Elliot's Trackside Diner NOVEMBER 2010

[wetidlerjr]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY USMC #235 !

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

der5997

Jeff: Fast progress on the re-wiring!

Well I don't know about fast. I just have more free time than the average person being that I'm stuck at home most of the time. Compared to rewiring my trailer the rewiring of the layout is child's play. I could almost do it in my sleep. I have only to wire the busses to the control panel and the track will have power. After that comes doing the wiring for the lighting.

[Wisconsin Railfan]

Good Morning Folks!

Cup of coffee please!

CHRIS - Another nice picture, thanks for sharing

Hope everyone has a great day!

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.  Well we are having us a "indian summer" .  In the 60's this week, and it feels good!!!

 I started on the NYC boxcar yesterday, and hope to get it done today.  It has a nice dusty look to it.  Nothing over-done on it. 

 I will pop back in later.

[TMarsh]

Good Morning! Waffles please. Dark Roast in a “I make choo choo sounds” mug thank you

We are havng a beautiful warm week. So far.

Nov 18 thru 23^rd. That’s when the UP is going through Sherman. We will be next. Hopefully I will get some shapshots of the big replacing of the rails and crossings. Should be interesting.

Brakie- Sorry about the hand. What’s wrong? Carpel Tunnel?

Myself I have arther-itus. As a mechanic I would have to take yearly physicals. The physician would ask if I had any bone or joint pain. After reciting the usual increasing yearly list, the last three or four years  I would say “wrists” “OH!!” They would exclaim, “ We need to send you in for thousands of dollars for tests for Carpal Tunnel.” I would tell them that they need not do it AGAIN, it’s arthritis. Nope, thousand dollars, 15 minutes for the tests and at least 1 shock followed immediately by “Oh, guess that was turned up a little high. No wonder you jumped” later and the verdict was in… arthritis. In a rather smug tone from them. They acted like I was looking for to have it.

Cdog-

Ray- Great news from the Doctors!! Of course they just had to burst it with a jab at the weight. Oh well, suspenders can be cool. I can only imagine the colors and styles you will acquire. Remember. A belt holds your pants up, suspenders keeps them from falling down. Supposedly much more comfortable.

Der wins. Robert Burns it is. (had to google it) Yes we do misquote, but we are from the U.S. Does that surprise you. Beverage of his choice on my tab!

I guess it is the Corps B-day today. U.S. Marines. Thanks for everything, couldn't have done it without you. (and I'm Army)

Y’all have a Great Day now ya hear?!!!

[LSWrr]

Good Morning,

Ray, I’m a Boatswains Mate, not a doctor, but if I read your post correctly it sounds like your healthy as an ox.  So I guess we can anticipate more S.L.O.W. progress reports.

 

 

I cut the grass yesterday and cleaned up the back yard, hopefully this will last me until May 2011 since I put the lawnmower away for the season, drained all the water hoses, and secured the outside faucets for the year.  I have the next 4 days off and plan on working hot and heavy on the layout.  Thursday the weather will be mild and I can finish all my backdrop work for the season.

[Anonymous]

Good Afternoon,

I just received a phone call from the people I had the interview with - got invited for the second round! Now THIS cheers me up a little. Chances to get the job have risen from 50:50 to 90:10 now!

Zoe, whatever the chowhounds are having - put it on my tab!

[galaxy]

Good morning all

restful day until time to take te Kia in to the dealer tonight for tomorrow's servicing. Hopefully they can figure out what is wrong and fix it.

Then we stop and get H2o at the grocery store and a new surge suppressor strip for the new tv and such as old one burned out withteh old tv when the electricity bounce on/off the other day.

 

Sir Madog

Good Afternoon,

I just received a phone call from the people I had the interview with - got invited for the second round! Now THIS cheers me up a little. Chances to get the job have risen from 50:50 to 90:10 now!

Zoe, whatever the chowhounds are having - put it on my tab!

COngrats Sir!

