York1I've gotten started on the track work for my streetcar system. This is a little easier than other projects since the streetcar tracks will not be connected to my regular layout tracks. My layout is N scale DCC, and the only N streetcar I could find was DC, so I will have two systems running at the same time. I've got a system to auto reverse the streetcar at its endpoints, so it can run independently while I play with real trains.
Hi John,
Great minds think alike!
I'm going to do the same thing (except in HO scale). I have already acquired a couple of street cars and the reversing unit. I'm planning on using Proto 87 street car track just for the looks. I don't need any turnouts so the track won't be too expensive. I need about 13'.
https://www.proto87.com/Street_track_for_trolleys_and_trams.html#
One of the trolleys is a brass basket case for which I have already acquired a new drive system. The other is a TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) 'Red Rocket'. It only needs some cleaning and fresh lubrication. I live just north of Toronto.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Dave, that streetcar track looks good and looks easier to install.
I have a bunch of N flex track that I pulled up from the old layout, so I'm using that. I haven't quite decided how I will do some of the curves. I could curve the street with the track, or I could do what New Orleans did on parts of the St. Charles streetcar line and have the tracks curve around the 90° street intersections. This is fun.
Colombia:
Old funicular by Michael, on Flickr
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."
hon30critter York1 I've gotten started on the track work for my streetcar system. This is a little easier than other projects since the streetcar tracks will not be connected to my regular layout tracks. My layout is N scale DCC, and the only N streetcar I could find was DC, so I will have two systems running at the same time. I've got a system to auto reverse the streetcar at its endpoints, so it can run independently while I play with real trains. Hi John, Great minds think alike! I'm going to do the same thing (except in HO scale). I have already acquired a couple of street cars and the reversing unit. I'm planning on using Proto 87 street car track just for the looks. I don't need any turnouts so the track won't be too expensive. I need about 13'. https://www.proto87.com/Street_track_for_trolleys_and_trams.html# One of the trolleys is a brass basket case for which I have already acquired a new drive system. The other is a TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) 'Red Rocket'. It only needs some cleaning and fresh lubrication. I live just north of Toronto. Cheers!! Dave
York1 I've gotten started on the track work for my streetcar system. This is a little easier than other projects since the streetcar tracks will not be connected to my regular layout tracks. My layout is N scale DCC, and the only N streetcar I could find was DC, so I will have two systems running at the same time. I've got a system to auto reverse the streetcar at its endpoints, so it can run independently while I play with real trains.
Have you ever used Proto 87 girder rails for trolleys? It is quite a process to get laid down right. It basically hand-laying the rails. I did a few feet of it. It seemed to take forever. I had it on a smooth, clean piece of plastic-coated Masonite, basically a piece of bathtub liner, so that was not the problem. The problems I had were maintaining perfect alignment of each section of rail, as they're only about 4 inches long, and providing electrical continuity to power the engines.
I basically abandoned the instructions and went with a feeder for every rail section. The tiny connecting wires would not stay in place. I should have found a slightly heavier guage wire. The best thing I did for track alignment was to get a small Ribbon Rail tool for HO, 18 inch radius. That made laying the track much easier.
Mine was used for the approach track to my carfloat, so it was a more stressing application than trolleys. The street-running track looks excellent with the Proto 87 cobblestone pieces. It looks great, but it a lot more work than I expected.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
York1 Colombia: Old funicular by Michael, on Flickr
Tonight was taco Wednesday. I'm talking the crunchy kind from the grocery store. We haven't had them in over a year. Tasted pretty good. Sorry, don't have any tantalizing pictures to share.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
MisterBeasleyHave you ever used Proto 87 girder rails for trolleys? It is quite a process to get laid down right. It basically hand-laying the rails. I did a few feet of it. It seemed to take forever. I had it on a smooth, clean piece of plastic-coated Masonite, basically a piece of bathtub liner, so that was not the problem. The problems I had were maintaining perfect alignment of each section of rail, as they're only about 4 inches long, and providing electrical continuity to power the engines. I basically abandoned the instructions and went with a feeder for every rail section. The tiny connecting wires would not stay in place. I should have found a slightly heavier guage wire. The best thing I did for track alignment was to get a small Ribbon Rail tool for HO, 18 inch radius. That made laying the track much easier.
Hi Mister Beasley,
Thank you for that 'heads up'. I thought I remembered longer straight pieces being available but their website is currently being updated so I can't bring up any details. If the straight sections are only available in 4" sections, I will have to reconsider whether or not I want to use the trolley track. I need about 9 ft. of straight track. That's 27 pieces. Getting them properly lined up might be a challenge. Your use of a Ribbon Rail aligning tool is a good idea.
Snow shoes by Bear, on Flickr
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good morning!
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Morning, Bill!
Terry
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
Good morning Diners. A coffee on the go please, Janie.
Dawn's physiotherapist will arrive shortly.
After lunch I hope to run some trains.
TV programme - Traitors.
Anyone Stateside seen it?
It is a favourite programme of ours.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Oh it is going to take some time to get over this one...
Wilson in his Honor by Edmund, on Flickr
I think Wilson was more disappointed than I was that he could no longer be at my side to guide me through life. Moments before he died he was still purring knowing I was nearby.
Oh, and if that wasn't the frosting on the cake of my day, my oncologist told me during an earlier visit that I have to begin radiation therapy for prostate cancer beginning Monday, six days a week for the next five weeks.
I guess when it rains... (or snows?)
Nickel Plate in Cleveland:
Nickel Plate Road Alco PA 190 going over the NKP trestle in Cleveland Ohio that’s still have nkp on it and Passing the Olmsted Falls depot by Coal And Steel Railroad Photography, on Flickr
Nickel Plate in East Cleveland:
Nickel Plate Hudson 175 by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, sort of — Ed
Ed. Our Thoughts & Prayers to you and your family.
Always sad when a family pet crosses Rainbow Bridge.
Dawn and David
Good Morning Diners. Janie, coffee and two sides of bacon please.
Ed, I am so sorry to hear about Wilson. He was a handsome kitty. I wish I had some gracious words to ease your soul, but unfortunately I do not. Pets are family in my household and I know the same is true in yours. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I'm also sorry to hear the news about the radiation therapy. If there is a silver lining there it is that one is very beatable.
David, I've not heard of Traitors, but then again, I don't watch much TV. I usually only watch something if I'm on the treadmill, but a defiant knee is making that increasingly difficult. Going to have to talk to the doctor about that at my next appointment in May. Hoping it's something they can go in and fix easily.
Bill, that is a fine looking locomotive!
Love the Bear toon! Good thing we have both the snowshoes and the dog sled!
Take care guys.
Mike
Good Morning,
Ed, so sorry for Wilson's passing. He was a fine fellow.
Ed, I thought you had surgery last summer to remove your prostate. In any event that is unsetlling news. There was a guy in my support group after my surgery who elected to go the radiation route and he said it wasn't bad at all.
We had a storm last night that gave us 6" of the fluffy white stuff. Going to be cold for the next week. High today of 1F.
David, I saw ads for Traitors on TV here but didn't watch it.
I need more coffee.
CN Charlie
Good morning, everyone. Bacon, eggs, and black coffee, please.
Ed, very sorry for losing your cat, but even more sorry about your next weeks of daily radiation. If it's any consolation, I have several friends who have gone through it and are now doing great. I hope your other cats can give you some consolation.
Bear, thanks for the cartoon. I still like the one that got purged from the other day.
David, I've never seen that program. Not sure we get it here unless it's on BritBox or something like that. We don't do any streaming here, so it may be available and I'm not away of it. I'm going to check our cable service to see if I can find it.
Today there will be more work on the streetcar track. I'm not real good at this. I drew out what I planned, I marked it on the surface, I began laying the track, and then I decided I didn't like the curves. Today I will try to fix that. At this rate, I will be able to report some progress in my Diner postings in 2026.
Charlie, we are hunkering in for several days. Six inches of snow tonight on top of the mess we got Monday, and this time the temps drop drastically. Even the dog doesn't want to stay outside so long in this.
Only 68 days until Spring (or Autumn for Bear).
Vietnam:
vietnam by nogwai, on Flickr
Charlie & York1 John.
Last year we watched Traitors (U.K.) then Traitors U.S.
Both were set in a Scottish castle.
This year both Traitors UK and US have been made. The UK one is being shown here now. I understand the US show is being shown over the pond now. We get the US show later.
It is one of the very few programmes we watch on television.
gmpullman and if that wasn't the frosting on the cake of my day, my oncologist told me during an earlier visit that I have to begin radiation therapy for prostate cancer beginning Monday, six days a week for the next five weeks.
Yup, been there and done that. Hopefuly you won't have to endure the next step, which involves those Tena things and gets progressively worse.
