Model Railroad Podcast

Model Railcast Show #98
Sun, Feb 28, 2010
Posted by: Tim Harrison

Show #98 - Railroading in the 90's with Jay Smith

My apologies, my recording situation was very noisy, I couldn't get to a quiet place; I have done the best I can to edit it out.

Yard Office 0:00-12:26
 

  • Updates
  • RPO
  • Sponsor Roll Call

 
Roundhouse 12:27-46:35
 
The Setting of the 90's 14:28-21:24
 

  • Conrail and Mergers
  • Amtrak and its state Railroads
  • keeping up with Maintenance

Motive Power 21:25-25:25
 

  • Changes since the 80's
  • GE vs EMD
  • Some of the advances
  • Flexibility of usage varies between Class 1, 2, and 3.

 
Rolling Stock 25:26-28:43
 

  • Old rolling stock all but gone
  • increased size for freight cars all around
  • Cabooses largely gone, windows plated over.

 
Amtrak's Recovery and Status 28:44-42:46
 

  • Rolling Stock varied
  • Motive Power of the 90's
  • Amtrak paint Phases
  • Continuing Model Production by Atlas

 
Other Factors in modeling the 90's 42:47-46:36
 

  • Structures
  • Cars

 
Branchline Rewind 47:29-1:28:30
From Show #54, Bernie, Marty, Ryan & Tim discuss a Design Matrix.
 

 That's a Wrap
  • Length: 1 hour 8 minutes
  • 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
  • Design Matrix http://www.modelrailcast.com/MrcBlog/Show54.asp

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comments(11) • agreeboasted(0) • no waytoasted(0) • Listen
 
 
Commentsshow votes
Posted by: RL4Sound MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Mar 1 2010    
I'm trying to find a design matrix spreadsheets. I looking to design a new layout. HELP.
Posted by: Ironsiderodger MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Mar 1 2010     www.ironsaddcasts.mypodcast.com
Thanks to Rob- the Design Matrix is up!
Posted by: motrak MRCS Pioneer on Tue, Mar 2 2010     www.motrakmodels.com
It was good to hear Jay again.
Good stuff on Amtrak.....

Keep it up, Tim, you're doing a hell of a job.....

Great stuff!
Posted by: rfbranch MRCS Pioneer on Tue, Mar 2 2010     http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/724
Hi MRC-

"First time long time" Pioneer here and I wanted to commend you on doing a great job Tim. I missed out on commenting on show 97 but I wanted to tell you it's one of the best you've done! A really great listen.

I'm only about halfway through this episode but again a fabulously strong effort!

~rb
Posted by: alkemscalemodels MRCS Pioneer on Tue, Mar 2 2010     www.alkemscalemodels.com
Wow, a blast from the past. Has anyone tried the decision matrix? If so, what did you find out?
Posted by: ricky4208 MRCS Pioneer on Wed, Mar 3 2010     tsmrr.blogspot.com

Nice to hear Jay again after such a long time. And a great show again, by the way. Very interesting stuff as you talked about the period I wanted to model. No passenger or Amtrack for me but it's always good to know new things.

Keep up the great work!

Ricky4208
Posted by: bobcatt MRCS Pioneer on Wed, Mar 3 2010     bobcatts2bits.blogspot.com/
"Has anyone tried the decision matrix? If so, what did you find out?"

Yeah, Bernie, I ran some figures through a similar matrix (from an IT project analysis website) covering five possible scenarios for a home layout. It came up with the winner I expected but the exercise was very useful anyway. It helped to clarify my priorities and 'reduce the fog' created by having multiple choices.
Posted by: holry7778 MRCS Pioneer on Wed, Mar 3 2010     groups.yahoo.com/group/jasons_ttco/
listen often and once you again...Nicely done gentlemen, keeping current is tough!

I thought I say somewhere you were looking for some show ideas...here's my 2 cents...
I understand a lot of MRC staff are east-coasters and so you are well versed on the area but it sure would be nice to hear some stuff on centeral and western railroads and industries from time to time. I'm trying to model the 1910's in the Pacific Northwest, you know; logging, fishing, vacationers, etc. I also live in Iowa and would like to hear about things that happen around these areas. Just a suggestion.

Hope all is well and that Ryan is recovering. Jay, glad to hear you are still at it.

Jason Reis
West Des Moines, Iowa

Planning an HO, NW Pacific Logging line in the 1910's, still!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jasons_TTCo/

Raccoon Valley Railroad Club - Johnston, Iowa
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rvmrrclub/


Posted by: sjconrail MRCS Pioneer on Thu, Mar 4 2010     www.conrailharrisburgline.org/
I think the '90s are going to be our generation's (myself, Tim, Jay, and other sub-40 crowd) transition era. We went from a quite a large number of class Is to only a handful, and the rise of regionals began. Also, from my research for my layout, I've found the 90s to be a transition in rolling stock itself. Jay mentioned the increase in box car sizes, but the intermodal industry saw developments too, Maxi-IV wells for 53' containers, the 53' splines, RoadRailers becoming more prevalent in usage, as did other commodity cars (I've found both hoppers and food-use tank cars got bigger in the late 90s). One thing from a locomotive point of view is the increasing numbers of wide-cabs and the isolation cab with the Dash-8/9s becoming more prevalent as well as the 60M/I and 70/80/90MACs. It was a great show and glad to hear Jay back on. Hopeful to hear Ryan soon,

Phil
Posted by: flyalan MRCS Pioneer on Fri, Mar 5 2010     www.stonesriverrr.com/index.html
Hey guys. Good show even with the sound issues. Great to have Jay back in there again!
A weekly piece on trends and new products would be excellent. I will be sure to send anything I see out to you guys.
Just received Motrak's servo brackets. You might want to do a quick piece on them. They are sweet!

Cheers,
Alan
Posted by: ricky123 MRCS Pioneer on Fri, Mar 5 2010    
Hello All, Good show 'sound wasn't bad'. Welcome back Jay. Also, where's Rayn? May your health improve. Miss your smiling voice and great questions.

Rick D.
 
 
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