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

[wrmcclellan]

LAZ - CTT booth at noon Friday - good idea!

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all. Got errands to run and then fi***he pond all day. [:D]

Do have to be ready to go to Maundy Thursday Service as I have not been to church in over a month or so [never home on Sundays]. Dr. John, you having one?

Doug M, my wife asked if I would clean house since I am home for a change. [:0]

Dennis, server will do that to you or it will say it timed out and then you will repost and get double post.

NStrackman, that MTH NS engine is still waiting on you. [;)]

Tim, the West to East Amtrack must be better than the North to South and South to North. That one is always screwed up. Wife and Youngest tried it twice to DC. Over two hours wait on siding for track repairs and etc. Think I will look into it for my trips to Orlando. Bet no rental cars there. Last time I checked, was a lot more $$ than direct flight so company will not pay.

Off to run some errands and fi***he pond all day. [:D]

God bless.

[jefelectric]

Laz, Friday at the CTT booth sounds good.

TomS, Glad to hear the eye surgery went OK, with the weather being nice it will be hard to stay inside.

Don't get mad John, but it seems that Amtrak has a lot more problems when running on CSX trackage than it does the others. It may be that it is just more conjested.

I just got off the phone with Chuck and he sounded very upbeat. Said he was lying there waiting for the Doctor to come in and tell him when he could go home. Hasn't gotten the final word yet.

Got involved in a little discussion over on the other forum, should stay away I guess.

[Dr. John]

Chief,
No, we're not having a Maundy Thursday service. Not too many churches around here do. Not really sure why not, just not part of the local tradition I guess. We had communion on Palm Sunday.

Glad to hear that Chuck is improving.

Warm and dry in central Alabama - nice day. Have a good one, everybody!

[Jumijo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChiefEagles

Morning all. Got errands to run and then fi***he pond all day. [:D]

Chief,

Which gun do you use for that?[:D][;)]

Jim

[jefelectric]

Colin, How do you find all these web sites, Thanks for posting the links.

[tmcc man]

Jefelectric, lets just say I have many resources[:D][:D] Just cleaned out the garage for my mom. My dad will be happy when he sees it. Easier access to the mower now. Well, I will be searching the forums here to see if there are any other topics that I want to read.

[tmcc man]

Who else is listening to the links? I am listening to the NS Harrisburg Line right now. There has been a little chatter.

[dougdagrump]

Fishing with a gun, never ever .........
On a big pond you use a small piece of dynamite.......
On a small pond you use an old telephone hand crank generator with a couple pieces of wire.........
No muss no fuss and no bait to bother with. [:o)] [swg]

[Brutus]

We're praying for TomS and his eye surgery too. Good news on Chuck!

Off today and tomorrow. They dropped off all the new siding in the driveway yesterday while I was downtown at the office. I thought maybe they'd be putting it on today, but I guess it will be tomorrow. Might get spot storms tonight.

TTFN

[GregM]

If anyone wants one of the CTT collectable York badges (there is a write up about these badges in the TCA Quarterly, I received mine yesterday), get to the CTT booth early Friday to pick one up. I only have one from last October's meet. CTT seemed to have quite a few, but they also were going fast.

[Jumijo]

I got to work on train scenery during my lunch minute. I made 4 new trees and all the flags I'll need for the station platform.

I make some of my trees real bushy and dense, but lately I've made a bunch that are more sparce. I like that look a little better. You can see more trunk. Looks less like a Christmas tree. More natural. 5 or 6 dozen more and I should be all set.

Doug,
Most of us would fish with dynamite, or maybe even the generator, although this is the first I've heard of that particular technique. But the Chief goes hunting for beaver with a pistol. I think that he thinks it's an all-in-one tool. He sits in his bass boat and empties clip after clip "fishin".

Jim

[FJ and G]

Today we visit Beth-Shan, Israel. I decided to provide a primitive map so you can follow along with the journey, at the bottom of this post reply.

Fifteen miles south of the Sea of Galilee and four miles west of the Jordan River is Beth-Shan. In fact, you can see the country of Jordan in the distance in a couple of these photos.

When the Philistines defeated Israel under King Saul at the battle on Mount Gilboa, Beth-Shan was a Philistine city. The slain bodies of Saul and his sons were hung on the city wall. Saul’s head was displayed in the temple of***n, a Philistine deity. Later, the city became a part of David’s kingdom.

