The pot of coffee is always on [even after 2 years have passed]. Come on in. Sweet ice tea too.

[1688torpedo]

Hello All!    Jim A- a Torpedo set at the train show for $150.00? If it was clean & in the same condition as my sets here at home. Then, it would have been a good buy & if any of the original boxes were present & the engine & cars had all of their original parts & free of rust,dents, & scratches that would have been Icing on the Cake.  Modeltrainlover- Do not worry about getting teased about toy trains although that may be hard to do. Like I said in a post about our hobby a few months ago that I would be willing to bet that at least 90% or more of those in prison most likely have/had no hobby or anything else to have fun with or look forward to every day & I still believe this. You do not have to apologize to anyone for enjoying your trains at all! There are other kids/teens on this forum you can associate with & that is the better way to go!  Dave V- nice post about your visit with John. He sure is a Jack of all Trades. If I had a layout it would probably be plywood painted green with the track laid out on it & a couple of trains to run on it. Good report though. Now your next mission is to help Laz find the elusive 800lb Bear & do a write up for CTT on the Bear's Cave Layout! Take Care all & Goooooooooood Night

[cooltech]

To the Philly Eagles  fans, (myself included; Over and Out!).

So I have the HO version of the Super Bowl edition. All cars represent teams that won the Super Bowl up to that yr; (I think it was "92" or so). Yup. Eagles car and other non Super Bowel teams available. I did buy the Eagles car.

cooltech

[ChiefEagles]

Jim F, go to drug store and buy an ear wax removal kit.  Use the drops, then blast them out with warm water using the rubber bulb.  I ahd my ears lanced so many times as a teen that I have knots of scar tissue in both ears.  This causes wax build up that can be removed as normal.  I do that once a month.  If not, I will suddenly get an ear stopped up.  "Peroxide" will boil it out too.  Not as good as the kit.  If you get all the wax out and it still hurts, you have fluid build up behind the drum.  Go to a different Dr. and get it fixed.

Had FIL and MIL over for homemade veggie/beef soup.  UMMM  Then went back upstairs and installed the light fixtures [two, one on each side of room with three mini-spotlights in each one].  Recleaned the room except for one small corner.  Had to do this as plaster dust got all over everything when I cut the holes in the ceiling.  Even some fogged into the other room.  Now finish painting trim and hang new blinds.  Then benchwork.  Good night gang.

[John Bakeer]

At 67 and a great granddad, I get teased at the pub about my love of trains. Like other correspondents find, these people are generally less than successful types.
You do not build and develope complex electrical and mechanical systems like model railroads without talent.
I wore spectacles from an early age (5) and suffered a lifetime of bullying and verbal cruelty.
This just made me determined to outperform my detractors (sport soon degenerates into a spectator persuit) and this I have done, I have outlived most of them as well.

[Jumijo]

Good morning everyone.

Chilly here today. It was 29 degrees when I drove in and highs in the low 40s expected throughout the week.

I've decided to take a vacation day tomorrow, so this will be my last day to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Please, let's not forget all that we are lucky enough to have. Be truly thankful.

Jim

[mitchelr]

 If I had a layout it would probably be plywood painted green with the track laid out on it & a couple of trains to run on it.

Green plywood beats being on your knees on the carpet any day.......  Speaking of carpet... Sounds like Chief may actually be to the point where he might start some benchwork  Of course, I've been reading this forum for quite a while and I think I've heard that song before.  IF the Chief does actually start building benchwork we are probably going to have a blizzard in July.

Parent conference were relatively calm, only one parent stormed in to see me after meeting with a teacher.  Today I have to meet with that teacher.  Fun, Fun, Fun.

My sister, BIL and my parents are still in FL waiting for the go ahead to travel across state lines with the baby.  Not looking good for approval before Thanksgiving.  Most courts and state agencies are shut down Thursday and Friday, and goodness knows they are not open on a weekend, so it appears it will be at least a week before they can head home.   I spoke to my sister twice in the last few days and her patience is wearing thin.  She just wants to get home.  They have been away 12 days now and it is getting to be a pain. Please keep them in your prayers.

