The World's Largest Backyard Railroad?

For over 25 years Van has been laying track on his land in the Great Basin. With 10 miles of track he just may now have the world's largest estate railroad.
I (Dale) helped lay the first mile of track in 1996. Hard work but fun and interesting. Van's goal was to build the railroad entirely from the train and track a=so that the land would be undisturbed. So that it really feels like heading out on the narrow gauge into the wilderness. Well, he did it! After the first mile of heading into the landscape, you understand that you are in fact on a railroad in the wilderness. No roads, no other tracks, no trails other than deer trails, you are in the middle of nowhere on a narrow-gauge train.
The gauge is 7 1/2 inches and most of the equipment is 2.5-inch scale or models of three-foot narrow gauge trains. The flagship is a huge model of Uinta 50, the articulated locomotive that ran on the Utah-Colorado border years ago. However, there are several other models of 1/8 scale steam and diesel locomotives.
Van's railroad is never open to the public and he has asked us not to tell the location or his real name. He just wants to run his trains not to have meets or people over.

[@robertemmons2260]

Out in the middle of nowhere, just how I like it. The silence is music to my ears. This huge backyard railroad is definitely a labor of love, because its something that can be appreciated from a lot of hard work and watching it come together as the progress goes. Thanks again for another fun trip!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Does the dog jokes it goes around this isn’t the middle of nowhere but you can see it from there. Well this is the place they’re looking at it when they say you can see it from here this is in fact in the middle of nowhere

[@garingdahl]

One of my favorite sayings, "The silence is deafening!"

[@MichaelWilliams-ro9bm]

This appears to be Arizona.

[@HerksTrainShed]

I remember this place my grandfather had build a water tower for him many many years ago.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I know the water tower but I’ve never been over to it. Saw while we were out there but it was built after I left but it’s still there and looking good!

[@Shadowfax-1980]

This isn’t a hobby. This is a vocation! I bet it’s fun to load some camping equipment, haul it out to one of the clearings, and just spend the night.

[@Chaomhainn]

Wow ! Such a dedicated big toy lover huh ? I respect the mans ambition passion and privacy among the most . You folks are special to have and give us this presentation thanks in this time of need of wonderment .

[@geralddeering2248]

This is a labor of love.When you go for a ride,you should take another engine with you just in case you break down otherwise it is a long walk back.

[@Bigdog5899]

I've been out to where this railroad is. Its pretty well hidden from the highway. I've always wondered about it and now I know more. I will respect the owners and not pass on where this is. Thanks for showing it.

[@ToyManTelevision]

@@Bigdog5899 hi!! Thanks!!!!🚀🚀🚀🚂🚀🚂😊😀👍

[@stephenriley9084]

Dale, Karen, Wonderful! You are both good storytellers. Regards Stephen.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. Thanks!!!! Make sure to watch the rest on Sunday.

[@ParkerTyler]

I used to ride the trains all the time in Tooele when I was younger! And as I grew up and we would drive to St George from Tooele to visit my grandparents, I would always catch a glimps of some of these tracks in the Meadow and wonder what this railroad looked like! Now I know! Thank you for sharing!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

That’s really sad that they tore all those tracks out. Just really a shame it was fun

[@sgttombailes3380]

LOVE this video ! I Pray everyday that I can build a railroad for the kids where I grew up on a RR. Old Gainesville Midland RR is now CSX and it runs by the Farm house 2 to 3 times per day.. Love It !!

[@Flying90]

Wow this is so cool!! This is one of the reasons I want land too and not living in some urban neighborhood where I can hear the neighbors fighting with each other

[@Kafj302]

this is awesome, it keeps the skill of making railways alive.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Need to get back out there this summer and see if the steam engines running.

[@louisgurske8179]

Thank you so much. Looking forward to next Sunday.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I spent 20 minutes going around the 4 mile loop and then visit the engine shops

[@Kevin-go2dw]

Well done. I can understand the freedom of being able to run what he wants, when he wants without the rules and regulations of clubs. Good for him to keep it private. You can take your consist for a decent long run without feeling like you are going in circles. No doubt if he let you loose on your own you would get lost with all that track. What a way to screw around.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Next week we’re going to take everybody up to the pond for lunch. It’s 2 miles up and 2 miles back on two different trucks. Took us about an hour and a half to get up there because we were in no hurry. Never stopped we just went slow.

im so glad you guys do this stuff..

