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

[cnw1995]

I'm back from the Upper Penisula of Michigan where on Monday, it was nearly 100 and we were just a tad south of Lake Superior. Nothing finer than being deep in the woods, even on a river, without a breath of moving air. Ugh. Drew and I had a good time at camp - lot's of dad-son time. Not too bad catching up with work - even with a four-year old following me everywhere today.

Jim, potty training here seemingly continues forever - thank goodness for the carpet cleaner.
Mike, hope Lucas's diet improves with his appetite.
Chief, I'm sorry for the recent difficulties with your mom. Not fun having a relative in the nursing home - especially if you're like my dad - he's the biggest person in there with all the little ladies.
Spankybird, oooh, the loss of those albums must hurt! Thank goodness the trains work. Our basement is the coolest. nicest room in the house with all the hotness.

[cnw1995]

Forgot to mention I saw plenty of CN action on the former SOO lines up in the U.P. I swear I saw a GP 9 switching a paper mill in Manistique; GP20s trundling lumber trains; modern and leased engines pulling a gigantic mixed train - with a former few MILW boxcars, out of Escanaba yard - where there is a Soo steam engine on display by the highway and more than a few old snow plows - looking like models.

[csxt30]

Good Evening Everyone !! 

Good to see you back, Doug !!  Sounds like you had a nice trip !!

Well, talked to Keith last night, & said to check with The Train Tender for some new rubber tires for my MPC/ RDC car. Sent them an e-mail & in an hour he answered it saying he has a lot of those! I think they are the same size as my K-line MP-15 engine, too. Couldn't believe it, only 24 cents each, if you order a dz. She wobbles going down the track a little, as these old tires are just old, & kind of stretched.!! That's the only thing I could find wore on this set, & that's ok !!

Doug ; this one's for you !!  

Thanks, John  

[ChiefEagles]

Laz, I've been gone for 2 weeks. What's new with your layout? Got any photo updates? Jim

Trying to change the subject about maple syrup and what was that about taking wife's hand?

 

Mom is really something.  Have had to be the tough guy this PM.  She kept wanting to get out of bed and clean the house and make the bed.  She was  going to wash some clothes too.  Problem, she was in her hospital room.  Then she said she was going home tomorrow to Wilson Co.  That was where she was born and raised.  She lives in Edgecombe Co.  Then she could quote word for word what the Dr. said she had yesterday.  Got a lady, she knows well and has stayed with her some at nights, to stay with her during the day.  That is a real relief.  Will take her home tomorrow PM.  They have found a big heart murmer that she has never had before.  The ceramic tile guy has to finish up tomorrow AM.  All done except one door and getting the freezer back inside.  Maybe some train time.  If not, hope to make the train show early Sat.  Good night.

[MartyE]

Greetings from the left coast where the tempatures have finally moderated.  What's the difference as I am in the loading dock of the Home Depot Center.  Doing the X Games for ESPN this weekend.  Looks like we'll be going to see the Tonight Show on Monday.  I'll see if I can ask Jay about those trains!

[Jumijo]

Marty, Jay Leno used to work with my brother, Paul at McDonalds in Andover, MA when they were in high school. He was in to cars way back then too.

Great to have Doug Murphy back!!! I feel your pain, Doug. I just spent 2 weeks in a cabin in NH with no AC. It was sweltering hot, especially the day we went to see Thomas at the Conway Scenic RR.

Hey Chief, maple syrup isn't just for breakfast up here. We put it on all sorts of things.

Like ice cream.

The temperature changed dramatically here yesterday as I was driving home. A good 20 degree drop and boy, did it feel good.

I hope the kids sleep late tomorrow morning. I'm beat.

Jim

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is cooler and still humid with temps in the 70s heading to the low 80s.  The air is supposed to dry out later today.  Doug, good to see you back and glad you got some quality time with your son.  Chief, I hope you have some good events happen with your mom.  Jaabat, I remember those days when the kids were young (and I am glad I am thru that period of my life).  Just remember, this too shall pass, so to speak :-)  Lucas actually felt like doing something yesterday.  He put the dishes away out of the dishwater and helped put groceries.  Small things, I know, but every journey begins with a single step, and he took one yesterday.  I know there will be relapses, but the positives are much more appreciated now.  I will have to mow grass tonight and maybe I will get to see the grandson sometime soon.

