Running Bear's September 2025 Coffee Shop

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Here's a modified Athearn F-7. It is DC. The motor was replaced with a can motor and ran as good as the first generation Atlas locos. The wheels were replaced with nickel silver wheels and the shell started as an undecorated unit and custom painted. It also has constant lighting and the class lights are lit with fiber optics. I did this locomotive at least 30 years or more ago. There was no DCC.
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This unit will be for sale in e. I also have 4 NP switchers that will be posted for sale
 
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I worked more on the Mikado yesterday. Had to wait on a new motor as my old motor that was noisy during my 0-6-0 motor testing was drawing .7 amps at 4V. The new one spins much more freely and draws .2 amps. I was hoping to put a flywheel on it, but it wouldn't fit. Thought it would but the final motor mount is angled more steeply than I thought I would need.

Anyway, got it wired and running. Then I find that I got the polariy on the tender LED wrong again. So far 100% of the time. And I forgot the rectifier for the firebox. I noticed when it was burning super hot as the rectifier drops .4 - .5 volts in addition to what the resistor does. So, hopefully I don't f- it up more and finish it today.
 


Marlin39 said:
More than likely it's a very senior dog that just poops as it walks. We had one that did it. It's probably someone with buds in or headphones on that is oblivious to what's going on.

It could be worse. You could have real crime....property crime, graffiti, assaults, etc.😐
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We've had those. Left the garage door on accident one evening, and lost my bicycle that night.

And I've had several people mention the elderly dog to me, and all of them said they always watched behind them when walking their elderly pet. We've had more than enough sternly worded emails sent by the HOA it's now on the pet owner to check.
 
I like the idea of the neighborhood watch, especially for the older folks who get targetted by the scammers. If the area has a good strong leader and they set up or just encourage the neighborhood watch with certain rules (no tattling on neighbors, just watch for strangers and people not cleaning up after their pets, or just littering), it could add value. But it could also open the door to the people that accost you in the restaurant who accuse first instead of finding out if that's your grand daughter first.

I have cameras and we haven't had any issues so far. Nothing happening around me. But, if a neighbor comes up and asks me if I noticed anything about their spouse or kid, I'd say no. I'll let them know that I value their privacy and that the cameras are for my protection first. If a crime happens, then call the police, report it, and if they need any footage, then I'd provide it to the police with the understanding that I will not be involved in the persecution as I did not witness anything personally and I don't want to be targetted for retribution. I don't know if I have to drag the body into the house over here in defense...
 
troyphoto said:
We've had those. Left the garage door on accident one evening, and lost my bicycle that night.

And I've had several people mention the elderly dog to me, and all of them said they always watched behind them when walking their elderly pet. We've had more than enough sternly worded emails sent by the HOA it's now on the pet owner to check.
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I'm sure you guys have considered that it may be an outsider walking through....
 
troyphoto said:
And in other news The Serial Pooper is back.

Wife came back from visiting her mother and said there were about 6 turds on the walk, the next building north of ours (not blaming those residents, but it's always on this side of the complex except for a rare few times).
View attachment 241159

And yes, I grabbed a bag and went out to clean it up. Obviously, the perp isn't going to if it was there for over 3 hours since my wife noticed it on the way to go visit her mother.

I sent a report the HOA pres and asked if we can bill th perp after we catch them in addition to whatever the city does, and redirect to whoever cleans it up. I've had it enough that I don't want the shit on our walk, and the maintenance staff isn't going to get to it. They're in leaf/gutter clean up and closing down the pools.

Not to mention the Maint Staff golf carts seem to know just exactly where the piles are because they usually get flattened. The drivers don't see them on the dark path, and then it's ground into the pavement for everyone not looking to walk on.

I even told the HOA pres that my wife said I'm officially a "Grumpy Old Man" at only 61. 🤣 (she's right as usual.)
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dog-poo.jpg
:D :);):D😋
 
My older brother and his wife came to visit us on Saturday. We went to the mall and all we heard from them was how cheap everything was, especially the food. We showed them the fruits and veggies and how they were all neatly packaged and presented. The "box lunches" that had so many offerings from meat, fish, chicken, grilled, deep fried, or whatever. With veggies and rice. For so cheap! They said Hawaii would be twice to three times as much. It wasn't that much when I was there 6 years ago. Guess they are paying for the min wage hikes that happened after I left.

Then we went to lunch. shabu shabu which is a pan of boiling water with a thin broth. It was "tabehodai" which is all you can eat in a period of time. We chose 90 minutes. They bring the meats: chicken, pork, beef, and you go to the self serve area for the veggies and sauces. You eat your fill. This was about 2100 yen per person and again, it was twice to three times as much in Hawaii. I thought it was expensive and for me, I don't/can't eat 2100 yen worth of food at one time, so I don't usually do this. But, with the current yen rate, that's about $14.

He gave me the money that came from my mother who wanted to pay for the meal since my b-day had passed. So that was nice. We'll be sending her some tea and stuff later.

Since she gave me my b-day gift, I ordered the Kato ABe 8/12. Thanks Ma!
 
Kusojiji said:
My older brother and his wife came to visit us on Saturday. We went to the mall and all we heard from them was how cheap everything was, especially the food. We showed them the fruits and veggies and how they were all neatly packaged and presented. The "box lunches" that had so many offerings from meat, fish, chicken, grilled, deep fried, or whatever. With veggies and rice. For so cheap! They said Hawaii would be twice to three times as much. It wasn't that much when I was there 6 years ago. Guess they are paying for the min wage hikes that happened after I left.

Then we went to lunch. shabu shabu which is a pan of boiling water with a thin broth. It was "tabehodai" which is all you can eat in a period of time. We chose 90 minutes. They bring the meats: chicken, pork, beef, and you go to the self serve area for the veggies and sauces. You eat your fill. This was about 2100 yen per person and again, it was twice to three times as much in Hawaii. I thought it was expensive and for me, I don't/can't eat 2100 yen worth of food at one time, so I don't usually do this. But, with the current yen rate, that's about $14.

He gave me the money that came from my mother who wanted to pay for the meal since my b-day had passed. So that was nice. We'll be sending her some tea and stuff later.

Since she gave me my b-day gift, I ordered the Kato ABe 8/12. Thanks Ma!
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My brother lives on Maui. I was there in early September for 5 nights and Terry for 3 weeks. I have never been to a place more expensive than Maui. I have been to London, NY, LA, Rome and Sydney among others. Maui is much more. The Hawaiian minimum wage for 2025 is only $14.00 and that’s a very small part of the crazy prices. Hardly anything in Hawaii is grown or manufactured there. It all ( ok most all of it) comes from elsewhere which means transportation costs are the driving force behind the high prices
 


well folks how y'all doing. been a good day went to church and had some Mexican food and yes I had a holy war in the bathroom. not really a war more like me grabbing my ankles praying that it stops lol. in other news sports on and my steelers won my colts lost and my Packers are leading. I sit in my comfy chair listening to some Ronnie James dio and other classic metal and ponder if you are a security guard at a Samsung store does that make you a guardian of the Galaxy... also I know a lot of you are dads or grandad's if you could shair your knowledge of dad joke that would be great. anywhoos God bless you fine gents and ladies and until next time
 
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A few more from Boonton and "Museum for a Day"; inside the cab of ALP44M
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The place also has two Central Railroad of New Jersey GP7s:
IMG_20250928_104351529.jpg
IMG_20250928_110001795.jpg

The Jersey Central units were unique in having a flat rear wall:
IMG_20250928_110157628.jpg

Kitbashed 0-10-0, not for sale though:
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Rear of the U34C:
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The other GG1 in newer style paint scheme which came in the year 1955; single wide stripe, large numbers and letters and shadow Keystone:
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E8 in NJ DoT paint scheme, a sharp eye will notice wrong shade of dark blue:
IMG_20250928_110634176_HDR.jpg

The E8 is a former Pennsylvania Railroad unit, easy way to tell is by those lift rings on the bottom of the nose.
 
TLOC said:
My brother lives on Maui. I was there in early September for 5 nights and Terry for 3 weeks. I have never been to a place more expensive than Maui. I have been to London, NY, LA, Rome and Sydney among others. Maui is much more. The Hawaiian minimum wage for 2025 is only $14.00 and that’s a very small part of the crazy prices. Hardly anything in Hawaii is grown or manufactured there. It all ( ok most all of it) comes from elsewhere which means transportation costs are the driving force behind the high prices
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Isn't Maui all tourist trap now? Last time I went, probably 30 years ago, I couldn't even find the beach that I used to go body surfing at. All hotels, shopping centers, etc geared at tourism. I probably couldn't find my grand parents' grave sites and wouldn't be surprised if they were all displaced for a shopping center. So prices, yeah no kidding.
 
Kusojiji said:
Then we went to lunch. shabu shabu which is a pan of boiling water with a thin broth. It was "tabehodai" which is all you can eat in a period of time. We chose 90 minutes. They bring the meats: chicken, pork, beef, and you go to the self serve area for the veggies and sauces. You eat your fill. This was about 2100 yen per person and again, it was twice to three times as much in Hawaii. I thought it was expensive and for me, I don't/can't eat 2100 yen worth of food at one time, so I don't usually do this. But, with the current yen rate, that's about $14.
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I like the self service place with the cook your stuff in hot oil on wooden skewers. It was expensive in Osaka but it’s fun.

Things seem cheap because we’re converting from dollars. If you’re getting paid in yen, it’s not so cheap. My wife said that wages have hardly changed in 30 years and everyone is having it tough as prices have started going up, sales tax has gone up. Etc.
 
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chadbag said:
That’s fake news. I’ve eaten a ton at Taco Bell and never once had a problem.
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I suppose it depends on one's digestive system. Taco Bell tends to not agree with mine. Which is a shame, it is good stuff.

I love Taco Bell, but it does not love me!

The same rules don't apply to everyone.

I'm an oddball. I consider McDonald's to be healthy food. If my stomach isn't right, a regular McDonalds hamburger will often cure me.
 


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