The pot of coffee is always on [even after 2 years have passed]. Come on in. Sweet ice tea too.

[jonadel]

Oh man, that John Deere green is just the best. You know that's from the quad cities of the mid west, originally that is! Chief, there's an incredible tractor ride in Iowa that brings out the best of the families that are farmers in Iowa. It's only 3-4 days on the road but the tractors driven are all restored or in their original condition and there's typically a waiting list to get on the ride as it is limited.

Remind me to send you some pics of past rides. You have to have black dirt under your fingernails to understand and an appreciation of the past.

Jon

[laz 57]

CHIEF those JDs look real good bet the ol guy (JIMBO) down in TEXASS would want one of them to impress the neighbors. He doesn't even need a crash hat, has the built in rool bar.
Laz57

[Jim Duda]

With the utmost respect to Mr. Adel and the John Deere guys, I'm a little partial to RED
(They were made at the International Harvester plant in Moline, IL) because my dad worked there for many years and helped design one of the Farmalls.

It's another boring story, but I almost married the great - grand niece of Mrs. Deere...her name is Catherine and we still stay in touch...

Anyway, to me, for lawn chores, Red is hard to beat...(wink) This is probably as close as I'm gonna come to riding a Farmall lawn tractor. HA!

[Jim Duda]

JonA - Is the "tractor ride" similar to RAGBRAI except it's on restored tractors? Is it exclusively Deere or can the Farmalls, J.I.Case, Olivers, Massey-Fergies, Fords, etc., participate? Man, that really sounds cool!!!

[ChiefEagles]

I grew up on tobacco farm down east [now I own it]. We had an 8N Ford and Farmalls. All the neighbors had John Deeres. I begged him to buy one but he would not. I won a cast iron John Deere pedal tractor when I was 6 [1952]. Won it at John Deere days [where they fed you and there was a farm movie and product show]. It is out back under the shed now. Got to repaint it and put new rubber tires on it. All my toy tractors and equipment were John Deere. Still have them too. When Dad retired, he had Farmalls and a big Long diesel. We grew tobacco, peanuts, cotton, corn, soybeans and cows.

[Buckeye Riveter]

For Larry...I just returned to Buckeye Land from West By God Virginia.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Buckeye Riveter

Cathy,
A friend of mine told me you were looking for some help with sound deadening and asked me to post my ideas.

First of all congratulations on the Polar Express. I purchased one for my daughter who is 25 years old and loves the book. Neat little train and good runner.[:)]

As to the sound deadening, the Polar Express came with Lionel's Fast Trac, which is what I am assuming you are going to use for the 4x8 layout. This track is somewhat noisy, but we can tone it down by using some simple principles of physics.

What I suggest you do is go ahead and get your plywood table built and then cover it with foam. Directly on top of the plywood put 1" high-density foam. This is the type that is shown in the photo below and can easily be purchased at Lowes or Home Depot. (The photo actually shows 2" foam on a joist type bench work.)

Next purchase 1/2" to 1" of the white beaded foam and put it on top of the high density foam.

Now you have a "sandwich of foam" on top of the plywood. It will knock down the sound fairly good.
Use screws into the foam to hold the track. They don't even need to go into the plywood. I use deck screws to hold my track. A skirt around the table will also cut down on the sound. A plastic table skirt can be found at a paper party store or someplace similar.

The foam can be painted any color you like with normal latex house paints. You can carve it to make any shape you want. My layout is completely built of foam. Craft stores have special inexpensive tools to carve foam.

You can also find a previous post of mine on the CTT forum at : http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=23548&REPLY_ID=239831#239831

In fact, I would like to suggest that you take a look at the CTT forum. It is free just like all of the rest of the forums.

[Anonymous]

Well the Idasnow (powdered Ohio) finally stopped . Got about 14" over the last few days here at the house. Got my plowing done this morning , takes about 45 min to do the driveways and my section of the road. Cooooooooolllllllldddddd coming tomorrow and Thursday expecting -5 to -10, roll a nother log on the fire and turn up the hydronics.
Started the layout 2nd level. Got all the bugs worked out of level one.level two has the turntable and roundhouse, a coal mine and all the coal loaders cars etc. I think I have enough Gargraves to finish it up.I bought a VW 150 during the holidays. cant help it I love the old Lionel transformers.
On another note , I have to brag for a minute. My daughter (22) recently graduated from Baylor Univ. This summer she wrote a college guide to Baylor for one of the internet publishers. It has been published and is available on Amazon. Got to tell you its pretty cool to go to amazon and type her name in under authors and have the book come up. Needless to say I have purchased a few. She plans on writing and I hope this is just one of many. As any of you first time authors know the first book is always the hardest to get published. Well enough blubbering for now, got to bring in some more firewood........Tim

