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

[Lehigh Valley 2089]

Night everyone.

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

It was cloudy today in SE Indiana.  Long day at work.  Talked to daughter tonight.  One procedure Wednesday (ECPT), something with the duct work.  Gall bladder on Friday.  Will spend Saturday there and the "saucy wench" will spend the weekend there.  (Party at Mike's house Saturday night!  Not really.  Will be too tired from chasing after grandson).  Tired tonight.  RI52, 19 miles to see a girl?  Did she play soccer?  TBIL and someone else can drive.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[KRM]

ChiefEagles

 Kev, better put some plexiglass on those down hill curves or one day an engine will end up off the layout.  I have two lift ups with curves.  Lined the outer edge with plexiglass. 

SJ, You are right. If there is something there that was not there before,,,,get it checked.

Chief, I hear you. The plan is, in addition to the track pitch inward, if I can do it, is to do landscaping around the rise and that would include a slope wall behind the track on the outside that will catch the train and pitch it back in. I do need to do the Plexiglass on other parts of the layout too. This is all new to me and out here I have no help. So I am flying blind.

LV your stuff is looking Good.

 P.S. George ate tonight, Hope he is getting better. More hairball stuff to follow.

Where is Bo?

 Good night all...

[sir james I]

Temp is 28. We may actually see the sun tomorrow.

RI Jack and others If your skin is starting to have things growing on it and you start to feel like a garden for weeds, get it checked. Most skin cancers won't kill you but one type can be deadly if not removed. Don't risk it. After putting away $111 worth of eggs and bread I just kinda Laz'd and finished CTT. We still have a good supply of banilla and root beer so come on Tardis...S.J.

[RedfireS197]

fifedog

Evenin' boys.  Flurries and 43 (hey, Daytona in 19 days) here in RAVENStown, where the confetti has finally settled.  Just laying low, going to work, and that's about all.

anjdevil - Still kinda busted up.  I hope everything will work out for the better.  Grazie.

RockIsland - After a 19 miler, pretty sure a dictum wouldn't work.  Pretty sure mine would simply fall off.

Fife,

      

[ChiefEagles]

Got some errands run.  Grady shows up at 3:30 PM to do the shelter.  By the time he had it preped, had gotten dark.  Has to finish with cool seal type stuff tomorrow.

Off to Edgecombe and the farms tomorrow.  Back dark 30.  Going to look over farms and see what we are going to do with some terraces and blind ditches.  Don't think they are needed anymore.  Will fill feeders, check cameras and put in batteries.  Then we will squirrel hunt.

Kev, better put some plexiglass on those down hill curves or one day an engine will end up off the layout.  I have two lift ups with curves.  Lined the outer edge with plexiglass. 

Now for some popcorn and TV.

[fifedog]

Evenin' boys.  Flurries and 43 (hey, Daytona in 19 days) here in RAVENStown, where the confetti has finally settled.  Just laying low, going to work, and that's about all.

anjdevil - Still kinda busted up.  I hope everything will work out for the better.  Grazie.

RockIsland - After a 19 miler, pretty sure a dictum wouldn't work.  Pretty sure mine would simply fall off.

[Lehigh Valley 2089]

anjdevil2

LV - nice work on the engine.

Thank you. 

By the way, KRM, you can without doubt tell that those engines hit a grade when they got to the hill. They seem to be running smoothly. The BT&S is on 2 rails, but with a thought of building a Lionel Lines & Penn Central layout in the near future that will be on 3 rails (mostly Postwar equipment). 

[RockIsland52]

SJ......I was glad to hear you are doing OK.    You have been pretty diligent about this stuff and have convinced me to have my "abnormalities" checked out by the medical establishment.  I hope you don't have too many more ahead of you.    

Rich......glad you are feeling better.  There is no sleeping in for this boy or getting to bed early.  If I try either, the dog lets me hear about it.

Jack

[anjdevil2]

Howdy, Boys!!

I'm playing hooky today.  Was out of sorts Sunday night/Monday morning, didn't sleep and queasy....went in anyway.  It was a good thing I did, as one guy called out sick and the other was late.  Made it a productive day anyway and my boss told me to take today off and rest.  Went to bed last night at 730 and up at 8, lazed in bed until noon, had coffee, cinnamon bun and 2 biscuits.  Feel a lot better.  A nap is in my future, as well as Devils v. Rangers tonight!!

I agree, being a confirmed car guy, I can do without those "driver's aids", like lane departure, TPMS, traction control and the like.  If you own a car, it's YOUR responsibility to maintain and drive it responsibly....yeah, good luck with that.  I will depart on the subject of electronic fuel injection and computer control.  I can get in my car, start it and run off to where ever, without the luxury of using a choke and the like.  And the fuel mixture and timing are dead nuts accurate....as a car guy and automotive guru, I, quite frankly LOVE!!!!  And JimmyT, you know the benefits and pitfalls of those aftermarket tuners.  Trust me, I'd spent an afternoon on those test and tune sessions....sometimes I'd like to go back to that, but most times I'd rather be racing than wrenching.

Buckeye - glad you are ok

SJ - glad YOU are ok....

Jeffery - now, back to normal?  I'd say a mental health day is in order....sweet iced tea, feet up and boob tube the rest of the day.  I've said it before and say it again, those that have gone before us never die, they live on in our hearts.

Brutus, Chewy, HudsonJohn's Mom -

LV - nice work on the engine.

Sorry if I've missed anyone....I'm on the brink of Old Timers...either that or you guys are just too chatty.....

I may go get the mail later...eh, who knows....

Snow squalls continue, I was happy to have the sun and light when I went home last night, but happy that it was gray this morning.  The morning sun blasts in my window and disturbs my sleep...and the landlord won't allow "decorative changes..."

Hey, FIFE - You OK?

Later, boys!!!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

RedfireS197

catalytic converters, and Smart Junction Boxes to just name a few.

Catalytic convertors? Smart junction boxes? Ain't none of that stuff on mine.

[RedfireS197]

V8Vega

PS:  The younger guys on the forum can't appreciate the fact that we "seasoned" guys used to get by just fine without all of these idiot-proofing devices on cars.  Just imagine how much more reasonable the cost of a new (or pre-owned) car might be without all of these add-ons.  Or how much cheaper they would be to own and operate.

Rock Isl I couldn't agree with the above more. Also with my tenant helping me with my computer when I lost Internet Explorer a little bit ago,and also Jefferyies teaching this is my 1st copy and past from a previous post. I'm quite proud of myself.

This younger guy could do without tire pressure monitoring, Ford's drive by wire throttle, catalytic converters, and Smart Junction Boxes to just name a few.

[KRM]

Good afternoon,

You are right SJ. I use fluid in my 681 with no problems.

Thanks Jack and John for the comments on George. He did eat about half of normal amount of food this morning and Sandra gave him some hairball paste he licked off of his paw. He is wanting to be outside and hides in his Igloo all day, that tells me he is out of sorts.

Layout Update:

I have driven eight different trains over the raised area of the layout addition and none of them had a consist of less than 9 cars counting tenders and cabooses and the most was 14. None experienced any problems with the Cant or superelevation. The trains look very nice as they roll up and down over the curves as the superelevation changes from level to pitch to level to pitch and back to level.

Only one had a problem, and that was with the grade incline. It was wheel slippage with a post-war 681 pulling 12 heavy post war cars. This train is at it's limit on the flat.  I ran Lionel post-war 681, 218 & 202 ABA set, MPC, DT&I 8111, New Haven F3 AA set, Modern NS 18207 & 18213 lashed up, CSX 18214 alone. Two K-Line lashed up ALCO S2 switchers and a RMTBang.    One thing I will say is the engineer needs to be driving the trains. I also do not have any added lockons and it could use at least one. Maybe I will add one later and see how much that helps.Will keep at it.

Here is some video..

watch?v=UleH4M4wAoM&feature=youtu.be

 

watch?v=db4mSeS7oRU&feature=youtu.be

 

Going the other way

watch?v=T74vzVZZoI4&feature=youtu.be

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Well I decided I'd use the new tractor to move the old one to the back side of the machine shop. So I used a length of heavy electrical cable to hook them up back to back with the intention to pull the old one backward. I made sure the brake on the Peerless was off and the tranny was in neutral then then commenced to pulling it. The rear wheels of the old tractor skidded the whole way. The tranny was locked up! I got it to the other side of the machine shop but it was a fight. If I had tried that with the little MTD Yardman it would have just sat there spinning. It has the power but not the weight for that kind of work. Then I went to town to get some prescriptions refilled and get twenty pairs of new socks. I also picked up two cans of starting fluid for the van.

[sir james I]

Temp is 28 with some sun. Another lite snow expected. shouldn't be too far away as the streets and walks are dry and clear again. Home from having stitches removed but have a new bandage over another biopsy. The trip was expensive as granny went with me. A stop at Kroger for eggs and bread cost me $111.00 and then a tank of gas for her car.

No need to replace the smoke element, you can use smoke fluid in PW engines just go easy(3 or 4) on the drops....S.J.

[RockIsland52]

Hudson#685

Kev, Good luck to George the Cat. I hope it is just a hairball.

Amen to what HJ said for George.  My dog never skips a meal, not even after he literally inhaled one of my son's socks whole.  So for him that would mean something was amiss. 

I am not sure what the timeline is for cats from ingestion (like hair) to elimination, but for dogs it can be as much as 6 days.  It was for Maximus.  Up front the vet told us to look out for the signs of obstruction.....for changes in behavior, distress, lethargy, loss of appetite, panting, and unproductive wretching (bile only).

Jack

[RockIsland52]

cnw1995

This is crazy awesome. Can't imagine doing this in 2012 though...

Doug.......hitch hiking 44 years ago was easy, and arguably safer.  Today no one would stop and give you a lift.  And if a driver did, my more seasoned brain would be far more suspicious and worried.......unless she was good looking. 

Jack

[jeffrey-wimberly]

V8Vega

PS:  The younger guys on the forum can't appreciate the fact that we "seasoned" guys used to get by just fine without all of these idiot-proofing devices on cars.  Just imagine how much more reasonable the cost of a new (or pre-owned) car might be without all of these add-ons.  Or how much cheaper they would be to own and operate.

It seems amazing to me that no manufacturer has made an idiot-proof car that an idiot can't drive. I guess there's always a smarter idiot.

[wrconstruction]

Dennis, congrats on the sofa,  everytime I see one worthy of getting (I want one for my office, but as filthy as this place i want a freebee) It has usually rained or snowed on it by the time I see it.

 

Jack / John, I would think it would make MORE sense to have the TPM on vehicles OVER 10,000 GVW? Ever see a loaded truck blow a steer tire at 70 MPH on the interstae?

As cold and crappy as it is outside, ICE Cream sounds good.......

Ryan

[wrconstruction]

Jack you hit the nail on the head. theres NOTHING like a day or two holed up in thouse when you couldnt do anything if you wanted.   As longs as your stocked up.

any one can take a day off when ever, but its just more relaxing when the phones not ringing, and no ones bugging you.

We lost power when the hurracaine in october happen, and the wife was in complete dismay and disbelief that i hooked the train room into the generator pannel.

I, too, when we get measurable snow, have to clear an area from the cat door to woods and beyond for the cats.  they just refuse to use the litter box.  The vet said, that when  snow or something is predicted, to put potting soil in the litter boxes as opposed to litter, and they will use it.

The Farmers Almanac is calling for a big Nor Easter mid February we'll see.

slow day at work.  I dont get it yesterday was a complete Zoo in here.

Last Friday I got word we were selected on the "Big Project" I have been negotiating, then today find out the guy that approved it is no longer there, and any negotiations with him are "Mute Points"  And to make matter worse, he has a NCND with that company so he cant say anything about the deal we discussed

Pretty much how my luck goes

Ryan

[Hudson#685]

Kev, Good luck to George the Cat. I hope it is just a hairball.

[Hudson#685]

Good Morning, 31 and a dusting of snow at the Jersey Shore:

A bit of a dreary day today. This morning i will help my wife decorate the Ice Cream Shop for Valentines Day. She wants me to hang heart lights at the windows. Then it is run trains for the afternoon.

We had a house fire yesterday afternoon. The house was a goner after the stash of fireworks went off. Enough said!

Jack/Buckeye: You were both very lucky with those accidents.

Dennis: Nice deal on the couch. I keep thinking of the episode on Big Bang Theory between Penny and Sheldon with the couch or chair that she found.

8N: That 2018 sounds like a nice runner. Like you I would rather leave the nicks and tweeks. There is a story behind each.

Joe, Go for it Marathon Man!

Banks: I agree with you on the economy.

Jack, The TPM on my GMC is a joke. But they are mandated to install it on all vehicles under 10,000 GVW. The story about the girlfriend reminded me of Run Forrest Run! I remember that snow storm real well. I did not see home for a week.

Mike C: Prayers for your daughter.

Mom is doing good. She has a doctor appointment and chemo tomorrow. Thanks for the prayers and support.

Have a Great Day!

John

[KRM]

Good morning,

26 degrees with mostly cloudy skies. SOS on the North Bluff.

Not much planned for today, I will be going into town to get some very small nails to attach the hardboard decking to the risers for the superelevated section of track and then start testing it with various trains to see how it will work with the angle

George (the cat) has not been eating much for the last three days so we are giving him Hairball treatment. I am thinking he is plugged up. 

SP Ray I hope that Oxy pump works out for you.

LV, the BT&S looks good. How many rails does it run on? 

Brutus, The brain leakage has stopped just in the nick of time. I still have some left. Thanks for asking.

V8Dennis, Good call on the couch. Nothing wrong with pre-driven furniture if it is clean. After the tornado in 1990 that is all we had in the rental house we lived in till we rebuilt.

Joe, as MikeC would say. Keep on training. 

Chuck, I am with you and SJ on the weather change. I am ready.

Jack, My dad’s only rules for a car were if you want one fine but you pay for everything. My first car was sitting in the driveway two months before I was 16.

Well time for Perry Mason on ME TV.

Later guys

[cnw1995]

This is crazy awesome. Can't imagine doing this in 2012 though...

[RockIsland52]

cnw1995

........Jack, that is quite a hike to run to visit a GF. Was she happy to see you when you showed up exhausted? Did she give you a ride home?

Doug........happy to see me?  Yes, but shortly after I arrived and rehydrated I took a 45 minute nap (passed out) on her folk's family room floor.  Her Dad suggested she give me a lift home.  My Dad realized we were at loggerheads but nonetheless would not permit her or her father to get involved with our stalemate by giving me a ride home.  He did grant me dispensation to hitch hike back home.  

She lived in Riverwoods just West of Deerfield.  I hoofed it to the Route 294S entrance ramp at Deerfield Road, hitched a ride to O'Hare, and then caught a ride back into the City on the Kennedy to the Lawrence Ave. exit.  Then walked the remaining 3 miles home from there.  Cooler heads prevailed when I got home.  My Dad believed in sleeping on highly charged issues until rationality returned to the combatants.  I was beyond too tired to argue the point anyway.  In the end, the King of the castle was holding all of the cards.. 

I do recall him very calmly pointing out that if I would just apply myself with the same level of determination and persistence with things that truly count in life.......made me cool off and think.

Jack

[KRM]

RockIsland52

8ntruck

Sunny and high 40's today.

RI52 - My Cobalt is on 18" cast aluminium wheels.  Both front wheels seem to leak.  Since an aluminium casting is just a collection of voids held together by a lattice work of aluminium, I do suspect the wheels to be part of the problem.  I did have a screw in the right wheel, which I've plugged.  I've checked the left front a couple of times for FOD and found nothing.  I think the next move is to switch the wheels front fro back and see if the problem moves.  Then again, the tires are getting close to the end of their life.  I think I'll end up with some new ones later this year.

 The leak was slow but steady, but the TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) kept talking to her (warning light on dash).  The tire needed air every few weeks.  Took it in to my mechanic and he performed the soapy water approach and the leak was discovered where the sidewall of the tire intersected the rim (bead?).  He deflated the tire and reinflated it.  No go, still leaked.  So he took the tire off the rim and used a power tool to polish off any residue on the entire rim edge.  Remounted the tire and the leak was gonzo.  That was 5 months ago.  No problems since.

 8N I have to agree with Jack that if the tires have been on the rims for 3 or more years they neeed to be taken off and the rims will beed to be buffed clean and the tires reinstalled. This is a FOR SURE if you live where they salt the roads.

[RockIsland52]

wrconstruction

Good morning.  

.........As much as I am sick of winter, i would like a good 1 plus foot snow storm just as a good excuse to shack up for a day or two

Ryan

Make that two feet!!!!  I totally agree with you on this one, Ryan.  Caveat:  one has a way to move the snow without killing themselves (snowblower equal to the task), has power and heat, the cupboards are stocked (food, sinful treats, and beer inventory up to snuff), and the firewood is close by and at the ready.  It is really nice every so often to be to housebound with nothing to do and all day to do it, when the world of other responsibilities has to slow down or nearly stop.

We had a 34" storm about this time of the year a few years back.  The sustained high winds coming in off the Atlantic created 6 foot drifts up against the front (Eastern exposure) of my house and the driveway.  The city plows could not keep up, so the streets were impassable.  Think it snowed non-stop for nearly two days. 

All went really well until my wife saw me clearing out a path from the front of the house to the rear (for future heating oil deliveries).  She decided it would be a good idea if I continued excavating and snowblew a large expanse in the back yard for the freakin' dogs. 

Jack

[cnw1995]

Aloha. 18 and flurrying. My long day with class tonight. Prayers for your daughter Mike C. Nice tractor, Jeffrey! Jack, that is quite a hike to run to visit a GF. Was she happy to see you when you showed up exhausted? Did she give you a ride home?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 56° with 100% humidity and patchy fog. It'll be cloudy with a high of 72°.


Not sure what I'll be doing today. Depending on how I feel later I'll either do some work on the layout or go down and put the new tractor to work on it's first task, pulling the old Peerless tractor around to the back of the machine shop where it can be loaded for it's last ride, an all expense paid trip to Metal Mountain. Other than that I'll taking it easy today. The last week has been very busy for me and I've been pushing myself too hard and it's been having a telling effect on me. The relatives are headed back home today. I know my father will be happy about that. To him visiting relatives and old fish are pretty much the same. After a while they both begin to smell. No doubt he'll be very happy not to watch every step to make sure he won't be stepping on some toy. The last couple days getting across the great room has been like navigating a mine field.

[RockIsland52]

Demay

Konnichiwa,

.......Jack – Six-mile runs are part of the training plan.  I have had a few double-digit runs and hit 17 once during this training plan.  I plan to run 18 next week and then taper the running until the marathon.  I won’t break any records but I’ll finish just fine.  Once you can run 18 or 20 miles, you don’t need to run any farther during the training; it’s all mental at that point....... 

Sayonara,

Joe

JoeyD......I will bet some here are rolling their eyes when they read your comment about "it's all mental at that point."  Truer words were never spoken.  BTW.....when is your marathon run? 

When I had just turned 18, I had a girlfriend that lived 19 miles North of me (Deerfield IL. for DougM and Kevin).  I had to borrow my Dad's car to go see her. My dad would not permit me to own my own car while I was living under his roof.  He was absulutely convinced that there were two sure-fire things to produce poor performance in school for a hormone-jacked young lad :  girls and a car.  So I was at my Dad's mercy for transportation.  His mantra:  "Bs and wheels, nothing less."

He was of the opinion that I was overly-enamored with said girlfriend.  One day he would not "loan" me his car AND said I was not allowed to hitch hike to go see her.  Any violation and I would not see one of his cars for six months.  I was determined to show him, and I did.  Although I was training for the Winter track season, I was a sprinter and as such had no distance training under my belt.  With the Winter temperatures in the teens, I ran the entire 19 miles to her house. 

Moral of the story: never underestimate your capabilities and never underestimate the power of a determined or insane mind.

Jack

PS: My legs really barked at me for a few days after that.  So did my Dad, even though I obeyed his dictums but not his intent.