The Superbowl is over, it was a great game. I was rooting for the Eagles, and had a blast. I watched all the pre-game shows starting at noon. Made a whole day of it.
.
Three days until the opening cermonies!
I love the Olympics... Can't wait!
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Hi, Folks
Things are pretty quiet in my neck 'O the woods.
cudaken1 Off the top of your head do you know the CV to change Loksound 3.0 decoder sound levels? If not I will find it on line.
All my Loksound decoders are Selects and I use the Lokprogrammer to set my preferences, Ken. So your best bet is to look up the CVs you need. On the QSI maybe do a reset and see if your volume comes back?
I replaced the chips in my QSI boards when they had that upgrade thing going around so many years ago. I don't know if it made any difference. Some of that QSI technology is twenty years old!
RH_new_TO_A by Edmund, on Flickr
Here's a little project I tackled last night.
While in the midst of the big roundhouse upgrade project I looked at the two stub tracks behind the old structure. They were for material and supply deliveries to the stockroom. Hummm, I wonder if I can add a switch here and make one of these tracks a run-around?
RH_new_TO2 by Edmund, on Flickr
Actually, I already had the right-hand curved turnout on hand
RH_new_TO1 by Edmund, on Flickr
Here's the finished (almost) results. This track is pretty busy at the roundhouse area and a run-around will be helpful when moving engines to and from the coal dock. Now for the Tortoise!
Mr. Otte. Your work with pathfinders is very commendable. When I was with GE we would organize into groups and perform improvements in living conditions for elderly and economically stricken folks. Valentine's day became a Day Of Caring.
If I read the numbers correctly, 18.2 BILLION was spent in 2017 for Valentine's day. That money sure could make a difference for hungry kids and needy elderly.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/02/13/more-expensive-year-show-your-love/97766678/
For what? Candy, flowers and trinkets
Cheers, Everybody!
Ed
Evening diners,
Went to the club tonight did some track cleaning via a paper towel wrapped around a block of wood and dampened with acetone... I was working on a lower shelf branch line that is very dark so I asked if there are lights for it a member replied yes I then asked if there's a chance that the lights can cause the fumes to combust another member replied in the unlikely event you do we'll name a section of railroad after you! I said if you here a whoosh/whomp sound you know what happened! they did however open all the doors, have fans running, and cut off the power to the layout... just in case... even then a few guys started getting dizzy in the tighter spots... I got three branch lines and their associated industries cleaned and then all the tracks at a refinery...
I'll be in the corner with my ale (ginger ale)...
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
NWP SWPWent to the club tonight did some track cleaning via a paper towel wrapped around a block of wood and dampened with acetone...
You young guys have it easy!
In my day we used carbon tetrachloride. The more, the better. With lead wool wrapped around an asbestos block. In the dark areas we used acetylene carbide lamps.
Acetone? Where's your sense of adventure
Cheers, Ed
NWP SWPdid some track cleaning via a paper towel wrapped around a block of wood and dampened with acetone...
Steven, do not do that again. In fact, quit this club.
This activity is way too dangerous. Your young lungs do not need to be exposed to VOCs. If you are going to use acetone indoors you need ventilation capable of exchanging the atmosphere in the room several times an hour. Open doors and fans don't meet the requirements.
Did anyone have a repsirator? Does anyone know how to properly fit a respirator?
Seriouisly... SAFETY FIRST... PERIOD.
Model Railroading is not worth a risk.
Eveing Diners
Flo, give the gang a and Sunday for the none beer drinkers. Leave a stein outside for Ulrich.
Work Font, sure got a lot of reading done!
Health Front For the last two days I have been some right hip pain when I first stand up and start walking. Never real have had hip pains before, getting old sucks! On a scale from 1 to 10 I would rate it has a 4. Goes away fast after I start walking but I not happy about it.
Henery Thank you for the answer about CV 63. Before I started running the layout I went though the Loksound manuale I down loaded years ago and found the answer. Seems setting CV 63 to 9 sounds pretty good when ran with diesels. Not as over powering.
