- David Trussell's Greeley Freight Station Museum, Part 2 Large just doesn't describe the Oregon California & Eastern HO layout of the Greeley Freight Station Museum. It's so large we had to make 2 shows out of it. This is the final part of the series. The 5,500 square foot layout fits into a 9,600 square foot building. Planning for the museum began in 2000 and by the summer of 2009 it was mostly done and open to the public. Actual layout construction took 5 1/2 years and 20,000 volunteer hours under the guidance of David Trussell. Moving logs to lumber processing plants is the story of the OC&E in the fall of 1975. David and volunteers will show you how to make a forest fire scene, build fir trees and add moving logging trucks to your layout. The OC&E was featured in the Dec. 2008 MR. by Allen Keller Productions 1 HOUR * Colour * Narration |
 |
- David Trussell's Greeley Freight Station Museum, Part 1 The Greeley Freight Station Museum in Colorado is the life long goal of David Trussell. The 5,500 square foot Oregon, California, and Eastern with its own 9.600 square foot building is the result of all his preparation. This layout is so large we had to divide it into two shows. The HO scale OC&E connects Klamath Falls and Lakeview, Oregon in 1975. It hauls freight as a bridge line between these two points using its own motive power and equipment from the Southern Pacific, the Great Northern and the Denver & Rio Grande. The line has 2,000 freight cars and 150 locomotives that require regular maintenance because of the heavy running during public open houses on Saturdays. It takes a train 1 1/2 hours to cover the entire railroad. The building was started in 2003, and construction began on the layout in 2004. By the summer of 2009 the layout was 95% complete. The layout features huge scenic mountain vistas that are just not possible on a home layout. Some of the mountains are 10 feet tall or more. The layout also has a 40 foot dock scene at Coos Bay with multiple big ships in port. David will show you how a prototype boxcar provided additional storage, how to paint and pour a river and how he makes his mountains look so real. The OC&E was featured in the Dec. 2008 MR.. The OC&E is a Great Model Railroad because David has created the ultimate vision of the kind of layout most of us would build if we had almost unlimited resources. by Allen Keller Productions 1 HOUR * Colour * Narration |
|
- Mike Burgett's Chesapeake & Ohio Mike Burgett's Chesapeake & Ohio runs along the James River Valley in Virginia in 1965. This HO double deck railroad was built with the prototype always as a guide. The layout is a coal hauling line yet it has no coal mines. The black diamonds are brought to the Clifton Forge Division from subdivisions that serve the mines. Mike is a professional railroader who knows railroad practices firsthand. He is Signal Supervisor for the Canadian National. He has studied the C&O since he was a child and had as his mentor a retired Signal Supervisor for the C&O. Mike built the railroad's signal system and CTC machine before he even built the railroad. His knowledge of the placement and operation of signals has been applied to this layout and has kept the whole system relatively simple yet prototypical. Even though he works full time for a railroad, he loves to operate his model railroad as if it were a real railroad. However, he has not short changed the quality of his scenery, rolling stock or locomotives. The mountains, rock castings and trees are all beautifully done. The layout features a 600 foot mainline in a 24x36 foot basement with two decks. It's based on stories and research that he has gathered from current and retired railroaders and supports his belief that the prototype has the answers for model railroads. The layout is a time machine for Mike and his friends when they run 8 to10 trains during their operating sessions. Mike will show you how to operate an OS Section, install signal details and place right of way phone poles. The C&O was featured in Kalmbach's GMR 2009 Annual. The C&O is a Great Model Railroad because Mike has followed the prototype of the James River Subdivision using photos and oral history as his guide. by Allen Keller Productions 1 HOUR * Colour * Narration |
|
- Rochester Model Railroad Club's Lehigh Valley Railroad The Rochester Model Railroad Club re-creates the Lehigh Valley Railroad in the 1960s. It runs from Jersey City, New Jersey to Buffalo, New York in a 2500 square foot church basement. The HO club layout is called the Seneca Valley Lines because this 70 year old club has used this name since the beginning. During that time the club has moved 7 times. Its current location has been home for 20 years. A 20 year project takes planning. So the layout is divided into 5 sections with a supervisor in charge of each. That way quality control is maintained and projects are ready to go on weekly meeting nights. Cooperation and compromise are the keys to building a cohesive, artistic model railroad with 50 members who have different opinions. The club is well known in the area for its public shows and displays at schools and museums. The members are always trying to promote the hobby and especially enjoy teaching young people about the hobby. The double track 350 foot long mainline was originally built for public shows, but has been modified and improved for prototype switching operations. The 40x60 foot layout is a free standing island design with all trains beginning and ending in the massive staging yards that represent the rest of the country. Club members will show you how to build reliable trackwork, create control panels, build evergreen trees, and duplicate real scenes. The layout was featured in the Sept. '08 MR. The Lehigh Valley is a Great Model Railroad because of its cohesive vision, yet the members are willing to refine the look and operation of the layout when new techniques come along. by Allen Keller Productions 1 HOUR * Colour * Narration |