[@ToyManTelevision]

Us too. Fun!!!

[@1800clyde]

A labor of . . . love? Or the ultimate example of “out screwing around?” What a fun place!

[@karynfelix-the-Cat]

The area really is similar to where I grew up! Lots of cedar and some prickly pear! Blazing hot summers and freezing cold winters! Life in the high desert! Always good to have a 4-wheel drive vehicle for access!

[@jeffgentle6497]

This is my 1st time commenting but I just have to say you guys are such an adorable couple and I really enjoy all of your videos! I have a fairly extensive HO scale layout and I love the real trains as well. Thanks again for all the wonderful videos that you share.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi and it’s nice to have your commenting! Are used to have quite an HO scale rail road. Had to dismantle it when I moved to St. George and I’ve never had a layout sense. Well until now just yesterday I finally had a train running on my own layout! I’ve been working on it for four years and intentionally not running anything as I wanted to keep working and not screwing around with the trains. Anyway I’m hooking up wiring and well you just have to test right? So a train moved under its own power yesterday.

[@grantbassett2048]

Hidi hi, that is an amazing place. I love the size ,but love the fact theres nothing but earth and trees all around it. And beyond. Nice to see the Younger Dale in photos. Great bridge. It looks a hot dry place. Thanks for shareing trip out. Love it. Keep srewin around & traveling around you two. Grant ☆

[@lesliedickinson198]

Wow that is one awesome railway to play with

[@kenamosjr.bo_51]

Awesome, that's a true love for trains. I thought a 32x35 layout in HO was big enough, now I got to plan bigger.

[@ToyManTelevision]

My HO had 100 feet of track. At vans that’s what we laid every day. Gee.

[@hankfacer7098]

Absolutely amazing. What dedication

[@ToyManTelevision]

Right? Amazing

[@StressLessCamping]

We can't get track one laid on our garden railway and this gent has 10 miles of track. What a cool video as always!

[@jessicavanwagenen7776]

So much fun Thank You!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!! More Sunday.

[@johnkuzma7066]

I would love to bring my little engines American now that I know that one can handle the gradients.

[@ToyManTelevision]

A little engines American wouldn’t be able to handle the original figure 8. We had some 4% grade on there. But the 4 mile loop is a cake walk.

[@ValConB]

Dang! I was getting ready to jump in the car this weekend and offer Van some $$$ for a private train ride, then saw your last paragraph! Thanks for sharing - pretty fun stuff!

[@ToyManTelevision]

ValConB Yeah he sort of likes to stick to himself out there.

[@crystalrock18]

You had me the title of the video. This man is quite possibly the coolest guy on the internet/KZbin.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I don’t know if you’ve ever met an off grider. Van is sort of like that. He doesn’t want people to know his real name he doesn’t want people to know where that is is he doesn’t have power on the property he doesn’t have a phone line he doesn’t have a bathroom but he does have running water. He likes to come out here and drive his trains around and he likes to be left alone. You’ve really got to admire it on one level.

[@scottleidenberger4007]

Amazing. Ten miles of track maintenance , wow. It is dry though. Maybe he really enjoys that kind of thing. It would be peaceful .

[@ToyManTelevision]

I met with Ralph today for a brief period and asked what the plans are out there if they plan on ever put in more traffic in and he said heavens no! Their goal right now is to keep all 10 miles perfectly operational and that is job enough

[@bradleyogden5688]

I remember driving by and seeing this from the road. Shook my head and didn't know what to think. Thanks for doing this.

[@wmjwell]

Wow!!!! I would love to have to have the acreage to make a railroad like that!!! I have priced a few Diesel engines. Debating where my health is leading me before I commit to that or a home layout. The steam locomotives are amazing especially the 4-4-0. He should call Guinness and have it entered into the world records. I am so very impressed with the ideology he used for creating his plan. Best wishes for his continued success and fun. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

I’m not sure how many acres this is but I think it’s well over 400. Not sure how that works but it measures about 1 mile long? and about 3/4 of a mile wide.

