Bill’s been back in touch with some thoughts on HO scale speed – have a look and see what you think:
“Hi Al,
Here’s my latest model railroad operations video, along with a few photos of my layout.
I find photography to be a lot like fishing: Sometimes you cast 10 or 20 times and only catch one. And sometimes they just ain’t biting!
Speaking of operations, I had a few comments to the effect that my locos were running too slow. So I did a poll on my YouTube community tab, and only 4% thought the speed was too slow.
I’d be interested in what you and your readers think.
Take care –
Bill”
A big thanks to Bill.
When it comes to running your trains, finding the right speed is something that comes up often on the blog.
I do concede it’s very tempting to let your engines zip around at full throttle, but I’m definitely in the camp of slower speeds to create realism.
Personally, I thought Bill’s train speed was spot on.
I remember one post recommended running HO scale at about 20 to 25% of its maximum speed, which translates to around 25-35 scale miles per hour, which sounds about right for most freight trains?
Let me know in the comments in below, I’d really like to hear your thoughts on this one.
But at the end of the day – as you all know – I’m very fond of the only mantra that matters:
“Your layout, your rules!”
If you enjoy running them fast, then fast it is. And it’s the same for slow.
Having said that, I’m sure you’ve all experienced derailments with trains whizzing round tight curves – and it’s always heart stopping when you see them leap off the edge of your layout into the abyss.
Anyway, I thought Bill’s question was really interesting – please do leave a comment if you can add to the HO scale speed conversation.
That’s all this time folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
One of the most realistic layouts I have seen. Too many are jam packed with buildings barely leaving enough room for the track. This one was perfect.
Technology has helped with slow running and it has become much more reliable with the introduction of DCC and power banks.
Speed depends not only on the engine but also the track location – built up areas or open country etc.
I view running a model rail layout as a piece of theatre and train speed is part of the narrative, but as already said “it is your layout so run it as you wish” just make sure you enjoy it
I do think that he spent a lot of time and effort in what little scenery I did see. I just wish that he had taken pics of the overall layout. From what I can see, it looks like the train track just butts up against a wall and goes nowhere, just back and forth. Layouts of trains that go nowhere are really not fun in my opinion, but it’s NOT my layout.
Great layout life like photog. great idea raising the track bed above side walk. loved that.
The Critic
Fantastic layout, one of the best I’ve seen…and the slow running! Wow, so realistic. Yes it’s nice to see model trains running fast as they did a lot of the time, but, the operating side of things is often over looked. A 30 minute session on this railway would keep me happy for the rest of the day.
Well done Bill.
Martin from Mohawk Valley Railroad.
These pictures are perfect, I’m curious to know the lens and camera settings. As to train speed, consider that we as bystanders can watch a freight train go by at 55 MPH and stand there for 3 minutes as 2 miles of train goes by. I think for the best effect then a model train should take sometime like that to go by because a long HO freight is probably 20 cars? Anyway our trains blasting by lose my interest the second time it goes by in a minute (makes it around the layout and comes by again). So my vote to to slow ’em down.
John From Baltimore
One frustrating thing about creeping and slow speed is stammering and stopping due to poor connections be it dirt or voltage drops – with my American Flyer S gauge I have a direct connection back to the transformer wherever I need it thru a 12 gauge solid bus wire running thru the benchwork – I can pick off points every so often up to every section of track if I choose !!! From that an engine in good mechanical running order can creep along and run at very realistic speeds – I realize this is totally old school and N/A for DCC (maybe) but a good connection to clean track is critical to slow speed operations – plus this blog has provided me with many excellent suggestions for how to keep tin plate track clean !!!
Great discussion today and very nice prototypical layout
Bill, very good photography. The D-O-F is very good.
Great detail with the scenery and scenes . Not one to know much about proper speed , that’s really not my thing . I know some of the modelers get their panties in a bind if every last detail isn’t reflective of real life … big whoop.
