Model Railroad Podcast

  





hosted by: Ryan Andersen & Will Ayerst
Model Railcast Show #25
Sun, Aug 10, 2008
Posted by: Ryan Andersen

MRC Show # 25 Notes

  • Crew Lounge: An update of our own projects at ModelRailCast and what's going on with the main site.
  • Roundhouse:  Helper locomotives and their usage.
  • Coaling Tower: Conrail Color Guide to Freight Equipment
  • TYRTH: 1896
  • Branch Line: A comparison with steam, diesel and electric by ISR.
  • Interchange: Our 'links of the week' summarised here for you!

Download the enhanced (better sounding) version of the show with chapters:  MRC Show 25 (AAC)

Crew Lounge
Will's DCC stuff arrived safely, Ryan speaks about bringing his LMRR forward to the 20th century, and we announce the closure of one giveaway but the introduction of a newer one!

Railway Post Office
Feedback and updates from all of our listeners! And of course, a new segment 'Rail Hobby News'.

Roundhouse
We discuss origins and usage of helper locomotives through the ages, how they worked and why they were used. We also touch on how this can be applied to your model railroads.

Coaling Tower
Jay reviews the Conrail Color Guide to Freight Equipment by Larry DeYoung (2000) and we discuss it's usage for the modern modeller.

Branch Line
IronsideRodger compares Steam to Diesel to Electric locomotives in his latest branch line piece. If you would like to submit something for the branchline, please feel free to email us!

This Random Year in Train History
1902 was the year picked by the random number generator for this week - next week is 1896!

Interchange

Download the enhanced (better sounding) version of the show with chapters:  MRC Show 25 (AAC)
 

 
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Posted by: Ironsiderodger MRCS Pioneer on Tue, Aug 12 2008     www.ironsaddcasts.mypodcast.com
I had trouble actually downloading this on my computer- but this could have been me; in any case I had to save it as a desk top shortcut, then use Switch (a shareware product) to convert it into a wma.

Guys- as per usual- another great show! The roundhouse was very imformative, helper engines, while not an unknown concept for me was still an unfamiliar area. Jay great job again, guys I really like the three person set-up here it rounds the show out very nicely. Ryan that sound effect editting for the crash was spookily effective for me.

Will, I'd be curious to know a little more about UK freight railroading, how extant is it? Also, I noted you mentioned the UK EMD's that you see, are they GP's or SD's? Or something altogether different- and finally in regards to the smaller loading gauge and overall weight of UK trains what is the typical foot-poundage rail in use?
Posted by: Ryman MRCS Pioneer on Tue, Aug 12 2008     www.modelrailcast.com/
Any one else having issues with the podcast? mp3 or m4a versions?

I did have a hick-up with the Mp3 file last night... so I will recreate it tonight and upload a fresh copy.
-=Ryan
Posted by: dugzowl MRCS Supporter on Thu, Aug 14 2008    
Another great show guys. Thank you for the information on the helper locomotives I always wondered how that worked.
I enjoyed the piece from IronSideRodger. It was good to hear the pros and cons of steam, diesel and electric.
I hope the random number generator said 1907 cause here goes:

1907 Railroad Facts

Santa Fe and Southern Pacific forms Northwestern Pacific, unifying several Southern Pacific and Santa Fe-owned subsidiaries into one jointly owned railroad serving northwestern California.
Posted by: Ryman MRCS Pioneer on Thu, Aug 14 2008     www.modelrailcast.com/
TRYTH is 1902 for this week (Show 26).
Posted by: zonie on Fri, Aug 15 2008    
Regarding 1896, Porter Locomotive Works was the first locomotive builders to provide compressed air locomotives to industrial and mining operation.

On30 scale is a fun scale, in many cases, you can run an On30 railroad in the same space as a HO layout, the structures are bigger of course. Check out the On30Conspiracy group (Yahoo! Groups), check out the kits by Boulder Valley Models and International Hobbies, or just google 'On30'.

I was modeling in On30 for roughly ten years, but due to the decline in near vision, I went up to Gn15 (converted some of my On30 stuff to Gn15), and since I prefer link and pin couplings, going with Gn15 was a smart decision.

Once again, great podcast.

Wayde
Posted by: Ryman MRCS Pioneer on Fri, Aug 15 2008     www.modelrailcast.com/
Wayde, those are some nice looking flat cars!



What is the difference between On30 and 15?
Posted by: dmcree MRCS Pioneer on Fri, Aug 15 2008     www.tamvalleyrr.com
Thanks guys for the nice section on helper operations. I really enjoyed that. One thing left out was how the helpers got back to the bottom of the grade. Since this required running the locomotive light and required a crew, it meant that a crew was needed even after remote control locomotives were available. So on some helper districts the railroads experimented with remote control but found that they didn't actually save any labor and the remote controls added a lot of maintenance and broke down leaving trains stranded on grades, so they got rid of them and went back to using a helper crew.

The section on diesel vs. electric vs steam was fascinating. Diesels and electrics both have dynamic braking which is a big advantage on going down mountain grades. Since the most troubles with trains occurred controlling trains going down hills this gave diesels a big advantage over steam in the mountains.
Posted by: Douglas on Fri, Aug 15 2008    
Opps.....

1902 Train Facts
Organized in 1902, the United Railroads combined the Market Street Railway, Sutter Street Railroad, and San Francisco & San Mateo Railroad. The company survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire and a protracted and bitter strike the following year. It continued to operate streetcars in the city and down the San Mateo Peninsula until 1921. In that year, the United Railroads was succeeded in business by a new Market Street Railway.
Posted by: espeemike on Sat, Aug 16 2008     www.mikejobe.blogspot.com/
Well I finally caught up with the pod casts (makes for a great drive time). I must say I have really enjoyed the ride. You all are doing a great job and it is greatly appreciated!

As for 1902,
The El Paso and Southwestern Railroad was chartered on June 6th 1902 consisting of 291 miles of mainline from El Paso Texas to Benson and 40 miles of branchlines. The EP&SW was later to become controlled by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1924, finally merging with the SP in 1961.

Also, On May 22nd the Reno Evening Gazette reported a derailment of the "East Bound Flyer" on the Southern Pacific Line. Engine number 2243 jumped the track and buried herself "clear up to the boiler". There were no major injuries but the Fireman, Andy Walker jumped as the locomotive began to careen over spraining his ankle and wrist. Passenger Mrs. J.G. Painter suffered a black eye and her back was somewhat injured. The cause of the accident was not known but it was believed to be a low frog on the switch.
Posted by: jimsmodeltrains on Sat, Aug 16 2008     www.stanfordhosting.net/jimsjunction
Great show. I have finally caught up with the other MRC podcast episodes, after not being able to access the podcasts for a few weeks (Being stuck with Dial up Internet, need I say more!). Keep up the great work. Lookin forward to future shows!
 
 
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