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Coffee Pot #2 Febuary 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. Farina for the REB'S Locked

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Posted by Lehigh Valley 2089 on Saturday, February 16, 2013 3:05 PM

RedfireS197

Jake,

           That's a tough one.  I think we can rule out the whistle controller in your RW since other whistles work with it.  The first thing I would do at this point is to test the whistle by itself.  Disconnect the one wire from the field to the relay and connect it to one transformer post, then connect the wire from the other transformer post to the terminal on the brushplate where the wires to the rollers are soldered. Those wires can be left alone for this test.  If the motor runs, we can turn to the relay next.

I think that the problem is actually very simple for some reason. I just tested the 6466W alone, and it worked well. However, I found that it seemed to work too well, since the whistle didn't go quiet after I released the whistle button. However, it stopped a second after I released the button. I then put on the work bench to see what the heck was happening, and the relay switch seemed to like to "hang in there" or just not move up and complete the circuit, causing what I described earlier. So lack of cleaning and lubing appears to be the reason why it isn't always working. I've already cleaned the motor, so I know that wasn't it.

Sometimes it bothers like I explained, sometimes it works perfectly. Maybe there's an intermittent short somewhere in the tender. I haven't found one, but will keep looking.

The Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Route of the Black Diamond Express, John Wilkes and Maple Leaf.

-Jake, modeling the Barclay, Towanda & Susquehanna.

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Posted by RedfireS197 on Saturday, February 16, 2013 1:52 PM

Jake,

           That's a tough one.  I think we can rule out the whistle controller in your RW since other whistles work with it.  The first thing I would do at this point is to test the whistle by itself.  Disconnect the one wire from the field to the relay and connect it to one transformer post, then connect the wire from the other transformer post to the terminal on the brushplate where the wires to the rollers are soldered. Those wires can be left alone for this test.  If the motor runs, we can turn to the relay next.

Jim

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Posted by KRM on Saturday, February 16, 2013 12:42 PM

Hudson#685

Jake, I missed the part where the transformer light comes on. Sometimes mine will either speed up or the E unit will shift to neutral. I would check it out deeper like Jim said. Let us know how you make out.

John

 LV Jake, Like John I too missed the part where the light comes on. Now that is a problem.Bang Head Hmm

JimmyT knows those RW pretty good. Maybe he knows.

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Posted by Hudson#685 on Saturday, February 16, 2013 12:30 PM

Jake, I missed the part where the transformer light comes on. Sometimes mine will either speed up or the E unit will shift to neutral. I would check it out deeper like Jim said. Let us know how you make out.

John

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Posted by Hudson#685 on Saturday, February 16, 2013 12:26 PM

Good Afternoon! A mix of snow and rain here, like the Chief said, black ice later.

AF53, Ray, I just started to uncover it when it started snowing. Tomorrow or Monday is another day. So I cleaned the turtle tank in the rec room, stoked the fire and had lunch, left over Trenton style pizza from the Shady Rest! Playing with , umm I mean working on my trains. I may work on the inventory or just have fun! I decided to work on Doray to make the 646 and passenger cars a birthday present, after I check them out throughly. I started on her this morning before she left to open the store. We have to take a ride down there in the near future.

Jake: I have had problems with the whistles/horns with my Lionels since I could remember. There are many factors and I found that one may work well with a particular transformer and another will not. Sometimes on a layout you have to do like Kevin said, to find the sweet spot. Push the button a little at a time until the whistle sounds. I found that sometimes pushing it all the way will do like you described. I found that with my RW, LW, 1033, TW and ZW Transformers and different layouts and track, Diesel Engines and tenders. Good luck.

Enjoy the afternoon!

John

 

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, February 16, 2013 12:21 PM

Well this morning I got decoder in the CN C420 changed out. It now has a Digitrax DZ125. This loco is one of my Frankenlocos and as such it's an unusual looking thing. It's a Lima C420 body on a Stewart AS16 frame resting on Proto 2000 FA1 trucks that have Athearn blue box worms and shaft couplings. It's powered by an Athearn motor with hex flywheels. I made the drive shafts by gluing pieces of hex shafts into pieces of blue box shafts. Originally the steps of the Lima loco were part of the trucks. I cut them off of the trucks and super glued them to the bottom of the body shell. So looking at the front and rear of the loco there's no pilot facings, just the coupler with the steps to either side.

As an additional project I installed body mounted Kadee 148 couplers on a metal framed Mantua tank car.



