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COFFEE POT #9 [July], for all to take a drink and chat. Welcome all posters. 4 yrs old and still going. Locked

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Posted by SPMan on Saturday, July 4, 2009 5:08 PM

Happy 4th to all!  Took son #2 to Metrolink station this morning and saw him off on a trip to Salinas on the Coast Starlight (Amtrak). for car races near Monterey. Wife and I thought we would have a quiet weekend.  Wrong!!!  Son #1 invited himself and his family to come over for 4th festivities.  That means we have to cook so went to the store and got all the stuff for cookout plus a watermelon.  No fireworks this year.  Neighbor town where they had them discontinued last year account most people viewed from outside ball park and did not pay to get in.  Our town has no fireworks account fire danger.  There will probably be enough illegal fireworks to watch anyway.  Trains running pretty good on layout with no major malfunctions.  Switch repair seems to be working OK.  Z4000 fixed voltage puts out 14 volts for switch machines.  I think 15 or 16 would be better.  They seem to misfire sometimes unless you push the button squarely.  Hauled out and rediscovered a lot of my old music tapes this afternoon so I'm listening to them on walkman while doing this.  I bought a new flag for the 4th but we have lost it somewhere in the house.  I put up a little one I found in the closet.  I'll probably find the new one by Christmas.  Prayers for all the walking wounded on the Forum.  Get well soon!

Now go watch Yankee Doodle!

Ray

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Posted by dougdagrump on Saturday, July 4, 2009 2:47 PM

Happy 4th all !

Be sure to save some room for Apple Pie & Ice Cream. Dinner

Doug M., Been there done that. If you think it's bad now just wait awhile for the grandkids. Thumbs Up

Gotta run, need to finish cleaning & servicing yesterday's trains then pack up for tuesday. Sigh

Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.

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Posted by cnw1995 on Saturday, July 4, 2009 2:28 PM

 Good story, Bob. Steady rain here. Good basement day. Glad parade and fireworks are tomorrow - Bride going bonkers prepping for this graduation party nee open house for the daughter. That means we all have to go bonkers - I'm sure everyone knows  how that is. Wink

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

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Posted by submmbob on Saturday, July 4, 2009 11:53 AM

 Happy 4th Everybody!

We had a wonderful rain last night. First big thunderstorm we've had here for the season. Actually got a decent's nights sleep for the first time in over a week, so apparently my dietary changes are working. With the blood sugar under control the meds are keeping the BP under control, maybe even overshooting a bit.  Legs are doing better, but I still have to minimize how much time I am up and around.

Supposed to go to a party later with a bunch of medical types. How ironic is that? They will undoubtebly stick me in a lawn chair, feed me a burger w/o the bun, and toss me vegetables on occasion. Later we will try and catch the fireworks from the roof of one the university garages. At least with all the rain they won't set the grass on A Mountain on fire. 

Recently related my favorite 4th of July story recently and thought I'd share it here as well. I was doing my summer pilgramage to the rez in South Dakota (which of course I am not doing this year) and it was a few days before the 4th. It was our day off from projects, and I volunteered to help fix a van of one of the sisters whom we have befriended in the town we work in. One of the other members on the trip who I had replaced an alternator for in the church parking lot came with me to help. It was around dusk and I think I was still fighting a stubborn plug wire up against the firewall. The kids in the nearby houses were lighting off fireworks. The Lakota kids just love fireworks. Well it was summer and fairly dry and they managed to set some of the grass on fire, then more grass, and then the base of a telephone pole. The kids and the fireworks disappeared, but then they were right back w/ buckets and garden hoses and put the fire out. Then back to the houses and doors shut and lights off, so when the RFD arrived the fire was out and there was no one to blame. It reminded me of two of the best things about this country. The spirit of adventure and bravado together w/ a sense of responsibility. We just kind of smiled and laughed and went back to work on the van.

Have a good 4th!

Bob

 

Bob

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Posted by cheapclassics on Saturday, July 4, 2009 11:08 AM

Good morning all,

It is cloudy in SE Indiana.  Lucas and his girlfriend are here so we will probably play a board game.  The "saucy wench" and I will probably go see "Transformers" today for some mindless entertainment.  Ryan Hunter-Reay did not have a good practice session for AJ's team during the first session.  Hopefully it will improve. I had bacon, toast and cereal on the dining car this morning for breakfast. Beacon is lit.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by Brutus on Saturday, July 4, 2009 10:27 AM

Doug - thanks for the info!  Gonna hit the stores for some wire and stuff, guess I will look at some "cover" for it too Smile  Wife gave me a long shopping list.  Finally quit raining and looks like all clear for now - woke up with a big storm overhead and it really pounded down rain for a while.

Happy Independence Day to all! 

Tardis will have to use the Cloaking Device and Forcefields tonight so we don't get shot down!

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by Blueberryhill RR on Saturday, July 4, 2009 9:43 AM

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a sunny 65 degrees. Going up to 77 today with some clouds.

Happy 4th of July to everyone.

Today is busy. Lots of chores to do and then I will relax, and watch the Nascar race from Daytona. Ballgame tonite.  The Indians really beat up on Oakland last night. I wish they played that good every game.

Dining car was here for the usual breakfast.

Y'all have a great Saturday.

Chuck

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
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Posted by sir james I on Saturday, July 4, 2009 8:44 AM

Happy B-Day    USA  Happy B-Day

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

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Posted by cnw1995 on Saturday, July 4, 2009 8:29 AM

Aloha all. Happy Fourth. Took the youngest to our local carnival - just like a movie set, with all the characters working the midway - and the visitors. He had fun - five rides, one game, cotton candy - and it cost only $23.

Brutus, everyone knows S.C. Ruffy are ballast contractors in Tidemouth. And Sodor's balllast is a tad bigger than what we see in the States. You'd be OK with any sort of rocks - say a cover of them on a foam rubber insert. Wink

GregM, glad you're OK- that's not something to fix on your own. I had one of those coils break and go right through a wall.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, July 4, 2009 7:56 AM

Happy July 4th !!!!!!!

May your country remain STRONG and FREE!!!!!

-------------------------------------

We got SUN!!!!!!

Can you tell we've been getting desperate for this??Tongue Now I get to cut the lawn, do weeding and move plants out on the garden patio----etc---etc---etcSigh

Have a good one-----Big Smile

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

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Posted by spankybird on Saturday, July 4, 2009 7:03 AM

 

 
 
 

I am a person with a very active inner child. This is why my wife loves me so. Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. OTTS Founder www.spankybird.shutterfly.com 

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Posted by fifedog on Saturday, July 4, 2009 6:49 AM

Happy 4th boys!  Sunny & 66, in what is being touted as one of the more pretty Independence days in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Plans are to go to the swim club, before fifey has to report to work at 1800 for the fireworks detail.  Will have my hands full from 2100-2230, so don't call me then Chief...

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Posted by rtraincollector on Saturday, July 4, 2009 5:10 AM

Morning all geting ready to go to work but wanted to first stop in and say Happy 4th of July to you all

 

 

 

 

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by Brutus on Friday, July 3, 2009 10:07 PM

Hey Mike - I got a card from Don's neighbor yesterday, it said "MMMMOOOO XOXOXOXO"  What do you think that means?  Laugh  Wes is driving tonight, he's been goofing off too much lately like Bob, playing with blood pressure meds.  Hope you guys are both doing better ASAP!

Went to see Transformers 2 which was great, but really long!  Picked up a $6 screwdriver set and tackled Thomas this afternoon.  I would have to remove the eye mechanism to put in the tmcc board though, so I will have to get some wire and shrink wrap and make a tether to the S C Ruffy car.  Now I wish I had bought the sound board too, lol!  Oh well - I might add that later.  Tomorrow I will get 5 colors of wire and some shrink tube.  Need to make a fake load for the car.  What does it usually haul on the tv shows, anybody know?

