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HAPPY NEW YEAR New January Coffee Pot. 10 years old. For those to visit and chat. Open to all. Besides coffee; soft drinks, water, oatmeal and GRITS. Locked

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Posted by dougdagrump on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 6:28 PM

Howdy All.

Jon, When will you guys be in town and for how long ? Drop me an e-mail if you don't want to post to much info in public. Hope they didn't make you gain to much weight on that cruiseship.

Brent, Sounds pretty cool !

Just sitting here drinking some Ice Punch Gatorade, clear liquids, dreaming of an In-N-Out Burger with fries and a choc shake. Almost time to drink my radiator flush as Ray called it. Indifferent

Oh yeah, my figures arrived so maybe tonite between trips to the head I can start putting some passengers in the cars.  Lightning Oops  Smile, Wink & Grin

Later all.

 

Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.

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Posted by cnw1995 on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 3:37 PM

Brent, that sounds like a great purchase! 
Jon, what a wonderful trip - especially this time of year - both my boys were born in Guatemala. I lived there, and in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama for most of the 1960s.  

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

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Posted by rtraincollector on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 3:22 PM

Hey all hows it going? anybody hear from Joe in Japan lately haven't notice any post in a while so starting to wonder.

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by jonadel on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 3:18 PM

Greetings from Guatemala where it's only in the mid 80's, this is the one time I can safely say that we are warmer than the Chief in January :)  Deams do come true, a trip we've planned for years has come true and I have pics from the Panama Canal showing working electric Mule trains that show how well they work!  Home soon after a short stop in Sandy Eggo.  Sure is fun to wear shorts and t-shirts in January!.

Jon

So many roads, so little time. 

 

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 12:21 PM

Afternoon all.  Hectic morning.  Got call from Wake Med. Specialty ofc. saying my ins. company denied some medicine implant I am suppose to have tomorrow.  It will cost you $2,200.  Called ins. co. and they had not been contacted.  Called Dr's ofc. and they were "stuttering".  5 mins. later Dr's ofc. calls back apologizing and saying $30 copay.  Think someone is in trouble.  Then had to deliver a nice sum of money to High School Principal for some needy homeless students.  Donation from a person.  She cried.  During all of that, got a hair cut.  Now off to the first workout session I get free with my new health care ins.

Brent, it does tricks with me all the time.  Mine is mostly turning on bold print from somewhere.  Can't cut it off even if I leave and repost.

Ray, good luck with "exam".

Got to run.

OH, guess what?  Yes, warm and RAINING.     

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

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Posted by SPMan on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 11:06 AM

Good morning all,  finished the prep for the colonoscopy this morning.  Will go to outpatient part of hospital in about two hours from now.

MTH says no parts available for my bad order 4-8-4.  Friend of mine says he knows somebody in O scale that might be able to fabricate a gear for the engine if necessary.  Waiting for more inforomation from him.

I bought a picture frame from Goodwill industires yesterday for a large train print for the garage.  Only problem is that it is pretty heavy with wide borders of walnut wood.  I picked a lighter frame but the glass broke when the cashier was handling it at the counter so I had to pick another one.  This was the only other one big enough.  Probably wind up buying one from a frame store and trashing this thing.  So much for bargains!

later,

Ray

SPMan

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

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Posted by lion88roar on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 10:00 AM

Doug - it is an awesome runner! I had it running on an O72 loop on my basement floor (carpeted), and it was super quiet. I also couldn't get over how heavy it is! Also the detailing was impressive as well. The interiors were detailed and had passengers, and the cab I think has 3 or 4 engineers.

I hope to get some pictures and a video in the near future.

Oh - and the 4 smoke stacks.... A W E S O M E!!!!!!!

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Posted by cnw1995 on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 8:32 AM

Aloha. Looks like a sunnier day here but snow is supposed to arrive later. Hope they're wrong. Glad Doray is doing so well and you won't have to make many modifications.  Charlie, the basement is looking good! Brent, that looks like quite a runner! Never think to check the clearances for a grade - usually just focusing on curves. 

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

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Posted by lion88roar on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 8:25 AM

Mornin' Fellas

Posted yesterday but it appears the software didn't like what I had to say. Sigh

Got to play with the NPC Zephyr over the weekend. VERY nice train set! Don't think you could easily get it to navigate a grade due to the articulated cars (there is very little gap at the top due to the cars having a V shape at the top). But I am really looking forward to getting started on the new Christmas Garden for next year!

Most Alarm companies are moving away from POTS lines (landline) to Cellular as the Cellular systems have a longer battery life, are harder to 'hack' or 'cut', and are in the end more reliable. The only concern I have is during an emergency situation cellular services tend to get overloaded pretty quick. Personally if you are thinking of going cellular only you should invest in a pretty hefty battery backup as a failsafe, one that provides you at least 3 days power for the device.