[@royreynolds108]

@@ToyManTelevision Acreage is square feet. One acre is 43560 sq ft.; so 400 ac is 17424000 sq ft. If the property is about 3/4 mile wide it would be about 4400 ft long. Quite sizable layout.

[@larryarcher4502]

640 acres 1 square mile

[@DavidDragonhammer]

wow,beautiful....

[@ToyManTelevision]

Huge!!!

[@DavidDragonhammer]

@@ToyManTelevision He needs more Trains,never enough,also wouldnt be cool if he had a few actual baggage cars or maybe a caboose or 2,for some super realizim or better yet like we all do it building a layout,have homes and businesses as to enhance the layout?

[@islandofmisfittrains5114]

This is awesome. You guys see some of the coolest railroads and layouts.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. Thanks. Long ride next Sunday

[@studiodevelopers2467]

@@ToyManTelevision Mc Cormick Railroad park. Arizona. I think its in phoenix. Is a neat one....

[@drgwnut]

Thanks for the hidden gem video. I have ridden a bunch of these on various convention tours, but like you say, they are clubs and usually have maybe a few miles of track. The Union Pacific could have used this guy back in 1869!

[@ToyManTelevision]

I don’t know if you’re familiar with “off grinders”. People who just want to live out in the middle of nowhere not connected to the power grid. Van is not connected to the power grid! There is no telephone no electricity there is running water. It’s his personal toy and he just likes driving his trains around out there and he enjoys being left alone to do it

[@cbgadget4740]

Very cool railroad. Thanks for sharing 👍👍👍😎😎😎 Cary

[@jimkammerer8028]

AWESOME NICE VIDEO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BRINGING US ALONG TO WATCH YOU BOTH SCREWING AROUND BEST THE EVER I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS TIME WITH YOUR SUBSCRIBERS ALWAYS INFORMATIVE AND INTERESTING NEVER BORING... JIM KAMMERER OF PHILADELPHIA PA THANK YOU AGAIN 👍👌😀🚂🤗😄😁😷

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi again Jim! Next Sunday we’re going into the engine shop to look at the locomotive stored inside there. Including a gigantic marble if you were to 50! Then we’re going to take a nice long leisurely ride up to the pond and have lunch 4 mile round trip

[@indianabukidboyszutowicz3191]

Gosh, I would love to go there. I always wanted to do something like this. Absolutely a gem of a railroad!!!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

And their personal toy. One guy and his three friends.

[@bcgrittner]

Great stuff. Closer to us, just south of Hudson, Wisconsin is the St. Croix railroad. They have 1/8 and 1/12 trains. This group is top notch. Uncertain about current operating schedule due to Covid-19. Travel to our part of the USA. Lots to see up here.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yeah we’re kind of stuck in these days! We should get a lot done on the model railroad

[@bcgrittner8076]

Toy Man Television I took the time to verify that the St Croix railroad is closed to the public for the 2020 season. Maybe next year.

[@georgebottarini1788]

Fantastic video. Loved it.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks 😊 More Sunday. Let’s go fer a ride.

[@justjoe942]

Lucky man, living his dreams.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup!! More this Sunday. Then steam I about 2 weeks.

[@bigwoz78]

Just awesome, can’t wait until next Sunday

[@ToyManTelevision]

A few shots that big Uinta a 50. Like to come back when he’s actually running it

[@eschnitger]

I would have so much fun building miniature buildings alone the tracks...

[@ToyManTelevision]

That’s what I’ve always wanted to do out there

[@SouthernPacific8984]

Wow! As a hobbyist in this scale, I had no idea this private railroad existed. Can't wait for next week's show. I'd love to see a future episode at Train Mountain as well.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I’ve been wanting to get up to train mountain for ever! We did ride adobe mountain and we have a show up on that. It’s larger than this railroad but it’s a huge club. This “little” Rail road is top-secret. Van really doesn’t want people to know about it. It’s just his personal toy

[@SouthernPacific8984]

Toy Man Television The big Triennial Meet at Train Mountain has now been rescheduled for Summer 2022 due to the COVID uncertainties (last one was in 2018). That’s an event you should consider covering on a future show! There will certainly be no shortage of content there.

[@pbyfr]

That's crazy. And I struggle to find to find a bit of additional place for my On30 layout!

[@garypearsall1589]

Now that is truly amazing. I can't for next week.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I’ve decided to show the long ride! Hopefully it’s not boring!

[@vettebecker1]

This is so cool, love the American type loco in photo’s

[@ToyManTelevision]

I forget who makes the kit. People think it’s a little engines. Not. But forget who makes it.

[@russkepler]

@@ToyManTelevision It looked like an Allen American but the cab was different

[@lescobrandon3047]

Fascinating!

[@ToyManTelevision]

A big ride Sunday.

[@Retro_Spectrum97]

What an amazing layout... i wish i had the money and the place to do something like this... thanks for taking us along on this adventure.... i just happen to have a original ATSF Santa Fe Railroad Stool from the 1950s... it could have been used on the Super cheif or the cheif.. i also just got that pump of mine working and gave it a little service station in front of my apartment...

[@ToyManTelevision]

All I have from the Santa Fe is a caboose Marker lamp. But that’s pretty darn cool. I’ve always admired the Santa Fe. Most of the club cars had the most amazing ashtrays. Gigantic heavyweight things but stood in the center of the floor but wouldn’t tip over on a moving train. But the ones on the Santa Fe were absolutely spectacular

[@caesarillion]

Would love to see that again for sure. It reminds me of a rumored desertish live steam railroad way out in the hills behind San Diego California. I think I heard about it many years ago. I've always wondered if it was real or what. Thanks again, Paul V in Thailand

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi and wow again!! Slightly different terrain here than where you are right? Is that terrain or Train?

[@durant29]

Campo is real. Worth doing, if you have some time.

[@caseyvillemodelrailroad3877]

Wow great layout very cool...

[@ToyManTelevision]

Much bigger luck next Sunday

[@tomklock568]

Great fun! Wow!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks

[@ThePaulv12]

Around the 16:30 mark - the sound of the wheels on the rail! You certainly know how to make a video that entrances the hardcore rail enthusiast.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Click and clack. Don’t you love it? On my G scale and he is in 6 foot long rails but carving little mix in them so that they click and clack at the right speed

[@ThePaulv12]

@@ToyManTelevision I can't wait for the next vid on this Dale. He's really captured the essence of the allure of railroading albeit in private. The scenery and isolation of the route is delectable. I can imagine a 40 car train with me sitting at the back drinking it all in. I don't think I'd ever tire of it.

[@johnrettig1880]

Yea folks I have the same problem with my hearing . I moved out here in Nevada to get away from all of the crowded neighborhood . After all the years of neighbors talking and sounding like their in my house . Things took a drastic change . The first week here , it got Sssoooo.quite that it almost made my ears bleed just to try to hear something , anything . Great job on the track and video .

[@PowerTrain611]

If only I had the money, the space, and the time... WOW.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yeah Van has all of those. But mostly he has a wonderful attitude about just going out in the wilderness and being left alone to play with his trains

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Ten miles?! AMAZING!!

[@smflatt]

I have to agree. If I owned my own 10 mile long railroad I would think I'd died and moved to Heaven!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Totally amazing. Wanna get back out there.

[@craigmonteforte1478]

very very cool build years ago my BrotherInLaw inherited a SteamPowered hand built boat his Grandfather built who was a retired SteamPower Engineer and hand constructed all the parts we also got a big stack of vintage Steam Modeling magazines and I was trying to figure out tempertures and pressures to run the motor when I read a article in one of those magazines that had a gentleman’s name and city inPennsylvania so I called information and got the mans phone number when I called the number and explained how or why I called the elderly gentleman was so happy and knowledgeable with lots of great advice he actually was into Traiins for many years as well

[@FunAtDisney]

