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Welcome to the September Diner! This month we are in New Mexico! Locked

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  • Member since
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  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 11:08 AM

SeeYou190

So Frustrating...

I have been waiting for weeks for Model Train Stuff to get Kadee #7501 undecorated hopper cars back in stock. They finally got a couple in and I went to place my order, but now they are out of Tortoise Switch Machines!

I might never get this order filled.

SoapBox

-Kevin

 

https://www.pwrs.ca/product_search.php?f_ProductTypes=null&f_Keywords=tortoise&f_HasSound=0&f_HasDCC=0&InStock=1

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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  • From: Mesa, AZ
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Posted by RideOnRoad on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 11:17 AM

Heartland Division CB&Q
. . .Richard ..... That is a lot of birds in your photo. . .

I cannot take credit for the photo--it is a link to the picture in Wikipedia. My wife is the photographer and has some amazing pictures from Bosque del Apache. To post those pictures I would need to--

  1. I would need to get the pictures from my wife
  2. She would need to find the pictures
  3. She would need to find a way to transfer the pictures to me
  4. I would need to post the pictures in a photo-sharing service
  5. Figure out how to get the correct link to the picture
  6. Post the picture in the forum

It was easier just to co-opt a picture from elsewhere.

 

Richard

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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 11:44 AM

Good to see you too GarrySmile, Wink & Grin   How's those new peepers you got a while back working out for you?  I bet model railroading looks even better now! Yes

Speaking of tortoise mechanisms,  Is it true you have to disconnect the spring on the turnout to get them to work properly?  I have three unreachable ones in the back of my layout that will need them.

 

And that was some funny stuff Richard!   I'm still laughingLaugh

 

 

TF

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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 11:57 AM

Good morning from paradise.

https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-62_metric_e.html

Had a pretty good blow yesterday, the wind came down from the interior of the Province and the temp shot up dramatically when it hit. We escaped damage but we heard the trees falling in the 100 acre wood across the street. Lights flickered a lot and we lost power for two minutes last night. May go for a walk through the forest today to survey the damage.

Glad to see TF back exercising his fingers on the keyboard, sorry you could not find a secluded getaway to go to. They are in high demand as foreign travel is down so many people are staying at home. I know the wife and I are thinking of heading off to the wild West Coast of Vancouver Island for a few days as cabin fever is setting in.

The Estate of this lady I am looking after is difficult to deal with as I need to get South of the border which is closed. She was an American citizen and a Canadian Landed immigrant. Lots of things to deal with. I had three phone calls by 0900hrs this morning. The U.S. consulate in Vancouver is on reduced hours and I need to pay them a visit as well. I'll be glad when it is all behind me. At least the beneficiaries are not concerned about when they will get their millions. I am not taking a fee for being the executor but told them I better not hear a word out of them about how long it is taking or I might. I told them it would be two years at least, so don't spend it before you get it.Laugh They are good people and it is not an issue.

Rapidos new RDCs are going to hit the shore soon. I am going to buy myself one for under the Christmas tree.Whistling

Well I have a million little jobs to do today so best get at it.

All the best to all.

Image may contain: mountain, train, outdoor and nature

 

 

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 12:35 PM

We are cleaning out the garage so the GF can get her car inside.  Delaware weather is pretty temperate, so winters aren't too cold and last snow season produced a half inch total.  We are retired so we don't have to even go out in the rain, but she still wants her car inside.

I still have one big section of the layout out there, so I will dismantle it, as I plan to mostly just rebuild the benchwork differently.

But she opened up a storage bin that had been hidden for a year and a half, an I ended up with two huge surprises.  The first was my cleated bike shoes, so now my road bike becomes rideable again, and the second was my digital camera, so I can document the reassembly of my layout.  Happy days!

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 12:45 PM

Heartland Division CB&Q
Kevin ... Do you always buy from the same seller? Seems like other online retailers would have stuff you want. 

I made a couple of massive purchases from Model Train Stuff earlier this year that put me into the top tier of their loyalty program. I get free shipping and a pretty good additional discount from them now. If I buy from another retailer, that bumps up the price quite a bit.

Track fiddler
Speaking of tortoise mechanisms,  Is it true you have to disconnect the spring on the turnout to get them to work properly?  I have three unreachable ones in the back of my layout that will need them.

If you are referring to the throwbar spring on Peco Turnouts, yes, that needs to be removed if you use Tortoise switch machines.

Most N scalers I know that use Peco Turnouts use the Peco twin coil snap action switch motor to drive them.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
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  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 2:09 PM

SeeYou190
I made a couple of massive purchases from Model Train Stuff earlier this year that put me into the top tier of their loyalty program. I get free shipping and a pretty good additional discount from them now. If I buy from another retailer, that bumps up the price quite a bit.

I buy most of my stuff from PWRS because they are close to me so I don't pay shipping. I also get a lot of gift certificates for them from people I do favours for. That being said I ordered my two Rapido ten wheelers from another local MRR online joint as I got a good discount. For some reason PWRS would not give me a discount on the two ten wheelers so I went elsewhere. I will lose my Porters points by not buying them there, but I'd rather have the two hundred bucks I save instead.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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  • From: North Dakota
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Posted by BroadwayLion on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 3:43 PM

Who can afford Peco Switches... I bought my turtles nwhen they were still $12.00 each : )-

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 4:00 PM

Our good buddy Yankeedabbler has the PECO's on sale this week Lion.  Looks like a heck of a deal.

I only need three and he doesn't charge me shipping so I might as well order the rest of my turtles too.  As long as they have a durable outer shellSmile, Wink & Grin

Thanks for the tip KevinYes ... Ordered!

 

 

TF

 

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 4:36 PM

Howdy .

 

Bill (wvoght) .... Welcome .... Please post some more, and tell us about yourself and you interest in model trains. 

Track fiddler

Good to see you too GarrySmile, Wink & Grin   How's those new peepers you got a while back working out for you?  I bet model railroading looks even better now! Yes

 

TF .... Thank you .... I am very happy with my "new eyes" . I am no longer nearsighted and my astigmatism is corrected. For the first time in my life I can clearly see distant objects without eyeglasses. 

Lion .... I read your joke in the thread about October MR, and it was very funny! 

Richard ..... Thanks for your reply. You use the easier alternative for sure. Big Smile

Regarding switch machines. .... I avoid them if I can. I use mostly ground throws because most of my turnouts are within reach. For the few excptions, I have Peco twin coil machines on Peco switches which are very reliable. 

Everybody ...... have a nice evening. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 4:50 PM

BATMAN

Glad to see TF back exercising his fingers on the keyboard

 

 

LaughLaughLaugh

That struck me funny Brent.  Maybe I should practice what I preach in your "Where there's a will There's a way thread".  But then again, ...It may be I don't want kids to turn out like mePirateLaugh

 

 

TF

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 5:41 PM

I have started the bathroom tile. My wife picked out 3 by 6 "subway" tiles, so that it is.

I love this new laser level tool!

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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    March 2017
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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 5:51 PM

Laser levels are fun KevinStick out tongue  I love doing suspended ceilings with them too.  The tile is looking good kid! 

I see you know what you're doing stacking wall tile on a straight edge before you go down to the always uneven floor to do the floor cuts last.  I expected no less from youYes

 

 

TF

  • Member since
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  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 5:55 PM

Must be bathroom week in the diner. Here is what I got done yesterday.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 6:00 PM

Looking good Brent!  The large ones can be quite trying.  I can see your Reflection In the doorway taking the picture in that beautiful shiny tile.  That-ll be easy to cleanYes

 

 

TF

  • Member since
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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 6:06 PM

Track fiddler
That-ll be easy to clean.

Thanks, TF, I learned a long time ago that the less grout you have to clean in a shower, the better.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
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  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 7:05 PM

Okay, I may get post hog today.

We are being inundated by smoke to the point where we have resorted to laying on the couch. There is a big fire in Washington State and the smoke is pouring in. My wife is really suffering as she has asthma.

Through our wounded warrior international sledge hockey tournaments we met a real American hero several years ago. He is a highly decorated Vet that suffered horrific injuries on the battlefield in Afganistan. He lives in Washington state and is now in hospital with a short time to live as he ended up getting leukaemia. My son and he became good friends even though there was quite an age difference between the two. 

If the borders had been open my kid would have been down to Seattle to visit him, but alas that was not to happen. This guy loved Lays ketchup flavoured potato chips that apparently are only available in Canada. He asked my son to bring him some every time we went down to help at the tournaments. 

So yesterday he jokingly asked if we could just mail him a bag of ketchup flavoured chips down to him as his last dying wish. So we boxed up a few bags and mailed them. Works out to about $13.00 a bag, but it was the least we could do for such a fine human being.

I hope he gets to enjoy them.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
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  • From: Paducah KY
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Posted by moelarrycurly4 on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 7:22 PM

evenin folks,

 

well a co worker was not feeling well, so they tested him for  that which we will not discuss and yep he is positive. So now I have have to watch for symptoms. 

So now the rest of the office will be on cootie alert. 

Wish us luck!. 

 

not much else happening . 

  • Member since
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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 7:41 PM

Fingers crossed for you MLC, now how about moving down the counter a bit.Laugh I took the Google map photo tour of Puducah, how's the train museum there? Taking a Mississippi river boat cruise is something I want to do. It looks like Puducah is a stop along the way.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 8:01 PM

I hope he gets the chips.  Thanks for a great action for a soldier.

 

BATMAN
Taking a Mississippi river boat cruise is something I want to do. It looks like Puducah is a stop along the way.

 

My wife and I took the lower Mississippi cruise a while back.  Great trip, and the riverboat had nice cabins and great food.  We did not get as far as Paducah.

The riverboat stopped at Oak Alley, and I took this picture from the top of the levee.  This was quite a few years ago.  I think there is now a brick walkway from the levee to the house.

 

York1 John       

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Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 8:03 PM

That's a fine and generous gesture on your pare, Brent. Bravo! BowBowBow

BATMAN
Fingers crossed for you MLC, now how about moving down the counter a bit.

Brunhilda is frying up some leeks and onion soup. That will keep the C-19 away Ick!

I hope you good folks are all doing fine tonight.

Dinner is ready.  CU Later, Ed

  • Member since
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  • From: Paducah KY
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Posted by moelarrycurly4 on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 8:16 PM

BATMAN

Fingers crossed for you MLC, now how about moving down the counter a bit.Laugh I took the Google map photo tour of Puducah, how's the train museum there? Taking a Mississippi river boat cruise is something I want to do. It looks like Puducah is a stop along the way.

 

 

Well since I am a volunteer at the museum, I will say it is great!. We do have a locomotive simulator and lots of local artifacts and nice dispalys. We don't have any engines or cars or the like as we don't have the room, money or personnel to deal with it. There is a static IC steam engine on display about 2 blocks form us at the flood wall but we do not maintain it. Hopefully we will still be around, we had to let our paid person go and we can only be open saturdays because we don't have enough people to keep it open other days. we are barely squeaking by at the moment. We do open when boats come in. we usually get a lot of boat riders visiting. We are actually on the Ohio river. 

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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 8:47 PM

Good evening

Those expensive ketchup chips are well worth the postage for one of our Vets of service BrentYes

And MLC, .. You better take a vitamin or 2 or 6Laugh  Goes without saying I'm hoping the best for you here.  The museum you volunteer at sounds fun!  I hope she stays afloat.

I need to quit leaning over my layout in-between posts for one night.  My back is getting rather tight here.

Late nightDinner at our house too Ed,  Polkadot macaroni and cheeseLaugh  It was good though,  it sticks to your ribs

 

 

TF

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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 8:59 PM

moelarrycurly4
We are actually on the Ohio river. 

Well, so much for me being a very stable genius. WhistlingLaugh

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 9:14 PM

BATMAN
I learned a long time ago that the less grout you have to clean in a shower, the better.

The "grout" that I used in the kitchen ($100.00/gallon) never needs sealing or cleaning, and it has held up perfectly. It is also supposed to be mildew proof. So far, all is good.

Needless to say, we are using the same product in the bathroom.

I need to get a friend in Japan to send me Wasabi flavored Kit-Kat bars. YUMMY!

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 9:21 PM

SeeYou190

 

 
BATMAN
I learned a long time ago that the less grout you have to clean in a shower, the better.

 

The "grout" that I used in the kitchen ($100.00/gallon) never needs sealing or cleaning, and it has held up perfectly. It is also supposed to be mildew proof. So far, all is good.

Needless to say, we are using the same product in the bathroom.

-Kevin

 

The stuff the boss came home with is suppose to be all those things as well, it is a newer product I'll have to check out what it is called and we can compare notes. We bought the lastest in thinset as well and man I love that stuff. Maybe it is the same stuff.

 

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 9:22 PM

Epoxy grout.  Good, expensive wonderful stuff.  I never did like working with it though Kevin.  But then again I never liked working with any grout, ...Yuk

Always loved laying tile but always hated the grout

 

 

TF

  • Member since
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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 9:23 PM

Track fiddler
Always loved laying tile but always hated the grout

That's the wife's job.Laugh

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 9:35 PM

LaughLaughLaugh

Dat-A-BoyLaugh

 

 

TF

  • Member since
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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 9:40 PM

gmpullman
That's a fine and generous gesture on your pare, Brent. Bravo! 

Thanks, Ed, now I know how you felt mailing your Hudson back to Rapido. Those international postage rates are something.Laugh

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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