Good morning, everyone.
Some snow flurries on my drive in today, but should be nothing.
We put the Polar Express and K-Line Christmas train away last night. Then the tracks were wiped clean with alcohol. Since wifey was home, I didn't actually run any trains. But the kids and I did watch a great video on Dick Kuhn's layouts. Then I sort of had to watch On Golden Pond with my wife.
Time for breakfast. Have a nice day, all!
Jim
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Good Morning from Blueberryhill....
It is a cloudy 33 degrees. The sun looks like it's trying to come out. Going up to only 43 today with some sunshine.
Today is a day that I would like to spend some time in the train room. I want to run trains and do some work on the layout. Still pondering a few ideas on the bridge installation, but I think it will come out good. I can't run 2 main lines thru it , but maybe a main line and a siding.
Well, the call from the Dining Car is heard. Breakfast. Later.
Y'all have a great Wednesday.
Chuck
I got $150.00 in Christmas money that I'm not sure what to do with. I see that Williams is offering their GG1s for $149.00. I kinda like the green ones, but I'm not sure I want to buy one. Besides, the last 2 Williams engines I bought had issues that needed warranty work.
Lisa-n-NC wrote: Don't really want to change track -not sure if I can return the loco or not - The little train shop in my town doesn't stock O scale right now and the guy ordered it for my husband. I had NO IDEA that the SD50 was so big!! I really don't which way to go. As I said - I'm new at this.Thanks for your reply!Lisa
Don't really want to change track -not sure if I can return the loco or not - The little train shop in my town doesn't stock O scale right now and the guy ordered it for my husband. I had NO IDEA that the SD50 was so big!! I really don't which way to go. As I said - I'm new at this.
Thanks for your reply!
Lisa
Lisa, One thing about a layout, it is never really finished. You may want to hold onto the SD50 given the circumstances. What you could do for the time being, if it does not make the curves, is put it on display, and get a relatively less expensive diesel locomotive. Also, get a more powerful transformer. If you are going to endure in this hobby, don't worry about getting everything at once. Get the transformer, make sure it is powerful enough for you to "step up" with regard to your layout. Then, as your layout and collection expand, you will eventually have enough room for tracks to run that SD50. Good luck and please return often, some real good people here.
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Good Morning from cloudy and cooler Central PA.
Grandson and I got the new track arrangement done. Now to get it all rewired. DIL served notice on grandson that he has barn work to do first this morning, so I have been doing the top of layout wiring that I can till he arrives.
Will need some scenery adjustments to conform the new track arrangements, but will take my time with that, good time to work in any changes I may want to make.
I looks like everyone had a good Christmas. Will wait till Jan 1 to take things down as we are having friends over for New Years Eve.
Went to an extended family get together last evening. My Father remarried after my mother passed away and I gained 5 sisters and 2 brothers in addition to the one sister that I had before. Makes for a large family gathering.
The forum has really picked up in activity lately, takes a while to catch up between times on line.
Well back to wiring.
Dr. John wrote: Good morning from frosty Alabama! I must have scraped an inch of ice off my windshield this AM! Glad that's a rare occurence down here!
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
Nice day here. I just took a walk outside to do a weather check.
Feeling like crud today. Achey, chill-ish. Coughing like a 4-pack-a-day smoker. Gotta love winter! And to top it off, I can't find any decent naughty photos of Miss Nevada on-line!!! What a world! Maybe running trains tonight will improve my spirits if not my condition.
All be well.
Good Afternoon Everyone !! Was simply exhausted yesterday after work, & being off for 11 days. I don't think I'll take that many days off in a row again !! Ok today, just a few sore muscles yet !!
Wonder if The Chief got the tunnels blasted yet !! I was going to suggest a tunnel boring machine, but it wouldn't be as much fun !!
Well, now for a little training while waiting for the Diner car !!
Hope everyone has a nice evening !!
Thanks, John
Good Afternoon Guys,
We got the layout back together and all wired, only problem is a sticky switch. Will check it out later. It takes 2 or 3 shots from the switch controler before it will throw. Tried out the T-1 and it runs great on the 054 curves. Have to limit my purchases to nothing larger than that in the future. I filled it up with Mega-steam Pipe Smoke, it smells just like it sounds. As a former pipe smoker I really like it. Not sure if anyone else will like it.
Need to get back to my workout routine, took a holiday break & missed two sessions.
It cleared up here but still cold (43) & windy. Temp is above average for this time of year but feels cold because we have been spoiled so far. Will probably will get a blast in Jan & Feb to make up for this.
Lisa-n-N.C.