|
Harold Werthwein's Erie Railroad is one of the largest HO layouts in the country at 85x30 feet. Now he has added a new coal route above the original layout that we documented in Great Model Railroads, Vol. 18. It's the Wyoming Division with three coal branches. This show follows that line from Port Jervis, New York to Lackawaxen, where it interchanges with the Erie's Delaware Divsion. Even though the layout is huge, Harold felt that he needed to add more switching work for his 14 to 18 operators. This group meets monthly and operates about 25 trains on an 8 hour schedule using a fast clock. He follows prototype practices as much as possible using official railroad documents. A layout this large requires quite a bit of maintenance. Every week Harold and friends work on the railroad to make adjustments and repair the defects that can prevent successful train operations. It's hard to believe that this is Harold's first layout. Prior to this project he had been an armchair modeler, but after his retirement 28 years ago he began modeling in a big way. Now at 87 Harold shows few signs of slowing down. In fact the hobby helps him keep his body and mind active, and is a main source of social activity. Harold will show you his coal mines, how to use prototype paperwork, block trains for operation and operate less than carload freights. The Wyoming Division is a Great Model Railroad because Harold has captured the feel of the prototype by using official railroad paperwork and by getting help from former railway executives. by Allen Keller Productions 60 mins * colour * narration Regular Price £ 30 |
|
Operation - The ultimate goal for many model railroaders. Here, veteran modeler and operator Paul Scoles invites tlie viewer to join one of his monthly operating sessions. Watch, listen, and learn as Paul and his crew put his Pelican Bay Railway & Navigation Company railroad through its paces. Paul thoroughly explains waybills, the schedule and fast clock, train orders, and many other things during the operating session. This dvd affords the viewer the rare opportunity to witness and learn from an experienced crew as they operate one of this country's best known model railroads. by Paul Scoles 60 mins * colour * narration Regular Price £ 18 Limited Offer £15 |
|
W. Allen McClelland's Virginian & Ohio, Gauley Subdivision An innovative, pace setting model railroad is no more. W. Allen McClelland's world famous Virginian & Ohio, Gauley Subdivision has come and gone. On March 16th, 2008 Allen held the railroad's last open house. Due to physical limitations Allen and his wife have moved to a retirement home. About 200 V&O fans came to the final viewing to pay tribute to this legendary modeler and his HO layout. Since the late 1960s Allen and his model railroad have been at the forefront of most of the advancements made in the hobby. He took the hobby from spaghetti bowl style layouts into the world of a complete miniature transportation system. Allen is responsible for most of what we take for granted today...linear design, walkaround control, staging yards, command control usage, weathering, computerized CTC , and his famous "good enough" philosophy. This final version of the V&O was started in 2002 after the original V&O was torn out, and Allen moved to a new house. The Gauley Sub was planned as an extension of the old railroad. Although this version of the railroad was never completed, many scenes were finished to a level suitable for photography. However, the ideas illustrated by Allen are worth documenting. Allen will show you a new way to make a fascia, how to operate a staging yard, and how to make rocks out of pine bark. The V&O is a Great Model Railroad because Allen believed that the whole of a layout is greater than the sum of its parts, and that we should model a railroad not just railroad models. Allen Keller Productions 60 mins * colour * narrated Regular Price £ 27.95 |
|