Ed Really? You stage a crane scene for changing the layout? I would love to see what you do if there is a derail on the layout!
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Good (late) evening all.
Zoe - A couple of those nice fresh chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk please. Thanks.
SteveO - I applaud the thinking of others at more than just "certain times of the year" like most do. While they appreciate the support then, it is needed at more than just Nov and Dec. So, Bravo! (I think we all should think of others, including friends and family, at more than just holidays anyways.)
Ed - Your modeling project is certainly moving right along! Nice looking progress.
Weather - Cold and (some) snow and blow. More snow tomorrow is all but certain. Oh yeah, Winter Storm Watch for my area, calling for 3-8" for me.
Erie Pa Snow Record - Under 1/3" away.... With zero chance of the old record lasting through tomorrow morning based on forecast. So while the Sunday storm was not quite enough, it will fall soon. (Old record is 149.1, they sit at 148.9 at 10pm.) For those wondering, Feb. snowfall record is 36.9 inches....
W*^k - Not sure how it happened, but is was slow(er) today than it has been. (We actually missed last years sales total! Whoa!) Although we still had annoying vultures around. (Even my boss got irritated and finally said that a few could leave.) Shameful that people are never happy, even with prices at better than Black Friday.
Did have a very interesting time with our truck.... Yes, we still got a truck today. He was a bit late, due to weather conditions, but he didn't help matters much by his aactions as a driver either.
He ended up stuck in our parking lot, but not anywhere near the dock, rather, in front of the store.
He came in the front entrance, and was attempting to go out one side entrance/exit to get behind the building. (He should have skipped our front lot and taken a side road to get to the back lot instead...)
That side entrance/exit has a slight uphill grade to leave.... We have ice under the snow.
So, I went out to play traffic director, and had him back up, while I went out into the side street, with a yellow safety vest on, to allow him to get a run out onto the road. (This side street is a little used dirt road, that has the back of our plaza, a church, and a handful of houses on it, so very little traffic wise during the middle of the day on a Tuesday.) I had another store associate stand up a isle behind (off to the side though!) where the semi was stuck, to keep people from coming up behind him as he backed (okay, more like slid backwards) down the grade to get said run up to the road. (And, all I was doing was spotting, watching for any other traffic. There was none....)
And people at the nearby stores laugh at the fact that I insist on having a yellow safety vest on for truck days, as they feel it is "unnecessary and silly looking".... Well, it saved the day this time! (Yes, I have indeed been informed this by other stores employees, that "I looked ridiculous" and that "the safety vest in not needed and just silly" and that "I should refuse to wear it." My response is always, that the safety vest was my idea in the interest of being seen, not only by our truck drivers, but by everyone moving equipment and vehicles through the back lot. Most sheepishly walk away without another word.)
As they say on the railroad (and other places), Safety First!
(And our truck was not replenishment items, but, rather, the last of our prior customer special orders from January. So, we needed him to be able to get in!)
If the truck driver was more familiar with our area, he would have known where to, and where not to, go today, so not all the blame goes on him. (Although, him sitting there spinning his wheels and getting nowhere was not helpful....) So, while he does have some excuse, he does not get off the hook entirely. He could have (and should have) backed up and went back out the front entrance right away, instead of sitting where he was, without calling for assistance, for 15 minutes! I only went out to help after he was pointed out to me by someone else, and I recognized that he had passed the front door 15 minutes prior! Only after I went over to assist did I see he was the driver I had been waiting on!
Hope all are well, and all enjoy the night!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
NWP SWP Evening diners, Went to the club tonight did some track cleaning via a paper towel wrapped around a block of wood and dampened with acetone... they did however open all the doors, have fans running, and cut off the power to the layout... just in case... even then a few guys started getting dizzy in the tighter spots...
Went to the club tonight did some track cleaning via a paper towel wrapped around a block of wood and dampened with acetone... they did however open all the doors, have fans running, and cut off the power to the layout... just in case... even then a few guys started getting dizzy in the tighter spots...
Yeah.... NOT a good idea.... At all.
Not only did my yellow penalty flag fly, I am waving my arms while blowing my whistle AND throwing my hat!!!!!!!!
If you are using any kind of chemicals, and anyone is getting light headed or dizzy, EVERYONE EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY!
Someone should have stepped up, for safety sake, on that one!
As others, and myself in my other (unrelated) post, said,
SAFETY FIRST!
Always!
The guy that got dizzy was cleaning the helix... other wise it was just if you smelled your hands or the block... I was only there an hour and a half and went outside many times... and all this is a one-time thing it's due to the excessive buildup on track and wheels due to the old plastic wheels... this is the first time all the cars wheels will be cleaned....
No respirators... I will make the suggestion to use alcohol instead... plenty of fans were running and only a few guys were using acetone and I was in a VERY well ventilated area...
ricktrains4824 I went out into the side street, with a yellow safety vest on,
ricktrains4824people at the nearby stores laugh at the fact that I insist on having a yellow safety vest on for truck days,
Ricky, there seems to be no shortage of people who are more concerned about their image than their safety. Congratulations on choosing to wear the vest!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
ricktrains4824Ed - Your modeling project is certainly moving right along! Nice looking progress.
Thank You, Rick!
cudakenEd Really? You stage a crane scene for changing the layout?
RH_new_TO4 by Edmund, on Flickr
Aren't we supposed to be having FUN?
RH_new_TO3 by Edmund, on Flickr
cudaken I would love to see what you do if there is a derail on the layout!
It takes me a week and six cases of to get the mess cleaned up.
Yes, we ARE having fun!
How did you make out with those nut drivers, Ken? Let me know. Got a pair here if you need 'em.
Regards, Ed
gmpullmanIt takes me a week and six cases of to get the mess cleaned up. Yes, we ARE having fun!
Ed: I imagine that if you are drinking six cases of beer in one week that you are having fun!! I just don't want to see the track work!
gmpullmanAren't we supposed to be having FUN?
You bet Ed, it's all about fun, and grown men playing with our trains!
Just one question, to the laft of the cranes, whats with the truck on that deck, or what ever it is? I hope the parking brakes are set!
Mike.
My You Tube
mbinsewiJust one question, to the laft of the cranes, whats with the truck on that deck, or what ever it is?
I wondered if anyone was going to say anything 'bout that, Mike!
Ha! Speaking of fun... Those guys at the Jaite Scrap Yard are forever messing with 'ol man Jaite. They put his favorite chain-drive '23 Mack up on the roof of the scale house... figured he'll never find it there!
Well, that, and I didn't want to crush it with my belly as I was reaching over the finished edge details on the layout while I work on the middle parts. So I plopped it there for safe-keeping.
Tomorrow I have to mill seven slots, 11/16" wide for the turntable pits! That'll be FUN! (A different kind of fun.)
mbinsewiYou bet Ed, it's all about fun, and grown men playing with our trains!
If it weren't trains I guess I'd be playing with my G.I. Joe "Action Figures" Well, THEY would probably be assigned to railroad operations, anyway...
BTW, most of the club members come from a plant background so they know exposure risks and all that safety stuff plus I'm no idiot if I can smell the fumes just walking around then there's a problem, but I didn't so no problem...
Ed, laying track and operating trains while smashed is going to lead to some interesting happenstances! otherwise one of your locomotives might wind up smashed too! just joking with you! Speaking of alcohol (or lack thereof) I was in the grocery store the other day and I was walking down the juice aisle (juice as in fruit juice) I saw the Welch's sparkling grape juice in red and white types and a new addition "rose" or pink non-alcoholic... now people can have (in an Italian restaurant of course) "a bottle of white, a bottle of red, perhaps a bottle of rose instead" without getting drunk!
For those unacquainted with the music of Billy Joel listen to the opening line of the song "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
Time to hit the sack!
hon30critterEd: I imagine that if you are drinking six cases of beer in one week that you are having fun!!
