I'VE DECIDED TO POST MY 30 MINUTE LIONEL TRAIN VIDEO - HOPE YOU ENJOY IT.

[loknload]

Thanks for sharing that! That is one outstanding layout and train room!

 

[chief38]

To all that have responded:

Thank you all for the kind words, likes and comments - it means a lot to me after working on this for so long! This hobby always keeps my mind occupied, as you know when you have a layout - - - "the Layout is never really finished" and there is always something to tweak, modify, improve or add.

We had a Train Layout ribbon cutting party the night prior to New Years Eve and we had about 40 people here. I gave a mini speech and profusely thanked my wife and my friend Mike's wife for putting up with all the time we spent on the Layout instead of with them, and the aggravation & frustration we experienced along the way and probably passed along. I hope this video has brought some smiles and grins to your faces as well as bringing back some memories of our youth and better times!

Regards,
Chief38

 

[walkin jack]

Well I don't know about everyone else but I am really looking forward to the next video...and another visit back to my "train days" meager though they were. It was a special time in my childhood. I think these trains were the perfect toy because they would provide kids with the unlimited opportunity to develop and use their imaginations.

This OP and subsequent thread are the best example of why we need the ability to give multiple likes

 

[Sevens]

I watched the entire video start to finish last night about 10:30pm. Since I first opened my eyes, I've been fascinated with trains and perhaps even more so, model trains. When I started watching I figured that I'd enjoy 5 minutes of it and on to other things but it was so relaxing and enjoyable that I just sat back and followed the tour.

At heart, I'm an HO scale guy. Simply because HO matches my true love, slot cars. I was born in the 70's and grew up in the 70's/80's but it was my oldest brother's Aurora Model Motoring set and his box of Thunderjet 500's that formed my youth. So while my first slot car set was a Tyco with the "no skills required" Magnum 440x2's, it was TJet's and AF/X that were my favorites.

I've got HO train stuff that will never been in a real layout as long as I have it, but I would sure love a professionally built multiple-lane HO scale slot car speedway!

As to the video and your layout, it was a lot of fun to watch and I'm glad I kept tuned. Watching all the powered accessories operate was really enjoyable in particular.

 

[wheelgun28]

Wow amazing job!

I always love the accessories!

Plasticville too!

The Hell Gate Bridge is way cool!

You should submit this to Classic Toy Trains magazine or the like!

 

[rkittine]

Thank is great. I always loved going to the Macy's Christmas Train Set up and now the one at the Butanical Gardens.

My grand parents lived in Union New Jersey and as a little tike, I would tour the Lionel Factory on a regular basis. The building is still there, the water tower with the Lionel Logo was still there when I passed it last, though they haven't been made there for decades.

I still have my Dad's Lionel Standard Gauge as well as my 1949 0 Gage that my dad bought for me (Him) for my 1st Birthday. I worked with George Yohe in PA who was the President of the Model Train Association I think for at least 10 years.

Then I still have my HO trains as well as my N Gauge.

All in the original boxes going to my grand daughter.

Bob

 

[chief38]

Wow amazing job!

I always love the accessories!

Plasticville too!

The Hell Gate Bridge is way cool!

You should submit this to Classic Toy Trains magazine or the like!

Thanks! There are a lot more realistic houses and buildings on the market but Plasticville is what I grew up with and so I went for that. Some of the structures are original from the early days and some were purchases within the last 25 years. I LOVE the Hellgate Bridge - and at night it lights up really nice. It's actually fairly well built too.

 

[chief38]

Thank is great. I always loved going to the Macy's Christmas Train Set up and now the one at the Butanical Gardens.

My grand parents lived in Union New Jersey and as a little tike, I would tour the Lionel Factory on a regular basis. The building is still there, the water tower with the Lionel Logo was still there when I passed it last, though they haven't been made there for decades.

I still have my Dad's Lionel Standard Gauge as well as my 1949 0 Gage that my dad bought for me (Him) for my 1st Birthday. I worked with George Yohe in PA who was the President of the Model Train Association I think for at least 10 years.

Then I still have my HO trains as well as my N Gauge.

All in the original boxes going to my grand daughter.

