November coffee pot. 11 years running, Sweet ice tea and grits for the southern gents, coffee and donuts for the ,Yanks

[sir james I]

I want to add my

THANK YOU to all the VETERANS

Past and present

S.J.

[KRM]

  Happy Veterans day to all that have served for the rest of us. Thank You!!!!!

Good morning, Rain and 58 going down to 22 by tonight. Sending this wonderful weather to points south and east.  

[cnw1995]

Aloha and Happy Veterans Day to our Vets! Glad it's a bit gloomy and threatening rain as that keeps me from raking leaves that I don't want to rake. Working home today to get to the eye doc later to zap some blurriness away from my orbs.Hope it helps and that I can drive myself home. Hope to clean track this week! Not looking forward to a trip to Minn. on Friday where they already have almost 2 feet of snow. 

[ChiefEagles]

What a happy Veterans' Day for me.  Call around 8:30 from Dr.  Your white blood count is down and from yesterday's x-ray, we think you have a blood clot in your lung.  Rush to Raleigh Radiology and get CT with dye.  Rush and then sit for an hour.  Results, negative.  Now back home.  Going to Red Robin for my free burger.  That is while waiting for my Dr. to call again.  The words are, "If you feel worse, go to the ER."  If you want me in the hospital, say so!!!!!!!!!!!!

Later.  

[SPMan]

Happy Veterans Day to all who served.

Chief, hope you are OK.  I had some kind of scare a while back too.  Just saw the bill for all the test they ran.  Mine came back negative too.  Wife went into ER recently and doctor on duty prescibed some kind of inhaler that had a very expensive copay.  She only used it once.  Now stuck with the rest of it.

Cool today in the low 70's.  I love it.

Finally made it to barber this morning and had my ears lowered.  Now on dieuretics today and don't have any appointments except the bathroom.

later,

Ray

[rtraincollector]

Chief take care 

Happy Veterans day to my fellow Veterans went and got my free hair cut at Great Clips ( yes Chief all 3 I have 1 more than SJ ) 

Speaking of Veterans day this was forward to me and would like to share with you all

NOW ... SHE IS A TEACHER!!!

 

In September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a History teacher at Valley Heights High School in Port Rowan, Ontario , did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks in her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks.   'Ms. Cothren, where are our desks?'
 

She  replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.'

    They  thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.'  'No,' she  said.

    'Maybe it's our behaviour.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behaviour.'

    And so,  they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom. Kids called their parents to tell them what was happening and by early afternoon television news crews had started gathering at the school to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The  final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the desk-less classroom. Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he or she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'

 

At this  point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened  it. Twenty-seven (27)  Veterans, all in uniform, walked into that  classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.

Martha  said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. They went halfway around the world, giving up their education and interrupting their careers and families so you could have the freedom you have. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom  to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'

 

By the way, this is a true story. And this teacher was awarded Veterans of  Foreign Wars Teacher of the Year in 2006. She is the daughter of a  WWII POW.

 

Do you think this email is worth  passing along so others won't forget either, that the freedoms we have  in this great country were earned by  our Veterans?   .... I did.

Let us  always remember the men and women of our military and the rights they  have won for us.

 

[ChiefEagles]

Now nurse says no blood clot but maybe emphysema and enlarged lymph node.  But could be recovering from a lung event.  Remember three weeks ago, slight case of pneumonia and 4 days later, x-ray showed OK.  Beginning to wonder about these Dr's.  More meds and urgent request for pulmonologist.  They love your insurance.

[dougdagrump]

Good Evenin' All.

Been awhile since posting, to worn out from 10#'s in 5# bag and coming down with some sort of crud. Hope it don't last to long. With all the new meds combined with my normal meds I feel like I have a pharmacy with me everywhere I go.

Broke out some of the Christmas trains after putting away the halloween trains. Still haven't finished breaking down the halloween layout.

Time for more meds, later all.

Happy Veteran's Day to all who served. http://worriersanonymous.org/Share/Mansions.htm

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

Got rid of 13 years of frustration today by replacing the non-folding middle in the van with a used 3rd row seat from another van at a salvage yard.   Now I can tote train layouts to shows with much less hassle and have an extra seat for the grandkids if needed.   Got some personal pan pizzas from the new Pizza Hut in town.  So good to have one back in town again.   Also duplicated an American Plastic Brick building with LEGOs last night.   It was a good day.   Watched the Flash tonight.  It was a good show.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[blownout cylinder]

ChiefEagles

Now nurse says no blood clot but maybe emphysema and enlarged lymph node.  But could be recovering from a lung event.  Remember three weeks ago, slight case of pneumonia and 4 days later, x-ray showed OK.  Beginning to wonder about these Dr's.  More meds and urgent request for pulmonologist.  They love your insurance.

Good thing it was no blood clot there!! I have had some heart attack thingees here plus a triple bypass done plus some other dang things done as well. Blood clots? nuh uh!!

Wait until they start peppering you with med appointments!!!

Today we will hit the big 33F...after yesterdays 67F....yoyo weather

[submmbob]

Hello all

Just finishing up another week on the mountain and thought I would check in.

On the train front, a #60 trolley project is progressing. Almost have all the chassis parts together. It runs, but just need the trolley pole set up which is on the way. Then to get something to cover the whole thing. 

Corvan progress continues. We actually ran it again, sucking fuel out of the tank this time, and even got it to move a bit. End of the shift selector shaft going into the transmission was welded at some point, and came apart. My buddy who sold it to me (converted from 3 to 4spd) has another tranny for me. If we can get to it easily enough we will switch out the shifter shaft, or just r&r the whole tranny. 

Chief - hope you get things figured out and fell better soon

Bob

[anjdevil2]

Happy Veterans day...a day late Many Vets in my family.....its a special day just for that. Chief - get well soon! Pickup a Lemax animated Clock tower and skating scene for $74- retailed for $150, will go on the Fire Dept. train layout which is in progress as we speak. LONG meeting at the FD last night from 630 to 1030, so naturally I'm beat. AND it's my long day.....off at 6 tonight back to the grind!!

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all.  Warm and foggy.  Big change tomorrow.  Wonder what adventures are in for today?  Don't feel like I have a temp this AM.  Not hungry.  Only one meal yesterday.  Start taking the line of meds.  Then work on DVR list of shows.

Have a good one.

[SPMan]

Good morning all,

Don, good idea on servicing your engines.  I'm overdue on all of mine.  Probably what caused the stripped gear in my steam engine.

Chief, prayers for a good outcome  on your health issues.

V8, sorry you're having denture problems again.  I've been fairly lucky with mine but have had work done on them.

Dougda, get some rest if you can.

Dinner out tonight with what we call the Prime Club.  I call it the Over The Hill Gang.  Our oldest member is 91.  Not exactly prime time. However, he is probably in better shape than me.

Got back to walking again this morning.  Hip joints were sore from inactivity.  Trying to maintain at least a 10LB weight reduction until I see the doctor next week.

Might pick up a turkey today and put it in the freezer before they get picked over too much.  #2 son tells me that his new girl friend might come over for Thanksgiving dinner.  That would make 7 of us and not a very large dinning area.  Might have to move the table into another room.

later,

Ray

 

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

Busy but quiet day at work.  Got to scrimmage with soccer kids.  Totally created a vacuum tonight.   Do not have to drive tomorrow.   I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[ChiefEagles]

Early drive to Raleigh for Pulmonologist apt.  Other side of Raleigh.   Would you believe shirt sleeve weather.  Changing tomorrow they keep saying.

Sleep tight. 

[dbaker48]

Good Evening,

Hope the Chief has good news today regarding his Dr visit.  Best wishes and prayers.

Sometimes it takes a lot to learn a little........

1.  Probably about 4 years ago I decided I wanted a MTH set of PS2 modern day diesels.  So I purchased a set of UP AC4400's, one is a "dummy" unit.  I deliberated about the choice of 1 power unit and 1 dummy, versus 2 power units.  Finally opted for the dummy unit option.

2. After always fighting not being able to uncouple from the dummy unit, and the lights would not operate correctly if the dummy was the lead engine.  I thought it would be a great idea and inexpensive to buy a TMCC dummy upgrade kit.  So I did so and installed it.  I got the operating coupler and the lights working.  Am I satisfied NO.  Now imagine running the engine as DCS engine id number 3, it works great.  Now hook the dummy in and what happens?  The dummy is TMCC engine id #65.  So IF I run the two together everything is OK until I go to operate them together, difficult sequence!  Reverse engine #3, then select engine #65 and reverse it.  (To change light orientation.)  Then reselect engine #3 to facilitate movement.  Now want to uncouple cars connected to the dummy, select #65, press the uncoupler button, then reselect engine #3 to move the units.  THEN if your going to pick up another consist, you need to repeat the entire operation!  Very, Very awkward. 

Now the cost difference is less than $125, compared to buying 2 powered units. And operation would definitely been a lot easier.  And could just set them up as a lash up, AND have a lot more pulling power.  No more dummy units for me.

Just had to share.

Off to do a presentation Thursday, then go and play in the train room.

So Take Care and Stay Healthy!!

[dougdagrump]

Don, That is one of the redeeming qualities of running TMCC. Install an ERR upgrade in a dummy and you can incorporate it with one or more powered units in a lashup with all the "bells & whistles". It sure would be nice if you could buy kinda like a stripped down PS-3 for installation in a dummy unit to give it the "full enchilada" so to speak. If one wanted a dummy with just lights, hello Williams. 

You could always tape a DCS controller and a CAB-1 together and just flip it over for whichever engine you need to operate.

Chief, Hope all goes well in the morning.   

Hope none of you guys forgot to bring in your Brass Monkeys, if you did it sounds like they will be singing soprano next week.

Nite all !

[blownout cylinder]

On Remembrance Day we had a couple of Sopwith Camels flying around here. Then a DC-3. We be lucky up here....

S**w here this morning. Not much for sure but still....too dang much!!!

I'm off to the doctors office to find out what caame up on my CT scan...better not be some new thing to do..

Have a good'un folks!!

[sir james I]

First snow flakes fell here this morning. Temp is at 32 degrees so won't stick.

However Michigan's UP got up to 42 inches of white stuff already.

Happy Friday the 13th.

S.J.

[KRM]

Same weather here SJ. cold with light snow going into the teens tonight. The cat is in.

DougDnotta, Thanks for the e-mail on the Black Bonnet set.

Frank, Hope your doing better.

[ChiefEagles]

Afternoon.  Going to live.  Inhalers to get my lungs back do I can build back up to the 3 miles a day.  Some more tests [ins. money].  Nice young lady Pulmonary Specialist.  Orders from all Dr's.  Stop the burning candle at both ends.  Eat regular healthy meals [sometimes one big one a day, sometimes driving].  No eating dinner after 6:30 PM [sometimes 9:30, 10:00]. 

OUCH, went in hospital office complex at 8:00 in long sleeve shirt.  Came out at 10:30.  Windy, cloudy and icy cold.  Temps dropping.  Its here.  You Yanks can have it.

Shake and Bake, the dummy was trying to operate the dummy.   [Couldn't resist that one].

Thanks gang for the good wishes.

Stay warm.

[Plate Rail]

Afternoon Gents.

  Light flurries here but definitely winter time just to the north.

Chief:  Sounds like it's time to slow down and look after yourself....like you need me telling you that.  If you were mayor up here you could retire on the Bill Gates pension plan.  Our golden parachute policy is like a license to steal.

Don:  I have feuding Atlas F units with TMCC in both.  Busted both their dummy couplers trying to reset them to play nice.  I can't imagine configuring DCS and TMCC to coexist together.  Makes my head hurt.  I feel your pain.

Been talking to RT about ERR kits for my MTH scale GG1 and Williams FM trainmaster.  Really am looking forward to trying both out under TMCC but the real thrill will be doing the conversion.

Stay well.

Bruce

[dougdagrump]

Afternoon All.

Back from Dermatology, a few craters and a couple of new biopsies otherwise all good. Luckily I had the easy "C" word versus the nasty one,

Chief, Listen to the Doc's, they can be annoying but generally what they say is for the good. I don't always follow their daily guidelines but close enuff so that if I am really bad one or two days I can be back within restrictions in a day or two.

Bruce, I have a few of the Atlas engines from very early 2000 with TMCC. Don't know if it's the version of TMCC that they were licensed or what but they don't seem to remember the finetuning you can do for lashups. They tend to have some memory lapses when it comes to stall speed especially.

Time to start putting together tomorrow's stuff. Toys and lunch as I am the "Chef Dujour".

Later all !  

P.S. Kev, you're welcome.

[dbaker48]

Good Afternoon,

Chief, you best listen to those you pay for advice from !

Actually, I have a more of the MPC era engines than I care to admit to.  Since none of them have sound, I had purchased a couple of the sound box cars to use with them.  It has worked out rather well.  Now with the dummy I can run the sound car behind the dummy, and it works even a horn.  So I take the TMCC based dummy, have it loaded in the DCS system, and I can still use it with only one Remote, the DCS.  It is still a pain to flip flop back and forth between the two engine id #.  Probably should have just run a teather between the two.

dougdagrump

Don, 

You could always tape a DCS controller and a CAB-1 together and just flip it over for whichever engine you need to operate.

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

A good, quiet day at work.  Got all accomplished that I wanted to do.   Found out some files had more information than originally thought.  Somebody had made some corrections and never informed us of the changes.  Long story.  More work needs to be done, but a good start is done.   Cold weather on walk today, will have to dress warmer for tomorrow.  Hopefully sun will come out someday.  This cloudiness is depressing and I am already done with the snow.   Wife cooked a great meal tonight of roast beef and mashed potatoes.   She is a good cook, but sometimes I like to brag.   I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Plate Rail]

dougdagrump

Bruce, I have a few of the Atlas engines from very early 2000 with TMCC. Don't know if it's the version of TMCC that they were licensed or what but they don't seem to remember the finetuning you can do for lashups. They tend to have some memory lapses when it comes to stall speed especially.

That seems to have been the issue here, Doug.  One engine is fine, the other was either full throttle in the opposite direction or nothing. I set them aside but did get around to changing out the broken couplers.  Will try working on resetting the momentum and such when I find the time.

I was really concerned about screwing things up when I did the TMCC transplant into a Budd RDC. That operation seemed to go well with all the bells a whistles operational.  One trick was to wire the strobe light circuit into 2 rear markers that flash red whenever the engine is at rest.  Might even try to adapt a set of coil couplers at some later date.

Bruce

[sir james I]

WAKE UP sleepy heads

The sun is shining.

Yea but it's only 30 degrees.

S.J.

[cnw1995]

Aloha. It is only 25 here. Without the wind. NIce chatting with RT, SJ and Brutus last night. Bob's project made me take the 'hood' off my old #60 trolley just to poke around a bit. 

[dbaker48]

Bruce,

Somehow I missed your post, just wanted to throw out a couple of thoughts.

Plate Rail

Don:  I have feuding Atlas F units with TMCC in both.  Busted both their dummy couplers trying to reset them to play nice.  I can't imagine configuring DCS and TMCC to coexist together.  Makes my head hurt.  I feel your pain.

Running DCS and TMCC at the same time isn't really much of a chore.  I program the TMCC and Legacy engines into my DCS controller as well.  There they work well together, actually not any different than running two DCS engines.  I did screw up with a MU consisting of two TMCC engines, had one at the head of the train, and another at the end.  During the course of operation somehow the two got out of sync, I didn't notice.  Ended up breaking couplers on a couple of die cast coal cars from the engines pulling in opposite directions.

Since that incident I always run the engines first WITHOUT their couplers connected.  That way I know their in sync, and also if one is significantly faster than the other.

Been talking to RT about ERR kits for my MTH scale GG1 and Williams FM trainmaster.  Really am looking forward to trying both out under TMCC but the real thrill will be doing the conversion.

I will be interested in how the GG1 upgrade goes.  I have a MPC GG1 I would consider doing that with, but it has AC motors and not sure if there is space.  Good luck on your upgrade, I'm sure you will do well.

Stay well.

Bruce