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

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  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Kirbyville, Tx
  • 46 posts
Posted by Txrailnut07 on Thursday, December 14, 2006 12:36 PM

Hey guys,

 Well, I went to the old place. Everything that was in it is now rubble. I'll provide pictures as soon as I upload them to my photobucket site.

And thanks for your thoughts and prayers. No one was injured, thank God.

Chat with y'all later,

Here is a pic of my house that burned.

LilRob
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Posted by pcarrell on Thursday, December 14, 2006 1:42 PM

Robert,

Do you have a roof over your head?

Insurance?

Philip
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  • From: Cherry Valley, Ma
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Posted by grayfox1119 on Thursday, December 14, 2006 3:15 PM

ROBERT:  That is devasting!!!! How did it happen? Two weeks before Christmas. Do you need anything Robert? Please lets us know if we can help in any way !!!!!!!

Dick If you do what you always did, you'll get what you always got!! Learn from the mistakes of others, trust me........you can't live long enough to make all the mistakes yourself, I tried !! Picture album at :http://www.railimages.com/gallery/dickjubinville Picture album at:http://community.webshots.com/user/dickj19 local weather www.weatherlink.com/user/grayfox1119
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 14, 2006 3:25 PM

There she is at one week old, beautiful Haley

 

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Brisbane Australia
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Posted by james saunders on Thursday, December 14, 2006 3:30 PM

Morning all...

 Robert: wow. I'm glad your all ok. what more can I say?

 Grayfox: Fairly certain it was the flu, but there is a virus going around my area, but i'm almost all good now.

 Der: Thanks for the welcome to the human race Cool [8D] Tongue [:P]

 

all for now,

Oz

James, Brisbane Australia

Modelling AT&SF in the 90s

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Posted by claymore1977 on Thursday, December 14, 2006 3:30 PM
 grayfox1119 wrote:

ROBERT:  That is devasting!!!! How did it happen? Two weeks before Christmas. Do you need anything Robert? Please lets us know if we can help in any way !!!!!!!

Agreed, there has to be something we can do to help.... 

 

 luct wrote:

There she is at one week old, beautiful Haley

 

 

Wow talk about the extremes for emotions eh?  I love the brandy-new-chubby phase!  Partly because they are just soooo cute and partly because they sleep alot Shock [:O]

 

Dave Loman

My site: The Rusty Spike

"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"

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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, December 14, 2006 3:58 PM

Well, I took the advice given here and knocked off work early when I felt my energy level take a big drop. I don't feel so drained now.

 Hey! Looks like I'm buying!

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
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  • From: Lancaster, PA
  • 512 posts
Posted by claymore1977 on Thursday, December 14, 2006 4:00 PM
 jeffrey-wimberly wrote:

Well, I took the advice given here and knocked off work early when I felt my energy level take a big drop. I don't feel so drained now.

 Hey! Looks like I'm buying!

Alright then git on back in the frey then! :) 

Dave Loman

My site: The Rusty Spike

"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"

  • Member since
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  • From: At the PA Belt H/Q
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Posted by PA Belt on Thursday, December 14, 2006 5:37 PM
hey all, i got better news that i did yester day, my mom straitened every thing out, i dont have to go to the crack head school, only have to repeat if i dont get me grades up, so thats better, also, i lettered the one side of my bl2, and im getting some of my xmas early.
-mike A.K.A. Slappy http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o22/pabelt/ B&LE: It ain't owned by CN, it owns CN!
  • Member since
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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, December 14, 2006 6:03 PM
That sounds like a good deal.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
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  • From: Kirbyville, Tx
  • 46 posts
Posted by Txrailnut07 on Thursday, December 14, 2006 8:04 PM

Howdy Y'all, I'll have a cheeseburger, fries, and a medium diet Coke.

 Ok, here is an update about the house. First, we have been moved out of it for about 9 months now. Although, we still had some stuff in it. We're (my parents and I) living in a better house in town (with a nice place for a layout, Yes!!!). Second, no, we had no insurance on it. Truth is, a hay barn was better built than the house. And finally, no one was living in it, thankfully, so no one was hurt.

I must say, I did lose some train items other than my MR magazines. Mostly old Life-Like, tyco, and model power stuff (Locos, cars, trees, etc.). I did have 2 Walthers buildings lost as well (North Island Refinery and Medusa Cement). My x-acto knive set was also lost. I'm not for sure, but, I think my cheap knock-off Dremel roto tool set was in it. Thankfully, I did get my Athearn, MDC (roundhouse), and Walthers engines, cars, and some track out months ago. As well as my: 'America's Driving Force' 'Trees, Trains and Tall Timber' and 'Along The Waterfront' series buildings out.

We also had some clothes, socks, undies, dishes, drinking glasses, silverware, and other items we hadn't gotten out yet.

 If anyone wants to help. Please send me an e-mail at: robdleav1@hotmail.com with the subject line, "House fire help", and I'll reply with more details.

Talk with you all later,

 

LilRob
  • Member since
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  • From: North Central Texas
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Posted by Paul W. Beverung on Thursday, December 14, 2006 8:38 PM

Evening Gang:

Rob: I'm sorry to hear about the fire. I remember that you told us you had moved. Any idea how the fire started? Hang in there, we're pulling for ya.

Fergie: Sorry to hear about your MIL. I hope she gets better soon. Say hi to Lisa for me. I couldn't get the videos to down load. Dial up you know. It sounds like the addition is coming along.

To the youngsters: Listen to the addvice that the guys have given you. Study pays off. As for being teased about being a model railroader. You will have a life time hobby that will entertain and enlighten you. You will have skills that they will envy. In my case it got me a 30 year carreer that I have enjoyed.

Well we got the roof on the old hay barn fixed to day. It cost a bunch but Mary Ann is happy so it was worth it. The barn was built by her father and uncle about 80 yrs ago. It still has the original steel roof. She is very found of it.

Now I'm going to hit the sack.

Good Night All.

Paul The Duluth, Superior, & Southeastern " The Superior Route " WETSU
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  • From: Nova Scotia, Northumberland Shore
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Posted by der5997 on Thursday, December 14, 2006 8:52 PM

Chloë, I’ll have a green tea please, and a couple of those lemon wafer things from Voortman, no sugar added.

 

Jerry:

John good to hear from you got a big truck changing program come'in up?.....
….yes indeedy!  Many of my freight cars with knuckle couplers fail to mate properly, or decide to go their separate ways at odd places on the layout.  I’ve got the height guage, and have fiddled and tuned, but ultimately I’m to the point of just switching everything over to the same truck / coupler brand.  So that’s what I’ve got planned.  Hopefully, I can then get some of the fun back into the layout.  It was designed for switching operations, but has not lived up to its potential because of the faulty rolling stock.

 

Dick:

just in time before you get buried in with snow December 23, 24th.
…No news of that in any of our weather guessers’ remarks. Won’t be good if the kids want to come for Christmas eve.  

As for Radio Shack, they are doing a lot more of online business now, the stores that are in my area have downsized, and don't carry too many of any one item in stock, it is all computerized automatic re-ordering now. So maybe you can go online to their web site and order what you need?
…Thanks for this idea.  I’ll have to remember that when next I need some gizmos. No projects planned just yet.

 

KirbyvilleRob: That house is such a sad sight.  Do they know what caused it?  The North Island Refinery is certainly a loss, I really enjoyed building mine back in Alberta.  The Dremel knock off, if it’s anything like the one I have isn’t such a loss, as it has very little oomph!

 

Luc: Beautiful photo!.. and Great Grand Pa is looking fine too!

 

SlappyMike:

only have to repeat if i dont get me grades up,
…So now you know what has to be done.  Glad it wasn’t written in stone, gives you a chance to make good.

 

Better get to bed, as I missed out on sleep from just after 3 this morning. all, and God Bless.  Prayers for all in need of healing, comfort and peace.Angel [angel]

 

 

 

 

 

"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.

  • Member since
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  • From: Cape Girardeau, MO
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Posted by JimRCGMO on Thursday, December 14, 2006 9:00 PM
Chloe, a cup of hot chocolate for me. Put it on Jeff’s tab, please. Smile [:)]

Jeff, good call on heading for home before you get totally wiped or injure yourself at work. Rest as needed.

DerJohn, you can order off the Radio Shack site, or have you tried (I think it’s) Alltech Electronics?  Of course, you need the power to be on for electronics/electrical things to work right? Bummer about the power, but good that you have the stove.

Luc, another good pic of Haley - thanks for sharing it. Yeah!! [yeah]

Slappy, good to hear you can pull things out at school. Remember to do what you need for your grades.

OzJim, hope you get over that virus (or flu) thing soon. Bummer to have it in the summertime there...

Happy B-Day [bday] Colby (MTL) - now that the big day has arrived! Smile [:)] As Dave said, ignore the obnoxious crew at school. You keep your grades up and you may end up being the one who hires them after everyone gets out of school and has to really work! Shock [:O]Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Dick, I’m wondering if any of that North Pole Clipper will get over our way before it comes down on New England. I’d like some snow for Christmas - just in terms of a couple of inches, not feet!

