BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Lee: I use Kadee #5 couplers on all my rolling stock.
Good morning. It's 59 this morning and partly cloudy. Expecting a high in the mid 80's this afternoon and still partly cloudy. I stepped outside earlier and almost jumped out of my skin. There was a snake coiled up right beside the step! It's a harmless type so I left it alone. The only harm a Coachwhip can do to you is to make you hurt yourself. They generally get up to four to five feet long. The record is eight and a half feet! Their primary diet is rodents and small birds, both of which are greatly abundant here. This type of snake is very, very fast. In the time it took me to get my camera (between six and ten seconds) it was gone. Today's Weather for: Sundown, LA 71446-6114 5/18/2008 Wind Chill: 58°F Humidity: 95% Dew Point: 57°F So Far Today High: 62°F Low: 58°F Rain: 0.00" Rain Rate: 0.00"/h Gust: 5mph W Today High: 85 Mostly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the mid 80s. Light and variable winds becoming west around 10 mph in the afternoon. Tonight Low: 58 Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s. Light and variable winds.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Good morning all,
I've been busy doing outside chores lately and haven't had the opportunity to sit in the diner much.
Rob, I asked my LHS about a conversion chart for Kadee couplers and they said the only conversion chart available is for locomotives, nothing for rolling stock. I did see the test results Model Railroader completed where the tested several of the knuckle coupler companies, and Kadee out performed everyone, I guess I'll be switching out horn couplers for Kadee maybe this fall.
Lee
Good Morning from Tipton IN !
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Rob
fully understand
we over here have urban foxes in the cities I see 1 regularly and like you would not want to see it hurt but they can also be a menace as they scavenge off the rubbish and what they leave the rats get thus creating a vermin problem. wish they'd eat the rats instead of mcdonalds lol
anywas time for bed said zebadee ( boing)
see you all tonight
Gav
***Philip, did some searching and those Athearn cars look nice to me and the prices are reasonable. Also like many of the Atlas offerings in the same price range.
***Gav, I don't care for shooting wildlife unless it is a matter of survival. The fox (like coyotes) serve a purpose here, like taking out praire dogs that dig holes in our pastures which can cripple a horse. So in truth, I don't mind losing a few birds now and then, just not on a regular basis. My wife suggested trapping and relocating it, and we certainly have the traps to choose from. I suspect we would more likely end up trapping our own cats and/or porch dog though. Don't ask how I know.
Have decided on some more stuff to put up for sale on the-bay next week, mostly unfinished projects. Think I need to expand the single door layout concept if I'm ever going to be satisfied with it. Laying out even a simple plan on it right now looks very cramped to me.
Well, good night all.
another tea please
Rob instead of chaseing it why not just trap his hole? or shoot it?
hope the strain gets better soon
oh well back to it
Busy day for some of you folks.
***Paul, with Mary Ann's sympathy, it sounds like a good time to be ordering train stuff.
***Philip, my IE browser seems to be doing some odd stuff at present, like closing down everytime I click on the Links to the conversion charts. I'll try again tomorrow. Anyway, I'll look into the Athearns offerings. Thanks for the suggestions.
Saw the fox this evening and this time managed to sneak into that pasture and get a full head of sprint steam up before he saw me coming. Knowing where his hole was, I cut a diagonal and the race was really on. Did pretty good for an old ailing fart and nearly ran down his backside. Then, within yards of the hole, I strained a muscle in my hamstring area. That's what I get for sprinting with no warm-up and too much caffeine in my system. Should be fine in a few days.
Tonight I put two of the Pyrenees in different paddocks to hopefully surprise the little fox before it takes out any more of our birds. Our dogs are getting older and I'm beginning to wonder if they can still see or hear the fox now. Lost a guinea last night. Gurrrrr!
Cederstrand wrote: Are the (N) Atlas Trainman cars any different (other than the AccuMate couplers) than their older vintage Atlas cars?
Are the (N) Atlas Trainman cars any different (other than the AccuMate couplers) than their older vintage Atlas cars?
The trainman cars are usually runs of cars from a few years ago. It's a good way to fill out your roster on a budget.
What other Brands would you recommend looking at, that do not cost an arm & a leg?
I personnaly like the Athearn cars. And they're pretty cost effective too for the quality you get.
One more thing, anyone know offhand where that online conversion chart is for replacing vintage Atlas cars with new trucks/couplers? Thanks!
Are you talking about this? http://www.micro-trains.com/conversions_n.php
Evening Gang: I took a good nap for about two hours. I felt better after that and the ROF cops are at bay.
Garry I'm going to take it slow. The doctor is in charge and I'll do what ever he wants.
Rob I will still have to wear glasses. The surgery has cleared up the bluryness. I will have to get new glasses since the perscription has changed. I'll wait until I have the other eye done though.
Well it's 9:30 and I am a bit sleepy. I took a couple of Tylinol PMs to help me get to sleep. The patch does bother me alittle but I can handle it. Mary Ann changed the patch and gave me the eye drops and put the ointment in my eye. She's a good one. By the way she walked in about the time I was wrapping up the order with Chuck's the otherday. She just looked at me and smilled a bit.
Good Night All
god this paperwork is getting to me oh well only another 5 floors to do for this building just hoping dont have to do next door thats got 489 rooms lol
refill, please & thanks.
***Paul, my wife had that surgery a couple years ago. It worked well for her, except she once again needs reading glasses for anything in small print. I have a stigmatism, which I understand they can correct now. Perhaps one day I'll give it a shot, although I don't mind wearing glasses.
My "wehonest" little N scale figures arrived today, along with a set of lamp posts. There is no way I am going to attempt to repaint any of those little folk, but they will work fine "as is" for my meat packing plant. The lamp posts seem a bit large for N scale, but could be used around sidewalks or driveways for the wife's HO layout. Might post some pics later to see what y'all think.
Hello Diners!
Paul. Best wishes recovering from eye surgery. My 2 cents is that I've known several people who have had such caterac surgery and in every case things ended up much better than before surgery. Some had minor glitches and needed a little more work, but it wasn't two bad. Now, 2 more cents, please don't push things. (I'm up to 4 cents now.) I've found it's better to err on the side of caution. I allow more time to heel than the doctors specify to make sure all is okay.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
evening all
tea to go please
just got in and hit the ground running tv's up the creek in common room and 1 door needed a new battery. oh well on with the litterpick
see you all later
Afternoon Gang: I was going to stop in last night but couldn't get access to the broad band for some reason. ???????? Anyway it's fine now.
Rob that backhoe loader rig is by Herzog the railroad construction contractor. If you Google up Herzog they have a neat video of how it works. The operator has to be specially trained to operate it. By the way SMACK!!!!!!!!! Dang, now I have to go to Home Depot and get a new hammer and he didn't even notice.
Jeff planning ahead I see. Good thinking. I try to avoid that thinking thing. I always get a headache.
I went to see the eye doctor this morning and he said that everything went well. There are two problems nether are bad. One is some build upon the back of the sack that holds the lens. That can be taken care of later with lasers. The other is a small tear on the cornea outer layer. I have to wear a patch and treat the eye with drops and ointment for a bit. I'll see him again Monday morning. As for my sight I can see better. There is still some fuzziness on the outer fringes. He said that is from swelling and will go away in a few days. Thanks to all for the kind wishes. The next step will be the left eye in a couple of months.
Time to get in a nap for the ROF points.
I'll see you all later.
in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please & thanks!
Nice and sunny here with a high of 74.
Are the (N) Atlas Trainman cars any different (other than the AccuMate couplers) than their older vintage Atlas cars? What other Brands would you recommend looking at, that do not cost an arm & a leg?
Morning everyone--
According to Mike Finan on KCRA Sacto News, the heat wave's supposed to 'break' today, with a high of only 102. I get such a kick out of that TV station--everytime the temperature climbs above 95, they all look at each other so gleefully. They're REALLY from 'out-of-state'.
Well, took my Basket Case Yellowstone for her first 'maiden run' last night, hooked up a 30-odd car reefer train behind her and let her rip. Runs like a dream, she didn't even let on she was pulling anything, started the train up my 1.5% like it wasn't even there. EXCEPT: the big flexable steam line from the boiler to the front set of cylinders appears to be warped, and derails the front set of drivers on a left-hand turn. Now I KNOW it was a Basket Case when I bought it, but how in the name of Mother Theresa did a 1/4" round solid brass tube get itself WARPED? I think it's repairable, but if not, I'm going to have to get some brass tubing and fashion another one. But hey--it's brass, it's easy to work with and I KNOW it's repairable.
So I guess that's my project for today. Sometimes model railroading is like smoking a pipe--you spend far more time fiddling with the equipment than you ever do using it, LOL!
Speaking of--better hit the kitchen table. She's on it staring at me patiently.
Best wishes to all, prayers to those in need of them.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Morning all
Just another day in the swamp called Houston
Although yesterday was a perfect 78 degrees that won't last
RT Have you closed on your house yet ? I'm confused bet you are too
Jeff glad you got your power back on
Have fun today !