Bob

I have never met George Yohe but the name rings a bell. I have been to PA many many times and have a "Brick" on the walkway of the museum which was the way they generated money. We would visit the museum and of course the real operating & running train line in Strassburg when my kids were younger. We actually stayed at Willow Valley Resort (they sold out a while ago) and always had a great time! I would also routinely go to the largest show in the NE which was held in York PA once a year. Many of the trains on my Layout were purchased there!

 

[chief38]

I watched the entire video start to finish last night about 10:30pm. Since I first opened my eyes, I've been fascinated with trains and perhaps even more so, model trains. When I started watching I figured that I'd enjoy 5 minutes of it and on to other things but it was so relaxing and enjoyable that I just sat back and followed the tour.

At heart, I'm an HO scale guy. Simply because HO matches my true love, slot cars. I was born in the 70's and grew up in the 70's/80's but it was my oldest brother's Aurora Model Motoring set and his box of Thunderjet 500's that formed my youth. So while my first slot car set was a Tyco with the "no skills required" Magnum 440x2's, it was TJet's and AF/X that were my favorites.

I've got HO train stuff that will never been in a real layout as long as I have it, but I would sure love a professionally built multiple-lane HO scale slot car speedway!

As to the video and your layout, it was a lot of fun to watch and I'm glad I kept tuned. Watching all the powered accessories operate was really enjoyable in particular.

The working Accessories are my favorite part! You can only watch trains go around the track for just so long - the accessories really make things interesting. It still thrills me 'till this day at how some of them are really so life-like and not too far off from the real ones. Many of them are from the 1950's (some are my originals) and they are like a Timex - they take a lickin' & keep on tickin'.

 

[chief38]

In the Fall, I am going to make another video of some of my operating rolling stock that I just couldn't fit in to the original. Missile launching cars, moving target balloon cars, searchlight cars, mail delivery car, track cleaning cars, inspection cars and more...... I even have some fun rolling stock that play Christmas music, have Cowboys shooting at each other, etc. so please look for that one sometime around November. If I have room, I'll also include some of the collectibles I have like really old transformers and some special Engines and Train Cars.

 

[GypsmJim]

Awesome job. I would like to see it in person.

My first set was given to me for Christmas in 1954. In 1955 I got a second engine - a used pacific 4-8-4 that dates to about 1948. When my kids were small I went to train shows and expanded the collection quite a bit. The layout now resides in mt Son's basement.

I'm sure y'all know about Ford vs. Chevy debates. My trains are American Flyer...

 

[AZ2VET]

I never got into the trains, BUT that was awesome!

 

[Buzzzer]

I don't know if you have any real world experience with railroad employment but I can tell you one thing. I was an engineer and conductor for 6.5 years and while I liked the job itself, rail companies are terrible to work for. My wife still hates 'em, glad I left...

That is a pretty neat set-up though. I worked with a few guys who were into model trains and such. Good job!

 

[acco40]

Are you a Lionel Ambassador? I know there would be lots of Cub Scouts who would be thrilled to see such an impressive room. Nice work!


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[chief38]

Are you a Lionel Ambassador? I know there would be lots of Cub Scouts who would be thrilled to see such an impressive room. Nice work!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was a Lionel Ambassador 25 years ago but am unaware of them doing that any longer. Lionel was resurrected back in the 1990's by a fellow named Richard Kuhn. He really did great things with Lionel and he tried desperately to keep production here in the USA. When the UAW union (that is the one at Lionel back then) refused to negotiate, Lionel had no real choice other than to move off shore - as all other competitors were already off shore and Lionel could not compete paying Union wages. . After Neil Young brought together a group of investors that bought the Co. (Wellspring Assoc. I believe) Lionel became a very different Company now and just about everything is now made in China. They are a much smaller Company now and their Headquarters are now in NC.

 

[chief38]

I don't know if you have any real world experience with railroad employment but I can tell you one thing. I was an engineer and conductor for 6.5 years and while I liked the job itself, rail companies are terrible to work for. My wife still hates 'em, glad I left...

That is a pretty neat set-up though. I worked with a few guys who were into model trains and such. Good job!

