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

[Brutus]

Morning - cool and cloudy and a little rain - apparently in for a storm, but I think the temp is supposed to get up in the 60's or something. Was reading the new CTT last night - some great articles. That rail zeppelin was very cool!

[wrmcclellan]

Morning all!

70's today. Cloudy and might rain tonight (HA!).

Not much going on here. Will try to make it to our club meeting tonight and run some trains!

[bday] Chris!

Have a great one all!
Roy

[1688torpedo]

[bday] To Trainmaster Chris! Chief- Be nice to us Yanks. Bob Keller is a Certified Yank & Official OTTS Member.Plus, He's in Charge here so behave Yourself[;)][:)][8D] He may show up at your Doorstep with the famous 800lb Bear of Millersburg,Pa someday.[;)] & do a laying on hands to cure your Grits addiction & Beaver Shooting.[;)][:)] Take Care all.

[dwiemer]

Sure we're up on Engineers, after all, one of the greatest of all time was a West Point graduate by the name of Robert E. Lee. I think his academic record still stands too. Anyway, hope y'all have a great day. It is always better when it starts with a nice bowl of Grits!
Dennis

[John Bakeer]

Thought I'd Just dip a toe in for curiosities sake!
The conversation (is as always) quite interesting.
Keep 'em rolling.
John B.

[John Bakeer]

Ooops! Sneezed again.
John B.

[mickey4479]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TheTrainMaster

Well today's my 29th birthday. Nothing too special about it. May fix myself a birthday cake if im up to it today. Temps today supposed to be in the upper 50's today, so could make for some nice weather. Also have another job interview today, hope something comes out of that as well. Other than that nothing much else going on.

Btw, I had grits for dinner last night with sausage and toast. Pretty good meal for dinner.

Chris

Happy Birthday Chris! I talked to my dad yesterday, and he said that my grand parents actually lived in an area known as Macatawa Park and their restaurant was located in a bay with a harbor-marina owned by Jesiek Marine. Good luck on your job search.

[dougdagrump]

Keith, That last line just begs for some snappy responses .............................[}:)]
Trying to practice a little self control.

[Jim Duda]

OK Doug...I'll bite - the only beaver(s) Chiefie shoots nowdays are the slow moving ones in his pond...

[jefelectric]

Hello all,

Just checking in over lunch. Now that the weather is beautiful, I'm working at the office!

Happy birthday Chris & good luck in the job search.

Re: Railking vs Premier, I doubt very much that MTH makes different electronics for these two lines. I think the differences are primarily cosmetic.

All have a good day.

[tschmidt]

[bday] Happy Birthday Chris! Hope you have a great day!

I'll never forget the day (or the reaction from everyone) when we were sitting at a picnic in the back yard and one of the kid's friends from Canada asked in all seriousness, "Anyone here ever eat a beaver?"

TomS

[dbaker48]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChiefEagles

Bureaucrats, that is it. Should be a staff sign off unless you are not meeting ordinances.


Regarding our local bureacrats, these are the issues that get to me.....
Require a waiver from Councilmen that we don't require an additional parking spot in the driveway. Adding a bedroom does, and you can NOT park overnight at the curb in front of your house.
We are adding a room on the SECOND floor over the garage,
Why doe we need soil samples from 50' away ?
Adding one street facing window, the window dressing needs to match the others facing the street,
ok. But why do we need to change the ones on the back of the house that faces a river channel?
We have a fiberglass privacy panel up on our back wall, (concrete block), can't have fiberglass must come down (new ordinance), and extend blocks which require additional concrete footing.
Our hot water heater is 3 years old, have to secure a building permit because it was changed without one. (No changes necessary just $65 fee).

And, talked with the planning department yesterday, asked what I could expect for time for review and approval. Oh 4 to 6 weeks, but 1st refussal will only take 2 weeks. So I asked if it is possible to complete in 2 weeks? No, noone has ever been approved the first time through. [}:)]

As far as the design and building integrity goes that isn't the issue, it is all the [censored] red tape. All the contractors add about 3% and 6 months to all the jobs in this city. Eventually i am sure they will be voted out, but not for awhile. The last attempt was real ugly and resulted in some slander cases.

