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

[spankybird]

Good Morning All,

Well it’s back to w----k this week. 4 day weekend was nice. NE Ohio has a mild morning at 56 deg with a high going into the mid 60’s. Looks like no rain today. Maybe should have taken another day of vacation.

The wife thanks all for the happy birthday’s.

It sure is dark this time of the morning


all be safe

tom

[Buckeye Riveter]

ROAD TRIP AHEAD
Yes, it is that wonderful time of the year when the weather turns bad and the company sends me on a little trip. This year's destination: Montgomery, West Virginia. [:0]

Are there any train stores I should see between Central Ohio and Montgomery, WV? [:)] Does anyone know where Montgomery, WV is? [:)] Does anyone care? [:D]

I don't believe I have seen anyone on this forum from WV. Is that because.......no, I'm not going to go there. [:D][}:)][:D]

[jonadel]

Apparently Shutterfly won't work with the Mac OS 10.3 as far as opening up the properties menu. I received a very terse reply from the customer service dept. stating they couldn't give that information away.

Who else could you recommend for photo hosting?

Thanks--Jon

[spankybird]

Check our these guys.

www.villagephotos.com

you will have to re-size your pics to under 100K and the first 10 mg is free. AT 100K that would be 100 pics. If you size your pics to 480 it will be well below the 100k.

tom

[cnw1995]

Jon, one of my computers is an eMac running OS X 2.2 - we use Sony's Imagestation and Ofoto. We've also used Yahoo! and MSN has a 'small' free photo posting - geez, some of our shots on the latter must be five or six years old. Back at work today - just was trained how to access my work files from home so now I can work harder for more hours for the same money - lovely, but at least I still have a job. I'm a little down today because I screwed up my wiring big time this weekend trying to set up a Atlas Connector and then Selector instead of having a separate transformer for each siding (each of which is completely isolated). The wiring into the back of the R transformer looks like a fright wig. I'm going to ask our library to see if they can get that Peter Riddle book. I've seemingly got 'DC' on the brain and must've misread Chief's nice wiring diagram - anyway, it's so folded and creased and written on, I can barely read it anymore. Also spent way too much time in the basement to the annoyance of my better half. Have to manage that better. On a positive note,I met someone at church (we were both dragooned into being background in a church drama) who I discovered is a fellow O scaler who has built a beautiful layout in his former dining room - I hope to see it someday. Also setting up a second oval has had a really great impact with my 10 year old and his friends who find they love to race the trains - while trying to keep 'em on track around the curves. Calls for much enthusiastic throttle jockeying. I also set up one of the kid's discarded CD players with some old speakers to run my single train sounds CD to give a little background! May you all have a great day today. Elliot, I did the same thing - researching some wiring questions, the top options I discovered using Google were my old forum postings!

[ChiefEagles]

Hey Jon, send them to me. I'll post them. I have a file with some of your pictures in my computer anyway. I'll just store them there. Just tell me how to caption them. I do it for David all the time. Morning gang. Still got this YANKEE weather. Suppose to have blown out of here. Suppose to be partly cloudy and warm today. Maybe it will stop being wet and cloudy in a few. Got leaves to bag with mower when it dries out. No frost as of yet so pecan leaves still green and on the trees. No frost predicted for this week. Maybe fish some if it ever clears out of here. Have a good one and God bless all.

[FJ and G]

While awaiting my VRE train at Crystal City station on Friday, a lady on the crowded platform piped up: “Animal on the tracks.”

I looked and I looked but could not see any animal; yet others were intently gazing at something. Feeling rather stupid, I asked a lady oogler beside me, “what animal?”

“Over there,” she wagged her finger. “A daddy-longlegs.”

There it was, the biggest daddy-longlegs I’d ever seen, braving the cold and drizzle, ambling down the shinny rail. It paraded atop the rail for several minutes, did an about-face, and marched back toward us, all the while, perfectly balanced on the rail.

We were so engrossed in the spider’s antics that the sound of #329’s horn gave us a start, as it rounded the corner, bearing down to the station.

There are two tracks at Crystal City. The spider, unfortunately, had chosen the wrong one.

As our train came barreling in, the spider executed a pirouette and marched back the other way, away from the train.

# 329 was slowing down and the spider was speeding up. But who would win. A life hung in the balance in this game of life or death.

Anon, #329 slowed as it neared its appointed stopping place. The spider proudly marched, just ahead of the beastly machine.

If there was a little more time, the passengers undoubtedly would wager bets, as the race appeared too close to call.

The engineer, a lady, appeared heedless of the life that might be snuffed out, just ahead of her red, white and blue ancient diesel.

The brakes screeched and the yucky smell of asbestos filled the air. And onward marched the brave but foolish spider.

Passengers were now bending down to get a closer look, coming perilously close to the edge, in some cases. The distance rapidly closed to within a few feet, then slowed to within a few inches.

Would the big diesel devour its prey? Or would the spider cheat death and beat the diesel?

Passengers seemed to be holding their breath as the distance between them was now a few millimeters.

