Podcast: Episode 5 - running trains and delivering coal

Model railroaders at an operating session.

Okay, so this is a day and a half later than the schedule that the first four episodes have followed.  Well, here it is anyways.  First we hear a narration from a model railroad operating session, then we hear an 1899 musical recording describing one sad passenger train ride.  We continue with an excerpt from Jerry Pfeiffer's industry and freight cars clinic where he discusses coal deliveries in the Midwest.  Finally, in the Modeler's Moment, we look at some model railroad uses for items that you might otherwise throw away.

• Model Railroad Operations on the RLD&M: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6

• Please Mr. Conductor, Don't Put Me Off This Train sung by Byron G. Harlan, 1899.  Edison wax cylinder recording number 7219.

Former C&NW coal hoppers, cars now owned by Indiana Railroad, delivered to the municipal power plant in Madison, WI, in 2008.

• Modern coal operations in the American midwest - an extract from the clinic Industries You Can Model and the Freight Cars that Go With Them by Jerry Pfeiffer, presented at the joint SCWD/RRVD NMRA meeting May 3, 2009 in Rockford, Illinois.

• Modeler's Moment: model railroad uses for stuff you might throw away.
  • Reuse empty pasta sauce jars to hold scenery materials.
  • Empty 5-quart ice cream tubs can be used as buckets for mixing plaster.
  • Save an old toothbrush for spreading ballast.
  • Cut up and reassemble empty light cardboard boxes to make structure mockups.
  • Spent CO₂ cartridges can simulate parts of heavy duty HVAC equipment on model industries.
  • Used dryer sheets can make handy wheel cleaning cloths.
  • Reuse empty prescription bottles or film cans for small parts storage.
  • Whatever you save, be sure to use it.  Don't waste your storage space with empty containers.

• Previous episodes are on the podcast page.
• Email your comments or questions to me at podcast@riptrack.net.  Send your questions in MP3 or OGG format for possible inclusion in the show
• Leave a review of The Rip Track Podcast in the iTunes Store.
• Become a fan of The Rip Track page on Facebook to get podcast production updates. 

Until next time, happy modeling.

Listen to Episode 5