Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Elliot's Trackside Diner XXII-Just a track over Locked

56165 views
739 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 6:45 PM

JimRCGMO
Uh, Jeff, I'm surprised that Ray didn't suggest a Mac XServe for you - with one of those, you could build it into a cabinet and just have the monitor, keyboard and mouse out in view... and then network a laptop back in your bedroom. Smile,Wink, & Grin Heck, I like Macs and I don't think I could find justification for an XServe!

 

Nah, he doesn't want an x-serve.  Only comes with a paltry little 160 Gb HD.  He should go for a Dual Quad Core Pro with 32 Gb of RAM, 8Tb built in HD,  MacPro RAID card,  4x NVIDIA GForce GT 120 graphics card, 2 Superdrive Optical Drives, and a pair of 30" Apple Cinema HD Displays.  Only set him back around $16,500.  That's the one I want..............Whistling

JimRCGMO
Ray, you'll have room enough for the next Diner party, with all that space you're clearing out! Thumbs Up

 

Maybe but only if we hold it outside.  The space I'm clearing out will get filled with equipment now sitting out in the sn*w.....

OK!  I am going to leave the computer here and go turn on the heat down cellar and see if the layout is still there.......  Later!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: upstate NY
  • 9,236 posts
Posted by galaxy on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 7:05 PM

Evenin' Guys

I'll have a  blue plate special of fried chicken with two sides of slaw and ice water with lemon please.

Jeffrey W please check your PM's when your computer is working! Cool

Robby P. Congrats and Happy Anniversary, celebrate well  Big Smile 

JimRCGMO I will start thinking on your present for next year!

Had PT today for my back. Not working well after a few weeks of working on it. Next week I go back to my regular DR. to ask for more anti-inflamatory pain killers and muscle relaxers. I have to wait as he's on vacation, and I don't wnat to deal with a fill-in. ANy chore or anything other than sitting or laying is a pain in a back.

Have a swell night guys

 

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 7:17 PM

Hello ..

Jerry, Ulrich, Jim and others. Thanks for the kind remarks. Looks like I'm OK for the foreseeable future, and so here I am in the diner to razz other diners. ... (Don't wake up Duke and tell him.)

Jim, ... Nice private road paint scheme on that switcher. It has that NP look to it. What does CAW stand for? Crooked And Wobbly?  

Jerry ... I like the Monon F3. .. I do recall seeing Monon trains in operation before L&N aquired Monon.

JR ... How are thing going with the repaired house? Are you settled into the place OK?  

I worked a little more on my FT project today. Had a model railroader gathering at the local lunch place in town. When I got home, I placed an order with Walthers.

Cheers.

 

 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: K.I.S.S- Keep it simple stupid
  • 676 posts
Posted by teen steam fan on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 7:22 PM

Hey guys, coffee for me.

I got baces in and I hate them. being on Christmas break, not very joyous. Anyone have advice to keep a little feline off of my layout? And no, I cannot partition the area off oand no I cannot get rid if her

If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran

When in doubt. grab a hammer. 

If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer

If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer

If it's broken, get a hammer

If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: upstate NY
  • 9,236 posts
Posted by galaxy on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 7:27 PM

It has been my experience that once they get up there a time or two and find little to interest them, that they will leave it alone.

Others have cats that will disagree with my theory on purpose.

Of course IF they find something interesting that is another matter! Or if they like to give chase as you run them thinking they are mice to chase.

I have a friend who has no problems with the cats, but the dogs now...that is a different story! They seem to not like the noises trains make as they go round and round!

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • 734 posts
Posted by Blazzin on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 8:17 PM

    LOL... "I got braces in and I hate them. being on Christmas break, not very joyous. Anyone have advice to keep a little feline off of my layout? And no, I cannot partition the area off oand no I cannot get rid if her" 

   Training cats is easy.  Several things to take into consideration.  Never hit a cat on the head.. even if its lightly.  Cats say 'Hello' with their head.  You have to train your cat... before they train you.  I have 6 cats right now and have had cats all my life. 

  To train a cat... so you never have to get up out of your chair... and what to do if you have to get up.  First of all, cats remember quite well... so I recommend... just one time.. hit the cat with a newspaper.  Hit them on the lower adomen.. not the chest or the head.  Hit them once with a newpaper.  But before you hit them.. you have to make a schwooshing sound.... like   "SSSSSSSSSSHH"  like your trying to quiet someone down.  Then hit them once.. and only once.  Next time the cat does something.. that you don't want .. all you have to do is.. 'Ssssssh' them.. and clap your hands.  I guarantee most cats remember the one time swat.  Now it could take time to train them.. but a simple 'Ssssh' and single loud pop of clapping hands.. does a great job.   If you get good at it.. you don't even have to get out of your chair.  '

  Now if you do have to get out of your chair.. I put them outside.  If they didn't want outside, they remember that.  And that worked with my oldest supervisor.. he no longer get up on the layout .. cuz he knows.. he's going outside.  And its a bit cold too.   Although you might live in snow country.. so the garage is / might be a solution.  The whole process.. is just of 'Association' with the one time hit... converted into a clap.  The 'SSSsh' is a must though... maybe they see you as hissing at them.  But they do understand.. and do remember and learn.  Good luck.  Keith

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 8:40 PM

Robby .... I intended to say "Happy Anniversary" in my earlier post. Cheers to both of you!

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: Nova Scotia, Northumberland Shore
  • 2,479 posts
Posted by der5997 on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 8:50 PM

Good evening Diners: The layout died this evening! Not the sort of thing one expects on one's natal day. I was cleaning track - not too much left to do. I'd moved an RDC from a station to get at the track under and beyond it, cleaned that bit, did some more up by the upper yard, went to move the next "blocking " loco, and it wouldn't respond. Tried another - Nada, nothing. So on through the roster across the layout. No lights flashing a short, no trouble lights indicating any problem whatsoever. Just no power to the tracks anymore. This happened once before, back in the summer. Then it was loose connections from the DCC PowerHouse Pro to the track power bus at the layout.  Checked and tightened those - still nothing. Unplugged the layout from the PowerHouse Pro, and got out my fiddle yard, plugged it in - my GP15 started right up - so it's not the PowerHouse Pro in any way. Checked the power bus wires along to where the power is split for the upper levels. Back when the layout was DC, I had designed it for DCC, and compromised a bit for the DC arrangements. One part of the compromise involved an Atlas Twin electrical routing switch. It's in the right hand side of this shot Lo and behold, one side of that had its slider just a tiny bit out of "fully deployed". I must have snagged it when reaching for that "blocking" loco which was on one of the turntable tracks. I picked it up to see if the wheels were not passing power because of crud. That's when i must have done the snagging. Corrected THAT and Presto! Back in business!  It's a good feeling, as I'm a klutz when it comes to real electrical problems, not just mechanical misalignment or simple polarity miss-matches.

PATom:

Okay all you VW Bug lovers, are you sure you haven't forgotten some of the downsides to those rascals?
...as in the condensation inside the handbrake cable tube between the seats freezing, thus making releasing the handbrake impossible until  an outside heat source is applied? - no, I haven't forgotten!  I don't remember the year of that model - old enough to have the heater fueled by gas, and right behind the dash - if that helps identify it.  We had it repainted once locally by an amateur outfit.  They left it outside in the summer to dry. It gave a whole new meaning to the VW "Bug"!

CapeJim:

I'm just not wild about stick shifts,
  which is why they are our #1 anti-theft device!Thumbs Up (not that we would think you personally would stoop to such behaviour, but the principle is, I think, sound.
and haven't heard from Ed for many weeks.
...he's very much alive and kicking, enjoying life with the family. Hasn't had time for MRR, and that could also mean eMRR, but he didn't specify.

AztecEagle: Sign - Welcome to the Diner...you don't by any chance model western RRs in the late 1800s in N Scale? Just a shot in the dark bouncing off your username.Whistling

Ray:

and find the gas pedal frozen to the floor......
...had the same sort of thing happen to me in an Austin A40 crossing the Pennines in freezing fog. The throttle linkages iced up and froze tight open following a transport lorry (truck) as he slowly lead us across...and into a café parking lot. The thing wouldn't shut off!

Keith: Sorry, you're now way above my head on the electro-frog thing. All I know is that in order to have them work in DCC I had to physically cut the under turnout connections, and then separate the frog rails, inserting a thin plastic insulator strip between them and re-slide them into position. That made them insulfrogs...the only solution I could find that worked.Pirate

Jerry: Like that F3 score...I love it when a plan comes together too!Approve

RobbyP: Happy Anniversary! Hope it's been all you hoped for!

Galaxy: That back sounds bad. Here's hoping the Dr. can sort it sooner rather than later. Please know you are included in my sign off Angel On the subject of layout cats, our Pampas George of blessed memory liked a particular spot on the layout in Spruce Grove Alberta, and didn't roam far from it if he got up there. Here in Nova Scotia, he didn't even bother. He showed his distain and annoyance at he disruption of taking the Alberta layout down by peeing in a shoe box lid full of screws that was on the floor!Sigh

Time to call it a day. Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers continuing for all in need of Healing, Comfort, Prosperity and Peace.Angel

 

 

 

"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.

Moderator
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: London ON
  • 10,392 posts
Posted by blownout cylinder on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 9:08 PM

der5997
PATom:
Okay all you VW Bug lovers, are you sure you haven't forgotten some of the downsides to those rascals?
...as in the condensation inside the handbrake cable tube between the seats freezing, thus making releasing the handbrake impossible until  an outside heat source is applied? - no, I haven't forgotten!  I don't remember the year of that model - old enough to have the heater fueled by gas, and right behind the dash - if that helps identify it.  We had it repainted once locally by an amateur outfit.  They left it outside in the summer to dry. It gave a whole new meaning to the VW "Bug"!

I remember how slow they were when it came to taking off from an intersection! It had difficulties getting out of its own way---let alone anyone else's!! Or the pedals---mind, I was lucky in that by the time I got my own VDub I was WELL aware of the dang cables---it gives definition to the phrase---"Drive-By-Wire" And I'm not going to mention the heaters----

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Marion, Iowa
  • 1,263 posts
Posted by AmanaMedic on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 9:11 PM

Good Evening, a RBF and a plate of fries please 'n thank-you...

JIM, I'll try to clarify a bit for you...don't worry about your head, it's perfectly safe. I love being a news photographer again. I guess the techy-nickel name is "photojournalist." I don't love writing the articles. I would prefer to JUST do the photography, but THAT just isn't possible in this position, or the current market. Overall, I like what I do.

 So far: he likes what he does...oh, and he's good at it, allegedly.

BUT, it is permanantly part-time, with irregularly irregular hours. THAT means, taking a second job is all but impossible. It also means I make roughly half what I used to in the crappy, hated every minute of it job I had before this one.

OK: he likes what he does, he's good at it, but it don't pay squat.

SO, I have a job I mostly like, that I'm pretty damned good at...but I don't make enough to pay the bills like I used to. Now Loving Wife is paying pretty much everything, making things really really really tight.

To sum it up: Like job + good at it + can't pay the bills + maybe I should take some other/any other job that WILL pay the bills + Loving Wife loves having me in a job I'm "happy" at + extra expenses = STRESS.

Heck, I shoulda never said nothing about it.

Uh Vinnie? I think I got THAT hole patched, I'll paint it in the morning after it's set up nice.

ULRICH: Glad yer back home... thanks for the advice.

ROBBY: Happy Anniversery. Mine has kept me for a little over 6 years now (some days I really wonder why...) I hope yours keeps you too. Be good to her.

JIM: FWIW, I'd put the CAW herald on the right side of the boxcar, and I think the red/white looks fine.

LEE (I think): love the layout pics, and WHAT did you say the deer were consuming out of those barrels??? Shock Maybe in a couple of years, you could have a two-headed deer or something in the same spot...

SAM: How ya comin' on THAT sketch?

Well, tomorrow is an early-rise to get the truck to the truck hospital for her surgeries. It'll take every dime I've got, and probably some of Loving Wife's as well. Yes...we still have seperate accounts, I just figure its easier that way. The most critical needs will be taken care of. Triage. After we drop off the truck, Loving Wife will motate me to THAT's office in Solon so I can grab 14 back issues to complete a full year of The Solon Economist. I am to compile a "year in review" article for THAT. What fun. At least it will keep me occupied. Monday night, instead of going to the monthly fire dept. meeting Banged Head I'll be attending a special meeting of the Iowa City school board. Their superintendent has escaped to greener pastures...so a public forum is being held to figure out how to replace the guy.

THAT part of the job, I don't care for much. I'd rather just get the requisite head-shots of the muckety-mucks, some "muckety-mucks sitting at the big table" shots, some "John Q. Public talks to the muckety mucks" shots...and call it a night. But, it's badly needed hours toward the next paycheck.

Oh....(COX 47) JERRY: THAT Monon F-unit, looks pretty darn good to me. A Don Ball Jr. book, "America's Colorful Railroads" introduced me to the black and gold...sharp looking to be sure!

Good Eve'nin....

ChrisEight Ball

 

The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: K.I.S.S- Keep it simple stupid
  • 676 posts
Posted by teen steam fan on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 9:56 PM

Bugs are really well built though. Hell to take off the front bumper, the entire front end has to come off.Nice change than pop can tin on alot of cars these days.

If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran

When in doubt. grab a hammer. 

If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer

If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer

If it's broken, get a hammer

If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Manassas, VA
  • 344 posts
Posted by Trainman Sam on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 10:05 PM

AmanaMedic
SAM: How ya comin' on THAT sketch?

Well THAT sketch quickly became THOSE sketches...

Here they are in all their overly simple glory... lol

" mce_src="">

" mce_src="">

The first one has the tie in on the far side of the "main" layout,  I would "hide" the tunnel with trees, since the NH&I doesn't have any tunnels or large hills near it... however, I could aslo use the track as a "siding" for one of the freight customers that actually exist on the prototype... could be interesting...

The second one had it tie in just like almost every other layout I've seen, just hid the fact that the tracks come in on the prototypes tail track that just leads into the woods and dies ( how convenient that the trees will be prototypical in hiding the track to begin with!!!)

Please let me know what you think!?!

EDIT: Grrr... I keep getting doubles of the photos I post here... I'm copying the IMG address from Photobucket by highlighting and copying exactly what is there!!! Can anyone explain why they keep duplicating on me?

Sam

 May He bless you, guide you, and keep you safe on your journey through life!

 I Model the New Hope & Ivyland RR (Bucks County, PA)

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, December 31, 2009 12:31 AM

  Hey, guess who! Yeah, it's me again. I got the parts for my computer today and got it up and running. I'm in the process of installing software now. That should take another hour or so. This thing flies once it gets started but the startup takes about 5 minutes. Gotta find the reason for that. The bill for the parts came to $147. I told my parents what had happened with the old mainboard and that I was going to be out of contact by phone until I got the computer fixed which looked like maybe a month or two. Well, my father cornered me this morning (the 30th) and told me there was no way he was going to be carrying messages back and forth from my doctors and whatnot and shoved a blank check in my hand and said 'Get it fixed NOW'. Hey, I don't argue when somebody puts a blank check in my hand like that as long as it's for something reasonable. And yes, I do have to pay him back at $40 or $50 a month until it's paid back. One thing I have to get are some new memory sticks. The ones I have are from the old board and are DDR2 667 which is the bottom of the basement for this board. I need to get some DDR2 800's. It's expandable up to 8 gigs RAM. It also has an IDE port so my old 80 gig hard drive and my DVD burner are right at home. Later I'll look at putting in some SATA drives but that's not an immediate thing. The board is an MSI G31TM-P31 with an Intel E5300 dual-core processor. Comparing it to the old one is like comparing a VW Beetle to a Cadillac with the new board being the VW Beetle. The main point is, it works.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 31, 2009 12:59 AM

 Good Morning Everyone,

Hey, Zoe, the place looks nice! Getting ready for this evening´s party? Wonderful job you and the other girls have done here! Vinnie? Vinnie helped? OMG!

The last day of a year which turned out to be the most difficult and challenging one in my life. Many a dream was put to an end, and even just barely staying alive was and still is a challenge. But it was not all bad - I found new friends here in the forum, people, although I have never met them in person (and probably will never meet), have become very dear to me. I always get a little sentimental on Dec. 31st, so please bear with me, when I just want to say thank you for your friendship, your support and comfort you have given me in the past months.

Jeff - I am glad your PC is up and running again, even as a VW Beetle. Thumbs Up

My notebook is my lifeline to the world outside, my escape route out of days of misery. It is a cheap Acer Extensa 5235 without any frills other than WLAN and a well sized display, but it does the job for me. 

Robby P. - a belated Happy 3rd Anniversary! May there are many more to come! My parents will be celebrating their 60th anniversary coming year...

I just heard, that 8 US boys were killed in an attack in Afghanistan, and 5 more Canadians in a second attack - makes me very, very sad.

My Angel Angel go to the victims of terrorism and their beloved ones!

 

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Euclid, Ohio
  • 2,822 posts
Posted by LSWrr on Thursday, December 31, 2009 3:48 AM

Good morning,


 

Chris, the scientific terminology is: methylethyleatyourfaceoff, this was a highly technical name we used in the Haz-Mat world during training exercises.  I was thinking of a Cyclops deer or a two headed rabbit. Thanks, that area only took 6 hours to complete.  I’m sure I’ll tinker with it as time passes.

 

Can anyone use two 1GB PC2-4200 DDR2 533 MHz RAM Simms?


 

Keith, I had problems with the cats on the layout until I switched to the Digitrax Super Chief 8 Amp system.  Poor kitty was sleeping on the tracks behind a box and I didn’t see her.  I fired up the layout and started to move a DC locomotive, next thing I knew there was a cat departing the train room at high speed. Neither cat has been on the layout since.


 

Robby, Happy Anniversary!


 

Jim, the deer is glued to the top of the shrubbery.  I thought about a pin or a finishing nail, but this worked well.  The rubble is ballast I bought from Smith and Son Ballast in Chardon, OH.  They use real stone, dry and sift it down to various grades.  If you call him you can buy a sample assortment of everything he sells.  I used the river stone for the rubble effect.

BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret)
 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, December 31, 2009 3:54 AM

LSWrr
Can anyone use two 1GB PC2-4200 DDR2 533 MHz RAM Simms?

 

Wow! Those are old enough to settle down and have kids. I can't use them. The lowest my computer goes on memory is DDR2 667 and their obsolete. Now, if you had a couple of DDR2 800's ... ...

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New Milford, Ct
  • 3,232 posts
Posted by GMTRacing on Thursday, December 31, 2009 7:00 AM

Good Morning All,

    Back in the shop at least until the fire system repair guy is done. Sprung a couple of minor leaks that were found at the last inspection in the area of the controls and it looks like the one way valve between the sprinklers and water main is feeding back into the main which is a no no for potable water. Ah the joys of running your own business. All this and more pictures at 11 - not.

Chris - Any chance you can freelance some photos to the greater world out there or is THAT avenue not available? If you don't do anything that conflicts with THATs' universe in the metropolis of Solon (close to felon, no?) your part time gig wouldn't be at risk. I know full well how hard it is to get by as a photographer as several friends and my brother made a go of it and came up short (or at least very hungry). My brother had lots of talent, good ideas and degrees from Cooper Union, Kodak Rochester and Cal Poly but still couldn't make a living as a pitcher taker. He did end up editing film for TV stations but that took years to develop (pun intended).

Sam - I like the first sketch best. I think the ones where the diverging line comes off the outside of the curve is too tight for what you already have and makes a doubleS into the yard which will be a problem. If you do the tree portal further up and raise the main loop or lower the lead to the yard under the main it will add interest and it looks possible to add another branch off the yard lead for a siding inside the main loop (it would be a trailing siding but what the heck, right?).

Ulrich - Good to see you back. I assume you got sprung from the "joint" all right?

Jeff - your dad is a man oafter my own heart. After driving middle son around because he messed up an eye leaving his contacts in too long (typical college kid stunt), we marched him down to lens crafters gave him the credit card and said drive home when your new glasses are ready.

Lots to do today before the snows start. Catch ya'll later, J.R.

Moderator
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: London ON
  • 10,392 posts
Posted by blownout cylinder on Thursday, December 31, 2009 7:28 AM

Good Morning--

Kinda snowdribbly today and really DULL. We're at the mighty 0C as well--nice and damp---with a wind to bootDead

Jeff: Good to see you back on track here!! Thumbs Up I'm kinda lucky that I've got a friend that has connections and can get parts if I need them---which I have not yet needed-----yetWhistling

'Spring' does not really bother with the layout especially after I accidently pushed a button on the DCC controller---wanted to do something else---got horn instead. Once the cat heard the horn the little one leaped off the layout and tore out of the room. Now he just sits BY the door to the room!!Laugh

Chloe--I'll have a coffee please---I'll be at the RCSmile,Wink, & Grin

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • 734 posts
Posted by Blazzin on Thursday, December 31, 2009 8:54 AM

  "Morning Chloe" 

  Hi all~  Well reading the previous post,  it certainly does give some creedance to what I said.  Cats do remember.. quite well.  On a side note concerning my 6 cats,  I won't feed 6 cats all around my feet.  I have trained all of them to go to their stations to be fed.  If you don't,  you get fed last.  And if you go to another cats plate.. you might be heading out the door.  I have one that runs to an old work table, one that runs to the extra bathroom, my blind one runs under the layout table, one sits by the cabinet, another on top of a storage/sitting chest.. each one is according to where they sleep.  It works well and I'm not triping over some cat.

  Now yesterday, well it was suppose to rain in the evening.  And I was suppose to fix the garage door opener.  It was still morning yesterday when I looked out the window, and the streets were a little wet.  So I said.. I'd wait a bit.  Well it got worse and then it started raining.. so~  eh.. I'll go to the hobby store instead...lol.  Why not.  If there is anything I really can't stand to look at.. is a layout in the living room with all sorts of stuff on it.  I try to work on this every day.  Even if its only 10 mins worth. 

  So anyways.. I bought some more Electrofrogs.    Five total,  and I really hate to spend the money.. I really do.  To think I have thought I have bought just about everything you could possibly buy.. only to have to go out and buy more.  Gheez. 

  Now JR.. and Der John.. and a few others.. I have a DCC Prodigy.  So my question is...

  Doesn't DCC cut the power down on a regular DC engine..  it would seem like there is a 'load' there or should I say some 'resistance' building up in a DC engine running on DCC tracks?  It just doesn't seem healthy to me. One of many things I will be thinking about as I lay track today.

