Laying Track on the Stoddard Hill Farm Railway

Today, we'll start with rail and ties. We're going to build track, install it, ballast it, level it and tamp it. Along the way, we'll stall a train on the corkscrew and hear a rant from Bill.

[@billbwks]

btw, I'm using allen head screws.....

[@chriseffpunkt4333]

I think you made that very clear hahaha

[@theFORKiknow]

An absolute dream. Big kids playing with their toys and extending the field. I absolutely love it.

[@romanrat5613]

This is beatiful. Now I just need to see someone build a backyard miniature canal with functional locks

[@MillBrookRailroad]

That would be interesting! Not practical here in the mountains but somewhere that has flat ground, for sure!

[@benhawkins4245]

@@MillBrookRailroad nahhh youd just need more locks 😂😂😂

[@MillBrookRailroad]

@@benhawkins4245 There must be a clever reply but I'm afraid I've just run dry. :-)

[@Stuff_And_Things]

If he did that he would of course need to build miniature luxury liners and tankers and cargo ships, sailboats, etc. I'd watch those videos. ;)

[@GAGDR660]

I need one lol

[@tommanion5504]

Now, all you need to do is put up a sign: "40 feet of track in one day!"

[@Tclans]

Loving these in depth building video’s. Quite relaxing to watch. And the autumn vibes are a wonderful scenery.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Thanks for watching!

[@Roboticus_Prime_RC]

Man, that railway is so cool! Love the tipple, and love using trains for MoW!

[@mischef18]

Made for good viewing guys so thanks for taking us along bro. Safe travels

[@QUIXNZ]

10:50 You should have noticed that all "factory drilled" fishplate holes, in the rail ends, are NOT circular but slotted. That's to allow the fish-bolts an ability to slide with the expansion / contraction of the rails, in summer & winter. Simply drilling a circular new hole, in one rail, means you have limited that rails ability to have a correct expansion / contraction slot If you had to redrill all four holes, you'd find yourself breaking fish-bolts every summer/winter. The way we (the track gang on the NZR) got around that problem, was to drill slightly larger holes than the bolts needed, as (after all) the two fishplates (one either side) held the bolts no matter how long the slot, nor how big the drilled circular hole. If you drill the new circular hole, about the size of the slotted length, you'll have the same length of drift capacity as a fully slotted rail.

[@gravelydon7072]

Funny, never had the screws break on mine and the track is going on being down for 40 years. All I have is the clearance size for the #8 screws. I am currently taking up the track in expectation of a move. Interesting thing also is that there is no need for the tie plates. #10 hex head screws with a washer hold just fine and it only takes a year or so for a scaled railhead to wear to match the wheel profile's angle. Stainless screws, no need. About the time a Zinc coated one rusts out it is time to replace the ties anyways. And interesting thing is, when you pull the rails off the ties, the wood if it hasn't rotted under the tie, it will look like there was a tie plate there.

[@andrep8287]

@quixnz....rail expansion & contraction certainly applies to steel rails, but I highly doubt that aluminum rails undergo the same temperature-related process.

[@donaldcasselman]

Andre. It so happens that the coefficient of linear expansion is substantially much more than steel.

[@ronhart4166]

The ballast hopper sure made life easier !!! Great job 👊

[@ntldr2005]

My father was a live steamer and built 2 locomotives using a lathe and Bridgeport in our garage. This brings back good memories, as I grew up at the local tracks.

[@bernardc2553]

Do you still have your dad's Locos? Railroad? What a kool Memory

[@ntldr2005]

@@bernardc2553 He donated them to the Lake Shore Live Steamers here in Ohio.

[@microrails]

I like the Ballast Dump Cars. That would make for a nice video on building them!

[@eddiecloar6649]

Paranormal activity

[@53jed]

The extreme emotional outbursts were barely tolerable. I don't know how you can maintain your composure under the stress. Beautiful work.

[@googlemustdie]

Blown away. Incredible. Thank you so much for sharing all the detail.

[@GryphonArmorer]

So awesome. That’s always been one of my dreams. Ever since my first memory of Travel Town growing up in SoCal. To have my own scale railroad. Miles of track winding through a beautiful piece of property. Having friends and family over to help occasionally and enjoy a ride, with several lines to choose from.

[@Moondoggy1941]

Where was Travel Town?

[@MillBrookRailroad]

The wonderful part about it is, you don't actually need miles of track to have fun. All you need is to connect places. Chicken coop to compost pile, wood shed to house, hay shed to manger, garbage can storage to curb, vegetable garden to house, the list goes on.

