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

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 7:50 PM

Evening all.  Wind did blow!!!!!!  Rains came and went.   Wind still blowing.  Sometimes up to 50+ miles per hour.  Hope to get is a little train time tomorrow.  Watching Western.  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 cnw1995 on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 7:56 PM

Hang on, Chief! Boy, nothing like coming home to a quick supper and diving into 'simplifying radicals' with the middle son. Whew - thank goodness for Google. Dennis, you are so right.

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

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Posted by sir james I on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 8:35 PM

Good Evening All

32 and slippery out there. Made it to the train store and saw a bunch of new stuff. Yes I got my set, like it except the engine has two axles with  rubber tires and two with magnatraction. The rubber tires make the power trucks wobble a little. Not much but I can see it.

Neighbors dog barked all nite I had very little sleep. She says they forgot to let him in and nobody in the house heard the dog. I told her all the neighbors did.

Still have a good supply of banilla so  drop by....S.J.

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

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Posted by jefelectric on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 8:57 PM

 Laz, Thanks for the reminder.  I was going to mention ROGER BEILEN's layout being in CTT, but forgot it until I saw your post.  Congrats Roger.

Jon, That was a very nice article, thanks for the link.

ndnboy, Welcome to the coffee pot.  Now for the sales pitch.  The TCA convention will be in Baltimore in 2010.  If you are not yet a member, now is the time to sign up. 

Was planning to go to the Greenberg show in York on Saturday, but it will depend on the weather as snow is predicted.  I no longer drive in snow except in emergencies.

John Fullerton Home of the BUBB&A  http://www.jeanandjohn.net/trains.html
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Posted by wrmcclellan on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 9:18 PM

Evening all!

Nice day today. 50s/60s and more of the same, maybe even 70s for rest of the week and weekend.

Poor Buckeye - kidney stones and another OSU bowl loss. I assume Buckeye land is looking like the scenary in Blade Runner.

Jim F - good to hear about your sister.

John F - whenever it snows in OHIZO I try to stay inside eben though I am in Texas...

Wife has a check up medical procedure tomorrow so we have to be at the clinic at 7 am - UGH.

She doesn't get to eat and thus is not happy.

Chief - thanks for the good news about Jack!

Hope everyone has a great day tomorrow!

Regards, Roy

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Posted by Brutus on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 9:34 PM

Thanks guys, she's fine but sore today.  Said her eyes were burning, apparently from powder from the airbag (singular!).  Got to email chat with Sir James for a couple minutes, but he had to hit the hay.  Said something about getting Chief to come up on the Tardis and try some sharpshooting for a local nuisance?  Whistling 

Laz - is this coal more like tic-tacs?

Had a nice talk for a few minutes this morning with an old friend from work who retired.  He was a MSGT in the USMC in Vietnam and actually is featured in a couple books - a real nice old Grandad NOW though.  He's very involved at his church and expecting a new g-daughter in June.  His wife passed away about a month ago, so it was good to see him and see that he was doing okay.  2008 was sure a tough year on everybody, hope 2009 lets up a little.

A little snow tonight, they say, but nothing big.  Oh well, have to work tomorrow I guess.  Tardis is ready and we got the confetti cleaned up in the tv room, so could watch some of the dvr'd extreme trains tonight?  We've been watching the first season of Petticoat Junction on dvd and it was just a good old show.  Lots of fun train stuff in the first few episodes especially.  Okay, here we go!  Wink

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by jonadel on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 9:51 PM

Jon, That was a very nice article, thanks for the link.

jefelctric (John)

If I owned the TV station and the newspaper there would be a lot more of that type of news.  I'll never understand why we rarely hear the "good news".

 
 

Jon

So many roads, so little time. 

 

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 10:38 PM

Jon, that was good.  Sir J., Arf Arf Arf  Speaking of Arf Arf, Lucy is off to the vet's tomorrow AM for an operation.  She has been wearing a diaper for the last two days because her Mom put it off too long.   Back to Big Country on Westerns Channel.  Good night all.

 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 RockIsland52 on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 11:41 PM

ChiefEagles

Morning all.  Why am I so late posting????

 

I HAVE BEEN OUT TALKED!!!!!!!!  This REB lost that battle to a Yankee. Shock  I know, you can not believe it. 

Jack [Rock Island 52] returned my call.  For over an hour we chatted.  Wonderful guy.  He is OK.  Had a few "upsets" in the past months but he can explain if he wants too.  His wife [he] does have a new puppy. Laugh

Sorry for the hiatus from the Pot.  As difficult as it is for some of you to imagine, I was the one who got out-talked by Chief.  Chief hunted me down like a hunter with a pack of coon dogs on a mission.  By the time the conversation was over, I had developed a Southern drawl.  If the conversation had continued much longer, I would have been the recipient of instructions on the proper way to prepare grits during a power outage caused by an ice storm.

Passed a few miles South of Doug Murphy just after Christmas on Interstate Route 90 headed West.  Word to the wise.  Don't drive over the river and through the woods to Great Grandma and Great Grandpa's house 1,042 miles one way non stop in an 8 passenger SUV with the family.  It took 20 hours out and 18 on the way back, primarily because the ladies displayed bladders the size of a pea which necessitated a million pit stops.  Every time they lifted a bottle of water to their lips, I winced and had to start looking for the next rest area.

More later.  I hope everyone is hale and hardy and had a joyous and memorable holiday season.

Jack     

 

IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 11:45 PM

Jack!

It's good to have you back.

Northwoods Flyer

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Posted by dbaker48 on Thursday, January 8, 2009 1:39 AM

WOW !!!  Sure is a lot going on, On the POT, in the Forum, Off the Forum, just everywhere !!

Sign - Welcome NDNBOY !  Good to have some new folks here, looking forward to fresh ideas, don't become dismayed by the banter, MOST of these guys are harmless.

Looking forward to the next hobby oriented magazine, hopefully will find some new ideas and applications.  Went down to the AGHR train club tonight, even though I've had some issues, there are still a lot of guys I really enjoy.  So I'm sure I will still stay involved, probably not as much as before, but involved nevertheless.  Spent significant time taking pictures of a wayward boxcar.  Working on a theme for this weekends SPF.

Need to put out a plea for help!  We're going broke!  Its been announced that as a result of not having a state budget, the state run's out of money the 1st of Feburary.  Any tax refunds will be done with IOU's, layoff's are imminent, fire and police will be shut down, schools closed, life as we know it will be over.  So, send recipes for grits, porkbellies, chitlins, scraple, hobo stew, and any think else you can think of, its going to get desperate.  People are already talking about packing up the truck, and headin east.  (May need some extra room in the Tardis.)

Jon - As everyone has previously said that link was well worth the time and very good!  Surprised its not in email form being sent all over.

 Glad to see Rock Island is back! You've been missed, since you have been away Buckeye has gone into hibernation suffering from depression, I think.   Chief has revereted to talking to himself and trying to keep out of trouble.

And all the other stuff, just to much to mention.  Good luck on Sunday, Jim!    Then there is MTH & Lionel - How are we going to know who's who?  Ray, Give up on the phone, you won't need it anyway with the state going broke, everyone's going to be leaving.

Will be interesting to see what the rest of the month brings around.  Later....... 

Don

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Posted by kpolak on Thursday, January 8, 2009 4:34 AM

Morning!

Lee:  $300 is still less than an new TV.

Phish:  I believe it's God, Family, and everything else, and remember the story of Jesus going to dinner at the woman's house, where she worked before, during, and after dinner, and didn't spend time with Jesus.  Can you send an email on where I can get the homily?

Don:  Yikes grits recipes????  I'll send some Michigan poatoes.  Friends don't let friends eat grits.

Dennis:  Great news on the movie Award nomination!   Best of luck!

HD is in!  With drama.  Bride spent 40 minutes on phone, because operator that took the order didn't enter the order correctly.

Kurt

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 8, 2009 7:06 AM

HEY! Who's that hogging the counter this morning???

Welcome back Jack. It seems we 'dropped' off about the same time and they sent out search and rescue teams! They found me shacked up at work working on a major project... that still isn't done... and is looking like it will run over budget, miss the implementation date, and still be a resounding success! (never understood how that happens).  Sorry I missed your call last night, I was dead to the world in a sound coma! (finally)

Well a couple nights ago, during my phone conversation with The Chief, I realized I didn't like how the upper area of the layout was taking shape, so I redid the track plan. I was able to extend both legs of the upper sidings allowing me to get 4 coal cars (instead of 2) on the coaling siding and I now have room for 5 tankers (instead of 3) on the oil field siding. Also started working on another rock formation on the other side of the layout (same end, just the other side). If this turns out well I'll have two options for other cliff faces that need to be created, and I'll be able to get the facia boards up along the edges! Thumbs Up  If you remember back during the initial construction when the river was cut in I had used some scrap aluminum and steel I had laying around to build two girder bridges... well I never liked how they turned out and had been looking for replacements. I had been reading up on trestle bridge construction and found plans for a wooden deck bridge, so New Year's Eve Day I stopped by a LHS and bought them out of 1/4x1/4x2 basswood strips and New Year's Day I built a wooden deck bridge to replace one of the girder bridges. Turned out pretty nice and with a little weathering it will fit in right nice... so now I'm designing another to replace the other steel girder bridge. Smile I also extended a section of track by 1.75 inches with designs of building a 7" high trestle bridge. This will take some planning and solid design effort to make it look the way I'm hoping... more on that project to come (and hopefully with pictures).

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Posted by cheapclassics on Thursday, January 8, 2009 7:23 AM

Good morning all,

It is cold in SE Indiana with temps in the teens.  Guess I better let you know I am leading a task force of Hoosiers as we go to the heart of the South next week.  I have a conference in Atlanta, and I promised my supervisors I would behave, but if somebody makes a really stupid remark (which usually occurs during conference calls), I may make Sherman's "march to the sea" look like a cakewalk...lol.  Came home last night as wife and son were finishing up a movie.  They were going grocery shopping so I went to YMCA.   We ate at 7 PM and she wanted to watch Jeopardy and Bones.  Then at 9 PM she wants to put away Christmas stuff!?!?!  I help for awhile but then I go to bed.  I did get to work on my building some more.  Should finish tonight.  Sure has been a lot of activity on the pot.  Jack, welcome back and greetings to the newcomers.  I had the regular fare on the dining car.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by dwiemer on Thursday, January 8, 2009 7:29 AM

Howdy all!  Great to see Jack back.  Glad you are OK, we were concerned as last we heard from you was just prior to the big power outage and storms.

I think Kevin left the door open in Alaska...it was 46 when I came in this morning!  You know it is going to be a bad day when as you crest the bridge leading to the hospital, you notice a helicopter landing on the roof...ah, more business!  Big day with plenty of work to do.  I slept through the night, but after the last 3 weeks, it was still not enough. 

Bride is really wanting to help with getting layout completed....I married well.  If they leave me alone this weekend, I will get some progress.

Don, when you leave mexifornia, you can come settle in Dixie....we'll teach you how to make grits and to slow down to enjoy life again.  I hear things are so bad in California, that they applied for a bailout from Mexico... just kidding.  Hope things get better for our left coast bretheren.

God Bless,
dennis

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Posted by jonadel on Thursday, January 8, 2009 8:13 AM

Don--I've heard it's not crowded in North Dakota Shy  but then there's a reason for that.  My BIL and family have lived up there forever and they love it, slower pace/lower taxes/excellent schools/a high quality family centered life style/superior hunting & fishing/etc.  With all that said, the weather/winter is BRUTAL, I'm not sure many of us could hang in there but then again you don't have to watch your back or lock your doors.  We never locked our doors for 12 years but our German Shepherd, who lived outside and was not locked up, was our greeter--most folks would not get out of their cars.  Sure miss him.

I have to think with our current economy that all 50 states will have serious budget issues for the next several years.  Ironically, that was the same situation in 1969 when there was no money for teacher raises--my 2nd year.  Some things never change. 

Jon

So many roads, so little time. 

 

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Posted by phillyreading on Thursday, January 8, 2009 8:38 AM

Good Morning,

Getting a little chilly down here in south Florida, in the 60's this morning, tomorrow it should be in the 40's. Really shouldn't complain when I don't have snow & ice to deal with. I grew up in snow & ice winters and learned how to drive on ice covered roads. Ever lose control in a 6X6 truck? I did when I was in the army over in Germany, couldn't get the truck out of the motor pool, started sliding even taking off in 5th gear in 6 wheel drive. I parked the truck and told the motor sergeant that I wasn't driving it or anything until the roads were better, two minutes later the motor pool got a call from the base commander saying all non emergency military traffic is now stopped.

Kurt, I can buy a new TV set for $400.00 at Target, so why should I pay $300.00 or better to fix an ailing TV set? Still can't get the Panasonic TV set to recognize the new remote control, guess the receiver is burnt out for the remote feature.

fifedog, Have you seen the newer FEC SD-70's? They bought some SD-70's from Union Pacific and painted them yellow with blue lettering.

I might hook up another track to my DCS unit to see how it works with conventional engines and speed control. Still looking for another transformer to power my Fastrac layout.

Lee F.

 

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Posted by ndnboy on Thursday, January 8, 2009 8:38 AM
morning, already dropped the kid off at school and gave the ride a quick wipe down, lvely 35 in the DC area today : (
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Posted by ChiefEagles on Thursday, January 8, 2009 8:47 AM

Morning all.  Was sunny but now it is clouding up [what is new!!!!].  Wanted to get leaves up even though they are WET.  Keep all that cold air up Nawth.  Weatherpersons are saying might have cold temps below the records of the mid eighties.  Global warming I guess. Laugh  Took Lucy to the vet's.  She will be back tomorrow at noon.  Sure is quite here.  Biscuit time [stopped at Hardees for a porkchop and gravy biscuit as I was out and about].  Have a good one. 

 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, January 8, 2009 9:08 AM

Good Morning from snowy icy Southern Ohio,

Currently we have 1/4” of ice with 1” of snow and more coming slowly.  The birds were waiting for me to fill the feeders, I had no more filled them when they started coming in.  Waiting to see if I am watching grandkids or not.  Services went well last night.

Through eBay I found someone who lives within 30 miles of me that has an American Flyer collection!  We contacted each other and as it turns out I know his wife from high school.  We are going to hook up and talk Flyer!!!!Big Smile

NDNboy – Welcome!!! Sign - Welcome

Kurt – The story of Martha and Mary is one of my favorite stories.  I gave my bride (Mary) a statue of the scene because it does show the importance of maintaining priorities.  I write my homilies out and when I have the one done the married / un-married distraction to ministry I could send you a copy if you want.

Dennis – Congrats on the movie.  Bow I have pre-ordered Fireproof from Praises.  I am looking forward to seeing it.

May God bless

Jim

 

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Posted by underworld on Thursday, January 8, 2009 9:13 AM

 Hey everybody!

A balmy 19F right now! Heading up to Detroit later to look for some abandoned industrial narrow gauge trackage I heard about. Will be getting plenty of photos if I can find it. ;)

 

underworld

 

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Posted by cnw1995 on Thursday, January 8, 2009 9:14 AM

Morning all. Glad Jack is back - I thought I felt his presence a few weeks ago.  Brent, that sounds like a great new plan for that part of the layout.  Sunny but cold here and getting colder. Just enough snow to be annoying. Just dropped the youngest off at school. Have some car work to do and real work too.  Suggested moving to North Dakota to the bride; she countered with Florida or South Carolina. LOL. Guess we'll stay put.

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

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Posted by sir james I on Thursday, January 8, 2009 9:45 AM

Good Morning All

Woke up  to more lite snow on the ground. Sunny and 28 now though. Lots of  talk in the coffee room this morning and me with nothing to say. Jack, glad you had a safe trip, did you get pictures of the rest areas. Sounds like thats all you got to see in your travels. I got a good nites sleep with the neighborhood quiet again, kept dreaming about the chiefs dog barking at me though.

Enjoy your day and stay safe....S.J.

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

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Posted by laz 57 on Thursday, January 8, 2009 9:54 AM

HI GYZ,

  Well its back to school today for me.  30 and cool here with high winds.  To get more winter weather on Saturday. 

  Wired up coal layout yesterday with day off only have 3 power drops for area 5 X 12.  Lots o power for this small layout.  Now to figure out where everything goes.

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 laz 57 on Thursday, January 8, 2009 9:56 AM

JACK welcome back. 

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 laz 57 on Thursday, January 8, 2009 10:08 AM

BRUTUS,

  COAL looks like tic tacs or maybe dried peas.

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 anjdevil2 on Thursday, January 8, 2009 11:05 AM

Good morning!

Good to see my friends Jack & Brent again....welcome back

NDNBOY a hearty Welcome to the "pot", enjoy yer stay here.  It's all in good fun and fellowship!

Looked at the under tree layout, and boy oh boy what happens when I'm not there....a disaster fer sure,
one of the reasons I DIDN'T want to go north for Christmas.  It'll start coming down tonight, unfortunately.

I'll check wit chas later..!

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


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Posted by ChiefEagles on Thursday, January 8, 2009 1:55 PM

Afternoon all.  Limbs and more limbs.  Limbs from neighbor's pine tree plus cones.  Got my aux antenna for my Legacy today [after a mixup in Chicago, it came quick].  Will test it and photo it.  Windy today but not like yesterday and especially last night.  Even had lightning one time that "shut down" my area light on the garage [flash was so bright].  Now back outside to more limbs.  Take them to the pond area and feed the deer.  Got Democat exectuive board meeting at 6 in Raleigh.  Usually do not go as I do not quite fit that group.  This one is important so will make a showing.  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 dwiemer on Thursday, January 8, 2009 2:41 PM

Well, made it through the morning.  Last scheculed case is about done and we have an add on case that will be starting in about 40 minutes.  I am tired, but at least the end is in sight. 

We had some serious wind yesterday, trees down, power poles broken, looked like a tornado came through.  No official word on it yet though.  Just think, wife had wanted me to put the trampoline together and out in the yard for the kids.  If I had, the deer in the woods would be the only ones to use it.

May catch the game tonight...go Gators!  Not a Florida fan, but hey, it is the SEC!

Supposed to turn colder here, so I hope to be able to stay indoors most of the time.  Gives me a good reason to work on the layout...not that I need one.

Blessings,
Dennis

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Thursday, January 8, 2009 3:15 PM

88, Rich's tank car is at UPS.  Enjoy.

 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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