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Jeffrey's Trackside Diner: December, 2022 and Winter Trains

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  • Member since
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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, December 31, 2022 7:37 PM

4 more hours until midnight here.

We got a take-out dinner this year.  No, not pizza or subs.  This was a gourmet wine dinner and every course was delicious.  So, now we'll relax with what's left of the wine and not have to get back on the road.

I still have to clean out the cat boxes and feed them.  Ha, I just was reminded that 32 years ago I became a Dad, and adopted the same happy approach to diapers and bottles.  I guess little kids and little cats have a lot in common.

Well, Happy New year everyone!

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

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Posted by NorthBrit on Saturday, December 31, 2022 5:15 PM

Certainly not.   23.15  here.

 

David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, December 31, 2022 5:11 PM

York1
I may have the last post for 2022!

Nope!

Big Smile

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by York1 on Saturday, December 31, 2022 4:32 PM

It looks like the diner has been moved to 2023!  I may have the last post for 2022!

York1 John       

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Posted by "JaBear" on Saturday, December 31, 2022 3:01 PM

York1
It sounds like Bear is already ringing in the New Year!

Yeah John, it is now 63°F at 0956hrs New Year’s Day, so I’ll take the opportunity to post the last of the December Winter poster collection.
 
B&M winter trains by Bear, on Flickr
 
WinterSS by Bear, on Flickr
 
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 York1 on Saturday, December 31, 2022 2:34 PM

MLC, have you heard anything from the police or the shooters?

York1 John       

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Posted by moelarrycurly4 on Saturday, December 31, 2022 1:48 PM

got the new glass in, I could not have asked for a better cut piece of glass from the mom and pop hardware store. it fit perfect, now i have to putty it. 

  • Member since
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Posted by moelarrycurly4 on Saturday, December 31, 2022 12:12 PM

I have to fix my broken window today, blah, not much else planned, we went last night to hear our blues friend play. He suffered a stroke about 7 weeks ago, and is making a slow comback. 

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Posted by NorthBrit on Saturday, December 31, 2022 11:36 AM

Good evening Diners.  A large whisky please, Chloe.

The pork is nearly cooked.   Pork sandwiches with the trimmings for all.

An easy going evening before I 'let the New Year in'.

 

Welsh Marches.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0m_Dtldgb4&ab_channel=SwiftyMorgan

 

See you in the New Year.

 

David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, December 31, 2022 11:14 AM

Water Level Route

I had to look this up.  It is someone wearing skis being pulled by (traditionally) an animal- horse, dog, etc or (newer) a motorized vehicle of some sort.  Who knew I did a version of this once and it was actually a thing?  When I was a wee lad, my brother and I got out my sled and saddled up our horse.  Was great fun until my brother purposely pulled me into the tree stump in our yard.  That ended that.

I was skiing in Colorado at Steamboat.one year, and they were having Winter Carnival.  That activity was a highlight, along with a large marching band on cross-country skis.  They made an event of it, with a horse pulling a high-school skier down the main street of town.  At the end of the course was a ŕamp, and the skier would cut over, release the tow line, and go for distance.  The announcer explained the event, then said, "Most places would call this child abuse.  Here, we call it Winter Carnival."

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

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Posted by Water Level Route on Saturday, December 31, 2022 10:43 AM

Morning All.  Flo, a Cherry Coke please.  You know, the ones made with Grenadine.  Thanks.

Getting ready to watch the Fiesta Bowl today, then heading over to the in-laws house this evening for snacks, games, and a big Happy New Year at midnight.  Should be fun.

gmpullman
Ski-joring ?

I had to look this up.  It is someone wearing skis being pulled by (traditionally) an animal- horse, dog, etc or (newer) a motorized vehicle of some sort.  Who knew I did a version of this once and it was actually a thing?  When I was a wee lad, my brother and I got out my sled and saddled up our horse.  Was great fun until my brother purposely pulled me into the tree stump in our yard.  That ended that.

Happy New Year everyone!!

Mike

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Posted by York1 on Saturday, December 31, 2022 8:27 AM

Good morning, diners.  It sounds like Bear is already ringing in the New Year!  We have another 16 hours to hit 2023.

Kevin, thanks for the sausage on bun.  That looks like a great breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  From someone who's had cold pizza, hot dogs, spaghetti, or a cheeseburger for breakfast, anything that tastes good is a good breakfast.

Have a good time in Wisconsin, TF.

My wife and I don't have anything planned for tonight.  She has never really wanted to celebrate, and now at my age, it's a chore to stay up until midnight.

I'm still working on bridge approaches on the layout.  I really thought I would have this finished by now, but work on it is slow.  I need to finally get it finished so I can run a train again.

I hope everyone has a great end of the year and a great start to the New Year.

About eight or nine miles west of me, along the BNSF double track mainline, there is a section of track that is below grade through some slight hills.  Every time there is snow with wind, the track gets buried.  This photo is from about 12 years ago:

 

York1 John       

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, December 31, 2022 7:57 AM

TOP OF THE PAGE

Treats Are On Me

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Have an Italian Sausage on a bun:

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Track fiddler
Someone locked the good goody thread and it wasn't requested.

It sounded like you requested it:

Track fiddler
Well that about wraps up the good goody thread for another year.

-Kevin

 

Living the dream.

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    March 2017
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Posted by Track fiddler on Saturday, December 31, 2022 7:37 AM

Good morning

Heading up to Wisconsin in a bit, as it was too cold to safely travel for Christmas. 

Someone locked the good goody thread and it wasn't requested.  Have to say it pissed me off as being unnecessary.  Past months Diner threads aren't even being locked anymore is my point.  Others might post on a thread the OP has excused themself from, and I've been known to dig up an old bone like the 2019 GG thread.  The only time I've seen threads locked is when there's foul activity or stated that the OP has directly requested it.  Not that big of a deal, but still pisses me off.  Must be the ScotsWhistling.....Rant overSmile

 

All packed but "Sleepy" hasn't woke yet.  She worked hard last week after being out with her cracked ribs for a while.  Guess she's entitled to it, but want to get this show on the road! (pun intended) Laugh

 

  Reddit

 

Have a good New Year's gentlemanSmile, Wink & Grin

 

 

TF

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Posted by NorthBrit on Saturday, December 31, 2022 5:13 AM

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, December 31, 2022 4:21 AM

Ski-joring ? 

 CP-Rail-Frontenac by Edmund, on Flickr

 

Everyone's happy on the New York Central —

 Smiling NYC Conductor by Edmund, on Flickr

Happy New Year, everyone!

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
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Posted by "JaBear" on Saturday, December 31, 2022 3:45 AM
Gidday Chloe, the drinks are on me, please. It’s currently 2245 on a clear 55°F New Year’s Eve, and the fireworks are already going off around the village.
 
Winter1 by Bear, on Flickr
 
Mt Cook. by Bear, on Flickr
 
Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them. Kia Kaha.
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

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

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, December 30, 2022 6:41 PM

Many years ago I wanted the Lackawanna caboose from Railworks to be the standard caboose for the Stratton And Gillette.

After not being able to find any, I switched to the Gulf Mobile And Ohio caboose I have collected twelve of.

Good thing, when one of the Lackawanna cabooses comes up for sale, it is a real bank-breaker.

This one sold today.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, December 30, 2022 4:14 PM

York1

thought it felt a little different when I woke up this morning!

 

 

We did our part this morning at breakfast!

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

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Posted by York1 on Friday, December 30, 2022 3:52 PM

thought it felt a little different when I woke up this morning!

 

York1 John       

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Posted by York1 on Friday, December 30, 2022 1:03 PM

howmus
I can also tell you that frostbite is painfull!  VERY PAINFULL!!! 

I can attest to that!  When I was a teen, I had a small hole in a glove and got frostbite on a small part of my thumb.

It was as if someone held a lit match on my thumb.  It turned black and hurt for weeks.

Our fingers and toes used to get numb from the cold, but I only had true frostbite that one time.

York1 John       

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, December 30, 2022 12:52 PM

gmpullman
Ever see how much water comes out of a 6" pipe at 70 PSI?

I can only imagine.

I have seen how much water comes out of a 30" pipe attached to a pump driven by a 2,000 horsepower diesel engine. Seeing a 30" solid column of water shoot 150 feet through the air really lets you appreciate just how much power a 16 cylinder industrial engine can create.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by howmus on Friday, December 30, 2022 12:31 PM

LOL.....  Yep!  Growing up on the farm we had two old farm trucks and usualy a secondary tractor or two to drain well before any freeze.  We had a compressor on the farm and we also blew out all the remaining water as best we could.  Only the Ford 861 Powermaster, the Pick up Truck, and the Car were flushed and new antifreeze added for the winter time...  Only water line left up was the water in the heated milk house (and of course the piping into the basement of our house).  We had a couple hundred foot of hose in the milk house to reach the water tanks for the calves and the milk cow herd (chickens, etc when we had those as well).  Part of my job every day (sometimes twice) was to break the ice off the large watering tanks so the cows could drink.  When it was well below Zero (F) that was a major task.  Cattle have to have fresh water to drink!!!

The constant fear was that the pump at the dug well across the road and way down in one of our fields would freeze up if the weather got really cold.  Then we had to grab one of the kerosine heaters and open up the cover on the well and hope to get it unfrozen.  We did have a small electric heater in that to take care of it, but a couple times I remember that burning out.  I can also tell you that frostbite is painfull!  VERY PAINFULL!!!  Got that a couple times while my dad and I were deperately trying to get water to the cows! Brrrrrr!!!

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 gmpullman on Friday, December 30, 2022 12:17 PM

I've had many anxious moments at the GE plant I w**ed in for many years. We would get cold spells, -10 and lower were sometimes the norm, not so bad until warmer temps would then thaw the frozen pipes and everyone was looking at me, the pipefitter, to get the water shut off.

Ever see how much water comes out of a 6" pipe at 70 PSI?

Sometimes the steam heat trace lines were frozen (or the valve shut!) or the breaker would trip on the electric trace lines. This was basically a chemical plant on 30 acres. There were pipes everywhere!

Often I had to call the city water department to close the lines leading into the plant, never a nice option. Sometimes the sprinkler lines would burst and in turn, the fire department would respond when the ADT alarms went off.

Quite a few of the water lines were interconnected and you had to close three or four valves to isolate the leak. Sometimes these valves were thirty feet up, other times buried in manholes you had to chase the rats out of, and of course, at 2 AM you had to try to arrange a confined-space entry team when there's only five people in the whole plant (during holiday shutdowns for instance)

I'm sure glad those days are behind me.

I blow out the water lines on the caboose and I have a rig I made up that I can pump the lines with RV anti-freeze for the duration.

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by NorthBrit on Friday, December 30, 2022 12:15 PM

Good evening Diners.  A Pusser's Rum please, Brunhilda.

 

Flying Scotsman in Wartime Black.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itDIm5KY2Hw&ab_channel=theenthusiast101

 

Tanfield Railway North Pole Express.   Many years back I was a volunteer here.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoPoKA-9He4&ab_channel=Spike%27sSteam

 

David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
    April 2002
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Posted by moelarrycurly4 on Friday, December 30, 2022 11:57 AM

Kevin,

I shut off the water to the house here when we are gone, I drain the pipes each time starting in October, One time i forgot to drain one side  and busted three faucets in the house and some pipes in the crawl space. Not good when you arrive late and no place is open to get parts till the next day,

we had teen temps here in Mississippi, but at my main house in KY it was -5 F last Friday morning. I have never had issue with my pipes freezing in KY because my basement is a semi heated space.  I ran my Kerosene heater to supplemnet the heat down there. We were lucky we did not loose power during that cold. 1 week later and it was 65 degrees yesterday in KY, go figure. We did get a white Christmas , but you cannot tell it ever snowed now. 

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, December 30, 2022 10:42 AM

allegedlynerdy
Any external plumbing (either a well or city water hookups) will be dug below the frost line

When I shared the first pictures of my irrigation system with my family, some people said I was not burying the pipes deep enough, this must be why they said that.

Not a concern of mine!

hon30critter
As you can imagine, burst water pipes can do a whole lot of damage!

We have pipes burst down here, but for different reasons. The heat in our houses, attics and external walls, makes the pipes become brittle over time. Also, hard water eats copper piping.

Track fiddler
There was never a year we didn't fluff up bales of hay covered with tarps over the septic system in the fall.  And heat tapes around the sewer line exiting the basement in the lodge.

This all sounds like too much work.

York1
When we moved north, our first house had a large garage with a small bathroom in it.  I didn't really think about it until the first winter when the pipes froze.  Lots of sheetrock to replace.

The Dream House had a full bathroom in the garage. The builder said it was a feature he had never included before. I wanted to shower and get clean before I walked into the new house after work.

CNCharlie
When we had the sailboat I carefully drained the block on the engine, removed the cover of the water pump to drain the water and blew out the intake hose to prevent damage from freezing over winter.

I read processes for winterizing engines in a few service manuals... No thank you!

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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    August 2007
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Posted by CNCharlie on Friday, December 30, 2022 10:07 AM

Good Morning,

John, hope you are feeling better soon. 

When we had the sailboat I carefully drained the block on the engine, removed the cover of the water pump to drain the water and blew out the intake hose to prevent damage from freezing over winter. The engine was a 1 cylinder Volvo diesel I named Helga. It had 7.5 HP and weighed 250 lbs.

Nothing new here. Tomorrow it will be warm enough to replace the car headlight. The lights are quite good on this car but not as good as the lights I had im '73 Nova. I installed Bosch H4 headlights that had 450,000 candlepower on high beam. Lit up the road like daylight. I had to be very careful when travelling in the US as they were illegal there at the time. 

Still haven't moved the U2g from the water tower. Maybe today.

CN Charlie

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Posted by York1 on Friday, December 30, 2022 8:37 AM

Good morning.  The last Friday of 2022!

In New Orleans, we didn't usually worry about frozen pipes.  When we moved north, our first house had a large garage with a small bathroom in it.  I didn't really think about it until the first winter when the pipes froze.  Lots of sheetrock to replace.  I found out that before winter, I had to turn the water off to the bathroom and drain the pipes.

I have some earth-shattering news from our house.  Yesterday my wife began to clean some of the junk out of the basement storeroom.  It was so full you couldn't even walk into the room.  While she didn't get rid of much, it's a beginning, and it gives me hope for 2023!

This photo was about eight miles west of my house about 10 years ago.

I hope everyone has a great Friday!

York1 John       

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