Quite a guy, Ray. Sir J, I'm going to try to attach the 'negative' wire to a frame for the side rods and see what happens.Jack, I think the only thing I'm going to try is to pay extra for them to put in a light.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Jack, thank you for the kind thoughts and prayers for my Brother-in-law and sister. Got a copy of his obit today. He served in the Korean war and did two tours in Viet Nam. He received numerous medals and decorations and achieved the rank of CWO-4,Chief Warrant Officer by the time of his retirement after 34 years of service. He was 79 at the time of his passing.
Ray
SPMan
Good Morning,
A little bit warmer this week before another cool snap on sunday, about 70 this morning, not getting below 52 according to the weather man.
Went over to help a friend with his layout yesterday, the post war ZW he bought at a train show had a few problems with it. First problem was no power from terminal D, took cover off and found a wire disconnected and the U connecter strip disconnected for terminal D and the roller wheel for terminal D had a flat spot on it. Took tape off of a wire and hooked it up to terminal D and it worked with another U terminal, now he can run four trains. The whistle response is a bit week from the transformer. I guess you can't expect too much for paying about $130.00 for a used post war ZW. Worked on an 022 switch that refused to change direction electrically, finally had to replace the switch as the track base must have a short in it, solenoid works great outside of the switch assembly.
Been busy with work both on the job and around the house. The company I work for finally hired some more people, I am getting less calls at the house to come in for a shift. Sunday took the cake so to speak, I was schedualed to work at 2:00pm and the company called me at 12:15pm for a 1:00pm shift and left a message on my answerring machine saying that I had the day off so would I come in to help them out. I get to work and according to the schedual there was only going to be three people on shift, a fourth person showed up because she said that she was notified to come in a few days ago. I guess the in Orlando can't figuire out what they are doing again!
Lee F.
FIFE and JACK !!! Would be the perfect nite.
laz57
RockIsland - Strateegury only. He's got a lot of work to do. While I am only a few work sessions from completing my Cumberland section. Golden Spike time is near!
Couldn't decide which was more depressing last night, the President's speech or the local news about the pending hikes in our state tolls and the gas tax. We'll probably get both, and the little guy will be driven further into the ground. The good news is that the toll hikes will be rolled back when the state is on more sound footing.......just like they eliminated the tolls after the bonds were paid off decades ago and just like the hike in the state income tax was rolled back after the last economic downturn had passed. Re the economic stimulus plan, sure did like the money earmarked for the rail line between Las Vegas and Disneyland. That should stimulate something.
Used Train Prices.....I'm interested in a postwar F3 engine set, but the ebay and local train shop prices for the C6 and up quality dont seem to be mirroring the state of the economy. These might be recession proof. My train shop guy said a 2343 SF AA pair he has on consignment belong to an owner who won't budge on price, and the set has been on display unsold since last June.
MikeC......you left the toilet seat up in the Tardis last night. Go pay those taxes and bail us out.
Dennis.....turning your the dining room table into a train workbench brought back some fond memories. Mom got lit up when Dad had turned the kitchen table into his train workbench and would then pile the ancillary stuff in boxes on the kitchen chairs. But he made amends, and my mother was relieved when he started the cleanup and gave her the precious kitchen table back......relieved until he relocated his activities to the dining room table. His rationale was that the DR table wasn't being used anyway. Lost that battle too with a smile. Mom wasn't smiling until later he'd jokingly tell others how she cruelly evicted her husband and her only son, and their hobby, from the first floor of the house. The NICU staff at hospitals are a very special breed indeed. They not only have the weighty life and death responsibilities every second but they also have to keep the parents on an emotional even keel. I couldn't do it. The salvage rate is discouraging.
Laz.....if you want to stimulate more parental interest in a parent/teacher conference with you, serve frosties in chilled beer mugs to the attending Dads on bar seats and bar tables the kids made in shop. Instead of confrontations with the parents, your session could turn into a large happy therapy session. Charge admission and take reservations.
