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

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  • From: Dallas, GA
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Posted by TrainFreak409 on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 12:10 PM

Good late morning everyone. Okay fine, call it afternoon if you want to.

Work today for me. I'll be leaving here in about an hour and a half. Just another day on the job. I can't wait to get my July bonus check...That'll pay for the rest of my speakers I need to replace. Thumbs Up [tup]

J Der: I'm trying to check the legalities at the moment. I've contacted Chairman of Paint for the National PRRT&HS to see who exactly owns the copyright information for the PRR Keystone logo.

Paul: It did match pretty good. Just wait until it really happens. Smile [:)]

Rob: Brunswick Green??? Yeah, you are probably right...But I'm trying to keep it cheap.Tongue [:P] I have a few ideas for the cowcatcher...And it may just be a boiler tube pilot...You never know. I still need to get a hold of my older bro for his machinist's opinion.

Indy: No harm, no foul. I'm just messin' with you. Having three brothers myself, and all four of us think up stuff like this, we'll do the same. But the cool thing about my idea...Is that almost everything will be reversible! The cowcatcher pilot will be a bolt on. Underneath the bumper of my car is six bolts that I can use to secure it! I was thinking about having supports go through the grille that are...Umm, collapsible, so that it'll be able to fit through the grille, and secure it from both the top and bottom! Trust me...I don't want to ruin my car. I love it too much.Cool [8D]

Ryan: Wolo has some cool stuff, but I still want the Hornblaster Executive Whistle. I didn't consider a MARS light, nor a FRED...Maybe I'll have to rig up something that works like a hitch cover for the FRED...Hmmm...Thanks for more ideas!Big Smile [:D]

 

Okay y'all...I'm out.Cowboy [C):-)]

Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern

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Posted by Noah Hofrichter on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 9:53 AM

Ed, yeah, I kind of took a little "vacation" from the forums myself towards the end of the school year to focus on my studies as long as finals were coming up. Then my family took a vacation, so I was gone from the computer until late June when I started posting around here again, or mostly reading. Glad to see some people still remember me! I had forgotten just how much one can really learn from the forum, although it does take away from the time I could be working on actual model railroading instead......

Off again on another trip already, huh? Have fun and pop in once and a while if you get the chance. and make sure those Oranges stay in good condition while your gone, I'm expecting you to keep me in Orange Juice through the winter! Just stick either the juice in a tank car or the oranges in a Refrigerated car and you can ship it right up to Reedsburg with a little interchange work.....

Noah

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Posted by SilverSpike on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 9:39 AM

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Good Morning fellow CS goers!

Chloe, how about a light breakfast today, some toast with apple butter, coffee, and some OJ!

Temps are getting up there and the AC sure is getting a workout these past few days! Hope everyone drinks plenty of water, got to keep hydrated and cool. Smoothies anyone?

We watched Big Brother and Rock Star Supernova last night on CBS, and an episode of The Rockford Files Season Two DVD from days of yore. Ben and I also caught an episode of Forensic Files on Court TV too! Tuesday TV family night, yea!

So no train work got done last night, and since we are going to dinner at a friends house tonight, won’t be touching the layout again tonight!

Picked some more cheery tomatoes from the garden yesterday, fresh off the vine and they are so tasty!

Paul, you are so right about “change is good”! You have to keep a certain level of flexibility when building layouts, what looks great on paper might not work out once it starts going up.  I have changed my layout plans so many times I have lost count. I have even updated the layout plan since starting with the benchwork, sub-roadbed, and roadbed on the south sections. Since I put in a small window AC unit in the train room I had to move over the double mainline tracks by 6 inches for about a 4 foot stretch. That one change affected about 10 feet of layout space on the plan drawings.

Inch, keep the tall water handy, these hot days are still a comin’! Target archery is fun too, my dad and I spent some time on that sport years ago. We even went bow hunting too, never did get anything. He even tried to fish with one of those fishing arrows, never did spend enough time to perfect the art though. He still has some of the razor tip arrows on display in his house, “look – don’t touch” – that was the rules back then!

PC, hope all the med changes works out for the misses! Thoughts and prayers are with you all!

 RT, here’s wishing you a safe trip to PA visiting mother, thoughts and prayers go out to you all!

Tarp, sounds like an interesting career you had there, and with first hand knowledge of the railroads, must make it easier to model them too. And your DCC interest and work sounds great, I am just getting into DCC and still have a long learning curve at this time. Once I get my first decoder installed I will feel better, just need to get over that hump! Accounting and physics is an interesting combination for college study.

