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

[Buckeye Riveter]

Good afternoon from Western Kentucky.  Went fishing  this pm and caught two before storms chased us off of the lake.

I am on a borrowed computer, so it is short.

Take care and see ya down the tracks,

[dbaker48]

Doug and Zeke - Regarding these ***## airhorns.  I don't know if they are or are not legal, or not.  

Zeke - now imagine an 18 yr old with these in So. Cal.    I'm sure you might have a LITTLE more maturity and certainly can get away with more in Redding than we can down here.  The H.S. is doing some Star testing today, (whatever that is) and the Sr.s are just hangin around school.  So he bought these, I tried to discourage it two or three weeks ago.  I was planning a major delay on installing them.  He out smarted me.  Got a pair of jumper cables and making the connection with a couple of paper clips to the 12v compressor, and hooked up the air line to the trumpets.  Came to the office and showed me how they tested..... then off to school to show his buds.

I think I'm going to get in trouble before this dies out.  Maybe a sock in the trumpets?? 

[Anonymous]

RT, that stinks about the negative feedback.

 I've had mostly positive experiences with ebay however I figure that my time is coming to have a bad one......

 

afternoon all...nice and cool in cali today...

 as the fb thing goes i have 800 and 100% so far...and i sell some and buy alot....i know my time is prolly coming to..seems that there is always that one person that has to make things difficult...sorry about the neg..

 

and regarding the airhorns:

Don, can you put airhorns on a car in Cali? There's not street-legal here except on trucks over a certain weight - read semis.

 

i have two sets on a pick up i own some dixie ones (plays general lee theme)
 and one that plays like 12 differant tunes..i play them quite often and either i havent been caught or its okay to blast them...they sure are head turners!   dont know if i helped but i threw in my 2 cents....lol 

[Jumijo]

Dennis, I also had my dog creamated privately. My wife, daughter and I spread her ashes in her favorite woods where she loved to run and play. My dog, a black lab was an avid swimmer, so we spread the ashes in those woods close to the lake she used to swim in.

The Greenbrier is very nice! Take the tour of the underground bunker/fallout shelter set up for senators and congressmen.

Doug, I think you would make an excellent Batman! Throw on the tights and let's see what you got! 

Jim 

[dwiemer]

Afternoon everyone.  Well, we did it.  While the oldest was in school, I finished my case and met my wife at the house with the 2year old.  We went over and the three of us pet her and loved on her a little, then the wife left the room with the daughter and I held the dog while they first gave the anesthetic and then the lethal meds.  While it was a very hard thing to do, I am glad that I was there with her.  We got a lock of fur and they will do a private cremation.  We will get the ashes back.  Since the ground is so hard due to no rain, we figured it best as digging a hole would be very difficult.

I was not able to read the article on the train wreck in Alabama, the Trains site has it as a "subscriber only" section.  I am not up to checking with the neighbor just yet. 

I go on call tomorrow for 10 days straight, so, while I may be doing a lot of work, I hope to get some therapy, I mean train time in.  I have some more wiring to drop and then it will be time to get under the layout for the rest of the wiring.

I won a "Dream Vacation" from the hospital yesterday.  It consists of three days, two nights at the resort of my choice, I just need to get us there.  I was thinking of either the Greenbrier in WV, or going to Asheville, NC. 

Hope everyone has a great day, and thanks for the kind thoughts from so many folks here.

Dennis

[cnw1995]

Good afternoon from a sunny and cool Crystal Lake where all of a sudden, there are leaves on the trees - though I still haven't cut the grass yet. Haven't worked much today either - did homeschool with the kids whilst the bride went to a Nat Day of Prayer breakfast in town (she is an intercessor); took the middle boy out to buy his acoustic guitar - he's saved a long time for this cheap one - stopped off the library to check out the past six months of MR and Trains magazines (have to encourage 'em). Now off to the park with the youngest.

Brent, congrats on the beautiful home - for years, my wife (an RN) worked every Sat. and a 12 hr. shift on Thur. and I arranged to work 'at home' to be with the kids. For the past six years, we've tried to make it work so she's always home and not working -- schooling the young ones (but I still work at home Thur. - I figure no one needs to know. Don't breathe a word.)

Jim, Why can't I stand-in for the Caped Crusader himself? There's also a Dennis Quaid movie looking for extras. Congrats on the twins turning 4 - you survived! - our youngest turns 5 in a month.

Don, can you put airhorns on a car in Cali? There's not street-legal here except on trucks over a certain weight - read semis.

[Dr. John]

Wow! It's warm and muggy this afternoon. Good chance of rain tomorrow and Saturday. Hope we get some rain.

Attended a breakfast for the National Day of Prayer this am. Our state attorney general spoke and then there was a time of prayer for government, schools, churches and our military. Very well done.

