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COFFEE POT #9 September 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 Brutus on Thursday, September 2, 2010 8:39 PM

Olaf from Saint Louiey, where it has rained off and on all day.  Just watching Warehouse 13 with the family after killing some zombies with a buddy.  Thinking up track plans is fun, too.  No OT this weekend - they offered on Saturday, but I wanted the 3 days off for a change. 

Tardis will be ready shortly so beacons ON!

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by sir james I on Thursday, September 2, 2010 8:41 PM

Good Evening

I'm running late, stayed out till dark. Banilla is ready so lite the fuse and come get me....S.J.

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

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Posted by Demay on Thursday, September 2, 2010 9:28 PM

Good evening all,

Pretty nice day today.  Some quick storms, but nothing too severe.  Will be turning in soon as I did not get much sleep last night thanks to the littlest one.  Wife had a good birthday and I believe she was very pleased with her gifts.

hscsltb - Our anniversary is in October, but I don't think I'll make any suggestions then either.  I still have the 2009, Vol 2 catalog on the nightstand in the bedroom.  I look at it almost every night hoping she'll catch on - my birthday is a week before Christmas. 

I hope everyone in the storm's path is prepared.  Be ready and keep safe.

Good night,

Joe

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Posted by 8ntruck on Thursday, September 2, 2010 11:09 PM

Cloudy and 80's today.  A little rain too.

The new flavor of politics at work that came with the new plant manager are, ummmm, 'interesting'.  Gallows humor in the plant is on the rise..... 

I got my two 200 series Alco A units hooked up to a single e-unit with clip leads and running around the track.  Seems to be working well.  Next step is to get the plugs and sockets for the tether.  Also got a B unit shell on e-bay the other day.  It is starting to come together.

Weather for the weekend looks like it will be nice.  My sister and her husband will be stopping by for a visit.  Have not seen them for a while, so we are looking forward to their visit. 

All for now.

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 2, 2010 11:14 PM

Jim,

       It seems like the 282s have more character than the 290s.  When I bought this 282, I wasn't impressed, but I am liking it more the more I work on it.  After taking a screw out of the Silver Flash so I could see what an S319 screw looks like, I found two in one of my bins.Thumbs Up  I also found a red stack tube, so I began reassembly.  When I plugged the tender chasis harness into the jack panel, it ran well.  I still need to clean the drum and fingers though.  I am going to try to get it finished for SPF.  I wish I would have taken a picture of it sitting on its shelf at Toy Town before I bought it,  Saying it was apart would have been an understatement. I couldn't just leave it there (that's also why I can't go to salvage yards).Smile, Wink & Grin

 

Took a trip to the local Ford dealer today and saw a beautiful Redfire Metallic 08 Mustang GT.  I want to go talk to a salesman asap to see what my options are.  The Sunfire is really starting to get on my nerves with the constant stream of problems. 

 

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Posted by cheapclassics on Friday, September 3, 2010 4:53 AM

Good morning all,

IIABSDISEI with temps more moderate.  Should be a beautiful weekend for the Indy car race at Kentucky.  Maybe for once, we will see some one other than Team Red win a race.  "My" soccer girls started off well with a goal in the first five minutes, but wound up losing 2-1.  Got my schedule for the fall league and I can not wait.  First game is next Thursday.  Part of me regrets missing some of the high school games, but after last night.......

Thank you all for the comments regarding the situation I described with my granddaughter.  I do find it interesting when people are surprised that dads and granddads have even a clue about the welfare of their family.  Judging from the comments made here on the pot, I think a lot of dads are concerned about their families to a greater extent than perceived. 

I had the regular fare on the dining car for breakfast before heading out to "Points East".  TBIL anytime tonight and I can drive.  No loop de loops.  I hope everyone (especially SFR and AJF teams) have a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by Blueberryhill RR on Friday, September 3, 2010 6:34 AM

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a cloudy 72 degrees. Going up to 88 today with a chance of rain.

Today is an easy day. A few chores and then relax.

PT this afternoon.

Buckeye.... TGIF

Dining car is here from "Points West". The usual Cheerios for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Friday.

Chuck

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
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Posted by Hudson#685 on Friday, September 3, 2010 8:08 AM

Good Morning from the Jersey Shore, 73, 88% humidity, cloudy, waiting for Earl,

Our last of the Friday's off. We finished everything that had to be done last night, except for a digger/derick. The parts should be delivered this morning by FedEx Overnite. We have a crew taking care of odds and ends and performing our regular work. I am scheduled for later on when the storm hits.

NavyJack, I missed your post yesterday. I was typing and having lunch. Things work in mysterious ways that can not be explained. I am glad that your neighbor got what he deserved. It was good talking to you the other day.

