All ways, did you have to cut back on purchases due to markey positions or loss of job etc. or has it just been just a big inconvenence?
Sure you want to know? Cancer diagnosis after 5 days of some heavy diagnostics in the hospital. Treatable, but that's not not the big deal. I REALLY have to stay the hell away from people. The pandemic is more likely to kill me than the cancer. I realize I rarely post, and I apologize for that.
The irony is (and it's actually funny as far as I'm concerned), the whole thing has the air of a gigantic cosmic practical joke. On a lighter note, my wife finally got her wish. I had my first MRI. As I told one of the people involved, "She got her wish, I'm finally getting my head examined".
Aside from not finding paper products, soups and a few other things at the grocery, nothing much has changed for me. One the benefits of being retired, I do not have to go out every day. I am well set for model RR supplies
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
I'm currently working from home using a laptop provided by my workplace. It makes some of my job difficult, but I can at least stay busy. I do have to move around now and then to avoid permanently taking on the shape of my wooden dining room chair though. Despite being at home, I can't goof off to do anything with the railroad (not that I would anyway; I actually like my job and take it seriously).
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We are safe at home with plenty of supplies, but the biggest wrench in my works is that I have to postpone starting construction of my new layout. I can't have a yard sale to get rid of the junk to make space for the layout. Heck, I can't even take the empty beer bottles back! I'm stuck in neutral!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I did go into work yesterday to finish off a project so the equipment can be freed up for another project. The roads were quiet, and when I left there were only two cars in the parking lot, including mine.
But now I have some time to continue planning the next layout, and finish installing the ceiling grid. Mybe even finish that Hunterline bridge that I am building as part of a group build.
Probably looking at another three weeks of working at home. Not easy to do when everything I need is somewhere else. Since the hobby shops are closed, can't even make a trip there to pass the time.
Being retired its business as usual.. My cabinets and refrigerator freezer is full of food stuffs,lots of K-Cup coffee on hand and I finished my last Walthers Cornerstone building kit yesterday so,now I can start work on the new Slate Creek.. This Slate Creek will be home to Summerset Ry,Slate Creek Ry and will be CR's Slate Street Industrial Lead.
Stay healthy!
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
It occurs to me , hours after the fact, that I owe the forum an apology for dropping a huge one in the punchbowl.
This has been a sharply clarifying experience that has essentially erased a lot of illusion. Unlike Sheldon, I got way too eclectic way too early and now I have a lot of stuff I really need to get rid of. However, the idea of slowly selling it off on eBay, is a non starter. The monetary value of that which will be gotten rid of no longer matters much at all. I will find good homes for it through contacts I have and can make. If money is offered, it will be accepted. Otherwise, it will be outright donation. The remaining items I truly value will finally actually get worked on, including that thrice damned Walthers SP C30-1 caboose that's needed handrails put in it for well over a decade (it has a couple of completely RTR companions).
It kind of amazes me that railroading, prototype and modeling is something that not only still interests me, but the interest has been rekindled as, at one point I was seriously wondering if there was sufficient interest left. I am an amazingly lucky man with an incredible wife, terrific kids, and 4 grandkids. I am amazed at after 70+ years of the ups and downs of living there still exists something of the little boy who watched in amazement at a D&RGW C-48 2-8-0 trundle the daily local freight not far from his house. To the extent possible, I'm going indulge that kid.
As to the question of being a customer of MR items, yes probably. To what extent, I can't say yet. Trains can't be a major part of your life without for over 70 without seeping into your blood. Who knows? I may even return to the forums and just annoy the living daylights out of everyone.
Stay safe out there and enjoy the hobby. I'm going to to really miss OP sessions for a while, but that was probably inevitable anyway, given the current circumstances.
Andre
Andre, Hope you see this post, I fear this thread will be deleted as our hosts have indicated they feel the virus is off topic.
Sorry to hear about your health problems. My wife is having a terrible time with rheumatoid arthritis, so I understand your concerns.
You will be in my prayers.
Sheldon
With kids at home, I try to spend some time on trains. I shockingly still have work. My officemate and I alternate arrival times, so I cannot stay up late to work on trains.
Currently, I continue to work on making about 20' of chain link fences. Once done, I might start to do more scenery or build lumber loads. Plenty of choices! NO need to spend gobs of money (yet!)
No question the virus is an inconvenience. The kids have no external activities. I feel terrible for my better 3/4th. She "home schools" our kids since their school closed through June.
Thank you, Sheldon. Obviously, I did see your post.
I'll try to keep it strictly train related from now on, except for one final wry comment. Chemo starts today. Apparently, several of the drugs lead to hair loss. This is a good thing, as I badly need a hair cut and there's nowhere to get one out here. I believe the word I'm looking for is "serendipity ".
I have been working from home where I have been for the past week and half. I go outside to my driveway to exercise and get some fresh air.
Joe Staten Island West
Been working from home, except last week my big project shut down as the company completely closed its doors for the duration. They they are now petitioning for limited startup - since it is the biggest single employer in the county and shutting down has put more than 8000 people out of work. Besides, the trains and trucks still rolling need to be able to get new batteries.
Not really able to work on the layout during the day though. If I did, I would have already exhausted the supplies I got Sunday. As it is, I need to go out and get another truckload of wood this weekend. And some miscellaneous supplies like primer and brushes and sandpaper.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I moved from NE to TN and before we left NE put the layout and Most Furniture in storage until I restablish gainfull employment and find a place to re-erect my layout.
Currently I am working on building kits that my wife gave me for Christmas and spending alot of time reading verous train forums and sending out resumes.
Please confine discussion of the current pandemic to this thread or the designated off-topic thread, Jeffrey's Trackside Diner. Any other threads on this topic will be locked and deleted. Thank you.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
I'm retired, so nothing to complain about. Menards is still open, along with all essential stores. I have plenty of projects to work on, inside and out.
The wife is 6 months away from retirement, and still has private clients, although the podiatry practice she also works for has drastically cut down as people are canceling apointments.
Prayers to you Andre, we have a couple of friends in Chemo.
Mike.
My You Tube
I just can't go to the fish camp,i did get out a GSB rail limited locomotive and thinking about to see if i can get the thing to run and found a Rail Truck Rail ICG bulkhead flat and going to put a load on it and a old MDC Tank Train Quaker State i forgot about that has to be rare.
Russell
mbinsewi I'm retired, so nothing to complain about. Menards is still open, along with all essential stores. I have plenty of projects to work on, inside and out. The wife is 6 months away from retirement, and still has private clients, although the podiatry practice she also works for has drastically cut down as people are canceling apointments. Prayers to you Andre, we have a couple of friends in Chemo. Mike.
Thanks, Mike. I'm also a Mike.
Just retired last fall and got my traveling done in fall and first of the year. Turned out to be an opportune time to pull the plug as most all of the old office is laid off know.
Still getting into the new routine then we get this stay at home order. I have a few projects in the house to finish. Then out to the garage once it warms up to work on the old car.
I will note that I have family along the west coast and Phoenix along with the the gang here in Mi. I personally know of no one that has contracted the virus.
Andre, praying for you and your wife and hope you get through this soon.
My company has shut down for two weeks and our state (IN) is in "shelter in place" so my hobby time is spent cleaning, organizing, looking through things that I forgot I had and watching some good model railroading videos on YouTube and sifting through back MR issues. Hope to maybe start a few projects that I should have time to finish.
Ralph
Mike (aka andre) prayers to you and hope for a speedy recovery
Modeltrainstuff just sent this email:To Our Valued Customers,ModelTrainStuff has always been 100% committed to doing the right thing for our customers and employees, and that commitment has been at the forefront of every step we’ve taken during the past days and weeks.
Given the rapidly changing COVID-19 guidance, we will be drastically reducing the number of employees on-site in our warehouse as well as enabling our customer service and other team members to work from home where possible.
Unfortunately, because of these necessary measures, shipment times for your orders will be delayed for the foreseeable future. We are also anticipating an increase in response time for customer service requests as we work to get everyone up and running from home. However, we will continue to take orders and fulfill them to the best of our ability during this time.
Despite these challenges, we would like to thank you for your continued support. ModelTrainStuff is nothing without our amazing customers from around the world and with these new challenges we need your support more than ever before.For those of you who have pending orders, we ask for your patience during this time as we work through our backlog, but will accept any cancellations if you wish (please submit any requests to support.modeltrainstuff.com).
Additionally, we will need to discontinue returns for now, although we will be happy to accept any returns or exchanges for orders placed during this time once things return to normal.
We realize this pandemic affects all of us, and we’re all in this together. Please take the time to look after yourself, your loved ones and your neighbors. We’ll be here providing the products you need to help maintain some semblance of normalcy as long as we are able … and with your support, we’ll be here long after this situation passes.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Henry,
It looks like a slightly modified versoin of the info that's been on their site for the past week. The only significant difference I am seeing is returns are discontinued temporarily. Otherwise they are taking orders and just informing customers it will take longer.
My order placed on Mar 18 was listed as shipped on the 21st. By the 23rd and 24th however, it was still not listed as received in the USPS shipping info, so probalby USPS was taking virus mitigating measures which delayed it some. It's now in transit.
I started part-time telework myself last week and looks like I'll be working from home 2 or 3 days a week and in-office the rest due to the mission critical nature of the employee's I support. Even in California, our office remains open for those who are mission critical; they have been provided documentation to show authorities if needed.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I've stopped going to the club for awhile. Other than that, not too much impact.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
I'm retired. Our club has closed the club house until this ends.
Getting some tidying and light dejunking done. Still walking the dog.
I was disappointed that several local train shows / flea markets (like "Railroad Days" in Randolph MN) were cancelled; but I figure I can use the money I would have spent to order stuff online. (It would be nice if they could be rescheduled for this summer - assuming things get better by then. Some of us actually do model railroad stuff year round, not just in winter!)
I did get a couple of ESU Loksound decoders just about the time my wife began working from home; only space we had to set up her stuff was where my PC normally is, so I've had limited access to my LokProgrammer (both decoders were bought blank).
Otherwise, really can't / shouldn't complain. My wife and I both work for our state government, and have jobs where if necessary we could both work from home, so our income isn't taking a hit like all the folks being laid off from their jobs. Having a 13 year old boy bouncing around the house due to the Middle School being closed is a bit annoying, but nothing we can't handle.
wjstixHaving a 13 year old boy bouncing around the house due to the Middle School being closed is a bit annoying, but nothing we can't handle.
Got padded room? Usually with a 13 year old boy, let them play video games endlessly and they won't bother you much except for food maybe.
I was not going to respond to this thread because I thought it would be deleted. It looks like from Steve-O's response that it is OK.
I have not changed anything. I had just lost my job/early retired as the virus broke out.
I did all my travel in the last three years. Nothing coming up for several months.
My contractors seem to believe that the house projects will not be delayed by more than a couple of weeks at most.
I am working on submissions for Model Railroader, which I had planned to do already.
I am caught up with all the story lines on The Young And The Restless, so that is back to being something I enjoy.
The biggest impact to my life has been the cancelling of Friday Night Wargaming and Wednesday Night Board Gaming. These will pop right back as soon as social isolation is over. Wargaming and Board Gaming are not hobbies you can have all by yourself.
I know I have been very lucky.
I have planned a four week trip to Timonium in October. Then to Ireland and England, then up to Maine, over to Ohio, and back home. I hope all is OK by then. The offices for passports are closed. That could be a problem.
I am considering a trip to Spingfield for the big show in January, 2021.
I had three perfect little girls. I wondered for years what it would be like to have a boy. Then, when my youngest was 15, my 13 year old nephew came to live with us for 3 years.
I learned a lot from that. Boys are so hard, girls are so easy. I am sure I was meant to raise daughters, and it all worked out for me.
I hope you (and your house) can survive.
That teenage boy (and his friends) did more damage to my house in 3 years than my daughters did in a cumulative 54 years. I think we finally have the smell out of the house. Teenage boys stink, and they are so loud.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Very nice layout Jacon12, and a perfect photo to show us how you're spending your pandemic days.
You know what they say about the worth of a picture. Here is some of my family.