2009 Coffee Pot. Here we gather with friends with trains for chats, 4 years of coffee and sweet ice tea.

[wrmcclellan]

Evening all!

Chilly here - low 20's tonight. Warming nicely for the weekend - 60's.

Doug - one of my employees is in Schaumburg tonight for a meeting in the morning - did I hear -50 with the wnd chill???

Son's HS JV soccer team won their first game tonight 1-0. He is a forward - but only got 10 min on the field this game. Tournament this weekend.

Absolute miracle about that plane in the Hudson in NYC.

Hope everyone has a great day tomorrow!

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Good Morning from cold (5°F) Southern Ohio

Thanks for the comments about the crane/signal tower choice.  I think I’ll use the tower and move it away from the switch.  I was using an existing hole for the wire but I’m going to drill a new hole and plant a bush in the old hole.

Prayers of thanksgiving for the folks on the plane and for the pilot.

I got the log loader stripped and primed yesterday.  So good so far.  Now finding the right shade of green with out paying $18 a can.  I may try and mix my own and use the airbrush.

Got to go

May God bless

Jim

 

[kpolak]

jonadel

   There's kind of a neat old "Mr. Wizard" experiment  for your kids if it's cold enough--take a coffee cup and fill it with water and micro wave it until it boils, immediately take it outside throw the water high into the air---your kids will love it.  How many of you remember Mr. Wizard?  I think I just dated myself :) 

I remember.  I'm doin' it!  Coffee huh...May need 2-pots today.  -4 here.

Brent:  If that Bonzai tree dies save it...cover it in matt medium and wet water, and install it on the layout!  I've been trying to find one or two of those, but they're too expensive.  I'm 0 for 4 with Bonzai here.  Rolls of film???  Are they inside these disposable camera thingies??

I was planning to take the kiddies to the Auto Show...but too cold.  I read just about everything on ballasting...Ballast last....Ballast first....

My experience has led me to conclude:

1. Lay down some paint color, and earth, sand or gravel material, matt meduim, extend past ballasting area, so the ballast partially covers it.  Let dry.
2. Install the ballast, Matt medium.  Let dry.
3. Add grass color, dust off the areas where you don't want the grass to be, and matt medium it in place.
4. Fini.

Kurt

[mitchelr]

Morning to all.  Been very busy trying to get caught up on the forum with the switch to the new pot.  

Condolences to Bob Keller on the loss of his pet.  It is always very tough to lose a furry friend. 

Congrats to Buckeye the new Grandpa.

Got to get going.  Brrr. It is cold here about 8 degrees.

Take care,

Mitch

[Wes Whitmore]

My first ballasting xperience wasn't great. I used the water/glue in a medicine dropper dropping the liquid onto the ballast. It worked its way down through the ballast, and continues to soak up into my grass mat. When it dried, you could still see where the extra water soaked into the mat. I guess I used too much! I should be able to hide it with more ground cover. It cold outside. Said -16 in my car thermometer. Wes

[rtraincollector]

Sturgeon-Phish

Good Morning from cold (5°F) Southern Ohio

Thanks for the comments about the crane/signal tower choice.  I think I’ll use the tower and move it away from the switch.  I was using an existing hole for the wire but I’m going to drill a new hole and plant a bush in the old hole.

Prayers of thanksgiving for the folks on the plane and for the pilot.

I got the log loader stripped and primed yesterday.  So good so far.  Now finding the right shade of green with out paying $18 a can.  I may try and mix my own and use the airbrush.

Got to go

May God bless

Jim

 

Jim if its the same shade as the base to the gateman I think I have a unopen can it was either that or the cattle coral. If you want can send your way just have to dig it up give me till tonight to find it ( I'm off today good prodject for today lol)

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It has been a long time since I have been able to do this, but IIASBDISEI with temps in the positive single digits today.  Yesterday was first day back to "regular" work this week and of course everything went to h--- in a handbasket.  Today did not start off well as carpool person called me at 6 AM to say she was taking a personal day.  Did I mention it was her turn to drive?  Did I mention that was looking forward to an extra hour of snooze time on the way to work?  Did I mention she never gave me a hint yesterday that she might not be in today?  At least there are not many people here today, and I may actually get something accomplished.  Also, there is the three day weekend waiting for me.  That is truly remarkable about that landing in New York yesterday.  I did the YMCA routine last night.  I am now up to six or seven touches on a set of juggles.  Roy, congrats on your son's win and playing time.  I had bran muffins on the dining car this morning.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Northwoods Flyer]

Frigid greetings from Wisconsin this morning.  It is -22 (-20 yesterday at this time) degrees on my deck this morning and there is a breeze, bringing the wind chill to -35.  And from the weather forecast this morning its colder in some of the surrounding communities.  This is the coldest snap we have had in 10 years or more.  Schools are closed and many area activities are cancelled. Milwaukee schools are closed and they almost never close.  Even the local ski hill has been closed periodically over the last few days.  This is why I love Wisconsin.  The weather actually gives you excuses to stay buttoned up inside for long periods at a time - and that means I don't need an excuse to spend time with trains.  See there is a silver lining to every frigid dark cloud.

