John Knippenberg
Welcome to my model trains and railfanning channel! I have a 6'X6' work in progress O gauge layout and video run sessions of engines and rolling stock from Lionel, Marx, Ives American Flyer and Unique Art Lines. I enjoy finding MPC era and older trains and getting them back running the rails.
I also like railfanning and currently have videos from WMSR/Cumberland CSX to Norfolk Southern in Virginia to Kansas City/Argentine yards and some other excursion railways that we have visited.
I hope you enjoy, please watch, leave comments and subscribe. I always reply to comments and enjoy your suggestions and requests. Thank you!
John Knippenberg
I wish we could have attended this year's Fall TCA show at York, but we have been out of town a lot over the past two months and it just wasn't going to fit into our schedule. But I hope for a successful show, with lots of model train enthusiasts and vendors. I also hope to see your videos from the show, I can participate vicariously that way. 😉
Since it is #ThreeRailThursday, check out some of my videos by clicking the hashtag and some #TinplateTuesday videos as well. You will probably find some oldies but goodies that you haven't seen before. 😎
As always, happy model railroading from #LandmarkYards!
🚂 🎶🕺💯
13 hours ago | [YT] | 9
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John Knippenberg
Our end of summer/early fall travels are now over, but we had a great time in August, September and October catching some train action in some interesting locations. The end trip to Northern Central Railway was great, even though the William H. Simpson No. 17 4-4-0 American was being serviced in Strasburg. More information can be found here- www.northerncentralrailway.com/restoration-project… However, I did manage to get a picture of the American's gorgeous tender, as you can see.
While it was fun enjoying trains as a railfanner in Western Maryland, Bristol, and south-central Pennsylvania, it will be nice to get back to my O gauge layout and run sessions; I am looking forward to that. I will be glad to catch up on any content that you may have posted over the past 2 months as well. I tried to keep up, but there's only so many hours in a day. I also hope to see some awesome videos and pictures of your visit to this week's York TCA show, and I do wish we could have attended as well.
In parting, I just want to say, happy railroading in whatever capacity you happen to do that.
🚂 🎶🕺
2 days ago | [YT] | 40
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John Knippenberg
Due to railfanning in New Freedom & Railroad, PA, over the weekend, I have no new #TinplateTuesday or #ThreeRailThursday videos to post. But click on the hashtags to see some you may have missed. There are about 1,000. 😉
And, in the meantime, enjoy some Halloween displays on Prince St. in Oldtowne, Alexandria.
🎃👍
1 week ago | [YT] | 19
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John Knippenberg
The wife and I arrived in Railroad, PA, yesterday for our Fall Foliage Excursion on the Northern Central Railway today. We hiked the Heritage Rail Trail up to the train station in New Freedom, and I took some pictures around the area. I think the Southern Pacific coaches in the last picture are owned by Conductor Bill Hatrick, who used to be at Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in Cumberland, MD. We hope we see him today.
We also brought our bikes for riding the rail trail. The weather was gorgeous yesterday, hoping for more sunny skies today.
Happy railroading! 🚂 🕺💯
1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 58
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John Knippenberg
We did some railfanning today at the Bristol,VA, train station. I'm trying to upload some Shorts from today's action, including a little red NS/SR caboose. There was lots of action at this junction this morning. 9/26/2025
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 57
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John Knippenberg
The wife and I are celebrating our 5th year anniversary in Carolina Beach. So, there will not be any new #TinplateTuesday or #ThreeRailThursday videos this week. But click on the hashtags to see 100s of them, maybe you'll find one you haven't already seen. 😉
Happy (model) railroading! 🚂 🎶🕺
1 month ago | [YT] | 44
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John Knippenberg
Another awesome video of this past weekend's WMSR Railfest in Cumberland, MD. Some turntable action at 14:30 with a CN Speeder photo bomb. And a Circus Livery parade at 17:00 on a gorgeous evening in the WMD. 😎👍
1 month ago | [YT] | 23
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John Knippenberg
Sorry I had to miss WMSR's Rail Fest this past weekend in Cumberland. But here's a video of a 1309 ride from this weekend that you might enjoy. Hopefully I will make it next year!
1 month ago | [YT] | 15
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John Knippenberg
Welcome to my model trains and railfanning community! How does this work? I have no idea. But I (usually) post weekly content that is train related, either from recent O gauge (or anyone few N scale) finds or from trips involving rail excursions or just luck of the draw railfanning opportunities.
I love finding locomotives and rolling stock that needs some TLC and getting it back running on my 6'X6' O gauge layout (which is an ongoing project). If all the lights, whistles, and bells that are supposed to work actually do, I consider it a successful venture.
On my layout, you will see Lionel, Marx, Ives, and American Flyer engines and cars. I really like passenger car consists, especially if they're lighted. I like older trains and they are mostly 1980's or older, some around 100 years old but still in working condition. There may be paint loss and chips, sometimes I have custom painted the worst, but everything works as it did when it was originally sold to someone.
I often wonder, who owned these trains originally and what was the ocassion: a birthday, Christmas or hobby enthusiast purchase? If they could only talk. This is part of the nostalgia of model railroading that I love.
I grew up in a railroad town, and there are 4 generations of railroads in my family, even though I haven't worked on the railroad (yet?). But I have fond memories of my grandfather and father working for the B&O, Chessie and CSX during their careers. My grandfather worked for the B&O for 49 years before retiring.
I hope you enjoy my channel journey and I love it when you subscribe and comment on my content. I will always reply back. I also like to add music to the Shorts I have created, old 1920's orchestra jazz to modern day rock. Keep the trains running! 🚂 🎶🕺
1 month ago | [YT] | 14
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John Knippenberg
Sorry to report that due to being out of town this past weekend for a wedding, there will be no #TinplateTuesday or #ThreeRailThursday videos. However, if you click on the hashtags, you will find tons of content, probably some videos you haven't seen before. 😉
This picture is from the Walmart in LaVale, MD. My wife was gracious enough to snap it for me over her weekend shopping trip with her mother.
Keep the trains running! 🚂 🎶🕺💯
1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 73
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