Great looking kids, Jim!
John, it was the CTA, not my Metra. I have dodged all sorts of commuter problems this month (shootings in the downtown station, severe delays due to grade-crossing accidents, etc.) Just a bit south of here. The poor passengers had to climb down from the overhead. The CTA has suffered quite a few derailments over the past few months - just last week, they had to replace a major switch in the actual loop overnight - whilst running trains backward around the loop to avoid it. Mike, I teach a little lab class - on the side of my regular job as it were - for adults who are new to all this Internet technology - I tell lots of stories and we walk through everything together - mind you, they may be unfamiliar with technology but have the critical thinking skills their younger friends lack - a recent ETS survey shows youth are showered with technology but aren't quite as skilled as they are portrayed in the media. I too take a bit of a nostalgic approach to toy training. I'm in awe of those who can make their trains sing with the electronics but prefer to run them more traditionally.Happy Christmas to you all!
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Thor--
I can relate to your reflections on hi fidelity and radios. It was in the late '50's that my parents bought a Magnavox am/fm stereo w/record player, very basic stand alone unit but IMO at that time it was heaven on earth for me. I became a member of the RCA record club and my first purchase was the Glenn Miller recordings, 5 records in a white leather album, I still have it. I also bought all the Rafael Mendez albums, Al Hirt and some Tijuana Brass. I would grab my trumpet and memorize all the solo lick's and play along, little did I realize how that would impact my life as a musician. My only other purchase was a set of headphones with liquid filled ear pads so as not to bother anyone who didn't want to listen. When I work with kids today in a jazz situation I still tell them to go get the great recordings of Miles or Thelonius or Gene Krupa or Gerry Mulligan and borrow (steal) those ideas. I love CD's, so much easier than the old record players, no drop the needle and hope it works at measure 68, it does not have to be complicated.
Same thing with toy trains, I love being able to walk around the two train rooms with the DCS handheld, talk with our friends and run trains. I love it. I don't do many exotic things with the handheld, I should but I don't. When our little friends come over they really enjoy using the handheld and just honking the horn, changing direction or adjusting the speed. Nothing complicated at all.
Now our home surround system is another matter, way to complicated and WAY to many wires going everywhere but I gotta tell you, the sound is amazing. I built it from the ground up and it will rattle the windows, it's a good thing we live in the country with no neighbors But I do despise all the wires and the time it took me to set it up but that's the price I pay for enjoying music.
Life does not have to be complicated but one does have to work at it to keep it simple.
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
Wes Whitmore wrote: Yea, that's funny, and I used to know people with that in their front yard...Does Rogers Corner have a Zip code? W
Yea, that's funny, and I used to know people with that in their front yard...
Does Rogers Corner have a Zip code?
W
How can it have a Zip code? It doesn't even have a post office, but it does have an elevation.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Hello All! Don B. I e-mailed my Street Address for you to ship your 1688E my way. Details are there. Jim A- Nice Christmas Photo of your Kids & I hope you & your family have a Merry Christmas. I bet you would be surprised to find a Corvair disguised as a Batmobile in the Garage with a Large Red Ribbon tied around it on Christmas Morning. Chief- The Beaver's probably have Dynamite on order from the Local Supply House as revenge for your knocking down their Dam & they'll most likely hire "Crazy Harry" from the Muppetts to do the actual demolition. "Hee,Hee,Hee,Did somebody say Dynamite"? They'll make a Tunnel through your Walls alright! Since they are Smart Shopper's, they'll get more Bang for their Buck. Take Care all.
Evening to all.
LAZ - great find on the crane. I've been looking for one too. I've found none at twice that price.
Jim - great pictures of the shareholders on the Jumijo Railroad. What cute kids. What a great Christmas card.
John/jefelectric - sorry to hear about your FIL. That is never easy whenparents can't live on their own or care for themselves.
Chief - great progress on the layout. Keep the photos coming.
Don Baker - no wire list for me, but on my little layout, there's not too many wires any way. I'll be inerested to hear your experiences with the DVD Express DX2. Glad you got your ZW - CAB 1 gremlins straightened out.
Thor/jonadel/Doug - I try to keep up on technology but sometimes I feel like a Luddite compared to my 21 year old and his 23 year old cousin. Talking to them sometimes makes my head spin. Guess I might have to breakdown and get an iPod someday. I still have a stack of vinyl recording of live steam recordings and such. Thinking of buying a USB turntable to be able to listen to some of the vinyl againa nd convert to digital. My old turntable bit the dust about 10 years ago.
I've also been reading the posts about disposable DVD cameras with interest I hope someone will post their experience with this item.
Well, enough rambling tonight.
Take care,
Mitch
Bob Mitchell Gettysburg, PA TCA # 98-47956 LCCA# RM22839
Well hope everyone is having a great week. Vacation starts tomorrow evening when I step off the plane. Here in San Diego covering the Poinsettia Bowl. I think if you count us there are maybe a 100 folks here. Well Chief...BIG CHAIR all the way home! Can't wait to run some trains...no guests, no company, just me.
Take care everyone!
Trying to update my avatar since 2020
MartyE and Kodi the Husky Dog! ( 3/31/90-9/28/04 ) www.MartyE.com My O Gauge Web Page and Home of Kodiak Junction!
HI GIZ,
Way to go CHIEF on the progress. I too just ran a 15 amp breaker for my new layout had extension cords running around much better now.
All have a good nite. 2.5 days till my vacation time.
laz57
Thor - I used ot keep up with all the computer stuff, programmed in machine language on the old Apple IIe, Basic on the Apple and also on the TI99/4a (I think that's what it was), then Powerbaseic on an XT, followed by Turbo C, then C++, then Visual Basic, as computers became more powerful, and now I barely know where to get started! It's all changed so much in the past 10 years that all the near/far/hug pointer stuff is useless and they change windows so often, and added so much internet junk, that I just lost interest. Now, I just use the computer and complain when They didn't do it Right!
Jim A - Merry Christmas to you and your family, and to all of the Pot-ers! Mitch, forgot to say nice pic - I won't call you gramps, they got me when I posted a pic of my friends' kid! Good joke for my friends when I told them I was their dad! Chief - you sure are knocking out that layout - I guess you planned your work and now you're working your plan, as an old teacher of mine used to say. I'm thinking of running a separate breaker for my layout in the basement, once I get the rest of the basement wired. Laz - cool crane and what a great deal! Don - I'd be interested to hear about your dvd experiment as well. You might want to check out http://www.videohelp.com/. I found out how to make my dvd player region free from those guys and they have tons of information and codes. Don - I'm labeling wiring for my whole basement right now so later I'll know where it all went wrong! Gotta be a good idea. John (jefelectric) - hope everybody is doing okay today, tough to have to deal with longterm care issues for loved ones. God bless your FIL and family. Doug M - have a great trip to New York City! No DougdaGrump today, or did I miss it? Hope all is well in sunny Cal. Dr. John and John csxt30, really impressed with your work on recent layouts - that grass looks great! Buckeye - Rogers Corners is attracting all sorts, I see - better make sure the local law enforcement has their bullet in their pocket, just in case someone releases a bunch of beavers! Everybody else - sorry, it's just too much to keep up!
Won 2 more 3461's on ebay for about $30 each. Told my wife. Still breathing, so I guess it was okay. Ebay just told me I got outbid on another one - better let it go though! The same guy is bidding against me on this one and I guess he deserves to win one, at least I won't bid on it anymore. Trainz and Mr. Sherwood are getting all my allowance money!
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Good evening everyone,
Very busy day here. Lots of things to do with school before the holiday. Seems teachers crowd stuff on us before holidays.
Did anyone check out my Norfolk Southern link? I like what they did with it this year.
Well, off to watch Law and Order.
Good evening,
Cooler today but still nice.
Stepsister stopped in to see the doolhouse and I had to run trains for her. She hadn't seen the layout addition and really enjoyed the show.
Rich, to the coffee pot.
Jim Fortner, Thanks for your concern. It is tuff because his memory is getting worse every day. Difficult to hold a converstation.
Started installing TMCC in my scale GG-1 this afternoon. Got all the electonics (electronic E unit & horn/bell) removed. New speaker and programing switch installed and slightly modified the TMCC MB to make it all fit. Even though the GG-1 is a big engine it is a tight fit due to the way the motors are spaced out. Not enough room between motors. I am installing it between the headlight and the front motor. Will have to extend a lot of the wiring as the wires on the supplied connectors will not be long enough to reach anything but the headlight and front motor. I am not going to install electrocouplers as I will be running it as a passenger engine and rarely uncouple them. Can always add them later if I change my mind. Hope to finish it tomorrow.
Good night.
I'm in South tonight. I found an Italian restaurant for supper and I looked and looked at the menu, but there were no grits to be found. They also did not have rot gut beer or moonshine.
Wes, are you sure you are from Central Ohio? Sometime take a drive east along Morse Road. I don't think you can miss Roger's Corners if you look for the silo.
I generally don't go much more east than Easton, and I don't do that much anymore...I'll find you!
