Toy train operating and collecting

Charlie, handsome boy you got there.Sending good wishes to your family!!!

Evening all

Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts.  Our daughter had been going to narcotics anonymous and had been sober for 7 months, then fell off the wagon.  They say only 10% make it clean and stay clean with one go through.  But it still hurts to see the pain the drugs can cause.

Charlie – Congratulations!!!!!

Brent – Does it only hurt when you laugh?

Steve – Even though the original loco was stolen, you may try eBay to find one to “replace” it.

May God bless, especially our little ones

Jim

Sturg, prayers, love and understanding from me.  Don't give up.

 Helo all,

Busy day here . I submitted a bid I've been workig on since Oct. 8th. Keep your fingers crossed.

No trains for a few days. Mrs says we'll have the grandkids Friday evening and Saturday AM. Thomas'll make some laps then for sure.

Pat- How much to deliver four to Altoona?

Anjdevil and Phish- prayers sent for your daughters.

I'm heading to bed early tonight, been burning the candle at both ends

Prayers for all who may need them

Jim,

         Continued prayers for your daughter.

I did more cleaning on the 302AC tonight. I decided to try some new techniques on this one.  I removed the motor and smoke unit from the chasis then soaked the chasis in a strong solution of hot water and Dawn, and the old grease came right off. I used Soft Scrub With Bleach to clean the whitewall insulators, and it did a great job. The armature was cleaned with CRC contact cleaner, then the commutator was polished with Never Dull. It shines like a new penny now. The brush holder and tubes were cleaned and polished with Brasso inside and out until they shined, then I cleaned off any remaining Brasso with the contact cleaner. The brushes and springs are in great shape, so I cleaned them. The inside of the smoke unit cylinder felt rough, so I polished it with some Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish on a felt buffing wheel in the Dremel, and it is smooth as glass now.

Charlie - great pic!  He looks like he needs a Lionel Teddy Bear!

Big day today - had to move my desk at work, amazing what weird old stuff you find after only a few years in a desk!  Firming up plans for birthday celebrations this weekend.  Found out that the Lion and add-on cars should be shipping next month  as well as my halloween gateman   Oh well, better late than never.

Tardis is ready, just checking he scope!  See you guys later

Jim,I had a friend who had a problem back when we were kids.It took some time but he was able to beat it and now is a decent guy.Dont give up and enjoy the grand kids.They need you now more than any other time in their lives. Prayers for all who need them.

Sturg - yep only when I laugh, or walk without the crutches.

Rich - prayers raised for your daughter

Sturg - continued prayers for you and your daughter

Hi guys, not a big deal day. I shall hold the banillla and wait for the thingy.

Got Brutus, Charlie and Doug on chat...S.J.

Reclinerized too long.  Saw the clip about new school board members [not sworn in but will have majority] sending memo to schools staff to stop spending money on H6 site and select a new one [mine].  Then suddenly that nut after Leatherman was on.  

Banks, good luck with the harvest.  Hope the rain does not hurt.  Maybe the corn will dry out some.

Prayers for new born and mom, prayers for Brutus' wife every day.  Prayers for Rich's teenager [they have a rough time, raised five].  Prayers for Bob [who gets high for his job, up on the mtn.]  Dennis' Mom.  And anyone else.  Brent's on the mend.

We have so many folks on here, its hard to remember all.  OH, Jack.  No help for him.

Good night all.  Sleep tight.   

 Back on the hill. We ran a few hours for testing tonight and we are getting closer to operation. I can taste it. May start some observations tomorrow and see how it goes. We have new power supplies coming for the microcontroller for the roof and doors (using a bench supply for now) and Dave has some good improvements for the blasted windbird which is working again. It's not over yet, but we are getting there.

Got some stuff done around the house in preparation for the 1 and a half legged race next week. Surgery isn't 'til noon next Wed. so I should have some time in the morning to finish up after I get home Tues. night and collapse. Figure I will catch up on my reading and mess w/ the trains some for a few days. Will wait a bit before I start kicking engine blocks:)

Thoughts and prayers for those in need.

Bob

HI GYZ,

  32 here and frosty again.  Got Shop teacher conference today and tomorrow, nice to talk to the GYZ.  Me and BRO going down to Harrisburg, get to meet up with other members of our family, other BRO is a shop teacher in Hazleton, and COUSIN is shop teacher in Berwick.  Good time today.

BRENT,pace yourself on the rehab.

STURG, prayers for your daughter, she'll get through this.

SIR JAMES, THANK YOU!!!!  My wife made me MEATLOAF, boy was it good along with mashed potatoes.  YOU put the bug in my ear.

Stay frosty,

laz57

Good morning all,

IIABSDISEI with temps near 50.  Man, the prayer hotline is working overtime around here.  As some one else observed, how could so few of us need so much help all at the same time?  Hopefully/maybe/perhaps I will be able to share some good news in a few days/weeks.  Nothing is set in stone, but wheels are turning.  Speaking of wheels turning, traffic was an absolute mess today.  It seemed as if every semi-truck that I encountered today wanted to use the left hand lane for an interminable amount of time to pass one of their fellow truckers.  I did make it to work....eventually, but I was beginning to wonder.  Still, when I read of the desperate situations a lot of us are facing, I thank God everyday for what I have and the well-being of my family.  I also thank Him for this forum, whose support and concern help us all make it thru another day.

