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

[tomwatkins]

Good Evenin' Everybody,
It was a good productive day in mountains today. It snowed off and on all day. Just little bitty flakes coming down. There's no accumulation but it was really pretty.

I got as far as I could go on the floor today. The toliet has to come out before anything else can be done. That will happen first thing in the morning. I'm going to go ahead and pull it out and get the prep work done, hopefully get the floor installed and then wait for my friend to get here to reinstall it. So far it's going well and looking good. So far, so good is the best you can hope for. I will be glad to have it finished though. it will be very nice to get back to the basement and spend some concentrated time on the railroad.

Flip, you and Deb are both in our thoughts and prayers and will be until Deb is well past the surgeries and on the road to recovery. Louise had neck surgery about 2 1/2 years ago. The disk at C5-C6 had to be removed and a plate fitted in there. The disk was way out of position and pressing on her spinal cord. It was the result of an automobile accident. We spent 2 years trying to find an alternative to surgery but nothing else worked. The surgery worked wonderfully well. She had a great surgeon and she did what she was supposed to after the surgery. Louise is fine now, and Deb will be too. Just remember that we are all here for you.

JimRCGMO, of course I can bring something home from the train store. I'm not very good at "window shopping". I really don't have a whole lot that I need right now, but going to the train store is a lot like opening a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to find. I've had good results from both SHS and the Little Choo Choo Shop. Before I retired, I traveled that part of North Carolina and stopped in there often. They are really nice people.

Grayfox, thanks for the encouragement on the redo. I hope the PSA test turns out good. I know what you mean about hurting knees. I wear knee pads faithfully, and they do help, but they can't compensate totally for years of use and abuse.

Philnrunt, two of the best trainwatching sites I know of are in Dalton and Kennesaw. Both are right on the CSX mainline and trains are very frequent. In Kennesaw, the line runs right behind Kennesaw Trains and Hobbies, which is an excellent model train store. Your Southern accent sounds good. Your doing well with it !

Mitchell, Hi ! What have you been up to? We haven't seen you in the coffee shop lately.

Teffy, from everything I've ever heard, Emmit Smith has always been a class act. It is good to see people in his position be responsible, behave, and give back to society. It's sad that so many don't. About turnout shims- I started shimming mine after I started having problems with the Athearn light mikes derailing the lead drivers. I never had a problem with anything else.

Der, those are cool looking cattle. RR brit says they're Highland cattle, and that makes sense to me. The landscape behind the cattle is very beautiful, too. The rocks and cliffs on the layout are looking good.

BJDukert, I will gladly take your advice on the extra hands. That job isn't enough fun to do over.

Hi Noah, vent away. One of the things that makes the coffee shop so enjoyable is that everybody behaves and is civil to one another. We can hold different opinions and express them, but still respect others and their opinions.

I'd better go for now.
Have a great evening everybody,
Tom

[fec153]

Jimrcgmo- did the mascot picture get to you?
Flip

[Anonymous]

Evening everyone.... just another day here In Cali.... it was nice out today.... and the smog layer was missing.... I could actually see mountains that are only about 10 - 15 miles from my house.... it was supposed to hit the 70's today but it maybe got to 65.... that's alright because we are expecting rain anytime now through saturday.

well I'm off to go watch some TV not to mention my show will be coming on in about an hour and forty five minutes..... (The O.C.).... it's such a reality TV show.... I know because I used to work with people like them at Disneyland.


Woo Hoo Post 101.... I got my Two Stars without even realizing it.

[der5997]

Flip: Put Deb onto our church's prayer chain this morning, and this came back from one of our pastors in Alberta.

QUOTE: Hi John! will pray. Soooo busy

So please let Deb know there are folks all over pulling for her.
Duke: Glad you liked the Highland cattle. Railimages still won't deliver that second Highland Cattle pic to the Coffee Shop, so here's the link to it http://www.highland-coos.com/ Enjoy. I've deleted the pic from railimages.
Matt:

QUOTE: John, I recognise those - they're Highland Cattle, Mum and Dad have a few photos of them taken on a trip to Scotland before I was born, what's always puzzled me is how they see out from under that fringe!

There's the key.."before I was born"...you're too young to remember hair styles in the 60's[(-D] come to think of it, we didn't know how our girl friends could see out either[:O]

QUOTE: why he didn't just marry Camilla to begin with is beyond me!

It was the divorce thing. His Great Uncle abdicated the throne because he couldn't marry Wallace Simpson who was divorced. Now Charles also is divorced, and that's why the marriage will be a civil ceremony, and also probably underlies why if he becomes king, Camilla will not be quenn, but Princess Consort. At least that's what I've been able to glean from the wad of info cramming the airwaves today.
Noah:

QUOTE: Tomorrow, I’m going to be helping out with a Valentines Day dance at my local Nursing home. Just trying to do my part.....

Good for you Noah. [bow] Thank you for doing that. How different from those who go around burning down historic roundhouses!
***, glad the train room cieling project is going so well. Congrats.
Greg, thanks for the big ear shot! I keep forgetting how straight out cows ears are too![:O]
Luc, good that Gloria's results came back "normal", but it must be frustrating that nothing in particular is indicated when something is obviously not working correctly.[banghead]
More foam got placed today, and the gap is closing rapidly. I've got to carve an access hatch when it's all dried. On the other tunnels I built the hatches as I went along, but i'm trying something different with this one, as the geometry of the cliff (Geometry Cliff, wasn't he a film star[:D]) is very complex.
Brian, congrats on the second star, especially as you weren't chasing it.[^]
Bed time again. Still storming out there. Keep safe people, Goodnight, and God Bless.

