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

[1688torpedo]

Hello All! Thanks for the Congrats. Chief should at least come to Willoughby. We have a Waffle House now & he could Probably find some Grits there? We also have some nice Train Shops in the Cleveland area for Chief to visit as well.Chuck- Be careful about your border inspection. It may be Boobytrapped. Just keep an eye open for danger.[;)] Take care all.

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,
69 and muggy.
Tstorms this afternoon?
Got a late start on the coffee pot today, trying to get kid projects and grades on report cards.

GOLF tonite?
Bad news the bar where me and my brother go to eat after golf and to welcome FRIDAY EVE had a fire and will be closed for renovations for a few weeks?
We will have to hit the 19th hole at the golf course?

Anyway HAPPY FRIDAY EVE!
To all and have a good one?
laz57

[laz 57]

KEITH,
CONGA on the 4th star!

JOHN and MITCH as soon as my back recoups I will be down to do that mulchen.
Better have lots o beer?
laz57

[cnw1995]

Congrats, Keith. Cooler and sunny here in northeastern Illinois. 'Cut down' some of my hills that weren't 'sticking' to the backdrop curtain with my carpet tape last night. Placed some farms and their crops. Then rerranged my tunnels to create an even larger Mt. Seaman. Hope to work more on it today . . .

[jefelectric]

Good Morning from Daughter's home,

Baby sitting this morning. Was supposed to install some room darkening blinds in oldest 's room but daughter didn't get the right hardware. Have to do it another time.

Mitch, I get the feeling that Laz is ignoring our pleas. [:D] [:D] [:D]
Try a dealer for a used AC. I bought a used one from a guy who repairs them for my woodshop about 10 years ago and it was still running last year. Having said that it will probably not start this year. [:D]

Keith, Congratulations on the STAR!

Chief, Tell them you will only do locations with Amtrak stations. Then you can really learn about foul-ups!

Laz, you posted while I was writting my post. Just kidding of course. My grandsons look forward to doing this (actually they look forward to the money they earn).

Keep cool and enjoy your trains.

[dwiemer]

Kieth,
Congratulations on the Star. I will have to buy you a glass of tea and some grits to celebrate.
I just about have my honey do list done and then we get to start layout building. I can hardly wait.
Dennis

[Jumijo]

It's 12:21 EST as I type this. The Chief is probably on a plane, somewhere over Guam. But what the heck, he'll read it eventually - Hey Chief, do you see what CTT is giving away this month? RMT NS Beep and caboose! Old logo though.

http://sweepstakes.kalmbach.com/sweeps/default.aspx?swID=157&auth=55uAZxGRGu

Hot and humid here today. Rain for Friday and the weekend. Sunny on Monday.

Dentist today at 3:00. Should be a hoot.

[dougdagrump]

Mitch, Check out the portables that you only need to put an exhaust duct thru a wall/window, kinda like a dryer vent.
Got a good e-mail from Trainz this morning, they are trying to add my 4-6-0 preorder to the one they sent to MTH already.
Dave, Also check your blade guides and the rollers.
Keith, [tup] [tup] [tup] [tup]. One for each star

[Brutus]

Good luck Doug! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Congrats Keith!

Had to work in office x 2 days due to computer SNAFU. What a PITA. Anyway, back to working at home this afternoon. Was going to work OT, but not after all the hassle for the past 2 days.

I see there's a couple Lionel Generals on sale on Ebay.... Still, gotta hand tight and wait for the Transylvania stuff I REALLY want to get....

[wrmcclellan]

Afternoon all,

Keith - a Waffle House eh? [dinner][}:)] the South continues it's march on the nawth. GRITS are steadily moving as a staple of diets north of the MD line! Then the south will have complete control when we control the food supply - BWAH-HAW-HAW-HAW-HAAAW![}:)] Next we will get you hooked on waffles and fried chicken!

Got a smiggen of rain today - not enough to count. Temperatures are mid-80's - nice.

BTW - Keith - congrats on that 4th star!

