Good afternoon all.
Flo - I will take one of those yummy looking ham&cheese hero sandwiches, and a RBF please. Thanks!
ROR - Yay! Glad Scout is back!
Galaxy - Glad you could pop in for a moment.
Ulrich - Glad you are at least ok for now.
Weather - Warming up, with 40's and rain forecasted for the weeken, approaching 60 by Tuesday before the bottom drops back out and we return to snow and cold.
W**k - Our silly truck driver, who was scheduled yesterday mind you, delivered to the store prior to us, then went well over 100 miles the wrong direction.... Back to the DC! Hoping we get him before long, as customer orders (many for gifts) are on this truck! (No idea why he did that silly move?!?)
Trains - Hoping to get a project (or two) completed over the weekend, seeing as I have Sunday off.
Hope all are well, and everyone enjoy the day!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Good MORNING everyone !
Train front - yesterday the "local" came in from the James River Division NMRA AND oh boy oh joy my lionel Polar express Came in - hurray
Ken - did you see my question about emailing some more pictures? Can you send me the sample email you talked about ?
TTYL
YGW
Home from the recital. It's late so I will have a full report tomorrow. Suffice it to say for now it was a much better experience than expected.
Richard
As always, thanks for the KEN!
cudaken I really don't understand why Ed likes me so much but I am sure lucky he does!
I like your devotion to the hobby, Ken, and I know you're on a tight budget I have been pretty lucky with a good job and I've been able to enjoy the hobby without worrying too much about the cost, BUT I do try to squeeze out a good deal whenever I can (rarely pay retail, always look for a sale!).
Recently I have been "weeding out" some excess stuff and I know how much you appreciate the "packages" I send your way. I have friends here that I have bestowed upon but some of them are kindly letting me know that they already have more than they can use...
Rather than have equipment collecting dust and getting sticky grease in the gearboxes, it makes me glad that I know those engines are getting a good home.
cudakenWhen reading the CB&Q decoders again I do not see CV 6 (think that is the missing CV0 for speed matching just like with the Mighty B&O F7A's . Do you change the speed table (in decoder pro) and that causes the needed missing speed matching CV to show up?
I take the engines out of the box and run them on address 3. If they run OK I change the address, and sometimes the direction of travel. I might tone down the volume settings then run them... I don't recall I've ever messed with QSI speed settings.
Maybe TWICE I had to do a full reset, using the jumper or magnet on the reed switch.
For usual factory resets I click on the upper right menu button in Decoder Pro that says "Factory Reset".
cudakenAny tips on getting the rear coupler pocket on! Dang thing is so close to the rear truck I have not been able to get the screw in.
I dont recall it giving me any trouble. On the B units and rear A units I didn't remove the coupler. The body shell clears it just fine. Remove the cut lever if it is installed.
Oh, Yeah! (palm-to-forehead!) I forgot to put the paperwork for the F's in the box . Looks like ANOTHER package coming??
Well, back to laying carpet...
I'll check in later!
Best Wishes To All... Ed
Evening Diners
Flo, Ed will have a Crown Royal on the rocks and I will have a please.
My Daughter and the Cat. Well things are going better than I thought which is good for the cat! Cat and Dog now just glare at each other. Daughter, Shawn and my wife are still allergic to it. But all agree it is a sweat, loving and pretty cat. I would not be aginst a cat in the house, Wolf Hounds are not much of a mouser!
Gary Seems we have the same CB&Q road numbers. Far as I can tell they all have sound and sound pretty good. When I read the decoders all showed sound CV's.
John Boy I really don't understand why Ed likes me so much but I am sure lucky he does! I am glad YGW remebered I was into B&O, with shipping it cost me only $53.00 for I think 40 coal cars and they are nice! Sadly they came from a estate sale. Just hope the former owner is looking down from the Great Round House in the sky with a on his faces. He did very good work!
Ed While I am still more of fan of the Mighty B&O F7A's the one thing I will say is the CB&Q QSI decoders but them to shame! Only one hick up so far, but the night is still young!
When reading the CB&Q decoders again I do not see CV 6 (think that is the missing CV for speed matching just like with the Mighty B&O F7A's . Do you change the speed table (in decoder pro) and that causes the needed missing speed matching CV to show up?
Ed, Garry and others with BLI F7's question.
1 Any tips on getting the rear coupler pocket on! Dang thing is so close to the rear truck I have not been able to get the screw in.
2 Using decoder pro, what setting would you to reset the decoder to default? Last time I tried to reset a QSI deocder (junk E-8) I lost control of the sound decoder.
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Good Evening!
Another queit day without any major attack, just the normal amount of assaults, harassments and thefts. We are thankful for that, knowing it could be much worse.
The Christmas season has finally arrived at my home. Petra disappeared into the kitchen and it didn´t take long until a awfully nice smell came from that room. She made batches of chocolate chip cookies, arecipe she got from her late aunt in Oregon, who passed away this summer. I am afraid not a big amount of them will end up inside me, as most of them will be wrapped up as Christmas presents to our friends. There will be no presents for us this year and not even a Christmas tree, as we try to save up every penny possible for the day we will have to leave.
We are looking forward to seeing our son on Boxing Day (that´s the 26th of December - for the non-British), who will spend a few hours with us. We have not seen him for quite a while and his visit is only the third one this year. There are days when Petra and I feel kind of lonesome.
A mery Christmas to you and your loved ones!
It is sad that there are some people in this world that one can only deal with as a jerk. Stronger words would be used but I won't. I have found it best to have as little to do with them as possible. As my mom said "You can choose your friends, but you are stuck with your relatives." Oh well that is my rant thanks for reading
LION had jury duty yesterday. The city vs dude for Actual Physical Possession. City caalled six witnesses, three of whom were ossifscers, three were silly villians.
The Barber put him the the Black Pickup at 1111 hours. The mechanic put him in the alley (and hitting a utility trailer) at c. 1200 hours. And a home security camera put him in front of a thouse at 1310 where another driver in a white cowboy hat pulled the subject out of the truck and took him home.
Ossiphers investicagted all three sitings, and he has taken into custody in his home at 1330 hours. At 1430 hours the bood alkohol of him was 0.232.
We deliberated carefully, and had the judge replay the home security video for us, but in the end the perponderance of evidence supported a guilty decission.
Whell, at least he was still alive, from my EMS days that was not always a given.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Morning All,
I've been watching from the back corner booth for awhile as I have not had anything too meaningful to post.
Chloe, a blueberry bagel with PB, and a hot chocolate with whipped cream, please and thanks. And bring the Blendtek so that I can liquify it for the tube.
Loved all the cat pictures and sure glad that Scout turned up alive but thin.
My Kids in Billings just adopted a black cat, a very small two year old with BIG yellow eyes. When the dogs get near him he is totally UNafraid and reaches out and gives them a bang on the snout to tell them to keep their distance. They call him Stormy.
We visited down there the week before last as we are not able to get together for Christmas this year. While there I picked up a SP. two trailer 78' TOFC car, another express reefer and a double door 50' lumber car. I also had waiting for me that Ford C straight truck from Kalmbach, My mistake as I was sure it was HO scale and it turned out to be 1:50 scale. Nice truck though, so I'll have to gift it at some point or just let the Grandson play with it when he is over.
Cody, the dog we adopted in Billings back in the summer, turns out that he has a rare form of Cancer. So a lot of our time and money will be getting him to his Cemo treatments over the next couple of months.
I, as well will have a busy schedule at the hospital the next couple of months I have to go the the Head and Neck clinic at the cancer clinic for a follow-up, I have to have two eye surgries , one on each eye, and I have to get my stomach tube replaced. It is supposed to be done every six months and it is already nine months, so I had better get at that as well.
Ken, what a lucky Guy you are to have friends like Ed and YGW. You are spoiled..
Garry, safe driving and hope you got the presents out of the back of your Av. My tailgate quit working here a couple of days ago, but my son the Mech. Teck. got new parts for it and got it and the power rear side windows working again. They have been giving me some trouble for awhile now.
ROR. Hope you concert goes well with no butterflies.
YGW. Hope the weather hangs on for you until you get the train barn framed in.
Howmus,Glad to hear the Volt is impressing you. We don't have them for sale up here yet, just the Prius.
V8 Vega,Hope your Oregon trip goes smoothly for you, enjoy your Family.
Ulrich,Thoughts and prayers are with you and Petra. Merry Christmas my Friend.
Rob,Sure good to hear from you on a regular basis again. Hope your rebuilding is coming along. I believe that will be the new home for your layout, won't it ?
Galaxy, We had not given up on you, only have missed you alot. Hope you are feeling much better and that "17" will be a good one for you.
Br. Otte, The very best of the Season to you, your family and all of the Kalmbach Staff as well. Don't over indulge in all that good food you have shown.
Br. Elias, Only visit the wine cellar when you have a sale. Ha Ha. Do have a very joyeous Christmas. Hope your Rapid Transit stays on time.
.
Hope you all have written your letter to Santa and that the Christmas Season is good to you. Remember the reason for the Season, I know you will..........
A very Merry Christmas to each of you my friends, and drive safe and sober.
Prayers and blessings for all in need.
Johnboy out........................
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Good morning.
Richard. .. I'm Very pleased to learn your good news.
Ken. The cb&q F7 ABA looks just right. I too have 167ABC . Walthers. Sound in B unit only.
Ed Nice cat Our cat trio wants us to go home .
My youngest grandson here in Michigan is enjoying his early Christmas present. it is a LEGO high speed passenger train set. At age 7 he is already a train mechanic. LOL
merry Christmas!
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Hello???
Did the Diner close and no one tell me?
I made the last post twelve hours ago and no one has been in here since... Not good for Chloe's tip jar, especially this close to Christmas!
Well, I'll go ahead and grab a nice, big country breakfast. Three eggs over easy, home fries and plenty of thick-sliced bacon. 20th Century Limited coffee, of course!
I have more carpet to put down in the train room today then maybe run trains in the evening...
Best wishes to all...
Speaking of cats... Cicero says Hi!
Check in later,
{Looks like I'm lucky enough to hit the top 'o the page! Here's a blank check, Brunhilda, just write the day's total on the line. Enjoy your gustatory repast, fellow trenchermen!}
Ed
Hello all
Ulrich - How are you today ?
Galaxy - Hope you pop in
Garry - Traveling today ?
Jeremy - How is the back ?
ROR - I would agree with your toxic assesment. My old neighber drank to much and one night fell asleep after drinking. He had been smoking to. In his stupor he dropped his cigarette and burned him and his house down. It was devastating to him and his entire family.
Another guy I knew drank and drove. He hit another car and killed them.
My uncle and cousin were killed by a driver who had been "partaking" of christamas cheer and he killed both of my relatives.
I would add that, that particular beverage can be toxic to humans and those around them.
Ken - You gave me a BIG today with teh post of the B&O coal cars ! I was so excited to see those beautiful babies on your layout behind a train ! Thank you for posting !
Question I have some photos of the ftgs being installed. Is the offer still good to post photos for me ?
Train - front footings FINALLY started yesterday. Hurray !
History qoute :
The constitution is either a superior paramount law, unchangeable by ordinary means, or it is on a level with ordinary legislative acts, alterable when the legislature shall please to alter it. It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is. This is the very essence of judicial duty.
What are the maxims of Democracy? A strict observance of justice and public faith, and a steady adherence to virtue.
hen the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but that they should not do it openly, but weaken them, and let them sink gradually, by totally disusing and neglecting the militia.
cudaken Ed I will not be calling tonight, feeling like caboose. Later, Ken
Ken, Me too!
I stayed up until 8:15 and now I'm turning in! I didn't sleep at all last night
We will catch up soon...
Thanks for posting the photos! Glad you're having fun.
Take care,
Glad to hear Scout is back
I should stick to the diner. Took the wife to a Mexican restuarant tonight. There was a girl at another table flossing her teeth after dinner. Unbelievable.
Went to www.daretocare.us for a free vascular screening. Blood pressure in my ankles is OK. No aortic aneurysm, very OK and mild athersclerosis in my carotids, nomal for my age. You need to "qualify" for the free scan, which includes diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol or history of heart or vascular disease. Unfortunately this program is only available in some cities.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Flo, Ed will have a Crown Royal on the rocks and I will have a in a CB&Q mug.
Did some running today and was pretty much down in the dumps when I got home. While I know I am better off than many people. But this time of the year just high lites my limted funds.
Train Front Finally took some photos and it was a pain moving the trains around. I use my K-10 Coal Mine section of layout and it is 5' X 9.5' so it a fair sizes. Many Train Folk would be happy with it as there main layout. Section has a oval that runs the full sizes.
We have all read the comments and post about you know your train is to long right? By the time I got the CB&Q train on the oval the engine was 6" away from the caboose! To get the CB&Q back on the main line, I had to take 4 cars off so it did not run into it self going throught the cross over track! I swear I could add another 20 cars with no problem, this BLI F7's seem to be able to drag as much and the old PK 2000 E6's! Now that is saying something!
CB&Q's
YGW Here is some B&O coal for you!
Thank you YGW for helping me getting the B&O coal cars!
Ed I will not be calling tonight, feeling like caboose. I am enjoying the iteams you have sent!
Hello Folks, a quick dash through to keep up with the passing pages…
Ed: I don't think we get the bags up here anymore. I could be wrong since I don't buy the stuff. You use the bags for your camera lenses. That's great. In fact, I think that Crown Royal bags may have been used to carry and protect a wider variety of things then any other bag in recent memory. I used to carry my marbles in them. I would bet that almost every Canadian kid from the 50s through the 90s has kept something that they valued in a Crown Royal bag.Dave
..And—here is what my "paparazzi" car looks like…It's how they got those scandalous photos before there were drones and helicopters
Guess who we just found--yup, Scout is home. We found him on the tile roof of a neighbor three houses down the road. He has lost about 2 pounds, won't stop drinking*, but seems to be happy to be safe and fed.
Mrs. ROR affectionately referred to him as "Psyco Kitty."
Not to worry, the only hard liquid he is consuming is the hard water that comes out of our faucets. (One could argue that alcohol is also toxic to humans.)
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
Glad to hear that Scout is done scouting for a while.
My parents used to live near E. Broadway & Sossaman in your burg. I only visited briefly.
Bill
Italian roast coffee in a SOUTHERN PACIFIC mug, please.
***Richard, that is EXCELLENT news.
Bought a couple additional shelving units and I am starting to scratch the surface of getting organized downstairs.
Cheers! Rob
CentralGulf. . .Hopefully, the "hard stuff" reference is a joke. Alcohol is toxic to cats. . .
Afternoon diners,
ROR- Wonderful news about finding your cat. Are you really giving that cat alcohol?
yougottawanta Angel - Truck touching underframe ? What scale is that N with the pizza cutter flange wheels ?
Angel - Truck touching underframe ? What scale is that N with the pizza cutter flange wheels ?
No, it's not the flange. It's the Micro-Trains trucks.
I started sawing off the excess plastic off the lightweight trucks. I need something stronger than x acto knife.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Another busy day at w**k actually started to post earlier but duties demanded I be elsewhere and had to run.
