One of America’s largest HO scale model train layouts - The Chelten Hills Model Railroad Club

In this video we are going to discover one of America’s largest HO scale model railroad layouts that is lovingly maintained by model railroad enthusiasts for over 50 years. This very large model rail layout is located at the Chelten Hills Model Railroad Club in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, United States. The club maintains a 25 x 80 foot (approximately 7.6 x 24.4 meters) DCC controlled HO scale model railroad layout in a former freight and passenger station alongside the SEPTA regional rail line between Elkins Park station and Jenkintown station.
The model railroad is called “The Penn Falls Railroad” and contains of more than 1,750 feet of track (approximately 550 meters), 150 turnouts, amazing details and hundreds of steam trains, finest train sets, diesel locomotives and freight cars. For example, there is a superb model of the great “Hiawatha Train”. As you know, “Hiawatha” was the name of passenger trains operated by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad - also known as the “Milwaukee Road” - between Chicago and various destinations in the Midwest and Western United States.
In addition, the model railway layout in 1/87 scale has been constructed with a particularly sophisticated track plan, which allows literally infinite train rides and a lot of prototypical operating sessions. The track plan contains so many circuits and loops that incredibly long trains can run. It must be a paradise for model railroading if you can make the rolling stock move in authentic length.
Track Plan of the Penn Falls Railroad
www.pilentum.org/chelten-hill...
The miniature world is designed in such a way that the aisle through the layout should be a river with cities, towns, industries and rail traffic on both sides. So the aisle is not just a place for visitors and club members, but also an imaginary river. Therefore, the amazing, hand-built lift bridge exits, which connects both sides of the model train layout.
History of the Chelten Hills Model Railroad Club
Shortly after World War II, ten model railroaders decided to start their own club. Founded on February 7, 1946, the club was originally called “The Germantown HO Engineers”, and the first model railway layout was completed in June, 1946. A month later, the club moved to a bigger facility in the basement of the Pennsylvania Railroad Signal Tower in Chestnut Hill. On this site, the old HO scale layout was again set up.
In 1952, a new model train layout was started. Track work was completed in 1955, but scenery and revisions continued until the club moved to its present location in Elkins Park in 1962. Because the club was now so far from Germantown, the name was changed to “The Chelten Hills Model Railroad Club”. The original model rail layout, which was built in 1955, was so good that it still exists today. For example, the amazing hand-built lift bridge has worked flawlessly for over sixty years with only minor adjustments. Unlike then, today the club members operate a wide variety of equipment and rolling stock. The old but modernized model railroad layout offers over 28 scale miles of track (nearly 45 kilometers in scale track length).
During the cab ride video layout tour we are going to discover the engine facility and roundhouse. Very soon we can see the fascinating lift bridge and the large freight yard, the engine servicing facility and the waterfront pier. After the train crosses the bridge, we see the newly renovated industrial area on the left and the operating carnival on the right. A little later, the camera train enters a very long track that leads to the city of Penn Falls, with its major passenger station. The city of Penn Falls has a large railroad terminal that has been constructed in the style of the St. Louis Terminal - including a trolley system and a very large and detailed passenger yard.
Behind Penn Falls’ passenger yard we can see the old electrical operating system that has been replaced with a new Digitrax DCC system, which has greatly enhanced rail transport operations. Finally, the camera train passes the lighthouse and returns to the starting point of the cab ride layout tour. Isn’t it amazing that the track plan offers such endless possibilities for rail operating sessions, even though this miniature world is over 60 years old.
Chelten Hills Model Railroad Club
pennfalls.org/cheltenhillsc/ch...
Pilentum Television
www.pilentum-television.com
Video Chapters
00:00:00 Pilentum Television (Intro)
00:00:20 Long Steam Train Passing By
00:01:30 Cab Ride Video Layout Tour (Part I)
00:09:45 Rail Traffic On The Model Railway Layout
00:14:20 Cab Ride Video Layout Tour (Part II)
00:25:50 Rail Traffic On The Model Railroad Layout
00:29:50 Cab Ride Video Layout Tour (Part III)
00:37:30 Rail Traffic On The Model Train Layout
00:39:20 Activating The Lift Bridge
00:39:50 Pilentum Television (End)
Keywords
#hoscale #modelrailroad #modeltrains

[@joshuatoro8977]

I just want to say I don't mind when people talk in videos when they're showing layout tours what I don't like is when they focus more on the guy talking by showing him instead of showing the model trains so thank you for posting this phenomenal video

[@davehorner8126]

OMG !! I go by this all the time on the train to and from Philly and never knew it was there. Thank you for posting this video!!!!!

