Re: Different coupler types on the same layout
My reason for starting off with?#5 couplers was the fact that I had a lot of them after changing over from HO..
I do use the 800 series on cars that I take to the club display.
Ken G. ?
On Fri, Feb 14, 2025 at 5:57?PM Bud Rindfleisch via <BlackDiamondRR= [email protected]> wrote: I don’t get why some use the HO #5 couplers to get “closer” coupling. Prototype distance between car ends is 3’ other than modern day cushion draft couplings. I’ve found that the 802’s give that prototypical 3 foot distance. As a retired 31 year railroader I sure appreciated that amount of room to go between to couple air hoses, anything less would’ve been difficult, even before I put on the added weight!? ? ?Bud Rindfleisch
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Re: Different coupler types on the same layout
Hi Bud, What’s the average length of an air hose?
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On Feb 14, 2025, at 5:57?PM, Bud Rindfleisch via groups.io <BlackDiamondRR@...> wrote:
?I don’t get why some use the HO #5 couplers to get “closer” coupling. Prototype distance between car ends is 3’ other than modern day cushion draft couplings. I’ve found that the 802’s give that prototypical 3 foot distance. As a retired 31 year railroader I sure appreciated that amount of room to go between to couple air hoses, anything less would’ve been difficult, even before I put on the added weight! ? ? ?Bud Rindfleisch
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Re: Different coupler types on the same layout
I don’t get why some use the HO #5 couplers to get “closer” coupling. Prototype distance between car ends is 3’ other than modern day cushion draft couplings. I’ve found that the 802’s give that prototypical 3 foot distance. As a retired 31 year railroader I sure appreciated that amount of room to go between to couple air hoses, anything less would’ve been difficult, even before I put on the added weight! ? ? ?Bud Rindfleisch
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Does anyone have contact info for Chris Rooney?
Thanks
Ed Sauers
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Gaylord Gill in April 2025 MODEL RAILROADER
The April 2025 digital edition of MODEL RAILROADER is out.? Why the April issue is out in mid-February isn't clear (!) but there's a nice 1/2 page photo of Gaylord Gill's layout in the TRACKSIDE PHOTOS feature.? Gaylord's is the first of about 8 photos I collected and submitted to MR.? ?Thanks to all those who offered images!? 72,000 readers will see Gaylord's nice photo...and Eric left the link to the NASG website in the caption we prepared so maybe we'll generate some 'traffic' to the site.
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My offer remains open to assist anyone who wants to submit a photo to MR.
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By the way, I noticed the April issue has shrunk to 68 pages, down about 10% from 76 pages in March.
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Brooks Stover
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On Fri, Feb 14, 2025 at 06:20 AM, Pieter Roos wrote:
clearly what drives the more successful scales is variety of product.
Pieter hit the nail on the head.? All the S talk and pictures has not (yet) brought forth any significant new products to S scale.? Maybe working as a collective entity and combining money would help.? Or, actively soliciting a Sugar Daddy to step up.? Or anything that aims at making new products rather than more and more videos.? Don't get me wrong, I like the videos, but they do not bring new products to the market.? Serious money out there needs to recognize S as an opportunity.
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Ed Loizeaux
Los Altos, CA
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Re: LATEST PROJECT ON MILFORD VALLEY RR
Thanks Jamie,? I have 6 coal cars and 3 cattle cars dedicated to the coal mine and cattle Company. I have one track that veers to the north of the coal mine as a line that is used to place cars that the Q could pick up but that is only set up to give reason for switching the cars out.? ?I want to build a coal dump space on the track by the cattle company ?I have room for a one car dump to ad another place to switch the cars.? I run it Deadrail Blunami , it’s pretty easy to spend 30 minutes or more just switching the two businesses. I love the sound of the S1 switcher growling up and down the tracks.? Fred
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On Feb 14, 2025, at 4:51 AM, Jamie Bothwell via groups.io <jamie.bothwell610@...> wrote:
? So Fred, Do you just 0-5-0 cars up to the section? Does it have a dedicated set of cars to push around up there? I'd say you're well on your way with the photo stuff. Jamie Bothwell Bethlehem, PA On Thu, Feb 13, 2025 at 10:49?AM Tom Nebelsick via <tnebelsick= [email protected]> wrote:
On Wed, Feb 12, 2025 at 7:06?PM Fred SCHLEGEL via <fredschlegel7= [email protected]> wrote: I had an eight inch x 8 foot space on the back side wall of my layout that needed to be filled to connect the Hudson Coal Co. mine to the Reinmiller Cattle Co at the other end of the layout. It is 31/2 inches taller than the layout? below it. I didn't want to connect it to the main layout because of the ramp it would take and no room to do it, so I just made it into a switching module to transfer coal cars and cattle?cars back and?forth. I am running it deadrail so no wiring was necessary. I have been having fun using my deadrail Bluenami equipped?SHS S1? CB&Q switcher to switch the area.? I also sent some pictures to Webmaster Peter for possible publication of which he said the phone pictures were to small to blow up for the website. So I down loaded?Brook Stovers layout photography article and bought a couple of LED photo lamps on tripods and set my Fugi?point and shoot camera on tripod and his setting suggestions. There is a lot to learn to get to his quality of photos but I feel I got a good start. I did send a few pictures to Terry Okelly? to see if they were good enough quality for the Dispatch. Will wait to see what he has to say. Here are a few shots of the switching module if just?finished from the coal mine.? There is a lot to learn and time consuming in trying to get a good picture but kind of a fun?project. Fred Schlegel
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Re: Craig Wright's Chama and Toltec Westerb
It was fun watching the presentation live.
