Model Railroad Podcast

Model Railcast Show #86
Wed, Nov 18, 2009
Posted by: Ryan Andersen

Modelrailcast Show#86 - Selective Compression
- with Guests Dave Ramos and Ralph Heiss.


Intro

a. Updates (and thanks to Phillipa Ballantine for a new intro)

b. RPO- listener feedback

8:37-9:30 Sponsor Roll-call and Pioneer thanks


Roundhouse Part 1: Introductory Thoughts on Selective Compression
9:31-26:25

a. Ralph’s Lehigh Valley

b. Dave’s Highline

d. Tim's PRR/Strasburg RR Interchange.

 

Planning, Compromises, and Getting Started 26:26-42:10

a. How Ralph and Dave approached the planning.

b. Getting the look and feel.

c. Looking into what we should avoid.

 

Other Key Points 42:11-51:54

a. Functionality and Prototype- Good Compromises lead to better operations.

b. If possible avoid too much compression on interchanges, curves…


Branchline Rewind:

 

  • The Erie Triplex Locomotive (remastered) 51:55-58:50

 


Roundhouse Part 2: The Theory Applied 58:51-1:08:42

a. What to avoid continued- short passing sidings, a train spanning two towns...

b. Looking at compressing Woodbury NJ

c. Establish what should be modeled, find out what the traffic
and freight is, and in this case what each leg of the wye at Woodbury
does, perhaps one leg can be a simple stub end yard.


Wye Compression continued, Other applications of Compression
1:08:43-1:17:48

a. take care with radius

b. Other options, keep in mind the space required.

c. Examples from other layouts, some pros and cons of hidden track


Final Thoughts and Examples 1:17:49-1:26:08


Show Wrap 1:26:09-1:29:32

 

Length: 1.5 hours

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Commentsshow votes
Posted by: alkemscalemodels MRCS Pioneer on Thu, Nov 19 2009     www.alkemscalemodels.com
I recently had a discussion on my model railroad blog about selective compression when building the Potomac Creek bridge.

Here is a link Potomac Creek Selective Compression

My comment about the rivet counters was actually just an expression of amusement. I agree that the RPM is rivet counters nirvana. The one time I went to RPM at Napeirville I must admit I found most of the clinics tedious. But if you really must know the intricacies of brake rigging on Sante Fe reefer cars from 1920 to 1935, then the RPM is for you. Fortunately there is a decent bar at the hotel and usually you can find one or two comrades to join you over a brewski.

Having said that, I plan to go to the RPM at Cocoa Beach this winter. But Florida in January has its own charms.
Posted by: markpierce MRCS Pioneer on Thu, Nov 19 2009    
Thanks for another thought-provoking show.

However, I did find the "foreground" sound effects on the Triplex story to be an irratation and required me to strain to comprehend the narration. The effects would be OK if done during short narration pauses, but not when they step on the story. Easy on the sound effects, please.
Mark
Posted by: Ironsiderodger MRCS Pioneer on Thu, Nov 19 2009     www.ironsaddcasts.mypodcast.com
Ah ye olde Triplex piece- yeah that was actually an old BL that I tried to clear up the other night- it sounds a bit clearer in 128k, but admittedly it was flawed simply because it was the first one that I had attempted sound (about a year ago); by the release of the previous piece on the PA series (Show #83) I had that figured out... unless people were holding back criticism on the PA piece.
Posted by: Gil Janus MRCS Pioneer on Thu, Nov 19 2009    
Another good show. Selective compression is a very important part of the design and then operating phase of a model railroad (as you folks said). I'm modeling a terminal/switching railroad, so I don't need to worry about the 2 town problem, in fact one has to limit the length of car cuts to ensure they will fit in the destination spur/yard track.

To me, it is important to get the feel of the prototype right - so that folks looking at the plan or the model when it is built - can say, hey, that looks like ...

Large industrial buildings are important too - like Craig said. Less industries, but ones that look like they could really use rail service. On my new layout, the first shelf will be 44" x 18" - it will have just one industry (a marine supply company) comprising 4-buildings, plus 2nd and 3rd floor connections over tracks and driveways between buildings.

Thanks once again - the Erie Triplex piece was interesting, but it's another one of those things I'll never use - but hey you can learn all sorts of stuff from things like that.

Keep up the good work. The summaries in audio are not really needed - just add them to the show notes.

Gil, or am I Bill today ...
Posted by: LVRRMAN on Thu, Nov 19 2009    
"Large industrial buildings are important too - like Craig said"

Really? How did Craig sneak in on this discussion? Boy, we gotta fix that!

RAH
Posted by: Gil Janus MRCS Pioneer on Thu, Nov 19 2009    
Dave not Craig.

Sorry folks.

Bill who is usually dumber than Gil ...
Posted by: LVRRMAN on Fri, Nov 20 2009    
Tim (and everyone else) -

This is the link I was trying to remember while we were doing the show

This is a PERFECT example of selective compression
Posted by: CVSNE MRCS Pioneer on Sat, Nov 21 2009     snery.com
Ralph mentioned my old friend Keith Jordan's San Diego layout in his basement. That railroad is now gone, and Keith is replacing it with a railroad also based on the Surf Line, this time a citrus-hauling theme railroad.

Keith hosted one of the first stand-alone (actually, I think it was the second - the first independent RPM meet was at the RPI club in Troy, NY) prototype modelers meets (we didn't call them "RPM" at the time) in Springfield Va. back in 1986 or 87.

Marty
Posted by: Skipper MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Nov 23 2009    
Another great show, loved the bloopers!
Posted by: mr_mike_m MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Nov 23 2009    
Forget about selective compression, and just come over to the "dark side" - N-Scale!

I am a convert from HO, and what you can do in the same space is amazing. Yes, you CAN operate in N-Scale too...
Posted by: Ironsiderodger MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Nov 23 2009     www.ironsaddcasts.mypodcast.com
I tell ya Mike, when the kids are grown I must just be a convert.

Skipps! Glad you like the little "easter-egg"!
 
 
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