Operations & Railfanning: South Yard and Coal Train

[@ronduz1281]

Excellent running Rob Keep them coming. I like your idea on running slow 👍👍👍

[@DonaldSimsProduction]

I really enjoy following the train around and seeing "Oh! I remember Rob working on THAT!"

[@2H80vids]

One good thing I've noticed Rob: having buildings/industries 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 of the tracks, it makes for better perspective in most of the shots. Trains appearing/disappearing makes for more interesting viewing. That was a fun session, thanks for that.😁

[@sparky107107]

with most of us stuck at home this holiday season. This was a great time to post a operations session. I always like to see a layout tour by following a train around. and to watch how you do a session was great. Start to finish, I really enjoyed this, gave me a sense of being out of the house and visiting with you.. Some day I will get down to you. Thank you sir,

[@kensomething379]

Just wanted to say thank for showing us and explaining to us operations.Yes the coal car situation. Once my layout is built I think that's where i'm gonna be spending a lot of my time is in the yard, Yes, There's going to be days where I just want to watch trains. Run around the layout, I have 0 background in operations, but from videos I've seen. That's what interests me the most, but but some youtubers Just go through the motions with no explanation. So I gotta try and figure out what they're doing on my own.Where is you actually explain it and why/how. Right down to the guys on the crew stopping for lunch😂 I thought that was a pretty awesome touch. Prior to this I guess my guys just would have had to bring a bag launch and work straight through their shift, Which could be seven days straight prior to this video. I'd get up one morning and none of my trains would be running. And there'd be a little tiny note Telling me that literally everybody went on strike! As a viewer and Future builder and operator, Details like this are important.And I wouldn't necessarily think of it on my own so thank you for pointing out what you might think is, " boring" Or mundane, There's those lessons here that are quite helpful. thinking of adding that realism. I'm getting pretty good at practicing my scenery, E t c, But you bring the actual realism into The yard. Thanks for that!

[@MartyM22]

Well deserved time running trains! Great work done on the layout. Now time to enjoy it. Thanks for sharing

[@johna.dawson709]

great running session....a nice little break while working...

[@carstenprilow1837]

Hello, I'm new abn. First I want to say it is a fantastic layout you have and with so many details and I love your track layout. And it's great to see you sometimes "cheat" a little because as you say it's a model railway layout. Looking forward to following you. Carsten-Denmark.

[@chazzyb8660]

Wow - it's sure come a long way. And those new scenes look really impressive from track level. Wallace, round the peninsula, and on through to Lake View are stunning. Have a great 2021 Rob.

[@danielboone3770]

What an impressive yard! Neat coal train too!

[@agrove429]

I would love to see one of these style videos using steam power!

[@Vman7757]

I enjoyed this one very much. Keep them coming. Thanks for sharing.

[@nw24153ns]

Re:Monolith, I didn't even think about it until you mentioned it as I just thought it was related to -> Bennett Rail

[@joec.6012]

Great ops video Rob. I enjoyed the different moves. I always enjoy your content... Many times I learn something new.👍

[@stephenriley9084]

Rob, That was a real treat. Thanks! Regards Stephen.

[@michaeltrufitt5477]

Really enjoyed watching you run some trains it is good to see you operating the layout as it should be done thanks for sharing your hobby with us look forward to the next video 😀👍

[@JohnMullerJDGCTRy]

Thanks Rob,that was fun. It's still one of the very best of layouts.

[@TrainQuest-Model-Railroad]

Running trains having fun is my favourite part.🚂

[@MarkCroucherRC4fun]

Great saving this for my coffee break.

[@luvindemtrains]

Rob, that was indeed a fun video to watch. After watching all of your build and scenery videos it's nice to see the trains running through your wonderful layout. It's a true lesson for us all to do some work but then just take some time to have fun running trains. Also, I thought it was appropriate and certainly an addition of reality to show us that you have the same problems with dirty track and the problems that come with that as the rest of us. Anytime I get to see trains running on your layout it's a treat. Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year!

