N Scale Switching on the ACTRR 9 10 16

N Scale Switching on the ACTRR 9-10-16

[@markgershman1563]

After more years than I want to talk about, I've decided to get back into model railroading. Your video was really GREAT. It clearly gave me a precise idea of how this switching is done. It's a lot more interesting than I originally thought. Great job. I think I'm going to see more of your videos, because you make everything so simple to understand. Keep them coming, Mark G.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much Mark.
Mike

[@RogerPerkins1939]

Mike, I have never done switching or operating sessions, so this was a real treat to watch and educational as well. Thanks.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Roger, for me too!
Mike

[@jegas6796]

I liked this video because your narration, cool layout, backstory ... always helps make it seem official ... and you are good with them kaydee style couplers :) I love when delayed uncoupling works smoothly - :) Great job man!

[@N-Scale]

Thanks , Yes I use the Micro-Trains couplers almost entirely.
Mike

[@werts42]

Amazing array of fine detail and organized layout. Beautifully done !! Congrats .. and you did a great job at your very first try of filming your layout. Tremendous !

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much Mary Beth.
Mike

[@NScaleTrainBoy]

Love these kinds of videos. Please do more!
-Dennis

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Dennis , I am going to try.
Mike

[@bigsparky65]

fantastic video Mike, i enjoy watching your videos

[@Tipman2OOO]

Beautiful layout, thank you for sharing with the world!! Inspiring me to build bigger and better!

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Rudy but it is all torn down and am getting ready to start the ACTRR 4

[@Tipman2OOO]

@@N-Scale I will be following your updates! Thanks again for sharing!

[@N-Scale]

@@Tipman2OOO Thank You Brother !!!!

[@xfiles-thetruthisoutthere8038]

Looking darn good and it’s nice to see your having fun with it. That’s what it’s all about! 👽

[@N-Scale]

Thank You Sir !!!
Mike

[@greganwintour3367]

Great weathering on your rolling stock, and structures

[@stanleymontgomery3931]

Great video , always enjoyed switching procedures , on a small layout watching trains going round n round gets a little boring and switching dose break it up and makes it fun, a lot of folks don't realize what goes into switching , keep up the great work

[@N-Scale]

Thank you Stanley. Mike

[@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569]

Wow, Mike, what a fabulous video! Very smooth running trains and nice action! Your videos and layout are a source of great inspiration for me. ...Roy

[@N-Scale]

Thanks very much Roy. Mike

[@davidsheriff8989]

the overall effect with weathering makes this layout so realistic and the track bedding with a natural surrounding fauna..marvellous work

[@N-Scale]

Thank You so much David , Glad to have you here.
Mike

[@brianmathiason29]

This was great! I love the detailing and weathering you did! I swear I've seen the exact same auto rack for real! I also like that you just invented your own system and didn't use cards. I'm the same way, I run and do what I want and have fun. You have a new subscriber.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much Brian and Happy to have you on board.
Mike

[@user-TheBestRailfan]

How do you do weathering gob?

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

Always good to see an ops session. thanks for the show.
Tom

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much Tom.
Mike

[@backtosleep]

Nice running session. I hope my 3 by 7 foot layout looks half as good as your's. Cars and everything nicely weathered. Design of layout looks great for operating. Your the one who got me onto kato track which I ordered from you. One thing I have done in the past is always built too big and complex and ended up tearing it down. I'm not going to do that again. This time I did a more manageable layout for price and time to experience all the facets of the hobby. Took me a while to learn to work within my ability etc. Glad there are guys like you showing us how to go about this hobby. Please keep it up.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Buddy, The main thing is to have fun. That is the whole object. Glad you are having fun.
Mike

[@19mansellcj54]

A nice change from layout updates, thanks Mike.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Colin , Mike

[@themaddogyoung]

Great switching video, I really enjoyed it. I hate to see it (actrr) being chsnged but I surely understand. All in the name of progress!

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Steve , It will be for the best (I hope).
Mike

[@AlexTheRailroader]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. And the scenery on the layout is top notch. I'm in the process of re-building my layout to something more manageable. Though I'm more into steam locomotives, I still do have a fascination for diesels and freight trains.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much Alex, Mike

[@bfurailroad1104]

Luv your groundcover scenery and the sawmill area.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much

[@ryanmullins695]

What a great layout. Giving me a lot of ideas thanks Mike

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Ryan , glad to have you on board.
Mike

[@ryanmullins695]

hey mike I have a couple of questions. what is the manufacturer of the green box car with the tree on the side that you backed into the sawmill? and second is the engine house on your layout a kit or did you scratch build it? thanks Ryan.

[@michaelglass4701]

Awesome video, love the weathering.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much Michael , Glad you enjoyed it.
Mike

[@Duhjr88]

wow great video mike! Also I like your lumber mill as I am planning a similar one for my future layout. - Bill

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much Bill, I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Mike

[@zekecycle]

This is a very nice layout. The track is well designed for operation and the scenery is very good!

[@N-Scale]

Thanks a lot Steve, Glad to have you on board.
Mike

[@jeffmorgan1229]

I did enjoyed this video. Your layout and scenery look awesome.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much Jeff.
Mike

[@slam854]

You have a beautiful layout with realistic operation. I have just gotten into N-scale and learning.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Stephen . This layout has now been torn out and a new one started.
Thanks , Mike

[@atsf81rj]

I love you new layout, but this layout my always be my favorite.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks , Mike

[@rjet4321]

It was a great learning experience I am about to build my first N gage layout

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Ron , I hope you enjoy it.
Mike

[@mikeez39]

Mike.... Greta job! Would like to see more of these videos.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Mike, Mike

[@bunnycatch3r]

I like what you're doing here. Subscribed.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much , Mike

[@kenneymitchell1525]

Very beautiful and highly detailed layout Mike. This is Kenney, the one with the Jackie Stewart model that got sent to me by accident.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Kenny and glad you found me and thanks for forwarding that for me.
Mike

[@PeterCPRail8748]

Mike for a first time switching ops vid you did fantastic.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Peter, Mike

[@catfisherboy]

loved this one Mike !!

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Buz , Mike

[@terryjudd2006]

Enjoyed the little session only wish I was more familiar with it or could have had an aerial view of the proposed operation session to envision it more!

[@boomer8806]

Who knew Unitrak could look that good. Nice work!

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much , and glad to have you here.
Mike

[@dhh7501]

Nice layout!! I love the grafiti and general wethering

[@N-Scale]

Thanks , Mike

[@trade0714]

The weathering on some of those cars is fantastic. Graffiti, wear & tear, its all there. So realistic. Amazing "grittiness" on the whole layout. 4:00 "I only love you cuz I hate you"

[@dacuzzz]

great op session Mike.. you should do more.. thanks for sharing.. vinny

[@N-Scale]

I would like to some day when I retire.
Mike

[@attackeagle]

Really enjoyed it.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Richard, Mike

[@simonjacobs9616]

This is awesome.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Simon, Mike

[@4ennout2]

I enjoyed watching. I hope you make more ! Maybe involve some of friends.

[@N-Scale]

The room has little space for any more than 3 people and I have no card system in place.
Thanks , Mike

[@MrMikepaniora]

great stuff mike

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much Mike, Glad you enjoy it.
Mike

[@doncardiff4613]

Thanks, that was fun
Don Carduff

[@N-Scale]

Thanks for taking a look Don, Mike

[@QRoutback]

Nice and smooth switching Mike
Glynn

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Glynn , so it appears. Lots of outtakes.
Mike

[@fruitgums]

@@N-Scale "So it appears"? I think that statement is most upsetting to me. I have been planning an 00 scale layout but the space I have is only 2.4m by 3..5m so I'm thinking N scale but.. its been 35 years since I last was involved in the hobby and N scale always had issues with points and junctions back then, so I've been busy watching video's to see if there had been a decent improvement because I cannot be bothered with the headache of continually de-railing trains. My plan is a fully working yard with many switches :(
Disappointing.
Please anyone, correct me if I am wrong

[@fruitgums]

I really need advice. Does N scale still have issues with switches, if so is there a work around?

[@boiboi8970]

great video!

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much , Mike

[@severalothers]

Great layout...

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much and Thanks for looking.
Mike

[@lynneferencik1378]

great job

[@N-Scale]

Thank You so much. Stay well

[@drifterman319]

Everything inspirational.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much !!!

[@atsf81rj]

I hope stuff runs that good on my layout. I have a few feeders left to wire and maybe a operating video will be in my future. Thanks for the inspiration. -Russell

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Russ , hope you liked it.
Mike

[@freedomisfromtruth]

Great detail and weathering. The graffiti, wow, the cars must have been in a big city.

[@N-Scale]

Indeed they were.
Thanks so much , Mike

[@IMRROcom]

Nice.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks a bunch Eric. Mike

[@mastergeebo]

That was fun.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks , Mike

[@BaronvonBavert]

nice switching !!!!

