hon30critter BATMAN Here is my latest offering Hi Brent, How many cars did you have in that train? I think I counted 50! Dave
BATMAN Here is my latest offering
Hi Brent,
How many cars did you have in that train? I think I counted 50!
Dave
Okay, I had to go back and count and I think you are right Dave, 50 is what I got. I have a couple of similar videos and those are different. I made one I haven't posted that has a 2-10-4 on point and two Trainmasters mid-train with 73 cars. I am always amazed when I run a train with mid-train helpers or a pusher or two on the rear I don't get derailments. They will rip around the layout at 40mph all day without a hiccup.
Speed matching is one thing and I am pretty fussy about getting that down, but not running into issues on my long ups and downs always surprises me.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I have question for all you "you tubers" on this forum... how do I post a video to the forum? I know how to post the link to the video, but I have seen others actually post a video right inside the forum posts, so it can be viewed directly. How do I do this? I thank you all in advance for your assistance. Cheers!
irishRRhow do I post a video to the forum?
Hi irishRR,
Here is how I do it:
1. Start your post on the forums and put in whatever text you want to introduce the video.
2. Open a second browser window and go to your YouTube video.
3. Start playing the video.
4. Right click over the video. You will get a menu the top item of which will say "Copy Video URL". Click on that.
5. Go back to your post in the first browser window.
6. Make sure your cursor is positioned where you want the video to appear and then click on the icon in the header bar that looks like a piece of movie film.
7. You will get a pop up window. Put your cursor in the top slot and right click your mouse.
8. Click on 'Paste' in the window and the URL address will show up. Then click on 'OK'.
Your video will be inserted into your post, but you won't initially be able to see it. All you will see is a gray box with the movie icon in the middle. The video will only show once you have clicked the 'Submit' button.
I'm sure there are simpler methods but this works for me.
I'm going to do a test to make sure I have this right. I haven't done it for a while. Here is my 23 tonner in action:
Yup, it works like I remembered.
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Motley Some interesting replies. Another thing I didnt mention was there is also a lot of club layouts, which are crazy huge and usually in large buldings. And another cool thing I thought is the professional channels like "whats neat this week in modelrailroading". And lots of locomotive reviews channels. Walthers, Trainworld, Scaletrains, and a bunch of other companies have their own channels also. There's just a lot of modelrailroading on youtube now, I just had no idea of the amount until recently.
Some interesting replies. Another thing I didnt mention was there is also a lot of club layouts, which are crazy huge and usually in large buldings.
And another cool thing I thought is the professional channels like "whats neat this week in modelrailroading". And lots of locomotive reviews channels.
Walthers, Trainworld, Scaletrains, and a bunch of other companies have their own channels also.
There's just a lot of modelrailroading on youtube now, I just had no idea of the amount until recently.
There are lots of different model railroad related things on youtube. I look for switching layouts, or simply sections of bigger layouts that might capture my interests.
I don't know if bigger layouts are the norm, nor do I care. I think it comes down to time. The time it takes to build it, and the time it would take to record it and upload it. I'd want to make sure every foot of layout was presentable, and that takes a lot of time on a large layout. I can't help but think those modeler's simply put more time into the hobby than I do, and that's fine with me. Judging it any other way seems inconclusive, IMO.
- Douglas
Doughless Motley Some interesting replies. Another thing I didnt mention was there is also a lot of club layouts, which are crazy huge and usually in large buldings. And another cool thing I thought is the professional channels like "whats neat this week in modelrailroading". And lots of locomotive reviews channels. Walthers, Trainworld, Scaletrains, and a bunch of other companies have their own channels also. There's just a lot of modelrailroading on youtube now, I just had no idea of the amount until recently. There are lots of different model railroad related things on youtube. I look for switching layouts, or simply sections of bigger layouts that might capture my interests. I don't know if bigger layouts are the norm, nor do I care. I think it comes down to time. The time it takes to build it, and the time it would take to record it and upload it. I'd want to make sure every foot of layout was presentable, and that takes a lot of time on a large layout. I can't help but think those modeler's simply put more time into the hobby than I do, and that's fine with me. Judging it any other way seems inconclusive, IMO.
Well yes, larger layouts take more time to build. Either you choose to devote the time, or you don't.
Some have the time, but choose to spend it other ways, some simply don't have the time as a result of other personal responsibilities.
I guess it depends on each personal situation, but for me, I only have a few other hobbies/interests that would fill my spare time.