Wes
Oh Boy !! The highlight of my vacation tonight !! I got to talk to Jim on the phone tonight !! What a great guy he is also, from the forum here !! I don't mind telling you guys, this sure is a great thing, & what a joy to know all of you ! ! The trains without the forum here wouldn't be as much fun !!
Oh, Colin : I watched the N&S video you put up there & thanks, it's very good !! The end picture is really nice !!
Glad The Chief is really running trains now !! I can't wait to see the portholes & track through the walls !! Hurry up Chief !! Oh, & pass the popcorn !!
Well, talk more tomorrow !!
Thanks, John
Wes Whitmore wrote: I generally don't go much more east than Easton, and I don't do that much anymore...I'll find you! Wes
We are past Easton, but while you are at Easton, check out the outdoor train layout.
Well, worked late night. Earlier today I built the "power center". It is under the section I am adding. Left top off of section so work will be easier. Went ahead and wired the breaker panel and transforemer outlet. Fed from a 240 breaker in panel in walkin attic and to outlet in wall under benchwork. This is then fed from a 4 pole twist lock outlet to the breaker panel. First breaker is transformer power. The other will be general outlets under the benchwork edge for powering tools or solder gun. More on "Stop the Chief" thread.
Just got home, a bit late but a wonderful evening. Worked the Blenders show for 1900 happy concert goers. If you enjoy Manheim Steamroller and their approach you might enjoy the Blenders also. A wonderful quartet of guys in their mid+ 30's who know how to vocalize, I'm sure you can find their CD's at Amazon or a Best Buy. Another plus is that they are from the mid west so they are certainly not pretentious.
Found this in my email today and thought you might enjoy. It surfaces every year at this time and what I like best about it, it's OK for kids and our friends to the south of the Mason Dixon Line.
http://www.ruthann1.com/RedneckChristmas.htm
Just about time for bed.
0700 GMT here in a frosty dark Stockport.
Roy, 5,000 years ago we were making things of iron, the bronze/copper age was several thousand years earlier, if there was any human activity in Texas? They would have been just getting round to stone. Sorry! Just couldn't let that one by.
Thor, oh! how I know where you're coming from. Internal audit sent me a memo in 1995 asking "why I had authorised a contractors claim for extra works on xy date in 1991?" I replied, "I'm not sure but , if you can tell me precisely what you did on that same date? It may jog my memory". He never wrote to me again . It was then that I decided I'd had enough of local government with its administrators recruited from the ranks of the NO men, and took early retirement a year later. I recollect that I spent half my time filling in useless forms and circumventing their idiotic rules.
Computers; Back in 1971, I took an Open University course on pneumatic logic circuits, managed to avoid too great an involvement with them until 1996, at the age of 58 went to college and got qualified. No use for it now, except it has opened up the world for me. imagine running this forum using snail mail?
Talk about platting fog! Sent an e-mail to Lionel asking what the electrical supply requirements are at the rail and at the controller, in order that I can obtain an appropriate transformer/rectifier. Answer 110 volt 60 cycles AC. I know that is the standard US domestic supply. It's like saying I require some whatsits from you, but you will have to guess as to how big, how heavy and how many. Can any one enlighten me please?
NIHIL DICE.
John Baker
John Bakeer wrote: 0700 GMT here in a frosty dark Stockport.Roy, 5,000 years ago we were making things of iron, the bronze/copper age was several thousand years earlier, if there was any human activity in Texas? They would have been just getting round to stone. Sorry! Just couldn't let that one by.Thor, oh! how I know where you're coming from. Internal audit sent me a memo in 1995 asking "why I had authorised a contractors claim for extra works on xy date in 1991?" I replied, "I'm not sure but , if you can tell me precisely what you did on that same date? It may jog my memory". He never wrote to me again . It was then that I decided I'd had enough of local government with its administrators recruited from the ranks of the NO men, and took early retirement a year later. I recollect that I spent half my time filling in useless forms and circumventing their idiotic rules.Computers; Back in 1971, I took an Open University course on pneumatic logic circuits, managed to avoid too great an involvement with them until 1996, at the age of 58 went to college and got qualified. No use for it now, except it has opened up the world for me. imagine running this forum using snail mail?Talk about platting fog! Sent an e-mail to Lionel asking what the electrical supply requirements are at the rail and at the controller, in order that I can obtain an appropriate transformer/rectifier. Answer 110 volt 60 cycles AC. I know that is the standard US domestic supply. It's like saying I require some whatsits from you, but you will have to guess as to how big, how heavy and how many. Can any one enlighten me please?NIHIL DICE.
