Thanks everyone for your very gracious comments about our layout, many of you have heard me say this before but for us the building of the layout was great fun. Yes, we certainly enjoy running the trains for those that stop in but the hands on construction, at least for us, has been the most rewarding. There's just something about building a layout from scratch and seeing it come to life that's so much fun.
Having Roger Carp and Dennis Brennan in our home for the day was simply the best. They are truly gentlemen and very professional, just like the magazine.
Dennis -- I have the iPad 1 and if you can figure out how to type on it, let me know. I use two fingers on the iPad simply because it's so sensitive. If I need to type more than 2 or 3 sentences I grab the laptop. I really like the iPad because of it's size and durability, perfect for taking on trips on the bike!
Time to get cleaned up (lots of lawn/driveway work today) and get some chow going before the boss get's home :)
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
Okay Jon because your famous now we'll let you get by with a double post
Hey all check out this story its train related http://news.yahoo.com/puppy-rescued-top-train-gets-home-173446351.html
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
laz 57 sir james I: Doug I checked out the picture of the Toledo river front 1909, those RR tracks were still busy when I was little. I remember little switchers use to run those rails as most of the track ran down the middle of the streets and alley ways between the buildings. WOW SIR JAMES is 102 yrs. old. Happy Birthday SIR JAMES!!!!! laz57
sir james I: Doug I checked out the picture of the Toledo river front 1909, those RR tracks were still busy when I was little. I remember little switchers use to run those rails as most of the track ran down the middle of the streets and alley ways between the buildings.
Doug I checked out the picture of the Toledo river front 1909, those RR tracks were still busy when I was little. I remember little switchers use to run those rails as most of the track ran down the middle of the streets and alley ways between the buildings.
WOW SIR JAMES is 102 yrs. old. Happy Birthday SIR JAMES!!!!!
laz57
WOW!!!! I almost missed this one. SJ!!!!!!! Thanks LAZ for the heads up.
LAZ......you know, it occurred to me that they hadn't invented birth certificates yet when SJ was born, so he could even be 103!!!
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Yeah thanks Laz
SJ hey if they hadn't done birth certificates yet RI he might be older then lionel trains are wow !!
Almost done w/ the first week on shift. It's been interesting as always for the first week of the observing season, but I think we are on the way.
RIJack - we started the back up hydraulic pump today. First time in a while and @ 10K + feet. Started on the first pull, I was amazed. Well, it is a Honda...
Chief - Nothing runs like a Deere? Yeah, cause they forgot two cylinders...
Jeffrey - cool new trailer! Now you're making me want to put together mine!
Got a good deal on a used N-Scale consolidation on the bay. Decided I'm going to try and model the Nevada Northern since I already have a boxcar and Bachmann came out w/ an N-Scale 4-6-0 that can double as the #40. "The Ely Route!"
May work on the 2026 when I get off shift. I miss it's smoke rings.
Bob
Tucson, AZ (aka the Ol' Pueblo)
Home of the Mt. Graham & Arizona Eastern Boiler Shops
Jon and Sharyl, congratulations on the nice article in CTT. Good to have one of our own forumites featured in the magazine. Haven't read the article yet but getting ready to. I like the band shell.
Belated to Roy and anyone I missed.
Went to store this afternoon and screwed myself again. They were selling an item marked at 3 for 99 cents each in small print but all i noticed was 99 cents in big print so I only bought two. Wound up paying $4.00 for two. Went back in after looking at my receipt and picked up another one per manager but still got screwed. Oh well, I only lost a dollar. Should have been three for $2.97. Not much loss but the point is, I hate those tricky price tags on things. You have to watch every move they make.. Sorry for the rant.
Later
Ray
SPMan
Time for me to call it a night. I'll see y'all tomorrow.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Last of the nice days for a while - cold front is moving through tonight.
Here is a picture of that 12 second station wagon I saw last week. I think it qualifies as a 'sleeper'.
[View:http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/trc/utility/
All for now.
