BarstowRick's H&P Layout Restoration

BarstowRick Sep 15, 2020

  1. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    B&B, really George, really? Not Charlie Brown??????
     
  2. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    When My sons where younger...they watched B&B everyday after school. I was tired of hearing "heeeeeheeeeeheeeee" from the first episode. I would crank up the stereo in the living room so I didnt have to listen to it through their bedroom door/walls !!!! :censored::censored:(y)
     
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  3. Onizukachan

    Onizukachan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Since I am gifted/ cursed with the ability to emulate any Mike Judge voice, I am the great Cornholio is one of my favorite bits.
     
  4. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Rick's Story Time, OH NO!

    Over the years I worked for a Mortuary in Big Bear Country, CA. Weekend duty primarily.

    On a Saturday afternoon business required me to be down at the dam. I could hear two voices with an odd inflection and what sounded like two kids that had mental/social handicaps.

    One of the officers at the scene said that's Beevus and Butthead practicing their newest sketch. Practice? They had to practice that?

    At the time, I had no idea who they were or what I was hearing for...free. But those two found a way to turn that into a income. Money!:sick::whistle: Sigh!

    I thought it was absurd and an insult. I didn't figure anyone would listen to it. :confused:

    You never know!:censored::censored::censored:

    See that didn't take to long.:cool:

    Continuing with some history regarding Big Bear Country. It is where they shot the original Bonanza, and numerous other Westerns. Travel down to and around Pioneer Town, Yucca Valley, Landers, Morongo Valley, Joshua Tree National Monument and you will see locations were they shot scenes for the Westerns.

    In Big Bear, they didn't stop there but every so often you'd find yourself sitting next to a Hollywood-ite in a restaurant.

    Fun place to live but way to crowded in town during the ski season.
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2021
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  5. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Have you been watching the news? Nothing in there about Trains:confused::mad::mad:

    News: About my train layout restoration.

    Not a whole lot to report at this time. :sneaky::D Oh, I'll think of something.:)

    I had forgotten how much work went into this layout in the first place and how practical it was having the layout in a Train Shed with a work deck immediately outside it and awning over it. The transition from the deck to the Train Shed was smooth, no steps. Here to get out to the Work Shed is four steps that are narrow and dangerous. The Canopy over the patio gives me adequate coverage but I suspect in time the winds will eventually tear it up. I have a work bench where I can put my Chop Saw. I have a Table Saw that works very well. All sitting under this Canopy. The weather has been a cold and wet 30's and high 40's. Not conducive for the kind of work this old man who chills easily, to work in.

    The tools have been gathered together but I need a inside work area. Hmm? I have a desk that would work but it is set up as my mobile train parts department. Would that department be willing to give up the space temporarily?

    I called for a Department Head Meeting, to decide how we can best move ahead. The meeting didn't go well as one of the Heads over two departments had a split vote. Able to vote twice. I kept wondering why the ballot box had more votes in it then Department Heads. That's when I discovered that two department heads were missing and someone had voted for them. Sound familiar?

    In hopes of resolving the problems Identified in the Department Head meetings. I held a Stock Holders Meeting, Wednesday A.M.. We had to decide whether or not this project was worth all the time and money it will take to restore the Main Line. Never mind the sidings and the second Main that Serves the yet unfinished Coal District. Arguments prevailed. Carbon foot print, all electric. Wait stop right there. How do you think electricity is generated. Has anyone put together that coal powers the electric plants? Never mind this is the era before certain public and/or :censored: civilians had such concerns.

    Hear over the raucous of chit chat that followed. There were concerns shared that we are in Union Pacific Territory and operating Santa Fe Trains. Is that Taboo? So far no Union Pacific Railfans have showed up to protest the H&P for having Santa Fe Trains. Cough, sputter...Or to influence the voting process. What? What? What did he say? :confused::sick::whistle:

    To confirm that all the votes are in and everyone voted. We checked the votes there was more votes then Stock Holders. What the...well...(you know Hell) ??? Again we discovered that a Stock Holder had held stock in two separate departments, two votes and could stuff the ballot box. Aiiyiiyii !!!!:eek::oops::rolleyes:

    Funny, I went to vote and found someone had voted for me. Not once but twice! Hold on you aren't allowed to do that. That can't be, or so I thought. But they did. :confused::mad::censored:

    I ordered :coffee::coffee::coffee: and set down to figure this out. Votes finally tabulated after hiding some of them under a table. The vote was clear. We will proceed ahead to restore the main lines, to get the maintainers out to wire in the BLOCKS, to set up a central Dispatch Office, to finish the Craig Line/Coal District. To re-establish the Mini City and enlarge the passenger yard and consider repair facilities at a later time. A small but influential Grain Operator wants a stub end siding to serve his business. Since the SWITCH is already installed a small yard will be rebuilt to serve him. This Morning, When I called him to tell him the good news, he was elated.