Have a great day all.
Roy

[csxt30]

Keith; your 4th star looks real good !! Congrats !! [:D]
I wonder if Chuck found any infractions on our southern border !! Hope he was careful !
I always wondered why Tom, ( Spankybird ) never said, " let's eat at The Waffle house ", when w go to train shows !! Now I know !! [(-D][(-D][(-D]
Oh, I just saw where Doug said he put Mt.Seaman back up & even bigger !! Thanks Doug !! [:D] When I get back to working on my mountain, I'm going to put a Batcave in somewhere ! I just hope I can do it justice !! [:D] Wonder if Jim will see this, I need some good ideas !!
Well, hope everyone has a nice night, Grand kids are due in tomorrow night !
Thanks,

[tschmidt]

Evening all,

I am sitting in the office just killing some time before I have to attend the HS senior banquet at 7PM. Unfortunately it's just about the same time the Sabres are playing in game 7 against Carolina. My son is going to keep me informed via text messages of what the score is. It will be an uphill battle tho as the 4 top defensive players for Buffalo are out with injuries.

It has been warm here again today but a little more muggy. I thought it was going to cool off but that will be later in the week. I wonder how Buckeye is doing down south. I hope no tornadoes this time.

Mitch and Laz- I hope the last week of school goes well and uneventful for you. I am looking forward to the end myself.

Have a good night everyone.
TomS

[Roger Bielen]

I picked up my K-Line E-8's from Memory Station yesterday after having the loose motor fixed. He said they weren't the easiest to drop the trucks on and get at the motor mount screws. Had time to test run it this afternoon, it ran the smoothest it has in quite some time. I'll be dropping off my LRRC 2000 Hudson that I had upgraded to TMCC tomorrow, I think the receiver board is going. It started acting eradic and going down hill, all the normal fixes and checks didn't work and has symptons of a bad board.

Seems all the repairs hit at once. Had to have the rotors turned down on my pick-up, another unexpected expense. Also found that the phys. therapy I'm going for for my shoulders is subject to a $25 co-pay per session. I'll be cutting it to once per week instead of twice. There goes any train money I might have had.

[mitchelr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tschmidt



Mitch and Laz- I hope the last week of school goes well and uneventful for you. I am looking forward to the end myself.

TomS - so far so good. Tuesday tehy were tired from Memorial Day, Wednesday was our Play Day (Field Day), today they were tired from Play Day, tomorrow... who knows????

dougdagrump - thanks for the tip on the A/C

Keith/1688 Torpedo - Congrats on the stars. Got my Torpedo back today from replacing wheels. Looks great and runs great too.

While I was at the train shop tonight I bought two boxes of pre-war stuff he had. One box included some tinplate Marx, and wind-up red Marx streamliner (and track) that I really like. The wind-up key is missing so I will have to look for one. The other had a Pre-War Lionel 248 and some passenger cars in orange. Looks like they had been painted or touched up. One car looks like a Baby Ruth boxcar that someone hand painted to match the others. The loco needs wheels to have the wheels replaced but I think I can do it my self. I have to look for replacement wheels on line. The two box lots were too good a deal to pass up.

Have great day.

Mitch [swg]

[dougdagrump]

Good news, I am able to preorder my Ten Wheeler !!!! [yeah] [yeah] [yeah] [tup] [:D]
Roy, There has already been tremendous success with the "GRITS" incursions of the nawth. The Italians have been operating a stealth program called "Polenta". [(-D]

[FJ and G]

Keith;

always passed thru ohio on way to elsewhere but 3 years ago visited Cleveland on a magazine assignment.

Went aboard an ore freighter docked there. Spent 1 week in Cleveland. Nice town & sort of quiet and low key; if you know what I mean.

Didn't see a scrap of grits there

[ChiefEagles]

Home by 6:00 PM. [:p] Yankees tried to capture me in Philly but I escaped. [;)] Going to spread GRITS all over the world. I have to work out a way to hit the Cleveland area and get Tom, John and Keith all with one big bag of GRITS. [:)] Got to get some things done. Later.

[dwiemer]

Evening guys,
Finally took some measurements on what I can build for the "in house" layout. 12 x 12 with a 5x5 L. I figure to use the L as a staging yard.

What has 32 teeth and smells like cigarettes?.....................The night shift at Waffle House.

