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Lots of familiar faces around here.

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  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Thursday, April 25, 2013 7:44 AM

Thanks Frank and James.

NP2626
Jeffrey-Wemberly's sign off includes the statement SpaceMouse for president.  

Dub-ya beat me by a nose-hair in that one. 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, April 25, 2013 8:21 AM

 This is what I get for being away in a hotel with slow internet speed - and I only end up reading the Electronics and DCC section. I missed the return of the Mouse!

 I've been back for a few years now myself, was going gung-ho on a new layout, but I've recently had to at least partially revert the room to its original purpose of being a bedroom, so layout progress has gone negative - I've had to remove pieces.Still doing the club modular thing, so I've been working on rolling stock and motive power for that. Not much of anything except posting here recently - I have a bunch of irons in the fire but at the rate I'm going, none of them are getting hot.

        --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Thursday, April 25, 2013 8:29 AM

Hey Randy!

I still have not installed the computer interface you made for my Loconet.  Unless I convert an old lappy to Linux, I'm going to have to find a serial to USB dongal to use it.  Looks like my new layout is 6 months to a year away so I figure a year after that I'll test it and see if you did a good job. 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,484 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, April 25, 2013 8:39 AM

SpaceMouse
I was greener than grass when I first arrived

If you're moving to Arizona, you will still be greener than the grass.

Seriously, we've missed your energy here.  I'm glad to see you back.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Thursday, April 25, 2013 8:51 AM

MB,

You still building layouts you can't see? The next layout I build will have 75% of it in a tunnel. I figure I can keep the scenery costs down. 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,484 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, April 25, 2013 9:12 AM

SpaceMouse
You still building layouts you can't see?

When I added Phase 2 of my layout, the plan was to add a small 2-track staging yard for my subways.  Once I did that, I decided to add scenery and I turned it into a 2-track subway station, which I called South Ferry.  It's near the carfloat terminal, and I've always been fond of that station on the NYC system.  (Mine shares nothing but the name with its namesake.)  The "scenery cost" of my subway tunnels is pretty low in dollar terms, but they take a while to do with all the catwalks and girder work.

Right now, I'm finishing up the carfloat terminal, which I call Mooseport.  Just last weekend, I pulled my first string of cars off the float and onto land.  I looked back at pictures and found I'd been working on these few square feet for about a year and a half.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, April 25, 2013 9:55 AM

SpaceMouse

Hey Randy!

I still have not installed the computer interface you made for my Loconet.  Unless I convert an old lappy to Linux, I'm going to have to find a serial to USB dongal to use it.  Looks like my new layout is 6 months to a year away so I figure a year after that I'll test it and see if you did a good job. 

 Mine is still going strong. I've long been past having a computer with a real serial port, so I got a USB to serial cable from Radio Shack that worked fine. I've recently decided to standardize on Loksound decoders for all my sound units (to me they just work better, plus you cna buy a generic decoder and load whichever sounds you want), so I invested in a Loksound Programmer to be able to change the sounds. This also came with a USB to serial adapter, but for whatever reason, despite there being Windows 7 drivers, they will not allow this particular brand of cable to work with Windows 7 - the program detects it and won't start. So I swapped it out with the cheapy Radio Shack one and i works fine - as a bonus the one that ESU supplied works on my railroad computer to drive the Locobuffer so all is good in the end, all devices work as expected.

                    --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Thursday, April 25, 2013 10:32 AM

MisterBeasley

Right now, I'm finishing up the carfloat terminal, which I call Mooseport.  Just last weekend, I pulled my first string of cars off the float and onto land.  I looked back at pictures and found I'd been working on these few square feet for about a year and a half.

I bet it looks amazing. Have any pics?

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Thursday, April 25, 2013 10:36 AM

rrinker

I've recently decided to standardize on Loksound decoders for all my sound units (to me they just work better, plus you cna buy a generic decoder and load whichever sounds you want), so I invested in a Loksound Programmer to be able to change the sounds.

I thought about that with the Digitrax decoder, but I do like the Loksound. 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,642 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Thursday, April 25, 2013 6:59 PM

SpaceMouse!

The return of a forum legend! YesCoolWink

Chip it's good to see that you're back and am looking forward to seeing your posts again.

Now let's see, I think I can state the following polite message in  "Arizonian":.............................. 

OK, Mr. Mouse! Just one little thing, pardner..................if you decide to skidaddle outta town and disappear again................me and the boys here are gonna come lookin for ya and it ain't gonna be pretty when we find ya!! Whisper  So stay put!  Ya hear?!  Now git ta postin, you varmint!Cowboy

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,484 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, April 25, 2013 7:37 PM

SpaceMouse
I bet it looks amazing. Have any pics?

At the risk of repeating myself from WPF, I'm rather fond of this one.\

I modeled the scene loosely on the old mills and their hyrdo-power canals from the Industrial Revolution in New England.  The canals are all silted in and overgrown now, with trash tossed in for good measure, so I hope to capture that look with rock wall castings, Envirotex and DPM modules for the buildings.

The carfloat itself looks like this now:

The scene is still under construction.  In the background, you can see The Brass Rat, a bar named after my college class ring.

Mooseport, like other waterfronts throughout the world, is one of those "enterprise zones" where young businesswomen got to meet with their clientele in the interest of economic opportunity.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Thursday, April 25, 2013 9:05 PM

LOL Antonio. I've been warned!

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Thursday, April 25, 2013 9:08 PM

Very Nice, MB.  Uh, where can I find that last street? I have some dollars in my pocket. 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, April 26, 2013 12:33 AM

Welcome back SpaceMouse. Good to see you again. Now, you need to get back to doing some layout building.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: upstate NY
  • 9,236 posts
Posted by galaxy on Friday, April 26, 2013 3:06 AM

See, Chip, my reverse psychology from page 2 seems to be working...for now anyways as...

...You are positng here regular-like!

We like to see it!

love to see more and watch as your new AZ layout progresses!!

Don't be a stranger, pardner...

WHat era will your new layout be??? {or did I miss that already?}.  If I 'member correctly {not easy these here days}, you had an 1800s layout before? With horsies and cowpoke 'n outhouses, 'n spitoons, and the like...you gonna stick with that or move to a more modern era?

Good to see you back...

Geeked

 

-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.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, April 26, 2013 6:05 AM

jeffrey-wimberly

Now, you need to get back to doing some layout building.

It will probably next winter. Everything is dismantled and will be boxed up soon. The plan is to move at the end of summer. 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, April 26, 2013 6:15 AM

galaxy
WHat era will your new layout be??? {or did I miss that already?}.  If I 'member correctly {not easy these here days}, you had an 1800s layout before? With horsies and cowpoke 'n outhouses, 'n spitoons, and the like...you gonna stick with that or move to a more modern era?

My dream is to run old steam 4-4-0's, 2-6-0's and 2-8-0's through 3 foot high redwood trees and Douglas firs.  However, if I move 20 years forward, say 1919, I get a bit more leeway with engines--and can prototypically model the Union Lumber operation, California Western (mostly 2-6-2T's) and Northwestern Pacific and then interchange with the SP for a big yard.  

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Friday, April 26, 2013 6:22 AM

Chip,

How about, something,like the Alturas & Lone Pine Railroad,,, That's one of my old time,favorites..

Cheers,

Frank

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, April 26, 2013 6:40 AM

Frank, 

Expand this Union Lumber Photo to full size and take a look. http://www.chipeft.com/photos/Panorama1911.jpg

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, April 26, 2013 6:49 AM

California Western #17

CW 14 at Logging camp 3

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Friday, April 26, 2013 6:52 AM

Thank's Chip,

That's very interesting.. That era,always intrigued me.. Just like the Bridges of Chicago,where I was born....

Cheers,

Frank

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Central Vermont
  • 4,565 posts
Posted by cowman on Friday, April 26, 2013 8:10 AM

Chip,

Good to have you back.  Hope you can stick around enough to keep us on the right track.  (Pun intended.)

Have fun,

Richard

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, April 26, 2013 10:11 AM

zstripe
That era,always intrigued me.. Just like the Bridges of Chicago

Redwoods = Chicago?

Just kidding. I know what you mean.

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, April 26, 2013 10:12 AM

 

cowman
Hope you can stick around enough to keep us on the right track.

Might as well. I can't even plan a layout until I find a house.

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Memphis
  • 931 posts
Posted by PASMITH on Saturday, April 27, 2013 9:44 PM

How about a post for a contest? Remember your 4 X 8 contest post?

Peter Smith Memphis

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Sunday, April 28, 2013 6:02 AM

PASMITH

How about a post for a contest? Remember your 4 X 8 contest post?

Peter Smith Memphis

I'll need to set up a website to post peripherals to make it work. I'm kinda in a mad dash to get the house ready to sell so maybe when that pressure is off.  

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: upstate NY
  • 9,236 posts
Posted by galaxy on Sunday, April 28, 2013 12:51 PM

SpaceMouse

 

cowman
Hope you can stick around enough to keep us on the right track.

Might as well. I can't even plan a layout until I find a house.

Naw, Gee CHip,,I thought you been 'round enough to know how it works...

You PLAN the layout FIRST, THEN find {or BUILD} a HOUSE that will fit the layout !!!!

{just remember...to have a room for the wifey, too.}

Whistling

Geeked

-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.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Sunday, April 28, 2013 1:07 PM

galaxy

Naw, Gee CHip,,I thought you been 'round enough to know how it works...

You PLAN the layout FIRST, THEN find {or BUILD} a HOUSE that will fit the layout !!!!

{just remember...to have a room for the wifey, too.}

This weekend, the wife drew up plans for what we are going to look for in the new house--guess what was not figured into her plans.  She did have plans for a large studio for herself--oh, and a rocker on the porch for me. 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Sunday, April 28, 2013 3:32 PM

SpaceMouse

This weekend, the wife drew up plans for what we are going to look for in the new house--guess what was not figured into her plans.  She did have plans for a large studio for herself--oh, and a rocker on the porch for me. 

I enjoy drawing up house plans for fun using CAD programs. After the plans are drawn up, you can add anything from a yard tractor to a potted plant to the plans and sit back and see what your new homestead will look like. In the nineteen years since I bought my first program there has never been a model railroad Icon to add a layout to the finished project. Hmm I wonder if these CAD programs are designed by wives?

I think a letter is in order.Laugh

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Monday, April 29, 2013 8:51 AM

BATMAN

In the nineteen years since I bought my first program there has never been a model railroad Icon to add a layout to the finished project. Hmm I wonder if these CAD programs are designed by wives?

I think a letter is in order.Laugh

Dear CAD programmer,

Please include a model railroad layout icon in the next release of your software. I know it probably hard to relate but some of us have wives in non-virtual reality. These wives tend to be a bit less agreeable than the virtual ones, not in a bad way, but they have their own interests and so they compete for physical space. If we can't design space for our layout in a house, well, for them it doesn't exist. 

Without a layout planned in a house it becomes an uphill battle to carve out space for one. 

So please help us out. Adding a model railroad icon can't be that tough. And who knows, maybe someday you'll want hobby that doesn't involve bandwidth, pixels, and typing one handed. 

Sincerely yours,
SpaceMouse

 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

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