Running Bear's January 2026 Coffee Shop

[boogietrain94]

can anyone confirm or bust this I am looking at some bli engines in my journey to upgrade to dcc

 

[Marlin39]

This has been the warmest winter that I can remember. We still haven't had a freeze yet, but it did hit 33f this morning for about an hour or two.

My asparagus is popping up about 2 months early. It looks like something has been munching the tips.

 

[boogietrain94]

This has been the warmest winter that I can remember. We still haven't had a freeze yet, but it did hit 33f this morning for about an hour or two.

My asparagus is popping up about 2 months early.

I see that then I look outside and think yea deffinetly not here lol

 

[Kusojiji]

I used to eat 2 eggs, scrambled with ham, cheese and mushrooms (when available), on a biscuit slathered with mayo. Had this on the ship every day. Doc ordered me up a cholesterol test as soon as we came back to homeport and everything was good. He said that if he didn't see me in the gym all the time, then he would've been more worried. I was below 4% BF back then.

When I was at Key West, I used to hit the chow hall at midnight for midrats which usually had a cheeseburger with a fried egg on top.

Exercise allowed me to eat like that. Exercise (or too much of it) also caused all my current aches and pains, so not sure if it was worth it or not...

If I ate like that now, you'd be reading this from an apparition.

 

[bnsf971]

can anyone confirm or bust this I am looking at some bli engines in my journey to upgrade to dcc

Each to their own. Most people don't like the side effects of the smoke, like the smell, the oily residue all over everything, and the fluid that creeps into everything on the engine and rails. Basically, if you get an engine with smoke, turn the smoke off. There's usually a switch on the engine or tender to manually turn it off.

 

[boogietrain94]

Each to their own. Most people don't like the side effects of the smoke, like the smell, the oily residue all over everything, and the fluid that creeps into everything on the engine and rails. Basically, if you get an engine with smoke, turn the smoke off. There's usually a switch on the engine or tender to manually turn it off.

o ok Kool. I know bli engines are top of the line so I wanted to make sure

 

[TLOC]

Good Morning All. Cloudy and 68°. Radar shows that it is raining here, Weather Underground station around the corner reports rain there; but my weather rock, back porch and the cars are all dry! Plus I walked outside to water a tree and I felt nothing. Radar shows a brief thunderstorm approaching from the west; maybe it's not imaginary. Anyway, 78° is the predicted high today, upper-60's tomorrow and then 2 days just in the 50's before returning to the 60's. Might come close to freezing a few times. That will be a more normal pattern than we have been experiencing this season.

I survived the MRI yesterday, but I won't know anything for a few days. Got my hearing aids fixed at Sam's Club. New technician there seems to know his stuff. Third different one in the last 6 months. The previous 2 were suspect as was the one that I saw in a different location in September when there was no one in the place closer to me. Bank and water company to pay that bill on the way home.

Weekly grocery trek this morning. Pharmacy, Vitamin Shop and gas are on the itinerary as well.

Out in the train shed yesterday, I ignored the electrical problem with the industry trackage for now, I just wasn't in the mood to get under the layout yet; although everything is out of the way. I started cleaning structures in Budville and decided to upgrade this small farmhouse and shed.
View attachment 253837
This is a small laser-cut wood structure from Branchline, the name escapes me right now. The shed is a scratchbuilt structure of my own design using leftover sheets from other laser-cut structures. More to come.

Tom O - I've only been to a Jason's Deli once. I would go back but I don't know if there are any close enough to me.
Fortunate that your potential building client has more money than time. That diesel house looks like a bitch to build and shipping it to CA will be touchy and expensive at best!
Michael - That sounds like a rather tough operating session. I've had issues before when I forgot to turn off a DC block and inadvertently had a second train derail at the end of a passing siding.
Retired in Iowa - I'm all behind supporting my local (to me) brick and mortar model train store.
If you don't mind me asking, would you care to let us know your actual name, like Tom or Jim? It's a little more personable than RII.

Elvis Presley was born on this day in 1935. It's also the birthday of David Bowie, born on this day in 1947.

In the last 30 minutes as I watched the Stock Market opening, it rained briefly. From 20' away, there looks like almost a quarter inch in the rain gauge.
Everyone have a terrific Thursday

I went over to the local UPS store and showed them what I want to ship. The lady behind the counter said that’s a building, I said yes. Her reply back, it won’t make it! Guy behind the counter said no we can ship that no problem. I said I know you can ship it but will it be broken when it gets there. No it will be fine. I think I was still laughing when I told him at least she was truthful.

I’m thinking I can box it within a box. I do have 1/2 zillion styrofoam peanuts I can use TO protect the building and then again around the inner box. I’m going to FedEx tomorrow there have a store near the LHS to see what they say. They can package it and have a guarantee is what the guy who answered the phone said.

Tom

 

[Kusojiji]

I fixed the picture.

 

[TLOC]

Good morning folks, 63 and rainy here this morning. I remember when Blazing Saddles came out and watched it in a racially mixed neighborhood on Chicago's South Side. All of us, white and black were still laughing as we left and quoting the lines together. Sad that tensions have resurfaced since then. On the subject of breakfast.
View attachment 253845

That bacon is for a party of 4. 73 years in the USA and I have never seen a hand gun on the table at any meal. I’d take a slice of ham over bacon any day.

 

[Kusojiji]

I loved going to the chow hall/mess hall/galley. Food was good and cheap back then. They stopped allowing retirees from going in several years ago. They only open it up to us during t-bird day.

 

[kbkchooch]

Good evening guys.

Hard working day, and climbing on the layout tonight over spline roadbed and track hanging backdrop masonite. Cant find my knee pads! Ouchie!! Had to stop, ran out of screws. Guess a HD trip is in order this weekend!

Eggs. Being farm raised I have been known to steal my breakfast as the sun came up straight from the girls in the hen house. Yumm Yumm!! I saw in the news tonight that the gubmint is pushing a food triangle with more raw fats and proteins. The jury is still out in my head on more red meats but I love the push away from skim milks and margarines. Real butter is better for you,Margerines are damn near plastic. Reduced fat milk achieves its flavor by artificial flavors and sugar. Something we can all do without. Regular whole milk still tastes weak compared to what I grew up on (Raw, whole milk) but at least it is not doped up like the 2% and lower grades.

One of the most under appreciated things in life is being able to have a good dump every morning after that first cup of coffee.

Preach it brother!

 

[RhB Michael]

I loved going to the chow hall/mess hall/galley. Food was good and cheap back then. They stopped allowing retirees from going in several years ago. They only open it up to us during t-bird day.

Sometimes I'd go to midnight chow if I had returned from a 1600 Standby dispatch. I didn't get too many of those fortunately. The chow was just as good at midnight as it was at 0500.

 

[DeaconKC]

Well we had a really nice day today. Took my Missus to the eye doctor and got a great report, then we hit Cracker Barrel where they have a M-F special of 2 meals and a dessert for $20! Went to some other stores, picked up some supplies for the railroad at Hobby Lobby and some coffee beans at Sam's Club.

 

[chadbag]

Reduced fat milk achieves its flavor by artificial flavors and sugar. Something we can all do without. Regular whole milk still tastes weak compared to what I grew up on (Raw, whole milk) but at least it is not doped up like the 2% and lower grades.

Supposedly your body needs the milk fat to properly digest and use the nutrients in the milk. We have been buying and using only whole milk since the kids were babies (and stopped sucking the B00b).

Fats are actually what your body uses for energy most of the time. Carbs get converted to fats get converted to energy unless you happen to be using the energy right as you digest the carbs. Or something like that.

If you want something that probably tastes more like your raw super-whole milk, try the Costco organic whole milk that comes in the two or three pack of 1/2 gallon paper cartons and is wicked expensive. I forgot what it is labeled but it says it is "ultra pasteurized". Thats the key -- whatever you think of pasteurization, the ultra-pasteurized tastes extra creamy and good. They bring it to a higher temp really fast. I learned this from buying the shelf stable milk in Germany that tasted extra creamy and was "ultrahocherhitzt" which means ultra-pasteurized. When we tried the special organic super milk at Costco it too was extra creamy and that's when I noticed it too was "ultra-pasteurized". We were buying and using it while our son was a missionary in Japan. Now that he is back we're back to buying the regular whole milk at Costco . We can't afford the super expensive milk with him around.

 

[kgstakes]

Good Evening,

After I did my little ops session the other day, I was thinking, I wonder what you guys/gals are using for a DCC system?
I've been using from the start of my "dcc switch over from dc" I've been using MRC system. When I first wanted to change from dc to dcc, I was part of a club layout and they were using NCE. Which was at the time what I was going to use but for some reason (don't really remember why) I decided on MRC.

I was watching on modeler and he is using ESU system that is wifi. Thought that system was neat to see also. Price? Yeah I have a budget but I think a system around 5-600 bucks is with in reason for me.

What are you using and why did you pick that system.

 

[CambriaArea51]

Air Force mess hall was renowned for their omelets. I never had a bad breakfast at the mess hall. They call them 'dining facilities' now.

In basic training the food was good but you never got a chance to taste it, the Drill Sergeant would yell" sniff and get" so you had to cram it down.
Once you got station then you could enjoy a meal.

 

[kbkchooch]

Good Evening,

After I did my little ops session the other day, I was thinking, I wonder what you guys/gals are using for a DCC system?
I've been using from the start of my "dcc switch over from dc" I've been using MRC system. When I first wanted to change from dc to dcc, I was part of a club layout and they were using NCE. Which was at the time what I was going to use but for some reason (don't really remember why) I decided on MRC.

I was watching on modeler and he is using ESU system that is wifi. Thought that system was neat to see also. Price? Yeah I have a budget but I think a system around 5-600 bucks is with in reason for me.

What are you using and why did you pick that system.

I went with NCE back in 1999. NCE was new then, and our club was considering Digitrax until a local dealer let us "road test" an NCE Powerhouse Pro system. With the ease of operation difference over the old Digitrax "Super Chief" system The club went with NCE. Shortly afterward I purchased my own system. Added bonus is the NCE Power Cab (starter system) throttles work with the larger Powerhouse system the same a ProCabs so if you start with the starter system you can keep your throttle if you grow into the more powerful system. Plus NCE plays well with Decoder Pro for things like programming CVs, speed matching and other customizations. At various local auctions I have been able to secure a few Powercabs for dirt cheap, adding to my throttles.
I also use an app called train driver with a PC and bluetooth, so I can run trains with my phone instead of a throttle.
Finally, NCE's customer support has been nothing short of awesome.

 

[chadbag]

Good Evening,

After I did my little ops session the other day, I was thinking, I wonder what you guys/gals are using for a DCC system?
I've been using from the start of my "dcc switch over from dc" I've been using MRC system. When I first wanted to change from dc to dcc, I was part of a club layout and they were using NCE. Which was at the time what I was going to use but for some reason (don't really remember why) I decided on MRC.

I was watching on modeler and he is using ESU system that is wifi. Thought that system was neat to see also. Price? Yeah I have a budget but I think a system around 5-600 bucks is with in reason for me.

What are you using and why did you pick that system.

I am using the Digikeijs DR5000. Note this company has gone out of business, but it's follow-on system (same engineer, his own company instead of for the previous company who ditched him or something like that) is the YaMoRC YD7010 (or lesser brethren YD7001-E) -- https://ironplanethobbies.com/yamorc/

I got the DR5000 because it was a relatively inexpensive multi-protocol that had all sorts of connections. (It supported one protocol at a time -- selectable -- the YD7010 supports multiple at once). This means it supports things like WiThrottle (Loconet wifi throttles), Loconet, Z21 (XPressNet) protocol, S88 [I think this is ESU] etc). It has Loconet ports as well as some other ports more often used in Europe like S88.

I've been using the DR5000 with real Roco/Fleischman Z21 wireless lanMAUS (wifi) throttles plus using a Digitrax adapter also with WiThrottle apps on my phone. I have the YaMoRC upgrade chip for the DR5000 which updates it's networking to be more lie the YaMoRC command center but have not yet installed it.

If I were to start again I'd get the YaMoRC YD7010 and some Z21 lanMAUS wireless throttles. These use the Z21 (XPressNet based) protocol. I'd also like to try the TCS UWT-100 and/or UWT-50 throttles. These work over WiThrottle unless you have the TCS command stations, then they work in a native protocol.

If I was not getting the YaMoRC command center I'd get the black Z21, or the ESU CabControl unit (made for N America -- different than their ueber expensive ECOS units) -- https://ironplanethobbies.com/produ...staion-wifi-throttle-7a-power-supply-esu50310

or I'd like to try the TCS LCC command station -- CS-105 -- with the LocoNet gateway by CirCircuits.

But my first choice would be the YaMoRC YD7010. A lot of bang for the buck and compatible with almost everything but NCE (and there are third party bits that add that if you need it).

I'll eventually get all of these since I'm slowly developing some software for iPhone/iPad/Mac to control your DCC systems with and I want it to be command center agnostic so it works with all... [right now my test is Z21/XpressNet only]

--

My big MUST HAVES are RailCom compatibility and LocoNet compatibility. Even though I don't use Digitrax for most anything, the LocoNet bus is kind of a universal layer for a lot of command stations to interoperate.

I have an NCE PowerCab, and it is OK but it's not compatible with anything nor does it use the RailCom detection that most other companies support except Digitrax (They have their own transponding).

 

[migalyto]

What are you using and why did you pick that system.

Much like Karl I started with the NCE powercab starter set. I then added a 5A smart booster, base station and a Procab wireless throttle.

I now keep the powercab on the bench for testing and basic programming. If I ever need another throttle I can just plug it in to one
of the many UTP panels around the layout and it can just be used as a wired throttle.

Pretty universal and upgradable system, and pretty user friendly.

 

[TLOC]

Good Evening,

After I did my little ops session the other day, I was thinking, I wonder what you guys/gals are using for a DCC system?
I've been using from the start of my "dcc switch over from dc" I've been using MRC system. When I first wanted to change from dc to dcc, I was part of a club layout and they were using NCE. Which was at the time what I was going to use but for some reason (don't really remember why) I decided on MRC.

I was watching on modeler and he is using ESU system that is wifi. Thought that system was neat to see also. Price? Yeah I have a budget but I think a system around 5-600 bucks is with in reason for me.

What are you using and why did you pick that system.

Currently using NCE’s power cab system and 4 cell phones via WiFi using a WifiTrak module.

When I first moved from DC I used RailPro a great system that for me was great, easy to use, easy to consist, a great base for my DeadcRail trails. Terrible sound but what I’ve been told now is much improved.

I wanted WIFI capabilities and looked at ESU for over a year and even tried one out for a week before buying

Good system, when it worked for me. WiFi wouldn’t always connect. Ran it through the house WiFi and while better had occasional command delays. Tried to connect the cell phones for additional throttles that it’s capable of doing and could get 1 or 2 but not the 3 I needed. It was frustrating, FOR ME. I sold it to a local who I see at OPS Sessions every now and then. He loves it and has told me it’s a marvel to use and play with. He is a software guy at our local HealthCare software company. He understands computer