Videos of the Willow Creek Railroad, a 411-square-foot, HO-scale model railroad, set in the early 1950's during the transition from steam engines to diesel locomotives.
I've always loved these videos and will def miss them! Are you planning anything else in modeling or are you calling it here?
@Vigment1324 күн бұрын
Glad you've enjoyed the videos! They were a lot of fun to create. I am not planning any further modeling at this time. My focus is on enjoying operations on other layouts and continuing my active participation in the NMRA. Thanks for you question, and have a super day!
@andrewtesta5944Ай бұрын
Hi I love this layout. This has given me ideas. Its a shame you had to retire the layout. I do have one question. The box car that was delivered to Valley oil was that supplies? Great branch layout, which has inspired me to do something similar in the 50's with the PRR
@Vigment13Ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the Concorde Branch. As for Valley Oil -- yes, the boxcar was delivering supplies to the oil company. As for retirement, I'm happy to report that the Concorde Branch lives on. One of my model railroading friends took the branch and it is alive and well. Thank you for your question and your interest in the Willow Creek. High greens!
@andrewtesta5944Ай бұрын
Thanks for your response. Glad all is going well for you and the concord branch.
@drewhuff3457Ай бұрын
What would be a good fast clock for passenger service on a HO scale layout? To set arrival and departure times between stations. I know running trains slower helps with it. Just trying to figure out a good time system.
@Vigment13Ай бұрын
I recommend you experiment with various fast time ratios in order to see what works best on your layout. On the Willow Creek, I settled for a 4:1 ratio. So, 15 real minutes equated to 1 fast-clock hour. Switching of a passenger car into or out of a train at one of your stations enroute will also take a chunk of time especially using a fast clock, so that will add nicely to your schedule run. And don't forget to have your passenger train stop at a station enroute for several real minutes. Passengers need time to get on and off your train. Even having a train sit for 1 real minute adds 4 fast clock minutes to your schedule if you're using a 4:1 ratio. Do some experimentation and see what works best for you. Hope this helps.
@drewhuff3457Ай бұрын
Really appreciate it. Great advice. Sounds like a great system.
@drewhuff3457Ай бұрын
Nice train layout. What is a good way to put a clock time for passenger service on a layout? For more realistic times between stations.
@Vigment13Ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the Willow Creek. I'll try to answer you question (assuming I understand it correctly), but if you desire more exchange of ideas, email me at [email protected]. First, run your passenger trains at a reasonable speed. For the Willow Creek, this is relatively slow, as seen in the video. We aren't running an Acela. I use a 4:1 ratio fast clock, so that helps make for more realistic train schedules. Scheduled stops to set out or pick up passenger cars, such as the Combine car at Summit Springs seen in the video, adds to prototype-like operations and lengthens the time/run of the passenger train. Also, having a Local Passenger Train make numerous stops at Highland and Upper Meadows, for example, adds to the fun and the length of time required for the passenger train. To create my schedule, I ran my Passenger Trains using the 4:1 ratio fast clock, and noted the time the train arrived at each station. That time was then published in my train schedule. During operating sessions, meets with freight trains and waiting to get clearances from the Dispatcher adds time to the Passenger Train run. I hope this provides you with some ideas for your Passenger Train runs. Thanks for your question! High greens!
@drewhuff3457Ай бұрын
Thank you for the info for the fast clock. I want to have arrived times and departure times for each stop. I also like the idea of local passenger service and long-distance ones. While also having freight operations going on. Will be exciting dispatching and running a smooth schedule. Appreciate it.
@toddgrx2 ай бұрын
what size turnouts (and brand) did you use? didn't see mention of it on your website
@Vigment132 ай бұрын
Wow! You're definitely correct. Not sure how I forgot to mention that point. Anyway, I used Micro Engineering Code-83 #5 turnouts. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have other questions. Thanks for reaching out!
@modelrailroader56194 ай бұрын
Watching this again with my morning coffee two years on…such a great layout, hard to believe it no longer exists…😢
@Vigment134 ай бұрын
Thank you for your kind feedback. Having the Willow Creek around was indeed a great joy, and the layout is definitely missed. But it sure is nice to still have the KZread videos available to remember the fun. Great memories! Thanks, again, for your comments. Much appreciated!
@955trainboy4 ай бұрын
So sad that Willow Creek will be no more. I’ve only just found these videos and they are fantastic, with great narration and explanations. A true inspiration to help with my American Railroad here in the UK.. Thank you for sharing Willow Creek.
@Vigment134 ай бұрын
While the Willow Creek is now a "fallen flag", the videos and the memories remain. Glad you've enjoyed the videos and the Tiny People of the subdivision would be pleased to know that you found inspiration for your layout. Best wishes on your model railroading endeavors, and thank you for your kind feedback. Much appreciated!
@josephcosta51615 ай бұрын
Can you tell me we're you bout your car float? I can't find any but Walters.. great layout by the way, joe
@Vigment135 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the Willow Creek. The car float in Bucky's Crossing is from Frenchman River Model Works. It looks like they've changed their offerings, but check them out. It's a resin model. Most of my ship building / detail pieces came either from Frenchman River Model Works or Sea Port Model Works. Hope you find what you're looking for.
@Vigment135 ай бұрын
In case I didn't mention it in the video, the car float on the Concorde Branch module was scratch built. Again, most of the parts came from Frenchman Model Works or Sea Port Model Works.
@tomicaclive4646 ай бұрын
@19:47 ive watched this video numerous times (very relaxing!) And had never noticed that he actually puts 7 cards in the "Departing Concorde" box :-)
@Vigment136 ай бұрын
Ha. I had to watch the video again to find the 7 card flub. Amazing. You're the only individual that's pointed out that error. It appears that there's a blue Concorde Branch destined car card in the stack of 7 cards, which obviously shouldn't be there (that car and the associated car card should remain in Concorde). The tiny people of the Willow Creek Sub are pleased with your eagle-eye viewing of the video! Hope the 7-card flub doesn't mess up the relaxation you find with the video. Isn't model railroading fun?! Thanks for your feedback!
@Marko2956 ай бұрын
A sad day to see. Thank you very much for sharing the Willow Creek with all of us over the years. I especially enjoyed seeing all your videos about the various jobs on the layout. You taught me that model railroading can be so much more than simply watching a train go around in circles. Perhaps a piece of the Willow Creek will live on in spirit as I try my hand at modeling in the future. Thank you again for sharing and sparking my imagination and innovation! Blessings!
@Vigment136 ай бұрын
Thank you for your kind comments. I'm glad that you enjoyed the various videos, and if the Willow Creek can inspire any of your modeling, the Tiny People of the subdivision will be very pleased. Sharing the various videos with you and other modelers has truly been a high point of my model railroading journey. Thanks, again, for your kind feedback and best wishes for your future modeling. High greens!
@Greatdome998 ай бұрын
Lilac is pronounced Lie lack, not lie lock.
@m-gleis8 ай бұрын
Sehr schöne Anlage und toller Fahrbetrieb 👍🙋♂️ Gruß vom Michel
@Vigment138 ай бұрын
Danke!
@derekalexander40309 ай бұрын
I wish you and your wife great health and longevity in phase 2 of your retirement plan and the years that follow. Your layout will be missed but I am so happy that it will be shared with other modelers and at least sections of it will live on. It’s dreadful when a beautiful layout sometimes is torn down and trashed when someone leaves the hobby for whatever reason.
@Vigment139 ай бұрын
Thank you for the kind comments. While I do miss the Willow Creek, it has been fun these past several months seeing remnants of the layout actively displayed on other layouts throughout South Central Virginia. I'm still active in the hobby, just not as superintendent of the Willow Creek. Thanks, again, for your kind feedback! Much appreciated.
@derekalexander40309 ай бұрын
Do you have any plans to build a new railroad?
@Vigment139 ай бұрын
I do not have any plans for building a new railroad for myself. But I am hoping to help other modelers in the area with their layouts, both building and operating. Thanks!
@backbonepictures789 ай бұрын
This is my favorite operations video hands down. Everything about it is awesome. Connecting two completely different layouts via car floats? Genius
@Vigment139 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the video and the car float operations scheme. The scheme served the Willow Creek and Concorde Branch well for many years. Thanks for your feedback!
@lexpo1819 ай бұрын
My gosh, that's the kind of operation I do love so much! Excellent video and also pretty realistic ops session. ;)
@Vigment139 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the video and the car float operating scheme. It served the Willow Creek Subdivision well and made for really fun operating sessions. Thank you for your comments; much appreciated!
@raymondaten217910 ай бұрын
As efficient as tour railroad runs, hope you pay the workers well otherwise they might unionize. Lol, hope you like the joke.
@Vigment1310 ай бұрын
The Tiny People of the Willow Creek are actually profit sharers, and they love it. I'm not sure if they've figured out that the railroad isn't making a profit, but when it does, they get to share in it. Ha! Enjoyed the joke. Thanks!
@backbonepictures7810 ай бұрын
I admire how much effort you put into these, it’s so well thought out and the production value of the videos are amazing
@Vigment1310 ай бұрын
Glad you're enjoying the video of the Willow Creek. The videos are a whole lot of fun to produce. Thanks for your feedback!
@tomstarcevich114710 ай бұрын
Nice but weather your freight cars 🚂🚃🚃👍
@johnrusselljr8911 ай бұрын
Looks good Bro ! Professional!
@Vigment1311 ай бұрын
Glad that you enjoyed the Willow Creek, and thank you for your feedback. Much appreciated.
@josephcosta5161 Жыл бұрын
Great 👍 video... It's really nice. I have H O SCALE and I see if I do a far scene it's perfect with n scale I have barn , few houses people and a good amount of trains n track but to small . Great idea I'm going to fit my barn on a mountain . Y not I ordered h o scale and they sent me n and told me to keep it and sent h I ... Rest of n scale was free from my brother in-law... But anyways I got a lot of rebuilding and ripping up tracks to improve my layout... Thanks for the info, joe
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Glad the Willow Creek could give you some ideas. Best wishes with your layout.
@KZ1993 Жыл бұрын
I loved watching your videos over the years. I can't believe I was close to the layout while I was at the University of Richmond. It would have been a blast to operate on. Enjoy your time in Richmond and thanks for sharing the layout with us!
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Glad you've enjoyed the videos. The physical layout may be gone, but the videos will remain. Hooray for reruns! 🙂 It has been my pleasure to share the Willow Creek with other modelers such as yourself. Thank you for the kind comments. Much appreciated!
@kaitlynjackson4827 Жыл бұрын
This has broken my heart
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Agreed. But ah, such great memories! Thanks for watching.
@TheTrainFreak Жыл бұрын
A friend of mine (John Arthur) sent me your direction and told me to check you out. Nice collection of motive power! - Jason
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
John is a member of my NMRA Division; super modeler. Glad you enjoyed the Willow Creek. And thanks for the feedback!
@TheTrainFreak Жыл бұрын
@@Vigment13 I'm also a NMRA member but out of the Little Rock Division. I helped convince him to work towards being a MMR as I am doing the same. He is very talented for sure.
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
@@TheTrainFreak Thanks for your encouragement of John, and best wishes in your personal quest of the MMR certification. Well worth the journey.
@njRRtrainer Жыл бұрын
Great job gives the RR a purpose and meaning and lot's of options thank you!
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the video and the purpose that the car float provides. Lots of options, indeed. Thank you for your feedback!
@Charlie_Echo Жыл бұрын
Thank you for letting us take one last tour of this beautiful layout! And for all the videos and information you've shared - I have learnt a lot from the Willow Creek. I'm very glad to hear this isn't the end of your journey with model railroading! Will the track plans etc. remain on the website after the railroad itself is decommissioned?
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the final video. Both my KZread channel and my Willow Creek website will remain as they are today, even after the railroad is decommissioned. You'll have access to everything on both of those sites. And I'm still available if anyone has any questions. Thanks for your feedback; much appreciated!
@mariebcfhs9491 Жыл бұрын
I wish you lots of health to continue bringing us along on your fantastic journey in model railroading. Farewell Willow Creek, greetings new opportunities!
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Glad you've enjoyed the journey. It was my pleasure to share it. And thank you for your feedback; much appreciated!
@mariebcfhs9491 Жыл бұрын
The Alco RSC somehow looks very similar to the Russian heavy switcher TEM-1, they probably copied the actual RS series locos sent to them by the US.
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Very interesting. And you hit it on the head! I've never looked at Russian locomotives, so I did a quick search of Wikipedia and they say that the TEM-1 was indeed a "descendent" of the Alco RS-1 design. The RS-1 was evidently imported to Russia during WWII as part of the "Lend-Lease" agreement. Good observation! And I learned something new today. Thanks!
@mariebcfhs9491 Жыл бұрын
@@Vigment13 Thank you for the kind reply sir. I am modelling the railway system of Eastern block countries (more like, just the Soviet Union and East Germany) so I kinda have a gut feeling for whenever a train "looks Russian".
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
@@mariebcfhs9491 Wow. Sounds like a fascinating modelling challenge. Best wishes!
@lisaais Жыл бұрын
Thanks for one of the finest model railroading video series ever produced!! Between the operational descriptions, layout schematics and easy to follow narratives, these should stand the test of time as excellent resources for future modelers. The segment on your min pins nearly brought me to tears! Again thanks for everything and blessings for whatever may come next!
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
I am truly humbled by your kind comments. It has been my pleasure to share the Willow Creek in these videos. I'm glad you've enjoyed them. And I, too, chock up a bit when I think of the fun the Min Pins used to have wandering underneath the layout. Great memories! Thank you, again, for your feedback. Much appreciated!
@davidbrown4823 Жыл бұрын
Will be highly missed.
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Thank you. I appreciate that feedback. It's been a fun ride. Thanks!
@mariebcfhs9491 Жыл бұрын
The model is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing this masterpiece with us.
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
It was my pleasure! Glad you enjoyed the video and the Willow Creek. And thank you for your feedback. Thanks!
@mloik1 Жыл бұрын
Great looking layout!
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Happy to hear that you enjoyed the Willow Creek. Always nice to receive the feedback. Thanks!
@Stussmeister Жыл бұрын
Very interesting. The folks at my model railroad club suggested I use a car float on my (future) home layout, yet while I have an interchange track, I won't have room for any nearby bodies of water on which to put a car float. I'm wondering, then, what I should do in this situation.
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
I'm not sure how much space you have. If you have space for a couple of tracks, you could easily model a car float operation. At the 8:52 minute time mark in the video, you'll see that the car float at Concorde doesn't take up any more room that 2 tracks. A simple retaining wall, and then the car float apron and float itself rather than ground and ballast under the tracks, models the car float operation. If you don't have even that much space, perhaps you simply have a single track in a yard that you designate as the place cars are parked waiting to be switched on a car float; the float itself doesn't have to really exist. Then you could simply remove those cars from the yard track by hand and exchange them with new cars as if a car float had arrived and has been unloaded back onto that same yard track. It would be an operation similar to what you might do with an interchange track. Sort of a fiddle yard type of scenario except that you're designating it as a car float operation. Maybe that will give you some ideas. Hope this helps. Best wishes!
@Stussmeister Жыл бұрын
@@Vigment13 Thank you very much for your response. I have room for seven tracks in my yard (one long siding and six shorter ones), and figure I can use the longest siding (about 3 feet long) as my interchange track. I also plan on either getting a display case or shelf to store cars off the layout.
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
@@Stussmeister I use an inexpensive clear plastic 5-drawer container on wheels, available from Sterilite. It rolls under my layout and I simply pull it out and move cars from my car float into one of the empty drawers, and then take cars from another drawer and place them back on the car float to simulate an arriving float. Each drawer easily holds 6 40-foot cars. The Sterilite drawers cost less than $20 US. Just a thought.
@mariebcfhs9491 Жыл бұрын
It is amazing how great the video quality from the HO scale drone's camera is!
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Isn't it! Those Tiny People of the Willow Creek Subdivision are crafty characters. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks!
@raybame5816 Жыл бұрын
Add so we bib adieu to you and the Willow Creek. Good health and travels for years to come....Thanks for the ride.
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
And thank you for being willing to ride along! Your comments are much appreciated. Thanks!
@duanehill1842 Жыл бұрын
So sorry to hear your news, but I want to wish you well in your 'next phase'. I hope you will enjoy and still be able to enjoy model railroading. Your layout is one of my favorites, and I've thoroughly enjoyed watching your videos. Thank you, so much, for sharing it with us! Be well.
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Glad you've enjoyed the videos of the Willow Creek. It's been my pleasure to share them. The layout may be disappearing, but the model railroading fun will definitely continue. Thank you for your kind comments; much appreciated!
@darylhitchcock7680 Жыл бұрын
What a ride... It's been, very enjoyable... Thank you sooooo much....
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Glad you've enjoyed the ride. I know that I have! It's been my pleasure to share the Willow Creek. And thank you for your kind feedback!
@canyonpast Жыл бұрын
I have so enjoyed your work. Thank You, your work has helped me plan my model railroad. I have started my bench work.
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
That's fantastic. Congratulations on starting the bench work. And if the Willow Creek played even a small role in your new adventure, that's extra special. I hope that you have lots of fun creating your new layout. I'm glad that you've enjoyed the videos, and thank you for your feedback; much appreciated!
@flagman515 Жыл бұрын
Yeah, the praise is well deserved and all that. I just want to know where the heck in Bucky's Crossing did all the Tiny People stay overnight!!! Or did they just party the whole time there? Take care sir. I look forward to seeing the Tiny People's Party Car as it heads East from Spokane to North Carolina!🥳😁
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Greetings NC! In Bucky's Crossing, you can always stay at the Riverfront Hotel. I suspect, however, that the Tiny People might still have some Corona beer stashed on the 2nd floor of some of the retail establishments. Either way, you're probably right -- they most likely partied the whole time they were in Bucky's Crossing. The Tiny People are always up to something! Thanks for your great feedback. And I'll let you know if the Party Car ever makes it to North Carolina. Thanks!
@cn.trainbuff3352 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for your dedication to the hobby!!!! You will be missed
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Thank you. I love this hobby and it has been my pleasure to share it with others. High greens!
@guyfoster5897 Жыл бұрын
The Willow Creek will be missed. I have watched your videos multiple times over the past several years. You’re way of story telling has made the Willow Creek a joy to watch. I’m sad to see you go. May the Lord Bless you in your future adventures. I hope you have all the happiness and joy in your retirement that you have given all of us. I know I will continue to watch the Willow Creek Railroad many more times in the coming years. Thank You for everything you have given to the Model Railroad community.
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Your feedback is truly appreciated. It's always nice to know that one is hitting the "story telling" objective in the videos. I think that makes a lot of difference in the various KZread videos I watch. And I, too, am looking forward to watching reruns of the Willow Creek videos. Thanks, again, for your kind comments. High greens!
@RandBoyd Жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for the wonderful videos of your masterly layout. I was pointed to your videos by a fellow model railroader when I showed interest in operations. He told me that your videos were the best demonstration of model railroading operations and I used your paperwork as the foundation of my operational scheme on my layout. Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing your layout and your resources with the hobby. Good luck.
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the video and happy to hear that you could use some of the ideas from the Willow Creek to benefit operations on your layout. Yeah! I very much appreciate your feedback. Best wishes as you enjoy your layout!
@garylewis3815 Жыл бұрын
Thank you taking us all on a wonderful journey around the Willow Creek and all it's operations. The railroad will be missed and I enjoyed tuning into each episode from here in the UK. 😊
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Great to hear from the United Kingdom! And thank you for your kind feedback. The tiny people of the Willow Creek have thoroughly enjoyed sharing their domain. 🙂 Thanks, again.
