Running Bear’s June 2025 Coffee Shop

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bnsf971 said:
I’ve been noticing the current crop of locomotives seems to be DCC/sound, or DC/Silent, with very little simply having only a decoder. I tried getting just the DC version, and adding a decoder, but by the time I get to that point, it ends up only being about $25 cheaper than getting one “fully loaded”. Probably a lot of that has to do with the price of motor decoders going up. I’ve noticed a standard decoder that used to be around $20-25, is now $35+. Plus I’m having to pay shipping for the decoder, in addition to the engine.
With what I’ve seen, I may decide to just go back to the sound versions, for the relatively small price increase.
Anybody else have any thoughts?
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Where are you getting your decoders from and what type do you need? I just ordered a bunch of DH165IP (8 pin) from Iron Planet for $22.
 
Good looking tomatoes, Willie.

Summer suddenly arrived two days after the heat was on and our low as 42. Today, the temperature hit 89°...no need for heat. No AC yet.

Speaking of decoders, On Saturday, my latest Atlas Silver (DCC Ready) ALCo. RS-32. Initially, the recommendation was a Soundtrax, (silent) MC1H1D2P8, 2 function 8 pin decoder. Since then, I have learned that this most recent version has a 21 pin plug....and may? come with a factory installed speaker, which would need a 21 pin plug and play sound decoder. Guess I'll have to take the engine apart to see, before I order one.
I may also have one already.....Have to look.
 


Boris said:
Good looking tomatoes, Willie.

Summer suddenly arrived two days after the heat was on and our low as 42. Today, the temperature hit 89°...no need for heat. No AC yet.

Speaking of decoders, On Saturday, my latest Atlas Silver (DCC Ready) ALCo. RS-32. Initially, the recommendation was a Soundtrax, (silent) MC1H1D2P8, 2 function 8 pin decoder. Since then, I have learned that this most recent version has a 21 pin plug....and may? come with a factory installed speaker, which would need a 21 pin plug and play sound decoder. Guess I'll have to take the engine apart to see, before I order one.
I may also have one already.....Have to look.
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I put a silent decoder in an engine that was factory equipped with a speaker. That was kind of where my thoughts were when I made my earlier post.
 
You know why Baptists lock their car doors at church?
So their back seats don't get filled with garden stuff when they aren't looking!
88 here today and HUMID, sprinkles and showers off and on today. Taught at church tonight, and went okay, Family coming in this weekend again, so tomorrow is cleaning day.
 
Kusojiji said:
order my Kato 11-109 chassis' from Yodobashi as they are the cheapest I could find. I just recently ordered a Tsugawa Yoko tram and a silly car that I will post a pic of when it comes in. Only problem is that they don't accept US credit card on their on-line system. Tried 2 times with them coming back with we can't verify it,
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The problem is that a lot of Japanese retailers use an online verification system (at least for Visa) that many U.S. Banks aren’t a part of. Kind of like that “verified by Visa” thing that used to come up on some U.S. websites. This also causes problems buying Shinkansen tickets from JR East, using Apple Pay to reload your virtual Suica/ICOCA/Pasmo IC cards using a Visa, and at many other websites.

Amex cards seem to have no issue and Mastercards use a different verification system that seems to work better with US cards. Some U.S. Visa do work. Depends on the issuing bank.
 


bnsf971 said:
I’ve been noticing the current crop of locomotives seems to be DCC/sound, or DC/Silent, with very little simply having only a decoder. I tried getting just the DC version, and adding a decoder, but by the time I get to that point, it ends up only being about $25 cheaper than getting one “fully loaded”. Probably a lot of that has to do with the price of motor decoders going up. I’ve noticed a standard decoder that used to be around $20-25, is now $35+. Plus I’m having to pay shipping for the decoder, in addition to the engine.
With what I’ve seen, I may decide to just go back to the sound versions, for the relatively small price increase.
Anybody else have any thoughts?
Click to expand...
My problem with it is you have to use their decoder. Which may not be one you like or compatible with your system (RailCom vs Digitrax transponding or the sound files aren’t what you normally use so your sound loading system won’t work).
 
DeaconKC said:
You know why Baptists lock their car doors at church?
So their back seats don't get filled with garden stuff when they aren't looking!
88 here today and HUMID, sprinkles and showers off and on today. Taught at church tonight, and went okay, Family coming in this weekend again, so tomorrow is cleaning day.
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Specifically zucchini. That’s an oldie but a goodie. Substitute your favorite confession as appropriate.
 
bnsf971 said:
The decoders vary according to the engine. We can't do it the easy way, like they do in HO scale. I currently need a CN-GP for an Atlas GP7, and a DZ123 or equivalent for a U50 I picked up last week.
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Ah, n scale. Those itty bitty decoders. I buy from Tramfabriek most of the time. Train-o-matic decoders. They work pretty well for what I need.

Decoders

tramfabriek.co.uk tramfabriek.co.uk

Shipping is cheap - about $20 to Japan for up to 1 KG.
 
chadbag said:
The problem is that a lot of Japanese retailers use an online verification system (at least for Visa) that many U.S. Banks aren’t a part of. Kind of like that “verified by Visa” thing that used to come up on some U.S. websites. This also causes problems buying Shinkansen tickets from JR East, using Apple Pay to reload your virtual Suica/ICOCA/Pasmo IC cards using a Visa, and at many other websites.

Amex cards seem to have no issue and Mastercards use a different verification system that seems to work better with US cards. Some U.S. Visa do work. Depends on the issuing bank.
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Yodobashi is the only one I have problems with, so far. I use my cards most of the time and barely ever have cash in my wallet. I guess it's a reason to go walking. Just came back from a 3 miler, hitting the family mart on the way.
 
Kusojiji said:
Ah, n scale. Those itty bitty decoders. I buy from Tramfabriek most of the time. Train-o-matic decoders. They work pretty well for what I need.
Click to expand...
I mostly use D&H, Zimo, ESU micro decoders for N scale. DM-Toys.com in Germany has their own special label D&H decoders that have some of the extra function channels removed and are hence cheaper. I bought twenty to save on shipping (and added a closeout Fleischmann SBB locomotive as well to get max bang for shipping dollar 😅😉😂😜).
 
Just left Costco Kobe.

Lots of sushi available.

IMG_9151.jpegIMG_9152.jpeg

They had these interesting cans. The English sign didn’t say what kind of soup it is but I guess the Japanese says it’s an assortment. I assume it’s soup powder.

IMG_9153.jpeg

Went to the food court. Lots of choices, unlike the U.S. Costco food court. They still have combo pizza as well. But the hot dogs are just 100% pork.

IMG_9154.jpegIMG_9155.jpeg

I had the Bulgogi bake. Like the chicken bake but Korean style beef bbq filling. It’s really good. Also had the Hokkaido Soft Cream ice cream. It’s like a condensed milk flavored soft cream. It was good.
IMG_9156.jpegIMG_9158.jpeg

There is a large parking garage. Each stall has a sensor with a red and green light so you can spot the empty stalls. Pretty cool. And as usual 99.9% of the folks back in.

The parking garage is above the store and they have this long flat moving walkway that’s sloped to go up hill. The wheels on the cart are grooved to fit in the grooves of the moving walkway and probably there are magnets involved but the carts ride up the walk way as well.

IMG_9159.jpeg
 
chadbag said:
I mostly use D&H, Zimo, ESU micro decoders for N scale. DM-Toys.com in Germany has their own special label D&H decoders that have some of the extra function channels removed and are hence cheaper. I bought twenty to save on shipping (and added a closeout Fleischmann SBB locomotive as well to get max bang for shipping dollar 😅😉😂😜).
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Yeah, that's the way to go. Since shipping is weight related and those decoders don't weigh anything, you can pile them on.
 


santafewillie said:
I failed to mention earlier, that today is the 51st anniversary of the infamous "Ten Cent Beer Night" riot, at a Cleveland Indians home baseball game in 1974 against the Texas Rangers.
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It was later topped (in stupidity) by Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park July 12, 1979

santafewillie said:
This quote from sportswriter Paul Jackson says it all.
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Could that have been Phil Jackman, sportswriter of the Baltimore Sun?

santafewillie said:
This is a new to me variety called Fourth of July. Plants were planted on 4/11.
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I haven't had a garden in forty years, but I love tomatoes, and they are real beauties!
 
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