My wife and I watched this on the tv. She watched you ballast and then said “see, look how easy it is.” 😂🤣 I said it was all movie magic. Jokes aside, I admire how you can just jump into a project and get ‘er done real quick. It’s an impressive layout for the amount of time you put into it. Well done kid!

@SMTMainline

16 күн бұрын

Thanks. It kinda was movie magic skipping that work. It's not too hard just super repetitive lol

Nice job dude. Your train channel is the only one that I watch every video from start to finish.

@TheFloridaRailfan

19 күн бұрын

same

@SMTMainline

19 күн бұрын

Hearing that means quite a bit to me. Videos like this one take a lot of time to put together so I really appreciate that 😃

@FeelingLucky246

18 күн бұрын

@@SMTMainline Youre fantastic and I'm personally glad to see another young person doing it!

As someone with little space for a layout, I really appreciate videos like these, they really prove that model railroading can be enjoyed even without a huge layout, though I do miss a bit of elevation, but that's just my taste. Great job as always, SMT.

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

I completely agree. My friend requested it to be flat for storage but elevation could easily be added to the design.

Love the Red Green Show line. It’s a line I use to this day. Remember, I’m pulling for you, we’re all in this together, also, Keep your stick on the ice!

@SMTMainline

16 күн бұрын

I like the comedy and his messaging. Gotta give him props for keep it relevant with tours etc.

@seanparksgaming

16 күн бұрын

@@SMTMainline saw him a few years ago and his show is worth it.

I can't believe you got that Big Boy to run so well on those 18" curves!

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

I'm impressed too!

Wow 😮😮,Great job on on the railroad set and layout !! Keep up the great work, Harrison!! 👍👍👍😊😊!

Harrison, another great video. What a unique way to lay the roadbed and keep the track lined up. Thanks for the motivation!

@SMTMainline

16 күн бұрын

It works pretty well, I learned that trick from a Hobby store owner many years ago.

Great build! This video finally made me go clean up my workbench, fix my trolley wiring, and run some trains after not touching my railroad for over a month due to being incredibly busy. Thanks!

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

That's great to hear

Awesome job Harrison!!!!!! great switching ops for a small area. 👍

May the fourth be with you! I’ve been watching for quite a while, and I finally have the motivation to start my layout that I’ve been planning for a few years. I’ve been putting it off for so long, and seeing you build just made me think about how happy I’d be to finally finish it. Thanks for being a channel that I enjoy watching every day!

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

May the forth, isn't that for a different month? lol I hope this helps your project :)

@taybladerz8996

14 күн бұрын

@@SMTMainline YOURE RIGHT

It's amazing how so much can be done with so little.

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

For sure.

Let's not forget the Handy Man's Secret Weapon! Duck Tape! Great job! Keep your Stick on the Ice!

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

"I'm a man but I can change, if I have to, I guess"

@lotsabirds

14 күн бұрын

@@SMTMainline I'll be home right after the meeting! Lol!

Hey Harrison. Watching your channel for all of these years makes me want to build one to work on with my kids. I tried when i was a kid but just never got one done. Im 34 now and want to re ignite that love of model trains since the love of real trains never left! 😄

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Never too late to restart. I did at one point and learned a lot

That was a crazy amount of work in one video. Well done, looks great.

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Thanks a ton!

The "well folks in todays video" never gets old

@SMTMainline

19 күн бұрын

Glad to hear that lol

@KongVR_FR

18 күн бұрын

@@SMTMainline Congrats on 130k ig

@djfish14

13 күн бұрын

@@KongVR_FR every time I play his videos I always say it along in sync

@KongVR_FR

13 күн бұрын

@@djfish14 lol

@djfish14

13 күн бұрын

@@KongVR_FR lol

I think Canadian Behaviour is going to be very pleased. Nice job. From Texas

Once you found the anomaly with the one switch it all seems to have gone well. I know the video was about a half hour long, but the actual work was much longer. With the trouble shooting, wiring, soldering, track laying, ballasting, static grass, plus more, the time had to go over 20 hours of actual work and then came the editing. I hope this was all a labor of love. Great informative video, Jersey Bill

@SMTMainline

17 күн бұрын

You are spot on. When I started editing this there was over 4 hours of raw footage and that doesn't include the planning, prep, supply runs and trouble shooting as mentioned.

