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

[Anonymous]

Mornin' Fellas.

Mitch - you need an IT guy?

Don - Now I know how to model you on the RR... standing at the front door to your building looking at your hands and rubbing your forehead!

Well I didn't get much done on the layout last night, just mostly some playing around with tunnel portals and digital cameras! LOL! The first shipment of electrical components arrived yesterday. Now have 10 Euro style terminal blocks. Next I need the rotary switches and knobs (have to order today I guess). Did stop at Lowes last night and got 150' of 18-3 wire for the switches. This ought to be fun because the wires aren't black/green/red so I have to remember what order I attach them to each switch. Also picked up some 18-2 so I can run the feeders to the gantry crane and will also serve as the power bus for the lighting. I've been contemplating this as well... not sure how I want to do the lighting... really like the idea of the lights coming on randomly and not all at once when you flip a switch... but don't know how to make that happen.

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is another SNOWy day in SE Indiana with temps in the 20s.  May have to start using the inhaler.  I went to the YMCA to do some track work, and my lungs just quit on me after two or three laps.  I can walk ok, but running is just out of the question.  Very frustrating.  No TV last night.  Did get gas for the rental and the mileage is about 18-19 MPG, which is not bad for a V-6 4x4.  Doug, you can keep the snow up north.  We need Kevin in Alaska to shut the door.  Don B, you do have interesting days!  Chief, glad to hear you are enjoying time with the grandson.  Has anybody heard from Colin (TMCCC Man) lately?  I knew he was going to have surgery or did have surgery???  Basketball sectionals began and ended last night for the local high school boys' team as they lost badly.  The IRL is having a big press conference today concerning the merger with ChampCar.  I had the usual fare at breakfast this morning.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[phillyreading]

The weather around here in south Florida has been a little crazy as well! Thunderstorms followed by much lower temps, around 45 to 50 maybe lower if weather man is correct. Been having some tornado watches as well! Florida usually gets hurricanes, not tornadoes!

Waiting for my package from Historic Rails to arrive, Reading Crusader in H.O. gauge, couldn't afford it in O gauge.

Also doing some more work in my train room, since most of the painting is done now I can focus on putting up a train track around the cieling level, almost half way finished.

Lee F.

[sir james I]

GOOD MORNING

Weather is it today. 9 degrees going to 20. temp dropped  from 34 to 28 yesterday afternoon and anything not dry froze real fast.our street has dry and ice spots a fender bender at the corner probably mothers taking kids to school down the street. the Toledo paper reported the offical snow for yesterday was 8.8 inches. we got 2.

RockIsland-Never been to Beaver Island,sorry. I've seen a lot of Mich over the years but not there.

March is near,hang on,,,,,,S.J.

[Anonymous]

Mike,
I haven't seen Colin or Grayson posting lately. Probably due to school and their work load. Hope both are doing well... would like to see how Grayson is progressing on his layout and what he thinks of ScaleTrax. I saw it at the LHS a few days ago and all I can say about it is that it is not for me. That thin center rail would cause me great concern.

Sir James,
We're the opposite where I live. When Bal'more gets 2 inches, we get 8! LOL! That's why I bought a tractor with plow.

I hope to get back to Mackinaw Island some day. Susieq has never been there and I think she would love it. Problem is it would take us 12 hours to drive there! So unless I can convince her to take a 5 day trip to Michigan it wouldn't be worth the drive. Would actually rather have 7 days so we could stop and see things on the way up and on the way back.

[cnw1995]

Morning all. Cold today. What else is new.

Thanks, Kurt. Molsons for breakfast is good training for the 17th.
Brutus, how do you suppose Tallylyn is pronounced anyway? (subliminal message: buy the John Bull train - and the extra coach) Those Welsh place-names are maddening.
Jack, I believe you are right that Paul lives in Glenview. I live a bit farther out.

On the train-ride in this morning, I was experimenting with creating activity cards for guests to the layout. Pick a card, try to do what it says.

[dwiemer]

Roger, we had some horendous weather.  Heavy winds, rain, etc. and of course, followed by the lower temps.  Yesterday, I was in shorts.  Today, I think I'll don some long pants.  We have nothing to break the weather up, so we do get the tornados.  We have had some around, but haven't had one in our yard in about 5 years.

Got some wiring done on the layout.  Most of the main run is done, but I have to make some labels for where it comes to the circuit breaker box.  Then, I have to make the runs to the switches and isolated yard sidings.  I also have three more loops to finish.  I am finally making some progress on this.  Can't wait till scenery is started.

Hope everyone has a blessed day.  We are halfway through the week.  May y'all enjoy it.

Dennis

Doug, we were posting at the same time.  One thing you can do that I have seen elsewhere:  Make cards with little things for them to find on the layout....ie: "Find the fisherman", or how many _____ can you find?

De

[cnw1995]

Dennis, I love that idea. Great excuse to add more details. Guests are usually reluctant to take the throttle. Afraid to do something wrong I guess. I remember seeing a layout like that at the High Railers show in Palatine, IL - they handed out a flyer... hmmm, that shows usually in March. Have to hunt around for it.

[rtraincollector]

Doug that was a good ebay sale and it still has 4 days + to go and already at $360+.

Well we have snohio here this am not a lot about 1" but thats enough for me.

Brent your right on our 2 youngesters I hope all is fine also.

[sir james I]

Hi Brent, a week trip is easy just staying near I75. Toledo and Detroit both have good zoos and art museums. Huckleberry R.R. at Flint,live steam narrow ga. engine was used in Alaska.Great Lakes Crossing a large mall with  Bass Pro shop, Birch Run has large Outlet center. Frankenmuth has all you can eat chicken dinners,but are getting pricy.a very very large christmas store.  and you haven't got to Saginaw yet.  S.J.

[cnw1995]

Sir James, after visiting Mack, Brent can continue around the lake - through the beautiful UP, see the nice yard at Escanaba. Down to Green Bay - visit the National Rail museum, then down to Chicago where Susie can shop and he can visit all sorts of rail and modeling sites. Then he can head home properly.

[sir james I]

Well Doug I guess we got Brents vacation taken care of.The UP also has casinos the Soo locks the waterfalls that I can't spell,copper mines to explore. he's all set.

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Good to "see" everyone today.  Sunny & surprisingly mild in the Mid-Atlantic region this AM.  S'posed to get chilly.

cheapclassics - I would love to see the IRL and NASCAR host a companion weekend or two.  There are quite a few crossover stars, and it would be a boon to the open-wheel crowd.  A couple years ago, ISC was gonna buy some portion of IRL, but not sure how that went...

[Anonymous]

SJ and Doug,
I'd love to go West after Mack, but back in the 80's while in the BSA we went on a trip through MI where we stopped in Mack and went canoeing on the Ausabul River. After that we went through Sault Ste Marie, then headed East on the Trans Canada Highway, in Baldwin we headed South on rte 6 to South Baymouth, then boarded the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry to Tobermory. Then we took a glass bottom boat out to Flower Pot Island for the day. If I did this trip, I would probably do that and then stay in Niagra Falls for a night or two, then head home. You only really need 2 days on Mackinaw Island to see the whole thing and really experience it. But 12 hours in a car for a 2 day vacation just seems silly.

[johnandjulie13]

On the train-ride in this morning, I was experimenting with creating activity cards for guests to the layout. Pick a card, try to do what it says.

Hello Doug:

How long does it take for your train to get in from Crystal Lake?  Is that the NW line?  I may have been mistaken, but I thought you worked in Lincoln Park.  Is that correct?

Regards,

John

[johnandjulie13]

SJ and Doug,
I'd love to go West after Mack, but back in the 80's while in the BSA we went on a trip through MI where we stopped in Mack and went canoeing on the Ausabul River. After that we went through Sault Ste Marie, then headed East on the Trans Canada Highway, in Baldwin we headed South on rte 6 to South Baymouth, then boarded the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry to Tobermory. Then we took a glass bottom boat out to Flower Pot Island for the day. If I did this trip, I would probably do that and then stay in Niagra Falls for a night or two, then head home. You only really need 2 days on Mackinaw Island to see the whole thing and really experience it. But 12 hours in a car for a 2 day vacation just seems silly.

Hello Brent:

That is the debate I am having about York.  It seems to make the most sense to fly into Baltimore.  But then adding the expense of a rental car makes for a tough decision.

Regards,

John

[cnw1995]

Hi John, it's the former C&NW line from Harvard (nee Janesville, WI) into the former North Western station. I work at the Loop campus at Wabash and Jackson. It takes about an hour-and-a-half inbound; an hour-fifteen homeward.

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

  32 and cold here with a nice breeze, to get to 35? 

Very busy here today with kidos.  Ran some trains last nite all good NO PILE UP.

MILLERSBURG YARDS DAY 3 NO PILE UPS.

Going to try and run some tonite?

B GOOD or B Gone,

laz57

[johnandjulie13]

Hello Doug:

This sure has been a lousy winter to make that daily walk from Union Station to Wabash. Keep thinking warm thoughts.

Regards,

John

[anjdevil2]

Hello from a windy and cool (cold to the Rebs...) Jax, FLA.

Had to deliver a car to Trenton (FL not NJ ) out of da office all day.

Calm now that the BoyFriend has left.  Have a softball tourney in 2.5 weeks for the Company, so it's time to head back to the gym and get the aches over before the games starts (someone pass the BenGaye, PLEASE!!!).  Had a good time at the Train Show Sat., Roger, saw your LHS there, didn't get much time to browse, was promoting the custom layouts for MY LHS!!  A good time was had by all...  Picked up a Lionel made Mopar Parts tractor-trailer and a LW, spent only $50!!! Amazin'!!  Ran the C&O Sunday (Goodness, I LOVE that engine) and started getting the area set up for TMCC and if room permits, my O-48 fastrack.  That and I still have to pull the motor out of my race wagon to ship to Chicago in a couple a weeks, man I'm busy!!!

Whilest in Trenton, I spied a Florida Midland engine on a side track.  Got pictures!!  Funny, never heard of it....

Mike, read about your run in, glad you are ok.....

Ok, I'm done Later!
Rich

[phillyreading]

Hello from a slightly cooler WPB FL, should get down to the 40's overnight.

Hope you guys in central FL near Orlando didn't get hit by any tornadoes last night.

My package from Historic Rails is now in Jacksonville FL and schedualed to arrive tomorrow according to UPS.

Fixed the air conditionong in the wife's car and ouch bill was high! $960.00 to replace the compressor and reciever dryer, cools great now.

Maybe work on painting some more tonight, trying to complete my upper level around the room, second time I had an upper level like this.

Lee F.

[Blueberryhill RR]

Chief, it has been found, that you have not signed the proper forms, to allow you to post, on the CTT forum. This is a strict requirement. Failure to sign these forms, will, allow someone else, to post in your place. Please adhere to the rules.

Buckeye has the proper forms for you.

Chuck

[cooltech]

Hello all! I enjoy these threads, though I haven't posted much yet. If I can finally get some renovations here at home finished, the trains will get back to running. But for now, thanks for the wonderful field of topics discussed here at trains.com. By the way, My posted avatar pic is Amtrak Genesis at a station in Washington DC. My granddaughter and I were on our way back form the Simthsonians across the platform waiting on the local commuter.

cooltech

[ChiefEagles]

Chief, it has been found, that you have not signed the proper forms, to allow you to post, on the CTT forum. This is a strict requirement. Failure to sign these forms, will, allow someone else, to post in your place. Please adhere to the rules.

Buckeye has the proper forms for you.

Chuck

You must have seen the new article and/or the TV interview.  Wake County Public Schools are going to catch it tomorrow from all the Mayors.  That is really funny.  Wanted to make the High Sheriff and another Mayor sign the forms and I spoke to the third graders and was not asked.  So, I took up for the Sheriff and my fellow Mayor.

Lee, I told you.  You have a very smart wife  [now got her A/C fixed].

