Coffee Pot #3 March 2012 5+ years and going strong and its for all to chat. Plenty of coffee and sweet ice tea for all. Come and join us and chat. GRITS for the Yankees.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 67° and partly cloudy. The high will be 85° with SE winds 5 to 10 mph.

I was running my Atlas GP40's yesterday and noticed the trailing unit was getting a bit loud. Opened it up and lubed the motor bearings and worms. Put the shell back on then turned it over and applied a couple of drops of lube through the oiling holes in the bottom of the trucks. It runs much quieter now. They both still run pretty good considering they're pushing forty years and still have the original motors.

I hope the trash pickup happens today. They didn't come last Tuesday but I put it down to the weather. This week it's bright and sunny. My father has been heating up the phone line between his home and the sanitation depts office so they can't say they're unaware of the problem.

Plan for today is to relax and take it easy.

[fifedog]

Darren  - As I genuinely stated before, do stay out of harms way.

[KRM]

Hi guys,

 Lunchtime and making progress on the IT guys may be done today.

 It was cold this morning when I started the drive to Morton but they say it will get back to mid 70s. Can’t tell from in here.

 Hope all are well.

 Darren Those fires look bad. I hope they stay away from you and yours. and OK

Roy, good to hear your getting some of that rain back.   We are very dry for this time of year.

Blownout, continued prayers for your pal. 

Submmbob, you will like that ZW when you get it done.

Joe, great things for you in Japan and  I echo 88, Jack your thoughts on gas in the US.

Laz, How is the countdown going?

Chief, get out of the lake house and back into the box. 

 SJ I do the shopping for groceries and I know what you are talking about. Gas seems to take up half of the newscast but for what? It is what it it and it is not much news anymore.

Jim Probe, with that GL good thing you have a job.

Fifedog, I am!

Jeffery our last trash pick up guys would hit and miss so we Trashed them.

Back to the IT phone calls then I think I will start back by 1:00

Later ,

 Kev

[jeffrey-wimberly]

KRM

Jeffery our last trash pick up guys would hit and miss so we Trashed them.

Sometimes I wish there was another company here that did trash pickup. But there's only the one and the money for it comes out of our taxes. And what do you know, they're coming around the loop now. About time, they're only a week late.

[Anonymous]

so now disgussing oil, price of gas, etc, etc is political talk... hmmm... ok...

Hey fellas - need some input/advice on my mountain building... if you could check out my thread on the subject provide some suggestions - I would be all for it.

Fife - I wear the pants... I just have to get permission on which ones! TheQ wants me to get the layout finished and she is fully aware that means I have to have time down in the trainroom to git er done. She wants me to get the layout finished because she wants the bins out of the basement and the only place for the bins is under the layout and I can't work on the layout if the bins are under it... so... you now have the rest of the story.

[Stourbridge Lion]

Afternoon CTTFans!

Sadly a second person has been found dead in the fire zones today as the main fire is still 0% contained.  I have seen confirmed reports / photos that air assaults are well under way so hopefully they can get this thing beat down soon...

[blownout cylinder]

We noticed that this morning..I have an app from the Denver Post on my cell phone..my wife has relatives who live somewhere up around the front range...

[Stourbridge Lion]

lionroar88

so now disgussing oil, price of gas, etc, etc is political talk... hmmm... ok...

Note I only said "ease back" as once we get into solutions we are bound to get into RIGHT vs. LEFT ideologies and we have received complaints today about the line getting crossed from you the members.  Yes, the policy rules in the Diners are allowed to get pushed a bit but it's not wide open either.  So, I decided not to edit any posts but just ask everyone to ease up on the peddle to keep the Diner fun for everyone...

[Stourbridge Lion]

blownout cylinder

We noticed that this morning..I have an app from the Denver Post on my cell phone..my wife has relatives who live somewhere up around the front range...

Here is a map showing the major fire as it relates to Denver.  The evacuations are about to grow to 6,500 homes.  The RED circle is the initial evacuation area, the BLUE is the new one about to be formed.  We are still at 0% contained with 15+ fire crews (~400) on the ground and air assaults...

[blownout cylinder]

Stourbridge Lion

 

blownout cylinder:

 

We noticed that this morning..I have an app from the Denver Post on my cell phone..my wife has relatives who live somewhere up around the front range...

 

 

Here is a map showing the major fire as it relates to Denver.  The evacuations are about to grow to 6,500 homes.  The RED circle is the initial evacuation area, the BLUE is the new one about to be formed.  We are still at 0% contained with 15+ fire crews (~400) on the ground and air assaults...

 

That is taking quite a chunk of land isn't ti? WOW!!!  

-------------------------------------------------------

Good Afternoon.

