Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with trains

Starting my first Model Railroad layout

drezdn — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:05:25 -0800

Advice and tips for starting my first HO model train layout? I'm planning on starting the bench work for my first model train layout soon. It could take years for me to finish, but I'm willing to work on it a little at a time. I already have the basic location in mind for my design (the railyards in Milwaukee's Miller Valley, currently Canadian Pacific owned, it used to be home to the Milwaukee Road shops).

What I'm looking for is just general advice on starting out/things you wish you would have known when you started with model trains.

In addition:

1) I like electronics projects, and was wondering if there are any good resources on electronics projects for model railroading.

2) Good plans for layouts that can be stored easy or foldup (or could be covered easily)

A bridge to?

monospace — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:23:03 -0800

What are these... bridges? I've been taking the LIRR for years, and I've always wondered. At Woodside station, there are these devices that look like expandable, movable bridges that purportedly go over the tracks. There are at least 8 of them, very close together towards the west side of the platform. I've never seen them in action. What the hell are they for? I get one, two maybe at either side, but this many?

What was that rolling train song?

dpcoffin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:03:45 -0800

Name that song: CW, popular around the same time as Some Fools Never Learn, based on images of trains, running on the same track or something similar. Thanks!

Please hope me Amtrak rite!

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:19:54 -0800

Travel trips? I have read the Amtrak archives for some great advice but I have some different detailed questions! I'm taking my two teen age daughters to NYC for Christmas where we will be met with relatives at the train station. I have never taken Amtrak and have some questions about what to expect:

I understand there are no seat assignments. Should I be worried about being seperated from my daughters boarding an 8am train in Wilmington, DE on Christmas Eve morning? Similarly, on our return - we are leaving out of Penn Station on Sunday 12/27/09 afternoon for Wilmington. I'm assuming it will be very crowded but really have no idea and would like to be armed with more information.

Has anyone taken Amtrak from Wilmington to Penn Station (or similar route) that can tell me a little of what to expect?

Bonus help: I'm prone to mild claustrophobia (although I often fly on airplanes) and would like any travel tips for a happy Amtrak Adventure!

Long Gone seems to be long Gone

Science! — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:11:04 -0800

Is there any official source of DVDs or digital copies of Tony Eberhardt's 2003 film "Long Gone" available in the US? The goal is for personal use, not presentation.

Train watching in Philadelphia

carter — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 07:28:46 -0800

It's a lovely Fall day. Where's a good place to take some young 'uns train watching in Philadelphia? The priority is on lots of trains, up close. I don't mind paying to get on a platform. Proximity to West Philly a bonus. Thank you!

Best way to plan a timely day trip from Rochester to Toronto?

agentmunroe — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:48:39 -0800

TorontoFilter: I have a ticket to go to this event on Friday, at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. I live in Rochester, NY. What are my options for getting there on time? My original thought was to just drive there and drive back same-day. I'd leave Rochester at about 5AM; Google Maps estimates a 2hr40m drive, and the past few times I've been through Canadian customs it was only a few minutes through. I'm a reasonably capable driver, I have a Garmin with Canadian maps and I enjoy road trips, so this is my natural inclination.

I'm wondering, however, if customs is going to be far worse at "commute-time" (since anyone trying to get to Toronto by 9am will be crossing around the same time), if the traffic is likely to be bad in Toronto (while I've been to Canada a few times recently I haven't been to Toronto in ages), and if my previous plan is a little fool-hardy. If the traffic is going to be gnarly and it's easy/on-time to use public transit or a train, I'd rather just do that then stress over traffic/lanes/turns/parking/etc. Looking at Google Maps, I'm noticing the theatre is only one or two blocks away from both a subway stop and Union station... so I'm wondering if one of these would be advantageous.

Normally I'd totally be up to spending the night in a hotel, but at the moment I'm in-between client checks, and a hotel close to the event is more then I'd like to swing right now - for that reason I'm really looking towards an in-and-out day trip. I suppose a hotel on the outskirts of Toronto or somewhere in-between Toronto and Niagra Falls would be an option too, but I'm not sure where a good place to check would be, so suggestions there would be good.

So, any thoughts? I notice there's a morning train that runs from Niagra Falls to Toronto, which seems reasonable if the train is actually on-time. I assume I could also park somewhere outside the city and take the subway, but I'm not sure how much time that would save. Or am I too worried about Toronto traffic and I'll be fine just driving in?

Audio of old departing train announcements?

Mo Nickels — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:17:39 -0800

Where online can I find historic audio of train conductors or platform announcers calling out the coming stops on a train and then saying "all aboard"? This past weekend I was at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. In one of the exhibits they had what sounded liked genuine old-time announcements of a train's coming stops, something like (made-up cities) "San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Los Angeleez, all aboard!"

I'm looking for as many recordings of such announcements as can be found online. I prefer the ones that call out the stops and then bid the passengers to board. If you remember Mel Blanc's "Anaheim, Azusa, and Cu-ca-monga!" then that's exactly what I'm looking for, only genuine and longer. I've googled like mad but only come up with some very modern announcements about security or prerecorded subway/metro announcements.

Who or what killed the railroad?

birdwatcher — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:20:50 -0800

Why don't we have a great railroad system in this country? Watching the National Park series on PBS reminded me that the railroad barons of the late 19th and early 20th century had a firm grip on the economic reins in this country. Enough hold to push the railroads into all the major national parks and cities in North America. Enough hold to influence legislation that was attempting to protect the natural treasures. It would seem given the headstart the railroads enjoyed and the incredible power they once wielded that America should have a better railroad infrastructure than it has now. Obviously, the automobile became America's mode of transportation but what killed the railroads? Was it simply Americans choosing cars over trains? Or the auto industry out-lobbying the railroads? Point me to some answers or recommend a good book on this subject. Thanks.

15 cars and 15 restless riders

nayrb5 — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:19:40 -0800

[Chicagofilter] Is it possible to search for businesses near an entire El line, rather than just an individual stop?

What's wi-fi like on trains?

forallmankind — Thu, 28 May 2009 11:12:21 -0800

What's wi-fi like on trains? I need to work on the 5hr London to Scotland rail journey, and both National Express East Coast and Virgin are offering wi-fi. Are either of these services good enough to work on? The work I have to do is updating a US intranet via VPN (Nortel Contivity). I don't mind forking out for the first class if it's a good service (I know it's free on National Express, but I'd need a power point which I believe is only available in first).

I know where to go ... but how to get there?

the luke parker fiasco — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:15:26 -0800

Seeking advice on Eastern European travel over the holidays. So, I started planning late. I'm a US citizen currently residing in Romania, and would like to travel about Eastern Europe over the holidays. The potential itinerary I'm currently looking at is going from Romania to Budapest, then up to Bratislava, to either Vienna or Krakow, and back.

Ideally I'd like to purchase a multi-destination ticket (or tickets for each hop) in advance. I'm looking for advice on transport (either bus or train), functioning websites for booking travel, advice on how booked travel options will be between 18 December and 4 January, and suggestions for hostels.

How to pick the best train car on Japan's trains?

phaedrus441 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:50:07 -0800

What's the easiest way to determine which train car I should ride in so that I arrive nearest to the station exit I want on Japanese trains? What I mean is, I want to know, for example, when riding a train to Shinjuku, which car I should get on (1, 2, 3, etc.) so that I will arrive closest to the platform exit for Shinjuku's East and West exits.

To that end, it'd be nice to be able to know which car is best when wanting to make a quick transfer at a station, too.

Where can I look this up? Of course I can just remember each time I go to a station where things are, or I could make a note or two, but there must be a way to look things up online. I have an iPhone, if that's any help, too.

I am aware the some trains have monitors that show where the exits and transfers are for the next station, but this isn't that helpful, since if I am looking at a monitor, I am already on the train.

Train travel around France and Italy for cosy travellers

vizsla — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:00:52 -0800

Rail trips across France and Italy. Any recommendations, experiences, sights, travel wisdom for an over 30 couple who like to see the world from their window without too much hassle and in as much comfort as possible? (Also kind of keen on seeing Pompeii and the south of France)

MBTA musical chairs - Why does my train home come to the wrong platform?

lizzicide — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:39:19 -0800

Why does the MBTA Worcester/Framingham CommuterRail trains switch from the inbound tracks to the outbound tracks between certain hours? Okay, so the explanation is this:

"Trains scheduled to depart from South Station between 4:27 PM and 6:30 PM will operate on the traditional "inbound" track. In this same time period, inbound trains will operate on the traditional "outbound" track as part of our efforts to minimize service delays.