NWP SWPEd, laying track and operating trains while smashed is going to lead to some interesting happenstances!
Oh, now... Six cases is for the WHOLE wrecker gang. I wouldn't hog it all for myself. There's twenty thirsty guys and one goat living in those yellow camp cars in the background.
Remember "Tarring the plate-shop roof" in Shawshank Redemption? Just a little incentive to get the job done lest anyone think I was giving countenance to over-imbibing.
This is one of the first signs a visitor sees entering the layout area:
Rule_G_1920sm by Edmund, on Flickr
It is strictly enforced
Cheers, Everyone Ed
gmpullmanTomorrow I have to mill seven slots, 11/16" wide for the turntable pits!
Hi Ed:
What material will you be milling and what tool do you use? I'm curious because the layout committee is currently discussing how to install the roundhouse into our Homasote sub roadbed. Somebody suggested using a router. I think that would create quite a mess. I'm more inclined to cut a whole section of the Homasote out that is slightly smaller than the footprint of the roundhouse. The roundhouse will sit on the edge of the hole and we can put cardboard shims under the roundhouse pits to prevent it from sagging. Opinions anybody?
Hey, Dave
I say "milling" since so many of my friends are machinists. But I will be using my old Sears router that was my dad's that he bought in 1970. It isn't even one of those plunge routers, I'll be doing my own plunging.
I bought an 11/16" Freud bit from Amazon and I'll be taping up some kraft-paper sheets and having my capable assistant (AKA Mrs. Pullman) keeping the Hoover hose near the work area.
We'll both have ear protection for this task.
Your idea sounds fine but I'd want to mill the Homasote outside. The dust from that stuff is particularly fine annd difficult to contain!
Would it be better to actually cut out the footprint of the roundhouse pit area, then take that cutout and make pie-shaped inserts from it to support the floor between the pits? These could be cut on a good sliding miter saw.
You have the advantage of being new construction. The depth only has to be about 3/8" + for the pits. Well, it would be ½" in your case as it is the thickness of the Homasote.
If you need me to elaborate I can make some sketches.
Now, I have to put my drink down and put the sign I just scanned back on the wall...
Having Fun! Ed
NWP SWPBTW, most of the club members come from a plant background so they know exposure risks and all that safety stuff plus I'm no idiot if I can smell the fumes just walking around then there's a problem, but I didn't so no problem...
What that club did was irresponsible and exceptionally dangerous. Who cares about a "plant background"? Most plant workers are angry at all the "dumb" safety rules at work and can't wait to get home and take off the PPE. Look at a previous post about how people feel about conspicuity safety vests.
If someone got dizzy, there was a problem. Fans and open windows are not a ventilation system. VOCs are BAD.
SAFETY FIRST, ALWAYS, and FOREVER.
You say you are in high school, that means you are young and impressionalble. Do not get into the habit of being unsafe.
I have repaired class 8 Trucks and Heavy Equipment since 1986. I still have two eyes, ten fingers, good lungs, and I can walk without pain. I am safe every day on the job.
Many of the "plant workers" I have known through the decades are not in the same condition now, and it is all avoidable.
I'm all about safety, and part of that is eduacting yourself about things that you are around.
While high concentrations of acetone certainly need to be avoided, it's not a substance to be avoided at all costs. Acetone is actually produced and disposed of by the body as part of the normal metabolic processes.
Maybe reading up on the stuff might be a good idea. While Wiki isn't error free, it has extensive info on acetone and I think you will find that with even minimal caution it is a pretty safe way to clean things.
I think the point here is that while you do need to take care while using acetone it certainly isn't like cleaning with gasoline or carbon tet.
Good morning ....
Atachee .... Thanks for commenting. Good to see you in the DIner.
Acetone has long been used by women to clean nail polish off of their finger nails. So far, there are no reports of fingers dying and falling off of hands. So, small quanities are okay. I use it in my CMX track cleaning car without problems.
