I have to use compatable mode - click on the button at the top and it will keep my post. But I also highlight and copy everything now before hitting post. Just in case!
No trains today. Is Fife out of town or on vacation? No reply to email?
Jim sounds like a nice haul from the train store!
TARDIS is ready. I have to get some good sleep tonight as I'm training 20 people tomorrow and then I'll be in training (being trained) the rest of the day. LOOOOONG day!
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Good evening all,
There's nothing like coming home from work and smelling homemade bread when you walk in the door. My wife made rosemary bread to go with the clam chowder: it was a fantastic meal. I played Frisbee with the kids and ran the trains for a while before getting them ready for bed. The wife and I watched a House Hunter's International (Botswana) and it's about time for us to retire for the night.
The Yankees lost a close game tonight. The Sox lost as well so I'll sleep okay.
Probe - It sounds like you had a nice vacation; looking forward to seeing the photos - of the trains, not you in a Speedo.
Jack - I write my posts in MS Word first and then cut and paste them into my post box.
SP Ray - Have fun at the Angels game. I have never seen them in person but they are fun to watch on television.
Good night,
Joe
Good morning all,
It is HOT in the Hoosier Land. Did nothing but get gas for the vehicles last night. Long day at work yesterday and today will be no better as my computer is supposed to get "upgraded" today. Nothing can go wrong there.....right. RI52, sorry to hear of your traffic woes. Most places just do not know how to deal with post race traffic, but then most tracks are not fortunate enough to have a city grow up around them as Indy did and so have multiple pathways leading away from the event. Our tourney starts tonight. Going to be warm. I had the regular fare for breakfast on the dining car before sending it on to "Points East". TBIL after the game. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Hello All
Hot & dry here. 72 degrees @ 4:30
I watched Weather Radar with disappointment the other day as a promising thunderstorm that was boring down on us broke apart and went around us.
First trip to Pittsburgh for radiation yesterday After much waiting we learned that the stent placed in Mom's cervix was not in a good position and was removed. We'll try again next week.
Facebook, I piddle with it some. Mrs has a page that she checks every couple of weeks and calls me for assistance.
Hudson, John Deere Reunion! You into old tractors? I do attend a tractor show or two each year. The tractor we used for many years is a '56 Oliver Super 55. It's in my garage now needing to have the seals replaced in the hydraulic pump.
88, whats the latest? continue.
Probe, sounds like you had a great time at Toy Town the beach!
Won a pair of prewar Lionel 021 switches on the bay over the weekend. $9.99 including shipping. They even have the lamps that are usually missing and sell for more than I paid for everything.
SS Fund calls
Prayers for those in need
Banks, Proud member of the OTTS TCA 12-67310
Good Morning from Blueberryhill....
It is a foggy and humid 76 degrees. Going up to 88 today with a chance of rain. This weather is not nice summer weather.
Today is a busy day. I have some chores and a project to work on. Maybe some train time later.
Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Wednesday.
Chuck
Hi GUYZ,
WOW what a HOT one at the PIONEER TUNNEL. I was in a lather at about 730 yesterday taking out the coals out of the firebox. The coal is what we call boney coal and it has a combo of coal with some slate in it giving it a longer bone type look. After being burn it clumps up and sticks together. This is no good for the Lokie and tends to outen the flame. After that the engine ran good until the humidty went skyhigh and we lost our pessure and had to stop for about 20 minutes to get back our 90+ lbs so we can continue our tours. Ran good after that but a real hot one in the cab. During breaks I was camped outside of the TUNNEL enjoying the 49 degree gentile draft coming out of it. Replaced fluids with YUENGLINGs when I got home last nite.
JOE D. WOW 87 at 0700! Ouch! Joe the farthest I run anymore is 6 miles. My 3 knee surgeries has me not pushing it and at 54 yrs. old I don't want a knee replacement. So by putting in 15-20 miles a week and supplimenting it with walking and mt. biking, lifting I feel pretty good.
JACK, LOL with the ball cap over the TOPKNOT. Thanks that was a good one.
Stay frosty,
laz57
Morning guys. Taking the day off. Have to watch the kids take their violin practice. Then, daughter has ballet. Have a long honey do list as wife has friends that will be staying with us.
Joe, we love Rosemary Bread. Don't make it ourselves, but the local bakery makes it. Like it toasted with butter and a bowl of Tomato Bisque.
Supposed to dry out here and temps to go back over 100 again. Just saw a report that Southerners are more acclimated to the head and tolerate it better....as a transplant, I am not sure how I play into things (been here for 20 years), but my bride certainly likes the AC.
God Bless,Dennis
TCA#09-63805
81 now, 95 for the day.
The church picnic is tonight, not sure about going because of the heat. It's always a fun evening though. granny is BBsitting so breakfast will be something easy..Happy Hump day..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
The weather forecasters predict we will be above 100 degrees everyday for the rest of the month. I doubt it will get any better in August since it is usually a very hot month as well. The 1y/o son and I went for a brief two-mile jog this morning. He enjoyed it and a lot to say during the run - in 1y/o language of course. I have one briefing to attend this morning and will be stuck to my desk the rest of the day.
Laz - A six-mile run is plenty long enough for someone with knee issues. My body is only 36 years old and I have never had any knee or joint issues. I'm working my mileage back up so I can run a marathon after we get to Japan. I want to be back in half-marathon shape by the end of August. I should be able to meet that goal.
Dennis - We have a rosemary bush outside our house and the wife loves to cook and bake so it's a natural fit. We use our bread for dipping and making panini.
Good day,
Think good thoughts, do good deeds!
Morning All !
Been awhile since I posted, sorry about that! Just been busy with retirement stuff. However, thought I would summarize what's been going on here.
- Had a "root canal", YUK! (expensive too)
- Finished wiring the relocation of Glen's layout, finally! (Had an antenna problem, soldered on new wire to the TIU, ALL issues disappeared!
- Temporary tooth came off, (on for a week), had to go back and have it re-cemented.
- Started doing maintenance on Glen's engines.
- Chris ran into a trailer hitch, which was located on the back of a pickup. No damage to truck, Chris' car got $1100 hit.
- Had to have Kays car in the shop, problem with fuel line and injector system.
- Temporary tooth came off AGAIN, (1 week later)
- Ran a water line to an antique water pump located in back yard, looks great.
- Had to take van into shop, intake bushing broke, (tiny little part, worth maybe .08, cost $8.50)
- Went to train club meeting, one of the "other" guys thought we need a Helix to avoid a "Bridge to Nowhere", hmmm. Where have I heard of that before?
- Had oil changed in 3 of the 4 vehicles.
- Chris completed registration for CSUF, Geology Program! Really excited ! He and another student routinely go on "Rock Hikes", in local areas. Usually he comes back with a fossil or two, and when I ask what it is he explains. But, I can't even pronounce the words, much less spell them. (I've never seen him so excited about something!) Oh, he had lunch the other day with the Department Chairman, and during registration applied for a position working in the department office begining in the fall. (Clerical Assistant.)
- Had pool heater fixed, found a person who is familiar with our A.O. Smith heater, he replaced the thermocouple.
- Had dentist appointment for insertion of the "permanent" tooth, 2+ hours !
- Cleaned out and re-arranged storage shed, got new weed eater and shop vacuum. Now dont know where anything is, but it looks better.
- Tried to install bushing in van, dropped the part. Went back behind the alternator bracket, then during retrieval fell even further! No idea where! Did manage to cut my thumb trying to get it situated. Just stuck linkage in correct hole, holding in place for 3 days. Will try some "bailing wire" retention when thumb heals.
- Permanent tooth fell out, (eating egg salad), apparently swallowed it!! Back to the dentist, new temporary now installed, 2 more weeks before new permanent tooth available.
- Kay broke a small bone in her foot while swimming last Sunday, going to podiatrist today.
- Finished doing maintenance on Glen's engines !!
