Running Bear's September 2026 Coffee Shop

[chadbag]

I think I peed out that much at 4 o’clock this morning. I was standing there for a while.

I pee like a woman. Especially in the middle of the night. No need to wake up and aim when I’m half asleep. Easier to go back to sleep.

During the day I usually also pee like a woman but sometimes stand like a man.

I’m not threatened by the concept.

 

[westtexjohn]

I thought I would share this :

John

 

[westtexjohn]

I've been working on a couple of back burner roundtuit projects.

1.)
I have 2 locations where I have crossing signals. IR avoidance sensors trigger the signals when a train crosses the road.
View attachment 274121
The sensors operate on a reflected signal. They don't have a lot of range, are affected by ambient light, and don't work well with black objects (locomotive frames). Have been marginally successful in implementation.

View attachment 274122
Decided to experiment by remounting the emitter (not sure if it is the emitter or receiver) to the far side of the second track. Now the sensor operates when the beam is broken rather than detecting a reflected beam. Range is about 6" which suits my application since the crossing is for 2 tracks. New configuration is more reliable and not affected by changes in ambient lighting.

2.)
Next is upgrades to the control panel.

View attachment 274124

Three wall wart supplies provide power to the NCE power cab, 12vdc buss, and 5vdc buss. A bulk supply behind the panel supplies power
to a homemade dc throttle. The white supply is a cell phone charger and is marginal in supplying the 5 volt needs of the layout. The 12volt
wall wart is operating close to capacity. Been a kludge for way too long.

View attachment 274125
A dual 12 volt-6 amp and 5 volt-3 amp supply is mounted under the distribution terminal blocks. An upcycled 18 volt laptop power supply replaces the bulk dc throttle power supply.

Since my layout is only 5 ft x 10 ft, I decided against running 12 volt and 5 volt busses under the layout. All 12 volt and 5 volt loads have
individual runs back to the terminal blocks, eliminating the need to make connection from drops to busses.

I think I would enclose that 110 v outlet with the terminals exposed. Instead of those l-o-n-g standoffs (that to me look a bit shaky anyway) mount one of those blue or gray plastic single outlet boxes to the vertical plywood piece with a couple of screws through the back. A face plate would be an optional as, at least the 110 volt terminals will be enclosed/covered. And the whole outlet will have a more secure mounting.
Just a safety suggestion.
At a minimum, put two or three wraps of good electrical tape around the outlet to cover the silver & brass connection screws.

John

 

[westtexjohn]

Well here you go..................
Note: surcharges for UPS..... NOT USPS.
I'm guessing this is to help cover the high price of fuel.

UPS will apply temporary demand surcharges to all shipments:

[td]

​

[/td]​

Note: UPS Air services include UPS 3 Day Select®, UPS 2nd Day Air®, UPS 2nd Day Air A.M.®, and UPS Next Day Air®.

[td]

​

[/td]​

UPS will also temporarily increase the price of these surcharges:

John

 

[shortwrench]

I think I would enclose that 110 v outlet with the terminals exposed. Instead of those l-o-n-g standoffs (that to me look a bit shaky anyway) mount one of those blue or gray plastic single outlet boxes to the vertical plywood piece with a couple of screws through the back. A face plate would be an optional as, at least the 110 volt terminals will be enclosed/covered. And the whole outlet will have a more secure mounting.
Just a safety suggestion.
At a minimum, put two or three wraps of good electrical tape around the outlet to cover the silver & brass connection screws.

John

Thanks for the suggestion. Nice resolution to a marginal situation. Those standoffs are cores from doggie poop bags. At that time
was anxious to get things going and at least should have cut down the length of the standoffs. By the way, the standoffs make for
simulated sections of pipes and I have them in various locations on the layout. Have a substantial supply of them.

 

[chadbag]

Well here you go..................
Note: surcharges for UPS..... NOT USPS.
I'm guessing this is to help cover the high price of fuel.

UPS will apply temporary demand surcharges to all shipments:

[td]


[/td]​

Note: UPS Air services include UPS 3 Day Select®, UPS 2nd Day Air®, UPS 2nd Day Air A.M.®, and UPS Next Day Air®.

[td]


[/td]​

UPS will also temporarily increase the price of these surcharges:

John

I think the upper demand surcharges are to help cover the extra temps help they always hire at the holidays. They have a separate fuel surcharge already and would just adjust that as needed so I don't think its a fuel surcharge.

The bottom surcharges I think are to keep people from shipping those sorts of packages. They don't want them and are making them expensive enough to get most people to not ship. During the holidays they need stuff to flow smoothly through their system. Extra handling, over size, etc all muck up the system.

 

[kbkchooch]

Good evening gang!

Raining pretty good here. The trash hopper is out on the curb for tomorrow pickup. The cat's pan contents are in there too! Troy is not the only one who takes care of a fuzzy master!

Speaking of Troy, our local hospital does MRI's with a small fan blowing fresh air across your face. It helps immensely with claustrophobia when you are not breathing in your exhaled air.

Shortwrench your detection system looks very interesting, but being a Western Maryland modeler all the steamers and diesels are black. I was using a system with optical light sensors, but room lighting affected it too badly. I will be soon running a 12 volt and 5 volt bus using a PC power supply for grade crossings and signalling. I just wish there was something better for detection other than block current detection. I really don't want to add resistor wheelsets to 350 pieces of rolling stock.

Michael, I'm here cringing reading you story. You can bet you will have my deepest sympathies on removal day!

L8ter!

 

[RhB Michael]

Thanks Karl. I'm really hoping this story is about at an end.

Started out with outpatient surgery and I'd be home in time for the ten o'clock news that night. Murphy always rears his ugly head.

 

[santafewillie]

I pee like a woman. Especially in the middle of the night. No need to wake up and aim when I’m half asleep. Easier to go back to sleep.

During the day I usually also pee like a woman but sometimes stand like a man.

Great information here, something that we all needed to know!

 

[migalyto]

The cat's pan contents are in there too! Troy is not the only one who takes care of a fuzzy master!

As you know owning both/

 

[-Possum-]

Good evening everyone, currently 83 and feels fairly pleasant outside while a breeze is blowing.

Monday through Thursday of last week, me and my folks went down to Bolivar Peninsula for my dad's birthday. It's just a stone throw away from Galveston, we try to go every year.

A couple views from the beach house. You wouldn't be able to tell this was where Hurricane Ike made landfall in 2008. This place was built back up with a vengence!

At the beach. Hardly anybody was out, maybe they we're scared of the "red tide."

Tuesday morning we had a guide set up for some bay fishing, didn't get any pics heading out since it was still pretty dark, but here's one from the channel our guide lives on. We were hoping for some reds, but ended up bringing home 9 speckled trout and 3 sand trout.

Wednesday night we ate at one of our favorite places on the peninsula called Stingaree. It's a great place to catch a sunset while looking out over the intercoastal waters.

 

[Bill Tidler Jr.]

Good Tuesday morning, Coffee Shop!
It's 60°F (12.3°C) and cloudy in Tipton.

Have a great day!

 

[traiNscale]

good morning coffee and trains fans

- airport ZRH is up and running
- mild 20celcius

last week i got some fun spam mails. thats how i knew that my business is now officially registered in switzerland
so kleinewelten.ch is now a official online shop in switzerland

i did order some new books from white river productions. and i got a delivery from a small manufacturer in germany that does stone walls out of dental material. dont tell me how and why but those walls look really great.

and here is a picture of my two young guns:

 

[Kusojiji]

The gas bubble in my eye is slowly going down, so now I can see stuff when the nurse administers the medication. Good that they are cute. But, I did catch some strange stringy, looking things with the gauze patch on. At first, they look like worms hanging from the top and swaying with the liquid in my eye. I was going to ask the doctor about it, but then saw that it moves and goes away when I blink. So this stuff is actually outside my eye and is probably the fibers of the gauze.

 

[RhB Michael]

Good morning. 64°F/64°F this morning under partly cloudy, stary morning. Not sleeping for a whole lot at once, but it's been solid for a shorter time. Up at 0430 this morning. First cup of coffee cooling a bit now.

Dr. at 0930 so I guess she can look at my drain amount again, which is very little this morning. Much less than yesterday morning at this time. I'll probably nap on the couch before getting ready for my visit. Oh, and go over yesterday's creatinine analysis.

The gas bubble in my eye is slowly going down

That's great news, and I hope you too will be home soon. Do they perform pressure checks in that eye every so often during the day?

Have a great first day of Autumn! Finally!!

Servus!

 

[kbkchooch]

Good morning gang!

59° with light rain. Rain continues throughout the day with a high of only 62° predicted.

Ho, hum, glum day.

BBL

 

[troyphoto]

The gas bubble in my eye is slowly going down, so now I can see stuff when the nurse administers the medication. Good that they are cute. But, I did catch some strange stringy, looking things with the gauze patch on. At first, they look like worms hanging from the top and swaying with the liquid in my eye. I was going to ask the doctor about it, but then saw that it moves and goes away when I blink. So this stuff is actually outside my eye and is probably the fibers of the gauze.

So now we know why the price of gas is so high. It's been diverted to your eyeball.

 

[migalyto]

Good morning all!

Another cool fall like day today. Currently 55F with a high of 61F. Slight chance of rain in the late morning.

Another volleyball game away tonight. At least this one is close.

Not much else going on.

Have a safe day everyone!

 

[TLOC]

Good afternoon folks, 71 here and sunny. We drove out to Treasure Falls today and it was awfully pretty. Had Lunch at a local Mexican Place that turned out to be a very good meal. Gonna hit some local shops tomorrow, if it's not raining too hard. Best of luck on the MRIs, my Dad was very claustrophobic so I had to go in with him, keeping my hand on his ankle, so he knew I could pull him out if needed.
You guys have a good one.

I totally understand what your dad was going through while getting the MRI. Never thought to have Terry come in with me!

 

[shortwrench]

Good evening gang!

Raining pretty good here. The trash hopper is out on the curb for tomorrow pickup. The cat's pan contents are in there too! Troy is not the only one who takes care of a fuzzy master!

Speaking of Troy, our local hospital does MRI's with a small fan blowing fresh air across your face. It helps immensely with claustrophobia when you are not breathing in your exhaled air.

Shortwrench your detection system looks very interesting, but being a Western Maryland modeler all the steamers and diesels are black. I was using a system with optical light sensors, but room lighting affected it too badly. I will be soon running a 12 volt and 5 volt bus using a PC power supply for grade crossings and signalling. I just wish there was something better for detection other than block current detection. I really don't want to add resistor wheelsets to 350 pieces of rolling stock.

Michael, I'm here cringing reading you story. You can bet you will have my deepest sympathies on removal day!

L8ter!

I found that by separating the the emitter and receiver to opposite sides of the track, thereby reconfiguring the sensor to detect the loss of the beam works very well. Changes in room lighting no longer affect the sensor. Because the train blocks the beam and the sensor is no longer dependent relying on a how much the beam is reflected (which is color dependent), color is no longer a factor. My consolidation and black frame diesel locomotives now faithfully block the beam as well as any other rolling stock. The emitter and receiver are approximately 10 degrees off being perpendicular to the track so the space between cars doesn't allow the beam to pass through, resulting in a constant blocking of the beam as the the train crosses the road.

I agree with you on the "option" of using block current detection.

II tried to post this last night at 10:00pm but got an error.