The Coffee Shop (a place to chat) Est. 2004

[tomwatkins]

Good Mornin' Everybody,
It's another cold, clear, beautiful morning in the mountains. It's about 18 on the front porch this morning, but it's supposed to start warming up for the next few days.

Wecome to all the new folks to the coffee shop. Have a cup on me and enjoy. We may need to start thinking about expanding this place. Put in some more tables, a longer counter, additional coffee pots and increasing the orders for doughnuts and other goodies.

Fergie, 60 to 85 knots is a lot of wind. Being out on deck had to be very challenging. The ore jennies look really good. Have you decided what to put the Soundtraxx decoder in yet?

Teffy, I hope you enjoy your week, and get lots of railroading done. "Temporary" stuff does take on a life of it's own. My thpouhgt process goes like" Well, it is temporary, but it's working fine so far, so.........."

Simon, I'm glad your wife's aunt is doing OK, and I'm very glad ya'll were there. That may have made all the difference.

Chris, please do send me the photos from the car show. I'd love to see them. We have several pretty good shows up here each year, and I really enjoy going and looking.

Jim, I really enjoyed the Paul Harvey piece. There's a lot of truth to it.

I'd better go for now. There are a few errands and odds and ends to get done this morning. Then it's off to the basement to work on scenery. I'd forgotten how long it can take scuptamold to really dry, so I'm going to start building up the Hiwassee River section. Glue a litle foam, carve a little foam, vaccuum a little foam.

Have a great day, everybody,
Tom

[Big_Boy_4005]

Jim, thanks for putting me at the "center of the universe". [swg] I used to do stats, and would do them, but I've been a little busy working on actual train related stuff of late. I think you are right, Hawks lives closest to me, but Jerry (roadtrp) is also in the running. Jim lives east, Jerry lives west. There are other forum members that live even closer, but they haven't wandered into the coffee shop.

As for the missing topic, I did see it, and even had a post to it. Bergie cleaned house a while ago, and I suspect that's when it quietly went away.

[JPowell]

QUOTE: it says that I can actually use the copier function w/out turning on the computer... cool.

Yes indeed, and not only that, but you get color copies (mine does colour ones) if you want. "Amaze your friends!"....
And 'Amaze my friends' I will!!!!!! Now all I need is to have the kid stop having me help him build his LEGO's Star War's toys, his IMAGINEXT toys, and his MEGA BLOK toys he got from the Jolly ole ELF!

I'll be on and off throughout the day....very slow here at work.

BTW, I've been slacking in the 'Welcome' department. So, WELCOME to all the newbies! Please, enjoy a cup, glass, etc of your favorite 'warm' beverage on me and sit, stay for awhile and enjoy the company!

JP

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All:

It's fairly peacefull here so far. I went up yesterday and worked on the RR. I did a lot of track testing. One of the BLI 4-8-4's started derailing about every third time it went across a certain switch so I did what any good track forman would do that didn't feel like working - turned the loco around and ran it the other way. It ran almost all afternoon and well into the evening. I also got the Genesis AB units hooked to the Intermountain B and ran the passenger train. (Lupo: that color on the trucks bothers me sooooo much that the heck with painting them)

I started cutting the ceiling tiles from the rock cut and I'm very pleased with how it is going. I think that I'm going to document this development with pictures as I like the way John has done it.

Jim/Ark:
I'd say that the poster that lives the closest to Elliott would be Tammy. She'd probably get the award for being the prettiest also, just ask Elliott as I'm sure that he's not prejudice.

Jim/Mo:
That's a nice track plan but I see some sharp curves, like smaller then 18". If you go with open grid you can make the width about 4'6" and the curves a little bit greater and that gives you a whole lot more equipment that you can operate. The down side to a 4'6" width is that you need to be able to get to all four sides, as you reach is only about 30 to 32". I assume that we are in the regular scale and not Nearly invisable.

Simon:
I'm a diabetic and it was a good thing that ya'll were there when you were. Just two weeks ago a friend of ours was getting her insulin ready to inject when she went into a coma and died with her kid (28 year old daughter) up stairs. The daughter found her when she didn't come to bed several hours later. This malady (can't spell diese or whatever) is not something to be taken lightly.

Well I've got to go to the big city (Beaumont, TEXAS) so I'd better run, beside Stephanie is pacing as she is ready to go.

Ya'll have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob

[trolleyboy]

der5997: I hope your power stays on so you can finish your track. Also the part of the Great Dominion I'm from is south western ontario in fact if I wanted to I could swim in the grand river [bow] and we do really have a Tim's on every street corner and a few built beside just in case. I'm leaving early today though because the snowplow just dumped some crud in the middle of the driveway[banghead] Rob

[Anonymous]

I was looking over some of the MR forum threads this morning and noticed one by Antonio. Since I have a great deal of respect for Antonio it caused me to check into his thread. I was saddened to see him being attacked for his stand on the SD40-2s by BLI. Sometimes our fellow modelers seem to go over board when it comes to counting rivits. Hobbies are suspose to be fun, not start fights. [:(]

One thing that has impressed me so much about Antonio is he seems to always handle these things so well. He seems to always know what to say to "lessen" the situation and avoid escalating it. I had the impression he was younger but learned just today learned he is " one of us" [;)] . So now I know where his maturity comes from--time and experience. [:)] Anyway my hat goes off to him.


Elliot [8D]

I found out years ago that I was not the center of the universe. Since you started this shop, then you must be. [;)]


I don't know about you guys but I have so many people on my addy list that now I can't remember who is who. [:0] [B)] If you send me an email you might also include your last name, I have 2 and 3 (sometimes 4 or 5) of many first names so I am becomming confussed. [:(]

It sure is nice to be off all week. [:D] Well got to spend some time with Duchess, she is giving me that sad look. The house is also giving me that sad look. [:0] [:0] [:0] I think it wants some attention too. [:D] (Vacuuming, dusting, all that normal "cleaning" type stuff. [:(] )

Have a super day. [:p]

[Anonymous]

Howdy all. Well, some sad news. The VBR has ceased operation. Not enough traffic (no layout) was the reason given. There are reports of a possible new buyer (me). I am the CEO of the VBR, and the owners wasn't running the line properly. I'm in negotiations with them. So, maybe operations can resume in the near future. There is also rumors of a possible commuter line that could operate over the line. I will keep everyone updated. And, yes, I know there's a topic about our MR news in this forum. I will go and post more about this info, there.

[#welcome] to all the newbies.

TTFN

Robert

[Anonymous]

[#oops] another page, what's my punishment. Being locked in the trainroom for about a week will be fine. All I ask is that ya'll have mercy on me, ok.[:D][;)]

Robert

[Noah Hofrichter]

Howdy all! Boy, I miss one day on the forums and you shoot 3 pages!

Jim, and just when it was nice that you were gone you go and come bac-uhhh- I mean, Welcome Back Jim![:D] Seriously Though, it's good to have you back.

Chris, good! I hope to see some pics soon!

Luct, first we must talk hourly wages. My standard rate is 7.50 an hour, but we can talk from there. BTW, I'm a reeeeeeal slooooooow worker.[:D] Alot of paid brakes too......

Welcome to all those who are knew over the past few days!

Well, I've been busy lately, hence the no show yesterday. That's the first in a good 6 months that I've done that. I'm happy for more than one reason. I got my shell stripped, and am preping for the adding of the detail parts. I've got a little work done on the layout, but not much. And I had a good day yesterday, so all is well.

Well, I mentioned that I've been working on that shell, and I've got a few pictures. Here's what it looked like before stripping:



And here's after stripping:



I also figured out what I was doing wrong with my website at Freewebs, and I got it back working again. I plan to update it more often now, so check it out: www.freewebs.com/wsor3807

Well, I don't have much else today, So I guess I'll get a move on. See ya!