Customers using Wellesley Farms, Wellesley Hills, Wellesley Square, Natick, West Natick and Framingham stations are impacted by this action."

How does this minimize service delays? Can anyone enlighten me on the nuances of the MBTA Purple Line system?

Seeking Brio Toy Collector Site

anastasiav — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 08:59:18 -0800

Can anyone recommend a Brio Toy collector website that has complete set lists? (I'm basically looking for a site like This Old Toy but for Brio trains.

It's nice to be wanted, just not all at once

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:29:42 -0800

It's MBA hiring season. I have been selected to attend second round interviews with three different companies in three different cities on three consecutive days. This is the schedule:

City 1: 9:00am - 4:00pm Eastern on a Wednesday
City 2: 6:00pm Wed. evening and 8:00am - 4:00pm Central on Thursday
City 3: 4:00pm Thursday Evening and 8:00am - 3:00pm on Friday

Each city is separated by a 2 hour flight, not including extra time to get to and from the airport. I have committed to attend the interview in City 3 since they notified me first and it is my first choice job. There isn't much of a conflict with the interview in City 1, but it would be nice to leave early to get to City 2. City 2 and City 3 were originally scheduled for the same days at the same times, but City 2 agreed to move back a day, but not enough to prevent overlapping with Thursday evening in City 3.

If I am unable to make it to City 2, they have indicated that they will "see if any positions remain" after interviewing the candidates who are able to make it. I interpret that to mean there's not much of a chance of getting another opportunity if I can't make it for the interview.

Short of chartering a private jet, should I tell City 2 "thanks, but no thanks?" I would prefer not to in this economy, but the timing of these interviews is so tight that a simple flight delay could ruin my chances at two companies.

Any other additional thoughts or approaches would be appreciated.

Anon email: itsnicetobewanted@gmail.com

Help me see some of Europe!

bDiddy — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:07:06 -0800

I need advice for planning a trip to Europe next summer. The wife and I are looking to see some of Europe next summer. Neither of us have ever gone. She wants to see Prague and I want to drink beer in Brussels. So, here's what I think is the best plan, but I don't know. This is where I need advice.

Fly into Prague and spend a few days there. Take the train through Germany, spending a night in some of the cities the train goes through. (Berlin, maybe Koln?) Then continue on to Brussels for a few days there. Then, if time permits maybe continue on to France.

So, as I've never planned a trip like this ever, I have a few questions.

Is it easier to fly in and out of the same city or can I land in one city and depart from another? Would it be significantly cheaper to do it one way vs the other?

Should I book train tickets in advance or when we're there? I've seen the seat61.com site so I know the Eurail pass isn't always the best bet, but maybe it will be for us.

Is it worth renting a car in Belgium? I want to see more than just Brussels. I'd LOOOOOVE to see some of the abbeys and some of the smaller breweries there. And getting up to the coast would be nice too.

How early should I be looking at booking this? And would a travel agent be any help to me? I've used a travel agent twice and I find them somewhat helpful, but not sure if it would be worth it for a trip like this.

Any other advice is welcome. Thanks in advance.

Can public transit be reinvented to meet America's needs?

gregb1007 — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:17:24 -0800

Can public transit be reinvented to meet America's needs? In many of America's regions, jobs are no longer concentrated in central areas but widely spread out. Hence, the old mode of public transit with trains traveling from the suburbs to city centers wouldn't cover the needs of most commuters. But can something better replace it? Has anyone actually theorized about a transit system that could move people to jobs in scattered and far-flung locations that couldn't all be covered by rail-line routes?

How to cross an ocean

Galen — Sat, 17 May 2008 05:25:43 -0800

I want to travel from Wroclaw, Poland to my family in Seattle, with less than 1000USD, without flying, within five weeks. I'm studying in Wroclaw, Poland, almost half way around the world from my home (I remember as a kid looking at the globe and Ukraine is exactly on the other side of the northern Hemisphere from Seattle).

I'm finished June 23. I intended to stay away from the US for as long as possible, but that whole human heart and loving friends thing urges me to return. That being, I didn't buy a return plane ticket.

My only obligation after June 23 is to see my cousin and uncle in Brighton for a week or so. After that it's time to go.

Perhaps the first question is, "Which direction: East or West?"

