jeffrey-wimberly wrote: snipI've been doing research on different DCC systems and have narrowed it down to two (in terms of price). The Digitrax Zephyr ($179.98 - Walther's) and the MRC Prodigy Express ($118.54 - Amazon). I'm seeing a lot of complaints about the Zephyr about locos just suddenly stopping and about uncontrolled runaways. I certainly wouldn't want a parked loco on a siding to suddenly start up and charge into the middle of a passing freight, though Gomez Addams would probably love it. This has me leaning more toward the MRC system. The 1.6 amp power doesn't bother me. I already have a 5 amp booster that should work well with the system plus I'll only be running 4 locos at a time - max.[b]Snip
snip
I've been doing research on different DCC systems and have narrowed it down to two (in terms of price). The Digitrax Zephyr ($179.98 - Walther's) and the MRC Prodigy Express ($118.54 - Amazon). I'm seeing a lot of complaints about the Zephyr about locos just suddenly stopping and about uncontrolled runaways. I certainly wouldn't want a parked loco on a siding to suddenly start up and charge into the middle of a passing freight, though Gomez Addams would probably love it. This has me leaning more toward the MRC system. The 1.6 amp power doesn't bother me. I already have a 5 amp booster that should work well with the system plus I'll only be running 4 locos at a time - max.[b]Snip
Jeff you can get the Zephyr from Bruce for $ 159 and shipping is free
http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/product.php?productid=2450095&cat=23&page=1
I have never had a problem with locos suddenly stopping although i once had a loco slow down stop then start back up again
problem was i hadn't dispatched it from the Zephyr after aquiring it with a second throttle
the sudden start up problem comes from dual mode decoders DC/DCC
when recovering from a short the decoder thinks it's running DC and will take off at full tilt
This can be fixed by disabling the dual mode function and running DCC only
TerryinTexas
See my Web Site Here
http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/
in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please & thanks.
Rob
Afternoon All...Its mostly cloudy 72 with some rain showers here....I'll have a prk Burger,and a root beer float please...Thank You....I had a nice visit on the phone this morning with a Buddy that use to live in Casey..He is a big Colorado Midland fan..He took the Midland into modern times with paint and newer engines...His layout was upstairs in a Garage behind his house..The Pennsy then Con Rail Main was about 100 feet behind the garage and we use to work on his layout and run trains and rail fan all at the same time!
John....I think Al Armatage designed all of those revell buildings..They are probaly better detailed than some of the new stuff..they had a 2 story farm house that got a lot of kitbash action and a great barn..Heligon was rereleasing them for awhile...
Rob...Neet circus car I hadn't seen one of those for years...They even released the wheels fpr those wagons so you could use them to scatch your own wagons..probaly couldn't find any now....
Lee...Those old Suydam kits were great I build a couple of the cardstock kits the Ice house and the Purina Feed store..Everbody even John allen had one of those on their layouts...anybody still have one?
Robby P....Good luck on Job hunt....
Rob and all you UP fans this is for you feller I was talking to on phone sent it to me and I thought it was a great photo....
You all have a great afternoon....Jerry
Cox 47 wrote: Rob and all you UP fans this is for you feller I was talking to on phone sent it to me and I thought it was a great photo.... You all have a great afternoon....Jerry
Nice pic. I like it. (Sorry Tom)
Rob: Nice flat. Beware the gold leafing on the colliopy likes to flake off. Easy to repair, but annoying.
C&O Terry: Interesting bit on the decoders. I'll have to remember that.
-Morgan
LSWrr wrote: RT, nice looking locomotives
RT, nice looking locomotives
I'm partial to the NS one myself
Paul W. Beverung wrote: RT: Let us know how things go. You know how anxcious we get around here. My prayers go with you.
RT: Let us know how things go. You know how anxcious we get around here. My prayers go with you.
Well found out more today but first the great news! They will come to my house and drive me to Augusta, GA. They have gotten me a motel room at the Quality INN in Augusta. There is transportation aranged for me to be at the V.A. by 6:30 the next morning. Then when all is done in Augusta, GA. they will drive me back to Colunbia, S.C. to my house and drop me off.
I'm going down for a heart cath but while I'm there there going to try and check my difrilator out and if they deem it necasary there going to change out the one lead that is on recall by the company.
Ran my trains again tonight no wrecks, I still have to get it to a acuall layout not just a big loop on the floor.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Tall glass of cool lemon water, please & thanks.
***Jerry, that's an excellent pic. It has now taken over my desktop.
***RT, good luck with the procedure(s). One of these days I may return to the Southeastern Wildlife Expo again in Charleston. Exhibited at that show for many years. If I do decide to show there again, perhaps we can meet up. How far are you from Charleston?
Had a nice visit with the Inlaws. Wife's mother is much better and easier to get along with. FIL is pretty with it mentally, but he seems very weak. Strokes sure take a mighty toll on a body.
Set another couple posts for the deck in concrete today, added one last bolt to a ledger, and nailed a bunch more metal hangers.
No sign of our builder.
Creeks are almost dried up here. Need to get back to finishing the fence repair on the middle pasture so i can move some horses around. May need to start pumping water to them in another week at this rate. Yikes!
Hi everybody....
You may be interested in my kitbashing thread. I made a baggage-lounge car.
RT .... best wishes with your heart cath, but I thought you were going to have it sonner. Also, my recent experience tells me the defibrilator can be a life saver. I'll be thinking of you, so keep us informed.
Rob ... I'm gald teh in law visit was a good one.
Happy Model Railroading
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Guess what!
I was BAD today!
I played hooky from work today! (It was my wife's idea.....thats my story and I'm sticking with it!)
Oh, and Rob......It sounds like the builder WAS there.....and he's posting in the diner!
Good Evening Diners!
Had an exciting day, the kind you can do without. After having our Westie, Jamie in to have an infected tooth out, we took him home, all fine but my wife called me at work saying he was bloating quickly so I rushed home and we took him at high speed to the vets. He's still there but doing ok. Turns out it can quickly become a fatal condition so looks like we were just in time.
This week-end I installed a drop-in sound decoder in my Athearn RS3. It was an easy install and it works great. I would like more adjustment on the sound levels but it does sound like an Alco with that weird warbling from the prime mover. It's an MRC but so far it is good, with motor control at least as good as the Digitrax that was in there.
Jeff, You asked about the Prodigy Express. I have one and like it a lot. It is very easy to use and I like the large display, rotary speed control and the ability to move about a bit is great. I just recieved the Micro-mark flier and they have them for $119. If 1.6 amps isn't enough, MRC will up-grade it to 2.5 for $25 return shipping included. I sent in mine and they up-graded it to 3.5 amps. I don't need that much power but MRC says the increased power reduces the incidence of small shorts. It took about 2 weeks. By the way Jeff, I am about to do my first hard wire decoder install into a Mehano 2-10-2, just like the one you have. I was wondering how you strip the insulation off those tiny wires on a N scale decoder. Perhaps I'll need a special wire stripper but if there is another way I'm sure you know what it is.
RT, good luck with your heart check, looks like they are taking great care of you.
The weather here is supposed to be great this week with sun and mid-60 temps. I am amazed that there are still a lot of green leaves on the trees and it will be October in a couple of days.
Well, have to go and retrieve Jamie from the vet so I'll sign off for now.
CN Charlie
Quick reply and I'm gone again. (Doing the drawings for the contaner crane)
CN Charlie. I'd go for the special small wire cutter,i f you plan on doing any amount of that kind of decoder hardwire, in HO or N. Google Klien Tools, and see what you think. They have solid and stranded wire cutters. I'm very happy with mine. My difficulty inn that work is getting a decent small soldering iron tip that doesn't corrode away in no time flat. I use a wet sponge to wipe the tip after each application, but still the things just evaporate, it seems.
