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

[sir james I]

Whats going on? No birthdays today. 46 this AM bright sun headed for 72. We have those 100 year rains too, about every 3 years. Old farm lands flood because they built houses on all of it and  then the owners want to know why they get flooded.Gee I wonder. I'll stop in later and read the mail.  Mi. Jim

[Anonymous]

Brent, that's an impressive list! Do I understand correctly that you have 9 days in which to complete it? Hang in there!

Sunny and mild in Alabama this morning. With the drought the humidity has been unusually low and it does not feel as hot as normal for June. Guy on the radio said we're having a "50 Year Drought." Since I'm only 47, this is my first one!

Had a nice dinner with #1 daughter for her 21st birthday last night. She's mostly asked for cash and household stuff since she's getting married next summer. Seems like she still ought to be about two or three years old. Tempus fugit, etc.

Hope everyone has a good day!

Dr. John... NO WAY!  LOL!  The move takes place in 9 days, THEN I have to start working on the list.  Oh my... if I had only 9 days to complete it I would just give up now!  LOL!  Wife just called and added two more tasks to the list...

[Jumijo]

My K-Line Pacific is all back together. Looks great. Decals and a coal load tonight. I wonder if it runs... 

 

Dr. John,

I'm your age and have lived through 3 100 year rain storms in the past 10 years.

 

[Dr. John]

Brent, that's an impressive list! Do I understand correctly that you have 9 days in which to complete it? Hang in there!

Sunny and mild in Alabama this morning. With the drought the humidity has been unusually low and it does not feel as hot as normal for June. Guy on the radio said we're having a "50 Year Drought." Since I'm only 47, this is my first one!

Had a nice dinner with #1 daughter for her 21st birthday last night. She's mostly asked for cash and household stuff since she's getting married next summer. Seems like she still ought to be about two or three years old. Tempus fugit, etc.

Hope everyone has a good day!

[Anonymous]

Morning all... nerves are shot... only 9 days till moving day...

I need a break...

Fife, Yeah those grey hoppers would look awesome... LHS had a WM Bobber caboose that looked really nice... could stop there any get it! LOL!  I think I may look for those hoppers and some of the boxcar/reefers I saw at the LHS that way I can mix em up a little...

John, I KNEW I had seen a pic of what I wanted!  THANKS!  Add those to the York list...

I figure if I get the bathroom and the wine cellar/wine tasting area done before I do the layout the wife won't give me grief (or too much grief) about buying more train stuff... of course once she sees the MTH firehouse she has been hounding me about she will let up a bit too...   see she really does like this hobby and she is even happier when she sees something she likes and it ends up on the layout...

Jim - LOL about Julia - sounds like she and my wife would get along famosly!  My wife wanted to be a doctor or lawyer or corporate executive or own her own company... she is on track for #3 then #4 once she makes her first mill... gotta love a woman with ambition!  Of course we should probably keep Julia and Susan from meeting... there could be a nuclear meltdown at all reactors within a 300 mile radius of the meeting site... LOL!

Mitch - I'm sure the tiny little pictures in the instruction manual simply didn't depict what I would REALLY be looking at, and since I am replacing an existing faucet it shouldn't be that difficult.  Famous last words of Brent... But no sense fretting over it now, have 9 days to get into the house...

Honey do list:
1. Install 4 exterior lights
2. Install 1 large foyer light in an 18 ft tall foyer
3. Install 1 dining room chandalier
4. Install 2 kitchen lights
5. Install 1 kitchen faucet
6. Install 1 ice maker in freezer
7. Install 1 garbage disposer (have to run power for this one too)
8. Install 2 garage door openers
9. Install wainscotting in the powder room
10. Install light kit on master bedroom ceiling fan
11. Remodel Master Bathroom
     1. Remove tile
     2. Fix shower walls where tile doesn't come off well
     3. Lay new tile floor
     4. Install tile on bathtub surround
     5. Install tile on walls
     6. Install new vanities
     7. Install new faucets in vanities
     8. Install new Roman Tub Faucet at bathtub
     9. Install new shower faucet
     10. Hang new mirrors/medicine cabinets
     11. Hang new light fixtures
12. Remodel basement:
     1. Finish wine cellar - install insulation in walls, install humidy control, hang drywall
     2. Remove door leading to unfinished area in basement
     3. Move hot water tank to beside furnace
     4. Frame areas:
          1. New Bathroom
          2. New Utility Closet
          3. Closet under stairs
          4. Exterior walls
          5. Bar
     5. Cut new doorway leading to finished area in basement
     6. Install Bathroom plumbing
     7. Install electric in Bathroom and other areas
     8. Install light in utility closet
     9. Install light in closet under stairs
     10. Drywall area
     11. Paint
     12. Install flooring
          1. carpet hallway
          2. tile bar and bathroom
     13. Hang elevated track for wine country themed train (this will be the first train related project).