Rock Island Jack, It looks like Mass. the main target the Cape, is in Earl's path. Be careful and good luck.

Harold, High Water and High Voltage does not mix. Be careful. I do "look ups and stand bys" during storms when needed.

Fife, Good luck with the storm. Where I keep my 26' Center Console, the slip is sheltered pretty well. I trailer the 18' and it is safe and covered. I have had it for over 30years and I still "baby it".

Dennis, The Famous Tram Car. Wildwood Fireman's Convention. When I was on the South Amboy Fire Department, 1975-1982, the Convention and Parade was the focal point of the year. We spent a good month or so prepping the Engines and Trucks that we would take. We had a good turn out, averaged around 75 to 85 men in the line of march and the Ladies Auxiliary had a good turn out as well. We had a march drill that we practiced, hired a great marching band, some years we had a comedy routine, "Engine 13 3/4", at least 2 pumpers, an aerial, rescue truck and chiefs vehicle. We went all out and we took many trophies including best overall for many years. The Company where I live and belongto now does not participate in the parade and I usually work Saturdays from now to December.

Rich, I hope thet the job interview went well.

Thoughts and Prayers for all in need.

John

 

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Posted by sir james I on Friday, September 3, 2010 8:20 AM

Good morning

Overcast, going into the 80s with 66 the Hi for tomorrow.

The lionel catalog goes online today so I'm expecting a lot of chit chat on that other forum. They have already been guessing for a month now and the list is already out. Should be fun reading today.

Have a great friday...S.J.

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

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Posted by Hudson#685 on Friday, September 3, 2010 8:21 AM

Mike C, Sorry, I almost forgot, You are right about Fathers and Grandfathers taking a great interest in the kids. When the kids were growing up and they would have a game, recital or another activity and I would turn down OT or not go to an event or activity with the guys to go to the kid's activity some people would not believe it. I think back when my Dad worked OT or went hunting and fishing and would miss most of my games or activities that I participated in. I make it a point to be there for everything they do.

John

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Posted by cnw1995 on Friday, September 3, 2010 8:36 AM

Buckeye Riveter

 

 cnw1995:

 

 Bride is talking on the phone to a best friend who just moved to Columbus (Ohio).

The Land of milk and honey. 

 

Watch it or you will find yourself wearing Scarlet and Gray and teaching in one of those hallowed halls by the Olentangy River.  Geeked



Aloha from a cool Chicago where I am the only person working today.  She would like that - to her, Columbus is the South.

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

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Posted by RockIsland52 on Friday, September 3, 2010 10:15 AM

Greetings From Hazy Cape Ann Taxachusetts,

Current forecasts have the eye of the hurricane passing about 75 miles East of Cape Cod.  Tropical storm warnings in effect for most here near the coastline, but the outer Cape Cod and the Islands (Martha's Vineyard, Nantuckett, and Block island) will take the worst of it.  Campgrounds on CC were evacuated yesterday and the Island ferries were loaded with folks leaving Dodge.  Nothing is being taken for granted.

HudsonJohn, Harold, Fife, and all who may be in the line of fire, protecting and serving others during this weather event.  You have my prayers for your safety and your conscious due diligence.  Last week as he had done a zillion times before, the lead pilot instructor at my local airport was inspecting an aircraft prior to takeoff and proceeded to walk into the propeller.  A momentary mental lapse in judgement and he was gone.  STAY SAFE!

Buckeye......I feel for you and your wife, and for your daughter and SIL  My wife and I and our kids were on the opposite end of one of these moves about a quarter century ago when we pulled up stakes and moved with the children over 1,000 miles from our lifelong home, the grandparents, family, friends, and our comfort zone.  Prayers for you and your family.  If your story unfolds like ours did, you've got a lot of driving/flying ahead of you as does your daughter, SIL, and grandson.  Absence indeed makes the heart grow fonder.  I can't tell you how many times we flew/drove to Chicago and back over the succeeding years, spending the holidays away from our new home more often than not.  And it continues today. It will be what you make of it.  Prayers, brother.

RICH.....Prayers, buddy.  Hope all went well with the job interview and the Wildwood escapades.

Joe....glad your wife had a great birthday yesterday.  At my age, and as long as my wife and I have been a team, it gets very difficult to get the wife a present that has some thought and meaning.

JimmyT.....if you go and look at/test drive that Mustang GT you might be tempted to rob a bank to get it!  Re the difficulty getting at the alternator on the Sunfire....makes one wonder what the automotive engineers were thinking when they layed out the placement of these bread and butter repair items when designing the cars.

