Mornin' all you Yankee Doodle dandies. Hazy and 64 in the Potomac Highlands. I've been over doin' it outside, and paying the price the past few nights.
FYI - Chief's "favorite" railroad just released it's next Heritage unit, Seaboard System 1982. Looks good.
Good Morning.
Thanks for starting the Pot fife. When I first saw the heading it made me think you were leading off with an Alka-Seltzer commercial.
Its 72 and light breezes this morning. Its supposed to go up to the low 80s today. We are headed to the lake later today for the holiday and a gathering of the clan.
Have a great day.
Northwoods Flyer
The Northwoods Flyer Collection
of
American Flyer Trains
"The Toy For the Boy"
Evening all
Just got back home earlier this evening from a wonderful family vacation trip to the cape. There's a favorite hobby shop of mine about 15 minutes north of Plymouth MA that I twisted my family's arm into letting me visit again- the guy always has plenty of "junk" sitting around in the corners that I can dig through, and his prices are unbeatable. Let's just say... this year was a pretty good year for me
A chunk of my finds were just various junker car frames to salvage parts from (plus a tank car to practice my repainting skills on). I found some duplicates of two items I already have- a HO Marx 'SP' gondola (my second or third one) and a Lionel 0101 HO transformer. Also got a loop of Marx 34" curves (been wanting those for ages!), a few junk HO locos to mess around with (maybe get a runner or two if I'm lucky), and a couple real messed up '60s Matchbox cars.
But that was all the small stuff!I scored my third LW (unfortunately missing the handle), and my first 1044. Both seem to be quite capable transformers when they work, which rest assured, neither of these do. I also picked up four different accessories I previously didn't own! Talk about a score... I got a 394 tower (bad shape), as well as a dingey 397 and a dusty 164. All were at prices you just couldn't beat. The last accessory is probably going to be more of a parts donor- it's the remains of a Noma talking station. All that's left is most of the white plastic structure, the coupla, and the mechanism. I think I may try to salvage and repair the mechanism and if all goes well, maybe eventually install it in a new structure.
The biggest score by far though, has to be my new ST-393 magnetizer! This was Lionel's device supplied to re-magnetize HO scale train motors (which loose their strength when dissasembled). Never thought I'd find one within my budget... this one cost me next to nothing! It's not pristine, and it definitely needs some attention, but there's very little to it (internally it's just a super strong electromaget in a box, wired to a momentary switch). As long as the coil is good, I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be able to get it working.
Very excited about my new goodies, but unfortunately I may not get to play with them much for a bit- I have a rather busy schedule for the coming week. But I can't wait to dig into stuff!
-ElliePS: I'll probably make a seperate thread when I have time and post some pictures. I literally just got the stuff, haven't had a chance to photograph any of it.
Mornin' guys and gals. Damp and 70 along the Patterson Creek cut-off. Lots to do today, including some touch-up painting at the caboose, and visiting stepdad up the mountain.
Yesterday decorated the chapter caboose for July 4th, and fastened some museum pieces to the walls. It's shaping up nicely. Came home and worked on a false-front hotel/station for the layout.
El Fixes ThingsLet's just say... this year was a pretty good year for me
Great to hear Ellie! And I'm glad to hear that "archeology" you practiced at that hobby shop paid off!
Lord Canarvon: "What do you see?"
Howard Carter: "Wonderful things!"
I've done pretty well myself this year although I'm sure you got off a LOT cheaper than I did! I'm not complaining.
fifedogYesterday decorated the chapter caboose for July 4th
Good to hear! I couldn't do a bloody thing yesterday, too hot and humidity you could cut with a knife and spread on a piece of toast. Stayed inside! So did everybody else, the neighborhood looked like an episode of "Life After People!"
Hey all,
Picked up the BlueBonnet Manards unit yesterday from the store but did not get it out of the box till this morning. We have Nico the daughter's dog for the weekend and maybe more because they are in St. Louis with the travel baseball team the grandson Jordan is on. They have been rained out so may be pushed into Monday before they get the games in. Boy a 6 and 9 month pups in the place at the same time is " for lack of not going off,,,fun at best". The two of them decided to go exploring in the woods when I was in the basement and wifey said she would keep an eye on them. By the time I found them they were both full of MUD.
Oh well I should of known better. As for the new BlueBonnet unit, I like it. Man when you turn it down to around 12 volts it will do scale walking speed. they are very smooth runners and other than needing some lub they are ready to go to work. well worth the $$$$ to me.
Boy NASCAR has a winner with the street racing thing. What I did see yesterday before the weather put a stop to it was neat!!! Hope they get the Cup Race in today.
Well I have better check on the dogs.
