HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jpurbric@nyx.cs.du.edu (John Purbrick)
Subject: Re: Helix in a layout
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
 [Really at MIT but they won't let our system post]
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 92 04:59:04 GMT

In article <1992Oct9.141250.8050@progress.com> fredm@progress.COM (Fred Mikkelsen) writes:
>I've been reading on the discussion of the helix. I can only say one
>thing: 	 N O T !

>[At the MIT club....]
>entering a helix would be done only when it would require an operator
>quite a bit of time to get to the next viewing angle. Typically, two
>turns would be the maximum.

What my worthy friend Fred hasn't emphasized is that our proposed design had 
a helix with multiple entry points and a layout divided into 'lobes'. A train
would run around one lobe, do a couple of helix turns, emerge with a different
direction and level, return to the helix for another turn, etc. So the long 
delay to climb the whole stack would be done in stages and wouldn't be too 
bothersome. 


John Purbrick
jpexg@lcs.mit.edu
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: rl@ferris.cray.com (Randy Lambertus)
Subject: Re: Life-Like GP-18 reviews anyone?
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 12 Oct 92 11:02:20 CDT

Thanks for pointing that out, sometimes you just can't see the forest
for the trees. 8^)


Randy Lambertus               Cray Research, Region 4            rl@uk.cray.com
*******************************************************************************
       _>--______________u____________-----_____          _>--______________u__
 _____//|O|##\############|o|#########[[[[[#o###|   _____//|O|##\############|o
]-850---|-|---------------|-|-------------------|  ]-855---|-|---------------|-
|_______|_|ERIE LACKAWANNA|_|_______________850_|  |_______|_|ERIE LACKAWANNA|_
|_______|_|_______________|_|___________________|@@|_______|_|_______________|_
/_| (o)=(o)=(o) |_________________| (o)=(o)=(o) |\//_| (o)=(o)=(o) |___________
===============================================================================
**[]****[]****[]****[]****[]****[]****[]****[]****[]****[]****[]****[]****[]***

Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: urf@icl.se (Urban F)
Subject: Re: Pulse power
Organization: None. On USENET I speak only for myself.
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 06:19:24 GMT

craig@kralizec.zeta.org.au (Craig Dewick) writes:

>It's fair enough to use a pwm (or other pulsed technique) controller if all
>you will ever use it with is open frame motors as found in many of the cheaper,
>low cost, 'hobby' market locos, but high quality stuff will not last as long
>with a pulsed waveform controller. Stick with straight DC for can motors and
>the like.

I agree totally. My layout is so small you can only be one to operate
it at a time, still I have two controllers, one with pulse power, the
other with straight DC, depending on what I'm going to run.
--
 Urban Fredriksson   urf@icl.se  (n.g.u.fredriksson.swe2001@oasis.icl.co.uk)
 "In order to make someone a nervous wreck, apologize while they still 
  haven't used their best arguments." -- Runer Jonsson
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: 901003l@ace.acadiau.ca (MISHA LEBLANC)
Subject: Wanted Hornby Triang, Dubblo rolling stock & track
Organization: Acadia University
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 17:21:53 GMT

as above.  as well as system 04 track.
901003l@ace.acadiau.ca
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: Joe.Russ <Joe.Russ@mixcom.mixcom.com>
Subject: WISE Div., NMRA Oct. 25 meet in Pewaukee, Wis.
Organization: Milwaukee Internet Xchange BBS, Milwaukee, WI U.S.A.
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 23:51:57 GMT


For those of you in the Milwaukee/Chicago area, the next meet of the
Wisconsin Southeastern (WISE) Division of the National Model Railroad
Association (NMRA) will be October 25 at Building B of the Waukesha
County Technical College (WCTC) at 900 Main St. in Pewaukee, Wis. The
meet is free and open to the public and will include a popular vote
contest with prizes (contest open to non-members), map-guided layout
tours, and swap area. And there is plenty of free parking. The
schedule is as follows:
 
12:30 p.m.Doors open.
 
1 p.m.    Lake Superior - East & West
          Greg Mross from the NRHS gives an overview of ore    
          hauling railroads around Lake Superior. (slide)
 
2 p.m.    D&RGW in the Royal Gorge
          NMRA Bulletin Editor Mike Carlson shows the D&RGW in
          operation in the spectacular Royal Gorge. (slide)
 
2 p.m.    Milwaukee Road Films
          Carl Solheim will show 16mm films featuring Milwaukee
          Road Electrics and promotional films from the railroad's
          heyday. [Our meet location is just south of where the
          "Hi's" once roared through Pewaukee.]
 
