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BEER BARN Locked

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  • Member since
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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, October 26, 2006 12:40 PM

Anybody for a chocolate beer?

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by SilverSpike on Thursday, October 26, 2006 3:11 PM

Sure Jeff, chocolate beer sounds good to me.

Have you ever tried the Purple Haze from Abita Beer? It is a raspberry wheat beer.

 

Ryan Boudreaux
The Piedmont Division
Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger era
Cajun Chef Ryan

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Posted by Train Master on Thursday, October 26, 2006 3:24 PM
to bad im too young for that stuff. maybe in 5 or 6 more years

David Parks
I am the terror that flaps in the night!

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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, October 26, 2006 4:40 PM
I'll have to try the purple haze later. Right now me and the Trainmaster are outta here! Stormy weather moving in and I have to shut down the network.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
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  • From: Manitou, Okla
  • 1,630 posts
Posted by mikesmowers on Thursday, October 26, 2006 4:45 PM
Afternoon all, I know it's early but I'm tired of laying on my back under the layout repairing wiring.
    Joe Bring me a cold beer will ya,  Thanks, man thats good. 
    I started out this morning ripping all the wire from under the layout, (not the bus wires, just the light wires) I am replacing them with new wire and lots of heat scrink tubing. I have a few of those plug in type things that are in the back of some stereos for hooking up the speakers. I wired those to to the PC power supply and then am hooking up the lights to plug into the speaker plugs. Should make it easier when the time comes to do maintance or changing things around





  Am I making any sence?  I still need to put in a lot more heat scrink tubing but I'll have to wait til tommarrow as I run slap out of the stuff.
    Oh well I am tired and thiristy,   What did you all get done today, Anything interesting?    You all take care and I'll see you later.         Mike

Modeling Trains Is Not A Matter Of Life Or Death, It Is Much More Important Than That!!
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  • From: Sundown
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Posted by Train Master on Thursday, October 26, 2006 7:23 PM
and i thought my spelling is bad! How bout a tonic and lime.

David Parks
I am the terror that flaps in the night!

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, October 26, 2006 9:20 PM
A Russian beer for me before young Mr. Parker and I hit the road. More storms are moving in and I want to get everything shut down and tied down before they hit. We're expecting heavy rain with flooding. Night all, I'll be back tomorrow. If I'm not, my young charge here probably will be.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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  • From: Northern Minnesota
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Posted by colvinbackshop on Friday, October 27, 2006 12:26 AM

Cold tap for me Joe. And set up the house for whoever is left here!

Keep high and dry Jeffrey, and be safe!

So Mike, you are doing some wiring. Sounds like a good plan being able to easily disconnect the feeders. Did you ever find out what was heating up, causing the smoke?

Puffin' & Chuggin', JB Chief Engineer, Colvin Creek Railway
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Posted by mikesmowers on Friday, October 27, 2006 8:58 AM
   Morning all  cup of coffee Joe, Thanks.  
   I haven't found any burnt wires or anything of the such, but I am not done yet. The power supply I am using will shut down if it even thinks there is a short, Why it didn't the other night is beyond me.   I did fry a 12v 1 amp wall wart that was controling the street lights, I think some of them were dim just befor the smoke.  I figure a short on the line with the wall wart.  So far so good.
                                                                      Mike

Modeling Trains Is Not A Matter Of Life Or Death, It Is Much More Important Than That!!
GUB
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  • From: Ingersoll, Ontario
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Posted by GUB on Friday, October 27, 2006 9:15 AM

 mikesmowers wrote:
   Morning all  cup of coffee Joe, Thanks.  
   I haven't found any burnt wires or anything of the such, but I am not done yet. The power supply I am using will shut down if it even thinks there is a short, Why it didn't the other night is beyond me.   I did fry a 12v 1 amp wall wart that was controling the street lights, I think some of them were dim just befor the smoke.  I figure a short on the line with the wall wart.  So far so good.
                                                                      Mike

Morning All... Cup of coffee this morning. Hope everyone is well.

Mike pardon my language (& ignorance) but what the hell is a wall wart?

Gotta Go. Tons of paperwork to get through.

GUB

  • Member since
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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, October 27, 2006 9:21 AM
A traqnsformer that plugs into the wall.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


GUB
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Ingersoll, Ontario
  • 342 posts
Posted by GUB on Friday, October 27, 2006 9:28 AM

 jeffrey-wimberly wrote:
A traqnsformer that plugs into the wall.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Thanks for the info.

GUB

  • Member since
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  • From: Manitou, Okla
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Posted by mikesmowers on Friday, October 27, 2006 9:31 AM
    I just assumed everyone knew what a wall wart was. Sorry I should have explained myself better
     Mike

Modeling Trains Is Not A Matter Of Life Or Death, It Is Much More Important Than That!!
GUB
  • Member since
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  • From: Ingersoll, Ontario
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Posted by GUB on Friday, October 27, 2006 9:36 AM

 mikesmowers wrote:
    I just assumed everyone knew what a wall wart was. Sorry I should have explained myself better
     Mike

That's okay Mike. I'm new in the hobby, recently returning after 35-40 years. I heard the term before but never knew what it meant and not wanting to appear stupid I just never asked the question. But I figure I feel comfortable enough to ask the question hear.

Thanks for the info.

GUB

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  • From: Northern Minnesota
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Posted by colvinbackshop on Friday, October 27, 2006 10:39 AM

Coffee here too Joe!

Another late night last night, and so I'm not running on all cylinders yet.

Mike, could be the wart's time was up....and there is nothing majorly wrong with the wiring....On the other hand, up-grading and cleaning it up can only be a good thing!! Right??

GUB, glad you feel comfortable! As far as a question....Always feel free to ask away. This MRRing thing is just an ongoing experiment for me, I'm learning something all the time...Sometimes the hard way (shoulda', coulda' asked a question or two first). To quote Red Green "Remember, we're all in this together, I'm pulling for you"

David, be careful not to criticize...When I was in school, I was an experiment on how to teach spelling with out learning phonics....It didn't work!

Gotta' get busy....Have another LONG day ahead!

Puffin' & Chuggin', JB Chief Engineer, Colvin Creek Railway
GUB
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  • From: Ingersoll, Ontario
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Posted by GUB on Friday, October 27, 2006 11:57 AM

JB - I'm assuming that Duct Tape is your friend.

GUB

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Manitou, Okla
  • 1,630 posts
Posted by mikesmowers on Friday, October 27, 2006 5:07 PM
   Howdy Joe, I'll have a cold one here, it's Miller Time.   No one here yet I see, well I have to be the first at something I guess, would be better to be first in the chow line though.
    I did some cedar shingles on the Coleman Fuel shop building today, takes a lot of time but worth it, I can see I need some more practice getting the rows straighter, but looks better than shingles printed on the computer.
    I didn't do any wiring today, didn't feel like it my sinuses are driving me crazy, have been for about 3 days.  I will be glad when I can breathe again.  Don't wory Joe the others will be after while.      Mike

Modeling Trains Is Not A Matter Of Life Or Death, It Is Much More Important Than That!!
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, October 27, 2006 6:36 PM

Fill 'er up, Joe.  Us oil men have a powerful thirst.  I'm still fixing up the Burns Fuel and Oil Company, adding some scenery around the tanks and trying to figure out that unloading thing.  Somebody pointed me to a reference that makes me think one of the hoses is for the fuel to come out of, and the other is to pump in air to pressurize the tank and push the fuel out.  That means I've got to use different colors for those pipes, too.

Rain is due in around midnight, according to the timetable that I've learned not to put much faith in.  It was clear blue skies as the sun went down.  Still, it will be Saturday, so I suppose we have to get rain.  That's OK, I need layout time to paint the cover-ups for the Atlas switch machines.  I'm pretty happy with them so far, but now I'm doing an A vs B test of whether I need to coat them with Gypsolite or just paint them.  Time will tell, and so will I.

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

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Posted by mikesmowers on Friday, October 27, 2006 6:48 PM
    MisterB,   I have been wondering about the unloading of tank cars also. As you are probley aware  I too am building a facility that unloads tank cars. I always assumed that the cars are unloaded from the bottom, but I have been looking at my tankers and there is nothing around the bottom that even looks like onloading valves.  I am watching your thread to gain more info here.  Have you seen the pics I posted today of Coleman Fuel?  Take a look, I think I need something but I cannot tell what, Might use some comments from you,  Let me buy another drink, I hate to see anyone with a empty glass.     Mike
  


Modeling Trains Is Not A Matter Of Life Or Death, It Is Much More Important Than That!!
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, October 27, 2006 7:00 PM

Mike: Check this out! It's a P2K E6 on a Kato drive. I can't even hear the motor running, it's so quiet.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,481 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, October 27, 2006 7:03 PM

I like lots of pipe runs going all over the place.  The Walthers kit came with them, but they're kind of short, so I picked up some styrene rods and I'll extend the runs across the track to the other side, where I'll unload the tank cars.  Your building with the shingles looks great.  Campbells?  Does it have any interior detail, like some of your others?  I'm going to put in some 2-dimensional cutouts of Montgomery Burns and Waylon Smithers once I get my building put together.

Maybe a big propane tank with a fence around it for filling up grill tanks?  Some of the "bulbs" from sprue ends would work as small tanks, I think.

Have another while you think about it.  Harpoon again, Joe.

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

  • Member since
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  • From: Manitou, Okla
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Posted by mikesmowers on Friday, October 27, 2006 7:21 PM
     Jeffrey.    I saw the pics on another thread and am impressed. What do you mean exactly about ""Kato Drive?"
     MisterB,,I like the idea of a propane tank and fence,   Thanks for the vote of confidence, the shingles are made by Evergreen, and yes the building is detailed.  Here a pic of the building removed ( took a huge HO crain and several HO man hours to get this pic)



On the inside of the building glued to the walls are two filling cabnets and a payment counter.


    Whats going on here My glass is empty?
                                                                          Mike

Modeling Trains Is Not A Matter Of Life Or Death, It Is Much More Important Than That!!
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, October 27, 2006 8:44 PM
Jeffrey.    I saw the pics on another thread and am impressed. What do you mean exactly about ""Kato Drive?"
Just that. It's a Proto 2000 that's had a Kato motor and drive system put in it. It runs like a dream.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    October 2005
  • From: Northern Minnesota
  • 898 posts
Posted by colvinbackshop on Saturday, October 28, 2006 12:48 AM

Howdy guys....Set um up Joe, and I'll have a tall tap with a couple shots of Mr.T

Mike and Mr. B..I'm not 100% sure, but I think I remember reading something a number of years ago now, about tankers being built with out any appliances (valves, piping...nothing) on the under side, for safety reasons. I the case of any derailment / accident, with everything "top-side" the possibility of catastrophic leakage was somewhat diminished.

I too am looking into the off-loading (the how and why of the piping) of fuel. I will have the Walthers kit that you are doing Mr.B, as a large distribution center, Anchor Gas & Fuel, in one of my larger towns (details to yet be worked out) and a kitbashed Colvin Lumber and Fuel in the small community of Sawbill Junction.

Mike, did I miss a photo of you oil depot on this thread?

One more, once around Joe.....Then I gotta' go.

Puffin' & Chuggin', JB Chief Engineer, Colvin Creek Railway
  • Member since
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  • From: Northern Minnesota
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Posted by colvinbackshop on Saturday, October 28, 2006 1:25 AM

Well...Maybe just one more Joe. Guess it's just you and me now...Man you work some long hours, hope you get paid well.

I was just thinking about my comment regarding tank cars and the more I thought, the more I remembered....The unloading from the top that I was reading about was in regard to LP tankers! Still don't know about other fuels, but I'm going to be in Aurora a week from tomorrow and I will take the time to check out the "real" Colvin Lumber & Fuel. Maybe they are still served by rail...Or somebody there will remember the old days when they were!

Now I really Gotta' Go....Keep the change Joe, you deserve a good tip!

Puffin' & Chuggin', JB Chief Engineer, Colvin Creek Railway
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  • From: High Point, NC
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Posted by 91rioja on Saturday, October 28, 2006 2:07 PM
Hey all.  I know I'v been away for a few weeks.  It was a bad week last week, so set 'em up across the bar.  I need a few right now.

I got a project at work tossed on my desk with an unreasonable completion date placed on it.  Not only that, but on Tuesday, I found out that one of my co-workers has passed away early that morning.  He had spent the past couple of years fighting a brain tumor.  The docs took it out, and he was better for a few years, and then it came back, this time resting on his brain stem.  He lost the battle on Tuesday morning.

I think the thing that gets me about this was why it chose to attack his brain.  That was the essence of what he was, and it was brutally attacked.  If you ever met this man, your life was changed for the better just by knowing him.  So anyone care to tell me why this would attack what made him who he was?  It really hacks me off!!!

So anyway, I took over some of his programming work this week; I swear I felt him looking at me laughing and pointing his finger saying "Heh, heh, heh.  You've gotta fix all that bunk code now.  It's no longer my problem!"  It was kinda comforting and weird at the same time.

His celebration of life was this morning in Texas; I was not able to be there in person.

I'm still reeling from this week.  Sorry for venting, ranting, and spewing.  I do not mean for this to turn into a pity party; just needed to talk about it.  Thanks for hearing me out.

On the train front, one day I was in the train room, and realized that the only way my layout was going to come out of the room in one piece was a) remove the north facing exterior wall entirely, or b) with a very large hammer and a load of debris for the garbage men. Both options were not acceptable. So, needless to say, I came to a grinding halt rather quickly.

My wife and I are in a new house (3 years this past July), and FedEx is adding an additional runway to the Greensboro airport to expand their services. Depending on which study you look at, I am either in the flight path or in between it. So, each and every day we have the discussion "Are you ready to move or not?"

With that being said, if I invest the time and $$$ into this layout, if we move, I want to take it with me. So back to the design stages. I have a few ideas floating around in my head.

Ryan, I made a big pot of sausage and chicken gumbo Thursday.  Man was it good.

I'm going to have to get back to see all the past pages; looks like a bit of catch-up to play.

Thanks for letting me get some things off my chest.  I'll be back later.

Chris
GUB
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Posted by GUB on Saturday, October 28, 2006 2:41 PM

Hey Chris sorry to hear about your friend. It doesn't seem fair does it? Never is.

I can sympathize with you about shorts deadlines and all. I go through this every week. The paperwork keeps piling up and you never get caught up no matter how many hours thatn you put in. I've got almost 2000 messages in my inbox. Most of them do not need my attention but some of them will. The problem is even if i was to do 30 or 40 each night it will take forever. But now I'm venting.

I keep telling myself things will get better and they will.

Again I'm sorry to hear about your friend. Let my buy you a drink. Whatta you have.

GUB

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Manitou, Okla
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Posted by mikesmowers on Saturday, October 28, 2006 2:49 PM
  Chris, sorry about your friend. I also lost my Grandmother a week ago this past Friday, although not a tumor but to cancer, I don't which would be worse. We all watched the cancer on her face grow until it was nearly as big as a baseball, She couldn't open her left eye because of the huge growth, this all took place over a 16 month time frame. Needless to say there was a closed casket . 
   I hope things will get beter for you over time, and I'm sure it will.         My sympanthy twards you.    Mike

Modeling Trains Is Not A Matter Of Life Or Death, It Is Much More Important Than That!!
GUB
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Ingersoll, Ontario
  • 342 posts
Posted by GUB on Saturday, October 28, 2006 3:09 PM

Afternoon All.

I got an idea for my 2nd diorama. Actually it is large enough to be a module for my eventual layout - 30" x 60". I have a basic idea of what I want to do. But I have a couple questions and hopefully those who read this could give me some advise.

The first question is this. Should I use code 83 or code 100 flex track? I was at a local train show recently and talking to one vender who told me that code 100 was the equivalent to rails that would be 14" high in the real world. He went on to say that the code 83 was more realistic and there were plenty of switches or turnouts to match the code 83 and if i wanted to I could use code 55 for sidings and yards. One of the disadvantage (at least to my way of thinking) of going with the code 83 track is the cost. Of course if I was to buy in bulk it would be considerably more economical.  I also read somewhere and I cannot remember just where that some of these spectacular layouts we see in magazines use the code 100. Any thoughts on this?

My second questions has to do with the operating system. I want sound and eventually will have accesories on my layout so I'm thinking DCC is the way to go. From what I have seen, read and heard about it appears that Digitrax is the likely choice, unless someone can tell me why not. I would like to have power on this Diarama. But would like to be able to use it on my layout eventually. What system should I buy? Anyone? Any thoughts?

Think I'll have a glass of juice. Too many late nights as of late and I really do not want a drink now. Perhaps later at the party.

Will check back later. Bye for now.

GUB

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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, October 28, 2006 3:11 PM

When we remember friends who've passed on, try to do it in a spirit of celebration of a life well lived.

I've been doing a bit of scenery the last few days.  Here's the result of the "buried toxic waste" discussion we had here a while back.  It still needs some more paint and a bit of turf cover here and there, but you can get the general idea from this:

 

Is it just me, are do those guys with the shovels a deep-V necklines look like they're about to break out into a chorus of "YMCA?"

 

 

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

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