Bob -
Nice find, RB
Jon - congrats on the layout and the well deserved honors and accolades - great layout
Nothing much going on here - weirdness at work as I have some new duties for the next year, stuff I would rather not do. But, it's part of the overall job description.
Right - TARDIS is ready, so let's get going!
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Good night all. Been reclinerizing.
BB&T [Branch Banking and Trust] had a big thingy. Was the second aniv. of their branch's grand opening of the Rolesville Financial Center. Country Music Concert and free hot dogs with a contributrion to Backpack Buddies [a program that feeds kids on weekends who do not have enough food at home, they get a backpack of food to take home from school on Fridays]. All donations tonight were in honor of the three teens who were killed this summer in the car crash.
Jon, congrats to you and wifey on your spread. Have not seen it yet but know it is good. I have a whole album stored in my computer of them building their layout and etc., that Jon shared with me years ago.
Don't do business with Wells Fargo [comment Jon will not like]. All Wachovia banks are changed to Wells Fargo now. Have a tiny mortgage left with them [they bought it a few years ago]. Got check from Farm Bureau Ins on roof damage from hurricane or tornado [shingles]. The check has both names on it. They are requiring something Farm Bureau does not furnish to endorse to me so I can get my money. Still at a stalemate. ^*~@ Yankee bank.
No beaver activity last night. Will check this AM.
Got to do video on DUI this afternoon. I will pretend to drive drunk. Rolesville PD will arrest me. Simular to the one we did on littering. My Police Lady has done a great job "compiling" this video.
Sleep tight all.
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,
Quiet here so far. I have been very busy with work and have been working OT at night and Saturdays.
Rich, We are hoping they open up the vacancies. Keep checking the website.
Jon, Congrats on the layout. Nice work.
8n, with that Buick wagon nobody would expect it to run in the 12's.
Chief, wish your wife the best with her heart tests. There will be more trips to AC. I agree with you, nothing runs like a Deere. I swear by mine. My wife could not believe that it is 21 years old. BTW, parts are not that expensive and almost anything is available.
Prayers for all in need,
Time for the Safety Huddle,
John
Hi GUYZ,
42 here again and awaiting rain.
ROY Happy BIRTHDAY BUDDY!!!! Hope you got something nice at YORK for yourself?
8NTRUCK, nice MUSCLE!!!!
SEEMs like CHUCK is gonna fire the SNOW CANNON at Pa, Thursday and Saturday?
Stay frosty,
Good morning all,
It is cloudy in SE Indiana. Did absolutely nothing last night. Work went well yesterday. Congrats to Jon and Sharyl on the article. It is always a rush to see your work in print. Regular fare on the dining car. TBIL anytime. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Good Morning from Blueberryhill....
It is a rainy 56 degrees. Big storms last night. Going up to 62 today with more rain.
Today is buusy. I have a follow-up appt. with my doctor this afternoon. I will drive myself as I have been driving around to keep in practice.
Dining car is here with an omlet for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Wednesday.
Chuck
Mornin' FellasSpent last weekend doing some work on the rental property in Pittsburgh. I can say the Sharkbite plumbing items are a bit expensive, but WELL worth the money! Those things are so EASY to use. The only problem we have is where the sillc0ck threads into a Sharkbite coupler. Sucks because that means I have to go back up to fix it. It has to be done though because that joint is right above the electrical panel! YEAH - talk about REALLY bad design. I am thinking I may try to relocate the sillc0ck now.Also had to replace the pillars on the back porch. The one was so rotted it was 3 inches shorter than the other pillar! I was originally intending to replace them as they had been originally built (4 1x6s to form a box), well that would have cost me $22.00 per board (replacing with plastic wood), while at HomeDepot my father and I found these PVC post wraps... $25.00 each, cost of a 4x4 post $9.99... the posts now look AWESOME!Also patched the cracks in the back porch foundation. Renter called yesterday and said there is no water in the basement - been raining for 2 days... hope that solved the water in the basement issue! (couldn't be THAT simple - only cost $15.00 for the quickset mortar).Now that the fireplace insert is in, The Q really wants the old carpet replaced. Due to her excessive allergies she is leaning toward hardwood flooring. Well while at HomeDepot over the weekend I found 5inch flooring made of bamboo that is stained Brazillian Cherry for $2.97 a sqft. Really liked it, but need The Q to see it and give her blessing...Not much else going on... except there was a very entertaining NFL game on Monday...TTFN
Good morning. It's 60° and mostly cloudy. The high will be 84° and it will be partly cloudy.Just more layout cleanup that I didn't get to yesterday. Seems to be a never-ending battle. I'm not feeling good today and probably won't do much.
Aloha from a dark and cold Chicago. Great layout article - I was looking at it and suddenly realized Hey, that's our Jon! All-day 'retreat' today - I'm supposed to stay quiet. Sigh. My middle boy got accepted into the college of his dreams - Carthage College in Kenosha, WI. I must say I'm pleasantly surprised. Now to figure out how to pay for it, as it was the most expensive of the bunch.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Good morning
48 and cloudy
A nice chat with Brutus, Charlie and RT last night. We talked about Legacy and how RT likes to buy & sell. TTFN..S.J.
Jon my CTT is always late so I should see your article one day next week.
"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
Morning. Chilly but warming fast. Roofer came for estimate. Great guy. Get price tomorrow.
Going to Wells Fargo again. Guy does not return calls. My BB&T buddy said last night, for no more than the check is written for, he would endorse and send me [or anyone] on their way.
Finally getting to greenhouse today. Might get some frost by Sunday night/Monday morning. Then warming again.
Congrats to Doug M.'s son.
Have a great day.
Good Mornin' Ya'll Frim Drizzly Taxachusetts,
Rain and SNOHIO is in the forecast, possibly 1-2 inches by tomorrow night sometime. This is only the 4th or 5th time in weather history we have had a measurable accumulation in October. Note to myself: Call Al Gore about global warming.
Jon......making a national publication with a spread like that speaks volumes on the quality and attention to detail of your handiwork. Congas to Sheryl because we know she is the true brains and creative mind behind your layout.
Roy.......must have missed something. It is/was your birthday? Are you now considered a geezer yet?
Jeff.........hope you are feeling better, no sense in pushing things. It will all be waiting for you. BTW.....I never tire of your pictures. Wow!!!! The wifey and I are still out looking for our next camera like you just were. Your Olympus has a lot of nice features.
LAZ........isn't it great to have Minnie and be able to do so much stuff with her? The loss of your previous pup must still hurt, but life must go on. I am certain my wife would be so grief stricken if she lost me and would never find another quite like me.
Chief........I can't wait to see you in handcuffs. What if they lost the key? I hope your Pam's upcoming tests come back with flying colors. AC will still be there.
Chuck........it was quite a pleasant surprise to read you have progressed to the point od driving yourself to your appointment. Re the aching muscles and how to treat them..... . Please find time in your schedule to recalibrate the snow cannon, it is pointed Nawtheast rather than Southeast where we want the snow to fall.
DougM.........Congratulations and at the same time $ condolences on your son's acceptance into Carthage. IMHO, Kenosha WI is way too close to your home for your son's college. The idea is to send them someplace where they can't come home except for holidays. On a more serious note, these college tuitions are out of control. My next door neighbor refinanced his home to cover the tab and told his two boys that it was better to invest their inheritance now for them in their education.
MikeC......sorry to hear you lost your last soccer game of the season. Loved your comment about leaving it all on the field.
submm Bob.......those Hondas are impressive. I'll let you know how durable in about 10 years when my mower is getting up in years.
8n........thanks for the picture of the 12 second wagon! I have some fond memories about those huge 1960s station wagons from years gone by. Huge and highly functional, and I can't understand why they died out only to be replaced. The need for capacity never waned, and the comfort of a car (platform, suspension) was the best of worlds.
Brent......I don't envy the back and forth for those projects. How far is Pittsburgh from you?
I borrowed my SIL's lawn mower and got the front and sides polished off before the darkness intervened last night. The back yard is another story......with rain impeding project completion before Friday. Got a call on the repair of my lawn mower, confirmed the throttle cable and throttle box will arrive by Friday. At least I am in the repair que.
Later, gang.
Jack - Pittsburgh is @ 240 miles (4 hours for normal folk, 3 hours for me - well if I get into a pack of cars or trucks). The problem is to fix this it will require me to remove the sillc0ck, but I can remove it till I separate the Sharkbite coupler, and I don't know it that will destroy the coupler... so yes I will buy a new coupler before trying to 'fix' the situation.I really need to decide if I want to try to relocate the sillc0ck. In the long run I think it would be wise to move it from above the electric panel (you know water and electricity play so nicely together), if I do that it may make it easier to work on that end of the sillc0ck if there is ever another problem. We'll see.
As for the cooler temps... I've actually heard/read 'scientists' claim the cooler weather is due to Global Warming. It wouldn't have ANYTHING to do with the 10+ years of higher than normal SOLAR activity...
RockIsland52 Jeff.........hope you are feeling better, no sense in pushing things. It will all be waiting for you. BTW.....I never tire of your pictures. Wow!!!! The wifey and I are still out looking for our next camera like you just were. Your Olympus has a lot of nice features.
First the one from the Olympus D550Z at 3 megapixels.
And the one from the Nikon L20 at 5 megapixels.
Hey guys.....
Of course been busy, barely have had enough time for sleep, just recovering from weekend.
Happy Birthday Roy !!
Congos to Doug M and family!! Has he decided on a major yet?
Glad to hear Chuck is doing so well !!
Jon and Sheryl, just love the layout! Hopefully someday will see if for real!
FIL is doing well, with all things considered. He picked up an infection that they are treating, but well on the road to recovery. He was transferred to an acute care hospital on Monday, and is supposed to be there for 2 or 3 weeks. Then will go back to the first hospital in a rehabilitation unit. Kay has been spending practically every day with them, lots of dependency going on there. But, now is not the time to question it. I'm going over to do their lawns today.
Then go by the train club this evening and return a Z-4000 that I had shipped to MTH for some repair. (Capacitor had to be replaced, cost .25, after labor and shipping only cost $65.) Apparently the rent situation being imposed by the LA City is being resolved. Looks like will be around $135/month, which is reasonable. So that should work out ok.
Job Front... Continues to be an enlightening experience! Last Thursday worked a day shift. Was dispatched to provide relief to cover lunch breaks. Two guys were working in separate adjacent collection booths at the exit of a parking lot. So as to have a minimum of 2 people for safety. So while the first guy is on lunch I stand next to the open booth providing a presence. The guy working this booth was very anxious to share with my a WHOLE LOT of information. He is rather huge, and extremely feminine, (I mean significant!) So as it was he shared with me all his medical issues regarding his recently diagnosed Prostate issues. Including pre-op, details of upcoming procedure, post op issues and processes, his recovery requirements and more. Thirty minutes of this, and if a car came up they were informed as well, which resulted in some interesting expressions. Then FINALLY out of that situation, and relocated to a different area, and this time sharing a booth with a 70 yr old lady. First thing she started on was HER medical history! Now this is just too MUCH ! She shouldn't be walking due to a undiscovered birth defect. Without going into TMI (too much information), her afflictions included; missing 35 bones in feet, misaligned spine, bad knee caps, and more. Fortunately we didn't get beyond the skeletal issues, but she too could pause in mid sentence, then resume 4 or 5 minutes later with the same sentence!! Needless to say it was a LONG day. Think I would rather be working with the young "Know it Alls", rather than the "Old F*rts"
Day 2 was working the night shift, in a ticket booth, a new location for me, and probably the biggest lot in the complex. This one also was not much more than a HUGE grassy area. Talk about busy!! Took in a bunch of money, and there was only 2 accidents due to people trying to get in the driveway. I was tempted to go back at closing time to see the mayhem when people were leaving. Well over a 1,000 cars in the lot, and there are 3 single lane exit points. No lighting, and cars parked facing various directions, I did see a few pieces of plastic bumper wraps, and broken taillight lenses the following day. Certainly would be interesting to watch.
