Running Bear's Coffee Shop LVIII

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Louis- Welcome back. Sent you a PM Please do follow your Dr. orders. Have seen what happens when others didn't.

Phil
 
Thank you and it is good to be back!

Yes, health problems come with growing old, but I won't sit on my butt wait for things to get worse.

No I missed that tug boat, but probably a good thing because where I would put it would have been the question. I have been asked "do you have too much stuff?".

Judging by how long setting up Christmas is taking the answer is probably yes, but too much Christmas and train stuff? I think not, I think I need a bigger house!

Good to see you back, Louis. We have missed you.

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Morning All,

Feeling better from the cold but did not sleep well since it was the first night not taking night time cold medicine in a week, but it was expected. Yesterday the family meet at our daughters house for supper and gift exchange. The grandkids couldn't wait to show me their new bikes. The train related things I received was a gift card from the LHS, a magnification visor, and a beginners kit for operations from Micro-Mark. I have been wanting to try using waybills etc. for a while now to see if I enjoy it or not.

Terry- Best wishes for your friend.

Garry- We had a sweaty Christmas here.

Louis- Glad you are feeling better. Kidney issues are no joke.

NG- I hear you about buying locos. Rapido is coming out with a very detailed Pennsy FA with sound for about $300. I am fighting hard against the impulse to preorder it.

I hope everybody has a good day today.
 
Here we go again guys. After doing some research on dimensions for an engine house I had to yet again redo my yard tracks. I figure this will be that thorn in my side. So change 101 of my yard tracks:
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Good news is my ground throws are almost here. Will be here today or Monday. Hopefully today as I'm anxious to finish up my track plan.

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Good morning all and I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. Started the day off at minus 9. We got another 6 or so inches of snow again yesterday. Ended up plowing again after coming back from a Christmas breakfast at my daughters house. After breakfast we has a shoot out with Nerf guns. The grand kids had a blast with that.

Hope everyone in the south made it through the wicked weather down there over the past few days.

Louis - Glad to see you on here. I figured that the holidays were keeping you busy.

Chessie - Looks like at least you have some trains running. You'll probably come up with more changed as you move on. I think everyone does at one time or another.

Had the computer off but kept up some with TapTalk yesterday. I think I will just sit around today and try to keep warm. There is a possibility of going down to the train room and running trains also, but I'm not going ot get into any MRR projects today.
 
Good to see you back Louis!

Seems that the rain and storms have left us until Monday.
Another otherwise boring day here....
E.
 
Good morning all and I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. Started the day off at minus 9. We got another 6 or so inches of snow again yesterday. Ended up plowing again after coming back from a Christmas breakfast at my daughters house. After breakfast we has a shoot out with Nerf guns. The grand kids had a blast with that.

Hope everyone in the south made it through the wicked weather down there over the past few days.

Louis - Glad to see you on here. I figured that the holidays were keeping you busy.

Chessie - Looks like at least you have some trains running. You'll probably come up with more changed as you move on. I think everyone does at one time or another.

Had the computer off but kept up some with TapTalk yesterday. I think I will just sit around today and try to keep warm. There is a possibility of going down to the train room and running trains also, but I'm not going ot get into any MRR projects today.
I sure do. I have had a couple good sessions. My ops work like I want. Keeps me busy. I'm amazed at the time it takes just to build a train to shove to my loadout and switch it and back again. Though I'm not complaining its a load of fun.

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You flying out here again?
Was that a Lear 300?
I don't remember you saying what that plain was. I remember the pics you sent when you all stopped for gas in Iowa.
You should "retire" to one of those "fly-in" communities. Then you could park next door to John Travolta and his 707. I think that's near Ocala, FL. I'm you know all about it from your times with FHP.

There is one of those communities here in N. GA in Rabun county just outside of Clayton. It ain't big-sky country but mighty nice if you like mountains. Me and the ex about bought some land there but the deal fell apart. At least I got my earnest money back in full.

Of course re-locating your cars might pose a problem.
E.
 
Ahm screwed! The Shark does not respond to commands, no sound, no movement. That makes TOO MANY dollars worth of sweet looking paper weights I'm up to. (sigh) Does anybody know how I git the shell off this thing without REALLY breaking it?? #%&%^&!!! No more expensive Steamers OR Diesels will I buy! The BACHMANS are the ONLY ones NOT giving me fits! Their Steamers and Diesel's that I have run and pull like champs! You should not have to 'scratch build' a multiple hundred dollar loco that is SUPPOSED to be 'ready to run'! This is BULL! And to hell with sending em back, that is bogus, I should not have to send back a four hundred (or MORE!) dollar loco! PLUS! I don't have the money to be shipping JUNK all over the countryside! The damn thing better KISS me out of the box for that kinda money! WTF? The technology is not THAT new! I was rushed in my purchasing by circumstances beyond my control and I KNEW it would come back to bite me! I did not have enough time to do proper research. Grrrrrr.

I was looking for a video of how in the heck I'm going to change the wire harness on the riv and all I could find was a review of the exact same loco as mine, the "sun of a chock block" in the video just pushed the damn thing in with his THUMB and the sucker runs like sweet cream! AAAAAArrrrg! I was being as careful as a frikking brain surgeon and the damn wires exploded like a Simpsons cartoon! Hitting a wall here and not liking it. A 'body count' of 3 dead locos is not something I planned on having in the first few months. I should know better, I am not 'supposed' to have nice stuff, I always 'break' it due to my excessive ignorance.
 
Ahm screwed! The Shark does not respond to commands, no sound, no movement. That makes TOO MANY dollars worth of sweet looking paper weights I'm up to. (sigh) Does anybody know how I git the shell off this thing without REALLY breaking it?? #%&%^&!!! No more expensive Steamers OR Diesels will I buy! The BACHMANS are the ONLY ones NOT giving me fits! Their Steamers and Diesel's that I have run and pull like champs! You should not have to 'scratch build' a multiple hundred dollar loco that is SUPPOSED to be 'ready to run'! This is BULL! And to hell with sending em back, that is bogus, I should not have to send back a four hundred (or MORE!) dollar loco! PLUS! I don't have the money to be shipping JUNK all over the countryside! The damn thing better KISS me out of the box for that kinda money! WTF? The technology is not THAT new! I was rushed in my purchasing by circumstances beyond my control and I KNEW it would come back to bite me! I did not have enough time to do proper research. Grrrrrr.

I was looking for a video of how in the heck I'm going to change the wire harness on the riv and all I could find was a review of the exact same loco as mine, the "sun of a chock block" in the video just pushed the damn thing in with his THUMB and the sucker runs like sweet cream! AAAAAArrrrg! I was being as careful as a frikking brain surgeon and the damn wires exploded like a Simpsons cartoon! Hitting a wall here and not liking it. A 'body count' of 3 dead locos is not something I planned on having in the first few months. I should know better, I am not 'supposed' to have nice stuff, I always 'break' it due to my excessive ignorance.

Easy there 'Sparky'.... slow deep breaths.
What brand is the Shark? That's the first thing to know in getting the shell off.
I'm sure these fellers here can talk you through it.
My 2 Sharks are old Tycos and you simply pry the shell loose from around the gas tank and they lift off.
E.
 
Look at what came in the mail today. I have everything I need to finish up my track plan. Well at least I hope.
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Oh WOW!!! I just realized it's the day after Christmas making exactly 1 year ago today I got a ride to the LHS and loaded up on track laying stuff - nails, cork roadbed and joiners and got my 2 main loops fully laid and operational by the evening. By around 2 or 3 am (tomorrow a year ago) I had the yard laid down and operational!
It was all still DC. The DCC wouldn't come for another couple of weeks.

Another anniversary was 16 days ago + 1 year when I joined this forum and I've never looked back.
Although I wasn't really new to the hobby, I had to re-learn a ton of stuff and learn all about some stuff that hadn't been invented back in those old days. Sticker-shock was the first order of business.
E.
 
Look at what came in the mail today. I have everything I need to finish up my track plan. Well at least I hope.

Those aren't remote turnouts you have now?
I may have asked you that before.
I suppose you'll be taking off those big black cheesy looking solenoid shells then.
Guess we all know where you'll be the rest of the day. I know I'd dam sure be there in the "train cave".
E.
 
Those aren't remote turnouts you have now?
I may have asked you that before.
I suppose you'll be taking off those big black cheesy looking solenoid shells then.
Guess we all know where you'll be the rest of the day. I know I'd dam sure be there in the "train cave".
E.
No mine aren't powered. All of mine are manuals. And yes those bulky switch machines are going bye bye. Caboose throws all around! I'll post pics of my progress.

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NG- I believe that the shark uses the Paragon 3 decoder. If that is true then you are having the same type issue many others are having. Here is what I recommend based on my experience with my BLI L1:

1. First do a factory reset (instructions in P3 manual). It can be done 2 different ways.
2. If that works you will have an address of 03. Check to see if the loco works.
3. If it works on 03 try resetting to the address you want and give it a try.
4. If it doesn't work go to the BLI website get the service email address and send them an email outlining the issues and the type of DC/DCC system you have. (I have Digitrax).
5. They may in the end recommend some more testing but most likely will send you a new soundboard. My friend was able to replace it in 15 minutes in my L1.

Something that has been put out on the PRR modeling site is to unlock and lock the decoder as follows (if loco is accepting CV's)

CV16-2 lock decoder
CV15-2 unlock decoder for inputs
enter all the CV changes you want to make
CV15-0 relocks decoder

If the sound board accepts the inputed CV's you should hear the coupler clank then go to the next CV you want to change.

Also in the service section of their website is a technical note concerning the P3 decoder and exploded views of their locos in which you can figure out how to take the shell off (I am not familiar with that particular loco. Of course if all else fails you can get a RA number from them to return it to them for repair, but it usually takes 6-8 weeks to get it back.

Hope this helps you. I am getting ready to leave for the train club but if you have some specific questions my email is [email protected]
 
I am SO bleeping glad I'm DC with NO sound.. K I S S rules. I know CHET agrees.
NG- Sorry to read about your problems. Watched CURT go through all of his.

Louis- Did you get the "E" ?
Phil
 


Calling all pilots!!
It's 75° here outside and 77 inside so I decided to open the doors and do a little cleaning.
I had just shut off the vacuum and what do I hear but none other than that sound of a radial engine overhead.
Of course I had to run out and investigate.
None other than a PT-17 Stearman!!!!
There are actually 2 in the area but I only see them during summer months. 1 is blue and the other is yellow. I'm told some feller down in Kennesaw (about 5 miles south of me) flies sight-seeing out of McCullom (sp?) field.
I have to say, it would be a good day to fly.
E.
 




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