The thing is , it’s a hobby to entertain ones imagination and ones self . Do it the way you enjoy it . No matter how you’ve done it there will be at least one opinion that will be negative. Too much this , too much that , not enough of this … blah , blah , blah. You can run your trains however you desire , they are yours . Personally I think you’ve done a great job , trains look realistic and the scenes are quite detailed .
Bill, your layout is a very realistic, exceptionally well-done model railroad. You have also demonstrated some realistic operating sequences too. Your weathering, building selection and placement is also very good.
Beautiful, congratulations, Rob
i Loooove that Layout, it’s BEAUTIFUL 👍👍🚆
WOW. The shadows on the layout makes it so real.
I seldom comment on anyone’s model railroad but I am absolutely amazed at the realism depicted here by Bill. In my opinion, one of the most unrealistic things on a model railroad are the people. So often I see shiny clothes that just don’t exist in most folks wardrobes. So, referring to the photos without people, I would suggest that the photos could be actual photos of rail operations. I can’t give a complement much higher than that.
Absolutely brilliant. The careful weathering of everything is great, including matte finishes on the human figures. The trees look realistic as well. 0perating speeds also very realistic Well done, and inspirational!
Nice layout. I like running my Trains slow too. I run three Trains at a time using DCC. I have an Amperage Booster and that seems to help running my Trains slow. Starting on a new layout with Z Scale. Having fun with it. Its a challenge converting Z Scale Engines to DCC.
I like the slow speeds but these may be a bit slow for me! I’m 85 years old and I’d like my train to get one round done before I’m done!
Great pics with realistic lighting. Weathered rolling stock look great too. Running speed in the video was fine for moving cars but I think the speed could have been a bit faster when moving through the scenic track. All in all, good job.
Jim AZ
very nice work. i like it a lot.
Bill, Having been a part-time farmer for over 40 years which involved hauling many truck loads of grain to our local ADM grain elevator I have to commend the realism you’ve achieved on your Cargill grain elevator elevator scenes on your lay out. Very well done!!! Also as a full time electric utility engineer ( also over 40 years tenure) I admire the realiistic green patina you achieved on the over head primary copper conductors. Again, very well done!!!
Cheers,
Dean Freschly, from Rockport, Indiana (USA)
Alistair, Many Thanks to you for keeping this blog alive and so very interesting.
If you have ever had to wait at a level crossing to wait for a long, 500 – 750 metres, freight train to pass a real train never seems to be going fast enough.
As Al says ” your layout your rules” but be careful of curves and derailments.
Most of Model Train videos I see are always running way too fast … and are unrealistic.
Speed was right on considering the switching operations being performed. Great layout!
I hate to see trains flying along at break neck speeds, but I’ve got to go along with the too slow crowd on this one.
Those poor people living in those two houses had to endure nearly 15 minutes of that bell dinging constantly. Then the hour long trip to the yard with no greater speed than the switching operation. I felt like I could have gotten off and walked faster.
Bill your vid. is the type of a man who tells his story. I like the People who are running the switching (by name) and how it is done. Running trains is good, making a good landscape and villages is good but what you did is to bring it to life.
Very special! Thanks for sharing.
I am stunned by the realism of this RR. I had to look a couple of times on some of the pictures to make sure they were really models and not real-life. Congratulations on an amazing job of portraying realism!
I have a library of saved photos from Alastair’s site that I use to give me ideas for my layout. They are categorized in different subfolders for the type of scenery that they bestow such as tunnels, switching yards, etc. Well, Bill, I now have a new folder containing all of the photos that you posted. It’s category is named “The Perfect Layout”. You’ve done marvelous work and need to be applauded for it. Thanks.
Thanks Al for your kind words, and thanks everybody for the great comments. I’ll try to answer whatever questions you may have.
Kenneth says “From what I can see, it looks like the train track just butts up against a wall and goes nowhere, just back and forth.”
Actually Kenneth, the track makes a full loop by going through a “tunnel” (hole in the wall) into another room, and back out another hole. Sorry the pics didn’t portray that feature very well.
John From Baltimore says “These pictures are perfect, I’m curious to know the lens and camera settings.”
