The Home Machinist!

Jeff Mills, President of Train Mountain RR penned the following update describing TM’s current track laying activities...Train Mountain use Spall rail joiners at all joints with the exception of insulated joints where a special rail joint has been developed by the signal crew. Are details about the...

Berkman wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:45 am

Also anyone experiment with using longer sections of rail, say 20-40ft sections instead of ten foot?

At the ILS, we have some sections that are 20 feet.

Anybody have experience with drop in ceiling tile systems for your shop? The good wife suggested I install hanging ceiling tile system in my shop to help keep the heat in during the winter. The shop has 12’ ceilings and is about 30’ x 20’ . The structure was originally built as a two bay shop for R...

Steel rail could mean more wear on train wheels. Have you thought about this as a possibility? I hear this at regular intervals and would like to see this myth put to rest. Aluminum oxide is highly abrasive and in fact, is one of the most commonly-used industrial abrasives. Anyone who makes the fir...

Straight air brakes are pretty much direct acting when using an air reservoir to store pressure. Pretty much. None of our trains is long enough to see significant brake pipe propagation time, which is about 1.1 milliseconds per foot in standard atmospheric conditions (20° C at sea level). Restricti...

The MJ's are jumbo sized quick connectors...While the QC's do present a restriction in the air line (like most quick connectors), if you're sticking with the 1/4" OD x 1/8" ID...don't think that restriction is going to be noticeable for our train operations...not unless you're running a 200+ foot l...

Why is it when you are working on a car and you drop a bolt it always rolls under the hottest part of the exhaust system?

rkcarguy wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 29, 2018 11:16 am

How is EPRR's current signal system controlled? Relay/Diode Matrix?

It's a manual (slap switch) system.

Will I be able to drill a 1/4" hole through 3/8 round rod Delrin without it splitting or anything? All I'm finding is solid round rod, no hollow tubing type products. Delrin drills very nicely. A 1/4" drill should be run at 800-1200 RPM for best results. If the drill is sharpened to 135 degrees wit...

The mainline signals have four indications, Red (Stop), Yellow (Approach the next signal prepared to stop before passing any part of the signal, trains exceeding 35 MPH must immediatly reduce to that speed), Flashing yellow (proceed prepared to pass the next signal not exceeding 35 MPH), and Green ...

Please define the abbreviations used. Not everyone understands their meaning, and it is always helpful. I know some of them, but not all. ABS APB EPRR GAR BDD (Oh wait! I know that one...) Thanks. ~RN ABS: Automatic block signals or automatic block signaling. APB: Absolute permissive block. APB is ...

Can I elicit some opinions on the acceptable level of complexity of signals on a live steam railroad? Defining an "acceptable" level of complexity is somewhat like defining an acceptable level of taxation. It's all a matter of opinion. :D That said, you have to keep your target "audience" in mind: ...