Lisa, sounds like a great start you have there! Hey, joking aside, a small AC window unit like the one I got at Sam’s for $80.00 would work great in that shed. It runs on a normal wall outlet and is perfect for a 110 sq. ft. space. You just need to get some electrical run out to the shed. With temps like that in the shed you might have issues down the road with track warping, expansion and contraction of the benchwork, roadbed and sub-roadbed.

Scott, thinking about it, they have some really big horns in that there catalog! And your paint scheme on the car looks great! Now all you need is a Mars light on the front hood and one of those flashing end of unit FRED lights or whatever they call them on the back!

Ed, glad to see you getting settled in again back at home, still waiting to hear about the trip! And great news about the fruit trees, just remember though, the VOJ or virtual orange juice will pass USDA inspection since it gets sent though the digital pipeline. Let’s just say it is VOJOIP or virtual orange juice over Internet protocol. Smoothies are the way to go man; they really cool you down from the inside out! Remember to bring plenty of water with you when working outside!

We are still adapting to the new life here in NC, mostly when family events come up we start missing home again. It was Monique’s father’s birthday this past weekend and she was missing him more than usual. Stuff like that makes it tough on us, but overall we really like the new life here in the Piedmont!

Trolley Rob, man that is hot! Yep, I like to experiment with different flavor combinations. The only reason for the coconut/banana/strawberry one, I was using up a can of coconut milk that was left over from a shrimp curry recipe I had made last week. Usually I stick to the single fruit flavors for my smoothies. I have always experimented with foods though, having been a chef for 18 years before my career change to IT back in 2000. When I was a young lad I was known for my omelets, I used to make them every weekend for family and friends as a teenager. One of the oddest flavored ones I ever made was a sauerkraut and cream cheese omelet. My most famous ones are the seafood ones, like crabmeat and Swiss cheese, or shrimp and cheddar. Then there is the Mexican omelet with avocado and sour cream inside, salsa on top and Jack cheese melted over that. I could go on…..

Der John, keep the H2O handy and hydration up! Staying out of the heat for the next few days sounds like a plan!

Well, that’s about it for now….

Laissez les bons temps rouler! (Let the good times roll!)

 

Ryan

Ryan Boudreaux
The Piedmont Division
Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger era
Cajun Chef Ryan

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 6:50 AM

Good morning, I don't know about  you but this heat has got to go. Can't work on my layout during the day because of the heat, can't work on it at night bccause of the NH state bird(mosquitoes HA< HA).

Dick, thanks for the tip on Hartman, wonder if it's any cooler up there?

Got to go for now, the boys are calling. Have a great day.

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 6:35 AM
 TrainFreak409 wrote:

OPINIONS PLEASE! Whadda y'all think of my new paint job?Wink [;)]

This may happen...I don't want to change the overall color of my car...And the PRR is my favorite railroad. It's not the same red the Pennsy used...But it looks good with it I think.Thumbs Up [tup] And the cowcatcher is still in discussion.

Man, yesterday was fun...I went to Hershey Park for the first time! I also rode my first true roller coasters as well...And have already been from 0-72mph in 2 seconds! Man it was a blast! I can't wait to do it again.

IndySon: An accident waiting to happen? I would hope not...You don't have any faith in me at all, do you? Tongue [:P]Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]Evil [}:)] Although; Project Cannonball would still be appropriate, because Casey Jones is awesome.

TrainFreak409:  Given your starting base color, and the fact that it's your favorite railroad, PRR looks pretty good...go for it.

You know, I've been to Lancaster County and the Amish Country several times, and driven by Hershey Park more than once, but never been inside.  Looks like an older-style amusement park, and I know some of the rides go back to the 70's and early 80's, if not much earlier.  Like all parks, I know they update constantly or they couldn't compete with the Six-Flags, Busch Gardens and Disney parks.

Coincidently, I work and live in the vicinity of the Hershey plant here in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.  Chocolate country.Tongue [:P]

Please don't take my "Accident waiting to happen" comment wrong. I grew up with two brothers and we are constantly coming up with ideas like yours...then we poke at one another.  Just gentle ribbing.  I think if you want to take a perfectly good car, albeit unusually large and mileage-challenged, and convert it into an iron horse on asphalt, that's your right as a free American citizen.  Wishing you (and for us) an endless supply of diesel oil, a perpetually clear track and a full sandbox. Big Smile [:D]   I have great faith in you...I believe we will all see the Pennsy resurrected and perhaps see your creation on a reality show in the very near future.  Good luck and have fun...that's what life's all about.

