Elliot's Trackside Diner IX

[Don Z]

The doors are now locked....

Don Z.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 NOTICE!!

THIS DINER IS CLOSED!

PLEASE GO TO THE 

NEW ONE HERE.

[JimRCGMO]

Since Jeff suggested we move the Diner before Bergie does, here's the link to the new place:

Elliott's Trackside Diner X - Are We There, Yet?

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 OK guys, we're about to the point where Bergie locked the last diner. Who wants the honors of opening a new one. I've done the last two.

[CNCharlie]

Good Evening Diners!

Happy days are here again!! On Monday it is supposed to hit +40F!!!  Get out the shorts and suntan lotion a heat wave is coming soon! Well maybe a windbreaker instead of a parka.

Off to the LHS tomorrow as I need to get a small set of tweezers. The ones I have are just too large for grab irons even though I have used them before but I'm tired of the struggle. The grab irons on the Red Caboose tank car I'm working on seem to be smaller than others I've put on. By the way, thanks Jeff for the weight tip using modeling clay. It worked great in the tank car.

My wife and I are taking a long week-end as we could use a break. Don't have plans to do much, just go to Imax to see the 3D film on Botswana.

Looked at the April Model RR mag on the stands today but didn't buy it. It costs $7.25 here plus tax so $8 for a rather thin magazine doesn't have much appeal. I do buy Classic Trains as there is a lot of good reading in it and great information too.

Rob, I am very intrigued about your volcano. Will it be an active one? I think it should be with wisps of smoke coming out and an erie red glow. In fact you could put your layout in a tropical setting which would go well with a prison protected by alligators. Can't wait to see how your layout turns out.

I think I'll go downstairs for a while and run trains. I have a freight hooked up to my Consoliation and it is just hissing and panting in anticipation of a run. Got to love that Tsunami sound!

CN Charlie

[Cederstrand]

Hot Fudge Brownie Delight with extra nuts, please & thanks.

***Barry, Dr. Moreau, Dr. Frankenstien and those of their ilk would surely find employment on my (N) layout. Not so much so on my wife's (HO) layout, as they might be "seen".

***Eric, that feeling will never really go away, just soften some as the years pass. I feel for you.

Made it into the train room just to look over the plan thus far. Figure I'll end up needing 2 more Unitrack switches. Also looks like there may be some tight radius Unitrack I can sell off to help make a dent in the cost of those swtiches.

Kinda figured out a simplified yard area which should work reasonably well. Decided to keep SantaFe on a separate system from UP. Just not sure which one will share tracks with Southern and SP. 

Rob

[ewl01]

Just came back from home. Had to see the lawyer, go to the bank and set up an executors account, etc, etc. 

Chloe, how 'bout some fillet of sole in butter and lemon.  I'll just have a decaf with that.

Question;  Any suggestions on a red brick colored paint?  Perhaps red primer with a light black overspray?  I'm happy with the Walthers Modular kits I'm using but they are cast in TAN.  I don't know about the rest of the country, but our bricks are all red except for the fancy detail brick.  Here are the doors for the incoming loads.

 

Prayers for those in need, glad to hear of those healed and recovering.   I miss my folks....

Eric

Looks like I've got the TOP.  Enjoy dessert.  Hey PC! How about some PIE!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Got a box in the mail today that contained a small service station, a machine shop, a loading dock, a lineside shack and some small details. My thanks to the sender, you know who you are.

[blownout cylinder]

Good evening--I just got back from lonely petunia client visit in the hinterlands of Grey/Bruce counties--way north of here--So how's things?

Chloe I'll have a Rib dinner with a large RBF in a bucket please

Rob-I'm still trying to mentally place the volcano, prison with alligators and all that together---I'm starting to get a picture something like the "Island of Dr. Moreau". Is there a similarity here?

PC, Todd-SSSHHHHH!!! no comments!!

[bogp40]

Thought I'd stop by and say Hi, and I guess a coffee will do.

So many new faces, must be that new location they spotted the Diner. The way this place keeps moving - we'll need an on board GPS to find it.

Not much really going on these days, just w**k if the jobs don't get cancelled or delayed. Really getting tough out there. Poking around w/ trains here and there, We do have an upcoming show and open house Mar 21-22 www.ssmrc.org  so a lot of house, layout cleaning to do. I'll probably run my Chessie SD50s coal drag and B&O passenger again. Haven't decodered any of the new stuff and the Atlas GP40s are still in the box. Could always pull that coal w/ the ChessieSD35s even though they were helpers. Must be getting lazy.

Johnboy, I imagine you checked out the reply to using the Play Sand, it does work quite nice in those yards at the club. We experimented w/ all kinds of coloring and washes, thinned acylics w/ alcohol did great. Could try Joe Fugates powdered tempra method too.

Jeff, Glad to see your doing well after all the troubles

Ray, sounds like those Tiger Valley Alcos are similar to the Varney

GARRY, E8s at a 110 MPH, I guess that gearing really works, not too good for freight service though

JR, How's the house situation going?

Ryan, Don't feel bad about being away for just a week-- I've been out there for months

My neice from CA is due here shortly, My daughter that I rarely see these days (off @ Umass Amhearst) is picking her up. Should be a great weekend. Glad it's not next weekend, that would seriously mess w/ the train show.

PS, My daughter just text me- she locked her keys in the car... thank god for AAA, Kids??????   so dinner is going to be late.

Cheers,

[Cederstrand]

[Rob, a tornado, a volcano, and a prison?  Dude, I'm glad I don't live in your world!  All you need is a spindley looking wooden trestle across the open pit of the active volcano and life insurance rates in your world would be astronomical!  Shoot, the safest place to be might be IN the prison!]

***Unless you are one of those prisoners who get out of line and wind up being shipped out to the Soylent Green Plant.

While I'm here, a Coffee in a Soggy Southern mug, please & thanks.

Cold rain here today. Spent most of it helping the wife with her folks. Hope to get back in the Train Room by Sunday.

Healing thoughts to those in need.

Rob

[Paul W. Beverung]

Afternoon Gang: Well late afternoon. I tried to take a little nap but the phone rang just about the I dozed off. Of course it was a call about health insurance and automated too. I really dislike that. No one you can cuss out.

Mary Ann and I are both feeling a bit better. She is back to working on the taxes and I am trying to get something done on whatever. The weather is still raining and cold. It's hard to remember that Sunday it was 90f. Today the high is supposed to be 39f. It's about 37f now so I don't think that we will see 39f.

Well I guess I should get going. I need to do 4 hours of continuing education units for my electricians license.

Opps Daisy the dog wants in so I'd better go.

[Packers#1]

 AHHHHH, where did my excellent weather go????? Well, back to the cold grind for me. Just glad the weekend is finally here.

[pcarrell]

Rob, a tornado, a volcano, and a prison?  Dude, I'm glad I don't live in your world!  All you need is a spindley looking wooden trestle across the open pit of the active volcano and life insurance rates in your world would be astronomical!  Shoot, the safest place to be might be IN the prison!

[AmanaMedic]

Heartland Division CB&Q

Chris, my friend here is a retired IC loco engineer who recalls operating the "Land o' Corn" passenger train before Amtrak in Iowa. He remembers a day when he made up for being behind schedule. He had the E8's going well over 110 mph. Shhhh. Don't tell. It was faster than allowed. Those E units could fly low to the ground when given a chance.

Man, I'll bet that woulda really been something to see...probably a blur...but still something to see. I don't think he'd wanna try that today, lest the Land O' Corn end up IN the corn(field). I doubt the contemporary CN-IC could handle it.

Chris

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good afternoon.

I am operating steam, and posted a photo of it in WPF.

Chris, my friend here is a retired IC loco engineer who recalls operating the "Land o' Corn" passenger train before Amtrak in Iowa. He remembers a day when he made up for being behind schedule. He had the E8's going well over 110 mph. Shhhh. Don't tell. It was faster than allowed. Those E units could fly low to the ground when given a chance.

Cheers everybody..

 

[SilverSpike]

last mountain & eastern hogger

... I am really enjoying the menus.  My wife is going to make me that stuffed tenderloin off the CZ menu.  I'm really looking forward to that.

Keep smiling ya all.   Prayers and blessing to all in need.

Johnboy out.

May the Rails never be Silent.

 

"Oh hey na!  John Boy dat poke loin is sum good eatin' ya! Ya gonna lik it fur sur my frien...."

That's my Cajun accent in text form....

TRANSLATION: Oh hello now! John Boy, that pork loin is some good eating you know! You are going to like it for sure my friend! 

I know, I know, been about a week since I made it in the Diner! Sorry folks, been way too busy at work getting ready for a conference we are organizing in San Antonio at the end of the month.

In keeping with my Lenten traditions with my faith and such, here is my one and only daily special for today:

Crawfish Etouffée

 

 So you all have a great one! And like I say in the recipe..."I have air in my lungs, water in my glass, fire to heat my food and the blessings of the Holy Spirit, another day of life is better than to not have lived!"

Blessings, thoughts and prayers to all in need, recovery and healing! 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Yeah, I got it back Tuesday. I made mention of it. You must have missed it.

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

jeffrey-wimberly

 Looks like the forum ate your post!

Yeah, Jeff.

I'm not sure what happened there. I got called away for a moment and then when I came back it was gone and then it came back and got posted just befor your mention of it.

Johnboy out................

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Looks like the forum ate your post!

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Morning Crew,

Hi Girls, I'll have the hungry Man Breakfast this morning. That will make up for the lack of eating by some, not mentioning any names, but, (Todd maybe).  Cherry Coke to chase Please.

Well our temp this morning was -9c on the way to work and it will get above freezing today and for the next week.  Does that put a smile on our faces. What a long hard winter this has been.

I went to the LHS yesterday to get metal wheelsets and a couple of trucks.  So I get looking around and this is what I see.-------- This great long multi-leveled shelving unit that is very full of ready to run cars and buildings.  There are quite a few Structure kits but only about a dozen rolling stock kits.  So I bought a couple of Blue Box kits as I thought this might be a passing of an era, although I hope not. It is a sad state of affairs that folks would rather buy R-T-R than to put some of themselves into these cars.  I am really glad that I have a large Rubbermaid tub that is filled with rolling stock to be built. They can change the system but I will still be set with car kits.    SORRY FOR THE RANT,   It is just an old Phart that misses the way it was. Not necessarily a long time ago, but at least a few years ago before this heavy R-T-R thing.

I'll go and sit by the door and watch the sights and sounds of the local working the warehouse district. Anyone care to join me ??

Paul , glad to read that your wife is felling better.  Hope you found that Flat Car.

Ryan,   I am really enjoying the menus.  My wife is going to make me that stuffed tenderloin off the CZ menu.  I'm really looking forward to that.

Rob, That train room and those layouts are progressing nicely.

Jeff, Good news on that foot, Did you get your boot back yet.  You thought it was going to be ready, but I didn't read where you got it back.

Ray,  (Howmus)  Congratulations on the new grandbaby, she is a doll.

Jerry, keep us posted on that new extension, does that mean the "IS" is going further south or north??

Anyone heard much from Sue lately ?   Wonder if she got that last pour on the creek done.

On the way home from work today I will pick up some bagged play sand from Home Despot for ballasting my yards.  As I mentioned in another thread I was planning on using sand or crusher dust but I couldn't  find a sample of it at several yards that wasn't full of metal particles.

Sure hope as it warms up that all of you won't be bothered by flooding  after all the snow.

Well I am at work for the entire week-end, so I had better make it look like I am doing something constructive.

Keep smiling ya all.   Prayers and blessing to all in need.

Johnboy out.

May the Rails never be Silent.

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone and Happy Friday the 13th.!

Todd I think that explains why people who run volunteer work suddenly become your "best" friends as soon as they find out you retired.........   Oh, BTW the guy I was quoteing about his layout is Guil Mack, owner of Tiger Valley Models, maker of HO scale Alco locomotives.  They are cast in a zinc alloy and are heavy.  His offerings were very top end models back 30 years ago.  Still would be considered to have incredible detail.  Most are sold as kits and most of what he is doing now is in the detail area I think.  He did create a basement for his layout and then built the house over it..............

Zoe I'll have a couple of those iced sour cream donuts this morning to go along with my dark roast coffee.  Yep, in a FGLK Mug if you please.  What?  No put the coffee in the mug, I'll dunk the donuts myself.  Sheesh, we are testy this morning aren't we............

Well, today is clean the tracks on the layout day and figure out a list of everything I have to finished down there by Sunday.  Have a few people coming over to practice some operations in anticipation of the open house on the 21st.

 

Best finish the coffee and get to work.  Later! 

[edit] Looks like lunch is on me today so order up!  I knew I would find a good use for that check my Uncle just sent me..........
 

[blownout cylinder]

Todd;Lee--Age ol' song and dance

Constantly reminding surprised volunteer coordinator at church we go to--did you know most of us mere mortals still work for a living?---of course I'm not quite that blunt but---

Robby--my favorite issue is when people kind of bounce on me for ordering through LHS when " I can get it directly from Walthers---" and I look at them and ask--" Oh--and how much do you pay for shipping/handling?" Once I had done that when I needed a couple of kits for something or other and I paid about $16 more than if I just ordered the dang things through LHS. The sales price was $5 less than the S/H charges!!

[LSWrr]

Todd, I volunteer with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and there are a few retired members that can’t believe it when nobody shows up for a mid-day event.  I try to remind them that most of us still work a 40 hour a week job. 

Robby, I hear what you’re saying.  Typically if you add the price and the shipping together and the cost to convert the couplers you are within $3 of a brand new boxcar.  The only time I’ll spend a little more money on used is if I can pick up a fallen flag RR from the Great Lakes region. Right now I’m looking for:
Toledo and Ohio Central
Lake ShoreMichigan Southern
Canadian Southern
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern
Toledo Terminal

Lee

[Cox 47]

Good Morning All...Its sunny and 24 here this morning...I'll have biscuits and gravey and just set the coffee pot down please..Thank You...You all have a good one...Jerry

[Robby P.]

Its a nice, cool, sunny day.  The high will be about 40, and thats not till 6:00pm.

I don't have to much planned.  I was bidding on a Railbox, and a tanker on eBay (they were together).  Well it got to high, and I can get them at the LHS for the price its at now.  

Wondering to go 25 miles to and back, to go train hunting.   Last time I got 3 trains in three hours.  Thats not to good.  Lets see.........I know I have to pay the trash bill.  $140, and thats with a late fee.  They send the bill once a year.  I don't know if thats good or not.

Well I guess I will go pay the bill, and think about train hunting.  

Everybody have a good day.

[TMarsh]

Mornin' Been sittin' here kinda waitin' to see what's goin on. Coffee please. Not hungry this morn. I'll probably regret it. I should "eat to keep from gettin' hungry" as my mommy.....er, mom used to say. Probably won't have time for lunch, usually don't on Fish fry days. 

We've got our second fish fry today, so I'll be busy. They voted to start earlier. 4:00pm. I said "why don't we start at noon then we can't get anybody to help. People work you know". So far it's just me and a buddy in the cooking areana. That means we have to set up the fryers, tables, etc. Wash everything down. cover things with foil. (We cook in the Village/Township garage. They hose and clean out the bay for us but we still have to cover things up etc). And thaw 400 lbs of fish. All between 12:00 and having a sufficient amount of fish ready to be served and AT the church by 4:00. Did I mention that people work and generally we can't get help but by 4:00 anyway? Oh well. When you wake up in the mornin your faced with a decision right away. To have a good day or a bad day. I choose good day. (won't be climbing any ladders though)

Have a great day Ya'll.

[blownout cylinder]

Hello--Good Morning--And we are at -8C with the high going to 4C today in the sunshine--yes they're already throwing the UV ratings at us. That rating now sits at 3. We are then going to a low of -5C tonight--

Off to work this morning to a lonely petunia client visit then it'll be me trying to get a few things done with my printer--got a new printer yesterday that is one of those photocopy, scanner, printer thingummahoovers

Rob: A tornado backdrop AND a volcano? Yeeecks!!! Poor people on that layout!--but seriously, how is the volcano going to look?--and the prison idea with the alligators---I know a few people we could put in there----

Chloe--I'll have the full breakfast special with a giant bucket of IV caffeine please---I'll go sit with Todd and try to work out my atrium plans----

[LSWrr]

Good morning all, 

Drew my track plan for the main layout yesterday using MS Publisher today I may start the plans for the expansion room I’ll be working on this summer.  I hope to figure out how to post it on the web.

 
Lee