Rich....sorry to hear the HD didn't work out, If Honda can help get you out from under an unreliable bike that HD can't get straightened out, go for it. If I had been the former dealership, I would have had one of the workers ride that sucker every day until they could get a handle around the issue and fix it! The bike competition is too tough to lose a customer, the word will spread, and the financial impact of each failure will come back to haunt them. If I were the first dealer, I would have taken the bike back and credited the entire purchase price toward another bike, then rectified the problem with the first bike and sold it. Can't tell you how many friends and acquaintances of mine wound up buying a car and or using their service facility from the dealership I use only because of how that dealership trated me when things went South. I'd put the numbers at 4 new car purchases other than mine. Princess sounds like she might be spread a little too thin, and school is the barometer. Lucky you are there to steer through these rough waters.
SirJames.....what do you and Charlie have in store for us on video next?
Fife and Brent.......did you guys get in any running time, or was this purely a strategy/beer drinking session?
Roy......sorry to hear that the work hours are taking their toll. Sometimes I wonder how business can turn a total blind eye to the impact the work hours have on the personal lives of their employees. At least you got to attend your boy's soccer game, and he got some quality playing time. That's all that matters, and that's all he will remember from these times. When you said "Beautifiu day today--hit 81," I assume you weren't talking about hitting 81 golf balls. Up here you'd be hitting the orange ones.
Brutus......what was the outcome of your question about how close to the ceiling you should hang the ceiling fan? The one in my bedroom with a vaulted ceiling hangs from a 5 foot extension, putting the fan closer to the bed. My wife dislikes the winter setting to move the warmer air down to floor level because any air movement violates her comfort. But in the summer she likes the air movement on those putrid evenings when the a/c is cranking. Go figure.
DougM.....spoke to my FIL in Elgin last night and he thinks your proximity to the Chain of Lakes makes a boat mandatory for you and your family. Bet Jon and Fife would agree. While the contractors are in, you might be able to get a great price on their painting some of the other rooms in the house. The contractors are really hurting for work, especially the painters.
Wes.....are you going to have time to do major repainting and cleanup before you close? I sunk money into my current house before the close, against the advice of my attorney, because I wanted hardwood installed and completed for prompt move in. Wife and kids were living in a hotel room, and furniture was in transit. That one almost came back to bite me as the builders/sellers showed up at close without clear title, an outstanding "orders of condition" issue with the city and the general developer. Got things ironed out after a lot of cursing from the other side of the table when I was prepared to take a walk on their property despite MY investment of the floors in their property. House had sat unsold for 13 months while the market prices continued to drop. My attorney hammered out a rental agreement and a lien on another of their properties for me and my family if the conditions issue couldn't ultimately be staightened out. Things worked out, we closed on the house within days, and we lived happily ever after.
JimS/P......prayers that yesterday's proceedings worked out fairly close to plan. Hang in there. Family needs you.
Have a great day everyone.
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Good morning
At least it was a little warmer this morning, 40s today and tomorrow.
Doug, did you condider soldering the LED to the motor leads, it would only lite in one direction, so you would need to check for forward.
Errands are done so no plans for today, I'll just wander aimlessly around the house. Maybe chase a train or two...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
Ole Timer - Which two shops do you visit?
A scorching 31 degrees in western Maryland this mornin . Dropped by 2 local train shops last night .. they said the economy is really starting to hurt them . Told me to hold off 6 months on any big buys and the bargains will be coming ... ???? I've noticed on Ebay lately the Big steam has fallen quite considerably in sale price ... all except cab forwards ... especially MTH units ... sky high ! Even saw many big boys ... challengers and mallets going hundreds less than 3 months ago .
Morning all. Grey and cold. Kurt, I'm going to try for another photo of Percy's underbelly tomorrow morn. (I'm trying to figure out where I should solder the leads from an LED, as I dig around confirming Percy and Thomas are mostly plastic.) Going up to SSA office tomorrow too with paperwork showing my daughter is a citizen - finally got through to someone who confirmed they show her 'alien, able to work' - sigh. Have to call the insurance folks to poke them along to approve things to rebuild. Dennis, my wife worked pediatric hem/oc for years until they did away with primary nursing - a tough gig as her young patients would generally not make it. Nice bike, Rich!
Good morning all,
It is warmer in SE Indiana with temps to reach near 50 today. Laz, sorry I went thru the whole case last night. After the first two or three, I was just renting the rest. Brutus, I'll clean up the empties for recycling tonight. For the first time in about three or four months, I got the checkbook to balance. It is amazing what clarity a little adult beverage brings to the mind :-) I usually do not party like this, but this has been a rough week, month, year so far. I read the president's speech this morning. Although people can agree or disagree with what he is doing, I think it can be safely said without igniting a political firestorm that he is trying to get the economy going. In regards to the Chief's remark about baseball and soccer, he may be slightly off as far as Indiana is concerned. Basketball is, and will always be, the number one sport in the Hoosier state. Even a diehard fan such as myself recognizes that reality. Hopefully one day soccer will the second most popular sport in America's crossroads. I had the regular fare on the dining car this morning. Beacon is lit, and I will be sober after "Lost". I hope everybody has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
A Good Morning/Ash Wednesday everybody....
Jim Phish - for your daughters -- !
Anyone else I've missed - - losing what little mind I have left....
Another long night last night as rehersals continue, Princess was up late last night doing homework, so we were late for school this AM. No surprise...I cut her some slack. She is on phone restriction for a poor progress report. She gets it for the school day and I get it at night.
Jack - since I've become the major parent, I cherish every moment with her. She is getting older now and these days will indeed pass. I think I've missed so much because my wife dominated the little one. I've apologized to the Princess for letting this happen. It's tough because I get her up at 5 am and truck her to school when I could sleep in. But this is more important.
Jon in Ioway - I'm looking at a 2007 Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 (black with flames!!!) I am sooooo disappointed in the Harley, they are working on paying off the HD to get me into the BRAND NEW Shadow. It may happen if they can get the number close. Then I can go to Bike Week (starts Friday) and not worry about breaking down. Too bad the HD dealer wouldn't do this for me, I'd have gotten another Sportster 1200C.
Looks like rain on Sunday (the ONLY day I can get to Daytona), so I may do a foul weather gear run. It's nice to have your old bunker gear, warm and dry!!!
Rain, then sun and up to 69 today. No breeze. Might have to go home and get the HD for the Honda dealer to look at later (and he has a few HD trades - wonder why?)
That's all the news that's fit to type - will catch up later!
Rich
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
Mornin' boys. Sunny & 19 here in the Mid-Atlantic region. Actually a few degrees warmer in the mountains to the west. Honey, can we move now...? Did anyone join the revelry that is Fat Tuesday? Chief, did you hand out beads in Roseyville?
88 - I have been to the west portal. You have to park and walk down and embankment, but fairly easy to get to.
laz - If you were my kid's shop teacher, our parent/teacher conference would begin with, "Hey, wanna go grab somethin' to eat at Hooters...?"
HI GYZ,
17 and cold here to get to 47? Worked a little on layout, then watched Dirty Jobs. Good one with the TRAIN MANUFACTURING PLANT in IDAHO.
MIKE C, You had your DRINKING HAT on last nite. Gotta get a few more cases.
JACK, nobody wants to have Parent Teacher Conference with their SHOP TEACHER. I haven't had a parent for 20 years.
Stay Frosty,
Morning all!
Brutus, Sir James: Sorry I missed you last night. Been really tired at the end of the day lately. Didn't even make it thru the State of the Union. They should have a phone in question and answer period after the State of the Union. "We all have to work together to solve this", but there are many in office that helped themselves. Hard to be a 'team player' when you see this.
Doug: Any news on Percy? I was suprised to see it didn't have a factory light.
Maybe zoo today. Supposed to be warm here.