3 p.m.    Weathering Techniques
          Jeff Wilson, Model Railroader's Paint Shop editor, will
          show various weathering techniques. (slide)
 
3 p.m.    Video presentation
          TBA
 
4-6 p.m.  Map-guided layout tours (maps distributed at 4 p.m.)
 
 To get to WCTC from Milwaukee or other eastern cities, take I-94 to
Hwy. 16. After heading north, exit Hwy. 16 at Main St. (exit 188) and
turn left. The college will be straight ahead. The meet is located in
Building B in about the center of the facility. 
  From points west, exit I-94 at Hwy. T and turn left. The college
will be on your left after you pass the GE building. 
 
For more information about the meet contact Mike Bauers at
(414)871-3945 or reply to poster here.
 Joe Russ
 WISE Div., NMRA
 
Advertisement: For a schedule of other railroad and model railroad
events in the Milwaukee area, see the Hobby Zone on the Safe Harbor
BBS (414)548-8140.
-- 
Joe.Russ@mixcom.com
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: fredm@progress.COM (Fred Mikkelsen)
Subject: Pulse Power Supplies
Summary: What is the success of higher frequency pulsed power supplies?
Keywords: PULSE POWER FREQUENCY MOTORS ADVICE
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 15:09:45 GMT

I'm currently looking into designing a new control system and power
supply. I've heard a lot about the advantages of voltage control,
current control, and pulse-width modulation, but I haven't heard of
any effects of different frequencies on locomotive control and motor
life.

To summarize, most pulse control systems I've heard of use 40Hz to 60Hz
pulses. I'm wondering what the effect of 600Hz to 6KHz pulses would be.

The reason for this question is that I'm hoping to multiplex occupancy
detection in a Progressive Cab system, and to do so would require skipping
a beat for (each multiplexed block) * (number of scans per second). It 
would only take 4 scans per second over 15 blocks to use up all available
pulses. At 600Hz, 90% of power would still be available for moving trains,
and at 6KHz, 99% of power would be available for 15 blocks, or 75 blocks
could be scanned with 95% of available tractive effort.

With a multiplexed occupancy detection circuit, finer gradations of load
can be measured. In addition to no train, yes train, and too much load,
readings of draw could be sent back to a computer to generate sound or
measure performance. I'd likely want to use it to help distinguish between
a locomotive, a car, and several cars.
--
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Frederick P Mikkelsen          Internet:  fpm@gaak.lcs.mit.edu 
Progress Software Corporation  Also Works: fpm@progress.com
14 Oak Park                    Voice: 617-280-4000
From: jimkirk@news.uwyo.edu
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: RFD: rec.crafts.metalworking
Date: 14 Oct 92 23:07:38 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.1992Oct14.160738.267
Distribution: world
Organization: University of Wyoming - Laramie, WY

X-NEWS: corral news.announce.newgroups: 641
Relay-Version: VMS News - V6.0-3 14/03/90 VAX/VMS V5.5; site news.uwyo.edu
From: stanb@benchsco.sco.COM (Stan Banasky)
Subject: Re: Live Steam Model Railroading
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 1992 18:01:29 GMT

In article <1992Sep29.040009.22863@genghis.borland.com>, johnh@genghis.borland.com (John Haskey) writes:
|> Hello all...
|> 
|> 	My wife doesn't think I'm spending enough on my hobby so I thought
|> I'd take a look at getting involved with live steam. :-)  Anyway, I was
|> looking for the Net.Consensus on the various companies that supply parts
|> and accessories for the construction of live steam locomotives.  What can
|> you tell me about
|> 
|> 	Railroad Supply Corporation		Burbank, CA
|> 	Little Engines				Durango, CO
|> 	Cole's Power Models			Ventura, CA
|> 	Mercer Locomotive Works			Trenton, NJ
|> 	Allen Models				Goleta, CA
|> 
|> 	Secondly,  I'd like to build models on 7.5" gauge track ( I think
|> that 7.5" is popular in the west and 7.25" is popular in the east.  Is this
|> correct?).  Since I want to model the locomotives and cars of the narrow
|> gauge South Pacific Coast ( 3' gauge), what scale should I model in?  Is
|> there a standard for this proportion?  I know that 1.5" scale presumes that
|> 7.5" gauge track is standard gauge.  What have people done in this situation?
|> 
|> 	Any hints, ideas, warnings, or other advice would be appreciated!
|> 
|> 
|> -- 
|> ---------
|> johnh@genghis.borland.com
|> My opinions are my own but I'll gladly share them with you!

