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Last coffee pot for 2021. Been a bittersweet year of the 17-year run. So many gone yet many newcomers. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! Locked

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Posted by Leverettrailfan on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 12:39 AM

8ntruck

Wandering through the Lionel listings in e-bay,  I see a lot of "auction ended, 0 bids" notices.  Got me wondering, prices too high?  Intrest in collecting dropping?  Venues other than e-bay taking over?


Perhaps folks are all "spent out" from christmas shopping?

-Ellie

"Unless bought from a known and trusted dealer who can vouch otherwise, assume every train for sale requires servicing before use"

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Posted by 8ntruck on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 6:42 PM

Another sunny day near 50 degrees here in mid Mo.  Cleaned more bricks for the porch today.  I think I'm about 2/3 of the way done.

Swapped over to a knot type wire brush on my angle grinder.  Cleaned about 150  bricks with the $20 DeWalt brush.  Stopped by Harbor Freight and picked up a $8 brush.  Had about 150 bricks on that one today when my back informed me it was quitting time.  Got probably 30 or 40 more bricks worth of life in it.

Finally heard back from my concrete contractor today.  We are now on the same page as to what needs to be done before he can start.  Progress, I guess.

An HO layout is being donated to the KATY Depot Museum.  It is supposed to be delivered tomorrow.  Think I'll try to be there to help unload it.  I expect I'll be involved in the installation in the museum somehow. 

Wandering through the Lionel listings in e-bay,  I see a lot of "auction ended, 0 bids" notices.  Got me wondering, prices too high?  Intrest in collecting dropping?  Venues other than e-bay taking over?

Just like this forum. I've not been active here for a few years, and I notice that it now seems quieter than it used to be.

HCF
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Posted by HCF on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 2:49 PM

Just got my booster shot today.

Last night we decorated the Christmas tree. Today I put a ring of O27 track around the base and set up the 2055 Hudson and a couple of cars.

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Posted by anjdevil2 on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 10:24 AM

Fife and LionRoar - Looking' GOOD, guys!!

Flint - I will tell him!!  His Dad was a Marine and 2 of my brothers as well.  The 3rd brother  was an Army Colonel....We are a Navy house, lol.

I got some Christmas shopping done - I'm just trying to finish up Jenni's presents and I'll be done.  Secret Santa gifts finished.....

I've been contracted to do the stuffing for Christmas dinner, so that will be started Thursday night.

Christmas tree at Jenni's is done - Z scale layout is about done, she is working on her N scale stuff - I finally found my rock molds so I can make rocks and snow piles - so maybe tonight.  

I'll bring another one of my modules to Jenni's and maybe get that completed - my layout will not be done for Christmas, which sucks.

My brother and my nephew are both here, so the house is full of activity - lol

OK, back to work - 

I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.
I am the venom in your skin  --- Breaking Benjamin


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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 8:36 AM

You handsome devils you!

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Posted by fifedog on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 6:39 AM

Mornin' guys and gal(s). Cloudy and 21 in the Potomac Highlands. 3 more nights of trains, and whoa are me dogs barkin'...

Here's a pic the Q took of Brent and me...

Frosty actually "shivers" and lights up.

PS - I have a pic of the kids, but will leave that to 88. Smile, Wink & Grin

 

 

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Posted by lion88roar on Sunday, December 19, 2021 10:49 PM

fifedog

Had some special visitors yesterday. Brent (88) and the Q and kids too, stopped by the new Fifedom. They were on their way to ride behind 1309 on it's first revenue trip. Showed them our new digs, and the North Pole village, and then the layout in the train room. It was great to see them, and look forward to future visits.



Always a gracious host! It sure was an awesome trip and thanks for the tour. Matthew was in awe of your train garden and is pressing to get ours started now.

1309 did not disappoint. It was really neat to she her and the cool weather helped her put on a show. Got a really neat video of the smoke passing overhead through the Vista Dome glass ceiling. Yes we sprung for the Northern Pacific Stampede Pass Vista Dome car, and man was it worth every penny. We are already planning a Spring ride and possibly a Fall trip as well.

Apparently Matthew heard you mention the February photo shoot and when I told the family about standing close to the track everyone was really interested, but after an awesome meal at City Lights we were all rather beat and ready to get home. lol

This evening TheQ and Christina had a girl scout meeting, so Matthew talked me into putting another loop around the tree. We were test running The North Pole Central Christmas Zepher when they got home, both kids were in awe... TheQ not so much... at least that was the act she was putting on.

https://brentsandsusanspicutures.shutterfly.com/

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, December 19, 2021 8:53 AM

8ntruck

Flintlock76 - check the foam spacers under the SOS board.  If they are deteriorated, the bottom of the board could contact the tender chassis, short the board and kill it.

I'll agree that the SOS was an advancement in its day, but the current crop of electronics is several quantum levels more advanced.

 

I've had the shell off, the foam spacer's OK, it's just the sound itself and the volume I find annoying.  WAY too loud!  On the back side of the layout it's not too bad but coming past me it rattles my eardrums.

A good whistle and bell combo's all I need.    

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Posted by fifedog on Sunday, December 19, 2021 7:41 AM

Had some special visitors yesterday. Brent (88) and the Q and kids too, stopped by the new Fifedom. They were on their way to ride behind 1309 on it's first revenue trip. Showed them our new digs, and the North Pole village, and then the layout in the train room. It was great to see them, and look forward to future visits.

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Posted by 8ntruck on Saturday, December 18, 2021 11:19 PM

Flintlock76 - check the foam spacers under the SOS board.  If they are deteriorated, the bottom of the board could contact the tender chassis, short the board and kill it.

I'll agree that the SOS was an advancement in its day, but the current crop of electronics is several quantum levels more advanced.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, December 18, 2021 8:44 PM

I went to the Greenberg train show in Chantilly VA today, and lucked out!  Found TWO articles I've been looking for, and I couldn't beat the prices either!

First off, I've finally got me a "Blockbuster!"  One of these:

https://www.tandem-associates.com/lionel/lionel_trains_2035_loco.htm

Got it for $120, can't beat it.  I've had it on the layout, needs a little TLC but considering it's 71 years old that's understandable.  There's still a lot of life left in it.

AND, found one of these:

http://train-station.com/Pages/archives/Library/6-8006.html

The seller only wanted $100 for it, how could I pass that up?  Had this one on the layout too, a strong runner and puller but being 1980 vintage it's got "The Mighty Sound Of Steam," which is more like the "Mighty sound Of Static."  Very annoying.  So I'll deactivate the "MSOS" and install an electronic whistle. I'll save the original equipment however. 

A good day all around!  Except for the traffic coming home.  Groan.  Crying

 

 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, December 18, 2021 4:35 PM

anjdevil2
My future SIL has been accepted into the US Navy.  8 weeks at Great Lakes and then a year at Pensacola for aviation maintenance.

"Fair winds and following seas!" to your future SIL 'Devil!  And that's one hell of a marketable skill he's going to pick up!  

Tell him for me this old Marine says "Semper Fi!" to him!  The Navy-Marine Team!  "No better friends, no worse enemys!"

HCF
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Posted by HCF on Saturday, December 18, 2021 2:19 PM

Heading back to Arizona today!

Im excited to be with family! I'm also excited to get working on the layout!!! DevilWinkStick out tongueMuwahahaha! 

Wish I could sample the wares smokey. Though I should probably focus on layout construction rather than new engines or rolling stock.

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Posted by smokey1 on Saturday, December 18, 2021 10:55 AM

fifedog

Smokey1 - Wish I were close enough to stop by and cherry pick...Pirate

 

What I really need to list is all my Lima 2 rail O items. 

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Posted by anjdevil2 on Saturday, December 18, 2021 10:36 AM

Good Saturday Morning!!!

The 2187WS set is gone, need to get the money to the previous owner - had a nice talk with the new owner, we talked about stuff other than trains and fire house politics......

Then off to my house - and my Princess and my future SIL sat me down - yes, I was nervous......My future SIL has been accepted into the US Navy. 

8 weeks at Great Lakes and then a year at Pensacola for aviation maintenance.  He leaves on the 19th of January.  He wants to do what is best for his family and this is what they agreed on.  Marriage is set for March 2023 and I was told to expect grandchildren shortly after.  As an aside, my Dad was an ADR1 - Aviation Machinist Mate 1st Class (Petty Officer 1st Class ).  Dad is smiling down from heaven.  They have told on one but me so far.....


As it was, my time was way shortened than what I expected, I did find all the Fastrack I was looking for (like I don't have enough....) got another Christmas set out and my small vacuum cleaner for Jenni.  I wired up 2 more street lights, need to paint the module and glue the snow blanket to the board, which I can do tonight.  1 more light to do, paint and glue the snow blanket then I can get to work on completing Christmas Village.  The side project is turning a dirt grade crossing into a 2 lane snow/asphalt crossing with crossbucks and maybe gates.  The Fastrack crossing does not line up with my roadway, so I'll have to modify one - I have 4 or 5......

Tonight we may see Santa on the firetruck - we'll be at Jenni's finishing up the tree and such. Jenni is very excited.  And I have to get to shopping.....lol.

Rain now and 41F and 46F later


Fife - Good Luck and Merry Christmas - I'll be looking for you on the Eagle videos on FB - and I'll see if the future Mrs can get a video on the Tube of U...

Smokey1 - You got my number --- lol maybe after the New Year ---

At work and it's kinda slow but I need to pay attention - so I'll be back in a bit

I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.
I am the venom in your skin  --- Breaking Benjamin


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Posted by fifedog on Saturday, December 18, 2021 7:52 AM

Smokey1 - Wish I were close enough to stop by and cherry pick...Pirate

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Friday, December 17, 2021 7:45 PM

smokey1
The problem here is there really aren't any shows close by. I also have a wife I have to take care of.

I understand completely.

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Posted by smokey1 on Friday, December 17, 2021 3:22 PM

Flintlock76

 The problem here is there really aren't any shows close by. I also have a wife I have to take care of.

 
smokey1
Also trying to take pictures and post some items on evil bay, need to reduce my inventory. Don't want to but may contact someone like Trainz as I need to reduce my inventory as don't really have room for it.

 

I've had to "thin the herd" myself, so what I did was get some tables at the club's train shows.  It's worked well, I've made some bucks and had a lot of fun at the same time. 

Maybe not as much bucks as I might have made on "The Bay" but still enough.

Try it! 

 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Friday, December 17, 2021 10:01 AM

smokey1
Also trying to take pictures and post some items on evil bay, need to reduce my inventory. Don't want to but may contact someone like Trainz as I need to reduce my inventory as don't really have room for it.

I've had to "thin the herd" myself, so what I did was get some tables at the club's train shows.  It's worked well, I've made some bucks and had a lot of fun at the same time. 

Maybe not as much bucks as I might have made on "The Bay" but still enough.

Try it! 

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Friday, December 17, 2021 9:58 AM

Morning,

Feels like winter today on The North Bluff above Marseilles. I have been fighting off a bad Sinus infection and yesterday the Doc got me some meds to help me along. Whole side of my face hurts and my eye feels like it is going to pop right out of my head. Been here before so I know what it takes. Back in the 80s I would get these infections, they would Abscess and they would have to cut it open to relive the pressure. Dead Not there yet!
 Spent part of yesterday taking two of the grand-kids to the orthodontist for check-ups. On our way out there was a big tree across the lane that blew down in Wednesday's wind storm. I drove around it on the way out, and when we got back the neighbor had pushed it to the side. Yes Most time I get stuck with lane clean-up.
 Done with the X-Mas shopping and all of that. Going to get carry out fried shrimp from the Moose tonight. Dinner
 8N I have had very good luck with Mobil1 full synthetic grease, you get about 500% more for the same money. Wink
Fife, have fun with all of those kids on the trains. Wish we had something like that close to us but,,nope! Best I can do is go to Seneca and watch the CSX run through town. Laugh
Bout it from here.

Joined 1-21-2011    TCA 13-68614

Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by smokey1 on Friday, December 17, 2021 9:50 AM

Morning all

Wow a new high of 5 posts yesterday, been a while since we have seen that in here, I'm guilty of not posting much. I remember when we use to have 30+ posts a day. Sure miss those days. ( we had that many posting) 

Trying to get my Christmas spirit. 

Also trying to take pictures and post some items on evil bay, need to reduce my inventory. Don't want to but may contact someone like Trainz as I need to reduce my inventory as don't really have room for it. Sad

 

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Posted by fifedog on Friday, December 17, 2021 9:00 AM

Mornin' guys and gal(s). Mostly cloudy and 52 along the Patterson Creek cut-off. Spending AM ironing my dress shirts, and shining my boots, in prep for 7 nights straight, 3 trains a shift, with very little breaks. Keep that in mind when you take the kids for a train ride with Santa, folks... I won't be posting much until after Christmas.

anjdevil - Want to see that Z scale on video...Yes maybe she can make a little diy..

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Posted by anjdevil2 on Friday, December 17, 2021 7:51 AM

Good Morning

Well, we got a lot done last night, I exited early and actually got to bed prior to midnight.  Jenni has the Z scale looking really nice.  Had dinner and some clean up and prep for decorating the tree.  Tonight is Train Attic time.  I'll need to grab some Christmas cars for Jenni's and see what the kids want to run under the tree.  I'll also need to get payment to the seller and get the buyer his trains.  I'll have a 6110 engine and tender, a Sunoco Tanker, NYC gondola and SP type caboose.  50 bucks.

Up to 55 today - which it is right now.  

I have nothing done on the shopping end - I need to get Jenni her gifts and Secret Santa has my SIL - which should be interesting...............

Fife - Nice catch!!!

Flint - I remember those color wheels - we had one

So, that's all for now............

I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.
I am the venom in your skin  --- Breaking Benjamin


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Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, December 16, 2021 9:18 PM

pennytrains
Ever take a look at the prices of those "tinsel trees" on the bay?  Not to mention what they're asking for the color wheels! 

Uh, no.  Every once in a while we'll see one (or several) at an antique show that's risen from the backwash of time complete with the color "whiz wheel."  We just shudder and walk on past!  Surprise

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Posted by fifedog on Thursday, December 16, 2021 7:35 PM

Something told me to grab the iPad before I headed into Cumberland, and sure enough, I spotted steam engine smoke billowing out of Ridgeley, WV, as I headed north on Canal Pkwy. I climbed the hill next to the Cumberland RR museum, and caught 1309 crossing the Potomac, on a "dress rehearsal" for this weekend's Polar Express trains. 

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Posted by 8ntruck on Thursday, December 16, 2021 6:20 PM

Another nice sunny day here - 30 degrees cooler than yesterday.  Almost no wind, which helps temper the lower temperature.

I sent the 2026 project home with its owner for holiday duty today.  He was happy to see it running again.  Says he has an automated milk car he wants me to look at after the holidays.  I did a little research last night and now have a better understanding on what is up with the whistle on that one, so I'll take another look at that as well.

Next up is replacing the motor and drive axle in the P.E. Berkshire that died while running in the show we displayed at last month.  Yes, I am planning on using Lucas Red & Tacky grease on the gear set.

Spent the afternoon cleaning bricks for the porch rebuild project.  Settled on a 3 lb hammer, 3" brick chisel to knock the big chunks of mortar off, then an angle grinder with a masonry disc to buff the bricks clean.  Gloves, dust mask, face shield, and hearing protection are a must with this task.

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Posted by pennytrains on Thursday, December 16, 2021 6:18 PM

Yeah.  I drove past a tree lot today that hadn't even started setting up the trees two weeks ago and today they were wiped out and packing up.  Ever take a look at the prices of those "tinsel trees" on the bay?  Not to mention what they're asking for the color wheels!  Tongue Tied

Big Smile  Same me, different spelling!  Big Smile

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, December 16, 2021 3:33 PM

Well, finished with the "Christmasing" around the house.  Dragged the trainboards out from the "Chugger Barn" yesterday and set 'em up in the living room.  Scotch-Brited the tracks and gave 'em a good shine.

THEN out came the "Robo-Tree."  Real trees are in short supply around here, supply and demand being what it is the ones we saw were priced too high for something that's gonna be dead in two weeks!  So, the fiber-optic "Robo-Tree" gets pride of place this year.  I set it up on a wooden wine box to give it some altitude, draped the box with a deep maroon (Susquehanna Maroon?) tree skirt and finished the display with some poinsetta bushes around the base.  Looks pretty darn good!  Some N-Gauge resin houses around the "Robo-Tree" added a little panache as well.

Today the trains came out!  At least after digging them out from under the layout in the "Chugger Barn."  (Ow. Ow. Last week's back spasm isn't going away without a fight, let me tell you!)

Did the typical thing, on the inside loop is the "Suger High Express," a K-Line Hershey 100th Anniversary locomotive and caboose, and assorted sweet-treat cars.  Fudgesicle, Popsicle, Turkish Taffy, and assorted candy-themed billboard boxcars.  A Ferrara Torrone car brings up the rear ahead of the caboose.

On the outboard loop there's a reproduction Lionel "Pennsy Torpedo" pulling assorted Christmas cars.  Everything works!  

Anyway, we're enjoying the "Robo-Tree's" weird glow illuminating the living room. Sure beats those horrendous aluminum trees Lady Firestorm and I remember from the 1960's.  Seems like only the moms and dads into "Space Age" and "Swedish Modern" liked those aluminum monstrosities, all the kids we knew HATED 'em! And when we were in college in the early 70's even the most far-out campus radicals hated 'em!  I guess even radicals have their limits! 

There's the Greenberg train show coming up this weekend in Chantilly VA.  I'll probably go and look for something I didn't know I needed.  Isn't that what we all do?

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Posted by 8ntruck on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 7:32 PM

Nice sunny, windy day here in mid Mo. today.  Mid 70's with 15mph winds.  Heading for a low of 50 tonight.  Big storm heading this way as I write this.

Travel plans are on hold until I manage to get a scheduling answer from the next contractor on our front porch project.  Left a call to the contractor every day this week - no reply.  I know this is a small job, but still, returning your customer's seems like it is part of the business..........

No new action on the train front.  

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Posted by fifedog on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 9:16 AM

Mornin' guys and gal(s). Sunny and 36 along the Patterson Creek cut-off. Wifey wanted to go to Deep Creek today, but she's still dealing with this cold. Chapter dinner tonight at City Lights (Cumberland).

Fifedom all decorated, and the outside all spruced up, in case any visitors stop by; like Saturday... Other than that, NPX will be running out of Romney 3x a day from Friday to Thursday. 
In case you missed it, NS 8099 (the green and white SOUTHERN unit) slammed into a rockslide a couple days ago, and was on its side.

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