Coffee Pot #1 January 2013 SIX years [April 1 is Anniv.] 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

[krapug1]

Morning All:

We have had some interesting weather here in Wine Country.

2 weeks ago, we had temps in the 50's, last week it was barely about a high of 20, and yesterday it was almost 60.

Strong storms moved through last night, and the gusts blew out 2 windows in the barn (where the trains are).  

After some unexpected carpentry work, I'm now off to the real job.

 

Ken

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is windy in SE Indiana with temps in the 20s.  Played soccer last for hour and a half.  Lots of kids for the first hour and did not get much running in.  Last half hour was with smaller group and got lots more running and touches on the ball.  Reminds me that life can be worth living every once in a while.  Going to Kokomo train show Saturday, weather permitting.  Three day weekend again as I have dental appointment on Monday.  TBIL after Glee tonight and I can drive.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[lion88roar]

Mornin' fellas

I created a new account... just couldn't keep away.

Just popping in to say HI and provide a quick update on the adoption. We will be heading out on Saturday to make the drive to FL. They have scheduled the birthmother to be induced on Monday.

[railhead53]

Good Morning Everybody! It's cold, but the sun is up!

Fed the birds and am not going to delay getting down to the train room to go to work.  Haven't been all that productive the last couple of days and have a lot I want to do.

Kev, you feeling better today?

Blueberry RR - I guess I didn't notice the "pop-ups" other than that first one giving you a chance to subscribe when you first log on.  I have to pay more attention I guess.

Bob, those 0-8-0's are very nice locomotives.  The new ZW-L is very nice as well.  I agree it  is an expensive transformer and  it took me sometime to decide to purchase one.  I  figure this transformer may very well be one of the last transformers I ever buy (although I kind of hope not).  I do think it will help to protect the electronics in my newer locomotives.  It is kind of  like a ZW on steroids with other benefits as well.  It should last me a lifetime and is like a long term investment in my hobby.  My locomotives respond very well to it and that means a lot to me.  Hopefully fifty years from now people will look at it like they do the old ZW although, with the fast pace of technology today, that is not as likely to be the case.  Anyway, I have been real pleased with it and wouldn't have any problem recommending it to others.

Ok guys, I want to get busy working on the railroad.  Have a great day!  Bo   

 

 Visit my website Bo's Trains at http://www.bostrains.com 

[sir james I]

Well from 61 yesterday to 26 this morning. Also some snowflakes floating around. I have been out, done the errands, came home and locked the door. I am stayin in, I hope. A good group on chat last night misc. items discussed. . . S.J.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  Temps dropping.  Windy [but not as bad as last night].  Put the American Flag back up.  Think one shingle blew off of the Box.  Can't get up there to see as Grady [neighbor] has my ladder on a job he is doing.  He is bringing it back and he will fix with some spare shingles I have.

Electrical inspector came to see job on heat pump.  Was a buddy that hangs out at Town Hall [we contract with the County to use their inspectors].  He spent more time playing trains with me than inspecting.   Of course, it passed.  It really heats up the Box compared to the old one. 

Off to the lake house to see if any damage up there.  Back tomorrow afternoon.  Mayors' free hockey game [private box and free food] at Canes tomorrow night.

Had a few limbs down here, outside chairs blown over and yard flags blown off holders.  Beside the single, nothing serious.

High tomorrow is 39.  

Have a good one.

PS: moved my popup blocker to high.  Now I have to approve a few things I want to see but works great.  No popups here.

[KRM]

Bo, Thanks, yes I am feeling better today once I got to moving around but like SJ, after going out to the shed to get a hole saw I don't plan on going out again unless I have to.

Here is a first look at rough draft # 1 for the extension of the main outer loop. This will require 3 special cut track sections. This will let me park some long consist on both legs. No ideas yet on the inner loop or elevated loop.

Thoughts and observations anyone??

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rtraincollector]

Looking great kev I would thou concider another set of tunnels and put them right next to the ones you have over the inner track to make double tunnels under the mountain. Any thought of making a lift bridge and connecting the other end ( the one you walk thru) to the main table that way also?

Still looking great.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

KRM

Looking good so far Kev.

[KRM]

  back Brent, Glad you decided to return. Best of luck with the trip and adoption in Florida next week.

