It is really difficuly for me to keep up with all of the goings-on here on the POT. We are averaging 38 posts a day and I feel uncomfortable not keeping up, especially on important matters such as health, family, and life's challenges.
Dennis......how on earth you are keeping all of the balls in the air, juggling family and work, is beyond me. I was glad to read that your "herd" is hale and hearty and that your new blassed additions are adjusting to you.
Spanky.........my prayers continue for your little Tyler as he continues to move forward and resume a child's life, one that has all of the medical challenges in the rear view mirror.
BOC........how do you get that white blood count back up? Hope you are gaining back a few lbs. and that your pants are fitting a bit snugger.
HudsonJohn......prayers continue for your Mom. It sounds like everything is moving in the right direction with her treatments now coming every three weeks instead of weekly.
Jeffrey........methinks you swapped out blood and urine samples to escape a smack down from your Doc.
RaySP......I hope that the elderly (90+) woman from your church group is doing OK. Was thinking of her during this week's family matters here. Then there is your buddy's wife in the nursing home. It is of little consolation as we get up here in years that we find ourselves more and more surrounded by this stuff and get to thinking about our own mortality.
RT.........hope you are feeling better. Not much coming from you the past few days. How is the layout coming along?
MikeC.....I was glad to read your daughter continues to make progress post op. Hope she is taking it slow and steady. Surgery and anesthesia can knock the snot out of you energy-wise for months, something the younger sometimes don't realize.
Ryan........you need to borrow HudsonJohn's cat Chester and his dog Mack to hunt down and chase off that big cat or bear. Once they have it trapped up in a tree, you can dispatch the wifey with some artilley to finish it off, drag it back to the house, and make you a nice rug for the train room.
DougM......I mandated that the son order some more Lou Malnati's pizzas because he ate up all of mine. Should have him arrested for felony theft.
FIFE........re completing your taxes, after dodging that higher tax bracket, I am curious how much voluntary and additional $$$$ you plan to donate to the U.S. Treasury. I am pondering the same question.
SubmmBob........it really is funny reading about your snowfall, expressed in feet instead of inches. We are wimps!!!
Banks........I would be interested in your approach to a new hot water tank. I have been mulling over going electric/tankless/on demand. The expense of heating hot water for me is draining the wallet 24/7/365. I have a 40 gallon Amtrol Boiler Mate Classic Series. It is set up as its own zone on my oil-burning furnace. For the six months ending each October where the furnace is just heating hot water, I go through about 180 gallons of fuel oil. That's about $800 just to heat hot water for six months, or $4.38 per day!!!! The Amtrol was expensive but came highly recommended by my plumber and my heating oil guy for a number of reasons. First was the lifetime warranty on the tank and liner (my 4th hot water tank in 25 years). The second was the self-contained internal insulation factor where the idle tank only loses 2 degrees per hour in my unheated basement during the Winter. I keep the thermostat set at 134 degrees which is 14 lower than recommended for the dishwasher water temps, but the dishwasher has an electric heating element to make up the difference. The recovery rate is fast because the furnace with it's high BTU output is heating the water. Boiler set to 180 degrees. I know what the real problem is........"someone" in the house uses too much hot water, taking long 15+ minute showers, shaving in there, and who knows what else. And it ain't the dog or my son or me. May be the person whose shower drain coughed up two fistfuls of blonde hair yesterday. I don't need CSI to reach any conclusions here.
JimmyT......I was going to warn you against changing out your differential gears to lower ratios. Then I realized I faced the same decision many moons ago when I had the motor rebuilt in my 1969 Corvette. I stuck with Chevy 3:55s. The higher highway rpm and associated racket, albeit a tad high, was somewhat tolerable. Then again, I did a lot of highway driving with road trips all over the place whereas you seem to confine your driving to local cruising.. With the 3:55s I could still smoke the P245 tires into oblivion from a stoplight, hit 140+ top end, and still top 19 mpg highway which for the early 1970s was considered economical, especially for a "muscle" car.
DougM and KEV........a lot of coverage on the Weather Channel right now with the Chicago snows. Lake Shore Drive looks unaffected. They even appear to have the snow cleared from the bike/running paths along the lake front. BTW.......I am really enjoying youse guyz' layout progress pictures and videos.
KEV........if you can pull him away from the fireplace, send George the cat out to join forces with John's Chester and Mack to help Ryan eradicate some of the large predators lurking in his woods. Could it be that your wife is inheriting your "new" truck soon while you inherit the oil leak in hers?
Mitch.........IMHO, now is the perfect time to make "the move" as you are doing. The interest rates will never be lower in our lifetimes! Now if the U.S. Congress and Senate will just keep their fingers off the mortgage interest tax deduction...... Ryan.....get moving on your empire expansion plans!!!!!
Jon.......was glad to see on the news that the Ioway snows will help mitigate some of your precipitation shortfall.
Chief.....I have not been reading any updates from you regarding your new exercise regime and diet?
Brutus......a four day weekend for you? Does this mean you will be back down in your lower level wrapping things up? I didn't think so.
V8Dennis........57/39 is NOT cold. Glad to hear that things with the Del Sol are moving forward. You need to take a road trip soon.
8N......sounds like you got 12" of what I am getting. I would not feel comfortable leaving my car at work. The snowplows will bury your car and create 4 X the work digging it out.
JoeyD......t-minus 2 days until your post-marathon paralysis on Sunday. Hope you are in a condition to at least study for your final exam. You may have to crawl to your car to get there. Then you just have one more class to wrap things up!!!!
Jake.......don't do what the rest of us have done. Overlift now just to see what we can do and then visit the orthopedic surgeon later for a rotator cuff injury consultation. Good luck on the work with your 2020. My buddy's 671 and his trains (in boxes) have taken up permanent residence here because he has no place to store them nor a layout to run them. I keep the 671 exercised for him, don't even charge him a storage or train "day care" fee.
Later, gang. TGIF!!!!!!!!
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
laz 57 Hi GUYZ, 24 and not bad awaiting SNO HI ZO tonite. Hope it stays away. CHUCK point that weapon downrange. Going to ALLENTOWN TRAIN SHOP tomorrow and don't want this crappy weather. Getting lots o wiring done on layout. Gotta do the town wiring then make my logging mountain. JOEY D. I think there is a train show in Hamburg Pa? I'll try and get some info for you. BRUTUS, how much SNO HI ZO? BUCKEYE and CHUCK, TGIF!!!!! PAT and CHUCK, DANICAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!! Stay frostymy friends, laz57
Hi GUYZ,
24 and not bad awaiting SNO HI ZO tonite. Hope it stays away. CHUCK point that weapon downrange. Going to ALLENTOWN TRAIN SHOP tomorrow and don't want this crappy weather. Getting lots o wiring done on layout. Gotta do the town wiring then make my logging mountain.
JOEY D. I think there is a train show in Hamburg Pa? I'll try and get some info for you.
BRUTUS, how much SNO HI ZO?
BUCKEYE and CHUCK, TGIF!!!!!
PAT and CHUCK, DANICAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
Stay frostymy friends,
laz57
Hay Laz - A few days ago someone said she will start first and then drop to 18th or so. I doubt she will even finish. A good driver, but still lacks the experience. A race is different than a qualifying run. Just my
What say you Fife?
Pat
RFD-TV --- Rural America's most important network!
Between the weather (our 30" snowfall two weeks ago and the two snow events since then) and family matters previously discussed, I neglected to mention that Pam and I ventured South to Taunton MA. for canine obedience trials a couple of weeks back. Pam entered Maximus in two advanced trials, finished in fourth place the first day and in first place the second day to earn their "Advanced" title. This was his third obedience title!!
Expert is the next level !!!!!
Good Mornin' Y'all From Crystal Clear And Mid 20s Taxachusetts,
Weather misforecasters are in their glory. Winter storm warnings non-stop. With snow approaching from points West, and expected accumulations 6" to 8" North and West of Boston up to 12" in NH and Maine, they would have us believing the sky is falling.
This is New England!! It is Winter!! Snow is normal!! Cold is normal!! If this were Alaska, the weather people would be forecasting "a dusting." With all of the AWD and 4WD vehicles now on the roads, and with FWD cars making up most of the rest (except for JimmyT and V8Dennis), why all the fuss? We've got traction control, stability control, and tires that are far superior to just what was available a decade ago.
Enough already!! BTW......since the storm arrives late tomorrow afternoon, the grocery stores will be chaos with folks stocking up on enough food and to last until July 4. Contrary to old school theory, beer does have a shelf life, even when kept refrigerated post purchase. Question is, what do these folks do with all of this overpurchased stuff they went overboard buying just two weeks ago?
This being said, in front of my better half I will just agree with the "stay at home" warnings insofar as they will get me what I want from the wifey......agreement that we should stay safe and warm at home this weekend instead of gallavanting up to Maine and New Hampshire. Snowblowing, shovelling, and running trains.
Later, gang.
Hello all
TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cloudy 30 this AM. Freezing rain /mix predicted for the Seafood Buffet this PM. That will probably put a hurting on attendance. We'll see. Last week was only 580.
Not much else going on. Went and got a ton of coal last evening. Need to get that in the basement tomorrow. Also I need to go get a new hot water heater and put it in. Maybe Sunday after Mass.
SS fund is calling. May be back tonight.
Prayers for those in need
Banks, Proud member of the OTTS TCA 12-67310
Good Morning from Blueberryhill RR....
It is a nasty 27 degrees. Freezing rain. Going up to 49 today with rain, later.
Today, I am taking it easy. I have a few chores to do and then I will read a few mags that just arrived. Lunch and a nice nap, later.
Buckeye was up early today. He usually sleeps until 9 oclock.
OK, Buckeye & LAZ.... TGIF
Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Friday.
Chuck
Buckeye RiveterTGIF Chuck doesn't have school today. I wonder what he will do on his day off.
Chuck doesn't have school today. I wonder what he will do on his day off.
Buckeye.........so what you are saying is that for Chuck, today will be very much like yesterday. C-H-U-C-K........today, would you please re-aim the snow cannon???
Good morning. Shoulders STILL hurt from Wensday.
Other than work, nothing much going on this evening. Will likely work on the 2020 more or get something for the layout done.
The Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Route of the Black Diamond Express, John Wilkes and Maple Leaf.
-Jake, modeling the Barclay, Towanda & Susquehanna.
Made it off the mountain on Wednesday. Some entertainment going down, but not too bad. I ended up being up over 24 hrs Wed. due to the fact that I took a dead computer back for the boss to fix (ended up being more than just a power supply). Hard to get to sleep at the house during the day.
Got up Thurs after crashing out a while and cleaned the bathroom. After another week w/ 5 guys using it (6 w/ me) it was getting a bit 'fuzzy'. Almost to the point where you need to go into 'helicopter mode' where you just come in to a hover
Will take my friend's Dawoo head to the machine shop today and see if it is salvageable. Then pay rent after the cactus wren takes a dump in my account.
Bob
Tucson, AZ (aka the Ol' Pueblo)
Home of the Mt. Graham & Arizona Eastern Boiler Shops
TGIF
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
Konbanwa,
It was an unseasonably warm day today. I even had my sunroof open this afternoon. I went to work late this morning as I was up late last night finishing my final exam. I have a paper to finish tonight and then this class if finished – only one more to go. I plan to relax at home tonight; the Princess is making dinner.
Jack – I hope your wife had a great birthday. I’ll pray for your family.
Nice video Kev.
Sayonara,
Joe
Nice shot with the snow cannon! Yesterday's forcast called for 4 to 6 inches. We ended up with 8 to 12". Not much ice, though. I'd rather deal with the extra snow, than to deal with ice.
I just wish you guys would of taken the shot about 4 hours earlier. That way, my Cobalt would be stuck in my driveway instead of the parking lot at work. It was just a dusting when I left for work about 7 and there was 6 or 7 inches when I tried to go out for lunch. I could not get it through the drift that had formed around it. Didn't help that the lot was not plowed yet either. I caught a ride home with a co-worker. I'll worry about getting ithe car loose tomorrow.
Got plenty of exercise shoveling out the driveway and walk. Now, if the city would only get a plow down our street.
Finally got the USPS settlement for the MKT GP-7 that got delivered with broken couplers.
All for now.
Sleet and ice storm here today - I took off and they closed roads and companies all over the place. Of course, the kids had no school and they are already excused for tomorrow as well. I'll check the traffic and my street in the morning, but right now I don't think I could get out of my neighborhood. 4 day weekend! TARDIS is ready guys and we have extra rootbeer and bannilla to drop off for those who are stranded at home, so let's fly!
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
HudsonJohn - Will probably get off from work around 6 or 7 tomorrow, so I'll stop by 20 minutes after I'm done. Off to bed now, have to be in by 7.
Ray
Bayville, NJ
Life is what happens to youWhile you're busy making other plans - John Lennon
Greetings from Central Jersey, Hanging out at Mom's:
Ryan: Stress??? Nothing that a few wont cure.
Kev: Great vid and layout. We enjoy the Buro crane also. Good luck with the car!
Redfire, Jim: Go for it!
SJ: Careful with the storm.
Have a Great Evening,
John
Well the FP7 is fixed. I test ran it first on DC to see if all was well. Naturally it wasn't. The front wheelset of the front truck kept derailing on the curves no matter if they were left or right. I checked the gauge of the wheels. It was fine. So then I put my glasses on and gave it a real close look. I could barely see it. The pickup shoe of the right front wheel was riding on top of the wheel. Using a flat tip screwdriver with a 1mm wide tip I pushed the pickup shoe up, back and down behind the wheel where it belonged. I repeated the test run and this time it was perfect. So then I hard wired in a Digitrax DH123 decoder then programmed it on the program track. A test run on DCC went off perfect. I installed a pair of Kadee #148 Whisker couplers and called the project done for now. It needs a few little parts but they're purely cosmetic.Time to call it a night. 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
fifedogMichRR - Have we allowed ourself time to start dreaming of a new layout...?
I sure have Fife!
Charlie a.k.a. MichiganRailRoad714 (Charter Member TTC)
I've come to a decision about the Atlas FP7 with the broken truck. I want it running tonight. I have an Atlas GP40 that has a flaky motor. I've looked at the trucks. They're the same as what's in the FP7. So I'll take the front truck from the GP40 and put it into the FP7. When the other FP7 comes in, probably next week from the looks of it, I'll check it out really good. If it runs well I'll keep it together and get parts for the GP40 some time time in the future. I'm not eager to get it running anytime soon. But I want this UP FP7 running tonight!
Temp is 24 about where it's been all day, Sun today and the good news is granny's early bulbs have broke through the ground, new life has begun. But tomorrow may bring snow and sleet. Banilla is ready if I the tardis arrives before I doze off...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
so the fam and I go to dinner, and I am consulting with my BIL, who is an avid hunter / trapper over the pics. all while trying to be discrete as this type of stuff freaks the wife out., well he thought it was a small black bear, which we do have around here.
sooner or later the wife gets wind of the conversation, and says, "I saw a HUGE cat out the window the other day, almost as big as a dog!"
which, by the way I would much rather have around than a coyote . , although preferably, neither. And Bob Cats are a protected species in PA and VERY few permits to kill them are issued. The BIL is bringing his trail camera up this weekend and we'll try to get some pics of this creature.
Ryan
Hello everyone.
Not much going on tonight. Nothing to report.
wrconstruction Jack, YES IT DOES OK all you big game hunters, I came across this at my wood pile in the frozen mud tonight. what do you all think? Bob Cat, Dog or MT lion? I have no neighbors any where close (miles) that has a dog that size. Bob cats and Mountain Lions are around, but not common in south central PA I honestly can't tell. Ryan
Jack, YES IT DOES
OK all you big game hunters, I came across this at my wood pile in the frozen mud tonight. what do you all think?
Bob Cat, Dog or MT lion? I have no neighbors any where close (miles) that has a dog that size.
Bob cats and Mountain Lions are around, but not common in south central PA
I honestly can't tell.
Jack, Where is Maximus???
I took the wife's car into the dealer. We put it on the rack, Oil everywhere?? Pulled the tube off from the air cleaner box to the TB to get some room to look around and about 8oz of water came out of the tube along with and a bunch of that wonderful milky cream. ( oil and water mix) Only 78K. They will be looking closer tomorrow for the leak. It DON"T look good.
They gave me a loaner 2005 Buick with 194K and it runs great? GO FIGURE.
I am going to drink some
I may be driving it to the auction next.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Wow, Kev. That burro crane - and the long Santa Fe train - look great. Thanks very much.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
wrconstructionI survived my doc's appointment, for now, I couldnt cancel due to lack of 24 hours notice (I would have had to pay for it either way) He ordereed more needle sticking and refilled my stress pills surprisingly my blood pressure was good? I can't see how. Ryan
He ordereed more needle sticking and refilled my stress pills
surprisingly my blood pressure was good? I can't see how.
Ryan......... comes in pill form?
Jack.
John,
I'll probably just swap the gears. The complete axle is $1,425 , plus my time to install. Found a speed shop in Carnegie, PA that can do the swap for around $600, and a friend highly recommends them.
Jack,
Jim
So now we know how the NASCAR Queen can drive from 1st to 18th in 60 laps. #29
Well the, "hey can you put break pads on my car" was more than it was played up to be. Fronts went smooth as silk and then " can you rotate the tires and look at the rear brakes?" Sure.
Right rear had a bad wheel cylinder and then the brake line broke and we had no parts. Off to Ottawa for parts and another 2.5 hours and it is done. At least I have $135.00 in my wallet I did not have when I got up this morning.
Went out to feed the birds and there is oil on the floor in the garage where Sandra parks her car and it is more that a drop or two? Dealer said to bring it in and they will give me a loaner. I sent the wife an e-mail to check the oil but go figure today she does not read her e-mail. Jack put a curse on me I think.
Doug I like the Burro crane and run it more than the Gang car on the MOW track. I will do a video for you later today. I got mine for $49.99 including the shipping off the Bay.
Jack, Prayers sent. It is better for the young to learn early the pain of a death than to have them not know it till they are adults. JMHO
Doug, here is a video.
watch?v=4qBVeW2 gIU&feature=youtu.be
Ryan: Good news on your doc visit. Surprisingly my blood pressure was normal too. It's usually a bit high. I must be doing something wrong!
*
I got a little Nippon Cam300 camera in the mail today. Nothing grand. It's good for taking VGA quality photos. The photos are stored in the cameras internal memory until downloaded via USB cable to a computer. The photos come out with this quality:Thunderstorms coming through here now so I gotta scram! Rain, rain, rain.
I survived my doc's appointment, for now, I couldnt cancel due to lack of 24 hours notice (I would have had to pay for it either way)
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