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

[JimRCGMO]

Morning, Zoe, just a cup of mocha to take with me. Short trip to the Shop this a.m. I brought some cinnamon rolls, donuts (and some donut holes) for the others when they come in. (Tell them that they're low sugar - I think they used Splenda or something, didn't catch what the bakery person said since I wanted to get here with them while they were still warm). Put them in the warmer and they might be good by this afternoon. Assuming they last that long, of course! [;)]

Tom (twhite), Very nice layout pics! [tup] How long have you been working on yours?

Krump, good to see you back (even if only briefly) [#welcome] and [bday] Hope whether you celebrated it yesterday or are celebrating it today, that it was a good day for you. So does that make you one-fourth as old as the rest of us geezers here, if you only count the years with Feb. 29th in them?[}:)][;)]

TrainsRMe, good to hear from you again, too! Don't stay away so long next time, okay?[:)]

Need to get back to work for now.

Blessings, and may that nor'easter miss our northern Coffee Clubbers, and the rains miss our California folks,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[TurboOne]

Good morning clubbers, large cup of Joe for me.

Luc and TrainsRme, get better. Trains what is your name, don't see it in profile.

Ed, OJ smoothie please, yes with the coffee. I work for a bank for now. 1.25 loans, can't go wrong doing those [:)][:)][:)]

Eliott, put my money in the til, where did it go ???[:D]

***, be careful out there. Hear lots of snow for the northeast.

Hello and [#welcome] to the newbies I have missed.

[bday] to those I missed.

Mine is in 10 more days.

thanks for all the well wishes. Take care all

Tim

[tomwatkins]

Good Mornin' Everybody,
It's a snowy morning in the mountains today. We got some sleet/snow last night and it's coming down pretty good right now. I don't know if it will amount to anything much on the ground, but it sure is pretty coming down.

We had a good day on the club layout yesterday. We got some room lighting problems resolved so us old guys can now see what we're doing. That helps a whole lot.
We also got started freshening up and repairing some of the scenery. There is a lot left to do, but it's getting there, and everybody is having fun with it.

I've got a couple of errands to run this morning, and then I'm going to make a big push on the taxes. It would be nice to get them finished and behind us. If that goes well a little more foam will get carved later today.

Phil, welcome back to the coffee shop. We thouroughly enjoyed the visit, it was just too short. The menu at the "trackside grill" wasn't what I was looking for either. At least the coffee was pretty good.

Grubby, the C&O, apples, coal and gas; that sounds like Southwest Virginia or Southern West Virginia to me. As a big plus, it's some of the prettiest country in the States.

Ed, I'm glad you were able to get the power window repaired. It's almost unheard off to get something repaired, rather than replaced anymore. That's probably a good idea on the bio paragraphs. The new folks probably spend a fair amount of their time scratching their heads and wondering what we're talking about. We got out first TV in '52 also. It was a Christmas present from Mom and Dad to everybody.

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

[Anonymous]

Hi Coffee fans!
Just wanted to drop in for a quick large hot choclate. Takin' a break from the layout I have been down with a very bad sinus infection and ear infection, but I'm feeling a little better now. And of course I got to get back to work or I won't be able to buy any good things for the layout, errrr I mean my wife yeah that's right, Well I better be on my way, got alot to do Tuesday.
Take care, and Zoe? keep that last piece of peach cobbler for me okay?
SEE YA, TrainsRMe

[Anonymous]

Morning all

Ok, have replaced the photos with some where the loco is actually visible - problem before was that it was dark outside, the train room has large sash windows so natural light has a big effect. Here's my new efforts:

Aerial footage of a 211:


And the "business end" of the Steuerwagen (cab car):


Have hit a problem with these two regarding DCC - Fleischmann locos of this vintage are near-impossible to convert due to the motor design - would need me to drill out and insulate one of the motor brush holders which could easily ruin a good DC loco. The cab car will be getting a function-only decoder at some point, and I'm on the lookout when funds permit for either a Piko or Roco DB Br.215/218 diesel (these have DCC sockets so are a doddle to convert). Should be pretty impressive when done - the lights on this coach are superb but with DCC both head and tail lights come on, hence my taking the photograph with the power off!

[Anonymous]

morning everyone it's currently a little after midnight here and I just finished up doing some work for my mom. Doing a Calender for the California Inland Empire Council (Boy Scouts). And it's a way I can make a little money on the side for my trains.

I was looking at the Requirements for the Railroading Merit Badge this evening and WOW talk about some money needed by these kids if they want to do the MRR side of it.... they have to build a couple kits. 1 Building 1 Rolling Stock or Locomotive as well as doing a layout and working a Time Saver.

It seems if I would become a Merit Badge Counselor I would have to make a time saver.... I don't have the money for that at the moment.

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

[twhite]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trolleyboy

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

PS: Anyone find out what an "oakway" is, yet? Inquiring minds want to know!
Tom [:P][:P]

Good evening everyone.Tom the oakways are sd-60's in the blue and white GM leasing fleet paint jobs nice looking units.BNSF leases a whole mess of them.[:)]The proto units that steve has run like absolute tops a little big and out of my era though.

Rob: thanks for the information. I'm afraid that they're a little out of my era, also (he said, whacking the Johnson bar of his 2-8-0, chuckle, chuckle!)
Tom [:p][:p]

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by der5997


We seem to be getting more and more new folks. May have to hire more staff. Elliot, how’s our budget?[:D]

You know John, every day I go to the till, and every day it's empty. I'm afraid this place is going to be self service for a long time. Zoe or Chloe or whatever her name is, does this out of the goodness of her heart.[swg]

[Anonymous]

Paul,
I bought an old Cannon Ball Lil Gasser, a flat car for a riding car, and a scratchbuilty caboose.
It's something to ride till I get a chance to get something built.
Just got home to Green Commodee. Going to try to get down to the West Tocci and Bostwick and give them a hand getting the storage racks built for the locos the end of the week. Got a feeling that the On30 is going to take a back seat for awhile. Watching ain't near as much fun as actually riding the train.

[grayfox1119]

Good evening gents...what a wild night tonight here in central Mass, the winds are howling steady at 20 to 30 mph, heavy snow from the northeast at better than 2" per hour, white-out conditions, visability is down to 100 feet!!! It isn't a fit night for man or beast.

If this keeps up, the [red] RED SOX [\red] will be playing in the snow next month, just like the Patriots do.

Tim: congrats on your new job, I hope you can visit the LHS this weekend and help the economy.......

I had better hit the sack, tomorrow will be a tasking day with over 12 inches predicted and heavy drifting.

God Bless everyone.....

[JimRCGMO]

QUOTE: Originally posted by egmurphy


Their home opener at Fenway is April 11th, also against the Yankees. That’s when they’re going to present the players with their World Series rings, for being the World Champion Boston Red Sox. Which they so richly deserve for that heroic comeback from being down 3-0 against the Yanks. And then topping that off with a 4-0 sweep of St Louis. Just in case any of you missed it last fall. [:D]

Hey now, Ed, I will have you know that some of us here happen to prefer birds that stick around for the winter, instead of some (smelly?[}:)][;)] articles of clothing. [:-,] We're just partial to the 'home' team (in our state, or in our original hometown area).

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[trolleyboy]

Oops oj smoothies on me.BTW Tim congrats on the new job I managed to miss that until everyone else pointed it out.Scott happy[bday]hope you get that gift I can't piocture the unit but it sounds big and interesting. TTFN Rob

[trolleyboy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

PS: Anyone find out what an "oakway" is, yet? Inquiring minds want to know!
Tom [:P][:P]

Good evening everyone.Tom the oakways are sd-60's in the blue and white GM leasing fleet paint jobs nice looking units.BNSF leases a whole mess of them.[:)]The proto units that steve has run like absolute tops a little big and out of my era though. Flip I got your e-mail but the pictures didn't come through [:(]likely my old puker[B)][:(] I'm not sure if you got the e-mail I sent you as my outlook was misbehaving itself when I sent it to you.Let me know if you didn't and I'll resend it.[:)]Weather been a tad awful today the drive home was grueling[:0][xx(]Thought i was going to lose it a couple of times no harm done but I may need new underware[:0][:I][:I] well I;m off exploring talk to you all later. rob

[philnrunt]

Hi all.
Teffy- We would have loved to see Tom's layout, but the clock just didn't cooperate. We did talk about a trip to the Atlanta area in the future, if that comes off, we would have the time to run up into the mts and see it. What I really need is to win the lottery and take about 20 years off. I'd visit ALL of you, and bring really nice gifts!
Ed- When I lived in Colorado, BN used bunches of Oakway Leasing SD60s. iirc, it is a division of EMD, the scheme is their blue and white one. Very good looking diesels-even tho I know you don't think thats possible ! They weathered up nicely, too. And every once and awhile, D&RGW would have one mu'd with their orange and black brutes, and it was a color spectacular!
Speaking of Colorado Springs, anyone out there remember the 30-06 GP30 that was assigned there? Saw it first in 82, and for the next 8 years, it was always there as the local power. Not a huge GP-30 fan (except for BN's GP-39 rebuilds) , but that engine was like an old friend.
Paul- That liquid corn is ageing nicely in an oak lined 11,000 gal GATX tank, even as we speak. Just need to work on reducing the flow of the valve, otherwise we'll be shooting glasses and ice across the open range! You don't have a pool, by any chance do you? We could fill it.....
Tom- You were right about the '05 MRP being a good issue, it has a bunch of good stuff in it. I still think they (Koester, Barrow etc) make more work out of a model railroad than it needs to be, but I guess thats why their MR's are in books and videos, and mine is in my head!
Okeydokeyfine, all take care, have a great day and keep up the MRing!

[twhite]

PS: Anyone find out what an "oakway" is, yet? Inquiring minds want to know!
Tom [:P][:P]

[twhite]

Well, got in from the garage in time to watch "Law and Order SVU" with Spooky--she was kind of nervous--pacing around and meowing that it was getting really close to five in the evening. She got her Chris Meloni fix (and I got my Mariska Hargitay fix, too), so things are fine around the place.
Ed: Actually, the Insulfoam turned out okay, I only needed to base about 6x4' with it, and with the additional bracing, it's going to hold up pretty well. As usual, I bought too much of it, but the remainder will do pretty nicely for the scenery (and my shop-vac will be busy, as usual). I keep hearing two sides to the extruded foam story here in California--like everything else in this state lately, nobody knows what the truth is, LOL!
Brian: Don't let a reversing loop scare you--the wiring is actually really easy and I'm kind of with the rest of the guys--it sure beats using your old 0-5-0 (hand, that is) to reverse your trains. I've got double-track on my main, but both of my reversing loops have cross-overs, and the wiring was a snap--I just used a couple of Atlas controllers and it just about wired itself.
Der: You're going to be able to re-forest Nova Scotia with that Aggrojones link--it's really good--and EASY!
Jim: Yes, the cats rule the household. It's in their contract, LOL! Actually, Maine Coons are very cool, very laid back and are said to be cats for people who really want a dog but don't have the space. Only thing that scares some people are their size--up to 25 pounds for a male, 20 for a female. Lowell and Spooky both tip at about 18, I think I got the 'runts' of that particular litter, ha!
Speaking of, time to roll out the Chicken of the Sea and feed the little furballs, then go back out into the garage for more sawing, screwing (with a power screwdriver, I mean) and polishing my list of German profanity.
Later,
Tom [}:)][}:)]
PS: Scott--come March 2nd, when you turn 16, and you get what everyone's hoping you get, how about some pics of it, okay?
Tom [bday]

[Paul W. Beverung]

Hi Gang; I'm just going to mark the place for later. More than likely tomorrow. Phil I'll provide the steaks. Could you make some of that corn liquid?

I had a 11.5 hour day today and am looking at rwo more at least. Bad for my body , good for my wallet.

Paul

[der5997]

Couldn't leave it alone! the answer was /aey.thumb.jpeg rather than /aey.jpg in the formula. so, small as it is, here it is. Ta Da!

[der5997]

Chloe, a fresh pear with blueberry yogurt and some peanuts to go with my coffee please.
Good evening all, here’s a thought I picked up today
“A man may imagine things that are false, but he can only understand things that are true, for if the things be false, the apprehension of them is not understanding.” Sir Isaac Newton
Steve: Thanks for the Aggrojones link. I’ve bookmarked it and will study later.

Brian:

QUOTE: Ed - as for a reversing loop on my layout I think I am going to stay away from it to make the wiring simple....

I think Ed’s point is that you may not get all the enjoyment you could out of the layout if you can’t turn the loco/train. So, the (only slightly) more complex wiring of a return loop is a very small trade off. There’s a lot of help available here and else where when the time comes to bight that bullet. Ed’s analysis is good, and I’d be making plans to see if what he suggests can be worked in. My[2c] [:D] BTW, I had about 6” clearance on the levels of the Athabasca & Western, and I found it wasn’t quite enough (skinny hands too[(-D]) That’s why I went for 8” in the present layout. Check out my railimages album to see how that looks. I can email you a pic or two of the 6” separation (it was in HO) if you’d like . Just let me know.

Duke:

QUOTE: That's why I try to sit in the background and let someone else ask the questions that inquiring minds want to know.

Isn’t it amazing how much one can learn by doing that?[:D]

Luc: Get Well Soon!

Yeah Krump, good to see you surface again. [bday] 50 pages! Whodathunk?
Beekeepers, what would the bees be in Z?[(-D]

Ed: On the TV thing, we got our to watch the moon landing in 69. We’d only been in Canada 2 years. Didn’t have one in the UK at all. Never ones to rush into new technology eh?[(-D]

The GIF from Matt's 2 pics today will now come in here from my railimages album, but I can't persuade the jpeg to[%-)]

I've put in the usual formula, Ed, and checked everything I can think of checking. Any thoughts?

I'm off to play trains. Good night all, and God Bless.

[Attaboy]

Hi, guys, at least I'm not alone here tonight.

It has been snowing like crazy here since before noon. Forecasters are calling for up to 12 inches before it quits tomorrow afternoon. Sounds like at least a late start for work, may a whole day to work on the train room downstairs.

Teffy:

QUOTE: You've got to have a long hooded diesel or tender to get that name on. Dagascagonda, Lycippus, & Euclid Railroad and Coal Company.

That's where the DLE comes in handy, saves trying to put a Big Boy on narrow gauge tracks just for the name.[:-^]

Duke, when you get to Strasburg be sure to make a stop at the Railroad Museum of PA. It's really nice. I make it a point to get there once or twice a year.

See you later, got my new MR yesterday, going to do some reading before bed.

[egmurphy]

Good Evening Coffee Clubbers

Weather continued great down here in Paradise. Mostly cloudy with some sunny patches. Temps down in the 60’s most of the day, but snuck up into the mid 70’s in the afternoon. Nice breeze. Great for sitting outside on the terrace swing. [^]


[bday] Speaking of birthdays, iirc Krump has a non-birthday about now. I think his birthday is February 29th. So he’s one of those who only get a present every 4 years, poor guy. Hope he gets his computer problems cleared up and drops back in.


[#welcome] Welcome to the Coffee Shop, Rookie Rail. We don’t usually come down too hard on either newbies or people who can’t type, so don’t be too nervous. But you do need to introduce yourself a bit. Just the facts, Rookie, just the facts. Like scale, layout type, location, stuff to help us understand who we’re talking to.


