Running Bear's Coffee Shop LVIII
- Thread starter bnsf971
- Start date
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And there's another problem.
When I was researching/shopping for bulk-pack steel wheels many months ago, axle lengths on existing stuff was always an unknown unless I got out the micrometer.
Once I blew through that 100 pack from Intermountain, I found on occasion (and still do) when I need just a dozen or so 36" instead of 33".
One day I was shopping at MB Klein's for a couple dozen and was looking at other brands. Reboxx, for example, has a BUNCH of different axle lengths. How on earth do I know what I "should" have?
If they haven't already done so, I wish NMRA would step in and announce a standard on the point-to-point length.
But I'm probably talking about something I don't know about and there's some beholding reason why it wouldn't be a good idea.
E
Did you build a program around that DB or just use Access to query your table(s) directly?
I've tried to find a "fleet maintenance/inventory" program without much success. I have built MS SQL databases for such an endeavor several times. I never started on the program itself other than build and empty C# .NET project shell. According to my stack of notes I last visited this effort in early Sept. a few months ago.
In the mean time I do have hand-written notes. Especially for my 2 passenger car sets. Seems that some cars are particularly picky about running order on the train.
E.
Well , that means (in Boss speak) you'll be all 'revved up and ready to 'go,go' to start next week. Or, you'll be dragging it out till Monday.
Here's me, scanning intently the pics to spot the box car or whatever for the beer sign and thinking "E's got b****y good eyes" or (he's got a real problem), eventually spotted the can.
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Sirfoldalot
Days Gone Bye!
Morning all: 53 this morning at 7am. Supposed to start cooling down over the next few days. Temp only reached 83 yesterday, and looking for a high of 73 today. Forecasting some rain for tomorrow .. that will be a change, lol, I have forgot what it is.
I came upon this while reading this morning. It was written by a member if the Frisco site. Appears to be useful info as there has been a lot of talk about wheels lately. This gentleman, Tom Holly, has a very large layout in Grand Junction and works as an engineer for the BNSF. Hope that some of you find the info useful.
"I totally agree with my esteemed friends on the Kadee couplers.
Kadee metal shank couplers are second to none, they are the most dependable coupler ever produced. However, I personally, use Kadee wheels to finish loading my gondolas with scrap wheels, no offense intended. Reboxx has the best wheel/axle combos that I have ever used, they also have different wheel widths as well as different axle lengths to fit almost any truck. Exactrail/Tangent models use some of these same wheels in their product line.
You need to consider different axle lengths to keep the axles properly fitted, and keep the car centered on the rails as well as keeping side play to a minimum, thereby helping to keep couplers centered for better operation too.
You can buy this truck finishing tool.
http://www.reboxx.com/Tools.htm
This tool will finish the truck axle taper to accommodate most axles tapers for the best performance. Not to beat up on Kadee wheels too much but their axles are plastic, as well as most trucks are plastic, bear in mind, similar composites dont make great wear/performance partners for an extended period of time. Metal axle to Plastic side frames are by far, the best performers for me. I have had to place derails or skates on sidings with minimal grades to keep cars from rolling onto the main track.
As far as 33" wheels opposed to 36" wheels. It all depends on what the GRL (gross rail loading) or lbs per axle compared to the load limits of the rail car. Example, a 4 axle, 140,000 GRL car would likely have a 33" wheel set under them, a 4 axle 296,000 GRL car will have a 36" wheel set, passenger cars notwithstanding, as passenger cars will almost always have 36" wheel sets for a better/safer ride. As info use the "LD LMT" on the car to determine the GRL.
Some multi platform stack cars have 40" wheels under them as well. Most modern cars nowadays have "36 1W WHLS", meaning 36" one wear wheels, or the wheels cant be turned on a lathe, only replaced. It is incredible what kind of load and abuse these wheels carry. Consider on the prototype, that every axle on a loaded train carries basically, the equivalent of a loaded tractor trailer, so you have a 128 car loaded coal/grain train for example, or 512 axles, minus the power, you have 512 loaded trucks or 20,000 trailing tons behind you, not counting the power, which usually is 400,000+ lb per loco. When you think about how many axles and wheels you have trailing the head end, and how many miles they go every week, it is kind of amazing, how the components perform. Yep them Timken folks are certainly worth their weight in Gold."
