Southern Pacific Donner Pass HO Scale Layout Tour
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- čas přidán 10. 09. 2021
- #SouthernPacific #DonnerPass #Espee #LayoutTours
This layout models the Southern Pacific Overland Route across Donner Pass from Roseville to Sparks in the 1948 timeframe. The layout includes the towns of Roseville, Colfax, Blue Canyon, Emigrant Gap, Norden, Truckee, Boca, and Sparks. There is a 600’ dual mainline going over Donner Pass with a 1.5% ruling grade taking the trains from a 50” elevation to a 78” elevation. Auto staging is achieved by sharing double-ended hidden yards in Oakland and Ogden. Being a true mountain RR, there are no helixes or shelving. The layout is 34’ x 45’ with a “walk under” bridge entering the Roseville/Sparks Main Yard area and an elevated walkway around the back of the room to accommodate operations. Tunnels consume 27% of the mainline and there are 30 bridges on the layout.
The layout is controlled by a computer station running Railroad and Co. TrainController software. Connected to the computer are 12 touch screens that display/control the signals, turnouts, and block occupancy. The computer tracks engine numbers on the touch screen block icons as engines move around the layout. CTC signal aspects are automatically generated based on turnout states and block occupancy. Connected to the computer is an NCE DCC system that provides track power. Cellphone throttles control the engines using a router connected to the computer.
Scheduled train operations follow a 1948 SP timetable using a 6X fast clock. Unscheduled way freights use car cards to manage their operation. Turnouts/routes are controlled by the Mountain Dispatcher and the Yardmaster. Operators maintain radio communication with the Dispatcher and Yardmaster. Operations consist of both EB and WB train movements with helpers cut in for Fruit Block trains from Colfax to Norden. Scheduling accommodates First Class trains passing slow freight trains as they navigate up the mountain.
The layout has been under construction for 20 years. Almost all the scenery was completed in the last year. In 2008, Dave Frary, Bob Hayden, and Scott Mason spent a week constructing the scenery in Truckee area that taught us the basics to complete the scenery a decade later. The main scenery features of the layout are the massive 18 track wide mainyard surrounded by the Sierra Mountains, Donner Peak with snow sheds and the China Wall, and over 120’ of actual Sierra Mountain photograph backdrops surrounding the layout. The Sierra Mountain photographic backdrops were produced by TrainJunkies.
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You can tell these guys are engineers to the core. Even the rock faces are symmetrical. Great layout!!
29 minutes in, and I'm enthralled. This is one of the best videos I've ever seen for a model railroad. Narration only as needed, continuity well done, and clear what was happening.
An excellent video, and I agree that the narration was very well done.
Who else was a kid that lived in Roseville when the yard blew up? As an 8 year old boy, it freaked me out and things shook what seemed like all day. I grew up along the Shasta Route as dad worked for SP since 1965 and we finally dropped anchor in Klamath Falls, OR and he then worked on the Cascade Route and a short stint on the Modoc Line. This layout is just amazing and thank you all for sharing it with us. I love Cab Forwards and other SP steam units so this is a treat. I agree that code 83 is a wise choice since it allows for other wheel/flange sizes to operate with minimal upset as it goes across switches so you should have very little chance of an axle picking through a switch.
This layout is amazing 🤩
Very well done!
I wish I could run my 4 ScaleTrains Southern Pacific AC4400s on this layout. They’d look amazing.
I'm impressed with the amount of electrical engineering involved in this layout, a lot of thought and skill went into this. Congrats on a great build.
Wow! My grandfather worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad from 1900 to 1919 as a brakeman and was in and out of Roseville often. His two brothers were also SP employees (one a conductor and the other a Passenger Agent). They worked the system until retirement in the 1960s. You have created an amazing network for all to enjoy. Thank you.
This is not a switching layout, but pictures the mainline ops over Donner Pass. Overwhelming layout featuring the heydays of the SP with its iconic Daylight Express, the PFE trains pulled by the unique cab forwards. Realistic ops and speed. What a masterpiece of modeling and technique !