Speaking of safety..... It is good idea to wear safety glasses to protect your eyes while working on your layout. I say that because I was using a good Xeron track cutting tool, and a blade broke off. The blade flew across the train room almost like a bullet. I have thought if it flew into my eye, it would have caused a lot of damge to it.
Also pertaining to safety. Try to keep your train room tidy so it does not become a fire trap.
Happy Model Railroading.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Morning all. Guess I missed the safety discussion.
Here is where I stand- I have asthma, but use acetone on occasion. more than anything though, for some reason, I can't stand the smell of Vallejo paint. It just smslls wrong to me. I prefer using 90% rubbing alcohol for stripping paint and cleaning my brushes. We do use acetone for cleaning track at the club, BUT, we have the bass Tank car trackcleaner.
Weather- in a word, garbage. We are under a winter storm warning, mostly getting freezing rain, with snow later possibly. I was going to go to an enployment agency to find a second job, but yeah, that's getting pushed back since I don't like driving in the snow.
Mental health well I had a little breakdown yesterday but I'm OK today. I'm trying to keep myself okay, but I have my days. This vacation really has helped keep me from going crazy.
Trains- I started a scratch built project yesterday. It's the old Pittsburgh West Virginia railway Station that stood in Monessen Pennsylvania, until it was a victim to arson arson in 1991. I built it out of styrene. I know it's the wrong era for what I'm doing, but it needed done. I did very well at the train show on the 30th. I bought what's track for a dollar apiece. I also got an inter-mountain box car kit for $12 when they normally go for $25. I gave myself a $100 limit and I only spent $100 so I did well. The show went well. We had about 360 people through the door in four hours.
What am I doing today? Well I think I'm going to work on more model train projects. It's too nasty outside to do anything else so I'll be flipping in and out from here today. I'm going to print out some decalls with my ink jet printer since I have the paper for it and I need custom details. Have a good day everyone
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Good morning all.
Flo - A nice cinnamon roll and a glass of milk please. Thanks.
Safety concerns discussion - WARNING - Slight rant follows!
It was mentioned about "image" being more important to some than safety. (Dave - hon30critter)
The way I look at it, my image looks way better, even while wearing a "silly looking" reflective safety vest as a clothing accessory, than it would if I were wearing the grill of a Freightliner Truck as a clothing accessory!!
And on the point of cleaning track safely... (This applies to using more than just acetone)
While smelling fumes are a very bad thing, it's not only smelling fumes that will signify there are issues.
Whether fumes can be smelled or not, if any chemicals are being used and people are getting dizzy or light headed, or headaches, or any other symptom of exposure, EVERYONE is in danger and EVERYONE needs to take action to protect him or her self. That action includes leaving (evacuating) the area/building immediately. (In some instances, that action can include getting the correct help to the building, such as Fire/Rescue personnel, or even a Haz-Mat team, depending on the circumstances. I don't think this instance went that far...)
Opening windows and adding fans, while it is a help, does not alleviate the need to be safety conscious.
Smelling fumes (or lack there-of) is not the only indicator that there is (or is not) a problem.
There is a reason that certain industries and companies have a daily safety meeting, where the same material is gone over (and over, and over) each day. Many people get conditioned to certain things, and once that happens, they start to get less careful than they once were. They then start to place themselves, and potentially others, in danger, simply because they have become accustomed to something and are no longer being as safety conscious as they should be.
Being safety conscious, is not being "overly cautious", but is being alert to all areas of safety, and keeping being safe a high priority.
Remember, you only have one chance at being safe, because if you get it wrong, you might just not get a chance to correct it!
For the scary point of the day:
Even OSHA is aware that people become conditioned/accustomed to things, and they therefore place guidelines to help to protect even those people, sometimes from themselves.
However, even with all of those safety guidelines OSHA has in place, OSHA also has defined a set number, for each line of industry, of approximately how many serious injuries can be expected to occur anyway over a given period of time. Simply because of not being safety conscious.
