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

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is cloudy and warm in SE Indiana with temps reaching into the 60s today. I am in class again so it will be short on the notice today. When I get time, I will have to tell you about the helicopter car my wife got for my birthday. It is so cool! I feel like a kid again (of course, I never really grew up). Get better soon, tmcc man. Need you on the soccer field!

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[ChiefEagles]

Jim A, you've got it now. [:)] Forwarded it to you.

On the run. Errands to run before leaving tomorrow. Been on the phone and computer doing Town Baord business all morning. One good thing. 4 new int he box tank cars I got from OGR Buy and sale came this morning. No time to run them. [:(]

Later and God bless.

[Dr. John]

Beautiful morning in central Alabama - sunny with temps in the upper 60's. Should get over 70 today.

Busy day with hospital visits and preparation for meeting with Sunday School teachers this evening.

Made a foray into pre-war Lionel with the purchase of a an orange and terra cotta 250 electric and two pullman cars in very good condition. I'm interested to see how well they'll run. Probably feature them on the Christmas layout later this year.

Have a good one!

[cnw1995]

The e-newsletter came into my mailbox overnight. Actually I got two copies... I see you probably received one from Frank.

[Dr. John]

Here's a couple of shots of my prewar purchase . . .

[csxt30]

Dr. John : a beauty of a set ! Wonder if they are restored ? My TCA book says they ere from 1926, for the early & 1934 for the later !! Plus, same as a 252, but with the plates changed on the sides, & uncataloged. Thanks for sharing, that really is a nice set ! [:)]

[Dr. John]

John,

They were originally part of an estate sale, so I can't be sure, but I think they are in original condition. No sign of repainting - if it is a restoration, it's a masterful job.

I really appreciate you sharing the info on the set! I don't have a TCA guide so I was wondering about their age, etc. Thanks!

[Roger Bielen]

Dr. John, great looking set. You really lucked out.

Its a bluebird day here in Watkinsville, clear skies and temp. pushing into the 70's. Too, bad my work this afternoon is indoors, painting.[sigh]

[dwiemer]

Dr. John, nice set. I hope to get one like it later on. (after layout is done).
Don, I don't have the DVD from CTT, what did you have to do to get one?
CTX- JOHN, I saw a review for a Conrail MTH Scale GP20. Powered is about $300. The review is in the latest issue of the Other Guys Rag (just kidding OGR). They like the engine, but did have some issues with the ProtoSound 2.

Been a great day so far, my names not in the obits., and got to spend the morning with the better half and our daughter which is always a good thing. Went to Waffle House and had some grits, which is also a good thing.
I am off to work now, so I will say goodby.
Dennis

[Brutus]

Cool train Dr. John!

Just got done with the insurance guy and the contractor - apparently we are getting a whole new roof with new pipes, vets etc. They are still figuring out the siding, but it is 12 years old (house is only 9) so personally I hope they can't match it and we get a whole new exterior on the house! Keep praying for us!

PS - I get 2 copies of the e-newsletter as well. I wonder why? Maybe I signed up twice.

[tmcc man]

Dr. John that is a very nice set. I bet you will enjoy it.

[mickey4479]

Dr. John: Great looking set. The colors are great. [tup][tup]
In KC it is going to be in the 70's today and sunny. Did a little tidying up on the fishing boat. Have a great day alI.

[jefelectric]

Good afternoon everyone,

Dr. John, that is a beautiful set.

Mickey, neat building.

Same weather here as Laz. Looks like the Ohio weather is headed this way tomorrow midday or so.

[Roger Bielen]

RE: the DVD I received one a month, or so, ago. If I remember correctly, if you kept it you would be billed and, I think, automatically be subscribed to the series. I sent it back unopened. It seems once you start these things they go on forever.

[Anonymous]

Dr. John,
That really is a beautiful set, especially if it's original paint. If it has an E unit it's the one year only late version 250 from 1934. The book says that instead of a 250E plate, Lionel simply stamped the cab doors with an E. I'm not sure but judging from the manual directional lever out the top it's probably earlier...1932 back. None the less, it's still an exceptional find in that condition.

Bruce Webster

[dwiemer]

Forgot to mention the weather, going to upper 70s or low 80s. Oh to live in Dixie! Plan to contact some of the sites mentioned for structures, also plan to drink some Sweet Tea and relax when I get back home.
The DVDs, If they are good ones, I will probably keep them, if not, I will send back. I have yet to get one though.
Have a great day, and I hope the yankees don't freeze the tail end off.
dennis

[Dr. John]

Thanks for the kind words regarding my prewar find. I always wondered if I'd ever have that "lucky find" that I've read from so many others. Now I have!

Bruce, I haven't checked yet to see if it has an E unit. I don't think it does. Nevertheless, I'm very happy with it. I'll have to set up a test track to see how well it runs.

[csxt30]

Just got back from my friends Nscale layout, & my new P&LE boxcar came ! Yesterday my new control tower came ! This boxcar is only available in the N Y C Flyer set, but I got it seperately, on E-bay .
Dennis : thanks for review note on the GP -20, I'll check it out ! [:)]
Here are pictures of it & the Tower. I should have focused the camera in better ! [:D] It says "Serves The Steel Centers ". I really wanted this car for a long time !!
Thanks !

