HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dawdy@tellabs.com (Dan Dawdy)
Subject: RR GIF's POSTED
Organization: Tellabs, Inc. Lisle, IL
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 00:37:52 GMT

Below are the discriptions of three new GIF's which have been posted
to "alt.binaries.pictures.misc" for this week.  As always, if some of
you do not get the group you can mail me a request and I will send them
to you.  I have a new automatic mailer so you should here from me much
sooner than before.  PLEASE...If your site can not handle E-Mail over
50,000 bytes in size let me know.  My sections are cut into 1000 line
or about 62,000 bytes in size.  I had some mail bounce back.  It's a shock to
open my mailbox and see 60-90 pieces of returned mail!

AMK_451.GIF
Resolution......800x540x256
Size............265,270

Amtrak #451, F69PHAC, leaves Chicago's Union Station with
with ex GO Transit GP40TC trailing.  #451 is using AC traction
motors and is being tested and evaluated by Amtrak.


CNW_403.GIF
Resolution......800x537x256
Size............189,791

Chicago & North Western #403 F7A along with new SD60 heading
1988 Milwaukee Circus Train.  Working as a rent-a-cop for
Martin Security while going to school in Madison, this was one
of the few jobs I looked forward to.  Three of us were stationed
in the Janesville, WI yards to guard the train as it layed over
for the night.  We received our instructions from two armed
North Western cops at 7:00PM and while they stayed at a local
hotel, we took turns walking the train for the next 12 hours.
This was the summer of extreme dryness in the Midwest and so
they decided not to use steam because of the conditions.


SOO_6024.GIF
Resolution.......800x565x256
Size.............202,547

I arranged a tour for the Madison, WI N-trak group through the Soo Line
yards in Bensenville, IL back in 1990.  After being shown the hump 
operations we were allowed access into the deisel maintenance facilities.
We just happened to get there during a work break or we would not have 
been allowed in.  This facility is used for routine repairs to heavy
maintenance.  Sorry about the grain but I used Kodacolor 1000 to get
this shot as a flash would have been useless given the size of the building.
Note that this is not as dirty and cluttered as we modelers normally
make them.

Dan

Dawdy@tellabs.com
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: cvolle@uceng.UC.EDU (charles volle)
Subject: Re: Mountains
Summary: Hydrocal
Organization: College of Engineering, University of Cincinnati
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 12:57:13 GMT

In article <jfarmer.703287366@sfu.ca>, jfarmer@fraser.sfu.ca (Jason Michael Farmer) writes:
> What do people find the best for making hills, mountains, etc.  Paper mache?
> Foam?  Something else?
> 
	I purchase a bag of Hydrocal from the local plaster supplier.
Then get out my glue gun. Many old boxes, a mat knife and staple gun.

	Take the mat knife and cut the boxes into 2" wide strips.  I have 
in the past looked for large boxes to give me a long strip of cardboard.

	Gathering these strips I begin stapling these strips to my 
L-Girder support, backboard or subroadbed.  Place these strips 3 to4 "
apart and run them in the vertical direction first.  The object is to build
a mesh work of cardboard in the shape of the landform you wish to create.
Next take strips and weave them thru the verticals.  Bend and form the 
shapes as you desire.  Using your glue gun and two or three clothespins
you can secure the intersections of vertical and horizontals to create
your geography.

	Common papertowels (the industrial brown fan folded ones)
work great for the Hyrocal plaster soup.  Dip and drape over the mesh
and smooth with you hand.  Three layers or so and your "hardshell" will
be ready.

	I've augmented the canyon walls of my Colorado and Grande'
Vista RR with rock castings I've made.
	Using latex and some chunk coal, I've got some great rock
outcropings that would be great to denote Colorado as well as KY, VA 
or eastern Mountains.

	Hope this helps!

	See you down the tracks....

	Chuck Volle	cvolle@uceng.uc.edu
From: cab@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (carl.a.benevit)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: Bowser/Bachman controversy (was Re: Helix headaches)
Date: 7 Apr 92 20:14:35 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Apr7.151400.14233@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu> waldin@lcs.mit.edu writes:
>The replacement mechanism includes quite a bit.  If I remember right it
>includes a frame, motor, drivers, side rods and a few small items.  What
>you keep from the Bachmann is the shell, valve gear and leading and trailing
>trucks.  From the diagram in the Bowser catalog it looks like you modify
>the (Bachmann) tender so that electrical pickup is taken off of the tender's
>wheels, which means you run a wire from the tender to the locomotive.
>Prices run about $38-$40 (plus shipping) from mail-order discount places
>that advertise in Model Railroader.  The regular retail price is about $45,
>but you'll likely have to order it from your local shop because they
>usually don't stock them.

I built the 2-8-0 upgrade chassis a few years ago. The kit included all
parts to make an entirly new chassis, valve gear, leading truck and even
replacement piston/valve assembly (steam chest?). A rivet tool was included
for use in assembling the valve gear. Assembly was straightforward and
proceeded smoothly. I didn't like the piston/valve assembly that was supplied.
It was too small for the engine. The Bachman 2-8-0 is patterned after the
Reading I-10sa class and the shell is a very nice model of this engine. I
decided to stick with the Bachman steam chest and pulled the crosshead guides
off of the replacement part and put them on the Bachman part. With that done
and the tender floor and trucks replaced, the conversion is complete.
I went further and replaced the Bachman motor with a smaller motor so
that I could add a flywheel. This caused further kitbashing of the
motor gear assembly, plus I had to cut off the backhead to clear the
flywheel (it's BIG). All in all, a nice project.
______________________________________________________________________________
 Opinions and commentary are personal and not those of AT&T and subsidiaries.
______________________________________________________________________________
Carl Benevit       -           att!cbnewsm!cab           -        215-439-7664
AT&T Bell Laboratories -              555 Union Boulevard, Allentown, PA 18103

                                                         |
                 ...be ready...                       ---|---    ACTS
                                                         |       1:11
                                                         |
______________________________________________________________________________
From: russ@pta.pyramid.com.au (Russell Day)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Elektor Digital Controller
Date: 15 Apr 92 23:55:04 GMT
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corporation, Sydney

Greetings fellow railnerds,
	I have just received reprints for the complete set of 13
	articles on the Elektor magazine Digital rail controller.
	They cost 2.5 pounds each, which is far too many $Aust,
	but this is still better than spending $2000 for a Maerklin
	original system.

	This was published in the U.K. in 1990

	The digital controller provides the following:

		Upto 16 hand throttles.
		Upto 81 solenoid controllers with 4 pairs of outputs.
		Upto 81 relay controllers with 4 pairs of outputs.
		Upto 81 locos operating concurrently.
		Driver amplifier upto 10Amps (Maerklin is 2.5A).
		Less drive voltage variation under changing load.
		Serial interface for computer control.
		Controller driven by Z80 with 4k ram available for
			optional user programs.
		Locomotive controller for AC or DC locomotives.
		Use with 2 rail or 3 rail.

	The last point is interesting - Maerlkin chose to have
	completely different drive electronics for AC and DC systems. 
	This one drives both AC and DC locos, the DC ones have an
	extra, tiny board.

	It seems that circuit boards are available from Elektor
	Electronics, in the UK at least, and maybe in the US as well.
	Being an AC/3rail man myself, I plan to use the Maerklin 6090
	loco decoders with the inertia and all the whizzy features,
	but the rest of this stuff looks great to me.
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: cwatters@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Coyt D Watters)
Subject: Re: sound chips wanted
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 12:39:11 GMT

In article <1992Apr16.171407.1@amazon.llnl.gov> pomplun@amazon.llnl.gov writes:
>Is anyone aware of what companies make sound chips that imitate railroad (or
>other sounds)??  A friend sent me a data sheet on a "chicken chip" (no
>kidding!!), but it got lost.  

A lot of stores in my area (South-Central Ohio) are selling little novelties
for Easter this year which create a sound effect (chicks cheep, sheep bleat,
rabbits play music (?), etc.) when held in a hand.  The mech for this is 
rather small, and the system uses skin conductivity to activate the circuit.

Be easy to bash together a sheep car.



-- 
Coyt D. Watters  | Normal >>>  cwatters@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
MUMPS Programmer | Urgent      watters_c%norse.decnet@gate.hosp.ohio-state.edu 
and all          |-------------------------------------------------------------
around Nice Guy. | Cap'n!  The orbit's decay'n again.  15 minutes to atmosphere
From: ken@aiai.ed.ac.uk (Ken Johnson)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: Mountains
Date: 15 Apr 92 10:50:16 GMT
Followup-To: rec.models.railroad
Organization: Bugs-R-Us


In article <jfarmer.703287366@sfu.ca> jfarmer@fraser.sfu.ca (Jason
Michael Farmer) writes:

>What do people find the best for making hills, mountains, etc.  Paper mache?
>Foam?  Something else?

I make a rough shape out of wet newspaper, with roads, house bases,
gardens, whatever, made of stiff cardboard.  Then I coat the lot with
two or three layers of Plaster of Paris bandages, which can be obtained
from model shops (in the UK, the brand name is Mod Rock).  The resulting
landscape takes paint well and looks superb. 

