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

[Anonymous]

Evenin' Y'all

Man, 4 pages in 2 days!!! I gotta quit skipping out on this place, or I'll get lost!! Well, sounds like most everyone else is haveing bad weather also!! We had 2 snow days from the ice storm, but they were still busy days. I got in the truck at 8 yesterday morning to go feed cattle, and it was 8 degrees outside. A chevy kinda clunks and chunks when its that cold outside, but I guess I do to. Anyway, its all gone now, nearly dry at the end of today.

What was with the cooking orders a couple pages back? I don't know about deep fried, but I nearly had to pull out the boots as DEEP as it was getting in here[:D].

I got my Kato SD40-2 detailed yesterday, it took a while by the time I cleaned out all the holes with a drill bit, but I got it done and it looks good. Parents are going to the LHS tomorrow, I made a list of stuff for them to get, mostly lights for my Dash-8. I want to have them all up and running again! They look good running at night with all the headlights on.

Ed: Glad to see you're back

grayfox: That's a lot of snow, but I guess you know that already, especially if you had to clear it. About that eggnog: we have a tradition in Calumet, where everyone that helps with the Christmas pageant setup gets together afterwards to "celebrate" the usual is to put Captain in eggnog ice cream, but one year a couple of guys got to thinking, and added it to peppermint ice cream instead. Musta been bad, they didn't stay for another 2 or 3 minutes before they went home.

Turbo: Gonna get wet huh? Hope your locomotives can swim!!

Just realized how late it is, gotta get up in the morning so I'll talk to y'all later,
Greg

[grayfox1119]

Hi guys, almost bed time here in the frosty Northeast.
Noah, or is it snoah? stop sending all this white gold east!! We now have another 8 inches forecasted on top of the 7 we received yesterday, enough already. Ferggie, your at the end of the line of storms, so get ready, spray that shovel with Pam!!

Flip: boy do I know what you mean by the digit test, I received about 7 before the operation, but the worse was AFTER the operation , and by a young intern woman doctor from Hungary or Romania. I thought she had 'O" guage fingers.

Ed: the blood test is nothing to worry about from a discomfort view, the digit test misses a lot because the doc can only feel one side of the gland. Mine was on the OTHER side, only a blood test will tell you. You guys all know Gerry Orbeck who just died at 68 from prostate cancer, no need for that to happen at all, he obviously didn't get exams and paid a high price.

Hope to get the final coat of cement floor paint down tomorrow, then I can finally start the wall studding. I am still having a hard time trying to decide which track mfgr to use, and what style, snap vs. flex, or even a combo.

I may be late tomorrow, the snow is now up to my waist, so shoveling and SB'ing is getting to be a task.

Bon soir,

***

[trolleyboy]

Morning guy's well morning here at any rate. I'm glad none of you actually wanted great uncle Charlies squirrel recipe because my dad said he didn't keep it but he thanked me for reminding him of that particular trip to Bracebridge. On a more "trainy" not I've hit a wall[banghead] none of the LHS's in my area have aby MDC overton cars left theiir windows and rooves(roofs) not sure which is right, are my secret spare part sorce for windows 'n' doors for scratch building interurban equipment anyone know of a good set of passenger car type windows and doors? The wife and I have added all your prayer requests to our churches prayer chain and were thinking of all of you. I'll talk to you all later[8D] Rob

[trolleyboy]

*** sorry to bother you but as you've been there when is a good time to start getting the PSA's done I'm only in my early thiry's but both my dad and his dad have had problems. So far the ridged G scale finger has been done anually on me and I'm told everything is fine. However hearing all of yopur stories I am concerned. Rob

[grayfox1119]