[spankybird]

HI Tim,
Sorry to say, but I am only seeing the darn red X

Open the album on Shutterfly, then get the properties of the thumbnail pic that you want to post, then use the IMG command.

tom

[Anonymous]

Buckeye, Thanks for the information, I appreciate it. However, whoever told you that I have a Polar Express set was miss informed or had me mixed up with another Larry. The reason I say so is: as of yet I have not purchased a train. Not sure if I am going to go with a starter set or purchase components separately. I am pretty sure that I am going to go with Lionel and Fastrack though. I am out in Nevada right now for the rest of the winter and will not be getting started with any construction until I get back to Michigan. I am trying to learn as much as I can in the mean time. This forum seems to be a great place to do that thanks to you and all the others who offer advice and or help.

[spankybird]

makeing good progress, now you have your pic posted, but it is the enlarged one.

Nice Hat, I have one almost the same.

tom

[Anonymous]

Lets try this

[jonadel]

Jim,

Here's a link to this year's tractor ride and yes, it's open to all varieties of tractors. It's not at all like RAGBRAI (well sort of) in that it does go out for 3 nights and does about 60 miles a day but MUCH tamer. It overnighted in Adel last year at the county fairgrounds, we went out and walked around all the tractors and talked to many of the drivers/owners--great stories about the tractors and owners. Really was meaningful for my wife as she was a farmers daughter from northern IA. Here's a link:

http://www.whoradio.com/tractorride/

Here's a pic from a parade last summer you might enjoy, somebody had a lot of extra time on their hands.

Jon

[ChiefEagles]

Tim, not showing up on my computer. Gald you are making progress on layout. I may have to do some rushing to get mine going. I was told that aroudn March, youngest is moving back home until sometime in June. I have the temp layout on the carpet in her old room. Hubby gets promotion to Wilmington NC in March. She can not transfer until June. We've always told her we could not run her away from home. [;)] She still has "stuff" in that room now.

[TurboOne]

Cold Tim ( sounds better than old Tim) that is cold. I think I would freeze just typing in those negative numbers. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Also no pick, just a little red box with x in it.

Chief, here in SoCal we call them boomerrang kids. Mine are only 9 and 6 so they are not eve bommer yet ![8D] Also congrats on the JD. Way cool!

Jim, you look so good on that red lawnmower, I mean tractor, you are always welcome to come to CA an mow my lawn anytime. Especially since its under water now.

Jon, now that is a tractor. Looks like its going 90 standing still. Hard to get a gal in there though, so not as fun as two seater.[:)]

Buckeye that is a cool explanation of setting up a quiet layout. Even I understand it, so you are good. Thanks

Its late, I'm tired, its raining again outside, and hey look, This is the big 200!

Thanks to all of you for being so great to drink coffee and all with. You have made my sons, my daughters, and my life better for just know you. We laugh at your humor, pray when you don't feel well, or travel, enjoy your pictures of layouts, or just the snow in the yard, and really enjoy the company.

THANKS TO ALL, as my daughter says YOU ROCK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tim (not the cold one, the wet one in San Diego)

[FJ and G]

My memories are of red Ford tractor I rode in early 60s. Would be nice if all brands of farm equipment were made in O scale.

Good luck with TMCC/DCS, chief. For now, DCS is enough for me since I don't have anything (yet) that needs TMCC. But the cranes sure look nice

[laz 57]

Morning GUYS,
TOM cool pic of the awesome red tractor.
Suppose to get some of that REBEL warmth today? We'll see?
Have a good one.
Laz57

[spankybird]

Good Morning all,

NE Ohio is going to have some of that REBEL weather today. Temp is 45 with light rain and going up to 58, so the weatherman say. Who can you trust, if you can’t trust your weatherman?

That’s a great custom job on the tractor. Add a bar and hot tube to it so JimBo can cut all grass with the pretty ladies.

