Running Bear's December 2020 Coffee Shop

[Patrick]

Morning all,

Sounds like the president wants me to have more strippers and beer! Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Hopefully with the next 4 days off, I'll get some train time. Not much going on this year for Christmas. We didn't even decorate as no one will be here until mid-late January. The stockings we usually do are gift bags as we just didn't feel like dragging stuff out. I did hang the wreaths outside along with the Christmas yard flag, so we're not entirely grinchy. We're even having steaks instead of ham or turkey.

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Christmas!

 

[kbkchooch]

Good morning gang

Clear and chilly this morning, almost had to scrape the windshield this morning, but the wiper fluid fixed it.

Methinks we are going to #3 sons house for Christmas. Its only 45 minutes away, and his 1st Christmas since becoming a homeowner, other than that, we will be stationary.

At least I might get some basement time!

 

[kleiner]

Kleiner,
I think that your old layout had great looking track !

Thanks! It was my first attempt at laying flex track. I was very pleased at how well the track came out but pretty much everything else about the layout was a mistake. Live and learn

This is what the same space looks like now (the renovation project is still underway but its slowly getting there). Lots more space, lighting is good and heating/cooling has been fixed. The flooring is vinyl tile that has a woodgrain finish. I still need to get the walls painted and the refrigerator moved out of its temporary location. This is going to be the location of my computer-controlled N-scale layout

 

[BigGRacing]

Yes, I would love to do my utilities room floor up like that, but just too much humidity in mine during the summer months. It looks great !

 

[kbkchooch]

Thanks! It was my first attempt at laying flex track. I was very pleased at how well the track came out but pretty much everything else about the layout was a mistake. Live and learn

This is what the same space looks like now (the renovation project is still underway but its slowly getting there). Lots more space, lighting is good and heating/cooling has been fixed. The flooring is vinyl tile that has a woodgrain finish. I still need to get the walls painted and the refrigerator moved out of its temporary location. This is going to be the location of my computer-controlled N-scale layout

View attachment 122278

I did vinyl plank flooring in the basement a few years back. It was a P.I.A for prep (the basement had glued down carpet with nailed tack strips) but the actual install was quick and easy. Easy to clean, wears great, and water doesnt bother it!
Looks like you are well on your way to a great train room!!

 

[kleiner]

I did vinyl plank flooring in the basement a few years back. It was a P.I.A for prep (the basement had glued down carpet with nailed tack strips) but the actual install was quick and easy. Easy to clean, wears great, and water doesnt bother it!
Looks like you are well on your way to a great train room!!

Thanks - I can't wait to get started building my layout. I spent the entire first month of my retirement just getting rid of all the accumulated junk from the basement. We have lived in this house for over twenty years so there was a lot of junk!

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning Everyone. Partly cloudy and 58° in this part of the world. It won't get into the 70's today like the last three days, but it's still going to be pleasant for another week before turning colder.

Happy Festivus Day to all. I'm sure that we all have our Festivus poles decorated and are planning meatloaf for dinner with our PBR beer.

Make it a pair of over easy eggs and a pile of sausage patties for me this morning Flo.

Thanks for the likes and comments yesterday on the LHS haul; Patrick, Dave, Karl, Guy, Tom O, Garry, James, Phil, Tom, Hughie, Curt, Rick, Chad, Sherrel, Joe, Gary, Justin, Jerry. It was a pleasurable trip.

Managed to finish assembly of the picnic tables out in the train shed yesterday.

Off to the paint booth this morning. Most of them are OK, but I need to do some minor trimming on a couple of legs to keep them from rocking.
I had the window of the train shed open yesterday and was listening to the neighbors roosters. That reminded me of this scene that I did recently with it's scratchbuilt chicken house.

And for Sherrel's viewing pleasure, an extra shot of chicken mama!

Tom O - While I was just a bit under budget at the LHS this time, I actually made up for it. Later Monday afternoon, they called me and reported that a signal controller that I had ordered from them eleven months ago, had finally come in from Walther's. That put me $35 over. Too bad it wasn't there when I was there. Of course they're 65 miles away so my daughter went over to pick it up for me, since she lives only about 5 miles from there and is going to see me later this week. Maybe she'll wrap it and I won't have to pay for it!
David - Thanks for the comment on the flower box. Good to see you back on board.
Patrick -

Sounds like the president wants me to have more strippers and beer!

Let's call that a Festivus miracle!!!! I'll certainly welcome it even though I don't need the money. We spent our previous stimulus checks donating to local hospitals for protective gear. Along with Social Security and wife's unemployment booster, the government has been our greatest source of income this year! I may actually have to pay income tax next April!