Sounds like you might live in Eden, Reidsville, Stoneville. etc? My wife and I live in North Greensboro.
As Chief noted Jeff Konczal at the Train Loft is a good dealer and is my dealer. He is on Country Club Drive just off Silas Creek Parkway northbound off of westbound Business Hwy 421 in west Winston-Salem [ take Silas Creek north on the way to Wake Forest U. Country Club bears right just after you go under an underpass ].
Two O-gauge dealers in Greensboro. The Covered Wagon on Mt. Hope Church Road just one block north of I-40/85 just east of Greensboro. Rick Causey owner[O, G, HO].
Also we have a fairly new O-gauge dealer[about 1 year old], on Spring Garden Street in Greensboro just west of the UNC-G campus. I am not familar with his store but I know he took over with help from Chuck Anderson[retired] who ran Inside Track [Lionel, MTH] in Greensboro for many years.
Sorry, I am not a diesel railroader except pre-1953 Southern and pre-'60 N&W. [just recently gave three Norfolk Southern early MTH units to the teen railroaders club].
I would be glad to help out but I am leaving early tomorrow for a family get-together in Banner Elk and will be gone for over a week. I will check my transformers and see if I can spare one. If so I will give it to you so you can set your "80" on the bench and run trains.
E-mail in Banner Elk dtrogdon @charter.net G-boro e-mail in my forum profile.
Hi Chief
Retired from Textile business and HO RR-ing 15 years ago [worked for Cone Mills in N.J., NYC and S.C. before finishing up in Greensboro].
No skis for me--soon be 75. My oldest son from Raleigh used to ski but being a financial analyst for the Legislature[ and having two pre-teen daughters keeps him and spouse busy now. Youngest son is an aircraft mechanic and air frame modifier. He lives on whats left of our farm in Summerfield and has a 5 month old daughter[we were babysitting today--their Day Care shut down for routine annual inspection]. Eldest son's round-the-Christmas-tree train is Maury Klein's Carolina Tar Heel NCAA Train[.
Three grand daughters, two daughters-in-law and one wife all in a possible snowbound house may develop into an interesting News Years weekend. We are on the western slope of 4,600' Blood Camp Ridge above Elk River between Sugar Mt. and Beech Mt. at 3,500' [and get a lot of snow].
Salvation for me and sons is my 14x28 twin shelf airborne railroad [1992] at 7'-6"[2 trks] and 9'-0" [3 trks] above the floor---18' ceiling. Two eldest G.D.s like to run their N.C. Dot train[my "modern" diesel] which they see frequently [and make noise while soap operas or ball games are on TV].
"Stepladder Railroading" . Ladder necessary if you decide to change out the consists [removing 30 coal hoppers and the Clinchfield Challenger takes awhile so it tends to stay up for long periods].
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Good evening all,
It was sunny and mild in SE Indiana with temps in the low 40s today. Did some errands today and just generally relaxed. Ran the new freight cars from the Southwestern Expansion pack. It is a pretty good deal at list price and it was even better at 40% off from Hobby Lobby. The uncoupler track works very well as I had heard some people had problems with it. Tomorrow we are off to the wife's side of the family. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Hi Dewey- closer than that - I live in Madison - just about 15 mi. north of Summerfield. I'm a nurse - used to work at Wesley Long (27 yrs.) now working as a nurse analyst in W-Salem - Been seeing NS diesels all my life having grown up close to the tracks in Mayodan and live close now- hear those whistles all the time. Yep - there goes the 10:45 now! Used to walk the tracks north toward Avalon on Sunday afternoons with my grandfather.
Nice of youto offer the transformer. I know Jeff well - been there quite a few times and have emailed him a couple of times about my power dilemma. Went to the Covered Wagon looking for some accessories once - lots of stuff there - was just starting my layout and was overwhelmed then. Have met the guy in GSO a couple of times - he gets a lot of stuff for a couple of HO modelers I have met from my area. Drop by there sometime - he's got a really neat layout - tell him a friend of J's sent you.
Been doing some web searches - thanks to the tips from some really good people in this forum. As you may have read, I only have a 4x8 layout at present. So, with O - there's not much track - yet... [but don't tell my husband]- have enjoyed modeling the scenery and hope to expand in the future -I know that I need at least 100 watts to run the SD50. So, I was thinking about the MRCAH501 that has 130 watts. Was offered the Z1000. Found better prices on-line. Don't know which way to go. Would love some more advice.
Have a great time in Banner Elk. Logged into HighCountryWebcams.com today - all the slopes were busy! Beautiful day up there. Quite a bit of snow on the ground! Love the mountains - don't ski -love to fish!