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Harald , I had fun!
Mike

[@zacharyburnham6137]

I switch in real live this is so cool to see it done in scale

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much Zach. We have fun and hope you enjoy what you do as well.
Mike

[@charlesvinsonhaler1119]

Great video, Mike! Thanks! We are down in Las Cruces and love to watch trains in the Belen area. What area is your model RR patterned after? Charlie

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Charlie, It is loosely based in southern New Mexico.
Mike

[@ralphgreenwood5857]

Enjoyed the op session very much. I've never seen the layout up this close. The ground cover detail is excellent and the weathering on the buildings at the mill is very convincing. Is there a future for the SF GP-30 on the flat?

[@N-Scale]

It would be headed for the ACTRR Shops some day!!
Mike

[@jorgenvids9338]

Where did you get the center beam with the lumber load? I can't find them anywhere. Excellent video I love the flow of switching on model rr keep it up

[@N-Scale]

They are all Micro-Trains Models.
Thanks , Mike

[@sparky107107]

love the green house, wow, I like the layout placards, are the switches too throw the switches labeled the same to make operations easier? or are they just layout markers? super video, where is Alberkurcy, sounds like something bugs bunny would say, really great video mike

[@N-Scale]

Albuquerque is in the center of New Mexico and the largest city here. The markers do , indeed , mark the turnout numbers. All turnouts are DCC thrown.
czcams.com/video/e8TUwHTfOOU/video.html
Thanks Sparky , Mike

[@sparky107107]

lol Mike, yep that was the humour I was thinking about, great response sir

[@keving126]

I know that fifer hobby is a wood block, never the less fantastic as usual . I know you are working on the act 3 and probably won't read this I just thought it was cool!

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Kevin, Mike

[@rogersrailroadproductions9185]

What kind of decoder did you use?

[@mysticrailroad]

nice switching. some cars are a little herky jerky- weighting issues?- but layout looks great and graffiti is nice.

[@TheOriginalBadger]

Hi Mike. I am just getting started in N scale. The biggest, or the first, stumbling block I keep hitting, is doing the track plan. I like the way you have your track laid out in the yards..... would you happen to have a layout track plan posted anywhere? Stu.

[@TheOriginalBadger]

Never mind...I found it :)

[@N-Scale]

Thanks , Mike

[@mikemcmullen1331]

How satisfied are you with the final result of your yard where you used flipped cork road bed to build up the area between track pieces before ballasting?

[@N-Scale]

I was totally satisfied.
Mike

[@mikemcmullen1331]

Thank you!

[@rogermetzger7335]

I bought some N-scale Bachman trains back in the 80s. I think the type of couplers that came on the rolling stock were called "Rapido", but I could be wrong about that. I liked the fact that I could (or our children could) lift a car out of a consist without damaging the couplers and without derailing the other cars. I never did find a way to uncouple the cars by remote control, however. I also tried two different brands of switches (turnouts) and neither worked to my satisfaction.
Can you please tell me a) What brand of rolling stock are you using, b) What brand of couplers? Were they installed on the rolling stock when you bought them? Or did you get the couplers aftermarket? d) What brand of switches are you using?
Thanks.

[@N-Scale]

Can you please tell me a) What brand of rolling stock are you using, Mostly Micro-Trains
b) What brand of couplers? Almost all Micro-Trains
Were they installed on the rolling stock when you bought them? Almost all were.
Or did you get the couplers aftermarket? What you do is an entire truck replacement.
d) What brand of switches are you using? All Kato track on my layout.
Thanks , Mike

[@rogermetzger7335]

No. Thank YOU.

[@N-Scale]

Glad to help.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Mike & Robin

[@doublediamondrailroad5949]

Where did you get those nice Tractor Trailers in this video?

[@N-Scale]

www.fiferhobby.com/n-scale-trainworx-trailers-and-vehicles/

[@SheltonDCruz]

Hi Mike - what do you use to clean your track?

