Model Railroad Podcast

Model Railcast Show #95
Sun, Jan 24, 2010
Posted by: Ryan Andersen

Show #95 - The Crammed Full of Content Show
with Ryan, Tim, Norm Wolf, Ron Pare & Joe Fugate

 Crew Lounge
  • Tim and Ryan interviewNorm Wolf
  • RPO
  • Special Announcement from Motrak Models
    • also see Motrak Models at the Amherst Train Show (Booth #131 in the Mallary building)

 Round House
  • Part 1 - Rolling Stock and Locomotives of the 70s and 80s
  • Part 2 - Motive Power of the 70s and 80s
 Brach Line
 Interchange
 That's a Wrap
  • Length: 2 hours
  • The Model Railcast Pioneers support this show!  Thanks Guys!
  • Support your model railroad community, sponsor the Model Railcast Show, contact Ryan
    ryan (a-t) modelrailcast.com

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or right-click this link here to download the AAC version of the show.
comments(10) • agreeboasted(2) • no waytoasted(0) • Listen
 
 
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Posted by: Ron_P on Mon, Jan 25 2010     www.modelersguild.com
Thanks Guys, the wife and kids are going to do a flip when they hear this.
Posted by: mscwolf on Mon, Jan 25 2010     www.trainfanatic.blogspot.com
Ditto what Ron said... the wife & girls heard most of it last night and giggled all the while telling me how much a train geek I am... ;o) Thanks for an interesting time Friday nite. Hope it helps someone learn a little more about the era and awakens a desire to model on!
Posted by: Toniwryan MRCS Pioneer on Tue, Jan 26 2010    
Another really nice show guys! We need a link somewhere to Norm's track plan! I followed his link (his name above) and saw his blog entries, but I didn't see his trackplan listed anywhere.
Posted by: stevej MRCS Pioneer on Tue, Jan 26 2010    
Ryan and Tim, Great Interviews!

Norm, Thanks for sharing with us your experience an knowlege in the hobby, Great Listening. You are fortunate not to be alone in your hobby interest, it will only be a dream to have the group you have sharing what they know with you. Please check back in with Ryan and Tim and let us hear how your layout progress is coming along. Thanks Again for your interview.

Ron, Great job on your web site! Ironically I just joined about a week ago. Very addicting. Thank You for sharing this platform of knowlege with us, Keep it going!

Joe, I love the EZine and am so glad to hear things are going good for you! Awesome platform and superior content! You are giving all the paper mags a run for the money. I know they are looking at you everyday and seeing how they can be better. I think they are going to be in for a surprise to see how far in the lead you are with the technology. And on top of all this its FREE! Thanks for giving us all this content now 6 times a year.

Great Show!
Steve
Posted by: ricky4208 MRCS Pioneer on Wed, Jan 27 2010     tsmrr.blogspot.com
Hi all,

for me this was the best show ever! Absolutely great.

I liked the RH with Norm in particular and really looking forward to hearing more about modern era railroads and model railroading. If I can make a suggestion I'd really like to hear more on something focused on west coast railroads.

Keep up the great work.

Thanks,
Ricky4208

BTW it was very nice to find out I was on one of those small pieces of paper ready for the drawing... :)
Posted by: bobcatt MRCS Pioneer on Wed, Jan 27 2010     bobcatts2bits.blogspot.com/
Good show. Thanks Norm for sharing your insights. Ron - you did just fine :-).

Tim, the only functional difference between a mainline diesel (more properly known as a diesel-electric) loco and an 'electric' loco is the source of the electricity for the traction motors in the trucks. The diesel engine turns a generator rather than being physically connected to the axles. Electric traction motors are capable of much higher torque compared to mechanical transmissions. In small, industrial applications there are diesel-mechanical and diesel-hydraulic locos where limitations of horsepower/torque are not an issue.
Posted by: Ironsiderodger MRCS Pioneer on Wed, Jan 27 2010     www.ironsaddcasts.mypodcast.com
Right, but if I'm not mistaken, the diesel is providing a steady 600 Volt to the traction motors, whereas the electric motor is working off of 11,000 volts- although I'm not sure how the transformer breaks this down to the motors themselves. Still, point taken, the torque that a diesel provides is not applicable if there is no direct drive. What I'm trying to figure out though, is why diesels still seem to be able to start a heavy train easier than any other type loco; unless it simply comes down to an everage diesel is going to outweigh the average electric so even if the TE is the same, perhaps the Diesel gets the edge in adhesion rates.
This would also be a huge factor (adhesion) that say, a Y-6b would bring to the table if upgraded with today's technology- since four F-7's couldn't better it.
Posted by: mscwolf on Wed, Jan 27 2010     www.trainfanatic.blogspot.com
Thanks for your kind words... As requested, I posted my track plan on the forum... will put in the gallery too and I'll attach the gallery photo here.

Posted by: bobcatt MRCS Pioneer on Wed, Jan 27 2010     bobcatts2bits.blogspot.com/
Each electrical delivery system has/had their own voltage level. Some at 600V, some 1500, some several thousand. In a DC system, the losses incurred in the catenary or 3rd rail (especially at the lower voltages) could be a real problem in situating substations to deal with load demands. AC traction motors didn't really come into their own until late last century so even if it was AC on the wire, the voltage was rectified to DC in the loco before delivery to the trucks.

To increase traction, many electrics had ballast weights in the body. The transformers alone can weigh several tonnes...

These days, adhesion is going to be improved by detecting wheel slip at the railhead and redirecting current flow appropriately - whether diesel or electric.
Posted by: alkemscalemodels MRCS Pioneer on Wed, Jan 27 2010     www.alkemscalemodels.com
and steam too!
 
 
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