Large Home Model Railroad: Oregon Joint Line Layout Tour

[@JulietS4]

This is the best layout I’ve ever seen. It has the perfect mix of freelance and prototype. I love it. When I made my first layout track plan, I originally went from Burns to Dayville, however I didn’t want to plagiarize your layout too much so instead I now model a fictional Burlington Northern line that runs through the Salmon River area in Idaho. Thanks for the inspiration, Dean!

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

thanks @Joey Specchio, I don't mind if you use the concept - I'd be interested to see your interpretation.

[@trainknut]

Funny story: before I had ever found this layout on KZbin I had already been working on the beginning stage of my own version of a Oregon joint line freelance. My version cuts a route through the mountains east from Klamath Falls(Upper Klamath Lake technically) to connect the SP mainline in the southwest with the UP line in the northeast at Burns. Apparently this was a real idea that E.H. Harriman had come up with to "unify" the two halves of his railroad empire towards the end of his life. Harriman's dreams of a second Overland Route never came to fruition but I believe the same general idea later evolved into the Oregon California and Eastern railway. I didn't know about this when I came up with the idea, I just thought it'd be neat to have a PNW-based route that both SP and UP trains could use. Once I discovered this channel, pfft, like 7 years ago? the lore of this freelance kinda fit into my own concepts like a glove. So rather than try to "move" my own freelance somewhere else, I just decided to directly reference and cross over the Joint Line when my route eventually enters same territory. Actually, the existence of the 'Oregon Joint Line' perfectly justifies my own "Oregon Southeastern", as it gives legitimate reasons for SP to want to tap into the eastern Oregon rail market. In the revised timeline, the SP and UP, along with healthy assistance from the WP, built their own competing version of the Joint Line which serves as a secondary mainline for UP and SP's joint east-west traffic, allowing greater flexibility for UP trains going west and SP trains going east. It's more accurately described as a bridge line, but just like the OJL, the OSE uses mixed power/equipment from both "parent" lines. Yes, this was all just an elaborate scheme to put challengers and cab forwards on the same trains. I also liked the idea of WP extending their trackage rights on the SP in Oregon all the way to Portland, which would increase traffic over the Shasta and Cascade lines significantly, therefore, once again, giving legitimate business reasons for a totally unnecessary secondary mainline to be built through sparsely-populated East Oregon. If any of y'all watch TSG Multimedia, the WP Oregon Division that John covered way back like 8 years ago was another big inspiration that kinda formed the current identity of my freelance, which I've been working on since 2015. In my version of American history, Oregon was a much busier place in the 1920s-1960s than it already was in real life. Though traffic declines in the mid 60s and late 70s would probably doom my accidentally plagiarized little railroad one way or the other, regardless of freelance shenanigans. The point of this long winded comment being: thank you for the inspiration... and to be frank, being the blatant research source for most of my work. (I don't live in Oregon, and information/pictures of railroads that don't exist are surprisingly not very easy to come by)

[@liamcooper5202]

Tunnel motors back in the 60's? Real nice layout. Simple and can get alot of people involved

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

thanks Liam - I'm not a total purist when it comes to era (it's 69-ish) especially when my favorite style of SP locos are involved. And for whatever reason there just hasn't been much in the way of SP big power releases in N scale over the past decade. What I'd really like to see is SD45's!

[@liamcooper5202]

@@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125 scale trains, intermountain, Kato does the AC44 and dash 9 and sd45 while atlas has the sd40/50/60 I too am not a true purest but i do tend to not stray from UP and BNSF conglomerate

[@trainknut]

@@liamcooper5202 Those models you mentioned are all over 20 years old and most have really rudimentary tooling, no allowances for prototype specific details like the SP light packages & L windows or the NP nose beacons. I doubt anyone in N scale in 2024(or 2021) is unaware of Kato and Atlas, what people are asking for is some updated versions of these models with finer details and in Atlas's case, much better performance. At least that's what _I'm_ asking for. I have a couple Kato SD45's I kitbashed for SP a couple years back, and they are so old the models I built off could have been purchased by the actual Southern Pacific railroad, and they're _still_ the newest version of the SD45 available for N scale(if you care about performance that is)

[@liamcooper5202]

