2008 [PART 2] and the Coffee Pot is still on and now 4 years old. Here we gather as friends with trains. Sweet ice tea too.

[dwiemer]

Good Afternoon everyone.

     Hope everyone is doing well.  Watching some coverage of the hurricane.  Big difference this time around.  I think the new governor has a lot to do with the response.  Have some honey dos to handle and then we are going out to eat with the producer of the movie.  Should be fun.  They are a great family and really "walk the walk".

     Hope to do a little train time tonight, but I am on call.  Have a bit of a headache so I will get off here and take a nap.  May you all have a blessed day and week ahead.

Dennis

[kpolak]

Afternoon all!

Well I dood it.  Garden Fastrack laid and wired!  Test run successfull!  Kids are asleep, so I can't run it with the cars...drat.  Discovered MOW group was difficient in straight sections, Rider's Hobby closed today, so I couldn't spend any money...and had to shrink grandious intentions.  Track laying and wiring didn't take long...Carpet Central size.

I think I'll build the plantings and wiring for a temporary layout may be in the cards.  Have everything in but the track, and install a few times during the summer, for train parties....

Kurt

[Buckeye Riveter]

Afternoon everyone.  Great weather here in Buckeyeland on this Labor Day.

Fishing buddy in Alabama missed the big stuff but reported several tornadoes in the vicinity.  It looks like the other hurricane is aiming for Roseyville.  This could be interesting.  Knowing the Mayor he will put martial law into affect, evacuate the town to higher ground and then ride out the storm in the bunker with his dermatologist. 

I hope to receive a MTH Realtrax 0-42 replacement switch tomorrow so I can continue wiring the layout.  This particular switch, my 12th was dead out of the box.  I've fixed 3-4 of them, but this one would not move even with a different motor and different control.  Did get my replacement smoke unit for my K-Line from Brasser. 

Looking forward to receiving my Ohio Central Beeps this month. 

Steak on the grill with sweet corn for supper to celebrate the end of summer.

[Brutus]

Brilliant idea, Kurt - take a picture!

Buckeye, are those Realtrash switches? 

Family home - son and I are watching The Gamers: Dorkness Rising, which is pretty funny!

[sir james I]

Hot 86 today,ran trains for a little while but stayed inside..S.J.

[cnw1995]

Afternoon all. A gaggle of the daughter's friends had an overnight in the basement - I made them a fire in the backyard to make s'mores. They seemed to have fun though I can't stay out that late anymore. After they left today, the bride and I took the youngest to the beach. I had to run back when AT&T decided to come early to replace what turned out to be a defective switcher. All well on the TV side now. Gave the youngest his bath, finished the laundry and am marinating the pork chops. Whew!

Glad the family is back safe, Brutus.

[wrmcclellan]

Afternoon all!

Hope everyone had a nice Labor Day weekend. We did, but were awfully busy until today. To celebrate the day I spent most of it snoozing in front of the TV.

Brutus - that basement is starting to look pretty good - professional!

Doug - we have had two of the AT&T cable tuners changed - they make this irritating high pitch squeal when it warms up. Its like a ringing in your ears. the tech could hear it, but does not know if they can do anything about it.

Dennis - that nice about your premier. Congrats!

Daan - good to see you're still around and kicking!

Thanks for the prayers for my aunt. I am waiting on a status report hopefully tonight.

Enjoy the rest of your day all!

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

IIABSDISEI with temps near 90.  Spent a relaxing day at home.  Ran the 318E Classic with NO pileups!  Did a little shopping.  Went to practice with "my" soccer girls.  Worked with my "student" and sent her out on the field for her first scrimmage.  She stayed upright and she said she had fun, and so it was a good day.  Prayers going out to all those affected by Gustav.  I had bran muffins on the dining car.  Brutus, the homing beacon is lit up for the Tardis to fly by.  Loads of zucchini bread are waiting (foods of the gods good).  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[ogauge]

Kurt, your a mad man on the loose with the fastrack in the garden.  Saw the phots and it looks good!!

 

Well the first two kids  are over being sick and so the little guy finally got it too.  Poor Gabe at 2.5 yrs just sits there full of childrens Tylenol and still at 101.5F telling us "theres stuff in my throat"  His runny nose is draining... poor kid is too little to understand.  The girls took 2-3 days to get over so were through the first day with Gabe...

Took the girls over to grandma's house for the day and lunch and I stayed and used the bead blaster on the box of trains I took with me.  Finished blasting some blue comet cars/parts and did some serious work on a huge rusty lot of trains I got from Louisana after Katrina.  That has been a real challenge.

 Was a nice relaxing day  my mom had fun with the girls and Gabe was able to rest without them bugging him. 

 Well, heres to a short work week, well to some anyway!

 

 

[Brutus]

Mike, I love zuchini bread, I'm stopping at your house first! 

Roy - thanks man, I know you've seen a lot of professional construction lately too.  How did that go, job finally done? 

Doug - It's funny, I missed them like crazy while they were gone and now it's like they never went.  Where did my big weekend go, anyway?  I'll trade ya some zuchini bread for a porkchop

[ogauge]

OOhhh yea Zucchini bread... good stuff.  Couple of weeks ago a guy at work brought some in, stuff was TASTEY!  I'm closer, be right over!

[kpolak]

ogauge:  Thanks!

Brutus:  I'm in!  I'll see your zucchini bread with leftover fajitas, homemade salsa, and homemade guac!  First day of school tomorrow for the 3-1/2yo so you'll need to set the way back so I can get some sleep.

Good day of running trains!  Sure beats the 4'x7' in the office.  A ton of smoke, and it just blew over to the neighbors...  Had a couple of gaps where the radaii didn't fit 100%, only one minor derailment....before company.  14'x7' layout, only one electrical connection.  Can't wait to amass more fastrack!

Kurt

[cnw1995]

I'll raise you each a pair of porkchops marinated in my secret sauce, and throw in some flavored rice and home-grown tomatoes. Oh, and I got some special beers for everyone. I've never had zucchni bread - sounds tasty. Beautiful night here.

Brutus, I know what you mean.

Dang, Kurt, I gotta try on the deck that with the FastTrack I've not known what to do with...

[ogauge]

Kurt,  I may be wrong but that stuff will probably rust if you leave it out ( I am assuming you weren't going to).  I remember a listing on the bay late last year where a guy was selling a crapload of fastrack that he had  used for an outside layout and it was all rusty...don't know how long it took for that to happen though.  If I'm out to lunch just ignore me!!

[sir james I]

Kurt, I liked your outdoor layout, BUT check the running gear for sticks and stones they were not designed for that kind of running.

Brutus, banilla is ready, also have root beer, so come on over...S.J.

[edw]

are there even any eagles in Merryland...?

Quite a few, actually.

Maryland is one of the top ten states in the country with respect to eagle population. Not surprising when you consider that Maryland has an abundance of rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, all of which is prime eagle habitat.

Nesting pairs have been found in 21 Maryland counties including within Baltimore city limits. Look up, Fife!

I spend a lot of time in southern Maryland and I see eagles quite often when fishing. And while it is always a treat to spot one, I was a little dismayed when I recently saw one hanging out at the local landfill.

[ChiefEagles]

Phish/mitchie - Yeah, but with "Ponies", Robert could've adopted a logo eerily similar to the NS thoroughbred scheme, thus the RR tie-in...

are there even any eagles in Merryland...?

EDW is right.  But the Eagles of NC actually came from England to MARYland.  Then moved South to settle in eastern NC long before the WAR.  Guess they did not fit in in MERRYland.  [Merryland is a little joke I pull on Fife and Brent because they get me on being a REB]    Worked too hard today.  Mowed grass, found lots of fireants [none on my property except one mound at the pond.  how did those suckers get way down there away from everything????] and baited them, weedeated my lot, down the street to the next block on the curb as neighbors are too lazy to trim around their mail boxes and weedeated the pond on two banks.  Labor day was labor for me.  Meetings for me tomorrow.  Then call MTH and work on switch problems on Wed.   Chat later.  

[jefelectric]

Evening all,

Just back from a cookout at the daughters place.  Checking out the forum and relaxing with a Yuengling Balck & Tan.  Hope everyone had a pleasant Labor Day and our friends on the Gulf Coast have  survived with little damage.

edited:

Kurt, I just saw your photos of the outdoor layout on SPF.  Great idea and right smart looking.  If you decide to go permanent with the track you might try Atlas, they claim their plastic ties are UV resistant and of course the rails are NS. 

[SPMan]

Spent a quiet labor day today.  Watched the news for a while about the hurricane in New Orleans.  Hope those dikes hold up where the water was splashing over the top.  Spent a lot of time on the internet trying to find out about my new medical problem ( ulcerative colitis) I think.  I have to get more information from the doctor.  He prescribed some med which cost about $437 per month.  There is no generic either.  Insurance will cover until I hit the famous donut hole and then I have to pay out of my own pocket.  Ouch!  Is it legal to buy meds from Canada now a days?  I'm not sure but it sure is a lot cheaper up there.  Enough about that.  I did run my trains for a while this morning before it got too hot in the garage.  Just ran my ACL stuff today. MTH E-6's with 7 car passenger consist and ACL GP7, one powered and one dummy on the other track.  Both units are DCS with command control.  I have some ACL F units but they are Proto 1.  However, I still run them just as much.  I read on the "other forum" that a guy in my TCA Western Division hosted a get together over the week end and set up Fast Track that ran all over his house.  He does this one in a while and supplies free pizza to the guest.  Sorry I could'nt make it but it sounds like they had fun.  He lives near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and has deer camped out in his yard.  He had a picture of three of them crossing the street in front of the house right by a deer crossing sign on the street.  What a shot!  Hope you all had a nice labor day.  Later, Ray

