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COFFEE POT #8 August 2010 for all to take a drink and chat. Welcome all posters. 5 yrs old and still going. Sweet ice tea too.

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Posted by rtraincollector on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:42 PM

Rich maybe one of my trips to Lancaster, PA we'll connect somewhere. If I go up I try to go during York week even thou I don't make it to York. but one of these time I'm going to right now I'm shooting for either April or more likely Oct of 2012. Need to get a few things straightened out first as in bills mainly. So I can have some $$ to spend there. don't really need a place to stay while there as brother lives about 25 miles away in Brickerville, PA (right next to Lititz and Lancaster)

Evening all hope all had a good day today mine was so so spent 2 hours to get info that took 5 minutes to be given to me. anyway its the first step.

No train relate things today. Do need to do something train soon as there just sitting in boxes in a pile 2 feet away from me here at my desk.

Will stop in again soon hope to connect with the tardis crew tonight.

Got a letter from Pat today in the mail

Dear RT,

got a job last month first I have had in decades, We're rich now 217.28 every Thursday. we went to sears for one of them new fangled bathrooms like the rich northerns have (Chief would be impressed) It finally came and we got it all set up. You should see it. One side of the room is a long white thing like the pigs drink out of, only you bathe yourself all at one time in it. Hanging on the wall is a qu eer gadget called the sink. Its for small washing, like hands and face. but the corner-- Wow!! There is this thing where you put one foot in and wash it clean and pull the chain and it changes the water for the other foot. They sent us a roll of writing paper, but it's kind of cheap it rips too easy

Yours Truly,

Pat

P.S. They also sent us 2 lids with the darn foot washer. We couldn't find any use for them so Ma used one for a bread board and we framed Gram pa's picture in the other one.

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

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Posted by LawsonFarmsRR on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 6:48 PM

rtraincollector
Got a letter from Pat today in the mail

Dear RT,

got a job last month first I have had in decades, We're rich now 217.28 every Thursday. we went to sears for one of them new fangled bathrooms like the rich northerns have (Chief would be impressed) It finally came and we got it all set up. You should see it. One side of the room is a long white thing like the pigs drink out of, only you bathe yourself all at one time in it. Hanging on the wall is a qu eer gadget called the sink. Its for small washing, like hands and face. but the corner-- Wow!! There is this thing where you put one foot in and wash it clean and pull the chain and it changes the water for the other foot. They sent us a roll of writing paper, but it's kind of cheap it rips too easy

Yours Truly,

Pat

P.S. They also sent us 2 lids with the darn foot washer. We couldn't find any use for them so Ma used one for a bread board and we framed Gram pa's picture in the other one.

 

Got a letter from RT today.

 Dear Pat,

I am jealous. Now we are saving our egg money so we to can have one of these new fangled bathrooms. Until then we will continue to use the creek behind the house. We saw a used one last week that would do. The bread board had stains that should add to the flavor of the bread. And the streaks on the frame will match the tobaccie juice on Grampa's chin .

With the money we save buying used we can put something over the large openings in the walls to keep the rain off the dirt floor, and the wind from blowing out the candles. Hate walking in mud to light them things.

Yours truly,

LT

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

 

              

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Posted by SPMan on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 6:55 PM

Good afternoon all, took my ailing MTH ACL proto 1 F3 to the shop yesterday.  While I was there, I picked up some of the Bull Frog Snot I have been hearing about to put on my locomotive wheels for traction.  Haven't tried it yet but will give report later.  I have looked at a couple of videos showing how to apply it.  If this works, it will take a lot of work out of changing tires on some of those hard to do locations on some steam engines.

Went to get together with our "Prime Club" friends from church at the local park last night.  We hold our meeting over there a couple of times in the summer when it stays light longer.  The rest of the time we meet at each others houses and plan outings etc.

 Been helping wife with request for food from our church food pantry this week so haven't spent much time in the train room.  Need to get back in there tomorrow.  I have found that my train room is a good place to listen to all my old CD's without bothering anyone in the house.  It's nice to play stuff I haven't heard for a while.  Kind of like when they were new again.

Don't think I will make any train meets this month.  However on one of those dates I am going to take a private railroad car trip with some retired railroad friends of mine from L.A. to San Diego and back featuring two private cars, one of which is a dome diner and the other is a converted baggage car for recreation and open door photography.  The trip includes lunch on the way down and dinner on the way back.  Drinks are included.  A good time should be had by all.  I hope to see some faces I haven't seen for 10 years now.

