Running Bear's January 2025 Coffee Shop

[bnsf971]

This is a first, they closed the dealership because of the weather! View attachment 208596

If we had that much sn*w, the entire state would be paralyzed.

 

[ctclibby]

Thanks, I have not been there in a very long time like 8 years or so. I am gonna poke around to see if I can find a hobby shop and see if the mainlines are near by. I am actually on a business trip for a seminar. Why Vegas I dunno because everyone else goes there lol I am not much of a gambler at all but it's cool to browse about.

James: Ya need to visit 'The Ice Bar'. Wear something warm.

Later

 

[migalyto]

Thanks, I have not been there in a very long time like 8 years or so. I am gonna poke around to see if I can find a hobby shop and see if the mainlines are near by. I am actually on a business trip for a seminar. Why Vegas I dunno because everyone else goes there lol I am not much of a gambler at all but it's cool to browse about.

Its been a while since my wife and I have been there too. I just loved to hang around and watch all the people and happenings.

I'm not much of a gambler either .#1 I never win! #2 I always looked at it as not losing a few hindered bucks but losing a DCC/sound locomotive and a few pieces of rolling stock that I could of had instead.

 

[der 5997]

What do you know about evaporative coolers?

My mom, back in the 50s when we had no fridge, used to wet a small towel and drape it over the milk jug. Same effect!

 

[troyphoto]

And away it goes. Service looks it tomorrow. They have the owner's phone number.

 

[santafewillie]

I read here somewhere recently not sure where exactly, but anyways someone posted that they run their trains on a new layout for about 3 months before they start the ballasting process........ now I know why.

Wise advice that I have followed for the last 30 of my 40 years modeling.

 

[kbkchooch]

Looks like you already made the trek in before you got word of the closure?

I had actually been there for about an hour and a half!

 

[Texas Hobo]

Good morning, all! We awoke to 35 degrees this morning, currently 42. I just returned from the eye dr. All is good considering Dry MD has set in. The comparisons from first diagnosis to today show no progression. Vision with glasses 25/20 and 20/20 so all in all a good report. The report from my PCP, whom I saw Friday was " see you in 6 months", so I fared well there too. All that remains is the dermatologist at the end of the month.
The weather folks are predicting lows in the 30's and highs in the 40's for the next seven days. There is an outside chance of "winter mix" Thur. and Fri. but the Euro and American models says just cold rain. Willie's part of TX could see 9 inches according to the models.
In the world of trains, I did run a few trains yesterday. I need to start searching for some new buildings. Something to replace downtown old plastic ones.
From the archive;

STAY SAFE
LATER

 

[Patrick]

Patrick - It seems to me that all car system failures occur when the weather is bad.

I noticed that as well...

Back at the office. Someone mentioned donuts and I told the Mrs. I had to go in. Actually the roads improved enough that while slick, they were visible. Unlike those in "The snow lasts all winter belt", they don't plow the roads completely clear as the snow usually on lasts a few days, even if the temps are below freezing. And yes I gots my donuts.

Karl: Because I come in so early, I've had the same thing happen to me, where I was already in the building after driving 28 miles, before they closed the city offices.

 

[Bruette]

I reluctantly went outside with my snowblower, my hands don't like the cold. Only to find 90% of the work had already been done! The young Spanish guys who live across the street and two doors down shoveled all my sidewalks and most of my driveway. They did a much better job than I could have.

I don't even know these guys' names. I yelled down to them, but I don't think they speak much English. They did understand when I said thank you. As they smiled and waved to me.

All I had left to do was clear my cars and clear a path to the garbage cans on the opposite side of the house.

Those guys were a blessing. My old f'up hands were frozen even for the brief time and in Thinsulate gloves. They hurt when they get cold, even worse when they get that cold. But nothing much hurts like they do when they begin to warm up! My hands were all but useless for over an hour.

Thank God for my good Samaritans!

 

[der 5997]

Morning all,

Currently 19° and blustery light blowing snow\sleet with lightning and thunder in my area east of Wichita. Had 1/2" of ice that's caused some power outages in my town.

I know better than to ask, but why do the low tire sensors flash only when there's drizzle, rain or snow? Drove to work yesterday, but on my way home, got the low tire message. 2 tires at 29# and the other 2 at 30#. I aired them up again when I got home along with the wife's car as I already had the compressor hose out anyway.

Willie: Happy belated birthday.

Troy: I have 34" and 36" curves on my layout and just couldn't get the look I wanted on the long passenger cars, so I sold them. The 2 E units I have still look funny on them. As far as gauge, I prefer the HO to the N. I have my grandson's N scale layout in the basement as well as my HO and find the HO a bit easier on the eyes to work on.

Good morning, all! Starting out with a partly sunny morning, predicted high near 80, then wham drop to 31 tonight. SE Texas weather.

Willie - Happy Birthday to you.
Troy - pick the scale that makes you happy. I'm N scale. Yes, at times it gets difficult to get things the way you envision them. I find that when I start having problems with assembling kits, wiring, painting I just quit, give it a rest. Then go back later, maybe an hour, maybe tomorrow. Lord knows I've complained here in the diner about N scale stairs and windows, but in the end, they got done.

A while back I was looking at stuff on ebay and came across a dealer with a model of a Coast Guard 82 foot patrol boat. My first duty station was 82301, CGC Point Caution, stationed in Galveston. So, I bought the kit. While there were some errors in the model it was a reasonable model. I asked the dealer if he a 40 foot utility boat kit. He did not, but thought it would be easy enough to make one. He sent me a picture of his first attempt. Wasn't too bad, but was missing a number of details. I wrote him about the details, he made the changes and a very passible model came about. I asked that he use 40474 for the boat's numbers. My boat in 1967/1968. He sent me a kit. Both the 82 and the 40 are N scale. In my mind I think it awesome I was able to assist this guy create a model, and that I have immortalized the 40474.

This is how they are displayed. The 40 footer will be moved to the layout with a disabled boat in tow.
View attachment 208517

STAY SAFE
LATER

We have 5" of snow here in southeast Baltimore and it is still snowing. The worst part is I left the snow blower in the shed. This storm has progressed as predicted. All schools in the metro area have closed. Even Amazon shut down delivery operations. Which turned out to be good for me. I awoke at my usual time not having a good day health wise. Fortunately, going back to bed improved my situation.

Soon I will get the snow blower ready. When it warms up, I will work on cleaning up mother nature's "gift".


Thank you, Willie, I had forgotten.

View attachment 208567

Thanks for the reminder of the Magi! Love peace and happiness never out of place!

 

[der 5997]

Mike: I always modeled in HO, My oldest son started in N, went to HO. Now my Grandson is interested in N. Has my sons old fleet. I bought him an Atlas N SD9 for Christmas. I was shocked how small the Atlas packaging was compared to HO. I could get used to it if I had to... I'm looking at a change to a downsized layout, in the near future. Amazing what can be done with two hollow doors in N vs. HO.

Absolutely, N gives me the layout I can handle on 2 4x8s. IIRC , I added side strips to my doors to get the 4x8s

 

[kbkchooch]

And away it goes. Service looks it tomorrow. They have the owner's phone number. View attachment 208598

Don't be surprised if after the jostling around on the truck that the car starts. Classic capricious starter tricks!

 

[kbkchooch]

Snow has stopped for now, all 3 cars are cleaned, driveway and walkways plowed. We're supposed to get a little light snow later, less than 1 inch. Hopefully the salt on the driveway will eat it

 

[der 5997]

Your 20" radius curves will work okay with the smaller equipment of the 1940s-1950s. Most everything was still 40' car length, but 50' equipment was growing in popularity. Obviously, if you're wanting steam, the smaller engines the better. No matter what the manufacturers say, 20" radius is too tight for much more than 2-8-0s. You can probably get away with SD7s, but E units and Trainmasters will be off the table--literally...
If you want passenger trains, you can pick up some of the old Athearn 65' (or whatever length they were) passenger cars, and use F units to pull them. Other than their length, and basic detail, they weren't bad cars. Kato/Atlas GP7s and RS3s, and Kato/Stewart F units, and Kato NW2s would be a good basis for motive power. If you want better detailed stuff, Atlas Classic and Bowser F units are the new, improved versions.

I found that 6 axel locos were a pain on my curves, not that they were tight. I went for 4 axel equipment and that worked well. The Cape Bretton and Central Nova has these GP35s(?), plus a CN liveried GP9. I posted a pic, but don't know where it went...

 

[der 5997]

Snow falling from overhead power lines?

Makes sence!

 

[der 5997]

Wise advice that I have followed for the last 30 of my 40 years modeling.

I agree. Reorienting already ballasted track is a not for the faint in heart! That's where SCARM shines. Lets you find and work out the kinks befor "cutting steel"!

 

[NorthBrit]

Good evening all. Had three grandchildren visiting. A minor challenge at their home. All sorted now and have gone home. It is late; nearly midnight. I hope they make school in the morning.

Time for me to close. 'Night all.

 

[Boris]

can you imagine a HOA in Dundalk?

Hysterical Concept

 

[Boris]

Anyone who made the switch from N to HO (or bigger) - what were the factors that made you want to jump up in scales?

I went from O - 3 rail to HO, because I could get more into a limited space. Rivet counting was not initially a factor. I have been in HO ever since. However, I seriously thought of switching to N around the mid 1990s, then decided against it. Big mistake! Why? Space considerations. I like to run passenger trains, which kind of requires a continuous run option, when "rail fanning" my layout.
My current allocation of available space, I cannot do that in HO, but I could in N.

Hopefully, your eye problem is quickly resolved, but I think you may be disappointed by HO vs. N, when you consider all factors.