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

[dougdagrump]

Tom,
You'll be in deep doodoo if you ever move into a home with smoke detectors connected to a sprinkler system. [(-D]

[spankybird]

Good Morning from NE Ohio

temp is at 58 with partly cloudy skies and going to mid 60’s again today. Spring continues on the North Coast.

Doug – we have already move all the smoke alarms into the other room.

Sask – that EEL is very different looking. I am surprised that you could even find any. [;)]



all be safe
tom

[laz 57]

ITS FRIDAY EVE!!!!!!!!!!
42 and nice again to get to 70 today.
Play golf tonight to see if I beat my brother again for the fifth time I HOPE?
SASK nice engine it is definitly different, wish you luck.
LOOKS like we can have a new show starting here entitled SMOKEY and the BANDIT.
You GIZ guess who is who?
By the end of the week we can have a new SMOKE KING?
Have a good one.
laz57

[Jim Duda]

Hey Idaho Tim - I'll dare ya to start a "Which loco is the BEST smoker?" topic...(wink)

[ChiefEagles]

Morning gang. Packing for Hampton VA BPS [driving]. Going by Mom's and take her for some eastern NC pork bar-be-que, fried chicken, pastery, collards and sweet ice tea. [:D] Sure, I might taste some too. [;)] Jimbo, from the pictures, I think you win as the best smoker. You are the only one with the pipe. [;)] Is that baccy or something else in that pipe? [:D] Well, all have a great day and God bless all. [Oh, the eyes of NC will be upon you as the hotel has a computer [}:)]] [notice Buckeye has not posted for a day or so. he is down here eating his heart out on the southern menu he posted. paying real $$$$ for that stuff we feed Yankees. he just did not want anyone to know. shhh, don't let him know I told "you all". [:D]]

[Jim Duda]

QUOTE: Jimbo, from the pictures, I think you win as the best smoker. You are the only one with the pipe. Is that baccy or something else in that pipe? Chief

...whacky baccy...!

[Anonymous]

Good Morning, Everyone!

That EEL definetly is a strange bird! The only complete set that I have seen in person is one that is on display at the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon. Ever since I saw that train there as a kid, I wanted one. Even though it's Canadian-made, everybody I mention it to here in Canada just gives me weird looks. I have corresponded by e-mail with a collector in England who has a set. The friend mentioned in my earlier post knows a collector in Vancouver who owns a partial set. I would love to find a boxed set! That would be the ultimate! I'm still amazed that after years of never seeing any on ebay, that I win two engines in less than a week. Below is a picture of the other EEL engine that I won last week that gives you a better idea ofhow it's built.

The trucks don't pivot, so the front and rear wheels don't have flanges. Two of the wheels are copper for electrical pickup. All of the cars that went with it have red plastic wheels (they couldn't be metal, as it's two-rail). Very weird!

The play went on fantastically last night without a hitch! I really had fun in it getting to wave a gun and talk in a good old fashioned gangster voice. Hopefully tonight things will go just as well.

[FJ and G]

Great photos Sask. Never seen anything quite like that!

[wrmcclellan]

Hello Sask! - neat stuff with the EEL train - thanks for takng the time to educate us on it. You are putting together a very nice collection. Congrats on graduation and we know how you are looking forward to the university next fall. Enjoy your summer of freedom! It may be your last.

Chief - anytime the Buckeye goes stealth on you, something bizarre occurs! CAn't wait to see what happens next.

Spanky - did you borrow Duda's pipe for that "purple haze" photo?

All rain removed from our forecasts for the next week. Had to run the sprinklers last night as the yard is suffering. We are in need of some rain here. Gettin hot .

Have a great day all!
Roy

[cnw1995]

Congratulations, Sask! And a nifty train too. I like the name 'Falco' - name of my favorite Roman fictional detective. It poured here all night - thank goodness - it's been the driest spring in memory - the middle boy had his first night game and his first experience pitching in between rainstorms and lightning detector sirens. He got just rocked - but remains irrepressible. Can't figure out how to get the searchlight car to light up yet...I put it on the track - it has rollers, turn the switch and make sure track power is on and nothin' ... Hope to set up the Santa Fe passenger set a bit later...

[jonadel]

Good afternoon,

Just back last night from a wonderful "wedding" trip to NC, Chief--you live in a beautiful state even though we saw a very tiny bit of it. Would like to go back and spend time touring the whole area but time did not allow it this trip. We did try the sweet tea, wow--talk about sugar overload! More later.

Jon

[Dr. John]

Good afternoon, everyone!

Had to spend the morning waiting on the cable guy to come back again. He was late, but it turned out to be worth the wait. He fixed my broad band and wireless network problems and my TV signal is much better.

It's a warm sunny day in Prattville, AL. Dry here too! We could use some rain. (Was it just last month I was complaining about too much rain?) Will wait for it to cool down this afternoon before finishing the yard work. Still have boxes to unpack from the move also but I'll leave that to my wife - I'd put stuff in the wrong place!

I need to tackle cleaning out the workshop to have an area for the layout. Plenty of room in there, just too much clutter. It will be an all day job - maybe I can get to it Saturday.

Y'all have a great day!

[Buckeye Riveter]

I'm back from the Blue Grass State.

This guy said he knew the Chief [:D]

Did Sack graduate Canadian High School? Did Chief sign his diploma?

Congratulations SACK [:)]

[Roger Bielen]

Finished cutting the grass this afternoon, was 84 around 3:30, glad that's over with for the week, except for the weed wacking . Seems they can't make up their minds as to the weather for tomorrow, probably rain, its my day off. At least after attending a grad. program at the middle GD's pre-K the rest of the day is mine to play with the trains.

I have a narrow strip of barren land between a passing siding and the edge of the layout and I think wih irregation from the river it might make it as a small farm. I guess I'll dig up the Scenic Express Cat. and see what they have to offer.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Gentlemen and you too Chief,
Gone fishing. See ya later.

[spankybird]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Buckeye Riveter

Gentlemen and you too Chief,
Gone fishing. See ya later.

Good Luck Buckeye [;)]

On the way back home, stop in Cleveland and drop off a few fish for us [^]

[ChiefEagles]

Good luck Buckeye. Catch a lot of walleye [and eat them] and several large northerns. [:D] Waited for 3 hours to use this computer. A young laday stayed on here for 3 hours. Finally the "front desk" asked her to get off. She must not have a computer at home. Enjoying the hotel [always do like this one]. Free breakfast buffet. [:D] Just watched the newer version of Miracle on 34th Street. Yes, there is a Santa Clasus. He brings toy trains to good little girls and boys [Duda is left out as he is always a bad boy [;)]]. Off to the room as some young ladies want to use the computer. Good night adn God bless all.

[tschmidt]

Evening all,

Not a bad day in WNY. Kate and I just got back in from a bike ride. We only went about 5 miles tonight. We are currently watching a CSI episode and we were discussing how it will end in about 45 minutes. So we made a bet and if she wins it costs me a hot fudge sundae BUT if I win she buys me a train car on Saturday! I'll keep you posted.

I see "sweet tea" mentioned in some earlier posts. When we get to the Athens, GA area we have some and as mentioned it will give you a real sugar high. The only thing I really don't care about is grits. I just can't seem to get a taste for them.

Have a good evening everyone.
Tom

[tschmidt]

the update...

They didn't leave us hanging and I see a visit to Artcraft Toy Trains in the near future!

Tom

[Dr. John]

Good CSI episode, although the fire ants made my skin crawl! We fight those things down here in Alabama.

I don't think grits are an acquired taste. You either like them or you don't. I like them with plenty of salt and butter with scrambled eggs. My wife likes them with cheese.

Well, I need to get cleaned up after working in the yard. Goodnight, all!

[spankybird]

Good Morning from NE Ohio

with temp at 58 and cloudy skies and rain on the way, spring continues.

Tshmidt – my wife love that show, so we also watched it.

Chief – how is that you were timing how long the young Lady was at the computer. Are you sure you weren’t just watching her [?]

TGIF – weatherman says it will be nice, temp in the 70’s and sunny. Chief isn’t working on his layout table. Now is the time for Jerry to get ahead on his.

Sask – when do you start your train ride [?]


Pick of the day

Heading off for the weekend

All be safe
tom

[laz 57]

TGIF
50 and rain hooray finally now our flowers will take off. To get to 60 today.
Played a awful game o golf last night shot a 47 but only tied my brother so I still did not loose to him yet.
BUCKEYE hope you catch a bushel basket full of walleyes. Good luck BUCKO.
Have a good one.
laz57

[Roger Bielen]

Tschmidt

Tom, when your in Athens try an entree with the cheese grits at the "Last Resort" downtown. Its one of the better restaurants and a bit pricey but worth it.

Even if you lost the bet you would have won, I'm sure you wouldn't let the Mrs. eat that sundae alone.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all. Real humid in VA. Suppose to rain. Tom, I kept coming down to the computer and she was still sitting there. Dr. John, watched the CSI too. Sure slept good. Usually I wake up about every hour or so when traveling. Woke up at 3 AM and then at 7:30 AM. Usually up by 6:30 at latest. Fighting a cough I got in Yankeeland. Yankees trying to get me down but I will fight it off. Got doors to lobby open. Nice breeze blowing in. Off to Bass Pro for a day and evening's work. Saw a high nose NS pulling some empty pulpwood cars and hopper cars. Wasn't running too fast as I was doing 65 and passed it [tracks were running beside highway]. A lot of NS here as big coal yards and ship loading. Have a good one and God bless all.

[jonadel]

Good Morning,

Chief--the hotels and internet cafe's in NC all charged a fee to use their computer, $5.00 an hour at our hotel and cafe's $5.00 for 15 minutes and the Cincinnati airport was .65 a minute. I need to get a laptop.

Talk about getting a cough--I had to go to the clinic at Sneeds Crossing on Tues. a.m. to get some anti biotics, I don't know if it's the combination of the a/c and climate change or my just being wiped out from last week but I really got sick on this trip. A small country clinic with an awful nice staff that worked me into their schedule, it's sure nice to get great customer service wherever your at. The Dr., after my first sentence, said you're not from around here, she was originally from Michigan.

Time to go run trains.

Jon

[cnw1995]

Hope you feel better, Jon. Wet today - still misting. Had thunderstorms and hail on and off all yesterday; my lawn grass is almost 5 inches high - the neighbors must hate me.

Took advantage of time after church last night to set up the birthday trains. I figured out the searchlight car - it lit up when it was running - unfortunately, it was too tall and rammed into the Marx crane so I have to move that. I then ran the K-Line 'Kids O' battery powered freight first - forgot the cars and engine are also so huge they had a spectacular crash when trying to go under the Marx crane (which straddles the tracks). As expected the cars and engine are pretty light so derail on my so-so trackwork pretty easily but the IR remote works well enough for a 2 year old to manage. I like it - for $35 bucks - I may give it to the 2 year old when he turns 3 next month. Then I got out the Santa Fe Steam Chief passenger set! After setting everything out and installing a battery in the Railsounds tender, I powered it up - and was welcomed with a loud chuff - the Railsounds certainly were fun to listen to - you have to know, I have never heard anything like this in person. It reinforced my love for this scale. Boy, it was fun to hear the sounds speed up and down with the train - and when the train paused - to hear the air pumps and blow-off. The only thing I haven't been able to figure out is how to blow the whistle or bell since the K-Line transformer doesn't have a whistle or bell button. I also didn't realize the little rubber blocks that were packed with the cars are the diaphrams that fit between the cars. I didn't realize that until I saw an ad in an old CTT I was reading on the train this morning comparing Lionel with 'Brand K' cars. Hope I didn't thrown them out. Well, it sure beat watching that scary CSI... Can you mate KLine snaptrack to regular tubular track?

More Little League baseball tomorrow - then it's a choice between cutting the grass or heading over to work on the new church building - it's in a warehouse that's supposed to open June 5th - we have a ton more work to do.

[pbjwilson]

Doug,
Sounds like you've got alot on your plate. Over here in Glenview I've cut my grass twice in the last week. Seems like the grass grew an inch overnight with the rain we've been having. This morning is very grey, probably work inside today, catch up on some book work.

[Dr. John]

Doug,
You can mate K-Line snap track to regular tubular track but you have to cut the "ears" off of the snap track first. I had to do it on my last layout. K-Line does make a transition piece of snap to tubular, but it's just as easy (and cheaper!) to modify the snap track.

Waiting on the rain to show up that was promised. Not a cloud in the sky but still early in the day.

Think I'll take my lunch hour to take some pics of rail scenes around Prattville. Will try to post them tonight.

[Anonymous]

Good Morning, Everyone!

Last night's performance actually went better than the night before. The audience was much better, which can really mean a lot. The only major slip-up that occured was when one guy accidentally (at least I think accidentally) said *** instead of best. It's something to have been practicing this thing for months and then have it all over just like that.

Buckeye, I haven't graduated just yet, although it won't be long before I do. Graduation is on June 10 and regular classes end just a couple of days after that. Then there's final exams in the last week of June. The end of school can't come fast enough for me! Some people say that your teenge years are the best of your life, but I'd have to disagree (although they ain't bad). I personally think that the years just ahead will be the best of all.

I'm going to be getting a unique accent for my train room today: a real railroad switch stand. The mine that my uncle works at replaced a switch stand and put the old one into their scrap pile. My uncle managed to get it for me and will be bringing it home today. This is also the uncle that got me the crossbucks from a railroad crossing in a simmilar situation.

[laz 57]

SASK,
Sounds like you got some cool stuff. Take some pics if you can.
You are right about the best years, at least for me was college days, had a blast.
laz57