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

[Noah Hofrichter]

Hey guys, been a while since I've been in here again. School has been hectic as always, and actually a little Sad lately. I'm sure you've all been hearing out the High School Shootings going on lately around the country. I'm sure too, if you're anything like me, you usually give it that "it just doesn't happen here," aditude. Well, for me, it finally happened, near me anyway. At a school about 20 miles away, near the little town of Cazenovia, Wi there was a high school shooting Friday morning. Seems some dumb 15 year old kid decided he had to take a few people down with him as he ruined his life, and so he walked into school early in the morning with two guns. Two teachers noticed him, and they were able to get one gun, the only one they knew he had, away from him. They ran off to call 911, but he pulled the second gun and kept going. The Principal of the school then noticed him and tried to tackle him the the ground, but not before he was shot three times. He was taken to the hospital with wounds to the head, arm and leg, but he ended up dieing later Friday afternoon. 

I didn't know the Principal at all, but I do know a few of his relatives from my school, and it's still definately effecting the community as a whole. And if it can happen at a school near by, it doesn't mean it's out of the question to happen at my school either. I never really thought about that before when things like this happen thousands of miles away in Colorado and Vancouver, but now it's happened near by. It really makes you stop and think all right. I guess I just leave things like this in the hands of the Lord, as there really isn't a whole lot I can do.....

Anyway, onto the positive side of things. I'm getting the chance to go do some railfanning tomorrow, hopefully along the Mississippi River with the Fall Colors out. If I get any good photos, I'll be sure and pop back in on Monday and post a few of them. 

See ya around,

Noah

[egmurphy]

Good Afternoon Coffee Clubbers,

 

Now that I finally wrote up our trip to Newfoundland this summer, I suppose it’s time to report on our trip to the National Railfan and Model Railroader Convention that we went to back at the start of August.  Not much by north of the border standards, but it’s the only game in town down here.  This year was the tenth annual convention. 

 

The convention was planned to be held in Oaxaca.  But due to ongoing problems in that city stemming from a massive teachers’ strike (which is still going on, now in its 5^th month), a last minute change switched the venue to the national Railroad Museum in Puebla.  That’s where they held the convention last year.  Uncertainty over the location, the last minute change, and the fact that many had visited Puebla the year before, all contributed to a noticeably reduced attendance.  No matter, those of us who went enjoyed ourselves.

 

As is our habit when traveling to Puebla, we stopped overnight in Apizaco, in the state of Tlaxcala, just about an hour before getting to Puebla.  Apizaco has always been a railroad center, dating back to the time of the first railroads in Mexico.  Nowadays, between privatization of the railroads, and centralization of services, the shops have been closed and activity in the yard is minimal.  But it’s a good place to watch trains.  It’s on the mainline of the Ferrosur line between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz.

 

Here’s a shot of the yard and local freight switcher #6798 (a GE C30-7) switching cars in the yard.  This loco has replaced #9530, a GE SF30-C (rebuilt ATSF U36C) as the local switcher.  But it has the same crew as the old unit.  We dropped off some copies of photos we took of the crew last fall.  They have been very nice to us on all our visits.

 

 

While hanging around the east end of the yard, we encountered two trains waiting for clearance before heading downgrade towards Orizaba and Veracruz.  #6746, another GE C30-7, headed up a short train with flatcars loaded with new concrete ties. 

 

 

#4407, a GE AC4400CW, had a mixed bag, but mostly container well cars, in tow. 

 

 

 

Both crews took advantage of the stop to send out crew members to local food stands to bring back to-go bags for dinner.  While waiting the crew of #4407 invited Fran and me up into the cab.  This was my first look at one of the modern computer screen control panels in this type of locomotive.

 

 

Next day we were off to the convention.  As usual, it was nice to see a lot of my new train buddies from down here.  There were two presentations during the convention that stood out for me.  One was a report by Frank Barry (noted rail photographer and author, see “Final winter for the narrow gauge” in the Winter 2005 issue of Classic Trains Magazine) about his first major rail excursion in Mexico back in the 50’s.  Great presentation and absolutely outstanding photography.

 

The other presentation that I really enjoyed was put on by Dr John Kirchner (co-author of “The Southern Pacific of Mexico” and author of “Baja California Railways’) about the last years of the SP de Mexico, just before it’s sale to the Mexican government and it’s change to the FCP (Ferrocarril del Pacifico).  Again, a very entertaining presentation.  Interestingly enough, both these gentlemen were able to present their talks in Spanish.

 

I met Dr Kirchner at last year’s convention, and also spent time with him earlier this year during the activities in Acámbaro commerating the LXII anniversary of the construction of the “Fidelita”.  This was the first time I had had the opportunity of meeting Frank Barry.  Here’s a shot of your intrepid reporter with these guys.  That’s Frank Barry on the left, Dr John with the blue shirt, me, and Tony Pawley, and enthusiastic railfan from Seattle, Washington.  Four “gringos” at the convention.

 

 

Here’s a shot of some of the attendees making a record pose during a break.  Yours truly is in the center of the front row.

 

 

The old locomotive we are standing in front of is this one, #40, an 1884 Alco built 2-8-0 that served until the 1960’s on the railroads down here.

 

 

I had another nice memory of the convention.  As I’ve mentioned before, they have two PA-1’s at the museum.  Ex-ATSF, Ex-D&H, they wound up their career down here.  These two are still in operating condition.  While they don’t move them, they do fire up the diesels every two weeks to keep the lubrication up.  While we were there they fired up #19.  They also blew the horn, which stuck open!!  First time I had heard the horn, which had much different tone from anything that I could remember hearing before.

 

 

And here’s one last shot.  This is an FP-9 A/B, just repainted during the last year in it’s “as delivered” paint scheme.  A real beauty of a locomotive, which is unfortunately not in operating condition.

 

 

Guess that about wraps it up.  We enjoyed the trip, as always.  Next year’s convention will be up in Aguascalientes.  That’s a real traditional railroad center which still has a lot of traffic.  Looking forward to that one.

 

Regards

 

Ed

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I'll have the beef enchilada special. Bring on the Tabasco sauce. Not that little bottle, the gallon jug.

[egmurphy]

....I'll have a root beer float and onion rings please Thanks Ed.....

No problem.  The girls give me a free pass on top of page honors in return for all the free O.J. and fruit that the FCVN ships up to The Coffee Shop. 

Ed

[Cox 47]

Afternoon all....Sunny and cool right now but still posta rain....I'll have a root beer float and onion rings please Thanks Ed.....Just watched Cards Brewers game Cards pulled it out in the end...Glad to see them come out of the slump.....I have been working on a scratch build small town auto body shop mostly done but working on some juck cars and trucks to go around it...Ballasted a little more track and put down some more ground cover...I need to decal a f7 but can't seem to get started on it....Well I hope everbodys week end projects come out OK...Jeff hope you get your car fixed...You all have a good one...Jerry

[91rioja]

Hey people, I'd love a glass of water.  So much for MRRing today.  Went to see my neice play soccer; their team won 3-0; it's so fun seeing 4 year olds play soccer.  After that, me and the wife decided to clear some brush from the back hill.  Great plan, just didn't think it through far enough.  Once we got the brush cleared, it was like "what do we do with this stuff now??????"  Oh well, it's still sitting in the yard, and I'm watching the Virginia Tech football game, so I'm done for the day.
1..2...3....10 he's down.

[egmurphy]

I need a couple of parts.  But I've taken the easy way out by asking my son-in-law to find them for me.  Also, when we drive up at Thanksgiving, he can install them to boot!  He's a lot more flexible and able to get into tight places than I am.

Ed

[jeffrey-wimberly]

There was a time that I wouldn't wait for them to get the parts I needed. I'd go and get them myself. But, since I became disabled, I have a very hard time moving over uneven terrain, and most scrap yards around here have dips and hills the slope left or right and have have bumps an ruts all over. Just walking through one is an exhausting experience for me, not to mention carrying tools and parts. That kind of thing is almost completely beyond me now.

[inch53]

Afternoon all, think I'll have a coffee Janie, Janie, Oh, sorry didn't mean to wake ya. I see the shops quiet today.

 Was planning on MRR time since it was suppose to rain today, but  none yet. So seen outside finishing up some more projects.

RT, that's an impressive string of cars your going to be running. Sounds like your also going to a nice layout when done. All I can say is goood luck with getting the CFO to go along with a next to ceiling layout. I've had no luck with mine [yet].

Big Blue whats ya done on the the layout, how bout a progress update.

Jeff,, I've had the same problem with some junk yards. Call ahead to see if they have part, and how before it's off. Ended up doing it myself alot.

Jim CG,,, don't know bout the place in Bethany. Never run around up in that area, But it would work for a start on something else easy enough.

Best get back to chores. We have grandkids this evening for awhile, nothing will get done then.

inch

[Anonymous]

Hey gang,

Anyone seen the November issue at hobby shops yet?

Shawn

[ModelTrainLover]

hey guys I'm back

 

[JPowell]

Morning all –

  A nice crisp, cool, yet refreshing morning out here in CNY. I spent the past 30 or so minutes out on my porch drinking my coffee. Looks like it should be a decent day around this area for a while today. Suppose to get cloudy and rain by late afternoon. Anyway…

 

Fergie –

  That mug is a lot better looking than the travel mug I use for my daily dose of Java! Prayers for you and your family. I hope your dad pulls through again.

 

Dick / Ed –

  Well, 2 more games and we can say so long to the 2006 season; one filled with a nice milestone by Big Papi. Looks like Papalbon is getting better. They say he’s been throwing on the side the past few days and may throw BP today. And Youk is out w/ a strained abdominal muscle. No time than the present for guys to get hurt again since there’s no rush to get them back to playing any time soon.

 

JimCG –

  Good to hear from you the other day. Thanks again for the email!

 

Ok all. It’s Saturday. Almost time to watch some good football, and maybe a baseball game. Plus, I still have things to do around the apt that are on the weekly ‘to-do’ list.

 

Everyone take care!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

HO, a dirty word? Who thinks that? Not me!

[91rioja]

Funny that a model railroad forum would think that the Half Oh (I put the initials) is a dirty word.

Chris

[91rioja]

Morning all,

43 cool degrees here in Greensboro NC this AM, so I'll have a cup-o-joe to wrap my hands around, if you please.  *** here, just gotten back into the hobby.  Some of you folks were kind enough to help me in desigining my layout.

Silver, is that train store in your neck of the woods worth seeing?

PC, have you gotten moved yet?  I think most if not all of us have been there done that, so we feel for you.

I have to go to my nieces soccer game today (you know, watching a bunch of kids crouding around a ball and kicking at anything that moves), and watch some football, but other than that, I'll be working on the layout.  Gotta run.

Chris

[rtraincollector]

Morning all

Thanks ed thats kinda what I thought but didn't have the math down .

And for the comment about having extra $ for trains well the 8 passenger cars I ordered comes out to be $400.00 ball park so you see where my extra hours pay went to lol.

Well time to run to local hobby shop to see what else I can go into debt over lol

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana.

09-30-06

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. and the place is empty. Top 'o' the day to ye anyway. Steak and eggs this morning and keep the coffee coming.

Nothing on the agenda today except to get the car in the shop and work on getting more scenery base down. Gonna be a slow day it looks like.

Weather in Leesville today, scattered clouds with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm developing this afternoon. High 89, winds light and variable, chance of rain - 30%.

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Chloe - since it’s a bit late, I think I’ll just have a cup of hot chocolate and go easy on PA.

Thanks for the pics of that gas delivery building, Inch - you’re right, that has all the signs of being served by a RR. Was it maybe something else before it was a gas delivery place? The building looks more like a lumber or hardware place might be, and then was converted for the gas/oil place later. Just my random thoughts on that...

Ryan, they have several of those kits from time to time on eBay. If you check for listings by either painter40 or kittysretreat, you can find ‘em. Like you noticed, even with shipping, the total price they tend to run is really nice. And they are very well detailed. Email me if you have any questions about their kits, since I’ve bought a few of them on eBay.
Oh, if anyone thinks the RDA kits are a bit pricey (they sort of might be at full retail, but...), just take a look at what some of the old Revell kits are going for on eBay (when you can find ‘em), compared to what they sold for back in the 50's and 60's (or even the Con-Cor versions later)!

Hey, RT - good to have you back! So if you were working that much while you were offline, does it mean you’ll be able to set back a bit more for MRR’ing stuff? Hey, you can hope! Sounds like you’re accumulating one heck of a stable of locos there. Good luck with your idea for the helix and the cases.

Jeff, that’d be one heck of way to start a morning, with that wreck! Thanks for the tip on baking soda, too. If you have a river/stream on your layout, you could do what Steve B. (one of our UK members from the CS) did - he had a Geep that he ‘half-buried’ in the mud (at a slight angle, like it fell in and got stuck). Or, Fergie might be able to offer you a tip or two on how to do a wreck even better... Your scene with the building looks pretty good - keep on working on that one, figure how to add some more junk, etc. Maybe you could add some washing machines in the foreground there? Good progress from your pics so far. Hope your job contract comes through for you - you’re right, never hurts to have more train money! Just in case, do you know CPR for when you go to the LHS? Like you say, could be a bit of a shock for him...

Sounds like he's gonna be busy today.

Bet ya got that right, Jeff!

PC, how’s the move going? Next comes all the unpacking of the boxes once you get everything moved in... (Guess we may get a report later on from PC about how the move went (after he unboxes his ‘puter and gets his internet hooked up...)

mlwjohn - have a cup of your favorite beverage on me, and tell us a bit about yourself and your layout (scale? modeling a particular RR or freelancing? time period?)

Oh, oh, BillT., S...O...S and tomatoes? Think I’ll pass; never was that fond of that, especially when I was in the Navy. But thanks for the cinnamon roll this morning!

Jerry, good to see you’re able to get around some now.

BigBlue, back! Myself, I’ve decided I’d rather build a smaller, nicely detailed and finished layout than a huge one that take me 20 years to finish. My , of course...

Anyone heard from Lisa? Was wondering how she was doing - hadn’t seen her in the Shop for a little while.

Hope everyone gets some MRR’ing time in this weekend (I’m sure hoping to!). I hope to have my track laid this weekend, and see about starting some scenery, maybe.

Blessings and prayers for all,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[Paul W. Beverung]

Hi Gang: Welcome back Blue.

Just a word to say Hi. We've been chaseing around all daygetting things done. We did take along walk around our sons place. We haven't done that in along time.

It's late concidering that tomorrow is a work day. I'll say Good Night and see you all later.

[egmurphy]

RT:  The crazy idea I have is have 2  42" radius circles under the table with switches in it to accept or release trains to the level on the shelves and to get up and on top of the train table so in fact could have 5 trains on the outside loop but when not running in the display case in front of train table for all to see. my layout will basicly be 8' by 13' .  Yes I understand I will have to make the circles at each end about basicly 5 circles on top of each other about 5" raise in hight for each complete circle so wonder what % of grade that equals in O gauge. Is it to steep ? time will tell when I get some track and try it.

If I understand you right, you are talking about stacking 42" radius circles on top of one another with a 5" rise between each one.  This is basically a helix.  A 42" radius circle, or 84" diameter, has a circumference of 264".  A 5" rise over a 264" run yields a 1.9% grade.  Should be no problem for Lionel with "Magne-Traction".  Actually, it should be no problem for any O gauge train.

Regards

Ed

[Cox 47]

evening all....Cool damp evening here good nite for high school football...I'll have a root beer float please....Got in a couple of hours work on the layout.....Luc and RT good to see you both back at the shop....Well i got to go and watch some TV with Sallie she isn't feeling to well this evening....You all have a good week end...Jerry

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Welcome back Bigblue.

I wasn't able to get my car into the shop today, so I'll have to do that tomorrow morning. But I did get an account opened for direct deposit at the bank, then went to pick up the car parts. I had stopped at the junk yard this morning and told them what I needed and that I would be back about mid-afternoon to pick them up. Got most of my errands done in town, so it's now almost 2:30, I go to the junk yard, go to the desk where they said the parts would be and lo and behold, they're not there. Well, the boss man says they're real busy. I look around and see three guys sitting on their butts and ask him, what are they doing? He said they're on break. Finally one of them goes to get the parts. 2 hours and 35 minutes later he comes back with the parts. It's now after 5 o:clock. The shop is closed and I'm madder than a wet hornet. So I go and drop off the parts at the shop owners home, right next to the shop and tell him that I'll bring the car tomorrow. Maybe it'll be ready by Tuesday. That pretty much knocks my day into a nutshell.

[BigBlueConrail]

Inch53: I have been working on stuff and some of my other hobbies. I have been busy with alot of other stuff as well.

Everyone else: Glad to be back in the cs i missed it alot.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I'll take the chimachanga and chili surprise, and plenty od Tabasco.

[PA Belt]

al right, my treat, lol, heres the plasic, have fun, buy a new engine if ya want, lol

[PA Belt]

probly will now, shes talkin to me

Don't let this opurtunity slip between your fingers.

you think im that dumb?  i was postin on her myspace yesterday, she likes me too, amagin that!

[rtraincollector]

Inch even thou we had some corn down because of the storm I think we did fair on the yeild not sure thou as thats boss mans concern not mine lol.

Almost forgot not sure if told you all or not but edythe did pass and we put her to rest. seems like all happened at once . Plan to get up to PA come november to see mother.

Working last night and some this evening on some tips for the O gaugers in our model railroader club to pass on. Hey been working on a design for my layout and I'm thinking scince I have a old display case (type you use to see in stores this one is all wood and glass) of making 4 or 5 shelves in the front of it and take the glass out on the back side and one end and put it in the front of my layout table to suport my layout. The crazy idea I have is have 2  42" radius circles under the table with switches in it to accept or release trains to the level on the shelves and to get up and on top of the train table so in fact could have 5 trains on the outside loop but when not running in the display case in front of train table for all to see. my layout will basicly be 8' by 13' .  Yes I understand I will have to make the circles at each end about basicly 5 circles on top of each other about 5" raise in hight for each complete circle so wonder what % of grade that equals in O gauge. Is it to steep ? time will tell when I get some track and try it.

  Did buy 8 passenber cars togo with my Santa Fe ABA (wheres teffy when you want him lol) the cars mesure out to 138 1/2" or about 11 1/2' the ABA set is another 4 feet so I'm going to have 15.5 feet of Santa Fe  train running on one loop lol. May have to make a ceciling layout around the house for that instead( Don't think CFO would go for that LOL)

 

Oh well you all have fun

to all new members I have missed

Fergie your family is in our prayers and good lkuck in selling Dads home.

[inch53]

Afternoon all, I'll have an irish coffee please Cleo.
Cool n cloud out, had a sprinkle come through while ago. Looked at the radar shows more headed this way, just what we don't need right now with harvest going on. Some fields are starting to get soft.

Fergie,, if the price was right, I'd take one of your mugs, Mother collects them, along with teddy bears, and to much other stuff.

Ryan our summer end bout the 10'th of Sep, when I lite the heater for the first this year. Been cool n rainy ever since. Get one maybe two days sun, then cloudy n rainy for two or three. All ready had 3 morning down in the high 30's.
It was the server on the internet, still don't know what happened and they're not tellin.

Dick,,,, the gardens done, but the #$%^ grass is still growing, just not as fast. I can get by almost 2 weeks now without mowing.

LUC, we're still keeping the wife in our thoughts.

Going to Terre Haute tonight with some freinds, I geuss, think the wives set this up and are just dragging me n Bryan along, kicking and screaming [not really]. Best get back to some chores
inch

[Anonymous]

Hello.

Just a quick visit, CFO saw MD today, her liver enzine is very high so a lot of concerns but other slowly mending.

Not much done in Gloetown, I still need to do some work on the track on the north side of town.  The crews are somewhat difficult as they want time off for the overtime they put in...

Fergie - Thinking of your dad and you and your family.  BTW  Nice mug shots

RT - good to see you back

mlwjohn & Bigblue - Welcome to the shop.  Hope you'll drop in often and have fun.

Jeff - Looking good, noce work.

Ryan - can you send a few car loads of tomatoes my way?

Well that's it for now, I'm going for a nap, I work from 10pm tonight till 10 am tomorrow.

Happy MRRing