Train Layout Update | What’s Keeping Me Busy On The Model Railroad

[@MainTrack]

Today’s question: What layout projects are you working on this winter season?

[@rustyrussell1192]

On my N gauge cemetery details and highway, finishing my freight house craftsman kit on my O gauge, and still trying to finalize a track plan for my HO layout. I guess I should hope for a really long and cold winter.

[@tomasanderson6815]

Im a N scaler that has to rebuild my layout due to a fire destroyed everything , so rebuild of that and also start a HO project in the steam era and will start to collect brass steam locos when I can afford . already bought one as a x-mas gift for my self

[@ScottTice1971]

I just got a huge set of woodland scenics buildings for Christmas in HO scale. Going to go pick up some paints and assemble them over the coming months.

[@ResidentEngineer1]

I watch a lot and I mean a lot of KZbin model railroading channels. My late father was into big time and all of this has inspired me to build one myself and I’d like to document it for a KZbin channel.

[@Patrick-xp8bb]

I'm impressed with your layout.

[@MainTrack]

I sure appreciate that! Work is coming along slowly but surely. Thanks for stopping in to watch! -Mike

[@gtown150]

Enjoy your presence and delivery. Good camera work and well spoken.

[@MainTrack]

Hello! I really appreciate that. Thanks for stopping by to watch!

[@Johnnymkttrains]

Looking great Mike. Enjoyed your layout update. Thanks for sharing

[@MainTrack]

I appreciate that, Johnny! I’ll share more about my upcoming switching soon…but, it’ll feature the Katy’s ex-Frisco industrial trackage in Clinton. Just a couple of grain elevators- and some more space for all my hoppers! Ha.

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing. Very nice.

[@MainTrack]

I appreciate that! Thanks so much for watching. -Mike

[@houseofrandomness]

Slow progress is still progress. It looks great! Currently I'm in the midst of benchwork. Only 6 feet of track, but it's a start. 🤣

[@MainTrack]

Hello! I sure appreciate that! You can certainly do plenty with six feet of track. I’ve learned layouts are just like houses- the more square footage you have, the more cleaning, maintenance, and other upkeep it requires. Never mind the budget! Haha.

[@AllenCNW441]

We Honest does make good products at good prices- quick and well-packaged shipping. I have several of their block signals-very nice.

[@MainTrack]

Yes, I have been pleasantly surprised. They’re certainly not perfect. But, I found the sizing to be better than the Walthers/Busch units. Tomar and NJ International have good signals as well, but I can never find those in stock…and they are $60 to $80 per pair. With as many crossings as I have, I’d need to apply for a Department of Transportation grant to pay for them all. Ha.

[@brienlansing7545]

I've been under that Hwy 50 bridge, so cool to see it on your layout.

[@MainTrack]

Hello! I sure appreciate that. It’s always a great compliment from someone who has been there/seen it in real life. Thanks for watching! -Mike

[@brienlansing7545]

Been to the fairgrounds a few times for the Midwest Stud Ram show and sale.

[@brock50pullingvideos]

Just found your channel and I'm so happy to find somebody else who models the MKT. 🙂

[@MainTrack]

Hello, Brock! Thanks for joining us here! Yes…Katy modelers are kind of a rare breed, but I’m discovering there are a more of us than I would have thought. Manufacturers are also putting out some great Katy stuff as of late! -Mike

[@brock50pullingvideos]

@@MainTrack Yah I just bought the MKT GP38-2's that came out from Athearn. I missed the ball on the GP39-2's and they are pretty non existent. One will pop up on ebay once in a while but they usually want an astronomical price. Hopefully Athearn does another run. I also model the Cotton Belt/SSW. I might do a short youtube video on my layout here soon. It's nothing spectacular. 6'x10'. But I fit a lot of track in that small space.

[@sernajrlouis]

Looking great. Awesome layout

[@MainTrack]

Hi! I sure do appreciate that. Thanks for watching! -Mike

[@thecnwmondovilinepaulscota7304]

Thanks for the update! I will be continuing scenery on the main 16' section of Mondovi. Might add an 8' shelf along the adjoining wall and use it for now for staging.

[@MainTrack]

H, Paul! It sounds like you’ve got some good projects going on, too! My issue has also been staging. Like the prototype, my small Sedalia yard can’t hold many cars. I may need to build the larger Parsons, KS or St. Louis yard sooner than later just to have a spot for all my rolling stock!

