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

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by emeraldisle

There's nothing glorious about it. Arab fanatics took thousands of innocent lives on that day and America should never forget it. For myself, I can't even look at a Mid Easterner today without thinking, why don't you just go back where you came from. I wouldn't trust anyone from the Mideast today, nor would I hire one if I owned a bussiness. I know this sounds real hatefull, and it's not normally in my nature but 9-11 was too much. Those animals have no respect for human life and shouldn't be allowed to roam this Earth freely. [soapbox]

True. If they want to have constant war, they can keep it to themselves instead of trying to ruin every other country as well.

[fec153]

teffy- I'm 68. Gotten older but refuse to grow up. Jazz, folk, swing and some classical.
There are even some country cd's and tapes in my collection. And blues. Can't forget
the blues. Courtesy of my wife, there are ELVIS,Barry White and a few other artists.

[AntonioFP45]

Teffy, Egmurphy,

Thanks for your concern guys as well as for the response regarding "Polls".!

As of the latest projections, "Crazy Ivan" will pass parallel to the Tampa Bay area about 100+ miles west. However, we realize that this could change at anytime after it passes through Cuba. I hope our friends in the Florida Panhandle will be o.k and stay safe!

God Bless!

[tomwatkins]

Good Afternoon Everybody,
It's been a beautiful, fairly lazy day in the mountains today. The room is mostly put back together. I've still got a couple of mirrors to hang, but they can wait until Tuesday. The ladies have a fair amount of stuff to go through and put away, but it's getting done.

There was a touch of Fall in the air this morning. The coffee was wonderful, and we took it to the front porch. The dogwoods are already changing color a little bit. They are alway the first to change. I spent some time in the basement just running trains. It's been a while, so I really enjoyed it. Had a BLI heavy mike and a Spectrum 2-8-0 going at the same time, both pulling freights. The sound coming from both loco's really was cool.

Tomorrow I'm going to Chattanooga with some people from our model railroad club. We're going to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and to the NMRA Headquarters to the library. It should be a lot of fun. Hopefully, I'll be able to photograph the 4501. That's a real Southern Railway light mikado that they've had for some years. It's the only one left (former Sou Rwy, that is), and it's absolutely beautiful. I'm looking forward to it.

Noah, I've been in the NMRA for about 10 years. I think it's well worth doing. The national magazine is good, probably not as good as MR or Mainline Modeler, but worth having. We also get a regional magazine that is good. Having access to the Standards and Recommended Practices is very helpful. It's also important that NMRA has been instrumental in getting manufacturers to standardize in many areas so that different mfgs equipment will operate together.

Teffy, how does the ABBA set run? I'm really pleased with my F3 set, and with sound in the B unit the little bit of gear noise is just another sound. They really pull well.

Ed, Ah, another Kingston Trio fan. That's still really good music. I recorded all the vinyl onto Maxell tapes years ago. We just got some new CD and tape storage cabinets a little while ago. so I had to "organize" the music when I put everything up. I found a lot of old friends that we haven't listened to in a long time. The Trio was among them.

Better go for now, Have a great afternoon everybody,
Tom

[TrainFreak409]

If anybody wants to see some cool pictures, go here!

freewebs.com/trainfreak409

[8]TrainFreak409[8]

[egmurphy]

Evening group,

FlaPhil

QUOTE: With the pictures of what many of you have posted, I feel a bit ashamed to call myself a modeler. Bare bones[track,no roadbed] but my trains run

Hey, I called myself a model railroader for years, and I’m just now finally building my first layout. [:)] You’re the only one you need to please with what you do in the hobby. I almost continued to put off starting this one because of all the great stuff I was seeing on some of the forums, and not feeling up to producing anything that good. [:I]

I doubt that I have any of the old KT albums left. Most of my vinyl went bye-bye long ago. Anyway, they were so scratched they were almost unplayable. In fact I haven’t had a turntable in 15 years.

Noah, I think it might be a good thing for you to try out NMRA membership. Seems like there’s a lot of activity in your region. If you decide it’s not for you it’s easy to not renew. Meanwhile you will have recouped at least part of your year’s membership costs through the hobby shop discount.

Chris

QUOTE: I think I'm going to use a plan designed for me by Ray Breyer-aka Orsonroy. It consists of 4 modules that make a 6x8 layout. I might have to do so trimming of the plan to get it to about 6x7 or 6x6, though.

I think the multiple module concept is a good idea. Post a track plan when you have a chance. If you continue to have problems uploading it, can you email me the file (if it's not too big) and I could upload it onto my railimages page and you could post it from there. Going to buy more wood or are you going to cannibalize the 4x8?

QUOTE: I don't have 20/20 vision to begin with, but I can certainly wait for the day I hope never comes that I'd have to have glasses

I had 20/20 for years. Started needing glasses to read somewhere between 40 and 45 years old. I still only need to use them to read. Of course for modeling work I need to call in the optivisor too! [X-)] But my mid range to long distance vision is still good (my arms are just too short to read anything). My biggest problem is remembering to wear shirts with pockets so I have some place to put my glasses when I’m not wearing them. [;)]

QUOTE: It's dark green, the BNSF calls it Brunswick Green, I think.

Also known as Brunswick Black (at least the bottle I bought)!

QUOTE: I have no clue what kind of uploading software I have. (?) Me and computers have never quite gotten along.

Join the crowd!!

FlaPhil

QUOTE: I have 4 Bev-Bel 40' ers in jade green.

Now that’s a real green, not some black tone masquerading as green. [:D]

Bob – okay, I’m confused [%-)] (so what else is new?). What size mayonnaise jars and pickle jars do you have where the tops would be the right radius for your HO layout curves??? I can’t even imagine one that would serve for my N scale curves, and I run some pretty tight curves.

I’m 58. Hard for me to believe, but when I do the math it works out that way. The Kingston Trio was my favorite group as a youngster. I liked Burl Ives before I found out about the Kingston Trio. Let’s just agree to be KT fans and forget your idea of starting a group.

You invitation could work, we’ll need to stay in touch as we get closer to trip time. Didn't you say you lived just south of Beaumont? Do I recall correctly that you were trying to get your layout on the list for the Houston Layout Tour this year? Yep, I know Papa Ben’s well, and Ben has my credit card number on file. [:)] I didn’t know that some of his people had come from Trainsource. In fact, I never saw that store before it closed. I have been to it since Duane bought it and moved Bellaire Roundhouse there.

Current track on Ivan looks good for FlaPhil and Antonio, but could be tough for Dave9999. If it comes in over the panhandle it could mean a lot more rain and wind for Georgia too (Tom and BillM).

Tom – sounds like a nice trip. Enjoy it. Another KT fan! Guess it was a pretty common thing for our generation.

Anyway, did a bit more on the layout today. I think I’ve got about 80% of the track down. Should complete track next week and hopefully be well along on wiring. Here’s a few shots of the current status:







Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Hasta mañana,

Ed

[Big_Boy_4005]

Hi Bob and everyone, we've been here all along, just quiet. A mild case of forum burnout, and some cold-like virus have kind of shut me up this past week, but I never really left.

[der5997]

[{(-_-)}]It's a quarter to twelve, and no-one's in the place.....(not even Joe, Oh, I forgot, it's a cup of Joe isn't it?[:D])

A frustrating afternoon/evening getting a section of facia installed. The facia went up well, it was the track occupancy lights that were a pain. Original wires too short. Resultant breakage caused use of different bulbs (didn't want to re-wire for bi-colour LEDs) that refused to shine. Circuits fine, internal bulb resistance not fine. Found enough bulbs that would work at the voltage I'd set for the original bulbs. Got it done, and the end result worth the struggle.

All that annoying process was ameliorated by the knowledge that the photo's have turned up[yeah] [#ditto] [:D] As I said they would be, in the last place I looked! But who would have thought that a box of Mrs. der's craft and art supplies would have a train photo album in it[:O] [alien] [%-)]

Now I have to get to the local museum to scan some picsand burn a CD. It was easier when the museum's scanner lived here, but space requirements for the train room have meant some rearrangement all round.

Good night folks, and God Bless.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fec153

Is it true that somewhere in Texas a village is missing it's idiot?

The trouble with political jokes is that very often they get elected.

Phil

You mean "ranch" don't you? [;)] [}:)] [:D]

[Anonymous]

Hi All [8D]

Tom [:)]

Don't they have one of the WWII Alcos there too? Maybe I am confussed but I was thinking they did. If my memory serves me right (does and does not) they were originally made for Rock Island but the government "borrowed" them for the war effort.


Scott [:D]

You sure are getting around these days. Purkey's, Quiznos, and rail grinding, you are a busy young man. Thanks for sharing the pics. Your new website is working well too. [:p]



Well as yet we don't know where Ivan is headed here in the US. I wish it would just fizzle out right there in the ocean and leave everyone alone.


Everyone take care and stay safe.

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All:

The latest post on "Ivan" shows him going in on the Fla-Ala line at 2:00 AM thursday morning. With winds at 160 right now it's going to be really bad. Dave9999 is right in the path. The good or bad (?) thing is that with every projection the path moves farther west. It started out going up the west coast of fla and is now 100+ miles off the coast.

The Cowboys lost [V] yesterday and that makes for a bad monday.

Ed:

I like your pictures If I take some of mine you and John are going to have to tell me how to post them.

The jar lids were the right radius for the curves on the conrtol panel not the layout. Mrs. "T" pointed out that all of the other curves here just 15 degree angle lines so why put in the totally curved section. Good idea but train running got in the way and nothing got done.

Trainsource was owned by Renny, Matry and Zoe. Zoe wanted out to open a bonzi store so Renny bought her out. They hired Ben to manage the shop and through some past decisions they couldn't make the shop a go. It ran for over seven years. Ben bought out Bobbie Hall's in Dallas and opened Papa Bens with the customer list and hired Renny, Marty, Tom, and I can't think of the part time guy who has since retired, to work in the shop. Renny has left but Marty, and Tom are still there. As a matter of fact Marty is working on a PFM Southern PS-4 ( see Tom, I like Southern also) that broke a drive line and I sheared a screw trying to take the boiler off. It's one of my locos that's sounded and I've got a passenger train of hwts for it. Wayne moved Bellaire roundhouse in there hopping to pick up some of their business, needless to say their is bad blood between the two shops. At Papa Bens i feel like a friend and at belaire I feel like an intruder. How many people go to the shop in a 45' motorcoach, but then I am totally ignored.

As for the open house - I didn't want to show the layout without the top loop being done so I passed on this year but next year........ I'm going to put some scenery down this week as I've got several places where the trains have been running for a while and haven't given me any trouble.

I had a chance to see Burl Ives before he died and enjoyed his concert immensly (SP). Where did you retire from that you got out so early?

Tom:
I trust that you enjoyed the today in Chattanooga, as many times as I've been there, I've never had time to go to NMRA. The ABBA's run fine, now you know that only two of them are powered. The other two are dummies. I have a room air conditioner in that room so I don'e have to cool the whole upstairs and when it's running all of the Genesis sound quite. When it's not on they have a little sound but nothing I can't live with.

John:
ameliorated What in the world is that? Is it a real word? As far as the pictures being the last place that you looked - why would you keep looking after you found them?

Mrs. "T" says time for work so I've got to go.

Have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob

[egmurphy]

Morning all you Breakfast Coffee Clubbers,

Thought I'd try to get a response off in the morning to cut down on the length of what I need to write in the evening to keep up with all of you.

Interesting shift in track on Ivan. If it keeps going west you never know where it will end up. If it crosses the Yucatan Penninsula it could even shift westward into our end of the Gulf. [:0]

QUOTE: The facia went up well, it was the track occupancy lights that were a pain. Original wires too short. Resultant breakage caused use of different bulbs (didn't want to re-wire for bi-colour LEDs) that refused to shine. Circuits fine, internal bulb resistance not fine. Found enough bulbs that would work at the voltage I'd set for the original bulbs. Got it done, and the end result worth the struggle.

You're obviously way beyond Wiring 101. I barely understood what you did, but I was impressed. [:)] Ah well, there's always one more horizon in the hobby to look forward to learning.

QUOTE: It was easier when the museum's scanner lived here

We just got a new printer for the computer that includes a scanner. I expect to be able to use it a lot once I dig out all my old railfan pics. It'll be nice to be able to scan them and include them with my more current digital shots.

QUOTE:

QUOTE: QUOTE: Originally posted by fec153

Is it true that somewhere in Texas a village is missing it's idiot?

The trouble with political jokes is that very often they get elected.

Phil

You mean "ranch" don't you?

No offense guys, but we probably shouldn't go there. We don't have to stay on model railroading but .......


Bob:

QUOTE: I like your pictures If I take some of mine you and John are going to have to tell me how to post them.

While you're getting up to speed on posting, if you want to be able to post some, email me the file (just don't make it too big), I can upload it to my RailImages album, and you can post it from there. That way we can see how it's going over there. Did you follow up on John's suggestion regarding opening a RailImages account? That's step one in being able to post. Well, maybe step two. Step one is getting either a digital camera or a scanner.

Thanks for the detailed explanation on the history of Papa Ben's and Houston Roundhouse. I didn't know any of that. By the time I found Trainsource they had already closed, Papa Ben's was already in construction, and Duane was moving from Bellaire to the South Loop site.

I spent all my career working in the refinery and petrochemical construction business. That's how I wound up in Beaumont (projects at Mobil Oil). Most of the last 20 years I spent working outside the U.S.

Anyway, that's about it for the morning. Time to get back to the layout. With any luck I'll complete the mainline today. Hope to start on wiring. It'll be nice to be able to run trains around the entire layout instead of simply back and forth.

Hasta Luego,

Ed

[fec153]

Hi gang! In 51 for my birthday,I received a Burl Ives lp.. Had it until Andrew. Still remember some of the songs.
Teffy- The limelighters Smothers Bros. at the Hungry I The 4 Freshmen. Ring a bell?
Antonio-Dave9999-tom-Bill M- and all others in the path, our prayers and best wishes
are for you. May everybody be spared .
Phil

[easyaces]

Good luck and Godspeed to those of you down Southeast facing the wrath of Ivan Keep 'em on the rails and between the ditches!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TEFFY

The Cowboys lost [V] yesterday and that makes for a bad monday.

Eagles won that makes for a rotten Monday. A cowboy fan in Philly.

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: Eagles won that makes for a rotten Monday. A cowboy fan in Philly.

What makes it even worse is that they beat the Giants. [:(]


A Giants Fan south of the border.


Ed

[dave9999]

Everyone,
Thanks for your concern.
It looks as if Ivan is going to call on us. Only I won't be home to answer the door.
If it continues this way, I'll be leaving town sometime tomorrow afternoon. Planning to
take some back roads to avoid the massive traffic jams that we experienced back in
'95 when Opal hit. We were stuck in traffic when the storm started inland. I'll never forget
the car rocking in the wind. Thought it would flip a couple of times.

I have talked with a few friends and it seems everyone has the same idea about leaving
tomorrow. If Nancy wasn't a manager and didn't have to check on her store, we would leave
tonight. I anticipate a lot of traffic tomorrow. Maybe things will go smoothly, although I doubt
it.

I'll probably head northwest and find a campground away from danger. After Opal, I learned that
motel room withen a 300 mile radius is out of the question.

My plan is to grab everything of value that I can pack in my truck, Nancy's car and the camper. I
have a bad feeling looting will be a problem in the neighborhood I live in. And we may not be
able to return home for a few days. If anyone steals my trains, things could get ugly[B)][8D].

