This is one of the best layouts that I have ever seen. Hat's off to the club members that made it possible.

@ThePaulv12

9 ай бұрын

If you like catenary in HO check this vid out. It starts off not under the overhead but then for most of the 22min vid it takes you for a cab ride on a layout that might be described as unbelievable. As in a real train ride the mood changes with the transition from city to suburb. It is without a doubt the best I have ever seen: kzread.info/dash/bejne/eYp-mdqfm8feZrA.html

I saw this club layout when I was in Jr. high school. I often wanted to join this club. School and college came 1st. Eventually, I moved from Fairfax County to Ellicott City. I recently had two strokes. Not joining this club has been something I've regretted.

Running catenary in HO is no easy feat - even more so when it's actually going to be powering the interurban cars. My hat's off to whoever did the catenary work - you have a skill and patience that I don't and probably won't ever have.

@Gallery90

9 ай бұрын

Thank you. In the late 1980s I took on the project of making the traction line work, running from the overhead. I still have the cut-down hemostats I used to clamp the phosphor-bronze overhead and the wire bits to actually hang the wire.

Traction modeling is so awesome and yet underrated. Many modelers (from what I've seen) prefer freight train operations over all else these days. I myself am a passenger train and traction fan as is, with very few freight operations.

@rrai1999

9 ай бұрын

I'd never even heard of it before this video, it's really great. Appeals to me personally, will be noting it down as something I'm highly interested in adding to my own set

Not a lot of actual overhead power on layouts these days! I take my hat off to whoever strung and maintains that linear metal cobweb in working order.

@musicman8942

9 ай бұрын

Exactly. First layout I've seen on YT of any scale with working overhead whether traction or freight/passenger.

@everettthepetractionguy4222

9 ай бұрын

@carmium and @musicman8942 have either of you ever seen the Dan D. Sparks videos on youtube? If not, check 'em out. They're all about traction. You will see modular layouts in each video. And there's plenty of working overhead wiring. I believe the overhead wiring was mostly done by George Huckaby, the co-founder of the Southern California Traction Club. You should check out the videos... they're fun to watch. 👏😉

@ThePaulv12

7 ай бұрын

@@musicman8942 Man have I got a gift for you then (link below). I'm a bit addicted to overhead in HO scale too and go looking for it on KZread. The link below is by far and I do mean, by far, the most impressive I have ever seen. The overhead starts at around the 3min mark. The detail and weathering is insane. Bill Kachel's Cosmopolitian Division of the PRR: kzread.info/dash/bejne/eYp-mdqfm8feZrA.html

@musicman8942

7 ай бұрын

@@ThePaulv12 I caught that layout 7 years ago and the catenary is not hot. Nice looking layout though.

@CZ350tuner

6 ай бұрын

The only model railway manufacturer to produce a working overhead power system and locomotives was Triang Railways / Triang-Hornby, from 1958 until 1972. The overhead electric locos had a switch, on the roof, that gave the option of either rail or catenary power pick up. I have a 1960's Triang-Hornby British Railways AL2 (TOPS Class 82) BO-BO electric loco along with the working catenary system.

neat to see actual overhead wire use

My dad built a 4 foot little layout two straights with a switch and we ran using the overhead wires. Around 1970.

It takes true cojones to set up working overhead lines. I tip my hat to them.

Beautiful layout...! Kudos on the catenary, that is a LOT of work..!

It's not just the layout; it's the "a day in the life of" scenario that gives the layout its context. Very enjoyable.

That was excellent! At first glance, I wondered where you got such good color photos from 70 years ago.

Loving the traction with the pantograph action. _(yes, actually, I did just get home from creative writers group)_ 😁

@kirillkapaln4536

8 ай бұрын

it's working.

I' m a traction fan. Well done! I think. Our power source is far more interesting and realistic than battery power and radio control, but the latter is the best option for non electric equipment. Great video and narration.

3:15, see that fellow in the grey, he stopped in the cobbler shop but decided he didn't want to pay to get his heel fixed today, that's what procrastination gets you.

Currently doing contract work in Statesville, love seeing the switches of the Alexander railroad doing their switchbacks from yard to yard, I can only imagine what this line was like in the Glory Days.

Excellent, what a wonderful layout you have.

Oh the trains are great, but just look at the model cars, so cool.

An amazing accomplishment. Very well thought out and executed. First rate modeling!

Super. An incredible layout. Hello from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. 💙 T.E.N.

Let's not forget your awesome narration! 👍

Great video. This is the only video I've found that showcases the club's entire traction line. Thanks.

This is a certified hood classic

Terrific job of showcasing this interurban operation. I love seeing traction lines being modeled, and it's clear that this group has put great effort into making this realistic. I will have to try to visit them the next time I'm passing through northern Virginia.

Extensive traction in HO and it works!

