Laying Track on the Stoddard Hill Farm Railway

[@billbwks]

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

[@chriseffpunkt4333]

I think you made that very clear hahaha

[@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

[@theFORKiknow]

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

[@tommanion5504]

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

[@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!

[@Roboticus_Prime_RC]

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

[@QUIX4U]

12:18 Thanks for the added info (re: alternated bolts) which now satisfies my opinion as to why not. That's a great addition to the video - an explanation of the why - that miniature needs less of, than doing it the same as larger railways.

[@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. ...

[@mischef18]

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

[@Tclans]

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

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Thanks for watching!

[@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.

[@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.

[@ronhart4166]

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

[@microrails]

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

[@eddiecloar6649]

Paranormal activity

[@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!

[@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.

[@Moestuin_RC_kleinduimpje8]

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

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Thanks!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@USM247]

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

[@scottleidenberger4401]

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

[@Chr.U.Cas1622]

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.

[@53jed]

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

[@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 ) 🌈🎉😉

[@danielfantino1714]

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

[@douglasthompson9482]

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

[@billm6774]

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

[@TheCebulon]

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

[@BrandonRowanTheDomoBoi]

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

[@buzzadams7876]

Well done sir! That’s a lot of work done realistically.

[@Lost_soul1975]

I love the passion you have for your hobby!

[@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.

[@AllThingsRailroad]

brilliant way of assembling track.

[@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 ?

[@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.

[@davelynch2532]

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

[@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

[@Rivarokband]

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

[@revdfp]

Great video. Thanks for documenting it all.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

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

[@buddywayne1]

I can't imagine the costs involved, but that is so cool. I love it.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

@buddywayne1 The track costs about $9-$12 per foot (after earth work), but you only buy it once, and there's a lot you can do yourself. Maintenance, on the other hand, is forever ongoing.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@mattp1337]

You are living the dream.

[@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.

[@flstffatboy3910]

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

[@martinpook5707]

Now that's really playing trains! Wonderful!

[@HankPeggy]

Just so Beautiful!!!

[@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.

[@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.

[@Rivarokband]

Great work!

[@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

[@treystewart544]

That little diesel train looks awesome

[@Jay_440]

Nice job with everything, looks fun!

[@paulsmith5398]

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

[@chuckriggsjr.6021]

That is really nice. Very neat!

[@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.

[@engineerwv]

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

[@jeremymerrix6236]

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

[@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.

[@EssGeeSee]

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

[@MillBrookRailroad]

The screwdriver bit is magnetic.

[@richfabian6534]

I just wanted to say that I enjoyed the channel so far

[@MillBrookRailroad]

@@richfabian6534 thanks!

[@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.

[@lawrencejneuser8801]

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

[@QUIX4U]

15:09 NO - not ready to move on, as you have FORGOTTEN the footplate on the oposite rail (near that side's fishplate. It looks like it was there, prior to installing that section, and removed (maybe to saw the end off) but was never re-installed. So NO You aren't ready to "move on and do the next joint" as yoiu haven't finished at this one yet.

[@johnnycee5179]

What a grand escape from a mad world

[@evanburke6771]

Looks like time we’ll spent!

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Time very well spent.

[@klauspetersenf1461]

Perfect Konstruktion ! Top !!! I like it !!

[@QUIX4U]

41:32 - Hah, not much point "sharing" with my friends, as I have none now, they are either all dead, or have moved so far away - as to be not a friend anymore, but just someone I once knew..

[@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.

[@jasonneal6461]

This is the coolest thing I have ever seen.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Thanks!

[@robinpatterson8754]

Nicely done Boys. Would there be any advantage to using a powered tamper, to help "shake" the ballast into place. You do seem to have a good method for the trackage. Well done.

[@prefabrick]

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

[@michaelzorro2738]

Thank you for sharing

[@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.

[@skruloos1]

That railroad is awesome..is there at some point a plan to open it to the public for rides or maybe meets with other railroaders?

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I don't think it'll ever be open to the public. It is at the end of a long, winding dirt road. Even if it were public, I don't think many people would visit. If, on the other hand, someone were to call ahead and ask to schedule a visit, I don't think he'd have a problem with that. The Mill Brook Railroad is similarly not necessarily open to the public but people can and do call and make appointments to ride. [UPDATE: Bill has mentioned the possibility of having meets at his track.]

[@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.

[@mitchoner]

this is legendary and so inspiring

[@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.

[@100SteveB]

Using steel allen head bolts with stainless steel nuts is a much better idea than using stainless bolts with stainless nuts. All stainless fasteners have a nasty habit of 'cold welding' themselves together, making removal a very painful job.

[@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.

[@NSWGR_3203]

Hey! I was wondering where you guys got your track… I’m looking for the best rails compatable with what I have now and I think you guys have it!

[@MillBrookRailroad]

How tall is your rail and how wide is the foot of your rail?

[@NSWGR_3203]

@ the only time I have to check is next Saturday, I’ll get back to you then

[@MillBrookRailroad]

@@NSWGR_3203 Sounds good.

[@NSWGR_3203]

Hey! I was wondering if it would be helpful if I measured the width of the head of the rail?

