Elliot's Trackside Diner, DECEMBER, 2012!

[galaxy]

HELLO AND WELCOME!!!

The OLD DINER is here:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/211287.aspx

 

 

 

[galaxy]

Hi Diners!

We are in SUNNY SOUTHERN California!!! Perhaps our ffriends there cna help us with a tour! I will be looking up tour-isty stuff to do!!!

I have spit polished the Rivet Counter, waxed and shined the floor, serviced th climate control unit for our comfort, and gave the final month's tip to the wait staff!

[Burlington Northern #24]

there's rain, rain everywhere!

[galaxy]

Morning Coffee in the DIner

GOOD MORNING!!!

Today is Saturday, December 1st, 2012!!!

December-

Middle English decembre

Old French decembre

Latin december "tenth month"

Latin decem "ten" + -ber (adj. suffix)

December had 30 days, until Numa when it had 29 days, until Julius when it became 31 days long

 

November is "dead as a doornail", SO:

Meaning:

Dead,  devoid of life (when applied to people, plants or animals). Finished with, unusable (when applied to inanimate objects).

Origin:

This is old - at least 14th century. There's a reference to it in print in 1350:

"For but ich haue bote of mi bale I am ded as dorenail."

Shakespeare used it in King Henry VI, Part 2, 1592:

CADE:

Brave thee! ay, by the best blood that ever was broached, and beard thee too. Look on me well: I have eat no meat these five days; yet, come thou and thy five men, and if I do not leave you all as dead as a doornail, I pray God I may never eat grass more.

As 'X' as 'Y' similes refer to some property and then give an example of something well-known as exhibiting that property, e.g. 'as white as snow'. Why doornails are cited as a particular example of deadness isn't clear. Doornails are the large-headed studs that were used in earlier times for strength and more recently as decoration. The practice was to hammer the nail through and then bend over the protruding end to secure it. This process, similar to riveting, was called clenching. This may be the source of the 'deadness', as such a nail would be unusable afterwards.

 

 

[herrinchoker]

Good morning, 02:47 hrs. temp is 18, wind out of the North 10-15 gusting to 20. Had a snow squall earlier, just enough to fill in the dimples on the lawn. Freezing rain later today, warmilng up overnight, rain on Sunday, temp. in the 50s, clearing for monday, temp holding in the 50s. Will try to finish the wood pile on Monday. I have been fortuniate with giving pills to my animals. The only thing I have to watch is getting my hand back if I hold the pill too tight. None of my Chesapeakes have ever been finickey about food, or medicines. Cliping toe nails is another item. I can usually get two clipped before Chester will firmly hold my hand is his mouth, and give me the "ENOUGH" look. I wait about an hour, give him a dog cookie, and take two more. Taking care of family is at best difficult. Growing up many of the families here had three to four generations living under one roof. It had it's advantages, the young learned from the grandparents, and in some cases the great-grandparents. Baby stitting wasn't a problem. and at the end of the path the young learned about death. I believe the young learned that they were not invincible. I took over care of Dad from my sister as she had reached a point that she was emotionally unable to administer to him as his cancer progressed. I was blessed to be holding his hand when he passed over. I also went through the same thing with my wife when she died from thrush. Mary beat the cancer, but the chemo used destroyed her immune system, at the end I had to give her morphene injectons for her discomfort. I was blessed to be with her to the end, 17 years. The sun will be most appreciated, why is my cup bouncing to the door?? Prayers for those in need. Jan (herrinchoker)

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning! from Tipton IN.

It's Saturday, December 1, 2012

TIPTON

[Anonymous]

Good Morning!

December 1st - good grief, already? I am still waiting for summer to happen!

The night saw the first sprinkle of snow for the season, but it´s all gone now. Southern Germany is having a series of snow storms, much to the joy of the commuters in that region.

Petra and I will be decorating our flat today - just a little, to get our minds set in the upcoming season. The few presents we can afford are all ordered. Just little things for our son and his GF. We still hope to see him soon.

Have a nice weekend!

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning

Weather here be all freezing fog...temperature right now is sitting at dew point...26F...supposed to get to 44F later on...in the dull ...

Today will be kind of slow...as is expected on weekends around here...so the little Spring is taking advantage of my arms and is all snuggled up between them now...lol.

Southern California, eh? As in Barstow? Borax? Imperial Valley? or LA?

[galaxy]

blownout cylinder

Southern California, eh? As in Barstow? Borax? Imperial Valley? or LA?

 

SOCO! We have naturally landed WHERE??? LA,  Los Angeles, Of course!!!

Here we will sojourn over to Angels Flight Railway, A funicular trolley ride, located smack dab in the middle of Down TOwn LA!!! It is a unique attraction, offers a quick exciting "tour" at an amazing price!!! It will take you up the Bumker hill area.

FIr  more info:

http://www.daytrippen.com/angels-flight-los-angeles.html

 

Then we head over to the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum! They run live steamers on  7½" gauge! It is a non-profit operation since 1956, and they just LOVE to run their Live Steam Trains for the public! FOr more info check here:

http://www.lals.org/

 

Then, we will go to the Orange Empire Railway In PERRIS, CA!!! The non-profit Orange Empire Railway Museum has been preserving Southern California’s railway history since 1956. Home to over 200 historic railway cars and locomotives from Los Angeles and the West, the museum’s 90-acre site in Perris

 

http://www.oerm.org/

 

THEN, {yes, there is more!} we will hop a train from LA to SAN DIEGO!!!!!!  On the Los Angeles Streamliners at L.A.RAIL.COM we will hop an excursion  aboard vintage rail cars form the 40s nad 50s from LA to SAn DIego where we will see what other trouble we will get into!!!

Check here:

http://www.larail.com/

 

TooT TooT!!! PSSSSHHHTT!!!

ALL ABOARD!!!

 

 

[BroadwayLion]

Southern California, Eh?

LION was in Southern California once. Can you say Miramar Naval Air Station. Took a train ride up to LA one time, got off the train and asked a cab driver "Where's the City?"

At least in New York, when you get off the train there is no question on where the city is!

NOW THAT is a city. And there are 14 railroad tracks right under your feet!

When it becomes time to model this part of the city, I can skip the buildings, and just put up the advertisements.

ROAR

[Curt Webb]

Morning All,

Wow. I have not been to Socal since 1994 specifically San Diego with the Navy. I have only been to LA to fly through. Now San Fran I like. I have been there 3 times and I remember it as a great party town (my older days).

Not much planned for the day other than go to the club later. MOH is out with our daughter and new grand kids. My daughter received notice from the state that they would start living in her house on 12/21. She has no word when the adoption will be final, but after 5 years of trying to adopt we are all very happy.

I will talk to you all later. Hope everyone has a great day and prayers for those in need.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Curt Webb

Wow. I have not been to Socal since 1994

Make that 1981 for me.

*

Morning. Not a good one either. It's 63° with 94% humidity. It's mostly cloudy. The high will be 78°.


My nephew had one of his parties last night. It started off quiet enough but later as it grew came this strange need for it to become louder. About 9 pm it was getting really loud then something happened. It got even louder if that was possible. I could see things on the shelves actually vibrating! So I went over and asked them to turn it down. This was about 10:30. They complied and I got a little sleep but was constantly getting woke up about every 30 to 45 minutes. Then at 1 am they kicked in with the big guns! The amps must have been running flat out! DVD's were falling out of my wall racks and my emergency lantern was starting to swing on it's hook. At 1:30 I once again asked them to turn it down. By this time they were drunk enough that they had no respect for anything or anyone so naturally that didn't work. Well, I decided I might as well enjoy their bonfire. I was there until about 2:30 then went back home. Somewhere between 3:30 and 4:00 it stopped. In total I got about four hours sleep. Perhaps someday soon I'll have a chance to revisit some of their 'hospitality' on him. Maybe some late night appreciation of some big band music from the 30's and 40's while he's trying to get some sleep prior to going to work. Oh, revenge is a dish best served cold. Big band music is best appreciated at a life like volume level. In other words, loud! He hates big band music with a passion! That's just too bad as I'm rather fond of it.

I'm not really sure what I'll be doing today. I may try working on the layout a bit or I may just go back to bed. Failing that maybe a trip to town later to get one of those new Domino's deep dish pizzas. I haven't tried one of those yet.

[Seamonster]

Howmus:  Those pill pockets sound like just the thing to give a pill to a cat.  I wish we had known about them back in the early '80s when we had to give our cat pills.  The vet told us to pop the pill in the cat's mouth, hold her jaws closed and stroke her throat to make her swallow.  Well, it was a fight to get the pill in and hold her jaws closed.  She'd push it out with her tongue faster than we could get her jaws closed.  When we finally got her jaws closed and stroked her throat, she'd swallow a couple of times so we'd let her go.  She'd run out of the room then when she was out of sight she'd spit out the pill she had been hiding in her cheek.  Wasted a lot of pills.  Never underestimate the cunning nor the intelligence of a cat!  The medication we had to give our last cat could be injected into his mouth with a syringe and he'd swallow it.

[howmus]

Mornin' I think...

Clownifornica eh?  Just had to go and pick a place where I have relatives didn't ya Galaxy!  That alone is enough reason not to want to visit... 

Zoe, so what do we have for breakfast around here this month?  Nothing edible I guess.  Can I get a cup of dark roast coffee at least?

Jeffrey, If I still had it I would be glad to bring down my old 3,200 watt tri-amped JBL Pro front end system to help with the retaliation!    The introduction passage from Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, by Richard Strauss would do the trick very nicely... ( I used the piece on some neighbors back when I lived in a trailer park in Waverly many years ago.)    It would be heard 2 or 3 miles away...  The speakers could handle about 3 times that amount of power if you can up with it!

Today is the day to pick up my Christmas wreaths form my old Boy Scout Troop annual sale.  Have 4 of them ordered.  two for my deck, one for my son, and a "Holiday Decoration Wreath to celebrate the season of greetings" for my sister in Canandaigua.

Best get moving.  How do I get home from here?

73

[tcwright973]

California is it. I was only there once for a very short period of time, maybe 6 or 7 hours, and saw absolutely nothing. Well, not exactly nothing if you count the inside of a building at Oakland Army Terminal and the inside of the terminal at San Francisco International Airport. Returning from Viet Nam, we processed through Oakland in the middle of the night and then taxied to the airport around 5:00 in the morning to catch a flight home and begin a 30 day leave. The original plan was to spend a day or two in Frisco because go-go and topless dancers had burst on the scene during my tour. But once we landed, getting home and seeing the wife after a year became the top priority. Probably should have stayed at least a day though. I arrived home in Pittsburgh on July 4th, and found no one home. As it turned out, the wife and the rest of the family were on a picnic, even the landlord wasn't home, so no way to get into the apartment. Sure surprised everyone later because I wasn't expected home for another 6 days. All I can say is that some fireworks sound a lot like incoming rounds. A very uneasy night, though a very relieved and happy one.

We went out last night for a fish dinner. the wife gets fish on a dish with macaroni and cheese and a cup of potato soup, while I always get a fish sandwich, french fries and cole slaw. I know it clogs the arteries, but it taste so good doing it. Especially with a nice cold draft. About the only time I drink beer.

It's suppose to be in the low 60's here tomorrow, so we will probably go railfanning as usual. Might even be able to sit outside instead of in the car.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

[Anonymous]

Well, it´s been 38 years, since I last visited southern California. It was  a trip to Disneyland and Knott´s Berry farm. My host family took me down there as a treat. We rode the Amtrak Coastal Starlight to LA Union Station, all the way from Seattle. It was some experience for me. That was still pretty much in the beginning of Amtrak. While the service was just great, the cars weren´t. They appeared to run-down and old-fashioned to me.

It was certainly a slow day today. There was only a short HD list, so I had plenty of time for doing nothing specific. Watched a couple of old 1940´s comedies on youtube, much to Petra´s annoyance. She really does not like comedies...

Well, I´ll be off for today - CU tomorrow!

Belsseings and prayers to all ailing ...

[Packer]

Hey guys

I've never been to California. Weather is kinda like Florida's

Anyways, I managed to spruce up my collection of Bachmann and Life-like automobiles that I have. They are crude, but look pretty decent on autoracks. I got all my autoracks fully loaded except for 2. I need 7 more of the Bachmann station wagons to finish them off. These are the kind of station wagons I'm after: http://www.ebay.com/itm/HO-Automobile-Set-6-pieces-NIP-Bachmann-BAC-00-42206-/290771846966?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item43b35a4736

Does anyone have any of these station wagons they don't want? I'd like to have all of my racks fully loaded for the christmas show my club is running.

[Darryl]

I've never been to Southern California...as a matter of fact, I've never been anywhere in California, but since it's warm, I would rather be there than here, where its unseasonably warmer than usual in the high 50s-low 60s.  Still too cold for my liking...I prefer sand, surf and sun..not necessarily in that order

Had to work a few hours of the graveyard shift last night and I was quickly reminded why I always hated night shift...seems bad guys still like to victimize others under the cover of darkness   I'm off today however, and I have a "Fish Geek" banquet to attend tonight for my local Aquarium Society, where I will receive at least one award for my aquatic gardening skills. 

Maintaining and breeding all types of tropical fish and propagating aquatic plants has been my primary hobby for the last sixteen years or so....As if you all you "Train Folks" care to know that.  I will soon be abandoning that hobby, and my "Fish Room" will be converted to a "Train Room", which I am really excited about doing over the next few months.  I think it will be much easier to travel, etc. with the train hobby than it has been with the fish.  They tend to need caring for when I'm away.  I guess they expect to be fed everyday...they can be so demanding

Well, I better get to doing something productive.  I hope everyone is having a great Saturday!  TTYS

 

 

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Howdy ..... 

Southern California, eh. ....... My first time there was in 1957, and our family road the Santa Fe Super Chief from Chicago to Los Angeles to get there. ...... To this day, there has never been a better way to travel from Chicago to LA .... Here is a picture from that trip.

When we returned home (Chicago area), I had to have some Santa Fe trains on my HO layout. The picture below shows the layout, my first HO layout. I was in Junior High School, and you can see I played the tuba in the band. 

Cheers, everybody. 

[Burlington Northern #24]

SoCal huh? excuse me while I go find a great white shark to surf on.

[howmus]

Afternoon folks!

Chloe, I'll have an iced tea..  No not the sweetened kind.  Can someone please turn the air conditioning on?  It is?  Man way too hot for me!

Darryl, knew there was something I liked about you.  Another tropical fish guy, huh?  At one time way back I was shipping an average of 500 veil tail Angel fish to a wholesaler in Pine City, NY. every month. There was usually another 300 to 500 fish as well from one of the several breeding pairs I had.  I was actually the 5th. person ever to breed Neon Tetras in captivity, and it was quite by accident.  Had a tank with only the Neons in it that went acid on me...  I had forgotten to do any water changes for some time and the next thing I knew I had fry swimming around in the tank.  In my house in Waverly I had 21 tanks of fish, most were breeding tanks.

Garry?  A tubist huh?  Tubaer?  I refer to myself as a Singist so you can be a Tubaer...  One of my best friends at Eastman School was known for his rendition of the piccolo descant during the playing of Stars and Stripes Forever (J.P. Sousa)........  On his Tuba....  At the New York Worlds Fair in 1964!  One of the wildest musical accomplishments I have ever heard and seen...  LOL  BTW, the guy now lives in Nashville and plays electric bass for commercials and such.

Hey, hey, hey!  Geneva got on a local Rochester area TV station last night.  We had the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree here in town and had something special going on with it...  Just one of many reasons I like living here.  Lots of Green around here, and we even have that white stuff we are supposed to have this time of year!  last nights worth melted before noon though. 

Been moving wood to the back porch from the side driveway.  Have moved a little more than half a face cord so far... Have 6 face cords to get moved.

Back to w*rk!

Later!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Just got a call from my father. He's at the ER. My mother has slipped into a coma again. We weren't expecting it. She was doing so well yesterday. He'll fill me in on the details later.

[galaxy]

jeffrey-wimberly

Just got a call from my father. He's at the ER. My mother has slipped into a coma again. We weren't expecting it. She was doing so well yesterday. He'll fill me in on the details later.

Prayer candle lit for your mother, Jeffrey!

I don't know if I've missed anyone elses' requests or not...buthere is one general candle lit for all forum members...

 

 

An exhausting day playing catch up on laundry...took several hours to wash, dry, fold, put away them all! ALso had to move out some older clothes no longer needed for new ones to come in!

Did I think 6 loads and stil have towels and sheets tomorrow!

 

[saronaterry]

That sucks, Jeff.

Terry in NW Wisconsin

[Curt Webb]

Evening All,

Got back from the club early tonight.

Jeff- I am very sorry to hear about your Mother. I am saying prayers for her and your family.

Garry & Stan- Very nice scenes in WPF this week.

 

 

 

 

Hope everyone has a good night and prayers for those in need.

[kbkchooch]

jeffrey-wimberly

Just got a call from my father. He's at the ER. My mother has slipped into a coma again. We weren't expecting it. She was doing so well yesterday. He'll fill me in on the details later.

Wow, that was unexpected! Prayers for Mom & the family tonight!

Not much going on here, just another day of w**k.

Tomorrow has lots of possibilities

Building a layout for the grandsons, washing my car, airbrushing a body shell, dying the dash and door pockets for the truck, or decorating the front of the house for Christmas.

Oh and I have Monday off too!! 

SoCal?? never been there. Wife lived there for a year while her father was an exec for Tetra (fish geeks, remember them), but they missed the life here, so they came back here.

Darryl and Ray, I too had a fish habit. So much so that I almost got kicked out of an apartment I had, just because they were worried about 3 55 gallon and 3 20 gallon tanks in the living room!!

Think I'll take an extra cold RBF to a back booth, away from the heat of the door!!

[GMTRacing]

Good Evening All,

    Jeff - sorry to hear about your Mom. We will keep her and you in our prayers.

   Long day today. Had my annual VSCCA board meeting this morning where we decided to fundamentally change how the club will function. I will not bore you to tears with the details. After most of us went to John Fitchs' memorial service which was packed with the great and small of humanity. Once home the CFO and I went out to have Japanese Hibachi food to celebrate our anniversary and my Bday. Had the steak and fried rice etc none of which is remotely on my approved diet but what the heck once a year or so.....

    I've gotten caught up enough to start to think about some layout time. I'll keep you all posted. J.R.

[howmus]

Evenin folks!

Janie, cup of decaf please.  Thank you Ma'am.

Jeffrey, my prayers for your mom and your whole family!

Curt, nice palace car!  Reminds me a bit of the one they have on display at Steamtown.

I got about one full face cord of wood moved today.  5 more to go.  My joints are better than they were last year and the job isn't as daunting for me...  Also got down to the train room to get a few more things done and take a few photos of what little I did get accomplished this week.

Have a great night everyone, and my prayers to all in need!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

No news on my mothers condition.

I did a little work on the layout today but it didn't amount to much. I ordered a pack of cleaning pads for the Bachmann track cleaner car. I found that by running it in the train extends the track cleaning from once in a great while to once in a blue moon. It keeps the nickel silver oxide from building up. It's non-abrasive so doesn't hurt the smooth GLEAMed surface of the railheads. I bought one of those Domino's deep dish pan pizzas. Pepperoni, sausage, ham. Delicious! I ate half of it today. I'll finish it off tomorrow. Got bored this evening so went over and watched my nephew and some of his friends rebuild some smashed up R/C monster trucks. Man, there's a lot of parts on those things! These are the big boys that run on nitro fuel. It's easily just as expensive as model railroading.

Well that's it for today. Time to call it a night. See y'all tomorrow.

[Darryl]

RB - So sorry to hear about your mother...I'll keep her and the rest of your family in my prayers.

Howmus & kbkchooch - glad to hear I'm not the only one who has been into fish and transitioned to trains...I don't feel so alone now...though I leave the fish hobby with some reservations after tonights banquet...lots of good people in that hobby too!

Good night all! ...feel free to put your night caps on my tab, since I got the top slot on this page