COFFEE POT #3, March 2010 for all to take a drink and chat. Welcome all posters. 4 yrs old and still going. Sweet ice tea too.

[Banks]

 Hello All,

Let's let it alone guys, edw must be on the receiving end of  "redistribution of wealth"  That's why he's so happy.

Slow evening here. Rounding up tax info. Makes me all the happier.

 

Prayers for all who may need them

 

 

[ChiefEagles]

Evening from the front door of Seymour Johnson AF base.  Actually Holiday Inn Express at the gate.  Thought I would check in.  I have a GPS on edw and will fly over a spray him with jet fuel tomorrow.    Just joking.  He is really a nice guy.  Has a different opinion than some of us old guys.  Wish he would drop in more often when we are not "battleing".  Suddenly have a room mate for tonight.  Another Mayor from a neighboring town is going to share the room.  He called just before I left home and so I invited.  I always get rooms with two beds.  One to sleep in and one to through my clothes and etc on.  Will have to be neater this time.  Later. 

[MichRR714]

Hi Guys.. hope all are doing well.  My household is starting to dry up those runny noses finally.

This past weekend I explored that old 1880's railroad grade near my hunting property.  About an hour with the trusty metal detector yielded the following:

[Banks]

 Chief, did I miss some thing or did you get drafted?

[switch7frg]

   Dennis; be sure to check your digital watch before the test for the time . ~~ If there is spark  the watch could advance 4 or 5 days in date and time. LOL . Another Jim

[navyjack]

hey guys, the sun is still shining and we are still alive and i would be proud to invite any one of you guys to my house any time. anyone run trains today?  navyjack  

[ChiefEagles]

Banks

 Chief, did I miss some thing or did you get drafted?

Flying KC 135 refueling mission tomorrow with the AF.  [A Mayor thing]

[dwiemer]

Good evening guys.  Chief, glad you are there safe.  Had a great production meeting tonight.  Lots of things coming together.  It is amazing what can happen when we get out of the way and let God take over.  I would like to ask the folks who pray in faith believing to ask for God's protective hands be around this project.  Too many things to encounter without it.  I can't divulge too many details, but the main focus of the project is on Fatherhood.  Most of us have kids, or will, and it is important to emphasize what a important part of a child's life a good Dad can be.

Got home just a short bit ago, so no trains tonight, but perhaps tomorrow. 
God Bless,
Dennis

PS: Roy, should I hold a light bulb in my mouth while I try that one?  I think I would rather do the old screw driver in the plug wire and held a short gap to the plug.  But, if that don't work, then should I wet my fingers first?

[8ntruck]

Sunny and in the 50's today.  This weekend's 8" of snow is almost gone.

Big activity today was a visit to the orthipedic specialist in the next city up the road to find out more about the pinched nerve in my wife's back.  Was one of those good news/bad news sort of visits.  Good news is that we now know what is causing the pinched nerve.  Bad news is that the cause is three cracked vertibre.  The doctor told us that fractures of this type are not uncommon - about 4 out of 100 in the general population.  Then he went on to say that my wife is an unusual case in that she has 6 fractures.  The norm is one or two fractures per customer. Says in 25+ years of practice that he has only seen one other case like hers. Came home with a back brace and some time to think about some heavy duty surgery.

We also realized that when the specialist says "you are an interesting case", it is not necessarily a good thing.

Ran trains a bit this weekend.  While playing with exploring the capabilities of my new TrainSounds PE tender, I failed to notice that the Empire State Express left the observation and lounge cars in the station.  Hit the e-stop just after the locomotive had punted the lounge car off the track and onto the floor.  Fortunatley, no damage.

I've been bidding without luck on #6660 boom cars.  I noticed that there are more than usual listed at the moment and was hoping to get a deal.  Sooner or later.... 

All for now.

 

[edw]

ChiefEagles

Flying KC 135 refueling mission tomorrow with the AF.  [A Mayor thing]

Many years ago I worked as a civilian scientist at an Air Force Research and Development lab, developing radar systems. The Lab was located on a SAC base with a B-52 bomb wing and a KC-135 refueling wing. About once a month they would scramble both wings in the middle of the night for a rapid takeoff exercise. We lived in an apartment directly adjacent to the base, and the entire building would shake, and dishes in the cabinets would rattle, for a good half hour until all of the big planes were airborne. Sort of like experiencing a small earthquake lasting for 30 straight minutes. 

