Momentum? I do not understand what you are referring to. Can you explain for a new guy like me? It does not have to a complete deal just a brief that I might understand.

I have been thinking...this model railroading is in many ways the same as real railroding. For instance track problems and freight car problems. I have used the same system tio identify problems and solve them that I used in actual railroad world.

In the real world of engines that used DC traction motors we had "STALL BURNS" caused by putting high current to start a train to the traction motors and still the train would not start. This sitting still with current to the traction motors resulted in stall burns to the armature and burned or melted the insulation of the wiring in the motor itself.

Even it the train started moving engineers had to take into accou8nt the so called "SHORT TIME RATING" of the different types of locomotives. This was just how long under high current conditions a units traction motors would withstand the high temperatures produced without melting the windings in the DC motor. These time were accumulative meaning that if the cooling off time had not been observerd for a unit  the engineer would add that time to the next high current use of the engine so as not to exceed the total time alloewed in a short period of time.

It was excessive time in high current situations that resulted in the vast majority of traction motor failures. The other was excessive speed based on gear ratios that made the traction motors literaly sling the windings off the DC Motors causeing short armature windings. Even thoug I do not think that is a problem with the model engine. "HEAT KILLS" traction motors in the real world and I see the same situation in the little DC motors powering the model train. If you had enough weight in the unit or the train was too heavy or someone held the little engines down to a stall while current was flowing to the motor it would burn the insulation and the armaturte just like the real world engine. Just as a note: in heavy mountain grade situations many an engineer including myself would reverse the locomotives and apply power to hold the train and then release the air to charge the system especialy in cold weather. This of course was a violation of the air brake and train handling rules but was the only realistic way to hold the trains while you charged up. This frequently led to failure of the motors on these engines prematurely.

I have been involved in many hundreds of investigations into derailments mostly track and equippment damage and several involveing death to the engineers or trainman. The same investigative proceedures I used then I have applied to my model train and each time have found the problem.

Anyhow, thi8s reference to momentum in DC motors has me stumped as to what you are talking about.

Redtail67

Thanks hgcHO;

That certainly has a lot of possibilities for yard or local freight operations. I was not aware they even had such an animal.

The price is a bit stiff, for me, but maybe they will come down as time passes and others start producing it.

It certainly would add to the realism of operation say 3 or 4 in a train spaced for cuts on setouts along the line.

Thanks for pointing it out to me hopefully I will have them in my layout one day.

Redtail67

hgcHO


Looking forward to your review of DCC uncoupling. I really know nothing of DCC just a basic very basic understanding. trying to read all I can before I attempt to use it.

Redtail67

Yampa Bob:

I have been using GPS for about 15 years or so. Mostly as a hunter and camper in the Colorado mountains. It is an extremly accurate and most times reliable form of navigation.

It also is a life saver. I have used it two seperate times to save the lives of my companions. One who had severed his femoral artery, 5 miles in by horseback in one bad bad place. The other who had been thrown into a tree by a crazy mule and burst a lung. I was able to contact Creede Sheriff and he relayed me through to Flight For Life out of Colorado Springs. Thus the ability for me to give the exact coordinates by UTM Grid to the pilot who then transfered that to his chopper was able to land excatly where we were. Had it not been for that both of my partners would have lost their lives.

The pilot gave me his business card after the second time around so I could call direct. Its funny now but was not then.

I will never go to the mountains with out one and I bought all my kids and grandkids that hunt and camp one for their use. I urge anyone who ventures into the outdoors to get one.

In order to encourage my kids to learn the basics of it I would hide a $100.00 bill in the mountains then give the waypoints to find on a map then transfer the information as to coordinates. Then I would go out with them as they set their courses to find the money.

I have told you I want to talk more with you about the GPS and I still do. I just have not had the time to sit down and get it all in my head about what I want to ask you. I will soon.

I also would state that a person should always carry a map and compass and at least be able to use them in a basic way. Take extra battseries for the GPS but remember you can break it, horse step on it or what ever and the old fashioned way will have to work for you then.

No matter what I mark when I return to that spot by GPS I have never been off more that 3 big steps. I have plotted out hunts for my grandson who lives in South East Texas while sitting a my home here in Colorado. After laying it out for him on a Topo I would mail it to him. Amazing stuff and a valuble item for anyone to have.

Could not help but comment as I have been a big fan of GPS for a long time.

Redtail67

Never was a question of the ability to restore nor the willingness. It is a question of MONEY and FRA Certification, mainly of the Boiler that prevents most from being restored.