In some industries, OSHA has a set number of how many accidental deaths can be expected to occur over a set time period, again simply due to someone getting less cautious then they should be. (And this number of deaths, greater than zero, would still be perfectly acceptable!!!!)
Simply because, even the agency in charge of employee safety and health concerns in the w*^kplace, knows that individuals get conditioned to certain things and become less than safety conscious.
Don't let yourself become just one of those numbers!
And, thank you to Ed (gmpullman) for pointing out that you (and your wonderful assistant) will be wearing the proper PPE when using the power tools on your ongoing modeling project. This brings out my point nicely, that you must always place safety first. (Even in leisure activities, such as hobbies.) Thank You!
Now, back to our regularly scheduled forum topics.....
Erie Pa Snow record - New snow record has indeed been set for the season! (And, the new record is growing....)
Weather - Snow and blow.
Hope all are well, and all enjoy the day!
Again, as I said the guy who got dizzy was under the fascia inside the helix between levels... I.E. a tight space! The amount of acetone used is comparable to a CMX car which the club has but doesn't use because the pad shorts out the railroad...
Afternoon folks!
Went over to the Dental Office today for my 6 month check up and theeth cleaning.... An area they have been "watching" for a year, is now a should get fixed spot... Right upper last molar (#2 in their charts). I figured it was going to be time as floss gets caught there and food gets stuck between the crown on the tooth in front and that one. She said I had a choice. I can opt to just pull that tooth, or have a crown put on. I opted to have the expensive one and get the crown. Don't want to loose chewing space...... LOL
About 45 minutes before my appointment time Ontario County closed all the roads in the county due to the winter storm going on. The dentist is all of 3 blocks away from where I live and was open so I kept the appointment. Snow plow did my street before I finished snowblowing the driveway. He was nice and pulled the side plow up so he didn't fill the end of the driveway on me.... I gave him two thumbs up and he grinned and waved back....
Acetone Discussion: Acetone can be dangerous in some cases, but is still safe to use if handled correctly (gloves and ventilation mostly)... Some definitive info here: https://www.healthline.com/health/acetone-poisoning#causes
I used it years ago to strip old lead based paint of some furniture and even with ventilation got a headache. Got myself to fresh air and in short time felt better. I still have some in a can down cellar, but will only use it outside. I find it way too strong for use on my trackage. If it drips at all it will remove the paint on the sides of the rail and make a mess (rust color). 90% rubbing alcohol is what I use in my CMX car for cleaning tracks. IIRC, there is a small amount of acetone in that as well..... Diabetics should use caution with the stuff, but your liver can handle small amounts without a problem... As with a lot of chemicals, use with caution.
Quote for today: "You can die from drinking too much of anything - coffee, water, milk, soft drinks and all such stuff as that. And so as long as the presence of death lurks with anyone who goes through the simple act of swallowing. I will make mine whisky." - W. C. Fields
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
I made it to Colonial Photo and Hobby in Orlando again today. Not sure what came over me, but I bought $75.00 worth of Arizona Rock & Mineral HO scale ballast.
I should have enough for the entire layout now.
Flo, give the gang a , Steven and Rick a RBF and leave a Stein outside for Ulrich.
Rick I bet you can relate to this. Have you ever had a couple of customers that you all most said "I am sorry I cannot help you, you are to stupid to help"!
Goodnight diners,
Not much going on today...
Nothing to report on the modeling front...
To sum it up today was kind of a blah day...
Ahh well, tomorrows another day!!!
Hello, Everyone...
Temperatures still in the single digits here in NE Ohio. Had to plow the road, burrr.
Otherwise, quite peaceful.
One from the archives:
IMG_0084_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
Yes, that is a little mouse dropping on the floor. Those rodents sure have fun on the layout when I'm not looking. I found a bunch in the roundhouse I just removed, too.
Maybe I should make them a little mouse-hand car and put them to work cleaning track!
I hope you are all doing well. Thanks for the beverage, Ken
Good morning.
Hey, Ed ! Where is everybody else this morning ? .... I like the diesel shop interior in spite of the droppings. Stuff happens.