[@josephcordero3759]

You have one of the best layout I've ever seen

[@hp1kwTL]

You are amazing. I love all of your videos.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

It’s always interesting to see both European, British and American railways, either in live shows or through You Tube. Most of my viewing is of British model layouts and British trains. One can tell an American example because the sounds are much brighter than our own sound chips!!

[@idahobuckaroo8348]

Fantastic... Unbelievable layout. Thank you for sharing!

[@robertzimmer8579]

Nice show Rob. Thanks!

[@rjl110919581]

thank you for detail operation on your detail layout as great watching how to work out in operation

[@patmccarthy1624]

Great video, Rob! All the work is paying off, now, and the images from track level are darn near perfect! You've been working hard on this lately, and I'm really enjoying all the videos! Thanks for all the effort!

[@roadsscholar4012]

I enjoy your videos immensely. Your weathering is so well done and realistic. Not overdone. I look to what you've done and hope to learn.

[@richardabrown]

Thank you for sharing I got confused by some of the things you were talking about because I am English but it is always go to watch trains going by

[@davidwilliamssr5051]

I had a great time watching this video. Hope to see many more when your crews will come back!

[@giulius7176]

Nice video.....really enjoyed just running trains!!

[@davido.3151]

Excellent video Rob! I love the view at 36:49 (drone from Eugene East) where you see the entire train snaking it's way through the yard turnouts onto the main line. Much more interesting than just a straight line of cars moving down a straight section of rail. Although the view at 42:20 is pretty cool too, without crossing any turnouts. By the way, if that yard crew that picked up the coal loads to move over to the coal dock early in the video was any good they would have known to cut the loads after 8 cars. Then they could have picked up and moved all the empties without running out of room on the yard lead. They'll get the hang of it with a bit more experience! LOL Happy New Year to you!

[@eugeniomarins2936]

E, num genuíno espírito festivo, o Sr. Bennett nos brinda com mais um vídeo de delicioso entretenimento. Muito obrigado! De verdade. Saúde, paz e muitas felicidades no ano novo!

[@melvinfackler8282]

enjoyed the heck out of this. Nice job Rob.

[@fritopg285]

Amazing Layout, need more of thies in the world.

[@patji123]

Good one. I like all of your first generation locos.

[@GaMtnGuy]

Once again, great job.

[@MawaukeeWiscansin]

I loved the video - beautiful layout and interesting commentary.

[@MarkCroucherRC4fun]

A day or so late, but coffee in hand enjoyed watching your video, I'm not the only one who has to clean the track half way through shunting 😂

[@raymondrion6712]

Great operation ,especially operating the camera and the train.

[@MLWQC]

That was awesome. I really like the Baldwin. Yes I run into some dirty tracks when I work on the layout. No biggie. That was a long coal train! Likes the shark too. Great video as always.

[@harlint1233]

Thanks for that. About time you had some run fun!!!!

[@modeltrainaficionado7195]

excellent.

[@scottaylor5516]

Thanks Rob that was fun to watch

[@Madonsteamrailways]

Nice to see a really long train being modlelled!! We have very few trains that go above 15 carriages or wagons!! I’m going to be modelling a station on the British heritage railway on which I volunteer. My layout will depict Ongar Station, Shed and Yard. The stock yard will be used as a fiddle yard.

[@MakersWerks]

Another excellent video! Nice too be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Loved the scene @46:50 going over the highway bridge (PA 208???).

[@crazymanbbqcompany1592]

Happy New Year's... running trains is what you do to relax... Bob Cooney

[@Griphook3D]

Amazing layout!!!

[@dennisvonkrallski4639]

a cab ride of the current condition of the lay out would be great !!! It would also make a great archieve for future comparison or differences of the completed lay out cab ride. I would just love to watch a cab ride when i feel the need, i love your workmanship ! and happy new year, i hope your health is well.

[@NateDizity1420]

I'm a ex-architect and don't build models trains but this is really cool and your dedication to detail is insane. Really amazing

[@timgoldie8205]

Nice one

[@scottsilvey7522]

The layout is really coming along nicely Rob, see all that hard work and cussing under the layout has paid off, now you only really have the Westinghouse site to work on!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to you and yours Rob!!

