Jeffrey's Trackside Diner — NOVEMBER, 2018 On the "Left Coast" of Canada!
Welcome to British Columbia (and maybe a little bit of Alberta).
It's the place for you to go to relax and talk off topic about most anything - as long as you stay within the forum rules, which means certain hot button topics are excluded. Please refer to Steven Otte´s post on Forum Policies.
The staff - that´s Zoe, Chloe, Flo, Janie, and Brunhilda - is very friendly and will serve up plenty of virtual food with a smile. Just don´t forget to leave a generous tip!
Each month, the Diner will be parked in a different location at places all over the world. This month, the Diner is located in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.
At the begiining of each month, it is also the time to pay our respect to friends no longer with us.
Barry Arnold aka BlownoutCylinderJerry Cox aka Cox47Wolfgang Dudler aka Westport TerminalBob Hartle aka cmrproductsEd MurphyBill NorthStein Rypern, Jr. aka SteinjrAndy SperandeoJeffrey "Running Bear" WimberleyAlan BTom MillsJames W. Rohde aka CapeJimMichael L. Myles aka Inch
"Gone, but never forgotten!"
CN_Montreal by Edmund, on Flickr
Did someone ask for scenery?
CP_VIA_1 by Edmund, on Flickr
It is a beautiful country with lots to offer, eh?
CN_vancouver by Edmund, on Flickr
I'm filling-in for Brent (AKA BATMAN) so I will turn the mouse and keyboard over to him upon his return.
I'm looking forward to our visit north of the 49th.
Cheers, Ed
gmpullmanIt is a beautiful country with lots to offer, eh?
See the løveli lakes The wøndërful telephøne system And mäni interesting furry animals Including the majestik møøse
Including the majestik møøse
wait, no, wrong guidebook
Lotta good guys who've gotten off this crazy train ... good thing I still have the PM's from them (well, the ones I PM'd anyway).
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site
NeO6874See the løveli lakes The wøndërful telephøne system And mäni interesting furry animals — wait, no, wrong guidebook
If you got here in your Fjord sedan, then, yes... wrong country although there ARE some fjords AND Fords in BC and Alaska
Ed
NeO6874Including the majestik møøse
Darn, I should have turned left at Panama, not right, and I think I've got the wrong animal!!!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good Morning, America (and that includes Canada)!
Thanks, Ed, for moving the diner and thanks to Brent for being our this month´s host in the beautiful southwest of Canada!
I can´t believe it´s already November, but I am glad October is over! October has been really a bad month for us, starting out with my MIL´s accident, from which she only slowly recovers. My BIL is still in the hospital after falling into a diabetes-induced coma. He also is on his road to recovery, but it´s going to be quite some time until he will be able to take care of himself again. Luckily, his children support him quite well!
I will officially be (forcibly) retired in August next year, which means a sharp drop in monthly income, actually way below what we have now, which is at poverty line level. We will not be able to afford the place we live in today. While I don´t mind leaving this place, finding decent living quarters at a much lower rent than our current is impossible. From August next year on, we will have less than $100 a month left to feed the two of us. I am at my wit´s end trying to figure out how and where we will continue to live after that date. There are days when I just want to close my eyes and don´t wake up anymore.
Pardon for not heing a happy camper any longer.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
and I think I've got the wrong animal!!!
Always go with the Goat, Bear. Goats will never steer you wrong, although steer may get your goat. Don't believe the sheep, though!
Lilly_G by Edmund, on Flickr
I hope everyone is well this beautiful first of November... Ulrich, I hope there is some way to find relief. Decent people should not have to suffer. My thoughts are with you for a fast recovery for your family members.
Regards, Ed
Oh, right ... lets' bring out a pot of coffee and some donuts flo, have it all right here as the guys come in and shake off the rain.
So, I got my first run of prototype boards for me light controller, and I made an oops with one of the capacitor sizes (and also two of the traces).
Meh, I've made more expensive and significantly longer lead-time mistakes. This one's just "no pizza on Friday", and waiting another week or two on shipping.
THEN it'll be time to break out the soldering iron and have loads of lead-based fun.
Tinplate Toddler I am at my wit´s end trying to figure out how and where we will continue to live after that date.
I am at my wit´s end trying to figure out how and where we will continue to live after that date.
Go into business for yourself maybe? Dunno what that's like over in Germany, but I found it to mainly be "checklist" type things here:
- get a federal tax ID
- tell the state my federal tax ID
- get a biz bank account
- ???
- Profit
... although I'm still working on that last one...
Sorry, but things work completely different here. There is so much red tape involved, requiring an enormous amount of upfront money, which prohibts any idea of being self-employed. Believe me, if that had been a viable option, I´d have gone down that route a long time ago.
aw
All I can find is "how to come to Germany and start your own company", not "how to do it as a German citizen" (thank you, geowhatsit).
Perhaps a move out to a less populated area would offer some respite? I dunno, just throwin' out ideas ...
Dan - thanks for your thoughts. There is hardly a thought (and a try) I have not done in the last 10 years. Simple fact in Germany is, that you just can´t open up a business without being licensed for it. You cannot - just as an example - make lovely pies and sell them without being a trained baker. Y>ou cannot open a hair shop without being a trained hair stylist. Germany has a set of rules and regulations coming from medieval times, which are eagerly watched out for by the local trade commissions to keep competition at a low level. Aside from that and other fiscal atrocities (like VAT pre-payments), no one would lend any money to a 63-year old opening up a business, which is doomed to fail in this crazy society. Now if we were to liuve in the US, Petra would make German pies and cakes and I would market them - we probably would esarn more than just our keep.
But that will remain a dream.
I forget to mentione, that we already live "out in the country" in a low rent housing.
Hey Janie, how 'bout a coupla scrambled eggs with onions and red peppers and a double order of back bacon. I know y'all don't serve grits, so toss in some toasty brown hash browns and a biscuit or two, eh. And keep the coffee coming. Thanx.
LINK to SNSR Blog
Tinplate Toddler Dan - thanks for your thoughts. There is hardly a thought (and a try) I have not done in the last 10 years. Simple fact in Germany is, that you just can´t open up a business without being licensed for it. You cannot - just as an example - make lovely pies and sell them without being a trained baker. Y>ou cannot open a hair shop without being a trained hair stylist. Germany has a set of rules and regulations coming from medieval times, which are eagerly watched out for by the local trade commissions to keep competition at a low level. Aside from that and other fiscal atrocities (like VAT pre-payments), no one would lend any money to a 63-year old opening up a business, which is doomed to fail in this crazy society. Now if we were to liuve in the US, Petra would make German pies and cakes and I would market them - we probably would esarn more than just our keep. But that will remain a dream. I forget to mentione, that we already live "out in the country" in a low rent housing.
When I was a kid on Long Island...
There was a great German Bakery (Sterns Bakery) that made the bestest doughnuts and bread. We would fight over the end peice.
The Jelly Donuts were great and only 10c each. Don't sea how anybody can make a prophit at 10c eacah, but they were great.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Howdy, everybody ....
Ed ..... Thanks for moving the Diner. It should be another good month ! ... Looks like you posted a view of CN's HQ in Montreal. I have been there several times.
Ulrich ..... Your story is sad.... I wish you and Petra were here. We would be regular customers buying her scrumptious goodies.
Lion .... Evidently, you were always a train watcher. .... Maybe next month, we can have the Diner in the Dakotas.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
BroadwayLionThe Jelly Donuts were great and only 10c each.
They still make those jelly-filled doughnuts! They are called "Berliner" and are slightly more than 10c these days.
Now you can figure yourself what JFK meant in his 1963 address to the people of Berlin, when he said "Ich bin ein Berliner"...
Good morning from an extremely wet but always Beautiful British Columbia.
Thank you for letting me be tour guide this month, I hope to talk about the railways that operate here as they are pushed to the max in this resource-rich part of the world. Along the way, snippets of culture and lifestyle will be thrown in, including some of my pastimes as I have grown up.
British Columbia, for the most part, is untamed wilderness. Here are some comparisons to give some perspective.
Maryland 32,000 sqkm Pop 6M
Texas 696,000 sqkm Pop 28.3M
Germany 358,000 sqkm Pop 82.5M
British Columbia 945,000 sqkm Pop 4.8M
I keep telling everyone that we are shipping Canada abroad, one railcar at a time. However, the vast size of the Province and its abundance of natural resources equates to a very high standard of living for the minuscule 4.8 million of us that share its wealth.
Here is the shameless opening video. Hopefully, by the end of the month, you will be wanting to come and visit and bring us even more money.
At 2:50 of the video there is a guy standing on top of a mountain overlooking Vancouver. I have done this climb a few times. It starts at sea level and takes about nine hours to get up. While ropes are not required it is straight up all the way. I would take my Golden Retriever and would have to strap her to my back for some of the rock climbing bits. The peak is one of two called the Lions that stand like sentinels guarding the city. It is a killer hike.
Click for full screen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNFrZNjs2ng
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Heartland Division CB&QLion .... Evidently, you were always a train watcher. .... Maybe next month, we can have the Diner in the Dakotas.
Traain watcher....
More like a train rider!
These are the tracks of the LIRR.. Waiting for a train into the City. (with dad... taking the picture)
Station looks different today..
Tinplate Toddler BroadwayLion The Jelly Donuts were great and only 10c each. They still make those jelly-filled doughnuts! They are called "Berliner" and are slightly more than 10c these days. Now you can figure yourself what JFK meant in his 1963 address to the people of Berlin, when he said "Ich bin ein Berliner"...
BroadwayLion The Jelly Donuts were great and only 10c each.
Ach...
There are more of what I had in mind...
And these were available in Westchesater (NY), LION will knead to make a trip up there just for the doughnuts.
Afternoon, all! 38 and mostly sunny.
New place looks great!! Scenery sure is awesome!
In light of my forced vacation I prepped around 200 more trees, ordered some stuff to finish a few projects and won some rolling stock kits on evil bay. I should be able to keep busy.
Speaking of train stuff, I picked up a bunch of engines from my decoder installer guy after he got the decoders in. I have one old BB U-boat that runs great forward but about half as fast backward. Didn't really notice this when I test ran it, I usually just send them off to Trevor.I've done the usual fixes,i.e. greased gears, changed out the wheelsets for nickle silver from NWSL,cleaned up the comutator. The usual washing machine noise subsided with more run-in time. Short of completely tearing down the gear towers, any suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
Terry
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
silly decoder settings that have it speed-limited in reverse?
BroadwayLionThere are more of what I had in mind...
They look as if somewhat sat on a "Berliner"
NeO6874 silly decoder settings that have it speed-limited in reverse?
Is there such a thing as a reverse speed CV?, answering my own question, yes! There is a Reverse Trim CV 95 in loksound
"Divided by 128 is the factor used to multiply the motor voltage while driving in reverse. Value 0 deactivates the trim." Std setting 128, range 0-255
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Tinplate Toddler BroadwayLion There are more of what I had in mind... They look as if somewhat sat on a "Berliner"
BroadwayLion There are more of what I had in mind...
Taste like it too
BigDaddy NeO6874 silly decoder settings that have it speed-limited in reverse? Is there such a thing as a reverse speed CV?, answering my own question, yes! There is a Reverse Trim CV 95 in loksound "Divided by 128 is the factor used to multiply the motor voltage while driving in reverse. Value 0 deactivates the trim." Std setting 128, range 0-255
I don't think that's it. It's the center unit in a 3 engine consist, and I know Trevor speed matches them. Maybe only in forward this time? I'll bring them back after I talk it over with him.I gave him 15 units to do, he could have slipped up. No worries, he's close by.
I was hoping it was a quick and dirty fix.
Thanks for the help, guys!!
Eveing Diners
Flo, give the gang and I a please.
Ulrich while I am glad to seeing you posting again just wish things where better for you and Petra.
Weather Sucks! Yep it is finally autumn, cool,wet and leaves are dropping like crazy. If it stops raining Friday I will break out the leave blower.
RIP Front Need to clear a few more iteams so I have room to dig into the PRR M1a. Clearded a B&O box cars, next is a B&O Hopper and another B&O box car.
Train Front Finally getting to watch the N-5C PRR Caboose make it around the layout. Using the PRR SD9 to pull the unit train. All Tyco Old Ducth Hoppers! I be willing to bet I have the largest collection of Tyco Old Ducth Hoppers in the world. I think I have around 32, I did down sizes some a few years ago.
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Thanks for starting this month's Diner Ed, and thanks for hosting Brent.
Dianne and I were in British Columbia a couple of years ago, and I can say that it was one of the best trips we have ever taken!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I have been to BC twice in my life - back in 1973 and again in 1978. I 1973, my US fióster family took me to Victoria, BC. We took the "Coho" from Port Angeles, WA to Victoria, crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca on a stormy December day. I remember everyine being quite ill, but not I - I was just hungry. We stayed in the famous Empress Hotel. The time was spent doing a lot of Christmas shopping and sightseeing. In 1978, I went to Vancouver, which was a rather serene city with a distinct British charme in those days. How things have changed since!
I am struck by insomnia again. The worry about our future keeps me from sleeping. I am scared stiff about what lays ahead of us.
Late night folks,
Here's the damages from last nights big blow.
http://imgur.com/a/iSHAQXE
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
I made use of another sleepless night by digging up some old pictures from my 1978 visit to Vancouver. The picture quality is bad, as the 110 film cameras didn´t have much of a resolution. Being stored in an album also had its effects on the color.
So here they are:
And a few otrher pics from my second visit to the US
The bloke to the left - that´s me 40 years ago!
And here I am, standing next to the USS Missouri in Bremerton, WA
Long time ago...
Now I look like this:
Good Morning...
Since we are reminiscing about the travels of our youth, I'd like to share the film of my 1974 cross-Canada ride on the C-N.
This was a "working" vacation for me, and I loved every minute of it, although it was a bit of a challenge at times.
I served the meals, made the beds and kept the car tidy and made sure the mechanical and operational chores were done. We were five weeks traveling literally from coast-to-coast. I boarded the ex C&O business car #3 in Toledo, Ohio, from there to Detroit, Windsor, Toronto, Ottawa then westward to Vancouver with stop-overs in several cities.
On the way back we returned via Toronto, Detroit then on to Chicago to then take the C&O to Newport-News, Virginia. Whew, what a blast!
C&O #3, built as the Hussar in 1921 for Marjorie Merryweather Post is still running in private car service today, almost a hundred years! Amazing.
I hope everyone is doing well on this fine Friday...