Have a good evening,

 

Ray

SPMan

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

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Posted by rtraincollector on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 7:00 PM

dang duplicating

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

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Posted by rtraincollector on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 7:00 PM

LawsonFarmsRR

rtraincollector
Got a letter from Pat today in the mail

Dear RT,

got a job last month first I have had in decades, We're rich now 217.28 every Thursday. we went to sears for one of them new fangled bathrooms like the rich northerns have (Chief would be impressed) It finally came and we got it all set up. You should see it. One side of the room is a long white thing like the pigs drink out of, only you bathe yourself all at one time in it. Hanging on the wall is a qu eer gadget called the sink. Its for small washing, like hands and face. but the corner-- Wow!! There is this thing where you put one foot in and wash it clean and pull the chain and it changes the water for the other foot. They sent us a roll of writing paper, but it's kind of cheap it rips too easy

Yours Truly,

Pat

P.S. They also sent us 2 lids with the darn foot washer. We couldn't find any use for them so Ma used one for a bread board and we framed Gram pa's picture in the other one.

 

Got a letter from RT today.

 Dear Pat,

I am jealous. Now we are saving our egg money so we to can have one of these new fangled bathrooms. Until then we will continue to use the creek behind the house. We saw a used one last week that would do. The bread board had stains that should add to the flavor of the bread. And the streaks on the frame will match the tobaccie juice on Grampa's chin .

With the money we save buying used we can put something over the large openings in the walls to keep the rain off the dirt floor, and the wind from blowing out the candles. Hate walking in mud to light them things.

Yours truly,

LT

Sorry you got me mixed up have had one of those things for years and I know what true use of foot washer

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

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Posted by dwiemer on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 7:37 PM

Good evening.  Been very busy day.  Started out about the time Rich woke up....slackerWink  Just kidding.  Did a case this morning, followed by a visit with a sales rep as we are looking at some new equipment.  Then home to take kids to violin practice and had wife drop me off for another meeting and finally home, only to do it all again tomorrow.

Rich and John, this link was sent to me today in remembrance of the Waldbaums fire with the FDNY.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTzBg1YIZmI&feature=player_embedded

Hard to believe it has been this many years.

Not much else to report.  Wife told me they had some guys running from the sheriff's dept.  They had the helicopter out looking for them around our property.  We are well armed, so no worries.

Hope everyone is having a good night.
Dennis

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Posted by sir james I on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 8:40 PM

Good Evening

Well the rain did it again, huge storm all the way across the state, got here and disappeared.

Banilla is ready and the beacon is humming...S.J.

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

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Posted by jefelectric on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 9:26 PM

 Probe, We have had three Toshiba laptops over the last few years.  Wife is on her second one and I have had mine about 3 years.  Her first one just ran out of HD space and we decided to replace it rather than put more money in an outdated computer all worked well and had no problems.  Mine has traveled quite a bit via Amtrak in a laptop backpack with no ill effects.  Like a lot of the manufacturers, they do make several different models at different price points. 

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Posted by Brutus on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 9:53 PM

Howdy guys from a hot and sticky Saint Louis (again).  Well, my wife's claim for leave from the leave bank has been denied.  Not just "no" but "H--- No".  She can request advance leave and people could even donate to cover it for her, but she wants to just go on train restrictions and use savings until the doc lets her go back to work.  I guess we will give that a couple weeks and see how it goes.  Did find out that Lionel dropped the camelback I had preordered, so that is one thing I don't have to worry about.  She's down to 2 Mg of her immune suppression drug twice a day and they have been dropping it by 1/2 mg per dose each week, so in about 4 weeks she should be totally off that med and have a green light to return to work part time.

Tardis is ready, but you guys will have to buy rounds for a while - I'll get you back later Wink

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by wrmcclellan on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 10:08 PM

Evening all!

Been busy the last 2 days so missed posting yesterday.Hope all are well.

The weathermenpersons here are boasting about rain and lower temps in the forecast ! - well maybe next week - and maybe if that cold front arrives - or maybe if the tropical depression in the gulf comes this way - or maybe if some well known underworld place freezes over - riiiigggghhhtttt!

I personally have had great luck with Dell laptops and always order via their website. Never had one fail. I am on my 4th one in about 15 years and the reason for changing is a need for greater speed and memory as work docs I produce get larger and more memory intensive. Has been cheaper for me to buy new one than spend a week upgrading an old one.

Daughter goes in tomorrow for some minor outpatient surgery. No issue and should go smoothly.

 

 

Regards, Roy

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Posted by Brutus on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 10:10 PM

PS - we went totally laptop this year, no desktop computer any more.  We have two toshiba laptops and a gateway netbook my wife used in the hospital.  I really recommend toshiba laptops.  Our first one is still going strong - MiL has it, but battery is no good and only runs on AC power.  We replaced the battery to no avail, so I suspect that a battery connector went bad.  Still - it continues to work otherwise.

