Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Is it April Fools or MR Magic?

2004 views
22 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2001
  • From: US
  • 3,150 posts
Is it April Fools or MR Magic?
Posted by CNJ831 on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 6:46 AM
Yup, I saw that great Inverted Railroad device announced by Newton Ergonomic Railroad Display, Inc. (NERDI) on page 9 of the April issue of MR. Nice, but I'm a little long in the tooth and using it would likely result in neck problems and thus medical bills for me. ;-)

However, I'm really excited about the possible offering of that wonderful MR Railroad Room Expander that's implied in the article on the Mississippi, Alabama & Gulf layout, starting on page 54. In the Layout at a Glance box it lists the layout's dimensions as 24x27 feet. On the opposite page, however, the diagram of the layout says the size of the bedroom housing the MA&G is 12x13 feet! By Golly, I could sure used a couple of them there Railroad Room Expanders, MR! ;-))

CNJ831
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 736 posts
Posted by tomwatkins on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 7:07 AM
CNJ,
It sounds like somebody has really hit on something there. I could really use a "magic railroader room expander"! In fact, I don't know of many model railroaders who couldn't use one. Sounds like a sure-fire big seller to me.
Have Fun,
Tom Watkins
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Rhode Island
  • 2,216 posts
Posted by davekelly on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 8:02 AM
Sign me up for one!! And please also throw in one of those "automatic price reducer thingies."
If you ain't having fun, you're not doing it right and if you are having fun, don't let anyone tell you you're doing it wrong.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • 1,138 posts
Posted by MidlandPacific on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 8:10 AM
Up there with the pressurized basement and the model subway lines in PVC pipe.......

http://mprailway.blogspot.com

"The first transition era - wood to steel!"

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,427 posts
Posted by dknelson on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 8:22 AM
Let's not forget the magic thigh and tummy reducer so we can build our layouts with smaller aisleways..... more room for trains.
Dave Nelson
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Along the Murphy Branch
  • 1,410 posts
Posted by dave9999 on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 8:25 AM
Railroad Room Expanders have been available for years... It's called Z scale.[:D]

If you can't make the room bigger, make the trains smaller. Dave
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: US
  • 641 posts
Posted by mikebonellisr on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 10:15 AM
I haven't read the article on the MAG but is the size given for a double-decker layout?If not,then that's a nice size layout room.
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,196 posts
Posted by howmus on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 10:18 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

Railroad Room Expanders have been available for years... It's called Z scale.[:D]


Good idea but it would be too expensive! I would have to go back to the optomitrist and get better (and more expensive) glasses! LOL [:D] [:D] [:D]

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 11:02 AM
So was this the 4/1 joke or for real?

If real, it could be interesting to begin 'conventionally" , and then have the train climb the wall and run on the ceiling. Hmmmm... what grade is that? Helixes could be make like moebius strips.

Wait til sci fi authors get wind of this!
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Pacific Northwest
  • 3,864 posts
Posted by Don Gibson on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 7:24 PM
THIS put's new mwaning into the word "Duck under"
Don Gibson .............. ________ _______ I I__()____||__| ||||| I / I ((|__|----------| | |||||||||| I ______ I // o--O O O O-----o o OO-------OO ###########################
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 7:52 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

THIS put's new mwaning into the word "Duck under"


Yeah Literally

Nice idea though
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Colorado Springs
  • 728 posts
Posted by FThunder11 on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 8:28 PM
Dont put it on the celing, that will hurt your neck...Put it on the wall at eye level that way your neck doesnt hurt. or pout it at eye level as if you were in chair and sit down, gets rid of the neck problem
Kevin Farlow Colorado Springs
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Louisville,Ky.
  • 5,077 posts
Posted by locomutt on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 9:25 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

THIS put's new mwaning into the word "Duck under"


Anybody out there remember the "old" MR cartoon;
that said "Duck Under Here" ? Where they actually showed a
duck in a tub of water,under the layout.

Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Phoenix, Arizona
  • 1,989 posts
Posted by canazar on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 10:34 PM
Ya know, I read that article last nite when I got home. I had been at work welding and grinding away for over 12 hours so i was "bit out of it" . I caught that article and started reading... I was like wow... "Maganets huh or something? Man, great idea but that is never going to sell" .... I was buying it until I saw the part were they wrote they used the Turtle Creek lay out.. I was looking at the pictures and thought.. "Hey, those are 2 foot tiles and only covers 3, meaning is 6' long... thats not right.... What the heck.... Wait a minute.... [banghead] Oh my April issue... I shoulda.[censored]. known.."

I threw down on the couch realising I needed go to bed.[:(]

Doh!

John k

Best Regards, Big John

Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona.  Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the  Kiva Valley Railway

  • Member since
    May 2015
  • 5,133 posts
Posted by ericsp on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 10:34 PM
It sounds like something dharmon would come up with. Were there any Soviet Diesel 39s on that layout?

"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Mile 7.5 Laggan Sub., Great White North
  • 4,201 posts
Posted by trainboyH16-44 on Wednesday, March 2, 2005 1:09 PM
How much do these things cost? And do they know where could I get my long dreamt of duplicator/shrinker/transporter ray gun, so I could duplicate my favorite trains, shrink them to HO, and put them in my roundhouse.
Sarcastic trainboy

Go here for my rail shots! http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=9296

Building the CPR Kootenay division in N scale, blog here: http://kootenaymodelrailway.wordpress.com/

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: SE Nebraska
  • 249 posts
Posted by camarokid on Wednesday, March 2, 2005 5:25 PM
It really does read 24' x 27'. And the room size is 12' x 13'. I have noticed in the past that they have done it before. I was really intrigued by the layout on the ceiling. Never would want one though. Didn't even realize it was the April issue till now. Oh well. Ain't it great!!
Archie
Ain't it great!!!
  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: Richardson, TX
  • 136 posts
Posted by trollw on Thursday, March 3, 2005 1:05 PM
I really liked the MNM's (M&Ms) that they used to hold the trains to the tracks!

Regards,

 John

 "You are what you eat," said a wise old man. Oh Lord, if it's true, I'm a garbage can.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, March 3, 2005 3:59 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by locomutt

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

THIS put's new mwaning into the word "Duck under"


Anybody out there remember the "old" MR cartoon;
that said "Duck Under Here" ? Where they actually showed a
duck in a tub of water,under the layout.


Yes, I have that one. Also the one that made fun of the Dannemans where he's holding a real live goose, I think the caption said "Well, it sure gallops" or something like that.

--Randy

Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 3, 2005 7:12 PM
I personally think that the NERDI system is a cool idea, but it sounds incredibly dangerous for people carrying metal objects in their pockets!!! [xx(][xx(][xx(][xx(][xx(][xx(][xx(][xx(][xx(][xx(][xx(][xx(]

The good ole' CSXSD could use some of those. I could pick my way through a busy yard while watching TV!
  • Member since
    April 2002
  • From: Nashville TN
  • 1,306 posts
Posted by Wdlgln005 on Friday, March 4, 2005 9:12 PM
I thought the Majic Room Expander was called a Tardis
Bigger on the inside than it appears on the outside?

Where to find a sonic screwdriver that would fix all old lokies??

If I were Dr Who my trains would always run on time!
Glenn Woodle
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 4, 2005 9:23 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by trollw

I really liked the MNM's (M&Ms) that they used to hold the trains to the tracks!


It's sweet. They link to the tracks, but not to your hand ...[:D]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 4, 2005 9:27 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Wdlgln005


If I were Dr Who my trains would always run on time!


If you were Dr Who your trains would run and then disappear without the tunnel.

Then a dalek would appear and disintegrate it.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!