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

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 9:19 AM
 Buckeye Riveter wrote:
 ChiefEagles wrote:

  Got to get ready for a street opening ribbon cutting. 

Why anyone would have a ribbon cutting for a dirt road is beyond me.  Laugh [(-D] 

Good morning from beautiful and sunny Central Ohio where our Buckeyes are getting ready for the big game on Monday.   I was sure glad to see Penn State and Jo Pa win.   Wisconsin also did themselves proud.  Of course the team up north, tanked again.  And Minnesota is now looking for a new coach...it is about time.

As to the pros, da Bears all the way. 

Kevin, did I understand your post that in one day you gained over 3 minutes of daylight.  I have to see Alaska.

Back to work, except at the end of the week I will be in sunny and warm FLORIDA! Cool [8D]



A ribbon cutting ceremony for a dirt road! LOL!!!  That was a good one!

Thanks for the props on PSU's 'W'.  I think most people saw the 'L' for Michigan coming...

Hadn't heard that Mason is leaving Minnesota! Have to look that up!

Well I'm off for the 'National Day of Mourning', so the wife has me driving to Rockville to pick up a Police Report... have to be there by noon... so I better get on the road!  It is raining and you never know how many people will forget how to drive in the rain!  Like it hasn't rained here in over a week and they forget! Confused [%-)]

Be Back Later...

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Posted by fifedog on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 9:28 AM

THOR - I battled a similar cold during my vacation leading up to Christmas; it really laid me out, right when I needed to get a lot done.Dead [xx(]

Making progress on the layout.  Added another station to Meyersdale, and spruced up my river with a coat of gloss medium (poor man's envirotex).

Another day of 50's here in the mid-Atlantic is help keeping the heating oil truck away.

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Posted by laz 57 on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 9:30 AM

HI GIZ,

  Beauty of a day here today to get to 48?  First day back with kids, not too bad. They are still warn out from the Christmas break, and kinda quiet.

  Michigan really blew it last nite.

  BUCKEYE hope DA BEARS play better then on Sunday nite, they kinda stunk up the place but they had nothing to gain with da win.  Hope they GO! ALL! DA! WAY?

  Have agood one.

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
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Posted by cnw1995 on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 9:43 AM
Yes, the Bears looked awful. And Michigan. Did anyone see the end of the Fiesta Bowl? Let's see if this works with IE 7...

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

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Posted by Pennvalley on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 10:14 AM
 dbaker48 wrote:

The pot has definetly switched over to fastrack!!!  Pun intended.

 

Interesting day yesterday, have had intention of getting our El Camino painted, set the ball in motion.

As a resullt of investigating various body flare kits, and other accessories we found a really valuable resource.  "El Camino Mike", this guy lives and operates his shop less than 15 miles from us.  Come to find out even the flare kits are manufactured within 10 miles.  (These are sold on the web to all the various specialized shops accross the country.)

Anyway, this guys has 1 &1/2 acres (unheard of here), and about 12-14 garages on the property with 6 El Caminos setting outsided.  I didn't see inside 6 garages so don't know about them.  But the others....  Extremely neatly organized, labeled and in boxes on racks sorted by year.  I have NEVER seen such a clean and neat repair facility, including major new car service centers.  He has been restoring El Caminos for 16 years and doing quite well.  Just sent a car to New Zealand, last year 3 to the UK.

He currently ONLY has about 16, 10 of which are at his sisters in Riverside.  He also indicated he has owned (registered in his name) 231 El Caminos.  What a find! He has every part both new and used, and knows anything you could imagine about the car.

Anyway, he has ours Sigh [sigh] and is going to repair some front bumper work, install the flair kit, strip and repaint, replace the weatherstriping, fix up a couple of other minor issues.  And the price....  LESS THAN WHAT TWO LOCAL BODY & PAINT SHOPS HAVE QUOTED.  He had 1 car there that he had just finished and was returning to customer this week.  It was showroom new!

Great Find.. 

 

 Sounds like a winner Don.
As the saying goes, I had a 68 for 6 years & wish I still had it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

 

 

 

Paul

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Posted by wrmcclellan on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 10:54 AM

Morning all!

A big welcome to all the new posters on the C'Pot! Sign - Welcome [#welcome]

Don - wish I had an "El Camino Mike" near me to fix up my '84. The paint is nearly gone (eroded off - 84 was first years of some really crummy paint - possibly water based), headliner is out, weatherstriping is brittle and mostly gone. Has the 305 in it with the Quadrajunk and Turbo 250 (UGH). A buddy of mine is keeping it for me as he actually uses it whereas it was sitting in my driveway all the time without being run. It has a great ride. My daughter wanted it but the wife and I nixed that (as also recommended by our insurance agent) as it does not have air bags.

