Lance Mindheim Inspired Small Shelf Layout Ops

[@HartfordWhaler]

I love the layout. Inspired me to do more ops on my own layout and take a break from building scenery. Thanks for the post.

[@SouthDown]

I love your layout! And your videos are super funny! If you ever want to do some kind of collaboration please let me know. My first freight car between layouts seems to have stalled but would love to do another.

[@MLWQC]

That is very impressive. The joy of switching -reliably - can be very addictive. The blue box loco looks, sound and run great! You are 100% right: it outperforms some very expensive current book holder available on the market today.

[@SouthDown]

As always, a real treat to get feedback from a veteran champion of modern railroading on my channel. Everything I do was inspired by you. And yes, reliability seems a lost word in the hobby’s dictionary.

[@MLWQC]

@@SouthDown That is very generous , thank you, however give credit where credit is due: And that is you! You created an excellent switching layout, well thought out with extremely reliable rolling stock and loco. Plus your video are second to none. Always a pleasure to hear and see what you are doing. Quite decent of you to share and to take us along with you on your journey. I am glad you stuck it out despite some shaky beginning in this hobby. Well done Sir.

[@DaveCoTrains]

I am the same way. Drop everything and run some trains. The layout is looking great. That Athearn runs and sounds great. Thanks for the share.

[@SouthDown]

Always appreciate having your feedback! Running smooth and reliable trains is the best part. And they seem to run better when the environment is closer to complete. I’m happy you like that little engine!

[@mattw9667]

Well filmed Leo. Keeps the interest up on what can be boring for some. Those different camera angles really work well.

[@SouthDown]

Thanks! I wasn’t expecting this kind of response to me blowing a horn up and down the tracks but your feedback is always a hallmark of approval in my books. Thank you for your support!

[@michaelcudby787]

I do love watching slow moving , realistic running models. I used to repower my older BB Athearn models, to make them run slowly, but these days, with DCC well advanced, the decoders do the job instead of repowering them, especially if you spend a little more for a good decoder. I spend a lot of time on my layout just doing switching.The track has to be spotless & loco wheels also, & I have a lot of fun.Just to add more prototype running, I program momentom & braking into my decoders. Takes a little practice, but it gets better with use.Thankyou for the vid, sir. Michael NZ

[@SouthDown]

Thank you for your feedback! It’s nice to hear from others who appreciate slow moving models running on smooth track. I especially love consisting two engines and have them slowly start or come to a mutual grinding halt.

[@scotabot7826]

Yes, to me, the momentum and braking is EVERYTHING. Quick starts and stops as well as jerking is a major turnoff to me. It's all about scale movements and real train handling in my modeling.

[@SouthDown]

I appreciate your feedback! Nothing makes me cringe more than watching model trains jack rabbit on a track.

[@scotabot7826]

Great video, and the locomotive looks and sounds just sweet. Wonderful job!

[@SouthDown]

Thanks for the kind comments! I had a veteran modeller show me how to do it. A lot to cram in not a lot of space especially when you try to put as big a speaker as you can.

[@_j5_]

Love lance’s designs.

[@SouthDown]

The layout is his canvas. Thanks for the feedback!

[@rolandhersom239]

I have, amongst my 28 other locos, an Athern blue box GP30 which is still running well, despite its 61 year old life! I also have a Tyco F9 which is also 61 years old. I replaced the plastic wheels with metal and despite the fact that it is only 4 wheel drive, is quite useful in multiple unit lashups and for running the track cleaning car.

[@SouthDown]

That is absolutely incredible! Something to be said about models of yesteryear. With some loving, they can still provide hours of entertainment. Thank you for your support!

[@patricknoveski6409]

Lance, your track work is awesome. Train runs smoothly & the sound is very nice. Thank you. P.j. Carpinteria Calif

[@SouthDown]

Thank you for your feedback! Lance is truly a master.

[@Joe-d7m6k]

Love the paint scheme on that switcher . Nice trackplan also!!

[@SouthDown]

Thanks! This oldie ended up being a fun little engine and the Lance Mindheim inspired track plan really lives up to his philosophical promise! Thank you for your feedback!

[@michaelsmodelrailroading7665]

A nice little switching session. There's a lot to be said for older, smaller locomotives. First, there are a lot of them out there, and they're inexpensive. Secondly, they are easy to upgrade with new sound decoders, speakers and LED lighting. And most importantly, their small size works much better on small switching layouts. Thanks for sharing your switching session.

[@SouthDown]

I won't lie, as a newbie, taking a model apart and installing a decoder is still a daunting task, especially for someone as clumsy as me! So many things that can go wrong. But when I get it right you are left with perfect little gems like this switcher that make switching (and blowing the horn!) so much fun. Really appreciate the kind feedback from a model railroading veteran such as yourself!

[@michaelsmodelrailroading7665]

I’m still learning, as well. What has really helped me has been watching YT videos of decoder installations, of which there seems to be an endless number. No matter the make or model of loco, someone has posted a video of a decoder installation and related upgrades. Often there are a number of videos detailing installation of different types of decoders and related accessories. accessories.

