Running Bear's April 2025 Coffee Shop

[westtexjohn]

Good afternoon to all and a Happy Good Friday..............

I received a couple of the ESU adapter boards that replace the BLI decoder boards in the Paragon 3/4 steam locos.
These use a 21 pin ESU decoder. But the decoders need to be programmed BEFORE installation as you cannot install the ESU decoder on the adapter board and then download sounds etc. So I have a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 with DCC and sound that I want to change over to 21 pin decoder. I'll be using a decoder buddy for the change out. I will then have to program the ESU decoder and remove this decoder to install in my BLI, 2-8-0 loco. I have 2 of the BLI consolidations to do. After that I will put a TCS 21 pin decoder in the Spectrum and program it. Nothing is quite as simple as it seems.
Having said all the above, I am now downloading JMRI decoder pro, JAVA release 17 (for the JMRI to run) and all the software for my LokSound Programmer onto another desktop computer that I have. It is amazing how many hoops one must jump through to achieve the aforementioned tasks.
I also installed the Digitrax PR3 software on my computer. What a quagmire of crap to wade through just for a software download on that item.

Loading JAVA is another chore, but you gotta have it to run JMRI. I accidentally downloaded version 11 of JAVA. I need version 17. So I had to download the JAVA un-installer program.....another hoop....to remove version 11. The un-installer program says there are no JAVA files loaded on my computer. Here we go............

What I was hoping to be maybe a couple of hours work on removal/install of a board and decoder in a steam loco tender, then programming has now turned into a two day ordeal, maybe three.

I also have a servo that throws a turnout that is possessed. I can flip the toggle for the main and it works. I can flip the toggle for the diverging route, no problem. But after doing this maybe 6 or 7 times the servo will set for the main but in a split second it will return to its original start point. I changed servos but the problem persists. I even added a DC line filter to the servo power supply to see if that would help but it made no difference.

After going through all the above, it is no wonder it takes some folks 10, 12 or 15 years to complete a layout. I had hoped to have all the turnouts on my upper level benchwork in operation by now. But I'm still trying to figure the "demon" in my servo operations at two turnouts I started on over two weeks ago. The decoder installs were going to be a diversion from the turnout issue but they have their own "demons" to deal with.

Oh well............and so it goes.

Take care....John

 

[troyphoto]

and in other news, one of the writing groups I'm in on Facebook just had a VERY interesting post.

The folks behind ChatGPT (a large language model "AI" bot) launched Chat o1 (that's the letter oh, followed by a number one)... and just deleted it. Hard delete. Repeat HARD DELETED.

One of the other writers in the group posted about her experience, which I won't share, but said she went searching about the delete, and found some interesting things.

So, intrigued. I typed a question into the google search bar:

did chat o1 try to prevent it's deletion?

here's what Google's chat Bot (NOT from the same company that did Chat o1):

If anyone knocks on your door wondering if John Conner lives there... be very nice to that "person".

 

[bnsf971]

and in other news, one of the writing groups I'm in on Facebook just had a VERY interesting post.

The folks behind ChatGPT (a large language model "AI" bot) launched Chat o1 (that's the letter oh, followed by a number one)... and just deleted it. Hard delete. Repeat HARD DELETED.

One of the other writers in the group posted about her experience, which I won't share, but said she went searching about the delete, and found some interesting things.

So, intrigued. I typed a question into the google search bar:

did chat o1 try to prevent it's deletion?

here's what Google's chat Bot (NOT from the same company that did Chat o1):View attachment 217090

If anyone knocks on your door wondering if John Conner lives there... be very nice to that "person".

 

[chadbag]

Chad - At least you don't need to shovel the driveway.

The snow melt system isn’t actually operational yet. The piping is laid in the driveway and comes to the manifold in the garage but isn’t actually attached to the manifold yet . There were more important things at the time. We’ll get it finished this summer. The actual controller box isn't installed yet either though most of the rest is including all the fancy copper piping etc. that’s because it is also a backup for the home heating and before the heat pump became operational was running as the primer heat. So it’s just the last little bit of work on it.

I wouldn’t have run it anyway for this as the road/sidewalk/driveway has enough heat retained in it since it’s been warm weather anyway and no snow accumulated on it. Just on the lawns, roofs, etc. Our dirt land scape didn't get accumulation too much. Just the rocks and pallets and stuff on the dirt.

Interestingly, while we had 2-3 inches estimated, I took a walk around the neighborhood this morning as part of my new health efforts, and the east side, which is probably 50-75’ lower in elevation had only about an inch.

 

[CambriaArea51]

The snow melt system isn’t actually operational yet.

Keep the snow there, I'm working on spring and don't need to take any steps back.

 

[TLOC]

SMILE

 

[TLOC]

Keep the snow there, I'm working on spring and don't need to take any steps back.

 

[Patrick]

Do I understand you correctly? (You have had one replaced, and need the other replaced, but the replaced knee/leg is causing you problems?).

If that's the case, we share the dilemma. Had my left knee joint replaced in 2021.My right knee has been bone on bone, and really should be replaced. But: my left leg including the knee are causing me worsening problems....most recently diagnosed as Neuropathy due to Nerve Damage.

I'm very reluctant to risk the same from replacing the other knee joint....

Really don't know what to do, so for now the answer is nothing. But: I'm not getting any younger either.

Yes, I had my right knee replaced 16 years ago, with a revision (I broke it) the following year. At this point, the left knee is bone on bone and the Ortho and I were talking about scheduling the replacement of the left side as I tore my left rotator cuff and bicep. Had surgery on both rotator cuffs last year, putting off the left knee. That knee is getting harder to climb stairs and such, causing me to depend more on the replaced knee, causing it to hurt again. I do have other tissue damage on the right side which doesn't help the situation. And I am tossing it around as I used 10 weeks of sick leave last year, and would have to use vacation time. When I return from vacation on Tuesday, I still have 5 weeks of time I could use, but think they'd make me need at least 6 to 8 before I could return to work.

 

[kgstakes]

I'm with you all regarding politics, people just can't have a conversation anymore about those things. Gets way to personal for my taste.

And as for religion, I tell them, I believe what I believe and you believe what you believe and we'll just keep it at that. Usually works, and if not, I just keep quite.

Now for trains, woodworking, scale modeling, horses, fishing, hunting, I'll talk with you all day about that !!!

Have a great evening.

 

[bnsf971]

Good morning. It's clear and 63.

 

[ctclibby]

Good Morning All!
38F @ 60% and dark. To hit 58F later.

Tractor fixed yesterday afternoon so we will go and fetch it this am. Was told that the parking brake hold down was the cause. We both usually use the 'bucket brake' or the 'hoe brake' so no clue as to the why part. $373 was better than I imagined.

Went to the local watering hole yesterday, lo and behold on the way home:

This guy was weaving between the street lights as it was 1ft taller than they were at the bottom of them. 21 axles, 82 tires on the ground. Pre-trip has to be a Bi Tch. That was about 1700 so I suspect that they would not make Bonner's Ferry before dark. Probably stop in the long siding just before the Yaak River Bridge @ Moyee. No clue what it is, but it is big. Usually don't see this kind of stuff in Libby, last time was 2 wings for those windmills.

An optimist or pessimist fight over a glass 1/2 full, or 1/2 empty. A realist knows that the glass is refillable.

I injured myself scanning RF freq's on the Ham Band yesterday, it still Hertz.

L8r

 

[Bill Tidler Jr.]

Good morning! It's 68°F with rain in Tipton.

Coffee is on me!

 

[kbkchooch]

Good morning gang!

Partly cloudy and 65° this morning with a high expected of 82°. I think it’s safe to say that spring has sprung.

Off to work for a few hours today number three son is coming down to tell the garden for wifey. Got a rough draft finished last night for another article for RMC . More on that later.
BBL

 

[kgstakes]

Good Morning,

It's 44f this morning and high of 54f with rain showers today. Had a little rain last night but not much. Wife wants to go and do something for my birthday but I'm not into it, but we'll see. Yup Monday I'll be 59, hard to believe with all the crap I've done in my life that I got this far. Father will be 91 this year so there's hope yet.

Well ya'll have a great day and thank you for letting me share what I've been doing lately and showing you my shop(s). Been great being a part of this forum. Seems you can talk about just about anything and people respect you.

Thanks again.

 

[troyphoto]

Well, howdy there internet peeps and those who's knees still Hertz!
(tanks to Todd for the Pun)

It's troy again...

Wife got a new toy yesterday:

No not for her. It's for getting her mother into doctor appointments. too often the parking at the various places is father than MIL can go with a walker. So wife told me to order that from Amazon. $125 after taxes. Wife is in a tizzy trying to figure out how to customize it, so we know it's for her mother (it will be left at her senior apartment).

I said something like Leopard print duck tape on the sides.

"Oh, I don't want to peel off tape."

I said: Five minutes with brake clean and a plastic scraper. I'll do it for you...

She wants to be crafty (sewing or such)... make a seat back cover or something. I get it. But my way is faster.

MIL's cardiac inversion is set for Thursday. She has a blood draw at the hospital today. So wife and her sis are both going to take MIL to the appointment and break in the new wheelchair.

Oh, and it was the week for car batteries. Wife's sis had her battery die the day after ours did. That's been replaced. So MIL should have reliable transportation for a while.

In other news, got my foam sheets staged on upper deck, and realized I have No Fricking Clue what I want that part of the layout to be. I'm planning on modelling some of my local youth stomping grounds of Elkhart Indiana (According to our AI overlords, the Elkhart yard in the early 1980s was a hump yard, that could be fun to model!)

I want to put in a river scene with my great uncle's Fuel Stop and boat storage along the St. Joe river.

So, I'm thinking an outer loop for constant running. An interchange from the toledo to Chicago, to the Detroit line (going from memory, may not have the names correct). However. to have a loop, I need to expand the right end of layout's upper deck. It's only 24 in deep at the moment. Even a shallow 13" curve radius means adding 3 inches. I'd prefer a 15 inch radius there.

I'll try to rough in a few ideas on graph paper, and post to my layout thread. I really should go get another sheet of 1" foam. But, I need to build a bump out at the end of the deck where the helix will connect the two levels.

 

[Bill Tidler Jr.]

Well, howdy there internet peeps and those who's knees still Hertz!
(tanks to Todd for the Pun)

It's troy again...

In other news, got my foam sheets staged on upper deck, and realized I have No Fricking Clue what I want that part of the layout to be. I'm planning on modelling some of my local youth stomping grounds of Elkhart Indiana (According to our AI overlords, the Elkhart yard in the early 1980s was a hump yard, that could be fun to model!)...

Elkhart still has a hump yard.
NS Elkhart Hump yard

 

[jmupton2000]

My reading pile just got significantly bigger thanks to a UK seller who wasn't charging the Earth and my friendly postman who just delivered this weighty tome:

Been after the Dieselization one for quite some time.

 

[TLOC]

Good morning Crew. A nice pleasant day expected for So. Central Wisconsin. The Farmers Market around the state Capital building opened today at 7 and runs till 2:30. Farm vendors only it is the largest of its kind in the USA. No crafts just foods from the farm. Strictly vetted it is very hard to get a selling spot. It’s a spectacle that we no longer indulge in as on a bad weather day it will see 10-15,000 and on a great weather day will easily get 25,000 visitors. If there is a Badger football game, Camp Randall might be 1.5 miles away, it can be even more crowded. We usually go to another Madison Farmers only market 5 miles west of the Capital where it’s a more relaxed atmosphere. Many of the same Capital vendors but only 75 are allowed. We stopped fighting the crowds a few years ago.

It is 44f degrees now heading to the upper 50’s with 60 possible. A nice walk this morning as the winds are just at 4mph and should be calm all day. The Friday rain, hail and the all day Severe weather warnings are passed us. The hail yesterday sure was interesting and walking by a car in a driveway this morning one of the walkers pointed out the body damage caused by hail. Said he was a claims adjustor, so I’ll believe it was. Lots of little pot marks in the hood and roof

I agreed today to go clothes shopping with the wife and daughter for ME! Yes I did. I need California Casual with a hint of Vintage and I have no F ing clue what that is. Need to dress for a May 24th wedding in Pasadena. But then I was told nothing I currently have in my closet is getting on the plane to Maui on May 7th.

