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

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  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA
  • 7,214 posts
Posted by siberianmo on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 4:53 PM
Well, I told myself I wouldn't do it - but I did! I've got to keep out of this place more than once a day (well maybe twice[:D] ........

grayfox1119
QUOTE: 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 ?


It's contagious! Pretty soon the Polar Express will be a "Christmas Thing" under lots of trees (as it should be!). No - I haven't seen an HO version of it - but no doubt there will be ...... O gauge seems to be just right for bringing out the detail, though. Plus as a kid's train - HO can get to be a bit "too much" for little fingers.

Ted D. Kramer
QUOTE: 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.?


The station is Walther's Cornerstone series and comes as kit. Rather "friendly" to put together, but unforgiving if you know what I mean.
Yes, it does resemble the Kansas City Union Station (in fact, I was there last Thursday coming/going aboard Amtrak .......)

The platforms are also Cornerstone and the "bridge platforms" were "bashed" in order to make the fit.

For my Can-Am layout, I think of the passenger set up in terms of Toronto's Union Station and Vancouver's Pacific Central Station (for the platforms only). "Works" for me ......

Chesterfield is 25 miles/40 km west of downtown St. Louis, MO. A subdivision kind of place ........
=================================

Some comments about RDC's are in order: Just cannot have enough of 'em - I have eight operating LifeLike Proto 1000's and love 'em - BC Rail and VIA Rail ..... look great and run just fine (perhaps a bit more "juice" than the other motive power.... but fine nonetheless).

See y'all tomorrow[tup]

Tom in Chesterfield, MO, USA (Siberianmo)
Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
  • Member since
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  • From: Out on the Briny Ocean Tossed
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Posted by Fergmiester on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 5:01 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by 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.



I believe it was me that spiked the Captain's B.P.[:(]. Sorry Capt. Turk! It's amazing what rage a small four letter acronym like STCW can envoke!

I too took an office job for two years as a Fleet Safety Officer selling ISM and other Juggernauts to the Fleet. Some of it actually made good sense. All seemed well until the Designated Person Ashore said to me after reviewing an accident report

"If they're not going to follow the procedure, then we will write a procedure for them to follow the procedure"

Now that I'm back at sea, the shoe's on the other foot and I won't say a word more. Unfortunately these new rules where written for the minority of irresponsible. The rest of us are paying for it. Hopefully the Captain will read this and forgive me for uttering such things as ISM and STCW[#oops]

On to more important things now

The M.E.S.S. now has a second RDC!
Decoder is in but the lighting will take a bit as I'm removing the light bulbs and preplacing them with LEDs. I'm actually going to try putting in white and red. white forward red astern. (I'll put another smile on the Ol' Man!)

Tom: Dad's talking about a third one for his window sill at home. Can't get enough of them!

Anyway I got a kitchen to clean as I fired up the ol' BBQ this evening for Chicken

MMMMMMmmmmmmm Chicken~!

Later Gents
Fergie

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959

If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007  

  • Member since
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  • From: North Central Texas
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Posted by Paul W. Beverung on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 5:26 PM
Afternoon Folks;

Welcome S-V trainman. I’m happy to have you in the coffee shop. Have a beverage of your choice on me.

Jim;
Check in a copy of Diesel Spotters Guide. That will cover everything that was available in your era.

Si;
Add my kudos to the others.

Well Mary Ann just steeped in and said that the hose to the water tank in the corral broke so I’d better get to fixing it.

Paul

The Duluth, Superior, & Southeastern

“ The Superior Route “




Paul The Duluth, Superior, & Southeastern " The Superior Route " WETSU
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 5:48 PM
Hi all.....Bye all....Oh, SV_Trainman [#welcome]
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 5:59 PM
Good evening all.

I know I've not been here often lately, I've sort of been taking care of CFO. She did see the doc yesterday and she should be hearing from a kidney specialist in the very near future. That is finally good news.

I have kept up with reading the posts and I have notice by the photos that there has been so excellent work by many of our clubbers. Nice to see indeed.

I am off next week and though CFO has plans for spring cleaning, I've reserved some time to glue down the foam boards and possibly apply a coat or 2 of the base paint. The LHS is planning a show in the next few weeks and I'm hoping to attend and see what I can get. Fergie/John have you heard anything from Gearge? Was it you Fergie who mentioned he had been hopitalised? I hope he is OK.

[#welcome][#welcome][#welcome] to all the new visitors, I know the list is long and it very good to see so many join us. Please do drop in often and have fun with all of us.

John- thanks again for the loan of your airbrush. I'll need to get can air for it and do a bit of weathering, which may take a bit of time but please let me know as soon as you require it back, I'll get it to within a few hours.

Cat tom - I have something for Spooky, could you e me you e address?

Ed - Isn't this the time of year when one replaces RED SOX with sandals?
[:D][:D]

Has any one heard from Elliot lately?

Must go for now

Happy MRRing
  • Member since
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  • From: Cherry Valley, Ma
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Posted by grayfox1119 on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 6:27 PM
Good evening gents......

Flip: Got your message, I have tried to get the RFD channel up here, and the Cable company seemed amiable, but I do not have it yet....How was that show that had NE steam action ???

Just heard the weather forecast on the 6pm news, can you imagine......it has changed from rain/showers tomorrow night to.....4-8" of snow!!!!! This is getting rediculous now.
Stay tuned in Nova Scotia.....the calendar may say Spring, but the sky has another story to tell.

Siberianmo: Yes, the wife wants to get that Polar Express, so I just can't let it hide in a closet after the holidays, so now I have to include this somehow in my layout scheme. Maybe I can do a wrap around the entire basement...in one room out the other all aroun d the perimeter. Where there are adjoining walls....well.........a tunnel through the walls!!! Thats it !!!!

Tim: It hit 50 here this afternoon......the calm before the storm, but what a nice taste of Spring...I am actually getting a tan after 9 straight days of clear skies. I see you have another gully washer in southern Ca....so much for the song " it never rains in California........"

Think I will read some train mags....see you later guys,
Dick If you do what you always did, you'll get what you always got!! Learn from the mistakes of others, trust me........you can't live long enough to make all the mistakes yourself, I tried !! Picture album at :http://www.railimages.com/gallery/dickjubinville Picture album at:http://community.webshots.com/user/dickj19 local weather www.weatherlink.com/user/grayfox1119
  • Member since
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  • From: Out on the Briny Ocean Tossed
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Posted by Fergmiester on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 8:32 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergmiester

On to more important things now

The M.E.S.S. now has a second RDC!
Decoder is in but the lighting will take a bit as I'm removing the light bulbs and preplacing them with LEDs. I'm actually going to try putting in white and red. white forward red astern. (I'll put another smile on the Ol' Man!)



What was I thinking!?
The LEDs have turned into a nightmare as I can't even get a flicker out of them. I think I've reversed the polarity if that's possible. Anyway I'm fried so that's that. Good thing i I haven't fried the board... yet

Later Gents
Fergie[zzz]

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959

If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007  

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  • From: Out on the Briny Ocean Tossed
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Posted by Fergmiester on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 8:34 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergmiester

Originally posted by Fergmiester

On to more important things now

The M.E.S.S. now has a second RDC!
Decoder is in but the lighting will take a bit as I'm removing the light bulbs and preplacing them with LEDs. I'm actually going to try putting in white and red. white forward red astern. (I'll put another smile on the Ol' Man!)



What was I thinking!?
The LEDs have turned into a nightmare as I can't even get a flicker out of them. I think I've reversed the polarity if that's possible. Anyway I'm fried so that's that. Good thing i I haven't fried the board... yet

Later Gents
Fergie[zzz]


Before I forget

***: According to Lisa it's going to miss us!

Luct: George got out of the hospital the other day but is very weak. BTW I might be able to make it to the Train Show in two weeks time, You going?

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959

If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007  

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 8:42 PM
Tom O the Cats: How far is Carmichael from Gridley? We had a short lived transfer from Gridley come to Calumet for a couple of months last year, but he wanted to go back to cali, so I guess he came back that way.

SVTrainman: Welcome to the coffee shop, school is a good place to talk from, I frequently check in during yearbook class.

Fergie: Yeah, reversing polarity will make an LED not work, but it doesn't hurt them any, just flip the wires around an it'll be okay as long as you have a resistor in there. I learned all that the hard way, I blew up a couple before I finally got it right.

More dead action on the AT&L today, they came through town twice, running empty both ways, oh well, I guess it gives me a chance to see the locos out and working. Okay, question for all of the loco guys (don't take that the wrong way Ed), on a cold day a while back dad and I went up to the locomotives parked in Calumet hoping to get a picture of them, and there was a strange hiss coming from inside one of them, it didn't sound like an air leak or anything, but more like a fire burning. Do they have some kind of gas heater inside or something?

Well, I think I'll go see if I can find some hinges to finish assembling my treasure chest for the school prom, it's starting to look more like a coffin than a treasure chest though, my measurments were a little big when I started in, but its too late to go back now.

Greg
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  • From: Nova Scotia, Northumberland Shore
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Posted by der5997 on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 8:47 PM
Good evening all: I see Fergie and Greg were in when I finished reading all the pages. I started this post this morning, and saved it in Word to get back to now.

BridgeTom:
QUOTE: it's not in the New Extension Album, it's in the Second Album, because I can't figure out how to transfer the photos from one album to the other right now,
Even bright and calm, I haven’t been able to figure that out….and if you re-post to the new album from your source file, does the re-post have the same address as the original gallery post? …and if it doesn’t, what happens to references on the forums etc? [banghead]

Tim:
QUOTE: John of the great white north, how are things ?

Much less white. I’m glad to say![^] Grandkids and mom were down for March break, train room became bedroom, and no mrring [sigh]. Got my NCE dcc powered up and it seems to be in working order. Now I’ve got to bite the bullet and get some decoders installed. I’ve been stalled on that as I fried the very first one I tried even thought the test meter showed no shorts. I can’t afford to do that, and have been putting off the evil hour.
BTW, if you hang a router incorrectly, do you get a plunge router? Inquiring twisted minds want to know.[:-,]

NorthernPhil:
QUOTE: Maybe you NOB'ersarn't that cra-z after all!
but then maybe we are[:O] that’s the disquieting thing, you can’t tell until it’s too late[swg] As to solidity, it’s amazing what a facia will do to give a false impression![(-D] Smoke and mirrors again, take a look
Not that the lift-up section is shown in this model.

Grubby:
QUOTE: and a PollyWaffle thanks.
Does the Royal Australian Society for the Protection of Parrots know about those?[(-D]
Dare we ask the country of origin of those track cutters? I had a pair of regular pliers of Asian extraction shatter as you described on the first hard use.[V]

Ken:
QUOTE: BTW, haven’t seen any new definitions from you lately…having a dry spell, eh?
Weren’t there any yesterday? Where’s that Ginka Biloba???[(-D] OK. Here we go….
13. Glibido: All talk and no action. (JR, you’ll appreciate that one, judging by your slogan [:D])
14. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

Fergie:
QUOTE: John I'll take a copy of that if you don't mind. We drink alot of diet pop here.
As soon as I get off here, or in the morning, which ever works out better [:D]
QUOTE: Oh and thanks for the TM
You’re [#welcome]It’s a Word thing, like Zoë and touché! [(-D]
QUOTE: I think I've reversed the polarity if that's possible.
More than likely. Did you use a dropping resistor? If not they are possibly a little worse for wear.

Siberianmo:
QUOTE: 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?) By the time I get up your way, do you expect that some will be operational?
Thanks. Don’t forget I’m posting pics from several layouts. The one that is current has mostly blue foam. Word on the street is that we may all meet at Fergie’s due to time constraints. You are very welcome here, if time permits. Operation of some sort would be attempted.

ShelterValley__Trainman [#welcome] Hope you enjoy the laid back pace in here. We do talk MRR, but much else besides. You’ll find a fellow Ontarian (Brantford) in TrolleyRob. There’s a couple of chaps in BC, a Montrealer, and 3 from NS who are regulars. (plus some ex-Newfies now living SOB)

Matt:
QUOTE: hope we sign up to that (the Euro) soon as it'll make visiting mainland Europe a lot easier - no need to change money!

I wouldn’t be too hasty if what I read about sterling strength against the € in the next while is anything to go by. You are running a budget surplus while the others are trying to find ways of limiting the acceptable level of deficit.

Luc: Glad to hear that Gloria will finally be seeing a specialist. As to George, there was an article in the Herald that mentioned he was in hospital with pneumonia. I didn’t see it, but my MIL mentioned it. She’s been in the van a time or two that I’ve popped in there, so she knew who it was.
As to the airbrush, no panic yet, so relax and enjoy. I don’t know sources of canned air, but how about Cdn Tire, and Princess Auto?

That’s about it for tonight, so good night all, and God Bless

The preview shows this may be a bit wide, but I don't know why, or how to prevent it.


"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 9:00 PM
Fergmiester,
Sorry about going off like that, but, well, you have to deal with the idiocy yourself, so you know where I'm coming from. The bad thing about it is that alot of the older, much more competent and experienced people are just giving up on the whole mess. It's a hell of a loss to the safety of the industry when you lose that much experience. It's generally the young guys without the experience that have most of the accidents, and who's going to be at the helm with several million gallons of oil or fuel, when all the old guys have said the heck with it and left? Who would you rather have at the helm? A kid of 25(nothing against the young) or a guy with 40 years experience?
That's the problem with our government. Don't solve the problem, just throw paper at it.
I spent most of my time on watch, on the bigger vessels, doing paperwork instead of looking out the pilothouse windows.
  • Member since
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  • From: Cape Girardeau, MO
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Posted by JimRCGMO on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 9:01 PM
Evening, Chloe, looks like you, me and the corner-sitters! I'll have a mocha frappacino, please - on ***'s tab, since he started a new page on us.[:)]

Cat Tom, got your email on the MOW cars - and you're right about never having enough siding space for them... [;)] I'll keep a watch on eBay for some of those (or get enough pictures to kitbash my own, maybe?). I thought they kind of looked like the old Walthers ones!

Ed, if you get this somewhere on your NOB run (and have the info with you), how about production dates on a GP7, and also are there any SD's that started production early in the 50's? I may have a source on a used copy of the DSG, perhaps.Thanks for the info you've already sent![:)]

GMTRacing, I think I might have forgotten to say [#welcome] to you, and have your favorite beverage on me. Have some fun here with the rest of the asylum inmates Shop members!

Luc, good to hear that the doctors will be able to help Gloria some. Hopefully, things will improve (both before and at the next trip) for Gloria.

We got rain most of the day, but the sun almost (almost) came out this afternoon. Had some thunderstorm warnings over in Western Kentucky/Tennessee a little earlier tonight, but nothing close here. Temp's suppsed to be dropping into the 40's tonight. But then again, it was low 40's this morning and got into the mid-50's today. Was a nice, graden-soaking rain today; never did come down very heavy, just rained most all the day. Good for those spring flowers. [:)]

Will check back in in the morning. Hope you all have a great night.

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau
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Posted by grayfox1119 on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 10:15 PM
Holy Cow...I didn't even check back earlier this evening to see that I turned a new page!!! Just for that, Cloe, drinks for the whole gang, a strawberry sundae for Jim deep fried onion rings for Mitchell, a tall smoothie for Tim, premier tea for our Steve and Matt.

Fergie: Sorry to hear about the LED ( Light Emitting Diodes ) problem. I don't know if a schematic diagram came with your decoder or not, but if so, there is an anode and a cathode, the leads are connected accordingly by polarity of the diode. One way it is very high resistance, the other direction is low resistance resulting in conduction ( light).
Tell Lisa to keep an eye on this storm, it is turning towards the Carolina coastline, and is going to become a Spring Nor'easter...lots of moisture with this system. It is supposed to turn out to sea off the NE coast, but I have seen these storms change quickly.

Der John: Sorry to hear about your decoder problem, but it may not be blown, read the directions carefully, it might be the program settings. I have an NCE also, I wish I had some of my benchwork up so that I could try it out...tsk, tsk.

Bed time...... see you all in the mornin, God Bless the coffee shop family,
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 BurlingtonJohn on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 10:35 PM
Good evening from MIssouri!

Just had a contractor come by this morning to take a look at the spare room in our basement that is slated for conversion into the layout room.

Since the work will comprise considerable drywall installation, changes to our home's electrical wiring and plumbing rerouting, I decided to leave this phase of construction to somebody who knows what they are doing.

After nearly two years in our home, HO layout construction is finally on the horizon, moving past the design stage. That, coupled with the arrival of the Walthers 130' turntable and the completion of a 12 stall roundhouse, makes me giddy with excitement.

The Burlington Route will rise again, even if it is 2005!

Regards & Everywhere West!

Burlington John

THE site for American Freedom Train fans http://www.freedomtrain.org

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Posted by philnrunt on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 10:36 PM
Hey everybody-
Welcome to SVTrainman.

Capt Turk- Just see water, eh? Remember, I'm in Indiana. At least yor water moves and changes, my cornfields pretty much stay static. And even Fergie's fog has a certain menace to it, (you never know when Gorgo or the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms will rise up and chomp your ship) but only city people get scared around cornfields. Lame, sad city people at that.

Fergie- Last diesel? The LAST DIESEL????? HARHARHAR!! Just what all of the prototypes said in '39! They fla***hose big innocent Mars lights at you, cuddle up in your lap with that diesel purr, and then start whispering in your ear with their Leslie 5 chimers and the next thing you know- a FLEET of SD40-2s, a GAGGLE of U-30Cs, a PLETHORA of SD70MACS and a Baldwin. Just one. Sorta like garlic for your BBQ sauce, one is enough to spice it up. And hey, that LED thingie- You sailors have a strange way of putting smiles on peoples faces. Just take a torch to it and your dad will be happy for a month! Seriously, let us know how you fix it. And good luck.

der5997-Compared to my benchwork, yours looks like Gibraltar! Keep up the good work, whichever layout you are working on.

JimRCG- SD7s and 9s were produced pretty much at the same time as their GP counterparts. And there was always ALCos, they had 6 axles almost from the start. And with much more personality.( Trainmaster)

Gotta go, lights are flashing on and off, only a matter of time before I loose this.
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Posted by trolleyboy on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 10:50 PM
Good evening everyone.[#welcome] shelter valley it's good to finally have a solid ontario contingent forming in here.Just getting back in from Heather's birthday celebrations.The Mandarin buffet[dinner][dinner] I can hardley move but since it was chinease food I'll be up for a bedtime snack[C=:-)][dinner][(-D][(-D][(-D]. Fergie Is your newest infernal combustion machine also a Dominion atlantic? flip I got your picture package today[tup] nice pic man thanks for the mail.The old body in the field looks like a big doudle ended brill.Montreal used to run alot of cars like those as well as just about every other city in the US that had a street railway system.We had one at the museum that came out of Hmilton Ontario but unfortunatly it was beyond restoration. We kept a few usefull parts but otherwise it met the cutting torch.We hated doing it but the shape the car was in was terribly sad. Not enough structural members intact enough to take a resto.Well I've got a day off tomorrow so I'm hoping to get a bit more track work done. I may not be in much next week. It's my turn to run the midnight crew[xx(][xx(]. Be gentle guys i'm hoping not to have to wade through 100 pages. LOL grubby I have also disintigrated a couple of sets of the cheap rail cutters.I know shopuld have bought the xuron as well but I gave thee cheepies a second chance and well lets just say that I've paid for a xuron but not actually bought it yet.[*^_^*][banghead][D)] Well I'm starting to feel hungry so I think I'm going to go make a snack. talk to you guys later. Rob
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 11:37 PM
Chloe, I’ll have a decaf Pepsi. I'd offer to buy everybody drinks but nobody's here...

