Model Railroad Podcast

  





hosted by: Ryan Andersen & Will Ayerst
Model Railcast Show #27
Sun, Aug 24, 2008
Posted by: Ryan Andersen

MRC Show # 27 Notes

  • Yard Office: An update of our own projects at ModelRailCast and what's going on with the site.
  • Tim's Chuckle Coupler
  • Roundhouse:  Part 2 out of 3 of our Wiring and Electronics Roundhouse discussion
  • TYRTH: 1925 - next week: 1846
  • Interchange & Outro: Our 'links of the week' summarised here for you!

Download the enhanced (better sounding) version of the show with chapters:  MRC Show 27 (AAC)

 

MRC Show #27 Notes

----New Format-----

Yard Office
To mention: - Feedback on website, voicemail, uk railways (see below), new mrc motto giveaway, new show format test

Mini-Segment - Optional
Tim's segment, etc. etc.

Roundhouse
Will talks about cab wiring
isolation blocks
plug interfaces
remote control

Introduction to DCC wiring by Ryan
Bus wires
feeders
dpdt switch for programming tracks
hot spots

Next segment:
frogs, point motors, lights for shorts, etc.

Mini Segment - This Random Year in History 1925

  • October 22 – Central of New Jersey 1000, the first commercial Diesel-Electric locomotive, enters service at the Bronx Terminal Yard.
  • October - Sir Henry Fowler succeeds George Hughes as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
  • December 15 – Long Island Rail Road 401, the first diesel-electric locomotive used in mainline service, is demonstrated for the first time.
  • The New York Central Railroad establishes a new subsidiary, the Eastern Refrigerator Despatch. Operation of the ERD, along with its 2,100 reefers, is quickly absorbed by Merchants Despatch.
  • Douglas - The Cincinnati, Lebanon and Northern Railway, Cleveland, Akron and Cincinnati Railway, Manufacturers Railway, Pennsylvania-Detroit Railroad and Toledo, Columbus and Ohio River Railroad merged into the Pennsylvania, Ohio and Detroit Railroad December 10, 1925.
  • Duncan - Southern Pacific completed its 2 mile long tunnel underneath Donner Pass, designated Tunnel No. 41, and completed the double-tracking of the route over Donner Pass, relieving a big bottleneck in moving trains from California to the east.

Departure Tracks
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Extra Notes
Rail transport in the UK as it stands, standard rail weight is 113lb/ft, recently adopted 125lb/ft by Railtrack UK. One interesting physical plant difference is Bullhead rail - which was the same on the top and bottom and was secured with metal springs called 'keys' between the chairs and the grooves in the side of the rail. This was intended to be reversible, but the bottom surface would wear against the sleepers anyway.

Regarding loading gauges:
British loading gauge is 9 ft (2743 mm) wide by 11 ft (3353 mm) high on the sides, rising to a 13 ft 6 in (4115 mm) centre.
American AAR Plate B allows cars 15 ft 1 in (4597 mm) high and 10 ft 8 in (3251 mm) wide

Regarding locomotives:
Originally UK-built, in Types 1,2,3,4 and 5 (equivalent to switcher (350hp!), road switcher and three levels of road engine) built with either Brush Traction (UK) or Sulzer (swiss) engines. 
These days by far the most prolific loco is the Class 66 AKA 'The Shed' - 3000hp, 66,000lb/ft continuous tractive effort at 16mph and weighing in at 130 tons and 65 feet in length. C-C i.e SD , but not given that name!

Regarding freight in general:
One could argue british politics until blue in the face, but the general gist is that manufacturing and industry in the UK plummeted in the 70's and so the only real freight remaining are unit trains - be they oil, coal, stone, intermodal containers or cement hauled by Class 66 locos. There is no local or business freight to speak of - not that that was ever very 'big'!
comments(5) • agreeboasted(0) • no waytoasted(0) • Listen
 
 
Commentsshow votes
Posted by: Ironsiderodger MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Aug 25 2008     www.ironsaddcasts.mypodcast.com
I jumped in late, but you guys had such a solid show already going on and you kept it that way, it was great to have Will back- and hopefully for those who still use DC and plan on staying there it was helpful too; it sure was to me. Ryan, great job editing- it reminded me I need to behave a little more and be a bit less hyper ;-).

My aplogies for that scratchy shreeky rock piece used as my open for the "chuckle coupler" segment, I should have fixed that volume before I sent it to Ryan.

Also I just had to give props to the DD1- I mentioned how PRR didn't see long term potential in it, but that was academic at best because it was a solid piece that remained in service for an admirable length of time.
Posted by: jimsmodeltrains on Wed, Aug 27 2008     www.stanfordhosting.net/jimsjunction
Great show, guys. The info on the GG1 was awesome. Wow, what a loco!

I'm not too sure about the new format. It doesn't appeal to me quite as much as the previous format (can't really identify why), but the information you put into the show carries it along regardless of the change of format. Great effort.
Posted by: tcoiler MRCS Pioneer on Wed, Aug 27 2008     http://www.pupman.com
Hi guys.

Thanks for playing my voice mail! I'll have to watch the "um"'s better next time.

I wanted to offer a correction on the weight of rails. The weight is lbs/yard, not per foot. I have two sections of rail that are about 1 foot long each. They were little ends left over from when BN put in a welded rail mainline. I think it's from 135 lb rail. The height of the rail from top to bottom is between 8-10 inches and they make great anvils. I know for a fact that they do not weigh 135 lbs. It's more like 40 lbs, which would correspond with my estimated rail weight.

Keep up the good work. It's always great to listen to your shows.

Chip
Posted by: Engine72 MRCS Supporter on Wed, Aug 27 2008    
Great show guys, I like the 4 of you new format. Been so busy between work and just being outside got behind in listening to your show.

I think the Chuckle Coupler segment should be called "Oh S*&$ do not let my wife find out!" or "Been there, Done that, and knowing me it will probably happen again." I have also made a purchase on Evil Bay and have gotten stuck with total crap. Live and learn, now a days I go to my Hobby Shop and buy it on the spot or order it from him, and the cost is usually a little cheaper.

Amtrak is great if you don't mind long trips. Unfortunetly here freight consists take precidence over passenger consists. Unless you go to a tourist RR.

Good Show,

Todd
Posted by: Douglas on Fri, Aug 29 2008    
1846 Year In Trains
The Pennsylvania Railroad was chartered.
And the Gauge Act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom rules that new railways in Great Britain should be built to standard gauge unless otherwise authorized.

I'm still enjoying the current Roundhouse piece. Keep up the good work.

Douglas
 
 
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