Layout #4, Video #12, PRR S2 Steam Turbine First run

[@AnimalsVehiclesAndMore]

That diesel seriously sounds like a jet engine.

[@Rothstein_Model_Trains]

Yes, it does. Of course, it is the same basic engine as a jet, just slightly different fuel and the output isn't direct thrust.

[@edeinhorn6016]

Hi Steve. That is an absolutely beautiful engine. The detail is amazing. Did you buy just the engine, or does it come with the two cars that it was pulling? Also, I guess this falls into what the motion picture industry would call a "continuity issue". I noticed on some scenes your door had just one sticker, but on some other scenes your door had 20 stickers on the door. Not a big deal, but I tend to notice things like that. Getting back to trains, though, I saw your cheat sheets hanging up and it made me wonder: can you program events (such as the clanging bell) to happen at specific times, such as when a train approaches a model railroad station, or do the sounds happen only when you manually enter a code on your controller (or whatever you call it)? Take care! Ed

[@Rothstein_Model_Trains]

Hi, Ed. I agree that the model is very well done. As a general rule, when you buy a steam locomotive, it comes with the tender (what I always called the coal car as a kid). We just happened to pick up some PRR cabooses a while ago so Chris put one on it for the test run. Those are magnets on the door, not stickers. Chris just realized the door was metal and would hold them, so he started putting them up. I did not notice him adding any during the video, but it makes sense he did at times. I was more concerned about making sure the cups were turned so you could not see the company name on our drinks. I wouldn't want a complaint about "product placement" since I do not try to monetize any of these. I think (hope) we did ok and no one saw a name. With the system I have right now (DCC), we can only get the actions done on command, which is why we have the cheat sheets hanging up. There is a system (DCC-EX and DCC++ I think) that lets you program in a series of activities to follow. If I understand it correctly, you can write computer programs that tell the system what to do at certain times. If you build in block detection (a system of tracking where the train is and when), you can get it to do things under certain conditions and not just by time. That includes track control to set turnouts and routes or trigger other actions like a crossing coming down). I will probably look into that at some point in the future, but I have more fun with the manual control of the layout and do not want to fully automate it. But I have to admit the challenge of getting everything just right intrigues me.