Coffee Pot #4 April 2012 8 years [April 1 is Anniv.] and going strong and its for all to chat. Plenty of coffee and sweet ice tea for all. Come and join us and chat. GRITS for the Yankees.

[sir james I]

48 and sunny, 60 later.

I am eating a sausage and egg sandwich, my fingers keep slipping off the keys. .Taking granny to Kohl's, she has birthday money to spend. Chat last night, Charlie, Doug M., John, Brutus, and Kevin. A fun group with a good sense of humor...S.J.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

blownout cylinder

we had a rather nasty little wind storm crop up which knocked power out when we were gone..today is get more groceries as a lot of it sat in the fridge during the outage...yay

Been there and done that. Had a tree fall and take out the power and cable lines while I was away for a few days. Grocery bill that month was rather high.

[cnw1995]

Aloha ! Rainy and grey today. Glad I grabbed the umbrella at the last minute from the minivan. Great chat with the guys last night whilst watching the Devils game and trying to set up Kelly with an online calendar that syncs with her phone. I want to check out the MTH catalog during lunch.  

Kev, that four-pack SF looks great!  

Happy birthday to our own Devils fan Rich

[Anonymous]

Mornin' Fellas

The biggest problem with working on cars is I don't have a lift. If I had a lift I could get under it and really see what I'm dealing with, but only having @ 18 inches from floor to bottom of vehicle makes it really tough to do anything underneath besides changing the oil!

We have a really good mechanic that we trust, so once I get the rear brakes done we'll drop it off with him and let him deal with it. I thought the AWD differential was going @ a year ago due to a vibration and the engine surging while driving, dropped it off at the mechanic, he called and said "did you know your serpintine belt was missing a few teeth and a few were about to fall off?" $100 later to replace the belts and hoses and the car was 100% fine. Much better than a few thousand for a new AWD diff!

[Stourbridge Lion]

Good Morning CTTFans!

Yep, we broke the Record High yesterday and we might see today's record fall as well.  After that things look to be cooling off a bit as we head into the weekend.

Positive thoughts to all in need...

[KRM]

Well sunny and cool again. They talk about rain be we just are not getting any. Sending it all up north to DougM.

The farmers have quit planting beans and will wait for some moisture before they do.

Nice chat last night with the Tardis crew. Brutus sent me the Tardis signature block to add to my post signature so I guess I am in the crew. Now all I need to do is come up with something clever to say on my signature.

Roy, looks like with the heat there you will be loosing the water table again soon.

Chuck ,Prayers you get rid of that sinus infection .

Rich, Soo good to know your back to full time. Must be a load off you shoulders to know where the money will come from.

Jeffery, Poodles … ARE NOT DOGS JMHO.

Dennis, get some rest. You deserve it. 

DougM, Hummm Train to York. 

Brent, When I got my wife a new Pontiac SSEI and looked under the hood I said I was done working on cars and that was in 1994.

JimProbe That shifter issue is a bummer.

Yeah Brutus that will be one heck of a wall when your done. WOW

Chief, Where is Buckeye? You hiding him in the box?

Blownout Cyl. Don’t you have a back up gen set? I wired our house for mine and since then I have never had to use it.

Later guys,

Kev

 

 

[dbaker48]

Hey Guys......

I'm still alive out here, been spending a lot of time on the RR.  Having a great time!  Still working as a Fireman, on the big engine, and running "Lil Toot" as both engineer and fireman, and finally actually been driving the Goose!  Also, worked 2 days on the track crew.  Man, that WAS work!  Don't think I will have to do much of that, it was primarily for "Team Building" and some training.  Did have my turn driving spikes, and tamping ballast with a jack hammer.

Getting the hang of things, can't believe how much a slight grade can impact how the equipment is affected!  Part of the learning process is learning where the grades are and anticipating the affects as well as learning the equipment.  Since I been there have had one Water Valve get stuck on the big engine, was able to get that resolved but took two days.  Then had the bell rope break, was able to tie it back together until we got a replacement.  Then had a drive chain come off the Goose on Monday.  (It has a chain on both sides of the middle truck.  One side has considerable slack on the bottom, the left side has slack on the top.  Allegedly, to accomodate movement during a curve.  The left side came off.)

Added a Galloping Goose to my inventory at home, it is number 5, (we have #3 at Knotts).  Funny that the "stops" prerecorded in the PFA feature includes, "Denver, San Antonio, Phoenix, Seattle, Oakland, Bellvue, Ontario, and Anahiem".  Of all those locations the actual Goose would have ONLY gone to Denver.  Doesn't say much for the research, and you cant change them.

One of the guys came by my place and ran on my layout for a while yesterday.  That was interesting.

Looks like everyone had a good time at York!  I need to check out the previous 10 pages.  So take care and hope everyone is doing well!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

KRM

 

Jeffery, Poodles … ARE NOT DOGS JMHO.

I agree completely! They're irritating noise makers.

[wrmcclellan]

ChiefEagles

County septic tank rules [a smelly subject]

Deep subject matter also....

Nice breeze and will be pretty warm today at 88? Maybe some rain Friday?

Don B - thanks for the update. You are having too much fun working? We had similar fun when I worked as a mechanic/electrician at Carowinds park on the N/S Carolina border. Whenever the plantation loco broke down out on the line the only thing that would tow it back to the engine shed was our Hyster forklift - untill we wore out the Hyster....I took a look a couple of years ago and it looks like Carowinds removed their RR and Monorail.

Have great day all!

[Anonymous]

Brent,

            A lift is on my list of stuff I'd get if I won one of those big lotteries.  Right after a warehouse...  A lift would have made changing out shifters easier.  Trust me, try working on a 93-97 Probe GT.  Tight spaces are just part of the fun for jobs like timing belts and water pumps. 

Kev,

        I am waiting on MGW to call me back.  Stock shifter is way better after some grease than the MGW was IMO.  Not as notchy, and effort and NVH is significantly less, but the throw is longer.

 

[SPMan]

Good morning all,

Slept late and didn't get up until 9:00AM.  Stayed up until 1:00AM watching new DVD of The Iron Lady with Meryrl Streep.

Wife's birthday today.  We plan on going out to dinner at a nice restaurant later today.  They say it might be raining by nightfall so we will have to watch out for that.

D.Baker, good to hear from you.  Thought you went down a black hole.  Just kidding!  I know you are having too much fun to post.  Congratulations on running the goose.  Had termite inspection yesterday which went well (no termites) and was able to let the guy in the garage (thanks to you) with the new removable track sections that you and Bob put in.

Still fighting health issues with G.I problems although not severe.  I still don't feel 100% yet but am hoping for the best and watching what I eat. 

Jeffrey, good on you for taking care of your mother.  I agree about poodles.  They are too big for their britches and a pain sometimes.

Just got a call from sister in Virginia to wish wife happy birthday.  She said our sister in North Carolina is still doing good.  She tries to do too much though.  Last I heard she was planting tomatoes and digging in the yard.  Her back is weak from the cancer so I worry about that.  She is too impatient to wait for her son to come and do it but you can't tell her anything.

Chief, didn't realize the "box" needed so much work inside.  It will be like new when you get through with it I'll bet.  Looking forward to seeing a layout going in there soon..

Not much of interest to me in the new MTH catalog.  Got my eye on a new WBB ACL GP30 though.

Hauled out my Hamilton 992B Railway Special pocket watch today and wound it up to make sure it still works.  I bought it while working on the railroad from another engineer.  Had to get main spring and some other part in the stem replaced but should be good as new now.  I just hang onto it for sentimental reasons.  Never did use it all the time when working but relied on my railroad approved wrist watch mostly which I still use.  The modern quartz watches are much more accurate than even the best old pocket watches but they were state of the art in their time.  The railroad men were always comparing time back then because the watches weren't 100% accurate.  Ironically, the railroads today do not even require a railroad approved watch or inspections.  You could even have a Mickey Mouse watch as long as it has a second hand.  Time used to be more important when the railroads ran on written train orders for traffic control.  You had to know exactly what time the trains you were going to meet left their last station to avoid corn field meets.  It was life and death stuff back then.

have a good day y'all,

Ray

[sir james I]

Ray, Happy Birthday to your bride.

[KRM]

Good afternoon,

Today’s project was to add smoke to the cabin by the lake.

Thanks to the help from submmbob!  i used the plymouth switcher smoke unit he fixed.

Ray happy birthday to your wife have a good time tonight.

Rich, happy birthday too. 

Later,

 Kev

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

SPMan

Jeffrey, good on you for taking care of your mother.  I agree about poodles.  They are too big for their britches and a pain sometimes.

Way I look at it, if I don't do it who will? Everyone else seems to be caught up with their own crap and have no time for those needing 'charity'. They're sure as hell have enough time to be here when money is involved! I do what I can but being on my feet that long is putting MY health at risk. On the subject of the poodles, they're both small. The largest (the male - a miniature) is thirty pounds (that's small?). The female (a Teacup) is twelve pounds (again, that's small?). I don't have a problem with the female. She just lays on the top of the back of the couch most of the time and barks once in a while. The male however is the total opposite side of the compass. He's everywhere, barks at everything and is aggressive and highly protective. I sometimes have to put him in a room to keep him out of the way. He found out long ago that's it's a BIG mistake to bite me and he's never repeated that mistake.

 

Well my father got home from work but had to go back after lunch. He had stopped off in town for a shopping spree at Wal-Mart for some things they needed so by the time he got home and put the stuff away he had barely an hour for lunch before he had to be back to work. So naturally it fell to me to make lunch for my mother. Today I made her home-made chicken soup. A quarter pound of ground chicken cooked as a patty with no oil or butter then chopped up, added in 3/4 cup of chicken stock, a diced onion, a handful of pasta twists and a can of low sodium V8. A little Mrs Dash seasoning and it was ready. Now she wants to know how I made it so she can make it in the future if she's able too. My father paid close attention to what I was doing while he was making his lunch so he knows how to make it now too. Gotta go back over there this evening to make her dinner. I gotta find something to sit on when I'm working at the stove. Standing there was agonizing. It's not easy standing for an extended period with all your weight on one leg and that leg with a weak knee. If you don't believe me try it sometime. If your knee is good then bend it a bit. That'll put the required amount of stress on it. Right now I'm just sitting at home resting.

No work on the layout today. The most I've done so far is look at it. I haven't even turned on the Zephyr.

[dwiemer]

Good afternoon everyone.  Back home.  After two hours of sleep, I had to bring kids to school and then do the career day presentation for my daughter's first grade class....no, none passed out!

Ray, happy birthday to your bride!  Also, I enjoy hearing tales of the 1:1scale trains.

I am wiped, will grab a quick bite and go to sleep. 

Doug M., I ordered tha Apple Airport Express to use with the iPad.  From what I hear, even if I had 3G for the iPad, China service would be limited in the villages.  With the AE, you simply plug the hotel Ethernet line in and you have wifi for the iPad. I will let you know how it works.

God bless,

Dennis

[ChiefEagles]

Smoke!!!  I smell smoke!!!  Is something on fire?!!!!!  Ah heck, its Kev's cabin.

KRM

Chief, Where is Buckeye? You hiding him in the box?

Kev

 

 

We keep him chained up.  Let him out when he is lucid. 

[ChiefEagles]

This is for Ray.  No one else can look at this post.

Ray, lots of work.  Removed walls, full bath, pulled carpet [in horrible shape] and removing ceiling cover [plaster which is stuck tight and have to be beaten off].  Grady, neighbor, owes me a big sum.  He is suppose to be paying me back with labor.  Was suppose to finish removing palster from ceiling yesterday.  Did not show.  Was suppose to do it this AM.  Did not show.  Going over and have a "chat" with him.   Fred and I pulled nails and screws from 2X4 studs.  Drywall put on studs with liquid nails and 1 1/2 inch drywall screws.   Got enough studs from walls to do legs and frame layout.   Got to run them through my plainer to get liquid nails off.

Here is what she looks like inside.

Going to strip ceiling and put up plywood.  Spray it white.  Patch walls and spray sky blue.  Put premium tongue and grove subflooring.  Paint.  Put up track lighting.  Put a three quite bathroom type exhaust fans high up in side walls.  Then start bench work.

This room was laundry room.  Will become work room and storage.  Taking shelving down and removing back wall [plywood].  Will then add present closet to that room and make it twice as large.  Put in work bench and engine storage on wall.  Have a track to "launch" engines from this room.   May do little paint booth and use existing dryer vent for small exhaust fan in booth. 

 

Talked to Lowes this afternoon after meeting.  They are going to give me nice discount.  I just have to do one big order.  Will do first of next week.  Load all on my big trailer.  Benchwork [estimated], flooring and ceiling last [as first to come off].  Store under shelter.  Pull out as work is being done, back under when not.

Work Work Work!!!!!!

[sir james I]

62 now, maybe some rain but not much if at all. No surprise granny found nothing she liked at Kohl's. So we checked out a newer store called Five dollars or less, just another junk store. A supper of chicken and veggies. Maybe Banilla later and wait for the chat...S.J.

[KRM]

Hey Chief,

Free is not Free.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

KRM

Free is not Free.

 

How true. Neither is freedom. The following appears at the top of each and every page on my forum, even the member profiles.

 

Went over to get my mother her dinner at 6 pm. It was simple. A tomato and cucumber salad with a little Italian dressing and some salt-free crackers. I was going to stay for a while so I cooked up a steak and fries for myself. Added a couple of cap fulls of olive oil to it to wake up the flavor. My father came in from work at 7:10, drank a glass of milk and the last I saw of him he was heading to the bedroom in the east wing to see what his pillow in bed was doing. My mother was still up when I went to leave at 8:20. I locked the doors in both the east and west wings and let myself out and came home. She'll go to bed when she feels like it or go to sleep on the couch. Not the first time for that. Tomorrow I have to take her to a doctors appointment in town. My father should be home by the time we get back and he can take over. I've been on my feet today far longer than I should have been but what can I do? If the open sore on what's left of my ankle starts getting bigger instead of smaller I'll have to call a halt to this and do only the bare minimum I can get away with, which isn't much.

Well, time for me to call it a day. I'm gonna go fall into bed now. See y'all sometime tomorrow.

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

It is stormy in SE Indiana.  Been away the past couple of days.  Work has been busy, but today was very rewarding.  Made my first HIV awareness presentations at school where oldest daughter works.  I did not embarass her so I guess it was a good talk.   I feel as if it is my first shot in a personal war against HIV.  I can't save the world, and I can't save even Indiana, but maybe, just maybe, if I save one kid someday from the heartbreak of HIV, it will be worth the effort.  "Load the cannon with double shot of grape, and fire, Mike!"

I hope everyone has a good day, and I will catch up on the posts someday.  Scanned the new tinplate catalog from MTH/Lionel Corporation.  Wallet is safe for another year.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[RockIsland52]

jeffrey-wimberly

KRM:

 

Jeffery, Poodles … ARE NOT DOGS JMHO.

 

I agree completely! They're irritating noise makers.

You guys must mean the toy and miniature poodles.  Try a standard poodle out for size.

Jack

[Brutus]

Howdy guys - looks like we'll be having a lot of weather for the next few days with storms coming.  Maybe a break on Sunday, so that's when i will have to mow the yard.  Tomorrow night, my daughter has a concert at the school and Friday night is family haircut night at the "salon".  Too bad it's not the "saloon"

Work work work - nobody did any of my stuff while I was gone, which was not surprising.  So, I have a lot to do.  BUT - it was all worth it.  We went to Lancaster (sp?) one day and hit the Choo Choo barn exhibit, where we had some good fun.  Here are a couple pics I thought I would share:

 

 

Kev - that's the TARDIS alright!  You need to add "Charter Member - TARDIS Train Crew (TTC)" too

Prayers for Charlies family as his Aunt died in Indiana. 

Happy Birthday to AnjDevil/RICH and to Ray's wife too!  Big congrats!

Mike - hope your lecture works!

TARDIS is ready and we have Lemon Dream icecream as well as famous Banilla, so let's get going guys!

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  T'storm moved through.  Nice rain.  Off to early morning meeting in Raleigh.  Back around noon.

Speaking of poodles, don't think Finn [goldendoodle] is small.  His height comes from the standard poodle.

Have a good one.

[laz 57]

Hi GUYZ,

  A bit wet today, maybe GOLF tonite?

DEVIL , hope you got a train.

RAY to MRS. RAY.

CHIEF dat is some WRECK TANGLE you got there.

BRUTUS, pics didn't show.

Stay frosty,

laz57

[cnw1995]

Aloha. Looks like a sunny day. Nothing too major on tap - besides working 'for the Chief.'  Nice photos, Brutus. That's a cool porthole caboose. Dennis, Air Express should work just as you said - of course, you're still at the mercy of the hotel's Internet service. Kev, nice smoke project. Everyone stay safe and enjoy this day.

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Wet and 55 here in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Waiting on grandbaby to show up (we watch him on Thursdays).

anjdevil -

SPMan - to Mrs.

dbaker - Since you won't be running your trains at home, perhaps I can whip up a Coffee Pot engine exchange just for your collection.

Psssst! Ouch! Did it again...

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill RR....

It is a cold and rainy 50 degrees. Rain most of the day. Going up to 60.

Today is a good day to stay home and run trains. I think I will after a few chores. I plan on taking it easy.

Doctor's appt. was a good one yesterday. All systems checked out good. Gained 11 lbs. Wife is a good cook. Need to exercise more. Got some meds for sinus infection.

Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Thursday.

Chuck

[blownout cylinder]

 

Good Morning

We are partly cloudy this morning..40% chance of showers early this morning...high of 46F expected...

We are going to see a bit of a freeze thaw cycle thing over the next few days..lows around 28F..highs around 50F...yay

mmmmm..reading about Atlas forums closing....well, no great loss there..could not log back in for some time now anyway there...

Going to  get some scratchbuilding supplies today from LHS as well as new flex track...he seems to have little problem getting track in...although it has started me thinking about hand laying track again...

Kev:  We are getting a generator next week..when my pay comes in to the bank!!

Chief:  You going to add shelving underneath or drawers? We have something like a combination thing going here

Have a great day !!

 

[wrmcclellan]

Morning all!

Breezy here and to get to 90 today - ugh. Brutus is going to steal the cold front from us and keep it to himself - so no cooler weather or rain this weekend . high 80's/90 for next 5 - 7 days.

Got the stringers mounted on the fence, went to Lowes and exchanged some excess parts and bought pickets, cap boards, and gate hinges, etc.

Anjdevil and Ray's better half -

Me thinks Buckeye is going through a very busy time at work like I was earlier this year.

Chief - I am glad the outside of the "box" does not need as much work as the inside.

Fife - good thinkin' there - Don - I will act as the "waypoint" to make sure those locomotive movements "east" go safely!

Chuck - take care of that sinus infection!

Brutus, SJ, & Charlie - glad you made it to Lancaster! Did you wander over to the Strasburg RR also? A fun thing to do there is the handcar! Not as easy as it looks.

Have a great day all!