OH DAAAAAAAVE.
Edit; I see I have tops. Snow ball freezies for all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Somehwere in South Florida during one of my early 1970s visits:
Florida East Coast Caboose by Edmund, on Flickr
Another type of elevating transfer table:
Model railroad facilities by Fred Clark, Jr., on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
NorthBrit grumbles: "I get so frustrated trying to post something on this Forum. Sometimes I try six or seven times before it posts. Other times I just give up."
Are you using the online "composer" for the drafting?
I've found it easier to compose and revise posts using a simple text editor (on the Mac, I use TextEdit), then just copy and paste into the online reply editor. A little simple formatting, and... it's done. That's why you'll not see traditional "quoted text" in my replies.
I also right-click on the "reply" button, and then open the reply box "in a new window", so the original posting is still there, in the "window below".
Been doing things for years this way, on numerous forums...
BATMANOH DAAAAAAAVE.
One at a time please Brent, one at a time!
I wonder what the story is about that plough. Maybe the picture was taken in the summer since the trucks appear to be sitting on logs. Also, the trucks seem to be pretty tired looking but the blade doesn't show any dents that I can see.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
hon30critterI wonder what the story is about that plough.
The only info I have.
FROM A COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS RELATED TO THE EARLY DAYS OF THE MONTREAL TRAMWAYS COMPANY/COMPAGNIE DES TRAMWAYS DE MONTRÉAL
The original "shorty":
CN_Plough_55401 by Edmund, on Flickr
Why all the interest in snow removal while we're in Florida?
A little repair work at hand:
Rods down, 1976 by Fred Clark, Jr., on Flickr
The Daylight 4449 in St. Petersburg in 1976.
I hope our friend Young Steven is doing OK with the nasty weather passing through New Orleans lately.
Good morning Diners. A sunny day here in the U.K. Tea and toast please, Chloe Trying a different way to post.
Playing teaboy when friends visit later.
Hopefully get to see the train room
Stay safe Everyone.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Wednesday — already!
Reefers and Snowbirds by Edmund, on Flickr
Jimmy, I'm so sorry to hear about Gary. He sounds like a wonderful man. As hard as it can be, just remember it is not "goodbye", rather it is "see you later". And you will.
As for layout work, it will come when it comes. Great thing about a hobby. You do it when you want to. My own layout work has been in fits and starts lately. Mostly fits (i.e. not much happening). That's OK.
We are closing in on our family vacation here. Bags are packed, kennel is lined up, family is definitely ready. FWIW, the forecast where we are headed looks mostly good. Hope it is. When we return I already know I'm going to be swamped at work. Vacation better get me prepped for that!
Have a good day everyone!
Mike
Good morning, everyone.
The snow we got yesterday all melted overnight, so there was nothing to clear off the driveway. It might be close to the time to put the snowblower and the shovel away!
It's cold and windy today, which means it's another good day to stay inside and work on the layout. I believe my shipment of plastic I-beams comes today, so I may be able to start on building my first bridge. Are any of you structural engineers?
gmpullmanI hope our friend Young Steven is doing OK with the nasty weather passing through New Orleans lately.
Two of my daughters are there right now visiting their old hometown. They let us know they spent the evening in the hotel lobby. The highrise hotel lost power several times, with the result of people sitting inside non-moving elevators. They didn't want that, so they stayed in the lobby until the storm passed.
Hope everyone has a good day today.
How about the Seminole Gulf RR from Ft. Myers, Florida?
York1 John
York1It might be close to the time to put the snowblower and the shovel away!
John: We had about 4 inches of wet, dense snow yesterday. Enough to cause a 10 am start to schools. My wife was helping clean off my car (no room in the garage, yet); I couldn't help myself. I made several snowballs and sent them her direction. She couldn't/didn't return fire, as I was all dressed up for work. Once the sun came up, the snow melted pretty quickly. We haven't purchased a snow blower yet; don't know if that is in the future, or if we purchase a plow for the lawn tractor. We do have a very long and wide driveway, but the times when we had big snow, everything was closed, and we didn't go out. We were able to shovel it out manually.
Our basement is finished and served by our HVAC. I noticed that our dehumidifier is not working; so that will have to be serviced soon. I have not made a decision on how I want to build benchwork. There is some discussion as to whether this is our last home; my wife wants to move back to Texas after I retire, but I have always wanted a basement, and this house is as good as it gets. So I have to plan for something that might be moved as in some type of modular benchwork. I have stockpiled 3/4 cabinet grade plywood to rip into dimensional lumber for framework. I have always wanted to try spline roadbed of some sort, and I may do that on the mainline. No rush, still have to finish projects in the garage before I can start building benchwork in the basement.
Happy Hump Day
I think we're getting your snow John. It's been dusting on and off since last night but too warm to accumulate or stick. I hope you get your styrene delivered today.
Congrats on your daughter making starting lineup for the varsity high school soccer team Mike. I know for certain you are so proud of her as we are of our grandson Anthony as well.
We went to see him graduate high school last fall. He earned a scholarship from his grades and was picked by scouts to play football and baseball in the college he started recently. We are due for another visit and plan one later this spring.
One for passenger car guy
Courtesy of Getty Images
TF
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
*Turns on lights* Hello?
Flo, better start a pot of coffee and get some sweet rolls baking. Looks like we'll need to draw them in today.
Good morning (just) Diners. I'll have a large coffee and some sweet rolls please, Flo.
We have been listening to an Audio Book about Conspiracy Theories. Some Dawn and I go along with. Others we keep an open mind.
A friend who knows I like to do some baking visited yesterday and left me some shortcrust pastry. Plans are to be made as to what to bake. Sausage and Cranberry Rolls is high on the list.
Not only is Kevin missing, there are a number of others as well. I hope they return soon.
Try and call into the Diner later.
Stay Safe Everyone.
LION knows all about conspiracy theories.
Today's conspiracy seems to involve a Greek Sandwitchand a trip to Walmart.
That is about as far as I can go without being chopped off for promoting polytics.
Hi Brother Elias,
I just want to say that I love the pictures that you are posting of the beautiful big cats! Every time I see a picture of a big cat I get a bit of a rush.
Thanks,
Good morning, everyone. Bacon, eggs, and black coffee, please.
The biggest event in my life recently: I ran a locomotive on some new track yesterday. That's the first running train in months. Of course, it was just a test, but it seems like great progress.
The I-beams came from Plastruct, so I am going to start building my first bridge. I'm so glad I decided to scrap the last layout and start over. It has breathed new life into me.
Lion, I'm still in your debt for your suggestion to put all wiring behind the fascia instead of under the table. I drill holes down through the table where needed, push wires through, use a stick to grap them and pull to the connectors. All my wiring is done sitting in a chair beside the table.
Of course, I still have to install some switch machines, and I don't see any other way to do that except to go under. Not looking forward to that.
Bear, I have loved your Where's Waldo Kevin thread. Kevin emailed and said he loved it, too. I have a feeling we will be seeing him back in the diner soon.
Mike, I forgot about jinxing myself with comments about snow. I see some more may be coming later next week. It will be my fault.
Tin Can, I went years without a snow blower, and one year, my wife gave me one for my birthday. I wasn't real thankful -- there were other things I wanted more, but over the years of a snowy driveway, that snowblower has become my favorite birthday gift ever.
David, that's interesting about you listening to audiobooks. I have wanted to do that when we drive long distances, but my wife does not like them. She wants us to listen to music, which isn't real good for keeping me awake driving. Our small town library has a huge selection of audio books, and I know a lot of people use them.
TrackFiddler, you've been very good about taking pictures of your bridge progress over the months. I will try to remember to take some pictures while I work. My daughters also like to see pictures of my layout. Thanks for inspiring me to try scratchbuilding the bridges.
I hope everyone has a great day today. Those of you who read this thread, how about posting some comments!
The Alabama and Western Florida RR:
Woke up to this song this morning. Thought if anybody, maybe Mr Track Fiddler would appreciate it.
York1Those of you who read this thread, how about posting some comments!
Hi John,
I always enjoy your posts, especially those where you take the time to respond to everyone else's posts. We need more of that in the forums. Thanks for your contributions!
hon30critterHi John, I always enjoy your posts, especially those where you take the time to respond to everyone else's posts. We need more of that in the forums. Thanks for your contributions! Cheers!! Dave
Good morning, Dave.
I live in an isolated area of the country, and I know only one other model railroader here, and his is basically a collection of Lionel trains.
So I don't have friends or clubs close by with the same interests.
That's why I love the diner on the forum -- it gives me a sense of a group of friends, even though I'm pretty much alone out here. Thanks!
Hi Everyone,
Brunhilda, coffee with cream, please.
Just dropping in to say hello. Work was interesting last night In that I feel like I actually accomplished something. I had been auditing some of our back stock, meaning making sure the physical inventory matched what the computer says we have and vice versa, and came across this wire shelf that was installed upside down. I showed it to one of the supervisors and he offered to help re-install it if I wanted to do it. So, last night we re-installed the shelf. The initial installation had crimped the side support brackets around the wire shelf, so armed with only a claw hammer and an adjustable wrench, we proceeded to pry it apart and reverse it. After several minutes of hard labor, we got the shelf re-installed and I was able to finish auditing that section before it was time to go home. It was a very small victory, but I felt satisfied.
Nothing MRR to report for the moment.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Good Morning,
Day 4 of our quarantine. Unlikely we were exposed but my wife says it is possible she was since she was in the doc's office. She will close a window if someone walks by on the street as they could be emitting covid. I have tried to explain air currents and volume to no avail. She is a very smart person but logic goes out when you have extreme anxiety.
John, I read and enjoy all your posts. Do keep us informed about your layout progress.
I too like the big cat photos Lion is posting. I count myself very fortunate indeed having seen lion, cheetah and leopard on our safaris in Africa.
Think I may watch some train dvds today. I have a set of 3 that were shot mostly around here in 1957, 1958 and 1959. They are unusual as they were done with sound.
The snow is slowly melting which is how we want it to avoid flooding. Even so the floodway will be in use. It is a huge ditch dug around the city to divert large flows of water in the Red River. It saved our bacon in '97 and even then was a close call so it was dug wider and deeper. Cost a fortune as many bridges had to be rebuilt. Just gòogle Wiñnipeg, flood of 1997 to see what I mean.
Time for another coffee.
CN Charlie
Good morning
A chip off the old block Mike. Johnny Cash's daughter Rosanne sure can play that guitar! Liked the Train video with it.
Sounds great you have your trains running again John and that your styrene i-beams came in yesterday. I know you'll have fun starting your new bridge.
I remember Lion posting all the wiring in the front panels that flipped up. It made pur-fect sence simplifying things (Edit) for VERY EASY future access. Hopefully he posts a picture of that one again.
That thread was hilarious as the Photoshop pictures were certainly funny. If I know Kevin I would bet that was his kind of humor as well.
I had asked Kevin for a picture of him in a crowd to post in the Waldo thread but poof it was gone. This is Kevin (red shirt, upper right) at the Warped Concert.
It appears he had just begun to be passed overhead or had just finished. It looked like he knew how to have fun in his younger days. I hope he returns soon as he is missed around here.
York1Of course, I still have to install some switch machines, and I don't see any other way to do that except to go under. Not looking forward to that.
Yes, we are too old to climb under tables. But of course, I assume you are using tortoise switch machines, so we start this bakwards and work to the finished product.
I drill a 3/8 or 1/2 inch hole under the switch points.
Then I wire the tortoise. You need light weight wires to rhis to work. Since you have a computer you will have several unused parallel port printer cables. (If not a friend will hasve some) Cut the ends off, slit the jacket and holding the wires in one hand and the jacket in the other hand, rip them out one from the other.
You will be left holding either 25 wires or if it was a newer cable you will be holding 25 pair of wires (all the better). Separate the wires or the pairs. Keep pears together. (applesalutely!)
Solder 4our pair to the tortoise. Make them just long enough.
NEXT, feed the instructions to wehastever sort of a beast that you keep at home.
[I was just watching a fire video of a warehouse fire in Brookly, and two pigs walked out of the building.]
Now carefully center the actuator on the tortise and put a glob of sillycone caulk on the face if it, keeping it away from the acktuator.
Thread the acktuator up through the hole in the table (this is why you needed such a big hole) and then threasd it up through the hole in the throwbar.
Slide the tortoise until the switchpoints are also centered and there is no fore - aft stress on the acktuator, and press the tortoise to the table bottom. So you are above the track, and only yoyur left hand is under the table setting the tortoise in place. It should stay, but if kneaded a length of gorrila tape will hold it until the sillycone sets.
Once set, feed the wires through the fascia and connect as required.
BroadwayLion That is about as far as I can go without being chopped off for promoting polytics.
When my daughter graduated from college, the commencement speaker was Angus King, the Senator from Maine. He was there because one of his offspring was also graduating. In his speech, he mentioned that politics is a compound word, with poly meaning many, and tics referring to small annoying insects. My daughter's boyfriend was incensed, not for any party affiliation, but because he was a biologist, and a tic has eight legs, not six, and is therefore not an insect, but rather an arachnid.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
BroadwayLion
Guess lions can't read.
Good grief, get a room!
Just watched the "My Baby Thinks He's a Train" video. I had long forgotten about that song. Just for everyone's edification, the song was originally released in 1981 and produced by Rodney Crowell. At the time I think Rodney and Rosanne were still married. The very hot guitar picking was provided by none other than Albert Lea, who was a former band mate with Crowell when they were with Emmy Lou Harris. I had to look a little bit of this up to jog my memory, but when I listened to the track, I thought it was Lea; however Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs can play similar to that. Googling it verified what I suspected. I always liked 80s country. It was still country...to a point.
Mike: thanks for the video. Not only were the train pictures great, but it brought back a pleasant memory.
You're welcome Jim. Glad you enjoyed it. I too have a soft spot for '80s country. I like a lot of 90s country too, but you are right, it isn't really country anymore. It's pop with a twang. I basically quit listening to country about a decade ago. Can't remember the last time I heard a steel guitar in a new song.