Running Bear’s November 2021 Coffee Shop

[Greg@mnrr]

Good Morning Everyone out there in model railroad land. Overcast and light rain, no snow that the forecasters predicted at 1-2 inches by morning. Out to a good start for the winter. Good day for a fire and a cocktail to watch the Packer Game later this afternoon.

I used telephone wire for a lot of my LED and 12 volt lighting applications and have not experienced any problems. See attached photo of where I used telephone wire for my HO layout used in wiring LED signals.



I had an almost unlimited supply of used older telephone cable where I worked and the electrical contractor would save lengths of the telephone cable for me when we did a retail remodeling project. I believe older telephone cable was either 18 or 22 gauge and newer cable 24 gauge.

I wouldn't use telephone cable for DCC or Buss lines for any scale layout due to the wire's lack of being able to able the loads.

Willie: Has anyone asked if your Pizzaland is modeled after the Pizzaland in the series the Sopranos? Nice job on weathering the Santa Fe hopper.

TomO: Cute puppy and great name. But, if the real Mason Crosby misses any more Field Goals, you may have to consider changing the pup's name. Just kidding, Crosby has had a great career with the Green Bay Packers. A neighbor had a dog named Favre.

Exterior Christmas Lighting: Only during Christmas for two years did I install exterior lighting. Each time I went over board on lighting and it was a hassled taking the lighting down in January in Wisconsin. I then decided that why do the lighting outside when I'm inside and can't see it? Now we have a short Frasier Fir decorated with battery powered LED's and a life size Santa on our porch. Fast and easy exterior decor.

Curt: I sure like the mine scene with the night lighting. The lighting is so effective and well done.

Garry: Please take it easy and follow the Doctors advise.

Seems like no time for the railroad. Family day today (Cathy and Riley is the family), med appointments for either Cathy or me on next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tine to leave.....

Greg

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[PRR Modeler]

Afternoon All,

Did a couple of cleaning jobs then started on the next section of the layout which includes the Northern Power, the substation and another parking lot and road with RR crossing. I'm trying to do the road/parking lot differently than I did with the mine.

Thank you everyone for the likes yesterday

Jaz- Thank you.

Joe- Thank you. Is it me or is that a really long gondola?

Guy- Looks like you're making good progress now. It is a bad idea if your wife is anything like mine.

Christian- You're a speed demon!

Willie- That can be a great scene with lots of old details.

Greg- Thank you. When I wire up signals I pull my hair out but nothing says Pennsy like PL signals.

I hope everyone has a good night.

 

[Bruette]

Hey Everybody!

Sorry I have been AWOL. I let an infected tooth turn into a bigger problem. I've been known to ignore health issues, until they can no longer be ignored and I did it again.

I'm on the mend and doing much better now, thank God.

I hope all is well with Everyone.

 

[bnsf971]

A pair of Espee’s ubiquitous SD9Es trundles across the bridge spanning the dry riverbed at Creekville with a local:

 

[Patrick]

Afternoon all,

Well, after checking through all my locomotives and rolling stock, my Proto 2000 E-7s and an SD40 I have (6 wheel trucks) all fail through my switch points, but all my 4 wheel trucked locomotives work well.

And as I thought, I'll be selling off my 10 GN Empire Builder passenger card as they are just too large for what I have. I bought them 10 years ago when I had the space for a much larger layout. If I hooked them up, along with the engines, I have about 1/2 of my larger loop covered.

I did complete the transfer station. Roof is not yet glued as I want to do some interior work when I complete its final location.

I also forgot I had this engine:

Ran great through the switches.

 

[santafewillie]

I let an infected tooth turn into a bigger problem. I've been known to ignore health issues, until they can no longer be ignored and I did it again.

Watch out for that infected tooth. Remember that Eric (Big E), thought that his problem was an infected tooth that he ignored, but it turned out to be jaw cancer. Led to a lot more problems.

 

[Boris]

I would tell her to go up the ladder herself, but, that's a poor idea.

I need not remind you of the potential consequences of such foolishness.

 

[troyphoto]

I need not remind you of the potential consequences of such foolishness.

I wonder how many men who told their spouses to go up the ladder have a difficult time walking now. I pity the gent who had a 22Ft or longer extension ladder who did that.

 

[CambriaArea51]

Tom - Thankyou for posting photos of the modified railcar couplers. Suppose I'd better look at doing that to some Model Power cars I own. Yesterday, I noted that they want near $70.00 for a new Atheran tank car. Way too much, if one wants a fleet.- It seems all railcars are up there these days. I found a few old Model Power cars at the 2nd hand store for $3.00 the lot.

Your welcome, I've done AHM,Bachman,Tyco and others. I have some "older" Atlas tank cars that should be worth double what I paid by today's standards.

 

[Boris]

Is it me or is that a really long gondola?

I let an infected tooth turn into a bigger problem.

Curt: Standard 53' general service built at Samuel Rea Car Shop, in Hollidaysburg, PA. PRR design in the beginning. During the Conrail era, I went to a General Foreman's school at Hollidaysburg. Conrail was building more on the assembly line. Amazing sight. Some are still around.

Louis: Ouch! Hope you're feeling better. That had to hurt. I developed one during the height of the Covid - 19 overreaction, when all Dental practices were CLOSED. One guy who did actually call me back, told me to deal with it. Good thing it wasn't serious. I still have a portion of the tooth, and really should have it pulled, before it does something bad.

More fine examples of locomotive renumbering at Harrisburg Diesel Shop in 1966.

"PENNSYLVANI" - No wonder they painted over the spelled out name, and settled for Keystones.

"ENNSYLVANIA" - Not exactly...Both photos by and courtesy of Bill Volkmer, who was Assistant General Foreman across the river at the Enola Diesel Shop.

 

[CambriaArea51]

Patrick- Looks like the left rail at the pivot point of that switch is off a bit. Those Atlas switch riviots loosen over time and can flex enough to cause a problem.

 

[Bruette]

Willie & Boris, thank you for your concern, I greatly appreciate it, but don't worry.

I went to both the dentist (had the tooth pulled) and my primary care doctor. I've been tested for everything, again!

Now I'm slowly recovering.

I had been ignoring this tooth for nearly 2 years. Believe it or not sugar free gum kept the pain in check. It hurt like hell to chew, but after a few minutes it would feel better.

The tooth got infected nearly 2 years ago, doctor gave antibiotics and told me to see a dentist. I never went and it got infected again 3 months ago. I'm my inexplicable stupidity I ignored it. That was until the infection spread everywhere and my wife thought I had Covid. I got tested, it was negative.

I had no idea a tooth could make me so sick. It impacted my kidneys most of all. I have kidney disease and pancreatitis. My pankreas did much better. Doctor told me it could be weeks, even months until I recover. My kidneys were in stage 2 of Kidney disease. If things don't improve I could be stage 3. But I know I will improve and I already am improving, most days. I was stage 3 years ago and improved to stage 2, not typical, but I'll do it again!

I paid a steep price for my stupidity, but I never missed a single day of work! I worked half days, many trips to the bathroom and slept the rest.

Moral of the story, don't ignore health problems, even silly a tooth ache.

I'm back to full days three days a week. I work at least a 3-5 hours, seven days a week. I've take two days off since August 17th. I even have plans to work a few hours Thanksgiving morning. You don't want to see my list of things left undone because of my stupidity. My list of things I want to do is even longer, but I have to keep my slow pace.

I love working and I love to remind my doctors "you said I would never be able to work again". Ten years of not being able to work nearly killed me. I can't do that ever again.

I feel like a shark, I don't want to think what will happen if I stop. I'm blessed to work for myself. Any other boss would have fired me.

As the Greaseman would say " I'm perking and working and having a ball", thank God!

God Bless us Everyone

 

[D&J RailRoad]

When ya say, don't ignor health issues, do ya make a doctor appointment or visit the acute care clinuc with every ache and pain ya encounter?

 

[tootnkumin]

When ya say, don't ignor health issues, do ya make a doctor appointment or visit the acute care clinuc with every ache and pain ya encounter?

Hear in Aus, we've just lost one of our TV icon's. He got a State funeral, he was so well liked and regarded. He had not long ago had a leg amputated but not got rid of the infection that had had led to that. He was in his early 80's but had ignored the root of the infection because it seemed so minor. His big toenail.

 

[kbkchooch]

As the Greaseman would say " I'm perking and working and having a ball", thank God!

I wonder who in the group, other than you and I are familiar with Nino Greasemanelli??

 

[IronBeltKen]

Good evening Shop Dwellers!

Expressions of Gratitude going out to the following for likes or comments on the Friday post:
Louis, Troy, Hughie, Jerry, Sherrell, Patrick, Guy, Tom-C51, Christian, Jaz, Karl, Joe

Garry - glad to see you in here, and that you were mostly pleased with the cardiologist's report. Do take care of yourself!

these metal sheep have great shaggy coats paint black then grey and a little white
View attachment 135335View attachment 135338View attachment 135340View attachment 135341
do not paint sheep a clean brilliant white even freshly steered they are more a dirty white, and dirt under the belly, there are lots of breeds so lots of markings, black feet usually look good and a black face, and farmers in the uk usually spray paint for markings lasts a season,View attachment 135343
a fine felt tip if you want dots is easier than a paint brush. I look at real photos of sheep when painting the real thing is always better than memory

Jaz, got a quick question: In a few of the photos you posted on page 24, I notice that some of the sheep have 'reddish' spots on their fur - just forward of the hind leg. Is that some kind of branding mark?

Patrick - glad to see you found some time to work on 1:87 scale buildings instead of the 1:1's!

Jerry - nice job on that USAX tank car! If you did that from a kit, you're a better man than I - tank cars are one category of freight car I will buy RTR only. My frustration threshold is too low for tank car kits, as I learned during the one and only time I assembled an MDC kit and barely got it to a passable appearance...

Curt - that illuminated mine complex looks fantastic!

Regarding the supply chain malfunction - it's depriving me of one of my favorite desserts that MOH prepares every Thanksgiving: Cherry pie. She needs unsweetened cherries packed in water to do that, and those have become unobtainium - all that's available are the ones packed in sugary syrup, and those taste horrendous [IMHO]. Yeah, I know: First-world problem...

I wonder who in the group, other than you and I are familiar with Nino Greasemanelli??

Karl - I resemble that remark! My favorite routine of his was Sergeant Fury.

* * *
Meanwhile back in the trainroom...well actually, I haven't been back there since I made my last post on Friday. But I definitely have been doing mrr-related stuff on the PC: I got tired of looking at all the lineside industries on my layout that had no identifying features, so I spent my free time between the image editor and MS Word to create company logos and signs, and finally print them on white decal paper. Here are some of the names and designs I made up (except for the 84 Lumber logo):

...and now I just need to apply/install them.

Good Night - and have a Pleasant Tomorrow!

 

[kbkchooch]

Karl - I resemble that remark! My favorite routine of his was Sergeant Fury.

Ken
They were great, but my fav started out with,
"Time to wonder what it must be like, to strap on a gun, and pin on a badge and become a LAW MAN!!"

 

[Sirfoldalot]

If I hooked them up, along with the engines, I have about 1/2 of my larger loop covered.

Slacker!
Christian runs them nose to tail -- your problem again?

 

[D&J RailRoad]

I wonder who in the group, other than you and I are familiar with Nino Greasemanelli??

Yeah, the Greaseman. I was listening to his show when he made his career ending comment.

 

[Jaz avalley]

Good evening Shop Dwellers!

Expressions of Gratitude going out to the following for likes or comments on the Friday post:
Louis, Troy, Hughie, Jerry, Sherrell, Patrick, Guy, Tom-C51, Christian, Jaz, Karl, Joe

Garry - glad to see you in here, and that you were mostly pleased with the cardiologist's report. Do take care of yourself!



Jaz, got a quick question: In a few of the photos you posted on page 24, I notice that some of the sheep have 'reddish' spots on their fur - just forward of the hind leg. Is that some kind of branding mark?

Patrick - glad to see you found some time to work on 1:87 scale buildings instead of the 1:1's!

Jerry - nice job on that USAX tank car! If you did that from a kit, you're a better man than I - tank cars are one category of freight car I will buy RTR only. My frustration threshold is too low for tank car kits, as I learned during the one and only time I assembled an MDC kit and barely got it to a passable appearance...

Curt - that illuminated mine complex looks fantastic!

Regarding the supply chain malfunction - it's depriving me of one of my favorite desserts that MOH prepares every Thanksgiving: Cherry pie. She needs unsweetened cherries packed in water to do that, and those have become unobtainium - all that's available are the ones packed in sugary syrup, and those taste horrendous [IMHO]. Yeah, I know: First-world problem...

Karl - I resemble that remark! My favorite routine of his was Sergeant Fury.

* * *
Meanwhile back in the trainroom...well actually, I haven't been back there since I made my last post on Friday. But I definitely have been doing mrr-related stuff on the PC: I got tired of looking at all the lineside industries on my layout that had no identifying features, so I spent my free time between the image editor and MS Word to create company logos and signs, and finally print them on white decal paper. Here are some of the names and designs I made up (except for the 84 Lumber logo):

View attachment 135438
...and now I just need to apply/install them.

Good Night - and have a Pleasant Tomorrow!

Yes British farmers now use paint in different colours for branding,the paints tend to last a season,faster to brand than with the old iron,although the potential for stealing is easier, rump is usual but these at Goathland have green behind the necks.