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.

[SPMan]

Good morning from sunny Southern California.  Nice weather this week around 80.  The big news here this week end is that they are going to run the Santa Fe 4-8-4 #3751 on an excusion from Los Angeles to San Diego round trip on Sunday.  It's almost impossible to motorcade or take pictures on that route so I hope somebody makes a DVD from a helicopeter along the coast.  I'm getting too old for those suicide missions chasing trains so I will get the tape if there is one.  Chief, I am too new on here to be up to date on Pam.  All I can say is that my prayers go out to you for your loved one. Ray

[cnw1995]

Afternoon all. Took today off - and then got sick - in bed with some bug. Rats- hope I can change my hours. Storms rolling in all day on their way to Sir James and Mike C. Sorry guys - but it's a lot warmer.  Prayers for Pam! Looks like the daughter is not going to pass math - and with no option for summer school in it - we'll have to rearrange her senior year schedule. Ah well. Shouldn't be paying bills instead of resting - but forgot first property tax installment is due Monday - sigh. Have to go run trains later!

I am surprised Brutus can still type after watching a movie featuring a young Ursula Andress with his bride. Can't do that around here - LOL.

[wrmcclellan]

Off to Raleigh for Social Security Apt.  Replaced a flush valve this AM.

Are these two somehow related?

Yes... the drain empties onto my desk!

Brent - that is not a pretty sight - all those GRITS!

[wrmcclellan]

Good morning from sunny Southern California.  Nice weather this week around 80.  The big news here this week end is that they are going to run the Santa Fe 4-8-4 #3751 on an excusion from Los Angeles to San Diego round trip on Sunday.  It's almost impossible to motorcade or take pictures on that route so I hope somebody makes a DVD from a helicopeter along the coast.  I'm getting too old for those suicide missions chasing trains so I will get the tape if there is one.  Chief, I am too new on here to be up to date on Pam.  All I can say is that my prayers go out to you for your loved one. Ray

SP - that is cool. I have the old Pentrex video tape of the 3751 on its first runs after the restoration years ago.

[magicman710]

Evening yall.

I was bushhogging with my tractor yesterday afternoon back in the woods and came across this baby fawn under a week old:

I had to run back to the house and get my camera and came back to take a picture of it. There was a small tree that the front wheel pushed down that obstructed the view but I still think its a good pic.

 

[CSXect]

Great pic of the fawn

[sir james I]

EVENING ALL

Bad news, Brutus,Doug, and kurt came by last nite and raided my fridge again, only problem they ate some stuff I was suppose to throw out as it was too old to eat. I hope nobody got sick.Hmmm. Well its 9pm and 81 degrees the radar is showing the rain getting closer, we need rain but some one else can  have the stormy stuff. I got a call from Brutus this afternoon very enjoyable to talk with him. We did not solve any world problems today just talked trains and old movies. Chief, I hope Pam is feeling better and of course all those that might be ailing or ate here last nite. Have a good weekend....S.J.

[ChiefEagles]

Evening all.  FREE money coming second Wed. in August and from then on.   More $$$$$ than I thought. 

Coughing up a storm.  Allergy or something [no cold and no fever].  Had to take lots of cough med.  Now so sleepy can hardly type.  Truck fixed and back home.  Mowed grass and just came in from feeding fish and deer.  Chat later.

[cnw1995]

Evening all. Good talk with Brutus this eve - hope Kurt is recovering. Have to put signs on things in the fridge, Sir James. Found ten dollars in the gutter tonight - no comments on what I was doing there ... It was just enough for a nice bottle of wine to share with the bride after she finishes blogging. Hope to run trains later...

[Wes Whitmore]

Purchased an MTH realtrax 042 switch yesterday.  Got the $70 switch out of the box, and right away noticed a crack in the plastic ballast just below the strait outer rail.  It was also missing a screw in the bottom.  The cardboard box was mint, and packed well.  I planned on hiding this switch uder a mountain anyhow, and knowing that I took the last RH switch in inventory, I decided to try to see if all still worked.  After installing it, I found that the non-derailing feature only worked on one direction.  Also, a piece or rail came loose in my hand.  What a piece of crap...I guess it's going back to the store.  I hate returning things, especially if it isn't the stores fault.   Chalk up another bad MTH switch experience.