Good morning Rob, with men getting prostate cancer earlier and earlier, and if you have a family history of this, I would definetly get the PSA test NOW. If for no other reason than to get a baseline reading while things are fine. After I was detected at age 63, the doctors advised all 3 of my sons to get a PSA test, their were 36, 37 and 42. Two of the boys read less than 0.5 which is fine, but one of my sons, 37, read 2.6. This is too high for a 37 year old, so he is being watched closely. If his numbers keep rising, I am sure they will do a biopsy, because that is the ONLY way to be sure, when the PSA number is elevated and more importantly RISING too early in age too fast.
If you or any of the guys on the forum want to find out more, go to the web and do a search for PSA, or Prostate, you will be amased at the info that is there, and all the current data. The bottom line is, the PSA test is NOT the finger up the butt test, it is a simple, painless, blood test, and every man should have this test done once at any early age for a baseline, and EVERY year after age 50 unless there is a family history of prostate problem, then have the test earlier in age, as my son did. This seems to be a diet problem with men. High fat diets are the chief suspect presently.
You are doing the smart thing Rob, good luck, and you may contact me any time if you wish via email.

***

[trolleyboy]

Thanks *** I've got my yearly comming up in march so I'll issist it's done then. Drop me an e-mail anytime as well. Rob

[TurboOne]

Hello All, and a cheery late night to you.

Trolley boy take car of that Prostate, you only get one. Also I see only two more to the big 100th post, and two stars. Way to go Rob. What kind of dept do you manage ? Trolleys are my favorite.

Did I ever tell you when I went to the MRR club that I asked how long it would take a train to go from start to finish. Then I asked how long it would take if I took my trolley and ran it at full speed. The answer was that will get you kicked out of the club. But I think it would be cool....

Trainwreck100 no heavy rain yet, but tomorrow we have plans so it will probably pour. Do you have pic of the kato with light on. email it or post it will ya !

Ed, I love a good Giants fans. We Charger fans thank you team everyday. Sorry we kept rooting for more losses for you, but the next draft pick will be great. And Whats his name at quarterback that you got from us, too bad it wasn't his brother. No there is a quarterback with class. Unlike him. And his dad. But Thak you giants for all your help taking the Chargers from 4-12 to 12-4.
And way to go Ed and his BoSox. Except you took our ACE pitcher. Hope he helps you to keep beating the Yanks.

Have a great night all.


Tim the Trainman Roberts going to bed.

[Anonymous]

what are some of your favorite train stores

Mike

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gbareatrainchaser

what are some of your favorite train stores

Mike

Welcome Mike [:)]

Noah will be pleased to have another one from his (and your) state here in the shop now.

Chris [:)]

Email away.

Wow, the shop seems to keep growing. Since Eliott seems to think the food is soooooooo bad, then it must be the company we keep. [:D]

btw, tonight after work, I decided I wanted breakfast for supper and since it was after midnight breakfast sounded pretty good to me. So I bought "groceries" and cooked a ham and cheese omlette, hash browns (the shreadded ones), toast, and a LARGE (actually 2) glass of milk. [:p] [:p] [:p] Pretty darn good it was, even if I had to cook it myself. [:p]

I have an msn messenger conversation going with Zach P. (UPTRAIN). He just posted some pics on a website that he took. It seems that 2 SSW units are hanging around Popular Bluff, Missouri. But the super neat thing about them is that they are UNPATCHED. [;)] [:D]

Well got to go and make a post on another yahoo group about THAT. [:)]

Have a good weekend everyone.

And Welcome to everyone that I have not welcomed before. [B)] [:0] [^]

[Fergmiester]

Good Morning Everyone

Well there won't be much posting today as I have other committments and chores to carry out.

The 2-8-0 is out of commission for a week awaiting a new set of Drivers[censored][oops][sigh]. The gear came in from NWSL and during the fitting process I snapped off a piece of the reversing gear. They don't seel parts seperately, just in modules. Oh well serves me right!

The Christmas tree goes timber today so that will be enjoyable and I have to reclaim my work bench. Do you notice how clutters and dirt grows on it's own. Almost like a bacterial plague thing. Oh well I let you know what else I'll have destroyed by the end of the day

Regards
Fergie

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All:

At my age ya'll are making me squemish with all this talk about getting the prostrate test done. The last one that I had done was by a woman and I've never heard that glove SNAP so loud, She had to have done it for the antipacition it stirs up.

LETS MOVE ON TO A MORE PLEASENT SUBJECT because we all agree that it sould be done once a year.

