Positive Train Control: Beyond the basics

UPCajonPassCA

Positive Train Control Tick, tock. U.S. railroads have collectively spent decades and billions of dollars on positive train control research. Tick. Public outcry after a 2008 commuter crash that killed 25 people — a crash that a Federal safety panel says PTC could have prevented — pushed Congress to act. Tock. With a Congressional deadline […]

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Scheduling freight trains

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Northbound CSX Transportation aggregates train K944 is seen meeting intermodal train Q145 at Opelika, Ala., in 2010. Class I railroads use different kinds of schedules to keep their networks fluid and profitable, even on single-track lines. Frank Orona What time will the train depart? When will it arrive? While most people associate schedules with passenger […]

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All about air horns

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Horns are typically placed near the middle of the locomotive to minimize noise to the crew. New Canadian National ET44AC No. 3062 shows off its Nathan K5HLR2. Chris Guss A horn is one of the many safety appliances installed on a locomotive and is used to warn both the general public and railroad employees while […]

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Making signs for your garden railroad

Although signs are everywhere in everyday life, they’re typically absent from many backyard railroad scenes. If one wants a particular sign, then one has to make it himself or have it made commercially. Fortunately, in this day of desktop printing and digital technology, the palette we have available is constantly broadening. Even old standbys, like […]

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Accessories for garden-railroad vignettes

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Photo 1 The clay jugs and pots were made by the author’s wife Joyce. The standing figure working at a potter’s kick-wheel was obtained from Just Plain Folks. Don Parker Photo 2 This painted, rustic bench looks in place with the squared-log cabin. Note the watering-can planter with simulated flowers behind the figure of the […]

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Scab plant

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Nancy Norris Common name: Scab plant Latin name: Raoulia australis Plant type: Groundcover USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-10 Cultural needs: Dry, well-drained soil, sun or part shade Plant size: under 1″ high by 12″ wide Raoulia (Ra-OO-lee-uh) admittedly has way too many vowels but it does sound better than “scab plant,” its common name. The silvery […]

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Accucraft 7/8″ scale 0-40-ST engine

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Marc Horovitz Gauge 1, 7/8″ scale, live-steam 0-4-0ST Accucraft 33268 Central Ave. Union City CA 94587 Price: $1,425 Website: www.accucraft.com 1:13.7 scale, gauge-1 model of a 2′-gauge Bagnall 0-4-0 saddle-tank locomotive; all metal construction; single flue, gas-fired boiler; imitation Walschaerts valve gear; D-valve cylinders; safety valve; pressure gauge; water glass with blowdown; throttle; reversing from […]

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Pacific Western G lineside buildings

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Kevin Strong 1:24 scale lineside buildings Pacific Western G PO Box 89 Deer Harbor WA 98243 Prices: See text Website: www.pacificwesterng.com 1:24 scale, plastic lineside structures; built up and painted; weatherproof Pros: Well constructed; well painted; weatherproof Cons: Some doors undersize; smaller, lighter-weight structures may need to be anchored to prevent blowing away Kevin Strong […]

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R&G Railroad Company overhead railway system

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Marc Horovitz Overhead railway system for gauge-1 track R&G Railroad Company PO Box 8349 Moreno Valley CA 92552 Prices: See website Website: www.randgrailroad.com Wall-mount railroad system; solid oak and oak-plywood conctruction; modular roadbed sections (curves and straights); roadbed sections can be supported by brackes or suspended from brackets or the ceiling; single- and double-track systems […]

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