[@N-Scale]

CMX car with Alcohol and or my homemade track scrubbers.
Mike

[@RestrictingSignalProductions]

At 0:41, do you have a better view of that warbonnet on the flat? It's very interesting, thank you for sharing,
-Josh RSP

[@N-Scale]

Thanks Josh, Try this video at around the 9:00 mark.
czcams.com/video/CcR_rjhltQI/video.html
Mike

[@RestrictingSignalProductions]

Thank you mike! It's very interesting. Looks burnt. I am planning on doing this with a slug unit. Just needs to be painted and weathered. (Where do you find that chain holding the engine down to the car?)
-Josh RSP

[@N-Scale]

I bought the car at the N Scale Convention this year from a man named Charlie Hopkins.
Mike

[@RestrictingSignalProductions]

Very lucky find Mike! And thank you for staying with me all this time,
-Josh RSP

[@RestrictingSignalProductions]

Just got to view that video. The new YT update wouldn't let me. View your link.

[@akr3985fan]

Hey Mr. I’ll be over in little while for first hand View but it may take me a while to get there ;)

[@N-Scale]

I am waiting Ron , Thanks , Mike

[@shiftintohigh5564]

👍👍👍😎😎

[@christophercddelrosariocoish]

I saw that boxcar that has MD&W, that is from International Falls

[@N-Scale]

Cool , Glad you caught that one.
Thanks Chris, Mike

[@christophercddelrosariocoish]

***** Can you do more on switch with all the Boise Cascade MD&W boxcars with a proper switcher locomotive?

[@N-Scale]

Sorry , likely not as I do not model that area.
Thanks , Mike

[@sonnypruitt6639]

Hope you don't mind but about how much $$$ do you have invested in your layout?

[@N-Scale]

I have no idea. The collection of items has spanned about 25 years.
Mike

[@galaxyplayz4468]

can you do unboxing pls

[@piloto5248]

Wow i did not know you can disconnect the cars that way, just a question is the N scale the last small scale or there more tiny ones i dont know much about this hobby....

[@N-Scale]

There is NN3 , Z , and TT that are smaller

[@piloto5248]

@@N-Scale thanks for answer back to me my friend give me a locomotive amtrak in the box never used size HO the brand is athearn i dont know if i start with that one or go stray for N just for space by the way nice layout,

[@N-Scale]

@@piloto5248 Thanks Juan , Mike

[@MrTech2three]

what do you use to label your turnouts?

[@N-Scale]

They are small wooden coffee stir sticks , like the ones at Starbucks.
Mike

[@galaxyplayz4468]

what dose actrr mean

[@SGTGhost]

Hey Mike can u do a video on N scale Micro Engineering company on a n scale turnout plz. I am having trouble of the instructions and some of them doesn't make any sense. can u make it plz and thank you

[@SGTGhost]

BTW I enjoyed the video

[@Rapman21]

Who made the lumber mill?

[@N-Scale]

It is made with Walthers buildings and a Brass sawdust burner and all of the sawing part is scratch built.
Thanks , Mike

[@warrenwilson4818]

World's record for weathering? Never saw graffiti before.

[@michelj.gaudet5048]

HEY! You really need to do a LOT MORE of the running videos. It is so nice to watch someone who knows how to do it correctly. HOWEVER_ as nice a video that is was, and of my FAVORITE train activity - SWITCHING IN THE TRAIN YARDS, I have some DIRECTIVES for you. Ready? Good. We want to personify that what we are DOING for our audience comes from ABSOLUTE certainty in what we are demonstrating, wouldn't you agree? So, in future videos, no more will we hear things such as Hopefully, or Try To, or Attempt. Got it? GOOD! SMILEY FACE HERE :-D
Seriously, every time you would SAY such as above, I was EXPECTING either a derailment or a miss-coupling or such. So STOP IT, friend. If there is an OOPS, what you do is take care of it during post-edit. Make the OOPS go away so we NEVER KNOW you are not the PERFECT VIDEO PERSON that you are.
Okee-dokee, constructive critique over. NOW I get to tell you how much this "Old-fart" of nearly seventy TRULY likes your videos. Please keep it up for we who are armchair voyeurs. I just KNOW there are TONS of us out there, and we all have YOU to thank for our choo-choo entertainment. So_ THANKS!

[@N-Scale]

Thanks so much Mike. I guess it is just my nature.
Mike

[@ARP-2017]

Is that PECO track?

[@N-Scale]

It is all Kato Unitrack.
Thanks , Mike

[@ARP-2017]

+Mike Fifer OK thx. Loved the video BTW.

[@N-Scale]

Thanks, Mike

[@marciebalme588]

all KATO track ?

[@N-Scale]

Yes Sir.
Mike

[@N_scale]

Awesome vid Mike. You got the train bug.not to be confused with train beetle which is what I have!

[@N-Scale]

LOL , as long as you have something related to trains!
Mike