  Jim,  I hear ya on the force air gas furnace.  Its blown out .. oh.. several times... in the past 20 years.  I'm not too worried,  but I do hear ya.  And you're right we really only use the heater for a very short time.       Keith

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New Milford, Ct
  • 3,232 posts
Posted by GMTRacing on Thursday, December 31, 2009 9:41 AM

Keith,  The prodigy won't run DC locomotives. The power supplied is AC "square wave" usually 15 volts that the throttle sends a carrier through. The decoder receives the carrier intended for it and converts the signal into action. The 15V AC is converted in the decoder back to dc voltage and supplied as directed to the motor through those two teeny tiny wires run between the decoder and the motor. The other functions (lights, etc) are controlled the same way with the common wire carrying power and the individual wires from the front, rear or ditch lights working like the horn button on your car (at least in the old days of the empire) by grounding the circuit. This makes everything sensitive to dirt in the circuit between the track and engine and explains why we spend years slavishly adding drops and buss wires and polishing the rails. Makes a big difference when running sound equipped locomotives and permits the sounds to run uninterupted. Some day some smart*ss electrical engineer will reinvent this mess with a real transmitter sending to a receiver in each locomotive and a capacitor in each unit to keep the electrons flowing over the dirty spots. I'm pretty sure some of the large scale stuff is already done this way at least the r/c part. Despite all the agita, IMHO, I still find this better than miles of wiring for block control DC and having to endlessly hit switches in order to run more than one locomotive at a time. If you find the electrofrogs a problem, Der knows how to neuter them by the way. 10-4 btk J.R.

BTW watching those of us with short term memory loss try to run multiple locos on a DC system is probably more amusing than any number of other politcally incorrect things you could think of (dwarf bowling, cow tipping - you know.....)

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: Nova Scotia, Northumberland Shore
  • 2,479 posts
Posted by der5997 on Thursday, December 31, 2009 9:47 AM

Good morning all, and    Let's keep it a safe celebration folks - none of this   this or this

May not get back in today - but I Ditto Ulrich's appreciation of your friendship and helpful advice.

Sam: Uncanny! When there was talk yesterday about coming off the 4x8 at the corners I thought, "I wonder if Sam would look at fixing up a curved crossing, because it offers a good deal more scope in planning." - and here you are thinking of just that.

Ulrich:

Vinnie helped?
........

On a more serious note:

I just heard, that 8 US boys were killed in an attack in Afghanistan, and 5 more Canadians in a second attack - makes me very, very sad.
  Yes, that whole situation is sad indeed. My support of the mission can be summed up by an incident last week in Pakistan not Afghanistan - but it is typical of the Taliban. A girls' school was blown up - Heaven forefend that women should be educated! To clarfy the Canadian losses, here's a news report. -
Canadian authorities had not released the names of the four Canadian soldiers killed Wednesday because one family, while aware of the death of their relative, had not been officially notified in person.

Calgary-based journalist, Michelle Lang, was the fifth person killed in the strike on the edge of Kandahar city.

All died when their armoured vehicle hit a powerful improvised explosive device that left a massive crater in the road.

Several soldiers were injured, as was another civilian, although all were expected to survive.

The loss of life was the third worst single incident for the eight-year Canadian mission in Afghanistan and the worst in two-and-a-half years.

Lang, 34, was also the first Canadian journalist to die covering the war.

TTFN

 

 

"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Saskatchewan
  • 2,201 posts
Posted by last mountain & eastern hogger on Thursday, December 31, 2009 10:30 AM

 

. Animated Father Time


                                                              . animation of party animals
 
Good morning Diners on this last day of 2009,
Chloe I believe I need a large carmelly cinnamon bun and a HC to chase.
 
From our house to yours, Sandy and I wish you that 2010 brings all of your favorite dreams to reality.
May you have success in health, wealth and the persuit of whatever you are chasing. 
 
I also second what Der-John said as well.  we are all old enough to obey all the laws, so no D&D tonight or EVER,   we all want you back here with us in the New Year.
 
AngelAngel   Prayers and blessings to all who still find themselves in need.  May you be healed of your problems.
 
As a side note, our youngest son was home from Spokane over Christmas and gave me a great amount of help and we have that Bedroom that was distroyed back in shape and decorated. All that is left to do is the carpet and baseboards.   SO........................  I am much closer to getting back into the train room..  Hopefully the "WOBBLY" will wobble soon.
 
I must tell you that for Christmas I received three Accurail , 55 ton, 2 bay hoppers in mineral red and lettered for the Western Pacific, all with seperate road numbers.   The DVD of the first season of Extreme Trains , and a 50 inch flat screen, plasma   (panasonic) to watch them on.   How's that for a great Christmas ???????????       I know, I'm spoiled.   But it is goooooooooood.
 
Our prayers and thoughts are with all Military Families, all the time but especially those who have lost loved ones in these terrible  conflicts around the world where the enemy doesn't have enough fortitude to stand up and fight like a man.  What kind of a low life involves children and women.  I don't see how they can be of the human race..  The loss overnight last night is very disturbing.  These are all our HEROS.
 
Best Wishes to all.
Johnboy out................................for now.

from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North.. 

We have met the enemy,  and he is us............ (Pogo)

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • 734 posts
Posted by Blazzin on Thursday, December 31, 2009 10:52 AM

  JR.. Well maybe I got them reversed.... DCC can run on DC but places a load on the DCC engine?  Whatever the case, I still will strive for the KISS approach.  Keep it simple with DC.  DCC sounds more like a headache and an more money.  I think I'll be having more fun with DC.  I would rather have hands on approach when running engines. 

  Ok.. ok.. so ppl try to run multiple trains on DC.. lol.  Yep thats me~ .. I'm a 'hardhead'  I'm not planning on having two DC engines running on the same track at the same time... but I do believe I can selectively choose different lines/mains and have even the mains,  the Arrrival/Departure area and the yard mostly separate... with a transformer for each.   IN that way I might be able to  run one train per track...  and still be able to work the yard while other trains are running. ... and even have one sitting on the A/D line ready to headout on the long yard lead.. only to jump onto the other main.. lol.  yeah~  The run on this layout is so long... I really think I can do it.  If nothing more.. end up with basically a 3rd main (long yard lead) running half way up the mountain... then using a cut insulfrog (Dremel)  to separate the power and have it jump on to the main#2.  I can already see.. when one train passes on the main..at a certain curve.. the main is open.. and hot.  Should be a fun one for me.

  Ok.. JR.. and Der John and a few others.   Here's my next question.  My layout is almost flat.  Its a 1 percent grade.. 2 percent if you count in the 19 inch radius on the turns.

  What is the length you can run power down the line.  I know there are many factors to consider.  And what I am about to say .. may make a few shudder with chills of disbelief.  But I'm not planning on running wires to every piece of track.  My back couldn't take it besides.  So if I do a good job in soldering,  a well placed transformer could cover what/how much distance.  And then, will I need some sort of booster to keep the power up.  I know 25 years ago.. when my son and I built one.. I placed the transformer leads to the hardest steepest grade.. cuz the power right there seem to be needed the most.. while further down the tracks.. where there were no turns or grades.. the power seemed ok... but seem to drop off the further you went away from the power.  The length of the backside.. is 11 feet.. then turning and going another 8 feet.  The complete one loop.. just going around one time is approx. 30 feet.  Its a long one.  Ok.. enough of me.. and my corney questions and ideas.  I'm off to lay track.    I do thank you guys for the advice.  Keith

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Thursday, December 31, 2009 11:17 AM

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe just a cup of dark roast coffee please.  Too close to lunch and not far enough from breakfast to have anything else.  I'll go to my seat at the Rivet Counter for a bit.

GMTRacing
Keith,  The prodigy won't run DC locomotives. The power supplied is AC "square wave" usually 15 volts that the throttle sends a carrier through. The decoder receives the carrier intended for it and converts the signal into action. The 15V AC is converted in the decoder back to dc voltage and supplied as directed to the motor through those two teeny tiny wires run between the decoder and the motor.

'

Keith, what he said.......  The only thing I would add is that the frequency is much, much higher than the 50/60Hz house current.  We are talking thousands of Hz here.  On the units (digitrax, NCE, and some others that do allow the use of a single DC loco, it is accomplished by something called "Zero Strectching".  The signal to control the decoder is similar to the type of hexadecimal packet that is used for MIDI in music equipment and the packets of info that are used to send data on the web.  Zero Stretching can be explained by thinking of binary.  The top of the square wave is "on" and is called a 1, the bottom of the square wave is off, the zero.  With zero stretching the 0 is on longer than the 1 therefore providing DC current to the loco.  When you run the loco in reverse, the 1 is stretched.  It is recommended that you do not leave a DC loco on powered tracks for long periods of time if you are not actively running the loco.  Heat can build up and fry things........  Normally you might hear a hum coming from the loco when it is sitting still.

Have I confused you yet?  Here is a great site for more info about all aspects of DCC: http://www.wiringfordcc.com/

I slept in late again this morning (got up a little after 10AM).  Figure I must have needed the sleep.  My son should be arriving to borrow my truck soon.  They are already in "Pack and Store" mode with the house.  I will be glad to see them moved and settled into the new place.  They will have so much more room.  Each daughter will have their own room and with a 2.5 car garage, the boats can be kept under cover.

Barry, you think the Bug was slow starting up???  They were a dragster compared to the VW Bus with the old 1200 engine sporting 36HP, a 4 speed transmission, and 1000lbs more weight empty.......  I drove one of them from Canandaigua to Rochester for about a month while my 1960 bug was being looked at by the insurance people.....  The bus could go from 0 to 60 in less than 6 minutes I think.  The bug got hit in the rear at a stop light when I was driving out to a school for me Student Teaching.  Somebody said something about the good solid bumpers on them... Ah, that was later....Big Smile  Up until the mid/late 1960s they had this piece of tin foil they called a bumper.  After 2 or 3 years they had a habit of just falling off all by themselves.  Mine had no bumper by that time.  Guy hit me square in the engine compartment.  A friend drove his Bug over and helped me tape the distributor cap back in place, get it started, and followed me home to Canandaigua.  The insurance company totaled the car, gave me $500 and told me to keep the car as they had no use for it.  I put some major money into getting it so I could still drive it..... $15 I think.  Had to put on a couple new (truck) rear brake and stop lights, and a new distributor cap.  Drove it for another 10,000 miles.  Finally at about 120,000 miles I got a 1956 bug with 195,000 actual miles on it for $275 and drove it for 2 years.  It died the first day of Spring in 1969 right in my driveway.  The transmission wore out.  Turned around and sold it to a guy who wanted it for a dune buggy.  Got $75 for.  Darned cheap transportation, and fun to drive. Smile,Wink, & Grin

Time to light a fire in the wood stove so I'll catch you all later!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New Milford, Ct
  • 3,232 posts
Posted by GMTRacing on Thursday, December 31, 2009 11:33 AM

Keith,   If you in fact have 30 ft of track I'd at least make provision to feed the transformer power to both sides of each track section (contiguous blocks). You needn't hook it all up at first, but if you do have the train slowing too much at places (especially on the flat) and the track is clean then yes you have voltage drop at those points. You can get all technical and go around measuring voltage at various points, but running will show up flaws better anyway. As long as you have your wits about you and good reflexes (I have neither) you can run multiple trains with multiple transformers. Before I changed to DCC, I had two double MRC transformers and a couple of old Tyco transformers for the yards. Running more than two consists was problamatic for me because of the forest of a/b reversing and turnout remote switches I had to deal with as the trains made their rounds (three levels - about 12 seperate blocks). It became not fun and precipitaed the disassembly and new start of the third and lamented lost in the flood layout. Even the shelf switching layout I am plotting to build will have DCC as I don't want to revisit all the mental and physical gymnastics required for the DC setup. Obvipously others are free to disagree - it is after all just my biased opinion. Have fun with the track laying.    J.R.

Ray - all that hertz stuff hurts my head. the link though is excellent. I study it all when the need arises and then push it all out of my too small skull. When I do start up again I would like to look into the auto routing for turnouts so I can drive while the little electronic dispatcher controls the switches. all in due time

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Thursday, December 31, 2009 12:36 PM

Happy New Years Eve to everybody.

Two of our five adult kids have theire birthdays today.  They each arrived just in time for a tax deduction in their birth year (3 years apart). We have another of the five who has a December birthday. .... and the remaining two, overshot December and have January b'days.

 Ulrich .... Nice of you to complement your frineds in the diner. ... It works both ways. based on many comments here, I know it is a pleasure having you as a friend in the diner. ....

Let's celebrate. I'll pay for a round of RBF's.

Cheers !!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Western transplant to the Deep South
  • 4,256 posts
Posted by Cederstrand on Thursday, December 31, 2009 12:43 PM

Some mixed nuts, freshly shelled, please.

***Robby, CONGRATS on the 3 years. May you have many many more to come.

Cowboy Rob

 

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Thursday, December 31, 2009 1:05 PM

Hello Rob. Are the diners "mixed nuts"?

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New Milford, Ct
  • 3,232 posts
Posted by GMTRacing on Thursday, December 31, 2009 1:10 PM

I often feel like I've been freshly shelled, just not here.  J.R.

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Shelby, NC
  • 2,545 posts
Posted by Robby P. on Thursday, December 31, 2009 1:10 PM

 Good afternoon.  Thanks for all of the "Congrats".  We didn't do much but watch some tv.  Now thats a good way to celebrate your three year anniversary Big Smile.  

 Woke up this morning to some snow on the ground.  Now I get to try my snow tires.  What a difference.  I didn't slide once.  Now I can drive in PA!!

 I hope to work on my lift out some today.  Finish wiring it up.  The "duck under" was just getting real old. 

 Hope everybody has a good afternoon.  I will pop back in later.

 Seems like I have the "honors".  Just take it easy on me Mischief.  

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!