World's largest model R.R. (Uwe have you seen this?)

Muzikman7 · August 20, 2010, 06:55:02 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN_oDdGmKyA&feature=player_embedded

Highlander · August 21, 2010, 09:47:10 AM

Wunderbar...!

Even a dodgy shop window display (iykwim...)

Mark may be heartbroken...

Pilgrim · August 21, 2010, 10:01:38 AM

THAT is very, very cool.

The outstanding attention to detail seems particularly German....if I may offer that stereotyped view.

gearHed289 · August 22, 2010, 09:13:15 AM

That's awesome. I just watched it again.

TBird1958 · August 22, 2010, 09:33:03 AM

It's beautiful.

Happily my ambitions for my model railroad are confined to one stall of a two stall garage. I'm doing alot of renovation on the interior of my house this year and when it done I'll be out there getting started on benchwork and laying track - I love model trains!

uwe · August 22, 2010, 12:57:00 PM

My elder brother is a model train entusiast - say no more!!! I never saw him finish one of his lavishly planned and halfway-executed model train-o-ramas, it was as if there was a curse attached or that the journey was always more important than the destination. Or: German attention to detail got him bogged down. I understand this is a common affliction among all model train enthusiasts?

TBird1958 · August 22, 2010, 01:28:45 PM

Uwe, I'd say you're spot on in your assesment of most Model Railroaders, I hope to avoid that - best way I can think of is to keep my objectives ( a carefully choosen prototype and time period) and layout size limited and managable - Otherwise one can be easily overwhelmed, there are far too many models out there.

Lightyear · August 22, 2010, 02:10:28 PM

How do you think that they do maintenance on that thing? One wrong step and it's Godzilla run amok

I would think that they have some trap doors to come up through - maybe a trapeeze setup and they hang over the layout?

Pilgrim · August 22, 2010, 02:30:41 PM

Probably a combination of trap doors and a system of movable braces which allow them to access the displays from above. I've seen some really interesting video of the animation techniques used in the stop-motion animation era, and both were used extensively.

the mojo hobo · August 23, 2010, 04:58:09 AM

Quote from: TBird1958 on August 22, 2010, 01:28:45 PM

( a carefully choosen prototype and time period)

Would that be the D&RGW from Oct 1969 to Feb 1970?

TBird1958 · August 23, 2010, 08:59:28 AM

Quote from: the mojo hobo on August 23, 2010, 04:58:09 AM
Would that be the D&RGW from Oct 1969 to Feb 1970?

Very close! Correct prototype railroad, the timeline basically starts in 1969 and comes forward to about 1974. This allows me to change out locomotives and some rolling stock as they were phased in/out during that period of time - EMD F units to the contemporary SD 40-T2 "Tunnel Motor". The layout should represent a short stretch of Utah between Helper, and Soldier Summit in the Wasatch mountains.

Wondered if you caught that model of "Silver Sky", one of the most beautiful passenger cars ever built!

the mojo hobo · August 23, 2010, 09:45:47 AM

The SD-40 was new in Oct '69, and the CZ stopped service in March '70

I have a couple of BLI CZ cars myself. In boxes in the basement, no time, no space, but I've been collecting a little CB&Q and EJ&E stuff that would have been seen in the Chicago area in the '60s.

Yea, those dome observation cars are attractive.

TBird1958 · August 23, 2010, 10:04:36 AM

"The SD-40 was new in Oct '69, and the CZ stopped service in March '70"

Correct on the dates, I won't really be able to model the whole CZ so I'm concentrating more on the post Amtrak start up Rio Grande Zephyr, IIRC EMD's "40" series date to 1966, D&RGW purchased SD45's (20 cylinders 645ci displacment each!), the -2 and "Tunnel Motor" variants are post '72.

the mojo hobo · August 24, 2010, 04:52:42 AM

I mis-typed. I meant GP-40. Looking at the two pictures I thought the GP paint scheme was newer than the CZ, so I googled "Rio Grande 3082" and found it was delivered in Oct '69. The Rio Grande diesel roster can be found here: http://utahrails.net/drgw/rg-diesels-index.php

I had just seen the German mega-model railroad on James May's Toy Stories when he tried to assemble and run 10 miles of HO scale track. very interesting.

Bargeon · August 24, 2010, 08:52:27 AM

Man this thread takes me back. A hobby I sadly abandoned several years ago.

And a great way to combine two pursuits, trains and photography! I'd love to see some shots of your stuff.

If you ever get to my old home town of Williamsport, PA, you'll find a nice model train collection in the museum there
http://www.tabermuseum.org/trains.asp