For those of you who are experiencing unusual cold weather - remember it could be worse.

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

 

[MartyE]

 -7 here in PIT.  Kids are off from school.  I'll spend some time in the basement working out and running trains.  Went through all my catalogs yesterday to organize a bit.  WOW do I have a collection going back 20 years or so.

It can stay cold here though because Monday I head down to Tampa for the big game.  I'll be there til the 3rd.  I don't care who plays just get it done fast.  

There goes the furnace again...

[anjdevil2]

Morning from SUNNY Florida - a 30 degree Florida that is.....up to 48 (HMMM JERSEY weather!)

Just shows what professionals can do in a crisis...Later on water is no piece of cake, but without tipping the wings and getting it in belly first...WOW!!! Congrats the pilot and co-pilot...both must have angels flying with them.  Good job saving all 155 on board!

Well, I see tomorrow will be 17 in the am then up to 53 Saturday.  I think I'll be working at the LTS tomorrow.  I was suppose to go on a bike ride, but I'm not that tough...sorry!

Basketball game was ok (Girls teams JV won 50 to 28, Varsity lost by 5), I was reading that OTHER magazine until my daughter danced, then hit the road.  Had a nice meal of burgers and McNuggets when going to the game.  Since there is no school today (a planned day off) and none on Monday, I'll get to sleep in a bit.  Those 5AM wake up calls >ugh<! Sleep until 6:45 today and Monday.  Plan on working on the layout, need some self time for a while.

88 - for Susie-Q on the job front, been there done that (Mrs Devil still looking for a better paying job..$9/hr just ain't cutting it)

Sorry if I missed anything - I catch up later Meeting at 10 to cut costs - more fun in the offing!

Stay warm and safe!

[ChiefEagles]

16 was the low.  27 for high today.  Calling for 9 tomorrow morning.   34 for high tomorrow and 20 Sunday morning and balmy 40 for Sunday.  You Yanks have the reputation of being rude.  Why are you being so nice and sharing your COLD temps?

A few errands to run and then Burg and I are off to the lake house until Monday.

Later. 

[cnw1995]

My goodness, I haven't been this cold after walking across the Loop in years and years. Ri-di-cu-lous.  -10 actual  - with the 'breeze', I don't want to guess at how cold it feels like... so Roy, your friend is right about the temps in Schaumburg - even colder away from that big hot-water bottle of Lake Michigan. The Chicago river is frozen and looking 'out to sea', the lake looks like the North Pole - all broken icebergs and snow.

Chief, after a broken window this summer (someone shot it out whilst we were on vacation), it's been quiet.

Jim Stur-Fish, I love that crane and vote to see it anywhere on the layout...

Brutus, those beer bottles stayed 'upright' as they shattered. A sad sight - of course froze to the cabinet top, but I could gather them up in the box, play taps, salute, and send them on their way...

Jon, I love Mr. Wizard too - never saw him 'live' on TV though.

Kurt, how do you keep ballast from coming loose? I tried 'wet' water, matte medium... finally, I've given up on loose ballast and use underlay cut from roof shingles.

Brent, cut flowers... that reminds me...

Have to watch Taylor's video with Bob again to feel all nice and warm - about tinplate, that is.

[laz 57]

HI GYZ,

  We are warmer then YUZ GYZ at 2 degrees.  And yes we did have school today.  Went down to WAYNEs with BROTHER last nite.  It was his first nite out since his wifes death.  He's starting to do much better, for he started back at school teaching agin yesterday.

TONITE I"M a RUNNING TRAINS!!!!  Then watching BARRET JACKSON.  We watched it down at the bar whist having WINGs and YUENGs.  FIFE tipped one for you.

Stay FROSTY,

laz57

[Ole Timer]

Where are those guys with those global warming ideas .... surely not in Maryland !  It may be getting warmer at the north pole .. but good lord keep the frigid cold up there ... don't share it with the rest of us ! It's playing the devil with my ills and pains .... I was thinking of moving to Florida .... but South America is looking better all the time ... LOL . Hey Chief ... you'l probably need ice skates at the lake house ... and thick wooly long johns .... Brrrrrrr  One of my sons moved back temporarily ....   ... again .... wife threw me out of my train construction room for him .... can't we ever get rid of them ??????? 

