Willow Creek Railroad - Operations: Passenger Trains

[@mloik1]

Great looking layout!

[@Vigment13]

Happy to hear that you enjoyed the Willow Creek. Always nice to receive the feedback. Thanks!

[@raymurph29]

Very interesting video on passenger services, thank you!

[@Vigment13]

Glad you enjoyed the video. And thank you for your feedback! Much apreciate.

[@BIDuniversalinfo]

I always appreciate a well displayed passenger operation because not to many model railroaders run passenger operations, Excellent video and you got another subscriber added to your channel.

[@Vigment13]

Glad you enjoyed the video. As I've learned more about passenger operations, I wish I had a bit more space to expand passenger ops on the Willow Creek. Definitely an enjoyable part of model railroad operations. Thanks for your comments.

[@anthonymcmillan5881]

Thank- You. Very impressive. I have always wanted to have a passenger runs on layout. Use my F40PH and Amtrak cars. I think I should be able to set up runs like yours. Switching a car out at a station, then picking it up later, great idea. Your videos are fun to watch. Thanks, an Iowa Fan

[@Vigment13]

Glad to hear that you enjoyed the video. I think lots of modelers underestimate the variety of operations that passenger cars and trains can provide. And, of course, the video only scratched the surface of the many possibilities. Enjoy!

[@austinyingst5902]

I have enjoyed all operations videos, some several times, that I've encountered. Thanks.

[@Vigment13]

The tiny people of the Willow Creek Subdivision are glad that you're enjoying the videos. Thanks for the feedback!

[@atsf81rj]

I can't stop watching your videos, the details from the buildings to your train's are wonderful! Thanks for pointing. Russell

[@rodvance560]

Glad you're enjoying another video of the Willow Creek. And thanks for your kind feedback.

[@robertnielsen2461]

At one time it was suggested that to extend operations trains could run at less than scale speed.There were those who gave it a try but as far as I can recall it never became popular.When I saw this in operation here I remembered.

[@Vigment13]

On the Willow Creek, we run trains at a scale speed, but that's a speed for a branch line and not for a Class I mainline. For the Willow Creek, trains are typically run at about 20 - 30 scale mph, which we find to be a nice speed. For a train leaving Waverly and traveling to Bucky's Crossing, at this scale speed it takes the train about 12-13 minutes real time to make that run. Of course, that assumes there's no other traffic enroute and that the dispatcher doesn't hold the train for any reason. Fun operations! Thanks for your comment.

[@davidhughes4448]

Excellent narration. The track schematics and explanatory train-movement arrows as a nice touch, too. We all can see much forethought in the making of this video. Thank you for producing and sharing.

[@Vigment13]

Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for your feedback. It's fun sharing the Willow Creek and my approach to model railroading. Thanks, again.

[@diesel10rules23]

Layout tour this thing looks amazing

[@Vigment13]

Glad you enjoyed the video and the Willow Creek. Stay tuned ... a comprehensive layout tour video, showing the current layout and track plan, is being prepared now and should be released in the next couple of weeks, hopefully. Thanks for your feedback; much appreciated!

[@diesel10rules23]

@@Vigment13 good

[@MrZip-yo7lm]

I like how the narrator says a train "finally" arrives. Pretty sure I could walk to my destination faster than the train can get there. Beautiful setup though.

[@Vigment13]

Ha ... If you're running your trains at appropriate operating speeds, I don't know of any layout where that wouldn't be true. Glad you enjoyed the layout.

[@tamstrainworld3754]

This is a fully complete and with a lot of operation opportunity layout. Very nice.

[@Vigment13]

Glad you enjoyed the Willow Creek, and thank you for your feedback!

[@theubaum]

Been way TOO long since the last video! Sure would like to see more of this fine railroad in operation.........

[@Vigment13]

Ha! Thanks for the kick in the butt. :-) So many model railroad things to play with, too little time. I have a video planned for ops at Bucky's Crossing. I'll take your interests in mind and see what I can do to re-prioritize things. Glad you've enjoyed the videos thus far. Thanks, again.

[@jeffkarrow6924]

Great perspective on the scenery design.

[@Vigment13]

Glad you liked it. I think scenery adds a lot to the enjoyment of operations. Thanks for your feedback!

[@nateshon3eastbroadtoprailr448]

Love your ops videos!

[@Crookedriverandeasternrr]

Beautiful UP passenger train. Awesome scenery too. Thanks for sharing I liked and subbed to your channel 😃👍

[@Vigment13]

Glad to hear that you're enjoying the Willow Creek. I very much appreciate your feedback. Thanks!