Actually, when my wife was pregnant, I took her to a local Waffle House, when her grits arrived, they had little black curly hairs in them. My wife, being on the nausea edge just about hurled on the waitress. We never went back to that particular eatery.

Have a great night everyone.
Dennis

[csxt30]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChiefEagles

Home by 6:00 PM. [:p] Yankees tried to capture me in Philly but I escaped. [;)] Going to spread GRITS all over the world. I have to work out a way to hit the Cleveland area and get Tom, John and Keith all with one big bag of GRITS. [:)] Got to get some things done. Later.

Tom, Kieth : Did you read that ? Better call a special meeting & get Chuck & Buckeye ready to deploy !! This could mean he's planning a Gritts Pandemic ! I'm cancelling all my vacation plans now & beefing up security here on my end of the lake!! [:D][:D][:D]

[Blueberryhill RR]

[code]Good Evening[/code]

Chief...Glad you made it home safely. We are safe now.
The people in Philly probably decided to let you go because they would have to feed you.
All for the best.
It's raining here. Flying GRITS dissolve in the rain. No problem.
I think Chief should stop flying and take a bus. Or a cab. He's always crabby
after a flight.
Chuck

[Buckeye Riveter]

Good evening to everyone from the heart of DIXIE.
I have been running wild through the Southern Countryside today without any resistance. After I cleared the mountains at Lewisburg, WV, I scooted south around Lynchburg and headed to Appomattox where the metal roadside plagues all say that Lee surrendered to Grant. In fact, the road from Petersburg, VA to Appomattox is signed with "Lee's Surrender Route". Tonight I'm in Williamsburg, VA, where I have meetings tomorrow.

Keith, congratulations on the fourth star. [:)]

TomS, the south doesn't show hockey on TV. Now I know why I stay up north. I hope the Sabers beat the Canes, soundly.

Chuck, sounds like you are doing a great job watching the border according to CSX John. Speaking of CSX, I have seen some huge coal trains on this trip. The Chief needs to visit CREWE, Va to see the NS steam engine in the park.

Why do teachers all count the days until the last day of school? [:D]

[1688torpedo]

Hello All! Dave- If you come this way again. Stop by the OTTS layout & say Hi. Cannot promise you Grits but we'll find something for you to eat here.[;)][:P] & there are plenty of Hotels in the area so you can rest up as well as Train Shops to visit. Chuck,Buckeye,Spanky,& CSXJohn. Looks like we'll have to borrow Laz's 800lb Bear to thwart The Chief's attempts to spread Grit Bombs here in OTTS Land. Bob(mitch) Glad you got your 1688 back. Try Dr.Tinker's Toy Train Parts or The Train Tender for your wheels. I've done business with both & they are top notch parts dealers. Thank you all for the congrats on my 4 Stars. Seems like yesterday I started posting on this forum. Time has passed by really fast. Have a nice evening all.[;)][:)]

[Brutus]

Man - I'm trying to be good and get back on my weighwatchers points, and all I read about is GRITS and Chicken and Waffles and The Waffle House[:P][;)]

Just FYI all you guys that prayed for little Cecilia, our friends' daughter, she is AT HOME for a whole week now and well over 4 pounds. She was in the NICU at Childrens' Hospital since she was born on Feb 17th. Her lungs and eyes are good and everything seems to be going great for her and her folks now.

Looking through the forum and checking out the RMT stuff. I really like that PRR set that is all squished up looking - very Toy-cool! Why don't they do some steamers like that, put the motors in the tenders or something - that would be a must buy for me!

Here's a Million Dollar Idea for anyone who will do it - make an 027 "toy" shay, squished and "hillbilly" looking by my preference - like a cartoon, with some working log cars and a bobber caboose - I'd love to shell out for that set!

[ChiefEagles]

GO CANES!!!!!!! We whooped dem Yankees!!!!! [funny, the team players names sure don't sound Southern????[;)]] GOOOOD Night. [:D]

[mitchelr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1688torpedo

Bob(mitch) Glad you got your 1688 back. Try Dr.Tinker's Toy Train Parts or The Train Tender for your wheels. I've done business with both & they are top notch parts dealers.

