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

[PennsyHoosier]

I was the last to leave the shop last night, and now I'm the first one back this morning. That shows just how good the coffee is here!

Have you seen the thread on railroad songs elsewhere on this list? If not, take a look, it's kind of fun. For those of you who've missed it, there is a CD called Train 45 from Rounder Records that has a variety of train songs from the 1920s to 1950s. It makes great background music for working on the layout or even for a working session. Here is the track list. I highly recommend it.

1. Riding on That Train 45 - Steve Ledford
2. Wreck of the 1256 - Curley Fox
3. Wreck of the Old '97 - Arizona Wranglers
4. True and Trembling Brakeman
5. Railroad Stomp
6. He Is Coming to Us Dead - G.B. Grayson
7. Lighting Express
8. Red and Green Signal Lights - G.B. Grayson
9. Old Ruben - Sons of the Mountaineers
10. Depot Blues
11. K.C. Railroad Blues - Andrew & Jim Baxter
12. Train Whistle Nightmare - Joe "Cannonball" Lewis
13. Pine Knot Cannonball - George Edgin
14. McAbee's Railroad Piece - Palmer McAbee
15. Riding the Elevated Train - Lew Childre
16. Time Table Blues
17. Pullman Passenger Train
18. Orange Blossom Special
19. Poor Little Liza, Poor Girl - Homer & Jethro
20. Jerry Go Ile That Car - Harry McClintock
21. Section Gang Song
22. Rock Island Line
23. Longest Train
24. Golden Gate Gospel Train - Golden Gate Quartet
25. Death of John Henry - Uncle Dave Macon
26. Railroad Blues - Sam McGee

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All:

Last night, just to get away from the Thanksgiving preparations, I went upstairs and laid some track and then decided I needed to just push cars back and forth to be sure the switches were aligned right. One place kept derailing one truck, the other three trucks worked fine. How about the Points weren't in gage. A little thumb pressure solved the problem.

Fergie:
Sounds like the dryer was an easy problem to fix. Since you were so nice Lisa will now get you a Christmas present.

sNoah:
If you build that kit with Walthers "goo" it'll stay together a long time. Be sure and put the glue on one surface and then put the two pieces together and then pull them apart for 1 1/2 or 2 minutes and then stick them back together. It makes a good joint and will be very strong. Be sure that the box (two end blocks, roof and floor) is square or the sides wont fit. Weight the car before you put the last side on so you can add the required weight. I'm sorry - for those others of you, I sent sNoah a Silver Streak car the other day so he could see first hand what we had to start with forty million years ago. Flip remembers these cars, don't you. These were the best on the hobby shop shelves and cost a whappin' $2.95. Central valley cars were $3.95 because they were truss rods and the old folks had more money.

We decided to close Wed. throu Sun. but for now I've got to go to work.

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

PS. See Ed, the bold worked today - thanks

[Anonymous]

Good morning everybody -wonder when the leaves will stop falling? Can't even see the driveway anymore. It's been raining on and off for a couple of days now, and is supposed to continue the balance of the week, depending on which TV station you watch.

The NBA sure stuck it to the over zealous player that jumped into the stands because some yoyos threw some cups at them. Good, as many pro athletes have forgotten the sportsman component in sports, just as much as have some 'totally bouncing off the walls' sports fans. It's going to cost him $5million dollars, so I guess he'll have to find a day job for the rest of the year. LOL

The GATS show in Atlanta was a bit of a disappointment, as there weren't near as many dealers and sellers as I had anticipated. Tom and I had a good time anyway, and we both purchased some goodies, so it wasn't a total bust. In fact, I went back on Sunday, too, and did it all over again.

As soon as Turkey Day is over, I'm getting back onto finishing my basement, as I've ignored it for a couple or three weeks. Where does all the time go?

I posted this before, but I'll do it again: I'm after some HO Model Power Baldwin RF 16 Sharks - esp B units, as I got a brand new A unit in CN paint scheme yesterday. It's promptly getting dunked in some paint remover. (Sorry to all the folks across the northern border, but. . .)

Spent yesterday afternoon getting yet more dental (gum) surgery. Oh, it's so much fun.