MikeC/Joe......coaching and being there for the kids, others and yours.  Good stuff!  My Dad worked seven days a week.  The number of my HS and College sporting events he could attend you could count on one hand, which made them all that much more meaningful and memorable for me.  Somehow his presence served as a catalyst, and my on the field performances on those occasions were usually personal bests.  Quality beats quantity, and I can remember each occasion as if it were yesterday although they all took place over 4 decades ago..

Fife.....glad to hear you have a protected mooring.  A zillion boats were pulled out of the water yesterday from Cape Cod North to Salisbury Beach MA.  Unprotected, it makes sense.  But seeing all of the boats temporarily lined up on terra firma to ride up the storm......not sure how safe that is vesus in the water.  At least you have a protected cove.  Hope all of the other boat owners have your sense of due diligence and their craft stay put. 

Later, gang!  Prayers for those who need them.

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 Ole Timer on Friday, September 3, 2010 11:51 AM

Good afternoon guys .... just stopped by to check the posts ... was hopeing for some rain and alot cooler temps from that hurricane passing by Maryland .... but did'nt help ... oh well .... going on that yearly business trip with the wife next week to Rocky Gap state park .... at least it's in the mountains ... but hardly anything to do there .... Sleep  guess I'll take my laptop and try to keep from falling asleep all day ..... LOL .

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Posted by MichRR714 on Friday, September 3, 2010 12:13 PM

fifedog

MichRR - Make sure you preorder that 261, as that is sure to be a very popular piece.

Fife I already took care of it Thumbs Up

Charlie a.k.a. MichiganRailRoad714 (Charter Member TTC)      

 

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Posted by SPMan on Friday, September 3, 2010 1:01 PM

Good morning all, got my brake problem fixed yesterday.  Turned out to be the master brake cylinder.  Thanks to the forum member that warned me about it when I described the symptoms.  I know they can be dangerous.  I had one go out on me once in a 1955 Olds.  I yanked the emergency brake out by the roots and did a 180 in the middle of the street.  Luckily, no one was hit.

I expect the storm did not bother the Chief too much.  I hope not.  I have relatives in Virginia and North Carolina but no problems reported so far.

Tried out the bullfrog snot on a driving wheel of a 2-8-0 a couple of days ago.  Seems to be working OK.

Hot weather is with us again for the Labor Day weekend.  Triple digits today and tomorrow.  Probably be the last chance to use the pool before it cools off this year.

Fooling around with MTH signals that are not working right.  Opened up board in color position light block signal but did not see any loose connection.  I have two of these signals where the green aspect has stopped working.  I just get yellow on timer and then red.  After red times out the signal goes dark.  Don't want to buy anymore of these until I find out what's killing them.

Have a good Friday y'all,

Ray

SPMan

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

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Posted by cnw1995 on Friday, September 3, 2010 3:05 PM

Come back to Chicago, Jack....  all is forgiven....or at least the statute of limitations has passed.  Wink

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

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 3, 2010 3:11 PM

Ray,

         I have one of those color position signals, and it hasn't given me any trouble.  I never thought that LEDs could burn out like that.  What voltage are you giving them?

Jack,

            Don't give me any ideas.  I was going to go look at it after I got home today, but it started to rain.  Here is a pic just to give you an idea where the alternator is.  Follow the coolant line on the left and the alternator is to the right...somewhere. LOL GM actually got this one thing right on the Sunfire and put it right on top.  Unfortunately, Mazda didn't do that when the KL was designed.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d730b3127ccef843c88f041e00000040O00FZNmzZu0Yg9vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

 

 

 

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Posted by fifedog on Friday, September 3, 2010 4:51 PM

Evenin' boys.  Mostly cloudy and 88 here in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Earl skipped by to the east.  To celebrate, I took off a half-day early to begin a long labor-day weekend off.  I apparently need it.

Checked on the Chief's lakehouse using the Reb-cam...

...It's just a bit right of center.

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Posted by sir james I on Friday, September 3, 2010 4:56 PM

There he goes, floating into the sunset. Reminds me of the Lawrence Welk bubble song.

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

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Posted by sir james I on Friday, September 3, 2010 5:39 PM

Good Evening

Might as well make my evening post. Supper out, had fish and chips, granny Pat had pasta. 70s today but windy with 66 the high forcast for tomorrow. Got banilla, got butter Pcon, and root beer so Brutus just swing on by in the thingy. Sorry Brutus I couldn't find any butter Pcan....S.J.

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

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Posted by rtraincollector on Friday, September 3, 2010 7:03 PM

Evening all. Hope all have a good labor day weekend I'm off monday but have to work the weekend.