While I have no experience working for a RR Corp. I would imagine that in today's economic times with Unions, salary's and benefits, it would be challenging for the RR's to keep showing profits and show a soft side to their employees. Very unfortunate!

 

[rwsmith]

That's a Jim Dandy....

That's a Jim Dandy layout. I have a friend who's big time into trains. My bro has also made some great scenery for his layout. I'm into trains but have too many other activities on the burner. It's a shame that not as many people have productive hobbies like we used to. One thing I'm NOT is a modeler.

I know cabooses (caboosi?) are passe' but I still like to see them.

 

[Buzzzer]

While I have no experience working for a RR Corp. I would imagine that in today's economic times with Unions, salary's and benefits, it would be challenging for the RR's to keep showing profits and show a soft side to their employees. Very unfortunate!

If you look at railroad history, even way back, you will find out some very interesting things. Railroad companies (carriers) have been ruthless for a long time. They make money, that's not the issue. However, since you mentioned it...

A typical day on the RR - You get called at 0500 to be on-duty at 0700. You work 0700-1900 (FRA rules max at working 12 hours/day). Get home, go to bed, thinking you might get called after 10 hours (required rest hours per FRA). 0500 comes and goes so you check the line-up since you are on the "extra board". Looks like the next train in the line-up is to be called out of the depot at 1300, so you expect a phone call at 1100 (2 hour call window). No phone call so you check again. They pushed the train back till 2000. Ok, now you have to try and sleep in the afternoon since it looks like you're going to be up all night. Surprise, you can't make yourself sleep in the afternoon so now you're going to be miserable all night trying to stay awake working. 1900 comes along and no phone call. You check the line-up again and now the train is pushed back until 0500. Awesome! You go to bed at 2100 "thinking" you'll get a good nights sleep, at least most of it. Bang, the phone rings at 2200 to be on duty at 0001. Now you've slept 1/2 hour or so, been up since 0500, since you couldn't make yourself sleep, and have to be awake all night into the next morning, or noon for the max 12 hour day.

I would tell my family this and they just couldn't believe someone actually worked like this, under these conditions. They do, however, work like this all the time. Little or no sleep, carry rules books almost a foot thick (that you pretty much have to memorize and they have to be in a particular order), and managers (train masters/road foreman) hiding and watching every move you make from the time you board the train to when you get off (cameras in the locomotives, facing front and inside to watch you). You are on call everyday of the year, except maybe 12 hours of Christmas Day (vacations excepted). You do have days off but they aren't assigned. You have to beg and plead with the crew office and most of the time they deny you (or wait until your clock resets and start your max days working in a row over again). Everyday is Monday on the RR. Not all RR companies work the same way but the one I worked for was just like this. I could tell you more stories but want to be respectful of the OP.

Sorry for the grim picture but that's the way it is, I lived it...

 

[kobsw]

Some here may already know I am a huge Lionel Train enthusiast and have been feverishly working on finishing up my Layout that was started 25 years ago. Recently, I made a 30 minute video and this is my first attempt at filming and editing so it took me some time to put everything together. I do not have a video camera and this entire video was filmed with my iPhone 8 so PLEASE watch it on a regular computer screen in 1080p high definition for the best viewing experience.

This Layout had no professionals building, wiring, landscaping, or painting and all the work was done by myself and a great friend who decided to help me 3-5 days a week after he retired. This collection ranges from the late 1940's to about 2005 and the old 646 Hudson Steam Loco and some of the cars it is pulling are from my original set my Dad bought the day I was born.

I hope you guys enjoy it and as you can see one of the main focuses of the Layout are all the working accessories. The end of the video has the Layout operating at night in full darkness - illuminated only by the trains and accessories.

Among gun collecting, motorcycling, tools, etc. I'd consider the Lionel Layout to be one of my main hobbies! BTW the fellas in some of the scenes are not me - they are friends helping run the trains so I could film the video.

Again, please view in 1080p Hi Def. on a regular computer. Please make sure to start from the beginning, sometimes it doesn't by itself. - THANKS!

YouTube

Chief....That is absolutely superb!!!!

 

[kmyers]

That is wonderful, very well done.