Trains.com

RE:COFFEE POT #11 November 2011 for all to take a drink and chat. 6+ years and going. Plenty of coffee and sweet ice tea to drink. Plenty of GRITS, oatmeal and Cheerios for the heart.

44413 views
721 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: St. Louis, MO
  • 4,913 posts
Posted by Brutus on Sunday, November 20, 2011 9:21 PM

Cold and rainy in Saint Louis today.  All I did was go to church and do some laundry, today.  Some xbox and some reading filled in the rest of the time after I stayed up way to late last night watching that movie.  What kind of pies did you get, SJ?  Pumpkin and Apple?

TARDIS is ready, so let's get moving Thumbs Up

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: North Texas
  • 5,707 posts
Posted by wrmcclellan on Sunday, November 20, 2011 10:13 PM

Blueberryhill RR

SMOKE beat the DUCK !!!!!!

Chuck/Pat - that was the best Chase finale I have ever seen. From as far back as 40th place - amazing!

Regards, Roy

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • 1,986 posts
Posted by 8ntruck on Sunday, November 20, 2011 11:25 PM

Cloudy and 40's today.  Cold wind out of the north.

Where were you when the lights went out?  In the basement eating sourkraut.

Bob - those lessons you've been learning are the same ones I learned by building stick and tissue airplanes.  An additional lesson I learned was that if I dropped one of the balsa skeletons that I was working on, it was better to let it fall than to try and crush - er- catch it.

Donated yesterday and half of today to work.  Since I was donating my time, I didn't feel bad about using my AutoCAD there to draw and clean up my Polar Express layout. 

Turns out that I only need fourteen 1 3/4" sections to get the layout to close.  For the kind of money that is going to require, I figured it was time to try to custom cut some Fastrack.

A quick check on the internet revealed that the general method to custom cut Fastrack is tocut a piece out of the middle of the section of track. I also found references that a power saw with a carbide blade works.

Not wanting to put my good woodworking blade at risk, I borrowed the well abused general use carbide blade off of my circular saw.  It worked - but can be better.  I am going to build a crosscut sled to clamp the track section and I'm going to get a finer tooth carbide circular saw blade.

Turns out that pieces of 10 penny finish nails are just right to make pins to connect the rails together in the splice.

I'll post pictures of the rig when I get it done.

All for now.

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: S.E. Ohio
  • 5,434 posts
Posted by Blueberryhill RR on Monday, November 21, 2011 6:20 AM

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a cold and rainy 36 degrees. Going up to 44 today with more rain. Really nasty.

Today is a busy day. I have a bunch of things to do and maybe I can grab a nap this afternoon.

Yes, that was a great Nascar race yesterday. I'm glad Tony won. He sure tried hard.

Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Monday.

Chuck

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Millersburg, Pa.
  • 7,607 posts
Posted by laz 57 on Monday, November 21, 2011 7:09 AM

MichRR714

Made it home from hunting.  Filled a couple tags.  Back up north and more hunting over Thanksgiving.  Thought you all might appreciate this pic of a buck killed by a car near my house over the weekend.

http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo271/cstoia714/SH20Road207.jpg

WOW MITCH!!!!   What a beauty.  I thought you had that one tied up for yourself.  Officer looks real happy huh?  Who got that one?  Hope you had luck?  Ours don't start til next Monday.

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Millersburg, Pa.
  • 7,607 posts
Posted by laz 57 on Monday, November 21, 2011 7:21 AM

Hi GUYZ,

  Rainy day here for the next few days.  I have Parent Teachers conference day today then off til next Tueday.  Buck season starts on Monday of next week.

Saturday took my MINNIE DOG out for pheasants with BRO.  Got to our first spot and MINNIE was working the up corn working back and forth then roused two deer, a nice buck jumped up and she took off after it.  She chased about 150 yards then came back, good dog.  Hunted and saw nothing for rest of day.  Got to our last place and low and behold there's posted signs up.  For the past 29 years we hunted this fields and hollows and got most of our birds from the corn and switch grass and now its gone.  Big time farmer there is leasing all the land and posting it all up.  We were dejected.  Might have to go back up on the mountain for grouse now?  Bummed us out big time.  Dog had fun though.

Not much of a NASCAR fan but saw the race on ESPN this morning and looked like a good one going back and forth.  The second place guy was definity a good sport about being the first looser.  Great race though.

