strobelight
Well-Known Member
Here's what buckling looks like on a sidewalk; imagine that on your railroad. And, "only" 93F.
Running Bear's June 2026 Coffee Shop
- Thread starter bnsf971
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If I get a chance, will go to HD or Lowes to see what they have. Already have 2 compressor's, so going battery probably not gonna happen. I do like my Craftsman battery drills though...
L8r
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Bill Tidler Jr.
Retired N&W/NS Signalman
Good morning Coffee Shop! It's Saturday, 64°F (18°C) and clear. 
Weather:
Sunny then becoming partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Have a great day!
Weather:
Sunny then becoming partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Have a great day!
Good morning. It's partly cloudy and 75.
Work had initially decided, back when the takeover first happened, we would be closed for several holidays. Saturday, July 4, was only of those holidays.
Yesterday, we got a mass email letting us know there was an error, and not only were we not closed, it is a day everyone will be expected to be there, and work the full day. Even those normally scheduled for the day off. After everybody has made their plans for the 4th.
Of course, Corporate will be closed on the 3rd, in observance of the holiday... I'm sure you know what the reaction to that email was...
Work had initially decided, back when the takeover first happened, we would be closed for several holidays. Saturday, July 4, was only of those holidays.
Yesterday, we got a mass email letting us know there was an error, and not only were we not closed, it is a day everyone will be expected to be there, and work the full day. Even those normally scheduled for the day off. After everybody has made their plans for the 4th.
Of course, Corporate will be closed on the 3rd, in observance of the holiday... I'm sure you know what the reaction to that email was...
ctclibby
Well-Known Member
Good Morning All!
48F @75% dark. Wind and rain most of yesterday. Might get to 70F later with partly.
Gawd. Have an air 1/4 Crown stapler. Have is a misnomer. Checked the only local place here; ACE. Geesh, for $750 ( a claimed super deal ) I can have the Stapler, Battery, Battery charger, 1000 staples, eye protection and ear plugs. Ya, so this morning we are off to Kalispell. Harbor Freight and CostCo - and probably that Chinese place for lunch. $39 for air stapler at HF, will shoot 1.5" 1/4 wide's - perfect. Oh, ACE did have ONE air nailer; only shoots finish nails - $299. Have 3 other HF guns and those have been working for more 10 years now. Don't use them everyday so cheap is good.
L8r
48F @75% dark. Wind and rain most of yesterday. Might get to 70F later with partly.
Gawd. Have an air 1/4 Crown stapler. Have is a misnomer. Checked the only local place here; ACE. Geesh, for $750 ( a claimed super deal ) I can have the Stapler, Battery, Battery charger, 1000 staples, eye protection and ear plugs. Ya, so this morning we are off to Kalispell. Harbor Freight and CostCo - and probably that Chinese place for lunch. $39 for air stapler at HF, will shoot 1.5" 1/4 wide's - perfect. Oh, ACE did have ONE air nailer; only shoots finish nails - $299. Have 3 other HF guns and those have been working for more 10 years now. Don't use them everyday so cheap is good.
L8r
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I use the Ryobi One+ stapler, brad nailer, and pin nailer. I don't know if any of them would work for what you need, but it's easier to use than needing an air hose. Plus I have less invested in all three, with batteries and charger, than what you're finding for just a tool.
kbkchooch
Verified Human
Dymo label maker, I still have one!
Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
ooh aaah! that be it. I remember those.
I'm dealing with an interesting model railroad problem. Not long ago, I bought a pair of Atlas N scale SD45s with factory sound. Bearing in mind these are N scale, I was impressed with the sound quality, and operation. Well, operation after I took them apart, and cleaned all the oil off every electrical contact point in them, any way... I had a DCC/sound ready SD45, and decided I'd get an aftermarket decoder that was a duplicate of what was factory installed, and have a trio of them.
And Murphy enters the chat...
The new, aftermarket-equipped engine is about the opposite of what the first two are. It has thin, tinny sound, a rattling noise from the speaker, and operating characteristics are nowhere near as good as the first pair, even when I copied and pasted the decoder settings from the factory ones to the aftermarket one. I've managed, after a lot of tweaking and adjusting, to get it somewhat close, as far as operating, though it's still not as smooth and stable as the first ones I got. Sound is still not as good, and is still "thready and thin", compared to them. I sent a message to a friend at Atlas, who is also an N scaler, and maybe he can shed some light on what's going on.
If it turns into something that is doable or adjustable, I'll post a thread about it. This is normally the opposite of how an aftermarket vs factory install is supposed to go, the aftermarket model generally is better, since the model manufacturer usually specs less stuff to keep the cost down.
And Murphy enters the chat...
The new, aftermarket-equipped engine is about the opposite of what the first two are. It has thin, tinny sound, a rattling noise from the speaker, and operating characteristics are nowhere near as good as the first pair, even when I copied and pasted the decoder settings from the factory ones to the aftermarket one. I've managed, after a lot of tweaking and adjusting, to get it somewhat close, as far as operating, though it's still not as smooth and stable as the first ones I got. Sound is still not as good, and is still "thready and thin", compared to them. I sent a message to a friend at Atlas, who is also an N scaler, and maybe he can shed some light on what's going on.
If it turns into something that is doable or adjustable, I'll post a thread about it. This is normally the opposite of how an aftermarket vs factory install is supposed to go, the aftermarket model generally is better, since the model manufacturer usually specs less stuff to keep the cost down.
TLOC
Well-Known Member
Good morning to those looking for tools that do what you want! It is 65f degrees now and a possible low 80’s later. After the noon hour the rain possibilities raise but still under 50%. The grass cutter will be starting around 10 he told me. But we are the 4th on his list.
We had a celebration of the last main line rail joiner being done on the Wisconsin and Upper Michigan HO scale model railroad yesterday morning. No golden spike as that may come as a symbolic celebration later but yesterday was the final for the mainline, it’s all in. Just under 600’. Both 11 track staging yards are wired. Most of the sidings are complete. Yesterday was figure out why there was no power on “that” portion of the track day! One of those extremely frustrating days and then moments of elation when the track section powered up. I spent most of my 4 hours under the layout as 3 crews worked through the issues.
I expect in 2-3 years that this layout will be seen in Model Railroader or Railroad Model Craftsman. It has the bones of a great operations layout and will have great scenes of the UP of Michigan featuring the Ore and of course the large Ore Dock in Marquette, Mi. 2 of the guys who’s layout have been featured are itching to start the scenery. Plus the guy who does most of MR layout pictures is a great friend of the groups I belong to.
For those building or remodeling your layout. Completely test your DCC wiring as you go along, not when you’re done. If you’re adding signals, do 1 section at a time and test the signals on that section! I am not looking forward to signaling the W&UM! It’s why my Wisconsin Interstate operates in dark territory.
Other than the grandson coming to cut the grass I am unaware of any plans. This would usually be a Farmer Market morning but she collected a good amount of goods on Wednesday. I know she mentioned pie making yesterday but not sure if that’s today or tomorrow!
I do know we are out of chocolate chip, her peanut butter, monster, molasses and ginger cookies. It’s rare we are out of all 5 at one time. I will eat the Chocolate Chip and Molasses but I do not enjoy any cookie that has peanut butter. The ginger cookies are mainly for the granddaughter but they are to die for! If she is baking I will head over to the shop to get it organized.
There are now 3 home based slot tracks in action on the grandson and friends slot car circuit. Turns out our local park system Summer program is now for kids 10 and under due to cutbacks in funding. There usually are 3 and some times 6 grandparents at the slot car sessions. They want to start regular weekly sessions per an email I got last week. That’s a commitment I am not going to do. For my grandson at his monthly event yes absolutely but not 3 times a month. That’s a big ask. For June, July, August and September his slot track has 7 races already scheduled for Tuesdays. I will be at those but that’s it. My Thursday and Fridays are for my friends layout work sessions as I already backed out of July, August and September OPS sessions on those days.
A few here and local friends have asked where and when I am going to build my new layout? I might not and if I do it may only be a diesel engine facility like UP’s Jenks in Little Rock, Enola in Pennsylvania or something completely freelanced in Wisconsin. I know I’d want a 3 track diesel house, a paint shop, a transfer table and a back shop. One of the guys mentioned I should freelance based on the Wisconsin Central’s shops yard in 1995 North Fond du lac, Wi. I don’t want a roundhouse which North Fond du Lac has. If I start mentioning I’m selling off freight cars you’ll know I’ll be building an engine facility.
Enjoy your day
We had a celebration of the last main line rail joiner being done on the Wisconsin and Upper Michigan HO scale model railroad yesterday morning. No golden spike as that may come as a symbolic celebration later but yesterday was the final for the mainline, it’s all in. Just under 600’. Both 11 track staging yards are wired. Most of the sidings are complete. Yesterday was figure out why there was no power on “that” portion of the track day! One of those extremely frustrating days and then moments of elation when the track section powered up. I spent most of my 4 hours under the layout as 3 crews worked through the issues.
I expect in 2-3 years that this layout will be seen in Model Railroader or Railroad Model Craftsman. It has the bones of a great operations layout and will have great scenes of the UP of Michigan featuring the Ore and of course the large Ore Dock in Marquette, Mi. 2 of the guys who’s layout have been featured are itching to start the scenery. Plus the guy who does most of MR layout pictures is a great friend of the groups I belong to.
For those building or remodeling your layout. Completely test your DCC wiring as you go along, not when you’re done. If you’re adding signals, do 1 section at a time and test the signals on that section! I am not looking forward to signaling the W&UM! It’s why my Wisconsin Interstate operates in dark territory.
Other than the grandson coming to cut the grass I am unaware of any plans. This would usually be a Farmer Market morning but she collected a good amount of goods on Wednesday. I know she mentioned pie making yesterday but not sure if that’s today or tomorrow!
I do know we are out of chocolate chip, her peanut butter, monster, molasses and ginger cookies. It’s rare we are out of all 5 at one time. I will eat the Chocolate Chip and Molasses but I do not enjoy any cookie that has peanut butter. The ginger cookies are mainly for the granddaughter but they are to die for! If she is baking I will head over to the shop to get it organized.
There are now 3 home based slot tracks in action on the grandson and friends slot car circuit. Turns out our local park system Summer program is now for kids 10 and under due to cutbacks in funding. There usually are 3 and some times 6 grandparents at the slot car sessions. They want to start regular weekly sessions per an email I got last week. That’s a commitment I am not going to do. For my grandson at his monthly event yes absolutely but not 3 times a month. That’s a big ask. For June, July, August and September his slot track has 7 races already scheduled for Tuesdays. I will be at those but that’s it. My Thursday and Fridays are for my friends layout work sessions as I already backed out of July, August and September OPS sessions on those days.
A few here and local friends have asked where and when I am going to build my new layout? I might not and if I do it may only be a diesel engine facility like UP’s Jenks in Little Rock, Enola in Pennsylvania or something completely freelanced in Wisconsin. I know I’d want a 3 track diesel house, a paint shop, a transfer table and a back shop. One of the guys mentioned I should freelance based on the Wisconsin Central’s shops yard in 1995 North Fond du lac, Wi. I don’t want a roundhouse which North Fond du Lac has. If I start mentioning I’m selling off freight cars you’ll know I’ll be building an engine facility.
Enjoy your day
Patrick
What, me worry?
Morning all,
Currently 75° and cloudy with rain expected. High of 92° later.
Had to work a few hours yesterday as the contractors were needing to move the power of the server room to temporary lines during the current phase of construction and didn't think we'd need to take down the servers....Nope, I'll power them off safely and you can wait for me. While it MIGHT take 5 minutes to make the move, it only takes seconds to scramble a server. Then the host machine decided it didn't want to play nice with the master control machine. I do have the backdoor into the host machine and got the servers back up and took another while to get the host to then play nice with the master control. All back to normal. I'm glad I didn't allow them to hit the power first.
Not much on schedule for today.
Currently 75° and cloudy with rain expected. High of 92° later.
Had to work a few hours yesterday as the contractors were needing to move the power of the server room to temporary lines during the current phase of construction and didn't think we'd need to take down the servers....Nope, I'll power them off safely and you can wait for me. While it MIGHT take 5 minutes to make the move, it only takes seconds to scramble a server. Then the host machine decided it didn't want to play nice with the master control machine. I do have the backdoor into the host machine and got the servers back up and took another while to get the host to then play nice with the master control. All back to normal. I'm glad I didn't allow them to hit the power first.
Not much on schedule for today.
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
Oh! I need a TomO weathered 50' freight car. Dibs on at least one!
RhB Michael
RhB Lokführer
74°F/71°F this cloudy morning. Rain moving in from the west, but won't be here for a couple of hours. Severe possible early this evening into tonight.
The dewpoint really came up since yesterday, but with a low temp, it's still pleasant outside and inside. Supossed to fall way down tomorrow after the front passes and we'll have three really nice days Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday before warming to the mid-80°s mid-week.
Nothing planned for today. Just waiting on the rain to start. Willow already did her business so we don't have to worry about being out in the rain so she can pee. She had a lot of exercise yesterday and crashed about 1900 on the floor and wasn't active for the rest of the night. All recharged for today though, so I'll see if I can get in some exercise for her before the rain arrives.
Have a wunderschön weekend! Servus!
The dewpoint really came up since yesterday, but with a low temp, it's still pleasant outside and inside. Supossed to fall way down tomorrow after the front passes and we'll have three really nice days Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday before warming to the mid-80°s mid-week.
Nothing planned for today. Just waiting on the rain to start. Willow already did her business so we don't have to worry about being out in the rain so she can pee. She had a lot of exercise yesterday and crashed about 1900 on the floor and wasn't active for the rest of the night. All recharged for today though, so I'll see if I can get in some exercise for her before the rain arrives.
Have a wunderschön weekend! Servus!
migalyto
Well-Known Member
Good morning all!
Getting a much later start than usual due to no internet this morning. I could of used my phone but I hate typing and reading on the
tiny screen. They got it back up around 8:45. Not sure why it went out, the texts never give the reason only the ETA for restoration of
services.
Should be a decent day weather wise. Currently a gorgeous 76F with the high expected to be close to 85F.
Usual Saturday chores around the house today.
Have a safe day everyone!
Getting a much later start than usual due to no internet this morning. I could of used my phone but I hate typing and reading on the
tiny screen. They got it back up around 8:45. Not sure why it went out, the texts never give the reason only the ETA for restoration of
services.
Should be a decent day weather wise. Currently a gorgeous 76F with the high expected to be close to 85F.
Usual Saturday chores around the house today.
Have a safe day everyone!
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Good Morning All. Clear and 75° this morning. Warm day today at 96° after just 87° yesterday. Tomorrow and Monday, it is just supposed to reach 80° with thunderstorms. Yesterday's rain left me .8" in the gauge by the time everything was done.
Rain came yesterday just about the time that the dew dried enough for mowing, so that didn't get done. I read some news on the internet instead, probably too much. Seems like there's nothing but negative stuff out there; World Cup controversies, America's 250th, a couple of wars, a Congress that does nothing; let's celebrate something positive! I have to quit reading that stuff. It both takes time and puts me in foul mood.
Meanwhile, the pool is back in overflow mode and the rain screwed up the chemical balance. I'll take care of that this today. Might dry off enough to get a little mowing done late today. Laundry today as well.
I made it out to the train shed yesterday after a day of absence. Finished off the fence around the drugstore first.
Still need to glue a couple of sections to one another to completely finish the install. I'll weather it after that.
I touched up the ground cover on the left a little bit.
Looks like another coat of paint is needed in the loading apron and driveway. Installed a single tree further to the left.
Basically all of the landscaping along the back of this scene is completed. I'll look at it for a few days while working on the front part and add a few minor improvements here and there. This is definitely an area that needs a lot of tall grass and weeds, especially behind the MAC building where maintenance would have been minimal. I'm not completely happy with the immediate area around the ground throw either. It just didn't come out as planned or expected.
Many of the pictures that I have posted recently show Jensen's Rexall Drugs in them. That structure is a cardstock structure that I downloaded from the Illinois Historical website years ago. My original structure was ruined when the rain got into the train shed following the tornado that ripped the roof off; and about a year ago I built it again. It does depict an actual business somewhere in Illinois.
It looks like I don't have a finished picture with the sign attached to the front of the building. I have about a dozen cardstock structures from various sources on my layout
Everyone have a great Saturday.
Rain came yesterday just about the time that the dew dried enough for mowing, so that didn't get done. I read some news on the internet instead, probably too much. Seems like there's nothing but negative stuff out there; World Cup controversies, America's 250th, a couple of wars, a Congress that does nothing; let's celebrate something positive! I have to quit reading that stuff. It both takes time and puts me in foul mood.
Meanwhile, the pool is back in overflow mode and the rain screwed up the chemical balance. I'll take care of that this today. Might dry off enough to get a little mowing done late today. Laundry today as well.
I made it out to the train shed yesterday after a day of absence. Finished off the fence around the drugstore first.
Still need to glue a couple of sections to one another to completely finish the install. I'll weather it after that.
I touched up the ground cover on the left a little bit.
Looks like another coat of paint is needed in the loading apron and driveway. Installed a single tree further to the left.
Basically all of the landscaping along the back of this scene is completed. I'll look at it for a few days while working on the front part and add a few minor improvements here and there. This is definitely an area that needs a lot of tall grass and weeds, especially behind the MAC building where maintenance would have been minimal. I'm not completely happy with the immediate area around the ground throw either. It just didn't come out as planned or expected.
Many of the pictures that I have posted recently show Jensen's Rexall Drugs in them. That structure is a cardstock structure that I downloaded from the Illinois Historical website years ago. My original structure was ruined when the rain got into the train shed following the tornado that ripped the roof off; and about a year ago I built it again. It does depict an actual business somewhere in Illinois.
It looks like I don't have a finished picture with the sign attached to the front of the building. I have about a dozen cardstock structures from various sources on my layout
Everyone have a great Saturday.
ctclibby
Well-Known Member
Terry unfortunately ACE is the only place around here that has guns. Not Ryobi though. Also tried out a friends battery nailer - way to heavy for a lot of overhead work; where as you can drape a hose over stuff to take *some* of the weight off. Can't beat a $39 air nailer from HF!
If I get a chance, will go to HD or Lowes to see what they have. Already have 2 compressor's, so going battery probably not gonna happen. I do like my Craftsman battery drills though...
L8r
kbkchooch
Verified Human
Good afternoon gang!
79° and not a cloud in the sky! Looking for a high near 85° with 82% humidity. Now I am sitting in comfortable a/c until I get off at 2, and the lawn beckons me for a haircut. Better do it today, for tomorrow brings a chance of thunderstorms. I'll get son#4 to do the weed wacking, I'll ride the tractor.
I've been having back issues. pain in my butt, and weakness in my right leg on standing. Shooting pains from my butt to my knee. I'm pain free when sitting, but standing for a long time is another issue, and walking is worse. I went to an orthopedist and he put me on a 15 day steroid plan. for a few days I felt better, but as the dosage increased, the old pain came back. Working on the layout means sitting on a barstool. Now Advil is my best friend until I see him again next Friday.
This getting old stuff is for the birds!
BBL
79° and not a cloud in the sky! Looking for a high near 85° with 82% humidity. Now I am sitting in comfortable a/c until I get off at 2, and the lawn beckons me for a haircut. Better do it today, for tomorrow brings a chance of thunderstorms. I'll get son#4 to do the weed wacking, I'll ride the tractor.
I've been having back issues. pain in my butt, and weakness in my right leg on standing. Shooting pains from my butt to my knee. I'm pain free when sitting, but standing for a long time is another issue, and walking is worse. I went to an orthopedist and he put me on a 15 day steroid plan. for a few days I felt better, but as the dosage increased, the old pain came back. Working on the layout means sitting on a barstool. Now Advil is my best friend until I see him again next Friday.
This getting old stuff is for the birds!
BBL
Bill Tidler Jr.
Retired N&W/NS Signalman
A week or so ago, I mentioned I had found and purchased some parts on Fleabay, and depending on what I got in the box, it was either a really good, or really bad deal.
This time, I got the bear. There are probably 20 packs of Microtrains trucks, trucks and couplers, couplers, bolster pins, etc. Also a bunch of other random parts. I am able to refill my parts drawers with the good American-made stuff, and put off indefinitely having to buy the stuff that is now coming from Vietnam.
Yay!
This time, I got the bear. There are probably 20 packs of Microtrains trucks, trucks and couplers, couplers, bolster pins, etc. Also a bunch of other random parts. I am able to refill my parts drawers with the good American-made stuff, and put off indefinitely having to buy the stuff that is now coming from Vietnam.
Yay!
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