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

[fec153]

I posted this on the other thread- My neighbor is a trucker and just came back from
Tenn. North Fla.,Ala. took a heck of a beating. Some areas will be without electricity
for weeks. No telling when our forum friends will be back on line. All we can do is
wait and pray.[:(][:(]
Phil

[tomwatkins]

Good Evenin' Everybody,
It was a beautiful day in the mountains today. Lots of sunshine and bright blue sky today. It was really nice. We spent the day cleaning up all the mess from the storm. We were very fortunate. We had a lot of little branches and leaves to clean up, but nothing else. It took most of the day but it's done now.

I heard from Bill Mathewson. They lost a few trees but nothing came down on their house. They also have one that's leaning pretty badly now and will have to come out soon. Other than that they came through OK. He's going to try to get up here this week to see the layout. That will be fun.

Noah, how are the muscles today. The soreness sounds familiar. Canoeing will do that until you get used to it. It sure is fun though.

Der, the pictures were great. I really enjoyed them. The docksider really looks good. That's a really good weathering job on the sectional track. Dare I say it looks real. There is a prototype for almost everything. What kind of occupancy detectors are you using? I'm thinking of using the IR dot detectors on some track which will be hidden behind some scenery but I'm open to other ideas at this point.

Fergie, I hope Lisa is wrong about Karl. This has been a nasty season so far.

Welcome to all the new folks who have stopped by. The coffee and tea are always on and always good. The conversation is pretty good too. Stop by often.

I've got the Walthers' water tank about ready to paint now. Tomorrow I'm going to fire up the airbrush and spray some Floquil. I'm looking forward to it. I'd better go for now.

Have a good evening everybody,
Tom

[der5997]

Tom: Good evening. Just caught your note before heading off to bed. Quite heavy rain here now, and windy. In fact we've not heard it hiss in the chimney like it has tonight.[:0]

QUOTE: Der, the pictures were great. I really enjoyed them. The docksider really looks good. That's a really good weathering job on the sectional track. Dare I say it looks real. There is a prototype for almost everything. What kind of occupancy detectors are you using? I'm thinking of using the IR dot detectors on some track which will be hidden behind some scenery but I'm open to other ideas at this point.

Glad you liked the photos, I've scanned some of a Sperry Grinder at work in Canmore Alberta. Hope to get them up soon. On the occupancy detectors, I built my own circuits from Peter J. Thornes' Electronics Projects for Model Railroaders for the Alberta Layout, and re-used them here. (I had to add 2 more) They use visible light rather than IR. IR is fine, especially where you don't want the light to show. However, you can't see it, so how do you know it's working? Let me put that another way, if it isn't working, you can't tell with IR that it's the IR emmiter just by looking at it.[xx(]
Anyway that's why I stuck with the visible light source. Most of mine are incandescent bulbs running on the lowest voltage that gives sufficient light to activate the circuit. I don't anticipate having bulbs burn out very often. One is a white LED. I had to use it because the incandescent wasn't doing the job in that particular location. I may have problems at one spot on the layout where the light will show incongruously shining between buildings. I think I can live with that. If not, there's always IR, but I won't rush into that as I haven't got a circuit for it anyway.[:D]

For indicator lamps, I now favour bi colour LEDs powered from relay contacts in the detector. I'm using grain of wheat bulbs for the two detectors in the photos I showed of the lower level tunnel facia. That's because I installed them before I discvered the beauty of bicolour LEDs. I wasn't going to re-wire for AC just to "be cute".
Anyhow, them's me thoughts. Must get to bed[zzz]
God Bless one and all.

[Junctionfan]

Good night all,

I'll check in tomarrow and see how everybody is.

Stay safe.

[krump]

Hi All,
and welcome to all of the new forum fillers [:D].

been a busy week, but we got through it.

