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

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a clear and cold 5 degrees. Going up to only 22 today, with some sunshine. Wind finally quit.

Today is a busy day. I have a lot of errands to run and places to stop locally. Not too much new on the train front. I hope Spring hurries up. Looking forward to a train show, when it's warmer.

Dining car is here and ready for breakfast. Usual fare.

Y'all have a great Monday.

Chuck

[Anonymous]

Mornin Fellas.

Mailing my TCA renewal and York Badge checks today!

It's a COLD one today here in DelMarVa region... was 8 degrees when I woke this morning... all woodland creatures were quiet, which was a first... guess they don't care for fridged temperatures. Supposed to Rain/Sleet/Feezing Rain/Ice/Snow tomorrow, so getting to and from work could be a commical ride!

Ordered the rest of my power drops, some more straight track, and two switches while at the LHS on Saturday. That will enable me to build the reverse loop on the second level and start mocking up the run through the valley so I can determine where the river is going to be. Then I can cun the river bed.  Started placing styrofoam for some mountains/grades and can't decide if I like that or the ceiling tiles. For those that use styrofoam, what do you put over it to smooth it out? I've seen some use plaster cloth and some use hydrocal - which is better? I kind of like the styrofoam route for some areas that I want to make heavily wooded, I think the styrofoam will permit easier placement of trees and hold them in place better (a drop or two of white glue as well)... thoughts?

[RockIsland52]

Brent,

I've been wondering two things.  What do you with your old layout when you decide to take on a project of this magnitude, and how do you muster the courage to tear apart all of that hard work vs. expanding what you have? 

Thanks,

Jack

[Anonymous]

Jack,
This is all new construction. I just moved into the house last June and up till a month ago have not had a layout to run trains on for about 8 years. I have had a couple small christmas layouts, but they don't compare to this.

The basic plan was put together by local favorite Fifedog , I modified it a little but for the most part I stayed true to his plan and what I wanted to accomplish.

The layout is completely modular - 12 49" x 30" sections. Believe it or not the plan can actually be expanded by adding sections in the middle... hard to explain. I have been talking with my wife about this as the next house we have built in 5 - 8 years will be larger and allow for an even larger layout (current is 8'2" x 15') at around 12' x 45'. I'm not sure if I will stick with what I have here or just take the track off and reuse the track. Haven't decided that yet. The next layout I really want to have some O72+ radii so I can run larger locos.... but we'll see.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  Turned a little cooler than it has been.  Still a little windy.  Things to do today.  Got to get ready for the big trip. 

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.

Jack, there are outboard motors that are unregulated.  I've seen them  charge as high as 18V.  Wow, why doesn't it blow all the electronics?  As the battery engineer told me, don't disconnect the battery.  If you do, you will blow all the electronics.  The battery is the storage tank and absorbs all the extra.  Most modern vehicles have 100 amp alternators or greater.  That is what is what handles the "pull" form all the electronics and not how high the voltage is.  An alternator has a regulator.  You may have a hot one.  [in my other life, I was fleet manager of the State of NC]

Later

[sir james I]

GOOD MORNING ALL

Not much change since last nite except its 0 or close depending on which tv station I check. Brite sun and the wind finally went somewhere else. No plans at this time one of those take it as it comes days.

Chief- it appears you know batteries so if these 4/6 amp chargers that most  stores sell are not good for the batt. why do they have them? I have a boat,not deep cycle,and a lawnmower batt. I have always charged them about every three weeks during the winter without any ill affects with this type of charger.

Oh well on with the day,,,,,,,Sir James

[Wes Whitmore]

Brent,

Have you found a way to make the track and scenery modular as well?  I am wondering how people do that...  I think it's much easier with rail that you can cut to length and use rail joiners/pins, but do you have to do that to every module connection?   That's how I see most club module layouts do it anyhow.

Wes

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

  9 now was 5 at5AM.  Had a 2 hr delay, I don't know why, but I'll take it anytime.

Have a good one?

