Running Bear's February 2022 Coffee Shop

[BigGRacing]

Got things set up at the Timonium show. Lots of heart burn over warped wood and misaligned track. Some turnouts weren't working properly either. Wrong polarity in the diverging route.
I just can't do this anymore. I worked on these modules a couple months ago then set them up again a couple weeks ago and still had alignment problems. Fixed em all. Now, they're warped again making running trains miserable. Decoupling, derailing loss of power, inverted power.
I'm done. I'll take these home tomorrow and try to salvage the track and turnouts. Prolly be able to keep the DS64s and dwarf signals too, but the modules are not worth my time anymore.

Is that a module layout that you built yourself DJ?

 

[troyphoto]

I will change out the garbage disposal. Research says that those Badger units are not repairable. So bought a new one. Went up from the 1/2 HP unit to the 3/4 HP unit. But it looks like it is the same size and layout which will make it easier to plumb and connect the electric. I'm hoping about an hour long job, and then maybe run some wiring under the layout. The laser level should arrive today, so will play with that some as well. All while taking care of the missus. My oldest dau got the boost yesterday at the same time - haven't heard how she is doing yet.

Learned the hard way. If you are attaching the dishwasher drain hose, there is a knock-out plug on the disposal unit. Knock that out before you install and hook up the dishwasher drain.

Or, you have a dishwasher full of nasty water, and still dirty dishes.

 

[Alcomotive]

James I'm glad you alerted me to this. I was thinking about buying some stock in Caterpillar who owns the company Progress Rail that makes the locos.

Here's the link to the story from BZ briefs

https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/01...-electric-locomotives-from-caterpillar-wabtec

George

Cleantech in Action: Canada on Leading Edge of Developing Hydrogen Locomotives - Canadian Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Events - EnergyNow

Demonstration projects the first step to creating real demand for clean hydrogen fuel By Mario ToneguzziFollow CEC on Linkedin CEC Linkedin Follow CEC on Facebook CEC Facebook Follow CEC on Twitter CEC Twitter Canadian companies are pulling ahead in the race to reduce emissions from rail...

energynow.ca

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Is that a module layout that you built yourself DJ?

Yeah. It's 11 modules running about 60 feet with 4 yard tracks on the inner loop and 2 yard tracks on the outer loop and the two mainline tracks. The system includes a 92" radius corner system made up of three modules. I also designed legs for most of the midules that can be adjusted while standing instead of crawling on the floor. The buss lines are linked with power pole connectors.

 

[TLOC]

It is still recommended for regular cleaning though, correct?

No more mineral spirits iron my track. It loosened the glue that holds my rail to the Central Valley styrene tie strips. I know I used too much but never again.

TomO

 

[CambriaArea51]

At the scale needed for a NA freight train, I don't think a couple "solar" cars will do anything at all. We're looking at solar and will put 42 panels on the house (once completed). This is about a 13.2KW system and would be good to run a house with electric hot water and a heat pump (pumps) plus general purpose needs most of the time. (All approximate). It is probably Apples to Oranges but these locomotives have outputs ranging in the 3x00kw range. What goes in must comes out -- I am thinking that a couple of "solar cars" wouldn't be more than a drop in the bucket for what the train needs to operate. (Again, this is not my line of work so I probably made 1000 bad assumptions here)

More likely they will have to put solar panels on all the freight cars, to supplement the power and Trains will be Shorter and /or Lighter as well

This is why it'll never work, thus the diesel and generator comment which they already run on. Unless there are some advancements in the technology I don't see it happening.

 

[TLOC]

Specifically, what kind of glue? I am using the clear Latex caulk to glue the track to the WS foam roadbed, and use WS Foam Tack glue to secure the foam roadbed to my painted extruded foam sub-road. Does Mineral SPirits attack the latex caulk?

I used barge cement mixed with MEK to hold the ties down on the tie strips from Central Valley Model works. I used too much mineral spirits in the rag with too much force. About 40’ of my main is screwed.

TomO

 

[TLOC]

Good morning gandy dancers, +5 and windy. We got about 1" of the light fluffy stuff

Still had night sweats, ended up on the couch after soaking the sheets. However, my wife took my temp this am, only 97.6. That would be nice if I am good by Monday.

Louis - sad to hear about your loss

Willie - I love your tavern scenes

Gary - your trains and track work have a pleasant appearance to them, very neat and tidy

TomO - I was going to comment on your pulp cars. Looks like some I used to see at Sappy in Cloquet They are beautiful modelling.

Here is what is going on outside, light snow and birds, occasionally the little red squirrel

View attachment 140319

This is our back door. No close neighbors.

I spent a couple hours in the building hospital, got the smokestack glued together and the steam engine back in place:


View attachment 140320

These buildings recently came out of storage,

I spent a lot of time trying to get the belt taught, however this is the best I could do. JB weld sticks everything in place, looks like the sawyer has muddy boots

View attachment 140321

The reason this building has withstood so many moves is the JB weld at many critical joints. Supposed to be rubbish piles when on the floor,

Have a good day,

Dave LASM

Thank you Dave. I appreciate the kind comment. Greg received his 3 on 2/4/2022 and is very happy with them. He can comment when he gets here

TomO

 

[kbkchooch]

Got things set up at the Timonium show. Lots of heart burn over warped wood and misaligned track. Some turnouts weren't working properly either. Wrong polarity in the diverging route.
I just can't do this anymore. I worked on these modules a couple months ago then set them up again a couple weeks ago and still had alignment problems. Fixed em all. Now, they're warped again making running trains miserable. Decoupling, derailing loss of power, inverted power.
I'm done. I'll take these home tomorrow and try to salvage the track and turnouts. Prolly be able to keep the DS64s and dwarf signals too, but the modules are not worth my time anymore.

I know your pain. My 1st set of modules that I built when I was with the Four County gang were horrible that way. Lesson learned,, eventually I built a 4 ft module out of Luan sub-flooring, 2 layers sandwiched together. It was a dimensional success so I built 2 6 ft modules from there with spline roadbed. Never had an alignment issue from that point on, well at least with any of MY modules. Other members still had issues, but not me.

13 years, 2 houses and many shows later, they are still in my basement, lined up great!

 

[TLOC]

Yes it does work indeed. I have used this when needed.

Yep, I have used this method successfully

TomO

 

[CambriaArea51]

Tom- Nice looking diesel. What's the purpose of the chains over the trucks?

Curt- That's part of the manual brakes, the wheel is on the left side of the engine.

 

[NYC_George]

13 years, 2 houses and many shows later, they are still in my basement, lined up great!

They look great Chooch I may restructure part of my lower deck with modules next year. I'll use your plans.
George

 

[Texas Hobo]

Hughie- Very nice scene. Can you post specifics on the product you mentioned?

It is soft spongy like. I was amazed how well it cleaned.

 

[PNKFLOYD]

Starting with the Calico Cat located in the center of a Merchant's Row I structure from Walther's.

Willie- I like the brick color difference between the two buildings here.
Did you use different paints or add a darker color to the paint to give it different shade?

 

[Boris]

Dog and pony show it will fail......they got subsidies for this purchase.....definitely doomed. They need to do what Canada is doing with hydrogen.

Living not far from where the Hindenburg went down, I'm sort of skeptical of Hydrogen a safe fuel, but with modern technology, anything is possible, so It could be a viable answer to the fuel emissions dilemma the railroad industry is facing.

 

[santafewillie]

Willie- I like the brick color difference between the two buildings here.
Did you use different paints or add a darker color to the paint to give it different shade?

I used different paints. I did this structure back in the Polly Scale days before I wrote down which colors that I used.

 

[Boris]

$20/year only if you pay yearly. A lot more if you pay monthly. It will be $139 yearly and $180 yearly by the month. We paid our $119 in January so we get 11 months cheaper!

Yeah, saw that while watching the stock market roller coaster on Friday. Then I found the wife was paying monthly, at a higher rate, so I persuaded her to go annual. She managed to lock in a year at the older rate of $119 also. through next February.

 

[Boris]

This is why it'll never work, thus the diesel and generator comment which they already run on. Unless there are some advancements in the technology I don't see it happening.

Tom: Never say never. These are experimental, not full production, and will be used in yard service. The perfect location to test a concept locomotive. FWIW, the Hydrogen fuel cell powered locos CP and BNSF are experimenting with are also prototypes, vs. full production.

Times are changing, diesel - electric technology has reached it's upper limits, so it's time for something else. Electrification of high density lines would be the best solution, if the cost of the infrastructure wasn't so damn expensive....Government funding could be the solution, but that opens up several cans of (political) worms.

 

[troyphoto]

I promised myself when I finished the last book that I'd get a copy of Ghostbusters: Afterlife on DVD

The one written and directed by Jason Reitman, son of the original director, Ivan Reitman. this is the one "with the kids" not with the women as the main cast.

Yep. Get it/rent it/borrow it if you enjoyed the original. It's not a remake, and it's not just a sequel. It's an homage to the original and it does its job well. Some predictable moments, and some unexpected ones.

There's a rollerskate drive-in diner called Spinners... I gotta find a model I can convert and include that on my layout.

And the Ecto-1. Gotta get an ecto-1 with a gunner seat

 

[NYC_George]

Living not far from where the Hindenburg went down, I'm sort of skeptical of Hydrogen a safe fuel, but with modern technology, anything is possible, so It could be a viable answer to the fuel emissions dilemma the railroad industry is facing.

It doesn't look much like the Hindenburg.
George