Running Bear's Coffee Shop LVIII

[montanan]

Good morning. 30 degrees with the wind drifting the snow. Unfortunately with Christman coming up I did have to go to the office today. I can see where I may have a problem getting back in this afternoon if the wind doesn't calm down. Had to bust through a few drifts to get out. Guess it will be time to plow again.

 

[logandsawman]

Good morning, 25 and cloudy. South winds expected with temps back into the mid 30's. The warmest winter I have ever seen in Minnesota.

 

[new guy]

GOOD Morning Y'all!

YEE, HAA! 6 loco's going FULL BLAST for an hour and no nothing went rong! No derailments and no un-couplings! My sisters Boy wondered how fast they could go so I showed em and let em keep going after they left! I was going to let em go until something happened and nothing did before I got tired of watching them and had to do some work in the garage. I looks like I got the track laying part of this down pretty good.
Got a light 'ball'(?) from my 'aunt', It has 8 different effects and will be used to 'simulate' a fireworks display on the 'night side' of the layout. My nephew had the brilliant idea of a transition from morning to night across the layout! I LIKEE!

My initial excitement at just being able to DO this combined with my self imposed deadline for getting SOMETHING running and not worrying about scenery were the main reasons for not planning the first track set up. "Just throw it down and RUN" was the goal at that phase. A little sooner than I expected but 'phase #3' is upon me!


a PLAN! I am an advocate of planning, could not have done this project without one, no initial track plan was part of the overall plan!


1, build the biggest table I can and get running.

2, lay a crapton of track and figure this thing out a little more.

3, attempt to 'secenify' it and 'build' some towns and industries and develop some more ideas and skills.

4, use what I have learned in the first three phases and build a layout truly worthy of the name.


All is proceeding as I have foreseen...

 

[logandsawman]

Hi, New Guy, you are really "makin train" ( as opposed to the old expression "makin hay"). Are you going to add buildings and scene to this track plan or further modify the track around buildings, roads?

 

[BigE]

Just did that, this is all I found
http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Express...550797?hash=item2a5d83e2cd:g:pOsAAOSw54xUYg2g

It's definitely Mr. Goodwrench but that ain't it.

 

[new guy]

Hi, New Guy, you are really "makin train" ( as opposed to the old expression "makin hay"). Are you going to add buildings and scene to this track plan or further modify the track around buildings, roads?

I'm going to take up most all of this track and start 'fresh'. This first incarnation was only supposed to last a few months. This next one is slated to be a few years. I'm going to try water features and hillsides, buildings and roads, tunnels and different grades, all the little things but in a 'test' mode, I'm not going to stress to hard on this one as to 'perfection'. I'm treating it like a 'lab', this is my 'learning' layout now, it's gonna be a MESS and it's not going to 'look right' but that is ok, it's not supposed to...yet. Still 'playing' and always will be.

 

[GarryCBQ]

Good morning.

I don't usually post this kind of message, but here I go. I know some of you also sometimes participate in The Diner of MR Forums. There is a member of the Diner who is a fellow model railroader dealing with a terrible situation. YGW (yougottwanta) has a family member in need of a lot of support and prayers. His SIL is a recent victim of a horrific home invasion attack. She was severely beaten by three thugs, and has been in ICU for three weeks. Her young sons are having a very hard time dealing with all of this.

If you want, please visit the Diner in MR Forum. I'm sure YGW will appreciate comments of support. (One of the members is trying to raise money for her, but please don't think that is necessary at all.) Words of encouragement and prayers should help.

Thanks for reading this.

.......

Regarding model railroading, I completed the White tractor to go with my livestock trailer yesterday.

 

[BigE]

NG: a suggestion: wait until after Christmas to do a "do over" just so you have something running in the mean time.

Seems amazing that less than a year ago I had nothing running here. It was the day after Christmas last year that I finally got to make some laps. I took off from that.

 

[chessie_system3]

NG: a suggestion: wait until after Christmas to do a "do over" just so you have something running in the mean time.

Seems amazing that less than a year ago I had nothing running here. It was the day after Christmas last year that I finally got to make some laps. I took off from that.

This is kinda what I'm doing. I don't have any plans on anything until after Christmas. I know I'm going to see my mine loadout off simply because three moves have done a number on it and we'll its not appealing anymore. Not to mention I want to put down all of my throws on my switches before I ballast anything. But! I can still run my trains! So I'm content.

Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk

 

[BigE]

Good morning.

I don't usually post this kind of message, but here I go. I know some of you also sometimes participate in The Diner of MR Forums. There is a member of the Diner who is a fellow model railroader dealing with a terrible situation. YGW (yougottwanta) has a family member in need of a lot of support and prayers. His SIL is a recent victim of a horrific home invasion attack. She was severely beaten by three thugs, and has been in ICU for three weeks. Her young sons are having a very hard time dealing with all of this.

If you want, please visit the Diner in MR Forum. I'm sure YGW will appreciate comments of support. (One of the members is trying to raise money for her, but please don't think that is necessary at all.) Words of encouragement and prayers should help.

Thanks for reading this.

.......

Regarding model railroading, I completed the White tractor to go with my livestock trailer yesterday.

Go ahead and post it here. I wish I had a forum (or quorum) of friends I could have had to talk to when my 2nd wife was brutally beaten, raped and almost died. I about passed out when I busted into the ER and saw her. Detectives were trying to question her already and tried to keep me back. I didn't realize the spouse is always the first prime suspect. I was intensely offended until one of the detectives explained it to me. He also went on to tell me they had already checked out where I had been that night and to not worry about it anymore. In the mean time our world was rocked bad time. Her kids (my step-daughters) were completely freaked out.
A couple weeks later the detectives came by to our house with a photo-lineup to see could she identify the guy. By then I was already on my own "hunt". I was standing behind her when laid one sheet of pics down and she says "nope". They laid the 2nd sheet down and she pointed him right out before they said a word. She went to the bedroom and locked the door sobbing. Me and the detectives looked at each other speechless. I looked them both dead in the eye and said "you better find him before I do". They got him 3 days later.
Good thing. I had found out who he was, where his parents lived and was proceeding to exact some justice of my own.
He went away for 17 years. The effects on all our lives is immeasurable.

My sincerest thoughts and best wishes are with anyone who has been through a violent crime.
"Life changing" is a nice candy-coated way of saying it. You'll never be the same.
(my H&K USP is sitting right here next to me - loaded of course)
Eric.

 

[BigE]

USB record player/turntable?
Anyone heard of these?
My neighbor has 2 and wants to sell me 1.
(same neighbor with the GM promo HO little train set)
BTW: he got a hold of someone at Athearn and they were clueless to what he has.
I offered him $20 this morning. He seems to think he's going to take it down to a LSH and they'll give him some real "jack" for it.
The only thing I'd use it for would be the power pack and the few cars - which I'd surely have to refit with "proper" wheels and couplers. That would likely cost me more than $20 but I have the parts on hand.

His USB record players are his car so as soon as his wife gets home from work, he'll likely come over to get me.
Any thoughts on all the above?
E

 

[BigE]

Outdoor flight today for all you smart a$$es.

This copter needs some serious trim adjustments. I can't seem to get it right.
Might be the light breeze however. It kept wanting to drift to starboard. Then I turned it for another lift-off and it drifted in the same direction - i.e. west. That tells me it's a breeze thing.

Flying this thing indoors doesn't go so well for trim adjusting. It creates too much turbulence for its own good. (note to self: don't fly it over an ash tray). Ironically, my newly tamed feral cat (Big Smokey) could care less about it. He just sits there watching. Even the vacuum cleaner doesn't bother him.

Besides all that in the mean time I've been flying my favorite helo. So much easier than flying the quad. I'm almost having to relearn to fly it. Kind of funny really. I drop-shipped one to my Dad (the same helo) and he can't "get it". Dad has been a licensed pilot since age 15 or 16 and he's now 76 (77 coming soon). He doesn't fly anymore unless he's a passenger going on vacation ("holiday" for our friends across the ponds).
Eric

 

[BigE]

This is kinda what I'm doing. I don't have any plans on anything until after Christmas. I know I'm going to see my mine loadout off simply because three moves have done a number on it and we'll its not appealing anymore. Not to mention I want to put down all of my throws on my switches before I ballast anything. But! I can still run my trains! So I'm content.

Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk

"So I'm content."
And that is what counts.

Are your throws remote or manual?

If manual and you're going to stick with manual I'd consider taking off those ... what do you call them?
Mine are all remotes so they have solenoids.
I painted mine green then covered them with some rough foliage.

Back to the roadbed thing I posited the other day....
If I had to do it all over again I'd go with the thin cork as opposed to the beveled Midwest type stuff. It took a lot more ballast to cover the bevels than needed to be - IMHO.
E.

 

[Trussrod]

Good afternoon Track Gang & Loco Engineers,
Hi Flo & Francine, the place is looking like Christmas alright.. Are you going to offer a free meal to some of the Hobo's in the area. That's the spirit !


Overcast
51.8 °F
Feels Like 51.8 °F
N
0.0
Wind Variable

Today is forecast to be Warmer than yesterday.
Today
High 53 | Low 39 °F
70% Chance of Precip.
Yesterday
High 50.4 | Low 42.3 °F
Precip. 1.5 in (Radar Loop)
rain

Expect occasional rain to continue for the next several hours.
Pressure 29.84 in
Visibility 9.0 miles
Clouds Few 400 ft
Mostly Cloudy 5000 ft
Dew Point 52 °F
Humidity 99%
Rainfall 2.02 in./ *> I just read my National Weather Service RG and it had a total of 4.17 in ! <*
Snow Depth Not available.


A couple of day ago I did a big roof patch job over my living room area and thankfully I didn't have any ceiling leaks but where the Header over the front window is I had several bad leaks that were dripping inside and caused me to get very creative in dealing with catching the water. I got it done though but was up most of the night cat napping listening to the dripping and emptying the hospital plastic basins every so often so often as I had three of them Pyramid stacked. I did get a little sleep earlier this morning around 7:00 as the rain let up thankfully. I also was attending the fire to try and keep some heat in the place.

A little later I decided it would be a wise thing to get another good load of wood as it's supposed to get colder. So that's what I did after having some toast and jam.

Now I'm beat!


My heart also goes out to anyone who has been a victim of a violent crime but that can also be perpetrated by those who we expect to help us such a the sheriffs dept. when they take the word of a over zealous social worker who reacts without knowing the facts and causes all kinds of problems such as the county filing felony charges against you again without knowing the facts.


Garry: My heart and Prayers goes out to your friend and her struggle at this time. That was a tragic thing to happen, and leaves the children feeling doubly violated as now their security, there Mom is in the hospital and they're normal situation is all
turned around. Hopefully they can be with her to give her strength in her time of need.


Anyway, I hope every one has a great Christmas as well as a safe one !

 

[hirailer]

Good morning.

I don't usually post this kind of message, but here I go. I know some of you also sometimes participate in The Diner of MR Forums. There is a member of the Diner who is a fellow model railroader dealing with a terrible situation. YGW (yougottwanta) has a family member in need of a lot of support and prayers. His SIL is a recent victim of a horrific home invasion attack. She was severely beaten by three thugs, and has been in ICU for three weeks. Her young sons are having a very hard time dealing with all of this.

If you want, please visit the Diner in MR Forum. I'm sure YGW will appreciate comments of support. (One of the members is trying to raise money for her, but please don't think that is necessary at all.) Words of encouragement and prayers should help.

Thanks for reading this.

.......

Regarding model railroading, I completed the White tractor to go with my livestock trailer yesterday.

We are praying for her here in Canada.

Mel

 

[chessie_system3]

"So I'm content."
And that is what counts.

Are your throws remote or manual?

If manual and you're going to stick with manual I'd consider taking off those ... what do you call them?
Mine are all remotes so they have solenoids.
I painted mine green then covered them with some rough foliage.

Back to the roadbed thing I posited the other day....
If I had to do it all over again I'd go with the thin cork as opposed to the beveled Midwest type stuff. It took a lot more ballast to cover the bevels than needed to be - IMHO.
E.

All of mine will be manual. I'm using caboose industries sprung throws. That way I can't get to lazy with my layout. If it were bigger I'd definitely be using automatic switches. I'm giving roadbed another thought as well. At least for the main. I'm not sure how to make the transition from the main to my siding and yard though.

Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk

 

[BigE]

Too funny... talking to my Dad tonight and we're hanging up.
He needed to head to the pharmacy.
Gets in his car "contact!!" he hollers out as he cranked up.
I had to remind him to call "all clear!!" first.
Sherell, Terry and Chet know what I mean.
E.

 

[santafewillie]

CS3 - I use the HO scale Midwest cork for my mainline roadbed, and N scale for my sidings. On industry spurs I use cardboard strips that can be cut from cereal boxes. To go from mainline to siding I use a transition made from the same cardboard strips under the roadbed. Normally it takes two to one to zero to lower the level. I don't start the transition under the rail joint.
Willie

 

[new guy]

Woa, a candle is lit for the crime victims.

Too bad you did not find em first, E! Things like that happen too much nowadays and people wonder why I 'carry', even at home! DUH!

About Jan 3 was the date selected to begin the next 'go round'.

Working out some details of what I want to BEGIN to build, changes are expected in the construction phase. I'm looking at 6 'main' type lines and to put at least a double crossing in the figure 8 if I can't squeeze in an entire double line for the figure 8. A tunnel and a bridge are 'penciled in' and a mine and logging spur along the 'mountainside' are elbowing in there. Bout a third of the area is now 'spoken for' in some way.

 

[GarryCBQ]

Go ahead and post it here. I wish I had a forum (or quorum) of friends I could have had to talk to when my 2nd wife was brutally beaten, raped and almost died. I about passed out when I busted into the ER and saw her. Detectives were trying to question her already and tried to keep me back. I didn't realize the spouse is always the first prime suspect. I was intensely offended until one of the detectives explained it to me. He also went on to tell me they had already checked out where I had been that night and to not worry about it anymore. In the mean time our world was rocked bad time. Her kids (my step-daughters) were completely freaked out.
A couple weeks later the detectives came by to our house with a photo-lineup to see could she identify the guy. By then I was already on my own "hunt". I was standing behind her when laid one sheet of pics down and she says "nope". They laid the 2nd sheet down and she pointed him right out before they said a word. She went to the bedroom and locked the door sobbing. Me and the detectives looked at each other speechless. I looked them both dead in the eye and said "you better find him before I do". They got him 3 days later.
Good thing. I had found out who he was, where his parents lived and was proceeding to exact some justice of my own.
He went away for 17 years. The effects on all our lives is immeasurable.

My sincerest thoughts and best wishes are with anyone who has been through a violent crime.
"Life changing" is a nice candy-coated way of saying it. You'll never be the same.
(my H&K USP is sitting right here next to me - loaded of course)
Eric.

Eric ... That is a very sad story. I guess it is best the police caught the guy before you did because the life changing situation would be much worse for you.

David and Mel ... Thanks for your thoughts too.

One experience in our family was when our DIL came home from shopping a few years ago. She had our young granddaughters with her. There was an intruder in the house. Fortunately, there was no violance. The intruder was a neighborhood, troublemaking teenager who ran away when our DIL arrived. Law enforcement took action with the intruder. Our son and DIL made changes to protect themselves including getting some dogs. One of those dogs is a giant dog who is very protective.

...............

We just returned home from Paducah. It's been a busy day. No model railroading to report this evening. .