Day 3 was assigned to direct traffic on main street, this was a little complex in that a special event was being held for Scion owners. Toyota was having a big deal where Scion owners are permitted in the park free as long as they were driving the Scion. And all passengers were also let in, limited to 5 per vehicle. This time I was provided with a RADIO !! Training consisted of this is the "Transmit Button", now what I'm suppose to report on, who knows. What made this interesting was that the parking lot was not going to be open until 1 pm. Now all these people start arriving about 12:15, and the choice is they either pay $15 for immediate parking, then move to the assigned lot and pay $15 AGAIN, or keep moving and driving around the park area until the correct lot opens. I called in to ask for direction, and was told to "Just Keep the Traffic Moving". (The entry way to the park consists of a wye which goes down Main Street 1 mile, then turn left at signal for 1 block, then left again on main highway for a mile, left again, another block, then left again to the wye. All told about a 2 mile circle at the front entrance to the park.) So as directed, I have traffic making this circle, by 12:45, I have a constant head to tail line of these ugly little toasters running around in a circle. People were waving and smiling as they would complete the circuit and pass me a second time, third or fourth. As it came closer to 1, I actually had 2 lanes of these little things going around in circles. Finally, lot is open, and then the lines almost stop due to delays at the collection booth, but my job was done. So now I get to go to lunch, I get my handy dandy radio code card out, and transmit, "Traffic 26, Traffic 5, Am I 9-13 to go C7? (Response:) "Roger, that's 10-13" so I assume that means yes. (Need to learn these silly things now.) Rest of day was spent working in a general admission lot.
Since Halloween is next Monday, the schedule for next week was posted, I was expecting that I would NOT be on the schedule, since I was hired specifically for this month. However, to my surprise I have been scheduled for later in the week as well. Apparently, I have been selected to join the regular staff in a semi-permanent position. I do have to admit, this is almost as much fun as running trains.
Don
Lunch Time,
Busy but quiet morning.
Doug M, Congrats to your son on his acceptance.
Brent, I have reused the Sharkbite fittings. Home Depot has the release tool for them. I would bring a new one just in case.
Brutus, I will try to make the Tardis tonight.
Normal 0
Hello All
Mid 40's an rainy here today
Jonadel congrats great layout
Roy belated
to Sir James. 102 years old!!!!!!!!!!
Just in case to Buckeye
Chuck Keep up the exercise, please leave the snohio cannon alone for a few more weeks
RI Jack John Deere is a good machine.you should look into one. Or better yet a Gravely. Our 1974 is still going strong. Pushing 3000 hours on the hour meter we added at the first engine rebuild in the early 80's. It cuts grass, cuts wood(connected to a 36" buzz saw) tills the garden, plows snow, blows snow, moves hay wagons and runs a 4500 watt alternator when needed. They quit building garden tractors and were bought out by Ariens a few years ago. Now they aim at the commercial market.
Son started picking corn yesterday. Even with 4WD tractor could not load wagon full because of wet conditions. He told me this AM that there were deer in the field he picked looking confused as he put the wagon in the shed.
Altoona Train show was better than expected. Got a replacement cross buck for my Gateman as well as a Gilbert car in very good to excellent condition. Took Dad and grandkids. They enjoyed as well.
Chief. Isn't dealing with a Bank interesting?????
Dbaker sounds like fun
SS Fund Calls
Prayers for those in need
Banks, Proud member of the OTTS TCA 12-67310
Banks RI Jack John Deere is a good machine.you should look into one. Or better yet a Gravely. Our 1974 is still going strong. Pushing 3000 hours on the hour meter we added at the first engine rebuild in the early 80's. It cuts grass, cuts wood(connected to a 36" buzz saw) tills the garden, plows snow, blows snow, moves hay wagons and runs a 4500 watt alternator when needed. They quit building garden tractors and were bought out by Ariens a few years ago. Now they aim at the commercial market. Nothing runs like a DEERE Son started picking corn yesterday. Even with 4WD tractor could not load wagon full because of wet conditions. He told me this AM that there were deer in the field he picked looking confused as he put the wagon in the shed. Hope it dries out and good harvest. Chief. Isn't dealing with a Bank interesting????? All the banks here including credit unions are really good except WELLS FARGO. The saga continues. Not endorsed yet!!!!! Back later and Farm Bureau is having to jump through hoops to help. The guy actually had to talk to National Headquarters. I had to give OK for him to speak for me. Wells Fargo will not accept their own employee's word.
