elliots diner: the January 2011 edition...

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good afternoon.

Flip and Debbie.. Good to have Debbie visit. Prayers for you. We Diners care.

Ulrich ... Looks like a good display laout for continuous running.

Last week was busy. I saw the heart doctor in Nashville. Also, I needed a lot of dental work. I had one tooth extraction. I'm looking more like a Kentuckian with a missing tooth and driving a truck. Now, where's that UK baseball cap?

I'm working on scenery on the layout.  Also, I weathered a BREX reefer.

Happy Model Railroading.

 

 

[blownout cylinder]

 

That looks to be a winner in terms of space saving...one thing...what would be the incline on those loops? 

...it is CCCOLD and snowy out there right now...enough to make me think that staying in the trainroom is a GOOD idea!!! 

[der5997]

Avoiding doing much of anything after lunch...too snowslippery to walk anyway. What follows shows I've WAY too much time on my hands if I avoid decoder installs.

 

Ulrich:

Btw, I never heard of PKP (Polish State Railway or Polskie Koleje Państwowe) owning Garratts???

...You're right, I think - here's the long proof of the"theorem"....Digging a bit I found the First letter of a PKP locomotive's Class (type designation) distinguishes between General Uses like Passenger or freight. The wheel arrangement classification is the second letter, thus:-

·  a - one driving axle, any number of unpowered axles

• b - 0-4-0
• c - 2-4-0 or 0-4-2
• d - 4-4-0 or 0-4-4
• e - 2-4-2
• f - 4-4-2 or 2-4-4
• g - two driving axles, more than three unpowered axles,
• h - 0-6-0
• i - 2-6-0 or 0-6-2
• k - 4-6-0 or 0-6-4
• l - 2-6-2
• m - 4-6-2
• n - 2-6-4
• o - three driving axles, more than three unpowered axles
• p - 0-8-0
• r - 2-8-0 or 0-8-2
• s - 4-8-0 or 0-8-4
• t - 2-8-2
• u - four driving axles, more than two unpowered axles
• w - 0-10-0
• y - 2-10-0
• z - five driving axles, more than one unpowered axle

So, for a Garratt the second letter should be "z", shouldn't it? Are there any Pz,Oz,or Tz Classes? But wait, Garratts are tank engines and

In the case of tank engines, the letters designating the type of engine and the wheel arrangement are separated by a 'K'. Thus TKt48 is a 2-8-2 tank of Polish design introduced in 1948.

- So, are there any PKz, OKz,or TKz Classes? - Let's refine a bit more by the Number

1-9 - German production steam engine

• 10-19 - Austrian production steam engine
• 20-99 - Polish steam engine, number stood for the last two digits of the year in which the type was approved for production
• 100 - private steam engine that is not in PKP stock
• 101-199 - Other foreign steam engine, acquired by PKP between 1918 and 1939
• 200-299 - Other foreign production steam engine, acquired by PKP after 1945

The most likely source for Garratts for Poland, if they were purchased at all, was probably Great Britain. So, our most likely Classification is PKz101 to 299; OKz101to 299; or TKz101to 299. Were there any Polish locos of those Classes? Answer, as far as I've been able to see, is No.  It was I think JR's thought...(Oh, I see he's got it sorted too.)

Todd:

(any of you who regularly attend and especially those in small Church's know the deal with "assigned" seating)

...Oh yeah....indeedy, dideey, doody!  I remember one such in western Vancouver Island where I inadvertently sat near a lady, and moved the ball cap that was in my way. Turned out to be her husband's "He never comes, but I bring his hat anyway, so some of him's here!"

Chris:

No, I don't have a spray booth. Yes, I know I should.

I made mine, the fan's from an old Dodge Station Wagon. I run it from a used car battery with a charger on the battery while in use. (Electron sink, I guess). It's in the basement vented through a disused dryer vent.  Not a difficult project, and you've likely got the scrap needed just laying around. (the fan on/off switch is a knife switch from a CP Rail (IIRC) scrapped telegraph system - just to keep things railroady.

 

TTFN

 

 

[AmanaMedic]

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Afternoon. I'll take a 40-cup urn of boot coffee as well, with extra boot if ya please...thankya.

With another load of...content (I almost called it something else)...delivered for THAT Editor, the rest of my day is "no deeds to do, no promises to keep." So, I plan to get a little further on some freight car projects. IF all goes as tentatively planned, I'll finish re-assembly on a 2-bay CNW cement hopper (made from a 3-bay grain car), get a coat of faded IC orange on another hopper for the CCP grain fleet, slap a coat of gray on yet another hopper for the CCP grain fleet; and maybe, just maybe get a coat of gray on another XTRA Portec grain hopper. It should be noted, all of these are Athearn blue box hoppers THAT had "foobie" paint jobs previously.

I "could" knock-out the "to be Dullcote-ed" line...but don't feel like sitting in a Dullcote cloud for the rest of the day. It'll be toxic enough if/when I fire-up the airbrush (still the best thing I ever got from Harbor 'O Freight."

No, I don't have a spray booth. Yes, I know I should.

Maybe I'll just park my patootie and "surf them internets" instead...

Have a good, SAFE day Y'All.....

Chris

[TMarsh]

Good Morning! Coffee please. I seem to get up on time, despite the fact my evenings are late, (1:00am last night) but get tired early. Like now. I don’t think it’s the late hours as much as the “come down” from the last couple years.

ANYway, went to Church this morning , my triumphant return, THAT felt pretty good AND, it appears our seats have been saved. (any of you who regularly attend and especially those in small Church’s know the deal with “assigned” seating) They have always been threatening to one Sunday, all sit in a different seat/pew and on the opposite side of the Church to see if the Preacher really knows us by face or just by seat. There are a few older holdouts. They have the padding wollered out to fit their situpons and just couldn’t get comfortable I guess.

Today, as expected, there will probably be no MRR time. We are going back to Mom’s apartment to do some cleaning out of the pantry, refridge-a-deezer, old bill stubs and various trash papers. Brenda wants to clean up the kitchen a bit for Mom’s Sister when she arrives to “shop” as Mom called it. In her will she decided to leave just a few items specifically then design a shopping line in a specified order so they can just go through the “store” and pick what they would like if anything. The rest I get to deal with as I choose. Oh joy, oh rapture . Then my MIL invited us over for dinner later this afternoon at about 3.

Best get a move on if I want to get anything accomplished.

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

[GMTRacing]

Der,

   It turns out the HP I have in the shop is not equipped with Windows 7 after all so I've probably misled you. We have had issues installing the printer which often refuses to print when I need it to, but it hasn't asked for the administrator lately.

   You are correct - no Garratts in Poland. I was remembering a museum presentation on Africa that had several Garratts featured including one that was wood fired. One of our members had toured Eastern Europe including Poland at the changeover to diesel and also Africa looking for the remnants of the steam era there as well and I just misremembered.  Either way, thanks for posting the pics. J.R.

[Anonymous]

John  - I hope I can earn the mug o´cocoa, as it does work out. It only requires a waterfall from the little creek into the stream, which I have not marked in the layout. Below is a drawing, showing the track elevation. Unfortunately, all the scenic features are at height = 0, as I cannot allocate a height to them.

 

Inspiration came from this little Z scale layout (which is only 15" by 36"):

So it has be done and could be done by me!

Btw, I never heard of PKP (Polish State Railway or Polskie Koleje Państwowe) owning Garrats???

[der5997]

Good morning Diners: A wet snowy one here - turning to actual rain in the last hour. That's the pattern for the whole weekend as far as has been forecast for us. At least he wind earlier in the day has died down some.

 

JR:

Der,   According to the CFO, the printer install should not require the administrators ok. It's just a matter of going to start and selecting the appropriate task .

...yes, I agree it "should not require;" but unfortunately the stupid computer (or the Windows 7 part anyway) and/or the HP PSC 1500 install CD doesn't agree! ( On a whim this morning I tried again under "Run as Administrator" on the Printer's disc - same non-result) This is a "known issue" with HP, and recognized enough by them for there to be a fix published which I quoted in that last post. Every attempt I've made, using all the pathways I can find founder on the same rock - http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/der5997/HPInstallAdminRightsrequired1.jpg Have a careful read of that, and you'll see it's Admin Rights that are being questioned. Do I have them already? This is what my Accounts Settings says http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/der5997/JohnasAdmin.jpg

The Garratt (did I get that right?) was the Polish job I was refering to (or perhaps a cab forward for people who can't make a decision ?)   

... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garratt  A long-lived breed,

The final Garratts were built in 1967-1968 - eight 2 ft  (610 mm) gauge South African Railways SAR NGG 16 Class. The order was placed with Beyer, Peacock and Company, but as the firm was in the process of closing down it subcontracted the order to the Hunslet Engine Company. Hunslet's South African subsidiary built most of these locomotives in South Africa.

..but "final" merely for the series being discussed at that point in the article, because...

The 500 mm (1 ft 7 ³⁄₄ in) gauge Southern Fuegian Railway in Argentina procured a new Garratt in 1994. Through Livio Dante Porta's efforts, including larger cross section for tubing, insulation of the boiler and improved front end, the economy of this modern steam engine were vastly improved, more than doubling train length. Accordingly, a second Garratt for the same railway was built in 2006.

Further down the page is this tid-bit concerning Garratts in New Zealand. " The engines delivered 51,580 lbf (229.44 kN) of tractive effort, which was too powerful for the drawbars on the rolling stock."  I didn't see any reference to Polish owned Garratts, but the heaviest steam  loco ever(?) was a Garratt built in Britain for the Soviets in the 1930s!

 

Ulrich: Your "Little Japan" plan has me bemused (which isn't difficult! ) I can't work out the elevations, and how the rivers work if you are adding height with the helixes.  Do you have an elevation view you could post? There's a virtual Hot Chocolate in it for you!

Ken: Read your "fever" post when you should have been about 20 minutes away from work this morning. Hope it all goes well for you today.

 

Maybe I'll try the more complicated (frame surgery required) install of the TCS M4 hardwire decoder in the Life Like GP 38-2. Then, if it fails as well, I can send both of them back for the warranty exchange in the same envelope!   Wish me luck (as you wave me goodbye... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEKRyBrjh4&feature=related  ) Oh, Zoe, I'd better have an Ovaltine to go if they're playing THAT song!

TTFN

 

 

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 37° and wet. The high will be around 40° and there's a 60+% chance of rain.

Nothing on the schedule for today. I may get some layout work in later.

[Anonymous]

Good Afternoon Folks,

a somewhat dull day today. Although being dead tired, I could not sleep well last night, so I am a slow one today.

Flo, a mug of strong coffee, please.

Flip & Debbie - healing are sent to you from this side of the Big Pond.

Ken - hope you´re getting better soon. I hate to see you lose your job due to illness. for you!

I spent the morning playing with some ideas for my "Little Japan" layout. The challenge was to come up with something that looks good (yup - you know I am more for looks than operation ), is fun to build at virtually no budget, does not involve many turnouts and controls, yet rewards me with what I am trying to get out of a layout. The idea I came up with (inspired by a layout I found in the web) is a simple figure 8 contraption, with just one switch, but a helix at each side to gain height and lengthen the run. From an operatins point of view, all you can do is let a train circle the loop, but the scenery is breathtaking. I am not sure whether this will be it, but it is one more step down the road to what I will eventually be building.

I know that I owe some of you guys some track plan ideas. I am working on it, but have not yet found the right entry into the issues. Hope you can wait for a little time - it is not forgotten.

Hope all of you are having a good day!

[blownout cylinder]

I'll have a refill of that boot coffee please...

Some interesting threads popping up here lately, the coal drag one is particularly good...

[howmus]

Mornin'

Just stopped in to get a cup of dark roast before I head out to church.  I do the Moment for Mission this morning at the 10:30 Service.  Someone else read a slightly different version I wrote for it at the 8:15 service.....  People actually go to church at 8:15 in morning????

Later!

73

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.

 Just a normal day for me.   Watch some football, and see who the Steelers play.    Hopefully the Chiefs.   Maybe finish getting ready for school.   Mondays and Wednesdays are my long days!!!!   I have a break between class from 2:00 - 4:45.  I guess that will be a good time to study/homework.

  Hope everybody has a good morning.

[cudaken]

 Morning

 Flo, Coffee Please.

 First day at work did not go to well. Start feeling sort of OK by the time I got to the store. But after that things started to go down hill. Could not get my mind to focus on anything. Then around 11:00 I got the chills bad even with my coat on. Teeth started to chatter and it was 71 in the show room.

 We started to get a busy and I did take a customer and got the deal. I was only told "NO, they want to shop around 8 times" before they bought. Not bad for being sick.

 Finally at 1:15 Chad (person I was working with) called Ben and told him I was looking like death and needed to be sent home. I was running a temp of 100.5 at the time and he did not want to get what I have.

 Got lost going home, so it took me a hour not the half hour it took to get to work. Went straight to bed and stayed there till 6:00AM this morning. Around 2:00 AM I think my fever broke, woke up soaking wet.

 What sucked the most is Chad was to teach me how to use there computer program Saturday. Only thing we got through was how to log on, that was it.

 I go in today at 11:00 and sure hope I feel better, way I feel now I could go either way.

         Ken

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning...

mmmm...I'm seeing snowsqualls again here...up to 6" is expected for us today...*sigh*

Hope everyone has a good day. Me? I'll be in the trainroom enjoying my day....

Flo, I'll just have a 40 cup urn with boot coffee please...oh, and it needs be equiped with the IV as well...I'll sit by the window booth waking up....

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

 

[GMTRacing]

Der,   According to the CFO, the printer install should not require the administrators ok. It's just amatter of going to start and selecting the appropriate task . The LNER locomotive looks attractive but I wonder about the w..k streamlining the boiler while leaving all the running gear out in the breeze. The Garratt (did I get that right?) was the Polish job I was refering to (or perhaps a cab forward for people who can't make a decision ?)  Sorry - too tired and silly tonight.

Debbie - that's a tough row to hoe you have. I've had my legs go out from under me on occasion but never the pain you describe. Couldn't deal with that too well I think.

Did get the drywall mud sanded and a second coat put on the two walls I have up so far. The third side will be easier as it is going to be hinged plywood for access for the deeper table planned there so far. I'll keep you posted. J.R.

[der5997]

Good evening Diners: Flip's tab eh? That's a first this decade isn't ti?   I'd have a JR Regular if it wasn't so late and the caffeine keeping me awake.

 

JR:

Oh and that would be a Polish cab forward you've posted?

Very observant Sir - but no!  It's actually Brit LNER Hush Hush , Googling which yields http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=21942 and more" further information" than I have sticks to shake at! This however http://www.lner.info/locos/W/w1.shtml looked like a  clearer version of the one I posted. , but since comparing the two in my Photobucket account, they look identical to me.

 

Barry:

This is an aspect of Gregory's Axiom...which goes...that which will get you into the biggest folderol will be that which gets done... ..

....Gregory and his Dumb Ax were working overtime on Sober Island this afternoon 'cos I should have taken that nap. Instead I installed the TCS CN-GP decoder in the Altas GP7 that's been off the layout for years waiting for a replacement sill (Permanent back-order from Atlas, but I got one "Buy it now" on you know where.) I've done a number of these CN-GP installs, and followed the prescribed method, checking continuity issues at every step. All was AOK, so I placed it on the test track, turned on the power, and POOF, expensive smoke! Fortunately TCS has a great replacement policy, so now I have to un-install and mail it back Monday. Maybe some time in February I'll get another to play with. Argggggh!!!

 

Debbie: ! and thanks for filling us in. (Gathered it was directed to Galaxy)  Flip's often mentioned medical issues you face (not in here so much as in emails); but your frankness will make prayers more specific. That's a heavy load you carry, and if our thoughts can lighten it any, we're glad to try. Is the repeat surgery booked, if so when?

 

Computer people, some advice please.  I am running Windows 7, and Account Settings assure me I have Admin Rights. However, when I uninstalled my printer because it was behaving oddly (any print job was being preceded by the printing of a calibration scan sheet) and went to re-install I was told by the installation software that I did not have, and needed to have, Admin Rights in order to install the printer!   The printer's website (HP) gives a path to a site for help on this issue. The fix is to put the Windows 7 CD in the computer, Exit if it tries to Welcome me, and find the setup.exe file. Right clicking that offers "Run as Administrator" - which I am supposed to do.

Now, my question is "What will happen to my Programs, files, documents, browser bookmarks, and all that good stuff?"  I'm hoping that the answer is "Nothing, they are not part of the operating system - it will be re-installed under Admin Rights without affecting anything else."

Am I right in this hope, or do I need to be doing something else?  Thanks for your help, having lost my hard drive last summer, I'm not feeling very secure about this situation.   I'm going to see what may be on TV. Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers for all in need of Healing, Comfort, Prosperity and Peace. - Oh, almost forgot, Ulrich, sup up!

 

[galaxy]

fec153

Galaxy- Debbies post was ment for you.

Prayers and Blessings to all.    

I figured, somehow, it was. I did not post my rambling other than for the fact that it had been asked for by another member.

I have arthritis in my spine and have degenerative disc disorder, all else is extra. The DDD is, at this time not bad enough for the neurosurgeon to treat.

 The unarguable fact right now remains that one bening Lipoma Tumor was found in my back on the right side and removed, They can affect nerves, but seems to have made no difference in the pain experienced.

The second fact remains that the two MRIs show a second mass on the left side that is in fact larger than the right side one ,and palpable from the external examination. Hopefully it, too, will be a benign Lipoma tumor. Or benign at least.

Until it, too is removed, and healing time allowed. we will only then see if it makes any difference too.

The cortisone injections have already proven not to work, and are less likely to be done again, OR will be done sparingly.

It is: maybe only a matter of time, the right Dr., and the right treatment that will either relieve my pain or make it so that I have to simply live with it and "grin and bear it"

I have been told to try this and that, and acupunture too, but I doubt soaking my feet in green tea leaves  and ginger root for  a half hour a day will do the job of eliminating the pain.

respectfully yours

-G

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Saints lost by 5 points to the Seahawks. 41-36.

[fec153]

Jeff- your post wasn't enough.  maybe this is.

Galaxy- Debbies post was ment for you.

Prayers and Blessings to all.   Hope the weather gets better for all you Yankees.

Flip

 Yep, it was. O.K. , chow down you chowhounds. Its on me.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

We're getting really close to the bottom of the page. Time to BUMP it up.

[blownout cylinder]

Flip & Flip's wife...

We will have you in our prayers...and, yes, the doctors had better do ALL that they can to help...

-----------------------------------------------------------------

As it is..I've had to go and get my bloodwork done today at the ICD clinic..looking at any possible infection that may have settled in...I certainly hope none had...

[fec153]

Well, as the saying goes "God never gives you more than you can handle", but sometimes you have to wonder just how strong He believes you are.

Have ANY of the doctors mentioned the possibility of Stenosis (narrowing of the spaces in your vertebrae where the spine and nerves run through) along with all the other arthritic problems? Your increasing pain when walking on concrete floors, or bending over, is exactly what my symptoms were for years. However, being the hardheaded individual that I am I didn't do anything about it until I almost fell face first in the middle of the street one day when my left leg wouldn't support my weight-Thank God that all my years of skating gave me really good reflexes. Also, do you get foot or leg cramps or spasms even when you have been lying down for a long time?  That is another sign of nerve pressure.

Anyway, when all the tests were done and the experts consulted, it turned out that besides having DJD and Osteoarthritis along with the Rheumatoid I have severe Stenosis in the Lumbar region of my spine and that was causing these specific problems. It feels like being in childbirth labor at its worst, and a really bad tooth ache at its best-Right? Oh, you wouldn't know about that but take my word for it, it is the same. That is when I had the Laminectomies done on L2-6, and it was like being let out of prison.

Now the doctors say I will have to have this surgery done again, but it beats having the pain 24/7 and possibly falling when the pressure on the nerves becomes so severe I lose control of my legs and bowels. Oh, and that's another thing, this is an ongoing process so if you don't get it fixed it gets progressively worse and the nerve damage will become permanent. That means no matter what they do you could still be in pain, and have the other problems I have mentioned.

You, and your MOH, are on our daily prayer list and we will also ask that He guide your doctors as they treat ALL your ailments. Do NOT agree to any more shots, they do additional scarring that can cause more nerve problems, and they don't work on what is causing your pain.

God Bless-

Debbie (Flip's Wife)

 

 

[blownout cylinder]

der5997

Two questions before I either have a nap or do that  install. 1) Why is it that inkjet printed documents are not water-proof; while the ink, once on one's fingers is indelible?

2) Why do i always start to play around with things like ink cartridges on a Saturday so my hands are disgusting for Sunday morning?

TTFN 

This is an aspect of Gregory's Axiom...which goes...that which will get you into the biggest folderol will be that which gets done......and believe me, it ain't fun when you go to church in a light coloured suit!!  

[GMTRacing]

Afternoon All,

   Der - I think you've brought up an excellent topic for Philosophy Friday next week with the inky remark. Oh and that would be a Polish cab forward you've posted? J.R.

[ns3010]

Just some catching up...

DerJohn, glad to hear you and Kris are fine after your mishap.

Todd, I think it's a little too late to edit your post... The "lovely anecdote" is in quoted Galaxy's post, so we can still see it...

I think it's getting time for some lunch. I'll have a bacon cheeseburger and a shirley temple, please.

[howmus]

Afternoon.......

'nuther cup 'o coffee Janie! 

I am just about falling asleep on my feet and still have a couple of hours worth of STUFF THAT needs to be done before company arrives!!!  I didn't sleep well at all last night.  Made a big mistake yesterday...  i disturbed the dust that has fallen on furniture and other items.  Dust, I believe is a protective coating when it is on furniture ans should never be disturbed.  Well.....  I disturbed it yesterday and my allergies have come on big time!  Just stuffy nose basically, but it kept me from sleeping much last night.  couldn't find a position I could sleep and breath at the same time........

The Turkey went in the oven at noon, 3 big batches of my famous bread stuffing are cooking, still have to mop floors, clean some counters, make the squash,and peel the potatoes.....

Best get back at it!

73

[der5997]

Two questions before I either have a nap or do that  install. 1) Why is it that inkjet printed documents are not water-proof; while the ink, once on one's fingers is indelible?

2) Why do i always start to play around with things like ink cartridges on a Saturday so my hands are disgusting for Sunday morning?

TTFN

[ns3010]

Morning Afternoon guys.

Not much going on today. Homework, then practice tonight. That's it.

I'll be at the RC catching up.