LilRob, it’s good that no one was in that house, from the photo of ‘after’. Good to hear at least that you have some MRR stuff that wasn’t totalled in the fire. I did remember about your moving, but didn’t realize you still had a fair amount of stuff in the old house (from your description).

Paul, if Mary Ann is happy, that’s good for the whole household! So does that mean you’ll be able to ease up a little for now?

Calm on-call evening so far (and I like that!)...

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, December 14, 2006 9:19 PM

Fog on tap for tonight in my area.

Important Message

Dense fog advisory in effect from 9 PM this evening to 9 am cst Friday.
 
Tonight
Low: 52    
Partly cloudy. Widespread dense fog through the night. Lows in the lower 50s. Light and variable winds.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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  • From: Cherry Valley, Ma
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Posted by grayfox1119 on Thursday, December 14, 2006 11:30 PM

Good evening gents, last call before headed to bed.......been a looong day today for me. It is 41F degrees now at midnight, definetly not December weather here...but changes are looming on the horizon.

DER: Here is the website address : http://www.radioshack.com at least you can browse the online catalog and order from the comfort of your home, and what you spend for shipping cost, will be offset by cost of gas and your time, and wear n tear on your car. As for storm on December 23rd/24th, keep an eye on two things: the cold air moving south and east out of Hudson Bay and Alberta, and, a LOW that will form in the SW near New Mexico next week. Also, the Northern Jetstream and the Sub-Tropical Jet stream need to phase. Right now they are not, but are flowing about 400 miles apart.

CAPE JIM: I think you will be too far south to get snow Jim.......you will get rain. Of course you could pack up the family and drive north for an olde fashion Christmas at the olde log cabin in the woods of Minnesota, or the UP of Michigan, or the Adirondack Mtns of NY, the Berkshires of MA, or maybe northern VT, NH, or Maine.

JEFF: Glad to see you listened to your body...it does talk to us, but we don't always listen.

SLAPPY: Please take the advice that you are receiving from all your friends here in the CS. Collectively, we have decades of years of experience that can save you a lot of grief and also help you big time with your career. Think of it this way....we have walked through the swamps, pits, thickets and woods of life, and now are standing on a hill looking back at where we have been and how we got where we are. We see these younger people in the distance, coming to all these pitfalls and choices to make down in the woods. Having been there, we can direct you around those problem areas...but only if you listen, and learn, and apply the lessons that "we" have learned. Make sense? I sure hope so Slappy, we want you to succeed........why? Because you are the future.

OK, this 67 year old body is telling me to get to bed because I am mistyping too many words......see you guys in the morning...JEFF...you have coffee duty in the morning or Ryan?

Dick If you do what you always did, you'll get what you always got!! Learn from the mistakes of others, trust me........you can't live long enough to make all the mistakes yourself, I tried !! Picture album at :http://www.railimages.com/gallery/dickjubinville Picture album at:http://community.webshots.com/user/dickj19 local weather www.weatherlink.com/user/grayfox1119
  • Member since
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Posted by claymore1977 on Friday, December 15, 2006 4:18 AM

Morning all.  Zoe, best put the coffee on, I think the locals will be strolling in soon.  By the way, how is it you always look that good but never seem to go home?

Anyways folks, here in MD:



40.6 °F / 4.8 °C  Fog
Humidity: 100%
Dew Point: 41 °F / 5 °C
Wind: Calm
Wind Gust: 0.0 mph/0.0 km/h
Pressure: 29.77 in/1008.0 hPa
Visibility: 0.2 miles / 0.4 kilometers

 

Hopefully it wont be as bad as yesterday where visibility in my area never exceeded 100ft all day! 

Dave Loman

My site: The Rusty Spike

"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"

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Posted by wetidlerjr on Friday, December 15, 2006 4:31 AM

Good morning ! from Indiana. Big Smile [:D]

12-15-06

Clown [:o)]

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

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Posted by LSWrr on Friday, December 15, 2006 5:16 AM

Good Morning all,

I haven't made it down to the salt mines yet to take pictures, sorry.

Rob, sorry to hear about the house, but I'm glad you guys are safe and sound.

Only 10 more days till Santa comes!

Lee

BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret)
 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, December 15, 2006 5:23 AM

Today's Weather for:  
 
Leesville, LA  71446      12/15/2006
 
 
Wind Chill:  56°F
Humidity:  99%
Dew Point:  56°F
 
So Far Today
High:  56°F
Low:  55°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  6mph SSW
 
High: 72 °F
Low: 52 °F

Important Message: Dense fog advisory in effect until 10 AM cst this morning. 

