Model Railroad Podcast

  





hosted by: Ryan Andersen & Will Ayerst
Model Rail Cast #14
Fri, May 23, 2008
Posted by: Ryan Andersen

Show 14  Notes

Crew Lounge

Ryan and Jay discuss updates and Jay's future layout plans.

RPO

Your feedback and Rob C's awesome intro Video! :o)
link to rob's video

Round House with Will and Jay

Part 1: Will's quick review of ConRail
Part 2: Jay and Ryan go into more detail on ConRail History to where it is now.

Coaling Tower with Scott Jay

Part 1: Scott and Ryan discuss details of JMRI's Decoder Pro and touch on Panel Pro.
Decode Pro: http://jmri.sourceforge.net/
Scott Jay's Screen Shots of Decoder Pro: /PhotoGallery/PhotoSetView.asp?r=61
Part 2: available in a future show... more to come later. 

Archives with Rob Hinkle

Part 2 of the Rob Hinkle interview (part 1 is in Show #10), Rob and Ryan 

Branchline

N/A this week.

Interchange Tracks

Jay and Ryan discuss some ConRail related websites for you.
Conrail Cyclopedia: http://crcyc.railfan.net/
Conrail Historical Society: http://thecrhs.org/

 Please don't forget to call 206-202-2395 to leave your comments and let us know that you listen to the show.

Download the enhacned (ACC) version of the show for iPod and iPhones, with chapters: MRC Show 14
comments(11) • agreeboasted(2) • no waytoasted(0) • Listen
 
 
Commentsshow votes
Posted by: jimsmodeltrains on Tue, May 27 2008     www.stanfordhosting.net/jimsjunction
What an episode, well done.
Especially enjoyed all the Conrail history stuff.
Posted by: sajay MRCS Supporter on Tue, May 27 2008     bs-and-t.com
I have posted some DecoderPro screen captures in the DCC section of the Photo Galery.
Posted by: Ironsiderodger MRCS Pioneer on Tue, May 27 2008    
As much as I miss Will, the program didn't seem to skip a beat. Jay filled in just fine- good choice! But every one else who contributed did no less of a fine job- it was great to hear from Scott Jay again, great to hear the rest of the interview with RobH.

Ryan you anchored the show so well, smooth and very confident. As far as I am concerned this show easily maintained that level that I thought you raised the bar to in #13.

Long? Long is GOOD! When I heard it was close to two hours I couldn't have been happier.

PS I love the "ISR" designation- my handle is a bit long (sorry- its a long story)- and ISR is a perfect adaptation.
Posted by: RobHinkle MRCS Pioneer on Tue, May 27 2008     rdglebanonvalley.wordpress.com
Another great and interesting show. The Conrail stuff was interesting, I've been using a lot of Conrail data when I've looked at some of the tracks that the Reading had used since Conrail was using the line after the Reading.

I've never used Panel Pro but I've seen it demonstrated at a clinic before and it seems very easy to use but there is as Scott Jay stated a increased cost of electronics needed to support it.

But if you are looking at having signaling or the like on your layout that's something you should include in your Givens/Druthers and plan for from the start. It's a lot easier to know that you need to leave room to install the occupancy detectors later on than have to go back and fit them in at a later point.
Posted by: sajay MRCS Supporter on Wed, May 28 2008     bs-and-t.com
I just finished show #14 and it was great, as usual. I hope I didn't make DecoderPro sound too complicated. It is not complicated at all. You'll be programming advanced CV's during your first use.

I tried to finda comparison of locomotives from different manufacturers on the internet but didn't come up with much. I own several different brands myself so here is my $0.02 about them.

Bachamnn - I used to think their stuff were poor runners, and I still believe that a lott of them are (older ones anyway). They do have at least 2 levels of quality, so perhaps I was buying the really cheap line. But the Geeps I bought recently are actually quite good and they were very inexpensive. After changing the decoders that came pre-installed they are very good runers. I have two GP35's

Athearn - Great locos for the budget minded although they do require a bit of work to make them reliable. They are noisier than other brands but you can't kill 'em. I've had several over the years, but only have a Baldwin VO1000 now.

BLI - I had a similar experience to Will. I had an M-4 on trial and ended up sending it back. It was a pain to program because of the two separate decoders and it didn't run very well. I sent it back.

Atlas - Great runners, great detail, great haulers (lots of power), fairly quiet. I have a few of these, S-2/4's and an RS-2

Kato - Similar to Atlas. In fact, some older Atlas locos have Kato drives. I have a GP somethingorother

Proto 1000 & 2000 - the 1000 series have a little less detail than the 2000 series, but if you're not too picky then it's hardly noticeable. Very smooth running and very quiet. The ones I have don't seem to pull as well as my Atlas and Kato locos do. I have a couple 1200 switchers, an S-4, GP-7/9's, RS-10's, and an 0-8-0 steamer.

I hope this helps. If anyone else has experience with these or other brands let us know what you think of them.

Scott
Posted by: pinelakerr on Wed, May 28 2008    
Hey guys,
Love the show, long time listener short time member.
I model in HO, my layout is loosely modeled around the logging that used to go on around my area of the greater Seattle area.
Ill post more pictures to my pictures as I go.

Ryan, Im very impressed that you had the guts to start a podcast givien the fact that you are a beginner, keep up the good work.

BTW- how did you get a Seattle area phone number (206)?
Given that is a local area code for me, it threw me off. I saw the area code thought "Cool, I could go over and perhaps have a operating session with him"

Thanks,
Sean
Posted by: dbrent MRCS Pioneer on Thu, May 29 2008    
Another outstanding show. I learned a great deal about ConRail this week. Also you have sold me on DCC! It's definitely a "given" on my upcomming layout.

BTW, I really enjoyed Will's short synopsis of the various Santa Fe liveries awhile back as well. Being out west I'd love to hear more about the Santa Fe (Southern Pacific too).

As far as the video vs. podcasts topic, I really enjoy the videos as an enhancement to the audio shows. I would love to see you guys do some "basic" operations videos, even if it was just on the MRC test track. You guys have really peaked my interest here and one thing I always have a hard time visualizing is how the uncoupling is accomplished. Should you have magnetic uncouplers or just do it by hand? Maybe Will could address that in an upcoming show.

Thanks again for all the work you guys are putting into this.

Don
Posted by: Will MRCS Pioneer on Thu, May 29 2008     www.modelrailcast.com
dbrent, you'll like to hear my update in Show #15 then, regarding the ATSF.
Posted by: Jay Smith MRCS Pioneer on Thu, May 29 2008     neclayout.webs.com
Great show, glad to see the mug shots starting to pour in!
Posted by: MiG-19 on Fri, May 30 2008    
Fantastic show! Jay, it was great hearing all of your ConRail history. The DCC talk was also superb.
When you all talked about the Bed & Breakfast that is built next to the railroad, it reminded me of my days at Officer Candidates School in Quantico (USMC). The Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac (RF&P)) tracks ran about ten feet behind my bunk's head board in the squad bay, and each night the whistle on the RF&P and Amtrack engines blew right next to the squad bay several times during the night. This woke us up the first couple of nights, but we soon learned to sleep right through it! The length of the show is just right, please don't make it any shorter.
Jay, watch out for typhoons, because usually after they hit you they come up and hit us here in Okinawa!
Semper fi,
MiG-19
Posted by: Douglas on Sat, May 31 2008    
Another great show. Good job from the co-hosts. You guys did great. Enjoyed hearing about Conrail and can wait to hear about ATSF. Keep up the great work.

Model Rail Cast - Rocking The Model Railroad Scene Since 2008.

Douglas
 
 
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