Running some trains on Rowlen's "Valley of Bridges" Layout

February 22, 2025 ... Along with the passenger trains, the "Valley of Bridges" is home to freight service including lines of coal cars coming from neighboring coal mines to distant power plants.  Here is a video of a rumbling, lumbering, long coal drag on its way through the valley.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

March 13, 2025 ... After years of waiting to find the matching Lionel CSX F40PH engines for my detailed CSX "Executive Special" passenger train, I found two, CSX #9998 and #9999.  They needed oiling and running to smooth out issues with engines that have not been run.  Both had sparks coming from the rear trucks and may have had binding center pickup rollers.  A little oil and an hour of run time has them operating much better.

Here is a brief video of the Lionel Canadian Pacific "Canadian" and the CSX " Executive Special" passenger trains.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Very nice, John, on both the trains and the videos!

March 13, 2025 ... Running a Conrail freight through Village of Deichman on "Valley of Bridges" layout.

Have a good evening.  Sincerely, John Rowlen

John, It's nice to see some freight trains running on your layout.  I'm used to seeing wonderfully detailed passenger cars from you! 

March 13, 2025 ... Canadian Pacific GP35s pulling a grain train past a waiting coal train.

Have a good evening.  Sincerely, John Rowlen

I really like those several large tall trees in one of the videos above - your terrific layout just begs for some more scenery!  John, you are most certainly  a 'people pleaser' ensuring that all those many passengers travel in style and comfort on your variety of streamliners, now is the time to get to work and give them some fabulous scenery to enjoy en route!

John Outstanding Love the long train of 86 ft box cars

March 14, 2025 ..  Here is a little more "Madness" for March.  Two BNSF ES44AC and Santa Fe ES44AC engine pulling a string of Gunderson well cars.

Have a good weekend.  Sincerely, John Rowlen

March 14, 2025 ... Just when I was about to leave my seat from watching trains go by, I heard a sound in the distance.  Two Atlas O Amtrak F7 engines were headed my way pulling Amtrak III cars.  (The three B units were still in storage.)

Sincerely, John Rowlen

March 14, 2025  ...  The trains just keep on coming by.  A New York Central Southwestern Limited passes over the Atlas O Double Truss Bridge near my control table.

Happy Pi Day!    Thinking about having 3.14 pieces of pizza for dinner.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

March 14, 2025 ...  Alaska Freight exits tunnel as it snakes along the river's edge to the Atlas O Double Truss Bridge.  It may be carrying supplies for the Alaska Pipeline construction.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

March 14, 2025  ... Finally, the newest version of the CSX Business Train in B&O passenger colors passes across the Double Truss Bridge.

A short video of two actual CSX Business cars as they pass by at Berea Station in Berea, Ohio on Monday, August 15, 2022 at 1:40 P.M.

Have a good evening.  Sincerely, John Rowlen

John, thank you for all the videos of great looking trains.  I see the first passenger train has the baggage car doors open showing off the great interior detail.

March 14, 2025 ... Thank you for the comments.

Mark,  I enjoy detailing the shorter baggage car with the opening doors.  There is more that can be seen inside the car.

FJI,  Those 86' Boxcars are very nice for filling out a train.  If you count the boxcars and multiply it by the actual length of the cars, you can figure out how much track is in the outer mainline on the "Valley of Bridges" layout.

c,sam,  Planting trees is a great idea.  I have a supply of Grand Central Gems Lodge Pole, Redwoods and Spruce Trees stored away until I can build the hillsides in which to plant them.  I will not need a shovel, but probably a good-sized drill bit would do the job.  I still have Atlas O signals to install and link together before I do any permanent planting.  The lumber mill by the east entrance to the tunnel is waiting to mill the lumber.  The forklift operator is waiting to load the finished boards on flat cars.

Rich,  Thank you for the kind words.  I am gathering a few videos that I can share for the time when the layout will come down and I head down to family in Tampa and Clearwater.

Have a good weekend,   Sincerely, John Rowlen

John, I’m sorry you will be tearing down the layout at some point, but glad you will move near family!!

Really enjoy your videos.  Impressive layout and collection.  Thanks for sharing.

March 15, 2025 .. Dusting off a few items and putting them on the rails.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

March 15, 2025 ...

March 15, 2025 ..' Norfolk Southern freight approaches the Double Truss Bridge.

March 15, 2025 .. Distant sounds of an approaching train.

March 15, 2025 ...

March 15, 2025 ... Lionel Denver and Rio Grande Ski Train is pulled by some PA1 and PB1 engines across the Double Truss Bridge.  These cars were fully detailed at a later date.  That file is missing.

Have a good weekend.  Sincerely, John Rowlen

Wow John, those videos are awesome! Plus, some great trains on your layout. Thanks for sharing

Jeff

@John Rowlen posted:

March 15, 2025 ... Lionel Denver and Rio Grande Ski Train is pulled by some PA1 and PB1 engines across the Double Truss Bridge.  These cars were fully detailed at a later date.  That file is missing.

Have a good weekend.  Sincerely, John Rowlen

Paul

March 16, 2025 ... Paul,  I have written painting suggestions in other threads.  So here is a brief process I use.

1. Paint flesh tones on the figures while still on the injection molding sprue and allow to dry.

2. Working from the inside to outside:  When I paint a man in a suit, I paint the tie first.  It is easier to trim the shirt color against the tie for a cleaner paint job. Next I trim the suit coat to the shirt.

3.  The shoes and hair are the last items painted.

4.  Touching up paint errors is done in an attempt to perfect the paint job.

5.  Preiser 65602 have fine raised lines for hair lines.  The molding of their white figure blanks is superior to any figures I have used.  I get my figures from Germany and experienced interruptions during Covid and again today with tariff concerns.

Have fun creating the people who will populate your layout.

Sincerely, John Rowlen