Typically 2.5" scale is used for modelling 3' gauge on 7.5" gauge track. 
I know Allen Models sells a 2.5" scale locomotive (maybe plans only?). I've
also seen others offering 2.5" scale plans, though names escape me.

I'd also have to recommend Live Steam magazine. They provide a pretty good
selection of projects including steam launches, standalone engines and
complete locomotives. They also cover several narrow gauge projects. I know
back issues covered a Mich-Cal Shay (narrow gauge on 5" track I believe)
and a flat car mounted steam logging crane (fairly recent).

Also there are several good books on the South Pacific Coast. Rick Hamman's (sp?) Central Coast Railroads covers railroading in the Santa Cruz County
area with lots of info on the SPC. There is another (name escapes me) that
focuses on the SPC in the South Bay area which I've seen that the Train Shop
in San Jose.

Plan to at least visit a couple of existing railroads before you start
building either trackwork or rolling stock/locos. Some that come to mind in
the area are:

	Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad in Vasona Park, Los Gatos
	The Golden Gate Live Steamers in Tilden Park, Berkeley
	The Swanton Pacific Railroad (private) north of Davenport
		(Al Smith opens his line each September for the 
		Santa Cruz Country Picnic. Sorry you just missed it.)

And, of course, if you're looking for folks to help out on a railroad in the
greater Santa Cruz/San Jose area, drop me a line.

Stan Banasky				"one track mind..."
Information Services
The Santa Cruz Operation
VOICE:	(408) 425-7222
E-MAIL:	stanb@sco.COM   [or]   ...!sco!stanb
From: wbrown@bevsun.bev.lbl.gov (Bill Brown)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: Helix Calculation
Keywords: Pi
Date: 7 Oct 92 14:30:58 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, California
NNTP-Posting-Host: 131.243.192.17

In article <2AD21327.60C4@deneva.sdd.trw.com> wash@mamacass.etdesg.trw.com (Michael Washington) writes:
>In article <26673@dog.ee.lbl.gov> wbrown@bevsun.bev.lbl.gov (Bill Brown) writes:
>>So one turn is equal to a run of 2 * 2.14 * 22" = 138"  One of these
>                                      ^^^^
>Pi is equal to 3.14159, not 2.14!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
Ahhhyessssss.....there's many a slip twixt mind/calculator and keyboard.....

Sorry about that - but the answer is right.  My appologies to the net.

Disclaimer:  These opinions are my own and have	    |
    nothing to do with the official policy or the   |  -bill
    management of L.B.L, who probably couldn't      |   wlbrown@lbl.gov
    care less about employees who play with trains. |
From: DHBHM@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu (Bruce H. McIntosh)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Comments on Stewart's RS3?
Date: 11 Oct 92 03:51:42 GMT
Organization: University of Florida, NERDC

Does anyone have any reviews/opinions of Stewart's HO RS3?  I'm quite the
Alco fan, and the Stewart is the only recent RS I've seen that I could
even remotely afford ($39.99 at a shop in the St. Pete, FL area).
 
What all else is out there for Alcos, particularly early Alcos?  I already
know about the Athearn PA1.  I'm particularly keen on an FA2-FB2 lashup.
 
Bruce H. McIntosh    brucem@neufhou.mail.ufl.edu            Jesus has risen!
                     bhm@cis.ufl.edu
                     dhbhm@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu
 UF Housing user support on IBM Aggravation System/400 :-)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OBSOLETE (n.) - dependable, reliable, inexpensive and readily available
Support trailing-edge technology!
From: 737ochs@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: Track cleaning cars
Date: 15 Oct 92 14:25:34 EST
Organization: Western Michigan University

In article <ANDRE.92Oct14103013@king.slc.mentorg.com>, andre@king.slc.mentorg.com (Andre' Hut) writes:
> In article <1992Oct12.055744.3516@noose.ecn.purdue.edu> kollerd@pasture.ecn.purdue.edu (David R Koller) writes:
>    >   OK, net railroaders, what is your opinion of track-cleaning cars?  Our
>    >model railroad club here is looking for a way to reduce the "elbow-grease"
>    >required to keep the track clean.  I've seen various articles in the hobby
>    >press about adding Masonite pads to the bottoms of freight cars, etc., as well
>    >as some ready-to-run commercial track cleaning cars.  Has anyone had success
>    >with any of these things?
> 
> I have one of Roco's track cleaning cars.  It's a yellow Burlington Northern boxcar.  
> It took a little modification, new trucks, body mounted couplers etc, but it runs
> great, and does a good job cleaning the tracks.  It's a heavy car, and the track
> cleaning pad is pressed against the rails by springs.  The problem I see with the
> masonite trick I have heard of is that there is no pressure between the track
> and the masonite.
> 
> I think track cleaning cars are a must to have in your operating session.  It won't
> eliminate the need to get out the bright-boys, but it will keep things clean as
> you are operating.
> 

Well, if you put some heavy screws or nails to hold the masonite pad under
the car, this usually seems to be enough weight to do a pretty good job
(at least it worked for me before, when I had a layout). Just keep one in
every train you run, or almost every train, and by looking at the pad after
a while, you can see it's picking up quite a bit of gunk. You might have to
keep watch on it, and sand it every so often, depending on how dirty your
track is.
Hope this helps,

Fred
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: Joe.Russ <Joe.Russ@mixcom.mixcom.com>
Subject: Re: Track cleaning cars
Organization: Milwaukee Internet Xchange BBS, Milwaukee, WI U.S.A.
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 04:20:06 GMT


>press about adding Masonite pads to the bottoms of freight cars,
 
I operated on Kalmbach's MR&T for six years and they had those pads
mounted on a number of cars. While one of those MDC boxcabs with the
spinning pads ran around the mainline a number of times before a
session, the yards and spurs didn't receive that kind of treatment. As
an operator we seldom had any problems and only put the Bright Boys to
work after encountering an area they missed after doing scenery work,
etc. Of course, maybe the command control system helped in dealing
with dirty track. 
  Just my $0.02 worth.
  Joe R.
-- 
Joe.Russ@mixcom.com
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: bednarek@picard.med.ge.com (Dennis Bednarek Mfg 4-6971)
Subject: Re: Pulse power
Organization: GE Medical Systems, Magnetic Resonance
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 92 10:47:19 GMT

Urban F (urf@icl.se) wrote:
: craig@kralizec.zeta.org.au (Craig Dewick) writes:
: 
: >It's fair enough to use a pwm (or other pulsed technique) controller if all
: >you will ever use it with is open frame motors as found in many of the cheaper,
: >low cost, 'hobby' market locos, but high quality stuff will not last as long
: >with a pulsed waveform controller. Stick with straight DC for can motors and
: >the like.
: 
: I agree totally. My layout is so small you can only be one to operate
: it at a time, still I have two controllers, one with pulse power, the
: other with straight DC, depending on what I'm going to run.
: --
:  Urban Fredriksson   urf@icl.se  (n.g.u.fredriksson.swe2001@oasis.icl.co.uk)
:  "In order to make someone a nervous wreck, apologize while they still 
:   haven't used their best arguments." -- Runer Jonsson

I have noticed a definate increase in low speed performance with properly
pulsed DC.  What I wish I could do is chang the gearing on my locomotives
so instead of a 150mph scale speed full power would be about 25 mph scale.
Any one know how to do this in N scale?
--
------------------------------------
| Excuse me while I kiss the sky!  | 
|                            J.H.  |
____________________________________

The usual disclaimer of self and employer applies to all above comments.
#
From: dawdy@tellabs.com (Dan Dawdy)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: More Railroad GIF's Posted - Set 3
Date: 10 Oct 92 12:30:05 GMT
Organization: Tellabs, Lisle, IL

Below are 4 new orginal GIF's which are being posted to alt.binaries.
pictures.misc.  These were taken by Bruce Fingerhood, who posts here
occasionally, and scaned by me.  I am sure these will be picked up
and placed on an FTP site.  (Hi -D-)  

Enjoy,

Dan
*******************************************************************
File Name.....AMK_152
Resolution....798x550x256
Size..........258,180
Description..:
               Amktrak Turbotrain running as the "Empire State
Express" just east of Rochester NY on the Conrail mainline in
November 1982.

*******************************************************************

File Name.....CO_4211
Resolution....785x596x256
Size..........303,681
Description..:
               Chessie #421 is just about to enter the West
Portal of Sand Patch Tunnel at the summit of Sand Patch on a
rainy day in October 1985.

*******************************************************************

File Name.....CR_2749
Resolution....775x508x256
Size..........84,384
Description..:
               Conrail #2749 idles away the night in the yard at
Binghamton NY in April of 1989.

*******************************************************************

File Name.....SF_5076
Resolution....800x600x256
Size..........299,571
Description..:
               Santa Fe #5076 leads six units up the grade to
Palmer Lake CO on the "joint line" in April 1983.


