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

[csxt30]

Good Afternoon  Everyone !!  I'm finally back on, but not all my functions correctly work with the keyboard. I can at least log on to here now but not Shutterfly for some reason.

Well, ended up working 16 hrs. yesterday  & had to go in for a couple hrs. on Thanksgiving, after working all night Wed. morning & day. Got about 35 hrs' overtime in this week. The last for this derailment was following the 30 mangled cars to Collinwood last night,  by Toms' house. That's at 15 MPH , took 3 hours to get there or a bit more. Got me an egg-nogg shake at McDonalds on the way   !!   

Well, looks like I'll be off  today  & tomorrow !

Hope everyone has a nice weekend !!

Thanks, John

[jefelectric]

Good afternoon,

John,  Glad to see you are back on line.

Don,  I haven't taken any pictures of the T-1 as it is not on the layout at present.  One end of my layout is 042 track and although it is supposed to run on 042 it does not do it well.  Part of my main is the curved leg of an 042 turnout and the T-1 derails regularly on that.  I am going to change that area around and go to 054 curves completely on the main.  Hopping to do it between Christmas and New Years, when my grandson is available to help.  Will go twice as fast with him doing the under layout wiring.  That jewelry mall sounds neat, but I usually buy all the expensive jewelery at a local shop where I know the owner.  I could be sold a piece of glass for a diamond and wouldn't know the difference, not exactly my field of expertise.

Thor,  I had a panel like you describe on my HO layout back in the late 50s & early 60s, done on black masonite with colored tape for tracks.  Lights indicated track power and turnout directions.

Buckeye,  Nice to hear you found train shopping enjoyable in PA.  Nice area to live in for that reason.  I probably have a dozen nice train shops within 30 miles of my home.  I buy 90% + at two local shops.

Going out to dinner tonight with Jean's brother & SIL.  The gals are taking us on the Strasburg Diner Train.  Belated birthday celebration for both of us as it is the first we could get together since our birthdays.  Supposed to be entertainment but I don't remember the details, either a singer or a comedian I think.

Enjoy the mild weather.

[1688torpedo]

Hello All!   Don B- Your Trainroom looks like it will be very nice. If you buy one of those very small TV Screens 3x5 or whatever size they come in. You could set up a small Drive-In Theater on your Layout & you can watch the Three Stooges while running trains! nyuck,nyuck,nyuck!! Maybe Jim A can lend you his Three Stooges with Shemp in them! & you can have Corvairs,Mustangs,Corvettes,Chevelles, & the like surrounding your Drive-In. John F- Hope you have a nice time on the Dinner Train tonight. CSXJohn- Glad your computer problem is solved. Take Care & good night all.

[ChiefEagles]

John S, only on the CSX.   Visited "Miss Edna's".  Got windows scraped and will do blinds tomorrow.  Man, what good weather.  Got a trench cut across my path at the pond.  A spring has really opened up in the hillside and a stream of water is running across the path and into the pond.  Has been doing this for 3 days now.  Water is still going over the spillway.  We are wet.  The Three Stooges.  Aren't they from the Cleveland area?  A place named Willoughby?  I know, their names are Tom, John and Keith.   Back to Christmas movies on TV.  BTW: visitors are gone and we are . Later

[Brutus]

Working on the laptop - good old IE6!  Won't let this one update until I figure out IE7 oddities.  Finished running wire for the basement outlets and installing conduit for future wiring/cable etc today!  Next - the light switches!  Back hurts - haven't worked on a ladder in a while.  Ears are much better - huge hunks of wax came out!  Finally got my December CTT thanks to customer service.  Hope the January issue shows up.  Still need to call the Post Office I guess.  CS said I should initiate the complaint.  Buckeye - sounds like it's the same mess.  I noticed that pic worked in the quote! Glad to hear you had such a good time and bought a Beep!  Don - room looks great!  Thor - sounds like a wonderful time - the kids really make holidays special!  We were over at my folks.  It was a pretty good time until my dad's eyes started spinning and he started in about Haliburton and hacked voting machines and stuff.  Don't care for either party, personally, but I don't understand how the Reps could have fixed the voting machines as he alleges and still lost?!?!  I see a hole in his conspiracy theory big enough to run a BigBoy through!  Family can be entertaining in many ways!  Kids are making Christmas lists and we're watching Elf.  TTFN

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

It is dark and mild in SE Indiana where temps were in the 60s today.  It was a beautiful day here, and I took the mower in to get fixed,  had to get a tire fixed, and got the rest of the outdoor lights up.  We had a baptism tonight for the grandson and a small party afterwards.  Tomorrow is a "free" day for me as all I have to do is go to the YMCA.  It was a good day and I hope everyone else had a good day as well.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[1688torpedo]

Hello All!     Chief- The Three Stooges used to entertain at the Vaudville Theater in Cleveland in their prime & Bob Hope is from Cleveland also.Must be the Water!  Legend has it that the Goons that used to chase the Three Stooges around the Haunted Castles & Houses in their Movies were from the South! Take Care.

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It's a frosty 32 degrees. Sunny. Going up to 68 today and sunshine. I could get real used to this weather. Maybe until April.

Today is an easy day. Relax and enjoy the weather. Maybe run trains later this afternoon. I took some pictures of the outdoor lights last night. Look pretty good, except a little hazy. I'll post them later.

Looks like everyone is sleeping in today.

Time to board the Dining Car for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Sunday.

Chuck

[spankybird]

Good Morning All from NE Ohio

Where the temp is 50 degs and headed to 66 deg with Blue Clear Skies ! ! ! 

 

Don - great going on your Benchwork ! It's a great start, you should send your plans to NC !

 

Roy - Very good point, Some people are do'ers and others just talkers. Gee, Build a complete room and a layout with LEGS !

tom

 

[csxt30]

John S, only on the CSX.   Visited "Miss Edna's".  Got windows scraped and will do blinds tomorrow.  Man, what good weather.  Got a trench cut across my path at the pond.  A spring has really opened up in the hillside and a stream of water is running across the path and into the pond.  Has been doing this for 3 days now.  Water is still going over the spillway.  We are wet.  The Three Stooges.  Aren't they from the Cleveland area?  A place named Willoughby?  I know, their names are Tom, John and Keith.   Back to Christmas movies on TV.  BTW: visitors are gone and we are . Later

Good Morning Everyone !!

Yep, only on CSX, going back to like the days of PennCentral ! That's what this derailment was like with the boss they sent down from Indy. One guy worked 28 hrs. straight  & they never let him eat.

Ha !! Chief didn't make any microwave popcorn last night !!  He won't be up for a while today !!

Well, off to the dining car, so it can get to Chucks !! 

Tom, nice pictures of the layout !!

Hope everyone has a nice day !!

Thanks, John  

[ChiefEagles]

Morning gang.  Glad to see SOME of us are going strong.  Looks like SOME are snoozing.   Apitz slipped to the library to spy on us but did not post [ashamed he will not buy his poor wife and kids a computer].  Beautiful day here.  Sunny and going into the 70's.  Love it.  If path was not so wet, would take boat to pond.  Got to get blinds hung and then building.  Room look good.  Funny thing is, once benchwork is in, you will not see the baseboards, window frames and blinds [hanging sky blue drapes over the windows].  Well, I'll know it is done right.   Does the USPS work on weekends?  My other ZW was shipped Friday afternoon.  Tracking number says it was received on Friday 3:45 PM.  I guess it is just sitting in PA.  I know, with other couriers, it would be on the move.  I loose more respect for the USPS every day.  Our mail did not come until after 5 PM yesterday.  Some days, 10:30 AM and so on down the line.  Never know when.  They keep telling me that they can not get couriers. ????  That use to be a really sought after job.  BTW John S: I did eat a bag of microwave popcorn last night.   Have a great day and week to come [even the Yanks]. Also, the really beautiful PW 635 or is it  637? Berk is still at "Miss Edna's" [eat your heart out Apitz ].  If I did not have to buy so many 072 switches, it would be mine. 

[jonadel]

Greetings from Iowa where the weather hammer is about to fall within the next 72 hours, just knew this weather wouldn't hold, it's been fantastic for weeks.  I'd best get the last chores done outside.  Wife goes back to work tomorrow, thank goodness.  Perhaps my schedule will return to normal

Chief---USPS around here has slipped big time.  Up until about a year ago it was tremendous until the postmaster retired, it's a joke now.  We have added a 5th digit to our address (for the new
EMS/GPS services) and it's been chaos.  I'll bet I've spent 3-4 hours with these folks and they are still struggling and to make it worse the carrier can't seem to figure out whose mail goes it whose box!  Mail did not arrive until 4:45 yesterday and it was always here by 11:00 a.m. on Sat.

The outside of the house is all decorated and today the tree and trains go up.  Tomorrow will be better.

Jon

[MartyE]

Well survived Nebraska just fine.  The weather was warm and I actually ate Turkey on TG.  Came home yesterday to another TG dinner from the wife.  Got some new Mega Steam scents for my smoke units.  Hot Chocolate for the Polar Express smells like a hit.  I'll be putting up the outside lights today or tommorow.  Tree won't go up for a couple weeks.  Don't want to get over Christmased too early.

[wrmcclellan]

Morning all!

Weather is supposed to turn for the worse starting tomorrow. Big cold front coming. May hit 70 today, but cloudy.

Well daughter's HS team pulled one out yesterday. Won 31-29 in the last 10 secs. Coach made bonehead decision when ahead 28 - 16 and 6 min to go. Instead of kicking a sure fire FG to go up 31-16 (we have a great kicker and the FG would require the other team to get 2 TD's plus 2 extra points for each TD for a win), faked FG and tried for TD. Didn't make it. Keep in mind we are playing a typically superior team. Well this fired up the other team and they pull two fast TD's to go ahead and now only 50 secs left. Somehow our team made it down the field to get in FG range again and made it. Nail biter that didn't have to be.

Working on Christmas decorations today. Bought new artifical tree at Target last night. Old one is over 20 years.

Have a great day all!

[jefelectric]

Good morning,

Our Strasburg Diner Train was very nice last evening. One thing I never thought of though was the fact that a lot of the run goes though Amish farm country. With no electric it was mostly pitch black countryside that we traveled though. Definitely no Christmas lights. The entertainer was a magician, geared more toward the kiddy set, but then I play with trains so I guess it was right up my alley.

A couple of years ago we did the Dinner train on the Middletown and Hummelstown RR. Along that line there are a lot of homes and a good many put up decorations facing the RR. Also goes by the Middletown Park which is extensively decorated.

Don, I liked Keith's idea for the drive in. One of the mags had an article on how to do this using a small DVD player.

Regarding the USPS, we have a great gal on our route, problem is she can only do so much. On a normal day (which are getting fewer and fewer) our mail arrives at 2:30 like clockwork. I've been told that they no longer have substitutes and when someone is off the load gets split up among other carriers. One day last week I went out at about 6:00 PM to check for mail for the third time and saw her coming about 3 doors down. It was pitch black at the time. I waited for her and talked a few words. Commented on the difficulty of delivering mail after dark on rural roads. She said it takes about twice the time once it is dark to make deliveries. Wonder when she got finished because we are far from the end of her route. Of course we are much better off than my former office as that delivery gal is commonly known as Miss Personality (no one has ever seen her smile). About 3 days a week the mail comes after the office has closed so someone has to go back in to collect the mail and secure it as it contains a lot of checks. Son has complained to PM many times with no results. Just my .

The 11 year old grandson is coming this evening to spend tomorrow with me while older brother, Dad & Mom go deer hunting. Will try to get some wiring revisions done to the layout. He is great at that under layout work.

Marty, I just received a shipment of Mega-Steam, but haven't tried any yet. Still have some Supersmoke Christmas Tree. Got Coffee, Grandpa's Pipe Smoke, Christmas Berry & Gingerbread.

That's it for now, will try to take a couple of pics for SPF.

[cheapclassics]

Good afternoon all,

It is sunny and mild in SE Indiana with temps in the 60s. Fiinished with the outdoor lights, and re-hung the punching bag in the barn for Lucas. Cleaned off a couple of train boards for a show in a couple of weeks. I hope everyone has a good day. Son-in-law loaded IE7 on the computer. So far it seems as if I can post ok.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Jumijo]

Good afternoon everyone!

Sunny, pretty day here in New England. Temps in the low 60's today and tomorrow. Good day to put up the outside Christmas lights. So we did.

I'm at the in-laws for a lovely Sunday dinner. While online, I've discovered that I'm losing an auction for a 736.

Got a new guy hooked on O gauge trains. He went to the train show last week after visiting my layout. He's talking about creating one of his own after the holidays.

 

No CTT yet.

See you all tomorrow morning, bright and early!

Jim

 

[cnw1995]

Good evening from a lovely northeastern Illinois where I can still wear just a t-shirt outside at 7 pm after running out to Kentucky Fried Chicken and the Bears lost a great football game - boy, Grossman made some lousy throws. Just like the Notre Dame game - glad that dream is over - frankly they were overrated - should be interesting to see how lousy they are next year now that Willingham's final recruits are graduating... By the way, way to recruit, Jim A!

Well, I figured out the daughter's eBay fiasco and we'll see whether the item ever arrives. The Toonverville trolley I've had my eye on has really increased in price. Oh well.

Unfortunately, we have a terrible letter-carrier in our neighborhood: my 4 year old put a couple of sealed envelopes with nothing in them and his scrawl on the cover in the mailbox unbeknown to us - he wanted to send a letter to grandma. Well, this person picked them up and then the next day came to the door demanding postage due - my wife argued with her because she couldn't tell us what it was on - we had no idea. A few days later, I found the cancelled envelopes in the bushes. My bride put a note in a neighbor's box and this person returned them - claiming no postage and address. Sigh. Our carrier before this one was deaf, knew everyone. We'd bring him lemonade; he'd give the mail to the little kids who would wait for the truck at the end of the driveway - just like in a Norman Rockwell painting. Sigh.

I saved CTT to read on the train tomorrow. Can't wait.

[ChiefEagles]

Evening.  Was digging trench for the spring at the pond to drain better and help dry out path.  Heard a noise and turned to see a big doe 15 feet away.  When I turned, she ran up the hill.  Did she think I was a buck scrapping.  Ran a buck out when I frist got out of truck and started walking down the hill.  Guess it was deer day.  Reclineritis.  Cooked steaks and they were goooood.  We were going to watch a movie on TV.  I woke up in the recliner and Pam was fast asleep in the bed.  Getting old I guess.  Blinds hung.  Room is ready!!!!!   Hope to start building tomorrow .  Pam is wanting me to put up yard and outside on stoop decorations.   I've got other plans.  Later.

[dbaker48]

Hello All!   Don B- Y You could set up a small Drive-In Theater on your Layout & you can watch the Three Stooges while running trains! nyuck,nyuck,nyuck!! Maybe Jim A can lend you his Three Stooges with Shemp in them! & you can have Corvairs,Mustangs,Corvettes,Chevelles, & the like surrounding your Drive-In. .

Keith - We had our grand opening tonight of the Random Theatre on our temporary layout.

It seems everything was OK, until this woman came up in a Corvair.  And keep flashing the lights on the screen.  Everyone was frustrated!



The police were called and she started flashing him too !!!





As it turned out the whole night was "Torpedoed"

[dbaker48]

 

Don - great going on your Benchwork ! It's a great start, you should send your plans to NC !

 

Roy - Very good point, Some people are do'ers and others just talkers. Gee, Build a complete room and a layout with LEGS !

tom

 

As you requested sending a set of my plans to NC would not be a problem!  I'm not sure however if their planning and building commissions for the various communities would provide pre-approval, as I understand some can be rather strict and may require drawings.  If necessary I can provide the information on paper also.....

1. Select area
2. Pour Cement
3. Build Room (I only used 3 walls, 4 may be necessary)
4. Get saw horses (2 required, an additional 2 is optional, 1 on each corner)
5  Put plywood on saw horses
6. Put carpet on plywood
7. Put a circle of track on carpet
8. Put builidings on carpet
9. Put train on track

FINISHED !!!!!

Biggest risk is getting distracted with chores, responsibilities, and other nonsense.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Yea, I'm back home in good old Buckeyeland. 

Tired after driving for 8 hours today. 

Back to work tomorrow. 