RT, I don’t plan on a lift bridge because I will be able to reach everything fine like it is. I am thinking about putting a pocket under the bridges maybe 10 or 11" deep building a ravine and doing a curved trestle bridge on the front track and maybe moving the hobo campsite into the bottom of the pocket. But I will need to learn a lot on how to use plaster cloth and that kind of stuff first. Same with building the tunnel. So it will be a slow go. Sandra wants a small town scene on this side. I just finished drilling all of my holes under the table for running the wires and cleaned up that mess. Now for some lunch.

[lion88roar]

Kev - looks good... few suggestions - after learning the hard way. (comments based on perspective in 1st photo)

1. If you can move that new table 1 - 1.5 feet to the left you'll be happy you did.
2. If you can add 1 foot to the front of the table - again - you'll be happy you did.
3. Your inside siding is too close at the top to give you enough room to effectively scenic a mountain...

Move the switch at top to the right, just inside the edge. After 1 straight section, start an incline (3/4 inch per foot rise) up to 4.5 inches, keep the inside loop about 4 inches from the outer loop (the spacing between the tracks on the left, and maybe move that outer track 1.5 inches closer to the edge). Your inner loop would pass beyond the leg back to the right and curve back inside itself, and as soon as you are past that point start descending and back under to the leg to the right. Move the switch on the right so it comes off the straight, instead of the curve... This would give you the look of a small platue on the new expansion. You could also put a small logging line on your mountain...

[SPMan]

Good morning all,

Just got back with wife from eye doctor.  She had some laser treatment to gid rid of some debris left over from old cataract surgery.  She was in for one and a half hours so I went for breakfast while I was waiting and to kill time.  Just went to the close by Golden Arches and had their deluxe breakfast since it only cost a little more than just pancakes.  Weather is warming up to the 70's during the day this week.  Nice for walking and working in the garage/train room.

Kev, layout addition is looking good.  Looks like you will have room there for some accesories/buildings etc. that have a big footprint.  I lack that on my pike.  I have very little room left for buildings.

Have a good day,

Ray

 

 

 

 

[railhead53]

Welcome back Brent!

Kev, I stopped to for a little lunch.  Just put a small pizza in the oven.  I like RT's idea about making it a double track tunnel.  I think you'll enjoy making the mountain and ravine.  You may want to add a siding or two a for mine or industry so that you can switch cars once in awhile.  I'm really thinking you need a place for all those ore cars!   

After lunch I'm going to go out to get a sheet of hardboard.  Using it to make strips to fit in between my yard tracks so I can level the ground with the ties on my MTH Realtrax.  Because of the plastic roadbed and the fact that it may (II hope not) on ocassion have to be pulled up  I don't want to use plaster between the tracks or it would be murder I think trying to get them up. For a long time I debated doing this, but finally decided that for appearance sake I would give it a try. 

Have a good afternoon.  Pizza is done.  Bo   

 

 Visit my website Bo's Trains at http://www.bostrains.com

[SPMan]

ChiefEagles

Electrical inspector came to see job on heat pump.  Was a buddy that hangs out at Town Hall [we contract with the County to use their inspectors].  

Chief, nice to have a friend for an inspector.  The heat pump sounds like a good one.  I'm still putting up with my old one which doesn't work sometimes.  It has gone out of warranty and you can't get parts.  However it still cools in summer but heating is hit or miss.

Got any new layout pictures from the box lately?

Ray

 

 

[Lehigh Valley 2089]

KRM

Bo, Thanks, yes I am feeling better today once I got to moving around but like SJ, after going out to the shed to get a hole saw I don't plan on going out again unless I have to.

Here is a first look at rough draft # 1 for the extension of the main outer loop. This will require 3 special cut track sections. This will let me park some long consist on both legs. No ideas yet on the inner loop or elevated loop.

Thoughts and observations anyone??

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks good so far.

Brent, back!

 

[wrconstruction]

 good after noon every one.  guess its a tad late for lunch.  just got out of an all day meeting. left with a deal "up in the air" I hate that

supposed to know tommorow maybe. 

either poop or get off the pot is what I say.

I was hoping every one at the meeting would go out to lunch afterwords, but I guess we had enough of each other for the day.

 

glad to see every ones doing as well as can be

Ryan

[RedfireS197]

Brent,

               back.

