Model Railroad Podcast
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Model Railcast Show #61
Tue, Apr 28, 2009
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| Posted by: Ryan Andersen |
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Show #61 - Trains in the Commode Length: 2 hours Show Links Show Sponsors Have an iPod or other Apple brand device? Then subscribe to the AAC feed here |
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Posted by:
darkterritory
 on Tue, Apr 28 2009
www.Housatonicrr.comI take one look at that photo and I know it's going to be an interesting show...
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Posted by:
bobcatt
on Tue, Apr 28 2009
bobcatts2bits.blogspot.com/The image begs so much commentary, it's virtually impossible to choose where to start.
I'd want to add lanyards to the wireless throttles just in case... |
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Posted by:
ChrisNH
on Tue, Apr 28 2009
model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/671I will freely admit that I have not yet listened to the podcast..
But that picture.. wow.. put in a mini-fridge and a small drop down work table and I would never leave the room.. Chris |
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Posted by:
bobcatt
on Tue, Apr 28 2009
bobcatts2bits.blogspot.com/...you forgot the TV/PC screen and a laptop...
...and a microwave oven... |
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Posted by:
ChrisNH
on Tue, Apr 28 2009
model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/671I am kinda surprised the scene isn't of a sawmill.. after all.. it already has the log pond..
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Oh no you didn't, Chris!
That kind of bathroom humor will not be tolerated here! ; ^ ) |
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Posted by:
Kimble
on Tue, Apr 28 2009
web.mac.com/rcarignan/iWeb/Layout/Is that toilet seat a recycled Tangerine iBook?
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Posted by:
Kimble
on Tue, Apr 28 2009
web.mac.com/rcarignan/iWeb/Layout/Is that toilet seat a recycled Tangerine iBook?
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Posted by:
darkterritory
on Tue, Apr 28 2009
www.Housatonicrr.comNot to get off topic, but I thought I'd bring up something important about metal wheelsets the guys missed. In the community at large there is a rule of conventional wisdom that says metal wheelsets help keep your track cleaner than plastic wheelsets. For some reason, the plastic wheels tend to accumulate dirt and gunk on the wheel treads, and often re-deposit it back on the rails, compromising electrical contact. The crud can also build up so much on the wheel tread that it compromises the flanges and wheels can simply walk off the top and derail. I've seen this happen.
No one really knows for sure why the plastic wheels do this. The theory I think makes most sense is that the plastic maintains a slight static electrical charge from the current in the rails and the rubbing on the surface of the track, which attracts the crud. The metal wheelsets are better conductors and don't hold a charge so they don't get dirty as quickly. Finally, because the metal wheels don't get as dirty as quickly, you don't have to clean the wheels as often, if at all. So there are some very good reasons for replacing those plastic wheelsets besides the weight! And just for Bernie - Dooty! There, inappropriate bathroom humor content. |
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Posted by:
bobcatt
on Tue, Apr 28 2009
bobcatts2bits.blogspot.com/The last few episodes have been especially interesting. Locomotive maintenance, new animation & signal products, engine terminal design & operation, DCC & computer control, etc. All really good stuff (I realise that I'm in the minority as a techno-geek).
Thanks for the ongoing inspiration and information! |
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Posted by:
dmcree
on Tue, Apr 28 2009
www.tamvalleyrr.comI have staging in my master bathroom. Some of us have wonderful understanding W-I-F-E's :-)
I really enjoyed the "Who's on first" remake with the couplers - it was a hoot! However, I do think Ryan is going to have do a show on couplers now to make up for the confusion you guys generated. |
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Where can I find all of the links that are mentioned in the show?
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Posted by:
Ryman
on Wed, Apr 29 2009
www.modelrailcast.com/Show links just added to show notes.
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Posted by:
jfugate
 on Wed, Apr 29 2009
http://siskiyou-railfan.netAnd to think, I've been IN that bathroom ... sort of gives new meaning to "being in the hole ..." or "let me finish the paper work first ..."
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Posted by:
bobcatt
on Wed, Apr 29 2009
bobcatts2bits.blogspot.com/Dare I ask where the rip track is?
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Posted by:
motrak
on Wed, Apr 29 2009
www.stores.ebay.com/motrak-modelsSomeone was talking about N scale wheels during the show. There are a couple of mfg's that makes N scale metal wheels. Atlas, Intermountain and Fox Valley. Fox Valley makes the best metal wheels. I convert all of my rolling stock with metal wheels. It gives them more weight and it helps to keep the track clean like what Craig said. And they just look better than plastic wheels.
Great show guys. Keep it up... |
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Posted by:
alkemscalemodels
on Wed, Apr 29 2009
www.alkemscalemodels.comTo combine two thoughts from the show, using metal wheels is a requirement if you want to use a signaling system. Most model railroad (as well as prototype) signaling systems rely on the wheel sets shorting the two rails. In the model RR application, where a dead short would prevent the locomotives electric motors from functioning, you have to insert a high value resistor across the wheel sets. The resistor allows some current to pass without dropping the voltage too much to make the electric motors inoperative. This can be a big chore if you have a lot of freight cars. Not every axle needs to be so equipped, but at least axle per car is advisable.
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Wow, great topic this week. The product comparisons are invaluable, since that knowledge can only come from experience. Well done guys!
