Eveing Diners
Flo, give the gang and I a please in a PRR frosted mug and Dirk a antacid, he blew chucks tonight.
Ed I loved the PRR Mug! I would love one, but I would never use it.
Bought a new weed wacker. This one is a Ryobi 40 volt brushless trimer that is 5'"7" tall. I have dated woman shorter than 5'7" tall and my back never hurt while I was leaning over them! I hope this one helps my back, rear yard is out of control.
My Rib feels like it is 95% healed. I can just barely feel a little something that is not painful at all. If I did not know I had broke the rib I would not think a thing about it.
Ulrich I sure hope you find your forever home.
Later Ken and Dirk says Woof, Woof.
I hate Rust
Good Morning All,
I'll have a regular and a blueberry jelly donut please Zoe. I've been out as last Tuesday I had to sub for one of my guys and go to SVRA at Mid Ohio. Just as the two guys were getting in the truck, he got a call his dad had gone to hospital. By chance I was already packed and no one else was really available on such short notice so off we went, stopped by the house to pick up my bag and got half way by around 10pm. The weekend went well - only one driver and two cars so easy duty. Though the intermittent rains missed our track sessions it was still a chore checking the cars between sessions in the rain. Because we only brought the tag trailer we only had a couple of popup awnings so not as snug and dry as normal.
Got back yesterday and haven't been in the basement yet so no layout stuff to report.
The FM Erie built has a close relative in the FM C-Liner. It was used by the New Haven for passenger service into New York Grand Central and used a two axel front truck and a three axel rear to spread the load enough to be legal in the Park Ave tunnel and approaches which were and are weight restricted. I have two of the Trueline Trains examples one with the original shell and one with the later version which is more accurate. This is the second example which also has DCC and sound. The first I need to send for service but need to find someone to look at it. My meager electronic skills can't get it to move though it powers up and makes sounds. Here is my working C-Liner at my favorite part of the layout approaching the bridge. Of course I removed the hill to the right so I could have better access and just a little more room for structures.
005 by J.R. Mitchell, on Flickr
Glad to hear you have a new and probably more practical direction Ulrich.
Good to hear Ken is on the mend though I haven't gone back through posts to see how Dirk is doing.
Hang in there Kevin. It's a stressful time and you don't want to cause schisms that mess up relationships like my family went through.
Hope the rest of you are doing well or at least are on the mend.
At Mid Ohio, we had 400 cars turn out and a lot of spectators. We had to wear masks and social distance plus have our temps taken on entry each morning. Food we did for ourselves at lunch and dinner at the place we normally frequent (KC's) where we trust them to sanitize and be careful. The dodgy part was the spectators who rarely had masks and were in groups wandering through the paddock. Off putting but we tried to maintain some distance and we were after all outdoors so the risk was lower than in enclosed spaces. The hotel was allright as well with enough stuff in the rooms when we checked in to carry us through the stay without the usual maid service. At least neither of us are messy. Right now it's a different world out there. Catch y'all later. Ciao, J.R.
Good Afternoon!
Temperatures dropped to a low of 15°C today, which actually feels quite cold.
GMTRacingGlad to hear you have a new and probably more practical direction Ulrich.
It´ll be a challenge to find a suizable apartment, though. Most of the jouses do not have an elevator, so we are restricted to 1st floor or second floor apartments, which are kind of rare. Climbing up a few flight of stairs makes my back yelling unsults at me, so we need a place with an elevator. We will see.
Here is another short video showing the town.
I talked to my aunt yesterday, who was born there in 1938 and stayed there until 1957, when she headed west into freedom. After the war, Görlitz had a population of over 100k, now its down to 55k. There has never been any really big business, other than a manufacturer of railroad cars, now belonging to Bombardier. The famous "Flying Hamburger" highspeed Diesel rail car was built there in 1932.
These fine rail cars with their speed exceeding 100mph covered the distance between Hamburg and Berlin in 143 minutes - today highspeed trains do that in 112 minutes. The cost to achieve 30 minutes savings in traveling time - just short of 10 billion $! Was it worth it?
Under communist rules, the works supplied bi-level passenger cars to the railways of the eastern block countries. Bombardier took up the legacy and is still the main source for this type of railroad equipment. In the years following the fall of the Berlin Wall, the number of employees was cut down by two thirds and many people in Görlitz moved away seeking employment in the west. The city is now populated by retirees -just like us.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Good Morning,
Another hot one here today. Humidex of 104F. Guess I'll stay indoors as I don't like that much heat.
J.R. I too love 5 axle C Liners. CNR had a few of them and I managed to find a used TLT version last winter. It didn't run well so I took off the shell and then had to dissmantle the trucks to get at the gear towers. Doing that requires undoing the truck frames which are plastic and snap together. If you break the tab, you then have a nice display unit as no parts are available. Anyway using the exploded diagram for a guide I got the trucks apart, cleaned and lubed. After doing so it runs really well. I wonder if the grease has hardened and seized up the gears on yours. Mine would barely move when I got it. I don't have sound and just put in a motor decoder as I couldn't find a sound decoder with the correct profile. I only paid $85 for the engine so I think it was a good buy.
I'm sitting by the front door as my new loco is out for delivery. Not sure if I'll try to run it as it has never been run and it is 28 years old. I may just take it to the local brass guru for a clean and lube.
Must be getting hot out as the A/C just cut in.
CN Charlie
My morning walk this morning was hot. Cutting the grass this morning was hot. I'm walking our neighbor's dog this afternoon, and I know it will be hot.
We've got a big move across the ocean tomorrow. I've never been to England, Scotland, or Wales. I'm looking forward to it. I'm also looking forward to that big full English breakfast tomorrow morning. I hope the waitresses are prepared.
York1 John
Life like geeps where prone to gear cracking. The last Ebay GP i bought, the gears were fine but the drive shaft would not turn in the bearing because of harden grease. Neither repair is hard
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddyThe last Ebay GP i bought, the gears were fine but the drive shaft would not turn in the bearing because of harden grease.
Proto_gear-3 by Edmund, on Flickr
Been there
I hope everyone is well —
Cheers, Ed
Thanks to all for the advice on the TLT FM C-Liner (gotta love all those initials). I will find my paperwork and carefully disassemble once I clear the decks from the latest scenic endeavour. I also have an older Bachman 2-8-0 with similar needs and without a decoder so the timing is good.
Cheers, J.R.
York1 My morning walk this morning was hot. Cutting the grass this morning was hot. I'm walking our neighbor's dog this afternoon, and I know it will be hot. We've got a big move across the ocean tomorrow. I've never been to England, Scotland, or Wales. I'm looking forward to it. I'm also looking forward to that big full English breakfast tomorrow morning. I hope the waitresses are prepared.
Hi John, Welcome to the UK and I hope you enjoy your visit. I notice from your post that you are enjoying warm, hot temperatures?
When you arrive, you may realise why I am always moaning about the weather (along with other things) For the last two weeks, we have had our GCH on, for at least an hour daily, trying to keep the house warm. Looking on the bright side, conditions are set to improve from Sunday 5th on, so fingers crossed. The Breakfasts are one of the things we always look forward to, sets you up for the day. Paul
"It's the South Shore Line, Jim - but not as we know it".
Thanks, Paul. It will be fun to see. I don't know where you live, but my father loved Scotland when he was there during WWII.
I don't mind the heat. I do like the weather in the Great Plains better than where I came from -- New Orleans. I like the change. What we are having right now -- day after day, week after week, of hot, humid days with no letup, gets a little tiring.
I know that in about six months, I will be freezing and wishing for hot, humid weather again.
Hi John, We live very close to the Royal Border Bridge on the East Coast Main Line, that crosses the R. Tweed
Visiting Scotland, east and west coasts are some of our favouite destinations, albeit the west coast has the most islands.
As well as GP38's, I am a mega fan of Willys MB 38's. Did your father ever get to drive one, whilst he was stationed in Scotland? Just curious, I have liked them ever since I was old enough to distinguish one vehicle from another, and were I ever to be offered a Ferrari or a Jeep - I know which one I would accept, preferably a radio Jeep. Paul
After crossing the channel into France and then into Germany, my father experienced many things that, I think, he wanted to forget, so he very seldom told us about his six years in the army.
His last three days in the hospital before he died, I actually heard several things from him that I hadn't heard before.
My daughters and families were in the UK last year. They spent several weeks seeing quite a bit, and they loved it. My wife and I should have gone with them, but we had some other things come up.
Hi John, We owe people like your father so much. Have a safe journey and a good holiday, both of you. It's 23:17 in the UK, so I'm calling a day. Paul
Paul, I hope I didn't mislead you. I'm only coming to the UK in the cyberworld as the diner starts there tomorrow morning. I wish I was actually traveling there.
Thanks for the discussion.
York1I'm only coming to the UK in the cyberworld
You fooled me. I was going to ask how you were planning on sneaking in? I thought we were banned from Europe.
Took my mom to the doctor. She kept taking her mask off or pulling it below her nose. She has no idea what is going on with Covid.
Mr B one of my OR nurse friends, in Seaford went on a Facebook rant about Delaware restaurants allowing people to refill their cups, not wiping down tables and the staff not changing gloves, just using hand sanitizer on them.
Plebes starting arriving at the Naval Academy today. Once upon a time, I wanted to go there. Their arrival is now spread out over 4 days and they have to arrive with a Plebe haircut.
BigDaddyYou fooled me. I was going to ask how you were planning on sneaking in? I thought we were banned from Europe.
Banned from Canada too. This is the border right by my place, the road on the right is in Canada, the one on the left is in the U.S. Coming home today it was crawling with border patrol people catching Americans sneaking in for healthcare thinking it is free. Not so if you are not a resident. WE NEED A WALL!
The real issue is so many of them were showing symptoms of covid 19, I felt bad for the officers. The border was to be reopened on July 21, but the Government said no way is that going to happen.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I need to know what to do in Northern Ohio tomorrow.
I am leaving Toledo in the morning and heading east towards Cleveland.
It looks like the Mad River and NKP Museum is closed. Is it worth dropping by anyway? Are there outdoor displays I can see even though the museum is not operating?
In Cleveland it looks like Depot Train And Hobby and Al's Trains And Hobbies are the two hobby shops to see in the Cleveland area. Am I missing anything along the way?
Thanks for your help.
I will post more about today later.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Kevin, never been there myself but
http://railfanlocations.weebly.com/berea-oh.html
SeeYou190I am leaving Toledo in the morning and heading east towards Cleveland.
I was going to suggest the Mather Museum but it will remain closed through 2020
Are you going to continue any farther east than Cleveland proper? I live about 35 mi. east of the Cuyahoga River. Got a place to stay? The Caboose is open (but not air conditioned ) still, it is cool here in the evenings.
gmpullmanAre you going to continue any farther east than Cleveland proper? I live about 35 mi. east of the Cuyahoga River
Ed, I love the invite, and I will certainly take you up on it when I come back through in October, but I have been around way too many people the past four days.
After I get back home I am quarantining myself for 15 days, and I am avoiding any social visits for right now. If I gave anyone the crud I would feel terrible.
I look forward to seeing you in October if then invitation is still valid.
I finished up with everything I am going to do up here in Ohio this morning. I met with probably 40 people the past few days, and no one was taking social distancing, hand washing, or basic concern very seriously. I had my mask on the entire time, but I have heard that if you are the only one wearing one it is not nearly as effective as if everyone wears them.
I was actually asked to remove my mask "out of respect" at one point where about 20 people were gathered. I just removed myself from the group. I am going to be so angry if I became infected.
After all this was over, I immediately took off to get away. I decided to go to the Waterloo Recreation area in Michigan.
I drove to the woods, and found out I hate the woods. It was hot, the bugs were everywhere, biting flies made a meal of my legs, and I have poison ivy rash on my right calf.
I did hike about 4 or 5 miles on a trail around one of the lakes.
Then I retreated to the town of Blissfield, Michigan.
The Blissfield Model Railroad Club was closed to visitors, no surprise there.
I went to Steve's Trains and shopped a bit.
I ate a take-out dinner from a place called Beckey's Kountry Kitchen, which claimed to have "Southern Style" fried chicken. Not sure what part of the South they got their recipe from, but it would not pass for Fried Chicken in Mississippi! It was good, but not a taste of home.
I am going to take a week to ten days to get home. I need to decompress and relax a bit. I will try to see as many parks and sites where people are not around as I can. I think I will drive through West Virginia and down the Atlantic Coast.
SeeYou190I look forward to seeing you in October if then invitation is still valid.
You're certainly welcome in October, Kevin. I appreciate your precaution to the exposure to the virus. I hope you enjoy your visit to NE Ohio.
If there is anything you need as you pass through don't hesitate to contact me.
Regards, Ed
Flo, if there is any unpaid tabs I will pay them, I missed the fact I was on the top of this page.
All so give the gang and I a and Dirk his dog treat.
It has been a and day all day! Reports say we had around 3" of rain and have more coming. Great, guess I will be testing my broken rib Sunday cutting grass.
RJ Dirk seemed to feel better tonight when I got home, his tail was going a mile a minute. Sat out with him a while. He enjoyes is Daddy Time outside.
Later, Ken and Dirk says Woof, Woof!
Wow, 7 hours since Ken was in! In the old days I was used to always seeing the diner on the top of the forum. I'll have a regular and some bacon and eggs over medium with rye toast please Zoe. 63F and a very low ceiling this morning. Almost low enough to be ground fog.
Kevin - that is awful. I felt the same at the track over the weekend. No masks and outright beligerence. Sign of the times I suppose. Here in staid New England it is not such an issue I suppose because this area was hit so hard at the beginning.
I think the Bachman problem is the wipers or however the current is transmitted. Posibly a remnant of taking a decade between operations of it.
Did start on the scenic bit of the transition on the back wall. No bushes or trees yet but a start. When I get further along I may need to retouch the actual painted backround to get a better tie in with the colors in the foreground. We shall see.
transition 1 by J.R. Mitchell, on Flickr
Ken - glad Dirk Pip is recovering. My large dog Bristol is now limping from what they think is a sprained ligament. If she doesn't make some progress by next week it's off to another vet for a second opinion.
Lots to do this morning so I best get after it. Ciao, J.R.
*click*
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com