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

[grayfox1119]

Good afternoon gents, just stopped by for lunch seeing PC has the tab today, good man that PC guy !!! I'll have French meat pie.

Guys, I posted an article on the Gen forum regarding a new thin film battery. I had worked in electronics for many years before retiring, and about 10 of those years was working with thin films. These batteries should allow us to power each train with the batteries right in the loco ( or tender) making track voltage and all it's associated problems a thing of the past.

Time to get back to Garage project.....

MIKE: Save me a seat at the supper table please, the CS was loaded yesterday.

[inch53]

I see PC's buying so can I have  ribeye sandwiche, onion rings and ice tea Zoe.
 Not much going on here. Been working outside while it's nice enought to enjoy. Had 48 this morning and it's 69 now ad sunny, perfect weather

ATTABOY, I've known people like that, but one of the best carpenters I knew told me " it's not being perfect,. It's just knowing how to hide your mistakes, that matters, when working with wood,"

RT,, Hope things have returned to normal there, now that the juice is back on.

Grayfox,, Never seen a Fisher Cat, except on TV. It looked like not much was safe from it and meaner than a bager, there is a few of those those round here. Thanks for the cat info also.

PAUL,, luv fresh pecans. My Aunt Frances had a pecan grove in her pasture [moved the cows out when their were ready]. Used to pick them up and she'd make us a pie. Also we brought a big bach back home with us for the winter eaten.

OZ,, liked the deep wells, I may get me some.

DER,, the birds got most the blackberrys here. Only got enough for one cobbler this year, darn it.

NEAL,, glad your getting some help with all the work ahead. Sounds like the shed  project is going to be a dream layout, later on. I will be looking for the package, no hurry though. Have to check out the logging  too.

RYAN,, I've been known to put some bacon in with the hocks too. Just for something different. Hope the Friday plans go well.

JERRY,, hope they get your chair fixed today. If not, holler, maybe I can patch it some with bailin wire n duct tape.

PC,,, Thanks for the further info  on the cat. Read it was related to a mink, I have caught a few of those here year ago. also the info on the B&ML.

Guilford,, thanks for the pics on the B&ML

Well chow times over, need ta get back to chores,, laters all

[pcarrell]

I'll have a coke
PC
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?2006090410161129280.jpg

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?2006090410104623727.jpg
Looks like somethings happening to the B&ML

Yeah, I recieved this from a friend of mine about a month ago.  Check it out!

Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad Back In Business

Web Editor: Aaron Roberts, Reporter
Created: 8/4/2006 4:43:51 PM
Updated: 8/4/2006 7:43:31 PM

For the past several months, there's been doubt as to whether the historic railroad would ever run again. The historic train stopped running almost two years ago.

The Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad just started giving tours a week ago from Unity to Burnham Junction and back.

Those passionate about the train formed the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad Preservation Society that has fixed up the railroad and the station in Unity.

About 60 passengers were enjoying the ride on Friday. Riders are coming from Maine and out of state.

The train ride takes about two hours. Tours run from Thursday through Sunday. Plans also call for a new train museum to open this fall, in Unity, focusing on the railroad's history.

Pretty cool!

Thanks for the pics!  I can see you've got my back!

And Jerry, mobility is highly over rated.  People tend to put it up on a pedistal, like breathing and stuff.  Another highly over rated experience.  All kidding aside, I'm glad you're getting some action on it now.  I can't believe they wanted you to wait almost a week to be able to get around!  Perhaps they should try not moving for a week and see exactly what it is they're asking their customers to do first hand?

[Cox 47]

Good morning all....Its a nice sunny day here...I'll have cheese burger onion rings and a shake please onPK's bill..Thank you....I'm not getting much done 2 of the rear wheels fell off my power chair yesterday I called the company they didn't want to seend service till next Monday and I have been on the phone all morning telling them I can't wait that long Now I am talking to the head of the service and he is going to get someone here today..I hope..Its hard to realize how much I depend on the chair till it gives me trouble...which thankfully isn't very often...I did get 1 siding ballasted yesterday....Welcome to all the new comers and prayers to all that are hurting...You all have a good day....Jerry

[Guilford Guy]

I'll have a coke
PC
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?2006090410161129280.jpg

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?2006090410104623727.jpg
Looks like somethings happening to the B&ML

[pcarrell]

Well, looks like I'm buying again.

[pcarrell]

I found this about the fisher cat.

http://www.wearewag.org/fisher%20cat.html

[SilverSpike]

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Good Morning Coffee Shop!

I’ll have a waffle with fresh warmed berries on top and some warm maple syrup. Tall coffee too!

I have this Friday off and plan to spend most of the day in the train room, hoping to make major progress on the lower level benchwork. I am just itching to get that phase completed so I can start running the cork roadbed and then some track too.

Inch, thanks for the clarifications on the ash ingredients for your beans, and a ham hock would sure add some nice flavor.

Attaboy, I have to agree with you, an hour wasted over 1/16^th of an inch on an 18 foot stringer is going overboard.

Hoople, band was fun in my day too! I played clarinet, and secretly wanted to play the drums. We always started band about three weeks before school started because we had to be ready for the September football game half time shows.

RT, sounds like the neighbors kept you entertained anyway!

Dick, those Fisher Cats look fierce, and hope you can get rid of them soon. Sorry to hear that one did that to your house cat.

Dekruif, sorry to hear about the accident. Hope he survives the incident, thoughts and prayers.

Paul, man do I miss fresh homemade pecan pie. Sounds great, and when you are ready to ship I will have to send you guys my Jack Daniels Chocolate Pecan Pie recipe….

OzJim, I really admire Steve Irwin for all he has done, he really was a good guy and a great father to his two kids too. Your container well cars look great!

Der John, send our Happy Birthday wishes to Kris’ mom from the Coffee Shop! And save some of those blackberries for us too!

Neal, good luck with the contractor and we hope to hear from you every once in a while too. No problem, life has a way of changing your focus at times, we understand. Take care and be well.

Cheers,

Ryan

[grayfox1119]

Good morning everyone, I see that Indiana Jones was first in the CS and set up the doughnuts and coffee, thank you sir !!!

INCH53: Ya, Ryan told me that the ashes were in the beans, I cannot tell a lie, tsk, tsk.

OZJIm: The local TV stations here are keeping us updated on what you had mentioned, I think it is a great thing they are doing for this gentleman who has done so much for his country through his occupation in life. The kids loved his program on TV here, he is/was extremely popular. We will miss him too. God rest his soul.

PC: If I can get a picture of the Fisher Cat, I'll post it here. They are very fast. They not only can climb trees but leap from tree to tree if close enough, not even squirrels are safe!!








FISHER

order: CARNIVORA
family: MUSTELIDAE
genus: MARTES
species: pennanti

The Fisher is a medium size member of the mustelid family often compared to the American Marten, a slightly smaller mustelid, due to many shared habits and characteristics. The "fisher-cat" is neither much of a fish catcher nor is it a member of the cat family though it does resemble a house cat in general body size and shape, but the fisher has shorter legs and a longer, wedge- shaped snout. The fur on a fisher is dark brown to black, as an animal ages the hair tips may become ?frosted?, especially around the head and shoulders. They molt in the fall. Males generally have coarser hair coats, this makes the females more desirable to trappers. Their bodies measure 20 - 30 inches with an additional 13 - 17 inches of tail and weigh from 3 - 12 pounds. Males are usually significantly larger than the females. Tracks reveal 5 toes in a plantigrade foot averaging 3 in. wide by 4.5 in. long with thick fur on the soles of their feet in winter. The nails are at least partially retractable though not sheathed and the mustelid, 2x2 bounding gate is most common with fisher track patterns. (see tracking section for illustrations)



Fishers are considered to be quite carnivorous, favoring snowshoe hares as well as squirrels, carrion, mice, shrews, voles, birds, fruits like berries, and ferns. They are also famous for their ability to successfully hunt and kill porcupines. One of the very few other animals to prey on porcupines is a close cousin of the fisher, the wolverine. The fishers? long, wedge-shaped snout is well suited for making vicious attacks to the porcupines face until mortal wounds cause the porcupine to succumb. In some forests, fishers have been reintroduced to try to control porcupine populations. This biological control method has been successful at least for short-term population reductions; it is currently unknown how well it works for long-term porcupine population control. They generally hunt by systematically searching for patches of abundant prey and then systematically searching those patches for prey to kill. Fishers will sometimes cache food items and find/make temporary den sites near large food items like a deer carcass.