I was looking online last night trying to find the wheels and missing trim piece. I looked at Orr, Teboldt and Olsen. I had a tough time finding anything. Maybe it is just using my Mac but the pix on Olsen's were tough to decipher. I might have to send for a parts list or telephone. I will have to try Dr. Tinker and Train Tender.

Keith - are the 248's wheels and the gears two pieces or is it like the 1688 where one set is geared and the opposite side is non-geared?

Thanks in advance for your help. I will try to take some pix and post Sunday.

TomS and LAZ - Four more days for us... Buckeye asked why we teachers count days. He obviously has not tried to contain a bunch of school kids in a sweltering building who think summer vacation started when the temps went above 85[;)][;)] The smell in an elementary school at the end of a hot day in June is something to behold. A combination of nasty sneakers, old gym socks, unwashed feet, and sour milk. Oh how I long for the bad old days before we had all these fancy schools with A/C[}:)]

Mitch [swg]

[Jumijo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxt30
. . . I'm going to put a Batcave in somewhere ! I just hope I can do it justice !! [:D] Wonder if Jim will see this, I need some good ideas !!
Well, hope everyone has a nice night, Grand kids are due in tomorrow night !
Thanks,

I saw it! Behold the Batmobile, roaring out from the Batcave. Cool idea, John. I wholeheartedly approve! Planning a detailed interior?






Chief,

Glad to see you got home safe and sound. Please post pics when you can. You just made it out of here before the monsoon. What a storm we had last night! I can see where this summer is headed. Hot and wet. My fault. I got the wife and kids a summer membership to a health club so they could go swimming at the outdoor pool. That by itself practically garauntees the wettest summer in history.

Turned on the AC for the first time this year, and discovered it might need to be recharged. The temp did drop, but took its time doing so. Not like years past.

Went to the dentist yesterday. New xrays are done digitally. You have to put some block in your mouth attached to a computer. I guess my mouth isn't as big as some would have imagined, because I couldn't get that thing to fit. I told them to forget the xrays after trying several times.


Oh, Chief, One more thing. Those 'Canes you're rooting for - they came from up here. They used to be the Boston/Hartford Whalers. You want us to send you the Bruins and Celtics too?!! We'll keep the Red Sox and Patriots.

Jim

[dwiemer]

Morning all,
Chief, it is good to have you back in friendly territory. We do have one infiltrator in our perimeter, but we have a surprise for him before he can get back across the MD line. [}:)]

Finally got some ground work done on the train room. Electrical supply is taken care of, now for the rest of the planning and start benchwork.

On the way into the hospital this morning, passed over the NS yard and saw a NS coal train that went as far as the eye could see in both directions, never did see the motive power. It was cool anyway.
Have a good one.
dennis

[Jumijo]

I'll bet that coal train was being pulled by a few SD90MACs, Dennis.

Buckeye, do what you can to send the South all the rain we've been getting up here. Enough rain already!!!

Chief, when we went out to eat the other night, the ribs on the menu looked good to me, but I didn't want to look like a slob eating them so I passed. Last night I took the fam out to dinner at a Texas Roadhouse and got the ribs. Oh baby, were they good!

Jim

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is a wet and cool day in SE Indiana with temps heading to the 70s. Buckeye, good luck with your "raid" into the south. The Indiana Division is moblizing to repel any and all "grits" invasions. Keith, congrats on your new star! Dennis, I agree with your comments about Waffle House. Definitely not one of my favorite places to eat. Steak'n'Shake is more to my liking. I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Blueberryhill RR]

[code]Good Morning from Blueberryhill [/code]It is a rainy day today. 66 degrees and only
going to 70 today. Rained last night, very hard. Lots of thunder.
Today, I will be working around the house, on a few projects and spending some
time in the train room, planning my town and roads. I'm going to have to build some
shelves, to hold all the trains, as I have no more room on the layout. Some one
keeps buying me these trains, and won't stop. I wonder who ??
[code]Buckeye[/code]...Be careful on your trip. Watch your back.

I will be back later.
Y'all have a great day.
Chuck