OH MY!!!!!!

OH - almost forgot... no the train room will not be above the garage.  We will be using that area for storage... that idea got nixed as soon as the wife heard it... LOL!

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a cool, foggy 48 degrees. Going up to 77 today, with sunshine. Looks like a warming trend is on the way. Need some sun.

Today, is the weekly drive to Cambridge for groceries. Love that job. I have to drop the wife off at the Hospital, for her pre-surgery blood tests and xrays. Gas prices have come down to a $3.06 a gallon level, which is still very high. Travel this year will be limited.

Well, Dining car is here and may have been to " points west " , already. It is time for breakfast. Later.

Y'all have a great Wednesday.

Chuck

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is another beautiful sunny day in SE Indiana with temps in the 80s.  Soccer game tonight.  It is an early one so I have to change at work and drive straight to the game.  It does make it interesting, but I do get home earlier.  Only one more day after today of work and then it is a three day weekend!  I have not had time to read all the posts so I hope I have not missed much.  The dining car is headed to "Points East".  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

  WOOHOO LAST DAY O SCHOOL.

BEAUTY HERE AT 55 and to get to 72.  PERFECT!  way to end the year.

MITCH, GLAD NO PILE UPS.  I RAN my trains last nite and my Cab Forward uncoupled and smashed into the back of the train,  I didn't catch it in time.  First PILE UP IN a LONG time.

All be good?

laz57

[Jumijo]

Good morning from New England!

My K-Line pacific is ready for reassembly. I've let the paint dry for a few days. Let's see how many spare parts I have left over after all is said and done!

I briefly got a chance to paint some more FasTrack roadbed last night before my daughter got out of bed and came down to argue with me about what "we" were doing. She wants to be a nurse someday, but I think the kid is a natural lawyer. Can argue paint off a wall!

Time for tea.

Jim 

[mitchelr]

Morning to All,

Just put on a fresh pot. Gorgeous sleeping weather here.  Temps in the 50's with a high today of about 72.

Don Baker - Congrats on the 1688.  Keith helped me with mine and it does run like a scalded dog.  I had it out two nights ago running it on my elevated track, but I keep the voltage very low. 

88- I know you will be glad to get moved into your new place and get the projects underway.  After the honey - do's comes the layout.  Have you decided whether you are going to build the garage with the room over it for the layout?  BTW - I'm no help on the shower mixing valve.  I had to replace a part in ours to keep it from running constantly.  We were out one night and our son called in a panic.  He had gotten in the shower and he couldn't get it to turn off.  I had to talk him through crawling under the house into the crawl space to shut off the main water valve until I could fix it.  He was not a happy camper.  Pretty easy fix once I got the right part.

Have a great day. Five more full days with kiddos and then two early dismissals.  I know the end is near when I don't have to take of my shoes to count the days.

Mitch 

[dbaker48]

Keith - That's great news! Email works at [e-mail]

No, it wouldn't end up on the elevated track, no room!  It would be safe though with the guard rail that is there, it couldn't even get underneath, but it could get run over.  I have a special place picked out for it, when its not on the track it will be in a glass case.

Going the the club tomorrow night, (BTW ROY YOUR INVITED ANYTIME, WE HAVE A MEETING 1ST WEDNESDAY, AT 7:00 PM, HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT, if traffic isn't too bad)   Anyway, didn't want to take the new stuff, their always seems to be a problem.  Had to put 2 tires on the Cotton Belts, and decided to take a MPC Virginan dummy unit along.  Should make an interesting consist.  2 Cotton Belts, 6 ore cars, Virginian, 2 ore cars, 3 all door box cars.  In the thregard, I was doing maintenance on all the cars, and talk about a difference in quality.  WOW !!  The Virigian (powered unit) has  no horn, bell, sounds at all.  An extremely light cab bulb that even glows through the plastic.  Light intensity is diependant upon track voltage of course.  Detail of engine is "not".  And I can remember when I got the Virgian set and how exciing that was, (35 years ago).  

Came across an interesting idea.  Of course I have some wires that need to go up the wall to the elevated.  To conceal them I got some plastic tubing that is split down one side, 8' for $1.50 @ OSH.  Its available in many colors as well, may be an alternative for cable trough through out the layout.

Have a great day!

 

[dougdagrump]

John,

Yes we are in the high desert as opposed to Palm Springs which is the lower desert. I live on the outskirts of Wrightwood which is a mountain resort here. We are in a nice climate with mild to hot temperatures during the summer months. The nicest thing is that we are away from the smog that we lived in when we lived down in Riverside County. We may have dirt but not a lot of smog.

It sounds much like the climate where my youngest daughter lives.  Dove Creek, CO., Southwest Colorado, near the four corners area, about 7,000'.  I could live there, not much grass to mow.