@JRossHunter Жыл бұрын
😥
@HumancityJunction Жыл бұрын
Fantastic setup and operatios scheme. How fun to transfer cars between two "layouts" via a car float.
@Edwards-Videos Жыл бұрын
A sad day. At least the Willow Creek will live on through these videos and website.
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Agree totally. Definitely a day of mixed emotions. But hooray for video reruns! 🙂 Thanks for the feedback!
@nomo69ss25 Жыл бұрын
😢 Good luck and God bless! ✌️
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Thanks much! Very much appreciated.
@em-pinmanspandemoniumpinba4193 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for a great final video of the Willow Creek RR, a layout you should be proud of. It's been a fun journey watching your videos. As mentioned before, have fun and enjoy your next phase of retirement. Hopefully you will still be able to still do something with model railroading in your new place, maybe a small point to point HO or N scale shelf layout or just join a local model RR club. Take Care. 😉
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Thanks! I have lots of model railroading friends in the new area and will thoroughly enjoy running trains with them. Thanks again!
@NewHavenRails Жыл бұрын
I will be running a car float as well. What type of plastic box did you use? Just curious where you purchased it. Great video!
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the video. My plastic carrying boxes: Sterilite 14228604 Stack & Carry 2 Layer Handle Box
@randysrockandrollrailroad8207 Жыл бұрын
😢
@Vigment13 Жыл бұрын
All emotions summed up nicely with a simple emoji. Thanks!
Пікірлер
I've always loved these videos and will def miss them! Are you planning anything else in modeling or are you calling it here?
Glad you've enjoyed the videos! They were a lot of fun to create. I am not planning any further modeling at this time. My focus is on enjoying operations on other layouts and continuing my active participation in the NMRA. Thanks for you question, and have a super day!
Hi I love this layout. This has given me ideas. Its a shame you had to retire the layout. I do have one question. The box car that was delivered to Valley oil was that supplies? Great branch layout, which has inspired me to do something similar in the 50's with the PRR
Glad you enjoyed the Concorde Branch. As for Valley Oil -- yes, the boxcar was delivering supplies to the oil company. As for retirement, I'm happy to report that the Concorde Branch lives on. One of my model railroading friends took the branch and it is alive and well. Thank you for your question and your interest in the Willow Creek. High greens!
Thanks for your response. Glad all is going well for you and the concord branch.
What would be a good fast clock for passenger service on a HO scale layout? To set arrival and departure times between stations. I know running trains slower helps with it. Just trying to figure out a good time system.
I recommend you experiment with various fast time ratios in order to see what works best on your layout. On the Willow Creek, I settled for a 4:1 ratio. So, 15 real minutes equated to 1 fast-clock hour. Switching of a passenger car into or out of a train at one of your stations enroute will also take a chunk of time especially using a fast clock, so that will add nicely to your schedule run. And don't forget to have your passenger train stop at a station enroute for several real minutes. Passengers need time to get on and off your train. Even having a train sit for 1 real minute adds 4 fast clock minutes to your schedule if you're using a 4:1 ratio. Do some experimentation and see what works best for you. Hope this helps.
Really appreciate it. Great advice. Sounds like a great system.
Nice train layout. What is a good way to put a clock time for passenger service on a layout? For more realistic times between stations.
Glad you enjoyed the Willow Creek. I'll try to answer you question (assuming I understand it correctly), but if you desire more exchange of ideas, email me at [email protected]. First, run your passenger trains at a reasonable speed. For the Willow Creek, this is relatively slow, as seen in the video. We aren't running an Acela. I use a 4:1 ratio fast clock, so that helps make for more realistic train schedules. Scheduled stops to set out or pick up passenger cars, such as the Combine car at Summit Springs seen in the video, adds to prototype-like operations and lengthens the time/run of the passenger train. Also, having a Local Passenger Train make numerous stops at Highland and Upper Meadows, for example, adds to the fun and the length of time required for the passenger train. To create my schedule, I ran my Passenger Trains using the 4:1 ratio fast clock, and noted the time the train arrived at each station. That time was then published in my train schedule. During operating sessions, meets with freight trains and waiting to get clearances from the Dispatcher adds time to the Passenger Train run. I hope this provides you with some ideas for your Passenger Train runs. Thanks for your question! High greens!
Thank you for the info for the fast clock. I want to have arrived times and departure times for each stop. I also like the idea of local passenger service and long-distance ones. While also having freight operations going on. Will be exciting dispatching and running a smooth schedule. Appreciate it.
what size turnouts (and brand) did you use? didn't see mention of it on your website
Wow! You're definitely correct. Not sure how I forgot to mention that point. Anyway, I used Micro Engineering Code-83 #5 turnouts. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have other questions. Thanks for reaching out!
Watching this again with my morning coffee two years on…such a great layout, hard to believe it no longer exists…😢
Thank you for your kind feedback. Having the Willow Creek around was indeed a great joy, and the layout is definitely missed. But it sure is nice to still have the KZread videos available to remember the fun. Great memories! Thanks, again, for your comments. Much appreciated!
