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

[Dr. John]

Morning everyone!

Still raining in Prattville.

Ben, I look forward to seeing the pics from your trip. My youngest daughter left this morning on a church trip to New Orleans. Maybe she'll get to ride the street cars while down there.

IronHoarse - the layout is looking good!

[ChiefEagles]

Hey Iron H, did you use Fasttrack? Looks good. Oh Jon, on the GPS, Lowrance makes one too. I hear nothing but raves on all of them. If I am going to fly to "strange" places next year, I will buy one. They are so neat. Tell you which lane to get in and where to turn and etc. I have been lucky this year. All the "strange" cities I visited, only missed a few turns and got back quickly. They do not work good in Ohio. They are not programed to say, follow goat path to hollow tree and turn left, no, your other left. [;)]

[spankybird]

QUOTE: by Chief

"All the "strange" cities I visited"

That becuase we don't have any strange cities [;)][(-D][(-D]

[FJ and G]

thanks, chief. BTW, the WashPost had an article last week about the BBQ wars between east and west North Carolina. In western NC, they use vinegar and catsup and in the eastern part they use something else entirely. I think your town sits on the borderline.

[laz 57]

DAVE V, OUCH on the nail gun. When I work construction saw a guy put a 16 penny nail through his two fingers.
IRONHORSE layout looking good. I have the Bethlehem gantry crane that picks up coal. Really neat piece and all the nephews love that one. Come to think of it so do my friends. Enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
laz57

[ChiefEagles]

Greensboro and Winston-Salem is the switch. We use vinegar only. Their mess is red. [:(] NC RoadRunner is down as far as sending emails. Can receive but can not send through regular channels. To send , I have to go to web mail. Been that way for about 18 hours. I understand some folks are sweating their jobs. Server is rejecting everyone's emails they are trying to send email out. Sprinkling rain now. [:)] Good reason to stay in and run some trains. Want to start taking the Lionels down and checking smoke units. Then I will take the MTH down and see what is binding in the gears. Got to start painting the walls of the train room and install exhaust fan in ceiling. All good rainy day projects.

[spankybird]

Hey Chief, sound like Jerry is winning the race. He has a table built and track down.
[;)][:D][8D]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jerrylovestrains

Finally, a new report on the layout.

I finally got the rodebed glued on to the outer loop and have the track layed down! (needed alot of elmers glue!!!) Now I have to buy another bag. ....

[FJ and G]

Leave the chief alone. He's busy perfecting his barbeque sauce :-)

[spankybird]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FJ and G

Leave the chief alone. He's busy perfecting his barbeque sauce :-)

since some of his BBQ smoke so much, maybe he should use his sauce for smoke fluid[^][;)][:D][8D]

[dougdagrump]

I cooked a pork butt yesterday, put on a nice layer of dry rub monday nite wrapped it up in plastic wrap and back in the fridge til tuesday morning. Stuck it in a covered roaster and in the oven at 6am, come dinner time it was just falling apart. YummYumm [dinner]

[ChiefEagles]

Doug, next time I go to sunny Cal., I expect to be fed that way. [;)] They keep talking about building a Bass Pro Shops in Cal. Hey Tom, good idea. [;)] Got to get the MTH going good as it is the smokiest thing I've ever seen. [:)] Don't need to "redo" the smoke unit on that thing. Off to "Miss Edna's". RoadRunner email still bad. Later

[Roger Bielen]

Another wet and cold day here. Stopped at the train store on the way home and picked up some folks to work on the garden plot I'm putting in on the layout. Guess I'll Dulcoat and highlight them this afternoon and put some to work this evening.

[jonadel]

David,

You need to just bake the beef ribs and give them to BB, PORK ribs are the ONLY way to go, Baby Back or St. Louis cut. It's all about the dry rub the day before and cooking slow and low with gread woods for the best results. If you want, I can send the recipe I use that has won many competitions and the baked bean recipe won the KC competition several years ago. I also have a killer beef briscuit recipe, takes all day but well worth it. No one in our family will eat ribs when we go out to eat, always disappointed. I also have a recipe for turkey that you soak in a bucket full of spices and vinegar the night before and then smoked it the next day; I did that recipe 4 years ago for Thanksgiving and my wife was so nervious that she baked another turkey in the oven---NO ONE ate hers!!! It was hilarious. I've even been known to do smoked meals in below zero weather---not fun but winter is just too long here.

Jon

[IronHoarse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChiefEagles

Hey Iron H, did you use Fasttrack? Looks good.

Yes that is Fastrack. I like the way itl looks which is why I decided to get it.

[ChiefEagles]

Iron H, guess I have to go to work on mine. Seems Jerry and yourself are way ahead of me. I'm really waiting for hot summer so OHIO will freeze over [per Buckeye]. Like the looks of your layout and the track.
Road Runner Email is now back up so I can send. Took almost 24 hours and a restart of my computer. Now all you guys with all the rain, send some to us. Been spitting all day but nothing serious. Need rain. Dr. John, give me some help. [;)] Dougisnotagrump, hope your house did not fall off the hill today. That is the area I visited the last time I was in the LA area.

[Anonymous]

Good Afternoon, Everyone!

Well, I'm back and must say that I had a blast on the Winipeg trip. Did a lot of fun stuff, but I'll save the details for the trains I bought. We had shopping time at The Forks and I naturally headed for that antique mall immediately. Coincidentally, I also got a great deal on a Marx set this year. I bought an 8-wheel plastic set consisting of a 1998 Santa Fe S-2 switcher (the type that K-Line's tooling comes from), an Erie gondola car, a CWEX depressed-centre flatcar (unfortunately missing the cable reels it hauled), a WECX floodlight car, a NYC crane and an ATSF work caboose. I got all it for only $145 Canadian. Everything's in excellent condition, except that the crane is missing the boom, but I have a junker crane that I can get it from, so that's no problem. That night at the hostel we stayed at (not exactly what you'd call luxury accomodations; may I never have to stay in such a place again!) we (11 other students and the teacher) had a "show and tell" of what we bought that day and everbody had a look at the train. Afterwards, we had a go at getting it to run. It probably hadn't been used in decades, so the wheels and track obviously needed cleaning. Some of the track was badly bent, so we couldn't make a complete circuit. Nevertheless, we did get the floodlight car shining bright and the engine to move slowly in reverse. Good times!

[Anonymous]

I had a helper once actually nail me to the roof with a nail gun. Could'nt reach my hammer to pull it out and he took off running down the road. Still have that scar.
Smoked a briskit and pork roast Saturday, for us and some company.

Iron H , Jerry,looking good......Is Chiefie in last place on the layout construction?

Got a nice little remodel job today, should run about 350K. What some people do with their money... Well I had to figure a couple trains into the bid.
Picked up my new truck Sunday. Chevy 25 Ext Cab 4x4 pretty much loaded. Will make a nice work truck for this old man....Later..Tim

[spankybird]

Good Morning from NE Ohio

where the temp is 62 with mostly Clear Blue Sky’s and temp heading to high 70’s and a chance of rain.

Gee with that type of weather, Chief must not be building his layout. I do believe that Jerry will be done before Chief moves the wood inside.

PE Tim – sounds like a great plan, figure an engine into the cost of every job.

Sask – sound like you had a good time in Winipeg and some good deals.

Pick of the Day


Getting help over hump Day

All be safe
tom

[daan]

Hi Guys,
Well Holland voted against Europe's new laws. As Roy said, it's mainly because of problems with the economics. Holland is paying about 250 dollars a person every year for the European community. With nothing in return for it. (250x 15miljon=3750 miljon dollars a year!!) Because of that and the stability pact which is there to keep the Euro stable we have been forced to take unpopulair changes in public health, transport and taxes to be able to pay such things.
The new rulers would give some improvements, but I'm starting to believe that the whole europe thing is starting to break down. May be it's better this way, we don't have profits from the Eu, only huge costs and a lot of extra fuzz.

Whatever. Today I fiddled a bit more on the layout and w have another pet since yesterday; a 5 week old kitty who also needs a lot of attention.

Keep well everyone!

[IronHoarse]

Mornin',

Well I did it...I ordered the AMC/ARC Gantry Crane, Command cable, and a Rock Island gondola to load. I am just waiting for a confirmation email that they are going to be shipped. My C&O Bay Window Caboose is supposed to arrive today. Now once again I have to wait for the UPS truck to come. [:D]

[Anonymous]

Good morning Chief and N.C. barbeque fans.
Here in Greensboro we refer to it as "Lexington" barbeque and "Eastern" barbeque--I like both. The local argument centers more on which resturant uses the traditional hickory wood for cooking, who has prostituted it by cooking with natural gas, etc,etc?
I also like the beef brisket barbeque in Lubock, Texas where I used to go visit our cotton farmers/suppliers.(probably why I have a Zucor cholesterol prescription).
Headed for St. Micheals, Maryland next week for 30th reunion with former neighbors in Morristown, New Jersey and for good crabcakes.
My spouse has already pinpointed all of the town's overpriced shopping areas but I have found no train stores closer than Deleware.

[FJ and G]

pigseye.

I had an ex nail me for half my retirement checks

Jon

That's exactly what I do w/turkey, only use Italian dressing which is really vinegar and spices. Would love to hear that recipe; if you email, I'm at home today, but will be at work manana.

I'm not going to do anything w/the beef back ribs till Saturday as I ponder the cooking dilemma of just what the heck to do with it. Heck, BB the beagle would love them raw.

When I'm grilling, she patrols the grill area, marching up and down the patio protecting it from marauders.

BTW, someone a page ago or so suggested if I like beef ribs, go to Texas.

Actually spent some time in east Texas and that part of the state is more Southern than Western and pork seems favored there; while Ft Worth and west is beef country.

Been a month now on my special meal plan I got from some weightlifter acquaintances, who's motto is: if you can't grow it, pick it or kill it, then don't eat it.

In other words, I'm eating foods way nature intended, steaks, shrimps, lobsters, fresh fruits and veggies and whole grained stuff. Lost about 4 pants sizes now and muscles really starting to show. Only processed stuff I eat is milk, cheese, yogurt, beer and wine. No canned or boxed stuff anymore. Really makes a difference eating foods the way God made them.

[Dr. John]

Good morning! It's foggy in Prattville this AM. Last day of work this week. Getting ready for a construction mission trip to Sterling, Massachusetts. We'll fly out of Atlanta on Saturday to Boston, get to the site Sat. afternoon and get checked into a motel. Sunday is worship with Hope Chapel congregation (meeting at a school for now) then some sight-seeing. Mon. - Fri. we will frame it up and dry it in. Fly back home the next Sat. Should be a busy but fun week - just hope the weather cooperates for us. Got to get packed and ready tomorrow so I won't be doing much posting for the next week.

Have a good day, everyone!

[ChiefEagles]

Morning gang. Hey Leonard, glad to see the post. Another guy below that famous line where you can get sweet ice tea and grits. We need help fending of those Ohio boys. [;)] I missed the TCA train show in Raleigh last weekend. Was off in IA. Got to wait until August for another one. Heard from "Miss Edna" [Todd's Train Depot] that it was a good one. Well, we are finally getting rain. [:)] Should help the garden and the grass. Got tomatoes almost as big as baseballs. Think I'll work on some trains today. Good day for it. God bless all.

[laz 57]

HAPPY FRIDAY EVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Little cool at 54 but to get to 72 today.
Gotta see if I can beat bro tonight at golf? Lost last week try and rebound today. '
laz57

[dougdagrump]

Afternoon All, Finished the smoke unit tune up, won't really know results til tomorrow. UPS just dropped off my Atlas SD-35, it's been back to them twice for the same [censored] problem. It has spent more time with Atlas and UPS then it has with me since the first of the year. Will wait to test it tomorrow on the club layout, if you hear a loud explosion and the ground shaking you'll know it crapped out AGAIN (3rd time).
I've got a great way for cooking babybacks but haven't used it for years, guess that's what happens when you become empty nesters and don't entertain as much as we did in the past. Will have to check out one of those stove top smokers for me and the wife. [:D]

[wrmcclellan]

Afternoon all!

Nice day here. 88, sunny, and no rain. Rain returns tomorrow.

Dr. John - please have a productive and safe trip! God Bless you and your work team!

All this talk about ribs, BBQ, and such has me gearing up for cooking out this weekend!

Leonard - [#welcome]

D nota G - good luck with that engine. Better be careful if you have a bad reaction, don't knock more of those high$$$ houses into the ocean!

Have a great evening all!
Roy

[ChiefEagles]

Tired. Been doing train maintenance all afternoon. Got some great tips on smoke units from a guy up nawth in Mass. Guess some Yankees are OK. [;)] Off to Lowes to get bird food. Later.

[ben10ben]

Evening Folks,
Just returned from the train ride a little while ago.

Overall, it was very enjoyable, although the emphasis was more on coal mining and coal towns rather than the trains. The train was more or less a means of getting to the reconstructed towns.

We sat in an open air car on the way back, where you could really smell that gorgeous cloud of light gray smoke that the old Alco prime mover spewed forth at every acceleration, stop, and just about every time in between. I managed to get a picture of it underway, as well as a picture of the huge cloud of white smoke that came out when they first started it up.

The biggest shock of the day, though, was that for some odd reason, the railway decided to install a single chime steam whistle blown on air in the place where the horn should be. I couldn't believe it at first either, but I had pictures to prove it. I suppose that they were trying to emulate a steam engine(what better to that with than an Alco, anyway?), but hearing a whistle coming from a diesel switcher just sounded wrong.

I took pictures with my new(old) A-1, so it will be a little while before I get them back.

Hope that you all had a day that was as exciting as mine!

[Anonymous]

Hello All: Glad to see all are eating well. Started a new job this week, I had enough of the 12-14 hour days, gave back the company vehicle, gas card, cell phone & they were in shock, been telling them for months to put another man on the road but they didn't, so I walked. Double time after 8 hours isn't worth it, life is too short. Feel pretty good now quit on Friday walked into the union hall Monday & started Tues. Ferrero & Roucher Chocolate is building a ! million sq.ft plant in Brantford Ont. (About 1 hour N of Niagara Falls). Now I have time to get the Basement finished I started a few months ago, & get the Layout up & running. Looking forward to Friday 4 hours & it's the weekend ( We work a 36 hour week). All have a good evening, Looking forward to all the weekend Pics. Kind Regards toAll Steve[:)]