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by submmbob on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 10:58 PM

 Well back at work for a few days as of yesterday. Came up to find a lot of things broken, not done, ignored, or all of the above. 3 hospital visits in 3 weeks including surgery, and I was more frustrated by just being at work for 30 minutes.

Spent several hours watching a slow train wreck as two computer types and an engineer worked on replacing the squirrel cage in the computer room AC unit. The original contractor installed it upside down and backwards and too close to the steel part of the building. I took all three of them to get it out and back in. Can't believe John got it back together by himself last year, but that may be part of the reason we had to revisit this.

Spent today working on my favorite windbird again. Fortunately our most capable engineer was here and helped figure it out. As least it was something different, but probably my fault from some work on it several iterations ago. Nobody's perfect I guess.

I changed my schedule this week because the site will be completely off power this weekend and they wanted some advice in setting the scaffolding up. Due to the computer upgrade they won't  be setting it up until next week. Oh well, good thing I trust these guys. 

Doing better w/ each day and not having any problems at altitude. I'm letting the other guys handle the heavy stuff and just being here, fetching tools, and knowing where the tools are. 

Bob

Bob

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Posted by 8ntruck on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 11:48 PM

My dashboard thermometer read 106 when I started home tonight.

My wife made her morning 0.6 mile walk today without her walker.  Progress!

Bob - sounds like you are recovering well too.  Just don't overdo things.

Work is interesting.  The new plant manager is starting to show sighs of a manage by conflict style.  Fortunately, I've not been in the hot seat yet, and am learning from others experiences.

Later all.

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Posted by cheapclassics on Thursday, August 12, 2010 4:55 AM

Good morning all,

We did get rain in SE Indiana yesterday.  Hot again today.  Went to YMCA for first time in a while.  Work went well.  I had the regular fare on the dining car for breakfast.  TBIL any time and I can drive with no loop de loops.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by navyjack on Thursday, August 12, 2010 6:26 AM

Big Smilehottest weather of the year. no air conditioning. submmbob glad you are back to normal.  new yachet is all navy can afford.  navyjack

"the older the violin the sweeter the music"
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Posted by RockIsland52 on Thursday, August 12, 2010 6:29 AM

Bob.......remember the best thing about your first day back at work......with or without you, others will always find ways to screw things up.  That is a constant in life, and why each of us can take comfort in the value we bring to the table.  Stressful?  It can be until we realize that constant won't change, the mess today will be replaced by another tomorrow, and we can walk away at the end of the day simply knowing we are doing our best.  The rest will take care of itself.  More important is how your dealing with life less one GB! 

8N......the wifey is on a roll!  She (and you) must be very encouraged.  Sure beats the heck out of the "before" doesn't it? 

Prayers for all who need them, including those of us who don't think we need them today.  We probably will.  Wink

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 Blueberryhill RR on Thursday, August 12, 2010 6:31 AM

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a humid and cloudy 74 degrees. Looks like a big storm any minute. Going up to 88 today with thunderstorms in the forecast.

Today is a busy day. Wife is going grocery shopping. It's gonna rain. She will not be happy. I have a few chores to do and then put all the groceries away. This afternoon, I can relax. Legs are sore from PT, yesterday.

Dining car is here and it's the usual for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Thursday.

Chuck

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
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Posted by navyjack on Thursday, August 12, 2010 6:34 AM

Big Smilehey pat, i almost forgot to tell you, aint indoor plumbing great? wife has been keeping me cool with sponge baths with water from that thing the dogs drink from. that pay rt says you are gettin reminds me of my retirement check from the navy.  navyjack

"the older the violin the sweeter the music"
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Posted by Sturgeon-Phish on Thursday, August 12, 2010 7:31 AM

Good Morning all

Restful evening as the rain kept me from working outside and the kids and my bride were shopping.  Had Sam Adams, leftover ribs and tomato pie.  Got some stuff together in prep for going on retreat next week.  I’ll be in the Idaho mountains working for the park service rebuilding/building trails as part of a spiritual retreat called Wilderness outreach from 8-19 to 8-31. 

 

Roy – prayers for your daughter

NavyJack – Special prayers for you and your bride.

Jim – We have a Gateway and a Acer.  I don’t think I’ll go back to dsktops again.

Bob – I feel your pain.  I am trying to get ahead of schedule before I leave so there will be less to get messed up.  I do have some really fine folks who work for me that can take care of the stuff I do.  Every position I’ve had I constantly work with my direct reports to replace me.

 

Got to go

May God bless

Jim

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Posted by fifedog on Thursday, August 12, 2010 7:50 AM

Mornin' boys.  Mornin' indoor plumbing challenged.  Woke up to a thunderstorm with 10,000 lightning strikes (yep, counted all of them). 