I hope and pray that this storm makes a fool out of me and I'm going though all this trouble for
nothing! Although it's not likely to just go away.

Again thanks for the concern. Dave

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TEFFY
Trainsource was owned by Renny, Matry and Zoe. Zoe wanted out to open a bonzi store so Renny bought her out. They hired Ben to manage the shop and through some past decisions they couldn't make the shop a go. It ran for over seven years. Ben bought out Bobbie Hall's in Dallas and opened Papa Bens with the customer list and hired Renny, Marty, Tom, and I can't think of the part time guy who has since retired, to work in the shop. Renny has left but Marty, and Tom are still there. As a matter of fact Marty is working on a PFM Southern PS-4 ( see Tom, I like Southern also) that broke a drive line and I sheared a screw trying to take the boiler off. It's one of my locos that's sounded and I've got a passenger train of hwts for it. Wayne moved Bellaire roundhouse in there hopping to pick up some of their business, needless to say their is bad blood between the two shops. At Papa Bens i feel like a friend and at belaire I feel like an intruder. How many people go to the shop in a 45' motorcoach, but then I am totally ignored.

Ahh so that's the story. I used to go to Bellaire Roundhouse when I was a kid. I spent alot of money (well to a kid) there, but I agree, I never felt "at home" there, probably because I was a kid. It seemed that I was disturbing them to ask a question that I should obviously know. I preferred going to G&G, as they were alot friendlier and didn't treat me like I was going to break or steal something, but the selection wasn't as good. Though I did stop there when I was home a few years ago and got some great deals they had on closeout. I didn't come upon Trainsource until I was home on leave on time. They were always very friendly and helpful and when I was overeseas they would take the time to fill orders for me and get them in the mail, though they weren't in the mail order business. I didn't realize they had taken over Bobbie Hall's. I went there a few times, but it wasn't in the best part of Dallas, and seemed like a crypt, they had alot, sometimes you had to dig through dust and stuff to find it. The other place I like in Dallas is Discount Model Trains? , the one over by the Addison airport.

[dharmon]

Forgot to mention...stay safe Dave. Looting is bad, looting trains is punishable by death. Hope all goes well.

Dan

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TEFFY



The Cowboys lost [V] yesterday and that makes for a bad monday.

Sorry Bob, a rolling Moss gathers no Cowboys. Is that why you aren't talking to me?[swg]

Don't worry, I'm not a Viking fan anymore. You watch, the Cowboys will make the playoffs, and the Vikings will take a dump. That's why I gave up on them years ago. They are fast becoming the Red Sox of football. At least the Red Sox were winners once. The Vikings can't even say that in 43 seasons. It may be a long winter without hockey.[:(]

At least I have my trains.[;)]

[Big_Boy_4005]

Dave, I just dug out an old Jimmy Buffet album in your honor. A1A has the song "Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season". La***he trains to the rails, and get the hell out of the way. Good luck and stay safe!!!!

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

Dave, I just dug out an old Jimmy Buffet album in your honor. A1A has the song "Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season". La***he trains to the rails, and get the hell out of the way. Good luck and stay safe!!!!

Ahhh.... Jimmy Buffet. He knows a thing or two about hurricanes.
Did you know that he's from here. Well, just down the road in Gulf Shores, Al

Too tell you the truth, I would rather be drinking a Hurricane than waiting
for one. Dave

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Forgot to mention...stay safe Dave. Looting is bad, looting trains is punishable by death. Hope all goes well.

Dan

Thanks Dan.

I might just keep driving 'til I hit Cali....[8D].
Have some beer on ice. [:D] Dave

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: They are fast becoming the Red Sox of football.

