Fred Mills said:
and guys; don’t forget those measurements of types of hairs…use them lots of times in my model work…!!!
Fr. Fred Do you have them lined up just like feeler gauges?
Aaaah! The little buggers like to curl and that messes everything up. I have a heck of a time trying to straighten them back out.
Don’t tell my girlfriend!
Warren
Using only one manufacturer’s product limits the variety of rolling stock one can find on a pike.
It’s almost like building your own and never buying anything; you limit yourself to only what you build. Life might not be long enough to build everything you may need in order to operate the pike in a business-like manner.
I do admit, that building from scratch is a very important part of the hobby, and I haven’t done enough of it. Now that I have just about all the rolling stock, that I will ever need; I should start building some of the odd-ball things I often think of.
I just have to build some buildings from scratch, before I’m free enough to start on rolling stock.
I don’t model a prototype railroad, in order to allow myself the freedom to put any industry I like, on the pike. I do enjoy Colorado style NG, but won’t limit myself to only that type of equipment. For example; a K27 is not likely to find a roost on the IPP&W, but I do have several more Connies to put into service. I also have that LGB combine/caboose model, which I took out of service. It just didn’t appeal to me after a while; it is very much a Colorado NG item to me.
It goes without saying; that using some obviously NG equipment behind a Geep 7, or dash 9 and a half, looks a bit ridiculus to my eye. SG box cars in a NG consist, don’t appeal either. To some who are not as oriented to the real railroad world, will differ with me; but it is my pike, just as theirs’ is theirs’.
Then of course there are some who just collect…or just build…or just run in circles…to each their own…
I do find that “Brand Loyalty” is a bit of a self inflicted, or peer pressure motivated roadblock, as it prevents anyone from savouring life’s oportunities to explore. I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying tastes I would never had tryed if I had stayed with only one Single Malt Whisky, and the same with the variety of bheers that have passed my lips. Food is another part of the world where variety is one of the great oportunities for pleasure.
So in life; don’t deny yourself a great variety; you deserve the pleasures. I know I do !!
Fred Mills said:
Using only one manufacturer's product limits the variety of rolling stock one can find on a pike. It's almost like building your own and never buying anything; you limit yourself to only what you build. Life might not be long enough to build everything you may need in order to operate the pike in a business-like manner.I do admit, that building from scratch is a very important part of the hobby, and I haven’t done enough of it. Now that I have just about all the rolling stock, that I will ever need; I should start building some of the odd-ball things I often think of.
I just have to build some buildings from scratch, before I’m free enough to start on rolling stock.
I don’t model a prototype railroad, in order to allow myself the freedom to put any industry I like, on the pike. I do enjoy Colorado style NG, but won’t limit myself to only that type of equipment. For example; a K27 is not likely to find a roost on the IPP&W, but I do have several more Connies to put into service. I also have that LGB combine/caboose model, which I took out of service. It just didn’t appeal to me after a while; it is very much a Colorado NG item to me.
It goes without saying; that using some obviously NG equipment behind a Geep 7, or dash 9 and a half, looks a bit ridiculus to my eye. SG box cars in a NG consist, don’t appeal either. To some who are not as oriented to the real railroad world, will differ with me; but it is my pike, just as theirs’ is theirs’.
Then of course there are some who just collect…or just build…or just run in circles…to each their own…
I do find that “Brand Loyalty” is a bit of a self inflicted, or peer pressure motivated roadblock, as it prevents anyone from savouring life’s oportunities to explore. I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying tastes I would never had tryed if I had stayed with only one Single Malt Whisky, and the same with the variety of bheers that have passed my lips. Food is another part of the world where variety is one of the great oportunities for pleasure.
So in life; don’t deny yourself a great variety; you deserve the pleasures. I know I do !!
Fr. Fred
But then, as you have learned, you must install Kadee Couplers to mix & match various brands. Unless you just stay with hook & loop couplers, it is the only way to get knuckle couplers that will mate. And as you know, the various manufacturers’ offered knuckle couplers will not intermingled with others’ products.
But as you say, it don’t make no never mind to me or the Mule…We got ours!
The Lone Railroader
Hey , Lonesome man there ,
stop huggin’ the mule a minute , ya jest showed brand loyalty by sayin’ ya gotta use Kadees . There are other brands ,
some easier to fit than Kadees .
And , brand loyalty does have its points . If I wuz brand loyal , I wouldn’t have a second mortgage on my railroad . I buys wot I seez . Greedy pig .
Got trains under the bed . ‘Course , ya wudden know wot a bed iz , wudya pard? .
Don’t tire that mule out , now ,
yo’ English cuz Mahk .
Changing over to Kadee couplers for me isn’t so much brand loyalty as being practicle.
In order to operate the railroad you have to standardize on couplers. The couplers that have proven to fuction the best in an operating situation are the Kadees. They have body mount couplers available for just about any situation. They look good, and provide for more scale like space between cars.
They were the first that I could obtain when they came out, and after standardizing on them, it would be very expensive to change over to anything else…and what else is there that functions as well as Kadees ?
