Good Afternoon, Folks.
Another drab day, but I pulled my act together and ventured up the stairs into our room in the attic - in search of goodies! And I found them - a large box filled with Kato Unitrack leftover from my little mini-modular Japanese style layout I built in 2011. It is actually quite a lot - sufficient for a very basic layout. Not that I am going to build it, but it could mean a start into something of a completely different direction. The nice thing about Kato Unitrack is that wiring is really a simple affair, and so is track laying - which suits me fine with my fading eyes and clumsy hands. I also remember that getting rid of the plastic look is also a doable task.
Since I discovered that box, which has survived 5 years in the attic without an issue, I keep getting the idea of a small N scale layout situated somewhere in the arid region of the US. When I close my eyes, I can already see a trio of yellow UP Diesels pulling a long string of intermodals....
While I am sure this will remain a dream, it perked me up a little - at least for today!
Ray and Mr. B. - we have a recycling place which accepts any kind of electric or electronic device - for free. They are open 3 days a week and people line up to bring their recycable waste to the place. You can also bring your garden waste. It´s really a nice service.
Janie, I´ll be staying here at the RC to have a chat with Bro Elias. Make my order coffee and cherry crumble pie, please!
Edit: I see I got tops - so, dear Janie, whatever those chowhounds showing up today will be having, put it on my tab!
2nd edit: Remember MR´sw 2010 project layout "The Salt Lake Route"? That´s what I have in mind ...
MisterBeasleyWhen I ask about recycling other electronics like VCR players and such, they say "Trash 'em." A lot is said about how we need to recycle, but in practice it can be next to impossible to actuall do it.
Yeah... well there is a lot to be said for just trashing them. Sure they got bad stuff in them, but most trash dump facilities can handle it. Those places as do recycle send the stuff to India where low paid schlubs get to breathe in the posions.
I have a large box filled with old motherboards, and I do not know what to do with them either. I ccould send them to the land-fill, or I could wait for an electronic recycling day to appear and send them to India.
BTW: I just bought a bing can of hard candys, the kind you see at Christmas time. On the lable it says they were made in India. It tasted like that is where they put their poisons, and send them back to us.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Hi Crew, ATT: Br. Otte
Just a HC. before heading to bed, please Zoe.
I just have a question this evening. Maybe some of the Diners might answer it for me and if not, I would invite Br. Steven Otte to chime in here.
I may have indeed missed the question and answer on this if it was in here once before as I don't get the opportunity to check daily.
The question is>>>>>
I know that Model Railroader makes no mistakes. So why do I find the date of Feb. 2016 on the front of my Feb. 2017 issue of M.R. That would be far to early for an April fools joke. Just find it hard to believe that Steven, Cody or Neil would have missed that. So there must be a reason ???????
Night all,
Johnboy out...................hoping to get to sleep with out the answer tonight.
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
I think I got BIg Daddy's head cold.
Evening Diners
Flo, Ed will have Crown Royal and I will have a
Boy it was a pretty day, we hit 75 degrees! I turned on the A/C on at work it was that warm.
Sure did not help the Work Front! Only had 3 customers and had a whole $40.00 in sales. One lady spent a hour and a half telling me "All the mattress feel the same to me, why do I need a new one"? I was so glad that she finally left!
MisterBeasleyI still use Windows XP, and I have no problems with it. I play Flight Simulator on this machine, and after XP, Microsoft removed the hooks for Gameport devices like my flight yoke and pedals. If I "upgraded" to a newer OS, I would lose capabilities. Thanks, Microsoft. Now, however, I find that the latest Turbo Tax won't run on XP. Bah. No wonder we hate these people.
Mr B Sure what I did not want to hear about Turbo Tax. I was sitting here a hour ago thinking about doing my own taxes this year. With my low income I can get my taxes done free by the state. But, this year there is no places close by. Guess I can try getting on line with the Notebook with Windows 10?
Inch Good to see you post.
My sort of new Amana Washing machine and Dyer. Far as the washer, it sure gets things clean! Seems pretty fast as well. Only downside is it sounds like it beating the stuff with a baseball bat! Sue and I both love the dryer!
Mighty B&O F7's. Second day in the row the B unit has sound. I think. They are on address 3 after a reset, would love to put them on the program track and change there address and sound level. At this point I am afraid to mess with either engine.
Never Mind, the Might Strange B&O F7b just lost sound! See things are back to normal on the layout.
Ken
I hate Rust
Fortunately Simcoe County where I live is very proactive when it comes to recycling just about everything. There used to be some restrictions on what could be taken to the transfer sites (the term 'dump' doesn't really apply anymore), but now I don't know of anything that they will not accept, short of radioactive waste etc.! There are no limits on what types of electronic waste they will accept. They are even set up to accept hazardous waste on a daily basis. They don't charge for the disposal of either electronic or hazardous waste. Heck, they even put in a second set of weigh scales to reduce the time spent lining up to get weighed for the stuff you do have to pay for. I think the reason that we have full service is that the County has chosen to retain ownership and operation of the waste handling. Curbside waste collection has been contracted out but the County still controls everything from that point on.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Best gets on to ta chores. Thoughts n prayers for those in need n hope ya’ll has a gooden
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4309
We have friends, the wife is from Switzerland and the husband is from So Africa. Europe had the front loading high efficiency washers long before we did. They are not happy with their US, washer and most people I know aren't. They take longer and clothes don't seem to get as clean.
A head cold hit me last night and I haven't accomplished anything today. The weather is the same as you saw at the inaguration yesterday, cold and damp.
Looked at an oil tank kit I have. It's a pair of tanks, and the bottom supports have a semicircle profile to fit the top, except they don't fit, a slightly smaller radius than the tank. I threw away the kit label, but there are no locating pins or grooves anywhere. Everything needs to glued together with precision and your naked eye. I did cut some cardboard spacers so the bottom supports will be glued on the same spot on both tanks.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Yep! Frustrating to say the least...
The eWaste day here was paid for by the county from the $$$$ they get from Casella from the landfill we just happen to have here.... They hired EWASTE (Business located in Victor, NY) to accept electronic items for the countywide recyling day. They only took electronic waste connected with any kind of computer and/or periferals. So, they did accept VCRs, Digital Video recorders, DVR recorders and players, Digital converter boxes, Satellite recievers, video game consoles, and handheld devices, etc. They did take all kinds of computers and monitors, including old TV's. The biggest reason for them to do this came from constantly hearing from many, many people in the county about the difficulty of disposing of these things properly! The County Supervisor (from Geneva) is most vocal about it was the top local guy in a recyling business here in Geneva a while back. Unfortunately the home company (from England) decided to just not pay their employees..... It closed quite suddenly.
Staples will recycle without cost, many of the items if dropped off at their stores. I was going to take most of what I disposed of today one by one to the store for them to deal with...
The event was very well organized and had no waiting once I got there. They unloaded the car and took care of everything...
I have been doing some Boy Scout contacting stuff that I have been putting off for a few weeks today also. Just isn't enough hours in the day for me to be retired. I did spnd about a half hour doing a touch of scenery stuff that has to be done a little at a time. Will get back to that soon.
Have a good one!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
I used to go to the electronics recycling day at work before I retired. The last time, though, they would not take old CRT monitors or TVs. I didn't have any, but I noticed that they would not even take them. How can we recycle old electrionics when the recycling centers won't take them? Our town, at least, will pick up any large items free of charge, but special arrangement is necessary. Of course, then it's going to the incinerator like everything else, so it's not being recycled.
When I ask about recycling other electronics like VCR players and such, they say "Trash 'em." A lot is said about how we need to recycle, but in practice it can be next to impossible to actuall do it.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
howmusUlrich, watch the washer when it spins! Things could get real, uh, interersting, real fast......
I did, Ray and everything is fine! The washer spins with 1400rpm and it does not move at all, even when the drum is not completely filled.
Afternoon folks........
Chloe, I just need a tall glass of ice cold lemonade, please.
Seems Spring has arrived a bit early here in the Finger Lakes. Yessiree! Currently 54°F outside under nice sunny skies. High will be about 56°F today, and if this keeps up I will need to mow the lawn by next week.... 21st. of January and 56°F. Hmmmmmmmmmmm?????