Allen Keller's Bluff City Southern operates throughout the Mid-South in 1950. This HO railroad provides an interchange point in Memphis for the IC, the Frisco, the L&N, the Southern and the Missouri Pacific. Both steam and diesel locomotives serve Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. Passenger trains and Memphis Union Station hold a special place in the operating scheme. Since our last visit in 2001 for Vol. 38, the Tennessee peninsula has been added and the layout is completed. The entire BCS was planned before the first track was laid in 1997. Allen has remained true to the overall plan, but changed track arrangements when a better idea came along. The 30x44 foot layout features 4 staging yards that represent the outside world- to 3 points of the compass-North, South and West. Allen considers the Bluff City Southern to be a time machine that re-creates as realistically as possible a simpler time when small town depots were the center of town life and everything moved at a slower pace including the trains. The layout was designed for viewing and operation. That means the scenery and structures are highly detailed. It also means the trackplan allows for challengingly realistic but not mystifying track arrangements. Allen will show you some things he's learned after 40 years in the hobby, plus how to make a cotton field, stage urban buildings and build a swamp. The Bluff City Southern is a Great Model Railroad because Allen has captured the look and feel of the Mid-South with scenery, structures and rolling stock. Allen Keller Productions 60 mins * colour * narrated Regular Price £ 27.95 |
|
Howard Zane's Piermont Division runs through the coal mine country of the Appalachians in the 1950s. This is our third visit to this layout. We did Vol. 12 in 1992 and Vol. 44 in 2003. Since then Howard has completely scenicked the second addition and redone the original HO layout he started in 1983. Even though the layout has been a work in progress for 25 years, the old and the new blend flawlessly because of Howard's formal artistic training. In this video we concentrate on the new work. The Piermont is one of the hobby's important artistic achievements. Howard does little planning, he simply creates stunning scenes and structures. If he has a plan, it's open to change as he works. Yet he is highly organized and disciplined as he works to express his artistry. The 2850 square foot HO layout is all about fantasy and unlimited imagination. The trackplan is really a double deck style built on one deck at different levels. This makes the run 22 scale miles long so it takes a train about one hour to run the full length. The layout features spectacular waterfalls and bridges along with mountains, mines and urban structures. Howard loves to show the layout to visitors. He says art has no value unless it is shared with others. He encourages all his visitors, who can, to build a large layout. Howard will show you how to make a waterfall, super-elevate a curve, add coal to a tender and make a road from cardboard. The Piermont Division is a Great Model Railroad because Howard's artistic training and skills allow him to recreate the glory days of mountain railroading. Allen Keller Productions 60 mins * colour * narrated |
|
This DVD is a continuation of Paul Scoles' acclaimed scenery video Advanced Techniques For Realistic Scenery. Featuring Paul's well known layout, the Sn3 Pelican Bay Railway & Navigation Company, this video has all new information and techniques. You'll follow Paul as he completes the scenery on one of the last undeveloped areas of his large layout. You'll see a moveable ridge, "Furlow's Corners", and the engine terminal. Moving to another area, with altogether different scenery, you'll learn mesa and talus slope techniques, how to do a cut and fill, how to make a streambed, how to pour resin "water", and a lot more. Careful and thorough explanations and demonstrations are hallmarks of Paul's style of presentation. His use of natural materials makes it easy to achieve a realistic look to scenery. Even a beginner will get great results right away! No matter your skill level, you'll learn a great deal from one of the hobby's finest scenery builders. by Paul Scoles Present 120 mins * colour * narrated |
|
Eight famous model railroads that no longer exist are now Fallen Flags. They exist only on video done by Allen Keller Productions and some pictures taken by others. Here is your chance to remember all of these. * Chuck Hitchcock's Santa Fe Argentine Division * John Armstrong's Canandaigua Southern * David Barrow's Cat Mountain & Santa Fe * Allen McClelland's Virginia & Ohio * Tony Koester's Allegheny Midland * Gary Hoover's Missouri, Kansas & Quincy * Bill Henderson's Coal Belt * Bob Hayden's Carrabasset &Dead River Allen Keller Productions 60 mins * colour * narrated |
|
 Jim Hertzog's Reading operates deep in the coal fields of Pennsylvania in the mid 1950s. This HO railroad runs from Shamokin to Tamaqua, Pennsylvania and interchanges with the Pennsy and the Lehigh & New England. It serves 12 coal mines and processing plants and is a way for Jim to remember watching the Reading as a child. Because of the mountains the grades are steep and require helpers. In fact the railroad revolves around these helpers. Historic preservation is one way that Jim thinks of his Reading Lines. It's also a setting for 18 to 20 friends who run 30 trains during each monthly operating session. The layout has two staging yards and three operating yards, each with its own purpose. The Reading was carefully designed to get the maximum use out of a 30 x 40 foot basement. That means narrow aisles and shallow scenes yet the overall plan gives operators the feel of actually traveling with their trains. Jim has captured the gritty look of Appalachian coal mining. Jim says this railroad has broadened his outlook on the hobby as he learned to do things he didn't know he could do. He will show you how to understand a colliery, make concrete roads, weather cars and use fascia lettering. The Reading is a Great Model Railroad because Jim has found a way to recreate the grit, romance and hard work of coal mine railroading in his basement. Allen Keller Productions 60 mins * colour * narrated |