Fergie:
What reverse lever?? If it's the detail part on the engineer side of the loco just under the running board, use a Cal-scale replacement - it looks alot better.

I wonder why they called them running boards. When I was young (1,000 years ago) I tried to run down one of them and hit something with my sholder and fell off. Being a young squirt, I wasn't going to tell Dad as that would get me a wippin' for playing on the loco, I just limped around and told him I stepped in a hole when I was running. For the un-knowing, my Dad was a maintence super for a small RR in GA. It was the Albany and Northern, Ga Northen and half-himmers.

***:
Forget about the snap track. Flex goes where you want it to go, not where it wants to go. Layout out the centerline of the track with a straight edge and compass (buy some drammel points at a school supply house). Lay the cork roadbed - be sure and sand it after the glue sets as it may not be level.. Buy some "Ribbonrail" gages at your LHS. Use these when laying out curves as they make the curves very smoooooth. I have a 3', 4', 5', and 6' metal "yard" sticks and my straight track is straight. Be sure and solder your track joints in the curves before laying the track as they will kink if you don't.

I use Walthers cd 83 turnouts and Atlas cd 83 flex. The ties are a little bit different in thickness but I haven't had any trouble. One guy (he'll tell you he's God) on the forun told me that I would have to shim up the turnouts or I'd have derailment problems, 23 switches and 200+ feet of track had already been laid with no problems. He couldn't understant why. As many of you know I don't count rivits but my trackwork is good.

Well I'm going to go upstairs and test some track. I finally got the decoder in for an Athearn SD75M or whatever and I'm going to try and get it sounded today.

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

[fec153]

Fergie- Welcome to my Club! FUMBLE-FINGERS OF THE WORLD. I am the president.
That is the main reason I do NOT scratch build or buy the Craftsman kits. Cost to much to just throw out when I scrMESSew up.

Welcome[#welcome] to the newbies. Best group you can ever be with.
Flip

[fec153]

TEFFY! - Have you gotten any of my E's? Sent you 2.
Flip

[TurboOne]

Good morning all. We got light rain so far, still waiting for the big stuff to hit. Go Chargers.

Tim

[der5997]

***:

QUOTE: I am still having a hard time trying to decide which track mfgr to use, and what style, snap vs. flex, or even a combo.

Just to add to Bob's detailed explanation, if you use snap track you are stuck with the radii of the curves provided. That makes transition curves a bit of a hit and miss thing. With flex, you get to make your own transitions just as you want them, and a spiral curve is very doable. Also, I find making adjustments to the track plan easier with flex. (then, I don't seem to be as concerned as Bob is with the perfection of centrelines [:O]) Downside of flex is the need to solder the joins that will be in a curve before the curve is laid, and the necessity of cutting out ties at the joins, and of adapting those cut off ties before putting them back once the rail is laid. On the whole, I'd rather use flex than snap. One other thought is about the "clickety-clack" factor. If your era is one that used 30' rail, then flex will not have as many rail joins to make that sound. If you are a stickler for that much authenticity, then filing (triangle mini file, or razor saw) grooves across the rail at the correct spacing on the flex is a possibility. I dare say you could also model the rail joiner plates at those groove locations, but I don't. [(-D]

Gentlemen, the 1st line of Prostate defence I've been using for years is Saw Palmetto. Comes from a plant down Flip's way, I understand. Get the extract in capsules, as it's standardized and concentrated, unlike the ground up berries. The supply I have at present is from Puritan Pride, (www.puritan.com) who always seem to have a sale of some sort going. (I have no commercial interest in PP.)

TrolleyRob: Source of passenger type windows and doors? Do any of your LHSs carry used eqipment, or any club members have junked cars? Am I reading you right, window and doors from windows and roofs? Tell us more.

Put up a dome tent in the sunporch for the grandkids to sleep in last night - Way Cool, apparently. Sometimes we get it right[8D]

TTFN

[JPowell]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fec153

DARN IT -FORGOT THIS-Ed Dept.56 has a nice looking building with Boston Red Sox on it.

