Mill Creek Central: A backyard railroad on a reclaimed strip mine

Today, we visit a railroad that was built on land that had formerly been a strip mine in central Ohio. The Mill Creek Central has over four miles of main track through a variety of terrain. The steepest grade is 3%. Come join us on a ride around this amazing railroad!
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[@harpintn]

That is an impressive feat laying all that track for a hobby line, and you did a very good job with the layout.

[@chuckmayerchak3071]

Now that's railroading! I loved those two power units pulling that train! Only thing that could be better would be diesal power over the gas engine. But still has some real engine sound!

[@danielfantino1714]

Thanks for the ride with these friendly fellows. Cool look that GE "modern" 85 - 144 tons center cab, NYC RS3 and host switchers. Former roadbed means strong foundation with huge curve radius and grades. Nice woody run. It seems so much on just 9 acres.

[@VelociraptorsOfSkyrim]

Damn, that is a vast track set up! It needs its own signal system! You guys here are living my _dream!_ 😂

[@ConrailHistorical]

It has a signal system using B&O style CPL signals.

[@daleroth236]

I have lived in northern Ohio most of my life and didn't know this existed. Just two hours from my home. Thanks for sharing.

[@scottleidenberger4401]

Nice railroad. Thanks for the ride along.

[@poowg2657]

That's a sweet hard working H9 Pennsy Consol. Somewhat reminiscent of Train Mountain in Oregon but the majority of their trees are firs. Excellent video, enjoyed it much. Thanks!

[@artillerest43rdva7]

what a great set up for running trains! thank you for taking us along! that is an extensive set up.

[@kleetus92]

Heck, wish I had known you were in the neighborhood, I'd have stopped out. That's my nearest 'home track' aside from my own. Great group of people there, love every time I go to visit!

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Maybe next time.

[@dennispersson9466]

Beautiful Layout! It Really makes me miss, the Long Island Live Steamers, Layout at South Haven Park, built by the Grumman Employees, Model Railroad Club! My father-in-law, was an Electrician, for Grumman, and used to notify us, whenever they had an "OPEN HOUSE" Session, at the park! At the time, ONE of those Steam Engines, cost MORE, than my Volkswagen Rabbit, to buy NEW ! (At least, that's what they Told ME!) In 1982, when my son was only Two, we took him to one of the sessions, and he LOVED IT !!

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Steam engines are still around the price of a luxury car. The diesels are closer to the price of a used work truck. The little 4 wheel electric critters are closer to the cost of a used motorcycle. Keep in mind: nothing is mass produced in this hobby. It's all made by hand domestically.

[@wesbrackmanthercenthusiast4695]

Went to the buckeye limited meetup here this facility is just exquisite

[@BoxcarJerry]

Looks like a great place. I love those switchers , nice job on them .

[@e-train765]

LOVE those OHCR switchers 🙌

[@PappysPotluck]

Been there a few times myself, beautiful landscape and friendly folks, thank you for sharing your experience there with us. The OC locos are awesome..

[@nittbuck1]

Love the Ohio Central locos! I live in east central Ohio where OC operates. My N scale layout is based on the Ohio Central and Genesee & Wyoming.

[@tfs4499]

Looks like a lot of fun, Totally Cool!

[@MrOmwm]

Amazing, love it! Thank you.

[@mattkinnard6899]

It was great running into you there! Your videos and the Steam Channel are a good reason why I got into the hobby!

[@topgunfurry]

Great set up

[@aaronfreeman5264]

Strip Mines looklike a good investment.

[@bobpaulino4714]

A neighbor built his own logging equipment for use at this facility. Its amazing

[@Silexfox]

I could ride around on a backyard rail way all day . Definitely wish I had the land to lay some track and build a loco to play on .

[@MillBrookRailroad]

it doesn’t take a lot of land to build a nice little railway. 5he bigger they are, the more people it takes to maintain it.

[@Silexfox]

@@MillBrookRailroad My yard isn’t very big . 2 10x10 tents cover the whole back yard 😅 I could probably get away with a short point to point in the basement with about 30’ of track and maybe a switch or 2 to play with . I’d like to build a loco ( electric/compressed air) though over the winter . I have a neat one to try and replicate

[@FutureRailProductions]

Glad to see my van made an appearance! Nice work!

