Evening everyone. Been a little lax lately, but Mother finally went home yesterday, so I've got some down-time coming. Played Mass tonight, after, Sister Margie (my Godmother, who is almost twenty years younger than me, BTW) came up and asked me how much Xanax I took during her stay. We both laughed a lot over that one. Sorry, but I really LIKE Advent, it just keeps growing and growing up until Christmas Eve. Totally unlike Lent, LOL!
Remington is turning out to be quite the cat--I keep forgetting that he's only two years old and has three years to grow yet, so he's pretty much an 18 pound kitten. Spooky doesn't know quite what to do with him, so every now and then she bats him (she IS a Princess, understand) but he just keeps goofing off and coming back for more. Seriously, I think that Remi carries a slingshot in his back pocket or something. They're quite the team to watch. He's totally unlike Lowell, which is probably a Good Thing, right now. I think he's going to be a little(?) handful. But everytime I watch those two cats together, I realize that Maine Coons are cats for dog-lovers, too. Something about them--
Der: Man, that salt air can be DEADLY on track from what I hear. You may end up having to run feeders to almost every section if you haven't already. I have to do that on the Yuba River Sub, and I'm MILES from the ocean, but I'm also in a dry climate with tons of pollen which is pretty year round, except in November and December. The underside of the Yuba River Sub looks like a vinyard with all of the wires running as feeders. Also: I didn't notice, but do you solder your track connections? I've found that helps a lot. Best of luck.
Jim: A C&O 2-8-8-2? Yummy. IF it's an H-7 (I think). They sorta/kinda looked like a Rio Grande L-131, with the overhung feedwater heater and all the guts hanging out on the front and sides. Of course they had smaller drivers (57" as opposed to 63") and lower tractive effort, but they were sure sweet looking articulateds. But if it's the one I think it is, it's probably not a BLI. Maybe one of those Custom Brass models that the owner popped a sound decoder into the tender. But then again, it might be a stock 2-8-8-2 with C&O markings on the tender. Hey, all my Missabe Yellowstones are decalled for Rio Grande, LOL! My excuse is WWII, you can explain almost ANYTHING!
Sue: It looks as if my Z-6 will be in by January. And yes, I'll be able to get it, so the minute it comes in and gets broken in, there will be PHOTOS!!
Well, Remington and Spooky just chased each other into the den, so I'd better see what's going on with these two. Actually, I'd better check the train case, these two have been giving it very suspicious looks lately.
Best to all, prayers to those in need, and a very happy Advent Season.
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!
Evening All...Its 16 here now but we lost most of this mornings snow..I'll have a cup of Cocoa like Jim's but top mine with a shot of Whipped cream please...Thank You..Worked on the old Atlas GP 30..Got couplers on one end..Its Santa Fe and I thought about doing a patch job stealing Jeff's idea but it wouldn't be to hard to go IC black..Most of the IC's 30's came when they merged with GM&O and had Alco trucks from trade in...Well I'll slip back with Jim and see who else drops in late...Jerry
Evening, Flo - I'll have a cup of hot cocoa, please.
Thanks!
gear-jammer Jim, I hadn't thought of a rafter, there might not be enough water flow for that. Now you have me thinking.
Jim, I hadn't thought of a rafter, there might not be enough water flow for that. Now you have me thinking.
DerJohn, it appears that we have a mystery in the Diner. Hope you can figure what's causing the corroding or whatever it is, 'cause it's very puzzling how the track got that way...
Ray - that car might even find the springs that go sailing away when working with Kadee-type couplers - that could prove VERY useful, eh? On your past regional prez's comment - I just want to see a tutorial (with several color photos, natch) on that, covering which regions need which color for their rust. Did he say what type of coloring I'd use for the (desert) Southwest rust? How'd your workshop go at the train show?