MOV05826 Santa Fe Blue Bonnet - YouTube
MOV05825 - YouTube
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Mornin' guys & gals. Overcast and 70, with occasional today. I have to get new buns; hotdog and hamburger, at the grocery store. Then have to go to Middle Princess's to paint Leo's wall art, and hang pics.
Kev - Sharp looking diesel, and glad you like it. Some of the reviews have been unflattering.
Nascar race had cool ending, but I don't care for street racing, except Monaco of course. I would never attend that style of event. As a fan, what could you see...?
fifedogKev - Sharp looking diesel, and glad you like it. Some of the reviews have been unflattering.
It IS a sharp-looking diesel and I'm glad it's worked out well for you Kev!
Yes, there's been some unflattering reviews on the Menards diesel issues I won't go into. I don't own one myself but the thing I find a little disturbing about it is there's no conventional control option, say by flipping a switch. I've got a LionChief GP20 that has the conventional control option, if it didn't I wouldn't have bought it. As it was I tried the remote just to see what it was like and it worked very well, but after the test I pulled the batteries and put the remote in a drawer.
Well the house is quiet, Nico the Belgian Malinois has gone home. Are dog and cat seem happy.
Hot today, yeah I saw the reviews but if you read anything on OGR,,,, if God made it they would find fault. Why I got my own and held off to 4.5. I have been talking with Ray @ Menards and a conventional switch is something they know about and he agrees with. I don't know what it would to cost. As for this controler it works as good as any of the LionChief I have. My LionChief GP20 BNSF 2050 is the worst engine I have ever got. it runs off out of control and cost more than I spent for two of these Menards units. And you can't even get parts for it. So I took the dip.
Fife, You have never been to Road America or Mid Ohio? Street or road course I love the option to move around the track. Even Indy, when you have 2 miles of race you can't see much from one seat. Anyone can run around in a banked toilet bowl. I would not just sit in one spot and I like the left and right moves. To each his own.
Well the pup wants a Gator rid, best get.
Mornin' guys and gals. Sunny & 69 at present, but supposed to feel like 102 later today. Gonna fill up FifeMax pool for him, as he loves to dip his paws.
Brought home an antique bulletin board, and a number board off Chessie 7702, to clean up and take to the Chapter Caboose.
Good Morning - Sorry, it' s been a while
We've been chugging right along, here. Everyweekend it's been something new.
I went to a larger storage unit, and it has been all trains, diecast and hot wheels. The estate wants to get the house empty by year's end so all the "toys" go into storage until the big toy box is built behind Jenni's house. I'm looking into desolving most of the Hot Wheels inventory - and there is a lot.
After a few purchases last month, I'm on lock down as far as train buying. I purchased a new toy, a 1980 Dodge Diplomat with a very strong small block and automatic transmission. I wanted some thing I could work on and play with (since my road runner convertible is a rare car), and this fits the bill. I miss my 71 Dodge Demon (which I had to sell while in Florida) so this will be a nice replacement.
We're still looking at funding the big toy box, and waiting for a call back from Jeni's mortgage lender.
KRM - Glad you like the Menards engine - I like mine in the limited time I have run it.
Elle - Nice pick ups. I always look under the tables at train shows, sometimes that's where the "junk" piles and cheap stuff are.
Fife - That's a nice pick up on the number board. So far - with Virtual Rail Fan - I've seen the Chessie, Seaboard and B&O - Very cool paint schemes. I really like the Chessie and on the NS side - the Jersey Central.
92F later and it is VERY humid right now. We'll se what the evening holds, I'd like to head to the Friendly's Cruise tonight, but if it's too humid, might hold off.
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
anjdevil - Perhaps you can take a tub of Hotwheels to each car show/gathering, and sell them to good homes...? As for the Diplomats, we'll the only thing GOOD I have to say, is as police cars they had a heckofa lot more room than today's fleet of Taurus.
THAT'S a GREAT idea --- I'll look into that Fife!!
I have to tell ya, even the coupe back seat was roomy, Jenni took it out on Tueday night and we took a friend out for ice cream. I was in the back kinda lazed out. It does have a bench seat and Ms. Jenni LOVES that part, lol
Mornin' boys and girls. In a bit of a heatwave along the Alleghany front-range. It's been a challenge to get the caboose squared away. Even more of a challenge to get our 80-something chapter member to get home by noon... BTW, the bulletin board and number board cleaned up nicely, and now are on display inside CRR 1072.
On the home front, making slow progress on the false front hotel/station. This will radically change the skyline in my city section, as I've started carving out sections of scenery along the Flyer loop. Woof.
Kind of nice here on The North Bluff above Marseilles. Mid 70s today and we have picked up about 4" of MUCH needed rain in the last week. Boy do the corn and beans look happy.
Been spending some time running the two new Menards F units. They have been running fine since I gave the red one a lube job.