BEARs WIN!!!!  Don't know about what happened to CUTLER?  Rumor has it he broke his thumb?  How bout it DOUG?  Whats the latest?

CHUCK keep on doing those exercises.

JEFF in LA, hope your pain is getting less.  Prayers for you.

Stay frosty,

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: MICH
  • 8,153 posts
Posted by sir james I on Monday, November 21, 2011 7:44 AM

Good Morning

30s & 40s today

Going out this morning with my toy train friend. Of course a stop at Wild Bill"s trains is on the schedule. Good chat with Brutus, Charlie and RT last night..S.J.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

  Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC)   - Detroit3railers-  Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Monday, November 21, 2011 8:12 AM

Good morning. It's 70° and cloudy. The high will be 79° with variable clouds. There's a chance of rain ranging from 10% to negligible.

I'm not feeling much better this morning than I did last night so I will attempt again to get some rest. If someone calls with some asinine request I might just tell them to go fly a milk bottle. I still have some cleaning up to do on the layout so I'll try to get that done today. While I was at Wagon Master yesterday I saw most of the last quarter of the Redskins/Packers game. Final score 35/26 Packers. Don't take that to mean I'm a Packers fan because I'm not.  I'm simply saying what the score was.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    March 2009
  • 1,029 posts
Posted by submmbob on Monday, November 21, 2011 8:18 AM

Hello all

Socked in for weather this morning. We are in the clouds and frosting up like a TV dinner.

Dennis - Never messed w/ a glue gun before. Tried to wipe off a gob of glue with my finger and found that wasn't such a good idea...I'll keep the soda can trick handy though.

8N - Yeah these things can be a bit fragile, but it's amazing that they start from just a few sheets of paper. I'd love to try to make a stick and tissue model of an airship, kind of like how they really made them. There's not much in the way of kits like that on the market though.

Jeffrey - hope you are feeling better today

Charlie - someone playing deer thumper, eh? We have to watch for that on the mountain. Hope everyone was ok and there was not too much damage.

Well the Norge continues to "fly" in the control room. I've got a couple of more models I want to try. What with steam engines, tube radios, and now airships the house is going to look like the 1930's. Been called a "renaissance man"  by a few friends, guess I could be more accurately called an "art deco" man.

Time to find some breakfast.

Bob

 

 

 

Bob

Tucson, AZ (aka the Ol' Pueblo)

Home of the Mt. Graham & Arizona Eastern Boiler Shops

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Crystal Lake, IL
  • 8,059 posts
Posted by cnw1995 on Monday, November 21, 2011 8:20 AM

Aloha from a grey and cold Chicago where i hope it's a quiet week (all the employees will be busy shopping...). Laz, Cutler out 6-8 weeks for a busted thumb; the OC has never liked the back-up QB. There goes the season. What a great end to the Chase - Even though my dog wasn't in the hunt. Great day working video at church. I volunteered for Christmas - that's a lot of services but I'll have the vacation. Wonderful that Dennis, Don and Ray could get together.  Great airship, Bob. I have a plastic Graf Zeppelin cruising over the layout. Wow, Charlie, that's quite a buck. 'Tis the season to run into deer here in IL.   Daughter and Not-boyfriend come home tomorrow for the holiday.  Looking forward to running some trains over the break.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Cape Ann Taxachusetts
  • 3,780 posts
Posted by RockIsland52 on Monday, November 21, 2011 9:03 AM

Good Mornin' Ya'll From Overcast and Cooling Taxachusetts,

Holy smokes!  The posts are coming fast and furious.  I thought I had caught up early yesterday before we headed out for the entire day.  We didn't get home until after 10PM.  Missed NASCAR's exciting finish and all of the football except for the second half of the Sunday Night Football game. 

At least we enjoyed the entire sunny and warm 66 degree day, day trip to New Hampshire.  Sun roof open most of the day.  We got in an outdoor canine obedience class and another indoor one later in the day with Maximus.  We also got some Christmas shopping knocked off up in New Hampshire where there is no 6.5% state tax. 

The dog saved me from shopping.  I hate shopping.  Since we had the dog with us, the Wife went into the stores while I remained in the parking lot and around the doors to the various stores, working on the pup's obedience in a high-distraction but "real world" environment.  One somewhat fearful woman passing on the sidewalk in front of Target took one look at a politely sitting Maximus, saw his loose leash with me standing off 4 feet to his right, and warned me not to let go.  I feigned concern.  "You aren't planning on stealing him, are you?" 