Our MRR club was very enjoyable - usual razzing of each other (and we had a prospective new member there, as well as a couple of friends of our host/LHS owner), plenty of food, and a lot of train time. Tonight, I am eating very light (almost nothing) as a result of feeling so stuffed earlier. Cody - one of our LHS owner/host's friends - had a 2-8-8-2 Chesapeake (BLI, I think) with sound there as one of the locos some got to drive. (Tom would've loved it, even if it was missing that second trailing axle...) We had three different trains running at once - the Chesapeake with a reefer and lots of Cotton Belt 40' boxcars (our host is a retired Cotton Belt/SP/UP conductor), I had some newer diesels (I'm not good at identifying the most modern ones) pulling a container train, there were a couple of F-units pulling a through freight, and I think there also (at another time) was a GP9 or GP7 with another freight. A few minor DCC shorts, but fairly easily tracked down and resolved. Fun time! Made me want more time to get my layout's wiring further along.
This evening, I found out that one of the three people who were responsible for my finally becoming the co-leader of the Sunday singles group (and who co-led the group when I first started coming) was found dead of a heart attack (Friday). The visitation and funeral will be Monday mid-day, which means I won't be able to get off work (and some other singles I have talked with tonight won't probably be able to, either). Daniel had had Crohn's and ongoing pain problems, and even the toughest pain meds weren't helping him much, but he still was trying to work in ministries at church. At least he's not in pain anymore, and is home and at peace. Hardest hit will be his parents and his best friend Tim (they talked daily on the phone, even when Daniel would be in severe pain). Please keep Dan's family and Tim in your thoughts and prayers.
I'm going to settle back in the booth a bit.
Blessings and prayers for those in need and those hurting,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Evening everyone!
Flo how bout a big cup of decafe and a Beef on Weck?
I have spent the day at the RIT Tiger Tracks Train Show in Rochester, NY. I spent the day working at the Lakeshores Division Modelers Corner doing some decal work and assembling a kit. Put a bunch of photos up in WPF a few minutes ago.
Der, I would bet that your problem is the salt spray making fine particles of salt that eventually settles on your tracks. Along with the other advise given, you may want to consider a Hepa Filter for the room. I have started using an old beat up one that I had down in the train room and it does seem to keep the dut down and make for cleaner tracks.
Garry, Thanks You sir!
Jim the car is just an old flatcar with a magnet glued to the bottom so it runs just above the track. It amazes me what it picks up as it runs around the layout. Ever wonder where that little piano wire end that you cut off and it disappeared ended up....???? I also use the CMX Clean Machine with rubbing alcohol in it after the flat car.
Had a very interesting conversation with the Niagra Frontier Region past president late this afternoon. He was telling what he uses to rust metal car wheels. He told me that car wheels will rust differently depending on the region of the US they have been run most and should be different colors of rust..... I never would have thought of that.
Have a great evening! I have to get off to bed early tonight to catch up on the lost sleep i have accumulated over the past few days so I will be bright and cheery at church tomorrow (I am head usher for the month...). Then I will be head to Rochester for the end of the RIT show to bring back all the materials I lugged there today.
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Der; I just looked a little closer and I am wondering that maybe the tracks might be getting corroded somehow? I see what looks like pitted sections. Although it may just be those dust specks...
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Der; I think there might be something there in the air itself. A filter on any furnace vent or any vent outside might help. Some Air purifiers will keep dust down--I kind of think you might be near a major roadway with that amount of dust. A vacuuming with one of the smaller vacuums I see around( not the el cheapo ones) might keep that stuff down too. I can't help babbling about this I did a few years in building maintenence
As for 'spring' I think he is trying for a land deal of some sort...
I'm having a time trying to figure out what do I weather my hoppers with if I am in a mainly agricultural area that has a potash plant or two nearby...
That was the only place I could put them that they wouldn't be right on top of some detail.
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
Those look pretty good on the silver and red.
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
I did a little decal work on the SDP40F's today. Bit of a challenge without the glasses but I managed. The decals were made by a friend in Ohio.The A unit:And the B unit:
Hello Diners!
I just had a little fun posting photos. One in WPF. Also, I posted some in a thread about Granny and Granddad traveling by train.
I'm glad to hear larry is home safe, Sue.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Good morning( at least for a few more minutes). Biscuits and gravy sounds good any time of the day. Larry made it home, and we are heading to town to do something that we have never done. Buy a Christmas tree. We have always grown our own. They are too big or too small.
der, I used the bright boy and followed up with the vaccuum cleaner hose.
