Elliot´s Trackside Diner March 2011

[Cederstrand]

Coffee refill please.

***Chris, real nice work on those cars.

***Jerry, like the flat car a lot.

Update: Cut the pipes to make the tunnels and even found a can or flat black Rustoleum paint in the train room. Didn't know I still had any. Still waiting on the sheetrock mud base under the Unitrack to dry before painting it.

Rob

[GMTRacing]

Really Jerry - that's iNvisible scale? Very nice and the junk on deck really sets it off.     

Finished off what i wanted to for the trip - sorted both track tool boxes out and tidied them up - we'll see how long it takes for the lads to trash them again. Time to head for home.   J.R.

Hey I'm getting good at this T.O.P. thing. Watch out PC your record may fall yet! And just in time for dinner as well

[AmanaMedic]

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Afternoon, plate of cheeseburgers, pile of fries, bucket of Coke; please 'n thank-you.

Well (with plenty of sediment, I'm sure...), sounds like a lot of progress being made around here!

JEFF: Man, I'm really liking THAT park scene with the locomotive display.

RAY: THAT engine house just keeps getting better and better. The latest pic should be in a dictionary somewhere under the heading "Craftsmanship."

JERRY: Good to see you in here Sir!

 

With no deeds to do, no promises to keep, I managed to get a little w**k done on the rail car fleet. A Robins Rails 50' PS-1 boxcar had a set of in-Accu-rateRail plug doors fitted to it, door tracks fabricated (they were missing from the "new in box" kit, tack boards added, a Details West cushioned underframe fitted, a coat of Scalecoat 2 boxcar red applied, suitable Herald King decals applied; and a CNW patch-job administered. Now, CNW 722005 sits in the ready line waiting for Dullcote. The car replaces an Athearn blue box.

Also recently (within the past month or so) completed but waiting on Dullcote were: a CNW 2-bay cement hopper converted from a blue box 3-bay covered hopper; a 1986 vintage Walthers BN Airslide; and a pair of Bowser 70 ton, 14 panel coal hoppers detailed and painted for the CRANDIC. Also, a Front Range/McKean ACF3-bay covered hopper painted/decaled for Farmland Industries (Co-Op), an Atlas Thrall covered hopper in Transportation Corporation of America (TCAX) paint patched for the Iowa Interstate (IAIS), and a re-purposed MDC Roundhouse FMC covered hopper. The pink beast was given a coat of gray paint over the elevator name, and patched to the CNW 182925.

Maybe in a few weeks when the weather stabilizes, I can grab some lumber products and get back to the actual layout construction efforts.

Here's some quick grab shots for your amusement and/or irritation...

I'll have me a seat at the RC and see who-all else makes it in this evening...

Chris

[Cox 47]

Good afternoon all...Its cloudy and cold here after temps in the 70's it hurts!...I'll have a windy city dog,drag it thru the garden,onion rings, and a RBF please..thank you..

I got a box of rehabers from a feller up north of the border the other day..This BN flat caught my eye as the I&S is alittle short of flats...Just needed trucks and couplers,brake wheel, Weathering and junk on deck..

You all have a good one...Jerry

[Cederstrand]

Strong Italian roast coffee in a SOGGY SOUTHERN mug, please.

***Garry, outstanding scene there.

***Todd, glad you got the tunnel done. Keep up the good progress!

Speaking of tunnels, I dropped a few sections of leftover plastic pipes in a water trough to soak a bit. Once cleaned out, I'll cut and use them to make tunnels to the volcano. Not sure there is any black paint laying around, but can always mix some.

Planted a few trees on wife's (HO) layout today.

Stormy day here. YeeHaw! Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Glad you got the tunnel liner in Todd. I know how much work and how big a headache a tunnel can be. I had one on my previous layout that was six feet long and on a curve. I had made it so the entire top could be lifted off if I had to retrieve any derailed cars.

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Todd: I am so pleased to hear you finally got that tunnel liner in.

Way to go guy.............

Johnboy out................................... and busy looking for a lost dynamic brake grill for an SD-45

[TMarsh]

Up from the basement for lunch.

I got the tunnel insides done. Or at least as good as I'm gonna get. I'm not real happy with the wall. I didn't get it as dark as I wanted it to be. Maybe when the tunnel gets completely covered and all the stuff gets around it it will seem a bit darker. Otherwise a long brush with some black will be tried. If I was smart, I'd do it now but THAT's one thing I've never claimed to be. Ballasting was a trick, but got it as far as one can see at least. Also got some of the plaster cloth laid for the slopes between the tunnels where the wooden bridge crosses. An as of yet non prototypical geographical formation (notice how I said "as of yet"?) but, I had the bridge for the last layout and liked it so I had to create a place for it. Basically what I did was run a road into the side of a hill that was also a tunnel, chopped the hill, created a gap with exposed track and voila! Bridge to nowhere. But a use for said bridge and that works for me.

I've decided to go ahead and set the rock walls, lay the dirt and rock rubble and ballast the track for the inside of the two other entrances now so I don't accidently get ahead of myself like the last time. It only takes once to not do it again. Usually. For me, time will tell.

Some kind of casserole is waiting to be ingested, then back to the trainroom I go. Pictures? Maybe later.

[Curt Webb]

Hey all,

After filling sandwich bags with sand I preped the 15 rerailers that I plan on using. I then remembered that after laying all the #6 turnouts that I never ran a small level over them to check them. After doing that I found 2 that  needed minor shimming and 1 that needed  major shimming. I figure thats pretty good out of 16 or 17 that I have laid so far.

Well I am getting ready to go the train club so I will talk to you all tomorrow.

[GMTRacing]

Afternoon All,

   Guess it is lunchish still so a Grilled swiss on rye with tomatoe please, side of slaw and a Dr. Pepper to wash it down.

   Jeff - you could alway model a sinkhole right? A half quart of plaster? Great googlymoogly

   Curt - (hope I got that right)  We road race vintage sports cars, mostly single seaters and sports racers.

   My best bet for soldering track joints is to practice a bit on scrap/cut offs (see Ray - that's why we smart people never throw anything out, right? Might need it some day. Never know....) I used a Weller soldering gun and the thinnest rosin core electrical solder I could find (one of the few things Radio Shack still carries here about). make sure the connections clean and straight - not kinked, brush on a touch of no corrode soldering paste and touch the heated tinned tip to the outside of the rail joiner to flow a bit of solder in there. The ideal join will have  a small amount of shiny solder signifying a good strong clean joint. Too little heat and the solder will have a dull cast to it. Too much heat and you'll end up melting the ties adjacent to the joint. Too much solder can  make the bead end up on top of the rail. One can file it off but parctice will soon make perfect. Many folks also employ a regular soldering iron but I had too much agita with mine and am more comfy with the gun. I've also seen use of a resistance soldering kit advocated but that's a bunch of dough I think better spent on more fun stuff.

    And don't sweat the CUL thing guys - just don't like to be called late to lunch. And if you think computerese is confusing, try Morse code shorthand. The only one people regularly decipher is the old Whiskey Tango Foxtrot K.       J.R.   Oh and the foam saw worked right good on that bead seat.   

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 71° and cloudy. The high will be 83° and it will be sunny with some clouds. I think they used to call that partly cloudy.

Didn't do much yesterday except keep off my feet for much of the day. I've been going at it pretty hard the past few days so it was time for a rest. I got the hole in the front east side of the layout filled in last night. Even after dumping a bunch of pieces of broken up plaster into it I still used half a quart of wall joint compound. I'll give it several days to a week to dry then I'll top it off with a layer of milky plaster so the surface will self level. After that it will be a simple matter to ballast the short stretch of track and put some turf down. Today will likely be another resting day as my ankle is telling me it doesn't like me very much this morning. The fused mess that used to be three bones is aching badly so I'll probably take some Alleve and go back to bed. The layout can wait.

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!! Soft scrambled eggs, bacon, fried potatoes and coffee please. Thank you.

A chance of rain and snow after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Looks like we are in for a looong week. Not that the weather will be really bad, but we had the teaser weather and now it's back down to a obnoxious level. Not cold but not warm. And knowing warmer temps are so close just makes for putting things off until the weather is better cause it won't be long. Pure misery.

Ray- I hate to sound like a broken record but, that shop looks great and keeps looking better. Say, do you think a little blood is in order? Not much safety devices back then you know. _ Congrats on just missing the MR boxcar. Welcome to my world as that is not an unusual type of happening for me. Always the last to know and then it’s a day late and a dollar short.

Didn’t I just read on some other thread where Billboard type advertising boxcars are not prototypical? Darn, and I just got the Kellogg’s rooster of my covered grain hopper.

Curt- Hey, however you feel comfortable, is the best way to build your railroad. By the way, I’d save some of those old ’70’s cars, (oh who am I kidding, I'd save keep them all) they may be worth someth… no, what I mean is they could be your practice dummies for weathering. For that they are worth something. Actually I still run my cars from the early seventies. New couplers of course, but hey, why not? CUL J.R. Oh I’m sorry. I not making fun of you. It just struck me as funny. CUL means See you later. I’m not making fun of you at all. Just brought back memories of not too long ago, me trying to figure out what all these LOL’s and ROFLMAO’s where. Yes I had to ask what LOL was. THAT was only a couple years ago too.

Garry- Glad you’re getting some rest at home and getting some freight moved finally. It was getting backed up and the businesses were getting a bit nervous.

Well, best get moving I suppose. Don’t know why, nothing planned other than play in the train room. I did do some landscaping around the elevator yesterday afternoon. I was laying grass andweeds p along the foundation and wasn't lookig too bad when it happened. Yup. Ol' clod hands reaching bumped the elevator scooting it about 3/4 inch long before the glue was dry and turned the turf into a rolled up wad of stuff. (shakes head) So. I have that I can do again if I want.  I still have a lot of cleaning to do but mainly on the future half. The w*rkbench needs some attention as well as the storage area. Both in the future half. It would help some if I can make up my mind to get rid of the giant bag of wadded up newspaper I've been saving for hills. Of course I'm using cardboard strips instead, but I can't seem to get rid of the newspapers. Just in case you know.

Maybe that’s just what I’ll do. Spend the day in there. Sounds like a plan. Too miserable outside to do anything else.

Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!

[galaxy]

A nothing day today.

Seems my headache has abated for now, but I  took 2 different meds yesterday to get rid of it finally last night. Had vomiting with it, not a good sign, Not fun. I just hope it doesn't turn out to be a marthon one like the 15 day one I had in february.

MOH has a sore throat, that everyone at work seems to be passing around. There are tearing down a plaza and building a newer store on site so I think there may be stuff in the HVAC system form the dust that is making them sick. SO MOH took a theraflu and went back to bed. I amy rajoin in a bit.

Not much else.

Have a great day for you all.

Prayers for those in need.

TTYALLL8R

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello...

I ran trains last night. It's good get back to normal routines, but I will be traveling to Alabama to help with Mom's situation soon. This will be the case for quite some time evidently.

Good to see everyone here. I like all the photos posted here.

Ray .. Your machine shop is great!

Here are some 1950's era freight trains I am operating now.

 

[blownout cylinder]

Ray:  I like the way that machine shop is coming together there...I think you nailed the colouring down on that...As far as the boxcar is concerned I like the timing of that shot

[Curt Webb]

Morning all,

Flo I would love a short stack, bacon and coffee please.

Not much planned around here today. I will probably go out and buy some sand and bag it up then go to the train club this afternoon. Won't stay too late as I w**rk tomorrow.

TSF- Congratulations on your win. Very impressive.

CUL, JR-  Best wishes for Savannah and Pocono. What type of racing do you do?

Well I will talk to everyone later

[GMTRacing]

Good morning All,

    22F and sunny this morning though it felt much warmer earlier when I was outside. I'll have a waffle with maple syrup and a regular please. I see Trainworld has the NYC 20th Century consist on blowout complete with sound and dcc diesels. T'would be tempting if combined with BLI's Dreyfus Hudsons.

    Back in the shop to tie up some loose ends and get started on the distributor machine we got. Decided I will not go to Savannah this next week and am sending the crew down in the capable hands of the two crew chiefs and #1 son. We've got Pocono the week after and we need to focus on that event as two more drivers signed on at the last minute.

   Ray - I wouldn't touch a thing! Very nice work and much easier to advise than carry out the mods.

   Ken - the need for speed never really goes away - it just subsides a bit. Just wait til better weather when you can get the toy back on the road, the sun's out and it's warm

   TSF - Jeff would like to talk to you about a little weight lifting job he has for you. not 400lbs, but sounds a challenge none the less.

   Galaxy - ditto hoping the doc can figure out what meds will do the job for you. I don't get them, but the CFO does (and please no smart comments about my giving them). Stopping them before they start is something new to us - hope it works out.

   Time to get back in the shop - I'll try to stop back in lunchish.   CUL, J.R.

[blownout cylinder]

Morning..

Back to winter......3F out there going to a high of 22F...yay...oh...and little tiny snow flurries for us this afternoon...

I'm on-call this weekend ...and of course seeing as how winter has decided to stick around..apparently roads to the north of us are more icy and snowcovered...again......hopefully no emergencies break out there..

Flo, I'll have a coffee and a breakfast bagel please...I'll be at the RC for now...

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

 

[Cederstrand]

Small bowl of chili, please.

Laid a little track tonight up to the volcano entrance using sheetrock mud. Couldn't find the smoking unit for the dome anywhere. Need to wire and set that in place before going too far. Have no idea where it is now.

Well, have a good night y'all.

Cheers! Rob 

[BamaCSX83]

Evening all.  Been a while, I know.  Chloe, I'll have a RBF and take a seat at the RC if that's all right. 

Not a whole lot happening in my neck of the woods.  The weather has been BEAutiful, so I've actually spent a great deal of it outside doing things that need to be done, such as getting the flower beds cleaned up (so that the wife and Heather, the 4 year old, can plant), cutting grass, and of course getting some time out on the 2-wheeled toy ( '03 Suzuki Volusia).  W*rk has been all right too, haven't had a whole lot of cars to repair, but I've been selling the snot outta some parts.  Haven't been able to do a lot of MRR stuff recently either, although I've been doing some thinking and planning in my head on things layout related.  Of course with child #3 on the way (due date sometime late october/early november), MRR'ing hasn't been tops on the list of things to do. 

Ray, I can't say it enough, but WOW on the workshop pictures, I'm envious sir!

Jeff, those are some definitely serious jacks, and with what little they got used, I would probably do exactly what you've said you're going to do with them.

Vince, have fun tinkering with the Mustang sir, most 5.0s are pretty easy to get power out of, especially when you know what you're doing (and obviously, you do).

Welp, that's about it for me, if I missed anyone, I apologize sincerely.  I will try to make it back into here more often and actually put a few words in, but I know here recently I've just been able to peek into the windows and see things, then have to get moving again, but hopefully things will change on that. 

Later taters!

[howmus]

Flo, need a refill on the decaf, please....

Another storm, Ken.....  You'll probably just send it along to Barry and I to the East by mid week.....

Oh!  I was going to tell you guys.  Guess what was sitting on a siding right by the routes 5 & 20 here in geneva in the FGLK yard early this month....  I was not happy that the guy who took this photo diodn't call me and tell me it was there.  Only parked by the road for a couple days, and is long gone by now I bet.

(Photo by Andy Stobie 3/5/2011.  Used by permission)

Enjoy!

73

[cudaken]

 Evening Fellow Dinners!

 Today was a pretty good day at work. Finally got the mess with the checks off my shoulders and still had $1950.00 in new business.

 Little worried about this coming Saturday with yet another winter storm alert! While many here would chuckle at a possible 2 to 5 inches, here in the Midwest it a big deal.  Normally with it being March I would blow it off. But not after this winter.

 Train Front Got a E Mail today from Digitrax that I will have my DT 400 back this coming Monday! I was a little upset due to the fact I asked them to call me before they billed my debit card, I don't keep much money in that account in case it get hacked. (use it for buying on line) Called them and they fixed the DT 400 for free! They said it was really dirty inside and was causing poor contact with the board. I all so think they did it because I sent it to them before for a  and they did not open it and said it was just a stuck button.

 Lesson Learned Keep the DT 400 in a zip lock baggie when not in uses. Might try using it in a baggie, I was lucky this time Simon could loan me his Duplex DT 402. Thanks again Simon, you are the best! Your the Y6 b of friends.

 Vincent The quest for speed, I remember it well. Spending 5 hours laying on my back to change a converter or swapping rear gears. At a time in my life .20 in the quarter mile was everything to me. $500.00 for a new carburetor, well it would cut .008 off my 100 foot time, heck yes! While I do miss my Gear Head days some and still think about getting the cars out of retirement, I sure don't miss fixing them!  Just don't push it to hard, think you said it has 200,000 miles on it?

         Ken

 

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Flo just a decaf and a slice of the Strawberry Rhubarb pie for me.  I'll go sit at the Rivet Counter for a few minutes.......

GMTRacing

   Ray - the patina is better. The handles sticking out would normally be worn bare (semi gloss polished steel) from wear in use. The same for the top of the second platform where the tool holder goes and the shaft being turned (the bit between the big chuck and the center on the tailstock) would be clean oiled steel except for where it was being cut where it would be shiney steel. The shafting for the pulleys and the pulleys themselves are dead on from memory. usually any handles or knobs are worn bare and smooth and there are  usually copious cutting fluid stains in line with the chuck on any adjacent surface in line with the swing of the particular device. The piles of turnings are correct as well. The photos I sent you of my Grandfathers shop are atypical as he was fanatical about cleanliness. Most back shops and mine as well have piles of stuff and cutoffs stacked in abundance (we never ever throw out nothin') and many are encrusted with grime. Many times cutting metal and using cutting oil produces oil smoke which coats everything in sight most especially all the windows many of which are rarely if ever cleaned. Of course you could also have one of those crazy Hungarian foremen who rides everyone really hard and won't accept anything but a clean well maintained shop. But I left that place long ago.

Thanks, J.R.  i appreciate the good advise.  I have seen a couple of belt drive set ups, but I was 4 or 5 years old at the time and really don't remember.  The only one I can really remember was the one that operated in a Feed Mill where my father bought cattle feed when I was a kid.  They were still using it when I was in my early teens.  But that was quite a different set up than a workshop.

Tonight I fabricated an Armstrong Tool Holder as one did not come with the kit, added more oil stains on the wall and around and on the lathe, and placed the oil can and tools where they can be reached....  What ya all think???

If I spend this much time with details in every building I will have to live to be 120 at least to get the layout done!

Later!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

teen steam fan

Jeff- 5 tons, Those are just leveling jacks right? Hope you can find replacements

The jacks were added aftermarket and aren't connected to each other. Each one is operated independently. The frame that holds them is damaged and there's no replacement for it. The jacks were only used once. They were put in not to lift but to stabilize the RV so it wouldn't rock on it's springs when parked. We're just going to remove them altogether and put the surviving jacks in the bunk house along with the two spare jacks.

[Curt Webb]

Evening All,

Flo I woulld love a bowl of chili and a beer please.

Galaxy - I really hope that your MD is able to get your migraines under control.

I just finished preping 40 pieces of flex track in preparation of laying it down, although I will probably wait until I have all the turnouts down. I know by reading here that many  people do all kind of things all mixed together. Probably based on my personality I prefer to do all of one thing before progressing to the next step. I am off Monday and  Tuesday next week so I will probably practice soldering (new for me). I am a little apprehensive about it, but I figure everything we do we started as a beginner at some point.

Tomorrow night I am going to my train club. A co worker yesterday gave me a box  of 70's HO train equipment. I am keeping a couple of flat cars, a gondola, and a 10K tank car. Of course they all need new wheel sets and couplers. The rest I will offer up to club  members. The co worker said he has another box that he will bring in next week.

We were supposed to get our new work schedule today for May-Sept, but our boss said there was some kind of issue and it would be Monday before we get it. I don't think that bodes well for us at work. 

Well have a good night. 

 

[teen steam fan]

Evening. 

Jeff- 5 tons, Those are just leveling jacks right? Hope you can find replacements

Well, (deep subject, cold water) my school won the power lifting meet. I managed to set a new record for my deadlift, 355 lbs. Could of done more though. 

Nah, nothing for me. Thanks anyway. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Packer

Jeff, man those are some big jacks. Wonder how much it all weighs?

I don't know. There are those two jacks on the rear and there are two more under the front. I think they're rated at five tons each. The jacks themselves are quite heavy. You're not lifting one with one hand.

[galaxy]

evening everyone

Well I spoke too soon this AM about the "medication hangover" and not having the migraine anymore. It returned witha  VENGEANCE. I have treid 2 of the new pills, and two of the old pills to no avail. I am wearing sunglasses inside and keep TV volume at about 8. The newest pills the neurologist gave me that I take at bedtime and are supposed to PREVENT migraines are obvioulsy not working either. This is now day 2. With the recent weather change, I hope it doesn't turn out like Feb. where I ahd one for 15 days straight and had to go to the hospital.

I can get no rest siting up, laying down watching TV or in bed.

Hope you all had a great day though.

 

[GMTRacing]

Good Evening All,

    Just hangin for a bit while the vacuum bag for the foam seat sets up some more.

    Jeff - that is one ugly mess. hopefully you can get the jack lines off and plugged and the subframe carrying the jacks off without too much fuss. At least you're not up here where the whole shebang would be rusted solid (though that might have prevented the deployment).

   Ray - the patina is better. The handles sticking out would normally be worn bare (semi gloss polished steel) from wear in use. The same for the top of the second platform where the tool holder goes and the shaft being turned (the bit between the big chuck and the center on the tailstock) would be clean oiled steel except for where it was being cut where it would be shiney steel. The shafting for the pulleys and the pulleys themselves are dead on from memory. usually any handles or knobs are worn bare and smooth and there are  usually copious cutting fluid stains in line with the chuck on any adjacent surface in line with the swing of the particular device. The piles of turnings are correct as well. The photos I sent you of my Grandfathers shop are atypical as he was fanatical about cleanliness. Most back shops and mine as well have piles of stuff and cutoffs stacked in abundance (we never ever throw out nothin') and many are encrusted with grime. Many times cutting metal and using cutting oil produces oil smoke which coats everything in sight most especially all the windows many of which are rarely if ever cleaned. Of course you could also have one of those crazy Hungarian foremen who rides everyone really hard and won't accept anything but a clean well maintained shop. But I left that place long ago.

   Time to check on the seat.  CUL, J.R.