Today  High: 72    Decreasing clouds. Widespread dense fog in the morning. Highs in the lower 70s. Light and variable winds.  

Tonight  Low: 55    Increasing clouds. Areas of fog through the night. Lows in the mid 50s. Light and variable winds.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
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  • From: Lancaster, PA
  • 512 posts
Posted by claymore1977 on Friday, December 15, 2006 6:17 AM

You guys having horrible car accidents down there in LA also?  Its a friggin war zone around here.   A tractor/trailor had a collision with a gravel truck on I-95 between me and work, all 4 Northbound lanes are completely shutdown just in time for Baltimore Rush hour!

Muwahaha, thank the powers that be that I can take back roads to work and only tack on about 20mins to my ride time!

This fog is pretty crazy eh?  Kinda Stephen King ish if ya ask me.

Dave Loman

My site: The Rusty Spike

"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"

  • Member since
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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, December 15, 2006 6:23 AM
Yeah, kinda reminds me of his story, 'The Mist'.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
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  • From: New Milford, Ct
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Posted by GMTRacing on Friday, December 15, 2006 6:48 AM

Good Morning All,

    No winter yet, warm and foggy again this am. Coffees on and fresh - have a cup. I'll have a regular and one of Bills donuts please.

Der - between selective compression and the Canadian propensity for deciding the shortest distance  between two points winds back and forth repeatedly I would have thought 12 feet or so would be plenty to model a 2 mile short line. In my little world, my longest horribly oversize straight is only about 8 feet and includes a tunnel and a bridge. I suppose there is always Z scale and optivisors as an alternative.

Claymore - more than 84 through Hartford, I avoid 95 north of Virginia if at all possible. I can't remember the times we've been stuck at a dead standstill in Md or DC due to an accident, or chased off the NJTP because of a rig ban due to wind or snow or just been scared silly by some stupidity on the part of others. When I go south now I use 81 and 77 and can feel the drop in my blood pressure doing so. Less wear and tear on the equipment, and nearly a $100.00 savings in tolls as well. Priceless - avoiding NYC.

Hope the rest of you are doing well or at least better. Time to get to work. CUL,J.R.

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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, December 15, 2006 7:07 AM
Well gents, work calls, so I gotta make like a banana and split.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Lancaster, PA
  • 512 posts
Posted by claymore1977 on Friday, December 15, 2006 7:26 AM
J.R.:  I did a short stint with Siemens Building Technologies and 99% of my jobs were in Metro DC so I know ALL about the heck on earth that is DC + radius of 20 miles.  Pulling 12 hour days where only 8 was spent on the job and the remaining 4 was driving 30 miles round trip.  I kid not.  I would leave the job site at 1500 and not get home till 1730.... 15 miles away.

Dave Loman

My site: The Rusty Spike

"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"

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Posted by pcarrell on Friday, December 15, 2006 7:52 AM

Mornin' all!

Just wanted to pop in and say hey!

Hey!

Philip
  • Member since
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  • From: Northeast OH
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Posted by NeO6874 on Friday, December 15, 2006 8:16 AM

it's FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FINALLY!

 

today feels like waking up on Christmas morning! I'm finally done with all my finals, although I have to give a 5 min group presentation at 1, but it's more one of those "I just needed an excuse to have you guys here for the final period" type deals from the teacher.

 

So I'll behome for my Christmas break somewhere around 2:30 (WHOO!); the ebay loot I had shipped home (a Mike and a Niagara) will be given feedback within 5 minutes of getting home, and the loop of crappy track will be setup and running 2 minutes thereafter...

I hope the Niagara likes the ~20" curves that my track has... If not, then It's just gonna be a box queen (I don't have a shelf/display case for my locos yet) until sometime after Christmas when I can get to the LHS and buy an oval of EZ-Track or Unitrack (whichever the LHS has) - I need that kind of track because it will be (re)setup on the floor of my dorm room after break, and then I won't have to put up with the track kinking at the joints every so often.

Maybe I'll even get a chance to start building my layout at home over break... although, with this new power, the old plan isn't as "fun" anymore... I wonder if I can convince my parents for a solid (albeit moveable) table; or a set of modules that end up making a table - then i can have roundy-roundy for some locos, and still have space in the middle for an engine facility and maybe som form of a small yard or something for an industry or three

 

Looks like breakfast is on me... Pancakes anyone?