My doctor appointment like Terry’s on Thursday was informative but nothing earth shaking and that’s a good thing. Terry has one more pain management appointment before we start the travels. She is down to 2 pain tablets twice a day from the 4 twice a day since January. She sees the doctor again in 2 weeks and they will decide then if they can drop it down to one. Weaning off these meds the doctor told us previously and again Thursday are one of the slowest processes she encounters. Terry was given clearance to drive again

I have all the ingredients to create the wire armature trees. I will start at 5pm during intermission of the Winnipeg and St Louis game. These will be packaged for my time on Maui where I will finish the process including adding the leaves

Enjoy your day

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Light rain and 63°. It looks like the rain system is poised to remain all day long. Prior to the thunderstorm that developed, it was 73° at 4:15 am. From my vantage point on the back porch, it looks like 0.75" in the gauge, so far. Just enough to give everything a good soaking without any run off or standing water.

Last day of seafood on Friday for Lent yesterday. I fixed a knockout Shrimp Alfredo for supper. Salad contained very fresh greens from the garden. Radishes aren't doing too well, they're further behind than they should be, most likely caused by the warmer than usual days in early April. We'll still eat fish, but just not as often.
Outside chores yesterday included removing some unwanted trees and saplings growing where I don't want them. There's a couple worthy of keeping, so I am waiting until after this weekend's rain when it will be easier to dig up the root ball and transplant. I noticed that the border of my hay field was filled with Indian Paintbrushes, so I picked a vase full for my wife. Bluebonnets, Black-eyed Susan's and Indian Blankets start next month. I also started putting in the "T-posts" in the garden for the eventual Tomato cages. My limit seems to be about 6-7 at a time, but I usually do it twice in a day. I need 29 total for the side by side rows of 29 plants each. One post centered between two plants supports two cages. Nothing was planned for outside today. Inside I will install a replacement water filter on the new refrigerator. It will be a new experience for me, as our old 30 year old one did not have one. Instructions say nothing about turning off the water supply, so I shall see. I also have a checklist of things that we need to take care of before tomorrow's family gathering of 45 folks for Easter.

Just ran trains yesterday out in the train shed. It was just a lazy day and I hadn't run any for 3 or 4 days. Gotta keep that track in use. A couple of weeks ago, I picked through the stash of unbuilt freight car kits and RTR's; and picked out a Roundhouse kit that I feel like building next. So I cleared off the workbench in preparation for doing that today during the rain. Only opened the box to check for parts.

Tom O - You're in a dedicated group of walkers, I don't walk in the rain regardless of thunder. But I might just delay the walk by a few hours.
Joe - I wish you well on Monday's hernia procedure.
Troy -

we don't need to know about your bedroom preferences

I prefer a bed!
David - Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Everyone have a great Holy Saturday.

 

[Len Turner]

Good mornin' crew from chilly Cheyenne where it's 27 and cloudy with a slight chance of rain/snow into tomorrow. Winds are SSW @ 7. High this afternoon 42 and a low tonight of 27, again with a slight chance of rain/snow into tomorrow. Looking for clearing skies and into the 60s next week.

Good day yesterday. Out and about with NJ(ret) for a bit of shopping, etc. Doc said I needed to start keeping up with my activity and increase my "on my feet" time on a daily basis. My primary health disfunction is ulcerative colitis. When I have a flare up, I get dehydrated very quickly and my electrolytes and hemoglobin drop, which aggravates the a-fib to the point my heart doesn't pump enough blood to keep everything going. Anyway, so much for my whining...

Getting out later to MRR club for a while. D#2 and NJ(ret) are headed out later to gather stuff for Easter dinner. No peeps or chocolate rabbits, though. Ham, yams, black eyed peas, cabbage (if she can find any), and a big skillet of cornbread ought to do it.

Y'all have a good Easter weekend and take care.