Geezer's Lounge (Rev 1) - Volume 1

[Jerry]

Morning everyone

Rick thanks for the coffee & breakfast.
Nice picture and video.

Tom sounded like you had a feast yesterday.

Larry that 1:1 sounds like it isn't a lot of fun!! 

Morning Dave.

Weather in South Jersy sunny/62  Later on 72.
We have a few Monday morning errands to run.
Then I don't know what's on the agenda.
Hopefully I can get an hour or two at the bench.

Everyone have a great day!! 

Jerry

[TomO/Tloc]

Good morning from another Chamber of Commerce day in So. Central Wisconsin. 55 now 85 later with a bright cloudless sky and calm winds.

Lots was accomplished yesterday. More than I realized when I wrote about it last night. The guys came over and the stuff I was going to prep for today got accomplished along with some items we planned to do right away this morning. Strung 2 additional bus power lines. Laid the 6' of rail on the section I had put the ties strips down on. Added 2 run arounds and had lunch at 12:30. We then prepped 16 Blue Point switches by adding the wires to the machine and gluing the attachment plates to the styrofoam after drilling the holes for the switch rods. Had to remove the track switches to drill the pink foam for the switch rods. That was not fun, ruined 1 switch but I had a replacement.

At 8 this morning 4 of the guys will start at each end of the layout working in pairs installing the Blue Point switch machines. I will after they are installed drill out on the fascia for the control rod holes and the light indicators. Around 10 the wiring guy and his partner will bring the resistance soldering rig and attach the feeder wires to the track. I've had no issues with feeders 6 to 8' but we are going overkill at every 3'. We did get the feeder wires dropped through the 2" foam base yesterday and cleaned up. Drilling pink foam is a bit messy! His wiring partner will follow behind and attach the feeders to the bus. Breaktime/snack time is 10:30 and lunchtime is at 2. The guys want to be hand cleaning track by 1 and running cleaning trains after lunch. I don't have a cleaning train but 2 of the guys will bring their cleaning trains. All I have to do before anyone gets here is finish removing the stage skirting around my layout. Terry and the daughter will steam clean the skirting out on the patio. They offered I did not ask. The few bins that were under the layout have been moved out of the train room so the floor under the layout is clear.

Tuesday 3 of the guys will be back to finish anything leftover but mainly to help reattach the stage skirting and run test trains. One of those three is the operational guru of the area. A former professional railroader he and I for about a year have been working through schemes as to running my layout. He made up some switch lists a few months ago and Tuesday we will test them out. One thing we are concerned about is powering the track. I use the NCE power cab and have been searching for a new SB5 booster at a price under $260.00. Running 5 diesels at once with sound might be iffy. One of the guys will bring his along this morning. The power center is set up for it so it should be a quick add-on.

It's going to be a fun couple of days down in the train room

RICK. Star handled watching that girl pretty good. I'm surprised the turkey did run away or attack. They can be pretty nasty

TomO

[PRR Modeler]

Good Morning All,

Thanks for opening and breakfast Rick. I was wondering if the noise was Star in the video.

Thanks again for the well wishes. Kathy and I are doing better but are still dealing with fatigue and coughing issues. Tomorrow marks the 3 week point.

Dad has yet again another infection on his lower leg which may end him up in the ER again. He won't take care of wounds when they're small.

TomO good luck with the train crew this week.

Tom we actually had KFC yesterday also because Kathy wanted it. The one by us has really declined in quality. The gravy is like water.

We ordered a new dishwasher from Lowe's. A family friend works in appliances there. It's supposed to be in on the 20th.

I hope everyone has a good day.

[elwoodblues]

Good morning Rick, ACLTom, Larry, Dave, Philip, Jerry, TomO, Curt and the rest of the crew that drops in later.

Thanks for the coffee and breakfast Rick. 

Going to keep it short today as I have a very busy day today.

Currently 73F and overcast with more rain in the forecast.  Had thunderstorms last night and heavy rain.  At the bench I finished installing the light boxes in one building and made the light boxes for building #2.  Depending on how I feel tonight I just might add the lighting to the light boxes.

Have a great day everyone.

[friscomike]

Good morning folks,

Rick, thanks for opening, coffee, and breakfast.  Sounds like a busy day. Did someone say wild turkey?

TomO, sounds like a fun day with friends and trains.

TomACL, the KFC sounds delicious.  Good luck at the hobby shop.

Larry, hope you enjoy the outdoors and nice weather, even on a mower.

Dave, I love the smell of sawdust in the morning.  Congrats on the extended tool stand.

Farmer Philip, congratulations on the planting. I forgot how cold it gets up there. Your posts remind me of a February at Ft Knox, retrieving a mired tank in frozen mud. Brrr.

Ron, hope you make it to the bench.

Jerry, hope you make it to the bench.

Curt, good to hear your health is still improving.  I have heard the coughing is the worst.

How is the rest of the crew?

It's a hazy morning with storms headed this way.  I guess all the rain is the reason it is so green here.  

Yesterday was successful hobby-wise.  I'll post some photos of the 3D printed stuff.  Nothing fancy, just needed stuff.  Today I hope to lay more track and print a few more projects that have been on the back burner.

Have fun,
mike

[KentuckySouthern]

Sun, calm   

Dentist for me today, 'borescpoe for her tomorrow morning.

KSinMI

[TomO/Tloc]

Good evening from a still Chamber type day in So Central Wisconsin.

I have a railroad that goes from staging yard to staging yard again! I'm happy and very tired. The guys left around 5. I then threw a steak on the grill along with a potato. Both were good!

The high was 85f degrees outside and we did hit 70 in the train room. The lower level is normally 68. I'm on the front porch now afraid to go watch a hockey game. If I do I'll probably nod off and it's too early.

The bar is open! Bourbons, beer, soda and wines. I have not ignited the firepit but it wouldn't take much. Microwave popcorn takes 90 seconds in the lounge machine.

We are going to operate Tuesday afternoon at 1.  We will test out the switch lists which is what I think will go best for my layout. The guys want me to test out car card systems but that seems like so much work. I'm going to keep an open mind.

It took 5 guys 30 minutes + to finger tip clean the rail with Isopropyl Alcohol at the 99% concentration. Then for almost 30 minutes we tested the track using 2 track cleaning trains with 2 of those heavy brass cleaning cars on each train. I'm not convinced they do a better job than fingertip cleaning. Those trains are still here and I might run them again tonight but for sure tomorrow morning. I never thought to paint the rails today. But I will wait to run and test what I have.

Before the guys show up tomorrow I need to set up the layout. I need 1 train each in the north staging yard and another in the west yard that the guys want me to call South staging. Some cars empty in both the wood chip and pulp yards. Some other spots in the paper mill. We did add on/off power sections in the engine service center and the staging yards. You have a couple diesels idling in the service tracks and 3 operating and 4 in staging it gets noisy. I think 1/2 the volume we have now will be nice.

I will wait till the morning for some help before deciding what other industries besides the transload and cold storage facilities we might work tomorrow. The Son in Law has offered to help place cars around 9. I may accept his offer. Trains tomorrow will be 12 cars maximum. The last 2 days there have been 7 different guys coming and going. 2 of them have been here from 10am to 4:50pm on Sunday and again from 8 to 4:30 today. I did buy the NCE SB5 booster that was to be lent to me for testing. $100 and we are both happy

If you can't tell I am excited to be this far along

TomO

[jbvb]

Good evening, all.  My layout time today was frustrating; I continued re-staging for the next op session, but one of the six commercial switches left on my layout went back to acting up. I'd thought it was settled Sunday. Perhaps it's time to re-lay it. Awkward to do in place, though.

[Rick]

Tom, I haven't had any bourbon in months, but I'll have a virtual Old Forester with you.
Glad to see you so happy with the layout progress.
Have more fun tomorrow.

James, hope the switch is an easy fix.

[Jerry]

I'll join you To and Rick for a bourbon.

Same as Rick Old Forester.

I'm still not decided on that siding so it stopped and I painted a few details.

Izzy to the Vet for her heartworm test and medicine for it on the morning.

See you in the am.

Jerry

[Larry C]

Good Morning,

The morning beverages are all set to go. Breakfast cheesy scramble eggs, crispy bacon and/or pan sausages along with English muffins.

What's your plans for the day.

It's a sunny 56 with a high of 77 in New York; hit 82 yesterday. Going to be a busy day. Grocery shopping shortly, then taking the cat to the Vets to get checked out. After that a trip to Wegmans for an Rx; whew I'm tired just thinking about it. Probably no bench time again today.

Have a great day!!! Be well and stay safe.

[ACL1504]

Morning all,

Thanks for breakfast Larry. Cheesy scrambled eggs to start my day, perfect.

My plan is to straighten up where I have been decluttering and get back on the Magnuson Row builds.

I got 10 of the 14 "to do list" done and now I have added three more. I now have 7 on the list.

Ron is planning on visiting the A&S RR on June 7th. We are looking forward to his visit. We will see if he can keep up with our BS'ing.

Have a safe and happy day everyone and stay healthy.

Tom

[Rick]

Good morning everyone.

Cottage Grove weather: A slight chance of showers before 8am, then a chance of showers after 10am. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.

Larry, thanks for the coffee and breakfast.
Hope your busy day goes well.

Jerry, don't stress about the siding.
Whatever you decide to use will be great.
Just do it.

TomO, have fun testing the layout and running trains.

Karl, hope Vicki's procedure goes well today and is all good news.

Mike, 3D walls look excellent.

Ron, did the lighting get added?

Curt, continued improvement for Kathy and you with your health.

Philip, Star does all that panting the whole time I'm driving too.

Dave, have fun with the new project.

ACLTom, did you get the brass and wood?

Dale, how are you?

Greg, hope you are well.

Got all my shopping done yesterday.
A hike planned for today.

This is a little further north of Thor's Well.



Have a great day everyone.

[jbvb]

Good morning, all. Cloudy bright on the NH seacoast, I've got some Town business, then off to Seashore Trolley Museum for track & overhead work.  Maybe a little modeling time after Taco Tuesday dinner.

[PRR Modeler]

Good Morning All,

Thanks for opening and breakfast Larry. It sounds like you have a busy day today.

I woke up this morning actually feeling almost normal. I think we have turned the corner on the bug finally. Fingers crossed. After chores I want to try to work on the kit (first time in a month).

Tom is that your to do list or Pam's?

Rick It doesn't look like your picture posted. Give Star a pat for me. Never mind, now I see it.

I hope everyone has a good day.