Inspirational - looking forward to next segment

Thanks, Ross

Thanks, Ross.

Barry and I discussed what this video on my layout open house would cover and we agreed it should do something no other layout video has ever done - show the unvarnished truth of what happens when you let a layout sit for three years - and before that you have taken whatever rolling stock and loco donations other modelers wanted to give you just to get the layout operational.

Good operation - my "run like a dream" standard, does not happen by accident - and I say that in the video. It takes work - running lots of trains and then going after the issues with a vengeance.

All this hard work did pay off and the layout ran pretty well during the tours, and it also worked good during the op session.

However, the newly un-mothballed layout still has bugs I'm working out - and as I work through the issues, the performance of the layout is getting better and better. I am establishing my "run like a dream" standard and am working toward that as I go.

The ultimate goal is near zero issues from track or equipment failure during an op session. There may still be some issues, but they'll almost always be from operator error (just expect it, people are human), not from track / equipment failure.

If and when equipment does fail, it gets written up and removed until repaired - just like on the prototype. And if track fails, the good news is fixing track issues generally fixes them permanently or at least for a very long time.

P.S. I'm taking advantage of all this effort by documenting it in my Run like a Dream book series. I don't think there's ever been a series that collects and documents all these preventative and diagnosis/correction tips and tricks in one place. It's the Model Railroad Hobbyist philosophy to show real hobbyists solving real problems and achieving their model railroading dreams. It can be done - and our goal is to show you how.

Dream running..

Joe,

I know the amount of work it took me to get my little 10 x 10 HOn3 layout ready for the NMRA convention tour, I can't imagine the effort that it took to prepare the Siskiyou Line!

My goal has also been to be able to run my layout with as close to zero issues as possible. While I am proceeding at a snails pace, I have given it my very best work at each stage, from benchwork through the sections with scenery. I came so close to a flawless layout tour... If I hadn't bumped into the side of the layout and generated a small HO scale earthquake that derailed a passing train! 

I have picked up many tips from MRH and TMTV and they have helped me build a better layout. Keep up the good work.

Ross A.

It was a great episode,

It was a great episode, looking forward to more of them as you progress your way to "running like a dream" heck the troubles you had seemed minor, as I'm sure every real railroad has similar issues with trackwork, operator errors, etc. Thank you Joe and Barry!