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
My first stop at the diner and I need a coffee, hot, black and strong. It barely hit 70 today under bright sunny skies. Yet I spent the day sequestered in the basement putting together tables for my 600 sq ft HO layout. I am making them so in the event I move, they will break apart easily. My wife is a bit miffed, mainly because in 20 days our daughter will arrive, that I spent so much time in the basement. So I am here now on the computer, aching to go into the basement, waiting for the wife to drift off to sleep before I can escape downstairs again. I am trying to get much of the grunt work done before our child arrives. Since once she gets here, I will get precious little done.
But, my layout will eventually be the Great Northern, followed by BN and then to BNSF. Time frame from the end of the steam era to today. Its ambitious in scope for a first time builder but I am aided by RailCad and of course, MR. I have been accumulating GN rolling stock and Empire Builder passenger units. I was lucky to get some F-7 A and B engines. I have some BN stuff and a complete AMTRAK train. What I am dying to get is a S-2 4-8-4 locomotive and it has been the devil to find. I did get a GN 2-8-2 Mikado. My layout will be in a large circular pattern starting at Havre, MT, over the Marias Pass south of Glacier National Park and into Whitefish/Kalispell. Then south to Missoula and east to Great Falls and up the old GN branch from Great Falls to Havre. So there will be four rail yards, mountain scenery and plains scenery. The route up from Great Falls to Havre will briefly skirt the Missouri River before angling more northward.
So, thanks for the coffee. The wife drifted off to sleep, the dogs are outside and the cats are evicted from the basement and the horses watered. Maybe I can start some of the wiring runs.............................
Evening, Diners - been one hectic day at work. Glad it's over! Chloe, a cup of hot cocoa, please. Supposed to be cooling off tonight when the front gets moved through our area.
Rob, I saw on the news last night that the Southeast (NC, SC, GA, etc.) were having runs on the gas stations, but it wasn't due to shortages (though the runs were possibly causing some local shortages). Sounded like people were just panicking and topping off their tanks 'just in case'. If you have the tank half full or so, I'd say wait it out and don't contribute to the problem like those other folks are. Couple or three weeks ago around here, we had rumors of gas shortage (when that hurricane was about to hit landfall in Galveston) and lots of people were lining up at the gas stations (think it was on a Friday). Well, couple of days later after the hurricane had moved inland, gas prices dropped some(!). I'd say unless you really need the gas now, wait it out may be a better choice. My ...
Robby, hope you get some job leads and can get back to your layout. I hear you on the train show when the money isn't there (or the dealers all are in the 'wrong' scale for your needs). This is a good time to read up in your back issues of MR or RMC, or to fine-tune your layout track planning. By the way, I'm with ya on your quote/signature. Give me the worn-out, rundown, rusty look!
Lee, I have a couple or three of the Suydam/California Models kits - I know I have the yard tower and also the Triangle Cafe. May have another one, but I'm not at home right now, so can't go look. Never did one of their metal ones, so we'll see how my soldering skills are...
Called up the other phone company today and have the install ordered. I'm getting local service with caller ID, call waiting, etc. and 1 hour of long distance included. I'll see how much I actually use before I upgrade. No sense paying for what I don't use. Next, to call up Charter and see about getting broadband at home again.
Jerry, that's a beautiful shot of that articulated! Tom will be drooling all over his keyboard at that one.
RT, best wishes on your procedures - that's excellent that they'll chauffeur you to the hospital after putting you up overnight. Good that they're showing the good sense to check out your defibrilator at the same time. Almost too smart for believing that's out government at work, isn't it?
Speaking of the government, I'm NOT happy with our dear Congress at their inability to get something figured out and passed the past few days. Here's a quotation for you, from Mark Twain:
Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself. - Mark Twain, a Biography
to the Diner, Mac46! Sounds like you have a good start on the benchwork there. You may be right about once your little one arrives, how there will be a lot of activities competing for your time (but some of them will be fun!). Got a trackplan sketch you can post? We're a nosy curious bunch in here (that, and some of us even know something about building layouts, though that might not be me...). Have a cup on me, and watch out for the dreaded TOP (Top Of Page), since if you get that, you'll end up with the virtual tab for that page's beverage and food orders. But then again, PC (aka Pastor PC) is as likely to hit TOP as you.