Teffy - glad your Mom is doing okay following her eye surgery. For what it's worth, my Mom had it done for both eyes about ten or so years ago. And she's still doing fine at 91 yrs of age. She can still cast an evil eye in my direction whenever it suits her.

Tom - I'm going to get some photos of the L&N depots in both Holly Springs and in Woodstock, and I can download to you when I get them. The brick depot in Marietta is yet another beautiful depot - in a very different style - and well worth photographing.

Lupo - I don't think that I ever thanked you for your tinkering with my resin casting business' logo, as well as your offer to tweak it a bit more. . .Thank you!

JimRCGMO - Tom Watkins' advise for motive power is right on, as it's hard to beat the Spectrum and Proto 1K and 2K engines, and as someone else stated already, both firm's products are light years different than what the names Bachmann and Life Like used to mean, although both comapnies still produce low end, and generally unsatisfcatory products, for the toy store and the uniformed public. I'd stick with these two brands at this juncture in your re-entry to the hobby, for they offer high quality and very accurate body shells, excellent paint and decorating, and smooth mechanisms. For just a few dollars more than an Athearn (blue box) or a Walthers Trainline engine, you'll get a far more accurate and smoother running engine from Spectrum, or Proto 1K and 2K. And both have great warranties, and they are of the quality and accuracy level
that you will most likely retain them on your roster for a long time.

BILL

[der5997]

Good Morning all: The sun is out, the forecasters are vindicated! [:D] Coffee coming up earlier than usual as Kris is off to the Harbour, while I stay and wait for the Vivitar to possibly return by courier. (It would be just our luck to be out, even if it is unlikely to come today, having been shipped only yesterday.)

Lawrence:

QUOTE: wasn't it Shakespeare who said, "Cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war" (or something like that). I seem to remember it from Julius Caesar. But who knows?

John Bartlett knows, is who.[^] And he says Act 3 Scene1 line 273. Actually, it's the play I took for English O level way way back, and some of it has actually stuck! (the quote, not the act and scene thing.)

Thanks for the railroad song suggestion. Hints will be dropped. I see they avoided the "Pardon me boy, is that the CCC.......?" Maybe because the play list wasn't going as high as Track 29? [(-D]Come to think of it, doesn't the amount of food mentioned in that song, qualify it for an honourable mention in this Coffee Shop? They also didn't go for the somewhat dubious theology of "Life is like a mountain railroad". Not a wholy regretable omission IMHO.[(-D]
Fergie:

QUOTE: Knock two off the list Dryer works!!The snow fence is up. Tomorrow I start the Christmas Lights(Oh Joy[banghead])

Congratulations, especially in getting the dryer heating coil to go back in in one piece.
Now I've got to do a few "Honey Do" things around here.
TTFN.

[JPowell]

You know.... I can't stand it when I have to go past the 1st page to find this greasy spoon! [:D]
Where is everyone today???[:(]

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JPowell

You know.... I can't stand it when I have to go past the 1st page to find this greasy spoon! [:D]
Where is everyone today???[:(]

Freezing my Caboose off hanging Christmas Lights! It's darn cold out there about 4C (40F) and I'm hoping I can fini***he lights by noon tomorrow!

John: I lucked out as the heating coil came mounted within a housing, though I had to do some minor rewiring as there was a mod with this unit.

Bob: I don't know what Lisa will get me as what she got me last year is still in the box[:(]

I know, I know what kinda guy am I? Well what she got me is really neat and handy but scares the hell out of me (Table Saw) and until I can clear out the old Sears Radial Arm Saw, which might pre date me I'm stuck for space. It's one of those chinese puzzles where you have to move one thing to move another, etc.

I should have gone for a double garage[V].

Anyway, Veal Parmigana for supper so gotta go

Fergie

PS the decals are ready for print!

[krump]

QUOTE: Originally posted by PennsyHoosier

I was the last to leave the shop last night, and now I'm the first one back this morning. That shows just how good the coffee is here!