Wow! How nice to have the land and the time to be able to do that! I have a suggestion for your videos though. It would be so much easier for us viewers if you put links to the other videos below your video within the drop-down menu that way I can get to them after I fully watch the current one. The problem with them above your video is I either have to note where they are in the video or if I click on it when they pop up I’m then taken out of your video. Thanks!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Unfortunately that’s where KZbin puts them and I don’t have any control over it. I can put three links at the end, I only put one but the size of them is limited so if I put three it takes up the entire screen so I’m not sure what to do with that. In the meantime the cards pop in in the upper right hand corner and I can’t change it darn it

[@ToyManTelevision]

Just had a thought that I could put them in the description! That way you could simply go to the description and click on as many links as I want to put there. Interesting

[@FunAtDisney]

Toy Man Television Yes! That is what I should have said and in fact several other channels I follow (one of them being Garden Answer) that is exactly what they do when they refer to another video that they did and/or a product (or you could even place a web link to the place you are talking about). A little more work I know! Again, I really enjoy you folks and you look better in shorter hair! (Hey, I had the Michael Bolton look in the 80s!)

[@carlnunn2153]

That is amazing, quite an effort

[@ghost307]

Anyone who wants to ride on a large layout like this should look into the railroad club in Hesston, Indiana.

[@BartlettTFD]

Absolutely fascinating😀

[@ToyManTelevision]

Right?

[@railroadactive]

Dang! that's quite the railroad just to screw around on. One of my many dreams is to also build a 7.5" gauge line into the bush to be able to get away from everything, and to bring in the firewood!

[@ToyManTelevision]

That’s exactly what Van has done. No electricity and doesn’t want any. No telephone and doesn’t want any no sewer and that’s a bit of a problem but heck it’s a big piece of property. Where does the bear take a crap in the woods? Oh anywhere. They have a really nice trailer home out there and they do have running water that seems to be all they want. 2 mile trip up to the pond for lunch 2 mile trip back out. Social distance miles and miles and miles! No need to wear a mask.

[@dirk4926]

What a charming railroad. The vibration from that work engine must drive the snakes crazy as it motors past. :-D

[@mallys5375]

this is awesome

[@ToyManTelevision]

Right??? Amazing

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. Thanks for posting this.

[@krissfemmpaws1029]

That is neat, thank you for sharing this with us. Part of me is doing the look at all that wasted time and money, it could have been put to better use. Then the realist stepped in and said look at all the hours of enjoyment and shared passion and friendship went into all of this. What would be fitting is a couple of ghost town dioramas out in the least likely place. There is a lot there I look forward to seeing more. It would be fun to have a better at the rolling stock, because I'm a gearhead the engines would be really interesting and to see how things are driven.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Will take a look inside the engine shop and I’m trying to get video of the Uinta 50 running

[@krissfemmpaws1029]

@@ToyManTelevision oh good.

[@ddrums31]

So fun. Now this is the ultimate peace! 😊

[@crudecaboose8382]

Awesome video

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!! More Sunday.

[@danielboone3770]

This is really wonderful. I love the trains here! This is really fueling up my imagination.

[@ToyManTelevision]

We’re back there one more time on Sunday. With some old home movies from that railroad

[@seanpacificrailroad3700]

Wow I Can’t wait for the next video like always thank you 😊

[@ToyManTelevision]

Big ride up to the pond!!

[@MustangsTrainsMowers]

There is a property about 1.5 miles from the restaurant I work at which is mostly pasture. The ground looks natural but it’s almost like one mound after another with undulations of up to 8 feet. If I won the lottery I’d consider trying to buy it for an outdoor railroad. The challenge would be building it with cuts and bridges.

[@wwskydvr]

Amazing post, you guys. How fun is that.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks for watching dude check next Sunday it’s a long show but we get to go over the whole 4 mile loop and visit the engine shop.

[@larryarcher4502]

Every hundred feet of track Let's test it, I'd never get anything done thanks for the great video we can all dream!

[@skippy8039]

Definitely a nice size railway

[@ToyManTelevision]

No kidding right? More Sunday.