Everyone have a great day.

 

[logandsawman]

Good morning all from St. Paul,

43 and cloudy. Expecting some rain turning to snow and ice later in the afternoon and into the evening. Should make the "White Christmas" people happy. I am really enjoying this prolonged fall season, however.

I made it over to the local hobby store and stocked up on paint and supplies. Hope to get some small projects done on the railroad this weekend.

Walt - Beautiful scenery, really some wide open spaces.

Kleiner - thanks for sharing the old layout. Your new space looks really nice, I would be quite anxious to get going on it!

Willie - nice camera angles on the "chicken mama"

Here is a shot of my crew cars, prior to painting. We are going with orange, should have them done shortly:

Here is a photo from my old layout:

THANKS for the likes and comments!

Have a Merry Christmas

Dave LASM

 

[CambriaArea51]

Another one done,time for breakfast.

 

[McLeod]

Morning.
The wife wants to go ice-fishing today. Just a-bit cold for me right off the top, at 16°F. I like it to be a little warmer than that, when I'm sitting out in the open on ice. So, I'm going to make her wait until later in the morning before we head out.

a P.I.A for prep (the basement had glued down carpet with nailed tack strips)

I had that same issue in my basement, with a rubber-backed, horrific red colored carpet from the 60's. It was a nightmare to get out.

Yesterday, I was gluing down cork roadbed on my module top, trying to get an intelligent start on a layout. This was my first time trying to do this type of work, so it seemed to take me a long time. I kept temporarily setting up the basic town layout, wondering if this was right, that was right; was the angle right; am I doing it right; am I far enough away, is it upside down! It took me a very long time!
Here a couple of photo's. One where glued roadbed is weighted to dry, and one with this modules basic roadbed down, at the end of the session:

Where those balsa strips are is where I'm going to transition down to 1/16 cork of the holding tracks.

Time to grab another cup of coffee!

Walt - That landscape you are ATV running through looks like fine antelope and mule deer habitat. I really like that type of ground, that is void of people for the most part. - We have lots of it here in Alberta.

Kleiner - The layout you tore down looked like a fine layout to me. To bad you couldn't make it work. - The renovated area looks good!

Tom - Your ET44 engine weathering looks really nice. I compared the posted photo to a photo of a real engine I took this past summer. You have done a very realistic job. Well done!

Dave - I like winter camping as well! It can be very comfortable and fun if it's done properly. I learned all the do's and don'ts during a long history in the scouting movement, and prefer the hot-tent method over the cold-tent system, even if it is more work pulling a heavier sled. - Your property looks very nice, with the creek and birch.

Willie - Well done in the hobby shop purchases. I especially notice the restaurant people, the 50's Chevy pickup, and the DPM building. I'll be keeping an eye out for the same items. - Nice job on the picknic tables.

As always, thanks for the likes on my posts.

I'd better get out the long underwear and sweater's, because I know the wife is getting anxious and wants to go fishing. My fault, for introducing her to ice-fishing years ago.

Have a great day!

 

[Patrick]

Willie: I am also fortunate enough at this time to not need the stimulus as well. I wouldn't say no, but can do without. I do know people though who could really use the extra hand, so we help where we can with what we can.

 

[GarryCBQ]

Good morning ...

Willie ..... The picnic tables look good. I bet Sherrel will like your post when he sees the chicken lady.

Dave B ..... The crew cars look good. It is good to see the old photo of your previous layout.

Tom (Cambria) ..... Your weathered locos looks very nice.

Guy ..... Sounds like a good idea to wait and ice fish later..... Regarding roadbed. I don't glue mine down. Instead I staple it with a staple gun. That way, I can easily relocate roadbed. I simply pull the staples out and lift up the roadbed to be installed elsewhere. If a staple happens to be too high, I tap it with a hammer to drive it deeper.

Terry ..... I have a package moving slowly via USPS too. I saw some messages from them saying they are short of workers because of Covid-19. If so, that does not explain why they create extra work for themselves as they misroute packages.

Everybody ..... SMILE ! ..... After today, there are only 8 days remaining for 2020 ! .... Yay !

 

[McLeod]

Guy ..... Sounds like a good idea to wait and ice fish later..... Regarding roadbed. I don't glue mine down. Instead I staple it with a staple gun. That way, I can easily relocate roadbed. I simply pull the staples out and lift up the roadbed to be installed elsewhere. If a staple happens to be too high, I tap it with a hammer to drive it deeper.

Thank you, Garry, for referencing my post. - I'm a bit confused. If you simply staple the roadbed down, won't it glue down anyway, when you are soaking it with a white glue/water mixture as the ballast is secured. Does the ballast glue not wick in under the roadbed?

I should have started a separate layout thread, I suppose, to ask these questions. Maybe I'll do that later.

Looks like it's too cold for the wife to want to go fishing! She wants new boots that will keep her toes warm! - I lucked out there, because I just don't feel like it today!

Here's a photo, just because I have to post a photo or I will be cursed. How about a nice locally owned truck at an airshow. Not mine, but, very nice:

Have a good one!

 

[Boris]

• USPS IN POSSESSION OF ITEM
• GAP, PA 17527

Terry: No surprise on this one, it is coming via Amish Buggy. Made a wrong turn off Hwy 741. Might actually be in Ronks.

 

[bnsf971]

Remember, in eight days it will be ‘21, and able to drink...

 

[GarryCBQ]

Guy ..... While installing track, I sometimes find the roadbed needs to be moved because the track is not in position properly on top of the roadbed. That is when I pull staples and move roadbed. That is before ballast and ballast glue. ..... However, after ballast is glued in, it is still easier to move roadbed if it was only stapled. .... Agree the green truck is very nice !

 

[Boris]

I saw some messages from them saying they are short of workers because of Covid-19. If so, that does not explain why they create extra work for themselves as they misroute packages.

Garry: Not for nothing, but the USPS cut too many regional centers due to overzealous cost containment measures, and the remaining centers do not have the resources to handle the volume.

Covid - 19 is a convenient scapegoat, for all the worlds ills. Jersey City and Newark centers are doing the work of Kearny and Eatontown, while Trenton had to pick up the slack for closing Kilmer and Eatontown. The idea was to have the remaining centers run at peak capacity based on average demand.
When volume exceeds capacity, it sits.

Seems like the USPS is deliberately moving truckloads of unprocessed mail from one site to another, because they can't handle it...sort of like what happened to the Penn Central, where trains of no-bills were shuffled from yard to yard in search of a place that had a dedicated no-bill clerk.

Ultimately, disgruntled clients will shift their parcels to other carriers, and some politician will insist on further cost containment, and the cycle will begin anew.

 

[Greg@mnrr]

Passing a local Post Office I saw one semi leaving the freight loading area while another was arriving!

Greg

 

[TLOC]

Good morning from the rapidly thawing tundra of So. Central Wisconsin. 44f degrees and heading up, how far, the weather guy last night said who knows? Depends on where you are at. Not sure if finally a honest weather guesser or if he thinks we are all not smart
like him. I checked the weather channel app and it says 48 and sunny over my house. High tomorrow is 14 with wind chills dropping to below zero. Ah, a Wisconsin Winter!

I went out to the mailbox around 4 last night and it was clean around the bottom. This morning Terry said I should clean out the mailbox. Seems the town was plowing out the shoulders and decided my mailbox was a good place to put some snow. It makes it tougher for the Mail delivery folks so I took a shovel out and cleared. Just wet but still loose snow. Not enough for the blower.

The grain a terminal is being worked on. Today I hope to put taskboard on the headhouse and paint to simulate concrete. I have not had any success with painting styrene or foamcore a concrete color. Actually the reason the grain terminal just recently started instead of 5 years ago is I have not found in my eyes a concrete paint that looks good. I have purchased different bottles of concrete paint and have mixed my own, hopefully different this time. The Ethanol plant it replaces only had 2 concrete corn silos which I need to strip and use in the grain terminal.

I need to redo the ballast in front of the north side of the Paper Mill. A couple hours scraping the old out with a dental pick and adding the new. While the headhouse dries I will work on it.

McLeod, great picture of that pickup
Willie, good for you on the signal purchase, going over budget on trains is much more acceptable, lol...
The stimulus, we didn’t qualify for the last one. But, $600. to help folks out who do really need it, is a joke. I am by no means
a socialist or a give our money away guy but, people need help. We have over 40% of our renters past due of at least 2 months
and they are getting hopeless. The vaccine in my mind can’t get here quick enough. But will jobs rebound?

Back to my trains where I belong
Be safe

TomO

 

[Greg@mnrr]

Good morning from the rapidly thawing tundra of So. Central Wisconsin. 44f degrees and heading up, how far, the weather guy last night said who knows? Depends on where you are at. Not sure if finally a honest weather guesser or if he thinks we are all not smart
like him. I checked the weather channel app and it says 48 and sunny over my house. High tomorrow is 14 with wind chills dropping to below zero. Ah, a Wisconsin Winter!

TLOC: In southeast Wisconsin this morning the mild air brought a thunderstorm and rain. A thunderstorm the day before Christmas Eve!!! Looks like no White Christmas for us.

Greg