Good Morning,
Well no pictures this weekend. I didn’t even make it to the layout, but I did get the bulk of my Christmas shopping done, the outside lights are up, Christmas cards are in the mail, and everything is wrapped. Tonight I’m heading out to a MRR open house, and then Tuesday will be the day to put up the tree.
Happy belated birthday Ray!
Todd, they still require a caboose up here on the CSX, Union, and NS for hazardous cargo trains or trains that require running in reverse for any distance (grade crossing spotters). The Union RR runs several miles in reverse and it’s a common sight to see them.
Jeff, I hear what you’re saying! I’ve been working on scenery and this and that is scattered everywhere on my layout. I took a day last week to un-clutter stuff just to find all my hand tools, LOL.
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
I am just home from a night´s visit to our hospital. The pain got worse last night, so I checked in to this dreaded place. Well, it seems as if one of my ribs is cracked. As Chris stated, there is not much one can do about it other than bandaging the chest and a strong pain med. That sucks!
Zoe, a tall glass of liquid vitamins, please!
Ray - your granddaughters are just adorable. I like Emily´s picture - can anyone resist her eyes? You are a blessed man!
Garry - good to see the man behind the posts. I bet that layout tour earned you a number of ah´s and oh´s.
Ken - I know what I am about to type up won´t earn me some brownie points and I hope you won´t be mad at me, but I have to speak up. I don´t think that either plan is what you are really looking for. The first plan, though kind of sleek looking, will give you some serious reach problems and the spaghetti bowl peninsula will be hard to come up with a plausible scenery that does not look like a Swiss cheese. There are just too many over- and underpasses. Mother Nature does not stack up LDE´s, but puts them in a sequential order (Switzerland being the exception). The second plan has even more reach problems and has a toy-like atmosphere. You have a good looking layout and there should be something mucho better at hand before you tear it down. Although you have a lot of space available, there are limitations to what you can do in that area. A four-track main, a branch line, a station and a big yard, plus some industries is just too much for your room. Simplicity rules!
I will try to catch some sleep now and to forget about my pain.
CUL
Where is the diner going for December?
Actually, it's leaving AZ as we travel to AZ.
Der ... Yes water level has been back to normal.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
der5997Chris: (Jeff / JR): would putting an ordinary household light dimmer switch in the circuit from the Tech 2's AC outlet to the track give some control of the track power for that Lionel?
Dr. Science, AKA; Dad, figures the AC accessory terminals, while putting out sufficient voltage just aren't pumping out the needed amps. He concurs with JR THAT the Lionel transformer has likely died of old age and internal decay. But, he's already digging around in his Frankenstein's Laboratory... He figures to rig-up a surplus (to his needs) transformer capable of motating the locomotive at a fixed speed. If "too fast," he's got some resistors up his sleeve... One way or another, the Lionel train WILL be running under the tree for the Wife this year.
Failure is NOT an option...
Keep in mind, this was to be a "simple little project:" set up small card table, deploy some track, attach transformer, place train upon tracks...walla! Happy Wife!
Nothing
Is
EVER
"Simple"
IN
THIS
HOUSE
DER JOHN: I forgot to bestow my awe-struck wonderment at the chicken feed silo!
JEFF: I take great, probably childish at some level, delight when you perform an L&A patch upon a hapless UP locomotive. Maybe it's residual resentment at Uncle Pete taking away "my" CNW... The BORG RR getting patched...how sweet is THAT??
Will grab a mug of hot cider, have a seat at the RC, and see who-else makes it in.
Chris
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
der5997 Jeff: a small air compressor (Campbell Hausfeld 3 gallon) ...what's "The Spray Can Rembrandt," doing with THAT? Like the Bobbers - Does every HO layout have one of those? Seemed to be the norm for the Spruce Grove HO fraternity.
Jeff:
a small air compressor (Campbell Hausfeld 3 gallon)
...what's "The Spray Can Rembrandt," doing with THAT? Like the Bobbers - Does every HO layout have one of those? Seemed to be the norm for the Spruce Grove HO fraternity.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Good evening Diners: Good to see you in again JP and Krump, and Paul. A Green Tea for me please.
Ray:
Gorgeous photo of the steamer in the snow!
