HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: trk@palm15.cray.com (Tim Kirby)
Subject: Re: Live steam - garden railroads
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: 13 Dec 92 20:57:41 CST

Stephen Davies (daviess@gov.on.ca) wrote:
: Does anyone have any experience or know of suppliers of live steam
: systems that might be suitable for garden layouts.  What common
: scales/guages are used? G ?  Are there any books or other sources of
: information detailing construction methods etc.

You might find the magazine "Garden Railways" a useful starting point ...
I found it in the US, but it has a price in both US and Canadian $ so I guess
it's available in Canada ;-). It's an interesting Mag with a lot of useful
information and piles of ads for electric, live steam etc. etc., plus articles
on how to convince your SO that it would add to the value of your property to
rip the back garden to bits and install a railway. "It'll look wonderful when
it's done, honest ... " *grin*.

Anyway, In case you can't locate it at a hobby shop, here's the relevant
subscription info:

Garden Railways (USPS 713-710, ISSN 0747-0622) is published bimonthly for US$21
(US$28 Foreign) per year (Six issues) by Sidestreet Bannerworks Inc. Second
Class postage paid at Denver, CO and at other mailing offices.
Subscriptions to Garden Railways, PO Box 61461, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
Phone and Fax +1-(303)-733-4779
--
Tim Kirby --------- Cray Research Inc., Eagan, MN, USA ----------- trk@cray.com
Disclaimer: I disclaim, therefore I am. Cray Research is not responsible for me,
my views or anything I say ............... They do, however, pay my mortgage ;-)
When all else fails, Immortality may always be assured by spectacular error(JKG)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: Baird_David@Tandem.com (David G. Baird)
Subject: Bay Area ETE chapter info
Followup-To: rec.models.railroad
Organization: Tandem Computers (Cupertino, CA)
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 03:43:50 GMT

As I mentioned recently, there is a local chapter of ETE (European Train
Enthusiasts) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Currently two people are
active in maintaining the newsletter. They are :

Stretch Andersen 510-837-8198
David Pryor      510-782-2539

Note that their tenures as officers of Bay Area ETE are due to end soon,
and
new officers will presumably be chosen. But I'm sure they'd be happy to
sign you up. Membership is $6 a year. In general, we meet the second
Saturday of each month. I missed this last meeting this weekend because my
company has a model railroad club, and we had company holiday celebrations
in which we set up our modular layout. So, I missed out on the ETE meeting.
I believe next month's meeting will be on a "non-standard" day, the 3rd
Saturday.

David }
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad,rec.railroad
From: SDupa@xview.csuohio.edu (Scott Hewis)
Subject: Re: marker light brackets and sockets
Organization: Cleveland State University - Telecomm 
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 15:54:04 GMT

In article <1992Dec12.183719.7520@ulysses.att.com> smb@research.att.com (Steven Bellovin) writes:
>From: smb@research.att.com (Steven Bellovin)
>Subject: marker light brackets and sockets
>Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 18:37:19 GMT

>I'm trying to model NYS&W SW7 #120 in HO.  On the front, where I might expect
>to see class lights, there are some odd receptacles.  Slightly above
>and to the outside of these are some other protrusions.  I'm not certain
>just what these are.  A knowledgeable hobby shop owner thinks that the
>latter are brackets for marker lights, and the receptacles are power
>outlets for them.  Do those guesses sound reasonable?  Any ideas on what
>sort of detail parts to use?  He suggested using N-scale MU receptacles
>for the outlets, which sounds like a good idea.  What about the brackets?


>                --Steve Bellovin

I think your hobby shop owner guesstimate is very much on track.  I know the
SW switchers on the NKP had exactly what your dealer is speaking about. He
is probably right about using the N-scale MU recepticles and I believe I
saw in the Walther's HO catalog a set a brass castings for marker lights and
brackets.  Sorry to say that I don't recall the manufacturer as it's been
awhile since I've seen the HO catalog, but it might be Cal-Scale.

Hope it's been of some help.