CATENARY IN THE USA !!! The railway technical term for Overhead is "Catenary", and it's very nice to see any U.S. based layout indulging in this rare for the U.S. extravagance. Definitely a thumbs up for this layout.👍 Of course in Europe overhead electrified railways & tramways have always been fairly common since around 1900. So there are at least three German manufacturers of "Catenary" for HO & N scales (Vollmer, Sommerfeldt & Veismann). Sommerfeldt in particular have a large & diverse range of masts & parts to suit various railway & tramway company practices. Including packets of insulators, & a range of pantographs. All of which is designed so it can be energised if desired !!!

Finally, a very unique railroad. I've wondered if an interurban car could receive it's power just like the real thing. Nice work!

A wonderful, large, Southern Railway layout with superb trolley line. Thanks so much for sharing!

This is very cool! I did not expect to see spencer shops in model form! It's kind of surreal because I've been visiting there since I was a very young child.

Hats off to you guys from the McKeesport model club. Ours has plans for streetcar operations but we got a long ways to go. Well…. _everything_ has a long way to go really lol.

Nice video. I also recognise the Bachmann units by their sound. ;)

I LOVE traction. We NEED more videos like this one. Traction must be promoted as often as possible, that's why I like this video. The more exposure traction gets, the better it will be for all us traction lovers! I enjoyed watching the video...thanks for uploading this masterpiece. 😊

This that just an amazing layout! Hats off to those who pulled it off. It's so cool to see someone model where I travel thru almost daily.

Beautiful layout love the street car!

I enjoyed it especially the closed captioning that make it very accessible for me.

This is the coolest traction layout I've seen and it's l functional.❤👍

Nice to see some of the trolley poles I designed, built, and installed on the layout are still in service. That was in the late 1980s and I still have the pattern pole. That traction line was originally straight DC while the rest of the layout was using CTC-16. With overhead power you don't have to worry about loops.

This is outstanding!

Kinda reminds me of the Piedmont & Northern Railway. Would love to see a box cab running under those wires!

Wonderful! Thank you for sharing.

Love interurban railroads! Wish we had more lines like the South Shore Line. Chicago is already quite the strange transit city since it has so many highways and road users, yet also has a sprawling commuter rail system with decent ridership

@royreynolds108

8 ай бұрын

Yes, the old IC Suburban Service and the South Shore to South Bend, IN use catenary at 1500V DC. The old North Shore from Milwaukee gained access to the Loop in Chicago before the line was abandoned.

This looks like it’s at the Vienna train museum in Virginia… such a great electrical job.

Amazing layout to operate trains awesome detail. Hi from NZ ..

This was as if i was in there. such beautifull scenery and sounds of the amazing trains.. Wowww

Incredible layout!

Great layout! Thanks for sharing.

Wow, very nice! I like the above wire!

That’s one beautiful layout guys. Awesome job. 👍🏻

Had much fun watching this! Thank you for sharing!

Spectacular layout!!!

Very nice lay out.

Very good 👍

Wonderful layout and I love the story of the tram❤❤

Wow!! Amazing layout. Bravo 👏

Dream layout. Absolutely beautiful. 😮

These videos are fabulous!

Fantastic is all I can say ❤🌴😎

Not the most prototypical traction cars but damn they run great and that's a lot when you consider the difficulty of the catenary infrastructure, great job!

@royreynolds108

8 ай бұрын

What are you expecting? I have seen a large variation in traction equipment, from street cars to very heavy interurban which can be classed as steam railroad equipment. Depends on the area of service and the service provided.

Very enjoyable watching all the action. That is a great layout. I think overhead wires look very good if installed well- just like they have done here. I have taken the easy option on my model layout with a 3rd rail (dummy) electrified suburban railway, incorporating arc flashes from the conductor rails.

Sweet layout, I wonder if they have to clean those wires often. They did an amazing job building that, and you did a great job showing it, thank you.

Great video, beautiful layout, powered over head 👍😎🚂🚂

There at 1:54 and another view later; for some reason the portal-less tunnels in that mountain bring to mind that wasn't it SOU who had a "Rathole Division" in either Tennessee or one of the Carolinas? (autoimmune disease has begun to have an impact on my memory)

@jimmylambert8709

9 ай бұрын

The Southern did have such a line that ran through Kentucky and Tennessee. The mainline of the layout shown is the "Western North Carolina," which was the Southern line that traversed the loops near Old Fort, NC.

@scottfw7169

9 ай бұрын

@@jimmylambert8709 Hey, thanks, appreciate the info. 🙂

@royreynolds108

8 ай бұрын

@@jimmylambert8709 The "rat hole" division was and is owned by the City of Cincinnati, as the Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific RR leased to the Southern (now the NS). This is a similar arrangement as the City of Atlanta or the State of Georgia leases the old Western & Atlantic from Atlanta to Chattanooga to the L&N(CSX Transportation).

nice trackwork. how come there's no sparks between the contact point of the catenary wire and the pantographs ?

@musicman8942

9 ай бұрын

Not enough current draw/voltage.