[dougdagrump]

8ntruck

Jeffrey - A friend of mine was driving east in Michigan's upper pinnesula during the storm that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald in Lake Superior.  He was driving a '72 GMC Blazer doing about 70 running with the wind.  Said it felt like he was only doing about 20 when he rolled the window down and stuck his arm out the window.  Said he got great gas mileage on that trip, too.  Wind is interesting to drive in.

All for now.

Afternoon All.

8N, You should have seen me on my first cross-country flight during my flying lessons. Flight plan was to leave San Diego cross over the mountains to our east land at Borrego Springs have lunch and return. Unfortunately MotherNature decided to throw a monkey wrench into the plan. Got to Borrego springs and the winds had shifted considerably from original forecast so my plane was approaching the runway kinda like a crab walks. Lunch was canceled but to be considered a Cross Country I had to get at least one wheel to touchdown on the runway, requirement accomplished but upon return to San Diego I had to go to the head to check my skivvies.

For Peggy .

submmbob, There are two models of the Goat Canyon Trestle at the museum, one on "N" scale layout and one on the "HO" scale layout. Absolute beauties but I think I would be in the looney bin if I tried to build one.

Welcome Home Brent. Prayers that everything goes well on Monday.

Having a problem with TMCC on one of my K-Line Mikes, it absolutely refuses to do anything other than show signal issues at the museum but at home it runs flawlessly. Continuity checks good on the handrail antennaes so it has me a bit befuddled.

Back to the workbench.

Later.

 

[KRM]

lion88roar

Kev - looks good... few suggestions - after learning the hard way. (comments based on perspective in 1st photo)

1. If you can move that new table 1 - 1.5 feet to the left you'll be happy you did.
2. If you can add 1 foot to the front of the table - again - you'll be happy you did.
3. Your inside siding is too close at the top to give you enough room to effectively scenic a mountain...

Move the switch at top to the right, just inside the edge. After 1 straight section, start an incline (3/4 inch per foot rise) up to 4.5 inches, keep the inside loop about 4 inches from the outer loop (the spacing between the tracks on the left, and maybe move that outer track 1.5 inches closer to the edge). Your inner loop would pass beyond the leg back to the right and curve back inside itself, and as soon as you are past that point start descending and back under to the leg to the right. Move the switch on the right so it comes off the straight, instead of the curve... This would give you the look of a small platue on the new expansion. You could also put a small logging line on your mountain...

Thanks Brent.

I like the idea of moving the switch farther to the right and raising that inner spur run. As far as moving the table that is kind of out because I am at the limit I can go because we want to build a wall to divide the basement at some point. her side and mine.   (Maybe never??? )    I also have no idea what or how to do scenery that is why I call my layout the Flat Line.    I am a wrench, not a saw guy so it will be trial and error, mostly error I am afraid..     I also want to kind of keep a post war small town 60s theme on this side.

 Hey DougDG,,,,,,,,, want to make a bridge???    

 

[AF53]

Thanks everyone for the prayers for Cathy's sister. She had a portion of her kidney removed Laproscopically. They say they got it all. She was only 52 in January and coupled with Cathy losing her brother 2 years ago from cancer we are all watching this closely.

Updates to follow. 

[lion88roar]

Kev - I used to be the same way... till I saw Fife's layout then I was determined to change that.

What I did was laid the track on flatboards, then took a pencil and drew where I wanted the transitions to be, then broke out the sabre saw and went to work. To get the risers I just cut 1x stock to the height I needed from the top of the support beams and added the height of the support beams. Then it was just a matter of going under the layou and putting them in place. Then back up top to install the ceiling tiles and then the track. Once you have the super structure built you have something to attach your lattice for the plaster cloth. What you have to remember is nature isn't perfect so you can't do scenery wrong. You aren't building a hirail layout so why worry about it anyway? I know my scenery isn't 'perfect' but I'm not a full time artist and I'm color blind so I just make it look the way I want it and go from there... currently I have a lot of exposed plaster cloth so I guess for now I'm building a seasonally confused layout.

If you don't want to use plaster cloth and have a lot of old newspaper try this:

cut or tear the paper into strips 1" to 2" in width, larger if you like. Get a large shallow basin and mix a paste of flour and water. You can tint the paste with latex paint if you wish. Pull the paper through the paste and squeeze the excess off between your fingers, lay the strips over your lattice. My father did this years ago to build a mountain for our Christmas layout. Turned out pretty good.