Hints: work quickly as Plaster of Paris sets very quickly, and cover any
precious things with newspaper as the bandages drip a grey goo which
sets hard and is very tricky to remove. 

-- Ken Johnson


-- 
                          ////  Ken Johnson, A I Applications Institute
We won't be meeting again ////       80 South Bridge, EDINBURGH EH1 1HN
On the slow train,        ////                 E-mail ken@aiai.ed.ac.uk
On the slow train.        ////     phone 031-650 2756  fax 031-650 6513
From: eddie@railnet.nshore.ORG (Eddie Van Huffel)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: Mountains
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 92 01:38:48 EDT
Organization: Railnet BBS (phone # changing April 1992)

jfarmer@fraser.sfu.ca (Jason Michael Farmer) writes:

> What do people find the best for making hills, mountains, etc.  Paper mache?
> Foam?  Something else?
> 
> Jason Farmer
> jfarmer@whistler.sfu.ca
> 



This may sound strange, but I just reworked some mountains on a friends 
layout.  This person happened to be a doctor, who had access to hospital 
supplies.  We built up the base with chicken wire and newspaper, and then 
got strips of casting plaster from the hospital, soaked them in warm water, 
and then spread them over the mountain area.  They molded easily, and when 
we were satisfied, we let it dry.  The next day it was ready for painting, 
dry texturing, and adding trees etc.  When we finished, I was rather proud 
of the accomplishment we had done, and without much of the headaches I had 
encountered many, many, many years ago when I was young.

--
eddie@railnet.nshore.ORG (Eddie Van Huffel)
Railnet BBS (phone # changing April 1992)
From: waldin@concerto.lcs.mit.edu (Earl Waldin)
Subject: Re: Cambridge
Reply-To: waldin@lcs.mit.edu
Organization: Laboratory for Computer Science, Massachussetts Institute of Technology
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1992 18:08:04 GMT

In article <1992Apr10.224959.10605@Princeton.EDU>, jsm@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (John Scott McCauley Jr.) writes:
|> In article <1992Apr9.211102.8993@linus.mitre.org> sra@bistromath.mitre.org (Stan R. Ames) writes:
|> >In article <8APR199221184373@vax2.concordia.ca> charlan@vax2.concordia.ca (M.CHARLAND) writes:
|> >>
|> >>I will be in the Cambridge, MA area next weekend.  Can anyone suggest a hobby
|> >>shop where I can get N-scale track, etc.  ....
||> >
|> >You might try Charles Ro in Malden.  They are a national mail order
|> >house and specialize in O and G guage.  However their HO prices are also
|> >very good. I know they handle N but I do not know their price structure.
|> >
|> >Stan Ames
|> 
|> I looked at Charles Ro two years ago and got the impression that
|> their N stock was the result of buying out another store.
|> 
|> I think the prices were reasonable. Better call them ahead of time
|> to make sure they still have an N-scale inventory! The O and G scale
|> part of the store dwarfs everything else!
                     ------
Dwarfs is a bit strong.  You can fit a lot of N-scale cartons in the same
space as one G-scale carton!  The break-down of their display area (having
just been there this morning) is about 50-55% G and O, 25-3O% HO, 5-10% N
and the rest general purpose (books, tools, etc.).  I can't vouch for their
stock-room.  However, I buy both G and HO from them and their HO selection
is pretty good.  The display area, including behind the counter, has a few
hundred (~200-300) Athearn items and they carry a lot of Atlas track in 
open stock.  They also carry a lot of MDC and Rivarossi rolling stock and
a fair amount of Atlas, Bachmann (spectrum and otherwise) Life-Like Proto
2000 and Mantua locomotives.  Their weakest point is probably structures.
The prices run 15-30% off retail, depending on the manufacturer and item.

With respect to N-scale, I can't be too specific because I don't model it.
However, there is an N-scale section of the store.  Most of it is behind
the counter or in display cases (probably because little boxes are easy
to walk out with).  Best is to call ahead to check stock and prices.
tel: (617) 321-0090.

Someone mentioned a place in Sudbury (near Boston) that specializes in N
scale.  If you have a car and the time then it is certainly worth the visit.
However, 1/2 hour from Cambridge to Sudbury is only possible if you start
on the very edge of Cambridge right where the expressway starts.  You'll
need more time from most parts of Cambridge.

I went straight from Charles Ro to work (at MIT) this morning, spent
10 minutes in a road construction jam-up and still made it in 1/2 hour.
They are also open Thursday and Friday nights until 9pm.