[@atsf-3415]

Absolutely beautiful landscape this runs through! Nicely laid out.

[@duanedale2505]

Nice video

[@rionstretton8133]

Wow amazing awesome ❤

[@LordDustinDeWynd]

Very cool! Thank you for the ride!

[@clivecobbold6815]

Hi mate great video mate

[@solarusthelonghaulerrailfa3226]

The MCC is another one of those bucket list things and when you go to one of these places would it be possible to post the safety information and requirements for those that are planning to be in the area

[@nooknerdz]

This place is on my bucket short list...

[@TVJAY]

I wish I would have known about this meeting. It is only 2.5 hours away from me.

[@slider0915]

Is that the same gauge as Millbrook? Those switchers are beautiful!

[@MillBrookRailroad]

@@slider0915 The Mill Brook track is 7-1/2, which is compatible with 7-1/4" gauge. Mill Creek Central is 7-5/8" gauge.

[@mrfingerlakes8735]

Awesome video

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Thanks!

[@THE_BaconPirate]

At the risk of sounding uneducated, can you please tell me how the little "flags" work along the way that the engineer whacks as the train goes along? I'm sure it's some kind of signaling system, but how exactly does it work?

[@robertheinkel6225]

Looks like part of a signaling system to keep two trains from being on the same track

[@steamlogger]

The “flags” are whisker arms on industrial limit switches. They complete the circuit to claim a block between passing sidings. There are others that break the circuit to release the block.

[@THE_BaconPirate]

@@steamlogger So then I assume there must be some "signal light trees" placed accordingly along the route.

[@andydickey]

@@THE_BaconPirate Yes - B&O style signals that show red, yellow, and green aspects

[@FutureRailProductions]

​@@THE_BaconPirate yep exactly. I took some video on my own channel and filmed at the same time Mill Brook did. That video should be releasing August 1st. I think I have some of the signal operation in it. But there's two different posts for each block. A green post and a yellow post. The green posts clear the section behind you, and the yellow ones takes the section ahead. White Creek Railroad's in Michigan are a little different in signal indications but the activation method is the same. The only difference is it's a PVC pipe with a relay switch in it and a floating PVC pipe end that you push on to take the block and/or clear it.

[@keithknott8307]

My god, I know little ones (kids) "DRIVE MOMMY AND DADDY CRAZY" WANTING TO GO HERE JUST TO RIDE THIS!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 But I have to ask: HOW MANY LOCOMOTIVES, WHERE DOES HE GET HIS RAILS, CROSS TIES, AND THE LOCOMOTIVES, BOXCARS, ETC AT, HOW MANY ACRES DOES THIS HAVE?! MY HAT IS OFF TO THIS GUY FOR A PERFECTLY LAYED OUT SCALE OF A FULL RAILROAD

[@MillBrookRailroad]

@keithknott8307 I think it's about 9 acres. Most parts can be found at www.discoverlivesteam.com.

[@s16100]

I have yet to get down there to see that RR. Hope you enjoyed your trip here to Ohio! :)

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I did! I plan to make the trip again with a different loco at a future meet there. I'm going to have to build a loco and a riding car for future trips into 7-1/2" gauge land.

[@rogerhuber3133]

Great railroad! Nice long ride through the trees looks so cool. I noticed many white posts with clear plastic jugs of water(?) along the line. What's their purpose?

[@davidwilken3584]

If your talking about the 50 gallon barrels and the spigots by the track, they’re for the steam engines to refill their water tenders.

[@rogerhuber3133]

@@davidwilken3584 Nope. I saw quite a few tanks and spouts for steamers. I'm talking about the white PVC (?) posts with smaller, clear plastic jugs spaced all along the line. Probably not much of a drink for any steamer in need. Maybe about 1-2 gallon jugs.

[@davidwilken3584]

@@rogerhuber3133 I totally missed those 2-liter pop bottles filled with water. I could guess it’s for small fires or personal rehydration for someone working on the rails. Your guess is as good as mine.