The most dynamic- unbelievably exquisite- unique layout I've ever seen . Well done.
My mom worked for SP for a looong time, up thru the merger... she recently passed away. I found a model of that Daylighter that she had gotten from her work for some reason, it’s the loco and tender in a nice case on a pedestal of track with a plexiglass cover and 2 decorative information plaques, it’s really nice. The train has no motor but looks like it is model train quality and it hollow and looks like a motor would fit in it, I think it’s O scale... also inherited a bu ch of really nice framed train artwork for my walls. All old SP stuff.
Those bridges are incredible.
This is Museum / Club Quality. That Amazing Backdrop really completes everything.
Fantastic lots of in joying work.
Love all the Orange.
Thank you Ted.
Stunning! My Dad would love this! You guys are bringing back precious memories of my Dad, who has been gone about 25 yrs and loved model trains. He would have loved this! Just wonderful! ❤
A masterpiece of civil, structural and electrical engineering in miniature!
Simply and awesome job. What a layout. Having had been involved in the HO world over 35 years ago, I am amazed at the advancements of model railroading. My father and I ran a western road layout of SP, UP, WP and SF. Had over 75 power units ranging from steam to diesel depending on the era being ran. Also 250 rolling stock, full round house, service buildings and classification yard with many side industries. All on a two main line track (800') with a branch line (400'). Those were the days!
BRAVO!! 👏👏👏👏👌👍 Looking forward to see the weathering of the bridges. Also, awesome job on the signalling.
I remember the cab forward steam engine. My Dad found one stopped in Fontana? Cal and the engineer invited us into the cab. I'll never forget the size of that locomotive - I was 5 or 6 years old I think.
It’s just like the Lionel trains I had in the 50’s going around the Christmas tree !
What a fantastic layout! There appears to be so many operating opportunities! I wonder if they ever do any kind of freight switching, etc. That bringing in the helper unit and cutting it back out was fantastic!
I use to own “Trains nothing but Trains & M.B. Austin Company in San Mateo California . My Grandpa climbed all over the S.P. Engines in In San Francisco train yard in the 1950’s and took thousands pics , sent them to Japan had H.O. Scale brass locomotives imported. We also designed and made R.R. Patches. Those were fun times. The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys. This is one of the best layouts, and the research……..thank you for your love of the hobby.
Really an incredible layout, both technically and artistically. Love the smartphone throttles! Love the touchscreen management!
Just incredible! You guys have nailed all aspects: Technology, authenticity, realism, ease of operation, quality modeling, beauty, and great trains.
Fabulous...cant say any more!!!
railfan or not you gotta agree this is absolutely mind-blowing!
What a fantastic re-imagination of Donner Pass! Really enjoyed this video. Great attention to scenery detail and certainly a layout built for operations. These gentlemen have really packed in the essence of Donner Pass in the space they had to build the layout.
Great job, fantastic layout, realistic operation, beautiful.
I enjoyed very much watching this Donner Pass recreation in this master piece of model train.
Amazing! This model looks like more of an engineering challenge than the prototype!
Ive never scene anything like this. How real does this Railroad look & feel? Mind blowing layout. This thing must cost a million bucks. Dream time to run ! 😅
WOW! I was induced aspie-esque trance and so transfixed by the operations that I was snapped out of 'state' by the quiet bridges such was the realism.
Perhaps a project (as if you haven't been busy enough over the past 23 years) could be a small subwoofer tuned to a bridges frequency to mimic the familiar rumble of a train passing over. I imagine a Hi-Fi recording device under a prototype bridge with train passing over of similar span length being used as the proxy.
A sendhand Hi-fi amp with a device capable of playing SD card recorded in WAV (uncompressed format) plugged into one of the RCAs of the amp and being triggered to play by a detector. It would be amazing on the larger bridges at least since they're so visually stunning. The steelwork is like fine lace in HO - it's utterly amazing, so much so I just was a bit kind of shocked in a strange kind of way.
