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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 laz 57 on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 7:03 AM

HI GYZ,

  31 and SLICK roads today.  Lots o PILE UPs on the roads.  To change to plain rain later?  Going up to MOMs this afternoon so hope it is all cleared up? 

  I probably won't be online till Sunday nite?  So to all hope YUZ GYZ have a very HOLY and MERRY CHRISTMAS.  Hope under your tree you find the gifts yuz want?

Stay Frosty,

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
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Posted by fifedog on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 7:07 AM

Mornin' boys.  For weather, check out Southern OhioSo much to do today.  Only have one SIL to buy for.  Had to get  medevil with the younger boy last night over school and his sty-ov-a-bedroom.  Hopefully I will soften up and return his XBox360 tomorrow...

laz - I may have mentioned this before, but I saved my bathroom sink during renovation, and intend to flush mount it with my benchwork on the next section, so that the rotary tipple will dump right into drain, with the "raisinetts" being collected in a bucket below.  However, if you only intend on running several cars through the tipple, a single MTH with speed control can easily handle the grade up to the structure.  Will you be "feeding" a nearby power station on your layout?

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Posted by laz 57 on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 7:19 AM

FIFE,

  Thanks for the info on the tipple.  I was thinking of sinking the tipple down on the bench work so it is even and then rigging up a small conveyor belt to take the spilt coal back up out of the ground, to sort of look like a mine operation.  I'm still in the thinking stage of this and have lots of thoughts about how to use this tipple.  I know with either MTH or Lionel Odyssey will be able to handle the cars and angle, but I don't think the incline would look good on the 5x12 layout?  I might have to just set it up with incle to check it out?  I'll let you know what I do.

Thanks again,

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
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Posted by mitchelr on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 7:27 AM

Morning to All

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.  Heading out later today for BIL & SIL's. Probably won't get to check in again until Saturday.  Here's hoping that Santa Claus brings everyone something with flanged wheels.  Laugh

 

Take care,

Mitch

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Posted by cnw1995 on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 7:30 AM

Morning all. Merry Christmas Eve! Snowed all day yesterday - supposed to be off-and-on all today and get a lot colder again. Funny how 30 degrees for a day felt warm. Not to busy a day I think but I'm sure the bride has things for me to do. Church at 3 today. Very fun to hear the youngest create an elaborate rationale to explain all the Santas he sees. Watched the musical Scrooge and White Christmas last eve. Good job with the single mom's family, Chief!  Fife, I like your idea of using the sink for the tipple. I'm still trying to use my pre-war track for an extension - I also got a transition track to use with about 8 ft of Fastrak just to see what its like - $8 for it and $5 for a lock-on at a Hobbytown USA - sheesh!

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

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Posted by kpolak on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 7:39 AM

Morning all!

Quick check in to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! and a belated Happy Hanukkah!

Christmas Eve with Mil side, Christmas Day with FiL side. 

Kurt

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Posted by RRCharlie on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 8:18 AM

Laz57;

You will be glad you chose the depressed route. I built a drop in area about 3 inches below the roadbed level so I still have track on graduated trestles going up and down. The tipple is in the middle of a curve so the operation can get a bit dicey at times. You will enjoy the accessory. Just make sure the voltage to the tipple is high enough for the cathches to snap in place to hold the car during the dumping mode and then snap back at the end of the cycle. I used an insulated block with a SPDT switch to change from track power to accessory power once the car was in position. That way I could turn the track power totally off and not have the locomotive try to sneak away and cause an interesting pile-up.

Merry Christmas to all!!

Mel Hazen; Jax, FL Ride Amtrak. It's the only way to fly!!!

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Posted by GregM on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 8:52 AM

Jim,

Thanks for the heads up.  Resume and cover letter sent for IT position. 

Links didn't work, but I went to the USEC web page and found the job postings.

 

GregM
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Posted by ChiefEagles on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 9:20 AM

Morning all.  Cloudy and warmer.  Rain this PM and tomorrow and on and on. 

LAZ, this is what I was going to do for my tipple.  Indent it into the layout, have it dump below, and make a dock like place for a ship to be loaded.  Trying to keep in mind the big coal yard in Norfolk/Hampton VA.  Did not have enough room as 072 curves tool up space.  Sold the tipple.  Take all these suggestions and make your own.

Off to MOM's, back to Church and then off to MIL's.  No rest on Christmas. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS  notice the REB gray mixed in 

Have a safe one and chat 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 Wednesday, December 24, 2008 9:33 AM

GOOD MORNING

I went out last nite and cleaned the walks and driveway. Got up this morning and covered with more snow, about an inch. It's 37 and raining now. We are going out tonite like many others so I hope the roads stay clear but It will depend on when the temp. drops.  MERRY CHRISTMAS

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

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 9:44 AM

Mornin' Fellas

Just wanted to drop by and say Merry Christmas.

I was able to get the second level powered last night, with fewer power drops, not sure if the engines like the fewer drops or not so going to add a couple back in and see what happens

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Posted by laz 57 on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 10:26 AM

Thanks CHIEF and RR CHARLIE,(MEL).  I have an old 397 coal loader that I picked up for 10 bucks a few years ago.  The motor works great but has parts missing on the rod to turn the conveyer belt.  What I am going to do is use the motor and make up my own conveyor belt something with small buckets to pick up rat turds,coal.    Then have another switch to back in gondolas to be filled.  It looks good in my mind but have to try to get worked.  I'll let YUZ GIZ know how I made out. 

Thanks again,

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
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Posted by D&H 702 on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 10:41 AM

 laz:  Be carefull out there the roads in enola are all Ice and it keeps on coming.

Hope all members have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and receive all that they asked Santa for.

Chief:  It is a Great thing that you do with the Kids down there, keep up the good work.

See you all next Year.

 

Lew.

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Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 10:42 AM

Okay, we all know this is where the good guys hang out, and we also know we don't always read all the posts on the forum because we find some of them, let's say, toy train challenged, but today we have a different situation.

Read this post and see if you can help:

PowerMax Transformer does not power track anymore  

and here is the link

http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/143387.aspx

 

 

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

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Posted by dwiemer on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 10:44 AM

The temps are in the upper 60s and heading to low 70s today.  Guess I will have to turn the TV on to see some of that SnOhio stuff!  Taking it easy today.  On call still and have to hang around the hospital as the cardiologists are cathing away.  They will be at it on Friday too, so I will be here then as well.

Laz, looks like you have your work cut out for you.  I have a original #497 coal loader that I had played with the idea of putting it on my Fastrack layout.   Instead, I am building a level of layout under mine that will be "kid friendly" that will have O27 track and the coal loader will fit nicely there.  I plan on putting the gateman and all the other way out of scale post/pre war items on that run.  It will include control buttons on the facia where the kids can operate the accessories.  Also, I am using 3/4" foam insulation on the plywood so that the bases for the accessories can be lower.

We have one of the first assistants and his wife coming over for Christmas dinner, but that is the only company we will  have this weekend.  That should give me plenty of time to work  on the layout and perhaps even rest a little bit.  It has been a rough year and I suspect it will be a bit tough this coming year as well.  At least we have Hope. 

Want to take this time to sincerely wish each person here and your families a Very Merry Christmas and my you all be blessed to abundance in the year to come.

God Bless,
Dennis

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Posted by cheapclassics on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 1:10 PM

Good afternoon all,

It is rainy and warm in SE Indiana with the temps near 60!  Supposed to clear off and send temps crashing down over night.  Did some reading on a book I recently got last night.  Ride home was fortunately uneventful, but it was slow going.  Any trip you walk away from in one piece is a good one.  Spent the morning wrapping presents for the "saucy wench" (including one she does not know about), and will spend the afternoon cleaning the house while she cooks for tomorrow.  Mass is tonight at 7:30 and have to be there by 7:00 to get a seat.  I had English muffins and bacon on the dining car for breakfast this morning.  I want to wish everyone on the forum a

 

MERRY  CHRISTMAS  and HAPPY HANUKKAH!

 

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by Brutus on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 4:54 PM

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!  Big bosses let us go home at 2, but I had to stop at Walmart for one more little thing to give my bride.  What a madhouse!  Oh yeah, it's Christmas eve - doh!  Laz, can't wait to see what you come up with, I remember you were working on a coal ramp before?  Keep us posted and have a great trip!  Gotta get ready to go, so I'll just say goodnight, might be on later.  Good job Chief, giving mayors a good name!  Wink

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by dwiemer on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 5:14 PM

Going to sign off and watch the "Extreme Trains" on Circus Trains.  One thought before I go to a house full of ill kids and a wife in the same condition:  Please remember our troops and their families in your prayers.  While we get to enjoy our families this Christmas, some are many miles apart that let us do so in freedom and safety.

God Bless,
Dennis

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Posted by SPMan on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 6:17 PM

Happy night before Christmas friends,  today in order to celebrate my Chesapeake Bay heritage, I made some oyster stew.  Had to use Pacific oysters from Washington state but they were good.  They are bigger than their Chesapeake cousins but are good in a stew.  I just chop them up a little and make them more bite size.  The whole deal tasted mighty good on a cold cloudy day here.  I envy Chief and his Bar-B-Que and slaw meal with some collards thrown in along with some hush puppies.  Hard to top that.  Tomorrow we are having a half ham for Christmas with some side dishes.  Lots to eat!  Grandson is over today while his Mom does last minute shopping and volunteer work at the homeless shelter sponsored by our church for this two week period.  We rotate with other churches to help these folks get in out of the cold during the winter months and offter them a place to sleep, some clothes and a hot meal at night.  They are brought in by bus from different locations in L.A County and are put up overnight.  When they depart the following day they are given a box lunch and they may continue to return to our facility each night while we are open.  After that they may go to the next church in the program and so on.  My wife and I did some volunteer work there in past years and it is a rewarding experience.  This is the first year we have done it through the Christmas season.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

 

God bless you all,

 

Ray

SPMan

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

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Posted by jefelectric on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 6:44 PM

 Good evening and  a Merry Christmas to everyone. 

There was a very bad accident on the PA Turnpke near here this morning, family of four involved in a crash on the icy roads were hit by a semi and the PU they were in set on fire.  Only surviver was a 2year old.  Understand they were traveling from GA to somewhere in new england.  Very sad.

We will have 2/3 of our family with us for Christmas, the 1/3 living in CO will not make it this year.

Have a blessed and safe holiday.

John Fullerton Home of the BUBB&A  http://www.jeanandjohn.net/trains.html
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Posted by cnw1995 on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 8:51 PM

Good evening and Merry Christmas. Watching A Christmas Story - the youngest is abed - complete with visions of sugar plums and a Red Ryder 200 shot model air rifle... Dinner-making  (fondue) was a disaster so we went out - found a pizza place still open... Hope everyone is safe. Very sad about that accident and the illness in the Weimer family. Get well soon!

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

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Posted by sir james I on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 9:40 PM

And to all a Good Nite.

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

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Posted by kpolak on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 10:11 PM

Evening all!

Back from Christmas Dinner No. 1 of 3.  Good night, but the kids are already wore out.  2-yo was in an unwrapping frenzy...She just wanted to unwrap more stuff!  I'm not sure they will survive 2 more days of travel and dinner.

Here's hoping Santa is good to you!  Don't forget to leave cookies and milk out for the big man...and I don't mean The Chief in the squirrel suit.

It's funny, tonight sFiL has his cousins looking for his Lionel set from years ago....Uncle-iL has a pre war Lionel set from childhood...I'll spend some time with Uncle-iL's set to get it up and running, and will do the same for sFiL, when he gets his set back.  Next year there should be even more trains around the trees.

Kurt

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Posted by dougdagrump on Thursday, December 25, 2008 12:12 AM

Evenin' All.

Hope the jolly old man in the red suit has a seat belt in his sleigh, do believe he will have a bit of a wet and very bumpy flight tonight. But I guess it does beat shovelling snow.

Just in case I get to busy with cooking for the family & guests tomorrow I will take this oppourtunity to wish all a:

Very Merry Christmas

Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.

www.sd3r.org

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Posted by tmcc man on Thursday, December 25, 2008 12:14 AM

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Colin from prr.railfan.net
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Posted by ChiefEagles on Thursday, December 25, 2008 12:28 AM

WOOOOW!!!  Just missed some guy flying through the sky.  He said something about leaving some Dr's house down South [left lots for two great kids there] and headed to Becca and Trish's house up Nawth.

GOD BLESS ALL [for tonight a child is born in the City of David which is Christ the Lord].  

 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 Sturgeon-Phish on Thursday, December 25, 2008 1:51 AM

Good Morning and Merry Christmas

We had services at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. then I came in to work night shift.  I will keep an eye out for Santa.  I set up our “Christmas Train” around the tree with youngest daughter’s boyfriend.  This is the first I met him, seems like a nice guy.  He does like trains .  .  .Approve

 

GregM – There are several postings for different positions, good luck.

 

My prayer for all is God loved us so, he had his son become a man, to save us all.  Let us return that love to God and to all we meet.

Merry Christmas and may God bless

Jim

 

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Posted by dbaker48 on Thursday, December 25, 2008 2:04 AM

 Kinda quiet and peaceful here right now!  Christmas Eve gathering, dinner, church activities all comleted.  Everyone very appreciative and thankful fo all we have.  Especially family and friends.

BEST WISHES FOR A VERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES !!!

(MIL has larengitis, whispering, really quiet here)

Don

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Posted by rtraincollector on Thursday, December 25, 2008 5:10 AM

MERRY CHRISTMAS

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

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Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Thursday, December 25, 2008 6:52 AM

MERRY CHRISTMAS

from all of us at

Roger's Corners, OHIO

Yes, it is another Christmas on the CTT POT and again I want to thank everyone for the nice new train engines they sent me this year.  Of course just like past years, the Chief didn't send me anything. 

I want to especially thank John and Roy for providing me the opportunity to attend YORK this year.  I had the time of my life!  It was great traveling with Wes and we met fife the dog, 88 and Susie-q.  I met Laz this year after posting on the pot with him since inception.  Our visit to Western NY included seeing Tom, owner of the most beautiful Lionel Train and his wife at a "local" establishment.  Tom P. hosted Chuck and I during the summer as he showed us the museum in Willoughby.  Another great trip with Chuck riding shotgun.

Now off to see what Santa brought me this year.  I know, unlike past years where due to political pressures from the Boss Hog of Roseyville, NC, lumps of coal were received, big presents await.  Maybe a C&O Greenbriar 4-6-4 with TMCC, Railsounds 5.0, and fan driven smoke. 

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

TCA 09-64284

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