Kurt
It's O-Dark early, where is everyone? WAKE UPPPPP! Anyway, got early case and then, a guy has a train collection for sale. Says they are mostly between 1949 and 1955, I'll take a look. Never know, I just hope he doesn't think they are a gold mine. On a good note, we went to IHOP last night and had a good meal with the kids and donated to the Children's Miracle Network, which helps out our Peds and Neonates. When I head to the OR, I pass by the NICU every morning. Always say a prayer for the kids, their parents and the workers taking care of them. A different breed to be able to do that. Did some in training, but have to admit, a lot don't make it and it can get you down quickly.
I'll have to light up the beacon tonight, I can go for some desert. Is RT making anything special? If not, the ice cream will be fine.
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
Gotcha man!
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
494 is on and rotating...
Charlie a.k.a. MichiganRailRoad714 (Charter Member TTC)
Evenin' all!
Jack - not sure how you keep up with all of these threads.
88 - sent you an e-mail in response to your question.
Beautiful day today - hit 81!. Great sunny evening to watch our sons HS soccer game this evening. 0-0 and he got some good palying time with one great shot on goal - good block by the goalie.
Work has been pretty miserable the last several months - doesn't look to get any better soon. I do not have any spare time anymore and haven't touched the layout in nearly 8 months. Oh well - looking forward to York in April. At least I get to go look at a lot of good stuff.
Hope everyone has a great evening and a great day tomorrow!
Regards, Roy
Mike, I'll grab you first, Doug's working late tonight Then we can get SJ to drive and go get the rest of the guys. I have some Sam Adams for us to start and then we can get Laz and see if there is a store open? Kurt turned on his beacon, but I think I can hear him snoring, so we'll have to jump back a couple hours Tardis is ready!
Good evening all,
FAFSA is done!!!!! Beacon is lit! Hope the Old Mils are cold. Long, long day.
Good Evening All
Ran the CC GG1 today, decided after reading all the moans and groans about them I would check the motors for grease. What a crock, they have enough grease to be just fine. It only needs to be on the gears and that it was. Another sunny day but cool 30. 20 tonite. Got a fresh supply of banilla and hot fudge topping so come on by...S.J.
WOW ...thanks Laz for that video !
Evening all!
Jim Phish: Prayers for you.
Doug: Sent you an e-mail on Percy/Thomas. Not sure. I think I need more information. Forward progress on the house is a good thing! Hey! Brutus is pretty handy with the drywall, and we were just talking about making a trip to the Windy City.
Brutus: Beacon is on!
Great talking to Charlie, SJ, and Brutus last night!
Back from the flatlands and black soil. Found friend/like family member doing real good. Could come home today but waiting for special medical device and seems it is coming from Charlotte??? Guess Medicare has contract with them. He really look great and said he was feeling better than he has in a long time. Mom was in very good sprits too. Laughing a lot.
Packing for the lake. Back tomorrow night or Thursday AM. Got a "sit down" with Town Manger Thursday afternoon before leaving to go to Charlotte BPS. Later.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Good afternoon all, been busy and will continue to be so. We have a few cases on the long side. If I get out in a timely manner, plan to take son to I-Hop for pancakes as it helps the Children's Miracle Network (pancakes are free, then they make a donation). Our facility is a CMN facility as we do a lot of Peds/neonates. Will try to check back later. I hope my package arrives from Lionel with the parts to do some jobs. Have a few repairs sitting on the dining room table.
God Bless,Dennis
Good afternoon all,
IIABSDISEI but that wind is cold. The roller coaster that is Lucas' taxes took another dip. I called the IRS to confirm the process for documentation and they informed the tax break (posted on their web site as being in effect) is, in fact, not enacted yet and we will have to report that as income. WTF?!?!?!?! Why publish a break and then say it is not effect? This has been a b---h of a morning as what should have been a simple task (and was, once I remembered how to do it) took all morning to get done. Laz, if you are on the Tardis, better bring a couple of cases of Old Mils because I think I could down one case by myself. Better not let me drive!!!!
fifedog 88 - Have you been to that location before?
88 - Have you been to that location before?
Phish ...and thank you, Sir.
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