Running Bear's July 2022 Coffee Shop

[JeffH]

JeffH, those buildings look like they are in good shape. Are your plans to use the items or sell them off?

I'm not sure yet. My existing layout is pretty much land locked right now. So if I do something with any of this stuff, it will be a new layout. I have a thing for double track and bridges... and my current layout is very much a "run-around and round" layout that floats in the center of my part of the basement. Perhaps I'll build more of a operator's layout with a double track main with yards in the middle or on the ends... I dunno.. probably a shelf style layout along the walls.

Since I ended up with a MRC Prodigy system, I really need to evaluate what JMRI could do for me, and then figure out if I use it on my existing layout, or if I use it to build another. Another possibility, is to just keep enough double track to put up a Christmas tree layout... But in my past experience, N scale isn't very well suited to an under the tree type layout.

There are some structures that will fit into my existing layout, but not many.. both from a space constraint, and from a theme perspective.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Dropping expensive locos.
I had a very detailed SD40T-2 with an Overland chassis and motor. During an op session one of the operators wanted to show the detail of the loco to another operator. He picked it up by the dynamic brake blister and out over the concrete floor. The blister separated from the body and the loco fell, nose first to the floor. Bent the frame, broke the front truck side frame, the nose detail then the hand railing as it rolled on the floor.

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Clear, 88% humidity and 75° with 0 mph wind. It's a muggy morning here. It only hit 100° yesterday; I guess that is a relief from the 104°-106° that we have been having. Ten day forecast still doesn't look any better.

I was already out this morning doing a few tasks outside as the heat/humidity today will be a bit much. It's quite irritating that the pool temperature is so warm even at this time of day, 88° right now. We definitely miss the half day of shade the now gone Ash tree provided. Besides shading the pool until early afternoon, it shaded the west side of the house all day long. The replacement trees won't be much good for another 15 years at best.

Thanks for the likes and comments regarding the "girlie" pictures yesterday; OB Ken, Karl, Gary, Sherrel, Patrick, Rick, Hughie, Smudge, Tom O, Louis, Curt, Joe, Tom, Chad, Guy, Dave B.

Hooray! I spent over an hour in the train shed yesterday. I moved some trains around and started the quarterly cleaning of the next section of the layout. Nothing real exciting there. Examined the ROW and I didn't find any stray parts or other unexpected debris. I vacuumed about 80' of main and passing sidings and I will get the industry spurs today.
I don't have any new pictures today, but while I was looking through the archives, I found the pictures that I took on our road trip to Fredericksburg TX last year. Our main focus was touring wineries around there as there are a lot. One in particular was the "Fatass Winery".

Guy - I obviously love figures as well, and I have close to 900 on the layout. I think that they really add personality and a hint of action to an otherwise static setting.

I was never on employment in my whole life. Didn't even know where the unemployment office was until I started taking my wife there for her seasonal unemployment stuff after I retired. She always went herself before I retired. At work, we always used headhunters. I was approached a couple of times, before my company paid them a retainer not to recruit me!

Of course today is Free Slurpee Day, otherwise known as National 7-11 Day. Remember when you got a full sized 16 oz one instead of those 4 oz ones they give away now. Not that it matters to me, I haven't had one in over 55 years.

Everybody have a great Monday.

 

[chadbag]

@JeffH That is quite the haul. Lots of good track. And a lot of the buildings look to be Euro/German buildings, which is cool. I'll eventually be looking at those sorts of things at some distant point in the future when I get the Euroo?German corner of the eventual perm layout under construction. I have a couple I got used. Most of my buildings are Japanese from Tomix and KATO.

 

[troyphoto]

To break a CA glue joint loose:
Acetone. And remember the joint is strong up and down. Twist so the glue joint is sheering side to side.

 

[JeffH]

@chadbag I'm finding a lot of Faller papers that would have come with items. I also believe a lot of these structures were Kato.

I suspect the guy who had this collection inherited it from his father, but never did much with it. The boxes and plastic drawers were covered in dust, but the contents were clean and pristine, like the boxes just sat in on shelves in a basement for years and years. I'm guessing this stuff hasn't seen the light of day on 10 years or longer. Based on finding an old MRC AR module with a manual relay switch is sort of telling.

The original modeler was doing something with some serious transformers. The wooden box in the next picture weighs about 20 pounds, and has at least 5 transformers in it, and is wired with stuff that would make Dr. Frankenstein jealous. Two of the transformers barely fit into the box... reminds me of the large transformers you would fine in an old microwave oven. Then there's a big heat sync and a few more smaller transformers When I saw this picture for the auction, I thought perhaps the box was a homemade subwoofer for a DIY rolling thunder type thing.

This is a picture from the online auction. The wooden box is homemade... I wouldn't let my worst enemy plug it into a wall and turn it on, lol.

The Ferris wheel is kind of interesting. There are also a couple of other carnival type structures.. and merry-go-round and a chain swing twirling ride. Two of the swings are missing. I haven't tried any of those to see if the motor or lights work.

 

[bnsf971]

When we moved in to this house, we were planning on buying it.
That deal went away pretty fast when I discovered it has asbestos siding, asbestos flooring in a couple of places, a 600 gallon fuel oil tank in the back yard half full of oil and half full of water, and cloth covered two conductor 120v wiring throughout.
And yes, I have renters insurance in case the place burns to the ground…

 

[troyphoto]

Well, howdy there, internet people. It's Troy again...

Weird day today in Fort Wayne La-La Land (Indiana, for those keeping score)

Today we'll talk about trash, recycling, a defunct company, and city that doesn't know its website from a ... well... a hole in the ground.

When we moved in a little over two years ago, we had one of those city-provided flip-top trash bins, and a recycle bin. (the reycle bin is bigger than the trash bin, and goes out only two weeks a month, as opposed to weekly for the trash.

But, the city of Ft Wayne was having huge problems with their trash service provider. Major number of missed days (usually in the poorest parts of the city, which junks them up even more than the dilapidated houses and extraneous junk cars already do).

State of Indiana got involved, because state law says towns and cities HAVE to do a competitive bid process AND take the lowest bid. Period.

Red River Waste filed for bankruptcy, and was willing to give up the remaining years on the contract, and relocate equipment to other areas.

But, the new law changing the bid process wasn't approved by the state in time, and we're now still in the same predicament, but the city got realistic for once, and upped the cap on acceptable bids. New service started July 1 - our first trash day was fine. But not today. They missed half of our complex.

Go tell the maintenance guy, and learned that we don't deal with city trash. We have to contract that as a "community" just like an apartment complex. (We're in condo town-homes/row houses). OK, that will get called in. Hope they can get a truck back today.

Then I tell the maintenance guy that the Recycling truck DID hit our side but was skipping some addresses. We've got recycling bins from a variety of providers, so I wasn't sure if it was the color coding???

He said, yeah, that's part of the city's trash program. BUT, they charge for it. He doesn't participate, so no idea how much it costs.

Oh, ok. We've had recycle service for a couple of years where they picked up without sending us any kind of a notice. Not going to complain. But, let's see what it does cost.

Got a 311 number to call for city info. Call it. All lines are busy. You must go to the website.

Went to the website. Spent about half an hour clicking link after link, trying different search terms.
From the website I know the following:
1. There is a "one-cart recycling" program
2. The city will provide the cart at no cost to me (already got one, but thanks)
3. I know what my pick-up schedule is based on geographic location
4. Call 311 to learn more.

So I called 311 - all operators still busy. Won't let me wait, sends me back to the website.

Just sent the 311 site an email. We'll see how long it takes to get a response - IF I get a response.

In the meantime, the last two weeks of recycling filled up the empty spaces in my trash can that is still waiting to be emptied.

 

[Alcomotive]

Headhunters come in two categories. Professional level and general run of the mill. If you're in the employment category below 100K, forget the headhunter and just use your employment security commission for leads. Far above 100K for those who are currently employed and don't have time to job search. All others will be sought by businesses who know where to look for the star performers.

Not knowing Terry's salary bracket, (not wanting pry or be invasive) I wanted to be open but should have mentioned what you said. I use headhunters for 75k and up. Specialized employment companies for various fields. Not all employment companies can handle all fields unless it is blue collar work or under 50k etc. As for salaries that are 100k and up we do our own research and vet them.
I use 7 different agencies for this reason. Headhunters are also in categories I should mention. Really though they are not always all about salary categories but they do have thresholds for various fields of expertise etc.

 

[PNKFLOYD]

Mikey- I've been involved in that situation several times.

Curt- I think most married men have been termed "cheap" while being concerned about their economic situation.

 

[Boris]

Looks like a good day to bash the trash and government services.

The township contracts with a vendor for a daily (M-F) pick-up of recycles that for me works out to alternate Wednesdays. Mostly works well, but the vendor also has an agreement with the adjoining township, (which is also in the adjoining county). The vendor, figured out that he could save pennies by combining the Wednesday pickup in the zone in Jackson, with the same crew that does ours. Some times it works ok, and they get to us around 1420, but other days its as late as 2000, or the next day, or not.
If they have not come by Thursday Night, it all goes in Friday's trash. I suspect a lot of these recycles go to either a land fill or incinerator anyway.

I retain my own trash contractor, with unlimited trash twice weekly. Never a problem with them.

Terry: With the hand writing on the wall, it's time to be proactive with finding new arrangements. You know your limitations, so work within those boundaries. It wouldn't hurt to check in with a headhunting firm. You have skills and there is a demand for qualified techs. Worth a shot.

The NHL "Free Agency Frenzy" starts day after tomorrow. Lot of money going to be passed around, paying declining players for their services...

Trainworld package arrived...50' TTX car and UTLX 20,000 gal tank to add to the 70's pool.

HIGHWAY 9 aka "Thunder Road" From the Border to the Shore.

Philadelphia along South Broad St, 1964. Engine 1 (Ford -Hahn); Ladder 5 (Maxim 100' Tiller); Bn. 4, (Chief), Burgundy Studebaker Lark. From the days of High Boots, Long Coats and Tin Helmets. Riding the sideboard of those Maxims could be a thrill...or not.

Southbound PC Metroliner passing Bowie, MD in 1970 - 110 MPH - Dale Rockwell Photo

 

[PRR Modeler]

Afternoon All,

Started out walking this morning then completed some chores before heading to the train room. Today I added 2 more exterior lights to the storage tracks, 2 interior lights in the HQ building and made up 2 interior lights for the future supervisors office. I also put down a gravel lot and part of a road (HQ area). None of these are hooked up electrically yet. Probably tomorrow.

Guy- Enjoy and catch me a trout.

Hughie- Very nice.

Dave- I think the grass mat will work out with some addition to it.

Jeff- You did excellent. The bridges alone are probably worth more than what you paid for the lot.

Steve- We've all had those days. I use latex caulk under the caboose throws. If I need to remove them I soak the base with RA and then it's easy to remove them.

Willie- Nice 1:1 photos.





I hope everyone has a good night.

 

[Patrick]

Afternoon all,

Day going by quick with few interuptions. Trying to figure out how to roll out the latest vpn stuff and connect the doumentation. Trying to make it more idiot proof. Compouters act like they are on the local network, but I know someone is going to cobble it up. Day nearly done (1H 15 minutes in my day).

 

[Smudge617]

First real day of my vacation, decided to do some RR related stuff at last, but nowhere near as much as I was hoping. Sorted through some of my collection of still DC Locomotives, so far, decided four have to go, need to sort through the rest tomorrow, think at least another two maybe three are going out the door.

Got round to fitting a decoder to the Atlas Dash-9 and upgrading it to LED's, usually takes me between two and three hours in real time, actual working time on the model is only about an hour on average, taken me nearly seven hours today, so had a really bad day with the shakes, but must have spent four hours just figuring out where I had a short, worked fine on DC as soon as I plugged the decoder in, kept running in short bursts and shorted out, replaced the decoder with a blanking plate, and worked fine, tried seven different decoders, all had the same issue, but found the short in the end, may have to remove the plug tomorrow and hardwire the decoder, making far more noise than it should, but really can't be bothered anymore today.

Have a great day.

 

[MikeInHubCity]

Good morning all! 60 degrees on the way to 89 for the day.

Had a very nice, relaxing weekend. I did manage to get another set of the new blinds put up, this time in our bedroom. We still need to buy three more for other parts of the house. We bought the last ones they had on the shelf at the time and need to go back and get the rest soon.

Back to work today. Both of my student workers will be gone so just me today. One student worker is having to deal with family issues and should be back tomorrow. Hate to lose him, but he'll be leaving in a couple weeks to attend a 4 year school. The other is gone for a few weeks with the National Guard. He'll be gone again in November for a month with the Guard on a trip to Columbia.

Contractors coming in again today to run more network cable. Glad they're doing it instead of me because it's a difficult job for sure. We have several jobs for them coming up and I'm happy to let them be the ones to do it.

Hope you all have a great day!

Mizzou, IL, SC or TN?

 

[OBTC 1909]

Mizzou, IL, SC or TN?

Illinois.

 

[OBTC 1909]

Good morning to all the fishing folks to MRI users. What a bunch we are! Thankfully other then a fever ranging from 98.7 to 101.6 yesterday was uneventful. A rain event not seen by the WeatherChannel dropped more the 1.5” of rain between 3PM and 6PM. I followed it on radar so how could they not say rain was coming?

The son yesterday returned from flying the 2 new buddies up to Door County and back to see his sister and her family while they are on vacation. While there he took his niece and nephew for a flight up along the USA side of Lake Superior. He says they all had a great time. He offered to fly me around today and I suggested the Chicago area but he thought that might be too congested for him to get a flight plan approved. He’s been on his laptop for about an hour. The backup plan is chasing a few trains along the Mississippi River from south of St. Paul to north of St. Louis. He asked me last night for 2 places I want to see that Terry has no interest in. Niagara Falls and Mount Rushmore plus a trestle in Indiana we could fly over on the way to the Falls that I have to find the info on. He grinned, said maybe Tuesday!

I am on the north deck watching the grass dry and waiting for the Weedman to fertilize or apply the weed detergent. The grass has now gone 17 days without a cutting. That’s a bit off the normal Friday and Monday cuttings. Yesterday’s rain has definitely greened it up.

Dave, best to you on the MRI. I am petrified of those things and with the many I have had I know they are fine. Thankfully they have drugs to help me in those.

Guy, happy wife, happy life. Enjoy the fishing and scenery

Steve, yes some days just don’t work out. I took a Google Earth tour of that Rum River golf course you played the other day. Looked great and the $31 for a cart and play is a deal! The only course I have played in Minnesota was at Hazeltine in Chastka during the early 80’s. I have the scorecard in my chest full of scorecards that I started collecting around age 10.

JeffH, those buildings look like they are in good shape. Are your plans to use the items or sell them off?

James, good suggestion on the use of an employment agency to find a job for anyone looking. A marvelous resource for both the employer and job seeker.

Ken, our experiences using Employment agencies seem to be different. I have used them for both hiring professional level and service type jobs. I also have been headhunted by them. I would never in Wisconsin suggest anyone use our state government job service’s division to find a job. Ours are pathetic, glad your experience is better

Enjoy the day

Tulip Trestle maybe? I've been there and it's really cool. Only a couple of trains across it most days. The Indiana Railroad uses it these days.

 

[troyphoto]

Well, howdy there internet people, and those who wish they were on Holiday with Smudge

It's Troy again.

Plantar fasciitis has reared it's ugly head... or heel again. Right when I was trying to up my daily steps and get keto going for weight loss.

So, I ordered new daily wear shoes (hikers). Then I scrounged around to find my tennis ball, rolling that under my heel helps massage the damaged tendon.

Unfortunately, I've got a non-carpeted floor, so if I get the ball off to the side, AWAY it goes across the basement.

Then I remembered I have several of those interlocking cushioned exercise square mats. Put one under my desk, and roll the ball on it. More control over the ball, and number of times the ball goes shooting across the basement is substantially decreased.

Tomorrow, before I head up the road to take mom to her monthly DR appointment (checking on her mental and physical states, making sure she's fit to live in her own unsupervised apt), I'm going to swing by the shoe store that stocks crocs.

Yeah... I know what the holes are for. But I've been going barefoot, or socks for a year. That probably aggravated my foot.

Who else wears them, if you're not too afraid to admit it?

 

[TLOC]

Tulip Trestle maybe? I've been there and it's really cool. Only a couple of trains across it most days. The Indiana Railroad uses it these days.

Yes that’s it about 80’high and decently long

 

[TLOC]

Well, howdy there internet people, and those who wish they were on Holiday with Smudge

It's Troy again.

Plantar fasciitis has reared it's ugly head... or heel again. Right when I was trying to up my daily steps and get keto going for weight loss.

So, I ordered new daily wear shoes (hikers). Then I scrounged around to find my tennis ball, rolling that under my heel helps massage the damaged tendon.

Unfortunately, I've got a non-carpeted floor, so if I get the ball off to the side, AWAY it goes across the basement.

Then I remembered I have several of those interlocking cushioned exercise square mats. Put one under my desk, and roll the ball on it. More control over the ball, and number of times the ball goes shooting across the basement is substantially decreased.

Tomorrow, before I head up the road to take mom to her monthly DR appointment (checking on her mental and physical states, making sure she's fit to live in her own unsupervised apt), I'm going to swing by the shoe store that stocks crocs.

Yeah... I know what the holes are for. But I've been going barefoot, or socks for a year. That probably aggravated my foot.

Who else wears them, if you're not too afraid to admit it?
View attachment 148504

I used to have a pair I wore for about 4 years. No idea why I didn’t replace them