Quote from: SteamGene on March 21, 2009, 06:53:14 PM
Jerry,
The last time I ate issued C rations was in the late 1980s as MREs came into use.  I believe there was some improvement in variety in the late 1950s, but the cans were the same, and many of the meals were the same.  C rats, when heated were mostly okay. 
Gene

Interesting. We were told they weren't manufactured after 1958 or so. I assume they were of an improved variety rather than left over from the late '50s. I guess as you report, there was more production, perhaps with better taste and texture.

As far as being ". . . mostly okay," I agree. They were better after being chased up and down hills carrying a BAR by a couple of really tough M-SGTs for the whole day! Makes a person hungry for anything except more running.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

K rations were issued during WW-II. They contained a complete day's food of breakfast. lunch & dinner. Something like 3000 calories that one had to be quite hungry to eat, but really kept our troops going.

C rations, from the same era, were individual cans of meat, meat & potatoes, meat & beans, etc. Being canned, they were heavy to carry, had little variety and weren't at all appealing to appetites. I don't remember what the caloric content was, but I do remember that they came with the recommendation that the user needed to eat some 'real food' every few days in order to remain healthy. Their use lasted until the very late 1950s. As an ROTC cadet at that time, we got to use up some of the Army's last available stock!

None of the above stuff was what would be considered a healthy diet today, especially for combat troops on the move. The current MREs are much more palatable, nourishing and healthful.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Yes, the larger gauge bus wires are essentially the same length as and parallel to the track. The short feeders connect the bus wire to the track. This arrangement provides a power connection through the bus wire that does not have rail joiners or other possible high resistance connections and therefore provides more reliable power hookup to the track.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Adari's original question was "where can I get real railroad train track?"

It's a fine point of language, but "track" is an assembly of rail, joint bars, ties, tie plates, spikes, and some miscellaneous hardware including all the fasteners to keep the track assembly together.

Seeing that he wants rail requires a different search and produces different answers.

Googling for "railroad rail pieces" produces 127,000 hits in .17 seconds.

The very first hit is a company in San Diego, CA that advertises "Railroad Rail Pieces for Jeweler's or Blacksmith Anvil, Make custom tools." The site also advertises longer lengths of rail as well as spikes, and they invite you to come pick your own rail. There are pictures of piles of rail and spikes. See:

http://sandiego.backpage.com/ToolsForSale/_20_railroad_rail_pieces_for_jeweler_s_or_blacksmith_anvil_make_custom_tools/classifieds/ViewAd?oid=1964633

I didn't look much further, but would bet that somewhere in the over quarter million Google returns, there is a source of the kind of pieces of rail adari and others are looking for that is near to our individual locations. I did see some discussion on getting rail from junk yard sources on at least two of the sites on the first couple of pages of the search returns.

Follow the link I previously provided to A&K Railroad Materials:

http://www.akrailroad.com/OnlineCatalog/RailJointBars/TeeRailSectionsData/tabid/76/Default.aspx

There is a table of size and weight of a wide range of rail, starting at 12# / yard. That information is very useful just for modeling. It also provides all the information required to make certain any rail you purchase for paper weights won't collapse your desk!

Happy Railroading,

Jerry

As others have reported, that sticker is put there to comply with the People's Republic of California Proposition 65 requiremnets, which were created by a ballot initiative in 1986. Here is a link to the California State Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (an office set up by that proposition) site that explains it:

http://www.oehha.org/prop65/background/p65plain.html

This warning is posted at every filling station, in stores of all types, and has now found its way onto packaging for many items that are sold here in California.

An example of how ridiculous this warning is: Earlier this fall, we purchased some biscotti (Italian cookies) at Costco. We really liked them, but the store didn't have any on our next trip, so I looked on line to find another source.

Numerous suppliers had the brand I was looking for, but when I read the entire page of one of them, there was the California Proposition 65 warning at the bottom, with no explanation as to why. I called the manufacturer in Texas and they too were baffled and upset about the warning. They absolutely assured me that there was nothing in their biscotti nor the packaging that would require the warning label.

