The Crossing Gate. Model railroad discussion.
Discussion of model railroading and operations.
Episodes
72 episodes
#71 - What changes have you experienced in the hobby?
This episode is about changes to our modeling. What has evolved and made us better modelers or operators? Think about the changes to technology in your lifetime, and the new techniques being tried to achieve better models and layouts.Th...
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Episode 71
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42:05
#70 - Prototype Overhype?
Do models have to be exact replicas for you to enjoy them? Are the manufacturers being pushed too far into the museum quality construction? Our panel discusses the effect of prototype modeling on our layouts. The crew of t...
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Episode 70
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36:25
#69 - That 70's Model Railroad Show
This episode is a discussion about modeling the 1970s era. What was good about it, plus how we conveyed to our visitors that the layout is set in the 1970s. The era before the mega-mergers and the caboose and boxcars could still be found ...
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Episode 69
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38:43
#68 - Handling criticism. Trolls and out of pocket comments
Internet anonymity has encouraged trolls to make snide comments about people's modeling. How can we handle that issue? Also, how can we process advice from our crew? Does the source of the suggestions matter?Greg Dahl, Mike Jordan, and ...
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Episode 68
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34:05
#67 - Choose your own story. The future of operations.
In this episode, we discuss options for operations that go beyond CC&WB/Switchlists. Adding some nuance once in a while could be a great addition to any session. The crew in this episode are Joe Binish, David Hamilton MMR, and ...
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Episode 67
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40:37
#66 - Operating with off spots. Cars that won't fit at an industry
Most operating layouts deal with off-spotting cars—the twenty pounds of mud in a ten-pound sack. How do you deal with this? Our crew discusses the good, bad, and ugly portion of moving excess freight cars. The crew for this e...
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Episode 66
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57:09
#65 - Model Railroad Anxiety
In this episode, we discuss what makes us anxious. What fears do you have that keep you from building that layout or model? Is there not enough room? Do you not want to waste material or time? Do you not have the skills?This episode's c...
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Episode 0
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40:48
#64 - Operations on a Cog Railway
In this episode, the crew discusses how to improve operations Cog Railway. What customers do you need? What makes a great Cog Railway engine? How do you handle interchange? And how big should your cogs be?The crew in this e...
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Episode 0
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14:13
#63 - Two person operation crews
Operations with a two-person crew on a train. Have you tried it? Do you like it or dislike it? What job would you prefer and why?All these questions, plus more, are answered by our panel.Ken Borowski, David Hamilton MMR, Mike ...
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Episode 0
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36:50
#62 - Operations instructions beyond the safety brief
This episode discusses how layout owners can inform their operators of specific rules or nuances.The crew for this episode is Ken Borowski, Dan Dossa, David Hamilton MMR, Mike Jordan, and Thomas Gasior MMR.The sponsor for this s...
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Episode 0
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45:43
#61 - Freelance does not mean Free-for-all
If you are going to model a Freelance railroad and make it believable, we have some rules you could follow.This episode features Joe Binish, Ken Borowski, Mike Jordan, and William Sampson Jr. and is hosted by Thomas Gasior MMR ....
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Episode 0
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41:51
#60 - What is your catalyst for starting or finishing a project?
In this episode, we discuss specific catalysts to make us finish a project.It could be visiting another layout, watching a video, listening to a podcast, or just plain old shame.We also learn what crew members talk about when the ho...
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Episode 0
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48:22
#59 - What would you do if you could start over?
Are you going to start over with your layout, or have you been thinking of modeling something else altogether? We discuss those options in this podcast. We asked our panel what changes they would make. Different scale? Era? Railroad of choice?<...
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Episode 0
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50:43
#58 - What makes an operating layout go from good to great?
Have you ever wondered how to take your operation sessions to the next level? Our Guest Alan Saatkamp shares his five points to bring a layout up to greatness for guests.These simple steps improve all areas of the session. This dis...
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Episode 0
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58:14
#57 - The advantages of small layouts
In this episode, we chat with three layout owners who have created fantastic stories in a small footprint. Dan Dossa talks about his multilevel Minnesota Commercial. Jonathan Jones is making a slice of the Central of New Jersey Newark Branch. H...
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Episode 0
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54:09
#56 - What do layout owners and their crews expect from each other?
A recent post online about the expectations of an operations crew to make the layout come to life for the owner has created some ripples in social media. We discuss this post and what we as layout owners expect from our crews. We a...
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Episode 0
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55:31
#55 - OPSIG discussion with Dispatcher Editor Eric Smith
The crew gets together with Eric Smith to discuss the benefits of operations. Eric is the editor of the OPSIG magazine, The Dispatcher. We learn that operations are more than rules and paperwork. Eric and the crew bring up some great idea...
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Episode 0
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58:10
#54 - Yardmaster - The hardest job in Model Railroad Operations
In this episode, we discuss what it takes to be a Yardmaster at an operation session. Our crew has years of experience in this role. Sometimes, they do great, and sometimes not so great. Why is this such a difficult job to fill, and what ...
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Episode 54
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55:18
#53 - Pre-operations briefings: What to say, and what to edit.
In this episode, we discuss the pre-operations session job/safety briefings. Why are they so long? Why are they so dull? Why can't we change them? The crew discusses their job briefings and ones they have endured at other layouts. Maybe y...
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Episode 0
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58:19
#52 - Challenge yourself. What do you consider a challenge your current skills in Model Railroading.
The crew discusses ways to challenge yourself and improve or learn new skills.Is it DCC, scratch building, operations, or using an airbrush? Many aspects of this hobby are challenging, and the crew gives their stories on accepting ...
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Episode 0
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52:47
#51 - Yards, are they necessary for operations on your layout?
In this episode, we discuss how an operations designed layout does not need a yard. We talk with three layout owners who either do not have a yard, or use them in a non-traditional manner. Their layouts are fun to operate and have run hundreds ...
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Episode 0
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47:49
#50.5 TCD events this summer, and more convention reports.
A different podcast. Not a topic-driven discussion this time. This podcast discusses events and activities we worked on at the Regional Convention. We then shift gears and discuss all the activities the TCD has planned for this summer ...
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Episode 0
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42:35
#50 - Operations discussion with William Sampson and crew.
This episode is about operations. We discuss fast clocks and the changes they bring to operations—the effect of passenger trains on a schedule, why we are rebuilding portions of our layouts to improve operations, and the research of prototype p...
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Episode 0
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1:03:06
#49 - Car Cards against Human[c]ity - Step 1 with CC&WB operations
In this episode, we discuss Car Cards and Waybills. Not a new subject, but we talk about the portion that no one wants to explain. How does a modeler start to use a waybill on an existing layout if they have never set up waybills before?
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Episode 0
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58:06
Episode #48 - Why do we add details that no one might notice?
In this episode, we discuss why we add specific details to our layouts that any visitor probably won't notice unless we point them out—for example, adding mirrors on cars, putting birds in the trees, and having simulated rail joint bars on the ...
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Episode 0
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52:45