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

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

   Beauty of a day here about 60 when I went for my run, only 4.25 this morning,  little heal pain?

  MITCH sigh of relief with the GRITS.  I knew us GIZ from PA. stick together on the NO GRITS revolt.

  BUCKEYE looks like a great trip your having hope you don't get that ROSEYVILLE feeling again?

All have a good one?

laz57

[laz 57]

CHIEF,

    If you put a cable up make sure you got lots of brightly colored streamers and things on it.   I guy I went to school with was riding his motobike on a private road at dusk and was decapatated, parents sued and won court case.  Just to let you know.

laz57

[laz 57]

GIZ,

    One more thing I forgot to mention.  Last nite on DIRTIEST JOBS with MIKE ROWE they did a clip on Anthracite Coal minning and it was filmed about 30 miles up the road from me.  These GIZ do work hard for what they get out of the earth, most of them are at it for 20-30 years was handed down from the fathers.

laz57 

[cnw1995]

'Morning from sunny Chicago. Going to see the White Sox and ..dare I say it...Yankees tonight.

John, I remember an article in a not-too-long-ago MR I think about the real-life husband of the woman who draws the ForBetterorWorse comic. He's a dentist too - but with the biggest dang outdoor railroad I've ever seen - the ones you ride. He also had a side business in the hobby.  Nothing like our own David Vergun's railroad in my opinion though. 

I've been reading a recent MR from the library where the editor had a thoughtful editorial musing about our patterns of use over time in the hobby - for example, why do we still build wooden benchwork instead of using steel or other sorts of frames - or how scenery-making has changed from sawdust zip-texturing to the latest stuff. He mentioned my favorite future vision: using R/C and rechargable batteries.

There was also a neat article on a guy who extends the sense of space and time on his N scale by asking his train crews to stop before a photo of approach signals that has been wired with LEDs, when the light turns green, they move ahead. Isn't that an interesting idea?

[dwiemer]

Afternoon all,

     Busy day, again.  Had some fried Chicken and Sweat tea for lunch.  Missed the Grits at breakfast, but did not have the time to cook them this morning.  Things are going slower than expected with the home layout.  I have to dedicate some time to benchwork, but cherish the moments with the kids, and I usually go to bed about the same time.  Perhaps I can get the Chief down this way and pay him to build my benchwork.  Just kidding.  I do need to take some time to do it though.  Got some great advise from some of the guys on this forum.  I think I am set for everything I need to build my layout......just need the time now.

Dennis

[cnw1995]

Sweat tea, yuck. Must be some new Southern thing 

[dougdagrump]

Dennis,

You have now run headon into "Murphy's Law", not Doug M., the one that states:

"If you got the time you don't have the money, if you got the money you don't have the time".

Sound familiar..........

[jefelectric]

Hello Every one in the POT.

this is the first time i have been able to get on here since they changed the web site.

hey CSXT-30 are you a pipefitter? they need you in alaska.

funny thing, timing , keep that price up.

MAKE GASOLINE AND DIESEL FROM COAL.

have a great day all.

NStrackman

MP-N-369.

Welcome back NStrackman, wondered what happened to you.  I am with you.  The Germans made gasoline form coal in WW2, 65 years ago, why can't we do it now?  Surely the technology is better now.

Laz, Looks like you are getting forgetful like us old guys! 

As Laz mentioned we have had great weather here the past couple of Days.

I opened the dollhouse kit box today and started work on it.  I do a lot of prepainting before starting assembly.  Works a lot better that way, you can paint almost everything laying flat.  I won't get a lot done with the trains until that project is finished.

 

 

[FJ and G]

Just ordered my first train off eBay: Lionel Docksider

[Dr. John]

Dave, the docksider is a GREAT little engine!

What roadname did you get?

[FJ and G]

Dr. John,

I actually forgot which roadname it is!

But it will look like this when I'm finished:

http://atsf.railfan.net/atsfpres/oht2b.jpg

or

http://atsf.railfan.net/atsfpres/atsf9005.jpg

I'm planning to add a tender and kitbash it.

I will be SURE to completely review the loco on this forum as well.

Moreover, I'm wiring it for 3-rails as well as 2 rail R/C.

I want to use it on my 2-rail garden layout AND, since we are moving to another worksite in a couple of months, I plan to design a 3-rail office layout, using some of my tinplate structures. When that is completed, I'll do up an article for CTT. The 0-6-0 (which really isn't a Docksider (0-4-0), would look sweet with some semi-scale cars on 3 rails.

THanks for asking!

OK, you got my curiosity up. Here's the one ordered:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lionel-28650-NYC-Docksider-Steamer-New_W0QQitemZ270012495384QQihZ017QQcategoryZ4148QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

NYC!
(I was old enough to see these on Brooklyn Terminal RR)

[Dr. John]

Dave,

I look forward to seeing pictures of the finished result. Glad to know you haven't completely abandoned three rails!

[wrmcclellan]

Evening all!

Back from another long trip. Orlando is a lousy place to be this time of year. Hot and humid. Nice to be back in Texas where it is just hot .

Hope everyone is well. I called and spoke to the Chief while I was waiting at the Orlando airport last night.

Have a great evening all!

Roy

[Brutus]

Sounds cool, David.  Hot here in Arnold/St. Louis area, but cooled off tonight due to another storm.  Just rain and wind from all I have heard, no tornadoes or deaths this time.  Half the houses on the street are getting their new roofs and siding now from last February and March storms.  No flat tires since Monday, thank God!

I was bidding on a water tower on ebay, but it is now twice as expensive as I think is reasonable for a used water tower without a box.  Have to keep my eye out for one.  I see that Department 56 has a water tower with a pumpkin head, but it is a residential or industrial looking number, not one for a train yard -- too high.

I was looking at a Copper Range Lionel docksider set for $145, but no shipping/handling was listed and the seller failed to reply to my request for a quote, so no bids from Jimbo!

[jefelectric]

David, Are you using the hyperlink insertion button?  Your links do not work when clicked, you have to copy and paste them.

http://atsf.railfan.net/atsfpres/oht2b.jpg

They should look like this if you use the hyperlink insertion button.

Just a suggestion.

Hi Roy, You must have jumped in while I was writing my post.  Been a while since you posted, looks like you've had a busy summer.

[wrmcclellan]

Hey John - yep the summer has been a bit too busy for me.

Good news is the kiddos are off to church camp next weekend and the missus and I have the house to ourselves

[ChiefEagles]

Hey John - yep the summer has been a bit too busy for me.

Good news is the kiddos are off to church camp next weekend and the missus and I have the house to ourselves

OH NO!!  You will be getting Jim A to send you some maple syrup from Mass.

Back from eastern NC.  Goooood pork bar-be-que and fried chicken.  The sweet tea was OK but a little sweet [like Jon E says, makes your teeth hurt].  I use Splenda anyway.  Just took the widow lady some tomatoes and pund cake.  She is the one I have leased the pond from for $1.  John, told her about our okra/tomato soup recipe.  She loves it so I have to take her okra and hot peppers tomorrow.    City of Raleigh mowed the sewer easment.  That means I will have to dot he cable across the back easement or the 4 wheeler will really give me a fit [that is where he has been sneaking in from].  My work is never done so I can work on train room.   Later.

[dougdagrump]

Well Roy as much as you have travelled this summer and the kiddos being off to camp, I'd be willing to bet that you will have a very long "Honey Do List" first and foremost.

[Jumijo]

Good morning, Boys.

Last night was a busy one up here. I washed and waxed the old Chevy, then went over to my inlaws with the kids to fix a lawnmower. Stayed for dinner (lamb) and desert. Got home around 8:00 and worked on the layout for a while. Tried Goo Gone on the tracks last night for the first time. It did a very nice job getting the rails clean, and actually seem to make the rails feel more slippery than those cleaned with alchohol. I wiped all clean with a fresh rag. Will see if there is any difference tonight when we run trains. The evening came to a close with a few episodes of Band of Brothers.

I hope everyone has a great day.

Jim

[FJ and G]

John,

I just copied and pasted the links. Didn't know there was some other function.

Let me do a test.

http://www.google.com/

Hmmmmm. My links aren't hyper. They seem to be pretty lethargic. How did you get yours to hyperlink?

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is humid in SE Indiana with the temps in the 80s today and some more rain coming...maybe.  Roy, good to have you back from Orlando.  Chief, you wear me out with your adventures.  FJ and G, sounds like you have a lot of railroading planned.  I look forward to your articles.  To all, Lucas got his head shaved last night.  It does not look too bad, but it was the same day we got his last "hair" pictures back from the photographer.  My mom is in the hospital now with anemia so they are giving her blood transfusions.  They will be running some tests to see what is causing the anemia.  Like they say on the radio, "....and the hits just keep on coming".  One of these days I will have a good day, and when I do, I will enjoy it immensely.  Thank you all for the support.  It means more than you will ever know.

I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[dwiemer]

Morning all,

     Mike, my best to the family.  The Good Lord doesn't give us more than we can handle, so you must have pretty strong shoulders.  Keep the faith and we will keep you and your family in our prayers.

     Chief, I still prefer the idea of getting a trail camera and getting pictures of the offending parties.  Between horses, ATVs and kids with boats, you sure do have a need for it.  Though a little more expensive, the digital ones would be better as you seem to have a lot of activity.  Get the photos, hand them over to the Police and let the law work.  I hate to see you have trouble with the offending parties suing you.

     I have been informed by my bride that we have a baby sitter coming today to watch the kids while I get to work on the layout.  Gotta love her.  Anyway, I hope to get some photos together and keep you apraised of my progress.

Have a blessed day,

Dennis

[Jumijo]

Mike,
My thoughts are with you and your family. Sooner or later, the pendulum will swing the other way, and better times will come again.

I try to instill in my kids (and my wife) a sense of appreciation for all we have. For how incredibly fortunate we are to be healthy middle class Americans. It can all be taken away or change so quickly. "There but for the grace of God, go I".

