Adding Passenger Trains to my Railroad Operations

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[@Azeria]

that cab car thing is wild… the more I learn about North American passenger rail, the more confused I get 🤣

[@mrjsanchez1]

Your layout is looking great, having worked actual local trains having to clear up and get out of the way for a hot passenger or intermodal train is prototypical. One thing that can add to freight operations is to try and follow the actual Federal Railroad Administration hazmat rules, loaded hazmat cars usually have to be at least six deep on road freights , in local service if you can not place the hazmat 6 deep , have them as far back as possible. Also empty hazmats usually have to have at least one spacer car from the locomotive. I follow this on my N scale layout and it does add interest to my operations. Thanks for all your great videos.

[@user-xy7lw9ly7l]

Working on my new layout and watch a lot of your stuff! I started before seeing this with a small commuter and excursion. Nice to see people thinking about the passenger service that was the best part, in my opinion!

[@robertdoyen5434]

Great job on this project. Enjoyed this video very much. Thanks From Wisconsin

[@tredworthngaugemodel2753]

Really nice story of the day

[@JamieMakin]

Passenger trains are my favorite part of model railroading, so I'm excited to see you adding them to your layout. I avidly follow the Reading & Northern Railroad and they run a mix of passenger and freight on their lines. That's something I want to emulate on my layout, so I really appreciate all that you shared on doing this.

[@s_garcia7]

@Jamie Makin... Indeed!!! You are absolutely right, sir. Passenger trains are the best. You would probably like to take a look at some of the passenger trains in my collection: kzbin.info/www/bejne/naKrqqKHppKMoMk

[@petermenningen338]

As a former rider of the CNW Chicago NW line to be prototypical the engine points to the remote end of the line. The run is so they did not park engines in the main rail station.

[@petermenningen338]

Adding the inbound track is on the Left track in double track. The platforms were on the outside of the track not in the center.

[@melkitson]

That was fun Jimmy. A whole new dimension to the operations.

[@Northcoastrails]

Beautiful passenger cars

[@shemp308]

You really need to add the lighting to the passenger cars. It is a eye catching. And adds to the look like you will not believe until you see it. I did it to my Metra and absolutely had to add it to my Silver Streak Zephyr after I seen the difference.

[@HumancityJunction]

Did someone say complicated? I only do complicated! I LOVE my standing desk. I used it as my main YT studio, my work desk and my MRR workbench. I use mine for everything.

[@4everdc302]

Darn, cool Jimmy. I am working on the new shelf layout with a GO Transit train in push/pull from Rapido. Will be running a DC shuttle to have it go back and forth on its own. Switching layout is in front of the GO Train Mainline.🚂🇨🇦🇺🇲🙋

[@PetesPrettyGoodTrains]

A nice turn of events for the folks in East Valley! Every layout needs some more CNW!

[@DJE2025]

👍👍Very nice, love the CNW Passenger Train, looks like your operating session is nicely set-up! Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I find all your videos informative and entertaining! 🚂🚂

[@southern207hobbies]

The Iowa interstate #50 was originally Washington and old dominion the line is now long gone but the prototype is available via shapeways and the body fits on a kato pocket line drive

[@trainglen22]

I have 5 GO transit cars and two locomotives for Commutter operations when I get my layout built.

[@kingbradentucky]

I've been spending way to much money on Amtrak stuff of late. I love passenger rail.

[@NitroStarGT]

Enjoyed the vid and ideas

[@keeganseva3975]

I do like a good sit-stand desk my wife has a costco one, but I still only have a normal, L-shaped desk I'll look into this for a train work station as I don't have one yet. Thanks! I really do love the added passenger ops. I'm working towards a RF&P CSX Sub to include Mainline CSX, local CSX, Amtrak Silver Meteor, and a VRE train or two.

[@oldgrumpyhunter]

Hi Jimmy, I enjoy watching your op sessions, they give me some ideas, but I get lost at times as to where the trains are located and where they are going. Do you have your track plan posted someplace?

[@kend3900]

Very nice

[@markarnold8160]

I never knew that the CNW400 had a Driving Trailer Unit on its consist. They're common throughout the world now.

[@squalli1297]

I've been riding passenger trains since I was 4 & was captivated when I got my 1st Lionel O Gauge Santa Fe passenger train set in the '50's. The majority of my rolling stock are passenger trains that carry the UP, SP, & ATSF road names from the '50's & '60's trains of the West.

[@music100vid]

Sweet!

[@stuartaaron613]

Nice video Jimmy! I've been exposed to commuter railroading my whole life, first with the Long Island Rail Road, and now in Florida with Tri-Rail. The club I belong to down here, the South Florida Railway Museum in Deerfield Beach, is located in the Amtrak/Tri-Rail station former baggage handling room. immediately to the south of us is an industry which is switched by CSX. Because of this, sometimes the Tri-Rail trains have to use the wrong main to make their stops. Other times we'll see the CSX local waiting on the other track until either a Tri-Rail or Amtrak train comes through. We also get big CSX freight trains running through as well. This all makes for very interesting operations, which can be replicated on out model layouts as well.

[@Eclipse1988]

Freight is fun, but I've always loved my Amtraks. They're a staple for me. Now if I only knew how to hook up a catenary lol

[@TourDriverSean]

Another great operations video. Makes me want to hone my timetable skills

[@jhoodfysh]

Nicely done Jimmy. I also have passenger operations planned using two Kato RDC that I will be converting to DCC. I have been watching some videos on how to do that.

[@richarddrum9970]

My commuter operation is two RDC's as well repainted for the BCR. Double track mains do make operations much easier.

[@atshinkansen7439]

I’m glad to see passenger trains in the spotlight, I don’t think they get enough coverage for operations. I model Japanese railways in N scale, so fixed-consist multiple units make up the bulk of my fleet. Working in the different levels of passenger service (local vs express commuter, as well as long-distance trains) along with freight trains generates plenty of traffic, though setting up an operating pattern to find the best order to run trains is something I still need to work on.

[@ajkleipass]

Commuter ops are what initally attracted me to the New York, Susquehanna &Western. In the 1960s they used an RS-1 (with steam generator in the short hood) on a train of between 1 and 3 cars. In the 1950s they used RDCs, and in earlier decades they had ex-Erie Stillwell passenger cars, gas electric "doodlebugs", and streamlined self-powered cars from American Car &Foundry called Motorailers. I love the Chicago bilevels you are using! A Kato RDC or two, however, would make for a more compact train - no siding space gobbled up by the diesel.

[@brendaoliver9107]

I think this was only one of the few times I've heard you mention connecting to other railroads.

[@DavidTischer]

I can appreciate your commentary on the standing desk. Just before COVID I bought a new standing desk for the 2 times a week I worked from home. Ever since March 2020 been working from home exclusively. I use the desk during the day for work and at night for building/weathering. I can also appreciate your CNW passenger ops. I grew up in Chicago, about a mile from the MILW line and often hopped on to take an upper level to downtown.

[@davidf9630]

Great job jimmy! I’m working on expanding my layout and definitely going to add a section with double tracks

[@iannarita9816]

Just a thought, even if you don't do a scheduled passenger operation you could have an occasional passenger or sales/marketing excursion. I have a 2-6-0 with a set of Roundhouse Overlond cars, an (as I describe it) an ex Pennsy K-4 with two ex Santa Fe Passenger cars. As well as an RDC, and 2 Doodlebugs. An eclectic collection of passenger equipment. In the1970's or later this would be excursion and tourists. Think California Western. Many places have the remnants of passenger operations, think of all the old passenger stations being used by m-o-w gangs and signal departments as storage. As well as the concrete platforms. Cast concrete, to make a joke, once in place is rarely worth the time and trouble to remove. Being "cast in concrete". Usually wood platforms were torn out as they became a liability issue with age and non maintenance. Sometimes a town would get Amtrak service and lose it, think Biloxi, Ms , Pascagoula, MS and the Sunset route from New Orleans to Jacksonville or the former Los Angeles to Salt Lake City or Denver to Portland routes. Lagrange, Or still has its Amtrak signs on the platforms, I think. The variety of passenger operations is infinite. In New Jersey there is the light rail Trenton to Camden that also has heavy freight rail that switches a variety of industries. Infinite diversity in infinite combinations. Just think a sleeping service in the middle of Nevada providing" overnight red lite services!! Why with generous clearances a railway could be moving aliens! Pay no attention anyone to the strange glow from that stranger railcar. (Hey there paying passengers, even if the government is paying!) Or there could be short term rail services for an event. Railroads are a profit making business. Put up enough money a business will try to make a buck.

