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February Coffee Pot 2016. 11 years old. Wonderful grits and sweet ice tea for the southern gents. Coffee and oatmeal for the Yanks. Locked

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Posted by cheapclassics on Tuesday, February 2, 2016 7:51 PM

Good evening all,

Good day at work.  Pain One was gone and so Pain Two was quiet.   Izombie is on tonight.  Lots of rain in SE Indiana.  I hear what you are saying about voc-ed.  Perhaps that is where Lucas should have gone.  He does enjoy his factory work.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by Banks on Tuesday, February 2, 2016 8:56 PM

Hello there.  

Belated happy birthday RT.

Got to put in my 2 cents. Most of the local high schools closed their "shop" programs years ago. The local vo-tech is  next to worthless in most areas. I personally supervised industrial electricity graduates that didn't know which end of a screwdriver to hold.  There were a few exceptions(my son was one) but mediocrity was the norm. I toured the building a couple of times and saw projects with high grades that would have gotten me laughed at. I happened to be seated with the vo-tech director at an event and expressed my concerns. Even though I had 20+ years of field experience he as much as told me I was full of sh**..

 Best move on.....

Prayers for those in need

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted by lion88roar on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 7:24 AM

Mornin' Fellas

IMHO one of the reasons schools have started to drop Vo-Ed is because of the over emphasis on college degrees. Everyone is not college material, not everyone wants - nor needs a college degree. What about carpenters, plumbers, electricians, bricklayers, landscapers, mechanics, bakers, cooks, and general laborers? Those are the skills that were once taught by VoTech schools - and I have to agree with Banks, when you get to tour these facilities there is definitely something lost. Back when I was in HS the guys who were going to VoTech to learn to be mechanics drove some of the sweetest cars, not today. I have a few freinds who went to VoTech who went into pipe fitting, plumbing, electricial work, etc - they didn't want to go to college and their chosen career paths did not require them... I think that is changing and I think it is bad, very, very bad. What happened to apprenticships? You know where you take an apprenticship and learn a trade from a Master (whatever), then as your skillset grew you worked your way up through management and then became a Master (whatever) and opened your own shop?

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Posted by KRM on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 8:23 AM

Morning guys, just got up for the second time. Wife came in the bedroom at 5:20am and informed me she could not get down the driveway because of a tree fall. So I got up climbed on the JD and headed up the lane in the dark of night. She was right. A 8" to 10" dead Ash had snapped off about 12' up and crashed right across the drive. So I shoved it back into the fence row with the snow plow and will clean up the rest of the mess today.

So I will be removing the plow and putting the bucket and grader on to repair the lane from yesterdays wash-out as well.

We never had Vo-Ed schools. It was part of the regular High School classes offered at every High School.

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by cnw1995 on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 8:25 AM

Aloha. Grey but warming. Too much rain to skate yesterday. There are still a couple of full-vo-ed HS in our area connected to apprenticeships in the trades. The only remnant in our local system is an auto-mechanics / small engine route but that's only electives to the college-prep focus. That's too bad.

I had some extra time to wait on a train home yesterday so took to noticing some station details to add to the layout: piles of fine sand at the head of every platform from where the engines start a heavy train using their sanders; the switch heaters with certain elements that stick out painted white so no one trips on them; the many many switch lights - now LED. The interesting fueling and sanding stop with blue flags, track where you can go below the engine and the various hoses and pumps...

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

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Posted by rtraincollector on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 8:58 AM

Banks know your feeling even thou I never was a book smart person I was hands on type person I kinda got in semi hot water but my master chief save my tail one time when a book smart Chief was trying to teach baking example during a ship wide type inspection the navy does and I corrected him and he told me I didn't know what I was talking about and I challenged him ( by the way they said they where open to suggestion when they got there) My master chief spoke up and told him you will never match him in ths bake shop your only book smart I know you and I know him theres better than him but there far and few between he a hands on learner My master chief was also hands on type person some people just don't get it trades need to be hands on yes some books but 75% need to be hands on training. Thats how you learn plumbing,brick laying, etc as Brent was saying 

Morning all. Well got my taxes done glad that's over big $0.00 so guess thats good. 

Not much else going on here today there calling for rain and suppose to be bad this afternoon. 

You all have a goo Hump day talk to you all later.

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by sir james I on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 10:08 AM

I took advantage of this spring day in February and did some errands. Of course tomorrows high will be 32. But today is Oh so nice.

S.J.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

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Posted by SPMan on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 12:18 PM

RT, happy belated birthday! Happy B-Day

Never a dull moment here.  Took my wife to day care yesterday for people with memory loss.  The patients were playing some kind of game with a ball.  Anyway, when she reached too far for the ball she fell out of her chair and landed on her bottom.  She is sore today but walking OK and no signs of bruising.  Called doctor just to play it safe because she is 87 and any kind of fall is scary.  He will let me know if they want to take x-rays I suppose.

later,

Ray

SPMan

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

 

              

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Posted by rtraincollector on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 2:24 PM

Afternoon all well my package came from Choochoo today with a thump on the front porch I thought someone hit something she must of dropped it. all is fine inside thou. Got Lionel remake of the Southern F-3's A-B-A but with TMCC in them and I also go William's AA Southern 2356 F-3's so nice Southern fleet 

Been rainy we where under severe thunder storm Warning with possible hail Columbia where I use to live was under tonado watch for a while thats only 60 miles awa. 

