Interesting video clip

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi everyone,

I recently discovered that full episodes of the PBS series Tracks Ahead are available to watch on You Tube. I was watching episode 612

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q0m8NRBOgc

at about the 11 mark it shows a short clip of a owner of a layout operating a hump yard, modeled in HO scale. I know modeling a hump yard has been talked about before but most conclude that it is to difficult to model effectively. In the clip it looks like it was done very well and works. BTW, the layout or at least the building it is housed in looks familiar, I think the layout was featured in MR some time ago, but I can not remember.

Enjoy,

Sean

2

What he has looks to have more a bowl than a hump, and the actual grade from tail to lead isn’t very long.

If that’s the layout I think it is, yes, it was done in it’s PRR days, the only mRR layout I know of to get the honors of being a centerfold…

3

Thanks for the link. Enjoyed the whole video and bookmarked so I can watch the other ones.

Thanks again Ken

4

That’s Ken McCorry’s layout.

I’ve never bene able to catch this program when it was on, the PBS stations around here didnt carry it. This is great - I’ve saved this on YouTube as well so I can watch them all. Just from watching half of the linked clip I can see this is a well done show - and I REALLY REALLY need to visit Germany.

–Randy

5

I have watched 3 of them today. Some of the layouts are from the Dream, Plan and Build Series.

Really like the one that had the Sherman Hill UP layout! Brass Big Boys and Turbines, what is there not to love? [swg]

Ken

6

Tracks ahead was a great program, it featured a wide variety of train related topics. With regards to the layout in the link I posted, do they operate it as a hump yard or is it just a novelty? Some of you seem familiar with the layout.

Sean

7

I decided not to do a hump yard, not because it is too difficult, I was making one for modules and I could do the uncoupling, never finished it, I decided I would rather normally switch cars. And it does take room, but you could make a simple gravity yard without the major humping and double storage yards.