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

[Anonymous]

Doug,
What's the problem with the switches?

[cnw1995]

Argh, these remote control 027 switches are driving me crazy...

[CSXect]

Nice boat Buckeye, ever been on Erie??

Last time I went fishing was on a boat on the lake erie caught a lot of white and yellow pearch and one bass with a very big belly and a few goathead?(pest invader like zebra muscels, lampreys and one type of zooplankton that nothing will eat.)

Favorite bait old beef liver,corn kernals, and worms. Brother in law swears by this recipe uses bread, cheese and Curry(sp? indian spice) the fish hit on it big time.

I have come to the conclusion that my train buying days are over till I build layout and display shelves.

[tmcc man]

Good afternoon everyone,

Buckeye that's a nice boat you have. Right now, my uncle has a small Boston Whaler. I can't remember the size. He actually just ordered another boat, and I think it's around 30ft. It has dual engines, but I can't remember anymore details.

Well, looks like the Christmas layout is going to happen. It's going to be 10ft long by 8ft wide. I have 072 on the outside, 054 on the inside, and 031 on the very inner loop. I think it will be a nice layout, with some houses, people and other things. 

[Wes Whitmore]

Just two people.  He has a layout in the back taking up the rest of the space.
Wes

[Anonymous]

(Don't know how big Buckeye's boat is).

+

Looks good Buckeye.  Looks to be about an 8 passenger craft?

[Wes Whitmore]

Hey guys, I'm trying to find a toy that I had in the 80s when I was growing up.  Maybe you guys have seen it.  It was an unpowered plastic train (maybe HO is scale) layout in a plastic case that was around 36" wide, 6" tall, and maybe a foot deep.  The top of the case had a hinge on one long side that would fold open and create an elevated and set back second level.  I wish I had more to go on.  I think the case was gray in color.  It was a point-to-point.

Wes

[Buckeye Riveter]

(Don't know how big Buckeye's boat is).

+

[AKKevinT]

Far North Checking–

Good morning to everyone reading the news at the coffee pot. I have not had much time to check in or post much for some time now. I wanted to share a quick link to a neat little news clip I stubbled across today. It is from WCCO televison affiliate in Minneapolis. They had a nice spot on a local model train club/museum display is St. Paul MN. They have a beautiful layout in a great looking old train building!

(I am not sure if this has already been shared on this or other threads on forum, but in case it has not I thought some of you might enjoy seeing this.)

Twin Cities Model Railroading Museum

As the Christmas season gets closer I hope to have time to check in and catch up with the forum in general. Take care and best regards from Alaska!

Kevin T.

PS So far this has been the mildest winter I have experienced in Alaska's interior in 21 years! In fact the weather has been so mild we have had more days above 32°f than below 0°f so far this fall. I guess I am another Alaskan who is finding the upside to global warming somewhat appealing! 

[cnw1995]

Thank you, Sir James. Here's another two questions if you or anyone else can help - should I put an insulating pin on the both ends of the closest-in rail on the straight side of the switch or only on one end of the straight rail?  If I have three switches in a row, each separated from the other by a straight track, and powered by the same transformer - do I have to put these insulating pins in both the curved and straight tracks for each one or just the two switches on the 'ends' of this section that connect to the rest of the layout?

Hmm, I guess I'll ask this on the larger forum too.

[RRCharlie]

anjdevil beat me to the Jacksonville weather report. Give final exams in Elementary Statistics at the junior college tonight, Tuesday night, and Saturday morning. Maybe when last of paers are graded, grades averaged, and posted, I can get back to the serious stuff. TRAINS!!!

Hope everyone has a good week.

Nice article Fife

Mel Hazen; Jax. FL

[Anonymous]

If the city mandated the easement, and they offered you fair market value for that land (they have to do this by law before enacting eminant domain), and you chose not to sell, then you are out of luck.  If you bought the property AFTER the easement mandate took effect, then there is nothing you can do since you don't own that property... now if the equipment does not fall within the easement boundaries... can you say RENT????

---
Fife - didn't see the M.B. Klein booth... did see one guy selling Hogwarts for $199!!!!

Doug - Yeah I can usually find something for my Mom and Sisters there... about the only thing Susan and I get from there is ornaments.

Wes - Just doing a quick stop and go... if I had had more time I would emailed you and Buckeye to see about meeting up.  If Buckeye's offer still stands concerning meeting up when the weather breaks to do a trip up the Muskigum (?) river through the locks around Zanesville, maybe we could all get together? (Don't know how big Buckeye's boat is).

