Lee: Great work shown there. Keep it up!
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Hello Everyone!!!
Hope you are all doing well!!! Happy Weekend!!!
I just made some significant progress twards model railroading!!!! No, really! I did!!! A couple weeks ago I tried setting up DCC for the first time. I had everything on hand & had collected it over a period of time to venture into it when I had some time & some research under my belt. Well, it turned out that I had gotten a USB interface that was not intended for Locomotive Programming, as I had hoped it was. That weekend was not so pretty good... quite a head scratcher... However, doing some more research, I was led to obtain a usb/serial adapter to work with my system.
This morning I finally got around to trying to make everything work together, & Oh Boy, I programmed my first two locomotives using JMRI from a laptop through an NCE 5amp Power Pro system..
I'm pretty dang happy that I got it to work, I had the research figured out, & although at one point was frustrated, now I knew what to do within the JMRI sware to do very basic programming.
Although I am pretty happy now, I would really suggest that if you want to go that route, please research what interface works with the system you may have. When it does work, it is pretty neat!!!
Now I have to go find a 'test loki' to venture into customization that is above & beyond just the road number, model number, & volume settings... (yeah, only basic so far).. it's a start!!
Ten years ago, I would never have dreampt of this, I'm happily impressed.!
Please Have one on me, I'll pick up the tab guys!!!Again, hope you are all doing well!!!
A German beer line might be a fun project
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
It´s Lunchtime!
Time for a break - Zoe, I´ll go for a Barry-sized burger & fries, add a RBF to and I´ll be fine, thank you!
Today´s HD list is a mile long. Petra is completely indulged in getting our flat into a state, where MIL´s visit would not be a problem. My task is to get the train room into shape. Most of that is done now, and I have to admit, the place looks much nicer - like a real man cave. All I have to do is to install a TV set and a stereo and Petra can keep the living room for herself ...
I hope I can increase my chances of getting some more real estate in that room for another layout.
I am still not happy with the plans I have. My preference would be a layout with a "cityscape" rather than an industrial set-up like the Beer Line. Will be working on some ideas later in the day.
Have a good time!
Good Morning
We be dull dull dull and raining upon our'n heads today..going to stop the rain part later this afternoon and just be plain ol' dull then...high of 60F forecast...
Had an interesting day with my friend in hospital yesterday..turns out I've been a bad influence on him..he gets into trouble with the nurses a little.....gee, I wonder why......actually he is doing a lot better lately..he is supposedly going ot be discharged on Monday...
Today, since I am off from on-calls for a bit now...I will be hiding in my trainroom trying to find certain items that seem to go missing in there....
Ulrich: We do our "Spring" cleaning in the fall..the seasonal one will be started next week...
Lee: Good progress on that layout!!
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Coal mine progress pictures. Please excuse the unfinished portions:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2741593740029441264UzHbaW?vhost=home-and-garden
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2367789700029441264qyDwMP?vhost=home-and-garden
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2552560770029441264ZhPbDg?vhost=home-and-garden
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2122268940029441264PGCHbl?vhost=home-and-garden
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2285154490029441264PfbtJH?vhost=home-and-garden
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2667295810029441264BMyfDV?vhost=home-and-garden
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2003286590029441264cUqzfy?vhost=home-and-garden
The tracks leading around the corner meet up with the main layout room. The loader operates with a lawnmower throttle cable; the controls are under the front edge of the layout. Themine buildings are Suydam metal kits
Good Morning,
Curt, Terry check your email…
Been busy at work, I’m running 70-80 projects right now. I’m normally not this busy until May-June time frame. I picked up some tar for the garage and some sealer for the east side of the computer room so if the weather cooperates I’ll be mending those leaks.
Good Morning! from Tipton IN.
Edwardsville IL-NKP
TIPTON
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
GOOD MORNING!!!
Today is Saturday, March 25th, 2012!!!
The weekend is here!!!
Enjoy it!!!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Evenin' folks!
Janie, just a cup of decaf for me.
Curt, I don't know whether I helped or complicated things for you, but you are certainly welcome... I'm waiting for Bachmann to come out with the 2-6-0 in a DCC ready, undecorated model. I guess they now have it in DCC ready but not in painted/undecorated yet. I have an email saying they will be.... saves me figuring out how the open up the tender and snip the wires to the annoying sound..... I have never heard any HO loco sound anything close to prototype. Never will until they can put a 6" or larger speaker in it... LOL. And I don't want to have to strip it and repaint before adding decals to it either. I have heard they are very nice runners!