***- the doc also did the rigid digit test. YEEECH!
Flip

These almost are the size of a HO Scale building. May need to look into getting a few for my layout!
I like both bldgs they have for the Sox! I'll have to get my hands on the tavern 1st and foremost. There's always a need for a tavern in every village/town, etc. [:D]

Ed - Dept 56 (Department56.com) has mostly 'holiday' bldgs, but the 2 I just saw for the Red Sox will fit the 'any day' arena!

JP

[grayfox1119]

Good afternoon all, 28F and snoahing again here in central MA, we are due to get another 6+ inches. Seeing I have 4x4, I think I will just let it pile up and stop shoveling until the spring thaw.
I just finished the final coat of cement floor paint in the train room, I plan to use carpeting made for cement/basement floors, so I want to have a good moisture seal on the floor first. It worked great 35 years ago on the main part of the lower level, same carpeting and still holding up well. By Sunday, I should be able to start the wall construction (2x4's).
Bob & TTFN: thank you for the great info on tracks. I was leaning towards flex track anyway, it seems to me to more versatile, so your comments made up my mind. Looks more realistic too. I'm glad that you also informed me of soldering the lengths together first before laying the curves. I would have laid the first section into the curve and then joined the 2nd section mating it the 1st and then soldering in place.

JP: Ya, I hate those "digit" tests, I told the doctor during my last physical, " why are you still checking , they took it out a year ago"? Apparently it is to make sure nothing is still there. The PSA test now reads 0.0, so that is the "proof positive".

Ed: maybe you can sneak a load of oranges in a milk tanker headed up this way. CSX runs through my town.

TTFN: You are correct about Saw Palmetto, too late for me, but not for the rest of you guys, do it !!!

I have a lot of 12 gauge wire left over from a conversion I did back in 1996 when we converted from electric heat to oil fired forced hot water. Now I think I have found a use for it as a common bus under all the tables for feeders to the tracks. Any thoughts on this guys? Reccos?

Chow is being served in the mess hall says the wife, so we will be back in coffee shop later today,

***

[Anonymous]

Good morning.

I am passing on a message from Billy and his family - very simple message of thanks to all.

As it turns out Billy's dad was a modeler, Bill told me that his dad had a room in the old homestead dedicated to this hobby. Bill said he was really never interested but a brother is and should carry on the legacy.

Fergy - talked to "hoppy" Hardy today, apparently he had quite an adventure when went to the ill famous DGHto get his leg fixed up. We'll have to meet up for java/cuppa one day soon and peharps form up a Nova Scotia Chapter of the forum with John and I think there is a new one from the south shore, if my memory serves me right.....[}:)][}:)][(-D][(-D][swg][swg]

Jim - Are you planning on replacing the milk? [:-^][:-^][:-^][:D]

Ed - Good to see back here and could you send us some of that sunshine?

A big [#welcome] to the new members, Elliot, we need more room, could you find another car????

That's all for now.

Happy MRRing.

[Noah Hofrichter]

Paul, see in my area, I got a monopoly on the whole block. Mostly older folks around here, and me and my family's snowblower, we do alot of work, and it's worth it.

Mike, Jim mentioned you're from Wisconsin, what area of the state? I hail from the Wisconsin Dells area, about 20 miles to the south west of the Dells.

Well, I had a good lunch (not here though) and am a happy guy, so I guess I'll go do some modeling instead of wasting time here, even though I do enjoy this. It isn't really health for me though, sitting infront of a computer all day.

Noah

[fec153]

teffy-sent you another E to your pernet address. Did you get it?
Flip

[TurboOne]

Hey guys, hope everyone is having a great day. Stopped in before the game to say hi.

Hi.

Tim

[grayfox1119]

Good evening all.......just got back in from shoveling the heaviest snow in years! Lorraine shamed me in to it, I was content to let it melt on the driveway, but she was afraid of icing overnight. Ohhh joy, another hour out there.

Ferggie, checked out your web site photos, beautiful job, terrific scenery up there in NS. The wife and I made it almost up there about 8 years ago, we travelled up the coast of Maine into New Brunswick, and up to "The Rocks" and ate in Moncton. I wanted to head into NS and maybe to PEI, but I had to be back to work in two days, it was 10 hour ride from Moncton to central MA, so that was the end of the trip.
We are thinking of taking the CAT out of BH to NS, I would love to do that trip and drive the Cabot Trail. Eat some scallops in Digby..........come oooonnnnn summer !!!