The breeding season for fishers is in late March and April. Like most other mustelids, fishers experience delayed implantation of 10 - 11 months. The egg is fertilized at the time of mating, then the embryo stops developing and remains in a dormant state until the female is in good physical condition during late winter, the embryo then implants and develops. The actual gestation lasts approximately 30 days with parturition (birth) occurring in March and April. They typically breed again within 10 days of parturition. Females breed at one year and have their first litter of about 3 kits at age 2 years. Males are probably not sexually mature until age 2. Fishers are pretty solitary animals except during the breeding season when plantar glands on their hind feet increase secretions and a black, tarry substance of unknown origin signal their intent to mate.

Fisher natal and maternal dens are usually located high (+/- 50 ft.) in tree cavities which partially explains their overall preference for mature to old growth, late successional, forest habitats. Researchers have noted significant use of young to mature forests during the winter. They also require significant tracts of contiguous forest with a high degree (70%) of canopy cover and prefer conifer or mixed conifer and northern hardwood forest types. They are also disproportionately associated with riparian communities for less than well known reasons. Fisher distribution and survivability is negatively impacted by forest fragmentation, stand isolation, and deep, fluffy snow. In comparison, martens have very similar habitat requirements but they are much less inhibited by deep snow. This may be an important way in which these two species are segregated. There is a considerable span of home range size estimates from 1.5 to 25 sq. miles, probably averaging around 10 sq. miles. Once again, males tend to have much larger territories than females, which often overlap territories of more than one female but rarely that of another male. Fishers will commonly travel 2-3 miles each day and while they are arboreal to some degree, most hunting and traveling is on the ground. They mark their territories and communicate with urine and anal, cheek, abdominal, neck, flank, and plantar (feet) glands. Martes pennanti was formerly widely distributed across northern forests of N. America up to around 60 degrees N. latitude, south in the Appalachian Mountains to North Carolina, and throughout the Pacific Coast mountains. Current distribution is now well known but they have not returned to the southern Appalachians, and are considered spotty in the Pacific Coast mountains, especially in Washington and Oregon, and in the southern reaches of their former distribution in the Rockies. These medium size weasels are particularly susceptible to logging and trapping.








Time to head to the garage.....this will be Phase II MRR set up with a very nice 16 X 28 foot space to use. Now, it is cleaning up all the old stuff, insulating the ceiling rafters, then will come sheetrock ( Plasterboard ), and thin coat ( blue bucket readimix plaster ) over the sheetrock. In between all that, run electrical for outlets and lighting.

See you guys at lunch

[pcarrell]

Wow, lots going on in here today.

Just coffee, thanks.

First off, prayers are in order for many.  I pray that all of those needs are met.

Logging roads of Indiana, huh?  I'll have to check that out too.  Might make an interesting day trip!

Fisher Cats?  Never heard of them.  Sounds kind of strange.....and pesky!

[Anonymous]

HO Lost River Logging Co.) circa 1940 +. Indiana had no (far as I can tell) dedicated logging railroads so mine will be VERY freelance. I probably won't do much on the layout till I retire but I have most of what I need so I may get going before then.

BILL T:  I almost forgot, you might try googling " Logging Railroads of Indiana" I found about 10 pages of info on the subject. They listed a lot of areas I'm not fimular with up there but I think they did have some logging railroads in the late 1800's and early 1900's for what it's worth.

NEAL

[Anonymous]

Greetings all, hope everyone had a great holiday.

to all the newbies and back to the oldtimers that have been away for a while.

Great photos from everone that has posted.

Well I had to make a decision to vacate the CS for a while. To many people in the CS to keep up with every one. Won't be making many visits to the CS because I have to much to do for the next year. I have a contractor that has started on the remodeling in Hattiesburg. So I will be running back and forth there more. They are starting on the storage building first. When complete it will look like a train depot, right down to the bay window. Eventrally that will be my train room. It's a 19X36 and should make a great place to run trains.

I have also hired someone here to help me get everything in order. We had some damage to the trailor park when Rita came through last year. I have someone that wants to buy the park, but I told them every thing would be repaired and rented before they took possession. Now I have to go to work there.

I will be droping in from time to time but I think the visits will be few for the next 6 to 8 months.

INCH: Watch the mails for the next week or so I will be sending that thing I promised. I have been packing up the railroad stuff.

By the way dinners are on me today. So everyone eat hardy.

NEAL

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana.