Take care,

Mitch

[Jumijo]

Hello All!    Jim A- a Torpedo set at the train show for $150.00? If it was clean & in the same condition as my sets here at home. Then, it would have been a good buy & if any of the original boxes were present & the engine & cars had all of their original parts & free of rust,dents, & scratches that would have been Icing on the Cake. 

The Torpedo set was in very nice shape. No boxes. The set wasn't mint by any means. I guess I'd have to say it was in Exc- condition. Black loco and tender.

Also saw a green 0-4-0 Torpedo there.

Jim

[FJ and G]

Forgot to mention that the round that John used to kill 2 rabbits witth one shot was actually a shotgun shell loaded with grits.

All have nice thanksgiving.

Here's U.S. Army Soldiers in a Stryker combat vehicle stopping for a line of turkeys crossing the road in Mosul, Iraq, Nov. 3, 2006. The Soldiers are with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

I'm putting this up around noon tomorrow on the army.mil homepage (photo by SGT. ANTONIETA RICO)

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It a frosty, cold 30 degrees, but sunny. Clear blue skies. Going up to 45 today but sunny. That's better.

Today, I have to drive into Cambridge, for a few things. Other than that, it will be a relaxed day of daily duties. Maybe, this afternoon, I'll get an hour or so, to run trains and work a little on the layout.

Time for the Dining Car. Be back later.

Y'all have a great Tuesday.

Chuck

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is sunny and cold in SE Indiana with the temps climbing to near 50 today.  I was busy last night with a lot of little items to do, nothing noteworthy.  Lucas is getting involved in a drama club at school, and that keeps him busy on Monday afternoons.  My wife has been getting a lot of days as a subsitute teacher.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

  29 and cold this morning to get to 47.

All have agood one.

laz57

[Brutus]

Thanks Chief - had my wife run out and get me some drops/syringe bulb and worked on the ears some last night.  Have to work today, but will try again tonight.  I do think there is some pressure in the ear that is not from the wax and I told the NP that, but she thinks it's just wax.  I picked up the new Forbidden Planet dvd set that came with a little Robbie the Robot toy.  Somewhere I have a magazine from the 70's or 80's that showed how to make plaster molds for flying saucers using a piece of sheet metal and a spindle - then you use fiberglass to actually make the spaceship.  I think I might go dig that out and see if I can make a flying saucer for my layout someday....

[ChiefEagles]

Cold and windy [well cold for NC this time of the year].  Northeasterner  BURR.  May rain for the next 3 days.  

John Bakeer, great way to show them ole buddy.  Love reading your posts.  Different English and better than that garbage the Yanks speak. [especially those from New England]

Benchwork, better get the snow blowers out before July.

Hey, we can talk about the New England Yank all we want.  He will be without a computer for days.   Hope the library is closed all week for holiday.   He'll buy a computer one day.  Poor kids can't get decent reports for homework.  Whines he has to buy a new TV.  SQUEEK!!!    He did send me a nice book on PW Lionel.

Got to go to Lowes and pickup some 1X4's and a double light switch.  Wife wants me to go to mall with her.   Later

 

[phillyreading]

Chilly morning down here in south Florida!  Overnight may get to 41 degrees, hey I thought that south Florida would stay warm until a week or two near Christmas.   Makes me want to get my winter clothing out of the closets.

Last week I bragged about the warm weather now I can't do that this week. 

Did jaabat send me some cold weather?  If so please retrieve it Jim!   Us transplanted Floridians love our warm weather!

May have to fire up the heater, have only tested about two years ago and burned up the thermostsat, replaced the old thermstat and the heater worked fine.  Don't want to use the heater too much as FPL hits the wallet extremely hard!!

If things keep up the way it has gone the past year or so I will be moving to Georgia or North Carolina, can not afford home owner's insurance and high utility bills and high gasoline prices. Something has to give and I don't want to sell my trains.

Lee F.

[cnw1995]

Good morning from a cold and sunny Chicago where the temperature is supposed to go up into the 50s today with 60s tomorrow. What kind of weather is that? I was counting on the cold keeping me from having to rake the remaining leaves.  Just about finished Christmas shopping - or so I thought - until last night, when the bride says she has a list she wants to give me -- uh oh.

Modeltrainlover, it sure is hard to be teased or made fun of. Don't let it dissuade you from your likes or from being yourself. Try to be with other people. If it gets worse, go tell one of the teachers you like or your folks.

John Baker (remember he told us Bakeer is just a typo from registering), how is your hand doing? Have you finished your physical therapy?

Jim F, get one of those kits. They work for me. And if you use it semi-regularly, a couple of times a year, you shouldn't have any problems.

I want Jim A's job,  he's always taking time off

[Jumijo]

John Bakeer, great way to show them ole buddy.  Love reading your posts.  Different English and better than that garbage the Yanks speak. [especially those from New England]

How would you know? We can never get a word in edgewise!

Benchwork, better get the snow blowers out before July.

Glad to see it finally happening, Frank. You have a long stretch coming up with no travel. Make the most of it!

Hey, we can talk about the New England Yank all we want.  He will be without a computer for days.   Hope the library is closed all week for holiday.   He'll buy a computer one day.  Poor kids can't get decent reports for homework.  Whines he has to buy a new TV.  SQUEEK!!!    He did send me a nice book on PW Lionel.

Fire at will! The library will most likely be closed. They use any excuse.

No money for computers and TVs this time of year. Only trains and Victoria's Secret items! I have my priorities!

If you're going to buy post war, you should at least know what you're buying. Abe Lincoln, a GREAT YANKEE, said " . . . and malice towards none . . .". I'm just doing as Abe suggested.

Got to go to Lowes and pickup some 1X4's and a double light switch.  Wife wants me to go to mall with her.   Later

Tell your wife to go by herself. Who wears the pants in your family anyway?! Stop shopping and start building!

What weighs 3000 pounds and wears flowers in its hair?

A hippy-potomus.

[jefelectric]

Now finish painting trim and hang new blinds.  Then benchwork.  Good night gang.

The above is an actual quote from the Chief.

David,  I didn't know they had turkeys in Iraq, must say they are scrawny looking, not much of a Thanksgiving meal.

It was 31 this morning and to go down to 24 tonight, guess Winter is here.

Will be delivering Thanksgiving pies this afternoon.  Sold one to the Cool Trains owner so that gives me an excuse to stop in there.

[1688torpedo]

Hello All!   Jim A- Looks like Hippy-Potomus is the word of the day. I bet you didn't know that a Concubine is the wife of a Porcupine! The Chief needs a 1688 for his layout as a showpiece. Then his layout will have some class. Laz- Forgot to comment about your layout photo's- They look super & it looks like you have some fine trains to run on it also. You & John F. sure have excellent layout building skills to be sure. Mike C- Glad that Lucas is getting better all of the time now & doing well in school. Dave - Interesting photo of the Turkeys crossing the Road in Iraq. Looks like they were trying to re-create the famous Abby Road Picture on a Beattles Album. Take Care all.

[MartyE]

Off to Nebraska for the weekend.  Gotta a game on Friday to cover.  Sounds like this crew is less into editing half the night so we may actually get some Turkey on Thursday.  Hope everyone has a safe Thanksgiving.  Don't eat too much!

[laz 57]

Thanks KIETH,

  The first day of BEAR Season was yesterday and got a report on someone shooting a bear weighing 864 lbs.  Its an unconfirmed report but I hope it wasn't my bear.

laz57

[ChiefEagles]

Off to Nebraska for the weekend.  Gotta a game on Friday to cover.  Sounds like this crew is less into editing half the night so we may actually get some Turkey on Thursday.  Hope everyone has a safe Thanksgiving.  Don't eat too much!

Missed you by a week.  Just got back.  Windy and cool [but warm to their standards]. 

[Dr. John]

Sunny and cool in Prattville today. Much nicer than yesterday (wind, clouds and COLD!). My FIL arrived for a visit over Thanksgiving yesterday. He and I always get along well. I wish we could convince him to move up here from Mobile near us. The two older kids get in sometime today from Birmingham. It will be nice to have a full house for a few days.

I'm looking forward to starting the Christmas layout on Friday. Since I'll have a smaller space, I'm forgoing Fastrack and using either O-27 tubular (which I have by the box full) or with Realtrax (just enough on hand for a small layout). I'm leaning toward the Realtrax, simply because the roadbed will protect the engine mechanisms from any fuzz from the "snow" blanket. Now I've just got to figure where I put the Realtrax!

[Buckeye Riveter]

hey guys... I have a question for those of you who have been into the hobby scence your days in middle school or junor high. Have you ever been teased just because you like trains?

Just once by a guy that had an unfortunate accident when he ran into a 800# bear in Pennsylvania. 

See ya down the tracks.

[ChiefEagles]

GOT IT!!!!!!!!  The benchwork legs will be 24" high.  Got about  1" to screw in and out on the adjustment [using wide screw type adjusters like used to level desks and etc.].  Doing that to insure I get a good level as floor is covered with carpet.  This will give Pam's decorations tubs [17" tall] a little over 20" clearance for storage.  Another 1 1/2" with benchwork top and foam.  Can only get 1/2" foam in NC and it is $10+ per sheet = $20+ to make it 1" thick.  Now this height will allow for tall tunnel portals [I was figuring them too high] and room for the upper level with same tunnel portal heights.  This will get me through the walls on both sides of the walkin door.  Wind blowing hard [bad gusts] and raining as well as cold.  If it was not raining, I'd be cutting legs and framing this afternoon.   

Yanks, get out the snowblowers!!!!!!!!!!!!  

[wrmcclellan]

Well it may be getting mighty cold in some areas of the country but it is 70 degrees and sunny here .

Somewhat busy today with phone meetings and reports. Tomorrow will be quiet and time to relax.

LAZ - OMG - not the 864 lb bear!

 

[Dr. John]

GOT IT!!!!!!!!  The benchwork legs will be 24" high.  Got about  1" to screw in and out on the adjustment [using wide screw type adjusters like used to level desks and etc.].  Doing that to insure I get a good level as floor is covered with carpet.  This will give Pam's decorations tubs [17" tall] a little over 20" clearance for storage.  Another 1 1/2" with benchwork top and foam.  Can only get 1/2" foam in NC and it is $10+ per sheet = $20+ to make it 1" thick.  Now this height will allow for tall tunnel portals [I was figuring them too high] and room for the upper level with same tunnel portal heights.  This will get me through the walls on both sides of the walkin door.  Wind blowing hard [bad gusts] and raining as well as cold.  If it was not raining, I'd be cutting legs and framing this afternoon.   

Yanks, get out the snowblowers!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Truly, we are in the end times!

[dbaker48]

John & John (jefelectric & Baker)

The below website is the unit I have been using for audio conversion from analog to digital.  The price is $37, which is less than what I paid ($40).

http://www.adstech.com/products/RDX-150/intro/RDX-150_intro1.asp


Like most things their is a little to learn on it, but it works pretty well.  I have been satisfied.

edit..
I just clicked on the web site address above and it didn't work well, got an error message.  So the indirect method......   web site is: www.adstech.com
selecte Products
Scroll to the bottom of the page and the unit is the Instant Music, located in the center of the last row of items.
Hope this helps.

Got to go get ready to do a presentation tonight in Burbank.  Hopefully I can pick up some 2x4's before Thursday, and then be able to work on our temporary layout.  Going to the club tomorrow night and run some of the new inventory we picked up at Cal Stewart.  Will see...
Saw an interesting modification of a Beep last weekend.  It was modified with magnets so it could run upside down on a track suspended from the ceiling.  Cost for unit approx $110, including the Beep.  Might be interesting done with a small set of BEEFs with the PEEPs.   (maybe next year).

[Brutus]

Don - exactly how did they modify that thing?  I would have thought any magnet that would hold up a locomotive would also lock up the motor?!

Dr. John - I think that you are right and this is a sign of the end!  If so, then: Doug M - maybe the Cubs will win this year?!

Cold this morning but already in the 50's and supposed to be 62 on Thanksgiving.  If there is global warming, I want to thank you all and ask you to do your best to keep this going - it's great!

[dbaker48]

Jim,

This is the display that I saw.




The website is:

www.trainfacts.com

I suggest copy and paste the above address to your browser.
Then click on the highlighted area "MANCO novelty layout page" in the first paragraph

[Roger Bielen]

Don - I first saw this idea presented about a year, or more, ago.  It was by a gent on the other forum, sorry I don't remember his name, but he is strong on electronics. He's the type that disects all the new hardware to see what makes it tick.  He is somewhere on the west coast.  If your really interested in his name I could try to go over to the other side and see if I recognize his name.