Operations on the DT&I: 2026, Episode 7 - Newark to Columbus

Welcome back to the HO Scale Modern DT&I!

Episode 7 kicks off at Newark yard. A coal train from the Cumberland branch approaching. It will head east over the former PRR from Columbus to S. Charleston, then turn north on the original DT&I main all the way to Diann. Then, it takes the former Ann Arbor to Durand, where it will be handed off to the Huron & Eastern for final delivery near Bay City, Michigan.

After the coal train, an eastbound office car special (OCS) passes on its way to Pittsburgh. We’re jumping out of our timeline a bit with this one. We’ll continue to do that throughout this year with some special trains, so stay tuned. GP38-2 1776 has been placed into active service for the 2026 celebration of America’s 250th birthday. We catch it here in charge of the OCS. The 1776 still wears its original gong bell. However, it is not operational.

After the OCS passes, we catch a hot Pittsburgh to Chicago freight. Trains between these two destinations have a choice of 2 routes between eastern Ohio and Lima. At Morgan Run, they can turn north to Massillon then west over the PRR Ft. Wayne line. Or, they can continue east to Columbus, S. Charleston, and turn north to Lima, where the two routes converge for the rest of the journey to Chicago. The two routes are essentially used as double track.

We catch the same train again west of Columbus, where we end our day with an empty auto rack train headed back to Detroit.

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More about the Modern DT&I

Concept and Layout:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1f...
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System Map (Note: you can click on many lines and locations for labels and more info):
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?...

Roster, including modeled units:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
There’s also a playlist of the current roster!

Also be sure to check out the various playlists I’ve put together for an easier time learning all about my layout!

All locomotive sounds are generated by Tsunami 2 DCC and Scale Sound Systems speakers unless otherwise noted. Freight car noises, rail sounds, and background sounds are dubbed using video sounds from other YouTubers with permission.

Locations on the layout may represent more than one city in various videos. That’s one of the advantages to building a little bit generic!

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