... or how OLD the coffee is. PH - Are you sure that you turned off the pot when you shut the place down last night ??? The spoon is standing straight up on it's own.[:D]

[Noah Hofrichter]

JimRC, I have a GP9M, and they're okay locomotives. The one I have was my first, bought back in the mid 1990's by my parents. I recenly brought it back out and am busy reworking it and cleaning it up. The biggest problem I have right now is that it's electrical pick up isn't very good, and it tends to jerk as it goes down the track I've got someone at the Local Hobby shop looking into getting me some replacement Nickle SIlver wheels instead of the brass ones that are on it, I'm hoping this will help. I also gave all the electical contacts a good cleaning with 91% rubbing alcohol. But all in all, they are okay locomtives, not bad at all. And you definately want to go with Nickle silver track, I learned my lesson with that........ You see, brass tend to get dirty and it becomes hard to keep clean. It won't help the electrical contact on that GP9M neither.......

Well, were in for it now in Wisconsin, there's one big SNOWSTORM on the way!!! It should eb here in a few days if the weathermen were right. Were supposed to get a light dusting tonight too. Problem is, with my luck, I go and twist my ankle this morning. I'm still hobbling around, and I hope it's better by tommarrow, as I could use that money. I'm hoping a little rest will make it better. Well, I better keep going, but I've got a few other things to do.

Noah

[TrainFreak409]

Hey there all!

I think that sometime, way back, way WAY back, in this thread, I mentioned that my friend had a CSX turbine in N scale that didn't work. He said it was all wheels underneath, and looked really good, but never ran an inch. Well, some of you already know this, but, it now belongs to me. I managed to get in running, and now it is happily crusing on my loop of EZ track. To be more specific, it is a Con-Cor N scale CSX "Veranda" Turbine. Real nice locomotive, and looks good on the head of the Bowman Business Train[:D]

Can't wait for the weekend, no school for four days. Might see The Polar Express on Sunday.

~[8]~ TrainFreak409 ~[8]~

[fec153]

Teffy- Glad the eye operation is doing well.
Silver Streak? Wasn't that the name of a passenger consist? I didn't get into the hobby till 1991. Blue boxes and yard sales were my main sources.

Fergie- Whats a snow fence?[?]. And why would you want to keep the snow? {to possibly bury someone?] Don't forget,it will thaw sometime and the body will show.[;)][;)].

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Noah Hofrichter


Well, were in for it now in Wisconsin, there's one big SNOWSTORM on the way!!! It should eb here in a few days if the weathermen were right. Were supposed to get a light dusting tonight too. Problem is, with my luck, I go and twist my ankle this morning. I'm still hobbling around, and I hope it's better by tommarrow, as I could use that money. I'm hoping a little rest will make it better. Well, I better keep going, but I've got a few other things to do.

Noah

That's probably the one that might hit us by tomorrow.

Twist your ankle? Ha, you're still paying for your little wish...[;)][}:)]

Jim:
You've probably noticed I haven't joined that Yahoo! group yet, I'll get around to it sometime tonight.[:)]

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fec153

Teffy- Glad the eye operation is doing well.
Silver Streak? Wasn't that the name of a passenger consist? I didn't get into the hobby till 1991. Blue boxes and yard sales were my main sources.

Fergie- Whats a snow fence?[?]. And why would you want to keep the snow? {to possibly bury someone?] Don't forget,it will thaw sometime and the body will show.[;)][;)].

A snow fence is used to keep the snow from drifting onto roads and railways. And my Azaleas! It measures 4' x 50' is made out of pine lathes 1" x 1/4" spaced 1" intervals.

A couple of years ago the neighbor widened his driving to the property line but figured my plants and yard was good enough for his snow along with the crusher dust and salt. Once spring came I had to get out the shop vac and vacuum the grass as the rake was unable to remove the debris field. [:(!]


Noah: I'm SOooooooo sorry about the impending snow storm[:D] I've got extra snow fence if you want it. (You'll have to come and get it!)

Regards
Fergie

[Anonymous]

*peeks in*

[der5997]

QUOTE: Fergie- Whats a snow fence?. And why would you want to keep the snow? {to possibly bury someone?] Don't forget,it will thaw sometime and the body will show..

Flip: No problemo, the ice worms take care of it all. We use them all the time.....[}:)][:O][;)]

JP:

QUOTE: You know.... I can't stand it when I have to go past the 1st page to find this greasy spoon!
Where is everyone today???