And no…for my purposes, if you understand operating a railroad; link and pin will not be practicle, and yes Accucraft’s look nice but the lift bar will not stand the test of time in reality. Besides my fingers are too big to search for it between cars in a busy yard.
Kadees and a long handled slot type screw driver work well for me.
Loop and hook, just don’t cut it, appearance wise…
Fred, you don’t use their uncoupling magnets? It takes a bit of tuning, i.e. coupler bars set right, magnet set right, and straight track around the uncoupler, but taking those into consideration, it works great!
Regards, Greg
…no we don’t use their magnets. I find that by putting a magnet on the main line leads to trouble if any slack occurs while the train is passing over a magnet.
The magnets are never where you want them at any given time. On real pikes and in our operating situations; we never know where we might need to uncouple.
We issue each crew, with their radio; a parts cleaning type brush, to make sure the switch points are clear when throwing; a long handled slot type screw driver, for uncoupling, and also cleaning point rails; along wth their train orders/switch list.
Yes, there are movable magnets available; but the screw drivers work best.
Mike Morgan said:Cuz
Hey , Lonesome man there , stop huggin' the mule a minute , ya jest showed brand loyalty by sayin' ya gotta use Kadees . There are other brands , some easier to fit than Kadees . And , brand loyalty does have its points . If I wuz brand loyal , I wouldn't have a second mortgage on my railroad . I buys wot I seez . Greedy pig . Got trains under the bed . 'Course , ya wudden know wot a bed iz , wudya pard? . Don't tire that mule out , now , yo' English cuz Mahk .
You don’t know Mule…he don’t like affentionate behavior from no one…no how…septin’ a female Mule. Real picky cuss he is!
We uns here on our small patch of the Lonesome Prairie don’t use Kadee’s. We don’t advertise nothing fer nobody…septin’ stuff we have fer sell.
But our very own, Fr. Fred, is the Dominion of Canada spokesman for the Kadee Coupler Company. (Kadee should give him some free couplers in remittance for his verbose sermons on their products.) Or some Fine Single Malt Whiskey would probably work too.
The Lone Railroader
Easy to please…that way!
Well , shucks , cuz ,
y’all keppit on 'bout that mule so much , ah thowt , he’s garn boy , he’s garn . I nose it kin be lonesome out theya , spent some time in the dunes meself , got sand everywhich way . Spiled everythin , even my baccy .
Now , these Kadee’s y’aint usin ’ what’s wrong with ‘em ? I use them and accumacraft , the accy ones can screw on the body easier .
What the other whisky guy is on about uncouplin’for , I dunno , I jest run made up trains .Way I see it is , oncet ya got ‘em together , don’t seem right a-partin’ ‘em . Like a man an’ his mule .
Keep the sand away , cuz , it’ll make ya itch in funny places ,
Yo’ cuz in e-oo-rope
Mahk
Fred Mills said:
Changing over to Kadee couplers for me isn't so much brand loyalty as being practicle. In order to operate the railroad you have to standardize on couplers. The couplers that have proven to fuction the best in an operating situation are the Kadees. They have body mount couplers available for just about any situation. They look good, and provide for more scale like space between cars.They were the first that I could obtain when they came out, and after standardizing on them, it would be very expensive to change over to anything else…and what else is there that functions as well as Kadees ?
And no…for my purposes, if you understand operating a railroad; link and pin will not be practicle, and yes Accucraft’s look nice but the lift bar will not stand the test of time in reality. Besides my fingers are too big to search for it between cars in a busy yard.
Kadees and a long handled slot type screw driver work well for me.Loop and hook, just don’t cut it, appearance wise…
Fr. Fred,
I had the pleasure of being introduced to Kadee couplers circa 1974/75, started converting all my HO SG “Euro-Junk” to Kadees shortly after - oh what a joy that was!
Later changed all the HOm equipment to Kadees as the stuff came in , now the same applies to 2m, bit by bit. Sure the couplers don’t look like the Swiss prototype, but they perform as if they were designed and made in Switzerland! 
BTW there are 2m couplers which look just like the RhB proto - including the pivoting balance arm, the hook, the chain with the turnbuckle etc. There is one small drawback, I haven’t found a 1:22.5 conductor/brakeman who could couple and tension those puppies in the same time it takes on the prototype. As soon as “they” produce little robots like that, I’ll change my rolling stock. 
Mike Morgan said:Cuz
Well , shucks , cuz , y'all keppit on 'bout that mule so much , ah thowt , he's garn boy , he's garn . I nose it kin be lonesome out theya , spent some time in the dunes meself , got sand everywhich way . Spiled everythin , even my baccy . Now , these Kadee's y'aint usin ' what's wrong with 'em ? I use them and accumacraft , the accy ones can screw on the body easier . What the other whisky guy is on about uncouplin'for , I dunno , I jest run made up trains .Way I see it is , oncet ya got 'em together , don't seem right a-partin' 'em . Like a man an' his mule . Keep the sand away , cuz , it'll make ya itch in funny places , Yo' cuz in e-oo-rope Mahk
That be rightly so…Dad gum sand gets into everthin…and oal makes the bestest sand magnit…it do.
Ain’t nothing wrong with them there Kadees…I just don’t use ‘em…like ya’ll, I kept my train together wid bailin’ wire works great and it’s cheap.
The Lone Railroader
Cuz ,
Yo’a man after mah own hart . Damn , that balin’wire sho’ iz good stuff . Never without a mess o’ that meself . Had a yard or two holdin’ the front fender on the Jeep a while or so , and also got it holdin’ mah safer tee belt together , y’all cain’t be too careful with safer tee . And the stuff round the stock o’ mah rahfle zings when I shoot at sump’n , ah broke thet playin’ baseball with the kids . Ah think the rocks wuz too big ,dawgs et the ball . Use the balin’ wire to reach the pints (a cute inglish word ) acrosst the layout , saves a bit o’ walkin’ , ‘cos ya can only pull on it , it don’t work too well a pushin’ .
keep yer powder dry , cuz ,
from yo’ cuz acrosst the water ,
Mahk
Ser nuff Cuz,
Real sorry like to here bout the dwog etting the ball. Yeap, that there bailin’ weer holds my muffer and talepipe on the Thunderbolt Greaser Slapper mite good. Gots to keep the flint a dry too! Nev’r kin tell when 'em Frinch and Injuns mite attack…Wurried more about the Injuns these daze!
Gone til the cows come home…
The Lone Railroader
Jest afore ye go , cuz . y’all orta know I am famust about heah . They call me Mahk the Leccy Wizz , ‘cos ah fix all them problems what folks in houses get . They all so dumb , they don’t know squat ‘bout ‘lectrics . So they come a whinin’ to me and say Mahk , yo pretty smart with the fix’n of lectrix , mah washin’msheen dun bust . Washin’ Masheen ? Now what in the name of dog’s doodoo is that ? I seen ‘em put clothes in and ruin the smell of ‘em , and they make ‘em all soft so’s they trousis won’t stand up in the corner ready fer wearin’ . Damn , they is stoopid . Wash’t mine jest once’t an’ the dawg chased me . Didn’t reckernise the smell , see .
Any which ways , mah secret is balin’ twine .
Yer see , they has these thaings called Fuse Boxes , and these fuse thaings , why , they just a tiddly bit o’wire . No wonder it burns up and stops the Masheen , so anyways , I stick some balin’ twine in and they never get fuse problems agin .
Funny thing tho’ . seems they git house fires when I bin round there with electrifyin’ Jest when I fix’t it fer ‘em . I think they is lookin’ fer inshoorants claim , that’s plumb dshonnist if y’ask me . Gett’n me to make the house good so’s they kin claim more . Money is a wicked sin , cuz ,
you watch out fer the snakes in yer covers now , heah ?
yo cuz’n Mahk
YOU GUYS HAVE A STROKE OR SOME THING???
Ed DeVinney said:Nah, I think it's just "creative" spelling. Every once in a while they get a spell of that.
YOU GUYS HAVE A STROKE OR SOME THING?????????????
Hey , cuz ,
git a good conversashun a goin’ an’ sumboddy ups and spiles it .Wassa country cummin to ?
Cuz , wassa stroke ? I did that with a gal in a bar and she dint like it , so it muss be sump’n nesty , but not the sorta stroke the furrin guy means .
‘nuther use for the balin’ twine .
Cuz Mahk
Cuz
Ther’s always a someone a fixin’ to cause trouble…there is!
Down here they are a messin up the fun all the dad blame time. We justa figure they be atalled in the brain, and don’t pay em no nev’r mind!
The Lone Railroader
Cuz ,
goldurned right thar , a mite o’ brain underused . Gotten the same heah , ‘cept there’s one ot two good guys who make up fer it . Like poor old Deryck , he dun just rickt his back doin’ crazy thaings to his house . Noo carpet , noo masheens why , he’s only had one fer ten year and it ain’t even rusty , let alone got baling wire control addishuns . But no , out it goes . I’d tek it off’n his hands , but my yard ain’t got no space left , what with the seven or so old cars I plan on wiring up . And the old bus ter kep the dawgs in . My life is plumb full o’ frusdamntrations , I cain’t run my trains ‘round proper ‘cos of all the good stuff in my yard . I bin resicklin’ long befo’ it become popular with the greens , who I never knoo , by the way . Nevah met a green yet , but by golly , I keep hearin’ about ‘em . Muss be a big fambly , but not as big as our’n , huh , cuz ?
I wondah , has cuz Fred met the greens ? He’s a man o’the worl , aways up to collectin’ thaings hisself . Perhaps the greens taught him to ressicle his empty bottles o’ whisky , he uses enuff to bild a house a month , yeah . Mebbe we shud halp him empty a few .
Muss go talk to mah fren’ Deryck ,
see y’all , cuz ,
Mahk