Scott Hewis
--------------------------------------
* Scott Hewis; Telecom Specialist    *
* Cleveland State University         *
* email c/o scott@asgard.csuohio.edu *
--------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: Baird_David@Tandem.com (David G. Baird)
Subject: Re: Thomas in working scale
Followup-To: rec.models.railroad
Organization: Tandem Computers (Cupertino, CA)
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 04:09:33 GMT

> Everyone must decide for  themselves the suitability of these models and
> distributors for   their own purposes.. OO gauge models of Thomas the Tank
> Engine and Friends are made in  the U.K. by Hornby Railways.  U.K. OO gauge
> uses the same 16.5 mm  gauge track as HO gauge in the US along with 0-12 Volts
> DC as a  power source.  OO gauge models will run happily on most makes of HO 
> gauge track in the U.S. - Atlas, PECO, etc.:, that is not fine scale. The wheel
> flanges on the Hornby models are too big to successfully run through Shinohara,
> Atlas Mark III, or equivalent switches or on fine scale track less than Code
> 100.  The couplers are different from U.S.  styles and it is difficult, but not
> impossible, to replace them with U.S. types.  Hornby has produced models of: 
> 
> Devious Diesel  no longer in production
> 

I have a direct experience with Thomas and Diesel on code 83 track. This
weekend my company had a few holiday celebrations in which our model
railroad
club set up our modular layout. Two club members are also ETE members -
they are the ones who turned me on to ETE (European Train Enthusiasts).
They
have a small Thomas set : Thomas, Diesel and two small cars. 

When we brought out the train onto the tracks, you should have seen the
kids
come out of the woodwork to see them. Instant recognition. The problem we
had was really that they are toys and their huge flanges stumble on code 83
turnouts. We had many derailments. But, we only ran them for about 5-10
minutes, so it wasn't too much of a hassle. The kids loved it, and we were
able to concentrate on running our long freights and passenger trains once
we had run Thomas and company for a little while. Perhaps if we had code
100 track, it would have run smoother. But it doesn't like code 83
turnouts.

As an aside, Walthers (Shinohara) flex track and turnouts have "spikes"
that
are higher than Railcraft code 83 track. Unfortunately, Railcraft does not
make turnouts that I know of. My Euro stuff runs fine on the Railcraft, but
the flanges hit the spikes on Shinohara track. You can hear it.

David
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: tarumph@uncc.edu (Timothy Allen Rumph)
Subject: Re: Questions from a new MR'er
Reply-To: tarumph@uncc.edu
Organization: University of NC at Charlotte
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 23:52:03 GMT

In article 2546@rd1632.Dayton.NCR.COM, chenowet@rd1632.Dayton.NCR.COM (Steve Chenoweth) writes:
>In article <1992Dec4.173333.22758@ryn.mro4.dec.com> pierson@cimcad.enet.dec.com (Dave Pierson) writes:
>>In article <1992Dec4.050846.1538@hawk.cs.ukans.edu>, pbryant@hawk.cs.ukans.edu
>>(Insufficient Funds) writes, in part:
>> ...
>>>2.  I kind of understand the blocking concept.  However, I keep getting
>>>    the impression that when an engine crosses from one block to the next,
>>>    someone must be there to flip a switch on the control panel or the
>>>    engine will lose power. ...
>>	Depends on control scheme.  My experience is on a layout driven from
>>	two or three fixed panels, ... How closely the blocks
>>	are "managed" depends on how many trains are moving at once.  (I decline
>>	to discuss running three trains in three blocks.   My ears start to
>>	steam.  8)>>)...
>
>Has anyone done a PC program to simulate the action of various blocking plans?
>I started to write such a program a couple of years ago but found that they 
>tend to become quite complex, and require features of continuous vs. discrete
>event simulation techniques (e.g. to determine if a collision will occur).
>There's more trouble if you want to see "realistic" action portrayed on a
>screen as the simulation is running.
>
>I believe that such a program, if sufficiently flexible, could be very valuable
>to model railroaders in planning out how to run multiple trains on their
>layouts, and in making things like fancy automated interactions among the
>trains which resemble switch yard or station actions in close quarters.
>
>
>
>
>-- 
>Steve.Chenoweth@Dayton.NCR.com


See Bruce Chubb's book "Build Your Own Universal Computer Interface" available from McGraw Hill/Tab or from Bruce at

                         JLC Enterprises
                         P.O. Box 88187
                         Grand Rapids, MI 49518-0187

This may not be what you have in mind, but I hope it helps.

Tim Rumph
tarumph@mosaic.uncc.edu
KD4OWS@W4BFB.#CLT.NC.USA.NA
(704)455-5259
From: wes@uf.msc.edu (Wes Barris)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: TrainTronics or Snapper?
Date: 15 Dec 92 14:58:17 GMT
Reply-To: wes@msc.edu
Organization: AHPCRC, Minnesota Supercomputer Center

Has anyone had experience with either of these (of any other) capacitive
discharge devices?

