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

[Brutus]

Ahhh - lost all my bids, knew it would happen - 2 by just 1 dollar, of course.  Boy had fun at scouts though.  David - that's hilarious!  I emailed that link to a few guys.  Got my 2 short gondolas and 2 dump cars (9030?) today from ebay - cost about $6 for all 4 cars and they are now full of skulls for the Halloween layout.

[dougdagrump]

I looked everywhere for skeletons to fill up a small gondola or log dump car but everything was way to big. Got a bag of skulls at "Party City" for the coal dump car.  

[dbaker48]

Thought I would post a couple of pics of an item I picked up at the Arizona State Fair.  This engine is hand carved out of mahogony.


As you can see it came with two pieces of track, (2 rail), the trucks actually swival, but the wheels do not turn.  The piping is accomplished with copper wire.


Not the best picture, but there it is.




Put the Beep in for comparison, as you can see it is larger than O, but less than G scale.

The guys that were selling these had about every aircraft I think was ever made, and even helicopters.  They also had a number of various cars.  The aircraft and cars were selling for $39, the train engine was $59 due to two pieces.  They couldn't keep the trains in stock, they had brought in an overnight delivery and called me, so I went back to pick it up.  While I was there they sold the other four within 10 minutes.  One other guy and I got into a discussion of whether to upgrade to TMCC or DCS,  we both agreed on TMCC so we wouldn't loose realism with the teather.

[Brutus]

Good one Don!  Very cool!

Doug - my wife bought a bag of plastic skulls that are about the size of an Aggie marble.  They have holes for (I guess) stringing them as necklaces.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Chief,  Since Marion,  Ohio is the popcorn capital of the world,  I believe it would be best that you stop indulging in this Yankee treat asap. 

Ref:  http://jacob.efinke.com/cities2.html

[ChiefEagles]

Chief,  Since Marion,  Ohio is the popcorn capital of the world,  I believe it would be best that you stop indulging in this Yankee treat asap. 

Ref:  http://jacob.efinke.com/cities2.html

Another one of those claims from Ohizo.  Just like you claim the first flight.  Sorry, that happened in NC.  Only thing Ohizo is known for in white is SNOHIO.   Goood night.  BTW: Buckeye, close the door.  We have been running 10 degrees below normal for this time of the year.  Yankees cause all the trouble.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Orville was a Northerner.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orville_Redenbacher

 

[dougdagrump]

Jim, That sounds like the same thing that I have. After getting them home and finding those beading holes in them I thought about maybe mounting them on small doweling stuck in some floral foam, oh well there is always next year.  

[Jumijo]

Hey, Dep,

How'd you make out with that 682 auction last week?

Actually, I let that one slide past. I managed to score a Lionel Century Club 671 S2 Steam Turbine (18010) online so I went with that instead. And it has MAGNETRACTION and is made in USA!!!

Dep

That's great, Dep! Please post photos when you get it. All the Century Club locos are very nice!

Jim

[Jumijo]

Good morning everyone.

A little nippy out there this morning. Frost on the windshield for the first time.

We ran the little 2034 again last night. The kids get a kick out of it.

I watched rattlesnake be prepared, cooked and eaten last night on Taste of America on the Travel Channel. Not for me! I rarely if ever watch traditional network TV any more. I find cable networks have more interesting programming.

Chief,
If you know it makes your wife mad when you intentionally wake her up, why do you keep doing it?!

Still have not received my "More Allstar Electric Trains". I called yesterday and they are sending another one. Will take ~ 10 days. Next year I'll just buy it at a train store.

If me and the kids are feeling better on Saturday, we might journey up to Mountain Trains in Manchester, New Hampster.

Have a great day, all!

Jim

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is cold but sunny in SE Indiana with temps heading to the 50s today.  I took Lucas to a college fair last night.  I also went to the YMCA for some treadmill work.  My wife and I watched "Veronica Mars".  Maybe this weekend I will do some train running.  "Lost" is on tonight. 

Regarding popcorn, I like it, but it does not like me so I stay away from it.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[dwiemer]

Don, that is a neat looking engine.  There is a museum somewhere where a guy hand carved a bunch of engines and all the parts move!  The guy was old when they filmed him and it was shot awhile ago, but I am sure we will hear of someone with more information.  Yours is great.

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is 34 degrees and sunny. Sky is clear. Going up to 49 today. That's not really warming up a lot. But, it's better than 29.

Today, we will do the grocery shopping. That's not exactly the most exciting thing to do, but at least we get out. I sure wish there was a Hobby shop locally, to stop in at. I miss the browsing.

Later today, I am going to spend some time in the train room. I want to cut the opening in the wall and test it out. That's the start of the extension.