Rob: Glad you like the silo-so-far. That one is the smaller of the pair, and sort of a "proof-of-concept" of how to do the taller one. They will be linked together by the line taking the feed to the chicken barn. Next up is building the second silo, now I know more or less what's required. (Update this evening, the sheet metal siding is gluing as I type)
That Scenic Cement is STICKY stuff. The little folk kept sticking to my fingers and tweezers. About drove me nuts.
Paul:
That may be a good idea since there is some pipe that should be replaced also.
RobbyP: I have been meaning to ask. Now I'm doing some of my freight cars with a bit of weathering, I'm not sure about the roofs. Many are painted silver - and no big puzzle. The rest have roofs painted the same colour as the bodies. I don't know enough about prototypical cars to know if that's just cheapness on the part of the model manufacturer, or actual prototypical practice. If the real cars have self painted roofs, is there typically a way in which these weather? Thanks for any light you care to shed.
Todd: Good to know you can see enough light in the tunnel to bring home the miter saw and also buy a caboose! Isn't it amazing how time-consuming ordinary house "chores" can be. Like the emptying of our summer rain butts the other day.Right after we had the roof re-done, the roof runoff which went into the end two butts, turned dark brown. Kris didn't want THAT just dumped out onto the grass - our normal emptying method, in case it was not "safe". So it went on the driveway, where if it was going to kill anything, would only kill weeds! THAT meant unloading those two bucket by bucket and walking from the back of the house up the driveway a "safe" distance before dumping. The "engine room" of another afternoon gutted.
Ulrich: Been there, done that in the bathroom, but not for some years. Nearly happened again this morning , though! How weird is THAT? Glad nothing was broken, and the pain is under control. I like the simplicity of your friend's layout. I've read somewhere that a major difference between European/UK layouts and North American ones is the general lack of space for a layout in Europe compared to the "Basement Empires" over here. Therefore, much more attention to detail - every blade of prototypical grass faithfully rendered in miniature!! Working catenaries eh? How would he like to go for this? http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/der5997/catenariesforUlrich.jpg
Krump:
The Grey-Cup is game-on this afternoon. That should be good.
Chris: (Jeff / JR): would putting an ordinary household light dimmer switch in the circuit from the Tech 2's AC outlet to the track give some control of the track power for that Lionel?
Vincent:
Packers lost,...
Ken: I like the latest plan the best so far. It has the openness that Ulrich is lobbying for, and cuts down the problematical reach over the yard tracks in the AC area. As you say, gives you back the opportunity for mountain running.
Garry: Thanks for the family shots, and it's good to see the water (in the driveway photo) is keeping a respectable distance! The last time we saw that it wasn't anything like as friendly IIRC.
Looks like the second silo is about ready for some additional work, so I'll say Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers for all in need of Healing, Comfort, Prosperity and Peace. ...and another for Ulrich to speed the healing!
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
Evenin' folks!
Flo, just a decaf for me. I'll go sit in the back booth and stay warm....
Garry, great shots of your family. I bet you had a good time with them!
I spent the evening with my son and his family. We took down an overgrown lilac bush (it should grow back next spring), loaded tables and chairs they had borrowed into the back of the pick up, and then set about getting Thee Family photo for their Christmas Cards this year. #1 Granddaughter decided to have a hissy fit about getting her picture taken. Wouldn't put on the holiday dress "mom" had bought for her, Screamed bloody murder and ran and hid in her bedroom. She got a few minutes "time out" for her tantrum. Then proceeded to do it all over again....... They finally got her calmed down enough to actually sit still so I could take some photos. No smiles and still had tears on her cheeks. Grandpa was wondering how he gets talked into doing these kind of things, turned on all his charm which didn't help much. Finally I got her to laugh, took a photo..... She doesn't like the flash, but little sister won't stay in on place long enough to get a hot without using the flash. So, I kept at the "hide and Seek stuff and managed to get a reasonably good photo of all of them.... One photo is a keeper out of about 15.
As soon as I stopped trying to get a family photo, I had all sorts of cute pictures I could have taken. Did get one of #2 Granddaughter Emily checking out Grandpa's tripod.....
And one of the now happy as can be Olivia!
Guess it wasn't a total loss! Then we had a great meal of Chicken Parmesian, Spaghetti, salad, and lots of left over dessert from last Thursday.....
