Running Bear's Coffee Shop LXXI

[chessie_system3]

Well judging by my budget for the next month or so my paychecks are going to bills. Everything sky rocketed with this cold spell we had. Especially electric!!! It seems that I'll be running a standard oval until I get money freed up again.

Justin

 

[Trigster]

I'm using the free version so it costs me nothing. It's fairly easy to build a site. They have a tool to use that makes it fairly painless. Getting stuff organized in a timeline was the hardest part for me.

Thanks Eric...So both you & Gary use the 'Free' version...And I didn't see it but how much space
do they give you in the free version ?...Trig

 

[PRR Modeler]

Sherrel- I have a mainline water tank, a branch line water tank and a municipal sized water tank all in fairly close proximity.

 

[montanan]

Curt - Your build is really coming along. I'll figure out some use for the FP-7 and B unit. I can always use them for my tourist train that does connect with the NP at Logan and can pull an assortment of passengers cars South to Yellowstone Park. I do have a hodge podge of passenger cars for this.

Eric - I think I am in the alternative. We started off at 30 degrees and the temp rose above freezing and then dropped. The present temp is now 18 and the roads were a sheet of ice. Fun and games. Sears did deliver the new snowblower and it did a really nice job. I was a heavy wet snow which is not the norm up here and still performed nicely cleaning up about 8" of the stuff.



Jesse - I am still a fan of NASCAR as I have been to the Daytona 500 somewhere around 25 times over the years. The wife and I enjoy taking road trips and a NASCAR race is usually a good excuse for one. Unfortunately, with the recent rule changes, I think we'll be heading to operating steam railroads instead in the future.

Terry - Anything to get into your wallet.

Later

 

[BigE]

Thanks Eric...So both you & Gary use the 'Free' version...And I didn't see it but how much space
do they give you in the free version ?...Trig

I don't know either. As a measure they host all my pictures from their site. The videos do come off youtube.com
I'm guessing you get a ton of space even with the free version.

 

[bnsf971]

Joe, the specialist had a lot of ideas--unfortunately, they'd all been tried, and failed, before. She told me they were planning to release an injection-based treatment that I could perform at home on a monthly basis, and wanted to have me try it.

 

[GarryCBQ]

Howdy ..

Terry ... I was thinking yesterday I should ask you how your headaches are doing lately. I did not get around to it, but your posts answer my questions. I'm sorry to hear all of that. How expensive is the drug that works, but insurance company won't pay for it?

Chet ... We have not had a snow blower since we moved from Michigan, and I certainly don't miss it.

Today, it was warm, and I was able to wash and clean the new car which was on our recent trip to Michigan. Weather guessers say the storm system that caused the mud slides in CA will pass though our region on Friday.

Also, I'm beginning to work on scenery for my corner project.

The February issue of Trains Magazine has Clinchfield RR # 800, an F7A, on the front cover. CSX recently restored #800, and it looks like new in the photos in Trains. Look what I have in my collection of EMD cards from their PR department in the early 1950's.

Have a good evening

 

[bnsf971]

Howdy ..

Terry ... I was thinking yesterday I should ask you how your headaches are doing lately. I did not get around to it, but your posts answer my questions. I'm sorry to hear all of that. How expensive is the drug that works, but insurance company won't pay for it?

My cost is $17 for six pills.

 

[chessie_system3]

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4627/25735634028_c511ce2743_z.jpg[/IMG]

Have a good evening

Be a good railroad to interchange with for me. I am almost certain the C&O interchanged with the Clinchfield.

Justin

 

[ACL-CSX]

Well judging by my budget for the next month or so my paychecks are going to bills. Everything sky rocketed with this cold spell we had. Especially electric!!! It seems that I'll be running a standard oval until I get money freed up again.

Justin

Right there with ya. Son has strep. Wife has a respiratory virus. I'm developing similar symptoms to what both of them have. Luckily, if it's strep I'm already on the same antibiotics the doc would prescribe so I will avoid a trip (and the added expense of yet another doctor bill to the collection of them this week.) But if it's a virus I'll be doping on OTC cold meds as well. Yay unplanned expenses. Ok. That's enough ranting for tonight. Don't want to bring anyone else down too. I think I may have to set up my basic oval. Maybe some model railroading will take my mind off of the crud going around my house.

Jesse

 

[ACL-CSX]

Curt - Your build is really coming along. I'll figure out some use for the FP-7 and B unit. I can always use them for my tourist train that does connect with the NP at Logan and can pull an assortment of passengers cars South to Yellowstone Park. I do have a hodge podge of passenger cars for this.

Eric - I think I am in the alternative. We started off at 30 degrees and the temp rose above freezing and then dropped. The present temp is now 18 and the roads were a sheet of ice. Fun and games. Sears did deliver the new snowblower and it did a really nice job. I was a heavy wet snow which is not the norm up here and still performed nicely cleaning up about 8" of the stuff.

View attachment 64919 View attachment 64920

Jesse - I am still a fan of NASCAR as I have been to the Daytona 500 somewhere around 25 times over the years. The wife and I enjoy taking road trips and a NASCAR race is usually a good excuse for one. Unfortunately, with the recent rule changes, I think we'll be heading to operating steam railroads instead in the future.

Terry - Anything to get into your wallet.

Later

Understandable. If I had at track experience I may have something to hold my interest still, but I learned dirt track racing was better. Our local is a high banked half mile. Best racing I've ever seen. If my money situation improves soon I plan to try to get back. We've been away for a long time. What's funny is that proximity to the race track was more of a determining factor in purchasing our home than size and cost. Lol

Jesse

 

[chessie_system3]

Right there with ya. Son has strep. Wife has a respiratory virus. I'm developing similar symptoms to what both of them have. Luckily, if it's strep I'm already on the same antibiotics the doc would prescribe so I will avoid a trip (and the added expense of yet another doctor bill to the collection of them this week.) But if it's a virus I'll be doping on OTC cold meds as well. Yay unplanned expenses. Ok. That's enough ranting for tonight. Don't want to bring anyone else down too. I think I may have to set up my basic oval. Maybe some model railroading will take my mind off of the crud going around my house.

Jesse

If all goes well I'll be right behind you on a basic oval. I may set up my boss wires. May as well get the oval wired in to it too.

Justin

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Thank You !!!...Ken...D&J RailRoad...

Once Upon A Time...When I was A Boy ...I attended a little institution called Mohawk Boys Camp on the Feather River in Blairsden, CA...
Each summer about 6 of us (friends) would get trundled off for a 2 week adventure in the Sierra's, Plumas County...Near Graeagle, CA...
In days gone by when a kid could actually shoot a Bow & Arrow...Older Boys could be in the NRA Course and shoot a 'Real Rile'...Bullets...

When we were a bit older...11ish...Maybe 12...Probably underage for the rules...We were allowed to ride the California Zephyr together as a
group...From Emeryville to Portola where we were meet by a Camp Counselor...Piled in a truck and off to Camp we went...Days of wonder
that I'm so fortunate to have had...Nothing even close in todays world...Horses...Nightly Camp Fire...Morning Cabin Inspection...

So I took a little trip on the D&J RailRoad Zephyr last night and thoroughly enjoyed the ride...Riding up in the bubble in the Observation Car
on one of those Trains is something I'll never forget...I was rather struck by the visual of Ken's Train on the longer straight as the Loco took a
right hand turn and you can see down the length of the Train...That visual in my mind is so accurate to the reality as I remember it...

Long Ago & Far Away...Kids Today Will Probably Never Experience Such Wonders...I Was Very Lucky...Trig

California Zephyr Images
https://www.bing.com/images/search?...mages&qpvt=california+zephyr+images&FORM=IGRE

Trig, those are some encouraging words. The kind of comments that make a modeler want to push on.

 

[Trigster]

Good Evening All...After cutting about a bazillion 2" squares to make my temporary piers I've just about had it for today...!!!
But I do have more than enough to cover more than 1/2 of the elevated line...Perfect so I can get it tuned as best I can...

Eric...Thanks for your time...I did some more poking around and it seems they give you 500mb...I guess I'd like to have a
small page even if just to post a few images of my Loco's & Rolling Stock and my unusual little layout...

Jesse & Justin...I'm right there with ya'...The second I get my piers sized & cut I'm gon'a set-up the 'B' Loop Oval of my
layout so I can run something...Then I can take my time finishing the piers and getting my wiring squared away which I'm
expecting to take a bit of doing...If I can get the skeleton of the layout up and functioning AOK in 6 months I'll be happy...

Sherrel...Most of my gear is from the 60's, 70's & 80's and it is of very good quality...The slightly older Rolling Stock tends
to be a little heavier and sturdier and although the Loco's haven't changed much except for the electronics...I still think the
older ones are just a bit tougher...With a little TLC & Maintenance they just keep on running for many many years...

Ken...I'll just say Thanks Again...I was grinning from ear to ear and enjoyed the ride & the memories...

Trig

 

[D&J RailRoad]

I got home later this evening than normal. Only had some time to work on the module.
Finished shaping the foam board and applying screen to lay the plaster on.
The first picture is the shaped foam board. This is really easy to do using a kerf saw to do the rough shaping then a dry wall rasp file for the more detailed shaping.
The second picture is the screen tacked down to the foam using ring nails to hold it in place until the plaster goes on.

The last picture is the drywall rasp file.

 

[ACL-CSX]

Justin - sounds like a good plan. I want to get my hooked up and maybe weather the track a bit. It's all gotta be done eventually so might as well start somewhere, right? I currently have enough track that I can add an semi-swoopy S curve, or maybe an elongated U on one side so I may play with a few ideas before I secure anything down. Still need to save the money for my foam anyway.

Trig - good idea. Whatever gets the trains rolling down the track, right? If I can figure out a good variation on the basic oval that I can live with, I can try to scratch build a few more buildings. I have lots of glue and cardboard! And Google so I can look up kits I like and "borrow" the dimensions and details I like.

Jesse

 

[Trigster]

Justin - sounds like a good plan. I want to get my hooked up and maybe weather the track a bit. It's all gotta be done eventually so might as well start somewhere, right? I currently have enough track that I can add an semi-swoopy S curve, or maybe an elongated U on one side so I may play with a few ideas before I secure anything down. Still need to save the money for my foam anyway.

Trig - good idea. Whatever gets the trains rolling down the track, right? If I can figure out a good variation on the basic oval that I can live with, I can try to scratch build a few more buildings. I have lots of glue and cardboard! And Google so I can look up kits I like and "borrow" the dimensions and details I like.

Jesse

Jesse...Those are my feelings exactly...Once I get the basic layout done that I have plenty of track for...I can peck away at the scenery and structures as time goes by...
And if those 1st few little buildings are nothing more than painted cardboard boxes that's AOK with me...As I play around with those I'll get a better feeling for what size
structures will work where...Over time I might buy a pre-made building or 2 but there does seem to be tons of the little bits & pieces needed that are readily available...
And most important is I'm in no rush to do anything...Plus, I'm not so sure that a layout is ever really finished...Just ever evolving...Trig

 

[BigE]

Eric...Thanks for your time...I did some more poking around and it seems they give you 500mb...I guess I'd like to have a
small page even if just to post a few images of my Loco's & Rolling Stock and my unusual little layout...

That's plenty of space to start with. They host all my pics and I'm still within limits.

 

[ACL-CSX]

Jesse...Those are my feelings exactly...Once I get the basic layout done that I have plenty of track for...I can peck away at the scenery and structures as time goes by...
And if those 1st few little buildings are nothing more than painted cardboard boxes that's AOK with me...As I play around with those I'll get a better feeling for what size
structures will work where...Over time I might buy a pre-made building or 2 but there does seem to be tons of the little bits & pieces needed that are readily available...
And most important is I'm in no rush to do anything...Plus, I'm not so sure that a layout is ever really finished...Just ever evolving...Trig

I was in a hurry, but life seems to be telling me to slow down. Car, tooth, family getting sick, etc. I still plan to buy my switches before I stick the track down (I already have an industry building built and it seems like a waste to not put it on a spur) then I can focus on the details.

Our local rail museum has an HO layout that represents the entirety of the track owned by the shortline that owns the museum. They almost exclusively modelled in cardboard to capture the actual industry in our area. While they haven't (as of my last visit) done any weathering and fine detail work to make it look "real" they do look accurate.

I still have lofty plans for a sprawling layout from Jacksonville, FL through Charleston, SC and beyond, but they can wait. Once spring comes and my side business (hopefully) takes off, I won't have a lot of time for modeling anyway. But I may at least have the money for track and rolling stock. Lol

Jesse

 

[ACL-CSX]

I skipped protocol in my last post.

Today it's 52°. Headed to 63° before the rain sets in this afternoon. Supposed to rain all night tonight and all day tomorrow. Looks like I may get an unplanned day off tomorrow.

Jesse