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His fearlessness in redoing stuff, adding, tweaking, is amazing.
On 02/14/2025 10:19 AM EST Brooks Stover via groups.io <bcstover@...> wrote:
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Craig Wright's presentation of his C&TW Sn3 layout that was presented recently on a narrow gauge forum is now available for viewing on YouTube:
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I think it's fair to say Craig's layout is among the finest ever built in any scale at any time in the history of our great hobby.? His presentation is worth watching.? The layout is an inspiration.? Simply stunning!
Brooks Stover
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Wow, Pieter.
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THAT'S a radical thought.
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In my case, my reasons for considering S Hi Rail as my last layout theme is pretty much for exactly?the reasons you mention:
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* Easier to?handle than HO. (Including easier to re-rail/etc.)
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* More rubust than my fragile HO models.
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* I would have "Outgrown" (i.e. aged out) the desire to add detail. (Simply becomes too tedious and not fun.)
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As I stated, I see S Hi Rail as an opporunity for me to see visually pleasing trains running on 2 rails that are larger and more robust for my 80+ year old hands to deal with.
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Frankly, what I will eventually face (hope to, anyway!), will be faced by a LOT of HO modelers. The stuff just gets too small as we age.
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However, on a down note, most of those will simply let their HO?layout and equipment sit and languish instead of being proactive and making an alternate?way to enjoy trains.
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That is going to be my challenge: To not ride the HO train too long to where I don't have the phyical ability or energy to dismantle and dispose of the HO. I will need to recognize when the time is right, and begin the change before that time arrives.
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Worse comes to worse, I can at least start my S Hi Rail project as I tend to the duties of dismantling/disposing of the HO. That way I have trains running in short order so I can always enjoy the fun of miniature trains moving on miniature rails!
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ALWAYS have a plan. (That's the slogan I?live by! LOL!)
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Andre Ming
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Hi Griff, clarify for me.
8oz. Water 6 drops dw rinse 6 drops glycerine? ?oz. acrylic paint Can't wait to try it out. Tommy
Just saw a YouTube that recommended NOT using windshield wash.
His formula was water, ,8 oz I think, 6 drops of dishwasher rinse and a similar volume of glycerine.
The dishwasher rinse acts as a surfactant.
Griff? On Thu, Feb 13, 2025 at 2:52 PM, J. Kindraka via Tom: Glycerine is a carbohydrate, not an oil.? I believe it is in a group of what are called "sugar alcohols".? It is completely soluble in water.? Google it!?? Google probably has a more succinct explanation than this
wobbly bodied, shaking hands, poor visioned, S-Scale, model building microbiologist can provide... ?.
BTW, I sent a private note to Mike S.? I would hardly call his Frisco model "just another boxcar" - really nice work Mike! Jim Kindraka Grand Rapids, MI On Thu, Feb 13, 2025 at 1:51?PM Tom Lennon wrote:
I jest Mike, but isn't glycerine an oil? Is it water soluble?
I also watched a YouTube video that recommended using windshield washer fluid. Took me a couple of hours to disassemble the airbrush and clean out the solidified acrylic...but I'm still having fun. Tommy?
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Craig Wright's Chama and Toltec Westerb
Craig Wright's presentation of his C&TW Sn3 layout that was presented recently on a narrow gauge forum is now available for viewing on YouTube:
?
I think it's fair to say Craig's layout is among the finest ever built in any scale at any time in the history of our great hobby.? His presentation is worth watching.? The layout is an inspiration.? Simply stunning!