[@daviddryden8088]

Great fun. Nice to have a break. Looks like you're really dialing in the performance and of course the artistry is some of the nicest around! NOW...GET BACK TO WORK! :) What do you think this is? A hobby? :)

[@daviemaclean61]

Nice running video. As for the silver monolith - don't you know they're all the rage in various locations around the world! Just a couple of aliens sneaking off across the yard and all is explained! ;-)

[@daviemaclean61]

Are you still planning to have a removable boat/ship next to the coal loading dock? I know you aren't doing anything else and have all the time in the world..........aye, right! ;-)

[@cascadianpuget]

First-rate stuff, Rob. Happy new year!

[@thjtr-qx3ro]

Please keep up the great videos

[@braxtonryland1728]

Enjoyed the Video Great work!

[@ABeriault]

Happy New Year

[@brandonlepley3793]

I wouldn't worry too much about your leads handling a fully doubled track. Many prototypical yards in the real world do not provide sufficient leads because of roadways or limited real-estate and crews have to either take headroom onto sidings or mainlines. I'm a conductor for NS and often at the Enola yards in Harrisburg Pa trains double out onto the Pittsburgh Main over the Rockville Bridge or west into Marysville even while just making regular switching moves. You can always update your layouts timetable and add more operational interaction by including moves like that. Awesome layout and I love seeing your progress!

[@williamsquires3070]

You could put a light fixture on top of the silver antenna thingy; that way, your yard crews would have some light to see by at night - handy for reading their train orders, switch lists, and for inspecting trains rolling past for hotboxes, sticking brake shoes, or dragging equipment. 😏 Paint the lampshade silver to match, and visitors will never know.

[@jwrailve3615]

When I start doing ops sessions, it’ll likely only ever be me as I’ve never In life even had anyone I know into model railroading, and it’s a triple decker three branch line with two stagings and a main yard, more than likely when I run the ops I’ll only ever do one branch level at a time with probably a through train from staging to staging through the yard, yard switching, and one branch line mixed passenger/freight, a cattle unit train, or a daily passenger depending on what the system generates. That way it’ll take 3 sessions before the next branch line ops is uploaded. Beautiful layout!

[@JPoulAndersson]

Your layout is so wonderful Rob, it's a fav of mine :-) Happy new year and Frohe Weinachten (although belated)! Joachim

[@robbennett1965]

Vielen dank Joachim! Let's hope 2021 is better for all of us- I am glad to be leaving 2020 behind.

[@jannes7738]

@@robbennett1965 www.dioramapresepe.com/en/ Something for you?

[@paulmcc9411]

Hi Rob from the UK. I just realised that the mainline has a different colour ballast and wondered the reason for this. As always an amazing and you inspiring video for all us beginner railroad modellers.

[@davidnichols213]

fantastic boom boom

[@HotRodRodney25]

Love the videos Rob the layout looks awesome merry Christmas and have a safe 2021 new year Rodney

[@capt.jaybrooks6540]

That was awesome !

[@daniolam8113]

10 cars should be enough for a layout that size. Some layout allows for 20 cars, you can have it all! 😀😂

[@stephenwhite546]

HAPPY NEW YEAR Rob

[@harlint1233]

The scene by the gas station with the traffic lights will look even better with your gate crossing in. I least I think so???

[@williamdickman7917]

Rob...shoulda pulled the empties off the dock and taken them to the empties in the yard...then picked up the loads and shifted them to the dock....less moves and wouldn't have the short lead track problem, imho.

[@richarddrum9970]

Great video Stephen, thanks for sharing, but you need to brush up on your conductor skills😀 without that brakeman these days there is a lot more for the conductor to do like throwing turnouts. Thanks for sharing your amazing layout with us.

[@warrencleversy2773]

Stephen even the real railroads made mistakes in the yards. It was close to "Been time" when switching errors were made!!! Your layout has come a long way so don't go changing things. Enjoy running trains and doing more super detailing to it. Happy New Year to you.

[@IMRROcom]

26:30 Hmmm, Will he catch it or will he make sparks?

