On one of the layouts at the last train show in Raleigh was a sign "When you stop believing in Santa you get underwear not trains." In the spirit of that, what train goodies did you get for Christmas? (please do not tell us you got underwear though ......just WTMI) My wonderful wife and sons got me an N Scale Santa Fe caboose and airslide hopper as well as some figures for my HO roundhouse and a new rotary tool. (plus some other non-train goodies) I got some cash too and will be heading to the hobby shop tommorrow. Lets hear how you did. Everybody have a very Merry Christmas. Jim
We don't buy presents for adults in my (huge extended) family. If we did, we would all be bankrupt and opening presents until New Year's Day!
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No trains for me. Lots of fun with the family. We all went swimming today because it was so hot outside. Great times!
-Kevin
Living the dream.
No trains this year. Temp only got to 18. so didn't go swimming either. However, had a good train experience yesterday; have found a co-worker had a layout. and got to go see it. Five levels in his occasionally heated garage. Invited to come down to run trains sometime. (The longies I got will come in handy there.)
Son has also cleaned up our garage, so I got the idea to move that I can move my little layout up there and start construction on my my new layout. He also hooked up the wood furnace, so will be able to warm things up when I feel like running trains.
No physical train stuff, but ideas and a visit that made for a good holiday.
Hope you all had good Christmas' and the best for the New Year,
Richard
Wife and I did something unusual this Christmas day. We worked on sheetrocking the train room in the basement. We haven't had many days with free time together and for us much of it is a two person job with 4x8 sheets.
She went upstairs now and then to baste the turkey and get the Yorkshire puddings going for the Christmas dinner. She knows I've been patiently waiting all 2018 to get basement finishing underway for layout building. Bless her.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761Wife and I did something unusual this Christmas day. We worked on sheetrocking the train room in the basement. We haven't had many days with free time together and for us much of it is a two person job with 4x8 sheets. She went upstairs now and then to baste the turkey and get the Yorkshire puddings going for the Christmas dinner. She knows I've been patiently waiting all 2018 to get basement finishing underway for layout building. Bless her.
Sounds like a great gift just helping. I actually gave the new rotary tool a workout this afternoon and laid track in the new yard. (hey the "kids" were playing with their toys- I get to play with mine too) My wife didn't come down though- the rotary tool reminds her too much of a dentist's drill. Jim
riogrande5761We worked on sheetrocking the train room in the basement.
Wow, you and Sheldon are ahead of me now.
I need to get back to work on the house or I will never have a layout.
drgwcs On one of the layouts at the last train show in Raleigh was a sign "When you stop believing in Santa you get underwear not trains." In the spirit of that, what train goodies did you get for Christmas? (please do not tell us you got underwear though ......just WTMI) My wonderful wife and sons got me an N Scale Santa Fe caboose and airslide hopper as well as some figures for my HO roundhouse and a new rotary tool. (plus some other non-train goodies) I got some cash too and will be heading to the hobby shop tommorrow. Lets hear how you did. Everybody have a very Merry Christmas. Jim
While going through the latest Micro-Mark catalog, I paused and looked at the MicroMake power tools. I bought a High Torque 1/4"Drill--and recently bought the drill press accessory for it--the Jig Saw/Scroll Saw, and the power pack, many years ago and now wonder how I ever got along without them, particularly the little "hole-shooter" pistol. At this sitting, I spotted the attachment to turn my scroll saw into a table saw, which should make short work of those window cutouts, considering the blades are .022x.060" and can fit into a 1/16" hole. Okay, Deano, it's time to Get Back to Work!
Merry Christmas to all and a Happy, Healthy New Year!
Deano
drgwcs Sounds like a great gift just helping. I actually gave the new rotary tool a workout this afternoon and laid track in the new yard. (hey the "kids" were playing with their toys- I get to play with mine too) My wife didn't come down though- the rotary tool reminds her too much of a dentist's drill. Jim
My wife grew up very underprivelaged in northern England and has always been a very hands-on person. She laid bricks herself in one flat to make her own fireplace, for example. She still needs practice with the impact drill to get the screws in straight on the drywall but is getting better. I'd guess we have nearly a 3rd of the walls covered now - the framing is a bit wonky in places which is probably normal so it takes longer to get everything even Steven as much as possible. I'll probably start mudding and taping this coming weekend.
Speaking of rotary tools, I bought a 1990's model Demel at a train show NIB and after about a year it stopped spinning. I finally ordered the parts to get it working again. In the mean time my 30 year old Dremel still works pretty good. I don't blame your wife for not liking the sound. I hate it too and just spend several hours last week in the torture chair getting a crown done.
