Running Bear's October 2024 Coffee Shop


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Gonna go take a demo drive in a Cybertruck today down in Richmond, VA. I've had one on order for about 4 years now.
A year ago, when they started building them, I checked the estimated delivery date of mine according to how many orders where ahead of mine. It would be summer of 2026. There must be a problem with them as Tesla is telling me that my truck will be delivered in November. A lot of people must be cancelling their orders for mine to be moved up by over a year and a half.
A couple of things I would like to see improved about the truck before I'll buy one. 1) the driving range. Right now, it would have a 340-mile range on a full charge. I can pay an additional $16,000 for 105 more miles worth of battery but that would add about a ton to the vehicle and take up the hidden rear trunk area. 2) the price. My choice of options would price the truck close to $80K. Quite a bit more than the original $49K price tag they stated 4 years ago. Obviously, the current pricing is covering the start-up costs of designing and building the truck.
Why even bother? This battery stuff is a one big scam. Not only the range is a lot shorter, but to travel any long distance would be just a nightmare, since you would be spending a lot of your time at the charging station. Another issue is the recycling, not many bother to actually read on that. To recycle some components is extremally complicated, and some stuff just gets thrown away because it's unrecyclable.
 
My son and I rode the Hill Country Flyer some years ago. It is not the most scenic, but is a great ride. I was disappointed that the steam loco wasn't available, but getting to spend a day with my son was worth a diesel ride.
The loco

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The view from our car
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Out by the quarry
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Abridge that is part of the "Y" at Burnet
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Some of the cars
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The steam locomotive as far as I know is still being restored. Last check I made was July 2024.
John, did they still have the gun fight in front of the saloon?
Oh crap! Am i seeing an "Alligator" powering that scenic train!?
 
Why even bother? This battery stuff is a one big scam. Not only the range is a lot shorter, but to travel any long distance would be just a nightmare, since you would be spending a lot of your time at the charging station. Another issue is the recycling, not many bother to actually read on that. To recycle some components is extremally complicated, and some stuff just gets thrown away because it's unrecyclable.
Well, travel isn't all as bad as the Tesla haters are reporting. I've driven to Michigan a couple of times. Stopped three times, about 20 minutes each to charge. If ya don't know about the charging stations, I'm not gonna bother to tell ya. As for the reported fires, I'll let ya go on believing what the haters are saying about that too. I find it amusing to listen to. I can always tell if the person talking about the Tesla actually owns one by the hysteria they project.
Basically, non-owners seem to be sayin I'm a complete idiot for owning one.
 
Good evening all. After work went straight to the TCA train show in York, since going home would add at least an hour of driving. For those uninitiated, the TCA show is one of the largest in the Northeast. It's mostly O gauge like Lionel, Weaver and others dabbling in three rail, but there are plenty of other scales and i picked up this brass H0 steamer for $55:
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The seller was not able to tell me who made it and there are no markings anywhere on the outside. It does have pretty fine wheel flanges unlike Mantua, or Varney products and pretty cool suspension on guiding and trailing trucks. This either pre war, or early post war Marklin 0 gauge steamer definitely caught my attention, but a $1800 price is definitely beyond my reach:
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As for the reported fires, I'll let ya go on believing what the haters are saying about that too.
Not for nothing, EV fires are a real issue for the fire service. Not some imagined flaw or bias against Mr. Musk's product.
Otherwise, I have no issue with Teslas or other EVs. I just don't want to be told I have to by one by some Politician or activist.
Basically, non-owners seem to be sayin I'm a complete idiot for owning one.
No, not at all. Just personal preference. Some like them, others don't...Different strokes.....
 
Well, travel isn't all as bad as the Tesla haters are reporting. I've driven to Michigan a couple of times. Stopped three times, about 20 minutes each to charge. If ya don't know about the charging stations, I'm not gonna bother to tell ya. As for the reported fires, I'll let ya go on believing what the haters are saying about that too. I find it amusing to listen to. I can always tell if the person talking about the Tesla actually owns one by the hysteria they project.
Basically, non-owners seem to be sayin I'm a complete idiot for owning one.
Nobody said you are a complete idiot for owning one (or an incomplete one either). True I am a non-owner but I do have a lot of EV training and daily exposure to them. When the manufacturers of these cars issue warnings to not charge a car beyond 80% until a recall is done, or tells you you have to charge a car outside until a certain software update is performed that is scary. Honestly working on them without the proper training and taking certain steps can kill you. There have been cases where trained techs have been seriously hurt or killed servicing these cars. I shudder to think what could happen when Bubbas Auto Emporium gets ahold of an EV. Can you say French fried mechanic? Sure ya can!

You mentioned an a trip to Michigan you stopped 3 times, about 20 minutes each to charge. So you spent an hour doing what? Not picking, just curious. What does one do when the car is charging? Parcheesi?

I just don't see EV's as the be all and end all of our problems, and in the rush to solve our problems we have created more. I'm sure when hydrogen becomes more popular, we're gonna have more new problems there too. By then, I hope to be retired, sitting on my 🫏 and watching my trains circle the basement.

For me and my driving needs, it's a non starter. For my wife's driving needs, she may be fine with an EV, as long as its 4wd. She is one of the few school system central office employees the Must work on snow days. She's open to the idea of an EV, just not a Cyber truck. We saw one in traffic the other day. Nope nope nope on that one.
 

The seller was not able to tell me who made it and there are no markings anywhere on the outside. It does have pretty fine wheel flanges unlike Mantua, or Varney products and pretty cool suspension on guiding and trailing trucks.

John English's stuff was mostly cast metal and PRR prototype, this is neither.

Any pics of the underbelly? Also the tile on the side of the steam chests may be a clue also. Maybe United Brass?
 
John English? He made generic 4-6-2s and 2-8-2s and a PRR A5 0-4-0.
Not sure, this is all brass. I thought John English did casting in white metal and a combination of brass with white metal jobs. This thing also has an unusual cab, almost like something from midwest, Chicago Northwestern(?).
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That bunker on the tender is also nothing i've ever seen.
 
John English's stuff was mostly cast metal and PRR prototype, this is neither.

Any pics of the underbelly? Also the tile on the side of the steam chests may be a clue also. Maybe United Brass?
Here's some picks of the running gear...and that front guiding truck suspension is definitely nothing i ever saw on Bowser products, it's very flexible:
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The square marking on the side of cylinders is just part of that paint scheme. Very nice thick metal gearing also. The motor does look like DC71 though.
 
Here's some picks of the running gear...and that front guiding truck suspension is definitely nothing i ever saw on Bowser products, it's very flexible:View attachment 201980View attachment 201981View attachment 201982View attachment 201983View attachment 201984
The square marking on the side of cylinders is just part of that paint scheme. Very nice thick metal gearing also. The motor does look like DC71 though.
The tender looks European.
I remember seeing that pilot truck on an American engine. It'll probably come to me at 3AM...
 
Well, travel isn't all as bad as the Tesla haters are reporting. I've driven to Michigan a couple of times. Stopped three times, about 20 minutes each to charge. If ya don't know about the charging stations, I'm not gonna bother to tell ya. As for the reported fires, I'll let ya go on believing what the haters are saying about that too. I find it amusing to listen to. I can always tell if the person talking about the Tesla actually owns one by the hysteria they project.
Basically, non-owners seem to be sayin I'm a complete idiot for owning one.
Ken, you, and others are on to something. People are always skeptical of new technology.
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