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An old head explains how to sort cars

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  • Member since
    December 2010
  • 7 posts
An old head explains how to sort cars
Posted by chuck smart on Sunday, March 12, 2017 5:12 PM

Maybe in the 70s or early 80s, MRR had a column where, in one issue, the columnist described a get together with fellow modelers. He explained his method for sorting cars destined for different places. A old prototype employee described a much simpler method that was actually used on a real railroad. I remember the old guy was quoted as saying "you have to remember railroading is a walking game". There was a black and white cartoon of the old fellow, maybe smoking a pipe. I could always find it by flipping old issues, but my collection of old MRRs were destroyed during a Hurricane Irene flood.  Old tables of contents indexed on this MRR website don't help, so I'm not convinced the back issue CDs will help either.

Anybody know what issue I want?

  • Member since
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  • From: California - moved to North Carolina 2018
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Posted by DSchmitt on Sunday, March 12, 2017 7:36 PM

Found by search of 75 Year CD  for "railroading is a walking game"

Lessons from a Retired Railroader - Switching Prototype Style by Alan L Bates   December 1979 Model Railroader

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, March 12, 2017 8:10 PM

DSchmitt
Found by search of 75 Year CD for "railroading is a walking game"

And there is a lot of walking but,it wasn't uncommon to swing on a car or the locomotive to save time. Also we would never move cars we didn't have too.

That article is a good read on switching cars.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • 7 posts
Posted by chuck smart on Monday, March 13, 2017 5:37 PM

Wow, thanks very much. MRR doesn't have any more, but I found one on Amazon.

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