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

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tomwatkins

Good Mornin' Everybody,

Chris, the Mustangs are cool cars too. My favorites are the '66 fastbacks. I'd prefer a reworked small block (302 or 351) to keep the weight on the front end down a bit) and tricked out to look like a Shelby. They're really nice cars.

Have a great day everybody,
Tom

Tom,
Which 351 are you talking about, 351 Winsdors or 351 Clevelands? I'm guessing Winsdor since you mentioned small block. My dad has had two cars with Winsdors in them, although he says that the 351 Cleveland would outrun a Winsdor. The 302 Boss'es were strong little engines, too. My favorite Mustang, though, is the 1969 429 (Semi-Hemi) Boss, beatiful cars. I also like the new 2005 Mustangs, they're pretty cool looking.[:D]

I've also come to like Ranchero's and Torino's, both of which were great cars in their own respects.[8D]

Jim:
Oops, once again I forget about BNSF's Southern road....[:0][;)]

BNSF:
CSX (Which really does stand for Chessie-Seabord-Multiplied, despite my little pun) operates in the Southeast and east, and Midwestern States east of Chicago and St. Louis.



Speaking of (non-railroad) cars, we have been building Pittsco dragster kits in woodworking class, today we raced them, and the one time I got to race, my car blew by the competition with either a 4 or 5 second run, while everybody else was taking 8-9 second runs![:D]

Now speaking in railroad-related terms again,
I've been looking at the paint scheme that my BN SD70MAC will come in, and I've decided it's too good looking to repaint, even if I would replace it in the CB&Q's Blackbird scheme. I'll just have to get another shell and mechanism sometime next year to paint int othe Q's scheme, but I'll leave this engine alone. Don't get the idea I'll start modeling BN though, the modern CB&Q will be built![:D]

Christopher

[Paul W. Beverung]

Der; The layout is all 1/2 in plywood on 1x4 frame. The main line is laid on cork road bed. I had never used cork before so gave it a try. I'm not sure that I like it's spike holding abilitys, but do like it for it's ease of laying and flexability. The yards including the staging are laid directly on the plywood. I thought that that would be noisy,but it's been very quite. Of course that couldbe a function of my bad hearing. What I had in mind is building a high hill over the area of the stageing yard. I'll let you all know when I get it done and how it turned out.

RDL; Glad to see you in the coffee shop. Pull up a chair and have a cup. Once upon a time a long time ago, and I do mean a long time. My buddies and I did that with the money thing. It was interesting and helped to understand why the RRs did thing. The thing fell apart when we started to have the income on the MRR dictate what and when we could buy new stuff for the layouts. Kind of put a damper on the thing.

Tom; Basements are stuff magnets. I will prevail though.

It's stopped raining for awhile so now it's turning cold. I hope that it holds off long enough for us to get some pecan picking done. Mary Ann got out and did some picking a couple of days ago, so now she has the sniffles.

Paul

the Duluth, Superior & Southeastern

" The Superior Route "

[Anonymous]

Tom.

I used a 16-D motor (had em for cheap at my LHS so i figured, what the heck). I used to use them in slot cars if i remember correctly, except i slapped some flywheels on this one. I didnt regear it, and no, no traction tires. Just a good motor and a lot of carefully placed wieght. Ill have to wiegh it.

[Noah Hofrichter]

Phil, Glad I could help![:D]

Well, I don't really have much to say today. School went good, very, very little homework, so I've been surfing the web continuing to pile up photo's of different WSOR engines for when I model them all someday. I'm basically creating a roster just for myself, as I can't share it without the takers approval. I guess I better get back to that then, I'll see you all later.

Noah

[Anonymous]

Hello, all. Paul, you said, hope to see you here. Well, here I am. Now what do I do. Just kidding. The scale I model is HO, modern. Thought, I'd throw that in. I call myself an expert-beginner. For, I know alot about the hobby, but the technical side still puzzles me. I have a tip that can add even more fun, and challenge to your layout, I think. Do as the real one's do, charge. In other words, use RR dollars. Example, The railroad could charge a certain amount (to the industry) to move a load from one place to another. The industry is alloted a certain amount of RR dollars. RR X charges 100 RR dollars per car to deliver it to it's destination. The industry has 600 RR dollars in it's account. So, they can afford to have six loads moved. What do you all think. Let me know. It's just an idea.

[Anonymous]

*gulp*

Time to take a file to my GP60's underframe and get all the crud off... I am so uncomfortable about this... [sigh]

[der5997]

Good afternoon everyone: Grey here too, but not especially cold yet. Showers, but Kris will shortly take Rosie-the -dog for a walk.
Tom: I'm even using a heap of the little off-cuts to show where a hill will be on a yet to be modeled section of the "icefield"! They (or is it it?) take(s) the place of some of the boxes and cans stacked up to represent the hill.

QUOTE: Jim, you are absolutely right. A single RS-3 would work fine. I think the smoke would actually amplify the effect.

I'd be careful there. I'm not sure of the data on average particle size of Alco smoke, and RS3 smoke in particular (pun not foreseen, but it'll do). If above 5.78 microns any amplification would drop off, unless the whine harmonics were brought into some sort of a "null" node by the tripple chuff of a passing 3 cylinder steam locomotive.[:0][:D]
(New customers, please bear with us as we are trying to get Scott's residual turbine whine down to a dull roar so as not to antagonize further Rosie-the -dog.)

JP

QUOTE: By Tom:JP, enjoy the early Christmas present. That's really cool. The moveable workbench is a good idea. I'd suggest lockable casters to keep it from moving around on you, and dropleaves on either side to increase the workspace. Piano hinges would work well to hinge the leaves.

Sounds like a great plan. I think your idea of building this stowable work unit is brilliant. It's a great compliment to the CEO's Early Christmas Gift, and signals a willingness to "give" in the give and take that's key to an improving trend. That's even before you add in your Xmas gift for her. [^]

Got to get ready for my Tuesday evening meeting.
TTFN

[Big_Boy_4005]

Larry, thanks for the update on RR Tycoon III. I'll just stick with II for now, since I dont play it for the graphics. I play it for the strategy.

Fergie, I think you're right, there probably a few people out there who do want to "beat" me.

I see this posting business as a matter of principle now, though it didn't start out that way. I have my eye clearly fixed on the one person ahead of me, and vow that she will not win. I am content to let her play her game, and say anything she wants. I will however, try to maintain a higher standard of train related content while in persuit of my goal. Yes I deviate once in a while, in the name of fun and laughs, but that is part of why we are here. Maybe the biggest difference between me and her is that I don't go creating topics just to have something to talk about.[banghead]

By the way, this is a very challenging task, inspite of it's triviality.[:)][;)]

[tomwatkins]

Good Mornin' Everybody,
It a gray morning in the mountains today. The last few days have been beautiful, but the rain is on the way for later today. That's OK, most of the chores for today are indoor or on the porch. It's time to clean the stones on the fireplace. Not one of my favorite things, but it sure is pretty when it's done. After that it will be time to hang the Christmas lights on the porch. Tomorrow the tree goes up and the lights go on it.

I've been piddling a little with the Spectrum light mountain. The decoder and speaker installation is almost done. There is just enough room in a USRA tender for the Soundtraxx DSD and a Loys Toys large oval speaker. The facory circuit board has to be relocated and the coal bunker slope sheet and backhead have to be moved to the rear just a liitle, and then everything will fit.If I get the chores done early enough I should get it to the point that I can test run it this afternoon. I started with one of their Southern locos, painted in green and gold, but the more I looked at it the less happy I was with the paint. It was actually quite close to accurate, but it had a lot of paint on it, especially on the tender. Some of the surface detail was masked by all the paint. 91% alcohol works really well on Spectrum paint. It took about thirty minutes from start to fini***o take it back to bare plastic. Once the paint was gone, the surface detail is really well done. Detailing, painting and decaling will keep me out of trouble for a while but it should be pretty. I've got photos of one that worked out of Asheville, NC, and that was shopped and painted in 1948, so it will be brand new and shiny.

Chris, the Mustangs are cool cars too. My favorites are the '66 fastbacks. I'd prefer a reworked small block (302 or 351) to keep the weight on the front end down a bit) and tricked out to look like a Shelby. They're really nice cars.

JPM335, that's an impressive GP-38. Fifty-seven cars up a 4.5% grade is impressive. What kind of motor did you use, and did you regear it at the same time?

Jim, you are absolutely right. A single RS-3 would work fine. I think the smoke would actually amplify the effect.

Lupo, the 24 hr. a day sign is too cool. I really enjoyed it. That's a locust tree all right. We've got lots of them up here. The wood is the prefered wood for making split rail fences. It lasts nearly forever.

Gordon, congrats on 1000. Maybe I'll get there someday.

JP, enjoy the early Christmas present. That's really cool. The moveable workbench is a good idea. I'd suggest lockable casters to keep it from moving around on you, and dropleaves on either side to increase the workspace. Piano hinges would work well to hinge the leaves.

Der, the layout is looking good. Increasing amounts of blue foam is a sign of progress. I'm definitely going to use a lot of it. .

Paul, I think basement cleaning is a never ending project.. It's just too easy to store "stuff" down there, whether or not it's stuff we need to keep. We'll clean it out and make stuff go away, only to have it replaced by more stuff.

I'd better go for now and get the chores done. Ther's a locomotive that needs to be run later.
Have a great day everybody,
Tom

[AntonioFP45]

Hello BNSF6733,

Officially CSX stands for: Chessie Seaboard Multiplied
(the "x" is used as the multiplication symbol).

Re: the CSX sucks website. I've viewed it. Laughed at the funny shots, and shook my head in sadness at the mishaps and employee problems. This is the big disadvantage whenever a transportation company turns into a giant. The guys at the top are very out-of-touch with the people that move, repair, and handle the hardware.

[JPowell]

Morning all... It's a cool 38 outside this morning. Coffee is nice and warm as well. Got home last night and while waiting for wife to give me a grocery list, I went to the basement to feed a certain 4-legged furry black thing we call 'Chopper' (aka - cat!) Funny thing is, I went down the stairs before I noticed a box right at the bottom of the stairs. I knew what it was (29" barstool for the engineer aka - ME) and thought that the CFO had forgotten to hide a XMas present of mine. So I went back up and asked her if she had forgotten to hide a present...and she said 'No! It's too big to hide so, Merry Early XMas!'
I must say....that's the most excited I've gotten over a gift from her for as long as we've been together.
Anyways, gotta go do some work @ work.
ttyl
JP

[krump]

I couldn't resist this one folks (came in an email daily note today) - guess I'm in trouble, but I think best over a mocha .. .
---


RealAge Tip of the Day
--------------------------------------------------------
Coffee Talk

Keeping your morning coffee fix to one small cup may be better
for your health.

In a recent study, people who consumed excess coffee each
morning tended to have higher blood levels of certain
inflammatory proteins, compared to people who drank less
coffee or who were non-coffee drinkers. Anything over a
small cup (about 6.5 ounces) per day was associated with the
increase in inflammatory markers.

RealAge Benefit: Actively patrolling your health can make
your RealAge as much as 12 years younger.

More: Blood levels of certain inflammatory markers are associated with . . .
For more, go to:
http://ramailer.realage.com/ct/click?q=c7-KGl3QLPPurexpipiPwVoTors

For a reference on today's tip, go to:
http://ramailer.realage.com/ct/click?q=dc-40pzQ0LQtqVSrhgnI0LEshl0

To view this tip online, go to:
http://ramailer.realage.com/ct/click?q=f1-MttuQpsTWuEdf5CyAUa8mth0
[:D]

[Anonymous]

where does the cow slop xpress transportation operate?

congrats to Gordon on his fourth star!

cjm89: my favorite bnsf predecessor is santa fe.

[philnrunt]

Hi guys, been awhile, bizzybizzybizzy! Trying to get ready for winter, talking about building, buying or remodeling the domicile, etc, etc.
Went to a new Hobby Shop today, saw their add in the Great Model RR mag, so my gee-ler friend, her nephew and myself stopped by today. The name is First Place Hobbies, in Bluffton In, and by the name I expected a heavy emphasis on RC cars and the such, but they were well equipped with MR stuff. They are just moving in to the building, so there is more to come, but the guys were friendly, the stock on hand was considerable for a new shop, and I'll spend some ca***here over the next few years, I hope.
KC (the nephew) is 7 and his mom is on active duty with the USAF in Germany (just got back from Quatar) so he is fascinated by planes. And now, he is pretty taken with Estes Rockets. Looks like we'll be chasing some thru the cornfields next summer. I myself never quite got into them, woosh....pop...chase. Guess I'm from a slower time.
So Ed, how's that layout coming? It takes way too long to go thru missed pages here, so if you've posted pics, let me know what page they're on.
Noah- You've inspired me to attempt to build a transfer caboose, I really liked your model. Just can't get that yellow scheme out of my head.
The other day, sat down with my gee-ler friends dad, (38 years on NKP and N&W-NS) and swapped stories with him. I can only relate ones my uncle and grandad told me, but he seemed happy with them. He told some absolutely hillarious stories, and some pretty harrowing ones, too.
Well, hang in there guys, and I'll be checking in again ASAP.

[PennsyHoosier]

That CSX Sucks website is really amazing! Those are some deeply hurt people. [wow]

[Anonymous]

nice job gordon[oX)]

[PennsyHoosier]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CP5415

HEY!!!!

Will ya look at that!!!!!
I just realized that this is my 1000th post

WOO HOO

Gordon

WOOT!!!!!!!! That is great Gordon. [tup][wow][tup][wow]

[PennsyHoosier]

Evening all. Well it's STILL raining here in Northern Indiana, though it may stop by morning. Then we're supposed to get MORE tomorrow night. Good grief!

Big Boy and Fergie, the big difference with RR Tycoon III are the views you can have of your trains running. They are very cool. Fergie, as to the money side, III is actually much easier to handle in this respect than II or I. If you find it cheap, it's probably worth it. Keeps me busy when I'm delayed at airports.

[der5997]

Paul:

QUOTE: John; You have convinced me to try using foam. I've got a small staging yard to cover, so I'll give it a try. I've been stocking up on scraps for awhile so material isn't a problem.

Be sure to put the foam on a ply base. My yards aren't, and the trains make an annoying amount of noise. In fact I think I will rty to retrofit some ply under the sections between the support brackets to see if that will tone things down.
Time for bed. Goodnight all, and God Bless.

[Paul W. Beverung]

Gordon; Way to go. I'll get there someday, if I can come up with something worth saying more regular. I've been reading the posts ,but have been coming up dry myself.

Welcome to all the newcomers. This is a really good place to let your hair down and have a good time.

Well I did run the 2-8-0 yesterday. I let it run for awhile after I tried it on # 4, and snap turnouts. Worked on both. One of the advantages of having a continuous run is being able to let a loco do laps while you do something else. I worked at the drafting board on the layout plan while the loco did it's thing. I got another load of junk out of the basement and into the back of the truck. Only 16 tons to go. You load 16 tons and what do you get? A clean basement.

Fergie; If you can find the bike rustlers, send them on down. There is a tree on my sons ranch out west of Mineral Wells that folks used to edgeucate a couple of horse theives long ago. Actually there were 4 involved, but two drowned trying to swim the Brazos River.

John; You have convinced me to try using foam. I've got a small staging yard to cover, so I'll give it a try. I've been stocking up on scraps for awhile so material isn't a problem.

Well I'm going to hit the sack gang. See you all on the radio.

Paul

the Duluth, Superior, & Southeastern

" The Superior Route "

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cjm89

QUOTE: Originally posted by bnsf6733

i have been modelling for about a year and i havnt found out what CSXT standfor.

bnsf6733

CSXT:

Cow
Slop
Xpress
Transportation

[:0][:D][:p][;)]

BNSF,
Are you a fan of any BNSF predecessors (Santa Fe, BN, CB&Q, NP)?

Ahemmmmm Chris, didn't you forget one? [:(] [}:)] [;)]

Ship it on the FRISCO


Gordon [:)]

Congrats on the new star. [8D]


Well guys, it is after 830 so that means

################################# 2 Bed [:D]

Later All [:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bnsf6733

i have been modelling for about a year and i havnt found out what CSXT standfor.

bnsf6733

CSXT:

Cow
Slop
Xpress
Transportation

[:0][:D][:p][;)]

BNSF,
Are you a fan of any BNSF predecessors (Santa Fe, BN, CB&Q, NP)?

[Fergmiester]

How rude of Me:

Congradulations Gordon!!!!!!!