See ya down the tracks.

[dbaker48]

Evening All,
Had to work this morning, wasn't a bad day, but nevertheless would definetly prefferred being home.  Don't have to work another weekend until the 18th.

Roy - Congrats on your daughters game!

John - (jefelectric) Speaking of dinner trains, we went on one between Santa Paula and Filmore CA, it was very well done!  The entertainment was good, kinda country theme.  The route runs through grape vinyards, and orange orchards, very rural not many buildings. 

 Hoped to have the wiring started on the temp layout, but my son Chris, has been busy with school  and homework.  Since I want to teach him the right way of wiring will wait upon his availability.  Only bad thins is now he gets off at 1:15 from school.  So hopfully will work tomorrow night, then he can begin to work on his own, when he desires. 

Tom - Those pictures of the museum really look great! 

Take care and talk later.

[Jumijo]

Good morning everyone.

What a game between da Bears and Patriots yesterday. Too many turnovers on both sides. We were fortunate to come away with the victory.

I'm excited to read that the Chief is so close to beginning construction on his layout. You've waited a long time, Chief. It's finally happening for you.

We have a great mailman. He's quite friendly with everyone and is very good about leaving packages. He even leaves us a note in the mail box when there is a package on the steps.

Oh well, back to work after 5 days off.

Jim

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is cloudy and mild in SE Indiana with temps hitting the 60s again.  Not too much to report since yesterday.  I loved the pictures and story about the Corvair.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a cool 39 degrees. Going up to 66 today. Partly sunny. By the end of the week, it is suppose to get cold again. Hope not.

Today we will work around the house. Have a few chores to do and later must run an errand. If I have some time, I will run trains for awhile, this afternoon. Need to cut some wood sheets for tunnel portals and decide on the type of front I want.

Time for the Dining Car and breakfast. Later.

Y'all have a great Monday.

Chuck

[ChiefEagles]

Wow, did everyone sleep late?  I did.  Was up til 1 AM laying out track [on the crapet] to see how swing out section was going to work to get into train room [three main lines and slight curve].   Think I've got it "down pat".  Got to get garden cleaned [tomato baskets up] and disked [if not too wet], leaves off of roof tops and then suck them up.  Do this to get outside Christmas decorations up.  That will result in less "chin music" from you know who.   Then start cutting lumber.  Let me go.  Have a good one.  I've got three days of unseasonably warm weather to get thigns done.

[1688torpedo]

Hello All!     Don B- LOL I enjoy the photo's of the layout & the Corvair & 1688 add a touch of class also Now you need Billboards to advertise your drive in theater: "Baker's Drive-In-come as you are in the family car" or "Burpolene Gasoline,Proud sponser of the Baker Drive-In; If your car has indegestion try Burpolene,The Gasoline with Bicarbonate Soda to relieve gas & bloating"   We have too much fun on this forum! Chief- Does one Buck make a Dollar? How much is a Doe worth? Jim A- You should have recorded Chief's imitation of Shemp snoring so Don B. could have sound effects for his Drive-Thru. Another missed opportunity. Take Care all.

[cnw1995]

Good morning from a sunny and warm Chicago where the weather hammer is due to fall any minute now and Bears QB Rex Grossman is being roasted on morning sports talk radio. Beautiful photos, Don and Keith. Can't wait to see the Chief's new layout. Got some catching up to do here at work - where is everybody?

[dbaker48]

Good Morning....

We are actually having some weather here.  It is raining, it is a light soft rain, but is considered a "storm",  I have never really adjusted to that.  To me a storm is thunder, lightning, and significant rain (downpours), here a light rain, maybe a 1/2 inch all day is a storm.  Wierd

Chief any chance of posting a layout drawing?  With all the rolling stock you have where will all the cars be, interesting to see your track plans.

Actually got some Christmas shopping done this past weekend, we had a family meeting and decided on getting FIL a digital camera, and MIL a iPod.  Chris is going to train Grandma on the iPod, I'm going to sign Grandpa up in a digital camera course at the local Comm College.

Have any of you guys tried the Hot Chocolate scented smoke?  How is it?

Off to work, Good luck on your wiring John (jefelectric), and your garden work Chief.