Have a good evening everyone!
Wes

 

[dwiemer]

Good Evening everyone!

Was a nice day.  Finished early as one of the cases was a no-go (Patient too sick).  I met up with wife and kids and we went out to eat lunch at Chili's.  Good food and lots of it.  Then had to hit Hobby Lobby for frames for photos of kids and I got another sheepskin to mount on the wall. 

Thanks to Don B., I took the plunge and tackled the soldering job on the power feed for the laptop.  Dog had chewed through the cable that goes between transformer and computer.  Three seperate layers of very fine stranded wire.  I used the soldering station and first soldered the smallest inner layer and put heat shrink tubing over it.  Then the middle layer, again with shrink tubing and finally the outer layer.  Seems to be working well.

Chief, make sure Miss Pam keeps that wound clean and change dressings.  Pain control is important, but you don't want her to get too "comfortable" or she may try to over do it and do damage.  Comfortable and resting is best.  Given the location, she may want several pillows and change positions every so often as staying in one position will hurt.

Did order the TPC 400 and also ordered a Passenger Train Station from train store.  I am also looking at getting one of the legacy engines.  Perhaps the NYC GP7.  Trying to take it easy and enjoy what I have too.  Plan is for work on layout after Chinese lessons tomorrow afternoon.

Nothing else planned.  Hope it is a blessed weekend for all.

Dennis

[Buckeye Riveter]

Purchased an MTH realtrax 042 switch yesterday.  Got the $70 switch out of the box, and right away noticed a crack in the plastic ballast just below the strait outer rail.  It was also missing a screw in the bottom.  The cardboard box was mint, and packed well.  I planned on hiding this switch uder a mountain anyhow, and knowing that I took the last RH switch in inventory, I decided to try to see if all still worked.  After installing it, I found that the non-derailing feature only worked on one direction.  Also, a piece or rail came loose in my hand.  What a piece of crap...I guess it's going back to the store.  I hate returning things, especially if it isn't the stores fault.   Chalk up another bad MTH switch experience.

Have a good evening everyone!
Wes

The Chief, you and I have all had bad experiences of late with MTH Realtrax switches.  Maybe we should start to treat them like locomotives and have a test run before we buy.

BTW, where have you been?  George says he hasn't seen you in over a week.

Bad storms on the way tonight. 

[Anonymous]

Evening all.  FREE money coming second Wed. in August and from then on.   More $$$$$ than I thought. 

I'll be sure to speak with those in benefits on Monday... they obviously can not READ!

[Brutus]

Wes - make the Switch to RCS! 

Dennis - sounds like you are gonna have a great Father's Day!  Which station did you order?  I was looking at those Korber models after talking to Kurt earlier and there are quite a few that would be cool to own.  Still need to assemble my station and also a house kit I bought though.  Too busy with kids and working on my 1:1 house to get to the 1:48 stuff....

Found our dream toilet (American Standard Right Height Champion Elongated with Champion 4 tank -- the trap is like 2.375 inches in diameter) and paid to have it installed and the old one taken away - seems like a good deal to me and this is my least favorite job in the universe.

Working OT tomorrow, so won't get to stay up much later.

Bad hail storm coming here too, Buckeye.  TTFN!

PS (EDIT) - Oh, almost forgot to say that I had some really nice talks today with Kurt, Doug and Sir James.  It seems that 3 of us have been a little under the weather, but Sir James said he is feeling fine....  Hmmm?  It's my fault, I thought it was "Sam and Ella's Potato Salad", but it was Salmonella?

[Brutus]

88 - I think we posted over each other.  Well, you do realize that this is probably a very strong indicator that someone has recently had a birthday, don't you?  I'm not sure, of course, but mostly people apply when they become eligible at some level, and that is usually related to a birthday

[dougdagrump]

Chief, Remember that is not free money, all of the SS taxes you and your employers have paid into the Social Security Trust Fund is just sitting there for you to start receiving your "golden years windfall".  Nevermind.

Great day at the museum today, no pileups. Just for chuckles I put the camera car behind a flatcar with the MTH 4-6-0, of course the smoke output was at the max output setting. It was cool, especially transitioning into some of the curves. Gave you the feeling of sitting in the cupola of the bobber caboose and watching the smoke rolling over the top of the train.    

Spent some time chatting with an empty nester couple from the D.C. area. Had to chuckle, he had been away from trains for decades but they bought a Thomas set for their grandson so you know what comes next. Grampa digs out all of his from childhood and they are now "off and running", lots off new modern stuff and building a layout. Sound familiar ? 

 

[Brutus]

Trustfund   How about sharing that video, Doug?

That's really it - storm is going mostly just north of us.  Gotta hit the hay so I can help redistribute the wealth of the nation tomorrow!  TTFN

[rtraincollector]

Accually if I remember right its today to the chief. Hope its a good one.

Morning all at work already I'm supose to start today in my work assignment was in indoc all this past week.

Well its starting to look like home again at the house wife is getting all the stuff put up where she wants them and when I come home I'm told this clock neads to be put up here and this pic here ect lol. I work today tomorrow and monday off tuesday and wednesday.

Will talk to you all later

[dwiemer]

Chief, congratulations on the winfall.  Does this mean that you will be making York?  I see an expanded roster in your future!

RT, be carefull with all the work you are putting in while the bride is at the house unpacking.... before you know it, the planned trainroom will be a sewing room or home to a doll collection!

Brutus, I am getting the passenger station from the K-Lionel catalog.  It is the small one that has several different railroad heralds on stickers that you can make it.  I'll be using the "Lackawanna" sticker.  Probably will place the "Pennsylvania RailRoad" sticker over the Hobo camp

Well, wife and one kid are up.  Seems we have a birthday party for one of the kids in my son's class later this morning....at Chuck-E-Cheese  So, it looks like the fishing is off for today.  Later, I need to put ID markers on the wires under the layout for future needs.  Want to check all the wiring done and finish up a few of the mains.

I also got a bridge that is supposedly "Rare" from a credible place.  It is a "Corbet" I think.  Anyway, I got it because it looks real nice.  Now I just need to figure out a place to put it.  Perhaps a seperate point to point for a trolley or #50 gang car.

God Bless,

dennis

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Kinda overcast and "tropical" feelin' here in the Mid-Atlantic region.  It's just been one of those weeks around fifedom, and things gotta get better.  Oldest is still acting out, chicklet #2 has a severe sunburn, boy's fracture went the wrong way, and little princess has been poutin' up a storm.  Wanted to get away this weekend (either east to DOVER, or west to WV), but the boy will be going under the knife after noon TODAY...

jmkk - went thru same thing with my Mom.  Having her "baby boy" around will be strong medicine.

Wes - If you put that switch inside a mountain, UNCLE MURPHY will set up shop in that exact spot...

SPMAN--->.  Glad you like the prototype trains, too.

Chief - My deepest regards to Mrs Eagles.  Hope everything will be ok.

Brutus - Some of us have "dream girls"; and some us have "dream layouts"; but a "dream kamode"...whaaa

rt - Big CONGA!

...and if it is HIS ROYAL MAJESTY'S D.O.B.----> Chief!

[mitchelr]

Morning to All,

It is a gray and cloudy morning here in South Central PA.  Hope to cut the grass soon but the Mrs is still , don't want to disturb her beauty rest.  Probably get ready and go get a hair cut and then hit Jiffy Lube for an oil change.  Could do it myself, but my back still has 7 stitches in it from where the Dr. cut out a mole that was "mildly atypical".  

Congrats to Chief on his windfall - glad my SS taxes are going to help support such a fine gentleman.  I always figure SS taxes are going to provide for folks who have worked hard and deserve a decent retirement.  Of course I hope no one is relying only on SS.  I just hope that there's some $$$ available when I reach that age.

On the school front, things are poking along.  Got the final sign off on plumbing inspection, a brand new inspector was being a PIA over a stupid vacuum breaker on a piece of equipment that he really was not supposed to be inspecting, that did not require a vacuum breaker, but that he had insisted we install.  So, we just took the piece of equipment out, and will reinstall after we get final Use and Occupancy. 42 other school buildings have this same equipment and have had no problems.  Over zealous employeee.   Last of a long line of inspection will be next Wednesday as long as the weather holds out and they can get the parking lot striping done on Tuesday.  We did get permission to start accepting furniture deliveries next week, so lots of action coming up.  Still have a pretty long punch list of items needing attention.  Water pressure issue is still not resolved.

On the hiring front we had 97 people apply for a secretary job.  That is a real testament to the poor shape of the economy. When economic times were better, we'd only have a couple  dozen apply, 20-30 or so max. People who live more than an hour away are applying for a job with a starting salary of right around $20,000.  They'd spend half that in gas money.  Some people who apply have no business applying. One person's only listed work experience was managing the Twilight Inn, a gin joint down near my folks.  How that would qualify you to work with little kids and handle student enrollment records, attendance, etc.,  I'll never understand??  Maybe she mixes a mean Margarita, that might come in handy. Lots of people with no office or clerical work experience apply too.  None of the candidates seemed to stand out, at least on paper. We're interviewing about 18 people next week.  Hope we find a good one. 

Hope to get out in the Train Room this afternoon after errands are done.  

Have a great day,

Mitch 

[jonadel]

Chief--

"Free money" -- just like the "stimulus checks" -- it was yours to begin with, enjoy it. I have decided not to collect my SS yet, holding off until the boss retires as we pay too much in taxes now, plus the longer I wait the more of "my" money I get back if I live long enough, which I've decided to do!

Staying very busy with the Patriot Guard at funerals, we are losing a lot of WW II vets and two Korean War vets this week. We've also welcomed home two large IANG units in the last month, those are the best. I'm trying to stay within 100 miles of home unless it's a young warrior killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, glad the bike get's 42 mpg+.

Trains have really taken a back seat here now that the weather is better, except for the two tornados this week. Once it get hotter (July) we will be back down there tweaking the layout.

Have a great weekend!

[fifedog]

mitchie - don't be so quick to dismiss that Twilight Inn gal; might have intangibles that wouldn't translate on a resume'...you know me....

jonadel - that is pretty cool you do those services in your free time.

[jmkk]

  MORNING ALL. T.G.I.Saturday. Worked till 9:00 last night but at least all jobs for the week are finished and posts for the fence next week are in! No time for wings and beer just a shower and bed. Two good things came out of all this hard work $ and I lost 12 pounds last week. Today should be busy but easy. I have to clean the gagage and house up for the kids birthday parties and do a little shopping. Should have a little time for trains later tonight, boy do I need that. I think I will also have some beers and a fire tonight.

 Fifedog- Prayers and good luck for your son.

 Brutus- We have two of the exact same toilet's. We had one in our master bath. The 2nd bath had what ever was there when we bought the house. Kids kept cloging it up.( 2 under 5) Bought a second champion and now we havent had any backups. When my daughter was 2 1/2 I cought her flushing  bath toy's and little people down it. Never clogged.

 Have a great day all.

[Anonymous]

Mornin' boys.  Kinda overcast and "tropical" feelin' here in the Mid-Atlantic region.  It's just been one of those weeks around fifedom, and things gotta get better.  Oldest is still acting out, chicklet #2 has a severe sunburn, boy's fracture went the wrong way, and little princess has been poutin' up a storm.  Wanted to get away this weekend (either east to DOVER, or west to WV), but the boy will be going under the knife after noon TODAY...

Fife - What the H...! I thought you took Chris to a SPECIALIST??? Oh well... at least he is still young and will hopefully heal. That is really sad news, and the new about Mrs Chief wasn't good either. Best o' Luck to Chris. Lexi is probably upset about Chris, but she won't tell you that... and seeing the oldest acting out probably doesn't help matters either. Sunburn? <shaking head>.

Mitch and Laz - Good luck on the back scraping and healing.

RT - Don't think I said anything, but sounds like things are finally panning out for you!

Doug - Dream Toilet? I was just joking with Chief about the 'additional windfall'.

As for SS... your money goes to those receiving it now, not into savings (where it was supposed to go) for your retirement. LBJ made sure that wasn't the case back in the 1960's. He and Congress removed the seperation of the SS Trust Fund from the general fund so LBJ could fund his 'War on Poverty'. This is why SS will be bankrupt in 20 - 30 years.

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a very cloudy 55 degrees. Going up to 82 today, with more thunderstorms on the way. Bad last night.

I was awakened at 4 am, with a loud rumble of thunder. Big storm until 7 am. Fell asleep again and woke up at 8 am. This is going to be a slow day. Maybe run trains later. Outside work done.

Dining car was here and breakfast of Cheerios.

Y'all have a great Saturday.

Chuck

[cnw1995]

Morning all. Beautiful, sunny, warm today - hope to mosey around the yard cutting down things damaged by a few days of storms.

Brutus might've found me a lead on a #96 coal tower I've been looking for one that is not zillions of dollars for years.

[dbaker48]

Hey guys !  Sorry been away for so long, just havn't been feelin all that great.  The situation with Chris still looms above us.  They are keeping the surgery option open, hopefully that will be gone very soon!

Regarding that birthday question, I am rather certain it is June 4, 1946.     To long ago for me to be familiar with, but have it on rather reliable information.

Sorry to hear about Pam's situation, hope it gets better real soon !!

There is JUST so much to comment on !!!

- Mitch you've done a marvelous job with getting the school going, kinda like giving child birth, a situation you certainly can become attached too.

- Fife sorry to hear about your son's surgery!! Hope it is less than anticipated.  Going to be tough keeping him down for healing, as it is the beginning of summer!

- Dennis, thanks for the Kudos, but you deserve the credit, I didn't do anything you were already on top of it.

- RT, SO Glad that it is all working out so well, now the issue will become TIME !!  Always the case with me.  If I have the money no time, if I have the time no money.

- Doug dg, That's a great idea with the camera car picking up the smoke as it is billowing from the engine, will need to try that.

 - Brutus, "Dream Toilet", gosh where has this forum degressed too?  I think the influences are getting to you, old boy.  Stay away from the remote control garbage disposals.

Condolences for all those with switch problems, I can see a revolt brewing.  (Rightly so)

 - Doug M, I think the Tardis needs a renovated scanner.  That way it can just take a reading on whats in the frig, and provide alerts as to what is consumable or not.  I've heard that some even have options to predate extremely desirable items that may have been stored too long.  Worth considering.

You guys have been busy this past week, I've run out of steam.  Going to try and shake this da*n cold/virus/whatever this weekend.  No shows, so hope to get some rest.  Maybe run some trains, that always helps. 

 

 

 

 

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all.  Birthday is next week.  That is why I do not get a check until Aug.  ????  Have to have a full 30 days after your birthday, then they wait 30 days to issue. Feds keeping from paying you for almost 60 days.  Trying to sober up.  Had to take lots of cough med last night.   Finally stopped coughing.  MIL came and brought Country Ham and Cheese biscuits.  Would take a bite, fall asleep, wake up, take a bit and fall asleep and so on.  Pam is doing a lot better.  Got truck back and runs excellent.  Chat later. 

[sir james I]

GOOD MORNING

FIRST rule in track planning is NEVER EVER put a switch inside a tunnel. Second rule no switch in the far corner where you cannot reach. But we all learn the hard way.

Sun this morning, we got 1/4 inch of needed rain, storms stayed far away, could hear and see but not close. A person can apply for SS before their birthday, so I'd hold off on the b.day wishes until we get the official word. Going for a walk now, but I will check in from time to time.

Best wishes to the ill,hope everyone is mending. Brutus,Doug, and Kurt,sorry about that. I was suppose to throw that stuff out but put in back in the fridge by mistake.....S.J.