|
Cliff Powers' Mississippi, Alabama & Gulf covers a rarely modeled part of the country, the South. His gorgeous HO layout runs from Meridian, Miss. to New Orleans in 1955. This is his 8th layout and contains all the techniques and best practices that he learned with his previous layouts. Freelancing is showcased here with small towns, gnarled oaks and piney woods that capture the essence of the Southland. The railroad is a tribute to small town life with all of its mini-scenes. The MA&G is two decks now, but when finished it will boast 3 decks. All of this in a 14 x 32 foot portable building in his backyard. Cliff uses a unique double track helix that he designed himself to reach the different levels on this railroad. In addition to trains from the MA&G, Cliff runs equipment from the Southern and the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio. His artistic talent with paint and chalks has made not only his scenes but his equipment completely believable. Cliff is a master builder with craftsman kits and kitbashing. He says that model railroading is the most artistic of hobbies because it combines all aspects of creativity into one big project. He particularly enjoys the aesthetic and the problem solving challenges of the hobby. We all can learn from his examples. Cliff will show you how to create plowed fields, add barbed wire to fence posts, customize your buildings and make realistic looking rusty roofs. The MA&G is a Great Model Railroad because Cliff has convincingly recreated the South with his careful use of color, texture and first hand knowledge. Allen Keller Productions 60 mins * colour * narrated |
|
This exciting instructional dvd teaches you everything you need to know to build a model railroad layout. No prior experience is necessary, just the desire to have fun! *How to build the table * Easy methods for laying track * Building structures and scenery *Wiring techniques *And much more! Whether you're a beginner or a more experienced modeler you will find very useful tips from this renowned modelling experts. Narrated by Michael Gross, actor and model railroad enthusiast. 60 minutes; color. Special Price £ 11.00 |
|
Two great classics together on one DVD! The expert staff of Model Railroader Magazine shows you everything you need to know about building fantastic layout scenery and the art of airbrushing with acrylic paints. From start to finish, you'll learn about the tools, applications, and special techniques you can use to create realistic-looking model railroad scenery and detailing projects. Segments cover: * Weathering and finishing techniques * Carving, molding, and coloring rocks * Modeling ground vegetation and water * Using carved foam and cardboard strip plaster forms * Creating backdrops and seasonal adaptations * Blending structures into the ground * Painting tips for brass and plastic * Multi-color schemes * And much more 120 minutes; DVD; all-digital format; color; stereo sound. Digitally remastered from two VHS classics: Airbrushing with Acrylic Paints and Model Railroad Scenery Made Easy
|
|
 After 30 years and more than 70 articles in the model railroad press, we finally get to see Paul's scenery work up close and "in person." Look over his shoulder as he adds scenery to a large section of his well known Sn3 layout, the Pelican Bay Railway and Navigation Company. Starting with bare hardshell, watch and listen as he adds wet rock castings and stains them with realistic earth tones. Go on location with Paul as he searches for useable ground cover and natural tree-making material. Watch closely as he builds highly realistic fir and deciduous trees. With his detailed explanation you can easily build these yourself. Paul carefully explains how to place trees, bushes and other secondary growth on the layout. Then he develops a townsite, dirt roads, and other scenery features. Finally, Paul takes you on a tour of this truly fantastic model railroad, describing the concept and design he followed in creating one of the best known model railroads in the country. Beginner or expert, you'll learn a great deal from one of the hobby's finest scenery builders. by Paul Scoles Present 126 mins * colour * narrated |
|
Jerry Maori's Pennsylvania Railroad is huge, 4300 square feet of big time four track mainline! In fact this may be the largest home layout ever built! This HO layout runs from Chicago to New York and can handle more than 1200 pieces of rolling stock. It takes a train 25 minutes to run across the layout. Along the line there is a massive steel mill and a 30 foot deep Horseshoe Curve-two signature elements of Western Pennsylvania.\nThe Pennsy began in 1990 in a 2800 square foot basement. But then Jerry decided to add more layout space and more house and even a patio above. So the layout is now 3 inter-connected rooms with about 50% of the scenery completed. There are more than 20,000 trees on the layout. This is a prototype-based HO layout with a lot of freelanced scenic elements. Creating realistic and evocative scenes is Jerry's favorite part of the hobby because this helps him remember special times and places from his youth in the late 50s and early 60s. Jerry enjoys sharing the layout with other modelers and using it to promote the hobby to the general public. Thousands of people have seen his Pennsylvania and marveled at his artistic ability. Jerry will show you how to build with floral foam, use herbs and spices for ground cover, keep your track clean and use a scenery caddy. The Pennsylvania is a Great Model Railroad because Jerry has found a way to remember, to re-create and to enjoy the glory days of the railroad in his basement. by Allen Keller Productions 60 mins * colour * narrated |
