Wow, your layout is visually stunning. You truly have captured the essence of eastern Oregon and basalt rocks and outcrops. I haven't seen anyone model this area like you have.
The "squeezed deck" alternative to a helix is a great idea, well executed. . Your vid prompted me to consider that in my own 1969 NP (HO) layout plan. Thanks for sharing!
Just stumbled ascross this on the net. WOW, wonderful modelling skills and I really like the layout plan and deep scenes. Very inspirational. Thanks for sharing your work!!!
I have to say this is very appealing and I'm into Eastern and midwestern routes more. Definitely captivating and well orchestrated operations and good use of space.
WOW!!! Great work. Your modeling "nothing" is superb, it portrays the area exactly. N.C.E.? Nicely composed, thoroughly thought out and should be great ops sessions.
I ask because I actually work a line between LaGrande Oregon and Elgin Oregon and this layout very well shows the type of scenery we see up in this area.
I'm actually a PNW native and spent plenty of time chasing around UP trains out of LaGrande back in the 80's and 90's. That's largely the inspiration for the layout (in addition to the Oregon Trunk).
Beautiful work! I taught in Central Oregon in Culver and learned alot about the Oregon Trunk. I like your story line, but Harriman would be rolling over in his grave to see the NP in Oregon. ;-) I model GN, UP and some NP going up through Northern Idaho with my Idaho Northern. Love to visit with you sometime and share notes. Again, beautiful work. Carl Sorensen, Payette, Idaho
Yes a definite advantage of N scale and you have definitely mastered it and make it look great. I have my own 14x12 walk around but it’s not my last. My next one will be the last and best of the many model railroads I have built. Beautiful work thanks for sharing
Thanks Carl, the Oregon Joint Line is an extension of the actual NP branch into Pendleton, OR - so Harriman had a minor NP Oregon incursion to concern himself with I suppose.
I have watched this video a few times now..stopping along the way to study the scenes...everything has purpose on your layout. My fav part is the HInes Lumber, Canyon Reload area and Scanlon yard. How deep is the trackage at Monument and Dayville Industrial? I read your reply to one comment about your choice in power.. What brand and code track do you use and switches? Thank you again for sharing such an outstanding layout. Tom
STILL remember the cool fun we all had a couple/(few now...?)yrs ago when James & the group came up and ran with you. You & your Mrs. were the host/hostess with the most-est!! Only regret not having similar resources to return the fun back to ya. life has once again pulled me (regrettably...) away from the hobby, but, I look forward to re-joining the operator group sometime asap! For ANYONE who hasn't operated on this layout, you have missed what I love about an extremely well executed, realistic layout! I highly recommend joining the next opportunity to do do! Bring your best enthusiasm and skills!! Hoping to see y'all soon as possible! GOD bless!
Thanks for the high praise Jeff! Hope you're able to find your way back to the hobby soon. We're looking at doing another Ft Worth Layout Operations Day this fall, but we've lost a few layouts so I'm not sure if we'll be able to swing it.
Dean - Great overview of your railroad. Having seen it in person a few times, I am still highly impressed with the beautiful scenery you've created. You've got a nice looking and nice operating model railroad. Excellent pike!! Mike
It's a feed supply. Cattle ranching is the biggest industry in the area. There's also an end ramp for which the same load of tractors gets delivered to over and over.
That is wonderful. I am really tempted to start a layout and, if I do, have decided to go for N-scale to allow me to have more going on in the space I am thinking of using. Your layout is inspirational. Best Wishes, Brendan.
Thanks Brendan, every scale comes with its compromises, but N scale is great for those of us who want to model long trains, wide open spaces, and large radius curves. How big is your space?
I'm thinking 8' x 4' because I could easily set it up that I could hinge it to a wall in my workshop or raise it to the roof when I'm working on other stuff... that might be better actually because it would allow me higher scenery. I am starting to look for n-gauge track but I need to do some research because I'm not sure of compatibility between brands. However, that's part of the fun. I don't really need another hobby because I can hardly keep up with the ones I've got but it's always good to try something new.
This is a cool layout! Really fantastic job with the basalt rock in both texture and color, and all the other scenery is superb. Looks very much like the eastern Oregon (and even Washington) in mid/late Summer. Great job!
no, after every session I need to manually reposition the loaded and empty cars. So to the crew it appears like the cars got loaded or unloaded between sessions.
Wow! Awesome layout! I'm looking to do a lumber mill in my layout. What type of log freight cars or make are those at 2:58? I'm trying to find log freight cars like that with good detail for HO Scale but I can't find a big variety of good quality in detail.
Those are Walthers cars which were produced many years ago. Not sure as to HO Scale production/availability. I still find the N scale ones on Ebay from time to time.
Well, if you're asking how it got it's name on the layout, my route follows the real Silvies River up the real Emigrant Creek to the real Yellowjacket Creek which flows out of the real Yellowjacket Lake! If you're asking what led the Oregon pioneers who explored the area to name it Yellowjacket Lake I'd guess that they had some insect issues in the area...
Beautiful, I love the way you have seamlessly merged visual appeal and scenery with operational functionality, and how you have created an entire fictional lore for this line.
Your layout is amazing. I have watched and rewatched your operations videos. Very entertaining and educational realism. Thanks for the insight as to actual railroad scenarios (and exchanges between personalities). I look forward to more videos.
Absolutely incredible layout! Your transitions are so smooth! I love in the Idaho panhandle and am modeling NP and UP services to the silver lead mining and lumber industries here! I'm just starting a new layout after 45 years out of modeling. I have traveled in Oregon and love seeing the familiar scenes I remember seeing in my travels!! I agree with the comment about nothingness! Extremely well done. The best layout I have ever seen that I can actually relate to !! Thanks for showing it!
very nice , few questions please. It appears that many of your switches are manually operated, I like that. How many feet of mainline are packed into your layout and who makes the trees?
Thanks Phil, the mainline is around 250 feet, not including staging. The only powered switches are at the end of mainline sidings - other than that it's all handthrows. Having actually been a switchman on the real thing for a time, I wouldn't have it any other way! The trees are made by Architrees - you can find them on Ebay.
Thanks for your reply as I am changing from partly completed O scale layout, moving to retirement C. and to N scale because I like more mainline running.UP runs far across the country with powerful engines. More ?s who makes the best running N scale engines as don't want to waste too much money buying shelf queens.
