Good Morning!
It´s a cold and foggy day here with temperatures below freezing. It´ll stay that way for the next days.
Janie, hot coffee to warm me up, please.
Rob - building a lift bridge is not really difficult. All you need is a set of hinges, pins for alignment, some lumber and a little bit of wiring. The wiring is necessary to cut the power when the bridge is up, preventing your trains taking the plunge. How a lift bridge is built, you can find here. There are also several videos available on the "tube", showing how to build it. Here is a link!
No plans for the day, other than w*rking down a short HD list.
CUL, Folks!
MOH not doing so well, so a quick emergency trip to the Dr.s is in order.
Today's word;
Today's Quote:
Is it [hunting] really a sport if you have all the equipment and your opponent doesn't know a game is going on? -Bill Maher, comedian, actor, and writer (b. 20 Jan 1956)
-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.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/t/239981.aspx?page=2
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe, I'll have a bowl of Heritage Flakes Crunch and my usual.... Oh the pot is on... Well just bring it when it is ready. Yes I know I'm in early today. Huh? Oh my R&GV RR Mug would be great! Is it always this empty this time in the morning? I'll go in the back and sit and chat with JaBear by the wood stove for a while to warm up.
Currently 13°F outside the door here at my house. High will get up to 32°F or so they say. Sun is hidden behind a thick cloud cover this morning. 0% chance of precipitation they say...
I have a bunch of errands to run today. Have to take more CDs to the church. I supply them to record services. Bank run with the $$$ from the offering at the MLK Service. Almost out of my dark roast coffee, so I will stop at Mother Earth Natural Foods to pick up more. need to get the list of Art and Poetry Winners out to the Schools.... Might even clean house a bit. Sure needs it! Haven't even vacumed in two months.... Wash? Layout? Who knows...
Catch you alll later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good Morning,
It is 3F here with the promise of 10 for a high today. So much for the tropical heat wave. It is supposed to return tomorrow but who knows, certainly not the weatherman.
JaBear, thanks for the correction. You are of course, quite correct, we waited a week before we decided to get in with rest of the Commonwealth. Not sure why as we were very close to Great Britain in those days especially. That was very generous of your relatives to offer a 'touch of home' to visiting soldiers. Dad usually went to his aunt's place in Oxford. She owned a pub on the edge of the city so I imagine he had a pint or two.
Ran trains yesterday. I put on all the lights for the buildings, lights on in the passenger cars and ran it in the dark. It gives a very nice effect, especially for just 'railfanning' .
We are off to the Reh-fit shortly for a little exercise. One bonus is that the track has very large windows that look out on the CN mainline as the building is literally right beside the tracks. I get to do railfanning while walking. The building is located right at the spot where I used to railfan in the late '50s. Back then it was just bush. Sure wish a Northern would go pounding by now but at least I can remember.
CN Charlie
Good Afternoon!
Flo, how about some hot chocolate with a generous swig out of that bottle Cousin Vinnie is hiding underneath the RC? Thank you, dear!
I finally made a start with that layout. It is still a paer exercise, but I made a 1:1 print of the track plan, which I need to make the correct cuts of the sheets of plywood. It was a tedious and sticky affair, cutting and pasting 28 A4 pages until I had the complete layout on paper!
Reminds me of where I was with my now long gone On30 layout about a year ago!
Folks, I hope you read this correctly. The war reminiscences don´t offend me, but give me a queasy feeling in my stomach. Afterall, I am a native of the country which was the enemy in those days. German people suffered a lot during this war, leaving 5,2 million soldiers dead. The civilian casualties amounted to about 2 million people, not counting those, who lost their lives when they were driven off their land at the end of the war. Most of German cities looked much worse than Ground Zero. My family had no active part in the war, but went through more than just one nightmare. More than half of my Mom´s family simply vanished in the firestorm caused by the allied bombings of Dresden on February 13th and 14th, 1945. Official "collateral damage" was said to be 25,000 casualties, but those were only those victims with a residency in Dresden. The city was packed with refugees. Between 250,000 and 350,000 are missing since that date ...
My Mom´s baby brother died of malnutrition when the family was fleeing from the Red Army. I hope you can understand why I have this uneasy feeling.
Thank you!
Extra strong Italain Roast coffee with a pinch of coal dust, in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.
On a DCC layout, do you normally send feeder wires to multiple locations around the layout, or is the one enough?
Looked for some graph paper last night but couldn't find any. I know there is some somewhere around here.
Healing thoughts to those in need.
Cheers! Rob
Ron How do you like the coal dust in the ol coffee ? Are you using anthracite coal dust from the N&W ? Isnt it frustrating to loose something and not be able to find it ?
Ulrich - I hope we have not upset you with our discussion of WWII. I can understand how upsetting it can be. I for one do not blame the German people. I think they were lead down the prime rose path by a group of fanatics and not enough good people stood up to the fanatics until it was to late and they were either murdered or simply disappered. As is typical of most Americans we came from somewhere else. Part of my heritage is german. Yet one of my family died over Europe fighting Nazi's. How awful is that. In our own Civil war we actually had brothers on opposiite sides of the line shooting at each other. War is terrible and I wish it never had to be used. It is not glorius as most movies make it out to be. I have seen first hand some of men coming home from Irag and they are mutilated in awful ways, lost hands, eyes, limbs etc...As you mentioned it is devasting to family members. But I think we need to understand the past so we can try to avoid the mistakes in the future. Sadly some do not read history. They are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
CN Charlie - 10 degrees !? Did you get a tan ?
Howmus, JaBear - Can I join you by the wood stove ? Snowing here and the wind is blowing. Be nice to warm up and dry off !
Johnboy - What is dragging it through the garden mean ?
Ken - LOL. I understand your modeling different RR. Heck I must have an engine for just bout every main line ! What ever strikes my fancy and there it goes in the shopping cart. I LOVE engines.
Galaxy - Hope YOH is okay and you are not getting wore out taking care of her.
Well had two big meetings the last couple of days with the biggest today. The entire office was out walking a proto type and I tell you it can be painful having your work citized by those who have not been in the battle getting it to the point for the proto type walk. One has to have thick skin. BUT it is over and now I can focus on regular duties.
Prayer request. My friend was sent home last night from the hospital. He had fallen and they have discovered that he had fractured his hip, damaged his back and now surgery and spine fusion is coming up next week. I tell you this guy has had so much bad luck. He has lost his job, his home, they cut off one leg and his wife has asked for a divorce. I called him and asked him if his name was Job. He laughed. His name is Dan. Pray hard he needs it.
Gotta run
TTYL
YGW
Afternoon Diners,
Flo,how about,...what's that? Mel got some wine at $4/ gallon? He got it especially fo me? Uhhh,... I'm honored. Yes, I'll try a glass ( please don't let this stuff kill me). And Flo, may I also have my usual giant coffee with lots of cream, please?
not much to report from this corner of the world. Kind of a misty grey day here with temps in 30s (F). I'll take it over that below zero stuff every time. Haven't dug out my son's old N scale stuff yet, as its in storage, but looking forward to the day....
Ulrich, you issued the challenge about no excuse for not building the layout. You apparently know me already. However, I accept the challenge. Wie sagt Mann, "You're on, Dude!" :):) (Any commitment expressed here in this forum is subject to approval from MOH and may be overruled and hereby rendered null and void).
YGW, very sorry to hear about your friend, and for Galaxy, too. I don't know you guys, but I have and will pray about it.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Evenin' folks!
Janie a large, hot cup of decaf for me, please.
So.... Anything been happenin' in here while I was over at Urgent Care around the corner from where I live? Huh? Oh just tried to cut the end of my right thumb off... I was using the little micromark table saw, luckily with the fine blade, and did something very stupid! I was actually cutting some plaster stone work (the stuff I use to make the stone walls) and had finished cutting the second (last) piece. Had pushed it through with a small piece of narrow wood, and then was trying to flick the part I will be using away from the blade with my thumb. Dumb me I looked away just as I did that and caught the end of my thumb with the blade! It took 3 stiches to close it up.... I am usually so carefull around that kind of equipment! Oh well, live and learn. Duh moment! Could have been much worse.
Prayers for all in need (including me)!
Back from the Surgeon up north. She says it was successful for the first round. I have a very sore throat and don't want to talk much this evening. But glad to have this part done. She wants to see me again in about three weeks >>> I guess she likes me HaHa.
YGW. As Jerry says "dragging it thru the garden" means , whether it is a Burger or a dawg that it will get all of the condiments, Lettuce, tomatoe, onion, mustard, relish etc. etc. BTW, Dan is on my list as well as Ray, Galaxy and all others.
Ulrich, I really do feel for you that is a terrible legacy to be left with. On both sides..
Not much to add tonight, hope I feel more talkative tomorrow.
Night all, Keep smiling, it looks good on ya.
Prayers and Blessings to all in need.
Johnboy out..................................for the night
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Evening Dinners
Flo, a JSTL and a case of If the Buick guy ever gets his Buick started, give him a beer as well.
Today has been Caboose on all fronts!
Trains, ever seen 8 Old Dutch Hoppers with only the Right side of there wheel on the rails while leaning on 8 other Old Dutch Hoppers on the other set of track? While it looks sort cool, it is a mess and has shut down both main lines. Just don't feel like dragging out the Big Hook tonight.
YGW Sorry to hear about your friend, hope in the long run he will be better off with out the other half.
Far as Engine shopping you shop like me! If I happen to like the way the engine looks, I buy it. Well I did when I had the funds. Hum, Fun and Funds are all most spelt the same, I wonder?
Howmus Glad you are all right, stuff happen! Hum, may be we should call you Tim The Tool Man Taylor! Been watching Till Allen old TV show on U Tube, starting to get the grunt down again!
Ulrich Glad to see you moving forward on the layout! Far as WWII, I am sure most people today do not blame the German people. Lots of things started that mess and it really started in WWI, or should I say with the treaty that ended WWI. When you are broke, out of work and the money is not worth the paper is written on people will follow any idot that promise better. I would go on, but Steve Ott would ban me!
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Good Morning, Folks!
Janie, buttered toast & jams, coffee and a tall glass of OJ, please.
It´s a tad warmer outside, so I might go and buy the plywood. I am just glad the strip it accurately into the sizes I need, so all I have to do in terms of cutting is cut out the river bed and the roadbed.
YGW - you are so right! Mankind is unable to learn, so history repeats itself not only once. People may have one a war, but humanity lost all the battles people have ever fought. Prayers for your friend!
up831 - I saw you leaving that backdoor open . I sure wish I had the funds to build this little layout and run a photostory on it. It´s really a nice beginner´s project, which can turn out as a rather mature, but small layout.
Johboy - keeping you in our prayers!
CUL!
Today's Word of the day:
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.
Zoe, I'll have a bowl of hot oatmeal with brown sugar, and a pot of dark roast coffee this morning.
Thumb is sore, but not really hurting that bad, I guess. Tolerable, as they say. Will be calling the Doctor's office soon to schedule coming over for a Tetanus shot.... The nurse practicioner last night told me it is fine to get the thumb wet and wash it with soap and water. Just not to keep it wet. She also told me not to use any salve or gels on it. Seems gthey have found that keeping the injury dry allows the skin to grow over the wound and heal faster. She did also tell me that if I get an infection get to my doctor ASAP. Get the stitches out at the Urgent Care place anywhere between 7 to 10 days.
Ah yes, Don Giovanni! Libretto by Lorenso da Ponte... Da Ponte was a great librettist but a rather nasty human being. He had a propensity for.... OK I won't say more about that, but he was definately Libertine. A couple other lecherous Writters of the time were very upset that Mozart had da Ponte write the libretto as they figured that they had more experinece. Not in writting, but.... ah, well, um, you know. The opera was performed in many European Countries over the next decade or so. In Italy in Italien, France in French, Germany in German, and Denmark in Danish, etc.. It finally arrived here in America and was to be performed in New York City by what later became the Met and was to be done in English (as it was in London). However, by that time da Ponte had been kicked out of Europe and had arrived over here in NYC. A couple weeks into rehearsal he arrived at the rehearsal and threatened to sue if they did the opera in English as he was the writer of the libretto and had his rights! So... They did the opera in Italien and da Pnte stood outside the main entrance and sold the translation of the libretto for what was a huge sum back then, $1... Thus starting a tradition that cointinues to this day at the Met.
Gotta get going!
Italian roast coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.
***Ray, glad your saw survived the encounter. Oh, and that it wasn't worse for your thumb. Back when I tried to remove a middle finger with steel wool (bone stopped it) I used salve over the stitches and ended up getting gapatosis. Probably best to do as the nurse practitioner suggests. Hope it heals quickly.
Have been mulling over other layout options. So far my brain has not exploded, so that's good.
Have a great day all.
Mel, could I get a cup of that four-dollar-a-gallon wine to go? It's time to clean my track, and I think I'll try it in my CMX machine.
Rats. I've been planning on going to the big train show on Saturday, but now they're predicting heavy snow right for the time when I'd have to be driving home. It's a couple of hours under good conditions, and my car is not particularly good in the snow. I'm just hoping now that the forecast changes.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Well, did a few errands.
Changed the pharmacy and gave the new pharmacy all the info they needed. I see the dr. next week and will have some new ones to give them.
NOH tore out of here seperately claiming I'd have to "wait long in the car while I go talk to boss abut coming back to work". Have a sneaky suspicion MOH is more than likely to come home smelling {NO, REEKING is more like it} of cigarette smoke...another feature MOH thinks is hidden from me, like the infidelity issues. But when one comes home REEKING of smoke, it isn't hard to detect to a non-smokers nose!!! {I USED to smoke. quit over a decade ago as it really wasn't good for my asthma, MOH has not ever totally stopped, ever since}. MOH RUINED the brand new car by smoking in it, I can hardly sit in it and breathe from the stench!
AH well, what is one to do?
I have a POSSIBLE "train fund" to set up...you put $1 away per week adn add a dollar per wek for the whole year..that is week 1: Jan 2, you put away $1, week 2: Jan 9 you put away $2 {added to teh $1 is then $3 saved}, week 3 : Jan 16th put away $3, {added up that is now $6 saved}, weeek 4: Jan23, you put away $4 {now a total of $10 saved} and so on and so forth to week 52 when you put $52 in the savings fund, and you will have saved a total of $1,378 by years end! SO, this week should be $10 in the fund, next week I add $5 to it for a total of $15 so far. starts out small and easy, and IF one can do it, the month of Dec one is putting away about $200.
I am going to give that a shot in additon to the other paltry savings methods I have. If we are still together, MOH will probably want to use it for a bloody cruise. MOH wants to be waited on hand adn foot on a cruise with all the food one can eat catered to one. MOH wishes to have born of, or married to royalty.... Maybe that is our problem, I am a poor smuck.
well, we will see what happens next...
Good Morning Diners,
Flo, hash browns, scrambled eggs, and my usual humongasoid cup of coffee with warehouse quantities of cream, please. What's that? Oh no, it's too early for a glass of wine. Maybe later this afternoon. (Yes, much later).
Well diners, already contemplating that shift to N scale to accommodate any possible layout to get active in this wonderful hobby again. I never stopped being interested in MRRing, but hadn't had a layout (nor space and time for one) since I was in high school. Funny thing, just when Im thinking I should switch to S because of age and not quite as good eye sight, reality says if I want a layout at all. It will need to be N. So, N scale it will be.
Mein Deutscher Freund, Herr Ulrich, (yes, friend) was kind enough to design a killer layout when he certainly didn't have to. This layout will be built and chronicled. Just don't expect it next week. There are lots of other projects to be done around the house with higher priority ( according to MOH).
The house is all askew and MOH and I need to dispose of mucho stuff accumulated over the years that are no longer utilized to even allow space to store and build the layout. However, this is incentive to get going!
Mr. B: your use for the wine is hilarious and probably the appropriate use for it too. I hope everyone has enjoyed the dialogue with Flo.
Anyway, my thinking on the layout will start on the grass mat level because scenery was always my stumbling block before. From the track placement, I'll use cork roadbed and atlas sectional track instead of uni-track. It will be DC because of expense. I have to hook up the printer and lap top to print out the plan, then I'll plan the power blocks.
As always, suggestions opinions, and criticisms are always welcomed and encouraged.
Good Evening!
I did not go out and buy the plywood today. It all of a sudden started to rain, and with temperatures around freezing, the roads immediately turned into an ice skating rink. Let´s see what the weather will be like tomorrow ...
up831 - I told you I won´t leave you any excuse not to start with this little layout - here is the track list:
It is all Atlas N scale code 80 sectional track, plus 4 lengths of flex track. Add a pack of railjoiners and 10 Caboose Industries sprung ground throws. If you don´t like soldering (like me), than buy a few rail joiners with feeder wires already soldered to them. That´s what I did.
Now, some of the folks in this forum will probably kill me for this, but I´d recommend you to go DCC right from the beginning. You don´t need a fancy big command system, a cheap Bachmann E-Z Command will do. Maybe Ken still has a surplus one. DCC will not only enhance your locos´ performance, but also minimize the wiring effort. Actually, for a layout of this size, two sets of feeders will do the job, if you carefully lay your track.
Forget the grass matt - there is no way I will allow you to put a grass matt on a table
Here is what you do for a benchwork:
Build a 2 by 4 grid, using 2" by 1" lumber. You need 2 pcs. 48" long and 5 pcs. 22" long for that. cover thge grid with a 2´by 4´ sheet of 1/8" masonite. Get a 4´by 8´sheet of 2" thick Styrofoam and cut two 2´by 4´sheets from it. Leave the rest aside - you may need it later to build up the scenery. Cut an inch of each side fron one sheet and glue it to the top, properly centered. Make sure the glue you use is not solvent based, it might melt the foam. glue the other (bigger) sheet on top of that. This leaves you with a groove all around the layout, which will hold your wiring later.
Looking forward to seeing pictures of your progress ... - and more tips to follow!
Galaxy - I had a similar savings plan for my hobby money, but it hardly ever worked out. What I do now is check the bank account at the end of a month, see if there is any money left and take out half of that amount in cash. The money I get this way is usually eaten up by unforeseen expenditures . I am glad to be able to have a handfull of bucks left for my hobby.
UP831:
Take heart:
I just got back into this crazy hobby in 2007 after a LOOOONG absence too!
What started me back was a local auction house nearby had a model train auction...mostly junk that had been "rotting" in an obviously damp basement for a number of years. SO I bougth nothing, but got online and found wholesaletrains.com {which also has a brick-n-mortar store 45 mins away} and strated ordering the HO scale stuff I wanted. I had O-O/27 as a kid, and some N as a teen, but always wanted HO. I wanted an HO layout but have little room, so I built a 3.5 foot x 5.1 foot layout carefully in the spare "Junque room". I haven't touched it lately as it has a 15"r curve oval and that is a Little small for today's locos, so i was goign to expand the layout, but NO ROOM in there to do that. Now I am contemplating a Z scale under-the-bed container layout!
Ulrich: I DON'T know as my savings plan will work, as I haven't tried it yet. But I did set up auto-deductions form MOH's pay stubs to go into a 'vacation club acct" so as to have it automatically building without us ever touching it. THAT little bit won't amoutn to much for retirement but ITS A START! .Next year I hope to increase it, or may this year, MOH is supposed to get a lowly 2% raise this year, if we bank the difference, it will help. BUt, MY spouse has INCOME! Hooray! Not much, but INCOME!
Well that is about all now
Dinner will be dead pig.
Coffee refill, please and thank you!
***JLS, sounds like a good plan, although I have to second what Ulrich said on the grass mat. After shifting from DC N scale to DCC HO scale (due to eyesight issues), I MUCH prefer the DCC approach.
Question: Do those Marklin HO scale Mallet locomotives w/DCC Sound Decoders (Marklin #37960) work with the Digitrax DCS 50 Controller? Don't know why they wouldn't, but thought I would ask.
Afternoon folks!
Chloe, a cup of hot chocolate would hit the spot right now.
Been mostly sunny all day here in the Finger Lakes. Looking forward to checking the results when I get home later in the evening.
Took Blackie over to the vet for a glucose check. She showed me where the spot is on his ear to get the vein to show up. I did it and poked him and got the blood... Hopefully I will be able to replicate this here at home. We also did it without using a tongue depressor and just a thick gause pad. He seemed to be more comfortable that way. Oh! His blood sugar was all of 135!!!! Far cry from the 450 or so of a couple weeks ago. (They like to be able to keep it between 150 and 200 at the highest.) She said that this was great and she can see he is doing better. He has also gained a half a pound, another good sign as he is eating less.
I'll be heading back over to the Urgent Care place for a Tetanus shot in about 20 minutes, depending on how long that takes, I will either come home and have supper or go directly to the Scout Troop meeting. I live very close to both the Urgent Care center and the place the Troop meets They are about a quarter mile apart.
Galaxy, yes, even a few dollars a month will build up over time. Several years ago I started putting a bit of money aside every month for hobby stuff. Used it that way for quite a while, and then found I could take my hobby purchases out of petty cash with no problem. that account is now at $3,000 and I have decided to just keep it growing for my next car (Tesla I hope.... Oh, probably not!). It is nice when something goes wrong to have the $$$ in the bank to cover it. I do feel for so many of you folks who aren't lucky enough to be able to do that. Always put a bit aside if you can!
Catch you all later!
Evening Diners,
Flo, I'll have a hot Pastrami and Swiss on rye with fries please, and a glass of wine ( I sure hope the three glasses I had earlier will deaden the effect of this). And, not to forget that giant cup of coffee with lots of cream, please.
Howmus: thank you for the knowledge About Lorenzo da Ponte. Whatever one thinks of them, groupies were around long before rock n roll. Many of the great composers had them. I don't think any of the great composers had any ties to railroads, though.
ok, I got the message. No grass mats. However, I do have a thought or two about scenery for the new N scale layout, which may put it a little further west than originally anticipated, but we'll see.
Well, I need to go. So, this post will be short.
Ray: Yes. we FINALLY have some savings.
I took all our Xmas "gifts" of green from our Fathers and combined with an actual cash bonus MOH got for the year and added MOH's "extra paycheck" for January {gets 2 extra bi-weeklies a year} and will add the income tax return monies and we will have a nice little "nest egg" for when MOH is off taking care of me after my surgery coming up. We still have some debt, more than I'd like, so it is technically a wash, but I feel better knowing we have a "little " put by in case we DON'T get MOH's Promised generous "family medical leave money".
AS far as the auto-deduct, I have just a small amount per pay period put away so we dont' even get our hands on it, and it is such a little amount we won't miss it. Actually I increased the one amt to a "nicer respectable" amt in case MOh quits the second job {doesn't bring in much anyway}.MOH's "raise" {really COLA} at primary {part time still} will only amount to a few dollars per, but it, too will add up and I think we can do without it. In any case all the "extra accounts are set up so we can access at any time if we need to. I didn't want to be "closed out" utnil Oct. like the Xmas fund accts are.
We have also changed CUs to one that pays more on MOST things, but not all {the old one pays better when you have larger amts to keep there}. We still have a loan at the old CU, and the old is far closer to our house, so we will maintain an acct there still at least til the loan is paid off.
It all won't add up to a "million Dollar portfolio" for retirement, but as I told MOH, we HAVE to START somewhere.
{assuming we stay togther, if not I will have "seperation money"}
UP831: YES, "GRASS mats" are TACKY. They are/were fine for kiddies who don't have the patience for "scenery making", but for us who "take pride" in what we do, it looks better without a grass mat.
So, dinner was left over roast of beast, smashed taters and green beans {french style of course}
laater
Evening all. Coming in feeling upset- my favorite athlete's retiring after the 2015 season. I'm talking about Jeff Gordon. Now who am I gonna pull for? Now I know how my dad felt when Richard Petty retired, and Rusty Wallace as well. Guess I have a project now, designing and painting a tribute boxcar. Not a Lionel one, but a realistic one.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Flo, a JSTL and a Beer. Flo, you think we should send a tow truck to the Buck Guys house?
UP 831 There are pro's and con's to anything, trains as well. Far as starting over in DCC I would say yes. Bachmann EZ Command is not a bad way to start and pretty cheap, guess around $30 too $70 used on E Bay. Last time I looked say 5 years ago new they where $100. I was a hold out for a long time before I went DCC. Am I glad I went DCC, it depends on the day. 80% of the time yes, tonight not so much.
Latter, Ken
From what I see when looking out of the window, I won´t be able to by the lumber for the benchwork today. The roads are still iced up and there is no reason to risk anything if I don´t have to.
Isn´t that a nice excuse for me? I am having second thoughts on my layout plans - again! It´s just because I have fallen in love with that little layout designed for up831. If I could sell the Minitrix track I already have and get a good price for my locos and cars ...
up831 - share your thoughts on scenery with us. I am sure I´ll be able to close that new backdoor of yours
Rob - Marklin locos won´t run on anything else than Marklin track, as they are 3-rail AC. Marklin also has its own, proprietary digital command system, which is not compatible with DCC. If you like this Bavarian Mallet tank loco, look for the Trix version of it. Trix is Marklin´s 2-rail DC brand.
The locos were mainly used as pusher engines on steep grades in Bavaria. All of them were scrapped by the late 1940´s.
Have a great day!
Today's word:
Mark Twain
Nearly 6 hours since the last post - Cousin Vinnie may have to shut down this place for lack of business!
Out of curiosity, I checked the availabilty of Atlas code 80 track in Germany. We have two places selling US model train stuff in Germany, but none of them has Atlas code 80 track. There are a few items available in code 55, but for sure not enough to build a layout.
Janie, coffee and a slice of that cherry crumble pie, please!