[dougdagrump]

edw, 52's were like kitty-cats on takeoff, if you really wanted a bone-rattling noisey takeoff you needed to be on a base with the B-58 Hustlers. If memory is correct they had 4 Pratt & Whitney J57's with afterburners, the same engine that was used in the F-100 fighter. Probably a really bad "carbon footprint".  

Stand corrected, engines were J79's

[Brutus]

Nice warm day in St. Louis - this afternoon anyway.  It was chilly this morning though. 

Roy

Prayers for us all and our friends and families.

Tardis is ready and sounds like we might have a chance to pick up Baker tonight - let's hit it! 

[wrmcclellan]

dwiemer

PS: Roy, should I hold a light bulb in my mouth while I try that one?  I think I would rather do the old screw driver in the plug wire and held a short gap to the plug.  But, if that don't work, then should I wet my fingers first?

Dennis - yes - and have someone do a video so we can share your experience.

Actually - if the plug wires are long enough - take a spare plug or one from the tractor, plug it into the boot and just lay the plug on the intake or exhaust manifold with the metal body touching and see if you get a spark across the gap. If your spark is strong you will see it easily. This way you do not have to hold the screwdriver (I have been shocked doing this - probably due to a cheap screwdriver - or maybe it was a good quality one?).

[Ole Timer]

dwiemer

PS: Roy, should I hold a light bulb in my mouth while I try that one?  I think I would rather do the old screw driver in the plug wire and held a short gap to the plug.  But, if that don't work, then should I wet my fingers first?

That is funny .... gave me a good laugh ...    ... I remember getting thumped by one ... felt like it jerked the bones right out of my arm ! It was on one of my dad's old tractors with a magneto ... try a magneto once .... they put coil shocks to shame ... LOL . Dad about peed his pants laughing .... my hair's been kind of curly since ....   He said my eyes were the size of silver dollars and my mouth flew wide open ...   If I remember right ... I stuttered for 3 days after that ... my mother was going to half kill him .... yea he did it on purpose .. " hold on tight to the tractor and the end of the plug wire while I crank it over  it'll only tickle "  .... that dumb kid never trusted him again ... LOL .

[dougdagrump]

Buckeye, It's springtime, time to clean those garden rails. Came across something that Baby Buckeye would just love.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BACKMANN-G-SCALE-PERCY-TROUBLESOME-TRUCKS-NIB-FREE-SH_W0QQitemZ350331685249QQcmdZViewItemQQptZModel_RR_Trains?hash=item5191654981 

[John Bakeer]

I live under the glide path to Manchester Airport.  An ATC last night reported an oddly shaped blue coloured UFO trailing semi molten banilla like stuff across runway two. Stockport police identified it as their missing police box and have offered a reward for its capture.

Keep the vitriol for the hustings please chaps, I can rant on about Botox face Cameron and his **** faced Tory party. But I don't. After all this is supposed to be fun!!!!

Latest loony news is some pratt has reintroduced Beavers to Scotland. Heaven knows what damage they will wreake. I understood they actually escaped from a blue flyer destined for somewhere in the eastern USA.

After a couple of days with rain and gales Stockport is once again bathed in sunshine and the birds are coughing better.

[dwiemer]

John, love that British wit.  Roy, I think I got this down, and you are probably correct in going with the spark plug as opposed to the screw driver...my wife bought those for me and if it was after a comment like, "you bought more shoes for yourself", she probably included the ground wire secretly secured to the outside of the handle.  As for the video, I am beginning to wonder as she has already volunteered to take photos of the "moment".  HMMMM?
As for Magnetos, my dad used to own a Magneto and Generator company.  I worked for him for a few years and had my share of surprises!  Was especially fun with the 24V systems.  Also a good way to learn about positive ground vehicles...remember those?  Only takes one time to learn.