All the banks here including credit unions are really good except WELLS FARGO. The saga continues. Not endorsed yet!!!!! Back later and Farm Bureau is having to jump through hoops to help. The guy actually had to talk to National Headquarters. I had to give OK for him to speak for me. Wells Fargo will not accept their own employee's word.
BTW: I bet I know one town in NC that will not allow a certain bank to locate within its Town Limits and will never do business with them.
Doug, congratulations to your son for being accepted into his favorite college. Sounds like it's getting colder now in Chi town. We have to change planes there on 11-5 but won't have to go outside the terminal. I went through there once in December in the 60's with snow on the ground. Workers on the tarmac looked like Eskimos.
D.Baker, sounds like more fun than a barrel of monkeys at Knotts. Listening to all those maladays from your co workers sounds painful. Good news about rent at your club. Is that $135 total or $135 for each member. It can't be the latter. That would be a disaster.
Chief, good program for helping the kids with food needs on weekends. Hope they have some discreet way of giving it to them. Might be embarrasing for some of them if they get comments from other kids. Kids can be cruel sometimes. Show us a video of your drunk impression. Remember Foster Brooks on TV. Wonder what ever happened to him? Probably dead by now. Thanks for the heads up on Wells Fargo. Don't do any business with them currently.
Nice weather predicted with warm days and cool nights this week. Noticed first snohio in the country fell on the Rockies yesterday. Denver got some.
Next door neighbor all decorated up for Halloween with ghost and skeletons on and around house. Looks like one spook that flies overhead on a wire. The wife over there is good at things like that for kids. She teaches musical theatre in school. I think I'm all done with Halloween now except handing out candy. Grandson is getting too old now for trick or treat. One of our friends said she got over 600 kids knocking on door last year. They live in an affluent gated community. They must bus kids in from other areas. We only get a few kids where we live. Most of them go to activities at the park now.
Have a good day,
Dropped off the boss at airport this morning at 7:15 and just about now she should be landing in sunny Sandy Eggo, she goes twice a year to review numbers with a client along with 2 others from Milwaukee. Normally I get to tag along if I buy my own ticket and that's how I got to meet Doug D. at his wonderful museum. I'm passing on this trip as we are trying to save money for our Alaska trip next June as that will be a one time deal for us and it's my understanding that the day trips off the cruise ships are very expensive. Plus I've spent so many nights in motels since last July I'm more than happy to stay home and play with trains and go to the Y. We have a speaker tomorrow morning at the Y who was a POW in Viet Nam, really looking forward to hearing his stories yet I know it's going to be a sad remembrance for him and all Americans.
Speaking of banks -- when I wrote that last check for our mortgage a few years ago we had to get a cashiers check, send it in with "over night certified"delivery and we live 17 miles from the national mortgage center! I was willing to drive that check in the next morning at 7:30 AM and hand it to them, that was not acceptable and that's with my wife being a WF employee, different division. I know they have a protocol to follow but I just don't get it. Seems like common sense doesn't count any more, I'm afraid the home town bank is gone forever as are community schools. I guess that's why we all enjoy toy trains, it's our empire and we'll run it the way we want !!
Boy what a nice day here this afternoon. Took MINNIE for a 2.5 miler and then played down by the river, she loves to fetch a stick in the river. Came home took her for another walk then pushed the weights a bit.
JON, BIG CONGAs to you SIR. I don't get CTT anymore but might have to pick up a copy at BARRYs when I get down there,maybe this friday?
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