I wrote the sales site asking about the warning, but they didn't reply. I recently looked at the sales site again, and the warning is still there. On Cookies!

IMHO, this is typical of government out of control, with this particular one being accomplished through California's further out of control initiative system, where any special interest group can get laws passed, mandate funding and create large new organizations that the state has to pay for forever. Just STUPID STUFF done in the name of government.

As to the OP's comment that he will just use his original train rather that purchasing a new one, I would point out that the original train was made from the same stuff and has the same chemical content as the new one. Will you forego purchasing gasoline? The warning is posted right there on the front of every California filling station and in many cases it is pasted directly on the pump.

And Dr. EMD is correct that the warning is also posted on every parking garage and lot.

Rant Complete.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Quote from: adari on December 25, 2008, 12:44:17 PMWhere can I get real Pennsylvania rr train track or any other railroad of real train track. <snip>

If you Google "Railroad Track," you will see ~1,910,000 hits. That Google search took ~0.10 seconds.

One of the first hits is A&K Railroad Materials, Inc.:

http://www.akrailroad.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

They have ties, including several grades of used ones (called "relay ties"), along with switch ties. They have permanent tie sales sites in 11 locations across the U.S. See:

http://www.akrailroad.com/OnlineCatalog/Products/RailroadTies/tabid/61/Default.aspx

They also catalog rail from 12# / yard up to 152# / yard. See a table of sizes at:

http://www.akrailroad.com/OnlineCatalog/RailJointBars/TeeRailSectionsData/tabid/76/Default.aspx

Their full catalog has joint bars, switch frogs and all manner of track construction tools and equipment. It is available on-line or can be ordered through the website.

Lots of the other 1,909,999 Google hits offer similar rail, ties, parts and tools for track laying. All you need to is contact some of them.

Quote from: Paul M. on December 25, 2008, 07:05:52 PM<snip> . . . rail generally weighs up to 150 lbs per foot . . . <snip>

Paul M:
You are correct about track being very large and heavy, but the heaviest U.S. mainline rail is actually ~152# / yard (or ~51# / foot), not 150# / foot.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

RTC:
Like Joe, I'm almost certain the track shown on the right is not Bachmann. Most manufacturers mold their name or part numbers on the bottom of the ties. Have you looked there?

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Why do you want to put meters on the AC side? While that will show to overall voltage (110VAC) and power draw in AC amps going into the supply, it is much more informative to put meters between the power supply and the track, that is on the DC side. That will show the actual voltage (0 to 12V) to the track and the amount of current each engine is drawing.

In either case, as Glenn wrote, the voltmeter goes in parallel with the load and the ammeter goes in series with the load. Be sure to select the correct meters (AC or DC). You also need a + / - voltmeter DC meter if putting it directly on the power going to the track. That will accommodate the reversing of polarity required to reverse the engine.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Quote from: Yampa Bob on December 01, 2008, 11:33:50 PM
<snip> Would flex track be more suitable for the "bending" section? <snip>

Flex track, as delivered, wouldn't really work for stub switches. The ties need to be fixed to the 'ground and the rails just sitting on them. Also, the ties need to be longer than standard lengths to accommodate the sideways motion of the rails. Note that at least several ties are longer in RichG's well done stubs.

If one is using flex track, the last several ties would need to be completely removed and replaced with gauge bars per Jim Banner's post above. Then wood (or other material) ties would be glued under the ends of the moving rail.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Quote from: Yampa Bob on October 31, 2008, 04:26:41 PM
I just found the link for the meters I use. Ask for "Lee" in sales.  At half price, grab a couple of them.

http://www.multimeterwarehouse.com/dt830bf.htm

Bob, All:

Using a handheld DVM as a permanently installed meter will just result in a lot of problems. First of all, it requires that the meter be turned on and off, and the range selected in order to use it. Leave it on and you will have to replace the battery in the near future. Handheld DVMs require that you re-connect them (using the current terminals) and reset the range for current measurements. That requires that you interrupt the operating circuit. Accidently leaving them in current mode while trying to measure voltage will usually blow an internal fuse and / or destroy the current measuring circuitry.