Noah

[JPowell]

Afternoon coffeeclubbers, MRR's and Railfans alike!
Allow me to introduce myself. I'm John Powell and I'm the President and CEO of Powell Transport. My wife, Kristin is the VP and CFO and step-son Josh is all else....hahahahahaha. (j/k)
Powell Transport is the major shareholder of the East Syracuse (NY) Industrial Co-Op, a small industrial park. We provide all the transport services for all tenants products. We have a siding for interchanging with CSX outside their DeWitt (NY) yard. We are no more than a 15 minute drive from the intermodal facility there so we provide service to our tenants by both truck (intermodal) and rail. Also, we are right off the 5W, Kirkville Rd, West offramp to I-481, exactly 1 exit south of Exit 34A of the New Yourk State Thruway.
Currently, we have a few select PRIME locations available in our park for manufacturing firms looking for easy access to rail and/or highway. For those interested, we are trying to get "Empire Zone' status to help out with your financing needs as well as funds from other various local, town, county, state, and federal offices. Please contact this office for more information. Our website is 'currently under construction'.
Thanks for allowing me to take this time to introduce my new start-up company and Industrial Co-Op!
JP

[Anonymous]

Noah:
I already have the album set up, not much there yet, but go to www.railimages.com/gallery/christophermeyer/ and you'l be able to see what I've got.

Tom:
You'll need to e-mail me first so I have an address to send them to. They're all Fords, too.

[JimRCGMO]

Good Evening, Coffee Clubbers (newbies and long-time alike)!

(Notice how I did *not* use the "old" word, which could confuse some of us...)[;)]
Think I'll pour myself a cup of plain ol' coffee (and grab one of those biscuits left from breakfast - put some apple butter on it).[dinner]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Noah Hofrichter



Well, I mentioned that I've been working on that shell, and I've got a few pictures. Here's what it looked like before stripping:



And here's after stripping:

Noah, you did a good job on stripping the paint and lettering off! [tup] What'd you use to take it off - brake fluid, rubbing alcohol, or what? Inquiring minds want to know...[;)]

Teffy, thanks for the comments. I think my smallest radius is on one of the sidings (about 15 in. on the top right siding), and the main line is about 18 in. minimum radius. I'd like something with room for larger curves, too. But, this layout (hopefully) will need to be readily moved in the next year or two, and thus needs to be fairly easy to move at some point. You know, bolted on (and removable) legs under the grid/cookie cutter... I figure eventually I will add onto this (make it into a bit of a peninsula, sort of) with around the basement walls sections. I actually had one version of the plan which had a second siding in the middle-right (alonside the longer one). I think most of the switches in the design are #6's except for the wye that leads off to the middle-right siding(s).

Well, I'll finish up my cup and rinse it out, and be on my way for the evening. Take car, and have a great evening, clubbers![bow]

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[der5997]

TrolleyRob: Southwest Ontario is where we escaped to having had enough of Toronto in the early 70s. North of Arthur, Harriston area. Do you know Clifford? Then it was the big city [;)]of Conn outside Mount Forest, and then way up at the tip of the Bruce, Tobermory. Now we are a (hefty) stone's throw from the Atlantic, but that's not fit to swim in until September after a good hot August! [:O]

John P: Could you email me through the forum? I have something that may be of interest. Congratulations, BTW, on the new Powel Transport. Be so kind as to let the East Syracuse (NY) Industrial Co-Op know that if they are interested in trade with Nova Scotia, Horribly Oversized loads can be arranged through the MESS, whose new ore hoppers, for instance, are a sight to behold; while Normal frieght would be welcomed on the Maritime Trunk, where service is an MT promise! [:P]

Bob and Fergie: Thought you and other Digitrax fans might be interested in this from a Yahoo groups ndcc list today.
On Dec 28, 2004, at 10:29 AM, Pete Peters wrote:
> Yup, it's pretty routine to read/hear Digitrax called the "Microsoft of
> DCC."

When I read descriptions like this I have to chuckle a bit. I had a
broken part on a Digitrax booster and was passing through the Atlanta
area so I decided to take it in myself for repair. Finding the place
was the first problem. The address on Cemetery Road is descriptive,
you go right through a cemetery to get to a small industrial park where
Digitrax is located. Directional signs in the park were meager so I
had to drive around a bit to find the company tucked in with several
other businesses.

After dropping off my booster I ask if it would be possible to get a
tour of the "factory." The facility is really quite small. Probably
not much larger than a medium size two story house. Bill Gate's guest
quarters are probably a lot larger. The board design is done there but
the boards are out-sourced. The components are added to the boards
there and I did see one surface mount machine at work as well as a wave
soldering machine for larger parts. Much of the work is done manually
but I saw nothing resembling a production line. Work goes in batches
from workstation to workstation as needed. There were assembly
workstations and testing workstations and packaging workstations and
shipping workstations and they were not necessarily next to each other.
Most of the people I met seemed to be pretty long term employees who
took pride in doing a good job.
BTW, Atlanta is a great place to play tourist. Especially, don't miss
the CNN tour and the laser show at Stone Mountain.
Bill Nash
Austin, TX

Must get off to bed. Goodnight all, and God Bless.