[JimRCGMO]

Evenin', Zoe - a nice, hot cup of coffee tonight! The wind's got a little bite to it, it seems.

Hi Mitchell! What've you been up to, and how's the plans for your layout coming along? [oops], guess he didn't hear me as he was heading out the door. Must have been that howling wind drowned me out. Brrr.

Tim, can you send a can or two of that sunshine to Missouri - but we need the kind that warms things up! Have had a couple of days where the sun was out, but it (only) warmed up to the low 30's F. (I know, now I'll hear from Flip and Luc - and Fergie after his ship gets back in port - about how 30 F. is warm...[;)]) The wind has been the problem, it's one of those dry and cold ones. Tonight don't think there's gonna be any clouds to keep what little 'warmth' there is, so it'll probably drop down and mean frost to scrape in the a.m. Someone remind me about these days when we get to August's 90 & 90 days, will you?[}:)][8D] Ah well...

Hope everyone up north (including you two also, BigBoy and BigGirl) is staying warm and have your wood supply stocked up for the night. It's gonna be one of ***'s "three dog nights" (and I don't mean the musical group, either!). Good night to crank up the heat and work on the layout.

Strange thing (sort of related to the FP9's) is, I remember an article recently (RMC?) that talked about how one of the Canadian lines (CP, maybe?) has made a comeback and is actually making money nowadays (unlike, say, most American lines?). Maybe Athearn figures the Candian RR's have enough money to go after them for trademark infringement?[}:)][;)]

Bob, can't you get Stephanie to put a few MRR's and a Walthers catalog in there, too? Then you really would need that padded seat! [swg]

John, thanks for the pics - now those look like someone had to blast an opening for the train tunnel! Some landscaping I've seen (my [2c]) looked like some yard landscaping company went in and smoothed it up, instead of looking like rock. Nobody here, just the results on some project RR photos I've seen over the past couple o'years. Yours are *much* more realistic in form, even at this early stage!

Tim, I don't think if you got too close to those 'Hippy Cows' that it would be "peace, love, and happiness." [(-D] It's probably better that you have the young'un with you - train shop should be (slightly) less expensive than a casino might be. But I'm just guessing there, YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)...[;)]

*** ("Mr. HD"), you are makin' some progress - way to go, man! [bow]

John, if you found the site with Google, try if they have the cached page. Sometimes I can find usable stuff when the original site isn't there anymore.

Oh Dave, if you're happy, go ahead and wag your tail anyway! [;)][}:)]

Ryan, if I understand correctly, ceramic tile won't melt if Fergie should be visiting and drop his soldering iron on it, right? [swg] Speaking of Fergiemeister, it hasn't sounded like he's getting a whole lot of MRR'ing on this trip. Hope he doesn't go into withdrawal before he gets back into port.[%-)][:)]

Matt, maybe the Highland cattle see out about the same way English sheepdogs do. They do (except for the horns) remind me of English sheepdogs. [:)]

Noah, the one good thing with some of 'those' ones is like someone (***?) said - they get tired and move on relatively quickly (especially if enough people just don't respond to their... [censored] 'stuff'. I sort of call it the a[censored] factor - in life we're going to run into a few of them, so I just say "Okay - one of *them*" and refuse to let them sidetrack me from the good people (such as here in the Coffee Shop, for example!)

QUOTE: Originally posted by luct


...<snip>...
John - Those can't possibly be scottish. I don't see "bagpipes" on the under side.... [(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]
...<snip>...

Luc, I'm sure you just mistyped that - I just know that you mean no "bagpipes" on
the udder side... [swg]
=====

Ed, welcome back! And as for not recognizing the difference on 4X4's, we could qualify that statement as "many of them don’t even realize there’s a difference in handling - not quick enough, anyway."

Hi Flip, I got the pic - just forgot who had that email address (no Flip or Phil or... on it). The mascot looks about like I feel some mornings - before I've had my first cup of coffee.

Tom, I thought maybe the trunk was too full for bringing stuff back (that's one way to get it back home before the CFO notices it, sometimes...[}:)] Of course, the resourceful bunch here in the shop would probably strap everything in the trunk on the roof, to make sure there was enough room for the train stuff in the trunk, right?[;)]

Good for you, Brian! Those posts accumulate before you know it. almost.

Jim in Cape Girardeau (where it's a balmy 27 degrees F. tonight, with winds out of the SW)

[philnrunt]

Well well well, I was typing along and realized thet the batteries in the PD's cordless keyboard had went dead! That was certainly a joy! Technology, i LOVE it!
Anyway, a quick heads up- If you need modern highway trucks Hobby Lobby has Boleys for 4$, very well detailed and 2$ less than Walthers lists them.
Tim- Yes, 2 cans please! I'll set one off this week, spend a week in Savannah and have one for when I get back. It was about 23F with a brisk north wind today. Windchill was about 12F. Oh yes, 2 cans!
Matt- You make a good point about the 4X4s, but over here alot of folk have them that have no idea how they are different. Alot of housewives and city dwellers that think the more a truck costs, the more it should make up for their mistakes. And they don't turn over by themselves.
I have yet to see a 4X4 on its roof without a loose nut behind the wheel.
Teffy- I spent only about 4 hours there, but it was great. It's so neat when a city or state realizes that Industrial History is as interesting as Natural History. Savannah has a good grasp on that concept.
Tom- Thanks for the critique on my accent, I value an experts opinion. And I just might be able to swing the Kennesaw deal, we have some free time on the way down. We'll see what I can talk Amyjo into, but she is coming along quite well with this train thing, she absolutely insisted on getting me a Boley truck at Hobby Lobby today. Said I really needed it. Who am I to disagree?
Noah- 2 words- You Are Right....ok, 3 words, anyway, don't let all of us old grumps get you down, you keep that attitude and sooner or later the world has to get better! Hang in there, bud.
Like H.D.Thoreau said, most men lead lives of quiet desperation, and the anonymous internet is a good place to complain and belittle other people, most of whom you will never have to stand up to face to face and justify your actions. I am thankful that all we can shoot back and forth are words. Just my 2 cents worth.
Ed- How was it? Did you have a great time and come back relaxed and ready to get back into the mix here? Of course you did-are! I looked up Tuxpan and it looks like Tampico is about 10 times bigger. Do they have ANY hobby shops there? Are there enough folk with "idle money" to make them a going concern?
Hey! The NS local just came thru town, first time in about 1 1/2 months! GP15-1(ex CR) and an old NW high hood GP-38-2 and about 35 cars. Good deal.
Ok, I've rambled long enough, take care all, and keep your ammo dry.

[grayfox1119]

I wasn't going to stop in to the coffee shop tonight, but the rain changed to snow, as predicted, but instead of 1to3 inches, it snowed hard and we received 6 inches of 1"to 3"!!![V][V]
And with the temp at 31F, it was the real heavy stuff that sticks to the shovels. So we sprayed our shovels with Pam ( the cooking stuff) and I fired up the snowblower. I was making the 2nd pass when honorable son #3 came with the pickup truck &plow. What a life saver at 10pm. [^][:D]

Ed, glad to see you are home safe and sound. BTW there are TWO Tuxpans in Mexico, one on the Gulf coast and one on the Pacific. I assume you are on the Gulf coast judging from your trip?

All: I received an email from Fergie, he would like to know were the HAT is...you know, the Lupo hat? I told him that Ed went to Tampico to look for it. The border guards are still looking for it too.

Off to bed, see you all in the mornin.....God Bless everyone especially our friends who need His curing touch.

[trolleyboy]

Good evening everyone,hope you are all well.I've left a preasent in the coffee shop fridge for everyone(no *** it's not weathering grade iced coffee though that's comming in July[:D]) Heather's mom made some of her famous or infamous bread pudding I/2 cup of real rum in the sauce so only lil servings gents I don't want the forum police pulling you over for typing under the influence[}:)][%-)][%-)][%-)][:-,][(-D][(-D] Dave go ahead and wag your tail I may be joining you.Heather and I are going down to st catharines to visit my folks and therefore I'm stopping in at niagara central hobbies and i'm going to pick up a P2K CNR GP9 with sound so my tail will be wagging too. I'll try to pop back in later Rob[:D]

[Paul W. Beverung]

Hi All; Not much doing on the mrring front. We heard from the folks that are doing the seismic survey of the area. They are going to have there survey crew here next week to find out where everything is. They have to male sure that they don’t get too close to the house, water well, and the 8” gas line that runs through us. One more step in the process of getting the gas well drilled.

Greg; Interesting looking cattle. I’d be tempted to give them a trim.

Noah; Consider yourself vented. I know how you feel. I get tired of people trying to tell others what to do.

Greg; I noticed that you aren’t using ear tags. Do you brand? We tag for easy ID and brand for ID incase of theft or them getting loose. We have a neighbor who lost some calves to rustlers. I think it was three. I don’t think that the thieves made a profit because they left behind a $1000 + of corral panels and other stuff. That was back when prices were about $60 per hundred.

John; I like that rock work. Using the small pieces gives a very good texture. I’ve always thought more of using large pieces or sheets. There is a picture in Pat Dorin’s new book on the Michigan iron ore roads. It shows a Lake Superior & Ishpeming train coming through a cut. Looks like what you have there.

I’m going to stick with my code 100 for now. If I ever build another layout I want to use code 70 again. I used to do all my track in c70 back home. I made all my own switches and special track work and hand laid my track. I guess it was my youth. When and if I do the addition to my present layout it will be in c70.

Well it’s 10:30 and past my bed time. I’ve got to finish working on Tweety Bird tomorrow. It’s taken me almost a week to overhaul that bird and paint him. It took all afternoon to replace one pneumatic cylinder.

Paul

The Duluth, Superior, & Southeastern

“ The Superior Route “

[trolleyboy]

Thanks *** the top o the page tab is yours for the evening.Cape Jim if your a stock market guy I'd buy both CN and CP they are both making money this is the first big year for CP in a little while though.I'm suprised athearn dosen't make more canadian roads with all the US lines that CN and CP have absorbed in the last 5 years or so you have more Canadian locos in the states than we do here.The big thing is that the model companies don't think anyone wants to buy anything but western roads(CP is western) just a thought. take care all. Rob

[GDRMCo]

Hey guys. Its finally the weekend here so I'll be back on tomorrow and make sure to check out the group site: http://crosspacificmodelersgroup.freeservers.com/
Mitchell

[fec153]

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go
For I owe more dough
then you'll ever know,
Hi ho , hi ho.
[:D][:D][:D][:o)].
Flip

[Anonymous]

Good morning,

I see we need a bump up.....

There, that's much better.