During the first century A.D., the Romans developed the city into one of the most imposing in all Palestine. It boasted a 7,000-seat theater, a colonnaded street and extensive buildings. Most of the ruins you see here are Roman, but some Caananite and Israelite ruins lie buried, as well as Greek and Philistine.

Sometime during the 9th or 10th century(?) an estimated magnitude 9+ earthquake destroyed this place; thus the knocked over pillars. The built-up ruins were built up by archaeologists fairly recently (also to encourage tourism, undoubtedly). And, there are a large number of tourists when I was there in Dec/Jan this year, as suicide bombings had slacked up some.



























We began our journey in Tel Aviv (yellow dot on the lowest part of the Mediterranean Sea. We then moved northwards to Caesarea (pg. 624), also along the Mediterranean Sea.

Then, we moved inland to the next yellow dot not bordering the Mediterranean Sea, and traveling northward. This place was Armegeddon (pg. 645). Then, on to Nazareth (pg. 661), Galilee (pg. 673), and in the farther north area above Galilee there was the Mount of Beatitudes (pg. 675), Caperneaum (pg. 677), Dan Parts I and II (pgs. 688 & 792), and Hermon (pg. 794).

Then, we traveled south to the Jordan, just a few miles south of the Sea of Galilee (pg. 797), and today we are at Beth-Shan, which the map labels as “Beit She’an,” a variant spelling.

Many more dots suggest many more stops to go! And possibly some stops in between the dots. [:D]

[FJ and G]

I just noticed that CTT Forum changed a word to ****

It should be "Temple of D*A*G*O*N

(I placed the *s there so it would appear)

[Jumijo]

The first 4 letters might have tripped the filter, David.

Jim

[wrmcclellan]

Dave,

Thanks for another post of your incredible journey!

Regards,
Roy

[dwiemer]

Tom,
If you have sat. TV, see if you get the station RFD-TV. They seem to have a number of shows on trains. Several on real trains and one or two on our scales. Otherwise, as mentioned above, try the library. TM video/books sells them also.
Dennis

[dwiemer]

Greg mentioned that they have some of the collectable CTT york badges left over and you should get there early on Friday to get one. While I would love to get one, I have a better idea. Could someone pick up an extra for Chuck and Tom, who will not be able to make it and are out of action. Perhaps it will put a smile on their faces. Just an idea.
Thanks, Dennis

[csxt30]

Hi Everyone !! Wow, nice day at work today, sunny & warm !
Glad Chuck is coming home & sounds so much better !!
Glad TSchmidt is doing well also !!
John : I really don't know how Amtrack operates on the East coast, but I'm, up here on Lake Erie, & they seem to go by on time most of the time ! If something happens to Amtrack up here in my territory, the whole RR is calling us out to get them going !! Chief will say CSX is a shortline RR & that's why they are always late down there !![:D][:D] Now I heard they take too many Siestas down there !! Look at NSTrackman, he only works 4 days a week !! What a way to run a RR !! [:D][:D][:D]
Well, hope everyone has a nice evening !!

QUOTE: Originally posted by jefelectric

Laz,
Don't get mad John, but it seems that Amtrak has a lot more problems when running on CSX trackage than it does the others. It may be that it is just more conjested.

Thanks,

[tschmidt]

Dennis - Thanks for that thought and for the "RFD" tip. I do get that network although lately I have not found the train shows.

David - Great pics from your vacation. I bet it brings back memories every time you talk about it.

Also, thanks everyone for the good thoughts. I appreciate it.

TomS

[dbaker48]

Greetings all !

Couldn't resist, the brown army guy stopped by yesterday.







Our new shay, layout is at the LA High Rollers club, in San Pedro, CA.

[csxt30]

Don : Wow !! Nice outfit !! Congratulations !! You should plan a trip to Cass Scenic RR someday if possible !!
Thanks,

[wrmcclellan]

Don,

Looks great!

[cnw1995]

You know what's running really nicely for Amtrak? The refurbished Empire Builder out of Chicago. The Hiawathas are still good fast ride to MILW - I think going east from Chicago is a harder ride just because of its scheduling - I'm getting too old to sit in a couch car overnight. Going west in one of the big-bedroom cars is pricey but a hecka experience. My kids have been more fortunate than I - visiting both coasts via Amtrak. Congrats on the new stuff, Don.

[Roger Bielen]

Since we're talking 1:1 trains. For those of use who are members of the exclusive 55+ club, and get AARP The Magazine, May/June 2006, has an article on the American Orient Express.

[Anonymous]

Went to Dry Bridge today.
and the lady that works there took my Big Boy apart, took the control board out and
tested it. and it was defective, so229 bucks to replace.
so buyer beware of MTH Rail King Locomotives.
out of 70+rail king locos i have had 12 failures.
i have 4 lionels that are brokedown.
but all of the MTH locos that was built in the New Factory have been defective free.
I will say that none of the failures have been with the running gears .
If I could get CSXT-30 to repair MTH proto sound 2.0 board he would have to work some overtime.
a good day to all.
Nstrackman
MP-N369

[mitchelr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by laz 57


MITCH, I think we should all get together and meet at the CTT Booth on Friday at about noon. Then take a pic or two. How bout it GIZ that are going to YORK?

Happy Friday EVE!
Have a good one.
laz57

That sounds good to me. I'll be there at CTT at Noon.

Mitch[8D]

[csxt30]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NStrackman

Went to Dry Bridge today.
and the lady that works there took my Big Boy apart, took the control board out and
tested it. and it was defective, so229 bucks to replace.
so buyer beware of MTH Rail King Locomotives.
out of 70+rail king locos i have had 12 failures.
i have 4 lionels that are brokedown.
but all of the MTH locos that was built in the New Factory have been defective free.
I will say that none of the failures have been with the running gears .
If I could get CSXT-30 to repair MTH proto sound 2.0 board he would have to work some overtime.
a good day to all.
Nstrackman
MP-N369

Hey NS !! Could you be a little more specific on that ratio of broken down engines ?
12 RK engines out 70 plus, & 4 Lionels. What is your total amount of Lionels ? We need these figures !! Probably you have been running the RK engines toooo much ! Overheating them !!
I recently purchased *** Teals book on Repairing Modern Toy Trains. I think I can fix all of your broken engines, just send them all to me & if I can't fix them, I'll properly dispose of them for you, no sense of you paying return shipping charges !! [:D][:D][:D] Hope this helps & glad to help a fellow Railroder out !! [:D][:D]
Thanks,

[ChiefEagles]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jefelectric


Don't get mad John, but it seems that Amtrak has a lot more problems when running on CSX trackage than it does the others. It may be that it is just more conjested.

Will NOT get from NY to Florida by Amtrack this Easter. YES, the Little River Bridge in NC has suddeenly been declared UNSAFE. CSX trackage again. You can ride Amtrack to Rocky Mount NC, take a bus to some southern town in NC or Charlotte and then get back on Amtrack. They are suppose to be working around the clock to fix the bridge. Told you so. Always somthing on the CSX. [:(!] Go to Charlotte or Greensboro and get on the NS tracks. [^] Or, Raleigh and ride to Charlotte on NS. [^]

Later.

[ChiefEagles]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxt30

QUOTE: Originally posted by NStrackman

Went to Dry Bridge today.
and the lady that works there took my Big Boy apart, took the control board out and
tested it. and it was defective, so229 bucks to replace.
so buyer beware of MTH Rail King Locomotives.
out of 70+rail king locos i have had 12 failures.
i have 4 lionels that are brokedown.
but all of the MTH locos that was built in the New Factory have been defective free.
I will say that none of the failures have been with the running gears .
If I could get CSXT-30 to repair MTH proto sound 2.0 board he would have to work some overtime.
a good day to all.
Nstrackman
MP-N369

Hey NS !! Could you be a little more specific on that ratio of broken down engines ?
12 RK engines out 70 plus, & 4 Lionels. What is your total amount of Lionels ? We need these figures !! Probably you have been running the RK engines toooo much ! Overheating them !!
I recently purchased *** Teals book on Repairing Modern Toy Trains. I think I can fix all of your broken engines, just send them all to me & if I can't fix them, I'll properly dispose of them for you, no sense of you paying return shipping charges !! [:D][:D][:D] Hope this helps & glad to help a fellow Railroder out !! [:D][:D]
Thanks,

Told you about those MTH engines. [;)][B)]

Send them to me and I will put in TMCC and Railsound boards. [:0][;)] Then I will run them for you. [:D]