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

[spankybird]

Just got done cleaning my drive and the widow lady next door. I can usually do this in less than a ½ hour. It took me almost 2 hours and the snowblower ran out of gas. Some of it was too wet for the blower and had to shovel it. Luck us, more snow on the way tonight.

All be safe
tom

[ben10ben]

Well, I just got in from trying to clear the driveway. We've only got about 1/4" of real loose powdery snow that could be swept off with a broom. Under the snow, though, there's at least 1/2 of ice that's not budging anytime soon. I got a little ways out onto the driveway, but couldn't make any progress with the ice. I figured that if we needed to go out for any reason, we would be much better off with the snow on top of the ice, so left what I hadn't gotten off yet.

I'll try again later today, and maybe will be able to get rid of some of the ice.

[Buckeye Riveter]

It's an Official Blizzard in Buckeye Land
The drifts are 5-8 feet deep just west of Columbus. People are stranded in their homes in the country. The wind is increasing and the temperatures are plumeting to below zero.

East of Columbus we had a freezing rain. Trees are uprooted from the weight of the ice.
And we have NO POWER Almost 250,000 people are without power. Transformers were blowing with such frequency before sunrise that we thought it was lighting. Traffic lights are out. The grocery stores that are open are mad houses.

I know what you are thinking, how does Buckeye's Super Computer work without power. [%-)][%-)][%-)][%-)][%-)] [:D]

[ChiefEagles]

Buckeye, are you sure you have not been "transported" ["beam me up Scotty"] to the Triangle area of NC. That sounds like what we get here. Not fun. Trees through roofs, long sections of power lines down. Now you know why I have the generator to feed power to the house [also those pesty hurricanes]. Hope they can get the power on soon. BTW, those that watch the Outdoor Channel will see their holiday greetings has a photo of a big steam engine outlined in Christmas lights. Revised forecast says 35 Christmas and 15 that night but up into the 50's by Monday and maybe higher during next week. Guess we need to get the extra bedrooms ready for the folks from OHIO. [;)]

[Jim Duda]

TexASS welcomes the Ohio folks but the border patrols are turning away anyone from Rolesville...I was worried there for awhile...(wink)!

Oh, Hi Chiefie...how is your coffee supply holding out - might be a lot of visitors to your caboose over the next few days!

[spankybird]

So Buckeye, can you run your train outside [?] Does it's snow plow work.

[wrmcclellan]

Cold and sunny here. Yesterday's snow is melting even though temps are still below freezing (and will stay that way through Sunday). Streets were basically clear this morning except for some bridges iced over. Low last night was about 17-19 degreees.

Buckeye - hope you get your power back soon! We had an ice storm like that here in Dallas back in 79 or so. There were over 250,000 without power for a week and another 150,000 went without for over 2 weeks and temps hovered around freezing the entire time. There was 2 inches of ice on everything and the trees came down en masse. It took two years to get the city parks cleaned up. It was the only time Dallas let anyone who wanted firewood from a city park to come and get all they wanted. Not many tree huggers left when they go without power for 2 weeks because they refused to let the power company trim the trees around the lines. The power companies now basically trim the trees regardless of opinion to attempt to avoid another disaster like that one (plus the strong spring wind storms that rip through here).

My neighborhood is all underground untilities so we pretty much weather whatever comes around.

Take care up in the frozen north your guys. Stay warm!

Regards,
Roy

[cnw1995]

No snow here - but bitter cold again. I guess this big storm is missing Chicago - though I feel sorry for anyone trying to travel east today. Spent today at the emergency room sitting with a 6 year old daughter of my wife's friend - they got in a car accident yesterday and the docs thought the mom busted something in her back so they bought them back in today - and guess who was the only one home to drive down there, wait to see what happened and drive 'em back home. At least it turned out there was nothing broken. I bought a bag full of Trains and Model Railroaders I just picked up from our library (when they cull the magazines to throw out the old ones, I'm lucky to have them save Trains and MR.) Looked at train pictures w/ her and colored some pages and visited the cafeteria for 4 hours.... Nothing sadder than an ER 'round the holidays. May I be the first to wish you all a warm happy Christmas - I bet Buckeye's computer is wind-powered... My backdrop fell down again. I think something more elaborate is called for --

[ChiefEagles]

Has poured here but is still warm enough to go out with only shirts selves. That will change they say. No word from Buckeye. Bet is power is down for a long time [hope not]. Tom, you still shoveling?

