2009 Coffee Pot. Here we gather with friends with trains for chats, 4 years of coffee and sweet ice tea.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Tonight at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio a line of an 18 year old, a 19 year old and a 37 year old scored at will.  The 18 year old had a hat trick, the first for a rookie in the history of the team.  The town was rocking and rolling. 

Tomorrow,  should be fun.  I have a teacher who is bringing one of her students to see the trains.  Need to clean up the room. 

[dwiemer]

Birds, I was going to mention that as we would push the door up, we would have a 2x4 that we would slide up the channel till we got it all the way open.  Certainly have second person to help as you don't need an accident, or a back injury.  Some great suggestions.  I like the idea of using a C-clamp on the channels on each side.  We have the screw-type opener.  If you go with this type, I suggest using some lithium grease to keep things running smooth.

Mike, glad you got to see Gran Torino.  I have been wanting to see that too.  With your report, we will have to make it happen.

Dennis

[dwiemer]

Don, you are right.  I don't pretend to expect people to change.   I do tend to be vocal with my opinions, but perhaps another outlet would be more appropriate.

Jim, I agree.  The intent was Freedom of Religion, not Freedom from Religion.  Some today think we should eliminate all reference to God, I do not agree.  While politics does not belong in church, this country was founded on Judeo Christian foundations and should remain so.

OK, enough of that....TRAINS, There, I said it!  I did not get any trains for my birthday, but did get some grilling items and a IPOD.  Not sure how to use it, but supposedly, it gets Internet access and can store 8gb of music, etc.  I will have to look things up and get it going.

Regarding trains though, had a nice conversation with a true Southern Gentleman.  Enjoyed it.  Also took care of some wiring on the layout.  All the yard sidings are wired up to toggle switches so I can park trains and cut power as needed.  I have some more wiring to do to a seperate loop and also a reversing loop that will be hidden.  Then, the control panel and we will be in business.   Like the idea of using cabinets to house the transformers, but will see what works best.  I picked up a cheap fan at WalMart to use behind the transformers to keep things on the cool side under the layout.  Don't want any over heating issues. 

Well, I will have to do rounds at the hospital before heading to church in the morning.  I think I am on schedule for the production team as well, so we shall see.  I will need to use seperate vehicles from my wife anyway, in case I get called in.

Hope everyone has  blessed night and may God bless you all  in the week ahead.

Dennis

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

It was cloudy and cool in SE Indiana with temps in the 30s.  Been busy.  Work went well yesterday.  Watched "Numb3rs" last night.  It was a little different than most of the episodes.  Much more philosophical.  Wife and I cleaned the house today.  I went to the YMCA both today and yesterday.  We went to see "Gran Torino" at 5 tonight.  It was an excellent movie.  Totally politically incorrect, but should get Clint an Oscar for either directing or acting or both.  Went to Frisch's afterward.  Tomorrow will be spent getting ready for trip.  Fifedog, since the Ravens won, if the Bolts win at Pittsburgh, the AFC champ game will be in San Diego?!?!?!  I had bran muffins on the dining car for breakfast this morning.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Wes Whitmore]

Here in my subdivision, the garage door subcontractor that installed everyone's 16' door  in 2000 used improperly braced garage doors, and only installed one tension spring for the whole door.  They used a spring designed for a single bay garage.  Almost everyone's doors have snagged due to decomposing track rollers, causing enough stress on the door to fold it in half as the opener kept pushing.  I replaced the rollers so my door has been holding up, but my spring has broke.  I got someone to replace that spring, and add another one, so the tension doesn't have to be as high, and it cost me $75...

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Good evening all from foggy rainy Southern Ohio

At work and I have the assignments passed out.  Hopefully we’ll have a low key night.  Weather may be nasty in the morning.

Fife – If I expanded, I may need to take up residence in the garage!, but it is a nice garage.

Kurt & Dennis – When the founding fathers were drafting the Constitution and regarding the issue of separation of church and state, remember they came from the most part England where there was a national church, and the clergy were neck deep in politics.  I believe we have misconstrued the original intent of the separation of church and state. 

DougM – Oh I get it.  I’ve not had a chance to take the pics yet, probably Monday at the earliest.

Birds- Be Careful!!  Put a step ladder on both the inside and outside of the door.  Get a 2x4 about 4’ long.  Check for any binding or misalignment and fix before raising if possible.  Raise the door high enough and put the 2x4 bridging between the bottom step of the step ladders.  Work you way step at a time up to the top of the ladder.  If the door begins to fall down, let it drop.  New doors are cheaper than broken bones.  Take a C clamp and clamp both sides at the rail where the rollers will come in contact with the c clamp.  Once you get some of the door on the horizontal part of the rail it will become easier.  Get the door full open and clamp in the full open position.  Do not remove both clamps at the same time, or use another clamp if possible.  Replace both springs and not would be a good time to check rollers and alignment.

 

May God bless

Jim

 

[sir james I]

Good Evening

Brutus any place warm is fine with me. Walks and driveway have been cleared but its still snowing. Suppose to end after 10pm SJ time..About 6 to 8 inches here, cousin in Toledo says about 10 inchs there. GG1 still running fine right out of the box and without a battery.

Banilla on hand and a few root beers are ready....S.J.

[fifedog]

Well, after 3 hours of angst, the RAVENS survived to move on.  Lousy game, and I'm quite sure Dan D and the Tennessee faithful will bemoan the non call of delay of game til Easter...

rt - Thanks for the info.

[Brutus]

Test, test, test....  I-I-I-Understood, Chief.  Dennis   Doug M RT Laz (Better watch out, I think Chief is mailing you some of those special pellets he found under his house!)  Yo Chief, hope the doggie is feeling better and all goes well!  Too much to post about, but glad that I don't have snow piled up over my house, we get the rain and a little snow and ice here and there this year, but keep getting bands of warmer weather.  Sir James - hope you did get out of the house?  Just leave the trains and go hang out with Pat for a while and she will start the tunnel for you?  Just kidding!  I know she will get out, has to get to the grandbabies!  Too much to post about everything, but thanks everyone, lots of good stuff in the past few days and really got a couple chuckles here and there

Worked 6 hours OT.  Stayed up too late a couple nights and I'm crashing now.  Watching a locomotive I bid on on ebay, don't know whether I hope to win it or lose it, lol!  I want it, but I don't want to tell Char about it - she will be a little peeved.  Don't want to end up on restrictions!

Tardis is stocked up and ready to go, so just waiting for the screen to light up a little.  I think Sir James wants to grab some trains and go down to Rich's for a visit?

[jmkk]

Afternoon all. Well its afternoon for my schedule. Went out and cleaned the driveway.The neighbor's driveway behind, next door neighbor's and all sidewalk's.Thats the only problem being the only one to have a big two stage snow thrower. Only used a little over one and a half gallon's of gas at least. I blew all the snow from our drieway into the backyard so the kids would have a big snow pile to play on. That was a hit. When I was finished with the driveways I shaped it into a sled hill for them. They liked that even more. Well dinner will be done in 10 min.  So after dinner its time to go out to clean up the rest of the snow. Hopefully some train time after that. Talk later.

[ChiefEagles]

Doug, remember the LAZ statement.  IGNORE IGNORE IGNORE.  Off to Fireman's dinner.

[cnw1995]

Don, I saw Jon/s signature and followed suit! Back from fighting through the snow to see the middle boy wrestle (unsuccessfully - too bad). Ray, the TTOS sounds like a great option - you're right, I get my toy train acronyms mixed up.  Watching the Ravens game - all those Tennesseans dressed up like a Bears game and it's 53 degrees with a little rain. Sheesh. Maybe only 8 inches or so here. . .Oh Buckeye, look out for those revenooers...

[sir james I]

Help: very heavy snow all day, If you guys don't come dig me out I could be like Buckeye, stuck in the house for days. I know I have the trains but my wife is here too.lol.

[Buckeye Riveter]

So I get out of bed, put on my homemade Chessie bath robe and my Thomas the Tank slippers and go downstairs.  Through the dim light, I see that there is a pile of mail  on the table. 

Mmmm....a letter from city hall.  Let's see what it says.................................

My identity was stolen!!!  What?! It says that I need to open an account with LIFELOCK before some hooligan cleans out my bank accounts and chicken coop.  It says they threw a bunch of trash into an "unsecured" receptacle in the parking lot and there were papers that told my life's story and more caught by the wind and scattered for miles.   These unsecured documents may have even blown below the Mason-Dixon Line!!! 

 

[kpolak]

Afternoon All!

Snow blown...round one.  Snow picking up again....

Back from a local gun show.  Mostly rifles and shotguns.  A Sig 1911 did catch my eye.  But alas, not today.  Neighbor returned the track I lent him for Christmas.  His bride bought him a small Fastrack layout for Christmas.  He has a Sig arms pistol and shoots quite often, and offered to take me out shooting.

Pork chops tonight!

Kurt

[Wes Whitmore]

Sturgeon-Phish

 

Wes- With your car was a thumb drive, what am I to do with it?  It is a nice car, I've got an idea for pictures but I have not had the time to take them yet.  I don't have any new ones for SPF yet!

 

Jim,

Feel free to put pictures that you take of my car on the thumb drive.  Those pictures will be higher resolution than the ones that we would copy from the SPF page, plus, there might be some on there that didn't make it on the forum.

Have a good day everyone!

Wes

[dougdagrump]

Howdy Boyz & Girlz !

Tried logging in last nite but there must have been some issues somewhere. I was way to pooped anyway.

The munchkin was here thursday and for some reason he felt that 4:30 am friday was a great time to wakeup. By the time I got home from the museum I was done for the day, in bed and out like a light by 9pm.

The box cars that I had stuffed full of cotton batting were as quiet as a church mouse yeterday. Great way to soften the noise that sometimes comes from those rolling echo chambers.

Buckeye, are you looking to expand your garden rr ? Check these out, will bring back a pleasant memory or two.

http://www.newenglandtoytrainexchange.com/01-23-09/lot925.htm 

Well all of yesterday's trainstuff is put back up on the shelves but will still need to service the locos before the job is complete. 

Later all, need to start prepping for company this evening.         

 

[edw]

dbaker48

I have usually found that those that have "lived" more history typically have a better prospective of reality of it all. 

Hey Don, care to give us a firsthand account about what those founding fathers were actually thinking?

[Buckeye Riveter]

I think I will pull the covers off of my head, hop out of bed and go look out the window to see if the world has ended yet.  Besides, I'm getting hungry. 

[laz 57]

fifedog

laz - I took the liberty of working out your itinerary for today:

      Laz's to do list for Saturday, January 10,2009

        1) Work on train layout from 1000 - 1630 hours. *

       2) Watch football from 1630 - 2300 hours. **

       3) Go to bed.

        * - Denotes NO PILE UPS

        ** - Denotes sustainance of YINGS and WINGS

It's all about helping each other.

rt - My other collection is 1:43 NASCAR diecast, so I have picked up a couple of the flatcars for $10 a pop.  Will repaint flat into something else.

FIFE, U DA MAN.

Gee you should plan all my days this sounds GREAT!!!

GO RAVENS!!!!

laz57

[laz 57]

 

THANKS CHIEF!!!!!

I must have GRITS FOR BRAINS?????

I'll get to repay you when the NS Dash 9 comes out.

Thanks again,

laz57

[SPMan]

Doug, Maybe I was not too clear.  I already belong to TCA Western Division.  What I was thinking about joining or actually rejoining, because I am a former member, is The Toy Train Operating Society (TTOS).  They have a bigger meet in Southern California than TCA.  I do enjoy the friendships at TCA but I need a better venue for trading trains.

Chief, hope Frankie's dog is OK.  Some of those dog problems seem like they would be expensive with todays prices on vet bills.  That's why I don't have anymore pets.  More power to those who can afford them though.  Personally, I'm having a tough time just meeting my own medical expenses especially with the drug companies' policy of the sky is the limit on prices and they have the government's blessing.  Can you say "Donut hole" ?

Ray

[ChiefEagles]

LAZ you Yankee you.  Learn to speak plain English.

MISS EDNA thought you wanted a tipple.

I just bougth you 3 boxes of coal [lying right next to the TPC's on the floor].  [Like I told you to tell her].   

[Birds]

The guide was released, but the door is too heavy to lift unaided (looks like I need to eat more Wheaties and spinach).  I'm guessing the second spring is so old it isn't doing much.

I can lift it higher than the motor, so I guess that means I'm stronger than 1/3 of a horse...  

But since this is the mid-Atlantic they probably used quarter horses... so I'm stronger than 1/3 of a quarter horse. 

[dbaker48]

 

Birds

Morning all...

Woke up this morning and found that one of the two springs on the garage door had broke.  25 year old double wide wood door and I can't lift it with the remaining spring.  Trapped at home.  Guess I'll have to work on the layout and run trains.

Any suggestions on how to lift a beast of a door without squashing yourself?  The only thing I can come up with is calling over friends and neighbors.

Can't really complain because the door is 25 year old.  Time for a new door and opener.

MAKE SURE YOU RELEASED THE TRACTOR/GUIDE FROM THE ELECTRIC OPENER !!  SHOULD BE ABLE TO OPEN THEN

[Birds]

Morning all...

Woke up this morning and found that one of the two springs on the garage door had broke.  25 year old double wide wood door and I can't lift it with the remaining spring.  Trapped at home.  Guess I'll have to work on the layout and run trains.

Any suggestions on how to lift a beast of a door without squashing yourself?  The only thing I can come up with is calling over friends and neighbors.

Can't really complain because the door is 25 year old.  Time for a new door and opener.

[dbaker48]

Morning  guys ........

fifedog

Phish - I remember a daring layout "expansion" by our own dbaker a couple seasons ago.  Perhaps you could follow his example...

For some reason, whenver she leaves the house she always locks all the windows ajoining the train room, and house.  So for the time being anyway, the trains are kinda constrained.

...speaking of dbaker, understand he had a little more SHAKE to his bake this week.

Didn't even feel that "tickler", I was doing a presentation, and maybe just to busy.  It was just a little one anyway.

 

Going to take the reindeer and decorations down today.  Then work in the train room, and get some pictures of the car exchange done.  Hopefully will have it posted tomorrow.  That's turning out to be a very enjoyable project.  It's like a mini Christmas morning when the car arrives.

With all the history lessons going on, I have usually found that those that have "lived" more history typically have a better prospective of reality of it all.  I know my views have continued to change with life, from a somewhat liberal at youth to more and more conservative with time.  And, have found it VERY rare that have been able to change anyone's political or theoritical viewpoints.  Usually just make them more entrenched in their own.  The biggest benefit is that where we live, we can have those divergent thoughts and even express them, without looking over our shoulder.  The frustrating part is, those that so easily forget the sacrifices that so many made, so we could have those freedoms.  Anyway, this place is for trains and it certainly can't be deied the role trains have played in our history.

So better get busy and get to work, hope everyone has a good day. 

Doug - Don't forget to SIGN the car, hope you can find some room on it somewhere.

[GregM]

RRCharlie

Just checked Lionel's shipping schedule-dated January 9th.

The LEGACY Module Garage has been dropped!

Everytime I read that the Lionel shipping schedule has been updated I check it to see if the Lionmaster BigBoy has been rescheduled or dropped (didn't it previously say cancelled?).  Still scheduled for April '09 but I have read that September is more likely.

 

Just finished shoveling about five inches of snow from part of the driveway.  Decided to wait for the plow to scrape the road before finishing.  Did put a stick up to mark the end of the driveway.  Almost every year, the plows scrape part of the front lawn up.  Spring of 2008 was the first time they every attempted to fix it but the result was just lots of weeds.

[RRCharlie]

Just checked Lionel's shipping schedule-dated January 9th.

The LEGACY Module Garage has been dropped!

[dwiemer]

Doug, one of the guys who worked on the movie lives up your way.  Wrote on my "Wall" about the snow.  Sorry man, wish you had the nice day we are having.

Was a nice day, had all kinds of plans and I find myself at the hospitial taking care of a person who was visiting the area and needs our services, so to speak.  Looks OK now, so I will head back to the house. 

RT, better hurry, only a few biscuits left and the kids will eat them with jelly for a snack.  I will rush  home and try to stop them for ya!

God Bless,
dennis