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Elliot's Trackside Diner NOVEMBER 2010 Locked

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 5:56 PM

Gentlemen - last orders, please!

This place is about to close for the move to Sacramento, Caleeefornia.

The Big Boy has coupled to the Diner, the brake test has been done.

All aboaaard!

 

The new place is here

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 5:36 PM

Ulrich ...  Thanks for the comment. So far, I don't think anyone else noticed the photo in Jan. MR. .....   I had help from MR forum members including diners. Previously,I posted a similar photo in the forum asking for constructive remakrs to improve it. The replies helped.   ... ... The story of the prototype, C&S 700D, can be found by Googling it.  Colorado and Southern was owned by Burlington Route in the 1950's and the F7-A looked like many other Burlington units. After rebuilding, it looked like an F9-A and was called an F9-Am. Burlington had no F9-A's, and so this unit and one other were a unique locomotive.  ...... The tragic wrwck of the original 700D was head-on collision with 3 fatalities. Some of 700D's crew fell asleep, and the train failed to stop for an on-coming passenger train. ...... In the 1950's train crews would be on duty for very long days, and sleeping was a hazzard because of that.   

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by cudaken on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 4:23 PM

 Evening AZ, now lets get the heck out of here!

 Flo, a few beers please and I settle in to the train watching mood! Big Smile

 First the job interview seemed to go well. I had to take a IQ test, had 12 minutes to answer up to 50 questions. Think I did OK, I answered 38 of them. Would have done better if I could read the darn questions. Font was around 6? Then I had to take a typing test, boy that sucked! I came in at a whole 14 Words Per Minute. I was smoking!

 But, April told me we are not looking for typing skills but sale ability. Interview ran long, I was scheduled to be there at 12:00 Noon, I was there at 11:40 and April meet with me right away. I was told it should take a hour. I left at 1:45 so it all most lasted 2 hours, I take that as a good sign.  Made her laugh a lot and I think I got some key points about sale across. She does not do the hiring, a store manager will, lets hope I get the second interview.

 Plus side is the store I was applying to is only 6 miles from me and only a 40 hour work week! Down side is base is only $10.00 a hour, but I can all earn commission. I have to sell $38,000 a month to start making commission but depending on traffic that may not be a big deal. Heck, I sold $70,000 worth of Mattress in a moth. 

 Oh, it is Ashly Furniture, so I would have a lot more I can sell than just mattress.

 I talk about the new layout Wednesday.

               Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by ErnieC on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 2:59 PM

Sir Madog,

OK on Sacramento, it was 3 below 0 in Arizona last night, enough already!

Ernie C

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 2:46 PM

While digging through the boxes of stuff under the layout I came across a Bachmann hopper I got back in the early 80's. It originally had truck mounted horn hook couplers. I later changed out the frame with one that had coupler pockets. I've also run across a few old cabooses, an Athearn bay window type and a Bachmann SF wide vision type. The last is an old drover caboose (no platforms) that's so old I can't remember when I got it. It has Fox trucks and body mounted horn hook couplers. The coupler box covers appear to be glued in place. There's no manufactures name to be found. I also found 11 sections of 18" radius nickel silver track, all curves that was made in Slovenia. There's still more stuff to go through.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
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Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
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Posted by LSWrr on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 1:17 PM

Still raining, I guess I’m going to have a few friends over Thursday afternoon to run trains at my house, ok well maybe just look at what I’m working on.  I still have stuff everywhere due to the scenery work on the layout…

BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret)
 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

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Posted by Robby P. on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 1:05 PM

 Just a quick stop.

 I've been working on the new layout all morning,  but since last night.....I haven't been feeling to good.  Just not much energy. 

 The layout is coming along.  Well the main part is about done, and I'm playing with a few track plans.  The middle table alone is a 4x8, and the other tables are 2x4.   So it will be a half decent size. 

 Barry.........No problem.  Just let me know when you a ready. 

 Garry,,,,,,,,I'm glad you are putting the powders to use.   I need to do that myself.

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 12:09 PM

Dinner time!

Chloe, I´ll go for a steak dinner with all the works, and a Ray-sized cookie to finish it off!

Played a little with that track plan this afternoon, introducing some minor changes, like adding a track to Kenville yard and a crossover on the mountain part. If I only had the means to build something like it. This would be my layout for watching big steam hauling long trains, snaking slowly through some spectacular scenery!

I also learned a lesson. Those two "operators" are just about the right size, especially when considering the fact that most of us don´t walk down Slim Gage´s way Whistling . Those 2ft. minimum aisle width is not big enough to feel comfortable working on or operating a layout! I´d say that 3 ft. is the minimum...

Garry - congratulations on having your picture featured in the January 2011 MR Trackside Photo section!

Ray - I am with you on that coffee issue - I like it plain, hot, no sugar, just a bit of milk - no flavoring, no macchiatos, only an espresso dopio e una Grappa after a nice Italian meal!

Ken - drop me a line if you want to have the RTS file to play with.

I´ll be calling it a day now - see you all next month in Sacramento, Ca., should the move take us there!

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 11:15 AM

howmus

Oh, I don't care where we end up as long as they don't serve only THAT woosey Cafe Lattedum chocolate creme Vanilla crisp coffee substitute stuff!  Gotta have REAL Coffee ya know!

You want interesting coffee (and everything else) then come to Louisiana. If there's anything out there that can't be deep fried or zipped up with hot sauce we haven't seen it yet.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
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Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
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Posted by howmus on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 11:09 AM

Mornin'.... er, ah....  Afternoon everyone!

Zoe, I still need breakfast!  I'll have a Breakfast Bagel with cheese and my dark roast coffee in a FGLK mug, please and thank you!

Sacorementoe?  Where the heck is THAT?  Oh.  someplace in Clownifornia, huh?  Sounds OK as long as they get lots of snow so we all can go skiing!  Nothing like new snow on the ground to say "Christmas" just like THAT first one back in Bethle....  What?  No!  They don't get snow there???  Grumpy There goes another childhood myth!

Oh, I don't care where we end up as long as they don't serve only THAT woosey Cafe Lattedum chocolate creme Vanilla crisp coffee substitute stuff!  Gotta have REAL Coffee ya know!  Opps here come the SoapBox

Ya know, I got relatives out in Clausetephobiafornia too.  Another reason I don't go there.......

Heartland Division CB&Q

Ray ... Cookies were great! .... You just had to show off the big one you were going to eat, didn't you?

Yep!  But I only had one! Big SmileLaugh

I went on line 2 hours ago and have been dealing with emails most of THAT time.

Best get moving!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by BRAKIE on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 11:00 AM
Good Morning All!

Not much to report from the land of Buckeyes other then I went railfanning this morning and saw 3 NS trains before the rain came..Maybe I'll head back over there if the rain stops..Modeling wise yesterday I clean and service 2 C&HV (HO) GP38-2s..These are now ready.I was gawking at my upgraded SW1500 and notice it has working drop steps.

I shall have a cup and look over the forum.

Have a good'un! Thumbs Up

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 10:57 AM

Good morning ...

Ulrich... OK, fingers are crossed. .. Also, I know it takes a while for ribs to recover, so I know you have trouble sleeping comfortably. Best wishes.

JR ... Sacramento would be fine with me, too. It has been a few years since I was there. I think my last trip there was the last time I used a 35 mm camera instead of digital as I do now. I was in the cab of the SP Cab Forward, too. I recall so many great displays. ....... The Santa Fe diner had place settings and menus from numerous railroads. .... The pullman car display was really neat!  A museum volunteer in a conductor uniform explained what it was like to travel in a pullman sleeper. The car is on a hydraulic system, and its motions simulate going down the track along with sound effects.

Speaking of CA ......... Where's Keith/ Who wants to volunteer for a search party?

Chris ... Glad Rerun was on his good behavior.

Ken ... With layout planning, I would suggest not getting to ambitious and complicated. Even the $3.0 million layout in Chicago Museum of Science and Industry has a 2 track mainline and not a 4 track main line.

Todd ... Great idea fo devilled eggs. ... Interesting that you are changing your layout plan, too.

Barry ... Glad you will have that surgery soon. I'm confident it will go well, but prayers will make it certain.

Ray ... Cookies were great! .... You just had to show off the big one you were going to eat, didn't you?

Jerry ... Have a good one!

Robby ... Tried the powders already. I used them on a GN express reefer.

As the diner is about to depart, AZ...... Shelley and I are actually going there. We leave tomorrow afternoon to see our daughter in the Phoenix area. .... Evidently, we will see or friend, Pat Down, at the airport....... oh, never mind..... sigh.....

 Edit ... Good morning Brakie ... thanks for the Buckeye report.

Second edit ... Hello also to Bill T, Lee, Jeff, and Steven.... Busy diner today, and that's great.

Let's round up some of those MIA's.

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by Cox 47 on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 9:52 AM

Good Morning All...Its cloudy and cool here...I'll have coffee and a sweet roll please..Thank You...Not much moving on the Illinois and Southern..got a couple of small things going on work bench..gonna slip into back booth and see who drops in..You all have a good one...Jerry

ILLinois and Southern...Serving the Coal belt of southern Illinois with a Smile...
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 9:22 AM

I´ll second that "motion"!

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Posted by GMTRacing on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 8:52 AM

Good morning All,

    36F this morning but still dry for now. Of course I fly to Fla tomorrow morning when it's supposed to be windy and rainy but better there. I hope. I've put the awnings up in 40 mph winds before and it's not fun,

   Ulrich - I vote for a move to Sacramento, Ca. where there is a great museum and several operating museums with in a half days drive. The Cal State rail museum also has several active layouts that could use your (our) touch. Just a thought. I'll settle for anywhere warm just now.   CUL, J.R.

 

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 8:02 AM

Ken - there are some pros and cons attached to building hidden staging. A pro is certainly, that it won´t eat up valuable layout space and is out of sight, which is also a con. It has limited accessability, so you can´t make up trains, but store trains ready to go on the route. You have one train entering the hidden staging and another one leaving it, allowing you to vary the trains you see on your layout, thus simulating multi-train operation. Hidden staging facilities need to be carefully built, as the limited access will give you the fits when you want to put anything back on the rails. The minimum clearance should be no less than 4", requiring an approach of about 17 ft of track at a 2 % grade, which you should not exceed. In Europe it is quite common to employ hidden staging facilities, as space is much more at a premium than in the US.

The bridges are actually duckunders or lift-outs. I´d favor lift-outs, as bending down and crawling on my knees dos not work so well in my age. 30" are a good measure if you want to move comfortably through them.

One thing that is consequently underestimated when planning a layout is the size of the footprints for buildings, but you are right, I overdid it with the station building, which could be smaller.

I keep my fingers crossed for the job interview!

Btw, this beauty:

is getting ready to pull the Diner to its December location, but where to? Southern Cal or Florida? Let me know in time!

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 7:58 AM

Robby: I tried to send you a PM that had the photos in it but they only went so far---I guess I'll have to post here then...

Both front fenders had these rust holes--

...then there was this 'patch' sort of thing on the bucket crane--

....once I get the truck I'll ship it to you--you can figure out that weird patch thing...

We are going to be rained on today--after our dump of snow we will see about 1.5" of rain---then back to the 40% chance of little tiny snowflurriesHuh?

Janie--I'll have a cofee in an IV bag please---i'll be at the RC for a bit...Headphones

 

 

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/

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Posted by cudaken on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 7:38 AM

 Mourning Folks

 Flo, English Muffin and a coffee please.

 Will be getting ready here in a little bit for the job interview, big thing is time for a hair cut.

 Ulrich, I have been studying the plan some more and it has given me a few ideas. Maybe a couple of wye's (is that spelled right) in the center top.

 All so, is that HO scale? Reason I ask is the buildings all look so big? What really got my attention is the sizes of the bridge. One span and it covers 30 inches.

 What did you figure the grade would be going to the hidden staging and what kind of clearances? That idea is starring to grow on me.

 Got to run, see you all later.

                         Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by TMarsh on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 7:36 AM

Good Morning! Coffee please. Gotta get movin’. Just a little time today.

Scattered sprinkles and flurries before noon, then scattered flurries. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a west wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Yuck. Gonna get yuckier I suppose.

Y’all have a Great Day now ya hear?!!!

Todd  

Central Illinoyz

In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 7:27 AM

Good morning. It's 51 and cloudy. The high will be 55 and there's a 40% chance of rain this morning tapering off to 20% this afternoon. Expecting a low tonight of 30.

We had a bad house fire yesterday just up the road from here. There were at least 5 depts responding. I went there to make sure the people in our dept were OK and to lend a hand where needed. The main structure of the house was saved so it can be rebuilt. The schedule for today is more layout work. I had intended to do it yesterday but clearing the closet became the main task of the day. Now that that's done there's more room in there to store more MR stuff and free up some space under the layout. The stuff in the boxes under there will be subject to a culling also. Anything useful I come across that I don't need will be posted here to be given to whoever wants it. There's quite a bit of stuff under there.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 7:06 AM

fec153

Jeff- Did the pony express get to you?  No long envelope or did the pony lose a shoe???

Yep, I received the KCS passenger train schedule. Thanks. The only other one I'd seen is in the Museum of West Louisiana in Leesville.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by Robby P. on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 6:42 AM

 Good rainy morning.  Its suppose to rain all day, and mix to snow later tonight.

 I guess work on the layout some more, and start a new weathered project.   I did make it to buy some more lumber, so I can finish the tables up.

 I've been selling the cars on "eBay", and they have been doing pretty good.............But I have a buyer causing trouble.   I reported the unpaid item to eBay, and will see what happens. 

 I will pop back in later.

 Barry...........I sent you a pm.

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

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Posted by Wisconsin Railfan on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 6:10 AM

Good Morning Folks!

Cup of coffee please!

Hope everyone has a great day!

Steven

The train came by and I got on, that’s when it all began
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Posted by LSWrr on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 5:46 AM

Good Morning,

No layout time again last night, instead I went over to a friend’s house and watched trains run.  Several people were there who brought locomotives and rolling stock in from home.  I learn allot from these guys they all have some cool stuff that they have done or bought and I get to see things run before I buy one myself.  I was very impressed last night with the new generation of Bachman DCC/Sound decoders.

 

Rain all day today then snow the rest of the week.

 

BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret)
 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

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11/30/2010
Posted by wetidlerjr on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 4:50 AM

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

Dinner

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 12:34 AM

Good Morning Gang,

it is a cold winter morning at this side of the Big Pond, with lots of that fuzzy white stuff expected to come down by midday - brrr!

Zoe, I´ll continue with a mug of hot cocoa. I did not get much sleep last night, due to the pain.

Todd, I am with you with the plan having a European flavor to it. It lacks a number of industries serviced by rail. It is not meant to be an "operations" type of layout, but a "let `em fly by" type. There is a bit of a trade-off between those two types, though not really an either-or issue. In Europe, model railroaders tend to be railfans and not engineers, so most of the layouts you´d see there pack a lot of track into small spaces, giving them that spaghetti bowl look. I agree that finding the right balance is not an easy task, but there is a rule of thumb I found to be helpful. Once you have drawn your track plan, re-draw it and eliminate every third switch Smile, Wink & Grin My personal favorite is still the single-track version. I´d add 3-4 industries along the way, to justify that local train and to enhance operation and it´d be a near to perfect layout for me, if I had the space and the funds.

Ray - chocolate chip cookies? Delicious! More, please!

John - the old Romans were smart people, weren´t they? This little wisdom can not only be found in the book "De re militarii" by Flavius Vegetius Renatus (400 BC) but even earlier than that in the book "Art of War" by Sun Tzu (presumably 600 BC). The frightening thing about it is, that it is still all true Surprise

Will be back later.

 

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Posted by TMarsh on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 12:16 AM

Have you tried Ryan’s Finger Lickin’ Rub on Deviled eggs? OMG!!!! FANTASTIC! Give it a try with a healthy shake. Once again OMG!!! DeeeeeeLICIOUS!

Ulrich- Part of what I said is true, but it was said somewhat tongue in cheek. I was kinda poking fun at us United Statesians. And, like I said, was MY opinion not anyone elses. BUT, I will say I like the “widened” version better. I’m like you to a point in that I’m not big on double, triple or 4 mains running side by side, but I do like juuuust a tad more business, shall we say, going on. Now, the plan you showed could be a great start point with a just a few personalized additions. Of course that’s what it’s all about isn’t it? My problem is the line between busy enough and too busy. I assume what you ar e calling spaghetti bowl. Too much track. Oh well. I kept your plan in my archives (cool sounding way to say saved it ) for the eventual phase 2 of the layout. My bench work will be a bit larger and I have a plan for the second half, but I’m not sure it will be what I want when the time comes. I will refer to and maybe gleen some stuff from yours.

I’m seriously rethinking the track plan for Toddland (of which I’m king) part II. Hey, I’m tearing out the basement walls. Kinda mindless work so why not use that time to think about MRRing eh?

Cold place next month huh? Well I suppose. At least I’ll have time to dig out my longuns.

My gosh it’s tomorrow! PFTIN.

Todd  

Central Illinoyz

In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.

I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk. Laugh

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Posted by fec153 on Monday, November 29, 2010 8:19 PM

T O P   Vinny I just want to leave my credit card with the girls. Jeeze.   O.K. gang, chow and drinks are on my bill.  [don't want to say{ on me} as someone takes that to literally]

Prayers for all. Time to shower and sleep. Past my bedtime already.  Nite all.

Flip

 

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Posted by fec153 on Monday, November 29, 2010 8:12 PM

Jeff- Did the pony express get to you?  No long envelope or did the pony lose a shoe???

flip

 

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