Later, Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Afternoon, Diners! Flo, a root beer float, please. Thank you, ma'am.
blownout cylinderJim; If this fogging up happens a few minutes after you get into your car you are probably casting just enough heat yourself to trigger it off. Around this icebox of a town it can be very annoying--everytime I get into the beater I get fogged up windows
B-C, the fogging usually is there when I get in the car, which is why I am wondering how the humidity has built up overnight...? I don't sing very much in the car at all, so I don't think it's me, and I don't really want to try driving while holding my breath for long. Just rather puzzling to me. And speaking of puzzling, is Spring only taking the presents with his name on them, or is he thinking of exchanging all of them for cat toys at the after-Christmas sales?
CederstrandChamomile tee in a "ICE TRAIN running past a 2-8-0 Southern steamer", please & thanks.
ROTFL Rob, I want to see a pic of that mug, all right!
Hey, Galaxy, your Christmas train is further along than mine is - I don't have the tree up yet (this afternoon, for sure!). I hear you on the zoos out there (and I don't even have any agoraphobia). I'm debating about enduring Wally's Place this afternoon to get a couple of printer cartridges I need SOON (and which might be some cheaper than Staples' price). I may - maybe, just *maybe* - get to the B&N this weekend (or more likely, one of the weeknights this next week) to pick up a giftcard that my daughter asked for. I also really need to pick up another long-sleeved shirt at JCP.., but for similar reasons - it's a zoo out there, too. Ah, well... Best wishes on getting your Christmas layout ready and up for this year (and easy-to-store for the next year as well).
I couldn't disagree on the communication skills of the latest grads (overall, I'm sure there are exceptions out there), after listening to some of the high schoolers and college students talking when I'm at our local Panera's Bread Co. restaurant. In fact, yesterday at w**k, I was talking with another therapist about "Y'know... like.. well, like... whatever.. like..." (and how I suspect some of them cannot say a sentence without using like, that word... Now from what I've seen here in the Diner, our teens and 20-something Diners in here are way ahead of the 'average' student out there. (And it looks like most or all of them do better in school, as well. (Tip of the hat to Sawyer on his test scores, by the bye)
(Did that sound like a ? My apologies, ladies and gents.)
DerJohn, maybe it is the salt air, if you're that close to the ocean. Hadn't realized you were that close! I would only be guessing, but I'd go with the suggestion about a filter on the furnace. That, or ask someone who knows if there's an air cleaner/dehumidifier that could take some of the briney air contaminents out. Have you always had this since you laid the track?
Well, time for me to head out for our train club's dinner/party. It's not quite as raucous as a Diner party, but what is...?
Blessings and prayers for healing (of ribs and other ailments),
sleeper33 Nice work there Sawyer keep it up and next stop Notre Dame
Nice work there Sawyer
keep it up and next stop Notre Dame
Thanks for the props everyone! And I took that test during the middle of football season, lol.
Actually, I wanna go to Clemson, lol, get an engineering degree, and play football.
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Hello.
Der John....... 300 yards from the ocean, eh.......hmmm...well, at least you don't get barnacles on the track! ........... I think, the old standby, the brite boy works in any situation.
Good morning,
John, 300 yards from the ocean? Can it be salt from the air? Do you have a furnace vent in your train room?
The rail-zip is not really a good cleaner it’s more of a metal preservative. Kind of like waxing your car it acts like a clear coat that conducts electricity. If you use too much it won’t dry properly. I use a centerline track cleaning car with the goo gone then I use it to apply the rail zip. Let it dry over night. You may need to cover your furnace vent with a filter.
Jim, yes it hurts like the dickens! I have a chest wrap I’m going to try this afternoon to help support the area.
Lee
Lunch time! I'll have the sausage and mash with gravy and onions, with peas please. Oh, and a black tea with that, thanks.
Track cleaning...here's my problem, and I'd like any insights you may be able to give. I've tried everything from Bright Boy, soft pencil erasers, to Goo Gone (leaves a nasty residue, as Jeff said) Rail Zip,( leaves a nasty residue as I say, but others haven't found so.), to 70% rubbing alcohol, to 90% ra, to Jeff's Gleam Method. The results are all very short lived. If I leave the layout to itself, I get a cruddy build up (this is, remember, NOT from dirty train wheels - nothing is runnig at all) When I last ran anything in my lower yard, the track was just Gleamed, and shiny bright spotless. Now, it looks like this
The upper yard, more out in the open than the lower, isn't as bad, but still un-runnable.
