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User video: Bob Dietrich’s Traction Railroad
This traction layout was really a masterpiece. He took us on a journey around the factories and city and in and out and up and down. It was a wonderful journey to see all the buildings he had constructed. The scenery along the right of way was spectacular and full of detail. I really thought at times i was on a real trolley going around the city. Well done my man and congratulations. A few little derailments but no matter - it was a great ride!!!
This is a really detailed and wonderful layout. It looks just like the real thing. I liked the way the camera person followed the trolley on it’s journey around the layout. The camera person should pan much more slowly counting one one thousand, two one thousand, there one thousand and he slowly moves from side to side. Then we would be able to appreciate the finer details of his layout. good layout.
Richard,
The camera appears to be fixed to the front of the trolley. The “panning” is merely the trolley navigating the tighter turns on the layout. You could see this several times as the trolley repeatedly went through the short tunnel, around the loop, and back through again. Notice that the track in the loop seems to disappear. The camera is not panning; the track is near the edge of the layout so all you see is the perspective of the driver as the trolley navigates the loop.
Tom
This is one fantastic layout! I agree with Mr. Sappelli that it is a masterpiece. I hope to see more about this layout in the future.
Great layout, good detail. I think he should run the train a little more slowly. For the scale and congested areas, he is running the train too fast. Trains tend to crawl through congested/urban areas and areas with a lot of tight turns.
Super layout and modeling. Well done, sir.
Nice layout. As I didn’t see any gaps in the track work I’m assuming the overhead is live. Also are the single point turnouts and girder rail Richard Orr or did you build it up? Having enough grey hair I can remember riding the mighty Key System across the Bay Bridge out of Oakland. For all the money they spent on BART the Key was faster to downtown Berkeley. And we have the Muni in SF and their recycled PCC’s on the F line. FYI for those just back from outer space the cars are painted to paint schemes used by other historic PCC operators, and one that didn’t. That is courtesy of the Market Street Railway group, yeah Muni has a fan club. Louisville cancelled the order just as the cars were ready to ship. But like I said nice layout, traction seems to be not as popular as in the past, unfortunately.
Like the roster and the specialty work! Thanks for sharing!
What a fantastic traction layout. You certainly know how to model traction and all the detailed urban scenery. Excellent work - you are a craftsman!
Great work and a wonderful layout! I really enjoyed that.
Bob Deweese, Altoona, PA. Wish this was close enough for me to visit.
Love it. Feels like you are riding the real deal!
Loved the traction video. Bob did a superb job on his layout.
JEREMY BARLOW - this is a traction layout, the speeds are quite realistic for a single interurban car running through that sort of environment.
I think the layout is just great, lots of detail and trackwork becoming an electric line. One criticism is the speed of the trains (car) and the instant stopping and starting. Must make the passengers very alert if they are planning to get off at the next stop.
Great vid of an outstanding layout. The level of detail is amazing. Even seemingly innocuous items - leaves in the ditches, rock scattered here and there - build to display encompassing realism. The lighting is so natural. I would like to have seen a coupla shots of the train. Sound, even ambient noises woulda been nice - but I’m not complaining!
Very nice layout. Lots of interesting trackwork and scenery. Well done.
This is one of the nicest and well detailed traction layouts I have ever seen. Congrats!
I enjoyed this layout and especially the track work. There are lots of turnouts with sharp radis and lots of trolley poles that gives this layout the look and feel of a trolley line. Great job on the scenery and overall look of the layout.