|
In volume 2, we cover the building of the complete HO scale Graden Flower Mill. Then tackle the coal pit and pit ramp in our Durango Yard. We finish the scenery along the river at Durango, including some great looking Cottonwood trees... and we add rocks and shrubs to blend our scenery to the backdrop... and naturalise along the river bank.\nThe cover the large Durango Yard with more cinder ballast, and finish the scenery along the backdrop. Lastly, we'll build a concrete street for the town of Durango... and we'll ballast the track in front of the station that leads out of Durango. COMPUTER ROM FEATURE-Load this DVD into your PC for HIGH-RES photos of the layout which you can print out on your own printer. by Green Frog Productions 62 mins * colour * narrated |
|
 We finish the basement railroad room to accommodate this very large HO scale narrow gauge railroad and show you how we painted and blended the sky blue backdrop, and added artwork by our artist friend Pat Lemmerman. Next, see the benchwork construction and layout of track for the very large Durango Yard. We install a Walthers Turntable and scratch build the Durango Roundhouse. Our yard contains Dual gauge track and turnouts of the 1930's - requiring a dual gauge turntable as well!\nThe Los Animas River runs nearby so we added this important detail for the length of the entire yard.\nThe town of Durango is roughed out, including a space for the Durango station- We add the reverse loop around the back of the roundhouse and some "swishes" to allow the dual gauge track to go from three rail to four rail so both standard gauge and narrow gauge engines can use the turntable then we add the ash pit. \nOn to blend the backdrop into the yard, including some beautiful Cottonwood trees along the river. At the end of the yard, we build a small timber trestle to cross the river. A control panel is constructed to hold the toggle switches that power our yard switch machines. Lastly, we hook up a PTC Turntable controller for automatic alignment of our turntable to all those tracks. COMPUTER ROM FEATURE-Load this DVD into your PC for HIGH-RES photos of the layout which you can print out at home. by Green Frog Productions 56 mins * colour * narrated |
|
|
|
Gary Hoover has built another masterpiece. With this layout he's gone back in time to Aug. 29, 1951 to model the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe with spectacular western scenery. The Santa Fe runs from Chicago to San Bernardino, California. The scenes were built using photos to get the exact placement of mountain peaks, landmark structures and track alignments. About 95% of the structures are scratchbuilt, and many have interiors. As you might guess Gary tries to follow exact Santa Fe practices including signals, train consists and schedules. One interesting element is the helper operation between San Bernardino and Summit. In addition to the Santa Fe you'll see trains from the Union Pacific and some extra foreign road traffic at Dearborn station. The area around the station captures the look of Chicago in the 1950s. At San Bernardino you'll see the massive station, roundhouse and locomotive shops. You can see Gary's craftmanship in everything from his weathering techniques to his highly detailed structures.Gary shows you how to make a custom backdrop, add a switch panel, make Joshua trees, and build resistance wheelsets. by Allen Keller Productions * 60 mins * colour * narrated |
|
Modeling the Prototype This DVD closely examines not only the operations of several logging railroads, but also how the trees were cut, loaded and then unloaded at the sawmill. Then, to really get the creative sap flowing, we'll show how three great modelers have applied the prototype practices to their layouts. The prototype railroads featured were shot on film between 1920 - 1960's. Railroads include the Westside, Rayonier, Mower, Ely-Thomas, Grasse River RR, and more. We also visit the outstanding layouts of Bob Clarke, Dr. Charles Patti, and Lou Ullian, each predominantly built around the logging industry. All three layouts have been featured in the modeling press. They are highly detailed and exemplify the complete industry, from trees to sawmills. Logging railroads were well known for their "make do" approach to railroading. Each of these layouts feature this approach. As a bonus, Bob Clarke will show how to make ground cover quickly and easily. by Green Frog * 57 mins * colour * narrated |
|