[@TheLordFinwe]

First Push pull trains? take a Look at GWR 14xx and Auto Coach operations. Though i do have a soft spot for the 400 as it did travel through my home town to Jefferson jct from Milwaukee.

[@tiaedge562]

That's so neat. Tim wants passenger trains on his layout also. Hopes someone will put out the CSX Business train and locos.

[@richardking2762]

Small detail, switch out the middle car on the commuter train for one of the other coaches. Sip and snack coach 903 was only used in inter city trains. Never in commuter trains.

[@johnmiller2880]

Great Episode!!! Currently in the process of figuring that out on my layout. My layout has been converted to and end to end so this video was super informative and inspiring. Thanks.

[@loispadgett6306]

I think very layout should have a train station. I enjoy my passenger trains. Steam Engines are my favorite engines but I do have some diesal engines I my collection also. I am DC only girl because note Tec savie just makes it easier for me. Enjoyed your watching you run you trains and the passenger cars looked great. GOD BLESS 🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good vid thanks lee

[@ponyhorton4295]

Really love your videos. You might want to know, it sounds like there's a grounding short in your microphone cable. That's what's likely causing the buzz/hum in your on-camera audio. I'm sure your passengers are enjoying their ride on your railroad!

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

Thank you! It is actually the issue of my mic not having a tight cardioid pickup pattern and my room not being optimized for sound. I use a boom and have been looking to upgrade to a sennheiser for this reason.

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

Nice. This is exactly what i do on my layout. I use several MOW trains and added Amtrak services on the layout to mess with the layouts primary function - moving freight. It's prototypical as Amtrak makes life complicated for NS in the real world, too. My layout is larger, so my point to point trains are from terminal to staging and then back to terminal with stops along the route. This means the dispatcher has to route traffic from main 1 to main 2 at times, often into opposing traffic. then since many of the industries have short or no leads, that also impacts mainline operation. I also sometimes just send a passenger train off as an AI train that just runs the loop and all activities have to be done between its visits.

[@DJE2025]

👍👍Your desk is quite nice! Was wondering if you could please put a link to it...Thanks!

[@tonydziewiontka8405]

Hi, as an avid Kato cabcar guy, you may want to check their setup for more realism. They usually don't run headlight while being pulled. Enjoy

[@FORESTSHEFFILED-sn1bg]

Bro you got an awesome little KZbin channel

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

One of the reasons my old N scale layout was pretty simple was so I could operate my Kato CZ.

[@Salvacottontail]

Fun fact: back in the steam era, the great western rail*way* (the British one) and some others used push pull pull tech, with the gwr version of cab coaches being called autocoaches

[@acrranscaleandlifejourney4330]

Great op Jimmy. Looking amazing with the passenger train. Thanks for sharing

[@greeneyedggirl]

OMG, this is awesome Jimmy! One of the things I'm hoping to get is an RDC because we had an RDC on the shortline near where I grew up. I'm looking forward to have an RDC running commuter service like this! Go you!!!

[@lab4746]

Thank you for showing this session. Any plans to automate the computer train operation while you switch? JMRI or some other automation.

[@Wawa111_Mainline]

You need a decoder for the cab car

[@andycrawford9870]

Did I note superelevation on that first curve leaving "East Valley"?

[@TheNorthwestWind]

are you planning to paint your fascia?

[@danbalmer1]

This is awesome! I've recently been bitten by the passenger bug too, and just ordered the CNW set, so this was perfect timing to see this video. ( Also ordered a Sante Fe Super Chief, and Burlington set, so yeah, I got bit). Great to see that run. I haven't reviewed all of your older videos yet, but would love to see your personal layout's track plan as you have it very well set up to do the passenger runs and switching simultaneously, which I'd like to do as well. Currently using the Kato track and experimenting prior to doing a permanent layout, but would like some ideas. Thanks !

[@michaelnaisbitt1590]

Hate. To burst your bubble mate but British railways employed the Push Pull principal way back in the 1930s

[@markg890]

I find this kind of operations really interesting! Especially here from SoCal where commuter rail uses BNSF and UP trackage like Amtrak does. As someone who is still planning his future N scale layout, it seems the challenge of passenger rail is the 85-ft cars. Even a short train needs a giant platform to look right. In contrast, a tiny spur on a switching layout looks normal.

[@debbiemilka2251]

Mark, If I remember correctly Metrolink in LA would have at least three of the 85' bi-kevels. I remember them announcing on the P.A. the next stop and to be sure to be in the lead car and to be downstairs at the exit ready to step out in short order when the train stopped at the short platform. Stop times were less than 30 seconds. Quite often about 15 seconds.

[@MarksGoneWicked]

I'm a recent subscriber, and I'm looking for a list of additional items needed besides the command station. My layout will have 2 reversing sections and 14 turnouts. Everything is Atlas code 80. I have a little time while I wait for a pair of wifi shields to arrive. I have a couple of arduino boards I'm not using.

[@bobbyworcester9154]

Where did you get the gray boxes on the front of the lay out?

[@alexyukon0823]

I love seeing the lil steeple cab running, but question! Gonna approach catenary for the layout or no?

[@NJEsperantist]

Cool and interesting vid. Does the cab car have directional lighting, or it it always 'headlight on'?

[@debbiemilka2251]

Jimmy, I like the addition of commuter service to your railroad. It makes me think of all the times I have ridden LA Metrolink and the many times I saw it in push/pull modes. I timed the typical platform stops and the most time spent was 22 seconds or less. Do you run silent mode or with sound effects ? Be well.

[@AlcoLoco251]

Not sure if this is on my end or yours, but it sounds like you've got a little bit of a mic buzz in the audio.

[@michaelmeiran1556]

Quick question, at the end when you say the commuter train goes "off layout" do you (or anyone) have a way that the train "disappears" behind scenery or whatever onto a holding track or yard? I'm thinking about adding something like that onto my layout since I don't want to do a multi-level layout with a helix. Any ideas, pictures, videos of this would be appreciated. Thanks!

[@RichardsMoba]

Hey Jimmy, I loved your operation session including this point to point commuter train. This looks like so much fun to do, I cannot wait to get to this stage myself! Just another question, I love the music that you use while running the trains. Could you enlighten me as to what the song name and artist is? Thank you so much. Kind regards from The Netherlands, Richard

[@IndyMAB1964]

That's great music. What is the name of the music?

[@richardjayroe8922]

So excursions are next?

[@DomH-hk3jw]

How do you get your commuter card to not show the end of train ticket red lights when in reverse on DCC?

[@mattguey-lee4845]

Love it. Message me. I might have some small shelters you can use for a commuter stop.

[@ScottJohnson4449]

I just subbed you, Matt. You may like my "National Limited 1977" with Amtrak and a PC E8!

[@ApartmentRR]

Can you automate the passenger train using DCC++?

[@SD45-ET44AC]

May I change the subject for a moment… what’s the difference between a Digitrax DS52 & a DS74

[@RichsModelingTrains]

Of topic. Do you know where is the best place to sale my n scale trains at.

[@KING-LEO]

Are you in UT? I drive truck my carrier has a yard in west valley ut and i live in nv.

[@forbeshutton5487]

I used an adjustable height table under my layout: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKiroad4f85rfbc