I am just about ready to get in the Volt and head over to an elctronics recycling event being put on by the County. I'll be getting rid of the old MacBook, 3 printers, an old stand alone CDR unit I used as a backup for live recording way back when, an old Zip Drive, and a bunch of wires and small items.
Ulrich, watch the washer when it spins! Things could get real, uh, interersting, real fast.......
Have a great day out there. I may go out and sit in the sun for a while later this afternoon with my shirt off. Good for my psoriasis.
MisterBeasleyUlrich, why did you put the washer on top? They are, as you pointed out, much heavier than dryers, and when full of water they will weigh a lot more and need a solid base. I would have put the dryer on top, if possible, but maybe the connections won't let you do that.
The dryer used to sit on top of the washer, but the new washer is not deep enough for that. So I had to put it the other way around, as we do not have the room to have them side by side. The dryer is quite sturdy - I can stand on it. The washer is less than half of my weight, so that should work.
Good morning. I've got my cold back. It jumped right to the hacking cough stage.
Ulrich, why did you put the washer on top? They are, as you pointed out, much heavier than dryers, and when full of water they will weigh a lot more and need a solid base. I would have put the dryer on top, if possible, but maybe the connections won't let you do that.
Ken, I still use Windows XP, and I have no problems with it. I play Flight Simulator on this machine, and after XP, Microsoft removed the hooks for Gameport devices like my flight yoke and pedals. If I "upgraded" to a newer OS, I would lose capabilities. Thanks, Microsoft. Now, however, I find that the latest Turbo Tax won't run on XP. Bah. No wonder we hate these people.
Howdy.
Just a quick post. Our Arizona trip is going well Be back home in a few days.
Cheers
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Hey Look!
A whole tray of fresh sticky buns!
Good Afternoon!
Brunhilda, it´s coffee & cake time in Germany, so I´d like to go for a big slice of apple strudel and lots of , please.
It´s an overcast, dull day and I am not up to much. My back is hurting quite a bit. I think I must have pulled a muscle when I lifted the new washing machine on top of the dryer with the help of my friend Lothar. Those machines are sure heavy beasts.
In terms of MRRing, I am in the doldrums. I wish I were able to do something, other than making plans for small layout which will never get build. Even that does not work at the moment - I seem to have run dry of ideas.
I think I will hide in the corner booth for a while and wait who´ll be dropping by.
Work Front Turned out to be some what a good day for a slow day. First thing I had a customer want to do a reslection. (did not like what she bought) Told me "this Gel Foam mattress is killing my back". My first thought was it was one of the Memory Foam Gel Foam Mattress that carry a good sizes Spiff $. If one gets returned for a lower spiff mattress I have to give back the spiff.
She gave me her ticket and I remembered her! Came in the first time and told me she had a bad back but did not want to spend over $400.00 for a queen set? Point blank told her a $400.00 queen set will not help your back!
This time around she bought a good Memory Foam Mattress only for $1040.00 and think it will help her back problems. Plus I made a extra $115.00 in spiff!
Ed I am with you about XP! One of the reason I have not bought a new computer, besides the lack of funds. Sticker says the Notebook came with Windows 7, did you upgrade, or did the notebook up grade it self? I have heard windows 7 is about the same as XP.
Finally figured out how to turn the notebook speakers on! Took a while to get the Help Panel turned off on the right side of documents I am trying to use! Added a keyboard and did get a little work done on my resume.
Might and Strange B&O F7's. Few night ago I reported the F7b sound started working. Then it stopped making sound after I shut down the layout and restarted it the next day. Went 2 days with out sound, then tonight, it is making sound again? Sound or no sound, I love the B&O F7's! Besides, with the CB&Q F7's sounding great who cares!
Ken, loving B&O again!
Coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please and thank you.
Have been enjoying some train vids on youtube at night, especially Australian steam. Other than that, nothing to report on train-wise. Mostly caring for senior horses and finishing up some exterior house projects.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Cheers! Rob
Good Morning,
A cloudy day here but it is still very warm at 32F and is supposed to be like this for several more days. Too bad I can't go out to enjoy it.