See you all later

Happy MRRing

Luc

[SilverSpike]

Good Morning Coffee Shop!

Hey, those A&W rootbeer floats sound too good!

A chilly 42 F here in the deep south and sunny, not a cloud in the sky! Supposed to warm up for the weekend, but rain again on Sunday. Oh well, try to enjoy it while we can.

I'll be laying more ceramic tile this weekend, took a two-day break from the backbreaking task. Three-hour stretches are enough for me, that’s about 25 lbs. of mortar, or ½ a bag at a time.

It’s Friday, yea!!!!

QUOTE: Originally posted by fec153
Ryan- Old rusty for the junkyard. Can take pictures but not digital.
Flip

Flip,
Thanks for considering taking photos!

QUOTE: Originally posted by JimRCGMO

…ceramic tile won't melt if Fergie should be visiting and drop his soldering iron on it, right?

Jim,
Yep, you got it! Ceramic tile is solder proof! I only hope it is hammer proof too when the benchwork begins, don’t want any cracking.


Off to work I go too!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Ryan

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All:

No pink hat yet.

I just gave Tom a call and the darn thing flushed like it was supposed to, isn't that a nice sound? And no water on the new floor. It made the first flush while we were talking, now that's confidence in a job well done.

I got out one of my PFM mikes to put a decoder into, put in on the test stand and after lubing it and letting it run for 45 min, it's drawing .5 amps forward and .3 amps in reverse, I guess this is going to be a backward engine. The grease in the worm gear housing is probably hard as it's been sitting up for better then two years.

I'm going to paint my turntable not this weekend but next weekend. This weekend is filled with "mediation school". Ya' see Snoah, at 64 I'm still going to school, there's always something to learn. It doesn't stop with graduation from college. I hooked a decoder up to the 12 volt motor and was impressed with the movement of the bridge. The control is out of this world. I addressed it to 99 and can't wait to get it installed. The full speed of the motor is .45 rpm so you can imagine the speed at 30 clicks.

If Fergie losses some of his train drive I'm sure that the "pink panther" will stir the interest. I haven't called Lisa to see if it's arrived yet but it should have.

Ryan:
Be sure and get Lynn Westcotts book on benchworh BEFORE you buy lumber. You want it strong not heavy and he has some very good ideas.

Flip:
Now we know that you are a "poet"

Luct:
After the poet do we need a bump or a burp?

Brian:
I know what you mean about getting another star and not realizing it. That happened to me at 500. If someone hadn't said something about it, later I'd have been wondering when the color changed.

Jim:
If we'd known that *** (Mr. HD) and Tom was going to spend so much money we could've gotten some stock in HD and made out like a bandit. I bet by now he speaks to a lot of employees in there, since they reconize him.

Rob:
After finding out about the diabetes, bread pudding is the one sweet that I miss the most.

Shoah:
Always take the high road, their's less mud. and the going is easier.

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

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: Teffy: It made the first flush while we were talking...

You mean to tell me he's got a phone in there too!!!

QUOTE: I guess this is going to be a backward engine.

A 'Cab Forward' Mike, first of a new breed!

QUOTE: This weekend is filled with "mediation school".

Ahhh, now it becomes clearer. A while back I read "meditation class" and I thought to myself, "Boy, sure didn't expect Teffy to be the one who is into meditation and all that New Age stuff!"

QUOTE: TA462: I'm going to have to pop into the Coffee Shop more often.

"Come on in" Dave, have some coffee and a glass of O.J. The only problem with dropping in occasionally is trying to figure out who's on first, or what we're talking about. There are usually several conversations going on at the same time. You'll be joining in a group that already has a large NOTNB contingent, including N.S., Ontario, Quebec and B.C. (if Krump is still around).


Gotta go "foam" a bit to catch up after being on the road two days. I'm trying to complete the rough-in of all my foam hills this weekend.

Hasta luego,

Ed

[Anonymous]

This is also a bump up. We were on page 2.

Robert

[grayfox1119]

Goof afternoon everybody. Well the storm finally cleared the area, we received 6 inches of very heavy wet snow. It really looked beautiful through the woods this morning though when the sun came out with a crystal clear deep blue sky. Last night we had thunder, lightening, and heavy snow all at once. That does occur in the winter during snow storms because of a lot of instability in the atmosphere.

Matt: they just showed Carmilla's "rock" on her hand this noontime on the Boston TV news. $110,000 diamond..woooooeeeeeeeee.

Rob: wow bread pudding with rum!!! Did she use Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum? Man am I hungry!!!! And, the summer iced te....you mean I can't use that to age by cars??? Ohhh noooooo !!!

Tom: The toilet works??? Great news, John Crapper would be so proud of you. What's the next project? We have to keep HD stock moving up you know.....

Jim, I read in the news that you guys had a 4.5 quake yesterday, part of the New Madrid fault....did your layout survive??

Mitchell, are you on summer vacation from school in Australia this time of the year? I noticed that you are not on the forum during the weekdays much only the weekends.

Flip: nice singing voice Flip!! You had Zoe dancing around the floor. But someone has to work Flip, you have put money into Social Security so that me and other retired guys can get a big paycheck once a month and go buy locos & stuff.[;)][;)]

Dave: A big welcome to the coffee shop, drop in any time, your coffee is on me, Zoe, bring Dave a Columbian Vanilla Bean coffee please.[#welcome][#welcome]

Ryan, gee 42F degrees in NO ??? WOW..it is 29F here at noontime, but a bright sun makes it very nice. Be carefull carrying the supplies for the floor, you can throw your back out real fast if you happen to "twist" while carrying a heavy load, especially on stairs.

