Happy Birthday Robert E Lee!!!
And Happy Birthday to Thomas Jackson on Wednesday!
"Lionel trains are the standard of the world" - Jousha Lionel Cowen
SPMan - Hey, now that you finally have your phone workin' right, who was it that you wanted to talk to...? If you want to trace the Civil War sites, better get back east soon. A lot of the region around the battlegrounds is being developed into McMansions and strip-malls. CSX and Gettysburg College even bulldozed a site about a decade ago.
mitchie - When my oldest boy was in middle school, I chaperoned a trip to Antietam/Harper's Ferry. Of course he chose 3 other "knuckle"-heads for me to lead. I gave them free reign, with this caveat- each boy was given one thing to remember historically from the places they visited. I believe from Antietam, the points I gave two of them were the casualty rate, and what the "Dunker" church was. At Harpers Ferry, I believe the points I gave were that a black B&O worker was the first man killed during Brown's raid, and that Robert E Lee was in charge of the Union forces that ended the raid. The rest of the day was filled with mustard pack splatters and shoving off rock walls, but no broken bones. On the ride back home, I sat next to the History Teacher who chartered the trip, and he looked spent and relieved that we were headed back to Baltimore. We got talking about whether or not this trip meant anything to the kids, and whether the kids actually gleaned anything from this event. I stood up and started firing off odd questions, calling on my boys, and each one got the answer right. I sat back down, and told the teacher, "see, ya never know..."
Doug, those TV guys are always messing up names of things. Look how they murdered the description of how a train takes a siding and the description of a track switch etc. when they reported the Metrolink wreck. They act like real trains are toys or "The Big Lionel Set". I'm not surprised.
Ray
SPMan
dougdagrumpSPMan Mitch, your reference to Gettysburg caught my eye. I heard something on TV this morning about a theme for the inaugural tomorrow which will be called "A New Birth of Freedom". Of course that is right out of the Gettysburg Address which Lincoln gave at the dedication of the military cemetery there in 1863. It made me interested enough to go and read the Gettysburg Address. It reminds me of why that document is so moving and famous. BTW, Gettysburg is one of my favorite places to visit as a Civil War buff. I spent almost a week in and around there back in the 90's. Moving experience and would recommend to all Americans. You are lucky you live so close Mitch. I would visit there often if I lived where you do. Regards, Ray OK guys, correct me if I am wrong but during the halftime of the Ravens/Steelers game the network had to do some more hype for the inauguration stuff and one of the promoters was talking about Obama placing a wreath at the "Tomb of The Unknowns". Is it no longer called "Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers" ?
SPMan Mitch, your reference to Gettysburg caught my eye. I heard something on TV this morning about a theme for the inaugural tomorrow which will be called "A New Birth of Freedom". Of course that is right out of the Gettysburg Address which Lincoln gave at the dedication of the military cemetery there in 1863. It made me interested enough to go and read the Gettysburg Address. It reminds me of why that document is so moving and famous. BTW, Gettysburg is one of my favorite places to visit as a Civil War buff. I spent almost a week in and around there back in the 90's. Moving experience and would recommend to all Americans. You are lucky you live so close Mitch. I would visit there often if I lived where you do. Regards, Ray
Mitch, your reference to Gettysburg caught my eye. I heard something on TV this morning about a theme for the inaugural tomorrow which will be called "A New Birth of Freedom". Of course that is right out of the Gettysburg Address which Lincoln gave at the dedication of the military cemetery there in 1863. It made me interested enough to go and read the Gettysburg Address. It reminds me of why that document is so moving and famous. BTW, Gettysburg is one of my favorite places to visit as a Civil War buff. I spent almost a week in and around there back in the 90's. Moving experience and would recommend to all Americans. You are lucky you live so close Mitch. I would visit there often if I lived where you do.
Regards, Ray
OK guys, correct me if I am wrong but during the halftime of the Ravens/Steelers game the network had to do some more hype for the inauguration stuff and one of the promoters was talking about Obama placing a wreath at the "Tomb of The Unknowns". Is it no longer called "Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers" ?
The Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., is also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and has never been officially named. The Tomb of the Unknowns stands atop a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. On March 4, 1921, Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier from World War I in the plaza of the new Memorial Amphitheater.
The white marble sarcophagus has a flat-faced form and is relieved at the corners and along the sides by neo-classic pilasters, or columns, set into the surface. Sculpted into the east panel which faces Washington, D.C., are three Greek figures representing Peace, Victory, and Valor.
The Tomb sarcophagus was placed above the grave of the Unknown Soldier of World War I. West of the World War I Unknown are the crypts of unknowns from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Those three graves are marked with white marble slabs flush with the plaza.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
Afternoon Y'all,
Jon, we seem to have the same idiots here as well. We get so little rain here that when we do it tends to bring up up all the oils and other residues on the freeways, almost like black ice. The fog is the same way, don't think any of them have any common sense or it's the prevailing attitude of "hooray for me and to heck with everybody else" rant echo over.
If you haven't done so check out the thread for "wall mounted info", he has a link to his Christmas Dept 56 layout. Wow is the only thing I can say. I gave him some info on the garden forum and suggested he also look here.
Don, Did you ever get the AC guy away from his vacation hideaway, it has cooled a little here so we won't be needing the AC however I did have to pull the fans out and clean 'em up.
HALLELUIAH!
Phone service is finally restored after three weeks to the day. Thanks to California Public Utilities Commission, someone lit a fire under Verizon. They called me back this morning with a special person just assigned to my problem apologizing all over the place and offering all kinds of service. I was beginning to lose faith in my communication ability. I knew I was talking, I could feel my mouth and throat moving. Moral of the story is, if something works, don't fix it. I had good service with AT&T but went for something better with Verizon. The whole thing was caused by one person putting out bad information.
I thought banilla had something to do with that Tardis thing.
Now back to more fun things like trains. Thanks for the lend of your ears folks.
What a weekend, I hope I NEVER EVER experience another one like it. I was judging high school jazz bands in NE IA near Dubuque (State Contest) on Sat., last 3 bands scratched because of weather (thank goodness) and I was on the road at 2:28 PM. BIG winds had begun in the middle of the morning whipping the snow onto the traveled part of the interstates creating black ice. Needless to say but the interstates turned into parking lots and junk yards and do you think folks slowed down? Nope, I waved to them in the median as I went past, mostly SUV's and semis. I have no sympathy for them, it's the ones upside down that I do feel bad for. I drove our smaller car as the weather guessers had said it was going to be OK all weekend, stupid me. What should have taken me 3 hours took me 5 1/2, ugg. I'm done taking contracts for January, this is the third time in 7 years in Jan. that I've struggled to get home. I'll accept contracts if there within 60 miles but no further. Rant over.
Ready to build a big fire to warm up the old bones this afternoon. I am looking forward to all the pomp and ceremony tomorrow. There are two marching units in the parade tomorrow from Iowa plus 1000 of our National Guardsman doing traffic control. The military service bands are absolutely incredible and then there's the President's Own Marine Concert band that defies description, THE BEST.
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
Hello to all:
Had breakfast early this Morning, had to take internet orders into UPS. Watched the birds out the kitchen window fighting for seed in the feerers. Cardinals, Blujays, Golden Finch, Sparrows and some sort of brown headed Black bird. Such activity usually means bad weather, and sure enough they are calling for snow this evening.
The cows are happy and content, so should be able to wire up a few more houses on the layout. Can't spend more than 1-2 hours at a time under the layout. O to be 50 again!
fifedog - I think you should Report Abuse on that bedroom thing. I checked out www.jayski.com Great site, Book Marked it. Ever bit as good as www.nascar.com
cheapclassics - Thanks for the welcome. I havn't followed Indycars as much as NASCAR. It seems to me though there is more excitement in NASCAR. But that is just my opinion. I think I would rank the Daytona 500 right up there with the Indy 500.
dwiemer - Virginia is big on horses, and getting bigger. Your secret service friend must live not to far from us if he is stationed in D. C. I'll bet he is working overtime this week, what with the Coronation, I mean Inauguration.
