Running Bear’s June 2025 Coffee Shop
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Only to come back later and eat them.
Looks like your crows shared, likely parent and youngin
What kind of truck is on the Varney? My Athearn Consolidation uses axle end pickups that act like bearings. Part number 2428-PR03. They are wired on both sides.
Good morning! It's 75°F and mostly clear.
Have a great Thursday! 
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Texas Hobo
Well Known Hobo
Good afternoon, all! A rainy day here at present. Should clear up later today. I had to roll out early this morning for a meet with PCP. That went well and now we await lab results. He has recommended I try Ozempic, so we'll see how that goes.
Should get to see the train room this afternoon.
STAY SAFE
LATER
Should get to see the train room this afternoon.
STAY SAFE
LATER
chadbag
Well-Known Member
That's what I was kind of hinting at...
Yes, and at least in Utah, that is a valid defense to a charge of killing a rattlesnake. I have no argument with that.
logandsawman
Northern Pacific history enthusiast
We had a crow that regularly deposited pieces of pizza into our birdbathI just got home from the gym and I notice 2 crows on the roof of the rental next door. It looked like they were picking bugs out of the 25 year old moss covered roof. I zoomed in with my camera phone and wouldn't you know, they're eating a rat.
View attachment 223368
Only to come back later and eat them.
Looks like your crows shared, likely parent and youngin
westtexjohn
Well-Known Member
Good day to all............
For me, the only good snake is dead snake. If I lived in a state where rattlers are protected, I'd still dispatch the slithering critter......just don't tell anybody. Here in Texas we have rattle snake round-ups to keep a check on their population.
Copperheads were around when I lived in east Texas. I learned to never leave boards or anything similar laying around the place as I once lifted a board to move it and found one full grown copperhead with six youngsters. Those are nasty snakes and their bites are usually always deadly.
I know blacksnakes are good to have around but, for me, I usually don't try get close enough to determine one snake from another.
I use AdBlock on my computer. Its free but I contribute a few bucks every now and then.
DuckDuckGo is my search engine. I use a browser called "Brave" on my Linux laptop. Brave and one other browser are supposed to be the most secure and privacy driven browsers around. This according to some computer guru who compared about 8 browsers for their security features.
Your mileage may vary........just my choice here.
Maybe some time in the train room today.
I have watched some YouTube videos on crows and learned they are pretty intelligent birds. Guess I am pretty easily entertained. I watched some old Betty-Boop cartoons too.
Everyone have a great day......John
For me, the only good snake is dead snake. If I lived in a state where rattlers are protected, I'd still dispatch the slithering critter......just don't tell anybody. Here in Texas we have rattle snake round-ups to keep a check on their population.
Copperheads were around when I lived in east Texas. I learned to never leave boards or anything similar laying around the place as I once lifted a board to move it and found one full grown copperhead with six youngsters. Those are nasty snakes and their bites are usually always deadly.
I know blacksnakes are good to have around but, for me, I usually don't try get close enough to determine one snake from another.
I use AdBlock on my computer. Its free but I contribute a few bucks every now and then.
DuckDuckGo is my search engine. I use a browser called "Brave" on my Linux laptop. Brave and one other browser are supposed to be the most secure and privacy driven browsers around. This according to some computer guru who compared about 8 browsers for their security features.
Your mileage may vary........just my choice here.
Maybe some time in the train room today.
I have watched some YouTube videos on crows and learned they are pretty intelligent birds. Guess I am pretty easily entertained. I watched some old Betty-Boop cartoons too.
Everyone have a great day......John
Texas Hobo
Well Known Hobo
Made it to the train room for a little bit. Exercised a couple of locos that haven't seen track time in a while.
chadbag
Well-Known Member
We talked about the Siemens City Sprinter and its Euro aunts and uncles, the EuroSprinter and later Vectron. Here are a few of my EuroSprinter and a Vectron. Most of my EuroSprinter are of the "Taurus" type or the ES 64 U variant, originally meant for passenger or freight and have that sloped/raked nose. Taurus is actually a copyrighted name used by the Austrian Railway for their variants of it but it has become used generically by rail fans.
The first is a EuroSprinter ES 64-U2 (Class 470 of Hungarian railways -- similar to the German Class 182). The blue/marine color one is a Class 183 ES 64 U4 of the Arriva private railway. It is a form of Taurus or ES 64 but has an updated body that meets newer safety standard for drivers, though this one has only a single door and the later standard ones have doors for the driver on each end. The Class 182 is the standard classification for the German railways ES 64 U and the Austrian classification is the 1016 / 1116 / 1216, depending on which electrical standards to supports (only Germany/Austria, or also into Czechia, Poland, etc). In the pic that has the 5, from left to right are
A Class 182, a Bombardier TRAXX (DB Class 147) -- only non EuroSprinter in the list but distantly related to ALP-46, another Class 182, an Austrian 1116 Taurus (equivalent to Class 92), and the ES 64 F4. The F4 has a simpler body and is geared differently and is a freight version of the EuroSprinter (hence the F -- the U in the other ones being Universal). The last pic that says SBB Cargo is a Siemens Vectron. It's a modular development of the EuroSprinter and is very popular one. It's a follow on to the Taurus style and Freight EuroSprinter.
I do have some others in the series as well (for example a red DB Class 182)
So the ACS-64 City Sprinter used by Amtrak etc is an off shoot and development for the US market (safety standards etc) of the above.
The first is a EuroSprinter ES 64-U2 (Class 470 of Hungarian railways -- similar to the German Class 182). The blue/marine color one is a Class 183 ES 64 U4 of the Arriva private railway. It is a form of Taurus or ES 64 but has an updated body that meets newer safety standard for drivers, though this one has only a single door and the later standard ones have doors for the driver on each end. The Class 182 is the standard classification for the German railways ES 64 U and the Austrian classification is the 1016 / 1116 / 1216, depending on which electrical standards to supports (only Germany/Austria, or also into Czechia, Poland, etc). In the pic that has the 5, from left to right are
A Class 182, a Bombardier TRAXX (DB Class 147) -- only non EuroSprinter in the list but distantly related to ALP-46, another Class 182, an Austrian 1116 Taurus (equivalent to Class 92), and the ES 64 F4. The F4 has a simpler body and is geared differently and is a freight version of the EuroSprinter (hence the F -- the U in the other ones being Universal). The last pic that says SBB Cargo is a Siemens Vectron. It's a modular development of the EuroSprinter and is very popular one. It's a follow on to the Taurus style and Freight EuroSprinter.
I do have some others in the series as well (for example a red DB Class 182)
So the ACS-64 City Sprinter used by Amtrak etc is an off shoot and development for the US market (safety standards etc) of the above.
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Good Evening All. Hey Dave, or anyone else. Can you put your birdman hat on and help me identify this never before seen visitor? I was in the pool when it arrived and I used the phone to snap a few pictures, so sorry for the quality.
Quite colorful for this neighborhood.
You may wonder why I take the phone out to the pool, since I disdain it to begin with.
1) I use the clock to know when to get out to begin supper prep.
2) I use an app (Plane Finder) on it to identify the planes flying overhead. Passing interest to me. I used to call Sherril with questions!
Quite colorful for this neighborhood.
You may wonder why I take the phone out to the pool, since I disdain it to begin with.
1) I use the clock to know when to get out to begin supper prep.
2) I use an app (Plane Finder) on it to identify the planes flying overhead. Passing interest to me. I used to call Sherril with questions!
Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
What type shoes? If they are axle wipers, I don't particularly care for those as they are usually made of brass and are dissimilar metal to the axle, so they corrode and end up insulating. I tried those on my HO UP passenger cars and my N PRR passenger cars and they don't work. Even with my lighting caps, they would still flicker badly and I would have to clean the axle.
What kind of truck is on the Varney? My Athearn Consolidation uses axle end pickups that act like bearings. Part number 2428-PR03. They are wired on both sides.
Looks like a Painted Bunting
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Thank you. I believe that you are right, now that I have looked up a picture. My area seems to be a little out of it's normal habitat, but close enough that it may have strayed. According to Wikipedia, they stay in Eastern Texas and Oklahoma (among other places), about a hundred miles east of me.
Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
I recently purchased 3 sets of 3-2-1 blocks thinking that it would be nice to have some heavy 90 degree stuff with holes around. Didn't pay attention to what it was made of, thinking that it was stainless steel. When they showed up all wrapped in machinist paper and grease, I thought I had just wasted my money. So, I got to work in trying to get the grease off with a lot of dawn dish soap, which worked great. Washed them a few times with that stuff and then dried them off a bit before spraying them with wd40 contact cleaner to try to displace the rest of the water and grease in the threaded parts. I then stuck them inside my 3d printer cabinet for a few hours while printing. The cabinet has hot air being pushed around and sits at 38C. When they were done, they no longer ooze grease and now make great paper weights like they're supposed to. I will see how long it will be able to sit that way before corrosion sets.
While I was spraying the contact cleaner, it reminded me of the stuff we used to use in the nav. Trichlorotrifluoroethane. Used to use that to clean the big drum printers. Open the printer, put some paper towels under the drum and spray this stuff like it was on sale. Stiff bristle brush action, more spray. Used to come out of the printer seeing spots and higher than a kite. After a few years, they found that this stuff causes cancer, and pops brain cells. Yay! Awesome!!
While I was spraying the contact cleaner, it reminded me of the stuff we used to use in the nav. Trichlorotrifluoroethane. Used to use that to clean the big drum printers. Open the printer, put some paper towels under the drum and spray this stuff like it was on sale. Stiff bristle brush action, more spray. Used to come out of the printer seeing spots and higher than a kite. After a few years, they found that this stuff causes cancer, and pops brain cells. Yay! Awesome!!
Bruette
Well-Known Member
Good morning, Everybody!
For those of you who are new to the coffee shop you may be wondering why I capitalize the word everybody. It's because you are all capital people.
Next question, why am I here now? Today was the rare day Amazon didn't want to pay an excellent rate for the first wave (3am hour) of blocks/routes. I can't remember that last time this happened. Maybe a truck or two was late.
I am not getting off my
for punk money! Either pay me what UPS pays their senior drivers or let somebody else do it. UPS drivers don't supply their own vehicles or cover their expenses, but we do. Still overall it is a good part-time gig for a broken-down old f..$ like me. It keeps me active, which is my goal. For me, money is motivation.
And the doctors said I would never work again. What do they know? Never underestimate the Grace of God and a man's will to win.
I've always hated working out. Play ball or I am going home. I'd rather play wall-ball alone than workout. I can't do that anymore. I can't throw with either arm, forget about chasing the ball off the wall. Who will pick me up when I go down? Even at only 235lbs it's far too much for my little wife.
"Help I've fallen, and I can't get up" As @Patrick said, "That isn't funny anymore."
I already watched the replay of the Rangers and Orioles game and the Rundown Recap for yesterday's games is not available yet. In the meantime, I'll watch the replay of the Nationals and Padres. A 1-0 game is always fun to watch. If only the Nationals had won. I watch many other games, especially the Nationals. But only the Orioles' games do I watch without any distractions. Win or lose I want to know why.
My wife did get us an excellent rate for the second wave (6am hour) of blocks/routes. So, you are only stuck with me for a brief time.
A brilliant man once told me "You got to keep moving or the devil will sneak up and get you"
For those of you who are new to the coffee shop you may be wondering why I capitalize the word everybody. It's because you are all capital people.
Next question, why am I here now? Today was the rare day Amazon didn't want to pay an excellent rate for the first wave (3am hour) of blocks/routes. I can't remember that last time this happened. Maybe a truck or two was late.
I am not getting off my
for punk money! Either pay me what UPS pays their senior drivers or let somebody else do it. UPS drivers don't supply their own vehicles or cover their expenses, but we do. Still overall it is a good part-time gig for a broken-down old f..$ like me. It keeps me active, which is my goal. For me, money is motivation.And the doctors said I would never work again. What do they know? Never underestimate the Grace of God and a man's will to win.
I've always hated working out. Play ball or I am going home. I'd rather play wall-ball alone than workout. I can't do that anymore. I can't throw with either arm, forget about chasing the ball off the wall. Who will pick me up when I go down? Even at only 235lbs it's far too much for my little wife.
"Help I've fallen, and I can't get up" As @Patrick said, "That isn't funny anymore."
I already watched the replay of the Rangers and Orioles game and the Rundown Recap for yesterday's games is not available yet. In the meantime, I'll watch the replay of the Nationals and Padres. A 1-0 game is always fun to watch. If only the Nationals had won. I watch many other games, especially the Nationals. But only the Orioles' games do I watch without any distractions. Win or lose I want to know why.
My wife did get us an excellent rate for the second wave (6am hour) of blocks/routes. So, you are only stuck with me for a brief time.
A brilliant man once told me "You got to keep moving or the devil will sneak up and get you"
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Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
Good that you keep active. So are the jobs equated to the amount of loco wheels? haha
Bill Tidler Jr.
Retired N&W/NS Signalman
Spray some clear paint of some kind on them. that's what a lot of old car guys are doing to stop further corrosion on their rustbucket cars to preserve the patina.
Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
Good evening folks. Winding down for the day, watching my HO 2-8-0 drag 5 JN coaches along with my N Ruston drag 4 box cars around the room. Watching Ancient Aliens and catching up on MRR forum news.
I probably have 20 hours on the 2-8-0 since it arrived 3 days ago. It is an awesome runner and I have ensured to refresh the oils and greases to try to keep it that way. Very glad I changed my mind and got this. May be gunning for the 2-6-0 when it finally hits the stores.
I probably have 20 hours on the 2-8-0 since it arrived 3 days ago. It is an awesome runner and I have ensured to refresh the oils and greases to try to keep it that way. Very glad I changed my mind and got this. May be gunning for the 2-6-0 when it finally hits the stores.
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