Projects at TMRC 2008

The following table shows the major projects going on at TMRC, and some others we'd like to get started. If you are interested in any of these projects, please e-mail us at: tmrc-web@mit.edu.

Current Projects Description

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Radio Cabs
We have a walk-around layout... so we need walk around cabs. Help us cut the cord and control our trains wirelessly!

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Layout Signals
We need dozens of new signals in the layout: signal bridges, dwarf signals, signal towers, etc. Help build current designs, or make a new one of your own design.

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Track Cleaning Car
TMRC invented cruft, and we remain committed to producing plenty of it. Our rails get very dirty very quickly, and this can stop the trains from running. The solution? Regular track cleaning by a dedicated motorized car. Even better: what if the cleaning car ran over the layout automatically, like a rail-bound Roomba? There are all sorts of interesting possibilities with this project.

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Scenery: Gifford City
There are lots of buildings left to build, plus cars, people, and street details. Many buildings are half-complete, such as the fire station.

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Scenery: Bridges
The Whatahack River in Gifford City is spanned by not one but three working lift bridges! At least it is in our imaginations. Try your hand at a moving piece of railroad sculpture!

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Scenery: Chemical Plant
Wanted: a maze of tanks and pipes and a real switching puzzle.

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Passenger Stations
From Killianport to Burns, help fill in the missing spots on our timetable!

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Rolling Stock
Like to work on the trains themselves? We have dozens of new cars to put together and detail, and over a hundred older cars to play with.

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Passenger Trains
The TNP's signature passenger trains, the Aaron Burr and the Benedict Arnold, are in need of inspection and repair. We also have high-speed rail, and lots of commuter equipment to build.

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Trolley Track
Gifford City has a trolley system under construction. The raised wire is nearly finished but we need the electronics to make it all work.

Current Projects	Description
pic	Radio Cabs We have a walk-around layout... so we need walk around cabs. Help us cut the cord and control our trains wirelessly!
pic	Layout Signals We need dozens of new signals in the layout: signal bridges, dwarf signals, signal towers, etc. Help build current designs, or make a new one of your own design.
pic	Track Cleaning Car TMRC invented cruft, and we remain committed to producing plenty of it. Our rails get very dirty very quickly, and this can stop the trains from running. The solution? Regular track cleaning by a dedicated motorized car. Even better: what if the cleaning car ran over the layout automatically, like a rail-bound Roomba? There are all sorts of interesting possibilities with this project.
pic	Scenery: Gifford City There are lots of buildings left to build, plus cars, people, and street details. Many buildings are half-complete, such as the fire station.
pic	Scenery: Bridges The Whatahack River in Gifford City is spanned by not one but three working lift bridges! At least it is in our imaginations. Try your hand at a moving piece of railroad sculpture!
pic	Scenery: Chemical Plant Wanted: a maze of tanks and pipes and a real switching puzzle.
pic	Passenger Stations From Killianport to Burns, help fill in the missing spots on our timetable!
pic	Rolling Stock Like to work on the trains themselves? We have dozens of new cars to put together and detail, and over a hundred older cars to play with.
pic	Passenger Trains The TNP's signature passenger trains, the Aaron Burr and the Benedict Arnold, are in need of inspection and repair. We also have high-speed rail, and lots of commuter equipment to build.
pic	Trolley Track Gifford City has a trolley system under construction. The raised wire is nearly finished but we need the electronics to make it all work.

These are future projects, which we could put in the front-line if you are interested in them. These are usually longer-term than those above, but they can be great projects too!

Future Projects Description

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Car Identification
With nearly 200 freight cars and 50 locomotives, keeping track of where everything is can be quite a hassle. We need a system that allows the computer to find every train and car on the layout. Can it be done with RFID? Something else? Try to solve this challenging problem!

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Mood Lighting
Our club room has both fluorescent lights for daytime and incandescent spotlights for evening. Wanted: night lighting, building interior lights, and electronics to tie it all into the system clock.

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Upper Levels
Someday our main helix is going to go somewhere. The line from Berkmannville to Tuckerton is still on the drawing board, so come help us plan and design the newest part of the TNP!

Future Projects	Description
pic	Car Identification With nearly 200 freight cars and 50 locomotives, keeping track of where everything is can be quite a hassle. We need a system that allows the computer to find every train and car on the layout. Can it be done with RFID? Something else? Try to solve this challenging problem!
pic	Mood Lighting Our club room has both fluorescent lights for daytime and incandescent spotlights for evening. Wanted: night lighting, building interior lights, and electronics to tie it all into the system clock.
pic	Upper Levels Someday our main helix is going to go somewhere. The line from Berkmannville to Tuckerton is still on the drawing board, so come help us plan and design the newest part of the TNP!

Tech Model Railroad Club of MIT Room N52-118 265 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139	+1 617 253-3269 x3-3269 (on campus) Email: tmrc-web@mit.edu Last Modified Tue Feb 26 19:20:37 2008