Seaboard Central May 2023 Layout Update

[@garyduke1330]

I love your detail on all of it, It’s amazing!! I look forward to watching more i just came across your video and it makes me look forward to the day i start mine. You are inspiring… Thank you for posting your work

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Gary! Glad you find the SC inspiring and I hope you enjoy watching the videos. There are over 100 on the channel where you can see the original layout and how I am building the new one. Tim

[@LisbonRailProductionsandF1]

Magnificent catches of the trains coming by and pass, i like it 5 stars, keep up the great work, my friend, liked and subscribed, Greetings from Portugal to the USA.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Obrigado! Thank you very much!

[@robertlewis7237]

THANK YOU FOR GREAT DETAILED VIDEO

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks for watching!

[@davestrains6816]

Looking good. Thanks for sharing. Dave

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks for watching Dave!

[@stevenswett2268]

Very Nice and Well Done. Great article in MR also. Thanks for sharing!!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! I appreciate it!

[@jimnicholas7666]

The pond looks awesome! Great update.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Jim!

[@Trains-With-Shane]

That muddy little pond with the log half floating in it is a scene that is ALL OVER the place in my part of Texas. Heck it even closely resembles the creek area at the back of the pasture. It's amazing! I really love that addition to the layout. It's subtle and natural looking. I love how it almost disappears into your excellent trees and backdrop as well. It's not shouting for attention yet when you stop and look it's masterfully well done. Thanks for this update, Tim!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks for the awesome comment Shane! I really appreciate it!

[@stevek4153]

Another great update! Boy, your locos keep getting better and better. I’m drooling over the GP38’s! Is it expensive to send them out for installs and upgrades? I haven’t tried that as yet and I’m not that good at doing it.

[@Trains-With-Shane]

@@stevek4153 It can be or it could be relatively inexpensive. If you buy a locomotive that is DCC ready you could install a decoder yourself. Sometimes switching out a factory installed decoder for something nicer like a LokSound can be somewhat of a process depending on the details. I don't do DCC/Sound installs myself but I deal in N-Scale where space limitations tend to make it more difficult. H.O. scale is easier but can still be rather difficult especially if soldering isn't one of your strong skills.

[@SeaboardCentral]

@@stevek4153 it really depends on the unit. An Athearn is very easy. An Atlas requires work which may mean having a weight cut down. If ScaleTrains made every kind of unit I needed, I would just make my entire roster nothing but them and then I wouldn’t have to worry about the electronics because their stuff is all LokSound V5 with current keepers already installed.

[@stevek4153]

@@SeaboardCentral Amen, brother! I only have 3 locos…all ScaleTrains-mostly because of high level detailing and the lights. One I installed a Tsunami2, the others factory installed Lok5’s.

[@johnbanicki7232]

Fantastic layout! Thanks for sharing.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks John!

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing.👍

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks for watching!

[@JosephMusgrove]

As always, very nice and realistic scenes. Thanks for sharing!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks for watching Joseph!

[@tracksidemike]

Very cool awesome video always nice to see operations great way to relax run some trains 👍🏻🚂

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Mike!

[@kevinbohnenblust5844]

Great stuff, Tim!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Kevin!

[@williamdavid9333]

Great video!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks William!

[@RFMCabooseNP1713]

Great job. The new addition looks great.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Robert!

[@TheTrainFreak]

Great update and the new locomotive looks great and runs pretty well! - Jason

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! I appreciate it!

[@scotabot7826]

Awesome job as usual!! I ordered a set of the scale sound speakers for my Rapido B36-7, and they are a game changer for sound. The Best you've ever heard as far as I'm concerned!!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! Yes I agree. Those speakers are awesome.

[@thecnwmondovilinepaulscota7304]

Nice update. The pond turned out great!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! Stay tuned. More on the way.

[@yrunaked4]

Tim, great update and 2003, looks great, I love the old SOU high hoods. Great look at your pre ops setup. So great that you can honor your friend James with 2003. excited to see the split rail derail once you get it done. Fine work. Cheers Rob

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Rob!

[@Chinquapinmayor]

Looks great! The ADM building and silos are great!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! Glad you like it

[@joeraderblackrockcentralrr]

Great update. Thanks for sharing

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Joe!

[@ho-modeler274]

Amazing Tim. It looks very good!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thank you very much!

[@RailserveJohn]

The scenery came out amazing Tim!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks John!

[@dexterdog62]

Looking good as always!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thank you!

[@garymartz7587]

Your layout is progressing nicely Tim! I also enjoyed the Seaboard Central article in the June Model Railroader.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! I appreciate it!

[@mglan8040]

Yes, congratulations on getting published in Model Railroader! I flipped the page and instantly recognized the Central. Proud day!

[@SeaboardCentral]

@@mglan8040 thanks!

[@cmdrflake]

It looks like a spring fed pond. I am impressed! All that work paid off!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks!

