The Coffee Shop is now open. Come on in and say hello.

[PNKFLOYD]

Followed instructions...

Bob- I followed your instructions and stayed off the internet while it was cleaned. But when I logged on again, I got the same old spam messages.
Were you working on someone else's computer line?

Why be just an April fool when I am a fool all year long?

CJ- I see you caught your normal limit of fish...., but the joy to your soul is unlimited if you can fish and watch trains at the same time! Yes, I am green with envy.

I consider my weekend wasted, as all I did was validate data that did not properly transfer from the old computer system to the new SAP system. I'm afraid I have more of the same today after the morning system run.

Yes, CJ, I see you playing the violin with sympathetic music!!!!

 

[Cjcrescent]

CJ- I see you caught your normal limit of fish...., but the joy to your soul is unlimited if you can fish and watch trains at the same time! Yes, I am green with envy.

I consider my weekend wasted, as all I did was validate data that did not properly transfer from the old computer system to the new SAP system. I'm afraid I have more of the same today after the morning system run.

Yes, CJ, I see you playing the violin with sympathetic music!!!!

Yeah, didn't catch anything. But I definitely didn't mind as it was the first real fishing trip since Oct '04. Ready to go again, right now even.

Too bad about the weekend Mikey, been there, done that,(More than once), even got the T-shirt!

When I retired, the Hospital was switching from multiple file systems from DOS-based files and even an old Betrieve based system to a single interwoven Oracle based system. Since I was retiring, they kept me out of the loop on setup, testing and rollout. I did at least know enough about the two systems in our department, to tell them some things that needed to be done prior the rollout or it would be a disaster. Of course they didn't listen and guess what. It was a disaster. So bad that they stayed on the old system until the problems were fixed.

Result was, six months after my retirement they called me back to work to help them straighten out the problems. Took four months, but I must have done a good job as the new system was running smooth as silk when I finished, and they haven't had to call me back since.

 

[Steve B]

Carey it's good when you are right and the professionals are wrong, nice job

Went to Doc's today as i am having problems with a nasty infection in the sinus's, i had asthma type breating problems saturday night for 3 hours, the doc gave me some powerfull antibiotics, an inhaler and some allergy tablets, hopefully i'll get the Op done soon now. I got the QSI sound equipped loco's out today and ran them round the table for the kids, honest

 

[IronBeltKen]

Happy Monday everyone [wow, is that an oxymoron or what...!]

Mikey, sorry your weekend was wasted on that office move! Guess that sometimes comes with the territory though...

Carey, glad you at least caught some good memories from that fishing trip .

Steve, I sure wish those medical bureaucrats would get off their collective Gluteus Maximii and do the surgery that you desperately need! I know what you mean about kids and trains, my Stephanie keeps begging me to run them on my own [still-congested] layout.

Speaking of which... I made significant progress on decluttering my layout surface areas this weekend, but I didn't actually finish that job - I discovered too many little 'oh yeah' type of tasks that I figured I'd better do before I start running trains. These included (1) adding a few extra inches of sorely-needed track to one of my lineside spurs and (2) applying scenery to my slag canyon (as seen in the weekend photo thread). I've been battling some minor health issues myself, the main one being a stress-related muscle spasm in base of my neck. At times I had to really force myself out to the garage to do the decluttering...

Well, that's about it for me, hope everybody's doing OK!

 

[RexHea]

Yeah, KenL I ran into the same problem while cleaning my layout. It came to my mind that... "HEY DUMMY! You still have to put up some new lights over the extension." So I went out today and bought four 8 ft, 2 bulb, fluorescent fixtures. Now to put them up.

 

[Fergmiester]

Yeah, KenL I ran into the same problem while cleaning my layout. It came to my mind that... "HEY DUMMY! You still have to put up some new lights over the extension." So I went out today and bought four 8 ft, 2 bulb, fluorescent fixtures. Now to put them up.

I've been down that road and can say only one thing... My bench work has been proof loaded to 240 lbs. and the styrofoam overlay has a nice undulating rolling look akin to a pasture. Never knew my knees were protypical HO scale molding tools.

Something to think about Rex is some of these new Step ladders also change into scaffolding and get into some tight spots.

Fergie

 

[IronBeltKen]

Good morning crew!

Rex - I wish I could afford to install permanent flourescents over every corner of my layout. At least I have a set of 1000watt photo floodlights I can setup whenever I need to get pictures.

I got some dreadful money-related news yesterday. It seems that because of the 'budget billing' payment plan I'm on with my electric company [BG&E], it took them an entire year to figure out I was using more electricity per month than a year ago. They just recalculated the monthly bill, and it is now $200/mo higher than before! [BTW Fergie - this increase is totally separate from the other one I told you about on skype the other day] And, as if that wasn't bad enough, BG&E plans to raise their standard rate by 72% in July because that's when the artificial rate freeze expires - so I may end up being charged an additional $300/month over what I have to pay now!

I remarked to Vicky that I'll probably have to tear down my layout, but she said 'No don't do that just yet' - but I honestly don't know where I'm supposed to find the extra money to support my hobby if BG&E is taking it all from me. And I can't return to the extreme temp/humidity fluctuations that existed in the garage before I installed the heat pump.

Enough from me, don't want wreck anybody else's day...

 

[Fergmiester]

Ken: Re power hikes... Ouch! That's outrages and I'm not even going to with ways on how to say money. Well maybe more candle light dinners and sitting in front of the Fire Place by candle light maybe in order!

I think we are up there as NS Power has increased their rates continually.

Anyway it's a rainy wet and miserable day here and I'm going to ballast this morning and take Dad to Physio this afternoon then I'll have to kill an hour so I guess I'll "have" to go to the LHS and Kill time!

The 2-10-2 and Tsunami's are ordered so I'll have to wait a bit before I see them and considering it was 3 1/2 months to get the first batch delivered I'm hoping the wait time is way down. Loys told me that there is no backorders on the Tsunamis so I'll be first in line this time, I hope!!

Well that's it for me

Later All

Fergie

 

[RexHea]

Yikes Man o'man! I sure am glad that I am adding/replacing lighting in my depot. I took one of the very old fixtures down and where I had laid insulation was a black burn hole in the paper caused by the heat at the end of the bulbs. Unreal! This could have burned down the whole place. These fixtures used those huge ballasts and 100 watt bulbs that layed close to the top. There probably was a bad connection between the bulb ends and the contact. Needless to say, all these old units are hitting the trash pile for pickup.

KenL: I have a combination of fluorescent and track lighting in the other half of the room, but it is (will be) a highly sceniced area. This new part will have scenery, but not to the extent that I will worry about what type of light for photography (can always add portable incandescents). I chose the long fluorescent fixtures because I needed to replace old (very old) fixtures and the area includes a work/BS area and these lights will cover it well. It did hurt my feelings to spend the money.
Man, I sure am sorry to read about your power bill. That is absolutely absurd! The heat pump is probably the cheapest way you could have gone. Maybe you will just have to turn the A/C up, lock the door, and strip the clothes. I don't think anyone in Congress is paying attention. We have to ask, "WHY?" No way do I believe this China crap about them using all the petroleum...not when these companies (utility and petro) are making record profits.

Fergie: That is a good thought about the ladder/scaffold combo.

Well, time to get back to wiring. CUL

 

[grande man]

We have to ask, "WHY?" No way do I believe this China crap about them using all the petroleum...not when these companies (utility and petro) are making record profits.

I think the why is because they can. If you own Washington, gouging the public ain't that big of a deal. My automotive fuel bill is running in the $400 range.

As for the light burning the insulation, that's scary! Glad you found it in time.

 

[Steve B]

Hello everyone,
Ken L i'm so sorry to hear of your problem with the utillity company, it make's me so angry, i think it was Rex that ws telling me about what has happened down in Bama with the sky rocketing prices for electric.
Rex you are one lucky dude, that electrical fault could have done a lot of damage, there was a guy on the MR forum a few weeks ago lost everything due to a faulty wire underground just before it went into his property, it burned down everything.
Fergie Blue foam is nice to kneel on when you are working on a concrete floor, tell your dad we are looking for a painter and decorator

Ever wondered what happens to old SD40-2 prime movers, they get re built and sent to us over the pond to re vitalise class 47 loco's which operate as "Thunderbirds", they rescue failed Virgin Pendolino's and drag them over non electrified lines during diversions, this is one of Don Burgess's latest video clips of one http://www.burgess57.freeserve.co.uk/5Z57.WMV

 

[BigD]

Hi all,
First coffee shop post, but thought I'd try it out and see if I can keep up with it.

Maybe I've never been in the right spot, but I've noticed that on these videos that are posted, those trains are MOVING. Seems I'm always seeing them roll into yards, or getting ready to do moves. Even the ones that I've seen in the wide open are usually not moving as fast as some of those. Makes me feel better about the occasional 'full speed ahead' around the temporary layout (kids love that, but so do I)

Darrin

 

[IronBeltKen]

Good evening crew -

Welcome to the Coffee Shop Darrin!

As you guys can probably tell from all my posts, I'm having serious doubts about whether or not I can stay active in m/r. My hobby has essentially been on life support for the past 2 years (except for a small inheritance from my late mother's estate, bless her soul!) I've already sent an email to the organizer of the NMRA 'steel' track saying I might be unable to do the planned presentation in Philly. [Can you imagine me telling them: "I've spent 10 years working on this thing now I'm ready to tear it down"!? ] But barring some sort of last-minute miracle, I don't see how I can support it any longer. I'll need to pray long and hard about this...

 

[rhoward]

Good evening crew -

Welcome to the Coffee Shop Darrin!

As you guys can probably tell from all my posts, I'm having serious doubts about whether or not I can stay active in m/r. My hobby has essentially been on life support for the past 2 years (except for a small inheritance from my late mother's estate, bless her soul!) I've already sent an email to the organizer of the NMRA 'steel' track saying I might be unable to do the planned presentation in Philly. [Can you imagine me telling them: "I've spent 10 years working on this thing now I'm ready to tear it down"!? ] But barring some sort of last-minute miracle, I don't see how I can support it any longer. I'll need to pray long and hard about this...

'evenin' folks!

Ken, Wow! If what you posted is just the raise in your Electric rate, I can't imagine what you are spending on your house each month. Hang in there, something will work out for you. I would hate to see you leave the hobby. My average utility bill for both Gas and Electric is about the same as the raise you are getting and we sure deal with a lot more cold weather. I used to envy some of you guys with huge 2 car garages filled with layout. I guess I like my little basement better now. It stays between 55 and 60 year round. I will soon see how much the gas heater to bring up to 70 while I'm down there is going to set me back each month.

oh! Darrin Welcome, have a cup on me.

fergie, call that area on your layout Patella Alley, or maybe, Tibia Pass. When I climb up on my layout, I just get small HO scale lines in my knees. Track is very uncomfortable to crawl around on. LOL

 

[IronBeltKen]

Good morning crew,

Thanx y'all for the expressions of support in my battle with the electric co., I think there may actually be a way to survive it after all. Fergie gave me some excellent ideas in our conversation yesterday about ways to cut power consumption, without a major infrastructure investment [Thanx Ferg!] And I figured I'd done enough bi***ing about this after reading a post from one of the guys across the street whose wife might have cervical cancer (that's what killed Gilda Radnor of Saturday Nite Live, y'know) - a little perpective, things could always be worse...

 

[Fergmiester]

'evenin' folks!

fergie, call that area on your layout Patella Alley, or maybe, Tibia Pass. When I climb up on my layout, I just get small HO scale lines in my knees. Track is very uncomfortable to crawl around on. LOL

If I was modelling out in the West I would have called it Wounded Knee Especially as it was my last stand I finally bit the bullet and cut a hole big enough to crawl up and in to for access. I now call it the Bunker

Ken: Glad to be of some assistance BTW Would skylights and more airways keep you cool in the summer?

Darrin: Welcome to the CS. Just pull up a stool and have a cup. Not to worry we all have tabs on the go that never get paid But we're good for it

Grande Man: Thanks for responding to the Contest inquiry. I took pictures yesterday and they looked good except for one minor detail... Not scenery in the back ground so I might have to do some hustling between now and then.

Bare Styrofoam really doesn't cut it!

Time to go

Later Gents

Fergie

 

[RexHea]

Hi Gang!
WELCOME to the "Coffee Shop" Darrin
I finally got my lights up and working. Wow, am I ever sore and stiff from it all. Now I can start laying down the rest of the new track and all the pain will go away.
Almost forgot: I moved most of my rolling stock out of the main yard for this light installation. Just for the heck of it, I hooked up a train of 52 cars behind my pair of Atlas SD24's. Man, was that ever fun to see. It was like a giant snake moving around the layout.

KenL: Darn fellow, you already have a lot of stuff on hand to continue your layout with. I too had to slow down on buying new stuff as my retirement hobby funds started getting low. Considering the environment problem, just wear lighter clothes in the summer and heavier in the winter. Get you an electronic thermostat and set times of your activity for comfort and back off when your not in the garage. If your well insulated, the recovery times will be minimal. Also, you can set a schedule of "x" number of times only that you will be in the garage. You can do this! There's no hurry!

 

[NZRMac]

Rex, I hope you double checked those light connections, you don't need a heater up there!!

I'm looking forward to long trains again but dang 52 cars!! I don't have that many.

Ken.

 

[BMRR]

Morning all, thought I would stop in and have some coffee on my way to work. Going to work four hours this moring, then I'll be off until Monday. Hope to get some MRR done this weekend. I'll talk to everyone later on today.

Darrin - Welcome to the coffee shop, it's a great place.

Stan.

 

[Fergmiester]

Ken: I had another thought; Fire up those blast furnaces in the winter and make them earn their keep!

Rex (and anyone else with Tsunami programming experience): Any chance of skyping this weekend as I've now got my first Tsunami And I want to start programming the whistles to get more depth and volume. I'm going to attempt reading the manual this morning but it looks like a challenge.

Later All

Fergie