- Almost finished writing an "Operating Manual" for Glens layout.
- Chief called, chewed me out for not posting, people thinking I may be dead. Promised I would rectify.
- Going to start working on G-Scale dogbone in the backyard VERY soon.
- Pool Heater not working, pool guy back out, now we have a bad Gas valve, replacement on order.
- Might go to train club today, will see how it works out.
Other than that nothing new going on here. Hopefully will get in contact with SPRay soon about some mods we had talked about.
HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT DAY
Don
Greetings From Cape Ann Taxachusetts and The Home of the Birthplace of the American Navy (Yup!!!!),
I suppose the weather news is boring and redundant, so I'll just day "ditto." The good news is that my electric usage for the 31 days ending July 11 came in 35% below prior year for the same period. But the next one will be staggering relatively speaking due to giving the A/C a good workout the past 8 days. The forecasted putrid temps and humidity will continue throught the weekend and pretty much guarantee that the next electric bill will probably be the highest one I have ever gotten.
You guys may remember that my wife is the one who doesn't even put gas in her car. Doesn't even check the gas gauge, gets it mixed up with the water temperature gauge anyway. If it is anything automotive, she states, that is MW (men's work). So many times she has run the tank dry. This past Winter I actually ran out of gas entering the gas station with her car!!!!
Anyway, a couple of years ago I posted that the wife had backed her precious car out of the garage without looking and hit the lawn mower which was sitting in plain view and running in the driveway, denting the underside of the rear fascia, not very noticeable because of its location but a tad larger in size to a major league baseball. She blamed me for leaving the lawn mower there. Mind you, I was mowing the front lawn, and the mower was not only in her view but was running while I was standing next to it with my back to her, bagging grass). After the incident I told her.....oh, never mind. You guys get the drift. Women's logic.
I am probably just fortunate she didn't run me over. Anyway, out of principle I refused to get the dent removed and told her she broke it and she should get it fixed. The battle over this incident and the dent has now gone on for over two years. It has been a sore spot with her because she is a stickler for the appearance of her cars.
Fast forward to this week.....Monday she went out of town to visit DougM's neck of the woods. I thought I'd be a nice guy in her absence and surprise her upon her return, have the fascia fixed while she was gone, and have an interior/exterior detail as well. Oddly, for someone who likes a pristine ride, she seems compelled to do everything she can to trash the car's paint finish. She is particularly adept at eschewing a parking spot in the sun in favor of parking under trees.....so the tree sap and bird droppings are a daily battle. For me! I'd rather she park in the sun and just turn on the car's a/c rather than create unnecessary work; but her comment to that is........oh, never mind. Women's logic.
The good news is that my auto body shop was able to heat up the dented underside fascia area and pop out the dent with no paintwork! And they charged me nothing, said you can't tell it was there!!!!!
I've got money riding with the son-in-law on this week's events. I bet him the wifey won't even notice her car was fixed and detailed, for at least 7 days anyway.
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Good morning all.
D. Baker, good to hear from you. Good grief Don! What is that dentist doing to you? Hope the second "permanent" tooth is permanent. Didn't realize you have been so busy. You have had a lot on your plate. Not to worry about my project. It has been too hot over here to work in the garage anyway. Our Thursday night gang has not met now for over three weeks because of the heat, vacations etc.
Going to Angel game tonight with my son and grandson. The Angels got hammered last night by Texas and are playing them again tonight. They are due for a win.
I learned this morning that a friend of mine, Bill Sellers of Gainsville, Ga. who was the steam editor for the original Norfolk and Southern Railway Historical Society,. has been hospitalized for a perforated ulcer which was corrected surgically. However, Bill had a mild heart attack but is holding his own. He and I struck up a friendship on the internet when I posted some stories about the old original NS Railway in North Carolina when I was a kid. He inspired me to write an article for the Lines South magazine ACL/SAL historical society. Bill is 89 years old and is a fighter. He is almost blind and can hardly hear but we still communicate through his son. Bill was a fireman on mainline steam back in the 30's and 40's on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. Later on he became a train order operator and telegrapher for the Southern Railway where he made a career. I sent him my prayers and wish him the best.
Ray
SPMan
Good Afternoon,
My son and I went out fishing this morning. We caught a few fluke/summer flounder, but with the size regs they were all just short. The fog rolled in at about 6 am, was supposed to lift between 7:30 and 8:30 but it only became worse.
Brutus, I believe Fife may be on vacation. Remember figuring how to go to Tenn. avoiding NC.
Banks, I am into old tractors, trucks and cars. Right now I only have old tractors of the garden type. I am trying to decide on what I want but I would like to get one with a loader. I almost bought a Ford 8N with a loader a couple of years ago, (AF53, it was by your house on Serpentine, the white ranch house right before the S curve on the left) but the timing was wrong. I just bought something else and my motto of "It is better to beg for forgiveness than plead for permission" was not applicable because college tuition was due. I could have had it for $2200. It was on great shape. The right one will come. Next month at the Rough & Tumble is the Thresher Reunion the BIG SHOW where everything is invited and working. You should try to make it to Kinzer, Pa.
Laz, I may be able to get to Pioneer Tunnel next month. I will have to "help you hydrate" later.
SPMan, Ray, Thoughts and Prayers for your friend Bill Sellers.
AF53, Ray, Another package arrived today. I am glad that you send stuff here. It makes me look good when I get stuff. I am just going to have it shipped in your name and I can get away with it.
Thoughts and Prayers for all in need.
John
Joe,
It is strange that you should mention that. We had an older Russian couple camping next to us for the majority of the week, and the husband decided to go that route instead of normal trunks.
Banks,
I forgot to ask Debbie about the merrygoround. After my Dad refused to go in with me on Friday because of it, I know what to get him for Christmas now.
Jack,
Are those Alcos good runners? I gave mine a brief test after buying them Tuesday thanks to the 12VDC-115VAC inverter and 1033 that I packed, but I have not gotten to them yet.
Don,
Glad to see you are back.
Evenin' FellasBanks - we're in a holding pattern at 32,000 ft. Still waiting.Jack - My dad has been replacing planting boxes in their front yard for two years. We built them out of landscaping timbers about 15 years ago, well they started to rot out. He is rebuilding them with landscaping blocks. Last Summer he had Home Depot deliver two palates - TWO - and they put them at the top of their driveway blocking one side. My mother was backing their caravan out of the garage and backed right into the palate of blocks... they were 5 feet high, and 4 feet square and had been there for a month! When he asked why she said 'I didn't see them. Who put them there?' REALLY? They'd been there for a MONTH!?!?!Fife - is somewhere deep in the heart of Dixie.
Good Evening
91 right now at 10pm.
We went to the church picnic stayed a couple hours and headed for home. it was 96 with a little breeze. Banilla is waiting but we will need to keep it on ice...S.J.
Good Evnin’ Ya'll From Balmy () Taxachusetts,
SP Ray........good thoughts and prayers for your friend, Bill Sellers.
Hudson John......you and Ray have quite the misdirection going. Don't the significant others get suspicious?
Brent........now THAT is funny!!!!! Bet the family loves to retell that one and tease your Mom. No embellishment required!!! When we got the SRX, it came with the backup sensors (no backup camera available). When the car is shifted into reverse, it activates both an audio beep and a light bar across the upper interior edge of the back hatch.....so if you are looking back when backing up, you can't miss the lights and the noise. The closer you get to an object, the faster the beep gets; and the lights change from green to yellow and then red. When you hit red about 2 feet from an object, the audio beep remains on as a constant tone. Yup, the wife jumped into the car at dog training where the cars were piggy-back parked, and she was hemmed in. Backed right into a guy's minivan.
JimmyT......the early Lionel Alcos are basically built to be bulletproof. The accumulated run time on my RI 2031s has to be in months, not hours. The paint on the yellow 2023 UPs (there was also a 1950 50th anniversary set) has always been a problem with fading and dulling, and the red beltline trim is usually partially missing, even on C8s and above! The 2033 silver UPs look pretty nice, especially with the 242X silver passenger cars with the black lettering. As runners the Alcos are great but are not prodigious haulers. The single motor is powerful, but the powered A unit’s lighter weight versus the 2 motored F3s limit the amount of cars the Alcos can haul due to wheel slippage. …..about 8 cars plus the dummy A if the cars are not of the heavy variety.
Later gang. Take LAZ advice and kick back with some Ole Mils, but skip the fire tonight.
Back from a trip to Michigan. Visited the kids in northern Indiana, attended my wife's family reunion, spent a day with the inlaws ans another day with my mom. Everybody seems to be doing OK, though nobody's getting any younger.
Was low 90's and high 80's in Michigan - noticably cooler than here in Mo. - but still HOT for Mich.
Took the computer along, so I more or less kept up with the pot. Had to de-louse it when we got home - we picked up some bugs on one of the hotel networks we were hooked up to.
Vacation the rest of the week.
Laz - I am interested in your comments about the Lokie's reaction to humidity. I've been doing some calculations for a model sized live steam engine. I have not run across any references to ambient humidity in any of the equasions I'm using, though. You are seeing a difference, so there is something to it. I'll have to keep an eye out as I continue doing research on the subject. So far, the most useful books on the subject have been from the early 20's.
All for now.
Not with a bang, but with a whimper.... that was how the season ended. Almost half did not show for the game (7 out of 16 were no-shows, including Lucas who got overheated at work, he is ok), and most of those of missing were the better players. We lost 5-1 and it could have been a lot worse except the other team was offside half the time. It was a long night. My one goal shot bounced off the cross bar (this was long after the game was decided) so it was a miserable night except for the weather, which was pleasant thanks to a shower that passed thru the area before the game. The one bright spot of yesterday was getting an e-mail from my Norwegian soccer friend. That always brings a smile to my face. I had the regular fare on the dining car for breakfast before sending it on to "Points East". TBIL and I can drive. I hope everyone has a good day.
It is a clear and sunny 72 degrees. Going up to 88 today with sunshine.
Today is a busy day. I have some errands to run this morning. The usual chores to do. Maybe some relaxing time this afternoon. I'll need a nap by then.
Dining car is here from "Points West". Cheerios is for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Thursday.
Good Morning Everyone,
Getting ready to pull out for a few days in Pa. Dutch Country.
JEFElectric, Too bad you will not be at the museum. I will be back next month and try to make it a Tuesday. i will give you a call.
RI Jack, It is more of a game with us. I am married to his sister, Doray, and she does not miss a trick. She also will not tell Ray's wife about his purchases.
Be back late Saturday.
MUUUUUGGGGGYYYYY! this morning. Only did a 3 miler for today is an easy day for the running. Plus its already warm at 76 at 530am. Got my stone veneer for the outside of my addition and I will start this morning putting it on till 11 Am and then quitting for the day. A little at a time.
JOE D, wife is from Mahanoy City and she ran 10 marathons. The last was in '95, The 100th Anniversery of the Boston Marathon. I was her support on 5 of her marathons. The farthest race I did were half marathons, in Philly and down in Williamsburg, Va. I trainned with wife and did 19 milers and felt great but was boring. I guess thats why I never entered a marathon. I know I could finish one but the boredom would just kill me.
8NTRUCK, somedays the LOKIE runs like a champ when its humid but other days like on Tuesday it just fizzled out. Don't know if there is a corrolation there or not? Seems like the best time to run this is in the fall where cool mornings and nice days prevail.
HUDSON, I'll be there till about the 23 of August. PIONEER DAY is on the 20th and that is a big and fun day at the TUNNEL. Lots of vendors in the Park and they brimg in re enactors to the mine. Lots o people good food and arts and crafts stuff. Sorta like a church picnic.