[@elleryparsons2433]

Hey Mike When Weather is Crappy Simple go Down to the Train room Work on the Layout or 2 Never forget there is No Rush on Working on them it’s A Passion not a race.for Me Working on 2 N Scale layouts My Wife’s And Mine . She Has 2 Brands Kato And Bachmann. All N All it’s Worth it.

[@MainTrack]

Hello, Ellery! That is great advice! Some people have the luxury of year-round manageable weather. Not those of us in the Midwest- especially so far this winter! It sounds like you have a lot of projects to keep busy. And, that’s really great you and your wife both have layouts! -Mike

[@Shortline819]

Great update! Looking forward to the switching layout!

[@MainTrack]

Hi! I appreciate that. I’m looking forward to getting to work and sharing the progress. Stay tuned!

[@jasonrash849]

Love it !!! Always look forward to your updates and incredible knowledge of the Katy . Have a merry Christmas sir

[@MainTrack]

Thank you, Jason! I hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas as well!

[@HadwayLayout]

Really nice work.

[@MainTrack]

Hi there! Thank you…I sure appreciate that!

[@andrewhayek6573]

Mike, you got me MKT motivated a couple of second hand units to kitbash a pair of ex kccx gp39-2 and a pair of ex ic gp38ac's and the ex conrail gp38 i got from you hopefully I can get them done this winter, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year keep up the great work

[@MainTrack]

Hi, Andrew! Thank you! Good to hear that GP38 will be put to good use! You’ve got quite a project list! Be sure to share some pics with us. I’d like to do some of the ICG and KCC units, but that’ll obviously require a little more work than the CR units. Hope you have a great Christmas and New Year!

[@taylorbaggarleyunionpacifi3409]

Merry Christmas buddy have good Christmas working a lot pojects

[@MainTrack]

I sure appreciate that! I hope you have a good Christmas as well. Good luck on your projects! That’s what cold winter nights are good for! Ha.

[@taylorbaggarleyunionpacifi3409]

@@MainTrack agree Mike I do come see u someday

[@David-yo5re]

Awesome layout. I just subscribed.

[@MainTrack]

Thank you, David. I appreciate you joining us here!

[@kraigsickels3918]

Excellent video 😊 and showing us your progress and projects !!! I have a few projects myself with track and scenery .

[@MainTrack]

I appreciate that! Always happy to share the updates with everyone. Sounds like you’ve got some fun stuff to keep you busy in the coming months, too!

[@byronbrownfield1041]

Nice job on the Green Ridge elevators. Very accurate. My layout will feature Sedalia north through New Franklin. I'm in the planning stages now. Keep up the good work.

[@MainTrack]

Thank you, Byron! I’ve been wanting to build that Green Ridge elevator for years. I visited the structure several times for photos…I’m sure folks in town wondered what the heck was going on. Ha. The model still needs quite a bit of weathering, but I still have a while until I finish that leg of the layout. I’ll look forward to hearing more about your layout! -Mike

[@HeavenerHighIron]

Can't wait for the grain elevator the mkt serves

[@MainTrack]

It’s coming along slowly but surely! I did some additional planning and buying materials last week.

[@dennisarmes3473]

hi mike !!! saw in one of your videos you fit an sp engine in/athgen gp 38-2. if buying more, try scaletrains too, certainly a notch above athgen which is still pretty good . both have great detail, but strains have better pulling power AND are much smoother running as well at about the same cost. blizzard here in western ny state ( -25 last night with 45 mph winds ) and am directly south of buffalo so i am running trains, keeping warm and regularly praying for sunshine !!! keep up the great work mike... merry christmas and blessings to you my friend !!! ps.... GO BILLS !!!!!

[@MainTrack]

Thank you, Dennis! Merry Christmas to you, too. I have a lot of Scaletrains rolling stock, but no locos yet. I have operated them on other people’s layouts and know they run pretty good. It would be nice to see them come out with some MKT engines! Sounds like you’re braving the cold as well. It has been fairly brutal here in Missouri as well. Looking forward to some 60-degree days in the forecast next week! One good thing about weather on the southern Midwest is that we get some occasional breaks in the winter!

