Howdy guys - big howdy to Big Boy! You were here when I first read this site and have been missed by many of us, glad you are okay. I loved your giant layout pics and the video. Hope you get back into the trains a little bit, they are a good way to relieve stress
Well, I had to cancel my preoder on the Dewitt Clinton due to finances, just going along on my paycheck only right now and have too much we need to do compared to stuff we (I) want, so there you go. 10 percent restock on the whole order came to about 70, which stinks but it's understandable I guess. Maybe I'll be able to buy it next year, I'm sure it will be available for a year or so despite what they say - you can still get the John Bull for msrp and sometimes a little less.
12 hours of mandatory OT coming this weekend, which will help but really stinks since Sunday is my actual birthday.
I took off early today by a couple hours so I could go visit with Char and take her some supplies (some hard candy and books from home) and then go get my driver's license renewed. Turns out they changed the law and I need a copy of my report of birth of a child to americans born abroad (or whatever it was called). I told the lady that in 1963 my Dad was manning the edge of oblivion in Germany, where I was born, just before he went to Vietnam the first time. Oh well - she can't change a stupid rule, but we agreed it is pretty stupid. Anyway, I have a 1 year license now and have to apply to DOD for a copy of the report.
Tardis is ready - I'll use the way back circuit to come get all you guys, then Mike can take over. I think I found a stash of banilla in the back of the deep freezer on board
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Wife and I Z'd out/crashed for about 3 hours tonight on the sofa and the love seat with the TV on.....and now I can't sleep. The "crud" is even worse today for both of us. If the conventional wisdom says "stuff a cold" I am overachieving on that front. After lasagna, garlic bread, and a salad for dinner I ate a giant bowl of Frosted Flakes, some Halloween candy, and a Klondike bar. Think I'll take another cold pill, and hit the sack, and try again.
Welcome back, Elliot!
Jack.
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Brutus, Hang tough guy, it will get better. The best news of all is that Char will be home soon.
Jack, After that varied a menu I'd need more than a cold pill. Stomach pump comes to mind.
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
Morning all. Getting ready for an early case and then to the weekend. Lots on my mind as today is also the anniversary of my Mom's passing....tough. So far Dad is doing OK, but he really misses her and for so long, he thought he would be the first to check out. We have no big plans for the weekend, which is a good thing. Only thing we have on our want to do list for Saturday is that Belk store is having it's annual "Charity Sale" in which we get a good discount, but more importantly, local charities get a portion of all sales.
Elliot, Congratulations for you and Big-Girl. She must be a good woman to have stuck by you through the hard times. For me, and I am sure many here, it is great to have you back.
Brutus, hope things calm down on your end. May Char come home with plenty of smooth sailing for the two of you ahead.
RT, continued prayers for you brother. Even the runt of the litter can find the warmest places of the heart.
Have to head in.
God Bless,Dennis
TCA#09-63805
Good morning all,
It is cold and wet in SE Indiana. Did treadmill at the YMCA and some other errands. Long day at work with computer issues. Glad I am no longer in IT. Welcome back, Big Boy. As with some of the others, I do remember your posts from a while back. I had bacon and biscuits on the dining car before sending it on to "Points East". TBIL anytime and I can drive again. It was a good drive last night and the banilla was extra good. A round of zucchini bread will be on board tonight. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Good Morning from Blueberryhill....
It is a cold 42 degrees. Light rain. Going up to 44 today with rain.
Today is an easy day. I have the usual choresto do and a bunch of paperwork. Good day for it. Stay inside and keep warm. Nap this afternoon.
Buckeye...TGIF
Dining car is here frrom "Points West.". The usual Cheerios for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Friday.
Chuck
HI GUYZ,
43 here to get to 51. Second day of Shop teachers conference, nice to see old class mates and shoot the bull with.
BIGBOY BIG CONGA on the wedding thing!! Nice to see you posting again. Was here with YUZ GUYZ when youz started up the Coffee pot and glad its still going for 5 years. Prayers for your DAD today. I lost mine 12 years ago and talk to him everyday.
Going to run trains tonite on new layout and maybe take some pics.
BUCKEYE & CHUCK,
TGIF!!!!!
Stay frosty,
laz57
Mornin' boys. Damp & 46 here in the Mid-Atlantic region. Rich was in town but I missed him due to work. Says he ran circles around the gen-xr's.