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Posted by KRM on Saturday, February 16, 2013 11:54 AM

Jake with my old RW you had to find the sweet spot on the botton of it to work.

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, February 16, 2013 11:47 AM

Lehigh Valley 2089
I don't get any kind of response from the tender, locomotive, cars if I have passenger cars, and the transformer's light comes on. I'm thinking that there might be a short somewhere in the system, and don't feel comfortable rebuilding the relay.

From what you describe I wouldn't be at all surprised if the relay IS what's shorting out and tripping your overload/short indicator. One of my friends had a similar problem with a Lionel whistling tender. He decided he could live without the whistle and pulled the relay and other pieces out and that was the end of that.

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Posted by Lehigh Valley 2089 on Saturday, February 16, 2013 11:24 AM

Redfires197,

 

Man, where to start?

Well, when I push down on the whistle button on my RW, it starts to work, but then everything just kinda quits. After that, I don't get any kind of response from the tender, locomotive, cars if I have passenger cars, and the transformer's light comes on. I'm thinking that there might be a short somewhere in the system, and don't feel comfortable rebuilding the relay. It is a 6466W, my 6466WX and 2466WX work well with the RW.

The Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Route of the Black Diamond Express, John Wilkes and Maple Leaf.

-Jake, modeling the Barclay, Towanda & Susquehanna.

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Posted by AF53 on Saturday, February 16, 2013 10:38 AM

Good Morning All!

Cloudy and a 50% chance of something, just don't know what yet. My guess is a mix.

Kev - Don't mess around with what the doctors recommend. They know more than you or me. Just be glad you're ok.

As I type it just started to snow so, HudsonJohn, I hope you serviced that splitter by now, or you're in the garage.

Ray

Bayville, NJ

 

Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans - John Lennon

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Posted by KRM on Saturday, February 16, 2013 10:10 AM

NEWS FLASH! 1.0

1" of snow expected in Roseyville NC. National guard has been called out in force to contron the panic in the streets help people figure out how to walk and drive. Major problem is most,  none of the NC National Gaurd can drive in snow.

The Roseyville mayor (AKA Chief Eagles) has asked his President for federal aid and Northern troops to save the NC National Gaurd, to help with cost to clean up the snow and restore order in the town. He has also asked FEMA for a supply caravan of Grits to be delivered.

 Word has it, the storm was started by a Yankee agent name of Chuck. Whistling

Laugh

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Saturday, February 16, 2013 9:51 AM

Headed north to attack CHUCK.  Turned his snow cannon this way.  Snowing hard.  Was not suppose to snow hardly at all and later this evening.  Wasn't suppose to rain until about noon.  Started raining at 8.  Snow and rain at 9.  Snowing hard at 10.  Might get an inch on grass but ground and highways too warm right now.  Getting on the road soon, as it is suppose to turn freezing later tonight.  Black ice tomorrow.  Can't you Yanks keep your weather up NAWTH. Bang Head

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Posted by Hudson#685 on Saturday, February 16, 2013 9:45 AM

Pat:

I planned my retirement from the beginning of my carrer, through encouragement of saving by purchasing company stock before the 401K and other retiremnent savings plans where available to us (Thanks Artie Johnson and Ray Rahill, RIP). These 2 seasoned gents showed me how to save and not miss it and make a game out of it. I started at $15 a week in 1972, when my starting salary was $3.57 an hour, by having a direct deduction from my paycheck into the employee stock purchase plan. I increased it accordingly and when the 401k was available to us in the 1990's, I set my sights on a retirement age of 59 1/2. and I did it almost to the day. I also observed and learned from peoples triumphs and mistakes. There are pros and cons of reversed mortgages that I observed. I had thought of it also. The pros are what you said this morning. I could not agree with you more. The negative side that I observed and these are real people:

Bill T: His inlaws were great people. They could not do enough for their 5 kids. To pay for elaborate weddings and to enjoy life after retirement, they took out a reverse mortgage. All was fine for years. His father in law would work a part time job to boost the income. They never told the kids about the reverse mortgage. 1 son lived at home. He had a "heart murmur" and never really worked. The father told Bill when he was close to dying that he screwed up and spoiled "Danny". He then told Bill how they were broke and about the reverse mortgage. The mother in laws health also was deteriated and she had to be put in a nursing home. If there was no mortgage on the house she could have gone into a really nice home. Since they had nothing she was put into a State run home.

