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

[Dr. John]

Good afternoon, all.

Warm and sunny in Prattville today. Have the AC running for the first time. Maybe winter is over down here.

Taking it easy for a few minutes before heading back to church. Big crowd this AM. Showing a power point presentation of our mission trip to New Orleans a few weeks back.

Have a day!

[cnw1995]

Roger is right, Steve: unfortunately, there are trolls on toy train forums... Cloudy today and cooler - everyone here groggy from the big dance - the last of my daughter's girlfriends who slept over left a few moments ago. I directed our church services this morning for the first time - and didn't screw up on 4 hours of sleep - hurray! Hope to take some Sunday photos for posting later.

[Anonymous]

Good afternoon from W. Michigan, where its in the 50's today, and pretty sunny throughout most of the day.

The rain storms that alot of you Ohioians gotten (in the southern half of the state) is most likely that storm system that went through IN that I had to drive through last week. Heavy rains and high winds contributed to it all. But like someone said, its better than dealing with snows at least.

Been a very quiet day here for me, and just mellowing out to some video game soundtrack music. Finishing up an audio project that I worked on yesterday, and finished doing the labeling today. I'm taking the time to enjoy the weekends before a new work week begins.

Until next time. [:)]

Chris

[pbjwilson]

Doug'
Congrats on the 5th star. I'll toot my whistle 5 times for you when I run my trains.

Steve - liked the Lee Marvin, Bob Keeshan story.
History channel just had a show on Iwo Jima. One of the soldiers in the famous photo of the flag being raised was Ira Hayes. Johnny Cash did a song "The ballad of Ira Hayes". Very sad what happened to that hero.

[Anonymous]

I am sorry to say my brother told me today at dinner that was a hoax and has been on line fronm at least five years, about Mr. Rodgers, et all.

Forgive me but i was fool by it.

Steve

[GregM]

Spent yesterday visiting relatives in Martins Ferry, OH. While driving South on RT 7 along the Ohio river near Rayland spotted several engines in various paint schemes. Saw one painted in BNSF colors, kind of rare to see engines sporting those colors in Ohio. A little further south, saw a couple more engines and got off at nearest exit to watch. One of these engines was wearing UP colors and the other was painted in Rio Grande but the WE under the cab windows indicated that these engines belonged to Wheeling and Lake Erie RR. These two engines coupled up to another engine with the initials MJRX on its cab. The MJRX engine was coupled to a long string of empty hopper cars.

This morning Karen and I went for a little walk, it has been a while since it was warm enough to do that. Several new homes being built in the allotments just to the south. Yep there are two of them, one is surrounded on three sides by the other one. Something about the developers of the bigger allotment and a property owner not comming to an agreement so they sold to another developer.

After lunch I went downstairs and throughly lubricated my two K-Line K4 engines. Stopped the annoying squeaking. On the Prewar tender, the two outside marker lights were not working so I opened it up to investigate. I discovered that the shrink wrap on one of the leads on the plug easily slid off. There was a single wire with a slightly wider end on it that came out of the shrink wrap. I saw what looked like rust fall of the wire as it was coming out. I removed the shrink wrap from the end of the red wire and discovered a 1/4 watt resistor soldered to the end of the wire. Turned out that the single wire I saw had had broke away from the resistor. The color bands indicated it was a 1K ohm resistor. I found that I had a 1k ohm 1/4 watt resistor in my spare parts. Soldered the replacement resistor to the wire and the socket. Covered it with a new piece of shrink wrap and reattached the wires back to there proper locations in the tender wiring. Was pretty happy when the marker lights worked when the tender was put back on the track. Once in a while I actually accomplish something.[:)]

[csxt30]

Good Evening Everyone !
Steve : that's ok . I always liked Mr Rogers & his trolley, and the way he did everything slow. He would hang up his Jacket or whatever real slow & try to teach kids to slow down, plus keep things orderly. A great guy !
Worked today, & getting spoiled by these warmer temperatures ! Only rained for a while.
All have a nice evening !
Thanks,

[jefelectric]

Good evening everyone,

It rained here most of the day - off and on. It was a good rain and we needed it.

Laz, Yes I am planning on going to York. Going to go Thursday and if I don't see everything I will go Friday also. Planning to go to TCA Museum on Wednesday for the openhouse. Have been there several times, but always enjoy it.

Doug, One place to look for the pantagraphs would be on the Lionel site as a replacement part. Just might be less expensive than an aftermarket item. If you know the catalog # of an item that has pantagraphs you can search on it. They have parts lists/drawings on line for a lot of the items, but not all.

Finished the backdrop in the shelf layout. Not to pleased with the results. I tried to blend two types of printed backdrop together to go from rolling country side to mountains. I know for shure that I am not an artist.

