HI all,
Many of you like me may be stuck at home due to the heath crisis. The wife and I have gone out every day and walked for a few miles to keep our strength. With most of my activities curtailed I have realized it is a great time to do maintenance on my locomotives and rolling stock. I have started with my locomotives. I go over each one checking for missing parts, testing all the functions and doing a lube job. I admit to being somewhat lax on the lubing of my trains during the past season. I actually have a box labeled "parts that fell off" so I am going thru that as well and making the necessary repairs with priority on m y locomotive fleet.
I am not neglecting my rolling stock, but am doing the same thing I am doing with my locomotives. I am cleaning them up, replacing any missing parts, and lubing the journals. On my cars I usually paint the couplers with a rusty black paint and do the same with truck sideframes as well. I also paint the sides of my metal wheels for a more realistic look.
So this all has kept me busy rather than being bored. Another activity is doing a little train book reading.
Anyway, I want to wish you, my fellow forum members and you family, a safe path through what comes ahead. Be safe out there and stay healthy.
All the best,
Loco Bill
Medical school is keeping me busy right now. So not much time for trains, but now weather warming I am digging out a couple of live steamers and getting them prepped. Just a simple elevated loop but watching the mason bogie chug along with steam puffing out is kind of nice.
Bill, I think that's a great idea. I just need someone to handle all things things higher up on the list so I can do things "I want to do". But life moves on and we will eventually see all of this virus stuff in the rear view mirror.
I also have the same belief. After all China is coming out of it and even helping other nations. To me that is one of the best signs of all. I try not to pay attention to all the fear and OMG the world is ending folks, but I am taking things seriously and in stride!
Be safe,
Bill
I am never bored at home. My philosophy is being bored is a choice.
My trains are in constant need of maintenance. Also, we are building an HO scale railroad (so we can run our Bachmann N&W J. SOrry, so my SON can run HIS J). I am also doing the following:
- adding Revo to my LGB mogul. Repainting and relettering the same.
- Painting and relttering (cut vinyl with my cricut air 2) of 4 tank cars for my late grandfather's business.
- Adding a new smoke stack to my LGB mikado to replace the one I melted last week.
- Adding a new passing siding to my railroad to allow us to load firepit sticks while not clogging up the mainline.
- Swapping out a decoder in my aristo connie for a sound version
- running a minimum of 5 miles a day, every day. Most days I target 8.5 miles. Ran a half marathon, just because, last Saturday.
- teach my kids from home
- continue to do my regular job.
- become the best cook this side of the garage door. I made a perfect filet mignon for Easter dinner!
- make sourdough from scratch. Still have to work on that.
- started growing vegetables two weeks ago. three weeks until we plant them outside.
- weed the garden and run trains when it isn't raining.
- read the Harry Potter series with my family.
- Taught the kids to play 'flip cup', an important college game, today.
I am sure we'll have more, but being 'bored' is not allowed here.....
Oh, and somebody needs to start taking care of the dog!!!