[@detroitredneckdetroitredne6674]

Great video I love to see my dreams come to life even if somebody else is doing them I would love to bring the camper out there and help out and get to ride The train on my off days Thank you for another adventure

[@CrisisActorJonsiri]

0:37 YESSSSSSS Classic VW flywheels for wheels for my railway. I get them free.

[@warlordsquerk5338]

That looks like a very soothing train ride. I'd love to see a video from the train of the whole ride.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Well it took us about an hour and a half to get up to the pond about that amount of time to get back. But next week I’m going to show you about a half hour of that ride. And a tour of the shops at hopefully some video of the big Uinta to 50 running.

[@warlordsquerk5338]

@@ToyManTelevision Sounds great, thanks very much :)

[@DrummerJacob]

Steps to having worlds largest backyard railroad: Step 1 - Have worlds largest backyard.

[@WolfKenneth]

Land is probably cheap there building something like this in Europe must cost millions of euros.

[@toshibavoodoo]

Very cool!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!! More Sunday.

[@TheCebulon]

Your tours are nice every week. Love these videos. Greetings from Munich, Tom.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi! Boy would really like to get out to see the Minotaur wonderland! It was our plan this year but it just didn’t happen because of the virus. Anyway more on this railroad Sunday. And I’m putting together a third show as I just was giving a bunch of footage of steam locomotives running on that line

[@JD_79]

I live in Eastern Utah and have been fascinated with the Uintah Railway my whole life. Really wish they could have preserved some of it. Some day I hope to recreate it in layout form...but indoors. Way too hot to be playing around outdoors in the Utah desert. Still, this is absolutely amazing and thank you for sharing it. You called this the Great Basin but I'm wondering if this is near my neck of the woods. Like you say in your video, 1,000 miles that look just like this.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. It’s west of Provo. Way west! We are headed for the Uintah again as soon as mud let’s us! Want to explore more old grades.

[@JD_79]

@@ToyManTelevision Gotcha. Yup, I'm a bit East. I thought maybe this could have been kind of close to that area just south of Bonanza, UT out there in the desert. Took the family to Dragon, UT just last fall. Almost nothing left after the weather and souvenir hunters. There are some nice photos posted there of the town as it was though. Pretty impressive to think that hotel once stood down there.

[@jerrygarner8115]

10 miles of hand built miniature railroad track out in the wilderness? Who does stuff like that? That's crazy! But,looks like lots of fun riding on the little track when it's all done.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I’m going to put up a special video just on how we lead track. The system we used is really simple and I see people working way too hard building 7 1/2 inch gauge track

[@elizabethkuhlman4513]

really cool

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!! More Sunday.

[@raysolorzano2938]

I just hope that if they have passed or when they do. That there will be someone who is more than willing and appreciate being able to keep these gentlemen's hard work alive. It would be very sad to see all of their hard work just be left unattended and or neglected. Hopefully that's not the case.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I think that’s set up… but not sure.

[@raysolorzano2938]

@@ToyManTelevision hopefully so. Thank you for replying. Wishing you great health.

[@CoryTheRaven]

Oh man, that would amazing... But I would be VERY hard pressed not to build a little Harvey House or something along the way :D

[@ToyManTelevision]

Vans not all that into structures. Sad as that’s my favorite. A cool water tower and two bridges.

[@CoryTheRaven]

@@ToyManTelevision I've noticed that railfans often split a bit between the people who like to model the technical stuff vs. ones who like to model the cultural stuff. You can tell who they are by whose layouts are all industrial sidings and mine chutes :D

[@Brian_rock_railfan]

Awesome video liked 🚄🚂👍

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi👍🚀

[@dj10bear]

awesome

[@jimbobjones5972]

Great vid! Excellent railroad! BTW, "Skeezix" and his dad, "Uncle Walt," are both still alive in the comic strip, even though it is portrayed in real time! How many readers do you think will know what I'm talking about here without googling it? You obviously will, Dale! Also, indeed very silent out there, except when the wind starts to blow and doesn't stop!

[@ToyManTelevision]

I’ve visited the alley

[@jamessbca]

This is CRAZY!!! What an ambitious project!!! Unbelievable. I know you used to live in Santa Barbara, CA. While you were here, did you ever see Seymour Johnson's layout(s)? I can't believe I missed them - they were here, under my nose, when I moved to Santa Barbara for college, but I didn't know about his place at the time... :( This is so cool. THANK YOU for covering these layouts. And how special that you played such a large role in the development of this one!!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

When I was living down there I really didn’t see any of the layouts in the area. School kept me so busy. I barely saw anything I did manage to see the model contest at the fair every year and that’s about it. After I retired then I got to see some trains!

[@NHseacoast]

Wow! Who says model trains are not an extreme hobby! Hopefully in the future Van will donate his masterpiece to a non profit club etc as once this person is gone so is the backyard or should I say back county railroad.

[@MrRailroadrunner]

While I posite the White Creek doesn't quite have 10 miles, it does have a respectable 7 miles. Privately owned, near Grand Rapids Michigan, it has industries for actual operation. 35 towns with about 100 to 120 industry spots. If you're ever out towards Michigan, let me know.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Wow love to see that. We have been planning a trip to Flint at some point to see the huckleberry

[@MrRailroadrunner]

@@ToyManTelevision Meet dates are posted on the White Creek site. If you can make it, let me know and I'll give you a ride (or if it's an ops meet put you to work switching).

[@railfanjk8964]

nice video

[@TheSerpent753]

this is amazing

[@daviddipasquale5479]

Has he considered electric locomotion using batteries? Imagine the quiet ride.

[@johnorabone6112]

THE WHOLE POINT OF SCALE RAILROADING IS REENACTING THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF STEAM AND DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES. WHY WOULD HE HAVE WANTED QUIET ELECTRIC TRAINS?

[@Plisko1]

@@johnorabone6112 THEN WHY IS HE RUNNING PEOPLE AROUND ON A LAWNMOWER ENGINE?? Plus, all of the smaller scale is electric and a lot of it is quiet...so... yeah... let the guy have his fantasy about a silent roll through the wilderness.

[@suneolsson9815]

wow,, i want there,, best regards from cold old good bad Sweden

[@BigWaschbaer]

Wow great

[@trainroomgary]

Cool layout, does he have plans for this Railroad after he checks out.? • Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi! As far as I know no! Van is a very unique individual. He doesn’t want people coming out there he doesn’t want people to know his real name. He just likes running his trains around out there and I doubt very much that he cares what happens to it after he’s gone. But I think there will be ideas pushed around when that day comes.

[@newwomyn]

So cool!!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Do you watch next Sunday we’re back there

[@newwomyn]

@@ToyManTelevision I find that you two's adventures together to be quite delightful. You two are a breath of fresh air, and you have made your little corner of the internet quite pleasant. Safe journeys to you both. Peace.

[@TickledFunnyBone]

the chuff and chug maybe a better sound than the putter putt putt? lol

[@hamiltonsullivan6563]

Great video toyman!!! Does he have any abandoned locomtives back shop would be a cool detail

[@ToyManTelevision]

We visit the shop next Sunday. Full of some real treasures including you went to 50

[@hamiltonsullivan6563]

@@ToyManTelevision yah

[@hamiltonsullivan6563]

@@ToyManTelevision hope they have some interesting center cabs and also good night!!!

[@upsd402]

Wow!!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!! More Sunday.

[@BarlowJacob]

That's really cool. What area is it in?

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi Jacob. Middle of nowhere. West of Eureka Utah.

[@BarlowJacob]

@@ToyManTelevision awesome

[@wjf213]

That was just awesome. It looks like Texas and yeah, 105...that's Texas weather for sure. How long did it take you men to lay that first mile and how many worked on it? Just trying to get a rough idea of how many man hours per mile of track it took. Speaking of the silence and what that's like....about 30 years ago, I spent 367 long cold days at the South Pole in Antarctica and if the wind wasn't blowing, it was literally dead quiet. No birds, no animals, no insects, no NOTHING to make any noise at all. Then when the sun went down in the winter and you had 24/7 of TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL darkness for almost 6 months, and then the quiet...I could see why they had us go to Bethesda Naval hospital for three FULL days of psychological evaluation before allowing us to winter over down there. Thanks and keep up the great work.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Wow that is quite a story! How many people conservative lived on the one continent that doesn’t have any people on it. That’s just absolutely amazing I never thought of how isolating it must feel to have no lights and no sound. That railroad does look a lot like other places in the west. In this case the great basin. But it all sort of looks the same. And when it’s hot it’s hot! The great basin is such an interesting place because it’s full of salt Flats. But that which is not salt flats looks just like this. And the salt flats I think like a good deal like Antarctica. Only Antarctica at 105°