As I am approaching retirement, and streamlining many other things about my life style, I am planning on spending a considerable percentage of my spare time on model railroading. And will be starting on a basement filling empire soon. About 35% larger than the last one, but not really any more complex.
I was once "well rounded", until I learned what I really liked.
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Well yes, larger layouts take more time to build. Either you choose to devote the time, or you don't. Some have the time, but choose to spend it other ways, some simply don't have the time as a result of other personal responsibilities. I guess it depends on each personal situation, but for me, I only have a few other hobbies/interests that would fill my spare time. As I am approaching retirement, and streamlining many other things about my life style, I am planning on spending a considerable percentage of my spare time on model railroading. And will be starting on a basement filling empire soon. About 35% larger than the last one, but not really any more complex. I was once "well rounded", until I learned what I really liked. Sheldon
Absolutley. I think the general trend is that people have more time for hobbies as they get closer to retirement and also once in retirement.
IMO, that also plays a role in the types of high fidelity models we see, because people generally have more money to spend on those hobbies. Maybe not more money overall, but they have fewer other obligations so they don't mind spending more for the models, not to mention the time it would take to build high fidelity models for a large layout.
I've never been very well rounded when it comes to model trains. I've had the same interests for about 25 years. I like all of it, but really only want to devote my time to a specific type.
Ok recently I saw some videos of layouts, and some of them have these poles with some bars on them over the track, right before a tunnel.
What are those? I reckon they are some sort of height measurement of some type?
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
MotleyOk recently I saw some videos of layouts, and some of them have these poles with some bars on them over the track, right before a tunnel. What are those? I reckon they are some sort of height measurement of some type?
These were telltales, installed to warn brakemen walking on the roof of a tunnel ahead.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
that is crazy. So for the railroads to create those, there must have been instances of brakemen falling off being hit by a trunnel.
I thougtht that was only in the movies. haha
Being a brakeman meant having one of the most dangerous jobs on a railroad in those days. Read more here: The Life of a Brakeman
Motley that is crazy. So for the railroads to create those, there must have been instances of brakemen falling off being hit by a trunnel. I thougtht that was only in the movies. haha
Michael, I find it interesting that you were not familiar with this very common feature from the steam era? But, if I recall, you do model more modern stuff, correct?
Until radios started to appear in the 50's, walking the roof of the train, moving or parked, was pretty common.
Keep in mind, more freight trains traveled at 35 mph than at 55 mph, and on Class I lines track was pretty smooth. So while dangerous, it was a skill one could learn, like walking on a boat/ship.
Now, if you are on the roof, walking back to the caboose, it would be easy to loose track of exactly where along the line you might be as the train rolls along.
The telltail would brush over the back of your head and shoulders, letting you know a tunnel or low bridge was coming up soon. Alerting you to lay down or climb down a ladder on a car end.....
Model ones tend to be located too close to the obstacle, due to our compressed distances.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
ATLANTIC CENTRALMichael, I find it interesting that you were not familiar with this very common feature from the steam era? But, if I recall, you do model more modern stuff, correct? Until radios started to appear in the 50's, walking the roof of the train, moving or parked, was pretty common.
rrinker Model ones tend to be located too close to the obstacle, due to our compressed distances. --Randy
Agreed.....
chutton01 ATLANTIC CENTRAL Michael, I find it interesting that you were not familiar with this very common feature from the steam era? But, if I recall, you do model more modern stuff, correct? Until radios started to appear in the 50's, walking the roof of the train, moving or parked, was pretty common. And after that it less than a decade till (at least in the US) running boards on freight cars were deprecated for interchange, at least for cars without access hatches or doors on their roof, since by that time there was no real reason for anyone to be traversing the roof of a standard boxcar (for example) while in transit (yes, I know many pieces of equipment recieved waivers from the required removal of roofwalks, some well into the 1980s IIRC).
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Michael, I find it interesting that you were not familiar with this very common feature from the steam era? But, if I recall, you do model more modern stuff, correct? Until radios started to appear in the 50's, walking the roof of the train, moving or parked, was pretty common.
And after that it less than a decade till (at least in the US) running boards on freight cars were deprecated for interchange, at least for cars without access hatches or doors on their roof, since by that time there was no real reason for anyone to be traversing the roof of a standard boxcar (for example) while in transit (yes, I know many pieces of equipment recieved waivers from the required removal of roofwalks, some well into the 1980s IIRC).
And Michael's (and many people's) lack of knowledge of railroading practices from 50, 75, or 100 years ago speaks directly to a situation I have talked about before which has various effects on our hobby.
In 1968 when I became active and aware in this hobby, the 50's, or even the 40's, was not really that far in the past. It may have been before my time/memories, being born in 1957, but my parents grew up in those eras.
There was simply a lot less railroad history to learn about, easily 50 years less.
Today, no matter your age, if you are just getting started in this hobby, or if you are a younger person, 1930 or even 1950 is a pretty abstract distance into the past which you possibly have no connection to.
So unless you are a "history" kind of person, it may be hard to relate to, or be interested in learning/understanding how different railroading was then compared with today.
By contrast, I'm not as old as some of our regulars on here, but I model that time before I was even born, in my case 1954. I took an interest in that period early in my model train life, and learned about it. It was after all only about 25 years in the past back then.
So when you say "trains" to me, my first thought is a lash up of EMD F3's, or a pair of 2-8-2 steamers pulling 40'/50' freight cars, with roof walks, and a caboose on the end.
Not a SD70 whatever and a string of double stacks with a blinking light.....
After the early 80's, I pretty much stopped keeping up with all the changes/advancements in current railroading. I pick up some of it by default, but it realy does not interest me much.
But I can tell you more than you ever wanted to know about early Piggy Back in the 50's......
Here's a short test video of a short C&HV train running on the Bucyrus HO club layout. The Chessie caboose is being deadheaded to a railroad museum after being repainted by C&HV's Logan,Ohio car shop.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
ATLANTIC CENTRALBut I can tell you more than you ever wanted to know about early Piggy Back in the 50's......
Tinplate Toddler Being a brakeman meant having one of the most dangerous jobs on a railroad in those days. Read more here: The Life of a Brakeman
Ulrich,Actually it was safe to be a brakeman after safety rules was upgraded. I only knew one brakeman to get killed in my 9 1/2 years of railroading.. He gave a backup signal then started to cross the track to get to the switch suffice it to say he did not make it. A stupid unthinking mistake cost him his life.
I had close calls like slack running in/out while inbetween connecting air hoses but,I jump into the clear when the car started moving.
That "Life of a brakeman" has several errors. Road brakeman never hung on to the side of the cars for miles on end before the caboose came along. They rode the roof. Of course in the early years a lot of freight trains was short and was operated as a mixed train.
Also the train would stop so the head brakeman could unlock and open a siding switch. The rear brakeman would close and lock the switch and run to catch the slow moving caboose--if the train didn't stop altogether while the rear brakeman closed and locked the switch. The points would need to be checked for complete closure both times as well.
Larry - thanks for putting things right. In Europe, brakemen had a little cabin they could ride in, but with the introduction of the Westinghouse air brake, these became gradually redundant. Their were no brakemen on trains after 1930. In the early days of railroading, however, brakemen really had a tough life, being subjected to the elements without any protection other than a thick coat. Many a brakeman froze to death in regions with sub-zero temperatures.
From a 1930 New York Central employees Magazine:
NYC_deaths_1930 by Edmund, on Flickr
Forty-three employees killed on the NYC alone, in SIX months. Fourteen of these were brakemen. NYC bragging about the 36% reduction. I wonder how much of this statistic is due to reduced traffic after October 1929?
Indeed it was dangerous work. Some benevolent railroads would hire the widow of a killed railroad employee as a crossing watchman or clerk in order to feed the family.
Regards, Ed
Even when they weren't killed, many were badly injured in those days, loss of limbs was common. Most railroads would find other jobs for these men. My ex father in law, his father was a passenger conductor on the Reading and lost a leg to an accident, he then became one of the crew callers working a desk in an office of the main station.
gmpullmanIndeed it was dangerous work. Some benevolent railroads would hire the widow of a killed railroad employee as a crossing watchman or clerk in order to feed the family. Regards, Ed
Ed,In the early years (arond 1900) families of switchman at PRR's Bradford,Ohio yard would keep a clean blanket for that dreaded knock on the door. The Brotherhood would give the widow $25.00 and a Bible.
Considering the size of NYC the number of brakeman killed in 1930 is a low amount 14 out of the 43 killed in that year according to the chart you posted...
Oddly there was more section laborers killed then yard brakeman.
nvm
ATLANTIC CENTRAL And Michael's (and many people's) lack of knowledge of railroading practices from 50, 75, or 100 years ago speaks directly to a situation I have talked about before which has various effects on our hobby.
Actually I find a lot of model railroad enthusiasts actually don't know anything about how real railroads work, in any era.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
cv_acr ATLANTIC CENTRAL And Michael's (and many people's) lack of knowledge of railroading practices from 50, 75, or 100 years ago speaks directly to a situation I have talked about before which has various effects on our hobby. Actually I find a lot of model railroad enthusiasts actually don't know anything about how real railroads work, in any era.
