COFFEE POT #2 February 2011 for all to take a drink and chat. 5+ years and going. Some chocolates in a heart shaped box. Plenty of coffee but also grits and sweet ice tea.

[dougdagrump]

Mornin' Y'all.

Great day at the museum yesterday, started out funky with a de-railing issue but that was remedied quickly. Seems the p/u roller on my Atlas GP9 didn't like the turnout, reversed direction and problem solved. Ran only TMCC for the day, wide assortment of motive power some of which got a lot of smiles from the guests.

Spent a good while chatting with a visitor from Jersey, great accent, not Joisey but British. He and his family are vacationing in the States going from the west coast and eventually ending up in D.C. Lots of driving and some rail travel as well, sounds as though they have a great itinerary planned. He's a member of a club on the Island of Jersey and they only get to set up twice a year, for three days each.

Munchkin will be here shortly so grampa has to get some things together.

Later all.

[SPMan]

Jack, the neighbor knows where he can place at least one of the collies with a friend of his in the fire department.  I don't know about the others.  Too bad he did not check out the city ordinance on number of animals before moving in.  I would think that would be the first thing to check with several dogs.  Of course hindsight is 20/20.  He has had the voices altered on at least some of the dogs so the bark is not that loud  but I'm not crazy about that approach either.  Just my opinion.  Seems unfair to the dog.  As far as the whistle blower goes, at least the dog owner knows it was not me and I live next door.  None of the neighbors nearby complained.  It was someone further away.

Regarding bundling of services, we signed up for FIOS once but it did not work out and we had to cancell.  They were going to have to do some things to the house I didn't like and wouldn't guarantee that no damage would occur or be liable for it.  Had a devil of a time putting back everything the way it was.  Finally had to go to the PUC to get my old phone number back.  The way it is now is not as cost effective but it all works.  I wound up with Verizon phone and internet and Time Warner TV cable.

Navy, sorry to hear about your deck.  Glad no one was hurt.

later,

Ray

[wrmcclellan]

44 degrees and the snow is melting almost as fast as the Dallas Cowboys last season.

[AF53]

Roy - Thanks for that! Almost sounds like you're a Giants fan!

Navy Jack - Ditto on everyones feelings about the deck issue. Snow load can be surprising.

Dennis - Like you I have no dog in the fight but I'll probably be rooting for the Packers. I really don't care as long as I win at least one pool I'm in!

Everyone enjoy the game,

Ray

[Buckeye Riveter]

It's winter in Ohio

And the gentle breezes blow

Seventy miles an hour 

At twenty-five below.

Oh, how I love Ohio

When the snow's up to your butt

You take a breath of winter

And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful

So I guess I'll hang around

I could never leave Ohio

'Cause I'm frozen to the ground!!

Drove up to the Lake House to check on everything.  The alarm system called us on Tuesday night and politely told us that the power had gone off.  The power was off for about 15 hours and the weather station indicated that the temperature in the house fell to 39 degrees from the 55 set on the thermostat.  Everything okay, but there was still ice on everything.

[rtraincollector]

AF53

Roy - Thanks for that! Almost sounds like you're a Giants Steelers Fan!

Navy Jack - Ditto on everyones feelings about the deck issue. Snow load can be surprising.

Dennis - Like you I have no dog in the fight but I'll probably be rooting for the Packers. I really don't care as long as I win at least one pool I'm in!

Everyone enjoy the game,

Ray

Sorry couldn't resist knowing how cowboy fans normally feel about steelers they can put up with a giants fan but not a steelers

[anjdevil2]

'Evening Guys!!

Sitting here watching Steam in Winter.  Bought 2 boxed sets of DVD 11 hours all steam.  $15 at Target.  Then bought a DVD player $24.....I'm getting solvent again.....

3 fire calls today, 2 false and one dump truck vs econo box....truck was at fault, driver of car was ok, sent to the hospital anyway

Ice storm last week, alledgedly next storm on Tuesday...

Been in the teens, was in the 40's Wednesday for like 5 minutes....continues to be in the 30's to teens most of the week.  Fortunately my shop is heated.  Drving TO the shop is another matter...my little neon is heat challenged.  But, hey, it's at 23 MPG and its not THAT bad... .

Purchased a Sunoco tank car for $10 in the junk box at the LHS...nice for $10,,,,will go back next Sunday,,..

Work is ok, long days there and I'm whipped after dinner.  But it's proffitable. 

Definitly a NY Giants Fan...but I'll be at the Super Bowl Party at the FD tomorrow...who cares who wins?

Have ICS 200 class next Friday and Saturday (Incident Command)  6-1030 then 830 to 430...no late sleeping next week!

That's all from Exit 8 (NJTP - New Jersey Turnpike)  I'll check back tomorrow

[LawsonFarmsRR]

Buckeye Riveter

It's winter in Ohio Virginia

And the gentle breezes blow

Seventy Five miles an hour 

At twenty-five below. And that's real slow

Oh, how I love Ohio Virginia

When the snow's up to your butt there's not a sound

You take a breath of winter

And your nose gets frozen shut. the sweet smells abound.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful

So I guess I'll hang around

I could never leave live in Ohio

'Cause I'm I'd be frozen to the ground!!

Pat

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

It is another cloudy snowy day in SE Indiana.  Work was busy Friday.  Wanted to go some place out to eat Friday but all the places were packed.  Finally went to Arby's and got a fish combo with onion rings.  Yum!  Took it easy today.  Sister came down to take dad to her place for the weekend.  I hate to say this, but that is a relief.  Went to the library and got some books.  Can't find printed instructions for 1040 anywhere.  Stupid policy to "save" money, just makes it harder to do so.  I had bacon and biscuits on the dining car for breakfast this morning.  TBIL anytime.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana 

[sir james I]

Good Evening All

26 degrees, and we were blessed with another 4 1/2 inches of snow this afternoon. It's sure a payback from last years mild winter. Lazy as usual today, spent a lot of time playing PS2 golf. Banilla and cherry pie are waiting for the Tardis gang..S.J.

[wrmcclellan]

PAt, RT, and Buckeye - Good ones.

Well in just about 6 hours all roads went from icy/snowy/slushy to clear. Nice!

Went to the boat show with a friend as we were all suffering cabin fever. Spent a couple of hours at the show and then went to a little restaurant we had never been to before but had heard about. It was good. Had beef brisket enchilada's over rice - sweet!

Oogled the new boat models. Some nice features coming out - particularly liked the wakeboarding tower that electrically raises and lowers. Also liked the wakeboard/wakesurfboard/ski electric winch rope system - with length controls built into the handle to allow the wakeboarder//skier control the length theirself - but at $3,000 I will stick to "how long would you like the rope to be and I will set it for you" system already in place.

Still 50 out - almost all the ice dams on my roof have meilted!

[laz 57]

HI GUYZ,

  Well I did some work on the layout today put in the last of the power drops.  I souldered up 4 drops to the fasttrack and tried them out all ok no problems.  I then went to church and out to dinner with the WIFE and BRO.  Came home and took PUP for a walk then ran trains for 3 hrs. NO PILE UPs!!!!  PUP loved em and had afew sips o beer from my cup.  She waited til I put the cup down then just took it.  Gotta be more vigilant on where I put my cup?  Was snowing real good after dinner.

BUCKEYE and PAT,  YUZ GUYZ are telling tales of OH. and VA. about snow I guess I'll just stay here in the middle right here in PA.  Thank you.

laz57

[Demay]

Good evening all,

I knocked out the house chores this afternoon so I can watch the game tomorrow and not have to worry about anything else to do.  It warmed up to about 50 or so today so when I made it out to the garage to work on the layout I was able to have the door open the whole time.  I downloaded a photo of some brick/stone paper I could use as a temporary solution to my tunnel portals and wall leading up to the airport.  I finished the portals but I did not get to the wall yet.  I need to pull the layout off the wall to get to it, but I could not do that today since I need to clean out the garage floor.  It has a lot of wet dirt from all the snow and ice that needs to completely dry before I sweep it up.  I also started building the trackside shed I bought yesterday.

RT – Your latest CCRR photos look great; thanks for sharing. 

We didn't do much in the evening.  I channel surfed between some preliminary UFC fights, Goodfellas, and The Misfits.  It's time to get some sleep now.

Good night,
Joe 

[Brutus]

Navy - sorry to hear about your deck, bro.  Glad nobody was hurt!  I too hope you can break even on the deal!

We had snow also - about 3 inches on the driveway today.  Son and I cleared it off and went to the gamestop store and then Walmart for groceries and goodies.  We had Crackerbarrel for dinner last night and it is bothering my wife.  Guess the food was too rich for her or something.  Hope to find out on Monday that her C-Dif infection is gone, but we suspect she will need another round of antibiotics.  I'm wondering if all the family shouldn't get checked out, maybe we all need antibiotics?  Just getting a little paranoid about things I guess.

My in-laws have had to deal with more snow than their little snow blower would handle at least once a year for the past few years.  This time, they had 20 inches of snow and then another foot a week later.  They just upgraded to a $1500 all metal one with 3 forward and 3 reverse speeds.  They also do the drives and walks for alot of their neighbors.  I think this was a really good idea for them.  Here in Saint Louis, we tend to get a lot of ice due to warming from the river.  I'm not sure how well any of the blowers will do on ice or sleet anyway.