Train front : Ftg being formed today, unfortunately not being poured until next tuesday. I am pushing to have walls poured by Thursday of next week.
V8 - Hope the tooth doesnt go further south but I would recommend taking some pain meds or whatever you need with you.
Ulrich - We have "sister" churches all around the world. I believe we have several in Germany. If you need help I may be able to reach out to them and see if they can offer up any assistance. Email me and lets discuss.
ROR - Glad Scout is back from his adventure.
Ed - Wow that is a LONG nap ! Feeling ill ?
Ken - Nice photo where is that one from ?
ATSFGuy - Nice caboose. Roundhouse ? Was it kit bashed it looks better than the roundhouse stuff I have.
Rob - Glad to be able to help.
Jeremy - Hope they will be able to figure out how to help mend your back.
Galaxy - good to see you again. Missed your see your post here.
History qoute of the day:
Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character.
An oppressed people are authorized whenever they can to rise and break their fetters.
To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe, I'll have a large pot of Merrakesh Express Organic Fair Traded Dark Roast Coffee to keep my R&GV RR Mug filled for a bit and a couple of those sour cream glazed donuts over there....
A Happy "Mid-Winter's" Day to all of you, today being the Winter Solstice and all! Huh? Oh, I keep the seasons using the ancient system still used in many countries around the world, the Solstice and the Equenox being Mid Season instead of the change of seasons. For instance, when Gustave Holst wrote the hymn "In the Bleak Mid Winter", he was refering to just a few days from now. Shakespeare's "A Midsummer's Night's Dream was written for the Summer Solstice, etc.... And today, this morning about 10:30 AM on the Solstice The solar panels on the roof of my house passed the old record for the year which was 4478.66kWh. That was from 2 years ago. I should get another 20 or so kWh before the New Year so this was a great year for sunshine here in the Finger Lakes.
Hey ROR! That is great news!!! Hopefully Scout will be a home body for a while.
I have two "Holiday" parties for Scouts to go to in the next two days and a Birthday Party for my Son's BIL on Friday. I am about to bake up some of my famous Butterscotch Toll House Cookies to take to each of them... I'll bring some into the diner later....
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
RideOnRoad Guess who we just found--yup, Scout is home. We found him on the tile roof of a neighbor three houses down the road. He has lost about 2 pounds, won't stop drinking*, but seems to be happy to be safe and fed. *Edit: And by drinking I mean the hard stuff. It must have been a rather traumatic 12 days.
*Edit: And by drinking I mean the hard stuff. It must have been a rather traumatic 12 days.
Congrats on getting Scout back. Hopefully, the "hard stuff" reference is a joke. Alcohol is toxic to cats.
CG
Excellent news, ROR! So glad this had a happy ending.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Good Afternoon!
I am glad it has been a quiet day today, other than the politnicks calling for stricter laws and merging intelligence forces and police into a new kind of Gestapo, no further "collateral" damage has to be accounted for - other than our daily fare of assaults, rapes and robberies.
I have never thought we would have to be thankful for that. Should you happen to plan a visit to this country, I would sincerely recommend to abstain from it.
up831Is there anyone in the USA or Canada who would sponsor you?
I don´t think so. I don´t have the means to sustain Petra and myself and would have to rely on charity to survive - and that´s a no-no. I don´t think I´d be able to find a job with the health limitations I have.
Nevertheless, we continue to get ready for a quick departure.
Richard - I am glad to hear Scout´s back with your family!
Scout update. He was not actually on the roof when we found him; he was in a tree near the roof and got onto the roof when he was called from an upstairs window. We are pretty sure he spent the better part of the past two weeks in the tree. When he got home he scarfed down his food and consumed mass amounts of water. He is also more mellow since his return and we are hoping he stays this way. He could be a real pain before he left. Mrs. ROR affectionately referred to him as "Psyco Kitty."
ROR,
Glad you have your friend back.
herrinchoker
Congratulations on getting your cat back. I image Scout was about as happy to see you as you were to see him. (If he only lost 2 pounds, it sounds like someone must have been feeding him or he did a pretty good job of scrounging for himself.) Next question: Has he been sticking close to you or has he been his normal self? I'm not sure what you mean by the "hard stuff". The only thing that comes to mind for a cat that it might be would be milk or cream.
Everyone's been discussing computer problems lately. I can now add mine to the list. The system fan on my laptop has decided to quit working. Of course the computer warns me about that I hmay have crazy operation, etc. However I have a chill mat that I use on the machine anyway which seems to be helping. I am also looking at possibly getting a more powerful one to compensate. We shall see.
Hobby Front: Unfortunately, the plows and the screws didn't show up with the couplers as I had hoped. For the moment, I can't do much on the engines. Can't attach the couplers without screws. Additionally, I'm not sure I want to attach the couplers without having the plows on the front anyway.
jeremy:
Scoliosis runs in my wife's family. My wife had steel rods (called Harrington rods I believe) put into her back when she was 14. The rods straightened out the curves in her mid and upper back but unfortunately what eventually happened is that the curves re-appeared in the unfused vertebra below the fusion. The curves are to the point now that the lower vertebra actually touch each other on the insides of the curves. It causes a lot of pain but she is a trooper. She rarely takes pain killers, but she pays a price for keeping the gardens as nice as they are.
Her younger sister was treated in a completely different manner. She had a muscle stimulator inserted under the skin on her back. The stimulator was turned on every evening when she went to bed and turned off in the morning. It caused her back muscles to contract every few seconds. The goal was to increase the strength in her back muscles enough that the muscles would pull her spine into proper alignment. It worked well enough that she didn't have to have the Harrington rods installed and she doesn't suffer from pain today (as far as I know anyhow), but it didn't straighten her back. However, she does have full flexibility in her back which is a blessing. I don't know if that particular therapy is still in use.
I suffer severe back pain to the point that I can't walk more than about 50 yards without the aching setting in. In 2008 I had an infection in my lower spine which destroyed parts of two vertebra. That resulted in me having four vertebra fused. To add to my misery I have arthritis in my lower spine too. I have tried massage therapy and physiotherapy but they have had little effect. In fact the physio made things worse. I only use over the counter pain meds and then only when I know I will have to perform activities which will tax my lower back.
For you, something you may want to consider is a back strengthening routine which will help to support your back better. I'm betting that that has already been discussed by your doctor.
As was already said, prescription pain meds are not a very good solution. While they may work at first their effectiveness will wear off over time. That results in you having to take higher doses, and that leads to addiction. You can end up addicted to the pain killers but not getting any relief from them. Also, the really strong pain killers cause nasty side effects that range from severe constipation to hallucinations. I was on hydromorphone (morphine) after my fusion and the hallucinations happened regularly. Fortunately, most of the time I knew I was hallucinating so it was almost sort of fun to see what would happen next. Note that I said "almost". At other times I was totally out to lunch and it caused my wife a LOT of stress.
Medical marijuana is an option that has worked for many people (or so they say) but it is not a panacea. I discussed the option at length with my doctor who is well informed on the subject but we concluded that we would try other treatments before going that route. One thing worth noting is that you can now get medical marijuana extracts which do not include the THC component which is the substance that gets you high. According to initial tests people who are using the non-THC form can function normally when they are on the drug. However, the non-THC version apparently is hard to find. Here in Ontario there are only three producers and you have to jump through hoops to get the stuff prescribed, or so I have been told.
Anyhow, good luck with your back situation.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
cudakenWhat time do you get up? Like to call you Wednesday. You think you will ever get of the Night Shift?
Well...
Yesterday I slept from 5 AM 'till 5 PM!
Anytime in the evening is good! I do have to run into Home Depot for some goodies, not sure when that will be. Probably afternoon, though.
Glad you got the CB&Qs running.
Regards, Ed