Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

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

859685 views
27061 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 6:41 AM
hey everyone it's been a while since i've been online. see that not much has changed. is there any other n-scalers out there that feel like we have been left in the dark?
to all i'm modeling the Boston and Maine and Maine Central in nscale during 1941 to 1945. it's kinda in a ntrack style since right now i'm stationed in naples italy. I think I can say my trains have traveled more actual miles then most model trains. =). the weather is good and hot and MT. VESEUS is in full view as usual, until tomorrow see everyone later.

Sam W. HM3/SS USN.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 11:26 AM
this is rediculous, it's finaly summer and scince ive gotten out of school track repair hasn't stoped where i go railfanning, i havn't seen a train scince 4th of july
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 11:54 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by elias

this is rediculous, it's finaly summer and scince ive gotten out of school track repair hasn't stoped where i go railfanning, i havn't seen a train scince 4th of july


In my hunt for a mailing tube big enough for the posters that I am sending to Scott I pasted by one of the grade schools and noticed the sign read, "School Starts Aug 19".
I thought to myself, wow, I bet that makes all the school guys in the forums happy NOT.

Scott, I have 2 packages ready to ship to you. The mailing tube I will mail "Priority" so you should have it by Friday, but the other package is kinda heavy so I will have to wait and see how to mail it. [;)] [:D]

I have had a busy morning but have not got much accomplished. And to top it all off it is noon already. Now how did that happen? [B)]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 11:57 AM
You know right after I posted my previous post it hit me that we have not seen or heard from JCTrain lately. So it is time to put out an ABP on him.

Phil, would you take charge of the manhunt? [;)]

Noah, would you email him for us? I am running late right now. [B)] [:0] [;)]

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Bottom Left Corner, USA
  • 3,420 posts
Posted by dharmon on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 1:28 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dummyrailroad

hey everyone it's been a while since i've been online. see that not much has changed. is there any other n-scalers out there that feel like we have been left in the dark?
to all i'm modeling the Boston and Maine and Maine Central in nscale during 1941 to 1945. it's kinda in a ntrack style since right now i'm stationed in naples italy. I think I can say my trains have traveled more actual miles then most model trains. =). the weather is good and hot and MT. VESEUS is in full view as usual, until tomorrow see everyone later.

Sam W. HM3/SS USN.


Welcome back to the fourms and the coffee shop. Make sure you check in with the YNCS (SS). He'll get you checked in and records over to PSD. I spent three years of my life at Agnano. Ahh ...Buono Napoli in summertime.......let me go drive to the landfill and relive the experience...
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 3:59 PM
Beautiful Napoli, where you can sit by the bay and watch the garbage move in and out with the tide.

BTW, fellow squids and ex-squids, did you hear about how the Hartford ran aground near La Madd several months ago? The Commodore (who was riding), the Captain, the Nav and the Assistant Navigator (ETC) all got relieved. It was a classic case of Murphy's Law in action. They did things like have the fathometer reading in fathoms, the shallow water alarm set in feet, and the chart giving depths in meters.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 736 posts
Posted by tomwatkins on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 7:20 PM
Good Evenin' Everybody,
It's been another beautiful day in the mountains. It's about 8 PM and we're winding it down. I got a lot of RR ties painted today, and I've got a lot left to paint. Since it's a lot like watching paint dry, it's about that exciting. But it looks good when it's done.

Noah, I don't think Proto makes an E8 in the P1K line. As far as I know, they don't duplicate between the P1K and P2K lines. The do have an F Unit in the P1k line though. It doesn't have a lot of seperately applied detail parts, but it runs really well.

YNCS, putting your ship on a sandbar has never been a career enhancing move. I wasn't in the Navy, but you learn things like that just growing up in a Navy town. That's really a shame, but sometimes one mistake or incident is all you get.

Sam, welcome to the coffee shop. The pot is always on, it's good coffee and the conversation is good too.

I'd better go for now. Hope everybody has a good evening,
Tom
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Bottom Left Corner, USA
  • 3,420 posts
Posted by dharmon on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 9:16 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by YNCS

Beautiful Napoli, where you can sit by the bay and watch the garbage move in and out with the tide.

BTW, fellow squids and ex-squids, did you hear about how the Hartford ran aground near La Madd several months ago? The Commodore (who was riding), the Captain, the Nav and the Assistant Navigator (ETC) all got relieved. It was a classic case of Murphy's Law in action. They did things like have the fathometer reading in fathoms, the shallow water alarm set in feet, and the chart giving depths in meters.


Yikes....unless you're in the gator navy, ships (boats) and land do not mix.......but then again neither does using different scales for the things that are supposed to keep you away from them.....just like they say about flying, try to stay in the middle of the air....the edges are where problems occur...
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Mexico
  • 2,629 posts
Posted by egmurphy on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 10:22 PM
Hello all,

We just got back home an hour ago after the marathon 3-1/2 week trip. It went very well considering, with no messed up reservations, car problems, or missed connections. Saw some great parts of the U.S. and a couple of great railroads. Hopefully over the next couple of days I'll start getting back in the routine and reading posts again. I plan on trying to load all the digital photos (I've got them on 4 CD's) to my computer tomorrow, start editing, and maybe even upload a few to RailImages, where I keep my photos, so I can post a few.

Bill - Congratulations on the new granddaughter. Hope you are getting your knee taken care of and that it's not too serious.

Phil - sounds like you have more cats and dogs than locomotives!!

Noah - sorry I didn't get more detail about that father/son team from Richland Center. I'm pretty sure the son was named Nick. I'd guess that he was 16-18, but when you get to my age it's tough to really pick out an age range that close. They definitely said their G gauge layout was outside. They're pretty heavy duty railfanners, they both had on t-shirts from some Milwaukee Road Trainfest back in either 2000 or 2002. Hope you can locate them.

Elias - well if they're actively doing track repair, shoot and take notes on the m-o-w equipment. It's often as interesting and modelable as the revenue equipment.

SamW - you're not the only N Scaler hanging out here. Welcome aboard. I did the N-Track module thing back in 82-83 when I lived near a club in Houston. It was good way to get into modeling while I lived in an apartment. My hollow core wood door layout now isn't that much bigger, but I don't need other modules to connect to. Good thing, since I don't believe there's another one this side of the Rio Bravo.

Anyway, just a brief note to let all of you know I'm back. Sorry I couldn't remember all the posts I wanted to comment on or reply to.

It's good to be back. [^]

Best regards

Ed
The Rail Images Page of Ed Murphy "If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home." - James Michener
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 12:52 AM
Ed [:)]

Welcome Back. We missed you. [;)]

Put me on the top of the list please, pretty please, with brown sugar on top, for pics if you email any out. [;)]


Scott [:)]

Bombs away, oh, I mean packages away. [:D] Get that Red Lobster dinner ready for the mailman. [;)] [:p] [:)]

Man I am tired tonight. [B)] [:0] [:(]

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Beautiful BC
  • 897 posts
Posted by krump on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 1:19 AM
how's the coffee today?
I'll need an iced mocha to go... good to see that some of the weary travellers are back and ready for truck-stop coffee or better.
cheers

cheers, krump

 "TRAIN up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" ... Proverbs 22:6

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 736 posts
Posted by tomwatkins on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 7:26 AM
Good Mornin' Everybody,
It's going to be a beautiful day in the mountains today. The to-do list for the day isn't too long so I should be able to get some more ties painted. Probably not all of them, but a good many more. Just to make sure I don't run out of things to do, I started on an Athearn Genesis F3 set last night. I'm converting the B unit into a "smart dummy", with power pick up running to the Soundtraxx decoder in the A unit. The B will also house the speaker. I got the B disassembled and started started grinding away some of the weight to make room for the speaker. That should keep me out of trouble for a while.

DH, that's a good point. I'd forgotten about the "Gator Navy" As a former Marine, I should certainly have remembered them. It's OK for them to get close to the sand. Trying to swim with all that stuff on your back isn't fun. Keeping it in the middle of the air is very important. I once heard that you could do almost anything you wanted in an aircraft, as long as you do it far enough above the ground.

EG, Welcome back. I'm glad the trip was a good one and you made it back safely. I'll be looking forward to seeing the pictures.

