2008 and the Coffee Pot is still on and over 3 years. Here we gather as friends with trains. Sweet ice tea too.

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a cold -2 degrees. Clear skies. Going up to a sunny 18 today.  No snow is forecasted, but it's cold outside.

Today, I have a few errands to run and a chore or two around the house. Maybe later, I'll get to run trains and work on the layout. Not much new around here. Looking for Spring.

Dining car has arrived and it's time for breakfast. Later.

Y'all have a great Friday.

Chuck

[A&Y Ry]

Beautiful rainbow picture Don and the Daylight engine/consist itself ain't bad at all.

 Good Mawning!

Good news regarding outcome of Dan's scary experience with the auto thief. I was one of 6 in the neighborhood [Greensboro] to experience a car break-in last year. Thieves are getting bolder by breaking car windows and doing the ransack while alarms are screaming at 2-3 a.m. My garage is full of everything but cars.

Still 3F with -7F wind chill at 7:00a.m. here in the N.C. High Country but snow stopped at midnight and wind has abated considerably from yeaterdays 45 mph gusts.

Gotta tiptoe down this frozen mountain for trip to Greensboro but not until after sunrise[I hope sun?]. First before leaving, I need to shovel off the snow and check the gauge on my 1,000 gallon propane tank so I can fret all day over budget impact [and aid to the economy] to refill that sucker--a buried "submarine" tank.

[laz 57]

Hi GIZ,

  17 and cold here, minded it with the dog this morning.  Nippy wind out there.

Fixed my Weaver 0-8-0.  Looked around here at old computers and found a speaker that fit the tender.  Resoldered it and works great.

  Trains tonite, then maybe CHAT TIME?

laz57

[dbaker48]

Wow Dan, Glad it worked out for you.  I've had 2 cars stolen, one retrieved, one not.  Both El Caminos.  

Doug - Last minute cancellations, going to be just me.  My wife may come along for the ride.  I plan on being there about 8:30.   (Did you get my email ??)  Call me at the office tomorrow if you get a chance I have a question for ya.  800 786-9272).

Talked with the Chief tonight when he was in Phoenix.  He was sounding a bit tired.  He had finished the 5 hour leg, and on to Spokane.  Was muttering something about how big Texas was. 

Overall, Lots of traveling go on, and many not feeling to well, sure keeping all the Drs busy. So first and foremost hope everyone has safe trips and good reports from Drs.. If you have to feel louzy this is the time of the year, not so for traveling.

Talk about rain, we have had almost 6" of rain in the past 2 weeks, THATS A LOT !!! And, it is suppose to be rainy until next Tuesday !! May need to buy a boat. You guys will miss us when were gone, we could be within driving distance to Hawaii if this keeps up.

Took my new DCS Daylight to our train club last night. It ran great but the clubs layout was having DCS problems. Did better at home. The engine was really trying hard, but the system wasn't cooperating.
Yep, you guessed it a couple of pics;

AND THEN - When I went to leave for work this is what was outside



This was the most vivid rainbow I have ever seen! And it was from horizon to horizon, and perfectly filled in.
 

[dougdagrump]

Evenin' All.

Still dodging rain and still pretty chilly, but I guess I won't complain to much. We're not below freezing and far from single digits, get kinda spoiled.

Speaking of cold, hope that Mayor McChief took his long woolies with him. He's gonna need 'em.

I'll bet that the young thief will not be willing to accept responsibility for his actions, common problem in this day'n age. It all starts at home, they need to learn responsibilty early on. Unfortunately what many forget is that they learn more by seeing than hearing.

Grandson will be here tomorrow, grampa has Thomas, Percy and James all oiled track cleaned and ready to roll. All Aboard !!!!!!

Don B._ Is there anybody else coming down with you on saturday ?  

[Brutus]

 Well, now I just hope the kids serves his time and leaves our family alone.  I hope we're not blamed by him for his going to jail.

Me too!  I think you'll be fine, he'll know that the cops will be ready for something like that and your first call will have them knocking on his parents' door!

G'night, Sir James!  Chewy wants some peanut butter, so might swing over and see if you are still up - nice walk in the 9 degrees Winter night!

[sir james I]

EVENING ALL

Theres a small city just north of Detroit you know right across the street..anyway one cold morning this week they had seven cars reported stolen, all with motor running and keys,owners in the house. not the same happy ending.

Brutus glad you enjoyed, I know you have people to send them to. Tell Chewy good nite for me.

We had sun all day but stayed cold,streets are clear and dry but very little snow melt.too cold.

everyone have a great friday,last one in Jan,and counting.,,,,,,Sir James

[danrunner]

Chuck, Brutus,

Thanks for the nice notes.  Yes, it was good fortune and a good ending--but I won't be warming-up cars unattended any more--although most of my life I've lived in quiet communities where I often didn't even lock doors.  Was that foolish or just looking for the best in people?  

 Well, now I just hope the kids serves his time and leaves our family alone.  I hope we're not blamed by him for his going to jail.

 

Dan 

 

[Brutus]

Jason, glad your dog is okay!  Wow!  Cold in St. Louis and went back to work today and even got some stuff done, how's that for a government employee?  Sir James, I got your emails and sent them along, some real good ones!  Wow Dan - glad that worked out for you, what great luck to catch that kid so fast!

[Blueberryhill RR]

Dan....That's a good ending to a rather sad happening.

I'm glad it ended well for you.

Chuck

[danrunner]

Hey guys,

 

Caught my first crook today.  Warmed up my car in driveway this AM, went back in to get briefcase, came out --CAR STOLEN.  Filed the report w/ cops.  Called off work, as criminal had keys to house, wife's car, etc on my keychain.  Changed locks on house, changed code on garage door opener (had one of our's, too)  and headed to post office to change locks--had a hunch and had wife drive he through neighboring high school parking lot...THERE IT WAS.

 

Grabbed the school cop, they had video--and told us to go get away for an hour or two--they'd call.  1hr later, they had the kid-- 17 y.o. kid from our neighborhood. They were hauling him out in handcuffs as we came in to get car and keys he still had in his possession.

 

Man it feels good to nail this guy--and get our car back.  The Lord blessed us.  

 

A crazy day, but in the end, a GREAT DAY!!!

 

Dan 

[jonadel]

Doug--

My son and I rode the SS Badger last summer from Ludington to Manitowoc, good old boat that is still a coal fired steamer, couldn't believe it. We were on the Lake Superior Circle Tour and went out of our way to ride her, lots of fun http://www.ssbadger.com/

Just north of Manitowoc is Lambeau Field in Green Bay, even though you are a Bears fan you owe it to yourself and family to take the tour, it's fantastic.

[Nick12DMC]

Evening all,

 Have not had a lot of time to devote to the layout of late as work is quiet busy. What spare time I have has been used working in the garage preping the floor for painting. Once that job is out the way I can get the DMC inside and out of the weather.

 Talking of cars I like the sound of the Ram-1500. A contractor from Holland I worked with had the V10 sport Ram pickup. He used to go home at weekends, he did his best to avoid putting fuel in it while in the UK. Great looking beast in black.

Not that much happening over here apart from a junior trader at a French bank loosing £3.7 bn! Nor does it appear the guy was smart enough to invest in his own Island somewhere .

Have a good evening

Nick

  

[CSXect]

CSX - CONGRATS! We were watching the news last night and they had this story on about how gastric bypass and gastric bands help reduce diabetes.

I go to CONCI(Central Ohio Nutrition center something) They do everything from just counciling/diet planing, diet pills,Optifast and counciling for surgical procedures as a very last resort. Optifast works well because it gives you all the nutriants needed but also encourages your body to burn stored energy(fat) before processing new fat/calories from meals.

The challenge will be to keep up the new weight when they put me back on real food which is where the counciling comes in.

[ChiefEagles]

Back home and got to pack!!!!  Saw two Dr's [one physical who sent me to another one for shoulder], two sets of xrays and by CVS for meds.  later.

[cnw1995]

Morning all. Brisk here. Love to see the sun even the temp at 1 degree.

Brent, she can call whenever she's ready. So can you - btw, there's still an original Lake Michigan ferry cruising from WI to MI each summer. The Badger. That may be a good trip to take this year.

Hope Jason, Chief, Brutus and Dennis have good flights. 

[Anonymous]

Mornin' Fellas.

Busy day here fixing oversites on the project from yesterday's meeting. Have almost all of the fixes done!

Decided to turn down the job. Just too many ??? for my taste. Going to focus on the degree and then see what happens... going to be for the best IMHO.