We haven't been to Wrightwood in years. When the snow was good we could throw our stuff on the roof rack and be skiing in an hour and a half, unless of course the CHP was watching. Unfortunately after a few consecutive years of little snow they started Way Overselling the mountains capacity during good times. The LAST time we went, way to many skiers and way to few ski patrol, some kamakazi came down the hill and crashed into my daughter so hard it actually de-lamonated the tail of one of her skis and cracked the shell of one boot. Eventually we ended saying the heck with it and started going to Park City, it's just a lttle bit more of a drive but Las Vegas is close enuff to mid-way to justify a pit-stop.

Misty, The next time you guys are down this way be sure to give a holler, we can work out a visit to the museum.

[Anonymous]

good evening everyone....

 

got a email back from mth today on my loco and they said that most likely it is the board and for 165 they would replace  it plus labor....

 

just dont think i want to spend that much on that train....

 

beautiful day out today a lil windy but nice...well hope all is ok here tonight...

 

 

[1688torpedo]

 Hello All!    Don B-    I've got great news for you!  Your 1688E & Tender are painted & assembled. Fred will let me know what you owe for them & I'll send an e-mail or post here what you owe & when I'll ship them out to you. You will be very happy with the 1688E & it will look 100% better than when you last saw it. It has new original stock Drive Wheels,Pickup Shoe Plate, Marker Lights, A new Headlight Lens & the E-Unit is rebuilt also. Beware though! Do not run the 1688 on your Shelf Layout as it will run like a scalded rabbit & it has the thin casting which would break like glass should it fall off the shelf layout for any reason at all. Run it on a layout which is much lower to the ground & at a slow-medium speed for better operation too. If the Sopranos come to your home to shoot your layout hide the 1688E or take it with you & hit the road! Take Care all.

[Brutus]

Thanks Fife, also thanks for offering to be my sponsor!  I don't forget, you are a good guy!  I'd like to have 2 levels in there somehow, even if it's not a "double layout", just to keep everything from being flat.

[mitchelr]

Evening Folks,

Ran the WM Steamer for a while tonight. As LAZ would say, "no pile ups". Had to give the smoking caboose and the new WM gondola with crates some miles on the track. Also ran the crane some more. I need to find some scale chains and straps to lift some crates, etc.

G'night,

Mitch

[fifedog]

Fortner - Just looked over your plans again.  I still like #3.

[mistyk11]

John,

Yes we are in the high desert as opposed to Palm Springs which is the lower desert. I live on the outskirts of Wrightwood which is a mountain resort here. We are in a nice climate with mild to hot temperatures during the summer months. The nicest thing is that we are away from the smog that we lived in when we lived down in Riverside County. We may have dirt but not a lot of smog.

It sounds much like the climate where my youngest daughter lives.  Dove Creek, CO., Southwest Colorado, near the four corners area, about 7,000'.  I could live there, not much grass to mow.

It drives my husband crazy since we have 2 1/2 acres of dirt right now. We're trying to get cement work done so we can get the yard put in. We (my sons, daughter and I) like it because we can open the front gate and take off on the motorcycles. Someday he'll have his yard!

[jefelectric]

John,

Yes we are in the high desert as opposed to Palm Springs which is the lower desert. I live on the outskirts of Wrightwood which is a mountain resort here. We are in a nice climate with mild to hot temperatures during the summer months. The nicest thing is that we are away from the smog that we lived in when we lived down in Riverside County. We may have dirt but not a lot of smog.

It sounds much like the climate where my youngest daughter lives.  Dove Creek, CO., Southwest Colorado, near the four corners area, about 7,000'.  I could live there, not much grass to mow.

[Brutus]

Fife - "Still coallating data" to quote Alien, one of the scariest movies I ever saw.  Yeah, my train is sidelined at least until Thursday when they come home   James Gunn, who wrote the new version of DotD, was a classmate of my sister Kathleen.  His wife was in People last week or so, I think she's sick.  My wife said, matter of factly last night, that I could go ahead and put it up while they are gone for 2 days.  Yeah, right.  I'm still trying to figure something out that will leave some room for operating accessories (my favorite) and train action.  I want to have some switching and industrial sidings, but also I'd really like to have 2 loops so I can have trains going in 2 directions, passing each other.  I think I'm too ambitious for the space I have.  I'm also thinking of putting a simple loop sort of under the table, visible through a canyon, so I can have my mining handcar set in there as well.  One idea is to have an upper level accessed from the center of the layout, maybe a mountain with a logging operation?