Nice talking with RT, SJ and Wes tonight.  Now I'm watching Get Smart with the kids and enjoying a Sam Adams Ale (not the Summer Ale, regular kind).  Beacons on the screen and plently of Ales and Rootbeers for everybody, plus some Old Mills for the traditionalists Laugh  TTFN!

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by cheapclassics on Friday, July 3, 2009 8:31 PM

Good evening all,

IIABSDISEI with temps in the 80s.  Lucas and I mowed the yard.  I walked to the YMCA and did weights and walked back home.  Had lunch.  Drove truck to shop to have AC looked at, walked to YMCA again and back home.  Rested a while.  Went outside, edged sidewalks and trimmed the fences and other areas.  Tired.  I had bran muffins on the dining car for breakfast this morning.  The "saucy wench" did the housework so the next two days are pretty much free.  IRL is at Watkins Glen.  Last year's winner is driving last year's second place car and hopefully that will translate into a win for AJ's team.  Beacon is lit.  Who is driving?  Is Don B's neighbor going to be there?  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by GregM on Friday, July 3, 2009 8:13 PM

Interesting past couple of days.  Yesterday morning opened the door from the house to the garage and pushed the button to open the overhead door and heard an EXPLOSION followed by what sounded like breaking glass. The tremendous noise was the coil spring breaking into two pieces..  Fortunately, no broken glass as replacing the spring was expensive enough. I think what I thought was breaking glass was just the lift cables coming loose.

Today I attempted to replace the O2 sensor in the catalytic convertor on the Impala.  Code indicates it is bad.  My brother who was a professional mechanic for many years said I would be able to do this myself. First tried to remove old one using a crow foot wrench.  Not happening. So I went to Autozone and rented an O2 socket kit.  Tried to remove with the larger socket in the kit.   Broke the socket.  Went back and got another kit.  Still not happening. Talked to my brother again and he suggested heating with a propane torch.  Chicken to do that as I had soaked with liquid wrench and didn't want to start a fire.  Try again after letting the liquid wrench soak for a couple days.

Karen says thing always happen in three's.  Wonder what will break next?

The Indians are really beating up on the A's, 13 - 3 in the top of the sixth. 

GregM
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Posted by RRCharlie on Friday, July 3, 2009 6:47 PM

Up every morning before sunrise waiting for the roofers to arrive. Finaly came yesterday, worked until 5:00 P.M. Back at Oh dark thirty today and all done by about 10:00 A.M. By the middle of next week my check book will be done several Vison Line Locomotives!!! Not that I was going to buy any but it will curtail my other purchases as well. Thirteen more Tuesday-Thursday night classes in elementary Statistics. Week after next I fly to Pittsburgh, PA and rent a car to drive to Erie, PA area for my 50th High School Reunion. Don't have time to take the train, darn it. Haven't run any trains in quite a while. Need to get things cranked up again.

Prayers for all in need.

Mel Hazen; Jax, FL Ride Amtrak. It's the only way to fly!!!

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Posted by submmbob on Friday, July 3, 2009 5:47 PM

 

Sorry I was incommuncado for a bit there. I think I really need to get a cell phone that can text. Yes, it's true, the guy who runs one of the world's highest frequency radio telescopes doesn't have a cell phone. I have recently had new thoughts on the subject, though.

I went back to the scope on Monday w/ permission from my docs on light duty. We were pulling the subreflector and was there to simply observe and be part of the decision making process. Well I was only there for about 5 hours.  Yup, quite literally went downhill again. This time no ambulance ride though. Was doing well enough that one of our cops who is an EMT felt I could make it back to Tucson using the med ox from the scope. We decided that since we would be getting back after midnight, the best thing to do was take me back to the Heart Hospital ER and let them make the decision as to whether I could deal w/ this in the morning or not. Well, they decided to keep me for observation. EKG's and bloodwork all coming back fine, as a matter of fact the only thing they have found beside the high BP is that my potassium is slightly low. The good thing this time was that a different cardiologist was assigned that week. Ironically mine was in Safford for the week near the scope. He's been very nice and even gave me his phone number, but I feel like I was talking at him, not to him. He was really downplaying these other symptoms. Well the other doc talked to me Tuesday w/ a real heart-to-heart (pun intended). She said the other tests could not completely rule out a partial blockage. So Wednesday was time for an angiogram, both sides. They really scoped out all the valves and cylinders, and found everything wonderfully clean. I think I confused the doc who did the procedure, as the first words I said after giving me the good news was something about a large object that holds back water. Was getting real tired of all this and was ready to hopefully find the real culprit.

