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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 rtraincollector on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 6:44 PM
 c50truck wrote:

“O” gauge train store to visit as well in the Nashville/Memphis area. Oh, and for the wife, a night at the Opry.

Rod L.

 

Use to be a great one on sycamore drive but I haven't been there in 18 years (Memphis)

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by dwiemer on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 6:39 PM

CSX John, et al,

Just heard a news report that a track crew was killed while working on the rails when a commuter train hit them.  I believe it was a train heading for Boston.  Anyway, it is a dangerous job and all too often we are reminded of it.

On a lighter note, got word that a tressle and that Hudson that I won will be here Friday.  I will be taking Thursday (my B'day), and Friday off to relax and now I will have the pleasure of playing with some new trains.

Take care and God Bless.

dennis

TCA#09-63805

 

Charter BTTs.jpg

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Posted by Sturgeon-Phish on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 6:35 PM

Lee, I got a couple 283's also, they are very similar to the 282.  The 283 have knuckle couplers and traction bands where the 282's don't, but I really like them, real work horses.  Very reliable and easy to work on.   I may post some of the fleet later.

Got another bookcase put together today, drying overnight for final sanding tomorrow, one of these days I'll make something and get to keep it!

Grandkids stopped by tonight and wanted to run Papa's trains instead of the kids test track.  I got some pictures of the next generation running the trains, probably post them Sunday.  Going to work on the gas station area of the layout, got some ideas, like junk laying around and the like, any ideas? 

I'll keep all in my prayers for good health

Jim 

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Posted by c50truck on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 6:34 PM

Evening all.

Don't know a thing about bowl games, but do know it’s gotten really quiet here at the old homestead. My daughter, who loves the trains, flew back to school today. It’s her senior year at college, in the state of Tennessee. She’s not a fan of grits, but is a fan of Sonics, and I’m not talking basketball. Hope to get back there this spring and visit her, and possibly find a great “O” gauge train store to visit as well in the Nashville/Memphis area. Oh, and for the wife, a night at the Opry.

Tonight we have batten down the hatches here in the Inland Northwest. Expecting heavy winds, followed by the northern artic express.

Rod L.

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Posted by csxt30 on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 5:28 PM

Good Evening Everyone!!

Here's some important news that not very many people are aware of !! Yep, there's no way The Buckeyes could go down there & play last night & win !!  Here's the scoop !! There's no way we can  go down South & give away our winning secrets !! See how simple it is ? !! Laugh [(-D]Laugh [(-D]Laugh [(-D]

John : nice catenary & nice layout !!

All have a nice night !!

Thanks, John

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Posted by rtraincollector on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 5:27 PM

Evening all Just got in from my LHS and with a little arm twisting (wasn't much ) I picked upp the (Williams ) Virginian Set (new for 2007) It comes with 2322 Trainmaster,6462 NYC Gondola, 6464-275 State Of Maine Boxcar, 6536 M&SL Covered Hopper With inter changeable loads, 6464-375 Central of GA. Boxcar, 6415 Sunoco Triple Dome Tankcar, & a 6427 Virginian N5c Caboose.

Then if that wasn't enough (this is what I really went for) My MTH Rail King 60' Santa - Fe Passenger cars came in (I ordered the whole 8 cars back in Augest ( glad I already paid for them because of the above mentioned) there going to hook up to my 2343 & 2243 sets I have. Now just need to get somewhere to run them as my layout is still in the planning staged. Have to get room finished first but now I'm motivated.

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by jefelectric on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 3:38 PM
 phillyreading wrote:

jefelectric,

Good job on the catenary system, however I am wondering what does it take to install the caternary system by MTH?   Do you buy just the 8 piece catenary system or do you need the hardware kit offered by MTH?

By the way it is rather warm down here in south Florida again today near 75.

Lee F.

Lee, The catenary system is actually pretty well engineered, everything is put together with screws.  The 8 piece set gives you eight poles and 8 - 20" sections of wire + one 2" extender piece & screws to mount the poles.  You also get screws and nuts for the extender piece and a blank for the power pole.  The power pole has terminal nuts & a plug in connection for Realtrax.  You can take out that connector and blank off the opening in the pole.  I bought two 8 pole sets some years ago, about 3 I think, and just got around to installing it.  At that time it would have been enough for the main loop.  Since that time I added the 12 foot shelf layout and the loop in the other room so I am going to have to order more if I want to run electics with the pantographs up.  I am going to finish the old loop first and see how it look and works and if no problems go ahead and do the reast.  It is not cheap but what is about trains.  My LHS gives me a break on the list price.

One thing that makes it go slow for me is the I/O carpet that I used on the layout.  I have to lay out the pole location and fasten it temporarily, then cut the carpet around the pole with and exacto knife, unscrew the pole, and remove the piece of carpet, then remount the pole.  I tried mounting them on top of the carpet but it was impossible to get them straight.  The spacing is critical between poles as there is no adjustment in the catenary wire.  You have to do it one pole at a time.  If there is an imovable object where a pole should go, you can use one or more of the 2" extender pieces to change the pole location.

Neil Besougloff wrote a nice article about installing this system in the December 2002 CTT, which I highly recommend that anyone thinking of this system read.  It is much better than the limited instructions that come with the set.  I cut 3" off the tops of the poles and about 1-1/2" off of the arms.  This varies with the spacing from the track.  The arms are adjustable on the poles and the support is adjustable on the arm.  The poles are 3/8" aluminum H sections and the arms are 1/4" aluminum H sections.  Some of the fittings are metal and some plastic.  In the article Neil painted his poles tuscan red, I left mine natural since the ones I was used to seeing on the PRR were painted aluminum.  Now that Amtrak owns them they are rust colored. Sad [:(]

The hardware set contains more extender pieces, 8 I think.  It doesn't tell you what is in it in the catalog, but it does on the web site.

Well I think I am done with this long winded post.

John Fullerton Home of the BUBB&A  http://www.jeanandjohn.net/trains.html
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 3:14 PM

Judging by the noise emanating from my neighbor's house at midnight, the University of Florida Gators did pretty well against Ohio last night.  Aren't they an SEC team?

Lay off the Maple Syrup Chief.  It wreaks havoc with your Blood Sugar, normally abbreviated BG for relatively obvious reasons.

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 2:46 PM
 

HELP, HELP  they are trying to make a maple syrup addic of me!!!!!  South good Southerner come Nawth and pull me back across the Mason-Dixon!!!! Work over for a while.  Then dinner meeting and I'm through.  Hope to go to Mountain Trains with Apitz tomorrow before my flight out. 

John B, good luck on the test.

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 fifedog on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 2:41 PM
jefelectric - love that stockyard!  I hope to model the modest stockyard in Moorefield,WV in the future.  When I saw the MSRP on the MTH cat, I figured it would be cost prohibitive on my part.  I hope you got a good deal.
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Posted by phillyreading on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 1:37 PM

jefelectric,

Good job on the catenary system, however I am wondering what does it take to install the caternary system by MTH?   Do you buy just the 8 piece catenary system or do you need the hardware kit offered by MTH?

By the way it is rather warm down here in south Florida again today near 75.

Lee F.

Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
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Posted by Dr. John on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 1:32 PM
 dougdagrump wrote:

Dr John, How could you !!!!!!

You left out the University of Kentucky !!!!!!!!

And they actually won a bowl game this year, in FOOTBALL no less..Shock [:O]

Sorry Doug! Shock [:O]Blush [:I]

When it comes to football, I always tend to overlook Kentucky.Big Smile [:D] My sincere apologies to the fans from the Bluegrass state.

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Posted by phillyreading on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 1:25 PM

Hey Sturgeon-Phish,

I got the sister locomotive to your 282, mine is a 283 and looks just like the 282.  Also have a 295 A.F, a 4-6-2 Pacific with American Flyer on the tender.

Lee F.

Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
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Posted by dougdagrump on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 1:25 PM

Dr John, How could you !!!!!!

You left out the University of Kentucky !!!!!!!!

And they actually won a bowl game this year, in FOOTBALL no less..Shock [:O]

Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.