God Bless,
Dennis

[mitchelr]

 Morning to All

Been quite a while since I checked in.  All is well here in South Central PA.  Spring has sprung and all the snow is finally gone.  Work has been busy with lots of late nights.  March is usually a crazy month.  State mandated testing is done, so that is over of another year. Ran some trains with my nephew when he was here a couple weekends ago, no pile ups.  Made a journey to the local train shops and picked up some things for him.  He wanted two tunnels and a caboosie (his pronunciation).  Found two styrofoam tunnels at one shop and a $12 caboose at another shop.  I couldn't see spending big $$$ on a caboose that may well take a nose dive to the basement floor.

Well, I've got to go.  Looking forward to York, have invited a guest (wife's friend's husband). Sounds like he is so excited he can barely sleep.

Take care,

Mitch

[laz 57]

Hi GUYZ,

  52 and a little damp here to get to 58?  Not much happening, hope all have agood one.

Stay frosty,

laz57

[navyjack]

good morning guys.  i remember going to edwards afb one time and seeing f-4 phantom 2s parked as far as the eye could see.  they differed from the navy version in several ways but the most obvious was the paint job.  a lot of the air force planes were really neat.  any recommendations about track?  42 inch radius?  what should i use.  i like the old style o gauge track, but have been told that the rails are not true on curves and make engines bind.  this is supposed to be in the new track from china?  any experiences?  i figure on a four four foot table i should use as big a curve as possible so i can run as many engines as possible.  i just need a loop and a few switches.  i am going to place the sidings near the front so i can use manuals.  i can keep it as simple as possible so i can operate it with my dumb old head.  by the way i use big type so i can read what i am typing.  i have not been able to get my eyes tested in ten years(bedridden).  the longest diesel i have is a williams e-7, and the largest steamer is a williams scale hudson.  i have heard the fastrak is good but i do not think it comes in 042.  i would really treasure your advice.  navyjack  

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a cloudy 42 degrees. Going up to 64 today, with some rain, later.

Today is busy. I have some paperwork to do and a few chores around the house. Later, I will be taking it easy. Not much else new.

Dining car has arrived and it is the usual for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Tuesday.

Chuck

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Mornin' English.  Clearing and 50 here in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Sat trackside at dusk finishing a report, when a 6-unit CSX coke train rolled past.  A lot of Wheeling & Lake Erie hoppers in the consist.  The D&RGW inspired scheme really looks good on this regional.

Bakeer - Enjoyed your take on the Scottish beavers (and other things annoying...).  Well put.

mitchie - Glad to see you're all thawed out.  Did you notice how during the snow, anjdevil wasn't "pining" for home...

Chief - Will you be "Maverick" or "Goose"

Q & 88 --->

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

IIABSDISEI with temps near 60.  Interesting observations, John Bakeer, but remember what happens on the Tardis....stays on the Tardis.  BTW, what is the latest on the Portsmouth Football Club?  Are they really going to shut it down?  It appears I missed an interesting political discussion, and I do not mind that at all.  I used to be a political "junkie" (and perhaps I should be more involved), but being a govenment employee puts a big crimp on those kinds of activities.  Biggest decision I have to make is who to root for more at St. Petersburg this weekend, SFR with Rahal or AJ with Vitor.  Dennis, sounds like things are progressing with the movie and you certainly have a good theme to it.  I look forward to its release.  Any named talent in it, or will you be using strictly local help?  As far as power equipment is concerned, I would be the last one to offer advice.  Just make sure any sharp objects are disconnected.  One "snowblower manicure" among the group is enough. (Shudder)

I stayed home last night to rest the toe.  Took some ibuprofen last night and this morning.  Toe is feeling better.  Watched some of "Dancing with the Stars"  Buzz Aldrin did well for a guy 80 years old, almost as good a score as that "Kate" person.  "Lost" may be good tonight.  I had the regular fare on the dining car this morning for breakfast.  TBIL after "Lost".  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[anjdevil2]

Morning Guys...Hey there John B...

 

Well, the “special assignment” was a trip to Tampa... and it was stalled long enough so that we left at 1 PM and didn’t get back until 10PM  475 miles, geez I could’ve been have way home to Jersey by now....(oh, yeah that SNOW thing..sure, I’d go back ‘cuz I can DRIVE in the snow....no sweat there).

