Elliot´s Trackside Diner - January 2012 Edition

[Stourbridge Lion]

Good Morning Modelers!

It's35F and Sunny here in Denver this morning.  It figures it would be a nice day when I have to be at w**k!

Oh well, enjoy the day!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 38° and mostly cloudy. The high will be 70° and it will be partly sunny.

Today's project is to get the FP7's to the paint shop. They're long overdue. The road names need to be painted out and the L&A logo applied. Other than that there will be some more layout cleanup being done. Amazing how fast little things pile up.

[GMTRacing]

Funny things you find doing automotive research. Check out the Chrysler/ALCO link in history.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/walter_p_chrysler_and_alcos  Alco of course won the Vanderbilt cup race - the first American car to do so beating the europeans.   J.R.

[Anonymous]

Good Afternoon Folks!

It is sunny outside, but icy cold. Temperatures dropped to 14 F during daytime, and the wind-chill factor brings it down to - 14 F! Not good for spending much time outside.

I made a cardboard mock-up of my "train table" yesterday to find out whether I can move around the planned layout the way I will need it. Guess the result Either I have to make it less deep by 6" or cut about 10" in length. I will probably do the latter one. It´ll cost me train length, but this we I can keep the 11" minimum radius. No idea when I can start on the layout, but my hands started to get that itchy feeling.

Janie, coffee and a slice of that apple pie, please!

You all have a good one!

[gear-jammer]

Good morning, Chloe.  I will have coffee and a cinnamon roll, please.  I don't have to hurry this morning.  Our start time is a little later today.

Ray,  The photos are fun.  We usually see construction rather that destruction.  We have a duck under that we wish wasn't there sometimes.  Most of our MR friends are older and we worry about them crawling on their knees.  Occasionally, we bump our heads.

I am dispatching this weekend at a friends layout.  I am pumped.

Later,  Sue

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!! Coffee and a cinnamon sweet roll please. Thanks.

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 56.

Ken- Sorry hoss…electric. I wish it was gas. In fact we have discussed that if we ever had to replace the stove we would go gas. (this is the first electric stove we’ve had) Now, I’m thinking sticking with electric. I’m not in the mood to run a gas line from one end of the house clean to the other.

Well, today is Church bookwork day. Got payroll, w-2’s, deposit, pay some bills, ummmm, what else. Don’t know. Hopefully nothing. Then it’s off to Menard’s. Small change in plans yesterday. She decided that the trip across the street from The Walmart would have been too long for her to get back in time to take her Mother to Bingo so we scrapped that in favor of me going today. Oh well. We’ll see what else pops up. Sure would like to get the kitchen up and running again.

Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning

Sun is out and it is a chilly 19F right now...going up to 30F later on today then going up to 44F tomorrow...

Today will be hoping no one else has issues that need solving..yesterday was interesting.

Tomorrow I will actually get a bit of mrr time...maybe...we still need to figure out the tiling issues here for Floor Wars:London ON division, pt 2  .....hang on to your'n hats folks...this could get tricky ...

I'll have an extra large coffee with 1 sweetener in it please...black.....I'll need all the rawcaffeine I can get....

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

   33F and very windy here in Ct . Amhearst show went well with good weather and 23,000 people through in two days. We did great at the museum tables selling off about $600.00 in surplus stuff plus one members stuff from which we'll get a donation. Spent my free time looking around but didn't go nuts buying things as normal. Did pick up some custom lettered New Haven tank cars and got a good deal on a new in box light mike also in New Haven livery. Mostly I got some couplers and wheels I needed (36" passenger by Kaydee) plus some embossed sheet styrene for the building projects. Lots of nice scenery stuff was there also with decent prices but I still have a bunch left from before and didn't need to stock up on any of it.

    Hope the rest of you are doing ok and I'll stop by later.   CUL, J.R.

[galaxy]

GOOD MORNING!!!

Today is Monday, January 30th, 2012!!!

Make it a GREAT DAY!!!

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

 

 

 

 

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Janie, just a cup of decaf please.  I'll be in the back sitting as close to the stove as possible.  Heat feels very good on the sore neck!

At least I'm pretty sure the neck thing is just muscle pain.  If I put my head in my hands and totally relax the neck muscles, I can turn my neck with no pain at least.  I did get quite a bit of the demolition of the staging area done today.  A couple more days at it and I should have it down.  Couple photos for you.

Found some calling cards from THAT nice little mousey poo I had move in there a year ago.  he didn't get to stay long after I noticed the damage he had done to some scenery.  This will get vacuumed up tomorrow.....

When the whole area is finished, I will actually end up with more usable staging than I had originally.  Only thing is trains will have to be taken out after operating sessions, turned, and backed into staging to be ready for the next time.  Not a problem as I like to run the trains anyway.

I think I will turn in a bit early tonight and i have several things to do before bed, so i will call it a night in here.

Have a good and safe night!

73

[saronaterry]

Hi, diners!

CapeJim, I received your PM but cannot respond.( 'puter issues) Watch your E-mail for a message title "throttle".

Rob ,I missed the rest of your post about the grout, sorry! It'll work GREAT for scenery!!

 

 

Terry in NW Wisconsin

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Time for me to call it a night. See y'all tomorrow.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

cudaken

 Jeffery Than Penny F units looks pretty good. Does it pull well and have a matching B shell? Let me know, I do like the way it looks. Let me know.

It's an old 70's era Atlas FP7 running tail to tail with an 80's era Con-Cor FP7. No FP7 B unit. It pulls as good as it looks. Like an elephant.

[cudaken]

 Evening Folks!

 Flo, Beer please and hot water to soak my feet in.

 Was pretty busy today at work and my feet are hurting. I did not make much in commission so far, right around $85.00 for the last 2 days. Larry The Services Writer pretty much hogs all the extra sales oneness the car is in the shop. You really cannot make much commission on tires only. 

 Dave the area supervisor did stop by last night after closing to see what I thought of Larry and Jim and how the shop runs now. I sort of hate to admit the fact that now that Bill is not the acting manager and Tim the lazy sales person is out of the shop it is running better.

 I all so Dave I was ready for a shop. We will see if anything comes from that. I do feel ready now, and it has taken a while.

 Todd, buddy and pal. Would the range happen to be gas? Our gas range oven stopped working 4 years ago and the repair cost is more than I paid for the range in the first places. Yo could finally get to see K-10 model trains and help a friend. I would even chip in on the cost of gas!

 Jeffery Than Penny F units looks pretty good. Does it pull well and have a matching B shell? Let me know, I do like the way it looks. Let me know.

 I still may have more F's than you, not a thing to be proud off!

 Later, Ken

[BroadwayLion]

Broadway, I'll ask you about that urban myth regarding computer installations/rooms - can you really warm up your lunch for a mid-afternoon snack on top of one of your 'puters?

 

Well, YES! not on the case of course which is cooled, and the innards which have fans and heat sinks, but it is not overly uncommon for a processor to reach 85 - 95 degrees Centigrade.  Remember that water boils at 100°C.

In addition other chip sets, video cards, monitors and such also throw off heat.

LION has four monitors attached to his workstation and only one of these is a flat screen monitor.

The servers have eight hard drives, and quad CPUs.

At the moment it is 72°F in my office, with the air conditioner running. but then it is also 50°F outside at the moment too.

ROAR

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evening.

It was a fun day to be had here..we got snowed on and some freezing drizzle showed up to make for  an interesting drive home tonight...now I get to wait untill tomorrow evening to see if more 'stuff' happens...

Then I might see about the continuation of Floor Wars, London ON division.

Seeing as how I am too bushededed to do anything else I'll just have a coffee and go sit in the corner booth for a bit...

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

In case anyone's interested, photos of the inside of the FP7's. First the Atlas/Roco, second the Con-Cor/Roco.

 

[JimRCGMO]

Evenin', Janie - I'll have a RBF, grilled cheese sandwich, and a bowl of the chili, with some of those little crackers, please. And a Santa Fe mug for my coffee later. Thanks!

Looks like everyone has been pretty busy since yesterday when I was in , what with Floor Wars - Extreme Makeover Edition, all of the business Jeff and the Sundown shops have been doing on the motive power, and some excellent photos from SaronaTerry (thanks! and check your PM/conversations, please). Oh, yes, and Todd, you are definitely in my prayers (for strength and sanity) !

Curt, hope your sleep gets itself back in order again soon. Good that you're getting a little more sleep for now than you did earlier, at least.

And NSJoe, verrrrry nice set of train photos (and commentary; ever think of being a tour guide on an excursion train?). Hope before too much longer, you may hear final word(s) back on some of your college applications.

Broadway, I'll ask you about that urban myth regarding computer installations/rooms - can you really warm up your lunch for a mid-afternoon snack on top of one of your 'puters?

Garry, as Rob mentioned, thanks for checking in from Arizona. Love that area and the scenery!

Rob, maybe Wile E. and friends gave up chasing roadrunners out in AZ land? Sounds like the Beast is just what you needed for your place.

Ray, hope your neck gets feeling better by tomorrow morning - not at all fun when it ain't cooperating.

I have a question for any of you Diners who have put together cast resin building kits (think Magnuson and others, but not Walthers, which are styrene or such). The surface seems sticky, and has some shinyness, too. I have tried washing with dishwashing liquid/water, cleaning with GooGone or Diosol (and using q-tips with each, but nothing seems to make much of a dent on cleaning 'sticky-shine' off of the surfaces of the parts (and we're talking the exterior, visible surfaces, not the insides). Anybody in here who has a suggestion for cleaning it off, please post and/or send me a PM.

Think I'll sit at the window booth and polish off my dinner for now. Prayers for healing (and for projects that can actually have an end, without a new one right behind it), and for good night's rests.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape G.

 

 

 

[Cederstrand]

Decaf coffee, please.

***Terry, I would never try using it "as grout". I can use it for scenery creation on the (N) layout. If it cracks or does something unusual, that will just add character to the river/mountain/whatever.

***Garry, thanks for checking in. Remember to howl at the moon for me down there. I will always love the AZ. desert. Enjoy the Union Pacific trains.

 Rob

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Chloe, I'll have the hot turkey sandwich, fries with gravy, and a trip to the salad bar.  need a cup of decaf with THAT as well.  Thanks.

Ahhhh, I haven't felt up to par today.  Woke up with a stiff neck this morning and it steadily got worse until about noon.  Seems to be holding it's own right at the moment, but it has put a damper on the rail painting for today.  Probably all the reaching across the layout putting in the railbars yesterday and then sleeping wrong on it.  Spent most of the afternoon doing demolition on the plywood central.  I have to remember the order it went together in most places and do exactly the reverse to get it apart.  Do remind me not to use white glue to glue down cork roadbed.....  It comes up much easier if you use pliobond.......  I did get it glued down very secure though.  It does come up after an ample flooding with wet water.

Hope you all are having a good day....

[edit]  Well!  See what happens when my typing gets interrupted?  Order up and eat well, my friends!

73

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Howdy.

We're in Southern Arizona okay. It's a nice visit so far. ... The UP RR line is busy as it was last time we were here.

Regarding the bridge that collapsed before we left, I've not had much chance to learn more. Picturesmake it look like the ship was too tall. .... Glad our neighbors who were on the bridge were not on the spans that fell.

We heard our niece's husband is having good days mixed with bad days in the hospital. 

Hope each of you is doing well.

Cheers.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Curt Webb

Jeff- You continue to amaze me with your versatility. I'm kinda of embarrassed  to say I have no F units.

Me like F units! Four of mine are F3's.

[Curt Webb]

Evening All,

At home from my early shift. I made 2 batches of POP rocks for the landscaping I have to do. I figure that sitting for 2 days they will be dry and can be painted.

Jeff- You continue to amaze me with your versatility. I'm kinda of embarrassed  to say I have no F units. The only freight diesels I have are the new "Sharks". I have E units, PA's, and switchers. At some point I would like to get a RS-1 and a couple of F-3's.

Everyone have a good night. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Cederstrand

 

That's a healthy number. All repaints? And do they all play well together, so to speak? Have been curious how folks get multiple DCC units with different decoders to run as a unit?

Four of them (Stewart F9 A-B set and Atlas & Con-Cor FP7 A-A set) have Bachmann decoders and are locked to one table. There are no CV's to adjust to adjust their speed. The F9-A has a Bachmann lightboard decoder and the F9-B has the Spectrum type decoder. The others have Digitrax DZ125 Z Scale decoders and can be adjusted by configuring the speed table CV's. I got lucky with the Stewart F9's in that even though they have different drives they run at the same speed. The Atlas and Con-Cor FP7's were slightly different. The faster Con-Cor unit was slowed with a resistor. Don't ask what type. Another modeler put it in. I used to know a bit about resister color codes but that was many years ago when I built my own computer boards. The two FP7's are about 12 years apart in manufacture, both made by Roco. The Atlas was made in the 70's and the Con-Cor in the 80's. Same trucks, different motors. The Atlas has a metal can motor and the Con-Cor has a plastic open-frame motor. Both of them have the Bachmann lightboard decoders. The loco frames are a bit different but not by much.

[saronaterry]

Afternoon!

Well, I had to tweak the operation plan a little more. Staged trains using the improved version and found I need yet another staging track. No more room in the utility room but there IS room kitty corner across the basement in the freezer/ pump room! All I need is about a 10' stub end track. That'll be next on the to-do list this week!

Jeff, I really like F-units. My buddy that does my decoder installs put a mars light in an athearn unit as a suprise. Way cool! I only own 5 ,but I'd have more if they fit better into my era( 1972)

Rob, I'd be wary about using old grout, especially if it's been opened. You will have issues. Being a contractor, don't ask how I know! LOL!

Nice and quiet afternoon here. Everyone went home, I've been in the basement and the other half is quilting. Perfect!

Terry in NW Wisconsin

 

 

[Cederstrand]

jeffrey-wimberly

Cederstrand:

***Jeffrey, any idea how many total F units (both A & B) you have?

 

Ten that run, two dummies, four more in pieces.

That's a healthy number. All repaints? And do they all play well together, so to speak? Have been curious how folks get multiple DCC units with different decoders to run as a unit?

Found an aged and still good (no mold) container of ready mixed white tile grout. Should be able to find some use for it on the (N) layout.

-Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Cederstrand

***Jeffrey, any idea how many total F units (both A & B) you have?

Ten that run, two dummies, four more in pieces.

[Cederstrand]

Coffee refill, please.

***Jeffrey, any idea how many total F units (both A & B) you have?

Put out a fresh bale of hay for the big horses (and little frackin' goats). Then checked on Twister who has a minor limp. Her front left I believe. Could find nothing wrong visually. It's all I can handle cleaning up after 1 big horse in the barn so Twister is on her own, at least for now.

Made much progress on the front porch today. Am now completely spent, so it's time to rest. Will be in the corner booth awhile. Ahh, there's my coffee. Rob

[gabeusmc]

Hey Laura, looking good. I'll have a diet coke and, um.. a cheseburgar with bacon and some fries, I guess.

Joe-like the photos

No modeling going on around here, after finneshing the elevator and the two covered hoppers theres nothing to do. I'll probaly read my book about the Indian wars and lift some weights later tonight.

have fun everybody,

Gabe