Well, right now today is yesterday for me and tomorrow for you.
Work went well. I shadowed so I didn't get to do much but try to take in the 140 ways to use the phone system and the 843 ways to use the reservation/check in/check out room assignment program.
It was fairly slow, so I got a lot of sit down time. They have tile up at the desks, but carpet behind it, so stnading on the carpet is ok, but the tile not so much. they also have a mat but the darned edges are turned upwards and I kept tripping on it, I think they need a new one.
I got tired around 8 {my usual bed time} so i had a cup of free coffee, so now I'll be awake until it's time to go to work tomorrow, as I don't drink it much, wonder why?
I'm tired now, though couldn't sleep, so I'm tire but wide awake.
I won't bother to tell you what I found MOH was up to whilest I was gone, but I found the evidence laid out like I was supposed to find it. Oh well. I cna be up to tricks myself. nuff siad.
Well, gnite, or good morning as the case may be.
prayers for all in need...
sleep well for those who can...
Looks like I got tippy top, last call, or breakfast is on me!
-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!
I am just back from the usual grocery run and my back hurts like the hot place "downunder". I have to learn how to go really easy with carrying any weight exceeding a couple of pounds and that´s just not feasible when it comes to hauling the masses of food we need for the week. We have little storage capacities, so it means frequent trips w/o anybody helping to carry the load. It´s carrying the bags from the parking lot to our house and up the flight of stairs what gets me. Today I hard a nasty, crunching sound and that´s no good!
Well, I shouldn´t be complaining, it is what it is.
cudakenUlrich. Would they have sent the missing but not needed part?
That´s what I had asked for in my email, but they want to have it sent back for repairs. I hope they do a professional job with the repair!
I just received a message that my first order of catenary masts will be rolling in today - scheduled within the next half hour. Just a few masts to see how installing them will work.
Have a good day!
Looks like I forgot my lunch on the kitchen table when I left for work this morning. So I'm going to have to go out for lunch. Such a terrible thing when I'm forced to settle for this...
Here's the special, fellows. Order up.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Good Afternoon!
Steven - what a coincidence! We had burgers for lunch today, although the looked a little different. We don´t like those soft burger buns and have regular mini-baguette type rolls instead. No fries, though. Petra seems to get along with that fare, so that´s another step in the right direction!
The Catenary masts arrived in today´s mail - on the predicted minute. I just wonder how they do that, but the German parcels service DPD has a real-time tracking system in place, which is incredibly accurate!
I had spend some time earlier in the day to mark out the correct positioning of the masts, so getting out a drill and drilling the holes was a matter of minutes. The masts are not yet fastened, just pushed into place, as I need to paint them and add the wire hangers and insolators to them before I can mount them permanently. I will glue them and later on fastened them the nut & washer mounting that comes with them. Each mast is about $6, which I think is quite OK. They are made of nickelsilver H-profiles, stamped metal parts and nickelsilver castings. Quite a job!
Here are some pictures:
Another little step forward!
I intended to fasten the first mast with that little nut, but first the nut disappeared into the nirvana of the room´s floor and seconds later, the washer. While I was able to retrieve the nut, the washer seems to be gone for good. Heck, I know it is somewhere, but where?
Der - Z scale... Small layout, or lots of scenery? Oh, the options!
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
der5997 - no, the hangers an insulators have to soldered, resp. glued into place. The masts have fitted a screw at the bottom to fasten them to the subroadbed. It´s an DIN M3 nut and washer, meaning the thread has just a diameter of 3mm - too tiny for my big, clumsy and shaking fingers.
Hi Diners,
Thanks for the lunch idea Steven. I will take a bacon cheeseburger.
YGW- Sorry about your daughter, I hope her recovery will faster than mine.
Ulrich- I like the added caterary system. Will it be hard to rotate the locomotive around with the added wires to be attached?
I was looking at my trains. Researching different railroads. I found out that I'm almost done with the Southern Pacific. I only need a few (SP/SSW) boxcars left. Other railroads are not really finish except for Conrail.
I love the Fox Valley Models GP60s decorated in SSW, SP, and ATSF. But I have one problem they are in a very selective year 1988-1993 if your lucky. Sense the railroad changes the horn to the back and some add ditch lights. Which playing with them very difficult.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
angelob6660Ulrich- I like the added caterary system. Will it be hard to rotate the locomotive around with the added wires to be attached?
Once the wires are up, it´s going to be quite a fiddly job, but I think I will use the hidden part for any such job. There won´t be any catenary in the hidden section (behind the backdrop).
I got a package in the mail yesterday containing Anderson Power Poles. Free-Mo has adopted them as the connector of choice for electrically joining modules. I intend to use them to tie the electrical together on the modular railroad I am constructing. And at some point in the future, I feel like I will be working on Free-Mo modules as well; so it won't hurt to try them out.
Re-arranging my work schedule so I can get out of town Friday, early enough to make it to Indiana before 5:00 on Saturday to make a run to Hawkins Rail on his last day. I hope to high heaven my son has been packing, because that is the last thing I want to drive 1,000 miles to do. We have to pick up a U haul trailer before six, because the bed of my new pickup is only 5 1/2 feet long; so all of his stuff will not fit in it. Fun, fun, fun...
Good evening all.
Zoe - A nice slice of apple pie, and a Coke please. Thanks.
YGW - Being sick is no fun, sorry your daughter is dealing with that.
Ken - Well, yes, but no... I have a layout, but most of it was torb down in preparation of a move, but the move has been pushed out a bit.
Der - Oops! I forgot about your tourist attraction being Narrow gauge N... Glad it came in!
Ulrich - Sorry about the back pain, that is no fun either!
Weather - Warmer today, and will be warmer still tomorrow.
W**k - Ok day today, but am taking a impromptu "road trip" for them tomorrow. I need to run some supplies to a nearby store owned by the same owner, so will be traveling a little while tommorow morning, but will be at w**k in the afternoon.
Hope all have are well, and all have a good 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.
For anyone interested in tin can's post about Powerpole Connectors, here is their website:
https://powerwerx.com/anderson-power-powerpole-sb-connectors
They will handle plenty of power apparently, but they only go down to 20ga wire. I have no experience with them. I just thought it might be handy to have a link to their website.
Steven:
tin can's post and my post might be better in the Electronics and DCC forum.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Evening Diners
Flo, give Ed a Crown Royal if he make it in and I will have a please.
Work Front Seems I am not the only one getting feed up with this company is being ran into the ground. Hum, our Home offices main show room use to have a Ice Skating Ring and Roller Rink. Could that be why this is a Rinky Dink company?
Derr I was OK with how Galaxy said it. The dinner is a places to let us vent about what is on our minds.
YGW for the young one.
Ulrich Are you still going to sale the current layout? It sure does look good!
Well I am toast, so later.
Ken
I hate Rust
Ulrich:
I may have missed this, but will the catenery be live or just for looks? I know you said it wouldn't extend into the hidden section of the layout so I'm guessing it's just for looks.
This is end of April and how come that the night time temperatures dropped way below freezing? Oh, I forgot, this is called global warming, caused by CO2, and that´s why our cars are taxed according to their CO2 emissions, the price for gas now includes an eco-tax, the cost of energy hiked by 20%, like-wise home heating. Now I understand why.
Vinnie - I am off the soapbox now.
Ken - I´ll keep the layout for the time being. It´s not finished yet, and I think I will make a prettier penny selling it, when it is complete.
hon30critter Ulrich: I may have missed this, but will the catenery be live or just for looks? I know you said it wouldn't extend into the hidden section of the layout so I'm guessing it's just for looks. Dave
Sir MadogJust for the looks, Dave.
I have always been enthralled by catenary systems. I bought a Toronto Transit Commission 'Red Rocket' street car just out of curiousity a few years ago. I'm not sure of the maker but it had the profiles of passengers painted on frosted windows (I ripped them out because they looked hideous to me), and it has a white plastic pancake motor. I have studied my layout plan many times trying to figure out how to incorporate a trolley loop into the plan but I haven't figured out how to do it without losing a bunch of other features that are more important to me. I could just run it back and forth but having the trolley pole going backwards half the time doesn't appeal to me (fussy eh!?). I haven't given up yet though!
Dave - I never thought of having to turn the trolley pole around when you change directions. I agree that this is a major issue. "Shoving" a trolley pole just does not look right and should not work, either.
I am glad that I don´t have to consider anything like it.
Today is train video time - and of course it has to be videos of my favourite line!
I just love that typical whistle!
... and another one:
Sir Madog I never thought of having to turn the trolley pole around when you change directions. I agree that this is a major issue. "Shoving" a trolley pole just does not look right and should not work, either.
Well, its not just the trolley pole going backwards, but the trolley itself would be going backwards too. However, your wonderful videos have my mind exploring options. What did MacBeth's witches say.... "Cauldron boil and cauldron bubble....". That's what my brain is doing now and it is totally distracting! I already have too many projects on the go to even start thinking about this!!! Hmmmm... there has to be a way! I'll let it simmer for a bit.
Take care!
yougottawanta what is "quick biff" ?
yougottawanta Do not understand the connection between John Allen cleaning and sulfur ?
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good morning ....
Bear .... A biff? ... Well at least you are not talking about a biffy.
Ulrich .... I like watching electric powered locomotives.
__
My Main Squeeze and I celebrated her birthday Sunday with dinner at Ruth's chris and staying overnight at a nice hotel in downtown Nashville. Monday was shopping in Nashville. It is always good to show the wife she is special.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Heartland Division CB&QIt is always good to show the wife she is special.
They are indeed - and always very dear to us
The famous "Glacier Express" train, connecting St. Moritz (that´s were the rich & famous hide out in Winter) and Zermatt (that´s were the wannabee rich & famous hide out) resumed regular services after having been temporarily suspended in favor of the "Albula Experience" special services. Filmed today as the train passes through Engiadina.
Lunch time !
Hello all. Been a busy day. The rains have finally stopped and we are up to our ankles in mud but starting again to move forward despite the weathers best efforts to put an end to production ! The site looks like a bee hive that has been rattled and the bees are out in force !
Garry - you are a WISE man. Taking care of YOH like that. She is lucky to have you !
JaBear - How interesting ! Thank you very much for sharing the explaination and teaching me a new lingo !
Dave - SOMEONE Call the FIRE DEPARTMENT Hon3critter is on FIRE ! He has smoke bubbling and boiling out his ears !
Angel, Ricky W, Ken - Thanks she is feeling much better now and back in school.
Tin Can - Here is a so that you have safe travel
Steve - Well heck ! Miss one day and I miss out on free delicious burger and fries ! Any left overs ?
ROR - I think you need a because bad luck is pouring down on you right night. Hope it turns around soon !
Ricky W - yes some of these frigs are MONSTERS ! many times the appliance supplier/installer will rent a fork lift to deliver these beast to the second floor ( really our first floor above the garage level because of the size ! That is part of teh reason our floor joist are 16" tall and are made from like a truss vs. a solid piece of lumber.
History qoute of the day:
Today's excitement--I have a bee trapped between the window and the blinds in my home office. Unfortunately, I cannot easily get to it because it is behind the desk and the layout. I suppose I will have to put up with the buzzing until the poor thing dies.
Since we were not able to bring the car into the dealer on Monday, we are taking it in this afternoon. I am hoping it makes the trip, otherwise it will be, "Hello, Triple-A?"
Richard
Good Morning,
A cool one here with strong winds. We skipped birding and breakfast today as it was about 20F this morning and not very pleasant for being outside.
Not much new here. Just waiting for the weather to improve so we can start the yard work.
Johnboy, your unease with the trip your wife will take is perfectly understanable. My wife always was unhappy with all the travelling I did when I was working and that was all within Canada. She did make a few trips on her own, to L.A., New York and London. I was a little worried too, but still I did encourage her to go as those trips were important experiences for her. I would encourage you to look at BBC world news for info on what is happening in those countries. I don't think there should be any problems and your wife isn't travelling alone. I don't share Ulrich's concerns about Sweden. We were in London and Johannesburg last year and the year before without any worry or concern.
Yesterday I went to a lunch for retirees of the company I worked for and had a good time. There was about 30 in attendance. I then went over to the office to visit with those few who are still there. The place is closing this year so the numbers are rapidly declining.
I think I will run a few trains today. The U2g hasn't had a run for some time so it would be good to let it 'stretch its legs'. The real thing regularly ran at 90 m.p.h. plus but I have to keep the speed down on my 22" radius curves. A U2g is a Northern class built in the early '40s.
Have a nice day,
CN Charlie
We started a home renovation project three weeks ago, with a real contractor, to do the stuff I can't/won't/shouldn't do. Phase one was the replacement of a sliding glass patio door with French doors; our late dog had etched the doors with his scratching to get in; and there was mold beginning to grow in between the panes. What a difference it makes!
Phase two was the replacement of the exterior door to our garage, not the main door, but a metal door that had water damage and bad exterior trim. Also replaced other trim next to roof/soffet and on main garage door. I was hesitant to handle the soffet trim because it required removal of tin under bottom row of shingles. Removal is easy; proper replacement isn't.
Phase three, which occurs today, is replacement of our electrical service. Existing service panel is obsolete (no longer made) and out of code; we cannot sell the house with replacing it. Electricians are there today changing it out.
Phase four, which starts Monday, is refurbishment of existing kitchen. Repair and paint on cabinets; new quartz countertops, new back splash, new range, new microwave, new sink, new faucet, and new vent hood. We have been in our house 13 plus years, and the oven has never worked right, and it is an unusual size (24" wide) that is not readily available. Our cooktop has a faulty pilot and only 3 of the 4 burners work. I do not know how the oven and cooktop passed the inspection when we bought the house. New vinyl laminate floor will finish the project. Should be done in 3 weeks. Wife has been boxing up stuff out of cabinets; it is amazing how much stuff is in a kitchen.
Phase five is a train building. I will build it if it is under 150 sf; which is the maximum building you can build without a building permit. But I really would like something bigger; but that may have to wait for our retirement home.
When done, we will have a house that is functional and in good shape. If we so choose, we can sell it readily when we retire in 5 to 7 years; I doubt we stay in College Station.
Here is the final video of the day - from me, that is:
Enjoy steam in the Swiss mountains!
I have always been enthralled by catenary systems.
Hello Railfans!
So, last I was hither (before i went yonder), i remarked my next visit would instill a lil fun concerning the B&O Museum. Im gonna see if i can get a few of you to scratch your heads a bit today.
Now Im gonna post a few pics of objects and you folks get to see if you can guess what they are. Some of you will off the bat, some wont. I will post the answers at a later date so as not to make it that easy.
Remember these facts to start out: All pics are of steam, all pics taken at the B&O Museum, the artifact circled in red is the object in question (unless obvious), in some pics not all the pieces to a part may be in picture (hoses, pipes, etc). These arent running locomotives - its to be expected. Do your best.
Here we go!
No red circle needed here, but what is this bulky looking thing?
Everyone always notices these "dimples" on locos and cars. Rarely does anyone know what they are, OR, what/how they are used. (hint: 3 P's)
Hopefully this lil critter will be recognized. If not, I can fill you in
Obviously a valve, but of all the valves on a locomotive.... which one could it be?
This should be an aweful easy one! No, its not a power take off on the back of a John Deere.
Lastly, what is this contraption?
Have fun folks. Cant wait to read all the guesses. If these were too easy, I can certainly up the ante a bit.
Douglas
Afternoon Diners
Flo, if Ed makes it in, give him a Crown Royal and I will have a please.
I have been curising at the Railroad all the live long day, I have been curising at the railraod just to pass the time away. Really nothing that is a big deal but have been a Pain In The Caboose. Seems for some reason Kadee Couplers that I have used for years no longer like each other?
Opened up my longest passing siding after sitting a few years. Now can park the 30 foot CB&Q F7's train! Took a couple of trips for the CB&Q to get the ATF spread out. (first past they where stalling and shuting down)
Douglas First photo is of your Buick GN Waste Gate. 4th photo is my 68 426 Road Runner U Joint and 5th is a water trap for the rail sander.
Later, Ken
PM Railfan Everyone always notices these "dimples" on locos and cars. Rarely does anyone know what they are, OR, what/how they are used. (hint: 3 P's)
These are poling pockets... they are used to push a car into a trailing point siding. The braakeman would set the pole between this pocket on a freight car and the pocket on the locomotive, and then the locomotive can push a car on an adjacent track.
Outlaed for quite some time, they are no longer seen on modern equipment, but you will of course still see them on older diesel locomotives such as the RS-3
NOW,, where are these wildebeests.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Good Evening Diners!
Flo, I'd love to have one of the tasty-looking burger platters proffered by Steven! Medium-rare is good. Reminds me of the burgers I used to get in the 1970s at George's Corner Lunch at E.40th and Prospect in Cleveland! Yum! The beverage is on Ken. Thanks Ken!
I love a contest, Douglas. I'll take a stab...
1) Barco flexible joint or expansion joint for the steam pipe to the articulated cylinders?
2) Lion gets the prize, poling pole pocket. (Is that the three "P's"?)
3) Booster Engine? Never saw one made by Toyota** before, though.
4) Tender cistern shut-off valve? Some had them inside the tank and a lever operating it up through the water leg.
5) Stoker auger ball (flex) joint?
6) Boiler feed-water check valve. Possibly from the injector?
Fun Stuff! Thanks for doing this, Douglas.
**
Here's a blast from the past! Old snapshot shows my dad hanging on to me while I check out the whistle on the C&O 2707 that was in Cleveland's Brookside Park for many years. She's in Ken's neck-O-the woods now.
This is probably 1959 or so and I'm maybe three? This may give me an unfair advantage regarding C&O Steam
Here's hoping that you folks are all well-and-good!
Prayers for those in need...
Hope to be back soon. Here's my sizzling burger!
Cheers, Ed