Good evening all.Today I received results on my hole in the heart and irregular heartbeat.Not good according to the doctor.There again it wasn't good when I was born. Then I was given less than a month to live.Over the years the many tests and results have been more or less the same. 'Take it easy or else'.Oh well. One day they will be right. NOT YET THOUGH.
Good morning from the West Coast where the temps are falling. The palms along Vancouver's beaches are experiencing a -25c wind chill today and will have to put up with flurries for the next week.
Ed, I'm so sorry to hear about Wilson. He has been a member of the diner crew for a long time and will be missed. I always enjoy the photos you post of all your animal family.
I will also be sending positive thoughts for your ongoing battle on the health front.
36 years with the Feds has left me with enough cold weather gear to last several lifetimes. I have the bearskin hats, gaiters, balaclavas, strap-on spikes for the boots and so much more. I also have some electric gloves, those are terrific.
Not sure if I will get my 10km in today, I'll probably do the 7km loop, if that, depending on how slippery it is. I will burn about 1000 calories doing 10km, that is a whole lot of bacon and eggs. I also will throw a couple of diced-up tomatoes, onion, and cheese in the pan. The wife also gives whichever dog I take an extra heaping helping as well on the day.
Better get to it.
All the best to all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Talks & Walks by Bear, on Flickr
I miss Wilson, too. Our cats, Whiskey and Snowflake, are part of our family too. They're younger cats at 2 and 4 years, and will probably outlive me.
Bear. WHAT A LOVELY TOON.
Mr B. Where do you think your going? Your animals haven't come to see you go off anywhere.
Hi Ed,
I'm very sorry to hear about Wilson's passing. He was always a pleasure to see on the forums.
I'm also very sorry to hear that you have to undergo radiation treatment. I wish you the best possible outcome.
The temp dropped 5c in the hour I was gone. I usually let the dog dictate the route we take but even she cut it short today at just over 6km. The wind cut through us like a knife and the trail was like the ice capades.
I had the electric gloves on(I must be getting old) The snow was just starting. Looking back down at a very steep 147-metre change in elevation climb according to my Garmin.
Ripping through the forest with a dog (or dogs) is the best. At 67 I have never not had a dog and can't imagine not having one.
In 67 years I have said goodbye to many.
BATMAN
Almost.... For me there would need to be 3 dogs, about a dozen cats, and two very special Guernsey Cows that were my Showmanship animals at NYS Fair back when I was a Teenager. (I still have my New York State Master Guernsey Showman ribbon hanging here at the house)....
Both those cows, I could go out in the field where the whole herd was grazing, call their name, and they would come right over to where I was, put their head and neck right around me and give me a hug!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Thank yoyu, everyone, for the kind words toward Wilson's legacy. He was certainly 'one-in-a-million'. Nearly sixteen years we were blessed with his calming presence and wisdom, he was one 'cool dude'. He will be buried next to Cicero and Floyd in the shadow of the caboose which was his 'real' home — in his world view, anyway.
CNCharlieEd, I thought you had surgery last summer to remove your prostate.
Yep, had the prostate yanked back in June. Subsequent PSA test in August showed .34 ng/ml and a few weeks later it was .40. Urologist says cancerous tissue can remain. Last PSA in December showed .49.
Seems the urologist is more concerned than the oncologist who had more of a 'wait and see' attitude. Apparently the urologist won the debate and insisted that the radiation proceed. At first they said only one treatment would be necessary. After yesterday's visit the prognosis is daily treatments for the next five weeks.
Medicine is still a 'practice'.
Paraguay:
FCPCAL, Pirayú, Paraguay, 1991 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Turkey, with a 'Southern Pacific-esque' skyline casing:
TCDD, Kurtcemeni, Turkey, 1973 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Thanks again to all!
Ed
Good Morning Diners. Chloe, a farmers omelette and coffee please.
The weather guessers are calling for some real winter weather starting today. My neck of the woods is being told 8-14 inches with up to 50 mph winds. Temps slowly dropping from 35F today to 8F Monday night. Should be exciting! I love this stuff!
BATMAN I also have some electric gloves, those are terrific.
WW2 vintage GMC DUKW
Somewhere in Costa Rica
Good morning Diners. A coffee on the go please, Brunhilda.
Getting 403 again. Cannot keep hanging around as other things to do.
Good morning! Smashboard IMC/Cloverleaf (former LE&W/NKP) Kokomo Indiana