CLOSED////////The Coffee Pot is still on and over 3 years. Here we gather as friends with trains.

[Brutus]

Thanks for the info Doug and EDW....  I'm still collating data.  Basically, I'll be in a hotel for 2 weeks without internet access unless I take a laptop.  Well, my wife's laptop isn't going with me.  Soooo.....  If I just eat on the cheap for the whole trip, I could probably scrounge up about $500 out of my allowances/per diem and spend that on a laptop....  OR, I could just tought it out for 2 weeks (I'm sure some here would like a break from me anyway) and pocket the money for other expenses, like those chairs my wife ordered.  I will probably just tough it out.  They might have a computer in the lobby or something, who knows.

Sir James - Hope yuz Giz has a great New Years too! 

Happy anniversary Prairietype!

Hmmm - enjoyed a nice big sausage sandwich for breakfast this morning, but no mustard though!

Mitch, hope you feel better!

[sir james I]

GOOD MORNING and HAPPY NEW YEAR to those that may not be wide awake in the morning.

It's the end of the year and I still do not know who Giz is. maybe I'll find out next year.

We had a little snow overnite but not worth removing, however this morning our overnite/tues. forecast is 4 to 6 inches. Sounds like a good day to keep the door locked. You guys are welcome though. No grits allowed however.

HAPPY NEW YEAR,,,,,,,,,Sir James

[edw]

Looking online and all the laptops have vista except refurbs - I'm always leary of refurbs on laptops since they are so small - plus the price isn't better than the vista computers on sale....  Can build one with xp on Dell, but again the price is the same.  Oh well, we've got a ton of computers.

Brutus, why not enjoy the best of both worlds? As you've already discovered, it is becoming harder to buy a new computer with Windows XP installed. However, one solution is to buy a new Vista laptop, and then add to that the XP setup from your old laptop. Using Microsoft Virtual PC 2007, which is a free download from Microsoft, you will then be able to instantly switch between the new Vista configuration and your old XP setup, which will now be running as a virtual drive on your new laptop.

You can transfer the old XP setup to the new laptop a number of different ways; either make a disk image of the old XP drive onto CDs or DVDs, and then copy the image to the virtual drive you create on the new computer. Alternatively, you could physically remove the hard drive from your old laptop and connect it as a temporary external drive to the new computer with a USB connector, and copy over the contents of the old drive.

This will allow you to check out the new features in Vista before totally committing yourself to the change over. In addition, you will still be able to run all of your old legacy programs and hardware from the virtual XP drive on your new laptop.

            Here is the link for the free copy of Microsoft Virtual PC 2007.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/default.mspx

 

[dbaker48]

Good Morning ALL !! 

Mitch - I don't think York will be inthe budget this year.  When I told the wife about the trip and how much fun I had, (including the trip to Gettysburgh), it was decided that WHEN I go again.  She's co !!ming too!  So got to save a little more!

Doug - Was it snowing when you were outside painting???  That's dedication !!!!

Hope everyone has a great day, going to mount some TV's

DON'T forget the Blackeyed Peas tonight !!

[Anonymous]

I have a reverse grits story for the holidays.

My aunt is a a lifelong resident of central Pennsylvania. When we would visit their house she would always serve this fantastic Amish breakfast sausage.

Some months ago, in the sort of casual tone I use when expressing to my wife that I would like another European sportscar someday, I mentioned to my aunt that I sure did like that Amish breakfast sausage. So a few weeks later she ships - get this - TEN POUNDS of the stuff down to North Carolina. She did explain that this was the smallest amount they would sell.

This was very nice, but I so much as see sausage for the next few weeks I think I am going to get sick.

[cnw1995]

Morning all. I put on a show for the neighbors spraypainting a picture frame for the bride and the hydrocal kit out in the driveway amidst the piles of snow - figured it was about as warm as it was going to get for a while. As my hobby supply stocks are mighty low, I hope to 'borrow' the youngest's craft paints for the kit sometime soon too. It's fun to have a project.

Brutus, I've had some success with refurbished equipment from a major reseller (with warranty) - as you noticed, they seem to net out the same price though.

Prairetype, sounds like a wonderful gathering. I had a similar experience this summer --- turned out with all the men ended up running trolleys complete with bell signals.

[Prairietype]

Thanks Jim,

I really enjoyed your article and pictures of your family friendly layout.  I also hope your kids had a great Christmas.

My best childhood Christmas 1961; 7 years old and Santa brought Santa Fe: Indian Falls, Regal Pass, and Vista Valley, and the baggage car.  Years later I bought an AB pair of 2343's. That train sums up the Christmas spirit about as well as any.

Have a great new year, Jim.

 

 

 

[ChiefEagles]

I still love page 749. 

[Jumijo]

 

Happy anniversary, PrairieType!

[Prairietype]

Well, Happy New Year's eve everyone. Grey and cold in KC metro, but the cup of coffee is warm and I'm wide awake.  Last night we had friends over, yesterday was one couple's 1st wedding anniversary, today is our second; I sort of arranged New Year's eve as our wedding date because it's always sort of a holiday, followed by an actual holiday, and unlikley to be missed, and it always has great opportunity to celebrate.

And it was a lot of fun last night because the men and women all went downstairs and were required to operate my layout. Once everyone got their hands on the controls there were lots of smiles. The uncoupling, and, switching from line to line, watching the automated switch tower and getting three trains running on two main lines provided a lot of action for a while.

Then we went upstairs and played Mexican Train dominoes. I took a quick break at 11:00 pm to bid on ebay and won some 153c contactors I need for my signal bridge and automated semaphore that were given to me for Christmas. 

It's been a great holiday week.   

 

[Jumijo]

 

Good morning from New England.

We got 4 inches of snow overnight with twice that much expected tommorow night. Will fire up ol' blue after breakfast and clear the driveway.

Watched the Colts and Titans last night in a boring exhibition game. Nothing else worth watching last night. My wife popped the latest Harry Potter video in, but I just can't get into those films.

Jim

[mitchelr]

Morning to All.

Little bit of snow and ice here overnite in G'burg. My cold is still hanging on this AM. Been up since 4:30.  Could not sleep.  Need to go get a shower.  The steam helps clear the congestion.  I am going to try to get to the train room and start the 15 minutes (or more) on the layout today.  I have to start with a general clean up.  Lots of mess gathers in the train room.  

Glad to see Chief is planning on a York visit in the Spring, and Buckeye and Chuck are threatening to make it too .  Should be a grand affair. Maybe Don Baker and Jonadel will make the journey again soon.

I'll check in later.

Take care,

Mitch 

[ChiefEagles]

Morning from sunny wet NC.  1.6" of rain.  All this talk of grits makes me hungry for breakfast.  Off to cook red hots and grits.  Hope all have a great week and a safe and happy new year.

[Blueberryhill RR]

Chuck... I guess if we show up at York, we will be relegated to second class status.   

Buckeye....It sure looks like that.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Chuck... I guess if we show up at York, we will be relegated to second class status.   

[dbaker48]

I'm begining to see the RUSE already......

Roy as WE both know the Snack Bar at York has extremely High standards.  Now even if the CHIEF, came to York in a Chef's disguise it wouldn't work.   The counter people at the Snack Bar would see them grits as an opportunity for a new exotic food item.  They would, I'm sure, try to sell them in Ice Cream cones.  Or maybe mix into Gritshakes.  Which will most likely lead to an investigation, resulting in grits being declared a hazardous material, and the disbursement of such caused the elimination of the York train show, and the fairgrounds being declared inhabitable.

[Brutus]

GRITSNIFFNEGATOR

[wrmcclellan]

Maybe you will have to make it out to a York meet this year???

My plans exactly. 

Now wait, did I just hear what I just heard?  DA CHIEF IS COMING TO YORK?   Roll out the red carpet, CHIEF if you want to stay at my house and not mind sleeping on a FOTON in the next room, your are WELCOME TO IT.  This might be the EVENT of 2008?

WOW!!!!

laz57

Thanks LAZ.  You are a great guy. I see another grits caper coming up!!!!

My dog JANE has a GRITS detection device on her and you better not have any?  She will pick it up lickity split.  But she does like hand outs.

laz57

LAZ - anything we do with GRITS will also utilize an ACME GRITSNIFFNEGATOR which will completely neutalize your dogs ability to sniff any suthern contraband!

[dbaker48]

Chief and York -  That otta be good,  Wish I could make it!  Hard to believe its time for that to come up already.  

Did well with the wiring today.  Completed 5 spurs with independent switch control at control panel.  Check signal strength on DCS comes up all 9's.  I'm happy with it so far. 

Looks like tomorrow will be a TV day.  Chris has too much money, he decided he wanted a 26" LCD for his room.  So he found one with combination DVD player.  So get to mount the TV's (1 in bar, 1 in his room).

Hopefully will be able to do more wiring tomorrow.  With the new 15 minute resolution that should make a BIG difference.

If your going on tomorrow night, "Just watch for the crazies"

Happy New Year

[Brutus]

Looking online and all the laptops have vista except refurbs - I'm always leary of refurbs on laptops since they are so small - plus the price isn't better than the vista computers on sale....  Can build one with xp on Dell, but again the price is the same.  Oh well, we've got a ton of computers.

[laz 57]

Chief - glad to see that you are not going to be traveling as much. The down side is we forumites will not see you as much either. Maybe you will have to make it out to a York meet this year???

Have a great evening all!

My plans exactly.  The Spring Events always blocked that.  York is on the calendar.  1.5" of rain and still coming down.  Pond flowing over the spillway and up to the bank at the road.  This is good.

PS: Grayson, if I do make Savanah BPS, you are on my visit list.

Now wait, did I just hear what I just heard?  DA CHIEF IS COMING TO YORK?   Roll out the red carpet, CHIEF if you want to stay at my house and not mind sleeping on a FOTON in the next room, your are WELCOME TO IT.  This might be the EVENT of 2008?

WOW!!!!

laz57

 

Thanks LAZ.  You are a great guy. I see another grits caper coming up!!!!

My dog JANE has a GRITS detection device on her and you better not have any?  She will pick it up lickity split.  But she does like hand outs.

laz57

[ChiefEagles]

Chief - glad to see that you are not going to be traveling as much. The down side is we forumites will not see you as much either. Maybe you will have to make it out to a York meet this year???

Have a great evening all!

My plans exactly.  The Spring Events always blocked that.  York is on the calendar.  1.5" of rain and still coming down.  Pond flowing over the spillway and up to the bank at the road.  This is good.

PS: Grayson, if I do make Savanah BPS, you are on my visit list.

Now wait, did I just hear what I just heard?  DA CHIEF IS COMING TO YORK?   Roll out the red carpet, CHIEF if you want to stay at my house and not mind sleeping on a FOTON in the next room, your are WELCOME TO IT.  This might be the EVENT of 2008?

WOW!!!!

laz57

 

Thanks LAZ.  You are a great guy. I see another grits caper coming up!!!!

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

  Ran all my trains again, the 4 I ran for SIS and BIL and MOM all ran GREAT NO PILE UPS for 2.5 hrs.

  Well at least DA BEARS win final game.  STILLERS loose, just resting GIZ.

  Snow is falling all is white.   Maybe snowblow tomorrow?

laz57

[sir james I]

Brutus- I have PS2 tiger woods from 2002 thru 2008. Also have 2 Hot shots golf.Other games I have are once in a while. also have Outlaw golf. It's my oldest sons fault, he got me playing hot shots with him and I was hooked. I liked my original PS2 better than this new one, the lighting strike ruined the old one. I figured no need for PS3 to play golf.

Good nite Chewy,,,,,,,,,,,,,Sir James

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

It was a cloudy day in SE Indiana.  I ran the 384E at the museum today and somebody else's Polar Express.  The Polar Express had a short in it from one of the pickups on a passenger car, but I got that going again.  After the museum closed and I had brought home all the engines and rolling stock, I heard a train horn.  There was a double-headed Union Pacific empty trailer train that stretched for almost a mile.  They were backing up on a siding for some reason.  It may have had something to do with the Honda plant, but I am not sure what.  It was interesting seeing that long of a train in Greensburg again.  Perhaps when the NYC was running double track thru here was there a train that long. 

My wife and I went to see "National Treasure" tonight.  It was pretty good.  I am looking forward to the new pot that will start at the beginning of the year.  There was bacon and biscuits on the dining car from "Points East" this morning.  Yummy!  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[laz 57]

Chief - glad to see that you are not going to be traveling as much. The down side is we forumites will not see you as much either. Maybe you will have to make it out to a York meet this year???

Have a great evening all!

My plans exactly.  The Spring Events always blocked that.  York is on the calendar.  1.5" of rain and still coming down.  Pond flowing over the spillway and up to the bank at the road.  This is good.

PS: Grayson, if I do make Savanah BPS, you are on my visit list.

Now wait, did I just hear what I just heard?  DA CHIEF IS COMING TO YORK?   Roll out the red carpet, CHIEF if you want to stay at my house and not mind sleeping on a FOTON in the next room, your are WELCOME TO IT.  This might be the EVENT of 2008?

WOW!!!!

laz57

 

[Brutus]

Sorry, posted around each other - we'll be there in a few minutes Sir James!  Hey, if you get a Nintendo DS try out the Tiger Woods golf game - using the stylus to golf is pretty cool!

[Brutus]

Back from the movies - we went to see I Am Legend, which was good but some of the CGI effects were really bad for such a high budget movie.  I see they have some really cheap laptops right now.  My trip to Florida will include a per diem each day and since I'll be alone, I think I might spend a lot of it on a cheap laptop if I can find one with XP on it new and with wireless....  We'll see.

[sir james I]

Good Evening All

Lite snow just enough to be ground cover. No trains today,Lions,well it didn't take long to decide a nap was better. Nothing on tv tonite so I spent some time with PS2 golf.

Brutus if your coming this way for ice cream Chewy needs her boots on.  Sir James

[ChiefEagles]

Chief - glad to see that you are not going to be traveling as much. The down side is we forumites will not see you as much either. Maybe you will have to make it out to a York meet this year???

Have a great evening all!

My plans exactly.  The Spring Events always blocked that.  York is on the calendar.  1.5" of rain and still coming down.  Pond flowing over the spillway and up to the bank at the road.  This is good.

PS: Grayson, if I do make Savanah BPS, you are on my visit list.