Running Bear's August 2022 Coffee Shop

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Good afternoon. It's 87 and sunny.
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago about trying to use the supplies I had gathered for my wife to eat/drink/be merry. I decided there is a line between using this stuff, and being stupid about it.
Just before my wife died, I had purchased a flat of 10 ounce bottles of orange juice. I've been drinking one every day or so, either with breakfast, or as an ingredient in an adult beverage. This afternoon, I grabbed one of the bottles, mixed it with an adult liquid, and noticed it didn't taste as good as I remembered. After several sips, I went to the fridge, and looked at the bottles. I have 4 remaining. I then looked at the expiration date. "April 22, 2022". I dumped the remaining 4 bottles of juice down the sink, and tossed the bottles.
 


Boris said:
Gary: Thank you. I am quite pleased with the photo backdrop. It only backs one 4' x 2' module. Sure makes a difference vs. sky blue paint.
The next challenge is to find a photo that will fit the adjacent module, and not clash with the existing photo mural.

We used to switch a place in Carteret, NJ., GATX Terminals, (Another monster company). This was a regular port of call for Irving tankers.

My layout is set up, so when you view it, you are out on the Delaware River, looking inland, which places the PRR in the Foreground, and the Reading toward the background. Depending on the "neighborhood", the background is a distant tree line with either residential / comercial buildings or industrial structures as back ground. I have a lot of creative work to do.

Fresh honey...what a luxury. My DIL, has a friend who maintains hives near Alexandria Bay, NY, which is where I-81 crosses the St. Lawrence into Ontario. DIL hogs all the "samples" ☹️

Any more progress on the ship?
Click to expand...
No major progress on the ship, I am a super procrastinator and my outside deck is higher priority. I did paint a few more smaller parts on it though yesterday working on the bridge area.
 
santafewillie said:
Good Morning All. Clear and 73° out there this morning. Looks like a great week coming up weatherwise.

Started back to serious mowing yesterday after a two month hiatus. Used the little battery powered mower to get some hard to mow areas around the pool, and when the dew dried after lunch, I spent about 45 minutes on the tractor getting part of the front yard and the area between the pool and train shed. Ran out of gas there so I walked over to the pool and got in. I have another full gas can ready, but decided to wait until today to resume. I generally average about 2 acres per gallon, so this 2.5 gallon can will last until I remember to fill both of them up. Since it had been so long since the last mowing, I forgot which orientation that I used, so yesterday I just mowed on the SE to NW diagonal pattern. Probably doesn't really make a difference, but I think that it works better for the grass to rotate directions each time. Plus it does break the monotony of mowing. If I get bored today, I'll fill a couple of weedeater spools with the .080 filament since that's next. Most years I have to mow from early February until mid-December with a six week break in late July - Labor Day. The time frame shifted this season and started in early June and went til the surprise August thunderstorms last Sunday night, ten weeks this year! Since I don't owe any money on the tractor, I guess that I cannot ask for forgiveness.

Besides resuming mowing, today looks like laundry and more tomato preserving.

Thanks for the likes on yesterday's postings; Chad, Sherrel, Hughie, Karl, Tom O, James, Joe, Dave B, Patrick, Louis, Tom, Guy, Rick, George, Smudge, OB Ken, Gary.

Out in the train shed yesterday, I returned to the latest project, but made no photogenic progress. I made some decisions on which direction to go and what to do next. I also ran a few trains which brings this up. I may have asked for opinions before, but here it is again.
I have a turnback loop on the end of a peninsula on both levels. On the lower level I had added a fascia with a 1.125" guard rail on it.
View attachment 150721
Never had a derailment. On the upper level I have not yet added the fascia, so no guardrail.
View attachment 150722
In the six years since I made this peninsula, I have not had a derailment there either.
View attachment 150723
I am undecided as to what to do. Since it is at almost eye level, an 1.125" rail would obscure the view both close and far. The track itself is 33" radius, so nothing drastic. The rail is about .375" tall including the roadbed. The inner loop is lower and about 29.75" radius. The two decks are offset a little so anything falling would only drop 18", serious enough but not to the floor.
View attachment 150724
I am guessing that I could go with a .375" or even a .5" tall guard rail, or since the trackwork is obviously very good, nothing at all!
In the background you can see a piece of 8' Masonite being stretched into shape. It's just a matter of what measurement to use when I mount it.
Opinions please?


Dave B - I am pretty much a homebody myself. Usually one major and one minor road trip a year and I am done. I would rather spend time in the garden mostly. And then there is the train shed. I like running trains, sometimes to the detriment of completing projects.
Gary - If I was modeling a shipyard scene, I would use your pictures yesterday for the backdrop. Nice work and the nachos looked great.
Ken (D&J) -

Yes, but how much did the solar array cost you to begin with? I looked into that recently and realized that it would take me 33 years of no electric bill to make the payback! I am 70!

Well here in Texas, many are celebrating LBJ's birthday. Many others are not as they still remember that he hoisted Medicaid on us. Thousands of people who never paid into the system getting something for free! Hmmmh! Do I spot a trend here? I'm still pissed about the student loan debacle.
Otherwise everyone have a wonderful day.
Click to expand...
What about a fake cable fence? Sure, bunch of work but it does not get in the way of eyesight. 2 cables would probably be just fine, 3 if you have the inclination as all you have to do is corral errant cars/engines. Heavy fishing line ( painted ) might work.

Later
 
Sirfoldalot said:
I would, IMHO, create a lip say 3/8 to 1/2? If nothing more - it would dress up the plywood!
Click to expand...
Dressing the plywood is the ultimate consideration here. I could go to level with the top of the plywood as I have done on most of the rest of the layout, or go higher and provide a guardrail.
shortwrench said:
Maybe a 1.125" high rail made from lexan or other clear plastic would serve
to protect the rolling stock and not block the view.
Click to expand...
That is also a thought, as I have some lexan type material leftover from a now defunct greenhouse. At 1/4" it is bendable like the Masonite on the lower level.
ctclibby said:
What about a fake cable fence?
Click to expand...
That has also been a thought. You're right that it may be a lot of work. I have made many barbed-wire fences around the layout. It would be more than 18'. I have both EZ Line or .010 wire available.

I am mainly trying to determine whether a guardrail is necessary at all. Next consideration and this goes for the one on the lower level as well, is what color to paint the interior of the guardrails?
Still open for other suggestions.
 
Afternoon All,

Started out with a walk then chores. I did finish the ballasting on the layout today so that's one project off the list. Not sure what's on the agenda for tomorrow except a trip to Lakeland to transfer a rescue pet skunk that was surrendered today to my wife in Melbourne (Florida Skunk Rescue). The procedure went well yesterday and I was put back on a 5 year cycle (was 3 years), so I'm happy about that.

Chad- Those beans look really good.

Joe- Great background.

Tom- Nice looking family members.

Karl- Also nice looking fur family.

Sherrel- Also nice looking fur family.

Ken (IL)- Nice looking dog. What breed is he/her?

Willie- Nice layout shots.

I hope everyone has a good night.
 
I have been bouncing between 3 projects all though related to the transload facilty direct or indirectly!

The #1 building of possibly 3 background buildings. This warehouse is a concrete tilt up building 228’ long by 58’ tall
B6B963A0-CF88-4BB2-8228-1D2A181BDD9F.jpeg
6588347D-190A-4265-B2ED-0A779CB81377.jpeg


The transload facility is taking longer then I was hoping but as I keep telling myself, there is no rush!

EEA95434-F0F0-4EAE-92CB-57121B1E09D0.jpeg
38FA16EB-B7BB-48B4-ACB1-C74B0422AC0C.jpeg
9F50CD20-0A32-4EC9-AC35-A7A96A82E4D6.jpeg

The ties are in and the dump pit is cut in. Need to line it. Then add the rail to the ties

Then I have decided that there will be a storage/office/garage within the transload facility and a water storage tank as background
8A7B8D5F-D900-43BA-8B3E-2D2F27A2A2AC.jpeg

The attached concrete pad is coming off or at least the backside cut off. It will be weathered both the building and remaining concrete.
B8668A8D-9F6D-40C1-8CFA-D185D76EB789.jpeg

That’s the water storage tank next to the trees along side a trackside pond. Also to be weathered. These are 2 of the remaining duplicate buildings from the Walthers Ethanol building series I had on the layout before the whole complex was sold to a friend

enjoy the day
 


chadbag said:
I suspect one of those ones you send in a check for $25 and they return your degree by first class mail...

Either that or she passed through means other than academically.
Click to expand...


From her wikipedia page: Boston University, and Cum Laude.

After graduating from high school, Ocasio-Cortez enrolled at Boston University. Her father died of lung cancer in 2008 during her second year,[23][24] and Ocasio-Cortez became involved in a lengthy probate battle to settle his estate. She has said that the experience helped her learn "first-hand how attorneys appointed by the court to administer an estate can enrich themselves at the expense of the families struggling to make sense of the bureaucracy".[25] During college, Ocasio-Cortez served as an intern for U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy in his section on foreign affairs and immigration issues.[26] She recalled, "I was the only Spanish speaker, and as a result, as basically a kid – a 19-, 20-year-old kid – whenever a frantic call would come into the office because someone is looking for their husband because they have been snatched off the street by ICE, I was the one that had to pick up that phone. I was the one that had to help that person navigate that system."[26] Ocasio-Cortez graduated cum laude[27] from Boston University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both international relations and economics.[28][29][22][30]
Click to expand...
 
Good afternoon, all. Rain showers still coming and going. Gassed up for $3.02. Grocery run, outrageous. Lots of stuff put back on the shelf.
Progress on the Keystone Mill is very slow. No photo since there isn't enough change from yesterday.
So just so I can post a RR pic, Here is Jefferies Point. I just noticed light comes from under the front of the building.

1661634103752.jpeg



Missed National Dog Day!
1661633694308.jpeg


STAY SAFE
LATER
 
Afternoon all,

Was a busy day, as I mowed early, then grocery shopping, then lunch and setup a couple of casseroles for later in the week. Did 2 loads of laundry, and now getting ready to go to church in a bit. Did get another 1/2 bushel of peaches, and passed some on to the neighbors.

Hopefully a quieter day tomorrow.
 
santafewillie said:
Good Morning All. Clear and 73° out there this morning. Looks like a great week coming up weatherwise.

Started back to serious mowing yesterday after a two month hiatus. Used the little battery powered mower to get some hard to mow areas around the pool, and when the dew dried after lunch, I spent about 45 minutes on the tractor getting part of the front yard and the area between the pool and train shed. Ran out of gas there so I walked over to the pool and got in. I have another full gas can ready, but decided to wait until today to resume. I generally average about 2 acres per gallon, so this 2.5 gallon can will last until I remember to fill both of them up. Since it had been so long since the last mowing, I forgot which orientation that I used, so yesterday I just mowed on the SE to NW diagonal pattern. Probably doesn't really make a difference, but I think that it works better for the grass to rotate directions each time. Plus it does break the monotony of mowing. If I get bored today, I'll fill a couple of weedeater spools with the .080 filament since that's next. Most years I have to mow from early February until mid-December with a six week break in late July - Labor Day. The time frame shifted this season and started in early June and went til the surprise August thunderstorms last Sunday night, ten weeks this year! Since I don't owe any money on the tractor, I guess that I cannot ask for forgiveness.

Besides resuming mowing, today looks like laundry and more tomato preserving.

Thanks for the likes on yesterday's postings; Chad, Sherrel, Hughie, Karl, Tom O, James, Joe, Dave B, Patrick, Louis, Tom, Guy, Rick, George, Smudge, OB Ken, Gary.

Out in the train shed yesterday, I returned to the latest project, but made no photogenic progress. I made some decisions on which direction to go and what to do next. I also ran a few trains which brings this up. I may have asked for opinions before, but here it is again.
I have a turnback loop on the end of a peninsula on both levels. On the lower level I had added a fascia with a 1.125" guard rail on it.
View attachment 150721
Never had a derailment. On the upper level I have not yet added the fascia, so no guardrail.
View attachment 150722
In the six years since I made this peninsula, I have not had a derailment there either.
View attachment 150723
I am undecided as to what to do. Since it is at almost eye level, an 1.125" rail would obscure the view both close and far. The track itself is 33" radius, so nothing drastic. The rail is about .375" tall including the roadbed. The inner loop is lower and about 29.75" radius. The two decks are offset a little so anything falling would only drop 18", serious enough but not to the floor.
View attachment 150724
I am guessing that I could go with a .375" or even a .5" tall guard rail, or since the trackwork is obviously very good, nothing at all!
In the background you can see a piece of 8' Masonite being stretched into shape. It's just a matter of what measurement to use when I mount it.
Opinions please?


Dave B - I am pretty much a homebody myself. Usually one major and one minor road trip a year and I am done. I would rather spend time in the garden mostly. And then there is the train shed. I like running trains, sometimes to the detriment of completing projects.
Gary - If I was modeling a shipyard scene, I would use your pictures yesterday for the backdrop. Nice work and the nachos looked great.
Ken (D&J) -

Yes, but how much did the solar array cost you to begin with? I looked into that recently and realized that it would take me 33 years of no electric bill to make the payback! I am 70!

Well here in Texas, many are celebrating LBJ's birthday. Many others are not as they still remember that he hoisted Medicaid on us. Thousands of people who never paid into the system getting something for free! Hmmmh! Do I spot a trend here? I'm still pissed about the student loan debacle.
Otherwise everyone have a wonderful day.
Click to expand...
Great looking track Willie.
George
 
They want to put a solar farm in near me. When looking into the workings of it there are a lot of toxic chemicals in the panels that they were going to install. They are only good for 10-15 years then their efficiency drops off to about 40%. Seen many fires from panels not being installed properly from these quick install companies. I just feel the technology isn't there yet and the grid needs to be upgraded first.
 
chadbag said:
In fact I think gasoline will be replaced by Hydrogen -- either in fuel cell EV or in hydrogen combustion engines. Cummins has an industrial hydrogen engine coming out commerciall this decade and Mazda has been doing their rotary engine with hydrogen to great success in their labs. Long term that is where I'd put my money.
Click to expand...
I thought breaking down water to obtain hydrogen was costly process.
George
 


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