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  Hello
Posted by: TCWORLD - 05-16-2009, 01:44 PM - Forum: Hobo's Camp - Replies (10)

Hi,
just thought I'd say hi. Im Tom C aka TCWORLD. Some of you might know me from AMR just thught I'd join here aswell.

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  For Steam Fans..
Posted by: Brakie - 05-16-2009, 10:14 AM - Forum: US Rails - No Replies

Enjoy..

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQEGHFSYW8c">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQEGHFSYW8c</a><!-- m -->

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  Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train, Ashland Pa
Posted by: tomustang - 05-16-2009, 08:39 AM - Forum: Upper Berth - Replies (3)

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.pioneertunnel.com/home.shtml">http://www.pioneertunnel.com/home.shtml</a><!-- m -->


Last week I visited Pioneer Tunnel in Asland. Combo ticket for narrow gauge train ride and coal mine tour was $ 14.50. Not bad of price I would say.

The tours:

Narrow gauge ride -
The ride was run on an old vulcan, fully restored with some of the coal mine hoppers that were converted over to passenger cars. it's a short trek (about 15min) to an open area on the mountain which you can see the surrounding area of Ashland. You get to hear the conductor talk about the history and how life was back then when the town was a striving coal region.

Coal mine tour -
The tour was awesome, very informative. The tunnel runs 1800 feet into the monutain and you can see many examples of how it was as the life of a mine. It is a get out and walk tour as well, definitely something you shouldn't pass up next time your in Ashland, pa.

All and all I would say it is well worth checking it out. If you go don't forget a hat and jacket since it's chilly in the mine and there is water running thru it and will drop on you when you're in the tunnel

Sorry I don't have any pictures since I forgot my camera :oops:



While we were down there we also went up the road to Centralia. Info to this town is here <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia,_Pennsylvania">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia,_Pennsylvania</a><!-- m -->

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  Layout shorting out
Posted by: nomad - 05-15-2009, 09:23 PM - Forum: Engineer's Technical Workshop - Replies (11)

I am building my own turnouts, gapping and wiring according to what I found on Allan Gartners site, Wiring For Dcc. This worked fine on my other layout. As I build the turnouts, I test for shorts and then run a loco. This morning i installed a turnout, tested and all was fine. Installed another turnout and had a short. Removed the wires and still had a short. Removed the turnout and still had a short. Removed the other turnout, still shorted. Brushed the track to make sure there was nothing across the rails. Still shorted. Tried a different loco. No difference.
So, I hooked up my dc power supply. The short was gone. For about a minute. With dc hooked up, the loco will try to run, then the overload light will come on very dim and slowly get brighter. I am at a total loss as to where the short could be or what it could be. Here is a picture of my yard, the green turnouts have not been installed yet, the red is where the short happened. No other track on the layout that is wired in.
Anybody have any ideas :?:



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  FS: Walthers Modular Series Kits
Posted by: Trucklover - 05-15-2009, 12:46 PM - Forum: Swap Meet - Replies (2)

Hello guys,

I have recently bought quite a few of these HO Scale modular kits, to both make a few structures for myself and make a few structures to sell, but i just dont have the time right now to build these, so im offering all of the kits i have for sale. Most all of them have never been opened and are still sealed.

Shipping can get a little pricey here, so if you would like i will ship USPS Parcel Post. I can also ship without there boxes and supply all the pieces from there boxes in plastic bags along with the instructions for each kit. This will certainly keep the shipping costs down, but it will be up to you if you want them to be shipped in there boxes or unpacked and packaged in plastic bags.

I would also like to mention that these are no longer on sale from Walthers at this time. In fact, i just spoke to Walthers a few days ago and the rumors of them being discontinued and retired are not true, and they have just placed a re-order on them for the kits they were getting low on.....

Here is what i have available for sale in these kits.



933.-3720 - Peaked Roof & Base - QTY ON HAND: 4 (3 sealed, 1 open and complete with extra pieces from other roof kits) - %5.00 EACH

933-3721 - Flat Roof & Base - QTY ON HAND: 4 (all sealed) - $5.00 EACH

933-3722 - Small Walls, Windows & Doors Kits - QTY ON HAND: 6 (all complete and sealed) - %5.00 EACH

933-3723 - Large Walls and Windows Kits - QTY ON HAND: 5 (One of them is open and does not have the instructions but IS complete with all the pieces, the rest are still sealed) - $5.00 EACH

933-3724 - Foundations & Loading Docks - QTY ON HAND: 4 (3 sealed and one about half complete) - $5.00 EACH and $2.00 for HALF KIT

933-3725 - Wall Columns & Caps Kits - QTY ON HAND: 7 (1 sealed, 5 without boxes but complete, and 1 half complete with a bunch of extra pieces from other Wall Column and Cap Kits) - $5.00 EACH for complete kits and $3.00 for half complete kit

933-3727 - Large Door Wall Section - QTY ON HAND: 2 (one of them is sealed, one of them is open and only contains 4 wall sections and windows and glass to complete the wall sections) - BOTH for $6.50

933-3730 - Walls with Vehicle Doors - QTY ON HAND: 3 (2 are sealed and one of them is used with no large walls, and is missing a large cargo door, some windows and glass) - SEALED ONES $5.00 EACH, USED ONE $2.00, BUY ALL 3 FOR $11.25

933-3735 - Large Walls with Single Large Metal-Sash Windows - QTY ON HAND: 5 (4 sealed and one open but complete) - $5.00 EACH



----TERMS OF SALE------

1. Payment by PayPal (Preferred; please add 3% to total sale for the fee i get charged by PayPal), money order or personal check (held till clears my bank).
2. If sending payment by check or money order, payment must be made within 7 days of the shipping quote, if any longer, you will forfeit your items and they will be listed for sale again.
3. Shipping By USPS Priority Mail or Parcel Post, whichever you prefer.
4. Combined shipping is always offered, Shipping calculated by final weight of package, from zip code 92688.
5. I can be reached by email @ <!-- e --><a href="mailtoConfusedteelmillmodeler@aol.com">steelmillmodeler@aol.com</a><!-- e --> or if you would like to talk by telephone, PM me and i will give you a number at which i can be reached.
6. PM or Post here if interested in kits

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  Gummed tape factory for a narrow site
Posted by: Londoner - 05-15-2009, 10:07 AM - Forum: Industries Along The Rails - Replies (3)

How about this for an ideal lineside industry to suit a narrow site. Made gummed tape - in a building built as a snuff mill.

Received paper and coal by Baltiore & Ohio.

http://www.forgottendelaware.com/crowell/crowell.html

Almost crying out to be modelled

Ken

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  Calling all Steel Modelers
Posted by: Trucklover - 05-15-2009, 09:30 AM - Forum: Lower Berth - Replies (13)

Some of you may know that i was pursuing becoming a Walthers dealer, well Im officially a Walthers dealer now lol. I have a small section in my grandfather's jewelery store where i will be selling trains out of, as well as online through my ebay retail store. "Mader's Custom Trains" will officially be open for business as soon as the first order from Walthers arrives hehe Misngth

Among the many things i will be getting on my first order is the Walthers Steel Series. This includes all the NEW kits that are released to this date (Blast Furnace, Rolling Mill, Coke Oven Kit, Blower Engine House and Blower Piping Kit)

Full retail for 1 of each of these kits is $719.90, a good chunk of change lol. My question is, how many of you Steel Modelers would prefer to buy the kits separately and how many of you would prefer to buy all of them in a package deal with Free Shipping in the US? I have not yet decided on how much the package deal will be, but dont get too exited, it wont be anything crazy for obvious reasons lol

Im also debating on building some of these kits and offering them built-up. But unlike the other structures i build and sell curently, these are HUGE and would be a HUGE issue to ship, especially cross-country. So im debating this too, i guess i need to find out just how large of a box say the Blast Furnace would require to ship safely with "cushion" room all around it lol

Im welcoming any opinions on this from you steel modelers and other forums members. You all have been so helpful in the past, and i really appreciate it!!

