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

[ChiefEagles]

Chris, JEALOUS!!!!![;)] You do that one yourself????? Where did you find it??????
Everyone has seen this one but you may have missed it.

Lionel SD60 [2001 model]

I will admitt, I have a CN SD70 by MTH [PS1] that needs some "tuning" but it will smoke you out of the room. As soon as I get it running good [seems to be binding and have not had time to take shell off], I'll show the smoke pictures.

[tschmidt]

It's been a nice here in WNY with a temp of about 70 and sunshine. It was actually a good day in school and the kids (and teachers) behaved. We still have 4 and a half weeks of school left here. I see some of you guys have your kids finishing school already. You must start early in August. We won't go back to labor day.

David...it seems like a long comute if you don't move. To bad you can't do some work out of your house so you would have time for trains. I have a daughter in D.C. and I can see why a comute takes so much time with the traffic. I'd be interested in more info on your diet too.

I think after dinner tonight Kate and I will take our dog, Molson, out for a walk. can't waste a beautiful evening.

Have a good night all.
Tom

[ChiefEagles]

Going to say good night and have a great holiday. May not get to sign in tomorrow AM. Off to Iahway [Jon's home state]. [:D] Do not know if hotel has computer or not. Will be back late Monday night. Dr. John and Roger, keep those Yanks in line. Tom, see if you can keep those .... straight. [;)] Left last week and some .... got out of line. [:D] You did a good job. God bless all.

[Anonymous]

Up taking some Meds ---just thought I would say good morning:
"Good Morning America How are You ?" (City of New Orleans plays on the feel good tape at cardiac rehab--- where I'm headed today).

[daan]

Hi guys, it's been a long time ago since I've been here. (certainly a few months). I've been building in the garden, searching for grandpa's motorbike and starting to build a better layout. To start with the last part, my double oval layout with a lot of tracks to park motive power was getting very boring. All I could do was run ovals, the switches I bought last autumn where evrything except relyable and trains kept derailing and stalling on them.
So I made a new layout, the Salt River Canyon RR, based on the "four routes" layout from the CTT magazine. I had to redraw the thing to fit in my attic and work with Maerklin tracks, but the result is very nice.
This is the track plan. This time I needed switches which operated from distance, so I made bowdencable's under the table which throw the switches from a distance. It's extremely cheap, about 5 euro's for 2 switches. I'm still using the resistorcontrol and also started to translate my website into english (lot of asking for that..)
The second part was the motorbike from my grandfather, which might be interesting for Jim. I discovered that it was still on the road (built in 1944) and the machine literally was a few miles a way. the new owner restored the bike and uses it on shows. He also drives it a lot in summer.
This is the 500cc sidevalve BSA..

In the meantime the computer also went broke, so I had to save some money for a new one before I could find my way on the web again..
Hope everyone is okay and has time to run the trains now and then..[:)]

[laz 57]

Hi GIZ, Nice day finally, to get to 74.
ROY DR. JOHN, long night with the bad boys and girls. Took advice and read an older CTT. Had to assign another detention to student for not doing work.
CHRIS nice to see you back.
DAAN long time no here. Nice BIKE, hope weather is great for you to ride.
Happy FRIDAY EVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Play golf tonite to see if I can beat my brother?
Hope to have a good round.
7 days o school left, can't wait.
Rock on GIZ.
laz57

[Dr. John]

Morning, everyone! Another pleasant day in Prattville USA! 59 degrees this AM (unusually cool for this time of year) but should warm up to low 80s. Won't be long before summer hits down here with its full force.

My son got the cast off of his hand and will be ready for summer football practice in a couple of weeks. Oldest daughter is home for the summer from Samford University. Good to have her around for awhile.

Dave, the BRAC seems to be affecting people everywhere. We may lose about 1,300 military and civilian jobs that will be moved from Maxwell AFB and Gunther AFB. At least both bases will remain open. A lot of command training goes on here.

Chris and Daan, good to hear from both of you. Welcome back! Nice pics, both of you.

Chief, have a safe trip. We'll post sentries and man the forts. If we could just get the U.S.S. Alabama out of the mud in Mobile Bay we'd have some real defense against the Yankee agressors!

Laz - glad you survived detention.

Leonard - That's one of my favorite songs. Is that an Arlo Guthrie tune? I can't remember who wrote it.

Roy, hope the rain cooled things down in Texas. Looks like your rain is heading our way.

Until later . . .

[cnw1995]

Good morning all, turned out to be a beautiful day today. It'll be crazy trying to work and get ready for vacation - tomorrow we'll drive to Knoxville, then Sat into S. Carolina - we'll stay in a little condo on Hilton Head - go between the beach and pool hopefully for a week - then on the way back, stay in Lexington. See you on June 6th. Have a safe Memorial Day - I certainly appreciate those of you that are veterans. Keep me in your prayers for a safe journey in the old van. I still marvel that I have the capability to go somewhere so swiftly compared to say, 50 years ago.

