It’s a shame you smoked outvtgat Atlas loco, as I recall, I put some time in that one and Atlas locos aren’t really the easiest to work in.
Did you say you’re losing a toe? That’s no bueno!!!!!
Hi, Elliot;
Glad to hear dialysis is working.
Your signals look great.
What are you using for ladders and platforms? I am also working on my own system.
Jay
Back from the Mt. Vernon trip, good, but not as great as the one to the Twin Cities. Well done despite the health issues. You continue to be an amazing motivator!
Keep me posted on the Fall East trip.
As always, thanks guys. Sharing this experience with all of you is half the fun. I'm quite sure that I wouldn't be as far along if it wasn't for doing these monthly updates.
Got some mixed test results back this morning. I'll know more after appointments tomorrow, but I have a pretty good idea what's going to happen. I'm probably going to have a balloon procedure to open up an artery in my leg to increase blood flow to that side of my foot, to promote healing.
Back to trains! So Saturday ended in frustration, with the Empire Builder having trouble making it up the helix. It was spinning its wheels, which it normally doesn't do. A coupler opened, and dropped the last three cars, twice. I had to crawl back in the helix to rescue it. It finally emerged at Red Wing, where it dropped the last three again. I called it a day at that point, because I had to get ready to go out to dinner.
I got up at 6 AM Sunday, because forum member NYC Z-man (Jim) was coming over with his family. Good thing we pushed that visit back a day. Anyway, I climbed up on the layout and pulled the dropped cars around to the front, and removed the suspect car. I was just going to let it go without it, but I decided to flip it over, only to find a drywall screw wedged in the truck. That explained everything! I put the car back at the end of the train, and continued the test run. Made it all the way around, with a couple hours to spare. Ready for company!
When they arrived, we went right downstairs, and I fired up the layout. The Builder made two flawless laps (over a half hour of run time). We talked for another half hour down there, and the better part of another hour upstairs. Jim wants to come over for an operating session, all the way from western New York. Can't wait for the day when that's possible.
I can pretty well imagine what it's like for forum members, who have seen pictures of the layout for the last 5 years, to see it in person. My wife and I like to call out "been there" when we see places we've visited on TV. There's a certain satisfaction that comes from seeing things in person.
Rich & Peter - I was just thinking about you guys the other day. Thanks for posting!
Bob - That's a neat idea, but I don't think it will help much. Yeah, it's a pain to move the ladder, but I only have to do two steps max. Good exercise when the foot finally heals. The aisles are only 3' wide, and I couldn't get around it, or on it very easily. I could place a plank between two ladders, and get the desired effect, if I needed it.
John - My original calculations were for a half ton. I've been through about twelve 50 pound bags, so far with another three still in the bin, ready to go. I figure one more trip for six more bags will finish the job. My math looks like it may have been spot on. I'd like to have a little in reserve.
Mark - Thanks, she does keep me going. She's my secretary, nurse and best friend all rolled into one. You'll get to meet her in September if everything goes well and we take our trip. We should still be on.
Pat - Thanks, I know in the grand scheme, this toe will be a minor inconvenience. I just want it done ASAP so I have more time to heal. Sometimes I surprise myself at the end of the month, when I look back at the pictures. This was one of those months.
Mike - Thanks, you and me both. Thus far, I've had pretty good healing powers, in spite of not having much feeling. If they can fix that artery, it will be even better, and speed the process.
Matt - Yeah, that is a shame, because it ran great prior to the disaster. I really liked that engine. I'll check the log book to see if you worked on it. Yup, the toe has got to go.
Jay - Thanks, dialysis is going better after my procedure last Thursday, where they fixed my vein, taking it from a small creek to a raging river, and even added a "culvert" (stent) to hold it open. I'm on as I type this. Ladders and platforms are the trick. I haven't gotten as far as a prototype yet, still scratching my head a bit. The ladders are going to be 1/4" mesh, trimmed to a single row. Then I like the look of removing alternate rungs for a 24" gap. I still don't have the platforms figured out. You got any ideas? I want to keep it simple. The used to make window screen that had little louvers. Wasn't to keep the bugs out, but rather the sun. If I could find some, that could work.
