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

[dougdagrump]

Chuck, If you have someone who can bring you a couple of bales of hay they can be used for tomatoe plants as well. Lay it on the ground make a hole in it, throw in some potting soil and the plant and you are ready to go. Just gotta remember to water it.
Had a B-B-Q / potluck at the museum last nite, one of our members lost his long fight with cancer a few months ago. We just wanted to honor his memory and say thanks to his wife, kids and grandkids.
Jim, You would really like the Excaliber now, they have put in a Krispy Kreme. Not just an outlet but the whole operation, from start to finish. Oink,Oink.......

[dbaker48]

Greetings All....
Still in the approval and review process for our room addition for trains, (expected another 3-4 weeks), I thought better start to get the other rooms taken care of. Wow what a mess!
We have 4 bedrooms, 2 of which are storage(?) areas. One room has our computer and all the my trains on shelves. The other was a guest room and since has become a "gym" with sons weight machine. So anyway during the construction the kids room will be affected somewhat for an adjoining door to a new common bathroom. So need to prepare the other rooms to accomodate the interuption. And more importantly when the new room is done, I don't want to have to work on the other rooms, would much rather work on the layout etc.
So, taking down ALL the trains, and moving the weight machine to the old train room, then painting the guest room and putting it back together. Then set up the old train room with the computer and weight machine.

In packing up the trains, can't believe some of the original prices that are on the boxes...
#42 Pictanny Switcher $9.95
#55 Tiejector $8.95
# 345 Culvert Unloader $14.95
#3360 Burro Crane $10.95
#646 4-6-4 $59
#6418 Machinery car $7.95

The boxes are verry brittle, and the tags are still quite legible. Originally from somewhere called Howards Trains. (I think was in Palm Springs) Sure was interesting and the list goes on. Can't believe them ever being that cheap. But then gas was only .19 to .25 a gallon too. I remember my Dad only made about $120 a week then. So I guess all things relative.

Hope I didn't bore to many.

Back to work........

[dbaker48]

Oh yeah... One other comment....

Dusting all these pieces off, and packing them....

The postwar era items to me are very good, electro-mechanical marvels for toys of their time. Great quality.
The modern era (69-mid/late 80's) really bad! Looking at the Disney train, Bicentenial what rip offs. Really poor quality and priced around $20-$25 each, not the same value. The 75th Anniversary Special was somewhat better.
After being away for 15years and seeing the quality today.......Truly today is the GOLDEN ERA. Prices higher but value exponetially greater. [2c]

[csxt30]

Don: I thought that was a nice story about your trains !! I only have the newer stuff now, but I like to see the Postwar stuff too ! Glad you're moving along on your new train room, lots of work, but wait till you get it up & running !!
Thanks,

[Jumijo]

I got called into work this afternoon, so I thought I'd pop in and say hello. Could use the extra money. Besides, it's raining again.

I hope Dougie figured out his transformer and his GG1 problems.

Jim

[cnw1995]

Hello from a sunny Chicago. Still haven't got back to the GG1 - I have to figure out how to bend the pilots up so they don't touch the track. I think I'm going to reconfigure the track so the crossovers are part of the same powered loop. Might have time before church tonight - I'm going to work a concert for the teens. Spent most of yesterday morning figuring out to replace the headboard on our bed with one that didn't fit - but model railroading comes to the rescue again - I built a brace out of scrap wood like a L bracket I saw in MR.

[ChiefEagles]

Doug, as temp fix. Put electrical tape on the pilot where it would hit the track. Run the GG1 and see if that fixes it.

[Jumijo]

Hey! That's a great idea, Chief!

Did you like the little ditty I sent yuz? [:)]

[dwiemer]

Howdy all,
Thought I would stop by for a little sweet tea and check up on everyone. Don, if you are looking for some cash for that new train room, I'll give you double the price on those boxes for your post war items. Just kidding. Anyway, hope you get to breaking ground on the addition soon.
Chief, when is your trip with Pam? We are looking forward to anniversary and trying to put some plans together. Not sure where or what we will be doing.
Chuck, I too wake up in the middle of the night to empty the old bladder. My son who is 3 can hold it for a long time. When we go on trips, he is the one getting frustrated cause mom and dad have to make frequent pit stops.
Have a good night,
Dennis

[jefelectric]

Hi all,

Weather here is the same as yesterday. Wind is fierce. It has been sunny and warmer but not very nice to be outside.

Doug, You should be able to fix the pilot without much trouble. The cast pilot is secured to the front (or rear) truck with a sheet metal bracket. The bracket is pretty thick but you can reach in between the truck and pilot with a sturdy pair of long nose pliers and bend the bracket up. The two sides are separate. On mine the one pilot used to drag on the right side. I had to do the fix to stop it. It didn't short out because it never hit the center rail but probably would have on a crossing. Hope this helps.

Don, Interesting commentary on the prices and quality. I agree, today's quality is better than it has ever been. If we are honest with ourselves the old post war items never did work as well as our memory likes to believe they did.

Roy, Hope you and the bride have a nice trip to NYC. Last time we were there (Dec. 04) it rained the whole time. Hope to try it again this year.

Chief, Got all my tomatos planted. Two have tomatoes about the size of tennis balls on them. Those I started real early in the greenhouse. Our problem is that it has been so cool that they have just been sitting there since I planted them. Need some warm sun to get going.

Have a good night,

[ChiefEagles]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jaabat


Did you like the little ditty I sent yuz? [:)]

Got that YANKEE song. Just for that, I'm send the exploding grits box car. [}:)] All those dry grits mixed with all that water will really "gum" yuz giz up. [;)]

Chatted with Doug. Hope the tape worked so then he can work on the problem. If its not the pilot, then he has other troubles. [:(]
Jim A, called your house to sing the real Dixie. [:0]
Got a cold on right side. Right side stopped up, right side or throat sore and right ear hurts a little. Pam's bug caught up with me I guess. [:(]
jefelectric, yes it takes warm weather to get plants going. Hope they don't get stunted from the cold. Had that happen one year. Was warm early, planted cucumbers, squash and tomatoes, turned cold, tomatoes came out of it but had to replant cucumbers and squash as they just sat theree and would not grow.
Got to fini***he exhaust fan in gable end of A frame equipment and boat shed. Gets hot under that metal roof [100+ in the summer even with reflective paint]. Have exhaust fan [like the one you put in attics]. Got a greenhouse shutter mounted in one end. When installed, the exhaust fan opens the shutter and will pull the hot air out from under roof. Then get boat ready to go to Kerr Lake for a couple of days [if this cold does not get worse].

Good night all.

[Jumijo]

Chief,
Sorry to hear that you're not feeling "right". I was home when you called. But the Sopranos were just starting. What's a fella supposed to do in a situation like that? Glad you liked the song. I wrote it myself.

Got paid for 4 hours yesterday and all I did was cruise the web waiting for a fire drill that never happened.

Jim

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

47 and brisk here to get to 64?
Went trout fishing on friday nite caught and released 14 and brother caught and released 9.
Last nite we went again and caught and released 11 brother caught and released 9.
Great couple o days fishing won't go again till friday.

11 days o school left.
YIPPIE.
Have a good one.
laz57

[Jumijo]

OOOOps, almost forgot -

Didn't Adrianna on the Sopranos last night look like Magneta? I thought so.

Jim

[Blueberryhill RR]

[code]Good Morning from Blueberryhill [/code]It is a cool 35 degrees, but sunny, right now.
Going up to 64 degrees and SUNNY. That's a good forecast. Warmer.
We have gotten 6 tomato plants from the local farmer, and are putting them into a space
by the back deck. Should work out good. Hoprfully, we will have our own tomatoes
to enjoy this summer. Thanks for all your tomato insight.
Today, we have to do some chores and work on a couple of light projects. I have a list
that I made up. Big list. Light bulbs to faucets.
Chief....Shake that cold / illness. You don't need it for the summer. Pam too.
Well, off to the kitchen, for breakfast. Talk later.
Y'all have a great day.
Chuck

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is sunny and cool in the 40s in SE Indiana with temps heading to the high 60s today. I did get to run the standard gauge on Saturday, but that was about all the train work I did this weekend. I have not been able to keep up on the postings, but I will try to catch up this week or next. I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[cnw1995]

Good morning from a sunny and cool Chicago. Supposed to be more like 70 today but I wore my White Sox World Champions pull-over anyway.

Halleluliah! Chief is a genius! Putting electrical tape on both pilots worked - the GG1 ran like a champ. I will eyeball John's permanent fix so I understand it but this works for now. I've never had a two motor'd engine and so heavy too - I realized it takes the R transformer to move it, not one of the smaller train set ones.

Got some time to rearrange the track last night and test it again. As many on the forum mentioned, it works better if the cross-overs are in the same powered loop. Hope to clear away the rest of the crawlspace and put in a little yard this week.

I'm staying away from tomatoes - can barely keep the lawn alive.

[Brutus]

Warmer this morning - not sure what the weather is supposed to be in the area. Kids off to school for their last full day until Summer. They have a 1/2 day tomorrow - very excited of course, although my daughter is already sad and says she'll miss school.

K-Line was going to have a set out last year with a handcar pulling some Miller Keg cars, including a Miller Lite keg, I think. Anybody know if this ever actually came out? A buddy of mine loves Miller Lite and I thought I'd get that car for him.

[laz 57]

ROY while in NYC check out this place.
Its between 2nd and 3rd AVE.

McSorelys Old Ale house.
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/New_York_State/New_York_City-841252/Nightlife-New_York_City-McSorleys_Ale_House-BR-1.html

Beer and GOOD cheap food for the city.
laz57

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all. Up most of the night with sore throat. Better but cold is worse. Want to go to Kerr Lake tomorrow. Jim A, unlike most conversations,it was going to be short as I wanted to watch that too. [:)] Been doing Town Board homework. Rumor is Sonnic wants to locate across from the school located on Main Street. Enough traffic on main and too many problems now without them. Yankee fast food anyway. [;)] No, glad to have them but they will have to find another location. Got to go. Dennis W and Jim A, did good last night. Someone raised the bid on two Santa Fe box cars I bid on. I did not push it and let them go. We need to know what initials we are all using so we don't bid against each other and run the prices up. [;)] Have a great one and God bless all.

[FJ and G]

I've got a major complaint.

In the Sunday photo section, I posted a couple photos of my deck table I purchased from Sears.

Shortly after these photos were taken, I went inside for a glass of wine. When I returned, the entire tabletop had shattered into tiny glass fragments.

Apparently, the breeze (not that windy) had put pressure on the umbrella pole going thru the center of the table and had caused the massive failure.

The glass went everywhere and into the cracks of the deck and thru the cracks onto my garden O gauge railroad down below.

I spent hours picking up and vacuuming the glass. My shop vac even sustained damage from the glass sandblasting the hose as it was being sucked up.

Apparently, Sears chose to make these tables out of the cheapest available glass; not safety glass!

One shard even entered my foot and took a while to extract. I was worried for BB the beagle but so far she does not appear to be limping. She was on the deck when it happened but escaped injury.

Beware of these tables!

[jefelectric]

David, Interesting that you mentioned the table. When I say your post I thought your table is very similar to ours. Ours has the same texture in the glass but is round and came from either Lowes or Home Depot, don't remember which. Of course it was made in China so both yours and ours could have come from the same factory. Ours is about 5 years old and we keep it in the gazebo so not much danger of breakage unless the gazebo blows away. Given the wind we have been having lately that is not to far fetched.

Did you contact Sears with the problem?

[Jumijo]

Doug, Glad to see "Chief's" electrical tape idea worked. Why didn't I think of that? Oh yeah, I did.

Chief, I didn't know it was you calling until after the show. The answering machine is in the other side of the house from where the TV is. I just make it a point to ignore the phone when the Sopranos are on. I'm proud of you backing off the bid up auctions. Way to be! Get well soon!

Dave, Same thing happened to me a few years back, but my table had safety glass. Little glass cubes all over and under my deck. There are still some under the deck to this day.

Six, Two, and even *** Tracy

[cnw1995]

Chief, I hope you feel better - I think it would do you good to go outside and sit in the sun by a body of water with a fishing pole - dries out your sinuses, don't you know, and you'll get all that good vitamin D (I think). I'm sorry about that glass-topped table, David. We have an ancient lattice-metal-topped table out on the deck - must be ten years old. When it blows around, I can just bang it out - I can also easily take it all apart to store it. I've finally given up on umbrellas - they always seem to blow out and wreak havoc - the last one we had actually blew over the roof of the house in a minor blow.

[wrmcclellan]

Morning all!

Nice day here so far. High's of low 90's predicted all week (about 7-8 degrees above normal).

Dave - sorry about your table. I also agree with jefelectric that you should contact Sears. A glass table for outdoor use should be made with safety glass. I would be surprised if Sears does not work with you on this (like a refund or credit towards another table that does use safety glass).

LAZ - thanks for the recommendation! Sunds like a nice fishing excursion you had!

Doug - Good to hear the GG1 is working now.

Chief - get better soon!

Have a great day all!
Roy

[wrmcclellan]

Our journey to go see the UP844 is not looking so good. The closest it gets to us here in Dallas is about a 3 hour drive. It will be parked in Palestine TX tonight and then heads from Palestine to Marshall TX tomorrow.

[JeffPo]

Good afternoon from central North Carolina. Temp is about 66 with a lot of clouds. Rode the motorcycle to work today.

Chief, I know who you met now. Miss Edna had the right people, she just had the relations wrong. That was Michael, a co-worker of mine. He caught the model railroading bug (and the astronomy bug) after meeting me :)

[Jumijo]

Doug,

Your GG1 fix will be an easy one. Follow John's directions. Williams trucks are held on with a stamped metal plate that is very maliable. I had to bend mine down so it would sit even with the track line. No trouble doing so whatsoever. I'm sure it's the same deal on your GG1. [tup][tup]

Jim

[tschmidt]

Afternoon everyone,

We got home pretty late last night from Washington, DC. My daughter's graduation ceremony for GW University was on the mall Sunday morning. I couldn't believe how many people were there. The speakers were George and Barbara Bush and they did a good job. We had a good time all weekend in the city but by yesterday my feet were tired from all the walking. I have to say that they have a great mass transit system there and you can get just about anywhere. It was hard getting up for work this morning and the eyelids are really heavy. I could use a couple toothpicks right about now.

Two of my kids are on their way to Carolina to watch the Sabres/Carolina hockey game tonight. We're hoping that the Sabres pull off another road win. Well, I should get back to work so I don't have to be here too late.

Have a good day all.
TomS

[FJ and G]

Did some Googling regarding this problem of shattered patio glass tabletop from Sears and found the following from DaleFo in Connecticut…

http://www.pricegrabber.com/rating_getreview.php/r=883

I USED to be a loyal and exclusive Sears customer. I purchased a Garden Oasis patio set in excess of $500. The TEMPERED glass table shattered into a million pieces after 1 year and 2 months. SEARS will not honor any kind of replacement and would not even contact the manufacturer. They feel my complaint is with the manf (of which I had to contact 4 different companies just to get to the right one). Sears is obviously NO LONGER a reputable merchant. A tempered glass table is meant not to shatter.


Here’s a different complaint (not about the one I have)

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/martha_tabletops.html