[trolleyboy]

der5997: yes I know Clifford drinen through it once or twice and I had an aunt in Mont Forest one time. My wife and I are more centrally located in Brantford however . I can understand why you wanted to escape T.O.[B)] its gotten rougher since the 70's, not sure I would want to swim in the atlantic either,but you've got some nice country out there my sisters hubby is a forces type and I made several trips your way when they were based at CFB Greenwood.I'm a transplanted St. Catharines boy myself so my trolly love comes from the NS&t though it was gone long before I was a gleam [:I] but my house in the 'B' is on the old Hamilton &Brantford right of way and I'm a stones throw from the grand where both the LE&N& the GRR used to pass and interchange downtown so I spend many a walk on the rail trails. Two of our museum friends and my wife are trying to start a trails to rails society so all of you are invited to join[(-D] I'm going to grab some Joe and head off. Good night all. Rob

[Anonymous]

Late Evening All [:)]

For those of you who have MSN Messenger I am again online with it. I still have my old version of AOL AIM but a lot of the forum member like msn's messenger better so I am back using it again too.

My nic on msn messenger is [e-mail] so add me to your buddy list and we can chat. That is IF we are online at the same time. [;)]

In the strange but true catagory I submitt this. Every day before going to work, or while on vacation [;)], I go outside in the early afternoon to kill flies. Yes, believe it or not the "houseflies" are alive and well outside. I don't understand how that after 2 weeks of below freezing weather at night they can survive but they somehow do. During the day the south (streetside) of my house is in the sunlight and the flies "sun" themselves on the wood paneling. The normal temp during the afternoon is around 30 to 45 but today warmed up to about 57. Normally I am able to swat about 3 to 5 flies, but today I had a record breaking dozen. How can they survive? Amazing to me but they do. [:(!]

Later this week we have a day or two that is suposed to be 70. [:p] There is still some snow hiding around the house but not for long.

Well time for bed, I guess. [;)]

Sleep well everyone.

[philnrunt]

If we are going to build on to the ol' coffee shop, I say we grab up some heavyweight coaches and couple them on. I kinda picture this place as an old diner car, all stainless and linoleum and leather. Big windows so you can see the mainline on one side and the yard on the other. You can insert your own roadnames, we all have our favorites.
Some of us see SD70ACe's rolling by on the main with an intermodal hotshot running at 79MPH, while others setting at the same table and sharing good conversation see a NYC J4 at the head of the Commordore Vanderbilt pounding the diamonds and laying down a huge plume of smoke. I see a GE44 tonner returning from switching the downtown business' and the industrial park just past the city limits, the crew weary and glad to be so close to their favorite coffee shop.
I guess thats the best part of this forum to me, we all are here but we are all also there, exactly where we want to be, seeing what we want to see, enjoying our worlds thru our minds eyes.
I don't have a clue what most of you look like, how tall, fat, short, thin, if you are young or old, black or white, but I know when you walk through the Coffee Shop's front door, you're welcomed, invited to grab a cup of joe and a slab of pie (any kind you can imagine, it's always ready, fresh and delicious) and have a seat, and share your joys or sorrows and get honest intelligent feedback on them.
I guess what I'm trying to say is if the real world worked as well as this one, it would be near perfect.
I enjoy all of you, whether I agree with what you say or not, and I hope 2005 will be as great a year for the Shop as '04 was.
And thanks to MR for providing this venue. This IS the greatest hobby in the world!

[lupo]

Hey Phil [:)]

Nice words ! [tup] fine thoughts

[Fergmiester]

Well haven't "we" been prolific this past 36 hrs. I go for a cruise and and you all go for a run, Next time I'll join you for the run! We got a call Monday evening to go out to Sable Is and assist two Supply Vessels, who smashed their Bridge windows, causing one to loose power. Good news was the Hurricane force winds had subsided and were downgraded to Storm force 45/50 kts (oh joy). What was even better was the wind was on our tail on the way out. So it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Ever try decalling in a rolling/pitching sea? It's doable!