The regulations governing Operating Steam Locomotives is very stringent. The Liability in todays world has prevented Class I Roads from permitting Steam on their rails. Of course there have been exceptions. Southern was one of the friendly roads to Steam Excursions.

My best friend was/is involved with restoring the ATSF 2912 4-8-4 Northern  in Pueblo, Colorado. We spent many an hour on the internet and with other sources tryying and finnaly getting a Grant from the US Government of Surplus Milling Machines Laths and many manny tools...value well over 1 million. These came from a mothballed Navy Ship in California. The government gave the stuff and loaded it. He/they had to transport to Pueblo. This was just for tools that were well suited for Steam engines.

If the regs and the railroads would allow it you would have Steam operating everywhere, sadly, the truth is its just never going to happen. The ones operating now most will fail because of the cost of maintinence and meeting the regs.

Redtail67

thirdrail you must have worked for one of the various shortlines or worked and retired before the 1980 era.

I personally saw the Bonus check issued to the Superintendent for two years straight and thet were both 4 times my annual earnings as a Locomotive Engineer who worked 7 days week.
The director of labor relations recieved over 400,000 in a Bonus for one year and all he did was play golf and entertain (4 martini lunches)

Redail67

Thanks Rogertra and Yampa Bob for your replies.

I will give that a try and see what happens.

Rogertra, it does not seem to one of the best...but I just hate to have something that will work but lacks some minor part or fix.

I was afraid to use something like crazy glue for fear of really screwing it up and then not being to take it apart.

I have a drive problem with a loose coupler on the DC motor that will not turn even though the motor spins like crazy and the front trucks are spinning.

So I will use your ideas to get them up and going .

Thanks

Redtail67

It was the attitude of more profit(less maintenence) that does pay off for the share holder but at some point the expenses will be triple to replace and restore and operational fleet of cars or locomotives. That time that same stock will fall to the floor and the road will face bankrupcy and the government (the taxpayer, us) will be forced to bail them out. It is a scam that been run on the taxpayers for 30 years over and over. The fat cats running the railroad retire mega millionaires and could give s*5& about the cost to us to pay for their style of management.

Many cloaim they were stupid and inept managers while its just the opposite. They figured out the game a long time ago. Just how to retire rich beyond belief and have the government pay for all the money they robbed from the compaines they were in charge of.

In todays world where all the roads have merged into 4 main carriers of the nations freight the problem will surface with staggering cost to us.

Some roads are in fact better than others on upkeep and investment into the future others totaly ignore it.

There is no mode of transportation that can move freight as cheaply as rail none i repeat none.

Study after study has been done to justify the subsidy to airlines and to trucks and all clearly show that rail is the cheapest way to move freight any distance.

I was a party to many studies as to the cost to move the coal on BNSF fron Wyoming to Texas the cost to move 1 ton of coal and the amount fuel used by modern locomotives to move that coal was unbelieveable. Why? UNIT TRAINS.

The amount of trucks and the time as well as amout of fuel for them to move that same coal that same distance was staggering. Not to mention the logistics and the fact that the highway system could not possibly handle it.

The cost per ton mile of the fuel and the amount of fuel per ton mile is indeed unbelievably low for modern trains. Those figures were more than likely right.

Redtail67

The USA is way behind the other countries in Passenger Rail Service. They put all their eggs in the Airlines basket. They showed the short sighted view held by the various Administrations of the importance of Rail Service both freight and passenger.

They let the officers of the great fallen flags run their roads into the ground and rob the money for golden parachutes and outrageous pay. They permitted abandonments and neglected maintainence of extremly important routes.

These outright stupid decisions by rail management and a turned head of the U.S. government have led us to be the last on passenger transportation. The friegt service is nothing short of a joke as the many years of neglect and investment are coming home to roost.

A very aggressive rail passenger service improvement program should have been started 20 years ago. The delay will cost billions of dollars more than if they had pursued it years ago as warned by the transportation experts of the time.

Look at the abandonment of the double track at Colorado Springs now its to late it will nerver come back and the delays in the freight operation because of that one stupid idea had already cost millions. It is also one of the main reasons of opposition to passenger along the front range than is needed now and will be one heck of a proplem in 10-15 years.

One has to marvel at the high speed service all over Europe as well as Japan. We on the other hand can not average 40 mph Chicago to LA. on a daily basis.

It will be the resurgence of passenger service on dedicated track that will go a long long way on relieving congestion on the highways and cut a big dent in the importation and reliance on oil in the future.