Those are peco electro-frog switches. They are designed for use with peco polarity switches and switch machines. The frog gets isolated with peco track isolation joiners and then the polarity is controlled with the polarity switch which gets mounted underneath the switch, peco switch machines have switch wires which extend both above and below the switch to allow the lower half of wire to operate the polarity switch which gets mounted beneath the motor. you solder positive and negative to the polarity switch and depending on which direction the motor is thrown the polarity switch will send power to the frog that matches the direction the train is going in.

@SMTMainline

16 күн бұрын

Thanks for this in detailed explanation.

@emdB67

14 күн бұрын

@@SMTMainline That particular switch was Electrofrog. The others are insulfrog (plastic sections in the rail at the frog). Electrofrog switches can't have power feeding from the frog end as you get a short circuit. They need to have insulating joiners at the two inner rails leading from the frog so that the power is only fed from the 'toe' or point blade end. And while you can use them without extra polarity switches on the switch machines, that only works while the point blades are clean, because they are the only way for power to get to the rails between the point blades and the insulating joiners at the frog. So using the polarity switches as suggested above is a good idea. But then the same applies to Insulfrog points as well. Insulfrog switches don't have this complication, but you get that unpowered section through the frog which can cause some locos to stall. Peco Electrofrog switches / turnouts have all this covered in the sheet of instructions usually included when new. There's always something to learn in this wonderful hobby, isn't there? 😊

Hi! One helpful hint if you have a DCC command station with a built-in circuit breaker (it’ll cut power to the track and beep) is to hook it to the very first piece of track you lay down. Afterwards, if you hook a piece of track up and it starts beeping, you know that - whatever you did - you have a short. This way, you don’t have to get to the end of track laying, only to find out there’s a short somewhere! Do make sure to remove any jewelry beforehand, so it doesn’t touch the track by mistake. 😊 This is usually because; 1) your turnout is not DCC friendly (as in the video), 2) you accidentally created a reversing loop or wye, or 3) there’s something wrong with the piece of track you just tried to install, or 4) you intended to create a reversing loop or wye, but you forgot the insulated rail joiners, or the insulated rail joiners are no good. HTH! 😅

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

That's a great idea to prevent issues.

Nice work. Looks and performs remarkable. Thanks for sharing Rich

Nice video mate. That's come up very nice. It's a good sized layout that doesn't take up so much space. Looking forward to seeing the other layouts you make.

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

You and me both, the next one should be tricky but exciting.

Looks great! I really like these types of videos because I want to get into the hobby and eventually build my own HO-Scale layout. Keep up the great work!

@SMTMainline

13 күн бұрын

Glad to hear that, I hope you do.

I love these videos way more than I should.

I’m just starting to get some train carts, track and remote and plan to build a ho scale layout soon🎉 I cant wait its going to be a big journey but it’s going to be so worth it! Thank you for getting me into the hobby❤

You Go Harrison keep That Passion very Stong.👍👍👍👍.

Hey SMT my trains just got ruined by a flood. Still watching though!

@F40M07

19 күн бұрын

I am so sorry for your (train) loss dude. That freaking sucks. Hope you get those trains repaired (if they can get)

@REAPER_GC

19 күн бұрын

@@F40M07their working now! Just don’t have a (personal) layout, but I can run at my local model raolroad. I got good friends there

@GageTucker-of2wd

19 күн бұрын

R.I.P❤

@ITSHIM11Aviation

19 күн бұрын

I’m so sorry to hear that

@Trainguy.5771

19 күн бұрын

Ohno! Best wishes

Good work, SMT! It's very generous of you to build this layout.

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Thank you very much!

I love the HO scale DCC layout. Good job my friend. Funny hours with locomotives DCC with sound. You 🐱 is friend of my dog Scooby Doo. Scrappy Doo is a nice pup. Scooby Dum my dog.

@SMTMainline

16 күн бұрын

Sounds good Scooby

I would've never thought to use hairspray on the grass, excellent job.