The criteria for this choice, in order to provide some constraints are:
1. I have less than 1000USD so the cheaper the better.
2. The five week time frame: the point is to return to my loved ones, so I don't want to be on the road for a year.
3. I've flown probably 200 times in my life and I'm over the airports, the turbulence and the rapid descents at the end. So we've ships, trains, autos, horses, bikes and my feet to work with.

And that's where all the questions I browsed on metafilter haven't answered my question, and why I'm asking you now:

I know how to buy a plane ticket, and I'm accustomed to train travel and I've hitchhiked a few hundred miles before (so the continental portion of travel doesn't bother me) but how do I cross the oceans?

I've researched tramp steamers a bit but the interactive map doesn't show any available ships!

Does anyone have experience hitching rides on ships? Are there other ways to cross oceans (crew on a yacht, tall ship or canoe?)

Is the Bering straight potentially crossable? I'm aware the north pole is melting so that's not really transgressable.

What's the least expensive way to [not fly across] an ocean? And which ocean should I cross?

Hobo dreams

doift — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:39:17 -0800

Please recommend me some day/weekend trip destinations from NYC, especially if they involve trains and don't require renting a car. My husband grew up in relatively car-centric, train-free areas, and now that we live in the East he really wants to go on a long train ride and see the rolling countryside, etc. Being more experienced in the ways of train travel than he is, I pointed out that his original suggestion (just get on any random train and ride it all day) is boring and a bad idea. But it would be nice to have some Saturday or whole-weekend trip ideas in reserve, so we're looking for destinations.

We like: food, museums, movies, theater, interesting shopping, quiet beaches, interesting scenery, longish unstrenuous walks, going to states that we haven't been to yet (which includes most of them), activities and amusements that are usually intended for children, and not spending very much money.

We don't much like: when walking becomes hiking, froofy B&Bs, having to rent a car.

Where should we go? Where should we stay? What should we do?

Roadtrip: Indiana to Massachusetts

Etta Hollis — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:41:39 -0800

Need to transport myself and belongings from Indiana to Massachusetts....but how? I start an internship in rural Western Massachusetts (read: not at all near an airport) in October. I live in Indiana. What is the best way to get there? I do not need to plan the return trip.

I do not own a car, and I am transporting more than would be comfortable via airplane( bedding, all clothing, outdoor gear, sewing machine, books, etc), and the MA location is at least 3 hours from an airport, thus the car issue comes back into play.

Would a train or rental car be my best bet? I've never rented a car. Do you just rent it then drop it off at the destination? Is this cost effective?

Can I bring a Leatherman on an Amtrak?

box — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:44:12 -0800

Will I be able to take a pocketknife/Leatherman-style pocket tool on an Amtrak train, or will it be considered a weapon?

I Wish To Squish

Squee — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:31:11 -0800

SquishFilter: What else, besides coins, could I safely place on some railroad tracks for a bit of silly fun? When I was a kid, my mom used to bring home coins for me that she would squash by placing them on the railroad tracks near her work, then collecting them later after a train passed by. I loved them, though I was never present when the squishing took place.

I live by some active railroad tracks now, and fondly think of this every time I pass by. I've still never actually done it, but someone is coming to visit me soon and I thought this was something fun and silly that we could do together during a walk past the tracks.

Then I got to thinking about what else we could squash, besides coins. I have some old flat metal keys that I don't need anymore. I thought those might be fun to try and were coin-like enough to be....y'know....safe.

I also did a bit of googling and read in passing somewhere, that someone suggested squishing rings on the railroad tracks. There wasn't much detail about it though....I've got some old metal rings that I wouldn't mind experimenting with....

Is this a bad idea, for any reason - safety, legal, or otherwise? Should I just stick with coins?

Has anyone squashed anything with success on railroad tracks besides coins, before? Suggestions welcome. Please feel free to thwack me mercilessly if this is a bad idea, or chatfilter.

Getting around the "center" of Europe.

skepticallypleased — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:22:59 -0800

We are planning to go to central Europe -- Austria, Czech, Hungary. Has anyone taken the trains in this region? How reliable and pleasurable were they? I would prefer to fly in light of the short trip but it seems that cheap airline craze I've heard so much about in Europe has, not, well a sort of cheaper part of Europe yet. Flights on Austria or Hungarian are running US$450 per segment! Thanks for any help. AskMe saved me a lot of $$$$ on our last vacation.