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Jeffreys Track Side Diner - May, 2019: Utah... 150th anniversary of Golden Spike Locked

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, May 30, 2019 7:37 PM

Hey!  How are you all doing?

Good I hope.  Going back to the bird watching here.  I always have plenty of that in the evening.

Just as I have always loved the Canadian people through the years and have reasons for that,  I also love Canadian geese.  I have learned not to feed them though.  If you do, they come back in numbers.

Two years ago, we thought they were really cute and were feeding them.  They came back in colony numbers with all their young.

The only way I can describe thier young is 30 Philoso Raptors coming up and diving through the railing. 

I just remember laughing and running inside not knowing what else to do.

Now we just look at them.  We do not feed them anymore.

The male always keeps a lookout.  Even when we were feeding them, he didn't eat much.

Don't feed the geese!Laugh

TF

 

Feed DCC to your track and watch CabeeseYes

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Posted by York1 on Thursday, May 30, 2019 7:44 PM

Track fiddler
Just as I have always loved the Canadian people through the years and have reasons for that,  I also love Canadian geese.  I have learned not to feed them though.  If you do, they come back in numbers.

Neat picture.

We don't have a lot of the geese land here in my part of the state.  We have huge numbers fly over late winter and late fall.  We can hear them before we see them.  Sometimes we can't see them, but they sure make noise flying over.

It was a perfect day here.  Sunny, cool, and finally things are drying out.  The creek is still flooded, but going down.

Worked a little on the layout, but a good part of my day was spent sitting with the dog on the front porch.  We take advantage of these days -- in a short time it will be too hot and humid to enjoy the porch.

Making plans for a Utah trip -- trying to see all five national parks in one trip.  We hate leaving our dog behind.

York1 John       

I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer?  He said, "No, but it will seem longer."

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Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, May 30, 2019 8:03 PM

My dog thinks goose output is tasty.

The golf courses don't like the geese that have decided to immigrate to the US for similar reasons. 

We have had bad thunderstorms and an occasional small tornado or straight line winds, everyday this week.  The power goes on and off like a third world country.

I have a neighbor who adopted a kid who turned out to have fetal alcohol syndrome.  Not only does he have no awareness of cause and effect, he is violent.  They are are spending half their income for his treatment as a wilderness boot camp of sorts for trouble youth. 

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, May 30, 2019 8:14 PM

York1

 

 
Track fiddler
Just as I have always loved the Canadian people through the years and have reasons for that,  I also love Canadian geese.  I have learned not to feed them though.  If you do, they come back in numbers.

 

Neat picture.

We don't have a lot of the geese land here in my part of the state.  We have huge numbers fly over late winter and late fall.  We can hear them before we see them.  Sometimes we can't see them, but they sure make noise flying over.

 

Hey York.  Throw out some Rice Krispies in the morning dew or evening dusk while they are flying over,  with the snap crackle pop,  believe you me, they will landLaugh

TF

 

They remember and next year they will land in bigger numbersTongue Tied

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Posted by CNCharlie on Thursday, May 30, 2019 8:24 PM

Good Evening,

A very nice day here, about 80F but back down to 65 tomorrow. We have done a lot of the planting or I should say my wife has. 

Quebec would be nice. I have only been there a couple of times on business. It certainly had a large CN repair shop, Turcot, in the steam days and CP built locos at their Angus shops there. That is the only province that I have not traveled to much. All the rest I have been all over and often many times. The company I worked for had a lot of dealer stores in small towns all over the country( except Quebec). For a time it was owned by True Value Hardware from Chicago to give you an idea of the type of stores. 

Made an appointment to get a new water heater next week. The cost sure has gone up in the past 10 years. The new one will be $1300 installed. Oh well. I am concerned about the furnace as it is old(30 years). It is running fine but they don't last forever.  

We get a lot of Canada geese here as we are on a fly-way to the north. There are a lot of lakes, as in over 110,000, in the north of Manitoba. If you look at a Manitoba map the north 2/3 of the province is covered in lakes of all sizes. 

Well time to watch a little tellie and have a cup of tea. 

CN Charlie

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, May 30, 2019 8:58 PM

CNCharlie

Good Evening,

A very nice day here, about 80F but back down to 65 tomorrow. 

Made an appointment to get a new water heater next week. The cost sure has gone up in the past 10 years. The new one will be $1300 installed. Oh well. I am concerned about the furnace as it is old(30 years). It is running fine but they don't last forever.  

We get a lot of Canada geese here as we are on a fly-way to the north. 

CN Charlie

 

65 tomorrow!  Sounds like my kind of weather Charlie.  Perfect!

Maybe fire up the Barbie, .... cook some steaks with the warmth hovering over it in the perfect 65 degree weather.

My chin dropped to the floor as I heard the price of your water heater installed.  Sure wish I could help you out.  As a license builder, not only could I get a Rheem at wholesale but I would install it for you in about an hour,  there is not a lot to those.  Just as long as a young buck wheels it downstairs for meLaugh

Furnace....... you got about three days of summer up there in Canada since I have four in MinnesotaLaugh

Let's not worry about that right now.  You have a wood-burning stoveYes

WhistlingTF

 

Many people don't realize that the valve on the bottom of a water heater is to flush it every 6 months.  If you do your water heater will last twice as long or better.  I flushed my water heater every 3 months when I became wise to this.  The last water heater I owned lasted 33 years.

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Posted by CNCharlie on Thursday, May 30, 2019 9:35 PM

TF, at the current rate of exchange that is about $950 U.S. The last one was a Woods. Not sure what brand they are using now.

CN Charlie

 

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, May 30, 2019 9:40 PM

Track fiddler
Just as long as a young buck wheels it downstairs for me

The "downstairs" part is easy! It's getting the old one "upstairs" that causes back pain! Mine was half-full of calcium. I had to cut the tank open with a Sawzall and scoop out about 150 pounds worth. Even frequent "blowing-down the boiler" didn't keep the tank clean. One of the downsides of hard well water and an electric tank, I guess.

Good evening to everyone.

It looks like CudaKen got logged in OK? I see his icon in the "users online" window?

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, May 30, 2019 9:44 PM

I gotcha Charlie.  The last thing I said to my Mother when we were flipping houses together (she was the realtor I was the contractor)  It's not the price of the materials but the labor that will kill you,  I remember that moment to this day,  I never seen my Mother laugh so hardSmile

TF

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, May 30, 2019 9:54 PM

gmpullman

 

 
Track fiddler
Just as long as a young buck wheels it downstairs for me

 

The "downstairs" part is easy! It's getting the old one "upstairs" that causes back pain! 

Cheers, Ed

 

LaughWhistlingYep.... you got that straight.  That's why I like to keep a young buck around.

TF

 

I got to tell you,  I'm not cheap.  I pay my young buck 20% of what I make in a day to keep him around,  he's well worth it.  I've been known to create some other perks for him tooYes    My Young Buck is happy, as I am with him.

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, May 30, 2019 10:27 PM

Good talking to you Kids

Just a question....  Do you ever remember quitting being a kid?  I don't think you did.

Busy season has hit and I got to hit the rack.  I hope to talk to you all soon.

Do me a favor?   Everyone keep your chin up here in the Diner.... OkayYes

Fun and laughs is always better for socialisation.  Sorrow is better left for...... well it's just better left for.

Nighty night Kids

TF

 

PS   I haven't heard of anywhere the Diner should go next but maybe somewhere in Canada would be really nice.  I like the Canadian Railroads....... beautiful scenery Ah

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Posted by cudaken on Thursday, May 30, 2019 10:35 PM

 Eveing Diners!

 Flo, give the gang and I a Beer the Humming Birds some surgar water and leave a stein outside for Ulrich as well!

 Dave I think I will look into getting a Humming Bird feeder. Last year I have seen them off and on and do enjoy them.

 Have no idea why I could not get on line last night? Whistling I bet Ed was glad I could tonight or I would have called him again. Smile, Wink & Grin

 Well in 1 hour and 40 minutes I will have made it 30 days with out smoking a cigarette! Big Smile With some luck with the USPO my garage will be filled with smoke thanks to Ed. Yep the Might PRR I1sa with Thundering Tennis Balls with smoke will be dragging some Heavyweight Pullman cars around the layout! Bow

 Ed Is this by chances your video? I saw a Hippio and a Bessimer engine in it?

 

  If it is, a great looking layout! If not, I am sure yours is even better!

 Friday only thing smoking in my train room will be a I1sa hippio!

 Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by gmpullman on Friday, May 31, 2019 12:40 AM

cudaken
Ed Is this by chances your video? I saw a Hippio and a Bessimer engine in it?

Yeah, you caught me, Ken Embarrassed . That was a while ago. I have to get back to making videos and stop spending so much time in the Diner drinking on everyone else's nickel! Note the Banshee whistle at 3:40Cool

Hope you enjoy your lunch today with the missus, Ken! Happy Anniversary and happy one-month hurdle on the smoking.

Hope your package gets to the house OK.

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Friday, May 31, 2019 8:54 AM

Good morning ..... 

Ed and Ken ..... The PRR turbine video is impressive. Glad you shared it. 

TF ..... we have geese here also. ..... Here is a neat photo of some geese.

 

 

For our last day in Utah, I'll show a few photos of our Utah trip. Some are repeats. 

 

 

 

 

Everybody ..... Thanks for particpating in the May 2019 edition of the Diner. 

 

Who is opening the June Diner ? ? ? ? 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by York1 on Friday, May 31, 2019 9:12 AM

Quebec sounds like a great place to visit next.  I've always pronounced it, kwi-beck', but my wife says it's actually ke-beck.  I didn't know that.

Whatever it is, I found out years ago that my wife is always right, and even when I know she's wrong, she's still right.  The marriage has lasted 40 years based me remembering that.  Every so often I forget, but I'm quickly corrected.

I think the flooding and the rain backed up BNSF traffic yesterday, and they were catching up late.  Last night, sitting on the front porch, it sounded like half of their fleet was coming through our little town, one right after the other.  We have four crossings in town, within a short distance of each other, double mainline, so basically we hear one long horn blast from each train.  I don't even notice it, but it bothers many people.

Ken, thirty days without a cigarette basically means you are now an ex-smoker.  You are officially licensed to complain about other people's smoke!

 

 

York1 John       

I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer?  He said, "No, but it will seem longer."

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Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, May 31, 2019 1:44 PM

Geese, there everywhere in SE WI.  You can't rid of'em.  They stay all winter, and ruin lots of parks and golf courses, along with beaches.

You can have them, I'll send them your way. Mischief

It looks like diner has already been moved Confused  I guess we're skipping Canada, and whether you like it or not, the diner is a NP train. 

I thought Canada would be great.  Maybe we can hijack the diner train, and head it North. 

Mike.

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, May 31, 2019 2:36 PM

I know this from personal experience.

.

Geese are more scary than alligators.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by BATMAN on Friday, May 31, 2019 2:46 PM

mbinsewi
It looks like diner has already been moved   I guess we're skipping Canada, and whether you like it or not, the diner is a NP train. 

Who said democracy is dying.WhistlingLaugh

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 Track fiddler on Friday, May 31, 2019 2:54 PM

Kevin,  I hear ya.  They can be rather aggressive when they feel threatened.  I got a little too curious and a little too close to a couple of geese when I was 7-8 years old.  One of the bigger males stuck his neck out, charged at me and bit me in a place I cannot discuss.  Let me tell you they do bite hard.  I never forgot that oneTongue TiedLaugh

It got too hot already for the end of May.  I wonder what July will bring,  I shouldn't complain, it's better than Winter, right?  Although I sometimes argue that point, I prefer frigid cold to hot and humid. 

I worked out in full sun today and had to knock off early,  a mild sunstroke kind of thing going on.  The temperature was at 88 when I got back in the truck.

I'm refacing a porch,  it's kind of a fun job.  I'll be closing in the soffits and putting trim and vinyl Shake siding on tomorrow.

I think I need to slow down on the brewskies in the evening.  It's hard enough working in the hot full sun without the night before draining on me tooCryingLaugh

TF

 

If you zoom into the tail end of the truck you can see where the texter T-boned me last winter.  I stuck the insurance money in my pocket pushed out the dent and am working on my own body work here and there when I can.  Good enough for the old work truck.

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Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, May 31, 2019 2:57 PM

BATMAN
Who said democracy is dying.

In this case it's more like vote anyway you want, but it won't count.  Confused

I reminds me when NWP-SWP first landed in here.  Laugh  

Mike. 

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Posted by BATMAN on Friday, May 31, 2019 3:05 PM

mbinsewi
reminds me when NWP-SWP first landed in here.    

And the kid before NWP about 8 years back. Gotta love their enthusiasm. It reminds me of coaching little kids in hockey, we had to constantly remind them that there should be only six players on the ice at a time.Laugh

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 BATMAN on Friday, May 31, 2019 3:19 PM

Image may contain: one or more people, shoes and outdoor

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 richhotrain on Friday, May 31, 2019 3:23 PM

mbinsewi

It looks like diner has already been moved Confused  I guess we're skipping Canada, and whether you like it or not, the diner is a NP train. 

I thought Canada would be great.  Maybe we can hijack the diner train, and head it North. 

Mike 

Mike, is it too soon for me to open the July Diner???  Laugh

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by BATMAN on Friday, May 31, 2019 3:33 PM

Maybe our young friend from the Pacific Northwest doesn't have a passort and decided to hijack the diner or it could have been the bear that shivered his timbers, it wasn't even a grizzly!Laugh

Black bears are scaredy cats bears and he can use his virtual passport so all would have been good.

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 BATMAN on Friday, May 31, 2019 3:34 PM

richhotrain
Mike, is it too soon for me to open the July Diner???   Rich

I'll get August on Sunday.Laugh

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 Track fiddler on Friday, May 31, 2019 3:50 PM

BATMAN

Image may contain: one or more people, shoes and outdoor

 

Brent, that is hilarious.  I would really like to ask the man if it worked.

I have Mondays off so I'll do September.  That should pretty much wrap up our four days of summerLaugh

TF

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Posted by gmpullman on Friday, May 31, 2019 4:04 PM

I'll need to borrow that sign!

It seems the Broadway Limited P5a and the Royal Hudsons were in the same shipping container and arrived on the same day! $$$ ouch (but a happy ouch!)

Wherever the Diner winds up I'll be first in line for Happy Hour Drinks

Cheers, Ed

 

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Posted by "JaBear" on Friday, May 31, 2019 4:28 PM
Gidday Chloe, while I’ll have a cup of something warm, had to light the fire for the first time the last night, the other chaps may like something Cool.Drinks
 
Great photo Batman, nothing like a good laugh to start a Saturday morning.LaughLaugh
 
50 Canadian geese were introduced here in 1905. The temperate maritime climate suited them so well that now they are regarded as a pest, and are no longer a protected species.
 
Thanks again to Garry and Travis for their “Utah” photos, and others for their interesting photos of different stuff!
 
I take it that the Diner has been either hooked to a different train or an incorrect switch has been thrown, pity, I was hoping to be able to go to a “Toronto Raptors” game on the way through to Quebec.
 
Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them.
 
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 Track fiddler on Friday, May 31, 2019 4:37 PM

Yep,  anyway the wind blows Ed,  I'll buy the first one,  you get the second one and we'll go from thereYes

Mike I got to ask you since you are a Wisconsin resident.  My lovely Judy just presented me with this brochure.  She thinks I should blow off work tomorrow because it's going to be a beautiful 70 degree day.  She wants us to drive to Osceola Wisconsin and go on a train ride.  Sounds funner then wxxk to me.  

Are you familiar with this?   Have you ever done this before?  Would you recommend thisSmile

Thanks

TF

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Posted by BATMAN on Friday, May 31, 2019 5:25 PM

gmpullman
It seems the Broadway Limited P5a and the Royal Hudsons were in the same shipping container and arrived on the same day! $$$ ouch (but a happy ouch!) Wherever the Diner winds up I'll be first in line for Happy Hour 

What Hudson did you order Ed?

I am with you guys at HAPPY HOUR wherever we end up, I am down 6 pounds and can afford a couple of Pina Coladas added to the menu.Drinks

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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