What an incredible layout, so well thought out in the planning stage and so well executed in the final product. Great work gentlemen, run it with pride and a genuine sense of achievement.
I grew up in Roseville, California in the 70's and 80's. This is truly fantastic!
Gentlemen,I believe you have modeled a magnificent version of any model railroaders dream come true.Congratulations,and thank you for sharing this with us.
Magnificent in every way, congratulations on getting this far! Looking forward to seeing it all weathered. May we all live so long in a peacefully undivided world. This hobby is such a wonderfully placed source of escapism as refuge from these crazy times.
The Southern Pacific locomotive is a real beauty and one of my favorites in my own collection (which is static - o gauge) along with another prized engine...The Commodore Vanderbilt. One of the few things I miss about California....best wishes from Kauai!
t the 33 minute mark I found myself wishing Gomez Addams was controlling the train! nice layout
Beautiful work! Look at he huge efforts in planning, construction, sceniking and track work. Thanks for sharing with us.
This is the most magnificent HO scale layout I have ever seen and I've seen some great ones. The realism in scenery and the technical expertise is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the great compliments. You will enjoy the rest of the play list of layout tours. Feel free to share them among your social media contacts!
I have driven this route enough times that I know every single one of these locations and this is absolutely fantastic well done.
Very well done, thank you for sharing your railroad build 👍
Your presentation was very clear, and done without hesitation. Well done.
I really like traveling in this way. Thank you for giving me this opportunity!
One of the most in-depth layout tours I’ve seen. I love it
absolutely a first-class operation, thank you for sharing...additionally it is one of the better video documentaries of this tremendous endeavor.
Absolutely impressive layout, well thought out, amazing scenery and beautifully filmed. Just spectacular. Many fine skills clearly evident. Our club could do with some skills like that. But we plod along while seeing how the professionals do it.
You have my favorite cab forward love that engine.
Among our power units were 5 big boys, 4 cab forwards and 3 challengers among various other steam units. I enjoy watching this video.
Just a mind blowing layout
I am in just in awe of the amount of planning that went into this layout. Very well thought out especially the electronics and track layout. Operation of the layout is very professional. Following the rules and so enjoyable to watch. Thank you for sharing. Cheers from Canada.
Wow had no idea a thing like that was so complicated.....tks much for the detailed explanation of how it works ....really interesting!!
Absolutely AWESOME, JAWDROPPING layout!!! What a video!!! And I loved the fantastic detail given to start!!! This setup just took my breath away!!!
The detail and the realism is astounding! The computerized routing is impressive. I could watch this all day. I imagine that the maintenance of this layout takes quite a bit of time.
luv the s.p. cab forwards...they were a sign of things...to come...and yes...we still..have tunnels...
Wow, so amazing to see a layout of this size and quality finished to completion!
This is a beautiful and intense system. Nice video.
Beautiful Workmanship
Fantastic layout. Loved it from Australia
"lmpressive" can't even begin to describe your effort(s) - thank you very much and well done - full marks.
This layout is one of the greatest of all time. Huge fan of southern pacific but have a major bone to pick with 1940-1950 era as I love early 1900’s steam and hate transition area and absolutely love 80’s-2000’s motive power. But this layout is one that sets standards, it’s one I’ve watched the exact same tour for years now and always find something new. I hope one day I can share my one day completed coastal Texas Gulf Coast Lines on this channel and provide amazing operating sessions with others.
Thanks for a great layout tour, sir. Love those Cab Forwards and I can imagine the massive amount of engineering and construction work that was needed to get the railroad through Donner Pass. And that was just on your layout, lol.
Very impressed with your layout.. absolutely beautiful your work and what a gold mine
Amazing layout! The kind of layout a lot of us I'd dare say aspire to build! Excellent work all round!
Man what a layout, magnificent.
Amazing is an understatement. Thank you for posting.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video on a great layout. The model railroad layouts that are of the Southern Pacific, Rio Grande in the Sierra Nevada, Cascade & Rocky Mountains are my favorites.