Found out that Prattville does have a model railroad club! I saw a guy at Lowes with a shirt on with the club's logo (Central Alabama Model Railroaders). He was very friendly and invited me to view their layout. (Actually, they have two - a large, permanent layout and a modular layout for shows). Only downside - they all are HO scale modelers. I asked if anyone in the club was into O gauge but he didn't know of anyone. I'll definitely check out their layout, but probably won't join the club - just don't have the interest in HO that I once did. 

[Jumijo]

Lee Baby,

Thanks for the advice. I will check the drum and see if it needs cleaning. The motor has brand new brushes and the springs have excellent tension. I cleaned ALL the wheels with a stainless steel wire wheel in a Dremel and they shine like chrome. At least I think it was stainless...The fact that the light doesn't come on and that the e-unit no longer buzzes or works leads me to believe that I knocked a power wire loose.  

You're a good man, Lee! Stay out of that hot sun.

Jim 

[phillyreading]

Jaabat,

Have you checked the little roller wheel inside the e unit? It too needs cleaning from time to time, I cleaned one with a very slender pencil eraser, usually the build up on it will come off easy enuff with just an eraser and maybe a needle nose pliers to hold the wheel from turning. Also check the spring tension on the brushes on the older motors as that too can be a problem. And lastly clean all wheels on the locomotive, not just the drive wheels but also the leading & trailing wheels for better outside rail pick-up.

Lee F.

[mistyk11]

RT, that stinks about the negative feedback. I buy on ebay (used to list things for sale but too much of a hassle anymore) so I know the importance of positive feedback. It's too bad that they didn't contact you to try to resolve it first. I've had mostly positive experiences with ebay however I figure that my time is coming to have a bad one.....Good luck with the other transactions you have. I hope they turn out ok.

[rtraincollector]

One of my great ebay buyers left me a neg with out even contacting me to tell me there problem with item all my sales say contact me if theres a problem to see if we can work it out. It was a NYC gondola and it was missing a coupler I missed it when listing as was trying to list a lot fast. my bust but would have sent him another car or something to make it up if he would have contacted me. oh well thats one neg and I guess I'm about to swap 5 more as I have 5 more sales with no reply or anyrthing and its been almost 2 weeks and I've emailed them a few times. thing is there basicly what you would call good ebayers so i don't know guess they don't believe you when you put will leave neg and file non payment if funds are not received in 10 days.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Afternoon all,

Dennis - the cabin filter is behind the glovebox.  Drop the front via screws or posts and you should see a door like thing.  The latch is on the left as you look at it and the filter(s) are behind the door.  The first one pulls straight out, the second slides to the left then pulls out.  The filters are in frames and you re-use the frames and replace just the filter.  I would imagine your Accord would be similar to my Civic.

Brent - Nice House I agree in keying all the exterior doors to the same key.  Saves confusion and having a wad of keys.  Something I found years ago was something called "Change-a-Lock".  It is a re-keying kit.  If the locksets are the same, quickset, weiser, schlade they can be easily keyed the same.  The kit includes good instructions, a couple of unique tools to facilate changing the tumbler pins, a matched set of keys for each kit ordered and color coded tumbler pins.  If you had three exterior doors with deadbolts you would get six kits and have 12 matching keys.  Takes about 10 minutes once you get the hang of it.  I use to have rentals and re-keying locks was done between tennants.  If interested do a search.

Started early the morning got three yards cut and two flats of flowers put out.  Finished up in the rain.  It will help set the flowers.  Going to start night shift tonight, so going to do a little homework, and try and catch a nap.

All take care and may God bless 

Jim 

[Jumijo]

This one's for Doug Murphy and any one else living in the Chicagoland area. Waner Bros. is holding a casting call on Saturday for extras in the upcoming Batman movie. Shooting will be in locations throughout Chicago from June through October. The first call at the top of the page is the one you want. I can see Doug as the diabolical Doc Trolley! He puts his victims in traction.

WB Bat Casting Call 

[Jumijo]

Morning all.  Been outside fertilizing lawn, planting more squash plants and tomato plants [from greenhouse], sowing sunflower seeds and getting wife off to the beach.   Now train time. 

...what do parents with kids in school do when the kids don't have school?  I'm being serious because the wife is starting the 'we need little ones' talk!

The wife's father "watches" the kids, and when you get home, the whole house is turned upside down and trashed beyond recognition while he reads a cooking magazine and eats all your snacks. At least that's how it is with us.

Sooner or later, Brent, every wife starts talking that trash. Stall it as long as you possibly can.

Jim 

Called the ohter day and FIL ]not know it he was at Jim's.  Told me wrong number and I was dialing from speeddial.  Called back and he realized who I was and said he was Jim's SIL.   Jim forgot to tell you.  Think he was asleep and I woke him up.  Could hear the kids in the background.  Later

Yup. He's pretty useless. I call him Mopy Dick! But he's my wife's father, so I "have" to change the oil in his car this week. PITA!