Back in the room and eating now and a couple hours later I get set off again. Always after I eat every day this week. The nurse assigned to me (a borderline diabetic) thought about doing a blood sugar test and it was fairly high, not crazy like, but high enough. After that little 'bout they kept me another night and set me loose in the morning. Talked to my doc and she wants to do more tests, but thinks it can largely be controlled by diet. She also said that I had now had every cardiac test known to man and it was a heck of a way to diagnose diabetes. I think the heart hospital was starting to like to use me as a reference subject. However, given that I work at a place where the helicopter pilots turn chicken it's nice to know I'm not going to drop at any minute. It also seems that the altitude mattered not a whit, as the symptoms and problems were about the same even down here.  After dinner last night I had a little more fun, but with my doc on the phone was able to stay out of the hospital. She has pulled me completely off all carbs (fortunately not the ones that use gas) until we get this all figured out. Doing better today and starting to learn how to eat less more often. The legs feel much better today, especially the right where they had to use a star closure. So in addition to the SS holding the right elbow together, I now have a bit of nickel/titanium.  Needless to say, I'll be using a bit more of that vacation.

Jim - LOL when I read about driveways and creepers. That's way worse than slanted driveways and sockets.

8nTruck - condolences and prayers for your family

Brutus - continued thoughts and prayers for your wife

Pat - you and I could joust with both of our legs in the air

Well it looks like I am a carbon copy of my grandfather, except that I didn't become a Baptist minister and join the Air Force.  He had high BP, diabetes, and was nuts about trains. He lived a very active life and I figure if he can do it, so can I.

Hope everyone has a good fourth!

 Bob

Bob

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Posted by rtraincollector on Friday, July 3, 2009 4:22 PM

well everything is back to the way it was and yes they did seem to care when I said I was going to check into legal action for unauthorized transfering of my phone service.

I acually got it all returned to normal in about 30 minutes after spending about 45 on the phone with them which I shouldn't of in the first place.

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by sir james I on Friday, July 3, 2009 3:44 PM

Howdy All

Well a morning trip to the train store but I got away without buying anything. With todays unknown shipping schedule things don't come in on a regular bases anymore. And they don't know when somethings coming until they get a shipping notice from the trucking co. Got the grass cut, went out looking for building bricks and the places are closed for the holiday. So we had an early dinner out and now the news. Have a great 4th...S.J.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

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Posted by fifedog on Friday, July 3, 2009 3:05 PM

Evenin' boys.  Breezy and 79 here in the Mid-Atlantic region.  I like corn-on-the-cob.

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Posted by SPMan on Friday, July 3, 2009 1:15 PM

They don't  care.  It was their mistake in my case too.

Ray

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Posted by rtraincollector on Friday, July 3, 2009 11:53 AM

well when I talk to them today I'm going to tell them they will undo this today ( I'm still on hold) as its interfering with my system setup. Or there going to owe me for unauthorized interuption of my service. As this was there mistake not mine.

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by SPMan on Friday, July 3, 2009 11:42 AM

RT, I went through the same thing with Verizon switching my phones and internet service.  I lost one of my two telephone lines for about a month before I got it fixed.  I spent hours calling people and talking to voice prompts from automated answering machines.  It was a nightmare.  Good luck,

Ray

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Posted by rtraincollector on Friday, July 3, 2009 11:37 AM

Well today started out Zzz then went to Thumbs Up and even went to Big Smile but right now its Banged HeadBanged Head as I had called AT&T about 10 days ago to switch over to them, well this past tuesday I called and cancled ant told it was cancled. Well today theuy came and switched my service. I've spent last 15 minutes talking to 3 different ones to get this done and on hold now to a 4th. Banged Head

 

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by SPMan on Friday, July 3, 2009 11:35 AM

Good morning all, another hot day here today.  I guess July has arrived.  Our city went on 10% water use reduction starting today.  Will fine people for non compliance if they have too many offenses.  I still see lots of run off water in the gutters when I'm out walking.  Kind of makes you mad when you're taking sea showers and counting toilet flushes.  I tackled a problem on the layout last night replacing a broken throw bar on a Ross Switch without removing the switch from the layout.  It was tricky but after several tries, I finally got it fixed.  The hard part was getting those little rivits that go through the throw bar to stay in place until you could solder them on to the switch point rails.  I held them in place temporarily with some putty like stuff for holding pictures on a wall.  I shimmed up underneath the throw bar to make the rivits come up far enough to solder to the points.  Ross switches have some wooden stringers underneath to tie everything together.  I had to cut through those to get some freedom to move the throw bar in place.  I usually take a switch out of the layout to do this kind of repair but this one would have required taking up a lot of adjacent track.  If anyone else has done this kind of repair I would like to hear how you did yours.

Ray

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Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Friday, July 3, 2009 11:31 AM

Sturgeon-Phish
Buckeye – When we started planning our vacation this year we came down to upstate NY or Colorado.  Colorado won out.  We’ll be taking the new camper!

Great choice.  Colorado has some great places to camp and the ones in the National and State Forrests were relatively inexpensive, albeit rustic.  If you have never camped at say 10,000 feet it is a learning experience for us flatlanders. 

Ran trains today.  Worked hard at getting the Docksider to start smoother.  Oiled rods and ran it up on blocks for an hour.  Seems to work better.

Have a good day everyone.

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

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Posted by cnw1995 on Friday, July 3, 2009 10:27 AM

Aloha everyone. Looks like more of a summer day here - good news about your bride and the insur. co., Brutus. Sorry for that teeth-work - ugh!  Dennis, I love absolutely love driving the Cherokee trail from Knoxville, skirting Asheville, then down into Columbia. Trying to talk the bride into going to the IL Railway Museum for their re-enactment of the CA&E shutdown - they take you down the track, drop you off, and you have to wait for another train to go back - just like the end of the Roarin' Elgin.  Look for the vintage L train in the background scenes of Public Enemy if you see that movie.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

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Posted by Brutus on Friday, July 3, 2009 9:26 AM

Well, got online, read here and there, and now gotta get cleaned up to take the kids to Transformers 2. Then, I'll stop and buy some small screwdrivers since I can't find my old set (which was a cheap set anyway) and see about doctoring my Thomas locomotive this afternoon. Hope everyone has a great day off today, or at least work is not too bad today!

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by anjdevil2 on Friday, July 3, 2009 7:36 AM

Morning and Happy Pre-Forth of July...

 

Admin is off today so it’s just car sales and rental today.  I had to open the gates, since no one else was here.  Took the bike to work today.  Yup, Jon, looks like she’s fixed and running well.  Just need a more comfortable seat for those long trips.  I have over $200 in Harley cash to spend.  I was going to trade up, but the Sporty (in the book) is so worthless, I might as well keep it.  If you are ever close by, let me know, I’ll 2 wheel up to where you are and we can ride a bit.  Sturgis, on a Sporty, is out of the question..Laugh

 

Chief, mailed a package to you via Ioway, something green and yellow....Smile,Wink, & Grin

 

I will get those pictures on SPF for sure Sunday, the lap top is working marginally.  I think I have something from Cali up next.

 

In the 90’s again, 40% chance of T-storms later...same for tomorrow, as we camp out downtown at the Jacksonville Landing for fireworks.  Due to family concerns, I’ll miss the Freedom Ride and Concert with Pat Benetar....

 

Well,  I do have some work to do, so I’ll get on with that.  I will check in later.

 

Angel to all that need ‘em

 

I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.
I am the venom in your skin  --- Breaking Benjamin


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