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

[spankybird]

Good Morning All,

NE Ohio is cool at 23 deg with light snow. Our roads this morning are clear and good driving. Weatherman say a big storm is coming Saturday night and Sunday. Chief has been saying so many bad things about us Buckeye Yankees, that we will be sending him an OHIO care package.

Torpedo (Keith) will have to give you southerners a lesson or two on driving in the snow.



Pick of the Day


All be safe and drive safe too

tom

[laz 57]

Mornin GUYS,
Warm 27 out this morn.
Got all my TMCC trains, 15, entered in the DCS last night all ran good.
Have a good one.
Laz57

[spankybird]

Very Good Laz, wait until you get your PS2 engine and see all that DCS can really do.

BTW – FJ and G (Dave) is only a few posting away from his 5th Star .

[Jim Duda]

Lazzie - Chiefster is having trouble controlling the SOUND VOLUME in his TMCC engine with the DCS handheld. Mine works fine...in my K-Line scale Hudson, there are 4 sound levels - OFF, low - med - high. Can you control your sound OK? I don't think that using a CAB-1 will solve his problem - hope I'm wrong...

[FJ and G]

Tom,

Wasn't even noticing the stars, but I like how CTT has grown with some new members. Soon (if not already), we can have the crtitical mass needed to make this forum go nuclear. Enjoying all your photos, btw (even tho don't always mention it), as well as others' like Jim Duda's adventures.

[laz 57]

JIMBO and CHIEF,

My Lionel motors are working fine I had set them all with the TMCC first and then when I changed over to the DCS they, I believe were a little louder but maybe it is me with saw and planer noise all day long , but I am not having any problems. Try turning the sound knob on the engine all the way down then all the way back up maybe that will work. There could be some dust in there that needs shifted.
Laz57

[ChiefEagles]

LAZ, I've done that with the screw under the fuel tank. Probably those cheap Lionel engines. [;)]

Those YAM DANKEE drivers that have moved here from up Nawth is problem. "I am from up north and I know how to drive in this stuff". Blam Bam and they cause the wrecks that block the traffic. Wet snow that turns to a sheet of ice due to tires packing and melting it on frozen payment. Your roads are so full of pot holes that you all just slide from one pot hole to the other until you get home. We have nice smooth asphalt roads that are slick. We prespread too and it works. This one was suppose to be flurries by Tom and Buckeye put a twist in it.

Here is what happened:
Raleigh City went into grid lock at 1 PM yesterday. Pam ending up at a lady's house she works with [4 miles from office]. Her best friend that runs card and gift shop here in Rolesville [lives in north Raleigh] stayed the night with me [we did play trains, let here run the remote, smoke from Lionel diesel got to burning her eyes]. Pam's other buddy got home from her job at 1 AM. There was bumper to bumper traffic [like 5 PM] passing my house at midnight [folks had just gotten out of the north Raleigh grid lock] and some were still coming by at 2 AM. Schools could not get busses out of parrking lots so kids stayed the night at schools. Some kids got out of standed busses and walked home. Other busses took kids to the closest school and unloaded for the night. Busses are now taking kids home. Only 2" of snow but got was wet snow and got packed and turned to ice. DOT could not get salt trucks through the traffic jams to salt highways. Major highways are now open as salt trucks got them during the early morning hours after the traffic cleared. Highways are littered with vehicles abandoned by drivers last night. Now we are to get more snow tonight, mix Saturday turning to snow Sunday. High is to be 40 today. First day in three that has been above freezing. Nice to be retired. Sit home, watch TV and play with trains [can't go fishing].

Now enough is enough!!![:(!]

[cnw1995]

I'm always amazed how two inches of snow can paralyze the portions of the country that are not used to it - because I'm certainly used to it - just about double-that here today and everything 'normal' - the plows sweep by, the salt is spread liberally everything, the kids get on the buses. I hope it all melts soon for both Chief and me. Going to try to isolate a dozen ties today.

[wrmcclellan]

Hey Chief,

Sorry to hear about the mess out there. The same thing happens here in Dallas.

TxDOT is in the process of building this huge interchange at I 635 and Hwy 75 about 2 miles from where I live. This is one of the busiest interchanges in town. The old interchange was mostly ground level. The new one soars 200 feet up. Well guess what - (duh) - when a tiny bit of ice forms it completely shuts down. The grades on this thing are treacherous (even for rain). Before Christmas when we got that bit of snow - they had to back sand trucks up the interchange to attempt to get the stalled cars & trucks off. The old interchange rarely shut down in icy weather - the new one closes everytime it freezes and a bird tinkles on it.

Dave - congrats on that impending 5th star! Keep 'em coming!

Have a great day all!
Roy

[TurboOne]

Good morning all !!!!

