ELLIOT'S TRACKSIDE DINER - AUGUST, 2011

[twhite]

Evening all from SunnyCal:  Stayed in the low 90's today with a morning and--now evening--Delta breeze.  Very nice day.  Spent it in the garage doing some more landscaping on the Engine Terminal.  The older I get, the slower the process, it seems.  Oh well--

Sue:  That's a wonderful video.  And I LOVE the music that goes along with it--I picked out guitar, fiddle, banjo and mandolin.  Hmm--kinda/sorta Bluegrass, and that's not a Bad Thing by any means.  Your scenery is just outstanding!   

Jeff:  That diesel looks mighty fine, my friend.  Again, I really like that L&A paint scheme.

Ken:  Indoor pool?  That's reason enough to send the Missus out and get her Gainfully Emplyed, by golly!  Hope you can get the house.  Does your MR disassemble into sections, I hope?

Well, the last evening of Freedom--School starts tomorrow (though the first classes aren't until Thursday).  Faculty Retreat, lots of meetings, all the usual pre-student Panic.  I've got two days to get my piano chops back in order--haven't played much this summer at all.  First week of instruction will cure that, Pronto, though, LOL!

Here's a couple of shots of the Engine Terminal I worked on today, ballasting and landscaping.  Still got a way to go, but it's coming along.  And yes, the turnouts still work (WHEW!). 

Of course, that's only half the project, I still have to do the railyard.  It'll be nice to get the trains running again--that poor passenger on the upper Eastbound track has been there for over a week!

Best to all, prayers to those in need.

Tom

[Attaboy]

Good evening everyone.  Or is it good night after 10:00 pm?

Well, I went and did it.  On Tuesday I changed all the locks on the house and Wednesday morning changed the garage door codes and moved my ex-wife's stuff out to the front yard.  Before she got off work I turned my phone off and went for a nice long visit to my mother for the evening.  When I checked the phone for messages there was ten of them all with language that would do a sailor proud.  At least it has been peaceful and quiet around here since then and I no longer get headaches just thinking about coming home from work.

I'm still cleaning and rearranging things since she is gone and I still have to buy a few household items but it was worth it just to get some peace and quiet.

Now if I could just get the garage train room out back ready and start a layout.

[GMTRacing]

Good Evening All,

    Long day again in the shop finishing up throttle linkage on the RALT and fitting an air cleaner and backing plate. Sounds easy but all of it except the pivot between the carbs and the actuating cable itself didn't exist before this morning. I left early and got some train time in though.

    Sue - love the video and kudos to Larry. The layout looks even better in motion. Very nice.

   Jeff - nice job on the locos. I hate those metal railings but you're right - for a model that gets used they are far more sturdy. No issues with the paint flaking off the plastic rails either.

   Ken - have fun with the 2-10-2 when you get it. It'll be nice if the house swap happens. Big thing I suppose is if the payments end up being lower and you can wiggle out your Bank of Stupid deal.

    Ray - glad you all escaped unscathed from the storm. Sounds like you all had a close one. Being around all the steel rail and iron horses is not confidence inspiring in a lightning storm.

   Monon Jim - glad you had a good time with the missus. You'll excuse Rob and I shuddering over the kids comment - we both have had house fires and in my case it started in the youngest sons room when his computer went up in flames. You didn't really expect them to clean the house did you?

   Curt - the turning loop should be just fine. after all it's just a wye turned inside out.  

Tom - no wonder it's going so slowly - you've no crew in the yard mate! How you gonna get the job done with no crew beavering away?

Attaboy  - attaboy! Problem solved?

    Well kids, learned something today i think. After surveying my domain in the basement I decided after cleaning it would be a good idea to bench test the turnouts I'd assembled so far. I grabbed a transformer and hooked leads up to the AC side, stripped the pigtail back on the carefully soldered leads and jumped across the circuit. Nothing. checked connections again and - nothing. Jumped across at the switch maching and nothing. I did get some buzzing but no movement of the turnout . Must be a bad switch i think and try another - same lack of result . ok. Try another transformer. Same result. Now these were old Tycos I've had forever so I tried an MRC i had laying around to test locomotives. Same result. Checked voltage with a volt meter. 20 VAC on the Tycos and 17VAC on the MRC just as advertised at the accessory terminals. Check data sheet on PECO turnout and it recommends up to 18 VAC for actuation. Now I'm bumming. All that w..k and I can't fix any of it. Already wired 9 turnouts - woe is me. Got out one more transformer, this a 16VAC unit that runs two locomotives and is physically much bigger than the other three units. Hook it up and all 9 turnouts pass with flying colours. Not enough amperage from the little transformers? They were fine running the old layout though I did use my dual control MRC (lost in the floods) for the mains and switch motors on the turnouts. The Tycos were used on the two industrial areas and operated Atlas turnouts and the yard switchers no problem. If it is an amperage problem, where do I find a good AC transformer to hook to the turnout control panel? Do I need to go to a CD booster for the turnouts (PECO says it shouldn't be needed. And what happens on the crossovers when you trigger two switch machines and probably semaphores all at once?  Anyone have an insight on this?

   I'll take my RBF and apple pie ala mode and retire to the rivet counter to mull this over a bit.  J.R. 

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Howdy ... 

Busy day here, but I did some layout work. I added to some benchwork so I have a place to put my Union Station building.  It's taking too long to build my city because of all of the non-mrr interuptions. 

SUE & LARRY ... What great video.! I think I could watch that over and over. 

L&N Tim ... I have been impressed with the advertisements for CMR, but have no experience with their products. I had thought of using some of their building kits in my city. 

Ray ... Sounds like an adventurous day at the museum. 

Jeff ... Your shop output is impressive. I was reading about the FM trainmasters. Wabash RR had a few of them, and they were re-powered by Alco.

Ken .. I googled info about Monon 2-10-2's, and I found out some were sold to a RR in TN. ... I bet you are glad you did not close the store early today. I like hearing when you get some big sales. ... Moving? That is tough on layouts.  

CA Tom .... I like how your engine terminal is looking. Also, I like the DRGW streamliner.

PA Tom ... Railfanning can be fun, but it helps if there are many rains to see. 

Attaboy ... I hope everything is resolved once and for all. Sorry to hear it came to all of this grief. Keep us informed on how you are doing.

JR ... Your electrical problem was confusing me. Perhaps because it's late. Good luck with it. Maybe, a jumbo power pack with a gazillion watts will help.

Bill T .....  Actually ... Good night ...  

Happy Model Railroading. 

 

[galaxy]

GOOD MORNING!!!

Today is MONDAY AUGUST 22, 2011!!!

This day shall be but fleeting by,

A memory to fondly make,

So make it a memorable day

that will last the rest of your days!

[Cederstrand]

Please keep my dad in your thoughts today. Just received a call that he's in the hospital with failing kidneys. Probably at the VA, but I do not know yet. Rob

[blownout cylinder]

Rob: We'll keep him in our prayers.....

Good Morning...

Sigh....

While we were out BBQ'ing yesterday afternoon...this is what happened not even an hours drive from us...

One dead after tornado hits Goderich

http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/08/21/18582591.html#/news/london/2011/08/21/pf-18582591.html

The Benmiller Inn..a place that Audrey and I would go to for our anniversary weekend getaway was destroyed in it as well....   My heart goes out to those who have suffered through this...

 

 

[LSWrr]

Good Morning All,

Curt, the layout is coming along nicely.

 

Garry, is that the Elsinore Brewery?

 

The fire truck missing its rear axle; I wonder if it tried to make the left turn too fast.  The baffles are made to slow down the water moving fore and aft not really made to compensate for the laws of motion.  I’m guessing by the earth pushed all to the right the axle stopped in the mud and due to advance and transfer the bolts broke right off.  I bet the driver had to change his shorts after that one.

[L&NTim11060]

Rob..... Our hopes and prayers go out to you.

[galaxy]

SPECIAL THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS to EVERYONE who needs them!

[gear-jammer]

Good morning, Chloe.  I will have a quick coffee, please, before heading to work.

Thanks, guys.  Larry had fun making the video.

Later,  Sue

[TMarsh]

GMTRacing

     And what happens on the crossovers when you trigger two switch machines and probably semaphores all at once?  Anyone have an insight on this?

 

Boom. 

 

Good Morning!! Coffee and bacon and eggs over easy please.

Sunny, with a high near 86

Sue- All I can say is WOW! Nice video of a veeery nice layout.

Attaboy- Congratulations on your freedom of sorts. I think. Good luck on the layout build too.

Tom- Engine terminal area looks great. I’d sure hate to have lucked out and got a ticket on THAT passenger train. Talk about being late.

Rob- Prayers for you and your Father.

Barry- My prayers goes to those affected by the tornado.

Lee- I know one thing for sure about the fire truck…..somebody ain’t happy.

No plans made in advance for today other than bookw**k right of for the Church. Then, with one role of….T.P. in the house in reserve, I may have to go to the store. I hope not because I reeeally didn’t want to make the trip until tomorrow when I’ll be in there anyway. 

 BIG problem with NCIS. I have discovered, that I have been the VICTIM of a covert operation speerheaded and carried out masterfully by my loving wife to get me involved in this show. Now that she has bated me for the last several months, I have become addicted so to speak. Yesterday, she sits down to watch the Marathon with me after masterfully drawing me to the target area into her sights to take her shot. Earlier, as you already know, I had been making comments about how certain things don’t make a lot of sense until I happen to see a show that may have been originally aired first but I haven’t seen yet. She says “well each season has an underlying event that goes on for the whole season.”(aim). That prompted this getting season 8 on DVD to get me caught up for next season . Then last night, I make the comment about a few things that happened recently later in the show and how something that happened in the first season or two answered my question or cleared up confusion. To which she responds, “oh yeah. It’s like a soap opera. Not only does it have season long events, but some things are going on for several seasons. Somethings make sense if you’ve seen…the show…from… the beginning. (stop breathing) Then she tells me that Family Video has used DVD’s of the season 1 thru 7 episodes for sale from 1 to 10 dollars (FIRE!!!). Kill shot.  She never reeeally gets the prices right, but the idea is there. She has set me up to WANT to collect the entire series so I know what is going on and not have missed something because it was shown hap hazardly. So, I guess I’ll have to stop at Family Video and see what THAT is gonna cost me.

Why didn’t I just quit watching TV while I was ahead.

Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

All the forum problems I was having with Firefox have been resolved. However, I just read part of the Diner with IE8 and had three crashes in five minutes. Things like 'This tab has been recovered', 'Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close', 'Page not found!', etc. This is giving the IE on my other computer (at my parents house) fits also so it's not just my system. One ofmy neighbors has the same problem. All three of these system have one thing in common. The problems occur with IE and only here. I guess they still have a few problems to work out.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning. 

Todd ... If you did quit watching TV, think of all the progress you can make on you layout.      the honey do projects you can complete.

Well ... I'll have coffee and donuts. 

 

Canadians: ..... Are we in BC, yet?

Where are Vincent and Sawyer? 

[Curt Webb]

Morning All,

At w**k today. It's already hot and humid here with about 30% chance of rain. Hurricane Irene is supposed to be at CPA Fri sometime. The weather guessers are in hog heaven here. Nothing like a potential disaster to make the TV news happy. There will be the pre hurricane courage, then the actual hurricane coverage, then let's not forget the post hurricane coverage. No word at work about plans for weather in crews yet. My Sister in Law is in the hospital for blood clots in her lungs, her O2 sat's are good and she is stable at this point.

Attaboy- Congrats. You should still probably watch your back for awhile.

Rob- Sending prayers for your Father.

Barry- Prayers for those affected by the tornado.

Todd- Your wife sounds like mine and probably everyone else's. They definitely know how to work us.

Jeff- I use IE8 usually without any issues.

L&N Tim- That TT looks great. The quality of their buildings are incredible. The layout from SC MOH knew where those specific buildings were in CHASN and Summerville. It has me thinking about TT's again. I am nervous though that it may be out of my skill range to build it, but I would really like a TT instead of a loop. 

Everyone have a good day.

 

[Curt Webb]

Looks like I am at the top of the page so Flo has my CC for everyone's food and drink of choice.

[TMarsh]

Curt- I shall add you SIL to my growing list of those for prayers.

Jeff- Odd. After clicking the compatability view I have yet to experience problems running IE8. Once I did unselect it and the problems returned, but that was a week or two ago during that last thread about the issue. I haven't unselected since. If they have mutiple servers, would it be possible to have an issue with one and when you sign on, if you get that server would that be possible for some to have the problems and others not? I recall somewhere a long while ago, I was told thru some site somewhere to NOT stay logged in and to log out eah time I left the site to insure I did not keep logging in to the same server. I don't believe it was for problems other than crowding, but maye the same thing happens here. I know my cookies are saved so that each time I bring up this site I do not have to sign in, so my info is still at MRR's servers. Possibly I am continually returning to a server that has been "fixxed"? I really don't know how this stuff works beyond the tiny bits and pieces I've heard and alot of assumption. And you know what happens when you ASSUME. 

Garry- I would prefer the lined out part. (chuckle) The HD part is more likely, but in spite of what it sounds like, I really don't watch all that much TV. Pretty much NCIS is the only thing I "watch". The rest is just a few times off and on, usually later in the evening or for that half hour or so before the timer turns the TV off in the bedroom. Occasionally I will watch the Discovery or History channels and used to be Sci Fi for their hokey Saturday night movie. But that doesn't happen much anymore either. I usually am doing something constructive. The reason so much gets started and nt finished is that evr present get into something and find you need more or something else. Being out of the town and having our hardware store closed years ago, that requires a trip to Springfield or Lincoln to get something. Usually what I'll do is start (with the intent of finishing) another project to consolodate trips. Over time that leaves theunfinished pile.....well, let's just say I have plenty to do.  

Time to get a movin. Fooled around on this site long enough. 

[howmus]

Mornin'........

Zoe......., What?  Yes I am limping in here this morning...  My feet hurt.  Must have stood around yakking with people way too much yesterday....  Anyway, I have a short stack of Blueberry Pancakes, Real Maple Syrup, and a cup (or 2 or 3 ) of dark roast coffee in a R&GV RR Mug.

I'd say I got my exercise yesterday, if nothing else!  Since I feel better (No more joint pain) I found myself climbing up on the equipment easier and standing longer than i used to,  My right foot is hurting a bit this morning (I crushed it in a tractor accident when I was a teenager), but should get better as the day goes on.

Barry, very terrible and sad to hear about the tornado up your way!  Glad the death toll was only one person,  Sounds like it could have been a lot worse.  I bet it was the same line of storms that hit Wayne County here in NY yesterday....

I see my pancakes are coming so I think I will just sit and relax in the back booth for a bit and enjoy my breakfast!

Later!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 81° and partly cloudy. The high today will be 105° (feel like 116°). The chance of rain late in the afternoon and into the evening is 30%.

Yesterday I did a lot of work on the end railings of the H24-66 Trainmaster. This was complicated by the fact that I didn't have the proper railings for the job and had to make do with what I did have. That was the front and rear railings (metal) from a thirty plus year old Athearn GP7. First off the holes were too small. They had to be drilled out. Fortunately I had the required 1/32 drill bit. It was a real trick to hold the loco in one hand and the Dremel in the other while I lined the bit up with the holes as precisely as I could. Easy you think? Imagine doing it without any depth perception. Not so easy. After all the holes were drilled it was time to push the ends of the stanchions into them. Anybody who's installed Athearn metal handrails knows how much fun that is. It took the better part of two hours but I got it done without gluing my fingers together with the super glue I used to set the stanchions and to glue the joint of each stanchion on the hand rail. The other end railing didn't take quite as long but was still an adventure in patience. Once you get over the fact that the railings are the wrong ones for the Trainmaster they look OK.

Today is laundry day so I'll be a little busy for a while.

[Cox 47]

Good Morning All...Its sunny and 73 here..Nice day...I'll have coffee and a sweet roll please...Thank you..We had our reunion yesterday...Sallie did the driving..first time in almost 3 years...had a great time and good meal...Not much going on in the I&S shops right now...I am still looking to pick up some more used Kato track for new layout..The old I&S maybe saved and become a coal branch for larger railroad...I am hoping to get some bench work up soon..You all have a good one...Jerry

[LSWrr]

 Rob, thoughts and prayers to your father, please let us know how he is doing…

 

[Anonymous]

Good Afternoon/Evening!

Just a quick visit to my favorite place. I spent another tiring day at the STALAG, now I feel so exhausted that you could knock me out with a feather. Oberst Klink is not so entertaining anymore, but demanding, so I need to carefully listen to what he says. On the good side of, there seems to be a job opening in the middle management level of a large (actually the largest in Germany) security company waiting for me once I am through with this training. Now I can hear Johnboy crying out loud "Didn´t I tell ya!

Rob - my prayers go out to your dad!

Jeff - you are the only guy I know having a full Corporate Identy in his model railroad, private car (actually, it is a business car, isn´t it)

Barry - I am glad you were not affected by the tornado.

Attaboy - welcome back to life. Glad to hear your ordeal has found an end.

Well, it´s back to the sofa for me!

Y´ all have a good one!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

The car shopping is over! My parents grabbed the Mercury Marquis. With $2,000 slashed off the price it was something they couldn't pass up.

[GMTRacing]

Good Afternoon All,

    Rob - our prayers for your father.

   Jerry - good to see you drop by. Hope you get some progress to report soon on the new layout. I'll keep my eyes peeled for some Kato N track but haven't seen any ever at the museum.

   Simple answer to the switch motor problem last night seems to be the first three transformers had insufficient amperage to pull the coils and move the points. Looks like I'll need the capacatative discharge thingy (now there's a mouthful) if I'm going to need two or more turnouts to activate at once. Yeah Todd - BOOM!

    Wild storm last night - lots of thunder and lightning and rain on all sides of the house at once. Missed the tornado that hit up Rays' way and all the trees at the shop were still standing when I got in this morning.

    Here's my order ready so I'll scoot back out to the shop.   CUL, J.R.

[Cederstrand]

Coffee in a BURLINGTON NORTHERN mug,please.

Turns out my dad got sepsis from using a catheter, which he has been doing for years. Temp is down to almost 100 from the 104 it had been. IV in his neck, etc... His chances are 50/50. My wife predicted this would happen long ago, but my dad is stubborn when it comes to certain medical procedures. We'll know in 24 hours if he's going to rebound or tank. That's about all there is to say. Thank you for the kind words.

Keeping an eye on that potential hurricane. If it comes up our way, I'll need to get busy preparing the farm for some even more serious flooding. 

Have a good day all.

Cheers! Rob 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Rob ... Very sorry to learn about your Dad ... Prayers for him. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Rob: Sorry to hear about your father.Sepsis is pretty nasty. I hope he gets through it.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Well, I was the first to drive the new car on errands. It rides real nice and smooth. The errand was pretty simple. To the pharmacy to get four new 7/8" cane tips, Wal-mart for socks and briefs, Dominoes for a thin crust Extravaganza pizza. I'm very comfortable with the car. After all I'm going to be driving it quite a bit. My mother can't drive due to health problems so I'm stuck being the chauffeur. That's why it was so important I be able to get my wide boot to the gas pedal without hitting the brake. Seeing 140 mph on the speedometer (no KPH anywhere in sight) made me wonder if anybody had tried to see if it would do it. Just touching the gas pedal makes it take off like a scalded dog! The instrument panel display is laid out differently from their other Marquis. Speedometer on the left, tach (other car doesn't have one) on the right, gas, oil, temp and battery in the middle. No trip odometer.

[cudaken]

 Evening Folks

 Flo, I will take a Flo, what do you mean I have a Red Dot on my forehead?

 Boom It was a kill shot.

 Yep, I knew I was targeted for sometime now. Today I got the Kill Shoot. I was fired today. It was a set up and bottom line I have known for some time that the owner did not like me. Have no idea why, just didn't. When I was setting records in sales, well he put up with me. Now that the sales are back to normal, looking for the next rock star.

 I will go into details at another time, but at this point I am not in the mood.

 Bright side? Well there maybe one. I was slowly starving at the last job and utility bills where out of hand. With Sue being disable and me out of work, we may get Energy Assistant. I still owe $650.00 on electric alone. Plus SSI is going to send here a $640.00 check this coming month. After that my unemployment will kick back in.

 Todd Check your local library for NCIS DVD's. I have watched session 1 through 8 and not spent a dime in rental. (I think we are going on session 9) 

 I still hope to get the 2-10-2 and PA's. We will see.

 Well, time to run the trains.

            Ken