[@ToyManTelevision]

Oh and in laying that track we were putting down 100 feet per day. So just depending how many days per week we could get out there. But our system was that we hook together 100 feet of rail and lay on the grade. Then we’d set out ties that we had made ahead of time which were two by fours cut the length and then we put three screws in the top to hold it to the rail. Ultimately there would be four but the first three were laid on the workbench. We had a jig. Set that on the tie and screw in the three screws.3 ties to the foot. We could make up about 500 in an evening. The tie could be slipped under the existing rail and then rotate it into place. We would do that for the entire hundred feet and then come back in one length at a time lay the rail on top of the existing ties and drive in the fourth screw locking everything together. It actually went really fast. So we could lay that hundred feet of rail in about four hours. Not a good deal of time went into preparing the grade. It’s just sort of depended some of it went really fast and other places require the tremendous amount of digging and filling. But for the most part we just kind of leveled out the dirt and then put the track on top of that. Then the last thing we would do is bring the train over the top and apply ballast from the dump car. And then kind of pull up and straighten the track and get it all sort of level and straight in the ballast and then apply more ballast. So I guess between preparing the grade and Palestine and actually learn the truck it was about 12 hours per hundred feet of track with two guys working

[@wjf213]

@@ToyManTelevision Yes, you were really all alone on a huge piece of ice. I "THINK" on the entire continent when I was there was under 500 people who wintered over, and that's all countries. It's more in the summer, but now is their winter and they're in total darkness and isolation. No one is coming to save you EVER. When you dial 911....your own phone rings. You are your own cavalry. At the pole, there was only 19 of us who wintered over, so 19 strangers and you all have to get along and work together and solve problems and there were A LOT. It seemed like every time you turned around, some thing was breaking, and the nearest hardware store was 3,000 miles away. I remember when I was at McMurdo, an LC130 was past the point of no return, meaning they had to fly to Willy Field because they did not have enough fuel to fly back to Christchurch NZ. About 20 mins past the PONR, the ray dome at Willy Field, the ice runway airport-ish place, froze up and stopped sending it's beacon signal and the plane was flying blind and I can not imagine what those pilots were thinking...other than we're landing one way or the other. Since I was a certified mechanic, I was sent to fix it and get out there NOW. Long story short, the heater broken down and some quick troubleshooting and I got it fixed and running but now it had to thaw that dome. The plane was about 20 minutes out, and the dome it started up and the pilots were off course about 30 miles and never would have found Willy Field if they stayed on that course. They did land with room to spare as far as fuel, but not a lot, as it's a long flight from NZ to Antarctica. I had to laugh about the 105 temps you talked about, because I remember when the station manager at Amundsen Scott where I wintered over, he came in and asked how many of us were in temps 100 or more above zero, we all had, and he said well now you're part of the "200 Club"....we just hit -103, so you've been at least 100 ABOVE and 100 BELOW zero, a 200 degree temp extreme. So, back on subject here. How long do those 2x4 or whatever size ties you use, last? I was told that I could use steel flat stock like .5" x 1.25" for rail and that would last forever. I'm not a purist who needs everything to scale and perfect, just tough, strong and long lasting. I'm not really concerned about cost either, just long lasting. How much track can I put on say....1000 acres without being too crowded? I'm moving to Texas, and buying a ranch and putting in my own RR. I have always dreamed of doing this, so I'm at a point where I can relax and just spend the next 30 or hopefully 40 years of my life having fun and doing what I want. I don't want to be a pest, and asking too many questions, but I do trust your judgement and you certainly know more than I do. Thanks, Bill