Jim 

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all.  Been outside fertilizing lawn, planting more squash plants and tomato plants [from greenhouse], sowing sunflower seeds and getting wife off to the beach.   Now train time. 

...what do parents with kids in school do when the kids don't have school?  I'm being serious because the wife is starting the 'we need little ones' talk!

The wife's father "watches" the kids, and when you get home, the whole house is turned upside down and trashed beyond recognition while he reads a cooking magazine and eats all your snacks. At least that's how it is with us.

Sooner or later, Brent, every wife starts talking that trash. Stall it as long as you possibly can.

Jim 

Called the ohter day and FIL ]not know it he was at Jim's.  Told me wrong number and I was dialing from speeddial.  Called back and he realized who I was and said he was Jim's SIL.   Jim forgot to tell you.  Think he was asleep and I woke him up.  Could hear the kids in the background.  Later

[Ignoring the Yank and his GRITS comment]  [OH, the disapearance of things in Frank's trainroom.  Sometimes REBS do that to Carpetbaggers

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a sunny morning and I am late in posting, because we lost the server last night in Cambridge due to a storm. Going up to about 75 today with a chance of rain later.

Today, I will be busy this morning and early afternoon, mowing grass and trimming. No time for trains today. Maybe later.

I heard that there is suppose to be a big boycott of gasoline on May 15th. There was an article on the morning news about it.

Well, the Dining car was here and left. We had breakfast.

Y'all have a great Thursday.

Chuck

[Brutus]

Hi guys, took off today for the HVAC guy and he was here already, showed up 20 minutes early.  I think he's trying to get as many calls in as possible before the next storm (scheduled reain for today and tomorrow).  Heard GA could use some rain?  I wish I could send you some of mine!

I was talking with a buddy at work about my new order, a 4-4-2 from Charles RO, and this guy I used to work with comes over and starts asking me all these questions about O gauge stuff.  He bought a Yukon RTR set that came with fastrack and then got a bunch of O27 track used from a guy and he's trying to figure out a layout with his son - too cool!  I told him I'll loan him some of my mags (want them back though!) and showed him the CTT site - hopefully Norb will get into the hobby, sounds like he's got the bug already  

Just got a call from my son and they cancelled his fieldtrip tomorrow.  I was already scheduled off tomorrow for it - I might go ahead and take the day off since we ran out of work yesterday anyway and I can get some stuff done in the basement.

John Baker - I keep reading all these great online articles from UK papers about Global Warming.  They have a place to post comments at the bottom.  One guy posted a comment that (paraphrase) the evidence shows that antarctic is melting and the artic is getting bigger, so the real danger of global warming is that the earth will get top heavy, flip over, and we'll all fall off!

[dbaker48]

Brent - That is really a NICE house, post card stuff.  Home Depot really turns me off especially with their measurement fees.  They DO apply that toward the job right?  Try doing a local google on Door Installation or check local newspaper possibly.

Zeke - No your definetely NOT chopped liver, that would be the last thing needed around here with all the grits.

I took a bunch of pics at our train club last night will see about posting a couple this weekend.  

Son got some air horns for the car, I can see trouble coming!  Need to help him install them, might have to stuff the trumpet with an old sock or something.  Looking forwar to working some in the train room this weekend.  Made a list of various tasks over 50 items.  

Going to try and get through the pictures for my York trip today,

Have a great day all !!

Chuck glad to see the train deco back up.

 

[Dr. John]

on top of that - I went into teh train room last nite, only to discover "I WUZ ROBBED!"

Still trying to figure out who the culprit is . . .

An anonymous source told local authorities that a short man in a purple shirt was seen in the vicinity, carrying what looked like a scale model of a Lionel factory. The witness said "He was muttering to himself and smelled strongly of smoke fluid."

[laz 57]

BRENT,  guess GAMMA AND GAMPA are watching em?  Or day care, don't know?

rock on,

laz57

[Jumijo]

...what do parents with kids in school do when the kids don't have school?  I'm being serious because the wife is starting the 'we need little ones' talk!

The wife's father "watches" the kids, and when you get home, the whole house is turned upside down and trashed beyond recognition while he reads a cooking magazine and eats all your snacks. At least that's how it is with us.

Sooner or later, Brent, every wife starts talking that trash. Stall it as long as you possibly can.

Jim 

[Anonymous]

Frank,
No problem... was just rousing ya, kind of...

BTW - Thanks for helping me with my public perception problem... I really didn't think it would take that much effort to avoid 'bimmer gate'!  The check is in the mail! 

