You're inspiring me to switch to HO from N. I have my very large N scale collection in storage until I move to a bigger house but watching your videos makes me see my BNSF layout with the intricate details that you add to your locomotives. I have similar power but in N Scale.
Those helper locomotives still have the same control boxes up front as you have modeled. At least they did as they went cruising back & forth by us on Crawford Hill back in the middle of October(2023) as we were installing dragging equipment detectors at Belmont. They look spot on !!
Good info! I haven't kept up much on the Crawford helper sets since I switched to modeling Marias Pass, but it's good to know things are still the same there. I still think these Essex, MT helpers aren't running with HelperLink anymore, and I don't know why. They might just be running less often. Someone even told me that they aren't pushing on the rear of trains...so I have no idea what to believe. -Cam
Very cool layout. At 4:30 there is a solar powered greaser. Is it a kitbash model or one you can purchase? What are the dimensions of this double deck plan? The scenery looks similar to NS in my neck of the woods. Just without the mountains and tunnels. I hear Rail Pro by Ring Engineering is a cool system.
Thanks! I kitbashed the greaser complex from various parts. Namely, the hoses are scrap pieces of decoder wire. But I can also tell you that the solar panel itself is from the Walthers "Modern Trackside Detail Kit". And for sure, I hear good things about Rail Pro. I'm very intrigued. -Cam
@@railfan220 Could have fool me. It looks much look larger but the double deck idea might be the way to go when space is limited. I considering a modular sectional type myself.
@@railfan220 they're MTH units that I'm cobbling together. MRL stuff is extremely hard to find in O Scale. I've acquired 3 SD70 shells with the big W logo and currently have one actual locomotive so need to get two more donor units. I also have an "Atlas" former MTH MRL Essential Workers unit coming in soon and a Lionel SD40 I had custom painted into one of the SD40-2XRs.
Here's a cab ride of the layout from a few months ago. I plan on making a new one because the scenery has changed some. ruclips.net/video/pDn3MQsP3cA/видео.html -Cam
That's one way to do it, but the problem doing it that way is that the lights on all of the locomotives on the consist will come on. In other words, if you have 3 locomotives programmed to the same number and you turn the headlight on, you'll have 3 locomotives with the headlight on. This doesn't look very prototypical. What I would suggest is this: With the LokProgrammer, you can create consists by enabling the "consist address." Then you can specify which functions are enabled for each locomotive in the consist. There's a checkbox interface to do that. This way, you can set all of the locomotives in a consist to some number, such as "5," but you can make it so that only the lead locomotive of consist "5" respond to the lighting functions. Or, if you have multiple sound locomotives and you only want the lead locomotive use its horn, you can select the checkbox for F2 (usually that's the horn unless you change it) on the lead locomotive only. Then, when you press F2 for address "5," only the lead locomotive will sound the horn. Hope that makes some sense. -Cam
But I'll tell you that I don't create "advanced" consists such as what I just described. I tend to make consists with my Digitrax system. I just press the MU+/- button and then enter the locomotive I want to add to the consist. Then, you can control the consist with the lead locomotive address. The downside is that only the lead locomotive will respond to the function buttons. So if you had trailing locomotives with sound and you wanted the dynamic brakes to come on with the press of F4, for example, you have to separately select the address of the trailing locomotives to do that. This is also somewhat un-prototypical because locomotives in a true MU consist will respond to throttle and dynamic brake inputs at the same time. For this reason, I usually just turn the sound off on any trailing locomotives. Only the lead locomotive in my consists use their sound. -Cam
@@railfan220 You can program each engine with the same number and in the settings for lights, just program the lead unit lights on forward, the end unit - lights on only in reverse, and no lights for in between engines. Just like with your example for the horn and engine sounds.
I also like BNSF loco number 7668
Where do you get your locomotives and decoders from?
I like that MRL locomotive
A Nice Railroad Crossing
I also like that CN locomotive as well
Hey your layout looks great I m hoping this is a N scale is this correct
No, it's HO.
Is this a N scale layout hey I hope so Because I been in N scale for 43 years
It's ho
You're inspiring me to switch to HO from N. I have my very large N scale collection in storage until I move to a bigger house but watching your videos makes me see my BNSF layout with the intricate details that you add to your locomotives. I have similar power but in N Scale.
You can do these same effects in N scale. I have ESU and Tsunami decoders in my N scale locomotives with all the same lighting effects.
Hello, what brand is the locomotive?
I come from Germany
Best regards
hello railfan220 & it's is randy and i like yours video is cool thanks railfan220 friends randy
Love these videos man great job great layout great work
JMRI Program is free and can be down loaded. Has decoder pro program up dates regularly. Has chats support boards
How many taps do you recommend from the bus for a 4x8 double loop layout?
What couplers do you use and are they metal
His roster video says exactly which type, but they're Kadees, which are metal.
Thanks
I like BNSF loco number 1011
Those helper locomotives still have the same control boxes up front as you have modeled. At least they did as they went cruising back & forth by us on Crawford Hill back in the middle of October(2023) as we were installing dragging equipment detectors at Belmont. They look spot on !!
