Earl, before I got into PFM Sound, I used MRC 501 transformers.  I actually took them apart, removed the rheostat and used a telephone cable between the transformer and a small box with a metal lid that screwed on that I got at Radio Shack.  I also installed a double pole double throw center off toggle so I could reverse direction or just shut the power off.  I put the MRC units under the layout and have about 20 feet of cable so I had a 40 foot reach.  One end went into the transformer and the other into the bottom end of the box.  I had a loop on the top of the box so I could hang it up on hooks on the side of the layhout.  Since my room was only 30 x 30 that was enough.  Worked like a champ.

DB

-----Original Message-----


From: Earl Knoob


Sent: Sep 21, 2020 10:48 PM


To: "HOn3@groups.io"


Subject: [HOn3] DC Power Supply Search

After many years I am getting back into HOn3 and once settled into my new house, I can start on my first layout in over 30 years.

The layout will be a one-man operation, with one train running at a time.  I will be doing old-school DC.  With over 25 HOn3 locomotives that I'd like to see running at some time or another, adding DCC decoders to all of them is.....well not going to happen.

I have found there is very little in the way of DC quality power supplies available today.  Looking through Walther's catalog, MRC seems to be the only one left in business.  I need to have tethered walk around capability, which further limits my choices.

Any and all suggestions appreciated,

Earl

Dale, I grew up in a suburban community in New Jersey about 10 miles west of the George Washington  Bridge.  Gas was cheap in the early 1950's.  Our first car was a brand spanking new green Mercury that my friends dubbed the "inverted bathtub".  I learned to drive in that car ... and got in a lot of trouble with it too -- but that's another story.

Russ

On Mon, Sep 21, 2020, 5:06 AM Dale Buxton <dbtuathaddana@...> wrote:

I bought my first vehicle in 1976. Gas wass 52 cents a gal. that summer in Denver. But, that winter at the Ski Resort towns it was $1.08 during the season. After the season closed it dropped back down the mid 60 cent range in the mountains. Gas has always been more expensive up there in my lifetime.The lowest I ever saw gas was in about 1960 on South Broadway about a mile south of where Caboose Hobbies was. It was a gas war. Price was 23 cents a gallon. 

Dale Buxton

On Sun, Sep 20, 2020 at 9:05 AM Russ Norris <rbnorrisjr@...> wrote:

Of course, $20 back then would correspond to a much bigger dollar figure today.  I don't know when that kit came out, but I am old enough to remember gas for 19 cents a gallon.

Russ

On Sun, Sep 20, 2020 at 10:16 AM Bill Lugg <luggw1@...> wrote:

Yes, the price tag on the box says it was $20 from Jim's Junction.

I really hope somebody is able to pick up the Rio Grande Models line as
Eric has a lot of important kits and parts in it and his casting are
excellent.

Bill Lugg


On 9/20/20 3:36 AM, Dale Buxton wrote:
> Rio Grande's web site is still up and it says $20.00 for this kit.
> This situation is only going to deepen if Eric's kit line goes the way
> of the Dodo. The asking prices for Jordan Highway Miniatures has gone
> completely insane! Only hard core collectors of HO scale vehicles can
> afford them now. From time to time you may find a deal where the
> seller isn't looking to gouge anyone but those days are swiftly coming
> to an end.
>
> Dale Buxton
>
> On Sun, Sep 20, 2020 at 2:48 AM Mark Kasprowicz <mark@...
> <mailto:mark@...>> wrote:
>
>     Not sure how much this kit was when still in production but I'm
>     sure it wasn't anywhere near this.
>
>     https://www.ebay.com/itm/124344746704?ul_noapp=true
>
>     Mark K
>     Oxon
>
>

--
Russ Norris, MMR
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
http://blacklogvalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/

--
Russ Norris, MMR
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
http://blacklogvalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/

I bought my first vehicle in 1976. Gas wass 52 cents a gal. that summer in Denver. But, that winter at the Ski Resort towns it was $1.08 during the season. After the season closed it dropped back down the mid 60 cent range in the mountains. Gas has always been more expensive up there in my lifetime.The lowest I ever saw gas was in about 1960 on South Broadway about a mile south of where Caboose Hobbies was. It was a gas war. Price was 23 cents a gallon. 

Dale Buxton

On Sun, Sep 20, 2020 at 9:05 AM Russ Norris <rbnorrisjr@...> wrote:

Of course, $20 back then would correspond to a much bigger dollar figure today.  I don't know when that kit came out, but I am old enough to remember gas for 19 cents a gallon.

