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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.

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Posted by Birds on Friday, December 12, 2008 10:50 PM

Evening all,

Got the control panel assembled tonight.  Made a few mistakes during the assembly but they are minor and it's not furniture.  I was able to get the layout map, block toggle switches, and turnout controllers mounted.  Saturday I will add the buss bars, wire it all up, and then finally run some trains!!

Also got the lights on the Christmas tree tonight (including the classic bubble lights).  Decorations and the G scale trolley will be done over the weekend. 

Enjoy

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Posted by kpolak on Saturday, December 13, 2008 5:07 AM

Morning all!

LAZ:  Let me know how things are at the gun show...We have one in January.  My Father attended one the other day.  Very busy, and priced high, with expectations of gun control.  People were buying.

Birthday party for 4-yo today.  Sent out 4 invites, and still no one called here, not even to say no.  Will be interesting to see who shows up.  Need to frost the cake and cupcakes.

Started painting the rails...I like the grimy black center rail, but I need another color for the side rails.  I was looking for a darker color, to match what I see here.  I tried Floquil Mineral Brown, and Red Oxide, but I'm not sure I like either.  I think I need to see what things look like with the ballast in.

Kurt

 

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Posted by rtraincollector on Saturday, December 13, 2008 5:10 AM

Chief I believe you said you do your retreat today so I hope you have a safe trip back to the homeland and keep your head down untill your deep into VA.

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by dwiemer on Saturday, December 13, 2008 6:43 AM

Good Morning.  Well, the best of plans....  I am here getting ready to do another emergency.  If we can get things done early, I may still have some time to take care of things at the house.  Got home last night and SWMBO had taken that "Disneyland Locomotive" and gave it a place of prominence on the mantle.  Asked me what I had intended to do with it, I told her it was a pretty piece and would probably give it a home on a shelf somewhere with minimal run time (it has not been run and it is a 35th anniversary issue).  She wants to have a place downstairs that we can keep it.

I hear that the current administration may "rescue" the automakers.  Regardless of which side of the issue, it is funny that the same guy who the unions and democratic leaders have demonized over the last few years will be the one to help them out.  Please, I am not castigating anyone, just another strange twist in this thing we call life.

On a sad note, one of our orderlies who retired about a year ago had a massive stroke and died yesterday.  I really liked the guy.  He was a lot of fun and had a great perspective on life.  They will have the funeral on Tuesday....hope I can make it.  As an aside, everyone, please make sure you get your physicals and do as your doctor says.  Especially African Americans, you are more likely to suffer from Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Heart Attack, Peripheral Artery Disease, Stroke, etc.  Make sure you get checked out.  I have had too many good people retire and die within a short period of time because they had health issues they were either not aware of, or were not taking medicine for things they knew about.

RT and Jim, times like this, I wish I got overtime....just not how it works.  Also wish I got paid for the amount of time I have to field questions and give advice on the phone while my dinner gets cold or I can't really be with my family.  Oh well, it keeps me out of trouble.

Well, we have a patient, so I'll check later.

God Bless,
dennis

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Posted by fifedog on Saturday, December 13, 2008 6:50 AM

Mornin' boys.  Mornin' English.  Well, good morning Brent; Mitchie.  Certainly nice to see yuz guyz.  Spent 4 hours out in the cold directing traffic on a major artery, after a lowboy trailer with a big cat digger-thingy-ma-bob snapped a telephone pole in half.  Still thawing out, as was not wearing fifeys-johnies.  What cereal was Yule Gibbons a pitch-man for...?

Still not finished layout.  Still not started Christmas shopping.  Can't rush these things, ya know?

Birds - Perhaps a pic of that control panel on SPF...?

kpolak - "dress" shoes got boogered-up painting the house this fall.  Howzabout a nice Hawaiian shirt, very festive.

...aaannnnd, I have A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS VINCE GUARALDI TRIO on the CD player in my trainroom--->4 paws up!

sir james - Went to Greenberg show last week, just for the "therapy", and still came home with a bag full of goodies.

dwiemer - Let us know how that modelboard turns out.

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Posted by sir james I on Saturday, December 13, 2008 9:01 AM

Good Morning

I definitely Need some train Therapy, we have three young families who's jobs are at a very high risk of disappearing. It's makimg an old man out of this old man. As for the guy in DC, his motive is that he does not want history to remember him as the man in charge when the US auto companys went under in favor of foriegn auto companys.

Sun is up, 25 degrees,40 tomorrow and monday with rain. I expect to leave for the show in about an hour, it opens at eleven and that will give the line a chance to dwindle. A longer walk across the parking lot will  do me good. Details later.

S.J.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

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Posted by cnw1995 on Saturday, December 13, 2008 9:02 AM

 Morning all. Grey here - back from small group at church - they changed the door code on me. Good thing I had a credit card (whoops, Fife, you didn't hear that).

Kurt, I thought of you when I came home last night and found the house full of high school girls baking cookies - smelled great.  The middle boy was in heaven too. He's in a much better place since his gym teacher begged him to go out for wrestling, which he did. Good ego boost for a guy whos been down. Ten years of watching WWF/WWE on TV finally paid off Wink

Dennis, I think I could've repaired the coat, but he needed it like now.  I wish you also got paid for your free advice.  As soon as someone finds out my bride's a nurse, the questions start - 'Junior's got this thing here-  can you look at it? It'll just take a moment." "Pal, we're having a moment here..."

Laz, I think I saw your 800 lb. bruin on TV in the stands at Thur. game.

Fife - Grape Nuts!!!

Going to see Santa after the bride returns from church. Lots of folks at its 'store' for disadvantaged folks today :(

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

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Posted by jmkk on Saturday, December 13, 2008 10:20 AM

Morning all. Hope all are well. Today should be a good day for trains. My inlaws are picking the kids up for dinner and a sleepover. I think I will take the bride  out to dinner. After that she will use the quiet time to grade papers, she has a ton of them to do. That will leave me with a good amount of time for trains.I should be posting in S.F.F..

Sir James, I know how you feel. I definitely use the trains as therapy. My mind is always racing and I think I have developed an ulcer thinking about my job and what is going to happen. I should by stock in Pepto. I definatly need some train time. 

Jason   

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Posted by dougdagrump on Saturday, December 13, 2008 2:01 PM

Mornin Boyz & Girlz,

Lovely morning here, if you like dark, dreary and drizzley. Bbrrrr.

Fife, how did the drivers know which way to go if you started shivering really bad ?

As usual the munchkin was here yesterday, gramps was flat wore out come bedtime last nite. Sound asleep by 9:30, Dead . He was supposed to be Grampa's helper yesterday, putting up some lights, but after pickingup a few pinecones so I could cut the grass first he decided it was more fun helping Grandma get out somee of the battery operated singing Christmas gizmos. Oh well, cheap labor what can you say. Wink 

Later it was time to play trains !

Missed out on some Atlas hoppers at Stout Auctions, no biggey it was a "lowball bid" anyway. Figured if I won great if not no biggey.There's always tomorrow.  Approve

P.S. Just wanted to say thanks to Bob K. my CTT arrived yesterday. Bow

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Posted by SPMan on Saturday, December 13, 2008 5:26 PM

Good afternoon all,  I went to our TCA Western Division Christmas party today and a good time was had by all.  I missed our DCS demonstration layout man who did'nt make it today so no trains were running.  We had plenty to eat, however and good fellowship.  We raffled off a 1950 Lionel Hudson but yours truly did not win it.  Door prizes were given to all the wives and sweethearts as well as the children in attendance.  A train set was given to one child in a drawing also.  Other door prizes were given to all the membership in a drawing and a prize was given for the best show and tell item.  It was a time of reflection for all the wonderful TCA Chirstmas parties gone by and to remember those members who are no longer with us.  There are lots of new people whom I have'nt got to know yet but my old crowd is getting a lot smaller.  I only counted 4 or 5 people whom I have known a long time.  I think I'm all done now on Christmas parties so I can get busy and do some shopping with what time we have left.  Happy Holidays and best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

 

Ray

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Posted by cnw1995 on Saturday, December 13, 2008 6:01 PM
 Evening all. Spent much of the day working on the layout, while it snowed and rained out. I had a "helper" too. I stubbornly tried to use 80 year old O gauge track because it let me use a pre-war bridge. Lots of self-induced headaches. Finally by isolating everything, going track by track and crimping all the connectors, it worked! Connected it to the R transformer for old times sake and run the 248 on it. It doesn't like the 520. Now I'm trying to shoe-horn a three-track engine house served by another version of my lazy-susan turntable - but I'll be working on that for weeks.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Saturday, December 13, 2008 6:37 PM

LaughWhistlingLaughWhistlingLaughWhistlingLaughWhistling slipped back through Yank lines with no problems.  Stopped in Ashland at BPS.  Went back by lake house and all is fine.  Now for dinner [deer fed and everything OK].  Later.

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Saturday, December 13, 2008 6:37 PM

LaughWhistlingLaughWhistlingLaughWhistlingLaughWhistling slipped back through Yank lines with no problems.  Stopped in Ashland at BPS.  Went back by lake house and all is fine.  Now for dinner [deer fed and everything OK].  Later.

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

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Posted by sir james I on Saturday, December 13, 2008 6:55 PM

Good Evening All

Lite snow turning to rain by tomorrows 40. train show was pretty good more than usual flyer tables, I thought of our forum flyer friends. Spent very little and thats a fact. Just nothing I could not live without. Prices seemed down a little. Have a good evening and banilla is waiting....S.J.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

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Posted by Birds on Saturday, December 13, 2008 8:39 PM

Evening all,

We have trains running here at last!!!  SmileSmileSmile

The wiring went pretty smooth.  The trial runs showed one small block that I forgot to hookup to a toggle.  Then I made a rookie mistake and connected the posts of the transformer backwards.  Shows how long it's been since I've had anything hooked up and running.  The right posts really do make a difference when trying to get those SPDT toggles to operate block control and different throttles correctly.

Found one siding where I had to add an extra screw on one side of a curved section of tubular track to level it out a bit.  When the train hit this siding at speed it would de-rail.  Works fine now.

I'll try to get some pics up on Sunday Photo Fun but I gave to clean up the room a bit first.

Enjoy
 

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Posted by cheapclassics on Saturday, December 13, 2008 8:42 PM

Good evening all,

It was cloudy today in SE Indiana.  We had a good turnout at the museum today.  Tomorrow will be the busy day.  Finally got the HO engine and two cars to run forward reliably.  Love to watch the expression on the little ones faces.  Came after and got up the rest of the leaves that I am going to do this year.  There are still some on the branches, but I am not going to fool with them.  Wife and I had Pizza King pizza at home and watched an "American Girl" movie.  It was the Kitt Kittredge one set in the Great Depression, which seems particularly appropriate now.  It was fun drinving the Tardis last night and seeing Doug's layout.  Probably too late to light the beacon tonight, but if there is a flyby, the zucchini bread is fresh out of the oven.  I had bacon and bisucits courtesy of the "saucy wench" this morning for breakfast.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by jefelectric on Saturday, December 13, 2008 9:18 PM

 The three smallest granddaughters visited today.  Two youngest, 5 & 2 had a ball watching and the 5 year old running the trains.  Ran the North Pole Central with the musical box car, had a freight running on the main and the 5 year old ran the old time Pennsy passenger train using DCS.  She likes to talk through the mike on the DCS remote.  I have a hopper full of candy on the North Pole Central that they can grab a piece when it goes by.  They love that.

Welcome home Chief. Thumbs Up

It was a cold but beautiful day here today.  Supposed to be the same, but a little warmer tomorrow, then go down hill next week.  We did get about 2-1/2 inches of rain on Wednesday and Thursday which was much needed as we are still short for the year.  Better rain than snow.

John Fullerton Home of the BUBB&A  http://www.jeanandjohn.net/trains.html
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Posted by CSXect on Saturday, December 13, 2008 9:43 PM

Hello everyone.

Birds, congrats on getting trains running, I am still yet to put permanent track down on my table but I do have a plan in mind.

Chief you are repeating yourself againLaugh   Ran an old cheesy plastic lionel Southern loco with the tendar wheel full of BB's very low tech but still cool effect.

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Posted by dwiemer on Saturday, December 13, 2008 10:08 PM

Chief, welcome back to friendly territory.  Hope they didn't beat you up too much.  The choir special ran a bit late tonight, but I think we have all the bugs worked out for tomorrow.  It runs a little over 2 hours long.  I am glad I am on lights and not camera...that would be a long time standing.

The cases went well today, but it just wore me out.  I had a nap afterwards and then had to get ready for the practice mentioned above.  I never did get layout work done, nor did I get to put lights up outside.  Bride understands as I have been putting in a lot of hours lately.  Looks like the gentleman from South Africa will be joining us.  They have to work out the Georgia medical license, but we figure by mid February, he should be up here.  Kind of an interesting story, he was born in Rhodesia, but left when Mugabe and the thugs took over.  It is now Zimbabwe, but certainly not a place you want to live.  He escaped to South Africa and eventually here.  I helped him get into school awhile back and now things have come full circle.  He will be working right along with me.

Well, I hope that folks got their Christmas Shopping done (except Fife as it is too early for him yet).  Lots of traffic around the malls and even some of the smaller stores.  Tractor supply is quite busy these days too.  I wonder what SWMBO will say when she sees the new tractor I bought her!Black Eye  Just kidding...I know better.

Looking forward to SPF.  Hope y'all have a great weekend.

God Bless,
Dennis

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Posted by Brutus on Saturday, December 13, 2008 10:47 PM

Hey Dennis - got 'er done.  Son's present bought (psp 3000), daughter's is already on board, wife's already playing with hers....  Hmmm, I think I'm forgetting someone?  Gotta read the pot for the day, but wanted to share this train video Wink  (EDIT) Be sure to crank that WAY UP!  Laugh

Lots of posts.  Dennis, I'll bet your boss thinks you already are getting paid for the OT Wink  Our union isn't very good, but we do get the OT and it is nice.  If I go management, that would probably be considered to be figured in a lot of the time, but there is OT even for our managers - just tops out at a lower pay scale [:?]  We'll see.

Doug - sounds like fun with tubular track to me - you love it, come on!  Really had fun running what's left of your layout last night.  I think Rich and Laz were up to something when we flew over that one lake house?  Just glad nobody fell out!  Guess we'll have to recon first tonight, there might be anti-aircraft this time?  Tardis is just taking off after a long day, so somebody better drive.  I've got some cold ones thanks to a loving wife and we also have cookies from Mrs. Fields' - probably enough for everyone!

TTFN!

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by Brutus on Saturday, December 13, 2008 11:06 PM

Alternate Train video with some actual train footage - good video!

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Saturday, December 13, 2008 11:32 PM

Yes, screwed up software.  Deleted it.  Got email saying deleted and still there. Laugh   Birds, congrats on running trains.  Remember when I got all of my trackd down and ran the first train through and around.   Dennis, glad to be back in Southern territory.  Was telling one of our friends about the three guys being so rude to Pam.  She laughed.  Said they moved to Raleigh and went to the gro.  Lady at checkout welcomed them to NC and etc.  When they left, her daughter who was around 11 asked if her Mom knew the checkout lady.  Her Mom laughed and said, "Folks down south are friendly.  Not like those we have been use to up north."    It takes a forum and/or visiting with folks like on this forum to let us know that not all Yanks are rude and don't have time to be nice and friendly.   Time for bed.  Good night.  Sleep tight and don't letthe bed bugs bite.  [BTW: lots of grits been hidden in DC] 

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Posted by dbaker48 on Sunday, December 14, 2008 12:03 AM

 Just in case nobody noticed, this is my

2000th POST  !!!!

Now I've been thinking the past few days about what I could do for this mounumentous occassion for me.  Been thinking, and thinking.  Havn't come up with a really great idea, just a bunch of little ones like........