Good info! I haven't kept up much on the Crawford helper sets since I switched to modeling Marias Pass, but it's good to know things are still the same there. I still think these Essex, MT helpers aren't running with HelperLink anymore, and I don't know why. They might just be running less often. Someone even told me that they aren't pushing on the rear of trains...so I have no idea what to believe.
-Cam
How do you add custom sounds to your locomotives?
Helper link motors always have a Fred so if the train goes into emergency you can flip the switch and put the helpers in emergency as well.
Good to know!
-Cam
Looking good!
Thank you!
-Cam
Very cool layout. At 4:30 there is a solar powered greaser. Is it a kitbash model or one you can purchase? What are the dimensions of this double deck plan? The scenery looks similar to NS in my neck of the woods. Just without the mountains and tunnels. I hear Rail Pro by Ring Engineering is a cool system.
Thanks! I kitbashed the greaser complex from various parts. Namely, the hoses are scrap pieces of decoder wire. But I can also tell you that the solar panel itself is from the Walthers "Modern Trackside Detail Kit". And for sure, I hear good things about Rail Pro. I'm very intrigued.
-Cam
Forgot to say that the layout is 12x28'. You can find the track plan here: facebook.com/railfan220/
@@railfan220 Could have fool me. It looks much look larger but the double deck idea might be the way to go when space is limited. I considering a modular sectional type myself.
@@railfan220The NS Pittsburgh Line has helperlinks on SD40Es and SD70ACus.😂😅
Cool update like those BNSF locomotives
Outstanding layout!🇺🇸
Thanks, sir!
-Cam
Looking good, Cam!
Thanks, John! I appreciate the comment.
-Cam
Love the EOT's, just wish they would blink, and retain the small scale size.
Well I don't want to say too much...but I've heard rumors that your dream may come true.
-Cam
Great work Cam! I'm going to need to build a Helper Link box for one of my O scale MRL SD70ACes to represent Bozeman Pass helpers.
Thanks! That will be a super cool project. Who makes your SD70ACes in O scale? MTH?
-Cam
@@railfan220 they're MTH units that I'm cobbling together. MRL stuff is extremely hard to find in O Scale. I've acquired 3 SD70 shells with the big W logo and currently have one actual locomotive so need to get two more donor units. I also have an "Atlas" former MTH MRL Essential Workers unit coming in soon and a Lionel SD40 I had custom painted into one of the SD40-2XRs.
You know another new sound I like on the ESU V5 decoders is the flange squeal, it's a great addition for realism. F7
Yes! I've been enjoying that function as well. I believe I mapped it to F12. It's great when rolling through the yard at slow speed.
-Cam
first time seeing your layout, It looks AMAZING!!
Thank you! Glad you found it.
-Cam
Very cool. I love the helper locos improvements.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed.
-Cam
looking great all
Ahora un Cab ride por toda la maqueta.
Here's a cab ride of the layout from a few months ago. I plan on making a new one because the scenery has changed some. ruclips.net/video/pDn3MQsP3cA/видео.html
-Cam
Scaletrains couplers were an issue for the original MacRail run of the EOT, glad to hear he sorted that now.
Yes, I haven't found a coupler that the V2.0 EOTs don't work with. They're much more scale too. They look fantastic.
-Cam
@@railfan220 Try the MTH Remote uncouple ones... nothing fits those !
I also have the LOK programmer. How do you MU multiple locomotives??
Just program the engines you want to MU with the same number.
@@troy.peters thanks!!!
That's one way to do it, but the problem doing it that way is that the lights on all of the locomotives on the consist will come on. In other words, if you have 3 locomotives programmed to the same number and you turn the headlight on, you'll have 3 locomotives with the headlight on. This doesn't look very prototypical. What I would suggest is this: With the LokProgrammer, you can create consists by enabling the "consist address." Then you can specify which functions are enabled for each locomotive in the consist. There's a checkbox interface to do that. This way, you can set all of the locomotives in a consist to some number, such as "5," but you can make it so that only the lead locomotive of consist "5" respond to the lighting functions. Or, if you have multiple sound locomotives and you only want the lead locomotive use its horn, you can select the checkbox for F2 (usually that's the horn unless you change it) on the lead locomotive only. Then, when you press F2 for address "5," only the lead locomotive will sound the horn. Hope that makes some sense.
-Cam
But I'll tell you that I don't create "advanced" consists such as what I just described. I tend to make consists with my Digitrax system. I just press the MU+/- button and then enter the locomotive I want to add to the consist. Then, you can control the consist with the lead locomotive address. The downside is that only the lead locomotive will respond to the function buttons. So if you had trailing locomotives with sound and you wanted the dynamic brakes to come on with the press of F4, for example, you have to separately select the address of the trailing locomotives to do that. This is also somewhat un-prototypical because locomotives in a true MU consist will respond to throttle and dynamic brake inputs at the same time. For this reason, I usually just turn the sound off on any trailing locomotives. Only the lead locomotive in my consists use their sound.
-Cam
@@railfan220 You can program each engine with the same number and in the settings for lights, just program the lead unit lights on forward, the end unit - lights on only in reverse, and no lights for in between engines. Just like with your example for the horn and engine sounds.