HUH ?

What rails ?

Those rails

I think they're on edge, Bill.  Those are the ends of the rails.

Bridgeport milling

I know that my insurance company wouldn't want to se a photo of my employees running a mill without safety glasses.  Just sayin'...

Agree, Fishplate

The lack of PPE was the first thing I noticed.  We would immediately get a Notice of Contravention from our regulator if he saw it.

That video of making

That video of making flextrack was fascinating. They injection-mold around the rails in 4 separate steps, takes about 1 minute per 3-foot section. You could easily cut that by 2/3 with a larger tool but the (probably heavy) capital investment is obviously not deemed justified.

I do wonder if ME will ever tool a #8 turnout.

Micro engineering visit

I really enjoyed the video on making the flex track. I sure would like to see more articles

on other makers of different equipment for Model Railroading.

Like rolling stock or turnouts.

I visited M.E. as well

Several years ago (at least 15) I visited Micro Engineering.  I'd ordered a Wheel Works Mack truck kit, and Walthers said they were out of stock.  A little research showed that Micro Engineering owned the Wheel Works line.  I was in St. Louis visiting family anyway, so I looked the company up and called them.  I was invited for a visit and a tour, and I managed to buy my truck kit right off the shelf.  As it turned out, they had plenty, just not enough to make up an order for Walthers.

While I was there, being shown the spin casting machines and all the other nifty production processes, I noticed a bin of code 55 #4 frogs.  I commented that I would love to buy those if they ever sold them separately, as they were the hardest part for me to make when I handlaid my track.  He reached into the bin and pulled out a handful, asking how many I wanted, then sold them to me for $.25 apiece.  I never ended up using them, but I still have that bag of frogs, and probably will for years to come, just for the story.

I will never forget the kindness and openers shown to a teenager or the friendliness of the entire staff.  I have been a fan of Micro Engineering ever since, and every time I use their products I feel like I'm saying a small "Thank You" to a many who was willing to take time out of his day to give a wide eyed kid a tour of his business.  Thanks for bringing back those memories, MRH!

Thanks, Ken

@DKRickman

I zoomed in and finally was able to distinguish the shapes - so it is a shot of literally hundreds of rail on end in cattywompus orientation. WOW!

Safety issues

Thanks for Sharing

Very interesting and informative article.  Thanks so much for sharing.  (And yes, the lack of PPE is a very serious concern ... and likely why many manufacturers don't allow 'tours' ....)

And most likely this will be

And most likely this will be the last one this company does.

Did it ever occur to anyone that all of the pictures of people

were posed for the article, and none of the machines were running at the time?  I have doubts that Microengineering would allow a magazine crew in to set up and shoot pics of people actually operating machinery.  That would provide to many distractions for safe operation.

Well said Russ. Distractions

Well said Russ. Distractions can lead to un-safe situations and surely the photos/video was/were posed.

I can recall working as an engineer on a couple of short lines which allowed cab rides if the passenger signed a release form. Now I was a railfan and modeler growing up and was given more than a few cab rides but it was a different story as an engineer. It is very difficult concentrating on running a locomotive when distracted by endless questions from a passenger. This was particularly, evident when switching and my conductor was giving me instructions while the passenger was bombarding me with conversation. Many times I had to stop the movement and ask my conductor to repeat his commands. 

I was very happy when this option of allowing cab rides was rescinded since distractions, while often, well meaning are dangerous.

Barry

While documenting machine shop operations

I worked for a number of years documenting build procedures and maintenance procedures in a mold/die shop and on the factory floor.  Almost every photo shot for the procedures was posed rather than taken "in-process", simply because of the safety issues.  Those that were taken live had no hands anywhere near the machinery and usually had a zoom lens to get close-ups.  Too many ways to get tangled up, burned, or otherwise crushed by the tools or molds.

Janet N

I can understand that by the barrage from the forum safety peanut gallery.