BR60103

I've 2 wagons this year (out of 2) where the NEM mount let the Kadee sit too low. The trip pin dangles between the rails and catches and the head is too low. Generally, if the trip pin is too low, the whole unit is too low. Extra problems I've had: nut or bolt head strikes bits of the underframe. Coupler head strikes the buffer beam or even the buffer as it turns. Cosmetic 3-link coupler dangles into the Kadee.

New computer still confounds. SWMBO got me out of bed because the browser and mail weren't connecting. and she needed Word, which she couldn't find. Looked as if something wasn't talking to Microsoft HQ. Afternoon visit to supplier; couldn't replicate the problem in store. Still off when home. Will try again Monday.

I just measured a 2-56 bolt and it's 2mm over the threads. NMRA data sheets say .086". If the original coupling was held by a screw, I try to use that. Moulded on couplings are a headache; by the time there is a mounting surface, there may be no material across the end of the bogie. I posted some pictures earlier. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/56954-replacing-a-Hornby-non-nem-large-tension-lock-coupling-with-something-else/&do=findComment&comment=1923420

Attended railway show and managed to spend $11; Dayle spent $2. I go some old style switch machines and mounts and a packet of Kadees! Dayle bought a plaqued postcard of a red engine.

The Twin Cities next to ours are on track to have their new streetcar light rail line finished about a year from now. The council sent a delegation up to the factory to see the prototype of the new car, which was supposed to be in town by now. It's a 4- or 5-unit articulated and the photo showed one cab end (possibly the other as well). And production will be in another city, 500 miles closer. The plant is currently about 70 units behind on an order for Toronto and is the only streetcar/subway car plant in Canada.

One of our older members said that he had never had a wagon disappear at an exhibition out of the middle of a rake equipped with tension locks.

I use the paddle (Handy Decoupler, as TriAng called it). I've found that the pins under the couplings are not always down to the same height which can create problems.

catching up with a day's comments. We have a line of fine cotton balls on plastic sticks called Microbrush that would fit in a socket. The last time I had a tooth filled, the dentist was using one to put glue in the hole. Several of my co-workers thought that Dilbert had an informant in our office. I put labels on the rear-view mirror of our motorhome with the height on -- one each in English and Metric. You don't want to be doing conversions at 70 mph. The mirror on the motorhome is wider than needed to see through the back window. My wife's nephew was thrown out of the U.S. because someone in the firm had used the wrong immigration/work permit form. That wa after he had worked there for nearly 10 years.

Ian: the reason for the new machine is that the old one was collapsing. It's so slow doing anything and I couldn't get the old Firefox to show anything -- new browser doesn't find any FF files. I found a file with stored passwords in it but can't locate it now.

I'm working on a new computer which involved a jump of 3 levels in Winders. I've lost all my bookmarks -- new machine has declared Firefox to be malware. Also trying to find old passwords. I can't even find Solitaire on the new machine!

Today we went to see my sister perform. She was in a new work called Operation Daddy/War Brides which was a musical with appropriate songs set in stories about the British girls that married Canadian soldiers. She had a prominent part as one of two ladies recalling the war years, but she didn't get as much singing as I thought she should -- that went to the younger cast.

Newbryford Chippewa Square in Savannah probably commemorates the battle of Chippawa which is my ancestral home, one of the few that the Americans won in the war of 1812. My father told me that the American troops were advancing north from Buffalo area. The British commander thought they were militia from the uniforms and deployed his defenses accordingly. When the Americans advanced, he said, " My God, those are regulars!" How is Tybee Island now? We had reports of a lot of storm damage. We camped there some years ago.

Thanks. It didn't make my newspapers here.

Semi-frustrating day. Since the old laptop started warning us about impending HDD failure, we decided to replace it. Yesterday we bought anew unit and passed ours over to the dealer to transfer data etc. Brought it home and am tryinh to deal with Windows 10. This post comes from the iPad.

A note: If you use the softer foam rubber roadbeds, be gentle driving pins in as you can sometmes push the sleepers off the rails.

My Lionel from 1953 has a piston in the smoke unit activated by a piece of wire that runs to in front of the crosshead. The crosshead pushes it forward which pushes the piston into the smoke unit. It returns by gravity on the piston.

One of my friends managed to melt the smokebox on a 4-4-0 by isolating only one end of it. While the tender didn't move, the smoke unit kept running. I disconnected the smoke unit in my Schools when I ran out of fluid; now I can't figure out where the wire hooks up to.

I use glue unless the track really needs to be held in alignment. Either WS Scenic Cement or artist's acrylic matte medium, diluted. My drill of choice is #74 for Peco track pins (.0225")

My father reported that at a RCAF reunion dinner, part of the dinner listing was "ONE Brussels sprout". Dad did grow them in the garden for a few years after the war.

For the despairing Americans, Guelph has a donkey sanctuary. http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.ca Harry Truman said of Eisenhauer, " The first day in office he's going to say,'Do this.' And nothing's going to happen." The first election campaign I was involved in, one of the parties ran a hockey player. My father said that was effectively the end of our election. Are there any cases where a sports figure or entertainment celebrity has lost an election?

This is coming from our iPad. Usual computer was complaining about HDD so local IT enthusiast brought in a diagnostic/repair program. it's been going about 5 hours; thinks it's been 3; estimates 96! attended railway show today. I bought backscene glue (MRI imported specially) and a new building and a few figures. Dayle found a bridge and some old maps. talked to some old chums. Yesterday was the clearing sale for the British Connection. Started long ago by a couple anticipating retiremenr, selling trains and "bric a brac" as a friend put it. They've been in business longer than we've been married. We didn't go. They're now old enough that their son worries about their driving on the motorways.

Went oh the Hamilton (Ont.) home layout tour today. This is self-driving. Started after coffee to the train shop for tickets. Dayle also bought a pair of trees for her new farm/ice cream shop. Next stop was another train shop -- a video and 2 bags of sheep. Then 4 homes. First layout was a gorgeous On3, supposed to be Chama, NM. Other 3 also very good. Final layout still under construction but completed parts marvelous. Then home, even though there were a lot more we could see. (We had gone to the farthest away ones first.) Changed the clocks back early tonight; still don't know which way the stone circles go. Found a couple with exploded batteries; I thought these new-fangled ones were not supposed to do that. A bit of vinegar on a brush seems to remove the gunk.

Our bins are supposed to be out early and can be out overnight. However, we have a small green bin for "compostables" which is food waste and others. This has a latch on it to keep the smarter scavengers out. But the latch has to be released so that the bin can be dumped into the mechanized garbage truck. So someone has to be up and out before the garbage men. Fortunately they start collecting in our area after 8:00 and usually don't do us until 10:00 or later.

I think we should adopt it. What would it be a euphemism for?

One of out TV handymen suggested that circuit breakers should be exercised once or twice a year. He recommended that it be done at time change as most clocks would then need to be set. Our go whichever way it is next weekend. "Standard" time is becoming like the rare condition Bernard Shaw claimed to have: normal eyesight.