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Posted by MichRR714 on Monday, January 13, 2014 10:32 PM

Buckeye Riveter
 Have you had any experience using the cell for the freeze alarm?

Buckeye,  I have not used a cellular connection such as that one on my Freeze Alarm.  I have mine connected to a bundled cable line from Charter.  I have the phone box connected to a large battery backup that provides me 12-16 hours of dial tone in a power outage.

I know if a dial tone is present my Freeze Alarm will make the call.  Wonder if that device from Verizon provides a dial tone?

Not sure about a significant difference in frost depth between Ohio and  Michigan.  I know it got darned cold though!  My place is on a crawl space, it was only going to be a matter of hours at those temperatures before I started to have some major problems.

Charlie a.k.a. MichiganRailRoad714 (Charter Member TTC)      

 

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Posted by cheapclassics on Monday, January 13, 2014 9:06 PM

Good evening all,

Chaotic day at work, but quiet evening at home.  No other news to speak of.   I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by dougdagrump on Monday, January 13, 2014 8:46 PM

John,

If it is the same one that I saw a news report about in Sylmar it took the lives of a family of four. The parents and two children, ages 12 & 7, if I remember correctly. No smoke alarms and they all died of smoke inhalation. So sad.

Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.

www.sd3r.org

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Posted by Hudson#685 on Monday, January 13, 2014 8:36 PM

Good Evening!

Spent my morning with Doray at the Rehab Center during Physical Therapy. She is doing great and we do not have to do any modifications during her recovery. We just need to get the bench for the tub. She handles stairs well, but I will be there in case she slips. The afternoon I spent taking down the outside Christmas decorations. Then I seviced the vehicles. Then a dinner run to the Rehab Center and an Ice Cream run to the shop and back. Now it is time to relax and run the trains a bit.

Dougdagrump: My son and I already cleaned up the pizza boxes and fast food containers! lol

Laz: "Johnsson" has college classes during York again!

SPMan, Ray: Prayers for a good report from your colonoscopy. Good Luck tomorrow.

V8Vega, Dennis prayers for the fire victims.

Prayers and Thoughts for all in need!

John

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Posted by dougdagrump on Monday, January 13, 2014 8:31 PM

Evenin' All.

I know it isn't "train related" but have any of you seen this NASA photo from deep space ? It's a dieing star that has been referred to as "The Hand of God"

 
Absolutely gorgeous !

 

Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Monday, January 13, 2014 8:27 PM

Charlie, did you bring in the sled dogs when the temps got so low? Wink  Glad you and Buckeye's villas are OK.

Just finished a 2+ miler and only a light jacket.  Rain tomorrow [what's new?]. Bang Head 

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

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Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Monday, January 13, 2014 8:00 PM

MichRR714

...  Thanks to a freeze alarm device I have installed I was notified when the temperature fell below a set threshold.  I sent the local HVAC guy over to find out what happened and he replaced the blower motor.  To put my mind at ease though I run up over night this past weekend to make sure all was well. 

MIch...I have been looking into having my freeze alarm call me using the Verizon product on the website referenced below instead of the land line.  The land line is costing $33/mo and Verizon wanted about $21/mo.  In our area the land line did not stand up to the high winds of 2012 while the cell remained in service.  Have you had any experience using the cell for the freeze alarm?

 http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/device/home-phone-connect  

I guess your frost line goes much deeper in Michigan.  My basement is only insulated about four feet below the top of the basement wall.  

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

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Posted by MichRR714 on Monday, January 13, 2014 6:40 PM

Like Buckeye, I too had to make a run to the lake house.  Furnace blower motor gave up the ghost when it was about -5 last week.  Thank goodness it did not quit at -20....  Thanks to a freeze alarm device I have installed I was notified when the temperature fell below a set threshold.  I sent the local HVAC guy over to find out what happened and he replaced the blower motor.  To put my mind at ease though I run up over night this past weekend to make sure all was well. 

It did however pull me away from my basement project which is ramping up.  Really looking forward to having a space again to run my trains.

Charlie a.k.a. MichiganRailRoad714 (Charter Member TTC)      

 

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Posted by laz 57 on Monday, January 13, 2014 4:27 PM

Hi GUYZ,

  Late one for me.  Been busy as the BEE LINE aka Reading RR.  Did run and weights this morning then a 5 mile walk with dog.  Came home worked on my mountain and got a little done in 2 hrs.  Then had to give basement a good cleaning.  Then another 2 mile walk with dog.  Great being retired.