I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

 

 

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a humid 72 degrees. Going up to 84 today. We had thunderstorms last night until about 11:00pm. Then some distant thunder. It looks like rain now, but it's suppose to clear up today. Sunny and cooler than 95.

I see that Doug Murphy and Jim ( jaabat ) are back from their vacations. Must have been hot. Hope they had a good time.

Today is Friday. We have a few things to do around the house. A couple of little projects. This summer is going fast. I am really enjoying it.

Off to the Dining car for breakfast. Be back later.

Y'all have a great day.

Chuck

[ChiefEagles]

Great to have Doug Murphy back!!! I feel your pain, Doug. I just spent 2 weeks in a cabin in NH with no AC. It was sweltering hot, especially the day we went to see Thomas at the Conway Scenic RR. Hey Chief, maple syrup isn't just for breakfast up here. We put it on all sorts of things. Like ice cream. Jim

Yankees just can't take the heat!!!!  Crying all the time.  I'm out doing jobs in the heat and humidity.  Not sitting behind a desk in AC. [use to though ].  Jim, I know about the maple syrup and ice cream.  My Canadian [Canadien] buddies taught me that when I use to visit them.  Also some gooood Canadian bacon.  We ALL know you are talking around the subject about your REAL use.

Morning all.  Now that I have given that New England Yank a good "ribbing", more to do on the flooring project before driving east to take Mom home from hospital.  This had better finish it today.  Guy did not cut the door off right.  I think he did not understand what I asked before I left yesterday.  He is from Cuba and does pretty good English but....   Going to be another hot and humid one here.  Front suppose to come through so I hope it is cooler tomorrow AM for the train show.  The folks in charge do not rent the good building and this one has no AC.  Poor leadership in this old TCA group.  No need of me upsetting the apple cart.  Got to go for now.  All have a good one.

[Anonymous]

Yesterday I joined a club with a gym & a pool/rec. facility, pick nick shelters and fishing pond.

Today it is totaly overcast after days on end of cloudless skies and 100* heat indexes.

What luck, no cool dip, no sun burns, no hot dogs for lunch today.

Saturday the epool will be full of kids.

I will stay busy today working on this coal tipple or maybe just go back to bed.

[Jumijo]

Nice coal tipple.

I bought my family a summer membership to a club like the one you belong to. It has 3 outdoor pools. A large, deep one, and 2 kiddy pools. On Tuesday, my wife took the kids to go swimming. Someone had puked in one of the kiddy pools, and someone took a nice dump in the other one. They shut both pools down for 3 hours to clean them. All I could think of was Bill Murry cleaning the pool in Caddyshack! We most likely will end up there this weekend. I might toss a a Snickers bar or 2 in the big pool just for laughs, on account of I am one sick Yankee!

Jim

[cnw1995]

Good morning from sunny Chicago where the masts of visiting tall ships moored along the river loom weirdly over the street. Guess it was like that back in early sooty days of the last century.

We joined one of those new health clubs that sprouted like weeds around here just a few years ago too before the four-year old arrived, but it got way too crowded too fast - couldn't find a place to sit at the pool; similar adventures to Jim's, waves of contagion in the child care area, all the equipment was busy; better to spend the money on dining out on fatty foods and buying train items.

Jim, where in NH did you vacation? I spent my youth in the 1970s camping on Lake Conway and riding the Conway Scenic Railway...

Completely useless info for you: the magazine Entertainment Weekly cites Robert Crowther's book "Trains: A Pop-Up Railroad Book" as #3 on The Must List (ten things they like this week).

[laz 57]

Hi GIZ,

  DOUG, nice to see your back.  Sounded like a hot cabin there?  Hope the water was cool.

  JIM, the layout is coming along will get some pics later?   Yesterday changed the track configuration of my dog bone to make another oval but then threw in a switch for a spur to the coal breaker.  This way can get some backup action going.  Also going to put in a few activation tracks for loading and unloading logs and coal.  Still don't know about going overhead of the town with track and bridges?

