CLOSED////////The Coffee Pot is still on and over 3 years. Here we gather as friends with trains.

[tmcc man]

Good evening all,

Well, we have a new addition to our family. My parents bought a Pontiac Solstice this afternoon. It is deep blue, with a 2 tone interior. I'll take pictures tomorrow, and post them here.

Rain?????? We have very dark clouds overhead (thankfully the Solstice is in the garage). They are calling for T-storms, and scattered showers.

Have a good evening all!

[ChiefEagles]

RAIN!!!!  RAIN!!!  THUNDER!!!!!  LIGHTNING!!!!!!!  WIND!!!  POURING!!!  Missed three storms and got the corner of one.  Now a big one is hitting Roseyville.  [wireless on laptop on battery so no spikes]   THANK THE LORD!!!!!!  Durham and RDU International is under a flash flood warning as storm stalled there.  Was upstairs getting ready to remove track on one half of layout to put down soundboard.  Soundboard is standing on long edge under shelter but back away from open front.  Hope the wind did not blow rain under and wet it.  Will not water for a few days.  Later 

[cnw1995]

Going to try to meet up with Roy and his family now.

[csxt30]

Chief,

I thought you'd never offer!!!

Sounds like a deal!!!

Drew :  Don't do it !! Next thing ya know, he'll have you on the dark side, N & S !!   

Thanks, John

[trainmasterz]

Chief,

I thought you'd never offer!!!

Sounds like a deal!!!

[MartyE]

Hey Marty you made it back just in time for the rain.  You know of a place called Iron Horse Hobby Shop in Bridgeville?  Im thinking I am going to stop in next week and see if they have anything.

 

Yep.  Good people.  My LHS.  They are pretty much MSRP but they always have treated me great and will follow up with any problems you may encounter.  Nice folks and lots of stuff.  Last time I was there though was about 2 or 3 months ago and things were slimmer than usual because of it being after Christmas. 

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all.  Raining here in PIT.  I just had to tell you about my brush with greatness yesterday in the security line at LAX...  I was standing behind one of my all time favorite actors and didn't have the nerve and actually respecteing his privacy to avoid asking for an autograph...  Only the one and only Captain James T Kirk!  William Shatner.  I am a pretty big ST fan so not asking for an autograph was one of the hardest things to do but being in the business I try to respect his privacy.  Just being there was quite a thrill for this traveler.

 

Sorry but that is my excitement for the week, year, lifetime... 

Marty, should have talked to him.  We might have seen you on Boston Legal running your trains.   Well, maybe not.  You would be the one they were trying to get OUT of jail.

Trainmasterz, how about sharing some of that RAIN.  I'll send you some GRITS.

[trainmasterz]

Hey all,

 John, all you have to do now is try to figure out what to buy with all the $$$ your makin with all the OT.

 

That's simple Drew !!  Trains !!    ( and train shows coming !! )

Glad to see you posting again !!

Thanks, John 

Yea, John, I knew the answer but just wanted to make sure.

Guess its that time of year, every year around the middle of summer late summer Id get tired of the heat and hide out in my dads basement working on ripping down last years setup and starting to lay the track for the upcoming winter layout.  But thats back when it used to get hot in the summer in Pit.

About a week or so when I was tryin to catch up with yall/younz, I read a thread about things ppl would do over or something like that, or what got you into trains.  The one post that sticks in my head everyday is the guy that said: spending time with the old man building you own pretend world...  I believe that is one of the most accurate statements for me at least. 

Called parents to ask dad what he was using nowadays for transformer power but he wasnt home so mom stumbled down there and was trying to describe what he was using.  Sounds like he has the zw dont know if its an old pw or a new she mentioned heavy brick looking things and I know lil bro convinced him to go with remote.... so i suppose ill have to schedule all of us for the next Greensburgh train show at Monroville to get our heads together and whatnot.

Hey Marty you made it back just in time for the rain.  You know of a place called Iron Horse Hobby Shop in Bridgeville?  Im thinking I am going to stop in next week and see if they have anything.

Later all.

[MartyE]

Morning all.  Raining here in PIT.  I just had to tell you about my brush with greatness yesterday in the security line at LAX...  I was standing behind one of my all time favorite actors and didn't have the nerve and actually respecteing his privacy to avoid asking for an autograph...  Only the one and only Captain James T Kirk!  William Shatner.  I am a pretty big ST fan so not asking for an autograph was one of the hardest things to do but being in the business I try to respect his privacy.  Just being there was quite a thrill for this traveler.

 

Sorry but that is my excitement for the week, year, lifetime... 

[cnw1995]

Good morning from a grey, very humid and rainy Chicago where I hope Roy and his family are enjoying their trip and not getting wet. They had a L ride tour a day ago that sounded neat. Hope some of this rain makes it to NC and points south, but after your flight to Boston, Cheif. I think it's on its way to Mike C. in Indiana I'm going to try to connect with Roy later.