Well, happy day yesterday. My little buddy came home! He was glad to see me but still can't seem to understand why I can't get down on the floor to give him a tummy rub. The first thing he did after giving me a greeting was run to find his favourite toy, Zeba. When he wants to play, I just have to say ZZZ and he knows I mean Zeba. He hasn't seen the rabbit in the back yard yet but will really enjoy giving that rabbit the fright of its life. Robbie is a terrier. Not sure how it got in the yard as it is fully fenced and I try to plug any spots rabbits can get in. Getting it out will be interesting but will have to wait until I am more mobile.
Got another note today from the car dealer, wanting me to trade in mine and offering an extra grand if I do. I have been told they could sell mine in a day but they aren't getting it. Even if it is 7 years old it has very low mileage and I like it far too much to sell it, never mind the huge cost that would entail.
Not much on the agenda for today, but lately there never is other than walking around and around the house, reading, and watching TV. Another 2 weeks to go before I can get out in the car and then I will be very limited until I meet with the doc mid-Feb.
CN Charlie
Morning walk was at low tide, 07:30a, and about 60 degrees. Decent.
HOn30 & YGW: Very nice of you to consider the emotional effects on police officers. That was appreciated. I loved my work, but 30 years was enough. Most of the time now, if I dream about the police department I wake up and call that a nightmare. It is a form of post-traumatic stress, I suppose. While it may not be as intense as combat in the armed forces, there are scenes that most folks hardly ever see. There is one little child abuse victim that still "visits" sometimes in a dream, and that was at least 35 years ago now. That long daily walk on the beach helps.
The PO-lice observation about speedometers is that speedometers on American-made cars tend to measure faster than the actual speed. If it registers higher, then the EPA gas-mileage figure is higher and it helps the vehicle (or brand) meet the federal mandates. Speedometers on Japanese brands tend to be right on. That is not a scientific measure but I've heard a lot of testimony on speeding cases with and without dynomometer results. As they say: Your Mileage May Vary.
Younger son is down in Florida for surgery today and Mrs. Beach Bill is down there with him serving as caregiver/driver/RN/Mom. I'm without adult supervision, and plan to get to the RR workbench this afternoon.
Bill
We have to make an extended trip to NC this weekend; my daughter tore her ACL in her very first volleyball practice of the year last week. Surgery is Tuesday. We'll rent a cabin so we have a quiet place where she can recover in peace, and we can cook and care for her better than we could in her apartment or a hotel. I'm hoping to take a few kits to work on; I should have lots of free time on my hands.
Good evening gents..........Flo, I'll have a large hi-octane and a jelly fill for the sweet tooth, please and thank you.
Ulrich....happy to hear the wife is doing better.
I recently did some detail work on the over abundance of empty hopper cars I have. I got a little bored with coal, so I tried using the red stuff to simulate ore. I used a couple of CN 2 bay cars when I started to wonder if the CN ever hauled ore in the first place? Any CN gurus can chime in now....thanks in advance. I was glad I used the ore because it looks pretty cool running out on the main.
I also caught a couple videos on U-tube speaking about the railroads of US Steel. Well, this grabbed my attention quickly when the vid stated that the union rr, bessimer & lake erie, and one other rr all belonged to US Steel. It got my wheels turning about possibly detailing up some empty gons I have with some steel or scrap and sending them out west? I assume this was all about the roads in the Pittsburgh area?
yougottawanta SSExpress - What do you clean with ? Do you have a usual method ?
SSExpress - What do you clean with ? Do you have a usual method ?
YGW......I use anything that cleans dirt. LOL. Alcohol, soapy warm water, even tried some brakecleen from the auto shop. Also, compressed air does wonders on all that packed up cat hair. (don't ask) After a good cleaning I usually will re-grease the gears and shafts. So far I've had good results keeping it simple.
Dang....I still have that sweet tooth going on. Not a good sign for a diabetic. I hope to get some pics up in WPF soon. Peace out gents.............
Rich
BigDaddy cudaken USPS Strikes Again! Surprise Whistling I ordered some parts of Ebay from Seattle. After 3 days the package turned up in Anaheim CA, not the most direct route to Maryland.
cudaken USPS Strikes Again! Surprise Whistling
I ordered some parts of Ebay from Seattle. After 3 days the package turned up in Anaheim CA, not the most direct route to Maryland.