I'd better go for now and get started.

Have a great day, everybody,
Tom
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 7:35 AM
Haven't been on here in a while, I'll be going to a freinds house and operate on his N scale layout, haven't seen it yet but it sounds cool!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 12:08 PM
Finally, now I have a BLI loco!!

My 2-8-2 (lettered for CB&Q, of course![8D]) had trouble operating on the low power from my train-set power pack (It's a stand-in until I have a layout, which will have DCC, BTW), but NO SHORT CIRCUITS TO SPEAK OF!!![:p] This definently won't be my last BLI steamer.....[:D]

Also, now the BLI engines are made in China, BLI must have got sick of the fact that Ajin Precision can't make a plastic steamer without haveing the whole locomotive short out..... I still believe that they would best be manufactured in Virginia, USA where BLI is based at, but that would kind of defeat the purpose of BLI's name...[:0][}:)]

A satisfied Christopher one step closer to a layout...
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Reedsburg WI (near Wisconsin Dells)
  • 3,370 posts
Posted by Noah Hofrichter on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 3:23 PM
Jim, I'll give him an e-mail in a little while, if I can find his address someplace.

Ed! Welcome back! I've been wondering when you'd get home again, you've been missed around here. I haven't talked to my cousins yet, but I hopefully will soon. Thanks for the info you provided though, it'll help I'm sure.

Chris, Glad you finally that steamer. Ain't it great when You get some thing and it's way better than you expected? That was the way it was with my P2K E unit I just got.

Tom, thanks for the info, I'll have to keep an eye out for them.

One step closer to a completed Transfer Caboose. Major assembly is completed, and it's painting time! I hope to do the black either tonight or tomarrow and then the yellow either Friday or Saturday. Pictures of the group of major unpainted parts to hopefully follow tomarrow or Friday.

Noah
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Louisville,Ky.
  • 5,077 posts
Posted by locomutt on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 3:45 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Noah Hofrichter

Jim, I'll give him an e-mail in a little while, if I can find his address someplace.

Ed! Welcome back! I've been wondering when you'd get home again, you've been missed around here. I haven't talked to my cousins yet, but I hopefully will soon. Thanks for the info you provided though, it'll help I'm sure.

Chris, Glad you finally that steamer. Ain't it great when You get some thing and it's way better than you expected? That was the way it was with my P2K E unit I just got.

Tom, thanks for the info, I'll have to keep an eye out for them.

One step closer to a completed Transfer Caboose. Major assembly is completed, and it's painting time! I hope to do the black either tonight or tomarrow and then the yellow either Friday or Saturday. Pictures of the group of major unpainted parts to hopefully follow tomarrow or Friday.

Noah


Noah,
Wish you well on painting,but here,I don't generally paint
when the humidity level is higher than the temp.[:)] (90%)

Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 3:49 PM
Is it just me or is this website very slow to load after making a post? BTW, I do have DSL, so I don't think the problem is at my end.

On edit: Of course, when I posted this post, it took less than 10 seconds for it to appear.
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Reedsburg WI (near Wisconsin Dells)
  • 3,370 posts
Posted by Noah Hofrichter on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 3:52 PM
It's been nice here. Can be more than 40% humidity though, so I think it should be okay.

Noah
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Reedsburg WI (near Wisconsin Dells)
  • 3,370 posts
Posted by Noah Hofrichter on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 3:57 PM
Sometimes I notice that too, but other times it's really quick, it's kooky.

Noah
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 4:02 PM
Good, it's not just me.

Thanks, Noah.
  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: Kansas City area
  • 833 posts
Posted by Trainnut484 on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 6:09 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes



go kick those Royals in the seat of the pants. You might have to climb down into the celler to do that though. Since they seem to be keeping the place all to themselves. [:(] [V] [:(!]

Russel, while I was in Springfield, I saw some interesting stuff. A CN unit past by, if you would have been at your inlaws you could have got a good pic of it.


Hello again, Jim

The Royals are not having a good season to say the least. They still let the kids run the bases after home games. We're looking forward to Chiefs season [:D][tup] I can smell the ribs and mozzarella sticks now MMMMMMM [dinner][dinner]

I saw some CN units head into Argentine yard from Chicago this past Saturday. They are common now through here.

Take care,

Russell
All the Way!
  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Southern Minnesota now
  • 956 posts
Posted by Hawks05 on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 7:00 PM
today was a great day for me. went to a LHS. bought 4 kits, a Atlas RTR piece, the 2 latest MRR mags, and some couplers. the one thing i forgot were switches. i had that on my list to, the last thing i wrote down. got in the car and was reading the MRR and saw how to set track perfectly and it said something about switches. oh well, that will be my next trip or if i can talk to one of my friends and have him get me something.

the RTR piece was a BNSF centerflow hopper, 3 of the kits were Accurail, a SOO Line Boxcar, a SOO line centerflow hopper, and a CNW centerflow hopper. the other kit was a Roundhouse Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range ore car kit (2 cars included). so i'll have some fun reading ahead of me and some fun with the kits. hopefully i can start working more so i can start buying more.

i have the scanner on now because i guess there is usually a train coming through town between 7-8 at night so i'm going to try and catch that on the scanner and maybe get out and take some pictures, test out the new camera.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 7:41 PM
Noah: Yes, the BLI locomotive is very fun to operate, a few minutes ago when I was breaking it in on my test track, I found out how to use the "doppler effect" and how to change the direction of the locomotive without turning it completely off. My only gripes about the engine are that the sound speakers sometimes vibrate, making the tender buzz, and that even though the CB&Q engine was an oil burner, BLI still put a coal tender on the model. That won't be too much of a problem though, since with some wire, styrene, and a oil hatch I can easily change that...

Locomutt: Illinois does the same thing. Humidity is what makes it hot and sticky around here, the heat is otherwise not too bad in summer. (But late August and Septmeber can get reallly hot sometimes...)
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Out on the Briny Ocean Tossed
  • 4,240 posts
Posted by Fergmiester on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 7:53 PM
Summer has begun!

Hi I'm back!!

A good trip was had by all ( unless your a drug runner and your now out of $16 million) anyway I gloat, it was a good trip built two kits and a turn table

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959

If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007  

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Out on the Briny Ocean Tossed
  • 4,240 posts
Posted by Fergmiester on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 7:58 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by YNCS

Beautiful Napoli, where you can sit by the bay and watch the garbage move in and out with the tide.

BTW, fellow squids and ex-squids, did you hear about how the Hartford ran aground near La Madd several months ago? The Commodore (who was riding), the Captain, the Nav and the Assistant Navigator (ETC) all got relieved. It was a classic case of Murphy's Law in action. They did things like have the fathometer reading in fathoms, the shallow water alarm set in feet, and the chart giving depths in meters.


Yikes....unless you're in the gator navy, ships (boats) and land do not mix.......but then again neither does using different scales for the things that are supposed to keep you away from them.....just like they say about flying, try to stay in the middle of the air....the edges are where problems occur...


Not true!

Any one who has bottomed out can tell you different

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959

If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007  

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Mexico
  • 2,629 posts
Posted by egmurphy on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 8:22 PM
Evening all,

It's amazing the amount of stuff that needed to be done when we got back. I'm just scratching the surface. Even the model railroad stuff I bought is just starting to come out of the suitcases. Things today were complicated even more by the fact that it was my M-I-L's birthday, we had to do grocery shopping because the cupboard was bare, we brought one of my S-I-L's and a niece back with us, and also had to run over to the other side of town to get another S-I-L and her newborn daughter to bring them to the in-law's house.

I actually did get all the photos downloaded from the CD's to the computer. There were about 750 in all, not all of trains. Now I have to start to work my way through them editing and selecting. Plus, uploading even some of them to RailImages will take a long time with my slow connection. Some shots came out nice. But since most were taken from behind (in the last car) shooting towards the engine in curves, there's quite a few very similar ones. No classic views, glad I'm not trying to make my living through train photography.

It is nice to be back home though. I really enjoyed the trip, but 3 weeks and change is about getting to be enough.

DW just brought a nice hot cup of coffee up to the computer desk, and I've got the A/C cranked up. Slowly working my way through back emails and the couple of message boards that I participate in.

Hasta maƱana

Ed
The Rail Images Page of Ed Murphy "If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home." - James Michener
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 22, 2004 12:53 AM
Ed [:)]

750 photos WOW [:D]

You know we are all foaming at the bits to see them. [:p]

I can hardly wait. [B)]



Noah [:)]

I have JCTrain's email and thought you had it too. [:(]

But glad you got an email off to him. He was a regular for a while.

I got your emails and will mail the posters hopefully tomorrow morning (Thursday). They might be there by Saturday but most likely Monday. [8D]

Hawk05, add me to your AIM buddy list -- jhhtrainsplanes [;)]

Everyone have a great day. [:D]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 22, 2004 1:07 AM
Today (Thursday) is a very sad anniversary for me. The actual day is July 25th but two years ago it was on a Thursday. And I will never forget THAT thursday.

Actually I will never forget Monday night through Thursday of THAT week. [:(] [V] [:(] I came home from work and Sasha met me at the door as usual Monday night/Tuesday morning. We went for a walk as usual. During that walk I noticed she was breathing heavy for just walking. Unfortunately it was all downhill from there. To make a long heart wrenching story short, it turned out her lungs were almost completely full of cancer. It was a cancer that medicene would not touch and chemo would not do anything to it either. There was no hope. Sasha was absolutely the BEST doberman to ever live. She was so loving and sweet, ALL the neighbors loved her and she loved them too. She minded so well and was just the best dog you could EVER hope for. There will never be another one to take her place. I cannot ever impress you all just how good she really was. Duchess is not even close to being the dog that Sasha was.

Little Red Princess Sasha
March 24, 1992
July 25, 2002
Rest In Peace my sweety. YOU were my pride and joy.


  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: central Indiana
  • 775 posts
Posted by philnrunt on Thursday, July 22, 2004 1:24 AM
Ed and Ferg- great to have you back, looking forward to seeing and hearing about your trips. 750 pix- arn't digitals great? And talk about job security!
Kinda worried about Bill, think I'll e-mail him tomorrow just to check on him. Hope his leg is doing better, hope he got to a Dr.
We just had a great t-storm roll thru, should be getting into mid-Ohio about now, lots of lightning, just pretty neat.You buckeyes keep your heads down.
My chief just returned from Alaska, has some fine video of an RDC ride from Takeetna to Denali Park, with a runby of the passenger ship train rolling by, a great looking 70MAC on the head end.All of the cars are lettered for Princess or Holland America, good looking consist. He said the RDC trip took 6 hours and he rode the front with the engineer for 5 hours. Bears on the tracks, moose (meese?) in the woods, eagles above. Most of Alaska is just killer beautiful, but Pt Barrow is about as bleak as it gets. He flew in, and it is a severe looking town.But it would make a great layout town for a RR on an island. He said the bay clears of ice for 2-4 weeks a year and they cram barges in like crazy.
Tom- I forgot to mention that as the bogus Beatles concert ended, and we were walking to our veh, 2 UP SD40-2's rolled thru town on the CSX(ex CR) line. Always good to see the old boys are still out there.
Take care all.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 22, 2004 8:37 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Hawks05

today was a great day for me. went to a LHS. bought 4 kits, a Atlas RTR piece, the 2 latest MRR mags, and some couplers. the one thing i forgot were switches. i had that on my list to, the last thing i wrote down. got in the car and was reading the MRR and saw how to set track perfectly and it said something about switches. oh well, that will be my next trip or if i can talk to one of my friends and have him get me something.

the RTR piece was a BNSF centerflow hopper, 3 of the kits were Accurail, a SOO Line Boxcar, a SOO line centerflow hopper, and a CNW centerflow hopper. the other kit was a Roundhouse Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range ore car kit (2 cars included). so i'll have some fun reading ahead of me and some fun with the kits. hopefully i can start working more so i can start buying more.

i have the scanner on now because i guess there is usually a train coming through town between 7-8 at night so i'm going to try and catch that on the scanner and maybe get out and take some pictures, test out the new camera.


Hey, haven't seen you on here in a while (I forgot your name [B)]).

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!