[@ronaldjoyce7374]

This was AMAZING, THANK YOU!!! The cab ride was great, wish you would do more of them. Ron

[@Bobrogers99]

I appreciate the train ride around the layout at the beginning. Too many videos of large setups focus on small sections, and we never get to understand the total layout. This one is extraordinary!

[@lucasmurray9225]

It is so great to see you feature a club with such a rich history. We have some great layouts in the US. Wish I could have met you on your visit!

[@bernardvermont248]

Thanks you for your présentation.It's a pleasure for me to see the trains. Bravo!!!

[@009docupuncture]

Your PRESENTATION brings unsurpassed JOY & RELAXATION, extraordinary detail in display and filming! It was one of the best cab rides I've eva had! When the trains passed each other, that was SUBLIME! The variety of passenger trains and rolling stock was EXCELLENT! Just would like a lil more light in the tunnels. But hey, WELL DONE!

[@TheMushroom246]

thank you .much appreciated .. take care

[@ColorMeMozart]

When I see layouts this amazing it both inspires and intimidates to work on mine! Simply amazing

[@keithklingensmith2955]

Awesome. Video from USA Pennsylvania. Thank you

[@TonisalpenmodellbahnN58]

Tolle Anlage. Danke fürs Zeigen und herzliche Grüße, Toni

[@Hydrogenblonde]

Holy smoke that train was going. Must have hit 75 mph.

[@paulsnickles2420]

Amazing train layout 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🌞🌞

[@caseyvillemodelrailroad3877]

Great vidio, great layout. Thanks for the morning coffee...

[@user-bo2uj7iz7m]

Great job filming this quite amazing layout. The cab view was very good indeed and certainly shows the level of design and pre-planning the lighting and backdrop sceneries and colours etc before building the layout can begin. Certainly a wonderful representation of American railroading. I also see the advantage of having a huge room of uninterrupted space for the continuity to be possible. I say this because I am a member of a club layout located in an old railway station which of course is quite narrow with separate rooms etc thereby limiting the sense of space. But we are getting there.

[@goforitpainting]

WOW. It's professional.

[@Bruno.Trains]

Wonderful layout, very atmospheric and realistic!

[@Imieitrenimodello]

awesome layout and video,big like 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🚂🚂😊😊

[@robertgibbs4032]

It's only fitting that such a layout be in Pennsylvania given the rich rail history of the state. I'm from Philly and never knew until bumbling onto this video that this layout was so close to me. One can best believe I'm planning to visit SOON.

[@josephstubler4903]

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC

[@pinetree9343]

Excellent layout. 10 out of 10. Very detailed.

[@shazam6274]

Magnificent ! The most amazing to me is the condition of the Rails ! Perfectly flat, parallel, and polished! Can you provide some more detail about them, please?

[@nicoleraits-murphy8388]

I’m so glad your Chanel is here

[@DrKO2453]

What an amazing video of an amazing layout! Thank you!!

[@bdd5748]

Masterfully done!

[@user-eo7yo8qr8q]

awesome layout and video,big like

[@LSVIDEOSFIRE]

Fantastic!!!!

[@Shelvington_Railway]

Great Video. Thanks for sharing! Cheers, Andy

[@pilentum]

Thanks for watching!

[@soundofheartrelaxation652]

Amazing ‼️ 👏🏼 👏👏👏👏👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@crackers5959]

Tu as raison, de tres belle vidéo de train... Trop cool 🤩🥰😁

[@nicoleraits-murphy8388]

I love your Chanel I love model trains my fav thing in the world

[@user-br9hv5ku2o]

Really enjoyed this video and found that you commentary enhanced the film and was very relevant. I like to know a few facts about a layout that I have no prior knowledge. A few people have commented on the speed of the train being too fast. This didn't detract from my enjoyment of the video and you may have done this to keep the video to a reasonable length, but if is an issue the video could be slowed so that trains appear to move at more prototypical speeds.

[@icemaster-]

This video made me have a dream where I turned my entire farm into a massive o scale model railway.

[@sekng473]

Thanks the technology.

[@joshuathek218]

Nice layout!

[@charlini9558]

Bellísima maqueta!! Una pequeña corrección al título: América es un continente. El país se llama Estados Unidos de América, y solo es una pequeña parte de dicho continente.

[@user-mi2xu4qw6m]

Super model! Mersi Pilentum!

[@mediaprducr]

I enjoy the commentary.