[FJ and G]

Daan,

Nice bike & layout plan; glad you're back.

Tom S.

In addition to the plan I just mentioned, I treat myself to fruit or vegetable shakes made with a Juice Man. (similar models will give similar results, but ensure you get a high horsepower model, cause my buddy got a cheapy that fizzled on him).

I take fresh veggies or fruits and the shakes that come out are incredible. Further, you get all the vitamines and minerals that otherwise would be destroyed in cooking or in the case of fruit, discarded with the peels.

It would take too long to describe here but results are fabulous. The downside is that you lose the ruffage and will still need to supplement your meals with whole fruits and veggies.

Eating fresh foods is what the Indians and our ancestors did until just a few decades ago, so the "special" diet I have has been around for a few millenia.

Chief,

Keep the powder dry and be ready at all times defend the North Carolina border from those northern barbarians! [:D]

[Roger Bielen]

Daan, welcome back.

I guess its up to Dr. John and me to make sure there are copious quantities of sweet tea available to drive those yankees back up north (I'll keep the bourbon for fellow southern gentlemen).

A bright sunny day here today but temps. are only in the mid 70's. Opened the windows again, saving $'s on elec. for AC.

[FJ and G]

Daan,

Nice bike and diagram. Glad all is well in Holland.

Dr. John,

I'd likely move to Alabama if BRAC'd there after seeing good rabbit areas near defunct rail line. Nice river too.

Doug,

That house by the tracks painting is really nice. Reminds me of Nathaniel Hawthorne's book House of 7 Gables.

Chief,

Keep your powder dry and guard those N.C. borders from northern aggressors!

[Dr. John]

Dave, if you do get BRAC'd down this way, we'd be glad to have you and BB too!

In addition to rabbits and other critters I saw a beaver make its way across the road while driving home for lunch. I've seen several beaver dams in the area but first actual beaver I've seen.

[FJ and G]

Dr. John,

I'd definitely take you up on the offer and might even attend your church if you don't rattle on too long. :-)

Houses down there gotta be cheaper than the 1/2 million plus they are averaging in my area.

I've been reading model RR magazines for a long time and I believe that modelling RRs that go thru Alabama is the LEAST modeled part of the country, unless you actually live there. Don't know why, as the scenery looks pretty neat in the photos you provided.

[dougdagrump]

Dann, Wow, haven't seen one of those old Beezers around for ages, great restoration.
Also what a cool track plan. Come back soon.
Oops, need to use spell-check.[:I] [:D]

[FJ and G]

Hey guys, the SW-9 RK is really performing on the tight curved 027 track on my desk at work. Got the volume turned down and it's pulling a PRR Ted's Root Beer boxcar. Been running around my desk for quite some time now and attracting an audience.

Made some announcements over the microphone. Boy am I having some fun!

[Dr. John]

Dave, You're right about the lack of magazine coverage on modeling railroads in Alabama. I can think of just three: An excellent article in RMC about a model railroad based on Birmingham in the 1940s, then another mag (Rail Model Jourrnal?) did a series on modeling the Alabama State Docks in Mobile. Also there was an article about a model railroad club in Birmingham and their railroad, the Locust Grove & Western.

Alabama has a rich railroading heritage. Class 1 Lines that have served the state include: GM&O, IC, Southern, Central of Georgia, Seaboard Air Line, L&N, Frisco, not to mention shortlines such as the Birmingham Southern, Terminal RR of the Alabama State Docks, Western RY of Alabama, Chattahoochie Valley, Meridian & Bigbee, Twin Seams Lumber Co. and several others. Modern class 1 railways include CN/IC, BNSF, CSX and NS.

I guess one reason that so few model railroads represent Alabama is that we have a lower per capita number of modelers than other states - fewer basements, fewer hobby shops, fewer clubs.