@RichardBough-yk2ei

19 күн бұрын

Seen it before on That Model Railway Guy

@jacksnavely559

19 күн бұрын

It's related to model airplane dope they use on Silkspan, often in rubber band planes they save weight by useing hair spray ,I'm sure they have favorite brand of hairspray ❤❤

@SMTMainline

19 күн бұрын

It was suggested by viewers in the previous build. I've also used Aylmers spray glue but ti sometimes changes the colour of the grass a bit.

Thats definitely a new ballast technique lol. I love it!

Hey, SMT! I just love when you build HO layouts. I learn so much and I'm currently working on my own. Keep up the good work!

@SMTMainline

16 күн бұрын

Right on. What size of layout are you building?

Amazing! Simplistic, yet elegant and with a relatively small footprint. Another great work of art!

@SMTMainline

16 күн бұрын

Thanks Peter, I think the next one will be a little more exciting.

I'm definitely going to use this layout as inspiration when I build mine.

Love watching these layout build videos! So relaxing!

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Glad you enjoy it

Great Job it good to see how others build layouts to help when i start mine

I am starting to make an HO DCC layout with atlas flex and peco switches with digitrax and thank you for showing me this track planning software I never heard of it so this will be very helpful, thank you!

@d-rail7271

18 күн бұрын

AnyRail is another good track planning software as well

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Glad to help

A well designed layout in limited space. I too am surprised how well the larger engines run and still look good on that radius of curve. I find it interesting how you laid the cork under the rails by sliding it in. I always made a centreline, took up the track and then had to go back and relay it after the roadbed was glued down. Your way seems more efficient.

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Thanks, I'm happy with how it turned out!.

Wanted soooo badly to see you wire it up. Bought that power unit which is a great unit. Your skills are fantastic. Appreciate you 🙏🏻

@SMTMainline

5 күн бұрын

Thanks 👍

There is a product that is used too rubber coat tool handles , it can be used too insulate electrical, and kiss fingernail glue is a smooth shiny drying super glue and has tons of use ❤

Great video as always. This kind of layout just goes to show the amount of action you can get in a small area and the benefits of DCC.

@SMTMainline

9 күн бұрын

Absolutely!

You do so much good work for other people, and for content in general. :)

@SMTMainline

13 күн бұрын

I appreciate that!

Impressive work. Thank you for sharing.

You’re the reason I’m in model railroading😊

@SMTMainline

16 күн бұрын

That's awesome, what kind of set up do you have?

@LandenGregg

16 күн бұрын

@@SMTMainline I have an oval with a siding

@bobigerasimovski4391

15 күн бұрын

Fr and also I love the layout I might add it. (just got into railroading so plz anyone give me some tips and tricks)

This is awesome can’t wait for the next layout build

Great video, Love the "Red Green" shout out.

@SMTMainline

19 күн бұрын

I love that show, I couldn't count of the hours of it that I've watched.

@1621billw

19 күн бұрын

@@SMTMainline My favorite episode was the Fishtank Skylight. Now that's ingenuity.

Very well done. Lots of operating options.

I’m actually in the process of building a similarly sized n scale layout and I’ll definitely be using this as a reference tool!

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Right on!

Very awesome work on this dcc layout for Canadian behavior!

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Thanks a bunch!

Lots of fun trainnin there.

@SMTMainline

15 күн бұрын

Yeah

Good stuff Harrison! Thanks again ❤️👍

@SMTMainline

16 күн бұрын

No problem!

Great layout! Makes me want to build a new one.

Amazing job SMT I’ve got one tip for you, when yourself painting the grass try and ruff up the styrofoam to help the paint stick better!

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Good idea

Excellent work! great video

This layout looks beautiful

@st.paulsu13hockey

16 күн бұрын

I would love to have a layout like this

Great job on your layout

wow great setup

Nice work! Damn you make it look easy

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Thank you!

Great simple layout!

@SMTMainline

18 күн бұрын

Thank you!

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

Very nice. Great work👍🏽👍🏽

Awesome! Love all of the activity. I’ve been thinking really hard about getting involved with the hobby but I have limited space. Now I’m imagining this same layout in N scale which would be perfect.

