Nighttime Cab Ride on The Grand Valley Layout 

Thanks for the idea Mike. 👍🏼

Thank you! 👍🏼

Thanks David! 👍🏼

Thanks Mark. I use a GoPro Hero Session which is about 1” square, and it fits in the tunnels and through the bridge. The Other one is a Hero 7 Silver which is a better camera but is wider. I use it for static shots and short flatcar rides before the bridge and tunnels.

Thank you so much Billie!

Thanks John! 👍🏼

Thanks Tom. Yeah I noticed that too. But seeing as I run daytime 90% of the time I don’t think I’ll mess with trying to dim them. I guess way out in the boonies, where there aren’t really any street lights they really do cast quite an aura. Haha

Thanks Lou! Yeah, the light played off of that background and made it look kind of foggy too. Fun to play around with all the different effects that lighting can do. Thank you so much, my friend!

Thank you Dave!

Hi there! The positive in using flex track would be most realized inside the tunnels, since you’d have far fewer joints where expansion/contraction can cause issues that you can’t easily get to. The down side is it being harder to lay and cut, and lineup in curves correctly. I’d probably do flex track if I were to build it again. Since locos can be so different, I would definitely check the manufacturer’s specs and recommendations for running those locos on 18” curves. I’ve had smaller ones that say they will, and then I’ve had issues, and vice versa. Hope that helps. Thanks so much for watching! 👍🏼

@@DansGrandValley Thanks for your comments Dan. I like the concept of the flex track and will give it a try. I'm patient! The locos I'll research carefully. Thank you. My best.

I have the GVL as well and do run some Bachmann 2-6-0 on it as a pair to pull more than a few cars. I use bullfrog snot on most of the drivers on both locos too! I'd just caution you to not expect to pull super long trains with one steam loco. The 18 in radius at 4% grade means the locomotives work extremely hard compared to on a flat level track. On the level you might pull 40 cars, on the GVL you might pull 6.

@@tvtoms Thanks for your comments on the Bachmann 2-6-0. I'm new to model railways but thoroughly enjoying the challenge. I have transposed the GVL track plan to a 1-1/2" foam insulation board and now ready to install the WS risers. I am leaning toward using flex track instead of sectional. Could you comment as to whether you used sectional or flex track? Dan's points on this were helpful. Thank you and I will continue to enjoy your videos.

@@capedory852 Well I used the Atlas track pack along with a set of short straights to finesse things in a few places. Being able to add a short bit here or there will come in handy if you go sectional. I slightly altered the plan on the right side of the bridge. Looking from the bridge clockwise, they show a 1/2 curve followed by 2 inch straight followed by full curve. I went 2 inch straight, 1/2 curve, full curve. This allows slightly more straight lead before / after the bridge. Of course if you do flex track you get to form a nice curve there in which case I recommend giving yourself at least a couple inches straight on either side of the bridge. If I were to build it again with the more experience I now have, I would use a flex track but I don't know what brand. Something that looks great close up when weathered. I might even try to use code 70 without as much riser on the spur portion, which I think would be more prototypical. The sidings would not be the same as the mainline as the kit has you build. Honestly, I bought the kit form on purpose to avoid these sorts of deep dives because I'd still be planning things out.