[1688torpedo]

Hello Everyone! Welcome back Daan ! Dr.John Sounds like the Beaver was on his way home from a Dam Builders Convention.[:)][;)] Who Knows.? Maybe they can build a nice layout at a fraction of the cost. Hope you and the Chief feel much better. Dave,Sounds like you having a very good time at work. Looks like a nice layout you've got there. Have a nice day everyone......................Keith

[laz 57]

Hi GIZ,
Beauty of a day here 50 to get to 80.
Well I did it last nite. Played stinky at golf lost to my brother for the first time. Shot a 50 for nine holes. Got an 8 on two parr fives yucky. But the only good thing is I birdied the final par4 hole last nite to bring me back for more.
Ah the beer tasted good anyway after the game oh well.
Have a safe and wonderful weekend.
Remember our past VETS. Thank the living ones.
laz57

[laz 57]

Oh yea........................
TGIF
laz57

[cnw1995]

Welcome back, Daan. Just a brief note before I leave - I now have to go on another trip (to Las Vegas - I've never been there) a day after I return. But it's a beautiful day here and I'm looking forward to the drive - lots of railrelated highlights - driving along the CSX (ex-NYC) main line near Gary Indiana, crossing over numerous rail lines in IN - running under an ex-Pennsy bridge (still with keystone heralds) in IN - crossing under another Southern bridge near Knoxville - even crossing the main north-south line in South Carolina. Have a good weekend (and week).

[ChiefEagles]

Morning gang. Where is Tom???? Hey, DAAAAAAANNNNNN Glad to see you. Jon, pretty country and great town [during the summer, not winter [;)]]. Will be back to visit I'm sure. Ear stopped up on flight into Chicago. Unstopped during the night. [:D] Feeling better. Good clean Yankee air [since they send their polution east to us]. Great event here. Will be on TV I'm sure. Jon, I'll give you a call today. Got some great train pictures, tracks run right near event. All have a great day and God bless all.

[jonadel]

Good Morning,

A beautiful start here for the weekend although it's still a bit cool for this time of year, hopefully it will stay dry.

Chief, welcome to Iowa, Dubuque really is a pretty town and is enjoying a Renaissance of sorts. It's a very old, Catholic and blue collar town, the economy really took a hit during the farm crisis years but now with new money coming in it's taking off again. If you get a chance, go down the street to the Julian Inn/Hotel for breakfast in the basement, incredible Belgium Waffles. One more suggestion if you have time, drive over to Galena, IL and take the trolley tour, VERY interesting town with tons of history. It's only a 15-20 minute drive from Dubuque.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Jon

[pbjwilson]

Morning, I don't know if this picture made it around the country but it was front page in the "Chicago Sun-Times". I know we have some fishermen here. Enjoy!

New state record for Catfish - 58" 124 pounds- caught in the Mississippi

[Jim Duda]

FeatherChiefie is in Dubuque, Iowa, demonstrating fishing equipment.
Dubuque is on the Mississippi river.
FeatherChiefie is a fisherman.

...and the logical result of the syllogism is...? (if he sees this picture)

HA!

[wrmcclellan]

Morning all!

Weather here really improved. We had tp chaparone the 5th grade "last day of school" park outing and there was a wonderful breeze to enjoy the day outside. Lots of trees for shade. I worked the B-Ball court (to keep the kids out of trouble and hurting themselves) and only went through 3 bandaids.

Cloudy today and rain predicted for next several days.

Daan - cool! Welcome back! Neat bike and track plan.

Dr. John - sounds like you have done the USS Alabama tour. I highly recommend it to anyone who visits Mobile. One of the better preservations of a battleship in the US. Also sounds like you have beaten the cold you were suffering with.

Dave - if you take BB to AL, there may be an increase in the rabbit population in the surrounding states!

Kids are out of school and taking it easy today.

Ran my new Williams UP FAs at the club layout last night. I will post some photos Sunday. One of my buds was running his new Lionel Cab-Forward. What a magnificent machine and the RS 5 is fantastic.

Have a great day all!
Roy

[laz 57]

PB WILSON,
Yes I did see that fish 124 lb. blue catfish, new record. They sold it to CABELAs and the fish died, it was to go into one of their aquaiums.
laz57

[spankybird]

TGIF TGIF

let me say that again

TGIF

What a week at work, am looking forward to the 3 days off.

NE Ohio has Blue Clear Sky’s with temp at 65. A nice start to the weekend.

Daan – good to see you stop by

Well work is call again

Pick of the Day


all be safe
tom

[ChiefEagles]

Using the boss's laptop. MAN, I am missing great train pictures. Very loooonnnggg train of big hopper cars full of coal just went across the Mississippi River bridge [swing bridge]. Its so neat. Goes across bridge and into a tunnel in the side of a rock wall. Will try to get pictures before I leave. I'm seeing lots of Illinois Central, BNSF and some other long compination name trains. Always when I'm outside with out camera. Get to go out walleye fishing Sunday afternoon. Getting paid to fish. Buckeye can not say that. Having fun in Jon's state. Later

[Roger Bielen]

My connection this evening is as slow as molasses on an Ohio winter day. Don't think its the computer, just dumped all the temp. files, and no improvement, was ok this morning. Guess I'll wait to later to try and read any more on the forum.

[Buckeye Riveter]

I'm back. Tired. Tree fell on house last night during storm.