[dwiemer]

Just trying to stop in and catch up on the pot.  Seems we have another Buckeye to the ranks of train afficianotos.  Congratulations grandpa!  Hope you get him something great. 

Been real busy this week.  Got home last night for the first time this week while it was still light out.  Lots of surgery and all kinds of folks to work on.  When I leave today, I am taking the family up to Columbus for dinner with some dear friends.  We all have our collective birthdays within a few days of each other and so we celebrate once a year.  There is a "HobbyTown" up that way, so we shall see if they have anything worth looking at.

Jim, I think the switch tower is the way to go on that spot.  Just doesn't make sense for the crane as no industry or sidings to service.

Well, gotta run.  Hope everyone has a blessed weekend.

Dennis

[sir james I]

GGGood MMMorning All

Like most of our northern brothern,cold. New record set at Detroit Metro airport -13. We were told last nite to expect -5. Still have one more real cold nite to go,for now. We have sun this morning but 7 degrees is suppose to be it  for today, 19 tomorrow.

A very  good day to stay inside and run some trains or read OGR,CTT  is done. I'll wait till this afternoon to start and run the Ranger for awhile. not going anywhere. Have a good one...S.J.

[phillyreading]

Good Morning,

It got into the low 50's here in south Florida near West Palm Beach, about 60 miles north of Miami FL. My theory has yet to be tested or confirmed but I beleive that NASA is responsible for messing up the weather at the north & south poles. Have you ever seen how much smoke and other pollution is put out by one rocket being launched? What have we gained in comparison to the cost of the NASA program?

Waiting for next saturday to go to train show in Pompano FL, north Broward County at the Amtrac station.

Lee F.

[kpolak]

cnw1995

  Kurt, how do you keep ballast from coming loose? I tried 'wet' water, matte medium... finally, I've given up on loose ballast and use underlay cut from roof shingles. 

Doug:  I used the Dave Frary recipe: 

1. Matte Medium Bonding Solution = 3 parts wet water + 1 part acrylic matte medium, and let sit for a week (+/-).  This stuff set like a rock, and doesn't have a haze.  I found the matte medium in the artist paints department at Michael's.  I used a pipette (dropper from a painting kit) and soaked the ballast, and sand.  I'll look for a mustard bottle or hair color bottle next time, and tint the bonding medium.

• Wet Water = 32 oz water and 2 tsp dish soap (I used Dawn).

For some reason I have a hankerin' for some hot wings....HHhhmmmm.

Lee:  Don't put the ki-bosh on the Nasa Program yet....I told my kids we could go see one of those thing go off...A dream of mine too.  I'm paying for it, I should be able to go see one rocket go off.

Kurt

[phillyreading]

Kurt,

I am not putting the ki-bosh on the NASA program but just trying to give some responsibilty where it belongs. Ever stop & wonder how can one little spray paint can hurt the ozone layer like it is claimed?  Also don't get me to mention any NASA jokes as they are really cude ones I have heard.

Lee F.

[sir james I]

Kurt, I used 50/50 water and white glue with a drop of dish soap. Sprayed a little water first and used an eyedropper. The wet spray drew the glue mixture in and dried overnite. Next to nothing $$ investment and it will scrape off clean if you want to  change something.

[RRCharlie]

32 this morning in my neck of the woods in South Georgia (Jacksonville, FL). Cold nights through until at least Sunday morning. I have stuff on order at my LTS that Lionel has shipped but Dave's distributor hasn't sent yet. Can't wait to spend more money!! (on trains)  On another matter, one of my two front teeth broke off Tuesday night, Dentist appointment, next Tuesday! I'm guessing my mouth will be declared a dental disaster area (not elgible for Federal or State funds though). I desperately need to find some ambition to run trains.

[anjdevil2]

Lee,

FYI, The ozone hole, just like "global warming" is BS.  There are many many things we have gotten from space flight, velcro is one example.  The computers in your cars are directly affected by the space program.  Advances in digital technolgy and computers in particular, makes products cheaper.  IC boards needed to be smalller and lighter - space program.  Carbon Fiber - space program.  Anything that has affected out daily lives has probably come from NASA and it's scientific programs and human space flight is just one part of it.  And that spray can thing - nonsense.  The hole in the ozone can be tied directly to changes in weather over recorded history.  Man cannot affect so much change in 50 years.  If you believe man can do that much harm to this planet since the industrial revolution, then I say, what happened in 1776 during the mini-Ice Age?  We are far too reactionary to the lies some people tell.

