Fun With Model Trains While Quarantined At Home

What better way to spend time at home during the global pandemic than to set up a bunch of model trains!
I converted my dining room in to a huge train yard so I could fit quite a few of the trains in my collection in to one shot. This isn't every locomotive and piece of rolling stock I've collected over the years, but it's most of it.
This video focuses on my favorite model train, the Santa Fe Super Chief from LGB, but you'll also see quite a few of my other model trains running at the same time.
In case you were wondering, no, I'm not single! No, my wife was not away for the weekend. In fact, it was her idea to move the dining room table out of the room for the weekend to make room for more model trains in this video! She's a keeper.
We don't live with model trains running through the house like this everyday, of course. This layout existed for just three days before I put it all away (and brought the dining room table back out where it belongs).
Whenever I spend the weekend making videos like this, there are ALWAYS crashes. If you stick around through all six minutes of this video, you'll find a compilation of this weekend's crashes at the very end.
If you enjoy these model train videos, subscribe to my KZbin channel so that KZbin will suggest my videos to you more often. If you love these videos so much that you want to get a notification from KZbin as soon as I upload a new video, click on the little bell icon to turn notifications on.
I read all the comments that people submit... so feel free to comment with your thoughts or questions. Another way to interact with me on social media is in my Facebook group at / 831976203803181
If you have any interest in getting together with me in person (after the pandemic is over) consider joining me for a group cruise to the Caribbean on Carnival's newest ship in the Spring of 2021. You'll find details at www.jimzim.net/MardiGras.html

[@sherylmccrystal3804]

The news is so bad these days, it is relaxing watching your trains. Thank you!

[@stevelittle1885]

Nice!! I love the Santa Fe passenger train. Beautiful set of A B F7 Warbonnet units. I love how heavy G scale trains feel when I pick them up. Makes me imagine I'm still a child.

[@carissaharris4850]

My 4 year old son Ryan LOVES your train videos! He remembers everything you say when explaining your layouts and says them when he plays with his wooden toy trains. He might be your number one fan. 😊 Thanks for sharing your love of trains with us.

[@kenniandrepedersen1590]

Mine too!

[@kaisanhoque6976]

He really has a bonnet in his house

[@milan5153]

Many trains go at once

[@shirozasheriff6166]

nice work jim

[@kp24164]

Jim, thank you for all your videos. We love your calm and simple style. My toddlers (4&3) especially love the "accidents" near the end of this particular video. They are seriously tickled by them. They initially had only heard of the Thomas train family but ever since watching your channel, they can name all your other model trains as well! I believe their favorite is the Super Chief (at least I think that's what they're saying...) You have some very passionate and invested fans over here. Thanks for inspiring them. Keep up the great work!

[@TheCodex808]

Crashes cool even better just like everyone that does model railroads!!

[@canal_-_-0711]

Felicito al dueño de estas joyas. Preciosísimo. Que Dios lo Bendiga. Muchas Gracias. sergio. 👋🇦🇷

[@justaP42DC]

Now I want a Supercheif

[@sherylmccrystal3804]

Hope that none of your trains were damaged in the crashes!

[@finderskeepers5343]

Just having fun is what model trains is all about. Nice!

[@brendanferrari4037]

Christmas must be BANGIN’ at your household

[@anthonycollins4747]

Great video Jim nice to see the 🚂🚂's running again. 🚂🚂🚂

[@maheshramchandradeshpande7508]

Very good

[@Feliciahtown1]

This is so cool. My mom worked for Lionel in NJ in the 50's, so every Xmas we got another piece or 2 for the layout.

[@lazyrrr2411]

It's disgraceful how Lionel dumped-out on their loyal American workers .

[@user-bm4lu2hg5w]

I love train sets😍😍

[@buildwithadrian6895]

I enjoy your videos and thank you for the ending with the bloopers.

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

Brings back childhood memories of setting up the train set on my bedroom floor in the 60's. I only wish I had that much track!! And parents who would have let me and my brother set them up thru the whole house!!

[@TheCodex808]

Looks awesome so many train sets there awesome great how they are going nice !! And the engines wow!!

[@luvmywetpets]

Very cool Jim! I asked a train engineer how many times his train had derailed. He said, "I'm not sure, it's hard to keep track."

[@donatochannel]

Good one.

[@louiselanthier5135]

I think you would enjoy eating on top of the CN Tower so you could look over some train tracks/Union Station!

[@thomasthetankengine5399]

Louise Lanthier his vid are so relaxing

[@AKFrozenKiwi]

I just want to drop you a line and thank you for these train videos - my 3 year old loves them!

[@JimZim]

You're welcome! Yeah, I'm big with the two and three year olds!

[@MANOFKENT149]

And just where on the layout would you drop "your" line part lol?

[@christopheredwards788]

Yay!! Another train video! 🚆

[@davidztog9011]

Fun times, Jim. She's a keeper. Does the Mrs help set up the track? Tore the top clean off that boxcar, whoa. Looks like there's an issue with one of the switches. Thanks for sharing. 👍 👍 👍

[@mariomakermaster100collins8]

I’m waiting to move in my new house so I can get g scale but I only have O scale ho scale and n scale right now

[@chrisrobertson8214]

Having fun! Enjoy, be safe and love the White Pass locomotive!

[@jayvee1947]

Laying the tracks must have been fun throughout the house.

[@daniellealanis3564]

I love videos

[@q80aziz]

Yes indeed thank God for the finest of indoor hobbies during such difficult times as we are stuck at home and with nothing else to do except keeping the trains running and expanding the layout

[@christophercddelrosariocoish]

Jim, I think you need an EMD SD40-2 in your collection of G scale trains

[@jayhay6497]

Awesome

[@HitTrainz]

Awesome collection, love it! Thank god for the lockdown in our part of the world, I also get to keep my layout 24x7 around the house. I've been recording and posting new vids everyday.

[@ecoRfan]

This is how we all need to spend quarantine. To all, wishing you to stay safe and healthy.

[@nssrrailfan6443]

Jim, I keep on wanting a G Scale, but I only have a HO and N scale! Hope your doing well with this pandemic! I've been following you for a long time.

[@cooliotrainlover1213]

MG Pham u should be proud u have ho cuz that is the best scale

[@fizzo3535]

Nice video 🚂

[@louiselanthier5135]

Wow! Your house sounds like a train station!

[@ayushffgamer1005]

Awesome trains

[@randomvintagefilm273]

Wow, my nephews would love this! Awesome!

[@theresacastrence7168]

I like ur train collection

[@evosagara]

I also have kinda g scale train model that I made by paper lol , nice model still

[@gabreneeiela]

that looks fun

[@hiena8511]

Nice loco It looks very good

[@HughMartell]

Next stop......Laundry Room!

[@lindseymccoy1633]

i love sf 707

[@Brianrockrailfan]

Awesome video liked 🚄🚂👍

[@lynneplambeck2026]

Love watching, thanks for the crashes, gave me a little giggle!!

[@amandabyron4838]

My 2 year old thanks you very much!! He loves trains and he has been watching this the last hour. So cool!!

[@nscalefun]

AWESOME!!! Thank you for sharing and keep up the good work.

[@Gorgile1939]

This is what quarantine does to you

[@User123x]

Cool video Jim, I always enjoy watching your trains run!

[@alcopower5710]

Good times. Thank goodness for trains

[@toffeesamaddar1315]

Its awesome

[@sistamay2010]

I heard that there is a new G scale Diesel for 2020.

[@doctorstrange3470]

Nice video

[@logammoran784]

Crazy

[@sch_ilis9928]

neat

[@aussiejohn5835]

Great train layout. I am interested to see what you do with your trains in your new home. Will you have a permanent set up in the new place? BTW I enjoyed the bloopers.

[@JimZim]

A permanent layout doesn't interest me at all. For me, the fun is in building a new and different layout each time I set up the trains. At the new house, I'll be using the same strategy I use here at this house... setting up the trains for a few days... making a video... and then putting the trains away again so that we don't have to step over tracks. But there will be so much more room at the new house that I'll be able to do lots of interesting creative layouts.

[@aussiejohn5835]

@@JimZim Thanks for the quick reply and I look forward to seeing more of your imagination at work in your new home.

[@areydas5112]

my hubby and I love the coca-cola train!

[@c418stal5]

Never say “hubby” on KZbin, people will think you’re old

[@muskanshaw9035]

Wow

[@Svenly892]

Thomas!

[@michaelwashington2682]

Must take a long time to put down all the tracks

[@JimZim]

Not really. I've gotten pretty good at it. Let's say four or five hours.

[@jansenhobbs2214]

I forgot that there are video previews on phones so I just saw the santa fe creep in frame and it actually scared me

[@PremShah_Realtor]

Wow Loved it. I am big fan of model train, always wanted to start somewhere, can you please share cost of build up. Also where did u purchase tracks and trains? Any suggestions for beginners

[@JimZim]

These are G scale model trains, which are the most expensive size of the popular model train sizes. You'd find that getting in to smaller HO scale trains would be more affordable. What you see in this video is about $15,000 worth of G scale trains. But it's possible to get started in G scale for less than $1000 if you keep the layout very small and basic. I buy all my model trains from www.Trainworld.com You might want to take a look at their starter sets at www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/model-train-starter-sets/

[@PremShah_Realtor]

@@JimZim Thanks. Really appreciate it. I will check out their website and start with small

[@charliejacobs3768]

Where did you get the Amtrak diesel locomotive. Is it easy to install sound in the tracks

[@JimZim]

The Amtrak diesel locomotive was made by MTH Trains several years ago, but they don't make them anymore. In fact, MTH trains has actually announced that they will be completely going out of business starting in 2021. I don't understand your question about installing sound in the tracks. You don't install sound in the tracks. The tracks carry power to the locomotives, but all the sound equipment is installed in the locomotives. And in every train in my collection, the sound equipment was installed in the factory. I haven't installed any after-market sound units in any of my trains. Too complicated. I but trains where it comes with sound already installed by the manufacturer.

[@charliejacobs3768]

Jim Zim what locomotives do they make and are available to purchase

[@JimZim]

Take a look at www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/mth-trains/mth-trains-g-scale/ Remember, this is just G scale. They also make other scales, too. If you see "add to cart", the item is in stock and available for sale. If you see "taking backorders", the item is not in stock and might not ever be again.

[@martialmusic]

How do you manage to live in your house? 😊

[@HughMartell]

Had to sign a contract with my wife.

[@newcris9769]

good evening friend, excellent job. I would like to buy that amount of rails and trains, could you give me a page where you can find them? please

[@JimZim]

I bought most of it from www.trainworld.com Be aware that what you see in this video is a collection of individual model train components that cost around $15,000 USD.

[@annamalaipalaniappan5473]

Mr Jim I just not seen the Thom's engine friends Annie and Clara bell and inspection car Winston please show the video of salty and disiel the disiel locos and Gordon , henry

[@elainevelazquez7011]

How Do you get you Locomotives?😯😯 (Just Wondering) Can you make a video about how to get a Locomotive. PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!!!

[@JimZim]

It's really easy, actually. I buy them from www.trainworld.com

[@nicholashidekishigenagados5849]

It's so coolest and i love thomas james percy toby and emily from thomas & Friends man this is so cool much better that stupid coronavirus of course 💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞

[@palaniappanmuthu5817]

Hey Mr. Jim your new is under working so the trains are getting excited for new running na! And Mr. Jim you can do any coupling videos with alaska white pass train in the reverse mode with freight please my friends are asking😊

[@daniilfilms]

Nice lay out by the way I work as a conductor at a train my train I’m on is a Santa Fe hello train number 35000

[@etapproductions]

You should really build a graden railroad

[@elleryparsons5766]

When you have to stay home I would Be doing the same thing but in Ho,and N scale Besides I Need a 5x9 Board.

[@RaptorParallax]

Hey from where did you buy those trains

[@JimZim]

www.trainworld.com

[@tutorial_-6795]

No actually the santa fe one that carys fright cars

[@essexrailfanningnortheast9413]

Hi jim Zimmerman is this layout in your new home?

[@JimZim]

No. Our move is not until September. You'll definitely know when we're in our new house. It will look completely different than this, and I'm sure I'll be making a big deal about the first few videos from there.

[@stefanharrison5337]

jim zim can you do parade of model trains please? from stefan harrison

[@xcalixgrownx8318]

Where can I purchase this train sets? My 3 year old is obsessed with trains

[@JimZim]

G scale model trains are surprisingly expensive. What you see in this video is a collection of model trains that was acquired one item at a time over a period of about five years. The cost for all the model train equipment shown in the video was about $15,000 The least expensive G scale trains are the Thomas & Friends trains. A starter set costs less than $300. You can buy it at www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/bachmann/bachmann-g-scale/bachmann-thomas-friends-2/bachmann-90069-percy-and-the-troublesome-trucks-set/

[@xcalixgrownx8318]

@@JimZim thank you so much for your reply. I guess I'll wait till he is older. For now we will stick to the track master lol

[@dodobirdrs5331]

Do more than one in a video

[@highoctanegames]

What scale is this, G? Ho? Or 2 rail o Scale?

[@JimZim]

It's G scale

[@highoctanegames]

@@JimZim okay

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

My Amtrak derailed in 1981 twenty-one hours into it (ny-west palm).

[@toffeesamaddar1315]

Is in in your new home?

[@JimZim]

No. Our move is not until August. Believe me, you'll know when I start doing videos from the new house. It won't look anything like this!

[@bablimanna6325]

I think your home is very big...

[@bhubankashyap8203]

I want to buy this set....where it is available

[@JimZim]

It's not a set you can buy. What you're looking at in this video is a collection of model trains that were purchased individually over a period of years. The value of the model trains shown here is approximately $15,000 USD.

[@w2112ssf]

Great, Nice and super video!

[@UrLocalTTTEFan]

Is this Bachman

[@tekkendojo5159]

oh my god

[@arthurperrin8114]

Put a half a million longest csx train

[@PlowBenderStudios]

Really didn't like hearing that crunch during the fail reel. Sounded expensive... That Super Chief is a site to behold though. I actually saw the retailer Roll-Ez Wheels on eBay has a USA Trains all chrome A-B-B-A set for which was only 1 of 5 sets ever made worldwide. At a price of almost $5000 though, you'd need some pretty deep pockets to afford such a thing. G scale certainly is an expensive hobby, but I can think of worse things to spend money on.

[@newbright2629]

Hey Jim do you have any of the new bright trains or scientific toys eztec trains or not

[@JimZim]

Not that I kept. But I did buy an EZTEC Christmas train set once, just to do a video about it. I later gave that train away to a young friend of mine. You can see the video at kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3SUcopomLCFsK8

[@newbright2629]

Yes I did see it and I have a g scale layout outside .

[@phatboy3718]

You get quarantined?

[@christinahughes5390]

NS911

[@tutorial_-6795]

Your stuck at home beacause of covid19 and playing in home while covid19 playing at home with trains i want too buy the yellow nad green one

[@JimZim]

G scale model trains are super expensive. I wouldn't really recommend you get in to it until much later in life when you have a lot of money saved away. What you're looking at in this video is about $15,000 worth of model train equipment!

[@tutorial_-6795]

Ok

[@babulubarmapoojababulu1887]

Train price

[@JimZim]

What you're looking at here is a collection of individual model train items that were acquired over a period of years. The total cost was in excess of $15,000 USD.

[@gigabuster_87]

I guess walking barefoot in your home is not recommended, is it?

[@ysaiasmartinspereira3737]

Lol may frends say portugue

[@momandmase1987]

Why aren't you talking in the video?

[@hiena8511]

I think you thon like so much you electricity bill

[@modernblueberry8332]

Thomas and Percy long passenger double header