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InterceptorV8 posted:I'm kinda wondering who makes good model trains now.  OO gauge!Also, courtesy of XKCD: 
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May 4, 2011 17:14
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echoplex posted:And there's the infrastructure. We used to have some of the most amazing stations We still do, it's just that we tend to fill them with gawky furniture now. Manchester Piccadilly's still around, as is York with its weirdly-placed coffee shop. Leeds was built in much the same arched way too.
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May 4, 2011 18:43
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~Coxy posted:N is the best because you can have something vaguely approximating real towns, yards and main/branch lines. N scale is considered generally compatible with 1:144 scale for miniature wargaming. Oh gently caress yeah.
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May 4, 2011 21:28
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Lionel Super O supremacy!
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May 5, 2011 04:17
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This is why N scale rules http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt0FNtOxM5I My train at a show in Omaha NE. I didn't even put the whole train out with more engines. I usually do about 60ish cars with 3 units. It looks bad rear end with mountain scenery. Also, bonus in cab shot from earlier today. What an awesome day, great weather, good trip home!  I tried the artsy aspect with the black and white, I am still fine tuning my droid's picture taking capability.
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May 5, 2011 04:38
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Here is one of my favorite videos: a 7 hour front seat ride through the Bergen Line, in Norway. http://nrkbeta.no/2009/12/18/bergensbanen-eng/ If you want to see it on youtube with a few DJ sets mixed in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vBD9snz20o&feature=player_embedded
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May 5, 2011 04:50
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I have a question for our fellow Railroad Goons. I applied for a job for BNSF track laborer in California, I have never done a job that is pure physical labor, as I have worked in retail my whole career. I am 20 years old and am in pretty good shape and have begun working out again. What I've heard is that it is basically like the military, with possible 30 hours straight in the heat, but get paid extremely well. The temps out here in the summer are easily 120+ in the day. Typical week is 20% overtime on a good week with no real problems. I've heard you basically sell your soul to them, but can make great money. My question to the all knowledgeable goons is this: What am I getting into? Will I have a personal life. I have two years of college completed, is that goal shot with the RR and what is the day to day life like at work. My girlfriend and I just bought our first home, and our payment is 600 a month, which is easily doable on my current salary, but the allure of big money is tempting. I would try to take a leave of absence from my current role just incase. I have never had another job other than my one retail career, is this a good move? Thanks for the help and sorry if I am "derailing" the thread. Rabid Anti-Dentite! fucked around with this message at 19:09 on May 5, 2011 |
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May 5, 2011 17:11
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Rabid Anti-Dentite! posted:Typical week is 20% overtime on a good week with no real problems. Can't comment on the RR aspects of the job, but if this is a selling point for the job its poo poo. Assuming a 40 hour week, 20% overtime means an extra 8 hours per week. And since you're basically doing grunt work I'm going to assume they'll only be paying you somewhere in the neighborhood of $12/hour. I worked a similar gig for about 10 months at my first job out of highschool at a lumbermill when they put me on the ripsaw (the most physically demanding job on the floor.) I came in at 7 and left at 6 (10 hour days after you removed the half hour lunch and two 15 minute breaks.) Granted this was circa-2003 so I was making $7.50 at the time but the overtime was largely not worth it, considering I was physically exhausted by the end of my shift and had no energy to do anything after I got home. If the job pays well enough it might be worth it, but based on my experience I would run the gently caress away from any job that touts "guaranteed overtime every week" as a benefit. Case in point, I passed up a "promotion" at my current job about six months ago when they told me I'd be making the same but I'd get "at least 8 hours of overtime per week." Another way to look at "guaranteed overtime" is it is also "mandatory overtime." Geoj fucked around with this message at 19:38 on May 5, 2011 |
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May 5, 2011 19:25
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Cablekid posted:Took this picture of a train leaving Trona, CA. Figured you guys would appreciate it. Sorry to quote from more than a month ago, but here's my photo criticism: for goodness sake stay the hell out of Trona oh my gosh it is the worst town on Earth.