Most folks just pass, stare, point, and smile, often with a compliment.  A few always stop amidst their shopping rush to talk and chat; and the conversation inevitably touches on responsible dog ownership, negative breed bias, and questions about training.....how he got to be this way.  A small number take a wide berth when passing.  Can't blame them.  There are far too many folks out there with dogs they have no business owning.     

Scooped up some of those white Christmas lights my wife likes so much in anticipation of our annual "another light strand doesn't work" while trying to decorate our "real" tree.  Last year we had 2,000+ lights on that sucker; and it really made for the fine centerpiece in our living room window for folks driving past.  Beautiful from the inside as well.  We love the smell and ambience of a natural tree.  Bought 5 strands of 100 each just in case.  We have decided to skip the outdoor lights this year, save for the large Christmas wreath on the front door, lit up with a floodlight.  We put those "brass candles with the white candle bulbs in all of our windows front-facing windows.  Wife likes the "all white lights" approach.  And I like the fact that I don't have to climb ladders to decorate the outdoor trees which are just too high and difficult to get decorated (and the lights adjusted).  Don't want to pull a "BRENT."  Smile, Wink & Grin

Finally got the "plan" for Thanksgiving dinner.  Daughter and son-in-law are hosting dinner this year.  What that means is that we get there hours early.  Bring a desseert.  Grammy Pammy occupies the grandchildren, keeping them away from the kitchen and from being underfoot.  Grampy Jack rolls up his sleeves upon arrival and makes sure that all of the dirty cooking apparati in the kitchen is clean and at the ready, dishwasher running load after load, and stuff dried and put away.  That way the post-meal cleanup (we stay to help clean up) is easier.  Translation:  football is not interrupted and there is time to nap and relax with family at points during the feast and after.  Many hands make light work..

Guess you guys heard of the morning fatality at the parking lot of the annual Harvard/Yale football game Saturday.  The initial accounts point to mechanical failure in a rented truck, sudden accerleration or a throttle issue.  Driver not charged, passed a field sobriety test.  He was hauling a truck load of beer for tailgating.  Looks like a horrible accident.  Say goodbye to the tradition of tailgating.  Probably done to the extreme anyway. 

Speaking of Brent, there are a lot of us POT guys with children and grandchildren.  Don't want to disappoint them and the Christmas magic....so we decorate!.  But we don't need to break a few limbs in the process of decorating. Wink

CHUCK......keep at it, buddy.  Can regular visits to your man cave in the basement be far off?

Chief........hope your friend is coming along nicely.  I think you know how much your help lightens his burden at the very time when he needs it the most.

LAZ.......was sad to hear "progress" has reared it's ugly head again and wiped out your traditional hunting grounds.  MINNIE's genes showing out there in the field are impressive, no?  Personally, I think she has thrown in with the deer and is actually out there chasing them off and protecting them from you! Laugh  Last lap on the parent/teachers conferences. Thumbs Up 

Jeffrey......hope you are rebounding and are feeling better.

Dennis........hope your crud is moving on.

Charlie........that must be the most expensive buck that motorist ever bagged.  Deer are bad news for motorists that unexpectedly and accidentally hit them.  But North of me the moose make them look like Chihuahuas.

Brutus........is it time for the "FREE CHEWEY" chants and demonstrations? Big Smile

Roy........you had to remind me one last leaf cleanup is in order in my neck of the woods.  The leaves are all finally down, save for some on a neighbor's gargantuan weeping willow.  Always the last to drop.  My back yard is downwind........Bang Head 

8n........was glad to hear your time at work over the weekend was productive and will have permanent benefit.  Whistling   

SubmmBob.......you have more patience than I but that model looked perfect.  With my luck, the dog would get ahold of it and have a good time turning hours of painstaking work into a million pieces.  That, or my 2 year old grandchild would pull a king cong and crush it. Wink

RaySP........sounds like you and the California boys had a wonderful day "training" and socializing at the meet.  If it were not for some of the senior members, this tradition would not have been started and would die.

DougM and SJ......the Lions and Bears (OH MY!) refuse to let the NFC battle turn into a boring Green Bay runaway.  The Wild Card will be interesting.

Gotta run.

Jack

IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.

  • Member since
    May 2007
  • From: Glendora, Calif.
  • 2,672 posts
Posted by SPMan on Monday, November 21, 2011 11:45 AM

Good morning all,

Rain is over and sun is out today.  This should help my winter rye grass come up now.

