Bill Kachel's Cosmopolitian Division of the PRR

Bill Kachel’s Cosmopolitan Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad from Pittsburgh to NYC and New Haven is an HO scale DCC controlled railroad. Incorporating the PRR, New Haven and Reading RR's. Includes the Hell Gate Bridge, Horseshoe Curve and the Zoo interchange in Philadelphia. Over half has catenary. His railroad has been featured in the season 9 of the TV show “Tracks Ahead”. This layout is truly an amazing feat of model railroading engineering and is open to visitors during the November Model Railroad Open House schedule for PA, DE, MD and NJ.

[@ROCKSTARCRANE]

Probably the most impressive layout I've ever seen....

[@4stringrr78]

ROCKSTARCRANE bar none

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

The catenery and slip switch city section is fabulous!

[@rajah155]

So much of this layout reminds me of departing Newark Penn station towards New York City on the NEC, as the trains used to pass the foundry buildings of Harrison & Kearny. What a great layout!

[@MarkInLA]

I grew up on Long Island and in Manhattan and all this is so greatly the feel of New York and Pennsylvania railroadiana. So much trackage and it isn't even a double-decker layout (which I was never too keen on)..What mountain and rock there is, too, is so very very well 'carved out'...Would like to see how it's all controlled.. Congrats Bill on achieving one of the all time greatest MRRs ! M, Los Angeles

[@NgaiOlaudah]

Mr. Kachel is an American Master Artist.. This is Zenith modeling... Thank you.

[@MrCarlRosen]

Unbelievable! I never knew that a layout that size even existed. In 22 minutes the camera train didn't pass any spot twice! What kind of structure houses this massive model city, a hangar? I think I counted 16 GG-1's on that video. It's been my favorite over all locomotive since I was a kid. I'd see them in Penn Station and Sunnyside Yard on the LIRR to and from my childhood home in Nassau County. I can't even refer to this project as a "layout", it appears as 8 or 10 layouts conjoined. I have to admit, Mr. Kachel's creation has to be one of the most massive models in all of model railroading. I bet you can still find room for an airport or at least the end of a runway. I enjoyed seeing this impressive, incredible project.

[@bfagan777]

Bill's railroad is in his basement which has been enlarged once. Railroad ran from Pittsburgh to New York then enlarged to add to New Haven. Bill is adding more space to go to Boston. Stay tuned. It is the best private layout I've ever seen. Bill

[@52kevoc]

Astonishing. There must be a seven figure sum involved in this. The most realistic detail I have ever seen, and obviously many years worth of TLC has gone into it. Well done sir.

[@joeleikomstead7549]

Bill, you will never know how much I enjoyed this cab ride through your Pennsylvania RR layout. Honestly, the work you and your wife have done is astonishing. The layout looks so real. I grew up in Palmyra, New Jersey, and as a teenager I use to walk across the Taconey Palmyra Bridge and walk to where I could climb up to the four track PRR main line. I would sit for hours watching the trains go by. You bring back so many fond memories of my youth with your creative work. I now reside in West Fargo, North Dakota and have a small N Scale PRR layout to keep my memories alive. Thank you so very much for this fine video and all the work you both have done. I wish I lived closer to you as I would love to visit this layout. Best Regards....Joel Eikomstead, West Fargo, North Dakota.

[@YYCRCFabricationz]

Easily the very best urban layout I've ever seen! Very impressive & a great ride thru the most highly detailed layout ever. Thanks for giving us a ride thru this incredible work of art, barely know you're not on a real train thru a real city.

[@sonnypruitt6639]

Absolutely the best I've seen on KZbin. I would live to see this layout from eye-level.

[@dougthegreat1808]

Again, I watch a ton of these videos and this is the best without a doubt!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@60s70sTheBest]

As others have commented, a great layout. The catenary system looks realistic.

[@josephmueller335]

Awesome layout you are so blessed to have such a nice layout happy model railroading

[@stefano58able]

Is't an eccellent layout very realistic and beautiful .My compliment

[@martinmakarick1957]

This is so realistic , I am amazed at the endles details, and the giants look so real. Love all of this

[@kimjusjong8657]

Wauw,Im blown away by this track and the layout ! Im in Wonderland on this tour :-) Thanks for the great ride :-)

[@Starfield1959]

Tremendous work !! Love the Catenary detail. And all the GG-1 power in use reminds me of the Congressional Limited. Well Done Sir, Well Done !!

[@briannorman952]

The track work alone is superb. Wow

[@NgaiOlaudah]

Thank you for shooting Bill's great PRR railroad, Mr. Fagan! It looks just great and tremendous from any vantage you shoot it from! Just Great! Thanks again...

[@GregPalmer1000]

Wow what can one say about a layout of this magnitude, excellent, marvellous, fantastic etc.bloody good.

[@TrainLordJC]

Sensational layout! What a pleasure it must be to run trains on this layout. Thanks for sharing.

[@jmnpc]

Just wow! Incredibly realistic! It’s all in the juicy details, which is what makes this stand out from the rest. Bravo!

[@davidreadinger1579]

WOW!!! Stunning! Wonderful work on this piece of 3D art.

[@DiggerEvans]

what a truly inspiring layout

[@spinster4000]

Its so soothing, the clicking is amazing, i love this layout!

[@kurzewinke1694]

Great layout. Looks so real

[@joestrainworldvideos3977]

Great views. Thank you for sharing.

[@BillsMorphboas]

Wow, that was the most impressive train platform I have ever seen. You are now my hero in the train world I have never been so blown away my absolute favorite railroad Pennsylvania railroad my God. I don’t think words can really express the excitement. I felt watching that video it took me back to when I was a kid living in the Frankford section of Philadelphia and all those High power wires. I am just oh my God I’m blown away. Bill Plies.

[@bfagan777]

What area do you live. Maybe I can set up a visit .

[@BillsMorphboas]

@@bfagan777 I live in Warminster Pennsylvania right now I grew up in the Frankford section of Philadelphia PA. I would be so excited to bring some of my grandchildren to see that platform they would be a static.

[@bfagan777]

What street in Warminster

[@bfagan777]

Do you have a railroad?

[@BillsMorphboas]

@@bfagan777 655 Ivy Lynn Rd.

[@donfulton4875]

The most impressive layout ever.

[@Inquisitor6321]

Great job on the catenary!

[@TheCondoInRedondo]

Love the EP5s and the nod to the New Haven. Great catenary work.

[@suelinerr]

Beautiful railroad and nice video. Thanks for sharing.

[@curtwbb]

Beautiful layout with stunning details.

[@marknauman53]

Breathtaking!!!

[@mikeyd.234]

Just came across this video - excellent job all the way around. I became an unintentional Pennsy fan riding the rails of the PRR from Pennsylvania Station in NYC (the original) to Lancaster, PA courtesy of the Fresh Air Fund during the summers of my youth; this was a very nostalgic and realistic look back in time for me. Thanks!

[@LtRob1967]

The intricacy of the pantograph wires is incredible. I only wish this were a signaled layout.

[@CoasterQ]

Impressive. You almost forget it's a model railroad until you see the giants.

[@hamiltonfixedrider]

What a view !!!!

[@ThePaulv12]

This is just one the most amazing layouts I've ever seen. The grime is palpable, the superelevation and compact yards. Then there's the catenary! You've nailed it. Only thing now is how to model rubbish. Rubbish and right of way are inseparable LOL. What really makes this so spectacular, is the change of mood the camera imparts as the train traverses areas of the layout. It is very very prototypical and reminds me of any trip I might have on a train.

[@joeleikomstead7549]

I guess I didn't realize that this video was done by you Bill Fagan. You did a fantastic job. Please pass on the comments regarding this model railroad to Bill Kachel. Thank you so very much. Joel Eikomstead, West Fargo, North Dakota.

Wow. Just wow.

[@michaelroark3263]

Very nicely done!

[@edwardmiessner6502]

Very impressive.

[@jimwhitman3678]

Stunning

[@bobbyslater1198]

Amazing! Do some trains run off the catenary lines?

[@railrunner01]

How did you build the catenaries and overhead wires? Thank you for the awesome post.

[@madyogi6164]

2:00 There's a monster giant out there, run people... run...

[@jamesgriffin2343]

What a great layout - was curious why your block signals do not operate.

[@b3j8]

Same here.

[@jamesmegill]

Mesmerizing 😁😁😁

[@keithlewis9106]

Older video, but very good and detailed. I like ask if the signal work ? From the lighting I cannot see the light in them.

[@bfagan777]

Signals are not operational

[@jameswatt460]

Wow!

[@kernanhosea2024]

Beautiful lot of hard work here how many ft of track do u have. K

[@jonnybeck6723]

Definitely my favorite set and scenery!!! Amazing! ...and you have something none of the other modelers have... WOMEN! Also, a question: I saw so many motors from my childhood ...the 4-6-6-4's, the New Haven's... but there's one I was hoping you could I.D. for me... kind of a boxy dark looking motor parked with the Pennsy 4-6-6-4's... reminds me of the motors that would pull us underground as we came in to New York towards Grand Central... Anywho, thanks for a great ride and cheers.

[@chessiesystemrailfanman3741]

I live in NYC and was wondering what state you are located in because in November my mom and myself would love to visit. Please let me know, fantastic job on a remarkable layout :-)

[@bfagan777]

Go to the list in October to see who is open for visits in November. www.modelrailroadopenhouse.com/

[@AWSmith1955]

When was this layout started? Just about every detail amazes me. How many man hours total are invested in this build? I cant even imagine the difficulty just maintaining and cleaning the layout having to reach over under across all the structures.

[@bfagan777]

A W Smith not my rr, visted with wife and friends and did the video. Bill lives in PA on the DE border and is open in November for a. Open house. Check out the PA & NJ open house list.

[@bfagan777]

A W Smith started in 2001

[@jonnybeck6723]

There it is at 17:44... Please, what is that cool old motor parked on the right?

[@kiwitrainguy]

It's a P5a 2-C-2. They handled freight on the PRR electrified lines from the mid '30s to the early '60s when they were superseded by the E44s. Also is that the one and only R1 2-D-2 just before you get to it? I think it is. Also visible at 3.22 coming from the other direction.

[@jonnybeck6723]

Yes, I thought that one pre-dated the GG-1's a bit... Thanx

[@je19662008]

I was just thinking the same thing about switchpoints on MRR turnouts. I have yet to see a pre-manufactured turnout with realistic switchpoints, anywhere. Why are they always so far apart?

[@TheOriginalBadger]

One thumbs down? My money's on that one being from Penelope. Ha!

[@wixom01]

Do the trains get their power from the overhead wires? I think the answer is no, but I do not know for sure.

[@bfagan777]

No power off the catenary

[@WhiteCamry]

Big clock in the sky @ 10:17.

[@WhiteCamry]

And @ 12:40.

[@dougthegreat1808]

Excellent job, excellent! But the one thing I don't see in these incredible city layouts is graffiti. How difficult is it to put graffiti on some of the walls. Real life which is what you are trying to create has it in all cities......

[@bengaarder2972]

Reminds me of Pilentum. I don't European trains.

[@jefferysterndale7781]

To bad King Kong is in all video.

[@timfremstad3434]

I can't imagine the amount of planning, patience and money that it took to make this thing so realistic looking

[@gaylespencer6188]

The grittiness is everywhere. So realistic.

[@ac0catenary]

Awesome Video. The use of double slips, threeways and curved Turnouts is amazing. Typical PRR flying junctions are also used with genius. very inspiring catenary system ..A great example of PRR power

[@markhayes6407]

The overhead electification work looks awesome and the layout is well detailed. NICE!

[@MattSchulze]

I wish the giants would stay out of the picture...

[@kiwitrainguy]

It's like the train is going past an animated version of Mt. Rushmore.

[@railrunner01]

I call them godzillas...

[@HemlockRidge]

I agree

[@mary2al]

Ya, those giants think they own the world! I'm gonna go find David!

[@nyc484]

There always has to be a nitpicker, Amazing layout thank you for sharing it.

[@TomYarbrough]

Far and away the best layout I have seen. When a "human's" head pops into view, it is almost disconcerting. The detail is fantastic.

[@RAK402]

Magnificent! That does not begin to cover it. Amazingly realistic!

[@glendenig9962]

Wow! This is phat dude! Great job! Love the track and catenary detail!

[@samh3029]

The track work is unbelievable! Spiral curves, double slips, curved turnouts...just amazing!

[@jonnybeck6723]

Still my favorite layout... maybe not perfect but somehow magically alive cheers

[@normandedgerly8445]

With the one exception of a dire need for balast, this layout is mind boggling! Just AMAZING! Feels like an "animated" collection of historical PRR photos. My hat is off to you!