Bill - Thanks, did Mike go with you? Got a new car to show you around, when you get back this way. I'll know more soon, about juggling my health issues for the trip. M-W-F are all going to have a chunk stolen for dialysis. I want to get on early, so I can nap afterwards, leaving the afternoons and evenings open. I can only request times, so they could bust my plans if they don't have openings. Things could also shift as we get closer, to more favorable times. This makes planning interesting.
Elliot- Like usual I'm in awe for words!!! Best of luck to you with your health! Without that nothing else really matters.
Elliot, A drywall screw!! Well I'm glad that was an easy fix; except for getting up on the layout to find it! I used to climb all over everything, but no more! 
I will have to tell my wife about your railroad/civil engineering description of getting the vein opened and the stent put in. She will love it!! 
I am looking forward to your trip east as well! I hope it becomes a reality!
Conrailfan - Thanks, I was doing much better before stepped on the nail. I'll get it back together when that gets fixed. Lots to do before September.
Mark - Yup, a drywall screw. At least it was in the truck and not in my foot again. If you liked the one about the "culvert", try this one: I've been at birthday parties with fewer balloons than they blew up in that vein. I lost count after four, I was enjoying the music and conversation too much.
Good one, Elliot!
Elliot, are you still planning on doing a gathering this weekend for folks attending the Menards train show in Eau Claire?
Yeah Jim, did you want to come over? Not a lot of takers so far. Love to have you.
Trying to figure it all out right now. If I can get going early enough in Saturday to make it to the show by early afternoon, I’ll head to the Twin Cities on Saturday night. I’ll let you know if I’m coming ahead of time.
Big_Boy_4005 posted:Yeah Jim, did you want to come over? Not a lot of takers so far. Love to have you.
I hope everyone has a great time both at the show and at Elliot's!! Too bad Western Pennsylvania is so far from the Minnesota Wisconsin area!! 
Try getting there from Hoodsport, Washington! LOL
I was trying to figure a way to work it in this weekend.. it's a minimum 5 hour drive to the Expo Center ... then I really wanted to try to make Elliot's to see this layout we've been following for over a year now!
I figured I could pull it off if I spend the night but every decent hotel for miles around is booked solid! I hope this means great attendance for the show and visitors to Elliot's... I hope to see some reports from both!
Hi Elliot
Amazing as always. I can't wait to see your creation. Layout or whatever fails to describe it just from seeing it in the pictures. Please let me know if there is anything I can do and we all will be ptaing your toe heals quickly.
Best
Ray
Jim - It's like a 3.5 hour drive from your place to the show. Just leave by 9:30 and you're there by 1:00. It's an hour to the house, and there are hotels near my place that still have rooms for Saturday night. My guess is Eau Claire is pretty booked up.
Mark - It can be done. Nyc Z-man (Jim) drove here, and he lives 100 miles further away than you.
Mike - I've made that drive. That's a long one.
RD - The secret is to take a hotel near me, and not near the show. The Hampton Inn in Woodbury or the Hilton Garden Inn in Lake Elmo both have rooms at around $100 per night. I'm an hour west of Eau Claire.
Ray - Got your message. See you Saturday!
Big_Boy_4005 posted:p on the layout and pulled the dropped cars around to the front, and removed the suspect car. I was just going to let it go without it, but I decided to flip it over, only to find a drywall screw wedged in the truck. That explained everything!
Must've hitchhiked over from the Ocean County club
---PCJ
NYC Z -Man is The man!!
Elliot,
Again, thank you for sharing your accomplishements and the challenges you face.
All I have left to say is to wish you a speedy and successful recovery so you can concentrate on your magnificent project without worrying about your health.
Alex
Elliot, So I looked up NYC Z-Man and saw the difference in distance is as you say, which I wasn't doubting, I was just curious where he lives. When I looked up from Butler to Stillwater, I saw the expected route of I90 much of the way, going through Chicago. I have never been there, but have heard it is a bear. I hate driving in traffic. It seems everyone else is out to get me. 
So, Barney Google gave me an alternate route into Michigan and crossing the lake by ferry from Muskegon to Milwaukee. Has anyone here done that? Of course I realize the trip would need to be timed around the ferry schedule, and you have to go through Milwaukee, but I figure that is like going through Pittsburgh. Any thoughts anyone?
Mark, I'll chime in here. I have never been to Chicago. I also heard traffic is horrible. A friend of mine who goes that way a lot told me once I get near Chicago to take 80 instead of 90. Then take 39 north north that will join 90/94 way outside of Chicago. A little longer this way he said but still about the same time but no tolls. I also checked on that ferry. It is a 4 hour trip across the lake. 65 dollars per person and 69 dollars for you car. The ferry has a website with all the information...........Paul
Paul,
I’m not going in the foreseeable future, but you are. You have done good research. The bypass on 80 then 39 sounds like the way to go! Yes the ferry is much too expensive! Thank you!! Have a great trip!
Alex - Thank you. Health is always going to be a bit of a battle for me. It will be good to get this toe business wrapped up, I'd like to go back to wearing my left shoe again. I really miss it. I'll have to make a minor adjustment in how I walk, but it can't be any worse than the limping I've been doing for the last six weeks. I'll get new shoe inserts that will have a filler where the toe used to be, which should help.
Paul and Mark - I'm surprised that neither of you have been to Chicago. I've driven through there many times, and yes traffic can be bad. Best not to stay on 90 - 94 through the city. You've got the right idea staying south. If you take 80 to 355 then up to 88 and over to 39, that could work just as well. Cuts the distance down just a little, and takes you right past Chugman's. Don't forget to stop at the Rochelle railroad park and watch trains at the quad diamonds where the BNSF and UP mains cross. My wife and I have stopped there at least a half a dozen times. We've been skunked once or twice, but most of the time, the trains just keep coming.
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Sounds great, Elliot! Like my dad would always say, I had no reason to go. The only big cities I have been in were Dallas and Atlanta, both for training for work. Oh, I passed straight through Indianapolis, but never stopped. I've been in Washington many times, and of course Pittsburgh; but at a population of 325,000, I wouldn't call Pittsburgh a big city. 
Rochelle does look like a great place, and Chugman's is too!! Thank you!!!
I live "downstate" with kids (and grands!) in Chicago/Milwaukee area. I-80 still has one toll as you skirt the south suburbs. If you don't mind tolls (EZ-Pass works in Illinois), the Tristate (I-294) and Addams (I-90) tollways aren't too bad mid-day.
I-80 to I-39 is nice and fast but a "square corner" and may not save much time even with traffic.
Mark, I'm quite well traveled. I've been to almost every major city in the country, and most in Canada too. In my book, if a city has any pro sports team, it's major. You have three. City limits for population always makes a city sound small. Look at the metropolitan area for a better idea of size.
You are exactly right, Elliot! In some states cities annex land as soon as it builds up. In Pennsylvania, that isn't the case. I believe the last time Pittsburgh annexed any land was about 100 years ago when the City of Allegheny was annexed, the present Northside and location of two of the three facilities those sports teems call home!
What is the population of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania?
303,625 2016
The population of the Pittsburgh metro area remained steady in the year ended July 1, 2014, at 2,355,968 residents, according to newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The bureau defines the metro area as Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
That includes an awful lot of very rural area however!
Sorry to digress away from the topic at hand!
Big_Boy_4005 posted:As always, thanks guys. Sharing this experience with all of you is half the fun. I'm quite sure that I wouldn't be as far along if it wasn't for doing these monthly updates.
Got some mixed test results back this morning. I'll know more after appointments tomorrow, but I have a pretty good idea what's going to happen. I'm probably going to have a balloon procedure to open up an artery in my leg to increase blood flow to that side of my foot, to promote healing.
Back to trains! So Saturday ended in frustration, with the Empire Builder having trouble making it up the helix. It was spinning its wheels, which it normally doesn't do. A coupler opened, and dropped the last three cars, twice. I had to crawl back in the helix to rescue it. It finally emerged at Red Wing, where it dropped the last three again. I called it a day at that point, because I had to get ready to go out to dinner.