TerryinTexas
See my Web Site Here
http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/
Good morning,
Today: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Breezy, with a west wind between 17 and 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tonight: Showers likely, mainly after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Breezy, with a west wind between 14 and 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Good Evening Diners!
It was another dry but fairly warm day here, well at least warm for us. Nothing like Tom's warm. We did get up to 70 today which is about normal for this time of year. Sure could use more rain though as it is really dry.
Dick, I think you are in a bananna belt if you're in zone 5. We're in 3 here so we can't even plant out yet as there is always a risk of frost right to the end of the month. Sounds like you'll have a fun day tomorrow and remember, we do want photos!
RT, Sorry to hear about your frustration but do hope it goes well for you in the end. I'd love to help but it would probably be a 3 or 4 day drive one way so we'll just have to settle for a little party here in the diner.
Jeff, It sometimes is amazing how long an appliance will last. We got our fridge 26 years ago and it is still OK. When we got it a service man said that it would last about 15 years so you never know. Good idea though to have a back-up plan just in case as a fridge isn't something you can get along without for very long.
Well tomorrow is our errand day and we have a long list. One thing will be to get some soil and grass seed to repair the back yard lawn as 2 dogs do tend create a lot of grass damage over a winter. That will be Sunday's project. It is a long week-end here, Victoria Day and I also plan on taking most of next week off as holidays. Got a lot of jobs to do including getting the boat ready which will take about 2 days. It needs a thorough job this year including bottom paint. That stuff is worse than model RR stuff for cost- $55 for one litre. It is also tricky to apply as it literally dries in minutes. You put a small amount in a paint tray and then roller like mad as it dries in 2 minutes. It used to be fun getting it ready for launch but after 24 years it is now a chore. I guess it's time to sell-maybe next year.
Well it's after 11 here so I had better sign off .
See you soon,
CN Charlie
Afternoon, everyone--
Just climbed out of the pool to keep cool (yah, yah, I know, California+Heat=swimming pools, LOL!). It's 104 out there, got every fan I own on in the garage. Heck, it blew Fred right out of the ash-pit car. I KNOW he's around there, someplace, LOL! Anyway, it's supposed to cool off to 102 tomorrow and be back in the high 80's by Tuesday. Funny thing about this heat wave, it's affecting the entire West Coast clear up to British Columbia, and the 'coast' itself is baking. 94 in San Francisco yesterday, about 86 today--that doesn't usually happen, especially in May. As I said earlier, I just hope it's not a Harbinger Of Things To Come.
Did mainly inside work on the MR today--put cab-shades on my other two Yellowstones so that they'll all look somewhat similar. I mean, they're SUPPOSED to, aren't they, LOL
Paul: Take extra special care with that eye for a few days. The sore throat should go away in a day or two (HATE those tubes!!).
Rob: Yah, forgot the mudslides--but we don't have them up here in the North part of the state. Just avalanches in the winter. Forest fires in the summer. And everyone thinks we just lay on the beach or surf, LOL! WHAT beach, WHAT surfing? I live 100 miles from the ocean, for cryin' out loud! And I don't like to go there that much, anyway--three days near the ocean, I start sprouting gills and fins! Easier to head into the mountains, they're only a half hour to the east. And you can BREATHE! Yummy!
Jerry: The only problem I've had with Accumates is that they tend to 'split' on downgrades with the weight of a heavy train (I've got a pretty fearsome 2.2-2.4% downgrade leading into my yard, and it's a LONG one). Otherwise, I think they're pretty good couplers. They certainly seem to be more dependable than those E-Z mates from Bachmann or some of the McHenry's. I just tend to go with Kadees simply because I've got really LONG stretches of grade on the Yuba River Sub and they've proven to be the most problem-free for me.
Well, take care, everyone. Prayers and best wishes. I think I'm going back to the pool.
Paul ....Ditto on the sore throat that was the only thing that bothered me when I had cataracks off...Mine last 2 or 3 days and wasn't as bad on second eye...glad to hear you are doing OK...
Rob...I have been picking up Accumates from folks that don't like them and are updating..I even picked up some that were just in parts that i did pretty good on putting back together..They mate with the M/T's and I think they look and perform just about as well..They do tend to come apart but I have been carefully using a little heat to seal the coupler box and this seems to take care of that....Jerry
Hi all
just a tea to go thanks girls
weather overhere has gone cold and cloudy with rain over the weekend. Boss has given me a load of paperwork to do so will try and get back in later