Tom: No to your question re the Soundtraxx. It depends on a couple of things
a) can I get parts/repairs fro the Bachmann 2-8-0
b) retrofitting of a 2x4 harness in the decoder, if so then it's down to the FEF-3 or
C&O 2-8-4
c) Birthday coming due
d) whimsy

So many choices!

Welcome to our new members and Shaun it's good to see you back!

James: You mentioned Conway, there's a place wouldn't mind seeing again! Last time I was there was 7 years ago November, Great place, Great Place and Great LHS. I'll have to see what 2005 brings forth.

I'm sure I've missed some people but I'll have to go back and eread some more.

Anyway talk to you later

Fergie

[der5997]

Fergie:

QUOTE: Ever try decalling in a rolling/pitching sea? It's doable!

You should give classes! The thought did flash past however that in your case the result would be a MESS anyway, so would it matter?[swg]
Monday night would not have been my numero uno choice for a trip on the briney. A tip of the hat to all you guys and gals who do this on a regular basisfor our benefit, and we don't even notice.[bow][4:-)]

Glad to say it's much milder here today, and the grandkids are expected some time after lunch. Didn't get the rails painted, but the yard is working, and may have to be left at that for now. Did manage a successful experiment with thte double sided tape to hold ballast on the carved foam roadbed profile. Pics when I see if the definition shows any distinction between the shots! (In the camera's display it's hard to tell.)

TTFN

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All:

It's a good week - not having anything to do. I've started working on my rock face on the side of the layout ALA John Allen but not all the way to the floor, just to the bottom of the fascia support.

Phil:
What happened to the ATSF 4-8-4 pulling a hot freight and the "description" that Walthers put out about the "gleaming flash of lightening across the desert" talking about the Super Chief. It did sell lots of passenger cars.
"..and sharing good conversation see a NYC J4 at the head of the Commordore Vanderbilt pounding the diamonds and laying down a huge plume of smoke.." What is NYC? Need Your Concensis? Or are you talking about that small regional railroad in New York? Ha Ha Ha.

I read someplace that the NYC lowered the tracks going into NY city to aleviate the congestion and realized that something was going to have to be done about the smoke as it was very obvious where the loco was and the polution was pretty bad. Vanderbilt decided that something had to be done and along came the electric locomotive, but it was only used in NY city in the beginning.

Mo/Jim:
Lynn Westcott wrote a book on model railroad bench construction (we cleaned the house up for Christmas company and I can't find it right now) and he tells about how to build a lightweight but strong table using "L" girder construction. He also uses 1X4's as layout supports. The beauty of this construction is you're not limited to any size goverend by a piece of wood (ie: 4X8 plywood). If you have the book, "A Realistic HO Layout for Beginners" this type construction is shown on page 10. That's a stupid question as your using a variation of his track plan. By not having plywood all over the top, you can have lakes as well as mountians, and they are both easy to do. This also makes the layout lighter. If you use masonite as a fascia, you don't even have to have a straight edge on the layout and you can make the lower right hand corner round, which will add and interesting touch.

How long before table construction starts? I used his idea to build my layout and it's strong enought to do pull ups on. I can also sit on the layout and I weigh 210 #s. Tom used the same idea when building his layout and can attest to the strength and light weight of this construction.

Lupo:
What was wrong with Bar Mills "Wicked Wanda's"? Maybe too hard for someone to put together or couldn't afford it so they knock it. I've noticed that a lot of these threads are flamed by youngsters who apprently don't have anything else to do. One guy was knocking the BLI 4-8-4 about the color of the axle centers, they are unpainted NS. I sent him an E-mail and ask how many he owned, the answer was "none". I told him that when he got two of them like I had, then he'd have the right to knock, but until then SHUTUP. It seems like if the kids can't afford it or don't like it they think that everyone else is wrong.

Well let me get off this soapbox and go "play" - got a lot of track testing to do today

Ya'll have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob

[JPowell]

Good day all -
Brief update on Powell Transport, Inc.... We will be closing at noon EST, 29 Dec and will reopen at 0800 (8am) EST, Monday, 03 Jan 05. Have a safe and Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays,
The Employees of Powell Transport, Inc.