Laz,
You get the day off for Prom?  WOW!  Wish I was in school now-a-days... seems kids get lots of time off... what do parents with kids in school do when the kids don't have school?  I'm being serious because the wife is starting the 'we need little ones' talk!

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

  39 and cool to get to 69.

22 days o school left, can't wait.

Happy Friday Eve!

Prom day tomorrow so we are off from school, going to do yard work and get mulch 8 loader scoops.  For flower beds.

Rock on,

laz57 

 

 

[Jumijo]

Frank old buddy,

Is your new client MTH?! 

I think Lionel has decided to move production over seas in your layout's world. Look for a WalMart or Home Depot on the former Lionel factory site in the near future! 

Jim 

[Frank53]

That's very kind of you Brett.

Unfortunately, I am a busy guy, and have done very little in the last few weeks. I think I am partially decompressing from the effort put forth in anticipation of my sister's visit.

On top of that I am overwhelmed with work. I took on a new PR client in the past month and it is a very intense effort, as they are having some public perception issues. Forty billable hours last month just on them. Trying to squeeze forty extra hours into an already full workload has had me working around the clock for quite a while.

on top of that - I went into teh train room last nite, only to discover "I WUZ ROBBED!"

Still trying to figure out who the culprit is . . .

[Anonymous]

seeing as how this is page #265 of this thread;

and (5 x 53) = 265;

I am compelled to post on this page.

Hopefully we're still on page 265...

Frank, you've stalled out on us!  I'm interested to find out what refinements to your scenery you are making, and what you've decided to do with your troublesome switch... 21 days since you've updated your construction thread!  <someone is going through Frank53 layout withdrawl>

[Jumijo]

Thats why they say if it ain't broke don't fix it. Oh well we all have done it. It may be just a wire came loose or check to see if you have any cracked wires.

I'm not concerned. Lionel post war locos are easy to fix. I think I might have loosened a wire putting the shell back on. The metal bar that holds the back of the motor in the shell passes right next to the e-unit's wires. Doh! Call me Dr. Tinkle! We have plenty of other trains to run.To be honest, the e-unit has been slightly problematic in the past. It sometimes refused to cycle and would run in forward only at times. And the dirt and gunk was so bad, I really needed to clean the motor.

Jim 

 

[Anonymous]

The other night I took apart a perfectly good 2018 to clean an excessive amount of grease from the motor. I also installed some fiberglass insulation under the smoke element and added new brushes. Last night I put it all back together and put it on the track. Nothing. No light. No e-unit hum. Nothing. So I'm figuring I did something to the e-unit...If I can't fix it, good old Dr. Tinker can. Or maybe I'll send it to Keith, my grits hating OTTS brother.

I wonder who will post about this... I see rtc already did... someone from further South maybe?

So last night I set up my test track and placed the 0-8-0 on the rails... fired her up and sure enough sounds are all messed up... calling Lionel Tech Support tonight... maybe even put the smoking caboose on the rails while I'm on the phone with them... maybe it needs some work too...

Wife got home last night, made dinner for her (out of salad stuff so just BBQ chicken and fries), then headed to Lowes to use her coupon.  Stopped by the exterior door counter and asked the fella how much to have exterior door installed along with storm door... his response, 'we have to go out and measure first'... WT....? It's a standard 36" door, looks just like the one behind his head!  He says, 'not all standard doors are the same width.'  WT....?  Standard <> standard? So we have to spend $35.00 to have a guy measure a door that I already had measured...   So wife decides we are going to get the new door handle and dead bolt for front door and new hardware for back door and garage door.  I had the guy rekey the front dead bolt and back door dead bolt so 1 key will open all 3 doors... $10.00 to rekey the dead bolts - wife thinks it was a waste of money. Then we pick out the new lights for the outside, need 4 of them, they had 4, got them all.  So we get home and I'm putting the stuff on the workbench and I hear rattling in the one light box... Open the box and take out light... glass all over the inside of the box! So looks like I'm making a run to Lowes to get a new light.

Oh... don't think I've posted any pics of the house...


These are the lights we got... two go by the garage, one by front door, one at back door.


Shutters and front door are going to be painted black...

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is supposed to cloudy and cooler today, but it was sunny on the drive into work in SE Indiana with temps in the 60s today.  I watched "Lost" and did weights last night.  Jimtrumpie, I thought it was a good show last night, and it was nice not having flashbacks.  At least we know Penny is still looking for Desmond.  I start outdoor soccer practice tonight, weather permitting.  Also, does anybody here have any tips on how to stay awake during a girls' softball game?  I told "my" soccer girls I would attend one of their other sports events, and the ones on the softball team have a home game tonight.  Maybe it will get rained out?!?!   Time to send the dining car to "Points East".  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[rtraincollector]

Thats why they say if it ain't broke don't fix it. Oh well we all have done it. It may be just a wire came loose or check to see if you have any cracked wires.