You know, guys, after penning those words to Rookie rail, it made me think. A lot of us veterans of the Coffee Shop know about each other because we’ve been here so long. It may be about time for each of the older timers to make a short paragraph bio so that the newer guys can come up to speed faster. I suspect there’s more than one who’s shaking his head and wondering what the [censored] is the deal with the orange juice joke. And no, just saying “look in my profile” won’t cut it. That’s the way some of them so it out on the main forum. [;)]

QUOTE: ***: I remembered what the good sister's taught me many moons ago. Easter is the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon of Spring.

I never knew that either. I must have slept through that part of catechism class. [:0]

And I finally got my data into your post on average railroader stats.

QUOTE: We got our 1st TV just about the time that HD show came on the air. But my greatest thrill was when I got to see the Lone Ranger on TV after years of listening on the radio...

Got ours in 1952, iirc. And I also remember listening to the Lone Ranger on a big floor stand radio. And, given that opening, I’ll offer:

“Well, Tonto, looks like we’re surrounded by savage hostiles.”

“What do you mean “We”, white man?” [(-D]

QUOTE: Noah: I got my board that I like to call a Control panel put up, and with some time I can rewire the layout so it’s not a jumbled mess under there.

An admirable goal, grasshopper. [bow] Improves operation, and makes troubleshooting or changes much less stressful.


(northern)Phil: Welcome back from your trip. Glad things went well. I suspect it will be impossible to catch up on posts, you must be at least 15 pages back, if not more. Looks like things keep getting better, AmyJo’s getting pretty good with the modelrailspeak.

QUOTE: TrolleyRob: Ed your beloved Red Sox may have to play in the snow drifts the first couple of weeks of the season…

Nah, they’ll be in Florida for another month. The real season opener isn't until April 3rd in Yankee Stadium. Their home opener at Fenway is April 11th, also against the Yankees. That’s when they’re going to present the players with their World Series rings, for being the World Champion Boston Red Sox. Which they so richly deserve for that heroic comeback from being down 3-0 against the Yanks. And then topping that off with a 4-0 sweep of St Louis. Just in case any of you missed it last fall. [:D]


Tim, congrats on the new job. So are you a mortgage broker, or do you work for a bank or other lending institution?



Gosh, Karl, you have been a busy boy. Drop in when you can and we’ll hope you can start to be more regular after moving to Nevada and getting settled in. Thought you were Navy, isn’t Mountain Home USAF? Or is that what you meant by “guest lecturing”?

QUOTE: Steve: … have updated my profile as you surgested, I have put a link under my signature, next job is how to put a picture in???

In the profile section, in the “Signature Text & Graphics Version” box, put in the photo address just like you would if you were posting a photo to a post. You’ll need the [ img] / [ /img] tags on both sides just like posting.


Hey Tom (White), on that thread about foam someone posted today that it’s not really outlawed in CA, just not common. He says it may be possible to find at a place that builds commercial refrigerators and cold storage stuff. You might want to check back in the thread.

QUOTE: Brian: I am planning on having about 6" of clearance which will give me pleanty of room to reach in there to do any kind of uncoupling (I have skinney hands).

Okay, [sigh] it’s your layout, but I think you’re asking for trouble trying to construct and operate a layout with two levels only 6” apart. You won’t even be able to see clearly back where the yard is, much less stick some type of uncoupling pick in between cars to uncouple. Heaven forbid you should knock a car off the rails in the middle of that yard, or that it dominoes and takes a couple of cars with it.



Luc, thanks for letting us know you’re still with us. Hope Gloria is doing better, since she’s having to take care of you these days.


Whew, that should about catch me up. Glad I don’t have a real life outside the Coffee Shop! [swg]


Hasta mañana,

Ed

[krump]

I haven't been by for a coffee in 50 pages... no computer yet.
Mocha for me, Anybody want a refill?

finally found some Bee Keepers !!! very nicely done by Woodland Scenics

cheers all,

[bjdukert]

Rookie Rail

QUOTE: So if i type something wrong or it seems like I do not understand something please have patience

Don’t worry about it,we have all been there,and are still learning.As far as patience,there is more then enough here in the shop,believe me I know. [^][tup]

Duke

Hi Ed,and I see Tom is here now as well. Got to get going,I need to check on some shinny stuff for the bike.[:D][tup][tup]

[Anonymous]

Just a quick visit to tell you I'm still alive. just got a real bad clod that won't go away.

going back to bed

Happy MRRing

[JimRCGMO]

Good evening, Chloe, is Duke still in the Shop? Think I saw his vehicle out front as I pulled in. I'll have a mocha (hold the whipped cream), please.