Good Morning, All!!!!!  Coffee time!

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Posted by inch53 on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 6:22 AM

Morin all, Coffee n a couple sweet rolls Zoe,

Today suppose to be the hotest so far, can't say much else about it. Olley's last ball game was good, other than hot. Think his older brother Ralph is going to play pee-wee football, so there'll be more trips to Paris.

PC, hope the meds do the trick, our thoughts will be with ya'll

RT, sorry to hear bout your mom, our thoughts will be you n yours also.

TARP, I'll set n listen to the stories, I enoy them. I use tolisten to my grand and great pa's and luv it, but I like history, wish I'd recorded them.

ED, off on another trip all ready, hope ya have a good one. Where ya off to this time.

A friend of ours that works with Mother, sent me a photo of the big creek bridge from an ultra-light plane, her husband has. It's on the old Cario-Danville line, nolonger in use

I've been planing a photo trip there this fall. Got the new doors finish n hung on the shed yesterday. And if I don't have  kids today I should get most the nailers n rafters up. Time fur chores, hope ya'll have a gooden

inch

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4309

DISCLAIMER-- This post does not clam anything posted here as fact or truth, but it may be just plain funny
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Posted by wetidlerjr on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 5:00 AM

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

08-02-06

Clown [:o)]

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

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Posted by grayfox1119 on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 11:09 PM
Good late eveing everyone, well here it is midnight and the temp is 79F, the Rh is 78% and the Dew Point is 72F......can one sleep comfortably in this Amazon jungle climate??? That is why I am still up at this late hour here on the east coast.

Today it was just read the Model books and MRR and Trains mags, far too hot and humid to do anything outside but jump in the pool.

RT: We are very sorry to hear about your mother, it seems that all of us have been touched by this desease, I lost my favorit aunt a year ago to the same, she didn't know me at the last two years.

PAUL: Way to go Paul......keep the stocks up at Home Depot. Plenty of foam in stock here too!!

LISA: If you want to see some nice layouts to get some ideas, head up to Intervale on routes 302&16 to the Hartmann Model RR Museum. He has one of the largest displays that I have seen in this entire area, and every guage is modeled too. I visit his store twice a year when we are up in the North Conway area.

DER JOHN: We watched the terrible disaster at Halifax, NS in 1917 on "Mega-Disasters" on the HISTORY Channel tonight at 9pm. I can't believe the terrible accident by those two ships colliding in the channel. The devastation was beyond belief. They had some of the survivers interviwed on the program too. This will be repeated again on the History Channel so keep your eyes open for it.

Time to turn in, it isn't going to get any cooler, 15,000 people are without power now in the Boston area, but we are Ok out here in central Ma so far.

Bon Soir,
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 trolleyboy on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 10:52 PM

Good evening folks,figured that I would come in for some relief from the heat. Man we hit 115 with the humidity figured in today, another two on the way they figure by friday it should break, record setting days for S ontario for sure. I talked to my folks in St catharines and they hit a high of 125 with the humidity. Not good for man nor beast I tell you. The layout rooms been too hot ( attic bedrooms with a black roof ) the houses central air doesn't do much for that space unfortunatly. Still I managed to get some other layout projects done in the basement, a coupe new buildings and a bit more kitbashing so at least some things are still getting done.

Ryan - I'm glad to hear that Ed's oj and the rest is doing wonders for your sick bay. I'm not so sure about some of your flavour combinations, but hey whatever works. Guess I like the more traditional single fruit concoctions.

Ed -Welcome home, sounds as though you folks had quite a North American tour happening. I've found that the log in's a bit wacky with the new forum so i just leave myself signed in, saves the frustrated mutterings under my breath. LOL

Scott -I like the PRR look on the side of the car. Mind you Brunswick green would be nicerTongue [:P]Laugh [(-D]I'd go with a boiler tuibe pilot instead of a cowcatcher, you could probalby have one made from a set of pickup truck brush bars.

 

Well folks stay cool and hydrated.