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Posted by Dr. John on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 1:13 PM
Jim, SEC stands for South Eastern Conference. It includes the University of Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, LSU, Tennessee, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
 
And yes, it does border on being a religion. (Sometimes I'm afraid it crosses the border! Shock [:O] )
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Posted by Jumijo on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 12:47 PM

College football barely gets any recognition at all up here. It seems to border on being a religion down south. I could never understand that. I don't even know what SEC stands for!

Jim 

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

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Posted by Roger Bielen on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 12:23 PM

Nick, I've seen those goodies you mentioned on a travel program I enjoy that's on Public Broadcasting called "Globetreker".  They also have a lot stranger foods shown when they've been in Asia or Africa.

 Won a CB&Q box car on e-bay yesterday, actually a buy-it-now.  It brings my Lionel CB&Q freight car collection up to date.  It is a 6464 series car that was in a 3 car set so it took a while till I got one at a reasonible price.  I say collection, but I'm an operator and most all items in my collection are run at one time or another.

Roger B.
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Posted by Nick12DMC on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 11:50 AM
 John Bakeer wrote:

1500 GMT here in a very mild Stockport, +12, Just been on news +22 (72 F to you Luddites) in NY and NJ. Shouldn't you be under a metre of snow? The Greenies are saying "global warming", I won't be around much longer but I bet our great grand children will be saying what a gullible lot we were to believe all that rubbish.

Going to bite the bullet and actually order the train set. Been home all day waiting for the decorator, he hasn't turned up, so he's lost the job and Lionel have sold some more trains.

Late lunch; Crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, crinkle cut chips (sorry fries) and red onion mayonnaise, washed down with a pint of hot sweet tea. Aah! bliss and sod the cholesterol.

 NurseGoing to the hospital tomorrow for a liver scan. Vet misread my blood test result as 777 instead of 111, it's usually between 50 and 150 depending on the Scottish product consumed.

Better finish before this thing times out AGAIN!! 




Afternoon All, 

You can't beat crinkle cut chips (fries). Best served with HP sauce. Someone told me they hold more  oil than normal chips (fries). This just makes them nicerSmile [:)].

John B, 

Hope it goes well at the vet's. hmmm 777 have you been at the Wild turkey??Wink [;)]

 I wonder if our friends over the pond have heard of those other scottish specialities, deep fried battered Mars bar and deep fried battered Cadbury's Cream Egg. If your ever in a fish & chip shop in Scotland check the menu. I can't bring myself to try them. Maybe I am missing out.

 

 Nick

 

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Posted by Jumijo on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 11:50 AM

A beauty of a day up here. Sunny and mid to upper 40s. Got to stop by Radio Shack this afternoon and buy some tip tinner/cleaner.

Has any one else looked at Lionel's web site today? A sneak peak at what's coming in the new catalogs! Very nice K-Line Alcos with diaphragms. Only trouble is, they are black bonnet Santa Fe's.

Jim 

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

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Posted by Roger Bielen on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 11:06 AM

Big change in the weather today.  47F at 11:00 a.m. with wind gusting to 20 mph.  The one good side is a bright blue sky.

Been spending time trying to find a good matching black paint to use on a Lionel Mikado.  I've spraid a few stipes on a piece of metal for comparison and after they dry I try some clear oversprays.  I found a semi-gloss clear and want to test how it affects decals as an over coating.  If I use Dullcoat I'll neet to do the total engine, not just the number areas.

Of all the bowl games how many SEC teams played and how many won?

Roger B.
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Posted by Blueberryhill RR on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 10:09 AM
 jefelectric wrote:
 Blueberryhill RR wrote:
 jefelectric wrote:

Good evening all,

Getting set to watch the Ohio State / Florida game.  Should be a good one.  Guess all you Ohio guys will be tuned in for this one. Smile [:)]

Jim A., I'll bet that trio keeps you on your toes.  Nice looking kids and the trains aren't bad either.

No training here today, tomorrow hope to work on the catenary again.  Have 6 poles installed so far.  Very time consuming on the curves.  Bad news is there are more curves than straight aways.

