Elliot's Trackside Diner XXV- Milepost 25

[fec153]

Hey! Just be glad the diner far enough north that Gators and Pythons aren't around.

Flip

O.K. T O P. Eat up folks. Don't step on the turtle. He's slow but doesn't spill anything.

 

[GMTRacing]

Wow - this is really getting out of hand with the staff. Couldn't we go back to writing the orders down and walking to the serve counter to turn them in ?  Do pidgeons really speed up the service more than the extra deer needed to tidy up the results ? And why are black cows no longer on the beverage menu? Are we really sure the girls didn't go to NO for spring break ?

   It was 34F this morning and we got the finished 23 frame back from the blasters and off to the painters and anticipate getting it back finished tomorrow. We have the gearbox and motor mated up and are building the new alternator mount off the right side of the gearbox output stub. Lots doing. I also finished up making some bushings in titainium to match existing ones on the F-1 car. And we have a bunch of wheels boxed to ship for finishing along with a set of exhausts for ceramic coating. Busy, busy.

I''ll try to catch up on posts tomorrow morning and catch y'all later.   J.R.

[blownout cylinder]

OK---now why is there a Massissauga Rattler using his rattles as a kind of doorbell?

Beaver is being a Pancake flipper?

OK------

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Soon the Diner gets re-named as "The Animal House".  ... Just be careful. If the cooks use peta bread, there will be some sort of goofy protest.

That said, I'd like a bowl of moose tracks ice cream, please.

Flip was boasting about Flodida weather, but now he mentions reptiles. Any insects there, too, Flip?

Regarding roads. I made many of my "concrete" roads with common cardstock such as used on a box of Todd's Coco Puffs. I cut a pieces of the cardboard and fasten them down with construction adhesive. I make the roads very narrow if in the background. I paint the roads with concrete colored household latex paint. I draw lines for expansion joints and cracks. I make my own stripes by painting and cutting masking tape. I weather the roads with acrylic paint. Gravel shoulders are made of fine ballast.  I have placed N scale vehicles on narrow roads in the background of my HO layout.  Most vehicles are in the foreground and are HO scale of course.

Toot-a-loo, Kangaroo ...  

 

[fec153]

Garry- just fleas, flies and blind skeeters.

Just thought of a name for my R.R.-- Bare-Bones R.R.   What do you guys think?

Flip

 

[ns3010]

Evening all. Nothing for me, just stopping in quickly...

Well, we lost the playoff game tonight. But we have two more non-league games (tomorrow and Monday) left before the season's over.
One of my friends broke his wrist, looked pretty bad. But he came out of the locker room, and seemed almost like nothing had happened. Although I doubt he will, part of me wouldn't be surprised if he showed up at school tomorrow...

I think that although I'm pretty bad, I had a pretty good season, for me. We'll see what the future of next season will be, but that's a while off.

I'm gonna have a lot of catching up to do tomorrow... Later!

[TMarsh]

Good evening everyone WHOA! ( trips and stumbles then falls to the floor. ) Stupid beavers.

Well went to Castle Trains, my FLHS, today when I was at Moms, picked up a WS wooden tunnel portal, and since they only had one, I also got some 2" X 12" styrene strips and some balsa to make another one for the second portal I need to continue. Thought about brick or concrete, but the location I'm in is to be an older area and it seems they would have used a wooden entrance/exit a hundred plus years ago in the rural area. I have 4 more in different areas and I'll decided what I want for those later.Because I've made a decision based on a more or less prototypical reason, I believe I'll sit at the RC. Excuse me Mr, bear, is this seat taken?

Anybody know why the MRR boxcar thread was pulled? I stopped in a day or two ago and the subject of Gra***ti was brought up. Did it get out of control?

Keith- Yup there is a lot of reading and research to do for this insane hobby we have isn't there? LOL. That's the best way to get to the root of the problems, read and look up on the internet. This ole internet really saves the money on books. Many different ways of doing something and believe me, everyone has been tried and that's where this forum really shines. These guys have tried probably every way to do something between them. I like to ask something even though I've read how to do it to see if the ones who have done it have a better way or can say the way you're trying has this pitfall or that. Experience is the best teacher. Some folks out there don't see it that way. They seem to not want to share there experience. I guarantee you won't run into that in here. I see you've already had your questions answered and I would respond the same. I don't however attach my buildings to the layout per se. I did with two and wow I won't again. If you bring the scenery to the building, the 50/50 white glue you use to attach the ground foam or dirt or whatever, will leech enough to attach the building to the layout, but usually not solid enough to make you think you're gonna bust the thing to pieces if you ever want to relocate it. My two cents. This time around I'm attaching nothing other than the track until I am satisfied and the ground foam etc gets laid.

Robby- I've found that Plaster of paris is just as good as any plastery type product out there. I've used Smooth It and Pof P works the same. Just cheaper.

Flip- The B.B.R.R? Well you don't have to remember too many letters Seriously, sounds good to me. That's one thing I haven't done, come up with a name for my world. You're not alone, I see these guys work and I feel the same way. My only saving thought is They used to be just like me, so there's hope. Uh guys, you, uh, were just like me....., weren't you?

Jeff- I was gonna ask if that was the same spider you talked about a while ago. Must be happy with the digs. Say, is it possible to over work the good foot and put yourself in a pickle so to speak? If so be real careful putting the bulk of the pressure on it.

Garry- I take it you didn't have trouble with your cardboard roads rolling up? I tried that with a model box and the road kind of rolled after a while. However I did not attach the road to the layout because I didn't know if it would work. That may have had something to do with it too.

Some responses made I don't recall what spawned them. Did something happen in here or did I just miss the posts?

Time to count sheep. Prayers for continued recuperation and those in need.

[hcc25rl]

 Elliot - I don't get it.

[Trainman Sam]

AmanaMedic

Packer

Chris, I like the tiger striped Gp50s and SD60s better.

Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll, alllllllllllllllllllllrighteeeeeee then. Ask, and ye shall receive!

Chris- Do you know what the tanker is for?  Extra fuel maybe?  I'd kinda like to know, since I could ALMOST incorporate it into my layout... (Yeah right, since the prototype main is ONLY 16 miles long!!! Lol But I'd still like to know...)

Anyhow, I had a good night of trainhandling, got to do an odd move at LongBranch... pulled into station, descharged passengers, then pulled forward out of the station to clear the interlocking (usual move is to back into the "pocket" on the main) then I backed through the interlocking going from two track over to one track (hence the reason I couldn't just back up, the train was sitting on the switch that had to be thrown to get me to one track...) once I was backed into the "pocket" on one track, they brought up the signal so I could  bring my train into the station again.    Now, the reason for all this movement was that there was a westbound train terminating at Long Branch, and the only yard tracks available for that train are off of Main 2, and when we pulled in there was an Eastbound train in the station on 1 track, SO voila!  (if anyone actually followed that without the track diagram, you are alot smarter than I am, the engineer and I had to have the Conductor explain it twice before we understood the move. (of course, we weren't anywhere near the station yet, so we didn't have the tracks to look at to help understand it, and I believe the Conductor didn't really explain it right the first time he said it!  Whoops)

Lee- Did your son explain what type of tatoo he wanted to get?  My parents swore they would disown me if I ever came home with a tatoo (this was when I was 19, and still living with them...).  But I got one, on my right shoulder, of the nails from Jesus' hands forming a cross, that also looks like it is piercing my skin.  I didn't tell them about it.  My mother found out about it, only because I forgot I had it and wore a sleave-less shirt around the house one day, and she saw it.  Her exact words were "Nice tatoo, DON'T let your father see it!  He'll go ballistic!"

About two weeks later, we were at a church luncheon, and I again forgot I had the tatoo, and wore another sleave-less shirt.   I was standing at a table talking with some people when I hear "Hey!  I like your tatoo!" To which I responded "Thanks, Dad... Uh, whoops!"  His exact words at that point was "DON'T let your MOTHER see it!  She'll go ballistic!"  To which I just about died laughing!!!  The look on his face was priceless, until I explained the goings on!  We all laugh about it to this day!

They explained that at least it wasn't some skull and crossbones or some tasteless "Pin-Up" (Note that I said TASTELESS, not all pinups are tasteless!!!)  SO, I guess the point I'm trying to make is that maybe it won't be so bad, as long as the tatoo isn't some frivolous persuit.

Um...???  Why is there a Cat laying in a cradle with silverware, a little boy dressed in blue, and a cow practicing vertical leaps???  This place has DEFINITELY gone bananas, more-so than usual!

Please tell me the girls are coming back REALLY SOON????

[ns3010]

Trainman Sam

if anyone actually followed that without the track diagram, you are alot smarter than I am

I actually understood that. I've only ridden the NJCL twice (once WB, once EB), but know enough to understand.

I'll just add on to your explanation to help others...

Long Branch Yard is just south of the station. The two main tracks actually cut through the middle of the yard, separating it into two. Track 2 is EB (NB), and Track 1 is WB (SB). I believe that most sets layover on the tracks on the east side of the yard, on the "Track 2" side, so the only access to those tracks is from Track 2.

[Trainman Sam]

ns3010

Long Branch Yard is just south of the station. The two main tracks actually cut through the middle of the yard, separating it into two. Track 2 is EB (NB), and Track 1 is WB (SB). I believe that most sets layover on the tracks on the east side of the yard, on the "Track 2" side, so the only access to those tracks is from Track 2.

 

THANK YOU, very nicely put...

Well, I'm off to the bed races... see if I can un-lap a few Z's!

Jeff- Do you have a name for your resident Spider???  I believe "Steppen-Wolfe" might be appropriate??? Lol

[AmanaMedic]

Good Eve....morning.

Hmmmmm, seems the ladies have gone back on break as I see a few squirrels at the counter. What the? A turtle...hey, kinda looks like Sam...no, no, not TRAINMAN SAM, Sam the Turtle...I had him as a "pet" for most of a week in Kansas when I was 7 or 8 years old. We found him on a gravel road, took him back to Grandma/Grandpa's house. I kept him in a box, even built him a "turtle house." Wanted to bring him back to Iowa...parents said NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. So, we took him back to the gravel road we found him on, and sent him back on his way. And I really think this could be my old "pal," though he really wasn't all THAT friendly back then...

Speaking of TRAINMAN SAM: THAT, my friend is a fuel tender. Somewhere around here I've got a magazine article on how to bash one out of an Athearn 62' tank car. I always kinda thought THAT was an interesting lash-up what with the tiger-stripe 50, the fuel tender, and the B (cabless)-unit B unit.

BAMA CSX: So, you made something like this?

http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww164/CUFFEMTP/SolonGrillers4.jpg

***EDIT I've tried several times, but this excellent picture of beer can chicken won't function. It won't even function on Photobucket. Don't know why...it's 0430 and I really don't give two hoots 'n a hollar... It's a shame though...durn nice picture, even if I do say so me-self!***

I've been told it's really good...never tried it. I shot this as the "signature dish" for a place in Solon...now closed. Food was OK, a little pricey. Word on the street is the rent in the strip mall they located in is a killer. Welp, the 3rd eatin' and drinkin' joint is in there now...we'll see how long it lasts.

Welp, crap. STILL w**king on articles for THAT... they're taking much, much, much longer than I'd anticipated. And, what I thought would be one article is breaking down into two, at least. Otherwise, THAT would have a stroke...turning in a 3,000 word article would do THAT to THAT!

Sooooooooo, with a refill on the bucket of to-go coffee...I'm outta here, uh, THAT is if I can get past THAT rattler sittin' by the door... honest Mr. Rattlesnake, I paid for this bucket of coffee...yes, you can ask the squirrel at the counter there, really...

Chris

 

[Packer]

(yawn) Morning

Sam, they are fuel tenders, Here's a little info on them: http://www.mtnwestrail.com/wyoming/bnft.htm A few other roads had them, but only on test basis.

Chris, if you find that article about fuel tenders could you tell me? I'm curious as to how one could get the type that looks like an older tank car.

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,


Ray, sorry I missed your earlier post. The new “old” engine house decking looks really good.


Flip, glad some progress has been made, I bet in a few more days more progress will become evident for Deb.


Jim, my daughter went out on her own for tattoos, she will be 21 this fall.  My son will be 19 this fall.  I told him if he comes down for a weekend visit I’ll pay for his tattoo.  Before you call me crazy: I’m paying, hence I get to approve the tattoo, the placement, and I get to pick the shop.  I think sometimes if you tell them know at this age they will just go and do it anyway, so I might as well have a little control over the situation.  And maybe when they want to do something really stupid they will come to me and say something before they do it.  You know like model a trolley line, or some railroad like Seaboard Systems, who ever heard of purple locomotives with silver trim anyway (just kidding).

Jeff, you still have that wolf spider on your layout?  I’m having troubles with cobweb spiders.  I’ve killed a couple but need to find a trap or repellant for them.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Trainman Sam

Jeff- Do you have a name for your resident Spider???  I believe "Steppen-Wolfe" might be appropriate??? Lol

Hairy.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning. It's 36 and cloudy. The high will be in the mid 60's and it will be partly cloudy.

Finally got my new rust colored paints yesterday. As previously stated they are satin latex in the colors of 'rusty rail', 'rusted earth' and 'rustica'. They are each a slightly different shade so I'll be able to more easily create different levels of rust from surface to severely pitted. They're in 7 ounce sample cans at $2.94 a can, substantially cheaper than 7 ounces of a similarly colored acrylic would be. While latex may not be the best thing to use it serves my purpose. It cleans up with water, can be thinned with water and works well with my external mix airbrush though I usually use it with a small brush. It can also be thinned to be used a wash and  if need be I can get a lot of it in less than 30 minutes although 7 ounces will last a long time. Nothing special on the schedule today unless something pops up, so I'll likely be doing some weathering work on some freight cars and maybe a locomotive or two.

[TMarsh]

Good Morning. Coffee please. Suppose to sn*w tonight 1-2 inches they say. Maybe.

I will continue on the railroad today until I have to unload the truck at 11:30 and then work at 5.

I also got a Rix Rural Bridge when I was at the FLHS. The area it is in very likely could have that type of bridge. In fact, that type of bridge is the same type bridge ( you know the can't see the other side, one lane pull off to the side of the bridge before you try to cross to see if someone is already on it bridge bridge) the lady in the pickup truck was turning on to when she turned in front of us years ago. Must have seen it was clear to cross and paid no attention to oncoming traffic.

Have a Great Day!!!

　

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning ....

Here is a cardboard road. I have not had any problems with it. If you look carefully, you will notice the forced perspective. The road becomes more narrow from left to right. You can see the backdrop is very close beyond the doodlebug at the station. 

Todd didn't have coco puffs this moring. I wonder why. Todd, it's good to hear ypu were shopping at Castle's. I was there once, and I liked the store.

Lee ....  That tatoo stuff is a fad that should end. We know of a couple whose daughter had a tatoo. In later years she changed her mind. The medical proceedure for removing a tatoo is expensive and takes a long time. I think your son should talk with people who spent the big bucks to have tatoos removed before going ahead with his. ....

I have a photo ready for WPF when it gets started. You can see the rest of the short train on the branch line. The loco is brass 2-6-0 steamer that I have not posted in the forum before.

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.  Its cool but no snow!!!  Just a lot of icicle's.

 Well the wife is off today, and we will "hit the town".   I will probably go to a LHS and see about another "weathering" project.   Other than that, just a normal Friday.

 Garry......Good looking picture in the WPF.

 Todd......I thought the plaster of paris would be just as good.  Plus it is cheaper/get more.

 Hope everybody has a good morning.  

 

[fec153]

Todd- Yep, we were just like you. Cute little babies , then we grew up.

Lee- Glad you were only kidding. I have four powered trolleys that I used to run on a pair of tracks with an automatic reversal unit. Looked cool.       As for SBD RR , I have 38 mixed freight cars and three locos. I alternate my RR's and rolling stock as I wish. Sometimes B M , or FEC or what ever I feel like. GN , UP , ACL, CR , CSX, D&RG ,NW / NS , SF are all in my collection as well as special cars . With over fifty powered locos, I can have really mixed up consists. But ,hey, I once saw , in Miami, a B.an O. loco heading a FEC consist.

Prayers for all.

Flip

 

[AmanaMedic]

*Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn*

Good mornin',

VINCENT: Yep...after the weekly "face time" with THAT, I'll see if I can dig up the article on THAT fuel tender...I'm sure it's based off of the Athearn 62' tank car. I still see 'em in bunches on "theBay." And yep, Uncle Pete had some for awhile...made out of the really cool CGW 54' tank cars CNW kept for fuel service. They just didn't look the same in gray/yellow. These tankers were each a different color, supposedly to color code the comodities.

TODD: I know THAT type of bridge all too well...there's one just west of the Kate Shelley High Bridge near Boone. Somedays, all you can do is look for the oncoming gravel dust cloud. Others...ya just cross yer fingers/say a prayer/go for it.

LEE: I thought about a tat once...was gonna get a maltese cross with the asterik (I mean, "star") of life inside it. Now THAT I'm OUT of EMS...kinda glad I didn't. The maltese is still "active" but THAT blue asterik thing... I do applaud your way of handling this, and looking over the tat shop first. There was one in CR before the Flood of '08...guess the guy was really good, but word on the street was he had just about every blood-borne communicable disease possible! He was also a 100% cash-only business, and carried a side arm...openly. Interesting charecter. Got flooded out, disappeared.

JEFF: "Hairy," THATs a good one... Glad to see there is never a dull moment around there! Sounds like a real score on the paints. I used to be skeptical about using latex paints...you've shown conclusively they w**k just fine. Now I just gotta get smart enough to try 'em myself!

Whoops, gotta get a move-on, time to load-up and head for THAT-land... I also gotta fix THAT ding-dang bracken-fracken beer can chicken photo today too...\

Have a good, SAFE day everybody...

Chris

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning--

Good grief. We got everything in here but the usual staff anymore! What happened that the zoo ended up here and not where it was just a short while ago? Did anyone check to make sure that the property we are now on is actually owned by us?

I'm getting ready to do some evening classes and weekend seminars now---I'll be on at funny---for me--- times I guess.

Chloe? Oh good--a human exists as staff---I'll have a batch of pancakes with maple syrup as well as coffee please. I'll be at the corner booth this morning--

[fec153]

Herr Ulrich- Check weekend report. Make you feel right at home. Might be you know some of the people. Heck, may even be close to where you live.

And everyone else, take a look. Beautiful modeling.

Flip

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Barry ordered pancakes ...

blownout cylinder

Good Morning--

 Oh good--a human exists as staff---I'll have a batch of pancakes with maple syrup as well as coffee please. I'll be at the corner booth this morning--

Pancakes coming up!

 

 

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Chloe!  Good to see you here this morning!  We missed you...(the new staff just isn't as amiable, if you know what I mean.  Well maybe the raccoon but............)

Heartland Division CB&Q

Pancakes coming up!

 

 

Ingenious!  Have to remember THAT next time I go camping.........

OK, I'll have the same as Barry ordered as long as you have batter left. I'll be over in the front booth for a bit.

Thanks for the kind words about the flooring for the engine house.  Barry it is made from scale 1"x4"x8' lumber weathered and then glued in place over a balsa base.  I have decided THAT this one will the practice one and some time in the near future I will make another for a small diorama for judging in the region (NMRA).

Ordered some Grandt Line windows and doors last night from Caboose Hobbies.  They showed everything I wanted in Stock.  Walthers didn't even have two of the items listed so I didn't go through the LHS.  I'm going down there to order some other items today.

Was THAT Ryan's famous Beer Can Chicken I saw earlier on the grill?  Mmmmm Good!  maybe for supper tonight.

It is actually above freezing, 33°F outside, for the first time in February around here.  Can Spring be just around the corner???  More little white flakes of stuff are supposed to come down tonight.  Not enough to cause any problems, but still.  Actually we haven't had very much of the stuff here this year.  Probably due for a blizzard sometime next week when I have jury duty.....  I find out tonight whether I have to report on Monday.

OK, look at the time!  I'll be moving on and come back in later.

73

 

[Cederstrand]

All natural chicken soup, please. 

***Garry, real nice road there.

Seeing Garry's road gave me an idea. Maybe I'll have the energy to do some experimenting with it this evening.

Keep posting pics guys, both the 1:1 stuff and the MRR'ing as well. We enjoy viewing them all.

Have a good day y'all. Rob

[fec153]

Anyone model NYC ?  I dont't know how to forward into the forum so if anyone wants to see some photos send me your "E" address and I'll send them on. I have four from R T .

Deb wants that %^*#)*^% neck collar OFF. Neck itches and from what she can see in a mirror, will need a hairdresser to fix the botch job where they cut her hair. I say big deal. I still love her.

Its a chilly fifty here with a breeze and bright sunshine. Hope y'all doing o.k.

Prayers for all,

Flip

 

[sunsetbeachry]

My  I have used canned sheet rock, you can apply it and let it sit let it dry [not to thick about 3/8 in ]after dry take a real sponge sqeezed almost dry and smooth out or correct any problems just remember to make the coating thin. I've been making dirt roads the same way except  using yrailer tires for ruts because they are wider.           I like the name Hairy, I,ve called all of mine Spidey little green spiders don't live to long JR likes to chase and eat 'em....FLIP very glad Deb is getting along better ,prayers for both......TO ALL Here on the coast its beautifull 55deg. and sunny. Ocean can be seen from here now that I'm up on the 2nd floor and have all these windows to see out of. Got half a dozen pair of log buggies from maillady. Ever rty backing up a 4% grade on the mountain with a 2-8-8-2 ???? I'm still stuck in the 20's 1920's with nothing but trees and lumber and some older bldgs. out of some wood and some of C.C. Crows beautifull castings of rock walls.       Only two more 4 drawer file cabs to get upstairs. I've most of my spare time getting all of the three no four libraries put together and set in their own cases. 6 five shelf cabs 4x6 one 4x8 and master 4x24 soooooo many books 1/2 of master all hard back RR. other half engr.and comp. almost 2 full of back copies of mrr mags. one of reference books for rocks and gems the rest misc. some junque some fine. Should I become a library?????? L O L  Lunch and meeting time coming up, put on socks and socks  YAA I do wear them sometimes especally with mud not sn*w here.    Fair Winds and Following Seas      Chuck-------------loving OREGON after 40 years.......

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Sunsetbeachry: Got you messgae, sent you an email back.

[Cox 47]

Afternoon All....Its sunny and 38 here...I'll have a cheese burger,onion rings and a diet coke please...thank You..I am looking forward to going to train show at Mattoon Mall this week end..looks like snow and sleet coming in late tonite hope its not to bad..You all have a good one...Jerry