Bob: how did you ever guess?? The HD workers give me a big wave when I enter, I was even offered coffee too!!! And, remember, I told you guys about 4 weeks ago to go buy some HD stock....Tom ...you told them too right???
The turntable sure sounds nice Bob, I can't wait to get to that point with my setup.

Noah; Bob is absolutely correct about school. When I was 17, I thought an Associates Degree in Engineering would be all I needed....WRONG, so at 28 I went back to college evenings ( I had 4 kids by then, so this is NOT what to do Noah), and 6 years later I received my full degree. Then, when I was 50, I went back to graduate school to get my post graduate degree. Now that I am retired at 66, I still read, read, read. You couldn't get me to pick up a book when I was 16. You WILL reap the benefits Noah, stay the course!!!

Time to get back to the train room construction, today I are installing 6 drop in light fixtures for suspended ceilings.

Talk to you guys later today.

[Anonymous]

Morning everyone -

Had my third cup of coffee and now I'm awake enough to get the rest of my day in gear. I've been working on a custom built-in entertainment bar for a client and it's turned into quite a long drawn out job, as they keep changing the specs, the hardware (have had to cancel and reorder the bar footrails three times thus far, and I'm surprised that the vendor still wants my order), the final finish, etc. At least they are now leaving me alone while I work on it . . . They're nice folks and that makes doing some special things for them most worthwhile. The good news is that it's just about done, and since I'm waiting for the granite countertop to arrive, and they're going to be out of town while I put the finishing touches on it, I can do something else with my time for the next week - like some model RRing for a welcome change of pace.

Have been dealing with some med. issues - had a tumor removed from my forehead last week and hope to have the bipopsy results later today, Had my 'every other year' physical a couple of days ago, and have been referred to some specialists to hopefully and finally determine what's causing the recurring swelling and pain in my right leg, as the emer. room doc last July couldn't even find the right (vs left) leg to examine without me identifying it !

Reading thru some of the posts over the past several days - here's some info that may/may not be helpful:
re: code 70/83/100 - suggest that one visit some actual 1:1 RR sites - esp. industrial trackage, yards, as well as mainline tracks and take some pics that include tracks from a siding next to some mainline tracks and note that there is quite a contrast in rail height and bulk between lightly traveled and heavily traveled trackage. It reallyn shows up in photos. Same thing for tie spacing and the condition of the ties. On the Georgia Northeastern RR (ex L&N 'Hook & Eye line' that runs through this area and the subject of my new model RR, most of their track is old, beyond very well worn, and of a fairly small profile, esp when contrasted w/ the CSX mainline thru Marietta where it interchanges. . .What one should striive for is illustrating the differances between the various code rail and that can be emphacized and even exaggeated with contrasts in the coarseness and color of ballast, how neatly and 'heavily' it is profiled, and whether there is discoloration between the rails on the roadbed, the rustiness of the rails, the absence of weeds and other debris and clutter on the ballast, and so on. I believe that one can run code 100 in hidden areas and in staging yards for reliability and a means of using up inexpensive or previouisly acquired track components - even above the table switch machines (on out of sight trackage) where that would provide easier access for maintainence, and then run code 83 on all heavily traveled tracks, and code 70 on industrial sidings and lightly traveled spurs. Code 55 may be too t'tiny' for most except for enhancing a foreground scene that is more of a static display.

At least that's what I'm going to do. . .

Re: HO model RR gas electrics - I have both a Walthers gas electric (newer tooled plastic one - not the ancient crafts style kit from yrs ago) and it scales out at approx 60' long. I also have Bachmann/Spectrum's much longer one that is close to 85' long, and very similar to their Spectrum hw pass. cars in apperarance and construction. Both are nicely detailed and feature full interiors. The Walthers car runs a bit smoother than the Spectrum, but in all fairness, they both have only been test run for a few laps around Tom's layout. If the exact dimensions are needed, I'll dig them out of the pile and measure them. Also, I tested a Proto 1K Budd RDC on Tom's layout and it ran silky smooth right out of the box. (sort of a more modern 'gas electric' in concept). All three can be had from Trainworld for less than $25. each - all three bargains in my opinion. Or you can find them occasionally on eBay for usually a lot more! Go figure.

Jim - Walthers MOW stuff is ex-Train Miniature tooling, and consists of mostly generic cars - modified box and flat cars, a boom car, a black smith car, a small 25ton crane (still avail individually), and so on. They mimic almost exactly ex Silver Streak wood construction cars, and all can be personalized to suit a free-lanced RR but I'm not sure about prototypical accuracy for any specific RRs. Tichy Trains (ex Gould) make some excellent MOW stuff - a 80 Ton crane that is exquisite, w/ an equally impressive boom car, a 'wheel' flat car, and some other MOW flat cars. Athearn is offering some MOW pass. equipment but they are merely rebadged and ancient tooling of their generic shorty hw pass. equipment. They are useful, however, as many RRs had retired hw equipment - esp head end stuff, pressed into MOW duty. There are numerous hd cranes and boomcars marketed by the likes of Athearn, Bachmann, old Rivarossi and Roco stuff, etc. All could benefit from personalized upgrading. . .MDC 30' flats, sand and gravel hoppers, and 40' gons would be fine in MOW service, as well as their excellent 'old time' box cars (even their arch bar trucks are okay, since they were not interchanged w/ other RRs). Also, Walthers has offered a Jordan Spreader - a neat item, as well as their no longer offered Russel winged wedge snow plow, and also a neat early steam era Leslie Rotary plow and tender. MDC has offered 3'n1 kits of all sorts of potential MOW equipment that are also suitable for short line and industrial applications - steel framed log cars, various flats, work box cars, wood chip (ore cars), old timey tank cars, gondolas, and conversions into snow plows, jordan spreaders, and even a goofy looking std. gauge 'galloping goose' type of railcar. They made a 3'n1 kit for a typical west coast style of 'fire fighting train' - a generic interpretation, but very appropiate for any RR where brush and forest fires were a threat. Also, they currently offer a 40' ballast style of hopper, and it is an accurate prototype that a number of the larger RRs owned or own.

