Some of you may know my basement flooded this summer and for the third time I’ve had a few thousands of gallons of water in my basement since the layout has been built and I think it’s time to re design everything.
The current layout was never intended to last this long in one place. When I started it I was an E6 on active duty and thought I was going to be transferred shortly after starting the layout. So the layout was built with 3’x4’ tables joined together with 4’x 4’ corner tables. This is a great idea unless it becomes exposed to tropical humidity levels. Currently the tables are all misaligned due to minor warp age and it’s becoming troublesome to try and keep things in running order. I also didn’t have a lot of money as I started the layout right after my divorce so several of the second hand turnouts I bought are starting to fail not to mention some experimentation I did on this layout wasn’t conducive to easy maintenance of the main lines and yard. I will be saving everything from this layout and transferring it to the new layout. I’ll let you know if there is anything I can’t use.
I’ve had the opportunity to visit several talented people’s layouts and I’ve been paying attention. I plan to take some of their great ideas and incorporate them into my next layout. I’m also a lot smarter with DCC and automatic block detection so those ideas will be added to the next project.
Since I have a center descending stair case the layout will be expanded to 20’ x 22’ around the walls. No more duck under. The basement is divided into 3 rooms. The front room is 10’ x 23’ the laundry room is 10’x 12’ and the “storage room” is 10’ x 11’.
The next layout will be built using treated lumber to prevent the effects of warping and humidity. The current layout is built in 36” x 48” sections. The 36” is a good depth and allows for multiple tracks and buildings but the new layout sections will be expanded to 8’ sections. Homasote will be installed on top overlapping the joints of the wood. Legs will be cantilever posts with no front legs on layout. Sections will be bolted together.
2 tracks mainline, each main will be 96 feet long. Mainline curves will be 36” minimum radius. Runaround or bypass tracks will be installed near switching points to prevent operators from stalling mainline freight.
I'll post a picture of the basement tomorrow.
(47:08:20:27) Till Christmas. :)
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
TMarshJeff- I’m reminded of a show. Movie maybe, television episode possibly. Twilight Zone? Not sure it may have been a dream too. But anyway this guy gets on a train and it takes him back in time, I think not knowingly, to maybe his home town? Not sure….Can’t remember what the plot was because I only saw it once and I bet I only caught part of it, as per tradition.
twcenterprisesJeff - here's my suggestion. Why not have the character do both? Have him arrive on the train as an unwilling victim, who has to find some way to stop it? After it's stopped, he can safely get off and railfan while looking around the place for clues and some way back to "reality".
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
Jeff - here's my suggestion. Why not have the character do both? Have him arrive on the train as an unwilling victim, who has to find some way to stop it? After it's stopped, he can safely get off and railfan while looking around the place for clues and some way back to "reality".Dennis - I had a similar problem with a post on my computer. Didn't have to reboot, though.
Did a little more on the layout last night. I seem to do that lately, accomplish some small task, then take a break at the computer. Such as relocating the DCC control panel, drilling holes through the benchwork for wiring, and such. Next I think I'll drill holes in a scrap piece of 1/4" plywood to mount some DPDT switches for the staging yard tracks. I have a few sheets (cut-offs) of leftover aluminum which I think I'll use as a more permanent control panel later.
Brad
EMD - Every Model Different
ALCO - Always Leaking Coolant and Oil
CSX - Coal Spilling eXperts
Morning All,
Currently it is 43 with an expected high of 67 under variable clouds.
I have to go for a stress test this afternoon. It is just a precaution, and I have not had one since after my by-pass surgery in 2004, so I guess it is about time. I feel fine, so not too worried about it. My big concern is no food and no coffee this morning.
Garry - i work at a place called Scheels. It is a family, and employee owned all sports store. Most are in the mid-west, so kind of regional. Ours in the Reno area is the furthest west, and is the biggest of all 24 stores, 300,000 plus square feet. It has a 65 foot Ferris wheel in the middle. I have some pictures someplace from when the store was under construction, If I can find them I will post a few.
Prayers to all in need.
Paul
Living in Fernley Nevada, about 30 miles east of Reno, also lived in Oregon and California, but born In Brooklyn NY and raised on Long Island NY
Good Morning!!!
Coffee and oh, just coffee I guess.
Sunny, with a high near 52.
Decided to get a few things done before I stop in in case the phone rings and I don’t get them done. Now that I have done that, the day will be quiet until I have to wo*k at 5.
The Scheels in Springfield is ominous. It is situated such that the road from town curves around and there is a tree line in the way of seeing it until you round the bend and when the building comes into view….it just looks HUUUUGE! Just plain huge. Gigantic even. It even looks large coming from the interstate, but that direction it just gets bigger as you approach. The other direction it just explodes there and wow. Big building. Tall. Huge. It’s got a ferris wheel inside too but I don’t know how big.
Jeff- I’m reminded of a show. Movie maybe, television episode possibly. Twilight Zone? Not sure it may have been a dream too. But anyway this guy gets on a train and it takes him back in time, I think not knowingly, to maybe his home town? Not sure….Can’t remember what the plot was because I only saw it once and I bet I only caught part of it, as per tradition. I kinda like the search the train idea. If he hasn’t found the item by the time he reaches the other end. Well, I guess he meets an untimely demise at the hands of another train wanting to go in the opposite direction. Or how about, he has to find a remote for the turnout switch to avoid that situation in addition to finding some article later, to insure they have to get on the train in the first place.
Welp, best do something. Took care of the restaurant all yesterday afternoon and then sat there all night in case the owners daughter had trouble with the crowd. She didn’t and I didn’t think she would, but sometimes you get extra busy and what happens is, A couple tables straggle in. Then, after a bit, the door swings open and it almost doesn't close until the place gets filled up like boom. You got your new tables all at once and while you're trying to get them drinked up and ordered, then a couple tables want to leave and pay, and the phone's ringing for carryout order and inevitably you get the person who has decided to call you and see what you have and then ask some unseen person in the background what they want and that person asks for something not mentioned and you have to say I'm sorry we don't have that and it starts all over again as someone or two are standing there to pick up their order and the kitchen is ringing the bell to take an order to the table, and someone needs refills on drinks and of course THAT's when you hear the sound of liquid and ice hitting the table because someone has knocked over their drink (and I kid you not, this only happens when you're busy) When all this happens at once, not to mention clean table for someone new, it gets pretty hectic when you’re by yourself. So, I just hung out in case she needed me. She feels a little more comfortable knowing she has a safety net, like I said, juuust in case. Now her Dad… I don’t do that. He brags how he can do it all by himself thooooough….., the customers would not necessarily agree. He also has help with his Father who comes in to visit and snack and answers the phone and takes cash and gets drinks. He ignores that. Her brother now, well he does a real good job by himself but he also does it more than anyone and from time to time does call for help. But not often. She can too if she was there more.
Wow. Funny how it takes less than a minute to say something, but typed out it's a whole page!
Anywho, I guess I’ll run the vacuum for a bit then who knows what.
Ya’ll have a good day, ya hear!!!!
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Good Afternoon, Folks!
Well, the meeting with the new MRR friend did not take place. He called this morning to call it off, as he is not feeling well today. I hope we can meet next week.
With some free time available unexpectedly, I did - guess what?
Another little layout!
This time with an attempt to catch a 3-D view:
Needs some improvement, though!
Make it a great day!
Good morning. It's 44° with 93% humidity. The high will be 62° with some clouds.No real plans for today. I may start on the planning for the train room at 1020 Nelson Street but what I plan out depends on what I do with the games character who for now will be known as Oliver. In any case Oliver will be transported onto the layout and it will become his world until he can figure out how to leave it. Right now I have two options.#1. I can make Oliver a willing participant in what's going on. He can search for the objects he needs while going from place to place witnessing the rail action from a railfans perspective. This means he'll be searching trackside structures and locations.#2. I can make Oliver an unwilling participant in what's going on. He's trapped on the train which may or may not be under control due to an act of foul play. Oliver must overcome obstacles and those who are very willing to do him harm while searching the train for the objects he needs to escape from it and from the layout.Right now both scenarios look good to me but I can only use one and I just can't decide which one.
morning coffee in the diner...
GOOD THURSDAY MORNING!!!
Today is Thursday, November 6th, 2013!
MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!!
Today's fun limmerick:
There once was a man from Spain,who often stood out in the rain.He said with a grin,"I should do this again,"as his money washed down the drain.
Today's weird words:
pogrom:(puh-GROM, POH-gruhm)(n.):: An organized massacre, officially tolerated or encouraged, against a particular group
ecorche: (n.):: a human figure portrayed stripped of the skin to show the muscles and anatomy
agraffe: 1} a kind of hook, which fastens to a ring, used
as a clasp 2} the wire cage holding down the cork in a bottle of champagne (also, F. muselet) [F. agrafe < agrafer, to hook onto] /uh GRAF/} {so THAT's WHat that is called!}
-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.
The Apple //c drive came this morning. Unfortunately it's non-op. It lights up and runs but other than that all it does is erase the DOS from track zero of any diskette I put in it. I opened it up for a look inside and right away I could smell fried circuits. I contacted the seller about it and he offered a fair refund. And I keep the drive as a curiosity. Even though it doesn't work it'll look good in my Frankenstein collection. It can be used as a paper weight or a door stop too.I finally finished Nelson Street! Most of the addys were pretty easy to program as they were north to south or east to west. The last one had to be the odd bird! It runs northeast to southwest and should give the players mind a workout. I can't wait to spring it on Mr Raintree! He should get a blast out of it.Maybe tomorrow or this weekend I can get started on the train room segment. I'm still debating on whether to make the character a railfan watching the trains pass or making him as someone who's a victim of foul play and is trapped on the train and has to search for the item that will set him free from the enchanted layout. I could have some serious fun with this.Well it's time to call it a night. I'll see y'all tomorrow.
Heartland Division CB&QJeff ... The Seaboard Alco looks nice. What building is in the second photo?
Good evening ...
Would some of you be willing to volunteer to find out about Barry? I don't have his email address. He has been absent too long.
Bama ... Good to see you. Hope Amy's check up was fine. Sounds like you watch a lot of CSX.
Karl.... A senior in HS? They grow older quickly.
Jeff ... The Seaboard Alco looks nice. What building is in the second photo?
Brad .... Good to see you in the diner. Thanks for the update on your layout and your DCC programming. I'm still on the DCC learning curve myself.
Galaxy ... Funny limerick.
Lee .... Good to see you! I was tempted to get a BLI grab bag myself. I finally chickened out.
Inch .... I should have know American Legion.... Brain cramps are striking me more often.
PA Tom ..... Enjoy the Greenberg show. Sorry you missed the Timonium show.
Ulrich ..... Congrats on post 6000. We should buy for you!.... I like your layout plan.
Ray ... I hope you have a nice visit with your sister. (We won't tell how untidy things were before your cleaning.) ... How many sisters do you have? brothers?.... I have 2 sisters; no brothers. Plus I have a female cousin who is like a sister to me. Her parents died in an accident when she and I were in 8th grade, and she moved into our family.
Todd .... You had afull day evidently.
Curt .... Hope you and Mrs Curt enjoy the new appliances.
Paul .... What kind of store are you talking about with a Ferris wheel inside?
Bear .... Glad to see you in the Diner.
Packer ... Where are you going in Ohio.? .... Sounds like a lot of travel for just a weekend.
My suburban coaches had a test run, and are doing okay. I need to add details and lettering.
Cheers!
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Evening guys
Since I'm in my twenties, would I be a bigenarian, dualgenarian, duogenarian, or something else?
Didn't do a think today. Just didn't feel like doing anything. Tomorrow is gonna be a busy day. Change oil, wash, my car, take a new girl out on a date* (more on what happened with the last on in a bit), get packed for my weekend trip to Ohio (I don't really want to go that much, but my father is making me go). Since we'd be leaving early in the morning and wouldn't get up there till around 5 or so, I doubt I'll be able to check out a hobby shop.
As for the last girl, apparently she got married to someone else behind my back. Her loss as far as I'm concerned.
My MBklein order should be here tomorrow via UPS. Kind of unusual I put in the order on Thursday afternoon and it didn't ship till Monday...
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
Sir MadogIt´s just one square-meter of model railroading fun.
Gidday Ulrich, you realize that in that scale I expect a working lock. Looking forward to the future photos.
Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
The day is slowly coming to an end. Started on learning Google Sketchup, but my mind was not really set on it. So I fired up my old WinRail for a new layout idea - just for fun.
Here is my latest creation:
It´s just one square-meter of model railroading fun. I am going to discuss this layout idea with my new MRR friend Reiner tomorrow.
Have a great day!
Currently it is 30 with an expected high of 61 under mostly sunny skies.
Day off today, so I will get a load or two of laundry done, and do some grocery shopping. I tried to paint the church I am w**king on yesterday, but I used some old paint and gummed up my air brush. Took quite awhile to clean it out, so I will try again later. My sil and husband are up from AZ and want to come by for a vist today also, so it looks like a busy day for me.
Paul, thanks for the kind wishes.
I meant to ask you if you have seen the size of the Scheels store they are building in Billings ?
It is humungeous, looks like the taj ma hal
I have seen and been to the head office complex of Bass Pro Shops in Springffield ,Mo. But this I'm sure will out size that.
Johnboy out...................and on my way back to Canada in an hour.
Johnboy, if you can imagine it, our store is even bigger than the one going up in Billings. When we built it in 2008 it was the biggest, and decided to never build one that big again. In my usual daily 8 hour shift, I walk about 7 miles covering the areas I have to cover. It is a BIG store. We have a 62 foot Ferris wheel inside.
Good morning. It's 69° with 96% humidity. The high will be 78° and will feel like 83°.Looks like it might be wet today. I'm expecting my Apple //c disk drive to come in this morning. Odds are that my my Harry Potter Deathly Hallows 2 DVD will arrive today too.I plan on doing more work on Paradise Cove (file 2) today. My hope is to get Nelson Street completed then I can start on the train room the character found earlier. I still haven't made up my mind. Should I put him on the layout as a willing participant viewing the action from the perspective of the railfan? Or do I put him on the train as an unwilling participant who has to search the train in order to find the item that will return him to reality before the train is beset by whatever fate awaits it. Gomez Addams beckons!
Not much happening this way except later we are getting a stove and refrigerator delivered. Last weekend MOH went out and purchased them. In all fairness they both need replaced. Both have been repaired several times but continue to have issues.
Did a time swap at w**k this week so instead of working on Tuesday this week it will be Friday. My Dad called last night and we made plans to go out to supper on Saturday. My Mom's surgery will be early next Monday. She was told to expect a hospital stay of 3-4 days then either moving to a rehab facility or home for the knee rehab.
Hope everybody has a great week and prayers for those in need.
Curt Webb
The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad
http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe, I'll have a short stack of Buckwheat Pancakes with Maple Syrup and a mug of Marrakesh Express Daerk Roast Organic coffee in the FGLK Mug please.
Sun crept out for a bit this morning.... Might actually make a few kW of electricity before it turns cloudy and starts to rain later... Currently 49°F with a high of 61°F later this afternoon.
I will be frantically cleaning the house today as my sister will arrive this evening and will be staying with me Thursday through Sunday morning. I will "rescue" her from my other sister's house sometime tomorrow. Best get myself moving!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Coffee and the Country Skillet please. Thanks.
Occasional showers, mainly before noon. Temperature falling to around 45 by 4pm.
Good to see you Inch!
Garry- I’m pretty sure AL Inch referred to is American Legion.
Well just got off the phone here and after a brief chat, I do believe I won’t have to wo*k tonight after all. Buddy thinks he's feeling good enough to resume restaurant duties. But, the day is still young. Anywho, got some laundry to do and then I probably will paint the hallway that Brenda has been painting for over a month now, just to get the paint and supplies out of the living room and put away. Tired of stepping around them. Othernat, haven’t decided if I need to go into town today around dinner time or not. Time will tell.
galaxy LSWrr ... then I’ll be working on buying other people Christmas presents. There are only 48 days, 15 hours, 23 minutes, and 20 seconds remaining before Christmas morning. BAH, HUMBUG!
LSWrr ... then I’ll be working on buying other people Christmas presents. There are only 48 days, 15 hours, 23 minutes, and 20 seconds remaining before Christmas morning.
... then I’ll be working on buying other people Christmas presents. There are only 48 days, 15 hours, 23 minutes, and 20 seconds remaining before Christmas morning.
BAH, HUMBUG!
... not quite, Galaxy.
Today´s mail brought a little package - a Christmas present Petra ordered for my son´s GF. It´s the season -
Edit: It´s my post # 6,000, so here is my CC, Janie - the rest of the day is on me, just to honor the occasion!
It's a beautiful morning here, sunny with temperatures around 50. Yesterday didn't go quite as I planned, but productive anyway. Got the wash done and the lawns mowed, but didn't get the cannas dug up or the annuals pulled out. Instead I waxed the car. The car was clean because I washed it on Monday, and seeing how it was overcast, I thought this might be the best chance to get that job done before those little white thingies start falling from the skies.
Getting ready to drive up to the car dealer, about 40 minutes away, to get a recall taken care of. The wife told me last night she would like to do some shopping on the way home. Knowing from many years of experience, that could be 1 store, or an all afternoon adventure. So I'm not planning on getting anything done here. Better to just wait and see how things work out.
There is a Greenberg train show this weekend on the other side of town. I usually go, but seldom buy anything. Most of what's for sale is HO junk or O gauge. But I like to look anyway. I was really disppointed I had to cancel my reservations for Timonium in October. That show is my favorite and I look forward to it all year.
Everybody have a great day....
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4309
Good morning, I ordered a DCC coder and a BLI grab bag last night, and then I’ll be working on buying other people Christmas presents. There are only 48 days, 15 hours, 23 minutes, and 20 seconds remaining before Christmas morning.
Good Morning!
It has turned quite cold lately, temperatures are only a notch away from freezing. But it is sunny outside, so it must be a nice day.
Count me in on the pentagenarians, but going strong to be a hexagenarian. Haven´t turned wiser in those many years - still play with trains
Tomorrow I am going to meet the new model railroading friend - the one with the complete workshop and a talent for scratch building. I guess I will get a lot of inspiration chatting with him. Looking forward to that.
No plans for the day, not even a HD list to *rk down.
I am missing Barry - he really got me worried!
GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING!!!
Today is Wednesday, November 6th, 2013!!!
MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!
There once was a man from Riverdale,
Whose cable TV one day did fail.
He said, "Gosh! Darn! Oh Pooh!
Now whatever shall I do?"
So he wrote to his brother at Yale.
Today's mystery words:
Viscerotonic - Having the type of personality that's sociable, comfortable, easy-going
gonfalon: a hanging banner
Bayard: One who has the self confidence of ignorance Etymology: [fr. bayard, a bay-colored horse]
jeffrey-wimberly howmusKarl and Jeffrey, I like the ah... how should I say... Ahem, I like to be in the 60's, I do! Yes, you're a sexagenarian. A person in their sixties.
howmusKarl and Jeffrey, I like the ah... how should I say... Ahem, I like to be in the 60's, I do!
Jeffrey is correct, though "sexTgenarian" is often the misspelling of Sexagenarian.
TO ANSWER the "50-year-olds" question: you are a proud PENTAGENARIAN Or a QUINQUAGENARIAN in your fifties, I proundly count myself amonst you!
Here is ONE system:
Nonagenarian=90-99 yrs old; Octogenarian= 80s ,septuagenarian = 70s, hexagenarian = 60s, pentagenerian = 50s, quadragenerian = 40s, trigenerian = 30s, duogenerian = 20s, monogenerian = 10s
Here Is the System based on LATIN:
vicenarian= 20s, tricenarian=30s, quadragenarian=40s, quinquagenarian=50s, sexagenarian=60s, septagenarian= 70s, Octagenarian=80s, nonagenarian=90s, Centenarian=100s.
OOPS! Tioppy=top Again, guess I will start by buying myself break-en-fasting!
Well, maybe I didn't post something every day, though I have been online and reading through the posts both in the diner, and the other threads. With the fourth module in place, and some of the staging yard tracks in place, and some rudimentary electricals done (actually, this had been done for some time, but a couple things now in a more permanent spot), I wanted to tinker around with my CVP EasyDCC system and a pair of sound equipped Intermountain F units.
Now, for some reason, these units ran flawlessly on DC, as well as the LHS layout (He's running NCE, I think?). But on mine, the units would start, stop, start, stop ... and I was bound and determined to find out why. They weren't losing power, as the lights stayed on and sounds keep playing. It was as if they were getting commands to stop and go. Well, after re-reading Ye Olde Manual and supplemental data sheets, I read that CV11 needs to be set to 0 (which should be a factory default). So I gave it a try, lo and behold, it seems to have fixed the issue.
Great, with that done (FINALLY!), my next thing was to play with consisting. I have a 4 unit ABBA set, but my concern was mainly horn/bell/lights. So I set one as lead, and the other as trailing (in reverse). The lead unit headlight works as expected (directional), but the trailing unit was dark. Hmm. Back to Ye Olde Manual. Ah, setting CV21 and CV22 takes care of the horn/bell and headlight (respectively). Good. I'm still learning, and still have more to learn, but with these problems resolved, I find tinkering a bit more enjoyable now. I still want to set these up to use Rule 17 lighting; my last attempts were unsuccessful. Not sure if the decoders support it, or if I was just doing things wrong.
Also removed more of the track from the old layout. I plan to leave one 180 return loop in place, and reuse it as-is. No point in making more work for myself than necessary.
Got a lot of work done on Paradise Cove today! Part of that was breaking the file into two parts and making each a separate file. It had gotten so big it overran the computers memory and I started getting 'OUT OF MEMORY' error messages. So the first part of Paradise Cove is saved with a file size of 139 and the second part is up to 032 so far. Today's main bit of work was 1130 Nelson Street. The residence of one Harry Raintree and the wildcats he keeps in a big cage in the back yard. The cage has a sign above the entry gate that says "Welcome to the Cathouse!". I also put that in the game. Yes, the character can enter the cats cage. However there's no guarantee as to his safety! Only one property and house to go before Nelson Street is wrapped up.Here's a small part of the game as I'm going through Harry Raintree's yard:As reported earlier I got my CP/M co-processor this morning. I decided to put it in my //e and put my old Microsoft CP/M co-processor in my mothers old IIe. Tracking reports that the modified Apple //c external disk drive may be coming tomorrow.Time for me to call it a night. See y'all tomorrow.
Heartland Division CB&Q Karl .... I like the photo of Thomas the Tank Engine and his young friend.
Karl .... I like the photo of Thomas the Tank Engine and his young friend.
Can you believe thats my youngest, now a Sr. in High School, soon to be property of the Air Force? Where has the time gone?????
Karl
NCE über alles!