Managed a bit of traintime as it appeared that a few things that were supposed to be fixed did not need to....

So it was a quiet day...Audrey went up to the hospital with his guitar so that was done while I went and picked up some survival foods for the rest of the week....so far everything is ok with him...

Lancaster...

 

 

[Stourbridge Lion]

blownout cylinder

 

 

 

That is taking quite a chunk of land isn't ti? WOW!!!  

It's at 4,500 acres and growing.  Winds have been up around 50 MPH which is what is driving this monster.

Here is a couple of shots of one of the larger aircraft's attacking the fire...

 

[Demay]

Ohayō,

It is very sunny already this morning and today’s high is 63.  It may rain a tad this afternoon or evening so I’m thankful tonight’s baseball game is in a dome.  I will be pretty busy at work this morning making sure I take care of all my tasks before ending my day early. 

Jeffrey – I’m glad the trash team came. 

Darren – I’m sorry if any of my comments were pushing the rules.  It looks like I was posting my previous post at the same time as you were posting yours.  Thanks for not pulling the trigger on us too fast.  I hope they can contain those fires.

Sayonara,

Joe

[anjdevil2]

Good Tuesday Afternoon!

JoeD, Brent, Fife & Jack - agreed.  Because the "dumb masses" don't do their due diligence on the facts...this is the problem we have.  Bowing to the Saudis and the eco-terrorists exaserbates the problems.  And if my history is correct, the European exodis started in the late 1600's ..... We ain't Europe by any stretch and I don't care to be them or emulate thier "ways".  'nuff said.

Darren - Like John said - Red Flags are flying here and we are fortunate that we haven't been hit in the Pine Barrens.  I remember the BIG fires here in 1964.....

In the 20's this morn, up into the 50's today with a nice breeeeeeeze.....

MikeC - prayers for you and the family.....Been through that....it was tough but love and understanding won out.  And she is much better and stronger for it.

for youse ailing members and families.

Time to go home.  Hopefully, I'll check back later.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

BOC: The fire depts here are watching developments in Colorado very closely. We had a major dumping of rain here recently but that doesn't mean we're out of danger from grass and woods fires, not by a long way.

 

Been running an F2A/F3B/F7A Frankenstein set today. Had a few programming bugs to work out and I finally got it licked. At maximum speed it tops out at 55.5 smph. I usually have it running at 35-45 smph. The body shells are from Model Power, Varney and Athearn in that order. The chassis of all three are Frankenstein creations consisting of so many parts from so many sources it even confuses me! One of them has parts from three different types of locos from five different companies. They do all have three things in common. They're HO Scale, they're heavy and all three have DZ125 decoders. As for slow speed performance, when they creep they move so slow I half expect them to take up squatters rights. Is an inch and a half in one minute slow enough?

[sir james I]

It's 50 now, sunny all day but windy. It's seems someone with a delete button is a tad wimpy when we are censored for discussing the price of gasoline and its reasoning. Other than that it was an uneventful day. I will wait for the Tardis crew and we will have a chat tonight..S.J.

[blownout cylinder]

We've been pretty dry here for the past few weeks as well...accept for a few showers we have not seen much of anything here...just hope we don't see anything of the sort here...

 

[Anonymous]

Kev,

          Yes, it is quite the $$ pit.  The way I see it, it is a good learning experience and reduces (for the most part anyway)  the stress associated with the real job hunt.

Rich,

           Any suggestions on seating a replacement seal like this?  The original in the pic is definitely toast, and I've got replacements on the way.  I know to soak it in fresh oil, and I am thinking of using a deep 32mm socket to drive it home.  What do you think?

Have to love people that just let things like this leak persist.

Brent,

              I was checking out your mountain thread.   Looks good.

Did some rearranging on the PW Lionel layout and got the 264 Forklift in place.  Had to slide a milk car platform and culvert loader and unloader down to get space, but it'll work good this way.

[KRM]

Well Jim I think you are on to something.

I used to love doing this stuff and I was good.

First off is why is that seal leaking??? Is it dry??? Or are the main bearings out so far and letting the crank float so much that the oil can go where it wants to???? From the picture it looks like some of both?

Dig it up and let us know. In the end you will have a good driver and the satisfaction of fixing it yourself.

Good luck my friend.

Kev

[Anonymous]

Kev,

            Just seems dry.  It fell apart on the way out, so it just seems like it failed due to age.  The camshaft seal up top is the same seal, so I'll replace it while the timing belt is out of the way.

[KRM]

Cool Jim,

Keep digging what you think at first is seldom what it is. 

Kev

[wrmcclellan]

Evening all!

