To all,
Thanks guys for the comments. On top of that news, my younger daughter called today wanting us to co-sign a student loan so she can pay an school bill so she can graduate!?!?! My wife had already loaned her some money earlier this year and has said no more when the same daughter got her nose pierced. In addition, I found out from the IRS that my refund (and rebate) checks will not be coming for at least another 30 days!!! When it rains, it pours.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Morning guys! Watching morning news, major fire at Hollywood and Vine, have about 115 firefighters involved. A restaurant is burning "BASQUE", what a terrific job these guys do, sure looks dangerous. They have 6 aerial Master Streams hitting the fire, its been burning for over a hour and half. (By the way the interior of this building was the scene used for filming of Ocean's 11)
More entertaining news. We had our 2nd Operating session yesterday afternoon. Great time for all. Had lots of collision unfortunately, but doesnt appear any equipment was damaged. I was running a passenger train which had a speed range of between 50-60smph, and got rear-ended by a freight that was suppose to be doing 30. I was leaving a station and the freight was highballing for some reason. Then one of the guys was operating a set of Budd cars, and his team consisting of 2 freights. The freights were suppose to drop off their consist and pick up a different set of cars, then the next freight pick up the cars that were dropped off, and leave its consist. The Budd set would come out of this secluded area pushing 3 or 4 freight cars almost everytime. One of the guys would leave his cars on the main. The surprise of the guy with the Budd cars was awesome.
I have a little concern for this evening. One of the guys purchased a new engine from a shop in the southeast. Anyway, it was DOA, so he called the shop and they told him they would send him a new set of boards. So he wouldn't have to go through the warranty process. He has just received the boards, and has asked if I would help him install them! Cause he is not sure of what he's doing !!! If I do ???
Fire update: Apparently the building that is burning is known to have a lot of memorabilia stored in the attic area. There is a large billboard that is on the roof of the building (1-2 story building) is threatening to fall. The water flowing out of the building looks like a river, ankle deep running down the street. The sign has forced all the firefighters out of the building, delaying getting the fire out. Lots of history going up, it is a historic building. Right on the corner of Hollywood and Vine.
Don
A little chilly here in this morning around 40 degrees with highs expected in the upper 50's and possibility of frost again tonight. I got the feeling that this is going to be one of those spring right into summer years where we'll be lucky to see a dozen typical spring days. Anyway, can't worry about what I can't control.
Hang in there with the kids, it gets better all be it slowly in some cases and not for a while. Our oldest, the daughter getting married next June, quit her job yesterday because once again management has targeted her and two co-workers/friends about "issues" that were supposedly taken care of months ago and were no longer issues. One of which is actually that they are friends and the other members of the department feel left out. Can you believe it! So rather than put up with ongoing harassment and hostility she resigned without another job lined up. Of course that's after she called me and asked for my advice, which was what you would think it would be, sit through it, listen to what they have to say, explain yourself again, ask why they are bring it up again, don't sign anything unless they allow you to write a comment and then look for another job. Thank goodness she has a former employer/friend who values her abilities and has a vacant position. Unfortunately, instead of working relatively close to home she now has to travel about 40 miles by car each way. Just an example of once you have children your life's never the same. Generally not a bad thing, just a fact.
BTW, forget $3.60 a gal for gas, here in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties of the Empire State, gas is hovering easily around $3.80 or 3.90 a gal. for regular. And, no help in sight and we're still a month from Memorial Day. The magical day when gasoline prices go up regardless of any other factors. Why would you expect any, those with the supposed power to do anything about it are the very same people many boat-loads of money from it! Something is very wrong when the biggest oil company in the country post a record profit of $54 billion when people are choosing between food or heating oil/gasoline. Time to stop venting, good for the soul but not my blood pressure.
Anyway, enjoy you day and remember, there's always trains to take your mind off these other things. At least for a little while.
Mike
Morning all. Early meetings in Town Hall since early this AM.
Don B installing boards.
Some young folks take longer to get their heads straight. Marines will surely help. I am a believer that a lot of teens can get straighten out by military. Can't happen now days with all their rules. I was in a basic training company with guys from Wilimington DE. Most were told, "Go to the Army or go to jail." Most that made it back from "Country" were decent citizens. Military use to insure a GED and a profession.
Off to do some outside work as off to Roanoke VA early tomorrow AM. Later
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
kpolak wrote: Global Warming is a Myth. Global temperatures peaked in 1998, and have been going back down since. Polar ice caps are larger than ever, along with the polar bear populations. If anything, research shows we are due for glacierization. Do a search on NewsMax for Global Warming. Also look at who is perpetuating this myth, and weather they stand to make money from it.
Global Warming is a Myth. Global temperatures peaked in 1998, and have been going back down since. Polar ice caps are larger than ever, along with the polar bear populations. If anything, research shows we are due for glacierization. Do a search on NewsMax for Global Warming. Also look at who is perpetuating this myth, and weather they stand to make money from it.
Kurt, I'm afraid your data and your conclusions concerning global warming are both inaccurate. Global temperatures did NOT peak in 1998, as you allege. Actually, 2005 now stands as the warmest year on record, exceeding the temperatures recorded in 1998.
http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/2007/
Clearly, the debate about global warming has become a political football, fraught with economic and international subtexts. Consequently, there is a wide range of opinion on this issue, ranging from "global warming is a myth" to "global warming is a crisis". However, the only way we can realistically assess the severity of the problem, is to do an analysis based on hard, scientific data, as opposed to ideological rants like you find on the "conservative" NewsMax internet site you referred to in your post. (NOTE: this is the same web site that ran an article entitled, "Global Warming Equals Socialism")
The link I provided, on the other hand, is to NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) which, unlike your "source", is highly regarded in the scientific community for its objective analysis of global environmental changes. NASA's conclusions are based on hard scientific data, and actual temperature measurements taken from around the world.
As part of their research, each year GISS conducts a world-wide "Surface Temperature Analysis". Based on their data analysis, NASA scientists have found that 2005 was the warmest year on record, and that the average temperatures in 2007 tied those of 1998. As it now stands, 1998 and 2007 are tied for the "second" two warmest years on record. NASA's historical data also shows that the eight warmest years on record have all occurred since 1998, and the 14 warmest years have all occurred since 1990.
Certainly, there are some natural factors that can also affect global temperatures, in any given year. For example, cyclical sun spot activity, volcanic eruptions and meteorological phenomena, such as El Nino can cause year to year fluctuations in global temperatures. But is the long term warming trend that has convinced most scientists that we are facing a real problem. As an example of this, if you dig a little deeper into the GISS data for 2007, you will see that the NASA scientists found it particularly noteworthy that 2007's high temperatures actually occurred, "at a time when solar irradiance is at a minimum and the equatorial Pacific Ocean is in the cool phase of its natural El Niño-La Niña cycle".
Afternoon guys!
Gasoline is $3.69 a gallon for regular down here near West Palm Beach FL, go to Key West FL and gas prices are about 20 cents a gallon higher. Some of you guys got me started about gas prices well I tell you what I beleive to be true!
The real reason for high gas prices is President George Bush, that's right folks if the president would dig into his pockets and refund us the profits from his oil stock we would all see lower prices, maybe 50 cents a gallon lower!! Vice President has the same interests so when the oil barrons leave office we may see some lower prices. Also why should a LAME DUCK president worry about the economy? He just passes on problems to the next person to take office.
Now that I said my piece about gas prices maybe I will move on to talking about trains.
Was running my 4-8-4 steam loco and my GP-9 on tracks next to each other and the engines hit at one of the curves so I installed 042 track for the GP-9's track at that curve and took out a couple of half straights.
Planning on going to the Lake Worth train show in August, not sure of the date as yet.
Need to keep selling stuff or find a job, I am looking but there are very few jobs in the classified adds lately.
Lee F.
LAZ........That mower sounds neat. I saw that one on TV. You are going to enjoy that mowing. Can you use it on your yard?
Gas was at $3.65 a gallon in Cambridge. Diesel at $4.20.
Afternoon All !
Concerning "Global Warning" is it occurring most likely, is "man's fault" or "natuural phenomonen" or a combination of the two ? My complaint is that there are some that run around like "Chicken Little" who say the time for discussion is over it is time for action, but some of those calling for action also fall into the NIMBY group. Plus anything that comes out of the U.N. in my opinion is extremely suspect. As far as the oil company profits, are they exceeding an 8 to 10% return on investment ?
Kurt, Pulled the shell to install the battery in the GP15 and that sucker is very tight for space, also repositioned the ground lug on the top of the front truck. You might want to check the one on yours.
Mother Nature sure is messing with the sinuses, monday 101* and dry, tuesday 84* and gorgeous, today 60* overcast and humid.
Everything packed and ready for friday, B&O Trailer Jet(only with SD35's instead of GP30's) and the maiden voyage of the GP15 with some covered & cylindrical hoppers.
Later
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
Evenin' boys. Partly sunny & 57 here in the Mid-Atlantic region. The "Pot" is nice and full today. Lots of good conversation and stories. Good tips on the GP15 troubleshooting.
dbaker - perhaps they're filming a new Bruce Willis movie.
GregM - good to see you, Sir.
cheapclassics - I tend to trust my boy a little too much, and sometimes he surprises me, and some times I wind up telling him, "Son, the world needs ditch diggers too..."
Wouldn't it be something if we all later found out that the price of fuel was tied directly to a certain VP flying all over explaining CARBON UNITS to the great unwashed...?
I feel a lot better about the future today, we survived the global warming issue, the temps have fallen here 15 degrees in 1 day. Looks like a new trend.
Gas prices, I know the problem. Too little gas too much money. As soon as we are all broke, the prices will come down.
Don't you all feel better? I just solved the two biggest problems facing the world. Everything will be getting better.
fifedog wrote: Wouldn't it be something if we all later found out that the price of fuel was tied directly to a certain VP flying all over explaining CARBON UNITS to the great unwashed...?
Thank you....wise words again. President may try to set policy, the House & Senate pass the laws. Democrats...Higher prices when they are in control, energy and food. Look it up. Yes global warming is a farce. Total global temps DOWN 2 degrees. How come there was no global warming during the Industrial Revolution? Twice as bad then. It's a game folks, some of the candidates want all your money in exchange for your security. Democratic Party comes to mind...taking oil company profits? That, my friends, is fasism, plain and simple. The state taking corporate profits. The N*z*s & communists did that.
I'm done. Let's move on
I'm going to run some trains, carbon credits be danged!
Thank goodness we're all friends....
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
dougdagrump wrote:Don, Please refresh my memory, when you upgraded a speeder to TMCC did you use a BEEP board ?
Yes, from Electric Railroad. As a matter of fact, they had one in some of the application pictures. That's where I got the idea. BTW it still works great! And is a constant attention getter, even without any sound.
GOOD EVEVING ALL
Pick any subject and you can find a so called "expert", global warming falls right into the BS catagory. There seems to be experts for everything and all they are good at is talk.
I ran some trains today and discovered an old enemy. I tried to run a 1990s SD 40 two motor and it would not run. So as I removed the brush plates I found the problem again.Lubriplate. It seems the oils dry out and leave a goo so sticky the armatures could not turn. I thought I had fixed all of them but now I wonder how many others I may have missed and need to be relubed.
We had a chilly 50s today but its suppose to get warmer now, with perhaps some rain. Well I shall return later so TTFN,,,,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
anjdevil2 wrote: Total global temps DOWN 2 degrees.
Total global temps DOWN 2 degrees.
WRONG!
Anjdevil2, with all due respect, your comment about global warming is simply untrue. Rather than pull a figure out of thin air, allow me to quote from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, the world's largest active archive of historical weather data.
"During the past century, global surface temperatures have increased at a rate near 0.05°C/decade (0.09°F/decade), but this trend has increased to a rate of approximately 0.15°C/decade (0.27°F/decade) during the past 25 to 30 years."
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2007/ann/global.html#trends
And to all you global warming skeptics out there, I will grant you this, burying one's head in the sand can make it seem a little cooler.
Oil Companies are averaging 7.5% profit margins. The reason the price of gas is so high is because the dollar is so weak. Calls for increasing US production will not impact gas prices for at least 2 years because that is how long it will take for any drilling projects to start producing oil. It has nothing to do with Bush, Cheney, or anyone else in office.Global Warming... LOL! Site government sources who want us to increase our reliance on them... no thanks. Show me some independant, non-government funded, non-industry funded, non-special interest money funded studies... guess what you won't find any. I wonder why the coastlines haven't flooded as has been predicted if the ice caps melt... guess what fellas 80% of an iceberg's mass is BELOW sealevel, so if it melts (water expands as it freezes) it occupies LESS area.Global Warming? BRING IT ON!!!! It extends my planting season, results in higher crop yield, and reduces my electric bill during the Winter. I'll be cutting down some more trees this fall, and burning them next year (need to let the wood season for one year before burning), so I'm doing my part to raise local temperatures.Amazing how when something controversial is brought up on the board the 'let me tell you something' crowd has to come out of the wood work...
As Wayne and Garth would say...We're Not WorthyWe're Not Worthy-------Don - good luck with the board install. Let us know how it goes.Doug - I had to open my Legacy GP-30 to fix the smoke unit, there is absolutely NO room in these new engines. Took me longer to put her back together than it did to disassemble and fix.
phillyreading wrote: The real reason for high gas prices is President George Bush, that's right folks if the president would dig into his pockets and refund us the profits from his oil stock we would all see lower prices, maybe 50 cents a gallon lower!! Vice President has the same interests so when the oil barrons leave office we may see some lower prices. Also why should a LAME DUCK president worry about the economy? He just passes on problems to the next person to take office.Lee F.
Now I like the no gas tax during the summer and take the profits from oil companies and replace it. Will not happpen as the Pres and Congress are sucked up to Oil. OH, everyone is getting a tax rebate this summer. Guess where the money came from. We borrowed 4 billion $$$ from CHINA to pay it. HUMMM So much for this as it is not supposed to be discussed on the forum. Well, the "Pot" does have a "special license" to discuss things.
Well, grass mowed, trees, grapevines and garden sprayed. More seeds started in greenhouse. Up early to go to Roanoke VA.
Later.
Global Warming, Global Cooling, Save the Children, Save these Folks, Save those Folks, all just excuses to get power/money. Chief is a good politician, helping his community, saving them from anexation, attacks on water rights/table, building school. That's the point where politics can work, at a local level. As soon as they go to Washington, they all sell their souls to the powers that be and we all end up a little closer to serfdom. Rich, Sir James, Kurt, Fife, 88, etc - we are right. Why is there global warming on MARS? Because of solar radiation. There is a cycle that has been measured using ice cores that shows that it is unrelated to mankind. One big fire covering Mexico or Colorado puts out more greenhouse gasses than the USA and so what. These Global Warmists can't even get programs to account for cloud cover effects and the number 1 greenhouse gas is water vapor. The earth is like 70 percent water. You figure it out. One guy said that if you paint a window black (the natural greenhouses gases), adding another coat (the possible effect of mankind) does not make any significant difference.
NO trains today :( I finished mowing, filled in my hole, pulled more garbage out of trees though. Made some microwave pizza if any of you guys want a piece. Have rootbeer, Sam Adams (without glass shavings), Budweiser, or fruit punch. Come on over guys, we can watch The General (bought the DVD since I like this movie so much) and then head to Doug's for a big Chocolate Chip Cookie? Mabe run some trolleys? Been going to just my house and Sir James', so need to clean out Kurt's and Doug's fridges? Maybe swing by PA and check out Laz' loaner Cub Cadet? Is that Cub related to a Certain Bear?
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Chief there was a big article in the columbus dispatch featuring NS and UP railroads seems as shipping by train is now more cost effective then ever before. will check out dispatch site to see if it is on the web.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/04/30/railroads.ART_ART_04-30-08_C8_5RA29I0.html?sid=101
ChiefEagles wrote: phillyreading wrote: The real reason for high gas prices is President George Bush, that's right folks if the president would dig into his pockets and refund us the profits from his oil stock we would all see lower prices, maybe 50 cents a gallon lower!! Vice President has the same interests so when the oil barrons leave office we may see some lower prices. Also why should a LAME DUCK president worry about the economy? He just passes on problems to the next person to take office.Lee F.Now I like the no gas tax during the summer and take the profits from oil companies and replace it. Will not happpen as the Pres and Congress are sucked up to Oil. OH, everyone is getting a tax rebate this summer. Guess where the money came from. We borrowed 4 billion $$$ from CHINA to pay it. HUMMM So much for this as it is not supposed to be discussed on the forum. Well, the "Pot" does have a "special license" to discuss things. Well, grass mowed, trees, grapevines and garden sprayed. More seeds started in greenhouse. Up early to go to Roanoke VA.Later.
Got word, apparently it's time for BANILLA - GO!
Good night, guys.
lionroar88 wrote: ChiefEagles wrote: phillyreading wrote: The real reason for high gas prices is President George Bush, that's right folks if the president would dig into his pockets and refund us the profits from his oil stock we would all see lower prices, maybe 50 cents a gallon lower!! Vice President has the same interests so when the oil barrons leave office we may see some lower prices. Also why should a LAME DUCK president worry about the economy? He just passes on problems to the next person to take office.Lee F.Now I like the no gas tax during the summer and take the profits from oil companies and replace it. Will not happpen as the Pres and Congress are sucked up to Oil. OH, everyone is getting a tax rebate this summer. Guess where the money came from. We borrowed 4 billion $$$ from CHINA to pay it. HUMMM So much for this as it is not supposed to be discussed on the forum. Well, the "Pot" does have a "special license" to discuss things. Well, grass mowed, trees, grapevines and garden sprayed. More seeds started in greenhouse. Up early to go to Roanoke VA.Later.The President does NOT effect gas prices... Repealing the gas tax will result in reductions in transportation infrastructure funding - read fewer roads will be built or repaired next year. Take the money from Big Oil? Why? They are a business, doing what every business is supposed to do... make money.
You did NOT read what I wrote. I said stop the taxes and fund the difference with the profits of the oil companies. Nothing lost to the transprotation infrastructure funding. Loss is to the share holders of the oil companies.
That is the reason the country is in recession. GWB economics.
Soon to be gone.
Brutus wrote: Got word, apparently it's time for BANILLA - GO!Good night, guys.
Already had my microwave popcorn. Think I'll have a chocolate covered ice cream bar.
Update --- Got the new board installed in the NYC Dreyfuss, no help. Still would not load. This was discussed at length on the other forum. Anyway, the board swap went down with no problem. Now, our layout has a history of problems with DCS, so resolved it was either the track or a electro-mechanical problem. Jeff got home and tried the engine it started up fine. Really great news !
LA is going to be closed tomorrow for the annual May Day celebration. Can't believe it close down the city for Immigration issues. Try to get any other function to be able to close streets for a week-day demonsration.
Oh well, just one more issue to help the blood pressure. Going to go get a snack and go to bed.
Have a great day !
edw wrote: Kurt, I'm afraid your data and your conclusions concerning global warming are both inaccurate. Global temperatures did NOT peak in 1998, as you allege. Actually, 2005 now stands as the warmest year on record, exceeding the temperatures recorded in 1998.
EDW: Perhaps I should rephrase...Global Warming is an unsubstantiated theory.
"In short, a growing number of scientific analyses indicate, but cannot prove, that rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are contributing to climate change (as theory predicts)." EPA State of knowlege http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/stateofknowledge.html
Just because the trend is warmer does not mean it is linked. It's simply happening at the same time. There are many, more intelligent that I, working on this, but a hundred years of data and this sort of logic isn't proof to me. We calculate 100 year flood plains, agree it's cyclical, and build accordingly.
Should we reduce output of greenhouse gasses? Sure. Should we look into nuclear energy? The alternative would be natural gas in lieu of coal. Natural gas costs doubled in the last few years without implementing a shift.
Kurt
dougdagrump wrote: Kurt, Pulled the shell to install the battery in the GP15 and that sucker is very tight for space, also repositioned the ground lug on the top of the front truck. You might want to check the one on yours.
Doug: Thanks for the tip. Are you running conventional? I was hesitant about installing the battery, as the manual recommended leaving it out if you are running TMCC. I haven't noticed any trouble. Is it a good idea to install the battery anyway?
Morning Folks,
I haven't stop by for a few days and y'all are solving all the world's big issues like global warming and corporate greed. I'm missing all the fun.
Been super busy with work. Construction is winding down. Of course there are lots of little issues. Final inspections from Health Department and other state and local government agencies are scheduled between now and May 15th. Started interviewing and hiring process again, more staff to hire, probably another 15 to 18 people between now and end of July.
On the home front, our son is in the middle of the end of semester crunch. Lots of projects, papers, etc. He found out yesterday that one of his grad school research projects was selected for an award as the best graduate research project, so that is exciting. He was encouraged to submit another paper for consideration for an individual award and did not submit it. Found out yesterday the prize in that category was not awarded because the committee felt none of the submissions was worthy. Now he wishes he had submitted his paper for consideration. Oh well. Graduation is May 11th, after graduation he will have one course and an internship, plus his thesis to finish. He can walk for graduation because he only has 6 credits left and American University only has one graduation ceremony per year in May, so if you have 6 credits or less left to complete your program, you can walk. Not sure if I mentioned he will be serving has an intern in the US Senate for Senator Robert Casey of PA. For a political junkie like him, that internship better that a pig wallerin' in pooh.
Got to get going.
Mitch
Bob Mitchell Gettysburg, PA TCA # 98-47956 LCCA# RM22839
kpolak wrote: dougdagrump wrote: Kurt, Pulled the shell to install the battery in the GP15 and that sucker is very tight for space, also repositioned the ground lug on the top of the front truck. You might want to check the one on yours. Doug: Thanks for the tip. Are you running conventional? I was hesitant about installing the battery, as the manual recommended leaving it out if you are running TMCC. I haven't noticed any trouble. Is it a good idea to install the battery anyway?Kurt
Never installed a battery in any of my TMCC engines. If they came with a battery, used them for "refreshing" my smoke alarms.
Morning. Up early but got to get things done before going to VA. Hope all are well. Chilly again but warming fast as will hit high 70's today. Maybe spin the trains around the track before leaving. We'll see. Have a good one and God bless.
BTW: Don , shipping you all my upgrades I have not had time to install. good job
Well, it looks like I am late on a few hot topics! Fife, I hear that same former VP was worth about 2 million when he left office. Now his tactics and rants have made him worth over 200 million.
As to the UN, they have a commission of these "experts" who have put together reports that are often quoted, only problem is that when they had evidence that clearly shows that warming/cooling cycles are just that and the earth was actually warmer at one time frame than it is now, and was followed by a cooling cycle....and in true UN form, they deleted the date for this time period calling it a "fluke".
OK, next hot topic...Oil. Many influences over oil that both political parties are at fault with. First, remove regulations that have not allowed for any more refineries. We have not had a new refinery since 1975! This limits ability to make end product and the limit output of these is a big reason for demand outpacing supply. Next, DRILL in ANWAR! We have a lot of reserves on our own land and because of fools, we can't get to it. Another source is our own Gulf of Mexico. The states have not allowed any US companies to put up more platforms for getting the oil. Now, with a deal made with CUBA, China drills off our coast, getting the oil we could have.
I do believe that we should be good stewards of what we have been given. We should strive for better fuel economy, less combustion end product, and more efficient methods in all that we do, but don't put out theory and tell me it is "Fact".
Ok, I guess I have added my 2cents a few times over. On all things trains, I am hoping to get to some serious layout work tonight and over the weekend. Kids are anxious to "help", so at least I can take some time and actually do some work. I have been a slacker for too long! And, I really want to run some rails!
God Bless,
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
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