But hold on there sparky- you don't want to pick up the tab just yet around here till you know for a fact that you got the job...we can get expensive....

Now...while it is on sparky here ... I will have the Tbone steak and lobster dinner with all the fixin's and trimin's and a nice and dessert-chocolate Mousse to go with it. please.

TTYALLL8R

[jeffrey-wimberly]

galaxy

restful day until time to take te Kia in to the dealer tonight for tomorrow's servicing. Hopefully they can figure out what is wrong and fix it.

Do I see no more KIA's in your future? Seems like you've had enough problems with this one to drive you insane.

 

Good morning. It's 57 and mostly cloudy. The high will be 78. Nice weather we're having.

This morning I got the buss lines all wired into the control panel. All the busses get power when their respective DPDT's are turned on. I used alligator leads to connect the blocks together and check that they were wired properly by turning on the Zephyr. No shorts, no backward wiring. Now onto the wiring for the structure lighting.

[galaxy]

[quote user="jeffrey-wimberly"]

galaxy:

restful day until time to take te Kia in to the dealer tonight for tomorrow's servicing. Hopefully they can figure out what is wrong and fix it.

 

Do I see no more KIA's in your future? Seems like you've had enough problems with this one to drive you insane.

[quote]

 That could very well be, Jeffrey. I don't know yet. It's looking that way, but remember the problems I had with teh 98 Gr Caravan? Replacing this and that and this sensor and that sensor to the tune of a few thousand dollars and being told 3 times I needed a  new computer until finally at the dealer, with teh cost of a new computer looming on the horizon, the dealer finds the fault to be a loose wire in the engine wiring harness that they reconnected and "zip stripped into place so you will never have troubles with that wire again" all for  $56.00!!! That seems to have solved all the probelms. There have been no problems since with the Gr Caravan.

Prior to that, and after all the troubles with the Kia I would have said the two ran neck and neck for repairs. Onlyest thing is the Kia is under warrantee for another 9,600 miles or until June 30,2011 which ever comes first, and the Dodge never was under warrantee since I bought it 4 years old and out of warantee.

Someone recently said they had a friend who said they though "Kia" was Korean for "crap"/ I dunno only time will tell.

Our train nut friend has  Kia Optima and except teh timing belt jumping at 100+k miles, has had little problems except rountine maintenance. The Sedona has a timing CHAIN instead, which I woudl rather have over a belt thank you. I didn't think they even put belts in anymore. I Do need to have the Dealer up coming 60K service done soon on the Kia as Kia will look to see if you maintain the vehicle as well . THat little number is $395. I don't know if the 30K servicing was done or not, as I didn't own it then. I do know a lot of people who keep cars only 3-4 yrs will not do much maintenance as they figure they will trade it in before it gives them trouble and let some other poor shmuck worry about it. I could be the poor ***. I may just have the plugs replaced then too as they say while htey can go 100k miles, they really should be changed at 75k, so I figure at 60k close enough. Next service after the 60k is the 120K servicing at which point i will also have plugs done. Soon I intend to have cooling system flush and replace thermostat as I don't know if flush ever done and am sure the thermostat is now going on 5 yrs old , replace before it gives me troubles. then also comes the lifetime frontend alignment at Firestone as don;t know when that last done. Thats's the thing about a  y/o vehicle that the owner does nto thoughtfully supply the maintenance records for, you don't whta has been/not been done when.

I am more surprised taht your van has given you such problems!! It seems you are always fixing somehting on it and jury rigging something to fix it.

[Anonymous]

Hi again,

I am getting all edgy (in a positive way) about that job. It would mean end end to making plans for a layout and the beginning of building one.

That´s why I´d like to put up my latest plan for discussion. The space and size is about the max I can do in that room, but I´d like to capture some comments on areas, which you think could further be improved.

It´ll be DC operated, but switched to DCC at a later date - I am too lazy to put any complicated wiring into it.

So, folks - ready, aim, FIRE!