Suggestion for a followup show: how about the various truck styles like roller bearing, Bettendorf, Andrews, archbar... What type for what era, etc. Here goes a long shot: does anyone have ideas on modelling link and pin couplers in HO? Preferably *working* ones for operations? I'm thinking of using magnets shaped like the coupler. Or do you settle for knuckles even if your prototype used link and pin? Ryan, thanks for reviving that clarinet music at the end. Sure brings back fond memories of the early shows. FYI, East Broad Top - http://www.ebtrr.com/ Friends of the East Broad Top - http://www.febt.org/ |
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Posted by:
jbaakko
on Thu, Apr 30 2009
http://rr.blockchoice.com
Mini-fridge... I have a 40 bottle mini-fridge sized wine cooler (like a fridge, just a little warmer), in my layout room... Works great at not getting any work done...
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Posted by:
bobcatt
on Thu, Apr 30 2009
bobcatts2bits.blogspot.com/A "working" link & pin coupling system was done by the author of Narrow Gauge through the Bush in Sn42 which is, because of the era he models, about the same size as standard gauge HO.
The pins are on a weighted lever system underneath the car. Stopping over a magnet would pull one end of the lever arm down, removing the pin from the link. Tension & compression during shunting moves would otherwise keep the cars coupled. Alexander Scale makes HO link & pin castings. The Back Shop makes them in O scale. |
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Hi all,
great show again! Topics are getting more technical and going more and more in depth into all details yet they are absolutely interesting. Just a suggestion: what about reviewing/discussing about most used or available software to keep one's locomotive and rolling stock inventory? Maybe for the Mac as well? I've recently purchased to used but wonderful Intermountain SD-40T-2 and thinking it would be nice to keep an (electronic) inventory with all data about them and future rolling material Bye, Ricky4208. |
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Posted by:
Chuck@LRT
on Thu, Apr 30 2009
www.logicrailtech.comExcellent show this week. Really enjoyed the discussions on Rail Op, couplers, and trucks! I agree that another discussion on inventory software, operating session software, etc would be quite valuable.
Also, Bernie wrote: "In the model RR application, where a dead short would prevent the locomotives electric motors from functioning, you have to insert a high value resistor across the wheel sets. The resistor allows some current to pass without dropping the voltage too much to make the electric motors inoperative. This can be a big chore if you have a lot of freight cars. " Guess who makes resistance wheelsets in HO & N? :) Chuck |
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Posted by:
jbaakko
on Fri, May 1 2009
http://rr.blockchoice.com
Problem...
Athearn/Roundhouse do not come with AccuMates, they come with McHenry. Horizon owns all 3 companies... Kadee have been non-magnetic metal for a long time, McHenry, AccuMate and Kato couplers are plastic. Sergent are non-magnetic metal as well. |
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Posted by:
ChrisNH
on Sat, May 2 2009
model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/671Finally finished.. great show.. I especially liked the discussion of RailOps software. Not something I see myself using but interesting none-the-less.
Chris |
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Posted by:
CVSNE
on Sun, May 3 2009
snery.comThe coupler discussion on the show was interesting but a little difficult to follow since there was a little confusion on the company names and types of couplers.
ACCUMATES are not Kadee knock offs - both the scale sized (called "Proto mates") and Accumates work the same way - they have a "split shank" instead of a sprung knuckle. Accumates are made by Accurail (Bob Walker and Dennis Storzek) and sold under license to various other manufacturers, including Atlas. Kadee and all it's variants - with the exception of the 7XX series of "HOn3" couplers - have sprung knuckles. Someone said Kadee didn't sell it's couplers to other manufacturers - that isn't true. About 10 or 15 years ago every manufacturer knew the old X2f - commonly called the "horn hook" or "NMRA Coupler" - was a joke and set about to find replacements. Several companies, including Intermountain and McHenry developed a reasonable coupler that didn't use the patented Kadee sprung coupler head but instead used an "ear" or plastic whisker designed to serve the same function of allowing the head to pivot. They worked fine in individual tests but when model railroaders started using them on layouts they found a critical flaw - if these couplers were left in a string of cars with any slack (like in a train in staging on a curve or grade) the little ear would take a set - remain open in other words - and hold the knuckle head open and not allow it to sprung closed again. No one was willing to work out a deal to simply buy Kadee couplers - Kadee would sell them - but not OEM only at wholesale - to manufacturers. Can't blame them since they figured the were going to get a wholesale sale for each car sold, whether it was the modeler or manufacturers buying them. Why should they cut their own throats with an OEM price? So, the Intermountain couplers were used on Intermountain assembled cars until early 2002 - the McHenry's, both those produced by McHenry or sold under license to other manufacturers like Red Caboose, Athearn, Bachmann, etc . .. were used on their assembled cars or included in the first runs of P2K (life-Like) kits. Atlas and some other manufacturers started making deals to use Accumates - that must have made Kadee nervous enough to talk since one of the first things I did at Intermountain was to shelf the coupler molds (I used them as paper weights on my desk!) and make a deal to buy Kadee no 5s, 58s, and 78s in bulk . . . you think 100 pairs in a bulk pack is a lot . . . you should see (and try to lift) 10,000 pairs (what we were buying every month - the UPS guy hated that day). So, all Intermountain HO cars and locomotives are equipped from the factory with Kadee couplers. The only exceptions are a few of the Pinnacle series cars which are designed to use Accurail Protomate boxes and couplers since the draft gear is so visible on those cars. Once the patent on the Kadee sprung knuckle expired McHenry made a true "no 5 lookalike" which the spring on the knuckle but with a plastic head. That's the coupler used on current Bachmann and Athearn production. Hope this helps. Marty |
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Steve B. mentioned that there are some photos of his dispatcher's office and its touchscreems on the site. Can someone please post a link?
Thanks, Gary Gealy |
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Posted by:
Ryman
on Tue, May 5 2009
www.modelrailcast.com/ |
| A Model Railroad focused podcast/blog. For railroading beginners and seasoned line veterans. |
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