V8 Dennis, glad you made it home OK yesterday.  It was raining hard when I left too and all the way home on the freeway.  Glad to report that there were no pile ups.  Sounds like you made a big haul on your E bay purchases.  The only thing I bought at Cal Stewart was that NS B unit I mentioned.  Good that at least three of us West Coasters including D. Baker were able to get together yesterday.  Too bad Doug not so grumpy from San Diego couldn't make it but he is still recovering from health issues I presume.

Got my Thanksgiving bird out of the freezer this morning and put in the fridge for a slow thaw out for Thursday morning.

Chief, good on you for sticking by your friend.  Hope he is doing better.

Jack, congas for  Maximus behavior at the shopping mall.  I can't blame some folks for giving him a wide berth however if they didn't know him.  I would probably be in that group myself with a strange dog.  I have passed several dogs when out walking though without any mishap.  Just kept my cool and kept going.  Most dog walkers with their pet on a leash seem to be well behaved.  Maybe I have just been lucky.  My wife is scared to death of barking dogs and jumps all over me when one approaches.  Good luck with the Christmas decorations.  Good idea to stay off ladders and outside lights.  The eves on our house have a low overhang so they are easy to reach from a step ladder.  I still let my son do the honors though.

Pat, sounds like an exciting finish at the race.  I'll have to ask my son if he saw it.  He likes car racing but I was at a train meet myself.

Charlie, hope no one was hurt hitting that buck.  What do they do with road kills like that?  I suppose some of it might be salvagable providing it was taken care of without too much delay.

Jeffrey in La., hope your thumb is better or that you are getting some medical treatment if needed.

Taking dieuretics today so got to run!

Ray

 

 

SPMan

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Hightstown, NJ
  • 2,886 posts
Posted by anjdevil2 on Monday, November 21, 2011 5:21 PM

Hey guys...long time, no see...

Job ended Friday, 130% job production wasn't enough as the owner wanted 200%.  No problem, he paid me way fair and we parted friendly.  He'll store my tool box until after Thanksgiving, then I'll have to retrieve it.

Decorated firehouse Saturday with4 other guys.  Came out OK...spent 1.5 hours testing and sorting LED string lights, then tossed the majority for rope lights that all worked and installed with 2 men.  Go figure.

Sunday was all day Boating course paid by the FD, ao now I can pilot the rescue craft...and the new Zodiac that is on the way.

Santa Parade is Friday, so that's the reason for the decoration, I'll start on the Christmas layout for the Fire House Tuesday morning. 

Thanksgiving is in Centerville, VA this year.  and I'm thankful the Princess is happy and here.  Just need a job now (again....Bang Head)

Angel for our ailing members...

I'll check back soon

I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.
I am the venom in your skin  --- Breaking Benjamin


  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: MICH
  • 8,153 posts
Posted by sir james I on Monday, November 21, 2011 7:32 PM

Good Evening

its 37 now.

I got in & out of the train store without buying anything. Granny entertained the neighbor girl for a few hours this PM as there wasn't going to be anyone there to watch her. Each afternoon she has to go to a relative's house till someone picks her up. We will have banilla tonight if we can find a warm place to eat it..S.J.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

  Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC)   - Detroit3railers-  Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Monday, November 21, 2011 7:53 PM

RockIsland52

Jeffrey......hope you are rebounding and are feeling better.

Yeah, nobody disturbed me today so I was able to get some much needed rest. As you may have guessed, all the pain I put up with allows me only four or five hours of sleep a night. Any extra rest I can get is greatly appreciated and any unnecessary disturbance makes this bad tempered Indian even more bad tempered. My nephew and his friends make plenty of racket but when they know I'm already ticked off at them they tend to walk on egg shells.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: Southwest Georgia
  • 5,028 posts
Posted by dwiemer on Monday, November 21, 2011 8:01 PM

Good evening everyone.  Been a good day.  Think the crud is on its way out.  The white chocolate and caramel cheesecake was a hit at the party today.  Had a afternoon meeting and then home.  Finished my homework for bible study for tomorrow's lesson.  

Charlie, that is a nice buck!  Bet he left a good dent in the car that took him out.

Bob, we get a lot of deer kills down here by vehicles.  With all the farms, we are overpopulated.  Our season starts in September and goes well int January.  