But the engineer overshot her usual stopping point by about 6 inches, just far enough to squash Mr. Daddy Longlegs (or would that be Mrs. Daddy Longlegs?). We will never have the chance to ask it, however, as the big wheels squashed the spider.

A collective gasp came from the platform on that fateful day when #329 killed the rail-walking spider.

Having had my full of animal stories for the day, I purchased a 2-for-1 Dominoe’s pizza for my daughter and I when I got home. She was there to assist me with painting my toy train backdrop. The backdrop is another story, which I will sooner or later provide pictures of.

Anyway, while we were busy painting, the savage BB the beagle dog happened by the counter, atop which was one of the large pizzas. Using her magic wings, she flew up on the counter, knocking off the box of Canadian bacon filled pizza, double-thin crust and yummy.

After gorging herself on half of it, she commenced to carry each of the remaining 6 pieces outside thru her doggy door, and burying each piece.

When I discovered what had happened, it was too late. She had gained several inches in girth, and waddled around dumb and happy. What to do?

First things first, I would need to take her out for a walk in the woods, to get some of that poundage off of her.

So off we go, for a stroll into the dark and forbidding forest, where the ghosts of soldiers are said to still patrol the fields near Manassas.

About an hour or so into the woods, there appeared a large figure about 20 or so feet in front of us; and it began to move. Its shape was that of a black bear, known to prowl this area—and once killed a farmer’s cow.

I froze in my track, armed with nothing more than a stick of gum.

I’ve read stories of heroic dogs who’ve saved the lives of their masters from wild and vicious animals. Boy was I glad BB the beagle was with me. Should the bear attack me, I would at least live to tell the tale, but poor BB would likely not.

As these thoughts flashed thru my mind, BB suddenly froze and spotted the bear. She did a quick about face and flew thru the woods away from the bear in the fastest moves I’ve ever seen a beagle do; leaving me to fend for myself.

To make a long story short, I slowly backed out and made it back home, where BB was waiting for me, undoubtedly wanting some milk to go with the pizza.

[ChiefEagles]

Jon, you're in there. Post us some of your layout. Doug, you are letttng wiring get to complicated. [the old DC thing] Want me to send you the sheet over again?

[cnw1995]

That would be great, Chief! You're right of course.

[jonadel]

Some progress was made this weekend, the hobo camp has been built and the next step will be to add ground cover, trees and more paint. This is the final part of our layout and hopefully by Dec. 1 it will be completed. You can also see that the ice station and the barrel loader have been positioned.



I know this doesn't look like much now but has taken me a while to get the saw mill and log loader to function the way I wanted, I think everyone has enjoyed these so far even in their rough state.

And lastly one final shot looking east towards the hobo camp and industrial area.


Lots of hours ahead of us but the tangible results make it all so worth while.
Jon[:)]

[dougdagrump]

Lookin' good Jon. [8D]
UPS just dropped off my Cruise Control upgrade for my K-Line B&O Mikado. Now the only problem is working up enough nerve to tear it apart to install it. [banghead]

[daan]

Nice layout Jon, I like the track you used. There is a big difference in layout building between "us" europeans and "you" americans. We lack fantasy! Our layouts don't go much further than an oval and a station, and loops should be connected in any way. I can't remember seeing a european layout with a seperate loop running on a higher level, in american layouts it's often used to avoid steep climbes..

Last friday we had the biggest european modeltrain show in Utrecht. Since I'm using old Maerklin tubular, I found some very interesting switches. 2 Y switches, an 054 electric switch and 2 weird pieces of double track connected with 2 switches, which operate with the same throwing mechanism. Everything in 054.
This resulted in a dramatic change in trackwork.. Instead of single track, I went to double, got 5 locomotive sidings (4 in a "roundhouse", 1 for the crane-train) and 4 car-tracks. Pictures follow asap. (Because I'm building now, time runs short to update my website and get photo's)

Have a nice day and stay safe (don't saw the ironsaw in your fingers like I did[:D])

[daan]

@chief; If I'm not mistaken, I'm not the only one from outside USA. I remember one coming from new-zealand, but I don't know his username anymore..

[ChiefEagles]

Hey Daan, if I have any Lionel/K-Line track or switches left over after my layout is built [using mainly RealTrax], I'll ship it to you. I know it is hard to find "stuff" over there.

[spankybird]

Good Morning All,

NE Ohio is a brisk 43 degs this morning with a high of mid 60’s coming and no rain.

Daan – can’t you order track from a U.S. dealer over the internet?

Jon – Great pics of your layout. You should join us on Sunday Photo Fun.

Dave – Don’t feed the bears



or they may come looking for you !!!

all have a great day

tom

[ChiefEagles]

Tom, kinda looks like you in the outhouse. [:D] Pretty day here with sun shining. Got things to get done today so I can go the Kerr to fi***omorrow. Lady down the street [hubby in Iraq] has already called wanting me to carry her to pick up her car at shop. Better get going. God bless all.

[FJ and G]

Tom,

Makes one thankful for indoor plumbing. Wouldn't want to be caught bare by the bear

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daan

@chief; If I'm not mistaken, I'm not the only one from outside USA. I remember one coming from new-zealand, but I don't know his username anymore..