[@bradfordthompson8326]

Millbrook .....What a wonderful friendship...Amazing.....Bill ? Oops if wrong name, Seems like a neat person...love him Ballast cars &Ballast temple....The wonderful thing WE have notice about you guys is " Well looks like we need to build something. ".... Congratulations.....on another Addition ..Hope you continue to Share your Beautiful RAILWAYS. ......As much as you enjoy visiting this RAILWAYS. ..It is actually a division of Millbrook. ...Since it's so wonderful how you two inspire each other....He's a lot like my dad Thomas Thompson of Anacortes RAILWAYS. ... You three would have enjoyed each other Company. ....Wish more Crews were like each other ..."sharing and inspiration of Ideas ".....You two are very fortunate. ...

[@fgllc]

Can't wait to see more line construction...

[@MillBrookRailroad]

We'll see how much more gets done before winter puts a stop to it.

[@IslandSauce]

For some odd reason this video came up on my recommended, and now usually I wont watch a video more than 20 minutes long, nor am I all that much interested in trains but Ill be damned because Im about 30 minutes into this and its about the most interesting thing Ive seen in a long while, hope yall keep making these videos because Im genuinely interested to see where this goes.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@danielfantino1714]

Always exiting and relaxing for us to see more trackage being added.

[@dexterdog62]

One video in and I’m hooked! This is simply awesome, I just had to subscribe! Looking forward to binge watch all the previous videos on your channel.

[@scottleidenberger4401]

Awesome video and a great railroad. Those tipper cars saved a lot of work ballasting.

[@billm6774]

Thank you for the video. Brings back memories of me and my daughter riding the rails when she was young.

[@Chr.U.Cas2216]

Dear Mill Brook Railroad guys. 👍👌👏 Absolutely fantastic! Utube just recommended this to me and I'm glad that they did! I will definitely watch more of your inspiring stuff. Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health to all of you.

[@asullivan4047]

Interesting/informative entertaining. Excellent photography job enabling viewers to better understand what the orator is describing. " Choo choo...moo moo the miniature R.R. @ Beckers dairy farm. once located in Rowland N.J. A 7K foot rail way line for visitors to ride & enjoy May thru October. I vaguely remember the dairy farm 🐄 train 🚂 ride perhaps 60 years ago. It operated 1940 thru 1972. Wishing viewers a safe/healthy/prosperous ( 2024 ) 🌈🎉😉

[@scrhino40]

Then ballast cars are nice to put rock out instead of a shovel full at a time. Hope to see more of laying new track. Have a great day be safe.

[@cathybrown2789]

I wish i had seen this video when i was younger, my parents had 20 acres of bush. Always wanted to build a logging railway, rolling hills and hills where spring water did flow. MOUNT FOREST ONTARIO CANADA . It would have been great, could never figure how to easily lay track or where to get rail. That property and them too are long gone. And now i live in a big town of SWIFT CURRENT SK CANADA. No major bush on CANADIAN prairies. So no logging railway dream any more, but i still like watching. Thanks for answering so many questions, Where do you buy your rail ?

[@migalito1955]

Cool fellows! Glad your doing the work. At 67 my back aches just sweeping the floor. To much time in my youth playing superman and failing to jump over tall buildings I suspect.

[@lydiaburlingame5265]

This is really cool to have that in. Your backyard, its really awesome!

[@Rivarokband]

16:21 stepping between cars! Uhoh! Good thing you are the C.E.O. AND OWNER of said railroad! 😊

[@USM247]

This man is very well organized in assembly and laying of new track. Nice!!

[@AllThingsRailroad]

brilliant way of assembling track.

[@JamesKnighttx]

Not sure how I got here but man am I glad I did! Awesome video

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Thanks! We feature work on three different railways and visits to many more on this channel.

[@brianholland2916]

I think that the rock dispenser was the coolest part. It's all great though

[@MillBrookRailroad]

You're not wrong. The tipple is the coolest part. Thanks for watching!

[@kleinduimpje8]

From the Netherlands, you got a new subscriber!! Love this craftmenship en hobby projects. Thanks for sharing the videos.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Thanks!

[@TheCebulon]

It is very good organized and effective to do it this way. Love it. Thank you for sharing.

[@gregwarner3753]

When I was a kid some 65 years ago I helped build an amusement park railroad called "The Carolyn Road". It was located near Albany, New York in the Village of Guilderland. Has anybody ever heard of it?

[@BrandonRowanTheDomoBoi]

I'm mad that you're not my dad or grandad, this is so incredible what you have here.

[@valeriebassett3107]

Great job, that looks awesome! That's what I call working smart. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed this video.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Thanks!

