Elliot´s Trackside Diner - September 2011

Hey lookit, we moved!  Ahh, I see that we're in the Chicago area, great choice, and lots of rail action to boot.  I think I'll help Vinnie and the girls with spiffing the place up before everyone else starts piling in.

Greetings all! 

Flo, bacon cheeseburger, fries and chocolate milk-shake for me please in the smoking session.

Tomorrow is my last day of work until the 12th as I'm going with my family on a vacation to Atlantic Beach in North Carolina, depending on the weather. I'm not thrilled to miss three days of work but the vacation is a much needed break after working hard, studying hard and just getting a bit worn from my scene here in Dutch country. 

My latest project has been to "rehab" an old Westside N&W CH caboose with correct trucks and end railing parts from an Atlas Trainman caboose. The model as delivered had crude "air-hoses", incorrect trucks and had been missing several end railing parts (likely why it didn't cost a load). The smoke-stack flopped around so a well placed drop of CA fixed that. I also swapped the air-hoses for Cal-Scale plastic ones I have though think I might replace them one day with brass ones. New couplers, some touch up with paint and it's looking better. Later additions will be a set of Tomar Adlake markers, painted yellow of course. After doing this, I am thinking that if I want a model as a good stand-in for a fleet of N&W steam-era cabooses the Atlas Trainman model with a few new details, paint and lettering would work for me. 

Alvie

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. Good choice ULRICH!

http://youtu.be/q-dr25O5z1s

I always wanted me a ride in a CNW SD40-2...

Good evening!

Plate of cheeseburgers with a bucket of Coke please 'n thank-ya, THAT-is, if the kitchen is up and running again yet.

Well (full from yesterday's rains), another day of creating content for THAT Editor, and adding one more part to an Intermountain PS 4750 covered hopper. Yup. ONE part. I for the very life of me, have no idea how those Chinese pump these things out like they do. Just to attach one brace, from the slope sheet to the side ladder, took well over an hour. Now some of THAT time was spent FINDING the brace after it rocketed out of the tweezers. And then again when it dropped out of my fat fingers. Seems THAT after considerable effort searching the floor, where it "just had to have landed," I found it accidentally. I bumped the chunk of sprue with two more braces, and viola! the missing part magically appeared! Seems it landed just perfectly into/onto the sprue from whence it originated.

I swore these hopper kits off a few years ago, but I "need" a lot more PS 4750 hoppers in my grain fleet...and I've got two undecorated kits waiting to replace already repainted Athearn foobies...so I'm biting the bullet again. I just can't wait to attempt to attach the air lines on the "B" end... Just attaching the brake valve to a brace took 10 minutes and a dozen tries. It finally just sorta slipped into position...not sure what I did THAT I didn't do the first 11 times.

The trucks/wheels are destined to become trackside junk. A replacement set with correct 36" steel wheels will be on the next Walthers order. 

I'll grab a seat at the freshly shined up RC and see who makes it in...

Chris

...grabbed the handrail just in time to make the move "Hobo style". Speaking of which, seems there should be a Hobo Smilie, but I see none. Anyway, while I'm here, how about some good ol' chicken soup, please.

My dad was moved to an extended care facility the other day. At his age, I can't say it looks very promising for him.

Planted 10 more fence posts today. Progress is good. May need a day off tomorrow.

Hope y'all are doing well.

Cheers! Rob

Hi Guys and Gals (that's for you Sue),

Well it is a rainy night here on the Canadian prairies, they say it will stay that way all through tomorrow as well.

This is a great location for the Diner this month, but hope you all enjoyed your Canadian August Sightseeing trip. Sure didn't take long to get to Chicago. (Union)..

I finally got back to the train room this afternoon. I had developed a problem with a tunnel liner on my long eight foot mountain (portal to portal). I hate to say it, BUT, you know that access that I didn't build in originally >>well I had to do it to get in to fix the problem.  For years I never had any problem in that hidden section, but I think when we had the house settle 1 5/8 inches a couple of years ago and then the mud jacking to repair it all contributed to the change in alignment of that liner and it would usually catch the third or forth car westbound. Running eastbound it was fine. It is hard to understand why it would miss the first few cars and it didn't matter the length of them. It would catch on a 40 fotter as well as a passenger car.

SO, out with the DREMEL, and the access I now have--- and the repair is made and all works well.Also adjusted the track elevation in a couple of spots. There were no issues with those spots other than I didn't like the look of them. It showed up the most when running my A-B-A set of PAs pulling a string of lightweight smooth sides. (DRG&W)  I know, I know, most of the LM&E is WP.

I think tomorrow  (if it is still raining) I might start to carve the river into the scene.  This will be the Feather River at the point of the Honeymoon Tunnels.

I have to work again this week-end so you folks know what that means ????  That's right,  I have to come up with another history lesson for you.  So stay tuned, I'll try to find a good lesson. 

It is now past my bedtime and I bet Ulrich is up and getting ready to attend Col. Klink's Class.  Hope that is going well for you.  

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those enduring Mother Nature's Rath this summer..  It has been quite a year.   Hope FEMA finds some more money for you.

There sure has been some fantastic modelling being displayed lately, I hope to do the same before too long.

Good Night Ladies.              Time for some ZZZZzzzzssss.s.s

Johnboy out............................for now

Good morning all....Ah Chicago the windy city everyone hold  on to your engineers hats! Flo a cup of coffee and a bowl of Frosted flakes...what? ok some Captian Crunch then

GOOD MORNING!!!

Today is Thursday September 1, 2011!!!

Hi

 Still have an upset tummy.

And have been struggling for awhile with muscle fatigue and weakness. Could be a medication I am taking, who knows. I see my regualr Doctor next Tuesday. Can't wait. Even buttoning up a shirt make me feel like I have chopped wood all day.

The furnace is in Blows harder than the other and is WAY louder.

WEll, Now we HAVE to have the roof sealed before winter. The furnace man while up there doing the new roof jack said the coating is off in places and seams are cracking. He suggested not waiting till after winter or durning winter. Have to get it sealed fast as winter is approaching.
When it rains it pours, I hope I have enough cash to do it and or they take credit cards.

WEll, I go back to bed now.

LAter.

Good Morning All,

Curt, Wow you have done a lot of work to your layout in a short amount of time, it looks really good.

Jeff, nice feed mill there.

I had to replace a worm gear on a Mantua Mikado last night at the club layout, then I found out the drive gear didn’t match the worm so I had to swap that out as well.  A little oil and she run like a kitten.  Most of the clubs Life Like locomotives have cracked wheels, so we are swapping those out with A-Line parts.  I think I should move my work table over to the roundhouse…

Good morning. It's 72° and mostly clear. The high is forecast to be 97° (feel like 102°) and it will be hot and sunny with some clouds.

I spent yesterday for the most part finishing the feed mill and getting a couple of other projects wrapped up. Now I once again have to clear the layout of the resulting clutter before starting on the next project, whatever it may be. Part of today will be spent paying bills. Some I can pay online and a couple are automatic payments I don't have to worry about. A few places however are still stuck in the middle of the last century so I have to go into town and tend to each one individually. I'll also be dropping some packages at the Post Office so they can be sent to their new homes. Last but not least I'll be getting the grocery shopping done. Think I'll give the new Marketbasket a try.

I found my way here, Chloe.  How about some black coffee to help me get the cobwebs out of my head before going to work.

I am temping today, and they start a little earlier than I am used to.  Once I make it through the day, the long Labor Day weekend starts.  This will be a rare Labor Day weekend because it will be in the low to mid 80's.  Traditionally, we have rain on the the 3 big holidays.

The plans  for the weekend are the ops session on Saturday, and just wing it on the rest.  I'll bet you all have some serious plans.  Three days and we could have the staging done.

Later,  Sue

 Morning Folks

 Flo, Coffee please.

 Well, today will be a busy day. Lot of running around to do.

 Jeffery Have you seen my posting about the F7 b?

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/196127.aspx

 Brandon (Darth Santa Fe) seems to think it could be the decoder? I know you have done a lot with older Athearn's and would like your thoughts.

 Thanks for the ride in the cab.

 See you later today.

          Ken

Good Morning!! Just coffee please. Thanks. Hm. Awfully close to Chicago. Don’t care for Chicago.

Sunny and hot, with a high near 101.

Relapsed last night. NCIS had a marathon all day on USA networks. I did well and until 6 pm. Basically because, well, I wasn't home. Luckily I only watched two, then I had to break out a DVD to see how the next episode ended. It was one of those, need to see another episode to get farther in the sub story line. Still, I was in bed by ten so….not too bad. Baby steps. Baby steps.

Jeff- I like the board repair. Fits perfectly. Good call.

DerJohn- Boy the trees are really perking up the old Pike!

Running late, but I can’t really do anything til about 9 or 10. (sorry J.R. I know you’d just loooove to say that . ) Then I have to go replace an injector on the widows car I referred to in Canada. Hope it works. Someone else told her she needs one so you know what that means. She bought it so you also know what THAT means. Now before Sue and the staff push Vinnie outta the way to take care of it themselves, nothing gender specific was meant. But in my experience, when someone, and it matters not who, says  "so and so says it's this" it snot. And when they say, “I got the part”, that usually means “I got A part. Not necessarily "the right part.”   We’ll see. Usual day of who knows what follows with w**k at 5. I gotta get into the train room so I can talk trains for a bit.

Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!

Train Master

Just a quick check in before I dash off to school. Four day weekend coming up for me. I have tomorrow off! Woo-hoo!

Good Morning...

Well(kind of muddy and boggy)..it will be back to the ol' stick and mug for a few days here..today..84F and sunny, tomorrow 88F and feeling like 107F...yay.

And so, another day of getting a few things for the house..new bookcases and a hi-boy cabinet..all antiquing...

Flo, I'll just have a coffee for now please..I'll be at the window booth for a bit...

Ulrich .... Thanks for moving the DIner. 

Canadians .... Again, thanks for the hospitality in August. It was fantastic.

I know there are plenty of DIners currently in Illinois, and it should be good to visit with them this month. 

This photo is an Illinois Railway Museum publicity photo. 

These Chicago Aurora and Elgin interurban cars are in the museum. I road on the CA&E in my youth while living in IL. 

Here is a link to the picture and the schedule. They have a busy weekend planned.

http://www.irm.org/

I will dig up pictures I took at the museum in Union and post them in the days ahead. 

Mornin' everyone.....  (Mornin' Bill...  I know your in here someplace!)

Chicago huh?  The windy city...... probably will have to go visit my son here sometime this month.   I have wanted to check out some of the museums around the area for some time anyway.

Zoe, I'll have the breakfast buffet and my usual cup of dark roast coffee in a R&GV RR mug please.

Got a call early this morning just after I had taken a shower and got my coffee going.  'twas the NYMT calling to say the tour scheduled for the museums this morning has been canceled and I don't have to open up the R&GV RR Museum.    THAT gives about 3 more hours to get the house and lawn ready for the party on Saturday!!!  I did learn they got the tree cleaned up and power restored to the trolley line yesterday, so they should be all set for Sunday.

Well (still under water), I best keep moving before I fall asleep and don't get the w*rk done!!!

Later!

73

Good Morning All...Its sunny and 81 here...I'll have a sweet roll and coffee please..Thank You...do'in alittle scenery work this morning..still trying to find some Kato track for new layout...You all have a good one...Jerry

Good Afternoon ! from Tipton IN.

Afternoon Bill!

I'm taking a lunch break so I thought I would stop by for a bit.  Flo, I'll have a turkey club sandwich and a tall regular iced tea....

Got a sad email earlier from the Boy Scout District Executive.  A long time active Scouter in our area passed away Tuesday evening.  We volunteered together on many different committees over the years.  He was only 62.......  Unfortunately, I won't be able to make his calling hours or the funeral as I am already "scheduled" all weekend.  I will make a donation in his memory to the Council.

Catch you all later!

73

Hi gang,

Yep, it's lunch time.  I think I should diet....   Chloe, just give me two par-boiled caraway seeds and a diet dr. P.

Sorry to hear of your old Scouter friend Ray, My condolemces to all.

BILL,  I really like your Guitarist..

                         It kind of looks like KEN before his haircut.

Catch ya all later.    Back to putting down some plaster cloth.

Johnboy out...................................for awhile.

Ken: Your box is on it's way. Should be there Saturday. See your PM's for tracking.

Well today I did my grocery shopping at the new grocery store in Leesville. In the Future I'll be doing the majority of my grocery shopping at Wal-Mart. I spent what I normally do at Wal-Mart getting the same or as close to the same items I get there at the lowest prices I could find and still came out with a little over half as much. One trip from the van to the house whereas it normally takes two trips. Money talks.

Boy, what does it take to get into this diner?

I had to login again and it told me site was down for maintenance or somehting.

Then I tried again here later and had to log in to reply, but site seems to be working, though the "back" button doesn't seem to take me back to where I was.

I think I go take anoter nap. Headache setting in.

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Afternoon, a triple cheeseburger with a plate of fries and bucket of original recipie 7-Up please 'n thank-you.

L&N TIM: You should be OK ordering Frosted Flakes here....while Quaker Oats' corporate offices are in Chicago, the Cap 'n Crunch is made in Cedar Rapids...at "the world's largest cereal mill." Which explains the motto for my future layout: "Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's Crunch Berries Tomorrow!" 

CUDAKEN: Glad you liked the cab ride. There's two more parts to it, THAT was the "middle" of the trip, I guess. What sucks is, I thought for sure I'd have a photo of the CNW 6847 to post with it. Somehow, THAT unit apparently didn't appear before my lens. I don't know who shot THAT video...but I envy them!

I've installed one more piece on the Intermountain grain hopper. Later tonight, after one end of this angled brace piece is solid, I'll attempt to secure the other end. Maybe tomorrow I can attach another brace on the opposite end. HOW do the Chinese do this?????

At risk of irritating ULRICH or the other moderators...I'm going to put in a "plug" for a good guy providing an awesome service to the hobby. Daniel Kohlberg. He prints decals (HO and N) for the IC, ICG, GM&O, BN, Wabash, and a few others; but primarily IC/ICG. I recently bought several sets for some Athearn PS grain hoppers I've re-painted to ICG orange for use in my Chicago Central and Pacific grain train. I mentioned this to Kohlberg, who threw-in some CC reporting marks as a freebie extra! It is a sure bet he WILL be getting more business from me, and not just because of the extra, but because he is cranking out decals, and they look every bit as good as what Microscale puts out. 

http://home.mindspring.com/~paducah

With the "RTR" craze sweeping the hobby, it is refreshing to find someone still printing decals for those of us who like to "roll our own" so to speak! 

Well (down a little, toads are splashing around a lot today), I'd best get back at it...I've got two volleyball games to write about, and am waiting for a call-back from the media relations spin doctor of the Hy-Vee Food Stores.

Best wishes to all, rain to those who need it, drying to those who don't...

Chris

Photo by Chris Umscheid, fall 1990

 Afternoon Fellow Dinners.

 Flo Beer please.

 Did are running around. Went to Fairview Heights to make sure the Daytona was still there. (Wife has been driving me nuts over it being towed off) Started it up, and have running it at 3000 RPM's it clear up the miss. Now, I know the head gasket and more than likely the head is junk, but starting to think about keeping it again. Left a note in the car tat it will be picked up this weekend after I moved it to another parking spot. I hate giving up on anything.

 You know what I hate the most about being unemployed? Dealing with a Stupid Organization! In the last 2 days I have received 4 letters.

 Wednesday I received a letter stating I would receive $178.00 a week. Not happy, but better than nothing.

 Thursday I received 3 letter and opened them in this order.

 1 My benefit card, so I can use the funds.

 2 Letter telling me I have a hearing to see if I will get any benefits. But if I did, I would receive $398.00 a week till 06-2012.

3rd letter? Telling me I would only get $178.00 a week?

 Well, I will drop by latter, doing a BBQ.

       Ken 

cudaken

 You know what I hate the most about being unemployed? Dealing with a Stupid Organization! In the last 2 days I have received 4 letters.

 Wednesday I received a letter stating I would receive $178.00 a week. Not happy, but better than nothing.

 Thursday I received 3 letter and opened them in this order.

 1 By benefit card, so I can use the funds.

 2 Letter telling me I have a hearing to see if I will get any benefits. But if I did, I would receive $398.00 a week till 06-2012.

3rd letter? Telling me I would only get $178.00 a week?

$ 178.00 a week,that is ok, here in my town it will be about 135.00 a week.

Good Evening Diners,

Well it was fun to have everyone visit us NOB but I see we are now in Illinois. I've only been to Chicago once so it will be nice to see more of the state.

With regret I'm sending back my U2g Northern. My sad saga is in the U2g thread. In the end even with the refund I will have spent close to $100 in shipping for that loco. I could have sent it back to True Line and I'm sure they would have tried to fix it or replace it again. I am suspicious that the replacement is a repaired loco from the first batch which were junk. The number plate on it indicates a first run.

I'm meeting an old high school friend tonight whom I haven't seen in over 30 years. He was also a friend of a fellow I mentioned a while ago who had cancer and was a really great model railroader. Unfortunately Colin passed away on the 19th.

We finally had some rain last night so I might get to use the lawnmower in a few days. If so it will be the first time in 2 months. That is just the front yard. The back is lush and green along with the flowers and shrubs. Did I mention that my wife has 60 pots of flowers out there?  I'm quaking at that thought of the water bill.

Well have to go mail back the U2g now.

CN Charlie