Cold, windy and rainy for the weekend here in NE Ohio.
I'll be at the layout running the new Rapido EP-5 Jet. So far it looks like a winner. Very smooth operation and pulls about 13 passenger cars up a 1.75% grade with ease.
NH_EP5_Jet by Edmund, on Flickr
I hope everyone is doing well these days. Good to hear from Jimmy Braum again.
Looks like I snagged the top of the page. Friday? Sounds like a good time for a fish fry!
Before:
Fish Fry 057 by Edmund, on Flickr
After:
Brennan's Perch Dinner by Craig Sanders, on Flickr
Thanks for the Passenger Car photos, TF!
Leap of faith:
Willow bridge, 1992 by Fred Clark, Jr., on Flickr
Near Palmetto, Florida, 1992.
Enjoy!
Cheers, Ed
Track fiddlerI remember Lion posting all the wiring in the front panels that flipped up. It made pur-fect sence simplifying things. Hopefully he posts a picture of that one again.
Yes, whale,,,
First I have (at least) two bus wires that circle the layout. The top one is GROUND, and is wired to a hard ground (the grounding pin ou your electrical outlet). MUST be a hard ground else you will get stray voltages on it.
The second bus is +12V DC, and it tyically used for hotel power... stfreet lights, structures, etc.
Now if you use DCC you will need two conductors for your DCC system.
LION is all DC and connects the LEFT rail (In the track's norma direction to the GROUND bus. The Right rail is connected to your block systemor what ever. + Voltage moves the train forward... - voltage puts the train in reverse.
(LION GETS far more complicated than that.)
LION uses brass brads as binding posts for the wires of him. (Signals, relays, switch motors etc etc)
I might put 12 to 24 such brads in an array and then use a 12 pair cable to connect these back to my control system.
---> In the interlocking plant of LION my control switches connect to +12V DC on one side of the switch, and -12V DC in the reverse position. The middle pole controls the switch machine. Typicaly anll interlocking toggles are DOWN in the Normal position, and a toggle is moved UP to place the device (Switch Machine or Home signal into the reverse position.
From the console where these switches are located you connect to the home end to the cable that goees out ontgo the layout.
VERY EASY... Yeah, Right...
details are at the other end of decat... or on my website on the RESOURCE page. You can download the OPPERATIONS MANUAL... ...well no you can't the link doesnt work. I will have to fix that in the morning. sorry ET
I haven't read that in a while!
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Good morning
Early to bed and early to rise at 4 a.m. so in no need of coffee and definitely not any donuts, Thank you.
Whale
To many definitions. Definitely not the obvious 1. & 2. so 3. was chosen as 4. & 5. leave very little room to be desired.
But Thanks for a whale of a wiring summary of your technique provided as I will be checking the link later when fixed. Lion wiring of preferred by me is
P.S. VERY EASY...Yeah, Right...
The comment was edited to what I meant as I beg your humble pardon in my prior post
Fiddler has both copies but the book is better. The movie made the character look too friendly.
And the spaceship too Willy Wonka-ish to make it magical for the Kids I guess.
Chariots of the Gods an interesting book even though I don't condone the title.
TF
Good morning from the sunny land of peace and quiet.
Went outside with the coffee this morning and the silence was deafening, I need to break out the patio furniture so I can just sit and take it all in.
My daughter is coming home today for a last break before exams start, she also has to give some lectures and her mentoring/counseling program is also keeping her busy as students start to have meltdowns over exams starting. We won't see her too much as she will be in her room working but being able to take a break to play the piano or go for a long walk with the dogs really recharges her batteries.
Today we are going almost into Vancouver to a custom cabinet place and then a tile place to pick stuff for the bathroom reno. Oh, joy.
Ed, nice looking loco, glad it is performing well. Speaking of fish, the wife came home with fresh Cod right off the boat on Wednesday, the perks of living on the Pacific Rim. It was sooooo good.
Always good to see Jimmy in the diner, you should stop by more often Jimmy.
Charlie, those Winnipeg floods were quite something. I have photos of my Mom, Grandparents, sister being evacuated by boat from the house. I think my Mom was very pregnant with me at the time.
John, good to see the new layout coming along. You will have to post a "once around" video once things are up and running.
Had to go to Defcon1 yesterday as my recumbent bike broke, it is currently in pieces but I am confident I can fix it. I have had it for 12 years and it has a gazzillion hours on it. Once the computer (on the bike) packed it in and because of the few things I learned through this hobby I was able to repair a circuit board and it has been fine ever since.
My Queen made roast chicken yesterday, I always eat the whole thing except for a bit of the breast I let the wife have. It was the best.
We'll probably have sushi tonight as we always get that on the way home from the Ferry when we pick up my daughter. I also need to stock up the bar, we are out of rum and whiskey, we have beer, but that has way too many carbs so I rarely touch the stuff.
York1The 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.
My buddy and I were in Hawaii once on the 26 floor of the hotel, we never took the elevator up, only down. Racing up the stairs was the only way those Pinacolodas could be kept in check. In the morning we would make paper airplanes and throw them off the balcony and whoever's plane went the furthest had to buy the first round.
The grass is growing like crazy, I will be doing cut #2 this weekend, should hit 16c today. At one of the nurseries near here, they were unloading a couple of hundred full-size coconut palm trees off flatbed trucks. Apparently, they are for the movie industry, We saw this before where they turned several streets into some tropical local.
Got my F7B decoder back from Rapido, they reprogramed it for me to match the F7A's I had. I sent it to them in an envelope and they sent it back in a box full of popcorn. I still need to install it. Good guys at Rapido.
Always good to sit a spell at the diner, hopefully, we get a good crowd through this weekend.
A rainy day video from Wednesday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM7SmWxxrXk&ab_channel=BATTRAIN1
All the best to all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Good Afternoon,
Well it is a cool day with a strong wind. No melting for a couple od days.
Brent, if your grandparents were being evacuated by boat, that would be the 1950 flood. Things were quiet until the 1997 flood. I remember a pump in the basement in 1950. It fascinated a 3 year old. Mum said we had to stop pumping, let the basement flood and move to my grandparents for a couple of weeks. I don't remember that. In those days the only thing in the basement was a coal fired furnace so not much to get ruined.
Doing a grocery run soon.
Have a nice day,
CN Charlie
Good afternoon, diners. No food today -- just coffee.
Ed, thanks for the fish. I'm having salmon tonight, so I'll get my share today.
up831and 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.
That a compliment to you, Jim. There are many employees who would not take the time or effort to fix something unless they were pushed into it.
Charlie and other bird lovers, on our trip last week, I had a first for me. I know that several of you have mentioned piliated woodpeckers. I have never seen one before, which leads me to believe they aren't very common in Nebraska. However, last week in the forest, my granddaughter and I saw one! It was the first one I've ever seen.
BroadwayLionYes, 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.
Lion, when I get to the installation of the switch machines, maybe you could get your superior to give you time off, and you could travel several states south and help me install my switches. I'm not looking forward to it.
Mister Beasley, I've heard that joke before about the word 'politic' but I didn't ever think about the tick not being an insect. I'm not real fast on picking up things like that.
Track fiddlerP.S. VERY EASY...Yeah, Right...
TF, I'm with you. For people like Lion, it seems easy. For me, it's Greek, and I don't know Greek.
Brent, enjoy your daughter's visit. It seems that when they get married and have families of their own, you don't get to see them quite as often.
Everyone I haven't mentioned, I hope you have a good Friday!
Bradenton, Florida, bridge over the Manatee River:
York1 John
gmpullman The original "shorty": CN_Plough_55401 by Edmund, on Flickr
The original "shorty":
CN_Plough_55401 by Edmund, on Flickr
A Wawa Shorti
BATMANAll the best to all.
Hey, I represent that!
(Someday I'll finish it )
Mack_goat by Edmund, on Flickr
I forget where I picked it up?
STILL cold and rainy here... To the TRAINS!
maxmanA Wawa Shorti
Unfortunately, the closest Wawa to me is 311 miles away. Looks tasty, though
The Freedom Train in St. Pete:
American Freedom Train, St. Petersburg display by Fred Clark, Jr., on Flickr
A very capable "fireman?"
Ginny on the ladder, 1977 by Fred Clark, Jr., on Flickr
I've never tried to fire wearing platform shoes before. Might be tricky to hit the firedoor pedal?
Is this the same bridge John posted?
Closer, 1976 by Fred Clark, Jr., on Flickr
gmpullman Is this the same bridge John posted? Closer, 1976 by Fred Clark, Jr., on Flickr Cheers, Ed
Ed, it sure looks like the same bridge, but I know that in Florida there are quite a few bridges across the canals and rivers, so it's hard for me to tell for sure.
York1Ed, it sure looks like the same bridge,
Pretty sure it is, between Palmetto and Bradenton. Here's Fred Clark's caption:
A closer presentation of the American Freedom Train crossing the ex ACL trestle and draw bridge span between Palmetto and Bradenton. The famous train was on its way to a Sarasota showing, Dec.7, 1976.
Another look:
Bradenton, II, 1976 by Fred Clark, Jr., on Flickr
Seems like the SCL has to re-glue the Yard Limit sign to its post!
Regards, Ed
gmpullman Hey, I represent that! (Someday I'll finish it ) Mack_goat by Edmund, on Flickr I forget where I picked it up?
Is that a kit Ed? Here I was throwing out another tease to Dave the critter man thinking it was something he would have to scratch build.
How about the Mack railbus, got one of those?
I went tile shopping with the boss as well as cabinet shopping. Somebody, please shoot me. The liquor store was a must after that. My daughter got held up and is now coming home tomorrow morning. I was hoping for an evening of listening to her play the piano, oh well what's another day?
gmpullman Brennan's Perch Dinner by Craig Sanders, on Flickr Willow bridge, 1992 by Fred Clark, Jr., on Flickr
I like your new EP-5 Jet Ed Always loved a good shark nose. And thanks for the fish fry
Do you suppose the track separated from contraction due to the Heat of the Day?
I'll see your bridge and I'll raise ya one
https://youtu.be/TpwKVPbJpUo
I think you posted a pic of this one before?
Track fiddlerDo you suppose the track separated from contraction due to the Heat of the Day?
Or they ran out of money? They ran short and the track store was closed?
Santa_Fe_Kevin by Edmund, on Flickr
Yep, Brent, the Mack is a kit. I'll step into the train lab and see if I still have the box. {edit} Yep, mine is from Walker Models. There were similar or maybe the same from SS Ltd. and On-track. Wiseman makes a current kit:
https://wisemanmodelservices.com/HO-SCALE-MACK-BR-SPECIAL-SWITCHER-KIT
Jordan made a model of a different Mack.
Love those Macks!
KEESHIN_TOFC by Edmund, on Flickr
MazdaMackW by Edmund, on Flickr
BC&G Mack railbus A by Trainiac, on Flickr
https://www.brasstrains.com/Classic/Product/Detail/113177/HO-Brass-Model-WMC-Mack-Railbus-Rail-Bus-One-of-a-Kind-Pilot-Model-Unpainted-Made-in-Japan
This is a Mack, too. Ran on the New Haven:
150925_3_danbury by lmyers83, on Flickr
While not a mack, still a pretty spiffy "pre RDC" bus:
GMC_Bus by Edmund, on Flickr
gmpullmanYep, Brent, the Mack is a kit. I'll step into the train lab and see if I still have the box. {edit} Yep, mine is from Walker Models. There were similar or maybe the same from SS Ltd. and On-track. Wiseman makes a current kit: https://wisemanmodelservices.com/HO-SCALE-MACK-BR-SPECIAL-SWITCHER-KIT
Hi Ed and Brent,
I beat you to it! I have one of the Mack kits. It is a nicely made little model. Thanks to advice from Darth Santa Fe, I was able to motorize it, almost that is. I got it running nicely with working lights and DCC too, but the motor conked out. I tweaked the gears and put in a second motor but it fried too. For now it sits on the repair shelf. I think I will have to rebuild the drive system.
Here is the home built frame for the drive system:
Here is the assembled drive:
Here are a couple of my scratchbuilt critters:
This one has sound:
Here it is in its monthly parts:
I started this twin for the critter in my avatar a long time ago and lost interest. It just needs a roof and paint to finish it:
I remotored this kit with a Bull Ant drive and added DCC with sound. This shows how many wires had to be stuffed in!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good Evening,
John, nice score on the piliated! We get them from time to time in our yard. They go for the suet log. It is a 2' piece of log with holes drilled in it that we stuff with suet. It hangs from a hook and is big enough for a piliated to land. They are an amazing bird and always seem pre-historic to me. They usually announce their arrival with a loud wok-wok. A piliated needs a large range and we get them even though we are in the city because the river is nearby with a wooded shore plus we are beside a golf course that borders the university that has a large experimental farm along the river.
Enjoyed seeing quite a few pileated woodpeckers where I grew up north. I agree a magnificent bird. A common problem for some is the male will find the highest point that makes the loudest knock. A mating ritual to attract a female candidate in the spring.
In rural areas in the cities I would get inquiries from people for repair on their tall wooden chimney enclosures. They're hollow so they make a terrific amplified knock sound. I felt sorry for these people as I would be thinking as soon as you make the repair the Pecker will just come back and do it again.
They would tell me they can't find anybody to do the repairs. I didn't want to do them either as it was too high up and I saw too many trips up and down a tall ladder if you even had one tall enough. I've always been a two-story carpenter and after that I'm afraid of heights. I would do the job I was there for and refer them to a company with a lift or more scaffolding tears (tiers) than I had...
Speaking of too high up, I couldn't find any high ones but there's plenty of low ones down there.
https://youtu.be/1TYzMfGWKR4
Good morning Diners. A large coffee and blueberry muffin please, Chloe.
Gosh! All this wiring and 'elektrickery' stuff I had to check I was on the right thread. lol. Interesting though.
Woodpeckers. I have never seen one. I did receive a glowing commendation from my schoolteacher when I drew a picture of one.
Taking Dawn to a local Mall where she can exercise her body.
Hopefully I will run trains later.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning again
We found out there's an egg shortage among other empty shelves when we went to the grocery yesterday.
We always have a big breakfast brunch Saturday morning. Feels almost like a Train Wreck now that I don't know what I'm going to eat here.
https://youtu.be/xicjW79gAts
You can't start feeding humans everyday and then just stop. They become dependent on it and could starve to death in the winter time......
Post Hog!
Bay Gull forgot to give you Bengal
And Bank Gal
But don't let that Boggle you
[quote user="Track fiddler"]
TF /quote]
Dawn would like me to cook Eggs, Chips (Fries), English Baked Beans and Tomatoes
I'll have a couple of eggs left over, so I'll leave them in the Diner.
We get our eggs from the mailman. He is a local chicken farmer, and we get a dozen eggs a week for $3. There was a dry spell last year where the hens were on strike, I guess.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Just a quick check-in. I'll be back for something to eat later.
I just got word that we have to go to the theater to see a movie that someone in our house wants to see. Whether or not I want to see this movie doesn't seem to matter.
Maybe I'll enjoy it. Yeah, that's it, maybe ...
It's 5 O-clock on a Saturday
The regular crowd shuffles in
Brent is kicked back on the West Coast
Relaxed with a rum -n- coke again
Sing us a song You're a railroad man
Sing us a song tonight
We're all in the mood for a passenger train
And oh what a beautiful sight
La de de de la de da la de de la
Now Dave is an innovative modeler
Who comes up with mind-blowing things
Perhaps if we all had his modeling mat
We might be surprised what it brings
We're all in the mood for a switching yard
To sort all the freight cars just right
https://youtu.be/gxEPV4kolz0
Track fiddlerNow Dave is in innovative modeler Who comes up with mind-blowing things Perhaps if we all had his modeling mat We might be surprised what it brings
Thanks TF!
No egg shortage for us although they do go into their phases where they don't lay for a while. During the short daylight hours I set up a light on a timer to fool the hens into thinking it is still summer.
Nesting Layers by Edmund, on Flickr
Hey, what's up with that odd one?
Wilson in the nest by Edmund, on Flickr
Turns out Wilson was just looking for a comfortable place to take a nap.
Pileateds are pretty common around us. This one is a juvenile:
Pileated_8-20 by Edmund, on Flickr
I slept all day today. Snow is falling outside. Off to the trains!
Hi Everyone,
Just dropping in to say hello. Ed has a post in this week's WPF that is worth drawing attention to. It was about the process Ed was describing to give the best visual impression of a scene or a section of his layout. Personally I think it's worth checking out. The nice thing about our model worlds is that it is not reality. We can construct a scene to be visually appealing and make a presentation, which in the real world may be a jumbled mess. Nicely done, Ed. Anyway, that's my 2 cents.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Track fiddlerBrent is kicked back on the West Coast Relaxed with a rum -n- coke again
A man, his dog, has rum and the Canucks are on.
Spent two hours on the guitar, six hours on trains. Currently, it is Canucks and Rum. Another perfect Saturday.
gmpullman No egg shortage for us although they do go into their phases where they don't lay for a while. During the short daylight hours I set up a light on a timer to fool the hens into thinking it is still summer. Cheers, Ed
I expected to read that the lighting was controlled with an Arduino.
Hi gang!
My calendar says that it is March 27th! The month seems to have gone by very quickly. The end of the month signals (you choose the type) that we need to choose a place to move the Diner to. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have a couple in mind but I'll wait to see what others suggest.
Cheers!!