Railfanning CP Rail's Richford, VT Switcher

For more prototype information on the Richford Local that I'm modeling in 1980, see nhrrman video, CP RS-18's on locals Richford to Wells River, VT 09/28/1989. Thanks, and enjoy!

[@seanarthur2414]

You are definitely in the top 1% of modelers out there. The illusion of depth achieved in your scenes is second to none. The shady spots on the hilltops from clouds above are particularly convincing.

[@markcentola2817]

nice to see a new video on your layout. incredibly realistic

[@richardkuchta2822]

You hit close to home, Abercorn Que. Now life in Ontario, thanks for the memories.

[@346UNCLEBOB]

Phenomenal realism! Truly excellent. Best use of photo backdrop I've seen...EVER!

[@deanpurcell7771]

Love the crew member deadheading in the second unit of #80, he's obviously half in the bag, waving out the window! Been there myself!

[@NRS8400]

LOL - thanks Dean, with a 5 man crew I'm sure someone was violating Rule G😀

[@Lakeside1943]

Great, yet sober scenery, perfectly blending into a matching backdrop! Combine this with realistic switching moves and mainline traffic, plus weathered rolling stock .... how real can it get ? I enjoyed every minute of it.

[@user-mr3ct1dm9p]

This is EXACTLY what this portion of CP in Vermont was like-- locos,car types,roadnames--- it is all a perfect time capsule of reality. It cannot get any better than this---- real, or model. CP in Vermont was a first class act.

[@heybeerdan1820]

My first time here... What a beautiful layout and operation! Backdrops are outstanding... definitely Top 1% as mentioned below.

[@SeaboardCentral]

The whole place looks incredible Neil. Outstanding work. Thanks for sharing. Tim

[@jdhinckley1954]

Gorgeous, realistic modeling. Looks so close to real life. My favorite era as well(although in eastern Maine:)...)

[@markrabenold]

I grew up watching mostly locals running along rusting, weed-covered branch lines in eastern Pennsylvania and to this day, I prefer watching locals switch out industries over seeing fast freights running down well-ballasted main lines. A truly entertaining video you've created here! Your scenery is second to none and your weathering is beautifully done on both engines and rolling stock, not at all overdone like so many. Thanks very much for sharing your modeling skills with the rest of us!

[@cagorrie]

Wow, the level of detail of the trains, the scenery, everything is absolutely incredible.

[@MikeG42]

This is definitely one of the most beautiful layouts I have ever seen. Good video of rail operations too. Awesome ! 👍🏻

[@jeffallen5698]

Truly Awesome in every aspect of the hobby! A masterpiece. Love that is CP rail it brings back great memories . Wow

[@dougs6460]

Excellent scenery!!!

[@robnielsen935]

I grew up in Southern Alberta ('73 to early 80s) and love the red pacman scheme. It reminds me of home when I see it. Beautiful layout and great prototypical movement of trains! Thanks for sharing.

[@josephseverino674]

Nice scenery, loved the background, new England is my favorite part of the USA,i am from NJ 😒 LOL.Great video 👍

[@AKawalski]

Neil! This truly World class work. I watched all of your videos during the Covid lockdown, to be honest the World you have created, helped get me through it all, no kidding! So glad you are still doing videos, yes they are time consuming, but these are epic in so many ways. Beyond real sir!

[@dennispaulson8734]

You have done a good job on the layout 👍 I started working for the Canadian Pacific Rail Road in 1968. 2001. Your cars, engines bring back great memories, the only thing missing is the old red caboose. Our train crews used the old vans as the home away from home . In around 1970 or 1971 CP upgraded to the yellow vans like you have. and put train crew in bunk houses or motels. 👍👍 Canadian Rocky Mountains

[@leekresser8384]

I was blown away at the detail!!! I actually went to google earth and the layout was SO clise. I read a few comments, and i was in shock when i found out it was nodel railroading! I had an S-guage layout years ago so i REALLY appreciated this!!!

[@kenkarlewicz9380]

The videography and scenery is just next level on the layout from another orbit Neil In one word Mastery!!!

[@johnniewelbornjr.8940]

Superb modeling and operational speeds... I am another that loves the older time period in which I grew up, with a variety of power and none of the modern graffiti. This old Alco looks and sounds great and you've certainly created a lot of depth out of a narrow space, as well. The flash rate on the crossing mimics the old incandescent lights ever so nicely, too!

[@gramchristian]

Most wanted - another video from this magnificent MR. Worth having waited for. Nice detail having the red chevy driven on from the railroad crossing during the sequences !!

[@NRS8400]

Thanks Gram, if the video production and editing didn't take so much time, I'd definitely have more videos. -Neil

[@richardkuchta2822]

I grew up in Abercorn Quebec, on a farm just outside the town in the direction going to Sutton and seen every day the CP train pass by our properties heading to Richford and stopping at Blue Seal Feed Mill. Your Model has brought back great memories of the pass. Thank you for such a great scene. Richard.Kuchta

[@shawnpowell5876]

Great video of this amazing layout! Watching the switching being done just the real thing. I sat here in absolute amazement of how detail everything is from the rolling stock to the scenery and all the details that give the final touches. You definitely have a special touch for this hobby and i wish i could see it up close and personal. Cheers from Laurel, Delaware USA.

[@dannyhonn973]

Looks like Vt reduced to 1:87. If I didnt know it was a model, Id swear real thing. Kudos. The standard of detail and realism to beat.

[@LogicRailTech]

Wow and ridiculously amazing are but a few words which come to mind. Love it Neil!

[@davidklauer3422]

Fooled me for a few minutes Pretty impressive layout

[@tommachut7167]

Fantastic layout ! great operations.

[@1Nanerz]

Stunning layout. I aspire to have my layout look this good and operate as smoothly. Thanks for sharing your work.

[@Carolb66]

The white house near the crossing is beautiful! I could live there! Gorgeous area this. Nice switching action too. ❤😊👍

[@JDUBTrains]

Fantastic layout and run😊super realistic 👌

[@Jennifer-K5LA]

😮 ok, up until now I had always believed the Fundy and South Manchester layout was the best most realistic looking model railroad out there...this is a game changer!

[@Jennifer-K5LA]

Sorry meant to say Franklin and south Manchester.....auto correct skunked me 😂

[@danielfantino1714]

30 minutes of back in time joy. An era with caboose, operator in station, non pumpkin crew and tagless freight cars. Railroads were more friendly in those days. I´ve seen 8400 only twice. Alive going south toward Farnham. And in St Luc deadline. Even then she was cleaner than its sisters. Her crews taking probably more care of their tools. That "ugly" NYC boxcar is gorgeous. You did a superb job and be kind to share it with us. 😊

[@bebopcats]

And the Academy Award for best sound goes to ..........the CP Alco switcher! I love the sound of those old Alcos. Some videos have the more modern whiny diesels which gets tiresome. Stunning scenery. That barn scene really is iconic.

[@jasonfontaine1257]

Great Job Neil!! I feel like I was right there in Richford watching it live.👌

[@NRS8400]

Thanks Jason!

[@stanleepatterson95]

Prob best model rr video i have ever seen. My hats off to you.

[@jim7544]

Best of its kind on KZbin!

[@AppalachiaRRlover]

Your layout is beyond stunning It’s unreal!!!’

[@GMCGUY-]

I have seen probably over 400 layouts in my lifetime. And I will say I do all of them.I will say this one is definitely my favorite one of all time. I'm not kidding when I first put this on. I didn't read the description at first I thought this was real at first..😅😅😅😅 That's how much detail you put into this. In the engines, you pick in here absolutely beautiful. Those GP7 are gorgeous. In the time error that you picked probably.I would say this is the Probably maybe the late 79 78. You did a fantastic job on this layout.HO scale looks absolutely breath-taking.I don't know how long this took you but I can imagine the dedication you put into this. Please make more videos of your layout , please please

[@NorthmassRails]

Yes! Finally a new upload! Honestly, this layout is THE most impressive layout I’ve ever seen in my entire life! Keep up the amazing work

[@christopherburford8754]

Amazing! I believe I just watched a Railfan Video of the Prototype!

