is to rely on a wireless connection. Even though I think I've resolved the issue, I can't in good conscience ask people to drive in one case 4 hours to come see if MAYBE I fixed the problem this time. So, it turned out that my best option was to just switch systems so that my friends can come run their equipment on a tried and true solution with radio or physical connections. Hope that makes sense. Again, the ESU system has great features and a decent interface. It's not always as responsive as I'd like it to be, but I had lots of fun with it. If I weren't trying to have operating sessions, I'd still keep it. In fact, had I resolved my WiFi issue prior to this weekend and everything went smoothly, I'd still keep it. It's fear that my WiFi repeater will fail me that's making this decision for me. -Cam

Also, I'm looking to sell my system for $325 if you're still alive and interested after reading that.

It would be right around 60 coal cars for the upper reverse loop. The lower reverse loop is a little less traditional, so the length limit is much higher. I've never actually mathed it out, but it's probably 80+ cars. The only time I could max out the reverse loop is if I was making a layout railfanning video and I wanted to make more realistic length trains. For operations, trains will typically run around 1/2 reverse loop length so that 2 trains can be staged at Belmont. -Cam

Thanks! I actually developed and printed them at home. I cover the process in Layout Update 61. I still would like to do an in-depth tutorial at some point. -Cam

Thanks! I actually have no idea where we got them from. They're also not that great. The adhesive isn't great, and a number of them are peeling up... -Cam

Thanks! The room is 12'x28'. -Cam

www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/maps-and-shipping-locations/pdf/subdivisions-map.pdf

That should be it. -Cam

It's 12'x28' including the back room. -Cam