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

[philnrunt]

No one else in the shop? This is the best time to be here! Where are all you guys?
Kenlarsen- About those Milwaukee units, seems like they have a bit of black just about everywhere, once the orange starts weathering. You could run a reflective yellow stripe across the top of the black stripes to offset any CN confusion, but I think they look great.as they are.

Siberianmo- I have to admit, the Express looks great. I would have never thought a train based on a movie could look so good. And steam, at that! Ooops, probably should'nt have said that. But really, it looks great!

twhite- All people who play or write music amaze me, they are on a whole different plane ( or plain) of existence. I agre, thank God for them.

der5997- I think you could spell it cra-z, but you would have to use the hyphen. Otherwise, it would be just nutz.As for the phone line, I know my line is grounded, I have spent many hours, in some very bad weather, checking it out. As for Sprints, I can't say. I guess I should be thankful it works at all. There have been more than a few very close lightning strikes, maybe that is part of it. And those shots of the old layout look pretty good. You build solid looking benchwork. Maybe you NOB'ersarn't that cra-z after all!

Cat tom- Sounds like the last thing you need are cats with monkeys on their backs! It starts with catnip, then they are hooked on electric tuna, then your trains start disappearing so they can support their heroin habit. Oh yes my friend, I speak from experience! And watching cats go cold turkey is just heartbreaking! (they do have 9 Step Programs, I guess one for each life.)

And Capt. Turk, be safe out there, sounds rough, but I sure do envy you the sights you see.

Ed, Where for art thou, Ed? Hope this dosn't indicate more phone problems.

[Anonymous]

Morning everyone.

It's been a while since I have been on because of having things to do over the weekend.

Saturday was a big day for racing for me so I got to watch the 12 hours of Seabring as well as the latest round of Formula 1 (This round was in Malaysia)... my team (Toyota took 2nd and 5th so they are now 2nd in the World Constructors standings quite a few points behind Renault but still a couple oints ahead of last years reigning chapions Ferrari... Last years Wrold Chapion Driver finally scored his first points of the season as well.

As for my MRRing nothing is going on there currently... I have had to spend the money I had saved up on stuff so I could eat a couple days so I am pretty poor again.

One more thing before I leave [#welcome] to all the new people that I have missed in the last couple of days.

See you all later.

[Anonymous]

pilnrunt,
Mostly what I get to see is water, water......water, water, occasional falling down dock, water,,water,,,,,,,more water. Then some more water!

[Anonymous]

twhite,
Thanks, wish I was going to be there to see it. And right, over is always better!

[Grubby]

Evening All, the usual large Coke, plenty of Ice and a PollyWaffle thanks...

QUOTE: Grubby: Please read this! Transition joints with risers can make or break the visual effect as they can be abrupt and make the motion of the loco and consist disjointed.

Thanks Fergie for the heads up, I will pay attention to those areas now you have mentioned it....and there are quite a few planned so I better pay atention.[:p]

Thanks for the image posting tips... I will be off straight after this post to register at Railimages... hopefully by the weekend I will have some photos "on-line" for your laughter and casual remarks of derision [:D]

I had a huge tracklaying night planned tonight, I purchased my track cutting pliers today, bought home the soldering iron from work, fired up and commenced action.. First join between turnout and flex track cut and soldered : all good, second join, flex to flex all good, third join brand new $20 track cutting pliers shatter into two pieces=end of work for the night on the track laying.

The major issue is that I bought the cutters in the City (whilst in town on business) from a model shop with very limited Railroading stock....and I wasn't planning to ever return, although some of the stock is so old the pricing is seriously cheap, pity the range isnt anyhting to write about. I now have to find another excuse to get into the CBD to exchange them for the product I should have bought in the first place....but the Xuron's were twice the price...lesson learned. Pay the extra $20 for a product that works, the first time.[:D]

Fortunately I had the old coaling stage kit I got from Dad the other day, so Jack and I started the construction of that.... just to remember how to assemble kits etc... can't really see a place for this model on the layout yet...looking good so far, but the kit is sooooo inaccurate, the amount of filing and scraping to get parts to fit.... no wonder my childhood models looked so crappy.

Anyway.....time to get a railimages account....

[Anonymous]

Zoe, I’ll a large coffee, cranberry cocktail, and pancake breakfast platter….

Good morning all,
Not much worthwhile to report on the SD38 – ran out of decal paper and the LHS was already closed.

I only have enough time this morning to read the posts on Pg369, I’ll reply to the rest of you later:

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainwreck100
Ken: Looks really good, that's even our schools colors!!

Greg, does the word ‘tiger’ appear in any of your school’s athletic team names? [:)] Bummer about that motor though…..

QUOTE: Originally posted by der5997
Ken:

QUOTE: DerJohn - I like what you did with that lift-away track section, I'll be needing something similar for my layout –

Thanks, be sure to plan the anchor for the far end of the section well. I used rods that were put into holes in the lift section, down into the support the section came to rest on. Not pretty, but solid. I never got around to putting scenery on that part of the layout (close, but no groundcovah![:D]), so I hadn’t to worry about what the rods “were”, so to speak. The wire retainer that stopped trains over-running the end of track when the lift section was raised went into the holes for those rods in the support.

DerJohn – I like the wire retainer idea much better than the electrical approach for stopping trains – perfect for an “electrically-challenged” person like myself! [:D] My original plan was to span the aisle with a Walthers Bascule Bridge – until I saw that my 6-year-old daughter and her friends only move at two speeds: standing or running! BTW, haven’t seen any new definitions from you lately…having a dry spell, eh?
. . .
Time to run, have to drive my 15-yr-old daughter to her school – C-ya!

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning all, just a quick note before I start work. Long week this week as we have 3 race meetings in two weeks - Brimingham-Barber, Lime Rock and Savannah with a dozen cars to prep and crews going in two directions.
TrentB you asked about my layout - it is still under construction with most of my effort right now on the continuous running bits and the sidings for later. Some land forms are in place and learning slowly how to sculpt and scenic. Rolling stock is mostly old Tyco right now (we run what others toss) and a couple of new SF diesels. The rest is an assortment with some New Haven as I grew up a block from their shoreline. The southwest stuff is my favorite - I fell in love with Colorado when touring through there in the eighties. With both east coast and west coast stock I guess that makes the road seriously conflicted but with very limited space right now I wasn't planning any prototype efforts anyway.
I will try harder to keep up with the postings, in general I have found a wealth of information here as well as some real characters. Thanks to all. J.R.

after all is said and done more is said than done

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by der5997

Good evening everyone: (I was alone when I came in, but don’t know what the situation is now) Chloë, I’ll have a hot cocoa, and please use the Splenda ™. I’m now trying to avoid anything with Aspartame™ since reading an article about it. If anyone is interested, and that may be ay of the diabetics in here, just email me, and I’ll forward you a copy. It’s a real head’s up. That goes for anyone with kids, and grandkids too, ADD and AHD or just regular. This is serious stuff.

John I'll take a copy of that if you don't mind. We drink alot of diet pop here. Oh and thanks for the TM

***: I'm the wrong guy for Java in the morn'n. Phil is probably the best one as he's holding down the fort and pulling the Graveyard Watch.

QUOTE: Originally posted by capt_turk

pilnrunt,
Mostly what I get to see is water, water......water, water, occasional falling down dock, water,,water,,,,,,,more water. Then some more water!

Cry of the Ancient Mariner
Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink...

Come up my way and I'll show you more then just water. I'll throw in some ice !

Nothing like a nice cool drink on a hot sunny day with a chunk of iceberg in it!

Though you're right as there are days and days the scenery is the same though it could be worse. You could be looking at fog. I've done that far too many times.

Ken: One of my greatest fears was that the kids would tra***he layout as they were growing up. They don't even look at it!!! Though after talking with Bob the other night I think I'll be teaching Son #2 how to run the Digitrax so he can keep Grandpa happy in my absence.

Today I'm off to Halifax and the other LHS. We'll be picking up the 2nd (say it's not so)[V] RDC for Dad. This is the "Last" Diesel for the M.E.S.S.™

Grubby: I have a lot of Ups and downs on the M.E.S.S.™ (thanks again John) and have to use shims and long sticks to get a natural curvature in the track. Very time consuming but not as consuming as having to Rage, Rant and Rip up the track because one of the Engines can't handle a dip or bump!

Anyway time to motor

Later Gents
Fergie

[tomwatkins]

Good Mornin' Everybody,
It's a pretty morning in the mountains, but the weatherguessers say the rain is coming in later today. I've got some stuff I want to get done outside before it hits so this is going to be quick.

We had a good day on the club layout yesterday. We got some problems sorted out and had fun. A good many people stopped in to see what was going on while the Blue Ridge Scenic was in town and that went well. There's no admission charge but donations are greatfully accepted and over the 3 day weekend we've covered a month's utilities. Not too shabby for having fun and running trains. We may have picked up a couple of new members too, which would be even better. No real progress was made in the basement yesterday, but I still haven't mastered how to be in 2 places at the same time. I'm going to try to get the last of the foam glued up in the Murphy area tonight. Then I can pop those sections out onto the workbench for the heavy carving.

Trainwreck, that is outstanding about Boy's State. Congratulations are definitely in order. I think it is nationwide and it's been around for quite a while. What decoder did you use in the P2K SW. Was it drop-in or did you have to hardwire it?

GMTRacing, welcome to the coffee shop. I'm sorry I missed you last time. As you've noticed, we're sometimes not real big on logic but we do have fun. Enjoy!

Ken, the SD38-2s are looking good. I really like the paint scheme.

Grubby, keep us posted on how you like working with the Woodland Scenics risers and foam. Our club down here is starting to think about construction methods for the sectional Horribly Oversized layout for the depot in Mineral Bluff, Ga., The Woodland Scenics material seems to have a lot to recommend it, but I'd appreciate your feedback.

Fergie, We have a ton of hostas and Phloxx, most of which we've been given. Louise's aunt and uncle have huge amounts of both. We just couldn't resist on Sunday. The hosta is a really pretty variagated variety and the phloxx is blooming already. It was kinda like a trip to the train store......... Using the 1/4" balsa strip to check smoothness of grades is a really good idea.

Siberianmo, One Monday in a week is more than enough! I really used to hate it when they ganged up on me! The Polar Express is really looking good. The night sky backdrop is perfect.

Grayfox, no strawberrys yet. We've got a couple of small raised beds of them and they are just starting to pop up now. It will be a while, but they're worth waiting for.

JimRCGMO, yep, this is different stuff. Comes in a bag and doesn't smell. It's probably not as good, but it's a lot nicer to work with.

Greg, too bad about the motor. Stuff like that does happen, and to all of us. Cat Tom is right, the A-Line motors are really good, and they have lots of them. A replacement from P2K would also work fine.

I'm going to go for now and get some of this stuff done.
Have a great day, everybody,
Mountain Tom

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All:

Grubby:
When starting a grade from the bottom be sure and make it G-R-A-D-U-A-L as steam pilots stick out a long way and will short out. Use the longest steam engine that you have to check this situation. This is experience talking, it's easier to fix during construction then later. At the top you have to worry about the first driver being higher then the top of the rail before the balance point starts down the grade, 2-10-X are the pains in the neck because the driver wheelbase is so long.

The best thing for cutting track is a Dremel with a flexable shaft extention and a grinding wheel. After you're done with the Dremel just dress up the end with a file.

Capt_ turk:
What do you do offshore? I used to be a port engineer for Domar Ocean Transportation. We were a lightering company, you may have heard of us if you've been around a long time as the company was disbanded in the middle 90's.

We had a very bad oil spill in Tampa around 1983-4. One of our barges had a hole in the side and it started leaking after dark. The captain didn't know about it until morning and he'd gone into Tampa Bay that night. I don't know how many millions that oil spil cost but it was humongous.

Greg:
I can feel your pain, but all of us have had that happen once or twice. Some of us are slow learners.

Tim:
I think that Al is a good modeler - I just don't trust his split personality. You never know what's going to set him off or when.

Fergie:
...Water, water everywhere and all the boards did shrink...

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

[Anonymous]

TomW: It was a hardwired Digitrax DZ123. I started with a DH 121, but it was just too big, so I put that N-scale in it and it fits much better now.

Ken: as a matter of fact, it doesn't, its the Calumet Chieftains. The tigers are down the road at Union City though. Their colors are blue and yellow. Go figure

Guess I'll see if I can locat a new motor or some parts for this one after school today, thanks for the input though, now i know where to look.

Gotta get to school,
Greg

[egmurphy]

Good Morning Coffee Clubbers

Just a quick on this morning. We're supposed to be on the road about now headed north. But we've had our usual last minute hiccup, so the departure has been moved back a few hours anyway. The good thing is that I'm not as hyper about keeping to a schedule as I used to be when I was working. And if we don't leave today, it'll be tomorrow.

While I hope to get a few chances to log in on someones computer during the trip, it might wind up that I'm off the air for a week and a half.

Looking forward to picking up the items waiting for me at my LHS. Also can't wait to collect all the packages waiting at my daughter's house. Because of problems mailing stuff down here I usually have stuff sent to her house to hold for me. Should have some old railroad books, a box of back issues of Model Railroader, an NdeM car from John, my 2-8-0 that I had to send back to Bachmann for service and some more misc items. It'll be like Christmas.

And, of course, looking forward to my visit with Teffy, Paul, (and LilRob?).

So keep well while I'm away. I've arranged with the crew at the grove to continue to ship fruit and juice in my absence, so the season hasn't ended yet.

Speaking of seasons, and since someone asked, we're only 12 days away from the Red Sox opening game of the season. They play the arch rival Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The home opener is 8 days later, Monday the 11th, at Fenway, also against the Yankees. That's when they're going to receive the World Series Champion rings. Okay, enough sports, we now return you to your normally scheduled programming.

I may post again if something interesting comes along while I'm killing time waiting for Fran to take care of last minute complications.


Regards

Ed

[TurboOne]

Good Morning coffee shop hangerouters,

Ed, hope the Red Sox lose. You stole our pitcher. He helped so much last year, and I don't think Woody is going to replace him. [oX)]

All the Padre hitters are complaining about the new ballpark. They say its too big in left center power alley. C'mon, if they were doing steroids like they should be, they could hit it out.

Padres could play the sox this year. The west teams are so bad, even without Wells they are contenders. Sad. I remember when you had to be good to compete.

Flip, how is Deb doing ?

Capt. turk hello, I see you are on here right now. Have a cup of Joe, and a good time.

Haven't seen elliott around for a while did he go on vacation ?

Ken, ummmmmm pancake platter, gotta go make some breakfast now.

Take care all

Tim

[siberianmo]

G'morning everyone - The spring rains have arrived here in mid-continent U.S.A. and we sure do need it. Those "pretty little yellow flowers" are thirsty little devils - so drink up boys 'n girls - you're time is about to come![}:)]

This is a day made for two things - the SECOND is model railroading! So, let's get right to it, shall we?[:)]

Referring to my post on page 368:

twhite

QUOTE: Tom (SiberianMo): What a GORGEOUS train, that Polar Express! And it looks great against that background. I haven't seen a locomotive with that much 'personality' in years!

Cat Tom - The loco does have 'personality' - great way to describe it! When I first saw the movie and poster, I thought how great it would be if Lionel would come out with their version of the train. They did - it's running - and really adds a bit of additional fun to the trainroom.[:D]

trolleyboy

QUOTE: Si the shelf looks really really good with the backdrop.The wallpaper is a really nice effect.We had a bit o snow last night so hopefully that'll keep our little yellow flowers's heads from poping up for a wee bit longer.

Rob - My guess is that your "little yellow flowers" will be around a bit longer than mine! Spring has sprung and the grass is riz down here.

By the way, we miss you over on the Trains forum (Canadian Passenger Railroads)!

LilRob1974

QUOTE: siberianmo, I really like those pics. Very cool, indeed.

der5997

QUOTE: siberianmo, great train! the night backdrop suits it well too

JimRCGMo

QUOTE: Siberianmo, the Polar extension with the background and all looks *very* nicely done!

Thanx for the kind words ......

John - you're progress pictures really tell the story. That's going to be some layout when you're finished (but then - are we EVER finished?)[tup] By the time I get up your way, do you expect that some will be operational?

Railroading_Brit

QUOTE: siberianmo, that Polar Express is very cool, and I like your installation of it - have considered doing something similar in the past but was put off by having to look up all the time (we have 8ft ceilings and doors that are a good 6ft+) so the layout would need binoculars to see. Nice work!

Your ceilings aren't really that high - just drop the shelf down to where you feel comfortable with the view! Also, the scale you are using will also factor in nicely for the shelf system. Go for it![tup]

KenLarsen

QUOTE: Tom-In-Chesterfield [a.k.a. siberianmo], that is one heluva good-lookin’ consist, that Polar Express! I don’t think any photos could ever do it justice – it cries out to be viewed in ‘real time.’ So when’s the next Open House gonna be?

Ken - You are welcome any time - just "drop a dime" on me and we'll arrange it![tup]

trainwreck100

QUOTE: SiberianMo: Nice pics of the layout. Yup, time to get that chemical down, its a little to late for glyphosates in Oklahoma, but a little Grazon P+D (that's a 24D) and some Prowl or Surflan (pre-emerges) is a good mix to use this time of year. Probably a shot of surfactant always helps too.

Not to worry - Carol (my wife) tended to the lawn care yesterday [:D] while I took care of the important stuff - completing the shelf system! Little yellow critters - make my day![}:)]

TurboOne

QUOTE: SiberMO...awesome pics great layout with O up top and HO on the bottom

Perhaps the O stuff can be really called a layout one day - I'm alread thinking of switches and running it into a portion of the unfinished basement ....... Argggggh - here we go again![:D]

philnrunt

QUOTE: Siberianmo- I have to admit, the Express looks great. I would have never thought a train based on a movie could look so good. And steam, at that! Ooops, probably should'nt have said that. But really, it looks great!

If you have seen the movie, no doubt you can relate to the great set that Lionel has come out with. I'm no "toy" fanatic - believe me. But this movie and that train just "hit" me right between my beedy little eyes! Now it is here and running just fine.[:D]

tomwatkins

QUOTE: Siberianmo, One Monday in a week is more than enough! I really used to hate it when they ganged up on me! The Polar Express is really looking good. The night sky backdrop is perfect.

Yes, Tom, gotta watch out for those weeks with five Mondays in 'em. Another thing to be cautious about is wet toilet paper, warm beer and running trains too fast on shelf railroads![:)]
================================

Time to get going on my "chores" - Carol is home this week (spring break at the university) and there are all kinds of "Honey do's" ........ and then some - [}:)]

See ya![tup]

[Anonymous]

Teffy,
I'm an offshore tug captain. Used to do oil for Bouchard and McAllister, out of New York, but doing dredge equipment moves, mostly, now. When they came up with all that STCW and other crap, I said to #$%&*@ with the beaurocrats and their paperwork, $2000 worth of schools and certifications a year, and a lot more crap, and went to a smaller (75') boat where I don't have to deal with it. I've gone thirty seven years without an accident and now I got to prove to some paper pusher that's never been on a anything bigger than a bass boat, don't know a carlin from a marlin spike, that I can run a boat. ARGGGH!!!! Don't let me get started! lol
I can sympathize with Domar going belly up. Now days, if you have an accident, you are considered a criminal. You face heavy fines, jail or prison time, and the loss of your company, boat, or livelihood. It's like you have the accident on purpose! I guess you can tell I'm not to happy with the direction our contry is going! Especially with all this Homeland Security bull.
Anyway, keep them boilers steam'en and them wheels turn'en!!!

[Anonymous]

Hey everybody!
This is my first time in the coffee shop!
I could not believe How freakin HUGE this topic is!
I remember when I used to be on a racing forum, us crazy speed freaks were really amazed when we got one of our topics all the way to 50 replies!

Anywho I'm currently making good use of the tax payers money by sitting here on the school computer, talking on a Forum. No worries! I've got a Spare this period!
And last night I had the joy of putting together one of those huge computer desks from IKEA.... So I'm absolutely dead with sleep![|)]z z z z z z

[Anonymous]

Afternoon all

Weather's got terrible here - now cold, soggy and grey, with occasional bursts of heavy rain. Think I'll get my G scale out this weekend (parents and younger brother are going off to France/Belgium for 4 days, so I can build a temporary replica of a switch yard in the living room...).

Greg, we have both £ and $ signs - the £ is on the 3 key and the $ on the 4. Some newer keyboards have the € (Euro) sign on as well - hope we sign up to that soon as it'll make visiting mainland Europe a lot easier - no need to change money! Seems to be a pretty emotive issue with some though, sadly they believe what they read in the more hysterical media.

ShelterValley, welcome aboard (welcome to all newbies in fact!) - I've been fighting Ikea wardrobes for the past few weeks so can sympathise. The products are well engineered but require considerable mechanical skill to assemble, so how people without this cope is beyond me... (let's just say a few Athearn BB kits are a good primer for Ikea furniture) Good use of a school PC too - I used to spend hours on here on Fridays as I had a gap between 10am and 4pm (worst lecture scheduling ever). Hole up in the Physics library (warm, quiet and empty) and use the hours "wisely"!

Bye for now

[JimRCGMO]

Good morning, and [#welcome] to the Coffee Shop, SV_Trainman! I'll cover your beverage order. Normally, whoever starts a new page (like you just did) buys the (virtual) drinks, but since you're new here, I'll have Zoe put the drinks for this morning on my tab.

Tell us a bit about your layout/plans - are you following a particular prototype (such as ATSF, UP, SP, NYC, Pennsy, or such) or freelancing? Steam/Diesel/Transition? Any particular time period (modern/50's/70's/?)? How far along are you on your layout - just planning, benchwork going, track laid, scenery in, or what? Inquiring minds want to know? Oh yeah - scale?: Zimpossible, (allegedly) Normal, Horribly Oversized, Gigantuous, Supersize me, or ...?

Feel free to post questions here (or in other forums), and you might even get some answers. There are a fair number of posts most days, especially since we've added several new folks over the past weeks/month or so. So read/skim through some posts and make yourself at home in the Shop.

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[siberianmo]

Good day ShelterValleyTrainman - While I'm a comparative newcomer to this "shop" no doubt you'll get all kinds of welcomes from those who are the "regulars."

I think you will find this one of the most interesting and active of all the "participating" discussions going on ........ really some great stuff. Do yourself a favor and take a look at at least a couple of dozen of the previous pages ...... it's well worth it![tup]

I also invite you to take a look at another forum. Scroll down to - TRAINS/Magazine Forums/ RAILROADS - CANADIAN PASSENGER RAILROADS - Let's talk! - We'd love to share your experiences there as well.

See ya.

[grayfox1119]

Good afternoon gents, I see you over at the corner table California Tom!! Good afternoon buddy !! Have an OJ on me.

Welcome to our new member to the Coffee Shop, Ontario Matt (Shelter Valley)[#welcome] You see Matt, we have so many new member now, the names have started to duplicate, so have little nicknames for everyone. Luckily for me there is only one ***[censored]so far, when the next one shows up, I will probably be Valley *** or Mass. *** or something that the guys think up. Your duplicate is Brit Matt ( from Wales).
How did I get started on this Tom????

Fergie: Sorry buddy, I thought that you seafaring people were up with the birds, I guess you will have to make the toast instead in the AM.

Mountain Tom: Your strawberries will be out long before mine , we don't get ours until about the 4th week of June. They beat the store bought varieties by a mile. The the blueberries come out, we have 30 high bush plants, we picked about 85 quarts last year.

SiberianMO: I was showing my wife what your wife did with the wallpapering for the Polar Express....she wants me to now get one for around the Christmas tree. She was asking if they have an HO guage Polar Express, to be honest, I haven't looked for one, does anyone know if there is one out yet ?

Time to get back to train room........see you guys later....

[JimRCGMO]

'Good lunchtime' to you, Cat Tom, *** and Zoe. I'll have a BLT with a Dr. Pepper, please. Rainy day here in Missouri - one of those 'soak your gardens' types.

Got a diesel question for you Clubbers (okay, Fergie, you can go back to sleep now [;)]) - what's a good source for finding what years different early diesels were made (e.g., when were production years for SW7, GP9, SW 1200, etc.)? I'm trying to decide which models of diesels will fit for my 50's era railroad, and what are the latest models I can reasonably make fit timewise. There had been one Railfans site that had the info, but they've gone to pay-only to see their rosters. Is there a website with that info, or barring that, a not-terribly expensive book worth getting (that doesn't have scads of other diesels info that I don't need)?

Any and all suggestions, links, etc. will definitely be welcomed. Ah, today got confirmation that I won an auction for an Athearn "CP-7 Southern Pacific" diesel (think the seller had trouble reading that lettering on old BB Athearns - even to my fading eyes it looked like GP-7 (and the photo of the unit was definitely a Geep). Hopefully the motor's in good shape, or if not, I'll post if I need suggestions on good replacement motor options and where to find 'em,

About finished my BLT, so I'll take my DP with me, Zoe. That's not to be confused with the Denver Pacific, by the way (is there such a RR?). [;)]

Blessings on your afternoon,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[twhite]

Good morning all--and welcome to Shelter Valley Trainman. Ahah! School Computer, eh? Don't worry, the last year I taught, I did all of my on-line shopping with the school computer--they're good for SOMETHING, at least, except to let you know when the next Useless Faculty Meeting was scheduled, LOL! I think you'll enjoy this group--Lord knows that I do!

Well, it's wet, wet, WET out here in SunnyCal, at least here in the northern part. Supposed to last through Easter--major storm warnings for the Sierra--we could get an additional 2 to 4 feet of snow, which means Spring Skiing, and if I were still young and adventurous, I'd be up there in a minute falling on my face every six feet or so. I don't know whether or not you out-of-staters know, but the snow we get here in the Sierras isn't that nice 'corn-snow' powdery stuff in Colorado, it's more like wet cement. Stays around a LONNNNNNNG time! But it makes for a really FAST skiing base.

Tim, you're supposed to be sunny down there in SoCAl. Yah, rub it in, buddy, LOL!!

Jim: Sent you an e-mail about the Walther's work train sets. Hope you can find them.

Steve: If you decide on the furnace-filter trees, make sure you tear the stuff as finely layered as you can, the scenery material thickens them up pretty well. And use CHEAP hair-spray. I don't know what they have in England, but over here we've got something called Aqua-Net that sells for about a buck a gallon, and if you accidentally use it on your hair, you can turn your head into a Lethal Weapon. But dang, does it cement the material to the trees!

Have to re-think the Deer Creek Viaduct today. That big empty section in the middle just doesn't look Yellowstone Friendly. Oh well, my usual planning.

Fergie: ANOTHER RDC? Dad's really determined, isn't he? But they're such cute little Devils--I'm almost thinking of getting one myself, but that would mean cutting out my Yuba River Express, and I have to have SOMETHING for my little PFM 4-6-0 to do. Forgot to tell you, I REALLY like the 'S' curve on your bridge--really graceful.

Well, time to feed the TrainCats and go out and spend some time pondering the Viaduct. Can't spend too much time today, I've got choir practice and we're getting ready for both Good Friday and Easter Sunday, so I'd better take the sleeping bag down to the Parish, eh, what? And rumor has it that Fr. Anthony's still eyeing the Friary basement. Brother Kurt asked me at the brewery last Sunday if there was a scale smaller than mine, I made the mistake of saying "Yes, two." If they start contemplating N or Z for that basement, I will have created a MONSTER!! They can model Denver to Oakland and still have room over for a branch to Portland, Oregon. Ah, the possibilities.
Later, gents. Have a great day!
Cat Tom

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[steveblackledge]

Hello All
TOM O CATS

QUOTE: and if you accidentally use it on your hair, you can turn your head into a Lethal Weapon. But dang, does it cement the material to the trees!

not much chance of that with my solar panel, might make it nice and shiney though
[8D]
still not found a supply of tree material, but i will, we have some fancy floor scrubbing pads at work that will do, i think

It was a damp day to start but as the day went on the sun came out, it's been very nice this year over here which makes a nice change

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: (CG)Jim: ...what's a good source for finding what years different early diesels were made (e.g., when were production years for SW7, GP9, SW 1200, etc.)? I'm trying to decide which models of diesels will fit for my 50's era railroad, and what are the latest models I can reasonably make fit timewise...

I don't know an on-line source, but consulting my handy dandy copy of "Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 Years" gives the following data for the production of the models you listed:

SW7 - Oct 49 - Jan 51
GP9 - Jan 54 - Dec 59
SW1200 - Jan 54 - May 66

Any other specific models you'd like to know while I'm still here on line?

Regards

Ed

[twhite]

Just dropped in from the garage, got the Viaduct Problem all solutioned out--going to re-space the bents, lower the overpass over the mainline below, which means shortening one of the bent-towers (sob!) and all should be well. Well, at least as much as the term 'well' means around MY layout!

Steve: I have a solar panel too--my Priest calls it my 'Honorary Franciscan Tonsure', so I know from whence you're coming, LOL! I think the industrial scrubbing pads might work, as long as they're not made of steel wool (ouch!) or fibreglass (double ouch!).

Saw a special on RFDTV last night about South African Beyer-Garratts. My, my, what INTERESTING steam locomotives. A couple of shots sort of reminded me of Cab-Forwards (in a weird kind of way). I have to admit though, they're just unusual enough to be fascinating. I remember an article in RMC several decades ago where Bill Schopp turned some Mantua steamers into Beyer-Garratts--I almost bit and tried it, until sanity prevailed. A portion of the program dealt with a 2-foor gauge pulpwood railroad in the South African hills, and those little critters (one of them a VERY bright red) just looked charming as Heck, steaming away. I think they were 2-6-2+2-6-2. Certainly not your typical British-inspired steam.

Well, time to think about getting ready for choir practice and take my weekly jaunt into downtown via Light Rail (and the always fascinating bevy of fellow travelers). Plan on the Great Viaduct Revision all day tomorrow (you'll hear the screaming, believe me!).
Later,
Cat Tom [:P][:P][:P]

[Anonymous]

Afternoon all.... Just stopping in to say hello for now.... it's supposed to rain here today and tomorrow so us here in So Cal don't feel left out of what is going on up north.

Well I'm off to check out other topics for a while.

[Anonymous]

Siberianmo, in re: your post (228) 9:41:14 with the photo of the really nice passenger station. May I ask if this is a kit or a "scratch?" It looks to me as if it could be "bashed" (if a kit) to a good likeness of the Kansas City (Mo) Union Station with very little trouble at all. I have already done a "scratch" of the building but due to space limitations, alas it is only a "front." Good photo and, bye the way, where is Chesterfield, Mo.?

[Attaboy]

Hi, Paul. Siberianmo just left as I logged on.

I missed yesterday and a lot of posts to catch up. I haven't worked OT in several years and even thought it was only two extra hours, I was beat when I got home. Even though I'm one of those paper pushers Capt. Turk was grumbling about, [:D] it is still a high pressure, high stress job.

Not much to report since I haven't done much but I am taking a couple vacation days Thursday and Friday, that will give me three days to work on the train room. I may even get to the bench work this weekend.

See you later.

[Attaboy]

Oh, by the way [#welcome] SV trainman.

[underworld]

Welcome ShelterValley__Trainman! Get as much free computer time as you can. Now you just have to figure out a way to get them to buy you trains!!!!!
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underworld

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