Dining Car just rolled in. Time to dine. Breakfast.

Y'all have a great Wednesday.

Chuck

[cnw1995]

Good morning from a cold and sunny Chicago where the smoke from an extra alarm fire yesterday a few blocks away is still wafting You can probably find video or photos online.. It made quite a show when viewed from my 13th flr. perch before class: more fire trucks than I've ever seen, plumes of smoke and flames shooting out the roof; firemen shooting water from their ladder-tops; glad no one was hurt.

Supposed to rain later. I hope to use a roll of gaff tape to repair the cat damage to the backdrop and layout tonight. May you all have a good day. Glad Lucas is doing better - send him to DePaul.

Almost forgot, did you see the powered Birney in the latest CTT? Very sweet!

[ChiefEagles]

Good morning everyone.

We ran the little 2034 again last night. The kids get a kick out of it.


If me and the kids are feeling better on Saturday, we might journey up to Mountain Trains in Manchester, New Hampster.

Have a great day, all!

Jim

On both of these, I'm sure it is the "KIDS" that enjoy all of this.  Just one KID, the old man.

Chilly [10 degrees below normal for Oct in NC].  Got several truck loads of tree limbs and small trees I cut up yesterday.  Work Work.  Grits time.  Have a good one.

[1688torpedo]

Hello All!   Don - That is a very nice woodcarving you have & it sure is detailed. Dennis- The gent you are thinking of is Mr. Warther who is now deceased & he did very detailed wood carvings of Trains including Lincoln's Funeral Train & the museum is in Dover, Ohio. Chief- The Wright Brother's Orville & Wilbur are from Dayton,Ohio-Not North Carolina.They did their test flight at Kitty Hawk,NC thats all. Plus, They used to have a Bicycle Shop in Dayton that is now at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn,Mi. Jim A- Hope you & the kids feel much better soon. Jim C. Sounds like Lucas is doing very well. Hope his condition continues to improve every day. Take Care all.

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

  40 this morning to get to 52?

Busy BUSY BUSY today, end of marking period coming up got to get kidos projects done.

Later, have a good one.

laz57

[mrregal]

For those involved in scouts look at this article from Scouting Magazine. The article talks about a family involved in scouting and model railroading. http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/current/a-alla.html
The article mentions the railroading merit badge. As a scout leader I would encourage any of you out there to beome a merit badge counselor for the railroad merit badge and help spread model railroading to another generation .
Phil R

[Roger Bielen]

Brrrrrr!  It was a chilly 31 when I left the house this morning, its now 42 at noon and cloudy.  With the cold comes the aches and pains, the body is complaining about getting out of bed in the morning.

Been spending time on the work bench assembling Berkshire Valley water columns.  Glad I have a magnifying visor since the small parts need a bit of dressing.  You'd think that for the cost of the kits they would be smooth and ready for assembly.  I've finished one and should have the second ready for painting this afternoon.

I think I'll get out the small electric heater I have for my work room this afternoon and check the heater out in the pumphouse, already turned on the heat in the house and out in the train room.

[jefelectric]

Good afternoon all,

Babysiting again, This may be the last time before the little sister arrives.

Don, Nice wooden engine.  There was a guy at York with trains and engines in several sizes in wood.  The largest looked to be about 1" = 1'.

Chuck, I thought you already had an opening in the wall in the picture you posted on SPF.

Beautiful day here today. Was very cloudy, cold and windy for the past two days.

No time for trains today, maybe tomorrow.

[Jumijo]

Windy and cold here for several days as well, John. The wind is coming down from Canada. Rain expected for the weekend, so I guess I'll be stripping the wall paper in my wife's bathroom.

Just talked to the Chief. He is making a good old fashioned New England Beef Stew. Atta boy, Chief! That will put some hairs on yer chest! Up here we like ours with some Italian bread on the side and a can of suds to wash it all down. Don't forget to tell your wife to pull your finger when you're done with the beer!  Better yet, wait till she's asleep on the couch, wake her up, then tell her to pull your finger!  HA HA HA!!!!!

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good afternoon all,

Babysiting again, This may be the last time before the little sister arrives.

Don, Nice wooden engine.  There was a guy at York with trains and engines in several sizes in wood.  The largest looked to be about 1" = 1'.

Chuck, I thought you already had an opening in the wall in the picture you posted on SPF.

Beautiful day here today. Was very cloudy, cold and windy for the past two days.

No time for trains today, maybe tomorrow.

John,  Yes I already do have one hole in the wall which goes to a reverse loop. I am going to continue the track in the other room, around that room and out another hole, on the other side of the cloud wall. Then, the track will continue down the front wall of the train room and attach to the reverse loop on the wooden retaining wall. This will make an upper loop about 16 feet x 12 feet  square. On the new leg of it, in the main room, I will have a passing siding about 12 feet long. ( using the two switches from the reverse loops ). I will post pictures of the progress.

