The greenbrier logging and coal co

[OleSmokey]

I ran out of trees!! Need about 15-20 more.

 

[JeffH]

I got a lot of satisfaction from planting the trees in my layout. Yours look great!

 

[OleSmokey]

I need some more taller trees to fill that side up yet. While waiting i thought as long as i was there i would take a few shots of the "dirty side" of the layout. The background sucks...

 

[OleSmokey]

Got the trees in and put together and installed. Now to clean up the greenery and get the glues off the desk and floor. Thats tomorrows job. Tonight its run trains time!

 

[OleSmokey]

Thanks fellow. I have taken a break for a bit to get some other things done. Will be getting back to the layout after the new year. One of the biggest things is i switched from Windows to Linux OS. Christmas is always fun. Doctors are never fun but need them. Fine details on the layout will be next on the list to be done. Merry Christmas one and all who enjoy it.

 

[logandsawman]

Thanks fellow. I have taken a break for a bit to get some other things done. Will be getting back to the layout after the new year. One of the biggest things is i switched from Windows to Linux OS. Christmas is always fun. Doctors are never fun but need them. Fine details on the layout will be next on the list to be done. Merry Christmas one and all who enjoy it.

I was just thinking about you yesterday, decided I would check up on your progress, notice its been a while. Glad you are still kicking and hope you have a Merry Christmas as well!

Dave LASM

 

[JeffH]

Thanks fellow. I have taken a break for a bit to get some other things done. Will be getting back to the layout after the new year. One of the biggest things is i switched from Windows to Linux OS. Christmas is always fun. Doctors are never fun but need them. Fine details on the layout will be next on the list to be done. Merry Christmas one and all who enjoy it.

I'm curious why the change to Linux? Is it because of model trains? JMRI simpler? different or better hardware?

 

[OleSmokey]

Tired of Microsoft trying to put windows 11 in my windows 10 machine. I start it up and it starts loading up the update to install 11. I had Linux before in my last tower so i know what gives. I don't really need anything that makes Microsoft a needed software. Not only that but windows is trying to make you uninstall windows 10 and do a fresh copy of windows 11. Then to add to that they want to have a say as to what kind of software i can run in the os. I told them once before to go to He!! and now i mean it for good. I can do anything on linux just as easy as windows. I can do gaming, any office programs on a open source software like Libre office or open office but most Linux distros have Libre already installed. Its just as good. I can print anything from it, download pictures and upload to printer serf the web go to my on line sites like here. Its free and Windows has put a sour gut to people over what they want as well. One of the neat things is also putting linux in my tablet and getting rid of google. Again, more bloatware removed and i have all the stuff i want and less of what i don't I think this picture says it all for me. hehehe

 

[OleSmokey]

I was cleaning the computer out and getting the dust out of the fans. Somehow the cpu cooler came loose and screwed up the cpu itself. I am thinking that somehow the dust caused viabrations in the fan/cooler and when i was taking the fan off the cooler came with it. The cpu was still attached. I didn't catch it in time, so i am getting new parts. I am trying to use my tablet to type this, the only thing i have done is running trains and ordered telegraph poles for the layout. No pictures so none to post. This tablet is to small for anything but one finger to type with. I think that they designed it for a childs fingers.

 

[OleSmokey]

I had my fun with this computer. the power supply went out and took out the new cpu and the new motherboard so it took more parts. anyway, its working again. Only other thing i did do was to get a new toolbox for all my tools. Got one of those 5 drawer chests and harbor freight had a good one for sale so i bought it. It was just barely big enough to hold them all. Thats about all i have so, laters

 

[OleSmokey]

Well, I got all the tools in one place and with all the room i had i started to put things in the closet on the shelfs. i had it all in the closet and was sure i had everything right where i could find them..not!!! I have a missing locomotive i was painting and dcc'ing. I also had telegraph poles and shrubs for the farm field. All missing. now i have to tear it all out and find it all...

 

[JeffH]

Well, I got all the tools in one place and with all the room i had i started to put things in the closet on the shelfs. i had it all in the closet and was sure i had everything right where i could find them..not!!! I have a missing locomotive i was painting and dcc'ing. I also had telegraph poles and shrubs for the farm field. All missing. now i have to tear it all out and find it all...

I feel your pain. I just made our bed twice because I forgot to put the mattress cover on before the fitted sheet.

 

[OleSmokey]

hehehe

 

[OleSmokey]

Well, just small little projects that make the layout look more better. My most major thing is to run trains and wouldn't ya know it, Those plastic wheelsets are giving me a fit..again. So more metal wheelsets to fix there cheap trucks and wheelsets. Bad Microtrains..Bad!!! Its always the details...yeah that...

 

[JeffH]

You know... that's one of the upgrades I have not yet performed... switching to metal wheels.

Someday, perhaps. I've been replacing old wheels with new MTL plastic wheels, and they work great so far. I need to clean my tracks, though... So far, I'm OK with cleaning my tracks about once a month rather than spending more money on wheels.

 

[OleSmokey]

I am not sure why but the wheelsets seem to be too small for the frames. The older ones seem to be worse but i had a couple of new cars that will not track and the wheels come off. I can't figure out if its turnouuts where they do it or not. I won't know till the car actually jump track. I seem to always be looking the other way when it does it. My track is cleaned every week whether i use it or not. Dust is a hard thing to keep out here in Texas. Winds around here blow into every crack it can find around the doors and windows. Its not the fuzzy kind of dirt its real brown dirt! It finds its way into everything in the house. I have to clean this computer around once a month to keep it being able to keep things cool. I keep the printer covered to help out. Blowing the dirt out of the track is the hardest

 

[JeffH]

I remember doing a lot of research on the different axle lengths. If memory serves, really old Atlas rolling stock came with trucks with metal wheels installed from the factory. The axles were longer than the ones they come with today.

I bought old Atlas rolling stock that had new MTL trucks, but the wheelsets were the old style metal Atlas wheels, and they would not turn well at all inside the little recesses. I forget the nomenclature of the cups that hold the tips of the axles.

Perhaps you have old Atlas trucks and the newer MTL wheelsets are just a tad too short?

 

[JeffH]

Let's discuss trucks

www.modeltrainforum.com

 

[OleSmokey]

these are microtrains cars with there trucks and couplers too. stock out of the box. I roll them over my hands and the axles come right off. They act like they are too short. Microtrains makes metal wheels so i am going to give them a try. I have a couple of Atlas with the metal wheels. One car has the pizza cutter metal wheels and i took them off and put a couple of Backmann wheels i had and that fixed it so if that works i am hoping these metal wheels will work. Right now i have 10 cars that need fix'in. Will see how this works.

 

[wombat457]

@OleSmokey

I converted all of my N Scale stock (90% of which are Micro Train) from plastic wheels trucks to MT Metal wheeled Trucks and have no regrets doing so. They are easy to swap out and, in my opinion, well worth the cost. I will admit though, they are a little louder than the plastic

In so far as the axles coming off - that happened to me as well, until I changed out the trucks/wheels. For some reason the plastic wheel sets don't want to fit properly or securely like the metal versions. Another reason I swapped them all out.