David Calhoun's blog

High Water

Tue, 2012-01-31 08:54 — David Calhoun

The Corps of Engineers has been hard at work restoring the old stream out back of Elwood's place. Folks started fishin' (the DNR re-stocked the stream) and swimmin' right away. There's some environmental work to be done with land contouring and trees being planted, but it's a start. Even the new 'facilities' out back got approval from the county.

Elwood's Place - Progress

Wed, 2012-01-25 10:10 — David Calhoun

Things sure move fast now that FEMA is reeling from the criticism it got over the N'awlins Relief Disaster. Not everything is done, but the County Extension Agent has been busy. The well and pump have been certified; and they hired that Pearl woman who runs "The Good Earth" landscaping company to come in and plant trees, ground cover (Elwood doesn't own a mower and sees no sense in buying one) and survey the river bank for some shoring up work later on.

Buck and Loretta's Cousin

Tue, 2012-01-24 15:46 — David Calhoun

Success!

Fri, 2012-01-20 09:05 — David Calhoun

A new engine has entered the roster at the Euclid yard of THE GREATER NICKEL PLATE. Thanks to help from friends on this site, much sweating, swearing, soldering, testing, re-soldering, re-testing and praying. S-4 Number 12 is alive and running after installation of a new motor and a Z scale decoder.

Trolley Stripping

Thu, 2012-01-19 07:46 — David Calhoun

Alcohol - 1; Oven Cleaner - 0 !! They must not make off-brand oven cleaners as good as advertised. In short, it didn't work after several good coatings and left in a plastic bag overnight.

Motor Problem

Tue, 2012-01-17 08:49 — David Calhoun

I need some help in running an electrical problem to a hole. I have installed a decoder on an Atlas S-4 and have a light but no motive power. This unit has been checked twice by myself and another person.

1. All wires are attached correctly and the decoder is good.

2. Contact shoes are in place and universals are correctly installed with no binding.

3. Positive and negative leads are soldered and there are no kinks nor bare "cuts."

Painting Help

Sat, 2012-01-14 20:27 — David Calhoun

I just purchased a trolley for a static display on a non operational track on the city street scene on my railroad. The body is plastic and the windows consist of painted silhouettes on a semi-translucent film. I want to repaint the body and roof in two different colors and re-letter the trolley.

Terminology

Fri, 2012-01-06 08:22 — David Calhoun

On the advice of a club member, I went in search of an electronics shop yesterday for supplies needed to help convert my older engines to DCC. Not being well versed in electronics, I use a association memory tool to ask for things I am not familiar with; thus, on arriving at the shop, the conversation went like this: " I'm here on the advice of a friend and need some 'Eric Claption' tape." " We don't carry anything like that; this is an electronics parts store.

Jumpers

Wed, 2012-01-04 06:49 — David Calhoun

I have a question regarding the possible use of jumpers on Shinohara switches. It appears that positive ground throws have solved most of the electrical contact problems. However, thre are several switches where engines stall when crossing. I tried the "pushing the blade tighter against the stock rail" trick with my bamboo uncoupler, but with no results. It looks like the stall occurs just past the frog, but it is hard to determine as the drivers block the view.

Thanks Everyone!

Sat, 2011-12-31 07:11 — David Calhoun

Community

To all in our railroad community for your support, suggestions and ideas so freely given:

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