Attend a Siskiyou Line op session via the web

[jfugate]

My HO Siskiyou Line monthly op session was this last Saturday, Feb 12th.

I took lots of photos, and posted them online here:
http://mymemoirs.net/model-trains/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=81

Here's a sample photo:


I post these op session reports so those of you who would like to see what a prototype-based op session is like, can do so even though you may not be able to come to an op session.

Hopefully, you can learn a few things from my reports! Let me know what you think and if you would like to see reports from future sessions.

[Anonymous]

Joe How far are you from Portland I wil be there in late may.

[jfugate]

I'm 30 miles south of downtown Portland on I-5.

[Anonymous]

It is a little bit to far for me. I am coming by amtrack., for a four day stay.

[jfugate]

By the way, my Internet service provider seems to be having problems with their database server today, so if you get

phpBB : Critical error

cannot connect to the database

Try again in a few minutes.

Danged annoying, I can tell you what. I've lodged a complaint against them, you can bet your booties! I hope they get it solved or I'm taking my internet business elsewhere. [sigh]

[ozzy01]

Good info on how you run your railroad. Will have to go back later for page 2 and 3 as I got the cannot connect to database message.

[tstage]

Joe,

I've been getting the "Critical error" sign for the past hour. Maybe it's time to find an ISP who has a better server.

Tom

[jfugate]

MY ISP tells me they were having problems earlier but it all should be fixed now. I apologize for their poor performance today. They haven't won any points with me today, that's for sure. Since I pay for this service, I am watching it closely!

Please let me know if you have any further problems ... it will give me ammo to throw at them if needed. [;)]

[Anonymous]

I read all three pages with great interest. I had no problems with the pages about the operating session.

Good work!

[AntonioFP45]

Thank you Joe!

Looks like you and your group really have your act together and enjoy the fun!

Cheers!

[Anonymous]

[?]

Curious about your latches on the facia... I assume they are connected to the turnouts. How do you mechanicaly connect them? Is there any electrical control through the latch? I would appreciate any info you can pass along.

Thanks,

-OT

P.S. I have an old Tyco 0-4-0 that I decaled for the "Siskiyou Ry" back in the 70's. Love that li'l engine.

[jfugate]

Oregon:

The door latches are as you surmised ... for manual turnout control.



For more details on how these little guys work, see (scroll down to the posting on the door bolts):
http://mymemoirs.net/model-trains/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14

And if you have flash video capability in your browser (most people do), for a video demo of the bolts in action, see:
http://mymemoirs.net/model-trains/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=57

[Tim_Seawel]

Joe, very nice photo report. I think most model railroaders enjoy seeing other peoples layout. I know I do. Looks like fun for sure.

Tim[:D]

[johncolley]

Thanks, Joe, but Geez Louise! that was a lot of mail for my little phone modem to handle. Actually took over 2 hours to view and sort at about 28kbps. Also It seems to me that since we receive mail from the top down in our mailboxes the chronology is backwards. ie.: the first few are the end of the session and we have to work our way back to the beginning, or is it back to the future? I will sure be glad when our capacity goes from 10Mb to 25Mb in March. That will help a bunch! But keep 'em coming, Joe, we do enjoy! John

[jfugate]

John:

Geez louise is right, John! Still using a 28K modem? With 56K modems going for 50 bucks these days, I didn't think anyone was still on 28K!

Anyhow, hope the wait was worth it!

[Anonymous]

Joe, always enjoy your reports.

I make business trips to Corvallis usually 2-4 times a year. Sounds like you must be in the Salem area. Can you recommend any truly above-average hobby shops in the Portland or Salem areas that you would think would be worth a visit? By the way, I'm strictly HO.

[jfugate]

Whistle Stop Trains is nothing but model trains ... that's my favorite shop:

http://www.wsor.com/home.html

There's nothing much in Salem. A small general purpose hobby shop that is more model airplanes than model trains.

[Anonymous]

Joe,

Thanks for the link to the latch bolt details. Clever idea and one I'll consider in the future.

I'll second the recomendation for The Wistle Stop. Good shop and I try to stop by when ever I'm on the left coast.

-OT

[Anonymous]

Joe and Oregon Trail,

Thanks! I will definitely try to stop by.

[jfugate]

So now that many of you have had a chance to see this op session report, did you find it useful, and would you like me to continue posting these sorts of reports in the future?

[conford]

Thanks Joe,

I visited the session report and enjoyed it. Haven't read the whole thing yet, but I like the pictures with the operators present and paperwork being sorted, etc. Makes it easier to visualize how it will work on my own layout and how to arrange things.

Regards
Peter
conford

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting, I found it inspiring and an excellent read...I really look forward to more of this kind of thing.

By the way, was enjoying going through your forums all afternoon, then finally got that same connection error...about 1720cst on 02/17/05...just thought you'd want to know.

[mecovey]

Hey Joe,
Thanks for sharing. Great layout and pictures. To me operation is "the thing". Keep the reports coming

[Bob Hayes]

Joe,
It's 8PM, and your website is a 404 for me!
Bob Hayes

[Anonymous]

Joe, like Bob said 8 and it was 404 also at 8:30, 9:30, and now again at 10:30pm. Although I can see some of the website pages from time to time, but have not been able to get to the BB at all. By the way I didn't realize that you were located that close to me, now I really don't have an excuse not to make it to an OP's or work session.
Thanks for posting these session's I am one who really enjoy's seeing them. [:D]


Chris

[Anonymous]

Joe, Check your e-mail if you haven't already. I, too am a 404 'file not found'. on your site. Dale [:(]

[jfugate]

Yep, my current ISP has been getting more and more rickety over the last few weeks, and now this ... the site is down, down, down for hours on end. [V]

I could go on and on about the 45-60 minute wait time on the tech support phone line, the vague responses to my problems reports (no explanation as to the problem cause or the solution, just "we fixed it") only to have the problem resurface a few hours later ... the list goes on.

So I'm moving to a new ISP. Enough is enough. [B)] The ISP I'm leaving is ipowerweb.com. Don't use 'em. [tdn]

It takes 3-4 days to complete a total ISP move, so expect the instability to continue for a few more days. BUMMER. [|(]

[jfugate]

For now the site's back, in case you want to browse the op session photos, etc.

http://mymemoirs.net/model-trains/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=81

I apologize for the yoo-yoo nature of my ISP and once I complete the move to a new ISP let's hope the reliabilty returns.

[cwclark]

great pics Joe!...wish i could get a group of guys over to my place for an operating session...my layout is getting so big that i can't completely run it by myself anymore...i'm about to put an add in the paper for volunteers..LOL....chuck

[jfugate]

Hey, I'm on the new ISP now and the woes with my site seem to be history.

The link to the op session photos is the same as before:
http://mymemoirs.net/model-trains/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=81

Enjoy!
[:D]