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Jeffreys Trackside Diner - January 2019. Welcome to Texas! Locked

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  • From: 53° 33′ N, 10° 0′ E
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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 2:13 PM

Great Britain is normally not associated with rather bad winter weather, but the north can see some really frightening conditions - lie in this 1955 movie.

 

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 4:38 PM

CNCharlie
I will be staying indoors today other than filling the birdfeeders. There are some out there right now, chickadees and a downey woodpecker.

"My" birds are very busy loading up on suet and sunflower seeds.

A frequent visitor is this Pileated woodpecker and his mate.

 749_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/id

You can see some of his handy-work on the tree bark to the right. I noticed that after his "heavy equipment" chips away at the bark the smaller downy and hairy woodpeckers will continue to work in his excavations. Watching nature is fascinating.

I've been occupied with a small corner of the layout and this road crossing scene.

 Burger_Crossing_Az by Edmund, on Flickr

I have the ground sculpted and the dirt applied. On to static grass soon.

 Burger_Crossing_A2 by Edmund, on Flickr

I made that timber cribbing under the watchman's shanty to give the tiny building a little visual interest.

Best Wishes to all...

Regards, Ed

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Posted by RideOnRoad on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 8:39 PM

SeeYou190
. . .I use Imgur, and it works very well for my needs. . .

I was looking at Imgur and was unable to find any privacy settings. Are your posts/pictures protected in any way or are they available for anyone to see?

Richard

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Posted by moelarrycurly4 on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 9:06 PM

MY images are only public if i make them so. or gove some one a link to them. I also and not posting anything that I care that anyone else sees. 

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Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 9:21 PM

One can hide your albums in Imgur.  I think their idea is you are posting pictures for the world to share.  They have changed the look of the interface and viewing the list of your own albums has changed. 

You have to look at all your images, rather than select an album.  Then there is a button to pick a specific album, but I only stumbled on that, it is not clear just by looking at it.

I don't put anything there that Google, the Chinese and Russians don't already know about.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 9:27 PM

RideOnRoad

 

 
SeeYou190
. . .I use Imgur, and it works very well for my needs. . .

 

I was looking at Imgur and was unable to find any privacy settings. Are your posts/pictures protected in any way or are they available for anyone to see?

 

I am a computer idiot. 

I use Imgur because my daughter steered me the right direction and showed me how to use it. She said it was user-friendly after you know how to navigate and I liked that.

After her second trip out, I had it down,  it works very well for me and doesn't cost me anything.

As far as private files or what the public can see, the public doesn't see any of your images unless you opt to do so. I haven't got that far.  I have nothing to hide but I don't know how to set the settings to do this. I don't want to screw things up so I may just wait till the next time she comes out.

Track Fiddler..or.. Computer idiotZip it!

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Posted by RideOnRoad on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 10:08 PM

I am not sold on Imgur. It appears that it’s design point is to be a place to look at other people’s photos, GIFs, and memes. I would rather use something that was primarily designed as a photo storage location. I was looking at Flickr and it seems to be such a place, and has rich privacy settings. Any Flickr users out there that wish to chime in?

Richard

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Posted by Little Timmy on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 10:09 PM

Heartland Division CB&Q
February is approaching ..... Where should we go? .... For warmth, I suggest a combined trip to Arizona and New Mexico.   

If you're looking for "Heat", Arizona is NOT warm right now.

Yes, I know, this picture is from last month.  And the snow ( all 4 Inches of it ) quickly melted after 4 day's . But it's still cold here. 24 this morning, 61 this afternoon.

Rust...... It's a good thing !

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Posted by Little Timmy on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 10:11 PM

RideOnRoad
I am not sold on Imgur.

I use Imgur. no problem's. But I also use Postimage. they are EASY to use.

Rust...... It's a good thing !

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Posted by cudaken on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 10:49 PM

 Eveing Diners

 Flo, get the gang something warm to drink and I will have a Warm Beer please.

 Spent a lot of the day trying to figuer out what was Jerry the Dunce thinking! Bang Head Wont go in to great details but 1 ticket has a Queen Headboard, King Frame, King Mattress and only 1 TXL Boxes Spring (Kings take 2 TXL Boxes) and sure makes one wonder? Whistling

 Where should the Dinner be next month? Some places there are NO Raccoon's! $500.00 later we caught a Cat! Guess I knew that was going to happen, never seen this one before.

 TF Hum learned a few thing from your post! So keeping the lights on my help slow down the mold? I will be PMing you my phone number.

 -6 degrees Fahrenheit tonight and that is darn cold in my neck of the woods!

 Later Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 10:59 PM

Howdy ... 

