Good Afternoon,
It is raining here and has been all morning with a forecast of rain all weekend! Hurrah! I got a little wet bringing in the groceries but I don't mind.
TF, all my diesels on my N scale layout are Atlas. I had a couple of Kato PAs that kept stalling on turnouts. I never did fix the problem as it was intermitent. Drove me nuts so they are on consignment. I don't think you will have such issues if you stick with DC. I had an Intermountain F unit that ran really well that I regret selling.
Think I will run trains today maybe the N scale that I haven't touched for many months but first lunch and then a run to the wine store to do a curbside pickup.
I like the photos of passenger trains being posted. Like John I really like them and wish I had enough space to do a passenger based layout. Nothing like high drivered steam.
CN Charlie
CNCharlie TF, all my diesels on my N scale layout are Atlas. I had a couple of Kato PAs that kept stalling on turnouts. I never did fix the problem as it was intermitent. Drove me nuts so they are on consignment. I don't think you will have such issues if you stick with DC. I had an Intermountain F unit that ran really well that I regret selling.
Charlie good to hear from you.
Ya know, I only have a half of a handful of hybrid DC/DCC locomotives. They know what track they are on to operate in DC or DCC. In both modes they have sound.
I'm done buying these hybrids!
They all were running glitchy out of the hole. When I took them to someone that had a Power Pack Unit that could turn the sound off they ran smooth as silk.
I'm sticking to strait DC now. I don't have time for this sort of thing. Even if I could find time to iron out the butterflies I don't want to make the time to fiddle around with that.
I'm sorry you sold that F unit.
I have this one Atlas Classic DWP that runs so good it's not even comparable to anything else I have and probably not comparable to anything else that anyone else has. I have another Atlas Classic DWP that is the twin. The other one don't even run close to that one.
Maybe the copper wire is wrapped perfectly around the thimble on that one?
Hit or Miss I think they call it, just like that one perfect running car that everyone once had
TF
Ed: The Hiawathas certainly had unique tail cars that were full of personality. I like the syling of both the "Beaver Tails" and "Sky Tops".
Garry: I do not remember seeing a picture of that home made power unit before. It is truly distinctive. I wish I had the skills to scratchbuild something like that.
The forum software is doing something annoying today. Everytime my bottom-ad changes, which seems like every ten seconds or so, my cursor disappears from the text box and everything I type just disappears. This is really a bother to deal with.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good Morning,
Well my wish for rain came true last night when we had about 2" in an hour or less. The pond overflowed so I was out with the submersible pump in the downpour. Lucky I still have some rain gear from my sailing days. Then water came in a basement window. I thought I had fixed that problem a few years ago. I was outside with a bucket and flashlight bailing out a window well. I will have to build up the soil on that side of the house and get longer downspout extensions. We got 3" of rain yesterday so no more forest fires which is good not to mention the drought. It is still raining but very light. Strong winds though.
TF, my best running N scale engine is an Atlas RS11 in DWP green and gold. I did fire up that layout yesterday and had to do some major track cleaning. Then the Trainmaster started running poorly so I had to remove the shell and the trucks. There was a couple of ballast bits stuck in the gears. It seems that it doesn't take much to cause a problem in those tiny N scale gears. A pair of pointy tweezers is a must.
I think it will be a long day as I only got 4 hours sleep after cleaning up the water in the basement. My wife went to bed at 7a.m.
Coffee is the answer.
Good morning, diners. Bacon, eggs, and coffee, Brunhilda.
Charlie, that sounds like a mess. I hope the basement dries out with no other issues. It's too bad there was no rain for so long, and then too much rain in a short time.
Charlie and TF, my layout is N and I have both Kato and Atlas locomotives, all DCC. To tell the truth, I like the Kato better than the Atlas, and it seems I never have a problem with Kato. I guess I got lucky with the ones I bought.
Not much going on today. That means my wife will be waking up about the time I'm ready for bed. She can sleep all day and stay up all night, and I'm the opposite.
I know this was a staged photo for a UP ad, but wouldn't it be neat to be dressed up and have a cocktail in this 1950s UP lounge car, and then head to the diner for a great meal?
The last City of Los Angeles run by UP before Amtrak:
Have a good day, everyone.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
John, the GF and I actually rode in a lounge car on a scenic railway in Massachusetts. They had gathered and restored coaches and a few dining cars. We were fortunately seated in an old lounge car for our lunch trip. According to our guide, this car actually last saw service on the City of New Orleans. Just knowing that made the trip magical.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
John, Kato makes great stuff but my opinions are clouded by installing a decoder in a Kato RDC and installing MT couplers on a couple of PAs, both very frustrating. I also had contact issues with decoder installs in the PAs.
CNCharlieJohn, Kato makes great stuff but my opinions are clouded by installing a decoder in a Kato RDC and installing MT couplers on a couple of PAs, both very frustrating. I also had contact issues with decoder installs in the PAs. CN Charlie
That is something I've never done. For my eyesight and clumsy fingers, N is hard enough to work on -- I'm afraid I would really mess something up working on a decoder.
We could use more rain if you could send it south.