[@SouthDown]

Thank you,@@michaelsmodelrailroading7665! You are correct! I've replaced all my locomotives with legacy Life Like Proto 2000 models and installed sound decoders in them. Their performance is spectacular, especially at slow speeds. I have a couple of switching videos coming up in June/July showcasing both slow speed performance and the high quality sound. Thanks again for your advice!

[@joeraderblackrockcentralrr]

do you have a video of the DCC install in the switcher? That thing sounds sweet

[@SouthDown]

As I followed the much better and clearly more skilled videos of others on how to do any of this I only have a photograph of its innards which I’ll share in my next video.

[@tracksidemike]

Always gotta make time to run some trains. Great video and share making great progress

[@SouthDown]

Huge accolades from a veteran railroader like yourself! Thank you!

[@tracksidemike]

@@SouthDown thanks

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

Excellent operations session, looks fantastic, you need to show me how you installed your ground throws , great video

[@SouthDown]

I’d be happy to show you but you will laugh at how simple my method is!

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

I like simple

[@StxPhonesetup]

I love that locomotive

[@SouthDown]

Thanks! The recycled Rio Grande orange and the light grey combined with cranky engine sound really give this little runner a fun look. Combined with the slug, it certainly is an eye catcher.

[@modelrailroader5619]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[@SouthDown]

Thank YOU! I appreciate your taking the time to show support.

[@moghobbystuff]

Looking great! The engine is perfect (and clearly has a very effective horn!) Nice neat video, thanks! (editing it down is always a task, but worth it I think?)

[@SouthDown]

You are the inspiration for this whole channel, down to the editing. Even the eBay finds are a testament of your early videos. Here’s to doing something creative with my hero.

[@andyknott8148]

As you say, nothing wrong with a "Blue Box", plenty of space for speakers, keep alive etc.

[@SouthDown]

This one was a tight fit due to the motor and mechanism, but despite that there's a massive 17mm speaker in there and the decoder was neatly tucked inside the cab. It's such a fun little engine to use.

[@andyknott8148]

@@SouthDown Only problem is the Engineer wakes up the neighbourhood by keep playing the bugles.🙉

[@SouthDown]

Hah, he certainly does! Fortunately household management hasn’t passed any by-laws yet to tame the excessive bugle usage.

[@SouthernAlco]

Do you have a video of you installing the DCC and sound in the Athearn bluebox SW1500.

[@SouthDown]

I do not. I simply followed this tutorial I found on KZbin, which is much neater than what I did: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHyXe2ShrLermrs Albeit I used a different decoder, isolating the motor is the same.

[@nyg21bd]

Do you have a track plan of this? I would love to see the dimensions.

[@SouthDown]

Would this tour of the layout help? kzbin.info/www/bejne/raqldHenbMZga68si=_jm-i6hIbPu_jhw8

[@StxPhonesetup]

WOW, so cool

[@SouthDown]

Thank you! I greatly appreciate your feedback and that you took the time to provide it.

[@StxPhonesetup]

May I ask for the dimensions

[@SouthDown]

Would this satisfy? kzbin.info/www/bejne/raqldHenbMZga68si=_jm-i6hIbPu_jhw8

[@eddiemaestas4734]

Whats the dimensions of your shelf? What Kind of Locomotive is that and where did you get it from?

[@SouthDown]

It’s 245 cm long and 35 cm wide or about 8 feet long and 14 inches wide. The locomotive is a very old Athearn Blue Box. You can usually find them very cheap at train shows. You don’t want them too too old as those older motors are going to blow your decoder with its 2 amp limit.

[@SouthDown]

Here is a better tour: kzbin.info/www/bejne/raqldHenbMZga68si=_jm-i6hIbPu_jhw8

[@petercoumans5195]

Hi, what type of uncoupler is used? I see a disk type in the first shots where you uncouple the caboose. Nevertheless a nice video.

[@SouthDown]

Just a barbecue stick. The circle you are seeing is from the AnyRail trackplan printed to scale. You can see it better here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKvFgml6ntZnY5I

[@MyFingerLakesRailwayLayout]

Very enjoyable. Maybe need more horns? 😄

[@SouthDown]

Maybe more cowbell. The bell sounds like something a cow would wear. Hehe.

[@beeble2003]

The angled camera really doesn't work here. It's used in cinema to create a sense of unease, which surely isn't what you're looking for. Alternatively, it's used in still photography to create interesting geometric effects, like lining things along the diagonal of the frame rather than parallel to the edges -- again, that doesn't seem to be what you're looking for, as your compositions aren't putting anything strong along the diagonals.

[@SouthDown]

Thanks for your awesome feedback! I didn’t realize trying to fit more in the frame by tilting the camera had this powerful effect. Would you have any other constructive criticism and suggestions on shots that would be more friendly for the theme at hand? Thanks again for watching with such a professional eye!

[@dogyerf21]

Can barely hear your voice, then get BLASTED! With train noise.

[@SouthDown]

Thanks for the heads up! Not sure what to say. Watched the episode again and it sounds fine on my end on any device I tried.