Been away pretty much all day, but it was productive – finished all the trim and striping (including the ends) on the 'flagship' SD38-2. Here are the pics:





I plan to post a photo step-by-step topic within the next day or two, showing how I created and applied the home-grown stripe decals.

Now, on to the replies…



Northern Phil –
I was actually thinking about a stripe along the top as you described (not yellow or reflective though) – but I decided against it, since the Iron Belt is more of a ‘gritty’ industrial line. But you’ve given me another idea: I might try white side stripes on one of the other SD’s instead of black…that would be fairly reflective, ya think?

Fergie –
My experience [with kids and layouts] has been similar to yours – the layout I had in my previous home was strangely ‘respected’ by my otherwise wild kids, who had a talent for gutting every other area of the house. I think my real reason for not using the bascule bridge as a ‘gateway’ is its fragility – it’s an accident waiting to happen, regardless of the maturity levels of the people who might brush against it. I’ll find a safer place to install it. BTW, congrats on that latest [RDC] addition to the MESS family.

Mountain Tom -
Appreciate the positive feedback on the SD’s [angel]

Trainwreck Greg -
Regardless of what your school’s team is named, they have excellent taste in colors![tup]

Si -
Appreciate the ‘invite’, probably won’t be able to take you up on it anytime soon though...

ShelterValley__Trainman – [#welcome]

DerJohn – glad to see the ol’ alternative dictionary is still alive and kickin’[:D]

. . .
ARRRRRGH --- it’s 12:20am and I have to work tomorrow! Bedtime….g’night!
  • Member since
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Posted by twhite on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 12:19 AM
Just got back from choir practice--there should be a manual out there somewhere on how to survive Lent! Seems the Liturgy committee has spent the last two days revising the Good Friday services and oh, my, JUST remembered to tell the musicians, tonight about the changes. So it was another session of the Catholic Scramble (which is sort of like the Tango, only without all the heavy breathing), and away we G000000000000!!
Ah well, it's over Sunday. I think.

Trainwreck: Carmichael's about fifty miles or so south of Gridley, just east of Sacramento. Your transfer wanted to come back to GRIDLEY?! Dang, I'd have stayed in Calumet, given the choice.

Der: I'm so glad I'm not the only one that clicks the "Help" button and gets transferred right back to where I started. I will figure that transfer out come Hell or High Water, but not until I've finally conquered the Great Viaduct Problem tomorrow.

Jim: Hope you can find those Walthers cars. In the meantime, if you don't have one, see about picking up that neat little Tichy crane and its derrick car. The crane has six-zillion parts, but every one of them fits perfectly. It's a little charmer! Next time I post on the website, I'll add it to the spur-track.

BurlingtonJohn: The Q is my very FAVORITE midwestern railroad--they had some of the handsomest steam in the country, and Oboy, those ZEPHYRS!! Best wishes on starting the layout--I hope you'll post photos when you get going. I'll tell my two C&S 2-10-2's about it, they'll be proud!

Ken--that color scheme is SO handsome--it really makes that diesel look like business! Congrats--just wondering, do you have any F's? And if so, will their scheme be somewhat similar? Boy, I'm not even much of a diesel fan, but that SD just makes my mouth water.

Tim: Did you get our storm, yet? It's dumping so much snow in the Sierra that if we get a sudden warm spell, our Spring Runoff is going to send us all out in rowboats!

Well, time to think about hitting the sack--have to spend the day revising that (mutter, mutter) viaduct. Spooky's waiting for the weather to clear so she can shred some more furnace filter material, Lowell's still after me to plant catnip among the Fir trees in Rock Creek Gorge, and Wiley's still learning how to meow. I tell you, it's not a pretty sight around here right now.
Later, gents
Cat Tom [:P][:P][:P]
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 3:02 AM
Ken - Nice Job on the painting.... all you need now is lettering and some weathering done to it.
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New Milford, Ct
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Posted by GMTRacing on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 6:16 AM
Good Morning all and welcome SV-Trainman,
Good to see the taxpayers $ put to good use at school. Will SVT do or is it taken?

Managed an hour last night after work and taxi duty trying to disguise the helix i need until i can annex more basement (hope the CFO doesn't read this). Found the overhang of two locos foul the outer lower wall and so revise again. If i can figure out the digital camera i'll try to post some pics.
I thought STCW meant stow the cat walks. Mom lives in Lockport N.S. and all i hear when i visit is fish quotas and she doesn't even own a boat. Oh well - that's it for now.
J.R. [bhe who has never made a mistake has never made muchb/]
  • Member since
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  • From: BrisVegas
  • 176 posts
Posted by Grubby on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 9:02 AM
Evening all, Large Coke spider thanks.... and another PollyWaffle...the Parrot people can go please themselves [:P]

I returned the inferior now two piece track cutters, yes of Asian origin, and upgraded to the Xuron .... for the two cuts the asian cutters made, I think they did a better job, but after a few cuts the Model X is still alive so......

Got a bit more track laid and soldered.... such a slow process with my little assistant, but fun none-the-less. Looks like my Large Curved Turnout is redundant and will have to be replaced with a Medium a little further up the track...I can't get the track around to it without a huge kink [:(]

In better news my RailImages account info has just arrived and I will have some photos of the diaster-in-the-making or DITM by the weekend.

Time to be abed...night all you guys enjoy today while I enjoy tomorrow
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 9:10 AM
Good Morning All:

I'm really looking forward to this weekend with everybody comming in. I've got the camera ready so you guys can see some of what goes on.

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

....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...

Stephanie and I used to drive some of the ski charters and considered that a mini vacation. The third trip was to Keystone and they had night skiing. We thought that was great until we realized we couldn't see the ice patches in the dark, I don't remember how many times we fell down but when we got to the bottom we decided not to go up again.

QUOTE: Originally posted by luct

Good evening all....
Ed - Isn't this the time of year when one replaces RED SOX with sandals?
[:D][:D]...

Very good idea.

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainwreck100

... I went up to the locomotives parked in Calumet hoping to get a picture of them, and there was a strange hiss coming from inside one of them, it didn't sound like an air leak or anything, but more like a fire burning. Do they have some kind of gas heater inside or something?
Greg

Not only do they have an external diesel fired heater they also have an external oil pump that is turned on before the engine is started so the bearings have oil in them.

QUOTE: Originally posted by philnrunt

Hey everybody....Fergie- Last diesel? The LAST DIESEL????? HARHARHAR!! Just what all of the prototypes said in '39! They fla***hose big innocent Mars lights at you, cuddle up in your lap with that diesel purr, and then start whispering in your ear with their Leslie 5 chimers and the next thing you know- a FLEET of SD40-2s, a GAGGLE of U-30Cs, a PLETHORA of SD70MACS and a Baldwin. Just one. Sorta like garlic for your BBQ sauce, one is enough to spice it up....

I started with one Stewert FT-AB just for the personal road - now I have every Genesis SF warbonnet that has come out and two SD75Ms. I think the darn things propagate in the dark.

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

..... Spooky's waiting for the weather to clear so she can shred some more furnace filter material, Lowell's still after me to plant catnip among the Fir trees in Rock Creek Gorge, and Wiley's still learning how to meow. I tell you, it's not a pretty sight around here right now.
Later, gents
Cat Tom [:P][:P][:P]


I thought that I wanted to get a cat, just for Stephanie to have something to pet. I think that now I'll just tell her about yours, that way I don't have to go caboose looking.

QUOTE: Originally posted by GMTRacing

....J.R. [bhe who has never made a mistake has never made muchb/]

A "]" between the first "b" and "h" and a "[/" between "much" and the "b" and delete the last "/" will put the statement in bold print. I assume that's what you were trying to do. at the beginning and at the end will bold everything in between. I had to do them with a space after the "b" so they would print and not just bold everything. You want to do it and leave the spaces out.

Ya'll have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 9:45 AM
Zoe, I’ll have an Orange Smoothie and a pancake platter; while you’re at it, also bring one over to Turbo Tim’s table and put it on my tab!

Good morning all.

My employer isn’t paying me to do this, so I gotta make it quick….

Still working on preparing that lightbulb topic about making home-grown stripe decals, seems to be a LOT more time-consuming than I first realized.

Cat-Tom:
QUOTE: twhite said:
Ken--that color scheme is SO handsome--it really makes that diesel look like business! Congrats--just wondering, do you have any F's? ...
Not yet…but perhaps, for some ‘retro’ photos.
QUOTE: twhite said:
… if so, will their scheme be somewhat similar?
Probably, except maybe ‘reverse polarity’ (unless that would make them look too much like the later Rio Grande hood units).
QUOTE: twhite said:
… Boy, I'm not even much of a diesel fan, but that SD just makes my mouth water.
Lord have mercy…I’m corrupting you! [:O]

Brian –
QUOTE: brclem said:
Ken - Nice Job on the painting.... all you need now is lettering and some weathering done to it.

Thanx Brian, I’ll be doing the logo and lettering next week – they will present a different set of decaling challenges.

Oops, here comes BigBossMan, gotta look busy, see ya….!
  • Member since
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  • From: Reedsburg WI (near Wisconsin Dells)
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Posted by Noah Hofrichter on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 10:18 AM
Golly! I’m gone from the shop for five days and you folks write a book on me! Really though, I’ve got some time so I’m just stopping in for a little while, I won’t be back regular until Saturday. I’m just trying to get caught up, so here goes, more from me later.

(Starting waaaay back on page 361, for those of you that can remember that far….)
Cat Tom, as a matter of fact, as long as it doesn’t rain, we’re going to the Santa Cruz logging railroad tomorrow. It sounds like it’ll be neat, I hope it is.

Ken, I appreciate you taking the time to post photos of the EJE units, they really do look good. From Ad’s I saw I thought they looked pretty good, but they look even better in the photos you showed me. And I think I almost like the scheme better with you new decals, you should suggest that to the real EJE!

Well, I have a question for the group as a whole. Fergie mentioned to another member something that I want to try, but I don’t know where to get started, and this is where you all come in. Now that I have all of the ARK’s track work complete, I want to solder the joints, but I don’t even know where to begin.

I don’t own a soldering iron, and this is one of the questions I had, which one is best? What wattage do I need? Fergie, you might have already mentioned this, but I’m to lazy to go back and look, what do you think of the Cold Heat iron? I think something like this iron would do me good for a first effort, I wouldn’t have to worry about hurting myself that way, and once I get good I can get a better iron. But what do you folks think of my plan? Any thoughts? I’d be happy to hear any ideas.

Well, I better get going, providing the rain holds out we’re going down to fisherman’s Wharf this morning, and then North of San Fran this afternoon. I did get some railfanning in on Monday, photos and a webpage will come this upcoming weekend once I get to my own home. I’ll see you all Saturday!

Noah
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 10:40 AM
Zoe, a footlong with mustard and onions, please…and a Wild Cherry Pepsi.

My mind is NOT on my work today….[:I][V]

DerJohn, has anybody reported either of these Alternative Definitions to you yet:

1) Eclectification --- the process of including elements of multiple geographical regions and/or time periods on a single layout;
2) Eminence Domain --- allocating space for a layout in the Bishop’s Rectory (Cat-Tom, do you copy?)

Noah, welcome back - hope the weather didn't interfere with your planned railfanning in 'sunny' CA.

*Slurp/gulp* back to work…
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 11:23 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by 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



OK.... I needed to have what you wrote on hand so I knew what I was responding to![:0]
Well I started with a 4x8 table then Scraped that and went to making a 2x 4 piece, and my plan is to just keep attaching extensions.... go small.
I have HO scale, and my prototype is more or less CP/CN railways put together, plus a Via rail line ( passenger lines) but I'm freelancing the land, and the towns and whatnot...The time period is more or less the Late 90's, and modern.

Right now I'm doing a little bit of everything.... Benchwork is done for this peticular piece, so is track laying, and molds of mountains...
Ok I've had a teacher over my shoulder the entire time that I've been writing this...
i think he wants me off!?!?!?!

" Yes I do! Sorry people but this student has to get off the computer right now!"

Yeah right about now it would be my spare but we have a messed up schedual...

GOT TO GO![:0][:0][:D]
  • Member since
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  • From: Carmichael, CA
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Posted by twhite on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 11:37 AM
Just stopped in for a minute between viaduct bents (am I the only one that builds them from the top DOWN?).

Ken: Your reverse scheme on an F-unit wouldn't make ME think of a Rio Grande--their F's were all stripy, at least the early black and yellow ones. But then--hey, I'm a Rio Grande freak, so the color scheme wouldn't bother me at all, LOL! As for 'corrupting' me, go right ahead. Sometimes I feel out of the loop being four decades behind everyone else. Love "Eminence Domain", BTW--BWA-HAAAH!!

Noah: It's raining here about eighty miles east of you, but I hope you don't let that deter you from the Roaring Camp and Big Trees in Santa Cruz--that area is GORGEOUS, no matter what the weather! And those narrow-gauge Shays are the NOISIEST little slammers!

Teffy: Aw, c'mon, spring for a cat for Stephanie. Maine Coon if you can find one, I know there are breeders around your area, they're America's second-most popular breed right now. Besides, what's a couple of cabeese, anyway? Spooky doesn't BITE them, she just hides them then snickers a lot. Besides, if you ever get into furnace-filter trees, you have a little ready-made helper for the foliage. Only thing is, they're really ENVIOUS of the fact that we have opposable thumbs and they don't (but they're working on it).

Okay, back to the garage--and the viaduct. This is the LAST bridge. I swear it! (Yah, sure!)
Later,
Cat Tom [:P][:P][:P]
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Cherry Valley, Ma
  • 3,674 posts
Posted by grayfox1119 on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 12:10 PM
Good afternoon gents......I see that coffee shop is empty....guess everyone is in the diner car on siding #3 right Zoe?

The weather here today is cloudy and 39F, and we have 4-8 inches of snoah coming tonight and into tomorrow morning. If we get 8 inches, we will be very near our record snowfall depth for all time. Maybe not all time, I don't know how bad it was back in the ice age about 10K years ago, when we were under a mile of ice.

I am considering a staging area under the benchwork along one of the long walls. I guess one would have to have a helix to accompli***his feat. Is it adviseable to build it yourself or buy one already made???