Excellent layout and control system!
Awesome video as well!
Such a beautiful layout! I even noticed different brand engines working together in flawless precision. It’s also a great way to preserve those models that might never be produced again by their manufacturers. Keep em rolling.
Meticulously done and professionally narrated. Absolutely fantastic!
what a masterpiece
This Layout blew my mind!!! Excellent work! Thanks a lot for discussing the details of the layout and that wonderful narration!
My dad fired for the Southern Pacific out of Portland in WW2. He told me he fired several cab forwards. Thy haul troops down to Fort Ord area and Camp Pendleton.
WOW!!! This is one nice Model Railroad. Bob
I've been to Truckee many times to visit family. it should be on everyone's bucket list
The engineering is great but so is the art! The structure and design of the layout,the electrical engineering, the bridge designs are great and facilitating. But the the artist design of the layout, the rocks, mountains, manmade features are terrific!! You re obviously engineers so how did you also master the artistic side? To think that you did it by watching two guys build one mountain is incredible! Anyway absolutely loved the video from the talk to the end! Thanks! A real delight from one Design/Builder to another!
Absolutely amazing!
Well designed and executed.
This has to be the best layout I've seen yet.
Absolutely awesomeness. Thanks for showing us such a beauty.
This is like watching (and listening) to a meditation on post war American industry in movement. Looking forward to the implementation of smoke and steam from the engines as they run. Weathering too, as they’ve announced.
No words completely speechless with Goosebumps in awe 😍
Outstanding job you guys, I just got home from railfanning Donner this last weekend, yes things have changed alot since 1948 but your layout sure does remind me of all the great places like Colfax...keep up the great work. Gary
Magnificent layout. Bravo!!!
This is a very interesting video, and a very unique layout. It's interesting to see a large private layout operated by RR&Co for automated or semi-automated operations, and I like that the video got into at least a basic level of detail of the DCC, feedback, and control hardware, as well as the throttles.
Simply stunning.
Quite spectacular! A bridge lover's paradise.
You guys must be borderline geniuses, when it comes to trains anyway. To accomplish such a feat you must know everything there is to know about model railroads. This is truly one of the best videos I have watched about a train layout. Amazing....I am going to start a layout in the next month. Unfortunately I only have room to do 4x8. I have a lot of H.O. stuff but may be doing N scale do to the space I have. Goal is to have it running by next Christmas. Thanks for sharing you video. I enjoyed watching.
WOW!!
You guys are nothing short of awesome!!
This project, I can tell was tedious and very time consuming, I won't mention expensive....
The Design, Construction, Layout, Scenery, Detail, Electronics, Software, etc., it's just completely amazing what you gentlemen have accomplished!! I'm in complete amazement by this!! Great Job!!
Thank you so much for sharing this incredible layout👍👍👍
What a fantastic layout - some incredible features. I love those massive bridges and the wonderful scenery.
One of the most detailed ive ever seen! My compliments sir and wow 👏
Absolutely stunning layout. Incredible detail 👍
Outstandind!!!! That is an awesome layout. Gosh.😎👍❤
Absolutely stunning
Incredible detail, gentlemen, very well done. Big thumbs up!!
Nice layout and beautiful video JA
Definitely FANTASTIC! Thanks for creating and showing it to us. Wonderful attention to detail!
Amazing. Thank you to let us have a view of your layout.
Excellent presentation ...........
F J F
This layout is incredible !! The electronics,the trackwork,bridges,scenery and operating possibilities !Sound and video very high quality.Many thanks for showing this and the inspiration it gives to us modellers.
I really enjoy your descriptions. I knew it takes a lot of extra time to write them. Awesome.
Mind blowing layout!!!! Absolutely Incredible!!! I am going to install cti on my layout. I'm going to use their hardware,software, sensors and interface.
This is incredible! So interesting and enjoyable. Thank you so much for sharing this! I love it!
Just amazing