The pot of coffee is always on [even after 2 years have passed]. Come on in. Sweet ice tea too.

Thanks Frank, got any donuts??[;)]

Actually this should be more fun, because it will form a bit of a running history if anyone wants to look back at what went on when.

Have fun guys!!!![:D]

Chiefster - wouldn't it be fun to ride to Savannah in this train? As we pass over the lakes we could throw out a plug and troll it for awhile...
Get home safely!!!

JD

I don't know about the pot of coffee, Frank, I had a glass of wine with my lunch today at my work in old towne Alexandria (Va.). Just outside the restaurant, the winter freezes and salt has eaten thru the pavement, exposing cobblestones and ancient trolley tracks. I can almost hear the bell of the trolley.

dave v.

Folks,

Some of you may have heard of the Santa Fe's Harvey House Restaurants along the mainline from Chicago to LA. The food was tops and the waitresses were the best anywhere and were quite accommodating.

As a matter of fact, they were so accommodating that they let this fellow dine there with his ostrich. Here is the true story:


One day, this gentleman walked into the Harvey House with a full-grown ostrich behind him, and as he sat down, the waitress comes over and asked for their order.


The man says, "I'll have a hamburger, fries and a coke," and turns to the
ostrich. "What's yours?" "I'll have the same," says the ostrich.


A short time later the waitress returns with the order. "That will be $6.40
please," and the man reaches into his pocket and pulls out exact change for
payment.


The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, "I'll
have a hamburger, fries and a coke," and the ostrich says, "I'll have the
same." Once again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change.


This becomes a routine until late one evening, the two enter again.


"The usual?" asks the waitress. "No, this is Friday night, so I will have a
steak, baked potato and salad," says the man. "Same for me," says the ostrich.


A short time later the waitress comes with the order and says, "That will be


$12.62." Once again the man pulls exact change out of his pocket and places
it on the table.


The waitress can't hold back her curiosity any longer. "Excuse me, sir. How
do you manage to always come up with the exact change out of your pocket
every time?"


"Well," says the man, "several years ago I was cleaning the attic and I
found an old lamp. When I rubbed it a Genie appeared and offered me two
wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, just put
my hand in my pocket, and the right amount of money would always be there."


"That's brilliant!" says the waitress. "Most people would wish for a million


dollars or something, but you'll always be as rich as you want for as long
as you live!"


"That's right! Whether it's a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce, the exact
money is always there," says the man.


The waitress asks, "One other thing, sir, what's with the ostrich?"


The man sighs, pauses, and answers, "My second wish was for a tall chick
with long legs who agrees with everything I say.


dave vergun

[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]Well Dave, In my case one out of 3 ain't bad. Big Girl and I never argue.[swg]

To those of you who had expressed an interest in the garden railroads HGTV was running a promo for a show they are broadcasting this saturday.

Here I am home from work and go get a cup of this here cofee. The coffee is cold and all of the dounuts are eaten except for that one with the funny green furry frosting. At least the conversation is interesting.

Those genies can be tricky.

Good thing he wasn't into toy trains. He could have asked for a Big Boy and Elliot would have found himself in a Harvey House.

Actually, Elliot might have liked it.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

Hi Chief, if you pass through Athens, GA on your way to, or from, Savanah look me up.

You'll have to check out HGTV on Saturday, they will have Whistle stop garden railroading on

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/spcl_prsntn/episode/0,,HGTV_3909_12720,00.html

Hey gang, the hotel has cable modem. I can keep an eye on you. [;)] See, only one eye. Sure miss hearing the "Green light on the Southern Southern Railroad Line". Buckeye, guess you'll have to do me a CD to play in my truck while I drive. Roger, don't think Athens is on I 95. If so, I'd find you. Off to bed for me. The BPS store here wants to change the rules. They want me to be ther at 8 AM. Me????!!!!! Suppose to be there at 1 PM [Springfield Rules]. OH well, I'm easy. Sleep tight and God bless all.

Chief,
I have a problem that I think you can help me with. I was supposed to go fishing this weekend with a good buddy who owns a great truck and bass boat. Today, he fell sick and is now in the hospital with the stomach virus that has plagued Ohio. Now here is my question:

1. Should I call him and tell him we can go fishing some other time when he gets well"
or
2. Just go over to his house and get the keys to his truck and boat and go fishing without him this weekend.
or
3. Pick him up at the hospital and put his sorry butt and IV bottle in the truck and go fishing.

Since you are a big chief at BPS, I know you will steer me in the right direction. As always, I appreciate your advice on such matters. (Maybe your buddies at BPS can be of some help.)

Number 2. Go get his truck and boat, go fishing and enjoy his gear. Even better, take pictures and videos and then take them to the hospital and show him what he missed. He'll get well real quick and chase you down the hall with the IV stand. [:D] After all, what are budies for?

OH Jim, did not mean to ignore your transportation for me. They really look good. Bets I 95 south.

Chief [better go get some sleep] Eagles

Good Morning all,
It's going to be a great day in NE Ohio, high of 72 and sunny. I am glad that winter is over and SPRING has come.
Hey buckeye, it's #2 and to help here come the train

be sure to click on the pic to enlarge it.

Have a great morning
tom

Nice picture Tom. It will also be a great day down here in central Ohio. Can't wait to get off work today and have some outdoor fun. Then, go back inside and play with trains!!!

Dave

HI nitroboy,

Don't know if you and buckeye have seen this in the MTH 204 vol II


$34.95
Got to have local RR cars
tom

Good morning from pretty Savannah. Off to BPS. Should be home fishing. Keep them on the tracks and God bless.

Ghosts of The Southern

Whether you like to model trackside details or just look outside the window of the train while sipping a cup of coffee; commuting by train does have its rewards.

For me, the rewards are seeing the ghosts of The Southern from the window of my VRE train, from Broad Run station, thru Manassas, and on to Alexandria, once a giant hub of railroading. As I pass thru olde towne Manasses, there are brick buildings with faded letters indicating horse feed and other pre-automobile industries once thrived here. Passing thru Clifton, I glimpse an old freight/passenger station no longer in use and a N&W caboose that is on display.

No we are going thru wooded, swampy landscape. For the next 10 miles, I can make out the old right of way that curved and snaked atop an embankment, with some concrete bridge abutments still in place. Trees, deer and wild turkeys are plentiful.

In some places in the woods, during this time of year when the leaves are not on the trees, I can spot old rusted autos and pickup trucks from the 40s and 50s that somehow found their final resting place within sight of the trains.

Further along in Springfield are two old and rusting boxcars, with journal boxes instead of roller bearings, that are parked next to an equally ancient industrial building, perhaps used as storage, still sitting on tracks with rails that are much lighter than those on the mainline.

As we approach south Alexandria, there is a NS, ex Southern working caboose, used as a platform when backing into the long spur leading to a coal-fired power plant that is being targeted by the city as the worst polluter.

We then travel below the mult-billion "mix-master" interchange construction, where I-95 and the Beltway converge. Cars are almost always at a standstill in this area, making train travel that much more a pleasure.

Finally, we arrive at Alexandria station, which is the best spot for railfans in the area to watch trains; there are usually several with either cameras or notebooks, the later, furiously writing down train numbers and counting cars, as they scanners crackle and chatter.

Every day, there's something to see along the route that once hosted the late and great Southern Railway.

Dave Vergun

Good afternoon Gang, sorry I'm late, I was busy making the rounds and trying to head off potential trouble.

You would think that with York in full swing, it would be too quiet to have any problems. Think again. Three calls this morning.

The first response was to a "grass fire" over on "Interesting Statistics". I thought I smelled smoke, and quickly snuffed that one.

The second call came when a slightly dazed and confused Joe Polska posted the topic about a "New OGR Chatroom". Dave was first on the scene, and it was quickly determined to be a false alarm. More coffee for Joe please!!!![:D][:D][;)][(-D][(-D]
Good work Dave!!![^]

The third was a domestic over on Realys. This situation has been brewing for quite some time, and finally boiled over. On this one I was directly involved. I spent 90 minutes composing that response, in the hopes of diffusing the situation. We'll have to see how that one turns out, but I have a good feeling.

I would also like to welcome back Amtrak Jack from his month long vacation. I see that he is well rested and tan, and ready to talk trains.[swg]

Everyone is hereby deputized to patrol the streets of "Forumville", and report any suspicious activity (email is best). Let's all work hard to keep this a friendly and fun environment to talk trains.[tup][tup][C):-)][swg]

Thanks, Elliot,

It would be a nice courtesy for folks who change their post titles or other information to acknowledge it was changed, otherwise, my reply looks meaningless. Perhaps Joe left the pot of coffee on too long and it burned down the house?

Some bad news. I owe the IRS lots of money. I've mailed a letter to them asking that they quit spamming me and soliciting me with auditors. In turn, I will stop sending them junk mail forms and perhaps we both will be happier.

In other bad news, I have to go to the dentist on Monday, and spend more valuable toy train money on teeth. And wouldn't you know it, but my insurance doesn't cover any of the work that needs to be done. A rip-off, if you tell me.

Been busy at work so will try to drop a note on Tuesday, out Wednesday, and back for more coffee on Thursday.

The trees are starting to turn green here and the Beagle is sniffing out rabbits in the thickets. I might take her fishing with me. She loves to eat her fish raw. Also, the circades (did I spell that correctly), will soon make their once-every 17 year appearance. I understand you can either cook them or eat them raw. I might try eating them raw. Good source of protein.

dav

Hmmmm...I wonder if raw cicadas taste better than Scrapple...and if they serve them at York...(wink)

JD

Sorry to hear all that Dave, I may have to drag out a couple of old topics just to keep the train rolling.

I suspect the Yorkies will have things to say as they return from the fields with freshly picked trains. Pockets empty, but arms full, all with gloating smiles.[swg]

9:00 PM and time to go eat somewhere. See you guys are still at it. Who got Buckeye and Jim Duda? Guess they can not post anymore. [:D] Chat later.

Good to be back! Hello everyone.

$34.95

I'm teary eyed. Where do I place my order??

Coffee just before bed is a no-no, unless it's a double de-caf mocha tall...oops, sorry, guess my West Coast roots are showing...:) Anyway, I've got 3 rooms in my house under the scrapper's torch (remodeling). Looks like we're a go for painting on Monday, then cabinets on Wednesday. Hopefully I can get all this stored furniture out of my train room (= garage) in a few weeks. yay!

QUOTE: Originally posted by Buckeye Riveter $34.95 I'm teary eyed. Where do I place my order??

Also, an expert can be broken down thus: "X" is an unknown quantity, and "spert" is a drip under pressure. :):)

Well it is Saturday morning and my fishing buddy is in the hospital. I guess I'll clean the garage and wa***he Jeep. It is supposed to be in the high 70s today in Roger's Corners, Ohio. I can hear the faint sounds of the train horns from the Ohio Central as the sun breaks the horizon.

Have a good day!! (That's Yankee for "Yiz have a Goodin.")

Good Morning all,

I can’t believe it, another great day in NE Ohio. High is going to be 78 deg with sunny skies. I an glad the spring has come, now I have to cut the grass today. Just last week we had snow.

Well the K-line Hudson is at the station to pick up Buckeye to go fishing and maybe stop at Willoughby.






tom