@trainknut kato has changed the frame since your 45s. They are heaps lighter now (probably less lead or something in the alloy), but they don't pull half as well anymore. You need a 90 to get close to what the old 45swould pull. Atlas has updated tooling on most of the masterline think mid late 2000s. Scale trains and intermountain are both newer tooling. Intermountain, at least, got the light packs rights just not operational. Scaletrains have everything to spec for each RR, but need to do more models

[@trainknut]

@@liamcooper5202 Scaletrains are indeed leading the market right now, it's pretty well known Scaletrains has effectively taken up the mantle that Athearn used to hold. Yeah athearn is still around and making models, but a lot of the guys who made 2000s era Athearn so great have moved on to Scaletrains, which is why their quality is so good across the board. I wish they could do more though, they still haven't done their SD45s in N yet and arguably those are the best models they've done to date. I would buy so many if they made a batch of 60s/70s era schemes with road specific details. And I'd buy even more if they offered 80s/90s schemes.

[@toddmccaw]

Still the most amazing layout I have ever seen. Just the right amount of everything, and it operates as good as it looks!

[@billanderson4619]

I just noticed the Les Schwab "February is Free Beef Month" sign at 6:13. I have ridden my motorcycle through much of eastern Oregon and am amazed at how well you have captured the scenery and "feel" of the area.

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

thanks for that Bill. Just like the ads say (or used to say) "Look for the sign you're in Les Schwab country!"

[@troystone7392]

Wow…this is some layout. Picture Gulch is one of the most amazing scenes I’ve ever seen on any layout. At least as amazing as any long, tall curved trestle. Great job.

[@christopherorourke6543]

Great video of the Oregon Joint Line layout & in N scale. I’m an N scale modeler myself, my layout which is the Pacific West Coast railroad is only temporary at the present time. I run a Santa Fe freight on it, also run an Amtrak Superliner I call the Coast Starlight if I run it at night & if I run it in the daytime it is the Coast Daylight and my Southern Pacific Morning Daylight pulled by GS-4 number 4449 is my excursion train. I have scratch built 4 water towers, a steam locomotive oil tank & four diesel fuel storage tanks using empty Progresso soup cans, drink u brellas, 1/2 inch dowels & newspapers for he railroad water towers. The empty carpet fresh containers along with 1/2 inch thick styrofoam sheet for the diesel fuel tanks & the steam locomotive oil tank from empty Progresson soup cans, a hose clamp & stryafoam sheet for the cradles. The water tower spouts are bendable drink straws & balsa wood for the water tower ladders.

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

sounds interesting - thanks for sharing fellow N scaler!

[@benuk14]

Superb modelling. I thought this was HO until you mentioned that it was N, amazing!

[@taylorbaggarleyunionpacifi4082]

I love visit your layout someday dean your layout is so awesome

[@davidbarnett7145]

Thanks for the tour of your railroad.

[@franswah100]

Absolutely beautiful layout

[@sock2828]

I'm amazed at just how good your recreation of eastern Oregon terrain is. Picture Gorge is almost spot on.

[@darrenadams13]

WOW.. that layout looks Amazing !

[@rubenvillanueva622]

Excellent video and narration!, Looking forward to more operations at Silvies Yard. Retired from Air Traffic Control, after 34 years, and Silvies yard operations brings back many memories, thanks!

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

Thanks Ruben - I always wondered if being an Air Traffic Controller wasn't a similar job...

[@rjl110919581]

thank you super detailed video as great watching as show your detailed layout and operation

[@tanzianempire8761]

I've seen your glorious line in a magazine, m' boy!😍👍😎

[@brucejordan972]

Yeah mate! Beautiful guys just beautiful. What a great rail system you have ! All the best to you all from me bj. A Great Northern R R fan.

[@RainierRailroader]

Love the layout theme! Terrain, attention to detail, yard/job scenarios, and crew dialogue are all phenomenal! Gives me a chance to compare what I hear working in modern BNSF yards to what it might have benn like for the predecessors, but what old school railroading was like. Love it! Also can't forget, but maybe its just because I worked the same job number today, heh... "Job 201 to Monument, MAKE ME HAPPY NOW!!"

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

Thanks, I didn't actually work for the railroad in this era - but I did work with a lot of guys who worked during this era and they taught me the finer points of switching. Are you working out of Seattle or Tacoma? I worked Seattle and Everett. In Seattle I worked with a guy who said, "Make me happy now" probably 20 times a shift.