Hey, watch it there. It's bad enough I've had to suffer all my life as a Red Sucks Sox fan [banghead] without people bringing it up all the time. [(-D] Besides, they've changed their ways. No autumn fold this year!!! No sirree. About 18 games left and we're still only 3-1/2 behind NY. Did you see those guys win 10 straight and 25 of 30?? Made me proud, they did. [:D]

Ed
(proud citizen of Red Sox Nation) [tup] [yeah]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Forgot to mention...stay safe Dave. Looting is bad, looting trains is punishable by death. Hope all goes well.

Dan

Thanks Dan.

I might just keep driving 'til I hit Cali....[8D].
Have some beer on ice. [:D] Dave

Dave et al Floridians [;)]

Take care and stay as safe as possible during Ivan. Once again out thoughts and prayers are with you all.

I would try and take some of "my favorite" engines if you can. I actually have some of mine in the box and in a sack just in case, well you know, anything happens. Since "limited runs" are the thing in model trains it could be 5 years or more to replace any that are damaged or stolen during Ivan. Best wish and good luck.

I agree, train thieves shoud be shot on sight, no questions ask. [}:)] [:0]

[Noah Hofrichter]

I all have several anouncements for all you regulars today, then comes my weekend summary.

First is I think I'm going to join the NMRA. After looking at it a little more I definately want to. I probably have my parents pay for the first year as a christmas present, so it'll be a free trail year.

Second, I have a website. www.freewebs.com/wsor3807 Not much on it yet though. After looking at Scotts site on Friday, I decided to give Freewebs a try and it's a very nice set up. Go check it out and let me know what you all think. Like I said, no railroad related content yet, but there will be with in the next few days to a week.

The reason I didn't make it on yesterday was because I went to the local monthly NMRA meeting in Madison. I like how it works and stuff, and they had some really nice clinics, so that's another reason I want to join the NMRA.

Well, I better get going, go to finnish up on the forums, eat supper, and then go mow the lawn. Got a lot of things to do and a seemingly long night ahead of me. Adios,

Noah

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

Everyone,
Thanks for your concern.
It looks as if Ivan is going to call on us. Only I won't be home to answer the door.
If it continues this way, I'll be leaving town sometime tomorrow afternoon. Planning to
take some back roads to avoid the massive traffic jams that we experienced back in
'95 when Opal hit. We were stuck in traffic when the storm started inland. I'll never forget
the car rocking in the wind. Thought it would flip a couple of times.

I have talked with a few friends and it seems everyone has the same idea about leaving
tomorrow. If Nancy wasn't a manager and didn't have to check on her store, we would leave
tonight. I anticipate a lot of traffic tomorrow. Maybe things will go smoothly, although I doubt
it.

I'll probably head northwest and find a campground away from danger. After Opal, I learned that
motel room withen a 300 mile radius is out of the question.

My plan is to grab everything of value that I can pack in my truck, Nancy's car and the camper. I
have a bad feeling looting will be a problem in the neighborhood I live in. And we may not be
able to return home for a few days. If anyone steals my trains, things could get ugly[B)][8D].

I hope and pray that this storm makes a fool out of me and I'm going though all this trouble for
nothing! Although it's not likely to just go away.

Again thanks for the concern. Dave

Good luck my friend, stay safe.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Forgot to mention...stay safe Dave. Looting is bad, looting trains is punishable by death. Hope all goes well.

Dan

Thanks Dan.

I might just keep driving 'til I hit Cali....[8D].
Have some beer on ice. [:D] Dave

No Dave, if you go that way you'll end up with fires, mud and earthquakes, and still get no basement!!! Move north, and to high ground. Tornadoes are rare, and snow melts.[swg]

[Anonymous]

Ed:
The problem with e-mailing you the track plan is that the Outlook express thing on this computer won't work either!!![#oops][C):-)]

Nothin' good happened today, saw a 1955 or '56 Chevy go by, but I don't care for Chevys, so that didn't matter[;)][:D]

[egmurphy]

Big_Boy_4005

Kind of fitting that you got the first post on page 100 after starting the thread!!!


Chris

Do you mean the email through the MR Forum, or your regular email?

More later.

Ed