[@NSWGR_3203]

These are the measurements: Width of foot: 30mm Height of rail: 28mm Width of head: 15mm

[@DIY_Semi-Pro]

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

[@lordsherifftakari4127]

nice job. looks like you folks could use a Caboose with a Leaf Blower hidden in it to clear away the leaves from the ballast. mayhaps 4 Flatcars to move track panels and other material instead of stacking atop the Hoppers. stalling on a curved Grade usually is the result of not enough power being applied to the track resulting in wheelslip. is there room inside the loco's hood to add some additional weight for better grip. or is there consideration toward adding a 6 axle loco to the railroad for more power that can handle those loads and not lose it's grip mid grade.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Currently, the discussion is more on adjusting the grade itself.

[@JohnWisniewski-j4j]

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?

[@nicholasdowns3502]

I love this project, I’m just curious if it will have a final purpose other than being a fun/hobby miniature rail system?

[@MillBrookRailroad]

It's purpose will be forestry management. Most of the trees in this part of the forest died off our are dying. The railroad will help get the dead stuff out and help keep the non-native invasives from dominating. Also, as the line trees are dying off, the maples are taking over. That means there will be plenty of trees to tap for maple sap, which will be boiled down to maple syrup.

[@romanrat5613]

@@MillBrookRailroad That sounds really cool. I can imagine a fleet of miniature tank-cars full of maple sap.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

@@romanrat5613 Sometimes, it's 25 gallon tanks on flat cars but the idea is the same. Either way, it's still cool.

[@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.

[@anubis7630]

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

[@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

[@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?

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

great job,

[@jgviajante875]

Parabéns pelo belo vídeo.

[@john2914]

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

[@whosonfirst1309]

You have the best life.

[@QUIXNZ]

6:00 one of the MAJOR problems with leaf-fall, is the oil from the leaves being crushed under the rail wheels, causes loco driver slip. Either fit little 45degree angled leaf-wipe broom heads in front of the lead wagon (to push leaves aside) as well as in the front & back of the loco where they can also be deployed, and de-leaf the track, or fit a small "air-blower" and some sanding pipes / bins on either end of the loco in front of it's drivers - to puff (dry) sand onto the tracks where you have lots of leaves being crushed with leaf oil making the track head ultra slippery. Lots of real railroads suffer the exact same thing and yet I am amazed at all the watchers of real train videos stating that someone has greased the tracks, when it will almost always be, leaf crush oil deposits forming on twisting - winding uphill trackwork. Having worked on the track itself, on a real railroad, allows one to understand why rail head slippage occurs MOSTLY when either grass/weeds grow too high and bend over to get crushed, or autumn leaves flutter down to be the worlds worst enemy - for loco driver wheels.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

This was Bill's first time dealing with leaves on the rail while running uphill. Autumn leaves are one thing but it's those pine needles that are the worst! I battle them on the Mill Brook so much that I've taken to burning them off. Bill hasn't gotten that far on the SHFR but after that run, he's surely thinking about it.

[@gravelydon7072]

Cass Scenic has that problem in the Fall when dew and leaves work their magic of making rail lube. Two Shays slipping makes for interesting sounds. Took three tries to get going again after they had stopped for a Deer on the tracks. Had to let the locos sand as they went backwards then forward on to the freshly sanded rails. As the passenger cars had crushed the leaves, it really did make the rails slick.

[@QUIXNZ]

9:08 Oops you forgot didn't you. Real track maintenance gangs, leave ONE SIDE (one rail) only partially screwed down, to allow for the rial to be "drifted" (sent lengthwise with a hammer and steel wedge called a drift/chisel) to allow the gang to push new set rail to meet the previous rail set joint position. The new sets are held well enough by the tight rail (the side where the rail is fully clamped to the sleepers, while the partially screwed in loose side is still able to hold position on the sleepers, when these are lifted and placed into final position. Having the ability to "push / slide a new set to meet BOTH old rail ends, is far better than having to cut rail, to fix an overhang that doesn't need to be there. Another problem with curved track is that the inner rail does NOT need to be as long as the outer rail, so you will get what's known as joint creep if you make ALL new sets with the same length rails for inside and outside (on curved track). If you have a big enough curve, you may find your new sets have the inner rail ONE FULL LENGTH more (past the end of laid sets), being one length more than the outer rail, unless you "cut short" the inner rails at every joint. Having rail with pre-drilled fishplate holts doesn't help when you need to cut "dollies" off the ends of inner rail, as they normally won't be in the correct place (after cutting) for the fishplate bolts, hence you will also need to drill new (fishplate) bolt holes - for low leg (inner) rail joints. With the way your USA trackwork is done, with offset joints, you could get away with several sets with equal rails, and only cut one LARGER offcut, every three or four sets (hopefully allowing one original fishplate bolt hole to be used, and drilling only one new one. As the NZR (on which I worked) had DIRECTLY OPPOSITE joint positions, all rail-sets made (on or offsite) had to have "the inner leg with NO BOLT HOLES at one end (being the end to be cut when the rails were drifted up to the previous joint & cut to be opposite the high leg rail joint)

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Physics don't scale well when it comes to sliding a length of aluminum rail a couple feet. That's why I lay track on the ground on the MLBK. Bill has more disposable income, so he doesn't mind wasting some rail to make things fit. Every railway is different.

[@alisterx8698]

Hobo shoestring would be proud.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Indeed, he would.

[@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.

[@wolftrainservicesltd6418]

Are you extending your main line. Or are you building a branch line? Do you use your Railway to bring in logs for firewood to be cut up at the house

[@MillBrookRailroad]

We're extending the mainline on this railroad. It'll be used to pull all the dead trees out of the woods when it's big enough.