Happy New Year guys! Thanks for the kind thoughts. Wanted to get this in before we start a fresh pot. The other day, bride leaves me to babysit the three youngest while she and oldest went shopping. The two year olds were riding their scooters between the kitchen and the den. All was well while I could hear the wheels turning, but after they stopped, I went to investigate...only to find them with diapers removed and having "wiped" their bottoms with baby wipes! They are not yet potty trained, so quick action was called for, and thankfully, I was fast enough.
Rich, never passed exit 8. We went up 81 into Pennsy, then caught 78 across to Newark and up to Hackensack. Stopped by and saw the boys. Most of the guys I worked with are retired now, the only ones left are chief officers.
take care and may God bless each of you in the year to come.
dennis
TCA#09-63805
Happy New Years!!!
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Well I just watched the dropping of the ball in Times Square. That's good enough for me. Call it 2013 even though it's 11pm here. And with that I'm calling it a night. Time for this disabled veteran to hit the sack. See y'all tomorrow.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Happy New Year! Mike - you drive and we'll all quaff a few rootbeers in his honor and bring in the new year. To old friends, new friends, and you friends - God bless us all!
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Happy New Year to all on the Coffeepot!!!!
Mike C. from Indiana
HAPPY NEW YEAR
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Good evening all,
Had a nice gathering with friends. Wondering if I might get the last word in for 2012. If so, that word would be "soccer".
Keep on training,
You'd never guess it was New Years Eve by the temperature here. It's warm enough that I have the a/c on. Looks like it's gonna be a wet one tonight. The chance of rain after midnight is 100% and the low will be 55.Not much done on the layout since this morning. Just been watching a long freight make the rounds.
blownout cylinderSo far it looks like the cancer thing was a bad memory...thank goodness...
Hi Guys,
SUBMMBOB posted: New guy is really chumming up to the Chief. First he says he likes grits then admits to living in North Carolina Nice to have you here Bo!
What can I say SUBMMBOB, I'm the new guy!
Ray - Nice story. I'm with SUBMMBOB, "Keep'em coming!"
Happy New Year everyone! Bo
Visit my website Bo's Trains at http://www.bostrains.com
Good Evening...
Well, with the sounds of chaos and mayhem in the background..ambulance and firetrucks...we got home just an hour ago from all the dang CT scans and other testing that needed done...now I'm just relaxing by the fireplace...mmmmmm...right down the street the thing went...oh joy....
So far it looks like the cancer thing was a bad memory...thank goodness...
SPRay,
Keep the stories coming. Reading them reminds me of a coworker that passed last January. Ron was 76, and always told stories as we worked. He got a job with the Pennsy back in 1955, and he told me many stories about his time with the railroad. Wish I could've heard more.
AF53,
Metal or bakelite case on that 4B? The bakelite cased 4B has wood wedges between the coil and laminations. Make sure they're tight. The metal cased 4B is probably similar. I've got a 16B that could probably wake the neighbors with the huming. I need to look at that asap. Watched that video of your 336. Very jealous.
DennisW,
Glad to see you back.
We must be spreading this cold through the Pot. Been dealing with it since Friday morning, and Sunday was the worst. Worked two hours of my eight hour shift before my manager thanked my for coming in, but suggested that I go home and rest. Spent the day passed out on the couch.
Happy New Years Eve!
I am going to be leaving in a few minutes to go to AF53's sister's house for the evening after I pick my wife up from the Ice Cream Shop. No drinking for me, for I am just trying to get over the CRUD.
MikeC: Prayers for your wife's Brother in Law.
Rich: The Hobby Shop in Aberdeen is awesome and I used to live about 15 minutes from there. I belive it opened around 1978. Great people, I bought numerous items there.
Submmbob: Get Well! I am going thru it too!
SPMan: Ray, love the latest story. We had a guy who claims that he was abducted by aliens also. His stories can not be beat. Very entertaining! He is a great worker, but then there are the other times. He has been transfered to 3 or 4 locations.
Have Fun and Be Safe!
John
Good New Years Eve Everyone!
Just a quick stop in as company has started to arrive. No driving for me tonight!
Just did a re-cord on and old (aren't they all) AF 4B Transformer. Hums a bit after the test but all seems good.
NJDevil - I was disappointed in Big Blue as well. Rangers are on ice (so to speak) and it doesn't look good.
Have a safe night everyone and I will see you on the next pot.
Ray
Bayville, NJ
Life is what happens to youWhile you're busy making other plans - John Lennon
Here is one more tale from the rails. We had a guy (brakeman) who was a real character who liked to play games with the officals. The rule book at that time said that when a train in non signaled terrirtory (dark territory)
was delayed by falling below the authorized speed limit and was in danger of being overtaken by a following train then a fusee should be dropped behind the train and thereafter every 10 minutes until the train you were on had reached the maximum authorized speed again for the territory. An official who was making a rules compliance test found all these unlit fusees along the right of way. When the a trainman who had been dropping them was confronted by the official he said "the rule book doesn't say anything about lighting them" and so technically he was right. That's why the rule was changed to include the words "lighted fusee". I think it was the same guy who claimed he had been captured by aliens from outer space and held captive for a while as an excuse for being AWOL. I don't think that one flew though.
SPMan
37 degrees but no sun means no snow melt.
We will be staying home tonight as well. If anyone starts the thingy I will be nearby with the banilla. I don't trust the security of the internet for banking so one of the things I will do tomorrow is write 2013 on a dozen checks, after that I usually remember to do it right. . .S.J.
Going out tonight? stay safe.
submmbob Kev - package came ok. Will take a look when I get back to work. Will prob need to order some parts next week off, so it may take a bit.
Kev - package came ok. Will take a look when I get back to work. Will prob need to order some parts next week off, so it may take a bit.
No problem Bob. Just send me a PM on the $$$ and I will send you that and the return shipping. If you can't repair it we will go to plan B. Happy repairing and New Year. AND A BIG THANK YOU!!!
Just been doing Bills and sorting out and filing last years bill receipts and throwing away 2010s into the burn barrel.
I like to start the new year debt free but ouch this time around. A lot of medical stuff to pay off but I think it will work out, just tight. I wanted to join the TCA this month but that will need to wait till next month.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Hello all
Wireless at the new place is kind of sketchy, so some days I can't get on. Down at a local coffee shop that has free wireless and is open 24 hours. Nice to get away from the house, too.
Dennis - good to hear from you!
I think about NavyJack from time to time. We compared Navy stories. He knew Seabees well.
SpRay - nice stories! Keep 'em coming!
New guy is really chumming up to the Chief. First he says he likes grits then admits to living in North Carolina Nice to have you here Bo!
Bicycle frame is now in primer. Was hoping to put the paint on today, but the weather is not cooperating. Wheel for mountain bike is still in the shop. Freewheel came apart.
Came down w/ a cold on Christmas day. W/ roomates it's hard to stay away from, alas. It's making the rounds at the house.
Marx 999 runs great w/ the RW btw. Just wanted a bit more wattage. Will have to get some photos of the new Over the Bed RR.
Need to go back home and take some more cold medicine.
Happy New Year all!
Bob
Tucson, AZ (aka the Ol' Pueblo)
Home of the Mt. Graham & Arizona Eastern Boiler Shops
KRMLV. Lucky you. nice backdrop.
Thank you, and Happy New Year to everyone!
The Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Route of the Black Diamond Express, John Wilkes and Maple Leaf.
-Jake, modeling the Barclay, Towanda & Susquehanna.
MikeC, Prayers for your wife's brother-in-law. He is in a better place.
LV. Lucky you. nice backdrop.
Jeffery, crash and burn. .
Well The Wife has new tires and I can start the new year with an empty wallet. I am going over my own Fiscal Cliff. Oh well. I will fix mine. Better than the slugs on the hill can do. I hope the 113th is better that this group has been.
I got the New Haven F3 running real well and it is a smooth running engine with those post war motors and pulls a lot of load but as with the DT&I 8111 it tends to wobble. I think it is the stamped traction tire wheels that MPC used. I may convert it to post war magnatraction power trucks if I see the light at the end of the tunnel in the next few months.
It is going to get no better than the teens tomorrow. We have no plans for tonight. You guys that do be careful out there and enjoy.
Happy New Year. I would put the party guy here but Kalmbach has never fixed that screw up in the software. Maybe next year.
Good afternoon!
Sound module for sawmill is installed on the layout and got more wiring work done. Hope to be done with wiring completely during the weekend, maybe even tomorrow evening.
Good afternoon everybody! We have snow today! Only one to three inches predicted. Good day to be at home. Talking with the wife about things we want to do this next year. Seriously thinking about York in October. I have a project I am trying to get completed and with the TCA convention in June I'm thinking the October meet would work out well. If I go to the TCA convention in St. Louis, it will be my first. Think I should take advantage of it being held so close to home.
Got just about all of the Maryville yard tracks ballasted over the last couple of days. Finishing up on the wiring and applying hardboard between the yard tracks to bring the ground level up to the ties. If I want to achieve that effect I've got to use something between the rails as I am using MTH Realtrax with the plastic roadbed.
Jeffery, sorry to hear about the derailment. Thankfully, it doesn't sound like there was much damage.
Hope everyone has a great New Years Eve! Bo
I can sure relate to owning old, expensive camera equipment. Rewind the clock to Dec. 1967 (I know, some of you were not born yet), my last year of college and all I wanted was a Pentax Spotmatic 35 SLR. I worked the grave yard shift at the post office for 5 weeks while showing up for classes during the regular day, showing up is the key word.
I took all those earnings and bought said camera with one telephoto lens. I also worked part at the college shooting pr shots for the athletic dept., good pocket change. It also enabled me to use the darkroom facilities on campus, fabulous perk because I loved working w/black and white photo's.
I used that camera hard for 32 years and loved every experience I had with it. Eight years ago I went digital with a decent point and shoot and six years ago I spent even more money and went DSLR Nikon high end. Never looked back and now my wife even enjoys shooting with it and about 2 months ago I finally invested in some nice studio lights that I'm beginning to appreciate.
Sadly, my Pentax Spotmatic sits in the closet collecting dust. Such is progress.
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
Had a derailment this morning with five cars and one loco going to ground. It happened on the northeast corner of the layout just coming through knutzville and it was a mess. That area is the hardest to reach so a grip and grab reach extender is required. For this reason it's near impossible to rerail anything at that location. Uncoupling the fallen loco from the three in front of it was a little tricky. Retrieving said loco required the grip and grab. Thank God I don't go in for fancy details and angel hair guardrails. The loco is a Bachmann GP7 so it's tough as an old boot! One of the cars was a bit of a nut to crack as well. It's one of the old Tyco 'Old Dutch Cleanser' hoppers so there's not much chance of hurting it. The problem there was that it landed against a couple of structures and it was flat on it's side. I had to flip it up then reach in and grab it before it fell back down. Not so easy with a Grip and Grab. After getting all that cleaned up it was time to find the cause. Inspecting the cars I had retrieved revealed nothing. Looking back along the track I found a small black screw laying on the track. I don't use that type screw to hold my couplers so it wasn't from that. The train was back in service by this time so I brought it around and started checking each and every car by lifting first the front then the rear. My aim with this was to find a loose truck. And I did! the 22nd car back. An Athearn 34' cement hopper. The only thing keeping the truck in place was the mounting nub on the bolster. Looked like Murphy was prepared to have yet ANOTHER day at my expense. That was an easy fix. Still I checked the remaining cars to be sure. You know how that old Mr Murphy is!
Good afternoon all,
It is cloudy with some flurries in SE Indiana. Quiet day at home after yesterday. Just having another couple over for some pizza tonight. A bit of some sad news as my wife's brother-in-law lost his battle with brain cancer last night. He has no more pain and is at peace. TBIL and I can drive. Will be flying low over Bloomington in his honor. I hope everyone has a good day, and may 2013 be a better year for us all.
Happy New Years Eve (Happy New Year, JoeyD!)
Cloudy today, been a bum last few days and not doing much. I will be out and about in a few to get some of those Christmas left over sales. Have to get a Wile E. Coyote figure to go with my RoadRunner ornaments.
30 going to 38, sometime today, 36 at Times Square at midnight.
Cleaning and doing laundry now, watching TV and cleaning out my in box---160+ e mails. I have no time.
Hi Dennis!!! Snuck in did we? I thought I felt a ripple in the force...hope you waved while passing Exit 8...Nice to see you back here!
Bo - Aberdeen has the Hobby Shop on Rt. 35, I think.
During my travels, I found the Toy Train Emporium and now B&B hobby shop near work....oh, this is going to be costly...
Hudson & AF - so much for Big Blue.....where is my HOCKEY SEASON?? Pitchers and catchers report in 45 days (give or take).
Off to finish then to shop...check ya later!
Rich
PS _ SP RAY---I DO enjoy your stories...I echo the sentiment...write and publish. Love to hear more.
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
Good morning all,
Temp was only 36 this morning. That's pretty cold for here. I don't envy those folks who will stay on the street overnight tonight to get a good spot to see the Rose Parade. I have no dog in the fight at the Rose Bowl but will watch it as usual.
Dennis, so good to hear from you. Thanks for checking in with us and many blessings to you and your family. Hope the new kids are doing well.
Bo, by all means go to York if you have never been. It is a great experience and is probably the biggest train meet in the country. I used to go twice a year for quite some time but that was before I knew the guys on the Forum. Living in California, makes it a long hike for me and health issues make it more difficult now than it used to be. There are so many other things to do back there besides just the TCA train meet. They have some "Bandit Meets" in the days leading up to it although they are not as big as they used to be I hear since TCA expanded the number of days they are there. Be sure to visit the National Toy Train Museum in Strasburg and don't forget the Pennsylvania State Railroad Museum right across the street. You can also ride a steam powered train on the Strasburg Railroad too. Strasburg is only about 30 miles East of York. While at York, you might get to eat some grits with the Chief. If you are a history buff, Gettysburg is 30 miles to the West of York.
Need to take a walk today after it warms up a little. Been slacking too much on walking lately and eating too much.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to Joe in Japan !!!!!!!
Aloha and Happy New Years Eve! (or Day to Joe!) Let me add my good wishes to Dennis on his burgeoning family. Glad you're back. Looks like a quiet day of shepherding homework with the youngest, hopefully running Ivor and getting ready to celebrate the evening at a friend's warehouse. All I know is it's a gigantic space with at least one full-size golf simulator. LOL. Tomorrow we plan to go downtown to get pizza and see the lights at the zoo - too bad the high temp is expected to be only 12. Ugh. Do any of you write resolutions? Last year, I wanted to read more and just finished my 101st book. This year, I am sure my wife will have some resolutions for me.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
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