Dennis - and Jim (with the cold) - thanks for your advice and encouragement - finally had time to try the Diesel on the layout tonight (no power - just test fitting) and it will make the curve ok - just need a little fine tuning on one area of the tunnel. See my reply to Dewey Trogdon just prior to this one - would appreciate your input.
Is there a Dr. in the house for Jim? How about a nice hot bowl of chicken soup?
Dewey Trogdon wrote: No skis for me--soon be 75. My oldest son from Raleigh used to ski but being a financial analyst for the Legislature[ and having two pre-teen daughters keeps him and spouse busy now.
No skis for me--soon be 75. My oldest son from Raleigh used to ski but being a financial analyst for the Legislature[ and having two pre-teen daughters keeps him and spouse busy now.
That is probably where the name comes to mind. 30 years State Govt. Most of the time, manager of State Fleet.
Just switched half of the layouts switches to aux power. Used one of my KW's. Tried the fixed 14V but was too weak to trip switches when car ran into it thrown the wrong way. Went to varrible and set it on 16V. Works great and they snap. Will do other side tomorrow. Then wire in the controlers at the main "panel".
Going to visit Jerry [Miss Edna's right hand in rehab] first thing tomorrow morning. Then blast the other tunnel.
Good night all.
1100 GMT in a damp mild Stockport +11 almost spring, I can hear the birds coughing, it was 0 yesterday.
Got feedback from Grzyboski's, looks like they have just the thing for me to start with. I shall be ordering it as soon as I pay off my CC, just spent $300.00 on a monitor and some other bits for ERNI. I've had to change the sound card too as this was making Windows shut down when running TrainSim.
I've managed to get the hang of fonts (I think!), only trouble is I have to re-set it for each message, it wont default. The Google task bar has a spell check icon but you need to take the mouse round the outside of the page and into the message pane from the side.
If you are reading this? It is at my third attempt at posting. There's a Gremlin in there methinks.
I have a cousin in Cleveland but I'm not sure where, guess it's time to renew a few ties as there are not many of the original family left now. The only time we get together is for funerals, the younguns prefer to live in sin! So no weddings or christenings.
NIHIL DICE.
John Baker
Good morning, everyone. Clear and warm today. Expected high of 48 degrees. How can you hate that?
Had some interesting dreams last night, as I always do when I'm under the weather. A bowl of chicken soup sounds pretty good right about now. Funny, I was never, ever sick until I had kids. And yes, they are sick as well with what appears to be the same thing.
Was going to run trains last night, but wasn't up to it. Read some magazines and watched an I Love Toy Trains video with the kids.
Time for a nice cup of tea. Have a great day, all!
Jim, do you dream that dream that you now are the proud owner of a big building full of beautiful model trains that rivals those found in NYC. You finally after years of hard work have everything running perfect and then the police show up and take them all because your building has been sold to Donald Trump.
See ya down the tracks,
Haven't had that dream yet, Buckeye. But I did dream that I had a huge post war collection last night, and that they were all running at once on a great layout. Some beautiful women in skimpy Santa suits were running the controls!
Then my wife came home and woke me up!
But most times, my "fever" dreams are akin to a Willie Wonka movie or something the Beatles would sing about, like Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Freaky!!
It is a clear 31 degrees here. Going up to 53 today with partly cloudy skies. This weather can stay this way until May.
Today, I have to run some errands and stop at the grocery store. We are staying home for New Year's Eve, but buying in some nice things to eat. I will run trains, later today. I have a few things to measure for the expansion.
Jim ( jaabat )....I hope you get rid of that illness.
Well, it's time for the Dining Car and breakfast. Later
Y'all have a great Thursday.
Good morning,
Clear and 32 here, going to the high 40s today, it looks like the rain is over until new year,s day.
Off to the fitness center shortly and then a few errands to run. May visit a train shop or two.
Daughter called last evening and asked where they can buy more track for the daughters train set, a good sign I think. Told her I probably have what they need.
Sounds like another O gauge layout in the making across the pond.
Enjoy your trains,
Morning all, quiet day in the surgery suite. The relatives are gone and the house is a disaster area. Wife and I were in the den while the kids ran back and forth to the living room with toys all over. After some time, we notice that the place was too quiet. Upon investigation, we found that the kids had taken all the styrofoam blocks that came in the packing of the assorted gifts and shreaded them to make snow. When they saw us, they said "look, we made SNOW, don't you like it?"
Now, when I get home, I hope that the place is back in order. If so, I actually can get back to the layout. At the current rate, the Chief will be done before me.
Anyway, I hope that you all have a great day. Chief, please pass along our best wishes to Elliot. We will pray for him.
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