blownout cylindercandlelight dinner later on...off we go to do dis... span="" id="mce_marker" data-mce-type="bookmark">
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Good morning. It's 31° with 100% humidity and patchy fog. It'll be sunny with a high of 62°.Well I looked outside and it is indeed foggy. That thick cut-it-with-a-knife, feel-your-way-with-a-toothpick type of fog and from what I can see it is indeed patchy, one big patch!I should be getting some items in the mail today and hopefully a certain package from Canada. With this stuff I'll be able to work on some more projects.No particular plans for today. I should be able to do some more vacuuming on the layout provided that I'm not interrupted.
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
Good Mornin' Y'all From Sunny and Balmy Taxachusetts,
Happy Velentines Day!!!! I KNOW to a person all you guys are all excited by it, the highlight of your day.
Thank you for all of the well wishes on our recent battle here in the Northeast with Snowmageddon Nemo 2013.
Now for the aftermath........ Since the snowfall ceased Saturday night after the 18 hour barrage, the daytime temps have been rising.... over 40 the last two days with the same on tap today. You should see the snow mountains in the mall parking lots. They will be around for a couple of months.
The snow height has been declining (melting/settling) each day. Last night an overnight front lipped the South Shore and the Cape and deposited another 4" of snow. Not all have gotten their power back in Southeast Taxachusetts!!! Today is the power companies' target for eliminating the last of the outages. Some school districts won't reopen until next Monday.
Road crews on the major metropolitan arteries have been able to cut back/finish clearing the breakdown lanes and knocking down piles around exit/entrance ramps to restore "down the road" visibility. And the annual pothole season has officially commenced........hitting one at 60+ mph on the highway = a bone-jarring experience. This annual rite of passage will have the tire guys, tow truck guys, and the wheel and suspension businesses busy for the next 6 weeks.
Locally in my town crews have been removing snowpiles all week from the downtown areas and trucking it away somewhere, and street parking has returned to near normal. Other crews have been busy using heavy equipment to dig out the fire hydrants. And with the temps over 40 many folks can be seen running around dressed like it is Spring. And the City has turned up the heat on the homeowners who have not cleared their sidewalks, a wave of fines has commenced.
Further South in Boston proper, all of the narrow one lane side streets have finally been reopened but many cars remain totally buried at the curb. The "this is my personal parking place" wars have commenced where some one digs out their car/a spot and claims it as their own by blocking the spot (when they drive off) with chairs, garbage cans, sawhorses, and ominous ownership signs whatever. There is just no place down there to put the snow. And gunfire will probably commence shortly.
Later, gang.
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Good morning all,
IIABSDISEI with temps in the 40s. Daughter is doing better. Situation on that which I cannot talk about is getting worse every day. Decisions I have to make are d----d if you do and d----d if you don't. I cannot win no matter which way I go. At some point, I have to cut my losses and walk away. Had to go to funeral home last night for former co-worker's wife who passed away suddenly. Life creating a real vacuum right now. No beacon tonight. I hope everyone has a good day (maybe I will have one sometime).
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Good morning, Half day of work for me, as I and taking wife to early dinner (well, its an hour drive from here) so all said and done, it will 3 till we eat, hope to be home by 8pm.
All you can eat Prime Rib and Filet Migion. Its gonna far from romantic, more like a Cave Man tearing up a bear! We went to this last year and were there for three hours. Needless to say, I think they lost money on me.
Couple odds and end to take care of this AM and i'm out.
Once again, Last night, we had one of those "nothing will stay on track" operating sessions.
Just dont get it, one night every thing is FLAWLESS, almost boring. Next night its such a fiasco I just unplug it and go upsatirs.
Later
Ryan
Happy Arizona Statehood Day!
101 Years of Statehood!
And I think it may be some other holiday as well that I can't remember...
Bob
Tucson, AZ (aka the Ol' Pueblo)
Home of the Mt. Graham & Arizona Eastern Boiler Shops
Aloha and Happy Valentines Day. I got a bag of little five-cent toys that I've been leaving one out each day for the youngest to discover - and hid a box full of kid- valentines and chocolates all over the house for the bride. She's given me one candy a day this month with a clever saying on it. Though she's too busy to celebrate today. We're quite the celebrators I guess. LOL.LV, great line-up shot.Jeffrey, is Waffle Shoppe related to Waffle House - my favorite place to visit south of St. Louis?Fife, I'm sorry about that training accident! I think you would love a 4-4-0-based layout. When I was in N scale, that's exactly what I had - lotsa of old interesting buildings! Very simple operation - no signaling, etc. Lotsa of "color." It was so fun to research the first line out from Chicago passing through my town in 1854. SubmmBob, I am reminded of a former boss who swore by his old UNIMOG. Jack, when I lived in Chicago, we used to clear our own spots on the street to park and put chairs and all sorts of things in them to 'save' the space.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Jeffrey........I was glad to hear that you finally started getting caught up on some sleep and that you are spending more time outside the throne room. I think it was the balogna sandwich that cured whatever was ailing you.
RT...........hope this morning finds your fever and chills gonzo. From your posts it sounds like something you have just won’t let go.
Chief.......I hope you are making progress with your crud. You need to take a day off with nothing to do and all day to do it. Like reclinerize and snooze for a day.
FIFE......that was a one horrible mishap with the officer being shot by the shooting instructor. I am certain you have your own theory behind how this could possibly happen. Perhaps someone may have gotten complacent. Prayers for that officer, his family, and the force.
KEV.....easier said than done, but I might be inclined to pay my Doc a visit if I were you, maybe nip something simple in the bud.
Ray SP.........was sorry to hear the long term prognosis for your church buddy’s wife. Getting him out and about is about the best thing for him. I am certain that the group dinner out helped quell some of the feelings he may have, feeling somewhat isolated, helpless, and alone.
JoeyD and MikeC........it is a good thing that the two of you are a half of a world apart while the wives are gone or who knows what trouble the two of you might get into.
Jake.........thank you for the pictures of your growing collection. They look pretty impressive staged side by side.
Ryan.......we have friends that have gone the RV route and for different reasons. From towable 5th wheels to full blown self-propelled “ships” that can also tow their cars. One couple took a 6+ month road trip to explore the country. Another thought camping would a great longer-term past time. Still others theorized they needed the portable “home” to avoid their year around hotel/motel/restaurant costs and related travel expenses travelling hither to and yon for “dog related events.”
One common thread in their ownership seems to be that they spend a significant amount of money and time acquiring and then maintaining these things. They have to have a convenient and safe place to stash them while not in use. They are finding more and more that some of the campgrounds they have routinely used in the past have cut back on electric hookups (etc.) and amenities necessary for self sufficiency, making advanced reservations more difficult to acquire when they need them. The initial enthusiasm wears thin. Then they take a bath when they sell them. To me, all of this sounds like owning a boat (where the happiest two days of ownership are the first and the last). My opinion.....might be better to either rent one when needed, avoiding all of the downsides of ownership. Or use hotels/motels and fork over the $$$ as needed. I wonder how many times one has to use an RV annually just to break even $$$-wise versus the alternatives?
Bob........I read with interest your 4WD headache and particularly enjoyed your observation about “soft people” and what seems to be the automobile engineers’ deliberate attempt to make simple things more complex and expensive for the owners. Is it for a guaranteed revenue stream for the OEMs post purchase? I think so.
In order to check the fluid level in the transfer case on my crossover, full-time AWD vehicle, I have to take out the fill plug and stick my pinky in the hole. (read run the car up on ramps and climb under the car or have access to a lift). There is no dipstick!!!!!!!!! To change out ANY dead light bulb in the front end, one has to either remove the entire front fascia (what the dealerships allegedly do and charge you an arm and a leg for labor-wise). Or you have to jack up the front end, remove the applicable left or right front tire/wheel, loosen up the fender well splash panel, and access the dead bulbs that way. My front fascia has two low beam headlamps, two high beam headlamps, two separate daytime running lamps, two fog lamps, two amber running lights, and two other lamps whose purpose I have yet to figure out. It is feasible for the cost to the owner to swap out one dead light bulb to generate a bill that says: “Replace dead running lamp bulb. Bulb = $3.00. Labor = $120.
I enjoyed the observations on retirement. I consider my 91 year old father-in-law with my 89 year old mother-in-law. Then I realize that they never in their wildest imagination they never thought they would live this long and would be self suffiecient until they cashed in. Or that the upkeep on their modest home, uncovered medical expenses, Medicare premiums/co-pays/deductibles, prescription drug expenses and the donut hole, Medi-gap insurance premiums, having to pay someone to do what you can no longer do yourself, and property taxes would be eating them alive. Or that their savings, retirement plans, and social security benefits would be barely enough to keep them afloat. Retirement and passing on a modest inheritance as we once knew it or thought it would be or should have been may very well be a thing of the past for many of us.
Jack I don't want the *** thing. She wants to sell off every thing and hole up in this thing for the rest of our lives. Not quite my style. the one she wants looks like a Tour Bus. I wouldnt mind an upscale medium sized tow behind to use a week here and there, but her and I's retirement plans are way off from each others
gots run
ryan
cnw1995Jeffrey, is Waffle Shoppe related to Waffle House - my favorite place to visit south of St. Louis?