I hope to check in later.  May God bless each of you.

Dennis

TCA#09-63805

 

Charter BTTs.jpg

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: North Texas
  • 5,707 posts
Posted by wrmcclellan on Monday, November 21, 2011 8:58 PM

Evening all!

Getting some much needed rain here. 54 right now and should be nice later this week for the holiday.

Not sure how much rain we will get so will have to go out and check the gauge later.

Anjdevil - so sorry about the job. Hope you find another soon Angel

LAZ - gotta agree with Jack - Minnie is working for the "Preserve a deer today" society.

8ntruck - interesting about cutting Fastrack with a carbide blade - I have always used a bandsaw. Will have to try that sometime.

Have a great evening all!

Regards, Roy

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Monday, November 21, 2011 9:18 PM

Once again it's time for me to wrap it up for the night. See y'all tomorrow.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Near Altoona Pa.
  • 1,896 posts
Posted by Banks on Monday, November 21, 2011 9:25 PM

Hello all,

Finally got caught up from the weekend,

Anjdevil. I'll add a Angel you find a job

Things get busier here as Christmas approaches. Son struck a deal with a local feed store to sell them ear corn for $8.00 a bag.

Good news....... we don't have to shell it. at that price we're about 25% over market value of ear corn.

Bad news .............we have approximately 10 ton to put in to 70-80 lb bags. (bags supplied by feed store) They tell us that during peak season they'll need 40 bags +/- per week

Thinking about hunting deer next Monday. Haven't seen a deer since the soybeans have been harvested. Did find tracks to indicate at least one deer has been in the drive way, under the dusk to dawn light,  eating some soybeans that spilled while we were working on the combine.

Son will be hunting bear this week during the daylight hours that he isn't working. He's been doing lots of OT and weird shifts due to two people in his area being off. SIL is also bear hunting. He has a pretty good average as at 32 years old he's all ready bagged three.. I've never even considered hunting them.

May travel to the train show in Kittanning Pa on Sunday. It is a small show but usually pretty good. Close but far enough away there are different vendors than the local shows. I haven't made the trip in two or three years.

Also hope to finish up winter preparations this weekend. Game plan is tomorrow will be last day of work till Tuesday.

I'm tuckered out. Off to join Mrs in bed


Prayers for those in need

Banks, Proud member of the OTTS  TCA 12-67310

  

   

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: St. Louis, MO
  • 4,913 posts
Posted by Brutus on Monday, November 21, 2011 10:39 PM

Raining and cold in Saint Louis today. Running late tonight, sorry I missed you SJ. We had a party at work, so I took in donuts this morning. One guy brought in turkey legs - one for each of us. He smoked them in a big Green Egg smoker. They were great! I don't think I can justify $1500 for a Green Egg with all the accessories that he has, but I might have to get a small smoker for myself :)

Good luck, Anj - hope a good job comes soon!

TARDIS is ready, so let's get it moving!

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Sunny So. Cal.
  • 3,784 posts
Posted by dbaker48 on Monday, November 21, 2011 11:12 PM

Howdeeeeee !!!!  (Been listening to Minnie Pearl)

As reported went to the Cal-Stewart meet this weekend.  Unfortunately it seems to be getting smaller every year.  Wasn't any manufacturers at all, a couple of dealers and majority seemed to be individuals.  I would say 80% of was post war stuff.  Some command control, but mostly conventional.  I always liked this show but ever since I've been to York I'm always disappointed.  Just to put it in perspective it isn't really much bigger than a York "Bandit" show, and $15 entry with $9 parking. Sigh  Have a couple of the commercial shows coming up in December, The Big Train Show, which is all gauge.  That is better in my opinion.

On the positive side, ran in to a LOT of people at Cal-Stewart, Ray and Dennis of course from this forum.  Was the first time had the opportunity of meeting Dennis, seems like a very nice gentleman, we should keep him.  Now Ray, that's another story, he was recovering from his trip to NC.  He was having difficulty with his speech, every other word was "You'all" and was very, very slow.  So slow he even forgot what he was working on saying, and just kept muttering something about grids.  (I think he OD'ed on the grits, while he was down there.)  I finally was able to get out of him he had been preparing himself to hook up with the Chief at Raliegh Durham airport, and had been practicing his dialect and now can't get rid of it. 

