I put together a series of clips showing the entire layout, as seen by a “cameraman” riding a flat car on a freight train. It’s almost seven minutes long, so it takes a little time to download it, but it’s pretty cool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq6ue5K7nSU
Hi Ray A very good video, Now a few questions? 1 how many levels 2 how many tons of rock did you ship in 3 what size is what you call your back yard?
Regards two tone in the UK
Ray, that is absolutely incredible. If GR doesn’t come do a complete spread on your layout, they are slap nuts.
The layout is one big “dogbone” loop, folded into an overlapping “Z”. It’s built into a slope, covering an area of 20’ x 50’. That includes the lower level pathway (about 2’ wide) and the stairs at each end. Added 7/13/09: I just realized I forgot to answer your question about the rock. I can only give you a rough estimate of the quantity – I think it was at least 20 tons. I hauled it all myself, a little at a time, in the cargo area of my Isuzu Trooper. Plus two or three buckets and an 18-gallon tub filled with smaller rocks, in the passenger area. As you can imagine this was hard on the shock absorbers and I had to have them replaced, but it was still a lot cheaper than paying to have rocks delivered. Oh, one more thing… although the track is one large loop, the layout sort of has three levels of elevation. There’s the bottom level, where the lowest end of the loop is; and the upper level, which has the highest end of the loop; and in between is sort of a transitional “level” with tracks going up to, and down from, the upper level.
Thanks! A while back, Rene said they were interested in having me write it up. I’ve just been putting it off because there were a couple things I felt needed to be done first.
Ray That will do!!! No need to quote “GearDrivenSteam” You’re layout is above average now! Just get them pics/article in to Mark ! The couple of pics we’ve seen in the mag. and that video!!! It’s time!! Ohh keep up with the grand reprises (buildings/bridges/figures) you now what I mean. Sean
Thanks! BTW, I posted some short, new clips this evening. Three are onboard shots with the camera mounted on the front of the loco. There’s also a couple run by shots.
Ray:
I cannot believe it! With your meticulous attention to detail, I cannot believe I saw cinderblocks inside the tunnels. Please tell me that what I saw was in fact tunnel boring machine “skid marks”! Just kidding. As always you have a masterpiece. As for the previously mentioned article, Kalmbach would need to do a 100 page supplement to do any justice to your work. Hey! There’s an idea - why don’t you publish a book?
LOL! Yeah, I’ve been kicking myself ever since I saw my first onboard video. If I had known how much interior detail would show up on video, I would have textured the entire length of the tunnels.
…and I know you’re serious too. You wouldda done it. LOL
Thats awsome ty for sharing. some part I thought is was a real train on a mountain. Very Good work. A master piece indeed.
That is precisely why I have not published any video of the entire run of my humble empire. My tunnel breaks all the rules, full 90-degree curve, slightly longer than my arms, no access panel because the water out fall box is directly above, so I know I’m gonna catch maximum havoc when I do run a video. I’ve been experimenting with something that seems to be promising. At Home Depot they have “stucco in a spray can”, it requires paint, but is supposed to hold up under exposure to weather. It is designed for small repairs just before painting the house. I tried one can about three weeks ago and kinda like the look. At least it beats the devil out of bare cinder block inside the tunnel.
Spectacular as always!
The cinder blocks didn’t offend me, I just assumed the engineering team had those tunnels concrete lined to re-enforce some unstable rock formations. Those 1:1 scale houses break up the skyline though, so maybe you should talk to your family and neighbours about texturing those…[;)]
LOL! Or build a huge painted backdrop to hide them. 
Ray: Ever get the feeling we been picking on you? Just color us green with envy!
Tom, it was nice to meet you at Quail Gardens yesterday! Unfortunately I was pretty sick so we left shortly after the auction.
Ray: It was nice to meet you and some of the others. I appreciated you warning about your not feeling good. Due to the wife going through intensive chemo-therapy I use so much hand sanitizer my hands and face are raw and dry as I cannot afford to take any germs home.
BTW, I now have some video of the “real life” 2-8-0 steam locomotive in Ely, NV. I shot these during my recent vacation. I spent five days camping and exploring ghost towns, abandoned mines, and historic sites of Nevada. . . . http://www.youtube.com/user/raydunakin . . . If anyone’s interested, you can read a full account of my trip, and see tons of great photos, on my website: . . . . http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Nevada_Trip_2009_Part_One.html . . . . . There’s a lot of good reference material for modeling old buildings and equipment. . . . .
Wow at the speed you were running I could tape my RR in about 2min. nice job on both.
Dave