Bijomaru's YouTube videos

[Super]

The boys sure are getting big Bijo, and you are making memories with the 3 of you constructing together....welcome back.

It's so rewarding once the layout is actually usable so that we can all work together rather than just running a few independent trains in circles.

Hello Plarail Friends!

Life's busy, work has become very mentally challenging with my 'promotion' to manage a bigger team since the company I work for has undercome a merger late last year (but I least I kept my job). But we found some space, time and energy to come up with a new challenging build in the last few weeks.

A purpose-built, dual-loop track layout, with switching train stations to allow 5 trains to run at the same time in both directions.

Due to the differences in speed trains, and distances between stations not being equal, it still requires some input. That's where we get 2 Track Masters, 1 at the stopping points to control the separation of trains on each loop, and 1 at the 3-way junction to allow trains to stop on separate tracks.

It was quite challenging at first, as we were getting crashes at the Roundabout Station, but also trans running into each other on the Clockwise, longer loop. Until we worked out a system after a few evening of test runs.

The build also took a few evenings, as we tried to expand the track and add passing/stopping areas in the best locations.

I think due to the multi-level, dual-loops, running in opposite directions and passing each other in various places, this was the most complex layout we've built so far.

Hope you enjoy!

Hope you enjoy!

Nice!  Love the (reverse?) stop-motion construction sequence. We'll enjoy having you back as well.

The construction sequence is made at the end when I'm putting it all away. Step by step photos are taken as I take parts away from the layout, and then reversed in the video editor. The idea was given to me by my wife when we were filming the first layout and I was considering taking photos only to rebuild the layout then to film the construction. Not sure why I didn't think of that

This layout took 3 evenings (if not more) of me adding, expanding and changing things to get the layout to the state I would consider complete and satisfying to run.

If I recall correctly:
Day 1 - building the first loop - clockwise with the switching stations in place - so already planning the other loop
Day 2 - adding the second loop, while making necessary changes to the first loop
Day 3 - Trying to add stops where we needed them and expanding the 'main station' area to add parallel tracks to allow separate lane for each train
Day 4 - must've been when I added the train yard, and made test runs, with more tweaks to the layout where trains were falling out of tracks due to some odd shaped combinations

Filming, at least spread over 3 days, so I could film the layout and runs when the kids aren't there  and then the play time on one evening when we were using it.

I'll try to not go dark again, but I feel that until I change jobs my life is just a blur and it's scary that it takes us so long to organise some train fun days

[Super]

Kudo's to your wife for her suggestion of reversing the filming of deconstructing as it was the think that really got me interested in your videos from the beginning. Great job Bijo. 👍

Thanks, I'll pass on the sentiment   We're hopefully getting a new play/train/lego table next weekend so may have more chances to do a casual small layout and just leave it out to have fun when on lunch at home