MyAustinBlogg.com: (toy train tips, tricks and chicks)

[FJ and G]

Could this possibly be the first-ever blogg within a forum?

Kinda busy dealing with Operation Swarmer today for Army's homepage (largest air assault operation in Iraq since start of war), so I can’t possibly put out all of the toy train info I gleaned from Austin in just one post reply, so may take a week or so to post in this “blogg.”

Got to meet the train enthusiasts Ed Welten, who’s planning a new layout; spoke but didn’t meet Jim Duda, the guy who got me started in remote control ops (thanks!) and visited the legendary Bob Nelson.

Here’s what I’ll serve up in this blogg:

1. Bob’s DC to AC conversion of a way cool Czech switcher.

2. Bob’s secret to organizing workspace

3. Bob’s empire in only an 11X19 room

4. Bob’s atomic bomb-proof benchwork that’s as thin as a razor

5. Bob’s condensers that power his 027 switches

6. Bob’s 89-scale-foot long center-depressed flatcar that navigates 027 curves (he didn’t shorten it!). This you gotta see!

7. Bob’s conversion of a Big Boy to a Small Boy that will fly around 027 curves and switches

8. Bob’s half-wave rectifier bricks that magically convert conventional trains into “command control”

9. Bob’s DC reducer that can literally kill you

10. Bob’s electrical couplers, created without electricity

As you can tell, it’s all Bob. U the man, Bob. Bob’s material will be interspersed with scenes from Austin, 1:1 choo choo tracks and the most decrepid railway in the world that still sees traffic. We’ll also explore old streetcar track and trackage that goes right into downtown Austin.

For starters, I’d like you to meet normal Austonians who dress a bit more colorfully than other Texans (photos 2-5).

Photo 1 is downtown Austin under I-35 bridge. Looks kinda Texan with the bumper and track in background.

Photo 2 is the green guy standing in front of Austin Convention Center where I attended South by Southwest. If you look carefully, you’ll see a railroad track in the street still used for special downtown excursions on an irregular basis

Photo 3 is a manican at Chewey’s eatery

Photo 4 are some “pirates” who stopped by our U.S. Army booth at SXSW (South by Southwest)

Photo 5 is Jim Duda himself, who runs R/C planes and boats and also helped me get my toy trains on R/C steroids

Photo 6 is Mr. Bob himself, holding a near and dear keepsake; get this… his 1955 Warbonnet that he played with as a teen (he looks young but he’s actually older than the Austin hills).

Now, how many of you can say you have your childhood trains???? Not I (except for some HO crap)

[Anonymous]

Intresting photos.

[Jumijo]

I have a question, Dave.

Was Austin Powers named after Austin, Texas, or was Austin, Texas named after Austin Healey?

Jim

[lionelsoni]

Austin was originally called Waterloo. It was renamed after Stephen F. Austin when it became the capitol of Texas. It was also called "The City of the Violet Crown" by O. Henry (an Austinite) in his "Rolling Stone" newspaper. Both names are still used.

Old-as-the-Austin-Hills Bob

[FJ and G]

If the moonshine in Austin don’t kill ya, Bob’s “reducer” (2nd photo), certainly could!

No, this isn’t the latest fad in weight loss (unless U think death is the ultimate weight loss).

This reducer was produced by Lionel in the 1930s for households that used DC (one of Edison’s really stupid ideas). Transformers are only used to convert AC to DC (and lowering the current to safe levels).

This reducer does the same, if. And the big IF word means, if you plug it in correctly. Notice that the plug prongs are the same shape; thus, you could easily plug it in the wrong way, sending 110 volts thru the tracks. Any kid touching the tracks would be toast (or dog or cat etc). Some of these reducers were even 220 volts!

And furthermore, if the current didn’t kill you, the large chunk of white asbestos inside will certainly do it over time if the dog gets ahold of it and tears it apart into tiny airborne particles.

And you thought toy trains were safe?!

And to answer your question, yes, brave ole Bob did power his trains with this device, but he has the skills to do this as well as the equipment that lets him know it’s properly plugged in. I think he got this off eBay from a widow.

More Austin bloggs to follow in upcoming days and week(s).

[Anonymous]

I truly dont get any of this. I dont see the point, although i guess that is the point.

[Jumijo]

Monto,

Did you ever notice that Austin rhymes with Boston?

Jim

[Anonymous]

Ah! The Lionel # 107 Widow Maker! First offered in 1923, this direct current reducer was code named "Kentucky" and sold for $10...$12 west of the Mississippi. The DCR came originally with a screw plug ( meant to screw into a light socket ) which avoided the accidental reversing of polarity. Pretty interesting to see one first hand here. I wasn't aware it was so massive. This is one item that Greensberg Price Guide lists as NRS.