@SMTMainline

15 күн бұрын

In N scale it would be incredibly space efficient, you could probably even add wider turns etc.

Great video smt! congrats on 130k subs!

@SMTMainline

15 күн бұрын

Thank you!!

nice small layout ❤ good job

That’s great! I plan to make a big HO layout in the future.

Hi SMT Mainline & it's is Randy and i like yours video is Cool & Thanks SMT Mainline & Friends Randy & Super Cool Building Ho SCALE Model Train Layout SMT Mainline & Good Friends Randy

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Thanks Randy!

This is going to be good for me. Just today i got a Athern Genesis Big Boy, so now once i get space can work on a DCC layout.

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Congrats on the purchase, hopefully it will pull nicely

@brennanvilcheck9469

14 күн бұрын

@SMTMainline thanks! Mainly rn is needing to get the space for a layout and build it. Wanted to get the locomotive before making the layout so I could work out clearances and such for tunnels/curves. Didn't want to make layout then get locomotive only to find it wouldn't fit on it

Nice job!!

Smart track plan. Lucky friend~

@SMTMainline

18 күн бұрын

Thank you

That is very cool I am retiring soon, and I had sold my H.O. trains I kept a few and they are the old Direct current ones which might need to be converted over to DCC, it is a great size for a starter kit my Granddaughter would love this. thanks for sharing, you have given me some food for thought.

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

As much as DCC can be handy I usually us DC myself.

Watching smt at 1am, yippee

@awesomeart3556

19 күн бұрын

Same

@austinhaley6729

Күн бұрын

Same😅

Nice Red Green refence, Keep your stick on the ice.

Nice job as usual

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

Gotta love the Red Green quote. Awesome!

@SMTMainline

19 күн бұрын

Red Green is a legend, I had to

Smooth work brother!

Fantastic job my friend 13:21

Good job as always

@SMTMainline

18 күн бұрын

I appreciate that!

@Lordbillystrains

18 күн бұрын

@@SMTMainline your welcome

I love your videos

Hey SMT i got one train and a couple of cars and i only use a circle layout bc that all i have have a good day i enjoy your content

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Thanks.

I have a technique of preballasting the switches. At the switch itself I cut some thin card to match the width of the sleepers. Then I mark the space between the sleepers. I give the marked space between the sleepers on the card a small stripe of white glue. Then I add a bit of ballast on the glue. When dry, I tap of the remaining ballast. Finally I glue the card to the switch, taking care that the glued ballast gets between the sleepers. This avoids the possiblity that the rest og the ballast fouls the switch. I find I have to do this because I use Märklin HO third rail system.

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

I'll have to try that, I'm sure it will help!

Hey SMT that Peco switch is an electrofrog which means the entire frog is powered with no isolation. Because the entire frog is powered it makes running waaaaay more reliable but the polarity needs switching on it like with a point motor and the frog needs isolating rail joiners : )

@ShipCreekRailway

19 күн бұрын

Great comment, you beat me to it. I use peco insulfrog switches as these were what i bought, and I still use insulated joiners. 👍😃

@SMTMainline

19 күн бұрын

That's for that explanation. I was wondering if that was the case since it looked a little too neat to be an accident but I had never seen one like that from Peco.

@TheNovaAssassin

14 күн бұрын

@@SMTMainline no worries! I only know as I switched to them after watching a video from Chadwick model railway, when wired properly they really make running 0-4-0 and other short wheel base Locos easy!

I like Red Green as well.

Love it!!!

HO SCALE DCC LAYOUT. GOOD JOB MY FRIEND. SCOOBY DOO IS GOOD WITH YOU 🐱. SCRAPPY DOO IS MY PUP. SCOOBY DUM IS A NICE DOG.

@SMTMainline

4 күн бұрын

Good ole Scooby dum

Nice job as always, that engine shop is pretty cool looking, you should find an identical one for your layout. I'm still surprised the big boy could take those 18" radius curves, keep up the good work!

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Rivarossi did a good job with the designs

@spencercorby4571

14 күн бұрын

@@SMTMainline indeed! False flanges/non-flanged wheels are great!

If you noticed something, just by your 2 track yard, the train stopped then starts again, don't know if you did that but, you might want to check it out. Great! Layout! Though.

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

That issue was corrected, it was just some glue left over. If you watch the reveal short you can see its fixed.

nice and cool

I love this kind of video of yours. I saw the short of the reveal before this video. I’ve been planning out super small z scale layouts to build (in a 87cm x 54cm). I found a hard-to-work-with iPad layout software. Was cheap and I could use my fingers and pen to do the layout. Sure beat how I used to do layouts for n scale in the past with a pen and paper.

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

I want to try building a Z scale layout at some point, have any pointers?

@DylanDurdle

14 күн бұрын

@@SMTMainline stick with just using marklin track. Being in Canada, the track is hard to locate and expensive , but I was able to find several eBay users from Germany selling 2nd hand track, hobby shops in Germany, so the track is tested. I used the track planning software and got the list of track (marklin is very good at cataloging every variant of track). The track is amazing quality, never had an issue with any. You have to keep in mind all the switches pass on power to all track. There are some interesting components marklin released, like contract tracks, reverse loop polarity switches and universal relay units, all designed explicitly for 10v. Unlike HO and N scale where relays and power packs all are compatible, everything for Z scale has to use either Zscale hardware or modified to output 10v. You can get quite a bit into a small layout with Z. In my layout, I’ve got 3 parallel tracks and a reverse loop and inlet for parking on the first level and a figure 8 and reverse loop bridge on the 2nd level, and a simple single track oval on the third level. I can run 5 trains concurrently via two DC power packs (DCC isn’t really worth looking into with Z scale). All this crammed into a 87cmx54cm cabinet.

You made it look so easy to built, I would liked if you shown the soldering and wiring of the controller, probably i am asking for to much. But like always you are awesome.

@SMTMainline

19 күн бұрын

I showed how I soldered the track in the previous video but I should have shown how I wired up the controller, it's not too difficult but it can be helpful to know.

I can see this if space is a premium. You certainly can't put much more than this into the board. If you have to take to the second floor of a house, it should make it. Good job, now if I can just do that same like the Flash, I'd be okay.

@SMTMainline

16 күн бұрын

N scale would probably be ideal in this case but its interesting to see the limits of HO in a small space.

i love it

Would it be possible to have an engine facility with HO engines on a DC layout?

@SMTMainline

19 күн бұрын

Absolutely, you could add what are called electrical blocks to each track going into the facility. You isolate the track with rubber rail joiners can connect a switch so you can shut off sections of track to park locomotives inside.

Me watching this video after having accidentally locked up my switches this weekend with ballast...

You should run the big boy on the 22" radius track It would look a lot better. Otherwise it was a really good video. I especially like that you did the whole project beginning to end in one video.

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

The outer track is 22R but I had to use some 18R on the inside to make it all fit together. It doesn't matter too much since it didn't derail anyway.

I'll be saving this for when I move out and build my future layout. Atlas track has been very useful in building my diorama.

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

I hope it can help you with your project.

@joshthetrainfan

14 күн бұрын

@@SMTMainline it sure will, thank you!!!

Another great layout. I'm gonna be building one soon too I hope it's just as good as yours.

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

Best of luck with the project, I'm sure it will be great.

This is a perfect guide for me! I am making my layout currently and this really helps me!

@SMTMainline

14 күн бұрын

I'm so glad!

That's a lot of rail joiners for sectional track especially if you solder all the joints. I would have preferred 36 inch nickel silver flex track. That switch looks like the way I used to wire switches on my DC layout so that sidings were powered by the points. Not DCC friendly. Cheers from eastern TN

@SMTMainline

19 күн бұрын

I don't love using flex track on sharp corners that need to be precise since a even small wrong movement changes the length of the rail but I can see how it would be far easier on a larger layout.

"I'm just gonna send it and hope for the best" SMT - 2024

if there one thing i like since plan a didnt work out with the shed where you wanted the now you have another line for future expansion.

@SMTMainline

18 күн бұрын

That's a good point. It could even be connected to a club layout at a train show if someone wanted to.

Do you ever use controlled switches on your layouts Harrison?