Gene K: Gene retired at 64, was a cancer survivor at 55, started a 401k too late and too little. Always lived beyond his means. He and his wife took a reverse mortgage, with Gene getting a part time job as a parking enforcement official with his town to boost his income. He retired 4-1-2010. He bought a new Mustang GT, a 22ft boat, his wife a new Nissan Murano and a host of other things. He was diagnosed with brain cancer September, 2010. He died 11-11-2011. He also did not take the survivorship option with his pension. Result: his wife has no equity and only SS. She can not afford to live in their house.  

Pat, these are the first 2 to come to mind. I know of others who used it to their advantage. Everyone has a different situation.

Good luck with your decision.

John

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Posted by sir james I on Saturday, February 16, 2013 9:20 AM

Temp is 23 with sun.

Not much new since last night so I'll tell our "other forum" friends that Breakfast was eggs, hash browns, 1 bacon and 1 toast. Granny talked me into buying a pair of soft shoes yesterday, I never wore any except years ago when they were known as tennis shoes. They are very lite weight so maybe I can have them broke in for York. Yes I plan to be there gonna give Laz a tongue lashing for deserting us...S.J.

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

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Posted by Hudson#685 on Saturday, February 16, 2013 9:04 AM

Good morning! 38 with a high of 38 at Bayville, NJ, with s--w on the way, or at least in the forecast.

Today it is service the log splitter and if the weather holds out split some wood. I have about 3/4 of a chord split, and plenty to split. I let it dwindle down because we are moving the wood cribs and redoing the layout of the yard. I have burnt a lot of wood this winter. The thermostat is set at 60 and the house is 72. Thanks to Sandy I have enough oak to least at least 3 years. Hmm, the wife opens the store at noon, maybe I will take a lunch break and take a ride South to check out that 646 and passenger cars. It has been in the shop over a year, and the price was dropped down to a workable price. The wheels are turning.

Everyone in the cross hairs of this latest storm front be careful.

Chief: Safe trip.

Fife: Good luck with the 4-4-0 quest.

Chuck, I had my Cheerios.

Jeffrey: Looks like clean up day for you.

Blownout Cylinder: Careful driving and enjoy your friend and his trains. Bringing any of yours?

Have a Great Day!

John

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Posted by KRM on Saturday, February 16, 2013 9:02 AM

Good morning bright sun but not yet 20 degrees yet.

Thanks guys for all of the concerns. Having the granddaughter over this weekend makes it all worth it. Our daughter is paying off the promissory note today and getting her first car loan without my cosign. A big deal for both of us. I am proud of her.

Well I got to get back to being grandpa,

Yous guys have a good day.

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Posted by LawsonFarmsRR on Saturday, February 16, 2013 8:40 AM

RockIsland52

V8Vega
Lawson Farms I have read articles in the newspapers where Reverse Mortgages are great for some people and bad for others, I don't remember why but I would google it and try to find the pros and cons.

Pat.........  let me first praise you for asking a question that is on the minds of every person here on the POT looking ahead and wondering how to most effectively set themselves up for retirement, how to best use ALL of the assets and benefits we have bought and paid for and are entitled to.

This topic came up when I noted that my FIL (91) and MIL (89) see their retirement income (pension, SS, and savings/investments) getting annihilated by costs they never dreamed of a half century ago.  Staying in their home is their objective.  Paying the monthly freight to do so while making the nest egg last is their challenge, just like it is for all retirees.        

Most of us more "seasoned" guys were brought up (brainwashed) with the philosophy that you must to pay off all debt (preferably asap) and be debt free when you pass.  Home and property were an untouchable, sacrosanct forced savings.... brick, mortar and dirt you could not or should not spend.  That we owed it to our kids to pass on an inheritance. 

The fact of the matter is, first and foremost, WE DESERVE the benefit, comforts, and peace of mind of the fruits of our labors.  We earned it.  We sacrificed for it.  And we should be placing our children behind us, second on the stack, not on the top of it. 

We are living longer.  The resulting financial pressures later in life, driven by health, our ever-rising overhead, and the tax/ fee burdens have radically changed the game, have gotten worse.  So despite what we were taught, the reverse mortgage can and should be an integral part of our financial planning in our golden years, even if we don't intend to, or have to, tap into this savings.  I suspect many of us will.  We have to live somewhere.  Why not our homes if we can?

Germain to this discussion are home and property values.  They tanked 4-5 years ago.  The trough/bottom has generally been reached in most geographical locations.  And home equity (home and property value) is finally on the slow rise, may take 5+ more years to get back just to where property values were in, say, 2008.  If you graph property values for the past 60 years, you will find that they have over the long haul always increased.  So while you remain in your home, and perhaps drawing down your home equity with a reverse mortgage, you are simultaneously realizing a positive return/offset..... the recovery of your home and property equity status in the real estate marketplace.  

(1)  For the vast majority, reverse mortgages are the real deal.  They do not follow "It is too good to be true" philosophy  You are essentially loaning yourselves (you and spouse) your own money from your accrued home/property equity. 

You don't surrender title to and ownership of your property.  You and your wife remain living in your home.  You (or your heirs) just owe what you borrowed which will become your heirs' responsibility after you are both gone, whether they want to sell off the property or choose to retain it. 

Yes, you are still responsible for maintaining the home, paying the utilities, and paying the property taxes to keep the reverse mortgage terms satisfied.  The cons of a reverse mortgage are few.  With the right up front advice and choices, these can largely be avoided. 

(2)  Read and then read some more.......but gravitate toward the more recent articles and those written by non-profit organizations and for profit national periodicals who have less/no vested interest in mortgages and your decision.  

Banks and loan originators are selling the loans to make a profit while Money magazine, AARP, and like organizations are more interested in providing sound guidance (and readership).  With all of the articles, take what they say as a guideline, not fact.  The folks writing the articles are not necessarily experts at what they write or what they think they understand from their research and interviews.  Oftentimes they just plagiarize what others have written, correct or incorrect.. 

On the first pass, don't let yourself get overwhelmed in the details.  I'd print out some articles, highlight stuff, put question marks if you don't quite understand, with particular attentiion to your (say) top 3-5 wants and needs, short and longer term.   

(3)  Income and estate tax implications:  DO NOT take as gospel truth what is written in the IRS tax code.  The government's income tax code can (and does) conflict directly with the government's own revenue code; and the revenue code trumps the former in tax court.  A tax advisor knows where.  There are reverse mortgage options better suited for your particular situation.   

I would highly recommend that you pay your/a tax advisor for the best way for you to proceed short and long term, and the best timing for you.  Your tax advisor can explain reverse mortgage tax deductibility (who gets the deductions, you or your heirs, when, and how), for the up-front costs (mortgage origination fees, closing costs, and reverse mortgage insurance where applicable), and for the reverse mortgage interest payments (simply deductions from your equity).            

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0192-reverse-mortgages

http://www.smartmoney.com/taxes/income/would-a-reverse-mortgage-affect-my-taxes/

http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/articles/money/financial_pdfs/hmm_hires_nocrops.pdf

http://www.reversemortgage.org/GetHelp/MostFrequentlyAskedQuestions.aspx

I am not a certified financial planner.  I am not a tax expert nor an estate planning expert. 

I determined long ago that tax and estate planning matters were becoming far too complex and were changing too quickly (every year) for me to remotely believe I could or should be the expert in these disciplines.  If I were to try and do this stuff myself, it would be kind of like:  "An attorney who represents himself has a fool for a client." 

Yes, earlier on I moved to filing long form, then graduated from paper and pencil to Turbo Tax software.  But the first year I used a tax expert, he wound up finding me lost money on previous returns (refiled, refunds).  Always saves me more money than I spend on the actual tax preparation, always gives me sound advice on how to prepare for the coming year, and provides considerations for the longer term.    

So I "buy" the expertise I am deficient in.  What I pay to my tax and estate advisors is very short money versus what they save me in the short and longer term.  And they do it knowledgeably and legally.  Plus their services are mostly tax deductible. Thumbs Up

Jack

Jack: Thank you for the very detailed answer to my question. Very sage advice. You have obviously looked in to it in depth. I checked your references and we are leaning towards a reverse mortgage as the best way for us to go in retirement.

I agree that we earned the equity and our kids come second to our retirement. Besides we have enough equity, fortunately, to live comfortably in retirement and still leave the kids a substantial amount.

I realize the bank (or whom ever) takes a good chunk up front, but to us that is preferable to living a meager existence in retirement just so the kids can get all of that money. We earned our way and they can to.

We will ask the attorney that prepared our living trust for advice. He also specializes in reverse mortgages.

Thanks again, Jack , for the advice.

John and Jon - What problems have you seen with revere mortgages?

Pat

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, February 16, 2013 8:16 AM

Morning..

Kinda sunny but ccold out today...getting those little tiny snowflurries later on..high of 22F expected...

Got a few thing to pick up today then off to friend's to go play with his trains...lol

Have a good one!

