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COFFEE POT #4, April 2010 for all to take a drink and chat. Welcome all posters. 4 yrs old and still going. Sweet ice tea too. (Even some Kibbles)

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 8, 2010 8:38 PM

Jim,

        Sent you a PM about the 644.

I have been looking for more Probes, and I found an 89 GT.  Has 250K on the body, but only about 80K on the engine.  I might check it out.  I'd like to get some fishing in during the forum downtime, hopefully the weather will cooperate.

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Posted by Sturgeon-Phish on Thursday, April 8, 2010 9:01 PM

Here is a picture of the 644 with the bent chassis

You can see the bow in the picture

Jim

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 8, 2010 9:10 PM

Jim,

         That is different.  Due to the thickness of the 644 chasis, I never thought they could warp like that.  The remains of the 644 that I have was the same version as yours, and I'd like to pick up another one at some point.  It didn't survive due to poor packing and 20 years in an attic.  There is something about this red version that the black version just doesn't have.

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Posted by submmbob on Thursday, April 8, 2010 10:27 PM

 Another quiet night here at the 'scope. We should have all 3 receivers cold by tomorrow. It's been a while since that happened. Looks like more snow over the weekend and on Monday.

Went shopping for food in the metropolis of Safford this afternoon. I really like the IGA there. It's a big store but still has a very home town feel. The chains are encroaching on it's business now. It's right by the tracks as well. Got to see them doing some switching w/ what looked to be a GP35. 

Hope everyone has a good weekend during the hiatus of the forum. Guess I'll read my new CTT issue instead.

Bob

 

 

Bob

Tucson, AZ (aka the Ol' Pueblo)

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Posted by Brutus on Thursday, April 8, 2010 10:54 PM

Howdy guys - nothing much going on here today.  Temps are dropping due to storm fronts, but no snow in St. Louis at least.  We might have frost in the morning?  We'll see.

Laz - how about some pics of the addition going on?

Wife's numbers are going in the right directions again.  CMV is going down, hemoglobin is going up, and immunity is staying strong.  Waiting for some insurance info for more shots vs transfusions.

Prayers for all in need and our friends and families.

Tardis is ready - let's hit it!

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by 8ntruck on Thursday, April 8, 2010 11:36 PM

Sunny and 60's today.

97 Probe - I ended up using the edge of a large diameter fender washer in a vise as an anvil to set the shoe rivet - similar set up.  Maybe I was doing it the hard way, but I also had the shoe through the bottom coupler plate and the fiber retainer under the spring on the coupler plate.  I used a wooden window shim to support the coupler plate.

I shot a short video of the milk car unloading on my cell phone and showed it to some of the guys at work who have shown interest in trains.  Universal reaction was a smile and a chuckle.

Test and tune day Saturday at the 1/2 mile dirt track at the State Fair grounds.  This will be the first time we have run the car on that long of a track - different set up all together.  The driver/owner is a little nervous about the higher speeds too. 

Ken Shrader will be driving a car in our class there on opening night.  That is going to bring all of the hot shoes in the area out to that race.  We are going to spectate - no sense in trying to be on the track with those guys for the first time 1/2 mile track race with a car that probably won't be sorted out.  Besides, I could just see the headlines "Ken Shrader out for the season after crash at the Historic Half Mile caused by rookie driver".  Rather get my 15 minutes of fame some other way....

All for now.

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Posted by Sturgeon-Phish on Friday, April 9, 2010 5:31 AM

Good Morning all

It has been a fast week.

Jim - I like the looks of the red one better.  I think you can see the details better.

As thick as the casting is I too was surprised.  I have another chassis in my junk box that is bowed the same way.

Jim F - Good news.  Char is in my prayers.

May God bless

JIm

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Posted by rtraincollector on Friday, April 9, 2010 5:48 AM

Hope to see you all later this weekend but if not see you monday. At work and will be all weekend Sadno foruem this weekend but will survive. Have a good weekend all

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

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Posted by Blueberryhill RR on Friday, April 9, 2010 5:54 AM

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a cloudy 46 degrees. Only going up to 65 today with some sunshine. No rain.

Today is a busy day. I will be alone this weekend. Wife is leaving today to visit the Daughter and Family, for the weekend. I will be forced to endure the peace and quiet. I will be forced to run trains and take naps. But, I will do it with a smile.Big Smile

Night Nascar races tonite and tomorrow night. Baseball games on all days. Life is goood.

Dining car is here for the usual breakfast.

Buckeye....... TGIF

Y'all have a great Friday.