I'm sure there will be more to come, besides it's a race to beat Elliot (not physically, sorry to disapoint some[:D])

The rewiring is SLOWwwwwwww to say the least and somehow the fault has disapeared[%-)] Go figure?

Not much else to say except I'm still waiting for the Police to show up and take a statement, yes you heard me I reported it Friday and I sit and wait, and wait, and wait.......

This thing has got me all screwed up! Went into my LHS today, chatted and then left without buying a thing[:O]

Bob: Things are slow right now but once I get the faults cleared out I'll be hooking up the DCC.

Regards
Fergie

[fec153]

S stands for Seaboard Coast Lines
Flip

[Noah Hofrichter]

Teffy, really I haven't had any time to work on it yet. I've been busy running around all weekend, and what free time I've had has been spent reading the new MR, TRAINS, and Great Model Railroads. I really haven't had anytime for modeling this weekend, and it'll be a while, as I've still got half a GMR and a full TRAINS to go through.........

bnsf6733 First of all, [welcome] to the coffee shop! CSXT stands for C=predecessor Chessie System, S=, oh boy, truth fully I forget, and the X= other railroads, standing for the few other railroads invoved in the murder.

Gordon, Congrats on Number 1000, it's a great feeling ain't it?

Well, as I said, I haven't gotten much modeling done lately, and I got a big amount of homework tonight, so I think I better keep moving. If I can make it back later I will.

Noah

[der5997]

Fergie

QUOTE: John: I have to ask: did you ever figure out what to do with derailments in the tunnels or are you turning them into multi-layered random manual staging yards? A shop vac with an extension would work!

No need for the vacuum, but it's a creative if noisy solution. [bow][:D] Have a look


The rain today has given an opportunity for getting the Christmas Card List Done!!![yeah]
We rewarded ourselves with a small glass of Stone's Ginger wine, almonds and cheese.[:P]
Thanks for your encouraging words, Bob. The tough part is just beginning, that's sorting out exactly how the rocks will work, and especially how to hide some of the hatch edges without fouling the hatch operation. Still, it's these things that make it interesting for me.

If the sun were out, it would be working its way towards setting. How quickly these days go.
Just got an e-mail from a local chap who is sort of in HO. Sort of as he's never quite allowed to get his layout up. Whenever he thinks he's got some space, his wife's crafts expand to fill it [V]
Mind you, he would have been better off not to have set up his "Dickensville" village and layout (that's also why it's sort of HO) on the dinning room table just before Christmas while she was away visiting, and not getting it down before she came back in full "Christmas Dinner Mode" a few years ago![xx(][:O][B)] Anyway, he wants to come over to see the layout progress, having checked out the railimages. Looks like I may have as big an open house as yours Bob![(-D]
TTFN

[JPowell]

Well, I hope everyone had a good holiday weekend, along w/ enough TURKEY! I sure did. Even got in some time toclean up part of my storage shelves that I have my scenery material and building supplies on. I think I'm going to attempt to build one of those 'workshop in a cabinet' featured in the March 2002 issue of MR, but not as big as I don't have the room, and the wife is complaining about the area that the table takes up in the basement. I may try to build it so I can store it under the layout table when not in use. Anyone have any suggestions on this?
Talk to you all later...
JP

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CP5415

HEY!!!!

Will ya look at that!!!!!
I just realized that this is my 1000th post

WOO HOO

Gordon

Way to go Gordon!!![:D]

[JPowell]

Paul wrote:
JP. What do you do for the UP? I'm just west of Fort Worth on the UP main to Abalene. Any chance of you getting down here?

I do nothing w/ or for UP. I was crusing the Trains.com forums and came across that in one of the topics I was reading and thought I'd post it over here and see what kinds or reaction I'd get.

[egmurphy]

Congrats on reaching 4 stars, Gordon. That's a lot of wear and tear on the old keyboard.


Teffy, it's an issue of customs duties on the imported stuff sent through the mail. They're high in general and extra high on anything made in China. It was a disappointment, but there was nothing in the package I can't live without. until spring. Plus mail delivery out where we are is pretty spotty. It's not a case of corruption, just another issue of inadequate infrastructure. That's the main reason I have all my mail sent to a mail forwarder in laredo who collects it and sends it down once a month by a courier (like FedEx) service. No duties on magazines, but the delivery is more reliable (although possibly slower).

Regards

Ed