Chief – now you can start to build you John Dear Factory – Great looking cars

[b]Pick of the Day[b/b]


all be safe
tom

[ChiefEagles]

Yes, us REBELS can heat yuz YANKS up [and put you on the run [;)]]. Real warm here today. Going to start trying to be up nawth by Friday night and then cold for weekend. Doug M's fault. Will not keep that door closed up there. Lets all the bad stuff through. Drove some yesterday [to tain store, 5 there and 5 back]. Seat belt irritates. Would not drive on a trip right now. Off to free lunch in Wake Forest and sinus Dr. [he'll suck then out, YUCK]. Will make you feel a lot better. All have a good one and God bless.

[cnw1995]

Boy those JD tractors look great - really great. The JD home and museum is only a hour west of me. Have to go visit again in the Spring. Jim, I have a beloved picture cut out from Train mag thumb-tacked to the basement wall that shows a long, long train for flats carrying brand new Farmalls. This subject makes me want to run up to Farm and Fleet (kind of like a Wal-mart for farmers) that has a huge display of farm toys. Supposed to in the 50s today - so much for ice storming.

[TurboOne]

Morning everyone, or as chief would say, mornin' yall.

We only got teenie weenie rain last night and the backyard is downto 1 inch of water. Woo Hoo should be dry soon. CA sun now thru Sunday weatherman says. 60s and maybe even 70s.

Doug, have fun at the Wally world of tractors if you go.

Tom, love that smoking picture, it looks great.

Laz, hope you warm up.

If we have extra CA sun, ask and we will send it.

Thanks for the coffee, now I am making fruit smoothies, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, and mango, whos up for one ?

I finally got the top of the page, woo hoo

Tim

[Anonymous]

Good Morning, I woke up this morning at 6 AM to the sound of a train. Pretty cool. First time we heard one in the 2 months that we have been here. We are about 4 miles from the train tracks in Henderson NV. The sun is shinning this morning for a change. But I can not complain about the weather, it is a lot better than it is in northern Michigan. [:D]
Larry

[spankybird]

Pigseye,

check your e-mail



see it works.
tom

[Anonymous]

[:D][:D] Thank you soooo much Tom, for helping me post my mug pic here. After the others see it you may be banned forever to HO or N forum...Tim

[laz 57]

Hey TURBOONE,
Maybe we will warm up some today at 1200 it still is only 36.
I think CHIEF has the key to unlocking all that REBEL air.
Hey TURBOONE my sister lives in Escondido, so shes been emailing about the floods out there. Hope yous guys know how to swim?
Laz57

[Jim Duda]

No fair! Pigseye's helmet looks better than mine!!!

[TurboOne]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pigseyes

[:D][:D] Thank you soooo much Tom, for helping me post my mug pic here. After the others see it you may be banned forever to HO or N forum...Tim

Wow, my namesake looks cool. Like a non smoking marlboro man. Cool hat. Did it warm up yet Tim ?

Hey Laz, glad its warming up.

Hate to say it boys, not a cloud in the sky, and upper sixtys to 70. Hollar if you need some good old CA sun. I even have it in a can. Tonight, I'm gonna sign up for rail images so I too can be cool and have some pics.

Tim

[spankybird]

Pigseye – I glad we could help, I do like your hat, I have one that looks very close to it.

JimBo – you need a hat like that, being in texass and all.

TurboOne – You may want to look at Shutterfly also and it’s free

We NE Ohio now has REBEL weather – 58 deg – T-stroms and rain. You would have thought Chief would send us some sunshine also. I mean we sent him some ice for his sweet tea.
tom

[ChiefEagles]

PE Tim, I've seen that picture somewhere????? OH!!! Post office, FBI most wanted. [;)]

TurboTim, gosh, I was on the way out there to fish in your backyard.

The only time OHIO will get anything good from us Rebels is when I land in Cincinnati. [:D]

Back from sinus Dr. On the way to get some DRUGS. [|)]

Then come home and watch a season of Sopranos. Buddy dropped of DVD set. If I had know all those boobs were in it, I'd have watched it on TV. [;)] Gracious, now Jim Du DA will want the set. [}:)]

Later

[cnw1995]

I can't believe it - it's 58 out. In the middle of Jan. In Chicago. Lots of melting snow and people walking around in shirtsleeves. All this lovely Southern weather. A nice respite.

[Buckeye Riveter]

We currently are discharging water through emergancy spillways at the dams in Ohio. There is heavy flooding.

The real problem is that there are some of those dams that are not in real good shape. Water can seep underneath the embankments and or the outlet works.