 The Conrail New Jersey Division of Matt Snell and Debie Baker packs a lot of railroad into a 40 x 24 foot basement. Matt and Debie have captured the look and the gritty feel of the areas around Newark, the Northeast Corridor, the chemical plants and the high speed commuter lines. In addition to Conrail you'll see trains from Amtrak, New Jersey Transit and the Susquehanna. The railroad is run much like the prototype in every possible way. Matt and Debie follow the Northeast Operating Rules that the railroads of New Jersey use. The layout is controlled by signals and dispatchers and runs with different schedules for day and night. Heavy traffic is one hallmark of New Jersey railroading. An active staging yard is one way to accomplish that. The yard is really a fiddle yard where locomotives and complete consists are changed out during an operating session rather than in between sessions. Matt will show you how to use make-up to weather equipment, add sound, make signs, create a timetable and detail diesels. by Allen Keller Productions * 60 mins * colour * narrated |
|
Chuck Ellis' Great Northwestern & Pacific Chuck Ellis' Great Northwestern & Pacific was inspired by a love of the mountainous Pacific Northwest. Chuck has skillfully captured the look of gaping canyons that touch the floor and towering pinnacles with his masterful use of plaster and paint. His walkaround plan takes the viewer on a journey from Duluth, Minnesota to Seattle, Washington in the 1950s. The layout occupies 1500 square feet. This HO layout was designed by Chuck without the use of a formal trackplan. He simply built what he saw in his mind. He knew where he wanted mountains, towns and even a small narrow gauge line--all contribute to the overall scenic effect. Because the GN&P owns no equipment the line runs locomotives and cars from many different roads particularly the Great Northern. Chuck is a master builder of highly detailed structures. He attributes this interest to his familyÕs long history in the construction business. The railroad is full of fabulous craftsman kits. The layout has been expanded into adjacent areas since work began in 1991. Thirty years of trial and error allow Chuck the freedom to tear out what he doesn't like and then start over. Chuck will show you how to paint drivers, make river banks, create peeling paint, and build pine trees. The Great Northwestern & Pacific is a Great Model Railroad because Chuck has created the look and feel of a visit to the Pacific Northwest. by Allen Keller Productions * 60 mins * colour * narrated |
|
Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg, the biggest digital model railway in the world - shown on over 100 TV programmes. For weeks the team of Frank Zarges (EK-Verlag) filmed night after night to produce this outstanding journey through the Miniatur Wunderland. Featuring: * The journey through the Miniatur Wunderland: dreamlike pictures, highlights, a lot of details shots and interesting productions show an extensive view on the Miniatur Wunderland, that took over 350.000 working hours to create. (approx. 35 minutes) * Report about the third construction section on USA Railroading. (approx. 20 minutes) * The fascinating Car-System with spectacular fire brigade operations. (approx. 13 minutes) * Thrilling interviews and background information on the construction and running of the installation. (approx. 15 minutes) * The Grand Finale - a camera ride in the unknown world of Miniatur Wunderland. (approx. 15 minutes) * Journey through Scandinavia. Breathtaking shots of the newest construction section of Miniatur Wunderland. (appr. 20 minutes) * Camera ride through Scandinavia. (appr. 10 minutes) by EK-Verlag * DVD 1 100 mins * DVD 2 30 mins * English/German narration * colour |
|
Ken McCorry's Conrail The Conrail layout of Ken McCorry is so big it takes a train 45 minutes to run its full length. The mainline of 25 scale miles occupies its own 3300 square foot barn. The steel mill takes up 300 square feet. With 5 decks the railroad is big. The bottom two decks represent staging. The top deck is a branchline, and the middle two decks are the visible parts of the railroad. The layout follows the route of the old Pennsylvania Railroad from Harrisburg, to Buffalo, New York in 1980 and that means helpers on the 3% grade to Keating Summit. Ken has 175 locomotives and more than 2,000 pieces of rolling stock. Operating sessions require 17 operators and 3 dispatchers to keep things moving. Operating the railroad has become Ken's main interest, but he also wants to finish all the scenery and install the remaining signals. He will show you how to cantilever your benchwork, make scenery with plaster gauze, build structures with gator foam, and use operating signals. The Conrail Railroad is a Great Model Railroad because Ken has created a layout on a grand scale that is easy to maintain and fun to operate. by Allen Keller Productions 60 mins * colour * narrated |
|
"Model Railroader" visited Tall Pine for the fist time on March 1986 and dedicated its cover page "Angelo Battistella's Tall Pine RR. An American style layout in Italy". During that year Angelo and his wife decided to enlarge Tall Pine. They needed more room.....so they took down a wall and started the extension of the layout. Angelo recalls the moment when the new structure was enlighted by ten halogene spot lights for the first time "My wife and I wore the Tall Pine cap and toasted at the result we had obtained. For one of us it would have been the last toast. My wife sufferd from cancer and on March 1987 she passed away. She knew she would not have the chance to see Tall Pine grow and she charged our layout with the difficult task of keeping me company". Layout at a glance Name of railroad: Tall Pine RR Scale: HO (1:87) Layout size: 20x24 feet Style: walkaround Layout height: 30" to 50" Benchwork: open grid Roadbed: cork Track: code 70 flextrack (Shinohara) Lenght of mainline run: 95 feet Turnout minimum: no. 6 Curve radii: from 24" to 36" Maximum grade: 2 percent Scenery: styrofoam, cork, wrapping cardboard, plaster Backdrop: acrylic paintings on walls Sound: PFM Sound System II Control: DC and DCC View Layout At A Glance |
|
Chuck Hitchcock's Argentine Industrial District Railway The Industrial District began as an idea ten years ago. Since he and his friends really enjoyed switching industries, he decided a layout could be built without a mainline. Chuck became a pioneer in operation. The 54 x 26 foot HO railroad represents a Santa Fe line around Kansas City in 1963. All trains are operated within yard limits, and work without a dispatcher. This 50th volume in the series is a return to Chuck’s work that Allen first recorded 22 years earlier. Chuck has found that this new HO railroad has renewed his interest in the hobby, and made upkeep of the layout easier as he ages. He will show you how to lay track without spikes or nails, add signs to urban buildings, and create switch lists from waybills. The Argentine Industrial District Railway is a Great Model Railroad because Chuck has never been afraid to change things while seeking innovative solutions. The DVD version contains a special bonus look back at the original Argentine Division by Allen Keller 60 mins * colour * narrated |
|
GREAT MODEL RAILROADS VOL. 49 The Santa Fe Emporia Subdivision By Stephen & Cinthia Priest. This HO layout runs through Kansas in 1978. Equipment is weathered to match this terrain that Stephen knows well from his days as an engineer for the Santa Fe and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. He also became knowledgeable about the area when he was Assistant Manager of the Track Geometry Department. The 40 x 25 foot railroad is double decked using a constant grade instead of a helix to change elevation. The staging yards are not hidden but are scenicked like the rest of the layout. Stephen & Cinthia operate the railroad with a CTC machine and signals that control all movements by the road crews. Their operating sessions have been compared to a chess game yet the purpose of the railroad Is to enjoy the conipan of others. For them the layout is a social event. He will show you how to build benchwork for a double deck, install switch motors, build a control panel and detail your track. by Allen Keller Productions 60 mins * colour * narrated |
|
Ed Lorence's Baltimore & Ohio Ed Lorence's Baltimore & Ohio has some of the best running trains you'll find anywhere. His trackwork is flawless, and his engines and rolling stock are adjusted until 50 car trains with semi-scale wheels run perfectly. This HO railroad runs through West Virginia in 1954 with late steam and first generation diesels that Ed has detailed and modified. The cars on the layout are beautifully weathered even though he doesn't use an airbrush. The 22 x 24 foot railroad sits in Ed's basement where he enjoys welcoming fellow hobbyists and operators to share the layout. This railroad was built as a railfan adventure until he decided he had to retro-fit it for prototype operation with his friends. Ed got interested in the B&O because his father-in-law was a longtime employee with many stories to spark a railfan's interest in Class One railroading. The layout's long passing sidings help to re-create that feeling and the illusion of double track mainline. This layout is the result of Ed's 50 years in the hobby where he learned from his own mistakes on previous layouts. Ed will show you how to lay flextrack, make trees from weeds, close-couple freight cars and make inexpensive signals. The B&O is a Great Model Railroad because Ed has created a layout where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The overall look of this railroad is stunning. by Allen Keller Productions 60 mins * colour * narrated Ref. DVDM6 |
|
Lance Mindheim's Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville or as it's usually known, the Monon, is an N scale layout that was built for reliable operation. Lance created this railroad as a stage for full timetable and train order operating sessions. The 20x20 foot layout is based on 25 miles of track in Indiana in 1955. On line industries favor limestone mills and quarries along with team tracks and one major yard. Lance and his friends enjoy full operating sessions that last for up to 3 hours. The beautiful scenery on the Monon features a perfect setting of hills, realistic creeks and winter grass and trees. The painted backdrop makes the scenes seem even bigger. Weathering is skillfully used to enhance and create detail. As a custom layout builder, Lance will encourage you to get started building a layout. Don't wait to learn everything or you'll never get started. Lance will show you how to model a creek, paint a backdrop, make convincing grass and undergrowth and cast shale rip rap. The Monon is a Great Model Railroad because Lance believes in modeling the ordinary not the unusual, and because he uses weathering to bring out the details on his models. by Allen Keller Productions 60 mins * colour * narrated |
