Jeffrey's Trackside Diner, August 2017 - All are welcome, All Aboard!

[hon30critter]

Ed and Ulrich!

What a beautiful place to host the Diner for August. I trust that the beer and schnitzel will be in ample supply. Dianne and I were at the German/Canadian club in Oshawa, Ontario a few weeks ago. The schnitzel was almost bigger than the plate and perfectly done!

I don't use an umbrella Ulrich. I have a selection of fedora style hats with sufficiently wide brims to keep the rain off, and I have a good, well ventilated raincoat. The hats and the raincoat are from a company called Tilley Endurables in Ontario. Their stuff is fantastic. They give you a lifetime warranty on their hats, no questions asked, but the quality is so good that they rarely have to honour the warranty. You can even stuff their hats into a suitcase and they will return to their proper shape when you take them out. Their travel clothing is superb too.

https://www.tilley.com/ca_en/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=6TIL02%20-%20Brand%20%5BSearch%20-%20Canada%5D&utm_term=tilley%20endurables&utm_content=Tilley%20Endurables

I'm not associated with the company.

On the club front, we have made some good progress in the design for the new layout. I'll put more details in my thread on the subject.

Cheers everyone!! (Ulrich, how do you say that in German?)

Dave

[FRRYKid]

BigDaddy: I have been using the black magic marker trick for quite awhile. It was mentioned in the forums at least back to 2013.

IIRC, Hamburg is where the first of what we now call hamburgers was served. (At least that's what I was always told.)

Hobby Front: Got the new drop end gondola Monday afternoon. Got the trucks changed out for the RBs and got the lettering stripped off. (Used the Micro Sol and the pencil eraser trick. Seems to work very well with Athearn cars.) Decals to be ordered in a couple of weeks.

Derailment: We had one in the area over the weekend: Grain truck vs. train. Picture of aftermath here. This was east of town. Driver in hospital in Billings in serious condition (as of last report.) Eighteen empty coal cars derailed in process. The railroad is back functioning as of this evening.

[Anonymous]

Good Morning!

You people are bad people You have tricked me into opening this month´s Diner again!

Well, Hamburg is not a bad choice for a stay! The city is so much different from what most people think Germany is like. First of all, you won´t see anyone wearing Lederhosen or wearing funny hats, like they do in Bavaria. Second, the highest "mountain" rises only a mere 200ft. above sea level and third, the ships you see are large and when I say large, I mean laaarge! Just for the record, Hamburg has more bridges than Venice!

hon30critter

I trust that the beer and schnitzel will be in ample supply.

Dave, that shouldn´t be an issue, although Schnitzel is not the kind of food typical to Hamburg. That´s also a kind of southern German thing! Hamburg has a selection of the finest fish restaurants of Germany, really posh places. If you don´t like that, how about some Labskaus or the grandfather of all hamburgers, a Rundstück Warm?

You all will be arriving by plane in Hamburg. Take a look outside, shortly before the plane is landing! All you will see is trees and a huge lake! Hamburg is hardly visible from above, as it is really a "green" city. Unlike Frankfort, Hamburg has not many high rise buildings, in fact, only one, and it´s been a proper eyesore since it was erected in the 1960´s.

The best way to get introduced to the city of Hamburg is to take a ride with the subway ring line, which circles Hamburg´s downtown district!

Enjoy!

[gmpullman]

Sir Madog

You people are bad people You have tricked me into opening this month´s Diner again!

Well, guilty as charged, Your Honor.

In all honesty, the idea simply popped into my head and I really had no intention of "burdening" you with the chore, Ulrich. We are all certainly glad you have taken up the torch and welcomed us to your beautiful city—which you have every right to be proud of!

I'll exercise my 25% German ancestry and take a seat in the corner and enjoy my Franzbrötchen and kaffee with maybe a dribble of schnapps on the side, please Brunhilda.

Everyone have a wonderful day in this new month at our new diner.

Perhaps a trip to Miniatur Wunderland this afternoon?

Prayers to all,

Regards, Ed

[Anonymous]

gmpullman

enjoy my Franzbrötchen and kaffee

Ed, well for crying out loud! That 25% of yours must have come from Hamburg, as Franzbrötchen is hardly known outside!

For those who wish to know what that stuff is...

It has a sweet taste of hazel nut and cinnamon to it.

Well, today is not a sunny, but still a dry day, so I´d suggest to keep the visit to Miniatur Wunderland for a rainy day and take a stroll through Hamburg instead!

 

[OldSchoolScratchbuilder]

Speaking of Germany, I have several connections to that wonderful country. My wife and I are both from military families. My father was posted to Werl when I was young and my youngest brother was born in a hospital in Iserlohn. My wife lived in Germany twice, both times in Lahr. My youngest daughter has a university degree in both theatre and German. Several years ago she went on a student summer course in Frankfurt and met a young fellow from Offenbach. He came to Canada and lived in our home for a year. We played soccer together in my city. My daughter made several trips to Germany including taking in the massive outdoor New Years celebration in Berlin. DJ

[Steven Otte]

Great choice of Diner locations! As long as we're here, I'm going to take a quick day-trip down to meet my wife's relatives in Hanover, and see the Herrenhausergarten while I'm there.

And I won't make the mistake of asking for a hamburger, even if Hamburg is where the name came from. I can get those at home. Hamburg, rather, is known for its fish dishes. And though my tastes in German food run more toward kartoffelsalat und wurst, I can't turn down fish when it's fried and smothered in bacon. Today's Diner special is Finkenwerder Scholle. Dig in!

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning ... 

I'll have coffee and Franzbrötchen. 

Have a nice day. 

This month we will have the Solar Eclipse on the 21st. I hope it is not a cloudy day. 

[Anonymous]

Steven Otte

Today's Diner special is Finkenwerder Scholle.

Exquisite recommendation, Steven, but, without attempting to sneer at Vinnie´s cooking qualities, may I suggest we all go to

Övelgönner Fährhaus

tonight, one of the best places for fish dishes in Hamburg!

The place is located at the banks of the Elbe river, right next to the Övelgönner Museumshafen wiuth its great collection of historic ships, including the steam ice breaker "Stettin".

Those wishing to get some exercise after dinner, I can only recommend to volunteer as a fireman in that ship!

The Herrenhäuser Gärten Steve mentioned are worth a visit! These baroque gardens date back to the late 17th century end were once part of Schloss Herrenhausen, once the residency of the Kings of Hannover and thus the Kings of England (George I until George III). The Schloss fell victim to Allied bombing in 1943. Plans to resurrect were immediately made, but it took until 2009 for them to materialize. The new Schloss is not a close copy of the original structure, but a plausible replica. It is used as a convention center.

[MisterBeasley]

Guten Morgen!

Still drinking my morning coffee.  It's a beautiful summer day here in New England.

Thank you, Amtrak, for being a bit late Sunday night.  The girlfriend and I were in New York City, and we rode the Staten Island Ferry after visiting the 9/11 memorial.  We pushed our schedule a bit hard, as we had to go back uptown to retrieve our luggage.  She was freaking out because the Lyft driver got us stuck in traffic and we were not going to make the departure time for her train.  For some reason, I figured the train would be late, and it was.  She boarded her train and I got on mine, the end of a beautiful vacation together.

The Northeast Regional was more crowded coming north on Sunday nigth than it was going south on Wednesday afternoon.  I still had a couple of seats to myself, though.  The train is a comfortable way to travel, much nicer than an airplane.  For Boston to New York, it's probably faster downtown to downtown.  The Acela costs as much as flying, but the Northeast Regional is considerably cheaper.  Seniors (60+) get 10% off.

[Steven Otte]

Sir Madog

 

 

Steven Otte

Today's Diner special is Finkenwerder Scholle.

 

 

Exquisite recommendation, Steven, but, without attempting to sneer at Vinnie´s cooking qualities, may I suggest we all go to Övelgönner Fährhaus

As Vinnie would say, forget about it. The only thing he knows how to cook is a knuckle sandwich. Chef Ryan handles kitchen duties.

[Anonymous]

Steven Otte

Chef Ryan handles kitchen duties.

Haven´t seen him about the place for quite a long time, now!

[ricktrains4824]

Good afternoon.

Came for my lunch break today.

Brunhilda - A nice plate of Finkenwerder Scholle with Fritten  and a Fanta. Bitte und Danke.

(Seeing as Fanta originated in Germany, I will do it instead of my normal Coke.)

(Also - Google Translate used for the correct German words, other than Danke... Somehow I knew that one already...)

Weather - Hot and humid in my area today.

W*^k - I'm guarding the store today... and doing very well at that! 0 customers so far....

Hope all are well, and all enjoy the day!

[RideOnRoad]

Hamburg holds a special place in my heart. Between my junior and senior years of high school, I participated in a student exchange program where I lived with a family in Hamburg and attended the school there. While I had taken German in high school, I was still completely lost in class. We happened to be there when the school had planned a field trip to Berlin (West Berlin, at the time) and the train ride across East Germany was a memorable experience. The starkest memory for me was when we came to the border with West Berlin and the border guards had a dog run under the length of the train. It has always been a goal of mine to get back to Hamburg one day.

[JamesNWR05]

hi everyone! Praying and hoping that I'm gonna be able to go to the National Train Show this weekend...

[trolleyboy]

Good evening folks. Well since we are in Hamburg I will have to samople the local fish speacialties as I've yet to meet a fish or fish dish I did not like.Will need to get a stein or two of the local brew as well.

 

Ulrich- Thanks for the wonderfull vids,they really do justice to what is obviously a beautifull city. With my electric rail love,the circle subway/L vid was very well enjoyed by me.

Our summer heer has been very wet as well ( not the usual high blast furnace heat and humidity of our normal July weather ) so I can't complain other than the extra grass cutting this has caused.

 

No new model, or museum things today just a  normal workday for me .

 

rob

 

 

 

[howmus]

Guten Abend alle zusammen!

Ich werde einem Hamburger und ein glas Beir, bitte.

Huh?  Oh we are in Hamburg.....  Hamburgers are not on the menu.  I see.  OK, I'll have a fish fry with all the trimmings to go along with the Beir then.

Been a busy day here in the Finger Lakes.  This morning I was just getting ready to hit the shower when the doorbell rang and it was my son standing out there.  Had him come in and chat for an hour or so.  He had just gotten a haircut which was exactly what I had planned myself before he showed and threw the schedule off.  He was hoping I could pick up the Granddaughters at the Waterloo Youth Community Center on Thursday as he has to work as does his wife and the live-in grandma has something else planned that may keep her from picking up the girls.  I was supposed to be at my hearing aid tuning at about the same time, but I told him I would see if I could get it changed.  Turns out the train rides that were to be given to a day care group out at the museum tomorrow got cancelled so I was able to reschedule the hearing aids appt. for tomorrow afternoon and will be able to get the girls home on Thursday.

I still have some major house cleaning to get done before my other son shows up from Chicago on Sunday.  Looks like tomorrow morning and early afternoon is now free so I know how I will be occupied then.  Finished the write-up of the curved girder bridge for being evaluated for a merit award late this month, so I have that done.  Went to the Credit Union for some pictures of dead presidents now that my retirement $$$ has been deposited.  Spent one picture of George for a couple ears of corn for supper, got a request done for one of the MLK Scholarship recipients who is on her way to college.  (Their info is sent to me, and then I formally request the funds be sent out at the 501c3 account we have at a local banking institution to the kid.  All complicated but very well documented and all legally done for accounting purposes.)

Prayers for all in need!

73

[cudaken]

 Evening Diners

 Flo, Ed, Jan, Brent, Inch and I will have a please.

 I was in a good mood till around 6:30 PM till the Böse Hexe der Arbeit Nancy Owner Wife called me to give me pep talk! She was boried and could not catch any Flys so she could pull there wings off, so she called me! While cannot say I hate her, she stands for very thing I am aginst when it comes to sales.

 Later, Ken

[PM Railfan]

Hello Railfans!

Just wanted to share a couple of pictures. (Sorry, no goats   ) 

 

 

 Just a caboose. Something we dont see alot of these days.

 

Goodnyt!

Douglas

 

[gmpullman]

Good Morning, Diners

 

PM Railfan

Just wanted to share a couple of pictures. (Sorry, no goats   ) 

So let's have some goats!

L&S-551_fix_web by Edmund, on Flickr

Laverne & Shirley! The ballast sniffers. 

L&S_fix_web-549 by Edmund, on Flickr

Remember when Godzilla ate Tokyo?  Well—?

Oh, sure, they're being GOOD now in front of the camera, but DON"T turn your back, even for a second!

I have a little catching up to do leftover from the July Diner so I thought I'd better get that out of the way.

I really got a kick out of your photo of West Shore #17, Bear! I would guess the goat climbed up into the coupla and right out the window like the brakeman did back in the day.

Is the fellow by the steps holding the box that Douglas' brass caboose came in?

WS17_goat by Edmund, on Flickr

So you want to see some baaaad goats? Check this naughty fellow out.

My goats are only slightly better behaved than this errant Capra.

Heartland Division CB&Q

 If you don't want your photos to diplay all of the extra Flickr stuff, there is a way to post without it explined in the very long thread about alternatives to Photobucket. 

Garry, I appreciate the tip and I have done that in the past but, as I read the EULA or terms of use at Flickr it specifically says that if you lint to another site you are supposed to leave that information at the bottom?

From Flickr:

Link back to Flickr when you post your Flickr content elsewhere.Flickr makes it possible to post content hosted on Flickr to other web sites. Pages on other web sites that display content hosted on flickr.com must provide a link from each photo or video back to its page on Flickr. This provides a way to get more information about the content and the photographer.

Maybe I'm wrong but at the risk of getting another bunch of photos locked up, I'm playing it safe. I added the underscore to the above paragraph. Maybe someone here can clarify?

PM Railfan

Ed - first of all - JINX! for posting brass right after i mentioned I just bought some. 

Congratulations on your first brass gem, Douglas

JINX? Wasn't me  Actually it was "South Penn" when he was writing his thread about Having A Bad Day I had just put my freshly painted B6 into the oven to bake on the Scalecoat I paint. The PRR 0-6-0 came out great  BUT the big Pennsy "Coast-To-Coast" tender I tucked in there with it um... suffered a little warpage! 

I had completely forgot that I made the coal-space cover out of styrene 

IMG_3218b_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

Not much damage, mind you — and I'll simply make a new cover (my first try actually WAS brass sheet but I found the textured styrene looked a little nicer) certainly one of those DUH moments! I even paused and looked over everything BEFORE I tucked everything into the oven...

Well, I've chatted up my alotted space. I see Chloe made it here and she is bringing my tall Franziskaner with a nice head on it!

Sir Madog

Ed, well for crying out loud! That 25% of yours must have come from Hamburg, as Franzbrötchen is hardly known outside!

Actually, Ulrich, it was a co-w**ker at a film processing laboratory I was employed in back in the mid-1970s, Rudy Hildebrandt, that would bring them in on occasion. I had no idea that they were local to Hamburg!

To all in need! Here's to another wonderful day, everyone!

 

Regards, Ed

[Anonymous]

Good Morning!

I am afraid your tour guide in Hamburg has to take a day off. I have developed an earache, which didn´t let me find any sleep last night and now I simply feel

So why don´t you guys just go on a harbor cruise - the weather seems just right for it!

Ed - the term yard goat gets a different meaning when looking at your pictures!

Back to bed...

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning .

Ed ... Thanks for the info about Flickr ... Who reads fine print? ... LOL ... Goats? Your are not like Rocky, the Great Northern mascot. ... I will try to send a PM with a question. ... 

Ulrich .... Thanks for the harbor cruise video. 

...

On my layout I continue to work on the scenery project. Also, I could not resist temptation, and I ordered two Athearn Genesis CB&Q GP7's with sound. These are prototypically correct models and are DCC sound. 

Also, we decided to get a pontoon boat to use on our lake. We did have a speed boat, but we sold it a few years ago. 

 

 

[BATMAN]

Good morning from the really, really smokey West Coast. 

This morning there was a defined line as the smoke rolled in, one side blue, the other a browny grey colour, however, it is all yuck now. The sun is a very filtered dark orange and the smoke is keeping it quite cool down here at ground level. Everything is orange in colour to look at. I am in decent shape and I can feel my breathing affected so I won't be doing anything strenuous today. I think the hospitals will be full of people that have compromised breathing over the coming days.

I have a question on photo's and the internet.  In the past, I have posted pic's of my daughter painting HO people for me. Recently I was looking at photo's of my daughter winning some awards associated with her school. I clicked on an icon that said "more photo's of ...... ........." and the pic's of her on this forum came up. I had never posted her name at any time on this forum yet there she was along with the school pic's on Google images. How does that happen? The only thing I can think of is some sort of photo recognition done by Google.

Looks like the "other" kid is done on the movie after three weeks of long days. They want him back in September but with him being in Ottawa that ain't going to happen. His last night was the best by far he said. Lots of guns and explosions.

Ulrich, I am enjoying the tour of Germany as it is reminding me of my younger years which was a very active exciting period in my life.

Well, I can't stop sneezing with all this smoke from the fires and neither can the dogs, so best go find some low activity thing to do like fire up the layout. 

All the best to all.

[Anonymous]

You think you´ve seen everything?

Then watch this!

This home-brewed loco has aptly been named "The Outhouse on Rails"! Originally built as a battery powered loco, it has been converted into a diesel-electric by installing an old Volvo Penta marine diesel motor.

Thomas. A Yorke, a renowned US large scale modeler, makes a resin kit of this unusual engine, using the Bachmann On30 trolley drive to power it.

[up831]

Good afternoon Diners,

Brunhilde, I'll have an extra large coffee with lots of cream, please.

Well, gute Nachmittags, Leute!  I must say that I'm enjoying this excursion in Hamburg.  I would like to visit there one day.  

The only place in Germany that I've ever been is Frankfurt.  That was in 1969.  More beautiful girls per square foot than any place I've ever been, or at least at the time it seemed like it.  Probably enhanced in my mind over the years, kinda like a good fish story.  And yes, I did order a "hamburger" when I was there.  I found out 3years later what I did.  id love to go back and see the rest of the country.  Actually, wished I could have lived there for a while.  Maybe could've become fluent "auf Deutsch."

Ulrich:  Very saddened to hear about the three attacks recently.  All so unnecessary.  Seriously, how much longer are theGerman people going to put up with this?  I can't imagine very long.  What is the mood of the country now?  Are people looking for an alternative choice to Chancellor Merkle?  (Vinnie, this is just a casual question. I'm not interested in steering to politics).

I really liked the HO layout on the bifold door in the September issue of MR.  That might be doable.

Hello to everyone, and I hope everyone is OK and safe.

[Anonymous]

Jim,

you will find Frankfurt very much different today from what you remember, Frankfurt is the banking capital of Germany and has lost the old "Gemütlichkeit" to sober banking business. To add to the misery, all the nice Fräuleins have moved away and in most quarters you will think you are somewhere in the middle east, but not in the heart of Germany.

I won´t comment on Merkel, Vinnie will not like what I would have to say!

Heading to the hay soon. I hope I´ll get some sleep this night. I am going to see my doc about my ear, my heart rate and my shoulder tomorrow morning.

Have a good night!

[angelob6660]

Evening Diners,

This was the first time I missed a post of a new day. I was going to talk about German railroad history then I thought Steven may not like it if I started talking about WWII Nazi Germany. So I'll be safe not too.

I'll have some fish and chips if Hamburg serves them, if not I'll have their cinnamon roll.

[cudaken]

 Afternoon Diners

 Flo, Ulrich, Inch, Ed, Brent, The Buick Guy and I will have a Please. If Jan finds is way in, I am buying.

 So so day. Had a very low blood sugar when I got up at 53! We keep a bottle of none diet soda for that very reason. Took a small sip and checked 45 minutes later and I was up to 95. Had a pices of toast with my eggs to be safe.

 Later I felt a little better and did get some needed and nasty rearyard work done. Had stuff growing in the none used inground pool. Got that cleaned out and it was not fun. But I have done nastier things like cleaning out a greas pit when I was in Basic Traing in the Army.

 BBQ Cutting down on the fats when I BBQ. Good buy Barts, Pork Ribs and no more hard cheese's! Tonight it is Chicken Kaboob's, Veggie Kaboob's  and of course ny wife wants Hambuger's. Just what she need's with heart problems!

 BBQ is done, so Later!

 Ken

[jlehnert]

Hey Flo, give me a good helping of today's special, and one of those fantastic German . Yes, I'm on vacation, so I can partake of some beverages I normally avoid. 

Been crazy busy. Things were pretty dead... Err, slow (dead being a bad word to use in the medical field) the beginning of summer. Then around the middle of June, all he** broke loose and we were moving patients continuously for 13-15 hours straight. Go home for 8 hours, then return to w*rk and repeat. Had a brief respite with a business trip two weeks ago, but of course when you're away, the housework piles up. We don't even want to begin to talk about the condition of the lawn. 

But.... As I mentioned to Flo, I'm on vacation now. Said lawn is going to be even more overgrown, but at least I'll be in better mental/emotional/physical condition when I get home. I'm currently in southern New Hampshire, and will head up to the White Mountains tomorrow. The new tent will get a good test, as it looks like showers/thunderstorms every afternoon.   Would prefer for the rain to stay away, but if it doesn't, at least I enjoy sleeping in a tent when it's raining. Hope to hit the Conway Scenic Railway, or Mt. Washington Cog Railway, but will have to see if the weather cooperates. 

Finally got caught up with all the goings on in the diner. 16 pages! Either I haven't been in for awhile, or some of the patrons are shall we say "very" talkative......Nah, must be me, as we all know that modelers are a bunch of quite, taciturn types. 

DC Jim (or should that be NH Jim?) 

[hon30critter]

jlehnert

as we all know that modelers are a bunch of quite, taciturn types. 

I guess I'd better shut up if I want to be a true model railroader! Good luck on that count!

Dave

[Anonymous]

Good Morning!

angelob6660

I was going to talk about German railroad history then I thought Steven may not like it if I started talking about WWII Nazi Germany.

There is nothing wrong in talking about Deutsche Reichsbahn, which was founded in 1920, long before that Austrian crook with that funny moustache tricked the German people to rule the country. Most people these days don´t know, that he had to be naturalized to resume this post.

Anyway, these bad times in the otherwise great history lasted for 12 years only - and exactly 12 years too long. The Germans paid an awful price for their mistake to trust him - a country bombed back into the middle ages, a third of the territory lost and 6 million people displaced as a result and 10 million people killed.

That´s more than enougfh to that!

Got to get ready for my doc´s appointment!

[Edit: Immigration is a specifically forbidden topic for these Forums.]

[marksrailroad]

Hello all. Yesterday was a sad day for me. My English bulldog died for no apparent reason. I'm guessing he had a bad heart. He was only about five years old. Otherwise. Everything is okay. I've been meaning to go out to my shop and run my trains for two weeks now but every day something comes up that requires my attention or something will happen that ruins my mood. Oh well. Like the old saying goes. There's always tomorrow... Mark

[gmpullman]

I'm saddened to hear of your news, Mark. Many of us in the Diner have had some trying times with pets, lately. I hope you can keep your spirits up and get some time to run trains, a great therapy when things seem to be up against you...

Regards, Ed

[Anonymous]

Mark,

I am sorry hearing about your dog´s passing. Losing a pet is never an easy thing. Pets are quite often more true and loyal, than those animals walking on two feet!

I spent 2 hours at my doctor´s and left the place with a prescription of a bundle of new meds and three referals to specialists, one of whom I was able to set up an appointment - for January 5th, 2018!

My doc tells me that I have all signs of a complete burnout and that may be the cause for my heart issues, as well. Seems as if I am in line for a long series of diagnostics, not really a nice perspective!

I´ll be back a little later - Petra is getting lunch ready. It´ll be maccheroni & cheese today!

["JaBear"]

Guten tag, Fraulein Brunhilde, eins bier, bitte.

gmpullman

I really got a kick out of your photo of West Shore #17, Bear!

Glad you liked it.

 

"Is the fellow by the steps holding the box that Douglas' brass caboose came in?"

 

No, I think Ed,that it contains Douglas’s down payment for that fine looking caboose of his!!!

 

“You know, sometimes the world seems like a pretty mean place.' 

'That's why animals are so soft and huggy.” 
― Bill Watterson

 

Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them.

Auf Wiedersehen, das Bear.

 

[Steven Otte]

So sorry for the loss of your beloved companion, Mark.

[Anonymous]

Sorry folks, but this time it´s going to be it!

I am out of this forum for good! Steven has edited my post, and while it is perfectly OK for him to do so, as he represents the chap who runs this place, it is my decision to go. I am sick and tired of all this poltical correctness game and I am no longer willing to be a part of it.

Just a note to you Steven, I think you are overdoing it. My remark about immigration in Germany just stated the fact we that are faced with millions of immigrants into a country which is already overpopulated and nothing else.

So, good bye, so long and all the best!

[der5997]

Good morning Diners: Yard w*rk just about every day this week – except shopping this pm! However still some slow progress on the N3n portion of the layout. In playing with the small consist I have presently, it has become clear that I need to provide a run-around track – and cannot, as I had hoped originally, get away with just the turntable doubling as a turnout. So, I’ve re-configured the track plan – and will have to find another couple of turnouts. Here’s the original idea before the turntable And a version with the turntable, but limited extension tracks:   Now with the extended line to a quarry around the far side of a hill, as well as a run-around track I’m looking forward to this: Sourcing the turnouts is another matter. The Micro-Trains ones I’m not happy about. There are continuing (NPI) continuity issues with one, and I had to radically surgically alter the other. So, I’ve heard about Rokuhan and am waiting for them to reply.

TrolleyRob:    

Der- If you are bored I have a 140 fett deep of  back yard that needs taming and the odd gravel path ( or maybe goats with all the rain ) Any volenteer help will be happily accepted.

…thanks for the invite, but I’m not THAT bored yet! A good Jamaican goat curry would be an inducement, but probably not inducement enough!

 

Flip: Good to see you again! I was going to say to Johnboy that I’d sent you and email, and Boom! Here you are. Glad your head is above water on the cancer thing – had a conversation with a neighbour while on an evening stroll Sunday, and the evils of our environment came up. Turns out his wife succumbed 4 months after they moved here for retirement…

 

angelob:   

Our bathroom sink knob that runs the hot water cracked in half and later on broke.

  Now that is one of the more odd fails!

 

Ed:

Lavern and Shirley – the ballast sniffers

Lovely looking critters; and we know the sound they make “Chew, Chew”!  BTW, glad to see that it’s not just this household which re-purposes old fridge racks (and trays too – great for socks and PJs off-season!)

 

Brent:   

a defined line as the smoke rolled in, one side blue, the other a browny grey colour,

– hope it’s more breathable today. Reminds me of the colour change in the ocean as one crosses over the boundary of the Fraser out-flow on the way to Victoria!

I have a question on photo's and the internet.  In the past, I have posted pic's of my daughter painting HO people for me. Recently I was looking at photo's of my daughter winning some awards associated with her school. I clicked on an icon that said "more photo's of ...... ........." and the pic's of her on this forum came up. I had never posted her name at any time on this forum yet there she was along with the school pic's on Google images. How does that happen? The only thing I can think of is some sort of photo recognition done by Google.

  Can’t answer that – sounds uber-creepy!  I’ve spent some time this morning reviewing Virtual Private Networks since we have a trip planned.

 

Ulrich: Snoplögen! What an apt word – and that loco sound would be great on a decoder! Hope your ear is better today….and that all goes well at the doctor’s. Thanks for all these welcoming videos.

 

Ken:  

 So so day. Had a very low blood sugar when I got up at 53! We keep a bottle of none diet soda for that very reason. Took a small sip and checked 45 minutes later and I was up to 95. Had a pices of toast with my eggs to be safe.

…I keep a pack of those granola type bars handy for lows like that. I find ½ a bar brings me back to normal. Your metabolism would be different – so don’t take my data as “advice”! Frustrating though, I feel your pain.

 

marksrailroad:  Sorry about your Bulldog, Mark. Sudden and unexpected – hard to understand, and you’ll miss him.  As Ed says, run a train – (but I should talk, haven’t turned a wheel on the regular layout for weeks!)

 

 JaBear:  [/quote] 'That's why animals are so soft and huggy.” 
― Bill Watterson [/quote]…Two Calvin and Hobbes volumes are in the bathroom reading selection of our downstairs loo should you care to visit!

 

Have to get on - TTFN

 

 

 

[angelob6660]

Morning, 

It's a shame to see you Ulrich.

Der- Nice to see some updated process around the turntable. Hopes it works smoothly with correctly switches.

[maxman]

angelob6660

It's a shame to see you Ulrich.

I think you forgot a word here.

[BATMAN]

Good smokey morning from the West Coast of "The Great White North".

I am suppose to be spray painting the kitchen/family room this morning, however, I found with this heavy smoke in the air it is not comfortable to do so, so we will wait.

I think I'll take the kids to see "Dunkirk" today at the IMAX. I remember all the Aunts and Uncle's and parents talking about Dunkirk when I was a kid. Apparently, there were a couple of cousins that were saved that day by a small fishing boat. I wish I remembered more about the story.

#1 son is coming off the adrenaline high that comes from working so many 14 to 19 hour days over a three week period and is sleeping a lot and just unwinding. Soon he will be bored and get back at something. The TV/Movie biz is mostly taking a week or two break right now as they often do. The kid said everybody was wasted and certainly needed it.

Fired up the layout and everything ran like a top. I have not had the problem with expansion and contraction issues with this layout as I used foam and spline on it. The only change I will make next time (if there is a next time ) is, I will use spline under the entire mainline. The track is fine on the foam for the most part and for yards, sidings, spurs and such a little rock and rolling is okay, however, I don't think foam is solid enough for my class 1 mainline. Foam and spline are much more stable than plywood when it comes to dealing with humidity/temperature changes. If I win the lottery the layout will be steel and cement board. I have a small section of steel and cement board across the fireplace, it is quiet as can be when the train crosses it.

The truck needs a new constant velocity joint on the left front, so I will have to tackle that before the wife heads East into the mountains to some dog shows. I can fix it myself, but I may break down and pay the $500.00 and get it done as the heavier work kills this worn out body.

A quote for today by me.

"With rational thought and critical thinking, people can talk about anything for hours on end without emotions entering into it". 

All the best to all.

[angelob6660]

maxman

 

 

angelob6660

It's a shame to see you Ulrich.

 

 

I think you forgot a word here.

Yeah it takes me at least two minutes to make a sentence. And I do over think it.

[howmus]

Afternoon folks!

Chloe, I could use a refill for my Seneca Lake Blend Organic, Dark Roast Coffee, please.....

I've been getting a few odds and ends done before I drive over to Waterloo, NY to pick up the Grandaughters from the Community Ceneter over their.  I will get to be the "Babysitter" for a few minutes today until "Mom" gets home from teaching Summer School.

I need to get busy cleaning house as I want the place to look at least passable when my son from Chicago arrives next Sunday.  He plans to spend a day or two this visit with his "Dear Old Dad".  We will probably spend a day at the Glenn Curtise Museum in Hammondsport, NY to check out his grandfather's exhibets there. 

Tonight there is an important "All Hands on Deck" meeting of the District Scouters for some Major big time announcement and discussion thereof from National Office...  I pretty much know what it is about but am not at liberty to discuss it.  You will probably see it in the national news in a few weeks.....

Hey!  Ulrich get back in here and sit down!  Don't get yourself all in an uproar because others have to do their job.  If you leave, who is going to show us around Hamburg???

Have a good one!

73

[RideOnRoad]

howmus

. . .Hey!  Ulrich get back in here and sit down!  Don't get yourself all in an uproar because others have to do their job.  If you leave, who is going to show us around Hamburg???. . .

+1

[angelob6660]

RideOnRoad

 

 

howmus

. . .Hey!  Ulrich get back in here and sit down!  Don't get yourself all in an uproar because others have to do their job.  If you leave, who is going to show us around Hamburg???. . .

 

 

+1

 

 

+2

[ricktrains4824]

angelob6660

 

 

RideOnRoad

 

 

howmus

. . .Hey!  Ulrich get back in here and sit down!  Don't get yourself all in an uproar because others have to do their job.  If you leave, who is going to show us around Hamburg???. . .

 

 

+1

 

 

 

 

 

 

+2

 

+3

It would really be a shame to see you leave Ulrich...

[PM Railfan]

Hello Railfans!

 

JaBear -

 

"Is the fellow by the steps holding the box that Douglas' brass caboose came in?"

 

No, I think Ed,that it contains Douglas’s down payment for that fine looking caboose of his!!!

 

 

 

Dont tell anyone but its actually this  guy....

 

So when Im gawking at my new "wooden" brass caboose sans ballast sniffer, im all....    "Hello my baby, hello my darling.... "

 

- OR -

 

"Is the fellow by the steps holding the box that Douglas' brass caboose came in?"

 

No, I think Ed,that it contains Douglas’s down payment for that fine looking caboose of his!!!

 

Yep, thats the box it came in. Since its brass (lol), all you do is take it out of box, set on track, add 'water'. People figures not included. Details inside sealed box, no purchase neccessary.   

 

Thanks for the laughs guys! Makes the purchase that much beh-eh-eh-eh-tter. (goat speak).

 

Douglas

 

And PS:  +4!

 

 

[PM Railfan]

Hey, one more thing Railfans I forgot to mention. Take a look at the main page. Anyone notice (or am I just a late dunce here) that Vinnie the magician 'replied' to 'his' post 4 years ago, though the post is only two years old. The one concerning MR Forum Policies.

 

Douglas

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

ricktrains4824

 

 

angelob6660

 

 

RideOnRoad

 

 

howmus

. . .Hey!  Ulrich get back in here and sit down!  Don't get yourself all in an uproar because others have to do their job.  If you leave, who is going to show us around Hamburg???. . .

 

 

+1

 

 

 

 

 

 

+2

 

 

 

 

+3

It would really be a shame to see you leave Ulrich...

 

 

4 

 

Now what ? 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Mark ... Sad to hear about your bulldog. It is always sad when we lose a pet. 

Der .... Looks like a good plan for the Nn3 part of your layout. 

[Steven Otte]

Sir Madog

Sorry folks, but this time it´s going to be it!

I am out of this forum for good! Steven has edited my post, and while it is perfectly OK for him to do so, as he represents the chap who runs this place, it is my decision to go. I am sick and tired of all this poltical correctness game and I am no longer willing to be a part of it.

Just a note to you Steven, I think you are overdoing it. My remark about immigration in Germany just stated the fact we that are faced with millions of immigrants into a country which is already overpopulated and nothing else.

So, good bye, so long and all the best!

 

Ulrich, your post was not edited for the sake of "political correctness." Immigration is specifically and expressly forbidden as a topic of discussion on this Forum because it's an inflammatory topic that tends to cause fights and hard feelings.

A person's ethnicity is in no way relevant to any of the discussions we have on this Forum.

These rules are longstanding, clearly stated, and prominently posted. Everyone is expected to abide by them, regardless of what country they live in or what ethnicity they're talking about.

I don't normally discuss moderating decisions in the open forum, but you decided to make this public.

Your decision to leave the Forums is up to you, but anytime you're willing to observe the clearly posted rules, you're welcome back.

[up831]

Ulrich: Tried to send you a PM.  I hope it went through and you got it.

[cudaken]

 Afternoon Diners

 Flo, Ed, Inch, Brent, The Brass Buick Guy, Jan and I will have a please.

 Ulrich Stick aroud, only folks you will punish is your self and your fellow diners friends.

 Blood Surgar Front Seems the Veiggie Kabob's agreed with me even with the Pineapple! Mainly Red, Green peppers, oinions I think Zucchini and 1 chunk of pineapple would be high in carbs. I ate all 3 and this morining by blood surgar was a good 94!

 Jan are you still in here? Get a little worried when I don't see some of the Dinner Folks post! Hope the son is doing better!

 Mark Sorry to hear your dog died. I still get teary eyed thinking of Muff, Tiff, Sonya and Shaddy.

 Well it is good thing I warted the plants!

 Later Ken

[tin can]

Mark:  Sorry to hear about the loss of your bulldog.  That is tough.

Brent:  I am really wanting to try spline roadbed.  Not sure if I am going to use white pine, or masonite for the splines.  Don't think I'll ever be able to glue track of any sort to foam.  Just my shortcoming....

[BigDaddy]

Mark  Sorry to hear about your dog.  I had an uncle that had his doberman die on the beach from heart worm.  The south is a hotbed of heartworm, tho' my uncle was in Los Angeles at the time.

Howmus As you probably know Glenn Curtis was a racer turned pilot by Thomas Edison.  He trained the first Naval Aviators. The Wright Bros. where his peers, but they were much more secretive about what they did.  Curtis died of appendicitis.

Ulrich  I hope you stay and good luck with your tests.

Steve Politics is local and none of us but Ulrich are local to Germany.  I suppose Angela Merkel could be a closet model railroader in a pantsuit but so far she hasn't posted.  Our immigration, his immigration and those in Australia or Canada are all as different as cole slaw and kimchi and steak tartare. 

I've not seen a post that used Ulrich's comments to support Trump's wall.  Granted it could happen but it hasn't. I welcome his input to see how the rest of the world lives.

Had my dizziness test.  The tester was a Dr of Audiology.  4 years of post college training.  She wore a long white lab coat and was about the age of one of my sons.  She needed to be about 30 pounds lighter but she was one of the most beautiful women I've seen maybe in the top 5.

First was a hearing test, then she put goggles on me that resembled virtual reality googles with a black out shield.  I followed a red dot up and down left and right.  The fast left and right, then random left and right.  The final test was to blow hot air in each air.  Louder than I would have thought and pretty hot.  The googles are used to track your eye movement and the black out shield was down.  Eventually I could feel my eyes twitching (nystagmus) but I only got a little bit nauseated.

I see the ENT doc next week but I think the test results do not indicate anything bad like a brain tumor.

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good evening, everybody. 

Suggestion ..... Read the MR Forum policies thread if you have not done so recently. It only takes a few minutes to read them. 

Here is a quote from the forum policies thread which evidently pertains to a current situation in the forum. Immigration is on the list. It does not limit conversations about immigration to the USA immigration. Therefore, it means immigration to any country. 

"Avoid controversial off-topic subjectslike race, religion, ethnicity, sex, violence, guns, abortion, politics, unions, and immigration, even in signatures. " 

 

 

Each one of you in my opinion is a good friend of mine. I don't want any of you to be in trouble with Steven or Kalmbach in general. I want each of you to continue posting here. 

So, let's all remember Kalmbach owns the forum and has a legal right to control the content of posts of forum members. Steven is an employee of Kalmbach, and is doing a job his employer has instructed him to do.

So don't pick on Steven when he does his job. 

We should be grateful to Kalmbach for allowing us to make friends here. Kalmbach does have private messaging available to us. If you care to contact an individual member to talk about items not allowed here; go ahead. You can exchange email addresses where you can email back and forth about politics, etc. 

Let's thank Steven and Model Railroader. 

I hope each of you agrees with what I am saying. 

.. 

Happy Model Railroading. 

 

[gmpullman]

Heartland Division CB&Q

Let's thank Steven and Model Railroader.  I hope each of you agrees with what I am saying.    Happy Model Railroading. 

 

 

 

 

---

 

2006 photos 704 by Edmund, on Flickr

 

How about some railroady diversions? Photo taken at the Bellevue Ohio Railroad Museum.

 

Regards, Ed

[ouibejamn]

Heartland Division CB&Q

Let's thank Steven and Model Railroader

Steven otte is one of the best moderators on the internet. He is kind ,professional, discreet, fair, and has a great sense of humor. Ulcich leaving this site is like Cudaken complaining about his wife... almost a daily occurance. Pay it no mind, nothing to see here.  Peace and love to all my model railroad (remember model railroads?) friends.

[tcwright973]

Garry - I totally agree with you. The rules are quite clear. I can see where this forum might someday disappear, just like another did not so long ago. When it does, it will be our own fault.

[BATMAN]

Heartland Division CB&Q

Let's thank Steven and Model Railroader.  I hope each of you agrees with what I am saying. 

Ditto

I sure hope Ulrich is back on the tour bus when I get on in the morning. I hate breakin in a new man! Nothin worse than trying to make a new tour guide understand my weird sense of humour.

Mark, I am sad to read about your dog. Being married to a Vet I have been around many times while owners have had to say goodbye to their pets. Heartbreaking is the only way to put it.

The dinner bell is ringing.

"Dunkirk" was a 2-hour tug at the heartstrings and well worth seeing.

Til tomorrow.

[herrinchoker]

Henry,

I concur with your observation. I talk with Ulrich once, sometimes twice a month. He is observing things that happened in 1935, and he is afraid that path may be trod again. I was in Germany in 63, stationed at Ramstein, near Kaiserslatern. Patton had gone through the area in 45, and the destruction still evident was incredible. 

There were still areas with signs posted "ACHTUNG-MINEN", not a place to go on a outing.

Places near Landstul that were farmland are now row houses, and the microwave site I worked at is now a mushroom farm. I can barely make out the parking lot in front of what was the main entrance to the caves. The entire area has been built up almost beyond recognitiion.

His world view has been shaped by when, and where he grew up, at that time just barely above second world conditions, plus he has traveled and worked worldwide and has observed what works and what does not. Unfortuniately, he is watching a country he loves very much being radicalized, and is unable to impact the outcome because of several factors. 

Ken

Still here, #4 Son has been having some real challanges, back in the hospital again, Dana Farber, in Boston. He will be released tomorrow, but will have a nurse come to his house every day to give him IV antibiotics. He has had a port established in a vein near his clavicle. This makes seven trips since March, the infection keeps coming back in his stoma-- his frustration level is equal that of Ulrich's in that the source of the infection has yet to be found. Big problem is he only has 1/3 of one kidney due to an infection when he was young, and the problem was missed by the doctors treating him at that time. It was finally caught by a local doctor, but by that time the damage had been done. 

My #2 stepson is holding his own, barely, he has had to increase his flow of O2 to 6L, up from 2, and has cut back on some of the more strenuious things he did. (carpentrey being one, and welding is definately off the table)

Bear

Has that arrived yet??

This is that time of the year when zuchinni squash become problematic, when going to places such as: friends, family, church, various and assorted outings--best to lock the doors on your vehicle- to not do so will cause you to run the risk of a front seat loaded with the "GREEN MONSTERS"

Rain still going around us, we will get tagged on of these days--hopefully?

Mackerel have landed, massive schools in the area now, tuna have worked up into 6 fathom feeding on them, along with a small pod of Menkie whales. Weather still hot (for us, 88F) enjoy it while you can.

Mark, sorry to hear about your dog, the loss of one hurts.

Time to take my nite-nite medicine, prayers for those in need----

herrinchoker

 

[ricktrains4824]

ouibejamn

 

 

Heartland Division CB&Q

Let's thank Steven and Model Railroader

 

 

Steven Otte is one of the best moderators on the internet.

Agreed.

Thanks for all you do Steven. Make sure Flo and the girls put your next drink on my tab.

As a moderator on another site, with far less posts and far less people, I can say for sure I would not want to be responsible for more. It does get crazy sometimes. Can't imagine how this site compares though.

Ed - Bellevue museum, huh? I like it! Been there once, and have wanted to go back.

Mark - Sorry about the puppy.

Thats all I will post tonight, as nothing new from me.

Hope all are well, and all have a good night!

[FRRYKid]

BATMAN

"Dunkirk" was a 2-hour tug at the heartstrings and well worth seeing.

From what the reviewers have said, it looked like is was very good. Dunkirk was a changing point during WWII. If not for certain things the world could be very different. I do want to see it but it probably won't be until it premieres on the movie channels. I have a DVR as part of my cable service, so I record things that are on while I'm at work and take the opportunity to watch it later. (Sometimes later is quite a bit later.)

On a totally diffrent subject, it won't be tonight but probably either Sunday night or Monday, I have to remake my bed. (And I mean that in the literal sense of remake, not the sheets sense.) I have a futon and important parts of the support structure decided to break. Not enough to cause immediate problems, but they do need to be replaced. (Given the thing is somewhere between 10-12 years old, I'm not surprised.) I have new frame pieces, but I'm just too tired tonight to get them installed. The plan is to "kitbash" the pieces together. To get the new frame was actually cheaper than getting a whole new unit of the same type as I have. Just getting the box home was hard enough. Mom was nice enough to come in and help me. But trying to get the frame into Mom's Focus was a challenge. (Drop down backseat helped. But Mom wouldn't drive with the trunk lid open. We ended up both pretzeled in the car. Thankfully only about a 2 mile trek and we decided to stay off the primary streets as to not foul up traffic with Mom wanting to go a little slower for safety. Once I got it home, I managed to get it wrangled up the stairs. (Mom insisted that I reset all the seats before she went home. Easily done, however.)

Edit: Not that it will mean much, but I see I'm getting very close to having made 1000 posts on the forums. Quite interesting, though.

["JaBear"]

on Flickr

["JaBear"]

Gidday Chloe, a large glass of whatever pleases herrinchoker, please.   Hmmm, my short PM to you must have got lost in the interweb. The photos arrived all “shipshape and Bristol fashion” and I don’t know if it was deliberate (all the photos are great) but the photo on top of the pile, depicting Sikorsky S-42, Brazilian Clipper about to touch down, really took my fancy. Thank you very much.

 

on Flickr

 

So much for Eds’ railroad diversion.

 

der5997, I don’t recall Calvin and Hobbes ever being syndicated down here, I got an appreciation of Bill Watterson when my folks bought back a volume of Calvin and Hobbes from one of their overseas sojourns some (18?) years ago.

 

“People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” Isaac Asimov

Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them.

 Cheers, the Bear.

[gmpullman]

So much for Eds’ railroad diversion.

SO you want diversions "avec de l'eau" ?

THIS I can do...

B&M_20_3635 by Edmund, on Flickr

My dad's brother-in-law, Stanley Mackenzie, took this photo after the big storm of 1936. Stalled in the flood is #20, The Alouette, from Montreal to Boston.

I "believe" the engine is CPR # 3635.

Amazingly, the location is pretty much the same (sans H₂O) today!

Plymoth_NH-1 by Edmund, on Flickr

The road is the Daniel Webster Highway, the river is the Pemigewasset and the railroad is the Boston & Maine.

http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/great-new-england-flood-1936/

 

Neat Stuff!

Good morning everyone— I hope the day finds you well!

Regards, Ed

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning.

Ed and Bear ... Thanks for posting very interesting photos. 

Here is  photo from the Rocky Mountaineer Facebook page. 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Bear are tresspassing, and should be arrested. 

[BroadwayLion]

LION *editing* a Wildebeest. 

 

 

 

ROAR

[der5997]

Garry: 

Der .... Looks like a good plan for the Nn3 part of your layout. 

It’s coming – but still I’m thinking that a true run-around track would be better – not involving the turntable. However budget is a major factor, as Z turnouts don’t come cheap; and avoiding the turntable means “making” more land, as well as an extra turnout. Extra land might push things too close to the N Scale layout tracks down below the cliff at that point.  I can, I’m sure ,re-configure the landscape somehow.

However, buying the needed turnouts is more of a challenge right now. That’s why I’m toying with the idea of scratch-building – using track lengths scavenged from unused sections I’ve in store. I’ve had success in the past with contact cement “fixed” with a hot soldering iron to hold track to ties in HO. The two rail parts of the frog could be insulated from each other (varnish springs to mind) before being put in place. That way, I think I can power route without too much trouble.  Haven’t built a turnout before. Any advice beyond “Don’t!”?

I hope each of you agrees with what I am saying. 

I can see the reasons behind the rules, and there’s many times I’ve “bitten my tongue” in compliance. Besides, there’s a proverb “Like one who grabs a passing dog by the ears is one who rushes into a quarrel not his own”

["JaBear"]

on Flickr

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Bear... .  LOL

[Track fiddler]

Some friends and I are taking a small road trip to Prescott Wisconsin tomorrow to sit and relax, have a few beers and watch the double stackers go back and forth over my favorite Bridge overlooking the river with the big boats Bobbing around. I do believe the boats can only call for a lift on the hour once an hour.  Haven't been there for a while should be fun

[angelob6660]

Evening Diners,

It's been a quiet place without Ulrich. No more information about Germany.

I finally got a Micro-Trains boxcar that I been chasing for 6 years. It's a white Guildford Boston and Maine.

Ed- I find a Conrail picture within yard limits. Right next to it a row of houses painted in dark green and maroon in the late 70s. When I searched the area where the photo was taken. It was basically the same, but the houses now are painted white. So no longer variety.

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Janie, any ribs left to gnaw on from the Wildebeast, Lion caught earlier?  No?  Well then I'll just have a cup of decaf to get me in the mood to crawl into bed for the night.

As usual I got a lot of odds and ends accomplished around here, but still haven't really done any house cleaning.  Took the kitties in for their blood sugar check, helath exam and Required shots this morning.  Blackie's blood sugar after a 12 hour fast was lower than his non-diabetic brother....  The Doc is going to have him come back in a week or so and check him in the afternoon without a fast to see if he is still in the almost low range.  He may be taken of the insulin to see what happenes.  Cats can actually go into remission with diabetes (his brother did) so we may want to dicontinue the insulin.....  Got home from that, had my own breakfast, fed the kitties, and ran some errands.  Drove over to the Chevy dealer to pick up the correct tube of paint for touch up on the Volt, stopped at church to turn in my monthly pledge $$$ and a check to the memorial fund in rememberance of the friend who passed last week, and then to the pharmasy to pick up a prescription and a couple cards for people.

Found out that the wife of my old dentist, who was a teacher I worked with, just passed a day or so ago....   Had no idea she was sick.  I guess the family kept it to themselves so most of the community didn't have any idea.  I taught her kids as well, so that was one of the cards I got.

Tomorrow I will be heading out mid morning to Rochester to run trains at one of the members of the NMRA Divsion's home.  We have two operations events schedule on consecutive weekends.  I will be at both of them.  Both are great layouts and fun to run trains on.

Have a great night and I hope to pop in tomorrow evening!

73

 

[cudaken]

 Evening Diners

 Flo, Ed, Jan, Brent, The Buick Guy and I will have a please. Set one out side for Ulrich if he stop's by to look in the widow.

 Gary Thank you for posting the site rules. With me never feeling like posting about politics I never really read the rules. I had no idea immigration was on the no no list.

 Work was a Sloooooooooow Day but a good day for me! Had a be back from March and bought a good spiff mattress from me. Made a extra $115.00 that is needed badly.

 Later, Ken

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning ..

Ken .... You are welcome. I do suggest each of us review the rules from time to time. I don't want any of my friends to get in trouble .

Angel ... Hopefully, Ulrich realizes his friends like him and enjoy his presence here. 

... 

Model Railroading .... We are getting ready for out of town visitors, and I'm putting away my scenery material. Time to clean the tracks and run trains. 

Eclipse. .... We will have out of town visitors at our house from a few days before the solar eclipse to the day after it. The solar eclipse will be on August 21. In this region, its path will be approximately over Interstate 24 between Paducah and Nashville. About 500,000 out of town visitors are expected in western Kentucky for it, and Kentucky is preapred for it. People from other countries will travel to the USA to see it happen. 

[howmus]

Hello!?  Hello....?  Hmmmm......

Guess I'll help myself to a cup of decaf since I am the only person in the place.  Guess it has been a little SLOW today.  The local frieght showed looking like this:

Later....

73

 

[cudaken]

 Evening Diners

 Flo, Ed, Jan, Inch, Brent, The Buick Guy and I will have a please.

 Ray, that engine must pull! Even the Amazing Spiderman could not stop it!

 2 of the 3 last days have sucked rail spikes! OK, I had a good sale Friday so that is why it did not suck rail spikes.

 Thursday My roof started leaking! I still count my self luckie with it being 35 years old + but with my current income still a big problem. Right now it is a very small leak so I am thankfull for that.

 Saturday I have been with this company 4 years! Had a whole $246.00 in sales!

 Then as my wife said it "My Car Is Broke!" Tonight I checked and yep it is broken! Seems the starter gave up it's ghost. When I was in my early 50's I would have said not a big deal, I will change it, well if it was a Big Block Mopar! Now, I am not to sure? I think I may have 6 metric tools to my name! God I am getting old, $150.00 for a starter? Last one I bought was $39.99?

 Bright side is the Trains are running well!

 There is a hole in my roof and my mind goes woundering Ken

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Ray.... good to see you. . ... An itsy bitsy spider ..... LOL

 

Edit.   ... just noticed Ken posted a minute ahead of me. .... Howdy, Ken. 

[tcwright973]

What's going on here? Everybody sleeping in after a Saturday night bash or what...

The wife & I had a busy, but great Saturday. It included having our usual good railfanning outing. Mostly in the late morning, but also & hour or more in the evening. All together we caught 12 trains, 4 intermodal, 4 mixed freight, 1 coal train being switched out at a transload facility behind us, 1 empty gondola unit train, 1 auto racks & 2 engines running lite. Listened to a conductor reporting on a tresspasser & a block being placed on all tracks for 15 minutes due to a bridge inspection. That backed things up somewhat for the dispatcher, who sounded a little harried for a time. The only foreign power was a Union Pacific. I did catch a Norfolk Southern locomotive that I have been wanting to see. It was one of the SD90MACs that NS picked up from CIT Group still in its Indiana Railroad paint, but now patched for NS.

 We left the tracks & returned home early as my oldest nephew & his family were visiting from South Carolina & stopped in for a couple of hours. They introduced us to our newest great niece, who is now 10 months old & cute as a button. My niece & her family, from Harrisburg, were also in town & they too dropped in for a visit. It was simply terrific to see all of them.

After they left, they were all headed to the Pirates ballgame, the wife & I had a light dinner of hot dogs & a salad. For desert, we went to an ice crean stand & picked up a couple of milkshakes & returned for a final round of railfanning.

Did a little yard work this morning as it's nice & cool here. It was in the high 50s when I got up, & it's only 70 degrees out now. This weather could stick around for awhile & I would be happy.

Garry - I'm not into boats, but you mentioned the other day about purchasing a pontoon boat for the lake. We saw a beauty on a trailer yesterday & you immediately came to mind. It was bronze, white convertable type top, & probably one of the largest outboard motors I have ever seen. I think one of those would be the type that I would like if I ever became interested.

I had an appointment with a dietician this past week. Something my Doctor wanted me to do. I haven't seen one for many, many years, & didn't expect much from this one based on my previous experience. Was I surprised... She was very helpful & cleared up a lot of things for me. I know her recommendations are going to be very good for me. The important thing was she seems to be realistic about what can & cannot be accomplished.

I wish you all a great week, & stay safe

[tcwright973]

I was going to mention in my previous post that while we were railfanning yesterday, we didn't hear a single transmission on the scanner from CSX across the Ohio River. I suppose that means that traffic is still shut down due to the derailment at Hyndman, PA. Major headache for CSX & Amtrak.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Tom ... Good to see you. Glad to hear about your busy Saturday. ... Looking at your photo, I would say red locomotives look better than black locomotives. Ditto for blue, yellow, orange, green, or anything but black. I wish NS selected another color than black. ... CONGRATULATIONS to your family regarding your new great niece ! ... I hope you enjoyed the ball game. 

Not much to report here. We were in Bowling Green yesterday. ... I'm running trains on the layout. ... We're getting ready for out of town guests coming in about a week and a half. .... Thunder and lightning outside right now. 

I did not hear about the CSX derailmnt your mentioned. 

Happy Model Railroaidng, everybody ! 

[cudaken]

 Evening Diners!

 Flo, Jan, Brent, Ed, Inch, Brass Buick Guy and my self will have a

 Man I am beat, work was busy! Guess the Liguid Sunshine brought in the customers! Had $3404.00 in sales and made around around $60.00 extra in spiffs. Had some fun with a few customers, they where picking on me, so I started picking back. Then we started having some fun with each other.

 Ulrich I hope you rethink about not coming back to the dinner! For goodnes sake you where a great Monitorenter so I am sure you know the rules way better than I. If you don't come back, well I hope you have other friends on other sites that like you as much as we did.

 Galaxy Hope all is good with you and the other half.

 Todd Miss seeing your mug in the dinner as well.

 We have way to many MIA's in the dinner and the Military

 Ken

[herrinchoker]

I will have four fingers of Glenfeeder's please--one ice cube only---

Ken-

$150 for a starter is a shocker----I just lost my booster pump for the injector rack, of course when that happens the injector pump burns out as it is lubricated by the diesel fuel---so replace booster pump and injector pump----are you sitting down?

$3200.00----kiss one of the CDs goodby. At least I don't have one of the 59 series blocks made in Brazil that have defective castings.

Cleared second growth on the west side of the house today, mostly oak, some pine, had reached 20 feet or so. Only consolation is I will not have to do it again, won't live that long, and if I do, I will be so feeble won't be able to, another 20 years will put me so close to 100-not woth talking about.  I will leave the stuff lay where it fell and let the leaves suck the moisture out of the trunks, and work it up late October, or early November to burn this winter. I still have just over a cord of oak to work up I cut two years ago. I did good--only dropped one tree onto the living room roof, just a small top-no damage.

Bought a 14 foot fiberglass boat that has a 5 foot beam from a on-line auction held for a local marina that went under. One thing to run rough shod over the employees, but when you do that to customers they have a propensity to go elsewhere. I paid 23.00 for it. Easier to take inland to use for trout and salmon fishing than dragging a 52 foot commercial rig. Taking down the antenna and mast on a commercial boat to fit under the overpass is a pain.

Trains--

Have harvested some elk horn moss, and after it dries a bit more I am going to dip it in thinned brown latex paint, let it dry, and then dust it with ground foam to represent greengrowth. I have a large bald ledge behind the house covered with the moss so thought, why not? Given the clinker piles a look-over as well, if I grind up the burned clinkers it should make a reasonable facsimile for ballast.  I will take some pictures when I figure out how to us the new camera I bought. This one, like the last, is not impervious to salt water--HOWEVER-the one I bought for Miss Daisey is suitable for everyday use underwater. She can now take all the dog pictures she wants down at the cove. :)

Got tagged with a large bag of cucumbers, forgot to lock the doors when I had Miss Daisey's car at the shop when I was working on the truck--at least it wasn't zuchinni squash, I do like, and make, bread and butter pickles.

Miss Daisey made some applesauce muffins yesterday, instead of applesauce she used spiced applebutter in it's stead--came out quite good.

Getting dark under the kitchen table, time to hit the rack---best wishes for all, prayers for those in need.

herrinchoker

[FRRYKid]

Evening All!

Hobby Front: Now I have two projects on my plate. I have the drop end gon waiting for decals. (Will be ordered Wednesday night.) I also got the hopper car on Saturday. In looking at the picture online, I thought that the car could be used as is for the decals. (Yes I have decaled on an unpainted car before. It just takes more decal solution.) Unfortunately, the color doesn't quite look right, so I'm on the hunt for the right color paint. I will also need to get the decals. (Also to be ordered Wednesday night.) Seriously thinking about getting a weight upgrade kit for it. I have quite a few of my cars that have weight kits from this company. Of course, the only problem is that shipping is way more than the one kit. I may have to breakdown and buy a few more kits to make it worthwhile. Tuesday's plan is to check some cars and see if I can put some of the other weight kits this company makes in them.

Other Things: Tomorrow is the remake the bed day. I've been too tired after work to do it otherwise. It should be quite interesting.

["JaBear"]

Gidday Chloe, just a flying visit, I have an early start in the morning!!

 

on Flickr

 

“Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless.” Bill Watterson

Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them.

Cheers, the Bear.

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

   A regular and a blueberry muffin toasted with butter please Zoe. 

   Rules is rules but I hope Ulrich reconsiders and returns. 

   Shipped 8 cars to Monterey Saturday for the big race meeting out there next weekend and the week after. I have my hillclimb at Mt Equinox this weekend with two Lotus 7's for my son and I (my lotus 18 is still in bits after the shunt at Albert Park in March).

   I had yesterday planned for a day off but though I didn't go to the shop, I spent the day wrestling with the washing machine as it went Tango Uniform Saturday night. After that was done I did watch the Watkins Glen NASCAR race. They get boring when they degenerate into a mileage contest at the end. Anyway, no layout time as I ran out of ambition. Did clean the hobby bench a bit in looking for missing tools for the washer repair.

   Der, If you're handlaying directly on foam, how about latex caulk or white glue to hold the ties and then the contact cement for the rail followed by whatever you use for spikes like the prototype ? Power routing always escapes me but if you gap between the rails and frog and power route the frog would that do? 

    We have lots of diesels here at the shop. We now use an additive (I use Wynns but there are lots of others) to keep the pumps and injectors lubed as the fuel without sulpher tends to destroy everything otherwise. Found out the hard way when the KW lost the lift pump and the debris took out the rest of the system. It's not cheap and fixing it was beyond what we could do here. I think a tin of additive every fill up is cheap insurance. 

    Time to finish up the coffee and head back into the shop.  CUL,   J.R.

[Steven Otte]

Howmus wants ribs? Howmus gets ribs. Howmany ribs?

[BATMAN]

Good morning from the smokey, can't see very far West Coast of America (the Canadian part)

WE ARE SAVED!

Just like two years ago Bear is sending us a plane load of New Zealand's best firefighters to help tackle the 126 raging fires in the Province. Firefighters have been pouring in from many different countries. I sure hope the smoke clears by the time the eclipse happens or all we will see is the dark. Right now all you can see is roughly where the Sun should be as the smoke is so thick. 

I spent Thursday and Friday spray painting the textured ceiling in our kitchen/family room which is about 960 SQFT. I bought a spray painting rig for $137.00 on Ebay that was highly rated and it did an amazing job. I first had to remove all the recessed fluorescent lights and patch all the approximately 2' x 4' holes in the ceiling. You can't even tell they were ever there, so I am happy as blending textured surfaces so you can't see them is tricky. I still have to cut the holes for all the pot lights, I hope I don't screw up and ruin my perfect ceiling.

Today is B.C. day and is a holiday, we are celebrating with a big crowd over for RIBS!  We won't be having a bonfire afterwards as there are plenty already going thank you very much. It will be nice to have some room in the fridge again as the ribs are taking up a lot of space. I'm not sure how many people are coming, but they are all welcome. I will be leaving my monster compressor in the middle of the kitchen just to irritate my MIL. She always questions how we can have people over when the house is such a mess. She gets the usual answer from us and that is, "those that matter won't care and those that care don't matter". 

Went for a killer long walk through the forest yesterday with my favourite dog. He is twelve and I think a few miles will be his limit as he had a tough time making it, although it could have just been the smoke slowing him down. We didn't go as far as we would have in the past. I have a good selection of Golden Retrievers to choose from for a backup should I need one.

I think it will be a "small job's" day today as I am still recovering from doing the ceiling, my shoulder is killing me and I think a trip to the surgeon is in order as he keeps me going with repairs. A shoulder replacement may be necessary this time though. If I see him in October he will book me for early November and that should fit a quieter time in the year for recovery purposes.

Ulrich, you are allowed to get mad and take a break from the forum, we all do from time to time. However, if our tour of Germany doesn't continue soon, I will be wanting a full refund!

All the best to all.

 

 

[ricktrains4824]

Good afternoon all.

Zoe - It must be the day for Ribs... That's what I'm cooking for dinner tonight! Guess I will have to taste test the ones from Steve & Brent as well. See who makes the better ones out of the three of us... 

Steve & Brent - Are those ribs available in an all you can eat version?

Tom - I had seen about the CSX derailment on our local news up here, they made quite the mess! 

Howmus - At least now I know I'm not the only one with "out of scale" spider issues... 

Ken - You certainly had a much busier day than me... I sold a miter saw... That's it!

W*^k - Slow... Hoping that a customer comes back, as they were looking a both a fridge, freezer, and a stove. Be nice to get that for a sale.

Weather - Comfortable weather right now, wouldn't mind if it stayed this way for a while.

Hope all are well, and all have a good day!

EDIT - Looks like everyone's ribs are on me, as I have the top of the page. Dig in everyone!

[angelob6660]

Afternoon Diners,

It's been a slow couple of days. Not much to talk about. 

I found out I preordered two Boston and Maine hoppers, luckily it was two different numbers. I didn't know I ordered two hoppers.

Recently I purchased two BLMA green pipe loads for my flatcars. And a template to make own loads since I got 8 straws from Burger King. When I received them they came in plain bubble wrap, when the seller say new/unopened I was expecting a box or something. I would need a container or something to hold it so it wouldn't be broken.

[FRRYKid]

As I had hoped, I managed to get the futon fixed. As seems to always to happen, more pieces were damaged than I though. With some swaping and such, I was able to get everything back together. It took a lot longer than I though, but any repair always seems to that.

I did find that with this new frame, there were a lot of improvements from the frame on the old one. Won't go into them but they should make this new one much better.

[cudaken]

 Evening Diners

 Flo, Ed, Jan, Brent, Inch and I will have a with a side of Rib's. Give Rick a Rootbeer Float as well.

 It was a Good and sort of bad day today. Reason I say sort of bad day is I had my wife's car picked to be reparied. I was thinking "heck how hard can it be to install a starter on a car with out headers!" But then, I thought to my self "Ken, what if the problem is a relay or something I know nothing about?" So I dropped of the Key at Bob's on the way to work.

 Work Front was the good part! While it was Sloooooow with only 2 customers like last Monday one was a good one! She was looking for a full sizes mattress for a guest room. All so stated she did not want to spend a lot. This normally means $300.00 from most customers, not this one! She spent $900.00 and bought a good spiff bed and I made a extra $105.00 in spiff just like last Monday.

 Rick How many customers are coming in your store? Bet it is more than 2 a day.

 Ulrich Hope all is well with you and Petera!

 Ken

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good evening. It was a busy day here. 

Good to see everybody who posted sine my post yesterday. ... Ken, Herrinchoker , JR , FRRY , Angel , Ricky, and Brent.

Steven ... Sorry I was late for the ribs, but thanks. They were for Ray, but he did not show up.  

[gmpullman]

Helloooo... (add echo)

Anybody home?

Quiet times in the Diner. Thanks for the ribs,Steven! Tender and meaty and the sauce was just right 

I trust the folks are doing well, here. At least I hope everyone is well.

Old Mister Wilson supervised a concrete j*b I had today. Mrs. Pullman let me use her Kushlan mixer so it wasn't too bad on the back and shoulders!

IMG_9681_fix_web by Edmund, on Flickr

We are pouring footers for an addition to the deck. I'm going to try my luck at Trex composite decking. Just another Summer project—one of MANY!

Wilson did a fine job of rodent control and counting the empty Redimix bags.

---

 I still had time to get to a few Model Railroad projects, too.

I painted and lettered a brass PRR "Coast-To-Coast tender that was rebuilt as an auxiliary water tender. Turned out pretty well, to my satisfaction, anyway.

IMG_9705_fix_web by Edmund, on Flickr

Along with the tender, I printed some signs and did some blocking on a pair of transformer loads on these depressed-center flats.

I like the way some shippers used to put signs like these on some of the special loads that used to ship by rail.

IMG_9716_fix_web by Edmund, on Flickr

IMG_9718_fix_web by Edmund, on Flickr

IMG_9723_fix_web by Edmund, on Flickr

I still have to make some steel-rod bracing then we're good-to-go!

Enjoy your day, Folks!  Prayers to all who may be in need...

Regards, Ed

 

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

     A regular to go please Zoe and two eggs over medium with home fries and sausages please. Another busy day in store in the shop. Finishing up for Mt Equinox and todays actual jobs are steering racks that have backed up in the pipeline while we thrashed on other stuff for Monterey.

   Ed, that is some gorgeous modeling. The transformers hit close to home as Pittsfield is north of us and the finished product often rolled through Danbury on their way to the docks for shipment or to their destinations elsewhere south of here. The plant is closed now and the legacy cleanup of the PCBs in the Housatonic River is ongoing. Going fly fishing with my Dad and Uncle in the old days we'd go north or far south of Pittsfield because there was a thick coating of foam on the river downstream of the plant. We just didn't really know any better back then. Same went for Danbury with all the hat factories which all discharged into the Still River which in turn fed into the Housatonic in New Milford. 

    Well enough of that - time to pick up tools.    See y'all later, J.R.

   

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning, Diners. .... I'll have coffee and a donut please. 

Ed ... The big tender and the transformers on depressed flat cars are impressive models. Also, I saw your beautiful nigh scene photo in "Show Me Something" thread. Outstanding ! ..  .... And you still have time for outside jobs, Amazing. 

JR.... You seem busy with your racing activities, and I am interested in hearing all you say about it. I suppose by now you have been back to normal after that fire a few years ago. Have you been able to get a new layout started ? 

Today will be another busy day here. ... 

Happy Model Railroading 

 

[angelob6660]

Morning diners,

Ken- Is selling mattresses really boring, I'm surprised you don't get more customers.

Ed- That is an impressive signs for the transformer. I forgot those signs (and similar) when I look at old photos.

[howmus]

Knock, knock...... Ah......  Hmmmmmm.  The lights are on but nobodies here!  Oh hi Janie!  Where is everyone?  Slow day today, huh?

Well, I could use a cup of decaf for the moment.  And....  One of those large brownies with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream I think.

I got alot of odds and ends done today like, mowing the lawn, doing laundry so I can have something to wear tomorrow, and changing out the bed sheets as Manét decided to throw up on the bed early this morning!  (hack, hack, haaaaaaaack!!!!)  Good thing I like that little guy.  Got the grocery shopping done and drove over to the Mennonite Farm Store for some supplies.  They now have muskmellons in, so I got one that will last me about 6 days...  Biiiiiigggg!

How about I share some photos of the Museum Tour yesterday?

This is my son from Chicago standing by an old High Wheel Bicycle...

For you Harley fans out there, this is where it all began back in the early 1900's (1922 Evans):

Oh!  The piece of equipment we came to see!  This was made and donated by my FIL.  My son wanted to see his Grandfather's work.  He was just a toddler when "Barney" was doing this conversion:

It is a Model A Ford engine that he converted to power a Pietenpol Air Camper.  The engine had to be made so it could run upside down and in most any other position and still get gas and have proper lubrication in it.  I remember watching him work on it and showing me what went into it.  Oh, the propeller on it was made by my FIL as well.  By hand!  He told me it should never run as it is very much out of balance.  Here is the old sign (not used anymore) that was placed on the motor. 

Close up:

And here is what I really wanted to see!  The caboose is a Bath and Hammondsport RR and the Alice Chalmer B is the same as the second farm tractor I ever drove.  I was 5 years old at the time, and it really was more tractor than I could handle even thouth it was 10HP less than the Ford 8N....  Had a very strong spring on the clutch.  I could push it down but couldn't control it when I let it in.  The Ford you just stood up and the clutch went down.....  Easy to let the clutch in as well because you were standing up and just pushed down on the steering wheel.  Easy to control for a, at that time, 4 year old kid to drive.......  I got an early start running equipment!

Have a great one!

73

[FRRYKid]

howmus

One of those large brownies with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream I think.

One of those sounds good to me as well, but would you also put some raspberry sauce on it? Thank you so much.

Hobby Front: Decided to bring a few pieces of the (long-delayed) sanding tower from a hopper car home to be painted. One of the pieces needed to be painted before it is installed as I won't be able to access it to paint it once it's installed. Also brought the squares that will be the concrete bases. (I don't like painting on the layout as it is quite dusty. Additionally, I don't keep any bottled paints or brushes there either.) They will go back next week and hopefully another step on the tower will be done.

After figuring out what I needed, I broke down and got the weights I was looking at ordered. I even decided to order for a couple of cars I don't even have yet! (I will be getting them eventually so why not.) A few cars won't be getting them as I can't get the cars apart to insert the new weights. (On that point a certain manufacturers cabooses are almost impossible to get back apart once they are together unless preparations were made when they were put together in the first place. They are very good except for that point.)

[cudaken]

 Hum, is any one home?

 Flo, guess we have the same customer base, I all so only had 1 new coustomer today.

 Anyway Flo, Ed, Inch, Jan, Bent, Angelob6660 and I will have a please.

 

angelob6660

Is selling mattresses really boring, I'm surprised you don't get more customers.

 Angelo Mattress store are seldom over ran with customer. Only one time did I feel over weldem when I was with Mattress Gaint. I have for gotten the holiday but Jim and I where the #2 store in the company with $35,000.00 in sales in 1 day! Each of us had around 20 + customers in 8 hours! I had $18,000.00 in sales that day and made $1900.00!

 But, that is far from being normal. Even when I was making good money in this bussines 14 people in one day was busy for 2 people.  Most good sales take around a hour to get the deal done.

 Far as getting bored? That depends on the person and what they like to do. I sometimes take engines or rolling stock to work to work on. Plus I love to read! I have read 198 books in the last 4 years while at work so I am seldom bored out of my mind. Most of my life my jobs have been very fast pace and I was on my feet 11 hours a day. So I do enjoy the slower and quite pase of selling mattress. The 20 years I ran body shops, the racket would make most people lose there mind! Hum Wonder if that is what happen to mine?

 Ed I must say you are a master!

 Later, Ken

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning .... I'll have a pecan roll and a coffee please. 

Ray .... A Ford powered air camper. That is unique. You should make a model of one for your layout. .... Nice to meet your son of Chicago. I grew up there. 

FRRY ... The sand tower sounds like a good project. 

Ken .... I think I'll razz you because you never include me in your beer party. 

MLC .... I did not yet make the trip to Paducah. Now it will likely be a couple of days after the eclipse when I go there. . 

..... 

I have another diversion. We bought the boat yesterday. ... 

My friends and I repaired the wiring on my truck which was damaged when a tire failed on I-24 a couple of weeks ago. It was more challenging than any of us envisioned when we started. Next, the fender needs repairs, and I'll have a pro do that. 

 

 

[Steven Otte]

Morning, all. If it seems quiet in here this morning, that's at the request of Chloe and Zoe, who went to their family reunion last night and are feeling the aftereffects this morning. (Still, a little hangover is worth it to be able to see uncles Ray and Jay, grandparents Ken and Jen, aunts Billie, Millie, and Tillie, and cousins Sara, Kara, Tara, Lara, Dara, Amara, and Mitch.) That also explains why today's special is potluck leftovers. Dig in.

[fec153]

JOHN- ( j w ) Now both addresses DON'T work. What now ???

Phil

 

[BATMAN]

Good morning from just North of the forty-ninth on the left coast of North America.

We are getting a bit of an on shore flow, as the direction that our weather systems are coming from gets back to normal. The blue sky is trying real hard to peep through all the smoke and the breathing has become noticeably easier and I don't even have issues in that department so I bet a lot of asthma sufferers and others are breathing more than just a sigh of relief.   

Ken, those beers went down real easy last night, after my take it easy day, turned into a gettin a lot done day. We are starting to get rid of a lot of stuff in anticipation of moving overseas (to Vancouver Island) in two years. I took a ton of styrofoam to the recycle depot, in fact, it filled the back of the P/U truck up. The recycle guy had a disgruntled look on his face when I arrived. We have a styrofoam manufacturer not too far away, I should have probably have taken it there instead. The bags the recycle guy uses for this stuff are huge (car size). I helped him bag it all, so that made him a little happier.

Ed, I see you also use plastic buckets for forms. I used them to make valve chambers for underground septic piping. The concrete went on the outside of the bucket of course. Nice work on the transformer cars by the way. I have set up with the new photo sharing site, so hopefully, I can get back to posting pics soon.

Angelo, how many pieces of rolling stock and loco's do you have? Too bad you don't live in the neighbourhood, as I would enjoy a helping hand on the layout.

I am starting to wonder how much time I should allow for dismantling of the layout in case that is what must be done at moving time. Maybe Mr. Beasley can give us a running commentary of that unpleasant task, seeing he is going through that now.

Ray, cool pic's of the museum. I always wondered how they got on those high wheel bikes, I will see if there is a You-Tube video on it later.

Steven, the kid made me Mac and Cheese for lunch yesterday, I haven't had that in years, so it went down pretty good. We still have lots of ribs left over from Monday so I think they will be for lunch today.

Speaking of the kid, he wrote us a big fat check yesterday for his University tuition and for his cell phone bill for the next three years of the contract. We said he didn't need to, but he insisted. He told us he really appreciated the fact we sent him to a private school for 13 years as it made a huge difference to his education, and he would pay as much as he could towards University. So between all his scholarships, and him making a killing in the movie biz over the last year, we have $27000.00 we don't need to spend. We will leave it in the bank for my daughter as she wants to go to Medical school. I tell ya, starting an education fund 19 years ago was the right thing to do. I couldn't imagine trying to come up with the funds out of the blue for that kind of money. 

Speaking of the kid and his movie stuff, he doesn't think he will be getting more work this Summer as there is a bit of a hiatus right now. For the better-paying jobs, he would have had to have all his costume fittings done by now. The phone is ringing lot's, however, he is informing them he won't be here at the end of August. They are already talking to him about next April if he comes home for the summer. He may work at the Parliament buildings through the Summer though. He is starting to rethink that as the movie pay is pretty high and it would really boost his standard of living while at school, plus he wouldn't be paying room and board in Ottawa over the Summer. He has heard rumours that the next Star Trek movie may start shooting much earlier than expected and he really wants to work on that, so there are lots of variables in play.

The courses he is taking are very hard to get in to and it is a small group that is enrolled. They have already formed a facebook group and can't wait to meet each other. He has some good friendships going already.

Well time for an hour on the Guitar, then, ribs for lunch and then I have to take Mr. Moviestar to the plastic surgeon to get five stitches out of his face. It isn't even hockey season.

Ken can leave his wallet in his pants today as the Beer and Pinacolodas are all on me. Even Garry's.

All the best to all.

[ricktrains4824]

Good afternoon all.

I brought BBQ ham for sandwiches to add to the pot-luck food.

Janie - A plate for the leftovers and a RBF please.

Ken - Some days, yes. Some days no. Yesterday we had 3 the whole day. Today we have 5, but all small stuff. (Under $100 each sale.) Yesterday we did way better sales wise. Monday there was a whole 2, with under $50 in total sales the whole day...

YGW - You must be busy! Haven't seen you in for a few.

Steve - Why did it seem like poor cousin Mitch got left out? 

W*^k - Slow today... Nuff said.

Weather - Warmer and more humid today. Sunny though.

Trains - Fired up my track cleaning train last night, and had all kinds of grief. First, one loco in the consist wouldn't come online, then for some reason the replacement loco in the consist kept pushing the CMX tank off the rails... Found it had a coupler issue. So I moved on to replacement loco 3,  a Genesis unit, and found that it had decided to blow lights while sitting for a while... Finally got the regular consist unit to cooperate, and turned a few laps.

How did so much go wrong while sitting unpowered? Must be them there gremlins... Too bad they look so darn cute and furry, otherwise I would kick them out!

Hope all are well, and all enjoy the day!

[angelob6660]

Afternoon Diners,

Ray- Going to the museum was very fun, specially seeing the airplane that your grandfather built.

Ken- Thanks, that was very interesting information.

After that recent purchase of the BM hoppers (extra one). I would look back to the idea I had a last year or so. To let Conrail to be main interest and have a interchange with the Guilford Rail System. 

My plan changed with Guilford to CSX but I still like the idea with both. I can't model the formation of CSX difficult to find freight cars that survived without pictures and there not modeled. Plus it's hard to please myself when I'm looking at locomotives and I cannot buy them because they have a nose headlight.

Getting the GRS will be a little easier. I only need 2 for interchange service.

[cudaken]

 Afternoon Diners

 Flo, Gary, Ed, Inch, Brent, Jan, Ulrich, Galaxy and I will have a please. What, it is on Brent's tap? In that case your best Wine that does not have a screw off Cap!

 Gary For some reason I did not think you drink? Guess I was wrong and you will never be dry again as long as there is a Cuda Ken in the dinner!

 Brent Seems you have rasied a good son! While I know he is thinking with his head about not going after a movie carrer. I am sure bet he is wondering what if he could makes it big time on film.

 Wife car is fixed!  It was just a dead battery!   I could have saved my self $75.00 if I had used my battery charger and started the car!  What fooled me was the headlights where still bright. Here I have a 60 amp charger that would have started it like that!

 Later, Ken

[howmus]

Evenin' Folks!

Chloe, Just need dessert (Strawberry Rhubarb Pie a' la mode) and a cup of decaf for the moment...

angelob6660

Ray- Going to the museum was very fun, specially seeing the airplane that your grandfather built.

The builder was my Son's grandfather....  My FIL.  But thanks!

Heartland Division CB&Q

Ray .... A Ford powered air camper. That is unique. You should make a model of one for your layout. ....

You know Garry, that is a great idea.  Here is a photo of my Father in Law's Pietenpol Air Camper he built.  Complete with the first Ford Conversion he built to power it.  The plans for the plane came with the Ford Model A engine being the power for it.  Someone in the family may still have saved those plans, I hope! 

His personal favorite of the planes he built was a Bi-Plane.  I believe that one ended up being bought by a farmer to use for crop dusting in Florida way back when.  My FiL, Barney was a definate character, and I was honored to be his only SiL (out of 3) who he would associate with.  I was the only one who got invited down cellar or out to the small barn to have him show off his current projects. 

Hope you all have a great night out there!  Be blessed and -

73

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good evening .

Ray ...  I'm glad you like the idea.  It might be fun for you .  Your family history is interesting .

Ken .. actually I am not much of a drinker. I never feel a compelling desire to have any alcohol.  I sometimes go several weeks without any.  If I do, it is one beer or one glass of wine. I very seldom have any hard liquor. I have absolutely no tolerance for other people who drink excessively.  That said, the Diner's beer is good. Thank you. 

Der John emailed me with a new email address he is using. He says he is not able to log in to the MR Forum, and he thinks the change of email address relates to that problem. 

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

    Just a regular coffee to go please ladies. DIL went berry picking so I have a bag of fresh blueberries. Yum.

    Finishing up the cars today for the hill climb this weekend. Got my steering racks done, one delivered, one to ship. Triumph TR4A project we inherited when I bought out another shop nearly finished. Just trying to juggle multiple balls so we can keep all the projects going. 

   

Ray- Your FIL sounds like he was quite the character. If he was building aircraft did he have formal training or did he just teach himself? You could do that as while back and still get a certificate for the resulting plane. 

   Still no progress on the layout though I'm getting closer. I'm hoping after October when things start to slow down I'll be able to block out some time. Of course last year we ended up running 11 race weekends in Australia and New Zealand from October to March (with time off here and there for good behaviour) so that shot the off season. Mind you I'm not complaining, the seven weeks in New Zealand were awesome starting about 100km south of Auckland and ending in Invercargill on South Island. We wanted to ride more trains, but the travel (6 weeks in a row) in New Zealand precluded much of that. When we got to South Island the main line was still out as a result of the earthquake that wrecked much of Christchurch and the run from Christchurch across the Southern Alps was closed due to fires burning out a couple of bridge approaches, so we ran the Dunedin Railway scenic tour further south. That was spectacular. If I sort out photos and get an account back up and running, I can share some.

     Time to get back out the door and pick up tools.  

 CUL (as in "See You Later), J.R.

[ricktrains4824]

Good morning all.

Flo - I will take a grilled bacon&cheese sandwich, with home fries and a Coke please. Thanks.

Ken - Ouch.... I hate when something is simple yet expensive. 

Howmus - Nice airplane pic & story. (Didn't mention yesterday.)

Weather - Warm and humid today, with a chance of storms later.

W*^k - Had a customer complaint yesterday, he was mad that our delivery guy (contracted out) refused to install (hook up) his gas stove. Reason? His kitchen was not up to code, missing the gas line safety valve.... And was demanding that we, the store, 1- refund full delivery charge, and 2- pay for someone else to install the stove. (Not happening pal.) 

Some people....

Trains - Got the mainline loop running good, and was concentrating last night on the yard lead, and then first yard track. (Remember the layout is temporarily set up. Upcoming move is highly likely to occur now.) Then I decided to run a manifest freight on the main, while the track-cleaning train was working on yard lead and yard track 1.

This is where the Gremlins reappeared... A 60' boxcar, sitting in car 1 spot behind the loco, kept derailing to the inside of the curve(s). I pulled it out of the train, and had no issues. Checked wheelsets, etc... And found no issues. When I placed it on the rear of the train, no issues.

So, I placed a single, lightweight car behind it, and it again promptly jumped the tracks. Again to the inside of the curve. (First one it hit this time.) 

So... Looks like I have some more projects... Either figuring out why this car is unhappy with any trailing weight behind it, or, installing a FRED on this car. (I might go with option 2 here...) 

I started a thread on stringlining on the forums, looking for more ideas.

Hope all are well, and all enjoy the day!

[FRRYKid]

ricktrains4824

Trains -

This is where the Gremlins reappeared... A 60' boxcar, sitting in car 1 spot behind the loco, kept derailing to the inside of the curve(s). I pulled it out of the train, and had no issues. Checked wheelsets, etc... And found no issues. When I placed it on the rear of the train, no issues.

So, I placed a single, lightweight car behind it, and it again promptly jumped the tracks. Again to the inside of the curve. (First one it hit this time.) 

So... Looks like I have some more projects... Either figuring out why this car is unhappy with any trailing weight behind it, or, installing a FRED on this car. (I might go with option 2 here...) 

It's an oddball possibility, but try a different engine with those same cars. It sounds to me like there is a minor issue with that engine and it is showing up in the derailment of the cars. At least to me, if the car has derailment issues they should show up everywhere, not just in that one spot.

Another thought, what radius are your curves? Some 60' cars don't like tight curves.

I may be completely off base, but those are my thoughts on the subject.

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Howard Zane,  Good morning,

I know you are a busy man (always have been),  I wanted you to know that I sent you a PM. about three weeks ago and have not heard from you.  I thought you might not have noticed that it was there. Hope to hear from you soon and that all is well with you.

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

[howmus]

Mornin' folks!

Zoe, I'll have a bowl of watery oatmeal and a pot of Seneca Lake Organic Dark Roast Fair Traded coffe to keep my R&GV RR Mug filled 'til lunchtime...  Huh?  Oh don't want to break off any more of what remains of tooth #12 before the rootcanal next Tuesday.

GMTRacing

Ray- Your FIL sounds like he was quite the character. If he was building aircraft did he have formal training or did he just teach himself? You could do that as while back and still get a certificate for the resulting plane.

Hi J.R.!  Good to see you back in the diner!  Yep, Barney was a definate Character!  He was building airplanes since he was a teenager I guess.  Back then you didn't need no stinkin' formal training for stuff like that.....  He was a life member of the Experimental Aircraft Assn.  He was a plumber by trade so making up the metal pipe main frame on those things was easy as pie for him.  The rest was wooden and fabic covered with "dope".  The plane had to be inspected by someone with the license and a certificate to operate had to be given.  In his spare time, he would recover old planes for other people.  The scratch built Bi-Plane used to have two plaques in the cockpit.  The pilots side one said "Designed and built by Bernard H. Fox",  the other plaque said "This plane unfit to fly....  US Government".  Only reason for that is they did not have on file an approved plan for the plane.  He told me it was far safer than his Piper Cub as the wheel struts and most of the frame was twice as strong as the piper....  Last I heard that one is still being flown as a crop duster down South.

My Father and Barney were best friends in High School.  My Father was an Oboist and clarinetist and my FiL was a Trombonist.  They were both still playing in the Alumni Concert and Marching Band when they were in their early 80's.  Barney gave up marching a year before my Dad.  He said he could still play the trombone, and he could still march.  He just couldn't do both at the same time anymore!  Oh....  My Dad also dated my Mil a few times in High School....  My sister and one of my SiL's were best friends in High School (still are), so it just had to happen that I fell in love with a Fox girl and was married to her until she died of cancer 30 years ago.

Hope you all have a great day out there!

73

 

[MisterBeasley]

ricktrains4824

This is where the Gremlins reappeared... A 60' boxcar, sitting in car 1 spot behind the loco, kept derailing to the inside of the curve(s). I pulled it out of the train, and had no issues. Checked wheelsets, etc... And found no issues. When I placed it on the rear of the train, no issues.

I'm guessing it's a long engine, too, right?  Try with a 4-axle diesel or a switcher, something shorter.  I think you've got a problem with the couplers coming up to the edge of the coupler pockets and needing to swing a bit further.  Your curve is too tight.

[ricktrains4824]

Good afternoon all.

I guess I should clarify the boxcar issue... It made sense to me, but I think only because I'm the one who did it.

So, let me add in some details. (I will post these same details in thread I started on the subject.)

Car in question started in spot 1 of 10, (pure example number) and was derailing to the inside on curves. (Curves are 18" or 22" radii, depending on if I am leaving the yard or on the main. HO Scale trains.) It derailed on either curve, so that ruled out a track issue, as that made different locations for derailment point.

It also is not speed dependent. It would derail at mainline speed (40sMPH) and at yard speed. (My version of yard speed is no faster than throttle step 10 of 100 using 128 speed steps.)

Loco on train in question was a Alco C430. (So I really don't think it was a long wheelbase issue... But it is still longer than a short switcher unit.)

Pulling the car made a train 9 cars long. 

Placing car in question in car spot 10, no issues. (Turned several "laps" without derailing, even on the 18" radius.)

Note: Car 9 is a 2 bay covered hopper, much shorter than any loco I own.

Adding an 11th car made car 10, car in question, derail to the inside of the first curve it hit. (11th car is way underweight, lighter than car in question.)

Good ideas to check though!

I will still have to check on coupler swing amount, as Mr. B suggested. (It has a separate train line airhose installed, (by the factory), maybe it's hitting on that?......)

[cudaken]

 Afternoon Diners

 Flo, Ed, Brent, Jan, Inch and I will have a Give Gary a Near Beer or a normal beer, let him pick.

 Dang I am beat! Cut the backyard weed fest and I sure feel it in my shoulders! Bet I had to restart the mower 15 times. Grass like stuff got tall and was a little damp and I am sure the blade needs to be sharpend.

 Rick Hum, the 60 foot box car sure has a strange problem. Couple of ideas.

 1 More weight never hurts if the trucks are free wheeling, but being #10 out of 11 kinds of shoots that idea down.

 2 Trucks should be able to wobble about a 1/8 inch from side to side. To tight or to lose can make it fall over.

 3 Is it deraling any where near a turnout? Either way, if you have a good idea where it is going to derail watch it about 2 to 3 feet before where it will derail. Most of my problems happend before where it left the rails.

 4 Are the wheels flanges in alignment?

 5 Try a longer shank coupler as the last resort. Might try cutting some notch in the coupler box for a better swing.

  BBQ is done and so am I.

 Bessemer Ken

[RideOnRoad]

I spent last evening with a youth group packing food packets for Feed My Starving Children, a non-profit that sends meal packs to children throughout the world. Yesterday we were packing food for El Salvador. Each packet contains the equivalent of six meals--rice, vitamins, flavoring, dehydrated vegatables, and soy powder for protein. Last night we packed 187 boxes, with 36 packets per boxes. We packaged over 40,000 meals. Somehow I ended up with the job of running (literally) the loaded boxes from the loading tables to the pallets. I moved over 1.5 tons in about 90 minutes. Not to bad for an old(er) guy. I am feeling it today...

The piano tuning business is slowly taking off. I am getting faster and more confident with each tuning. I may be a little biased, but I must say, the pianos are sounding pretty darn good when I leave.

[gmpullman]

RideOnRoad

The piano tuning business is slowly taking off. I am getting faster and more confident with each tuning.

IMG_9728_fix_web by Edmund, on Flickr

Walter Busterkeys looks like he's getting a little impatient 

Glad you're finding enjoyment in your new venture, Richard 

Hey! Top-'O-The-Page!

Flo and Chloe are setting up the All You Can Eat Buffet in the Rainbow Room!

Cheers to All! Ed

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Howdy, everybody ! 

 

RideOnRoad

The piano tuning business is slowly taking off. I am getting faster and more confident with each tuning. I may be a little biased, but I must say, the pianos are sounding pretty darn good when I leave.

 

Richard .... I'm glad to hear your piano tuning is going well. I have a firend in Illinois who has done that for many years, and he is paid well. ... Also, it is good to hear about your particpating in packing meals for children. 

Ricky .... It is hard to tell about the derailing boxcar. I hope you figure it out. Are trucks pivoting properly? 

Ed ... That is a funny scene ! 

 

 

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

ricktrains4824 wrote the following post 9 hours ago:

Hi Rick,

After all that info you have told us, the first thing I would do is change the coupler out on the end of the car where you hooked the 11th car. That was the only thing that changed from running 10 cars that were performing OK. Might be just one faulty coupler. If that improves it thats great but still turn the car around and hook the same 11th car on the end and see if that end cooperates or not.  If not change that coupler as well and if that doesn't fix it I think you have an alignment issue. check the truck bolsters to see if they are both centered or if one doesn't quite match the other.

Good luck with that and let us know.

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

[FRRYKid]

ricktrains4824

I will still have to check on coupler swing amount, as Mr. B suggested. (It has a separate train line airhose installed, (by the factory), maybe it's hitting on that?......)

Going along with your idea, check if that coupler pin is dragging below the rail. (A Kadee coupler height gauge is a good tool to use.) It almost sounds like the hose is hitting the rail and causing the derailment. Going on Garry's truck idea as a another option, I use the old adage of tighten the truck down until it won't move and then back it off somewhere between 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn of the screw. (Not so much that it is sloppy loose but so that it still moves.) Some cars it is a lot less, some cars it is more, but that is the idea that I use.

Hobby Front:  Decals for the drop-end gon and the hopper have been ordered. I also put in some Kadee fiber washers to see if I can get the trucks so they aren't quite so wobbly.

I also found yet another coach for the passenger train for the local museum. One more coach and I will be happy with the train.

[hon30critter]

Steven:

Sorry, but IMHO there is not enough cheese sauce in your Mac and Cheese! Almost, but not quite. Mac and Cheese should be Creeeemmmyyy! You should never be able to see the bottom of the dish until you have licked it clean!!!

Sorry for my rant but it was honest. Dianne and I accompanied our son Cole and his girlfriend to dinner at a place called 'Barnstormers" in Barrie, Ontario a couple of weeks ago. These guys receive rave reviews for their burgers and pizza so we figured they couldn't mess up the Mac and Cheese too badly. WRONG! It was really dry! They supposedly used four cheeses, but when you are having trouble swallowing the stuff the flavours cease to matter. Neither of us finished our meals.

This has inspired me to go to their website and add a warning.

Cheers!!

Fussy Dave

["JaBear"]

Gidday Chloe, it’s catch up time, so please put the “whistle wetter’s” for the ffolkes, on my tab.

 

It’s been in the news about the NZ firefighters going to help out in Canada Brent. They’ll certainly pull their weigh but as I was explaining to a fellow forum member that we’re not really equipped for snow; neither are we for forest fires. That is not to detract from those on the ground, or in fact to forget that a local helicopter pilot lost his life fighting Port Hills Fires in February, it’s just that the sheer size of the fires in the US, Canada, and Australia are virtually unimaginable. Besides, whereas up until a few years ago two companies, who I do w**k for, got paid to have machines, pilots and required groundcrew on standby to either spot or fight fires, now due to some not so dry years and beancounters tightening the purse strings they’re no longer  paid, though the forestry guys who would be directly involved in combatting a fire, still like us to be “on readiness”.

 

 

A lot of visitors look at a map and miscalculate the amount of time it will take to travel around New Zealand, so 7 weeks with, I gather, six race meetings to attend, is not wasting time JR. I’ve driven from Auckland to Invercargill in two days, with a favourable ferry crossing, and prior to State Highway One being cut by the Kaikoura Earthquake, but then I wasn’t sightseeing on the way! I haven’t been on the Taieri Gorge Train but the videos I’ve seen look good.

I went to High School, then spent the first 18 months of my w**king life in Invercargill, and courtesy of the Southland Motorcycle Club organised Open Days, have raced on Teretonga. You basically signed away your life and rights, back then, and raced. I was pretty quick, but even though I used the excuse that my race bike was my going to work bike, I wasn’t quick enough, but I did have a lot of fun.

 

 

If you were to follow up on Garry’ssuggestion on scratch building a Pietenpol Air Camper Ray, here’s a link to some plans with dimensions.

http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/aircraft/Pietenpol-Camper.html

In HO scale it’s pretty small but to a good chap like yourself, doable. That said with all your activities, I’m not sure when you’d get the time. I’ve got two 1/72 Sopwith Camel kits to build for a side project, just hope the paws aren’t too big.

 

Is that a man eating piano Ed???

 

Yeah Dave, Mac n Cheese certainly doesn’t need to be a dry argument!! I never liked it until my wife first cooked it, she certainly makes a nice creamy cheese sauce, and while it might not be to everyone’s taste, she makes a nice version with curried smoked fish and sweetcorn.

 

“Reality continues to ruin my life. “- Bill Watterson

Thoughts and Best Wishes to All those who need them.

Cheers, the Bear.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning .

Coffee and a Pecan roll, please. 

Fussy Dave .... Picky; Picky; Picky .... LOL 

Bear.... Nice of you to help Ray with plans for the airplane. 

I wish our Hamburg visit was continuing.... Ulrich... Your firends miss you .

Also, I'm wondering how YGW is doing with his hobby barn... Where is he ? 

 

Happy Model Railroading 

 

[moelarrycurly4]

Good morning from the Southern command

Visiting the house in Mississippi this weekend. 

hopefully it will be less drama than last months visit.

last month we had a smooth trip down here, loaded the truck with our plywood for the porch ceiling replacement. then the transmission blew on the truck.

 

Had to have a friend come rescue us, got the wood to the house. called my dad ( as it was his truck) They had to come down, had to arrange for my neighbor to feed our animals because the parents normally do that. Ended up selling the truck for scrap to the car repair guy. we did get the porch project finished as we had no were else to go. 

This time we are painting that ceiling and visiting some Blues music venues here. 

Saw one of our favorite local blues guys last night in Clarksdale MS.

Today I will write some more on my screenplay. 

 

 

Garry , no problem, I had been tied of up with work, side work and museum work.

 

 

[BATMAN]

High noon on the West Coast, so a good day to all.

Smoke has cleared by about 80%, however, it is still really smelly stuff. 

I am just waiting on getting more quotes on having two 100 ft. trees cut down that are dead. It has been a bit of a chore getting quotes, people must be on vacation or up working the fires. Good thing I am not in a rush. I will just put the rounds out at the road after they are cut down and it will disappear in no time.

cudaken

Brent Seems you have rasied a good son! While I know he is thinking with his head about not going after a movie carrer. I am sure bet he is wondering what if he could makes it big time on film.

Ken, I could not have asked for two more perfect kids. They are both high straight "A" students, kind, generous, and I am sure will make a difference to the world in a positive way.

Mr. movie star could make a very good living in the Movie/TV biz, however it would just be a job and he wants a career. He does not find it very rewarding other than it pays really well. He could easily make $150,000.00 a year doing it, but he has much higher ambitions and there is no doubt in my mind he will achieve them. 

He was invited to go out for lunch with some of the more important people from Deadpool and he accepted this time, so we will see what comes from that although he thinks it is just an invite to hang out and nothing more. He was riding to the set with the assistant Directors often when he was on that shoot and they became pretty good friends in a short time. He is constantly texting with them now. He was telling me how he was getting lots of training from the stunt guys while they had nothing to do and were bored, Lot's of fake fighting, falls and learning how not to get hurt doing stunts. He has also followed the Assistant directors a lot on set and has learned a lot from them as well. It was just a year ago almost to the day that I signed him up to be an extra, who knew he would have had such a journey in the space of a year.

The tree guy is here, so more later.

All the best to all.

[gmpullman]

Is that a man eating piano Ed???

Well, it was my HO interpretation of Ride-On-Road's piano tuning adventures.

A weak attempt at creating a bit of levity?

Regards to all— have a great week end.

Ed

[angelob6660]

Evening Diners,

Ray- Sorry about the understanding. I didn't know what FIL meant.

Ed- That was a good piano scene. Very musical.

I wrote to Bachmann this morning. I wanted to know when Rheneas will be coming out. Since I saved a bit for it. 

 

[up831]

Good late afternoon Diners,

Brunhilda, I'll have an extra large coffee with lots of cream, please.

Without Ulrich it has sure been quiet around here.  I too have been wondering whatever happened to YGW.  I for one, miss his questions about anything and everything posted in the forum.

Yes, that Mac n' cheese looks absolutely delicious.  Before I stopped eating wheat I would slice 3 or 4 beef hot dogs into quarter inch thick discs and griddle them until they we're just starting to turn brown and stir them into the Mac n' cheese.  It's a real cholesterol rush, but boy, were they good!  Nowadays I'll use a corn elbow macaroni.  I know I'll get some debate on this, but I still say the best ever Mac n' cheese is the one in the box with the little powdered cheese packets.  You all know which brand I'm talking about.

Nothing to report MRR wise.

Hello to everyone, and I hope everyone is OK and safe.

[howmus]

Evenin' Diners!

Janie, I just need a cup of decaf to sooth me before bedtime......

angelob6660

Ray- Sorry about the understanding. I didn't know what FIL meant.

No problem at all!  I just wanted to be sure folks knew who was who in my ramblings....

Didn't get a whole lot done today except for going to the calling hours for an old colleage of mine.  Taught with both he and his wife.  I think I mentioned it a couple days ago, I have lost three people in the last week or so who I taught with.  Makes me feel old, I guess.  I am worried about the wife of the one whose calling hours were this afternoon.  She says she is OK as the whole family is there and she has plenty to do.  She also said, that won't last!  She is in her late 80's and without someone to look after, I can see her failing fast.  She was the (unofficial) "Boss" of our Fine and Practicle Arts Dept. at the Middle School.  I could entertain you for several hours with stories about "Ma".  It was good to see many, many old friends I taught with who were at the Funeral Home the same time I was.....  Heck of a way to get together though!

The Op Session at one of my Division's members house got cancelled for tomorrow (Not enough folks signed up to come...), so tomorrow I am going to get down to the layout rooms and spend a day getting things cleaned up and maybe even get started on the next major project (another bridge).

Hope each of you has a great and peaceful night!  A quote for today:

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence." - Max Ehrmann (from Deserata)

73

[cudaken]

 Evening Diners!

 Flo, Give Ed The Piano Man, Brent, Inch, Gary, Jan and I a Crown Royal please. Leave a Stine of outside for Ulrich incase he's looking in the window.

 Work Front and the Nut. Long story made short, a some what confussed Lady came wanting to buy the wrong stuff to do something that would not work right. Well I did my best to help her to half Caboose what she was trying to do as right as I could. For my effort I made a extra $60.00 in spiff money but I was honest and told her it was not a great idea!

 Brent How old is your son? Yea walking a way from making $2888.00 a week is hard, well impossible for myself. But he is being smart. If he does not like the work with long boring hours I understand. Plus how long will youth and good looks last?

 Train Front been enjoying trains reviews from this guy.

           https://www.youtube.com/user/jlwii2000

 I have wonder if he is buying the engines or are they being gave to him free? I know he is married to a Doctor from his post. Seems to be pretty down to earth kind of guy.

 Later, Ken

[FRRYKid]

Evening All! Flo (or whoever's handy), could I get my usual breaded mushrooms with blue cheese dressing and some raspberry ice tea, please? Thank you so much.

Hobby Front: I've gone and broken one of my previous promises to myself: I wasn't going to buy any more engines. I found a model of BN 1876 that I am bidding on. (That is one of the three engines that BN painted for the bicentennial.) I had attempted to paint one of the other ones and have gotten totally sidetracked. I had started debating getting a SD40-2 anyway and this one, if I get it, kills two birds with one stone.

[hon30critter]

she makes a nice version with curried smoked fish and sweetcorn.

Sounds interesting! Unfortunately I can't do curry. If I try it does me!! Most of the Indian spices hate me, bay leaves too!

My wife loves to add peas and chopped peppers including jalapenos. Our son Cole loved the peppers but HATED the peas! The food was free (for him at least) - we let him suffer!

Cheers!!

Dave

[hon30critter]

For those interested in Ulrich's situation, he sent me a PM yesterday with his e-mail included. I had sent him a PM basically telling him to not let the demons win. I know about depression all too well.

He sounds like he needs a real break, but I think his willingness to respond to my PM is a good sign. I sent him an e-mail relating a few details about our club's progress on the new layout, and some stuff about what my wife and I are up to.

Depression affects a lot of people. They need support and patience. I wish him well.

Dave

[gmpullman]

Thank you for the update, Dave.

I, too, wish he and Petra well. They are dealing with a heavy personal burden along with the decaying surroundings. I'm glad you had a chance to chat with Ulrich and pass along our support.

 

Regards, Ed

 

["JaBear"]

hon30critter

. I had sent him a PM basically telling him to not let the demons win

Good on ya Dave, thanks.

 

While it is off limits (and rightly so in light of this Forums intended purpose) to discuss Ulrich’s situation, it does not mean that we can’t sympathise with him in his predicament.

 

“Shutting off the thought process is not rejuvenating; the mind is like a car battery - it recharges by running.” -Bill Watterson

Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them.

Cheers, the Bear.

["JaBear"]

on Flickr

 

on Flickr

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning ... 

Dave .... Many thanks for contacting our very good friend, Ulrich. .... As Bear said, we can sympathize with his predicament. We all wish we could make things all better for him, and I like to think he knows each one of us cares very much for him.....  I certainly wish he would continue the interesting Hamburg posts here. I am sure every one of us will welcome his return without any negative thoughts about him. ... I used to have his email address, but I lost it. 

MLC ... Good to see you. I think I will get to Paducah shortly after the solar eclipse occurs and our out of-town-guests return to their homes. I want to see Bill at Classic Trains, and will make at least one purchase in his store. 

Bear .... Looks like you are having fun with Ed's piano. 

Have a great day, everybody. 

[MisterBeasley]

up831

I know I'll get some debate on this, but I still say the best ever Mac n' cheese is the one in the box with the little powdered cheese packets. You all know which brand I'm talking about.

When I tore my rotator cuff and went in for surgery over 20 years ago, I was pretty miserable.  My worst memory of the whole ordeal, though, was the Mac & Cheese they served.  I looked at the menu, and told myself "at least they can't mess that up."  I was wrong.  I'd expected the box stuff, but what did they put in this?  No idea, but it was probably some form of hospital health food made with gluten-free this and low-fat that.

[BATMAN]

Good morning from a much cooler West side of the North American continent just above the 49th. 

Went to bed and it was about 30C (81F), woke up and it was 14C (58F). Had to find a blanket as all we have had on the bed for the last whole bunch of weeks was the sheet. Hasn't rained since May 11th, I guess that's why the joint is on fire from one end to the other.

It is Airshow weekend and that means there will be lots of aircraft flying over all day as they seem to use our area as the in air staging point, and that is just fine with me. Use to go every year when I was younger, but old age has a way of making you skip such things now.

I have had three estimates on getting the trees cut down ranging from $1600.00 to $800.00. I will get a couple of more quotes before I decide.

Ed, love the Buster, busker scene. He looks like Liberace's grumpy twin with that jacket.

Dave, good stuff letting Ulrich know we are waiting for his return, I hope it is soon or our tour of Germany may have to continue by horse and sleigh.

[quote user="cudaken

 Brent How old is your son? Yea walking a way from making $2888.00 a week is hard, well impossible for myself. But he is being smart. If he does not like the work with long boring hours I understand. Plus how long will youth and good looks last?

Ken, Good looks don't count too much as he has been unrecognizable between the weird costumes and makeup he has had on. Youth and being in good shape have been part of the reason he has had so much work as he has been able to keep up the pace. In "Legends Of Tomorrow" he was hired as a group of four as special extra's, the other three were let go after the first day as they could not keep up physically. My kid did all their scenes as well as his own. There was a lot of quick rewriting going on for a couple of days to work that out. The kid was made up to look like different people to get around the problem.

Don't let the high pay fool you, Vancouver's cost of living in the housing department is through the roof with the average house at about 2.6 million and rents are really high as well. It all works out in the end.

https://www.realtor.ca/Residential/Single-Family/18411576/4649-W-8TH-AVENUE-Vancouver-British-Columbia-V6R2A6

 

http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/vancouver-third-most-expensive-housing-market-in-world-survey

The minimum wage here is about $12.00, however, we know a couple of kids working at McDonald's at $17.20 an hour and they are always looking for people. I retired eight years ago and the phone still rings with job offers as no one can afford to live here that wasn't already here. We have a couple of family members in the RCMP that get paid a healthy premium to cover their cost of housing here. That is the only way they can get members to move here. They say once you leave you can not afford to come back. We are leaving in two years anyway, as it is way to crowded for our liking.

Well, I think I will get another cup of coffee and lay on the lounger on the patio as I can hear some old warbirds rumbling by.

All the best to all.

 

 

 

[RideOnRoad]

JaBear: Bwahaha! Thanks for the chuckle.

[fec153]

DER- got your post-Your 'puker doesn't like mine. Reply is rejected.   HELP !!!

Phil

 

[angelob6660]

Afternoon Diners,

Brent- I'm surprised the living situations are to high. It must be living in the big metropolitan cities like New York.

Griffin- How was the NMRA Train Show? 

Everyone- Ulrich wrote to me about YGW situation a month ago.

"As he informed me, he has been permanently banned by Steven Otte, for reasons I cannot comprehend."

He wrote more but I can't post. Since it goes more personal. I'm surprised he didn't write to any of his closest diner colleagues.

[gmpullman]

BATMAN

Ed, love the Buster, busker scene. He looks like Liberace's grumpy twin with that jacket.

Model Railroading... It's all about FUN!

Walter Busterkeys is one of Liberache's nicknames 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberace

I'll stop in later. Mrs. Pullman threw a rod on her Husky-Varmint (Husqvarna— but I can't spell that) mower. It has a 23 hp V-twin Briggs. I'm going out to do a preliminary look-see.

Best to All!

Ed

[cudaken]

 Eveing Diners

 Flo, Ed, Gary, Inch, Brent, Jan and I will have a please. Leave on out side for Ulrich just in case.

 Work Stunk so that is covered!

 

angelob6660

Everyone- Ulrich wrote to me about YGW situation a month ago. "As he informed me, he has been permanently banned by Steven Otte, for reasons I cannot comprehend."

 Angelo I like YGW but I saw it coming. While I am happy he has his faith he keep pushing the bounder's of the web site rules. OK, he more than pushed, he steped over the line more than a few times. Same with Ulrich, he knew the rules far better that I do.

 I do miss seeing there post, both where friends.

 Broke out the Big Gun's and running the Mighty CB&Q's F7's. Thanks Ed!

 Later, Ken

[howmus]

Evenin' diners.....

Janie a cup of decaf would do me well at the moment.  Got some odds and ends done down in the train rooms.  Mostly sorting out items that should have been put away months ago and cleaning up so I can get started on my next bridge project soon.

cudaken

he keep pushing the bounder's of the web site rules. OK, he more than pushed, he steped over the line more than a few times. Same with Ulrich, he knew the rules far better that I do.

Yep, how many times should someone be warned before.......  I guess I will say, no comment!

"No Comment" is a comment. - George Carlin

Hope you all have a great and sleep filled night!

73

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Howdy. 

Ken and Ray.    ..  actually I was afraid that was the reason why we have not heard from YGW.  Makes me sad.  I enjoyed communicating with him, and his hobby barn is interesting. .. I also like communicating with Ulrich.. ... 

i don't want to lose good friends.. 

Everybody: ...  Have a nice evening (what's left of it  ). 

 

[angelob6660]

Morning diners,

Flo- I'll have the french toast, thanks.

I just popped in to say hi. 

 

Top of page: I'll be paying for my meal and everyone else's.

[tcwright973]

Here we are at the end of a pretty nice weekend here in the "Burgh". No rain and the temps have been moderate compared to what they have been.

Had a very good day railfanning yesterday. 15 trains in 4 hours. 8 Intermodals, 4 mixed freights, 1 coal, 1 coke & 1 grain train. Downside was no foreighn power or heritage units. But with 15 trains, I'm not complaining. I'm just wondering if any of you guys have a wife who enjoys railfanning like mine does.

Spent most of this morning washing the car & cleaning the interior. After the sun goes down, I'll try to give the windows a cleaning. That will finish that project until the next time.

Tomorrow looks to be a busy day with grocery shopping & a ton of errands to be run. I mentioned awhile back that I had an appointment with a dietician. Her suggestions are proving to have some merit, as my blood sugar is slowly coming down. That's a good thing. She wanted to see me walking more, but the arthritis in my knees aren't going to let that happen. Still, I'm pleased I had interview.

Had a nice dinner tonight of chuck roast, masked potatoes & gravy, roasted vegtables & a bottle of Reisling from Seneca Lake.

Hoping everyone has a nice week. Stay safe & keep smiling, iy's bound to get better.

[cudaken]

 Evening Diners

 Flo, Gary, Ed, Brent, Inch, Jan and I will have a and leave a Stien outside for Ulrich. Just in case.

 Work was dead till 3:35 PM then, well heck sort of cut lose. Had 3 customers at the sametime. Plus I had a coustmer come in to pay off a layaway and take his mattress. 1 customer bought and then at 20 minutes before closing I hear Ding Dong, GREAT! Just what I wanted, another coustomer! They bought a cheap queen mattress and wanted to take it with them. Some how I got them loaded, got the paper work done and got out on time at 5:00 PM!

 Toilet Would not flush right this morining. Was not looking forward to this after work! And it was not me that caused the problem! Used a trick I saw on U-Tube.

 1 Put Dish Soap in the bowle and let set around a 1/2 hour.

 2 Bring a fair sizes pan of water 1/2 gallon or so to a slow boil. (bubble slowly come up) 

 3 Dump the hot water and flush at the same time.

  Has worked like a charm for me about 5 times now!

 Trains are running Great!

 Later, Ken

[CNCharlie]

Good Evening,

Another beautiful, warm, sunny day here. 

This past week we went to visit our friends in Thief River Falls. We had a great time and had some really great ribs at The Evergreen Restaurant. I also picked up my new binoculars. I was a little nervous about spending that much on something I hadn't actually had a chance to try but sure needn't have been as they are really great. They are a big step up from the Celestrons I had before. 

Gosh, I haven't purchased anything for the RR since the RS3 last October. I have most of the rolling stock I want or need and there just aren't any locos I want in either N or HO. I did run the HO for about 5 minutes today so perhaps that is a start. I won't be running the N scale until we are using the furnace again as it is really cold in the furnace room when the air conditioning is on. 

We start the birding and breakfast this coming Saturday and I am looking forward to it. Then it is every Wednesday for 4 weeks. A far shorter series than the spring but most of the birds are in fall plummage for the journey south and with the leaves are hard to spot. Nevertheless it is fun. A large part is the camraderie with the other people over breakfast and also out spotting. 

Have a great week,

CN Charlie

[Track fiddler]

You know I haven't been posting on these forums for very long but I got to say I'm a little concerned.  I've been reading these forums for many years but only joined and starting posting months ago.  

Something is missing here. I'm a little worried about Alrich.  I've always enjoyed his videos and his kind words.

To me he's a veteran Community member, a Kingpin of the members that have been here for a very long time.  The ones you really enjoy reading what they have to say.  

I know he's been having health problems. I will say a prayer and hope he's okay.  I really hope he's allright. The forum is not the same. Somethings missing here.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good evening. 

Track Fidler...  I'm not sure what to say about Ulrich other than I think of him as a good friend and he has contibuted very much to the forum.  I would certainly welcome him when he returns. Meanwhile,  feel free to conrtribute to the forum yourself .

Tom.  ... good to see you and read your posts about rail fan adventures you have .

Ken. ... sounds like a good Sunday for you.

CN Charlie..   I hope you enjoy the bird and breakfast adventures.  I suppose most of your model railroading is in the wintertime.  

Happy Model Railroading  

 

[hon30critter]

CNCharlie

We start the birding and breakfast this coming Saturday and I am looking forward to it. Then it is every Wednesday for 4 weeks.

I wish you success in your birding adventures!

Dianne and I don't seem to have to go far from home to see lots of birds. We are going through about three cups of nyjer seed and three to four cups of black sunflower seeds every day. We recently replaced our nyjer seed feeder. The old one was terrible! Either it spilled tons of seed, or if the rain got to it, it totally clogged up. The waste mound under it grew by about three inches in height in just a few weeks. The new one is a vast improvement. We have had up to 15 goldfinches on it at the same time, and the waste pile seems to be going down thanks to the rabbits. 

Cheers all!!

Dave

 

[tcwright973]

We use to have a feeder for the Goldfinches, but between the price for nyjer seeds really going up, and the Goldfinches dropping most of it on the ground to rot, we did away with it. But this year they are back every so often. I have a bush thats about 8 feet tall with yellow flowers that remind me of small Sunflowers, & they have been going after the centers as well as feasting on my Zinnias. This is the first time I've seen them on either plant. I do enjoy watching them, but they are very shy & apt to leave at any little disturbance.

[Track fiddler]

It's storming here in Bloomington Minnesota. Judy and I love storms that's why we haven't gone to bed yet.  

All this talk of birds sparked a distant memory for me.  

His name was Harry Everts. I just loved that old man when I was just a young teenager.  His wife Edna would bring me a French silk pie at least once a month. Scratch made.  It was so good I would wolf it down in one sitting and pay for it the next day.  The next time she brought one over I would do the same.  

Harry loved his dog Thumper, a little Dachshund wiener dog.  He hired me to paint stickers to put on the front of his boat of his dog Thumper and I did.  When he tried to pay me I wouldn't take it.  His company, his conversation and the things he taught me we're good enough for me.  

The man was like Doctor Dolittle.  I remember going to his cabin on the north side of the lake.  He had bird feeders but he would feed the birds right out of his hands.  He would have a bird sitting on his shoulder waiting for their turn.  

After frequent visits the birds got used to me and I got to feed the birds out of my hand.  I will never forget it.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning, everybody .... I'll have oatmeal and oj, please.

Birds? ... We have plenty of them where we live. Eagles, ospreys, blue heron, geese, and so on. .... One of our granddaughters just got some parakeets if that counts. LOL 

We're getting ready for the out of town visitors arriving in a few days so they will be here next Monday for the solar eclipse. ... Much on the news pertains to eye protection. I will heed their advice becaue I need my vision to work on trains ! I suppose eyes will be safe inside Mamouth Cave during the eclipse. LOL 

Does anybody have any interesting model railroda projects in progress now ? 

 

Cheers !

 

[angelob6660]

Morning diners,

The occasional birds I seen are woodpecker, hummingbird, a few cardinals and roadrunners (I love seeing those birds).

Garry- When I get my box from Walthers. It contains a box of sculptamold in which I might started next weekend or so. I haven't started building structures yet. I might just tape together to get an idea where to place them when I place in the sculptamold.

[FRRYKid]

Flo (or whoever's handy): Given that it is close to lunchtime, could I get a club sandwhich, american fries with white cheese on them, and a pineapple milkshake? Thank you so much

Hobby Front: I ended up getting outbid on the SD40-2. Decided that I couldn't justify raising my bid on it. But I have decided that I will be on the lookout for an SD40-2. Not that I really need another engine (I have 23 diesels already and three steamers) but, as many of us know, it gets rather addicting.

On the rolling stock side of things, I also have three freight car projects sitting next to me on the couch, considering yet another caboose project, and waiting on some weight kits to arrive to upgrade a bunch of cars. (7 cabooses and one of the cars sitting on the couch. Additionally, 2 more for additional future cabooses.) I don't really want to know how much rolling stock I have.

[MisterBeasley]

Track fiddler

To me he's a veteran Community member, a Kingpin of the members that have been here for a very long time. The ones you really enjoy reading what they have to say. I know he's been having health problems. I will say a prayer and hope he's okay. I really hope he's allright. The forum is not the same. Somethings missing here.

I've also exchanged messages with Ulrich.  His departure from the forum was voluntary on his part.  He has issues with freedom of speech, particularly in current-day Germany, and he sees parallels with the way his posts are moderated here.  His health is not good, and he feels that the added stress of having to watch every word he says here is not good for his heart or his blood pressure.

I, too, have expressed my hope that his absence will be temporary.

[BATMAN]

Good morning, it is a blue sky, perfect temperature kind of day.

 Turned on the news this morning and they were covering the death of a stunt women on Deadpool. The kid knew her as she was one of the stunt coordinators on the project and they chatted a lot in all the down time on the set. Needless to say, he is a little bummed out this morning.

On a brighter note, he got his housing assignment at University in Ottawa. He thought he would be sharing a room in one of the older residences being his first year. He found out he has a ninth floor private room in a new building. He emailed to make sure they didn't make a mistake and the response he got was, it was because of his high academic achievements. In a follow-up call, the lady said they hope to keep him around for a few years so it is a bit of a perk.

On the wildlife front, we have had an onslaught of wild beast passing through as development a few Kms to the West of us is moving like a juggernaut in our direction. We even had a cougar recently and had to keep an eye on the dogs til it moved on. Lot's of eagles and hawks to watch, they are magnificent. 

My Sister took us all out to a snazzy place for lunch yesterday before the kid heads off to University, you'd think he was going off to war the way she is carrying on about the whole thing. It was a nice time and great food.

Well, the pull out of the job jar is, "installing the pot lights in the kitchen". OH JOY!

All the best to all.

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Janie....  So, where is everyone?  Been empty since Batman left 3 hours ago.  Well, I need a cup of decaf to calm my nerves and get me sleepy before bed time.

Today I brought in the first Pole string beans from the garden.  Could be a good enough crop to actually put up some cans for the winter.  Brought in a couple yellow squash, a zucchini, and some snow peas as well.  Finished demolishing the old picnic table that was on the deck.  It was at least 15 years old and had gotten in bad shape.  Don't want any guests to the house to get wood slivers in their.....  Ah, well you know.    Now I have have to figure out how I am going to dispose of it.

Tomorrow is going to be a...  Well... an interesting day I guess.  Tomorrow morning I will stop down to a local Florist and get a single long stemmed red rose.  Then at 1PM I have to be at an Endodontics place in Victor, NY to have a root canal done.  After that I plan to drive to Canandaigua on the way home to Geneva.  There I will stop at Woodlawn Cemetary to visit the grave of my wife.....  And of course to place the red rose on it.  She died 30 years ago tomorrow.  I still miss her!

I did look up some of our favorite Robert Frost Quotes.  We both were in Miss Helfer's English Class for both our 7th. and 8th. grades.  Miss Helfer was feared by every one of her students!  My class decided to do something unusual for her and threw her a party at the end of the year (we were either very brave or stupid...).  We had her for homeroom which was double scary!  She actually let down the "Tough" persona for the party and we found out some absolutely fasinating things about her and was fun!  She grew up (was almost 70 when we had her) at a time when very few girls had even an 8th. grade education.  She graduated 8th. grade and went for a year of "Normal School" which allowed her to teach "Common Branch" (K-6).  She ended up finishing high school and finally was one of the first women in the USA to recieve a Master's Degree from college!  While she was in college she lived at Robert Frost's farm one summer.  Believe me, we learned a lot about Robert Frost.  Now why am I sharing this here?  One of the best vacations my family ever had was the summer we made a pilgrimage to Bennington, Vermont and stood at Robert Frost's grave in the old Churchyard.  And cried!  (Our son's thought we were nuts, but they knew something special happened...)

So, in honor of Miss Helfer (She and I had the same birthday....  That is another story) and my wife who also revered Robert Frost's works, I end tonight with these:

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost  (This is on our gravestone, BTW.)

"Love is an irresistable desire to be irresistably desired." - Robert Frost

"Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." - Robert Frost

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on." - Robert Frost

73

[cudaken]

 Evening Diners

 Flo, Gary, Ed, Brent Inch and I will have a please. If Jan makes it in give him one as well. Yep, leave a stine outside for Ulrich!

 Very Peaceful at work. Had 3 people in but only 2 count as customers. A woman I did not count wanted me to run a credit app for her boyfriend with out him being in the store? I am not touching that with a 10 foot pole! Said she be back with him around 5:00 PM, yep did not show!

 Last month was a very good one for me at work. My next check will be sweat between $950.00 to $1075.00 range, like the old days. I sure do miss when I made decent money.

 I am off Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week. But at last not for a happy reason. My wife goes for a Echocardiogra and depending on what they find may have to have Stent or 2 installed. She was told if they install a stent she will have to stay over night. I am a little worried, but I have talked with 3 friends that have had it done with out any problems so I am hopefull.

 Got My New Diabetic Shoes and they hurt my feet! Hope they break in fast! Last time I had to go back and refitted 9 times! No blisters today so maybe they will be all right, I hope!

 Trains Are Runing Great so it has been a good day.

 Later, Ken

[herrinchoker]

Ken,

Thank you for the "hooch"----I have had three of these proceedures to date--

the worst part is having to lie flat on your back and not move for 12 hours while a gauze compress is kept on the site where the incision is made in the carotid artery in the groin. I suggest morphene, helps a lot.

They have the ability to insert the camcorder and reaming device in either the arm, or the groin--I have had it inserted in the groin all three times. The pressure is applied until the doctors are reasonabily certain that there will not be a "blow-out" of the artery, this makes for a very excited medical staff-- if it happens!

The tool that is used to maintain pressure is identical to a hub cap hammer, down to the rubber hammer part. A strap is run under your hips, it has a loop on one end that catches the curved part, (the end that is used to pry the hub cap off the rim), pressure is applied by pushing down on the handle, and the other end of the strap is made fast to the end of the handle to hold the gauze pad in place.

While this is in place you are not able to move. Wraping ones-self in the arms of Morpheus helps at this point. To me this was the worst part of the proceedure.

While any surgery involves risk, this proceedure is reasonably straight forward, I would not have any great anxiety should I have to have it done again.

Prayers for your wife, and yourself

Jan

 

[gmpullman]

Hello, Folks!

I hope everyone is well and safe this day...

cudaken

 Broke out the Big Gun's and running the Mighty CB&Q's F7's. Thanks Ed!  

Glad those "Covered Wagons" are holding up for you, Ken! Thanks for the compliments on my models. Master? Well, that's a stretch— but I'm glad to be here with so many other fine modelers as well.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your wife during this procedure 

Thanks for spicing up the piano photo with the great tag-lines, Bear 

howmus

She died 30 years ago tomorrow.  I still miss her!

I can relate, Howmus. My wife passed away in Feb. of 1986. We shared so very much during our brief time together. 

---

 

Tonight, Mrs. Pullman and I were invited to our neighbor's house for a wonderful pool-side cookout. They did this in appreciation for the excavation work I did for them back in June. The patio looks beautiful! A fine bottle of 18 year-old, single malt Scotch followed me home, too!

Here's a "flashback" photo from a trip I was on with my nephew. We were ferrying two private cars from Charlotte, NC to D.C. to Cincinnati, back in 2006...

IMG_0468 by Edmund, on Flickr

 

IMG_0519 by Edmund, on Flickr

 

IMG_0474 by Edmund, on Flickr

 

Have a great day, everyone!

Cheers— Ed

 

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning  

 

Angel ... Sounds like you have fun plans for your layout using Sculpamold. 

FRRY ... Looks like you will be busy working on a caboose and freight car kits. 

Ken .... Sorry to hear your wife needs an operation. Praying all goes as well as can be expected. Good to hear about the F-units. 

Ed ... I saw your mine in "Show Me" thread, and I am impressed. I like seeing the photo of the former NCL dome car. 

Ray ... Root canals are no fun of course. .... I'm glad you shared with us about your taking a rose to visit your wife in the cemetary. I really do have a lot of respect for you for being able to lead your busy life without your wife a well as you do. 

Jan .. I was glad for morphene following a surgery several years ago. (Not the same surgery, but painful for sure) 

 

 

[Steven Otte]

As of today, I have been at Model Railroader for 10 years! Treats are on me.

[RideOnRoad]

Steven Otte

As of today, I have been at Model Railroader for 10 years!. . .

Happy anniversary!

[up831]

Good morning Diners,

Brunhilde, in honor of this occasion, please fetch a bottle of Russian River Pinot Noir.  2015 should do nicely.  And bring glasses all around.  And for the beer guys like Ken and Ed, please bring some bottles of Mirror Pond Ale, or whatever their preference is.  Thank you.

Steven:  Congratulations (or condolences)!  I hope you have many more!  It's not that common anymore for people to stay at the same job for 10 years or more.  You must like it here even though we test your patience.

I've been making decorations for our upcoming church picnic in the evenings.  MOH and I have been doing decorations for church functions and weddings for a few years.  We do it on the cheap and basically make all of them.  I've been thinking of making a separate Facebook page and posting the pictures on there for folks to see for their own ideas and inspiration.

 I got a Pinterest acct. to do the same, but I'm not really enthralled with Pinterest.  In the first place, there's no directions on how to pin something, at least not that I could find.  

That's probably why I never have any modeling projects going.  Alas, bummer!  There's always something else that takes priority.

Well, gotta run.

Hello to everyone, and I hope everyone is OK and safe.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Steven ... Congratulations on your 10 years at MR. You are an asset not only to MR but to the entire hobby. .... Thank you for the yummy treats. 

[tcwright973]

Steve - This coming Sunday the wife & I will raise a glass of Reisling from Seneca Lake as a toast. If you want to stop by at dinner time, I'm sure we will have an extra glass for you. Well done...

[saronaterry]

That's awesome, Steve!!

 Congrats!

[CNCharlie]

Good Evening,

Congrats Steve on your 10th anniversary. Great job!

Well as it happens exactly 10 years ago today I joined and did my first post. I didn't join the gang in the Diner until Nov.27th. Nice to see that there still are some of the old faces still around but quite a few aren't and I sometimes wonder what happened to them. We know about some from the RIP page but many others just drifted away. 

Not much new to report here. I certainly didn't do much today and must try to be more active than I have been lately. I do need to get back to the gym but I always seem to come up with an excuse to not go.  We are hoping for the forecast showers tonight as it is getting quite dry here but nothing like what Johnboy is  experiencing. 

Have a great evening,

CN Charlie

 

 

[howmus]

Well.........  Welll?  Yes a deep subject I've heard.  Evening to those that are here.

 Steven, Congratulations on ten years in the trenches.  You do an admirable job of keeping the hostilities down in this place, I would say.  Probably not always a fun job even though we are a good bunch of Model Railroaders that hang out in the diner.  Just remember:

"By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day." - Robert Frost

Well, as I said earlier....  Today was not a real nice day for me.  Lets just say that the best thing of the day was the 2.5 hours I spent the chair having a root canal...  That was painless except for the numbing of the area which I told him was no worse than a yellowjacket sting.  The good news was, he was able to do the root canal and save the tooth.  There was some concern when he looked at the x-rays from my dentist whether he was going to be able to do that.  He took about a dozen x-rays before and during the procedure.  I now can make an appointment to get the crown done with my dentist.

Of course, late this morning I went downtown and bought the longstemmed red rose for my wife's grave.  I had a heck of time finding it in the huge cemetary in Canandaigua when I got there.  Finally found the hillside for the Family (mine) and knew our plot was across the road and in the third row.  Got to it and found that someone in (her?) family has a nice planter sitting beside the headstone.  That gave me some snuffles....  I said a prayer and placed the rose on the headstone and got all choked up.  I was OK until I got back to the car....  Then the flood came out.  Normal when I go there, but this was a tough anniversary for me.  You'd think that after 30 years I would be over it, but I guess that isn't the way it works.

Somehow the car got me home without incident... Don't really remember the drive.  I was able to make the whole days driving on electric and still had 3 miles of range left when I backed in the driveway.  Haven't done anything else except throw some stuff together for a quick supper...

"Take care to sell your horse before he dies. The Art of life is passing losses on." - Robert Frost

Hope you all had a better day than I.  Prayers for all in need!

73

[FRRYKid]

BATMAN

he got his housing assignment at University in Ottawa. He thought he would be sharing a room in one of the older residences being his first year. He found out he has a ninth floor private room in a new building. He emailed to make sure they didn't make a mistake and the response he got was, it was because of his high academic achievements. In a follow-up call, the lady said they hope to keep him around for a few years so it is a bit of a perk.

Well, that's one way to improve retention!

Heartland Division CB&Q

FRRY ... Looks like you will be busy working on a caboose and freight car kits. 

I do that because I don't get an opportunity to work on the actual layout very often. That is true especially during the winter as the layout room is WAY too cold most of the time. (unheated shop space.)

Steven Otte

As of today, I have been at Model Railroader for 10 years!

Ten years at anything in this day and age is quite the accomplishement. (I've been at my job for over 14. In retail especially that is saying something.)

up831

Brunhilde, in honor of this occasion, please fetch a bottle of Russian River Pinot Noir.  2015 should do nicely.  And bring glasses all around.  And for the beer guys like Ken and Ed, please bring some bottles of Mirror Pond Ale, or whatever their preference is.  Thank you.

As many of you know, I don't drink, but if you have some sparkling apple juice, that will work for me.

Keeping with the apple theme, could I also get a slice of apple pie a la mode? Thank you so much.

Hobby Front: Thought I would give you folks a glimspe of something I have been working on lately.

I finally got the slope on this part of the hill covered. This was finished a couple weeks ago.

This part was finished this afternoon. It was just uneven raw foam. If I am ever to put whatever I decide to, it needs to be relatively flat. (My thinking is to eventually make this a sandstone rock face.)
For those who haven't seen this hill before, this hill is 5 feet long and about 2-3 feet wide. (Very big hill and not easy to move.) However, I did move it to prevent making a mess on the layout. The board in the bottom picture is a scrap piece that I used for catching the Sculptamold that didn't want to stay where I put it.

Edit: Forgot to mention that I also got additional weight installed in seven of my caboose. They are the kits that I had on order. They arrived yesterday and I took them out this morning. The additional weight makes a big difference in the caboose. They install in the top of the car body. No, the cars don't seem to be top heavy as a result. I also got the weight kit for the hopper installed yesterday and put together a few subassemblies for ease in painting. The paint should be here end of the week.

[hon30critter]

Steven Otte

As of today, I have been at Model Railroader for 10 years!

Congratulations Steven!!!

You do a great job!

Dave

[cudaken]

 Evening Diners!

 Flo, Gary, Jan, Ed, Brent and I a please, and UP831 is picking up the tap! Oh, leave a Stein outside for Ulrich as well.

 Played Maytag Repairman at Work today. Had 1 customer in 9 hours, they spent a whole $67.00 for a closeout twin box spring!

 Steven 10 years, bet it seemed much longer!

 Jan Good to see you! You think they would give me Morphine? While Sue is the one going under the knife if I have to stay there that long it would help!

 Has anyone heard from Galaxy?

 Later, Ken

[ricktrains4824]

Good evening all.

Just had to say....

CONGRATULATIONS STEVE!!!!!!!!

Busy today, and tomorrow, so I will stop back later.

Hope all are well, and all have a good night!

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Steven Otte

As of today, I have been at Model Railroader for 10 years! Treats are on me.

Good Evening Gang,

I see a few of you still sitting hear bending the rail.

Congratulations Br. Otte..But you are just beginning.

This is what a finished resume looks like from mypoint of view.

4 years on the transports

35 years with Greyhound

another two years trucking

4 years tour bus driver

15 years security Guard.

Now for sure on the 5th of September I will be officially at the end of my job rope.

I will not be saying YES to any other offers  ((I don't think)) 

I need to get some ZZZzzzsss, so for tonight I bid you all a great night sleep and sweet singing rails in you dreams.

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

[angelob6660]

Early morning diners,

Heartland Division CB&Q

 Angel ... Sounds like you have fun plans for your layout using Sculpamold. 

It will be. I also forgot that I need glue so I can build that bridge kit first. So I can determine how much to take out or leave in.

Steven- Impressive milestone in the model railroading business.

["JaBear"]

Gidday Chloe, a large hot chocolate for me and as I’m late for Stevens nosh, here’s a pav to share around. A belated congratulations, Steven.

 

on Flickr

 

up831

 It's not that common anymore for people to stay at the same job for 10 years or more

 Yeah, I don’t know?   I was told recently that now-a-days, only spending seven years in the same career is normal, but then I guess I’ve never been normal.  Besides it’s not the length of time in a job, (though it is pretty darn important during times of high unemployment), it should be enjoyable and or satisfying, and as I surprisingly observed driving taxis for a brief time some years ago, there were actually a lot of unhappy folk!!! I’d be foolish to say that my final(??) choice of occupation has always been a barrel of laughs all the time, but it ain’t been too bad.

 

Ken, I hope things go well with Sue’s op.

 

As I’ve only been married for 27 years, Ray, I’m not sure as what to say, except she must have been a very nice classy lady.

 

“Those of you who are fortunate enough to be able to enjoy the freedom of speech, should treasure and cherish it. Not squander it.” -Anon.

 

Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them.

Cheers, the Bear.

[ricktrains4824]

Good morning all.

Just a quick stop by to mention a few things.

Ken - Hope Sue' s procedure goes well.

Trains - To update the boxcar issue - I have ruled out trucks and wheelsets. I took known good trucks/wheelsets (off a car with zero derailment issues) and placed them onto boxcar in question. It still derails.

The known good car received the trucks/wheelsets from the boxcar. (Without adjustments) It still has zero issues.

I will test some more tonight after w*^k.

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Sun is trying to shine today in the Finger Lakes Region, and I have shook off all the dark clouds around here for the moment at least.....  Zoe, I need another refil of the Seneca Lake Blend Dark Roast coffee please!

Just got off the phone with my denist's office.  Made an appointment for next week to start the crown work on the tooth.  Happy to say everything is good this morning from the root canal.  No pain or tenderness at all.

Ray, I’m not sure as what to say, except she must have been a very nice classy lady.

 Bear, She was!!! Basically a Type A personality but sometimes very quiet and even shy (until she knew you).  The biggest thing that wreaked havac in the family was the fact that I always appeared to be the well known and successful person (I am type A as well....).  I was a well liked Musician and music teacher, leader in several groups in the community, and well known around the area.  Drove her nuts!  She wanted to be the one who was in charge all the time, and I learned to do my best to let her be (she kept the checkbooks in her purse, for instance.  Both her's and "our's).  Near the end of her life, I think she finally figured out that she was also well known, liked, and considered important in the community as well!  Made our life much better......  Congrats on the 27 years of marriage!  May you have many, many more!

Should go out and mow lawn, but I have to start a wash and then make it to Canandaigua for a reunion committee meeting by 2:30...

[edit] Ken, forgot to tell you I will keep Sue (and you) in my prayers for a successful surgery and a quick and "uneventful" recovery!

Catch you all later!

73

[tin can]

Heartland Division CB&Q

Steven ... Congratulations on your 10 years at MR. You are an asset not only to MR but to the entire hobby. .... Thank you for the yummy treats. 

 

Couldn't have said it better, myself.  Thanks, Steve. 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good afternoon.

Bear .... Thank you for the yummy kiwi and strawberry dessert. 27 years is a wonderful accomplishment. 

Ray ... I sometimes think of you and try to imagine how things are for you having lost your wife when she was so young. Most likely, back then your kids were children and you had a big responsiblilty raising them. Based on some of the things you say, I think you did a good job. I sometimes wonder how it has been as you attend family gatherings without your lovely wife. Your grandkids don't know their grandmother, and that is sad. You have much cause for sorrow, but you persevere. You are active in church and in your community. Apparently, you don't expect any pity from your friends. Ray, I wish I could meet you in person, but this forum will have to suffice. I bet your wife is saving a place for you in Heaven. 

Ricky ... The boxcar is quite a mystery. Now, I wonder if the car weight is out of center. 

JohnBoy ... A bus photo for you ...

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Another SLOW day here in the forum I guess.  Janie, I could use a slice of the stuff "Bear" brought in to go along with a cup of decaf please.

 Garry, Thank you for your kind words!  I do appreciate them....  I do consider you one of my closest on-line friends here at the forum and would love to meet you in person someday.  Who knows, maybe that could happen.  I would sure like to see your modeling work on your layout!

My wife and I were married for 21 years 3 months to the day.  We were parents at 19, BTW.  I was a sophmore at Eastman School and she had to drop out of the community college she went to when she ended up getting Mononucleosis.  We had dated my senior year of high school (she was a junior in high school).  I broke up with her when I was a Freshman in college and we started going together again the next year.  I would only say things started happening very fast and we got married that April...  First son showed up that October....  (Grin)  Second son was born three years later (I was in my second year of teaching).  She died just 2 months after our youngest son graduated from High School (She was able to attend Graduation wearing a mask to protect her as she had just gotten into remission and had little immunity).  Oldest son was working on his Associates Degree in Fish and Wildlife.  I went in a matter of weeks from a family of four to just me....  I loved to cook, did most of the cooking at home and just continued to cook the same meals, but ate it all myself!  Gained 90lbs. in less than 2 years.  Dated a lot, but at 320+ lbs. I never was able to catch anyone whom I wanted to be with...

One of the things that weighed very heavily on my mind in the first months after she died was whether I would be welcome at her families gatherings.  I really enjoyed her family.  My MIL made it very clear that I would always be "Family" to them and so I probably have spent more time at their gatherings than in my own birth family.... I consider myself to be a very lucky man in many ways.  As I quoted (Robert Frost) the other day, "Life Goes On!"  Now that I have gotten the weight back in control, I have threatened to shave off the beard, and 1. Find out what is underneath it, and 2. start chasing women again....    As if anyone that I would want, would want me.  I have been told by ladies that I was dating way back when that I am too fussy.  My reply was, yes I am, and you notice I am dating you!

OK, back to some odds and ends around here.  Thanks for listening to my wanderings...

73

[cudaken]

 Evening Diners

 Flo, Gary, Ed, Inch, Jan, Brent and I will have a , is UP831 still paying? Leave a stein outside for Ulrich as well.

 Work Front Well, it stunk with $400.00 in sales but it was a sweat paycheck! Like the old days when I enjoyed paying bills! Did I really say that?

 Thank's for all the good wishes for Sue this Friday! I am sure she will do just fine! But, if by chances it is her time I would miss her.

 But in a week or so after, there will be a 30 yard dumpster in my driveway! While I would still miss her, her junk on the other hand goes in the dumpster! Sure be nice to be able to walk with out tripping on something.

 Sad Stereo Day. One of me beloved Dalquest DQ-10 speaker smoke unit went off! It was right before I left to go to work. I was watching U-Tube and happened to look up and saw smoke pouring out of the Right Speaker! Got it shut down but it was still working fine. I have owned them for 34 years and they where around 3 years old when I bought them! Used I payed $1600.00 for the pair!

 Later, Ken

["JaBear"]

Gidday Chloe, a large hot chocolate, please. I should have not been so lazy and called the kiwifruit and strawberry concoction by its proper name, Pavlova, an NZ creation, though the Aussies claim it as their own. The Diner is the only place I can actually enjoy it now!

 

 

Still need the fire on in the evening, though, and I guess it’s bad news for you Northern Hemisphere chaps, the magnolia tree out the back is starting to bud.

 

Garry and Ray, thanks for the congratulations, 27 years of marriage isn’t too bad considering that the FIL let slip just before he passed away, at which time her-in doors and I had been married for seven years, that a book had been started before the wedding, taking bets on how long we’d remain married. My Dad had backed two months, and the FIL, 6 months!!! 18 months was the upper limit!!! The only one who apparently had faith was my Grandfather.

 

I was pretty angry when I found out, but more annoyed because I wasn’t allowed a slice of the action!!!

 

To be fair I was in my early thirties, was “married to “w**k, and wasn’t expecting to get hitched, myself. I met my future wife through a blind date, which was set up by my foreman’s wife who worked with her, and it was because I had a lot of time for Eddy, my foreman, and I knew that his wife was nagging him to the point of distraction. So, I consented to go on the blind date, to keep the peace for him.

 

 

My wife to be was also not expected to get married; some members of her family thinking that she, by staying single would be able to take care of her parents when they got older.

 

 

However, within 6 months we were married, (our son arrived two years later) and though it wasn’t a case of opposites attract, we found we complimented each other, though I must admit Ray, that I also know about Her money and Our money!! We’ve had some ups and downs, but I consider that I’m a lucky man.

 

My wife will not allow me to shave off my beard, which, as I hate shaving, suits me just fine.

 

“They say the secret of success is being at the right place at the right time, but since you never know when the right time is going to be, I figure the trick is to find the right place and just hang around.” -Bill Watterson

 

Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them.

Cheers, the Bear.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning ...

Ken ... Sorry your favorite speaking failed. I would never pay that much money for a speaker though. 

Bear ... Thanks for telling us about Mrs. Bear and your cub. 

Ray .... You are welcome. Of course, it would be good if we finally met. 

.... 

We will be busy with house guests over the next few days. As I have been saying, we are located in the path of the total solar eclipse happening this coming Monday. Just about everybody we know here will have house guests. I heard one house will have as many as 30 to 40 people. We have 8 coming. Officials predict our county will have about 50,000 visitors ( county population is only 14,000) . It may be too much for some of the country roads. Some businesses will not be open including banks. Hotels are charging extremely high rates. We have stocked up on food, and we are ready to hunker down with visiting family members until they leave Tuesday. 

 

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

[quote user="Heartland Div.

JohnBoy ... A bus photo for you ...

 [/quote]

 

Good Morning Gang,

Chloe, when time provides, I'll have toast and PB.  with moons over miami, and a hot choc.  Please and thanks.

Thanks Garry for the pix.  For reasons you can guess I have always had a fondness for "Lady Greyhound"  and the "Silver Lady".  Thats a great shot and love your big tressel..

 

Hi Ken,  I too want to wish your wife and you the best for a successful outcome and quick recovery for her  tomorrow.  They are doing great work these days.

 

Morning Ray,   Thanks for the history of your family and good fortune with your future love life.  Hope she likes electric cars and trains.  that would really be a bonus,  Right ?

 

The only work on the LM&E that's been done lately is that I am cutting in a few more blocks on the mainline and passing sidings to make it work better.  Wish I would have done it originally. But, like I state so often, nothing that we do can't be re-done to make improvements.

 

ROR>   I sure hope it has cooled off some for you, that was  some pretty wicked heat you were having.   I don't like the coldest part of the winters here, but, I can take them better that that kind of heat. 

 

Well, my time at work is very quickly coming to it's end and I am looking forward to it, and I bet after a short time I'll be saying "I wonder why I waited so long"

 

I will be batching for awhile as my Wife and her siblings will be touring the scandinavian countries in Sept.  While the weather is still good one of my Sons and I will be renovating the inside of his travel trailer that took a little water a couple of years back and we are just getting around to it now.

 

I'm at work today so I had better look like it.  Thats cause I'm a good employee,

If they fired me I could just say, "TOUGH, I was going anyway."

 

Hope you all have a great week-end, and get the proper glasses to watch the eclipse next week.

 

Prayers and best wishes to all who stand in need at this time.

We are thinking about you Ulrich & Petra, YGW, and other MIAs.  

 

Johnboy out..................................for a bit..   Thanks for Brunch. 

[up831]

Good afternoon Diners,

Brunhilda, Dom Perignon for everyone (I've actually never had it).  For the beer guys, their pleasure, (yes, Ken I'm still buying....this time),  and sparkling juice for those who prefer that.  Thank you.  And Brunhilda, you and all the other girls can have a glass, including Vinnie!

Everyone:  MOH and I have been blessed with a granddaughter.  My first grandchild.  If she will be anything like her parents, she will be an achiever.  It will be up to grandpa to introduce her to trains.

Hello to everyone, and I hope everyone is OK and safe.

[gmpullman]

up831

Everyone:  MOH and I have been blessed with a granddaughter.

Congratulations, UP Jim! 

...and thanks for the fine Champagne  (I've never sipped Dom Perignon either )

Today I planted a Maple tree. We can watch them both and see how quickly they grow! 

IMG_6101_fix_web by Edmund, on Flickr

 

 IMG_6105_fix_web by Edmund, on Flickr

 

Cheers to all you good folks!

Ed