[@treystewart544]

@@MillBrookRailroad I like your railroad tracks it’s awesome

[@davelynch2532]

This is so cool. I have Family into this and haven't seen it in real life yet. Some day I will. Thanks

[@JohnnyBoy1969]

It's just unreal what the Human Mind can Accomplish! To have a Miniature active working Railroad as if it was actual scale is just a Beautiful thing! But there's tons of work and Man hours involved! And the constant upkeep that running any kind of Railway is Back Breaking work! 🚂

[@MillBrookRailroad]

There have been railways of this size for over 130 years.

[@solarusthelonghaulerrailfa3226]

And transporting the panels is wher a few flatbed’s are handy 😁👋👍and did not know that the yellow side dumpers were bottom dumpers too 😁

[@MillBrookRailroad]

He'll have flat cars eventually.

[@Lost_soul1975]

I love the passion you have for your hobby!

[@douglasthompson9482]

A fabulous video. As a well informed model engineer, this is great. You are so lucky…

[@flstffatboy3910]

So cool I really appreciate what you guys are doing keep up the great work

[@Rivarokband]

Great work!

[@chuckriggsjr.6021]

That is really nice. Very neat!

[@HankPeggy]

Just so Beautiful!!!

[@EssGeeSee]

I like the ‘combined’ rotary screw driver bit and screw pickeruperer.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

The screwdriver bit is magnetic.

[@Jay_440]

Nice job with everything, looks fun!

[@mitchoner]

this is legendary and so inspiring

[@martinpook5707]

Now that's really playing trains! Wonderful!

[@engineerwv]

My god, that’s awesome! Ripe with envy😊

[@paulsmith5398]

That scale 80 tonner looks nice in Genesee & Wyoming paint!, and the staggered rail joints look & work better too!

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

great job,

[@revdfp]

Great video. Thanks for documenting it all.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Thanks, Dave! You still have an open invitation at the MLBK.

[@lawrencejneuser8801]

A barn broom will work really good for doing that ballast, to help spread it out.

[@michaelhill7471]

Very nice. What a lovely little railroad coming to life on such a nice wooded property. I loved it! Hope to see more of it.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

The Stoddard Hill Farm Railway is a regular feature here on this channel. You'll definitely be seeing more of it.

[@anubis7630]

They make aluminum nuts and screws that will never rust. Absolutely beautiful build. Please don't mind my name tag.

[@ifihadaboat85]

Wow. What an incredibly beautiful property. Like a dream. Really enjoyed watching this. ..guy must be a multi-millionaire😂

[@MillBrookRailroad]

He might be a millionaire if he sold off his business and everything he owns. The center cab is the most expensive piece of equipment he has. It was $8,000 new and he bought it used. He built pretty much everything else himself.

[@julianp2868]

Now all you need is a Tamper, just love the idea of running these units through Woodland

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I've already welded the frame to the tamper. Not sure when I'll finish it.

[@Bob-tn5xn]

And tunnels and trestle bridges and wow your living my dream nice work guys

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Not sure about tunnels but we'll do plenty bridges.

[@Bob-tn5xn]

@@MillBrookRailroad we used to have a small kids train at the Iowa state fair years ago and I've always wanted to have one good job

[@michaelzorro2738]

Thank you for sharing

[@jefferyrightmire9520]

That is just like building a real railroad, only scaled down. What a hobby. Bet they are retired railroad men-

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Not exactly retired railroad men. Both have some short line railroad experience, but one is a scale model manufacturer and the other is a part time broadcast engineer, part time machinist and part time KZbinr.

[@stuartbaker666]

Bloody brilliant, you guys roick, attention to detail great stuff. Love to see how the engines were made.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

You're in luck there. I have some videos about that very topic. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a52Wo2ego6qhsJY kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWKwdXyAjLKIhKM kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWO1oIaknM-Bac0 I have a very similar locomotive build coming soon.

[@jgviajante875]

Parabéns pelo belo vídeo.

[@dominicmartin1708]

Keep up the good work

[@luckyluke2491]

Fantastisch!!! Wie immer!!!

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Danke!

[@johnnycee5179]

What a grand escape from a mad world

[@bernardc2553]

Holly Smokes you sure have e come ALONG WAY wow I'm way behind

[@treystewart544]

That little diesel train looks awesome

[@artillerest43rdva7]

nylon lock nuts are great in that they prevent water seeping from one side. the dryer the less possible formation of rust. great tools to pre form the rail. and your templent for the joiners is great! along with the rail sections set up for the ties to rails to be uniform will not cause irregularities in each rail sections. thank you for sharing your videos. barry

[@mattp1337]

You are living the dream.

[@kishascape]

Heheh so cute. Such precious times :3

[@jeremymerrix6236]

I need this in my life. I just need a car with a hammock on it. I'd sleep like a baby

[@jimonthecoast3234]

Let member this right. The ballast load needed a helper ? This is the collect thing ever, and the big kid I am , is jealous.

[@insAneTunA]

The most stainless steel hardware that is sold in the most regular hardware stores is made from 306 stainless steel, which is not as corrosion resistant as 316L stainless steel hardware. 316L stainless steel hardware is often graded as marine grade. But as soon as it is called marine or aviation grade the price of it goes up drastically. Over time stainless steel also likes to fuse with aluminium, which can cause the bolt to snap in half when you want to undo it. For the money that 316L stainless steel hardware costs it would make much more sense to use regular steel bolts and some copper grease or even some regular grease for extra protection and longevity, if the extra protection were needed at all.

[@Yuki-yuki2]

nice mini train

[@jasonneal6461]

This is the coolest thing I have ever seen.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Thanks!

[@scrotiemcboogerballs1981]

Lol this is awesome I’d love to ride on that train 😊

[@prefabrick]

Ride the mini trains once in Klamath, OR. It is a fun trip.

[@larryperdue508]

You guys need a spot on the track you can back up a dump truck for your balist 😊😊

[@MillBrookRailroad]

We did one better. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6LWiaiNi7KqbLs

[@DIY_Semi-Pro]

Is there a video on how you load the ballast tiple with rock? That's pretty sweet 👍

[@Wolfiecolada]

friggin awesome!!!!

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Thanks for watching!

[@Chucklesrailarchive]

Would love to have a go doing that.

[@john2914]

Nice. Maybe get some nice rolling stock. Expensive of course, but you cant rely on just the one engine.

[@alisterx8698]

Hobo shoestring would be proud.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Indeed, he would.

[@dirttdude]

that looks like fun

[@MillBrookRailroad]

It was certainly fun doing it and filming it! Better grab a gym membership.

[@kgsalvage6306]

Very rewarding getting a complete line down. Would have liked to have gotten a little more info. Like how much ballast the tipple and cars hold and how much it takes per hundred feet of track. Very interesting!

[@MillBrookRailroad]

We're still figuring that out. Ballast per hundred feet should be more than what we're using here. We didn't have any under the track, so there's going to be at least twice as much as we put down during this video.

[@evanburke6771]

Looks like time we’ll spent!

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Time very well spent.

[@KV6_KV44]

1:41 you guys should have some train cars beside that like one of each

[@phoenicianlocal2363]

Would be cool to do a meet up on this railroad of other local railroads of the same or similar Guage. An run it like train mountain. Lol

[@MillBrookRailroad]

That's exactly the plan.

[@memadmax69]

Very nice, you guys need another flatbed car for rails too lol

[@MillBrookRailroad]

We sure do! The shop is full at the moment, though. Bill is building a steam engine for one customer and stock cars and box cars for other customers. I help him out on the paying jobs for shop time on Mill Brook Railroad projects.

[@hoskinb1]

Brilliant

[@fishwithsj]

A tanker full of rubbing alcohol and one of Modge Podge would make setting that ballast easy.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Just don't light a match.

[@eric3638]

Need to invest in some flat cars for hauling the rails so your not breaking your back lifting them .... but love watching your videos an updates on the railway 🛤

[@MillBrookRailroad]

The track panels aren't really all that heavy. The ballast, on the other hand, that's another story.

[@user-su2bq9db2u]

very cool. I was going to say before watching, you have to have a jig that allows you to make them quick. Prob one for curves too?

[@ChamplainDivision]

A couple of cargo straps wrapped around that load and under the center of each car would be highly advisable to secure it for safe travel

[@matthewfowler47]

Thanks for the video! What is the tie length and spacing on these panels being built?

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Ties, I believe are 16 inches long and about 4 inches apart.

[@whosonfirst1309]

You have the best life.

[@MFXdump]

You’re lucky. It’s fall, Let’s build some track panels! If you lived in north Texas where I do, summer was 8 months long this year. And fall only lasted 3 weeks.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Fall lasted four weeks this year. It's winter already.

[@markflanagan6653]

The amount of time and money that goes into must be crazy but if you ask me it looks to be worth it. Its beautiful

[@MillBrookRailroad]

It's not as much money as you might think, but probably ten times the time you think. Thanks for watching!

[@markflanagan6653]

@@MillBrookRailroad nice job sir