Elliot´s Trackside Diner February 2011

Sir Madog

Welcome Home Folks,

the switcher has uncoupled and pulled away, the girls have made the place ready to welcome you. There are cakes on the griddle, fresh coffee and the smell of apple pie in the air.

We are ready for a month´s chat with friends from all over the world.

I don´t quite know where we are exactly, but there is no snow to be seen and a scent of spring in the air. I guess it must be some place down south!

Sheesh,  they could at least let people know before they pull way with the train!  I spilled coffee all over me and have spaghetti sauce on my last clean shirt.......

Hmmmm, no white stuff outside, but it looks like it is pouring rain out there. 

Later!

73

AHHHH. Pretty sure we're in LA We can stop by my layout AND we are not FREEZING like the rest of the country, i seriously feel bad for all you. I'll have an In n Out Double Double Animal style. But dont tell anyone, its on the secret menu For all of you who have no idea what im talkin about, well i just feel bad for you

 

aaaaahhhhhh...I see that we have a new spot or the diner...that is a good thing. And it is near a lovely beach as well....even better...

Anyways, up here we are seeing it a bit windier now...all from the Northeast...yeeesh...damp.

Chloe, I'll have a pentuplet burger and a tub of fries as well please...I'll be at the window booth admiring the new digs....

 I see we move, and I also see Ray isn't to happy . 

 Just in-case we lose power, I thought I would stop by right quick.  If not see y'all tomorrow.

 

Good Evening All,

    I always liked Mobile. Had a friend from here while at communications school in Pensacola and loved to visit. I'll have an order of catfish and hush puppies please along with some slaw and an RC (cola of course).

    Went to the big train show in Springfield for the railway museum and had a blast. Over 20,000 attended over the two days and we did good business for the museum handing out lots of brocheures and selling surplus equipment, books and sundry other stuff.

   We're now waitng on the next round of storms to hit tomorrow morning thru Weds. Not sure what we're getting, straight snow or Kens' wintery mix. Sorry to hear about the ongoing nonsense with the house  Ken. I guess with forebearance they didn't have disclosure as high on the priority list as forclosure. How does that go - "Some rob you with a six gun, some with a fountain pen." Hope things work out better when it's all done.

   Ulrich - good to see the progress already. Will you be doing the same as the finished modules shown?

   Robbie - good luck with the NS job. As the rest said, if you can stick it out and get past the extra board it gets better. Sort of like being a temp.

   Sam - ok, how did the train hit a tree - did it jump out in front of the locomotive?

   Lee - I'll have a look at home in the box of bits. Any chance you can post a pic of said pancake motor? While we're on the subject of AHM/Rivarossi does anyone know who still carries or where to get McHenry couplers? They make a conversion for the trucks on the Rivarossi passenger cars that snaps on. The KD conversions are a lot like torture and for the display layout I really need the articulated truck mount couplers (type 54 I think for the 6 wheel trucks).

   Long day in the shop with lots of distractions and nonsense. Think I'll head on home and get ready for the next storm.    CUL, J.R.

So, Californi huh, I thought it never rains in Sunny California. Looks like I'm wrong. 

Great. I’m here, but have no idea where. Reminds me of a couple times in the Army. Yup, and it’s dark too. Somethings never change.

Sleet. Yuck. Cofefe (there’s a new one) and a bowl of chili. I’ll a;so ((sigh) Also) take that Pork Chop Bama left for me too. Thanks.

For the first time in my history, Williamsville has cancelled school PRIOR to the sn*w. Only one so far who has. Another first. Funny thing is the worst isn't suppose to hit until tomorrow evening. Where were these people when I was in school?.....Don't answer that.

Bama- Oh I don’t blame you for rubbing it in, I would have myself. Unintentional you say? Yah riiiiight.

Grits? Not sure what they are. OH! Gree-its, they’re OK, we eat them occasionally here. Not too often though,  maybe only two or three times a month. But my taste for them depends on the way they are cooked. I like mine firm, plain with just butter and sometimes a little sugar. Soupy = slimy to me and therefore yucky.

Well I didn’t get to the train room today, I opted to prepare to be stranded. We are right on a line where the professional high paid weather guessers say, we could probably (did you catch that? could probably)  get a lot of…..something. Latest guess is somewhere between a quarter of an inch to an inch of sleet and 18 to 20 inches of sn*w by the time it's all done. Walmart weather report (heard standing in line at the Walmart) says up to 3 feet. Take it for what it’s worth.

You know, I was just thinking. I see no reason I can’t go into the train room now. Tomorrow, after the big green snow eating monster gets used, or not, I have no plans other than w**k at 10:30 IF the trucks make it ( I could wait for hours for them depending on the weather. One comes from Shee-ka-go) and then w**k again at 5. Or 4 if the guy can’t get there from Spfld, or not if the owner decides, not worth even opening. Who knows. She’s a women and lives right above the restaurant . Notice I said woman. So whatever her reason for doing whatever she does will make no sense to me.

 I guess I do have plans for tomorrow after all.

Hmm. J.R. seems to think we’re in Mobile. He’s a traveler, maybe he’s right. I’ve never been there but Brenda has. I could ask her, but that’d be like asking for directions. We’ll figure it out.

　

JR asked: "Sam - ok, how did the train hit a tree - did it jump out in front of the locomotive?"

It must have been on the branch line.

So is this Mobile. Ulrich ran the swticher without know where he was going.

We just returned from Nashville. I was late. The drive is normally 2 hours. This time it was 3 1/2. Very bad accident on I-24. I had the car in "Park" for over 45 minuntes. Then we squeezed into one lane to pass the wreckage. One tractor trailer was nose-first into a large rock (Highway cuts through a hiil at that location. An SUV was crushed beyond recognition. Nasty.

Mobile's history includes the worst Amtrak wreck ever. A barge hit the bridge causing the accident.

http://www.trainweb.org/vangab/bigbayou.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFWVe2CjGx4

 

Evenin' folks!

Just a decaf for me Flo!

Hey!  Who said I'm not happy.  Why wouldn't I be happy down here where the weather is always so nice...  I mean just for instance, here is tomorrows forecast: Morning light rain...then windy with strong thunderstorms in the afternoon. Storms could contain damaging winds. High 67F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph.Thunderstorms, some strong during the evening, then mainly cloudy overnight. Low 37F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%.  What's not to like?

Here in the beautiful Finger Lakes, we are all set for some fun in the snow........  Calling for somewhere between 8 and 16" of nice white fluffy stuff and then it will blow around for a couple of days.  Lucky I have lots of milk and bread already in the house so I don't even need to go out in it tomorrow when it begins....  Beer!  I will have to go get BEER!!!  Somebody said something about the Stupid Bowl and Beer a while back......  Just hope the wood holds out until it is over (the storm not the Stupid Bowl).  If the electric goes out....  I guess I won't be in the diner here much.  Seriously, the biggest worry I have is that my son and my DIL may have to be out in the storm and drive to work...  My son's drive is along a flat, level road that gets badly drifted and you can find yourself out in the middle of a field before you know you are off the road.  Don't ask me how I know.... 

Ken, in the words of the great W. C. Fields, "Ah!  A thief eh?  No, no, I like thieves. I have many friends who are thieves. Why just last week we had a Bank President over for dinner....."

Speaking of thieves, I called my insurance man today.  He of course wasn't in the office.  He did call me back a while later....  Already knew why I was calling as he pulled out my house policy renewal and even he had to sit down!  Seems I opened my bill a couple days ago when It came and found a 25% increase in the cost of said policy.  Mentioned a few epitaphs about insurance companies, I did.  He told me to relax, he had already found out why the increase is there....  Seems when they switched my Auto insurance from one company to another part of the same company (saving me over $200) somebody didn't check the little box saying I should have a discount for having the policies through the same company....  A young lady out in the main room at a little desk will be talked to (nicely I'm sure) about it.  Rates will be going up (surprise, surprise)  but not anywhere near 25%.  After THAT, said insurance man who is the father of one of my favorite students and who used to play basketball with my son and I got caught up on all the local gossip, laughed a bit, and then I went back to w*rk on NMRA business.

So.....  (A needle pulling thread) how ya all gonna cope with the weather the next couple of days???

Stay warm and stay safe!

73

Ray.....  You had spaghetti? What about tacos and enchiladas?

 

Heartland Division CB&Q

Ray.....  You had spaghetti? What about tacos and enchiladas?

 

Hey Vinnie!  We got us a wise guy over here.......

Hey, nice place. Bring on the tacos and enchiladas. And a Dr Pepper for the drink. I am too young for the

Gooood evening!!...Been awhile since I posted anything. Getting ready to get blasted with some more snow here in good old Syracuse. About 4-6 inches tomorrow and another foot or more on Wednesday. I have already gassed up the sled and the snowblower and have told the boss that I feel like a cold is coming on . I am sure we will be swamped with calls at the firehouse as usual. You would think with the citizens that live in this snow belt area that they would all be pros at driving in the snow. Think again. It's not the quick starts that kill ya..it's the quick stops!! I have actually been able to get some layout work done lately with the benchwork and backdrops done on the 8x8 extension I have added. This new side will be mostly scenery style with a large coal mine and other industries in the hills. It will be accessed by a rather large bridge over a gorge that I have always wanted to put in. The 2" foam base is already down and I have the track plan I like almost ready. I also have a few project I am working on for friends layouts..(Craftsman kits). I also have stuff to finish up for our club show in February. www.syracusemodelrr.org. Ray I hope you can make an appearance as we also have our Cny division meet there for the month. We open up the two clubs operating layouts which have had some major reworking done to them since last year. Also many vendors in the downstairs rooms. Have a good night all!!....Tim

Bacon & scrambled eggs, please.

***Ray, amazing work on those tiny power tools and such.

Anyone here have a (HO) Athearn SD60I with DCC & Sound? If so: (1) could you please tell me this locos weight (OZ)? And (2) would you know how tight a radius it can negotiate? Hmmmm, wonder how it would measure up next to an Atlas U30B?

Made some progress on the wife's (HO) layout this evening. Glanced under the table and there is an out of control "wire farm" growing under there. One of these days I'll have to start dealing with it.

Rob

Hello again all!

Garry - ARRRRGGGGHHH... 

J.R. - To answer the question of how the train hit the tree.  We got a LOT of sn*w in a short time last wednesday, and that caused many a several trees to fall over onto the tracks.  CSX has a max speed of 80MPH in most spots (which would be the Fredericksburg Line for VRE followers) and the AMTRAK crew was bringing the train back from Richmond (Governor's Special) when they encountered "The Tree"!  

On the Manassas Line last wednesday, we had one crew have to violate hours of service due to trees down.  they wound up arriving at Broad Run over 4 hours late because of it!  I wound up hitting 12 hours on duty the next day, that along with a 7 1/2 hour layover made for a LONG day!  

Anyone up for some surfing?  I haven't done it yet, but I'll try ALMOST anything once! No?! No one wants to go for it? Well, ok...  Chloe, may I please have a Large RBF and a grilled pastrami on rye?  Thanks!  I'll be in the corner booth for a while.

(EDIT: Looks like I got top honors tonight!  Chloe, serve up whatever they ask for, I'll be around to settle up later!)

 Hey Gang, I see Ulrich did let the caboose door hit him on the way out to move the dinner!

 Yawn, danging I am tired! Amazing how tired one can get from sitting all day.

 Guess the big news is still the winter weather. Still have not seen a lot of bad stuff yet, but the trees, grass and the car's have a coat of ice on them. They did let me close the store a little early, got the call around 7:15. Roads where wet but no ices. I was surprised that I had as many customers as I did today! While far from being busy, I did have 4 come in and 2 bought for a total of $1170.00. 

  Was told to call the owner Tuesday is the weather gets bad and cannot make it in.

 Been think about what I need to sale if I lose the house. It is amazing to a degree what you will accumulate in 19 years! In my mind today I was thinking of stuff I will not have spaces for.  Like 2 70 gallon aquariums, heavy duty vices, arch welder, 100 gallon 5 HP compressor and the list keeps going. Plus a lot of Mopar Parts as well.

 Todd Would you by chances need a good air compressor? If I have to move I would just about give it to you. I all so have a set of 70 High Back Buckets Seats if you could use them for your Runner.

  Then there is all the train stuff! I will still be in the hobby, but more than likely will change to N Scale. Something I had been thinking about for some time now anyway. If by chances I get a spaces close to the sizes I have now I might stay HO. It would take forever to list all the stuff I have on E Bay!

  After having a good sizes bench in HO scale I don't think I would be happy with a small spare bedroom around the wall layout. N Scale might be a better fit for me.

  Robby P Good luck on the N S interview. By the way, where did you apply? A UP engineer I met gave me a web site to apply to while I was working at VW. I think I still have it but not sure. Just not sure if I could deal with them giving me 2 hours from them calling to getting to my train. Sure would have to give up .

                      Ken 

Good evening Diners:  A cold and clear one here - but the stars are magnificent if you can stand to stay out and look.  The wind is the problem, rather than the temperature, which isn't worth mentioning in Johnboy  or CNCharlie's presence. That is supposed to die down overnight.  I'll take a hot chocolate with extra marshmallows please Chloe.

 

 

Chuck:  Good to see you drop by,

Gas was almost as expensive here in states as down there 3.25 here 4.78 down there..WOT HAPPEN. Here at home its only 3.01.....

...inflation is wot.  Lower US$ = higher oil prices - and QE2 and its potential offspring isn't going to help that any.  Pity about hose 12" curves, any chance of easing them? Looking forward to the pics.

 

Vincent:

(then again, I give a girl I work with a hard time cause she won't walk the 300 feet to her house, but has her BF pick her up)

...Kris saw our neighbour one down across the street drive down their driveway to dump a bag of garbage in the bin, it's got to be 200 feet, max. Reminded us of that scene in "The God's must be crazy".

 

Bama: glad you're feeling some better.

I have a question involving LED's.  Plan on adding them to the front and rear headlights on my GP40-2, but I need a recommendation of brand, capabilities, etc.  I'm fairly certain that I will have to add a resistor in line with them and that's fine, but how big and mean of one should I add? 

...I generally go for a 560 - 680 Ω resistor for each LED - I guess it depends on the voltage going to it, but I'm guessing 12<18v from track power in DC<DCC.  Personally I don't bother tracking down a particular brand. Size, the colour of white (Brilliant blue-white or a more gentle amberish white depending on the type of loco and its era), and the brightness.  Often the LED can be too bright! It's a matter of personal taste too.

 

Robby: Good news about NS interview! Hope all goes well.

 

Ulrich:

Petra is still complaining about the fumes from the modules. I have to admit that paint certainly has a pungent smell to it. But I need to store them inside - it is too cold in the attic, and I do´nt want them to get warped.

  Fumes, and the clean-up of solvent based paint are the main reasons I do nearly all my painting in latex / acrylic paints. Worth a try? I don't know if there is a big cost differential between the two in your area.

I am so sorry to hear about Calif. Tom´s health issues - left a post with for him in the resp. thread, as he is not visiting us anymore.

...I PM ed him from there, and invited him back with the page 65 url, I hope he picks up your bread crumb trail.  Thanks for the move, that was very smooth, hardly made waves on my hot chocolate - but maybe the marshmallow crust has a dampening effect!   I understand Ray was less impressed however!

 

Todd:

I'm with Garry, let's do the gulf coast, how about Mobile Alabama? We can set up right there between the CSX and the TSD. AND, there are several yards within just a little tugs distance.

...I third the motion, after all, the Diner is Mobile every month anyway.

 

Ray:

SIX Robins eating the berries in the Flowering Quince tree.  Guess they got tired of the cold down South........   (More likely a group that wintered over here.)

...very likely the latter, if they are like our robins that is. I'm told (and find it hard to believe)that our robins don't migrate out-of province, but just go into the deep woods. What they will do when all the deep woods have been clear cut is "not my department"!  I feel your pain re the tiny escaping parts. I have a flashlight on hand the shine horizontally on the floor so their tiny shadows show up a bit better!

 

Jeff/Ray/Robby:

Can't stand them myself.

...never had them in a Southern setting, but from the sound of things they would be much the same as the Brits call Semolina (which is made into a fairly oatmeal like hot goo they call semolina pudding = dessert). Semolina itself is written up here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semolina

 

Sam:

Unfortunately V52 is out of service after an AMTRAK crew hit a tree with it on it's way back from Richmond last wednesday... 

...and there, I thought walking trees were a figment of JRR Tolkien's imagination! LOL - I've now read your explanation, and it brought to mind the delays on British Rail due to leaves on the line in the autum.

Anyone up for some surfing?  I haven't done it yet, but I'll try ALMOST anything once!

one of our MIAs, Ken in California could show you how, he's really into that.

 

Barry:

Looks like the storm is going to be a big one...the talk is about a foot of the stuff, or more now... .

...at least that, from what our weather guessers are telling us, because we are on tap for about 3 inches up from Dick's way tomorrow night to lay a base for the 10 to 12 inches we can expect from your storm. And this time there will be no rain instead, so I'd better see that the snow blower is still firing up tomorrow.

UPTeen:

an In n Out Double Double Animal style.

...A "Double Double' around these parts is a coffee with 2 cream 2 sugar, but the rest you will have to break down and enlighten us; so dry your eyes and get to it old chap!LOL

 

TSF:

So, Californi huh, I thought it never rains in Sunny California. Looks like I'm wrong. 

...I think UPTeen  was hoping so, but as far as I've gathered we're in Mobile, Alabama. Enjoy!

 

TV has taken up all the rest of the evening (Monday seems to be the only really decent evening for programs we like - the rest of the week is much more sparse.) So, bedtime again, and little accomplished. So Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers for all in need of Healing, Comfort, Prosperity and Peace.

 

Goood Morning,

so we are in Mobile, Alabama? Good to know where I took the train to! It was dark outside, when I started the move, so I could not really see where I was going.

Zoe, coffee and a bowl of muesli, please!

There are news trickling in on the cause of the train wreck. Apparently, the engineer on the freight train turned his attention to a sandwich when he ran the signal. As this line is in eastern Germany on former Reichsbahn territory, it has not been equipped with all the safety gadgets which stop a train automatically when  it runs a signal. Turning German Railways into a semi-privately held company prevented the upgrade of many a line in that region - with very sad result, as we can see now. The engineer will be facing manslaughter charges on 11 accounts, but the former president of German Railways, who is responsible for cutting down on safety investments, is most likely not being held liable.

Since 175 years, we know in Germany that you can´t run a railroad only with ROI and shareholder´s equity in mind, but apparently learning from history is not a thing to do.

No, Zoe, no need to get out the soap box, I´ll leave it at that.

John - used a rattle can to paint the modules. Acrylic paints are, for whatever reason, not available as rattle cans. It´ll probably takes weeks for the odor to disappear. It is much better by now, but you can still smell it. Acrylic paints also have the smell of horse manure - you know this ammonia smell. It makes my eyes water like the Niagara Falls, so I have to go for solvent based paints.

J.R. - yup, the modules will look similar to those I posted. I am still trying to figure out how to scenic the corner modules to give the layout a compact and continuing look. Minimum radius on those is 11", which shoulkd be OK for N scale.

Ray - I am sorry for the jerky start of the journey and the bumpy ride, that left you with a not so clean shirt. I´ll be more cautious next time ...

Ken - I am really amazed how well detailed and how well performing N scale is today. A long way from what I experienced in the late 1970´s, when N scale was still in its infancy. Should you decide to go that way, there is only one advice for you - bring it up as close to eye level as possible and don´t make the layout to deep, so you can really "stick" your nose up to it!

Take care!

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

 

Morning...

Well, we have about 2" of snow falling right now..then there will be a bit of a break then the heavier snow will be falling tonight and tomorrow...

JohnDer: Our neighbour left me his 1957 Dodge Powerwagon for the duration...he is out of the country...in Spain...and it is well maintained so my snow shoveling is now get in the truck, start 'er up, and away I go...

Ray:  I have a clean white shirt here....

Well...Flo, I'll have a coffee and some bagels please...I'll be at the window booth waiting for the sunrise...do we know where we are yet?   

Good Morning Folks!

Thermos of coffee today please.

Roads are icy, but made it in to work.  The parking lot is a sheet of ice.   Hope I make it home safe.

Have a grreat day all!

Good Morning,

7” of snow overnight; no ice yet, that is going to hit us this evening with storm #2; well I’m on the edge of the storm so either a bunch of snow or a ice/sleet/snow storm this evening and tomorrow.  I made it into work this morning, but tomorrow look like a sick day.

 

Larry it looks like an ice storm for you in southern Ohio.  You might just have to stay home and work on the layout until things thaw out, (that’s my plan).

 

Ken, that’s some bad news, if you lived closer I would be interested in the fish tanks.  If it helps out let me know what you have in HO that fits the 1950’s time frame.

 

Rob, buy a wire staple gun from Lowes or Home Depot.  It shoots curved staples to hold wires and typically has 4-5 different staples for different size wires.  Mine will staple up to CAT5 cable without breaking the insulation and down to 22 GA wire.

 

I took the GG1 apart last night and the motor is toast!  I will be looking for a replacement motor.

 

I took the 70 tonner apart last night to install the DN123PS decoder and the current decoder is a card. With cards running up for the headlights.  Looks like this one won’t get sound.

 

Replaced a few missing ties and that was it last night on the layout.

Good Morning! Dark Roast coffee and 4 glazed donuts please. Thank you. Mobile eh?

Welcome to February, or as we call it round here Feb-u-wary. The shortest yet longest month of the year.

Ken- Appreciate the offer, but I don’t have any room for another compressor. Especially a large one even if I had no compressor myself. As for the bucket seats…..You dog! Just my luck! Had it been five years ago or more I’d have been at your door step shoving cash in your face before you got off the computer. I wanted to change the interior and make it buckets since I bought the thing in 1980 but couldn’t find any. Or at least any worth getting anyway. But, about 5 years ago I decided I wanted to keep the taxi cab interior after all ( along with a few other changes)  and that’s the way I went. You should have no trouble getting rid of them for a decent price. Man! Talk about timing. I have no place at all to keep them either in case I’d change my mind in another 25 years.

Barry- I know I’ve said this before, but I loooove them old Power Wagons. Talk about ruff n tuff n just plain cool!

Welp, it's definately a play it by ear day today. What is for sure is, see the preacher and help with the financial reports he needs for the end of year reports for the district council. Unload put away the grocery trucks (I don‘t know why I always say unload ) at 10:30 or whenever they get there, and , more than likely w**k at 5. Judging by the outside we had nothing more weather wise since last night when it stopped sleeting about 6-ish. The Preacher who lives in Chatham (just south of Springfield) may chicken out and not come up depending on when this mess is to start. The Truck from Chicago may or may not be delayed depending on the roads north and the restaurant may not open if it’s snowing as heavy as they predict or at least close real early due to lack of business. Most of the business she has is from neighboring towns. Elkhart, Athens, Lincoln, Springfield etc. Oddly enough Williamsville, since the mad influx of transplants from elsewhere, just complains about the lack of anything, but when they have one, such as a restaurant or a grocery store, they don’t support it. So what we have is an exodus of Williamsville people heading to Springfield and Lincoln (older Williamsville people to Lincoln mainly. The Springfield transplants claim there is no place top eat there either. Just a Cracker Barrel. I guess if the only places you acknowledge are the Olive Garden‘s, Outback’s, TGI Friday’s, Applebee’s etc, those kind of places, they are right. ) to eat while a line of cars from Springfield and Lincoln are heading to Williamsville to eat. Odd. But we are talking about people.

Sew, it seams to me (ha! more sewing humor! ) I’ll be just winging it for most of the day. Hopefully in the train room. I did get down there for a bit last night to lay some cork roadbed. Hopefully some more today as far as I can with just two new pieces in stock and a small amount that can be cleaned up a bit and reused. Not enough to complete even one loop, but like I said, I can do other things.

Those of you who have to travel today, please, please, puh-LEASE be careful.

Y’all have a Great Day now ya hear?!!!

 Good morning.   No snow or ice for me.  Just rain.  I guess we dodged another bullit.

 Spent most of the day yesterday cleaning the house.  Today...Maybe see what I can get into in the basement.  I put down some road bed the other day, but I would like to see what happens with some of these job interviews.  If I can get a job, maybe I can get some better track.   Plus i would like for this to be a "longer lasting" layout.

 Ken.....I just went to NS website.  I use to check it a few times a month.  Just to see what's new in my area.   A buddy of mine told me to put in for the one job, and that's the one interview I have.  

 Der John...........Thanks.  Its just the next two weeks will drag by!!!!!!!

 Lee.........No snow for us.  We did get some ice, but its all rain now.  We lucked out!!!

 

Good Morning All,

    24F and snowing this morning. Made it to the shop ok but I could use a regular and a nice stack of blueberry pancakes please. No ma'am hold the grits and gravy. CFO stayed home with the doggies and the snow blower so if we really get this 8 to 14"  we're set. Waiting for a call from a crew to clear the roof here at the shop for the landlord (total building is 100' x 200'. We are discussing putting a doghouse(shed) up on the roof to permanently store a snowblower and maybe leaf attachment since this weather extreme stuff seems to be a trend. Not sure how we'll anchor to the roof yet but we'll see.....

   Lee - I have bags of stuff and may have the motor you need for the AHM. Didn't get into the basement yet to check but I don't have a clear idea yet what the motor actually looks like that you need. Most of the AHM stuff we have is single motor in the rear truck with wires to the front to pick up current and operate the light. Let me know and I'll check. The only other pancake motor I've seen is the old Tyco which is a slot car motor turned on its' side.

   Ulrich - we have spray latex here (Krylon) and water based stains from Minwax that are virtually odor free. The other trick might be to take the offending pieces outside and hit them with a hair dryer to accelerate the process.

   The pancakes hit the spot and I'll have the rest of the carafe of coffee in my New Haven travel mug please. Time to scoot before that finds another branch line.   CUL, J.R.

Good Afternoon,

I just woke up from a mid-day nap took, because I am not feeling well - developed a breathing problem. MY lungs hurt when I breathe in. I guess I need to get that one checked out.

Flo, only a mug of hot chocolate with plenty of marshmallows in it, please!

It is still icy cold outside at - 5° C. The weather guessers are predicting rain to come. I am just glad I am not driving anywhere today. It is best to stay put under those conditions.

I decided to wait past Petra´s birthday to buy what I need to get that loco going, it just looks better to receive a big package in the mail after I have given her THAT small package

Stay safe!

JR, thanks for looking, this is defiantly a proprietary motor for a PEMCO GG1.  The motor is in a plastic housing, disk shape.  It’s part of the drive wheel assembly. I’ll post a picture of it tonight.  The locomotive is Alex’s (Dale’s Son), a 10yo Boy Scout that is into model trains, I hope I can get it up and running for him.  I spoke to his dad and found out Alex did the paint and decal work on it.  If I can’t find replacement parts I might spring for a used GG1 chassis or something.

 

Ulrich, I bought a box fan and a cheap furnace filter for painting in the basement, the furnace filter catches the airborne paint and there is almost no odor when using water based paint.

 

I just spoke to UP B&B in Milwaukee, WI.  They are busy shoveling 20” of snow off the bridges to bring the bridges back into balance so they can open them.  I just approved a 2-hour advance notice for the NS bridges along the lake to continue the notice through Wednesday night. Looks like a bunch of work ahead of me today getting ready for tomorrow.

Good morning. It's 63° and the storms are running rampant. Chance of rain today is 60%. Low tonight is projected to be 21°.

I'm on my way to town to pay the bills that can't be paid online then get the first part of the grocery shopping done. My cupboards are bare.

Lee - I seem to remember a GG-1 in the box of "stuff" - I'll try to look tonight before I go to the museum. PEMCO is not a brand I remember but I doubt they did their own driveline so lets hope.... J.R.