Model Railroad Podcast

  





hosted by: Ryan Andersen & Will Ayerst
Model Railcast Show #39
Sat, Nov 15, 2008
Posted by: Ryan Andersen

MRC Show #39 Notes

Yard Office: An update of our own projects at ModelRailCast and what's going on with MRCS - Helices, Staging tracks, wiring and editing video.

 

Roundhouse:  A chat with Craig Bisgeier's 10 Commandants of Model Railroad Yards.

 

 

Departure Tracks: Our 'links of the week' summarised here for you!

Download the enhanced (better sounding) version of the show with chapters:  MRC Show 39 (AAC) 

 

 
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Posted by: dramos_1701 MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Nov 17 2008     www.nyhrr.com
Great show gents once again!
The plywood bench work is cheap and yes it is difficult to make by yourself. I get a buddy to come by and we cut the strips in about a half an hour. I skin my bench work with a 3/4" plywood skin and then a sheet of Homasote. Remember I'm modeling Urban (FLAT) yards. Yes it's a tank and I can stand on it (and I have) and I'm not a little guy! I had wood that I purchased that was straight and it twisted into hockey sticks over night. The plywood tends to keep its shape and very strong.
You gents talked about switch machines and I have done many different types. I prefer to use Blue Point switch machines. I have Tortoise and Caboose ground throws, for me the Caboose are way too big and the Tortoise switch machines are too expensive you have to add in the cost of the toggles. I use the Blue Points and a run a thick wire to the fascia as an actuator and it’s done. The installation is tricky at first but once you pick it up it goes fast. I put in twenty Blue Points in a single night. Also the Blue Points go for about $6.00 when you buy them in bulk (twenty or more).
The 10 Commandments section was cool! I know Craig thirty years now and it’s nice to see him get credit for his endeavors.
Posted by: markpierce MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Nov 17 2008    
What's up? My earlier message said how much I enjoyed your show, particularly on the discussion of yards, but it doesn't show up. Hope you sort it all out...and now my other message is gone??

The substance of the messages is that the HO-scale plan I'm devloping has no yard unless one counts a run-around track. Trains come pre-assembled from staging. I find servicing industries more interesting than shuffling cars in a yard, and I can't do justice to a yard in a bedroom unless that was the central focus.
Posted by: Ironsiderodger MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Nov 17 2008     www.ironsaddcasts.mypodcast.com
Hey mark- I'll let Ryan know and we'll see if we can remedy that.

btw- thanks so much for the continued support!
Posted by: markpierce MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Nov 17 2008    
Craig's article on yard design is also at the Layout Design SIG Wiki at

http://www.macrodyn.com/ldsig/wiki/index.php?title=Yards--freight_and_passenger

This Wiki has lots more information on layout design (good subjects for future shows?). Your listeners should check it out if they haven't already.
Posted by: wildchild on Tue, Nov 18 2008    
Hey Men,
Great show, Craig Bisgeier's interview on yard planning/operations was fantastic. Up until recently to gain the knowledge of yards conveyed by Craig would have required that you read a heap of books, and magazines. Modern model railroaders have it so good! 1 podcast and you get all that knowledge. Craig's website has it all for you to print out as well. If you have access to old copies of MR they used to have switching puzzles towards the back of the magazine, with solutions a couple of pages later. They were a great way to put the theory of yards into practice, without actually laying track. One thing before I sign off - what happened to the review of Great Model railroads? It would have been interesting to hear what you guys thought was good and what wasn't. The highlight for me was the rocks on the C&O layout!
Thanks again,
Karl.
Posted by: Ironsiderodger MRCS Pioneer on Tue, Nov 18 2008     www.ironsaddcasts.mypodcast.com
OOPS! Hey Karl- I just realized that somehow hit the cutting floor! I'll let Ryan know.
Posted by: ChrisNH MRCS Pioneer on Tue, Nov 18 2008     model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/671
Great show. The format of having a specific series of talking points, in this case the "10 commandments of yard design" on a specific subject that can then be discussed was really well suited to the podcast format. I think you guys should try to find other opportunities to present information in a similar fashion. These were not new to me, but having them discussed by the author in this fashion added some depth.

One of my favorite model railroad books is "The Model Railroader's Guide to Freight Yards" by Andy Sperandeo. Its a really good book. Not only does it have a wealth of information about freight yards, it is very well written and presented making it a good read. I consider this essential reading for anyone designing a layout for operations since freight yards figure so prominently into operations whether you include a yard or not..

Regards,

Chris
Posted by: darkterritory MRCS Pioneer on Tue, Nov 18 2008     www.Housatonicrr.com
Hey Mark

You touched on something I think is important - not every layout needs, or has enough room, to support a full-blown yard. I have visited small railroads where the yard takes up a large part of the layout, but isn't really used - built because the owner thought he had to have a yard. I have also visted many successful layouts that did not have a classification yard and did not suffer for it at all. So I hope no one comes away from our discussion feeling they have to have a classification yard.

That said, as you mentioned without a yard it is very important to have at least one place to run around cars on the railroad. If you can't perform the tasks normally done in the yard somewhere, you end up backing yourself into a corner. Fortunately it's common at middle to large size industries to have a run around built in somewhere, particularly if there are both facing and trailing point switches in the complex.