Great trip and visit with Mom too.  Had a Dodge SUV called Nitro [that is the name of the BPS bass boats].  Pretty good.  Now for dinner.  Later

[Anonymous]

For your viewing pleasure... The Susieq River Scenic Railroad - via Chessie F3

http://www.youtube.com/v/LtC7NsTC-9s

 

[johnandjulie13]

For your viewing pleasure... The Susieq River Scenic Railroad - via Chessie F3

http://www.youtube.com/v/LtC7NsTC-9s

 

Hello Brent:

Well done!  How did you end up filming that?  My only complaint with youtube is the awful video quality.  Everytime I see a cool train clip I get aggravated with youtube for limiting the video quality.  Having said that, please do more!

Regards,

John

[Buckeye Riveter]

Chief, it has been found, that you have not signed the proper forms, to allow you to post, on the CTT forum. This is a strict requirement. Failure to sign these forms, will, allow someone else, to post in your place. Please adhere to the rules.

Buckeye has the proper forms for you.

Chuck

Sorry, this is an un-approved post.

You must have seen the new article and/or the TV interview.  Wake County Public Schools are going to catch it tomorrow from all the Mayors.  That is really funny.  Wanted to make the High Sheriff and another Mayor sign the forms and I spoke to the third graders and was not asked.  So, I took up for the Sheriff and my fellow Mayor.

Chief...I am sending you the forms such you will be allowed to post on the CTT forum.  Fill out all 53 pages and then make 8  10 copies and forward two copies to me, two copies to Chuck, two copies to Laz, two copies to Don and two copies to Doug (either one will do).   After reviewing your forms for 8-10 weeks, we will either approve you to post on the forum or ask you to fill out additional supplemental forms.  

Thank you for your cooperation and have a good day. 

(Anyone else need a copy??)

[Anonymous]

Chief, it has been found, that you have not signed the proper forms, to allow you to post, on the CTT forum. This is a strict requirement. Failure to sign these forms, will, allow someone else, to post in your place. Please adhere to the rules.

Buckeye has the proper forms for you.

Chuck

Sorry, this is an un-approved post.

You must have seen the new article and/or the TV interview.  Wake County Public Schools are going to catch it tomorrow from all the Mayors.  That is really funny.  Wanted to make the High Sheriff and another Mayor sign the forms and I spoke to the third graders and was not asked.  So, I took up for the Sheriff and my fellow Mayor.

Chief...I am sending you the forms such you will be allowed to post on the CTT forum.  Fill out all 53 pages and then make 8  10 copies and forward two copies to me, two copies to Chuck, two copies to Laz, two copies to Don and two copies to Doug (either one will do).   After reviewing your forms for 8-10 weeks, we will either approve you to post on the forum or ask you to fill out additional supplemental forms.  

Thank you for your cooperation and have a good day. 

(Anyone else need a copy??)

No, but the selection committee sounds like it would be interesting boring. I think I'll pass on all accounts. You may have to send Doug (squared), Don, and Chuck to teach Chief to read and write first though... Laz... just need to make sure the bear doesn't eat the forms!

Edit - on second thought, just send Chuck and Doug (squared), if you send Don he'll just teach Chief to forget his keys!

[rtraincollector]

For your viewing pleasure... The Susieq River Scenic Railroad - via Chessie F3

http://www.youtube.com/v/LtC7NsTC-9s

 

all I get is a blank page with with yellow triangle with white ! in it at bottom left and done next to that . My putor as I can access the other youtube on the thread you started out in the main forum.

[sir james I]

EVENING ALL

Its getting cold around 8 before morning, and then it's suppose to give us a break. After tomorrow nites snow of course. I ran a couple of trains today and got a call that the Lionel Nascar sets were being put at blow out prices. My fav. store was breaking up the sets and engine and caboose were going for $60.00. I have heard that the engines were not very good runners so I passed. A good price but I don't need another engine. That was my day along with some tv of course.

Brutus- my wife and I finished the ice cream cake but we still have banilla,peach,strawberry,and hot fudge topping with kroger peanut butter for Chewy. Everyones welcome just don't wake me up when you wash the dishes. Good nite Chewy,,,S.J.

Weather channel says it's 4 degrees now.I guess 8s not going to be it.