Another long hard day. Beautiful weather here - 80 today with a breeze. Cooked out this evening (chicken) and afterwards relaxed on the porch until dark. For all the rain we have had this spring, we are not having a mosquito problem - yet.

Have a great day tomorrow all! Continued for those in need and for the safety of the firefighters.

[dwiemer]

Good evening guys.  Early case this morning and then I had to do some running around.  I was asked to do the official photographs for our daughter's recital.  Will be a two day affair that will keep me busy.  I am not looking to make out financially, most proceeds go right back into the dance studio.

Regarding the politics, not going to say more than it would be nice if one had to be educated on the issues before voting.  It is a real shame when these talk shows do the street interviews with people going to vote who don't even know what views the particular politician espouses.  We also have to hold the elected officials accountable to their promises and their votes.  If they promis something, they either need to follow through, or explain how it is better for the country for them to do otherwise.

Darren, did they establish cause of death?  I know they were not fire or ems personnel, but they did not know further at the time.  I was in Golden this past week, beautiful area.

For those in, or from Jersey, there was a episode on RFD-TV Trains And Locomotives on the Long Branch line.  They had plenty of vintage video from steam and early diesel.  Saw some JC FM Trainmasters and PRR GG1s.  I kept it on the DVR.

Well, time for bed. Pray that each of you has a blessed day,

Dennis 

[8ntruck]

Sunny and about 80 today.  Rain on the way, though.

Stourbridge Lion - are those auxilary jet engines on the large firefighting aircraft?

Good one at work yesterday and today.  My boss hauled the IT guy into my office yesterday afternoon and showed him my pair of antique CRT computer monitors - one of them is about 15 years old.  The IT guy's eyes got real big and said that he would get replacements on the way.  Two new 21" flat screens were installed this afternoon.

All for now.

[anjdevil2]

Hey guys, quick post before bed....

Probe, As long as you are careful removing the seal and don't nick the sealing area, that's what I would do.

Was it Jefferson that said the the people shouldn't be afraid of their government, the government should be afraid of the people?  Seems to me that the dumb masses are afraid of their government.....and too stupid to know otherwise (or lazy)

off to bed....zzzz time to snooooze

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Time for me to call it a night. Apparently whatever had a hold on me has gone off to bug someone else. I'll know by how I feel in the morning.

Some photos of what was for a while today the troublesome trio.

F2A


F3B


F7A


See y'all tomorrow.

[Demay]

Konnichiwa,

I have time for a quick post before leaving for the baseball.  I was able to finish all my necessary tasks at work before departing early.  I hope everyone has a great night and I'll pray for all of us in need.

Dennis - I saw a news report highlighting a new way doctors are performing heart surgery.  It is called a mini-pass and the surgeon only makes an 8 cm incision to perform the surgery.  It is very amazing that the procedure does not require breaking bones and costs much less than the usual method.  However, the most remarkable part to me is that the patient's heart is beating the entire time.  The report stated only six doctors in the world perform this surgery.

Sayonara,

Joe

[laz 57]

Hi GUYZ,

   44 here going up to 70.  Sold some of my MTH engines on the OGR forum now gotta pack them and send them out by UPS.  Making some room in the train room.

SOURBRIDGE, getting the big stuff in on the fires.  Saw it last nite on NBC News.  Stay safe.

Stay frosty,

laz57

[laz 57]

JOEY D,

  They are playing baseball in Japan.  Batter up!

laz57

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill RR....

It is a cloudy 46 degrees. Going up to 76 today with a chance of rain.

Today is an easy day. Chores to do and a project to finish up. Then, I can relax and read the new CTT mag. Maybe run trains. And a nap.

Dining car has rolled in with an omlet for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Wednesday.

Chuck

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 58° and partly cloudy with patchy fog. The high will be 85° with south winds at 5 mph.

I don't feel like I'm completely over whatever it was but I feel much better than I did yesterday.

Yesterday I dug out my old MRC Synchro Sound box and decided I'd hook it up for a while. Well I promptly discovered I'd completely forgotten how to hook the dang thing up! I couldn't find the instruction sheet so I looked it up on the net. Found it easily enough and downloaded it. The listing for the CV's was handy for setting it up for my purposes. The horn and bell and some of the associated noises I can get along with but that constant prime mover racket gets annoying fast. For the moment it's connected via alligator clips to the end of a dead end spur. It's OK for use once in a while but it's going to be disconnected most of the time. Today I'm still running the troublesome trio. Seems like I have all the bugs programmed out. But you know how that goes. Just when you think you got it old Murphy pops up and smacks you right between the eyes! Today I might see how many cars it will pull. They're so darn heavy they'll probably pull everything I have. They already won a tug-o-war with a trio of Proto 2000 E units. They ripped the coupler out of the end one!