RockIsland - You thought Ernestine was hot, didn't you...?

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Posted by Hudson#685 on Thursday, August 12, 2010 8:19 AM

Good Morning from Pagosa Springs, Colorado, the weather has been great.

I have not had a chance to go through the posts. The wedding on Monday went well and we got caught up on people that we have not seen for a long time including folks from Baltimore and Elktown, Md. On Tuesday, we spent the day taking the train ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It is a must do if you are in the area. Wednesday, I helped my friends 17 yr old son with his 1971 Chevy Truck, for a few hours. I am going back to help him today. All that I have to say is what a mess. The kid had bad advice. Enough said. This area is hit had with a lack of work and a lot of homes and businesses are for sale. Where my friend lives, about 1/2 of the homes are for sale.

Fife and Rich, I will let you guys know about the Symposium when i get back to work on Monday.

Thoughts and Prayers for all in need.

John

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Posted by cnw1995 on Thursday, August 12, 2010 8:24 AM

 Aloha all. Supposed to be the hottest day of the year today. Finally figured out the new iPhone. Seems it was "provisioned" without a data plan, so it wouldn't connect to anything. Wonder how that can happen. Nifty little thing. Seems to do everything. Condolences to those of our 'family' here without air conditioning.

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

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 12, 2010 8:35 AM

Guys,

          Thanks for the advice on laptops.  I am back on the desktop because my laptop decided to act up again yesterday.  I pulled the HDD and RAM and put the rest in the garbage.  It just isn't worth the aggrevation.  I have settled on Toshiba after what I've read here and elsewhere.  I've got to call Office Depot to see if they can hold the one I am interested in until tonight.

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Posted by sir james I on Thursday, August 12, 2010 8:46 AM

Good Morning

Overcast and hi 80s today, about 3 minutes of downpour during the night. That was it.

One ringy dingy, two ringy dingys, that pic of Ernestine gave me a huge flashback, thanks.

Doug M it seems that by the time you learn to use your new phone, you buy another lol.

Tomorrows friday the 13th so get everything done today....S.J.

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

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Posted by RockIsland52 on Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:19 AM

Fife.....I can remember the days of party lines up at my grandparents home in Northern Wisconsin!!!!!!!!!!!!  Security and privacy was non-existent.

HudsonJohn.....isn't it funny you go all the way out to Colorado and then see all the East coast folks.

JimSP.....bet there are bear out there.  Grizzlies!  Will you be packing?

Roy.....hope all is well with your daughter, no snags.

JimmyT and all.....................my daughter and SIL went all laptop.  Think they are on #3 at home.  While the portability is great they are not careful about things.  Batteries, power connections, plug in wireless.....something "mechanical" is always going South.  Coca cola spilled into the keyboard and other places did the last one in.  The one I am on now while bbsitting the grandkids is slower than a dead tortoise.

Rich.....sounds to me like you have all the bases covered except for one.  You need to get your car up there.

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 Anonymous on Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:28 AM

Mornin' Fellas.

Jack - Laptops are the way to go. Batteries can be bought dirt cheep on eBay, as can power supplies. I won't buy another plug in wireless card, they just don't last. I also recommend people buy laptops with BlueTooth builtin. Why? Because may devices now (speakers, keyboards, mice, etc) come in a BlueTooth version.

The reason I went Gateway over Toshiba was I got a much better laptop for the price. Mine doesn't have BlueTooth and that is the only drawback to it. I bought a wireless mouse because I hate, despise, those touch pad devices, and with a bad hand I simply can't operate it with the left hand (too sensitive).

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:33 AM

Brent,

          The laptop I had was running the 32 bit version of W7, and the one I am looking runs the 64 bit version.  Should I worry about compatability issues?

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 12, 2010 10:26 AM

green97probe

Brent,

          The laptop I had was running the 32 bit version of W7, and the one I am looking runs the 64 bit version.  Should I worry about compatability issues?



Nope. You can run 32-bit apps on 64-bit operating system, they just don't take advantage of the CPU. And Win7 is smart and can switch back and forth to improve performance as well.

Are you looking at 15 or 17 inch screens? I have a 17 and The Q has a 15 and she has screen size envy! Big Smile
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Posted by Sturgeon-Phish on Thursday, August 12, 2010 10:26 AM

I'm going to leave the GP 100 at home; too much hassle to get it out there

Jim

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 12, 2010 10:34 AM

I had a 15.4", and I will be moving up to 15.6".  A 17" screen is definitely nice though.  My friend's HP had a 17" screen, and that seemed huge compared to my 15.4". 

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