2008 and the Coffee Pot is still on and over 3 years. Here we gather as friends with trains. Sweet ice tea too.

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is cold in SE Indiana with temps in the teens and snow on the way.  It was an odd weekend.  I had no luck at the TCA meet, but I did get to build with my bricks on Sunday.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Evening all

Last night shift.  Get off in the morning and off till Friday dayshift. 

I believe I have exhausted the battery current draw issue.  Some knowledgeable folks on the diesel forum measured the current draw in their trucks and it was very close to what my truck was drawing.  So I am going to pick up two new batteries tomorrow.  I still may go with the battery tender, just because the truck does sit when I don't need it.

Chief- Thanks for all the info on batteries.  It really helped.

It was pretty today in southern Ohio but cold.  It is to get to 6 tonight.  Cold weather watch means I get my exercise tonight going around and ensuring nothing is freezing up.

I won something on the ebay I've been trying to acquire for a couple of years.  The 790 Trainarama.  I am anxious to get it an put it on the layout.  When I get the truck taken care of I'll have more time for taking and posting pictures I hope.

Jim-I will keep your mom in my prayers

Rich-Nice pics!

Buckeye- There are some deep holes in Brush Creek, and Scioto River that have some surprises in them and you never know what you hook onto in the Ohio.

Got to go

May God bless

Jim

[RockIsland52]

Jack, I think your volt meter is off.  You will be safe.  Mine goes to 14. + and I have the biggest battery that wil fit my battery box [diesel size]. 

I'll go down to the garage and have the guy show me what he's reading on his meter.  You have a good point, car gauges can be notoriosly inaccurate.  Thanks.  Jack.

[RockIsland52]

Evening All

Bed time. Brutus I hope things go well for your mother,I've know a number of folks  who have had very good luck with that surgery. Sir James

Brutus,

My son-in-law's Aunt recently had this surgery done, is in her mid 70's, and the results were amazing.  Before the surgery she could only shuffle when walking, and stairs were a painful and arduous task, one at a time.  She's a maniac on the stairs once again.

As a guy who spent many years working in the medical products field, I have seen some of the the most amazing advancements across all medical specialties, orthopedics included.  My uncle had a total hip replacement at the age of 80 and returned to the golf course 5 months later.  Only the Chicago winter and snow prevented an earlier return.

We'll say a prayer for your mother's speedy recovery.

Jack  

[wrmcclellan]

Got quite a bit done today in the warm weather. Cleaned pool (ugh), removed and fixed spa valve in pool pump valve assembly, replaced three yard sprinkler heads (changed to different type), washed my truck and wifes car (wow - first time I have washed truck in 2 years - one other time last fall by the choir kids for a fund raiser - drought prevented it year before and all the rain last year didn't need to), and worked on cleaning the train table (using a small 2 gal handheld shop vac - got about a third done - man is it dusty - last time vacuumed completely was about 4 years ago).

Doug da G - got yer message and I agree.

Have a great evening all!

[sir james I]

Evening All

Bed time. Brutus I hope things go well for your mother,I've know a number of folks  who have had very good luck with that surgery. Its cold here and I would not mind as much if the dad blame wind would calm down. Not anything new to add, so good nite Chewy,,Sir James

[Brutus]

It went from about 60 yesterday to freezing cold today.  Went to Blue and Gold - supposed to run 3 hours, so it went 5 of course.  Oh well, last one for us - woohoo.  My mom is having a knee replacement surgery tomorrow.  Sister will call when it's all over and will go see her this weekend.  No trains today, but did get to talk to my buddy Dave.  Had a piece of cake, so I'll just hang out here and try to rest up for work tomorrow - ttfn!

[ChiefEagles]

Jack, I think your volt meter is off.  You will be safe.  Mine goes to 14. + and I have the biggest battery that wil fit my battery box [diesel size]. 

Wind is blowing up to 50 and 60 mph.  Did not drop in temps liek I thought.  Actually went up.  Had lots of forest fires and trees down.  Power outages too.  None in Roseyville [so far].  Wind my old clocks [one was my Granddad's] and popcorn time.  Later

[sir james I]

EVENING ALL

No coffee since 5:39pm. coffee is to old I'll make a fresh one.

TTOS show I almost made it out. The last row of tables, there is our Williams guy, He had the orange and blue Seaboard switcher, I said Ha I didn't bring a check with me, he said Ha take the engine and mail me a check. So I just ran my new engine. I also won two metal marx cars today,no other bidders so got them lowest price.From a 100% too. Later,,,,,S.J.

 

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

  WOW is it windy here, about 25-40MPH and cold.  Started out this morning at 36 and now going down to 11?  Just got done walking the dog, BRRR!!!!  My face is frozen.  BIG IMPROVEMENT A?  Ran my 5.25 inside today. 

  I worked in the train room all afternoon cleaning and getting rid of boxes.  Kept all the engine boxes but gotten rid of rolling stock boxes.  Ran sweeper and got everything in order for my new project in train room.  Will take pics when done.

  Going to run some trains later?  Wife is making lazania tonite.

  B GOOD OR B GONE,

laz57 

[RockIsland52]

Lee, sorry but the US Army version is adequated.  As I said, I've been teaching battery and battery charging classes since Jan. 04. [trained and retrained constantly by the nation's leading battery charger company].  12.8V is full charge and 13.2V to 13.5V is a safe voltage [per National Battery Council] to hold a 12V battery in "float".  14.6V to 14.7V is a safe de-sulfation volatge [per the National Battery Council].  15V will boil and destory a battery.  A lot of chargers will drive a battery up to 15V. and higher.  The version of charging I described is recommended by Optumia batteris and Deka East Pen [US's largest manufacturer of lead acid and AGM batteries].

Reclinerized too long after a bag of popcorn.  Good night.

BTW: that company is paying all expenses for our cruise this coming week.  My reward for making them lots of $$$$$.  I really think it is a reward for working in such poor locations [Yankeeland].

Chief,

You're post got me to thinking.  1998 Old Aurora.....yes, we folks up North do drive American. Original alternator replaced 9/06 and original 10 year old battery 10/07.  Interstate Megatru Plus MTP-79 with 880 CCA, mounted under the rear seat cushion.

Before and after the alternator replacement, the in-car voltage gauge readout would read 14.5 volts after start up and 14.2 volts when recovered and driving.  With the new battery, start up reading is 15.4-15.5, dropping to 15.1 when recovered and driving.  With the ignition off and the car recovered, the voltage readout is 12.5.

At the time I thought the running recovered voltages were too high and said so to the mechanic who said they were ok.  He pointed to power (draw) everything in the car, including the heated seats and a power sucking sound system and said all was normal at 15.1 recovered and running.

Your expertise says otherwise and you know 100 times more about this stuff.  Am I boiling and destroying my battery?  A 880 cca battery ain't cheap, and I'm wondering if I need an alternator adjustment, though I don't understand why the higher readouts didn't start until I got the new battery.  I'm wondering if in the process of getting a new water pump around the same time as the battery if something got accidentally "adjusted" on the alternator, though the water pump is on the opposite end of the transversely mounted V8 engine.

Or maybe the voltage gauge on the car is simply off.

Jack

   

[wrmcclellan]

Afternoon all!

Another somewhat lazy day here. Cleaned patio and pool. Vacuuming the layout. Watching some Daytona qualifying.

Another beautiful day here. Sunny, 70, nice breeze blowing - have the windows on the house open - nice! Sorry about you guys up north in the freezer today (I saw -1 for Chicago earlier on the news - ow!).

Doug da G - DCS 4.0 supposedly has the ability to set the sleep timer to turn off after one to sixty minutes of inactivity.I have yet to upgrade from 2.21 so I do not know if it works.

Have a great day all!

[dougdagrump]

Don, Just remind her that even though there might be snow on the roof that doesn't mean you still don't have a fire in the furnace.

Brent, When starting a "Honey-Do" project Never say that there is plenty of time with regards to a schedule, that is just tempting fate way too much.

Now with a question with regards to DCS. In trying out the DCS handheld for Z-4000 conventional ops it seems like the handheld would go to sleep way to quickly. It isn't that big a deal, but it is somewhat of a nuisance to have to hit the on button wait as it goes thru it's start-up ,etc. Most of the time there were no problems, infrequently though it would take some additional steps to get everything back in sequence. Which brings me to the question, can the "timing out parameters" be adjusted.   

[Brutus]

Good morning, been up reading the paper and watching tv with kids and need to get ready for a cub scout thing - Blue and Gold.  I didn't know that mead could be sold in the USA?  I've had honey lagers before and they do have a little different taste.  Laz, I'm down to only 3 of those Sam Adams Cherry Wheats today - still a deal?  Apparently there was an evaporation singularity event or something?  I'm sure Lt. Commander Data could solve it for me.  Some of the reality tv shows get on my nerves.  Wish I could work on the basement some more today, but just too much other stuff going on.  Writer's guild is apparently happy with the new deal they have been offered, so some new tv episodes should be on the way soon I hope. 

[Buckeye Riveter]

Buckeye:  Let me know if you need GPS coordinates.  BiL has been fishing tournaments for the past couple of years, and knows some good spots.  He said you could limit out on Salmon, and go back for the Walleye.

Kurt

Kurt...Does your BiL have a favorite place to stay on the UP to go fishing?  We ususally rent some type of cabin.  I would love to catch the big Walleyes near Rapid River.

[Anonymous]

Chief,
Construction won't stop for me. I have 2 hours during the evening before Susieq gets home so that is how I've been trucking along. After completing the wall paper removal today it does not appear TOOOOOOO bad. I should be able to get the walls patched and smoothed in about 2 or 3 weekends. Painting the room won't take longer than 1 weekend and I have 4 weekends before my sister and her family arrive, so it looks like we started a project with plenty of time to spare. I'm going to shoot for 2 weekends on the wall patching... I'll be able to tell more next Saturday when I start spakling... if the big spot is too bad, I'll just remove that drywall and patch that area.

Don't worry, the layout will be opperational before you get here! OH... and Jerry is welcome to attend the gathering as well.

[anjdevil2]

Morning from Cool and windy Florida!

Went to Bud shoot out last night...Funny thing on the way to the track.....We were crossing the street, and I see this guy with an afro and bad teeth in a red Ford Explorer with Maine plates....stopped at the traffic light...IT'S Boris Said!!!  Said hello & good luck, forgot I had the camera

Too bad Reed Sorenson got shuffled back, He had a good running Dodge..good thing the Toyota lost...but a Chevy won....

Check this out:

And for you poor Gordon Fans:

http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb282/anjdevil2/?action=view&current=DSCF0209.flv

Was home by Midnight, had a good time except for the outcome, wore my Kasey Kahne/Evernham Motorsports Shop worn shirt and Dodge hat.

Maybe my parts came in for my 1666 today...get that fixed today too!

 

Later

Rich 

[CSXect]

it is windy out.

did not get a chance to go to train show this weekend too windy to go today

been listening to a bluegrass station on the net latley good music

[dbaker48]

Good Morning!  Worked all day yesterday (7-6), then on the way home stopped, had dinner, and took wife to movie. 

Friday night had a couple of visitors to the layout.  Everything worked great, things WERE running great.  THEN... brought out Cab Forward, and had a couple of theres setting on track.  Lost power to main line???  Only way to get power was when I had a caboose setting on a siding and if I bridged it over the main.  Then came back on.  Long story short.  TOGGLE SWITCH FAILED !!!!  Apparently the switch was underrated (6a 250v), one of the contacts came loose from the switch body.  ...No contact !!  Didn't like running the train through the caboose, too much current draw going through the caboose to the main!  However, if I jumped the wires at the main switch around the two contacts of the toggle everything worked great.  So will upgrade to a bigger toggle switch as soon as I get time.  Have to work today also.

Interesting day at computer show.  Actually was quite busy.  In an adjacent building was an auction of foreclosures.  Picked up one of the booklets they had.  REALLY SAD!  Bidding really started low, an was verry quick.  I just looked at the pics of the houses, and couldn't help but wonder what the family make-up was of the people that lived there.  Really depressing!  (One guy told me that they were making $3200 a month payment (interest only) and had used credit card (@25% interest rate), and had a $75,000 balance on his card!!!)

Chief glad to hear you got those upgrades!  You will like them.  
John, good strategy on the pre-orders!
BTW,  BIG thanks to ROY and JOHN for the advice I received on the layout wiring!  Worked FIRST time I applied power.  THANKS GUYS
Doug (dagrump), Kay is now concerned that you will think poorly of her for my reference to the hair stuff.  I told her not to worry, it wan't anything negative, and anyway you had a great sense of humor.  May need to show her your posts.  Anyway really great to be able to kid around with a great bunch of guys.

Later,  Got to get going.  Need to go by the office and pick up more stock.  Have a GREAT DAY !!

[sir james I]

Well Chief it is cold out but, the house smells good, we have a turkey in the oven and no its not one of the forum members. I couldn't find a volunteer.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  Lot colder here.  Brent, now you see why all railroads come to a stop.  Wives want their projects done right then.  So, our buddies in MI land are freezing and all the rest seem to be getting soused on home brew.  Maybe we should join the "rest".   Think I am looking for a steak for lunch.   Slept late.  That new king sized bed and matteress sure sleeps great.  I think I may have Jerry from Miss Edna's going to York with me.  He had perfect attendance until his stroke two years ago.  That will be good as probably will need reinforcements to handle the Yanks that will be in atttendance.   Might not as I handled them last trip to Harrisburg.  One Reb "gritted" them real well in a ambush at lunch.  Have a good one. 

[sir james I]

GOOD MORNING

sun and wiiinndy 12 degrees going down thru the day to zero. I don't wish my life away but things always look better to me when March 1st gets here. We can get nasty storms in march but at least they will be going away. TTOS show later this morning, as I have said before same stuff same prices but its only $2.00 and its close. Everyone have a safe day,,,,Sir James

[Anonymous]

Mornin' Fellas.

Not much on the train front as I'm concerned about my electrical plans... see thread on BPCs for more info, and the slave driver I mean Susieq wants to get the wallpaper removed in the one spare bedroom. My little sister and her family are planning to visit next month and we need the bed available in that room, so we have to get the wallpaper removed and then I have to patch the walls where the drywall paper facing pulled off when removing the wallpaper... not going to be fun, nor easy project. So looks like weekends are going to be spent working on that project now.

Hope to post some pics of the layout today.

Have a good one.

[laz 57]

Doug wants the strawberry, so I'll take the Banilla.  Actually tried a different kind of beer tonight - had a Sam Adams Cherry Wheat.  Well, tastes a little too much like Hawaiian Punch for me, but worth a shot.  Yes, Buford has become a Very Useful Engine again   It is a great little model and I can't wait to add the John Bull and all the others as they are released....

Laz - I'll trade you 5 Sam Adams for a couple Old Mils and a turn at Legacy, okay?  Say the word - this is really a great deal for you

JIM ypu ON.  Good deal for me but you got DA SCRAPPLE.

laz57

[cnw1995]

Morning all. Brisk here: -4 without the wind. -30 with it. At least I can see sun. We've had 11 minutes of sunshine this month so far. LOL. Off to church. Planning a big weekend for when Chief is gone on his trip. . . Brutus, I tried something new last evening: a form of mead. I think I needed to wear Viking horns whilst trying it. It was very sweet; honey-favored, with an odd aftertaste. Off to church...

[kpolak]

Buckeye:  Let me know if you need GPS coordinates.  BiL has been fishing tournaments for the past couple of years, and knows some good spots.  He said you could limit out on Salmon, and go back for the Walleye.

Kurt

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a windy 30 degrees. Not going to warm up any. High for today is still 30 degrees. Cold front coming in.

Today, I am taking it easy. I have some paperwork to do this morning and then I will relax in the train room, this afternoon. Slowly but surely, getting the scenery done.

Nascar ........Great race last night. Junior is back. #88 is hot.

Looking forward to SPF today. Always great pictures.

Dining car has rolled in and it's time for breakfast. Later.

Y'all have a great Sunday.

Chuck

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Fresh pot on for ya.  Blustery and 45 here in the Mid-Atlantic region, and that just may be the high for today.  Mixed precip later, then cold-baby-cold for tomorrow.

Chief - will you be traveling across the BERMUDA TRIANGLE...?

[ChiefEagles]

Lee, sorry but the US Army version is adequated.  As I said, I've been teaching battery and battery charging classes since Jan. 04. [trained and retrained constantly by the nation's leading battery charger company].  12.8V is full charge and 13.2V to 13.5V is a safe voltage [per National Battery Council] to hold a 12V battery in "float".  14.6V to 14.7V is a safe de-sulfation volatge [per the National Battery Council].  15V will boil and destory a battery.  A lot of chargers will drive a battery up to 15V. and higher.  The version of charging I described is recommended by Optumia batteris and Deka East Pen [US's largest manufacturer of lead acid and AGM batteries].

Reclinerized too long after a bag of popcorn.  Good night.

BTW: that company is paying all expenses for our cruise this coming week.  My reward for making them lots of $$$$$.  I really think it is a reward for working in such poor locations [Yankeeland].

[Brutus]

Doug wants the strawberry, so I'll take the Banilla.  Actually tried a different kind of beer tonight - had a Sam Adams Cherry Wheat.  Well, tastes a little too much like Hawaiian Punch for me, but worth a shot.  Yes, Buford has become a Very Useful Engine again   It is a great little model and I can't wait to add the John Bull and all the others as they are released....

Laz - I'll trade you 5 Sam Adams for a couple Old Mils and a turn at Legacy, okay?  Say the word - this is really a great deal for you