David,
Try upping the sugar content in those links. If that doesn't make them hyper, I don't know what will!

Jim

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It rained last night and it's 70 degrees right now. Going up to 80 today, and a chance of thunderstorms later. 

We got the new carpeting in the living room installed and moved the furniture back in. Looks great. Matches decor.

Mike C....Keep the faith.  Live each day to it's fullest. I do. I learned the hard way, to appreciate life and my friends. Things will get better.

Today, Paula and I will take a ride to Marietta, Ohio. We will eat lunch at a real nice place on the Ohio side of the River. Ryan's. We need a day of fun.

I may run some trains later tonite. I have to start working on those train projects. They are a pleasure to work on. I like being able to run trains while I work on the layout.

I am off to the Dining car. Breakfast.

Y'all have a great day.

Chuck

[jefelectric]

Good morning,

David, On the tool bar there is a hyperlink symbol (globe & chain).  Click on it and it give you a pop up with a space to copy your link.  Do it that way and it is clickable in your post.

Mike C., Hang in there, we are all praying for your family.

Got to go, daughter in law just called and asked me to take a picture of one of the grandsons steers to hand out at show.  Then off to fitness center.  LHS later.

Keep on training.

 

[laz 57]

Hi GIZ,

   Another beauty of a day here in central Pa.   Sunny and warm but not too hot.   We need rain though,dry.

   MIKE C. we're all praying for ya.  Hope things get better.

   ROY, sounds like a very moist trip to Orlando?  Too humid for me. 

GIZ, I got my sandlot baseball teams from Scenic Express yesterday.  I'll try and set it up today, maybe take some pics of layout?

Heel still a little tender today, maybe take off running or see what it feels like later in the day?  This would be first time off in 110 days.  Maybe I need a day off?

All have a good one.

laz57

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  Should get some rain today.  Mike, best of luck with the family.  You are in all of our prayers.  Sick and hospitaled family can really be a stress.  John, steer?  FFA or 4H Club?  I always had a steer for a FFA and 4H project [along with peanuts and corn].  Guess that is why I am still a big gardener.  Mom always says, "You can take the boy out of the farm but you cant take the farm out of the boy."  Dennis, you are real lucky with Kim.  She makes you GRITS, looks after the kids, puts up with you and to top it off, she's pretty.   Trains???? What is that???  Have not had time to run them in over a week.  Stayed at the widow lady's house until 10 last night.  She was glad to have company.  Like Mom before she had a sitter 24/7.  They get real lonely sitting in their houses with no one to talk too.  Mom could not remember if it rained that day but she can always remember if she had a visitor.  Got to go finish mowing the neighbors' back yards before it rains.  Have a great one.

[tmcc man]

Good morning everyone,

  Mike C my thought are with you and your family. I hope that good day comes soon.

We need some rain too. Can't mow the grass without stressing it out. Humid today. Now it looks like storm clouds are coming in. Good for the new plants and grass, but bad for me because I have to mow it.

Did I tell you about the new car my dad got. 2006 Chrysler 300 Touring. Got it in early July. Dark blue exterior with a light gray leather interior. He didn't get the Hemi, (got the most powerful V6)  said to me you will be driving soon, don't want all that power available  to you. I wasn't happy about that, but it is fast. You really feel the acceleration since it is AWD. I washed it, did the windows, cleaned the rims, and shined the tires on it. I am going to the shore early Saturday morning, so I am going to bring the wax and interior supplies down to finish it off.

When I was down there in early July I was cleaning the rims, and had the hood up to get the dirt in the dips where the hood goes. 2 girls rode their bikes past me and the one looked over at me when the hood was open, and the other one said "move up, he's already taken." They were both in bikini's. I didn't know how she made that assumption, but figured it out after I saw my cousin's friend looking at me. Turns out they live 2 doors down from me. I like my cousin's friend, but not how I like Bridget.

 

Talk to you guys later,

Colin

 

[dougdagrump]

Mornin' All  Ruff sleeping last nite, heat and humidity starting up again but still not as bad as east of the Sierras yet.

Due to the current lack of availabilty of the cabooses(cabeese ?) that I was looking for, would it be kosher(I know, that is not being PC) to operate a Southern caboose behind a CSX loco. No offense intended Chief.

 

 

[ChiefEagles]

Just got a box from The Train Station.  I'm concerned.  Got one the other day.  Won three items at a very good price [one box car and one flat with bulkheads and pair of die cast trucks].  Shipping shows 6 lbs.  Today's shipment shows 5 lbs.  Same box car, same flat with bulkheads and a three bay die cast K-Line hopper with bags of coal and snow.  HUMMM  I've been watching this for some time.  Someone is playing games with shipping.   Think we just quit doing business.

Mowed the neighbor's back yards.  Found five monster fire ant hills [remember I found two in my back yard next to the field last year, all gone].  We zapped these too.  I think the farmer contracts to have his soybeans planted and that guy is "strowing" them all of the county.

Looks like rain.  Had a few drops but then sun.  Please rain.