Bee Swarms

[bob turner]

They arrived last week. Parked behind the control panel. The Greek tried to smoke them out, but that drove them into the walls. Now we have a pro cutting dry wall and trying to relocate the entire mess, but he has discovered that I have crescent-shaped voids under my upper 70 and 74" radius loops. I may lose quite a bit of track this evening, and may actually have to don a bee suit to move the locomotives out of the way of the wrecking ball.

I guess this is unusual - there is enough of it that it keeps maybe five bee removal outfits busy in a city of five million - but at the first sight of a swarm in your house or layout, do something smart, like hire a professional.

Wish me luck. I am too old to lay another entire loop, although I can probably do five or six feet if the rails are not turned into pretzels.

[Carey Williams]

Oh my ...that does not sound like fun ...
Bee safe ....oops... be safe
Cheers Carey

[sleepmac]

Carey, your reply to Bob made me laugh! I am glad I'm not in Bob's situation at this time.

Dan Weinhold

[bob turner]

Four hundred bucks. Rolling stock askew. Not sure about the track, but lots of holes in supports. Bees are still there. We shall see . . .
The bee guy spent almost five hours at it. Serious stuff!

[De Bruin]

Wow, not good Bob. Are you guys out-of-pocket or did you have insurance or a pest control contract to cover this?
That has started to be a growing problem here in Atlanta too. Sincerely, good luck with this.
Conversely our last "invasion" was bats in the attic, nasty all around albeit not quite as catastrophically destructive or expensive.
The remediation/exclusion was not covered either though the pest control people were professionals; removed and released the little buggers
alive and safe, per their status as a protected species. Much safer than trying to do it myself and lucky for the bats too as I would've likely employed my shop vac.....

[bob turner]

Never even thought about the insurance - we sure pay for coverage! I will have the Greek check the policy.

She considered the shop vac - but discretion got the better of valor. Plus, she wanted them relocated, not murdered.

[bob turner]

Update - got a chance to do damage assessment. Apparently no damage to locomotives or rolling stock. The 4-12-2 was stacked on top of a PSC Harriman coach, but neither show any marks. The bee guy had very big gloves on. So, kudos to him.

I may be able to go in and hook things up next week - right now there are only maybe six bees buzzing around.

[steamaheadstephen59]

Boy Bob I hate night mares, I hop the track is salvagable.

[E7]

Keep us up to date on the latest "buzz"! Sorry, couldn't resist!

Rich

[bob turner]

I think we survived. I am trying to get the incentive to get off the couch and begin the serious clean up and track hookup. The goal is to run a train by the 28th. Not sure I will make it.

No bees yesterday. None.

[bob turner]

Did not make it by the 28th. Today I got all four loops partially on-line, and need now to evaluate the switch panel. The striking thing is how darn dirty the track gets after four years of non-use. I am using 320 grit, with clipper oil, to remove the oxide. Moving the rail joiners seems to be enough to keep connectivity around the loops, which are roughly 14 x 28'.

Some of the cars and all of the locomotives need to have their wheels shined up.

Still, no more bees.

[bob turner]

Just to keep this place going without occupying the last comment block on the top five threads - I too lament the lack of OSW comments. I would go, but refuse to drive California during Memorial Day weekend. 101 is a horror normally, with everybody driving in the left lane.

As to Rich's comment - I am very lovable - but somehow the folks who run the show at OGR are not into that sort of thing.

Back to the bees - after two decades, I am discovering that switches have failed, solder joints have corroded or failed, and that, to make a train roll perfectly, the top of the rail must shine from one side to the other, along its entire length. Apparently rail joiners are enough if the track is clean; I had at one point strung feeder wires around the loops. Those turn out not to be necessary, but the clean rail sure is.

I have had toggle switches die in the past, but right now three out of four on my switch panel appear to have failed. That is an unusual failure rate. And I have a banana plug wherein the solder joint has caused intermittency.

But when I cure all that, I will be good to go for another 15 years. By then I will be 98, and may not care. That goes for a lot of things right now - most of the things now happening will not affect me personally one way or another. I applaud us, though - 235 years is a very long time for an endeavor such as ours. We can be proud of that no matter what.

[webenda]

I applaud us, though - 235 years is a very long time for an endeavor such as ours. We can be proud of that no matter what.

Bob, what is your starting date and for what?

[steamaheadstephen59]

Bob try this on your track, I think you can get it in the US its called INOX MX3 its desighned to improve electrical conductivity. I buy mine at the hardware store. Cheque it out on Utub.

[Neil]

Suspect Bob is referring to the Constitution, 1789 is when it was fully operational . The bees may have other opinions about the USA of course.