Hey smoothies on me ! Two starter positions in last two days. I need to go to Vegas with this kind of luck. Place your orders gentlemen. Also making hot coffee, hot cocoa, and hot tea. That should warm out our frozen friends north, south, and east.[8D][;)]

Well, I dug another 10 feet of trench yesterday. My arms were soooooo sore, that the muslces got Charlie horses in them.

Taking today off for taxes. body needs it also. And hey, if I am bringing in boxes from garage, guess the trains have to be on.

Wow you easterners sure have exciting weather [}:)]

We had it rough again, set another record high, although it only got up to 86 they say. My car temp registered 92 outside. Yes guys January is rough.

The good part is our 7 inches of rain made all my digging go smooth.

Laz, Chief, Doug, and all who are freezing, hang in there, looks like it might snow on Presidents Bush inaugeration today.

Good to see Doug da grump stop by, even for a minute.

Tom, those pics are hot. I used to say that about some magazine years ago, can't remember which one [:D] [^][^][^][^][^][^]

Gotta get the kids up for school, you all take care. And as they said in the old show,

Lets be careful out there [:)][:)][:)]

Tim, (cooling off now, maybe only 78 or so) [8D][8D][8D][8D][8D][8D][8D][8D]

[jonadel]

Good Morning Everyone,

It's a grey, cloudy day but the temps aren't bad. A good day to be at the computer with the Coronation on in the background, I think the train room is calling later.

I'm off to the opticians office again today. I got new glasses 6 months ago and I don't even wear them because the reading part of the lens is so low I have to tip my head way back to work at the computer or to read the newspaper and I've complained 3 times. My old glasses are perfect so I'm contemplating just having the new lenses traded out and just have computer glasses. How many of you geezers (like me--well not THAT old) have gone that route? A couple of my friends have done this and they love it. It just ticks me off when I've spent this much money (even with insurance) and they (the opticians) just shrug their shoulders. They've lost my future business.

I'm sure looking forward to spring and warmer temps, I've never felt this way so early in the winter, could be a long Feb.

Take Care
Jon

[FJ and G]

Front page of today's Washington Post (& continued inside) detailed the latest medical news. The experiment involved women and moderate consumption of alcohol (a glass or less of wine for example), will prevent the onset of cognitive deterioration.

While men were not in the test group, the researchers would expect similar results. Moderate alcohol has already been shown to reduce cardio problems and lower cholesterol in some.

One more reason to drink to your health.

[Jim Duda]

Dave - that's why I suggest to the neighbor ladies that they should drink a glass of wine instead of iced tea or water when they get all sweaty from mowing their lawns...!

[wrmcclellan]

Jon,

I know exactly what you are talking about. Opticians seem to have no capability to do anything other than offer what's on the shelf which is something designed by some idiot that probably has no vision problem in the first place.

It has been so bad that about 10 years ago I started warning each one that I used (they seem to close up and go out of business all the time) that if they talked me into something I did not ask for and it does not work - then they take it back and refund my money. This has been quite effective. I had one guy that ate $600 worth of lenses.

The last pair I ordered I went with executive style bifocals and I told them precisely where I wanted the lens split. First time I got a pair of bifocals I can actually use.

Just like my old man (30-40 years ag0) - "what's this world coming to?"

Jim - you crack me up. [:)]

Regards,
Roy

[spankybird]

Jon,

I have worn glasses for over 50 years, I started when I was only 4 or 5 years old. I started warring bifocals about 15 years ago. I had a hard time with them until I tried the ones without the lines (progressive lens). They have been great. I do have two pairs, one for work (mostly on the computer) and one for at home, evening and weekend use. My work ones do not have any shading or tint to them and my home ones have the photo-tint.

Good luck on them
tom

[ChiefEagles]

Jon, got glasses at 45. Before that had extra good vission. I wear progressive bi-focals. Love them.

43 and no signs of the ice that was here last night. Doug M. I take exception to your statement about folks not knowing how to drive on a few inches of snow. It was ICE and no YAM DANKEE can drive on ice either. [:p] [:-^] Nothing but salt taht was put on after the fact [due to the salt trucks not being able to get past the stranded vehicles]. Guess it is ready for tonight's party that Tom and Buckeye are sending us. Off to walk.

[spankybird]

Oh Frank,
Buckeye, Torpedo and I know how to drive on ICE, its stopping that becomes the problem.

[ChiefEagles]

Or going up hill. Getting down is is no problem. Jsut stopping at the bottom is. Hey, gas just dropped from $1.85 a gallon to $1.71 in 30 minutes. Glad I waited to by mine now. Also got 20 extra gallons in case I have to run generator.