Bruce webster

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing all this with us, Dave! I'm looking forward to future additions to the "blog"!

As for that reducer-YIKES! And I thought that early electric trains powered by glass jar batteries and other devices before houses were equiped with electricity were dangerous!

[cnw1995]

Wow, who knew toy trains could be so dangerous - so that's how they reduced the surplus population in the old days? I look forward to future installments!!

[lionelsoni]

Jim, you should try to get Julie, the Amtrak phone-answering computer, to understand "Austin". She invariably thinks I'm saying "Boston".

Bruce, I think that that is the original plug. In my 1929 catalog, all the transformers are shown with plugs like that and adapters to Edison screw bases. Lionel was very proud of the versatility of this arrangement, which completely nullified any polarization that the screw base would have provided (assuming that the sockets were wired correctly). I'll have to check whether the reducers are also shown with adapters in the catalog.

I only used the thing once, for less than an hour, just to see how it worked. I was pleased to find how smooth and comfortable the control was.

Mitchell, it just shows that toy trains aren't for sissies!

[FJ and G]

To add to the 1923 screw adapter transformers, round bout 1930ish, the latest technology involved a screw/plug adapter that would both screw in AND allow plug in. Man, was technology on a roll. And, the streamliners, Zephyrs, Super Chiefs, and a paved Rt 66 were just around the corner!

More about Bob's cool stuff and Austin craziness, perhaps tomorrow. We shall see.

[TexasEd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FJ and G


I think he got this off eBay from a widow.

Haha

Bob, I'd love to see your layout and trackplan since I am going to build a layout in a simialr space.

I need to ask Jim Duda about those boats. There is a pond near my new house.

[csxt30]

Thanks Dave !! This is really another great trip you had ! We're all learnin' stuff here !

[TexasEd]

By the way, there is a cool power plant down by Town Lake that has the words "Austin Energy" in big red letters and lightning bolts. I think they should change the utility name to "Austin Power"

[Anonymous]

Dave, Thank you so much for the blog. When I lived in Willis, Austin was known as the San Francisco of the hill country.

Where's the pictures of Jim Duda from the 70's with big hair at Hippie Hollow.

Also how about some pics of the Devils Backbone, RR 2222, and Luckenbach...now there's real Texas................Tim

[FJ and G]

Pigseye,
Imagine the torture we endured, manning an Army booth in South by Southwest..

"ma'am, we're not here to recruit for Iraq, we're here to share Army homepage technology."

One lady pointedly said to me that I'd be a lot popular if I took off my Army.mil shirt. I obliged to show my hairy chest and Texas Shiner beer belly. Didn't work, needless to say.

[Anonymous]

Bob,
In searching a little deeper on the subject I'm getting conflicting information on the 107.
Seems it was first introduced in 1909 and lasted till 1938. It makes sense that your DCR has it's original plug as the transition from light socket to wall socket plugs happened sometime during the reign of the 107. It makes me wonder if DC powered houses using wall sockets had negative and positive markings to correctly guide plugging in an item such as your 107?

As I understand it, the use of "screw plugs" or Edison plugs was pretty common during the first years of electricity. Lionel liked to illustrate them in their early artwork. They were especially important with DC motor powered appliances so that polarity couldn't be reversed, making the appliance run in reverse. A vacuum cleaner for example. This is assuming, as you said, that every socket was wired identically.

Interesting to note that before transformers and reducers and during the era of powering toy trains with wet or dry cell batteries there was one other option. Take 110 volts directly off house current and use 5 or 6 lightbulbs wired in series. No lights lit meant no power to the track but screw in one bulb and off went the train. The more bulbs turned on the faster the train. Just a bit more hazzardous than a Z4000 I'd think! [;)]

Bruce Webster

[Anonymous]

Here's my reply


Eat lead

[1688torpedo]

Neat Pictures Dave! I bet that Bob inherited that DC Gizmo from Grandpa Munster himself. Remember the old saying? "If it doesn't kill you, it'll make you better!" I guess that applies in this case.[;)][:P][:)][:o)] Just imangine what Bob can do with a Corvair. He's fearless.[;)][:)] Can't wait to see what else you post here. Take Care.

[dwiemer]

Dave,
Thanks for the information and photos. Reducer?, I thought that was either a toaster, or a capital punishment method to keep Texas in the lead. Anyway, looking forward to much more information from the Blogg. I would love to have a volume of books with the information Bob has in his mind. Bob is a GURU in this hobby. As to the people you ran into at the show, I have heard that Austin is like the San Fran. as mentioned above. It is unlike the rest of Texas from what I hear, but I have never been there.
Dennis

[dwiemer]

Dave,
Thanks for the information and photos. Reducer?, I thought that was either a toaster, or a capital punishment method to keep Texas in the lead. Anyway, looking forward to much more information from the Blogg. I would love to have a volume of books with the information Bob has in his mind. Bob is a GURU in this hobby. As to the people you ran into at the show, I have heard that Austin is like the San Fran. as mentioned above. It is unlike the rest of Texas from what I hear, but I have never been there.
Dennis

[Anonymous]

Keith,

Never mind what Bob can do with a Corvair! I'm the King of " Unsafe at any Speed" even if the car is standing still. It's amazing how much smoke can be produced with one 12 volt battery and an unfused cigarette lighter circuit. Suffice it to say I can now change a Corvair wiring harness blindfolded. [;)]

Bruce Webster

Ralph was WRONG!

[FJ and G]

Today, we’re gonna see how Bob’s non-electrical coupling device works and unlock the mystery of his 072 flatcar going around 027 curves. We’ll pick up on Monday with more exciting things.

But first, a bit about Austin. I followed the 4th Ave downtown RR track, shown here at the Convention Center under the I-35 overpass and about a mile through some beautiful scenery (others would call it run-down). Came upon an old weigh scale as well. The most peculiar thing happened as I was walking that area. Everyone I met asked me for a cigarrette.

Inside SXSW (South by Southwest) convention is my Army booth. Next booth over had some colorful looking characters (the lady is my coworker contractor). And, who should happen by our booth, none other than Mr. Craig, the founder/CEO of Craig’s List.

On to Bob’s cool ideas now…

Here’s how he made the oversized flatcar to navigate his curves and switches. He articulated it! Just a simple bolt on each side and a few slices with the knife allow the car to pivot around like a Texas rattler!

And, he created this extremely short spur so that he can back his train up to the bumper and close the coupler when it touches the bumper (there’s an electronic uncoupler just prior to this stub track so he can couple and uncouple cars). Once the coupler is closed, Bob can pull the train back onto the mainline and back the train to the yard to drop off the cars that were on the train behind this articulated flatcar (without ever touching the train). The system worked flawlessly, as he demonstrated.

Since Bob has a shelf layout, it would have been a simple matter to use the 5-finger method, but Bob seems to love to invent things just as much as running trains.

BTW, his son isn’t really into the trains (I believe he’s an ROTC student?), but as I walked into Bob’s house, I noticed his son disassembling an ancient crank telephone, so I think some of the tinkering rubbed off on the gene line.

[TexasEd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pigseyes



Here's my reply


Eat lead

Maybe you should edit this to say:

Eat Depleated Uranium

[1688torpedo]

Bruce- LOL[;)][(-D]

[dwiemer]

Keep'em coming Dave.
Thanks for the information.
Dennis

[gwg50]

Hey Guys
Just a little tidbit back in 1956 or 57 there used to be an old steam engine setting in a park near I-35 between 1st an second street I thank and kids used to be able to play on it because I was one of those kids, but I have no idea where it went and can’t remember when they moved it. Gary

[lionelsoni]

Gary, that's SP-786, the mikado that the Austin Steam Train Association owns. They restored it and ran it for a few years, then discovered a crack in the cylinder saddle. They have had a new saddle cast, but haven't been able to get it all back together yet. It's obviously a very expensive operation.

http://www.austinsteamtrain.org/news.html
http://www.austinsteamtrain.org/786-repair.html

[Anonymous]

Some comments about AC/DC, conversion, and Mr Edison, also Mr Tesla.
- transformers change voltage from one voltage to another voltage, either higher or lower, but they don't convert AC -> DC or vice versa.
- AC -> DC conversion is accomplished by a rectifier. A diode or capacitor will do.

The DC voltage that Mr Edison supplied to lower Manhattan was 25 volts, non-lethal. He had a lifelong antipathy to Mr Tesla, the guru of AC. Part of that animosity was because the AC supplied at 110V is lethal, and Mr Edison didn't want any accidental deaths to impede electrification. It was not until the 1970's that this area was converted to AC by their supplier, Consolidated Edison of NY. Con Ed didn't replace the meters used to bill customers. Consequently, many customers received negative bills! After months of being reassured that Con Ed was going to fix the problem, some people I know moved elsewhere after receiving about a years free electricity.

The DC voltage reducers are a large rheostat (variable resistor) plugged into the wall outlet. A small rheostat is the volume control on a radio. A movable tap like the throttle on an AC xformer supplies voltage to the track. Connect the ground track to one end of the rheostat and the hot track to the movable tap. The further along the resistor, the higher the output voltage. They are called reducers because they cannot produce voltages higher than their input.