Running Bear's May 2026 Coffee Shop

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


Status
Not open for further replies.
RhB Michael said:
Since I cut out the pie and ice cream, my weight is finally starting to fall. I'm also eating slightly smaller prtions of everything, and no in-between meal eats of any kind. I'm at 165 now, down from 169 six weeks ago. I'm trying to get to 155, but the closer I get the harder it becomes. I'm only 5'-9+ on my tallest day, and my ideal weight in the military was 121 to 186 IIRC. I was around 150 in the Air Force, but that's probably a pipe dream unless I starve myself and run 5 miles a day.

If I can get to 155 to 157 I'll be satisfied. I'm still barely squeezing into a 32 waist jeans, but forget about bending over or tucking in a shirt. 155 is much more comfortable than 165. Trying to get those jeans on now I look like an ice cream cone.
Click to expand...
5'8", 165# and a 31" waist, but I'm a gym rat.
 


Looks like "our" storm is actually heading over Longmont. Oh well. Maybe the next one has better aim.

Unfortunately Ebay seems to be down too which is a problem because I need to buy something I just saw, prompted by the KATO Zephyr thread. Then too, the guy I'm trying to buy a vehicle from on Autotrader just isn't responding to any messages or chat attempts, nor to my request for a test drive. I'm tempted to make a low-ball offer just to get his attention, but I don't want to offend him either or appear to be less than serious--I AM seriously interested in buying what he's selling, even at his asking price, provided it has or will pass emissions first in this area (which it has to do anyway to even be sold (unless for parts or salvage)).

Last nights race was fun until I tried to pit and found no pit crew. Went around a second time and still had no pit, so there was no way to refuel and make it to the end. Oh well. Turns out it was a known track-bug, but no one told me about it.

I'm trying to get stuff done, but right now I'm missing on four out of eight cylinders. Meh.
 
Last edited:
Out hiking in Texas today:
IMG_20260504_104556876.jpg
IMG_20260504_134343621.jpg
IMG_20260504_110744799.jpg
IMG_20260504_132504789.jpg
IMG_20260504_110626578.jpg
IMG_20260504_145533784.jpg
IMG_20260504_114549686.jpg
IMG_20260504_145543513.jpg
IMG_20260504_114849321.jpg

We are in Caprock Canyon State Park, northern part of Texas.
 
santafewillie said:
Here is the answer that I got from Google AI.

Yes, the Union Pacific Steam Team keeps the fire lit or "banked" in the Big Boy No. 4014 overnight when it is on tour. [1, 2]
  • Banked Fire: The crew keeps a slow, low-intensity fire burning in the firebox overnight. This ensures the boiler stays warm, reducing the time needed to raise steam the next morning and preventing structural stress on the boiler caused by rapid heating/cooling cycles.
  • Oil-Fired System: Since its restoration, the 4014 is an oil-burner, which makes managing the overnight fire easier than the original coal-firing method. The oil burner is tuned to a low setting to keep the engine "alive".
  • Overnight Watch: The locomotive is not left unattended. A "watchman" or member of the Steam Team oversees the locomotive to ensure water levels are maintained in the boiler and the fire remains safe.
  • Boiler Car "Howard Fogg": As part of the support crew, the boiler car Howard Fogg is often used during tours to provide steam and keep the 4014 hot when it is not operating. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
If the engine were to go completely cold, it would take a significant amount of time and care to bring it back to operating temperature (up to a full day).

Here's a shot of the "Howard Fogg" boiler car that is referenced, that I took. Just a partial since I was standing too close to the track.View attachment 264721
Click to expand...
Howard Fogg is one of my real regrets.

Mom was a professional artist--a painter--and she sold some 2,500 compositions over the course of her career. She also knew Howard Fogg*, and at one point she managed to wrangle from him an opportunity for me to tour his studio, and even have some of his time just for me, then a mere aspiring artist (I draw, but was never a painter). I was seriously depressed at the time by the impending demise of the D&RGW, so much so that I had to just walk away from the hobby completely few years later.

Which I did, not long after the D&RGW bought the SP. I was as surprised as anyone at that one, and for a short time found some enthusiasm again, but when it became clear the black and aspen gold would be phased out completely it really was the last straw for me. So I just quit the whole thing.

To my great regret, I did NOT take Howard up on his offer. Dearly wish I had. A real opportunity declined by a fool, that one. What was I thinking?

It was my nephew, then six, and his growing enthusiasm for model trains who got me back into this thing, starting around 2006 when I took him to his first Rocky Mountain Train Show in Denver. That was the beginning of HIS collection, and I dug out my own and gave it to him not long after. We built it up over the years, though his own interest waned a bit after we started building a small layout for him. But I figured it would come back once he got older, and still do believe it will once he gets through medical school, residency and sets down roots somewhere--probably the east coast, unless things change. Or the west coast if his girlfriend gets her way. All good.

In the meantime, I'm curator of what little is left after the burglaries, so I'll move on ahead at whatever pace life allows. And if I can just get a reliable tow vehicle I'll invest in a trailer...and start doing the traveling Free-moN trainshow stuff. Or at least try to. Start small, with no trailer (and even though I have to pull other utility trailers regularly just to maintain this place...and the other), but maybe it'll grow into something larger. We'll see.

[* Fogg was one of the best known railroad artists in the US, for those who might not know]
 
Last edited:


Storms were not supposed to be here till after 7:30pm. Just had one heck of a storm roll thru the area. Had a little of
everything with it. Straight line winds, hail, torrential downpour, lots of close lightning and thunder. The city tornado
siren went off as well. Should of known, the dog has been nuts since 3:30 so I knew some type of weather was on the
way.

She still is crazy, so another round probably will happen later.
 
Last edited:


Status
Not open for further replies.




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top