....Swell neat'o keen..... yesseree.

Awesome

this is fantastic :) made my day

Awesome!!!

Nice layout!!! But why are the signals flickering?

@jimmylambert8709

9 ай бұрын

The signals are LEDs and there's some sort of fighting between them and my camcorder's frame rate that gives them that appearance on the video. In person they appear solid.

@billloffler8637

9 ай бұрын

@@jimmylambert8709It’s like flashing when a computer screen or tv is in the background when filming.

I have had traction layouts before and they are awesome but very cranky ( temperature, humidity and heat sensitive, yes really!). It is very satisfiying when they work right. I have taken an alternative route and now do chicago subway cars with only a hint of overhead wire operation as such was the case here . I do not model the third rail and for once have reliable operation all the time. I might add that O and S gauges are better suited to traction with O probably being the best. I do S gauge but depend on O gauge hardware to supply most overhead parts and poles. The smaller size of HO makes overhead construction really demanding!

I know nothing about traction. Does the trolley get its power from the track or from the overhead power lines? I used to live over by Asheville NC. Great layout. Scenery is exactly what I remember that area looking like. Great job!

@jimmylambert8709

9 ай бұрын

Models of Trolley and Traction equipment can be set up either way, and these models have been set up so that at a flick of a couple switches they too can be run either way. In the case of this video, the electric cars (89 and 630) were getting their power from the overhead wires, with the rails acting as ground.

I was originally going to ask if the bystanders were going to call for an ambulance for the worker down at 2:07 but then at 2:54 I saw the ambulance was enroute. Very nice modeling and narration. Are you a professional? Your voice sounds familiar.

@jimmylambert8709

9 ай бұрын

At the moment, I haven't done any professional voicework, but I have done some voiceovers and voice acting for a few friend's projects.

@lancomedic

9 ай бұрын

@@jimmylambert8709 Your style is very good and reminiscent of the railroad promos of the 30s and 40s but with a more modern voice.

It’s surprising that traction modeling is not more popular. I have been hooked since Bob Hegge graced the hobby publications with his Crooked Mountain Lines. This is truly inspiring modeling. You might have inspired a deviation in modeling projects (I model in Gn15) to try my hand in O scale interurban modeling. Question is that single wire trolley line or actual catenary? Any resources for hanging catenary?

This is very cool, although it seems like a lot of work for something that ultimately doesn't really have any visual payoff.

beautiful scenes and immersive modeling. Is that waving in the road surface actual reproduction of paving for the era? I noticed especially at 8:26. beautiful!

YES!!!!! I have been looking forward to this.

That is an amazing railroad!

I have an all brass centercab that doesn't operate off of regular Code 80 track. What materials and/or parts can purchase or create to make this unit functional? What do you use for the overhead wires?

Hi, from England, UK. I've often wondered if anyone had made a layout where a line came out of a tunnel and then ran straight onto a road, now I've seen one. And while I've seen plenty model trains and loco's working off a live overhead catenary, I've still never seen any working off a live third rail like the mass transit trains in the cities, the only ones I've seen only had dummy third rails. And don't those electric units on this layout run so cleanly with almost no arcing, that takes some doing.

Absolutely beautiful!.

Is this model from around the 1979 mark that was in a model rail book?

Did you get permission from the Allen Keller Estate to dub over his voice using his footage from his Great Model Railroads Series presentation on this model railroad club? I would say, if not, this is a possible copyright infringement.

@jimmylambert8709

8 ай бұрын

No infringement here, the footage (and narration) in this video is entirely my own work.

Train-tram.

I don’t understand why in North America trains engines have that stupid bell ringing when ever the engines are in a station, what people won’t notice the big large thing on the tracks. The bell is annoying.

UNFORTUNATELY,, YOUR WEARING RIGHT THROUGH THE PANTAGRAPHS OF EVERY LOCOMOTIVE .... REAL PANTAGRAPHS HAVE A GRAPHITE STRIP ON TOP THAT GETS CHANGED EVERY 2 WEEKS AND THE OVERHEAD WIRE IS ALIGNED TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH FOR EVEN WEAR ON THE PANTAGRAPHS ..... ONCE IT WEARS THROUGH ,, YOU'LL PULL BIG CHUNKS OF YOUR OVERHEARD WIRE RIGHT DOWN .... SORRY NOT WIRTH IT !!!!!!

@OrangeAnon

9 ай бұрын

No need to yell about it, sheesh.

@Gallery90

9 ай бұрын

Huh? Some of that overhead has been up and in service for decades. (BTW...Where do you get those HO graphite pad thingies?)

@felixsmdt

9 ай бұрын

*You're *Pantographs *Pantographs (again) *Pantographs (again, again) *worth

@sebastiantimur

9 ай бұрын

Cope

Beautiful layout 👏👏👏 incredible , the world in miniature

fantastic.

日本🇯🇵新幹線🚅🎉