Test Track: MTH Conrail Power + 22 Premier Autoracks

First-generation MTH SD60/C40-8W plus a Weaver SD40 pull a train of 22 MTH Premier line autoracks in footage combined from two different sessions. Originally shot 4/29/2007.

The loud rail joints come from a converted 1970's era Atlas 2-rail switch...mating the Code 148 rail with 027 track meant soldering track pins to Atlas rail joiners, hence the rough ride onto and off the switch. Despite the racket (owing more to the omnidirectional mikes on consumer camcorders), they haven't caused any derailments. This train is now 38 cars long, but at almost 60 feet in length, it's just way too long to fit on this layout, so it'll only appear in all its glory (possibly) after I've built my basement layout.

Video: JVC GR-DX77U
Capture and editing: PIXELA Image Mixer
Compression to DivX: E-Rightsoft Super© freeware

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This video replaces the previous MTH autorack video after YouTube somehow "lost" the video, leaving an "An Error occurred, please try again later" message where the video should be. The thumbnails and description are still there, so it wasn't removed. it's just lost somewhere in the"cloud". Luckily, I don't erase my footage after digitizing it, so I've re-edited the original, merged in the first "runby" video, re-ordered the scenes, added a previously unseen runby at the end, and reformatted the video to enable the "high quality" option. For now, the original entry remains on my account to retain the comments and proof of hitcount (12,202) at the time I discovered (4/4/09) the video was missing.

This video had been re-submitted because of a problem with YouTube's conversion of uploads around April 2009, which resulted in choppy, hesitating video on all but the fastest PC's. This "problem" turned out to be the use of H.264 as a compression format for videos being served back to viewers. One of that format's drawbacks is that it has steep CPU requirements. What this means is, slower computers that used to be able to play YouTube videos fairly smoothly are now stuttering and hesitating on the newest uploads (and they can *completely forget* about playing HD versions at all).

I'm experimenting with formatting my uploads as the exact same flavor of Flash Video (Sorensen/H.263) that will play nice with older PC's, and when I get the proper formula, this, the CamTrak/Shore Line and M7 videos will be re-uploaded.
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Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• autorack
• MTH
• Lionel
• model
• trains
• O-Gauge
• Conrail
• ogauge

[lionelfreak3465]

i wish i had money i want a sd45 or sd70mac i got a pennsy gp9 2 yrs ago for christmas

[RailRide]

Well, it did take me a few years to build up this set. Four cars per year were released, and it takes several months between the time you put in an order till they're delivered.

[Jimmyyaesu]

nice, hey what kind of track do you use??

[RailRide]

Standard 027, left over from my years of floor layouts.

[MartyLJ57]

Is anyone else suprised how smooth all of Railride's trains run. I am...

How do you keep your track clean?

[RailRide]

I haven't really done much of any track cleaning.

It may be that that there's very little activity in that room--less to stir up dust. Very few plastic-wheeled cars have run there, I'm not sure how I get away with not cleaning track.

Bear in mind that I do have power drop issues. Most shots where the train is holding a constant speed are because I'm manhandling the transformer, out of camera range :)

[RailRide]

I actually did find the source of the biggest voltage drops--a loose track pin in a straight section behind one of the storage shelves The was a 4-volt power drop past it. I took out the offending track section and tightened up the end holes to resolve it.

[bravosixxx]

Awesome!! Great Video and SuuuuuuhWeeet Trains!

[Jabbajawz4life]

Autoracks Lookin Nice!

[drumnasty1]

Niiiice......22 cars too