[@ArcadiaJunctionHobbies]

This would be my 'perfect' model train layout. Not because it is huge and impressive - but because it screams charm and atmosphere. Something most modern layouts - big and small - tend to lack. A true work of art.

[@rickdonohue6370]

Fantastic Layout it was not hard to keep forgetting it was a layout and not the real deal. Fantastic job

[@jetstrat]

Unbelievable! I feel like I am back in the northeast!!! Absolutely stunning layout!

[@mishellerauth1966]

Absolutely amazing! One of the best I've every seen 😎

[@gpholtz]

Wonderful historical layout, and the vehicles too!!!! These are the happiest giants on Earth!!! hahaha

[@iceeking2006]

Great layout. Thanks for the post. Thumbs up. Would you mind answering me what the size of this beautiful layout is?

[@TheCondoInRedondo]

Amazing how much catenary is present. So difficult to hang those lines, especially when crossing tracks. But it definitely captures the feel of PRR and even reminds me of the New Haven, between Stamford and Woodlawn. Speak of the devil. As soon as I write the previous paragraph there is an EP-5 !!! Go New Haven!

[@georgeacton7918]

OMG, this took an incredible amount of skilled work to build. True realism in model railroading. Thx for sharing this great video.

[@mynorthshore]

At first I wasn't sure I wanted to watch a model video. But one minute in and I was hooked. The modeling is superb, the creativity excellent, and the video itself well done. This is nothing short of inspirational.

[@spartakkorolev9860]

OMG!! A lot of electric line! It's amazing!!!

[@Imintune...]

Need the people to wear Godzilla or mothra costumes to look like the city under attack

[@dutch2120]

What a Fantastic layout!!! So much detail!!

[@PRR5406]

Feels like the Pennsy to me. Beautiful work.

[@mikeggg5671]

are there operation sessions on the layout? How much for an invite???

[@rvooyen]

As a catenary buff this layout is fantastic. Lifetime to build I guess. My store bought stuff pales. Great work. Robert

[@jmerly11]

My God the time this must have taken. Fantastic.

[@leeadams6809]

What a masterpiece! Totally amazing!

[@jonnybeck6723]

I keep watching over and over, finding new eye candy each and every time... No other layout captures the feeling and ignites the memories of Eastern cities and, for me, the New York, New Haven and Hartford between Westport and NYC. BTW Bill, do I recall a mention of a follow up? That would be grand. Thanx again and... cheers

[@MrTrashcan1]

First visited Bill's layout in the early '90s and observed its evolution through the years. One of the most amazing model railroads in existence, especially if you are a fan of urban modeling. To top it off, Bill is the nicest guy. And Bill Fagan ain't so bad either. :-)

[@iceeking2006]

Great layout and wonderful cab ride. Thanks for the post. I've been wanting to see a cab ride clip of this layout . Catenary layouts look so realistic if done right. Have you heard of Andy Rubbo's HO scale Pennsylvania RR New York Division? What a masterpiece of a layout. The scenery and catenary are marvelous. The layout is in Metuchen, NJ. It was featured back in the 2013 Great Model Railroads annual. Maybe you could do a cab ride clip of this layout in the near future. It would be much appreciated. Keep up the good work. Thumbs up. Already a subscriber.

[@twisthiltz4779]

Astonishing detail, just blows me away the level of detail & hard work.

[@wobblinwheel]

I just can't believe this layout.... amazing!

[@mikeggg5671]

Absolutely amazing as always - but does anyone know why the owner does not do operating sessions?

[@bfagan777]

Not sure but if you want to see it in person go to the list after October 15 to see who is open for visits in November. www.modelrailroadopenhouse.com/

[@musicman8942]

Love the catenary - I know you're the videographer but do you know if it actually functions? And related to that - how are derailments handled under the wire? Amazing trackwork that I don't think I ever could duplicate. Thanks for the video.

[@bfagan777]

It's not hot. Made from piano wire, derailments handled with care. (none while I was taping)

[@bfagan777]

Want to see more railroads, go to PhillyNMRA.org and click on Cab View Video's

[@hiltondriver5335]

Bill Fagan where your layout located I wish to visit does it have a club member ship

[@firedyna97]

Such a cool layout.

[@DarkTerritory71]

As always! Very cool,and interesting! Thanks for sharing!

[@warrenwilson4818]

Totally ahead of any other layout I've seen.