B GOOD or B Gone,

laz57

[Wes Whitmore]

Chief- it appears you know batteries so if these 4/6 amp chargers that most  stores sell are not good for the batt. why do they have them? I have a boat,not deep cycle,and a lawnmower batt. I have always charged them about every three weeks during the winter without any ill affects with this type of charger.

Oh well on with the day,,,,,,,Sir James

just some randon thoughts:

Maybe a couple of deep cycle batteries instead of conventional car batteries would be a good idea since you have the possibiliy of running the voltage down so low.  Especially if you are going to replace the batteries anyhow. 

So are these batteries 6V then, and run in series to get your 12V?  I assume you have tested each battery out independantly to make sure that each tests fine?

You could always use a relay to disconnect the batteries from the loop at night.  It's a little weird, but it would same you some money in the long run.  Depending on how you do it, you can wire it so you still keep your radio presets.

Wes

[CSXect]

good morning all.

[phillyreading]

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,

A company will wine & dine you just to sell a product or service, does not mean the product or service is foolproof or longterm beneficial.

I was not talking about just the US Army version of charging batteries! My information comes from Johnson Controls who make the Interstate Battery & the Everstart Battrey and who made the Sears Diehard batteries until the late 1980's.

Fast charging as you describe will blow-up a battery if it has been discharged too far!  I would hate to see you take a hot acid bath!!

Lee F.

[Anonymous]

Brent,

Have you found a way to make the track and scenery modular as well?  I am wondering how people do that...  I think it's much easier with rail that you can cut to length and use rail joiners/pins, but do you have to do that to every module connection?   That's how I see most club module layouts do it anyhow.

Wes

Wes,
I'm still working on the scenery... but yes I hope to make that modular as well. If I use styrofoam or ceiling tiles for the mountains that will make it easy, just cut the contour to match the plywood roadbed... that is my plan at least.

The track is another beast. I THINK I can remove the rail joiners from the gap sections, attach a power drop to the sections next to them, then after ballasting just remove the gap section and cut the ballast where the gap is... at least that is how I hope it will work... we'll see.

[cnw1995]

Morning all. Brrr, thanks for the fresh pot. 35 below here with the stiff breeze coming from Jon's way. Apart from the wind, it's just a few degrees south of zero. Sending it on east to you all.

Brutus, prayers for your mom. Blue and Gold is a neat milestone - glad your son was feeling well so he could attend - 5 hours though is a tad long - reminds me of my daughter's dance recitals - 400 girls with her invariably going somewhere in the middle and at the end. LOL

Rich, how cool you got to go to the race. The 'ol Junior seems to be back!

Sir James, congrats on that switcher. A nice little unit.

Countdown: 4 days until the bride leaves on her long weekend to Iowa and I get to play trains for 72 hours.

[wrmcclellan]

Morning all!

Cloudy here and maybe 70 today. Temps to drop tonight with possibility of rain and maybe 50's tomorrow.

Busy day today.

[ChiefEagles]

Chief- it appears you know batteries so if these 4/6 amp chargers that most  stores sell are not good for the batt. why do they have them? I have a boat,not deep cycle,and a lawnmower batt. I have always charged them about every three weeks during the winter without any ill affects with this type of charger.

Oh well on with the day,,,,,,,Sir James

Sr J.  You are probably OK.  The Battery Tender is even better.  A cranking battery will not discharge [and sulfate] as quickly as a deep cycle.  Deep cycles need to be discharged to half charge [use a floating light or car light] which is 12.5 V.  Then recharge to desulfate.  With a 3 stage charger, this is not necessary.  With the Battery Tender, it is not necessary.  Protable chargers will usually under charge or over charge a battery.

Lee, believe what you want to.  Has nothing to do with wineing and dinning.  It has to do with TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE.  I'm not going to comment on your battery manufacturer.  You would not like it.

Later. 

[jonadel]

I have two of the least expensive Battery Tender units, HIGHLY recommended. Plug 'em in and forget about 'em. It cannot be any easier than that. Period.

Jon

[ChiefEagles]

I have two of the least expensive Battery Tender units, HIGHLY recommended. Plug 'em in and forget about 'em. It cannot be any easier than that. Period.

Jon

Best thing ever made for a battery when not in use [but sit mounted in the vehicle, tractor, mower, motorcycle or other battery equiped item].  Emulates higher $$ chargers.

[kpolak]

Buckeye:  Will check on Upper Michigan accommodations.

Kurt

[sir james I]

Howdy All......Its been a fun day. I stayed in watched the temp. soar to 14 and thats where it stopped. Ran some trains today, actually an assortment of engines things I have not got to run for awhile. Also put my three newest Willaims engines on the four Hogwarts cars and the entire thing drew 2.8 amps at 13 volts. thats six dc motors plus coach lites. I had a turkey sanmich for lunch, a turkey dinner for supper, and that is enough. Later all,,,S.J.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Buckeye:  Will check on Upper Michigan accommodations.

Kurt

Kurt, Appreciate your help.

[Brutus]

Greetings from the frozen steppes of St. Louis, where the freezing rain has returned.  My mom came through surgery fine - it was a spine block and not a general anesthesia surgery.  Thanks for the kind thoughts and prayers.  School is already called off for tomorrow - My wife took off today and will tomorrow as well.  Kids made her some get well cards and sister will take them to her tomorrow from work.  I have a training class next week already, so tomorrow will be busy in meetings and getting the materials ready, on top of trying to do my "real" job!  I told my training trainer (sic) about my son's Arrow of Light award as her son is an Eagle Scout.  Debbie told me that her son also won a Medal of Merit for saving a woman's life when her leg was cut up on a mountain in Colorado on a ski trip - he kept her alive for 2.5 hours until help arrived!  Man, that's a great reason to support Scouts!

On a trains note - I loaded up the newer version of railroad tycoon on my laptop and it runs pretty well.  Sid Meier's Railroads!  But, every once in a while VISTA just reports that the game quit working and it blips and is gone.  It must be some sort of cumulative error, too.  When I go back to an earlier auto-save, it will eventually die again.  Start a different game on the same map and the odds are it will play fine until the end.  Oh well, it's a good game.

[Brutus]

Hey, Sir James, I'm going to skate over to Doug's later, maybe we'll bring the pups over for a late night snack?  Kurt, you up for it?  I think Nick is probably asleep already....

[cnw1995]

Skate is right - or I'll try cross-country skis and put Rudy in a backpack - since he is so height-challenged in the snow. Let's go!

[sir james I]

Brutus- sounds good to me. Come on over Doug wants to see my new switcher. I forgot to tell you I paid $140. for it NIB. Your ice is expected here as snow by morning so couldn't you get a large fan and blow the clouds kinda south east were it can't do any harm. Just in case your froze in,,,Good nite Chewy,Rudy, and Coco,,,,,S.J.

[dbaker48]

Is anyone else having trouble with the weather?? I know exactly what you mean!! Its really messing up our schedule.  Normally I change the AC filters after Easter. But, wife is wanting to have the AC on, and I don't have the filters changed yet. Better get busy.

[dougdagrump]

Don, What kind of salt are you using to rub in those rather harsh weather wounds, kosher or sea salt ?  

[ChiefEagles]

Don, What kind of salt are you using to rub in those rather harsh weather wounds, kosher or sea salt ?  

His nickname is SPOON.  Stir Stir.   Cold and off to bed.  Lots to do before hiting the skies and waves.  Later.

[Nick12DMC]

Morning All, Have a good time on the cruise Chief. I have done three now. Two with Princess and a mini one with Norwegian. The food was fantastic and you get well looked after. I always take my mini survival pack containing a copy of CTT, Sat phone and my Doxa Sub 300t just in case...

Jim, I'll take the next flight and hire a Snowmobile. Tried one a few years back in the Alps. Has to be the most fun form of motorised transport I have tried so far.   

Have a good one folks

Nick  

 

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

   OFF today they closed schools here snow just started to stick.  I got my construction done on new section yesterday at school.  Just got done painting then will put up this afternoon.  Take some pics when done to suprise YUZ GIZ?

  I will run trains later?

B good or B gone,

laz57