Hope all had a good hump day talk to you all later

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by KRM on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 2:33 PM

Got up for the second time this morning and I just took the counterweight off the John Deere and put the grader on and made two passes up the lane after I raked up all the branches and crap where the tree fell and it is good to go. We got about 2" of rain yesterday on ground that was frozen so it all ran like mad. What a mess it made of the lane. I have been up and down that lane to many times to count in the last year or so. Starting to know every piece of gravel by name.  Laugh

Dennis,

I am on another country living and equipment forum that has 4,330,462 posts, 288,102 Members.

Almost to busy to keep up with, kind of like that other O gauge train forum. So you have to pick the area you are interested in if you want to follow along but lots of great information there on things I do more of than just trains like here.

Hey DougDG. can you tell me how tall the Dbl Stks are from the top of rail to top of car? Asked DJ but guess he did not see my request.

Well the deer are looking in the window at me so I guess I had better get out there and give them some feed.

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 5:32 PM

No problem Spank. I know you have a lot going on with everything, Just thought I would ask a old retired guy whit more time on his hands.. Wink Not like I am going to get one tomorrow.

Deer have got all I will give them today. They would eat 200# of corn if I put it out.

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by dougdagrump on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 6:57 PM

Not feeling to chipper, spent a couple hours at the doc's this morning. They are monkeying with my meds since my EF has been declining.

Just doing a drive-by. Nite all.

Kev, The Maersk maxi-stacks are 4" tall from top of the rail to the top of the conatainer. Don't know about assuming they are the same, spell assume.

 

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Posted by wrmcclellan on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 8:01 PM

Evening all!

Long busy day today. Temps in 40's as predicted and freezing tonight but back to 50 tomorrow. Relaxing with a fire in the fireplace and an adult beverage.

Regards, Roy

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Posted by cheapclassics on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 8:07 PM

Good evening all,

Mostly quiet day at work.  Both pains were there so there was more chatter.  Played indoor soccer with the high school kids.  Let's just say I was on the field and leave it at that.   Not much else going on.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by Sturgeon-Phish on Thursday, February 4, 2016 2:15 AM

Good Morning from cool (mid 30’sF) Southern Ohio,

I finally got a high idle mod finished on my truck.The mod takes the normal idle which is ~ 700 rpm to ~1200 rpm or ~1800 rpm using the cruise control switch for faster warm ups or when elevated motor speed is desired like when you are jump starting someone.It’s a simple mod but could not get it to work because I had no power where I should have had 12V.I searched wiring for wiring diagrams but found nothing.I contacted one of the vendors that I buy diesel truck stuff from asking about the power source and he gave the fuse location for the circuit and sure enough one of the fuses was blown.Replaced the fuse and the mod worked.My neighbor wants me to put one on his truck now.

DougDG- Loved the commercial clip!

Bob-Be careful coming off the mountain.Where is your observatory, you told me but it was years ago.

Doug M-Those details are what catch your eye and make such a difference.

Ray-I’m glad your bride only got bruised, as you said it could have been a lot worse.

Roy-Relaxing evening, I may try that in a few days when I get off.

About time to get all the morning reports together for turnover.

Good night and may God bless

Jim

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Thursday, February 4, 2016 8:52 AM

It is a cold 19 heading to 31 but there is a huge yellow/orange orb in the sky.

Thanks for the measurment DougDG. 4" will fit.

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by wrmcclellan on Thursday, February 4, 2016 10:01 AM

Morning gang!

Not sure if it hit freezing last night. It was 39 when I walked out to get the newspapers this morning. I think I am the only person left on my block that takes a paper. I spend so much time on a PC every day that I do not want to read my news on a PC or tablet.

50's day/high 30's or low 40's night for rest of the week.

They keep discussing putting a Japanese HS Train/Rail line between Houston and Dallas for a 1 hour trip. The rural land owners are obviously opposed and I do not blame them. RR RoW rules imply the land owners with property on each side of the line have to pay for crossings and in this case it means an underpass or overpass - an expense not possible for a normal land owner.

 

Regards, Roy

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Posted by KRM on Thursday, February 4, 2016 10:32 AM

V8Vega

 

KRM interesting that you feed the deer, do they kind of get to know you?

 

Yes Dennis we get to know each other. We have two groups that we call the resident deer. They come by everyday and live here. We don’t hunt on our property and the wife likes to see them. One group is a doe with two yearlings. The other group is a group of seven made up of some older doe and some about a year old and some from last spring. Right now if there are young bucks in the group you can’t tell because they don’t have racks. The group of three and seven come every day to the front of the house and just stand there and stare in the window till I get up and get them some food. They will back just into the brush when I go outside but don’t bolt away. They come at 3:30 for the first group and about 4:00 for the second group. You can almost set your watch off of them. They know what I am doing and I talk to them and they seem to listen. The third group is a group of five, this group comes by now and then.
During the rest of the day you may or may not see them around the property.
The grand-kids love seeing them and watching them meet around the feed pan.
 

