Model Railroad Podcast

  





hosted by: Ryan Andersen & Will Ayerst
Model Rail Cast #16
Wed, Jun 11, 2008
Posted by: Ryan Andersen

Notes for Show #16

Crew Lounge
Sweet Sixteen unveiled, ATSF modules/decals and more LMRR.

Railway Postoffice
Thanks to all who have commented!

Round House
Lone-wolf operating - or "how to play with yourself"

Coaling Tower
Model Railroader's "Dream Plan Build Video" DVD.

Archives
EMD model numbers and naming schemes - what it all means.

Branch Line
This Random Year in History: 1969

Interchange Tracks

 

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 enhanced (AAC) version of the show for iPod and iPhones, with chapters: MRC Show 16

 
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Posted by: Jay Smith on Wed, Jun 11 2008     neclayout.webs.com
Another great show, love the Sweet 16 Project!

Would love to be on the show again, even though I had a small cameo in this one! Just drop me a line.

For the random year in history,
The first segment of the Pennsylvania Railroad, from Lewiston, Pennsylvania to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, opens for service.

Keep up the great work, love the 2 hour show!

R.I.P(ieces) Black River Sub :(
Posted by: sajay on Wed, Jun 11 2008     bs-and-t.com
I've only listened to a bit of #16 so far, but I thought I should send an update.

My thumb is still there, but it is stitched up pretty good. The stitches come out this weekend.

I was trying to get some outdoor projects finished up so I could start on the garden layout. As a result everything is put on hold for a few weeks. I'm going to try to get some one-handed work done on the BS&T while I'm waiting.

Scott
Posted by: Ironsiderodger on Wed, Jun 11 2008    
Holy cow- awesome show guys, you did not dissapoint. Out of the gate it was obvious it was a special show- and I was nearly depressed when it was over- two hours flew! The wealth of information was absolutely perfect, the lone wolf stuff was fantastic! The breakdown of EMDs, while familiar to me, was none-the-less fresh and well hashed out. I'll put a quick plug in for steam- I noticed Will referred to a mikado steamer maxing out at 3000 hp, but I thought it noteworthy to mention that a PRR T-1 Steamer (4-4-4-4) out-performed a 5400hp diesel consist at all speeds over 26mph, and that the overall steam champ in horsepower was the PRR Q-2 (4-4-6-4... yes that was a 6 in there) which put out 7,987 hp- I believe yet to be equaled by a single diesel locomotive. Now of course, a diesel has all or much of its hp ready when you turn the key, now we have technology and ac traction motors- but one might wonder what the modern steam engine would be like had Railroads continued the use.

And yes, feel free to call me Tim guys! The Ironsiderodger handle is a tribute to my alleged multi-great grand father Commodore John Rodgers who, for a short time, commanded the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides).

Lastly, again great show- and Ryan, I would be honored and delighted to draw up a diesel and donate it for the MRC cause- Will, is your vote for an F unit? ;-)
Posted by: RobHinkle on Wed, Jun 11 2008     rdglebanonvalley.wordpress.com
Another great show as always.

The Dream Plan Build stuff is a mixed bag, a lot of the segments for the DVD's come from the PBS program Tracks Ahead so if you've seen them on that program there's nothing new there. The tips and such are usually well done, and there have been a couple of special topic DVD's that I've gotten. One was a Operations one (Ryan that's the one I lent to you) and the other was all about DCC. I've kept some of them and sent others back and there's usually one that shows up at my location every third month or so.
Posted by: kiwi64ajs on Wed, Jun 11 2008    
Hi Guys, I just finished listening to podcast #16 which was cool – thanks.

I had no idea the model numbers for locos were so complicated or contained so much information and history. But it was sure good to find out more about how the numbers came about. Also I really enjoyed the segments on operating and the radio driver/dispatcher skits as this is something I’m looking into. I think I need to get those Joe Fugate DVD’s.