[@tlbohlen]

Enjoy your videos and can tell you like what your doing. But If you're bored I'm looking for someone to help design my next HO layout

[@dennisvonkrallski4639]

I have watched since the beginning and love the progress. Are you going to add people?

[@1990sRailfan]

Crankin out the vids...2020!

[@snafu3714]

How do one get to this level, this is fantastic.

[@ptitrainrouge]

hey , not easy to film and operate with the throtle in each hand. Nice video

[@trainboyphil]

Hi Rob, I don't know if you have ever tried this stuff called Track and Rail cleaner ACT-6006 made by Aero-Car Hobby Lubricants, me and my dad use this stuff and it works great for dirty track.

[@rexroad9917]

Great Video of operation and great layout. What brand of turnout are you using for finger flick switches? What are you using for the electrical driven switches?

[@ElectronWranglerTV]

"...running the horn and bell all the time...." Exactly. Its a hobby and it's supposed to be fun for YOU. If your particular idea of fun is running your trains in a completely unrealistic manner, there's nothing wrong with that. If your idea of fun is running everything realistic down to every detail, there's nothing wrong with that. If your idea of fun is somewhere in between those extremes....that's fine too!

[@JoeyBPhotography]

"With the magic of editing" hah!

[@boomerdiorama]

I`ve lost count how many times I "split-the-points" on my layout and it is only ten feet long . . . lol.

[@Nealeb1970]

Nice Rob, the scenery really enhances the train as it runs through. Do you have removable loads in the coal hoppers? My friend puts a nail in the centre of each load and uses a magnet to lift them out which works well

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Thanks for the overview of operations on your layout, Rob. How many people are typically involved in your operating sessions?

[@robbennett1965]

Ron- the few I've hosted had around 9-10, and it was too many. I am thinking 7-8 would be better, to keep folks busy and have enough to do. I will try this whenever I can have another session. Of course, I am still tweaking the Ops Plan but am leaning this way.

[@SevenWelt]

👏👍

[@martinpattison4018]

Great session, Do the coal truck unload? this is my first look at your channel. Martin. (Thailand)

[@paullaughton3031]

Brill vid you never seem to get any derailment s do you do anything to your cars ie weight keep up the great work

[@robbennett1965]

All I do is make sure the trucks have metal wheels; change them out if not. I will bring the weight up to ~NMRA standards but I don't agonize over it. I will check the wheel gauge as well- I had a few that were off and they did derail going thru frogs at turnouts.

[@paullaughton3031]

@@robbennett1965 great thanks cant wait to see the new building stay safe

[@vettebecker1]

Do you have room to add to the end of your yard track to allow for the longer trains and switching for the dock?

[@marijnisnietdom]

Doesn't this make it more interesting to run the yard?

[@vettebecker1]

@@marijnisnietdom it could, but like it was said sometimes you have to move cars around by hand because it’s too short. My thought, if you have the track you can use it one of two ways. Have the room, so you don’t have to break apart the train or park some cars at the end and break the train.

[@mathewrufrano7833]

Office is fine there, it’s not in way.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

The bridge looks like the one at London, Indiana. Am I right?

[@harlint1233]

Is there a speed limit on the bridge?

[@harlint1233]

Are all three Pen units powered?

[@nw24153ns]

You need some overhead wires and a camera like NFL games so you can go every where. 👍✌😁

[@Madonsteamrailways]

What part of America is the railway set? It’s not like anything I’ve seen in Indiana!!

[@nated1971]

Did you build the layout for the sake of building the layout or did you build it to run trains on?

[@herrkiwi3110]

Out walking Fido .......... LOL .

[@Madonsteamrailways]

Do you have a Big Boy to run on your layout?

[@robbennett1965]

No- not sure I could. The largest steam loco I have is a Pennsy J1 (2-10-4) and it really is at the max of what I can run. Does NOT like #6 turnouts and especially the curved turnouts in Staging. Even the 2-10-0 Hippos need to be carefully handled.

[@GaMtnGuy]

So, a question I haven't seen, or missed it because I'm old, where do you get your background music?

[@kenrosser8160]

Just by walkey talkes it cheeper than the phone system