Good morning from clear and cold, central North Carolina. Temps in the lower thirties this morning.
Brutus/Jim: Thanks for the suggestion. While I realize that templates are better than nothing, computer sofware for track/layout planning is the way to go. RR-TRACK is a neat product, but I think he figures his target audience probably has more disposable income. With the demographics of model railroading, that's probably true. But one size doesn't fit all and I think he'd probably see a substantial increase in sales if he would lower his price just a little bit.
Given I don't even have a place for a layout yet, I'm just dabbling and doodling on paper right now. Some software for O-scale modeling would really make it easier.
Good Morning
Cold and 30. Yesterdays snow covered the ground but the grass is showing so there isn't that much. Roads and walks are dry. I plan on giving my friends new Williams TM a test run today but after that I don't know. Actually I don't think I have anything planned. Got to find a family size turkey though. Oh well enjoy your Monday..S.J.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Sturgeon-Phish Morning all We got back in late last night from being in Columbus with the retreat and see several pages to catch up on the pot. Fife - Not sure of the issue but prayers as needed for you and yours. Chief and Buckeye - Sorry can't do confessions, can do last rites I'll try and catch up later May God bless Jim
Morning all
We got back in late last night from being in Columbus with the retreat and see several pages to catch up on the pot.
Fife - Not sure of the issue but prayers as needed for you and yours.
Chief and Buckeye - Sorry can't do confessions, can do last rites
I'll try and catch up later
May God bless
Jim
If he does not confess to his "sins" on the forum and ask for forgiveness, you will be able to do last rights.
Snow? Snow? Snow?
BTW Buckeye: no Southerner would ever move to Ohizo. Snohio is not the reason why they would not. You know, you send your trash and junk to the landfill. Ohizo is the nation's landfill.
OH NO! Going to be a busy week. Slept till 8:17. Now, sat down at 10 PM with glass of Coke Zero, reached for remote to see if good western was on and also picked up portable phone to call Shake and Bake [due to his off hours time zone, you have to call him at midnight EST]. Woke up at 2 AM with remote in one hand, portable phone in ohter and not a sip of coke gone from the glass. I CRASHED!!! Got up and went to bed. Right after getting up this AM, phone call from a lawyer for a client he is repersenting that is working on an agreement with Town. Lasted until now!!!! County Commissioners this afternoon, free dinner at Golden Corral [notice I said FREE] and then Mended Hearts after than. Got to get leaves up, gutters cleaned out and pecans picked up. Breakfast and coffee needed. Then poll Town Board memebers on what the lawyer called about. Later.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Morning all. Cold and flurries here. Should clear later. A 'Golden Corral' just opened near home - looks like an IHOP. More drama ith the teens last eve - working with the middle boy so he better copes with upsetting situations. I was impressed with the UP's trackwork this morning while two long trains raced inbound next to one another at 60 mph. It's a weird view from the upper level of these cars. I see the IRM took delivery of two steam engines and a tender over the weekend.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Good afternoon,
I was called into work some OT needing my “special” skills. The OT will be nice with the holidays coming.
RT – you have a situation that led to a fire in a Cincinnati area restaurant in the late 70’s. A lot of structures built in the mid 70’s were wired with aluminum wire and when spliced together with copper wire even if properly done the expansion rate of the two metals are different and eventually work loose after many heating cooling cycles. I’ve rewired entire home to remove the aluminum wire. Ditto on what Chief and Jim F says.
Patrick – Welcome!
Doug – We have a Golden Corral, around here we call it the Golden Trough, all you can eat one price. Great place to take hungry teenage boys!
Fife- Continued prayers
A couple of flurries on the way in to work but the temps are dropping. Check back later
All one can eat? Oooh. Walked up to Fields uh Macys at lunch today - checked out their Christmas windows (somehow they look smaller than when I was a lad) then took the elevators up to see this year's tree in the Walnut room - finally visited FAO Schwarz - nice big Lionel display - with overpriced Pennsy Flyer, PoleX, North Pole Central, Thomas and Hogwarts sets. No T'giving box car I could find, but Thom and the Hogwart engine and first car out of the box in plastic cubes on a half-moon of track.
Good morning all, Probably over three weeks ago, I ordered a Walt Disney World Train Station from the Bay. At this date I'm still waiting for the thing to show up. This is one of those Parcel Post horror stories I'm afraid. We tracked it from Florida to Bell, California. Then it was sent back to Cincinatti, Ohio. Why, I have no idea. Then it was sent back to Bell, California. I'm hoping that the next move will be to me in Glendora, California which is only a few miles from Bell. We have contacted the seller and she says "bear with us". We have told the seller that we will wait one more week and after that consider it lost at which time we would like a refund or replacement. The seller has 100% positive feedback but I don't know how they got it. Could be an isolated problem I guess. I'll let you all know how it turns out. I think I made a comment about this on the pot about November 5th. If it ever comes it will be worth waiting for. It is called an HO model but it is really closer to O gauge. It is based on a real station in Saratoga, New York and is a beautiful Victorian Age Design. Sounds like the cold weather is creeping in on all you folks in the North and East. We are still baking and burning here in Southern California. Wild fires have burned several hundred houses in the last few days. Air quaility seems better today where I live than yesterday which had a lot of smoke. We were afraid to go walking today even though it looks clear because the newspaper is still saying unhealthful air in our area for people with sensitive breathing problems. Have a good week Y'all.
Ray
SPMan
JeffPo Good morning from clear and cold, central North Carolina. Temps in the lower thirties this morning. Brutus/Jim: Thanks for the suggestion. While I realize that templates are better than nothing, computer sofware for track/layout planning is the way to go. RR-TRACK is a neat product, but I think he figures his target audience probably has more disposable income. With the demographics of model railroading, that's probably true. But one size doesn't fit all and I think he'd probably see a substantial increase in sales if he would lower his price just a little bit. Given I don't even have a place for a layout yet, I'm just dabbling and doodling on paper right now. Some software for O-scale modeling would really make it easier.
Have you checked out http://www.thortrains.net/ ? He has a bunch of different layouts from very simple to very complex in several different brands of track. Sometimes when I'm looking for ideas for seasonal temporary(?) layouts I'll use one of his and make adjustments/changes to fit my needs.
Finally got the halloween stuff down and put away, but still some things to clear away in the garage before my baby, the truck, gets her room back.
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
Just finished bagging the last leaf. In the drizzle. And the dark. Commitment. I would now like a bubble bath.
Oldest boy discharged form Trauma Center. Now at Grandmothers. Thanks again everyone.
Fife - prayers continued, good news
Dougdagrump - feeling better now?
37 degrees in St. Louis. Enterprise loaned me a Ford Edge? It's okay. I think it's getting 20.4 MPG, but ads online say 24, so maybe this is an average. I drive mostly on the highway during the week.
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Fife glad to hear hes doing better.
Just got done watching the history Channel show about the coal train and I see what a few of you have said is correct my personal answer to wife was thanks for recording it it was good but the guy narrating it was an idiot It was like he was a little kid or the show was being made for little kids. It was interesting if you could tune him out. The narrating when it wasn't him going bonkers was good. you could even see the engineers seem to think he was a nut case.
Well today was my Friday this week I have the next 2 days off. Need to get up on the roof tomorrow and cut some small limbs above chimney to fireplace. I also want to get it cut as too close to the house for my liking.
Not much else going on. Talk to you all later
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
fifedogMornin' boys. Sunny & 39 here in the Mid-Atlantic region. "Off" today, so out to the yard to rake the bad leaves (you know...the ones that didn't blow into neighbor's yard..). To everyone here ---> Thank you. Professionally, I have journeyed to our Trauma center a couple hundred times...but when it's your own, GEEZ... dbaker - Please check your email. Need to know...
Mornin' boys. Sunny & 39 here in the Mid-Atlantic region. "Off" today, so out to the yard to rake the bad leaves (you know...the ones that didn't blow into neighbor's yard..).
To everyone here ---> Thank you. Professionally, I have journeyed to our Trauma center a couple hundred times...but when it's your own, GEEZ...
dbaker - Please check your email. Need to know...
Fife I will hope and prey for improvement in situation. You never know when something is going to happen and when it is someone close it is all ways takes us by surprise and off guard. Good things happen as well hope they will outnumber the bad things.
Good evening
A cold 32 and not much else for the week, should be in the 40s.
I gave the new Williams a test run today and as usual powered it up and away it went. Six alum. passenger cars and a smooth run at 10 volts, yes 10. And thats with two lites per car. Banilla is ready so fireup the thingy.
Doug have a safe trip home tonite.....S.J.
fifedog Just finished bagging the last leaf. In the drizzle. And the dark. Commitment. I would now like a bubble bath. With his little rubber ducky. Oldest boy discharged form Trauma Center. Now at Grandmothers. Thanks again everyone. Thank God.