[anjdevil2]

Brent  = Welcome back....missed you being here.

Went to a viewing/memorial service for a friends Mom.  I hadn't seen him for 20+ years...the guys that are still living  here and a friends ex wife (they parted as friends and she's like an adopted sister) came in for support.  They practically had to throw us out.  We're going to set up a dinner for us (ok, I've been told I'M doing the set up...) so we have more time to catch up.....one of my friends is 3 months remove from brain surgery, benign tumor...thank God..

AF-Ray: Prayers for your SIL...glad they caught it.

Stormed last night, high winds and a fire call woke me up at 330, found that we lost power as well.  Started out warm, at 61, down to 41 at 5 when I left work...and snow flurries tomorrow...

Kev - looking good

Devils - Islanders tonight....

Be back later if I'm awake

[dougdagrump]

My TMCC problem has been resolved, pulled it aprt checked all wiring etc and put it back together. Powered it up ran fine hit aux1 & 9 for smoke and instant stink and stoppage, fried boards problem resolved. Boy these things stink when they fry !

[sir james I]

It's a wintery 22 degrees with snow squalls. A sad morning on I-75 just south of Detroit, a big pile up due to a sudden white out caused the death of 3 people.  Two were just children from Canada. Earlier news reported 4 dead. I got my taxes done today,  just like knowing it's done and over  with. I shall wait for the thingy and the banilla can stay froze on the porch..S.J.

[KRM]

Very sad SJ, A white out and people with no idea to, or to slow down,, then children always seem to have to pay the price. Makes me sick. TBIL, Later gang.

[8ntruck]

Cloudy, windy and in the mid 20's today.

DDG - Your flight reminds me of one I was on as a passenger.  It was years ago on a 'blue goose' (North Central Airlines?) Convair 580 turbo prop flight north out of Lansing.  There was a stop in Pelston.  On final approach, I glanced out of the window and noted that I could see the runway - I was sitting in a seat over the wing!  That pilot was good.  It was a pretty smooth landing, considering the cross wind he was coping with.

Just for kicks, I found that my left front tire was flat when I got to my car to go home.  It was cold, windy and I was hungry.  I called my wife to pick me up.  I'll fill up my air tank, drive my truck and deal with the tire tomorrow.

The B&LE boxcar I won for cheap on ebay arrived today.  Cheap car, but neat markings and very colorful.

All for now.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

It's been a long day. Wind yesterday hauled my cable down so it's hanging low over the road. I called Suddenlink about and they said they'd TRY to send someone BEFORE Monday. I hope nobody comes by with a motor home or a high truck before then. Relatives said they'd bring me something to eat from town. That was three hours ago. So far no-show. I'm about to say the heck with it and grab a snack then head for the bed.

Time to call it a night. See y'all sometime tomorrow.

[KRM]

Wake up Chief!!!! Change the POT!!!

[Brutus]

AF53 - sure hope the surgery was a complete success, cancer is so scary!

Hi Brent - glad to see you aboard, sir!!!

Kev - layout is looking great!

SJ - sorry to hear about that accident and esp the deaths.  My friend's husband was stuck behind a 50 car pileup coming back from Indy today, not sure if there were fatalities.  I finally got all my paperwork, so I can do taxes this weekend I guess.

Well - Char learned that with sequester she will be laid off 1 day a week for 21 weeks.  That will cost us quite a bit of money, so York is off for 2013.  Sorry guys.  Maybe 2014 in April?  I have the week scheduled off, so if things change I might still be able to swing it, but it sounds pretty doubtful.  I know this is small potatoes compared to people who have lost their jobs; but the difference is that we have a booming business and there is money, but we are told we haven't suffered enough so they hit us in the eye anyway - while giving themselves a raise.  My pay has gone down about $5K a year overall in the past 3 years due to getting a promotion (eek) and increases in insurance and etc.  I'm grateful to have a good job and feel I do good work for my customers, but sometimes this is just very aggravating.

TARDIS is ready and we have banilla - so let's go!

[sir james I]

KRM

Wake up Chief!!!! Change the POT!!!

He's probably full of popcorn and asleep in his chair.