[jefelectric]

Ah!  Yes, I remember you referencing the paint scheme as 'circus' before... When I was at the LHS we had it pulling 8 boxcars that were painted very similiar, or maybe they were reefers... can't remember which, but it looked awesome puffing all that smoke... So now I have to find some WM stock to pull behind it... Then I want to get a set of WM F3s or F9s to pull some passenger cars... they will run on the elevated track through the train room and into the basement.  Wife wants an elevated track to run through her wine cellar into the wine tasting/bar area (wine cellar is shelled in, the other area is yet to be built).  Figure I will do that area first so the wife is happy and I can get to work on the train room...

Master bath remodel
Wine cellar/tasting area
Train room

I figure I will be able to start the train room some time later this fall...

Brent, Here is just what you are looking for.

MTH 2007, Volume 2 catalog.  You just missed the preorder date by a few days.

[fifedog]

Fortner - there's a joke in there somewhere Jim...   Hey, BTW, how is that 6x6 layout plan coming?

88 - a nice string of grey cement hoppers with speed lettering would do.  Amd you'll need a matching caboose, of course.  Let's see, 4 months 'til YORK?

rt - thought you were showing off your train's magna-traction with that first shot...

[Brutus]

88: I bought a MOEN shower/tub set and the directions are pretty straight forward.  You can pick up a book on Plumbing at Home Depot that shows some directions, but I would look at it first to make sure it applies to your particular situation.  Also, Don is right, as usual, most manufacturers have more info online.

Got my TCA card - thanks to my sponsors!

Wife and kids are in KC and I'm here watching Dawn of the Dead with some AB product and thinking about trains, all at the same time.  Picked up two magazines at Schnucks, Trains and Classic Trains.  Should keep me busy until bedtime.  Can't run trains - stuff is piled in my way   Maybe tomorrow.

[fifedog]

88 - Hey, I got that! (Took a moment, but I got it just the same)

[Anonymous]

88 - I've never hooked up one of those single handle jobs.  They are in all the hotels now, and I either scald or freeze myself!

Those black-white-red engines are what WESTERN MARYLAND called the "circus" scheme.  It was a handsome paint scheme that actually lasted on CSXT into the 90's.  I actually have a picture of WM GP7 5634 (nee 22) at Grant St Station from 7/90.

Ah!  Yes, I remember you referencing the paint scheme as 'circus' before... When I was at the LHS we had it pulling 8 boxcars that were painted very similiar, or maybe they were reefers... can't remember which, but it looked awesome puffing all that smoke... So now I have to find some WM stock to pull behind it... Then I want to get a set of WM F3s or F9s to pull some passenger cars... they will run on the elevated track through the train room and into the basement.  Wife wants an elevated track to run through her wine cellar into the wine tasting/bar area (wine cellar is shelled in, the other area is yet to be built).  Figure I will do that area first so the wife is happy and I can get to work on the train room...

Master bath remodel
Wine cellar/tasting area
Train room

I figure I will be able to start the train room some time later this fall...

[Anonymous]

Bill,
Those look awesome!!!  When I first read your post I thought you were referencing the '70s rock group!  LOL!

Can't wait to get the train room completed so I can get the trains running!

[mistyk11]

John,

Yes we are in the high desert as opposed to Palm Springs which is the lower desert. I live on the outskirts of Wrightwood which is a mountain resort here. We are in a nice climate with mild to hot temperatures during the summer months. The nicest thing is that we are away from the smog that we lived in when we lived down in Riverside County. We may have dirt but not a lot of smog.

[Anonymous]

Bill, Fife, and John...

I have the instructions for the faucet, and I looked at it and the instructions and thought 'OH GREAT!'  The shower currently has one installed (different model), but with any kind of luck they are the same... LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to remove all the tile in bathroom first... they used the 4inch white square tiles and the wife absolutely hates them, so that is my first 'major' project.  Figure to start that in mid-July.  Going with 6 or 12 inch squares, tanish in color, on the floor and 3 feet up the wall and on the tub and shower surrounds... finish later... wife needs puter for conference call...

[rtraincollector]

88 here is my ABBA with 3 of the 6 passenger cars all this is by williams

 

 

by the way that board is 10' 2" long the only way to get it completely was to back up to wall and take it at a angle. Also each car is 72 footers amd measure like 17.5 inches long end to end

[jefelectric]

Fife
figured that would be the case with the switcher...
as for projects... no painting, except I have to spray paint the shutters and front door black - don't ask - so I picked up a new sprayer for the air compressor...   have some lights to mount and some wainscotting to hang in the power room, but there isn't enough room in there for two people, so that is my project to screw up!  LOL!  Have some demo work to do in the master bathroom, then wall fixing up (due to tile removal), then laying tile.  Do you know how to replace a shower faucet?  Not the ones that hook up to the tub, but the ones with the single handle? 

Brent, If you have the faucet and the instructions that come with it, aren't enough info, go on line to the manufacturers site.  Most companies have tons of info on line.  Also lots of DIY sites that can help.  Never installed on of those either so can't help from personal experience.