Chuck

[Blueberryhill RR]

Hey  OTTS guys .....read this.........

Just talked to the Chief. He is making a good old fashioned New England Beef Stew. Atta boy, Chief! That will put some hairs on yer chest! Up here we like ours with some Italian bread on the side and a can of suds to wash it all down. Don't forget to tell your wife to pull your finger when you're done with the beer!  Better yet, wait till she's asleep on the couch, wake her up, then tell her to pull your finger!  HA HA HA!!!!!

[Brutus]

Ha - always a good joke!  Then crush the beer can on your head!  Sequence is key, Chief.

Coooooold and windy and rainy here in St. Louis.  Off Thursday and Friday, kids are off school, so intend to finish up the layout and take some more pics for Sunday.  Looks like the baseball game will be postponed.  Sure will be glad when all these election ads will go away for a while.  Might stop at Michaels for some supplies on the way home tonight so we don't have to go out in the rain tomorrow.  Anyway, TTFN

[Blueberryhill RR]

Where's Buckeye ???

[mitchelr]

Evening Folks. Not much to report here from Gettysburg.  Weather has been gray and cool with some pretty strong breezes.  Temps are to be near or below freezing the next few nights.  Rain is forecast for Friday and Saturday.  I have a few Honey - Do's that I need to get done outside.  Things at work are interesting as usual.  Dealing with some needy kids and families. 

Haven't seen or heard from Tom Schmidt in a while.  I guess his new job is keeping him hopping.

Ran  some trains Monday evening.  Having trouble with the UP 2033AA Locos, they do not want to run.  Found some loose wires to couplers and ligts on matching passenger cars, but that should not cause loco not to move.  Will have to  try to solder the wires back on and do some more trouble shooting.  Ran my RMT Beep and my MTH BL 2 as well as Post-War 2055 and 2025.

Take care,

Mitch

[jonadel]

Mitch--

Still thinking about the wonderful week we had in your state last week and the fantastic weather you ordered for us (except for that rainy Tuesday). The York meet did energize us to think more about trains and what the future might hold for us within the hobby.

I've had two L O N G days with one of my part time jobs but I'm done for the week and actually have enjoyed being with my friends again, even if the day's did start at 5:45 AM.

The sofa is calling my name and it's time for Myth Busters as the World Series is a bit wet.

Jon

[Buckeye Riveter]

Where's Buckeye ???

Buckeye has been attending the Ohio Transportation Engineering Conference in Columbus with about 2,500 other people from all over Ohio for the last two days.  In my younger days,  it was a 24 hour party.   

 

[ChiefEagles]

Hey  OTTS guys .....read this.........

Just talked to the Chief. He is making a good old fashioned New England Beef Stew. Atta boy, Chief! That will put some hairs on yer chest! Up here we like ours with some Italian bread on the side and a can of suds to wash it all down. Don't forget to tell your wife to pull your finger when you're done with the beer!  Better yet, wait till she's asleep on the couch, wake her up, then tell her to pull your finger!  HA HA HA!!!!!

Southern beef stew!!!!   Needed to put those two squirrels in it.  They just insisted on eating my pecans and I insisted on shooting them.   Burg treed one late.  She would not leave.  He went inside.  He does not like gun fire or the dynamiting [due to so much rock here, they blast all the time at construction sites].  He heard the .22 when I drooped the last squirrel and wife said he went crazy to get out.  Came running around the greenhouse and scooped up the dead squirrel.  Then sat over it waiting to see if it would move.  If they don't make a tree fast, he catches them and that is it.  Kills them and brings them to you.  Problem, they see him and scram. 

Stew was wonderful.  Beef tips, onion, carrots, potatoes, green peppers and green peas [with salt and pepper].  Thickened it with gravy flour.  Cooked in crock pot until it came apart.  Then a slice of that cake.

Ran that 2065 [love that engine] some before going out and cutting down a silver maple that was next to my shed.  Hauled it off [3 truck loads].    A hurricane had broken the top out of it several years ago.  Then it sprouted out in a mess.  Kept the shed top covered with leaves and dampness.  Gone now.

Later.

[Dr. John]

Chief, the stew sounds great - like what my wife makes, minus the green peppers ( I like 'em but she doesn't). Had some "Cue stew" for lunch today - most of you know it as Brunswick stew. Lots of pulled pork, tomatoes, corn, onions with some hot BBQ sauce and cornbread - excellent! Local restaurant makes it. Goes great with sweet tea!