Yesterday, I delayed my bike ride until late in the afternoon so the weather would cool down a bit. Today, I'm delaying it until later until the weather warms up.
Brent, I'm still playing hockey at 70. I've got some arthritis in my knees, too. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep playing, but I'm hoping for another year or two. I twisted my knee early in the winter, but got an x-ray, an MRI and a cortisone shot and the doctor cleared me to keep playing.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I just finished reading through the whole thread- what a fun idea!!
Anyway, I guess I'd better introduce myself. I'm a younger modeler still trying to navigate my way through the complex world that is model trains- I'm hoping to have a layout up by the end of this summer. My area of expertise if you will is actually the Bachmann Thomas engines, and Thomas and Friends in general. Not sure how "amateur" that might be, but I enjoy it very much :-) Not much else to say, really, just intersted to listen and learn from people who actually know what they're doing. Sorry I'm so late in joining, I've only just stumbled upon this thread.
Welcome aboard!
We are actually all younger modelers. The hobby keeps us this way.
ThomasNW Welcome to the forum.
To some of us, young means you don't remember when Eisenhower had his heart attack or where you were when Kennedy got shot. I was in 7th grade English class for the latter and without explanation they just started broadcasting the radio or TV broadcast over the intercom.
Guessing you are somewhere between Gen X & Y. Nothing wrong with modeling Thomas & Friends except for the rivet counters, which I think are few on this forum. Most of us model what impressed us about trains when we were young.
One tip, break up long posts into short paragraphs with spaces in between. Makes it easier to read for some of us, or at least for me.
MR B I don't live in hockey country, but how many your age are on the rink?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
James NWR05 ... .... the Diner has been in the MR Forum for many years . It was renamed a couple of years ago to honor Jeffrey who passed away. Feel free to tell more about yourself.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Good afternoon from the warm and sunny West coast.
Thanks for the drink Ken, always a good way to unwind from the honeydo list, I was in the Model Railroader Magazine jail. It reminded me of the Mayberry jail where Otis could easily reach the key through the bars to let himself out in the morning, except for me it was once the staff went home for the night, I let myself out and played with the office layout all night.
Thanks Dave for the welcome back. Doing things to code is the reason I have had to pull a lot of the ceiling down for new lights in the kitchen. When it comes time to sell the joint I don't want any issues popping up. Not to mention insurance problems if we had a fire and the inspector used that as a reason not to pay out, even if it wasn't the cause. Some people create their own luck.
Ulrich, I have been enjoying the video's, keep'em coming. They remind me of my travels in my younger years.
Mr. B. Keep playing as long as you can, you won't regret it. I haven't been able to play since I was in my early forties, and as far as refereeing the kid's hockey, it is only practice scrimmages nowadays, I find it quite painful to get on skates anymore.
James, welcome. I am kind of fond of Thomas, my son and I had a 5' x 10' layout for a few years. Those were good memories from a long time ago.
We were having diaper training issues and I bought a set of switches, a bridge, an engine and a turntable. He got the switches if he went three days without an accident, the bridge if he made it five, the engine if he made it seven and the turntable if he went ten days. He made it to day nine and was so upset he didn't make it, I caved in and let him have at nine days. He never had another accident again. It worked.
There was a great behind the scenes video on making Thomas, I can't find it anymore, here's a shorty version I did find. There are worse ways of making a living. I think I could be happy being a Thomas creator.
Steven Otte "One of the participants earned himself a three-day suspension." That was probably supposed to be BATMAN. Since he never said anything, I had no idea the ban never lifted.
"One of the participants earned himself a three-day suspension." That was probably supposed to be BATMAN. Since he never said anything, I had no idea the ban never lifted.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Eveing Diners
Flo, Ed, Jan, Brent and I wil have a please.
Work Front was a Rail Spike and it was not a Gold one I will add.
JamesNWR05I guess I'd better introduce myself. I'm a younger modeler still trying to navigate my way through the complex world that is model trains
James You need to claiffie what younger is! Most of us here are old farts 60 and up. To us, 25 is young and we wish we where 25 again! Guessing if I bought you a I be going to jail right?