Russ

On Sun, Sep 20, 2020 at 10:16 AM Bill Lugg <luggw1@...> wrote:

Yes, the price tag on the box says it was $20 from Jim's Junction.

I really hope somebody is able to pick up the Rio Grande Models line as
Eric has a lot of important kits and parts in it and his casting are
excellent.

Bill Lugg


On 9/20/20 3:36 AM, Dale Buxton wrote:
> Rio Grande's web site is still up and it says $20.00 for this kit.
> This situation is only going to deepen if Eric's kit line goes the way
> of the Dodo. The asking prices for Jordan Highway Miniatures has gone
> completely insane! Only hard core collectors of HO scale vehicles can
> afford them now. From time to time you may find a deal where the
> seller isn't looking to gouge anyone but those days are swiftly coming
> to an end.
>
> Dale Buxton
>
> On Sun, Sep 20, 2020 at 2:48 AM Mark Kasprowicz <mark@...
> <mailto:mark@...>> wrote:
>
>     Not sure how much this kit was when still in production but I'm
>     sure it wasn't anywhere near this.
>
>     https://www.ebay.com/itm/124344746704?ul_noapp=true
>
>     Mark K
>     Oxon
>
>

--
Russ Norris, MMR
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
http://blacklogvalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/

Of course, $20 back then would correspond to a much bigger dollar figure today.  I don't know when that kit came out, but I am old enough to remember gas for 19 cents a gallon.

Russ

On Sun, Sep 20, 2020 at 10:16 AM Bill Lugg <luggw1@...> wrote:

Yes, the price tag on the box says it was $20 from Jim's Junction.

I really hope somebody is able to pick up the Rio Grande Models line as
Eric has a lot of important kits and parts in it and his casting are
excellent.

Bill Lugg


On 9/20/20 3:36 AM, Dale Buxton wrote:
> Rio Grande's web site is still up and it says $20.00 for this kit.
> This situation is only going to deepen if Eric's kit line goes the way
> of the Dodo. The asking prices for Jordan Highway Miniatures has gone
> completely insane! Only hard core collectors of HO scale vehicles can
> afford them now. From time to time you may find a deal where the
> seller isn't looking to gouge anyone but those days are swiftly coming
> to an end.
>
> Dale Buxton
>
> On Sun, Sep 20, 2020 at 2:48 AM Mark Kasprowicz <mark@...
> <mailto:mark@...>> wrote:
>
>     Not sure how much this kit was when still in production but I'm
>     sure it wasn't anywhere near this.
>
>     https://www.ebay.com/itm/124344746704?ul_noapp=true
>
>     Mark K
>     Oxon
>
>

--
Russ Norris, MMR
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
http://blacklogvalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/

When you look at the average age of most of us! We probably really are! 

Ric Case 

EBT Modeler 

Hamilton Ohio 

1-513-375-7694

On Sep 20, 2020, at 7:41 PM, Ric Case via groups.io <ebtmodeler=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:

lol 😂 

Ric Case 

EBT Modeler 

Hamilton Ohio 

1-513-375-7694

On Sep 20, 2020, at 7:38 PM, Russ Norris <rbnorrisjr@...> wrote:



This is beginning to sound like a bunch of old codgers bragging to one another about how "when I was a youngster we had to walk 5 miles in a blizzard to school ... up hill ... both ways".  

Russ

On Sun, Sep 20, 2020, 7:33 PM Ric Case <ebtmodeler@...> wrote:

Heck I remember doing it for 50cents per hr. After two years on the job! Lol

Ric Case 

EBT Modeler 

Hamilton Ohio 

1-513-375-7694

On Sep 20, 2020, at 7:17 PM, Russ Norris <rbnorrisjr@...> wrote:



I remember when the Ed Sullivan Show was sponsored by Texaco.  In the commercials 5 uniformed guys would run out to service a car, pump gas, check the oil, wash the windshield and sing the Texaco theme song, all at the same time.

Russ

On Sun, Sep 20, 2020, 5:50 PM Bill Lugg <luggw1@...> wrote:

Well, I'm a bit younger.  I was pumping it a $0.60 a gallon, washing
windshields, checking oil, etc.  I even did lube, oil and filter when
business was slow.  I even got robbed once.

Ah, those were the days...
Bill Lugg


On 9/20/20 2:52 PM, kevin b via groups.io wrote:
> i can remember gas at .39 a gallon. free glass with 8 gallon fill up.
> 'course, i was ridin' not drivin' yet.
> Kevin.
>
> On Sunday, September 20, 2020, 02:23:29 PM CDT, Climax@...
> <climax@...> wrote:
>
>
> Darn youngsters.  I am so old that I remember the gas wars!  Gas was 8
> to 12 cents a gallon and they threw in dishes, towels, or other
> special offerings to entice you to get the whole set of what evers.  I
> remember in 1965 when I filled my take up for 46 cents!  Of course it
> was a Honda 50 Super Sport motor bike! hahahhaha
>
>     -----Original Message-----
>     From: Bruce
>     Sent: Sep 20, 2020 2:06 PM
>     To: HOn3@groups.io
>     Subject: Re: [HOn3] A touch of Ebay Madness?
>
>     Funny Russ.  I too paid as low as $0.19/gal!
>
>     And when I tell the Juniors and Seniors in our Electrical
>     Technology class I was paid $1.05/hr when I started at McDonald's
>     they can't imagine working for that wage.  But then I tell them
>     burgers were $0.17 and cheeseburgers were $0.19 and their eyes bug
>     out!
>
>     With cinders in your eyes,
>     Bruce Bowie
>     419-602-3584
>     in2trains@... <mailto:in2trains@...>
>
>     On Sun, Sep 20, 2020, 11:05 AM Russ Norris <rbnorrisjr@...
>     <mailto:rbnorrisjr@...>> wrote:
>
>         Of course, $20 back then would correspond to a much bigger
>         dollar figure today.  I don't know when that kit came out, but
>         I am old enough to remember gas for 19 cents a gallon.
>
>         Russ
>
>         On Sun, Sep 20, 2020 at 10:16 AM Bill Lugg
>         <luggw1@... <mailto:luggw1@...>>
>         wrote:
>
>             Yes, the price tag on the box says it was $20 from Jim's
>             Junction.
>
>             I really hope somebody is able to pick up the Rio Grande
>             Models line as
>             Eric has a lot of important kits and parts in it and his
>             casting are
>             excellent.
>
>             Bill Lugg
>
>
>             On 9/20/20 3:36 AM, Dale Buxton wrote:
>             > Rio Grande's web site is still up and it says $20.00 for
>             this kit.
>             > This situation is only going to deepen if Eric's kit
>             line goes the way
>             > of the Dodo. The asking prices for Jordan Highway
>             Miniatures has gone
>             > completely insane! Only hard core collectors of HO scale
>             vehicles can
>             > afford them now. From time to time you may find a deal
>             where the
>             > seller isn't looking to gouge anyone but those days are
>             swiftly coming
>             > to an end.
>             >
>             > Dale Buxton
>             >
>             > On Sun, Sep 20, 2020 at 2:48 AM Mark Kasprowicz
>             <mark@... <mailto:mark@...>
>             > <mailto:mark@... <mailto:mark@...>>> wrote:
>             >
>             >     Not sure how much this kit was when still in
>             production but I'm
>             >     sure it wasn't anywhere near this.
>             >
>             > https://www.ebay.com/itm/124344746704?ul_noapp=true
>             >
>             >     Mark K
>             >     Oxon
>             >
>             >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>         --
>         Russ Norris, MMR
>         Cape Cod, Massachusetts
>         http://blacklogvalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/
>
>

--
Russ Norris, MMR
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
http://blacklogvalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/

--
Russ Norris, MMR
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
http://blacklogvalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/

When you look at the average age of most of us! We probably really are! 

Ric Case 

EBT Modeler 

Hamilton Ohio 

1-513-375-7694

On Sep 20, 2020, at 7:41 PM, Ric Case via groups.io <ebtmodeler=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:

lol 😂 

Ric Case 

EBT Modeler 

Hamilton Ohio 

1-513-375-7694

On Sep 20, 2020, at 7:38 PM, Russ Norris <rbnorrisjr@...> wrote:



This is beginning to sound like a bunch of old codgers bragging to one another about how "when I was a youngster we had to walk 5 miles in a blizzard to school ... up hill ... both ways".  

Russ

On Sun, Sep 20, 2020, 7:33 PM Ric Case <ebtmodeler@...> wrote:

Heck I remember doing it for 50cents per hr. After two years on the job! Lol

Ric Case 

EBT Modeler 

Hamilton Ohio 

1-513-375-7694

On Sep 20, 2020, at 7:17 PM, Russ Norris <rbnorrisjr@...> wrote:



I remember when the Ed Sullivan Show was sponsored by Texaco.  In the commercials 5 uniformed guys would run out to service a car, pump gas, check the oil, wash the windshield and sing the Texaco theme song, all at the same time.

Russ

On Sun, Sep 20, 2020, 5:50 PM Bill Lugg <luggw1@...> wrote:

Well, I'm a bit younger.  I was pumping it a $0.60 a gallon, washing
windshields, checking oil, etc.  I even did lube, oil and filter when
business was slow.  I even got robbed once.

Ah, those were the days...
Bill Lugg


On 9/20/20 2:52 PM, kevin b via groups.io wrote:
> i can remember gas at .39 a gallon. free glass with 8 gallon fill up.
> 'course, i was ridin' not drivin' yet.
> Kevin.
>
> On Sunday, September 20, 2020, 02:23:29 PM CDT, Climax@...
> <climax@...> wrote:
>
>
> Darn youngsters.  I am so old that I remember the gas wars!  Gas was 8
> to 12 cents a gallon and they threw in dishes, towels, or other
> special offerings to entice you to get the whole set of what evers.  I
> remember in 1965 when I filled my take up for 46 cents!  Of course it
> was a Honda 50 Super Sport motor bike! hahahhaha
>
>     -----Original Message-----
>     From: Bruce
>     Sent: Sep 20, 2020 2:06 PM
>     To: HOn3@groups.io
>     Subject: Re: [HOn3] A touch of Ebay Madness?
>
>     Funny Russ.  I too paid as low as $0.19/gal!
>
>     And when I tell the Juniors and Seniors in our Electrical
>     Technology class I was paid $1.05/hr when I started at McDonald's
>     they can't imagine working for that wage.  But then I tell them
>     burgers were $0.17 and cheeseburgers were $0.19 and their eyes bug
>     out!
>
>     With cinders in your eyes,
>     Bruce Bowie
>     419-602-3584
>     in2trains@... <mailto:in2trains@...>
>
>     On Sun, Sep 20, 2020, 11:05 AM Russ Norris <rbnorrisjr@...
>     <mailto:rbnorrisjr@...>> wrote:
>
>         Of course, $20 back then would correspond to a much bigger
>         dollar figure today.  I don't know when that kit came out, but
>         I am old enough to remember gas for 19 cents a gallon.
>
>         Russ
>
>         On Sun, Sep 20, 2020 at 10:16 AM Bill Lugg
>         <luggw1@... <mailto:luggw1@...>>
>         wrote:
>
>             Yes, the price tag on the box says it was $20 from Jim's
>             Junction.
>
>             I really hope somebody is able to pick up the Rio Grande
>             Models line as
>             Eric has a lot of important kits and parts in it and his
>             casting are
>             excellent.
>
>             Bill Lugg
>
>
>             On 9/20/20 3:36 AM, Dale Buxton wrote:
>             > Rio Grande's web site is still up and it says $20.00 for
>             this kit.
>             > This situation is only going to deepen if Eric's kit
>             line goes the way
>             > of the Dodo. The asking prices for Jordan Highway
>             Miniatures has gone
>             > completely insane! Only hard core collectors of HO scale
>             vehicles can
>             > afford them now. From time to time you may find a deal
>             where the
>             > seller isn't looking to gouge anyone but those days are
>             swiftly coming
>             > to an end.
>             >
>             > Dale Buxton
>             >
>             > On Sun, Sep 20, 2020 at 2:48 AM Mark Kasprowicz
>             <mark@... <mailto:mark@...>
>             > <mailto:mark@... <mailto:mark@...>>> wrote:
>             >
>             >     Not sure how much this kit was when still in
>             production but I'm
>             >     sure it wasn't anywhere near this.
>             >
>             > https://www.ebay.com/itm/124344746704?ul_noapp=true
>             >
>             >     Mark K
>             >     Oxon
>             >
>             >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>         --
>         Russ Norris, MMR
>         Cape Cod, Massachusetts
>         http://blacklogvalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/
>
>

--
Russ Norris, MMR
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
http://blacklogvalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/

--
Russ Norris, MMR
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
http://blacklogvalleyrailroad.blogspot.com/