So sad that Willow Creek will be no more. I’ve only just found these videos and they are fantastic, with great narration and explanations. A true inspiration to help with my American Railroad here in the UK.. Thank you for sharing Willow Creek.
While the Willow Creek is now a "fallen flag", the videos and the memories remain. Glad you've enjoyed the videos and the Tiny People of the subdivision would be pleased to know that you found inspiration for your layout. Best wishes on your model railroading endeavors, and thank you for your kind feedback. Much appreciated!
Can you tell me we're you bout your car float? I can't find any but Walters.. great layout by the way, joe
Glad you enjoyed the Willow Creek. The car float in Bucky's Crossing is from Frenchman River Model Works. It looks like they've changed their offerings, but check them out. It's a resin model. Most of my ship building / detail pieces came either from Frenchman River Model Works or Sea Port Model Works. Hope you find what you're looking for.
In case I didn't mention it in the video, the car float on the Concorde Branch module was scratch built. Again, most of the parts came from Frenchman Model Works or Sea Port Model Works.
@19:47 ive watched this video numerous times (very relaxing!) And had never noticed that he actually puts 7 cards in the "Departing Concorde" box :-)
Ha. I had to watch the video again to find the 7 card flub. Amazing. You're the only individual that's pointed out that error. It appears that there's a blue Concorde Branch destined car card in the stack of 7 cards, which obviously shouldn't be there (that car and the associated car card should remain in Concorde). The tiny people of the Willow Creek Sub are pleased with your eagle-eye viewing of the video! Hope the 7-card flub doesn't mess up the relaxation you find with the video. Isn't model railroading fun?! Thanks for your feedback!
A sad day to see. Thank you very much for sharing the Willow Creek with all of us over the years. I especially enjoyed seeing all your videos about the various jobs on the layout. You taught me that model railroading can be so much more than simply watching a train go around in circles. Perhaps a piece of the Willow Creek will live on in spirit as I try my hand at modeling in the future. Thank you again for sharing and sparking my imagination and innovation! Blessings!
Thank you for your kind comments. I'm glad that you enjoyed the various videos, and if the Willow Creek can inspire any of your modeling, the Tiny People of the subdivision will be very pleased. Sharing the various videos with you and other modelers has truly been a high point of my model railroading journey. Thanks, again, for your kind feedback and best wishes for your future modeling. High greens!
Lilac is pronounced Lie lack, not lie lock.
Sehr schöne Anlage und toller Fahrbetrieb 👍🙋♂️ Gruß vom Michel
Danke!
I wish you and your wife great health and longevity in phase 2 of your retirement plan and the years that follow. Your layout will be missed but I am so happy that it will be shared with other modelers and at least sections of it will live on. It’s dreadful when a beautiful layout sometimes is torn down and trashed when someone leaves the hobby for whatever reason.
Thank you for the kind comments. While I do miss the Willow Creek, it has been fun these past several months seeing remnants of the layout actively displayed on other layouts throughout South Central Virginia. I'm still active in the hobby, just not as superintendent of the Willow Creek. Thanks, again, for your kind feedback! Much appreciated.
Do you have any plans to build a new railroad?
I do not have any plans for building a new railroad for myself. But I am hoping to help other modelers in the area with their layouts, both building and operating. Thanks!
This is my favorite operations video hands down. Everything about it is awesome. Connecting two completely different layouts via car floats? Genius
Glad you enjoyed the video and the car float operations scheme. The scheme served the Willow Creek and Concorde Branch well for many years. Thanks for your feedback!
My gosh, that's the kind of operation I do love so much! Excellent video and also pretty realistic ops session. ;)
Glad you enjoyed the video and the car float operating scheme. It served the Willow Creek Subdivision well and made for really fun operating sessions. Thank you for your comments; much appreciated!
As efficient as tour railroad runs, hope you pay the workers well otherwise they might unionize. Lol, hope you like the joke.
The Tiny People of the Willow Creek are actually profit sharers, and they love it. I'm not sure if they've figured out that the railroad isn't making a profit, but when it does, they get to share in it. Ha! Enjoyed the joke. Thanks!
I admire how much effort you put into these, it’s so well thought out and the production value of the videos are amazing
Glad you're enjoying the video of the Willow Creek. The videos are a whole lot of fun to produce. Thanks for your feedback!
Nice but weather your freight cars 🚂🚃🚃👍
Looks good Bro ! Professional!
Glad that you enjoyed the Willow Creek, and thank you for your feedback. Much appreciated.
Great 👍 video... It's really nice. I have H O SCALE and I see if I do a far scene it's perfect with n scale I have barn , few houses people and a good amount of trains n track but to small . Great idea I'm going to fit my barn on a mountain . Y not I ordered h o scale and they sent me n and told me to keep it and sent h I ... Rest of n scale was free from my brother in-law... But anyways I got a lot of rebuilding and ripping up tracks to improve my layout... Thanks for the info, joe
Glad the Willow Creek could give you some ideas. Best wishes with your layout.