Brooks Stover
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On Fri, Feb 14, 2025 at 06:20 AM, Pieter Roos wrote:
- what if embracing hi-rail and and simply pushing for more new product was the real answer?
EXACTLY!!!!? After all, the difference is only in wheels and couplers...
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Rich G(ajnak)
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Just saw a YouTube that recommended NOT using windshield wash.
His formula was water, ,8 oz I think, 6 drops of dishwasher rinse and a similar volume of glycerine.
The dishwasher rinse acts as a surfactant.
On Thu, Feb 13, 2025 at 2:52 PM, J. Kindraka via groups.io <kindrakaj@...> wrote: Tom: Glycerine is a carbohydrate, not an oil.? I believe it is in a group of what are called "sugar alcohols".? It is completely soluble in water.? Google it!?? Google probably has a more succinct explanation than this
wobbly bodied, shaking hands, poor visioned, S-Scale, model building microbiologist can provide... ?.
BTW, I sent a private note to Mike S.? I would hardly call his Frisco model "just another boxcar" - really nice work Mike! Jim Kindraka Grand Rapids, MI On Thu, Feb 13, 2025 at 1:51?PM Tom Lennon wrote:
I jest Mike, but isn't glycerine an oil? Is it water soluble?
I also watched a YouTube video that recommended using windshield washer fluid. Took me a couple of hours to disassemble the airbrush and clean out the solidified acrylic...but I'm still having fun. Tommy?
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And it’s hard to argue with success, and Lionel together with O have more success and product than S.
For 50 years we have been pushing the size of S and decrying being held back by Flyer - what if embracing hi-rail and and simply pushing for more new product was the real answer? There isn’t a detail that people do in S that isn’t common in modern HO, clearly what drives the more successful scales is variety of product. Not just new paint schemes, although those were slow to come in S as well.? Whole new models.
Someone has to invest, is one issue. But Andre’s point is rather than pushing for “more scale, no big flanges” it is possible that scale-looking models with easier to re-rail flanges and rail would have drawn more people to S than attempts to be “more scale too”.
On Thursday, February 13, 2025, 9:41 AM, Rich Gajnak via groups.io <rustytraque@...> wrote: On Thu, Feb 13, 2025 at 04:51 AM, Pieter Roos wrote:
As did their O gauge EP-5 electric, with EMD four wheel instead of six wheel trucks (Flyers was more accurate). Then again, an in-accurate Flyer Virginian might have generated more sales for AC Gilbert, and could have been painted New Haven orange.
Accuracy never deterred Lionel...
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Rich G(ajnak)
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Re: Different coupler types on the same layout
<The Flyer couplers don’t close at slow speeds whereas KD’s do, so realistic switching is not an option with Flyer.> ? Flyer link couplers do close at very low speeds, that’s one of the reasons I prefer them to Flyer knuckle couplers.? You are quite correct about the knuckle coupler.? Another reason I like link couplers is that they are close coupling, the spaces between cars is more prototypical.? Same reason I prefer Kadee #5s over their 208s.? On my layout you will find Kadee #5s, Flyer link, and some Flyer knuckle with multiple conversion cars.? Oh, and Hi-rail, Flyer, and scale wheels. Tom Stoltz in Maine
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Re: LATEST PROJECT ON MILFORD VALLEY RR
So Fred, Do you just 0-5-0 cars up to the section? Does it have a dedicated set of cars to push around up there? I'd say you're well on your way with the photo stuff. Jamie Bothwell Bethlehem, PA
On Thu, Feb 13, 2025 at 10:49?AM Tom Nebelsick via <tnebelsick= [email protected]> wrote:
On Wed, Feb 12, 2025 at 7:06?PM Fred SCHLEGEL via <fredschlegel7= [email protected]> wrote: I had an eight inch x 8 foot space on the back side wall of my layout that needed to be filled to connect the Hudson Coal Co. mine to the Reinmiller Cattle Co at the other end of the layout. It is 31/2 inches taller than the layout? below it. I didn't want to connect it to the main layout because of the ramp it would take and no room to do it, so I just made it into a switching module to transfer coal cars and cattle?cars back and?forth. I am running it deadrail so no wiring was necessary. I have been having fun using my deadrail Bluenami equipped?SHS S1? CB&Q switcher to switch the area.? I also sent some pictures to Webmaster Peter for possible publication of which he said the phone pictures were to small to blow up for the website. So I down loaded?Brook Stovers layout photography article and bought a couple of LED photo lamps on tripods and set my Fugi?point and shoot camera on tripod and his setting suggestions. There is a lot to learn to get to his quality of photos but I feel I got a good start. I did send a few pictures to Terry Okelly? to see if they were good enough quality for the Dispatch. Will wait to see what he has to say. Here are a few shots of the switching module if just?finished from the coal mine.? There is a lot to learn and time consuming in trying to get a good picture but kind of a fun?project. Fred Schlegel
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DCC has had two ways to synchronize chuffs.? But I don't know if all decoders offered this.