I hear it is so cold in the upper Midwest, the politicians have their hands in their own pockets. 

Here, it is forecasted to be 13 F by tomorrow morning.  The furnace part arrived this morning, and now the furance is working again. 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 11:00 PM

Someplace warm.... well I would suggest Mexico because my friend Edverardo from my Model Railroad Club is originally from Mexico. He has two incredible layouts in his basement. They have both been in magazines.

I do not believe we have any Forum friends that live in Mexico..... it is warm there though.  I wish I was in Mexico right now.  85 instead of -35

One of my former friends moved to Hawaii but from what I understand Hawaii does not have any railroads.

Nope nope we can't go there.

Well what about Kevin.  Good God the man complains about 55 degrees and raining down there on a bad day in Florida. I'm sure there's railroads down there.

Let's go down to Florida and visit Kevin.

TF

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Posted by ATSFGuy on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 11:00 PM

MKT and Mopac are what caused me to fall in love with The Lone Star State!

What do you guys think of this Awsome Texas Sign and Map?

  " width="50" height="100" />

And this one

  " width="50" height="100" />

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Posted by "JaBear" on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 2:40 AM
Gidday Chloe, as we have had another 80 F day, a large jug of very cold lemonade would go down nicely, please.
 
While I’m not adverse to hosting the Diner, I do have a reservation as this is my busiest time of the year, (normally I’m on call 24/7, but am now actually paid to be on call), so I would not like to be a bad host, and leave the Diners “high and dry”!Embarrassed
 
As Ulrich has pointed out, it does take time to give a guided tour. I like to preview the videos I put up to see if they’re suitable and not too boring; while I can happily view decent footage of NZR Ja class steam locomotives till the cows come home, I’m sure that others would not be as enthusiastic.Smile, Wink & Grin
 
That said. if here is no alternative location, I’ll put best foot forward, besides I suspect that JR may have taken a photo or two, the last time he was here.
 
Great use of a corner, Ed.
 

Track fiddler, I don’t have a layout, so my photos, as seen in “Jarrell’s Show Me Something” are either taken on the local Club Layout, or on the local American Modular Group show layout, the 2-10-2 and Santa Fe F, taken on the latter.

 

 

 

 

Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

 

Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them.
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by mbinsewi on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 6:40 AM

ATSFGuy, I'm pretty sure someone from my uncle's family sent us a post card like that.  They all live around San Antonio.

In bed, watching the local (Milwaukee) 10:00 news last night.  The cold is all that is talked about, over and over and over again...Indifferent

One young (30 something ?) reporter was on the street, showing how to find shelters, on her $200 cell phone.  Clueless, simply clueless.  Bang Head

Mike.

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 6:42 AM

Track fiddler
Well what about Kevin.  Good God the man complains about 55 degrees and raining down there on a bad day in Florida. I'm sure there's railroads down there. Let's go down to Florida and visit Kevin.

.

Kevin would be a terrible host for the diner. He is not a railfan, and knows nothing of the railroads in Florida.

.

The diner coming to Florida sounds great, but don't count on me for content, knowledge, or information.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 6:55 AM

mbinsewi
Clueless, simply clueless. 

Everyone knows you flag down a limo driver to find the best shelters Whistling

Great use of a corner, Ed.

Thanks, Bear Yes I'm having fun with it!

Minus five here in NE Ohio at the moment. I do remember the Winter of '77-78. That was a biggie around here. Then, I had to be out in it. Today... not so much.

I hope everyone stays safe and warm.

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 7:09 AM

You certainly dodged that one well KevinLaugh

 

Baby It's Cold Outside..... I'm in a scramble, I have to go get my work done so I can come home early and build a fire.

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 7:46 AM

Good Afternoon!

The mail man brought THAT letter from our landlord, and the increase in rent is exactly what we expected it to be, so that´s no surprise. The increase will become effective per April 1st, if we agree to it. If we don´t, we will get a termination of the rental agreement for the end of June, which leaves a little bit of time to act or react to the increase. Tomorrow, I will begoing to the authorities to apply for an increase in support to cover the hike in the rent. Should that be approved, the pressure will be off - at least for a while. In the long run we have to go for a cheaper accommodation, but it is much better to look for that without haste.

So it´s bad news and good news at the same time!

.

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by GMTRacing on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 7:53 AM

A balmy 18F outside this morning. Along with don't drink and drive we can add don't drink and try to work on the model railroad. Managed to destroy a Peco turnout last night trying to fish the control wire into it after I had already caulked it down. Caulked it down prematurely because I wasn't paying enough attention. Ah well we live and learn.