 

Pat +1 (+2 if you include the Princess  ).

 

edw, I’ll say this...either join in all the time or stop showing up just to stir up “issues”.  I don’t mind what you say, but if you were a regular, I, um, might tolerate you a wee bit more.  As it is right now a socialist is a socialist (or community organizer)....and that ends the political portion of this missive.

 

Dennis & Roy...nice stuff about the grounding and checking for spark...that was awesome...made my morning....

 

– for us all and the nation as a whole.  Special intentions for the Q & 88, Brutus & Char, SJ’s aunt....sorry if I missed someone, still have a little white line fever...

 

And the Flyer thing – yeah, me likes, just too heavily invested in Dad’s & my Lionel

 

Back later – if I don’t have another trip....

 

[cnw1995]

 Aloha all. Nice and sunny but coooold. Rich, I wouldn't mind a trip to Tampa about now   Prayers for 8n's bride and Brutus' bride's continued recovery. Good magneto memories. Definitely learned to be careful around electrics. Speaking of which, the bride told me the microwave was kaput last eve, I pushed the GFI reset button on the outlet and told her I fixed it.   I used to go down to park at the approach under the longest runway at Kennedy airport to watch the big jets come in on a summers' evening. It was also fun to lie on the beach and watch the Concorde SST take off over our heads on its way to Blighty. Great chatting with the guys on the Tardis. Nice haul, Charlie - isn't it something to think of the last man to hold that spike before pounding it in the tie. NavyJack, there's nothing wrong with tubular track and it's a lot less expensive. Get the biggest curves you can handle - I think your E unit needs 042 at least

[sir james I]

Good Morning All

40 degrees but feels cold and damp.

Everyone have a great day.

S.J.

[wrmcclellan]

Morning all!

Already 55 and headed to 70 and sunny today. Life is good in N Texas.

Still getting over the crud I had all last week. Felt good yesterday. Today I feel like I am having a relapse.

Gotta work with the insurance company today on the settlement for the daughter's car.

[laz 57]

NAVYJACK,

  I agree with DOUG, to get the biggest radius that you can handle.  I have both fast track and 0-27 profile in 0-54 radius.  Works for me and the tubular 0-27 profile is cheaper.  If I lived closer I could give you a pile of it.  Good luck.

laz57

[Ole Timer]

 Mike ... i think if any of us could wrap our arms around Ashly Costa in that red dress we'd have a bit more snap in our step .... LOL . WOW .....   .... the bad part was finding out he is 80 !  Now I really feel old . 

Doug ... that sounds great laying there under those jets ... would have been cool to have gotten some belly shots of them . Hardly ever see those pics anywhere .

Navyjack ... yep tubular track is good to go as Doug and Laz said ... and a heck of alot less expensive . I'll third that .. don't get any smaller radius than 042 ... not only the big engines need it but the engines and cars look a heck of alot better running on it ... not that jack-knifed look .

[dwiemer]

Good almost noon everyone.  Mitch, great to see you back.  Regarding the tests, one of the local school systems got caught with administrators changing test results  I am glad we don't live in the town with that issue.  As they say, not all systems are created equal.  In fact, the district in question just hired a head administrator who had several grammer mistakes and multiple mis-spelling errors on his presentation.  He also has had several brushes with the law.  I guess like everything else, if the head stinks, the rest probably does too.

I remember both SAC and TAC command bases and was always impressed with some of the larger planes.  C-5s were huge, and when they were doing a major move, one right after the other.  We still had F4s, but they mostly stayed parked.  I think they were flown by A-N.G. at that time.  My career was cut short by a knee injury and I 4-F'ed.

Rich, I too can drive in the snow, but Lord help us if we get snow down south here.  Most don't and shouldn't drive.  I try to stay off the roads if I can help it...it is after all the 'Other guy' you have to watch out for.

Roy, I am going to attempt a fix on the tractor today...weather permitting.  If things go bust, this may be my last post.  I will have the bride post a detailed discription so everyone else can have a laugh be warned.  If the lights dim like in "The Green Mile", you'll know.

Dennis