I loved watching your videos over the years. I can't believe I was close to the layout while I was at the University of Richmond. It would have been a blast to operate on. Enjoy your time in Richmond and thanks for sharing the layout with us!
Glad you've enjoyed the videos. The physical layout may be gone, but the videos will remain. Hooray for reruns! 🙂 It has been my pleasure to share the Willow Creek with other modelers such as yourself. Thank you for the kind comments. Much appreciated!
This has broken my heart
Agreed. But ah, such great memories! Thanks for watching.
A friend of mine (John Arthur) sent me your direction and told me to check you out. Nice collection of motive power! - Jason
John is a member of my NMRA Division; super modeler. Glad you enjoyed the Willow Creek. And thanks for the feedback!
@@Vigment13 I'm also a NMRA member but out of the Little Rock Division. I helped convince him to work towards being a MMR as I am doing the same. He is very talented for sure.
@@TheTrainFreak Thanks for your encouragement of John, and best wishes in your personal quest of the MMR certification. Well worth the journey.
Great job gives the RR a purpose and meaning and lot's of options thank you!
Glad you enjoyed the video and the purpose that the car float provides. Lots of options, indeed. Thank you for your feedback!
Thank you for letting us take one last tour of this beautiful layout! And for all the videos and information you've shared - I have learnt a lot from the Willow Creek. I'm very glad to hear this isn't the end of your journey with model railroading! Will the track plans etc. remain on the website after the railroad itself is decommissioned?
Glad you enjoyed the final video. Both my KZread channel and my Willow Creek website will remain as they are today, even after the railroad is decommissioned. You'll have access to everything on both of those sites. And I'm still available if anyone has any questions. Thanks for your feedback; much appreciated!
I wish you lots of health to continue bringing us along on your fantastic journey in model railroading. Farewell Willow Creek, greetings new opportunities!
Glad you've enjoyed the journey. It was my pleasure to share it. And thank you for your feedback; much appreciated!
The Alco RSC somehow looks very similar to the Russian heavy switcher TEM-1, they probably copied the actual RS series locos sent to them by the US.
Very interesting. And you hit it on the head! I've never looked at Russian locomotives, so I did a quick search of Wikipedia and they say that the TEM-1 was indeed a "descendent" of the Alco RS-1 design. The RS-1 was evidently imported to Russia during WWII as part of the "Lend-Lease" agreement. Good observation! And I learned something new today. Thanks!
@@Vigment13 Thank you for the kind reply sir. I am modelling the railway system of Eastern block countries (more like, just the Soviet Union and East Germany) so I kinda have a gut feeling for whenever a train "looks Russian".
@@mariebcfhs9491 Wow. Sounds like a fascinating modelling challenge. Best wishes!
Thanks for one of the finest model railroading video series ever produced!! Between the operational descriptions, layout schematics and easy to follow narratives, these should stand the test of time as excellent resources for future modelers. The segment on your min pins nearly brought me to tears! Again thanks for everything and blessings for whatever may come next!
I am truly humbled by your kind comments. It has been my pleasure to share the Willow Creek in these videos. I'm glad you've enjoyed them. And I, too, chock up a bit when I think of the fun the Min Pins used to have wandering underneath the layout. Great memories! Thank you, again, for your feedback. Much appreciated!
Will be highly missed.
Thank you. I appreciate that feedback. It's been a fun ride. Thanks!
The model is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing this masterpiece with us.
It was my pleasure! Glad you enjoyed the video and the Willow Creek. And thank you for your feedback. Thanks!
Great looking layout!
Happy to hear that you enjoyed the Willow Creek. Always nice to receive the feedback. Thanks!
Very interesting. The folks at my model railroad club suggested I use a car float on my (future) home layout, yet while I have an interchange track, I won't have room for any nearby bodies of water on which to put a car float. I'm wondering, then, what I should do in this situation.
I'm not sure how much space you have. If you have space for a couple of tracks, you could easily model a car float operation. At the 8:52 minute time mark in the video, you'll see that the car float at Concorde doesn't take up any more room that 2 tracks. A simple retaining wall, and then the car float apron and float itself rather than ground and ballast under the tracks, models the car float operation. If you don't have even that much space, perhaps you simply have a single track in a yard that you designate as the place cars are parked waiting to be switched on a car float; the float itself doesn't have to really exist. Then you could simply remove those cars from the yard track by hand and exchange them with new cars as if a car float had arrived and has been unloaded back onto that same yard track. It would be an operation similar to what you might do with an interchange track. Sort of a fiddle yard type of scenario except that you're designating it as a car float operation. Maybe that will give you some ideas. Hope this helps. Best wishes!
@@Vigment13 Thank you very much for your response. I have room for seven tracks in my yard (one long siding and six shorter ones), and figure I can use the longest siding (about 3 feet long) as my interchange track. I also plan on either getting a display case or shelf to store cars off the layout.