MisterBeasleyMisterBeasley wrote the following post an hour ago: John, the GF and I actually rode in a lounge car on a scenic railway in Massachusetts. They had gathered and restored coaches and a few dining cars. We were fortunately seated in an old lounge car for our lunch trip. According to our guide, this car actually last saw service on the City of New Orleans. Just knowing that made the trip magical.
That would be amazing! Even though I rode the City of Portland as a kid, I don't remember the lounge car. It's possible my mother didn't let me go there. We spend a lot of time in the dome car.
CNCharlie I think it will be a long day as I only got 4 hours sleep after cleaning up the water in the basement. My wife went to bed at 7a.m. Coffee is the answer. CN Charlie
That sounds brutal Charlie. I hate when stuff like that happens. Especially after it didn't rain all summer and then all of a sudden you get a basement flood
I wish I could have been up there to help you clean that mess up so we could sit under the umbrella again and drink some really good coffee after all that.
I would have brought this bag up because it don't get any better. I brought this bag up to my brother and sister-in-law's but I could have just as well stopped by your place first!
She said she had to let the beans cool for 5 minutes before she ground them as they just came out of the roaster while I was there
This bag has made every place smell like heaven everywhere I brought it so far
Post Hog!
I never had it So Good!
I'm up here at the source, clucking with the horse and she has just informed me she's making Scuba Steves Seaweed Surprise for dinner tonight
Barb is a New Orleans Girl and that Woman can COOK!
It doesn't get any better than this Kids!
I really enjoy talking to Judy's older sister. She has this old Southern Drawl thing going on that sounds really cool Judy doesn't have that. I guess she didn't live down there long enough for that to rub off on her
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good evening diners.
Bear: I love vacation (holiday) pictures. I don't know if anyone else does, but I do enjoy that sort of thing.
I just got an email that made me very angry, which I know was the intent of the sender. So... I am going to just sign off before I go into a rant.
Everyone have a great evening, and stay safe.
I will check in tomorrow.
SeeYou190I love vacation (holiday) pictures. I don't know if anyone else does, but I do enjoy that sort of thing.
Count me in, too, Bear. I love vacation photos. Welcome back.
Man that looks like fun Bear!
Big sky, Beautiful scenery.
I can tell You and "Her in doors" had a really good time by the few pictures! I'll hope you'll have some more to share.
I'm so happy for the both of you
Count me in as well Bear. I have made that ferry trip in the Southbound direction. New Zealand is high on the list for a return visit so bring on the pics!
My Sister (pre-covid) made an annual trek to NZ to judge at dog shows and then over to Australia and up through Asia. That is one long flight from Vancouver and they can do it non-stop now. I use to stop for a few days in Hawaii or Tahiti or Fiji on the way down and back just to break the trip up.
It has been a hectic few days as the MIL is in hospital with a bad bowel obstruction, we got the call in the middle of the night that she was on the bathroom floor in agony. The wife headed up and upon arriving promptly called the ambulance which was there in three minutes. The MIL has dementia so the wife has been staying with her a lot in the hospital to try and keep her calm. They try and clear things up for 48 hours before the surgery option. So far it has not corrected itself. She has had endless bowel problems all her life and eats crap so the writing has been on the wall for decades. 84 is pretty old for pipe surgery so it is wait and see.
I have really bad arthritis, if you look at my spine on an X-Ray it looks like a melted candle. I was the show and tell exhibit at a big Rheumatology conference held in Vancouver about 12 years ago. Recently, I saw an ad wanting lab rats for an arthritis medical study. So wanting to do my part I signed up and went in when they responded. I WAS REJECTED! They said I was way too fit and was way outside the parameters of their study. I guess there are worse things I could have been rejected for.
The dinner bell is ringing. Bring on the Bear pics!
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Hi Bear,
Glad to hear that you had a good vacation, even if it did get cut short a bit.
I look forward to seeing your vacation pictures as well.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
The bonfire is going again tonight but my beer has lumps in it.
Barbs Scuba Steves Seaweed Surprise was even better than the last time.
She made two pans. I think I ate the whole first one
We're all a little tired out up here and Rack Time is coming up real soon
SeeYou190Ed: The Hiawathas certainly had unique tail cars that were full of personality. I like the syling of both the "Beaver Tails" and "Sky Tops". Garry: I do not remember seeing a picture of that home made power unit before. It is truly distinctive. I wish I had the skills to scratchbuild something like that.
The railroads prided themselves for their innovative designers back in the "glory days". New York Central had Henry Dryfuss (my favorite) the PRR used designs of Raymond Loewy (not quite my style but, it was the "Flash Gordon" era) and the Milwaukee used the designs of Brooks Stevens for their premier train styling.
Relaxing with drink in hand while gliding along at 100 per on the glass-smooth Milwaukee right-of-way. What's not to love?
Hiawatha by Edmund, on Flickr
The Hiawatha Twins:
Milwaukee Matrons by Edmund, on Flickr
I found a photo of a model of the Milwaukee's home-brew (get it?) locomotive:
Just one more photo... by NAPM Model Railroad Club, on Flickr
Somewhere in Wisconsin... by NAPM Model Railroad Club, on Flickr
Sure beats the look of the C&NW cabs made out of E8 B units!
