Running Bear's August 2021 Coffee Shop

[PRR Modeler]

Afternoon All,

Spent several hours with a group of MRR friends in Orlando then after getting home I mixed up some black craft paint with RA then gave a wash of it to the mine tracks.

moermusic- Condolences on the passing of your father.

TomO- Nice layout shot.

Willie- The size is amazing.

Hughie- Nice layout shot.

Christian- I use PECO Insulfrog #5 and have no issues with steamers or diesels.

Guy- Nice shots of the bird and locos.

I hope everyone has a good night.

 

[Jaz avalley]

Howdy ....

Today is August 13, and I have much to be thankful for. On this date in 2008, I had serious heart issues. I was flown by helicopter to the hospital in Nashville, TN. My heart stopped beating 6 times. Thankfully, I already had an implantted difibrillator which saved me each time. I have had congestive heart failure now for about 20 years. Also thankfully, doctors have been able to control my condition, and my life is mostly normal. Life is precious.

Everybody ...... Have a good day.

A lot to go through,but lucky the technology has given you the gift of life…and yes it is precious.

 

[Boris]

Today is VJ day, in honor of the victory over Japan in WWII.

Willie: I can remember when they made a big deal of those days, now they are all but forgotten.

Not too sure it can get more ridiculous than the minority party here in Texas abandoning their elected duties! They're all up there near you getting arrested!

Willie: One of these days they will realize that the general public is tired of the theatrics, and that maybe they should work for the greater good instead of posturing for CNN.

Boris, medical tests really suck when they are inconclusive

Tom O: Yeah, really! Inconclusive really means "I don't want to venture an opinion, because I may be wrong". BTW, I really like your paper mill.

 

[Boris]

JOE (Boris) -- This is for you today!
View attachment 131196

Sherrel: AWESOME! That would be the perfect Brush truck, eh?

 

[bnsf971]

Good afternoon. It's starting to become cloudy and 96, feels like 106.
My wife received an important piece of correspondence in the mail today, advising her the car we haven't owned since 2013 will be subject to an increase in price of its extended warranty if we don't renew immediately.
I can see it now...

August, 2063: "We've been trying to reach you about purchasing an extended warranty for your 2010 Ford Focus"...

 

[CGW121]

Good afternoon. It's starting to become cloudy and 96, feels like 106.
My wife received an important piece of correspondence in the mail today, advising her the car we haven't owned since 2013 will be subject to an increase in price of its extended warranty if we don't renew immediately.
I can see it now...

August, 2063: "We've been trying to reach you about purchasing an extended warranty for your 2010 Ford Focus"...

You think it maybe a scam?

 

[Greg@mnrr]

Greg: I remove ties to install the between rail magnets, apparently, they are too low, because I don't get a lot of reaction from them especially with Kadee 58s. If I set them on the ties (as recommended for code 83), they tend to rub up against low clearance items. The 508 magnets have a piece of metal to amplify the strength of the magnets they go under the track vs. between the ties. It's not really an issue as I either use a Kadee uncoupling tool or a skewer to uncouple in most cases. The 508s are intended for out of reach locations. ( like inside industries).

Boris: Since you mention Code 83 track I'm assuming that you are modeling in HO scale. Are you using Kadee #308 or #302 uncouplers with the steel intensified plate thats mounted below the uncoupler. These uncouplers are intended to be used under Code 83 and Code 100 track. Kadee offers a above track magnet, #322, that mounts on top of Code 83 track without the need to remove any railroad ties.

I like the Kadee #308 uncouplers, since under the tracks they are invisible and provide good operation. In yards and distance sidings I use the above track #322 uncouplers show allow switching and spotting cars over the magnets with ease.

I use a Kadee Coupler Height Gauge, #205, tool that also measures if the uncoupler is correctly mounted. It's at least 30 years old and is handy when installing uncouplers.

I have a DCC test track on my workbench and I installed several uncouplers on the track to test rolling stocks couplers and their uncoupling when brand new, when changing couplers or wheel-sets or if the car showed some signs of trouble.

I think if you switched over to the Code 83 above uncouplers you would be happier with their operation without the hassle of cutting ties or other alignment tasks.

-Greg

 

[Greg@mnrr]

August, 2063: "We've been trying to reach you about purchasing an extended warranty for your 2010 Ford Focus"...

Terry: Sign me up for my 1967 VW Beetle.

-Greg

 

[Texas Hobo]

Good Afternoon all! Well another hot one. Pretty much stayed indoors.

Willie thanks for the heads up about 4014. I looked for ways to juggle some commitments on Tuesday but it ain't going to work out.
I did see it a couple of years ago with my son, and I'm sure he'd go again.

Since I was inside I thought I'd try and take a trackside video. The battery was dead so an 8 hour charge is recommended. See camera car below.

BigGRacing, Gary, I did take a shot of my DCC locos. See below.

STAY SAFE

LATER

 

[Texas Hobo]

Hughie: Your layout looks great. Just curious, why New England? Broom Company is fantastic...do they supply brooms to the girls from Salem?

Though I have lived in Texas for about 57 years, I was born in NY, my parents and grandparents (Mom's side) vacationed for years in Shelburne Falls, Mass. The place we stayed at was right on the Deerfield River. Across the river was the Boston and Maine track, which headed towards the Hoosaic Tunnel. My earliest memory of the place is 1949 and steam locomotives rule the track. I would sit on my grandfathers lap and watch the trains. We stayed in those same cabins for many vacations, my last visit 1963. I watched the transition from steam to diesel. I guess that area just made such a lasting impression.
As for the brooms, you have to be careful to which witch you sell your wares. If your price isn't right, you could be a toad. LOL

 

[Jaz avalley]

Bad news ! This afternoon, I tested the turnouts of my switching layout with my new GP40. I found that the turnouts are too short. The loco derails on each one ! So two solutions: I change the switches and the track plan or I dismantle this layout.

Replace the switches and try to incorporate them elsewhere for small stock, waste not want not,if the layout can take it…go with the flow

 

[santafewillie]

Do you get a lot of UP running in your area? I believe UP and BNSF share trackage rights with each other.

Around here they don't share any trackage rights, but for rail-fanning, there are many main lines that are within easy driving distance. UP has a main line from Ft Worth that runs through the nearby city of Denton TX, the line that UP 4014 used yesterday. It is an ex-MKT/TP joint line. It is quite busy with grain, coal, autoracks and mixed freight. Average daily train volume is 32-35 trains. Their line from Ft Worth to Dallas has over 100 trains daily.
Even busier and closer to me is the BNSF main that runs from Ft Worth to Oklahoma City and north; a former ATSF line. From near Denton to Ft Worth, it parallels the UP line about 4-5 miles west. It holds some extra significance since there is an interchange with KCS about 12 miles away. While it is primarily an intermodal well car traffic lane, probably 60%, it is also used for grain for export, petrochemicals and plastic pellets from the Houston area, autoracks, oil and some mixed freight. There are 80-85 trains a day, including a trip each way by Amtrak's Heartland Flyer. There is an afternoon interchange of trains with KCS every day at a place called Metro Junction, (Dalton Junction in ATSF days), and in the evening, a KCS train runs through to the Alliance Yard, to interchange intermodal cars, both TOFC, COFC and well cars. There are 6-10 trains daily on the KCS line.
A former rail-fanning location for me was the BNSF main (formerly Frisco) line from Sherman TX to Dallas. It ran alongside the place that I worked for many years. No unit trains there except a daily rock train from a quarry NE of Dallas. It had all mixed freight which made for the most interesting traffic of all. While I worked there, there were 20-25 trains daily, but I have been told that the number has since been reduced.
Also nearby where I worked was a yard for DG&NO that interchanged with BNSF and FW&W out of Ft Worth. It as a hard place to watch because it had a residential neighborhood on the north and an industrial park to the south.
Lots of rail-fanning locations for me. I hope that I haven't bored anyone.

 

[Boris]

Boris: Since you mention Code 83 track I'm assuming that you are modeling in HO scale. Are you using Kadee #308 or #302 uncouplers with the steel intensified plate thats mounted below the uncoupler. These uncouplers are intended to be used under Code 83 and Code 100 track. Kadee offers a above track magnet, #322, that mounts on top of Code 83 track without the need to remove any railroad ties.

I like the Kadee #308 uncouplers, since under the tracks they are invisible and provide good operation. In yards and distance sidings I use the above track #322 uncouplers show allow switching and spotting cars over the magnets with ease.

I use a Kadee Coupler Height Gauge, #205, tool that also measures if the uncoupler is correctly mounted. It's at least 30 years old and is handy when installing uncouplers.

I have a DCC test track on my workbench and I installed several uncouplers on the track to test rolling stocks couplers and their uncoupling when brand new, when changing couplers or wheel-sets or if the car showed some signs of trouble.

I think if you switched over to the Code 83 above uncouplers you would be happier with their operation without the hassle of cutting ties or other alignment tasks.

-Greg

Greg:

Yes, I'm modeling in HO. The preponderance of my layout is built with Code 70 track and switches, mostly, Micro Engineering product. Only a small portion is composed with Code 83 left over from the previous layout. The # 322 uncouplers that I have deployed on Code 70 sidings, were also left overs. What I may try is to shim them so that they are at a more effective height. That may address my concerns.

The # 308 uncoupler with intensifier is what I'm planning on deploying at hard to reach locations. These have worked well in the past.

I have three Kadee coupler height gauges, (#205), two on the work bench, and one in the layout room, plus the pliers to adjust the glad hands.
My experience is that the original Kadee knuckle (5 and 148 etc) works better than the scale couplers #58 et all). Unfortunately, (In my view), the Scale couplers and code 70 track look better, without getting into the Proto 87 standards.

Thanks for your interest and advice, I appologize for being rather vague with my comments.

Joe

 

[BigGRacing]

I did take a shot of my DCC locos. See below.

Awesome Pics Hobo! And thanks on the DCC answer as well.
Great day in the maritimes again today, but sadly no train stories…..just plugs for the beautiful place I live.
We went out to Burnt Coat park again today to walk out in the Ocean and walk along the Ocean floor.

31 degrees here today and it was awesome, the water was like warm milk.
Then went for a beautiful lunch where I had a Reuben and my wife had the chicken panini……it was delicious ! The Flying Apron is the place.

I wish you all a great weekend !

 

[GarryCBQ]

Good evening, everybody ...

Ever since company left, the gremlins on the layout are all gone, and the trains are running as they should. .... Sigh ......

Gary ........ You made me very hungry with your pictures of those sandwiches. ... and we already had a big dinner !

WIllie ..... I like your 4014 photos. As others have noted, I also saw the diesel was number 4015. Apparently, UP thought of everything. .... My friends and I are thinking of seeing 4014 in couple of weeks when its tour will include southeast Missouri and southwest Illinois. We already saw the Big Boy in Utah, but it would be worth seeing it again. It seems to be attracting a lot of people wherever it goes.

Jaz ..... Thanks for you comment.

Joe ..... I was involved with budgeting. A simple description. The parent company (CN) and GTW senior executives determined what the bottom line should be for GTW. The marketing department forecasted the revenue. Total expense was simple subtraction. Each department wanted more than available, and there would be numerous discussions to resolve. In the end, there was not enough money to go around. Jobs were cut. Maintenance was deferred. Stuff like that happened. GTW usually had deficits, and, CN paid no US income tax for GTW.

Everybody ..... Have a good night.

 

[NYC_George]

I'm closing my Google & Youtube account soon so I don't know if any of my videos will still be available in any of my pasted posts. I signed on to Rumble.com a Canadian type youtube. I've had enough of Google in my life time.
George

 

[GarryCBQ]

I'm closing my Google & Youtube account soon so I don't know if any of my videos will still be available in any of my pasted posts. I signed on to Rumble.com a Canadian type youtube. I've had enough of Google in my life time.
George

George ... I can understand that. ..... I have been searching with Duck Duck Go instead of Google, and it works fine.

 

[Alcomotive]

Just returned from my trip to watch UP 4014 pass through the nearby city of Denton TX. OK, whoever posted that it was always on time was led astray! It was supposed to arrive at 5:00 pm and stay 30 minutes. NOT! It arrived almost two hours late at 6:55 and stayed only ten minutes. I knew that it would be late when first a NB and then 2 SB freight trains passed our location between 5:00 and 6:35. Still a sight to behold. I took about 55 pictures, most of which are OK. Some are of the passing freights because I was bored. Here are a few pictures that are notable.
View attachment 131159View attachment 131160View attachment 131161View attachment 131162View attachment 131163View attachment 131164View attachment 131165View attachment 131166View attachment 131167
I did manage one souvenir.
View attachment 131168
I could not get an overall shot due to the crowd on the grade crossing which was the only place that I could stand back far enough.
One AWESOME machine.

Willie!

Wow! Lucky dog! I used to live in Little Rock AR. I sure would have gone to see this beast!

1st thanks for sharing.
2nd Daggum that's a lot of people in that crowd wow!
3rd Hopefully the trip was worth it for ya even though it looks kinda crowded and a little disarrayed with people all over. I have noticed though other places were a bit more orderly. Must not of been any presence of UP Police or other officers to help with maintaining crowd control of keeping back 25 feet.

Anyways that look like a real good time either way. Looks like a hot hot day though. I have many footage of pacing and chasing #3985 and #844. I missed those times. Hopefully next year I can plan a trip for Big Boy.

 

[Alcomotive]

I'm closing my Google & Youtube account soon so I don't know if any of my videos will still be available in any of my pasted posts. I signed on to Rumble.com a Canadian type youtube. I've had enough of Google in my life time.
George

I do not blame you. It's a bit much these days. I am looking and am waiting on some new platforms that will be coming soon after hearing through the grape vine big changes are coming.

 

[Rabοliοt]

Every layout deserves a dinosaur…

Or some dragons too !