Well we will have a little piece here as chief is off to the mountains for the weekend

Well talk to you all later early rise in the morning

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

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 3, 2010 8:01 PM

RT,

        I am not off until Monday either.

Fife,

         How did you post a pic like that?  I tried the new way, but it didn't work, and the icon that I used on the old software is grayed out.

Not much going on.  I did more work on the 282, but had a minor setback due to the chasis screw holes in the boiler being stripped.  I have repaired them and now they need a day or so to cure.  Also managed to tighten the link pin on the tender and clean the reversing unit.  Runs great but only smokes heavily for a few seconds then drops off to nothing.  I put 20 drops of fluid in last night and let it sit until tonight, so it isn't dry.

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Posted by dwiemer on Friday, September 3, 2010 9:13 PM

Good evening everyone.  No scheduled cases for the day which was nice.  I took the kids to school and then headed in for some admin. items.  Left the hospital about 11am and took care of a bunch of items on the list I have been wanting to get done for some time.  Then, picked kids up from school and had some fun. 

We went to the Italian place I have mentioned before.  Had some fantastic food and over stuffed myself.  Had to stop off at Toys-R-Us for new batteries for the Wii remotes.  Still want to get some new remotes, but they are cheaper on line.

Just finished reading the new Lionel catalog.  See a few items that will make their way to the train room before long.  Also note a couple of nice items for our 1/64 friends here.  With any luck, I will hit the layout tomorrow.  Have a number of things I still need to tackle before that though.

Glad to hear everyone made it through the storm OK.  We did not even get cloud cover from it.  Rather unusual as most such storms send a few bands over our direction. 

God Bless,
dennis

TCA#09-63805

 

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Posted by RockIsland52 on Friday, September 3, 2010 10:28 PM

Things here at the entrance to Cape Ann have started up with hurricane Earl.  The rain in my neck of the coast began about two hours ago.  From the forecast and the current conditions, it appears the worst of Earl will miss us except.....heavy rains on the way and some winds.  Probably won't hit anything higher than 60mph on Cape Cod and 40 here 100 miles to the North.  About 2 inches of rain.  

The businesses on CC didn't need this as the entire Cape had hoped for a big 3 day finish to the summer tourist season.  Those who elected to stay will have the Cape to themselves, and it will be sunny by noon tomorrow!

Hope everyone has a great extended weekend. 

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 Demay on Friday, September 3, 2010 10:36 PM

Good evening all,

Not a bad day here in Enid, America.  Came home from work early to help the wife and spend some time with the kids.  I had to go to OK City tonight to pick up a subordinate from the airport.  By the time I got back home they were all asleep.

Tomorrow we are driving to Wichita, KS, for a few days.  They supposedly have a great zoo there and some fun museums for the kids to enjoy.  There is also a hobby shop I plan to stop by as well.  I am not planning to bring the laptop so I will not check back in until Monday night.

Have a great holiday everyone and be safe.

Joe

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Posted by Brutus on Friday, September 3, 2010 11:15 PM

Temps are dropping in Saint Louis, down to 65 and dropping.  I have 3 days off, which is a treat too Smile  Tonight we had Culvers and then went to the salon for haircuts.  Caught the guys on messenger and had a nice time talking about the new catalog. 

Tardis is ready, skies are clear, and I know where I can get some pcon to bring along, so let's hit it guys Smile

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by RockIsland52 on Saturday, September 4, 2010 12:10 AM

Brutus.....you forgot to pick me up!  I assume the weather thwarted your attempt to land.   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 navyjack on Saturday, September 4, 2010 2:03 AM

hello guys, have a great, well deserved, labor day weekend. a friend who has worked for 37 years, and never drew social services, brother in law gets an ssi check, as he has never worked?  his check was late and he said..i deserve that check..  i heard my friend answer him from across the road.  he said, you dont deserve anything, you dont work. it is charity on the behalf of the good working folks.  this sense of entitlement is hurting this country. have good time running trains.  navyjack   

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Posted by Blueberryhill RR on Saturday, September 4, 2010 6:26 AM

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a clear and cool 60 degrees. Going up to 80 today with sunshine.

Today is an easy  day. I plan on relaxing and doing some train running. Need to dust and lub some cars. Should be a fun day.

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

Y'all have a great Saturday.

Chuck

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
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Posted by fifedog on Saturday, September 4, 2010 7:04 AM

Morning boys.  Blue skies and 72 here in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Wifey and I had a nice shrimp dinner alone last night.  We are celebrating fifepup's 16th today at the beach.  Bushel of large steamed crabs (smothered in Old Bay, of course) instead of cake and ice cream.  He has a couple of huge surprises in store.

Probe - It was a link off wikipedia.  If you get a new pony, will you change your name to MustangDunce

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