-- 
************************************************************************
  |\\                                   *
  |  \ \                                *   Internet: 
  J    \ \         --------|            *      dawdy@tellabs.com
         \ \     / [] ZORRO|            *   Compu$erve:
           \ \  |  ||      |            *      70661,2422
             \ \|  ||      |            *
               =============            *        "O" Scale
     ____________()______()__________   *       King of Scales
   The painters last day on the job :-) *
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: andradee@woods.ulowell.edu
Subject: Re: Scale speed (was N scale loco's)
Organization: University of Lowell
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 14:27:49 GMT

In article <mac.718485854@depot.cis.ksu.edu.cis.ksu.edu>, mac@cis.ksu.edu (Myron A. Calhoun) writes:
> bednarek@picard.med.ge.com (Dennis Bednarek Mfg 4-6971) writes:
>     .....
>>What I am looking for is a good locomotive that will pull many cars(20 to
>>50) at a nice slow scale speed.  Does anyone have any suggestions?
>           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> 
> I'm very new to modeling, and I don't really understand "scale":
> just how does one scale SPEED and layout SIZE?
>

	I seem to remember reading somewere sever years ago, (I forget were)
that at least for HO scale, you can calculate scale speed as follows.
	
	You measure a section of track over which you will time the engine  
will move over. I will call it 'D' (in feet) for convience. You will also need
to measure the time 'T' (in seconds) over which the same point of the engine 
will pass the beginning and end points of the measure section. then plug the 
numbers in the following formula...

		Scale speed = (D*60)/T

	This should give you a good approximation for HO scale. An example is,
on my layout I have a loop the is 16' 9" in length, so this would be equal to
16.75 feet for the formula. I also have an Athearn PA-1 that can cover this
distance (at 12V) in 11 seconds (I beleive, or something very close), so this 
would give me a scale speed of 

		Scale speed = (16.75'*60)/11sec = 91.36 scale MPH

	And I beleive that this figure is close to what MR has published as the
max speed for this engine. I am sure that there is a simular conversion that
can be made for N scale. Hope this helps (and is right :^)).


					Ed Andrade
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: steven@luna.rivm.nl (Steven van Uitert)
Subject: Re: Elevated Railroad...
Organization: Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieuhygiene,Bilthoven,NL
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 08:20:48 GMT

In article <4287@svin09.info.win.tue.nl> debra@info.win.tue.nl writes:
	|
	|
>maybe other people can comment. i recently moved and still have to install
>my layout again, so i can still choose the height.

A few years ago I changed the height from 2.5 feet to 4 feet (tracklevel).
Sitting on a chair I can look to the trains at eye level.
	|
	|
>i use at least a 1 foot radius for N scale.

I use (N scale also) 3 feet radius. The layout is a German short line
(Metten, Rgentalbahn, Bavaria)

Steven van Uitert
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: Joe.Russ <Joe.Russ@mixcom.mixcom.com>
Subject: Re: Live Steam Model Railroading
Organization: Milwaukee Internet Xchange BBS, Milwaukee, WI U.S.A.
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 04:23:35 GMT


RE: Bill Fitt's replacement
 
From what I've heard, his daughter is running the magazine now. I used
to communicate with him on the status of the Riverside & Great
Northern live steam park in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., but now deal with
those at the park directly when I need to. That's all I know.
  Joe R.
  WISE Div., NMRA
-- 
Joe.Russ@mixcom.com
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: cmmiller@iastate.edu (Chad M Miller)
Subject: Re: Scale speed (was N scale loco's)
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 09:04:44 GMT

The N-scale is 1/160.  

Chad
From: ken@aiai.ed.ac.uk (Ken Johnson)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: Elevated Railroad...
Date: 7 Oct 92 12:59:50 GMT
Followup-To: rec.models.railroad
Organization: Bugs-R-Us


%  The plan is to install a shelf around the perimeter of the room, roughly
%  6.5 feet off the ground, and install the railroad on the shelf

#  Seems like since doors are usually 6'8" high you would need to be at
#  least that far from the floor. 

You could always hang the doors so that they open outwards.

Incidentally, one point I've not seen written down is that the smaller
the scale, the higher the baseboard should be.  You want N scale near
eye level (4ft 0in?), while OO can be at 3ft.  (1.20m and 0.90m
respectively)

-- Ken "visit a do-it-yourshelf shop for parts" Johnson
-- 
//// Advice to dieters:         ////  Ken Johnson, A I Applications Institute
////   Never eat more than      ////       80 South Bridge, EDINBURGH EH1 1HN
////   you can carry.           ////                 E-mail ken@aiai.ed.ac.uk
////              -- Miss Piggy ////     phone 031-650 2756  fax 031-650 6513
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad