Elliot´s Trackside Diner April 2010

[der5997]

Good afternoon all:

Sam: Belated 

Der John- I like the station!  Do I see an RDC at the station?  What type RDC is it?  Straight passenger, or does it have an RPO and Baggage?

...it is indeed. My rationalization for having it in a "modern" setting is that the environmental factors and the cost of fuel has (I'm an optimist!) forced the public back into trains . The RDC's have been re-engineered to also haul a passenger car when required! (Did I just see those stools at the Rivet Counter start to spin? LOL) anyway, to answer your question, it's a straight passenger RDC -1. I do have a RDC-4 the mail car - it's in my "waiting to go the eBay" box, and is DC. N Scale, naturally!

Lee:

John, great station, I just didn't want to dedicate that large of a passenger platform on my layout, maybe if I buy a bigger house in the next couple of years....

...Thanks -Come to the Dark Side, Luke - I mean Lee The entire thing is only 32¼ inches long -but  430 feet in N Scale!

Todd:

John- Stations looking better all the time!

..Thanks, I'm now going to build the two Model Power Malden Station Kits I have (need a third, but haven't found a cheap new one yet - and none build up either) When they're done I'll take all 5 stations outside and hit them with an India ink wash. Other weathering for chimney streaks etc. should, and may well, follow.

and as far as Mothers goes, it's good but I prefer Never Dull, it's not a cream

  ...Looking at the link, it sounds very practical...I like that "Leaves no residue on surfaces or in crevices" as that is my main issue with Mothers, have to be very sparing to avoid a white mess on the side of the rail.

You don't suppose Barry's in the bathroom do you? I mean as much as he eats..... 

Sent him an email through the Forum a couple of days ago, but haven't had a reply - I share the general concern.

JR: good to hear of Renee's improvement - and that your cold is clearing too.

Keith:

even went out and bought extra station platforms with roofs.. just because I can't stand a short station.

...(Borrows megaphone from Ray) WHERE? WHAT SIZE? HOW MUCH?  BTW, did you get my email about the Mission Style station platform shelter extension thingies? (not the exact title of the email )  Actually, as I look at the parts for the Malden Station kits, I see that there are castings for the stubby little platform awning. I'm going to try to mold my own out of epoxy and see if that works - 'cos if it does, I'll do a whole bunch for all the stations that need extensions (better than the very crude card and foam board mock ups they have at present anyway).

Jerry: Nice scene, Fishing hole? Swimming hole? Looks good either way! Also like the brick work on that DPM kit!

Johnboy:

DerJohn, That is a great station and train sheds.  How many sheds did you have to use there and what is it's length.

  Thanks, I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out, considering the some-what sad state of the model I bought. The platform awnings, as the platform extensions are rough mock-ups in card and foamboard. I'll be building the "real thing" in styrene as soon as I can get to my not-so-LHS for a supply of N Scale roof shingle sheet, and maybe some sheets of something that looks a bit like concrete laid out in squares. (Not sidewalk, but that jointed effect over a larger area.) I'm wondering if I make a mold for casting awning support beams out of epoxy putty, smear the plastic part with Goo-Gone before I press it into the putty to make the shape in the mold, if that will be enough "mold release agent" to do the trick. Some-one please stop me if I'm headed for disaster! . I need to provide supports for a total of perhaps 70 inches of awnings to do all the stations on the layout. Say 2" apart - so 35 supports to mold. I need to get this right. I'd like to make silicone molds really, but don't know where to get any silicone for melting to make the molds. I've heard that fishing "worms" are that same silicone stuff and can be melted down. Anyone any ideas about that? (Looks like I'm talking myself into scratch-building the things! )

It doesn't look like you travel too far past that station though.

...That's because it's the end of the line. No room on the layout for an engine escape, so the trains have to reverse in. Your raising the subject has set me to thinking that I could "park" a couple of passenger cars at the end for service when the main train (VIA Rail) isn't there. That would also free up space at the "Annex" station - I wouldn't have to keep moving a car out in order to get access to the loco service area.

Galaxy:

Being near there, I will join you for a Finger Lakes wine glass. GOod stuff...but I thought the diner was a "dry diner"???

...where-ever did you get THAT idea? We may not be a bunch of rowdy drunks, but from the get-go virtually any drink has always been available.

CapeJim:

I think I mislabeled your photo that I liked - I meant the one at the bottom of your posts (looked reminiscent of Star Trek or something like that).

...Oh! That particular one and the one with which I closed the post before that aren't a part of my signature, just photos from stuff sent to me - watch that space, as there are more, but not so Trek looking - and all supposed to be of existing (mainly Asian) trains.

Ulrich:

Did I hear someone calling these wonderful electrics a toaster? I heard you saying so, J.R.! We call them "Bricks" (in German: Ziegelstein) for their boxy appearance. 

Sam - are you piloting one of those ALP´s? Could be that I will join you - I have just turned in my application for engineer´s training. I hope I am not too old for that type of job and my good old pump will make it through the physical...

  Hey, great news and idea! Here's hoping with you that you get it! On a further cheery note, I see that German Investor Confidence rose in March.

Jeff: Good to hear about your Drs visit working out well, hope that cutting the anti-biotic dose 50% does the trick.

but it's a tough old brute and I like having some armor around me.

THAT's what Kris really liked about "Trusty Rusty", the straight 6 Chev truck we had way back in Ontario, that and the visibility compared to a car!

Supper time rolling around soon, so I'll say TTFN.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Went to see the foot doc this morning. Despite the fact that he's lost his voice and sounds like a frog out on the end of a stick he's very happy to see that the swelling in my right leg has gone down, as am I. The other doc seems to think the problem of my nausea is being caused by a reaction to the new medicine they have me on and cut it from twice a day to once a day. We'll see if that makes a difference. Stopped by my parent's place and had lunch with them (BLT's and chips) then came home. My nephew had to haul his car back home on a trailer this morning as it looks like he put it between two poles or maybe two trees. From what I could see of it I don't think that Scion will be seeing the road again anytime soon. These new cars just can't take a punch. I think I'll hang on to my Century. It's a 16 year old law agency veteran but it's a tough old brute and I like having some armor around me.

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Thanks TODD,   I have some nev-r-dull here and never thought to try it on the track.

I will give it a try next time I get down there.

Have you any more pics of your construction?

Johnboy out.................for now.

[LSWrr]

 

JR, I’ll see what I can do those Digitrax units are pretty straight forward once you do a continuity check on the locomotive wires to determine where they go.

Garry, I was stationed in St. Joe for a few years, right down by Whirlpool.

Vincent, Yea I also need to post a new video of the F3’s.  Maybe this weekend, I’ve been so busy with the displaced equipment from the engine house project I haven’t run trains since December.

Ulrich, “toasters” was a common term on the old N&W and Virginian Railroads, some of us steam enthusiast still use the term, LOL…

[Cox 47]

Good Morning...Its sunny and 60 here...I'll have coffee and a sweet roll please...Thank You...Not much going on here on Pearl street this morning..This is DPM building I picked up at rrain show I been working on...

You all have a good one...Jerry

[GMTRacing]

Ulrich - toasters and cheese slabs (Genesis) that's what I've heard some of the engineers call them but they do say they're more comfortable and quieter than the Fl-9s and EP-5s they replaced. With the fans going, the rectifier EP-5 did sound like its Jet nickname LOL.  J.R.

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe I'll have the #2 special, over easy, homefries, bacon, and a double order of sourdough toast to tide me over 'til lunch.  Oh and my dark roast coffee in a FGLK mug please.  I'll be in the front booth watching the goings on in the yard.

So....  Barry!  Where are you???  You have us all worried!  

Oh!  Mornin' Bill!

I theory I will be running out to the Boy Scout Camp with my trailer to move a bunch of dead refrigerators to a recycler today.   In theory, that is.  I am going to get the grease gun out and do the annual greasing, then give the Ranger a call at camp and see if everything is go.  It has been postponed 3 times, and I am waiting to get this job done for them before I transfer the ownership to a troop.  Lawn needs to get mowed again.  Sheesh!  Didn't I just do THAT ?  Oh, yeah, THAT was last week already.

No word on whether my DIL's Mom has come home from the hospital yet.  I did find out that she will have to go back in for surgery in 10 days. They haven't told me what is going on, so I just keep her in my prayers and figure I will find out when they want me to.

Best get moving!

73

[TMarsh]

Keith- Nope. Not necessarily. Whatever works for the person. But for me, when I use a brush I can't seem to get a smooth transition between colors, I get a noticable line. With a sponge I don't get that. Just me. Some people can take those paints and brushes and make a picture too. Not me. 

[Anonymous]

 Good Afternoon,

Zoe, make that a coffee and a slice of that apple crumble pie for me, please.

Did I hear someone calling these wonderful electrics a toaster? I heard you saying so, J.R.! We call them "Bricks" (in German: Ziegelstein) for their boxy appearance.  Garry, we hardly have any grade crossings left on main lines, but, nevertheless, those cabs are fully FRA compliant. And trucks are also smaller in Europe

Sam - are you piloting one of those ALP´s? Could be that I will join you - I have just turned in my application for engineer´s training. I hope I am not too old for that type of job and my good old pump will make it through the physical...

[Packer]

Morning ya'll

Lee, could you post a video of the install when you are done? I've been looking at those things and am wondering how they sound.

[Blazzin]

  *Walks into the Diner at 06:00*  (*sleep walking*)  *Looks at the bulletin board and reads a message from Tood and replies* 

  "Sponge..?  we're suppose to use a sponge.?"

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning ...

John Boy .... Thanks for the b'day wish for Shelley. I'll pass it on. Yes, Frankenmuth is a neat little German town worth a visit. The restaurant has great food, and you can buy German suasages, struedels, etc. to take home. We're still celebrating ( that means eating too much) as we went out to eat again last night near Detroit.

JimCG ... The weekend of May 1 and 3 looks clear as far as I know. Hope that works out.Soon, I'll be headed across MI, and then thru Indiana for KY.

Lee ... You asked about Benton Harbor. One of my sisters is a doctor there.

Ulrich ... Thanks for the photos of the electrics. I wonder if they have grade crossing collisions with big trucks in Germany. I would hate to be in the cab of one of those locomotives if that ever happened.

Happy model railroading 

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.

 Not much planned today.  Still trying to get over my cold.  I thought work might fix that  .    Gotta go to the library, and work later today. 

 Hope everybody has a good day.

[TMarsh]

Good Morning.

Great news on a DIL. Now still waiting for some good news on a DIL's Mother.

You don't suppose Barry's in the bathroom do you? I mean as much as he eats..... 

Have a Great Day!!!

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

   Didn't get home until nearly 10pm yesterday so I'm catching up again. Stayed late as I was determined to get the suspension nailed back onto the Theodore F-1 car which I mostly did.

Nick - I liked the CSX in front of the bridge at twilight. Nice shot and if you can do higher res that would be brilliant. That looked like it was done across the river from the center of the city, no?

Ulrich - Thanks for the info on the tosters Sam is running. Now we know why they're limited to 80 in NJ as well - they are designed that way!

Keith - once you get your sidewalks formed, if they are foam based you can try a sharpened pencil or a fine point pen and a straight edge to mark the form and expansion joints. It works in Horribly Oversized on foam sheet and such. The end permanently indents the foam.

Daughter In Law (Renee - she does have a name) is home from hospital and feeling much better.

Lee - hope you're taking pics of the sound/decoder install for me. I have some of my own to do and am very interested in how it works out.

Gotta run - still lots to do today before I go to the museum tonight.   CUL, J.R.

[LSWrr]

Good morning, 

Galaxy, the phone can’t make coffee.  It can turn lights on and off in your house and it can adjust the thermostat, but there is an add-on gadget you need for your house.  I picked up a sonic tape measure for it yesterday.  

Jim, there are so many apps for this thing you can’t find the one you want.  I told my GF that if she wants one for her birthday I’d pay for it, but not the monthly charge.

I picked up the decoders for the critters last night; Holy Toledo they are small!  The speaker is as big a round as sharpe marker.  I haven’t opened the package yet so maybe tonight I can wire one to the locomotive and see how they work.  They are the SDN144 from Digitrax. 1 amp/ 2 amp peak.  Pre loaded with steam and diesel sounds.  No train time last night, I had to drive to GF’s house to tend to their dogs then drove to Chardon, OH to pick up the decoders, and then it was time to harvest the grass.  I can’t call it cutting the grass since I bagged two large garbage cans of wet grass. I need to edge and weed wack this weekend if the weather cooperates.

[wetidlerjr]

[Anonymous]

 Good Morning Everyone!

well, it is not as nice and sunny outside, as it was in the past days. Maybe some volcano ash coming our way? Nope, just the typical south-westerly winds bringing the typical April weather. A little rain may clear the skies over Germany, so the Red Baron can rise again.

Flo, I´ll have my French breakfast, please!

Ray - your sense of humor meets mine spot on, so nothing to worry about. In fact, clearance in Europe is much smaller than in the US, so our trains are "little" when compared to yours!

Sam - here is more info on the NJT locos. To my knowledge, over 1200 are in service, operating in countries like Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Luxembourg, Denmark, USA, The Netherlands.

I took a look at the Island Model loco and somehow it looks out of proportion to me. The FP40 chassis underneath it certainly does not help.  A Piko class 185 needs only little modifications within the area of the lamps, cutting off the buffers and a good paint and decalling job to be a fair representation of the NJT ALP46. Piko locos are solde here .

Still no news about Barry?

You all have a good one!

[Blazzin]

  Ah Todd.. where's the pics of the rocks.. dag nabbit~ LOL.. seems like I've been waiting all day.

  As for me.. it was 'Zero'  time.. lol. the sidewalks didn't match up.. and at that point.. I just had to take a nap.  Maybe tomorrow~

[TMarsh]

Good late evening. Was busy at the restaurant. Got a story to tell about a guy and a train (AMTRAK) stopped and the restaurant, but it's late and now that I think about it, boring unless you live here.

Keith- GEEP is just a way of Saying GP Phonetically as in General Purpose. G. P. Geep. You'll hear someone referring to a GP 40 or 30 or any GP loco as a GEEP. Like the original Willy's JEEP for General Purpose vehicle.

Jim- Yeah the picture isn't the best. I'm waiting for Ray's class. But, I did get the colors that are close enough for me. Grey and a black wash. I did get that done today. Made a special trip to Wally World because I was dyeing to know (pun intended). Like you said, I don't know one type of rock from another either but yes, close enough for my world. J.R.'s comment about a touch of pink has me thinking though....

Sam- Yep, I know the get in a hurry syndrome all too well.

Jeff- Take it easy. Are you feeling unusually......uncomfortable?

Johnboy- I have used Flitz. Personally I think it is the best there is. So much so, I use it so sparingly to make sure I don't use it up. I also have trouble finding it. Try automotive parts stores. Another product I really like is Never Dull Magic wadding. It is a metal cleaner impregnated in a fibrous material. Comes in a round can kinda like a can of peanuts. Real good stuff. Not familiar with Maas and as far as Mothers goes, it's good but I prefer Never Dull, it's not a cream. You just tear off a piece of the material, (reminds me of fiberglass insulation without the itch), rub it on the metal until the subject turns black, which is the grunge, and wipe clean with a cloth. If you can't find Flitz, try that.

Prayers for those in need.　

[NittanyLion]

GMTRacing

   Nick - nice shot of my favorite subject in my favorite city. I'm one of the nut jobs that races around Schenley Park in vintage cars every July. Would it be ok to use the shot as a screen saver on my puter?

 

 THis is from like seven pages back, but yeah go nuts.  Which picture specifically, because I can post a MUCH higher resolution one if you want it.

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Evening Gang,

Zoe, I'll have a half lemonade and half seven-up in a WP. mug.and a side dish of almonds, Thanks.

Well I got the top elevation (track) of the layout cleaned up so that something will run on it. and then started the Gleam process.  Never done that before.

Have a nice big stainless steel washer that covers both tracks at the same time. So Questions now for you all.

1.  How long do you spend on  say a three foot section of track with the washer??.

2.   I wasn't able to find any "Flitz" in the city, but I did find some "Maas" metal polish and also some Mother's Mag wheel polish.  Which do you suggest I use?

I have three different cleaners and they all seem to work fine.  I have tried them in my "Centerline" track cleaning cars and they work well.

Won't get much time to do much more as it is time to shut it down now and I'll be getting ready, after work tomorrow, to leave for Grande Prairie.

Didn't get as much done today as I had planned as I did a bunch of yard work and then when getting the garbage ready to go out I came upon an old "Shark" vacuum cleaner that was hatched. But as I was about to toss it I realized that all the attachments were really neat and would work well for the layout, as they are smaller and more varied. BUT>>>  the connections on them are oval and my shop vac is round.  So I spent about an hour figuring out what to do.  I eventually used my heat gun and warmed up the oval end of its little flex hose adapter and bent it with a pair of water pump pliers, then heated it again and forced my shop vac hose end into it with lots of twisting and shoving. And guess what??? A perfect fit.........

Now I can use all of those attachments with the shop vac. 

Well off to have a shower and some ZZZZzzzzssss as I have to work in the morning.

Hope you have some suggestions for me for the above questions.<<<<>>>>> DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, I DID A SEARCH, THANKS ANYWAY.

Sleep well All.....

Johnboy out...............................for now

[ns3010]

Evening all. Just did a quick skim through posts.

Sam, (belated), and glad Transit is keeping you for now.
For HO 46's, check out [url=http://islandmodelworks.com/PL42.html]Island Model Works[/img]. They're resin kits, so you have to do it all yourself, but I've been told that Joe does an excellent job on them, as well as all his other kits and decals.

Also, I see that the photo Ulrich posted of the 46 is 4600. Just an interesting fact- the stripes on 4600 and 4601 are backwards. On those two, the blue part is to the right, but it's to the left on all other cars with the new striping. oops...

Well, I gotta go, but hopefully I'll find time tomorrow.

Peace

 

[Trainman Sam]

Sir Madog

 Sam - these locos are built by Bombardier Transportation in Germany and their "brand name" is TRAXX, standing for „locomotives platform for Transnational Railway Applications with eXtreme fleXibility“. The TRAXX family is divided into F´s (= freight), H´s (=Heavy Haul), P´s (=Passenger) and S´s (= High Speed). NJT´s locos are P160AC´s, the 160 standing for the top speed (160 kph or 100 mph) and AC for the current.

 

The yellow one on my pic  is also a P160AC loco. 

Each railroad has its own "name", in Germany, the passenger locos are mainly referred to as class146.

 As it is 2.30 am, I´ll be heading back to bed now.

Good Night everyone!

 

Edit: Trix, Marklin, Roco, Fleischmann and Piko offer many a version of this loco. The Piko one is fairly inexpensive and could be "americanized" without much effort.

Thank You!!!  Got more information from you tonight than I have gotten anywhere else in the past month!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Jeff- Hope you start feeling better!  Hope the Doc's App's go well!?

Well I am off to bed as soon as I copy and paste Ulrich's information!  Thanks again!!!

[Packer]

Evening Ya'll. Haven't been around for a while so I've got a bunch of catching up to do.

Yesterday I picked up my bro from his girfriend's (parent's) condo in Panama City. I had more issues with the car on the way but I was able to fix them. Upon pulling into the parking lot to said condo, I had apparently came in the wrong way and a bolt for the shifter came loose. I had the parking lights on because the sun was setting; so I hit the hazards while I fixed it. Apparently the car didn't like that and popped the fuse for the brake lights and hazards. I managed to fix it with a spare fuse and put the bolt back in hand tight. No issues after that.

I made a side stop to a Borders and picked up the current issue of TRP with the article on Marias pass in the late 70s. As a bonus the 2nd article was about the Frisco in Nebraska and Kansas, I haven't read it yet but have looked trhough the pictures and it may help in pinning down a locale (Denver-Kanasas City seems fairly plausible at the moment for a basement layout) for a future layout.

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Flo just a cup of decafe for me at the moment.  I'll be in the back booth just relaxing for a bit.

Ulrich, I do hope you know I was being sarcastic with the  "Little electric Trains" thing....  Just a bit of traction there.  I did know they were putting out some serious power but 0 - 60 mph in 12 seconds? Whoa!  Nice looking beasts as well!

Johnboy and Galaxy, thanks!  This was my first year at the rules class.  I liked the presentations and how the presenter made the day enjoyable.  He was very, very clear at the start of the day that each and every rule was written in someones blood!  That each rule represented at least one person who died on the railway or lost a limb before the rule was added.  Also there is no room for breaking any of the "rules" ever!   He told about the importance of listening to radio communications even when they are not for you.  He told about an engineer who because he heard a message meant for a different train figured out he and the other train were on the same track headed towards each other.  He immediately set the breaks and managed to stop with 400 feet left between the 2 head engines.  If he had not been paying attention.........???  He also showed some photos of what happens when a car has fouled the switch and the engineer assumed the track was clear because it was when he went through earlier going the other way....  Not pretty.  Yes a productive day for all I would say.

Got down to the Credit Union this morning, then to the grocery store.  After lunch went out and got about 1/3 of the herb garden weeded.  It is loaded with morning glory which is a pain to try to get rid of.  Very deep roots and if you don't get it all, it comes right back.  Around 2:30 my son called to say his wife had gotten home from her appointment early so I didn't have to go over to babysit the granddaughters.  RATS!  So I have spent most of the rest of the day putting together the first presentation for the clinics in week and a half.....  Where does the time go?

Catch you all later!

73

[teen steam fan]

Hey guys, cuppa hot, black coffee. You wouldn't happen to have a British Railways mug back there would ya'? Thanks.

Haven't been around much, been working hard to buy a lift for my jeep, and got two GOOD teeth yanked last thursday. Man them buggers have some long roots.

Urlich-cool pictures. I like those Geman electrics you see. My high school is right next to the I think CSX trackage. But you got some really need photos there.

 Yes I know it's late. A small cup of coffee helps me sleep at night. As crazy as it sounds, it's true. Thanks

[Cederstrand]

Meatloaf dinner with green beans, baby carrots and mashed potatoes, please.

Some neat pics being posted.

Finally going to make it down into the train room tonight. Need to build a little access road for the wife's future chicken house.

Cheers! Rob

[Anonymous]

 Sam - these locos are built by Bombardier Transportation in Germany and their "brand name" is TRAXX, standing for „locomotives platform for Transnational Railway Applications with eXtreme fleXibility“. The TRAXX family is divided into F´s (= freight), H´s (=Heavy Haul), P´s (=Passenger) and S´s (= High Speed). NJT´s locos are P160AC´s, the 160 standing for the top speed (160 kph or 100 mph) and AC for the current.

 

The yellow one on my pic  is also a P160AC loco. 

Each railroad has its own "name", in Germany, the passenger locos are mainly referred to as class146.

 As it is 2.30 am, I´ll be heading back to bed now.

Good Night everyone!

 

Edit: Trix, Marklin, Roco, Fleischmann and Piko offer many a version of this loco. The Piko one is fairly inexpensive and could be "americanized" without much effort.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Neck and back are still hurting like you know what so I've been in the bed most of the day. Gotta go see the foot doc in the morning then it's over to the other docs office. Good wishes and prayers to all those in need.