[@wesmoore4365]

i saw the thumbnail and was questioning on how good my skills really were for detecting real vs model, oh my god it looks so good

[@tomp8871]

I'm impressed, nice snappy vehicles also.

[@isaacfabris3179]

Thanks for 30min of awesomeness, Neil! Stuff to aspire to. The only thing I hate about your layout is it's 16+ hours away... was super thankful to tour it when in town for Amherst in January, though!

[@garymartz7587]

Very nice Blue Seal feed plant. I enjoy watching your videos!

[@frankkie3849]

Nicely done,,thanks for sharing..😊

[@XBOXShawn12thman]

WOW ... 😳 ... What a GORGEOUS Layout ... I Subscribed!!! 😁👍

[@minutemanmac]

Nice to see some videos again Neil!

[@ACLR03]

This is so realistic. I thought it was a real railfan video.

[@PaulBrink-pq5iv]

Absolutely fantastic! Thought it was real! Don't mind admitting it either.

[@drummachine434]

I clicked the video thinking this is real life. But I wasn't disappointed at all

[@skruloos1]

Extremely well built layout..I had to double take ..your sound system is excellent..

[@ianroberts6929]

Simply wonderful!

[@shawiniganterminal7061]

Nice to see piggyback toward Farnham , didn’t know that. I love new CPAA’s hopper from Tangent. Kudoo

[@NRS8400]

Thanks, I.ve seen photos of piggyback traffic in the late 70's and 80's, usually on the head end. Autoracks as well headed to the Ford unloading facility in Ayer, MA.

[@smallrails6831]

Nice slow switching. Hi from NZ

[@JosephMusgrove]

Nice looking layout!

[@RaySchofield2000]

Very nice Mr Schofield

[@patrickhalsey4000]

Superb!

[@TomStarcevich-fb3qo]

Awesome 👌 👏 👍

[@TWNTY-es8lu]

the black step side very cool...

[@franksessoms2111]

I had to look twice to realize this is a layout, looks realistic, excellent work, second to none, 🚂🚃🚃🚃

[@jasonpetersrailadventures]

Cool video

[@train4721]

The thumbnail is convincing

[@centeroftheearthmining4095]

Fantastic! What decoder did you use? Sounds awesome!!!

[@jaidenjadczak6552]

Very nice

[@workinghardusa]

Great video, well done!

[@randysrockandrollrailroad8207]

Very cool 🤠

[@tomy.1846]

Wow!!!!!!!!

[@Engineerrick]

Beautiful work. You could have made one mistake just to make the rest of us feel better.

[@NRS8400]

LOL - thank you, there's plenty of mistakes there for sure, I know where they all are.

[@coutov8]

Perfeito ❤

[@kevinb9327]

I thought it was REAL! Awesome. Is this N scale? My Orange Belt RR could use help.

[@davidbrown4823]

A very much rail fan video.

[@Demun1649]

One thing is wrong. The levelling of the road to the tracks is not prototypical. Where is the "hump" where the articulated trucks can get stuck, and then destroyed by the passing trains?

[@PeterNGloor]

O scale? I wish we in HO had those old street lights like seen here.

[@NRS8400]

Hi Peter - it's HO scale. The street lights are available from Shapeways 3D printed parts.

[@thomasmccaskill5197]

Hay welcome back gret to see another video of your amazing layout love the details and scenery how it matches the backdrop. You should do a how to videos on your scenery, weathering, and tree's

[@NRS8400]

Thanks Tom, I have a blog on Model Railroad Hobbyist, I share lots of modeling projects on the blog. If your interested feel free to check it out, called the CP Newport & Lyndonville Subdivision.

[@jimrockford3662]

Depth is outstanding. What size is the layout?

[@NRS8400]

Thanks, layout is 28x32. It was featured in the 2022 Model Railroad Planning. kalmbachhobbystore.com/product/special-issue/vt-mrp220101-c