HEY I just got my 8040 Lionel engine and tender.  Test drive it tonight!!!  WOOHOO (a steal @ $20!)

now where am I going to put this thing.....

EDIT:

Kurt - I've been to a daytime shuttle launch WOW!!  Thunder!! SMOKE!!!  Impressive!!  Ya gotta go before they cease shuttle operations!!!  If only I were there to see the Saturn V for the moon missions!!
On a clear night, you can see the shuttle in the South Eastern sky.  Sometimes on a clear day you can see it from here as well.  If you ever have the oppportunity, it is a must see!

[dadurling]

 Woke up to relatively warm temps here in Southern Coastal Maine this morning: only 10 below. Looks like all kinds of record lows throughout New England though, almost 30 below in places.

[LawsonFarmsRR]

I am new to the forum, and this thread, but have followed it for some time.

I hope my joining and posting doesn't cause the system to crash again.

I don't see the weather covered here in central VA - it is 20 degrees today at noon. Cold for us but not cold compared to you all in (southern pun intended) IL, OH and IA.

Let me introduce myself. If this gets boring, just scroll down past it. I am a retired Fed. employee (thank you all for providing my retirement check) and have a small cattle farm. Finally got away from the Washington D. C. mess. Definitely wouldn't want to be trying to get into DC the next few days because of the Inauguration. 2 million people, all roads inside the belt way closed, temperatures in the 15-25 degree range.

I am one of the few model train people that didn't have a toy train as a kid. My dad was a civil engineer and kept me supplied with Erector sets. I started with trains 10 years ago. That probably explains why I am a MTH operator. I like Lionel trains, but have the MTH DCS control system and don't want to mix them.

Since we don't have a basement or a spare bedroom, I brought in a 12' X 24' prefab building for my train room, spending the first year wiring, insulating dry walling and constructing the bench work. When I am not working the cows or managing our web site, you can find me in the train building.

For those of you that stayed with this, I promise not to ramble on so in future posts.

Patrick L

LawsonFarmsRR

[rtraincollector]

Welcome Patrick. I know of Culpepper, VA but can't place it at the moment as I lived there in VA for about a 1/4 of my life. Mostly in the Norfolk/VA.Beach area but did do about 5 years up in the middle peninsula area near Deltaville.

Hey all not to much going on today as just a cool day here in SC about freezing mark so thats cold for here lol. Have fire in Fireplace going in fact had it going befor other half got up so it would be warm in there for her TV watching lol.

[Blueberryhill RR]

Just received a call on the security phone from Buckeye......

He is presently on a secret raiding mission in the South. If you have access to a radar screen, you can spot him in the NC area. He will be doing a search of the Roseyville area, since the Mayor will not be home , supposedly, this weekend. Many plans are coming into place.

More to follow, later.

Chuck

[LawsonFarmsRR]

RT -  My first response. Thank you. Culpeper VA is between Richmond and Charlottesville. We did the Southern Christmas Show for 15 years, not model trains, but our Sheepskin stuff.

 

RRCharlie - Running trains is known to releave toothache, or at least you forget about it for awhile! Also good for distracting you from politics, your stock prices, cost of food, auto repair costs, Etc. Running trains is so good for you it is a wonder you don't need a prescription to run them.

[sir james I]

It's  the holes those rockets are punching in the sky that's letting all the heat out.

Welcome Patrick, I have relatives in Waynesboro and Staunton, love the Blue Ridge.

[sir james I]

Good Evening All

What no threads? Maybe everything is froze from the zero temps.  Oh well no trains today but waiting for the Tardis banilla in hand..S.J.

[dwiemer]

good evening all.  Welcome to the pot!  it is a nice place to come and chat with mostly like minded folks.

Chief, LOOK OUT!  Sounds like the Yankee horde is on the way.

Well, went to Columbus for dinner with some friends.  Was very nice to see them.  The guy is someone I had worked with in the past.  Before I had met him, he was a officer in the Army during Vietnam.   Had a recon platoon and his biggest claim to fame is that none of his guys got killed under his watch.  Has a drawer full of medals, but as I said, keeps them in a drawer. 

We were going to go back to their house for a little while, glad we didn't.  Upon return to our house, daughter went to the bathroom and vomitted.  She seems better now, but it could have been bad. 
Wife wants me to have tomorrow to do what I want as I have been working without a day off since Dec. 20th.  Planning on some serious layout work.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Dennis