 

 

-Dan

Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site

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Posted by DigitalGriffin on Friday, December 15, 2006 9:57 AM

Morning all.

Hey pancakes sound good right now.  They are actually my favorite.  Throw in some chocolate chips and whipped cream and I'm there!

It's been a long time since I posted to weekend photo fun.  I have a ton of pics to add.

 

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

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Posted by JimRCGMO on Friday, December 15, 2006 10:22 AM

Good Morning, Zoe - I'll have a cup of coffee and one of Bill T.'s chocolate donuts. Thanks, Dan.Smile [:)] That is one tall stack of flapjacks there!

Our fog isn't as thick as Jeff and some of the rest of you have this morning. But in our area the past couple of days, it's got just cool enough at night to give a slight frost on the car windows when the fog condenses and semi-freezes there.

I hear those of you about the commuting hassles - that's one reason I have no interest in living in St. Louis area (where I grew up years and years ago). Up there, I-270 (main highway around the city and county) is always crowded. While back, when they had to do work on it, they had to do the work at night, with lights and all, 'cause that was the only time it was (halfway) less crowded than daytime.

Need to take my Dremel with the new adjustable chuck with me Sunday when we go by one member's place to run trains. Our host (the LHS owner & club member) also ordered one of those, and his is working great, but mine doesn't seem to want to move once I have it fastened on in place of the original chucks. Go figure.

My on-call wasn't too bad last night - only one call to the ER (about 1:30 - 3:30 a.m.), and didn't have to admit that one. But it took a while (probably half hour) just getting the on-call psychiatrist woke up - he's the one who's over the unit there. Took 2 or 3 pages, I think. I waited a little after I saw the client (to finish my write-up) to let the Dr. catch a little sleep (mistake? nah...) before I had them page him. Got home, got the rest of my sleep (maybe lost 30 mins. getting back to sleep) and then got up and shaved/showered for the day shift. Not too tired so far this morning. But Fridays are lower traffic, usually, in here. Smile [:)]

Ten more days until Christmas? I better FedEx my list to Santa, then (let's see... Mikado, 0-6-0T switcher,...) Shock [:O]Wink [;)] More immediately, I need to put up the rest of my decorations this weekend.

Dan, do you have any layout design program? They can help with trying out layout ideas (without the cost of building one plan and then deciding that you don't like it, etc.). Atlas has a free one, and I'm sure among the CS'ers here, you can get some recommendations on a reasonably good (and maybe free) program to help you with looking at some ideas for your layout. You might also take a look at some layout design-related websites:

 

The Operations-Focused site

http://andrews-trains.fotopic.net/ 

 

The Layout Design Special Interest Group (LDSIG)

http://ldsig.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Primer

 

EldoradoSoft has software, but their site has some layout design info that's useful:

http://www.eldoradosoft.com/

 

Gateway NMRA's pages on layout design:

http://www.gatewaynmra.org/trackwrk.htm

and if you check the NMRA's and its division's websites, they also often have some pages on layout design.

 

Of course, books such as John Armstrong's Track Planning one (see it at:)

http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/model-railroading-books-track-plans-and-layout-planning.html 

and the Model Railroad Planning annuals from MR/Kalmbach are handy too (along with back issues of MR)

Hope those help start you off. Just ask, and others can add more info/ideas, Dan. 

Got to get back to work for now.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

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Posted by NeO6874 on Friday, December 15, 2006 10:44 AM
 JimRCGMO wrote:

Dan, do you have any layout design program? They can help with trying out layout ideas (without the cost of building one plan and then deciding that you don't like it, etc.). Atlas has a free one, and I'm sure among the CS'ers here, you can get some recommendations on a reasonably good (and maybe free) program to help you with looking at some ideas for your layout. You might also take a look at some layout design-related websites:

 

Jim - I already had a plan, until Tom (tstage) got me bitten by the NYC bug...

 

Original Plan:

 

As you can see, It focused more on switching and the engine terminal, without much in the way of actual mainline running.  I was going to make removable extensions for the (light blue) line heading south, and the green lines heading west... so I could have had through freights or passenger trains or something (at reduced speed...).  The plan for motive power was PRR Atlantics, and a K4 or two for the passenger trains (all bowser kits, of course).

Then Tom had to go and get me hooked on NYC big steam, so I want something that I can watch them run.  I don't want the big steamers just being in the roundhouse looking pretty (they wouldn't fit anyway, that TT was planned to be a 98' Heljan) - they have to earn their keep... So I have to see what I can convince my parents to allow me to build, and get back to the XTRKCad drawing board.

-Dan

Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site

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