[@davidbrown4823]

Model rail wise I love doing nothing else but switching. looks great.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! More to come. Stay tuned!

[@modeltrainaficionado7195]

excellent sceney sir! love your layout!!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks!

[@daviddeezmusic2313]

Great video Tim!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks!

[@daviddeezmusic2313]

@@SeaboardCentral You are welcome. Your knowledge as an Engineer helps a lot too in explaining the way the yard works.

[@ThomasKlimoski]

Nice update Tim! Switching is what I enjoy too. Your comment was great, "I have no idea what the conductor is doing I just go forward and back". Having a regular schedule is the best job to have on a prototype railroad. I agree with you on the out of scale coupler trip pins, I cut mine off too. It is amazing how fast 5 scale mph is when you show it on video. Our layouts are scaled down so should our operating speeds. Your layout is looking great! I can't wait to see your new layout sections.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thank you Tom! I really appreciate it. Yes, there’s just some things that can destroy the realism of a highly detailed layout. One is switching cars too fast and the other is coupler trip pins. :)

[@JohnB9474]

@@SeaboardCentral question for both Tim and Tom. If you cut off the trip pins, you can't use under track magnets for delayed uncoupling, so how do you do the uncoupling? Just using a pointy stick or something similar?

[@SeaboardCentral]

@@JohnB9474 yes. You can use a bamboo skewer too.

[@ArrTee-j7m]

Really, really nice!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks!

[@garynugent4400]

Awesome update Tim!!!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Gary!

[@ianisaacs2340]

Love what you have done and love the new locomotive! Could we possibly see 2001 and 2003 back to back on the next train? Always loved high hoods, love that you’re running some! I’m also looking forward to seeing your split-rail derail!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Ian! Actually the next update will feature a very special unit out of the shop. I may just be MU’ing it to the 2003. :) Be sure to tune in. You’re not going to want to miss the next update.

[@ariesarethebest271]

You have some of the best backdrop I have ever seen on a layout. I can't wait to see your layout when it is completed.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! I appreciate it!

[@calvincurtiss2490]

I remember your layout before you moved. It was GREAT then, and now as I've watched you develop this masterpiece in the making I only see more beauty in the natural look of everything. And it's relaxing to see the switching. Love the ops. I go back to trains 551and 553 my favorite ops vids. Thanks for the lessons!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Calvin! This month will be weathering videos but during June it’s all OPs! I should have the upper level for the Westend far enough along to have some good ones. Stay tuned!

[@tomoconnell4235]

Great update Tim. I enjoyed the corner filling pond build series but it’s great to see it on the update. Looks like you have done a lot and it all looks super

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Tom! Stay tuned! More on the way!

[@stevenallen9613]

Great update Tim. I see you redid that portion of the scenery near the deer. I really like the way it had turned out. Looking forward to the upcoming segments with the cement plant. Steve

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Steve! Sometimes I let something simmer a while. If I’m not happy with it I’ll go back and either refine it or change it out. In this case I simply refined the scene and added a few more layers of scenery. I think it looks better now.

[@JeffSmith-fr9kf]

I love how the layout is coming along...simply amazing work, Tim!!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Jeff!

[@TobiasMathesonRacing]

nice job on the thumbnail! that looks super realistic

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks!

[@TGsports_Free2watch]

Something I’ve always wanted to see you do is a locomotive roster video and talk about each one

[@SeaboardCentral]

That’s coming up. I just want to release a few more units. I’m releasing a new unit every month. Next month will be very special so stay tuned!

[@JasonTrew2018]

Looks great Tim

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Jason!

[@Crookedriverandeasternrr]

Amazing work Tim. I Love the 2003 loco. Also Joey has the best backdrops imho. He does mine as well. 👍

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! I agree about the backdrops.

[@stewarttrains98]

Pretty sure the trainmaster or road foreman will have words with the crew about the derails and lack of horn blowing for a grade crossing....lol another nice video. Thanks for the update. You may want to try your hand at hand building the Southern style split rail derail. It shouldn't be that hard to do and would probably be better than chopping up a turnout. I plan to have one or two of them for my layout in a certain area. I plan on doing my from stick rail.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Raymond! My derail will definitely be a modified one. Hopefully it will turn out okay. If it is not exact, I’ll just say it was made from an old industry spur that one went to the old warehouse.

[@johnathanlewis2049]

Hi Tim! I think it’s so cool you’ve gotta regular schedule. Go in, do your shift and come home. You don’t have to deal with on call and everything that goes with being out on the road. Your layout is really freaking cool. Just an idea - give all the SC locomotives the Southern Railway Tuxedo paint job. Really enjoy your videos and your channel. Looking forward seeing your future videos as the layout changes

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Johnathan! Appreciate the suggestion but the 2001 is the only one. But there’s a lot in store coming up. And you’ll probably agree the Southern paint scheme wouldn’t be the best match for some of them. Don’t get me wrong. The Southern Tuxedo scheme is one of my favorites but the SC needs its own identity and the 2003 does a good job showing it. Tim

[@johnathanlewis2049]

@@SeaboardCentral - you’re right but I thought I’d suggest it anyway

[@205004gs]

Great update and op session. I wonder if you use, or have used long shank couplers on some of your freight cars like 60' high cube box cars, or centerbeam flat cars. I see a lot of prototype cars that have them.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Gene! Yes sir! My 60’ boxcars and 73’ Centerbeams have the long drawbar couplers just like the prototype.