[JPowell]

So, since I have not seen anyone ask lately... " How about them Red Sox?" Varitek to a 4-yr, 40 mil deal and the big "C" on both home and road jerseys. I think he deserves it. And how about the Packers? I honestly think that this is Brett's last year... anyone else?
JP

[JPowell]

Lupo and Ed... I see you 2 are on. I just made a fresh pot. Hope you 2 like it. Let me know if it's too strong or good to go. K?
JP

[lupo]

RIGHT on JP !!
I wil have my coffee with milk and sugar, but right after I have dinner, and the 2 young CÇatzillas Kittens stop fighting eachother around my keyboard! it took me 5 minutes just to type this [:D][:D]
-and 3 to edit ![:(!]

[lupo]

QUOTE:
TEFFY:
What was wrong with Bar Mills "Wicked Wanda's"? Maybe too hard for someone to put together or couldn't afford it so they knock it. I've noticed that a lot of these threads are flamed by youngsters who apprently don't have anything else to do. One guy was knocking the BLI 4-8-4 about the color of the axle centers, they are unpainted NS. I sent him an E-mail and ask how many he owned, the answer was "none". I told him that when he got two of them like I had, then he'd have the right to knock, but until then SHUTUP. It seems like if the kids can't afford it or don't like it they think that everyone else is wrong.

Bob, [:)]
this time the problem was more where Wicked Wanda's stood for [:O] that caused some disturbance [%-)] [V] [}:)] [:(!] [:I] [:o)] [:P] in the crowds .
Anyway, some very nice ideas about modelling these kind of scenes and structures were brought up .

[trolleyboy]

lupo: You aren't the only one with a katzilla problem! I just brought upstairs the newly reconditioned box motor I was working on when the cat had to sprint down the stairs through my legs. Needless to say I didn't break a leg but well I guess it's back to the backshop for the box motor!! AAArgh[banghead] trolleyboy

[lupo]

WOW Trolleyboy TOO bad ! I feel your pain, I have 2 Kitten Katzillas, one is 13 weeks, the other 17 weeks old, and they are at eachother all the time the do not spend sleeping,
they eyballed the locomotive display once or twice, ruined my sons LEEGO layout around the christmas tree, but hardly any realy damage ! [|(]

btw I am of now, to do some serious knocking on wood !

[jdolan]

The temps are decent here today, 45 degrees and climbing. Got most of my track out of the way of the changes I need to make so should get the track relayed today . have kept the one loop intact so I can still run trains so life is good. You people dovery nice work on your railroads, I need to get some pictures of my layout and show them here too.

[JPowell]

Ferg / Noah...I see you 2 are on.... I've just made fresh post of the 'hot' drinks. Drink up.....

Der... I eamiled you earlier. I hope it went through ok.

JP

[Noah Hofrichter]

Lupo, thanks for the pictures you sent, I enjoyed them!

Jim, I was looking forward to trying 91% rubbing alcohol, and did. It worked fine, on everything except the lettering. That I had to use polly scale easy lift off, and had I used it first, I wouldn't have had to scrub so hard, as the paint underneath could ahve been taken off by the alcohol. I'm pleased with the results.

JP, I don't know, I don't think Farve will quit unless he has to for health reasons or he wins a Superbowl. But your right his time span is short, I give him another 3 years in the leauge at the most.

Well, I've been busy working on that building o' mine again, it's really quite a large undertaking. I hope to have it done by the time I go back to school. Pictures will come then.

I'm also struggling with a problem. The front coupler on my GP I'm painting is screwed on from the top, and the shell is meant to be taken off first to get the coupler off. But, if I want to add a snowplow prototypically, I can't get the shell off of the chassy, nor get the coupler off. Switching the coupler to the bottom doesn't work either, as it will be too low. I'm thinking I may have to find a small pin with nut, and slip it through the hole, and tighten it on the bottom. Then to get it off I unscrew the nut, and the screw falls out the top. I'm not sure if this will work though, so does anyone else here have any ideas?

Well, I better get going, Mom's making popcorn and I sure could use some, I'm hungry. I got to go claim my amount before she eats it all......

Noah