All kiddin aside the three of work checking out a lift up bridge that was on an AF layout.  It was well done, but pretty much consisted of just a strategically placed hinge and backplate.  One of the operators told us the club had paid $750 for it.  And, that it was a TIG welded  assembly that made it so expensive.  We were flabbergasted!  (Unfortunately I forgot the camera I had planned on bringing, so no picture of the bridge.)   After discussing the bridge for awhile, I said mine works pretty much the same way, but was not NEARLY so expensive.  (I believe I have about $25-$30 in mine, without the bridge cost.)  So, I told Ray I would put up some pictures of mine up,  so here it is.......

The bridge is a MTH plastic 2 track bridge.  I had a piece of CRS cut, and mounted the bridge to that.  As shown it exceeds the on the right side considerably.  I only wanted to provide the size of opening I needed for the pass through.  I plan on doing some landscaping on the left side eventyally.

In the upright position, as shown has plenty of clearance.  (Note the internal plastic guard rails have not been securely fastened.  (Testing for some clearances)

The "bronze" color is the actual hinge.  As you can see the pivot point if well above the track surface.  (Next phase will be to set the bridge INTO the layout surface.  Left it on top of layout due to clearance issues and curves feeding into the bridge.  (Scale Big Boy boiler clears the bridge by 1/8th on approach of outside track.)  Wood blocks are "stops" and resting points when bridge is open.

Now its going to get real ugly!  The actual hinge is the bronze.  The hinge is an offset cabinet door hinge.  The strap on top of the hinge really isn't necessary, I need to put another hole in the hinge and secure to the layout frame.

This picture actually gives an overall view of the hinge shape.  The L bracket is just added for additonal support.

This last picture shows the track clearance when the bridge is open.  I have the track that lead up to the bridge powered from the same block as the bridge, that way when the bridge is open the adjoining tracks dont have any power and the engines stop.  Also the connecting tracks on the non-hinged side have "knife edge" track connectors to accommodate  bridge closing.

So there you have it, NOT pretty for sure, but that will come.  The important thing is that it does work well and has ever since I built the layout.  2007.  Need to really address the cosmetics but that will come.

 

 

 

 

Don

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • 1,986 posts
Posted by 8ntruck on Monday, November 21, 2011 11:52 PM

Cloudy, damp day in the 40's today.

I did manage a trip to the hardware store today for a new saw blade for my Fastrack cutting adventure.

Bob - A balsa and tissue version of an airship should not be too hard.  The framework could be keel, former and stringer type.  The tissue covering would be a pain, though - you'd have to do it in lots of pieces to handle the compound curves at the ends.

All for now.

  • Member since
    May 2007
  • From: Glendora, Calif.
  • 2,672 posts
Posted by SPMan on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 2:03 AM

Don, your evaluation of Cal Stewart was accurate I thought.  It is true that York ruins anywhere else you go by comparison but at least it's close to home.  Thanks for the pictures of the lift up bridge.  The main thing I like about it is that it seems to work.  Don't worry about the cosmetics.  That can come later.  I think I need to build a section which is wider than just a bridge which will accomodate a double track main on one side and a diverging track on the other..  In other words, I will have three tracks on the lift section rather than build two separate ones.  I have some wiring on the bottom of my old stationary bridges crossing the aisle so I would have to figure a new way to get those across the gap.  Maybe run them on the floor with some kind of cover over them or up to the ceiling and over.

I ran my newly aquired NS executive B unit to form an A-B-B-A consist with a long N&W passenger train today.  Looks realy good and the single powered two motor A unit is more than adequate to pull the whole thing.  One of the guys on O gauge even put ditch lights on his but I haven't got that far yet.  The WBB units have simulated ditch lights as delivered by using decals.

Talking about my N.C. visit, the bar-b-que was great but the hush puppies were not what I remembered.  Maybe mine were too cold.  At home my grandmother would make fried waterground cornmeal cakes.  Everything else was good though including the fried chicken and Brunswick stew.  We got all this stuff from a local Bar-B-Que restaurant that makes genuine Eastern North Carolina Bar-B-Que.

Good night all,

Ray

SPMan

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: S.E. Ohio
  • 5,434 posts
Posted by Blueberryhill RR on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 7:15 AM

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a damp and foggy 46 degrees. Going uo to 50 today with more rain.

Today is a busy day. I have an errand to run and a few things to do around the house. Joints are aching from the weather. X-rays said no arthritis, so I guess it's old age. Getting old sucks.

Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Tuesday.