About time for me to head for home now. Hope everyone gets a good night's rest!
Blessings,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
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
Evening Gang:
RT that's great news on the service that you will be getting and they are going to check out your defib also. The VA works in strange ways.
Wellcome Mac 46 to the Diner. It sounds like you have a plan and a good bit of reasearch. That will make things move more smoothly. Most of all Congratulations to you and your wife on the expected arrival. My prayers for a succesful and easy delievery. You will let us know when the little one is here?
Not much going on here today. I hauled hay but not to the haylot. I moved it to the edge of the fields and will haul it to the haylot later. My brother in law had a birthday today. He turned 70. Would you believe that he still works his ranch by himself and is actually adding to it? He bought another 275 acres at bargain basement price and is going to buy anothe place. His resoning is the money is safer in land then in the stock market. Wise man.
Robby my best wishes on finding a job. I'm sure that something will turn up.
Garry nice job on the Silver Bullet.
Well I guess I'll head to bed.
Good Night All
Hello again...
Mac 46 .............welcome! ...Your planned GN layout sounds terrific. I like your idea of building a layout that can be moved. In fact, my layout is designed for that. It's in sections that could be moved if needed. The GN 4-8-4's were magnificent.
CN Charlie...... Sorry to hear your "Jamie" is so sick and at the vet so mcuh. Hope things improve. BTW, do you still have your AF trains?
Paul ..thanks for the complement. What! Your brother in law thinks stocks are risky. Where did he get such a notion?
I mentioned recently our church friend Diane is having cancer surgery. It's scheduled for 11:00 am CST tomorrow. Thanks to those who care and pray.
Good night
Good Morning from Tipton IN !
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Good morning
Good morning all,
Lake effect rain all day today!
C&O thanks for the link, I'm guessing a move to DCC this spring for me. Super Empire Builder seems like the ticket for my RR, hopefully they have a after Christmas Sale.
Jim & Jerry, I had the Wyoming coal mine, foundry (both all metal) and the chair factory. I do have bids on the box factory; Purina feed mill, and the warehouse. The trick to a good solder joint is clean metal and good flux! I use a stainless steel brush on my Dremel and the soft white past flux. Where the flux is the solder will follow.
RT, good luck at the hospital!
Welcome to the diner MAC!
Ok off to work, the LNM goes to publishing today.
Lee
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Good Morning All
Mac Yes GN is a fine RR to model and as you said they have some fine engines. I ordered a Precision Craft GN 4-8-4 through Train World when they first started advertising them... I'm still waiting for them to be released That's the good thing about being a freelancer I can make do without it by substitution. Still it can be frustrating.
Lee: You can't go wrong with the Empire Builder as that's what I have been using for the last 4 years. BTW the old CCGS ALERT had seat belts for her most forward bunks (That's where we put the cadets). Needless to say we didn't carry too many cadets!
RT: Good luck with your procedure! I'm sure you'll be fine!!
Der John: Wonderful progress with the docks! Fenders can be found in many configurations. There seems to be a waning of the Tractor tires as I think some Shipping companies resent the fact they blacken the hull of their ships. This may not be an issue for a Black hulled freighter however... a Pristine white hulled Cruise Liner may feel different. Coast Guard Bases are now using red cylindrical poly filled fenders that lay on the water in a horizontal fashion and ride with the tide and are chained to the dock.
Later All
Fergie
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
Morning all!
Another fine day here in Indiana. We have fog, low temps, and clouds, but it's still a great day that God created, so I'm going to enjoy it.
So whats up with you all today?
Oh, and Rob, Jim probably said it best. No gas shortages around here. Gas has been dropping in price. I saw gas at $3.54 the other day. Haven't seeen that in a while. I'd just hold off a couple of days if you can. Sanity will return.
And with that, all is right with the world!
I'm on the TOTP again!
So whats it going to be?
Good morning, cloudy and cool here this morning, we haven't seen the sun since last Thursday, I'm beginning to feel like I live in Oregon or Washington. Speaking of Oregon, WHERE IS SUE ??????