I was by, but just looked in the window, or tried to. It was all steamed up. I think the coffee machine must have been left on overnight for sure. [:-D] BTW, I never come into the coffee shop through the forum any more. I go to my home page's History,(I'm on Netscape, so that's Go, then History) and from there to the last page cited (167 this morning, and it will be 168 when I leave here) The page opens up, and coffee flows like, well, coffee [(-D] If I do want to go to other parts of the forum, I can from the Forum jump below the quick reply box. That's rare these days.

All the pre-winter yard chores on the Honey Do list were struck off this afternoon [^] thanks to the really #1 Ace- fine- top hole- type weather today. Fergie, sorry it was cold in Dartmouth. On our island it wasn't bad at all.
More of the same for tomorrow, they say, which is a change from the forecast a day or two ago. Then on Thursday, watch out for rain and wind, but mild.
I've invited a newcomer to the nDCC list on Yahoo, Michael, to drop by. If he shows up krump, he's from Abbotsford. He can probably help with computer related questions folks may have. Bob, as you can see from the nDCC designation, he's Normal.[^]

Noah: Sorry to hear about your twisted ankle. Hope you can get about to shovel, as it sounds like you could be very useful out there. In the mean time, there's a line from the old "Hee Haw" program that may take your mind off your pain.
"Doctor, Doctor, I broke my arm in three places!"
"The thang fer you to do is stay out of them places"

Good night all, and God Bless.

[krump]

Like Fergie, I have a snow fence also...

my snow fence is a bright orange plastic mesh 4X50 ft going down either side of the driveway... keeps the snow drifts at bay, but the real benefit is that we can actually see the driveway edges - important when you try to find the driveway back after a blizzard, (and after digging out the vehicles).

really sorry about the SNOW forecast Noah [:D][:D][:D]
seriously though, I am sorry about the twisted ankle - would a mocha help?

[Big_Boy_4005]

Hey guys, this panorama is fresh from the construction zone. After a long summer of chasing trains and doing other stuff, I am kicking it into gear again. The third peninsula, on the left of the photo, is now 18' out from the wall. A trip to the lumber yard is going to be required fairly soon. The benchwork is now about 70% done.

A little bit of track has been laid along the long wall, leading away from the helix in the corner on the right.



Here is the track plan to give you an idea of how the room is laid out. There have been some minor changes.

[lupo]

Hi Guys!
to all US clubbers:

and to whom also traveling ( I have been told this is one of the busyest days on the roads:
take care and stay safe!

LUPO

[der5997]

Good Morning Everyone: Another beautiful day on the island, (sorry Tom, couldn't resist, as it really is)
Kris is off to New Glasgow with her mom , taking advantage of the weather before tomorrow's storm.
I'm going to have a go at carving the foam, maybe, or making more of the train show video, maybe.

Elliot: That's some impressive track plan. I'll see if I can find the plan from a Model RR promo video from the 60's that shows what can happen when things get really out of hand[:O][(-D] I think the video was made by Ontario Dept. of Education. It's a hoot, if you ever come across it.

Time I was getting on.
TTFN

[tomwatkins]

Good Morning Everybody,
It's a gray rainy day in the mountains. Actually it has been for the last several days. The weather guessers have been saying it will clear tonight and be nice tomorrow, but now they're not so sure. I went down to Gainesville yesterday and brought Shawna home for the holiday. It was extremely foggy coming back across the mountains. Fortunately everybody slowed way down and behaved themselves. It just took a good bit longer to get home. No big deal. We're well into the prep for Thanksgiving. Louise and I got the turkey ready to go in the oven last night, and I'll start baking the pies a little bit later this morning. We're going over to her cousin's this evening for a big family dinner and housewarming. She's just finishing building a new house and getting moved in. It will be a really good time and celebration. Tomorrow we'll have dinner here with a bunch of people coming for dinner or just stopping by for pie and coffee.

Paul, I'm glad you finally got a good 2-8-0. Persistence pays off. I'm also glad that the dealer took it seriously and worked with you to find a good one. That's how they get repeat customers. The consolidations weren't the best looking or most glamorous locomotives on any railroad, but they handled a great deal of the local and branchline freights. Most roads had lots of them.

Chris, the modern CB&Q still sounds good. I think it would be very interesting and a lot of fun to do.