The mainline is not much better than that, (and I appologize for the indifferent light quality)
The whole layout was cleaned by the Gleam method, and I think the results are fantastic. But, as I say, temporary. I don't know if it's something in the air so close to the ocean. We are about 300 yards from the water.
Loco wheels also crud up from clean just by standing still. What's a body to do, because MR is NOT fun when this is happening.
TTFN.
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please & thanks.
Finished morning critter rounds. I'll hook up the phone lines today in the new master bedroom today. Not much else to report on.
Have a good day all. Rob
A good snowy morning to all. I'll have a hot chocolate with the mushrooms please.
A little 'Spring' is now busy with taking bows off of presents under the tree. A form of protest over his cuddlespot being enclosed... Oh yes. He is also into gift removal services.
Good morning...a hot cup of Hawaiian Kona Chocalate Macadamia nut coffee in any old RR mug. I will take an omelete sandwhich, too.
It was a whole 14* here about an hour ago, but with sun out on clear day it has gotten up to a balmy 19*! Not supposed to do much more than that and the Alberta Clipper is on it's way.
Today I hope to get out to get the wood for the xmas tree layout. Nothing fancy guys,,, just a 40" square for under the tabletop tree. Not much more room than that. Enough for a circle of 18"R HO track with a few ovals of N scale inside for my other half to run trains on and I can run my N scale stuff too. The HO will be DCC this year, the N still DC. Now just gotta get my posterial gluteus maximus in gear and go get it. Went shoping yesterday for food, but Wally world was of course a zoo. I didn't feel like a Lowes zoo too. {in addition to bipolar I'm also a bit agoraphobic-can't stand lots of peeps around} We haven't made up our minds if to try for white winter scene or go regular or even just mount the track to a -LoL- grass mat - lol- but it DOES have to be easy to store vertically when not under the tree.
Did you hear young college grads today apparently can't handle face-to-face meetings very well? They don't know how to talk to each other? Seems they have to TEXT each other? And I'll bet they don't spell correctly when they text either.
well, have a smashingly good day everyone
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
JimRCGMO Snip Terry, I like what you're doing with the house(s). Did you get the three-house set, or the single kit? On your sage tree - maybe you could make a little money selling the rest of us around the country some sage materials for making our trees Snip Blessings and prayers, Jim in Cape Girardeau
Snip
Terry, I like what you're doing with the house(s). Did you get the three-house set, or the single kit? On your sage tree - maybe you could make a little money selling the rest of us around the country some sage materials for making our trees
Blessings and prayers,
Thanks for the kind words Jim and Garry The house is for my friend Arts layout
he just bought the single kit
As for the trees the next time I make a trip to West texas I'll fill the back of my pickup
then I'll have enough for all of us
Rob what a great looking sleeping porch it looks like you have your own tree house
TerryinTexas
See my Web Site Here
http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/
Good morning.It's 32 and clear. High is expected to be around 57 and it will be clear.Today's Weather for:Sundown, LA 71446-6114 12/6/2008Wind Chill: 32°FHumidity: 88%Dew Point: 29°FSo Far TodayHigh: 37°FLow: 32°FRain: 0.00"Rain Rate: 0.00"/hGust: 5mph NNEToday High: 58 Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 50s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.Tonight Low: 32 Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s. North winds around 5 mph.
Heartland Division CB&QJeff. You've psoted some neat stuff including your post in WPF. Any second thoughts on starting an Amtrak service. I like those big Amtrak locomotives. I wish you the best with your glasses and your eyesight.
Good Morning from Tipton IN !
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Chamomile tee in a "ICE TRAIN running past a 2-8-0 Southern steamer", please & thanks.
***Garry, some folks around here (me) would be interested in seeing your "boards & track" progress at any stage. You are still further along than at least one person here (me again).
Rob
Tall glass of cool lemon water, please & thanks.