Not to disparage anyone, it is just a hobby and should be enjoyed as each person sees fit, I too have noticed a change in that situation over my 50 plus years in the hobby. Dispite not having the internet back then, when I started most all modelers, young and old, were interested in learning about the prototype.
My 7th grade science fair project was a demonstration/explanation of how the Westinghouse Air Brake works.......I know lots of modelers who have no real idea how a train stops......
As a tech nerd myself, I quickly learned the engineering behind all of it, track/wheel relationships, air brakes, steam and diesel locos, and on, and on.
As well as learning the history of the technical advancements and changes to improve service, safety and speed..
And to gain an understanding of operational procedures, at least on a basic level.
But I understand that for some all those "details" are just boring.
So goes the way of the world...
I can only agree, Sheldon. We did not have the easy access to information that people nowadays have, so we had to spend a lot more effort in acquiring the knowledge. Reading leading magazines and frequent trips to the library helped me to learn about the real world of railroading. MR and Trains provided knowledge how things are handled an ocean away from my doorstep. All of that information is now available at your finger tip (or just a mouse click away), which leaves the question why so many people know so little these days. I guess we were less distracted and much more focussed.
You and I are more alike than not, Sheldon, despite you being 9 years older than I am. I too jumped right into all that stuff, trying to find out all I could about how air brakes worked, how the boiler on a steam loco worked, how the valve gear worked, how diesels worked - I was always (and still do) read up on all that I can find. No internet when I was a kid, either - it was mostly all through books I got or else found to borrow at the library. A common humorous element that gets related is the process of tapping a hole - always the person says they wondered wh you would want to hit the hole with something. Yeah, I thought that at first too - but I wanted to learn so I read some books on machining practices and soon learned what tapping really meant in that context, way back when. I was extremely curious about electricity, and started off expermenting with the basics - lights, switches, and batteries. From there it progressed into electronics. Long before I ever took a class in such a thing, I knew the basic components and how they were commonly used. I didn;t know the details, such as how you pick the resistors to use with a given transistor, or what made one transistor different from another (besides the highest level of NPN vs PNP). I devoured books, didn't really matter the subject. I still do, which is why I do like my gadgets liek tablet and smartphone, they allow me to get in a few pages in times and palces where it might be impractical to open up a paper book. I rarely play games - if I'm not reading a book or magazine, I'm looking up information related to somethign I'm workign on.
Just the way I am, and how I've been from a young age. Insanely curious and always wanting to learn as much as I can cram into my skull. Ass history to that mix, along witht he trains, electronics, mechanical stuff, and carpentry, and it's easy to see why model railroading is my hobby.
But not everyone is like that. People are all wired differently. Be a boring world if everyone was just like me.
And those that think they know finds out they know nothing when hired by a railroad.
As a former brakeman I easily see the safety and operation rules broken by "prototypical" operators during simple switching moves.
As a new hire I had to learn safety and operation rules then pass tests before I became a student brakeman under the harsh watchful eyes of my conductor and training brakeman.
BRAKIE cv_acr ATLANTIC CENTRAL And Michael's (and many people's) lack of knowledge of railroading practices from 50, 75, or 100 years ago speaks directly to a situation I have talked about before which has various effects on our hobby. Actually I find a lot of model railroad enthusiasts actually don't know anything about how real railroads work, in any era. And those that think they know finds out they know nothing when hired by a railroad. As a former brakeman I easily see the safety and operation rules broken by "prototypical" operators during simple switching moves. As a new hire I had to learn safety and operation rules then pass tests before I became a student brakeman under the harsh watchful eyes of my conductor and training brakeman.
Larry, I would not disagree, I was however referring just as much or more to technical stuff like how the machines work, what the parts do, what they are called, how turnout geometry works, how the tappered wheel allows the wheelset to go around the curve, why a Pacific is better for passenger service and a Mikado better for freight, etc.
As for operations, sure good knowledge is important there too, but as a modeler, before you worry about every safety rule it might be good to understand the big picture of how freight "flows" from one location to another, what the various job descriptions are, how signals or dispatching works at least on a basic level.
I know life time railroad men who know little about some of the engineering and technical stuff I listed above.......
[Michael - Please refrain from using explicatives (e.g. d***) in your posts. Thank you for your cooperation. ~MR Moderator]
I think the word you are searching for is "expletive."
Gary