TARDIS is ready and some pie sounds great right now - let's go!

[ChiefEagles]

PAINTING!!!!!!!!! The new room.  Got it done.  Will have to re-coat the new wood but that will not take long.  Then do the gun safe interior next.  Finish by re-doing the office side.  Tired.

Had friend to die with cancer.  Long time recreation guy in Town.  Went to this visitation after going to Lowes for a couple of items [including rope lights for interior of gun safe].  Came home to watch Halmark Channel.  Crashed in recliner.  Just woke up.

Navy, sorry about the deck.

Yanks, if you live up there, don't complain about the snow and cold.  Smart folks like Dennis moved South.  Can't call RT smart as he will get big head.

Roy, thought Texicans were tuff.

Pat, right on with the Buckeye quote.

Good night.

 

[train doc]

Don glad you played trains for 3 hours. Great operating session yesterday, today we put up the yard and it looks great. Still need your input on yard track layout. Almost done with 54 track support. I posted a lot of inane comments on O Gauge Forum but still had a lot of fun. I am taking Pitt tomorrow. Your friend Glen

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a cold 20 degrees. Going up to 28 today with some sunshine.

Today is an easy day. Got computer working and now I can relax. Plan on watching Super Bowl. I need to see the new Budweiser commercial. I think I'd like to see the Steelers win. Maybe run trains later.

Dining car is here with an omlet for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Sunday.

Chuck

[mitchelr]

Morning to All

Yesterday was a quiet day. Didn't go anywhere.  Napped in the afternoon and still went to bed about 9:45 PM.  Needed to recharge my batteries after Friday when I had a million things going on. Didn't get home until almost 11:15 PM.  Today we will head to church and then to our friends house for a Super Bowl gathering which is always fun. Unfortunately they live an a hour and a half away and I have to work tomorrow so we will leave at about half time.  I really have no preference but the Steelers fans at work would be so obnoxious if they won again, that I think I'll root for the Packers.

Never did pull out the AF trains and run them. Maybe this week.

Take care,

Mitch

[laz 57]

Hi GUYZ,

  32 here and icy.  Our rained turned to snow and then that caused an early icy mess.  Glad its Sunday otherwise there would be lots o fender benders. 

  Go STILLERS!!!

Going down WAYNES tonite for Super Bowl buffet. 

Stay frosty,

laz57

[ChiefEagles]

Painting again.  Painting again.

Morning all.  Pretty, sun is out and going into the 60's. 

TrainDoc, you don't know Don [Shake and Bake] as we do.  You better keep your eye on him.

Have a good one.

[AF53]

41 at exit 77 and sunny, but it feels alot warmer than that!

Not much going on today. Probably run some trains before we head on over to the inlaws for a Super Bowl party. Not much of a rooting interest but probably go for the Packers.

Ray  

[sir james I]

Good Morning All

27 and overcast

Chief I'm not complaining, just reporting. Brutus says I bought a notebook instead of a laptop. Being computer challenged I don't know the difference. They all look the same in the store and this was advertised as a laptop. The box does say notebook though. Hey it's working and doing what I want so what the hay...S.J.

[Demay]

Good morning all,

It's sunny and not too cold out right now.  We should be leaving for church soon, but that may not happen as the two older kids are coughing and the wife has a headache.  I hope to knock out some layout work this afternoon before the game.

I am a Dolphins fan and just want to see a good game; however, I will cheer for the Steelers since I am originally from PA.

Chief - Not all of us Yanks complain about the snow.  Laz seems okay with it and I cannot get enough of it. 

Good day,

Joe

[rtraincollector]

Chief I won't get a big head I know I got out of it when I had enough of it. still like seeing it just not living in it lol. don't mind the one or two times a year we get it here as i can deal with it.

Morning all hope all are finally thawing out some. Suppose to get up to 61 today then cool down a little from what I see next week with highs in the 50's basically lows in upper 20's to mid 30's so not to bad I can deal with that.

Well time to make some breakfast and get moving around for the day. talk to you all later.

[anjdevil2]

...and some of us move BACK and don't complain...

Up to 40 today sun is out, here at Exit 8.

Have to run to credit union and deposit some cash, then to Brian's HD in Langhorne to check on another ride. 

Superbowl party at the firehouse....I'll wear my Rutgers football jersey....

NavyJack - sorry about your deck....hopefully it will work out.

Chief - condolences on the death of your friend.

Brutus - for Char...