Thats about it from here.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOwyn6ovYEE_lgTXrdOnPZgM9k6v5XCIuPmSeMoKReQBIxIGoipFPW6nnzkTGYTdw/photo/AF1QipOJ3THjhofwFf96zurWVU5TEoMxxi2HUYGdG5ic?key=SHFpUGV2aHdQcl9WaTRkMFFxRk9uaXNubExFY1R3
Mornin' guys and gals. Sunny & pleasant along the Patterson Creek cut-off. After finishing the Chapter caboose, getting the hotel/station to "fit" on the Flyer loop, and mowing the front lawn between the raindrops, I'm taking the day off. Fun Nascar race last night.
KRM - Fun video. Glad you got a couple of good engines from BIG "M".
Mornin' guys and gals. Cloudy and 72 along the Patterson Creek cut-off. We will be picking up the 5 year old grandson today, and he will be at Pops camp for the next week. He is my train fan, so lots of activity in the train room, and probably a trip to the caboose. The toddler grandson is his best buddy, so Butch and Sundance ride again.
Yup.
I hate these POP ups!!!!! One more nail in the coffin.
Nice here this morning but going to get HOT.
Went to mow grass yesterday and as soon as I put the blades in gear the belt flew off. So I looked around and the main idler had wasted itself. I pulled the belt covers off and checked and all three idlers were totaled or ready to be. Spun the spindles on the two on the outside I could reach they seemed fine. I had to drive about 20 miles to get the idlers and when I got home, I pulled the deck off and replaced them. So, when I had the deck off, I spun the middle spindle and would you know,,,,it is noisy. Oh well I went ahead and put it together and did the grass. I will have to order new spindles for another day. Today is birthday party for the youngest grandson, wow he is 10 already! I must be getting old.
Best get!
KRM I hate these POP ups!!!!! One more nail in the coffin.
I don't know if I'm lucky or because I'm using DuckDuckgo, but I'm not getting them.
Afternoon all. We got 4.5" of rain yesterday in 45 minutes. I've never seen the creek behind our house more than 4 or 5 inches deep, normally about 2 or 3 inches deep. the enbankment is about 6' deep, yesterday it was flooded about 75' out which is a gradule upgrade (about 1' in the 75') and about 10' from our fence. I could see out to the creek area, and it looked like a rushing river going.
Otherwise not a lot going on here today.
Hi, everyone.
Not much has been going on train wise, a friend went to the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, GA and bought me a sign that says "Train Parking Only. All others will be side-tracked, and an Illinois Central "Death Star" logo pin!
KRMI hate these POP ups!!!!! One more nail in the coffin.
I'm getting the bloody things too now. Adblock will stop them but I have to remember to turn it on. For. Each. Site. And it's not just here, I'm getting them everywhere.
Mornin' guys and gals. Wet and humid in the Potomac Highlands. Had a nice day of train fun with grandson yesterday. Started off with a trip to the caboose, in which he explored every nook and cranny. Took some video of him greeting WMSR 558 (no 1309 anytime soon...), and then he played on the station playground (shaped like a steamer). Took him over to see the CSX roundhouse and turntable, and he enjoyed seeing all the diesels about. I had info that the town's only hobby shop had picked up a nice collection of Lionel MPC, and grandson picked out a nice SP gondola, and he also scored a CP flat with pup trailers. Then it was down to the train room to run his new freight.
Earth to Mars??????????
Mars here, yes.
Evening,
Not much going on here, train wise.
I'm just going to sit here and relax.
Mornin' boys. Sunny and mild along the Alleghany front-range. Dust has settled after the grandsons' visit to Fifedom. Oldest boy is returning in a few weeks, so looking forward to adding another train shelf or two. Grandmom and I will be babysitting today over at nurse princess's castle.
Went around my track plan at the site of my planned layout to count how many pieces of track I'll need.
When I build the trackplan, I'll mainly operate RDC's as well as trolleys, galloping goose, and some trains as well!
Cool
Same me, different spelling!
Aloha. I was pretty tired all day yesterday due to our weekend adventures in Chicago (taking the daughter and her friends out for her bday and my wife going to a Beyonce concert with her) but managed a pesto pasta and garlic bread dinner, trying a different sauce - braising the garlic which i haven't done before and grilling the brocolli instead of boiling it.
Today is a busy morning of meetings - and between the bad air quality and the supposed high temps, I'll wait until evening to take the doggos out for a walk. If I have a 'window' of time, I will want to spackle some holes in the laundry room wall - this is the only room that still has the house's original wallpaper I finally want to tackle and take down. I also battled some more with another ground nest of yellow jackets. Boy, those critters are sure ornery!
Fife, great photos! I was reminded by social media that on this day a decade ago, my youngest and I were exploring the Mad River train museum in Ohio
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month