With his little rubber ducky.
Thank God.
Well, did NOT eat a GC. Got there at 5:10. Parking lot over full and into neighboring street. Line outside the place and inside too. Only neat thing was ROTC was there and did the walk through the sabres salute thing. Left and went to Old Chicago [had never been]. Outstanding food but had to pay. Left OC at 6:30 to go to meeting. Line was around GC and no where to park except at neighboring car dealership. Did not know so many vets in my area. One in Raleigh on our side of town was the same. Vet riding with me to meeting said he bet some folks were NOT vets and trying to get free meals. He said last year, folks would not eat and leave. They tied up tables and used it as a Vet reunion. Oh well, I now know of a new good restaurant to go eat. Now for popcorn.
Chief they stated no proof needed to be shown. I heard a lot say because they worked at the VA they felt they deserve to go I Kept mouth shut but shouldn't of.
Also we have on GC here and its about 1/2mile from main gate to Army base yeah any think your going to get in there NOT I didn't even try or go near there. Knew better.
Tardis is ready - have to warm it up a little first, it turns over slow when it gets this cold out! I see a few beacons, so we should have some fun
Back from a good session with the middle boy. Wow, what a nice kickoff return TD by Buffalo. Pick me up, Brutus!
Morning all from chilly Southern Ohio
It snowed last night. We have a dusting on the grass, but the streets are clear. Getting ready to go out the door for another OT day. Check back when I can
Chief, HELP! all them politicos from Ohioz have moved into Georgia (along with the media). Seems we actually have a election that matters. Hope we can do early voting, if not, I'll have to see about mail in vote as I hate to miss the vote because of work.
Anyway, was supposed to get together with some friends on Friday night, but now we have a interview to do and will have to cancel...hate that. With any luck, we will have a position filled and I will be able to resume a good life. Regardless, it takes 6 weeks to get a Georgia Medical License, so it will be January before relief.
Got a "Dennis" fire engine from Diecast Direct this week. Also have some more auction winnings coming my way. Gotta run, patient coming to room.
God bless,
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
Good morning all,
It is cloudy and cold in SE Indiana today. Did some more Second Life last night. Had some interesting conversations. Work was a bear yesterday. Some data was wrong on a dataset. When I was investigating what was wrong, somehow the database got hosed. May have to have it restored. Some people going to be unhappy. Long days. Had pancakes and sausages on the dining car this morning. I hope everyone has a good day. Brutus, the beacon is lit and the zucchini bread is ready. Hopefully some one else can drive.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Good Morning All
Bright sun but in the 20s, 34 is it for today. No news yet,haven't planned the day. Maybe Kroger and maybe not. Enjoy your day....S.J.
Hey,
Up to a balmy 60 today and windy, down to 27 tonight. Winter is here!! OK, Where's my SNOHIO???? Made baked chicken (breaded and baked in Olive Oil with seasoning) with chicken noodles last night for dinner. Afterwards, tried to get into the train room, made it in there for about 10 minutes then got distracted.
Not much happening, been quiet at work. I have a vendor lunch today and much like the Chief, I'm going to eat FREE!!! Should be interesting....then I have my annual review at 4.
Picked up an OGR at lunch yesterday, lots of nice articles and pictures, may delve into that a littel later today.
Keep warm, we'll see ya later!
Patrick & JeffPo!!
Rich
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
Good Morning from Blueberryhill....
It is a cold 28 degrees. Sun is starting to shine. Only going up to 36 today with a few snow flurries.
Today is an easy day. I have a few chores to do around the house and then I will relax. Been doing some exercises and am feeling good. Still have not made it down to the train room. This is getting serious.
Dining car was here and we had the usual for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Tuesday.
Chuck
YANKEE INVASION!!!!!! Cold air is here and windy.
REBS will PREVAIL!!!!!
Morning all you good gentlemen and Yanks too. Ohizo left the door open. Today may be a leaves day. They have dried and are curnchy. Means they will blow and mulch up easily. Got to put bagger on mower. Slept late. Went to sleep watching a movie I had DVD'd. Lucy was asleep in my lap. Woke up at 12:30. We both went to bed. Seems she like to sit in Dad's lap now and not be a hipper thing. Time for late breakfast. Coffee is needed. Town Board tonight.
HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY
Its been a few days since I've been able to post. Now that I have your attention, (esp. Chief). Buckeye has nothing to confess too. He was carrying out orders!
I had received instructions from the great political machine to create a diversion, to thwart any activities of any local political efforts that may be in the process of development from local political groups no matter how small, that I may be aware of.
Now, knowing that the chief had recently been involved with the regional gov't in NC, and then he had started, covert meetings (disguised as water dept related, AN OBVIOUS DECOY). And with his investment in a remote command center, (note the cleverly deceptive idea of a lake, consistent with the water dept, ploy.) I then consulted with Buckeye, he was somewhat concerned but not convinced. And really felt that even if the chief was successful it wouldn't be a threat. I wasn't so sure, so then we discussed what resources may have been available to the chief.
I was convinced when I talked to Jim Duda, (a very old and reliable source, especially involving neighboring actiities), and saw the Rebel Vehicle evidence that was there. This is when we decided to proceed with the entire event, and created "Auction Lucy". The entire effort was a complete success, the subversive resources where all eliminated. Since the completion of the operations, Buckeye has been on a HIGHLY involved investigative effort, that has required maximum security. This has been done under the "guise" of his hiding in a cave. WE ALL OWE A DEEP DEEP DEBT TO BUCKEYE, FOR HIS UNRELENTING SELF DENIAL, AND SACRIFICE THE PAST FEW DAYS. THANK-YOU, BUCKEYE
I have it on very good sources, that our efforts have been so good, that the research that Buckeye completed will probably not be required for at least 4 or 5 months. Will be planning some "fly-by" reconnissance efforts, and worst case, We may have to tighten our resolve if so you may be solicited for some secret resource transfers, and reviews.
So just had to set the record straight, but couldn't do it sooner, I'm sure you all understand why.
Don
BRRRRR FROM SUNNY TAXACHUSETTS. 28 last night and low 20s or high teens in the short term forecast, for mid November no less. Snow in the forecast as well for the coastal towns (me) as it seems another one of Chief's storms is headed up the coast. My nearly 10 year old rescued Doberman is going in today for an orthopedic consult for a bum shoulder, and we fear (uninsured) surgery is in the pipeline. Re the horrible California fires, what do you CA boys do to prepare for an event that could strike you at any time? Last night I saw a news segment where the power went out and an elderly lady couldn't figure out how to open her electric garage door in order to escape in her restored 1973 Camaro with her wedding album and her R.I.P husband's ashes. CA. firefighters to the rescue! My wife would have left my ashes behind so she could evacuate more dog toys with the dogs and more of her shoes.
Speaking of firefighters, the Worcester MA. fire department recently dedicated a new firehouse to the six brave men who lost their lives 9 years ago trying to save the homeless who were thought to be in a burning abandoned warehouse. They weren't in there, but the firefighters charged in with little or no regard for their own lives. The ultimate act of heroism. Funny how some things stick in your mind. These are men whose bravery I will remember for the rest of my life. Courage and selflessness are not dead.
Fife......so it's over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house son goes. Grandparents (me) like that. Continued prayers for his recovery, and for you and F-Wifey. Time to stop and smell the roses a little more than normal this Thanksgiving?
DougM.....Re coping skills, my wife could use some. Continued prayers for your son's progress, and strength for you and your infinitely better half. There is reason for even more hope and joy this holiday season in your household as well. MACY'S? BAH HUMBUG! The NY clan on the Forum would understand if the tables were reversed and they had to rerelease Miracle on 34th Street with a Marshall Fields in the picture. This will never sit right with my lifelong memories of downtown Chicago, especially at Christmas. Cast Brittany Spears as the mother and the debacle would be complete.
Brutus......so in the St. Louis metropolitan area you actually get to drive on your highways? We get to park there and creep a lot on the way to work or wherever, dodging potholes as we idle along, wondering how much some stinking painted lines could possibly cost so at night and/or in the rain you could tell where the road ends and the grassy parts begin. HUGE toll increases on the political docket for January implementation: roads, bridges, and tunnels. Statewide gas tax hike would be more equitable and spread the load, though that money would fall into a deep dark pocket anyway. Our toll rates will soon be pushing NYC for the #1 national ranking in the daily cost to the drivers. And in this economy and for the average citizen, a daily financial hit that will be significant if not staggering. Hmmmmm. Fuel to heat one's house, food, and an additional $25 per week just to get to work. The incoming barrages on the average folks just don't stop.
RoySP......hope that train lost in transit to you isn't something you had a hard time finding at a reasonable price.
DougDG......thanks for the www.thortrains.net link. The Holiday layout section has a lot of great 4' X 5' ideas beyond the simple under-the-tree loop for a very small financial outlay while keeping things simple. Everyone who sets up a simple around the Christmas tree layout should check out Doug's provided link.
SirJames......sounds like that Williams might be your most prodigious hauler. I always wondered how with their dual can motors they stack up power-wise against other dual motored offerings like the postwar F3s and others. With 6 of those heavy aluminum passenger cars and running at just 10V, that's quite a load handled so easily.
Chief......I get tired just reading about all of the "official" running around and the home(s) projects you are juggling. Was surprised you didn't take the official Roseyville Blackhawk gunship to the GC Veterans restaurant affair knowing parking would be a challenge even for someone as important as you. Blackhawk must have been deployed on a seek and destroy mission to the caves of Snohizo.
MikeC......so your data base at work went South. Are you sure Brent is not your IT guy, messing with stuff in your back room?
Speaking of Brent, did you die? I am confident if we start throwing some hand grenades into his bunker he will divert his attention from relatively unimportant and never ending work-related disasters, step up, and start defending himself on this Forum.....where his primary focus belongs.
RT.......hope there are no more of those aluminum wiring issues lurking in your walls. While the initial job might have been satisfactory and to code at the time, there's no telling how many places previous owners hacked into the stuff and performed some dangerous substandard alterations. At the behest of my wife, I investigated a non-functioning wall outlet in my son's room many years back and traced the problem back to the switchplate. Seems son disconnected the wires in there and left them that way, bare and exposed, albeit in the box. Why on God's green earth would he do that? The excuse was pretty lame, but a house fire would not have been. The challenges of parenthood are daily, diverse, and never ending.
JimmyD......[bow] on the hobo fire and smoke Polar Express passenger car alteration threads, pictures, and videos. Is that a picture of you or Earnest Hemmingway in your avatar?
Laz......you have a lot of those outdoor fires. Are you burning woodshop scrap or your mistakes? Mistakes would explain why you never run out of firewood.
Not much from Roy lately which probably means the fire ants in his back yard are under control. I warned him that burying those "eliminated" miserable home subcontractors in the yard could have unintended consequences. He should have watched all of the Godfather movies for some disposal ideas first.
Later Gang.
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Morning all. Cold and breezy here in Chicago. Hmmm, is the Chief up yet? Mike C, hope the database is easily recoverable and no-one notices... I hate when that happens ;) Jack, prayers for your pup - you'd like the 'Loop Express' holiday decorations they're setting up on State St. They look like a cross between a Plymouth - the train kind - and a Porter. Hmmm, I may have to check out some of our dead outlets. No one beats Chicago for the cost of driving, congestion, highest tolls and gas taxes in the nation...
Heavens to Merkitroid!!!! An USMC Osprey just flew over my house very low. Started shaking the house before it got here [unless it hovered] and went on for over a minute. Think Lucy and Burg thought it was an earth quake. Unbelievable. They have lfown over lots of time but neve that low. Roseyville is in a military fly zone. We get screaming F15's and Harriers all the time. Also helecopters. Jets are usually in pairs to fours. One day they are going to clip one of the cell antennas around here. Yes, you can see the rivits they are so low. Fun to watch. Gives the schools kids at recess something to look at.
PS: ask Shake and Bake [really baking now] about his yesterday. Had to blow ash from fires and then wash it down. Don't mess with Mother Nature and the Chief.
That'll sure raise the blood pressure. Our neighbors still talk about a pair of F15s lighting their afterburners over the neighborhood on 9/12/01. I love local air shows. It's taken me two weeks to finally realize the reason security is so unbelievable around here lately is the presidential transition team is a block away. I realized that when this gigantic motorcade closed nearly everything in the south Loop yesterday afternoon...
On the wiring front electrian went thru the box and saw no more copper/alumin miss fits all were either aluminum or just copper no mixes he also checked to see everything else was correct.
That plane I posted the other day was a pic taken at NAS Norfolk about 17 years ago I forget the story now .
Oh chief that fly over this am was buckeye on another raid to see if he could get you to jump up.
Not much else happening very windy hear so can't do much on a ladder today as wanted to get up and trim branches well maybe tomorrow we'll see.
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