Layout Tour: Roger Schulenberg's Niobe & French Creek RR

Bill Schopf and I recently had the pleasure of visiting Roger Schulenberg's gorgeous HO scale layout, the Niobe & French Creek RR. It is a basement size layout loosely based on the Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley & Pittsburgh Railroad, which became a branch of the New York Central RR. Roger's N&FC runs from an interchange with the Erie RR in Niobe, NY to the terminal at Alderbottom, NY.
The layout operates perfectly and the scenery is complete and extremely well done. Many of the structures are scratch built to represent actual prototypes, and some are kit bashed from various Walthers Conerstone kits.
The layout's era is late summer 1949. The minimum radius is 24" and the layout uses a Digitrax DCC system. Nearly all the turnouts are manual, as is uncoupling. Hidden (in another room) staging is utilized for the Erie RR and Findley Lake/PRR RR connections.
The layout is designed to operate. Train Directory Cards are used to designate switching duties, train sequence and meeting points. Car Cards are utilized for in & out movement through Niobe and LCL car movements.
Roger's layout perfectly conveys the atmosphere, operations and scenery of a rural western New York branch line. Sit back and enjoy the tour of the Niobe & French Creek Railroad!
Many thanks go to Roger and his wife Alice for their gracious hospitality and allowing Bill and I to visit. I also wish to thank Mr. Richard Bradley for arranging this visit with Roger. THANK YOU!

[@davidhighfield4019]

Many thanks. Wonderful structures. -Dave, from the New England Train Tour

[@chadmartin2170]

Man I use to say that you need to be on "Whats Neat". They need to be on your show! Watching you through the episodes made me come to realize you are one "Bad Ass Dude"! Your efforts and friends that you have in the hobby is like the "Harvard" of model railroading. Thank you kind Sir for the magic that you make on this channel.

[@jormar920]

Beautiful layout. Well done, not cluttered. The layout looks open and airy, and gives a pleasant feeling when looking at it.

[@markturner6240]

Mr Roger has excellent skill! Just a beautiful layout! Thanks for the video tour

[@marknoonan3854]

This layout is really good. Great branchline layout. Lots of great scenes.

[@adriengadson3544]

This is a nice and simply designed layout. I liked all the structures and the tour ...thx

[@dannyholt105]

That was awesome Rob! Thanks for the tour. The detail is down to the smallest of items. I really enjoyed the welding at 13:38 too. Great job Roger!!! Thanks again for the chance to view this wonderful layout guys. Cheers, Dan

[@kenk2345]

interesting layout Roger...well done. Awesome detail on the lit restaurant interior. Enjoyed the models of known houses and structures from your own past.

[@joeraderblackrockcentralrr3687]

beautiful workmanship

[@2H80vids]

Wow!! What a wonderful layout Rob. Roger has achieved something that so many modellers don't - a feeling of space. Nothing seems cramped and it all looks so realistic. The seemingly random track plan means there's no hint of "train set" on this masterpiece and the open spaces between buildings look much bigger than they actually are. Another thing which adds to the "open spaces" feel is the lack of fences. That took me a while to notice and makes the whole scene appear more rustic, especially around the tracks. Here in Scotland, virtually every inch of track is fenced. It's always been like that but is getting even worse nowadays. Every building is a work of art and the wide roads show them off to perfection.👍👌😁 Thanks for showing us this fantastic creation - it's beautiful.

[@elleryparsons5766]

Just seeing the Pictures itself is just Too Sweet.

[@samodelrail6976]

Great layout and great video. Inspirational.

[@Babelsberger]

Excellent layout + super video recording,thanks!

[@cascadesub6235]

outstanding layout... cheers for the video

[@MrEarwicker]

Great layout and lovely video. One of your best.

[@tomp2498]

Amazing layout thanks for sharing it!

[@Kevin-ev7hw]

Thank you Rob for the Great Tour of Rogers layout.

[@charliepress6629]

An outstanding video of an outstanding layout!!! Thanks for sharing...

[@QRoutback]

Fantastic layout tour

[@johnnym.6610]

Wow, beautiful layout. Two thumbs up

[@Foxxnioxx]

Gorgeous layout. Gives me some good ideas for my own!

[@mathewrufrano7833]

Great video, terrific layout. Especially liked the stills at the end of your video. Thanks.

[@matthewjones1119]

Beautiful layout!

[@paulbislin8471]

Very nice! Interesting!

[@elleryparsons5766]

Roger Wow I am Blown Away and I love it.

[@rogerschulenberg6320]

Thanks for the positive comments. It's been a labor of love for the past 30 years and is still giving me much pleasue to run or just sit back and watch it go.

[@Paulegrijr]

Great looking layout I would love to see more short line steam in operation Your structures have given me many ideas for scratch building Thanks for posting and would love to see more

[@rjl110919581]

WOW THANK YOU FOR VERY DETAIL VIDEO ON BEAUTY DETAIL LAYOUT

[@ChrisK-LTC]

Very nice RR

[@gunnyu.s.m.c8606]

totally awesome, the music couldn't have been any better, details, my compliments sir

[@williamfowler197]

Very nice.

[@daviemaclean61]

Very nice layout and a bit closer to a "typical", if such a thing exists, British layout in size. Not to diss you basement barons! ;-) I also model stuff I know, even if it's moved a few miles for my own purposes, and name things after stuff from my own personal history. Great video.

[@1990sRailfan]

Great layout & Erie Consolidation (2-8-0). My great grandfather used to run those things.

[@stevetee5076]

The diner details reminds me of the football game on the television in the house you built a while back.

[@gusstar]

Nice job on the video

[@SleeTheSloth]

Long time no see. Hope all is well. Great video. :)

[@AllSortsOfStuff58]

Inspiring stuff. I hope mine turns out half as good...........

[@elleryparsons5766]

Very Nicely Done That My Friend is A Trophy Layout This Is What Pride And Passion Looks Like. I Wouldn’t Touch that If you try.If I could I would give it a 10 stars Award.

[@jwrailve3615]

I can’t wait until I have the funds to get a new dcc system for my layout I’m currently in progress of building ( I have a update on my channel) I’ve never been into steam era and especially the transition eras but my layout is dual leveled and NOT connected power wise, staged rail barge moves will be used during operations through four ports, the top level has the look to be all the way from the 1900’s to present depending on if I run passenger service, and the top level is based on when trains ran weekend excursion trains to my hometown between 1919-1926 with freelance modelers liscense with the track work industries. Love this layout hope to see more of it!

[@elleryparsons5766]

Very nice lenghthy.

[@masterbower6083]

When he was going through the layout and he said the mainline went to Findlay Lake, did he mean Findlay lake New York because my grandmother lives of there and I have never herd of a train going there, plus it is way to high of an elevation for any train.

[@elleryparsons5766]

What gauge is this layout?

[@markfrench8892]

Like the name of your railroad.

[@ocalicreek]

A great tour of a terrific layout - thanks for sharing so many of these hidden gems. Is there a track plan available in print somewhere? Also, what size is the room? Lastly, I think the person you're thinking of is not Jack Work but Ben King, whose railroad was the Timber City and Northwestern. His scratchbuilding skill was amazing and Roger's model does it justice!

[@rogerschulenberg6320]

Thanks for your kind comments on my N&FC railroad. The layout sits in an approx. 34X14 basement room. The layout itself is about 30ftX9ft and is basically a shelf type layout built around two reused 2ftx8ft modules connected by L girder loop sections. I do not have a printed track plan available. Google Dubai Trains -Layout tour and Operations on the Niobe and French Creek Railroad for more information on the layout design. Since I model 1949, with 40ft cars , I used 24in minimum curves with #6 switches on the main and #4's in the yard. Not shown in the video are 4 staging tracks on the other side of the wall (yes I did cut holes in the wall). Layout has no grades and is 48" high. You are indeed correct , the Timber City and Western was by Ben King. I admired and was inspired by both his and Jack Work's beautiful modeling. Thanks for correcting my error. Happy Modeling! Roger

[@ocalicreek]

@@rogerschulenberg6320 Thank you, Roger, for the detailed reply! I was curious about the staging, so thanks for mentioning that. I particularly appreciate your detailed structures. I will keep this video bookmarked and watch it many times, I'm sure. Best wishes for many happy years of model railroading.

[@elleryparsons5766]

If you want to become Speechless check this Layout out.

[@johneveritt3976]

Howzit : With Much Appreciation; I ALWAYS Come Back To Your Viddy-Tour Of Roger's Amazing N+FC Layout. As I Approach The Age Of 69 In A Week's Time; I Am Unfortunately Having To Face Up To The Sad Fact That I Must Begin To Dismantle A Large; Fully Completed; OpS-Designed Layout ( The GFR ) That Took 8-9 Years To Construct As A Final House-Move Has To Be Made. As A Compliment To Roger's Endeavours; The Intention Is To TRY and Replicate The N+FS At The New Residence. Although Your V-T Allows For A Good Idea Of The Overall Layout; Is An Actual Track-Plan Diagram With Measurements Available ? Many Thanks To Both Of Youse + Best Regards / Johnny

[@johnnyeveritt5695]

Howzit Roger + Stephen : With reference to my above comment and by way of an update; we finally did make the advised move in June 2021 to Cape St. Francis; with both my previous Layouts having to be dismantled ... There being no possibility of relocation. At time of this writing; the trenches for the foundations of a new Train-Room [ 11 x 4.5 m / 36 x 14' 7" ] have been dug. There is no doubt that starting out from absolute scratch once again is indeed daunting; being a major challenge in several ways .... Least of all financially ! I thank you for the added N+FC RR details as set out in a reply and in conjunction with the most informative / enjoyable N+FC RR : OpS ( Dubai Trains ) video; know that I will follow through with a N+FC RR-inspired new Layout : The St. Francis + Seal Point RR ! Much Thanks + Best Regards / Johnny 🙏🤙☝️

[@daviddryden8088]

Well done layout. Stephan, mic your guests dude.

[@yiddishcowboy]

Winter is coming to Alaska soon and i have no car and will be stuck inside with my N-Scale Trains. Iam looking for people who have N-Scale Trains that they no longer want and will sell to me.

[@carstenprilow1837]

The only thing I don't like about American railway layouts is your constant honking, we don't use that in Europe. It can ruin an otherwise super nice video for me. I understand your argument with all the lawsuits you have would get in Advokat USA. :-))