A number of yrs ago I saw a fascinating piece of MOW equipment at the RR museum in Balboa Park (San Diego) that perhaps originated as an MDC Pullman Palace wood sided 'combine', and it had a shortened car body on a full length - 85' - frame with removable gondola like side boards, and all kinds of MOW junk - chains, block & tackle, wheels, tools, and related clutter. I want to replicate a version of that - it was too cool.

And do not forget items like speeders and pump type hand cars -

bjdukert - re: crappy HD and Loews lumber - I have a growing pile of HD's junk 2X4s in my garage awaiting til it's enough of a load to warrant hauling back to them for a refund/exchange as I only want to go thru the unpleasantries of explaining to a clerk that one can not use twisty and warped lumber that may have looked okay in the pile in the store until one hauled it home, and it then went about its drying our process in one's shop, garage or basement. The problem is that the drying out process is often rushed at the mills, and depending on locale, the local species of lumber that is harvested is more often than not, from new growth and small trees that would have only been candiates for a pulpwood load to a paper mill some years past. A couple of tips that work for me (at least w/ Southern Yellow Pine) - buy longer boards like 10 or 12 foot, rather than the just less than 8 ft studs. And consider buying 2X6s and ripping them in two (or even three) if you do not need 2X4 dimensioned lumber. The 2X6s are typically of much higher quality of lumber than the more common 2X4s - at least in my area. I always allow Southern Yellow Pine a chance to season in my shop before using it, for it sometimes has a mind of its own and turns into junk within a month or so. That stuff gets hauled back to HD. Someday - if enough folks took the time to return ugly lumber - they may put some better QC into their lumber purchasing.

Phil - regarding RR sites in Georgia - there's the SouthEastern RR museum in Duluth just minutes north of Atlanta (visit TrainMasters model RR shop across the street while there). There are lots of interesting pcs of rolling stock at the museum - incl. many pass, cars, numerous MOW pcs incl. a crane, a Heisler, a GE 44 tonner, an E8 in SR green & white, a beautifully restored Pacific, and cabooses (cabeese?). There's also the Southern Civil War Museum in Kennesaw right next to the wonderful folks at Kennesaw Hobbies that Tom mentioned a couple of pages back. Eat in the little coffee shop adjacent to Kenessaw Hobbies - good food and a real sweat waitress. The museum, affilaited w/ the Smithsonian, has a recreation of the Glover Machine Works - the last steam engine builder in the South - that only closed its doors a couple of decades ago. The actual and beautifully restored General (from the Civil War loco chase fame, and starred in the movie about it) is on display. The other Civil War steamer from the same chase is located at the Cyclorama in Atlanta as part of a very famous civil war exhibit. The train watching spot that Tom mentioned in Kenessaw is along the route that the General ran, and a good spot to train watch. Also, the tracks in and around Marietta's town square are terrific, for a train rushes by a beautifully restored depot open to the public. It's on the same line very heavily trafficked line that the Kenessaw location is on. . .Here you can sit and drink coffee, have a brewski or two, or eat - and watch the trains at the same time. Another good train watching vantage point is on a hill overlooking the same tracks in the Civil War Cemetary also in Marietta - Here one is elevated and has a clear and unobstructed view of passing trains. Dalton, GA - near the TN/GA border is great, for the CSX and the NS cross over each other's rails and it is heavily traveled, and the old depot - slowly being resurrected - is a great vantage point to trainwatch, as well as a roadway bridge right over the spot where the tracks crossover. There's a large outlet mall nearby on I75 for shopping if you need to justify the trip there. And you won't be far from Cahtanooga, the NMRA headquarters, a running short trolley line, the restored Union Staion (now a Holiday Inn w/ old Pullmans for rooms, the Tenn. Central scenic RR (think that's the name), etc, If you like old depots - check out these just north of Atlanta - in Woodstock, Holly Springs, Tate (unrestored and still in use next to the GNRR shops and old stored equipment), and BlueRidge - home of the BlueRidge Scenic Rwy - worth a visit most definitely. Check out this site: www.PeachStateRails.com for many ideas in and around this area.

Best be out of here as I need to run to the Docs again.
Have a great day.
BILL

[Anonymous]

Morning/afternoon all... not much going on with me today... just stopping in to say hello.

Zoe - A ham and egg sandwich and some of Ed's OJ Please.

[Anonymous]

Paul: We brand and tag with orange tags, she just lost hers and hasn't got a replacement yet. As for losing them, we have few problems with rustlers, but it does happen. Texas and Southwestern is on our side though, they have 3 agents with Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation...Its hard to get away. There were some cattle stolen in our county recently, but our deputys have cracked down tight, farmers often get pulled over coming out of their own fields, the cops are just checking to make sure we had a good reason to be in there. Its been cold up here, too cold to mess with them right now, with temps in the teens some days all we really do is feed them, and give them a shot if they're sick.