  CHIEF sorry to here about your MOM.  Ouch it hurts when something like that happens.  Went through the same with my DAD when he had cancer.

 

  No GOLF yesterday.  My brother called and has Bells Palsey.  We usually play and when we came back from my college football golf outing, he complained of being flushed and his jaw hurt.  He is sort of paralized on the left side of face.  Can't blink to good and left side of mouth doesn't work.  The doctors say it is caused by a virus and is only temporary, thank GOD.  Could last a week or so? 

 

Anyway TGIF.

Oh yea, got my workout in, not to bad here today, a little cooler.

laz57

[Jumijo]

We rent a cottage on Lake Ossipee, NH for 2 weeks each summer. It's about 20 miles south of North Conway. Very scenic area. The Conway Scenic RR has a lot to see and take in, including an HO layout that is beautifully done. My kids didn't like it because it's run prototypically (slowwww). I loved it. It was air conditioned AND they had a box of old Model Railroader magazines for free.

During the Day Out with Thomas, we toured an RS2 switcher, took a ride in a speeder car, rode the Thomas train, did a lot of rail fanning. My kids would walk by old freight cars and say "we have that one, we have that one".

Nice to have you back, Doug!

Jim

[jonadel]

Laz,

One of my good friends had Bells Palsey last spring and I thought she had a stroke, scared the hell out of me. She had come to work for a Sunday matinee performance and I went to her immediately as I was concerned, it was like the right side of her face was paralyzed. It took her about 2 weeks to fully recover, we laugh about it now but didn't then.

Jon

[Roger Bielen]

Mike - glad to hear that Lucas is doing better.

Chief - our son-in-law has/is going through the same things with his Mom, it finally reached the point where he had to trick his Mom by coming to visit them in Md., she's from NY state, and telling her she was staying at a hotel.  The assisted living facility is about 15 min. from their house so they can visit daily.  She has since forgotten her home but has reached the point of needing almost constant watching. 

My prayers are with you both.

Just spent 2 1/2 hours cutting grass before it started getting too hot, about another 45 min. to go.  I'll finish up early Sunday a.m.  As soon as I finish a cup of coffee I have to vacuum the pool.  Not sure what time the granddaughters will be over, they have open house at school this afternoon to see/find their classrooms and meet their teachers, school starts Monday.

Be back later.

[Blueberryhill RR]

John, I am surprized that you can buy just a motor, is it an aftermarket part?  Whenever I have had this problem they tell me you have to buy the whole assembly which is usually a couple of hundred dollars.

Mike,  Hope your garden recovers.  We had a lot of wind and a little rain but no damages.  Just a few twigs blown off the trees.  We are west of you, near Hershey.

Did you guys notice that a YORK thread was started.

Where are you, John???

[laz 57]

JON,

  Yep scared the heck out of us too.  It does look like a stroke and I sure hope it clears up for him.  He too is a wood shop teacher and if it doesn't he will have an extended vacation.  Something he really doesnt want, at least not for this.

laz57

[mitchelr]

Good morning from Gettyburg. Finally a dip in the heat and humidity. Enjoyed the trip to Lancaster/Strasburg yesterday . I wound up going to the TCA Museum and Choo Choo Barn. Nice visit to both places. My wife and her friend enjoyed the show.

csxt30/John - I saw what looked like a Divco Milk Delivery Truck at the Train Shop at the Choo Choo Barn. He was asking $12.95 and had two on the shelf. Almost picked one up, but I wasn't sure if I would have place for it.

LAZ - sorry to hear about your brother's Bell's Palsy.  My dad had it a while back. He has some slight residual effects.  He can't whistle and when he gets very tired,  his one eyelid gets droopy.

Well I better get going. I've got to call the Insurance Company again about the lightning strike that blew out the ethernet on the computer and messed up the TV.

Have a good day. Mitch

[dbaker48]

Hoping Lucas has another good day!