0730 GMT in a similar dark and frosty Peterborough.
John, First off to get 110V 60 cycles (also known as Hz) AC. The simplest way is use the following two items.
http://www.amperordirect.co.uk/products/300W-12v_Power_Supply.asp
http://www.invertersrus.com/inv300ps.html
Basicy the first item (Amperor power supply)takes our 240V 50Hz AC and turns it into 12V DC at 25 Amps.
The second item is a 300 Watt 110V 60Hz AC Pure sine inverter. This takes the 12V DC supply and changes it to 110V 60Hz AC (The pure sine type of inverter produces power of the same or better quality than a US wall outlet). This setup will allow you to run up to 300 Watts of American 60Hz equipment.
I wrote a article for the Lionel Collectors Club UK news letter on how to use this setup. If you would like a copy I could email it to you.
Regards
Nick
Thanks Nick,
Looks like this could be the answer to the maidens prayer.
With Apologies;
A large American lady is in Edinburgh (Scotland) and is waiiting to cross Princess Street at a pedestrian crossing, the lights change and a mechanical voice says "The traffic on Princess Street is now stopped". She asks a bystander "why does the crossing talk"? "It's to help the blind" comes the reply. The lady responds "Gee in the States they don't allow blind people to drive".
Good morning, everyone.
I called John last night and he didn't even hang up on me! Seriously, it was a pleasure talking with you, John. I could have talked all night, but the rooster crows early in the morning at my house! Thank you again for the beacon tower parts. Our Marx beacon now shines brightly over our Christmas rug layout.
I took apart my $30.00 2056 last night to clean and repair it. I straightended a bent rod going into the steam chest, and added some missing parts to the drive rods. It's clean now and has a new set of brushes. Still needs to be lubed and tested. Didn't seem too difficult, but then again, I haven't tried running it yet! Thanks again to the Chief for showing me how to take it apart and work on it!
We ran the Polar Express for a while last night and it was smoking up a storm! We also ran our K-Line holiday train with beacon tower a blazin!
Time for some tea and pie. Have a great day, everyone.
Jim
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
Good Morning from Blueberryhill....
It is a frosty, yet sunny 21 degrees here. Going up to a sunny 53. That makes for a nice day.
Today, is grocery shopping day. The stores are getting crazy with Holiday shoppers. Have to drive into Cambridge and make a few stops. Now, gas is cheaper, again , there, as compared to Caldwell. Still over 2 bucks a gallon.
I am hoping to get down to the train room and run trains, in the next couple of days. Need to put the town back together.
There's the call for the Dining Car. Breakfast.
Y'all have a great Wednesday.
Chuck
Buckeye Riveter wrote: John, if you want to make your park look like Roseyville, you need to find an old beat up model car, tear the tires off of the wheels and set it up on scale concrete blocks. Some old scale 55 gal drums with oil leaking out of them would be a nice touch to the scene. A couple bums sleeping in the park would add a human touch. Also a mugger in the bushes, would..........no, I have a better idea. You need a pond, with beavers and a guy on shore shooting at them.
John, if you want to make your park look like Roseyville, you need to find an old beat up model car, tear the tires off of the wheels and set it up on scale concrete blocks. Some old scale 55 gal drums with oil leaking out of them would be a nice touch to the scene. A couple bums sleeping in the park would add a human touch. Also a mugger in the bushes, would..........no, I have a better idea. You need a pond, with beavers and a guy on shore shooting at them.
Good Morning Everyone !! Glad Jim got his beacon light working now !! The trains need that protection from the aircraft landing in the area !!
Buckeye : I'm working on getting the Roseyville Park up to snuff !! They are delivering trees now & more supplies will be arriving !!
Hope all have a nice day !!
Morning. Up early for a late night. Want to get more done before doing errands. What happened? The Yanks left the door open. 39 right now. Lots cooler today. Jerry from Miss Edna's is in the hospital. Stroke or aneurism. Will try to go see him today. Hope all have a good one.
22 and a bit frosty tis morn. Had to scrape windshield.
Santas Workshop is a buzz right now kidos trying to get their projects done for Christmas. Some will most won't. Lots o work and kids are eating up the wood like the CHIEF is doing his benchwork.
All have a good one.
Good morning all,
It is cloudy and colder than I expected today with a forecasted high in the 50s, but I do not believe it will reach that high. Dr. John, I see my family is not the only one with "adopted" kids. We got to see our "third" daughter and her family last night as well. They live in Minnesota so we only see them once a year. Chief, I like your benchwork. CNW1995, I am glad all the transportation events in Chicago have not delayed you too often. To our posters across the "pond", I enjoy your comments and do not envy your electrical issues. Thor and others, I understand what you mean about the pace of technology advancements. Some of it is good, but sometimes it does get to be mind-boggling. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
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