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

[1688torpedo]

Hello All!   Went to the Train Show yesterday (with the OTTS Guys)in Medina,Ohio & picked up a 785 NYC Hudson for $435.00 mint in the box from Fred Sipple of Erie,Pa.  I think that this is my all time buy as they were made in 1988 & was the 50th Anniversary Hudson in that year. It is two-tone grey & black & looks sharp.The Box had never been opened before & is not shopworn at all. Very happy with it. Laz- Just use the computer in the cave of the 800lb bear,everyone has a computer these days Mitch- I doubt if epoxy or Jb Weld will be satisfactory in holding together your 2025 casting as there would be a visible crack where the break happened & it would be like trying to glue together a broken piece of china. You can try it, You may not be happy with it though. I've seen broken castings at train shows that were pretty much beyond repair. Marker Lights are easier to fix if they break, pretty much everything else has to be replaced. Jim A- Make your second layout a prewar one with 1688s on it! Take Care everyone.

[jefelectric]

Morning guys,

She has arrived.

Emma Scott was born this morning at 7:58.  Weights 6 lbs. & 5 oz. and is 18-1/4".  Mother and daughter are doing fine.

Want to guess where Jean is right now?  I have the two munchkins, of course they want to see their baby sister.  The younger one thinks that she will be able to play right away.

On the hunting discussion, I have hunted most of my life until recent years.  Never shot a deer, only hunted for them a few times.  Always prefered small game hunting, pheasant, rabbit and squirel.  In recent years most of the pheasant have vanished and the rabbits have all moved to the built up areas, both due to loss of habitat.  Can't blame the farmers, they can't afford to farm to maximise the game at the expense of production.  My .

Had a nice chat on the phone with Don Baker last evening.

Well the 5 year old wants to read to me, so will sign off.

[cnw1995]

Welcome Emma - congratulations! 

[Jumijo]

Congratulations, John!!!

[laz 57]

CONGRATS JOHN, another one you have to spoil.  Spoil em good.

KEITH, nice find on your part at the train show.  Everyone have a good time?  Security gaurds didn't have to throw anyone out?

laz57

[wrmcclellan]

John - a big congratulations to you and your expanding family!

Keith - great find and a very good price!

Laz - the bear should be hibernating soon and then you can get to his PC.

Windy and cloudy here and headed to about 81 and then another front with possibility of rain tonight and lower temps tomorrow. We still needs tons o' rain here.

Have a great one all!

[jefelectric]

Thanks guys,  I am back, she decided she didn't want to read as she got wrapped up in a cartoon while I was online.

Roy, nice to see you posting, been a while.

Laz, I do a pretty good job of spoiling.

[Brutus]

Congratulations, John and a big hello to your granddaughter!

Supposed to be in the 70's this afternoon.  Need to work on the train and layout tonight - not as complicated as I wanted, but we've been busy so oh well.  break's over - ttfn

[John Bakeer]

A Bear hug is not on the cards any more than a tree is for me, and what's wrong with cow pie?
When was the last time people in the west needed to hunt for food? When there is a Wall-Mart round every corner. yes they are here in the UK too.
I like to hear your weather reports, you get every thing from hot to cold in a country twice the size of europe, we in UK get that in a country the size of New England and all in the same day and without having to move.

[cnw1995]

I hear you, John. I think our perspectives on hunting reflects different cultural perspectives;  if I may be bold enough to generalize: hunting in the UK was more a class phenomenom; in many parts of the US, it is still perceived variously as sport, a form of agricultural pest control, and a way to gather some rather exotic meats.

[Jumijo]

And, if you go hunting with VP Chaney, you have the added excitement of maybe getting blown away at point-blank range! Bully!

[dbaker48]

I hear you, John. I think our perspectives on hunting reflects different cultural perspectives;  if I may be bold enough to generalize: hunting in the UK was more a class phenomenom; in many parts of the US, it is still perceived variously as sport, a form of agricultural pest control, and a way to gather some rather exotic meats.

Doug,  Extremely well said!!!

John,  Major Congradulations with Emily,   Fantastic News.   I think your going to have to develop another twonship with all the doll houses!   Sure is fortunate you have your contractors license.

Roy,  Really interesting regarding all your efforts with NY and Grand Central.  Maybe you could expand on it.

Doug(dagrump),  Ok, now you need to start planning for a York trip.  I've done some investigating with the help of  John(jefelectric), I can get a roundtrip ticket for $270.   I plan on doing it making reservations today.

Later

[Blueberryhill RR]

Thanks guys,  I am back, she decided she didn't want to read as she got wrapped up in a cartoon while I was online.

Roy, nice to see you posting, been a while.

Laz, I do a pretty good job of spoiling.

John...Congratulations on the arrival of the new Grand Daughter.

[Dr. John]

John, allow me to add my congratulations on the birth of your new granddaughter. I know you're proud!

My on hunting. Here in the deep south, deer are EVERYWHERE! Without hunting to control the deer population, the deer would face food shortages as too many deer would tend to overwhelm their food supply (very much a problem in drought years, like this year). Already, we are seeing deer coming into more (human) populated areas in search of food. On average, I see about a half dozen deer a week, sometimes passing through my yard. My wife had a close encounter with a doe last spring as it ran in front of her. Fortunately, my wife and her Jeep did not suffer any damage and the deer, quickly got up and bounded away. And yes, we do eat venison, not because there are no other choices, but because it is a very good meat source when properly prepared. I often prefer it to beef as venison tends to be leaner. It is great in stews, soups, as sausage (my favorite!) and many other ways.

Certainly hunting is not for everyone. I'm not a hunter myself, more of a fisherman, but I'm always glad when one of my friends who hunts shares some vension with me.

[Jumijo]

It's the same way here, Dr. John. Deer and many other animals are being displaced by development. Many deer would suffer and die from starvation and disease if it weren't for the hunters. I've never been fortunate enough to have tried venison, but would do so in a New York minute. I have had buffalo and that is very good.

Jim

[Dr. John]

Jim, I've heard that buffalo is very good. Never had the opportunity to try it, but I'd like to.

Venison needs proper preparation or it can taste "gamey." Of course, some folks like it that way. Their are various ways to prepare venison where it is pretty much like good quality beef.

[1688torpedo]

John F-   Congrats on your new Grandaughter- is there a Girl's Train in the future for her?    Laz- I forgot to tell you that Fred had a Lionel Mowhawk from 1991 (the first version) Brand New in the box same condition as my Hudson for $485.00!  Nice Engine. However, I still like the Hudson & it sure is a keeper. Jim A-  All you have to do is go to Western NY & there's 'Buffalo' on the edge of Lake Erie! Reminds me of the famous song from the 70's "You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd" Don't know who sings it. Sure was a funny ditty at the time.Take Care all.

[Blueberryhill RR]

Jim, I've heard that buffalo is very good. Never had the opportunity to try it, but I'd like to.

Venison needs proper preparation or it can taste "gamey." Of course, some folks like it that way. Their are various ways to prepare venison where it is pretty much like good quality beef.

Dr. John,  Buffalo is very good. Had it about 20 years ago , out in Wyoming. Barbequed. They have a season where they must offer a lot to the public. Ground buffalo is popular.

Chuck

[John Bakeer]

Venison is good but a bit on the dry side.
Very good for the heaith as it is virtually fat free'
Here they are bread as a domestic animal in England, but are wild in Scotland where they are culled to control their numbers in order to maintain a healthy stock in an overcrouded environment.
No Grizzlys though. Bit tough!

[cnw1995]

I was just thinking how many different critters I've et in my sojourns across the world: it's getting to be quite a weird list: gator, different types of squid, dog, guinea pig, buffalo, deer, elk, wild boar, squirrel, parrot, a particularly repulsive form of hairy crab... Give me a big 'ol hunk of beef any day.

[csxt30]

Good Afternoon Everyone !! 

Congratulations John  on the new Grandaughter !!  Looks like another doll house goin' up !!

We have a Buffalo farm right here in my area. One guy told me it's about 20 dollars a lb. Plus a bit south of us, there used to be a farm that bread buffalo & beef & called them beeffalos. That is true, but I don't know if they are still there now. I do know we are to have dominion over the animals !!

Keith, glad you got that new engine !! The guy Keith got it from used to own Erie's other Lionel train shop. I always got a good deal from him & was a very nice to get help from  !!  He usually had everything & seems to still have, even though he only goes to train shows now, I think.

Hope everyone has a nice evening !!

Thanks, John  

[jefelectric]

Good evening,

One more post and then I will get back on topic.

Emma Elizabeth Scott & Grandma

Does she look proud or what?

[jefelectric]

On venison & buffalo, I don't really care for venison.  My son and two SILs all hunt and get at least one deer a year among them, somtimes quite a few.  They all like it but the only way I like it is in dry beef or balogna form.  I do like buffalo, there are several restaurants in the area that serve it and I eat a lot of buffalo burgers.  Very tasty & lean.  I have also eaten elk and find that better than deer.

And thanks for all the congratulations guys.

It looks like Don will be making the long treck to York in the spring.  I hope it lives up to his expectations.

Think I'll run the trains for the granddaughters a little later.

[tmcc man]

Good evening everyone,

Jefelectric congrats. More doll houses to come?

Well, I won't be going to school tomorrow. Neither will half of the school. We had a bomb threat on Friday. The threat stated that the school would take a wrong turn on Oct.31 2006. The school isn't giving us off, so my parents are keeping us home.

[dougdagrump]

John, Congrats on the granddaughter !!!!!!!

Don, I would love to make the pilgrimage to "Toy Train Mecca" and that airfare ain't to shabby either. However that being said, I would find it extremely difficult to avoid temptation and have a plastic meltdown in my wallet.

I think maybe I' ll visit the Cal Stewart show next month and spend that $270 airfare money on trains. You need to set up or participate in a seminar somewhere up there so the trip can be tax deductable.  

[Buckeye Riveter]

Congratulations John on the new granddaughter!!!!!

Hope everything is going well for both mother and daughter.

[dwiemer]

John, congratulations on the birth of your grandaughter.  I wonder if she will be spoiled by her grandparents?  Of course she will!  It will be some time before I am a grandparent as my oldest is 4, but I am sure it will be wonderful.  Many prayers and blessings to you and your family.

Dennis

[mitchelr]

Congratulations John (and Jean) on the new grandbaby!!!!!

What a great picture of Emma and her proud Grandma.

Mitch

[GregM]

Dr John,

The A5 arrived today. I put it in my car and tried to forget about it until I got home.  After I ate dinner, I opened the box and put the engine on my test loop.  Ran great!  Really a nice engine.  Thank You. 

[dbaker48]

John,    Really a great pic of Jean and Emma.  Grandma sure looks happy!  The baby looks pretty comfortable as well!  Congratulations to the whole family!

Got the airfares all taken care of for York, so watch out you guys, fair warning for a California invasion.  Should have gotton the ticket last week, as it turned out they actually went up in price $30 over the weekend, heard on the news this morning that United raised their fare due to fuel costs.  And, they all followed.  Still, I'm not complain'n.
 I am not in the lease bit concerned about being disappointed regarding York, I've been to "train meets" that have had less than a dozen tables.  Then the TTOS convention this past year was not to hot either.  So, not concerned at all!  As it turns out the airfare is cheaper of course, if I returned home on a weekday as oppossed to the weekend.  So will end up actually staying a little longer and take in some of the other sites.  And, that it of it self will be significant!  Being somewhat of a history buff, and having never been to PA, there are plenty of other things to see, and still won't have time to see much. 

We havn't won the lottery or anything, but just with planning and budgeting have been fortunate enough to plan our vacation for next summer out as well.   Again, by purchasing tickets in the future you can get some pretty good deals.  So we are planning a trip to Alaska for July.  We were up there two years ago, and had a really great time.  I honestly think it was the best vacation I ever had.  We did ride the White Pass railway, but the weather wasn't very cooperative that day, and didn't get to see a whole lot other than the inside of clouds, and fog.  So will try that again.  Some of you may have seen the lumberjack contests sponsered by Stihl.  They actually have an areana set up in Ketchikan and conduct shows daily for all the cruise ships.  It is pretty exciting and very enjoyable.  And of course, the scenery is too beautiful to describe.

Regarding the fire from last week, it is all but out.  Really is unbelievable that last weeks fire covered as much acerage in 3.5 days as the one last month covered in 6 weeks.  The 5th firefighter that was caught in the fire is still barely holding on.  They say the prognosis is only about 5% favorable.  The reward is now over 650,000 for the arsonists.

Doug, which day are you going to Cal Stewart?  May be able to hook up for lunch or coffee.

Colin - Can't believe all the stuff that happens today, our son's school was locked down on Thursday, a girl reported an attempted kidnapping on Wednesday, the school lock's down Thursday, the girl recants the claim on Friday.  Sure has everyone upset, the Sheriffs dept hasn't determined whether to charge her with anything or not yet. 

To steal Chuck's line; the dinning car is pulling in, (actually leaving) for PoFolks.    So fried chicken, taters & gravy, baked beans, biscuits & sorgum. & RASPBERRY ice tea!