March 2020 Coffee Pot. 15 years old. Bacon and Country Ham to smell up the kitchen. Some Eggs and Hot Coffee.

[wrmcclellan]

Morning fellow shut-ins!

Started out cloudy but sun just came out. It only made it to 83 yesterday. Glad they were wrong. Temps in 70's for the next week

Finished the walkin closet train inventory yesterday. On to the next closet!

Good stories from all regarding train experiences when youngsters!

Banks - watch that cough!

[ChiefEagles]

Sun came out.  Then clouds.  Must be out again as jumped from 70 to 78 and a few.  Mowed grass while waiting for food boxes [enough for families for weekend] to be prepared.  Hope I get enough.  4 trailer parks to cover.  

Then go to FIL's to help whatever.  Seems In-laws think I should be there every day all day long.  I have had a young man hired to help me do stuff here.  BTW: tractor is running.  I may have to rebuild generator.  That I can do.  Not moving there per Wifey now.  Wind changed. 

Stay well and safe.

[KRM]

Hi,

Not much going on here, it seems that sensibility leaves in the rural areas later and comes back sooner. Stores seem to have everything needed. Wife picked up some extra TP for the kids in suburbia if they need it yesterday. We had a fire in the fireplace last night and just chilled out. I am trying to clear the wood pile off the front porch.

 Good to see Doug is doing fine and had time to check in.

 As for me it was my Dad that drove the trains into us. He got a set from a friend and set it up in the basement on a 4x8 sheet of plywood for my brother and I as a diversion for us after mom died in January 59. I was just 6 years old and my brother was 8. We spent hours down there and it helped. There was a hobby shop in Joilet he would take us to called Emil & Eds on Broadway St. where we would eye our next wish. We also went to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. I loved that layout when it was still 0 gauge. Later when dad re-married, we set up a layout in the attic of my step grandparents with the help of our uncle that was 4x20 with a 4x8 switch yard. Good times were had there as well. All of dad’s life he never stopped getting us or later our kids trains for Christmas. So, it was not a question of if, but rather when I would build another layout.

Best get.

[cnw1995]

Aloha all. I've missed you. I've been emergency-planning for work - lots of 14 hour days in the past few years - and lots of adventures pulling back students from overseas. I too have good memories like Roy and Buckeye shared about watching and playing trains in stores and museums when i was growing up. The old O gauge layout at the MSI was wonderful! The HO one is pretty neat too. Wow, $1.59 gas is amazing - I know it's gone below .99 cents in Wisconsin - still high here because of the taxes and there's no where to go. 

[Banks]

Hello there,

Buckeye.......I  don't think Kalmbach softsoftware is compatible with anything.

Mrs is still coughing up stuff and winded easily.

Still social distancing. Haven't been in a store since Sunday. Planning to keep it that way. Considering trying the Wallyworld pickup.
 The 1st case reported in Blair County PA today. Ten PA counties are "shelter in place" they're all the large metropolitan areas. 
The Ace Hardware is doing pickup orders only. Got some stuff for the bathroom. Mrs was glad, pulled up, popped the trunk and we were on the way.

Mrs and I  split a few more pieces of tree trunk yesterday. Probably about half done. Need to do the rest and add it to the wood pile.

Best get on with the day.

Prayers for those in need

[sir james I]

Cloudy and 50s for today. Gonna be an on/off weekend of rain. No news here as the lock down is already a few days old. Last time out gas was $1.59 and no where to go. News from family is the store shelves are looking better. Not everything but enough.

S.J.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Dennis... Take care of yourself and please no more falls. My balance is not what it used to be either. I received my first Lionel Train for Christmas in 1961. In the spring of 1962, my fifth-grade class took a field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. After that my mom couldn't keep me away from every type of model train layout, store, outdoor display, etc. Of course, riding the B&O or Pennsy for 12 + hours one way every summer to see my Grandparents in Baltimore, MD did nothing to discourage my passion for trains. 

 

Yesterday we drove to Mohican State Park a few minutes north of here near Loudonville, OH. Mohican is Ohio’s canoeing and mountain biking area. The campground was closed so we walked around one of the big loops in the campground enjoying the scenery along the river. Nice and quiet while the trail parking lots were packed. The park is also noted for its trout fishing. A rare river for Ohio.

 

 

Today I may take Mrs. Buckeye on a trip to see one of our ghost towns in the county. During the canal era, this area of Ohio was considered a location for the state capital.

 

 

I have a relative near Los Angeles bragging how he is going to Walmart every day. His sister is disgusted with him and I just roll my eyes.  I stay away from Walmart even on a good day.

 

Roy…. High temp for the Valley is to be 57°, much cooler than Texas.

 

Have a good day.

 

 

Edit: What is wrong with this software? I typed my post in Word and then copied and pasted. Kalambach's software reformated it such that you couldn't read it. I went back in and manually edited it. I'm thinking that Kalambach doesn't use software that is compatible with MS Word. 

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Damp and 50 along the Patterson Creek cut-off.  Yesterday was pretty, so we spent some of it outside.  Oldest Princess can't sit still.  8 yr. old brought this rocket that he wanted to build and launch.  I supervised, and we took it up to the school.  This project is "powered" with a mix of vinegar and baking soda.  We couldn't get the blend right, and I wound up wearing most of it on 3 attempts.  Even SpaceX had their mishaps...  The older boy was much better; the curly top , just getting started.  Woof.

[wrmcclellan]

Afternoon from lockdown-town,

Another day with a sunshine start. Takes the edge off. Might hit 90 today. 

Dennis - I used to stay glued to the Lionel displays at the downtown Houston Dept stores. I think my parents avoided taking me there too often..."there's an abandoned child in the toy department...".

Had some house cleaning chores for today. Mopped/scrubbed the tile in the kitchen and breakfast area. Damp mopped the wood floors in living room. 

Almost completed the first walkin closet of trains inventory yesterday. Will get back to it this afternoon. Then just two partial closets, the garage,...

Fife - batten down the hatches...short boarders! 

[KRM]

Mid 40s and rain on the North Bluff,

Took the Colorado to the dealer for an oil change and shock replacement. They gave me a new 2020 Equinox with 25 miles on it. Nice car.

You know what, they had a shock in stock?? Guess they know there is issues with them. Hard to think that with only 14,400 miles a rear shock would be leaking already. The Z71 package should have the better shocks on it to. My 2003 Ranger has the original shocks in the rear with 173K.

Dealer service area is still open but he said if things don't change they will more than likley be shut down soon to.

Chicago is closing all parks because when it got a little warm yesterday they were flooded with idots.  Now they will give them citations. Oh well?

Best get.

[ChiefEagles]

Cloudy but suppose to clear off.  Warmer.  Young man helping me do things is here.  No feeding kids today.  Got plenty of help today.  Back tomorrow.

Stay safe.

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

Quiet day at work.  At least I am still working.  Traffic was much lighter today.   Did an hour walk outside last night.  Drained oil out of Toro mower.   Slept well.  Much better mood today.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[fifedog]

Chaos at Fifedom.  Grandsons are here.  The sights.  The sounds.  The smells (2 yr. old).  Wifey had the house cutely decorated for Easter.  Had.  The 8 year old tested Fifepop's "boundaries" all day.  I won.  Curly Top did want to see "Pop's trains", so I set him on the Lionel bar stool, and opened up all 4 lines.  He was happy and content, for 5 minutes.  Then he became consumed with why the engines parked on the layout, and in the display cabinet, were not running...

V8Vega - Your doggie and FifeMax must've been from the same litter. 

[dbaker48]

Good Morning,

Had a good day yesterday, Kay had a "Skype" type call with her Mom yesterday, then went with her to visit her Dad at the Cemetary. So all was good.  

The bike path behind our house has been like a thorough fare, I've never seen so much traffic on it.  

Not much more, hope everyone stays safe with all this going on!  More and more closures going on.  Need to roll with it!

[wrmcclellan]

Kev - 'not' throwing wrenches - riiiiiigggghht 

Really good 1946 Pennsy film - some great shots (near the end) of their shops and a T1 on their stationary test platform. Very cool!

https://youtu.be/WiLIS2Sl29s

 

[KRM]

wrmcclellan

 

Kev - I tried the screwdriver trick one time after a dealer change (during an annual inspection). Twisted/ripped half the body of the filter off and did not budge the base at all....argh...luckily it was my el Camino and there was space to work unlike the newer stuff. I was able to get channel locks near the metal base and finally work it off by tapping the junction of the channel locks nose and the filter base with another screwdriver and small ballpeen hammer. Worked my way around about 1/2 turn before I could twist it off. The language I was emitting was blue/hot enough I probably heated the base like a torch would have and loosened it. I recall I probably spent 2 hours or more and was covered in oil...fortunately I was single at the time and there was no one around to hear me (if they did they kept their distance! Wise!). I had a house (built in 1922) in the old part of Dallas NW of downtown and the previous owner had poured a nice big concrete patio in the back that I used when I had auto work to do. Big hackberry tree for shade.

Fife, the fake spur is a great idea!