[jefelectric]

Looks like page 750 in not far away!

[laz 57]

JOHN,
My wife and I will be there on Friday.
Maybe we'll hook up and get together with the OTTS boys?
laz57

[jefelectric]

Sounds good Laz, I sent you my phone numbers off line.

[Roger Bielen]

After working outdoors most of the day these old muscles are really stiffening up after relaxing watching the race this evening. GROAN!

I saw on the news that Sedalia, MO was hit bad by a tornado(s). I used to go there frequently before the french decided they didn't need the plant we had there and sold it. I hope that those that I knew, and lost contact with, in the area came through ok.

[cnw1995]

John and Steve - Fred Rogers was a particular hero of mine. I wrote him as a young dad after reading his parenting book and he wrote me a long encouraging note I still have on my bulletin board at work - along with an autographed picture! Imagine him taking the time to do that - even if it was dictated to someone else...

Ferociously storming outside. Thunder and lighting and teeming rain. Got very cold too. Hope everyone east of us is OK. It's moving fast. Caught the end of the race - Junior needs a new crew... and a bit of Extreme Makeover. 'Danced' around the room with the youngest - thank goodness no one else is around to see. Then read to him and just put the little guy to bed and am waiting to go pick up everyone else at church.

John, thanks for the reference to Lionel. I don't know the parts number so I haven't stumbled across their pantographs yet. Maybe I'm spelling it all wrong... Good night all.

[tmcc man]

Well, all is now calm in the house. Nothing to worry about, except about the decoders I want to put in my LGB F7's. The decoders, the remote, the reciever, and the power source could come into a hefty price range, may have to re-think the process now.

[tmcc man]

Well, good nite everyone, and have a nice day tomorrow, if I don't get to check in.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Very busy weekend with the hockey game, church, shopping, fixing trains and getting together all the [censored][censored][censored][censored][censored] paperwork for our tax preparer. [:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!]

The Blue Jackets beat the Edmonton Oilers in sudden death overtime. Nationwide Arena in Columbus is really a great place to watch hockey.

Doug, congratulations on receiving the fifth star. I certain have enjoyed your posts over the last couple of years and your descriptions of life in Chicago.

Roger, you are right, again about the lawsuits.

Chuck, Chief told me you are still coughing. You take care of yourself buddy. Spring is here and southern Ohio is always beautiful with the dogwoods in bloom.

TMCC, I'm curious about what you are doing with your G Scale. Could you explain it to me a little better.

Greg, did you know that there is a great train store in Martin's Ferry, Ohio

Worked on the expansion of the layout, today. Another busy week ahead, but that is better than being bored to death. [:D]

[dwiemer]

Go away for a weekend and it will take you an hour to catch up. Boy is this site busy! We had a wonderful time in Savannah. The Chief is a Southern Gentleman in the truest sense. He is right, my wife is better than I deserve. Our daughter and son both love trains and grits, so I know they will be successful in the future.

Steve, already said a prayer since reading your earlier posts. Medical science is making leaps and bounds these days, but nothing compared to the Creator. Attitude is very important, so be strong.

Doug, great news on the 5th star.

As to TCA, I am not a member, but would like to be. As to the question about members buying cheap from seniors, As Roger suggests, it would be the responsibility of the seller to set the price, however, if the person representing the TCA and says the trains are only worth X dollars, then they had better be worth what any credible TCA member would say. If not, then they could be in trouble for misrepresenting the TCA or for using their membership to defraud a person. In either case, it would be for you to report and for the TCA to follow up and decide.

Have a great night and may the week ahead be blessed for all.
Dennis

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,
First off, KEITH TORPEDO, Nice talking with you on the phone tonight. KEITH let me in on all the OTTS happenungs. Thanks again, got to get him here in Pa to show off our 800lb, bruins?

Big news for YUZ GIZ that are SOPRANOS fans of HBO. TONY S, brother in law who is married to JANICE S. was running LIONEL trains. He was running a layout that had a0-8-0 Boston and Albany switcher. WOO I was taken back by this and amazed that they would incorporate Toy Trains into the SOPRANOS. He was running TMCC and had it smoking and all, I have the same engine, maybe I should try out for an ausition or behind the scenes consultant. Hope it continues?

Have a good nite.
laz57

[dwiemer]

Laz,
Some friends of mine built that layout and provided the trains/supplies. They own the Train Station in Mountain Lakes, NJ. They do some good work. I am hoping to find out from Doug how many episodes they shot using the layout and if it will be an on-going thing. I did not get to see the show, but hope to.
Dennis

[laz 57]

DENNIS,
They did a GREAT job. I'm going to have to tape the show again and check it out more closely.
Thanks for that info.
laz57

[Anonymous]

I HAVE BEEN HIRED TO BE A BATBOY FOR THE TRIPLE A TIMBER RATTLERS BASEBALL CLUB!!!! yeah!!!!

[dwiemer]

Laz, if you go to the website, www.thetrain-station.com, and get to the auction, the first couple of items are just anouncements. They have some information there and also they have information on a number of layouts they have done.
Dennis

[Anonymous]

Checked out the Railware software in the membership packet tonight....interesting software indeed, but unfortunately wont do me much good....since I don't have any MTH track the MTH version of the RR-Track program is useless. The upgrade to the program is almost the price of the retail version. So I just might break down and see about getting the retail version of it, and it will have more track libraries that I will most likely use.

Raining pretty hard here right now, and thundering as well....not sure how long it will last but at least I dont have to be out in it.

Chris

[GregM]

Buckeye,

I just forgot to mention that we stopped at G&M trains and the other toy store (forgot name, begins with an S) while we were in Martins Ferry. Bought a JD tractor, 1/50 scale, and a K-Line Cruisers Corvette. Was looking for K-Line sitting people but didn't find any at either store.

Looked at a lot of stuff at the toy store looking to see if any of it would work for scenery etc. Found a little package with, if I remember correctly, five, short, maybe 3 inches long, pipe sections in it. These were for a roller coaster setup of some kind. Price was $5.39. Saw another package with longer pipes for the same price. Looked like they could have been used for car loads, but not for that much money.

[wrmcclellan]

Very late evening all! Guess this actually is the first post for Monday!

Busy weekend. Got the lawn done and preparing for drive to Colorado Tuesday to take the boys skiing.

Doug - congrats on that 5th star! Sorry I missed the precise event! See you had no trouble hitting the mark! I will be watching the mail for that check! [;)] LAZ - you get half of whatever I get! [;)][;)]

Jon - The local TCA meets are OK, but I would not make a special trip if it is a long way. However - the TCA national convention is in San Antonio this summer. Probably worth checking out. The list of activities is pretty long!

Hit mid-80's testerday and today. We are running about 15-20 degrees above normal.

Jerry - congrats!

Steve - I wouldn't worry about those posts so much. One can fall for these things. I started checking stuff against the fraud sites a while back. These things can be written to sound credible. It is too bad those people don't put their efforts into something more productive than deceiving people.

Check out the videos I posted of the K-Line Suburban Tank Engine. Sounds great and smokes good too! Make sure you have a high speed connection though. Big files (9MB).

Have a good one all!
Roy

[mitchelr]

Good morning from Gettysburg, PA. Currently it is 46 degrees. High is predicted to be in low 70's. Looks like Spring has sprung.

This is the big week for testing in our schools. New Asst. Superintendant s coming for a visit today. It is never dull. Also have a difficult discipline situation to deal with.

Have a great day.

Mitch

[Jumijo]

Congratulations, Doug, on your fith star!

Congratulations, Jerry on becoming a bat boy. You're gonna meet a lot of soon to be famous big leaguers!

I also spoke to Keith this weekend and if I had been feeling better, would have had more to say. It sounded like He and I both had just arrived home from a long day at work. I did back-to-back 14 hour days last Thurs and Friday. Keith, it was a pleasure to speak with you. Too bad we all don't live in the same town!

Jim

[spankybird]

Good Morning All from NE Ohio

where the temp is 64 and going up to 70 with overcast skies and very big T-Stroms on the way. High winds of 50 mph and then Snow tonight with temp of only 34 degs. What a ride we are in for today! ! ! [:(]

RailFest – NMRA Div 5 train meet. March 18 & 19. 300 tables. Largest show in NE Ohio

Jerry – cong – you will have a great time [8D]

Chris – I hear what you are saying on the MTH rr track program, but remember 031 track is still 031 and same is true for 054 or 072. It can still provide you with a track plan and if it will fit in your area.

GregM – there was a dealer at the last TCA meet that had a bunch of the K-line people. Each of us bought a set. And she had lots more. Maybe she will be at the RailFest this weekend. [:p]

Now we have to wait to see how long for the storms to hit us and we have to pull the plug. [B)]


Pick of the Day


All be safe
Tom

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all you do and say.

We are in for some nasty weather this afternoonm, I may call in today.

I didnt sleep last night anyway.

Thank you John.

I was always partial to shining time station.

[laz 57]

Hi GIZ,
47 and foggy to get to 75?
MITCH hope all works out for you.
ROY maybe a little extra cash for YORK?

Have a good one.
laz57