[@RonMontagueSWRR]

Great video. I don't model MKT, but I love the paint scheme. I have a Conrail unit also that's getting a patch job soon.

[@MainTrack]

Hi there! I sure appreciate that! Yes, the Katy’s paint scheme is pretty striking. I’m sure glad manufacturers make some good MKT stuff…I’ve always figured it would be a nightmare trying to decal those stripes! I’ve seen your layout videos- and they look amazing. You’ve got tons of great detail! I’ll looking forward to watching more.

[@RonMontagueSWRR]

@@MainTrack thanks, I'm always working on new ideas and ways to add realistic details.

[@8950MAGNUM]

love the videos, by chance to you know any hobby shops, that have any of the GP39-2's in MKT available? in dc-dcc ready?

[@MainTrack]

Hello, Jeff! Thank you…I appreciate you watching! Honestly, the 39-2s are pretty hard to come by. It seemed hobby shops sold out of them fairly quickly. I can only find them on eBay, train shows, or from fellow modelers. Even then, they’re very far and few between. On eBay, I’ve seen DCC ones go for some pretty pennies. The DC ones are usually more reasonable. -Mike

[@8950MAGNUM]

@@MainTrack thanks for the reply, i can't believe they are gone, i should have bought when i could, thank you , keep modeling !

[@ewoodrailway]

Really good

[@MainTrack]

Thank you! I appreciate you watching. -Mike

[@csxnspittsburghdivision8580]

Cool

[@MainTrack]

Thank you! I appreciate you watching!

[@thebritishrailroader]

I use the We Honest crossing signals in both HO and N. For the money they are pretty good. On my next HO layout I am going to use the ones with arms that I will motorise with servos. Layout is looking good and I love the updates

[@MainTrack]

Hi there! Thank you! I’ve been pleased with the We Honest signals. They’re not perfect, per se. But, honestly (no pun intended) I’ve not found a “perfect” signal from any manufacturer. Tomar’s are pretty good, but I’ve not been able to find those in a while. And, they’re on the pricier side when I’ve got so many crossings to do. Please let me know how the units with gates work out for you!

[@thebritishrailroader]

@Main Track Trains hi there. Will do. I will probably do a build video next year. Just need to start building the new layout first 🤣

[@klbird]

The highway 50 underpass looks good. Do you live in Sedalia?

[@MainTrack]

Hi, Ken! I sure appreciate that. I don’t live in Sedalia currently, but did spend part of my childhood there in the mid 80s/early 90s and was able to witness the last couple years of the MKT before its demise. I lived on the south side, which probably explains my infatuation with the Katy as opposed to the MP/UP on the north side!

[@iantha_branch]

Looking good as always Mike. What kit did that grain elevator come from?

[@MainTrack]

Hi! I appreciate that. The grain elevator parts are from a few sources. The big bins are modified from Rix products oil tanks. The smaller bins are modified Walthers oil tanks. And, the elevator leg is also from Walthers- I also made some changes to it. So, there are definitely some off-label uses for those kits!

[@iantha_branch]

@Main Track Trains thanks for the insight. One of the grain elevators on my future layout has bins very similar to the big ones on your setup. I'll atleast have a starting point now

[@HeavenerHighIron]

Hey I want you to do a real life MNA video like you did with the Clinton sub but the Deerfield line runs daily to the grain elevator and possibly more and u should do one with the pleasant hill line

[@MainTrack]

Hi! I would love to shoot some video of the portion out to Deerfield. Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to catch a train headed that way. I’m still hoping somebody can shed some light on what kind of schedule/regularity they run.

[@HeavenerHighIron]

Well in Shure If you spent a weekday out there you would catch it but I understand

[@HeavenerHighIron]

We’re did you send out your Ho scale engine last to get weathered and ecuiped with DCC sound and start

[@MainTrack]

Hi there! Which engine in particular?

[@HeavenerHighIron]

@@MainTrack the ones you made a video on the Katy gps

[@randysrockandrollrailroad8207]

😊

[@MainTrack]

Thanks, Randy!