Redtail67

I got this little engine just a few weeks ago from my daughter. It was dirty  and was missing some parts and others were broken. After contacting Bachmann on the 215 number I ordered the parts and recieved them today.

I had taken the little engine apart and cleaned it up and when the parts arrived today I started the reassembly of it.

All went well and when I placed it on the track the DC motor was running full out and headlight was blazing. However, it did not move.

After a close look I could see that the driver wheels ( number 3 axel) was not turning. The bottom of this engine has an inspection slot that lets you view the gear on the number 3 axel. It was spinning but the wheels were not turning.

I took the engine back apart and saw that the wheels were pressed onto the plastic axel/gear and that they had no slot or groove to hold them on the axel. They relied soley on a tight fit to spin with the gears.

The holes must be worn and does not allow a tight friction fit of the parts and results in the spinning of the gear and not the wheels. They feel tight are not sloppy but the fit is not tight enough.

My question to those on this board is:

1. Do they make a glue of some type that would hold the wheels to the plastic gear and not allow it to spin without turning the driver wheels?

2. If they do where can I get it?

I also have a coupling on another F Unit that spins on the motor shaft the same way. If I could attach the palastic to the metal shafts semi permanat but tight that would solve these problems.

Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

Redtail67

I have had no success with EMAIL or the 800 number but have always gotten someone with the 215 number. When they answered they gave me prompt and courteous service.

I have contacted them 5 times in the last two weeks for parts and general information.

Redtail67

Hey trains almost forgot. Get the RTS 8.0 Track building software from ATLAS...its free.

It will allow you to experiment with different designs and help you make up your mind as well as give you and idea if your EZ track will work or not.

I recieved that same suggestion from Yampa Bob on this board just a few weeks ago and it has helped me tremendously in trying different designs.

There may be better programs out there and I am sure they all cost money but for something to help you straighten things out in your head this one can not be beat.

JMHO

Redtail67

The photo you posted looks like the "BIG HOOK" we had at Temple, Texas.

We had a small steam "LITTLE HOOK" at Silsbee, Texas that we used all the time. ( I started railroading on the ATSF  in Silsbee and worked out of Temple for 5 years.)

I was on many wrecks where we had the Temple Derrick and the Silsbee Derrick working one on each end.

Many times we exceeded the rated capacity of the "LITTLE HOOK" because it was rated at 120 tons ( if my memory is right) and many of the cars loaded exceeded that and most of the (GP7 and F-all Types) engines  were 249,000lbs and the SD40 and more modern were 349,000lbs. That Little Hook picked them up and set them on the rails.

As was mentioned all wreckers had a "BOOM" car as well as "TOOL" car an a car with blocking and stuff.

When a wreck happened where the "Hook" was called out the crews were told to get to work as quick as possiblel and line up the hook and get ready to depart as soon as Train Orders were issued.

They finally got smart enough to have them on there own track at the roundhouse or rip tracks and they were ready except for the air test.


Redtail67

Justin Wilson, your kidding...I have 4 of his cookbooks went to several Cajun cook fest and watched him. He was funny as hell and one hell of a cook. I was just a kid when I went with my mother and grandmother to see him.

Back to the size of the Layout. I have not laid the first rail on my future layout. Why you might ask? I have put a small 40"x96" Layout for my grandson and it is my learning layout.

I have review hundreds of 4x8 layouts from various sources many are really good but the more I look and play around it is easy to see that a 5x9 would be much more flexibile and would allow the 22 inch curves which in turn would allow more easily the use of longer engines and cars.

You would have room in it to have the 18 inch curves and shorter loco and rolling stock for brancvh and industrial work.

Of course the tendency is to go out further and further using the same logic. As was stated before the 5X9 gives you a lot more options but yet takes only a little more room.

The 22 inch curves would let me run my fast passenger and hotshot freights much more reliably while the local and work trains putter around the industries and branch lines.

I really do think my layout will go to 5x9 when I start it and I will plan ahead to the future where I will attach my grandsons layout like an expansion kit.

Of course thats the dream and no harm  in dreamin....

Redtail67

As one new to modeling HO railroads, I think that the internet provides many excellent sites that have a wealth of information concerning all aspects of the hobby.

I would find books that address any specific part of modeling HO to be invaluble assets.

One of the best resources for me has been Forums such as this as you are able to pose questions and get fast answers from those that are in some cases real experts in the hobby. If nothing else forums provide ideas and different viewpoints of how to accomplish whatever you want as well as spark my brain into thinking of things I never would have.

I believe that all assets have a place and they all have a value to the model railroad builder.

Redtail67