Is that hot brewed coffee I smell? Thanks Tim !!!!

Think I will browse abit, see you all later,

***

[trolleyboy]

hi guys [#welcome] to the newun's. You will be happy to know that I'm taking everyone's advice about my neather regions so I won't mention it again. Thanks for the tips though. Turbo: Yeah I'm suprised at how quickly the big 100 has come up. Sounds like that club's members have no sence of hummour you're probably betteer off without them.I run the Boy's side of the toy dept. I work for the giraffe[:D] so this way I don't need to grow up. Der John some of the LHS's near me do sell used stuff but it's very hit and miss, basically I cut the roof off and remove the windows and doors from the old style passenger cars to reuse in the traction equipment I scratch build I can't afford to buy brass so when modeling streetcars and interurbans you have to improvise! If I want to build something with a railroad or monitor type roof I will re -use the roof of the palace cars or old time overtons from MDC which have been an inexpensive spare part sorce. I'm off to browse may check in later. TTFN Rob

[fec153]

trolleyboy- before I changed my pike, I had a 12 ft. shelf with double tracks on which I ran my 2 Bachmann trolleys with an automatic reverseing unit. Looked good to me and my neighbors kids.
Flip

[Anonymous]

Shame on me. [:(] I didn't leave a link last night for everyone to see the Cotton Belt units in Missouri.

So here they are.

http://uptrain.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=79163

http://uptrain.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=80371

[trolleyboy]

Flip did you keep the trolley's? Out of the box they don't look like much but there is alot of cosmetic stuff that can be done to them. The first thing I do to them is run them in as they smooth out with use, then I remove the people/window sillohettes and re-glaze them a bit 'o' new paint and some detail parts (mv lenses& bowser trolly poles) and they aren't half bad. Which type of reverser did you use as that Idea seems intriging to me.[:D] Thanx Rob

[Anonymous]

Here is a link to the whole website if you want to see Zach's other work.

http://uptrain.rrpicturearchives.net/

[Paul W. Beverung]

Noah; SNOWBLOWER! And here I thought you were using a shovel. Geess. No more simpathy from me. I used to shovel snow for spending money to. That was a long time ago. Now I shovel cow poop. By the way. I don't remember if I told you that I was born and raised in Milwaukee, so I know what snow is. Have you ever been to Little A Merrick A? That's that little amusment park east of Madison.

Paul

the Duluth, Superior, & Southeastern

" The Superior Route "

[Anonymous]

Good Evening All:

I had a good time "testing track" today. Ed may get way ahead of me as I keep getting distracted from construction..

Flip:
I received three e-mails from you on Jan 6th. I tried to call you this morning but I couldn't get your phone number off the internet. How about sending it to me when you see this post.

John:
You have no idea how much cork I've relaid because it didn't go like I thought it should. I whole hardly agree about the transitions into the curves. I started out doing Tru-scale milled roadbed or hand laid ties and lots of scratch building. On my first two layouts, all of the switches were Atlas kits. If you had told me in 1959 that I'd be using flex track I'd have laughed you out of the country. Only woosies would use such a simple product. It sure makes layout construction easy.

***:
Before I started construction on this layout I went down to Lowes and bought some light colored vynel and covered the floor, so I could see what fell off the layout during construction. I'm going to have the room carpeted when we are through, but for now it would be to hard to find the parts on the floor. Not only that, I don't have to worry about burning a hole in the carpet. It's also easier to sweep.

I also used 3/4" B-C plywood with cork glued on top. The cd 83 track is spiked and glued. Don't be afraid to pull something up if it doesn't work right as it's easier to fix it as you go and not wait until you're done.

Well, I'm going to get ready for bed and see about taking some pictures of my new bridge.

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

[fec153]

Trolley boy- I used a Peerless #525-H O . The trolleys are Hershey's . I also have 2 others that are older.
Flip