Galaxy - I am sorry to hear about your continuing trouble with your KIA. I hope they get it all fixed this time! Surf&Turf dinner is a nice choice, but I doubt that the chocolate mousse will hold up to Petra´s. No, Zoe, I DO not complain about the food here, would I be coming to this place if the food was bad? No, Zoe, please don´t

PAW!

(flattened out on the floor)

Ouch!

TTFN

[howmus]

Mornin' Everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a butter rum muffin w/ real butter and a cup of dark roast coffee in a FGLK Mug!  Please and thank you.  I think I see one seat left at the Rivet Counter so I'll have to sit over there.

Ulrich..........  Good luck and my prayers headed your way.  Great to see you smile!

Currently 47°F under sunny skies here in the Finger Lakes.  Good day to stack some wood I think.

It was in last night's Finger Lakes Crimes Times.  The County Police shot and killed a rabid fox a couple days ago.  Twas over in a small rural town about 8 miles from here.  By the time they found and shot it, it had attacked and bitten 3 women.  Fox 

Best get moving if I want to get anything done today!

Later!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

galaxy

I am more surprised taht your van has given you such problems!! It seems you are always fixing somehting on it and jury rigging something to fix it.

Doesn't surprise me at all since it was badly abused before I got it. Remember that it's 30 years old. The guy my nephew got it from didn't know one end of a carburetor from the other. Add to that it's a Chevy carburetor on a Dodge engine. Go figure. All my nephew did to it was to get the engine running and rebuild the tranny. I've had to go through and undo all the hair brained electrical connections that have been made over the years by who knows how many people, most of whom probably knew little or nothing about electricity. I've found some pretty strange stuff that had no business being in there. I replaced the steering column as the bearings and wiring in the old one were shot. I also got all the lights working properly and it has a new alternator and voltage regulator.

[galaxy]

Cars. Can't live with them, and some of us can't live without them.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

galaxy

Cars. Can't live with them, and some of us can't live without them.

How true, how true. I would have a very hard time getting down to my parents place without one. The distance isn't far. Most would consider it an easy walk but there's no such thing as an easy walk for me.

[Cox 47]

Good Morning All..Its sunny and warm here..Indian summer maybe?..posta be colder by week-end..Just a cup of coffee for me please...thank You..Got some more work done on B-man caboose..got it cut down and windows filled..Sit'in here listening to Dixieland CD..

Teen steam Fan..Wow you brought back a blast from the past when You sid you were listening to CW McCall..I use to play his records on the radio..wonder if he is still around?..He got started doing Bread company spots and they became so popular that He got a recording contract..Interesting feller I interviewed him a couple of times..

Der john..could that be a butler Grain bin You are working on?..

You all have a good one...Jerry

[LSWrr]

Ulrich THAT IS GREAT NEWS!  Good luck with round two.

[the North East Rail Modeler]

Good afternoon everyone. I'll just have a cheeseburger and fries. I'll be doing something to kill time

galaxy

Cars. Can't live with them, and some of us can't live without them.

How true, Galaxy. I love my truck (a 2002 Ford F-150) and I can't wait to get my lisence to drive it.

However, I do have my fair share of "Can live without a car" stories (although, technically, they belonged to someone else)  If there's enough interest in it, I'll post them here.

[cudaken]

 Evening AZ

 Flo, felling pretty good tonight, drinks are on me. That Germany fellow over there, I am buying his dinner as well.

 Been a interesting day. Had to go fight with my Bank, and I won for a change. Saved my self $30.00. There site was down and I had a incoming check, I could not transfer the funds to cover it. So they gave me back the NSF fee today. 

 Ulrich I sure hope you get the job. But more important I hope you like the job after you get it! I turned down two other jobs offers to take that stinking VW job! It is not a problem with you not playing with layout plans. 

 Morgan AC is 54 inches off the floor and sits around around 6 inches out from the widow frame. Yes I m planing on replacing it soon and will make sure it is not a big problem do so. Far as making holes in the part left from the wall. Well, I will have to move a 70 gallon aquarium (empty but still 200 pounds) and pile of stereo gear. But, if it makes a big differences it can be done. Far as mountain? I was not ready for that question! All I can tell you is I want a lot of trees.  

 Jeffery You know way more than me about Athearn's. My Athearn RTR SP RTR SD 50 ate it's third decoder this time a NCE. Sure ran great for sometime.This thing had been a pig from day one using Digitrax decoders. ( ate 2 decoders while I was having bus wire problems)

 Anyway, it is time for a new motor. Jay sent me some HP Blue Box motors from Dash 9's. Are the motor shafts the same sizes?

 Vincent Ham beer car picture, and when can we ship?

 I have learned one thing today. When using the Atlas RTS 8.0, use the save feature a LOT!  Nothing like spending 20 minutes getting something to fit, hit the arrow at the wrong spot and have track fly all over the screen!

 Here is what I played with today.

 Set up a yard that will hold 6 trains. It was one pain in the Caboose to do with it going around a turn! All the turnouts are number 4's. in the yard. Main high speed lines are the 2 that closes to the garage door. Next two are the branch lines and will use mainly smaller engines.

 Yard track goes up the bloop using a 30 inch turn and then down to 24. Run is 176.24 long and will climb 3.5 for 2.30 % grade. The branch lines follows the yard line, I have yet to do the math on grades but should be doable. What is going on the bloop is still open. I could make it bigger (longer) and try to fit in my engine house, but I don't think it will fit. Could be a hill, town or anything at this point. The two trunk lines leave by bridges.

 Big Round thing on the bottom left you ask? Playing around with a possible mountain with 42 inch radius. Using the 42 inch there is 241.88 inches of track. Climbing only only 3.5 inches gives me a grade of 1.45 %. Very doable.

 Ulrich, Morgan and others. Remember this is still doodling and nothing more. Nothing is in stone, but you are getting a idea of what I like. Well, I think I like it?

Time to watch some NCIS.

         Ken

[jeffrey-wimberly]

cudaken

 Jeffery You know way more than me about Athearn's. My Athearn RTR SP RTR SD 50 ate it's third decoder this time a NCE. Sure ran great for sometime.This thing had been a pig from day one using Digitrax decoders. ( ate 2 decoders while I was having bus wire problems)

 Anyway, it is time for a new motor. Jay sent me some HP Blue Box motors from Dash 9's. Are the motor shafts the same sizes?

Ken: I don't really know. I think they are. The motor in my all Athearn SDP40F is a standard blue box motor (from an F7) but the flywheels, shafts and worms are from an Athearn AC4400. I think the AC4400's motor shaft is the same size as that of the -9. I had no problem at all in getting the flywheels onto the blue box motor.

[cudaken]

 Testing if I can make bigger, the picture that is.

 Detail still blow, must because I am changing it to a JPG from a RTS file.

              Ken

[galaxy]

Evening guys

Well { a deep subject that actually holds water} took the Kia in and of course tommorow as they try to get it to do what it has been doing, it won't of course.

Cuda ken- also don't forget cardinal rule # 1 as you plan your layout- DON'T get too greedy! Trying to pack a lot in can cause more problems than it is worth. .Just a thought as you plan and try to squeeze in  tracks everywhere.

well Property Virgins is on at 8 on HGTV and then I go off to bed didn't sleep much last night.

TTYALL8R

 

[Packer]

Hey guys.

Started putting together 1 set of the Smokey valley handrail kits. They were originally meant for converting front range GP9s into GP9Bs. But I'm adapting them to P2K GP9s. having a GP9B kit gives me some extra stanchions. Took a bit of filing to get a tab that wouldn't allow them to fit into the stock holes. A trip to lowes got me a flush cutter small enough to cut them off, and time went down drastically.  It's my first time putting together brass handrails and soldering them. Frankly it's not as difficult as I thought it would be. Just wish I had a #73 drill bit (enlarging the stock P2K holes) and a smaller soldering tip for my old weller.

Also went shopping for new parts for my car. Redoing the supension with H&R race springs, Billstien HD shocks, Maximum Motorsports caster chamber plates, and urethane bushings would set me back $1100. If I went coilover it'd cost me closer to $1800. Dunno if it's worth the additional 700 (JR?). Even after that, I'm getting MM subframes, a Spec Stage 1 clutch, Hurst Shifter, and GT40 intake and heads (can get in a junkyard from an explorer with a 5.0). as for normal stuff, I have to get the A/C filled, power locks fixed (they work sometimes), and power mirrors fixed.

Ken, Though I sent you them in a PM... I think mine has a different number, but I can't check now since I'm at school: Could ship as soon as Friday (tomorrow is a holiday)

By the way, that motor is probably over-amping the decoders. Does the engine stall due to load when running (running it to it's limits can do that if it stalls and can't spin the wheels) 

Galaxy, very true. I love my car (1994 mustang GT) and that's why I'm spending all the money on upgrades. I'm gonna go easy on the horsepower (like Ken has) since it has over 211K miles (Odometer is stuck at 211,892; I've driven it at least 300 or so now but I don't know how long it's been driven with a busted odometer before I got it)

Ulrich, Very good to hear! Good luck with the 2nd round.

[der5997]

Good evening Diners: The rains have stopped,a nd it should clear tonight for a partly sunny day, if windy and cool, tomorrow.

 

Jeff:

Compared to rewiring my trailer the rewiring of the layout is child's play. I could almost do it in my sleep.

....please don't or you might have a similar "incident" with the soldering iron to Fergie  some years back! (Or are all your connections suitcase?) I see your tests have come out AOK on the bus wiring.

 

Todd:

Beverage of his choice on my tab!

..Och nooo, that would be a wee dram o' the Glenfidich then!

Ulrich:

I just received a phone call from the people I had the interview with - got invited for the second round! Now THIS cheers me up a little. Chances to get the job have risen from 50:50 to 90:10 now!

YES!  Zoe, the Beverage of Ulrich's choice on my tab, please.  - On the track plan, is there enough room, without running onto the turntable, to get  the cars you need to pull from the piano works and spot those that have to be left there?  I'm assuming that the ones to be spotted would be used as a "handle" to pull the ones already there, and put them onto the train that brought the replacements.

 

Jerry:

Der john..could that be a butler Grain bin You are working on?..

...it could be (but the sign on the photo I can't quite make out - it doesn't start with a B, as far as I can tell.  There's two of them on the order sheet, one about 4' taller than the other. Horribly Oversized...but what's a body to do?

 

Well, not much achieved today on projects, and my new tube of glue came out of the box like this:   I've written to the manufacturer, and we'll see what if anything he has to say.  I'll say goodnight, and God Bless.  May you have a solemn, meaningful and thankful Veterans Day and Remembrance Day (Canada)

Prayers continuing for all in need of Healing, Comfort, Employment or Prosperity, and Peace.

 

[howmus]

Evenin' Folks!

Flo, just a decaf for me right now.

Place seems to be deserted.......

Managed to get a few things done today.  Changed the oil in the log splitter and got it ready for the winter.  Hopefully tomorrow my son will stop over and we can unload it off the trailer and park it by the shed.  I can then throw a plastic tarp over it.  Ran a few errands, and even made my way down to the train room (While I was doing the wash) and did some w*rk on the Quarry scene.  Won't be too long, maybe next week, when the lift out will be done enough to reinstall on the layout.  Then I can clean up the area and run some trains again........

Catch you all sometime tomorrow!

73

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good evening.

Ray said "Place seems to be deserted" ....... It needs to be desserted ( 2 S's) with lots of good desserts. ...... I reccomend Kentucky Derby Pie. .....  mmmmm

Ulrich .... I bet you get the job! Yay!

Chris .... I like the CRANDIC SW-9. One of my friends has a custom painted HO model of one.

Der John ... Good to see your work=-n-progress.

Ken .... Are you considering a two-level layout?

Jerry ... You have a good one, too!

Ray .... Any photos of your quarry yet?

I was laying some track today. Also, did the final details on my large bakery.

 

 

[TMarsh]

Good, no, GREAT news! I found another cache of Milk Duds!

Galaxy- Don't swear off of Kia's/ like you said, the caravan probably didn't have as much wrong as it seemed. I know several people who have run the "KIA" out of them and they still run with nothing more than normal maint. I also klnow a couple peopl who have KIA's and they love them. No probs. Of course every manufacturer has a dud or two. If you're at all like me, you'll get it.

Ulrich- First, I'm pulling for you and praying you get this job. It really sounds promising. Now, reality. Please, please, pleeeease, don't get too excited so that if you don't get it you get thrown into a downward spiral. I don't want to be the mister throw a wet towel on it, but we all hate to see anyone in here in the dumps. That includes you especially my friend. The job market is tuff and you never know what reasons a person will use to choose between two people. You WILL get a job. If this one is right for you you will get it. I truly, truly hope it is. I hate to see good people who want to work can't get a job or those who can't physically do a job, struggle on bare minimum benefits from the government while so many out there who don't want to work and prefer to live off others seem to have more available cash than those who work.

Sorry. Seems the soapbox got under foot.

Jeff- After hearing the history of the van before you recieved it, and the time it spent sitting and it's age, it's a testiment to the thing it runs at all. The 318 is one heck of an engine. and the 904 is a good tranny. Can't go wrong. Unless you aren't a Chrysler fan.

MY HAMM's CAR! How'd you get in my basement and take a picture without me knowing it?

Ok. Service members and Vets FALL IN! 

At ease.   Don't forget Tomorrow is the day for our annual muster. Stop in and report. Name, Rank, Branch of Service and dates. Tomorrow is your day. And if you have one nearby, take a trip to a National Cemetary and say thanks.

A- ten-SHUN! Have a good night and PFTIN.  Fall out!   

[Anonymous]

Good Morning,

Flo, I need a strong coffee to get me going, please.

I feel a little more relaxed, now that the chance of getting the job jumped up. The 2nd round in the interview is usually the part, where the basic decision has already been made and the contractual details, like salary , paid leave etc are settled. I´ll be happy with whatever they will be offering me, because anything will be better than our current situation. We have learned to run on very little and even the lowest salary will leave us with some extra $$$, part of which I can spend on MRRing.

Fir the first time in over 2 years, our future does not seem to be that bleak anymore!

John - thanks for your comments. Switching the piano works lead is a challenge, as there is just enough track for the loco + a 30ft. boxcar, before entering the turntable. I could move the switch next to it a little more to the right, but the easier way would be just to omit the turntable, if I found out how to install a working coupler on the pilot of my T-12. I will have to do some tweaking of the plan before it is final, but I already like it very much the way it is.

Galaxy - here in Germany, the KIA´s enjoy a reputation of being robust, but fairly plain vanilla cars. They are high up on the list of the most reliable cars, whereas most Volkswagen are at the lower end. There are no serious quality issues with VW´s, just little things which add up to be a PITA for the owners. Hope you get your KIA properly fixed today.

A good day to all of you!

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

 

[blownout cylinder]

Lest Ye Forget--November 11th 1918--

Hello,

I got up to a little Spring attempting to knock some things off the night stand on to the floor--I forgot to feed him last night

Anyhow, Ulrich! I'm pulling for you to get the job! That sounds like a fun position! But as Todd suggested we keep pulling here!

Ray: I had some fun with a committee I'm on--seems we need a financial planner here---heeheehee---so what did they do? Select me---

DerJohn: I did a few of thosee things too--including leaving my thumb on a screwdriver shaft and getting a shock off my CX1000A tube---

Welb, I'm going to load up my photobucket account with more shots today--including some 'artistie types' as well---this should be interesting.

Flo, I'll have a coffee and some toast with jam please---I'll be at the RC for a bit-