Steve, thanks for the idea on the Geep shell. Might use that (or a corruption of the basic idea) later. [:)] What'd you use for the 'mud', just pour paint over it, or do 'water' first and then coat it with a brownish color (colour) paint, or.... ?? [?]

Noah, better get that homework out of the way. Don't want to delay MR or modeling any longer than necessary. [:)]

Hey Tom, do your cats rule the household? Maybe that's why (though I'm okay about cats, having met one or two I actually liked) I never got any cats. Dogs, you can take 'em or leave em, be a bit late feeding them (unless they're Rottweilers, maybe [;)][:0])

Hope our nor'easterners don't get hit with any major precip. out of this batch of storms. We actually saw some snowflakes this afternoon. I think the temp has been going downhill since this a.m.'s 39 F. But I don't think we're supposed to get any accumulation to speak of. (Whew!)

Will try to re-download engine drawings tonight and see about starting on paint schemes. The ones I downloaded are on my MIA drive partition(s), so back to square one on things. Will print out some and get out my old colored art pencils from the art tackle box or the portfolio and do it the low-tech way until I get close to something I like.

Got to go for now. May be back after my group tonight.

Blessings and lots o'progress on your modeling tonight,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[bjdukert]

Hi JimCG

ED-

QUOTE: I know I'm going to be sorry I asked, but what's an "Oakway"?

That's why I try to sit in the background and let someone else ask the questions that inquiring minds want to know.[:D][:-^]

Duke

[JimRCGMO]

QUOTE: Originally posted by egmurphy

QUOTE: ...in the garage with an Oakway...

I know I'm going to be sorry I asked, but what's an "Oakway"?

Ed

[rimshot] Depends on whether it's red oak or white oak...[}:)][swg]

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[Anonymous]

Ed - as for a reversing loop on my layout I think I am going to stay away from it to make the wiring simple.... as for right now the lower level is just in super early planning stage because I may not be able to do it. Eventually I will be going with magnetic couplers as well. As for running the train backwards down to the lower level that is my plan or else I would need another siding on the lower level for a switcher so I could take the train to the turntable and then put the rolling stock up.

The lower level will just be storage eventually and not have any kind of buildings or scenery involved with it.. I am planning on having about 6" of clearance which will give me pleanty of room to reach in there to do any kind of uncoupling (I have skinney hands).

As for elevations I am not exactly sure of what I am going to do with that.... I will have an update with that eventually.

Just remember that this is very early planning because I don't have the money currently to start buying my lumber for the benchwork.

I hope you all enjoy my progress.

[bjdukert]

Evening everyone,and Zoe I will pass on something to drink or eat as it is close to supper time

This will be a short one. I was in yesterday afternoon and since then the conversation sure did get going.

Steve-I can only hope to have my layout look a ¼ as good as yours does[wow][bow]

Attaboy-I will be taking a motorcycle trip with my wife out east in June and will stop by my friends house at that time,but I will be back in the area again in July.It will be another bike trip with a friend and his wife,as well as mine,and we will go to the Curve and onto Strasburg,Hershey,and then head back home.

[#welcome]To any of the new people I have missed.

Scott-[bday] and many more!! Yes to be 16 again or almost any age younger for a time than I am. [:D][:-^][yeah]

Ok I’m outta here

Talk to you later

Duke

[Noah Hofrichter]

Well, I got to make a quick stop today. Homework is heavy, and the new MR and trains came today, and I'd like to get through at least some of them tonight. Give me an OJ, and I'll see you later!

Noah