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

[Brutus]

Buckeye - our thoughts and prayers are with your wife and community. What a terrible loss.

Doug - very cool Universal set - I remember seeing an ad for that when it first came out. Never saw the train before, looks nice. I did get a flyer on the Spirit of America train, and I think it's from Bachmann based on the "Spectrum" written on the transformer.

Hot in Arnold. My wife sprained her great toe and actually fractured her 2nd toe. She was walking at the pool with the kids and the front of her flipflop bent under and guided her toes straight down into the ground - ouch! Apparently nothing to be done but wait for it to heal.

[dwiemer]

Morning gang,
Had a busy day yesterday and went home to find that the computer froze up on my wife. I tried all kinds of fixes, but looks like I will have to reboot off the original master disk. This is bad as my layout plans on RRtracks is on that computer, so I hope to restore all information. Anyway, have a great day and I hope to check in later.
Dennis

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is cloudy and rainy in SE Indiana with temps heading into the 70s today. We got the game in last night. A very long story short is that we won and I got an assist. Due to the weather being perfect last night for playing and some other factors, I really played hard last night and I am really, really, really, really sore today. Thank heaven for Ibuprofen! Hopefully I will get some rest this weekend, and run some trains. I hope everyone has a good weekend.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

PS FJ and G, I like your "recipes", and dbaker48, I may suggest that my wife use that pattern for a certain neighbor of ours.

[Blueberryhill RR]

[code]Good Morning from Blueberryhill[/code]It is 65 degrees here and very cloudy. Looks like more rain.
Going up to 76 today, with thundershowers predicted for tonite..
This is good weather for running trains and relaxing.

Chief....Are you traveling in Ohio ??? LOTS OF RAIN.

I think we will go to a little place that has fish fries today. Then , later we will go to the
theater and see " Cars ". Looks like a cute movie.

Buckeye...How is the weather in Buckeyeland ??
Are you going to do your " Saturday Live " tomorrow ??

Tom..Wish I could attend the meeting tonite. Maybe someday.

Well, I'm off to breakfast. Will check back in later.
Y'all have a great day.
Chuck

[mitchelr]

Good morning from Gettysburg.

Not working today. Going to head out and run some trains before it gets too hot. Try to figure out a way to mount a loop of o27 above the current layout for Pre-war trains.

Later today off to dance recital in Norther VA. Don't mind the recital as much as the drive.

Have a great day.

Mitch

[MartyE]

It rained here in Louisville last evening. Looks like rain the most of the day as well. Hope everyone has a great day. Lots of work ahead today.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all. Off to evaluate a boat for the Planning Director. He is interested in purchasing. The go get bird feed and cables. Block off pond dam. Seems horses and "want-a-be" NC cowboys can't read. Rutting back side as they ride down it. Put up sign and blocked. They unblocked and rode off anyway. Guess cables is cheaper than me shooting horses. Think the Sheriff would get upset. Private properety with signs all around it. They ignore it. Don't mind if they ride the road around it but don't damage the property. Might go and stay all of tomorrow AM [usually when they ride]. Depends on the weather. Where is James Apitz? Dennis, you get RRTracks? Like it? Later.

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIA hope the cake and ice cream were GREAT?

BUCKEYE sorry for the loss. It saddens me to here the loss of such a young kid, prayers to his family.

No GOLF yesterday too HOT.
Got a quarter inch of rain yesterday morn.
And another inch last nite.
We need more.
Went trout fishing on Wednesday and caught and released only one brownie.
I don't know why they weren't biting?
We did see lots of crayfish in the water, maybe that had something to do with it?
I just ordered 500 more Mighty Mealies fro GRUBCO located out in OHIO.
Should get me and brother through for the year?

Celebrated my 10th wedding anniversery yesterday.
Going to get King crab legs tonite for me and my wife.

MITCH, I am thinking of taking my setup down and building a bigger and better one?
I want to waterproof the walls in the basement and get to run two outside loops in 0-72.
Been thinking of this for a while.
Think I will draw up some plans first.
Thinking of doing a L shape.
Demensions would be 9x 16 and then for the little outcropping another 7x7.
If I do this I would not have to crawl over everything to get at a derailment, plus cleaning would be easier.

DAVE love the drinks.
When are you serving them?

KEITH my 800 lber is feasting on berries up on the mountain.

All have a good one?
laz57

[Buckeye Riveter]

Guys, thanks for the kind comments.

Chuck, I'll be away from the computer this weekend.

Laz, it is never too hot for golf. You need to take a trip to Roseyville and play golf. You will cook.

Dave, great drink list.

[GregM]

Laz,

Congrats on the anniversary but 10 years means your still newlyweds.

Greg

[spankybird]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GregM

Laz,

Congrats on the anniversary but 10 years means your still newlyweds.

Greg

[#ditto]

Mine is 6 years today. So no OTTS meeting for me tonight. [}:)]

[dbaker48]

This is way off topic, but since some of you are involved in your local government. Does this seem realistic? Our city just released the "Operating Budget " for 2006-2007, and it is $144 million !!! That seems like an awful lot to me. Especially given that the city has an area of 9 sq. miles, and population of 51,000. (Also indicated they had "reserves" of 182 million) This doesn't seem right to me? Thoughts?

[csxt30]

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY : [:)][:)] Laz & Tom !! This is probably the first OTTS meeting Tom is missing !! Hope you all had a nice celebration !!
Thanks,

[csxt30]

Don ; noticed your post about the same time as mine ! Most cities can barely pay the bills with the increse costs of gasoline & all ! Boy, an extra 182 million means your city must be doing something right or else something is really wrong !! I can't wait to hear the other guys thoughts !! [:D][:D]
Thanks,

[Roger Bielen]

Don - sounds like they're getting ready to spend some big money on something they haven't made public and want to build reserves.

Laz & Tom- congrats on the anniversaries. You both have a ways to go to catch me and the Mrs., we'll be having #39 the end of July.

[ChiefEagles]

QUOTE: Originally posted by spankybird

QUOTE: Originally posted by GregM

Laz,

Congrats on the anniversary but 10 years means your still newlyweds.

Greg

[#ditto]

Mine is 6 years today. So no OTTS meeting for me tonight. [}:)]

Tom, why not??? What are you doing tonight? [:0][;)]

Been storming all afternoon. Finally got us around 4 PM. From 3 until the rain started, so dark the area light in the backyard and street lights were on. 1.3 inches but some areas near me got 4 to 5 inches. More flash flooding. Pond is OK. Did not work on cables. Will do earlyu tomorrow AM. Went and measured and got back to truck [only a few feet away] and loked like I fell in the pond. Too hot and humid. Passout weather.

Later.

[spankybird]

I have been married a total of 29 years, just not to the same woman. Does that count[?]

[GregM]

QUOTE: Originally posted by spankybird

QUOTE: Originally posted by GregM

Laz,

Congrats on the anniversary but 10 years means your still newlyweds.

Greg

[#ditto]

Mine is 6 years today. So no OTTS meeting for me tonight. [}:)]

Congrats to you also Tom.

Karen and I spent our anniversary in York, Pa a couple years ago. Did have dinner out that night.[:D]

[ChiefEagles]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GregM

QUOTE: Originally posted by spankybird

QUOTE: Originally posted by GregM

Laz,

Congrats on the anniversary but 10 years means your still newlyweds.

Greg

[#ditto]

Mine is 6 years today. So no OTTS meeting for me tonight. [}:)]

Congrats to you also Tom.

Karen and I spent our anniversary in York, Pa a couple years ago. Did have dinner out that night.[:D]

And what else? [:0][}:)][;)]

Still raining right along. Not storming. Just good rain and not flooding here. Garden is happy and Pam's flowers are happy.

[ChiefEagles]

BTW: Now I know why NS had a box car full of "little blue pills" stopping in PA [for LAZ]. Then through Ohizo by Greg's and on to northern Ohizo for Tom. HUMMMM[:0] Should have been eating your GRITS. [;)] [better than powdered rino horn] [:)]

[jefelectric]

We finally got some RAIN. 1.1 inches last night. May get some more tonight.

Laz, Go for it. A lot nicer if you don't have to crawl up on the layout to reach things.

Had a busy day here. It is Jean's day off so we went on a shopping trip. Along the way oldest daughter called and said she thought her computer had been zapped by lightning last night. So after we came home I picked up one of my spares and took it over to her house. She was right. The unmistakeable smell of burnt electrical gear. Set up the loaner for her and brought hers home to check out and repair if it is worth it.

All have a nice weekend.

[MartyE]

We got a good storm here in Louisville. Rained about 1.5 hours of a hard rain. Cooled down a bit too. Hope all is well with everyone. Not a lot of train activity for me in the last few weeks other than buying the E8s from Jim.

Happy anniversary LAZ!

[ChiefEagles]

Marty, trying to book flights. July 11 to Columbus and drive to Wheeling by 1PM, back to Columbus and to Knoxville before 1PM on the 12th and then leave as late as I can on the 13th to get back to RDU. Its a zoo. I think driving from Wheeling to Columbus and then to Sevierville [near Knoxville] is a little long. Getting to Knoxville is the hard part. Still rainning very slow. Going to bed.

[Brutus]

Rained in Arnold, but not downtown STL today - Cooled off some after a storm last night. My wife got a small award at work. She's spending her share on cropping stuff. I'm getting a docksider, and the kids got some stuff for their rooms - everybody is happy!

Here's what I ordered:



and



Couldn't resist the caboose too - plus, should get free shipping since I spent over $99.

[Roger Bielen]

Finally! A few of the thunder storms made it to my area last night. Not sure how much rain fell but probably enough to bring the grass back to life. Of course the rain came after I had the soaker hoses on the shrubs all day.

On the train front, spent some time in the train room. All is working well, especially the AC unit. Ever notice that after a train has been sitting for a few days it takes a while for things to loosen up? When first started it takes a bit more power but after a few minutes you need to cut back as the wheel lube warms up.

It's been too hot in my work room to work on the buildings I'm scratch building. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for the right piece of corrogated cardboard to use for roofing. So far all that's come through would be too large a corrogation.

[Blueberryhill RR]

[code]Good Morning from Blueberryhill[/code]It is a humid 65 degrees and trying to be sunny. Going up
to 80 today, and sunny. No rain predicted.
Well, it's Saturday. Being retired, every day seems the same. But, I can remember how
great it was to get to the weekend. Some people say " Americans live for the weekend ".
Today is a work around the house day. I have to try out some stain for the bay window,
and for the train layout.. Have to stain that retaining wall, on the reverse loop.
Have been walkiing every day that I can. Legs are getting stronger. Still having a few
dull pains in my side, where they cut me. But, healing up good.
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Love the sun and warm weather.
Y'all have a great day.
Chuck

[csxt30]

Good Morning Everyone !! Only supposed to get to 74 degrees up here today.
Chuck; I go tthe wekend off this week, but will work some of next weekend.
Roger: how about some corrugated pop can material ? The kind Dave V. showed us to make a while back. Can send some if you want !! I've used Walthers Goo to glue it with or epoxy.
Beware if you see a freight car going by you that looks like this !! [:D][:D] A friend sent me this picture, but I don't know where it was taken at !! Anyway the pisture is a bit hard to see, but the truck from one end is next to the truck at the other end !!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend !!
Thanks,

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all. Who can sleep. Phone keeps ringing. [:(] Cloudy and suppose to rain more. Rained into the night. Hey, run trains unless lots of lightning. John, I can see what you are talking about in the picture. Especially if you click on it and enlarge it. Later and God bless.

[jefelectric]

Good Morning,

John, I wonder how long that car ran that way? Do you thing the tension on the front coupler was helping to support the gondola?

No heavy rain today but drizzle off and on. Every little bit helps.

Worked on my stockyard project a while, slow go. Now I need more "lumber" before I can go further.

Jim, Your pictures just came up for me. Couldn't see them when I first logged on. Do you think they changed the whistle sound to be like the howl of a warewolf?

Chief, How did you make out with the horseback rider patrol?

Enjoy the weekend.

[mitchelr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by laz 57

MITCH, I am thinking of taking my setup down and building a bigger and better one? I want to waterproof the walls in the basement and get to run two outside loops in 0-72. Been thinking of this for a while.Think I will draw up some plans first. Thinking of doing a L shape. Demensions would be 9x 16 and then for the little outcropping another 7x7.
If I do this I would not have to crawl over everything to get at a derailment, plus cleaning would be easier.

laz57

Good morning from Gettysburg,

Survived the dance recital ritual. Good thing it is only once per year.
Did not get home until well past midnight.

LAZ- Sounds like a plan to me. I know I would build a bigger layout if I had the space. The guy who designed and built our house used a wheelchair and decided not to include a basement. I sure wish he had added the basement.

Think I am going to get cleaned up, get some lunch, and then head to one of our local gigantic home improvement lumberyards to pick up some wood for an around the room shelf for a loop of track to run pre-war trains. I have some 027 track and a transformer that I can clean up and use. IF it turns out OK, I might consider adding another level for a loop of Flyer trains. Trying to keep this as a very low cost project as the train budget is a little strained this month between buying pre-war trains and parts to restore them. I figure a couple of pieces of 1 by 4 and some nails won't be too expensive.

Have a great day.

Mitch[swg]