Wow, you and Sheldon are ahead of me now. I need to get back to work on the house or I will never have a layout. -Kevin
I tore down the last layout July 2017 and moved into the new house Nov of that year so been waiting a full year and layout building is still waiting on the basement to be finished. The past year has been filled with updating the kitchen, replacing the front door with rotted threashold, master bath with rotted floor, and other "fun and games". After my wife turns in the rental we will be down to one car until tomorrow when we purchase a used car to replace the one written off in an accident from a few weeks ago when a young kid slammed into the back of my wife on the way to work.
We were going to hire contractors to do the drywall but some unexpected expenses has motivated us to DIY it to save on costs as we ain't made out of money. My sister and her husband seemed shocked when we mentioned we were going to do drywalling on Christmas - but she is a stay at home mom and he is a lawyer with an income triple of what my wife and I make combined, so they can go ahead and be shocked - different mentality when you can just throw money at things and take it easy.
riogrande5761Well, I tore down the last layout July 2017
My previous layout was removed in late 2016.
I really am moving slowly.
Things have been pretty tight but I always have what I need. This year I was blessed with a Menards Wally’s Service Station (apparently owned by our cat, Wally) and a Pullman spittoon. Also a tiny Hallmark train ornament. I am a happy fellow.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
My 11yo son was generous enough to give me the Bachmann TILX tank car I had my eye on, and my wife surprised me with a cap and work apron labeled "Thomson Railroad, Roseville, CA"... (Thomson being our surname) ... perfect for working on the layout!
It was capped off with a few hours of modeling time in the evening. I donned my apron, weathered that tank, and layed some track. Bliss!
-Donn
Nothing train related, but with some of the money I got, I went to the local hobby store and got a couple Santa Fe piggyback trailers and a couple new hobby knives. I then went to Lowe's and got a new 5-light floor lamp for my workbench area that I can then move around in my basement for whenever I need more light anyplace.
Kevin
http://chatanuga.org/RailPage.html
http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html
Try to keep gift cost down within the family so presents are budget priced. Everybody always aking for gift ideas so I took a Micro-Mart catalog and went thru it marking all the neat little tools and gadgets that I would like to have but never ordered. Most were relatively low cost. Family liked that better than giving gift cards and I don't need any more shirts and sweaters. As a result, I received a bunch of useful small tools that will be handy for layout work and some happy family members.
Paul D
N scale Washita and Santa Fe RailroadSouthern Oklahoma circa late 70's
I treated myself to an InterMountain FP7 in Canadian Pacific maroon and grey. I haven't bought anything from eBay in months. In fact I have rarely even looked at eBay in months, but the mood struck just before Christmas and one of the first listings that I came across was the covered wagon at a pretty good price. 'Buy It Now' it said, and I did.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Santa really came through again this year......2–Scale Trains Rivet Counter GEVO’s in CSX, 2-Walthers SD70ACE‘s in NS, and 2-Walthers SD60M’s in NS. Stocking stuffer included the Micro Mark truck spreading pliers. That will definitely save some wear and tear on fingertips.Happy New Year to everyone!
No train goodies under the tree, in fact, not even a tree, just like the years before. It´s not that we "don´t do presents", we simply don´t have the money.
We had a nice Christmas dinner, though.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Haven't been out of the house since Christmas day. Not sick, just no need too.
My wife did get me that Walthers GP-9 in Mont. Rail link colors. It is a real sweet running loco. I was thinking I was going to Paint it, but have decided against that .
Garry suggested that I don't and just enjoy it in the colors it came in and it looks great, so I will.
Hope all are having a great week. I was doing a few RIP repaairs toninght.
Johnboy out...............................................
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Nothing train related that is too exotic. Just a coffee mug with two of my favorite railroad logos and locos:
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
I always buy myself some presents so that I will get at least one thing that I actually want. A year or two ago I asked Preiser to make some knights in HO scale because nobody makes any, and this year to my surprise they answered my request so I figured I better buy them. There are two different sets. One set features two knights on horseback jousting. The other set features four knights on foot in combat. I will use them in my Renaissance Pleasure Faire scene. I also bought a Design Preservation model of an townhouse which I plan on putting somewhere in an old downtown area.
I usually get a good haul of train stuff. This year I got two $75.00 Gift Certificates from PWRS. Not nearly what I usually get but I am a happy camper just the same.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."