Rich Mahaney, current NCR president, gave a clinic on five different features for model railroads that are usually busy and can create a lot of operations activity and interest.
Model Railroad Interchange Operations
Rich discussed the concept of interchanges in model railroading, explaining how they allow for the exchange of cars between different railroads. He shared his own interest in modeling the Great Northern Railroad and how interchanges could enable him to use a variety of locomotives and cars. Rich provided examples of interchange operations in real-life settings, such as in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and suggested that modelers could incorporate similar setups into their layouts to increase traffic and utilize all their railroad cars.
Freight House Operations
Rich shared various track plans and examples of freight houses from different locations, explaining how modelers can model different styles of freight facilities. He demonstrated how freight houses vary in design, including examples from cities like Kansas City, Cincinnati, and Cadillac.
Team Track Operations
Rich discussed team track facilities. Rich explained different loading and unloading methods for trains and trucks, highlighting the importance of weather considerations and the ability to handle multiple car types. He shared examples of facilities in cities like Baltimore, Kansas City, and Detroit, emphasizing how adding equipment like cranes can increase operational capacity. The conversation also touched on bulk transfer facilities, which handle solids, liquids, and gases, and concluded with examples of transloading operations for products like carbon dioxide and used cooking oil.
Rail Transload Facility Operations
The discussion focused on various rail transload facilities, including those for refrigerated cars, fertilizers, used oils, and rocks for beach restoration. The speaker described loading and unloading processes, such as the use of covered hoppers, tank cars, and specialized equipment for different products. They also mentioned the ownership of some facilities by individuals like the person who owns the sand dune rides in Saugatuck. The conversation highlighted the diversity of products handled at these facilities, from food products to hazardous materials, and the importance of proper handling and safety measures.
Rich highlighted specific examples like cryogenic tank car facilities, used oil collection sites, and engine repair yards, noting how simple modifications could expand capabilities. Rich also explained the difference between flammable and combustible liquids in terms of tank car regulations and shared tips for modeling these facilities, including the use of kits for creating team tracks and intermodal ramps.
Here’s a video of the clinic: