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Jeffreys Trackside Diner, November 2017 - Any and All are Welcome, All Aboard! Locked

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Posted by up831 on Thursday, November 9, 2017 6:04 PM

C:\Users\Jim\Dropbox\MRR pics

edit: it looks like things aren't cooperating, sorry.

Assuming this photo will display:

Good evening Diners,

Brunhilda, I'll have an Earl Grey tea with cream and honey, please.

Steven:  Aweek or so ago you posted several pics of pumpkin spice products.

Well, here's a real one!  Not sure about this.  They taste sort of OK, but really?  I think General Mills marketing dept. has had too much additive in their tea.

I hope everyone can see the pic, if not it's a box of pumpkin spice Cheerios.  If it isn't visible , just click on the box and it should open.

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

Edit:  looks like I'm at the top of the page.  Everyone's order is on me.

 

Less is more,...more or less!

Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, November 9, 2017 6:06 PM

'Evenin Folks...

Heartland Division CB&Q
There has been a story about a haunted Lackawana coach in Cleveland. With Google, you may find some articles about it. I wonder if Ed is familiar with it.

Yeah, Garry. The Midwest was once my stomping grounds. Haven't been involved with the group in a while. 

Looks like Ghost Hunters has a segment on the car.

The "Death Car" Or "Roasted Ghost Coach" is actually a Nickel Plate coach, No. 62. In all the years I worked in and around it in the 1970's I never encountered anyone from the evanescent world, just a few grumpy conductors...

The NKP 62 was part of a westbound Lackawanna train No. 3 — The Nickel Plate ran as far east as Buffalo, where the D.L. & W. would continue through cars to Hoboken — which seems to have met with misfortune in Wayland, New York, on 30 August of 1943.

http://www.waylandparanormal.com/The%20Wayland%20Train%20Accident.html

The only ghost I'm interested in meeting is one that can tell me where a tidy bundle of cash might be buried Whistling

Hey, Ken. I have a couple of BLI F units disassembled in the shop. I'll take a look at the motor mounts and let you know what I find. Sometimes if the motor isn't seated all the way it will throw off the U-joints and cause the scrape.

Have a great day, everyone!

How about a few more Altoona area pics?

 RR_views_0001 by Edmund, on Flickr

Arriving in Altoona.

Can you imagine! GE, Erie Locomotive plant was SO BUSY that the Conrail Altoona shops chipped in to help finish orders for Amtrak Genesis P40s!

 RR_views_0029 by Edmund, on Flickr

Here's one in the paint booth.

 

 RR_views_0019 by Edmund, on Flickr

...and another pair outside.

 RR_views_0013 by Edmund, on Flickr

 RR_views_0012 by Edmund, on Flickr

And another one doing what it does best! 

 RR_views_0011 by Edmund, on Flickr

The above are taken at Gallitzin on the PRR main. MO tower is still standing!

Thanks for picking up the tab, Jim Yes

Glad to hear from you, Ulrich. Thanks for that great film featuring the wonderful Pennsy! The producer and assistant director was Hal Roach of Our Gang fame, among many more Smile

Prayers for those in need and hopes for a great day all around...

Regards, Ed

 

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Posted by howmus on Thursday, November 9, 2017 9:09 PM

Evenin' folks from the Shores of the Atlantic Ocean here in Newport, Rhode Island....

Janie, I could use a cup of decaf to help me unwind before I head out to bed.  Today I took a 7 hour drive from my house to in Newport. Had to stop a number of times just to run in the rest stop;s and empty my bladder... Guess my kidneys decided today was a good day to get rid of some excess fluid... Whistling The Hotel for the convention is brand spanking new and quite nice.  Had some freshly made Clam Chowder (New England Style of course) that was absolutely fantastic and some linguini with clams in a white sauce that was just as good for supper.  Went to one clinic tonight given by a gent I know from the Syracuse area.  Had some excellent ideas and such in it, so the Convention for me is off to a great start.

I may have a couple photos to share tomorrow if I can into my Imgure account from the laptop.  That is if I can rember my password.....

Time to head to bed!

73

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

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by tcwright973 on Friday, November 10, 2017 7:50 AM

Ray - Here's hopinging a great time at the convention. You sound like me now with the pit stops. When traveling these days, it's not restaurants or gas stations, but men's rooms that are the main priority. Time & distance between rest areas can be critically important these days. Back in the early 60s, I went to an NMRA Convention with a co-worker that was held in Cleveland. We had a terrific time, but for one reason or another, that was the only one I ever attended. I should add it to my bucket list.

Got just about all the chores done yesterday that I previously mentioned. Glad they are out of the way. Halloween Village will be the focus of my efforts now, but I also have to go to the Library, the Post Office & the bank this morning too.

Went to put up the flag in the front yard this morning for Veteran's Day, only to discover that someone had taken the plastic cap of my PVC pipe & it was filled with water. I used some rags to soak up the water & now the flag is up. If it's not one thing, it's another.

That's it for now, time to start a load of laundry & have another cup of coffee. Stay safe...

Tom

Pittsburgh, PA

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Friday, November 10, 2017 8:06 AM

Good morning, everybody ..... 

Inch ... Glad to see you. I tried to contact you with this forum's messaging. Check your PM's. 

Jimmy ... Your ghost stories are remarkable. 

Jim UP831 ... I could not see the photo. I use Flickr to post my photos. 

Ed ... It seems like we can count on you for interesting posts. ... The Cleveland ghost story about passenger coach is quite soemthing. I like the Amtrak photos, and I think that paint scheme looks better than the current Amtrak paint scheme. 

Ray .... I bet you are enjoying the convention. 

Tom ... I can imagine it was frustrating with the flag pole full of water. People do dumb things. 

I am pleased with the results of my work repairing my old Campbell enginehouse. I posted photos of it in WPF along with a schoolhouse and a firehouse I repaired. 

On the home front, we have been car shopping for a few months seeking a replacemnt for Shelley's 2004 Caddy SRX. We have owned it 13 years and it now has 171,000 miles. Yesterday, we firmed up a deal on a new Buick Enclave. GM now has large discounts on 2017 models of that vehicle. Shelley will be spoiled with that vehicle. It's loaded with nearly everything, and it has the colors she wants outside and inside. The SRX is being passed on to our son in Cincinnati, and should have many more miles to go. 

Regarding ghost stories, we sometimes think we have one here because of strange, unexplained happenings. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by cudaken on Friday, November 10, 2017 9:30 AM

 Morning Diners

 Flo, big cup of Coffee please.

 Was up at 6:30 AM, just had a lot on my mind and could not sleep.

 Mighty Dead B&O F7a.Sigh Found the problem with the engine. Of all things the chassis cracked in half? Only thing holding it togather is the fuel tank and the decoder mouting point? I have no idea how that happened, I never dropped it.

 Going to call BLI and see if they have any replacments.

 Later, Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, November 10, 2017 10:13 AM

cudaken
Called SS offices to get to some none wife details on SS when I am 62.

If you can hold off taking SS financially, it's better to wait as long as you can.  Your benefits increase every year if you defer, up to 70.  I decided to wait until 67 when I retired, looking quite coldly at life expectancy and calculating my total payout each way.  But, as you've pointed out, you are heavily penalized for working after you start taking Social Security.

Medicare works differently.  Unless you have health insurance from a qualified, employer-based plan, you really want to start Medicare right away when you turn 65 and become eligible or you'll pay a penalty for the rest of your life in premiums.

When I signed up for SS, the agent at the SS office tried to talk me into taking a "bonus" payment.  What he did not tell me was that by accepting that payment, I would effectively be starting my SS benefits early, thus reducing my payments for the rest of my life.  I asked how much the difference in benefits would be under the two scenarios and did the math in my head.  He didn't offer the information - I had to ask for it.  I did the math in my head and realized it was a con job and I would not fare well.  This was a government employee at the SS office trying to jive-talk me into a deal that was going to cost me money in the long run.  I was disgusted.  SS is supposed to be a benefit, not a scam.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Friday, November 10, 2017 10:26 AM

Mr. B. ...... On the flip side, a person have $0.00 benefits as he waited until a later date to take benefits. They should weigh the alternatives accordingly. In any case, a person should remember SS is only meant to supplement incomes. Everybody should have ample savings to fund retirement before they retire. There are 401K plans and IRA's to help people save, and they should do that in their working years. 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by Jimmy_Braum on Friday, November 10, 2017 11:02 AM

Hey all. Not in much today. It's my birthday 

(My Model Railroad, My Rules) 

These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway.  As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).  

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Friday, November 10, 2017 11:08 AM

Jimmy_Braum

Hey all. Not in much today. It's my birthday 

 

 

Jimmy ..... Happy B-DayCake

 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 10, 2017 12:28 PM

 

Jimmy!

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, November 10, 2017 12:34 PM

Heartland Division CB&Q

Mr. B. ...... On the flip side, a person have $0.00 benefits as he waited until a later date to take benefits. They should weigh the alternatives accordingly. In any case, a person should remember SS is only meant to supplement incomes. Everybody should have ample savings to fund retirement before they retire. There are 401K plans and IRA's to help people save, and they should do that in their working years.

I completely agree, but many Americans are approaching retirement with minimal savings.  The past decade or so of low wages has had many living from paycheck to paycheck and unable to put anything away.

I was at a Medicare seminar a few years back, where the speaker was discussing supplemental insurance to cover the things Medicare itself does not.  One unfortunate woman in the back row asked how she was going to pay for the supplemental insurance.  Apparantly, she actually though Social Security would be all she would need and hadn't planned for anything else.  I fear that a lot of people may be both as broke and as clueless as she was.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by gmpullman on Friday, November 10, 2017 12:38 PM

Hello, Folks...

Woke up to a blanket of white-stuff all over. Nice thing is that it covers the leaves that I haven't vacuumed up yet!

 

Heartland Division CB&Q
Ed ... It seems like we can count on you for interesting posts.

Thanks, Garry. And I learn just as much from all the folks here who post neat stuff, yourself included!

Happy B'day, Jimmy Happy B-Day Hope you have an enjoyable day. My sister shares the same birthday.

 

cudaken
I have no idea how that happened, I never dropped it.

Neither did I, Ken... I bought that engine used off Ebay. Maybe it got kicked around in shipping? Glad the CB&Qs are still going strong.

cudaken
Going to call BLI and see if they have any replacments.

Let me know if they turn you down. I might be able to scrape something up Whistling

I hope everyone is doing fine this weekend!

 RR_views_0002 by Edmund, on Flickr

 

 RR_views_0006 by Edmund, on Flickr

That's all the news from "The Curve"

Regards, Ed

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Posted by "JaBear" on Friday, November 10, 2017 1:00 PM
Happy Birthday Jimmy!!!Happy B-Day
 
Though I should reminder you that your opinions are a year older too!Wink

Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by BATMAN on Friday, November 10, 2017 1:35 PM

On this day.

Good morning from the sunny West Coast. 8c and a good day for a long walk with one of the fleabags. The wife is away at a dog show this weekend so the lid will likely stay on the job jar.Whistling

Happy Birthday to J.B. You will have to adjust the age in your signature unless you stop giving opinions at 26.Laugh

Went to safeway after taking the "girl kid" to school. They only had one register open and the self-checkouts were shut off. The reason being they cannot get enough help, the manager was apologizing profusely and went to man a checkout himself. They pay 18.52 an hour. I then went to McDonalds for an egg McMuffin, same thing, no staff. Big sign on the door, help wanted $17.40 an hour.

I see inflation taking hold in the not too distant future. The feds. are really increasing immigration and it is a good thing too, or there will be no one to wipe my nose when I get to the old folks home. 

On the subject of retirement, my Dad gave me the best advice. He said he could never understand the idea of having to cut back when you retire. His philosophy was that because you weren't working you needed more money to amuse or enjoy yourself with. We have a registered retirement savings plan up here in Canada and I thought my Dads advice was sound. I put $3200.00 (the max I could) when I was seventeen and put the max in every year up until about eight years ago, I am now sixty. My Dad never bought a new car until he retired and that was the first thing he did when he retired. He worked for the Post Office (middle management) and got a good pension. He had also put away funds in his RRSP and had an awesome retirement with lots of travel.

I had no idea I would be working for the Feds for 36 years and get a really good pension, I did not think I would have a company pension at all when I was thinking about career paths and so had prepared for that eventuality. 

We also started the kids Registered education savings fund right when they were born. So far 19 year old #1 son hasn't needed it as he has made enough to be self funding, so we are getting that back bit by bit. He can't believe how much the kids at University spend on booze. He might have a beer on a Friday or a Saturday, he says so many of his fellow students wonder why they're broke. Not to mention the $5.00 they spend at Starbucks every day. He got his friend to realize that he was spending almost $300.00 a month on Starbucks and Beer every month. Coffee is free in the cafe as they are on the meal plan, my kid just fills a large travel mug there in the morning.

I have been playing around with lighting circuits recently using the LED WIZ  http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz 

I think I am getting close to what I want in the roundhouse, so may work on that after my walk. 

Ken, yesterday at an auction we bought a brand new "Serta Masterpiece King Size mattress with a 4-inch Plush pillow top" for $500.00 Canadian, about $380.00 U.S. Is that a good deal? Wife said they retail at $3299.00 CA. but who knows. That was a real bear to get home and up the stairs, I'll tell ya. No delivery provided by the auction house and you only have 48 hrs. to take it away. I don't notice any improvement over our old one. Not sure what the boss thinks as she was gone early.

They also had a German steam engine that I wish I had bid on. Not a Loco, but one of those you put a little fire under and it turns the wheel. It came with a bunch of little tools like grinders and other things that it would run. Also in the lot were a bunch of tintype trains, track and old transformers and other toys. The train stuff was junk, however, the Steam engine and add-on tools are going upwards of $500.00 on Ebay. It went for $31.00. I am kicking myself as I always wanted one of those steam engines since I was a kid. 

Well, I best get on to the park with the dog. Last night I watched a show called Supernatural on netflix. I had actually seen them film the parts in that particular show at the park we go to. I think that was about ten years ago or so. I'll go see what "stars" the mut and I can see or chat with today they love dogs.Laugh

All the best to all.

 

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by Jimmy_Braum on Friday, November 10, 2017 3:58 PM

Thanks all for the Happy birthday. I spent today relaxing after a long day at work on Thursday And playing with my trains. I set up my consist for next week's open house... twenty coal hoppers and two assorted cars with one kato loco.  I'm now eating a birthday dinner from my favorite pizzeria in the Monongahela valley, and am going to go hang with some friends for awhile tonight, then go to the club business meeting afterwards.  It's been a nice quiet day- I even got snow today lol. Nothing laying, but flurries. 

(My Model Railroad, My Rules) 

These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway.  As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).  

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Posted by FRRYKid on Friday, November 10, 2017 7:13 PM

Mentioning retirement and such, I have a 401(k) through work (they match contributions to 6%.) and then I have a private Roth IRA through my bank. I started on the 401(k) shortly after I went full time at that job. (I have been FT there for over 10 years.)

Hobby Front: Getting closer to having all the GP20s done. The next to last solid green one has its plow glued on, meaning it is ready to be sent back to the layout. The two passenger units have the fill-in panels done and will be painted this evening. I don't plan to install the plows today on those units though. (Too tired from work but not tired enough to pick up the paintbrush.) The parts shell for the other solid green unit is scheduled to arrive on Monday according to the tracking.

"The only stupid question is the unasked question."
Brain waves can power an electric train. RealFact #832 from Snapple.
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Posted by cudaken on Friday, November 10, 2017 10:23 PM

 Eveing Diners

 Flo, Birthday Boy Jimmy and Ed, Gary, Brent, Galaxy, Ulrich, Jan, Inch and I will have a Beer please.

 Work Front I was stunned by how many folks came into the store today. Lot of folks looking for stupid stuff like $200.00 queen sets, $300.00 king sets and so forth. While I eaked out $2919.00 in sales for my self only maybe $54.00 or so. Comparied to the rest of the month it was a good day. That is not saying much I will add.

 Brent It depends on the mattress and the auction. Was it really a $3299.00 mattress or was it the sudggest retail prices? Has a whole here in the US Setra is junk. I have worked at 3 mattress companys and all have dropped Serta while I was with them. 

 Ed If by chnaces you can help with a chassis that would be of great help!

 Later, Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Saturday, November 11, 2017 8:09 AM

Good morning, everybody .... 

11/11 ... traditional Vets Day.... Thanks, Veterans, for serving ! 

Ed ... I like the horshoe curve photo. 

Brent .... That is solid advice you got from your father. Glad you followed it. 

FRRY .... You are wise to save money in retirement accounts. 

Mr. B. ... I know the statistics say wages have been flat for a number of years, but people should not allow that to be an excuse not to be saving their money and investing it wisely. Fortunately, the overall inflation rate has been low over the same years which offsets their excuse about wages being flat. 

I sometimes hear about people who have high incomes and spend it all. Later, they lose that income, and live in poverty. .... On the other hand, I sometimes hear about people with modest incomes who live frugally and wisely budget their money. They save their money and invest it wisely. Later, they lose their source of income, but can continue their standard of living with earnings from their investmnts. 

The average person is born with a highly intelligent human brain, and it behooves him to use his brain to manage his money wisely. 

 

 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by herrinchoker on Saturday, November 11, 2017 10:55 AM

MEMORIAM

To the men of the 777th. sqdn., 464 TCW, TAC----Operation Ranch Hand/Dragon Rouge---

herrinchoker

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Posted by angelob6660 on Saturday, November 11, 2017 10:56 AM

Morning diners,

Veterans Day 

Jimmy- Happy Birthday!

Ed- Love the Amtrak pictures.

I been redesigning my track plan again. Replacing structures, track alignments, and road placements.

I'm happy and disappointed with it. It's a well designed 1950-1970s train set but it doesn't resembles a more modern 1980-2007. Replacing structures and smaller scenarios will look somewhat modern.

Modeling the G.N.O. Railway, The Diamond Route.

Amtrak America, 1971-Present.

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Posted by Jimmy_Braum on Saturday, November 11, 2017 6:30 PM

Hey all.  Thanks for the birthday wishes all.  Today was the county Veterans day parade, and this year the parade was in my town.  I was off today, so I went down and watched it.  It was a nice sized parade, lasted about an hour almost.  There were a ton of WW2 vets, as well as modern ones.  Included is a photo of one of the groups

Honestly, I think I should go into the photography business sometimes.

(My Model Railroad, My Rules) 

These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway.  As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).  

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Posted by galaxy on Saturday, November 11, 2017 7:14 PM

Hey gents {or is that germs?}

Busy busy night at the 'tel. Its 7 pm, 2/3rds are checeked in now, I started at 3:30 instead of 4 as someone called off due to malfunctioning car, so Schedules got adjusted, the GM took today's shift, but Allowed me to punch in early. He said he would have called, I said I would have come in earlier, I'm looking for extra money anyway for Xmas. Im actually looking for a second pt job before it starts counting against me next year at the end of march.

BATMAN/Brent...Know that your mother is now your guardian angel, and you and your daughter{?} just happened to catch a glimpse of her! She watches over you now.

Mr. B, Garry, others on Retirement, and money. During the 80s my early working years, I was always able, on "some college" {ran out of money and refused to saddle myself with loans} to be well above minimum wage. By 1989 I was a little over 3x minumum, had full time two jobs, continued college {3 As and 1 B per semester for 2 semesters WHILE working the 2 full time jobs}. I lived in a resort area in New England. Then 1990, the economy ground to a halt, I was laid off without unenjoyment from one job completely, and the other job cut us from 40 hours to 20 to 12 to 10 hours in Feb. I said "I cant pay all my bills", and left the area...to Florida, but it was the wind down of winter season there, and so back to NY I came. SInce then, My wage line has been flat, barely above minimum, and only due to increases will I be getting more. EVEN had I finsihed college, I'd be in the same boat, only about $2/hr than I am now. I've also been the victim of wage regression. That is as minimum goes up, my pay does not, so the amount I'm making over minimum deminishes or reduces as minimum increases. My current wages are almost eactly what I was earning per hour at more than 3xs over minium in 1989. in other words, FLATLINED. SO you see I was no slouch, either in working nor in savings for the future.

Continues: now during those 80s, I save about $10-12K a year from the 2 jobs {out of $28-30K annual income, so about 25-30% at least}, I always worked 2 jobs, was happy at it {it kept the depression at bay...I had  a "purpose" to daily living}, Had substantial savings for retirement as I saved MORE than the 10% my maternal grandmother and parents instilled in me. Around age 25, though, the medical issues started settling in. Ive been dealing with degenerative disc disease since age 25. By age 28, when the economy collapsed, I had to go through all my savings and retirement covering uninsured medical expenses, covered medical bills when I lacked coverage, and even some to live on. I eventually went through it all, and ended up homeless, living under a bridge next to the railroad tracks. {it was comforting to know the midnight special, the 2am and 5 am ran on time}. Literally. NO, my parents would not help out,, my sibling is my fathers favorite,and while I was homeless, he was giving my sibling 3 sets of $50k allotments to buy 3 more rental units. Clearly you know who was NOT the favorite. I ended up FINALLY getting welfare safety net, and medicaid. I only had 2 years of welfare though. I could not work, could not find work, it was tight very tight job market around here then. I foundered {or is it floundered} at various jobs, but medical issues kept coming up, knocking me out. One year I spent 8 months total out of 12 months in the hospital total. I have 23 chronic continuous medical issues, and the early stage heart failure and A-fib just added #24. I also take 19 prescriptions to keep this body going currently. I ended up working for a friend in his small business, who understood I coudn't always work, but knew I did very well at my job when I was working and able. MY SSDI was approved on my 3rd application. A relief, as I then not only had a steady income but I had steady health care coverage I could count on. Now, 14 years later, the SSDI doesnt pay the bills the way it used to as bills have gone up relatively astronomically, and if you have SS, you know COLAs have not kept up..

COntinued. WHen I met My OH, Oh was just out of bankruptcy, living off a small inheritance German Gmother left, so OH was just geting by. I worked to restore credit for both of us, worked up savings so we could do things like go to Disney World, and Hawai'i, and to save for the house we just bought 2 years ago. My Oh started 5 years ago at one of the two jobs MOH has, at $5 ABOVE minimum wage, is now only $1 over minimum, wage regression hitting hard again. When NYs minimum becomes $10.40 this dec 31 for upstate, OH will be just $0.60 over minimum wage and I will regress to just $0.10 over minimum, unless my GM ever gets his head out of you know where and gives me my review and the raise we talked about at hiring time. I doubt that's going to happen, but where I am now $0.80 over minimum, IF i get the raise I was promised at 90 days {which was 4 months ago}, I will be only $0.60 over minimum wage, regression again.

COntinued, think about it...I WAS more than 3xs over minimum, now am just barely above it at about the same wages I was getting in 1989. SO Garry, costs of living have gone up drastically, while my wages flatlined, and while I was able to get us to a point to buying a house to replace a failing mobile home, We really don't have much to save now. MY OH works two jobs, about 50 hours a week, some weeks only gets 25 hours between the two, and I have gone back to work to the best of my availability and ability, in order to boost my SSDI, It was also supposed to help us save more, but vehicle reapirs, bills rising, 35% increase in budget for total utilites etc have erroded our ability to save much. 

COntinued...I have long held, regardless of what we do, that we are "upper poor class" {UPC} or "poor middle class" {PMC} as our income for 3 jobs and SSDI puts us squarely in the bottom rung of the supposed definition of the nation's Middle Class, by income level, Yet we struggle to save any significant amount any more. The $2.00 differnece in having finished our college MIGHT throw a different light, but we'd have had to finish wiht student loans, probably negating the $2.00 difference. SO we stumble along, our biggest asset is the house, which also in two years we now own 52% of, instead of that equal amount added to savings. We have some debt from upgrading the house, but when it gets retierd in 3 years left, we should be able to sock away a healthy sum, should circumstances remain as they are. Others are in the same boat. I hate to say it, Garry, but your working time of life things were completely different. My OH and I have NEVER worked anywhere where we had a pension, 401Ks are even hard to find, you're lucky to find health care from an employer, but expect to pay aobut 50% of your weekly/monthly income for THAT priviledge. Its not like it was by any means.  Even trying to put away 1% some weeks, let alone 10% can be like shooting out a star. Forget the 30%+ I used to save. Im actually looking for a second job to add soem savings beofre it really starts counting against me being Over SGA and losing my SSDI. I am now a "working person with disabilities", not just an SSDI recipient. I have 13 years before I reach FRA, at which point they may move it on me, and I may have to work all of them even at my SGA level, just to boost my permanent SS to where it's going to be livable for the rest of whatever life I may have, Im not expecting a long one with my health issues. It's a lot tougher now than it was back then. Wish I could have left my savings retirement alone,and it would have grown quite a bit through the years, well maybe not as much, interest and stock returns are not what they used to be either.....

 

Hobby front, SInce we are moving the washer/dryer up to the kitchen, if the plumber ever gets here, I will not be treading to the basement, and am wondering if I will ever get a new layout set up, or like Ulrich, if I should just sell off,a nd be done with it. We don't have the space where our tree goes, to even put up a under tree layout, except maybe for My OH's N scale stuff {my old N scale is just that, really old junque}. The bonus room is used as TV room and dining room, so no place there, and I'll be darned if I'll take up the precious garage space now. I understand Ulrichs pain and disheartenment, as I am suffering too. Its not that the stairs are rickety, they are just solid, but Steep and my knee cant navigate them well....

HAPPY BIRTHIN' day to the Birhtday boy{s?}....Happy B-Day

Special thoughts and prayers for those in need....

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"Your energy introduces you before you even speak" {unknown}

 

Sleep well, My friends, the train will rock you to sleep....

-G

Geeked

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Out on the Briny Ocean Tossed
  • 4,236 posts
Posted by Fergmiester on Saturday, November 11, 2017 8:00 PM

Just highballing thru with some freight! Cuppa Joe flo

and thank you!

 

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959

If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007  

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Saturday, November 11, 2017 8:29 PM

 Evening Diners

 Flo, Give the gang a Drinks on me.

 Work Front Was Good with $6592.00 in sales! At this point I have no idea what if anything I made extra.

 Spent a few hours going over the math about taking SS at age 62. Cannot complain with what SS will give me. If I stopped paying my CC bills which I will not do, I would be fine. What I was not counting on was them holding back complet checks till I met what they keep when I make over $17040.00! You would think they would want us older folk to keep working?

 Got to walk Sparkie The Rocket Dog.

 Ken

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Saturday, November 11, 2017 9:30 PM

Fergmiester

Just highballing thru with some freight! Cuppa Joe flo

and thank you!

 

 

 

Fergie. !! 

What a pleasant surprise seeing you in the Diner ..

Feel free to chat with us for a while. 

Cheers. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,231 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, November 11, 2017 9:53 PM

Hello, Folks!

Thank You Veterans! Bow

Great photo of the parade, Jimmy. Thanks to everyone who has commented on my submissions of photos and such. Today my paid plan at Photobucket expired. Unfortunately lots of visitors to sites are going to get the Ransom-Meter insert.

Too bad, I wonder how much it has affected the participation in the various forums? RR and otherwise. Funny, I don't see any recent business news about P-B. I see the Denver BBB has listed them as B A D.

I have had a Flickr account for several years, Thirty-thousand photos there. Now I have to sort them into albums. What a pain!

I was just scanning some old post cards I have in my collection.

Here's one for you, Garry...

 

 

 RR_Postcards_0010 by Edmund, on Flickr

Looks like Skip had a rough ride coming into Chicago? Or was it just an excuse for the sloppy handwriting? Whistling

 

 RR_Postcards_0011 by Edmund, on Flickr

This was sent four months before the doctor turned me upside-down and spanked me!

 

Ken, I dug around in my back-shop and found Broadway F unit I can part out. It's just the frame, motor, trucks and light board. I'm sure I have some spare QSI decoders around here, too. I know I have a bunch of old "Blue-Line" decoders. You want those?

I'll have to gather some stuff together for you.

Well, back to some layout fun! Looking forward to Monday when my new Amtrak SDP-40-Fs should be here. Big Smile

Regards to all and prayers for the folks in need... Angel

Regards, Ed

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Sunday, November 12, 2017 8:20 AM

Good morning everybody. 

Ed ... Thanks for sharing the post card with us. Long ago, I had some trips on the Twin City Zephyr. I recall the train went at about 100 mph, and it could get bumpy at that speed. I have the same post card with no writing on iot which I got while riding on the train. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 12, 2017 9:56 AM

Good Afternoon!

Should I say "Good Evening"? The sun has aleady st for some time in my neck of the woods, making this time of the year not my favorite. I can cope with bad weather (at least most of the time), but the winter time darkness really eats me up. Unthinkable that we will lose another hour until the days start to slowly get  longer again!

I am not up too much lately. Haven´t run a train for some time, as I have difficulties plugging the controller into the 12-pole socket. My right arm still refuses to do what I am telling him, but my ability to do things with my left hand improves. I´ll be having the shoulder scanned end of February next year, which is the nearest appointment available to me. I am not happy about this!

I enjoyed watching a video recently filmed at Norm Charbonneau´s breathtaking new O gauge layout.

The purist will most likely shun me for admiring this toy train layouts, but there are times I wish i had the space and the money for something like it. I think I still could cope with trains of this size. Well, life will not allow me to!

 Edit:

One more video, this time showing my alltime-favorite PRR K4!

 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,336 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Sunday, November 12, 2017 10:04 AM

cudaken
What I was not counting on was them holding back complet checks till I met what they keep when I make over $17040.00! You would think they would want us older folk to keep working?

Yeah.  It's pretty cruel of them to tell us that Social Security is only meant to supplement retirement income, not replace it, but then they penalize us for working even enough to make ends meet.

Not as cruel, though, as an entire Sunday slate of NFL games with only one game featuring two teams with winning records.  Not just the games on TV here, all of the games!  Oh, well, nice day for a walk outside.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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