[FJ and G]

Hi,

I shot this out of focus picture of the Washington Post. See all of the boxes in this lady's front yard. One of them is a comcast box (internet provider). The lady doesn't even use comcast yet the company was allowed to tear up her yard and install its box smack dab in the front. Apparently, the city of manassas had allowed an easement for any utility company to post whatever they want there right on her lawn. 

 

So in addition to being able to take your house away, for eminant domain of some developer, they can also plant stuff in your lawn (I'd have disguised it as a factory and run tracks out to it)

 

 

[laz 57]

Laz, the Bears stink, stink, stink!

DOUG, that they do Oh well wait till next year.

laz57

[CSXect]

Good monday morning to everyone. must be off to the dentist by 11:00 not even a five min. drive from home.

Hope all is well with everyone this week suppose to snow by wendsday here. Was very windy and thought I heard some thunder lastnight.

 

[anjdevil2]

Hello from cloudy & Humid Florida...not complaining, just being Captain Obvious....

Spent the weekend getting Christmas in gear worked LHS on Saturday, decorated the house yesterday, got the tree up and in the house (or is that in & up in the house).  Layout complete, need to fine tune a few things, adorn the tree with lites and such, then the trains will roll.  I'll post them on next weeks SPF.

I was short on trackage yesterday and, on a whim, asked the oldest to check the Target web for track.  Lo & behold, they had some at the nearest store "limited availability".  Ran over to DnD (sorry Target, not much on the Star-5-bucks coffee), got my coffee & crossant and drove over. $26 for 4 straight AND 4 curves.  Such a deal.  They had 2, I got one.  The diesel set, to me, looks cheap, the steamer looks pretty good, though.  That finished off the layout.

hmmm How 'bout those G-Men, sorry dere BEARZ fans...

Boss is away for 3 days, need to keep up with the job, though (whom i kiddin' I'm a work horse anyhow...)

Ya know, I just gotta ask (Fife..this is all your fault...)...

Hey Chief, that convertible your were in, would that be a long, white Caddy? (and where was Roscoe in all this?)  White suit to match?

(Sorry..had to ask...)

Rich

[sir james I]

Doug- Look close at the 2 short  rails one on the straight one on the curve They are isulated from the rest. Those two rails need the plastic pins.

[cnw1995]

Thanks, Sir James. I'm glad to know that - the only diagram I can see in the instruction book shows two switches connected back to back and arrows pointing out the insulating pins. I must have it 'backwards' probably.

[sir james I]

A very windy morning. And it's garbage day. If they don't p/u soon everyone will be exchanging garbage cans.

I never heard of a p-can until I was watching a Bobby Flay show.

Doug- If those switchs are chattering, you did get it wrong. You need to fix it or burn the coils out

Enjoy your Monday and I'll drop by later.(to read about p-cans)which i'm sure will  be mentioned again.,,,,,,,,,,,,,Sir James

[cnw1995]

Good morning from a sunny and cold Crystal Lake where seeing the sun really makes a difference. Last day off for this series of catch-up vacation before heading into the office for 2 days.

Brent, doesn't that Cracker Barrel 'store' have nice gifts?

CSX and Kurt, hang in there in eating healthy - I'm trying to drink more vegetable juice - a generic version of V8 - takes getting used to...

Chief, I knew you'd love those E units if you ran them. Can't wait to see them repainted in NS

Laz, the Bears stink, stink, stink!

Brutus, glad you had a good trip to KC - especially the behind-the-scenes visit at the museum.

Going to try to wire the controllers for the 5121 switches today - the '05 instructions for what looks to be similar switches say to begin with the 'ribbed' wire to the closest connector to the motor housing - of course, none of the wires for the controllers I have are ribbed. I'll have to experiment with connecting each wire to each connection - I think I also screwed up the placement of the insulating pins. Boy, when I fire up the transformer, the switches sure are noisy! 

The youngest got his first lesson in electricity - I showed him how to connect a wire to each lug on a tiny transformer to get the WW2 pylon to spin. He's hanging things on the airplanes and watching them fling off...

[fifedog]

Frank53 - I thank you sir.

[Frank53]

Fife:

Finally got a copy of CTT over the weekend - congrats on your article  

[fifedog]

cheapclassics - Forgot to mention, Fifey's-wifey has become a big HELIO fan, and not from his 2 Indy wins.

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is windy and cold in SE Indiana, and I think I am coming down with a cold as well.  I worked all weekend on the layout and got it up to the historical society Sunday afternoon.  Sunday night I oiled and greased all the equipment I am going to run, and I will take it up there tonight.  It has been a struggle, but I hope it will be worth it.  There may be someone up there with some American Flyer equipment as well.  We will have to see.  I will catch up on the posts later.  There were bran muffins on the dining car this morning.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Wes Whitmore]

Brent, It looks like you were in Columbus over the weekend!  Too bad I missed you.  Next time I guess.