[@RainierRailroader]

@@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125 you were in Interbay with him?? Oh man, makes me wonder if he's retired or not yet. I hired out of Interbay in June of 2018, but I live in Tacoma. Might float around the northwest a bit when I get the chance, but we'll see. Anyways I understand you were a yardmaster back in the 90's (I read comments), so I figured you worked with a bunch of old heads. Who knows, I've probably worked with a handful of your crews by now

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

The "Make Me Happy" guy is long gone - would guess he retired around 1998 or so.

[@billanderson4619]

Great layout. I have taken many motorcycle trips through John Day country and eastern Oregon and have ridden through some of the towns on your layout. Your scenery accurately depicts the area. Looking forward to watching the rest of your videos.

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

thanks Bill, I took all the backdrop photos during trips to the John Day country.

[@SilverCometMedia]

Amazing, I would love to buy the whole thing if i had enough money. This is by far my favorite layout I've seen yet. I'd love to visit if I go up there.

[@beeble2003]

*down there. The layout is actually in Texas.

[@ptitrainrouge]

love your layout tour with the different trains; the scenery is awesome. Keep showing your progress

[@jdmills4370]

Your first attempt at scratchbuilding large structures was a success!

[@toddbehrends1373]

Thanks for the tour. Looks like your work is well thought out. Looking forward to seeing more.

[@rubenvillanueva622]

Though it takes time to accomplish, I look forward to your operation sessions, looking forward to seeing your next video. Your layout is First Class, my compliments you and all your members, from The Costa del Sol, Spain

[@rimodeler7963]

Hi Dean: The lumber mills looks awesome as does the Snowline Ranch. I agree that NP #8 looks fantastic rolling around the 56" radius curve ...... very sleek! The SP freight rolling through Picture Gorge is absolutely spectacular ...... the added sound is a great touch. The Picture Gorge scene is phenomenal. I've told you before that your photo backdrops have added another level of realism to your layout. Overall, just a great model railroad ........ 5 stars!! Mike

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

thanks Mike - I tried to do the entire thing in one shot but I just couldn't juggle that many throttles and still hold the camera. As it is I was able to do it in three shots. Looking forward to seeing the Model Railroader article on your layout (I need to make sure my subscription didn't expire...).

[@jalbhagwagar3353]

Stunner! In my top ten. 🤝 🥇

[@gmburzynski68]

Once a great job Dean!! If I had to describe the layout..it has "IT". It all flows so seamlessly. Great work!!!

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

thanks Wyatt!

[@upsd402]

Very nice layout, love the updates, and how the Railroads interchange with each other.

[@formerparatrooper]

The Mars light on the lead NP unit should be on with the headlight. Really nice modeling in N scale.

[@anotherluckyone]

Beautifully done all round. Thanks for showing us.

[@Tezzathelearner]

I was surprised you seem to have a lot of desert hills in Oregon. I model the outback railway lines in Australia (NSW) but our deserts don't have the hills and mountain formations that yours do. Cheers, Terry

[@petermodin8719]

You nailed the large industry scratch build at the first attempt!! Looks great! thank you sir for sharing. :)

[@TrainLordJC]

Absolutely excellent. Well done. Greetings from Train Lord in South Australia

[@jamesleake2121]

A interesting video like your layout keep up the good work hope to see more videos soon

[@kropotken]

Nice update. Enjoy your videos.

[@LeslieGilpinRailways]

Oregon Joint Line is awesome with some really inspirational scenes. Would love to see a plan of it. That scenery is definitely reminding me of my trip around Oregon last summer.

[@J3scribe]

Love the update. Your layout is so impressive and inspiring! I'm just amazed at how well you've captured the look of eastern Oregon scenery. Simply brilliant.

[@chadmartin2170]

This was a very excellent video. It helped me understand your layout pretty good. The scenery is impressive too. The whole layout is pretty great looking. I wanna visit Washington now! Thank you.

[@xfiles-thetruthisoutthere8038]

Very very nice layout, ENJOY! 👽

[@GP30RDMT]

Awesome! Great layout, look forward to more videos.

[@getslimroasted4056]

Dean, You sure have gotten a lot done since my last visit to Ft Worth. This video makes me want to hop on a plane and fly down for one of your operating sessions.

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

thanks Bob!

[@Griphook3D]

Absolutely beautiful!!!