[ChiefEagles]

Still up but headed to bed.  Did some late night train running.  Switched one train from box cars and I beams to coal with bath tub gons.  Then switched engines around in one lashup.  Lionels NS SD40-2 leading with dummy Conrail Uboat and followed by CN SD40-2.  It is now pulling piggybacks and double stacks.  The Atlas NS SD40 highnoses are pulling the LONG coal train.  Then reversed the piggybacks and they are running counter clockwise and coal is running clockwise.

Good night.  Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite.  

[mitchelr]

Phish/mitchie - Yeah, but with "Ponies", Robert could've adopted a logo eerily similar to the NS thoroughbred scheme, thus the RR tie-in...

are there even any eagles in Merryland...?

PUH..leeze... NS Thoroughbred... Fireball Forever.

Spent my Labor Day much like Roy.  Took wife out to Perkins for Breakfast then snoozed in chair most of the afternoon.  Went to G'burg Outlets to pickup some pants.  New school year,  need some new clothes.   I HATE SHOPPING.

Have to get going.  Have a great day.

Mitch

[Buckeye Riveter]

Heading back to work.  They tell me I need to work harder.  There seems to be some guy who just started collecting SS and it is costing us a bundle.

Have a good short week.

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

  54 and nice here.  To get hot later 88.  Ran trains last nite for a while had some problems with Legacy.  Seems that when I pressed start up key it shut down,on the CAB2.  Replaced batteries and still the same thing.  NO LIGHT no NOTHING. I have to call Lionel and find out about this?

  Have a good one,

laz57

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a clear and sunny 60 degrees. Going up to 88, today, with sunshine.

Good Morning, Buckeye. What is " SS " ??

Today is a busy day. I have a bunch of errands to run and the usual chores around the house. Gas went up 20 cents for the weekend. What ever the reason was. ?? 

This summer went fast. Now we can wait for Autumn. Pretty month.

Dining car is here and it's time for breakfast. Later.

Y'all have a great Tuesday.

Chuck

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

IIABSDISEI with temps in the 90s.  Did some "work" work last night.  Had pancakes and sausage on the dining car for breakfast.  Glad everybody enjoyed the zucchini bread.  Ride in the Tardis was a bit bumpy, but made it home in one piece.  Today is the first day of classes for Lucas.  It will be interesting to see if he writes home about it.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[ChiefEagles]

Heading back to work.  They tell me I need to work harder.  There seems to be some guy who just started collecting SS and it is costing us a bundle.

Have a good short week.

 

Morning.  Tried to sleep late.  Burg [lab] woke me up shaking his head [jingling his tags on his colar] and dancing around.  Let him out to pee and washed is ears out with flush Vet made.  Seems better now.  Would have like to have slept later.  Coffee time before getting ready for meetings this afternoon and night.  Breakfast????  I'll figure it out.  Hope all the LA and Texas gang are OK.  Hanna and Ike, make sharp right hand turns and go to England.  John Baker needs some excitement.  Have a great week and God bless.  

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Mornin' Audubon Society members.  Sunny & 66 here in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Gonna do some painting on the house, then don the monkey suit this afternoon.  In spite of two of the children's best efforts, had a pretty relaxing day yesterday.  No more pyull 'til Memorial Day...

[sir james I]

Good morning

Close to 90, next couple days, guess I stay in and do train stuff. Cooler later in the week so oil changes are planned.

Enjoy your monday, even though its tuesday...S.J.

[cnw1995]

Morning all. Back at work. Supposed to be hot today, but I won't know it because I'll be inside all day. Hope we get a little rain. I was lucky once to see an eagle from about 20 yards away on the Taquemenon River in the UP of Michigan. It was quite a sight. Resembled our Chief. Ran Thomas's work train last night - mostly to clean track. I am pondering how best to add insulation to the attic having popped my head up there whilst the ATT guys were here yesterday.

[ChiefEagles]

Speaking of Eagles, we have a guy who teaches classes on raptors and brings them to Rolesville.  Our new Nature Park will have a famous wildlife demonstrator doing "shows" and will include Eagles.  This guy is nationally known.  He lives about 5 miles outside of Rolesville.  He needed a place to call "home show grounds".  We are furnishing it for him in our new park with amphitheater.  Gone to Town Hall.  Later