[@Crookedriverandeasternrr]

Vigment13 you’re welcome and yes I’m enjoying your layout 👍😃

[@Lakeside1943]

Very well done ! Some weathering would make it perfect ! Realistic speeds !

[@Vigment13]

Ah, yes ... weathering. It's on the "to do" list, especially for the bright yellow locos. One of these days... Glad you noticed the speeds. Realistic speeds make operations MUCH more enjoyable. Thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated.

[@castaway3129]

Well done !

[@Vigment13]

Thanks for the feedback. Glad you enjoyed the Willow Creek video.

[@carstenprilow1837]

Like you´r layout, and super with the Willow Creek, very detailed, track plan. But as an Scandinavian, the train speed will kill me, and I will take my bicykel :-))

[@Vigment13]

Glad you enjoyed the Willow Creek. Sorry about the slow branch-line trains; nice and relaxed here on the Willow Creek, no hurry. Besides, bicycling is good exercise! :-)

[@rjl110919581]

Thank you for share operation video with other think should add stream cars to your passage trains as use freight loco to pull passage cars as give little more operation to passage service on your detail layout

[@Vigment13]

In the early 1950s in which I model, streamlined cars weren't necessarily common on branch lines. As for freight locos, they really need to have steam generator capabilities to supply heat to the passenger cars. Need to keep those things in consideration as you make up consists. Thanks for your feedback!

[@ronzufelt1428]

Great session.

[@Vigment13]

Glad you enjoyed the fun! Thanks for commenting.

[@mysticrailroad]

Nice buildings.

[@Vigment13]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed them.

[@drewhuff3457]

Nice train layout. What is a good way to put a clock time for passenger service on a layout? For more realistic times between stations.

[@Vigment13]

Glad you enjoyed the Willow Creek. I'll try to answer you question (assuming I understand it correctly), but if you desire more exchange of ideas, email me at [e-mail]. First, run your passenger trains at a reasonable speed. For the Willow Creek, this is relatively slow, as seen in the video. We aren't running an Acela. I use a 4:1 ratio fast clock, so that helps make for more realistic train schedules. Scheduled stops to set out or pick up passenger cars, such as the Combine car at Summit Springs seen in the video, adds to prototype-like operations and lengthens the time/run of the passenger train. Also, having a Local Passenger Train make numerous stops at Highland and Upper Meadows, for example, adds to the fun and the length of time required for the passenger train. To create my schedule, I ran my Passenger Trains using the 4:1 ratio fast clock, and noted the time the train arrived at each station. That time was then published in my train schedule. During operating sessions, meets with freight trains and waiting to get clearances from the Dispatcher adds time to the Passenger Train run. I hope this provides you with some ideas for your Passenger Train runs. Thanks for your question! High greens!

[@drewhuff3457]

Thank you for the info for the fast clock. I want to have arrived times and departure times for each stop. I also like the idea of local passenger service and long-distance ones. While also having freight operations going on. Will be exciting dispatching and running a smooth schedule. Appreciate it.

[@michaelglass4701]

Looooooove your video.

[@Vigment13]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for the feedback.

[@nyc484]

I have been watching all the videos and using them as a teaching tool for our club. I belong to the Rochester Model Railroad Club in Rochester, NY. We have a very large HO scale layout but never really gotten into the operations part of it. For a starter question what is the scale speeds you operate at, I cannot remember if any of the videos stated but do you use a fast clock for your sessions, and how many thru trains/locals do you operate during a session. Thanks in advance.

[@Vigment13]

Thanks for your feedback and great questions. I'm on vacation this week and your questions deserve more of a response, so let me provide a reply next week. Thanks, again. I'll get back to your comment; stay tuned.

[@Vigment13]

Back from vacation; sorry about the wait. Operators on the Willow Creek typically run trains 20 - 25 scale mph -- nice and slow. I now use what I call a "hybrid" schedule -- I use a 4:1 fast clock to run 4 scheduled trains during a session, with the remaining trains (typically 8) run via a sequence schedule. Keeps the session relaxed but creates a priority of sorts by having 4 scheduled trains. A typical op session of 3 hours runs about 12 trains of various types (through freight, local freight, passenger, etc.). If you'd like to have a more in-depth discussion, I'd recommend using my contact email on my website: www.sites.google.com/site/willowcreekrr/contact-information I'm always happy to share any and all information about the Willow Creek RR.

[@speedbird1598]

Would it be possible to see a trackplan of your railroad?

[@Vigment13]

Certainly. The track plan is available on the Willow Creek website along with lots of additional information about the layout: www.sites.google.com/site/willowcreekrr/track-plan

[@gusneaker]

Loved it!!

[@Vigment13]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for the feedback!

[@gusneaker]

@@Vigment13 and I've already subscribed Greetings from Argentina!