[@dennisarmes3473]

hi mike... thanks for the note !!! just wonderin'.... who do you follow in football out in your neck of the woods ? i am figuring kansas city, cincinnati or maybe one of the texas teams ??? i am 20 minutes south of highmark stadium where the bills play and have been a fan all my life. what makes this weird is since childhood ( i played 7 years of little league and 4 in high school) i have been a bills/chiefs/vikings fan and look at those teams today !!! bills are my number one team but i don't believe they will go too far as their offensive line is poor ( rated somewhere around 16-18) and i do not think ANY afc team can beat the 49'ers or philly !!! do you do any fishing out there ??? can you tell me which of your videos shows your track plan ? you got some great stuff, my friend !!! blessings to you, mike !!!

[@MainTrack]

Hi, Dennis! Being so close to KC, this (Springfield area) is definitely Chiefs country. KC is a couple of hours away, but sometimes I wonder if we’re just as “red” as the big city itself. Ha. I’ve had some others ask about a track plan. I have been trying to put that together. My hiccup has been I have a Mac, and the track planning software I’ve run across is for Windows only. I’ll be sure to let everyone know when I figure that out! -Mike

[@dennisarmes3473]

@@MainTrack i will anxiously await that video !!! please keep the videos rolling and have a blessed new year !!! denny

[@ethanslape8889]

no sd40-2"s

[@MainTrack]

Hi, Ethan! No, I don’t have any SD40-2s on my layout since those units rarely operated on the subdivision I’m modeling. The St. Louis line had lighter rail and most trains on it were powered by four-axle units. I do like SD40-2s and might think about making an occasional exception on the layout! -Mike

[@thomasmccaskill5197]

Great job I hope you do some of the ex Penn Central units patched MKT

[@MainTrack]

Hi, Thomas! I do have the decals for that standing by. Those drab PC units definitely clashed with the green and yellow ones! I’m sure one will show up here on the layout sooner than later.

[@dennisarmes3473]

mornin' mike and happy new year to you !!! sitting here having am coffee and decided to browse for more model train stuff i absolutely do not need and saw these athearn mkt 3 pack hoppers on yankee dabblers website and immediately thought of you. go to yankee dabbler website and on the left side go to "athearn & roundhouse freight cars" and you will find them for $ 87 bucks (ath18789 ps 4740) ... the description read "multi packs have unique numbers" and they also had 2 single cars but i could not tell if those numbers were different from the multi pack numbers. as i am sure you know, these are not tangent/exactrail/genesis quality so here is what i do.... i am trying some different weathering techniques ( dullcote then pastels/oils/acrylics/etc) and figure if i am going to butcher a car it might as well be something on the "cheaper" side, and boy, can i do some good butcherin '!!! as stated, i saw these and thought of you... hope this helps a bit. i do not know what to expect monday night against the bengals.... our offensive line is about swiss cheese and even though josh is a great scrambler, it seems to me he wouldn't have to scramble as much if the line could block better. as previously stated in my last note, i am a lifelong bills fan and live 20 minutes from the stadium but your chiefs and the bengals have better "o" lines.... yes, the cinci "o" line sucked early on, but they pass and run block much better now than then. my old football coach owns the local pub and he has a sign which states " BEER IS GOOD".... i have a feeling i will need plenty !!! blessings to you, mike !!! denny

[@MainTrack]

Hi there, Denny! Athearn has some really good hoppers and I have many of them running around the layout! I don’t have the particular set you’re talking about, but I will look them up and check them out! I’ve got a ton of hoppers already and can always use more! Ha. Weathering definitely helps! I usually give my rolling stock a little bit of aging. But, I’ve got a pro I’ve been sending my engines off to. I trust him more than myself on those! I have a lot of cars that I have yet to get to, but figured that’ll give me some extra projects this winter (who am I kidding- I spend too much time with my trains no matter what the season)! -Mike

[@dennisarmes3473]

@@MainTrack hi mike !!! thanks for the note ! i am in the same boat as you... too much time , and money, spent on trains, shipping out engines for painting/detail/etc/etc/etc... but who cares, i am retired now !!! looks like your chiefs get the jags next week and my bills ( i am using the word "my" rather loosely these past weeks) get the bengals. bills offensive line is very poor, rated about 18th now and that will make the difference vs cinci, kc and anyone else. all the other really good teams w/top notch qd's ( kc, philly, 49ers, etc) have really good o lines. seems like bills management would have planned for a better o line than what we got now !! nice to have beasley and crowder back.... still not enough.... cinci 35 bills 28 !!! blessings to you mike and run 'em down the rails !!! denny