Lunchtime and it feels like summer,
Nothing new on the train front for me. Time for some home updating.
Chief, I am right behind you on the home front.
Mike C. Good news about your wife and dad.
Laz, Great layout
Train Doc, Admiration for your work.
Jack, You are right about pets.
Thoughts and Prayers for all in need.
Back to work,
John
Morning all!
Hit 73 yesterday and by 10 last night the last of the ice finally melted off the patio. Temps to hit 70 again today.
Spent all day yesterday making the custom hangers for the drapery sheers for the entry way doors. Had four doors to do. Made bushings (16) on the minilathe and then cut alum 1/8 x 1/2 rods (8) to match. Painted the parts with an almond color to match doors. Got them pre-mounted to the doors last night and then finished it this morning when the paint was dry. I would like to think that once I get these projects crossed off the list the list would shrink, but the list grows faster than the project completion.
Mike C - good to hear about the Ms. and your father. Our prayers continue
Have a great day all!
Regards, Roy
Good morning all,
It is practically spring here. It was 43 when I woke up and today's high is 64. The snow is pretty much gone and I'm sure today's warm temp will ensure of it. I have some training to complete today at work; all of it done via Power Point which can be dreadful. Otherwise it will be a typical Monday for me. I had powered donut holes for breakfast this morning, and also some chocolates the wife bought me.
RI Jack - Thanks, I am being realistic about the layout progress. All the finer scenery details can evolve slowly over time. My biggest goal at this time was to have the layout operational to keep the kids' interest up and allow them to have fun with it. Also, those figures you provided about pet euthanasia are staggering. We would love to adopt a dog, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon since our kids have asthma.
Mike C. - I'm glad you received such great news about your wife. We know you needed some of that at this time.
Train Doc - You are doing a great service, thanks for what you do.
Good day,
Joe
Morning. Project #2 has started. Taking out walls in the closet [now empty] in master bedroom. More plaster cutting adn that is DUST!!! Got electrical switch to move. Think it is going to be easier than we thought. Sunny and 60's. Shirt sleeves. Later.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Good morning and happy Valentines Day! weather here is warming up; hope some ice will melt from the road. it's like driving on rails the ruts are so deep. neighbor tried to plow with heavy truck with no luck. i told him to grt a jackhammer. maybe by Easter we will see some green. Hey Jack, you are 100% right about the doggie issue. we always had doggies around our homes. makes us feel a lot more human. we had all kinds of dogs. right now we have two Dachshund's, they think they are Pit Bulls until you try to pet them, then they roll over and play dead! what an act! Hey Laz; great PIcs on the layout. eveyone have a great day. later.
Think good thoughts, do good deeds!
Morning!
Well it couldn't last forever, we had an absolutely Beautiful weekend! Mid 70's absolutely clear Blue Skies. Forecast is now for rain starting Tues, possibly thru Sunday !!
Can't get over the size of Laz's layout, really awesome. And just a few items on the shelves, heh?
Going to be busy the next couple of days, working on "The Layout", and my boss is out of town, so need to get a lot done. (Don't want to get fired.)
Had one of those Hallmark moments a couple of weeks ago. Was working on the layout and doing wiring. I'm laying underneath it on a creeper, on my side. The electrical panel was directly in front of me. So this super friendly Golden Retriever, (100 lbs), comes in to check things out. He walks in between me and the panel and STOPS. So, I say OK, Thad, you cant stop there, you need to move one way or the other. I touch him on the rump, and he looks at me and gives me a big lick all up the side of my face, then walks on. If it would have been on video it would have been hilarious. I was in a brief state of shock.
Worked most of the weekend, and also doing a wire list for the layout. So far its over 350 wires, and I've got about 17 more switches, and all the lighting to define. Also, going to have some LED's to show train position on the Control Panel for some blind areas. And, havn't started on the CP wiring yet.
Hope everyone has a great day, need to go pick up some paper, then get to work.
Take Care All !
Oh Yeah, saw where Wake County made the National NEWS. Issues regarding busing and schools. I would be REALLY upset if my kid had to spend an hour or more on a bus, passing local schools!
Don
Good Mornin' Ya'll from Hazy and Warmer Taxachussetts,
Temps started rising overnight and we are now over 40 since who knows when. Looks like we are in for a major snow melt this week. Three feet of the white stuff in most places on the lawn and higher where the snow has been piled. The larger mounds range sit at about 6' so even with this warm snap we still won't be seeing grass anytime soon.
Saturday the wife and I drove down to Scituate Rhode Island to conduct a home visit interviw for the New Hampshire Doberman shelter from whom we got two of our previous dogs. The potential adopter is a former Dobie owner (2) and will provide a wonderful forever home for an orphan dog. He lost his previous pup after a 15 month valiant but futile fight with cancer.
My father once said observed that one way you can tell the humanity of a culture by the way it treats it's animals. We don't fare very well in that regard. Folks don't take pet ownership seriously, do not plan that this is a lifetime committment for the dpg/cat, then discard them like they would garbage. You would be shocked at how these people get rid of pets they don't want any more. Bet nearly 40% of the dogs at this particular rescue are former strays.......folks just drive down the road and open their car/truck door, let the dog out, and then drive off. Depending on whose statistics you want to embrace, shelters euthanize between 4-5 million dogs each year in the U.S. because they can't/don't find homes for them. The carnage amongst cats must be worse. If there are so many dogs available for adoption that will get put down because a home cannot be found for them, why are some rescues importing stray dogs from PR? Many of these are multi-generational street dogs, feral. They are difficult to train, even more difficult to make safe for the average pet adopter. We have trained along side of a few.
Chief.......I do not envy your project. It is physically and emotionally draining. Prayers, brother.
MikeC.......great news on the wife. There is a lot on your plate, and that was certainly good news. Prayers continue for your Dad and your family.
Brutus........was elated to hear Char was out and about with you and the family. Now you have to figure out how to keep a lid on her so she doesn't overdo it in the short run. Continued prayers for her progress, and that of your Dad.
train_doc.........most people don't fully appreciate what we have here until they go "there." Congratulations for being a man for others.
JimmyT.....I felt the same way about Fastrac's cost but over time got hooked on the advantages of the appearance and the snap together advantages. Stays put, connected, and carries power well.
LAZ....... why do you need heat and hot water? The furnace, ductwork, and the hot water tank are taking up valuable layout space. I suppose they do keep the wifey out of your basement man cave. Where does the bar fridge go for the Ole Mils? With the room you've got on the layout you could plunk it right down on the board and disguise it as a huge manufacturing plant or multi story condo or office building. What a layout you are growing!!!!!!!!
Joe.......sounds like your layout is progressing nicely. Considering the job and family responsibilities that are very time consuming, you continue to forge ahead.
Dennis.......warning!!!!!!!! Some day when the little ones are grown up and out of the house the wifey will remain the rock of consistency in your home and will continue to haul prodigious quantities of shopping bags into the house without assistance.
Rich........congrats on showing the young whippersnappers how it's done.
Gotta run. Hope everyone has a great Valentines Day.
Jack.
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Aloha and Happy Valentines Day! Feels like summer yesterday and today with temps in the 40s. Funny how you adjust. Long day serving at church, but fun. Still going through paperwork prepping for taxes - ugh. Brutus, is that the basic Hulu with the old stuff or Hulu Plus? RT, hope you're feeling better. Laz, beautiful!
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Happy Valentine's day to all
41 this morning, dropping to 28 by nightfall. We still have at least a foot of snow on the ground but above freezing all week should get rid of a lot of it. I had a good chat with Brutus and Charlie last night, no breakfast yet....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
Good Morning from Blueberryhill....
It is a sunny 46 degrees. Going up to 55 today with sunshine. All the snow is gone.
Today is a busy day. Chores to do and grocery shopping. Wife is happy about that. I will work on a project. Maybe some time outside later.
Dining car is here with the usual breakfast.
Y'all have a great Monday.
Chuck
Hi GUYZ,
44 already to get to 51? Thanks for all the CONGAs on the layout. Gonna try and get it covered tonite? I gotta plan just hope it all fits?
Stay frosty,
laz57
IIABSDISEI with temps dropping to the 40s. I had the regular fare plus a donut on the dining car before sending it on to "Points East". Some good news. Wife got a note from the doctor saying all the skin cancer has been removed. Now we just have six month checkups for her once the infection from the surgery is gone. TBIL any time tonight. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Greetings to everyone. Yesterday i spent the day on a medical mission to Rojo Gomez Mexico. Today i practiced weathering an engine house, what a mess i made, but is does not look terrible. Also spent the day looking for civil war period models. I think next time I will model a 2011 railroad, I may then maintain my sanity.
LAZ the layout looks great, I especially like your display cases and the entire room arrangement. Keep up the good work and keep the pictures coming, it encourages me.
Everyone have a good monday. Goodnight Glen Train Doc
Good evening all,
I took the older two kids to church this morning while the wife stayed home with the baby. He is getting better and we are thankful for what seems to be a speedy recovery. Thanks to all here for the prayers and thoughts.
It warmed up nicely today. I was able to run the trains today for about 30 minutes or so, and due to the warmer temps I was able to have the garage door open while running the trains. My older son helped for a little while; he was busy placing some horses around the layout. However, the wife came through at the right time to throw a manual switch in time to prevent a pending pile up. She did not understand the importance of her assistance and merely returned inside. I also kept plugging away at Lionel Victorian house I recently purchased. I am slightly modifying it as I did to another similar house to better fit my smaller layout. I will need to purchase one more to complete my row home street.
Laz - You're layout is looking great, and you are making some fantastic progress. Thanks for sharing the photos; it keeps the rest of us who are currently building motivated.
Good night,
Laz - TERRIFIC!!!! Just great work man and looks like an outstanding design and build
Nothing going on here but grocery shopping, laundry, driving my son around so he could spend the rest of his birthday money, and then a nice chat with SJ and Charlie.
RT - hope you are feeling better!
TARDIS is ready and we have snickers icecream, cookie dough, and also left over stuff like cookies, soda and chips.
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Laz,
That is one Fantastic Layout. If it was my job to finish it I would have to live to 300 years.
GREAT Job ! Pics are fantastic !
The layout looks great. I am envious of that Fastrack. I wanted to use it on my layout, but I couldn't afford it. Keep the pics coming.
I am starting to round up scenery materials, and Laz's progress is making me want to get things rolling asap. I need to order tunnel portals, and the Lionel portals are the only ones with dimensions that will work for me. I am going to pick up TM's DVD on building a Fastrack layout after seeing part of it on RFD because it had a lot of info on scenery and layout building that I could use.
If anyone needs car parts, check out Rock Auto. I found the pullies I was looking for, and they were only $17.22 each compared to Advance's $50 each. I ordered on Wednesday night, and they were here Friday afternoon as well. I also found out that PGT's alternator failure was caused by a leaking valve cover gasket grommet (more like my failure for getting a cheap gasket set), so I'll have to get a new gasket and set of grommets before I take it out in the spring.
Home again. Tired of runningup and down the highway. May go Friday and close out estate, water account and power. Go back Saturday for one last "walk thru". Then it is her house. She will also pay me for the extra two acres and barns she is buying. [$$$$$$$$$$ ].
LAZ, go man go!!!
Later.
The layout looks great. I bet it feels good to run those trains again with no pile ups! The display cases around the train room look excellent too. You have a train empire to be admired. Keep up the good work and keep posting photos. I spotted them first over on Sunday Photo Fun.
Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby
Northwoods Flyer
The Northwoods Flyer Collection
of
American Flyer Trains
"The Toy For the Boy"
IIABSDISEI with temps in the 50s. The "path to the barn walks unvexed by ice" to paraphrase a quote by General Grant during the Civil War. Got the last major tree branch cleared out. Dad had his first good night's sleep in a long time. Will try to go for two weeks in a row of five days at work. I had the regular fare plus a donut on the dining car for breakfast. TBIL and I can drive (no de-icers tonight). I hope everyone has a good day.
PS Neat pics of the layout Laz.
laz - Are we freelancin' or do we have certain places in mind for your layout? Lookin' at Snob Hill, the tunnels at Gallitzin, and the town that rests over them, instantly came to mind. Nice looking trackwork.
Good Evening
41 degrees right now, for us that's a yea.
Well I went to the TTOS show with friends Charlie and Andy, Charlie found a caboose he was looking for, I won a $25 gift certificate that had to be spent there. So I got a caboose. And Andy bought a used Lionel Soo train set. So we had a nice time together and with others we knew at the show. Banilla is ready...S.J.
LAZ - Sweet!
Good afternoon everyone. Church this morning, followed by our weekly trip for Mexican food and an afternoon nap. Getting ready to head back to church for evening services.
Laz, looking great on that layout. I know it will be quite photogenic when complete...if a layout is ever complete?
Wife and daughter just returned from the mall...many packages in hand. Now I see where the train budget is going!!! Oh well, keep her happy and I will be allowed to be happy too.
Hope it is a great week for each of you. been praying for Mike's dad and others here as well.
God Bless,
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
Laz, Thumbs up on the layout, looks great, lots of room. Just don't corral the furnace, think ahead.
CB&Q say Laz wheres the wheels at on the boiler at in foreground of layout? LOL
say Laz wheres the wheels at on the boiler at in foreground of layout? LOL
AF53 Laz - Where's Minnies bench? Ray
Laz - Where's Minnies bench?
Ray
Isn't that it right above there with a couple of pieces of track on it for her to run her trains that Daddy Laz is going to give here?
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Bayville, NJ
Life is what happens to youWhile you're busy making other plans - John Lennon
As promised, here's my new layout, well start of it any how.
This is the tunnel section I did yesterday. The 2 portals in the middle is gonna simulate traffic coming into Main street where square is gonna be. On top of tunnel is gonna be snob hill, where all the high rich people live. A angled road will lead to Snob Hill.
Late morning all!
Sun is out, supposed to hit 70 today - and now they are saying 70's for the next 7 days. Everyone happy the near record cold is gone. Was the groundhog right? Early spring? However - the glacial ice sheet on the patio deck is still there but slowly disappearing. About 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick - it should finally melt completely today. Had to warn the Ms about walking on what looks to be water - it is still slick.
Enjoyed the race last night. Two guys glued together trying to thread the needle makes for some interesting racing crashes.
Ms. and I spent all afternoon yesterday and into the evening shopping for some drapery "sheers" for the new entryway doors. Multiple trips to different stores - finally found what will work with some compromise. Available rods to hang them will not work. Have to create some special "rods" to hang the sheers. Getting ready to go hit Home Depot/Lowes for materials. Can see this will take most of today.
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