CNW 504 at Main St., Evanston, IL on March 13, 1978 by Marty Bernard, on Flickr
Regards, Ed
Good morning, everyone. It's donut day.
I like the photos, Bear. You live in a beautiful country.
Ed, I love all the passenger car photos.
Another day with not much going on. After church, it's a full day of time to work on the layout, unless the woman living in my house wants to go for a ride or go to the grocery store. It's amazing how days with not much to do fill up with things to do.
I saw this train (didn't ride on it) two years ago in Colorado. Pretty neat!
Last month, we saw this from the walkway you can see in the background. Then my daughter said there's an overlook from which we can see it better. It was hot, the hike was two miles, and it was uphill. But the result was worth it.
Have a great Sunday, everyone.
Good afternoon Diners (just). I am also back from holiday, so I'll share the tab with Bear.
Great pictures, Bear.
Here in the UK things are becoming a little more relaxed regarding freedom of movement. Being able to be on a ship was great. Something we thought would be impossible.
On a tour from the ship I traveled on the Welsh Highland Railway
A 1937 2.6.2 + 2.6.2 Belgian built NGG class locomotive that spent most of its life in South Africa. Seen here in Caernarfon Station.
At Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Station
(one has to visit.
'Snowdrop' on the River Mersey in 'Dazzle' livery. Looks more like psychedelic. Reminds me of Sgt Pepper.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Welcome back, David. I'm glad you and your wife were able to get away for a while. It looks like a good trip.
Good morning
Looks like you had a good Holiday too David! I'm glad you had some fun
Thanks, John and TF. An enjoyable trip indeed.
The Falls of Shin, Near Lairg, Sutherland, Scotland.
Isle of Inchkeith in Firth of Forth. It was a Military Base in WW2 to protect shipping.
One of many Scottish Lochs, Loch Long.
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway. A 15 inch gauge railway in Cumbria, England
1966 built 'River Mite' at Ravenglass.
1976 built 'Northern Rock'.
Good morning from the Pacific Rim.
The kid just called and wants to go golfing so he will show up around 1300hrs for that. Wife is back at the hospital to help settle the MIL as she is quite confused and not doing well. My wife went in during the night as well as she called the nurses station and they said that she was very upset. It is a 35-minute drive each way.
My wife is the most caring person I have ever known. I remember when we first shacked up together, I would wake up in the night and she would be gone. I soon learned that if she had disappeared in the night she hadn't been abducted by aliens, she had gone into the (Vet) hospital to check on an animal she was concerned about. At one time she ran five facilities, the big main hospital and 4 smaller clinics. She was almost always on surgical call and when the phone would ring in the middle of the night, I would hold my breath hoping I would not have to go with her. Many a time I did and I would often go right to work in the morning from the hospital.
Bear and David, it looks like you both had good trips. I can't wait to get going again to some more exotic location. For now, it will be taking the Daughter back to University in Victoria on Sept 1st. We will then go North up Vancouver Island to my cousins for a little R&R. Going out for an early morning paddle is without a doubt the best recharge we get. Early morning when the ocean is like a millpond can't be beaten. People come from all over the world to do this, I just go visit my cousin for a few days, man I am lucky.
This is not me or anyone I know but this is what we have encountered on more than one occasion. We even had a bear swim by once, going somewhere.
Just had a great workout. September 1st is the annual date I test my gradual decline in physical ability due to age. I think this year I will show some real change as I know I have slowed down over the last twelve months. I love the challenge though.
The kid is on his way early, so best hit the shower.
All the best to all.
I found a thirty year old picture of my old friend Howard working on his beloved "vertical" mountain scenery.
I helped him with some of the tops, being so tall that made sense.
Great videos and pictures! I loved seeing the ferry steam engines under power.
Great to see the Bear and BritDave back from holidays. Keep those photos coming. NZ was high on my list of next destinations but with covid my wife sys we won't be going anywhere.
I have the Trainmaster badk together and it is running very smoothly now. It is a very powerful loco and will pull a decent train up my curved 3% grade without slipping. That is something other locos can't without double heading.^
John, I will be 74 in a couple of months and find N scale diesel decoder installs generally very easy. It simply involves changing one board for another another. The only tricky bit is getting the shell off but a couple of very small screwdrivers and toothpicks will get the job done. If you pull off a truck they justsnap back on.
I managed to cut the front lawn before it started raining again. It was the first time since June.
TF, thanks for the offer to help with the cleanup but it wasn't too bad as the water mostly just went down the floor drain that is located in the laundry where most of the water came in. The floor is tile so easy cleanup.
Good evening everyone. We had a cloudy day that threatened heavy rain continuously, but we never had a single drop at the house.
I cooked a lean pork loin in the oven for 12 hours at 225 degrees, It turned out perfect. I have enough left over for sandwiches tomorrow.
I believe we should be in the 1980-Current week now.
This is a picture I took on a rainy day in the 1990s near Clewiston, Florida. I had to chase the train. I had never see a "ROUTE ROCK" boxcar before.