[cnw1995]

I agree ice does make getting around v. tricky... except how come it's so much easier to drive out on a frozen lake - some fellow yesterday tried to land a vintage plane on a one a little north of here and crunched right through. Good thing he was close to shore - he plans to lift it out in spring.

I've had glasses since I was five. Thick lenses too. No bifocals yet. This pair stinks - it's like the lenses are bent a bit out of the way they should be - throw me off a bit. and the optomi - however you spell it - are useless. I have to try one of those ophthamalogists.. I think they're doctors. Turbo, what the heck are you digging such a trench for?

[spankybird]

Well our friend the Weatherman is saying dome and glum snow this weekend, 8” to 10” before the lake effect kicks in.

Doug – Good thing that pilot tried it there and not on Lake Eire, no ice on it.

Chief, you can go up hill, just need a good running start and no one in front of you.

Hey - tomorrow is Spanky's Birthday. (the real spanky, not me). He will be 10.

[cnw1995]

Yikes, I just counted more than 60 ties I would have to insulate to get the flashers to work. Ugh. Double-ugh. I've done two and it took me half-an-hour... I think I'm going to try to track down two more 153C connectors and hook 'em up to those. Does anyone have a website for a source to order them - I think it was Warren's Trains?

[spankybird]

Here is the link for Warren's Model trains

http://www.wmtlionelparts.com


tom

[ChiefEagles]

Gracious Doug, it only takes minutes. Pry open the clamped side on one side and remove, put vinyl tape [someone suggested duct tape] under and crimp the clamp part of the tie back down. AH, you are the rich professor, go buy insulated rail actions. [;)] You guys seen the posts from the Easter Lillies on the build your own layout subject. You know what an Easter Lilly is? Those folks that show up once a year. [:D] I guess someone drug them out of the closet. [;)][}:)] It really kind of ticks me off when that happens. If you can not be a regular, stay at home. [soapbox][#oops] Snowing just west of us. Think wife hopes it will snow so she will have excuse to stay home. She is now getting the retirementitus. She has quit "B---hing" about me being retired.

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jim Duda

Dave - that's why I suggest to the neighbor ladies that they should drink a glass of wine instead of iced tea or water when they get all sweaty from mowing their lawns...!

Jim, I get the impression that you folks in TEXAS mow grass all year long, but it is only hot young ladies that run the mowers.[8D]

QUOTE: Originally posted by spankybird

Here is the link for Warren's Model trains

http://www.wmtlionelparts.com

tom

I've been in Warren Trains a time or two. They have all the parts you need and were very helpful. They showed me how to take the roof off of a Madison passenger car by pressing in the sides and they told me to use 18 v bulbs with TMCC.

[spankybird]

QUOTE: by Buckeye
I've been in Warren Trains a time or two.

Gee Buckeye, I have been there too, maybe because they our on the west side of Cleveland, not far from where I work.

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by spankybird

QUOTE: by Buckeye
I've been in Warren Trains a time or two.

Gee Buckeye, I have been there too, maybe because they our on the west side of Cleveland, not far from where I work.

I used to go in there when I "lived" in North Olmstead while I was working on the Berea Bagley Road CSX Grade Crossing Project in 2001-2002. There also was a small store in Olmstead Falls, but it was never open during the week. Most of the time I sat in the hotel room and watched it snow during the winter months.

Next week I will be in TOLEDO and may get to stop at the big store on the east side of town.

[Jim Duda]

QUOTE: Jim, I get the impression that you folks in TEXAS mow grass all year long, but it is only hot young ladies that run the mowers.

Dang! You busted me, Buck...but the good neighbor that I am, I'm always there to wipe 'em down, cool 'em off, and offer fermented liquid refreshments to quench their thirst.

Seriously, our kid just mowed our lawn last weekend while I was in Phoenix...yep, it's an all year long ordeal. Ya gotta be tough down here, too. Yous GYZE (as Chiefie would say) have to shovel snow - we gotta cut grass. And Turbo (The Smoothie King) Tim has to sweep the sand from the beaches off his carpets...seems we all have our crosses to bear...It all equals out in the end.

[Buckeye Riveter]

I do believe that Spankybird, Doug, Jon and I can handle that sweeping of the sand thing about now. I think the next club meeting should be held in San Diego. Now I need to figure out how to get us all there for free. Have you ever ridden in a boxcar? Does anyone own their own varnish?

[ChiefEagles]

Snowhioing hard but above freezing so melting. We will see if the cold snow falling through the air will cool it down. Good night all.

[Anonymous]

My heart goes out to you Chiefie. I have 2 miles of ice just to get to the mailbox. Then 2 miles back up the hill. The elevation change is about 900 ft. in 2 miles. Would one of you smart guys (sorry all buckeyes) give me a grade percent on that distance. Its a piece of cake with the right equipment, especially the downhill part.......Tim