Writing something about how thankful I am for all the blessings I have, OR

Talking about how much I enjoy this forum, and great bunch of guys there is here, OR

How much fun I have had, and all wit, personality, and humor that expounds from here, OR EVEN

Put together an expose of various pictures and stuff that has been posted over time.  (Mostly at the Chiefs expense), but then we've already been down that road.  OR MAYBE,

Post some pictures of my layout, and some of the stock and engines, OR EVEN THE REINDEER  UP ON THE ROOF (that I worked so hard on).   

BUT AFTER ALL THE THOUGHT THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND MEANINGFUL THING I COULD DO IS SIMPLY THIS :

 

THANKS GUYS !!!!

 

 

 

Don

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Posted by John Bakeer on Sunday, December 14, 2008 12:26 AM

 #70 behind me. Downhill from now on, got indegestion to start my 71st year.

John Baker

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Posted by Brutus on Sunday, December 14, 2008 12:43 AM

Happy B-Day Happy Birthday, John!  Congrats, Don!  Apparently I rolled through 3K and didn't even notice?  Welcome home, Chief!  Good night!

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by Sturgeon-Phish on Sunday, December 14, 2008 2:45 AM

Good Morning from Southern Ohio,

On night shift and having some breakfast of oatmeal with raisins.  I just started a SPF thread with Buckeye’s car leading it off.  I imagine there may be a few exchange cars posted this week.

DougM – Wrestling is an excellent sport for guys on the light side.  Tremendous confidence and discipline builder.

Birds – Way to go.  Inertia is great, keep up the progress.

Don – well said.

Back to work.  May God bless

Jim

 

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Posted by kpolak on Sunday, December 14, 2008 5:42 AM

Morning all!

Doug:  I hope it was the latter that brought me to mind.  Dunce  Seriously, I hope I can build a home that is as comfortable for my girls to have friends over as often as you do!  You and your Bride are doing a great job!  Great news about the wrestling team!

John:  Happy Birthday!

Well...we made it!  After a few hours at Chuck E. Cheese's I was all Chuck E.'d out.  The blank stares on the children's faces confirmed they were too!  Best news is almost 4-yo was quoted as saying "this is the best Birthday ever!".  Today, family and close friends get together, after Church....

More track painting today?  Hopefully....  I have been trying to get a Korten steel (dark reddish rust) color...I have been brushing on a base of Floquil Grimy Black, and top coat it with Mineral Brown...I'm close, but not quite.  I think I'm going to need the airbrush afterall...Maybe while the Bride is out....Whistling

 

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Posted by David Barker on Sunday, December 14, 2008 6:17 AM

I just watched Bob's Train Box Installment #4 and feel it is the best show on the net.Bow  For the birthay present you deserve show that clip to family and friends!

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Posted by rtraincollector on Sunday, December 14, 2008 7:17 AM

Happy B-DayJohn hope it was/is a good one

Chief glad you got back safe and sound.

Hope all have a blessed day talk to you all later

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by fifedog on Sunday, December 14, 2008 7:24 AM

Mornin' boys.  Mornin' ENGLISH --->Happy B-Day (BTW. I DO love a good blonde joke Laugh)

Beautiful sunrise (like pink-purple-and-blue cotton candy) and 36 here in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Big day here, as the RAVENS take on the steelers at 4:15 (do not call my house during this time, as I will immediately hand the phone to the littlest princess who will engage you for a good 30 minutes with a discussion on webkins).  HEY 88! you gonna use those tickets, you have been awful tired recently and need some rest...Cool

Sad news on the NASCAR front...43 car is vacant with no sponsor...sign o' the times...Sad

cnw1995 - CORRECT.  You go to the front of the class.

dougnotta - I have found that waving ones arms 20k times is great arobic work-out.  I only slightly alter this regiment by bouncing an orange traffic glove off an errant motorist's windshield.

Well, I'm too chatty.  Need to get downstairs and get some pics for SPF!

P.S. dbaker - CONGA on 2000.  I was secretly hoping for a good lampoon on his honor; oh,well...have to wait til 3000 I guess.  Be sure to send your red crushed valore smoking jacket to Buckeye to get those stars sown on the cuff...

P.S.S. dwiemer - Wifey drug me thru the mall for a couple hours yesterday afternoon.  I wasn't quite ready...

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