Marty -  Welcome to the left coast, glad the weather has become more seasonal, at least we lost the humidity.  Hopefully the games do not get rained on this weekend.  Since time may be a premium for you here is a listing of the local shops....  (And MY OPINIONS  ONLY,)

My favorite is Arnies...
Arnies Trains  - 6452 Industry Way, Westminster, 92683  714 893-1015, 
A real nice shop Greg (owner), carries Lionel, MTH, and a pretty complete specialized train store.  Very friendly as well, he has a small operating MTH layout.  (The ONLY MTH store in the area, lots of accessories in stock)

Hobby Warehouse, Lakewood, 4105 E. South St. 90712, 562 531-8383,
Some Lionel, lot of HO, they are phasing out O Gauge I think.  A complete hobby store.

R Hobbies, 14269 Imperial Hwy, La Mirada, 90638  562 777-9492,
Small store, all trains, quite a bit of Lionel, and some others, occassionally has sales on recovered collections.

Toy Train Shop, 1929 W. Lincoln Ave, Anahiem, 92801 714 991-1040,
Pretty much exclusive Lionel, some inventory

Allied Trains, 4411 S. Sepulveda, Culver City 90230 310 313-9353,
Promotes themselves as the largest trains store west of Mississippi,  Has Lionel, LGB, and lots of HO.

Hope this helps, as of yesterday noone had the new catalog yet.  I thought you could probably get driving directions from the web, If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Enjoy your trip!

[Jumijo]

I picked up a catalog yesterday on the way home. They should be in your area shortly.

Jim

[cnw1995]

Well, it's downhill from here because I had the highlight of my day - a call from Jim! You might tell I'm having a hard time grinding through all this catch-up work. It's more fun pondering how to convert one of my trolley's to a freight motor - an ad I saw somewhere offers laser-cut stick-on wood to cover one of the Bachmann's 0n30 trolleys.

[Anonymous]

Walthers mine tipple, killing time and beating the heat at the kittchen table all week.

 

[Blueberryhill RR]

The Madison cars arrived

[Roger Bielen]

Weather in a word - HOT  At 3:00 its 101 in the shade in the yard, the pool is up to 95, not much relief.  Since my workbench is in an unairconditioned room off of the garage its too hot to even work on my scratch building project.

Chuck - nice looking consist.

Steve - good looking coal tipple.

[csxt30]

John, I am surprized that you can buy just a motor, is it an aftermarket part?  Whenever I have had this problem they tell me you have to buy the whole assembly which is usually a couple of hundred dollars.

Mike,  Hope your garden recovers.  We had a lot of wind and a little rain but no damages.  Just a few twigs blown off the trees.  We are west of you, near Hershey.

Did you guys notice that a YORK thread was started.

Where are you, John???

Yes, where is John (Jeffelectric) ? Chuck: I was wondering the same thing last night ! Well, if he doesn't show up pretty soon, I know The Chief will get to the bottom of it !!   Oh, & nice cars too, Chuck !!

Steve ; nice job on that coal tipple !! That's really getting big !!

Laz ; sorry to hear of your brothers Bells Paulsy. My buddy had it years ago & didn't look like the same person. He said he got his because of air conditioning. That's some bad stuff.

Mitch : that sounds like a pretty good deal on those milk Divcos !! I have a couple of those also !! They're just neat to look at !! I have an ice cream delivery one & a milk delivery one !

 Well, finally cooled off enough to cut the grass ! Got that done, now, off to the dining car for supper !!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend !

Thanks, John 

[Blueberryhill RR]

The thunderstorms yesterday, cooled it down nice today. It was not as humid and only got up to 84 today. I just came in, from sitting under a big shade tree. Nice sunset.

Everyone must be busy tonite.  Hi  John  ( csxt30 ).

[csxt30]

Hi Chuck !! I'm not too busy !! Just been checking what I can get for my RDCs in the way of a TMCC upgrade ! I'm lost !!  Indians still winning ! Wish I went to the OTTS meeting tonight, should have listened to Tom !! They're having all the fun !! Well, maybe we'll see some good pictures, they're at a big layout tonight !!

Thanks, John 

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear about you mother Chief, you know we lost our mom a few weeks ago.

It is tuff when they need that sort of care.

I will go work out about noon Saturday.

 

[Blueberryhill RR]

One of these days, I would like to attend one of the meetings. That would be very nice. I hope they post pictures.

Chuck