[spankybird]

I think we are done digging for now. The temps have drop to 27F. At least no snow for now. Weatherman say Christmas morning will only be 4 F with a high of 11 and a low Christmas night of –1 F. Big chill on the way, and of course more lake effect snow this weekend also.

All be safe

tom

[ben10ben]

It's cold enough down here. I sure am glad that I'm not up there in your part of the country, Tom.

And Buckeye, I hope that you're able to read this soon, and that things don't get too cold for you without power.

Stay safe and warm, all.

[1688torpedo]

Hello Everyone! Jim Duda,Tom ,Chief,and everyone else have a Merry Christmas.I wont be able to make another post until the library opens up on Mon Dec 27th.Hope everyone stays warm,Gets what they wish for on Christmas.and has a happy holiday.Later........Keith[:)]

[laz 57]

Hey Guys, MERRY CHRISTMAS,
Here is the first picture that I am trying to post hope it shows up?!
Chief that is a Norfolk Southern pulling the train under the tree a GP 38.
Maybe more pics to come??????????????
Laz 57

[ChiefEagles]

I'm going to ride with Santa and collect all those NS engines running around everyone's layouts. [;)] Merry Christmas to all [hope to say that again tomorrow and Christmas but some of you may be gone].

[daan]

Hi guys, They actually told us that we would have snowstorms on sunday!! We'll have to wait and see. It would be nice to have white christmas since we still didn't have any snow yet. (normally the first snow comes in november, though just for a couple of minutes, but this year we didn't have anything like snow or a longer frost period)
Hope everyone can enjoy a nice christmas with their families!!

[Buckeye Riveter]

The POWER is ON [:D][:D][:D]
What a mess in Buckeye Land. The power was out in our neigborhood and others in Central Ohio for over 24 hours. There are still over 170,000 people without electricity this morning. I sent Mrs. Buckeye and Grandmother Buckeye to spend the night with Baby Buckeye where they had heat. I stayed at the house prepared to shut off and drain the water pipes if the temperature inside dipped below 40 degrees. It went down to 49, with an outside temperature of 8 degrees this morning.

Today, I am going to enjoy hot food and hot coffee. HOT is the word for the day.

We ran the trains outside on Tuesday night when there was no snow. There is no way a train could run outside in this ice-snow-sleet mixture that is on the ground. I can't even find the tracks.

Thanks for the nice messages from everyone, but I do have one question. How can a neighborhood be without power for so long with everything underground? Only thing we can think of is a tree blew over and pulled the wires out of the ground. [?][?][?][?]

And yes, Jim Duda looks like Santa Claus.[:D][:D][:D]

[ChiefEagles]

Good to see Buckey has power. That is great. Ru***oday. Go to Mom's [50 miles one way], go to all the places Pam wants to visit, to church tonight and then to her folks' till no telling how late. I will just ride along. Later and God bless. Will tell how Grench stole Christmas for the 14 Tobacco States when I have time.

[jonadel]

Good Morning Everyone,


Down to -9 this morning with just a little wind but the good news is that it's supposed to be close to 30 tomorrow, that's a HEAT WAVE. Hope everyone in Buckeyeland digs out slowly and successfully, it's never any fun to do that but it is kind of pretty once the storm leaves and all the electricals work. One son arrived yesterday and we had a great time last night running trains, the others will make it tomorrow and the feast will begin. This is the first time ever that we've not all been together for Christmas Eve, kind of different.

Merry Christmas and safe travels to you on the road.

Jon

[spankybird]

Good Morning all,

NE Ohio has Blue Clear Sky morning with temp a 8 F. We had a very light snow last night, but just east of us pick up a few more inches.

Buckeye, very good to have your electric back on. Hot is good.

Santa’s helper, Big Brown, stop by yesterday and left me my other Christmas present

C & O Hudson (by MTH Railking).


All be safe

Tom

[ben10ben]

Morning Folks,
It's another cold morning here, and only going to get colder tomorrow.

Buckeye,
Glad to hear that you have power on.

Tom,
That's a nice looking engine, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Laz,
Really nice Christmas layout. That's the sort that I'd like to have set up, if space allowed.