|
Paul Dolkos' Boston & Maine New Hampshire Division is a visually intriguing railroad featuring seldom modelled winter scenes. Paul's bare trees get as much detailed attention as everything else on the layout. Another scenic device that he uses is forced perspective to create distance in a small space. He also finds the key structures in a scene and then uses them to give the impression that all other buildings are just as authentic. Even though the HO layout is only 20x20 feet, it has a full blown operating plan using timetable and train orders with a dispatcher, operator and road crews. Paul enjoys seeing his HO railroad operate as much like the prototype as possible rather than just watching the trains roll through a scene. The Boston & Maine is a freelanced railroad based on the prototype in 1952. This lets Paul change the traffic patterns, the structures and the track arrangements to suit his space. Yet he tries to keep the overall flavour of the B&M. As one of the hobby's best known model photographers, Paul carefully arranges his own layout scenes for interesting photos. He will show you how to take model photos, use staging yards, build winter trees, and get more operation in a small space. The B&M New Hampshire Division is a Great Model Railroad because Paul can see the essence of a scene, and because he knows how to get the maximum amount of operation in a small space. Runs 1 hour! |
|
Bob Lawson's Southern Railway in Kentucky is a vision of small town Appalachia with coal mines, mountains and trees. Bob is an architect, engineer and builder who is known for creating dioramas that tell stories of life in the late 40s and early 50s. These highly detailed scenes are then added to his HO layout making it a great place to sit back and watch the trains roll. He was fond of the Southern as a youngster and later wound up working as a car designer for the road. He also re-built and operated the Southern Iron and Equipment Company's car shops where he designed many of the SEICO freight cars. So he could be the ultimate nitpicker, but he's not. Bob thinks the overall feel of the railroad is much more important than precise accuracy, and he looks for details that add to the mood of a scene. Bob says we should share and learn from each other to advance the hobby, and that friendships make the hobby more enjoyable. The Southern Railway is full of eye-catching scenes based on years of observation, notes and photos. Most of the structures are scratchbuilt. Bob will show you how to build dioramas to fit the layout, weather cars with oil paints, and build scenery with cloth, Styrofoam and ground foam. The Southern is a Great Model Railroad because Bob has used his skill as a designer to tell stories with beautifully weathered equipment and structures. |
|
by Allen Keller Productions This is Part 2 of Howard Zane's Piermont Division. This HO layout showcases Fifties era Appalachian railroading using equipment from the Clinchfield, Western Maryland, Chesapeake & Ohio and Norfolk & Western. Since we did part 1 in 1992 Howard has increased the layout area by a factor of 4 to 2850 square feet. In this dvd we concentrate on all the new areas. Howard considers the Piermont to be a painting created with plaster, paper, foam, rocks and dirt where he can bring to life the fabled coal hauling roads of the east. The railroad features spectacular bridges, deep scenes and breathtaking vistas. Howard's whole life revolves around model railroading and he plans to add 2,000 more square feet to the basement. All his efforts on this railroad are aimed at capturing the feeling of life in the Fifties when railroads and steam were kings. Howard will show you how to build a structure, color a steam locomotive boiler, build scenery without plaster and add a diorama to a layout. The Piermont Division is a Great Model Railroad because of Howard's artistic talents and because he is always happy to share his love of the hobby with others. Not available on video |
|
by Allen Keller Productions John Pryke's New York, New Haven & Hartford crams a lot of HO scale mileage into a 30 x 20 foot space. The line runs from New York to Boston by looping over itself several times as it works to duplicate the great days of passenger rail travel in the Northeast in 1948. Brass steam engines, many scratchbuilt by John, power the trains. Besides the locomotives, the track is handmade using custom cut ties and code 83 and 70 rail. Tracks are super-elevated to improve the appearance of trains as they enter and leave curves. John is a big believer in weathering engines, rolling stock and buildings. Everything on the layout looks as though it belongs. The much publicized urban module, the Union Freight Railroad, provides many fun switching locations. John has made a special effort to research the New Haven railroad of 1948 and to learn what life was like after World War II. This historical analysis is part of the fun for John. He tries to re-create the feel of a Class 1 operation with heavy running and lots of motive power--27 steam engines, 13 diesels and 9 electrics. You'll learn from John about: scratch-building techniques, making a low stress timetable, creating a prototype feeling, and weathering a brick building. |
|
