Good morning
Well, I finished up my unplanned experiment from last night. Judy worked Thursday through Sunday so Sunday night was our Saturday night. Apparently if you're up till after 3 in the morning you are able to sleep till 9:30. I was finishing up my bench work project and lost track of time after Judy hit the rack. I couldn't even believe my eyes when I looked at the clock. Time sure flies when you're having fun.
That $1450 for a plumber for 3 days is certainly beyond reasonable Ed. Wow! It's nice to know that there are contractors out there that don't gouge their customers. I was always fair with my customers through the years but $1450 for three days of time and materials doesn't even seem to add up. I would hang on to that guy's number as I'm sure you are.
The cigars Charlie. That smell doesn't go away anytime too soon either. A few years ago my ignition switch went out in my truck and I didn't want to tackle it. I was referred to this mechanic in Hopkins because my mechanic Damien was out of town and I needed my truck. When I showed up the man was smoking a big cigar. I didn't know he was going to keep smoking it while he worked on my truck though. That repulsive smell lingered for about a month. I've always liked the smell of a certain brand of pipe tobacco that smells like vanilla. But I've never liked the smell of a cigar.
I agree with you not letting the plastic come in contact with the locomotives just to be sure Brent. I'm beginning to not know what materials react to What anymore. I set some oven bake clay on my layout for a future retaining wall job I was planning
Here's the impression that it left melting into the foam. It stuck so well it was pried off off in about five pieces with some of the foam permanently stuck to the back of it.
I can't quite remember who it was here that saved me from making a costly mistake. I had lined the bottom of my storage containers with a rubberized foam tool box liner to store my Rolling Stock. By the time I got back from a short vacation two of the cars were already starting to stick.
I was saddened to hear you're not doing well Garry. You are in my thoughts and I am pulling for you as well. I hope you are feeling better soon as you are appreciated around here.
Have a wonderful Monday gentlemen
TF
Track fiddlerThat $1450 for a plumber for 3 days is certainly beyond reasonable Ed.
Well, it was about ten years ago. Still, I knew it was a very fair and reasonable price.
Track fiddler I would hang on to that guy's number as I'm sure you are.
Right on the refrigerator next to the sketches and notes from the grandkids
This is what is known as "High Iron"!
That’s a lot of bridge… by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
I seem to really like High Iron here!
It's pictures like that that make me wish I had more room for a bigger layout. Something like a gymnasium could come in handy But at the rate I'm going with a 50" by 86" I would have to be much younger to take on a project of that size
The world is a beautiful place
Earlier I wrote about a locksmith friend of mine. I don't want to give the impression he was being mean. The woman was driving the kind of car to indicate she could well afford the charge -- she just didn't want to.
This locksmith always opened a car for free if it involved a parent locking the key inside and had a baby locked in the car. (That happened more than I thought.)
For the bridge man, how about this beauty? This is the Marble Canyon bridge in the Glen Canyon Recreation Area in Arizona. The bridge on the left is the newer highway bridge. The one on the right is the Historic Navajo Bridge built in the 1920s, and it is a pedestrian-only bridge.
It's 467 feet high (142m) above the Colorado River
This is a neat place to stop. There is a parking area, and at the entrance to the footbridge, there is a set of booths for the Native Americans to sell things.
I wish I had taken more pictures, but I was in a hurry. Just stopped, clicked, and back to driving.
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."
That locksmith sure sounded like a good guy to me to get up in the middle of the night to go help someone out. He deserved to be paid as I wouldn't go out in the middle of the night for $50. I had to laugh as I would have done the same thing he did locking the keys back in the car
That's a good picture John. I've already Googled how far Glen Canyon Arizona is from Laughlin Nevada for the next time we're down there. I was a bit disappointed it's four and a half hours away but maybe.
I've always enjoyed looking at one bridge but two in a row would be quite delightful It would definitely be a spend the night thing but that could work as I enjoy scenic drives, especially on vacation.
That hundred-year-old Navajo Bridge on the right sure did age well. Just goes to show how well they built things back in the day. The Northern Pacific bridge I just posted from Bismarck North Dakota is over a hundred years old too. I remember reading she was updated at one time though. She still holds her weight. The Trains with heavy hopper drags still roll over her.
TF, be forewarned this bridge is on a two lane highway in northern Arizona and is a long, long ways from anywhere if you are traveling cross country. It's beautiful driving, but there's not much there in the way of civilization. Also, cell phones don't work in large areas out there.
Thanks for the heads up John. My limit anymore is a 5 hour drive in a day or I get to darn stiff from not moving around keeping the joints greased Just one of the many privileges of getting older I guess
We are always looking for new places to go when we're down there because we have been to Laughlin so many times. We like to get out of town for a day at least once while we're down there, otherwise after being there so many times it just feels like the same old same old. Too bad those bridges are out in the middle of nowhere.
I've always wanted to go to Ely Nevada to see the historic Nevada Northern Railway Museum. It would be fun to meet Bill Holt that's been on American Restoration so many times, he seems like such a great guy. The Musuem is quite far away too. We were down there one July and it was a hundred and fifteen degrees as an average. I didn't want to be on that lonesome highway with the chance of something going wrong in the desert heat. Maybe in the winter some time.
gmpullmanMy house was built in 1977. All the drain piping both inside and out is sch. 40 PVC.
My house was built in 1989. We had copper for the fresh water, Sch40 PVC for the irrigation and drain lines. The copper piping failed in 2001. The hard water in this area destroys copper pipes.
When I was building houses in the mid 1980s, the builder I worked for used only copper plumbing. He told me that PVC was much better, but people would not buy houses with "junk" plastic pipes. He made comments that was job security for every plumber 10 years from now.
My copper pipes laster 12 years, then I got a pinhole. Sure enough. We had the house re-piped with CPVC and have not had any problems.
My drain line was replaced in 1998 when the munincipal sewer was installed and the septic tank was disconnected and filled in. It is only about 5 inches under the sod, so any repairs needed will be easy.
York1This locksmith always opened a car for free if it involved a parent locking the key inside and had a baby locked in the car. (That happened more than I thought.)
My neice once locked her keys and baby in the car. Without hesitation she broke a window.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I used to keep a sapre key tucked up into the frame somewhere
Back when my GMC Canyon was only a month or so old, Mrs. Pullman had to borrow it to help her son move some stuff. He got out of the passenger's door and rested a box on the armrest for a moment, then slammed the door shut.
Well, when he set the box on the arm rest it clicked the locks and, as so many women do, the keys were in her purse on the driver's seat! (Why don't women put the silly keys in their pockets?)
We traded cars that day. I was at work, thirty miles away.
It dawned on her to call On Star and see if they could unlock the truck. "What's your pin number?" On Star asks. "I don't know, my husband never set it up".
Well, GM went ahead and pressed F5 on the DCC satelite controller and unlocked the doors from space!
(I never did sign up for On Star, though. This was when it was still in the 30 day free trial period)
I miss that Canyon...
Ski Train in South Draw by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Heartland Division CB&QI have not participated here in a few days. As info., I have not felt well for several days. My congestive heart failure is bothering me.
Hi Garry,
I hope that things improve for you soon. Heart problems are scary!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
gmpullmanI used to keep a sapre key tucked up into the frame somewhere
I have a key very well hidden on the Colorado.
The Impala has an option to prevent the keys from ever being locked in the car. On the options menu screen select "anti-lockout". With that option, the doors can only be locked by pressing the key fob or putting the car in drive.
Good evening
Yep the old lock yourself out of the truck trick. The second to the last time I did that it was five below zero. Blaine and I just finished working outside for the day in our Carhartts. For some reason the keys were sitting on the center console and not in my pocket from the last time we warmed up a bit. I decided I like bare hands to put my smaller tools away in the side compartments so I threw my gloves on the center console and shut the door. Simultaneously the gloves hit the lock button some how. Judy called her best friend Sue who was kind enough to bring my spare set of keys up to me.
The last time it happened was just last fall. I have this camouflage jacket I threw in the trash after this happened. The pockets are shallow and slanted wrong and I forever had things falling out of my pockets. As I was getting out of the truck I had not noticed the keys had fell out of my pocket on the seat. Judy has a habit of pushing the lock button as she shuts the door. I never had a problem with that until this time.
We were at the restaurant and there was a laundromat two doors down so I went and got a coat hanger. The door is too tight so I needed a pry bar or something to pry the top open to get the coat hanger in. I didn't have one so I found a fat stick and had Judy stick it in the door when I took my fingertips pulled the door open as hard as I could.
I guess Vehicles aren't too hard to get into if you have to.
Now I'll stretch the topic even more, since key fobs were mentioned.
Each year, I took some graduating students on camping-canoeing trips at the end of the school year. I didn't like sleeping on the ground, so I would sleep in the back of my Durango. One night, I climbed into the back, and used the key fob to lock the doors.
In the middle of the night, I woke up to use the nature restroom. I opened a door, and immediately the theft system started honking the horn. I found out later that if the car is locked with the fob, it had to be unlocked with the fob or it would trigger the theft warning.
I could not figure out how to turn that thing off. For minutes, in the middle of the night, with everyone in their tents waking up, the horn kept honking. Finally the stupid thing turned off. I never did admit what happened -- I told the students that something had gone wrong with it.
That's funny John.
The first time I accidentally hit my panic button on the truck fob, I didn't know what it was. Since I didn't know what it was I didn't know how to turn it off yet. It was at about 10:30 at night so I guess it wasn't too bad
The alarm system on my Mustang is almost too good. It is armed any time you get out and shut the door, even if the windows are open. There's a way to change that and I probably should figure that out one day. The alarm is rather annoying as it makes all kinds of bells and whistle sounds when it goes off and it's a bit embarrassing when I come out of the gas station and forget
I generally don't like to be the center of attention at the gas station, only at the poker table when I'm telling a joke
I'm at home tonight. I had thought about going to my favorite dirty, smoky, divey bar a few blocks away but have elected to stay in. I had wine with dinner that is plenty. Dinner was excellent, we had oven roasted pork chops made with homemade BBQ sauce, maple bacon jam, strips of bacon on the top, and brocolli-tots.
At the grocery store today, I got a note on my truck that someone "slightly scratched" a spot on the right rear quarter panel around the wheel-well and the mudflap.
The guy who did so was polite about it. He had given me his insurance info and phone number and offered to pay out of pocket for the repairs. I took it to Maaco earlier today to see about the repair costs and they quoted me about $470 for everything. I know his insurance will cover it and he seemed to be a man who meant what he said. However, I feel that the "damage" is so minor as to not warrant repairs. Plus, the vehicle is not some immaculately kept classic, it's an 8-year old Nissan Frontier, I take care of it but do not expect it to look immaculate. Certainly not when it's a means to haul furniture, yardwaste, tools, farm equipment, trash, etc., Also, if I get the repair done, I'd still have to have I imagine a couple hundred or more for taxi and rental car fees as the repair would take a few days to get done. I'm sleeping on it but I think I'll contact the guy tomorrow and tell him not to worry about the repair.
Speaking of classics, a guy was getting his 1980 Pontiac Firebird coupe looked over and that thing was awesome; it looked like it needed only minimal paint and finishing work to be truly spectacular. Sounded great too. I don't know what engine it had but those carbeurated V8s with dual pipes sound sweet.
Alvie
I don't know if the war had anything to do with my father's smoking, but on watch, looking for Japanese torpedos, while his captain was drunk in his cabin, didn't heip. Look at the 1930's William Powell movies. Everyone smoked except Myrna Loy
His impression was that Japanese torpedos were inaccurate. He was wrong, and he was lucky. Had lymphoma not killed him, his COPD would have. I hadn't gone to medical school yet, but the shape of his chest changed and his morning coughing couldn't have been normal.
Garry I share your illness and I wish you all the best.
We are supposed to be in the upper 60's this week. We still have a small pile of snow next to the garage.
My friend who lives in Ohio and had not ventured out of her house for nearly a year is getting her first vaccine Saturday, if it's not Johnson and Johnson She is convinced she will die unless it's 95% effective.
Seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face. 85% is better than nothing.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Alvie you are good people and so is the guy that accidentally damaged your Nissan. We need more people like you guys in the world here!
Post Hog! Post Hog!
You're in the upper 60s this week Henry. Nice! Where do you live? It's supposed to hit 65 on Wednesday and I can't wait.
Today it was unseasonably warm in the morning to the early afternoon. It was cloudy so I opened the windows and was cutting some foam for my removable mountain tunnels I'm building.
Then the sun came out and it was time to put my layout project away. I went out to the parking lot to clean my pigsty of a truck that the winter kill had created when It was cold.
I was putting my stuff on the pavement to organize it and put it back away.
Oh Lord, ...One of those Chill Willies took over my stomach and the shock went through my arms to my fingertips.
I'm glad it wasn't but can you see how my first glance was a decomposing fingertip on the pavement, ...Yuk
I turned it over and found out that it wasn't. Must be some kind of insect cocoon from last Fall. Perhaps a June bug, I don't know. I'm just glad it wasn't a fingertip.
I threw it in the bushes so whatever it was could hatch. I've gotten kind of goofy like that as I've grown older. I don't like to kill anything anymore, even a bug. I take a glass in the summer and put it over a spider or a bee and slide a piece of paper under and let them go outside so they can enjoy their life too. I just don't like them with me in the house. I think I got this stuff from the Dalai Lama or something
With the exception of the winter, it would be unhumane to let them go outside in the freezing cold to freeze to a slow death. So in the winter time, I still squish them
Post Hog!
It's 10 minutes till rack time and I'm hitting it early.
Have a great night and sleep well my friends
cats think well of meI feel that the "damage" is so minor as to not warrant repairs. Plus, the vehicle is not some immaculately kept classic, it's an 8-year old Nissan Frontier
My Colorado got bumped in a gas station by a 16 year old in his mom's car when it was 5 years old. Damage was similar to yours. The kid was terrified.
I let that one slide. The truck is 13 years old now, and it has lots of battle scars now. It does not matter at all.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
Track fiddlerI threw it in the bushes so whatever it was could hatch.
I hope you find a beautiful almond tree growing there next year
TF, the 21st century Johnny Almondseed
VIA 2 curving out of Swan Landing by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
howmusOh Yeah!!!! Thanks Bear!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
For those of you who might still be interested, Ulrich is making great progress towards building a new home. He will hopefully finalize the property deal within the next week. He is having a bit of difficulty finding a contractor who will build the house within his budget, but he is prepared to downsize the house to get it to where he can afford it.
I can say that he sounds much happier these days. That's a good thing.
Okay gang, it's time to move the Diner!
I'm going to suggest that we go to Philadelphia to study the Budd Company. Certainly the Budd passenger cars are the most recognizable with their beautiful fluted sides. Let's have a look at what they made and, in the next post, the people who made them:
Here is the Wikipedia version. It's worth a read because Budd was into way more than just passenger cars:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budd_Company
Here is a photo of the interior of a Budd dining car. Note the beautiful etched glass dividers:
The galley:
Here is a view of the beautiful fluted sides of a Via Rail Budd diner:
An older version:
Missing a little paint:
Another classic example:
Another older photo of a Budd diner's interior:
Here is a newer diner design circa 1986:
A recently refurbished Budd diner. The table settings seem to be missing the opulance of former days:
In Amtrack colours:
Not quite as fancy as some of the Pullman cars, but impressive none the less:
More to come!
Good morning all.
Garry. Our thoughts for a speedy recovery. (I have been in the same place as you.)
Dave. A great set of pictures.
Taking the day as it comes today. No pressure.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning guys. Below freezing this morning, but supposed to be in the mid-50's this afternoon. Sure wish I could have these temps on the weekend, but no. Oh well. Soon enough.
Garry, prayers headed your way. Hang in there.
Alvie, great response to the situation. It sucks, but it is relatively minor and if you use your truck like a truck, it's bound to get some bumps and bruises. When I got my current one, it was a couple years old, but other than some miles was in pristine condition and I was determined to keep it that way. Hasn't worked out, but you know what? If you don't know where to look, you'll never see the damage that's been done.
Anybody know the waiter's name today? I really need my coffee.
Mike
Good morning, everyone. Bacon, eggs, and coffee, please.
Dave, thanks for the great pictures. It really makes me wish I could go ride in those trains and eat in those cars. The other thing in most of the pictures during that time was that everyone was dressed up. You don't see people in the trains wearing pajama pants.
We are taking Daisy the Dachshund to the vet today for her annual visit. I'm sure she will hate it like she usually does.
This is the dining car on the Southern Crescent, 1978, right before Southern RR dropped the service and it went Amtrak. Not the luxury of the 1950s dining cars, but it was a nice trip from New Orleans to Atlanta.
I'll have what John's having this morning, sounds good to me.
Grocery day and I'm dreading it. It's the only time we go indoors around people and the only time I have some anxiety.
Thanks for all the diner car pics Dave. Enjoyed! I have a few passenger car pics I can share from Osceola Wisconsin.
Looks like we got another great Billy Joel song added to the list, courtesy of the Bear
Continued thaughts and prayers. Hope you are well soon Garry.
Have a great Taco Tuesday gentlemen
Good Afternoon,
It rained last night and with the mild temp most of the snow has melted in the back yard. Mind you, we had very little this year. We try to keep the bird seed debris cleaned up throughout the winter but still now are faced with some clean up. I will try to get some done today but it is too wet to do much. We are having an early spring.
I too have locked keys in my car but not for a very long time. It can't be done in my current car as the electonic key also contains the lock button that you can only access with the key out. If you do push it and lock the doors while in the car, it un locks as soon as you pull on the interior door handle.
Dave, great photos of those Dining cars. I am always amazed that such extensive menus could be produced from those tiny kitchens that weren't exactly steady and all from scratch. Via has a repair facility here and there is always a few of those old Budd cars they use outside.
Hope we can get vaccinated soon but I fully expect it won't ease my wife's fears much as it isn't 100%. In her mind 90% still means you can get it or not. No amount of arguing can persuade her otherwise even though I took statistical math at university and do have a good understanding about odds. She is a very bright person and arguing with her is difficult. She is an informartion junkie with a near photographic memory.
I did run the Pacific yesterday and just put a short express reefer train behind it, perfect for just watching it do laps at a decent speed, whistle wailing at the crossings.
CN Charlie
hon30critterUlrich is making great progress towards building a new home.
Is he staying in Germany, or did he manage the relocation to Denmark?
Great Update In The Diner that you posted! That post must have been a lot of effort, but it was very worth reading. Thank you.