Teffy, I'm glad your Mom's surgery went well. Two or three months between them is seems to be the normal spread. I think it's "Cabeese", but it may be a regional thing. I've heard and seen both.

JP, the dremel would be a great present. It's one of my most useful tools. It's not one that I use everyday, or even every week. But I can't imagine trying to do some of the things it's used for without it.

JimRCGMO, there is no mandatory retirement age here. We're just going to keep going as long as it's fun and as long as the coffee is good. I think my hands would be OK working in Normal scale, but my eyes probably wouldn't. I use a lot of magnification working on Horribly Oversized stuff. I'd need a telescope for Normal. I am occassionally envious about the amount of railroad the Normal scalers can get into a given amount of space though.

Scott and Der, the residual whine from exposure to turbines is well documented. Exposure to turbines sets up a sympathetic vibration which dogs or at least some of them, can sense. Exposure to the chuff of a steam locomotive or the growl of an early EMD at idle will cancel it out.

Fergie, I'm glad you're making progress on the List. It's also about time to start on the Christmas lights down here too. Probably next week I'll get going on them. It takes me two or three days to get it all done, but it's fun and time very well spent. When it's done, the house just glows. A table saw is a great gift! They are wonderful tools. They, and radial arm saws too, are dangerous, but very useful. I use my radial arm saw constantly, and am Very Respectful of it.

Noah, how is your ankle doing? I hope you recover quickly.

I'd better go for now and get some of this stuff done. I hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving tomorrow has a wonderful day. We have so much to be thankful for, including our friends across the borders and over the salt water.

Have a great day, everybody,
Tom

[Anonymous]

Have a Great Thanksgiving everyone! Even if you live across the border, or half way 'round the world, take a few minutes and give thanks for all the good in your life, spend some special moments with your family and friends, and join in the celebration with the rest of us.
BILL

[JPowell]

Well, I'm now looking @ LL Proto 2000 GP 38-2's on Walther's website. $135.00 and there's 3 I'd like.... 1 each LV, Conrail, and D&H.... CR is # 1 on my list though. The other 2...not sure where I'd use them in my 'dream world'.
Weather is warm....over 50 right now, w/ rain. Should stay like this till tomorrow sometime when it should all change over to SNOW!
Incase I'm not back in here before the time I leave work for the week, I hope that everyone has a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
Wife made Choco Chip cookies last night along w/ a loaf of pumpkin bread...mmmmmmm. Tonight, she's making the pumpkin pie..... In-laws coming up tonight for the night... Father-in-law is bringing the turkey and Mom-in-law is bringing apple pie and pecan pie I think. Wife going to store after work today for my 'BLUE' and some OM N/A for her dad, along w/ ice cream, mixed nuts, and other odds and ends we need.
My stomach is telling me to stop it already as it's grumbling now....
1/2 hour till lunch....hope it helps the grumblings!
Take care....
JP

[Fergmiester]

Bob: THe MESS is going DCC, though when is another question. The 8th is looming quickly and I still have a whack of stuff on "The List". Though I still have one or two little things to do the lights are officially up! A day and a half. That's actually not bad.

Noah: In light of your injury I will call a truce as I hate to take advantage of someone who is incapacitated. Of course you can provide a note from your Doctor, can't you?[^]

JP: Glad to see things are on the mend. The Dremel is a great tool, one I wouldn't leave home without (honest I take it to sea) However be safe with it, as it will remove an eye or cut flesh. I know these things to be true as this rates a close second after soldering irons and what not to do with them[:-^].

Tom: I'm glad someone gets enjoyment out of them. I'd easily go for the minimalist approach but it's against my nature. Lisa said to me not to go and put them up this year but the kids would be heart broken (I think).

I'll take a picture or two.

Anyway I have to run

HRR
Fergie

[JPowell]

Fergie....
Speaking from experience are ya?

[JPowell]

8throttle Posted: 05 Nov 2004, 23:47:38

QUOTE: "If" the BNSF&CNIC do merge?
What will happen to the Ft.Dodge line from C.B.Iowa on east?