No damage from Kyle here, we received very little wind, and about 3" of rain, no big deal at all, but the center did come right at the SW tip of Nova Scotia, heavy rains to the west and gale force winds to the east of the center of circulation...right FERGIE ?
FERGIE: Aaaaaand Kyle went WHERE on Sunday?? How is the new 30" main line install going? Will your Big Boy make that radius OK/ What Big Boy you ask? The one that you are getting for Christmas..shhhhhh.
CN CHARLIE: Sorry to hear of your problems with your pet, they are just like family, and we do feel the pain. Good job with your RS3, glad to hear it installed so easily.
JERRY: No more road races with your chair...ya, we heard all about even up here, it made the nightly news!! LOL
MIKE: Time to bring in the wood, tough Winter ahead, and you want it warm when you work on kits this January, it makes the knees and hands work better.
ED: We are out of OJ up here, please make out an invoice for 2 18K single dome tankers, send via UP to NS to CSX. (Only "lots of pulp" OJ please)
JOHN: You are really making "tracks" young man!! And I'm happy to see that I'm not the only pack rat. I save everything, but I have to hide some items, otherwise the wife might throw that "junk" out.
Later guys, have to poly a window, see you at lunch,
pcarrell wrote: Morning all!Another fine day here in Indiana. We have fog, low temps, and clouds, but it's still a great day that God created, so I'm going to enjoy it.So whats up with you all today?Oh, and Rob, Jim probably said it best. No gas shortages around here. Gas has been dropping in price. I saw gas at $3.54 the other day. Haven't seeen that in a while. I'd just hold off a couple of days if you can. Sanity will return. And with that, all is right with the world!I'm on the TOTP again!So whats it going to be?
PC !!!! I see you are picking up breakfast!!! You hit the send key microseconds before me, thank you sir !!! And you played hooky yesterday from work I hear ??? tsk, tsk, no wonder the stock market dropped 777 points yesterday !!!!!
Gas here at Cumberlands Farms was $3.41 last night.
Fergie, The idea of going with the empire builder is the run. I plan on centering the unit with a 35FT run to the east and a 30FT run to the west. The specs say a MAX of 50 ft run, but the MFG told me splitting the distance would work just fine.
What power supply are you using? I'm looking at the PS2012 20 AMP DCC PS. Is that over kill? I may need to run 7 locomotives at one time (yea I have friends that don't have room for their own layout). I may also need to add a booster for the second room in the basement.
Heartland Division CBandQ wrote: My prayer request is for Diane and her husband Wayne
My prayer request is for Diane and her husband Wayne
Garry, prayers added to our list for Diane and Wayne!
Cederstrand wrote: Major endeavor/change here on the ol' farm. Wife is taking a break from nursing to pursue writing. Will need to seriously tighten up the belt for a while, but I think it is worth her giving this a serious effort. This is not without outside/professional encouragement. She is VERY tallented in this area. Wish her (& us) luck!
Major endeavor/change here on the ol' farm. Wife is taking a break from nursing to pursue writing. Will need to seriously tighten up the belt for a while, but I think it is worth her giving this a serious effort. This is not without outside/professional encouragement. She is VERY tallented in this area. Wish her (& us) luck!
Rob, tell your wife good luck with the writing!
der5997 wrote: Time for tea and dessert. I'll have an Earl Grey please, and a banana chopped in milk, with a sprinkle of ground Cassia, some Toasted Oat Os, and strawberries and blackberries to top it off. Thanks Zoe.
Time for tea and dessert. I'll have an Earl Grey please, and a banana chopped in milk, with a sprinkle of ground Cassia, some Toasted Oat Os, and strawberries and blackberries to top it off. Thanks Zoe.
Quite a report there John! So, ground Cassia, is that cinnamon?
Your dock looks great, I like it!
RT, our thoughts are with you for the scheduled procedure on Thursday!
jeffrey-wimberly wrote:Good morning....my mother and I went to El Giro's restaurant in town. It's good that she's able to get around again and we want her to get out of the house some.
Jeff, it's good to hear that she is mobile and getting around again! BTW, is El Giro a Greek or Mexican restaurant?
Heartland Division CBandQ wrote: Gasoline shortages? Not here.
Gasoline shortages? Not here.
Garry, been a few gas outages in western NC around Asheville and a few stations here in Raleigh/Durham have run out for a day or two! And it keeps the price for regular around $3.79.
TrainsRMe1 wrote: ...I'll take a Arnold Palmer please
...I'll take a Arnold Palmer please
What's an Arnold Palmer? A mixed drink?
Good luck with the job hunt Robby!
pcarrell wrote: I was BAD today! I played hooky from work today! (It was my wife's idea.....thats my story and I'm sticking with it!)
now that sounds like a great idea...., but I've never done that before....
MAC46 to the diner!
jeffrey-wimberly wrote:Here's a sneak peek at the sign for the air conditioner company at the back of my layout. Their building looks just like a giant window unit. Wouldn't be the first time a company made their building look like their product.
So Jeff! Does this mean that the Saints will win the Super Bowl this year?
Ryan BoudreauxThe Piedmont Division Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger eraCajun Chef Ryan
Afternoon all, an irish coffee please Janie.
Sorry bout not getting back sooner, but I was under the weather for a few days with what started as a head cold and then settled in my chest. Doing better now after some of those 7-day pills doc gave me.
KC came home a week ago last Sat and in her words "I much betters now". She's been hard to keep up with since
As far as the Jamie n Roni, we're still waiting to see what the doc's to decide what the next step is. It'd be easier if they lived closer, Jamie's 3 hr and Roni's a 8 hr drive.
DICK,
Didn't get the wood stove, Mother wouldn't have any of it. So it's still pellets and it will be fired up in the morning for sure, it's not to bad out now, be even better if that north wind would lay some.
Have been keeping up some on everybody's progress n such. Nothin new for here, but I am getting in some playtime during Sunday football.
Keepin thoughts going for all those in need of'em. Sure seems to be a mess of them some days
A few thoughts for the day
And They Ask Why I Like Retirement !!!
Question: How many days in a week? Answer: 6 Saturdays, 1 Sunday
Question: When is a retiree's bedtime? Answer: Three hours after he falls asleep on the couch.
Question: How many retirees to change a light bulb? Answer: Only one, but it might take all day.
Question: What's the biggest gripe of retirees? Answer: There is not enough time to get everything done.
Question: Why don't retirees mind being called Seniors? Answer: The term comes with a 10% discount.
Question: Among retirees what is considered formal attire? Answer: Tied shoes.
Question: Why do retirees count pennies? Answer: They are the only ones who have the time.
Question: What is the common term for someone who enjoys work and refuses to retire? Answer: NUTS!
Question: Why are retirees so slow to clean out the basement, attic or garage? Answer: They know that as soon as they do, one of their adult kids will want to store stuff there.
Question: What do retirees call a long lunch? Answer: Normal .
Question: What is the best way to describe retirement? Answer: The never ending Coffee Break.
Question: What's the biggest advantage of going back to school as a retiree? Answer: If you cut classes, no one calls your parents.
Question: Why does a retiree often say he doesn't miss work, but misses the people he used to work with? Answer: He is too polite to tell the whole truth.
QUESTION: What do you do all week? Answer: Monday through Friday, NOTHING..... Saturday & Sunday, I rest [I wish]
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4309
SilverSpike wrote:BTW, is El Giro a Greek or Mexican restaurant?
BTW, is El Giro a Greek or Mexican restaurant?
Mexican, and how!
SilverSpike wrote: So Jeff! Does this mean that the Saints will win the Super Bowl this year?
Only if I can make that place Boudro and Tibedou went to freeze over 6 feet thick!
Hi all
hope is all well with my fellow diners.
oh well just a tea to go please as the little cherubs are orf out again and got to keep on top of the rubbish b 4 they come back. actually got some layout time in last weekend and now
IT RUNS IT RUNS!!
got all the main in and passing loop as well as 2 sideings of staging phase 1. so lookin good for a phase 1 completion soon
oh well must dash
GOD BLESS ALL