   Ja, yes I have some photos from NZRR, the Glenbrook and Dunedin. We didn't get to go cross South Island because there were wildfires adjacent and on the tracks so the trains were cancelled across the "southern alps". All I have to do now is retreive the photos I have but to be honest there is not enough to host a tour. The most we used the railroad was to go to and from Auckland to Pukekohe and around on the commuter rail. Beat the heck out of trying to drive around Auckland. J.R.

https://at.govt.nz/media/313418/track-test-emu-sharp.jpg?width=400

 

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 8:02 AM

GMTRacing

A balmy 18F outside this morning. Along with don't drink and drive we can add don't drink and try to work on the model railroad. Managed to destroy a Peco turnout last night trying to fish the control wire into it after I had already caulked it down. Caulked it down prematurely because I wasn't paying enough attention. Ah well we live and learn.

   Ja, yes I have some photos from NZRR, the Glenbrook and Dunedin. We didn't get to go cross South Island because there were wildfires adjacent and on the tracks so the trains were cancelled across the "southern alps". All I have to do now is retreive the photos I have but to be honest there is not enough to host a tour. The most we used the railroad was to go to and from Auckland to Pukekohe and around on the commuter rail. Beat the heck out of trying to drive around Auckland. J.R.

https://at.govt.nz/media/313418/track-test-emu-sharp.jpg?width=400

 

 

Just a thought, I use adhesive caulk to attach track, but I let my turnouts "float" with no caulk, and just a track nail or two if needed.

I can't help with the drinking part, because I don't. Never had any issues with drinking, but watched it distroy a lot of other people, so I decided some years back to set different example.

It was 11 degress here at 6 am, about 22 now at 9 am.

2-3 inches of lumpy, frozen snow on the ground, roads are icy, I am working at home.

Sheldon

    

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 8:25 AM

Good morning again.

Truck did not start. Brand new battery this June. I don't believe it is the battery.  The block is too solid. The motor oil is too thick.

This is basically how the weather report reads in Minneapolis today. -27 F wind chill factor -45 to -65 to modestly improve to -35 F this afternoon. Expected to fall to -60 F again tonight.

Baby It's Cold Outside!  Looks like I'm going to build that fire a little sooner than I thought after I pull my battery thaw it out and put it on the trickle charger. I don't know how much good that will do, I need a magnetic block heater.

I may have to take a cab to the parts store a little later. I better call first, I wonder if they're sold out. 

TF

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 9:05 AM

Howdy .... 

Not sure, but it would not surprise me if Kalmabch offices were closed today. I heard Amtrak cancelled all trains in and out of Chicago. USPS has halted service in much of the upper Midwest, too. 

Here it is 13F with some snow on the ground. Schools are closed. 

I can recall some cold trips to Duluth MN when I was working. Also, I recall a winter in Michigan's Upper Penensula. .... Brrrrr. 

Kevin .... Don't sell yourself short; you would make a great host if we do Florida in February. 

JR and Sheldon ... I do not use caulk or adhesive for roadbed or track. I staple the roadbed down while making sure the staples are deep enough into roadbed so it does not get in the way of the track. The track is nailed down with track nails. .... Later, I can pull up nails and staples if I need to re-allign track. ...  

Happy Model Railroading... 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by BroadwayLion on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 9:12 AM

 

ROAR

 

-19 grees outside windy not bad at the moment, will be in the 40s by friday (they (?) say). Foot surgery is set for March 28. Going to cut off the same bone spur they cut off 12 years ago.

Looks like I'll have to pay Consolidated to help me set up our new server.

Server-2 has given up its hard drive. As soon as I repair server-4, I'll bring No.2 into the roundhouse for repairs.

Oh well... it takes a lot of puters to do putering.

New cabinets are being installed (not by me) in the infirmary. That will look great when it is done.

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 9:45 AM

GMTRacing
Along with don't drink and drive we can add don't drink and try to work on the model railroad.

.

Nope, drinking and model railroading are a terrible mixture.

.

Drinking + Wargaming = Fun

Drinking + Cosplay = Super Fun

Drinking + Model Railroading = Disaster and Purchasing Replacements

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by CNCharlie on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 10:00 AM

Good Morning, 

A frosty one here today. The windchill was -50 something when I got up this a.m. Right now it is sunny and the wind isn't very strong, good thing as we have to go out shortly to the vet. Robbie has to get some blood work done so we can see if his liver enzymes are improving with the meds and diet mods. Won't be a problem starting the car as it has been 'plugged in' all night as in block heater. 