[@ConrailHistorical]

Those water bottles are for putting out lineside fires from ash or hot coals dropped from a steam locomotive.

[@richardbrobeck2384]

Nice !

[@toadjam12000]

Welcome to Ohio. Enjoy.

[@ronnyvonallmen6892]

How Awesome….

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I totally agree!

[@thepubliceye]

They had an electric railroad from mine to powerplant somewhere down there.

[@grutestrainsmoviesandelevators]

I want that in my backyard lol

[@bradbarefoot2986]

Walt Disney would have loved this !

[@douglasashleigh4989]

Looks like you need to be 75 lbs overweight to run trains there. Nice layout. Thanks

[@anicetomaldonado]

Dang it! I'm too heavy... 😂

[@judyrush3219]

Gravy Train 🚂

[@richardwilkens4577]

They must a full time track maintenance crew working there

[@MillBrookRailroad]

@@richardwilkens4577 It's all volunteer.

[@scotcoon1186]

They schedule a maintenance day once or twice a month march through when the snow stops them. And they're adding a significant loop. Finished up another 100 foot tunnel last fall. Looks like they have it open, actually, that's it at 11:53

[@IMRROcom]

Almost every mile maker is a bottle of water... Why?

[@robertheinkel6225]

Water to put out fires from the steam engines, if one starts

[@neilindorsetuk.4757]

Nice, I would be intersted i how the train control/signalling works, is there a central control centre? Automated I suspect.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

The signals are all manually activated by the locomotive operator. There's a switch on a post at the beginning and end of each siding to capture and release each single track block. The sidings are dark.

[@NortonRailway]

Great video!

[@THE_BaconPirate]

Also, those loco's actually sound like diesels... Not at all like the typical lawn tractor, does anyone know what type of engines are used in these?

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Batteries

[@THE_BaconPirate]

@@MillBrookRailroad NO! That's a sound card??

[@Jjonathanhart]

Lots of time and money must have went into building those tracks.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

@Jjonathanhart Indeed, they have. The railroad is 25 years old this year. That's normally how long these railways last. This one, however, is turning into a club.

[@Jjonathanhart]

It must be so much fun being involved with that miniature train railroad.

[@paulsmith5398]

lots of money spent on that, but i like yours better, The Mill Brook is a "working railroad", while the Mill Creek is just for fun.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Each railroad has its purpose. I've learned to appreciate each one for what it is.

[@paulsmith5398]

@@MillBrookRailroad kind of like mine in HO scale, its only a glorified test track, bare minimum scenery, etc, and i can run either DCC or DC engines on it. But i have two passing sidings, allowing me to run 3 trains alternately.

[@notlisted-cl5ls]

man! where ya get them sw1500 type locos?????

[@MillBrookRailroad]

i think Titan Trains makes them.

[@brandenloman6925]

Nice video why don't they have radio to communicate

[@MillBrookRailroad]

@@brandenloman6925 No need for radio when the signal system works.

[@brandenloman6925]

@MillBrookRailroad but most of the track ar one track way

[@joepeltola52]

OK the white posts with the bottle of water buy them .what's there purpose.

[@alanwbelcher]

I was wondering the same thing!

[@ConrailHistorical]

The bottles have water in them for putting out fires started by hot steam locomotive coals or ash that falls from the firebox.

[@wesbrackmanthercenthusiast4695]

Fire suppression although I was told that they could be used for emergency water as long as they are replaced

[@ConrailHistorical]

​@wesbrackmanthercenthusiast4695 you wouldn't want to use that water for anything else. It's usually kinda gross after the first weekend in the spring.

[@SeanONeill13]

*their

[@GrandpaCrew]

Could a car driver over the tracks at the crossing?

[@MillBrookRailroad]

The driveway crosses the track a few times. Cars and medium duty trucks go over the tracks.

[@Scoobers-fj6jk]

Can u take one of ur trains to this track and ride around

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I can, but I need to re-gauge to do it. this track is slightly wider gauge than mine. Just enough to not fit.

[@bobkohl6779]

Far better than LALS

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Don't be too hard on LALS. Model railroad design has changed a lot between the times the two tracks were built.