 

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by rtraincollector on Thursday, February 4, 2016 6:56 PM

Evening all. Been a fair day started with having to goto the V.A. for a appointment in Augusta, GA. ( all was fine ) Still need to go back in 3 weeks to evaluate one more time ( the soreness around my Defibrillator that started about a month ago) anyway then it was take the wife clothes shopping ( Oh joy , joy Crying ) first in Augusta then in aiken on the way home ( about 15 miles out of the way on the way home) we did goto Golden Corral for a late lunch early supper so that was good. Got home about 4:30 P.M. 

Not much else talk toy ou all later

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by cheapclassics on Thursday, February 4, 2016 7:37 PM

Good evening all,Busy day at work.  Had a nice walk at noon.   Watched last Friday's episode of Grimm on PC tonight.  Good show.   I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by rtraincollector on Friday, February 5, 2016 5:54 AM

It's official I'm going to york this year as Got my Tickets in the mail yesterday. Looking forward to it, as it will be my first time. ( yeah I know I grew up in that area but really didn't know about it until after I got out of the Navy) 

Morning all not much planned for today. Maybe some straightening up around here. Need get moving take my morning meds and see whats going on for the day hope you all have a good day.

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Friday, February 5, 2016 6:03 AM

TGIF.....

On Sunday, I'm heading to Cambridge, Maryland for a conference.  Fife can I buy you lunch on Monday as I motor around Baltimore? PizzaCoffeeWow

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

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Posted by tinplatacis on Friday, February 5, 2016 6:36 AM

Morning y'all! 

Been bored as all get out, all work, no fun. Still have the tree up (lol), and got my dog to chase a jar of peanut butter on a train. Got sick, and temporary lack of hearing is one of the side effects of it. Not fun. I think I finally figured out how to make injection molds for plastic. We will see if anything ever comes from that. I really just need a good old, hands on project to get me out of this slump. Haven't been near the train room since before Christmas, too. When I finished the wiring. Grg. 

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Posted by fifedog on Friday, February 5, 2016 7:03 AM

Mornin' boys.  Dusting of snohizo in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Wifey and oldest princess taking boy to Disney on Ice today.  Meanwhile, off to doc's for quickie check-up for me.

Buckeye - will your travels bring you near MD147...?

rt - Look forward to meeting up with you at YORK. Left HugRight Hug

 

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Posted by KRM on Friday, February 5, 2016 9:52 AM

Good late morning,
Well the day started out at 27 degrees as I drove to the dentist for my 6 month check up. Now it is 28 and they say no better than 32. Unlike yesterday today is cloudy. Maybe work on prepping the wall in the kitchen for the tile job I want to do next week. Maybe not.

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by rtraincollector on Friday, February 5, 2016 11:52 AM

Fife look forward to meeting all you guys too. Probably will basically be friday Photo shoot only but still want to meet with you all. 

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by Banks on Friday, February 5, 2016 7:40 PM

Hello there,

TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not a lot planned for this weekend. Want to get the last of Christmas put away. Sunday is my turn to count collection. That will shoot most of the day.

RT........You'll love York. I usually don't buy much but I really enjoy seeing lots of interesting trains. Looking forward to meeting you. Got to look up my registration and get it sent in.

Watching Boss and thinking about turning in early.

 

Prayers for those in need.

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Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Friday, February 5, 2016 8:27 PM

FIFE.... My travels can easily bring me near MD147 or about anywhere else on Monday, February 8th after 10:00 am EST. Automobile A specific address can really help the GPS hone in on a point.Captain 

RT....Since you are going to York, I believe I will go too. Big Smile

 

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

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Posted by wrmcclellan on Friday, February 5, 2016 9:46 PM

Evening all!

Nice day here. Mid 50's as predicted. Pretty cold tonight. Went to dinner with neighbors. New Thai restaurant in the neighborhood. Good food and served hot/ fresh.

Enjoying evening with a fire and A beverage.

Boat show this weekend and next. Likely going tomorrow.

Fife - watch your wallet or it will end up in Ohizo.

RT - great news about your York trip. Looking forward to meeting you in person.

Have a great evening all!

Regards, Roy

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Posted by cheapclassics on Friday, February 5, 2016 9:46 PM

Good evening all,

Another quiet day at work.  Pain one was gone so pain two had no one to talk to.  (Gee, that was too bad...not).  Walk was very good.  Maintained good pace and the weather was nice.  I went pretty fast down the straight aways, but I had a little push in the turns.  Next pit stop I make will take out a half turn of wing to free up the front end a little.  LOL  Did get to see three of my "regulars" on my walk.  I will have to explain that some time.  Watched Grimm tonight.  Good episode.   Watched some Coldplay videos on Youtube to see if I want to watch the half time show.  I think I will pass.  Maybe I am getting too old....  Going to Kokomo tomorrow for a train show.  Also, will see my sister as well.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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