Introducing Mike O’Neill Trains – A YouTube Channel for Railroad Enthusiasts!

Welcome Aboard!

I’m excited to introduce Mike O’Neill Trains, my YouTube channel dedicated to railroads, model railroading, railroad operations, and sharing a lifelong passion for trains!

Railroads have been an important part of my life for many years. Whether it’s watching a powerful freight train climb a mountain grade, chasing a steam locomotive through the Colorado Rockies, or operating trains on an HO scale model railroad, there’s always something fascinating about railroading.

I created Mike O’Neill Trains to share these experiences, preserve railroad memories, and help fellow enthusiasts learn more about both real and model railroad operations.

The channel features a combination of railroad videos, historical footage, model railroading projects, and educational tutorials.

Railfanning Adventures – Past and Present

One of the most enjoyable parts of railroading is getting out and experiencing the real thing.

Over the years, I’ve collected railroad photographs and video footage from a variety of locations, including some of my favorite railroads and railfanning destinations.

On Mike O’Neill Trains, you’ll find videos featuring:

• Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad – Steam locomotives working through the spectacular scenery of Colorado and New Mexico, including the famous 4% grades.
• Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad – Chasing and photographing historic steam locomotives through the Colorado mountains.
• BNSF Railway – Freight operations, coal trains, and railroad dispatching.
• Amtrak and Metrolink – Passenger railroading, including footage from Fullerton, California.
• Historic Railroad Memories – Railroad footage and photographs from years past, preserving scenes and experiences worth remembering.

Some videos feature complete railroad adventures, while others capture individual moments that make railfanning so enjoyable.

JMRI OperationsPro – Bringing Model Railroad Operations to Life

One of the primary educational focuses of the channel is JMRI OperationsPro, a powerful tool for managing realistic model railroad operations.

I’ve spent considerable time working with JMRI OperationsPro and enjoy helping other model railroaders understand how to use its many capabilities.

My tutorials explain not only how to configure the software but also why particular features are useful and how they apply to real operating sessions.

Topics include freight car rosters, locations and industries, custom schedules, car forwarding, train building, kernels, blocking order, buffer cars, and more.

My goal is to make JMRI OperationsPro approachable for beginners while also exploring advanced features that experienced operators can use to improve their railroads.

I’m also developing a structured, eight-episode training series that will take viewers through creating a fictional railroad in JMRI OperationsPro, from the initial setup to running complete operating sessions.

Building and Operating My HO Scale Model Railroad

Another important part of the channel is documenting the construction and operation of my HO scale model railroad.

Building a model railroad involves much more than laying track and running trains. There’s planning, benchwork, wiring, scenery, industries, yards, and the challenge of creating a railroad that operates realistically.

Through videos and project updates, I’ll share the construction process, lessons learned, and the decisions involved in developing the layout.

I also plan to demonstrate how JMRI OperationsPro can be incorporated into model railroad operations to create realistic freight movements and operating sessions.

Railroad Dispatching – A Different Perspective

Most railroad enthusiasts enjoy watching trains from trackside, but there’s another fascinating side to railroad operations: dispatching.

The channel features railroad dispatching demonstrations, including sessions involving Mark Herrick’s BNSF Montana Division and Don Irace’s Providence & Worcester model railroad.

These videos provide a different perspective on railroad operations, showing how train movements are coordinated, how traffic is managed, and how dispatching decisions affect the operation of a railroad.

It’s an interesting combination of railroad knowledge, technology, and operating strategy.

Videos, Shorts, and Tutorials

Mike O’Neill Trains features several types of content.

Full-length videos provide railroad adventures, detailed demonstrations, and educational material.

YouTube Shorts highlight memorable moments, interesting railroad action, and quick tips from longer videos.

JMRI OperationsPro tutorials provide step-by-step instruction for model railroaders interested in improving their operating sessions.

As the channel grows, I’ll continue adding new videos, revisiting railroad footage from my archives, and developing additional training materials.

Join Me on Mike O’Neill Trains!

If you enjoy steam locomotives, freight trains, passenger railroading, model railroads, or learning more about realistic railroad operations, I invite you to visit my channel.

Visit Mike O’Neill Trains on YouTube

If you enjoy the content, please consider subscribing and enabling notifications so you’ll know when new videos are released.

I also encourage viewers to leave comments, ask questions, and share their own railroad experiences. One of the best parts of this hobby is connecting with people who share the same interests.

You can also follow Mike O’Neill Trains on Facebook for railroad photographs, railfanning memories, model railroading updates, and additional content.

Thanks for Coming Along for the Ride!

Starting this YouTube channel has given me an opportunity to combine several things I enjoy: railroads, technology, teaching, photography, and sharing experiences with others.

I have plenty of railroad footage to share, new model railroad projects underway, and many more JMRI OperationsPro topics to explore.

I hope you’ll join me as the channel continues to grow.

Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you along the rails!

— Mike O’Neill