Stay frosty and have a cold one today,
I will,
Mornin' FellasJack - I have to be careful the stories I tell because just a few months ago I pulled the ultimate bonehead move of all time. Susan's 525i wouldn't start so as I was looking for the battery - in my BMW they put it in the trunk (really nice when you need to jump it when it is in the garage), well it wasn't in the 5series' trunk. So I open the owners manual and they won't tell you in there where it is because they put two terminals in the engine compartment for you to use to jump the car... well Susan had pulled it in so far that I couldn't get to the hood release... so I open the driver's door, put the car in Neutral and proceed to back it out of the garage......... rear wheels hit the hill and the car took off - I was able to get it stopped, but not before the driver's door caught the center door column... you guessed it... not only a trip to get a new battery, but also $2,100 in repairs to the front quarter panel and a new door. ---I have to remove one board from the layout so I can install one that is a tad wider (more support for the track), then cut 3 more boards and the plywood base will be done. Then I have to install the ceiling tile sub road bed and run some tests to see if the engines like the new flow. Hope to have it done this weekend! Then I'll start scenicing the visible 1/2 tunnel, start building the tall mountain, scenicing the mountain behind the curved arch bridge, and scenicing the valley that The Lazy Susan River runs through (Fife - Susan still is not happy with that name ) Once that is done I'll work on scenicing the front of the mountain that skirts the yard. That will leave me with the town to work on - want to do that last as the area the town will cover provides me the best access to the rest of the layout for scenery work. I also have to redo the ballast on the section of track that is already done... seems mice like to run the rails as well - , not sure how to best suck it up so I can reuse it...
Good morning
The heats the thing today. 81 at 730am, heading for 100. If it does it will be the first time since 1995. Cooling off tomorrow at 92. Granny's gone for the day, a senior trip for lunch, boat ride and a shopping outlet on the way back. Me I'm stayin in..S.J.
sir james I Good Evening 91 right now at 10pm. We went to the church picnic stayed a couple hours and headed for home. It was so cold I could not stand it any longer. S.J.
We went to the church picnic stayed a couple hours and headed for home. It was so cold I could not stand it any longer.
S.J.
Morning all. Posting from Town Hall. Early meeting. Got home yesterday evening and immediately started soaker hoses. A few T'storms around but not in Roseyville.
Heat pump is COLD air for heat. Propane is high $$$. Now natural gas is great. Problem is, natural gas availability. Luckly, I forced the nautral gas compay to serve old Rolesville when they wanted an agreement to furnish the new subdivisions. Hot water that does not stop. Had big electric hot water heater until natural gas. Natural gas heater is half the size of the electric one. Natural gas is $13 per month during he summer to heat water. Winter is 1/3 the cost of propane.
Meeting this afternoon late and then dinner meeting and off to the lake house for a long stay.
BTW: Pat, excellent job guarding the boarder. Seems the Fifedom [the Fife family clan] came through VA. He called to report that a VA State Trooper was sitting at every "cut through" on I 95.
Fife wanted to come to Roseyville on Saturday but wifey has plans for us at lake house. Now I can see this: Get Fifey to call me as he approaches Roseyville [he told what vehicle he rented to drive to Myrtle Beach]. Get PD to stop him and officer gets out and introduces himself as Roscoe P Coletrain. Tell him he has to have promission from the Mayor to enter the Town.
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 late morning all,
Went to Angels/Texas Ranger game last night and Angels won. They came from behind down by 5 runs and won the thing 9 to 8. I was readly to throw in the towel after the Rangers scored 3 runs early in the game. It was a good game with lots of action.
Saw where Tiger Woods fired his old caddie, Steve Williams, who has been with him for 12 years and 13 of his major championships. Caddie is not happy. Don't know the whole story yet. This sounds like one more step in Tiger's race for the bottom.
TCA meet this Saturday and also The Great Train Expo at Pomona Fairground. I will go to TCA.
later,
Aloha. Prayers for Ray's friend Bill. Can you believe it's been cooler here in South Carolina than back in Chicago. Well, I'm almost relaxed as our time here nears its end...
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
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