Running Bear's January 2025 Coffee Shop

[KriegslokBR52]

The 3rd rail shoes on the Amtrak P32's are "retractable" -- they can be raised up out-of-the-way..

If I recall correctly, the shoes on Metro-North P32's are "fixed" in the lowered position, same as all their other equipment.

So Metro North went "cheap" on some options. From what i've read New Haven electric locomotives also had retractable shoes. I wonder if New York Central electrics had that option.

 

[NYC_George]

Yes.

On the L the last stop before Grand Central Station.
Swal

 

[NYC_George]

So Metro North went "cheap" on some options. From what i've read New Haven electric locomotives also had retractable shoes. I wonder if New York Central electrics had that option.

I don't remember NH FL-9 locos having retractable shoes. I don't remember any motor being there to rise the shoes They had rake-off blocks just north of North White Plains (the slang Ice Breakers) before they electrified to Brewster NY. They would knock off damaged shoes before entering 3rd rail territory that would cause any damage to the 3rd rail. Now the blocks are just north of Brewster Yard. I can remember one day a shoe picked up a wire fence along the track and as we went through the rake off blocks it took the shoe off.
Swal

 

[NYC_George]

I don't remember NH FL-9 locos having retractable shoes. I don't remember any motor being there to rise the shoes They had rake-off blocks just north of North White Plains (the slang Ice Breakers) before they electrified to Brewster NY. They would knock off damaged shoes before entering 3rd rail territory that would cause any damage to the 3rd rail. Now the blocks are just north of Brewster Yard. I can remember one day a shoe picked up a wire fence along the track and as we went through the rake off blocks it took the shoe off.
Swal

I wonder if New York Central electrics had that option.

New York Central electric locos could not run out of 3rd rail territory so there was no need to raise the shoes. The NH had loco that could run outside of the 3rd rail either by diesel or overhead electric.
Swal

 

[KriegslokBR52]

New York Central electric locos could not run out of 3rd rail territory so there was no need to raise the shoes. The NH had loco that could run outside of the 3rd rail either by diesel or overhead electric.
Swal

Oh yes, i forgot about that, that was a silly mistake. New Haven electric locomotives were of course required to operate off of 11KV catenary, as well as off of New York Centrals third rail.

 

[troyphoto]

Well, howdy there internet peeps, and those who like pepper.

And I mean a LOT of pepper

It's Troy again.

Fresh back from the game store.

Wife made potato soup for dinner tonight, trying a new recipe. She warned me as I ventured into the kitchen and asked if it was soup yet.

"Get a small bowl, its got a lot of pepper...."

She wasn't joking!

I asked how much...

She said she thought it was one teaspoon. Black, then the same with red pepper flakes.

I ate about four spoonfuls, took my acid reflux med, and made a bag of popcorn. While waiting on the popcorn, I looked at the recipe sheet she had on the counter.

1/2 a tsp of each pepper. Not 1 tsp.

And I doubt that cutting the amount in half would have been enough. That was SPICY.

In other news, had a fun day at the game store. I earn a gift cert from the game company for organizing and running the demos, so I made my $$ today. Here's some pics for Louis:

You see the red dude? That's a "Murderous Fish Gnome" - a special model. They come grey. But the company put about 10 in boxes randomly. The Green one was worth a trip to Greece to see the world champion tournament. The red ones were worth a free box of a unit from that particular army (about $50 in value) from the army they matched. Except for that one in the pic above.

that one was worth a $600 army. And the girl who purchased the mystery box, and unwrapped that $20 figure, has a $600 army on the way to her... and it's the army she's already collecting and painting!!!!

Our store just started carrying these models. So it was very cool that the $600 murderous fish gnome was in our little store in this corner of Indiana!

Ok, more pics for Louis:

Orcs vs Minotaurs and Greek Hoplite type troops

These little dinos took out all three of the minotaurs.

Below: Undead Romanesque legionnaires from the Red Fish Gnome girl's husband.

 

[chadbag]

Cut the extenders to attach the fascia to the front of the bench work. But, with the foam down, I need to be able to screw from the top down to hold it in place, and there's 2 inches of foam there.

I don’t know how others do it but my one use of foam as a layout bed had me using silicone to spot glue the foam down. No need to screw it in my estimation. I’m not the expert and am making it up as I go but I like silicone as a glue as it’s easily cut to sekarage again.

(and I plan this on the “new” layout as well)

 

[chadbag]

Good morning all. A cold, showery day.

Well Diners 48 years ago this weekend was my last weekend before Dawn walked into my life. Let's have a party before she does.

Congrats! That’s a great run (and keep it up for many more years extension).

 

[chadbag]

And I doubt that cutting the amount in half would have been enough. That was SPICY.

Sounds awesome. I’m a big hot spice lover.

 

[Bruette]

Today is the last day for the topical application of some dermatological creams for me. I go in tomorrow morning to have all residues scrubbed. I think that some skin comes off during the process. I'm looking forward to getting back to work outdoors. I am supposed to avoid direct sunlight during the treatment and I hate that. I look like a Beet right now.

It's almost over, good job sticking to the plan!

No shoot zones???

No Shoot Zones are scattered all over Baltimore City. Tyree Moorehead, a former gang member, started these zones in 2015 as soon as he got out of prison. He was a shooter and spent 18 years in prison for a 25-year sentence. He personally spray-painted "No Shoot Zone" All over the west side.

Ironically, In Early November 22, Tyree Moorehead was shot and killed by a Baltimore Police officer as he was brandishing a knife and refused to comply with the officer. It was ruled a justifiable homicide.

On the bright side Baltimore has seen a significant reduction in violent crime over the last two years. Mayor Scott has done an excellent job of coordinating with the Police, City States Attorney, Community Organizations and implementing programs to reduce violence.

The biggest change was getting rid of Mosby. Now gun offenders face serious jail time. No more quick plea bargains for those caught with illegal guns, regardless of whether they used it or not.

 

[Bruette]

Ok, more pics for Louis:

Thank you, Troy! I enjoyed them as well as the details you shared, thanks again.

 

[Bruette]

I doubt that cutting the amount in half would have been enough. That was SPICY.

My wife and grandson would have loved it. Not me, I don't like it when the spice takes over the flavor of the food.

 

[Bruette]

Washington ran with the Eagles for the best part of the first half. The Eagles blew them away in the second half.

Oh well, my Ravens are out and now my 2nd team is out. I'm proud of them both.

I hope the two remaining games will be competitive and fun to watch.

 

[chadbag]

Yesterday it snowed off and on throughout the day and the evening. But was only and inch or two. It was around freezing so wetter snow and any warm
car windows etc. ended up with a “thick” layer of ice. Was a pain when I had to run to Home Depot to get some drill bits. My nephew kept breaking them — turned out the chuck in the drill he was using was a little off and the bit was wobbly.

Anyway I got home around 4:00am and to bed before 5am and it got to around 21F. But today is sunny and by lunch it got to around 32F where it’s been hovering. Snow in direct sun is melting.

I think our final house inspection is Tuesday. The home builder I have helping me on the back end was supposed to arrange it. I did not hear back either way so I assume they got it done. We still have a few things to finish off for Tuesday but got a lot done. Biggest thing is to finish the “fire mud/tape” in the garage and to buy a replacement lid for the water meter bucket in the ground. Ours got broken. It’s one of the things they check.

There are some light switches that need to be screwed in. They’re installed and working but not screwed into the box or the wall plate one. Stuff like that. All our switches are Lutron Caseta smaller switches. So some rooms that are supposed to have multiple switches that right now just have spliced lines in them I have to install the wireless remotes. (With the smart switches you have just one switch per “light circuit” and any additional switches are just wireless remotes installed on a backing plate where the switch would be. So it looks like a switch. There is no wiring of 2-way or 3-way light circuits.

Hopefully we pass first time. I got the main master bath fancy kohler digital shower working but some of the body sprays are leaking. The city only requires that we have one functional bathroom and we have all toilets functional and two showers (despite the body spray leaks the main heads work fine) so we should be ok. The main plumber (owner) is coming by to make sure we have no code issues with the plumbing.

 

[NorthBrit]

Spicy Foods

I am okay with spicy food, to a point. Not too much to take over the flavour of what I am eating.

 

[NYC_George]

Adding a double crossover. I didn't plan on this but thought it to be necessary to have trains move between tracks. I'm lucky I kept the track 2 inch on center when first putting it down.
Swal

 

[shortwrench]

My 5' x 10' HO layout has run out of room for rolling stock. I don't have a lot of rolling stock.

At one corner I have a plastic model of a big boy coming out of a tunnel. Been thinking (thinking gets me into trouble).
I could build a wall shelf and move the big boy to it - also making room for additional rolling stock storage. I could build
a cassette hidden by the tunnel and hinged so it swings against the fascia when not used. It would be long enough for a
train of 5-6 cars. Of course, the tunnel track would be powered via the control panel and interlocks to prevent energizing
when the cassette is stored against the fascia. This would open up operational opportunities.

Thoughts?


View attachment 209318

The Big Boy has been moved to a newly constructed wall shelf.

The tunnel track is removed-easy as pie. The track and ballast were never glued to the foam. None of my track
or ballast is glued. Track is fastened with 1-1/4" brads used in a pneumatic nail gun. Early on during track
work I decided not to glue the track or ballast in case I had to make adjustments or changes. Didn't want to
have to deal with soaking ballast and prying up track if the were any issues. Figure I would leave it like this for
6 months shakedown trial period. Dirt and grass features were glued as scenery progressed. Never bothered
to go back and glue things down since the were no issues.

All done. Insulated joiners installed. New switched feeder ran to the control panel. (Yes, the ballast is not glued.)
Until the swing out cassette is done, there is a piece of plastic at the end of the tunnel track to prevent any
rolling stock dives to the cement floor.

 

[troyphoto]

I don’t know how others do it but my one use of foam as a layout bed had me using silicone to spot glue the foam down. No need to screw it in my estimation. I’m not the expert and am making it up as I go but I like silicone as a glue as it’s easily cut to sekarage again.

(and I plan this on the “new” layout as well)

Apologies, I might have been confusing in my description...

Foam is already glued down. Two inches worth. But the benchwork doesn't go out far enough to support the fascia I want to install. So I made exenders from 2x4 to attach to the bottom of the OSB board under the foam layers. I can glue it, but really want a screw through the OSB deck under the foam, down into the 2x4 extenders.

So, I'll have to cut away the foam, or drill through it to the OSB layer to get the screws in.

I've sized the extenders to be able to run a screw in through the 1x3, but they need support beyond that. So top down into that 2x4.

 

[migalyto]

The Big Boy has been moved to a newly constructed wall shelf.

View attachment 210269
The tunnel track is removed-easy as pie. The track and ballast were never glued to the foam. None of my track
or ballast is glued. Track is fastened with 1-1/4" brads used in a pneumatic nail gun. Early on during track
work I decided not to glue the track or ballast in case I had to make adjustments or changes. Didn't want to
have to deal with soaking ballast and prying up track if the were any issues. Figure I would leave it like this for
6 months shakedown trial period. Dirt and grass features were glued as scenery progressed. Never bothered
to go back and glue things down since the were no issues.


View attachment 210273

All done. Insulated joiners installed. New switched feeder ran to the control panel. (Yes, the ballast is not glued.)
Until the swing out cassette is done, there is a piece of plastic at the end of the tunnel track to prevent any
rolling stock dives to the cement floor.

That's a great looking modification! Well done!

Is that what would be considered an interchange track?

 

[migalyto]

So, I'll have to cut away the foam, or drill through it to the OSB layer to get the screws in.

Could you just use some L-brackets screwed into the side of the block and fastened to the underneath of the plywood. Add a line of liquid nails adhesive to the top of the block and that will be plenty strong.