Far as Bachmann I do enjoy them. Yea, I have some of the high end stuff like PCM, BLI, Proto 2000, Athearn and Atlas. But I will not sell Bachmann short. Right now I am enjoying a pair of Bachmann Sound Value F7A's.
Train Front Seems the Athearn F7B motor is fine. I found a solder joint had failed. I hate cutting the tiny wires used in decoder harrnes! I only have about 1/2" left to the plug. If I faile whole new harrnes.
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Welcome James. No problem with Thomas here. We have several in O scale at the museum which I have rebuilt on occasion.
At Road America this weekend alternately getting soaked or frozen. At home it's been cleaning track and trying to get turnouts to function again.
Best to all, JR
YGW's HOBBY BARN UPDATE
Weekend Progress Report
20 MAY, 2017
Heartland Division CB&Q FRRY .... If I could turn back time to the 1950's, I would like to ride the Burlington passenger trains that went to Billings. They were secondary trains with older equipment. One train went from Lincoln, Nebraska to Billings, and the other train went from Denver, CO to Billings. ... The Lincoln-Billings train actually went through a tunnel in western Nebraska as it went from Lincoln, through Alliance, Nebraska, thorugh northestern Wyoming, and on to Billings. BN substantially upgraded thos line becasue the Powder Basincoal mines Wyoming were located it. ...
FRRY .... If I could turn back time to the 1950's, I would like to ride the Burlington passenger trains that went to Billings. They were secondary trains with older equipment. One train went from Lincoln, Nebraska to Billings, and the other train went from Denver, CO to Billings. ... The Lincoln-Billings train actually went through a tunnel in western Nebraska as it went from Lincoln, through Alliance, Nebraska, thorugh northestern Wyoming, and on to Billings. BN substantially upgraded thos line becasue the Powder Basincoal mines Wyoming were located it. ...
I don't remember which one but one of those trains picked up the nickname "The Mansfield Special" as it was Mike Mansfield that kept it going.
JamesNWR05 I just finished reading through the whole thread- what a fun idea!! Anyway, I guess I'd better introduce myself. I'm a younger modeler still trying to navigate my way through the complex world that is model trains- I'm hoping to have a layout up by the end of this summer. My area of expertise if you will is actually the Bachmann Thomas engines, and Thomas and Friends in general. Not sure how "amateur" that might be, but I enjoy it very much :-) Not much else to say, really, just intersted to listen and learn from people who actually know what they're doing. Sorry I'm so late in joining, I've only just stumbled upon this thread.
to our group from me as well. Many of the model railroading people have figured that the next generation of model railroaders would come from the "kids" who liked Thomas and his friends. It's good to see that statement is starting to come true.
cudaken James You need to claiffie what younger is! Most of us here are old farts 60 and up. To us, 25 is young and we wish we where 25 again! Guessing if I bought you a I be going to jail right?
There are a few of us who don't fit the over 60 category. I'm in my early 40s myself.
Good Morning!
Sunday! The day for my big, greasy, fattening, high carb, low fibre, extremely high calorie and low nutritional, but tasty Sunday breakfast! Brunhilda, make that a serving of pancakes, maple syrup, scrambled eggs, crisp fried bacon, buttered toast & jams, a glass of OJ and lots of coffee, please!
It´s nice to be woken up by rays of sunlight instead of our noisy neighbor stomping down the stairs. Already spotted a pair of our usual morning visitors (mommy deer and baby deer), although the are hard to catch these days, with the grass standing as high as it is now. Not a bad start into the day!
James - from the other side of the Big Pond! You will find that the folks in here are friendly - a nice bunch to spend some time with. Oh, by the way, I don´t care what name your poison has, be it Thomas, Rheneas or the like, as long as it runs on two rails it´s just great! Mine´s Swiss cheese!
Today´s feature of Ulrich´s Train Movie Theatre takes you all the way east to the enchanted land of mystical India! Take your time to indulge in
An Indian Fairy Tale (Part One) - The Nilgiri Mountain Railway
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a railway in Tamil Nadu, India, built by the British in 1908, and was initially operated by the Madras Railway. The railway relies on its fleet of steam locomotives. NMR comes under the jurisdiction of the newly formed Salem Division.
In July 2005, UNESCO added the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as an extension to the World Heritage Site of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the site then became known as "Mountain Railways of India" after it satisfied the necessary criteria, thus forcing abandonment of the modernisation plans.
For the past several years diesel locomotives have taken over from steam on the section between Coonoor and Udhagamandalam. Local people and tourists have led a demand for steam locomotives to once again haul this section. The NMR track is 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge and the railway is isolated from other metre gauge lines.
Between Mettupalayam and Coonoor, the line uses the Abt rack and pinion system to climb the steep gradient. On this rack section trains are operated by 'X' Class steam rack locomotives manufactured by the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works of Winterthur in Switzerland.
These steam locomotives can be used on any part of the line (either with or without the rack section), but the newer diesel locomotives can operate on the entire section, between Mettupalayam and Udagamandalam. This signals the beginning of the process to phase out the coal-fired vintage Swiss engines that took scores of passengers on the rack and pinion track to Coonoor and Udhagamandalam, covering 45.8 kilometres (28 mi), 108 curves, 16 tunnels and 250 bridges.
As the line sees more and more tourists from overseas, Indian Rail has abandoned their plans to completely dieselize the entire line and will continue steam operation on the rack section. The existing steam engines are undergoing major overhauls, including a conversion to oil firing.
Make it a great day!
G'day Diners
Hello from Australia
First time here thought I better drop in and say hello to all. I'll have a large cup coffee thanks and a couple of those scones to have a try of thanks.
I modelled the South Australian Railways (the other SAR) in the late 20s to late 30s in the golden years of steam where their were alot of changes happened on the SAR, new locomotives with the 500s & 520s 4-8-4s, 600s 620s 4-6-2,700 &710s 2-8-2, 720s 2-8-4s new rolling stock and infranstructure thankyou to Mr W.A Webb (better know for the work he did with the world fair in 1931 and on the KATY RR).
So to Steve's question would I change era, nope I'm starting in the best era for me and having a fun time.
edit: Me well being an SP fan as well a fan of cab forwards and GSs, I like the history prior to the SP is just as important to know and is just as interesting.
As to me I'm in the younger modellers club being 28 and just starting out really
Cam
Hi Cam,
to the Diner!
Have a on me and tell us about your modelling the SAR, which had some fantastic steam locos in the era you model! In the 1970´s, riding the "Blue Train" behind a class 25 NC was high up on my list of trains I wanted to ride, but, alas, I never made it!
Good morning, everybody .
Cam .... ... We like international participation !
Let's just say I'm old enough to drive and not much else
Also, I feel like it's ok to share my real first name, even though I might be breaking some "internet rules," since everyone seems so paranoid about those things these days....anyway, my name is Griffin.
I've been into the Bachmann Thomas engines for about 5 years but this is the first time I've been serious about the hobby. I'd hazard a guess that by the time I'm 18 or so, I'll have phased out of the Thomas range and into more realistic engines...
I've always been fascinated by the engines used in the late 1800's, kind of strange but American engines like Jupiter are really amazing to me.
But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, I guess.
I've not found very many people in my area who share my interests in MRR, so it's nice to be here among good company. Hopefully I'll learn from all of you-- you've certainly been at it for a way longer time than I have!
On the real life side of things, I'm currently studying for finals. Next week is my last week of school, crazy as it is. But that seems to be the way it works here in the South.
Speaking of the South, I've been getting more and more restless with not having anyone IRL to talk model trains with. I researched clubs yesterday but the closest one is 3 hours away, and I can't drive myself (not yet at least) nor would I really want to- especially when summer is over and school starts back up. Any ideas?
Glad to be a part of this! you all are such a nice group!
Edit- Welcome Cam!
Edit-
Sir Madog An Indian Fairy Tale (Part One) - The Nilgiri Mountain Railway The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a railway in Tamil Nadu, India, built by the British in 1908, and was initially operated by the Madras Railway. The railway relies on its fleet of steam locomotives. NMR comes under the jurisdiction of the newly formed Salem Division.
I guess I'd better read through all the posts first, then I won't have to make edits, huh?
Anyway, irrelevant as it might be, there was actually a Thomas character from their feature special last year who shared a basis with Sir Madog's engine. Led me to research the locomotive and the railway, and it's pretty amazing how they operate.
http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/Ashima
There's ^ a link to the engine I'm referring to. Also, the site I linked is the largest and most comprehensive database for T&F around, complied by older fans like me (see! I'm not the only crazy one!! ) . If you've got time, it's fun to poke around and learn more about the show. It's got an incredibly rich and detailed history for being just a "kid's show"...but I digress...
Griffin,
Bachmann (USA) released a HOn30 version of the narrow gauge engine "Skarloey" last yeae. Skarloey is based on Talyllyn Railway engine #1. By the end of the year "Skarloey´s brother "Rheneas" will follow, which is based on Talyllyn Railway´s "Dolgoch" engine.
I know!! I think it's such a cool idea, and it's accurate to the show. I am hoping to pick up Skarloey some time soon, and I am thinking of incorperating a dual-gauge section on my future layout...
Morning diners,
Griffin- I'm also a Thomas modeler. I tried to collect some friends, all I got is Thomas, Percy, and Gordon. But you might have more right?? I prefer to stay around Ringo Starr and George Carlin.
I also model in N Scale with a lot different railroads. (For example BNSF, UP, AMTK, CR, NYC, SP, ATSF,) and etc. But there's no reason to not modeling both after you reach 18.
Batman- I'm glad you're back. I didn't know you were expelled.
Garry- Yes it does look nice.
I have a question. Should I use road bed cork or 9x9 cork sheets for laiding Kato Unitrack? I don't know if the precut cork will fit the track.
I was going to laid the track onto the foam but I didn't want a drum enact.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
JamesNWR05 - There may be more folks around you interested in model trains than you think there are. At least that has been my experience. For instance, we have lived in our house for about 45 years. About 10 years ago, I discovered the guy across the street was into Lionel big time. Nice layout in his cellar. But he had lived there 10 years before I found out. We attended train shows for a couple of years, but he passed away. After another neighbor a few doors down passed away, I found out that he collected European locomotives & cars. A lady about a block away passed away, & it turned out she was into Lionel with a very large layout in the attic. I only found out about this as a friend of mine was asked to handle the estate & he asked me to help put some valuation on what she had. The guy who lives behind me is into N gauge, but had lived there about 10 years before I found that out. All those years, & none of us knew we had a common interest. So ask around & let it be known what your interests are. Maybe you'll get lucky.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
angelob6660 Morning diners, Griffin- I'm also a Thomas modeler. I tried to collect some friends, all I got is Thomas, Percy, and Gordon. But you might have more right?? I prefer to stay around Ringo Starr and George Carlin.
Yep, haha. I have about 11 locos right now (with plenty more that I need to get :-P) but no real layout. Working on it!
tcwright973 JamesNWR05 - There may be more folks around you interested in model trains than you think there are. At least that has been my experience. For instance, we have lived in our house for about 45 years. About 10 years ago, I discovered the guy across the street was into Lionel big time. Nice layout in his cellar. But he had lived there 10 years before I found out. We attended train shows for a couple of years, but he passed away. After another neighbor a few doors down passed away, I found out that he collected European locomotives & cars. A lady about a block away passed away, & it turned out she was into Lionel with a very large layout in the attic. I only found out about this as a friend of mine was asked to handle the estate & he asked me to help put some valuation on what she had. The guy who lives behind me is into N gauge, but had lived there about 10 years before I found that out. All those years, & none of us knew we had a common interest. So ask around & let it be known what your interests are. Maybe you'll get lucky.
That's an awesome idea. I know of a lady who lives in my neighborhood with a HUGE garden railroad- I visited once a few years back- but she's not really a "modeller-" but I should ask around!
Yet another rainy day so,I cancelled my railfan trip/club visit to Marion and decided to goof off today by watching John Wayne in El Dorado and Rio Bravo. Yesterday was another rainy day so,I spent the afternoon looking over my models with thoughts of selling it dancing in my head and going into On30 or a Shay powered finishing and veneer mill ISL but,I have 7 1/2 totes of nice looking stuff that took several years of cherry picking to collect...Maybe I'll just store my current models instead of selling.
Have a good'un!
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
JamesNWR05- but she's not really a "modeller-"
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Evening Diners,
JamesNWR05 I have about 11 locos right now (with plenty more that I need to get :-P)
I have about 11 locos right now (with plenty more that I need to get :-P)
So what their names?
Thanks for Griffin I restarted looking at Bachmann Thomas cars and locomotives. I looked at some freight cars I wanted but now they're being discontinued.
Three years ago I tried to buy 1 car or locomotive once a month, but it only lasted 2 months. By the third month I didn't have money for one or the next then later on I just forgot. Focusing more on my N Scale.
Eveining Diners
Flo, Ed, Jan and I will have a Crown Royal and Griffin gets a Royal Crown soda.
Griffin She has a working Garden Railroad and she is not a modler? I have a hard time laying track on the bench. Muchless on my hand and knees!
Blood Surger Front. I know all these numbers are high but I am making a effort. Woke up and I was at 180 but lower than I thought it would be. Took my meds and had 2 eggs and hash browns around 10:00 AM. Got to work and ate a bruito at 12:10. Felt lik eating again around 2:10 but checked my surgar level first. It was at 256. So I did not eat. At 4:10 I checked again, it was at 165 so that is heading in the right drection.
Got home at 5:37 and had not eatan a thing. Total Calories so far more or less 750. So I was hoping for a 140 or so reading. Checked it again, it was 201 and I had not eaten a thing?
Had talked with the wife when I got home, while it was not a fight she did stress me out. God lover but she just cannot keep thing straight and I was getting stressed out. I could feel my blood pressuer going up.
Did a Quick Goggle Search and found stress will cause the blood surgar leves to rise. If that is the case I am doomed!
Ray, RTR. I need to exercies and cannot walk with my foot problems. Think it is time to get the montain / road bike going again. I know I need new intertubes (flat and 15 years old) and more than likely tires. They are slim tires for road use. What kind of numbers am I looking for on the side walls? What kind of $ on the cheap side might I have to spend? It is a 18 speed, and you shift with the handle grips. The grips have turned to mush and feel sticky, you think they can be changed?
I need to check who made the bike, I bought used and at this point no clue.
JamesNWR05 - but she's not really a "modeller-" Oh dear, oh dearie me, how sad one so young has developed that attitude. I’d suggest that you need a swift attitude change before you go offending the rest of us who may also not be “real modellers”. Now, please excuse me, I’ll be down at the rivet counter staring morosely into my alphabet soup seeing how many times I can organise the letters to read, “I must be more tolerant of how others enjoy their model railroading!!”
JamesNWR05 - but she's not really a "modeller-"
not sure if this is a joke or not but
cudaken Eveining Diners Flo, Ed, Jan and I will have a Crown Royal and Griffin gets a Royal Crown soda. Griffin She has a working Garden Railroad and she is not a modler? I have a hard time laying track on the bench. Muchless on my hand and knees!
It was a layout someone was hired to build actually. I guess it was mostly for decor since there werent any visible trains nor was anything running but...
angelob6660 Evening Diners, JamesNWR05 I have about 11 locos right now (with plenty more that I need to get :-P) So what their names? Thanks for Griffin I restarted looking at Bachmann Thomas cars and locomotives. I looked at some freight cars I wanted but now they're being discontinued. Three years ago I tried to buy 1 car or locomotive once a month, but it only lasted 2 months. By the third month I didn't have money for one or the next then later on I just forgot. Focusing more on my N Scale.
Which cars were they? usually you can find them if you look hard enough...
Ken, I've got type 2 diabetes and exercise is the key to success in this. I manage mine with Glyburide, on one small pill a day. Metformin, a more common medication, did not agree with me at all so my doctor tried this one, but told me I really needed to exercise. Since I had just retired, I was able to develop a pattern of frequent bike rides and walking on alternate days.
My bikes are pretty old. You can replace pretty much anything on a bike. With your background in auto mechanics, it should be easy. I've got both a road bike and a mountain bike. There's a great rail-trail nearby, so I've been using the mountain bike a lot, but our streets are fine for biking in good weather, too.
Evenin' Folks!
Janie I would love a cup of Hot Chocolate, please...
Ken, Homefries and buritos are not exactly the best things for your diet if you are trying to control your blood sugar....... LOL Did breakfast include toast along with the eggs and home fries??? Have you had an A1C lately? That is more accurate than the finger poke over a period of time. My doctor tells me to ignore when I will have a fasting reading of 135 or 145 before I have breakfast. The liver gives you a jolt of sugar to help you wake up in the morning (or so I'm told) so my morning sugar level is often higher than when I went to bed. But..... If your levels are accurate and you don't get it under control quickly, get yourself seen by your doctor and get some different meds going!
JamesNWR05It was a layout someone was hired to build actually. I guess it was mostly for decor since there werent any visible trains nor was anything running but...
Hi JamesNWR05! Welcome to the diner.... I guess we assumed you were saying the lady isn't a "Modeler" because she is in "G" scale outdoors.... What you are saying is she "owns" an outdoor layout.... Kinda like somebody who is very proud of the beautiful garden they have on their property because they hired a wonderful gardener to do it. I know a lady (and her husband) who is a longtime member of the NMRA and in my division. The husband has an excellent HO scale layout down in the basement of his house, and the wife has an equally magnificent garden railroad in the back lawn, complete with bridges and buildings she has scratchbuilt. I consider them both to be excelent Model Railroaders!
If you are looking for other model railoaders nearby, go to http://www.nmra.org/ and click on Regions and Divisions. Look through there and find what Division covers where you live and check out their website. You can visit their activities three times as a guest. You may find a lot of other modelers and a lot of good information by joining!
I am still trying to get caught up with a lot of odds and ends I have to get done. Some of it is for my NMRA Divisions next meet. Still waiting on a couple items to get resolved so I can get word out to the membership. Hope to get some gardening done this week as well. Need to get the snow peas and some other early veggies planted.
Rails and Ales out at the Museum was yesterday. Had 211 paying visitors, many of whom said they would definately be back with their kids later in the summer to ride the trains again. It was only a half day event (12 to 5) and went very smoothly. Yes Rule G was in effect! (Sorry Ken! ) I knew I was going to be close on running out of gas to drive out and back home with my car... The warning message to fill up the tank went on just as I pulled into the parking lot! Not knowing exactly how much I had left, I made sure I found a fossil fuel place before I hit the NYS Thruway for the 51 mile trip home. I think I would have been fione as I had at least 25 miles of gasoline range left and still had 45 miles of electric range. But I put two gallons in just to be sure. I'll fill the tank sometime next month when I need to go to Rochester (actually that will be for the NMRA Meet on the 3rd.) I wouldn't need to do that except I will be carrying a load of stuff needed for the Meet and will park at the church and not in the parking garage nearby that has several charging stations in it.... I am still averaging 136 MPG in the Volt. Not too bad. I get over 1000 miles on a tank of gas (about 7.5 gallons when I fill up).
Quote for today:
"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver." - Mahatma Gandhi
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
JamesNWR05JamesNWR05 - but she's not really a "modeller-" Oh dear, oh dearie me, how sad one so young has developed that attitude. I’d suggest that you need a swift attitude change before you go offending the rest of us who may also not be “real modellers”. Now, please excuse me, I’ll be down at the rivet counter staring morosely into my alphabet soup seeing how many times I can organise the letters to read, “I must be more tolerant of how others enjoy their model railroading!!” not sure if this is a joke or not but
Oh dear, oh dearie me, how sad one so young has developed that attitude. I’d suggest that you need a swift attitude change before you go offending the rest of us who may also not be “real modellers”. Now, please excuse me, I’ll be down at the rivet counter staring morosely into my alphabet soup seeing how many times I can organise the letters to read, “I must be more tolerant of how others enjoy their model railroading!!”
Cheers, the Bear.