I am considering getting one so that:

	- activating a Peco switch machine does not slow trains down
	  which are powered by the same transformer.

	- I can power Peco switch machines from a cheap (Tyco) power
	  supply.

I found the prices for both of these units in the Walthers catalogue:

	TrainTronics -- $40.00
	Snapper      -- $20.00

Any comments are welcome.

-- 
                                       o O O O O o o o o o o o o . . . . . . .
 __________    ___           ___      __                _
/_______|--`--|_ _|--=-==---|_ _|--,_|__|_             |-+-------`____________,
| ||_| /        -  |        / - \  |      || ________  |                      |
|_|___/------------|----__---------|------|||__|__|__| |Southern Pacific Lines|
|_|____________/-------{__}---------------{__}_______|=|_________     ________|
/_(o)=(o) ( )( )( )( ) [__]  ( )( )( )( ) [__]--(o)     (o)(o)(o)-----(o)(o)(o)
===============================================================================
Wes Barris                                                   PH: (612) 626-8090
Minnesota Supercomputer Center, Inc.                         Email: wes@msc.edu
From: cwilliam@testament.bbn.com (Chris Williams)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: New guy question: New York State rail lines
Date: 18 Dec 92 19:44:26 GMT
Reply-To: cwilliam@testament.bbn.com. (Chris Williams)
Distribution: na
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
NNTP-Posting-Host: bbn.com


Can someone provide (or point me to) a history of the rail line(s)
that ran through the Southern Tier of New York State, specifically between
Binghamton and New York City, from the 1930s to now?  I believe it's
Conrail now (??).

I'm brand new to railroading, and I'm thinking of making an HO layout of
a small town on the Delaware River (Lordville, near Hancock).  I'd like
to get the proper locomotive, although I'm not sure yet which period to model.

I'm guessing the line would be Erie, maybe Erie-Lackawanna (??).  Any info
would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!					Christopher J. Williams
					cwilliams@BBN.COM
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: mgb5528@cc.utah.edu (MICHAEL G. BECK)
Subject: Marklin Digital Users?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-b1  
Organization: University of Utah Computer Center
Date: 12 Dec 1992 20:57 MST  

   Are you guys out there?  Do you have any programming examples that you could 
direct me to..(other than Catheralls programs in the supplemental manual that 
he wrote)?  I sure would be grateful for these examples..  I use an IBM ps/2 
55sx and would be happy to trade my code for yours.  I program in QuickBasic.  
I know that QuickBasic is an ancient language, but I like it alot.

Thanks beforehand.....

Michael Beck
MGB5528@CC.UTAH.EDU
From: asgard@plx.com (J.R. Stoner)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: Breaking in Athearn locos - how?
Keywords: n
Date: 15 Dec 92 01:28:38 GMT
Organization: Heironamous Botch's Murk Works

In article <1992Dec10.225923.6914@gw.wmich.edu>
737ochs@gw.wmich.edu writes:

_In article <6065@sumax.seattleu.edu>
_daveike@sumax.seattleu.edu (Eickerman) writes:

_>In article <92341.125242GRW104@psuvm.psu.edu>
_>GRW104@psuvm.psu.edu writes:

_>>Any suggestions on how best to break in Athearn
_>>locos?  Thanks in advance.

_> Well, Jim Six in Model Railroading mentions that he puts some Pearl Drops
_> tooth polish in the gearboxes and runs the locomotive for a while to break
_> off any flash.  Then after you run the locomotive for a while, clean the
_> gear box and then put a few drops of plastic-compatible oil in there. 
_> That should help.  You will also want to replace the Athearn wheels
_> with NorthWest Short Line 40" replacement wheel sets.  This will improve
_> electrical pickup, and possibly traction.

_Actually, it will decrease traction, because the NWSL wheels are nickel-silver
_and are rather slippery, and the Athearn wheels are sintered metal (I believe
_that's the correct term) and are a little rougher, so will "grab" better.
_I think the better electrical pickup greatly outweighs the loss in traction
_though.

This is important.  Athearn wheelsets _are_ sintered and not cast parts.
Well, you might say, parts is parts.  This is not true.  Whatever you do,
and it is a good idea on principle, avoid getting any lubricating oil on the
wheels of your model.  Once it is in there there will be no way to get it out
again.  Labelle 107 is plastic-friendly lightweight oil which is good for
lubricating U-joints and other moving parts, but is not appropriate for the
gearbox.  For that you ought to use Labelle 106 grease, as it will not have the
capillary migration problem associated with light machine-oil.
-- 
J.R. Stoner, DWMIT - asgard@plx.com - sun.com!plx!plxsun!asgard
From: myers@hplred.HPL.HP.COM (Tom R. Myers)
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 20:32:22 GMT
Subject: Re: Help with a Lionel Transformer
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad

>  a) How do they do current limiting?  There appears to be circuit breaker type

Yes, Loinel transformers use circuit breakers to cut out an overload. The
circuit breakers do age over the decades, and can become useless. You can
purchase replacements. There are rather a few businesses coast to coast that
deal in Lionel parts/repairs. They are virtually all reputable mail order
sources, or you may be lucky to be near one locally. Where are you located?

>  b) There is an odd device. It consists of a copper colored disk held against
>     a bracket.  The bracket has a wire on it and the center of the disk is 
>     connected to the whistle switch.  What is it/What does it do?

This is a very old rectifier/resistor that impresses a dc voltage onto the ac
track power; the dc energizing the dc whistle relay.

>  c) What is the principle used for the whistle?  The whistle switch seems to 
>     increase the output voltage by 7 or 8 Vac. 

See above. The system is imperfect, but works inexpensively for mass
production.


>  d) Is there anywhere I can get info on this transformer?

Yes. Greenberg/Kalmbach publishes all of the Lionel repair documentation.


trm
myers@hplmyers.hpl.hp.com

(415) 857-4122 if you want to talk more details.

Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: ardie@UIUC (R.D. McClary)
Subject: Re: O Gauge accessories
Organization: Department of Plant Pathology
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 17:39:31 GMT

In article <1992Dec15.193203.4455@samba.oit.unc.edu> thorn@phoenix.radonc.unc.edu (Jesse Thorn) writes:
>From: thorn@phoenix.radonc.unc.edu (Jesse Thorn)
>Subject: O Gauge accessories
>Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 19:32:03 GMT
>I want to build a diorama in 1/48th scale (O gauge) depicting a WWII
>airfield scene. I have been told that various manufacturers make model
>railroad accessories in this scale. In particular, I am interested in
>vehicles, figures, furniture, and trees. Can anyone suggest where to
>start looking for these things - preferably mail order sources. Also
>what are the better manufacturers?
>
>Thanks,
>Jesse Thorn

     To my great frustration as an AF operator / farm toy collector (1:64), 
the stuff ERTL makes as "classics" - some tractors, many impliments, and 
Many Vehicles (including pick-up trucks and semi's from the 40's & 50's) are 
1/43, which should be close enough to your scale.  Their detail is nice, you 
can't beat their price (cheap enough to kit-bash!), and they're in most toy 
stores.
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: wes@pi2.arc.umn.edu (Wes Barris)
Subject: Rivarossi Centipede tenders
Reply-To: wes@msc.edu
Organization: AHPCRC, University of Minnesota
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 19:41:59 GMT

A long time ago Chris Vacation wrote:


[]  I was lucky enough to find 4 stray Rivrrossi centipede tenders for my chally
[]and big boy. These tenders are better than the monagram tender. It has more  
[]weight, and is in a better proprtion. I have found out now that you can order
[]these tenders seperatly from Rivrrossi for $15 or $20 each. But I bought 
[]mine at a RR swap for $5 a piece. Also Wathers was carrying a Kemptron
[]all brass centipede tender kit that is built into a nice tender. I think
[]the price is $45 or $50 for the kit. 

I too just bought a Rivarossi centipede tender at a flea market!  From the
looks of it, Rivarossi did not build these for electrical pickup.  Since
this is the only one I have, I don't know if all Rivarossi Centipede tenders
are constructed this way.  Does anyone know?

I am considering buying some NWSL wheels and fabricating my own electrical
pickup.  This way, I can use it with other locos which require the tender
to supply one of the pickups.

Comments anyone?