ChiefEagles - What is the name of your Lake? We use to have a summer place at Lake Louisa in Louisa County. Thanks for the welcome. We are outnumbered by those Yankees arn't we?
dbaker48 - 80 degree weather? You poor thing! Let me "uncave" a bit to say that you as a NASCAR fan, a Country Music fan and a Railfan should know about RFD-TV. A satalite/Cable TV station for country and country loving people, with lots of new and old country music shows, a Train and Locomotives show on Sat. and toy train layout show on Thur. MTH and Lionel, a "Music and Moters" show featuring up and comming music stars and NASCAR cars 27 and 37. Oh, they also have plenty of horse training, outdoor cooking and "how to" live in the country shows, be it on a farm, ranch or ackerage.
My two main loops are interconnected but kept seperate using plastic track connectors. Switches alow you to move from one loop to the other when the track connectors are replaced with metal ones. I have them seperate now until the young grandchildren learn how to run trains with the individual DCS Remotes. I don't need the magic bulb at this point, and I am not sure what is an echo affect.
Until next time,
Patrick L
RFD-TV --- Rural America's most important network!
anjdevil2Hey guys,NASCAR - Anyone in a DODGE works for me, you can keep those Chevys Toyotas and Fords! NHRA starts in a couple of weeks, when I had a race car that would mean racing season soon. Maybe I'll get to Speed Weeks this year. I still have to get to bike week March1-7th...and replace the Sporty maybe. Have a good one and stay safe. I wonder if Chief knows what snohizo is like...
Hey guys,
NHRA starts in a couple of weeks, when I had a race car that would mean racing season soon. Maybe I'll get to Speed Weeks this year. I still have to get to bike week March1-7th...and replace the Sporty maybe.
Have a good one and stay safe. I wonder if Chief knows what snohizo is like...
Isn't the only differance a set of decals, and who the check is from? Yearn for the Grand National days!
Don
Cloudy now, up to 66 then down to 34 back to 50 on Tuesday (a date that will live in infamy - that should get edw going)
Those that have off, enjoy your day. Dennis - be careful, and don't take any deep breaths!!!
Been a little busy here at work, need to get more pictures done and call the princess. She is off today and getting her work done (I hope). Need to call.
NASCAR - Anyone in a DODGE works for me, you can keep those Chevys Toyotas and Fords!
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
Yep, you know the routine.
"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
sir james - ..."start without me"...you mean like usual....
Hello everyone up to 20 deg. out and a very light covering of snow on street.
Chief, found a grate use for that box of grits laying around here................use it under the tires for traction
Have fun at the lake
Will miss the big todo for the president as I will be at the nutrition center tonight.
Boy ! You guys have really been verbose the past couple of days! Must be due to the weather! Speaking of which it is FINALLY going to break this 8 DAY long record setting trend we have had here. (8 Days above 80!) Obviously, all of you appreciate all the train room time that Doug, Ray, and myself sacrifice for you guys. I'm sure they are as jealous as I am of you fortunate ones with all that opportunity. (BTW, this is the La Nina affect, we get warmer dry weather, while the rest of the country gets snow).
Oh yeah! Did you also notice how quick Patrick "caved" from that intense interview I conducted;
LawsonFarmsRRdbaker48 - Thanks for the welcome. I do consider myself to be a SouthernerHow about NASCAR fans? YES RFD-TV fans? DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS Country music Fans? YES Run an Intern(et business? YES Patrick L
dbaker48 - Thanks for the welcome. I do consider myself to be a Southerner
How about NASCAR fans? YES RFD-TV fans? DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS Country music Fans? YES Run an Intern(et business? YES
(Patrick, is there a block seperation between your 2 main tracks? Do you have a "magic bulb" connected? When you activate the Forward Signal, do you get a double or echo affect? You might want to check the signal strenght with the remote.)
Survived the weekend, I was fortunatly surprised, there were barriers up to keep the two venues seperated during the show. Its difficult trying to sell stuff, when you have an overwhelming number of people that expect EVERYTHING on the table is "samples". (And odds are they wouldn't even do them any good.)
GOT THE DAY OFF, SO GET TO WORK IN THE TRAIN ROOM FOR AWHILE!! I think I'm going to put off redesigning the current layout for a while, I need to get the street light (already bought) put up BEFORE, I tear it down and reconfigure. And anyway, I need to spend some time planning the next version. (Confidentially, If I rationalize reconfiguring and revising the benchwork, I don't have to justify my lack of scenery skill.)
Well need to get busy, before someone finds something for me to do today! So hope everyone has a good day, take care !!
Morning to all. Enjoying the day off, like LAZ we are closed today.
Fife- I am having a day like yours. The Mrs. left to go to the pool for Swim-er-cise and left strict instructions for cleaning that should be done before her return. Finished that and now need to jump in the shower.
It is snowing here, just enough to coat the sidewalks, nothing on the roads so far. Don't know if I would want as much snohizo as SJ, Tom Schmidt, Jonadel and some of the others get. Haven't really used my snow blower much in the past few years, I think only once last year. However I keep it tuned up and ready to go just in case. We are due for a big snow soon, Seems to go in cycles for us. When I was in college 4 years, one good snow. Then we have two or three years where it snows a bunch.
After the Mrs. returns we are going to grab some lunch and then head to the new visitors center at the Gettysburg National Military Park. Today is a FREE day for locals, otherwise we pay the fee for the Cyclorama, Movie, etc. Haven't been since they opened the new building and cyclorama was rehung in it's new spot after being refurbished. I am anxious to see it.
Have a great day.
Mitch
Bob Mitchell Gettysburg, PA TCA # 98-47956 LCCA# RM22839
Good Morning All
Man I hate that kind of day in the bed room. Just tell her to start without you.
Banilla, a two year old trying to say vanilla(ice cream)
12 degrees and sunny, I'll take the 12 as long as there is sun. Back is sore from clearing snow day after day. no time for a break in between. And no plans for today. Enjoy the day...S.J.
Good Morning from snowy Southern Ohio,
It is beautiful; sun on the snow is really pretty. I am on my “short” weekend, and start nights tonight. I hope to get the uprights painted on the 751 log loader today. It is warming up in the drying booth. A little bit of housework, work on the next homily, and a trip to radio shack in the works.
Dennis – take it easy, it is hard to play when it hurts to breath.
Jim F – The sponge works well. What I do is several very thin coats of mud. The max I’ll skim on is ~ ⅛”. Leave your work lights on in the closet and it will decrease the drying time. Don’t try to make it look perfect with the first or second coat. If there is a void or a trowel mark, fill it in a top coat.
All take care and May God bless
Jim
Morning all. Cold (16) and sunny here - forgot my ice skates, I wanted to try the rink in Grant Park this winter. Dead quiet everywhere in the Loop - the whole world has today off 'cept us. Banilla... a flavor combining banana and vanilla. Can be used in desserts and drinks. Tres good.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Nothing like the smell of fresh coffee brewing .... bacon frying and train smoke in the morning .... LOL . I fill all the smoking units up for the grandkids and let em pump .... wife hates it ... tells me she knows what happened to my brain now ... LOL . By the way ... what in the world is BANILLA ?
WHAT!!!!!!! The word SNOW in my forecast!!!! NO!!!!! Winter storm watch. And I am headed up to VA and the lake. May be there a day or two. Actually they do not show the lake area in the watch. Start late tonight or midnight. 2 to 4 inches by tomorrow.
Morning. Dennis, you being a Dr. should know that bones get brittle as you go into OLD AGE.
Getting ready to hit the road and go to the lake house. Do not know when guy will get there. Said between 3 and 5 PM. He may come earlier if the "weather" hits. All he has to do is pull wires, replace relay and install wires back. If it gets messy, may stay up there a day or two.
Got to get going. Later.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
HI GYZ,
20 here this morning and foggy. I have the day off today MLK. I am going to paint cellar way that leads down to MAN CAVE. Otherwise known as the cellar, train room/workout area.
DENNIS, prayers out for your pain, hope it works its way out of you.
FIFE, thought you were gonna get lucky, WIFE did that to me once too.
Stay FROSTY,
laz57
TCA#09-63805
Mornin' boys. Overcast and 23 here in the Mid-Atlantic region. Wifey told me yesterday that we are gonna spend today in the bedroom... cleaning it .
Morning All!
Dennis: WoW! Take care of yourself.
Sir James: Didn't see it earlier....Thanks for picking up that insulator! You really didn't need to do that.
Roy: Good news on the kids with trains...sorry about the motor...Funny how the Dad's get (over) involved...
Marty: Cool!
Brutus: I've been having cravings for milkshakes...So I have some Mint Chocolate Chip Milk Shakes and Malts on tap tonight! Beacon is on!
Saw bits of both games yesterday...If everyone plays the way they did yesterday, AZ has it. Steelers had a lot of trouble holding onto the passes...hope it was just nerves.
Kurt
Roy, sounds like an excellent time was had by all!
Have a good trip, Marty!
Mike, the Tardis is running late, but no work tomorrow so it's all good. Plus, I can go back in time and get the eary worms. Rootbeer, O'Douls, a few regulars, cookies, chips and promises of icecream - let's go!
PS - Marty, is that Dr. McCoy?
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Evening All
Well I leave for Tampa tomorrow. Imagine that a free trip to the Super Bowl and the home team is playing. Might make it a little more tolerable.
I might have to get one of those Stiller bump and go trolleys sent down.
Hope all are having a good week. I'll be checking in from Tampa.
Trying to update my avatar since 2020
MartyE and Kodi the Husky Dog! ( 3/31/90-9/28/04 ) www.MartyE.com My O Gauge Web Page and Home of Kodiak Junction!
Evening all!
Had a pleasant day at the train show. Worked it all day selling tickets and manning the club layout. Found a Lionel Train Order Building accessory new in box at a nice price. Let lots o' kids run my Lionmaster Challenger and my Williams 0-27 ALCOs with the TMCC. The other uys had kids running their Lionel and MTH stuff. Happy parents when their kids are happy. Got some folks very interested in the Lionel and MTH stuff. Some dads obviously had to make sure their kids were doing it right! The On30, HO, and N Scalers don't let the kids run the trains!. Bad news on the Williams ALCO though - motor burned up - talk about smoke - looked like a MTH smoke unit on steroids!
Welcome Patrick!
Headed to Phoenix area for some meetings this week. Back on Thursday.
Beautiful weather here and more for the rest of the week.
Hope everyone has a great day tomorrow!
Regards, Roy
Good evening all,
It was cloudy and cold in SE Indiana today. Went to Mass this morning (not crowded and a short homily, a good combination!) after eating a "good" breakfast of cinnamon rolls. Wife was tired from the night before (we party hard in Indiana lol) and I did my 100 reps day at the YMCA. Then we went to Chilis for a late lunch/early supper. Watched "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers and Sisters" since I am off tomorrow. Suppose to get new washer and drier tomorrow.
Patrick, welcome to the Pot. It is a good group of people here. Since there has been much discussion of racing here, I am primarily an Indycar fan. Number 14 has a lot of significance to me as well, and there is a reason Tony Stewart is using it in NASCAR. That has been A J Foyt's number for many years, and perhaps this year it will return to Victory Lane. I am also partial to a young "rim rider", Sarah Fisher. She and "Special Ed" Carpenter are the only two current Indy car drivers who have ever raced on dirt. I also follow F-1 and mourn the loss of it at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is starting its Centennial celebration this year. NASCAR has a long and proud history in motorsports, but very few places or events have the history or tradition of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing", the Indianapolis 500.
Brutus, the beacon is lit, and the O'Douls are cold. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
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