One is a "chuff" input that you connect to a switch that is triggered by a cam on a driver axle (and as I recall, that is how PFM did it, as well as how Keller's "Onboard" system did it).? Of course, you have to have the cam and switch and the added wire.? Some have used on optical switch and the "cam" has black and white bands on it.
The newest scheme is better and uses Back EMF from the motor and a CV that relates to the ratio of motor RPM to driver RPM.? With BEMF the decoder knows the speed of the motor, and since it has a specific relationship to driver RPM, the decoder can just "do the math."? No cam.? No switch.? No wire.
Here is a YouTube showing an example of setting it.
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 02:31:49 PM PST, Fred Tolhurst via groups.io <gftolhurst@...> wrote:
100% agree. The sound quality from the PFM system, in terms of both whistle and exhaust, for my money greatly surpassed anything I’ve heard from DCC. And, the steam exhaust was synchronized to the drivers’ rotation. Have to admit the lack of synchronicity between the audible chuffs and the visible motion of pistons and wheels with DCC systems drives me a little bonkers.? Fred Tolhurst
On Feb 11, 2025, at 10:03?PM, Bud Rindfleisch via groups.io <BlackDiamondRR@...> wrote:
?Andre, ? My apologies if my post was misunderstood but Bob W was talking about diode lighting and mentioned the “PFM system” this got me reminiscing about the old PFM throttle “system” and the fact that I liked the way the whistle could be played. I guess a different “system” altogether! This is supposed to be fun right? ? ? ? Bud Rindfleisch
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I have two Lionel K5 Pacifics that I got from my afore mentioned Uncle that have two wheel pilot trucks.? My AC Gilbert Pacific has the appropriate 4 wheel pilot truck.
Andrew Parker
As did their O gauge EP-5 electric, with EMD four wheel instead of six wheel trucks (Flyers was more accurate). Then again, an in-accurate Flyer Virginian might have generated more sales for AC Gilbert, and could have been painted New Haven orange.
On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 7:37 PM, Charles Kinzer <ckinzer@...> wrote:
After Lionel stopped using Rivarossi, they did contract with Athearn.? And Athearn had the "Hi-F" drive for a while, and I think were the only ones that had it.? Athearn also bought the HObbyline (John English) diesel shell so some of the "Lionel" HO was a bit of a mashup.? The Virginian Rectifier that Athearn provided was interesting because it came on rather incorrect EMD Blomberg trucks from Athearn's "GP9.".
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 04:15:39 PM PST, ken garber via groups.io <garber.ken@...> wrote:
On Wed, Feb 12, 2025 at 6:56?PM Andrew Parker via <andriaart1= [email protected]> wrote:
Part of what I received was a Lionel HO gauge train set.? ?New Haven F units and passenger cars.? The traction was provided by spinning roods with rubber bands between the motor and the trucks.
Drive could have been made by Athearn.? ?The Athearn RDC and the Hustler (and maybe a few others) were rubber band drives.
At high speed they were guaranteed to fly off on a curve.
Ken G.
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100% agree. The sound quality from the PFM system, in terms of both whistle and exhaust, for my money greatly surpassed anything I’ve heard from DCC. And, the steam exhaust was synchronized to the drivers’ rotation. Have to admit the lack of synchronicity between the audible chuffs and the visible motion of pistons and wheels with DCC systems drives me a little bonkers.? Fred Tolhurst
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On Feb 11, 2025, at 10:03?PM, Bud Rindfleisch via groups.io <BlackDiamondRR@...> wrote:
?Andre, ? My apologies if my post was misunderstood but Bob W was talking about diode lighting and mentioned the “PFM system” this got me reminiscing about the old PFM throttle “system” and the fact that I liked the way the whistle could be played. I guess a different “system” altogether! This is supposed to be fun right? ? ? ? Bud Rindfleisch
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Re: The Death of S Scale: An Outsider's Opinion
Jim,
I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with in terms of a switching layout!? I'm sure it will be inspirational!
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My experience has been that smaller does not have to mean less engaging!
Brooks
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ken garber
Tom Lennon
