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

[cnw1995]

Just finished cleaning the house - put the youngsters down for naps, wife is napping and I'm going to try to listen to my favorite old time radio show - wdcb-fm - via the web- while working on the layout a bit -

[pbjwilson]

Good afternoon all. Believe it or not these are real unaltered pictures taken this afternoon in my garden railroad - in Chicago!





Thats "Star of Bethlehem" - a early blooming bulb that sprouts very early in the year.

[wrmcclellan]

Afternoon all!

My son's soccer team tied the first place team this afternoon. [wow][yeah]

My favorite place - Bristol - is the NASCAR venue this afternoon. They just restarted from a 1 hour SNOW delay! Just like driving on Central Expressway here!

Been busy the last few days helping with wiring some toy train display layouts.

Beautiful weather here - mid-60"s and sunny [8D].

Have a great one all!
Roy

[ChiefEagles]

Afternoon. Went to Miss Edna's and picked up some bathtub gons with rotory couplers. Terry [one of the gang] said he had a Lionel rotory coal tickel he'd sell me for 1/3 the price it was listed when new. He has tested it and it worked great but does not have room for it on his layout. Doesn't have the box. Who cares. I thought I would do a peninsula out into the middle of the floor with that as simular to Hampton/Newport News coaling ship yard. I bought a TPC for running conventionals with CAB1. Do I love it. Never liked running conventionals with DCS remote. Air whistles did not do good. I used the transformer and varried the voltage with it and the whistle with it. Now with the TPC, the CAB1 runs them so smooth and the whistles work great. Got to run. Wife home, Pizza and salad and [;)]. Later

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by thor


The wife is talking about our vacation plans and I want to go see some American locos in steam, where, in your opinions is the best place to visit to see as much as possible in one shot?

Cheers, Mike.

Mike,
For real steam and real neat scenery, you can't beat the CASS SCENIC Railroad State Park near Snowshoe, West Virginia. I have ridden to the top of the mountain twice. They used to let you get in the cab with the fireman when they stopped at the top of the mountain. Heading back down the mountain, they still use the hand brakes on the cars. It is a long trip, so the best way to break it up is take the first train to Whitter Station and eat your lunch, then hop aboard the second train to the top of the mountain. On the way up the engine will take on water and go through two switchbacks. The veiw from the top is great, but it can be cold. Take a sweatshirt.

You can find out more on their web page: http://www.cassrailroad.com/index.html

Also, the local ski resort provides plenty of lodging in the summer.

[dwiemer]

Doug,
Thanks for the information. I have a place to purchase trains, but sometimes some stores have great layouts and items that you can't get anywhere else. I think I will skip the stores. I may take in the roller coaster on top of the building. Sounds like fun and a definite time to pass on lunch. Well, a little chilly here today. Still went for ice cream with the family.
Dennis

[FJ and G]

Nice pix Paul. I'll try to put one up on Monday of my outdoor toy train layout still being built.

Thor,

Best Steam in N. America.

#1 Cuba
#2 Pa.
#3 Colo.

(very nice photos, Buckeye)

Mostly worked on straightening the fence today. Discovered the reason it's leaning. The workers didn't put concrete in several of the posts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where's quality these days? (cheap laborers)

[1688torpedo]

Hello All! Chief- I've heard of a Rotary Coal Tipple. Not a Rotary Coal Tickle.[;)] Must be a new device that makes the coal laugh after it comes out of the ground[;)][:P] Missed out on the OTTS Gathering last night. Had to work & it would have been too late to go. Maybe next time? Have a nice evening all

[Roger Bielen]

My next task for the layout arrived in the mail today. Walthers had the Prieser passer-bys unpainted for sale, so I ordered a set. Now I have 18 bodies to bring to life.

With the sunny, but cool, make that cold, weather for GA this time of year I've been spending every free moment working on setting up the swimming pool for the girls, that is as long as my muscles hold out, usually about 4 hrs. and thats after putting in 5 at work. I finally have steel rising out of the ground. One more base hole to dig, hope I don't hit stone again.

[Brutus]

Family visiting - having a good time. I did take down the Polar Express and hooked up my lego track. Almost done with the new castle for Hogwarts - will update website etc once it's all together.

TTFN

[dougdagrump]

Dennis. I never tried the roller coaster, it's on top of the Stratosphere but New York New York also has one but it isn't up in nose bleed area. But there is something else that is fun to do and it isn't as likely to make you lose your lunch. They used to be on the strip but they moved and I don't know where. They have this building built like a silo and at the base is a huge electric motor turning a prop that was on an old Super Connie (an airplane for you younger folk). Above this is heavily reinforced chain link fencing so you can be above the prop. You get outfitted with a real baggie jump suit and goggles, you stand on the circular bench and after the prop is started, you can go sky diving without leaving good ol mother earth. The next day though you mite find you have some sore muscles that you hadn't used in a long time. We had a ball, laughed ourselves silly.
PS. If you saw the closing ceremonies for the Olympics that was the same thing they were doing.

[ChiefEagles]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1688torpedo

Hello All! Chief- I've heard of a Rotary Coal Tipple. Not a Rotary Coal Tickle.[;)] Must be a new device that makes the coal laugh after it comes out of the ground[;)][:P] Missed out on the OTTS Gathering last night. Had to work & it would have been too late to go. Maybe next time? Have a nice evening all

You got it. Typing in a hurry. [;)] Gooood night.

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

It was cloudy and sunny with a high near 40 in SE Indiana today. I had a nice visit with my sister today. I also went to the Y. My son had to serve at Saturday night mass so we get to sleep in tomorrow. I watched the Busch race on tape tonight, and I am looking forward to the IRL race tomorrow as "Tropical Storm Danica" is starting third, and A J Foyt's driver is starting 10th. Roy, congrats on your son's soccer team score. It is always fun to do well against a better team. I hope everyone has a good day tomorrow.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[wrmcclellan]

Mike C - thanks - the boys played well and hard. Another game tomorrow at 3. Lots of make-up games due to the poor weather here recently.

Buckeye - thanks for the Texas weather report - hopefully it will keep a few more from moving here. [^]

[laz 57]

Hi GIZ,
Sorry didn't get on this morning, wife had to do homework on computer.
I played with trains.

JOHN, CSX30 hits it right on the nose with Steamtown up in SCRANTON, PA. Great place to see all sorts of steamers. When you arrive in the parking lot you are greeted by a bunch of steam engines. Now a bunch consists of more then 4, just to get that straight. There is a Reading G1 to start with then leads you to a number of pacifics and brings you to a Big Boy and right in front of that is a Porter engine just to show you some contrast. If you haven't been there sometime make the trip and stop in at GRYZBOSKIs and check out the store but remember he closes in the summer at 5 PM.

Oh well my little tidbit for today.
Have a good one even though its late.
laz57

[ARRCDSPR]

Good Evening Everyone,
I have not been on for a while but I thought I'd share some good news with you guys. I finally found a nice starter home to buy, made an offer and it was accepted now just needs to pass inspection. It is a small 1966 ranch with no basement (four foot crawl space). But it has a 650 square foot double car garage with lots of room on two ends for a possible layout. Anyway it is in a great neighborhood and at a great price for the market up here. I figure I will be remodeling for awhile but maybe come September/ October I will start on some benchwork. Anyway, hope you all are well and talk you all down the track.

SMK

[dbaker48]

Hey guys, Been really busy....

This past Thursday went down to the San Diego museum and met Doug (dougdagrump), what what a great place he hangs out!!! All the guys that were there were really great. Doug made me feel right at home at their club, Jim provided lunch for us all. Some really tasty clam chowder. Jon was extremely informative and just another one of the great guys there.

I have about 20 pics, I plan on posting. I need to resize them and I think I will put them on a unique thread. The place was unbelievable!!! And the crew simply outstanding!!
I look forward to taking the family there real soon!

THANKS A LOT, DOUG !! [^][:D]

[Roger Bielen]

A brisk 30 deg. here this morning but bright and sunny.

[Blueberryhill RR]

[code]Good Morning from Blueberryhill[/code]It's a damp 36 right now. Cloudy. Going up to 44 with no sun in sight. That's a bummer.
That was some Nascar race yesterday. Snow delays are not common. But they
finally got it finished. Today should be interesting.
Today is a good day to stay in and run trains, or watch races, or both.
John, I would love to go to PA, to see all the train museums.
Well, Y'all have a great day and stay warm. Dry.
Chuck

[spankybird]

Good Morning All from NE Ohio

where the temp is 35 and going up to 42 with overcast skies. Yesterday we had an all day snow event, but the temp was staying at 33 to 35 deg so it didn’t say.

