Beautiful N&W Layout

Here's a link to Mike Ritschdorff's beautiful layout that all our N&W and NS fans should really enjoy!
Bill


Mike Ritschdorff's N&W Layout

 

He was on a SPECIAL on the Travel Channel...
ARGH!! Can't think of what it was called.
They had the NORTHLANDZ layout on it, too.
He has Operating sessions once a month.
Looks like a great setup... and great bunch of
fellows.

 

Thanks Ken Sir Prize for the heads-up on the Travel Channel. I wonder if they sell a video of that program? Will have to check that out. By any chance, you do remember about how long ago it was on?
Thanks,
Bill

 

Yes Ken BoxcabE50, that site is loaded with beautiful AND interesting layouts. A person could spend quite a bit of time just checking them out. (also a lot of great ideas there!!!)
Hope everyone enjoys them.
Bill

 

Wabash- It was within the last two weeks. It
was on at like 8pm (est) and again at 12am.
They usually repeat the "prime time" block of
shows. I think it was
There were a bunch of other things not train
related on that show. I think it was about
expensive toys. I guess NORTHLANDZ is up to
$8 million an construction.
Did several searches at Dicovery Channel Site,
they own the travel channel... No luck.

 

I operated on this layout about 9 years ago. It's huge!!! At the time he used a homemade version of the CTC-16. He made his own wireless throttles from radio controlled airplane controllers. He had the servos connected to a direction switch and a speed control knob mounted on a board under the layout. It worked ok except there were a few spots in the room that the throttles would get interference. If you ever have seen a servo when the signal is broken you'll know how that can be a problem, the servos go crazy and start turning every which way.

One of the jobs I had was running a mine shifter. I was going along, doing my business swapping empties for loads along the tipples on the lower level. My train had 20 cars and two FM trainmasters. The dispatcher called and told me to clear the main in the area that I was working. So I backed my train into a siding and called to give the ok to pass. The other train came around the corner, I think it was freight with a couple SDs on the lead. When the train was about half way past me, I backed up to let the engineer past. I must have backed into one of those spots that the radio throttle didn't like, because my train took off full speed right into the side of the passing train.

I think he has switched to DCC now.

 

Jeff, some guys have all the LUCK !
Thanks for the info. Anything else you can remember about that experience would be appreciated.
Just want to let everybody know about the pics of your beautiful layout in the RailImages section. I especially like your coal operations.
Thanks for posting them there for all of us to see.
Bill

 

Ken, thanks for checking the Discovery/Travel Channel for a video. I didn't have a chance to do that yet. Too bad one wasn't available.
I was really surprised to hear you say that NORTHLANDZ so far is up to $8mil in construction costs. Gezzz, wouldn't it be nice to have a model railroading budget like that?
Well maybe someday one of us will when we hit the Lotto!!!
Bill

 

Other than fighting the radio throttles all night, I can't remember anything that stood out about the layout other than the size of it. That layout was part of a large group of layouts that were hosting model railroad operators form all over the US, I think the called it the Rust Belt Invitational, or something like that. The event lasted three or four days, every day you went to a different layout, two on Saturday. The Reid brothers N scale layout was one of them, also John Tews Timber River railroad was another. I didn't get picked for The Reid's layout but I got to go to the Timber River. The TR was fun to operate. If you don't know the TR, it was in MR a while back. It is freelanced around the northern Minnesota iron mining area. Some where I have some photos from that week end, I'll see if I can find them.

 

Wabash- No problem. Actually I sent an e-mail
off to the Travel Channel asking what name,
and when the show might be on again. They
sent me an e-mail within six hours!
But... I can't remember it. It's at home on my
PC there. I'll get on here later.
Coal- COOL! and You lucky dog! Down my way
the railroaders seem to hide. Then again I
haven't done a "major" search in town.

 

Actually, That layout and the others that were part of the Rust Belt tour were around the Shamburg (sp) IL area. I live in Minnesota and around here we have "Minnrail". Anyone can be invited to these events but there is usually a waiting list, and you have to know someone that is part of it to be able to get your name on the list. The only reason why you have to know someone is because it is not an advertised event, so if you don't know someone that is part of it, you'll never be able to get your name on the list. You have to be invited because they take every layout that in on the tour, figure out how many people can operate on each layout, add the amounts together, and that is the maximum number of people that is invited from the list. Then they reserve rooms at a local hotel where everyone meets at and they do a lottery to pick who goes to which layout. The layout owners are there and they take their group to their house to operate. On Saturday you operate on one layout in the morning, have lunch and after lunch you switch to another layout.

Its fun to attend these events. You get to see lots of layouts and by running a train on them, you see what part of their layout designs work well and what didn't work to well.

 

Wabash-Here's the response T.C. gave me:
"Billionaire Toys" will re-air on November 25th
at 7:00pm (ET), November 28th at 12:00pm
(ET), and on November 29th at 10:00am (ET).
I think Mike's railroad is there, too. I forget.
Coal- SOOO... Where's my invite!?
Just joking. It's great that you all gather and share.

 

Ken, many thanks for that info. It was kind of you to check that out, and an excellent idea.
I will be watching for sure.
Bill

 

Not prob. I was interested in the show myself.
Besides... (in todays cut throat world a weakness)
It's in my nature to help.