Chuck

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: MICH
  • 8,153 posts
Posted by sir james I on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 8:29 AM

Good Morning

32/50 today, rain expected later.

Chuck you are right, getting old sucks. During my working years I dreamed about how much fun retirement would be. The BIG important thing I forgot was that when retirement does come so does old age and all the pains that come with it. I'd rather be young and working...S.J.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

  Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC)   - Detroit3railers-  Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Crystal Lake, IL
  • 8,059 posts
Posted by cnw1995 on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 8:32 AM

Aloha from a grey, cold and misty Chicago where pilots use Jack's Christmas tree as an approach marker for O'Hare.  2,000 lights must make your meter spin like in the movie Christmas Vacation. Wowee. Looks like I'm the only one on this floor so far today. Should be able to get lots of work done. Daughter and Not-Boyfriend get in tonight.

SJ, I admire your strength of character and wallet to be able to visit the train store without buying anything.  Dennis, white chocolate cures everything. Glad you're feeling better.
Don, that's a great bridge. How did you step down the track connection on the 'inside' line. It looks like you had to tilt down the track from the bridge. or that might just be the photo angle.
8n, I used to make balsa and tissue models. Good memory.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

  • Member since
    March 2009
  • 1,029 posts
Posted by submmbob on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 8:40 AM

Clear and cold here on the mountain this morning. After the weather cleared off last night we are open again for business. Last shift of the week before I go home for TG.

Don - nice bridge setup!

Ray - your ABBA setup must be as long as some of my trains

8N - a few of the guys on the model airship forum (yes, there is one) have done scratchbuilt stick and tissue models. I'll have to try one some day.

DougM - I'm going to assume your Graf Zeppelin is not to scale. I say this because I was recently curious how big an O-scale zeppelin would be. Well, a guy was recently asked to build a model of a German WW1 zeppelin for a museum is Seattle at 1/48 scale so it would match all the airplanes. This airship is much smaller than the Graf (a mere 400 feet) and it came out to be over 13 feet long!

Anj - hope you find another job soon

Jeffrey - glad to hear you are feeling better. Rain coming your way, if it isn't already there.

Time to find some breakfast

Bob

Bob

Tucson, AZ (aka the Ol' Pueblo)

Home of the Mt. Graham & Arizona Eastern Boiler Shops

  • Member since
    May 2007
  • From: Glendora, Calif.
  • 2,672 posts
Posted by SPMan on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 11:42 AM

Bob, yes the 4 unit F3's are quite long but I have a fairly long loop around a 24 X 20 room.  I run about 6 or 7 streamline N&W cars with it which looks believable behind them.  Of course the prototype uses passenger cars from the former N&W relettered now for Norfolk Southern but they are the same tuscan red color.  So being frugle (cheap) I decided to just use my N&W cars.  It doesn't make sense to buy another set of identical cars except with different lettering.

Looking forward to the sunshine today and tomorrow.  Hope it doesn't rain much on Thursday.

V8 Dennis, D. Baker is probably talking about the Great American Train show but I'm not sure.  He goes to a lot more of them than me.

Ray

SPMan

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • 5,608 posts
Posted by dougdagrump on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 1:26 PM

Mornin' Y'all.

Been busybusy, between naps. Had a great run last friday at the museum then it was up to the armpits in aligators finishing up the halloween stuff while unpacking and starting the Christmas decorations. On the brite side SWMBO has decided to scale back some of the stuff we would normally display.

Jack, Maybe Minnie is a "limited" member of PETA and helping to protect Bambi. Smile, Wink & Grin

Ray, The next time I'm at the museum I'll take some photos of the double track main lift bridge at the back of the club layout. Instead of a hinge like Don's it has a pivot that is forward of the track joint so a short section drops down while the main portion lifts up. No bridge structures used as well.

The GATS is far from my favorite show/sale, I'm hoping that the WGH on Tour will be back very soon. The last one was great but that was at least three but possibly four years ago. Grumpy

Made a quick run to the museum to drop-off some Christmas decorations and a Christmas flatcar to sit on a siding, next monday will be the clean-up and decorating day.

Later all. 

Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.

www.sd3r.org

Proud New Member Of The NRA

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Crystal Lake, IL
  • 8,059 posts
Posted by cnw1995 on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 1:33 PM

Bob, selective compression saves me - the Graf is only about a foot and a half long. It's flying near the back of the layout...

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month