    We have the "Green Light from Marceline" to move ahead.

    As of recent there have been reports of large cat like beasts roaming the layout. The question unresolved, as to what to do with them. Well, they'll learn to stay off the layout. I hope!! Mr. Spray Bottle, the enforcer has been out doing his job and they should get the hint. What's with my wet butt?? Now I have to lick that off. I heard one of the beasts complaining.

    That's it from this neck of the woods, Covid 19 Idaho Country.:whistle::whistle::whistle:;)

    Later:cool:
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2021
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  6. trainman-ho

    trainman-ho TrainBoard Member

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    That's a good story..... very imaginative, and realistic at the same time!! Our imaginations must be in sync or something!!
     
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  7. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    We all know what a parody is. Right? :D

    Aside or outside of the influence of my model railroad it doesn't look pretty. One of the reasons I have a train layout. A place to escape that is away from the nonsense I see coming from the Media. And never mind elsewhere. You'd think, as is true with my railroad more votes then voting members would be setting off alarms. Is my board of Department Heads and Stock Holders corrupt? Well, .........I don't want to get something started here this isn't the place or time. So, I will escape back to the realities or fantasies of my model railroad and take care of my own little imaginary world.:whistle::whistle:

    Those members of my board who voted twice and voted in my place, have been removed from the board and the last I heard are flipping pancakes at a Flap Jack place on Hwy. 85. :censored:.

    We now take you back to our regularly scheduled program.:sneaky:

    It's off to Home Depot, to pick-up a smaller 12 volt light tester or light to make my own. Soldering Irons, new flux paste and solder. Maybe a stop at Harbor Freight is in order. Some other things I need but there's no need to get to far ahead of myself.:cool:


    Uh oh, a knock at the door. o_O I hope it isn't those purist Union Pacific Activist here to protest my having Santa Fe Trains. I think I'll duck out the back door. Whew, just a neighbor wanting to see how the layout is progressing. Uh Er, that's not Progressive as in the political sense. ;)

    He likes my monster of a layout, doing so since he first helped me move it inside the Train Room and then set it up on it's feet. Sorry, no progress to report at this time but we chatted like two excited school boys after a ball game we both played in.

    Later.:LOL::D
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2021
  8. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    This is almost newsworthy.

    While cleaning out the infamous kitty litter boxes my eye caught a stack of yet unpacked boxes. My memory chip must have kicked in as these are the boxes with stuff I will need to repair the layout. The first box I opened-up there set the soldering irons, wires I need to hook-up the transformer. :sick:

    Now I need a new bracket to mount the transformer. I have everything I need for it. I need a relatively warmer day to get outside and cut the wood.;)

    I thought it was good news.:ROFLMAO::D(y)
     
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  9. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Funny, the crap you find, cleaning out the, well, uh, crap!

    And here I thought the 12 days of Christmas were over.
     
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  10. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    That is good news Rick :)
     
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  11. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    I have had to resort to multiple methods of beast deterrent over the years. On my first layout I had a forest in a far corner that I could not reach. I had a furrball that would clear cut this forest on a regular basis... He left the other forests alone just the one in the corner that I could not reach. I tried to teach him new hobbies like flying and playing with bottles that shoot water but he didn't really like those hobbies. He would not stop the clear cutting activities. We had another that could care less about the trains but loved the kitchen counters. We tried everything with that one... and no luck. I had one idea I thought for sure was going to stop her. We lined the counter with industrial cookie sheets (I have like 10-12 of these things) and then filled them with water. They were placed about 4" over the edge of the counter. So we figured either she would not like where the sheets were placed or she would jump up, land in the water and or on the edge and flip the sheet over. Well about 3am and we got our answer, A loud crash sound... In the morning there were wet kitty foot prints all over the areas of the counter that didn't have a cookie sheet... Yea... I have never known that idea to fail. I now have 3 furballs and only 1 does the things that are not to be done by furrballs. It's funny as if my 2 older and wiser furrballs see the young one doing what they know is wrong they get out of the room. They already know there will be trouble and they want none of it. The new one is learning quickly but with a method that I rather not mention... oh and this one also likes to play with the squirt from the spray bottle.
     
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  12. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    I am so happy my dogs cant get up on the Layout or kitchen counters.....W H E W ....:D
     
  13. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Talking about kittly litter boxes and the crap you can find there.

    I was sitting at Carl's Jr., Big Bear Lake, Ca. This is where on occasion a Group of us Bear Valley Model Railroaders, would meet too get something to eat and visit. One of the guys walks in and points his finger in my face and says, "You don't know S#!t," Okay! My response, I know the difference between dog S#!t, cow, chicken, bear, cat and human S#!t. I know my S#!t and I know mine stinks. I wish you could smell your own S#!t and take a shower before you come in here. We called him Stinky. For a reason. One of the only times everyone applauded.:whistle::sneaky::D

    What the finger pointer was talking about is putting in a Analog DC reverse loop. He couldn't figure out how to do that despite the wiring diagram I drew up for him. What's all those DPDT toggles for, was his question. It appears, some people just aren't teachable, his closest friend at the table said of him. Sad, for sure.:sick::rolleyes:

    Then a fellow walked in and his T shirt said, "I know S#!t" With picture illustrations of different kinds of Scat. Now there's a man who knows S#!t. :eek::confused:;)

    Well, it's Sunday. Wild Card Football Games. I have the Ravens and Titans on screen. I won't be getting much done today. Unless I get bored with the football games. :unsure:

    Yes, the cat's need me to clean up their S#!t. I can't live with that smell so it will get done.o_O

    Have a good day (y)and if not make it a blow out.:sick::X3:
     
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  14. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    "It appears, some people just aren't teachable,..." Amen to that. In every facet of life. Sadly, all too true.
     
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  15. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    Hehe, reverse lops. Some people just cannot grasp it's the mainline that needs to have the polarity reversed without affecting the loop.

    Doug
     
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  16. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well played Doug, well played. :D:)(y)

    That's true you have to be able to reverse the polarity of the track you just left -- to get out of the reverse loop, to come out on the main. One of the reasons I put in a DPDT wired to reverse the polarity... One for the loop and the Second one for the main line. Then I have to say this. You use the reversing switch on the transformer only for when you are switching, (not turnouting) :mad:period.

    By the way and I won't try to explain this but if you are operating with DCC all you have to do is flip the DPDT to the loop, as the train passes through it. It works. You can operate your train without having to stop. (y):):cool:

    I may draw up a wiring diagram for the faint of heart. (y);)
    Don't need to, as it turns out, see below courtesy of mrr.trains.com.

    BasicreverseloopwiringThisdiagramshowsthewiringneededtoconnectaDCreverselooptoasinglepowerpack.jpg

    Be:cool:run steam. Wonder how many of you will recognize that and know where it came from?:censored::censored: After thought... If you know just leave it alone. Thanks.
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2021
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  17. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Francis Stanley ???


    You know Robert woulda laughed at that ... :p
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2021
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  18. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    I was trying to explain this to someone on the Digitrax mail group the other day. They were adamant that you could not auto reverse a DC section of track, and that the train would short as the wheels went over the gap. They didn't seem to understand that you needed to wait till after the train left the area to be switched, and then switch the area you just left. Also the sensors didn't need to be current sensing as the wheels bridged the gap like DCC, they could be reed switches, or IR, or photo sensors any where after the train leaves the main for the loop.
     
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  19. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well said, very well said. LOL and yes he would have.
     
  20. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    One of the biggest problems on my layout is the size of the reverse loop. Can it accomodate 12 lit Kato Passenger Cars. If not it's hanging over outside of the loop on the main, about the time you want to throw the Main line reversing Toggle Switch. Once the train clears that point you can throw the track switch, now the reversing DPDT for the main and allow the train back out on the main.

    I think I said that right.:confused:

    Well, I've been wanting the Harry Potter series of movies. I found it and neatly packaged. A belated Christmas Gift to self. So It's off to another day with Harry. Wish I had a magic wand that worked as well as his. I said sheepishly and with a grin.:sneaky::sick::LOL:
     
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2021
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