Running Bear's November 2020 Coffee Shop


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Afternoon All,

The started out with the grandkids and lawn camp. We finished up around noon and since daughter was here I didn't need to drive them home. After lunch I went up to the layout room and cleaned the newly ballasted track.

I decided then to test run the Genesis F3 and 2-8-8-2 to find any ballast issues. Well.... On the right hand loop around the F3 would derail going up the incline (past the soldered track joint), always in the same spot if it ran any faster than 15 smph. To make it more confusing if it was backing up the incline or either direction coming down the incline there was no issue at any speed o_O. I spent probably 45 minutes fiddling with the track painting and ballasting without any change. I also gauged the loco wheels and track but they were in spec. Since the track is on a incline and super elevated using a level isn't much help.

At this point I said the heck (not the real word) with the F3 and ran the 2-8-8-2 around the ballasted track expecting it to derail in the same spot. Much to my surprise there was no issue going in either direction at the spot or any other for that mater.

By this time I'm scratching my head and thinking I wonder if the ballast when it dried changed the super elevation at that spot somehow (I'm clutching at straws) so I spray the area with RA to loosen the ballast and slip in one more styrene strip (from For Sale sign) under the outside edge of the problem spot and then tested it. Now the F3 runs the loop at 50 smph forward and reverse without issue. SMH.

I need to retest the 2-8-8-2 with the change but that is for tomorrow. I was over MRR'ing at this point.

Troy- When I lay track my thumbs always feel like pin cushions from the rail joiners.

Joe- Sounds like great progress. Neat photos.

Rich- Great pictures.

Willie- Nice layout bars.

Guy- Nice picture of the homestead and railcar.

I hope everyone has a good night.
 
I rarely solder joiners/track. Since I attach feeders every six feet or less and to at least one lead off every switch

Willie: Believe it or not, for the two years or so the temporary version of my layout has been up and running, I have used the "New Guy" method of power transmission...that is through the rails. The only wiring has been jumpers to bypass dead frog switches. It worked over a distance of 38'. Now that the layout is going to stay,I wired the buss for the second power district, last summer, and will begin connecting the feeders tomorrow. The first power district, still uses the "New guy" method...for now. Micro engineering joiners are tight and I don't solder unless a feeder wire is connected. When I started using Atlas C-83 on the Pennsy portion, I remembered why "they" all recommend soldered joints. :rolleyes:

Did you use any kind of a guide, or just "eye ball it?"

Jerry:
I used a 10" section of Kato Uni-Track, with a short 34" radius section to make the "S" curve, then outlined it on the board. Then I glued the cork roadbed down, and when dry and painted, centered the Atlas "Super-flex" on the roadbed. It pretty much found it's own way from there.
Thanks for the kind words.


I find it hard to believe that I used to do things like this by myself years ago.

Sherrel: I hear ya, brother.

Love my Kato Unitrack.

Hughie:
See my response to Jerry. Uni-track (HO in my case), is a great product. The switches (turnouts) are a bit too rigid, for much of what I want to do. Otherwise a fantastic product. I kept mine, I have a feeling it will some day come in handy.

B&O #5 at Shenandoah Jct. 10-4-1970 Roger Puta photo.jpg

B&O #5 the Westbound Capitol Limited passes through Shenandoah Jct. WVa on October 4, 1970 in the B&O Chessie System scheme. Roger Puta was the Photographer.
 
Willie: Believe it or not, for the two years or so the temporary version of my layout has been up and running, I have used the "New Guy" method of power transmission...that is through the rails. The only wiring has been jumpers to bypass dead frog switches. It worked over a distance of 38'. Now that the layout is going to stay,I wired the buss for the second power district, last summer, and will begin connecting the feeders tomorrow. The first power district, still uses the "New guy" method...for now. Micro engineering joiners are tight and I don't solder unless a feeder wire is connected. When I started using Atlas C-83 on the Pennsy portion, I remembered why "they" all recommend soldered joints. :rolleyes:



Jerry: I used a 10" section of Kato Uni-Track, with a short 34" radius section to make the "S" curve, then outlined it on the board. Then I glued the cork roadbed down, and when dry and painted, centered the Atlas "Super-flex" on the roadbed. It pretty much found it's own way from there.
Thanks for the kind words.




Sherrel: I hear ya, brother.



Hughie: See my response to Jerry. Uni-track (HO in my case), is a great product. The switches (turnouts) are a bit too rigid, for much of what I want to do. Otherwise a fantastic product. I kept mine, I have a feeling it will some day come in handy.

View attachment 120770
B&O #5 the Westbound Capitol Limited passes through Shenandoah Jct. WVa on October 4, 1970 in the B&O Chessie System scheme. Roger Puta was the Photographer.
I may have told this before but, I was at the Great American Train Show in Houston. One of the display layouts had track I hadn't seen before. It looked pretty good with ground cover right up to the sides of the track. So I asked about it. The guys running the layout told me it was Kato Unitrack. They had been using it for about 12 years and to date hadn't had any problems despite taking apart and re-assembling at the next show over and over. I bought an oval and a couple of turnouts. As they say,"the rest is history".
 
Hey der folks! The neighbor and I managed to off-load the saw and I took up the area - only space available - where the Spousal Unit's car is supposed to be so she is on my case!
The motor, bearing and most everything is "top notch - just a very few rust spots which will clean up very nicely. I now have a much nicer table saw than the same model that I already had that I paid $75 for 12 years ago that came with a drill press too!
Rod and I didn;t get past that part as he had a Dr. to go see - and I needed to make my weekly grocery trip.
J discovered that TP (didn't need any) is in short supply as well as cleaning supplies and many foodstuffs. I guess that everyone is expecting another "lockdown"? I keep saying that the virus is just going to have to run it's course - all they are doing with the lockdown is bottling it up to let it out again ... it's not going away anytime soon.

Here is a little jewel that I came across -- This photo taken around 1905 and was on part of the Frisco/St Louis ~ Memphis and Southeastern Line. I really need to model that caboose!

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Greetings!

Since the surge has hit, and everyone was grabbing TP again, I grabbed a couple of rolls.

No, not that kind...
Cinnamon Rolls in the tubes. Help yourself before the wife wakes up. She'll make me pop em in the fridge for tomorrow.

Screen Shot 2020-11-15 at 6.46.35 AM.png


Had to host an online video chat for HMGS yesterday. Three hours of talking with game designers from Warlord Games. So I got very little accomplished on writing, and nothing on the layout.

Technically, this is NaNoRiMo (Nat'l Novel Writing Month)... I should be 15 chapters in. I'm on #5. The US election and its aftermath had me not writing for too many days. I need to get caught up. This one is due to the editor in a month.

I'll try to replace that one wonky section I cut out yesterday. If it goes better, I'll count that a victory. Thanks to everyone who offered tips and tricks on track laying. Some of those will definitely help.
 
Good morning. It's cloudy and 54.
Not to be outdone by Troy, I've been writing a series of articles called "Ebay Watch", where I showcase some of the things people buying through Ebay need to be aware of, and stay clear. While it's focused on a particular brand of RV, the words of wisdom can be used for nearly any purchase there. I have the first two articles submitted, one of which is on its way to print. The second is in final editing, and adding photos and graphics. I'm working on the third in the series now.
 
Good Morning All. Clear and 47° in good ole North Central Texas. The north wind should start to diminish in a few hours and it will be another pleasant fall day here. Won't nearly reach 83° like it did yesterday, but close to 70°. Chilly nights for the next two or three days though, but daytime temperatures in the mid-70's.

Set me up with the Sunday Breakfast Special this morning Flo, Eggs Benedict. Easy on the Hollandaise though.

Thanks for the likes and comments regarding the local bars yesterday; Guy, Sherrel, Garry, Jerry, Hughie, Phil, Troy, Tom O, Curt, Joe, James.

Worked on some detail parts for various things and put down some more ground cover in the train shed yesterday. Along with details for the two current projects, I finished up a few from the workbench that ended up enhancing the scrap metal salvage yard from last spring. No scene on my layout is ever considered complete as I add stuff here and there all of the time.
So let's resume the bar crawl. I had just recently added the Bamboo Hut in Charlottesville. This is a very old plastic but that I cannot remember who made it. The molds went from company to company during the last century; I think that it may have been a Heljan kit when I purchased it.
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And then there's the Calico Cat. It's in the center of a Walther's Merchant's Row I structure.
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Moving on, we come to McSoreley's Old Ale House. This is supposed to represent an actual establishment in NYC somewhere. It is a laser-cut structure from JL Innovative.
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Our final stop today is the Sidetrack Tap & Tavern. It occupies one end of a DPM structure known as Seymour Block.
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As you can see from yesterday and today, bars/clubs provide a lot of income for my little citizens

Guy - Yes that is a Ni-Cad battery being used as an exhaust fan. I have hundreds of them. They come out of my hearing aids! I am always on the lookout for everyday items that I can use on the layout to add detail.
Jerry - Glad that you survived the storms.
The Green Door Lounge is one of my favorites as well. That's the owner's wife dancing with a patron out front.
Joe - I have used "The New Guy's" method on the past. What I do with feeders since starting this current layout is overkill even to me. But feeders are cheap insurance. I still "pinch" all rail joiners and use a small pair of needle-nosed pliers to insert them.
Sherrel -
I find it hard to believe that I used to do things like this by myself years ago.
I find that I can still do most of them, but it takes a whole lot longer.

Everybody have a great day. Be safe and do the social distancing thing.
 
Good morning. It's cloudy and 54.
Not to be outdone by Troy, I've been writing a series of articles called "Ebay Watch", where I showcase some of the things people buying through Ebay need to be aware of, and stay clear. While it's focused on a particular brand of RV, the words of wisdom can be used for nearly any purchase there. I have the first two articles submitted, one of which is on its way to print. The second is in final editing, and adding photos and graphics. I'm working on the third in the series now.
Wording words is wonderful, no matter where the wording of words word
 
On the railroad side of things, here is a photo of a center-beam flat that I took this past autumn:
View attachment 120763
I archive whole sets of photos of different rail cars. It's kind of a secondary hobby.

Now personally I love to see wagon shots. Yes I have something of OCD when it comes to making things look and run right, but wagon shots like this give opportunity to weathering records. More! More! I wish I could find some of these centre-beam flats in N gauge, but they seem a bit elusive. If anyone see's any N gauge Black Friday deals on locos/stock suitable for current day BNSF/UP operations please do let me know or PM me. Being in the UK, I am still getting to grips with the various model retail outlets in the US!

@McLeod please feel free to post some over on my modelling thread if you wish - anything that you think may be useful! Talking of which, I have posted an update on that thread with the latest timber work ... we are edging closer to track being laid!

Rich
 
Good morning.....Coffee Flo with some French toast.
Troy- I lay the track first and work the flex track around and nail it in a few places. Use a short car and a long car to test. Just give them a shove to see how they roll through the curves. Be sure to put drops in to keep a constant / even flow of power. After everything is in place and secure then soldier the joints. Thin soldier as other suggested. I use flux in a paste, put it on with a small brush. Just heat the outside of the rail and add the soldier into the rail joiner, you don't need much. If you can, pre soldier your drops. I add them under the rail so they are not seen. You have to remove a tie maybe 2 for N scale. I use wood ties to cut and glue them in place. Once blasted you can't really see them.
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Good morning y'all. 36° and sunny in Central Jersey.
30th Street Station and Race Street 1977.jpg

Aerial view of Philadelphia's Thirtieth Street Station, Race Street Engine House, Penn Coach Yard. and a totally different skyline than the present.
Taken during the time. Note the billboard advertising Helen Reddy appearing at the now long defunct Latin Casino across the river in South Jersey.
Yes, there is Conrail Road Power on the pit...the Helper Crews that assisted freight trains up hill from 44th St to Paoli. Busy place back then.
 
Morning all! A cold wet day up here in WI, but I won't complain about it. We are in mid-November and it's kinda supposed to be that way here this time of year! The O'Neill's build continues with the tower. For the tower you get four laser cut clapboard siding walls, and you go over the clapboard with individual boards so it's basically board by board construction with the wall as the template. It gives the finished look a lot of character, and lets you "make it your own" so to speak. Note the laser scribed likes on the walls. These let you butt board ends together and keep everything in line. Nice touch! I'll be doing more work on these walls today, framing for the windows, and making up the windows and doors.

Adding Siding.JPG


Tower Walls.JPG
 
Morning all,
Hey Boris! I used to work at 'Powelton yard' , it is just off to the right of your picture, We had an alcoholic worker who would disappear into 30th street station at lunchtime (around 8pm). He would stop answering his radio. So the boss would send me to look for him.

Powelton yard was the SEPTA regional rail train yard, MU's for commuter traffic in/around Philadelphia. Electric trans, full scale.

We both got back late from lunch!
 
Morning! This fine Sunday brings us a cool 20°F under threatening cloud. I believe we are in for a layering of the white stuff, and subsequently more shovel exercise to curtail obesity.

Guy - Yes that is a Ni-Cad battery being used as an exhaust fan. I have hundreds of them. They come out of my hearing aids! I am always on the lookout for everyday items that I can use on the layout to add detail.
Willie - I do the same thing; save all my junk in a file box, as someone else's garbage may be a modeling treasure trove for my future needs. Good recycle move on the battery.

wagon shots like this give opportunity to weathering records.
Rich - I have likely taken +/-1000 photos of railcars since I acquired an interest in the railway in December, 2019. I archive them on a flash-drive because, I believe they are extremely important for the benefit of the historical record. I'm also keenly interested in prototype photos for modeling purposes. - To that extent, I go all around railcars and climb up onto them in order to acquire good photos. I deliberately risk getting arrested for the sake of a photograph; perhaps I might be known as railway paparazzi.
That particular center-beam flat (posted yesterday) was photographed from 10 different positions. I wanted to be able to read the lettering on the side, and be able to see the weathering. It attracted my attention, because it was blue. All of it's mates were the usual box-car red.

I take the risk and collect those photos for a reason. Never, will I do any damage or vandalism; I'm not that type of person. I have repeatedly asked permission from the various rail workers to photograph their trains when they park them and go to the bunkhouse. As far as I'm concerned, I have permission to be there. So I'm not afraid of the tickets penned by the CN tax collector. That permission will be tested in court come January, when I appear for that last ticket I got.

Oh, Oh! I started to get carried away!

Here are some photos of a pair of tank cars I took in the staging area this past autumn. These are 3 of 41 photos taken of these particular cars. The cars are gone from this area now, and might not ever be back. I have a record that they were here, though:
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I know that someone is interested in that type of photos. Not everyone, but, some are!

Thank you for the likes on past trivia! Have a great Sunday!
 
That's interesting, I was going from what I remembered reading on the instruction sheet. The one I've got is still as original. Have tried to sell it for $50 at Buy & Sells, but I don't think many know what CNW is and are not interested in 4 axle Locos. They also all wan't DCC/Sound dirt cheap.


If I remember correctly, the reference to using a lighting resistor is in the decoder Installation booklet. It should be for Digtrax decoders.

Or, check the TCM website and they have step by step instructions for various locomotives.

Greg
 
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