Rich

[submmbob]

Well back at the 'scope for another week. Training the new guy this week so that has kept me busy, plus we had the engineers up for a few days. We had one of the coldest nights in years up here last week. Got down to - 27 C. We lost commercial power in the middle of the night and went on generator. But due to the cold the fuel was gelled in the tank lines so once the day tank ran out of fuel, the generator died. I had to help one of the other guys on the mountain switch us back to commercial power. Been a while since I've done that. Nothing like working w/ 26 K volts.

Ran the NW2 on the desk down in the shop last night. Really like the horn. I haven't heard the bell sounds yet as none of the transformers I use have that feature. Is there another way to activate this?

NavyJack - sorry to hear about the deck

Chief - sounds like you are getting a lot accomplished, as usual

Thoughts and prayers for those in need

Bob

[wrmcclellan]

Morning all!

Chief - my condolences on the death of your friend.

Partly cloudy here, 40, and chance of flurries/rain later today (for the Super Bowl).

They had the Arlington Fire Dept up on the Cowboys Stadium roof last night trying to get the rest of the ice and snow off. Comes off in bowling ball size or larger chunks. 200 foot fall if it goes over the edge. The reporter that got hit day before yesterday has a broken shoulder (4 places). Said he had been in Iraq, Nigeria, etc., and he gets hurt outside the Super Bowl Stadium. Said he got hit so hard thought he was going to die.

Finshed the book "The Wrecker" by Cussler & Scott. Fun read. Centered around a railroad at turn of the last century. I recommend it. Picked up a book called "Pirate Latitudes" by Crichton .  Not a bad read either. I read mainly when traveling and I do not have a trip soon, so not sure when I will finish it.

Daughter lost control of her car on an ice patch last night and hit both wheels on passenger side of the car hard on a curb. Looks like alignment was affected. Also saw a constant velocity boot on the passenger front side has been leaking grease for a while so that means $$$$$$ repairs, particularly since the car is AWD.

Have a great day all!

 

[traindood]

Hello;   bright sun here,     going  into 40's. try to get some ice removed from driveway before big game.     any experts out there can give me a clue on this knotty problem i'm having? i use ross switches with dz2500 switch machines. situation is this; i have two advanced 175mm double crossovers, one on lower level and one on upper level.  they are close to being on top of one another but kinda offset. the upper one works perfectly, the lower one is giving me fits. even though i have changed sm's and relays and the two double crossovers are wired the same, the bottom one works oddly. crossover 3&4  work perfectly. crossover 1&2; 1 being the master, doesen't change together with #2 sm. spent hours on this rewiring lower one with same result.    also, wires go to control panel ala Pete Riddle's article in a past issue of CTT. all 25 other sm's work perfectly. called Steve from Ross and Dennis from Z- stuff and they tried to help but so far no dice. being blessed with the frugal gene(read cheap) i may have to put my hand in my pocket this time.  sweating just to think about it. this is my last chance Obi-Wan please help!    

[traindood]

Hello;   bright sun here,     going  into 40's. try to get some ice removed from driveway before big game.     any experts out there can give me a clue on this knotty problem i'm having? i use ross switches with dz2500 switch machines. situation is this; i have two advanced 175mm double crossovers, one on lower level and one on upper level.  they are close to being on top of one another but kinda offset. the upper one works perfectly, the lower one is giving me fits. even though i have changed sm's and relays and the two double crossovers are wired the same, the bottom one works oddly. crossover 3&4  work perfectly. crossover 1&2; 1 being the master, doesen't change together with #2 sm. spent hours on this rewiring lower one with same result.    also, wires go to control panel ala Pete Riddle's article in a past issue of CTT. all 25 other sm's work perfectly. called Steve from Ross and Dennis from Z- stuff and they tried to help but so far no dice. being blessed with the frugal gene(read cheap) i may have to put my hand in my pocket this time.  sweating just to think about it. this is my last chance Obi-Wan please help!    

[traindood]

Hello;   bright sun here,     going  into 40's. try to get some ice removed from driveway before big game.     any experts out there can give me a clue on this knotty problem i'm having? i use ross switches with dz2500 switch machines. situation is this; i have two advanced 175mm double crossovers, one on lower level and one on upper level.  they are close to being on top of one another but kinda offset. the upper one works perfectly, the lower one is giving me fits. even though i have changed sm's and relays and the two double crossovers are wired the same, the bottom one works oddly. crossover 3&4  work perfectly. crossover 1&2; 1 being the master, doesen't change together with #2 sm. spent hours on this rewiring lower one with same result.    also, wires go to control panel ala Pete Riddle's article in a past issue of CTT. all 25 other sm's work perfectly. called Steve from Ross and Dennis from Z- stuff and they tried to help but so far no dice. being blessed with the frugal gene(read cheap) i may have to put my hand in my pocket this time.  sweating just to think about it. this is my last chance Obi-Wan please help!