migalyto
Well-Known Member
I never realized how big that bridge really was until you see it in relation to your workbench and surroundings.
The client your building it for should be extremely happy with it, you have done a great job on it!
Running Bear's December 2025 Coffee Shop
- Thread starter bnsf971
- Start date
ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
The client your building it for should be extremely happy with it, you have done a great job on it!
www.scaletrains.com
The swinger is 28” and the 2 approach bridges another 10” so end to end 38” +. It is definitely not small, but I’m having a good time
That looks great.
What I'd like to see is a model of the Portage Lake lift bridge at Houghton/Hanckock, Michigan in the UP. That bridge has always impressed me, and I've crossed it many times and have seen it operate. I've never seen a model of it though.
My thin Zimo would probably fit in a cab. I’ve done it on my Japanese trains. They’re like 2mm thick or something. They’re not wrapped. I like a challenge.
I’m not familiar with the existing decoder but I have some Minitrix Euro locomotives that have the decoder built in to the board. Not an add on. So if that was the case you could cut the leads.
They make exceptional locomotive models.
Rivet Counter HO Scale EMD SD40-2, EMD/ex-ICG Orange & Gray Patch
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)
- Status
The client your building it for should be extremely happy with it, you have done a great job on it!
migalyto
Well-Known Member
You can own one of these for your layout. ScaleTrains still has a few in stock.Norfolk Southern : NS8102 ( Pennsylvania Heritage ) - ES44AC (Photo: Bill Tidler Jr.)
In my hometown of Tipton IN this morning.
Rivet Counter HO Scale GE ES44AC, Norfolk Southern/Heritage/Pennsylvania
In 2002, GE introduced the “Evolution Series” of locomotives. Better known as GEVo or ES44, this series has become the best-selling line of diesel locomotives of all time with production nearing 8,000 units. Our Rivet Counter series model renders the numerous variations of cabs, dynamic brakes...
www.scaletrains.com
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Good Morning All. Here it's mostly cloudy, foggy and 32°. I can see my hayfield but not the neighbor on the hill. Mid to upper 50's today until next Tuesday when we are forecast to be back into the 60's. Still no snow in sight. Rain yesterday was negligible, got things wet but didn't register in the gauge.
Grocery trek went well yesterday, as did the additional stops at the Vitamin Shop, UPS Store, Schlotzsky's and the pharmacy. Wife went to some jewelry store and some home place while I was in Kroger. We got a lot accomplished on our trip to town.
Later we went to our favorite Italian place for dinner. We were last there 10 days ago, and they had a fire the day after we visited that did some damage, but it was already mostly repaired. They still need to paint some of the interior walls between the kitchen and dining area. The owner talked to us for a while regarding his future plans. He owns the whole small strip center there, the Italian place that he personally runs with some members of his family takes about 1/3 of the building at one end. The other end is anchored by a storefront church that has a long-term lease that will expire soon. That church is the reason that he has never been able to get a liquor license for his place. He hopes to add a small bar after they move out. Between the two is a small Mexican place that leases their space from him. They never seem busy when we go, but my wife says that the local Facebook page indicates that it is popular during lunch. Prior to being the Mexican restaurant, it was a foot/back massage center. The real downside to the restaurant fire, was that their cloth napkins were destroyed and they have had to resort to paper, very cheap paper.
Otherwise the day was somewhat miserable and I didn't do anything outside. Spent some time on the phone with a representative of the brokerage house where we have our retirement accounts at. We're going to make some changes in the type of accounts there. We originally had 3 accounts with them and 5 at a different firm, but they bought the other firm. I've since combined some of the accounts, but the ones from the other firm do not have the same flexibility as the accounts at the current place. It's basically a paperwork change that will not cost anything. I already don't pay any yearly management fees based on the combined total of the accounts. I'm sure that they are skimming off the top in some way, such as paying me 4% on a guaranteed account that they are getting 4.5%.
Not sure of today's plans yet other than I'll be staying out of the car until Sunday Mass and later to Dallas for my granddaughter's birthday party. Next week I have 3 medical appointments including heart ablation surgery, all of which will occupy my time.
I switched gears somewhat out in the train shed yesterday. Yes, I still ran a few trains, that never gets boring. But I also tackled the job of clearing and re-sorting stuff that's been on a 6' shelf under the west side of the layout. Basically some of it was junk that got put into the dumpster. Two boxes had leftover kit parts which got combined. There's a bunch of used track, mostly brass, which went into a different box elsewhere with the same stuff. Haven't decided if or when it will hit the dumpster. Some old magazines from the 80's & 90's that were spoiled by the water after last years tornado also got trashed, a shame because some had some useful information in them. But I could probably get that info from the internet now. I now have room to consolidate all of those empty ScaleTrains engine boxes in one location for my heirs to use some day!
No dead rodents or evidence that there are any in the vicinity, occasionally an issue out here in the country because I sometimes leave the door open while I work on a remote part of the layout.
I'm itching to get back into an actual layout project today, but deciding which one from the list is difficult. I'd like to start on the 1/4 of the layout that has nothing but plywood, track and junk on it, but I vowed to myself to complete more blank scenes elsewhere first. One of my bigger issues is paint containers. I have them scattered in 4 locations including on the workbench and should have consolidated them long ago. But I didn't plan for them when I designed the layout room.
Troy - I solved the shaving cuts 50 years ago...have had a beard continuously since 1975; once I was old enough to grow a decent one.
Michael - Like your road, I have a lot of detail work and scenery items that are generally hidden, such as the backs of structures or groundwork as with your road. But I get satisfaction just doing it and knowing that it exists. At some time, I will finally invest in a mini-camera and make a cab view video that will show a lot of that detailing.
Hughie - Same issue here with Texas Roadhouse, it's just too darn noisy. We've started to go to Longhorn now that they have a recently opened location in Denton.
Kevin - Have a safe trip and enjoy yourselves.
Today is the birthday of the late Little Richard. If he were still with us, he would be 93. Surprisingly though, he made it to 87!
Everybody have a great Friday, especially if you're off work.
Grocery trek went well yesterday, as did the additional stops at the Vitamin Shop, UPS Store, Schlotzsky's and the pharmacy. Wife went to some jewelry store and some home place while I was in Kroger. We got a lot accomplished on our trip to town.
Later we went to our favorite Italian place for dinner. We were last there 10 days ago, and they had a fire the day after we visited that did some damage, but it was already mostly repaired. They still need to paint some of the interior walls between the kitchen and dining area. The owner talked to us for a while regarding his future plans. He owns the whole small strip center there, the Italian place that he personally runs with some members of his family takes about 1/3 of the building at one end. The other end is anchored by a storefront church that has a long-term lease that will expire soon. That church is the reason that he has never been able to get a liquor license for his place. He hopes to add a small bar after they move out. Between the two is a small Mexican place that leases their space from him. They never seem busy when we go, but my wife says that the local Facebook page indicates that it is popular during lunch. Prior to being the Mexican restaurant, it was a foot/back massage center. The real downside to the restaurant fire, was that their cloth napkins were destroyed and they have had to resort to paper, very cheap paper.
Otherwise the day was somewhat miserable and I didn't do anything outside. Spent some time on the phone with a representative of the brokerage house where we have our retirement accounts at. We're going to make some changes in the type of accounts there. We originally had 3 accounts with them and 5 at a different firm, but they bought the other firm. I've since combined some of the accounts, but the ones from the other firm do not have the same flexibility as the accounts at the current place. It's basically a paperwork change that will not cost anything. I already don't pay any yearly management fees based on the combined total of the accounts. I'm sure that they are skimming off the top in some way, such as paying me 4% on a guaranteed account that they are getting 4.5%.
Not sure of today's plans yet other than I'll be staying out of the car until Sunday Mass and later to Dallas for my granddaughter's birthday party. Next week I have 3 medical appointments including heart ablation surgery, all of which will occupy my time.
I switched gears somewhat out in the train shed yesterday. Yes, I still ran a few trains, that never gets boring. But I also tackled the job of clearing and re-sorting stuff that's been on a 6' shelf under the west side of the layout. Basically some of it was junk that got put into the dumpster. Two boxes had leftover kit parts which got combined. There's a bunch of used track, mostly brass, which went into a different box elsewhere with the same stuff. Haven't decided if or when it will hit the dumpster. Some old magazines from the 80's & 90's that were spoiled by the water after last years tornado also got trashed, a shame because some had some useful information in them. But I could probably get that info from the internet now. I now have room to consolidate all of those empty ScaleTrains engine boxes in one location for my heirs to use some day!
No dead rodents or evidence that there are any in the vicinity, occasionally an issue out here in the country because I sometimes leave the door open while I work on a remote part of the layout.
I'm itching to get back into an actual layout project today, but deciding which one from the list is difficult. I'd like to start on the 1/4 of the layout that has nothing but plywood, track and junk on it, but I vowed to myself to complete more blank scenes elsewhere first. One of my bigger issues is paint containers. I have them scattered in 4 locations including on the workbench and should have consolidated them long ago. But I didn't plan for them when I designed the layout room.
Troy - I solved the shaving cuts 50 years ago...have had a beard continuously since 1975; once I was old enough to grow a decent one.
Michael - Like your road, I have a lot of detail work and scenery items that are generally hidden, such as the backs of structures or groundwork as with your road. But I get satisfaction just doing it and knowing that it exists. At some time, I will finally invest in a mini-camera and make a cab view video that will show a lot of that detailing.
Hughie - Same issue here with Texas Roadhouse, it's just too darn noisy. We've started to go to Longhorn now that they have a recently opened location in Denton.
Kevin - Have a safe trip and enjoy yourselves.
Today is the birthday of the late Little Richard. If he were still with us, he would be 93. Surprisingly though, he made it to 87!
Everybody have a great Friday, especially if you're off work.
migalyto
Well-Known Member
Good morning all!
Happy Friday!
Another cold morning out there. Currently 15F with a high of only 24F. A bit warmer than yesterday but well below average for this time
of year. Seems kind of weird that Tom who is 100 miles north of me in Wisconsin is going to see warmer temps. Might see some more
snow for the weekend, but totals are still a guess at this point.
Usual Friday household tasks today, Got our bedding done and working on finishing my daughters up. Also some other minor
pick-up and vacuuming going on.
Basketball game is away tonight. Its fairly close at only a half hour away, so travel and dinner out will be in order.
That's about all that's going on in my world at the moment.
Have a safe day everyone!
Happy Friday!
Another cold morning out there. Currently 15F with a high of only 24F. A bit warmer than yesterday but well below average for this time
of year. Seems kind of weird that Tom who is 100 miles north of me in Wisconsin is going to see warmer temps. Might see some more
snow for the weekend, but totals are still a guess at this point.
Usual Friday household tasks today, Got our bedding done and working on finishing my daughters up. Also some other minor
pick-up and vacuuming going on.
Basketball game is away tonight. Its fairly close at only a half hour away, so travel and dinner out will be in order.
That's about all that's going on in my world at the moment.
Have a safe day everyone!
ctclibby
Well-Known Member
Good Morning All!
33F @ 89% lightly snowing. Ya, did not stick my arm out the window - I can see it.
Our fav's for eating when we did 34's, Logan's, Texas Roadhouse and Cattleman's.
I posted a benchwork pix over in Layout Design - Coastal Overland if you are interested.
I think I have enough dimensional to start the Helix base and some of the around the walls part. Train Cave is mostly clean, just some clutter to pick up. Wish me luck.
L8r
33F @ 89% lightly snowing. Ya, did not stick my arm out the window - I can see it.
Our fav's for eating when we did 34's, Logan's, Texas Roadhouse and Cattleman's.
I posted a benchwork pix over in Layout Design - Coastal Overland if you are interested.
I think I have enough dimensional to start the Helix base and some of the around the walls part. Train Cave is mostly clean, just some clutter to pick up. Wish me luck.
L8r
TLOC
Well-Known Member
Thank you. Fun project for a good friend no commission and owner also of where the paper mill will be going
The swinger is 28” and the 2 approach bridges another 10” so end to end 38” +. It is definitely not small, but I’m having a good time
Last edited:
kbkchooch
Verified Human
Hence the term temporary?
Good afternoon. It's partly cloudy and 80.
I just experienced something strange with the internet, and I'm not sure where the fault lies. I attempted to log in to Paypal using my phone to send a payment, and Paypal told me I needed to use the passkey that was stored on my iPad. I have not approved creation of any passkeys, and especially not on a device that is 100% not secured in any way. I picked up my iPad, which usually just lays on my workbench so I can go to our company's secure website, and has absolutely no security on it. Basically, I leave it out so the other techs can use it.
That will now change. Somehow, Paypal, Ebay, and Amazon have all stored passkeys on this thing that isn't even secured with a passcode, and anybody can pick up and access. I do have it registered to my Apple account, so maybe that's how the passkeys that I didn't knowingly create got there. I don't know how deep I should dig, and with whom, but I can't be the only person this has happened to, and is a massive security hole that I'm sure those sites would blame me for if and when something happens.
Anyway, it might be a good idea for everybody here to check and see if they have unwittingly created passkeys, and whether they are on devices that any Tom, Dick, or Harry can pick up and use.
I just experienced something strange with the internet, and I'm not sure where the fault lies. I attempted to log in to Paypal using my phone to send a payment, and Paypal told me I needed to use the passkey that was stored on my iPad. I have not approved creation of any passkeys, and especially not on a device that is 100% not secured in any way. I picked up my iPad, which usually just lays on my workbench so I can go to our company's secure website, and has absolutely no security on it. Basically, I leave it out so the other techs can use it.
That will now change. Somehow, Paypal, Ebay, and Amazon have all stored passkeys on this thing that isn't even secured with a passcode, and anybody can pick up and access. I do have it registered to my Apple account, so maybe that's how the passkeys that I didn't knowingly create got there. I don't know how deep I should dig, and with whom, but I can't be the only person this has happened to, and is a massive security hole that I'm sure those sites would blame me for if and when something happens.
Anyway, it might be a good idea for everybody here to check and see if they have unwittingly created passkeys, and whether they are on devices that any Tom, Dick, or Harry can pick up and use.
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Good Luck!
RhB Michael
RhB Lokführer
That looks great.
What I'd like to see is a model of the Portage Lake lift bridge at Houghton/Hanckock, Michigan in the UP. That bridge has always impressed me, and I've crossed it many times and have seen it operate. I've never seen a model of it though.
chadbag
Well-Known Member
My thin Zimo would probably fit in a cab. I’ve done it on my Japanese trains. They’re like 2mm thick or something. They’re not wrapped. I like a challenge.
I’m not familiar with the existing decoder but I have some Minitrix Euro locomotives that have the decoder built in to the board. Not an add on. So if that was the case you could cut the leads.
Last edited:
chadbag
Well-Known Member
We made it to Seattle. Through passport control (as they now call the combined immigration and customs) in the blink of an eye. We registered with the passport control app they have and didn’t even need to show our passport. Just walked up. They took a photo to compare with the one on our passport and the one we uploaded at landing time and we were done. And they had an airside security line for transfers. So now we’re at the gate. Boarding starts in like 50 minutes.
The flight was only 8 hours 1 minutes according to what the pilot said at takeoff. Jet stream helps with the ground speed. Going to Japan from SFO was like 11 hours and 25 minutes or so. Back to Seattle was a shorter flight (not going as far south). Going to Japan they have to detour further north to get around the jet stream.
Going from Asia to the U.S. is one where you gain a day (you lose it going). Clock time we’ll be home before we left. We left around 5pm Dec 5 Tokyo time and will be in Utah around 2:30pm Dec 5.
The flight was only 8 hours 1 minutes according to what the pilot said at takeoff. Jet stream helps with the ground speed. Going to Japan from SFO was like 11 hours and 25 minutes or so. Back to Seattle was a shorter flight (not going as far south). Going to Japan they have to detour further north to get around the jet stream.
Going from Asia to the U.S. is one where you gain a day (you lose it going). Clock time we’ll be home before we left. We left around 5pm Dec 5 Tokyo time and will be in Utah around 2:30pm Dec 5.
Last edited:
For those wondering, this is the decoder for the RS3. It’s probably 9mm wide and maybe 2mm tall. It’s held in place by a couple of plastic clips from the bottom of the frame. You can see one of the contact springs at the lower left on the bottom of the decoder.
chadbag
Well-Known Member
Is that whole thing the decoder or is it also a light board?
It’s all-in-one.
RhB Michael
RhB Lokführer
Copper Country Limited, 1967.
Bill Tidler Jr.
Retired N&W/NS Signalman
That's beautiful but I doubt I will get one as it doesn't match my projected layout which is proto-freelance. I do, however, have, a Scaletrains SD40-2 (EMD Leasing #6040 EX IGG/Patched) which does fit my needs. That one is a model of an actual engine, faded paint and all.You can own one of these for your layout. ScaleTrains still has a few in stock.
Rivet Counter HO Scale GE ES44AC, Norfolk Southern/Heritage/Pennsylvania
In 2002, GE introduced the “Evolution Series” of locomotives. Better known as GEVo or ES44, this series has become the best-selling line of diesel locomotives of all time with production nearing 8,000 units. Our Rivet Counter series model renders the numerous variations of cabs, dynamic brakes...
They make exceptional locomotive models.
- Status
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)