[@Vigment13]

@@gusneaker Argentina! Wow! Thanks for letting me know where you are. Hope you had a great summer and are headed in a lovely fall. High greens!

[@gusneaker]

@@Vigment13 Honestly... I can't wait for winter to come back!! The place where I live is horribly hot and wet.... which turns the place even hotter! LOL!. In my channel you can see some short vids of Argentine train models. I used to run them on a communitary layout we had. Unfortunately, the owners of the place asked us to dismantle and remove it, and we could never build another again. Happy weekend!

[@Vigment13]

@@gusneaker I looked at a few of the videos on your channel. Nice. Looked like you had fun. Too bad you all had to dismantle the layout. Bummer. Long time until winter, but hang in there!

[@kevinfinkel5536]

Do you have a specific time marked on the cards that state how long the passenger trains wait at the stations/shelters to simulate boarding?

[@Vigment13]

Good question. Yes -- the Train Order for each train indicates the length of time for all stops.

[@MidnightmoonRR]

it would be my dream to be a part of this fun group

[@Vigment13]

Operations is indeed a blast. Lots of fun both for the time spent operating trains as well as the social interaction with a bunch of like-minded friends. Hope you get to have that experience real soon!

[@robertcooney8831]

Do you have a track plan 🤔

[@Vigment13]

Yes. It's changed a bit since this video was posted, but you can view the current track plan at my website "www.sites.google.com/site/WillowCreekRR" on the "Track Plan" page. There's also a detailed explanation of the track plan and the layout in my "Willow Creek: Layout Tour 2021" KZbin video. Hope these sources provide you the information you want.

[@deandeis5951]

Can you give me a kit # for the highland passenger shelter... or was it scratch built?

[@Vigment13]

The shelter at Highland is scratch built. I've seen similar kits or built ups from GCLaser, State Tool & Die, Northeastern Scale Models, and Micro Scale Models. Query "HO-scale passenger shelter" in your browser. Or try scratch-building it; very simple. Thanks for the question.

[@deandeis5951]

Vigment13 Thanks for the reply, I also sent you guys an email under the same subject so no need to reply.

[@tonderen1615]

Great video but I would have liked the passenger trains to have a some what higher speed to make things look more original.

[@Vigment13]

Glad you enjoyed the video. I understand what you mean about the train speed. On the Willow Creek, given that we're a branch line, a train speed of about 25 mph is about the maximum you'll see. Besides, that gives the passengers plenty of time to enjoy the scenery! Thanks for your feedback.

[@Greatdome99]

Lilac is pronounced Lie lack, not lie lock.

[@markduncan6690]

Painfully Slow moving Trains! Pump up the volume!

[@Vigment13]

Sorry about that, but my operations team would disagree with you. For a video, it might be nice to increase the volume of the locomotives, but the engines' volumes are set for regular operations on the layout. Typically, once an operator moves about 6' or so from his/her engine, the volume is barely noticeable. In a room with maybe a dozen locos running concurrently, any louder volume makes operations very unpleasant. As for the train speed, Willow Creek is a branch line and we run the trains at a scale 20-30 mph, typically; if you've ridden on a branch line train, even 30 mph is often extremely fast. The objective is realistic operations, where reasonable and as desired. So while you're obviously welcomed to run trains on your layout at Class I speeds and with loud volumes, you won't find that on the Willow Creek. Thanks for your comments.

[@francisdoudney7000]

Trains that slow, you make better time if you walked. Doesn't anything run at track speed??

[@Vigment13]

Not sure what your definition is of "track speed" on a branch line railroad, but the trains you see are all running at scale 25 - 35 mph, which is very typical of small branch lines. If you want speeding trains, you'll have to look for a layout that models a Class I railroad. For the Willow Creek Subdivision, the speeds you see are authorized track speeds.

[@billconserva1461]

"Baden" ? That would need to be Badden to be the way you pronounce it.

[@Vigment13]

Thanks for the clarification.

[@Vigment13]

I went back and checked the pronunciation, and the video is correct "Baden" as in the Baden Spa at Summit Springs comes from a German name. Given the German origin, it is pronounced as noted in the video. However, kudos to you for paying so close attention to the video to identify this difference in pronunciations. Thanks!

[@billconserva1461]

@@Vigment13 The reason i asked, we have a town here outside Pittsburgh spelled the same and they say "Bay Den".

[@Vigment13]

@@billconserva1461 I understand; very interesting. When I queried the English versus German pronunciation earlier, that's exactly what "they" said ... English pronunciation was "bay den" and the German was "bah den". So I learned something new today. And that's one of the things I really love about model railroading: there's always something new to learn. Thanks for facilitating that today! High greens!