I picked up on the JMRI comments and the reference to someone who was a JMRI developer which was probably to me so here are a few comments about some of the JMRI issues raised:

1) JMRI is a single code-base that has several different faces, but the main ones are DecoderPro and PanelPro. However underneath they are all the same code and can do the same things except the menus are arranged differently and they have separate configuration settings files. If you dig around the menus in both you will find they pretty much expose the same features but they just make some things like programming decoders or displaying panels more obvious in each one.

2) PanelPro does have the capability of controlling turnouts, signals etc on your layout by clicking on the items in the PanelPro displays so it is more than just an electronic magnet board as such. The features it supports are system dependant and it should be noted that JMRI does support some non-DCC systems for layout operations. Probably the most well known non-DCC system is the C/MRI system but there are others.

There’s more here: http://jmri.sourceforge.net/help/en/html/apps/PanelPro/PanelPro.shtml

While PanelPro can control stuff on layouts and you can write your own Jython control scripts etc it does not yet have the automated running capabilities of the TrainController you mentioned. Some of the developers are working on adding the ability for PanelPro to track the movements of trains on the layout so we can begin to do some of the things TrainController can do but we are a ways off yet.

One significant thing that PanelPro does do is provide a way to integrate block detection, turnout positions to then drive signals and implements ABS Signalling. In JMRI this is called Simple Signalling Logic (SSL).

There is more info here:
http://jmri.sourceforge.net/apps/Signalling/

3) In terms of remote dispatcher operation this is currently supported and people use it for that, but it is really only supported by the LocoNet based systems. We have developed two different TCP/IP Network interfaces into LocoNet but if you want to do remote access then you want to use the LocoNetOverTCP LbServer option.

There is more information here: http://jmri.sourceforge.net/help/en/html/hardware/loconet/LocoNetworking.shtml

4) There are a number of JMRI clinics available for download from here:
http://jmri.sourceforge.net/community/clinics/ and we are hoping to have Joe Fugate video some (4 I think) of the JMRI Clinics at the NMRA 2008 Anaheim Convention and make those available on DVD.

Hope that helps.

Regards

Alex Shepherd
Posted by: dbrent on Wed, Jun 11 2008    
Ryan & Will,
Another top notch effort! I especially enjoyed Will's summary of EMD numbering. I have to say right off, I'm not a big diesel fan (except for those beautiful F units) but this actually made me want to learn more about their history and development. Looking forward to GE and ALCO summaries in the weeks to come...
Don
Phoenix, AZ
Posted by: jimsmodeltrains on Wed, Jun 11 2008     www.stanfordhosting.net/jimsjunction
Enjoyed the show. The English language is running out of possible words to describe the show - is there any word more 'awesome' than 'awesome'? Insert that word [here] to describe show 16.

It was interesting what you said about operating a model railroad by yourself. I find I enjoy operating by myself and I use similar ideas to what you described to make operating more interesting, although I personally prefer multi operator sessions. Just my 2c worth.

The EMD stuff was interesting and informative too. I have heard that the SD's were better at low speeds as the power was distributed over 6 instead of 4 axles meaning the traction motors were less likely to burn out under heavy low speed load on an SD than it might on a GP with the same horsepower and load.

A few shows back (can't remember which one!) you mentioned videos of model railroading. And recently you covered yard operation. I have a few videos on YouTube showing how the yard on my layout is operated, if anyone's interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSpcJdyii_M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BknTmcppMa8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HQIXuqV8s8

Keep up the good work.
Looking forward to the next show.
Posted by: sajay on Thu, Jun 12 2008     bs-and-t.com
Great videos Jim! I'm going to have a look at your other ones and more of your web site too! Love the header - with the CP tuscan & grey loco!
Posted by: Engine72 on Thu, Jun 12 2008    
Ryan & Will,

Great Show once again.

I do like the operations side of railroading other wise to me it becomes just a train running around the christmas tree.
Also the segment on EMD diesel classification really useful.

I have been getting those MRR Videos now since they started the program and some are interesting others got me scratchn my head wondering why would you do that. For example the last one I recieved was over a hour long on how to paint back drops. It was shipped right back the next day. But they do come out with some good ones, I have kept the Railroads and Steel along with the Coal videos. Those were all right and usefull.

Once again great show and good luck in the future.

Todd S Siddle
Posted by: dmcree on Thu, Jun 12 2008     www.tamvalleyrr.com
A big steam whistle for the sweet 16 show!

This Random Year in Railroad History, 1849, was of great significance to railroads in the Western United States in an indirect, but highly significant way. It is the year that the California Gold Rush really got going. Before the “49’ers” arrived, California had a population of about 15,000. In 1849, it is estimated that 90,000 miners and merchants arrived to seek their fortunes in the California gold fields. Several of these merchants went on in 1861 to found the Central Pacific company which on to build the western half of the transcontinental railroad. To give you an idea of how difficult the journey was in those days before the railroad was built, the ship that Mark Hopkins, one of the founders of the Central Pacific, arrived on, the Pacific, left New York on Jan 22, 1849 and didn’t arrive in San Francisco until Aug. 5. Hopkins and the three other merchants of the “Big Four”, Stanford, Hungtinton and Crocker, all made fortunes selling supplies to the 49’ers at a great profit. These profits allowed them to put up the bonds necessary to secure the rights from the US government for the western half of the transcontinental railroad. One wonders if the Gold Rush hadn’t happened if the first transcontinental railroad would have terminated in California. For one California might not have become a state and might still have belonged to Mexico in 1861. It seems likely that somewhere in Oregon or Washington would have been the terminus.

Cheers,
Duncan
Posted by: Ryman on Fri, Jun 13 2008     www.modelrailcast.com/
So do we REALLY only have 9 Model Rail Cast supporters? I only see 9 mug shots. We have over 400 downloads, but we have 9 mugs, really 7 (minus me and Will). :o)

Reply to this post (if you want) in the Forums under General.
-=Ryan
Posted by: dbrent on Fri, Jun 13 2008    
If you really want to improve the aesthetics of the website, have Vicky post her pic...I'm not going to call it a "mug" in her case.

It would be nice to put a face to the voice.

Don
Posted by: Douglas on Sat, Jun 14 2008    
Sweet. Another great show guys. The model numbers and naming schemes was very informative. I love learning about that stuff.
Ironsiderodger drawing is amazing. I want to put a bunch of pictures and artwork of trains above the backdrop of my layout. And I think Ironsiderodger's artwork would look pretty sweet printed out on my printer and put behind a picture frame. What do you think Jim?
Keep up the great work. And keep rocking the model rail scene.
Douglas


Quick Train Facts For 1849

The governments of India and England form the first agreements to provide land grants to English companies for railroad construction in India.

Robert Stephenson's High Level Bridge for the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway at Newcastle upon Tyne, England is opened permanently for rail traffic.

The Scioto and Hocking Valley Railroad (which eventually became the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad) is chartered in Ohio to build a railroad from Portsmouth through Piketon and Chillicothe to Lancaster.
Posted by: zonie on Mon, Jun 16 2008    
Thumbs WAY UP ! #15 and #16 were terrific, #15 surprised me by the number of times that I laughed. Pretty funny podcast guys.

http://www.nevadanorthernrailway.net/images/105_109.jpg

Will, here is your Alco-haulic. I believe you can rent it for the day. I lived in Ely for a few years, interesting shortline.

http://www.yosemitevalleyrr.com/

Jack Burgess is a nut for accuracy, his layout is supposed to be exactly as it was on that date in 1939 (I think...).

Will, N Scale is TWEEZER Scale ! Way too small for my 47 years old eyes ! I have a indoor layout under construction, 5' by 5', in 1/2 inch scale (otherwise known as Gn15).

1849: The Jenny Lind with a 100psi boiler was introduced.

Anyway, thanks again for a terrific podcast.

Wayde
 
 
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