SPMan - You bring up a good point about "after" care of our modern engines. We all know how we have to "cycle" our electronically advanced trains, but I doubt if others in our family do, or would even bother with it. And yes, gutting them for e-units would religate them to a flea-market shaker-box.
Hello All,
Quick sip this morning.
Brutus, continued prayers for you and yours. And on Sunday
8N, Glad your Mrs is doing better. Health is more important than a job.
RT, sorry about the kitty.
Big Boy, welcome back. I’ve been here for about a year and enjoy these people and their support very much. Look forward to getting to know you also.
Son has now been moved from the Juniata Shop power plant to the overhaul shop. Starts there tomorrow afternoon.
Fife, sorry no tours. They haven’t even opened it for Railfest the last several years.
Best get back to work. Hope to get some train time this weekend, Grandkids will be visiting Saturday.
Prayers for all that need them
Banks, Proud member of the OTTS TCA 12-67310
Morning all. Fair and turned cold. Yankee raid South I guess. About time. Frost tonight and tomorrow night. Turns back to the 70's by Tuesday.
Big Boy, congrats to you and Big Girl. You have a winner there. She is really dedicated to you. Yes, I remember the pie.
Another "possum" in the cage trap this AM. Hope that is the last one for the cat's sake.
Speaking of cat, off to the Vet with her. Needs shots and is walking on three legs [no sign of injury].
Later.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Aloha all. A brisk 23 in Chicago this morning. Let me add my congratulations on your nuptials, Big Boy, and welcome back. Brutus, sorry you had to cancel the pre-order. Hope they remember you when you can get another one. Hope your OT goes swiftly on Sunday so you can be celebrated. What a goofy rule. That's one of the big reasons I 'readopted' all three kids in the state, so they could just show their birth certificates in case of something like this. Dennis, my condolences on the anniversary of your mom's death - to both you and your dad. The time passing doesn't make it easier. Jack, hope you and your bride are recovering, and your bride too, Joe. I had two kids sick yesterday at home, it's only a matter of time before I catch something... Brent, that is an interesting space you have to work with - there's always a conic layout (like that mountain scene in Polar Express!)Ray, you bring up some good points. It seems the more basic the engine - in all its aspects - the better it seems to transition between generations - my dad's 248 from the 1920s runs like a top - it was relatively easy for me to figure out how to maintain it. I have some 50 year old Marx like that. Meanwhile, my buddy's exquisite, absolutely realistic engine he got a year ago is still finicky. That's too small a sample to make anything about but we've presumed the 248 will still be running years from now and his engine will be a display item.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Good Morning
Cooler here too, windy and 67 today. Tarpin Springs was our journey yesterday. An old sponge port setteled by the greeks. It is now mostly the usual junk shops and greek reaturants. Brutus I wondered where the last of my banilla went to, thought you guys ate it...S.J.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Weather a little on the cool side with major rain yesterday, just cloudy at present. Just got off the phone with Don B. a few minutes ago. Says he is working harder now that he is semi-retired then he did before. That sounds familiar. I haven't been doing much with trains except selling a few on the bay. Have to much that I will never use and need the space.
Much to my surprise the Commonwealth of PA has signed a contract to heat and cool the railroad museum. Work to start soon and take about a year. I think we will attract more people after this is done as the summer temperatures hit 100 at times and winter temps go down below freezing (this is indoors!).
A welcome back to Big Boy!
I can have only a quick sip as well while I have a moment away from work. The temperature dropped to 29 degrees overnight and it was 34 degrees when I woke up. Today’s high temperature is only 54 degrees. It’s going to warm back up a little over the weekend and then it drops back down next week. I hope the weather remains consistent as quick and sudden changes cause me to get sick.
Dennis – I pray you and your father make it through the day well.
Have a great day everyone!
Joe
Good afternoon all, Had a train operating get together last night with a few friends. Stayed up until 1:00AM. Showing one friend how to use DCS controller. We tried out a new Rail King MTH model of an Erie Triplex my friend got off of E Bay. It ran great and only has about 41/2 hours on the chronometer. Another guy brought a like new in original box 1950ish Marx passenger set. After a little cleaning and oiling it ran great. Engine and tender was die cast and cars were metal. Nice set! I ran my de-electoniced F units which performed well but still haven't figured out how ot get headlight on. Up late but had big breakfast with bacon and eggs with home fried potatoes. Last night we also listened to a comedy CD recording with Hudson and Landry from a few years back. One story was about a drunk placing an order with the "Ajax Liquor Store". It was a riot! Still warm today but looking for cooler weather in the next few days.
Later,
Ray
SPMan
Big_boy this is actually the 2nd or 3rd website since you left. so we had a couple of learnings since you left think its the second one you missed one completely I think.
Glad to see your back to posting. Hope you get the notions to start up again running your trains if its just on a simple layout.
I may start this winter finally building a layout been saying it for 5 years now lol. I also have mover twice.
Not much happening here prayers out for those in need.
Hang in there Brutus things will get better.
Green Probe did you get the email I sent you a few days ago about jobs?
Rich applying for the position in NYC also may help also if nothing else it may show you want to work
Not a lot going on here today made a big blunder the other day set up to pay a bill back about 2 weeks ago so it hit auto well forgot so paid it again about a week ago so now its coming out again tonight and can't stop it so put a crunch on fiancé's and it won't count for December so will have to pay again in DEC it will count as payment on principle
Oh well guess old timers hit me and it hurt this time lol.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Good evening everyone. Has been a nice day so far. Had a long case that went well. Came home to spend some time with bride before going to pick kids up from school. We all had Chick-Fil-A and came home to have some fun. Kids play well together...mostly. Tonight, it is on to work on the railroad.
Chief, one of the guys I work with was telling us a story about him and some friends who had been out dove hunting. Afterwards, they had a fair amount of beer. One their way home, they came across a possum sitting in the middle of the road. They got out and the guy I work with (His nick name is Bubba....go figure), grabs the possum by the tail. About this time, he realizes that possums don't play dead when you grab their tails. It claws and bites his leg and arms. He tosses it, one of his friends catches it and it tears the stew out of his abdomen and legs. The other friend grabs it and finally tosses it into the woods....right were it would have gone if they had left it alone. I guess they were lucky to not have gotten rabies. And Yes, they were all from Alabama! Glad he got smart before moving to Georgia! Must be something that happens when you move across the Chattahoochee
Doug, thanks for the kind words. I will be making the phone call to Dad in about an hour. I was talking with one of the folks at work today. Think I will write a letter to the surgeon who had operated on Mom. As Ronald Reagan said when he got shot, "My ability to recover is directly affected by my ability to forgive Mr. Hinckley". I need to forgive him and hope my Dad can as well. While mistakes happen, Dad feels like he took Mom from my Dad.
The frost warning is coming down our way. They are calling for a freeze warning in North Georgia. Should be back in the 70s by Monday. I do hope to get some yard work done while the temps are good.
RT,
I am using a different email address now. I'll send a pm.
Elliot,
Welcome back.
As I was talking with one of our regular customers today, we got onto the job subject. He works for a local company that manufactures air quality testing equipment, and is going to pass my info to his boss. I've got my fingers crossed on this one.
I am still waiting on the AF parts I ordered last week so that I can get things ready for Christmas.
Good Evening Guys,
Was sunny this afternoon, in the mid 50's. A clear difference from yesterday's trek to Fife's neck of the woods. Rain and cold in TImonium at the Fairgrounds...more on that later....
Elliot, Welcome Home. Good to have you back. I was just coming in while you were..um..'absent" for a while. Congas on the nuptuals to Mrs. Big Boy!
Brutus and Dennis - for you and your families....
SJ - Enjoy the West Coast of FLA...I liked it there qyuite a bit.
RT - for you and the Mrs...and for the kitties. There is no question that I love cats and to lose one is definitly like loosing a child.
Well, it was too bad I missed you, Fife. I was really hoping to see you while I was there. Glad you had a safe shift.
I arrived in Timonium at 1 PM and got acclimated to the poor weather.
The test was under the horse track grandstands. With a helmet, gloves and a 50 lb vest on, i climbed a 20' ladder, dragged a 160 lb dummy 75', ran up 20 rows of stairs with 25lb of equipment and back down again, carried 2 saws from a table 50' and back, pulled a 25 lb extingusher attached to a rope up 20' and back down resting upright in a square, ran 100' of hose then an additional 50' while kneeling and 40' tunnel crawl. All but the ladder climb were timed. I was the OLDEST one that day. 2 washed out at the dummy drag. I think I made a great showing. There was NO WAY this course was going to beat me. I may not make the department, but I felt like I gave it my best effort, and that's all I wanted. I got a lot of kudos and attaboys from the firefighters and other candidates after I finished the course.
There are 60 positions to be filled in January and June. If I make it to the interview, I will be proud and humbled. All in all this was the toughest physical challenge I ever took. I'm still sore...go figure....
On the train front, not much, just figuring out the display for the Chrismas Tree Lighting on the 26th...
www.hightstownfire.org for details of the activities that night....hope to post pictures afterwards.
OK, I'm gonna finish watching my beloved NJ Devils (what a lousy season so far...)
check ya later !
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
Greenprobe sorry too late had to send resume by today at 5 sorry wish I knew you changed your email address If i get more will let you know they were in VA. anyway but thought they might interest you if nothing else get you started on your career
Oh well I tried
Oh, and RT, I resent my resume to Lionel to include NYC and Cherry Hill....thanks for the heads up on that!
Rich
Good Evening
This may be my last pot from florida. We are heading north in the morning. the trip down took 20 hours stopping only for gas and the necessary. Today was sunny but very windy. The beach's were empty. I think since there's banilla on board Brutus and the thingy should pick me up...S.J.
SJ safe travels home my friend
Big Boy.. Glad to meet you... I know of you through video and am a fan!
Charlie a.k.a. MichiganRailRoad714 (Charter Member TTC)
Howdy guys - just got the kids settled finally. We all have to call it an "early night" for a Friday as I have to work tomorrow. Char was doing a lot better today - prayers are working! Took the kids to dinner, haircuts at the salon and the bookstore so they could each get a book.
Big thanks to a good friend for some kind emails today!
Prayers for you Dennis and for your Dad. Prayers for jobs from Jim and Rich and others who need help.
Tardis is ready and I see the traveler's beacon on the screen, so this should be a big party
Mornin' boys. Mornin' big boys. Still dark and 37 here in the Mid-Atlantic region. If I'm walking with a limp, it's from reading Rich's post. Think I pulled something in the lower back. I blame laz for not thoroughly getting me ready to read that post.
Have to drive wifey to work, then middle princess to haz-mat training.
It is a dark and cold 34 degrees. Going up to 40 today with a chance of rain or snow. This is some crazy weather.
Today is a good day to stay at home. I have a few chores to do and a big project that will take a few hours. Nascar race today from Texas.
Dining car is here with the usual breakfast.
Y'all have a great Saturday.
Morning. Cloudy and chilly. Car show and Fall Festival in the park today. Got video camera following me. Hope all have a great weekend. Later.
39 here going up to45. Going out for pheasants again this after with BRO. Then go spotting deer have fire, dogs and burgers and a few OL MILs.
Ran and tested my new layout consisting of all fasttrack. Had the BB, FEF and Genset all running last nite for an hour and a half, NO PILE UPs!!!!!! Now to put down tar paper and start with scenery?
RICH, CONGA, (back pat) on a job well done. See us OLE GUYZ can still do it.
FIFE,Oh dopey me. Sorry I should have stretched out before that last post. Watch da hammy.
Good Morning guys. Had a nice talk with Dad last night and also with my two sisters. They are getting together at the cemetery on Sunday. Wish I could be there with them, but that is just one of those things.
Rich, I am sure you did well on the test. Wow, 60 hires, that is quite a list. I guess a number of guys are retiring. When I was on, we had a guy in his 40s who came on the job. He was ex-military and got some extra points on the test. In the end, he was a quiet, but good guy. We of course rode him hard about being the old guy! Funny how time changes your perspective.
Woke early this morning and went to the mall for that special sale. We saved $320.00, but spent over $390. At least the proceeds go to charity. Got some really nice Columbia sporting wear shirts. These are the type that dry very quickly, so you don't have to worry about sweating. I had some of these in China and they were great....you could wash them out in the sink and just hang them in the shower, they were dry and ready to wear the next morning. Then, we went to I-Hop for breakfast. I have just painted some of the layout and will be putting some bushes and grass on this area later when the paint dries.
Check in later,Dennis
Afternoon all
Rich - WAY TO GO! Hope you get the job. There is a lot to say for experience, we old guys been there done that, I've seen the young guys, wet themselves went things turn bad.
Got up early and replaced a coupling on a cirulation pump at church, now we will have heat. Good thing it snowed this morning. Nothing stuck but it wascoming down pretty good.
Jim F - Continued prayers for Char, especialy during Mass this weekend.
Got to go,
May God bless
Jim
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