I did wieghts and some soccer drills at the YMCA last night.  Been taking easy on the weights as I may have some muscle pulls.   I had the regular fare on the dining car for breakfast this morning before sending it to "Points East".  TBIL.  I hope everyone has a good day.  Prayers and thoughts going out for all of us.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

Good Mornin, Ya'll, from Cloudy Taxachussets,

So much going on here.  The good news is that I am still alive.

Grandchildren are hazardous to your health.  They go to school and bring home something to pass on to the family, household and extended as well.  Every time she asks if she can have a sip of my beverage or a bite of my food, I leap up and serve her something of her choosing.  That doesn't always work because if I am not there to ask and she sees a glassful of something sitting there unattended......

The wife has been bugging me for two years about getting rid of my 1998 Olds Aurora w. 111K miles.  Fuel pump quit in the middle of nowhere (relatively speaking) 25 miles from home at 11PM one night........with the wife and her precious dog in the car.   If looks could kill.  Acted quickly, short call to the State police, got a tow and a ride home.  Mechanic had to drop the rear suspension and replace the fuel tank (plastic) because the metal lip on the filler neck was a corroded toasted mess, nothing to affix the fuel pump to.  I am always one step ahead on the maintenance and /or replacement parts side and everything always works on my cars, but with a fuel pump what do you do?.........but I still figure that we are a zillion dollars ahead with no car payments, lower insurance, lower excise taxes, no depreciation expense, this is "the dog car," and this is the first time in our married life she ever got stuck out on the road with a car issue, including flats!  I keep the car clean and pretty inside and out, I'm anal about that.  She looks right past my "discussion pointst", doesn't care about auto economics 101.     She's shopping and reading up on the internet, never a good sign, because that inevitably is followed with "Let's go to Chief's Auto Emporium and look at/drive a (fill in the blank)."  The full court press is on.

JimSP, my prayers go out to you and your precious daughter. There is hope and there is a way, but it is a tough road and a long one.  I admire you.  You have stepped up and made the right decisions.  Too many holier than thou "normal" folks in their blind ignorance think this is a case of will power or values.  It is certainly neither. There are few if any among us who have not been touched by this disease.  Prayer, guidance, the right kind of support, and time.  Hang in there. 

Charlie......what a blessing Jack is.  Glad Mom and the little one may be home tomorrow.  You get a pass from us for any incoherent thoughts or spelling/grammar mistakes in your posts, if you have time to make any.  Sleep deprivation commences in earnest 1106/09.   BTW, I am honored you named your son after me. 

Brent......it sounds like you dodged a bullet if not the saw blade.  Be careful with the pain meds or you might wake up with Susan overseeing a tatoo artist covering ths scar with her "honey do" list.  In your defense, my FIL is the most mechanically inclined guy I have ever met.  McGyver isn't qualified to carry his tool box.  When he "retired" he went to work for a friend at the friend's rental place maintaining stuff.  Two guys walked in and rented a rotary mower.  He had to go pick it up.  After mowing the grass they got the bright idea to jury rig the blade safety mechanism and trim a hedge with the mower, each holding the mower by the blade housing.  It didn't turn out well for either of them finger-wise.  True story.

Mel......good one!  Brent doesn't feel so alone.  And as long as Brutus keeps twisting the nuts instead of cutting them he should be good to go.  

Rich......your Mom is a pistol.  Doesn't sound  like much slows her down.  Will you get a chance to sign her cast?  Prayers for your daughter.  I'd like to tell you that these things pass.  Well, they do pass, but they are always replaced by others.  You're a good Dad and are there to help.  That is what she will always remember about you.

Brutus.....at the risk of being redundant, for finally getting the wheels of the bureaucratic process moving for your wife.  Determination and persistence wins.  Continued prayers.

Am I imagining things, or are the FLA and CA guys yanking our chains with their continuous warm weather updates?  Remember that most of the rest of us don't have to worry too much about hurricanes, man-eating reptiles and poisonous insects, earthquakes, all-consuming brush fires, mudslides, or $250 electric bills.  I'll take the cold and the snow for a couple of months.  And this year I will be more cautious with the snow blower which is tuned and ready to go.

Jon......cutting up trees with a chainsaw is in your immediate future?  Hope you haven't contracted Brent-itis.  He's there to give you advice if you need it as he currently has a lot of time on his hands.  Congratulations on the upcoming nuptuals for your youngest boy.  In some ways they grow up way too fast and in others not fast enough.  That should be one great bash and family reunion.  

I think I will close this for now, reflecting on what MikeC just said.  It's time for me to give thanks for what I have and the family I have been blessed with.......most of them anyway.

Jack

Morning.  Started off crisp but warming fast [sun].  Now to run errands, gym and get up more leaves.  BTW: got bagging blades for new JD.  They will suck the dirt off the ground.  Ones I had for other mower were never that "high lift".  Cleans up leaves real good.  Have a good one.