I just thought I'd update you on things since my friend / our club president passed away last week. We had the memorial service, celebration of life - this afternoon. It was a good service with MANY people attending, and it was good to see how fondly he was remembered - this was a man who touched the lives of most of the town: years with the local paper, fire dept, founding member of our local club... For me, it was a real blessing to hear about all of the other aspects of his life - kinda pulled it all together. As a sign of appreciation and respect, our club members wore the club shirts, and we shared some memories. A good service.
I want to thank all of you in forum-world again, for all of the kind thoughts, prayers, and emails. Much appreciated everybody. We carry on, but the world is different. This is a time also in which to evaluate priorities, families, faith, and (in my case...) a personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour.
Thanks again, and God Bless

Hoping that all of you in the stormy parts are well and safe. You have my prayers for protection from Ivan et al.

cheers,

KRUMP

PS - For those of you not familiar with my initial post about this, it is on pg 95 of this topic. I've quoted it below...

QUOTE: Originally posted by krump

SAD NEWS FOLKS...

I didn't want to start a new topic, and this seemed like a good spot to share this news.

4 hrs ago (6 pm PST) the president of our local Model Railroad Club succumbed to a brave battle with lung cancer. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.
Some of the Club members had visited earlier in the afternoon, and I arrived at 6:20 pm to visit after a lengthy workday out of town (20 min too late) ... I was the first one to arrive at the hospital after he'd passed away - so I took the responsibility of relaying the news. Though I was discouraged to be too late today, I have a fond memory of my last visit with him, when I dropped off a picture that my daughter had made for him (of a train), and I was given the opportunity to pray for / with him. He was a good friend and a wonderful mentor. He will be missed by myself and the club members. Just thought I'd share what was on my mind at the moment.
I think I'm still in shock about it, just doesn't seem real yet. - only diagnosed 6 weeks ago

blessings,

[Anonymous]

Krump [:)]

Thanks for the update. We all need to take time to see where we are in reference to the things you spoke of. There are many distractions to take us away from what is really important. Modeling is important but we need to remember there are other things in life too that require thought, action, and commitments. Our daily walk with God should be a priority. I hope that with all the bad things--weather, deaths, Iraq, the economy, and so on and so forth that we take time each day to take care of the things that truly are important.

God Bless You All

[lupo]

Morning All!
just finished servicing one of my sons switchers, a twin engine Lilliput ( Bachmann Europe , made in Austria: LOL by The Modelator [:D] ) locomotive,
had some handrails come of and needed cleaning, but could not resist taking it apart completely



now this is some craftmanship! very nicely put together all wheel pickup, all wheel drive, motor, flywheel, gearing and trucks are one complete compact unit, and it runs very slow ( I think ) I timed it for 1 ft in 40 sec. with 10 cars behind it, how slow is that in scale miles? 1.3 scalemile p hour?
there was a topic on this some time ago, must find that!

[fec153]

Good morning lupo- I could probably take an engine apart,clean and lube it, but I hate to think how many parts would be left out. Should everything be back inside, would turn an engine into a fried hunk of junk. I'm not called fumble-fingers without good cause.
[:)]
Phil

[lupo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fec153

Good morning lupo- I could probably take an engine apart,clean and lube it, but I hate to think how many parts would be left out. Should everything be back inside, would turn an engine into a fried hunk of junk. I'm not called fumble-fingers without good cause.
[:)]
Phil

a very detailed drawing and parts list came with it, this sure helps, so does the magnifier lamp [8D] and as I took apart one motor/gearing/trucks set I left the other set intact as reference for rebuilding.

btw this slow running is cool![8D] did some other runs, this engine can run much slower, it ran 12 inch in 70 seconds, as my calculations are right , that should be app 0.9 scale mph?
please correct me if I am wrong!

[fec153]

Yep- and I would have to have two motors. One to replace the one I ruin/burn up. I know me.[oops] would be my other nickname.[:)].
Phil

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by der5997

QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergmiester

Teffy: are you aware that was a two hour phone call!? I was hoping it was going to get me out of the house work. Nope! time to clean the washroom and vacuum the family room. I might see the basement some time today[:(] As always Fergie

Fergie: I see that AIMJohn( [#welcome] BTW, to all you new chaps.)cleans his trains! Now there's the perfect cover "I'll just go do a little cleaning Dear, it may take a while!"[:D] [8D] Of course, if your layout is in the basement, and that's all that's down there, it's not going to work too well.

John: My wife's answer to that would be: Just because I'm dyed blond..... Smart, Too smart at times[:(!].

Teffy the yard is back partially reassembled. You can see a phot of "Fergie's Cheapo uncoupler Magnets" 3 systems for a dollar. I've posted a couple of more pictures on Webshots this AM. Including the latest retrofit on the turntable

Lupo: That's a nice little switcher. I've got the proofs done on the Logo ll that has to be done now is the sizing on the cars. I have twelve on order.

Tom: I have to go as Lisa is hovering over shoulder waiting for the computer so she can go on NOAA and check on Karl and Jeanne.

Coffee's Up

Later Dude's

Fergie

[Junctionfan]

Good morning everybody,

How is your morning for so far?

[Fergmiester]

Morning All

More photos added to page 6 of the MESS page. You'll notice a picture of the new Staten Island Ferry as it passed through the Straits of Canso on it's way to New York.

Word has it that it is replacing the one involved in the docking mishap of last year.

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All:

[#welcome] to the new guys. If you don't like what we're talking about feel free to start your own idea - we all chime in. Some of the ideas that we are talking about may go back several days but we have a good time.


Today is a good day, we're going to skip church and go visit Mrs. "T"'s sister over in Houston - that means a visit to the LHS (128 miles away) and the shopping list is ready.

I have two packs of bi-polar bulbs that I bought to signel the slip switch and now I can't find either pack but, when I get home tonight they'l be sitting in plain sight because I'm going to buy some more today. I went down yesterday to get a prostrate cancer screening test. That test had to be develped by a woman that didn't like men. Yesterday was a laid back play with trains day.

John:
My Normal railroad is not DCC, so the Kato doesn't have a decoder in it. With it being in the garage I don't mess with it as much, and I (to coin a phrase from Fla/Phil) am just fumble fingers with it because it's so small. I'd just like to get some running time on it. I think it's been a year since it's run. The track plan for the "N" scale is out of the Atlas book "nine N scale layouts", it is layout #9. My friend was ambishes when he took started this project. I am impressed with the work that you've gotten done and am looking forward to your layout. I especially like using the corner molding as I never thought of that. I always sanded, sanded, sanded, and then painted the corner. Five days of sanding and three minutes of painting.

Fergie:
The telephone conversation went well until Mrs "T" realized that I was talking to someone in Canada. So, yes, I know that it lasted 2 hrs. I've been reminded several times about the two hours. Mom has changed her mind again and is now comming, but she has six days to change it again, so I don't know. My sister and I both agree it would do her good to get out of the house, but... That was the correct ending for that sentence. I don't think that any of the customs people would ever think that what I'm bringing is new enough to have just been purchased. The Zeypher is the ony exception and it should have some paper work with it.

Jim:
I'd be more then happy to deliver some stuff to Fergie and John. I'll give you a call from Texarkanna and lt you know how the day is going.

Fla/Phil:
You make me laugh - I enjoy the jokes. Mrs "T" wants to know "what are you laughing at?" so I read them to her and then we get to tell them to each other all day long. It's nice to see that some one else isn't all that savvy with the computer IE: where are the smilie faces? John had to tell me how to do quotes, I wasn't looking for it, so I didn't see it.

Lupo:
What's wrong with extra loco parts - it gives the hoppers or gons a realistic load. I had a '49 Chevvy as my first car and I had a 5 gallon bucket in the trunk with parts in it that I didn't know where they went. As long as it ran that was the main thing, when it stopped, if I couldn't get it started, I'd just thumb home and dad and I would go back, he'd fix it and I'd drive it home. No cell phones and no fear about getting into a car with a strange person. AHHHHH for the good ol' days. I don't know about good as "what was air conditioning?"

Well Mrs. "T" is ready to go, so it's off the the LHS. I'll think about ya'll while I'm enjoying myself.

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

[fec153]

Morning Bob- my first three cars had 4 40 a/c. 4 windows open and 40 mph. And oh how I loved those side vent windows when it rained.
glad I can make u and Mrs. T laugh. We all need smiles in our lives.
Phil

[Noah Hofrichter]

Tom, Muscles, feelign pretty good today, there getting back to normal, thankfully.

Did get to go the LHS yesterday, came away with another MDC/roundhouse kit. Finally getting a chance to run on my layout again today, and as soon as the packer games over my Dad is going to take me to get a board for my new control pannel. Better get going then, got to finni***he forums and go work on the ARK some more.

Noah

[der5997]

Good afternoon everyone: Ivan's gone for the most part, but Newfoundland is now due for more rain, about 4 inches, than they had been forecaast, or so the Weather Channel would have us believe.

Fergie:

QUOTE: Teffy the yard is back partially reassembled. You can see a phot of "Fergie's Cheapo uncoupler Magnets" 3 systems for a dollar. I've posted a couple of more pictures on Webshots this AM. Including the latest retrofit on the turntable

Care to give us the URL for those? You probably posted it in the distant past, thanks.

Bob:

QUOTE: John:
My Normal railroad is not DCC, so the Kato doesn't have a decoder in it. With it being in the garage I don't mess with it as much... I'd just like to get some running time on it. I think it's been a year since it's run.

Sounds good, we'll see how it looks. Being Kato, it should be able to haul the very rough wheels of my (dare I say this?) Santa Fe coaches[:p] If they have a set of better trucks at Maritime Hobbies tomorrow, I may pick them up. It would be less embarrassing.[:I]

When we were in Spruce Grove Alberta the local technical college ran a printing course. The instructor was in our church, and knew my rail inclinations. He gave me a set of a project he had devised for his students. It's a printing exercise remember, but it made up to this.


Way back on page 98, TrainFreak409 was in the cab of a Loram Grinding Train. We were in Canmore, Alberta on holiday (see the great weather in these photos[}:)]) and a grinding train came through. I think it was a Sperry, but I'm not sure.


Check out the weathering on this. Also, if you look closely you may see the sparks at the rails behind the spark sheilding.


finally, it's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it![:D]


Oh look, it's way past tea time, gotta run.

[Anonymous]

Every time I see pictures from Canada I can't help but think to myself, "How beautiful Canda must be." One of these days when I am rich, (hopefully soon [:D] ) I want to visit Canada and see for myself. It would be awesome to take the train all the way across Canada and see it all. [:)]

[Anonymous]

Hi all :)

I picked up an old (instructions say "last revision 1973") Athearn blue box double door auto parts boxcar. The little guides on the bottoms of the doors are either broken loose or missing. Are replacement doors available? I think the kit was still made until recently...

[der5997]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jwaldo

Hi all :)

I picked up an old (instructions say "last revision 1973") Athearn blue box double door auto parts boxcar. The little guides on the bottoms of the doors are either broken loose or missing. Are replacement doors available? I think the kit was still made until recently...

Hi jwaldo: Is this HO? If so, you may be able to make your own guides out of strip styrene, or even strip wood. You could either cut out pieces that have the standoffs on them, (sort of like the square brackets on your keyboard), or you could use straight strips and make the stadoffs separately. A steady hand, a new exacto blade, and a steel rule should get it done. Paint them up before or after installation, it's your call. If the paint isn't an exact match, why not paint the whole rectangle at the door bottoms as a maintenance job. Just be sure the standoffs are wide enough to let the doors slide freely, if you want them to operate.
Have fun.

[Paul W. Beverung]

Hay I see that I'm no longer the New Guy. That's great. The more the merryer. Not much going on here. Worked the weekend. Tried to check in yesterday after work but the phone was dead. So the wife and I went down the road to one of our neighbors and used there phone. Of course we than sat down and spent a pleasent hour or so catching up. We didn't get back untill late and than by the time we got home the phone was back on. By the time I got a chance to check in I was too tired to chat.

I've been working on the basement, cleaning it out. I found a layout down there. Anyway I'm trying to design or re-design the H.O. I have a 12x26 modular layout. I like the thing but really can't make it represent what I want. I'm trying to model an Iron hauling road in the area of Marquete Mich. I'd like to work in a line to some mines and of coures an ore dock. I've got an L shaped area 26x29, 13 ft on each leg. I really want the ore dock to be featured prominantly. Any ideas would be welcome.

Teffy; I'll bet you didn't know that the words basement and Texas went together.

Well take care guys, and a big Texas welcome to all the new guys.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by der5997

QUOTE: Originally posted by jwaldo

Hi all :)

I picked up an old (instructions say "last revision 1973") Athearn blue box double door auto parts boxcar. The little guides on the bottoms of the doors are either broken loose or missing. Are replacement doors available? I think the kit was still made until recently...

Hi jwaldo: Is this HO? If so, you may be able to make your own guides out of strip styrene, or even strip wood. You could either cut out pieces that have the standoffs on them, (sort of like the square brackets on your keyboard), or you could use straight strips and make the stadoffs separately. A steady hand, a new exacto blade, and a steel rule should get it done. Paint them up before or after installation, it's your call. If the paint isn't an exact match, why not paint the whole rectangle at the door bottoms as a maintenance job. Just be sure the standoffs are wide enough to let the doors slide freely, if you want them to operate.
Have fun.

It is HO, and what I'm referring to are the little "clips" on the bottom of the doors that hold them on their guiderails. Athearn has several doors listed on their site but I'm not sure which (if any) are the right ones :|

[der5997]

jwaldo:

QUOTE: It is HO, and what I'm referring to are the little "clips" on the bottom of the doors that hold them on their guiderails. Athearn has several doors listed on their site but I'm not sure which (if any) are the right ones

Ah! sort of smaller bits to replace. Still, if you're up to fixing it yourself, not impossible. (There's 2 reasons I'm taking this approach, 1) I haven't the faintest idea where you would look for new doors[:I] and 2) as I've said to TEFFY, "I canna abide waste!"[:D])

What I have in mind is that you make a set of "clips" , two for each door, out of thin wire. These are going to be short, just long enough to hold against the rail once they have been driven into the bottom edge of the door.
If you have a set of miniature drills, then test the wire you choose against the holes the drills sit in in the index to find the one you want. Drill a hole for the wire in the bottom edge of the door, and ACC the wire into the hole.
For ease of working, leave the wire longer than you need it to be, fix it in place, and trim it to size with cutters, or even a scissors. (Not Mrs. waldo's [or equivalent[:)]] finest if you value long life)

If you don't have the miniature drills, all is not lost. So long as the wire is reasonably stiff, then it can be melted into the plastic of the door with a soldering iron. Here's where a longer piece of wire, to be cut to length later, is really helpful, as you don't want the melt the door. Just hold the wire, in a pair of needle nose pliers, against the bottom of the door, and apply the hot iron to the end . Just a little force will melt the wire into the bottom of the door. It's self gluing, no need for ACC. Personally I'd practice a bit with scrap plastic to develop the technique, but you may be a "just do it " kind of a guy..[(-D]
BTW, it's how a lot of folks apply grab irons. It has the slight disadvantage that the melting plastic wells up a bit around the base of the wire, so grabs can look as if they are on raised bosses. This effect isn't going to matter on your door bottoms
Hope this helps.

Fergie: You said one time "Make a plan, break a plan". No trip to Dartmouth/ Halifax for us tomorrow[V] The pipe from the well has sprung a leak in the basement. So that's a priority.
Maybe Wednesday, which isn't all bad, as I think Mike at Maritime Hobbies has a greater chance of being there on Wednesday than on Monday.