Waiting to hear from the LHS on the track order. Trying to locate some 1/2 inch ply too (maybe run to Lowe's and Home Despot at lunch). Thinking I can get away with just three sheets now... we'll see. Have to pickup a drywall blade for the table saw too.

I see Chief is under the weather... Hope you get well soon - don't you have a trip coming up? Being sick on a trip isn't much fun.

Anj - I see you succeeded!

Grayson - Nice avatar! At least you haven't let Chief corrupt your mind thinking NS is the way to go!

Buckeye and Mike - Love those pics of the RR Ferry. Reminds me of my Boyscout trip on the CheeCheemon (sp)

Don and Doug - hope you warm up and dry out soon! You Californians have a problem with temps below 80 and humidity above 20%. Don't like rain or snow...

Fife - as always

DougM - I have been trying to get Susieq to call... something about 'I don't have any jobs I am applying for'... Maybe I'll just call and talk trains and trolleys

Brutus - Hope you are feeling better. That intestinal disease is a bear. Friend of mine back in the 'burgh has it and he is misserable when it flares up.

Mitch - any news on the car front?

CSX - CONGRATS! We were watching the news last night and they had this story on about how gastric bypass and gastric bands help reduce diabetes.

[dwiemer]

Jason,  Good luck, have a good flight.  I am driving down there today after my cases are done.  One of my cases is going to be done by someone else, so that should get me out the door quicker.  I hope to catch up with Brutus who will be down there next week.  I will be at the Contemporary till the 31st, if you want to hook up with us.  We plan to take in a train store if it can be worked out.

Brutus, make sure you drink some Cranberry Juice.  Not just an old wives tale, they have linked it's acid content to better management of stones.  Also, the latest studies suggest one glass a day will keep things open.

I too am looking forward to CTT.  Hopefully it will be here today as it will be good to have something to read when I have to sit in some talks at the meeting.  I go to learn but some folks like to just hear themselves talk and I am not much into that.

God Bless, have a good week.  I am not sure if I will get to check in.

dennis

[fifedog]

A&Y - I agree wholeheartedly, at least bring back the Ches - C cat.  Imagine that logo on a new SD70ACe, instead of that miniscule csx they've been applying...oh well.

[A&Y Ry]

Best of luck on your physical Chief[and luck avoiding the knee/butt-binding flight seats]. Got to keep the Mayor in good shape for rassling the bureaucrats.

Snowing icy flakes at a good rate here in the N.C. High Country this morning. Temp has dropped 8 degrees in last 2 hours---now 24F.  Got new hard drive installed in Greensboro Computer, need to go and get it set up. Second drive to expire in three years. Dell.

Ordered a used, original edition Richard Prince Atlantic Coast Line Ry steam era book. Loaned mine out over 20 years ago to a HO Club President and never saw it again. He left for Pacific Bell out west, also with my Prince's Seaboard Ry book in hand [which I replaced with a reprint].

I have a large collection of Southern Ry books but also like to study history and equipment of other Southeastern Roads: N&W, Clinchfield, Aberdeen & Rockfish, Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley, L&N, Kentucky & Tennessee, Central of Georgia,etc.

Just reading Jim Wrinn's [Editor of TRAINS] suggestion that CSX and BNSF change their names from corporate-speak to "railroad" names. Interestingly, the CEO of CSX seems to agree---but he has larger issues with Wall Street greed that is pushing for him to cut capital spending and goose earnings to raise share value. Last thing CSX needs to do is cut capital outlays.

Anyway, Wrinn it kinda seems with tongue-in-cheek, offers up the name "Chessie" as a replacement for CSX and " "something like Western" for BNSF.

[sir james I]

GOOD MORNING ALL

Its sunny and 13 this morning. snow did not amount to much. We get a lot of those kind. I did my running around yesterday so I'm staying in today.Chief-I hope your feeling better, and Brutus I received a batch of jokes to go through so be ready.   Later sir James

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  27 and supposed to flurry here in the Mid-Atlantic region.

jmkk - thanks for sharing  No breakfast for me,thanks.

Chief - Good luck at the doc's...be brave. (...place sound of rubber glove "snapping" onto hand here!)

[jmkk]

Morning. It has been a busy couple of days. Leaving for Orlando tomorrow am. And of coarse  the bride wanted the house extra spottless, because my parent and her parents will be staying here to watch the children. Considering I vacume and dust one floor of the house each day. this has been more like a spring cleaning. Washing all the blinds, trim around doors,kitcken cabnets,cleaning out the closets. IMHO way too much, but if she is happy then I will be. If it did not get done than I would have never heard the end of it. Had to take the dog to the emergency vet tuesday night. He was crying so loud and non stop the minuit he finished eating. He had been vomiting since Sunday night but the wife and I just thought he was not feeling well. So we get to the vet they take x-rays. They cant find anything wrong. The vet says the food he just ate could be blocking him from seeing something stuck in his stomach so they want to give him some meds to speed the digestive system up. So I had to stay home from work because if he vomited up the food that was in there after taking the meds. there was probally something stuck in his stomach and the vet wanted me to bring him back for more x-rays. Well at least he did not vomit. It all came out the end it was supposed too 4 hours later toothpicks and all. Wife had friends over Friday night and somebody threw out the left over rollups that had toothpicks in them in the office garbage can when they were helping clean up. Wife emptied the office can Saturday morning when she saw there was food in it, too late kids had been up before us and were downstairs playing so he must have allready ate them before she emptied it. Two more toothpicks Wednesday in his stool. Took him back to the vet for more x-rays Everything looks good. At least this is all done and over with and all is good now. My bags are packed. I will take a small nap when the kids go too school. I will go in to work for a half day tonight then come home and head straight for the airport 7:00am flight.As the Chief said sure hope the new CTT comes in the mail today. Would be good reading for the flight. Have a great day all.

 Jason 

[jonadel]

Greetings from the Heartlands where it's a balmy -12 but it could be nicer, north of us 100 miles it's -22, some folks have all the luck!

Very busy day, lots of organizing to be done and get ready for a big mileage weekend on the road.  It sounds like the roads will be dry, thank goodness.  Next Monday & Tuesday the temps will be in the 40's, dang it   I'm taking the camera along to do a bit of rail fanning but more importantly to hopefully get some eagle shots, it's been reported that many eagles have have congregated on the Mississippi around open water and that's where I will be tomorrow night.

  

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is not just cold, it is d**n cold in SE Indiana with temps in the single digits (at least they are positive...for now).  Went to the YMCA to do weights and track.  Watched "Deal or No Deal" and did some more office work last night.  Hopefully I will have tonight to myself.  Speaking of cars, I started out with Fords (Pinto and Fairmont), had a used Opel Manta (which I dearly loved, wished the body had stayed whole as I would still have it), and then switched to Chrysler products.  My favorite vehicle is a 1999 Dodge Dakota with a 5 speed V-6.  It is one "butt scooting doggie" when you hit the "loud" pedal.  Bran muffins were on the dining car again this morning.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is 20 degrees with a light snow falling. Going up to 25 today, with more snow on the way.

Today is a stay at home day. I have a few chores to do and then I will spend the afternoon in the train room. Needs some cleaning. I have to get busy with some scenery work. Keep putting it off. Running trains is the most fun.

Chief....Good luck at the doctor's. Have a safe flight.

Dining car is here and waitress is looking good. Time for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Thursday.

Chuck

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all.  Off to Dr's for physical.  No coffee and GRITS until after this is over.  Warm for this time of the year.  Long day.  Been up since 5:30.  Will be around 3 or 4 AM our time before I get to bed tonight.  Long flights.  No big chairs to Phoenix but big chair to Spokane.  Hope my CTT comes today.  Will make good reading when flying.  Have a great day.

[Brutus]

Nah, Doug - it's not apparently anything new.  As long as I don't have a stone while I'm in class, I'm a-ok to go as far as I'm concerned.  More importantly, my wife and kids are coming to use my room and hit the park, so you know I have to go

Good night, Sir James - just gonna have a little icecream and hit the sack - Banilla?

[Manamanah]

Buckeye

[http://my.coredcs.com/~bbokrlwy/w012303/mac020.jpg]
[http://my.coredcs.com/~bbokrlwy/w012303/mac014.jpg]

Carferrie Chief Wawatam St. Ignace Michigan

Mike

[cnw1995]

CSXect, I lik browsing the dollar stores and get those cheap sets occasionally - they have interesting people figures and other odd items in them - playground equipment, flags, fireplugs.

Buckeye, you have to take the Badger across Lake Michigan to Ludington. Formerly C&O, wasn't it?

Manamanah, if the photo is hosted somewhere you can paste the URL in the photo box and then click on insert and it should work.

Brutus, hope this doesn't take away from  your trip.