Midday Modeler — 05.25.2022 — This week is Model Railroader’s first live streamed “fun run” around the MR&T model train layout.
MR&T officially stands for Milwaukee, Racine & Troy — a fictitious railroad based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Unofficially, the letters represent Model Railroader and Trains — for the two original magazines that formed the core of Kalmbach Media’s early publishing days.
Model Railroader staff and friends have decided to upgrade the layout to enable regular operating sessions, just like in the old days when an earlier version of the layout was in downtown Milwaukee.
Joining today’s #middaymodeler session were David Popp, Eric White, Cody Grivno, Brian Schmidt, and Steve Otte. Together they ran trains and showed off the kind of work that needs to be done to get the MR&T model train layout in top shape.
Midday Modeler is a new, regular video segment, recorded live and unscripted at Kalmbach Media beginning in February 2022.
The segment features Kalmbach Media staff modeling and talking about model railroads in a casual format. It is unscripted and broadcast live via Facebook on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Central time each week. Anyone who sees the video on Facebook can comment and ask questions, or just say “hi!”
Shortly after the Facebook live stream, the Midday Modeler — 05.25.2022 video is taken down from Facebook and posted to Trains.com where it is available only to Model Railroader Video Plus members and Trains.com Unlimited Members.
In the video, you mentioned updating the loco servicing area. Looks like Walthers has read your mind, announcing a modern sand tower and 3-track servicing platform (fuel, water, lube) for this fall. Can I anticipate a pending rebuilding article?
As I am a member of the world wild net of hard-of-hearing and deaf people on this planet, would it be too difficult to allow subtitles on your programmes on your videos. I find it difficult to keep up with the cross talk and I (and a few million users) would be most grateful. Its lonely in our world as we shy from conventions and shows because of the chatter. Thank you
Philip London UK
Another enjoyable midday modeller episode. My only complaint is that Eric’s train was too loud. It got better once Eric’s train rolled off into the distance thank goodness.
Another enjoyable midday modeller episode. My only complaint is that Eric’s train was too loud. It got better once Eric’s train rolled off into the distance thank goodness.
It seems that a lot of videos (not just MR) don’t pay enough attention to how easy it is to hear what is being said. Other than that, great video.
Another enjoyable midday modeller episode. My only complaint is that Eric’s train was so loud it was almost impossible to hear what was being said, even at the start of Cody’s segment. It got better once Eric’s train rolled off into the distance thank goodness.
It seems that a lot of videos (not just MR) don’t pay enough attention to how easy it is to hear what is being said. Other than that, great video.
As you know, rather than replacing whole turnouts, you can rebuild the Shinohara points as insulated from each other and electrically tied to the respective stock rail. Remove and unsolder fully, then solder a tab under each point tip. One side of the tab fits under the stock rail, the other has an 00-90 clearance hole used to fasten to an insulated tiebar. A pair of spikes hold the frog end aligned.
MR had an article on using a rotary switch to set Tortoise motors to a specific yard track using two power supplies with differing voltages. Forget which issue. I use it; works great. That may be what operates the lower staging yard tracks.
Also may be easier to install Anderson linkages for Marquette yard turnout motors rather than Tortoise 1/2″ holes under the tiebar. Much more flexible to install.
I just finished watching this episode. I was enjoying it until I saw Cody had a LNAC box car. Thats when I got excited. I am modeling a freelance version of the LNAC in N scale. interchanging at Corydon Junction and over to New Albany Indiana. Alos I agree with Dan Kellogg about the audio.
Someone should listen to your video. How difficult would it be to have microphones on everyone, instead of relying on camera audio pickup to listen to people who are facing away from the camera or at different distances from the camera?
Really hard to hear what was being said.
Re: Hankscraft motors
The use of dropping resistors (1k to 3k) reduces the torque of the motor and lessens the stress on the gears.
Well this episode caught my attention with Cody’s info on the IC/ICG…. good choice Cody! Looking forward to hearing more and more. Be careful with the side-door caboose in Iowa as they didn’t meet state safety requirements and subsequently IC made/modify them without the side door.
Sherpa Al
It’s comforting to see that the MR&T has warts and lumps like all other layouts, but it is still a great layout
David, Eric, Jenn and team, terrific job. Reassuring to know that I am not the only model r.r. type that has regular issues that affect operations. With an operation of that size and age, problems will arise.
The MR&T is a great model r.r. and your program was first rate.
David Andrew
NCE wireless throttles are terrific and easy to use.
David, do you plan on lighting the lower level of the staging yard? Inexpensive rope lighting or LED Christmas lights are a great way to do it.
MTH need to start moving before smoke work the best.
Tony did video and article about upgrading turnout that work pretty good saving money.
Take a look at VMRR.org for links to http://j2ceng.com/ using NCE, J2C, and Digitrax at the same time
Another good show and no smoke, even from the Alcos! (stole your comment, David) I got to run my version of the BNSF Director’s train at a club I recently joined, West Bay Model Railroad Association in Menlo Park, CA, and up until last night, I wasn’t even aware that NCE had a wireless throttle. The club has spares so I was able to walk around untethered, so to speak. I have a “Power Cab” unit and it’s really nice following your train around the layout without having to plug in to a port every so often. Toward the end of the show, did I hear you say the layout may go to a smartphone type of train control or was I mistaken because I didn’t have my hearing aid in? I’d think you still need some way of programming your locomotives before you run them either individually or in a consist.
Great MDM this round. Modern UP still uses switch lists and mobile phones to update car traffic. Always good to hear history tidbits while doing the show. Lots of great info and modeling venues from MR and Trains.com. Switching and running techniques also varied by railroad and time frame modeled.
This was great! This is is the first time that we got to see the whole MR&T layout.
The idea of Computer generated switch list over CC&WB, sounds good at first. But, with the MR&T being a Club/Working layout that is always under some sort of flux. Cars can get easily lost with the computer based switch List. You need to get some photo shot done, someone grabs a sting of car for a run by, doing work on the layout cars get picked up and moved etc. The computer has no idea what you have done to the layout between operation sessions. With CW&WB you need a string of cars for a run by, something moved for construction etc. grab the CC&WB and move them with the cars. II have seen a club layout collapse before operation sessions as someone has moved stuff the week before and now everything needs to be tracked down and returned to where it was to match the switch list coming out of the computer. I have used switch list on some layouts but they were in a much more completed state and no one had access to the layout between session. Just something to think about.
Next time please turn volume down on locomotives hard to hear some vocals etc,,,plus it’s annoying
Hi David, Jenny, Eric and team. I love watching all the new content each week and I want to share that this episode is my favorite so far (still waiting for Olympia 3!). I love the MRT and all the projects you have completed over the years to upgrade various sections. Anyways, excellent episode. Well done! Marc (one of your biggest fans).
Great episode guys and Jenny (good camera work lady). It was good to see parts of the MR&T that we seldom see and how they are connected. It also good to see parts of the layout that were featured in the magazine (hay field by Cody which i modeled on my layout as well) and that crossing that Cody modeled as well. Thanks Eric for running my favorite Alco’s esp. the “Snowbird” on the lead. Great episode folks keep up the good work.
Glad you did the camera white balance, and didn’t make Eric balance in the aisle.
Lots of work ahead…lots of articles and videos too (I hope!)
I’m pleased you’re addressing the maintenance of a model railroad that has been around for a couple of decades. Just like the prototype, things wear out and need replacing. Good luck!