09-06-06

[der5997]

Major blackberry harvest today before tomorrow's rains. Juice is dripping in the porch, and jelly is on order.  Kris' mom is 90 tomorrow, so more !!!  We've already had the cake thing when the grandkids were here. $Store candles, a 9 and a 0 turned out to be musical, heat activated. All that in a $0.99 candle, amazing!  Took one apart, and got at the circuit board. If you've not seen one, I can post a pic, but haven't  taken one yet. Just ask.

Noah:

The turntable does sound simplier too, much easier to get the thing to turn! I've acutally considered making mine a manual one, and if I can get the motor to work I might just go for that option.....

...the neat thing about the phono jack for the turntable spindle is that the track power is easily handled through it. Since you are going DCC, a stationary decoder like the El Cheapo MRC one  will deal with the polarity change with little difficulty.  Now, as to indexing, why, just one finger is all that's needed, and I'll leave it to you to guess which one!

It's late, and I'm off to bed. Goodnight all, and God Bless.  Prayers continuing for all in need of healing, comfort,  and peace.

[james saunders]

Afternoon one and all,

The Irwins have been offered a state funeral, which I think He deserves big time! there is also talk of a national park been named after him or september 4th becoming Steve Irwin day. He was a true legend. it really effected alot of south east Queenslanders, because Australia Zoo and his home was in the region, it was like everyone knew him like a close friend

And I think Discovery channel is doing the right thing by not showing the footage of Steve actually been hit by the stingray and pulling it out, it would be very distressing for alot of people, to actually witness someone dying.


anyways onto MR news,

my 5 pack of Athearn RTR Well cars came on monday afternoon, boy are they nice!, now I just need some 40 and 48' containers to fill the cars with! pics;





not the best photo's but they portray the subject so you get the idea


All for now,

OzJim

[Paul W. Beverung]

Hi Gang: Just a quick one to say hello. Nothing new going on. Mary Ann and I took a walk around to look at the pecan trees. It looks like we will have a crop. It seems strange with the drought but there are nuts on the trees. Now we have to get cracking and get the ground around the trees cleaned so we can pick the nuts up when they fall. Of course there will be a shipment for the girls to make pecan pies.

I'm off to bed now. I'll see you all tomorrow.

[PA Belt]

hey yall, good news, good news, i got some exdruded foam and nuckel cuplers, now time to finish my conrail and weather my junk, cya

[SOU Fan]

Evening all,

Some bad news to report.  While we were driving home from school we saw an accident that had just happened involving a motorcycle.  It was so bad they has to call in flight for life.  There is no relation just wanted to ask ya'll to pray for him that he makes it.  Thankfully he was wearing a helmet.

That's all for now,
dekruif

[JPowell]

Evening all -

  Just a quick stop for me tonight. I just placed my order for 'Locomotives' since they are stopping the sale of it on the 8th (or maybe they are rasing the price to 7.95). Either way, mine's on order.

  For those of you who have enjoyed my pics, you're Glad you enjoyed them!

Ok all...off to get some dinner and then to bed. Busy day today.

Take care!

[grayfox1119]

PDragon: I am too far away from the ocean to smell the salt and sea weed, however, Der John, a regular to the Coffee Shop, lives in northeast Nova Scotia, right on the ocean. He can look out his window and see the sea.

Well guys, I saw a first tonight. The wife and I were sitting at the supper table when something caught my eye outside under our Pear tree. It was a Fisher Cat. I have never seen one in the wild. It climbed up the tree, selected a pear, scooted back down and ran off into the woods.
This state never had these critters until the 30's when the Quabbin Reservoir was built in the central part of the state. They were imported here to eliminate / control the beaver and wild turkey population around the reservoir.
Now they are spreading in all directions. They kill anything they can handle including the family cats, we lost ours in July, now I know how. They sort of look like a weasel on steroids. No farm animal up to the size of a cat, goose, duck, or "rug rat dog" is safe. They hunt day and night, and have the most ungodly screech/scream at night, sort of like a baby crying. Have any of you guys had to deal with these Fisher Cats?

Later,

[rtraincollector]

Well it was interesting 4 days . Glad its over tempers here in the hood was getting high . I just crawled further back into the poarch and let them go for it . cops were here 3 times in 2 days. Oh well lets see the formula was no electric plus 2 six packs plus load music plus another family that didn't care for anothers music and boom!!! that about makes it happen everytime.

to all that have returned or joined while I was out for the past 4 days.

Didn't get any mr or work on the place done while I was out as no power to do what I wanted.

Well thars life. there talkking now posible that we have another to look at in one week. CFO says were moving if that comes here.