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May 5, 2011 20:30
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Rabid Anti-Dentite! posted:I have a question for our fellow Railroad Goons I can help you a little but I am in transportation so I am not perfectly familiar with the agreements plus I work for UP. Agreements though are pretty similar. You will have system wide seniority, AKA western United States. You can be "bumped" from your home terminal, but usually your pretty good. Track guys start around 16-18 bucks an hour, over time after 8 hours. We get paid for the over time worked for the day, not for a 40 hour week. So you can bust rear end and work 12 hours 1 day, make 4 hours over time that day and the next day work 7 hours and get paid for 8. Track work is hard work, but those guys maybe do real work for 4 hours a day because trains need moved, some thing is in the way and what not. To make money you can "bid" into a system gang, travel for the summer and make some dough. Generally this is 8 days on and 7 days off. Its pretty lucrative in the track department, last guy I talked to was a track welder, he made close to 70K last year. Plus the health care is extremely good (my children births will cost me only 50 bucks per kid. yes you just read that correctly), theres plenty to see, and there should be pray the economy holds, plenty of work. The downside to any Railroad job.... Furloughs. I spent 1.5 years on the street, but again transportation takes more of a hit than track guys. I think some guys take the winter furlough option in track too, usually off from Nov-Feb. if you saved your pennies you can have a nice vacation.
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May 5, 2011 21:27
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Mr. Wiggles posted:Sorry to quote from more than a month ago, but here's my photo criticism: for goodness sake stay the hell out of Trona oh my gosh it is the worst town on Earth. I was going to just post that. On a side note I've always wondered about that line. I know the engines used to be owned by UP. That line runs towards Mojave and connects with the main UP line that goes up towards the Tehachapi loop, or Barstow if you're heading east.
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May 5, 2011 21:32
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BrokenKnucklez posted:Stuff about RR work OK, nevermind what I said earlier. That sounds like a pretty sweet deal actually. Can just about anyone get into this assuming you're able-bodied? I'm assuming its the kind of thing you can learn in a week and master in a few months. I'm kind of getting sick of my current job and $16-18/hour is right about what I'm being paid now. Geoj fucked around with this message at 21:57 on May 5, 2011 |
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May 5, 2011 21:42
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So the starting pay is 21.33 an hour. Everything I have read says run away from this type of work. I have an brief understanding of what the work would be, replacing sections of rail, replacing ties, and the general maintenance. And I have briefly seen them in action. Talking to some people, the typical thing they say is that the work is done at a slower pace, and if you come into the gang and bust rear end, you'll basically be an out cast. Some other things I've heard is that if you work 8 hours, then get called in say 4 hours later, that work is all over time pay, on the premise that they have to give you 8 hours between shifts. My biggest worry is that if I go in and hate it, then I threw away my otherwise great job and would go back to the minimum wage would suck. And the job department is Engineering.
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May 5, 2011 23:19
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Here is a word to advice for any one looking at the Railroad. We work slow. We move slow. Every thing is slow. Because... Every thing out here can kill you instantly. An empty freight car weights in around 25-30 tons, a loaded one is around 143 tons, a locomotive is 200 tons, a typical coal train is around 18,000 tons. It doesn't take much to look the wrong way and get smacked by a moving train. Yes, you can work 8 hours and get called back for more. You do get 8 hours rest in between shifts. Rarely do these guys get called back to work. Track work (engineering - what ever makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside) is the bottom rung of the rail road. The next level up is Signal department, mechanical (car repair, locomotive repair, etc) then train crew is considered the highest paying and the least amount of work on the railroad.
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May 6, 2011 00:55
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BrokenKnucklez posted:Here is a word to advice for any one looking at the Railroad. Thank you for that advice, now would you recommend going into this industry. Are you glad you did or would you rather work in an office or similar environment?
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May 6, 2011 01:15
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Rabid Anti-Dentite! posted:Thank you for that advice, now would you recommend going into this industry. Are you glad you did or would you rather work in an office or similar environment? I can't stand being a cube drone dweller. I like what I do, theres days it sucks when its cold and rainy and then theres days that are awesome. This job is not for every one. How ever, if you can follow rules, do your job, and go home safe every night, its the best job in the world. But again, this job is not for every one. If you like dick and fart jokes, this job is perfect. For instance, I like to enjoy going into the yard masters office and dropping a large fart of some kind, then shutting the door and getting the hell out of there as fast as I can. Yes, we play jokes on each other but nothing malicious. It really is a "man" environment, and the few women that do work there are usually pretty cool. I recommend thick skin, don't take anything personal. Again this job is not for every one. I know I am repeating myself on this job is not for every one. But as I tell people, if your making only 12-13 bucks an hour, what do you have to lose in taking the job? Oh I wanted to mention the retirement plan. This is a HUGE reason why I am there besides the health care. The money is a bonus for me. Railroad employees do not pay social security. We pay into Rail Road Retirement, AKA RRB. The formula is 30 years of service and 60 years old to with draw full pension benefits. Or 10 years in and 60 years old to get darn near full benefits. For every year of service you get a 100 bucks per month. Plus your souse receives half of what ever you receive when she is retired. We have 401k's but honestly they are pretty pathetic, invest money on your own. Oh and Rail Road Retirement is fully funded for the next 70 some years, and can NOT be touched. Oh and an added bonus, when you kick the bucket, your wife loses her half and gains your full pension. There has been rumored about of making it 30 & 58.... we will see on that one. Here is what I will be getting (roughly) I will have 36 years of service in when I retire. My check = 3600 bucks Wife's check = 1800 bucks Combined = 5400 Not a bad way to make a living to live out your golden years if you ask me.