Ok, time to get back to work, see you later gents,
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 der5997 on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 12:54 PM
Good afternoon everyone: (as I’m alone right now, I’m leaving this message in a bottle for pick up by the next in)

***:
QUOTE: Der John: Sorry to hear about your decoder problem, but it may not be blown, read the directions carefully, it might be the program settings.
Thanks for your hopefulness, but the cloud of smoke that came from the thing told it’s own story[sigh] I should have stopped when the lights didn’t come on, but thought that it may have been due to a wrongly connected lead. (Why I would have thought that after triple checking everything beats me, but we do strange things I should pay more attention to your signature line.[:D])
QUOTE: I guess one would have to have a helix to accompli***his feat. Is it adviseable to build it yourself or buy one already made???
Never did hear of anyone buying them[:O] Building is not that difficult, and Elliot is probably the one to talk to for tips.

BurlingtonJohn [#welcome] You’ll find an assortment of military and ex-military in here, with law enforcement and Coast guard for back up[(-D] Good luck on the layout plans, and we note NO BN![:D]

Ken: That loco is looking fantastic! Horribly Oversized, but fantastic [(-D]
LOL on your definitions. Eclectification happens a lot![tup]
Here are today’s offerings:
15. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
16. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

BridgeTom: Was last night’s choir practice moved to Tuesday because of Maundy Thursday, or do you always practice on Tuesdays? If so, this is in my experience aberrant behavior for church choirs![:D]
Hope the viaduct puzzle finds an easy solution now that you have slept on it.
Now, learn to say “Hello, my name is Tom, and I am a bridge-a-holic” I understand it’s the first step![(-D]

JR How big is that helix you are trying to hide? I was going to let you know about how the bolding works, but Bob beat me to it.[:D]
Sounds like we have very similar layout/lines/eras. My CP and Algoma Central are by default, and the locos are scheduled for repainting in favour of CN or my Maritime Trunk. I’ve Via, but have to repaint an Amtrack loco for it. Oh, and my layout is meant to be Maritimes, but I’m not sure where there would be all the rock I’ve had to build!
I’m in Normal, whereas you are in Horribly Oversized!

Grubby:
QUOTE: the Parrot people can go please themselves
They usually do, don’t they? I think they are in league with the paper pushers capt_turk and Fergie have been fighting.[:D] Looking forward to the pics.

Noah:
QUOTE: I want to solder the joints, but I don’t even know where to begin.
Did you have any flextrack joins on curves? If so, even if it means taking up those curves, start there and solder the joins while the track is straight OTOH, if your joins on the curves are smooth, and the track solidly installed and as nice a job as your cars are, it may be just as well to leave them alone. The point is you need to make sure there are no kinks in the curves. Then, start at any place from where you can easily monitor what you’ve done, and what’s left to do, and solder away. I have not soldered my turnout joints anywhere, except where they are on curves. My [2c]
QUOTE: I don’t own a soldering iron, and this is one of the questions I had, which one is best?
for most jobs, a “pencil” type at about 25 – 30 Watts should be fine. But track acts as a heat sink, so you need more energy going to the join to get the solder to melt and stay melted. For that, I use a “gun” type iron at about 125 Watts. More expensive, but think decoder, it should be comparable.
We are waiting to see if Fergie’s cold heat works. We have our doubts about it being able to deliver enough heat for rail joining. By “we” I mean whoever had this discussion in here some months ago.

That seems to be about it for now. We’ve had a heavy snow flurry, and it’s all melted again[^] May have to run into the Harbour. See you later.
Oh, forgot to mention the starling in the chimney yesterday. Must be Spring. Didn’t make too much mess when I let it out of the woodstove, but if I had thought to get the net from the shed BEFORE opening the door, it would have made less. Maybe next time![(-D]



"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.

  • Member since
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  • From: Cape Girardeau, MO
  • 3,073 posts
Posted by JimRCGMO on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 2:25 PM
Good afternoon, Zoe - I see Der John and a few others have been in .

Strawberry sundae, eyewwww! [xx(] Give me orange, or chocolate or fudge or even plain vanilla with caramel, but not strawberry, ***![;)]

[#welcome] BurlingtonJohn! Have a cup of your favorite coffee, some of Ed's "imported" OJ, a deep fried cola like Mitchell likes, or place your food order with Zoe (or Chloe, if it's evenings).

Philnrunt, thanks for the info on the SD's. And should I tell Fergie that I agree with your warnings about "creeping diesels?" Nah... [}:)][;)]

Cat Tom, maybe you've done something really, really bad, and those long Lenten services are (to use an older term) your 'penance'?[swg] Sometimes it's not the service is that long, as much as the hymns have so many verses (or in some churches, the organist plays so slowly on them - but not you, I'm sure[;)]) Is the Tichy crane the 25 ton model? I saw one in the W-catalog, but don't recall the manufacturer (I'm at work now).

Just in for a short break before back to work. Supposed to get off early today (for my Monday night group), and I may have a Mogul awaiting me at the post office![:O][:)][:P]

Still need to dig out my Dremel box and put that wheel on it for trimming the ends of track. Then my surveying and roadbed crew can get going again.

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

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