[@AbelG8781]

I hear ya on that. Not too many layouts have a long straight line for mainline speeds, switchin'll do!!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! Unless you have a barn and model in N scale I agree that ho and larger scales are better suited for slow speed industrial switching.

[@Mumbles19852007]

Beautiful layout. I wonder if Seaboard Central would be interested in interchanging with the Virginia Eastern? Me and a friend do model that fictional railroad.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thank you! The SC is part of the North American Rail Network so it can be in the routing for car movements even if there are no physical direct connections. For example, if your Virginia Eastern interchanges with the NS or CSX then they can be the bridge between our two railroads. When I designed the SC, I wanted it to be a regional railroad because I think it would be more believable. I’m not creating a mega size class one like CSX or NS. So the SC runs between Birmingham and Savannah. It’s roughly the same size as the FEC. So think about it in that respect the same as if you were routing a car to then will apply the same as the SC.

[@Mumbles19852007]

@@SeaboardCentral well, the VA Eastern in our alternate universe merged with Southern this, the merger with NW never happened and Chessie System is the King over CSX. Virginia Eastern interchanges with Chessie System and others as a Class 1. So it's very possible.

[@Mumbles19852007]

@@SeaboardCentral I'm very good at coming up with back stories for things. 😂

[@josephcosta5161]

I watched alot of your videos and i must of missed where you have gotten the background...its exactly what I am looking for,please let me know.thank you,joe ok i got it backdrop scenery...ion your video,thanks

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! All my backdrops are from Trackside Scenery.

[@joedelusso1415]

Looking great Tim👍 I'm thinking about adding TSS backdrops to my future layout Too, but have a question about that "new" concrete plant backdrop going in,Is it a two layered backdrop or a 2D backdrop???

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Joe! It’s a 2D backdrop. Pretty slick, right? Joey with Trackside Scenery is great to work with. Be sure to check out my earlier video on how I do my backdrops. It will help you when you get ready.

[@joedelusso1415]

@@SeaboardCentral Joey's pricing isn't bad either considering I've been looking at others but I'm thinking of going with Joey's backdrops as I'm planning a branch line style switching layout for my next layout.

[@pacset2]

👍👍

[@SeaboardCentral]

😃

[@normglock4381]

As always outstanding update on your amazing layout Tim. Quick question - What brand of turnouts do you use or primarily use on the Seaboard Central? Thanks again...Great stuff!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! All of my trackwork is from Micro Engineering.

[@foscoe2496]

can u do a video how u change the road names

[@SeaboardCentral]

On how to remove the lettering?

[@ernestzamparelli5873]

Does your train room have a picket sign from last year's almost strike?

[@SeaboardCentral]

😂nope. I model 2015

[@brianrichardson9568]

What is the newest heritage locomotive? Do you have a video of it?

[@SeaboardCentral]

The newest one so far is CG 2001 the Cowboy Mintz. Yes there is a video of it. I do plan releasing another heritage unit in October that will be an unexpected surprise.

[@brianrichardson9568]

Oh okay. I thought the second high hood had a name. I saw the Mintz and the SCL heritage. The one I was curious about was 2003 high hood in the pond finale

[@SeaboardCentral]

@@brianrichardson9568 the 2003 is named for James Caldwell a former mentor of mine who I thought a lot of. But that unit is not a heritage unit, just one that’s been repainted into the new blue SC scheme. Look for other units to come out all though the year in various schemes that depict SC history. Some new, some old, some right in the middle. :)

[@brianrichardson9568]

Oh okay, that’s neat and cool man! BTW, isnt your layout in the Model Railroader for June? If so, congrats

[@SeaboardCentral]

@@brianrichardson9568 yes the old layout was featured in the June issue. Thanks!

[@jdboyd1861]

Do you program all of your locomotives with a 12mph max speed?

[@SeaboardCentral]

No, just the units that will work in the yard and on this westend of the layout. The other units have a max speed of 18 mph.

[@JimmyWood-h7o]

Who’s the guy you recommend for dcc work thanks

[@SeaboardCentral]

Jason Cripps with Georgia Bigfoot Trains. You can find him on Facebook at Georgia Bigfoot Trains.

[@garrettlayout6598]

Been doing this two months and just today found out the s in CSX stands for seaboard boy do I feel stupid.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Nah! Chessie Seaboard Corp is no big deal.