The member from New Zealand is Colin Duthie, who has the username tintrax. He's only made a couple of posts in the past, though. He has an excellent website: www.geocities.com/tintracks . It has many excellent toy train pictures, including some of my trains.

[daan]

@Chief, that is very kind of you, but my own tubular collection is steadily growing into good proportions. To replace that all would be too expensive. That's also why I don't buy rail in the USA and ship it over. New stuff is taxed at 19% in Holland, also if I import it from the USA. Besides that track weighs pretty much and shipping would cost a small fortune.
I have a few pictures of my layout as I'm going to build it:



The track used is Maerklin prewar and Hornby. I found some rare double switches on a swap meting and a lot of extra track.
I also found someone having the K-line track for sale, but 60 dollars for 1 switch is a bit to the heavy side for me.[8D]
Nevertheless I'm very happy with my own track...

[GregM]

Chief,

Wouldn't it have been easier to drive to the shop?[:D]

Seriously, very kind of you to help out.

[ChiefEagles]

OH NO, another Buckeye. [}:)] Sask, you are not considered a foreign country to me so I did not include you. Canada is my second country. Busy day for me. Took boat to shop, had chest CT and MIL had heart attack. She had two blockages [saw color photos before and after]. Two stints and blood flowing great. She is doing great. Says she wants to go home by Friday so she can go to the mall Saturday. [:D] Now she will have to put those cigarettes down. Busy day for me. Trip to Kerr canceled due to Dr. appointment I could not get out of. [:(]

[spankybird]

Chief, sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. Some of us actualy like them, I do. Hope she is doing fine. Did you find anything out about your CT?

tom

[GregM]

Glad to hear the prognosis is positive.

[ChiefEagles]

Its there???? What???? Very tiny. Maybe the same as the right. Tiny blood clot or gradual. If so, [:D][:D][:D]. Will find out later. Dr. tomorrow is to see if I have gall stones. [:(] Bad to get old. [;)]

[dougdagrump]

Yea it is, but it sure beats the alternative ![(-D]

[Buckeye Riveter]

Just got home from a big party, I mean work. [8D] Did I hear that we have another Buckeye on board? [:D][:D][8D] Great!!!
Chief, you take care of yourself. Sorry to hear about MIL, but it sounds like everything is going the correct direction.

[ChiefEagles]

Well, as some know, I have been on double doses of Nexium for about 10 months. Perscribed by a "tummy doctor". Well, Road Runner news this PM has a story that Nexium, Pepcid and Prilosec and others kill helpful bacteria in your stomach and thus cause persons susceptible to pneumonia to have pneumonia. Well, no wonder I had constant sinus infections that ended up in pneumonia. Right after I started taking Prevacid several years ago, I had my first case of pneumonia. Three more since then. Now if I were MTH, do I sue Lionel [the doctor] or Korean Brass [the med manufacturer]? [had to put trains in there] Good night and God bless. [:D][;)]

[daan]

That are no jokes chief, having to take medicine in those amounts for such a long time.
Specially if they are chemicals. Isn't there a natural medicine for the problem? For bladderstones there is a cure without medicines, but you have to set yourself to it. Boldocynara helps to make the gall fluid, and with sunfloweroil or oliveoil you can wash small and middlesmall stones out of your gall bladder. It's important that you take untreated oils. The oil will set the gallbladder to work and produce a huge amount at once. Stones not too big will whash with it. Nevertheless the amount of oil which is recommended is 3deciliter at once, which is huge to get in.
But, no side effects. (I do think that the oil has a few temporary side-effects though, but my "natural medicine book" doesn't say that..)
[:D]
To keep your blood in good fluid condition it's recommended to have one day a week no food, Just juices; A regular visit to a sauna and natural medicine called Hyperisan and urticalcin. Those two medicines are natural and harmless. Of course take care of what you eat. This helps even for people having trombosis.

Besides that, it's not a replacement of a doctor, just some harmless way's to prevent damage and health problems.
This "wisdom" comes from a book written by a swiss doctor called dr. Vogel, who went to study the indians and other people living outside the industrial world to learn about their medicines. It is one of the books I use when I have something going on myself.

Anyway, stay safe all and enjoy the trains!

[spankybird]

Good Morning All,

It a fair morning in NE Ohio, temp is 55 deg with light rain. Yesterday was a great Blue Clear Sky day and a fantastic sun rise.

We took these pic yesterday morning and had to share them. Be sure to click on them to enlarge them.





all be safe today

tom

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all. Dr. called and says she thinks gall bladder needs to go but the surgeon I'm visiting today will say. She says I will feel a lot better after that. Hey Daan, been using olive oil for several years. She also says the lung thing is so minor that they will probably just monitor for several years like they did the right one [blood vessel or a "grandual"]. That appointment is Tuesday. Told her she was trying to spend all my train $$$$ and also keep me from fishing. She laughed. She is very precautious and protective. Glad she is so someone does not say OOPS on day. God bless all.