Chief - ribbon cutting ceremony is for the dirt road to your pond right?

Some years back when I lived in Houston, there was a big stink at election time as a county commissioner used county resources to build a road into his ranch. His opponent was yelling about how the voters should throw out the encumbent and elect him. In a typical Texas political twist, the emcumbent's supporters said we should re-elect the encumbent as he already has the road into his ranch as the new guy's ranch didn't have a road - yet. Cowboy [C):-)]Whistling [:-^]

Sunny and maybe high 50's today. Started out in mid-30's this am.

Have a great day all!

Regards, Roy

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Posted by FJ and G on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 11:19 AM
Just checking in from Northern Virginia. Nice to see the coffee pot is aging. Lots of old grounds accumulating at the bottom of the coffee pot.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 11:34 AM

Discovered the secret:  Leave the firewall turned off!!

Last time for that whine.  Next whine is going to be about spyware or virii.

Did not CSI:Miami last night.  We were sharing some DVDs of  SOAP with the daughter and her BF.  I had forgotten how hilarious it was.  We had to explain to them who Anita Bryant was, and to make sure I got it right, I had to look her up on line.  She played a large part around here in 1977 during the political turmoil surrounding the rise of South Beach as a tourist center.

Poor little train looks so lonesome around the tree.  Kids want to go boating, I want to go to the train store.  Suspect the kids will prevail.

You guys keep being nice.

Doug Johnson, Miami

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Posted by dougdagrump on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 12:38 PM

Mornin' All.

Yesterday's run was lotsa fun, how can running trains wear you out so much. The wives came down and we had a great lunch, although we had to take turns monitoring the layout all the time.

Yesterday was CSX and car/truck day but I did throw on a Deere for the Chief, the Bud truck was freshly loaded to replenish the road crew.

To wish all of our guests a happy new year I couldn't resist throwing the snowman back in to action for one more day on the rails. 

Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.

www.sd3r.org

Proud New Member Of The NRA

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Posted by Brutus on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 12:45 PM
Skyray - if you are running Windows XP, check and see if Windows firewall is running as well as your add on firewall (Norton?)...  If both are running, shut off the Windows firewall.  Two firewalls at the same time will screw up your browser/internet connection.

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by jefelectric on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 3:00 PM

Good afternoon all,

No train time yet today.  Have to get started on the Catenary soon.

Jim A., Have seen several negative threads on James, not sure which forums.  LHS told me he had six preordered and only got 2 for stock, haven't heard how his cusomers liked them.

Chief, Can you refresh my memory?  What weekend in March are you coming to Harrisburg, need to mark my calendar.

Enjoy your trains,

John Fullerton Home of the BUBB&A  http://www.jeanandjohn.net/trains.html
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Posted by Blueberryhill RR on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 5:13 PM
Well, I see that they locked up the old coffee pot thread. I heard that they were going to print out all 1179 pages and send them to Chief.
Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
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Posted by 1688torpedo on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 5:41 PM

 Hello All!  Nice to see newcomer's here & a Welcome back to Skyray! (He's like Groucho, Likes to disappear every now & then)Wink [;)]Wink [;)] Got a Call from the Trading Post today & the 269E Set came in. Will pick it up sometime this week- maybe Tommorrow? We'll see. Sounds like it will be a nice train to have & it is also nice to buy something new based on an old prewar set. Don B- It sounds like El Camino Heaven in California where you took Chris' El Camino to get worked on. That Gent must have some $$$$$$ to have all of that inventory on his property. Jim A- Hope you're feeling much better now. Take Care all.

Keith Woodworth........Seat Belts save lives,Please drive safely.
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Posted by csxt30 on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 5:41 PM

 Blueberryhill RR wrote:
Well, I see that they locked up the old coffee pot thread. I heard that they were going to print out all 1179 pages and send them to Chief.

Chuck : we're sure going to miss the Ole' Pot, we had a lot of valuable information on there & now The Chief is going to wind up with it all !! Laugh [(-D]Laugh [(-D]Laugh [(-D]

Thanks, John

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Posted by dougdagrump on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 5:57 PM

 Blueberryhill RR wrote:
Well, I see that they locked up the old coffee pot thread. I heard that they were going to print out all 1179 pages and send them to Chief.

Chuck, They aren't going to be rolling it on a short cardboard tube with perforations every few inches are they ???????

Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]   Laugh [(-D]   Ashamed [*^_^*]   Grumpy [|(] 

Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.