I came upon this while reading this morning. It was written by a member if the Frisco site. Appears to be useful info as there has been a lot of talk about wheels lately. This gentleman, Tom Holly, has a very large layout in Grand Junction and works as an engineer for the BNSF. Hope that some of you find the info useful.
"I totally agree with my esteemed friends on the Kadee couplers.
Kadee metal shank couplers are second to none, they are the most dependable coupler ever produced. However, I personally, use Kadee wheels to finish loading my gondolas with scrap wheels, no offense intended. Reboxx has the best wheel/axle combos that I have ever used, they also have different wheel widths as well as different axle lengths to fit almost any truck. Exactrail/Tangent models use some of these same wheels in their product line.
You need to consider different axle lengths to keep the axles properly fitted, and keep the car centered on the rails as well as keeping side play to a minimum, thereby helping to keep couplers centered for better operation too.
You can buy this truck finishing tool.
http://www.reboxx.com/Tools.htm
This tool will finish the truck axle taper to accommodate most axles tapers for the best performance. Not to beat up on Kadee wheels too much but their axles are plastic, as well as most trucks are plastic, bear in mind, similar composites dont make great wear/performance partners for an extended period of time. Metal axle to Plastic side frames are by far, the best performers for me. I have had to place derails or skates on sidings with minimal grades to keep cars from rolling onto the main track.
As far as 33" wheels opposed to 36" wheels. It all depends on what the GRL (gross rail loading) or lbs per axle compared to the load limits of the rail car. Example, a 4 axle, 140,000 GRL car would likely have a 33" wheel set under them, a 4 axle 296,000 GRL car will have a 36" wheel set, passenger cars notwithstanding, as passenger cars will almost always have 36" wheel sets for a better/safer ride. As info use the "LD LMT" on the car to determine the GRL.
Some multi platform stack cars have 40" wheels under them as well. Most modern cars nowadays have "36 1W WHLS", meaning 36" one wear wheels, or the wheels cant be turned on a lathe, only replaced. It is incredible what kind of load and abuse these wheels carry. Consider on the prototype, that every axle on a loaded train carries basically, the equivalent of a loaded tractor trailer, so you have a 128 car loaded coal/grain train for example, or 512 axles, minus the power, you have 512 loaded trucks or 20,000 trailing tons behind you, not counting the power, which usually is 400,000+ lb per loco. When you think about how many axles and wheels you have trailing the head end, and how many miles they go every week, it is kind of amazing, how the components perform. Yep them Timken folks are certainly worth their weight in Gold."
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
new guy
Race 'em now and plan. You haven't been at this as long as some of us. Continue to ask for advice (even if you don't like the answer) and suggestions. You have the room and enthusiasm to eventually come up with a spectacular layout. Take your time as you and others have alluded to. This is the time also to note equipment with problems that need to be addressed. My advice is be sure you take notes so you don't overlook anything...don't ask me how I know this. LOL I created a Microsoft Access database that I track all maintenance in so I can look back and spot trends or extremely problematic equipment.
Well I have rambled long enough.
Willie
I hear you on the track man. I have about 900' of track and I estimate that I am only 60% complete. There's about 180' in my lower level north staging yard alone.
Race 'em now and plan. You haven't been at this as long as some of us. Continue to ask for advice (even if you don't like the answer) and suggestions. You have the room and enthusiasm to eventually come up with a spectacular layout. Take your time as you and others have alluded to. This is the time also to note equipment with problems that need to be addressed. My advice is be sure you take notes so you don't overlook anything...don't ask me how I know this. LOL I created a Microsoft Access database that I track all maintenance in so I can look back and spot trends or extremely problematic equipment.
Well I have rambled long enough.
Willie
BigE
Active Member
And there's another problem.
When I was researching/shopping for bulk-pack steel wheels many months ago, axle lengths on existing stuff was always an unknown unless I got out the micrometer.
Once I blew through that 100 pack from Intermountain, I found on occasion (and still do) when I need just a dozen or so 36" instead of 33".
One day I was shopping at MB Klein's for a couple dozen and was looking at other brands. Reboxx, for example, has a BUNCH of different axle lengths. How on earth do I know what I "should" have?
If they haven't already done so, I wish NMRA would step in and announce a standard on the point-to-point length.
But I'm probably talking about something I don't know about and there's some beholding reason why it wouldn't be a good idea.
E
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Sherril - I have had no problems with Kadee wheelsets either. I have used P2K and IM as well. They all perform the same for me. I believe IM comes with metal axles, as do all newer Athearn RTR cars. I don't know whose wheelsets they use. However, I have seen warped axles on P2K's before, less than 1% in my observation.
Thanks for the info regarding "one wear" wheels. It's good to learn something new every day.
Willie
Thanks for the info regarding "one wear" wheels. It's good to learn something new every day.
Willie
BigE
Active Member
Did you build a program around that DB or just use Access to query your table(s) directly?
I've tried to find a "fleet maintenance/inventory" program without much success. I have built MS SQL databases for such an endeavor several times. I never started on the program itself other than build and empty C# .NET project shell. According to my stack of notes I last visited this effort in early Sept. a few months ago.
In the mean time I do have hand-written notes. Especially for my 2 passenger car sets. Seems that some cars are particularly picky about running order on the train.
E.
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
BigE - I just built tables, queries, switchboard, forms and reports. I'm self-taught and have absolutely no knowledge or experience with SQL. I have in the past year or so started to use "Easy Model Railroad Inventory", which combines all of what I did along with many inventory sort programs, photos and operations functions. It is a free download at http://easy-model-railroad-inventory.soft112.com/
Willie
Willie
BigE
Active Member
Good evening. It's 63, and dark.
I got to work this morning, and ran non-stop until about 45 minutes ago. I got in the car, and drove home, ate, and sat down at the computer. I'm heading to the shower as soon as I check my email. It's been one of those Mondays again...
I got to work this morning, and ran non-stop until about 45 minutes ago. I got in the car, and drove home, ate, and sat down at the computer. I'm heading to the shower as soon as I check my email. It's been one of those Mondays again...
Well , that means (in Boss speak) you'll be all 'revved up and ready to 'go,go' to start next week. Or, you'll be dragging it out till Monday.
PRR Modeler
Well-Known Member
Evening All,
Well the decoder did not come in today. The wonderful news here today is our washer finally died...what a pain. Went to a couple of stores but can't get delivery until the middle of next week because of the time of the year. We knew the people that we got the shelving from last weekend had a washer for $200, so at least temporarily that is what we are going to do. We pick it up around 6 PM tomorrow night.
Montanan- Great Hobo and farm yard shots.
Willie- Look into the Polaroid cube. It is 1 inch square and takes a micro SD card. It is what I use for track level videos. The quality of the video is great.
Garry- Great farm scene also.
I hope everyone has a good night.
Well the decoder did not come in today. The wonderful news here today is our washer finally died...what a pain. Went to a couple of stores but can't get delivery until the middle of next week because of the time of the year. We knew the people that we got the shelving from last weekend had a washer for $200, so at least temporarily that is what we are going to do. We pick it up around 6 PM tomorrow night.
Montanan- Great Hobo and farm yard shots.
Willie- Look into the Polaroid cube. It is 1 inch square and takes a micro SD card. It is what I use for track level videos. The quality of the video is great.
Garry- Great farm scene also.
I hope everyone has a good night.
montanan
Whiskey Merchant
Found some old photos
Here are some old photos I came across of part of my old N scale layout that was torn out in the early 80's. This is only a small portion of it. The main line run was a bit over 11 scale miles and could take as much as 20 minutes to make a full lap at a reasonable scale speed.
Unfortunately, the locomotives of the time for the most part we garbage. Out of 30 some locomotives, maybe 5 or 6 were decent reliable locomotives.
These aren't the best photos as they were scanned from old photos. Sure wish I had this much room for HO scale.
Here are some old photos I came across of part of my old N scale layout that was torn out in the early 80's. This is only a small portion of it. The main line run was a bit over 11 scale miles and could take as much as 20 minutes to make a full lap at a reasonable scale speed.
Unfortunately, the locomotives of the time for the most part we garbage. Out of 30 some locomotives, maybe 5 or 6 were decent reliable locomotives.
These aren't the best photos as they were scanned from old photos. Sure wish I had this much room for HO scale.
Good lord Chet!! That's awesome!!!!
I didn't think Olympia beer still existed back then.
Oh yeah. Cool train pics as well.
E
Here's me, scanning intently the pics to spot the box car or whatever for the beer sign and thinking "E's got b****y good eyes" or (he's got a real problem), eventually spotted the can.
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