Our thoughts ...

First, we've been asked by other modelers to include more details of how layouts do their op sessions, so we went ahead and included an interview with how the ops paperwork is handled on Andy's layout, with a focus on showing the behind-the-scenes paperwork and process.

The ops background segment had very little layout footage but lots of footage showing paperwork and process to balance the talking head commentary.

 

Second, on the interview with Andy section, we double checked in the video editor and it shows 47% more layout footage than pictures of Andy talking in terms of total running time (see analysis above). Our risk was deciding to spend about 1/3rd of the video talking about behind-the-scenes layout ops process and paperwork was handled. Was that a bad idea?

We take from this feedback that more layout and less behind the scenes insight is preferred. Is that true, should we tone-down the background discussion on layout ops process and paperwork in TMTV videos?

One last thought. We do not consider this video to be totally in isolation. You also get the free MRH article on this layout with 106 photos of Andy's layout from one end to the other (every square inch). Together, this video and that article does something we've never done before -- showed you every square inch of a mostly unfinished layout.

I would prefer more videos on

I would prefer more videos on operations myself,  I have not seen this video but I'm sure the operation part is very well done, interesting to people the enjoy the mental part of Model Railroading  

I do find the constant panning and at ground level layout videos mind numbing and boring.  No mental abilities needed to watch that kind of stuff. 

I highly enjoy the videos that require actual mental use.  Videos that about operations are mentally stimulating for many lots of people and highly satisfying to watch.

Off screen narration.

I prefer looking at the layout myself.

You can start with an introduction featuring the layout owner and interviewer, maybe less than 2 minutes. 

Then continue with the "interview" or "narration" off screen and focus on the layout itself.

The way Ken Patterson did the interview in this month's What's Neat.

Then if there is an interesting feature of maybe a unique procedure used, back to the person showing the "how-to" behind the feature/procedure (if you know what I mean).

At the end, maybe finish with the layout owner and interviewer again in a close out scene, again similar to Ken's way of doing it.

More operations and background

I prefer more info on the operations of the layout.  The how and why.  A good overview of the layout's infrastructure is also pretty important.    

There are plenty of YouTube videos with "operations" in the title and I'm usually pretty disappointed when it's just trains running, nice background scenery, and sometimes a lot of guys standing in aisles because it's ops night.  I want to know why that locomotive is moving a that car - I don't want to watch it go back and forth without any narration or caption to tell me why.

I want to understand the general plan of the layout, how the trains are operated and why they are moving through that scenery.  What is it that makes the layout unique or interesting?

If there are going to be a lot of pictures of pretty scenery I'd like to know what the layout owner does that makes it look so nice.  For instance, If I wanted to know how to ballast track, unless there is something different about this owner's technique, I can find at least 4000 "how to ballast track" videos on the web.  Same goes for building structures or weathering.  

I could ramble on, but you probably get the idea.  I want more than just pictures of trains.  

gs

I'll second

what gsinos just said.  I can go down the rabbit hole of Youtube if I want to see trains run.  MRH can add value by not just doing that, but telling us how and why.  What I'd like more of is some form of comparative study, but in a video format.  Maybe an intro, followed by a "here's a crew doing car card and waybill" pointing out the salient features, followed by a segment showing a similar operation using switchlists, with a wrapup explaining strengths and weaknesses of each, in a non-judgemental manner to reduce the bruhaha here.  It's hard to compare those two fairly without experiencing them both in person, but I think you could do a credible job of providing anyone "on the cusp" of that decision with useful data. 

Again, just showing trains running on a beautiful layout has it's place, but there's no lack of it now.

Just another opinion

Blair

Circle Back

Circle back to the video done with Mike C on the Allagash. 

A great two part video going into depth about the layout, Mike, and operations. The best part of the video was the amount of "B roll" used during the video.. 

No offense but I would rather see the layout/trains then two people chatting. 

That and a few other early vidoes is what got me to pay for TMTV and I keep paying for TMTV more so for the older videos. 

And the winner is?

No one.

This is back to the classic question of "are you a rail fan or operator"?..   or "do you prefer to watch trains going round or switching them?" 

I was going to offer my personal opinion but then it wouldn't matter because an opposing view will be the next post.

I would rather look at scenes

I would rather look at scenes from the layout while you are doing the interview. Maybe 80-20, even 90-10. If possible, show the part of the layout  you are talking about. I guess I pay to see images of models, layouts, trains, ect. Not talking heads. 

Now, if they have throttles in hand and are operating the layout, hearing their chatter is worthwhile. 

What title did you use?

If the video is titled - "A visit to a layout" then people expect that it is just that. A layout visit. If it's "Operations on a layout" then that will feed people's expectation of the content.

Clearly,

people watch videos here and elsewhere for a myriad of reasons.  Well DUH.

Rather than attempt to please all, make it clear at the outset what your purpose is.  If someone deliberately complains about "talking heads" after being told "this will be filled with talking heads", there's a delete key for that complaint.  If someone watches a zooming trains video, then complains about lack of ops content, well, same thing.  And yes, I realize, there's a continuum here, so you'll have to decide how to portray the balance.  80%ops/20%running would get my attention fast, tell me the opposite and I'll move on.

It's in the way you title, or subtitle, each presentation.  Tell them what you're going to do, do it, and tell them what you did.

Just my two cents.

Blair

Re: Clearly

I agree with Blair, people watch for all sorts of reasons.

I see that Trainmasters TV has finally been accepted by Roku in Canada, so as soon as I finish paying for the renovations on my new train room, I will be signing up for a year. Joe, any sales coming up? 

But for me, I love videos about scenery and structure techniques. A nicely detailed layout.

Watching Operations holds my attention for about 30 seconds. Unless the operations pertain to my era and similar industries. I doubt anyone will be doing a video on rural, mills, quarries and agriculture in eastern USA/Canada circa 1900. 

Yes, I will have operations on my layout, but since I am in N scale, it will be Tom Driscoll's Simple Car Card System, as detailed in MRH back in the January 2012 issue. 

Video seemed ok to me...

Video seemed ok to me...

Why not both?

Apologies if this has already been suggested - and I also haven't seen the video, so these comments are made in a vacuum. I would think the best way to incorporate a discussion of operations would be to include the audio of the interview, while showing video of the layout. Whether that's general layout footage, or footage specific to the operational elements being discussed, would vary depending on the discussion. This seems like it would please both camps.

I personally enjoying learning how a layout operates, but I really dislike watching a static scene of "talking heads".

_Jeff

I liked it...

I liked the video very much, and thought it had a nice balance of interview and layout. 

Randy

Great Video

I really enjoyed the video. The format provided great info about how the railroad runs. It suited my tastes perfectly.