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Posted by Brutus on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 7:09 PM

Well, I'm going to leave instructions with my wife to log on here and tell you all if I get KILLED!  Yesterday I fixed a cheap crappie pressboard drawer.  Today, I was running wire for 3 way light switches in the basement.  The builder had installed a light switch at the bottom of the stairs in a steel box/conduit.  I am moving that switch into a 3-gang box.  Unscrewed the cover and could see that they used the push-in connectors in the back. I always prefer to use the side screws - I read somewhere that the wires can pop out of the back.  I started to unscrew the top screw on the switch - just going to nudge it over a little so I could see where the ground was connected -- BAM!  Guess what - no ground!  the bare ground wire was curled up in a loose loop behind the switch and I guess it hit one of the screws or some bare metal and grounded, thank God!  Man, you should have seen me jump!  From now on, I'm just going to bet that they left a boobytrap and shut everything off first, before I go peeking inside!

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by laz 57 on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 7:59 PM

WOO JIMBO,

   Kind a shocking experience?  Glad you didn't light up.  You could of looked like one of those cartoon characters of the 60s with the siloette of a skeleton.  Flip the breaker next time, glad your ok.

  Speaking of lights, I just hooked up another 12 lites on the layout.  Its getting brighter down there.  My wife picked up the #65 yard lites and the smaller yard lites like were on the coal loader.  She also got me the K-line pack of 4 rail lites they a nifty little things about an inch X an inch have em just off the side of a curve looks cool.

  All have a good one.

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 8:22 PM

I think Laz needs a digital camera...

All these posts and no pics... Confused [%-)]

Moved the Christmas layout base to the basement tonight.  Tomorrow I am planning on doing some FasTrack sound tests:

Test 1 is going to involve installing carpet padding under the roadbed, that is going to take some time because I want to make templates to make cutting all the inserts easier.

Test 2 is going to involve adding a layer of either Homasote or Ceiling tiles cut to 1/2 inch wider than the FasTrack roadbed (no carpet padding).

Test 3 is going to involve both 1 and 2.

I estimate I should be done with all tests sometime in March or April.  Then I plan on purchasing some 2 inch foam and running some additional tests.  Need to have all testing completed by August because I want to start the Christmas layout by then, and I should also know if we are moving by then as well to know if the layout can be expanded a little.  I have also decided to keep the Christmas layout conventional control and just use the TMCC on the big layout!

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 8:58 PM
Evening all.  Long busy day.  More to do at Mom's than I thought plus spent 2 1/2 hours at lunch with my old Wildlife Enforcement partner.  Popcorn time.  Off tomorrow morning to visit retired pilot friend and spend the night with him.  Got some shooting to do and mount my sniper scope.  Later. 

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 9:05 PM
Chief,
I'll ring you when the 2020 and 681 are back from the repair shop!

Brent
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Posted by ChiefEagles on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 9:07 PM

 lionroar88 wrote:
Chief,
I'll ring you when the 2020 and 681 are back from the repair shop!

Brent

you get my email?

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 9:17 PM
 ChiefEagles wrote:

 lionroar88 wrote:
Chief,
I'll ring you when the 2020 and 681 are back from the repair shop!

Brent

you get my email?



Yes, and thanks!  I wasn't able to try it out on either loco because I had taken them to the repair shop before I received the email.  Once they are back and I give it a shot I may need some phone support! Wink [;)]
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Posted by fifedog on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 10:38 PM

88 - was out your way Saturday.  Took Mrs. fifedog to Baughers for brunch, then took 31 to 75 to 77 to Thurmond.  Shelves were brimming with product at Catoctin...

If you are using plywood table tops for your layout, a thin sheet of homasote should be all you need.  When you fasten the Fastrac to the homasote to the plywood, the only thing you should hear is the wheels on rail.  I don't use any subroadbed, just K-Line tubular slipped into rubberized commercial roadbed, which I then fastened to the layout.  You'll find that once you fasten everything down and add scenery, you'll lose that hollow sound you may be hearing.

...til next time.

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 11:22 PM

 Jim Fortner wrote:
Skyray - if you are running Windows XP, check and see if Windows firewall is running as well as your add on firewall (Norton?)...  If both are running, shut off the Windows firewall.  Two firewalls at the same time will screw up your browser/internet connection.

Running XP Professional with Service Pack Two.  I think the real problem is that I just upgraded to Internet Explorer 7.  It has a very intractable firewall that keeps yelling at me about my virus protection and requires me to screen every site individually.  I spent about four days getting back on here with the help of Maureen from the "Trains" help desk with IE 7.  The add-on is CA (Computer Associates) suite which has virus protection, spyware protection and lots of bells and whistles which I don't know how to work yet.  One of the most annoying features was that it has a popup that announces every time it blocks any action by any program.  Much of the time I not only don't care about the blocking, it is annoying to be told about it, so I turned the feature off, and consequently I don't know who is blocking my program, I just know it isn't working.