[@bugio2012]

I am Thai.I love the FPV view, it makes me feel like I'm actually riding the train and seeing the outside scenery. I wonder what type of camera that is used.

[@wiliamcamarda2471]

Um show a parte belíssima

[@alessandroposterli6831]

EXCELLENT VIDEO. I'M AN ENTHUSIAST TOO.

[@gunny8978]

Thats the smoothest layout not one of the cars or the engines bobbled or jersey that alone is a feat in its own especially at hi speeds my compliments sir

[@carlcat]

Amazing video, the computerized voice left much to be desired.

[@chriscummings4206]

As an American, I can say that I greatly appreciate European model railroading. I consider European railways to be very well designed, clean and well maintained. If you've ever seen any photos from the 60s of the Penn Central, you will see trash floating around the railroad tracks that in some ways might be interesting to try to model. The only major disappointment that I have with American railroads is all the mergers.

[@susiefisch]

If you can come to the West Coast of the USA, you will find an amazing model railroad at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, WA. It has accurate miniature buildings representing various industries and historic sites throughout the state.

[@pilentum]

The members of the Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers (PSMRE), that operates and maintains the model railroad at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, didn't want to present their video on Pilentum Television. Sorry.

[@hamiltonsullivan6563]

You should check out the columbia gorge model railroad club!

[@TheMushroom246]

thank you so much for your time in videoing this great layout its the closest i will ever get to seeing American trains ...just one more thing what camera do you use for the cab view run ive tried some but not as good as yours thank you take care ...

[@pilentum]

About the cameras, please take a look at www.pilentum.org/camera-blog

[@sekng473]

Thanks the Internet .

[@joesipos2975]

The cab ride would have been much more impressive if operated at scale speed.

[@SIERRASGRANDES]

LA VERDAD ALGO SORPRENDENTE MIS FELICITACIONES SI ESTARIA BUENO QUE CIRCULARA CON OTRO TREN ADELANTE PARA QUE VAYA CON UNA PRECAUCIÓN AGREGAR QUE PARE ENTRE A DESVIO PARA NO SER TAN MONOTONO YA QUE SE NOTA LA ALTA TECNOLOGÍA Y AVANCE ES MUY BUENA SOY UN EX CONDUCTOR DE LOCOMOTORAS

[@Stanf954]

A decently sized HO layout but is by no means the largest in the local Philadelphia area.

[@marvwatkins7029]

Milwaukee Road, C&NW are out of place for the NE and the GG1 has no catenary, but otherwise pretty impressive. Need horns and whistles, though.

[@marvwatkins7029]

Each member must've kicked in a few grand at least.

[@HemlockRidge]

As with so many cab rides, it's moving too fast to appreciate the detail of the layout

[@KarmaMechanic988]

And you thought America did not have high-speed rail!

[@marvwatkins7029]

No Pilentum, definitely not Lionel.

[@cjdavis2684]

Ok I have to ask, Why is the statue of liberty standing in a PA river? That is Not where it is at and it looks really out of place in that scene.

[@ronjones568]

It is on the Susquehanna river near Duncannon pa. Look it up on the Internet. It's crazy.

[@penelope8557]

SKIP THE PREAMBLE!!!!!!!!!

[@daviddeezmusic2313]

Keep the music off please.

[@stefanleybold6073]

… but thats H0 or smaller, … everybody speaks about Problems, jerky run-up, shaky wagons, no scaleconform tracks, wagons and locos are not in quality scale, there are people, who lay tracks in multiple floors, they drive, brake or accelerate too fast, and there are unnaturally much tracks.

[@98exequiel]

America It is a continent not a country.

[@andyfiala7500]

Very interesting and beautiful, just at the speed that the camera captures from the train, you can't see much. I mean the details.👍🚅

[@thomasblanchard6778]

That brings up a key point--the speed of this model train of about say, 300 miniature feet per second, would be like a miniature 200 miles per hour. I think the running speeds of model trains should be scaled down to enhance a total immersion experience. Lower speeds and slower accelerations and decelerations would add to the impression of the huge mass and inertia of a real train.

[@TrainLordJC]

Great job filming this quite amazing layout. The cab view was very good indeed and certainly shows the level of design and pre-planning the lighting and backdrop sceneries and colours etc before building the layout can begin. Certainly a wonderful representation of American railroading. I also see the advantage of having a huge room of uninterrupted space for the continuity to be possible. I say this because I am a member of a club layout located in an old railway station which of course is quite narrow with separate rooms etc thereby limiting the sense of space. But we are getting there.