Well all take care

[Hoople]

Wow. you posted just seconds after I did.

 

GG, I only need a cement plant, then I'm done with buildings.

[Guilford Guy]

Mark, nice stuff
If ya need a Valley Growers Association grain el I have one That I started but never finished, I only stated on the Storage building so the El and office are unharmed, Includes decals, probably about 25$ and Ill through the storage bin in free

[Hoople]

SilverSpike: I wasn't really looking forward to it. My teacher is nice, but eccentric.

 

I can't wait for the end of the month when Advanced Band starts again. Then I'll have an excuse to play on my drumset.

[Noah Hofrichter]

Duke, thanks for those. I had heard that there is a LSI display near the dock there, but I had really never seen any photos of the stuff before. Thanks a lot!

Der, the photos you posted of the layout looks pretty good., and I can see what you mean. The turntable does sound simplier too, much easier to get the thing to turn! I've acutally considered making mine a manual one, and if I can get the motor to work I might just go for that option.....

Noah

[Attaboy]

Evening all. Thought I would drop in for a visit.

to all the new folks.  Antonio, don't worry about those self appointed forum censors out on the main line. I often enjoy the resurrected threads.  Some are very informational, some I wanted to look up but never took the time, and some are just entertaining.  I'll second Duke's comments, I've seen some of the pics you posted on other threads, you do nice work.

And back to Fergie.

The remnants of Ernesto delayed our roofing plans until Sunday so I spent all day Saturday working in the basement.  The water damage repairs are going a little smoother now (some experience helps) and I made good progress Saturday.  Spent 12 hours Sunday and nine hours yesterday putting the roof on my mother's porch.  It could have been just a one day job but my former FIL showed up to help.  If that man was a model railroader he would be the king of rivet counters.  He's a perfectionist to the point of getting lost in details.  We cut four 18 foot 2X8s for stringers on the roof and one was about 1/16 inch shorter than the rest. Someone probably cut on the wrong side of the pencil line.  He spent probably a half hour discussing the best way to fix it, then another half hour on whether it needed to be fixed.  We just couldn't convince him that it wasn't important.

After working all weekend I'm still pretty tired, the stress level didn't help.  So I think I hear a rocker recliner and model railroad mag calling my name.  See you later.

If no one beat me and my count is accurate, I'm buying this page.  So belly up and get your fill, it doesn't happen often.   Oh darn, looks like Mike beat me.  Better luck next time.

[inch53]

Afternoon , coffee Cleo please,
 Haven't got much done outside, off n on sprinkles, thundering out there now.
GRAYFOX, you wouldn't know the ash was there less I told ya or you seen me do it. Thanks for the info on the stocks. Don't have any, but nice to know.

RYAN,, if your useing a flat bottom pot, leave the ash out. If you use any, then just a small pinch. The rendering kettle has a round bottom, thats why you stir it like you would rendering lard or like paddling a boat sideways.
In a small bach, if you want you  can use a couple-3  ham hock or just a meaty bone for flavor.

TRENT,, hope you n the little one gets to feelin better. Glad your gettin rain, know it's been dry down you n Pauls way.

Model train lover,, welcome back, I believe you were here for a short while. Whats you been up to.

PDragon, No, never even heard of those things, OH well may have seen ya round there though. Haven't been up through Villa Grove in a spell, but the memories of its still there.

Mothers home, so best get off here, laters all.
inch

[Pdragon]

Hi Everyone,

Grayfox - Thanks for the LHS. Can never have enough New England suppliers. Sure miss the smell of the sea.

Inch - Sorry, when basic was finished at Chanute, I stayed for the 421X3 (Grd Pwr or AGE as it was called later). After commissioning twelve yrs later, I retuned to the 4024 (Aircraft Maintenance Office Course (AMOC)). I returned yrs later to teach the course as Instr and Instr Supvr 'til closure. Been hear ever since. And, no, I don't think Villa Grove is as busy as it once was but then again, I guess you could sadly say that about most of the railroad 'spots' in the country.

[pcarrell]

I had a feeling it might be you!

Come on in!

Chloe, get this boy some lunch!  Thanks!

[ModelTrainLover]

yea we know each other from a number of other forums. Phillip it's me Colby. as Eric would say oh boy of a thousand names. (Eric is a friend of mine on a different forum) I have a different name for each forum I have anaccount on, keeps people gessing. my defence against online preditors...