-- 
                                       o O O O O o o o o o o o o . . . . . . .
 __________    ___           ___      __                _
/_______|--`--|_ _|--=-==---|_ _|--,_|__|_             |-+-------`____________,
| ||_| /        -  |        / - \  |      || ________  |                      |
|_|___/------------|----__---------|------|||__|__|__| |Southern Pacific Lines|
|_|____________/-------{__}---------------{__}_______|=|_________     ________|
/_(o)=(o) ( )( )( )( ) [__]  ( )( )( )( ) [__]--(o)     (o)(o)(o)-----(o)(o)(o)
===============================================================================
Wes Barris                                                   PH: (612) 626-8090
Minnesota Supercomputer Center, Inc.                         Email: wes@msc.edu
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: billg@bony1.bony.com (Bill Gripp)
Subject: REA (G Scale) Power Requirement Question
Organization: LA&W RR
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 92 06:27:42 GMT

I recently received some REA G Scale Equipment as a gift.

In the instruction manual it states:

All RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY locomotives and operating railcars are
designed to operate at proper capacity ONLY with RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY
Power Packs featuring "Pulse Width Control". (P.W.C.)

P.W.C. allows a continuous voltage to flow to the motor and accessories
such as headlight, interior lighting, and smoke unit during operation
REGARDLESS of the speed OR direction of locomotive and/or railcars.  In
addition, the motor is supplied with continuous voltage to allow smooth
starting and stopping.

DO NOT CONFUSE PULSE WIDTH CONTROL with Pulse Power, a feature provided
by other (non-REA) power packs.  It may seem that when operating with
Pulse Power, the features on REA products are operating properly but if
fact they ARE NOT.  Sufficient voltage may not be available to activate
the unit and, underload, overload or damage to components may result.


So, does anyone have any experience with this?  Is this a real concern,
or just a way for REA to squeeze some more $$$ out of customers by
scaring them into buying an REA power pack?

          _______________________. ._______________________
     .---/__|_|____|O|___|||||___| |___|||||___|O|____|_|__\---.
     |      |_|    |_|         | | | |         |_|    |_|      |
     |   .__|-|____|_|_________|_| |_|_________|_|____|-|__.   |
     |___|[o]=[o]|_____|[o]=[o]|_|=|_|[o]=[o]|_____|[o]=[o]|___|
=====================================================================

From: js@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM (Jon Sawyer)
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1992 22:51:00 GMT
Subject: Re: Re: dual motor DD40's
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Loveland, CO
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad

In rec.models.railroad, sboyle@mbunix.mitre.org (Boyle) writes:

>   I have two Athearn DD40s, one single motor and one double motor, both with
>   what I assume is the old motor (I haven't compared them to the SD40-2
>   motor, for example, but they don't stick into the shell opening as was
>   described for the new motor).

>   Overall, the double motor will outpull the single motor.  The number of
>   wheels is important, as pointed out, but it's not the only factor.  Having
>   two motors makes more torque and power available for a given amount of
>   traction -- it's useless once the wheels spin, but until that point it's
>   easier to both start and maintain speed for a longer train.

I see.  This makes me wonder:  I had been considering retrofitting my
single motor DD-40s (don't know whether they are the old or new) with
one or more flywheels, in order to improve performance.  Any opinion
as to whether I'd be better off retrofitting an additional motor?

Actually, rough measurements indicate that it may be possible to have
two motors *and* a flywheel.  There seems to enough room for a single
5/8" dia.  7/8" long flywheel between the motors.  The flywheel would
then couple the two motors.  You'd probably want to cover the openings
in the hood (by the way, are these prototypical?  seems strange...)
so the spinning flywheel doesn't show.

Has anyone done anything like this?  Have there been any articles in
MRR magazines describing how to do this?  Ideally, is there a readily
available upgrade kit from someone like NorthWest Short Line that
would contain all the parts I'd need, plus detailed instructions?  One
can always dream...  :)

>   I'll try and
>   do some quantitative testing this weekend and report the results between
>   the one- and two-motor versions.

Well?  :)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: jebe@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (james.e.beck)
Subject: For Sale: Replica Lionel Engine
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 22:47:58 GMT
Keywords: Sale


                            Model Electric Train

        MTH(Mike's Train House) Lionel Replica 263 Engine and Tender
        -----------------------------------------------------------

        This is a replica of the Lionel Pre-World War II Blue Comet
        O Gauge tin-plate engine.  Excellent condition!

        Features:

                        Beautiful Blue Finish
                        All metal construction
                        Electronic Reversing Unit
                        Nickel Trim
                        Cast Whistle Chamber

        Price:          $275


        Call Jim:       (908)949-0418 (day)
                        (201)345-0518 (night)

	Sorry, no original Lionel items for sale.
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad