The discussion about phones got me thinking, my grandfather had a candlestick phone with a rotary dial in the base, he kept it on top of an old Emmerson radio that had the deepest base sounds I have ever heard. When we first moved to the Island we went nearly a year before we got a phone, that was how long the waiting list was. Our first phone was a "POT" (plain old telephone-black) that did not have a rotary dial. All the numbers on the Island were two digit, to make a call you would pick up the hand-set and the operator would ask what number you wanted. We were on a 10 party line, our ring set was two short-one long. It was not at all uncommon to hear noise in the background when you recieved a call, washing machine-baby crying, radio playing-the neighbors were always well informed. During the Korean War my oldest brother called home from Tokyo on the military net, he had just brought a Chinese Communist Major that had been captured to McArthurs HQ for de-briefing, and wanted to let the family know he was going back to Korea, and not coming home just yet. Dad started laughing, and told my brother, "no son, the radio isn't on, one of the neighbors is sharing our conversation" At that point my brother asked the person to turn down the D-- radio as he could barely hear Dad. The radio was turned down, but the neighbor still listened in to the conversation. It was not uncommon to be using the phone and have one of the neighbors cut in asking to use the line as they had an important call to make. The day we recieved a private line,( akin to being two doiley Irish) we celebrated. Entertainment was listening to the radio on Saturday night, along with a large bowl of popcorn. Gang Busters, X-1, Jack Benney, Lone Ranger, Arthur Godfrey, Our Miss Brooks, to name a few. Our first TV arrived when my brother-in-law moved into the farm house after he was discharged from SAC in 1956, he had been a navigator on a KC-97 tanker. Before that he was a navigator/bombadier on B-26s in Korea.
It is strange what will trigger memories---
We recieved about 10 inches of snow out of this past storm, tomorrow will finish recovering the woodpile from the snow drift. The deer have hit my yew bushes hard, and then moved down the field to the cedar trees, and are in the process of trimming them up. Have close to 40 turkeys feeding around my deck, wife has been throwing corn over the rail into the driveway for them. Have to wax the snowshovel again and get ready for the removal project tomorrow.
Prayers for those who need, hope all are warm,dry, and safe.
herrinchoker
Hi all,
Keeping busy with a lot these days so I'm glad to drop back in for a minute.
I love this month's locale. As a kiddo I had a VHS on Australian steam and they had a segment on Puffing Billy. Hope to visit Australia one day.
On the life front: Going on a Disney Cruise with my family next week for a week cruising the Carribean. I've been busy at work quite a bit but it does pay the bills. And yay for extra train money.
At the roundhouse this week... I've sold a few HO models, and now have a handful of vintage American Flyer pieces and a lot of old parts up for auction.
I still dearly love the Pennsy but lately I've been more towards the Reading Company side. Bought a BLI T1 and a Bowser VO1000. As well as a Proto Northeast caboose to repaint, and six resin models of Reading freight cars. I'm still keeping my Pennsy collection, just complementing with Reading freight trains.
Alvie
Good evening all.
Brunhilda - A hot cocoa please. Thanks!
ROR - Hope the new job will be a good one for you!
Cudaken - Is a spider cam anything like the NASCAR Gopher cam? Does your spider have a cool name, like Slinger? (Digger is the gopher who operates NASCAR's Gopher cam...)
YGW - Glad you didn't get affected by the protesting, that would have been a major bummer.
Ed - I know exactly how you feel about the weather issues... NW PA weather is very similar to yours.
Speaking of Weather - About 10-12 inches or so of fluffy white stuff, and a cold night. (10F or lower tonight.) Warming back up next week though...
W**k - Remodelling inside the store, in new paint, and updated displays and moved locations on the floor plan. Fixture parts came today, and we will start in earnest tomorrow.
Ankle - No, I never went to the local ER. I really refuse to go there... Last time I was there, for Asthma issues, they diagnosed double pneumonia, off of clear X-rays.... I could (and still can) put my full weight on the ankle, as well as move, bend, and twist it every normal direction, without issues. Just a big bruise, and skinned the one side of it. (Probably when I yanked it out quick when it got hit....) If I couldn't put full weight on it, or move it freely, I would have gone to the ER anyways, but at the rate they misdiagnose, I might have left with my arm in a sling!
Trains - Cleaned and lubed a couple loco's today, that will most likely be going to a friends son. Both are Tyco/AHM diesels. They will need some slight work first, as the AHM labeled one, a RS-2, the motor mount is broken, so the motor can rotate on its axis, not the way it is supposed too! The Tyco labeled one, a GP-7(9?) one the motor runs very warm (HOT!), so I will be checking it over a little more as well. Both will have the coupler mounts moved, as the couplers are way, way too low. So, it will be a few days of testing and modifying the units before gifting them.
Hope all are well, and all have a good night!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Br. Otte, Be kind to yourself. I think you and I are candidates for the Milwaukee
200 FOOT marathon. When do we start training. It's a little cool out yet for me.
Johnboy out.............. Think I'll grab some ZZZZzzzzssss.
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Evening Diners
Flo, Ed and I will have a please.
Boy it was a pretty day in Maryville IL. It was 67 degrees around 3:00 PM and still 65 as of at 5:37 PM.
Steve So that is what you sound like when you are Chastsing us folks here in the dinner! OK, we had it coming and you are doing your job.
ROR Does the new job have health inscurance? Guessing you do not have to move.
Gary and YGW Wife was tickled pink about the Roes's, Birthday cake and Birthday Card. I am not as warm of a person as I use to be. So she had them coming to her.
YGW while 24X24 is a lot of space for some reason I was thinking it would be a little longer. Do you have a track plan yet? Now I do find K-10 Model Train is to dang big! I have stopped running there because I got tired of chasing the train. By the way, I am sure you can get a few Spider Cam Photos if you try.
Ed I still like Monon and really like the Monon BL2's! Tried to make them DCC and started eating decoders. Guess I need to test the power draw. I know more now that when I first got in DCC.
Ulrich Are you and Petra doing OK?
Later Ken
I hate Rust
If any of you have ever wondered to yourself, "Exactly how potbellied and hunchbacked is Steve Otte, anyway?", head over to MR's Facebook page. I just posted a behind-the-scenes video of a promotional photo shoot that definitely shows the answer to be "very much so." https://www.facebook.com/ModelRailroader/
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Thanks to all on the well wishes on the new job. My current employer did away with a pension plan many years ago. In it's place, for those of us who had been around for a while, they increased their contribution to our 401(k) plan. The only thing I get for retiring, vs. quitting, is a small bucket of cash to apply toward future health premiums. My last day with the old employer is 2/28 and the first day with the new one is 3/6. In between am taking Mrs. ROR up to Idaho to help with the grandkids while my son is on an MBA-trip in Europe.
Richard
gmpullmanDo you remember the last time you dialed the telephone?
I still have one and it works. It is not in regular use. I keep it as a backup in case the power goes out.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I returned my 2x2 foot foam boards. Unfortunately I didn't get the 4x8 foot sheet. We( mom and I) decided to wait so we can rent a truck from grandma(her mom). She will try to talk to her later day if we can use it. Then later on I'll get the rest of the materials.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
gmpullman Thought for the day... Do you remember the last time you dialed the telephone? I mean dialed ? I was mixing some artist paints in a round pallette the other day and I thought it looked just like a telephone dial. Made me reminisce... I seem to recall some rotary-dial phones at GE so that's probably the last time I actually used one, maybe around 1987-88? Cheers, Ed
Thought for the day...
Do you remember the last time you dialed the telephone?
I mean dialed ? I was mixing some artist paints in a round pallette the other day and I thought it looked just like a telephone dial. Made me reminisce...
I seem to recall some rotary-dial phones at GE so that's probably the last time I actually used one, maybe around 1987-88?
Cheers, Ed
Probably mid to late 90s. My late grandmother had one. (She couldn't get the hang of the push button phones.)
Heartland Division CB&Q FRRY .... You engine house sounds liek an impressive model.
FRRY .... You engine house sounds liek an impressive model.
One of the few times that I actually worked on a model during the week (Tuesday to Saturday) as I wanted to get it finished.
Hello all
Train front - Backfill is complete, slab inspection is tomorrow. Looks like we will be pouring ( FINALLY ) Monday. HURRAY I AM SOOOOO EXCITED to be done with this phase of the work
ATSFGuy - Oh I have always like Athearn Locos, Dont have many because I prefer steam. But I had diesal when I was younger and bought a few athearns
AngLE - Okay when I get done I will approve the friend request. Thanks. LOL "Charles the dog eating goat". I had to read that once three times No I am building a "barn" with 24'x24' "Hobby room" attached. In there I will build a HO scale Model RR.
Ed - Is that you in the photo ? Yes I do remember dialing and party lines. I also watched the "green hornet on a black and white TV ! We had remotes then to...hey son switch the channnel to....I was the remote
Jim - What do you do ? Are you an EMT ? I just cannot picture two stories of snow !
FRRYKid - Whoa 22" ! That eats up some space !
James - We have this funny saying " Dang I cut teh board twice and it is still too short !!!
Ken - You have a spider cam ? Cool !
Garry - Yep its gonna take a LOT Longer
History qoute :
Keep your business affairs in your own hands. It's the only way to be happy.
I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be.
YGW,
The Santa Fe SD75M's were from Athearn Genesis.
yougottawanta Train front - OH HAPPY DAY !!! I have five dump trucks hauling to my house TODAY taking the backfill material there - HURRAY - I can almost smell the fresh cut lumber ! By mid summer I hope to be building the YGW and N&W RR !!!
Train front - OH HAPPY DAY !!! I have five dump trucks hauling to my house TODAY taking the backfill material there - HURRAY - I can almost smell the fresh cut lumber ! By mid summer I hope to be building the YGW and N&W RR !!!
Four dump trucks so you're modeling a 1:1 garden railroad in the backyard?
YGW- I sent you a friend request.
yougottawanta Angel - Thanks for the food ! What is a Kato V4 ? What did you order ?
Angel - Thanks for the food ! What is a Kato V4 ? What did you order ?
Kato V4 Switching Siding Set is a variation set. The consist of train contains 1 of each left and right #4 switches, 2 each of 2_7/16" straight track, 2_2/8" left and right straight track (roadbed is slightly cut for the turnout, and 19" curve track. 4 pieces of 9_3/4" straight track and some switch controllers.
What did I order. I ordered 2 packs of 12_3/4" curve track, 9_3/4" straight track, left hand turnout #4. 1 pack of 1 right hand turnout #4, and 5" straight track.
Since I some extra money not getting that set I bought one of each #4 switch tracks costing $55.
I'm going to try to go to Home Depot to return my 2x2 foot foam blocks for a full sheet of 4x8. I believe it will be easier to do, instead of gluing the pieces together with Charles the dog eating goat.
Good morning, everybody ..
I will have a cinnamon roll and coffee please.
Ken .... I am glad you and your wife had a good celebration of her birthday. My good friend in Illinois has his b'day today.
Jim M .... The classes for retiorees sound like a great idea and a lot of fun.
DC Jim .... I don't envy you have to contend with DC traffic.
Ed .... Reminds me a of a line in a movie... "Buhler, Buhler." .... Also, I recall rotary phones when they were common. Do you recall party lines, too? I think the rotary phones still work with the phone company.
Happy model railroading !
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Good Morning, Everyone!
Thursday already! How does that happen... time waits for no man.
For some reason my sleeping cycle has made a 180° flip! For the past few weeks I was up ALL night and got into the berth somewhere around 7 AM. This week I have been hitting the rack around 11 PM and waking up at 5:30 AM or so... oh well, one of the benefits of retirement is—who cares!
I am a bit peckish this morning, Chloe. I'll have the "Brakeman's" stack of pancakes, a few strips of extra-thick sliced bacon, two eggs over easy and a few fresh strawberries on the side. Keep the boiler-wash java coming, too!
Dave for Glenn.
YGW, glad to hear your structure is rising from the Earth. When the framing goes up is really an exciting part of construction, when you can do your first "walk through"! Keep the photos coming...
Garry, as Ken has mentioned there must have been a bad lot of Buhler motors in some of the Stewart locos. I had four go bad and took out the decoders with them. Something was wrong with the brushes/commutator but even after doing an "autopsy" on the motors I could never quite see what was going wrong. The replacement motors were around $35 but I found powered chassis on ebay for around $50 so I went that route. Glad it is behind me...
ROR Congrats on the "new" job. I wish you success in your venture.
Thanks for that Spider View, Ken! Do I see a Monon BL-2 back there? I have one of those in Western Maryland. The ugly-duckling of EMDs!
What a difference a day makes! Tuesday was almost 50°F and sunny, yesterday 24° and a foot of snow! That's February in Ohio.
I'm working on about a dozen different railroad projects right now. Trying to tie-up some loose ends before starting new projects... a familiar conundrum for many of us modelers.
4070 Akron Junction 1975
Thoughts and prayers to all in need and I hope everyone has a safe and satisfying day!
Hey all!
Dear, I'll have a nice warm helping of Mac and Cheese, and a glass of cool milk.
Feel like I'm "watching the store" tonight. Two calls right at the beginning of shift, then Nada. Have been staging in a parking lot since 2300. The downside is that I expect we'll get something like a transport to Childrens Hospital in DC at 0600. At that time in the morning, that 35 mile trip will easily take 3-4 hours.
I took a 3 hour nap, and now my partner is getting her beauty sleep. Only problem is that I'm thirsty, and my second liter of water is in the cooler underneath her in the front seat. She's one of the best partners I've had, but that might not protect me if I woke her. The radio already is a bit "melted" from a look she gave it when it a couple weeks ago.
Herrinchoker, I can just see the pooches jumping into the snow bank. My mom had a picture of 6 year old me waking the neighbors up by banging on their bedroom window.... on the second floor! That was a good sized drift. Nowadays, I'd be like the dogs and sink all the way to the ground. I'd say send some of the white stuff down here, I'd be afraid YGW would hunt me down if I did anything to upset his building schedule. Twelve inches of snow in this area, and everything would be shut down for at least 5 days.
(DC) Jim
Just in case people think I've gotten lost, I am checking in and keeping track of the conversations. Haven't had anything to say.
Whoever happens to be covering the diner at the moment, could I get my normal late night breaded mushrooms with blue cheese dressing. Thank you so much.
Hobby Front: Got the engine house done and it is a huge building as I knew it would be. Three Pikestuff 5000 engine house kits will tend to do that. (Main building 6" W x 22" D with an office 5 5/8" D x 2 1/4" W.) I'll post pictures of the building with more detail on Sunday evening. Easier to take pics on the layout and I can show the redo of the car ferry yard and the river channel as well. I also hope tohave the redone bridge supports ready to go back to the layout this weekend as well. Pics will also be posted of those as well.
Flo, Could I get a cup of cocoa. Haven't been around lately as I have been taking two learning in retirement courses at the local college and trying to finish up the new workbench. Managed to master making dovetail joints after a few less than stellar tries. I cut the drawer bottom and slid it into the three-sided frame only to realize I had cut the buttom a 1/4 inch short. The old saying measure twice cut once still stands up! Hope to have the workbench totally finished this weekend so I can get to work on backlog of car kits.
One course is a photography class. I have actually learned a fair amount of new stuff about the Canon SLR digital camera and about Photoshop. The other course is very thaught provoking as it is about the coming singularity in world wide computer intellegence. The instructor's son is a leading artificial intellegence guru. Some of the stuff in last week's lecture is actually pretty depressing. Automation is eating into available jobs at a pretty alarming rate. It is not all about exporting jobs but rather doing a lot more with a lot less people using robotics and artificial intellegence.
YGW, hope you have good weather for the fill work.
ROR, does that mean you can draw a pension from the previous employer at some point in time? Good luck with the new job.
Ricky, yikes, the ankle injury sound painfull. Sorry you had to experience that type of injury actually doing real work.
Jim
Afternoon Diners
Flo, Ed will have a Crown Royal, Rick will have a Ankle Wrap Thing and I will have a .
Wife I really have a sweet wife, to bad she drives me nuts! Took her out for a late Breakfest at Red Apple here in Maryville. It was a pretty lack luster meal at best. Hash Browns tasted like Cardboard made from potato's, my Sun Shide eggs where good, Ham was OK (swore I oder bacon) and my toast was good. Wife loves there Biscuit and Gravy but felt the same about her Hash Brown Carboard things.
Took her to slackers and order her a DVD she wanted and bought a Pizza on the way home. Over all not a bad day with the wife.
Rick Did you have the ankle checked at the ER? I guess you would know if it was broken.
Later, Ken
Ed Photo from the Spider Cam
Good afternoon ..
I'll have both cookies and a donut ... Thanks, guys ... I bet this is not one of those diets for losing weight. .... LOL
Richard ..... Best wishes with the new job.
Ken ... Don't know what to say except I have not had problems with either Kato motors or Buhler motors in Stewart engines.
Ricky ... That sounds painful smashing your ankle like that.
YGW ... You said the building will be ready this summer. Layout construction will take longer I am sure.
Ricky Wrote " YGW - Glad you finally can start on the new train building! YAY!" THANK YOU for being excited with me. Got a little bit of a scare this afternoon. I am hearing from many of the workers today that there is a big protest tomorrow scheduled for Thursday. It is a "no show up to work day" for many of the workers. Fortunately today they finished the backfill and slab prep so I am GOOD for my insepection Friday. If they had not finished then I WOULD HAVE BEEN SET BACK ANOTHER WEEK. Because I would have failed inpection Friday, Monday is a holiday and then I would have had to renispect Tuesday ....
ROR - Congrats on thE new Job. When do you start ?
YGW
Good afternoon all. I've brought cookies....
Hello?
.....
I didn't think my cookies were that scary....
Zoe - Slow day? Just ROR and Fourt after midnight last night? Ok then...
I will take a couple of BBQ ham sandwiches, with fries and a coke. Thanks!
Whats that Zoe? Of course you can have some cookies, help yourself.
YGW - Glad you finally can start on the new train building! YAY!
Cudaken - I know how guarding the store feels... I'm doing that today it seems... Of course, the weather is not helping that out.
Speaking of weather - Snow, wind, cold, snow, wind. Think that about covers it... Everyone seems to have forgotten how to drive in it too...
Snd, speaking of w**k - I'm guarding the store like Ken did yesterday... Yesterday I got my left ankle pinned in between the kick plate of our hydraulic lift and a semi trailer... OUCH! Nothing broken, but major bruises now... I was trying to move a rider mower off the lift, and the pallet had broken. So, silly me, I got on the back side, right up against the semi, and was pushing on the pallet while the truck driver was pulling the pallet jack. I put my left foot against the trailer bumper, to push off, when the kick plate shifted, and fell against the trailer, and pinned my ankle between the two. Wrapped it up, and went back to unloading the truck. I have it unwrapped today, save for once around it to help prevent any rubbing as I pulled most of the skin off as well...
I will leave the cookies, just in case anyone stops. And I will grab one of Fourts donuts for snack at w**k... or whatever it is im doing today...
Hope all are well, and have a good day!
A job change is in the future for me. I was offered a position with a business partner and I accepted. The base is about the same, but the upside is much better. Technically, I am retiring from the old job.
Fourt - Yummy ! Thanks. I vote Fourt King for a day !
CN Charlie - How are you holding up, Did you all not go out because your energy levels are down ? Which type of Hispanic food do you like ?
Ken - Yes Jeffry was amazing at taking nothing and turning it into something. Good job on YOH valentines day gifts. Was she excited ?
dave - I am sorry for your loss. Very painful. I take my hat off to you and YOH. Many couples do not survive the loss of a child. I am glad you made it. You can be very proud of your son Glenn, He sounded like an outstanding individual. Good job raising him.
Der - How in the world do they keep the water from leaking into a house when you have snow piled up against it and it starts to melt between the snow and house ? Wouldnt that create a gieant "ice dam" ? Here we only have a few places where a house will ice dam. And we build very differently in those locations. What do they address that up North ?
History qoute of the day :
The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.
As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed.
More donuts here if anyone wants any. Nice weather here in the midwest,they say we might break some records this week. Unlike the west coast with floods and east coast with cold and snow. Take care all.
Modeling on the cheap
Hello guys,
YGW- Don't worry the weather, I really don't paid attention to it anyway. But weather is something different is the desert than in the north.
I hope everybody had a very good Valentine's day.
I had some good/bad news. I received my email about my track order. Good news it's shipping out. Bad news I'm not getting the Kato V4 switching set. They ran out two weeks ago and couldn't get more. I'll try (if) to finish the rest in March.
I can't believe I reached 1,000 posts. I wish I could do something special. All food and drinks are on me! One day Special, February 15.
Good Evening,
Dave, sorry to hear about your son, that indeed is sad.
We didn't go out for dinner today, but we did get in sushi for Valentine's Day. May go out to the Spanish restaurant at a later date.
Not much new here. I did run a passenger train for about 5 minutes but other than that, no train action here.
We watched the Westminister dog show tonight and did enjoy it. It would have been better if the Westie had won but not this time. Terriers have won the show more than any other group by a significant margin.
Time for bed soon. I may watch Stephen Colbert for a little while but who knows.
CN Charlie
Guarding The Store Front. I must have done a good job! Not one person came in today! Now that is slow!
Happy Valentine's Day I bought the wife a dozen roses on my way home. Allso bought her Birthay Cake. Yeb, it is a double header. 14th is Valentine's Day and the 15th is her birthday. She will be 66 years old, Feb 24th I will be 61?
Ed you are either being way to kind or have had a few to many K-10 mining section looks OK. Grain Elevator all so looks pretty good. Track plan, well it sucks when you get down to it.
Dave Sorry about your son. One of the reason my Dad swore I would never get the family 68 Road Runner. I did finally get it and I was lucky a few times.
YGW Jeffery and I did a lot of trading. Kind of wish I hung on to PK 2000 E-6's I sent him. One thing I will say about him, he did a lot with not much to start with!
Gary Before I bought the Stewarts I asked about them in the main fourm and I go a glowing on them. Seems mine did not have the Katao Motors. They had Bulher's and they sucked.
See you all later.
Ken
Dave ... that is very sad.
der5997I wonder if that address still exists.
Quite tidy looking, too!
Ed