[laz 57]

Merry Christmas Eve to all<
Good Morning on this Christmas Eve hope all of you have been good cause tonight is the BIG NIght[:D] I am glad to here all are safe from the big dump o snow out there in the midwest. Saw the news with all those drivers stranded out there on the Interstate, makes you glad you are safe in your house. Hope JIM DUDA remembers us up here in Pa., we have been pretty good boys and girls here.
BUCKEYE glad to here you have lectricity there in Buckeye land. Sorry bout your outside train not running but like SPANKY said they do sell a snowblower for those outside tracks.
SPANKYBIRD thanks for the info on posting pics. I should be getting some out there with my layout for all to see.
As you can see I put my MUG SHOT on here, hope it don't break your computer[:O] As by the picture you'll see I am a BIG CLEVELAND INDIANS fan even though I live in Pa., so I do like those people from the Buckeye state.
Going to my Mom's today for Christmas Eve supper and will be there till Tuesday to go Flintlock huntin.
Don't forget the bestest movie of the season will be on for 24 hrs. That is A Christmas Story, check out the train scene in the department store window its a real keeper.
Hope all sleep well tonight with the thoughts of smoke puffing out of your steamers and whistles tooting down your pikes[;)][;)]
Merry Christmas to all,
Laz 57

[laz 57]

SPANKYBIRD how do you keep your picture at the bottom like you have? The pic is in the profile, thoght it would come up aoutmatically?
Gonna try this again like if you would post regular pic.
Laz 57

[spankybird]

HI Laz
I sent you an e-mail.

You could crop you pic in Shutterfly and post the thumbnail pic using the img command in your sigature line.

tom

[jonadel]

It's kind of funny about the Christmas tree layout, it's just so basic but yet it always gets lots of respect. We've literally spent hundreds of hours downstairs building a pretty good layout (in our opinion) but yet when all of us are upstairs we are just like deer in the headlights watching this simple Blue Comet doing a big rectangle.

Have A Wonderful Christmas!

Jon

[Jim Duda]

Hey Laz! You look like my favorite Elf that I had to fire because he wanted me to give presents to only the Naughty Girls...!!! We were spending WAY too much time under their trees and never had time to deliver all the presents. I trust you would keep me on my time schedule...

Buckeye - think about treating us to a digital MOVIE of your LGB pushin' a plow through the snow...betcha' it would convince some of our friends here to build a Garden Scale pike!

Daan - I won't be wearing Hotpants Christmas morning on the motorbike - supposed to be +4C in Austin. I'll probably just keep my red suit on that I wear when I fly over Holland.
Remember, you've been a bad boy this year so I won't be sliding down your chimney!

Spanky - you're the SMOKE King. I presume you use MegaSteam, but which scent do you and your wife prefer?

Gotta get goin' - lots of presents this year...but ONLY to GOOD boyz and girlz!!!

Love,
Ol' Saint Nicky

[spankybird]

Jimbo,

Not every engine can blow smoke rings





and yes we us JT Maga-smoke

http://www.megasteam.com

My wife and I like the Christmas Pine and also the Bayberry.

tom

[spankybird]

Testing the Smoke Alarm

[laz 57]

Hi and Sorry about the GIANT ELF picture, going to try it againand see what happens, hope I didn't scare anyone?
I having a real good laugh with this picture stuff.
Thanks BEN and Merry Christmas to you TOO!!!!!
Let's try it again?????????????????
Thanks SPANKYBIRD AKA TOM>
Laz 57

[laz 57]

YEAH IT FINALLY WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There really is a SANTA, right JIM[;)]
Thanks again all Love those pics guys.
Have a great CHRISTMAS! Until Tuesday, Seeya!
Laz 57

[wrmcclellan]

Hello all!

Snow is all but gone here. Still cold and will only get to 33 for a short time this afternoon.

Spent yesterday at the club layout for tours (proceeds to charity) and then club meeting last night. Ran several locos that I repaired for other club members. Then ran my CCII Trainmaster set and the Lionmaster Challenger (which stopped running after about an hour - something new to fix).

Here are some first trys at my home layout photos. The camera is not very good resolution for today (1 megapixel I think).

View into city through yard entrance. Lionel NYC 080 scale switcher on right.



NYC 080 entering the yard area.



Lionel PW 623 switching the 164 lumber loader.



Lionel NYC L3a passing the Lionel Empire Builder (B&W photo attempt).



Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays all!
Roy