I got up at 6 AM Sunday, because forum member NYC Z-man (Jim) was coming over with his family. Good thing we pushed that visit back a day. Anyway, I climbed up on the layout and pulled the dropped cars around to the front, and removed the suspect car. I was just going to let it go without it, but I decided to flip it over, only to find a drywall screw wedged in the truck. That explained everything! I put the car back at the end of the train, and continued the test run. Made it all the way around, with a couple hours to spare. Ready for company!
When they arrived, we went right downstairs, and I fired up the layout. The Builder made two flawless laps (over a half hour of run time). We talked for another half hour down there, and the better part of another hour upstairs. Jim wants to come over for an operating session, all the way from western New York. Can't wait for the day when that's possible.
I can pretty well imagine what it's like for forum members, who have seen pictures of the layout for the last 5 years, to see it in person. My wife and I like to call out "been there" when we see places we've visited on TV. There's a certain satisfaction that comes from seeing things in person.
Rich & Peter - I was just thinking about you guys the other day. Thanks for posting!
Bob - That's a neat idea, but I don't think it will help much. Yeah, it's a pain to move the ladder, but I only have to do two steps max. Good exercise when the foot finally heals. The aisles are only 3' wide, and I couldn't get around it, or on it very easily. I could place a plank between two ladders, and get the desired effect, if I needed it.
John - My original calculations were for a half ton. I've been through about twelve 50 pound bags, so far with another three still in the bin, ready to go. I figure one more trip for six more bags will finish the job. My math looks like it may have been spot on. I'd like to have a little in reserve.
Mark - Thanks, she does keep me going. She's my secretary, nurse and best friend all rolled into one. You'll get to meet her in September if everything goes well and we take our trip. We should still be on.
Pat - Thanks, I know in the grand scheme, this toe will be a minor inconvenience. I just want it done ASAP so I have more time to heal. Sometimes I surprise myself at the end of the month, when I look back at the pictures. This was one of those months.
Mike - Thanks, you and me both. Thus far, I've had pretty good healing powers, in spite of not having much feeling. If they can fix that artery, it will be even better, and speed the process.
Matt - Yeah, that is a shame, because it ran great prior to the disaster. I really liked that engine. I'll check the log book to see if you worked on it. Yup, the toe has got to go.
Jay - Thanks, dialysis is going better after my procedure last Thursday, where they fixed my vein, taking it from a small creek to a raging river, and even added a "culvert" (stent) to hold it open. I'm on as I type this. Ladders and platforms are the trick. I haven't gotten as far as a prototype yet, still scratching my head a bit. The ladders are going to be 1/4" mesh, trimmed to a single row. Then I like the look of removing alternate rungs for a 24" gap. I still don't have the platforms figured out. You got any ideas? I want to keep it simple. The used to make window screen that had little louvers. Wasn't to keep the bugs out, but rather the sun. If I could find some, that could work.
Bill - Thanks, did Mike go with you? Got a new car to show you around, when you get back this way. I'll know more soon, about juggling my health issues for the trip. M-W-F are all going to have a chunk stolen for dialysis. I want to get on early, so I can nap afterwards, leaving the afternoons and evenings open. I can only request times, so they could bust my plans if they don't have openings. Things could also shift as we get closer, to more favorable times. This makes planning interesting.
That half hour run was fun! I need a few more hours to get a hold of your incredible track plan! National Train Museum in Green Bay was great. Got to sit at the controls of your namesake locomotive! Although not 4005.
We made it home safely yesterday but not without a little excitement. We got caught up in the middle of a high speed police chase on 41 North in DePere WI. Thanks again and god bless!
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That's OK Mark, geography is a favorite subject of mine. It was one of my majors in college, along with computer science. Unfortunately, I never finished my degree because I moved back home when my mother's cancer returned. I think my love of trains came first, but I also remember being good with maps from a fairly young age. Those two loves work well together, like chocolate and peanut butter.
Slow day on the forum anyway, and I'm stuck at dialysis, trying to pass the time and typing with one finger.
BTW, my son was also a geography major. He finished, but now he needs a real job.
like chocolate and peanut butter.
Had a chance to check in. Elliot, I type with two fingers. Anymore then that spell check goes beserk. I always liked Geography in high school. The wife goes crazy because I can find my way better. Anyways just counting down the days till the weekend. We are leaving tomorrow. Going to take two days to get up there...............Paul
Jim - You're quite welcome. It was a very nice afternoon with you and your family. That police chase sounds scary! Glad you managed to stay out of it. See you made it to the museum, cool! Let's compare notes.
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paul 2 posted:Had a chance to check in. Elliot, I type with two fingers. Anymore then that spell check goes beserk. I always liked Geography in high school. The wife goes crazy because I can find my way better. Anyways just counting down the days till the weekend. We are leaving tomorrow. Going to take two days to get up there...............Paul
Yeah Paul, normally I type with two, but at dialysis, my left arm has to stay fairly still, so I'm "hand"icapped.
Navigational skills seem to be a "guy thing", that's why we don't ask for directions. Frosty, our new car, has stolen a bit of my thunder though, with his built in nav.
The excitement builds!
Had my nephews over yesterday to move my chop saw, and help clean up a bit. The basement won't be perfect by Saturday, but the train runs, and there won' be anything to trip over.
Neat photographs Jim and Elliot!! Great opportunity!
mike g. posted:Try getting there from Hoodsport, Washington! LOL
Or Long Island NY 🤣
RSJB18 posted:mike g. posted:Try getting there from Hoodsport, Washington! LOL
Or Long Island NY 🤣
Looking at the map, I would think the easiest way to get anywhere from Long Island is to take a ship to another state!
So true Mark 😠
I always dread the return trip from vacations. Nothing better to blow the relaxation gained on vacation than NJ/NY traffic. Took us an hour and a half once from the Verranzanno bridge to home. Normally 20 min.
Bob
Mark Boyce posted:Neat photographs Jim and Elliot!! Great opportunity!
I was telling Jim when he was over, that of the eight Big Boys, I've seen six. I missed LA, they had already moved it when we were there, and the other one is at Steamtown in Scranton, which is on my to do list for this trip.
Here's a different shot of Green Bay.
St Louis.
Dallas at the Texas Fairgrounds before they moved it to Frisco
Hard to get good pictures of my namesake at the Forney in Denver.
In the park at Cheyenne, I hear they just spruced it up.
Omaha.
This is as close as I got to 4014, hiding in the roundhouse at Cheyenne. I hope to see it under steam next year. Fingers crossed that it comes to me in St Paul when UP takes it on tour, but I would be willing to travel to complete the set.
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Wow! That’s really neat! Steamtown! Now that’s in my state, but 225 miles away. We were up that way once, but still a ways off going through Binghamton to Lake George NY. Once we retire, I hope we don’t have so many obligations and can travel a bit
Hey, I just started reading again.Was it mentioned that the ferry was converted from an old coal burning rail ferry?
. Sunblock, and a boating/winter jacket is being "prepared" for that ride. It's Lake Michigan; 90° and sunny one moment, rain, fog, 50° and dropping an hour later.
I think it is a straighter line using the ferry...? Miles per gallon figured in, it may balance out more? We used it sometimes (60s-70s) . I fished off it one trip.
The divergence north asap will likely be cooler in temperature if your a windows down person.
Go way wide of ground zero-- Chicago is big with tons of people. It should be especially avoided 7am-9am & 4pm-6pm drive times. Normal hwy speed was 85-90+ back when it was 55mph. I was the slowest thing on the road at 75mph for 8 yearly trips. Good drivers, but FAST. There are some breathtakingly steep hwy bridges in Chicago. Like Pa. backroad steep, but made of steel vs concrete or terrain. Maps don't warn you... I like bridges, but one passenger freaked out. If they had drove, that lane would have stopped dead lol.
Best of luck to all, I'll need to wait on the video