Chuck

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
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Posted by laz 57 on Friday, April 9, 2010 6:28 AM

Hi GUYZ,

  45 and brisk here, big difference from yesterday, finally back to spring.

BUCKEYE,TGIF!!!

BRUTUS , maybe post some pics this weekend.  It is coming along nicely.  I will be purchasing about 500 board feet of oak to machine all the trim and ceiling for addition.

Stay frosty,

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
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Posted by cheapclassics on Friday, April 9, 2010 6:41 AM

Good morning all,

IIABSDISEI with temps in the 50s eventually.  Have 2 soccer games to ref tomorrow and the IRL race is Sunday (Go SFR and AJ!)  Will mow grass with old mower tonight.  Dad was over for a visit last night and one of the daughters may be down tomorrow as well.  Had streusel and cereal.  Work goes well.  TBIL anytime this weekend.  I hope everyone has a good day and a good weekend.  See you on Monday.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by anjdevil2 on Friday, April 9, 2010 7:01 AM

navyjack & Dougdg...I will tell him.  Thanks for your support!

Well, the sun is trying to peek out of the clouds, rained last night and was still very humid, couldn't sleep and was up at 0530 anyway....

Told the Mrs. about the trip last night via note, as see works past 11PM  was up at 0630 and wasn't pleased...but these days, you have to do what the job wants...and quite frankly, I don't see a problem.....Whistling.

May hit a few train stores between family activity, but we'll see...the one in Fayetteville, NC is a go unless I'm there at night.

OKAY!!!  WIll check back until the deadline...have a good weekend if I'm not back!

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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Posted by LawsonFarmsRR on Friday, April 9, 2010 7:24 AM

laz 57

Hi GUYZ,

  45 and brisk here, big difference from yesterday, finally back to spring.

BUCKEYE,TGIF!!!

BRUTUS , maybe post some pics this weekend.  It is coming along nicely.  I will be purchasing about 500 board feet of oak to machine all the trim and ceiling for addition.

Stay frosty,

laz57

 

Hay Laz -- Not this weekend. All CTT Forums are shut down all weekend.Thumbs Down

Pat

 RFD-TV --- Rural America's most important network!

 

              

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Posted by cnw1995 on Friday, April 9, 2010 8:17 AM

 Aloha all. Good news about your bride, Brutus. Sunny but cold today. Atypically busy weekend coming up - with our attending a day-long 'bat mitzvah' Sat. That should be interesting. Percy still acting funny. Wonder if something has come loose.

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

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Posted by RockIsland52 on Friday, April 9, 2010 8:35 AM

Hi Ya'll From Rainy Taxachusetts,

Wife is on her way to the Long Beach airport for her return to the Bay State.  Said she tried to visit RaySP, DougDG, and Don but they were still being held in solitary confinement in jail, something about a pole dancer and jiggling from the aftershocks.....Whistling

The grass is green and growing!  Temps are back in the 40s and lower 50s, seasonally correct.  Brown spots from winterkill fading quickly.  Mowed once already, and the first coat of fertilizer and lime is kicking in big time.  Lawn treated with a pre-emergent for crabgrass, and the weeds are next with the next coat of fertilizer/weed killer in about 3 weeks.  Wifey wanted me to rip out a large part of the lawn and start over Banged Head, but this will work!!!!  My master plan is to have the lawn looking good by Memorial Day.  I'm laying low in the meantime, keeping my mouth shut.  Then plan to tell the wife at the end of May a big  "I told you so!"  Smile,Wink, & Grin  My funeral arrangements will be announced shortly thereafter.

Dog ate the TV remote.  Not good, so I'm hunting for a replacement on the net and Ebay.

Brutus.....great news on Char.  Angel   Prayers continue.  Despite the setbacks and serious inconveniences, some out of pure caution, you two are showing the rest of us what can be done by a couple with faith, committed to each other through thick and thin.  Makes me feel small sometimes.  Hang in there.

Chuck......."HOME ALONE IV, McCauley Culkin's Later Years" starring Blueberry Hill and Joe Pesci.  Big Smile

8N......the least you could do is get a photo of you getting lapped by Ken Shrader (in later years tell everyone you had just passed him)!  Then pit and change drivers.

JimSP......."bends die cast in his bare hands!"  Sweet 644!

SJ......sounds like you have turned goofing off into an art form.  Big Smile 

Chief......send tomatoes, and quickly!  Hope you put a roll bar and seat belts.in your new golf cart.   

Laz......with all you know about woodworking and your plan for the addition, how much supervision and instruction do you receive from the wife? Whistling

RT......you're working too hard, plus those train boxes will be discovered on the front porch by the better half.  Dangerous!  Perhaps a life ending situation.

Roy.....good to have you back on the Pot.  You must be one busy guy.  Smile

Jon.....just out of curiosity, do you change your bike oil before you put it away for the Winter, or do you do it in the Spring?

Banks.....snow this weekend?  Say it isn't so!.   

Bob......IGA disappeared in the 50s from my world in Chicago. Remember it well as a kid because that is where my Mom shopped with me in tow.

JimT.......I'd skip the second ProbeGT and focus on keeping up with things on your primary one.  Then look for that Mustang.

Dennis.....I love it when yard work gets shelved due to an act of God, don't you?  On a similar vein to your broken jacuzzi drain escapade.  My first floor toilet backed up.  A snake from the toilet down or from the basement up would not clear it.  Had to take the toilet completely off!  Lo and behold I found a small glass and brass angel jammed down in the trap, with the suction cup still attached.  Yup, wife attached the angel to the window right above the toilet.  My theory is that the granddaughter went to play with it and it wound up in the bowel, and she just flushed it.  We retired the angel.

OleTimer.....headed to Cumberland?  You get around, probably have to keep on moving so you don't get caught......Laugh    

Pat.......I'm having withdrawal symptoms already at the thought of not having your posts to sustain me over the weekend.  No reb jabs.....depressing.

MikeC......glad to hear you got a visit from your Dad and one coming up from your daughter.  Wish my folks were still around.  Wife and I will be DRIVING 1042 miles one way to visit some family and friends soon.

ANJ.....sounds like you have a long but quick road trip coming up too.  Glad to hear the Harley is finally behaving. Thumbs Up

Fife.....you cashed my check but I have not received my tickets for the "3 hour cruise" on your yacht.  Also still waiting for your rules on appropriate bathing suit attire.  What gives, skipper? Pirate

NAVYJACK......what's the word on a possible modest layout, or did I miss it?

Charlie.....glad to see that your little ones don't look like you! Smile,Wink, & Grin   Great pics!  You can't even tell they were duck taped to the sofa.

DougM.....sounds like Reb treachery and sabotage on your layout.  Sad 

Later, gang

Jack.

IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.

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Posted by sir james I on Friday, April 9, 2010 8:46 AM

Good Morning, Good Morning, Good Morning

Ok that covers the weekend.

March has returned,  it was 35 this morning going to 40. Same for tomorrow morning but going to 50.

See you on monday although I do plan to check on the site anyway, hopefully the new server will be a good one. TTFN....S.J.

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

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Posted by dwiemer on Friday, April 9, 2010 10:48 AM

Good Late morning before they shut the site down for Maint. Morning case went very well, even though the gremlins were out.  Finished and back home before 1130.  Jack, thanks for the "Cliff Notes" on the pot as I had to read through fast before they shut down.

Brutus, lets pray the good news continues.  God Bless you and the household. 
Jim, one thought comes to mind with regard to your bent frames.  You could make some short bridges like Lionel has in the latest catalog.  Just glue some wood planks to the top and perhaps include a few railings on the side.

Hope each of you have a blessed weekend.  We are heading to FIL's for his birthday.  Then on Sunday, we have a guest speaker at church and I am sure I will be recruited for some part of the media team.  I am not on schedule, but that is just how things happen.

God Bless,
Dennis

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Posted by cnw1995 on Friday, April 9, 2010 10:57 AM

 Safe travels, Dennis. What would we do without Jack's recaps... Another blown opportunity by the Sox last night. And a series lost to Cleveland. This is a team remade as a light-hitting, fast, opportunistic bunch for 'Ozzie-ball' - I'm sure the GM Kenny Williams is taking notes as he doesn't like it - missing HR hitters like Jim Thome. Ah well, baseball gives me something to think about.  Speaking of Chicago soccer, Jack, you and Mike C would be impressed with Toyota Park, the soccer-only outdoor stadium where the 'Fire' play - far south suburbs - probably closer to Mike than me  Wink

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

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Posted by RockIsland52 on Friday, April 9, 2010 12:22 PM

Hmmmmmm.....a delay in shut down.  Bob Keller forgot to throw the switch!!!!  Jack.

IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.

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Posted by anjdevil2 on Friday, April 9, 2010 12:49 PM

  The door to the computer room is jambed and someone lost the keys

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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Posted by dwiemer on Friday, April 9, 2010 12:52 PM

Hey Doug, our guest speaker is from out your way.  James MacDonald From Harvest.  We did his "Downpour" series last year.  Well, going to hit the yard.  Don't have many broadleaf weeds, just some odd grasses and such.  Also, clover has sprouted and the deer have not done their job to eat it all.  Will cut what I can and spread the W&F.