Yesterday our gas fireplace decided it wasn't going to start. I saw that the pilot light was out so I tried to re-start it but no luck. I called for a service on it but expect it might be some time before that happens. We use it as the main heat source in our basement room where the TV is located. It was about 68F down there last night and only about 65 right now so a little chilly just for sitting around. I was told the service call is $140. Yikes. We have had the unit for 15 years and use it a lot. I suspect it is the thermocoupler or thermopile from reading the manual. 

TF, years ago they used to sell a dipstick heater. I wonder if that might work for you.  The other option, but for the future, is to use synthetic oil as people who use it here say it makes cold starting easier as synthetic oil doesn't thicken in the cold like regular oil. I use regular Castrol so can't say for sure. 

Well time to warm up the car.

CN Charlie

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 10:14 AM

Heartland Division CB&Q

Howdy .... 

Not sure, but it would not surprise me if Kalmabch offices were closed today. I heard Amtrak cancelled all trains in and out of Chicago. USPS has halted service in much of the upper Midwest, too. 

Here it is 13F with some snow on the ground. Schools are closed. 

I can recall some cold trips to Duluth MN when I was working. Also, I recall a winter in Michigan's Upper Penensula. .... Brrrrr. 

Kevin .... Don't sell yourself short; you would make a great host if we do Florida in February. 

JR and Sheldon ... I do not use caulk or adhesive for roadbed or track. I staple the roadbed down while making sure the staples are deep enough into roadbed so it does not get in the way of the track. The track is nailed down with track nails. .... Later, I can pull up nails and staples if I need to re-allign track. ...  

Happy Model Railroading... 

 

Garry,

What kind of roadbed do you use? I don't use cork, never liked it.

I use homasote, like Cascade/Homabed.

I nail that down with a brad nailer, or use homasote sheets for yards, etc. I like the glued down track, it works very well but have found no need to glue the turnouts.

I have never had any alignment issues after the fact, and I have never worried about salvaging or reusing track, especially after it is ballasted, even back in the days when I nailed track.

I have been at this since about 1968, tried everything, worked in the hobby shop as a young person, learned how to handlay track as a teen.

My first layout, built for me by my father was all Tru-Scale milled wood roadbed track.

Today I use mostly Atlas code 83 and Atlas Custom Line turnouts except for custom turnouts I build or specials bought from Walthers like slip switches. I can build them, but time is an issue more than money.

I have also learned how to make gentle curved turnouts from regular Atlas Custom Line turnouts.

Sheldon 

    

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Posted by GMTRacing on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 11:28 AM

I use foam roadbed on top of the foam base and the track on that all with latex caulk to fix it down. That way I can use a thin scraper to pull it up usually without damage if need be. I use T pins to hold stuff while the latex sets up and haven't had too much trouble with alignment. For the ladder in the yard, I fix the track right to the base to mimic the yard I am modeling. It is built with a minimum of ballast and all at one level to make it easier for the workforce to traverse the tracks in the yard. To get from the raised trackbed to the yard level, I cut an angled recess in the base to allow the trackbed to be used to transition the height into the yard. For yard ladder turnouts I only use the caulk under the area beyond the frogs so the operating pieces don't get stuck. It has been good so far as long as I don't have that second glass of wineEmbarrassed.     J.R.

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 11:38 AM

GMTRacing

I use foam roadbed on top of the foam base and the track on that all with latex caulk to fix it down. That way I can use a thin scraper to pull it up usually without damage if need be. I use T pins to hold stuff while the latex sets up and haven't had too much trouble with alignment. For the ladder in the yard, I fix the track right to the base to mimic the yard I am modeling. It is built with a minimum of ballast and all at one level to make it easier for the workforce to traverse the tracks in the yard. To get from the raised trackbed to the yard level, I cut an angled recess in the base to allow the trackbed to be used to transition the height into the yard. For yard ladder turnouts I only use the caulk under the area beyond the frogs so the operating pieces don't get stuck. It has been good so far as long as I don't have that second glass of wineEmbarrassed.     J.R.

 

I used foam one time, it was not a happy experiance.

My new layout will require bench work stong enough to support my weight - no foam.

Sheldon

    

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 11:49 AM

Of course everybody has their own way of doing things. That is fine with me. The beauty of our hobby is we each get to do as we want. 

Here is how I install track. .... I use cork roadbed, flex track, and commerically made turn outs. ... I made curve templates from 1/4" plywood. I staple the cork down, and then use a hammer on each staple to make sure they are not too high. I place track on the cork, and use push pins to hold it in place as I allign it. I cut rail ends so each joint is snug. Then I install track nails. 

The location is a busy interchange that has always been trouble free after i completed it. . 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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