Wow, thanks John. I’m actually just using the camera on my old Samsung Galaxy s10e. I use the (free) Open Camera app, take multiple photos of the same scene without moving the camera. I touch the screen to get focus on all parts of the photo. Then I use Luminar NEO to focus stack them. There are lots of other apps that will do the same thing, this is just what I happen to have. Google “focus stacking” for more info.
Thanks again for all your support!
Bill
Really thought this was the real thing including the shots he took with his drone. Then the giveaway was the edge of the shelving. This guy has talent. I agree Too many layouts are jammed with things that should be in the “for sake” box.
Speed: Those who feel you are running your models too slow, need to leave their basements , drive to their nearest rail yard, pop a top and settle in the the afternoon. Nuf said
I felt sorry for the kids in the school bus, but then realized it must be an empty bus just parked near the crossing since there are no homes or a school behind the bus.
Bill outstanding job on your layout. Just great looking enjoy!
Great work in both the layout and your video! Your commentary and post production Sound FX made for a very enjoyable video. I look forward to and seeing more.
JW
Bill
I was taken back on how realistic your layout is. I had to take double looks at several photos as I thought for sure that the pictures were actually real instead of just a model railroad setup
Great work as I am very impressed. I run “G” series trains inside and outside and not even close with the realistic look. Keep up the GREAT work
Steve ( Chicagoland Area, USA)
What a wonderful job of modeling. The details and nuiances in the scenery makes one do a double take as to whether it’s real or truly a miniature. My pet peeve is the fascia treatment and I think the color of your is perfect. Better than black or camo. I tend to agree that the run back to the yard should have been faster but who knows? Maybe the crew got their work done too fast and they were milking the clock on the return. To each his own as they say. Great work Bill!
Liked the brakeman on the back of the train, my cousin was a brakeman on Pennsylvania Railroad….Speed is perfect. Saw many trains at sunnyside yard in New York City.
Wow- fantastic attention to details!!!
WOW Bill! You’ve done some great work and the pictures are fantastic!
Very believable! And while there are multiple styles and concepts–and all of them are good–your layout fits my preference perfectly.
My test for realism and layout is “could I visualize living there”. YES, I could because of the realism and natural figures and buildings! Beautiful work of art.
I especially enjoyed the harmonic fit of everything on the layout. Lastly, the ground cover in all its varied form was REAL and invited the observer to get into the scene and actually walk through it! Speed? Could have been a “wee bit faster”.
I think all is “spot on” and I enjoyed the presentation very much. The scenery and layout are stunningly beautiful as well as realistic. It is obvious to me that you have spent a great deal of time watching real operations to create your story line. Very well done, I am eagerly awaiting your next episode. Keep up your great work!
Dave
Well done layout! It is natural to want to see the trains move and, quite honestly, 30 mph in HO scale (12″ in 2 seconds) does seem slow. I find myself constantly turning back the throttle.
That being, when I observe trains today, unless they are out on open tracks, they are moving slower than that!
In HO: 12″/Second = Scale 60 mph! I only run passenger service at that speed. Even my ‘through’ freights on the mainlines seldom exceed 45 mph (18″/second).
When it comes to running speeds, I mentally put myself in a passenger car and if I would get thrown against the bulkhead in a curve, the train is running too fast. Now, like Scott from Florida, I too run Flyer S gauge (not scale), and it’s hard to run the engines at a more prototypical speed if your hardware isn’t up to snuff. When I build my new layout, I will be running the engines on DC to counter the reverse unit problems and will make sure that the tracks and pickup wheels are as spotless as they can be.
Karl
Absolutely a fantastic layout. A perfect amount of scenery and very realistic. One can see that a great amount of thought was given to thee master plan.
I 100% agree with your train your rules. I always get a chuckle when someone will ask for someone’s opinion and then be offended of someone’s response. It reminds me of social media (Facebook for example) me personally don’t give a rats turd about others opinions, they are like butt holes, we all have them 🤣 if one puts it out there, be prepared to get a a response you don’t like. If I were to ask for some one’s advice or opinion, it certainly wouldn’t be someone I don’t even know. Have fun training and thanks for sharing your beautiful layouts.