Wes

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Sunny and 46 here in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Supposed to get blustery tonight with 30 mph winds, so should be a miserable experience all around at M&T BANK STADIUM.  Our youngest has her Winter Concert this evening, and she is very excited.  She is the partidge in a pear tree.  Her father was the partridge in a pear tree 35 years ago.  The stars are aligning...

88 - Did you see the price M.B.Klein had on their Pennsy Flyer starter sets...Blowin' them out!

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all.  Sun is peeping out after some early morning light rain.  Cool and breezy.  Busy morning for me.  Coffee and then clean kitchen.  Seems wife left that for me to do.   Got Town "stuff" to do and then County Commissioners meeting.  This evening, Christmas tree lighting in the park across the street and then actual swearing in followed by Town Board meeting.  Later 

[Anonymous]

If I seem a bit grumpy it is due to almost 6 weeks without real food and I just seen 2 commercials for food that is very tempting Ralleys double cheeseburger with a slice of pepperjack cheese,slice of american cheese and chedder cheese sauce, and pizzahut double deep pizza

Hang in there!  You're doing great on the weight loss.  I've been trying to cut back on the 'bad cholesterol' stuff, but difficult when wife and daughter are eating salami and swiss sandwiches in front of you.  Salami is all the 3-yo will eat, next to chicken nuggets, and pizza.

Remember to reward yourself once in awhile!

Kurt

Or when your wife makes Chicken Alfredo...

---
Well another long eventfull weekend for The Roar.  Friday I went to Pittsburgh to see my family and as a stopover for my trip to Columbus to pickup my snow blade for the John Deere.  Got in around 9:00 and hit the hay right away.  Up and at 'em at 6:15 and on the road at 6:45.  Dad decided to tag along and keep me company... we made it to the Cracker Barrell in Reynoldsburg by 9:20 and that included a stop at McDonalds for breakfast (if you can call it that)... got the blade and wheel chains and we were back on the road by 10:15 - stood in that frigid SnOhio wind and shot the breeze with the fella selling the blade, nice guy.

Then we got back to Pittsburgh and I loaded up Susan's car for the trip home.  Blade broke down real nice and it fit in the truck with almost no loss of space.  Picked up part of my Mom's Christmas gift at Cracker Barrell too. Then before heading out, stopped by a friend's place to exchange some train related items (gave up a 2000 Lionel Christmas trainset, received Lionel SC-2 ), also dropped off the remainder of the FasTrack as he is going to redo his Christmas layout with that... then I'll get what he doesn't want when I go back in January.

On the way home Saturday night I get a call from Susan... frantic... yelling at me to get home... I told her to calm down as I couldn't understand her and she was upsetting me because she knew I was driving and at least 45 minutes from home... she calmed down and told me the one cat had chased a mouse into the bedroom. So when I got home I found the mouse, bopped it on the head, swept it onto a dust pan, put it in a bag, and deposited it in the trash can.  Then yesterday before heading out for the trainshow, she found another one (this time dead) under the dresser... dumped it in the trash can with the other mouse.  So we bought all these mouse deterants yesterday and probably didn't have to...

Trainshow... found my C&O Dockside Switcher! Also picked up a K-Line C&O Pickup Truck (navy blue, seen the red ones all over the place but never saw a blue one), a blue Chevy pickup with wood stakes and rails, and two Weaver wooden crates for 40' flatcar loads... going to use them as templates to make my own! Also found a 2006 Lionel Christmas Parade Aquarium car for $39.00 (had Susan get that for me for Christmas)... OH YEAH... ran into a certain forum member... good to see his head hasn't grown since being published! Had a nice chat, and we had some so all left happy!

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is cold and windy. 30 degrees. A few snow flurries in the air. Going up to 39 today, with no heavy snow fall.

Today, we are driving up to the wife's doctor for her final check up. All looks good. Glad it's over with. Now, things can get back to normal.

No time for trains today. Need to do some dusting again.

Dining Car is here and time for breakfast. Later.

Y'all have a great Monday.

Chuck

[kpolak]

If I seem a bit grumpy it is due to almost 6 weeks without real food and I just seen 2 commercials for food that is very tempting Ralleys double cheeseburger with a slice of pepperjack cheese,slice of american cheese and chedder cheese sauce, and pizzahut double deep pizza

Hang in there!  You're doing great on the weight loss.  I've been trying to cut back on the 'bad cholesterol' stuff, but difficult when wife and daughter are eating salami and swiss sandwiches in front of you.  Salami is all the 3-yo will eat, next to chicken nuggets, and pizza.

Remember to reward yourself once in awhile!

Kurt