[Anonymous]

Chief,

         I was wondering if you got the core yet.  You were lucky to find a Model R riveted core.  They are the most efficient and they are very quiet.  The ZW that I bought arrived last week, and it is extremely clean.  The Bakelite parts shine like mirrors.  It has a clean original box, and it is out of the first run from 1948.  I'll try to take pictures for SPF if I don't have to work Sunday.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all.  Grandson should be in Boston if plane could get off the ground with all the luggage and etc his Mom was carrying.   Slow day today but hope to get started on soundboard installation.  Do have ZW core to install sometime.  Marty E, pretty good come back.   See Grayson has survived and still here.  All this talk of rain.  What RAIN?  Think it has been removed from our dictionary in Roesyville.  Had to water as soon as I got home.  OH BTW, all wife did was cook the cobbler.  I did all the rest.  No way she is taking over the Mayor's Office.    Have a good one.

[laz 57]

HI GIZ, Finally got a thunderboomer yesterday right before GOLF.  Got 3/4 of an inch.  Beat BRO in GOLF shot a 45, hit perfect drives on all the holes,no mulligans.  Still can't putt.

Drank beer and ate wings afterwards great nite.

Getting ready to go to STRAUSSBURG.  Can't wait.

FIFE, going to wear my GOTHIC BLACK.

Have a good one.

laz57

[sir james I]

MORNING ALL.

I'm heading out to the train store real soon going to help out ,with the conv. in town.

Kurt, I heard the thunder, and we got a little rain but no storm.

Grayson My middle name is Murrie, and that's a southern name. But I live in the NORTH.

                 Later,      Sir James

[kpolak]

Brent:  Ah.  We have a smaller house, and all the appliances are gas.  Only 1-well. (30amp)  I used a 200a panel, and have about 20% open.

Your electrician friend will be able to give you the best advice about loading your circuits.  You can run some numbers yourself if you like.  Add up the outlets on a circuit, and estimate 200w per outlet.  Use actual known loads for each outlet over 200w (electric heater (1500w +-)(coffee pot 1500w ) (5-ZW transformers 1375w).

Ask your electrican about maximum loads.  It should be a percentage of your breaker size.

20a breaker will trip at 2400w, and requires 12ga cable.  (volts x amps = watts) (120x20=2400)

15a breaker will trip at 1800w and requires 14ga cable.

Check with your electrician about where your connected loads should be.  This varies by code.

Kurt

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a rainy 60 degrees. Going up to 78, today with rain predicted all day. We never got any rain, yesterday, after all the clouds.

Today, I will be inside, I guess.. Have a few " rainy day " projects to work on. Then, I will spend some time in the train room. Running trains is nice on a rainy day. Getting ready to put down some more ballast. All the track is clean.

Chief...Good to hear from you. It was getting too peaceful and quiet.

Dining Car is here and breakfast is ready. Later.

Y'all have a great Friday.

Chuck

[Anonymous]

Brent:  I just replaced the service in our house 2-years ago...rewired the whole shebang.  It always made me nervous throwing that breaker after rewiring.  Fried a 3-way switch once.  400a Main???  Just for your house?  That's huge.    I used the square D 'QC' or 'CQ' ??  Commercial stuff, a bit more $$, but standard, and everyone has the breakers.  I have the pushmatics in the garage...I have to barder for those, no one makes them but everyone in the business keeps them around.  I bought a few from my electrical inspector.

The manufacturer of the Tankless Hot Water Heater recommends at least 300-Amp service, and since they don't install 300-Amp (only 200 and 400) I want to go to 400 because the other 100-Amp will be transferred out to the garage (if it is ever built).  Also most homes built after 1990 have 400-Amp running to the house, but the builders only install 200-Amp... why?  I have no idea because the breakers aren't all that expensive.  We have a 3,600 sqft house and all the breakers are full.  Also with two wells, a water heater, electric range, heat pump, water softener, electric dryer there are a lot of double breakers... I have thought about replacing these with the tandems to free up additional space.  But again with only 200-Amp coming in I run the risk of tripping the main.  Not to mention how loaded the existing circuits are... it makes me very concerned about an electrical fire... before I started replacing outlets there were a number of them that appeared to have overheated over the years (sooting at the outlet).  I've talked to the wife about it and we're having a family friend who has his own electrical business come out and give it a once over to see if the circuits are over loaded.

[kpolak]

'Mornin' all!

Sir James:  I hope you didn't get the storm we did last night...11:30, great thunderstorm!, but right over our house, and a ton or rain.  Need to go out to assess any damage.  Ya that bad. Dog climbed into bed, She doesn't like storms...that made 4.  (wife, 2-yo, dog, and me)  Pretty cosy eh?

Brent:  I just replaced the service in our house 2-years ago...rewired the whole shebang.  It always made me nervous throwing that breaker after rewiring.  Fried a 3-way switch once.  400a Main???  Just for your house?  That's huge.    I used the square D 'QC' or 'CQ' ??  Commercial stuff, a bit more $$, but standard, and everyone has the breakers.  I have the pushmatics in the garage...I have to barder for those, no one makes them but everyone in the business keeps them around.  I bought a few from my electrical inspector.

Been busy grilling chickens, cooking potatoes, squash and peach cobbler [wife did that].