Don – Looking forward to seeing your pics !

SMK – Cong on the new house. I am sure that you will have benchwork up and trains running on it before Chief has his benchwork up ( and he says he has been working on it for 2 years).

OTTS Boys – Next OTTS meeting will be April 14 at the museum. Note the date change.


Pick of the Day

CSXT30 – John made the tin roof for this and Charlie weathered it

All be safe
Tom

[csxt30]

Good Morning Everyone !! Kind of wet & gloomy looking here, outside.
Looks like Laz has most of the train action in his area !
Chuck : we'll have to head over there some year ! Steamtown & that Stroughsburg area are where I want to visit someday !
Good to see SMK here today & glad you're getting a house, and will have a layout ! [:)] So far on The Coffee pot, we have SMK, NSTrackman & myself that work on the RR. Of course The Chief alaways says I'm just on a shortline RR !! [:D][:D]
Hope everyone has a nice day !!
Oh, Tom posted & I didn't see it when I was posting ! Building Charlie weathered & I put roof on, was originally Toms' ! A project that 3 of us got involved in for the museum ! Ok, on the OTTS meeting on a Tuesday night, I'll be there, I hope !!
Oh forgot, great to see Don & Doug getting together at their Museum & can't wait to see the pictures, too !!
Thanks,

[spankybird]

John - the next OTTS meeting will be Friday, April 14. We will be skiping one week from the every other Friday. The NMRA Div 5 meeting is on April 7 and the April 21 is York.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all [you too John the shortline railroader [;)]]. Sunny and pretty. Slept late this AM. Seems good to be home for a weekend. Time for GRITS. [:)] Chat later. God bless.

[dwiemer]

Roger,
It was a bit brisk down this end of the state too. I sure hope it warms up soon. My blood has thinned since living in these parts.
Doug,
Thanks, I will try out the flight thing a maging while in LV. I sure would hate to lose my lunch in that, yuk!
Got to a store closing for office max, bought some layout planning kits and compas set with some graph paper to finish it. We are planning the area now, Wife is actually helping with this.
Gotta go for emergency case,
Dennis

[dwiemer]

Oh yeah, one last thing, Modern Marvels on the History Channel had a spot about the largest locomotives, the Big Boy and that darn diesel that union pacific has. I wonder if the History Channel had to pay royalties to the up?
Dennis

[MartyE]

Just posting to say Hi. Cleaned up the basement a bit and packed away all my magazines for my brother to take. Had enough of the clutter and I can get more info online than in the magazines now. And they'll never be worth a dime to anyone so off they go.

Hope all is well.

[ChiefEagles]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MartyE

Just posting to say Hi. Cleaned up the basement a bit and packed away all my magazines for my brother to take. Had enough of the clutter and I can get more info online than in the magazines now. And they'll never be worth a dime to anyone so off they go.

Hope all is well.

Marty, figured you would be gone chasing the round ball games.

Got to go to Lowe's with wife to get new kitchen [over the sink] light fixture she wants. Another project to do. [:(] "You can do wiring for everyone else" comment came out. [B)]

Will get to go to Smithfield Chicken and Bar-be-que so I will eat a combo and "pig out". There goes the heart diet. Have to watch out. Don't want to see Dennis's counterpart here.

Later

[Roger Bielen]

Temp. is in the mid 50's at noon, that's a 20 deg. increase over 6 hours. Went as far as I could with the pool installation this morning, ran out of crushed stone and muscle power. I'll be spending the afternoon in front of the idiot box sleeping through the race from Bristol, waking only when the announcers get excited and change from a monotone.

My new issue of CTT arrived yesterday afternoon, I'll be including that as part of my race watching, also.

I need to stop and pick up some flesh colored paint tomorrow so I can start painting the new people for the layout.

Dennis, I did find the Tuesday Morning up here in Athens, its around the backside, on the lower level, of a shopping center, never knew it was there. They had nil as far as toys, especially anything of use for the layout. I guess I'll have to order from one of the internet stores.

[wrmcclellan]

Afternoon all!

Gonna be 70 today and sunny [8D].

Got a make-up soccer game at 3.

Hey Chief - 4000 posts [wow]

Have a great afternoon all!
Roy

[Anonymous]

Happy birthday to you Roy. I will be 70 too someday and not so far away.