Im going to go ahead and make this a poll question too, so please vote and feel free to reply with any information you can provide about this subject Misngth

And, Thank you in advance to all who reply and vote

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  Ideas for a shelf layout
Posted by: Sir Madog - 05-15-2009, 06:46 AM - Forum: Layouts - Replies (20)

I have only very little room available to build my dream layout. It has to go on top of an existing shelf measuring 8´ 6" by 2` . It will have to be some type of a switching layout, but I am looking for fresh ideas for a "scenic" version, set in an urban/industrial surrounding, may be with some sort of "water front" to go with it. Left and right is room for detachable switching leads of a length of 2´.

Help?

Have fun

Ulrich

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  Fotoes from onboard the UP 844 Western Heritage Tour '09
Posted by: Tom - 05-15-2009, 01:34 AM - Forum: Upper Berth - Replies (10)

I was feeling pretty homesick after 3 weeks in Jamaica back in February and still had just over a week to go. I was bored, sitting in my room at the "Great House" (Alcoa Corporate Lodging) and about ready to just go to bed early as Alicia was visiting her daughter and not online. My allergies were killing me, I had an upset stomach (apparently, I do NOT like eating goat), and I just wanted to be home. I had always wanted to visit Jamaica, just not for 32 days. I was exhausted. I was having a great time, working with an OUTSTANDING (and hilarious) crew, but I just wanted to be back in familiar surroundings. Just as I was about to log off, close the lap top and hit the sack, I got an interesting e-mail... I was invited to be one of a small group of hosts for the 3 Union Pacific #844 Western Heritage Tour trips over the old Western Pacific Railroad to celebrate the WP's 100th Anniversary as a fund raiser for the Feather River Rail Society's "Western Pacific Railroad Museum". The engine was coming out with her train for several events and since it was the Centennial year of the WP, the FRRS was graciously allowed to invite guests aboard the UP's flagship steam train for a monetary donation to the FRRS.
Since I am VERY much involved with the FRRS, I was excited about the fund raising opportunities, but ecstatic and honored to be a part of the trip.

I arrived home from Jamaica on February 18th, but call it what you want, it was work. Fun, but hard work, so I needed a little vacation anyway. So, I planned it around the 2 week stretch that 844 was going to be out and eagerly anticipated the arrival of the classy Northern.

April 21st 2009 found Alicia, my brother Timmy!, nephew Dustin and I going to Oakland, CA to meet the train. Though it is only a 1 1/2 hour drive from home in Stockton, we had a crew briefing with Conductor Reed Jackson of the UP Steam Crew and orientation for the 12 car train on Tuesday, and steam boss Steve Lee likes to be on the road between 0800-0900 each trip, so we had to be up early! Also, being as how the trip was going Oakland to Stockton and return via charter bus, I left my car at a friends house here in Stockton as he lives near I-5 and Alicia and I rode down to Oakland with our crew. Timmy! and Dustin were paying Passengers, so they rode Amtrak to Oakland and we all overnighted at the Jack (or is that Crack???) London Inn (a disgusting place if you ever find yourself in Oakland, CA) eagerly anticipating a 0700 crew call the next morning.

Bill Parker and I went to the yard to get the train and have the vestibule trap open and ready to recieve passengers at the depot in Oakland. I had given over my camera to my nephew Dustin (aka: "Gadget") to get photos as that is something he enjoys and I wanted some great shots to remember this by. Here are some of those shots, some taken by Gadget, some by me. If this doesn't lure Deano© out of hiding, then there is no hope left and we must assume he was kidnapped by Pygmies and being held ransom for a thousand tons of yellow Peanut M&M's. Anyway...on with the photos:

[albumthumb]1032[/albumthumb]
UP #844 Surprises Amtrak Employees as dozens of Railfans swarmed the platforms at Jack London Station (We "forgot" to tell Amtrak we were using their depot). I was on the train so Gadget took the photo of us coming in.

[albumthumb]1033[/albumthumb]
Speaking of the long silver Greyhound on rails, this is NOT your average stinky Amtrak train. This is inside the lower level of Dome Lounge "Walter Dean". We were lucky to have this car, it is usually assigned to the Executive Fleet at UP and normally reserved for VERY upper management at UP. This is how we rolled the whole trip.

[albumthumb]1034[/albumthumb]
Me "hard at work" rolling a freight by at Fruitvale

[albumthumb]1035[/albumthumb]
Rolling through my old home town of San Leandro, CA

[albumthumb]1036[/albumthumb]
Nicely restored Centerville Depot in Fremont, CA was over ran with happy railfans all lined up for photos. This is also where we slowed down from 60+MPH running to swing off the SP and onto Western Pacific Rails at Niles Tower for the run through Niles Canyon and over Altamont Pass on the WP 1st Sub.

[albumthumb]1037[/albumthumb]
At Hearst, we met Golden Gate Railroad Museum's SP 2472 Commute Pacific and Pacific Locomotive Association's Robert Dollar Lumber #3 2-6-2T (BEAUTIFUL little engine!) at the connection to PLA's "Niles Canyon Railway".

[albumthumb]1038[/albumthumb]
I decided to hang back at the cars after helping passengers unload from the Walter Dean with my buddy "Heywood" and grab a smoke once the passengers were up front. We just didn't care to be in the middle of the mob scene at the head end, besides, we had an ace in the hole: We had famed Bay Area Photographer Alex Ramos on board as the official FRRS photographer, so me taking photos up there was like entering a funnycar race with a Ford Pinto. Gadget and Timmy! went up front though to partake, and Gadget got a couple of decent pics. Thanks dude!

[albumthumb]1039[/albumthumb]
Rolling through Castlewood Golf Course in Pleasanton. Beautiful shots were had here by the fans I'm sure. The main line runs right through the middle of the course making for a heck of a shootin' gallery for frustrated golfers.

[albumthumb]1040[/albumthumb]
This shot was funny... I had talked to a friend of mine in Pleasanton who works as a director of the cities library and told him of the train coming that Wednesday. He notified the local elementary school and HUNDREDS of kids stampeded in a large herd for the fence when we came blasting through at 60mph.

[albumthumb]1041[/albumthumb]
Ok, I've seen some real idiot foamers, but this is ridiculous. I mean, if they fell onto the busy boulevard below, they might dent the hood of a car and cause a big mess that some poor city worker would have to hose off the pavement.

[albumthumb]1042[/albumthumb]
Crossing a creek in Pleasanton, CA

[albumthumb]1043[/albumthumb]
My friends from the Pleasanton City Library came out to greet us.

[albumthumb]1044[/albumthumb]
Barely on Altamont near Livermore, the only way to railfan! Lawn chairs and beer coolers, my kind of tailgate party! Thumbsup

[albumthumb]1045[/albumthumb]
Climbing the grades on the East side of Altamont Pass. About that Genset... It was not started once during the trip. We simply didn't need it. Besides, as the lack of smoke from 844 attests, this was after all, Earth Day! That is so "Western Pacific"... bring an oil burning 65 year old steam locomotive to the San Francisco Bay Area during "Earth Day", HAHAHAHA (Now you know why we fly the Jolly Rogers!) Cheers

[albumthumb]1046[/albumthumb]
Being Earth Day though, FRRS President and UP Steam Fireman Rod McClure kept the flue sanding and the dark exhaust to a minimum. I was really impressed with how little effort she had to exert to climb Altamont with that train....all by herself!

[albumthumb]1047[/albumthumb]
"Altamont" siding, the summit of the pass

[albumthumb]1048[/albumthumb]
What goes up.....

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Haulin' the mail near Trevarno (Tracy), CA

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Mossdale (near Manstinka, CA) haulin' butt through the home stretch.

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Now THIS is familiar territory, the very West End of Stockton Yard at Ortega. Maintenance in the Way crew was uninterested. Nope

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A VERY old friend. Stockton Yard Tower. Man, I spent a LOT of Summer days as a kid in that thing!

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Funny story about the last time I saw 844 at Stockton. The track to the left of the tank cars is the turntable lead. Last time 844 was here, she derailed the rear axle of her Centipede tender backing through there (the reason that that lead is now all concrete ties!). I was a Senior in High School and in Photo class and aced it taking photos of the re-railing process. Dad was on the derailment crew as a Carman in Stockton back then. I was told to "get off my @$$, grab some PPE and sling some blocks. The crew was tired. They had been at that rerailing for 6 hours, we spent another 2 hours, then brought the 3985 through once we were finished.....and then spent 8 MORE hours rerailing HER tender. The boss laughed when I brought up the story of rerailing his engines when he came to visit Alicia and I near Mossdale and he laughed and said "You remember that?!". Of course I do. I still have the oil splattered Stockton Derailment Crew windbreaker too...

[albumthumb]1054[/albumthumb]
One of my favorite childhood places, WP's Stockton Diesel Shop. The loco's have changed over the years, but not the shop.

[albumthumb]1055[/albumthumb]
We detrained the passengers in the yard near the diesel shop, and they rode back on the bus. Since Alicia and I live in Stockton, we continued on to the display site at the Stockton SP Depot after dropping all but the support cars for the engine and the "Sherman Hill" Souvenier car where Alicia and I hawked WP RR Museum Swag to the visitors. Thanks a BUNCH to the crew of the Sherman Hill for allowing us to setup store in their souevenier car. I could tell Rod was on the crew, EVERYONE on the UP crew (except Conductor Jackson) was wearing WP RR Museum T-Shirts. Just a CLASSY group of fun folks! Made me proud to work along side them.

[albumthumb]1056[/albumthumb]
Speaking of Rod, here is FRRS President Rod "El Presidente'" (Or "EP for Short) McClure firing with Ed Dickens, one of the engineers right behind him. Steve Lee was running, so Ed was showing Rod some tricks and tips for firing the big engine. We like to give Rod a hard time, (and he LIVES to give us a hard time), but he worked his butt off this trip and secured us many great opportunities through UP for this trip. My hats off to him. He's Alicia and I's favorite Pirate, and we give him all sorts of grief, but he's good people and is the heartbeat of the WPRM. We're proud to work under his lead at the museum.

[albumthumb]1057[/albumthumb]
UP's Steam Boss, Steve Lee ready to greet local dignitaries who gave him the "Key" to the city of Stockton. He later asked what the key went to, and we told him it went to the front gate of the sewage treatment plant. Afterall, it was a symbol of the city of Stockton... Icon_lol

You'd think he might be a little standoffish given the position he's in and the fame associated with it, but he's one of the nicest, most gracious people you'd ever meet. He came into the Sherman Hill and chatted with Alicia and I for about 45 minutes before rolling into Stockton yard and was a pleasure to talk to. He also told us about the sale of the D&RGW Ski Train in Denver to CN before it was announced in the media and happily answered questions and shot the breeze. Pretty nice little break, not that I was working very hard anyway, but we were having a great time. A VERY hospitable train and crew.

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The throng of people at the SP (Altamont Commuter Express) Depot was pretty thick. We had record temps that day in the 90's, but for Stockton, we were surprised....everyone behaved and nobody got sideways, a real feat considering downtown Stockton.... Icon_twisted

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And finally, our crew. From left to right:
Conductor Reed Jackson, UP Heritage Fleet Operations
FRRS Vice President and UP Steam Crew Gopher Steve "Pop-Tart" Habeck (Thanks again for the invite Steve! Had the time of my life!)
Cody "Noodle the Clown" Wilson, FRRS
Tom "Nitro" Carter (Me), Crew Trainer, FRRS
Kerry Cochran, FRRS
Eugene "Heywood" Vicknair, Secretary, FRRS
Bill "Billy" Parker, Operations Crew Supervisor, FRRS

Photo by Alex Ramos, FRRS PR guy.

Next installment, leg #2 of 3: Feather River Canyon from Oroville to Portola, as soon as I have some more free time.

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  Hobby Shops in Tough Times
Posted by: Kanawha - 05-14-2009, 06:46 PM - Forum: Upper Berth - Replies (31)

I stopped by three of my local hobby shops today, two of which specialize in trains only. They all have extremely limited selections and very few customers, and frankly charge and arm and a leg for stuff. Its sad. :cry: I feel bad for them, but whats one to do? I know I only have a little bit each month to spend on trains these days. I hope the local hobby shops can survive. Online shopping might be the only way to get trains soon. I'm in the Phoenix area, anyone else notice this in their city?

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