Coffee Pot #6 JUNE 2012 SIX 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

[laz 57]

HI GUYZ,

  FREE AT LAST!!!!!!  I got done officiallly at 245 PM yesterday.  Turned in my keys, turned the table saw on and then off one last time, turned out the lights, took one final look around the shop, then walk out the door that leads to the loading dock, down the steps and into the truck.  Let out a big yippeeee and home I went.  Gee it musta been my day yesterday I even won at GOLF.   Today I already took dog for a mile walk and ran an easy two miler.  Gotta pull weeds and trim all the bushes here and get ready to mulch next week.  The GUYZ, from the TUNNEL gave me a call yesterday and left a message that if I wanted to come back in the fall and run the LOKIE, I am welcome, so thats great.

BANKS, yes they are keeping my shop open and hired a young kid to come in.  My feeling about this situation is that eventually they will phase out the shop part and just teach the CAD (computer aided drafting) part.  That is a shame, these kids need the hands on building part more then the computers at this stage of the game.  For now the shop still stands but with all these budget cuts who knows?  Hopefully your WIFE has a job come August. 

CHUCK and BUCKEYE, TGIF!!!!!! or TGI EVERYDAY!!!!!

Stay frosty,

laz57

[laz 57]

Whats with this site?  Very slow and two posts from me?

laz57

[dwiemer]

Good morning guys.  Getting ready to head in.  Chief, thought someone broke out the flux capacitor.  So, now we are back in June and all is well again.  Glad you got things wired for the box and will be able to have wifi out there.

Jon, thanks for being part of the guard.  It is an important part of showing the families that the sacrifice is appreciated.  I think you are right about that group, no one likes them and they garner what little affect they can have by threatening to come.  There were flyers out from them and I can tell you that whatever bible they are reading from, it doesn't match the message in mine.

I need to get going, hope everyone has a blessed day

Dennis

[rtraincollector]

laz 57

Whats with this site?  Very slow and two posts from me?

laz57

Hmmm retired one day now and already starting the retarded stage

Congrats Laz enjoy your time now. Now is the time to do what you want not what you have to. Running the Locke in the fall would be great as it get cool then and the heat from it would keep you warm and maybe not overheated.

morning all have a few chores to do today. Replace kitchen sink faucet the present one decieded it wanted to spring a leak at the base of the spout. Then going ot put a new ceiling fan up in the bedroom the last one started shooting sparks about 2 a.m. that was about 2 years ago ( yeah brutus when talking last night I thought 1 year but wife said no its been 2 years) ( yeah and she still kinda leary of another one going up.)

Well time to start the sink You all have a good day.

[Northwoods Flyer]

laz,

Let me offer my congratulations on your retirement.  It seems like you have been counting down to this time ever since I joined the forum. As an observer it seemed like a long time at first, but now it seems as if the time couldn't possibly be here.  Endings and new beginnings are always bitter sweet.  I have not doubt that you will adjust to the changes quickly. 

Its nice to know that you can post on the Coffee Pot any time of the day from this point on.  Now that is a real benefit of being retired.

Again congratulations and best wishes.

Greg

Northwoods Flyer

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

[sir james I]

It's 64 going to 80s for at least the next week. Granny woke up early this morning as we are having company soon. I'm sure we will go out for awhile. Laz your retirement TO-DO list has already begun. Soon you will wonder how you had time for school. Ah right pot, wrong month, that means I had just had half a senior moment..Enjoy the weekend..S.J.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all.  Beautiful day.  Cool but turning warm and humid.  No rain [as forecasted for days] so watered all gardens.  No Box work today.  Got to go sit in big Civic Center for high school graduation at noon.

Flyer, great words for the LAZ.  LAZ, red solo cup.

Banks, best to wife and prayers she keeps her job.  On route from DC to VA.  Fly over it.   I'd love to know one too.  If you hit today around 4:30 to 5, just stop and stay a couple of hours.  If not, you will sit in the I 95 parking lot all the way to Fredericksburg.  About what time will you hit the NC state line?  Get my NC State Troopers to escort you.  [a trick I pull on Yankees]   

Hope all you hard workers have a great weekend.
You have worked hard for my SS.

Later.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 69°. The high will be 88°. It'll be mostly cloudy. There's a 40% chance of rain in the morning...then a 60% chance of rain likely in the afternoon. Locally heavy rainfall possible in the afternoon.

Looks like today will be just a bit on the damp side if not a bit soggy. I must get a bit of clean-up done on the layout. It's starting to disappear - again. Where there was scenery is a pile of tools and bits and pieces left from projects, bits of wire, a few vehicles. It looks like a hurricane and a tornado just gathered things up and dropped them in two piles along the front of the layout.



A short video of this mornings train led by three GP9's and a U25C.

[cnw1995]

Aloha and TGIF! Sunny and 80 today. Couldn't sleep so came into work early. Looks busy for a Friday. Commencement weekend. Lots and lots of graduates. Happy for them! Free fishing days this weekend in Illinois so going to take the youngest out tomorrow and Sunday.  Another shot of that UP biz train from earlier in the week

[Banks]

Hello all

For got to mention Local VFW held great Memorial Day services at several local cemeteries.(I was at two) They also did a nice ceremony for my uncles funeral. He was a Navy Veteran of WWII

Chief, Gonna take 522, I81,I66 and 17 to avoid DC.(Route BIL used when stationed in Norfolk) Looks like no good way to avoid Richmond.Last time I was there I hit a parking lot

Will be traveling on a Saturday both ways. Hopefully no problems. leaving early AM. If it falls together Richmond should be 10 or 11 AM

Prayers for those in need

[Demay]

Konbanwa,

I ran three miles this morning, but it wasn’t easy since I worked on increasing my speed.  This meant I would jog at my normal pace for a quarter mile and then sprint for a half-mile.  I did that until I hit three miles and I was pretty worn out afterwards.  We had a retirement ceremony at work today for one of my guys.  He retired from active duty Air Force service after serving nearly 24 years.  It was an emotional ceremony for him as he is in for a significant lifestyle change.  The family and I went for a nice walk after dinner tonight and then the wife and I enjoyed some quiet time together on the back porch.  I am off to bed now; I’m taking the two older kids out for a short jog tomorrow morning.

Dennis – I’m glad they didn’t get it.

Jon -

Banks – I’m sorry about the loss in your family.

DJ Spanky – Thanks for sharing the photos; the layout looks like fun.  I really like the tank car train.  Have fun in Florida.

Doug M. – Great photos.  It does look like a model.

Sayonara,

Joe

[dougdagrump]

Mornin' Y'all.

No museum today for me, full crew onboard so I decided to continue the HD's here at the house

Finished the third and final coat of poly on the base cabinets yesterday, so today's objective is to finish sanding the doors and start the poly on them. The new counter top went down tuesday and the plumber was here most of wednesday so thursday was back at it. Man it sure would have been so much quicker just using paint. Next week I get to start on the upper cabinets, if I can find something else for my helper to work on it should go quicker though.  

Doc visits on monday, cardialogist followed by primary care, all went well so don't need to see them again for six months unless anything happens. CHF support group on tuesday then that will be on hiatus for three months.

Got an MTH engine out for repair again. It has blown out a second speaker, hopefully nothing more, in just a matter of hours after being replaced. The tech is going to go over it with a fine tooth comb to see what is the issue. Good shop & good tech, I'm sure they will figure it out.

Well, procrastinated long enuff so need to get at it.

for all our friends and family members in need.

Later all !

[KRM]

Hi guys a quick stop before lunch.

As Mr. Murphy would have it changing the bulb in the shed light was not the answer. Go figure.

So I went to Menard’s and got a new light fixture that uses the same light bulb I just bought and installed it on the shed. Of course nothing was the same so I had to redo the mounting up on a ladder about 20’ or better off the ground with my ribs still killing me. Oh joy.  Also had to wire it hot in the attic of the shed because if I killed the power I would not be able to see what I was doing.

Must have been at least 120 degrees up there.

Had to get it done today because the kids are going to camp out in the yard tonight and they will want some light I am sure. I also need it because it cast just enough light that I can see the coons in my scope at night when I am hunting them.

Well you guys all have a good day and Prayers for those in need.

[cheapclassics]

Good afternoon all,

IIABSDISEI with temps in the 80s.  Busy weekend on tap as we go to grandson's 5th birthday tomorrow and then have a houseful on Sunday before a relative's graduation.  No rest for the wicked.   Did some chores last night, but nothing major.  Finally may have a solution to my back problems as Aleve really seems to help.  It is nice to be able to move semi-normally again.  Going to see MIB3 tonight and listen to Indycar race Saturday night.  Conway has to take a 10 spot grid penalty for AJ's team due to an early engine change.  At least they should be able to pass there.  TBIL and I can drive again due to missing some rotations.  Congrats, Laz, on retirement.  I hope to join you in a few years.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[MichRR714]

Laz,  A big congrats on your retirement!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Laz: Congrats on the retirement. Does the wife have plans for all this free time you have now?

[SPMan]

Good morning all,

Dennis, thank you for the suggestions with regrard to high triglycerides.  I think I know what the problem is.  I have been eating too many sweets and fatty things thinking that the medicine would compensate.  I have to stop fooling myself and walk the straight and narrow.  I am eating with more caution now and reading labels a lot.  I got a call from my gastrointerologist office yesterday  offering to answer any questions I have and verifiying my next appointment.  From the tone of the coversation, I think they thought I was freaking out over this.  Anyway, I did get their attention and I think all hands are on deck now to monitor my condition.  My primary M.D. and the GI doctor have both shortened the time now between check ups and are running more blood test to keep track of any side effects of the medicine.

Chief, nice going on the box work.  Bench work already?  I'm impressed.

Oldest son and his family having a tough time getting a decent air fare between L.A. and Orlando probably because of the time of year.  They thought about taking the train but I nixed that idea, especially without a sleeper.  My wife and I and his brother have offered to make up any shortage he might have and told him to just go by air!  Fares this time of year seem just about double what I remember but it has been quite a few years since I paid for a ticket.   Last November I flew on an Advantage award frequent flyer ticket.  The reason for the trip is so my grandson, age 14, can participate in a program sponsored by NASA at Kennedy Space Center  and accept the invitation he got through Cal Tech out here  Also, he has never flown before and I don't want him to miss this opportunity.

Laz, enjoy the first day of the rest of your "retired" life.

Well, we finally had a Thursday night train get together after a long dry spell.  Garage cooled down to a pleasant temp after dark.  Everybody stayed until almost midnight.  Showed off my new easy access lift out and hinged bridge that D.Baker made.  They really enjoyed not having to duck under.  We are all over 70 except one.  Makes it a lot easier for the old fa#ts (folks).

Took my old 87 Buick for a spin this morning to charge battery from sitting.  Amp meter just stays centered, neither discharging nor charging.  Wonder if the alternator is going bad or maybe the battery.  Have to get it checked out.  That car is not worth any major repairs so we shall see. It is old enough now to qualify for antique car status speaking of which, one of the guys last night bought another collectable car.  It is a 1950 4 door Plymouth sedan in a light green color with wide white wall tires in like new condition.  Interior is perfect.  Very nice car.  He bought it from the original owner.  Looks like one of those Plymouth cars on the 1950 Lionel billboard set.

Train meet this Sunday at TTOS.  Have missed the last two meets due to illness and/or conflict with another meeting.  I hate these Sunday meets because it interferes with church activities.  We used to meet on Fridays.  That was the best for most of us.

V8 Dennis, a college degree is no guarantee of wealth.  I wish that I had had a trade to fall back on in the years before I went to work for the railroad.  At least that was a marketable skill that I learned.

later,

Ray

 

 

 

 

[fifedog]

TGIF!  Sunny & 84 here in the mid-Atlantic region.  Littlest princess graduated elementary school today, and me mates covered for me so I could attend.  Big dinner tonight.

Parents are in town, and was s'posed to take them out on the yatchet yesterday, when some pop-up hit the Chesapeake.  Took them to eat at wifey's favorite waterfront eatery, then we went back to the boat and hung out.  Nice visit and chat.

laz - Well, it was a good post.  I read it twice...

Brent - Great pics.  Keep focusing on the family.  I've been taking trackside photos for nearly 30 years, and it is the ones where loved ones were included that I stop and look on and reflect about that particular day.

SPMan - Don't be so quick to give Doc a mulligan.  Does his office have a fee for missed appointments....?

DJSpanky - Hands down, that is the best carpet central track plan I've seen in quite awhile.  Have a nice trip.

[dougdagrump]

SPMan

Oldest son and his family having a tough time getting a decent air fare between L.A. and Orlando probably because of the time of year.  They thought about taking the train but I nixed that idea, especially without a sleeper.  My wife and I and his brother have offered to make up any shortage he might have and told him to just go by air!  Fares this time of year seem just about double what I remember but it has been quite a few years since I paid for a ticket.   Last November I flew on an Advantage award frequent flyer ticket.  The reason for the trip is so my grandson, age 14, can participate in a program sponsored by NASA at Kennedy Space Center  and accept the invitation he got through Cal Tech out here  Also, he has never flown before and I don't want him to miss this opportunity.

Ray

Ray, Did some quickie checks and if the family is departing from the LA area the best rates I found, not knowing exact travel dates, were wednesday departures/returns from Ontario Airport to Orlando via Delta Airlines. By the way these are "red-eye" flights, late evening departure with early morning arrival.

Hope he makes it !

P.S. I usually use "Travelocity dot com" for searches but also compare their results with the airlines site to double check prices, sometimes one will be better than the other.

[Ole Timer]

# 2 son is in England .... the lucky rascal ... glad summer is finally here !!!!

[Ole Timer]

Laz ... now you're one of us " old farts " .... LOL

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I got two steamers in the mail today. Didn't cost me anything as they both need extensive work. Both are Rivarossi. The 4-8-4 is a wreck. The drive rod pins fell out of one side when I put power to the wheels to check the motor. The motor runs but the drive is a mess as is the body. The Y6B is in good shape but the motor is toast. I may look to see if I can use the motor in the 4-8-4 to remotor the Y6B.

[ChiefEagles]

Evening.  Graduated several hundered kids today while I sat in the hot lights and smiled.   Watering gardens again.  More squash, zucchini, green beans and tomatoes. 

Laptop works great in the Box workshop.  Extender under equipment shelter makes it get 5 bars reception.  Going to put extender in a plastic sealed box with "screen wire" [plastic screening] on some side holes for air.  Keep humidity, dust and critters out.

Banks, I 295 is not bad.  Its a big loop so mileage wise and long way around.  If not at rush hour, I go straight through Richmond.  North of Richmond at Ashland, VA, there is a good Bass Pro Shops.  Go in the town of Ashland and great NS and AmTrack watching [thanks to info from Fife].  From I 295, there is a connector to the Norfolk area.  Think you can pickup 17 near there.  Good luck. 

Chat later.   

[rtraincollector]

Banks its been a few years for me about 5 or 6 but once you get on 17 and cross over 301 ( still heading S on 17) watch your speed lots of speed traps from there almost all the way to Gloucester ( I use to run that stretch regularly up to 301 heading toward Lancaster, PA. Its good traveling but in that area watch it and VA. don't play with Radar detectors they catch they pop you big time unless they finally did away with that law but it was still in effect when I left 5 years ago.

Evening all about to turn in as 5:30a comes quick especially if you don't sleep well. The ceiling fan I feel will help. (always has in the past been 2 years since so hope it will )

not much else going on.

hope all have a good weekend. Talk to you all later

[SPMan]

dougdagrump

SPMan:

Oldest son and his family having a tough time getting a decent air fare between L.A. and Orlando probably because of the time of year.  They thought about taking the train but I nixed that idea, especially without a sleeper.  My wife and I and his brother have offered to make up any shortage he might have and told him to just go by air!  Fares this time of year seem just about double what I remember but it has been quite a few years since I paid for a ticket.   Last November I flew on an Advantage award frequent flyer ticket.  The reason for the trip is so my grandson, age 14, can participate in a program sponsored by NASA at Kennedy Space Center  and accept the invitation he got through Cal Tech out here  Also, he has never flown before and I don't want him to miss this opportunity.

Ray

 

Ray, Did some quickie checks and if the family is departing from the LA area the best rates I found, not knowing exact travel dates, were wednesday departures/returns from Ontario Airport to Orlando via Delta Airlines. By the way these are "red-eye" flights, late evening departure with early morning arrival.

Hope he makes it !

P.S. I usually use "Travelocity dot com" for searches but also compare their results with the airlines site to double check prices, sometimes one will be better than the other.

Thanks Doug, I'll check it out.  Have to get the exact dates but I already spotted one in the first two weeks of July for around $419 RT per person from Ontario.  That's a lot less than his original price of around $600.  He told me he had one spotted that was $400RT but flying in to Ft Lauderdale to the South closer to Miami.

My MTH automatic crossing gate finally gave up the ghost today.  Lights still flash but gate won't go up.  This is the third failure I have had with these gates and I'm all out of spares now.  Have to see if I can pick up a set at a train meet or something.

Jeffrey, hope your eye is better after the alcohol bath.  I just picked up some electronic contact cleaner to use on pick up rollers etc. on my trains.  I;m leary of this stuff cause it can be dangerous.  Have to keep away from skin and don't breath vapors.  Probably should wear gloves when I'm using the stuff.

Fife, don't know the answer to your question about missed appointments.  I never have. 

later,

Ray

[hscsltb]

#1 daughter had her graduation last night. The speakers went on and on.At least the Mayor kept it short. Lousy pa system. 3 hours but is over and wont have to go to another for 7 years.My little ones are still in elementary school.Gaspee Day Parade tomorrow! Both the little ones are marching.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Ray: My eyes are doing much better. Be real careful with that contact cleaner. That's some mean stuff.

Harold: Congrats to your daughter on her graduation.

 

Time for me to call it a night. Already had the Y6B apart on a preliminary exam. The motor is not only dead, it's VERY dead. I have an old Rivarossi U25C chassis floating around here somewhere that has a fairly descent motor. I may be able to change them out. Failing that the motor from the 4-8-4 may work in it or I may shoehorn in a can motor. I have the Y6B back together for now. I don't to risk scattering parts around. While I was working on it I suddenly remembered why I quit fooling around with steamers. They're too danged hard to work on with numb hands! See y'all tomorrow.

[dougdagrump]

Ray, When I used to fly to Daytona 3 to 4 times a year, Dad & Stepmom lived there, I most always would go to Orlando. It was so much cheaper then going directly to Daytona that the difference would come pretty close to covering rental car costs which I would have anyway. When I was picking up the tab I always used the alternative airport approach.

[Demay]

Konnichiwa,

It is a very gloomy and rainy Saturday for us.  The princess and I were able to have a short run together while it was only sprinkling earlier this morning.  The older son did not want to get out of bed; I can’t blame him since it was perfect sleeping weather.  The rain has prevented us from doing any outdoor chores today.  The wife is grocery shopping now and later on we should have time to store away the winter clothes and also see which clothes no longer fit the kids.  Tonight I will take the princess to the base’s annual father-daughter dinner and dance.  I told her I will probably embarrass her with my dancing skills.

Airline tickets: My oldest brother and his family were planning to visit us here in Japan next month but the cost of tickets nixed that idea.  Right now the cheapest roundtrip tickets cost about $1,800 each.  We don’t expect many visitors while we’re here at those prices – that may not be a bad thing either. 

hscsltb – Congratulations to your daughter.

Sayonara,

Joe

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill RR....

It is a sunny 55 degrees. Going up to 88 today with sunshine.

Today is an easy day. I have the usual chores to do and a small project. Then, I can watch the ballgame. And , of course, an afternoon nap.

Dining car just rolled in with Cheerios for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Saturday.

Chuck