[@rogerpalmer7679]

Nice layout tour. I always look forward to seeing your updates!!!

[@neanderthal88]

The best video ive seen so far!

[@davestrains6816]

Great to see a update. This is one of my favorite layouts to watch. Hope to see more videos in the future.

[@dthead]

great layout you have, enjoyed the tour.

[@dragonturtle2566]

I need to find an ops session near me some day, I would love to modify my N scale Big Boy to run on something like this and show up now and then lol.

[@ReidsTrainStuff]

Great update, never get sick of seeing your layout 👍👍👍

[@matthewjones1119]

Love your layout! I can’t wait for more operations!

[@SteveJohnson-SD70MAC-747]

This is such a cool layout! Glad to see an update, hopefully there will be many more in the near future.

[@sandysmithvideos228]

Outstanding modeling. Having spent time in Eastern Oregon you really got it right from the field brush to the columnar Basalt. To have such consistent quality of detail and execution on such a massive layout is very rare. I know it is a large layout and you want to keep folks interested but please slow down your camera movements. I would be happy to fly to Texas to video your work.

[@ATrainGames]

Great stuff! Look forward to the next Op Session.

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

thanks Adam!

[@adriengadson3544]

Thanks for the new video , and had not heard from you guys in a long while.

[@TheAardvarkguy]

Hi from the U.K. 🇬🇧 Brilliant!👍😎🛤 You have been gone too long, “make meh happy!” You just did. More ops please. 😍🛤

[@michaellindsay6735]

Beautiful train layout view this is so cool

[@virogue007]

Really snjoyed this tour. Very impressive layout! Kudos from France

[@mikeland3453]

So glad to see you uploading!!! I love your videos!!! I've watched the switching vids about a hundred times. Thank you

[@brucefriedrichsen3092]

Thanks for the video! That is a *beautiful* layout!!

[@Crookedriverandeasternrr]

Nice update. Thanks for sharing

[@BaronvonBavert]

wow, nice layout, good job !!! greetings from Solingen/Germany

[@aaronfowler3073]

A passenger service operation video with the North/West coast limited would be sweet!

[@itsjusttcarr]

Love your layout and videos keep them going and great job #trainsfordays

[@markjolyn94]

Bery nice layout!!

[@kevinfinkel5536]

Wow, layout is bigger than I thought it would be! If you're interested in an different industry for your logging waste, I recommend a charcoal production facility. They can be any size; from small productions that handle 1 or 2 cars to mega-runs that put out 15 to 20 cars of bagged charcoal.

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

thanks - don't know how common charcoal productions facilities are in the PNW, but I believe there's one (or there used to be) in Eugene, Oregon.

[@TheHoghed]

@@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125 Ever heard of Kingsford charcoal? Right there in Springfield Or. or it was a few years ago, haven't worked the south end in a long time.

[@dacuzzz]

you have an awesome layout... your tour was great & narration was excellent...i do a live stream on Friday nights called "Friday night wit Cuzin Vinny" at 8pm eastern... part of my show i do shout outs for channels that are less than 100... some times i do make exceptions & your layout is an exception.. so in this Fridays live stream i will give your channel a shout out... hope to see you there... thx for sharing,, vinny

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

thanks Vinny!

[@dacuzzz]

@@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125 the shout out for your channel will be tonight... 8pm eastern...

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

@@dacuzzz I watched it Vinny! Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@kevinm3428]

More, more, moar! 'Make me happy, now.' Eagerly awaiting operations vids with lots of (hilarious) radio traffic.

[@davidcusa6282]

Love this layout! More updates please!!!!

[@TheOriginalBadger]

Like the new lumber mill facility, would like to have seen it at a bit slower pace. Also enjoyed seeing several different trains running...better than watching a single train being followed around the entire layout.

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

thanks. Appreciate the feedback - there's always a balance between zipping through it at lightning speed vs boring people to tears.

[@beeble2003]

He's posted a video of it at kzbin.info/www/bejne/naXHmH6Kdq1-ZsU

[@peterandben]

Love it, as always! Very inspiring.

[@FrankTedesco]

the dizzying pans detract from this nice road.

[@lorraineprice3792]

Its me the kid with my grandpa to your layout

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

Ty?

[@mysticrailroad]

i've been around that area. nice layout.

[@elleryparsons2433]

Nicely Done👍👍👍👍.