Rob

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Posted by egmurphy on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 8:03 PM

Good Evening Coffee Clubbers,

 

Whew!  Tiring day today.  We went out to the orange grove to do some work and check on how things have been going during our long trip.  It was really hot.   Cool [8D]   Would have been a lot better to have stayed home in the a/c.  But the good news is that the orange crop is doing fine.   Thumbs Up [tup]   We haven’t exactly been inundated with rain, but we have had sufficient so that the trees look good, and the fruit seems to be coming along fine.  Of course, the weeds are pretty high too.  Seems like it will be a better year than last year, most of trees are pretty well full of fruit.  So we ought to be able to keep the Coffee Shop stocked with fresh fruit (if we can get it past the USDA guys at the border) and juice.  Personally I can’t wait to be able to harvest the first of the fruit.   Big Smile [:D]

 

Reading the last couple pages of posts I start to realize that we have a lot of newcomers in the Coffee Shop that I don’t recognize.  Looks like we’ve had an infusion of new blood since the forum change (and since my extended absence).  So a belated   Sign - Welcome [#welcome]   “welcome” to those who don’t know me already.  Since we’re packing tomorrow and leaving again on Thursday morning, I don’t even think I’m going to try to wade through all the posts I missed.

 

Okay, on with a few misc comments and answers….

 

Ryan, sounds like your family is adapting well to the new home up in N.C.  Seems like you have no shortage of things to do.  Glad to hear you’re still finding time to work on the layout.  Oh yeah, I’ve gotten out of the habit of those afternoon smoothies.  Could be time to restart the custom.   Smile [:)]

 

Lisa   instead of having the train go over the actual mountain I'm going to use foam in front to create the illusion that the engine is going over…
If I ever build another layout I’ve thought about doing the same thing, having all the trackage flat, but sculpting the foam to make it appear as if I have some rolling terrain.  Normal scale steam locos really don’t like grades.

 

Noah, good to hear from you again.  I was wondering where you had got to.   Of course, maybe you were here while I was off wandering around.

 

Paul B  …Change is good. Change is good. Say over many times…
Yeah, repeat until you convince yourself of that.  Me, the older I get the less I like change.

 

RT – sorry to hear bout your Mother.  Hope your trip up goes okay.

 

TARP – man, it tires me out just listening to all the things you’re doing during your retirement.  Glad you’re enjoying it.  I suspect I spend more time napping than you do.

 

IndySon:   …your "mockups" look better than my finished buildings...
Thanks, but they only seem that way because I photograph them at long distance and use a “fuzzy focus” technique!!   Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

 

happy Jack:  What railroad do you model?
This is a freelanced road that is supposed to represent a branch line of the NdeM in northern Veracruz (Mexico) state somewhere between 1945-1960.

 

That’s about all for now.  Got to check and see how the [red][size=3]Boston Red Sox[/red][size=3] are doing against Cleveland.

 

Hasta mañana

 

Ed

The Rail Images Page of Ed Murphy "If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home." - James Michener
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Posted by Paul W. Beverung on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 7:31 PM

Evening Gang: You may not believe this but I went down to the basement and did some  planning on the layout. This lasted about 20 minutes and it was too hot to be comfortable. Can you believe it was too hot in the basement? Anyway I’m getting ready for bed. At least it’s cool in the bedroom.

 

LisaP: 8x 14 is a respectable space. The one thing that I’d suggest is not too fill all the space you can. Plan for easy access to all areas of the layout and for ample room to move around. If you can get to all sides of the layout you should be OK. If not than 4ft can be a looooong reach. As for the ac. You can get a room ac unit for less than $200 at Home Depot. ( that’s Dicks store of choice) mount it in a cut out in the wall and you’re in business.

 

Scott: The paint scheme is great. It looks like it goes with that car.

 

It’s early but I didn’t sleep well last night so I think that I’ll try and make up for that now.

 

Good Night All

Paul The Duluth, Superior, & Southeastern " The Superior Route " WETSU
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Posted by der5997 on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 6:29 PM

Lisa:  On the mountain, all may not be lost.  I haven’t read past Neal’s post after yours before starting this, so haven’t seen what answers you may have already received.  Here goes then.  First of all, was the mountain maché spread over some sort of frame, and therefore is the mountain hollow, or is it a solid (very slow drying Shock [:O]) lump?

Secondly, how large an area are we talking about?

If it’s on a framework, it could be quite possible to cut the framework away at the bottom, thus releasing the entire mountain from the layout.  For instance, if the frame is cardboard strip stapled or glued to the layout, cut about ¼ inch above the layout table surface.

If it’s a solid lump, can you see taking something like a ham knife or carving knife with a longish blade to get all the way under the thing and slicing it free of the layout?

Once the mountain is out of the way, clean up the layout surface so you can lay the tracks you want.  Then, when they’re are down, wired up and tested, replace the mountain temporarily to see where you need to cut tunnel portals (if it’s on a frame work), or carve out a tunnel, if it’s a lump. I'd go for a frame work personally, rather than the lump. Access hatches are much easier to do that way.