	Just my biased opinion :-)!

	Earl Waldin
	waldin@lcs.mit.edu


Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: schallen@possum.den.mmc.com (Eric Schallenmuller)
Subject: Fuzzy Grey Stuff
Summary: What to do with homasote shavings?
Keywords: homasote, shavings, expensive
Organization: Martin Marietta Astronautics Group, Denver
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 22:25:20 GMT

Anybody have any good ideas for shavings from cutting homasote boards?
The boards are so expensive that the shavings MUST be good for
something!

All I can think of is to mix with some pasty sticky stuff for landscape
material.

Thanks,

Eric
From: ricky@adx.adelphi.edu (Ricky Glass)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: 6 axle Athearn diesel's
Date: 9 Apr 92 03:01:15 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Adelphi University

In article <1992Apr8.225609.1513@den.mmc.com> schallen@possum.den.mmc.com (Eric Schallenmuller) writes:
>I have an Atlas 4 axle GP-40 with frame mounted couplers (horn-hook,
>unfortunately).  It hated 18" radius curves and threw all of my 
>lightest rolling stock off the curves.  I found that banking the
>curves helped alleviate the problem somewhat.  The real solution was
>going to 22" curves.  I still had some banking in the curves, and no
>easements.  I tore that all up, so I can't verify it, but I believe that
>the trouble point was the end of the curve, in which case easements on
>an 18" radius would probably have solved the problem as well.

My layout is all 18" radius with Athern 4 axle power.  I never really
had problems with derailments on curves.  Turnouts, yes, but the problem
dissappeared with bringing the rolling stock up to NMRA weight
standards.  In addition, all my rolling stock has body mounted couplers.
I can see the above problem happening when truck mounted couplers are
used.

Ricky
-- 
 vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
 (Dr\.\ )?R(\.|(ic((hard)|(ky))))\ Glass  {
         printf("%s (%s)\n", "Ricky Glass", "ricky@adx.adelphi.edu"); }
 /* recursive (adj.) See recursive.  ("The Devils DP Dictionary") */
From: btarbox@sw.stratus.com (Brian Tarbox)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: walk around controller question
Date: 9 Apr 92 13:18:12 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.

We recently had a long thread about command control, how
about walk around control and controllers?  I'm not
ready for the cost of command control but definitely have
outgrown fixed control.  Can anyone provide info, experience, etc.
about walk around controllers?  Thanks.  (if it matters this is
for an HO layout).
From: coleman@zoo.toronto.edu (Ron Coleman)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: N-scale Atlas RS-3 locos -- SUMMARY
Date: 14 Apr 92 18:08:03 GMT
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology

Thanks to those that responeded to my query about Atlas RS-3
locos in N-scale.  From the responses I received, here is a 
brief summary if anyone is interested:
1. Atlas no longer makes RS-3's, and there don't appear to be
any immediate plans to do so.
2. The RS-3 shells will NOT fit on the RS-1 frame because the RS-1
wheelbase is longer and there is no easy solution to this short of
major surgery.
3. The RS-1's have a flywheel and operate very smoothly; however,
they aren't the greatest for pulling heavy loads.
4. The RS-3's lack a flywheel but are heavier than the RS-1's and 
can pull more cars.  They don't run quite as smoothly as the RS-1's,
but they still run quite nicely.
5. The RS-3 shell will probably fit on an Atlas RS-ll frame, the only
differences being some modifications to the fuel tank and some other
details on the frame.  (I haven't tried this myself).
6. Finally, a very FEW dealers still have some RS-3's in stock,
for about the same price as RS-1's.  I managed to get one from 
America's Hobby Center (New York).  Note that the only roadname
they have left is New York Central.  I was very pleased with the 
loco's performance when I received it and tried it out.

Thanks again,
  Ron Coleman
From: ncliffe@hfserver.hfnet.bt.co.uk (Nigel Cliffe)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: "operating accessories"
Date: 10 Apr 92 14:04:14 GMT
Reply-To: ncliffe@hfserver.hfnet.bt.co.uk
Organization: BT Laboratories, British Telecommunications plc

From article <1992Apr9.230212.5863@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu>, by fasano@venus.iucf.indiana.edu (Matthew John Fasano):
enquires about literature on working cranes and the like.

I'd recommend anything by David and Shirley Rowe. In particular, D Rowe, 
Mechanised Industrial Models, published by Wild Swan, Hagboure Road, Didcot,
Oxon, UK. I think it costs #5.95, plus postage if you can't get it at
a book shop. No idea on postage to US, try writing enclosing a reply coupon
for a price list and postage charges.

It covers among other things, a sand dragline excavator that loads wagons with
real sand, a hopper grader, a rolling (sliding) bridge, canal locks with
working water movement, and (in the light hearted bits) how to make a girl
skip and a swan swim in an apparently random manner round a lake.

- Nigel.
-- 
        _______________________________________________________
   Nigel Cliffe, British Telecom Labs, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, UK
             ncliffe@hfnet.bt.co.uk      +44 (0)473 645275
From: wes@uf.msc.edu (Wes Barris)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: Bowser/Bachman controversy (was Re: Helix headaches)
Date: 7 Apr 92 14:24:25 GMT
Article-I.D.: uc.1992Apr7.142425.9173
Reply-To: wes@msc.edu
Organization: AHPCRC

In article <1992Apr6.202008.21085@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>, ggg9y@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Garth G. Groff) writes:
|> RE :  Bowser/Bachman controversy
|> 
|> Be advised that English's Model Railroad Supply (a division of the same
|> company that owns Bowser) offers replacement mechanisms for Bachman steamers.
|> These seem to be the same engineering as the excellent Bowser kits.  Not
|> for the beginner, but not impossible for the average guy.  Check ads in
|> MR or RMC for details.
|> 

What is included in the "replacement mechanisms"?  Just the motor?

-- 
      o o o o o o o . . .   ________________________________ _____=======_T___
    o      _____           ||Wes Barris                    | | wes@msc.edu   |
  .][__n_n_|DD[  ====|____  |Minnesota Supercomputer Center| |(612) 626-8090 |
 >(________|__|_[___/_____]_|University of Minnesota_______|_|_FAX: 626-1596_|_
 _/oo OOOOOO o`  ooo   ooo  'o^o^o                    o^o^o` 'o^o         o^o`
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
You will live a long, healthy, happy life and make bags of money.
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: railrd.sanders.lockheed.com (Mark Hilmantel)
Subject: Re: Helix headaches
Reply-To: hilmantl@rapnet.sanders.lockheed.com
Organization: Lockheed Sanders, Inc.
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 92 21:08:44 GMT

In article <204490@unix.cis.pitt.edu>, macman+@pitt.edu (Dennis H Lippert) writes:
> 
> 18" is too tight for almost anything... even small diesels (Geeps) look 
> somewhat out of place here.  Another thing to consider is that an 18" HELIX
> will have a much steeper grade than a larger one, so you'll be pulling a
> tight curve and you'll also have a lot of side-forces from the extra weight
> of the train.  The grade would be what?... 56" per loop, at least 3" rise 
> per loop, so it's a 1 in 18.84 rise, or 5.3%... MINIMUM.

The circumference of an 18" radius curve is 113", not 56". Also, you'll
need some thickness of roadbed, so the rise will more likely be in the
3.5"-4" range, resulting in a 3%-3.5% grade. Grades for the other radii
mentioned are: 24"/2.3%, 36"/1.5%, 48"/1.2%.

Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: andre@farside.slc.mentorg.com (Andre' Hut)
Subject: Re: Mountains
Organization: Mentor Graphics
Date: 15 Apr 92 09:44:00

In article <jfarmer.703287366@sfu.ca> jfarmer@fraser.sfu.ca (Jason Michael Farmer) writes:
   >What do people find the best for making hills, mountains, etc.  Paper mache?
   >Foam?  Something else?

Sheets of styrafoam.



--
-------------------------------------------------------------------
My opinions are solely my own, and do not necessarily reflect those
of my employer.

Andre' Hut       andre@slc.mentorg.com  or  utah-cs!caeco!andre
Mentor Graphics, Suite 300, 5295 South 300 West, Murray, Utah 84107
-------------------------------------------------------------------
From: sra@bistromath.mitre.org (Stan R. Ames)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: Cambridge
Date: 9 Apr 92 21:11:02 GMT
Article-I.D.: linus.1992Apr9.211102.8993
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA

In article <8APR199221184373@vax2.concordia.ca> charlan@vax2.concordia.ca (M.CHARLAND) writes:
>
>I will be in the Cambridge, MA area next weekend.  Can anyone suggest a hobby
>shop where I can get N-scale track, etc.  In particular, I am interested in
>finding switches at less than the Canadian price.  Is there a discount 
>rail hobby market in the USA?

You might try Charles Ro in Malden.  They are a national mail order
house and specialize in O and G guage.  However their HO prices are also
very good. I know they handle N but I do not know their price structure.

Stan Ames
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad