Mornin' everyone.... Hmm, OK, lets pretend it is still morning!
Zoe, I'll have a short stack of blueberry pancakes, Real NYS Maple Syrup, a couple sausage links, and lots of dark roast coffee in my R&GV RR mug.
Sun is trying to shine every once in a while here in the Finger Lakes today. Been busy catching up on things so far. Neighbor across the street called last night while I was gone to ask about the little electric snowblower I have. Seems her husband is no longer able to (or is not supposed to) be shoveling snow any more, and she can't pull start or handle the huge old (over 20 years she said) gas snow blower they have. I think they also saw how quick and easy I was getting my driveway done last year. I gave her some information on the one I have and some advise on what to look for... Then my youngest son called, evidently while I was having breakfast and sitting about 5' away from the phone that I didn't hear ring because I hadn't put in my hearing aids yet. All I could figure out from his message was that someone was having trouble swallowing and he didn't know much more... I emailed him and told him to use email as I can, with the help of reading glasses still read! Turns out it is his Great Aunt Helen in Canandaigua. She is the last of that generation still living and has to be in her 90s by now. I haven't seen her in more than 15 years I guess... Nobody on that side of our family has contacted me about it at all, and I'm not sure who got in touch with my son. She is in the hospital in Canandaigua. They don't have a diagnosis of what is wrong yet, but are putting in a feeding tube.
I'm getting materials together today to teach the Railroading Merit Badge to a troop out at the Museum tomorrow.
Trees are now wholesale dropping their leaves here in the Finger Lakes. My crab apple tree is now almost bare as are the some of the locust trees in the neighborhood. They turned yellow very quickly... Of course the silver maple in my neighbors yard hasn't even begun to turn colors yet. That is because it now blocks the sun to my roof for 3 hours every day.... That one usually after Halloween dumps all it's leaves at once. Amazing to see it. Kinda like in the Peanuts comic strip. One second they are all on the tree and then "WHUMPH!" bare tree.
Catch you all later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
well,
I got the Psychiatrist out of the way today, he renewed scripts. I allerted him to the fact that my script coverage may change for the worse come next January. It will be a BIG bummer if it either costs me drastically more or reduces my income. WOn't be fun, I can tell you that.
MOH sees the GP today for cold, handicapped form for the Paget's disease in L hip {has toruble getting in and out of the brandy new car FIL bought for mOH, and a lot of walking could be eliminated by having one.}; for shots/boosters if needed and so forth. I will go and we will meet there at 1:30. SO i leave in about an hour to get there, maybe a lttle earlier. Then MOH is done for the day with work.
I paid another big bill via phone today. One of them was CHASE. If you HAVE a JP MORGAN CHASE CO acct, and HAVEN"T heard, their acct information has been HACKED. Info such as :names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses have BEEN COMPROMISED. THEY claimed to me last night that "your account financial information on your card has NOT been compromised". PISH POSH on that , I say!. ONce they have SOME info, they can get it ALL! GOOD thing I only use that card online and out of town, and have no connecting email address! Strange thing IS when I called THEM last night to enquire if I was one who was compromised as well, and asked the service person aobut it, SHE had NO IDEA WHAT I was talking about! Then she pulled up and read my acct notes, and read me some "prepared statement" from Chase about it! YOu'd THINK they would have briefed their staff???!!!! It is one, that except for a few items i just bought {with some on the way} is basically empty of charges, and will be again paid off the end of this month, so it will be easy to see if any "suspicious charges" show up! I have one auto-renewal coming up in Dec, and one in Feb, but that will be IT for awhile! Who knows, with my phone call toady, they could have listened in on my phone call, go the numbers of my checking acct and compromise IT.
I have to stop and get/fill some scripts on my way home from the Drs. with MOH.
Unlike RaY up north of me, the trees here in the southern tier of NY still have the majority of their leaves, and still are green. BUT hat could change ove the cold windy weekend!
Well, I'd best eat some lunch first. Wish i had some time for my afternoon nap? will have to wait.
later
have a fun day!
-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.
Italian Roast coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.
I've been busy working on (and actually finishing a few) projects around the ol' farm here. Have become a stranger to my own Train Room. I hope to make it back in there by December.
Hope everyone is doing well these days.
Cheers! Rob
Evenin'.... Well, this place has just been a hub of activity today! Nobody here in 8 hours?
Hey Janie! Janie? Oh there you are, glad you are here at least. I could use a cup of decaf in my R&GV RR mug please. What? Ah, sure, I can wait for a fresh pot.....
I think I have come down with a cold. Started a couple days ago having a mild sore throat and have now got a cough... Nothing terrible, but just what i need before heading out to work with the Boy Scout Troop all day tomorrow at the Museum. I have a meeting for crew at 10AM also. This time for those working our special Fall Foliage Excursion on the LA&L. I will be a "Conductor" for at least a couple of the runs on Oct. 18. I have a nice black suit and my conductors hat. Do need to find a narrow Black Tie to wear for the day. I even have a RR Punch to do the conductor thing with your tickets....
I did get to spend a bit of time down in the train rooms today. Got the foundation built and stained for the Dairy at the yard end.
The building is an ancient kit from about 30 years ago. I never did finish it and will now make it kit bash. Should work out well I think.
I shall be heading to bed soon as I will need to get up very early to be able to head out to the museum.
Take care out there and be blessed!
Finally felt like eating today. Dinner today consisted of a large bowl of salad of romaine and iceberg lettuce, Chinese cabbage, shredded carrots, grated American cheese, Hidden Valley Ranch Peppercorn dressing. The addition of a bit of pepper and Tabasco sauce insured the sinuses were cleared. I feel much better now. I think my nephew was playing with the timing on the GL20. Either that or my nieces husband was out playing with his .22 Magnum. Whichever it was I heard a long series of booms. At the time I had an intense case of 'No Curiosity'. Had a bit of bleeding from my left foot today. I put of couple of compresses on it and wrapped it tightly. Checked it about an hour ago. The bleeding had stopped so I removed the compresses and applied a 'wet to dry dressing and wrapped it up. The old RAM ran great today. I didn't have any problems with it.Time for me to call it a night. See y'all tomorrow.
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
Ken............
Our dog Sammie .......was diagnosed with a Canine form of Lukemia just after this past Fathers day......for the past two months she has had a bad cough that comes and goes.
The vet said at best she could have 3 to 4 years yet...........at worse maybe 6 months to a year.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
Dennis, so sorry to hear about Sammie. We have had Westies for the past 30 years and it is never easy when they get sick. How old is she? Sure is a cutie. Absolutely nothing like a Westie but then I might be just slightly biased.
CN Charlie
Hearing Sammie is sick makes me sad. No dog should never be sick. Best wishes for you Dennis.
I had a phone call today from my hobby shop. Pete told me if I still want my pre-orders or not and I told him yes I did.
I had to get a phone card for my cell phone that I lost last September. Don't worry it's in the living room somewhere turned off. I barely use it and I have to refill it in January of next year. It's my emergency phone and long distance calling. Another than that I'm good.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Mostly rian all day here, and bout something like 54F for a high. far cry from yesterday's 74!
WE went to the Dr. yesterday for MOH, since we have the same GP, he also gave me the z-pack antibiotic too, so we don't play the "passing the cold around between us" for months on end just betwen the two of us! That was great.
Went to the Psychiatrist {for me}, he renewed some scripts for me too. I have gained 14 lbs for the new mania med, though, but he had told me I would. I can't gain anymore, though! If I DO, I told him I'd have to stop taking it, as I WON'T be a "300 lb whale".
Seems we still have mice, but they apparently are in the walls and don't really come out?? We killed 15 already then they got wise to our traps.....More are pobably moving as the weather gets colder.
Not trying to be political, but its IS "interesting" that they tout "job growth for Sept," but don't point out those who are on other assistances, and that the jobs are temp, part time, seasonal type jobs, which really don't count. I say "interesting" because all other indicators like store sales and manufacturing orders are way down!
Well Since I had so much to do this past week, I have a ton of laundry to do! so I'd best get at it.
Oh, I nearly forgot, some Quotable Quotes:
I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
Change your thoughts and you change your world.
Either you run the day or the day runs you!
with that, Run your day! MAke it a GREAT one!
Morning Dinners!
Flo, Big Please
Dan Do you know what I do for a living? I sale mattress! So, yes I know what I am sleeping on is hurting my sleep, it is a couch! I had to move to it 4 years ago because of Snoring. Now my wife complains I cough at night, so back to the couch! Well, I hate the shows see watch at night as well. With a little luck, I may have won a new mattress last month.
Sue and Junk Food Well that is over with. Last three months I did real good at work and it has caught up with me! Sue lost her food stamps so she cannot buy what ever she wants. (I was complaing about this a few moths ago at the dinner) But now, work as dryed up and I am making half of what I was. So buy food period is going to be hard. Going to be hard to stay on a low carb diet, which is mainly meat.
Sparkie Eating Cheap Dog Food, Not A Chances! Sparkies current dog food cost $16.00 for 6 pounds! Cost more to feed him than the Wolfhound when we had them. We will be changing food to something that is easier to digest in a few days. Sparkie does seem to feel much better today, he is wanting to eat. Yesterday not so much.
Galaxy and Urich. I am not ready to give up on a better night rest yet. Galaxy I know the CPAP is not a fountian of youth, but a better sleep sufaces will help. So that is the next step.
Woking Out and Weight Loss is another approach to having more engery. Even when I do not have a bunch of Honey Does, I don't feel like doing the fun stuff I want to do!
Dennis Hope for the best for Sammie. My daughter has a Westie.
See you all after work, Ken
I hate Rust
Ray ...... You might recognize the building in this photo.
Rob .... Great seeing you in the Diner. Y'all come back!
Dennis B .... Sorry to hear about Sammie's disease. I'm sure she is loved in your home.
Ken ... Our vet charges nearly $30.00 per bag of special cat food for one of our cats who is prone to having urinary infections. .... What can I say? ... We love our pets.
The photo I showed Ray above has my SD24's ... They have been on a shelf since my layout was converted to DCC. I just ordered Sountraxx EMD 567D turbo sound decoders for them Walthers has them on sale.
Speaking of sales, Ulrich Models has NCE D13SR decoders on sale for $10.17. I bought 2 of those while buying a 6 pin connector I need for my 2-10-2. The connector connects wiring between loco and tender. I've worked on the engine so many times, the original connector is falling apart.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Good evening!
I am running a high level of frustration today. Although I somehow like this little Z scale layout, it is quite expensive, even though buying used track will bring down the cost by about 50%. I will have to dig deep into the money bag to find enough cash for a start, let alone the completed layout. So I am having second thoughts on the value for money of it.
I have been looking into other directions of my too broad an interest in model railroading, but whatever I can think of turns out to either require too much space or funds. I really don´t know where to proceed from here. One thing I know for sure, this will be my last attempt to build a layout - I cannot afford another epic fail, like my venture into On30.
Not a happy camper today!
Good morning. It's 64° with 39% humidity. The high will be 75° and sunny.I'm feeling much better today. Fever finally broke last night. For my breakfast I had bologna and cheese with mustard on Ritz crackers Topped it off with antibiotics and Oxycontin for the pain. No plans for today. At the moment I'm watching an old Bogart movie called 'Sahara'. It's pretty interesting. Might watch 'Casablanca' or 'The African Queen' later. Always did like Katherine Hepburn. Don't know if my nephew will be working on the GL20 today. The way I look at it, it'll be ready when it's ready.
AS Ulrich said, "I am at a high level of frustration today", and it has nothing to do with trains.
I got three pieces of mail today I am NOT a happy camper with.Actually 4, but one is duplicate, and one really contains several letters in one.
1} the plumber came out and did his thing to "unclog the drain", sold me some stuff, and it did NOT work. It backed up again. I called and the "order taker" told me they'd come back out and "fix it right". THAT to me, means AT THEIR EXPENSE! NO! APPARETNLYT NOT! they sent me a bill for the return trip! There WILL be HELL to pay with them if I have to take them to small claims court over $139!
#2&3 are "independent reviews" of me and my claim for a physician I am SURE is on the dole, for the accident injuries sustained after getting rear ended!
#4 is a LOT of letters copies to me for "denial of payment" from my insurance company to those who provided services to me after the accident! They DID NOT SAY:"Denial pending independent review". NOW if they are going to Flat out deny payment, then THEY have NO BUSINESS WANTING an "Independent review"!!!!!!!! Techincally, IT SHOULD be the car who hit me's insurance paying, not mine, but NY is a "no-fault" state. I WILL have to contact MY doctor, a s he IS the one who sent me for the proceedures and gave me the meds. He can do nothign I'll bet, but I want him to know they are second-guessing him!
NOW< NATURALLY ALL these arrive to me on a SATURDAY when NO ONE RESPONISBLE IS THERE to talk to, further infuriating me!!!
AND THE INSURANCE woman handling it is GONE ON VACATION, no lesS! {I found that out this week.}
GRRR!
Sir Madog Good evening! I am running a high level of frustration today. Although I somehow like this little Z scale layout, it is quite expensive, even though buying used track will bring down the cost by about 50%. I will have to dig deep into the money bag to find enough cash for a start, let alone the completed layout. So I am having second thoughts on the value for money of it. I have been looking into other directions of my too broad an interest in model railroading, but whatever I can think of turns out to either require too much space or funds. I really don´t know where to proceed from here. One thing I know for sure, this will be my last attempt to build a layout - I cannot afford another epic fail, like my venture into On30. Not a happy camper today!
Ulrich: do a LITTLE At a time, once a month, as you don't really have to buy EVERYTHING AT ONCE, DO you??
Galaxy - no, not all at once, only as much as I need to get a train running. Shipping can also be a killer, if you split your purchases...
Calling it a day - still not happy today!
Sir Madog Galaxy - no, not all at once, only as much as I need to get a train running. Shipping can also be a killer, if you split your purchases... Calling it a day - still not happy today!
I still think you can PICK and CHOOSE your most needed items, {as you said to get a train running}, hten add later stuff as it is REALLY needed.
WE all, like me in my rant above, tend to get into "all or nothing" thinking when it comes to things, especially when there are barriers to gettting what we want, when we want it.
DO what you can and the project COULD be at least a year long project, you DID move rather rapidly on the other ON30 layout! now look where you are.
I would also seriously think about sellign your N scale layout in the attic...{I thought you sold it to get the ON30 stuff already?}
Cheer up old pal!
I'm thinking that I'm simply not ready for winter. It was in the middle 40s when I got up this morning, & that's where it is now. On top of that, it was windy & rained most of the day. Turned the furnace on, but I'm still cold. But even though the weather wasn't all that good, we still went railfanning for a couple of hours. 9 trains in 3 hours.
2 intermodals, 2 coal trains, 2 auto racks, 1 mixed freight, 1 coke train & 1 Amtrak (Capitol Limited). Amtrak was running about 4 or 5 hours late. The 1 coal train that showed up with a large string of loaded hoppers for the transload facility located behind where we usually sit. While interesting to see them break down the train into strings to spot on different storeage tracks, & interesting to listen to the radio, the downside is we can't see tracks 2 & 3 when they are right in front of us. At one point, all 3 main tracks were handling traffic:
There were other meets today as well:
There won't be any railfanning tomorrow however. I've got to get some chores done around the house. Cleaning the living room, dining room & foyer top the list. Then hopefully there will be enough time left to bring up a couple of platforms from the cellar to get ready to put up the wife's Dept. 56 Halloween Village. I don't even want to think about all the trips up & down the stairs from the attic bringing down the boxes, etc. But it does look very nice when all the work is done.
Hope you all have a nice weekend & enjoy yourselves...
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
tcwright973 I'm thinking that I'm simply not ready for winter. It was in the middle 40s when I got up this morning, & that's where it is now. On top of that, it was windy & rained most of the day. Turned the furnace on, but I'm still cold.
I'm thinking that I'm simply not ready for winter. It was in the middle 40s when I got up this morning, & that's where it is now. On top of that, it was windy & rained most of the day. Turned the furnace on, but I'm still cold.
The older I get, the colder I feel.
My feet/ankles have edema and they always feel cold, even with my woolen socks.
I wear thick fuzzy microfleece shirts during the winter. FUzzy Microfleece men's 'sleep pants" around the house do well too.
We DO keep the furnace set at 62-65f, but it runs like every 15 minutes anyway during dec-midmarch. Higher setting and it practiaclly runs all the time for this drafty old trailer, though we put plastic over all the windows and such and it IS 6" insualted walls.
The hazards of living in the northern territories. At least not as cold as Dakotas or Montana and such!!
galaxyWe DO keep the furnace set at 62-65f, but it runs like every 15 minutes anyway during dec-midmarch. Higher setting and it practiaclly runs all the time for this drafty old trailer, though we put plastic over all the windows and such and it IS 6" insualted walls.
Evenin' folks!
Janie, I could really, really, really use a cup of hot chocolate right now! yes, put in some of those little tiny marshmellows too.
Brrrrrrrrrr! It was Cccccold out at the museum today. Cold and sprinkly rainy. I have been home for about an hour and a quarter and I still can't get warm! The troop I was working with ended up being 4 Scouts and 3 leaders. There were 2 more Scouts planning on being there, but they woke up with a fever this morning and Mom kept them home! Probably a good choice. They got settled in the cabooses and set up their dining fly for the kitchen by the time i arrived. The guy who schedules these things for the museum had to leave by noon so he took them up the hill to Midway and got them cleaning leaves off the tracks and ballast up there. My Safety Meeting went very well and when we got done with that, the crew decided to move the train from from track 4 to track 3 which is the live track tomorrow for us. While we were at it we took the train up to Midway and picked up the troop when they were done with the service project. We offered the Scouts a ride in the cab on the way down, but they all decided they wanted to ride on the porch of the PC Caboose. So.... The leaders got a cab ride instead.
I will be heading back out there first thing tomorrow morning to work crew all day...
Garry, You know that building does look a bit familiar. It could be a dairy too I think... Nice job converting it to be a feed store??? Do you have any idea what company made those?
Galaxy, Monday I shall order my wood supply for the winter..... I will be needing 6 face cords to keep me good and warm this winter. Leaves are dropping up here big time now! Currently 45°F here with the only getting to 65° early this afternoon. Tonight it will get down to 37°F. I could fire up the wood stove for a bit tonight.... Hmmmmmmm.
Later!
jeffrey-wimberly galaxy We DO keep the furnace set at 62-65f, but it runs like every 15 minutes anyway during dec-midmarch. Higher setting and it practiaclly runs all the time for this drafty old trailer, though we put plastic over all the windows and such and it IS 6" insualted walls. A good cure for that is too spray expanding foam into any and all places where the cold air is coming in. Worked for me.
galaxy We DO keep the furnace set at 62-65f, but it runs like every 15 minutes anyway during dec-midmarch. Higher setting and it practiaclly runs all the time for this drafty old trailer, though we put plastic over all the windows and such and it IS 6" insualted walls.
A good cure for that is too spray expanding foam into any and all places where the cold air is coming in. Worked for me.
Unfortunately, Jeffrey, The BIGGEST heat wasters ARE the windows and doors. And we won't "spary foam" them..we still want to be able to SEE what it is doing outside!
So, Plastic {the clear kind} over them taped securely to the walls all the way around the windows, are our best bet. The back door, has heavy unclear plastic over it, and I will have to re-do that and tape the seams of the door again, at least as the seams you can see day light through, but in case of fire, we still need to be able to get out! The plastic will tear, the tape will too {painter's tape} easily enough.
The Window A/c {big sucker} gets its "inulated covering over it both inside nda out, then the window gets taped closed with plaastic..the heavy unclear kind too. It is the only window we don't see out.
The porch gets more plastic covering it too to help insulate there too.
we have heavy drapes that DO help, but can be pulled back to see, and you never know which window it will be that will fog up anyway.
so, that all helps. New insulated windows would help, but no $$ in that fund right now! And they are hard to come by, and are nto cheap! Proper ones for the trailer, that is. That IS a plan of action sooner or later, just not now.
I have turkey thighs{we like dark meat}, pig with crushed pineapple, and beef steaks in the oven, actualythe steaks wre done awhile ago. oh, and garlic bread was done too. Just wiating on MOH to come home form what apparently is a LOOOOOOOOOOONG appt with a client. GOod, makes up some hours missed due to sick client last week. been 4 hours already.
I think we will have the pig along with tom/basil pasta, and "pasketti" {spaghetti} squash. I think is home now. Yup!
galaxyUnfortunately, Jeffrey, The BIGGEST heat wasters ARE the windows and doors. And we won't "spary foam" them..we still want to be able to SEE what it is doing outside!
Well, not much happened today. Stayed off my feet most of the day. Watched some movies. 'Sahara', 'Casablanca', 'African Queen', 'First Blood'. Now watching 'Mythbusters'. Pretty sure there was nothing done on the GL20 today. There was some activity over there but it was the 'Party' type activity. Far be it from me to go step on the cake.Time for me to call it a night. See y'all tomorrow.Like the ant that moved the rubber tree plant, these guys have high hopes!Now this is more like it. Gas mileage is still gonna suck though.Click to play video
Evening Folks
Flo, Beer Pleases and a Space Heater.
BRRR, it is cold in the garage tonight! It is 44 outside right now and all I have to heat the garage with is a 1200 watt spaces heater for now. Need to fire up the commpressior and blow out the cob webs in the gas wall mouted heater.
Ulrich, do you still have the N Scale Layout? It sure looked great! Have you thought about making Hand Bulit Buldings and sale them on E-Bay? We have all been impressed with your efforts so far. I know you are the type that nick pick your on efforts short but what the heck give it a try!
Workout I have mixed feeling about this one. While I picked up a few rep's and pounds on two exercises and lost 2 reps in the bench press. I did take 5 lb's off the bar and did 7 more reps. Thing I still find odd is the left side is the weaker of the two, but the bie-cept is a good 3/4" bigger? With me being righ thanded, I sort of understand, guess sizes does not really matter!
Sparkie The Rocket Dog One of the med's he is on (cannot spell it) is Preg-A-Zone and I do not like the side effects. Not quit as loving, drinks a lot more ( No, not my ) wants to eat more, hum guess he all wise did. He is all so more stubborn when I walk him. Tonight is the first night I have ever got mad at him while walking him.
See you all Sunday, Ken
howmus Garry, You know that building does look a bit familiar. It could be a dairy too I think... Nice job converting it to be a feed store??? Do you have any idea what company made those?
Ray.... I am not sure anymore. I think it was an old Life Like kit or maybe a Model Power kit.
it is cool here, too. It has not been this cold nice last winter..
Most people that I know who own mobile homes/house trailers, take time out to make sure that the skirting around the bottom is relatively air tight and the floor is reinsulated with a vapor barrier type insulation....foil side to bottom of floor. You can insulate the walls and put plastic on all the doors and windows and it will still be cold with a improperly insulated floor. Heat rises. I helped a few of my friends with their's and they couldn't be happier. That included a thick wrap of plastic around the bottom skirting, before the skirting was put on. I guarantee Your mobile home will be warmer, if you take the time out to do that.
Just thought I would pass that on. Also works with homes with crawl spaces.
Have A Good One!
Frank
Good Morning!
Seems to turn into a nice day here. It is bright and sunny outside, but the night hwas quite cold, only a notch above freezing. I don´t have any real plan for the day, other than going to see Petra´s aunt in the nursing home some 18 miles away. These visits always put a heavy load onto me, as she stays in the same place my parents did shortly before my dad died. I still can´t forget all the circumstance that finally led to his death.
When I was a young boy, I used to build up my Marklin layout on my bed. I covered it with a green woollen blanket and put boxes underneath it to simulate hills. The track was just an oval with a passing siding and a couple of spurs. I could play endless hours with this set-up without getting tired of it. Each night night I had to dismantle it, though, which always resulted in a little fussing and fighting when it came to bedtime. With my layout, I sort of want to re-enact the feeling I had in those days, that´s why I want to have continuous running.
I don´t know why that Marklin Z scale stuff is so ridiculously expensive. The track for that layout is $ 260, if I buy used track. The little loco sells for $ 260 as well, plus about $ 80 for a handful of used cars. Although there are some used locos available, most of them have the old 3-pole motor, which is no good. So I´d prefer to buy a new loco. I don´t need a powerpack, as I still have a PWM controller I built many years ago. A 9 Volt wallwart will provide the "juice" for it. Benchwork will be on the cheap (the only cheap thing), maybe $ 30. All of that amounts to $ 630 to $ 650, just for the basic start - incredible!
Ken - thanks for pinpointing me towards my N scale layout stored iun the attic. I still have it, and I also still have the corner modules I built before I decided to go for the shelf version. I will think about refurbishing it and turning it into a German prototype layout. Could very well be an option (why haven´t I thought about it?).
Make it a happy day!
I am late, this morning. I couldn't get to sleep by 12 midnite, so I took not only a sleep aid, but with the sniffle and cough {light cough} I took a "theraflu" knock-off. THAT all put me to sleep, when MOH got up, I started to too, but MOH said "sleep". SO I did...until 7:00!
I awoke to find an outside temp of 33F, here and 34F at teh Airport high onthe hilltop.
The thermostat said 66, so I pushed the button up to 67, no kick-on, tried up one more to 68, no kick on, nor at 69 or at 70. Hmm. It ocassionally does this: you have to turn it DOWN below the existing temp, in this case all the way down to 60 to get it to kick on! Then it runs for 5 minutes and shuts off, THEN you can turn it up as "normal". It must be dying. I had enough trouble tryign to get it replaced to this one, follwing the directions STEP by STEP, to make double sure I "got it right'. Not looking forward to it again. the batteries are fresh as of when the man serviced the furnace recetnly.
Then I had to go to the gas station, forgetting to use my 70 cetns off at another facility! But I got my FREE SUnday paper...its a FREE community paper circulated all over the county. COntains, news, local articles, sale ads, classifieds, etc. all that the big papers who charge you like $4.00 for {except coupons}.
SO now, here i are!
Boy I got a REMINDER and PREVIEW of winter's woe: first you HAVE To leave extra time to defrost your windows. I have rear heat and air on my van, but no heated mirrors. when the side windows get to "misty"and wet I take an old paper towel and swipe them off and use the wet paper towel to swipe the mirrors, works only it the icing is not caked on the mirrors. Then you find your lighter but heavy winter flece jacket, make sure you have gloves, and wait patiently while the vehicle warms up and defrosts. Soon, I gues we will have to wrory about extra time to clean off snow and chip Ice off too too!
well, here are your quotable quotes:
The hardships that I encountered in the past will help me succeed in the future.
Philip Emeagwali
Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.
Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.
MAKE it a GREAT day!
Good afternoon. It's 75° with 57% humidity. The high will be 82°.It's a nice sunny day here. So far I've cleaned and redressed my left foot, verified that a small infection that was giving me a problem has been killed off, had salad for breakfast and already made plans for dinner. As for the rest of the day, I have no plans.