Happy Hobo Trains 2020 HO Scale Model Railroad Layout Tour "A Closer Look" Parts 1 thru 3 of 3

[@jeeratedfilms]

What a beautiful layout. The scenery work is stunning. Beyond that, my biggest goal in watching your video end-to-end was to gain insight into your tools of selective compression -- how you managed to fit satisfying operation and a sense of place + time into your railroad, without needing an enormous space to do it. In fact, I think you have mastered this art in a way that isn't always well-captured in the model press, and many in the hobby will benefit from. As a viewer, it feels as though you've got it "just right". Some specific details I noticed are: - You don't need a staging yard at either end to achieve satisfying operation - You can find space in unexpected places to add interest and activity: e.g. placing the east and west yards with ladders in reverse to each other, and adding industrial areas that wrap around the mainline - Giving priority to the "scene" or "vignette" that captures a place: the Portland station, the St. Johnsbury elevator, the Crawford station - You don't need double-ended yards for them to be visually appealing and functional - Incredibly effective use of curved turnouts to create a flowing appearance while saving space Would you mind sharing your mainline curve radius, and the overall size of the room, to help put things in perspective? Thank you again for sharing!

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I appreciate the fact that viewers enjoy the layout, and many, like you, seem to "get it". The vignette idea is not original, but I don't even remember who the inspiration was from. It is a very enjoyable layout to operate for 1-5 people, and at that point the room gets a bit crowded. Usually I have one or two operators plus myself, and that keeps us busy for as long as we want. One thing I really enjoy about the operating program Shipit! is that it never becomes repetitious, as every session is different. Also, you can stop when you feel like, and the railroad is ready for another session with no additional setup. It takes maybe 10 minutes to generate a session (One "day" on the layout) and to print out the switchlists. The room is roughly 19' by 21'. The diagonal configuration of the main peninsula is due to an existing workbench that is actually a structural part of the room. There is a hallway under the workbench, and storage space under the whole room, with six 4' x 8' wheeled carts to provide access. There is more junk stored down there than should be allowed! The curve radius on the lower deck main line is 30" minimum, and the Mountain Division and upper deck mainline is 24" minimum, and the single track, 4-turn helix is 28". There are actually 4 staging tracks on the lower deck that help create traffic to the outside world, plus a through track to enable running a train continuously for the occasional visitor that couldn't care less about watching trains switching in yards! For me, the size of the layout is big enough. There is always plenty to do both from an operating standpoint as well as construction projects. Any bigger would be more work to build and maintain than I would want. If I had lots more space, the layout would be single deck, but not more track complexity, and I have no desire to start over even if I had the space! My layout design is not for everyone, but it surely keeps me entertained!

[@davidsheriff8989]

A lot of detailed work in this layout...attention to yard and realism is fabulous..

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Glad you like it. I've been building and collecting stuff since about 1957, and it's finally starting to come together! Thank you for your kind remarks.

[@ralphmitchell9762]

As a young boy in Maine my dream was to model the mountain division. Never had the space or the money. Doing a small layout now based on rural Maine in the early 1950s.

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Have fun in the space you have and be assured that whatever space you have is not enough! Sooner or later you get to a wall and say "darn, if I had 3 more inches I could get another track in here!" Even if you have bowling alley.

[@pilierofq]

I live in ST J and love your vid!!! Thanks. Amazing layout it is a dream !!!

[@donaldsauret5850]

Thank you! You are most kind.

[@MojaveModelRailroad]

Want an awesome layout. I'd never leave. Thanks for the great tour and even for some great ideas going forward.

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Thanks for watching!

[@ronchickadel5837]

amazing work / detailing . wow

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@davestrains6816]

Beautiful layout. So much detail. Great explanation of the layout, thanks for sharing. Dave

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@chrishedrick6433]

Awesome layout completly enjoyed the tour and a insight on how you run it. Hope one day mine will be as great as yours.

[@HappyHoboTrains]

You can do it!

[@freakazoid5907]

I really enjoy your videos, hoping to see some new videos.

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Working on it!

[@pilierofq]

24:50 lived on the top flr of that bldg in ST J the round rm on top was my living rm best time in my life!

[@donaldsauret5850]

Incredible to meet someone who has lived "on my layout"! I tried to be respectful and still be able to build my depiction in a limited space. I always loved St. J!

[@woodalexander]

Great looking layout! A lot packed into a small space.

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Thank you for your comments. We all work with the space we have, or can negotiate!

[@johnstevens8168]

A very good looking layout. Thanks for the tour.

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Glad you enjoyed it. You are most welcome.

[@jwchenard1]

Great looking layout. Given your home and former business "down south", what's the source of your interest in and knowledge of northern New England railroads?

[@HappyHoboTrains]

My mother was born in Portland, and the family lived in Maine until I was 16. We moved to Michigan in 1959, but my heart will always be in Maine.

[@cbrailroader642]

Very nice, beautiful layout!

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Thank you very much!

[@muhammadnasran2112]

Very nice layout

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Thank you for watching and your kind comments.

[@MetalMania3DTV-TAS-AUS]

Hi there my friend hoping your ok, have herd or seen anything for a while, just hope your doing well my friend cheers KC Cradle Mountain Tasmania Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺🤝🇺🇸🇺🇸😎🙂👍

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Thank, you. I'm doing OK, and do have a couple of ideas I'm working on for new video.

[@phidias523]

I have very fond memories of the layout you had in your store on Church Street. Do you have pics of that layout? I always loved going into that store.

[@HappyHoboTrains]

I don't have any pictures of the layout at the Church Street store, but I do have some of the Waters Avenue store layout. I am working on a new video which will have some shots of that layout, coming up in early 2021.

[@phidias523]

@@HappyHoboTrains thanks, can’t wait to see it!

[@uptownphotography]

Great video as always...I really like the finished off look of the layout. Did you make all (what appears to be oak wood) boxes that you mounted the turnout controls and track schematics. Now you have me thinking I might use oak for the same purpose as I have worked with hardwoods before and it always look great. Thanks. Phil

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Yes I did. I am a mediocre woodworker, and hate staining, so a clear finish on some kind of attractive wood is my favorite way to go. Mother nature has already done the hard work of getting the color right. Even clear coated pine looks pretty good.

[@uptownphotography]

@@HappyHoboTrains Yes I understand with staining. I made all the kitchen cabinets for my mom's kitchen about 15 years ago and I put clear sealer on the wood. I made them out of Maple, except the range hood I made of a combination of Oak and Maple. They came out great and saved a lot of money, but I will likely never tackle a job like that again as it took me many months to make all those cabinets. (25 of them) If I had not already scratch built many HO bridges (about 25 or so....I lost count) I would not likely have developed the patience to take on such a venture withe cabinets. I guess I can indirectly thank John Allen for the patience to tackle such a project....I think I had mentioned to you on another of your videos, that John was my favorite modeler....Allen McClelland was also a favorite....Thanks. Phil

[@HappyHoboTrains]

@@uptownphotography It's interesting that our lives have such parallels. My kitchen also is maple, from rough wood from northern Maine! A big job for sure, but not something you will buy at a big box store, though! Your Mom will never forget it either, I am sure.

[@uptownphotography]

@@HappyHoboTrains Yes....My mom very much liked the cabinets, although the construction definitely played havoc with her kitchen for a while......a loooooong while! I am curious Don, do any of your videos show a track plan for your layout? I'd be interested in seeing that if you have it in one of your videos. It's such a nice layout, and that always makes me interested in learning more...Thanks. Phil

[@steverosko1732]

Impressive!

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Thanks for watching!

[@bugsmoran21]

One of the Best Hot Dog joints around, Fat Franks, is in Bellows Falls, VT!!!!!

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Good to know for future travel to that area!

[@bradleyogden5688]

I'm subscribing!

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Thank you for watching and subscribing!

[@warrencleversy2773]

Are you still modeling your railroad Don???

[@HappyHoboTrains]

Very much so. I enjoy the operation so much that I haven't made a new video in a while, but have a couple under construction.