Now, you can simply buy a TCS Cn or CN-GP decoer, which takes the place of the front and rear headlight boards, little to no modification required.
Running Bear's November 2025 Coffee Shop
- Thread starter bnsf971
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Well-Known Member
(A very late) Evening folks. Its currently 67 and has been raining off and on since about 5 pm today.
A little update on the SD45, the Super Clean did the trick! The worm gears and bearings had cleaned up and freed up after soaking for 6-7 hours. I'll assemble it all back tomorrow with fresh grease.
Other than that, me and my dad went deep into the heavily wooded part of the property in search of an injured bull of ours. We haven't seen him in 2 weeks, but did see signs that led us to believe he's still alive. Its impressive how such a large animal is so good at playing hide and seek.
After that he and I did some fence clearing with loppers and manual labor until our shirts were soaked.
I did get 3 new-to-me locos in the mail today, if I find the time tomorrow I'll dig a lil deeper into them.
A little update on the SD45, the Super Clean did the trick! The worm gears and bearings had cleaned up and freed up after soaking for 6-7 hours. I'll assemble it all back tomorrow with fresh grease.
Other than that, me and my dad went deep into the heavily wooded part of the property in search of an injured bull of ours. We haven't seen him in 2 weeks, but did see signs that led us to believe he's still alive. Its impressive how such a large animal is so good at playing hide and seek.
After that he and I did some fence clearing with loppers and manual labor until our shirts were soaked.
I did get 3 new-to-me locos in the mail today, if I find the time tomorrow I'll dig a lil deeper into them.
TLOC
Well-Known Member
Good evening! 2 runs with the shovel and the third time at 10:15pm I used the snowblower. Last time it was used was January 2923. I then hired the neighbor’s snow guy. I did test the blower in 0ctober, 2024 as a just in case. The snow guy from the since 2923 let me know in October he found a full time job and would be doing our snow. The guy Ai hired then broke his leg on Thursday.
The shoveling this morning felt ok. I played with the blower around 2 then just took the shovel and did the sidewalks. Changed the spark plug, drained the gas and it fired right up. Heated up the oil and turned the machine off, drained the oil added the new and was ready for action. I decided I’d wait for the plow. He didn’t disappoint putting maybe a pile of wet juicy snow on my driveway apron. I don’t bitchnatbthe City because we are a corner lot and he’s pushing lots of snow. Unfortunately it also blocks the mailbox that tomorrow I will ask my neighbor who shares the mailbox post to help me clean it out. We have at least 10, maybe 12” and it’s still snowing but I have walkable sidewalks.
Some bridge abutments weathering this afternoon and a base for 71” of the paper mill, sanded and varnished. I also cut out the base 9” x 45” but that’s all so far for the Pulp prep complex.
The grandson’s afternoon hockey game got cancelled. But he broke his stick playing at the rink during the time the game was scheduled for. 2 of the 4 PeeWee teams were home this weekend for games got together to use the ice times they had to play the games and scrimmaged! New stick with 12% discount should be $150 plus tax.
Sleep well!
The shoveling this morning felt ok. I played with the blower around 2 then just took the shovel and did the sidewalks. Changed the spark plug, drained the gas and it fired right up. Heated up the oil and turned the machine off, drained the oil added the new and was ready for action. I decided I’d wait for the plow. He didn’t disappoint putting maybe a pile of wet juicy snow on my driveway apron. I don’t bitchnatbthe City because we are a corner lot and he’s pushing lots of snow. Unfortunately it also blocks the mailbox that tomorrow I will ask my neighbor who shares the mailbox post to help me clean it out. We have at least 10, maybe 12” and it’s still snowing but I have walkable sidewalks.
Some bridge abutments weathering this afternoon and a base for 71” of the paper mill, sanded and varnished. I also cut out the base 9” x 45” but that’s all so far for the Pulp prep complex.
The grandson’s afternoon hockey game got cancelled. But he broke his stick playing at the rink during the time the game was scheduled for. 2 of the 4 PeeWee teams were home this weekend for games got together to use the ice times they had to play the games and scrimmaged! New stick with 12% discount should be $150 plus tax.
Sleep well!
Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
How far technology has advanced! Nice! I guess I don't need all them frames anymore. I think they were called digiframes or something.
Bill Tidler Jr.
Retired N&W/NS Signalman
Good morning! It's Sunday, 34°F and a 70% chance of light rain. 
Have a good day!
Have a good day!
chadbag
Well-Known Member
Ok thanks. I have some older European and Tomix split frame. They always say you need to mill out for a decoder (hardwired) but I use unwrapped decoders (so not thick with heat shrink) and the micro ones will usually fit in somewhere. I avoid the milling at all costs.
TLOC
Well-Known Member
Good morning from a very very sore person from So. Central snow country Wisconsin. I believe I found every joint and former muscle in my body last trying to sleep!
Again this morning I need to get out there as it’s still snowing and I’m hearing the 2 plow trucks roaming the neighborhood. The Winter Storm warning expired at 6 or 16 minutes ago as I type this. But the Winter Weather Advisory stays till noon. Just a few more inches are expected. The app says we received another .8” in the last hour but no total for the last 24 hours. Yesterday the app was updating the total constantly. It’s over 12” for sure on my property.
Other than the snow removal and taking the grandson for his new hockey stick I might head up the 4 miles to the LHS. I have a list I had planned to buy yesterday but the white stuff curtailed travel. If not I will go buy on Monday and stay away from anything called a paper mill part today.
Some touch up on a couple diesels that were weathered. Not enough exhaust on the roofs!
Enough the day
Again this morning I need to get out there as it’s still snowing and I’m hearing the 2 plow trucks roaming the neighborhood. The Winter Storm warning expired at 6 or 16 minutes ago as I type this. But the Winter Weather Advisory stays till noon. Just a few more inches are expected. The app says we received another .8” in the last hour but no total for the last 24 hours. Yesterday the app was updating the total constantly. It’s over 12” for sure on my property.
Other than the snow removal and taking the grandson for his new hockey stick I might head up the 4 miles to the LHS. I have a list I had planned to buy yesterday but the white stuff curtailed travel. If not I will go buy on Monday and stay away from anything called a paper mill part today.
Some touch up on a couple diesels that were weathered. Not enough exhaust on the roofs!
Enough the day
Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
I had the same thought so I had to go look it up. And then I remembered about the frame milling, etc.
I still have a frame for an SD40 that John Claudino milled for me before he retired. If I decide to put a decoder in the one I'm eventually getting from Troy, I'll use that frame and a DZ123 I have laying around.
Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
Are you modeling N or HO? and what years?
ctclibby
Well-Known Member
Good Morning All!
25F @ 79%, no new white.
Tday on Thursday was great. Bar had near 100 people during the 1400 to 1900 time frame. 5 Turkeys, 4 Hams, too many deviled eggs to count and all the associated stuff to go with it. The only problem with it was when we got up on Friday - nothing to graze, notta.
Yesterday was graze most of the day - Summer Sausage, Pastrami, little Smokey's, Deviled Eggs, Chips, Crackers, Cali, Broccoli, Carrots, Mushrooms, Ranch and Shrimp dip. Oh, the pain of it all. Turkey about 1530. Everybody ate a full plate even though grazing happened. Did not get the dessert out; Chocolate Pie as most of our eyes were already turning Turkey color. Dau and SO probably will be outa here bout noon for Missoula. Might get to 30F about then, road as clear so should not be a problem.
Dau was talking about Amtrak going through Helena, Missoula; probably to Billings. From there back to the Hi-Line via Bismark and Fargo. Makes sense to me; down the xNp xMrl at Sandpoint. One of the problem I see is the Spokane Station. East meets West there now from 0000 to 0200. Eastbound/Westbound is to/from Portland and Everett which are combined for Chicago, split for Everett/Portland. They will be talking of 2 coming in from the East now and split/connect at the same times. Makes me think the Empire Builder is going to have more cars. the Spokane station is probably going to be a 'cluster' for a bit. If it all happens, and depending on how they setup the Sandpoint times, we will be able to ride from Libby to Missoula: get on at 2230, arrive probably 0700 ( new timezone, 1 hour later ). Well *that* depends if the West bound from Chicago and the East bound from Spokane are on time. There is no trackage in Sandpoint for a meet there and on top of that there is no place to put new track in. If not, we can leave the car at the Sandpoint Station, get it on the flip-flop.
L8r
25F @ 79%, no new white.
Tday on Thursday was great. Bar had near 100 people during the 1400 to 1900 time frame. 5 Turkeys, 4 Hams, too many deviled eggs to count and all the associated stuff to go with it. The only problem with it was when we got up on Friday - nothing to graze, notta.
Yesterday was graze most of the day - Summer Sausage, Pastrami, little Smokey's, Deviled Eggs, Chips, Crackers, Cali, Broccoli, Carrots, Mushrooms, Ranch and Shrimp dip. Oh, the pain of it all. Turkey about 1530. Everybody ate a full plate even though grazing happened. Did not get the dessert out; Chocolate Pie as most of our eyes were already turning Turkey color. Dau and SO probably will be outa here bout noon for Missoula. Might get to 30F about then, road as clear so should not be a problem.
Dau was talking about Amtrak going through Helena, Missoula; probably to Billings. From there back to the Hi-Line via Bismark and Fargo. Makes sense to me; down the xNp xMrl at Sandpoint. One of the problem I see is the Spokane Station. East meets West there now from 0000 to 0200. Eastbound/Westbound is to/from Portland and Everett which are combined for Chicago, split for Everett/Portland. They will be talking of 2 coming in from the East now and split/connect at the same times. Makes me think the Empire Builder is going to have more cars. the Spokane station is probably going to be a 'cluster' for a bit. If it all happens, and depending on how they setup the Sandpoint times, we will be able to ride from Libby to Missoula: get on at 2230, arrive probably 0700 ( new timezone, 1 hour later ). Well *that* depends if the West bound from Chicago and the East bound from Spokane are on time. There is no trackage in Sandpoint for a meet there and on top of that there is no place to put new track in. If not, we can leave the car at the Sandpoint Station, get it on the flip-flop.
L8r
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
Well howdy there internet peeps, and those with fluffy white stuff
(be it on your yard, in your garden, or on your head)
It's Troy again.
The book is off to the alpha readers, and I don't know what to do with myself... I feel like I should be writing, but I don't want to confuse the brain with the next story in the series, then have to backtrack when I do the next editing stage...
Sounds like it's a hobby day!
I headed out at 6:30 to clear the "apron" in our parking area that is in front of my garage. Good thing I did. The new snow removal service the HOA hired last year FINALLY got to work last night. And they began in the middle of the drive lane (two lanes wide) and pushed snow to either side, making a very nice hump along the garages.
Here's the grill. I'm tempted to stick a sink plunger in it, and make a sign that says "ExSNOWminate"
Since all of the garages are on one side, and a median is on the other side in our neck of the parking/driving area, that was not good on their part.
Neighbors on one side shoveled theirs before I got out. Neighbors on the other side, well, they'll just ram their cars in reverse through/over the hump. I only have 50 foot of cord for my snow blower, so I couldn't get too far into their zone to help.
I told the wife I did the garage and patio, if I did the front walk, I'd be on ice with a pulled muscle the rest of the day. So, she's a trooper and out doing the front walk. She uses the walking paths every day, so she wants a clear path. I, however, will resort to the dreaded Machine to Nowhere rather than risk my back again.
Looks like leftovers for lunch, then I may beak out the foreman grill and do burgers and fries (those in the air fryer) for supper.
(be it on your yard, in your garden, or on your head)
It's Troy again.
The book is off to the alpha readers, and I don't know what to do with myself... I feel like I should be writing, but I don't want to confuse the brain with the next story in the series, then have to backtrack when I do the next editing stage...
Sounds like it's a hobby day!
I headed out at 6:30 to clear the "apron" in our parking area that is in front of my garage. Good thing I did. The new snow removal service the HOA hired last year FINALLY got to work last night. And they began in the middle of the drive lane (two lanes wide) and pushed snow to either side, making a very nice hump along the garages.
Here's the grill. I'm tempted to stick a sink plunger in it, and make a sign that says "ExSNOWminate"
Since all of the garages are on one side, and a median is on the other side in our neck of the parking/driving area, that was not good on their part.
Neighbors on one side shoveled theirs before I got out. Neighbors on the other side, well, they'll just ram their cars in reverse through/over the hump. I only have 50 foot of cord for my snow blower, so I couldn't get too far into their zone to help.
I told the wife I did the garage and patio, if I did the front walk, I'd be on ice with a pulled muscle the rest of the day. So, she's a trooper and out doing the front walk. She uses the walking paths every day, so she wants a clear path. I, however, will resort to the dreaded Machine to Nowhere rather than risk my back again.
Looks like leftovers for lunch, then I may beak out the foreman grill and do burgers and fries (those in the air fryer) for supper.
RhB Michael
RhB Lokführer
27°F and clear with a breezy wind this morning. Nothing like overnight though. The center of low pressure started edging closer overnight and the winds increased accordingly. I had to check to make sure my antennas were still pointing in the right direction when I got up a bit ago. 30°F or so is going to do it for today.
Chance for 1"-3" tomorrow, but as close as this is they still don't know who is going to get the most.
Nothing scheduled for today, but since I still haven't run trains (or had any Bitburger) in over a week the train room is likely where I'll end up this afternoon.
Have a great Advent Sunday!
Servus!
Chance for 1"-3" tomorrow, but as close as this is they still don't know who is going to get the most.
Nothing scheduled for today, but since I still haven't run trains (or had any Bitburger) in over a week the train room is likely where I'll end up this afternoon.
Have a great Advent Sunday!
Servus!
N scale, Southern California, 1960-1975. My avatar is a pic of my layout.
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Good Morning All. Mostly clear and sunny, with 28°. Supposed to be warming up to 44° and maybe stay just above freezing tonight. Mid-60's by Wednesday and then another cold spell. At least I'm not shoveling snow. Don't even have a snow shovel.
Another holiday meal is done after the Thanksgiving #2 at my daughter's home yesterday. Nothing special, just the routine stuff. Still marveling at the traffic to and from the Dallas area. One is that I see a lot of different kinds of vehicles that don't usually venture even up to the Denton area. Tesla trucks for example. There are a lot on the Dallas freeways. In fact Teslas in general are quite numerous. And I think that it has more to do with status and not going green! And then I think that there are just more stupid drivers, or maybe they're just on their phones. I'm not sure what they might be thinking when they are going 60 mph in the left lane of a 75 mph limit highway with semi's passing them on the right. And of course suddenly making an exit across 3 or 4 lanes of heavy traffic because they realize too late that they might pass it.
R & R today is the schedule. I need to rummage through the fridge to see if there are any stray leftovers that we need to eat; I don't think there are any so I'll have to take something out to thaw. Then church, afterward it's firewood replenishment. The leftover beer in the car is cold so I'll bring it in to the fridge. Or we could have a small tailgate party in the church parking lot though!
No train shed time yesterday since we weren't here.
Tom O - Those workbenches are just too clean!
I recall that someone here warned you about overdoing it yesterday. Apparently you didn't listen! Hope that you are feeling more chipper soon.
Terry - You're overthinking.
Troy - I thought that it was a Wheaties box as well.
Rock singer Billy Idol is 70 today.
Everyone have a great and safe Sunday. Don't overdo the snow shoveling...leave it to the younger folks.
Another holiday meal is done after the Thanksgiving #2 at my daughter's home yesterday. Nothing special, just the routine stuff. Still marveling at the traffic to and from the Dallas area. One is that I see a lot of different kinds of vehicles that don't usually venture even up to the Denton area. Tesla trucks for example. There are a lot on the Dallas freeways. In fact Teslas in general are quite numerous. And I think that it has more to do with status and not going green! And then I think that there are just more stupid drivers, or maybe they're just on their phones. I'm not sure what they might be thinking when they are going 60 mph in the left lane of a 75 mph limit highway with semi's passing them on the right. And of course suddenly making an exit across 3 or 4 lanes of heavy traffic because they realize too late that they might pass it.
R & R today is the schedule. I need to rummage through the fridge to see if there are any stray leftovers that we need to eat; I don't think there are any so I'll have to take something out to thaw. Then church, afterward it's firewood replenishment. The leftover beer in the car is cold so I'll bring it in to the fridge. Or we could have a small tailgate party in the church parking lot though!
No train shed time yesterday since we weren't here.
Tom O - Those workbenches are just too clean!
I recall that someone here warned you about overdoing it yesterday. Apparently you didn't listen!
Hope that you are feeling more chipper soon.Terry - You're overthinking.
Troy - I thought that it was a Wheaties box as well.
Rock singer Billy Idol is 70 today.
Everyone have a great and safe Sunday. Don't overdo the snow shoveling...leave it to the younger folks.
migalyto
Well-Known Member
Good morning all!
Received somewhere around 12" of snow that I can tell. The totals are deceiving since it had so much moisture in it and it compacted. I ended
up doing the driveway twice yesterday to keep up with it and did it a final time this morning and now the sun can hit it and hopefully melt a
little more of it off.
Currently 26F heading to a high of only 29F. It is mostly sunny and the winds have calmed considerably from yesterday. Looks like we may have another system going to impact us on Monday with some more snow. Haven't really checked into that much.
Not sure what I will do today, no plans as of yet.
Have a safe day everyone!
Received somewhere around 12" of snow that I can tell. The totals are deceiving since it had so much moisture in it and it compacted. I ended
up doing the driveway twice yesterday to keep up with it and did it a final time this morning and now the sun can hit it and hopefully melt a
little more of it off.
Currently 26F heading to a high of only 29F. It is mostly sunny and the winds have calmed considerably from yesterday. Looks like we may have another system going to impact us on Monday with some more snow. Haven't really checked into that much.
Not sure what I will do today, no plans as of yet.
Have a safe day everyone!
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