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, February 16, 2013 8:03 AM

Good morning. It's 35° with 66% humidity. It'll be sunny with a high of 55°.


Well today I guess I'll tear into the CN C420 and rip out the Bachmann decoder that's in there and replace it with a Digitrax decoder. Other than that I suppose some layout cleanup is needed as there's locos, cars, boxes and other stuff all over. It looks kinda like the result of an explosion in a machine shop.



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Posted by Blueberryhill RR on Saturday, February 16, 2013 6:51 AM

Good Morning from Blueberryhill RR....

It is a cold 18 degrees. Going up to 32 today with a chance of snow flurries.

Today is an easy day. I have a few chores to do and then I will work on a train project. Not much else going on here. Lunch and a nap.

Where is LAZ ??

Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Saturday.

Chuck

P.S.   Almost forgot....There is a Nascar race from Daytona on TV at 8 o'clock tonite.

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
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Posted by ChiefEagles on Saturday, February 16, 2013 6:30 AM

Morning all.  Clouding up and chilly.  Rain coming and very slight chance of it turning to some snohio.

Off to the breakfast with hunting buddy.  Wives are off to the Farmers' Market restaurant and shopping.  I will go by Hunters' Haven and Todd's Train Depot before heading north to the lake house.

Have a good one.

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Posted by fifedog on Saturday, February 16, 2013 5:01 AM

Mornin' boys.  Escaped the first round of snohizo today.  Gonna spend some time with my sister today.  She's expecting in September.

Fifey don't ebay.  I use the internet to identify, but prefer YORK as my hunting grounds.  But thanks for the heads-up just the same.

rt - Probably gonna stay clear of the MPC DC Generals for now.  Wouldn't mind finding the Redwood Valley shell for a repaint project.

dwiemer - Take care of that ever growing flock.

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Posted by Brutus on Saturday, February 16, 2013 12:20 AM

Long day, but had a nice dinner at the local Mexican place with my family and my in-laws, Judy and Charlie.  Great chat after that went on until about 10:30.  I fell asleep, though!  I'll catch up with you all tomorrow, sorry for the short post and missing the thingie.  Good night - BARK!

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Friday, February 15, 2013 11:18 PM

Was 60 and sunny today.  Now here this:

There is a slight possiblility of the ugly Yankee four letter S word for late Saturday.  Will deffinately have slick icey patches Sunday AM as turning real cold.  

Up for a special breakfast tomorrow morning.  Hunting buddy and I are going to go to a special breakfast restaurant.  I am then going by Hunters Haven for a few.  Then off to the lake house for the night. 

Sleep tight.

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Posted by Hudson#685 on Friday, February 15, 2013 9:39 PM

Good Evening:

Spent the afternoon with my wife and celebrating Valentine's Day, since she had to work in the Ice Cream Shop last night. We started with a nice lunch at the Forked River German Butcher (Great Food) and then we went shopping at the shops at Smithville (just North of Atlantic City). After the shopping spree at Smithville we headed down the road to a large antique shop. She bought some glass and I checked out the venders with the trains. I almost made an offer a PW set, a 646 Hudson w/aluminum passengers cars, but I figured it is not far and sometimes it is better to do business when someone else is spending money and York is around the corner.

AF53, Ray, want to take a ride to Smithville tomorrow morning? Whistling

Ryan, I knew it was Shady Maple!

SJ: 30 mpg at 70, NICE. Wish you the best with it.

Doug M, We celebrated today also!

Fife, It is the Rock Island and Peoria. She has the cars that go with it.

DJ, Safe trip. Prayers for Linda driving down with the upcoming weather.

SPMan, Ray: Hope you feel better with the stomach and GI.

Demay, Joe: Speedy recovery for the family.

Dennis, Glad to hear from you and that everything is ok.

SubmmBob: Yes, they still have the 98 GMC Pickup that they plow with and use it for everything else. They have a jump starter and Air Compressor mounted on it for road work. Way over 200,000 miles.

LV, Jake, Nice lineup. You definitely need a Hudson. A 2055 is great. The 685 is identical. the 2065 and the 665 have different boiler fronts, otherwise the same. Good luck in your quest.

John

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Posted by sir james I on Friday, February 15, 2013 9:19 PM

Temp is 30, looking at a chilly weekend below 30.

Jim the car is a new 2013, gas mileage may even get a little better after I get some miles on it. Has lot's of spunk for a 4 banger, I thought it was a six on our test  drive, and was very quiet on the highway. Yes I miss my P/U but granny was having a bad time getting in and out of it and when I drove we went in the truck. Spent some time at the Bass Pro Shop but didn't buy anything there. We did buy some shoes in the mall. Had some banilla with chocolate syrup and peanuts but saved some for the thingy guys...S.J.

Granny and I loved the idea of exchanging greeting cards right at the store. Well let's see her birthday is next month....Hmmmm might work.

"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 Friday, February 15, 2013 9:17 PM

I said that the BN FP7 would be tomorrows project. Well, I got bored and converted it this evening. It now has a Digitrax DH123 decoder in it. I opened up the trucks to lube them and WOW! They were already lubed. Over lover lubed as a matter of fact. Big time! The gears were swimming in grease! I mopped out as much as I could then lubed the gears lightly and snapped the trucks back together. After it was all wired and ready I programmed it and took it for a test run. Quiet as an Atlas it ain't. It sounds more like an Athearn. I discovered one additional thing. The motor was tightened down too tight and causing the flywheel to rub against the frame. Loosening it up a little took care of that. Somewhere along the way someone changed out the axle gears. I have several of these FP7's already and they all have red gears. The gearbox gears in this one are red all right but the axle gears are white. I just looked at the gears in the UP unit and it's exactly the same. My other ones the gears are of uniform color. Of course these are around thirty-five years old so they have quite a bit of use on them already. This BN unit as I said is somewhat noisy but it's a stump puller and it's quieting down the more I run it. Right now it's coupled up with my CN C420 Frankenloco and being run back and forth around the layout. Soon as the donor FP7 gets here I'll fix the UP unit and convert it to DCC.

My CN C420 Frankenloco has a Bachmann decoder in it at present. It'll soon be getting a Digitrax DZ125.



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
    December 2011
  • From: Bradford County, PA
  • 1,319 posts
Posted by Lehigh Valley 2089 on Friday, February 15, 2013 8:52 PM

anjdevil2

LV - here is half  of my first year collection:

Nice! Thumbs Up

The Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Route of the Black Diamond Express, John Wilkes and Maple Leaf.

-Jake, modeling the Barclay, Towanda & Susquehanna.

  • Member since
    March 2009
  • 1,029 posts
Posted by submmbob on Friday, February 15, 2013 8:42 PM

Hello all

Another quiet night on the mountain,  but not for long. We have 5, count 'em 5, astronomers coming up tonight for the weekend.

Fife - heard about the meteor/asteroid that is coming close. We have looked at asteroids before, but we don't do the searches for them. We have a couple of fully automated scopes up on Kitt Peak that look for near earth asteroids.Trouble is the one that is going to hit us is the hardest one to findTongue Tied

Kev - glad to hear you are ok, was a bit worried there. I went thru about the same thing about 4 years ago. Except I was on top of the mountain when it started. No problems w/ the ticker, but like you they try and rule that out first. Found I needed to watch my blood sugar and then after a year and a half they took my gall bladder out. Oh, and I love the 4WD Pinto!

John - Yeah, our '98 Chevy PU is probably our best truck. Just went over 200K recently. Very tough miles too. Driven by morons and put away wet. Has the same dumb front diff locking system, but is old enough to have a transfer case lever. That cable shift conversion for the front drive is the way to go.

Dennis - good to hear from you and glad things are going well!

Working on coming up w/ a setup w/ the circuit breaker and gauges that I can use w/ my older transformers. Found a surplus unit that at my local electrnics store that I can use for a case. Also got a beautiful surplus Triplett voltmeter circa 1955. Some day will have to hunt down a simliar one that shows AC amps. Later in the week will see if we can bring life back to the docksider from the Land of Lincoln.

The astronomers are about to invade so I better sign off here.

Bob

Tucson, AZ (aka the Ol' Pueblo)

Home of the Mt. Graham & Arizona Eastern Boiler Shops

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: Southwest Georgia
  • 5,028 posts
Posted by dwiemer on Friday, February 15, 2013 8:10 PM

Good evening everyone. Been a long busy stretch with lots of cases to do.  The kids are all doing well. We have the social worker coming by for the  six month follow up.  We will have to do several more of these as time goes on. It is a good thing in that it helps the agency track the kids, but also, we get some gems of useful information from our social worker.

we are all healthy, and with four kids, that can change quickly!  Sorry I have not been around much, just too many things of importance to keep me away.

take care and may God bless,

dennis

TCA#09-63805

 

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