***Sawyer, GONGRATS!
The Diner faces the timber company land directly behind us. Nice one for wild critter watching, Most scenic view is from my studio window, or any of the front facing windows. Pasture land with a creek or two, nestled in a small valley.
Going to bed early here...much to accomplish tomorrow.
Night all.
Good almost morning people
Jim; If this fogging up happens a few minutes after you get into your car you are probably casting just enough heat yourself to trigger it off. Around this icebox of a town it can be very annoying--everytime I get into the beater I get fogged up windows
As for the el tedium wye this would be the third attempt at handlaying the thing and, yes, it may be done now...
Evening, Chloe - I'll have some vegetable beef soup and a Dr. Pepper, please. Thanks!
Ryan, that was a nice GSMRR photo. Think I might add that to my desktop pics folder... How's Monique doing lately? Let her know she's in our
Terry, I like what you're doing with the house(s). Did you get the three-house set, or the single kit? On your sage tree - maybe you could make a little money selling the rest of us around the country some sage materials for making our trees...
Sue, sounds like your party went well - so, are you going to add a raft to your river now?
Rob, you may have created a 'train monster' when you introduced your wife to model railroading. I'm trying to figure out if it was like one of those theme plots from that Moonlight show (about the vampire guy) - you have to mentor the newly 'turned' MRRer, so they learn the ropes of MRR'ing... Just can't turn 'me loose without any direction. Hope your bank gets things straightened out on your account - I guess finances are hard for crooks too, this year. I had one guy at a local jail this week to assess who had been in court that morning, and then got caught trying to steal car batteries from an auto parts place. Not his best thinking, but I've heard a lot of law enforcement guys say that most crooks aren't the sharpest pencils in the box... Good to hear your old mare is doing better.
, Rob - the Diner looks like a neat place to just sit out and enjoy a cup of coffee on a morning or around sunset!
Sawyer - way to go on your testing there! Keep that up and you'll be able to get all kinds of scholarships for college.
Blownout Cylinder, good to hear you're on your way to having the wye working right.
CN Charlie, when I hear the phrase 'dry cold', I think of the moisture being sucked out of any exposed flesh surfaces (like ungloved hands, etc.) As for my car's inside fogging, the strange thing is, it also happens on my side windows as well, so I don't think I can blame it on the heater air. Usually, I start the heater on cold days with it blowing only on the windshield, and then after it warms up, shift to also the lower areas.
Lee, can you tape those muscles so they can heal a little bit sooner? That sounds rather painful to me.
Ray, does your track cleaner have a magnet in it, or just a pressure pad?
I'll be enjoying my soup for now (and my Dr. Pepper). Hope everyone can fit in some MRR'ing time this weekend.
Howdy everyone. Just got back from a church meeting.
Texas Terry .... I really like your company house you posted in WPF!
Ray .... I saw your layout pictures in WPF also. Bravo! BTW, my favorite teacher decades ago was my band teacher. I have no musical talent, but band was enjoyable.
Sawyer .... for your PSAT scores. Perhaps, the high score for critical reading comes from reading all of the posts in the MR forum.
Rob.. Wow, the new house will be terrific from what you posted!
Jeff. You've psoted some neat stuff including your post in WPF. Any second thoughts on starting an Amtrak service. I like those big Amtrak locomotives. I wish you the best with your glasses and your eyesight.
Sue .. Tell Larry "hello" from the diner, and we'll be hoping for a safe return home so he can get that bridge completed. Here we are in our nice warm homes, and there's Larry stuck in the snow in BC.
Jerry ... Nice job on the track cleaning car.
Lee ... I agree that Rail Zip does a great job.
I use various track cleaning methods. Rail Zip works fine. I have a Walthers Trainline track cleaning box car and it works fine. I have an old Roundhouse track cleaner consisting of four pads hel to the track with springs located on each corenr of a dummy box cab diesel. The Roundhouse cleaner works until a pad slips and hangs up on a turnout. I also use the trusty Brite Boy as needed.
I'm still working on the expansion to my layout. So far, it's just boards and track and hardly worth any photos.
Happy Model Railroading.
Sawyer, nice work on the PSAT! Congrats!!! See what "playing with trains" will do for you.......