I would say in your case you have probably made a very good choice in terms of play value.

BTW one other option for a yard on a small railroad is a branchline terminal yard such as David Barrow put on the South Plains District of the Cat Mountain & Santa Fe. No lead or A/D track is necessary because no trains pass by, and usually only one train is active in the area at a time. Therefore the yard can be considerably smaller, which is better for smaller railroads. It does, however, call for a layout design that has a specific ending, what we call a point to point or point to loop plan.
Posted by: Bob Evans on Tue, Nov 18 2008    
Hi Ryan, I haven't posted before but have listened since the beginning. The shows keep getting better and I would like to see the interviews compiled and posted on the Pioneer section to make it easier to go back and listen again. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: markpierce MRCS Pioneer on Tue, Nov 18 2008    
Hi Craig,

Thanks for the input. Actually, the plan's schematic consists of a continuous mainline and a point-to-point branchline.

The mainline consists of four hidden double-ended staging tracks and one visible town. The staging is sufficient for 3 long mainline trains and 2 branchline trains. Visible track consists of the main track, passing siding, a double-ended track for set-outs and pick-ups, a double-ended house track, three single-ended industrial spurs, a turntable lead track, and locomotive supply service spur.

The branch consists of a double switchback with a single-ended passing siding on its main track, and the branchline terminal. The terminal consists of a run-around track (where trains are broken apart and assembled), a double-ended house track, a double-ended industry track, turntable lead, and 3 single-ended industrial tracks. At the edge of town is a mineral processing plant with its private railroad, consisting of a switchback lead and 3 single-ended spurs.

While the mainline town has a turntable, it is used to simulate helper locomotive operations and for use in restaging (at the minimum, branchline trains need to be turned for the next operating session), but not for turning branchline locomotives during the operating session. Branchline trains originate and ultimately return to mainline staging. Branchline trains must traverse the length of the mainline to reach the hidden branchline junction.

So, in reality there are three locations (mainline town, branchline terminus, private industrial complex) where trains or cuts of cars are partially or wholely broken-down and assembled, but none have the appearance of the classical classification yard.
Posted by: mr_mike_m MRCS Pioneer on Tue, Nov 18 2008    
Hey Modelrailcasters-

Once again, another excellent show (so far - I'm not done listening yet!)

I still have a printed copy of Craig's "commandments" from 3 or 4 years ago that I go back to and read occasionally.

Regarding Ryan's comment about wireless DCC throttles, and the general cost of DCC equipment. In the computer world, Wifi is cheap, and has gotten cheaper due to the size and scale of the market. Millions and Millions of people around the world use Wifi on their laptops and iPhones which has brought down the cost.

In the model railroad electronics field and specifically DCC, the market is much, much smaller, but the price of admission for the manufacturer is the same. They need to get their wireless devices tested and certified not only in the US, but around the world.

My advice? Get a wireless throttle! I have two, and my layout currently exists in my head!! Even on my first small layout (hollow-core door), the wireless throttle just didn't get in the way.

Regarding boosters, the price is a bit higher than the cost of a "regular" power pack, in my opinion, due to the software that's in them. In Digitrax's case (that's what I own) they don't make a standalone booster (as far as I know). All their boosters are also command stations. The programmer's have to eat too, so that pushes up the cost.

If, one day, I actually need a secondary booster, I've been looking at the CVP Zone Masters. They will work with my existing Digitrax equipment and is a booster only. There are also DIY plans on the web for building your own booster.

Please note! These are my opinions (no cracks about how opinions are like a$$holes!!) and I do not work for, nor sell any of the products mentioned.

Can't wait until the next Model Rail Cast show!!.

regards,
Mike M.
Posted by: jfugate MRCS Sponsor on Wed, Nov 19 2008     http://siskiyou-railfan.net
Lovin' this week's show with Craig ... I really enjoy yard switching, so designing a yard that works well is near and dear to my heart.

One more nit pick on the pronunciation of Cajon. It's "Ka-hone" - rhymes with BONE. The O in Spanish is long. It's NOT "Ka-Hoon" (rhymes with SOON).

Just remember *bone*, rhymes with BONE - the locals all call it "Ka-Hone" Pass.
Posted by: CVSNE MRCS Pioneer on Wed, Nov 19 2008     snery.com
I know I pronounced Cajon correctly when I spoke to Ryan . . . but I was going to mention the Extreme Trains host got it correct . . . I only watched about 10 minutes of it last night . . .about all I could take!

"We made it over Cajon Pass, wooo hoooo!!!" -- even Christine said "What's the big deal - don't 190 more trains do that every day????"
Posted by: sjconrail MRCS Pioneer on Thu, Nov 20 2008    
Just wanted to let you guys know that I found your podcast about 2 weeks ago and have listened all the way back to episode 27 and the content is great. I like the format with the various sections and from listening to other technology podcasts, this forces discussions to stay on topics and makes listening that much easier. Keep up the great work!
Posted by: MrIncredible65 MRCS Pioneer on Fri, Nov 21 2008    
Loved this weeks show guys. Particularly the 10 commandments piece on yard design. I chose the easy way out when I designed mine. I used the actual blueprints from the FEC Key West Terminus.

Thanks and keep up the good work!
 
 
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