Hope you all are having a great day..... Hmmmm, I guess Ken probably isn't with the toothache, but Ulrich is hopefully feeling better with his ribs....
Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Cederstrand ***Jeffrey, doesn't look like there's much room left in that caboose.
***Jeffrey, doesn't look like there's much room left in that caboose.
Hello ...
Ulrich ... Sorry you hurt your ribs. I know that is painful.
Jeff ... Uh Oh .... Another UP unit enroute to Sundown Shops....
We have the place to ourselves. It certainly was a full house with numerous family memebrs here from MI, OH, and TN. ...
Here is my layout tour, and the lead SD24 is sitting on a Rix telephone pole. I think I see the culpret trying to reach for the highway bridge.
Here I am with a young member of the TN Clan
Here are some little gandy dancers working on the Brio Railway.
Here is Shelley pointing to something to explain Brio Railway to grandson, Oliver, in light blue shirt.
Some visiting grandchildren from MI and OH with some of their TN cousins.
Picture taken by some of the TN clan as they back out of driveway. We were doing the waving thing.
Coffee in a Southern mug, please.
***Ulrich, cool photo. Would be quite a view looking down from that train.
***Jeffrey, doesn't look like there's much room left in that caboose. Is it going to be hooked up to the Diner for the next move?
Cheers! Rob
As of 2:50 this afternoon there's a Bachmann GP38-2 on it's way to me. The paint scheme is Onion Specific (UP). Y'all know what's going to happen to that. The patching paint is ready!
Chris, I just know the NFC situation. the AFC is a different story, which I don't know. And I basically summarized that from the info I learned on packers.com. speaking of the Pac...
that was a GREAT game! Even though the Packers lost. they fought right down to the wire and I'm proud of them. Unlike Clemson; that was just a pathetic performance turned in by them. I think Kyle Parker really toned down his play after the Auburn game when he got hit; odds are someone in the Colorado Rockies organization told him to be careful, and since he's being paid by them already, he listened. Oh well, we'll always wonder what could have been. Kyle Parker can flat out PLAY QB! but unfortunately he chose baseball. Least we saw Tajh Boid (spelling?) some. He seems like a combination of Michael Vick and Brett Favre. He can run, but he can flat out THROW THE FOOTBALL!!!!!
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Greetings gang!
Hope everyone had a safe, enjoyable and Happy Thanksgiving. I know I did. Maybe one of these days I'll stop by more frequently. Until then,
Take care!
//signed// John Powell President / CEO CNY Transportation Corp (fictional)
http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s303/nuts4sports34/
Hunter - When we met in January of 2000, you were just a 6 week old pup who walked his way into this heart of mine as the only runt in the litter who would come over to me. And today, I sit here and tell you I am sorry we had to put you down. It was the best thing for you and also the right thing to do. May you now rest in peace and comfort. Love, Dad. 8 June 2010
I love you and miss you Mom. Say hi to everyone up there for me. Rest in peace and comfort. Love, John. 29 March 2017
Hello, been a few days.
Flo please.
Been preoccupied last few days trying to get a job. Have sent out resumes from anything from delivering news papers to division manager. I have been a regional manger twice, so that not a stretch, and when I was 12 I delivered News Papers so I am quantified. Have sent out 39 in the last two days. I just hope I have the gas money to go on interviews.
Morgan, lets see if you can make out the notes.
My E Mail address is cudaken3834@aol.com
Here what I have been playing with the last few days.
Sure has the mountain feel to it.
Far as the double decker comments. Do not think it would work well with the way I like to run the trains. I like to sit back and watch from afar.
All so been fighting a tooth ache for the last few days. it is not God awful, with no money for a dentist visit all I can do is hope.
Ken
I hate Rust
Hey Guys
Been a crappy week thanksgiving weekend so far. I went to Pensacola and Panama City looking for a power mirror switch and some GT40 heads for my car, but both trips were busts. Also had a date Saturday, but I got stood up again (and then found another guy posting on her facebook wall saying "thanks for standing someone else up for me," she got the axe; I'm not looking for another one this close to christmas), Packers lost, and there is really nothing to do...
Ken, The autorack showed up the other day. Thanks.
Todd, I agree about the cabeese. I like them to, it's just the atlas WV ones are kind of pricy
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
Evening all. Nothing for me, thanks; just got back from Five Guys.
Not much going on here. Had practice last night and today.
Now I'm still working on that paper. I have four pages, and it has to be at least 5, no more than 6. Hopefully I'll have it mostly done tonight, then I'll have till 11:59 PM on Friday to make edits as necessary. Then, I can start on my next paper! Yay...
I'll be over at the RC catching up.
My Model Railroad: Tri State RailMy Photos on Flickr: FlickrMy Videos on Youtube: YoutubeMy Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives
JR: I think you and JEFF nailed it. Upon closer inspection, it does say it puts out 8-15 volts AC. I'm betting, based on the age and the damp basements it was stored in...that yup, insulation breakdown internally. There is no way, short of drilling-out four rivets, of getting inside to confirm. The TECH II says it puts out 16.5 volts AC and seems to be operating just fine. I'm thinking maybe some more wheel and rail polishing. I've got help coming over tomorrow in the form of a retired electronic engineer (my Dad). Heck, he may have already whipped something together from his Frankenstein's Laboratory... JR: I'll let you know one way or the other after Dr. Science has his look at the situmacation.
Thanks guys, for the help!
Afternoon All,
Getting ready to head out for the house. Just about done but i need an exhaust pipe spreader which I don't own but one of the guys has one so tomorrow we'll finish up.
Chris - The Lionel transformers I'm familiar with are AC, Many of the older ones have had the winding insulation break down and don't work anymore. If you want, I'll check and see if we have any usable units at the museum we can send you. We have piles of "stuff" that lands there and is surplus to needs. You can E-mail me through the forum here if you wish to pursue it.
Ulrich - that is one impressive viaduct (here we'd definitely call it a bridge)! Thanks. I built the kit (Bridge Tom has one also) and I loved it. It is set aside having mostly survived the fire and flood and I hope to use it on the next layout if I can refurbish it.
Catch Y'all later, J.R.
Anybody care for a ride?
Greetings All,
Just back from church - good Christmas message, and now a check-in before lunch. The Grey-Cup is game-on this afternoon. That should be good. I will just do some r&r today, giving myself a break.
Ulirch - sorry about the fall and resulting sore ribs. That's nasty. Prayers given, and hopefully things improve quickly.
Snow is here and sticking around - my quad does a better job than the road crew and if they don't improve it then I will resort to plan B ... so that either they do the job, or they stay off my property... (one day I am going to string a chain across the cul de sac)
ck
cheers, krump
"TRAIN up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" ... Proverbs 22:6
Thanks JEFF! We'll give that a try.
Had a hunch it was something simple.
***EDIT***
Tried the accessory AC...nada, still dead on the rail. There is a "variable DC" on it as well, might give it a whirl since nothing else has taken.
AmanaMedic We has progress...kinda...on the rejuvination of the 1971 Lionel train, for the Wife. The original transformer has some sort of internal issues. It just clicks, like a breaker is tripping/re-setting. I remembered I have an MRC Tech II laying around. Hooked it up, polished the locomotive wheels, polished the rails...circuit tester tells me I've got power all around. But the loco just sits. Dead on the rail. I tried the newest in the Lionel fleet, a 1980s vintage GP-20. Same deal. Dead on the rail. I'm wondering if the TECH II pumps out a lower (too low?) voltage. Maybe HO trains run on less juice than Lionel??? I don't really want to wander over to the Lionel forums...may just be a bit too ignorant of a question for them.
We has progress...kinda...on the rejuvination of the 1971 Lionel train, for the Wife. The original transformer has some sort of internal issues. It just clicks, like a breaker is tripping/re-setting. I remembered I have an MRC Tech II laying around. Hooked it up, polished the locomotive wheels, polished the rails...circuit tester tells me I've got power all around. But the loco just sits. Dead on the rail. I tried the newest in the Lionel fleet, a 1980s vintage GP-20. Same deal. Dead on the rail. I'm wondering if the TECH II pumps out a lower (too low?) voltage. Maybe HO trains run on less juice than Lionel??? I don't really want to wander over to the Lionel forums...may just be a bit too ignorant of a question for them.
Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood (mostly) Afternoon.
ULRICH: Hope the ribs heal up fast! If they're still bugging you tomorrow, might be worth a look-see from a doc. Wouldn't take much to crack one. Of course, not much they can do other than maybe wrap 'em up and give you some pain meds. Sounds like your friend's layout will be quite the scenic showpiece! Not quite my cup of schnapps, but THAT is some impressive scenery, at least to this midwesterner!
SAWYER: Pal, I oughta send you my sports assignments to write. THAT was the best, concise recap of the current NFL situation I've yet seen. The Good Lord knows I'm no sports-writer...I'm just a dopey photographer who tries to write sports (among other "news" stuff)... Hey, I liked your re-cap of the new MR also. I haven't yet seen it, didn't feel like sitting through the "video preview" either. Sounds like this will be one I oughta pick up.
KING OF TODDLAND: Hey, um...when you get done with THAT house...could you maybe load-up THAT truck and roll west??? I've got a few (many) projects lined up and waiting... Tomorrow is good for me...
The Wife has already said "it's OK if it doesn't run this year." Which reminded me of something I saw once in a TV show. The guy was having "equipment issues" and the wife/girlfriend/girlfriend of the day said "it's OK if it doesn't work EVERY time..." Or something like THAT...
Is there a little blue pill for Lionel trains?????
Have a good-un.
My basic track plan.
Afternoon folks!
Just a cup of hot cocoa for me, Zoe.
Been a busy day already for me. We had to set ut and watch the new mics thisw morning to make sure no-one tripped over them. Moved them a couple times to see what difference it makes in quality. At first glance, I think we should be able to mount them where I suggested and get a decent sound.
In a couple hours i will be heading out to my son's house to help him cut down a lilac bush and then take photos for their Christmas Cards.... Oh and have dinner as well.... They feed me too well!
Currently 39°F here in the Finger Lakes with a low tonight around 28°F. Time to fire up the wood stove....
Howdy fellas. Well, nothing much is going on. Just gonna sit back today and watch the Packers-Falcons game. We got a Smasung 32 in tv yesterday (Target still had them on sale and my parents' anniversary was Thursday, so they bought it I think for that reason. oh well). The packers-falcons game is big. Green Bay, along with a lot of others teams, are 7-3 in the NFC. The Falcons are 8-2. Also, the Packers and Bears are both at 7-3 and tied atop the NFC North. Chicago owns the tie-break as well because they beat Green bay earlier in the year (we had a franchise record-high 18 penalties that game though). So yeah, this is a big game haha.
Sorry for not checking in much, just busy with school and rugby. I'll try to start stopping in more. Also got the new layout to work on (check out this weekend's WPF)
Haven't left yet, Mom's having a slow time today.
J.R. Yes it will be sad to see it go but it must. Lots of great memories attached to that chunk of wood and brick. The saw? It's a DeWalt, um...., just a minute. DW713 (had to go look. Those kind of things are not something I look at or really retain). Very good saw. Not the fanciest for a person who makes a living using one, (single bevel and not a sliding saw) but real good for the home owner, or like me, someone who does the stuff on the side, but not as a main job.
When the tools come home that means they are no longer needed at the house and that is a good thing. The miter saw coming home, being the most used item next to a hammer and a measuring tape in the project, is a monumental point.
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
J.R. - my friend applied just a tiny bit of an artistic license - the Bietschtal viaduct is on the BLS line, but south of the Lötschberg tunnel, whereas the station is on the northern part of the line. Both places are landmarks, though, and he wanted to use that kit (Faller).
My ribs still hurt badly, but not as bad as 5 years ago, when I did the same stunt while on a business trip in Austria. I broke 4 ribs, and one actually had pierced my lung.
Blausee-Mitholz station:
Bietschtal viaduct:
Good morning All,
(Just morning - 6 of 12 it is here). I'll have a regular to goas I'm back in the shop to clear up some stuff before I leave for Sebring Weds and the last race of the year. Don't cry for me - we start back up in February.
Todd - It'll probably be bittersweet to see the house go, but I'm glad you're nearly done. What miter saw did you get?
Ulrich - I like the simple double loop. I see a Beichstahl(sp) viaduct at the front. Is that the impressive huge bridge for which a kit is available? If your friend is a stickler for prototypical accuracy, is that the location of the actual bridge? Hope your ribs feel better soon - you need to take care of yourself. Of course the home is the most dangerous place on earth for accidents.
well, mornings all gone - time to get into the shop and get cracking. CUL, J.R.