Running Bear's January 2025 Coffee Shop

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kbkchooch said:
You can't beat the Proto 2000 line. The 6 axle units are fine, the 4 axle unit do have a gear issue, but they are so easily replaced with Athearn blue box wheelsets, then they run smooth and quiet for years. I know because I've got 20 of them between GP7/9s, BL2s, FA2s and GP35s. They have proven to dependable over years of service on various layouts.
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No controversy at all. I'm running two GP7s and an Alco S3 right now with original gears. Walthers Proto (P2K) and Main Line(P1K), also run fine. Right now I'm using 2F7s (Best close coupling out of box) and a GP9 that are excellent runners.
 
troyphoto said:
I can probably do 20" radius on most curves. A few larger than that. But I'm not sure I can do a 34" radius anywhere.
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Why bother with 34"? Seriously. Depends on what you want. I have 32" curves and #6 frog switches on mine. Next layout, not to exceed 26" curves...why? space management. I will not have the same amount of space available. Some facets of the model railroading hobby are limited by available space, others by personal preference. You can't please everyone, but you should at least please yourself.
 
Good morning from So Central Wisconsin! 8f degrees now heading to 20. Very close to yesterday’s prediction/guess and actual temperature was!

Woke up late at 8:15 after hitting the pillow around midnight. Woke up at 1:15 and stayed awake until 3:30. Decided to force myself back to bed and it seems to have worked. Feeling ok!

I have to start to clear out a section of my media room/cave as on 1/13 the elevator guys are starting. The SIL and one of my modeling friends are coming over at 11 to basically move the stuff I can’t. I will have the media room seats unbolted!

The elevator price is ok, it’s the cost to rearrange around where the elevator opening is upstairs that will be costly. I am losing part of my walkin closet, not a big deal to me but the realtor had suggestions on not losing value! So the bathroom will be expanded to take the now awkward remains of the old walk in closet space. That of course infringes into the 2nd guest bedroom closet that we will completely lose. So the solution is to move Terry’s office into the 2nd guest bedroom and turning her office back into the main bedroom suite it was originally! Once they start on the elevator they figure 5 days to finish. Hopefully on 1/22 a different contacting crew will be able come in and I will lose my bathroom while they re-model. Once my bathroom is done and the new walkin closet for the bedroom is done then they will work on re-modeling Terry’s office back into the main bedroom suite. They figure 4-6 weeks once they destroy my bathroom. Quicker if I’d let them remodel both baths at once but we’ve remodeled 2 baths together before. After that was finished we both agreed never again. Terry’s office will be about 60% of the one she is leaving but is still big enough to be turned back into a bedroom. The expense there besides drywall repair and paint is tripling the window opening.

Walking into the main living space you will not know we have an elevator. Once you walk into the small hallway that leads to the entrance of my bedroom you will. Downstairs the elevator opening is in the media area next to the fireplace that will be moved! My head is spinning!

We had looked at condos in the area and downtown Madison near the Capital and nearby water frontage. Madison is on a peninsula, so water should be easily seen! Any condo without the Capital view though definitely wasn’t worth the asking prices. All big enough but ridiculously priced. The actual determining factor for us though was all are HOA’s which I refuse to join. Plus the monthly fees were exorbitant! The cheapest was 750 per month! That’s a huge no. So we are now hopefully in our forever home!!! The elevator should add 5-10% to the value of the house but I find that difficult to believe. Is the cost worth it, probably not but if it helps Terry be comfortable I’m fine with that and this should

Have a wonderful day
 


Boris said:
Why bother with 34"? Seriously. Depends on what you want. I have 32" curves and #6 frog switches on mine. Next layout, not to exceed 26" curves...why? space management. I will not have the same amount of space available. Some facets of the model railroading hobby are limited by available space, others by personal preference. You can't please everyone, but you should at least please yourself.
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I find that running trains on a more gentler curve more pleasing to the eye.

Like Boris says 'space management'. Work to the space available.
 
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.
 
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troyphoto said:
Well... on the unexpected drive to Indy and back (more on that tomorrow), the one thing I hadn't considered yet is how big I can make those curve radii without rebuilding the benchwork.

I can probably do 20" radius on most curves. A few larger than that. But I'm not sure I can do a 34" radius anywhere.

I want to model mostly 50s and 60s era, so I can be selective on car length. But the passenger cars are going to look odd with that small of a curve.
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If you are going with the transition years of early 50’s you don’t need 34” curves. The rolling stock is mainly 40’ cars with the start of the 50 footers. The diesel locomotives will mainly be 4 axle units. Sticking with shorter steam locomotives will keep everything in perspective. 20” should work but 24” would be better. Passenger cars will look weird but easily operate on a 24 and slowly on a 20”.

I like shelf layouts and building storage underneath. You’ll find the space you need. There is one layout in the area that I have been to. It’s along 2 walls with turnback loops. When he’s not operating or just running trains the return loops 26” radiuses are removed and stored. Works for him.
 
Patrick said:
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.
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Tires lose pressure over time, as the air inside works its way through the rubber compounds and around the rim and valve stems.
Things expand when they get warm, and contract when they get cold. This applies to air, too, so the colder it is, the lower the air pressure in your tires.
 
Good Morning All. It's cloudy and 37°. At 0530, it was 62° Then a howling wind out of the NW hit and the temperature started dropping, it will drop to close to 20° overnight. Wind is not expected to stop until this time tomorrow morning. The weather geeks are now predicting snow for both Thursday and Friday, and back into the upper 40's by Saturday.

Thanks for all of the Birthday well wishes yesterday. Funny, I don't really feel any older. Spent the day yesterday making sure that we are winterized. Sensitive plants are inside, and all of the pool plumbing is drained. Actually I was in a better position on that than I thought that I was; I had actually done more back in October. Since I let the fire go out in the heater Thursday night, I was able to scoop out cold ashes yesterday; didn't need to but the opportunity was there. Restarted it at 0800 this morning while the indoor temperature was still above 72°. I'll be doing glowing ember scoops from now until mid-February.
Today looks to be a lazy day. I have nothing planned outside in the bitter wind.

Short time out in the train shed yesterday, as I was busy with lots of household and other tasks. Just lazily worked on the cleaning project. I did a couple more layout-edge structures and one on the back of the tracks. The industry, Ellis Industrial Tools, has one of those "now you see it, now you don't" mini-scenes. Seen only when there is no boxcar spotted on it's spur.
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The two businesses are Augie's Ag Sales and the Hobby Shop, whose name I don't remember.
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Augie's Ag Sales is a transplant from Chet's Logan Valley. Since his layout had sidewalks mounted on the layout, I added one along with figures both inside and out.
I don't expect to get a whole lot else done for a few days, as the small space heaters out there will only maintain a temperature in the mid-50's at best, and I don't do any layout work with long sleeves on. I will run trains though.

Louis -
Bruette said:
I'm glad to see the two-tone black and white car is back. What kind of car is that? I like the wheels too!
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I believe it's from Oxford Diecast, and I believe it's a '56 Chevy Belair. I didn't remember to look while I was out there yesterday.
der 5997 - Or is it really Willis? Welcome back to the Coffee Shop. It's changed a bit, but there's still Mel, Flo & Francine.

Everyone have a good Sunday.
 
Boris said:
Why bother with 34"? Seriously. Depends on what you want. I have 32" curves and #6 frog switches on mine. Next layout, not to exceed 26" curves...why? space management. I will not have the same amount of space available. Some facets of the model railroading hobby are limited by available space, others by personal preference. You can't please everyone, but you should at least please yourself.
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current benchwork has a hard stop at a 21 inch radii on one end. Unless I give up my druthers of 30 in pinch points in the aisle.
 


Good morning all!

Not much going on in my area of the world. Most of the chores were done yesterday. Nothing yet on the train funk that's been occurring, though a couple of trains were run last nigh, and some gazing on where to go next when the urge to back to it comes back.

This is what our weather professionals are saying. I have to ask, how the heck is it going to rain when its 15 degrees out and the high is 18F?

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Have a safe Sunday everyone!
 
migalyto said:
Good morning all!

Not much going on in my area of the world. Most of the chores were done yesterday. Nothing yet on the train funk that's been occurring, though a couple of trains were run last nigh, and some gazing on where to go next when the urge to back to it comes back.

This is what our weather professionals are saying. I have to ask, how the heck is it going to rain when its 15 degrees out and the high is 18F?

View attachment 208506

Have a safe Sunday everyone!
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I used to live South of I-44 in Missouri, and we would get ice instead of snow regularly. It would be 20 degrees and raining. I'm sure you know how that went. Every time.
 
troyphoto said:
Knowing this guy, it's probably a rebuilt. I didn't know you could rebuild a starter?
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You can rebuild almost anything. I think the modern term is remanufactured rather than rebuilt. Same thing, just a better name for sales.

A quality rebuilt/remanufactured starter will sometimes have a limited lifetime warranty. Depending on who rebuilt it or where you buy it from.
 
Bruette said:
You can rebuild almost anything. I think the modern term is remanufactured rather than rebuilt. Same thing, just a better name for sales.

A quality rebuilt/remanufactured starter will sometimes have a limited lifetime warranty. Depending on who rebuilt it or where you buy it from.
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From back when it mattered:
Reconditioned: cleaned and operation verified. May be repainted.
Rebuilt: Disassembled, damaged or worn components repaired or replaced to bring the item to operable condition.
Remanufactured: Disassembled, internal components replaced with new or rebuilt components, verified operable to original specifications.
 
TLOC said:
I have to start to clear out a section of my media room/cave as on 1/13 the elevator guys are starting. The SIL and one of my modeling friends are coming over at 11 to basically move the stuff I can’t. I will have the media room seats unbolted!
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Will you take photos along the way to share with us? This sounds like quite an interesting project.
 
bnsf971 said:
Once upon a time, I used to work for a company that rebuilt starters and alternators/generators
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That was the kind of shop I liked to deal with. Drop the starter or alternator off in the morning. Pick up the same starter or alternator freshly rebuilt in the afternoon. As good as new or better at less than half the price.

There used to be many wholesale parts stores that sold all the parts you needed to do the rebuild yourself. But a good auto electric shop was so fast and reliable why bother. I only rebuilt a starter or alternator for my own cars and trucks because I am cheap, and I usually did it after hours.

A few customers were willing to pay a premium to have me do the rebuild for a fast turnaround. I never understood that because if I did the rebuild it wouldn't be much cheaper than buying new. It takes all kinds, but the customer is always right, if they are willing to pay.

bnsf971 said:
They've since been put out of business by the mega-companies that deal in volume over quality.
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Sadley the same is true here in Baltimore. I doubt there are a half dozen shops still doing the rebuilds on site.
 


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.
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STAY SAFE
LATER
 
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