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May 6, 2011 01:34
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Well I like making Jokes and I enjoy building things and having something to show for my efforts. I make 15 an hournnow after five years on the job, and I started at minimum wage. At twenty years old, will I be one of the youngest guys in your opinion or will it be all twenty and thirty year olds due to the physical work involved. I really appreciate all your input, it is helping me greatly.
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May 6, 2011 02:05
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Really there is no specific age, I have seen them hire 50 year old guys and then turn around and hire a 18 year old. Your pay and benefits are union negotiated, so keep that in mind as well. But don't knock it until you try it. What kind of work do you do?
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May 6, 2011 02:29
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BrokenKnucklez posted:Healthcare...retirement...union negotiated pay and benefits drat, wish I would have known about this 10 years ago. Is it like some union jobs where you need to know someone on the inside/with connections to get in or is the washout rate so high at the bottom rung that they're basically always hiring?
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May 6, 2011 02:52
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I am an hourly manager at a large retailer. My plan is to take a leave of absence from there and give the track job a few months and see how it goes. I know it will have its good and bad days, but I feel that overall it will be a great job. I am just worried about if I hate it and my current job is no longer available, there isn't much around when I live that pays that well. Unless I go work in a Casino.
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May 6, 2011 03:15
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Mr. Wiggles posted:Sorry to quote from more than a month ago, but here's my photo criticism: for goodness sake stay the hell out of Trona oh my gosh it is the worst town on Earth. You are mad because you had to play on their dirt football field aren't you?
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May 6, 2011 03:16
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Geoj posted:Is it like some union jobs where you need to know someone on the inside/with connections to get in or is the washout rate so high at the bottom rung that they're basically always hiring? Knowing some one helps but not really. I hired off the streets didn't know a single insider. The railroads have been in hiring mode for quite some time now.... I know there has been a crap load of retirements and theres still guys that linger around, but finally get out of here and retire. Yes we have one guy that is 74 years old and still works a train in his home terminal. He's in the best shape for a 74 year old guy and has about 42 years in. He keeps saying 1 more year, I am not sure if he is broke or just enjoys what he does. Some people can't deal with the life style the railroad, and causes them to quit. Though I think the track department gets weekends off if you work 5 days a week. But plan on working weekends, working some odd hours but at least its normal 7/3/11 shift start times. I know that UP/BNSF guys stay in hotels, the Norfolk Southern guys have to stay in camp cars... AKA trailers on trains. It is what you make of it.
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May 6, 2011 03:24
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OK so who makes great N scale models? I might have some of my old HO poo poo in storage but I figure I need a new hobby that doesn't have me jerking off onto passing cars.
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May 6, 2011 03:29
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I do HO, so all I know about N scale is that Kato makes some good stuff, especially if you're into passenger trains. They came out with a bunch of Amtrak stuff not to long ago and a few name trains, I think the Super Chief, Empire Builder, and the Broadway Limited.
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May 6, 2011 03:45
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InterceptorV8 posted:OK so who makes great N scale models? I might have some of my old HO poo poo in storage but I figure I need a new hobby that doesn't have me jerking off onto passing cars. Kato, Atlas, Micro-Trains, Intermountain, Proto, Athearn, Fox Valley Models. e: also, I strongly recommend Peco track and switches
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May 6, 2011 06:05
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InterceptorV8 posted:You are mad because you had to play on their dirt football field aren't you? Nothing like picking stones out of your elbow after a hard tackle. The Pit is emblematic of the entire town. Really Trona is completely awful. I have a great grandmother buried there so I go back when I can to lay flowers on the grave, and that's usually enough to get all the Trona out of my system.
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May 6, 2011 15:47
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LobsterboyX posted:more: Quoting this from a long time ago, but dammed if that train doesn't look like it's going to fall over standing still. Also HO Scale 4 lyfe. 
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May 6, 2011 19:17
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InterceptorV8 posted:OK so who makes great N scale models? I might have some of my old HO poo poo in storage but I figure I need a new hobby that doesn't have me jerking off onto passing cars.
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May 6, 2011 21:41
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Saw this hooked up to the back of the Pacific Surfliner. From what I can tell it's the "Cyrus K. Holliday" private coach. It said on the side: Private Business Car Built 1921 Kennebec Financial Corporation which is some tiny privately held company.
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May 11, 2011 23:49
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I have a small amount of N scale gear. My father and I were both into HO but then I discovered N and gave him all my HO gear. I live in a tiny apartment and have no room for a layout of any sort but I plan on having one in my mancave some day. Model trains make me all fuzzy inside 
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May 12, 2011 05:03
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HO scale represent I love all the pictures in this thread, especially the futuristic 30's - 50's streamliners. And the steamers. And the trains stuck in snow. And the GG1s and and and all the other things! I was also kind of wondering whether any goons had any interest in model trains and whether there could be a thread for them.
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May 13, 2011 14:54
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rotarybob posted:Model trains make me all fuzzy inside you may like this video then http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN_oDdGmKyA
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May 14, 2011 18:30
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My friend bought me a copy of Railworks 2, and there's an add-on pack for a shunting yard in the town I grew up in. 
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May 16, 2011 20:03
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CommieGIR posted:I am out in Cheyenne, WY and we have a Union Pacific Big Boy out here in the park, as well as having the Union Pacific do a yearly run out here. I am also from Cheyenne. I am a locomotive engineer here for the UPRR. AI inspired picture of my winter daily driver at Laramie next to the local switch power. Note, never park your car this close to any track unless you are a locomotive engineer or it will be towed or wrecked.  DEAR RICHARD posted:This rules They still live! I would like to point out that the above mentioned UP steam program here at Cheyenne that has those two big locomotives also has a working rotary snow plow. It is the UP 900082. It is loaned to other railroads from time to time. Here it is working in Sharon Springs Kansas in 2006: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frBh5vO_2g0 Here is some more information about the UP Steam Program http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/index.shtml I included this helpful picture to show what the analog cab locomotive controls look like. Pretty much every locomotive contains the controls and information found on this desk, it is just controls laid out slightly different or information delivered slightly different (ie digital/analog).  My longest train I have run so far in length was a 16,000+ foot doublestack/intermodal (containers) with an entrained DP power set. My heaviest was a coal train just under 19,000 tons with 3 locomotives on the head end and 2 SP locomotives on the rear. My most difficult train was a 12,000 foot mixed manifest freight train with two locomotives on the head end, two DP loco motives in the middle and one DP locomotive on the rear. The reason this matter most? I haul trains over the highest point on the transcontinental railroad.  Located west of Cheyenne in a narrow of the rocky mountains.
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May 17, 2011 23:37
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You guys use SD40's for switch power? Lucky bastards. We are stuck with crap rear end MP-15's and GP's with a bad cough. Our last GP38-2, UP 715, sounded like a John Deere 2 cylinder. You guys out west have it pretty easy. Mostly full power or full dyno's. Come to Iowa, we have some crappy territory to learn. There are spots where the rear of the train is coming downhill the middle is coming up and hitting a small hog back and your head end is going downhill, coming up to a 20MPH speed restriction. Oh and its mostly a sloppy manifest with a bunch of long cushion draw bar cars. As a conductor, I have replaced enough knuckles right there.
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May 18, 2011 01:53
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I have heard about those from my manager "Merlin" who was here for a short time that is from Iowa. Do they have something called knuckle trees there? I have heard some places like that do. We are lucky to only have a place or two like that and not NEARLY to the extent you have there. Up on the big money coal line in northern Wyoming they are spoiled. They have "utility men" 24 hours a day who scream up in pickups and throw on knuckles for crews in about a minute. Help put the train back together, then run the conductor back up to the head-end.
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May 18, 2011 06:12
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I though I would share this with you. Once in a great while I get to see something a little rare. La locomotora guerrero azteca  look at these road warrior windscreens   these side screens slide/retract so that you can throw things back I guess  Our chair backs recline, but there was a second control that allowed these seats to recline the chair seat  that cage effects visibility in a way I would not like. in bad weather and rain sometimes we can barely see at all as it is.     espaņol etiquetas de control   
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May 25, 2011 22:58
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B4Ctom1 posted:I though I would share this with you. Once in a great while I get to see something a little rare. Has train robberies been that bad there?
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May 25, 2011 23:01
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B4Ctom1 posted:I though I would share this with you. Once in a great while I get to see something a little rare. Is it me or is there no alerter in that cab?
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May 25, 2011 23:03
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Sponge! posted:Is it me or is there no alerter in that cab? Alerters are an American corporate temper tantrum which is not that widely practiced elsewhere. It is my hope that the man who invented the alerter has to press one every few seconds for the remainder of eternity in hell. The executives who mandated them should have them mounted on their desk and be required to press them constantly as the decisions they make there have far more dangerous repercussions than anything I can do on a train.
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May 25, 2011 23:12
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