@@Stussmeister I use an inexpensive clear plastic 5-drawer container on wheels, available from Sterilite. It rolls under my layout and I simply pull it out and move cars from my car float into one of the empty drawers, and then take cars from another drawer and place them back on the car float to simulate an arriving float. Each drawer easily holds 6 40-foot cars. The Sterilite drawers cost less than $20 US. Just a thought.
It is amazing how great the video quality from the HO scale drone's camera is!
Isn't it! Those Tiny People of the Willow Creek Subdivision are crafty characters. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks!
Add so we bib adieu to you and the Willow Creek. Good health and travels for years to come....Thanks for the ride.
And thank you for being willing to ride along! Your comments are much appreciated. Thanks!
So sorry to hear your news, but I want to wish you well in your 'next phase'. I hope you will enjoy and still be able to enjoy model railroading. Your layout is one of my favorites, and I've thoroughly enjoyed watching your videos. Thank you, so much, for sharing it with us! Be well.
Glad you've enjoyed the videos of the Willow Creek. It's been my pleasure to share them. The layout may be disappearing, but the model railroading fun will definitely continue. Thank you for your kind comments; much appreciated!
What a ride... It's been, very enjoyable... Thank you sooooo much....
Glad you've enjoyed the ride. I know that I have! It's been my pleasure to share the Willow Creek. And thank you for your kind feedback!
I have so enjoyed your work. Thank You, your work has helped me plan my model railroad. I have started my bench work.
That's fantastic. Congratulations on starting the bench work. And if the Willow Creek played even a small role in your new adventure, that's extra special. I hope that you have lots of fun creating your new layout. I'm glad that you've enjoyed the videos, and thank you for your feedback; much appreciated!
Yeah, the praise is well deserved and all that. I just want to know where the heck in Bucky's Crossing did all the Tiny People stay overnight!!! Or did they just party the whole time there? Take care sir. I look forward to seeing the Tiny People's Party Car as it heads East from Spokane to North Carolina!🥳😁
Greetings NC! In Bucky's Crossing, you can always stay at the Riverfront Hotel. I suspect, however, that the Tiny People might still have some Corona beer stashed on the 2nd floor of some of the retail establishments. Either way, you're probably right -- they most likely partied the whole time they were in Bucky's Crossing. The Tiny People are always up to something! Thanks for your great feedback. And I'll let you know if the Party Car ever makes it to North Carolina. Thanks!
Thank you for your dedication to the hobby!!!! You will be missed
Thank you. I love this hobby and it has been my pleasure to share it with others. High greens!
The Willow Creek will be missed. I have watched your videos multiple times over the past several years. You’re way of story telling has made the Willow Creek a joy to watch. I’m sad to see you go. May the Lord Bless you in your future adventures. I hope you have all the happiness and joy in your retirement that you have given all of us. I know I will continue to watch the Willow Creek Railroad many more times in the coming years. Thank You for everything you have given to the Model Railroad community.
Your feedback is truly appreciated. It's always nice to know that one is hitting the "story telling" objective in the videos. I think that makes a lot of difference in the various KZread videos I watch. And I, too, am looking forward to watching reruns of the Willow Creek videos. Thanks, again, for your kind comments. High greens!
Thanks so much for the wonderful videos of your masterly layout. I was pointed to your videos by a fellow model railroader when I showed interest in operations. He told me that your videos were the best demonstration of model railroading operations and I used your paperwork as the foundation of my operational scheme on my layout. Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing your layout and your resources with the hobby. Good luck.
Glad you enjoyed the video and happy to hear that you could use some of the ideas from the Willow Creek to benefit operations on your layout. Yeah! I very much appreciate your feedback. Best wishes as you enjoy your layout!
Thank you taking us all on a wonderful journey around the Willow Creek and all it's operations. The railroad will be missed and I enjoyed tuning into each episode from here in the UK. 😊
Great to hear from the United Kingdom! And thank you for your kind feedback. The tiny people of the Willow Creek have thoroughly enjoyed sharing their domain. 🙂 Thanks, again.
😥
Fantastic setup and operatios scheme. How fun to transfer cars between two "layouts" via a car float.
A sad day. At least the Willow Creek will live on through these videos and website.
Agree totally. Definitely a day of mixed emotions. But hooray for video reruns! 🙂 Thanks for the feedback!
😢 Good luck and God bless! ✌️
Thanks much! Very much appreciated.
Thanks for a great final video of the Willow Creek RR, a layout you should be proud of. It's been a fun journey watching your videos. As mentioned before, have fun and enjoy your next phase of retirement. Hopefully you will still be able to still do something with model railroading in your new place, maybe a small point to point HO or N scale shelf layout or just join a local model RR club. Take Care. 😉
Thanks! I have lots of model railroading friends in the new area and will thoroughly enjoy running trains with them. Thanks again!
I will be running a car float as well. What type of plastic box did you use? Just curious where you purchased it. Great video!
Glad you enjoyed the video. My plastic carrying boxes: Sterilite 14228604 Stack & Carry 2 Layer Handle Box
😢
All emotions summed up nicely with a simple emoji. Thanks!