VALENTINE'S DAY
Temp is 37 and the clouds are still here. Hair cut's, a few groceries and Lowe's has been my morning...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
Happy Valentines Day guys! I thought I posted last night, but I guess I forgot or it didn't take? Son's birthday yesterday - can't believe how fast 16 years have passed. Brent will know what I mean shortly. Waffle House is in Saint Louis, Doug - the one in Arnold is great as it is No Smoking
Mike - shoot me a PM if you want to talk, my friend.
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Mornin' All.
Weather is turning for the better, finally, but I am still cold. Been a crazy hectic week so far, tomorrow is museum day so I might get to slow down a bit(NOT).
Last week after setting up for the WGHT some of the Lionel folks came by the museum for an "after hours" visit: http://lionelllc.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/a-visit-to-the-san-diego-3-railers/ .
Bob, I briefly thought about a small storage unit since there is just so much "stuff" in the garage I don't have any more storage space. Talk about sticker shock, don't know if it's just Cally or they are all the same but in the immortal words of SNL's Emily Litello "Nevermind".
Yesterday I finally had the energy to finish taking down the halloween layout, that thing is a bear to wrestle around the garage for storage.
Mike, Hang in there. Your daughter is on the mend and the other issue will be resolved one way or another.
The BetterHalf was surprised this morning to find a dozen red roses and a mushy card on the dining room table for her. When you're the "early riser" it makes it so easy to set-up these little surprises.
Fife, I'm a big fan of the 19th century 4-4-0's / 4-6-0's but I tend to favor the MTH, PS2, as they have more power and smoke. The only bad part of the 19th Century stuff is that you can not find period appropriate seated passengers anywhere.
Gotta get movin'.
Later all.
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
BrutusSon's birthday yesterday - can't believe how fast 16 years have passed. Brent will know what I mean shortly.
Brutus......... to your son on his 16th birthday yesterday, that was a big one!!!! Condolences to you on your new automobile insurance premiums.
Happy V-D Guys!!
Youse with significant others and wives----have a nice day, hope you remembered!!
Me? The Princess and I both dislike the 14th of February. No, I didn't instill this in her..... I just don't care for it and she thinks its much ado about nothing.
She is working and doing well. We're trying to make plans for her to visit or me to visit. Just have to work out the details.
Fife - I have an MTH 4-4-0, if you would like to borrow it until Christmas, I would be more than happy and honored to ship it to you. It is PS1 and smokes like crazy. PM me if you wish, we can set it up.
LV - nice collection!
MikeC - things will work out. Good news on your daughter.
Brutus - for your son's birthday!!
SubBob - If you need any insight on how your living conditions work, let me know, been doing this for 2+ years
Back to work to support you bums retired guys in your endevours...
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
Good afternoon all,
Thanks for all the comments about the daughter. That is the plus side of life. The other situation, as many of you have noted, will be resolved sooner or later. There was a recent discussion concerning garage doors. What you need to do is what I did. Buy a house with a 30x35 pole barn out back that has 11 foot high sliding doors about 11.5 feet wide. Most vehicles will fit in one of those bays with lots of side room. I hope everyone has a good day.
Good afternoon. Work tonight after Jazz Band, but don't expect it to take to long (sub custodian for the Towanda School District). It's a small area that I have to do. If I were to do the area with my brother (we usually do areas together) we would be done before 5. I expect to be done, maybe, around 6 to 6:30. I leave Jazz Band practice at 4:00.
And thanks for the compliments on the roster! Be sure to check for a 2055 after March 2 of this year (if I get one at the train show in Scranton).
The Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Route of the Black Diamond Express, John Wilkes and Maple Leaf.
-Jake, modeling the Barclay, Towanda & Susquehanna.
Got my two Atlas FP7's today. They're 70's era. One is UP 912, the other is BN 9794. The BN loco runs fine. The UP however has a problem. On the front truck there are two fingers that hold the truck onto the frame, or should I say there would be if they weren't broken off. I got this loco AS-IS with NO warranty stated or implied. So went on Ebay and grabbed one in fair condition for $20 to use as a parts source. The UP unit is also missing the coupler retainer pins and a horn.Currently the BN unit has horn hook couplers. That's about to change so fast. It's getting a pair of Kadee #148 Whisker couplers.The mailbox was like the 'horn of plenty' today spewing forth all kinds of good things, expected and unexpected.
I got three tank cars, two which need some attention. A Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers lapel pin. Two video cassettes. One titled 'Thunder on the rails', the other is about Grand Central Terminal. I also got a box from Canada which I haven't ripped into yet.
anjdevil2Happy V-D Guys!!
In the box from Canada I found among other things four locos. A Tyco 2-8-0 Consolidation. The motor (tender drive) looks to be hopeless. Another steamer, a Lima 0-4-0t would probably run well with the right care. It'll look good on one of my shelves. A third loco, also a Lima model is a Plymouth switcher CN #76. It seems to have some pickup issues. It wouldn't do well on anything less than code 100 track anyway. It has pizza cutters that can handle the thickest Pizza Hut has. There's also this Lima diesel, CN 3220. It somewhat runs. It would probably run quite well after a thorough cleaning. However I'm more interested in seeing if I can adapt the shell to fit a better quality chassis.
RockIsland52 I enjoyed the observations on retirement. I consider my 91 year old father-in-law with my 89 year old mother-in-law. Then I realize that they never in their wildest imagination they never thought they would live this long and would be self suffiecient until they cashed in. Or that the upkeep on their modest home, uncovered medical expenses, Medicare premiums/co-pays/deductibles, prescription drug expenses and the donut hole, Medi-gap insurance premiums, having to pay someone to do what you can no longer do yourself, and property taxes would be eating them alive. Or that their savings, retirement plans, and social security benefits would be barely enough to keep them afloat. Retirement and passing on a modest inheritance as we once knew it or thought it would be or should have been may very well be a thing of the past for many of us. Later, gang. Jack
Jack, I enjoyed the story about your in laws. Have they considered a Reverse Mortgage? I have been looking into it for our farm and I am impressed with the details.
They now have them for farms, and since our major asset is the value over and above the small mortage we have it seems like a good way to provide for our retirement. I would be interested in your or anyones opinion.
Pat
RFD-TV --- Rural America's most important network!
Happy Valentines Day!!!
Mr. Murphy, you must live in the sticks if you don't have a Waffle House. Even Roseyville has one just down the road.
Jack, that snow will make an old man out of you quickly and you will start dreaming of
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
Afternoon or early evening to you all. Did do work again woke up with a fever again this am doing better this evening thou.
Not much going on today did find my voltage tester and soldering gun so I did some soldering. Got in a 2224W tender with the 2026 and it needed new wires to the pick-ups. It needs some TLC also but see them selling in a lot better condition on the bay for $100 - $150 so figure I would list this one for $35 and see where it goes lol.
The ZW I got in with it is great infact think its better than the last one I got. Oh well guess will get a few post for them as its missing one ( U ) and my second one is missing 2 (U and the D)
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Evenin' boys. Sunny and 45 here in the Mid-Atlantic region. Wifey gave me a very nice Margaritaville shirt (she likes black on my back). I gave here chocolate covered caramels.
anjdevil - Thanks for the "loaner", but the early Mike's offerings just didn't do it for me.
dougnotta - The new Mike's Premier 4-4-0's do do it for me, but not at that seven hundred dollar price tag.
cnw1995 - The challenge of creating something new and different is what I love most about this hobby. Trying to find dated material from that time frame is a challenge. I've been spending some evenings looking at sites with vintage postcards.
Buckeye Riveter Mr. Murphy, you must live in the sticks if you don't have a Waffle House. Even Roseyville has one just down the road.
No we don't. Just told them, "NO!", at where they wanted to build.
Busy Mayor day. Then got home and took Wifey shopping for her Valentines Day. What she wanted. Did not want candy, flowers, dinner out nor diamonds.
Now for some chow. Diet stuff.
Got early meeting in Raleigh tomorrow morning again.
Chat later.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Lima Alco C420 shell on Stewart Athearn powered AS16 chassis.
Ohayō,
The wife departed at 0645 this morning. She just texted me and said they are now on the bullet train. You know life is not fair when your wife who has no interest in trains is able to travel on a bullet train before you. The kids are enthralled in their schoolwork and should be finished early. The schools get out early today since Monday is President’s Day so my kids want to be finished with their work by the time their friends get out of school. I don’t have much else planned for the day except hanging out with the youngest one and figuring out what I’ll make for dinner tonight.
Jack – I’ll probably be in bed by 10 PM every night; I am a very boring person. I hope you guys are still surviving the storm’s aftermath.
dougdagrump – I received the Lionel email about their visit to the museum. Nice job!
Brutus – I hope your son had a great birthday.
Sayonara,
Joe
40 degrees
No Waffle House here either, Only thing I order at one is the pecan waffle anyway. We had a Shoney's once but that only lasted about a year. It opened just a short time before they started closing them. A quiet afternoon, MTH has announced a nice uncataloged DT&I coil car. Check it out with a dealer. I only mentioned it because of the road name. Banilla will be ready but I might have some before then...S.J.
Hi Guys,
Wild last few days. I now know how and where it is legal to kidnap and hold someone for ransom in the USA. The USA Healthcare system! But I am back home and alive. I had my first ride in a big square red truck with a horn that sounds like a bunch of female cats in heat. My ticker is still doing it’s job. My wallet will be empty when the ransom is paid. The wife got me for Valentines Day. She is no doubt upset.
I will try to catch up tomorrow. Right now all I want is a hot bath and my own bed. It is good to be home!.
Have a good night.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Good evening. Worked later than usual tonight, and much later than expected.
Nothing to report.
Night.
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