Elliott's Trackside Diner - May 2012

[tcwright973]

We had another good day railfanning early this afternoon on Norfolk Southern's main line in Leetsdale, PA. In two hours we saw 11 trains. Well, 10 trains and a move of 12 locomotives headed toward Conway Yard. It was made up of 1 Dash 8, 1 SD60, 1 ES40DC and 7 Dash 9's. I'm hoping to catch one of the new Heritage Units one of these days. I understand that the PRR was returned to Conway the other day after repairs in Altoona. I think the Conrail unit is assigned to Conway Yard as well. The photo isn't very good as I was shooting into the sun, but it's better than nothing. Hope everyone had a good weekend.  Tom

 [View:http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/trc/utility/:550:0]

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Afternoon! from Tipton IN.

 

 

 

 

 

[cudaken]

 Off to work I go.

 Ken

[Cederstrand]

Columbian roast coffee in a SUNNY SOUTHERN mug, please.

Have a lot fo farm stuff to work on. Would rather be in the train room. One of these days!

Healing thoughts to those in need.

Cheers! Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 70° and sunny. The high will be 88° and it'll be partly cloudy.

Only project on the schedule today is to prepare a Stewart F3B shell to be mounted on the Proto/Stewart frame of the third unit of the Frankenstein trio. Anything else that comes along will be dealt with or ignored as required.

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!!!

French toast and oooohhWWAAAAHHHHHH AH!! SNAAAAKE!!!   For pete’s sake Garry. Warn a guy next time. Flo could I also get an order of bacon please. Oh yes, coffee of course. Thank you.

Barry- Sorry to hear. Prayers going out.

Jeff- I remember some of that better than thou stuff as I came aboard long about the time the real heckling was winding down. I do remember getting several, well not directed at me, lessons in the definitions of certain terms. I’m sure you’ve been “reminded” of the definition of th word “Model” in “model railroading” on several occasions.

And then there was the big “It’s not bashing…..it’s “critiqueing” “ debates that I think we all got suckered in to at one point or another. Glad that's all over.

Welp, mostly outside stuff today for me. We’ll see how the in-laws fair today. Hopefully well. I hate that bickering stuff.

Ya’ll have a good day!!!!

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning. Where is everybody? 

Dave ... Was there something in the pizza that made people sick?

Ken ... Congrats on 6000 posts.  You are an asset to the forum.

TSF ... glad to hear about your going to community college. 

Vincent ... The guy in WPF was helping so people could better see your photos. ... Nice work with the end details on the F-unit.

Curt .. Yes, it was me (on the Bobcat). The snake was the one in the tub. It was about 3 to 4 feet long. The machine is rough riding and I was a bit slouched own in the picture because of that. 

Renting the machine Saturday until Monday morning costs only one day's rent because the rental place is not open Sundays. I'll be outside most of today, too. 

 

 

Edit .... Good morning, Barry. 

 

 

 

[blownout cylinder]

Hello?

Is anybody home?

Or did it become an OOPS kinda weekend?

Sunny and a Smog Advisory in effect today...high of 82F expected..

Going to go to a friends place later on to run some trains on his new layout...see how many things occur there...have a great one!!

[hon30critter]

jeffrey!

"Giving orders to a pizza"!! Totally broke me up!

Thanks for the laugh!

Dave

[cudaken]

 Evening Fellow Dinners!

 Flo, Beer for the house! Why? Because this is my 6000 post! 

 I wanted to make this post here in the Dinner. I wanted to make it a special post telling the folks here at the dinner means to me. But today just plain beat me into the dirt! I feel like that Copper Head! With that being said, you folks mean a lot to me.

 Ulrich My friend you and and I are in simpler boats. While I have a job, it is not much of one. Every month I wonder how I am going to make the house payment and the other bills. In one way you are better off, you don't have Evil Overlords to answer to. Well if your Federal Government is anything like ours maybe you do!

 Far as needing to have money to enjoy the hobby, are you sure? Yes we all dream about what we want to do next to the layout. ( I still have mine) That is one thing that keeps us young at heart. Yet in the last 12 months I have only spent maybe $100.00, maybe on the high side $150.00. I have not done a thing to my layout far as scenery for 2 to 3 years. Yet, I am still in the hobby?

 Now I admit, I am lucky I live by a great LHS and when I was making good money I bought a lot of stuff. I all so have a large layout (most of it looks like it was done by a 10 year old) so that helps. I have all so wonder what would happen if or when I lose the house? Could I be happy with a small layout? I hope I don't find out!

 But, I can tell you one thing, I will never totally quite be a MRR! Just like I will never stop being a gear head!

 All so think back to the roots of the hobby! 80 years ago there where MRR's. Yet there was no Woodland Scenic, DPM building, Kadee, Walther's or pretty much anything! What did they do? Well, they made there own stuff from Cardboard, Old Can's, Twigs, Match Sticks, Saw Dust and things growing in the yard. So, I don't think you have to have money to be a model railroader, just imagination!

 When I started my bench work (started as a HO slot car track) I was out of work. Did not have more than say $30.00 to spare if that. I went around to building sites and got scrap wood and broke up pallets for wood. ( I did ask first ) 

 One thing I do hope (besides winning the Lottery, then both our problems will be solved) is do not sell anything!  If you have to pack it away but hold on to your dream, dreams can happen!

 Well, that was a long one for me.

  Happy 6000 post!

                 Cuda Ken 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Time for me to call it a night. I'll have a glass of Dragon Fruit with Tabasco.

One of my projects today was to fit a pair of Athearn F7 trucks to a Front Range GP7 frame. All was fine with the exception of two places on the frame that came in contact with the contact arms on the trucks. It was an easy matter to cut the two projections off the frame and refit the trucks. This loco is a GP9. It has a Proto motor and flywheels, Athearn shafts and trucks. It's DCC and is fitted with a Lenz Silver decoder. There are no motor mounts, the motor is glued to the frame.

See y'all tomorrow.

[teen steam fan]

Packer- I'm going to Joliet Junior College. Gonna get a degree in welding

Cold Green River if you would be so kind, thanks. 

Thanks to everyone on the congrats

Barry  - I hope things get better. 

So, I worked today, made 70 bucks, nearest I could figure was I was payed about $12/hr. Even got a job offer, I don't know if the guy was serious or joking. I don't think much of Computer repair, (My idea of a good anti-virus involves a baseball bat) but work is work. 

[Curt Webb]

Evening All,

Ended up going to the Meat market and a grocery store today instead of the train club or EPCOT. Sitting here watching a really bad Navy movie on SyFy but they are showing actual Navy ships including a Battleship so it's not a total waste.

Vincent- Looking good. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Garry- 1 Snakes-0. Is that you in the Bobcat?

Well I will talk to you Tuesday. Everyone take care. 

[Packer]

I started working on the F9s I have.

I've modified parts from the DW detail kit to fit the stewart shell. So far this is the end with the door still on. I stuck the striker plate and rear door onto the F9B. On the cut-off doors, I have to add some styrene that is the same thickness as the shell to glue the doors to. The ones in the picture are friction/gravity fits.

Here's a pic from yesterday afer I washed my car:


I wonder what a CB&Q style paint job would look like on it. I have one of those billet grilles that I could install too (like the painted on grilles of the CB&Q Es)

The first picture of my mustang reminds me that I need to pick the buleberrys on the bush that kind of gets in the way of the picture.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Packer

Jeff, the time of your GC&W and the local one is actually pretty close then. But the scheme for the local one is olive green with a white or cream cab and lettering. I'm assuming it was a coincedence.

Yep, merely a coincidence.

 

Well I got a pair of Proto 1000 AAR trucks fitted to the Athearn GP35 frame.



And after a bit of grinding on the frame and a little filing I got a Walthers GP9 shell to fit on the Athearn frame as well. The filing I mentioned was to remove the inner corners of the rear step wells on the Walthers shell

[Packer]

Well it looks like I had the rear doors on the F's reversed as far as the phases was concerned. They went from square to round in later models. Still thinking of how to fit the DW F-unit door and striker plate into the stewart F9s. Looks like quite a bit of filling is in order to get it to work. Perhaps the Detail associates kit would have been better. Too bad I can't find a good picture of them like I did of the DW kit.

Garry, looks like you're having fun with the bobcat. Looks like it was a good thing you rented that. Saves a lot of work, and prevents you from getting bit.

Chris, the 2 ERM boxcars I have were kits, but someone else knocked them together. They are pretty nice IMO. I haven't taken them apart as I normally would because whomever put them together actually did a good job, they even have Kadees and Metal Wheels. The only thing wrong is they left the underframe metal wires unpainted. I don't have an SP brown but a silver sharpie should take care of the UP car. Either way weathering the underframe is kind of a must.

Jeff, the time of your GC&W and the local one is actually pretty close then. But the scheme for the local one is olive green with a white or cream cab and lettering. I'm assuming it was a coincedence.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Packer

Jeff, The Gulf Coast and Western (GC&W) is the name used by my local MRR club for their freelanced RR. Coincidence, or were you actually in my era several years ago? As for the pizza, Lol. I'm pretty sure you know I meanr that I'm ordering some and watching the race.

It would be more than a FEW years ago, more like a couple of decades. I ran my first GC&W loco in 1988. White with silver trim and black lettering. The LMS was blue and yellow with yellow lettering.

And yes, I knew what you meant about the pizza. It was too good to pass up and I just couldn't resist..

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Howdy ....

It was Bobcat vs. Copperhead Snake. .... The Bobcat won! ....

Lesson learned. If you are acopperhead snake, get out of the way when a Bobcat is coming.

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evening

Well, got a nice ol' sunburn today..spent the day out in the garden and worked up a couple of flower beds that needed major help..and got a good roasting in the bargain...oh well, it were a good day for doing stuff out there

Think I'll spend the evening dong some running of trains...

As for the other stuff...my own period is about 1970-1990...so anything between those periods is fair game...I'll even work up duplicates of buildings..one earlier than another to make things a little more period correct if need be...although I am not that particular about that approach. The rolling stock/locomotives though are particular to that period...and I have stuck with RS2,3,11's and H14-44's ....

[james saunders]

Morning folks,

I'm off to Dreamworld today with the family. Dreamworld is a amusement park with 7 of the best thrill rides in Australia including the "giant drop" and "Tower of terror"

The giant drop is my favourite, its a 120m (39 storeys) drop at speeds of 135km/h It is the tallest vertical free fall ride in the world. I also like the tower of terror... Tower of terror accelerates you to 161km/h (100m/h) backwards before shooting you 100m up a vertical ramp before hanging there for several seconds and plummeting back to earth.

Here is the Giant drop and the Tower of terror (they use the same tower.) from the carpark.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q8C8AP7Vx_c/SsAyCRoxqZI/AAAAAAAAB_s/XPAWQRQN-V4/s1600-h/3535953008_bb30320603.jpg

 

OzJim

[AmanaMedic]

"...2 Eel River Models 62' boxcars..." VINCENT: let me know what you think of those. Are they kits or already knocked together? I'm thinking at some point I "should" get a few for the beer traffic I hope to eventually have. Also, whaddaya think of the Accurail 89' flat? IF I was to model the TOFC/COFC traffic THAT came and went from the CNW North Yard, I'd "need" some of those too. Not crazy about the prices on the Walthers and BLMA flats though. 

 

I actually got a little time at the w**k table today, getting a little farther on the CRANDIC SW-something. I added Custom Finishing Models extended range air/fuel tanks, got a pilot beam installed and filled in the huge gap between it and the coupler pocket. I "should've" gotten the buffer plate/coupler pocket to go with it. Oh well. It looks fine as-is. Now, I'm trying to w**k up the nerve to drill for the coupler lift bar. Always a fun time. 

Have a good evening folks,

Chris

[Packer]

Another package from my recent binge on ebay. 2 Eel River Models 62' boxcars, one UP and the other SP, an unkown manufactuer 45' trailer in BN, and enough details west parts for an ABBA set of F-units. I used the trailer on my Accurail 89' flat, turns out the ATSF flat that it is has a prototype picture with a BN trailer on it. But the accurail trailer is closer to the trailer in the picture.

As for the F-unit project, I painted the chassis black and have used my existing stewart motor. Both of the sideframes on 1 truck broke their mounting pins and won't stay on. So I'm adding more to my bowser order by the day (truck detail parts, 2 sideframes, cal-scale detail set for the stewart F). Still have yet to strip the L&A F9s as I may not use the F9A depending on how some more ebay auctions go.

I test fitted the DW parts on the F9s I have and the striker plate fits nicely, but the door is a bit undersized and has the wrong window (round instead of rectangular). I think I could use some styerene as filler to get the door in place and I don't think anyone will notice the door on a B-unit as long as it's behind another F-unit. Besides, if the BN swappedan F3 DB vent onto an F7, I think the rear door on an F9 could have gotten swapped with one from an earlier F7.

Edit: it did happen.
http://www.trainpix.com/BN/EMDORIG/F9B/843.HTM
So the F9B I got from Jeff will likely become BN 843. The cut-out door is even on the right end.

Jeff, The Gulf Coast and Western (GC&W) is the name used by my local MRR club for their freelanced RR. Coincidence, or were you actually in my era several years ago? As for the pizza, Lol. I'm pretty sure you know I meanr that I'm ordering some and watching the race.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Packer

Gonna order pizza to watch the race tonight.

That's pretty bad when you have to give orders to a pizza. I'd eat it myself.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Heartland Division CB&Q

 Vincent ... You were talking with Jeff about preferences for modeling. You like to be prototypical and Jeff likes to freelance. I bet Jeff has a lot of fun with his Sundown Shops, and he makes models with"plausible realism".. They remind me of low budget creations from less prosperous railroads like Rock Island. Also, there was a period of time when a locomotive was rebuilt by a different manufacturer than the original builder. There were many creations that actually were prototypical. Another creation was the "slug" unit.

I did the prototype thing back in the 80's when I modeled the Santa Fe in HO and N Scale. All was fine until I wanted to change eras. That's when I discovered what the 'prototype trap' is. Nearly all my locos were wrong for the new era and about the cars wouldn't do either. So I had to get new locos to fill in the empty spaces. Today I could just go to whatever sites had them and buy them online but back then there was no such resource. The internet was many years in the future and there was only one local supply point, a small hobby shop in a nearby town. This little shop (food stamp office now) focused on large scale slot car racing more than anything and model railroad equipment seemed to be just a sideline. The two brands they carried more than any other were Bachmann and Life-Like. I could get Athearn locos but they were 'sight unseen' as I had to do business with them by phone and mail. The LHS that carried Athearn in Leesville had closed by that point so that knocked out the fast availability of Athearn, AHM, Walthers, Bowser, Atlas and several other lines. I quickly found that the newer locos Bachmann was offering were garbage and Life-Like was an absolute joke. That left dealing with Athearn and Model Power, the only ones I had contact information for. I was able to fill in several holes in the roster but after a couple of years just decided the heck with it and went freelance. My new line was the Gulf Coast and Western (GC&W) and later threw in a branch line of the Louisiana Midland Southern (LMS) and I've been freelance ever since. Now since I went on the internet some ten years ago it's been much easier to get stuff I need. I've been on this forum since June of 2004 and have gotten a lot of help here. Also a lot of unneeded and unwanted criticism. I'm sure there are some here who can remember that. There was a group more or less of modelers who were very good modelers and did stunning work but if your work wasn't up to their standard they'd make you wish you never joined here. And a freelancer like myself, well that opened up the target range. I and others got assaulted from every point of the compass it seemed by these individuals who seemed convinced you weren't a model railroader unless you did things just like they did. Well, some of them moved on, some passed on, some were kicked out and some were politely asked to leave. That's sure made things easier here and I can show my work without it being shot full of holes. As I told another modeler yesterday there are many different aspects of modeling, not just doing what a group demands.

[Packer]

Afternoon guys

Well I went and checked if any of my friends had any sort of flywheel puller. 1 had an NWSL puller, but he doesn't think the press part is long enough to press the flywheel off. We'll find out on Tuesday. I also pressure washed the rear patio and the front driveway. My old craftsman pressure washer vibrates so much it jiggles it's throttle to stop. Except that stop doesn't stop it any more. The only way to shut it off is to hit the primer button with the throttle in stop until it shuts off, or disconnect the spark plug cable. The later results in the operater getting a jolt...

Chris, "the extreme rivet counters would freak IF [snip] THAT car shows up on a 1989 day" Wonder what some people would think if I ran a GP38X (name given to ex-Conrail GP38s, the difference between them and the BN units was the smaller fuel tank and were purchased in 1985) with my Alcos (all retired in 1980). Of course I have had C425s pull the autoracks of Chevy Citations.

Gonna order pizza to watch the race tonight.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Johnboy ... The bridge repair is going quickly because the piers were no damaged.  They built a new span and floated it on barges to the site. Two huge cranes were moved by barge, too. Now, the new pavement is being installed. 

[Curt Webb]

I try to be fairly prototypical but if not, it's not going to cause me lack of sleep.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello again ...

 Vincent ... You were talking with Jeff about preferences for modeling. You like to be prototypical and Jeff likes to freelance. I bet Jeff has a lot of fun with his Sundown Shops, and he makes models with"plausible realism".. They remind me of low budget creations from less prosperous railroads like Rock Island. Also, there was a period of time when a locomotive was rebuilt by a different manufacturer than the original builder. There were many creations that actually were prototypical. Another creation was the "slug" unit. 

 

[AmanaMedic]

Goooooooooooooooooooooood afternoon, plate of cheeseburgers and a large RBF please 'n thank-ya.

ULRICH: I really don't know what to say. No words from me will solve any of your problems. Just know we're with you, we're still pulling for you and we'd do anything we could for you. I'll echo the others and ask you to keep stopping by even if only once in awhile. You're a big part of the "family" THAT is the Diner!

VINCENT: I see what you mean, the Chinese painters sure blew the "faded green."  I use Fallen Flags RR Photos, Rail Car Photos, RR Picture Archives.net and the CNW Historical Society web pages for photos to w**k from in addition to the too few I shot "back in the day." I think weathering the car (or maybe your CNW buddy would want to trade for it?) might be a better bet than trying to turn THAT nasty orange into a Zito lemon. In my case, it represents a car fresh out of the Clinton shop in 1993 so the only weathering it has is rust on the couplers and "fresh rust" on the wheels and bearing end caps. 

Of course, the extreme rivet counters would freak IF I ever get the RR built, and THAT car shows up on a 1989 day... Then again, since THAT car keeps bugging me (I'd all but forgotten it was even on the shelf until you brought it up...thanks! It may be heading for stripping and a coat of Zito in the near future! I'd take it back to its black N&W days but never have figured out how to get the large white C I'd need. I 'spose I could take the Microscale black C, trace it, cut a stencil and paint it on. Hmmmmmmmm. Just what I need, something else to ponder!

BARRY: Sorry Pal, you lost me there for a moment, a squirrel must've ran by or a robin flew past or something. I don't have any "magical formulas," but I've got some opinions on what I think w**ks best for CNW paint. The long-gone AccuPaint CNW yellow was the "best" in my opinion for "old yellow." Scalecoat's CNW Yellow looks like Zito to me. Floquil CNW yellow isn't bad. I mixed it roughly 50-50 with Floquil reefer yellow for the last GP15 I did, and I'm happy with it. It stands in stark contrast to the Walthers yellow-orange unit I only renumbered, detailed and weathered though.. For the Zito yellow I'll either go with Testors 1112 light yellow or their Model Master Cadmium Yellow. An awesome custom painter named Kelly Dufford put me on to the Cadmium. 

http://www.dufordmodelworks.com/

I recommend his site as a good reference. He does more than just CNW stuff...so other road's modelers may find some hints, tips, tricks and inspiration there as well. I asked him about some of the detail parts he uses and some other things he does on the locomotives. I thought since he SELLS his w**k he might be reluctant to give away any "trade secrets." He was only too happy to help and said any modeler who doesn't offer help and advice is "a tool." Good guy!

Today is Armed Forces Day in these United States of America, THAT said, I'm gonna offer up a big "THANK YOU" to our vets and current military members.

Have a good day folks, continued good wishes for anybody in need.

Chris

[galaxy]

Afternoon all

Beutious sunny day warm in the 80's {or more} here! Neighbors had Central A/C installed the last two days, I believe they are glad they did!!!

They say the real estate market is picking up here and it si becoming a seller's market. Bash on that! the Invetory is low because of all the flood damaged houses are not on the market, are not ready yet for remarket or are awaiting funds to rebuild! But Clark Howard, financial guru on CNN Headline news says nationwide it is slowly picking up! I don't know,.,.,I still see the same old houses on the market here- if they fall off mayny of them come back on with a differents listing agent or different asking price...seems the real estate market here is more finicky is all!

MOH has a dept manager in another dept and the assistant for that department going to try to get MOH on full time and permenant. DOn't know if they can push for that or not, they are going to try hard- that way MOH doesn't have to worry about current Dept manager who is nasty and treats badly. ope it happens and SOON!

Ulrich, Oh DO stop in once in awhile...you don't have to be actively building a monster layout to participate!!!!  YOu can be "armchair modeler " status! We like to see you in here and worry about you when you don't post! With Europe's econmy on the verge, with the world economy on the verge, well, you are nto the only one sitting pretty in a mire of muck around you! Think of the Greeks..basically their country is ALREADY beyond broke and financially instable! SO stick around...you might even pick up clues to "what to do" when you have an active layout and money and job for trains to do it with! There are people in this country who gave up looking for work after 3 YEARS of no job! And their Gov't unemployment ran out months ago! SO chin out, head held high Stay with us!{sent you a PM}

Ken- Each customer should be taken out to see the parts needing repair. That should be a known rule...and it should be explained in plain English what is wrong and why it needs to be done. If they drop off their car to you and you have to call them, well they have to take your word for it unfortunately. If you treat the customer honestly you will have them coming back. ANd as I said yesterday, DAVE is your new "I am the Larry"! There is one in every business...in fact they are fruitful and multiply among all the management...There are very few managers who are ever well liked, as they always seem to ride employes hard and put them away wet. But that is thier job.

Curt...I probably won't get much relief on Monday immediately...it's a case of the cure being worse than the affliction! Fortunately it is temporary taht I am cripplied even more than with the back pain to start with.

Well I'm off to a nap to ease my back some more...

Have a great afternoon.