[@sithlordofoz]

Gday from Australia 🇦🇺. Nice layout and some great scenery. Is there a published track plan anywhere?

[@jackolson6479]

I love that Northern pacific

[@superjesse645]

I officially brand '12 hour day on the UP' as a meme for Oregon Joint Line. X)

[@oubrioko]

"This is Superintendent of Operations, George W. Thompson III !"

[@beeble2003]

"Make me happy, now!"

[@DPBGMODELRAILROAD]

Of course, in 1969 the “Hours of Service Act (HOSA) was 16 hours and crews would work them! My father, a Missouri Pacific conductor/brakeman complained in 1970 when the hours were cut back first to 14 hours then 12 how you wouldn’t be able to get your work done in time!

[@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569]

Beautiful layout! I love it! What are the overall room dimensions? ...Roy

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

thanks fellow N scaler! It's 25' x 28' which would be the equivalent of 46' x 51' in HO!

[@beeble2003]

@@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125 Or the equivalent of 4000'x4480' in real life. Kinda scary that, if you set up a track all the way around the edge of the room, a large current-day freight train would cover three of the walls and be looking at its own tail as it ran around the room!

[@Joe-td4pq]

How did you design your layout? How did you decide on how many towns, yards, industries, etc.

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

That's a really complex question Joe, but if there was one key starting point I would say it's determining how long you want your trains to be. In my case I wanted to have 25 car freight trains with three locos which equals about 8.5 feet. So that really determined how long passing sidings, staging tracks, and the longest yard tracks needed to be. Then to give a feeling of distance between sidings I made the distance between sidings approximately twice as long as the sidings (17 feet between sidings).

[@baronjutter]

How do you access the "picture canyon" area for cleaning and work? looks to have canyon on both sides and walls on both sides

[@redbarnz]

"Make me Happy!" Accomplished!

[@SimRacerSteve82]

Fantastic layout. How deep is your benchwork?

[@philiph3156]

Dean, well done video. How do you do the radio voice sound effects?

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

with radios!

[@sithlordofoz]

Is there an overall plan of this somewhere to view? I love the drive around but trying to get a sense of how it is physically.

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

Thanks Kevin - try this www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31904.345

[@conecuhvalleyttrak]

Enjoyed the tour. I hope Mrs Hamilton gets some help for her thyroid condition.

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

thanks, but I fear her condition may deteriorate...

[@joelb9010]

@@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125 Lol, anyways love the O & NE logging railroad please do another logging video

[@darleneengebretsen1468]

Funny!

[@TGsports_Free2watch]

You should do a locomotive roster video

[@brucejordan972]

Yeah O to have a layout system like that mate!!! bj G. N. in n scale.

[@rubenvillanueva8635]

Could you say how they came up with the name "Emigrant" for the bridge? interested.

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

I actually "located" the grade through Eastern Oregon using topo maps so the route I chose does actually go along Emigrant Creek for a ways. There are lots of places in the West named Emigrant - typically they are along wagon train routes and never seem to be the kind of places people would settle.

[@franswah100]

When you have a operating session do you have someone to help you get everything ready make sure we're the wheels are clean on the engines and points and frogs are clean

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

Hi Billy - I use No-Ox-ID electrical lubricating grease on the track and literally haven't cleaned my track or wheels for years. The only thing I do is to run a boxcar with a Woodland Scenics Dustmonkey across the railroad if I haven't run any trains for more than a month to knock the dust off.

[@DestroyertheRailwarrior]

Finally YES

[@ShenandoahValleyrailfan1218]

11:39 I didn’t know you had a steam locomotive

[@Chasingrail]

YEEEESSSSS

[@DoubleSpikeProductions]

oh, hi again WRP!

[@Chasingrail]

Double Spike Productions yo mah bro

[@michaellindsey8044]

Where do u get the money to do something like this

[@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125]

good question! It's not like I went out and bought it all in one day - I started collecting equipment for this layout way back in the early 90's (layout construction started in 2006). I try to hit up the local train shows or Ebay for bargains. And the stuff does hold it's value pretty well so someday I'll be able to sell it (at least that's what I tell my wife...).

[@michaellindsey8044]

@@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125 nice

[@michaellindsey8044]

@@oregonjointlinemodelrailro4125 don't sell it keep it and add to it

[@simonetaormina7080]

I think your background is fine no need to do better.