[tmcc man]

Here is a pic of pro BMXer Allan Cooke icepicking a helicopter.
This is sweet.



csxt30, you have been getting a lot of great stuff lately. Lucky you.

[wrmcclellan]

Afternoon all!

Dr. John - Nice find!

Mitch - nice building!

Spanky - too bad you forgot the camera. Maybe next time! Greta photo as usual!

John - I like that boxcar also. Great fire engibe red!

Don - I still have my '84 El Camino that I bought new. Has the destroked 350 with 4 BBL. Same motor as they put in the Camero that year. Bad news! Has the TUBID 250 tranny in it. This piece of junk was designed for the v6 (remember when they took the front two cylinders off the 350 block in the very early eighties or late 70's). At 60 K miles it was on its 6th transmission (shelled the first one so bad that it cracked the case and I did not drive it hard), all paid for by GM. They were not allowed to put a 350 in it to save them money. The other 5 times were rebuilds when a filter change revealed a lot of brass in the pan.

It looks like crud but it still runs great. Those early environmental paints in 84 were a disaster. Hood was repainted twice by GM until I gave up on it. Plan to get it reapainted and give it to my daughter for her first ride.

Have a great day all!
Roy

[wrmcclellan]

Hey John! better get your real work gear out and rerail that PL&E boxcar!

[csxt30]

Thanks Colin !
Thanks Roy !! I put it there like that, so it would stay for a picture !! LOL !! I have a 2 % grade right there, that I try to hide, but this car really wants to roll !! [:D][:D]
Thanks,

[tschmidt]

Evening all,

I picked up a new boxcar today. It was made by RMT and it matches the Beeps I have from them. It is the South Buffalo Railroad and is painted for the Lackawanna Plant of Bethlehem Steel. It compliments the Beeps well. I will have to get a picture and post it.

Colin - I guess I'm not "hip" enough to know what "icepicking a helicopter" is. You need to explain it.

Have a good night.
TomS

[ChiefEagles]

Dr. John, great find. [told you all he has a "connection" [;)]]

Fixed greenhouse fan that had stopped. Messed up the whole day's paln. [:(] Well, I did have my grits this morning so that was good. [;)] Packed and ready for Hampton VA. Had steak and baked potato. [:D] Now popcorn time. Later

[mitchelr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by laz 57

HI GIZ,
25 here to get to 44?
Sleet freezing rain tomorrow?
Maybe a 2 hr. delay? How bout it MITCH?

All have a good one.
laz57

LAZ.

We can only hope for a delay, no cancellations though. Our kids get out pretty late in June if we use up our snow days, so I am hoping the bad weather will hold off.

Mitch

[Anonymous]

Hello to all in the POT[:D][:D][:D].
i would stay for a while, been a buzy day and a long one too..
weekend is coming and looks pretty nice in the forecast.
looking forward to it.
have a nice day

NStrackman
MP N-369.

[Anonymous]

Can't wait for the Chief to depart ,cause I know we will get some good funnies from the Buckeye Man. Sunny and 45.......................Tim

[mitchelr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dr. John

Here's a couple of shots of my prewar purchase . . .

Dr. John,

Gorgeous pre-war. I love the orange. They look so clean. I know you will enjoy them. Someday I may make the venture into pre-war.

Mitch

[tmcc man]

Okay, here is an explanation on the "icepick grind"
An icepick is a type of grind you can do on a bike. This was a little tougher because of the down force of the wind from the rotor blades. I hope I can learn to do this someday.

Spankybird, do you watch the SPEED channel? I have been watching it for a while, since it premiered, and I just watched a show called "Redline TV." This is the first episode I have seen, and was it awesome. 2 teams had 3 days to take 2 Mitsubishi Evo8's, and get the most HP out of them without blowing the engine up. The first team used NOS, and got 530HP, and the second team got 550HP without NOS. When they were finished with the Dyno, they went to the Vegas strip to race them for bragging rights. Well, the team without NOS won, and the team with NOS blew up the engine. I do not understand why they would even think to put NOS on a stock engine like that. You need to make a lot of changes to your manifold and so forth, in order not to detonate the engine. The only thing I would do with a stock engine would be to put a turbo on it.

[1688torpedo]

Hello All! Jim Fortner- How is it that your siding is 12 years old & your house is 9 years old? Sounds like a old Abbott & Costello Routine[;)][:P] Dr.John - That Prewar Set is a very nice find. Bet it runs as good as it looks. Now you need a 1688 set to complete your collection![;)][:)] CSXJohn- That is a nice boxcar you've got there.Should have put your Monster in front of it to keep it from rolling down the track.[:)][;)] Don- Looks like a nice El Camino you've got there.They were also another group of nice cars made by the General in those days.Tell your son if he wants the car he has to keep his trains & never sell them.[;)] Or else![:)] Take Care all.