***: HD workers are usually a lot better than the ones at Lowe's, one cold snowy evening we were getting a big load of lumber, and they didn't really want to help us load outside, and we didn't really want to load outside either, so we just backed the pickup and 18 foot trailer right up the aisle in the store. We got our stuff, and never had to get out in the cold. Let's see another store do that for you.

As for hardware stores, the one in Calumet is probably the nicest one to go to. The owner knows all of his customers, and he has charge accounts, so all you have to do is go in, tell him what it is you need, he (or usually his wife) helps you find it, and you leave. Never even have to go to the cash register, he just writes it down for you. The name of the store is Ron's Auto, but the locals usually call it Carolyn's.

See y'all later,
Greg

[Anonymous]

Evening all

Currently watching our open fire trying to set fire to the carpet - guessing the log that was put on isn't dry enough, so there's the occasional shower of sparks - carpet seems pretty fireproof though, judging by the melted patches!

The Spectrum Doodlebug's a great little railbus, Mine's now around 2 weeks old, it's awaiting DCC installation which should be happening soon. It's had an hour or so of running on my test oval and is very smooth. I was a little worried about it only having the front truck driven, but it's a decent motor with flywheel and the frame is diecast, so it pulls pretty well. I'm trying to work out what sort of coach to get as a trailer - it's noticably lower than the cars I already have, was considering one of the new Walthers Trainline 60ft heavyweights but I think it would tower over the doodlebug and look silly - are the Bachmann heavyweights closer to the roof height?

I've run into a minor snag with installing DCC - my latest eBay aquisition arrived today (Fleischmann Br.211 diesel loco) but I've found it seems to be near-impossible to isolate the motor properly so it won't be getting a decoder just yet. I've put in an order for replacement end footsteps to replace the broken originals, along with new "Profi" couplers - it'll be in superb shape when they're fitted. The problem now is how long the parts will take to arrive - the supplier has to order them (probably direct from Germany), so there's no saying how long it'll take!

Greg, we have a great hardware store - has been open for over 100 years and they seem to stock pretty much everything - we've had new cast iron grates for the fireplaces "off the shelf", you can buy oil lamp wick by the metre, even parts for power tools long-discontinued. You can tell the regulars as they tend to make a beeline for the basement where they keep the more oddball stuff (they still sell nails by weight down there!).

Well, now watching The Truman Show on DVD - interesting idea, seen it a few times before but still well worth watching. Bye for now!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Railroading_Brit

Evening all

...The Spectrum Doodlebug's a great little railbus, Mine's now around 2 weeks old, it's awaiting DCC installation which should be happening soon. It's had an hour or so of running on my test oval and is very smooth. I was a little worried about it only having the front truck driven, but it's a decent motor with flywheel and the frame is diecast, so it pulls pretty well. I'm trying to work out what sort of coach to get as a trailer - it's noticably lower than the cars I already have, was considering one of the new Walthers Trainline 60ft heavyweights but I think it would tower over the doodlebug and look silly - are the Bachmann heavyweights closer to the roof height?...

Matt:
When I put a decoder in my Spectrum Doodlebug I used a Digitraxx Nearly invisable decoder with the NMRA 2X4 pins soldered to the decoder and it was just a push in. Why would the bug need a strong pull - one other car was about all they ever pulled, remember these were on routs that the ICC would not let the railroads abandian. After some time my bug runs very well. I was going to sound it but decided, why put a $140.00+ decoder in a $35.00 unit.

Bill:
You sure don't come in very often but you're long winded, my eyeballs are sore from reading that last post.

WELCOME BACK Glad you're here. I hate the news about the knee though.

Ed:
Did you get my email?

EVERYONE:
Ed's going to come see me and find out what a plywood prairie looks like. On my part don't expect anything great or good even. But (and this is to make Paul envious) I'm going to show him some very good layouts. This will be a good incentive to clean up the "Junkyard Railway" as Flip called it.

*** and Ed:
I can't remember why right now, but would ya'll e-mail me your phone numbers?

[e-mail]

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

[bjdukert]

Just a short one for now.

Zoe nothing for me,it's Friday,and that is when I go out to eat with the wife,then HD(have to help the others)to see if I can find some straight 1x3.

John-Took a look at the site,and that is more of what I remember they looked like.

That's about it for now,need to get going,because tonight is ST Enterprise,JAG,Stargate SG1,Atlantis,and Battlestar,what a lineup thank goodness for a vcr.

Talk to you later

Duke

[GDRMCo]

hey guys its 6:30 here and I'm awake as ever
Mitchell

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: Teffy: Ed:
Did you get my email?

EVERYONE:
Ed's going to come see me and find out what a plywood prairie looks like.

*** and Ed:
I can't remember why right now, but would ya'll e-mail me your phone numbers?

Yes, I did. I already tried answering both (a couple of hours ago) through Forum mail and also directly from my regular email account. If you haven't got either response, let me know.

Yup, I am. It's been a while since we started discussing the possibility, but looks like it will happen within our lifetime. And getting close to Teffy's means I'll also be close to my LHS.

Once I know whether you are receiving the emails, and which one of the two gets through, I'll send the phone number.

Regards

Ed

[der5997]

Good afternoon all: I was in this morning, but didn't say anything as I had my mouth full. That rum sauced bread pudding is some good![^][C=:)](OK Bob, it's virtual![(-D] However, when I told Kris about it she said she would have liked hers with custard. She doesn't go for rum, never did. On the Highland cattle/English sheep dog/ 60s hair styles thing she says 1) The cattle don't need to see out, only down..."Och look laddie, FOOD!", and 2) remembering what the lads looked like back then, the girls were better off not being able to see out![(-D]
Paul:

QUOTE: John; I like that rock work. Using the small pieces gives a very good texture. I’ve always thought more of using large pieces or sheets. There is a picture in Pat Dorin’s new book on the Michigan iron ore roads. It shows a Lake Superior & Ishpeming train coming through a cut. Looks like what you have there.

Thanks for the encouraging words. I started using small pieces because I had many scraps left from the sheets i used for the main part of the layout. Being of a frugal nature, I couldn't see the point of building hills out of many layers of foam the majority of which is hidden by the layer on top of it. The stuff comes at a price, even in the 1" thickness. So, since this is the first time I had tried foam as scenery base, I thought that I would experiement and see what happened. It's been fun. The real test will be when I do the finer carving and filling with the glue/sawdust mix, or plaster, Sculptamold (unlikeley for the cost), or whatever and add the rock molds. All I have left to do on this phase are the extension of hte hill above the present rock cut, and in front of the road as it climbs to the side of that hill; and the hill that will replace the pile of little scraps of foam and stack of cans. I shall likely build that hill on the work bench and place it on the layout as one piece. The farther reaches of it will be too far to get at for building and painting. It's the one part of the layout where I have had to break all the rules about being able to reach. Painting the backdrop in there is going to be a matter of brushes firmly attached to long handles, and standing on a set of steps. Not exactly the Sistine Chapel, but still, it should be a challenge!
Mitchell: Like your free lance site, (on my browser amny of the pages came in pretty wide, do you know how I can fix that?) good luck with that.
Dave:[#welcome] Northern Ontario RR, tell us more[^]
Ryan:

QUOTE: Jim,Yep, you got it! Ceramic tile is solder proof! I only hope it is hammer proof too when the benchwork begins, don’t want any cracking.

How about a rubber mallet?[(-D] Come to think of it a rubber any-sort-of-loco would be an advantage if they fall on the floor[:O][:D] Seriously, do you nail your benchwork, or was that hammer remark just for effect? I ask because I've always used screws except for very small finishing nail jobs, and was wondering if you were happy with nails.
Ed:

QUOTE: You'll be joining in a group that already has a large NOTNB contingent, including N.S., Ontario, Quebec and B.C. (if Krump is still around).

Yes, I was wondering about krump earlier today - as the free refills are still coming, either Zoe is running them up on krump's tab, or he's still here, but [8)] Calling Salmon Arm, are you there, over.
Bill:

QUOTE: Have been dealing with some med. issues - had a tumor removed from my forehead last week and hope to have the bipopsy results later today, ......Best be out of here as I need to run to the Docs again.

How did it go Bill? In any case we're thinking of you.
Matt:

QUOTE: I was a little worried about it only having the front truck driven, but it's a decent motor with flywheel and the frame is diecast, so it pulls pretty well. I'm trying to work out what sort of coach to get as a trailer -

Is there sufficient weight over the unpowered truck for the single powered truck to handle a second coach? (Also, was wondering if, in the prototype, heavy coaches would have been the number 1 choice for such a job?, just curious.)
Time for a later dinner than usual.
TTFN

[trolleyboy]

good evening all just waithing for heather to get home from work so we can head on down to St catharines. Looks like I won't be buying that P2K soung GP tonight though the "oil change" [:(][:(]on heather's car ended up costing $160 dollars seems she must have nicked [B)]something and bent the tranny oil pan at least it didn't run dry. Oh well I didn't neccesarily "need" another locomotive[;)][;)] Teffy if you want to come up and hunt some northern squirrels let me know. I was unloading the groceries this aft and one decided to follow me in the front door and set a while. Well our beloved *** Catoh Horibilus [}:)][}:)]looked at the visiter arched her back and ran way up the stairs[:(!][:(!][B)] so I had to swing a broom and send the little guy packing back out the door.Anyone want a lovable fraidy cat? Talk to you all later Rob[:D]

[trolleyboy]

TA Dave[#welcome][#welcome] the more the merrier it's always good to pick up more canadian content Eh! How bout them maple leafs. Rob

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by der5997

Is there sufficient weight over the unpowered truck for the single powered truck to handle a second coach? (Also, was wondering if, in the prototype, heavy coaches would have been the number 1 choice for such a job?, just curious.)

It seems heavy enough - I had two or three Athearn boxcars on the back while running in, it didn't seem to notice. The other question I have about these is how did they make a return run? There's only one cab, so unless the end of the line had to have a turntable or wye, did they run backwards? Railcars over here have always been either single units with a cab each end or sets of 2 or more cars with cabs at the outer ends, so I was considering a freelanced driving trailer to go with it as my layout is end to end. Maybe a Walthers 60ft heavyweight with a cab bashed onto one end (like the old Chicago area heavyweight electric units, these had pretty much standard ends but with a driving position, horn, bell, etc)? This would probably only need some interior work, a couple of windows for the new cab, and a few extra details adding - would it look silly though? I'd guess either a combine or coach would be the best to use, though as the doodlebug already has a baggage/parcels section the coach would probably make more sense. All in the planning stages at the moment though as my LHS has yet to obtain stocks of the base vehicle!