2 Words: Bike Trail

I work for the UP in Iowa, and the UP has had some interest in that line from west of Denison to CB, but if the BNSF gets ahold of it, they won't need it and they won't let the UP have it, so I think it would be scrapped.

Get ready folks! There has been VERY serious talk lately on a UP/CSXT merger. Been seeing ALOT of CSX Locos on UP trains lately. Could this be a sign?? UP also talking about 30% more rail traffic between N Platte and chicago. Another sign?? Hmmm

The above was on a thread in the General Topics of the Trains.com forum....


I've been wondering about this as well....Living in Syracuse NY where CSX has a big Intermodal Facility and Yard, it seems that as of late, I've seen more 'foreign power' mainly BNSF and UP doing the switching than I have CSX. If this happens, then I'll have to get even more motive power and equipment for my layout, that right now, is not a part of this area! Not so sure I like the idea of UP being the 'home' power for a area that I grew up watching Conrail and now CSX control. UP's colors are not my favorite's either. Guess I could stick with Conrail (NYC, Penn, PC, LV, D&H, etc) and CSX ( the kitten is so cute...almost reminds me of mine....NOT! Along with all the others from that area...SCL, etc...) and just throw in the occassional UP car or power....
Food for thought all... Let's hear your opinions!
Take care...
JP

[Noah Hofrichter]

Chris, probably is. But now they're pridecting it to go slightly south of us, which is probably down near you. We're still supposed tog et some, but not the main brunt of the storm.

Fergie, Sorry, can't provide no note, as I didn't go to a doctor. Figure it'll mend well enough on it's own, don't need to run up a bill for my parents.

To all, the ankles feeling better, I can hobble around with the best of them.[:D] It only hurts when I put to much pressure on it, and when I twist it too far one way or another. I hope it'll be gone by the end of the 4 day weekend!! I can't wait, tommarrow I go to the realatives, but it's train time on Friday!

JP, I highly doubt that the STB would approve a UP/CSXT merger, I think It'd make the UP too big if that happened. But then..... you never know.

Well, I don't have too much else, so I think I'll keep going. I may try to stop in later though......

Noah

[Paul W. Beverung]

I Gang; Just a short note to let you know that I'm still around. I just haven't had much to say. ( "That's hard to believe." says wifemate )

Thom; I'm glade too. I was sure that I'd get a good one sooner or later. They are the old reliables of the RR world. I had been wanting to get a 2-8-8-2 or two, but I may stick with 2-8-0s and 2-8-2s. Of course you know how that goes. If I see one of the big brusers I may end up with one. The Spectrum 2-8-0 is a real good generic late model. Something that we've needed for along time.

Noah. I'm going to give you the Dutch Uncle treatmeant. SIT, STAY OFF THAT ANKLE!!!!!
It will get better faster if you don't aggravate it. Remember you need it in good shape for shoveling that white fluffy money stuff.

JP. What do you do for the UP? I'm just west of Fort Worth on the UP main to Abalene. Any chance of you getting down here?

Elliot; You are moving right along. That is one impressive track plan. I wish I was closer I'd drop in for a cup and a looksee.

Well I've got to go and feed. Mary Ann is trying to get the house cleaned for our daughter and her bunch. See you all

Paul

the Duluth, Superior & Southeastern

" The Superior Route "

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Noah Hofrichter

Chris, probably is. But now they're pridecting it to go slightly south of us, which is probably down near you. We're still supposed tog et some, but not the main brunt of the storm.

Noah

Well we're getting it right now, only out of a storm from the southwest. Probably snowed 4" already, still snowing. But it's still not cold enough for the ground to freeze, so it probably won't last but for a few days.

In note of my little joke about your ankle yesterday, still hope it gets better soon.[:)]

Tom:
Well the modern CB&Q has no way of going back now, I already know I'm getting a SD70MAC soon.

[fec153]

Fergie- I forgot to put in a smiley. Of course I knew what a snow fence is.

lupo- did u get the coffee picture?

Flip

[PennsyHoosier]

SNOW!

Snow in the midwest at Thanksgiving. The traffic is terrible! How will we get over the river and through the woods? This should be a real adventure.

[Anonymous]

Happy Thanksgiving all! [:)]

I am working on my latese HugelyOversized project, and I may have pics soon! I hope... [:)]