I ordered some Burlington Northern covered hoppers from Chillicothe, Mo last year. It traveled to St. Louis-Richmond, Va and than Arizona within a week.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Bill:
Beach BillThen when I became a police supervisor it became part of my job to go to the homes in the middle of the night and deliver the fatality notifications.
I don't envy that task for anyone. I'm sure you paid a price for having to perform that duty. I give you full credit for doing what you did. Unfortunately, Dianne and I have been on the receiving end of one of those visits, and indeed, speed was the cause. We lost our eldest son. I could tell by the expressions on the faces of the two OPP officers who had to deliver the message that they were not enjoying the task.
FWIW, I drive at the speed of traffic, albeit usually in the fast lane. However, when things start to get out of hand I move over. I don't tailgate, and I back off even further if I am being tailgated until I can change lanes safely. I use my signals religiously even when there are apparently no other cars around. I look before putting on my signal including checking my blind spots. I let the signal flash at least three times before starting the lane change and I move over slowly. (Yes, I count the flashes). I have had two accidents. In the first one I was cut off, and in the second I was rear ended. In neither case was I doing anything wrong nor could I have done anything to prevent them from happening. There, now that I have proven that I am a saint behind the wheel I will shut up!
Regards,
Henry - LOL ! Here ! Here ! agree with you !
UP831 - The theory is that it fills in the creeks and rivers. I think that thinking stupid. What do they think the heards of animals did when crossing the rivers and the plains or the heavy rains ?? That produced silt... Be that as it may I believe in being a good steward of the planet - just smart not stupid. I am also interested in being a good steward of my employers or my money too. I dont believe in wasting money on stupid wastful efforts.
Hon30critter - I am amazed any one would drive that fast on those conditions. I am sure you get comfortable with it. I just dont see me doing that.
TTYL
YGW
Just poking my nose in the door to say HI!
Ken,
cudakenOnly real question for now with out a CD drive, can programs be added like Word or Open Offices?
I almost threw in a CD drive but the box was already getting stuffed!
All you need is a USB CD and/or DVD drive like this:
https://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-Portable-Rewriter-External/dp/B00C2AMK2M/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1484871389&sr=1-3&keywords=usb+cd+drive
There are even cheaper ones out there. I also got a USB add-on port so I had more than the (3?) that are on the laptop.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BWF5U0M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Yes, Windows 10 takes some getting-used to! I really miss XP, that worked for me like a charm! You can't stop progress...
Glad it got there OK. Hope it works out OK for you. I did leave Microsoft Works program on there. It is a scaled-down "Office" but it does everything it's big brother does and will convert Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.
I saw the tracking note, too! You must live in some sort of Post Office "Black-Hole"! Be glad it went to Glen Carbon and not Carbondale!
{edit} The same time I sent your package, Ken, I also sent a reel of film to Stratford, Ontario. The Postmaster said I should have used a different box to send something "overseas" I said it's just going to the other side of Lake Erie. All I got back was a quizzical stare...
Have Fun... Later
Ed
Flo, Ed will have all the Royal Crown he wants, SS Rich will have a BC and I will have a please.
USPS Strikes Again! No wonder people poke fun at the post offices here in the states! Ed sent me the tracking number to the note book he sent. Tracking said I should have it today, but it was not sent to the Maryville Post Offices but to Glen Carbon IL? Yep, I don't in live Glen Carbon and Glen Carbon does not deliver to Maryville.
Made a few phone calls (more like hold time) and the package was in Glen Carbon. Had to go there anyway today (about 6 miles) so I stopped by and pick up the package.
Ed It seems just like I need! More storage than my current set up, dule core and more ram! Plus it seems to be Wi Fi ready, like I know how to do that. I started it up and seems Windows 10 will take some getting use to. Took a little time to figuer out how to turn it off! Only real question for now with out a CD drive, can programs be added like Word or Open Offices?
Did you by chance leave any photos of your layout on the note book? I would love to see more of your work!
Later, Ken
I have a Chase Credit card. I was checking it frequently online and found that someone bought a bunch of stuff in a Texas sporting good store. I think someone took a pic of my CC in a restaurant and the expy date was illegible. According to the credit card company they kept resubmitting the order until they hit the correct date.
I now get emails for all transactions over $75 or and all Internet transactions from Chase.