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Ed Swain models the Pennsylvania RR around Harrisburg in the steam-to-diesel transition era. Watch freight and passenger trains run through the impressive scenes, including a model of Harrisburg Station.
Wonderful layout and video! I want to see more!
Great layout!!! Thank you for posting
WOW…NICE JOB..WEATHERING AND SCENERY ARE SPOT ON…
Regarding the sound. Please understand that model loco sounds are reproduced very poorly on internet videos. I'm certain that Ed's engines sound much better in person. On board sound puts so much life into a model railroad.
Very nice, has a real PRR feel.
Just a beautiful layout , being from Hanover Pa i really like how you modeled Harrisburg. Thanks for sharing.
PRR GLORY DAYS, MAGNIFICENT THANK YOU
Some of the very best weathering I've ever seen. Outstanding detail on the passenger platform too – not too much, not too little – just right!
This is one beautiful layout. Great to see it in action. And, there's nothing quite like double headed deks!
Fantastic – a real gem – well modeled & painted.
Very nice-looking layout. I've always liked the "Pennsy" look of the color schemes and the powerful-looking locos of that era. As far as sound on a layout, I suppose all one can do is make do with what one has to work with. It's just not possible to get the rumble of diesels and the varied and deep sounds of a steam loco out of a speaker that's small enough to fit inside of a model. (The large-scale folks have a little more room than us HO-and smaller-scalers ;pity the poor n-and z modelers!). Personally, I'm happy to get whatever is available in sound right now; they DO have it down as far as authenticity goes. The options are few & far between; as long as a speaker the size of a silver dollar or thereabouts is necessary, we're stuck with what we've got. Larger speakers under a layout start to get a little tricky (although some work is being done in that direction). Headphones?? Well, I suppose that sort of boxes one into the "lone-wolf" category (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)
Lance Mindheim has some interesting things to say on the subject in his blog; it's worth visiting.
Good job, All.
Even though I once worked for PC, I have never been a big PRR fan. But Ed Swain's layout definitely has a look and atmosphere that takes me back to my native Pennsylvania. The only thing "missing" is the smoke and soot.
If you mean the locomotive sounds – I agree. I do not have much personal experience with onboard sound but from what I hear on videos I'm unimpressed. I don't think sound "scales" well. Like using real water on a layout. The tininess of the sound could be attributed to video quality. One of the big problems is that there doesn't seem to be enough doppler effect. Is it because the real distances just aren't enough for the physics involved? Also, you could here the steam locomotives long after they entered the tunnel. I don't think it would sound quite like that in "real life".
Ed Swain's layout was just great. I love the details, especially with the factories in the background and the freight coming around the curve and under the signal bridge. The speed was also just right. I also thought the detail of the stock yard was impressive. It reminded me of some of the real life railroading I experienced as a young boy. GREAT JOB
Dave Richardson, Shrewsbury, MA
Hello Mr. Eble,
You can see Lou's current layout in Model Railroad Planning 2015. You can also see a video of the layout by clicking on Layout Visits under the Videos tab at the top of the screen.
Thanks for watching
Dana Kawala
Senior editor
Impressive modeling and subject matter !….I'm also a Lou Sassi fan ….How about doing an article and video of his layout in the future ?…..mmmmmm
Would love to see more video of the passenger station. All I could do,is freeze frame and just stare. It is a terrific layout and the painted backdrops are terrific. I liked the steel mill and coke ovens painted into the backdrop.
To go from an idea in someone's mind, to the construction of what we see, to the magic of video, it really makes a person respect the work that all this represents. Great job, obviously a fabulous railroad to enjoy.
Thank you.
nice layout and backdrops
Wow, what a great layout! can't wait to seeing the article, hopefully there will be more videa.
Just subscribed and am working through Dave's series. Suggestion: Take advantage of movement/sound with subjects like MOW, wreck clearance and perhaps manufacturing. These would broaden the theme from train chases and give atmosphere not captured in print.
Nice looking layout. The extraneous noise in the background sort of ruined the mood.
Great layout, would like to see more videos of this area of Harrisburg on the layout.
Wow, what a nice layout! Looking forward to seeing the article.
Especially like the nice work that he did with perspective utilizing the backdrop in the stockyard scene.