I would move in a heart beat but the wife says no. So try to grin and BEAR it.

Maybe we could hire the chief as a consultant, no that wouldn't work, he would go mad.

[ChiefEagles]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dbaker48

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChiefEagles

Bureaucrats, that is it. Should be a staff sign off unless you are not meeting ordinances.


Regarding our local bureacrats, these are the issues that get to me.....
Require a waiver from Councilmen that we don't require an additional parking spot in the driveway. Adding a bedroom does, and you can NOT park overnight at the curb in front of your house.
We are adding a room on the SECOND floor over the garage,
Why doe we need soil samples from 50' away ?
Adding one street facing window, the window dressing needs to match the others facing the street,
ok. But why do we need to change the ones on the back of the house that faces a river channel?
We have a fiberglass privacy panel up on our back wall, (concrete block), can't have fiberglass must come down (new ordinance), and extend blocks which require additional concrete footing.
Our hot water heater is 3 years old, have to secure a building permit because it was changed without one. (No changes necessary just $65 fee).

And, talked with the planning department yesterday, asked what I could expect for time for review and approval. Oh 4 to 6 weeks, but 1st refussal will only take 2 weeks. So I asked if it is possible to complete in 2 weeks? No, noone has ever been approved the first time through. [}:)]

As far as the design and building integrity goes that isn't the issue, it is all the [censored] red tape. All the contractors add about 3% and 6 months to all the jobs in this city. Eventually i am sure they will be voted out, but not for awhile. The last attempt was real ugly and resulted in some slander cases.

I would move in a heart beat but the wife says no. So try to grin and BEAR it.

Maybe we could hire the chief as a consultant, no that wouldn't work, he would go mad.

A lot of that should be "Grandfathered in". A lot of that is bull melarky. A permit to replace a hot water heater???!!!!! Think some of that needs challenging in court.

Tom, you must have a TIN EAR. Does not sound like any diesel locomotive I've heard. They sound deeper than that. [B)]

See I'm watching from Orlando with sun and short sleeves. [8D]

[jonadel]

Don--

A building permit for a water heater???? That's just nuts. Sixteen years ago we bought this acreage and I'm so glad we did, no neighbors, etc. Now we have the sprawl headed our way but I think we are fairly well insulated at this point, I'm sure the next generation will have a bigger fight than we do--we did get the regional airport plan dropped, thank goodness as it was less than 2 miles from here.

I keep thinking that north or south Dakota might not be such a bad place afterall.

Jon

[dbaker48]

This is the propossed room and train layout Ive been working on. Hope the image comes accross.
The room is 22 x 27 overall. The train layout will be about 19 x 6-12 at varius areas. The lower right corner is a bathroom. And the extend area on the top is a window box.



Oh yeah... Any over all comments? Track is planned as Atlas, Switches Ross, 42" mainlines, nothing smaller than a 31" radius. Except the trolly line which will be O27.

Oh yeah, actually the water heater requirement isn't bad, it must be 3 foot off the floor so the pilot light does not cause any fumes to ignite, (stored gas), and strapped for earthquakes. The cosmetic and bs is what annoys me.

[dougdagrump]

Don, Looks great !!!!!!!
Jon, Don't start cheering to quick, you gotta watch some of those [censored] politicians and their perverted use of "eminent domaine".

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChiefEagles

QUOTE: Originally posted by Buckeye Riveter

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChiefEagles

Bureaucrats, that is it. Should be a staff sign off unless you are not meeting ordinances.

Jim, noticed you did not relpy to the quotes I did on you. [;)]

Not so fast there Chiefie, When Don wrote that the architect had a structural engineer assisting him in the drawings and the project is in Southern California the first word that popped into my mind was EARTHQUAKE.

When you see that word, everything changes. Structural reviews by a city take more than just a minimum wage intern to the engineering assistant to the assistant engineer for a review. If the area is growing there could also be many plans to review. NC and Ohio both have provisions in our building codes for earthquake loading, but other loading , i..e., snow and wind normally will be the deciding factor for structural design.

Now, if Don is hanging a full size locomotive from his ceiling, all bets are off. [:D]

Bureaucrat!!!!!!!!! Buckeye is on the planning commission. [;)]

And we never have looked at hot water heater. Sounds like the citizens let the elected officials pass some real stupid ordinances. It also sounds like they are using the citizens to perform a geologic survey of the city.

[dwiemer]

Don,
Looks great. I would suggest a raised platform to place a couple of Lazy Boy recliners. Over all, it is the perfect entertainment room. Good luck. I look forward to seeing the Sunday Photo fun postings of your progress and completion.
Dennis

[Anonymous]

Greetings!

Thought I'd introduce myself. I'm a memeber of the OGR Forums and thought I join up over here. I read both forums everyday so why not.

Just recently got back into the hobby about 4 months ago and never looked back! abit my wallet is now always empty, hehe. My story is just like everyone else. I had 2 sets when I was a kid, had them setup until about highschool then my intrest's changed and up into the attic they went. 2005 rolls along I find train forums now and it got me back into it.

My layout currently is a 10x12 all around the room with a Lift up section. Controlled with both TMCC and DCS.

You can see pictures of it here!
http://www.ogaugetrains.net

Still in what I call "beta" so please be kind, I also have a Web Camera setup in my Train room so you can check me out running the trains after I get home from work.

Oh and I'll say this too, I'm a youngin at only 22 but I still love trains to this day[:)]

[spankybird]

QUOTE: by Chief

Tom, you must have a TIN EAR. Does not sound like any diesel locomotive I've heard. They sound deeper than that.

Chief - thats because you don't live near real rr tracks to hear them all the time. We have both NS and CSX main lines with in 1/4 of my house. We can hear a train about every 15 minutes or less.

But my neighbors still say it noise. [}:)]

tom

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainmans2

Greetings!

Thought I'd introduce myself. I'm a memeber of the OGR Forums and thought I join up over here. I read both forums everyday so why not. ........................................Oh and I'll say this too, I'm a youngin at only 22 but I still love trains to this day[:)]

A big coffee pot welcome [#welcome][#welcome][#welcome] And if you think you are a youngin, see my photo below. What part of the world do you hail from?

[dwiemer]

Trainmans2,
Hello and welcome. Since you have been an observer on this forum, you know that this is a well informed, and mostly civil, group. Glad to see that you were able to get track down soon after getting back into the hobby. More than just a few of us still have a small layout on the floor till the final plans get together.

Don,
Went back and read the post about you having to get a permit to put in a water heater. That is rediculous. Then again, you could have fun with this in that the next holiday, you could call the local councilman at home and tell him/her that you have a leaking water heater and need a permit to get it replaced. I think 2:30 am would be a perfect time for this to happen. Actually, I do think this is something that needs to be challenged. It would be different if structural changes are made, or if you were running new plumbing, but since it is simply replacement of an existing unit, no dice on the permit.
One last thing, I suspect that you were given bad information. In any case, whoever you are dealing with is nuts and I question whether he has the ability to make decisions. Don't ever take a "No" from someone who couldn't give you a "Yes" in the first place. Certainly this should be challenged, but the question is, do you get work done and then challenge the "rules" so that you at least have your train room? Or, do you challenge, get labled a troublemaker and never get the permits until the fools are out of office?
Good luck in either case.
Dennis

[mickey4479]

trainmans2: Ahhhhhhhhhhh!! The first layout. Saw dust, wiring, laying track, planning and finding out I measured incorrectly, 6 months later saying, "I'm gona need a bigger room." Looks like you have all the ingredients there. Have fun.

[spankybird]

Trainmans2 welcome to the CTT forum

[ChiefEagles]

QUOTE: Originally posted by spankybird

QUOTE: by Chief

Tom, you must have a TIN EAR. Does not sound like any diesel locomotive I've heard. They sound deeper than that.

Chief - thats because you don't live near real rr tracks to hear them all the time. We have both NS and CSX main lines with in 1/4 of my house. We can hear a train about every 15 minutes or less.

But my neighbors still say it noise. [}:)]

tom

Changing Tom's handle from Spankybird to TIN EAR. [;)]

Welcome Trainmans2. Recoginze you from OGR. They don't allow Coffee Pots so we are glad to spread some BS your way. Now the big questions: Do you like sweet ice tea? Do you like grits? [:D]

Why is it always windy in Orlando? Dead store this afternoon. Event actually starts tomorrow noon but I'll be there tomorrow AM. Had Chinese Buffet [right behind hotel] today for lunch, Dixie Seafood [in mall at BPS and get discount] tomorrow and Fudruckers Saturday. Man will I gain on this trip because hotel furnishes breakfast buffet free for Priority Club memebers. [:)]

Later

[csxt30]

Chris : [bday][bday], plus hope the job interview went well !!
[#welcome] Trainmans 2 !! Hope you don't like Gritts !! [:D][:D] Also hope you're from Ohizo !! You have a real nice webb site, I see, & a nice layout started !!
Thanks,

[cnw1995]

Welcome, Trainman. What a day! I cleaned the house, helped my wife prepare this chicken marengo surprise dish for tomorrow night (my part consisted of flattening chicken breasts and cleaning up), got a lot of errands done, put down crabgrass preventer on the lawn, put up the kids' trampoline and setup the deck - I have spring fever being that it was so nice today - Oh, and I worked too... Thanks to Jim who sent me a care package of some desperately needed 027 switches and 027 track.

[tmcc man]

QUOTE: Originally posted by spankybird

QUOTE: by Chief

Tom, you must have a TIN EAR. Does not sound like any diesel locomotive I've heard. They sound deeper than that.

Chief - thats because you don't live near real rr tracks to hear them all the time. We have both NS and CSX main lines with in 1/4 of my house. We can hear a train about every 15 minutes or less.

But my neighbors still say it noise. [}:)]
tom

Well, Tom, you have to remember that the NS is a shortline RR, and they may not have the funds that the big boys such as CSX have to maintain the locos they have and buy new locos.

(Chief, I could not resist)

Hello everyone. Well, I guess now is the time to tell what is wrong with me, and why I have not been posting lately.

About Wed. of last week I developed a cough. Nothing bad, just that. I go to school the next day, and the day after that, without any problem. Well, Sat. morning comes around, I get up and yawn, and bam, a searing pain comes out of no where, and it feels like my throat is on fire. Mind you that this is 2 weeks after my sinus infection, and other stuff. It doesn't stop there. The cough gets worse, I got a fever, very sleepy, and some other stuff. I slept pretty much all of Sunday. I go to the doctor Mon. morning. He says that it looks as if I have "mono", but is not certain. So I went to go get some amoxocillan for the other thing he said it was. Well, that does not help at all. After this I went to have blood work to see if I had "mono" or not. I had 3 small beakers of blood taken, one for the auctual "mono" test, another for my Complete Blood Count, and another one. The results came back, and were negative. That means that it could be to early to detect "mono", and I could still have "mono". I went back to see him yesterday, and I looked the same as Mon. He felt my glands for signs of swelling again and they went down, but not much. He said that it might be to early to detect "mono" and had more blood work ordered. Well, lets just say to my suprise he wanted a lot. He had 8 tests done on me, including another Complete Blood Count. I have not heard the results, and I also had a chest Xray.

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes, it turned out to be a great day. The interview I had this morning went quite well, so hopefully i'll get called back in. Apparently they are hiring for a 2nd shift position so im all cool with that. And still have my weekends off.

A friend took me out to dinner tonight at a steakhouse, had a 9oz sirloin steak.....mm-mm good, and tender too! I still plan to make that cake, but i'll have to return to the store for some eggs.

Trainsman2, nice layout you have there....keep us updated on its progress!

Chris

[Anonymous]

Good Evening all,

Happy Birthday, Chris! There was a time when I was once 29. I think that was the last time I was carded in a bar. All I have to look forward to now is being carded in Walmart for the senior citizens discount [;)]

Welcome aboard, Trainmans2.

It's clear that our national rodent gets a lot of abuse from y'all south of the border. In reality, they make very loveable pets...if you don't mind them gnawing on the furniture. But torment them and you end up with one mean, bucktoothed mother, more than capable of kicking some suthun caboose. [;)]

BTW....The Corvair is out of hibernation and terrorizing Yugo's everywhere. So Keith, if you don't like my driving, stay the heck off the sidewalk! [swg]

Bruce Webster