Hhhmmmmm...First she's running the grill, next she'll be running the trains....Then the Mayor's Office...  Its a slippery slope Chief.

Sturgeon-Phish:  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!  Success stories are great to hear about!

Kurt

[MartyE]

I think it's your GRITS BREATH!

[magicman710]

Evening everybody.

Long Live The South!!!!!!!

Grayson, a southern name.

 

[ChiefEagles]

I get back on the forum and the Yanks go into hiding.    One poor little REB sure has a lot of power.

[ChiefEagles]

Boy, it sure is quiet without the Chief around.

Today in the mail I got Trains, Classic Trains and Model Railroader, all in the same day, it has never happened before.  Lots of reading for the weekend.

Not any more.  HE HE HA HA, snicker.  Got my CTT last week and Trains today.  Grandson here.  Been busy grilling chickens, cooking potatoes, squash and peach cobbler [wife did that].  OH, Youngest and SIL are here but they don't count.   They are all off to Boston on 6 AM flight tomorrow for SIL's brother's wedding.  Later.

[sir james I]

Evening to all. 

Jim, Thank your wife for me, I know what she went through, my Email page does that to me and after a few tries you say oh heck with it.Not the same problem though ,I'm almost done and get disconnected.

Fife, I don't use to much coffee I learned on this forum to  just add fresh grounds to the used ones.             

 Brent, good job with the wiring.no burns eh. 

                     Good nite,     Sir James

[Anonymous]

Fife - sounds good!  Can't wait to see it.

Kurt, Doug, Jim - I have a Cutler Hammer Breaker Box... you can only use 'Type Z' breakers with this box and they are only made by Cutler Hammer... and they are $4.00 more per breaker that Square D... Oh Well... $11.97 vs $7.97 isn't much to get upset about.  I put the 20-Amp tandem in and purchased and installed a 15-Amp tandem.  So I now have one open 15-Amp tandem.  Now I have to redo the circuit map on the breaker box door... no biggie, wanted to do that anyway.

Threw the main breaker and everything works without a hitch... including the Air Compressor!

When I start the layout and the two elevated tracks I am going to have my BiL's friend come out and install a second box and upgrade the main to 400-Amp service.  This will allow me to install an Electric Instant Hot Water Heater when I move the hot water tank to the new utility closet... but that is a few months out since the wife purchased the new vanities for the Master Bathroom last weekend... I don't even have 1 project done (the shed) and she is already stocking up for the next one...

[A&Y Ry]

For some reason,over time,I have repaatedly been dropped from the CTT Forum and been unable to login or post with my legitimate e-mail adress and password. It is becoming a pain in the *** to go back to the main entrance and try to get back on---which sometimes works but not always.

What is the story Keller? I can go elsewhere if necessary but why am I dropped? It has happened repeatedly but no more! I am a subscriber to CTT, Trains and Classic Trains but that and a dime gets you a piece of bubble gum. Tired of playing the losing [for me]game!

Dewey Trogdon

[jefelectric]

Boy, it sure is quiet without the Chief around.

Today in the mail I got Trains, Classic Trains and Model Railroader, all in the same day, it has never happened before.  Lots of reading for the weekend.

Doug, to your daughter.

Take care,

[CSXect]

The natives are restless Where is the Chief

The job is going well so far. My railroads fund is growing now the question is do I spend it on TRAINS or on carpet and lighting before starting on layout

[Blueberryhill RR]

Chuck - sounds like service is back to normal at the diner!  Let us know how the ballasting goes on the bridge. 

Yes, Jim, the Dining car is back to normal. Gorgeous waitress and all. I will keep you updated on the bridge ballasting with pictures. Thanks.

Chuck

[Brutus]

Hi guys - well, I'm half way through Potter.  Just stopped in to catch up on the 'pot and say hello.

Doug M - Congrats to your daughter!  I've got that whole boyfriend thing to look forward to myself.

Sir James, my wife tried to send you an email yesterday through CTT button.  She typed for about 15 minutes.  Then, CTT apparenlty crashed - got an error on page message and killed IE and my cable connection, and then she didn't want to do it again - sorry.  I think Doug M said you can get the info on wikipedia though.

Chuck - sounds like service is back to normal at the diner!  Let us know how the ballasting goes on the bridge.

88 - Been there, done that!  I've got a regular service panel put in by the builder, plus a second panel I put in so I could have enough spaces for the house and workshop in the basement.  I guess you are using the tandem breaker to open up a separate 20 amp line using a single space for a 120 volt compressor?  I agree - buy a couple extra breakers now - it can't hurt.  The service panels are standardized in general, but some have different connections and the manufacturers take perverse glee in putting out different breakers that won't fit in other boxes - I guess that's where they make their money!  If you look inside the panel, I guarantee you will find a warning that using another manufacturer's breaker in their box, even if it fits, will void the warranty. 

[Roger Bielen]

And I also got that pleasant note about my Polar Express...no shippy 'till the last of August...bummer!!!

Got the same note, oh well, maybe by the time it gets here I will have built up a few brownie points

Jim 

Don't see why, we received 6 more last week from Lionel.  Probably have about 15 in stock.