SPMAN, hope you or your son get some pics of the BB on the 26th?

DOUGDAGRUMP, let me know but I'll keep my eye open for them at the Allentown show in February.

DOUG M,  yes it was a great class we made about 12 of them that year.  Had it a few more years then they pulled the plug.

Stya frosty my friends,

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
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Posted by dougdagrump on Monday, January 13, 2014 4:13 PM

Hey All.

Beauty of a day here, 80* and nuthin but sun. Cool

Good day at the museum on Friday, although pretty tiring. Oh well seems as though everything is anymore. Saturday & Sunday were veg-out and football, unfortunately I was skunked as far as the teams I had hoped would win. Grumpy

Great news is that my L&N Madisons arrived and they are sweet. Got some seated passengers on order, should be here soon so I can get started on populating the cars.

Chief, Last week on the news they showed some big bull Elk down there in NC with a baby swing tangled in his antlers. Are you trying a new tactic to help fill the freezer ? Smile, Wink & Grin

John, Great news on SWMBO, by Thursday you should be able to get rid of all the pizza boxes, burger wrappers and empty beer cans before she gets home. Angel for the Mrs.

Ray, Hope things are moving smoothly today & tonite, mine starts tomorrow for a Wednesday morning appointment. So long as the doc doesn't look like Capt. Kirk and start talking about going where no man has gone before. Sigh

Laz, I've started searching for the two car madison add-ons, 30-6968, and if I can't find them before York I'll let you know.

Back to eating some of the things I normally can't, tomorrow is clear liquids only. Crying

Later all !

Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.

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Posted by SPMan on Monday, January 13, 2014 12:28 PM

Good morning all,

Still bummed out over my MTH Premier Santa Fe 4-8-4 breaking down.  Called MTH this morning trying to get parts and waiting now for call back.  Even if they have a part I will still need someone with wheel pullers to get that gear off the axle.  I have heard that you might have to buy a whole new chasis with just wheels and axles to repace it and that they don't sell just the gear.  This whole deal should be a lesson to me to lubricate the gears more often but I have been reluctant to take some engines apart for fear of damaging electronics or breaking wiring.  You run that risk every time you take one of these things apart  Same thing applies when just changing traction tires on some of the older engines.  I got some of that Bullfrog Snot stuff to put on the wheels for traction but that went South on me just sitting in the bottle which was $25 for a small amount.

Today is my clear liquid only diet in preparation for the colonoscopy tomorrow.  Have to start drinking the radiator flush tonight.  I can hardly wait.

My son went out to see the Big Boy one more time yesterday before they move it on January 26th.  It was the regualar open house day for the Rail Giants Train Museum over there.  He said he got some inside information from the head of the steam team about the move.  They plan on connecting it to the main line in the early hours of that Sunday morning before 7:00AM and will take it to the next siding about a mile or more West where it will be on display for a media event for a short time.  Then it will proceed between two diesel engines to West Colton, California for more servicing.  The move to Cheyenne, Wyoming won't be until sometime in March we hear since the weather is a factor at this time of year. Immediately after picking up the Big Boy from the Fairground, the U.P. will leave a newly refurbished SD40 Diesel locomotive and a caboose to be donated to the museum.  I think they are also going to leave an early refrigerator car.  They said the donated SD40 will transit across the parking lot to the museum under it's own power using prefabed track panels to get to the mueseum.

Ray

 

 

SPMan

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Monday, January 13, 2014 9:26 AM

Morning all.  Shirt sleeve weather here.  Going to do some outside stuff.  Also carry new feeder to Main Street Park and activate.  Sure nice to see the pretty weather. Will get a walk in sometime today.

Have a great week. 

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

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Posted by cnw1995 on Monday, January 13, 2014 8:41 AM

Aloha. Had a nice weekend, especially with slightly warmer temps. Served at church Sat and Sun as video director, then saw the middle boy off back to college later Sunday. 

Laz, I should've figured there was a bullet-pulling tool. Thanks for the info - I looked up a few videos to see how you load one of them. It would've been such a great shop class to actually make one! 

Buckeye, glad the lake house is OK. Charlie has a neat alarm at his cabin that sends him a message if the power goes off .

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

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Posted by Blueberryhill RR on Monday, January 13, 2014 7:56 AM

Good Morning from Blueberryhill..........

It is a sunny 36 degrees. Going up to 40 with some rain.

Today is a busy day. Wife is  grocery shopping and I am doing chores.  Not much else planned for the day. Lunch and a nap, later.

Dining car has the usual for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Monday.

Chuck

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
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Posted by ChiefEagles on Sunday, January 12, 2014 11:10 PM

Good night all.  Dogs and cat out and in.  Chilly but above freezing.  Suppose to be fair tomorrow.  Hope to get some outside chores done.  Maybe some Train Box time.

This afternoon's Legislative reception was a success.  We all walked a mile.  I had done 2 miles before I went.  It was on Human Services and healthy attitudes.

 8N, cubicles are not good.  Had them one time for the whole office.  Changed that real soon.  Some of State Gov't still that way.

John, good to see you posting.  Really missed you.  Us Yankee fans have to stick together against the dirty "sox" guy.  BTW: where is Jack?

Buckeye, safe travels.  We have those store hours rigged to insure you do not goof off and reduce the SS $$ we get. Wink

Sleep tight all. 

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

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Posted by 8ntruck on Sunday, January 12, 2014 9:32 PM
Warm spell here. It was in the 50's and 60's and sunny this weekend. Spent most of the weekend building a back plane for one of the museum exhibits. Fabrication yesterday, installation today. Elevated EF at work - they announced the re-organization of the engineering department last week. Got an new boss and it looks like I'll be moving from my genuine office with a door into a cubicle. All for now
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Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Sunday, January 12, 2014 8:32 PM

Checked lake house to day and it survived the -15 temperatures last week.  Yeah

Will be doing some traveling this week with Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Toledo, Lima and Akron on my tour.  Great train stores in some of those places, but too busy to stop and SoapBox some of them only sell to the unemployed and close at 5 pm. 

Everyone have a great week!! 

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

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Posted by Hudson#685 on Sunday, January 12, 2014 12:29 PM

Good Afternoon,

Went to a small local show this morning with my son and Ray. Nothing really caught our eyes but I did pick up parts for a PW Lionel 2037 that I am resurrecting for a friend of mine. It has been in the family since 1953 and it was played with.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at York!

Enjoy the day.

John

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Posted by SPMan on Sunday, January 12, 2014 12:20 PM

DJSpanky

SPMan

It has just been announced that the U.P. Big Boy will be moved from the Pomona Fairground to the nearest  servicing facility in West Colton, Calif, near San Bernardino on January 26th.  They are plainning on stopping it enroute at a town near me for viewing and photos.  That would be in Covina, Ca.  Another report says that the move from there to Cheyenne won't happen until March.  Who knows?

Is that the one they're rebuilding?

DJSpanky

SPMan

It has just been announced that the U.P. Big Boy will be moved from the Pomona Fairground to the nearest  servicing facility in West Colton, Calif, near San Bernardino on January 26th.  They are plainning on stopping it enroute at a town near me for viewing and photos.  That would be in Covina, Ca.  Another report says that the move from there to Cheyenne won't happen until March.  Who knows?

Is that the one they're rebuilding?

Spanky, yes that's the one they are going to restore in Cheyenne Wyoming for the U.P. 150th anniversary some years away.

Good morning all,

One of my favorite steam engines acted up yesterday.  I think I may have stripped a main gear.  I opened up the gear box and found filings and lots of gunk.  I cleaned it up and put in new lubricant but the engine still will not run in the forward direction.  It will only back up.  Electronics are OK.  This was the MTH Premier Santa Fe Northern 4-8-4 made in 1995.  The gear is probably pressed on the axle so don't have the tools to do that even if I can get the part.  Need to find someone who can fix it.  I hate to give up on this engine since the electronics are still good.  I had it upgraded to proto 2 some time ago.

Ray

SPMan

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

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Posted by laz 57 on Sunday, January 12, 2014 8:39 AM

Hi GUYZ,

  38 here and windy.  Gonna do a nice 5 mile walk to river and back with dog and WIFE.  Then paint the portholes I made out of foam and scored the stones with the Tippi hot knife.  Wow does that work great.  Even WIFE was impressed with the way I used the tool.  Today gonna do a little more on my mountain.  I try and get about 2 hrs a day working on the layout.  Nice to do with a little bit of country music plating.

SPMAN, RAY, The flintlock is my favorite gun to shoot.  Yes it is a pain if it doesn't go off but that's half the fun of it.  Also I built this gun out of a kit back in the 80s.  I even taught a class on muzzleloading in the HS. This is where we built guns.  Try that today?  We worked the wood, carved sanded, and blued or browned the barrels.  All great fun then we took the guns down to the local shooting range and I taught the kids how to load and fire them.  Ah the good ol days.

HUDSONJOHN, Yepper looking forward to another great breakfast meeting.  See you in April.

Stay frosty my friends,

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
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Posted by fifedog on Sunday, January 12, 2014 8:35 AM

Chief - Weather-smeather...  EMPTY HOUSE! YesSmile, Wink & Grin

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