Dennis

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Posted by Blueberryhill RR on Friday, April 9, 2010 12:56 PM

Is it down ?  Or back up ?

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
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Posted by SPMan on Friday, April 9, 2010 1:33 PM

Good morning all, thought the site was shutting down today?  Had a small gathering at my layout last night with three of us for trains, snacks and BS.  Watched some model layout videos from other folks layouts.  One was about Tony Lash.  Very big layout and very big man.  Enjoyed it because I had never seen Tony before and he did some of the commentary on this DVD.

Have a good weekend,

Ray

SPMan

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

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Posted by RockIsland52 on Friday, April 9, 2010 1:48 PM

Dennis......pretty sure the Scotts Turfbuilder Plus 2 fertilizes and takes out both the broadleaf weeds and the clover.  Ortho Weed B Gon spray takes out the broadleaf weeds and clover too for hitting spots.  You can buy it in a spray bottle for spot weeding or they have a bottle you hook up to the garden hose for larger areas.

Just apply when the lawn is wet (dew) and follow the directions for how long the stuff has to sit undisturbed (water, traffic) before turning the hounds loose and the rain.  24 hours is the minimum undisturbed time I believe.

Jack

IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.

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Posted by rtraincollector on Saturday, April 10, 2010 8:06 PM

Hey cool were back in business

Welcome back all

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

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Posted by cnw1995 on Saturday, April 10, 2010 8:23 PM

 .... And we're back. Thanks RT.   Good long day, Bat Mitzvah was an interesting experience. Now prepping for the bride's bday. May get her a Kindle. Just can't face watching a Llfetime movie w her tonight. Wink  Also the teen turns 16 next week, the day after the bride's bday. Gotta start filling out insurance paperwork for him. LOL. Tongue  Dennis, Pastor McDonald is quite a guy - pretty intense too. His church is just down the road.

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

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Posted by Brutus on Saturday, April 10, 2010 8:44 PM

Check, check?

Doug - my Dad's got a kindle and loves it.  They have some free books too, including old Arthur Conan Doyle stuff.

Worked 5 OT, then went to Electrictrainsoutlet on Page and bought a few buildings for the layout - a mth mobile home, a The Hot Box bbq diner, and a lionel bookstore.  Also got the catalogs Thumbs Up.  They had a GG1 for 350, Lionel, and supposed to have tmcc in it, but I was already tempting fate Laugh  Then, I mowed the lawn and now I'm on chat with the boys.

TTFN!

 

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by anjdevil2 on Saturday, April 10, 2010 8:54 PM

 Hey Guys....WOW quick server switch, huh?

Just getting finished packing for my flight tomorrow....watched the NJ Devils play on Center Ice..they won 7-1 and now that the Pens have lost to Atlanta...We win the Atlantic Division 2010 Champs!!  Good thing I'm going to Jersey...I can pick up some merchandise...!

Weather is supposed to be good all weekend so, I should be ok for the trip back..not sure I'm going to CT the night before or the day of...have some business in NJ before the trip back...so we'll see.

Thanks for the heads up there RT!!

Catch ya Wednesday!
Rich

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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Posted by jonadel on Saturday, April 10, 2010 10:08 PM

Just home after a grueling 27 hours but mostly good hours .... the next time I retire .........

 

Jack--NEVER EVER store any motors over the winter without first changing the oil.  Motor oils contain acids/contaminates  and will do harm to the motor when stored.  It makes no sense not to have fresh oil in the crankcase and then it's ready to go in the spring.  It would be the same thing with gas---I laugh at the folks who do not use Stabil or Seafoam and then wonder why their carbs/injectors are gunky.  Pretty simple to do it once correctly and be done with it PLUS plug in a Battery Tender (NOT A BATTERY CHARGER) and simply forget about it and then that motor will fire up the first time in the spring----trust me, it's that simple.

Small engine mechanics and big engine techs love the folks who just shut their toys/mowers off in the fall and do nothing, big smiles in the spring for those guys----bring your checkbooks!

 

 

Jon

So many roads, so little time. 

 

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 10, 2010 10:14 PM

I didn't think we'd be back online this fast.Thumbs Up  I can't wait until next Saturday because it is the opening day of trout season for this part of PA.  I have been studying the map of the local park where I do a lot of fishing, and there look to be some promising holes that I haven't seen yet.  I am going to go look for them before next weekend.  If you don't see anymore posts from me, it is a safe bet that I am lost in the woods somewhere in SW PA.Blindfold

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