Once the tunnel is done the way you like it, fix the mountain down again.  If you stapled the first time, don’t worry about not being able to do so again. Just glue, and some more maché should do the trick. Patch the join up so it looks like land rather than big cave country!  Your scenery will eventually cover over the patching anyway.

Oh, BTW, by glue, I mean something like Elmer’s White Glue.  It’s water soluble (Yes even after it’s dried, given enough soaking time)

Is this any help?

I see Ed’s shown you some ideas regarding foam.  I’m using foam now, and find it’s easy to carve to get the shapes I want.  I’ve also found that making access hatches is very do-able in foam. Since you are in the shed, static electricity making bits of foam cling to everything won’t be too much of a problem for housekeeping.Laugh [(-D]

 

Neal:  Thanks for the tips.  I scraped the offending track with a handy piece of wood last night, and it seems to have improved things quite a bit. Certainly well enough for the track cleaning train to make it through that bad section.

Your housing plans sound like you don’t mind a bit of work!Big Smile [:D]

Hope it all works out for you without major glitches.

 

Indy:

Ed, your "mockups" look better than my finished buildings...
…Yes, isn’t that something.  Wish I could model like that.Bow [bow]

 

Scott:  That paint scheme looks astounding! Better check out the legalities before you go for it. Think of the fuss UP would make!Disapprove [V]

 

 

August MR arrived today from the library.  I think that’s the fastest service I’ve had on a “current issue” that way.  It is after all only August 1.  Have to run my trains before I get to read any though.Big Smile [:D]

 

TTFN

"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.

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Posted by TrainFreak409 on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 5:40 PM

Howdy howdy howdy.

OPINIONS PLEASE! Whadda y'all think of my new paint job?Wink [;)]

This may happen...I don't want to change the overall color of my car...And the PRR is my favorite railroad. It's not the same red the Pennsy used...But it looks good with it I think.Thumbs Up [tup] And the cowcatcher is still in discussion.

Man, yesterday was fun...I went to Hershey Park for the first time! I also rode my first true roller coasters as well...And have already been from 0-72mph in 2 seconds! Man it was a blast! I can't wait to do it again.

IndySon: An accident waiting to happen? I would hope not...You don't have any faith in me at all, do you? Tongue [:P]Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]Evil [}:)] Although; Project Cannonball would still be appropriate, because Casey Jones is awesome.

CNW 6000: Howdy! Sign - Welcome [#welcome] to the MR Coffee Shop!

J. Der: Dial-up...I hear ya on that. And yes, the job is still as enjoyable. I'm still livin' large.Cool [8D]

PC: Getting into digital artwork are we? Next thing ya know...You'll be doing some weird things...Like making a triplex out of a 2-10-10-2...Wink [;)]

Nigel: There aren't any kinks in the hose...But now, only one trumpet fires. I called Wolo, and they said to take off the top plates and blow them out. There is possibly some teflon tape caught in the diaphram...So that might solve the problem. And Hornblasters uses their own horns for the most part. They refurbish Nathan and Leslie air horn if I'm not mistaken. They also make a four chime whistle that I'm looking at...Big Smile [:D]

Attaboy: Okay, when you are ready, just tell me and I can give you a link. It's only a 4.5 Mb movie clip, and wouldn't take extremely long on 56k dial up...But yeah, waiting for just that isn't very rewarding.

Ryan: You're welcome. Smile [:)] Gonna get some Wolo air horns now?

 

Okay y'all, I'm out. Talk to you later.

Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 5:30 PM

 Hi everone hope all is for the most part will,

   ED, your layout looks great. What railroad do you model?

well good night to all.

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 5:16 PM
Ed, your "mockups" look better than my finished buildings...
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 3:49 PM

hello again, Yes I do have a plan (if it is going to work remains to be seen),Couldn't work on it to much today had to see my mom,parents going through tough time(step dad has cancer) and now way to hot to work. Shed's like an oven, temp outside 98, in shed feels like 500(ha, ha). On the shed it is 8x14 with double doors, could close off on door but thats the only air I get in it. I  told my husband I was going to install cental air, he didn't think I was funny. Any way right now my table is 4x8 with a 4x4 el but I have plans to cover as much area as I can and still have room to work.

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Posted by tarp on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 3:40 PM

rtraincollector, Sorry to hear about your mother.  Mine had Alzhiemers also and got so she didn't know who I was.  Often thought I was her older brother and would ask me about things from their childhood.  It's hard.  I will keep you in prayer. 