Have a great evening everyone! prayers for all in need!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Time for me to call it a night. Went to McDonald's with my parents this morning for breakfast. Came back and got the Atlas Trainmaster up and running. It creeps at 0.5 on the Zephyr's throttle. Pulled out some Athearn cars and installed Kadee couplers on them. Having some problems with a Front Range 'Shorty' covered hopper. Some weight should fix it. Slapped a McHenry shelf coupler on the last car of the train just for the look of it. I wouldn't trust it to hold onto a speck of air. See y'all tomorrow.
Gabe- The rear loco is the Bachmann Spectrum (?)(non-sound) 4-4-0 American. The one in front of it is the new Bachmann 2-6-0 Mogul (discount sound) and a really good deal. I really like both of these.
Curt Webb
The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad
http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/
Hello Sirs, diet coke for me Laura.
Curt-love the second photo, that liitle steamer in the forground is sweet looking, what type of loco is that?
Jim-Glad you like my sig. My layout represents a shortline that had recently been owned only by the Grain elevators that served it, so they didn't care much about the track. Then a few years ago a few men bought the line and started serving the elevators and a few of the industries that were served before the line was operated soley for the elevators. There are a few switches that have been replaced and reballested, but the rest of the line is over run with weeds. Besides local freights, the line also runs grain unit trains as long as run through traffic between BNSF and Railamerica. 90% of trffic is Grain, with the rest being fertilizer, and scrap and a few other industries.
See ya.
"Mess with the best, die like the rest" -U.S. Marine Corp
MINRail (Minessota Rail Transportaion Corp.) - "If they got rid of the weeds what would hold the rails down?"
And yes I am 17.
JimRCGMO Ah, Jeffrey, my bad - I just took a quick look when I was writing my post and should've gone back again and looked at your MU'ed Geep to see which ones. Did you doctor up the Bachmanns? I wasn't sure if they are known for that much pulling power, so maybe you 'beefed up' your two? And how long do you figure until the local folks start up the lynch mob for the local weatherguesser? I'm sure he's/she's being really careful to hide the car when he/she gets to w**k... Hey, be careful your folks don't just drive the RV up to your yard (and want to come in and 'visit', see your layout, etc....). Now you're double-decking your decoders? Awesome!
Ah, Jeffrey, my bad - I just took a quick look when I was writing my post and should've gone back again and looked at your MU'ed Geep to see which ones. Did you doctor up the Bachmanns? I wasn't sure if they are known for that much pulling power, so maybe you 'beefed up' your two? And how long do you figure until the local folks start up the lynch mob for the local weatherguesser? I'm sure he's/she's being really careful to hide the car when he/she gets to w**k... Hey, be careful your folks don't just drive the RV up to your yard (and want to come in and 'visit', see your layout, etc....). Now you're double-decking your decoders? Awesome!
Ken: One knot = 1.151 mph.
Ken- Love that orange on that car. what is the name of the color, also could you post a picture of the whole car. I know what you mean about the hair deal I w**ked at a large well known oil change firm. The manager had to have every hair on his head just perfect,If the wind was blowing he pitched a fit because his hair was out of place. And if your hair was (in his opinion ) to long, you got sent home until you got it cut. Otto
Scrambled eggs w/ cheese, please
***Curt, safe journey. I really like the look of your layout and the weathering.
Almost time for evening critter rounds.
Rob
1 knot is 1.15077945 MPH.
One knot is the same as nautical mile per hour.
James, Brisbane Australia
Modelling AT&SF in the 90s
Curt, you sure they don't have internet on your cruise? (Just kidding - enjoy the time away from w**k!) Guess I'm an honorary member of the RSA group too, then, I think I was somewhere below 150, the last time I checked.
Have fun, Curt!
Jim in Cape G.
Evening All,
Looking forward to departing tomorrow. Of course I will miss all of you. MOH decided to go to the grocery store tonight on the way home, I'm really not sure why. Took my Mom out to lunch today and that was nice.
Well I took the easy way out with the coaling tower. I parked some of my steam loco's under it so it looks like they are taking on coal but it is really a storage site.
Ray- Thanks for your help today.
Ken- I have seen both Band of Brothers and The Pacific and prefer BOB. If I remember right the conversion is 1 kt = 1.15 mph.
Garry- Great scene in WPF this week.
Jim Cape G.- MOH already thinks I need to be a member of RSA. I have around 70 non-loco cars which is nothing compared to a lot of you. I guess that makes me a honorary member.
This is what the coaling tower looks like now
Everybody take care and see you all in a week.
Columbian roast coffee in a STORMY SOUTHERN mug, please.
Thunder-boomers dancing about today.
Other than some paperwork, to tired to do much. So, will be resting in the corner booth a spell.
Good Afternoon, Zoe - I'll have a grilled cheese sandwich, and a RBF, please 'n' thank you!
Todd, you're kiddin' me! Brenda actually told you not to start a job on that sink? Oh, gracious, I think I'm gonna faint.... Oh, and thank you for that description of how "Americanese" developed (chuckle,..snicker.. ) Good one there!
GMTRacing If you listen to all our helpful suggestions, you can reach full confusion is a much shorter time. J.R.
If you listen to all our helpful suggestions, you can reach full confusion is a much shorter time. J.R.
Sue, you probably loooked at Curt's picture before your cup of coffee, right? Did your tax person say whether you'd be better off this year to go with the standard deductions? Or would that be worse on your taxes?
Curt, as Garry said, your coal supplier can be off-layout (Hmm,...which gives you an excuse to have a bunch of other RR lines' cars...) (Lee, what times & days does that RSA group meet?..)
Ken, good to hear you got more sales at w**k. On your friends' wedding, how far of a drive is it from you (on top of staying at the reception until 10)?
Ray, glad you explained that term to me... (tee hee...)
Darren/Stourbridge, how many passenger cars do you have? Bet you could run a nice long passenger train!
Ah, Gabe, sounds like you have it pretty easy, eh? Actually, I've heard that homeschooled kids have it a bit tougher than those in public schools (especially since you won't likely get a substitute teacher that you can fool....). Chemistry wasn't my favorite subject in high school, either. (Now my older brother - who got a Ph.D. in chemistry - that's another matter, but I'm sure the aliens swapped him in for my real brother...) Love your RR quote in your signature, too!
Ulrich, nice job on the "Beer Line" design there. Good luck with persuading Petra, too. Ever thought about picking up some additonal income by designing layouts for others (for )?
Well, didn't get together toady (Ray...?) with my buddy Mark (the non-Hoople one) - he called this morning (guess he was on break at the farm where he w**ks) and said he'd got a temp job offer doing backhoe w**k. We rescheduled for a week from tomorrow. I know he has some bills I don't have, so don't want him to miss a job.
The software wasn't in yet at the Post Office (though an 'explanation of benefits' was there, telling me that my "health-we-don't-care" insurance didn't cover $124 of my eye doctor's visit - oh, joy!). (I think our w**k-paid coverage kinda sucks, to put it mildy. Maybe next year I will be able to itemize and deduct all my medical expenses?)
After I got home, I started back on that E&B Valley kit of the Santa Fe covered hopper again. I've decided that it is (cough, cough...) likely a "craftsman" kit. The thing has the cover pairs for the hopper compartments connected by a rather thin rod for each pair, and the plastic isn't as sturdy as it needs to be. Then there're the itsy-bitsy things that hold the ends of the rods, and those are bears to hold properly, then fit them on the end of the rod, and then glue down the rod-holder ends. Directions said not to glue down the covers - HA! If I did that, I'd be pulling my hair left and right! Don't think so - those suckers are getting glued down so at least the rods have a chance of staying put when I'm trying to fit the rod-holder ends on the end of the rods. I do NOT think I will be buying any more of those kits, even if I could find some.
I did get some more done on the double-wide Heritage Furniture background building, too. Glued the 'roof on the roll-under part where the freight cars go under the 2nd-thru-4th floors of the building. Decided not to put in any of the window frames or the loading doors, not until I get a chance to paint the outside walls themselves. That one, at least, is looking good so far. (Whew...)
I'll be at the window booth, since the sun's out again. Wanna enjoy it before the next band of rain creeps in...
Blessings and prayers,
Afternoon Folks
Flo. please.
Got my running done and while in St Louis I bought $12.00 worth of gas. I bought mid grade so it was $4.12 a gallon. One of the good things of working where I am is it is only 18.4 miles round trip to work and home again. While my Town Car is old, if I watch it I can get 21.5 miles per gallon a round town depending on how many stop lights I catch. So depending on none work driving I should only use 4.27 gallons a week.
How many MPH is a Knot? With playing the Micro Soft WWII Pacific Theater my air speed is read in knots. I think it is 1.25 MPH per Knot?
Speaking of WWII I am just about done with the Band Of Brother HBO collection DVD's. Have not missed Ziva at all.
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
I got my Atlas H24-66 Trainmaster running again. I test ran it yesterday and after two full laps around the layout the motor control part of the Digitrax DZ125 decoder fried. Oh well, it was a junk box decoder anyway. In looking through my stuff I found a Bachmann decoder that's in good shape. It would give me motor control but the light functions are on/off, bright/dim only. The Digitrax decoder though fried still worked for lighting and light effects and was already set up. It's also still addressable! So I set it for the same address as the Bachmann decoder then piggybacked the Bachmann decoder on the Digitrax. What the hey, it works.I still have the lighting control of the Digitrax and the Bachmann provides motor control. Now I have an operational loco for the tourist train.
Howdy Folks!
It has been a nice and sunny day today. No clouds visible, just pure sunshine, with temperatures reaching 18°C - the "hottest" day so far.
Petra and I went for a walk to recharge our batteries, before we´ll engage into our yearly "Spring Cleaning" jobs - no Barry, I don´t mean bathing your kitty...
Spend the afternoon rummaging through some old files, still searching for input on what to do what all that Z scale stuff. My yard stick tells me that I´ll have to discard the idea of that segmental layout - too big. I need something not bigger than my desk, which I can somehow fold up.
This is what I came up with:
It may look familiar to you - it is the 2009 MR project layout "Beer Line" in Z scale. Fits nicely over my desk! Now I have to convince Petra & get rid (sell) all the German rolling stock or trade it for some US Z scale stuff.
Stay safe!
Hoople- airsofting sure is fun. I have a tompson (military version of course, 1000 rds mag). I've got about ten friends I play with. mostly backyard wars. Got a friend with a bunch of barns on his farm, and we have blast, playing attack and defend.
Jim- No schools not to hard. Actually I am homeschooled so I have more time on my hands then most kids my age. When theres only one kid in class you can go at your own pace, so I can usally get done before lunch. I do pretty good mostly B's, though I do have a hard time in chemisty, and last two years I was having the hardest time with Algebra. On Mondays,Tuesdays, Wednesdays Fridays( I have a Bible History Class with my pastor and other homeschooled kids at my church on thursdays) I work for a local resturant from 12:30-3:30 washing dishes and doing some prep work. after that I have time to workout/read/work on my layout.
Good Morning Modelers!
Well two of my NCAA bracket teams won last night out of the three I had a chance with. Tonight I have another 3 out of 4 with a better chance of getting all three. We have 55 brackets in play in our company NCAA challenge and I moved up from #44 to #32 with those two wins. No hope to get past the top players but its still nice to get out of the bottom ranks.
Looking at 70F - 80F over the next few days so summer is rapidly approaching. It even looks like I will need to do some watering this weekend which is weird as March is normally a snowy month for us.
Darren (BLHS & CRRM Lifetime Member)
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (DHVM), Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures)
My Blog
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe, I'll have a nice big bowl of organic raisin bran cereal and a cup or three of dark roast coffee in a R&GV RR mug. Please and Thank You!
Jim, a toady...... Common term, I see it in typing around the forum quite a bit. A toady is ...... are you ready? A toady is a typo! ROFL!
Curt, thanks for the explanation. Only thing I would ask you is, if you are trying to be at all prototypical, why would you dump coal there and then reload it into coal cars.... Don't think the RR would make any $$$ doing that and wouldn't be done otherwise. Now, it is your railroad, so do whatever you like. One suggestion would be that if the building nearby is a coal dealer, the old (probably no longer used to fill tenders) coal tower might be the supply for the coal dealer. If it were me (and it isn't) I would remove the tracks on the outside spur next to the coal tower and build a ramp so the dump trucks from the Coal Dealer could load there. Then you would have a believable reason to be bringing in coal to the old tower..... Just a thought for you. Oh and I have a unit coal train to run on the SLOW to bring in coal to the many places that would need it. I don't have a coal mine either. Years ago, every community had coal dealers and reasons for coal to be delivered, but very few actually had a coal mine within hundreds of miles............
I have a bunch of odds and ends to do today (tomorrow is #2 Granddaughter's 3rd. birthday party) so I best get a move on!
Later!
Morning Folks!
Psst, Flo is JR buying? He is! I have scrambled eggs and steak, hash brown's, toast, OJ and a Diet Dew. Thanks JR
Well, not a lot planed today, I have a little running to do and see if I can figure out to budget $40.00 for the next 6 days?
Saturday I have to go to a wedding. While the Bride and Groom are good friends weddings are just not my thing! Of course, my wife is in the wedding so there is a bunch of extra stuff that has to be done. Reception will be the hardest part. Starts at 5:00 PM (I think) and wife wants to stay till 10:00 PM. Then I have to be at work Sunday at 9:00 AM.
Curt Good looking layout video!
See you later folks.
Ken
Howdy ....
Coffee and donuts, please.
Todd ... I see your breakfast is "fresh, out of the freezer."
Curt ... Nice video in WPF. No need to rush and have a coal mine. Coal will be from connecting rail lines.
Jeff .... Sounds like a perfect day ... working on the layout and running trains.
Bill T .... Nice photo of a small town depot. Shows good details to inspire model railroaders.
My WPF picture shows the back side of my downtown. The retaing walls are "concrete" made from strips of wood. Currently I am working on the front side of downtown. The retaining walls for the front side are stone walls made by Chooch Industries.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU