Hi Gang,
I'm working today, but will be off in 2 hours. It is starting to moderate in temp a little here today but by no means pleasant out except that the sun is shining.
On a Atlas Classic GP40 that I have in WP centenial livery, it seems that I have lost the front and rear handrails and I don't see anything like that on the Atlas parts site. Anyone have some other ideas for replacement parts. Would their shells come with handrails if buying them seperately ?
I have been doing some ballasting and some scenery as of late. Don't get much enjoyment out of ballasting, but you do get much better with practice and it sure makes the track look better. This is not to say I haven't had ballasting done before, it is just finishing up some left over areas along the river that have to be all buttoned down before I pour the Envirotex (getting close now).
Have also started to hand make some trees, both bottle brush type and furnace filter type. I will sure have to get more proficient at it or I will be still making them when I'm six feet under. It does seem that with practice the product does improve and that gives me hope. It now makes me think that modelling the Appalations or Poconos with the puff balls trees really simplifies this process.
Hope all those who are under the weather feel better by the hour and get back to enjoying 2015.
Johnboy out ...................for now
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Hey - John boy ! You had me laughing earlier ! Reading your post. Isnt that so true about teh applachian mountains. Once a year or two we may get a two foot of snow dumped on us.
Bear - loved the explanation of the difference between your country and Australia. Very inforamtive. Question on the flag. Why so similiar ? Wht do the stars mean ?
Howmus - ICE EV ...I am glad yopu explained that I thought you had fallen off of your rocker ! Well I am a OS GH Old School Gas Hog
Mr Beasly - No more morning for you ? What does it feel liek to sleep in. I think I got to do that once about 40 years ago ?
Apache line I cannot believe they have 17 engines for just 75 miles of track ! Bear I wasnt expecting a green color. I was expecting a more Indian colors. The yellows, Oranges, reds and black of the mid west. Hmm fascinating.
Welp TGIF - It has been rough at w**k. Fourteen hour days, constant running, intense pressure, phone ringing, hundreds of emails, three or four people waiting on answers, dozens of problems to work out and of course the production meetings etc....I am SOOOOO ready for Saturday ! Wahoooo
TTYL
YGW
Good afternoon, everyone! (Had to un-type "morning," as I don't get up early anymore.) We had a line of snow pass through earlier, and it's mid-20s here now, but the sun is out.
My wife is still down with a cold. She refuses to just give up and get well, as she'd rather keep going like the Energizer Bunny. It's one thirty in the afternoon, and she's gone to bed. Then she complains that she can't sleep at night.
My mother-in-law is in the hospital with pneumonia. A week or two back, she was complaining of a sore shoulder and numbness in one arm, so they took her to the hospital and ran tests for a couple of days, finding nothing. Of course, she likely caught what she's got while there, as they kept the room very cold and she got chilled. She's 94 and rather frail, so we're hoping for the best.
I've somehow managed to escape any illness this season, for which I'm grateful.
And, since I'm a Boston Red Sox fan, don't any of you go calling me a Yank!
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
PM Railfan Galaxy - If thats the definition of PiP, then it seems alot of PiPs exist in here. Douglas
Galaxy - If thats the definition of PiP, then it seems alot of PiPs exist in here.
Douglas
Don't forget Primary Instigator {of} Problems!
-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.
Good morning Railfans! Flo - add a plate of crow to that "large cup of hot chocolate" Ja Bear sent me.
Ja Bear - Please accept my apology, i meant no offense with my "aussie" comment. It would be the same if you called me a "Yank". Though, from your point of view, I am in a way.
Howmus - Hey thanks for clearing that up. Now that I have the 411, i can LOL at my FUBAR. LMAO
In General - For those with an eye to the weather gauge, it is 40F here so far today. And ofcourse.... bloomin sunny!
Gotta make this short, heading to the parentals today. Catch you folks later this evening.
Well
If I disappear for awhile, it may just be because the computer is acting up again.
It may just be time for a new one, this one has been nothing but problems since day UNO.
went and did my errands, grocery, got gas in the frigid tundra out there.{saved 52cents, plus an extra 9 cents off a gallon with my CC- paid just $1.89/gallon}. It IS warmer than it has been, but extra chilly is extra chilly no matter how you slice it up. I still have to bundle up and brave it for the mail. Almost wish we had a mail slot in the door!
MOH LIKES it when this cold, as I agree to up the thermostat. But it costs mucho buckaroonies.
Helping train nut friend find new digs. Won't go into details, lets just they need to look. He has a appt on Sat to look, but wifey is a roadblock as she doesn't want change.
MOH singed the paperwork for time off for surgery next THursday. Then my shoulder surgery follows in6 weeks.We will be hurtin putties! CAn have until April the 8th off...MOH.
I have to call SS and complain loudly to them about something...they changed my medical plan WITHOUT notifying me..well giving me a whole week to "pay up or lose your plan" On Christmas Eve.
well, Id best do that and get at chores, laundry always awaits me!
later if I can get on again.
Morning guys
Another cold day out today. I work in a bit so just wanted to drop in now. I dont know if I will be back in tonight as I have to work early in the morning tomorrow.
PM Railfan our aussie friend (ja bear)
(Note: Don’t get me wrong, Texas Steve was a good bloke but along with others I worked with at the time, we’ve gone our separate ways and have unfortunately mostly lost touch).
EDIT. YGW have a look here......
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good Morning!
Another pretty miserable day with lots of storm and ra*n. Temperatures are at +8°C aand expected to rise in the next days. I went to the drugstore this morning to get some pain killers and had a hard time keeping the car on the road. I also refilled the car and was amazed how low prices for gas are these days. At $ 5.78 for a gallon the price is down by over $ 3 from the all time high we had last summer.
French police have cornered those muslim terrorist brothers, who killed 12 people in a shooting at the French satirical magazin "Charlie Hebdo" two days ago. They have taken an unknown number of hostages and are hiding out in a small print shop. Knowing the French police, they have no chance to get out of this unhurt.
Petra is in the kitchen, cooking up one of my favorite dishes - Hungarian Gulyas (goulash), with lots of home grown red hot peppers in it - Jeff would have loved it!
No MRRing in the next months - I have to save up money before I can order the few bits and pieces of track I need.
Blessings to all sick and ailing!
Warmer this morning! Amazing, we are expecting a 30F day here soon, a veritable heat wave! No, Ray, you don't have to sing.
Douglas, Just remember, Ray is a REAL PIP! lol.{Primary Idea Promoter, Personal Intensity Planner,Political Interest Partner,Personal Injury Protector,Partner in Patrimony, Popular Industry Planner, etc...and he's also a POP! {dad}}
Today's bizarre odd words:
Couthy - Means a warm and friendly person (Scottish term). Or a place that is cozy.
Ninguid - Adjective meaning "having much snow" describing a place
Sitooterie - A summerhouse or gazebo; or an out-of-the-way corner to sit with your partner during a dance.
Evening Dinners
Flo a JSTL and a Beer Please. Give that Buick guy a as well.
I ws going to say I am back to my mormal self, well up to 30 minutes ago. Starting to fade fast now.
Dang, I had a lot to miss spell about as well. But it will keep.
Getting Cold and Old Sucks.
Ken
I hate Rust
Evenin' folks...
Janie, I sure could use a hot cup of decaf right now....
Just got home from a Troop committee meeting.... The other Commissioner and I are trying to get the troop running correctly using the Patrol Method. Patrol method outs the Scouts in charge of the troop and teaches Scouts how to make good decisions. It is the main point of Scouting and is too often not how troops operate. Those that use the Patrol Method well are almost always strong, vibrant, units. Those that don't are always trying to figure out why the unit is losing members.... Anyway we are trying to get the whole committee trained in who is supposed to do what and get the Scouts to lead their Troop! Good progress tonight!
PM RailfanHowmus - I was reading your second paragragh and I am sure your talking about a car. What is PiP and ICE? Couldnt make that part out. Call it a brain 'freeze' Laugh.
Well, Douglas, ah see you ain't up on your new fangled acronyms these days..... In light of shortening messages to a few letters to use on them smarty pants phones and such, they have been put in place for those of us in the know.... Actually I have used and explained what those acronyms mean but you weren't a member back then. So: PiP means Plug in Prius and ICE stands for Internal Combustion Engine (as opposed to the Traction Battery System). the trick is to get as many miles driving the PiP as you can before the ICE fires up. This time of year that gets tricky as the computer does everything it can to protect the life of the Traction Battery so when it is very cold out, one has to drive with a very light foot on the accelerator or the ICE fires. That is sometimes called "Golf Cart Mode" on all Priuses. The PiP is made to use the extra electric to assist the ICE rather than just being an EV. You can drive about 11/12 miles on just electric before the ICE starts and powers the car. Since 70% of my electricity is generated on the roof of my house, the PiP is great for driving around town as an EV. (EV - Electric Vehicle....)
Have a great night everyone... Prayers for all in need!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good afternoon everyone,
I'll have a coffee with a shot of brandy.
It's 55 degrees, and sunny with some high clouds. It's January, I'm at 4400 ft elevation and 30 miles from the Sierra ridge...just doesn't seem right. I'm not complaining...mind you-when I consider how cold it is in my native southeast Pennsylvania. Had that cold here early last week.
Took an extra day off work this week. Have to go to Carson City tomorrow for a CT scan...just my ongoing screening following my run with cancer 4 years ago.
Need to look for a new-used car too, my 140 mile per day commute to Reno starts in another week or two. My 1992 Olds dog is really tired with 212K miles on it. Need to find something that a 6' tall, 225 lb arthritis stiffened frame can fit into comfortably. I do have rideshare options, but I'll still have to drive 20 miles to get there for that. Wish we would have public transp. around here. A light rail system would be great. It's still the old west. The car is a modern day horse. I hate driving...far to many ignorant morons on the road driving 3000 lb+ weapons at 70 mph. Pretty bad when the only time you feel the need to be armed is when driving...oh yeah, and in casino parking lots.
Anyway. Just got all the old Mantua steam loco parts I ordered. Between those parts, and the many parts I've accumulated over 35 or so years, plus a little creative scratchbuilding and I'll have 4 new steam locomotives. One 4-6-2 and three 2-8-2's. The 4-6-2 is going to get some extra attention in order to become a Reading G3. Almost done with my 5 Reading GP40-2's...touch up on the last one.
Well. Not much else here.
Have a good night.
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
Evenin fellow frozen railfans! Hope everyone is feeling "above zero". Flo, a round of hot chocolate for the house, and some more Nyquil for Ken. Just put it in his . Its so cold he might not notice .
In General - Well today didnt turn out so bad. Got the clothes washed, ran my errands. Recieved not one, but two RR mags today (woohoo!). One being the Micro Mark catalogue. Front cover shows a new mold making product which yields molds in 30 minutes. NICE! No more overnight waiting. Dang I love this hobby! What will we invent next?!
The other was this years Kalmbach subscription. This year being "Trains". Last year was "Classic Trains" (dang good mag there folks!). Since it is a little exspensive to subscribe to all the mags Kalmbach offers, I usually do a different one each year. Next year will probably be MR.
Johnboy - Bon soir mon amie! Thank you for the offer to freeze my noony off but i must decline. I think i will remain selfish on this and stay here in the tropics and learn to appreciate 15F as best i can .
I saw -10f once, that was enough for me. Your more than welcome to come this way though, dont forget to pack a bathing suit . Oh and any 'short' ho rolling stock ya wanna bring to run (i have sharp curves, tight switches, low volume sidings, no DCC).
No snow removal equipment needed either, it never snows here thanks to the Appalachian Mtns. Yes to tanning oil, its always sunny here! . For CCR fans (which i am one of) YES, i have seen it rain on 'sunny' days here. Where else!
Howmus - I was reading your second paragragh and I am sure your talking about a car. What is PiP and ICE? Couldnt make that part out. Call it a brain 'freeze' .
Ulrich - Earth to Ulrich?? Earth to Ulrich?? "Can you hear us now?" . Did ya get your INet fixed?
Ja Bear - Still not talking to you since your hoarding all the good temps! Hope your shrimp falls thru the grate on your BBQ! (j/k)
Sick Call List - Hope you folks are feeling better soonest! MOH's and sad cats included.
Mister B - Now why in the world would you wanna be skiing on a day like this when you could be running trains?
I certainly hope you dont have to do a major destruction/reconstruction project to fix your heat. Definately hope you dont have to remove any part of the layout to get to the wall to replace the 'broken wire'.
Well folks, thats about it for this installment. Probably pop back in a while for another cup of chocolate. See yall then!
Train note: I pre-ordered Atlas CHSX tank car and 2 2-Bay LOs "EL, DRGW" they will be coming in Saturday. When I pre-ordered the EL covered hopper the drawing picture had the COTS on both sides of the diamond. Now the model doesn't show it. Which means I have to decal them on. Is it easy or hard to do? I have seen MRR videos demonstrate it.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Hi.
Nothing's happening today other than rain. I washed my brother's dog in the rain again for the second time. But let's face it I'm not going to do that again, he's shaking for warmth within the blankets.
last mountain & eastern hogger Hi Gang, Hi Doug and YGW, -16c is +3.2 F. You should all come and visit us up here and get to know what COLD is really like. It has been in the -40s for a few days now, but that is in wind chill. It is in the -27 to -30 c most of the last week. But it is good for keeping the mosquitos and black flies away. Don't get much of a tan though. Johnboy out....................
Hi Doug and YGW,
-16c is +3.2 F. You should all come and visit us up here and get to know what COLD is really like.
It has been in the -40s for a few days now, but that is in wind chill. It is in the -27 to -30 c most of the last week. But it is good for keeping the mosquitos and black flies away. Don't get much of a tan though.
Johnboy out....................
Thanks, Johnboy, but no thanks. we will deal with the cold we got, it's close enough..as Jeffrey would say "can who ever left the door wide open up there, CLOSE IT PLEASE! we don't need your cold down here!"
It did warm up, but i still have furnace running nd the water dripping and the oil filled radiator electric heater in the bath going, and filling the humidifier every 4 hours.
Went to get the mail, shoulda drove the 3.2 tenths of a mile there to avoid the artic winds!
oh well, it Will get warmer...someday...in like 3 months...
Heat wave over the weekend highs of low 20sF!!!
stay warm my frineds!
Brrrrr. Bone-numbing last night, below zero F. It should moderate a bit today. Several New England ski areas actually shut down because it was too cold. I'm sure it's an economic decision, though. They don't make enough in ticket sales to justify running the lifts and paying the employees on a day like this.
I've got a problem with the heat in the trainroom. I've traced it to the thermostat wire. It's got an intermittent short, so sometimes it works fine, and sometimes it just stays on. Yesterday it went open, and wouldn't turn on at all. I can run it manually from the zone valves downstairs, but that's a pain. I've got to find the break in the wire, but of course it's 50 feet of wire in the walls and a concealed pipe run.
Afternoon folks....
Just got home from the airport. Got to my sister's house and she had left the cat carrier on the front portch so I brought it in the house to put it away. left it temporarily in the dinning room floor. Claude came right over and started sniffing the carrier. he then looked at my sister and meowed! My sister got all chocked up... Poor claude is still grieving wondering where his buddy is and she is heading for a trip to India... I promised her I would spend as much time with claude as possible.
Chloe, I'll have a Reuben Sandwich with french fries and gravy, a dill pickle and a cup of your best decaf, please.
YGW, 3.2°F. That is what is was when I got in the PiP and put it in ready mode. The ICE fired immediately! It shouldn't do that even at that cold temperature. The Climate Control System was supposed to be off but even if it was on there is supposed to be 8 seconds between when the car goes into ready and when the Ice would fire because of the Climate Control. It had the fans wide open immediately as well. They don't come on untill the ICE has warmed up and is producing usable heat... I guess I will watch it for the weekend and if it doesn't go back to normal take to the dealer next week! They may changed something when they did the NYS Inspection last Monday and not set it back to normal.... Been doing this for the last couple days.
Have several things to get done today still, so I best get at it. Later!
Guh guh guh mor mor morn nin nin nin fu fu fu folks sssssss!
Hard to talk with your teeth chattering! I am gonna follow suit here with everyone but our aussie friend (ja bear) and add my 15 degrees worth to the weather pot.
Up to 18f now as I type. So hopefully it will go higher. No where near "swimming" weather . Unless your one of those polar folks who see this as an opportunity to take the plunge.
Hope yall are staying warm! And certainly to those who are ill, hope you are feeling better!
Ken - Heres a shot of nyquil for ya to chase with your . Bet yall are loving those drink concoctions of Jeffrey's now, huh?
In General - About the only RR thing Ive done the last few days was...
1) still working on the coupler control system for my autocouplers.
2) was checking on some passenger cars for my PM road. Since this is a road many manufacturers seem to not notice, I have to build or alter existing cars to make a closer looking model to the real ones.
I havent ever used the "New England Rail Services" products before. I was scoping those out along with pricing the Rivarossi cars I will need on EBay. Considering the price of a new car ($50 on average these days! ) it looks as if I can make 3 cars for the price of one new one. I need 6. I can see 6 cars for $100. Thats a bit more like it!
Not a terribly hard project to do but I am curious of which of you folks have used the NERS parts before, and how did you like the finished product? They look good to me. And I will have somewhat accurate models when I am done. Hopefully! In the planning stages on this project. Might not get to it this year. (not all 6, might do one just to do it and see).
Other than that, not much else on the RR front. Pretty simple day today, just chores and a couple of errands. Too cold for anything else really.
I will check back later folks. Get well soon to those that need it.
Hey all it was -16 C. this morning according to my car temp. gauge, havent figured out how to make it show F yet. What is -16 c in F anyway other than bone numbing cold !
Garry - skip Florida go to New Zealand it is 75 degrees AND Bear is cooking BBQ!!!! What are the colors of Apache RR ?
Galaxy - Agowilt is that pronounced A go wilt ? Is Sabaism pronounced Sa basim ? Thanks I enjoy the words !
Ulrich I have a theory on internet connections It goes something like this: When the weather turns cold the signal from the space satelite does not "flow" through the chilly atomsphere to the dish or cable as fast and some may be bounced back by ice crystales in the strtosphere above the cumulus clouds. Where the frozen ice cycles reside. The frozen ice cycles also reflect the singnal back to the satelite making it think it is putting out to much signal and the automatic shut off, switches the satelite down to reduce usage mode further reducing your signal input which cause your computer gyro to spend endlessly in those annoying circles until one finally gives up and shuts the thing off until the ice cycles fall from the cumulus clouds to earth to the nearest HD cycle shop where they are sold at immense profits Maybe I should lay off the raspberry ice tea. Seams to have caused my brain to go into a sugar high funk
You you know I have the same problem sometimes and I dont have the slightest clue what causes it !
Ken - I saw the hoppers in the MRR magazines. I didnt notice whether they were N scale or HO scale. I will look when I get home. Hope you feel better soon !
Well gott get back to w**k
Good Morning All,
Nice and toasty in my attic Train room right now.
Just came over from Jeff's site and everyone was just posting about how quiet it has been around without Him...God rest His soul. He posted there everyday, about something.
Talk to Ya later.
Take Care!
Frank
galaxy, that's the wind chill, but still...........yikes!
Rich
Alton Junction
galaxy richhotrain Heartland Division CB&Q We are getting ready to go to Florida to escape the cold, but it is colder than normal there too. It is minus 8 degrees in Chicago and 51 degrees in Fort Myers Fl, as we speak. Garry, my advice is to go to Florida, no matter how "cold" it is there. Rich Rich I just saw the news that Tallahasee Fl is only 8 degrees {F} too!, and Orlando is about 15, SO THAT is what Garry meant...NOT ALL of Florida is "toasty warm".... There go the orange prices!
richhotrain Heartland Division CB&Q We are getting ready to go to Florida to escape the cold, but it is colder than normal there too. It is minus 8 degrees in Chicago and 51 degrees in Fort Myers Fl, as we speak. Garry, my advice is to go to Florida, no matter how "cold" it is there. Rich
Heartland Division CB&Q We are getting ready to go to Florida to escape the cold, but it is colder than normal there too.
We are getting ready to go to Florida to escape the cold, but it is colder than normal there too.
It is minus 8 degrees in Chicago and 51 degrees in Fort Myers Fl, as we speak.
Garry, my advice is to go to Florida, no matter how "cold" it is there.
Rich I just saw the news that Tallahasee Fl is only 8 degrees {F} too!, and Orlando is about 15, SO THAT is what Garry meant...NOT ALL of Florida is "toasty warm"....
There go the orange prices!
Orlando will have highs in the 70's most of next week.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Morning guys,
just browsing on the iPad.I'm off today so that's nice as its bone chilling cold out. might do a load of laundry and read a new book I got from Amazon yesterday. I have the 1977 strat baseball cards coming tomorrow so have to get some labels printed out. Well off to have my morning coffee and jump in the shower
**MOH has pre-admission testing for surgery next week today.
Well, it is a whole -4 Ambient and wind chill in the negative -20s, warmer than some areas of the US, colder than others. Tallahassee Florida is only 8F! Orlando is something like only 15F. Only Miami and the Keys are temperate.
We have had the taps dripping for the last few days to be sure no pipes freeze. The cupboard doors are also open with screens covering the contents to keep a certain curious cat out of there. I actually agreed to turn up the heat so as to keep it warmer in here. so it is registered at 70F, and the LR stays about 68,it is 69 here in the computer room, a room close to the furnace and always about the warmest in the house, but has a chill to it now.
I feels orry for those in like So CAL or S. AZ or FL. where, IF they have a heater system, it is NOT desinged to keep up with these colder temps. Global Warming? Pish Posh I think we are in global cooling!
Strange outdated words once actually used: {just for YGW{try to say these words, they are easier}}:
Agowilt - Sudden fear; sickening fear
Mammothrept - A spoiled child.
Sabaism - To worship the stars
Good Morning, Folks!
As you guys in upstate NY are battling frost bites, we are having a tropical heatwave! Daytime high is expected to reach 12°C, in some regions even way above that. I saw a flock of geese heading north this morning!
My Internet connection is troubling me. It´s not really the Internet, but the WiFi router, which keeps cutting the connection for no obvious reason. I made a complete reset yesterday afternoon, but had forgotten the password I used. Took me hours to get it running, only to lose it again this morning. Now it´s up again, but I don´t know for how long.
I am still not feeling up to chopping wood. I finally succeeded in getting an appointment with my cardiologist next week. I think I´ll be in for a big check-up this time.
Have a rewarding day!