The link you provided is to a very cheap DVM. Note the caution to only use it in current mode for 15 seconds! Not a very satisfactory solution, even for a cheap handheld. These meters would be considered throwaways, and probably not worth even the very low price. IMHO, this meter is junk. As usual, your mileage may vary.

I believe Allen is looking for panel meters to permanently install. The Micromark ones are good, espeically for H0 trains. If those aren't satisfactory, Googling "dc panel meter" produces something around 385,000 hits. About 1/3 of those hits will lead directly to an absolutely astounding array of analog and digital meters suitable for every variety of model RR application.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

I just read the NTSB story in the newspaper. It makes the point that Metrolink already had a policy forbidding the use of personal cell phones and texting while on duty.

That just reinforces my post above, questioning whether new rules will be obeyed. I just don't get the idea that we can pick and choose what rules we want to observe. That even more so when the public's safety is at risk.

From the information provided so far, it appears that the train operator was 100% at fault. I don't see how any one could blame the person on the other end of the texting. When my cell phone rings, I do have the option of not answering it if it's not convenient or unsafe. That's what the voice mail feature is for. Doubly so for text messages.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Quote from: Santa Fe buff on October 02, 2008, 09:02:25 AM<snip> No more texting allowed, and that will likely stop any future disasters from occurring.

SFBuff, All:
We can always hope.

They just instituted a ban on holding a cellphone while driving here in California. Many TV and newspaper articles show that many or perhaps even most people are simply ignoring the ban. The traffic enforcement officers are simply too overwhelmed to stop every one seen violating the law.

Hopefully, paid public transportation employees have enough sense of duty and common sense to follow any ban that is in place, but you would also think an experienced engineer would have enough brain power to not engage in an activity that would kill 25 of his passengers, regardless of the rules.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

I thought I remembered reading that the optical chuff actuators don't start producing a trigger signal until the locomotive power input voltage was high enough to power the optical source and detectors. If that's still the case, it would mean the locomotive is in motion before the first chuff is heard.

I don't (yet) have a K-27, so can't test this. My Centennial 2-6-0 with mechanical cam switches and a battery powered sound card makes a chuff on first motion. Is the K-27 the same or is the sound startup delayed due to using optical sensors?

An inquiring mind wants to know.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Quote from: Santa Fe buff on September 16, 2008, 11:24:44 PM<snip> I did another "Hick-up".

All of us have them from time to time!

Happy RRing,

Jerry

With the exception of Santa Fe Buff who really shouldn't be trying to moderate the board by telling a poster what to post and to "let us avoid that in thee future...", all the suggestions have merit. Certainly the cost is of serious concern.

Assuming John is referring to the 1:20.3 cars, the prototype F&CC cars were only found on a very limited number of railroads. Bachmann currently supplies the boxcars in four paint schemes: Florence & Cripple Creek, Southern Pacific, Pacific Coast Railway, and undecorated. One could hope that the future will see these cars available in paint schemes of the other actual owner railroads, including Neveda-Oregon-California, Nevada County Narrow Gauge, and (especially) the U.S. Naval Supply Depot, along with a couple of others that don't immediately come to mind. I would guess there won't ever be (nor should there be) Santa Fe, Union Pacific or Sea Board Coast Line versions of these cars.

Yes, one can remove the existing number, and replace it with a new one. Dependent on a person's skills, the result can range from 'like factory lettering' to totally unacceptable, potentially leaving the car's graphics and paint needing serious restoration work.

I think pdlethbridge has best solution, as it would allow lots of car numbers, rather than just the ones the factory chose, while preserving the existing paint job. The cost of supplying a number-only decal sheet is tiny vs. supplying complete cars with various numbers. Virtually no increased costs, while providing something that might actually increase sales.

Happy RRing,

Jerry