Paul:

QUOTE: I've been working on the basement, cleaning it out. I found a layout down there.

Like, it just turned up under a pile of old newspapers? [8D] [wow] [yeah]
That's my kind of house![:p]

There's something I want to see on TV, so I'll see you all later.

[Anonymous]

I'm not so much a "just do it" kinda guy so much as I'm a "make sure I have replacements handy" kinda guy [xx(]

After 30-ish years the doors seem a bit less durable, so I'm considering 4 options:

1: Call Athearn and find out if they have the right doors. If so, I'll buy them. As I'm aslo not into wasting stuff, the old doors will go in my "stuff for a junkyard" box, to be used as scrap or car loads.

2: Find a set of doors from A different mfg. I know they make doors, I just haven't seen the right ones yet.

3: Get some styrene and test my almost-non-existent scratchbuilding skills

4: move the doors to an opened or closed position where they look good, and CA them in place so they don't get ripped off if someone tries to open the doors...

This is the car

[fec153]

Paul- don't know where you live, but there should be either a LHS nearby or another modeler. Junkcars are usually found at train shows for a buck or two. Some of the dealers have small pieces for sale. Good luck.
Phil

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by der5997
Fergie: You said one time "Make a plan, break a plan". No trip to Dartmouth/ Halifax for us tomorrow[V] The pipe from the well has sprung a leak in the basement. So that's a priority.
Maybe Wednesday, which isn't all bad, as I think Mike at Maritime Hobbies has a greater chance of being there on Wednesday than on Monday.

I have a Doc appointment thusday AM ( some how my doctor, though over in Halifax, is a hop, skip and jump from ythe LHS.) Coincidence? I think not![:D]

I Don't have a URL as of yet but all my photos are accessible through my "webshots" link on my signature.

As always
Fergie

[egmurphy]

Evening guys,

Just got back home after the trip. All went well, no problems, no surprises. I'm a bit bushed after all the mountain driving so I'm not going to write much tonight. Did get to the National Railroad Museum. Photos, trip details, and catching up on comments in all your messages (I actually did get to log on and read the Coffee Shop each day but did not have time to post) sometime tomorrow. You'll like some of the shots.

Hasta Mañana,

Ed

[Anonymous]

Good Evening All:

The LHS was very enjoyable. Mrs. "T" came and got me after 1 1/4 hrs, she ran out of something to read. Sure enough I walked into the train room with the new Bi-polar bulbs and decided to put them in the parts box, I open the second drawer to put them next to the 12 volt bulbs and their were the old two packs of bulbs. NEVER FAILS.

Jwaldo:
I have Bowser cars and all of the doors are glued on. Many of the cars that I've scratch built have the doors glued on. In 50 years I've never had anyone try to get the doors to slide. take John's suggeston and use a piece of styrene or basswood and glue the guide in. I get upset if someone picks up a car with out asking first. MNost people don't expect the doors to move anyway. Give it a try and if they come off, next time use silicone. That will get you 18 months down the road.

Paul:
I like your basement, I have an N scale in the garage but it's always been sticking out in the way. Their was a post about where your layout was and basement was one of the places. I said, "TEXAS - basement - a hole in the ground filled with water, if outside, commonly called a swimming pool."

John:
Tomorrow I'm going to dig out one of my power packs and hook the wires up to a 3' piece of track and try to get the loco to run. I don't want to be to embarresed when I get there. Don't buy any trucks for my benefit, it can run empty.

When I had a chance to see a grinding car in action I was impressed as to how fast they moved down the line, and how rough the track was afterward. I like the scenery in your pictures.

Noah:
You did feel good at the end of the trip thou didn't you, just knowing that you completed it. The arms will get better - wait until the first time you do 26 miles of white water in one day. You'll have no trouble sleeping even with the sore muscles.

Ed:
I ask Tom at Papa Ben's for your phone number today - I thought I'd give you a suprise call. He said "I don't know, it's not in the computer but here's his e-mail". So they may ask for your phone number the next time you're in there.

Fergie:
Be careful if that doc says bend over and you hear a latex glove snap.

In 1965-6 (?) I had the pleasure of working on three of the Statin Island Ferries as they were built in Orange Texas. I wanted to go on the delivery trip but so did everyone else ( I had very little seniority) so I had to drive all the way to NY to see them in service. But I did get to walk the kids around as we were sailing across to Manhatten. It was "down memory lane" for me and an awe experience for them.

Lupo:
I'm in the same camp with Fla/Phil, I can take anything apart as long as I have a box to put all of the EXTRA peices in when I put it back together. I honestly think that these parts multiply when left to themselves at night.

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

Fla/Phil:
I had a '51 Hudson (the first car I had that would run over 100MPH) it was great to run with the window vent turn back and you got all of that wind - it was BETTER then AC.

[der5997]

Good Morning everybody! Actually it's just turned noon here. The water is back on. I was at the LHS (Local Hardware Store[:D]) bright and early to get the new and thicker pipe. The son and heir of the owner was the only one around. He asked after the layout, and told me that a chap who moved into The Harbour over the summer is a model railroader! His stuff is probably still in boxes, he said, but he thought that he might be building a layout in the spring. Well Well, I'll have to make contact. Apparently he's Brit, ex-army.

The Dash 9 came in the mail this morning. Looks great, but I haven't had a chance to do anything with it. It's a Kato, the first Kato I've ever taken out of a box. When I did, two small strips of phosphor bronze less than 1/2 inch long by about 1/10th inch fell out. Is this normal? I don't want to try to run it if these bits are meant to be in there somewhere. Just where, I have no clue. N Kato owners, any comments?
jhtsps:

QUOTE: Every time I see pictures from Canada I can't help but think to myself, "How beautiful Canda must be." One of these days when I am rich, (hopefully soon ) I want to visit Canada and see for myself. It would be awesome to take the train all the way across Canada and see it all.

Had seen your comment yesterday, but hadn't got around to replying. Yes, this is one beautiful country. My mother-in law gave us a trip from Vancouver through the mountains to Edmonton one year. That was something! To do the whole trip coast to coast would be fantastic. If you are serious about this, research the smaller Canadian railroads, especially in Nova Scotia and Ontario. They would be worth the extra effort.

Bob:

QUOTE: John:
Tomorrow I'm going to dig out one of my power packs and hook the wires up to a 3' piece of track and try to get the loco to run. I don't want to be to embarresed when I get there. Don't buy any trucks for my benefit, it can run empty.

What no caboose! [:0] No, really, if I do get trucks, it'll be for the general good of the layout, the timing will be for your enjoyment[:D]

Big_Girl_4005: GBPs down AT HOME! Just keep Junior busy in the kitchen. [C=:-)]

Yard work looms, gotta go.

[lupo]

QUOTE:
Lupo:
I'm in the same camp with Fla/Phil, I can take anything apart as long as I have a box to put all of the EXTRA peices in when I put it back together. I honestly think that these parts multiply when left to themselves at night.

as for cars I am with you, got several boxes of - now called vintage - automobile parts in the garage/storage , that why I stopped making car repairs myself
[:D] no more room for extra boxes [:0]

got a mail from Bill Matthewson he is very busy in his shop , he asked me to:
"extend a hello to the Coffee Shop regulars."
and wrote:
We made it thru Hurricane Ivan okay with only a loss of two trees (a 30'
tall willow tree and a large, and rather ugly 'butterfly tree' - that's what
it's really called, as it attracts butterflys (and unfortunately all sorts
of moths and bees). We have a small amount of roof repair to be done, and
some minor re-grading of soil on the side of the house, and a lot of fallen
tree limbs and branches to clean up.