Well, someone asked me to tell about myself and modeling a couple of days ago.  Big mistake when you ask that of someone over 70.  We always talk about the OLD days.  My oldest son back when he was 4 once told his mother after one of my explanations of how something worked that "he didn't want to know that much about it." 

I grew up around the Union Pacific in Nebraska back in the 30's and 40's.  Road trains every summer and sometimes winter too.  My dad worked for them for 30 years.  I got into engine service out of highschool in the 50's at Ayer Jct on the Snake river north of Walla Walla, WA.   Steam was still a lot of the job then.  Made a few models off and on and finally decided to go to college in the 60's.  Accounting and Physics. Along with an accounting business, systems design and installation and a construction company I spent 22 years in the National Guard and retired.  Worked my way through college skiing, cannery work, logging, Forest Service, wheat harvest, railroad, flour mill, service station work to name a few. 

A couple of years back finally stated a HO layout of narrow gauge and standard logging.  I wanted a high lead operation because I like donkey engines.  My wife got cancer and it sort of sat for a while and then went into storage as we had to move from our farm to town to be closer to hospitals and Drs.  She passed away last year and I just moved to Arizona where I met someone.  Couldn't find space for the layout in the pickup and rental trailer so we will build on a room soon for trains, planes and automobiles and start over.  One of my grand daughters works for a second hand store and gave me some old Lionel trains for $15 including a GG1. So now I collect those and keep Ebay busy.  Last December I went to a train club open house and got hooked on DCC.  I put a Tsunami sound unit into a Spectrum 4-6-0 with a lot of rebuilding and wiring.  Replaced the headlight with an LED and added a back light and firebox light.  Also put a decoder into a Rail car.  All I have now is a test track to run them up and down, but will start a logging diorama soon that will go into a new layout.  On my work bench is a 1:35 AMT cat model of a D8 being converted to a 40's D7 that I ran back in the 60's.  Also want to convert a articulated logger to DCC if I can get the decoder into the tender.  Just can't seem to leave those kits alone.  Always something to do.  I also model all the equipment I was associated with in the military and second world war airplanes.  I made an F16 for my new son-in-law who still flyes them.   

Remember you younger guys and gals:  When you retire you can never get a day off......

More than enough for now; I'll get the coffee if you are still awake.    TARP

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  • From: South Carolina
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Posted by rtraincollector on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 2:42 PM

Hi gang got off early today as went in at 6am. This heat is somethin else. going in early tomorrow and thursday also. Hope to head to PA. thursday evening to go see mother got some not to good newthis past weekend so need to get up and see her seems she fell shes okay but got rug burn. Also my oldest brother who is in there almost every week she didn't reconise so its starting to take its toll I guess now the rough part starts in. I know some mother wish they could forget who there kids are at imes (not really but say it lol) well its a reality with mine now so Alzhiemers is winning as it normally does.

Well all take it easy see you all later

 

Sign - Welcome [#welcome] to ll new members have a drink on me

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/

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Posted by pcarrell on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 1:46 PM
 inch53 wrote:

PC, hope they get the wife meds lined out today.

Somebody is on the ball! 

Yeah, she went in this morning and they changed a couple of things.  We should start seeing some change by next week.  Thanks for asking!

Philip
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: hillbilly hide away and campground C, M-ville,ILL
  • 2,153 posts
Posted by inch53 on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 1:41 PM

Afternoon all, how bout a big creek high ball [ice water] please Zoe,

Heat advisary again today, Oh well I've seen worse, just younger back then. It was so hot here yesterday, Mother had a tire blow the side wall on the bus sitting in the parking lot at work. Luckly we'ed bought a couple new tires awhile back, just hadn't got them on yet.

PC, hope they get the wife meds lined out today.

ED, good to have ya back, glad to trip went well.

RYAN, hope  the wife contiunes to improve, just gona time some time. Archey is a great sport, I've still got 3 of my target bows and get them out sometimes when the kids are here. Tow of our boys still bow hunt.

NEIL, I use to dip turpentin at my aunts in Al. most every fall. Wasn't near as bad  as the pulp wood would have been though.

LISA, I use foam on mine for hills and such. Easier to shape than the other. Like the others said, photos help, but it sounds like you have plan in mind, best of luck to ya.

Thanks for the pics ED

 Gave up a bit ago n turned the AC on, just getting too hot in the house. Had a nice breeze for awhile, died now. Didn't get any thing done round here yesterday, little ones agains, so been trying to make up for it today. Got the last baseball game for all the grandkids tonight in Paris, that'll be a hot one. Need to gets started again on chores, ya'll have a gooden

inch 

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4309

DISCLAIMER-- This post does not clam anything posted here as fact or truth, but it may be just plain funny
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: North Central Texas
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Posted by Paul W. Beverung on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 10:10 AM

Hi Gang: I don't know how this is going to work out. It looks like Ryan posted close to if not at the bottom of the page. Oh well, it's only money.

LisaP: Sounds like you are getting the cream of the advice. I can't tell you how many times I've built and torn out parts or all of a layout because something didn't work. I've been doing HO for 52 yrs and several American Flyer layouts before that. I think that the best way to learn is read and ask questions. We like to share our triumphs and flops. Curious; How much room do you have? Question [?]

I did get to the basement the other night and had an idea. The headach lasted all night but I may be on to something. Like I mentioned to Lisa I tare out sometimes. Change is good. Change is good. Say over many times. Oops [oops]

Break is almost over so I'll say so long for now.

Paul The Duluth, Superior, & Southeastern " The Superior Route " WETSU
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Posted by SilverSpike on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 9:45 AM

 lisap wrote:
Ryan, Thanks for the reply and after viewing Ed's site I think I'll combine the two ideas, I've started removing the top of the tunnel and I'm planning make the top of the tunnel so that I can remove it in case my engin gets stuck(again) and instead of having the train go over the actual mountain I'm going to use foam in front to create the illusion that the engine is going over, luckly I have the space(my husband moved me out to the shed so I can do what I like).

Sounds like a plan, and keep us posted on your progress. How much room do you have in the shed for the layout?

Ryan Boudreaux
The Piedmont Division
Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger era
Cajun Chef Ryan

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Reedsburg WI (near Wisconsin Dells)
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Posted by Noah Hofrichter on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 9:29 AM

Ed, glad to see you made it back fine and dandy from your trip. I'm looking forward to your trip report, usually it's pretty good I know.

 Not much new from me guys, just checking in. I've been busy working on the module again, I did some more wiring on a few feeders for one of the main tracks, and I've been working on the crossing that I've been installing too. I'm pretty much done with that though until I have a chance to test it out when my club sets up the layout for a test run in a few weeks. I've got the crossing temporarilly tacked down, but I want to test it out before I permenantly secure it and finish the scenery around it.

Better get going I guess, I've got a few things to do again this morning, namely some more wiring. I've been neglecting wiring a few of the siding tracks lately that aren't essential to operation, but I've finally decided it's time to go ahead and wire them up so I can use them at the next show we display at (which is at the end of September).

Noah

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 8:38 AM
Ryan, Thanks for the reply and after viewing Ed's site I think I'll combine the two ideas, I've started removing the top of the tunnel and I'm planning make the top of the tunnel so that I can remove it in case my engin gets stuck(again) and instead of having the train go over the actual mountain I'm going to use foam in front to create the illusion that the engine is going over, luckly I have the space(my husband moved me out to the shed so I can do what I like).
  • Member since
    August 2002
  • From: Wake Forest, NC
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Posted by SilverSpike on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 8:18 AM

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Another heat index warning is set for today, some areas might get triple digit temps, so far this morning it is 81 and getting hotter by the minute.

No train room work last night, but I did read the Model Railroader September issue from front to back.

Last nights smoothie flavor was coconut/banana/strawberry, and it was another nutritional cool blast of relief from the hot temps!

Sign - Welcome [#welcome] Steve from WV, welcome back to the forum and the CS! Remember to drink plenty of fluids before spending much time outside these days.

 NESU wrote:

RYAN: At age 13 yhsy summer I got my first job away from home that payed me real Money. I use to ride my bike by the railroad. One side was a box factory that used scraps from the Roy O. Martin Saw Mill there in Pineville. There was also a cresote mill for telephone poles and railroad ties. The other side of the track they loaded pulp wood onto bulkhead flats. My job was to climb up onto the top and streighten the pulpwood in the cars. They were loaded with a crane and cables. A double axle truck would haul two cords. A 14 wheeler would haul 5 cords. The crain would load one cord at the time.

I spent school out to school in that summer and was making 30 cent per hour. I was the happest guy on earth that year.The heat was almost unbearable and it was hard work. One thing that made it bad was the pine rosin ozzing out and getting on your bare skin. If it did you had a blister.

By the way I was born and raised in Pineville. Gradurated from Pineville High School in  1958.

Neal, my mom grew up in Pineville on Military Highway, the house is now a doctors office. She too graduated from Pineville High School, but I cannot remember what year. My grandfather’s name was Mafflin Christoffel, he passed away in 1991, and soon after that the house was sold. It has not been a residence for a long time. The last time we drove by there a few years ago the railroad trestle over the highway was under construction and we had to take a detour through the college campus. As a kid I can remember visiting them two or three times a year and there used to be a small fried chicken stand next to their house and you could smell the fried chicken all over the place. I remember the creosote plant was not far from their house and we would drive through it often to go visit friends of his, there were many old timers with layouts all over the place back then.

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers, Ben is somewhat back to normal and Monique still has a lingering cough, but is much better now.

Der John, good luck with the decoder. Looking forward to installing my DCC system soon, but I am new to DCC so have not any idea how to resolve your issue, I’m still on the up ramp of the learning curve at this time.

Lisa P, if there is no access from under or below the benchwork or table you might just have to cut the mountain to repair the track. Without seeing the actual scenery you are talking about, maybe the paper-mache could be easy to cut with a utility knife or a small saw blade, then after working on the track maybe you can put it back in place and repair it with some more paper-mache.

 Ed, your layout looks really nice, great job on the scenery and ballasting!

Cheers,

Ryan

Ryan Boudreaux
The Piedmont Division
Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger era
Cajun Chef Ryan

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 7:54 AM

Ed, thanks for the links I think I can do it following your plans, by the way your lay-out is looking really good.

Neal, I will try to get some photos in but my camera is a little iffy when it comes to quality,had to make a choice on how to spend my b-day $, Trains won over camera, after 40 years it's time to buy fun stuff, I'm sick of being practical.

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Posted by egmurphy on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 7:40 AM
 lisap wrote:

....... Oh well live and learn, I may just start fresh any one have any advice. Mine is made from paper-mache but I saw and article once about using layers of foam, any help would be great.

Take a look at my Rail Images album with shots of my layout under construction.  I did it using the foam method.  It might give you some ideas.  I really liked it.  It was easy to build up and shape.  Here's a link:

http://www.railimages.com/gallery/album311

In another part of the album I have a few shots that include a small diorama that I built to test out the foam method before working on the main layout.  There you can see the technique a bit better.  The first 8 photos are of the diorama.  Here's the link:

http://www.railimages.com/gallery/Misc_Modeling_Efforts

 

There are a number of different methods and you can get good results with almost any of them.  There's no one "right" way. 

 

Regards

 

Ed

 

The Rail Images Page of Ed Murphy "If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home." - James Michener
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 6:59 AM

LISA:Sounds like you do have a problem. However there is nothing that can't be fixed.

Send us some photos of your layout. It's easier to help you correct the problem if we can see it.

Hou did you start the layout? Did you lay your track first and then build the mountain? Tipically trains didn't go over the mountains they went through them. Trains can only pull up to a 7 degree grade. Normally the tracks are laid to conform a 2 to 4 degree grade. Transversing mountains can be accomplished in several different ways. A long gradual climb, Helex, bridges and tunnels to name a few. Pictures will help determine what would be the best method for your layout.

There is a lot of material published on the subject. Research these methods through Klumbach, Carstins, and a lot of others.

Hope this helped?

Neal 

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    March 2005
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Posted by wetidlerjr on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 5:09 AM

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

08-01-06

Clown [:o)]

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

  • Member since
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 31, 2006 10:17 PM

 

Didn’t know pine resin could cause blisters. Just hugely sticky stuff, and didn’t some folks use it as gum?

DER:It doesn't blister as long as it stayes cool. But when the sun is beating down at 100 + degrees it will surely blister your skin. I have heard of folks chewing the gum, but I never tried it.

As far as your problems, I wish you well. I don't know anything about them.I haven't ventured into DCC yet. As far as the glue is concerned you might try water with a few drops of liquid detergent to soak the rails. This might help to soffen the glue and allow you to clean it.

Well folks, we closed on the second piece of property today. We are schedualed to close on the property in Mississippi on the 9th of August. I guess it's to late to change our minds now.The house we are buying was built in 1936. It's a bungalo style house with the large front porch and brick columns and brick steps on the front. The house is in really good shape. We plan on remodeling and updating the structure before we make the move. We still have one more piece of property to sell here. We will sell it around October. Then the only thing we will have here to sell will be the house we are living in now. I hope to move right after the 1st of the year. I will post some photos of the house after we close on the 9th.

RYAN:Sorry to hear about all the illness you are having to deal with but I suspect they are in good hands. We are praying for their speedy recovery.

Have been trying to remember who I worked for back then but I can't. Could have been your Grandfather.

Well people it's after 10:00 PM here and time to call it a day.

Sleep well-Sleep safe.

Neal

 

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