Doug in Miami

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Posted by MartyE on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 11:45 PM

Well spent most of the day trying to make an antenna point for the Electric RR PE Cruise upgrade.  Ultimately the engine won and I lost.  Jon showed faith in me to try this as the installation is usually done with a tether for antenna in the tender.  Looks like that will heve to be the route taken.  The handrails are electrically connected to the boiler most times.

A standard installation would probably take less than a couple hours. Ran some trains later this evening and even got told by the office to take the job I was supposed to leave for today off for working this past weekend.  Gee that was nice of 'em.Big Smile [:D]

 Take care everyone!

Trying to update my avatar since 2020 Laugh

MartyE and Kodi the Husky Dog! ( 3/31/90-9/28/04 ) www.MartyE.com My O Gauge Web Page and Home of Kodiak Junction!

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Posted by John Bakeer on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 2:45 AM

We're on 230 volts here Jim, all our wiring is double earthed and protected by earth leakage and over current circuit breakers, wiring can only be installed by qualified, certificated engineers. Every single piece of wire has to be tested and a certificate issued fully detailed with volt drop, line and loop impedance reading etc.

Your cowboy would have got jail for that installation. now I understand why you use low voltage mains wiring. A jolt from 115 volts would not harm a healthy person. Incidentally, here 115 volts supply is mandatory on all construction sites and in other places as laid down by the health and safety at work regulations.  

Got a pair of slippers for Xmas with magnetic soles so they could be warmed by sticking them to a radiator, a warning sticker states 'remove from radiator before wearing' IS IT ME???

John Baker

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Posted by thor on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 4:57 AM
 fifedog wrote:

THOR - I battled a similar cold during my vacation leading up to Christmas; it really laid me out, right when I needed to get a lot done.Dead [xx(]

Thanks Fifedog, yeah its me for the quack today I cant fight this one off.  My 3 yr old niece knew I was sick, she and I are alone all day, she brought me books to read and played nurse much better than my wife!

"I'll read you a book Mike"

"But you cant read"

 "You read them to me and I'll help. Would you like my blankie? Would you like my baa (bottle)"

I passed out for an hour and she snuggled up beside me and didnt run off and get into trouble, kids can be great and really surprisingly adult when you most need them, I think we consistently underestimate them.

 

 

 

 

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Posted by Nick12DMC on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 5:31 AM
 John Bakeer wrote:

We're on 230 volts here Jim, all our wiring is double earthed and protected by earth leakage and over current circuit breakers, wiring can only be installed by qualified, certificated engineers. Every single piece of wire has to be tested and a certificate issued fully detailed with volt drop, line and loop impedance reading etc.

Your cowboy would have got jail for that installation. now I understand why you use low voltage mains wiring. A jolt from 115 volts would not harm a healthy person. Incidentally, here 115 volts supply is mandatory on all construction sites and in other places as laid down by the health and safety at work regulations.  

Got a pair of slippers for Xmas with magnetic soles so they could be warmed by sticking them to a radiator, a warning sticker states 'remove from radiator before wearing' IS IT ME???

Morning All,

John B, It's the "IF" factor. Guess someone could be stuck to a radiator...Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] and then sue the slipper manufacturer....Wonder if Mike W has had a pair of these for Christmas oh dearWhistling [:-^]

All the Best

Nick   

 

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Posted by Jumijo on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 6:07 AM

Good morning everyone.

Highs in the mid to upper 50s all week here. Yeah!!!

Well the holidays are behind us and our family is settling back in to the normal routine. I picked up my daughter from school yesterday and exchanged her defective movie camera for a new one.

We ran some trains last night. One of our 2056s pulled a 5 coach passenger train. I took that off after a good run and hooked up our 2023 AAs and it pulled the same consist. James was running on the outer loop pulling an observation car.

The night flew by and before we knew it, it was 7:30 so off to bed with the kids, followed shortly by me.

Chief, have a great time visiting your friend!

Have a nice day, all! 

Jim 

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

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Posted by Blueberryhill RR on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 6:29 AM

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It's a frosty 28 degrees. Full moon. Going up to 55 today with lots of sunshine. The days have been nice weatherwise.

Today, we are driving to Zanesville and spending some time looking around. Stop for lunch and drive home. Good day to get out.  It looks like the Holiday Season is officially gone. All the neighborhood Christmas lights are gone and put away. Sure went fast.  Time to plan for Spring.

Well, time for the Dining Car and breakfast. Later.

Y'all have a great Wednesday.

Chuck

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!

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