Enjoy the game,

 

Yep, you are right, John. Watching the game. In fact, I think Buckeye is watching it too.   LOL

Please post pictures of your catenary system. I'm sure Doug Murphy would like to see them too.

Chuck

Chuck,  Here are a few pictures, it is hard to get the wire to show up.

 

 

BTW things don't look to good for the Buckeyes.

That really looks good, John. Are you going to power it up ?

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
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Posted by John Bakeer on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 9:20 AM

1500 GMT here in a very mild Stockport, +12, Just been on news +22 (72 F to you Luddites) in NY and NJ. Shouldn't you be under a metre of snow? The Greenies are saying "global warming", I won't be around much longer but I bet our great grand children will be saying what a gullible lot we were to believe all that rubbish.

Going to bite the bullet and actually order the train set. Been home all day waiting for the decorator, he hasn't turned up, so he's lost the job and Lionel have sold some more trains.

Late lunch; Crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, crinkle cut chips (sorry fries) and red onion mayonnaise, washed down with a pint of hot sweet tea. Aah! bliss and sod the cholesterol.

 NurseGoing to the hospital tomorrow for a liver scan. Vet misread my blood test result as 777 instead of 111, it's usually between 50 and 150 depending on the Scottish product consumed.

Better finish before this thing times out AGAIN!! 





John Baker

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Posted by dbaker48 on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 8:53 AM

Condolences to the Ohio group......

John the cantanary system looks really good.

Can't believe the weather here !!!  84 today, then 57 on Thursday are the forcasted highs!! 

 

Don

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Posted by laz 57 on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 8:46 AM

DOUG,  thats usually what happens to my beer while running trainsWink [;)], don't know why I hooked it up?Wink [;)]

Happy B-Day [bday]DENNIS, hope you gat something with flanged wheels?

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 9, 2007 8:43 AM

 Good morning from a cold Chicago where it is winter again.  Today will be long as my class starts up again tonight.

Laz, I want one of those disappearing beer platforms.

John, you did a great job on that catenary.

Roy, I am using IE 7 too now. The IE7 issues were all resolved.

I understand that someday this week is Dennis' Birthday. Happy B-Day [bday]

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

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Posted by laz 57 on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 8:38 AM

HI GIZ,

   28 and cold here to get to 42?  Looks like the CHIEF brought the cold weather coming to PA.

   BUCKEYE them OHIO STATE football player looked like they was GATOR BAIT running around dat field?  OUCH 41-14!  OOH that hurts.

   Hooked up MTH disappearing beer platform last nite.

  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 Blueberryhill RR on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 8:31 AM

Chief......If you can't find any GRITS , you could always have " LUMPY Cream of Wheat " for breakfast.Big Smile [:D]

Buckeye....It's goona be a looooong winter.

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
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Posted by Sturgeon-Phish on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 7:51 AM

The BCS game was a dissapointment, Great coaching, execution, and constant pressure on Smith made the game a Gator win. 

The Scioto River flows south from Columbus to Portsmouth, and it is running high.  Glad I'm above the 100 year flood plain.

Cool and overcast here.  Be in the garage/shop making sawdust.  

Glad folks are feeling better health wise.  Drink water, eat salsa and rest is what works for me and you don't need  a prescription.

Jim 

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 7:40 AM

Well I picked up my North Pole Central Lines Passenger Expansion Pack last night.  Nice set, but why the heck did Lionel include a Non-lighted passenger platform?  Guess they had a stash of them sitting in a closet and figured that would be a good way to unload them!  LOL!

Anyone ever convert one of these to an illuminated version?  I'm thinking two 3mm LEDs should about do it?

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 7:35 AM
 Buckeye Riveter wrote:
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; But there is no joy in Buckeyeland,  Coach Tressel has struck out.


That's OK Buckeye... us PSU Fans know PSU OWNS Tennessee! Shock [:O]

FYI - During the PSU/OSU Kirkie jinxed the Buckeyes when he made the idiotic statement "Troy Smith has never thrown an interception in a big game."  It was just a year prior that Calvin Lowry of PSU Fame had returned a Troy Smith interception to the OSU 2 yd line and two plays later Michael Robinson punched it in for 7!

Anyway... better luck next time!

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