 

 

 Roy I can see that. I too have had that happen. Wifey's car is a 2008 Torrent with a 3.6. You can't hardly see the filter let alone reach it. I used a wide pry bar to loosen it so I could push on the whole side of the filter just so what happened to you would not happen to me. Once I saw it had moved some is when I took the screwdriver to it. My right hand is sore today and blown up. Must of hit it good. I learned a long time ago that cursing at or throwing wrenches does no good. 

[wrmcclellan]

Good morning from lock-down! Hey! This is where all my stuff is!

Finally, a day that started with bright sun! Have not had that happen in weeks. Nice!

Hit 84 yesterday, a bit higher predicted today. 70's for weekend.

Progress is slow on the train inventory. I have now hit an area where things are mixed up and I have to search for the matching components - in 2 other closets...this is because many times I found components that went together over a period of years of searching and there was not room (or time) to reorganize all of it to put the pieces together (ice cars with PW icing station, matching PW pass cars, etc.). I also had a lot of modern cars in tubs for easy access when running at train shows, so I am reboxing all of it. Cars/accessories not in their boxes created more of a space problem.

Dennis - sorry you are stuck at home and from all your normal activities. This will pass. Hang in there!

Kev - I tried the screwdriver trick one time after a dealer change (during an annual inspection). Twisted/ripped half the body of the filter off and did not budge the base at all....argh...luckily it was my el Camino and there was space to work unlike the newer stuff. I was able to get channel locks near the metal base and finally work it off by tapping the junction of the channel locks nose and the filter base with another screwdriver and small ballpeen hammer. Worked my way around about 1/2 turn before I could twist it off. The language I was emitting was blue/hot enough I probably heated the base like a torch would have and loosened it. I recall I probably spent 2 hours or more and was covered in oil...fortunately I was single at the time and there was no one around to hear me (if they did they kept their distance! Wise!). I had a house (built in 1922) in the old part of Dallas NW of downtown and the previous owner had poured a nice big concrete patio in the back that I used when I had auto work to do. Big hackberry tree for shade.

Fife, the fake spur is a great idea!

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Rainy and 40 along the Patterson Creek cut-off.  'Tis the calm before the storm.  Got outside and raked up the rest of the tall, ornamental grass, yesterday.

Youngest Princess painted a little more color onto the creekbed, and laid down another coat of artist gloss medium.  I will put down another application this morning.  The more you add, the "deeper" the water looks.  You just can't pour it down, or you'll get ridges where you don't want them.

Also, I've made the decision to install a "fake" spur track, leading to the railroad tie plant, along the back wall.  I've wanted to add an operating siding, but that would put the Lionel switch in a hard-to-get-to position, and would probably be an operational headache.  The faux siding will allow me to stage some flats and gons, and a tank car for the creosote there.  Moving things along.

[KRM]

Another day of lock down with no plans or projects. I think I may clean the trains on the living room wall display. That will leave a mess for wifey to clean.

Yesterday got her oil changed but what a PITA. The last time it was changed by the dealer after doing other work and WOW did they over tighten the filter. Took over 1/2 hour to get it off and I had to drive a screwdriver through it to get it off. What a mess. Defiantly getting to old for that stuff.

Seems as all this being home bound is slowing the curve. If so it is worth it to me. I just hope the lesson is not forgotten next time around.

Anyways be good out there and stay safe.

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

Some things you can still get, others I have not seen for a while.  Any talk of working from home is gone.  Did not do anything at home last night.   I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[rtraincollector]

sir james I

 The governor has locked us in, too much power for one person to have. I dont trust her so I filled the car with gas @ $1.59 per.

S.J. 

Make a run for it S.J. 

[sir james I]

Sun and 40s.

My wife went to Aldi's this morning. Not 100% everything, no TP, but canned goods and some dairy. The governor has locked us in, too much power for one person to have. I dont trust her so I filled the car with gas @ $1.59 per.

S.J.

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

Still working.  There is some talk about working from home, but no action yet.  Have not done much lately.   I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana 

[wrmcclellan]

Ok, after 11 days of rain we are finally getting some sun out and 83 predicted, I'll take it!

I was able to get some thicker socks on as the ankle braclets were chaffing...

Our city preannounced a shelter in place until the end of April, that apparently is getting a lot of blowback...so the announcement has yet to surface.

We got a loaf of bread!!!! Our last loaf was already toast from drying out, we used the toaster to brown it a bit!

Train collection inventory continues...omg...I am only about 1/4 through it...it has been fun reminiscing about the things I have purchased starting back in the '80's...and funny to see what some things that were incredibly expensive back then are a fraction of what they cost at the time. I am handling and checking each and every piece, fun!

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  50 and foggy.  Feeding trailer parks and cleaning under shelter.

[KRM]

Good morning,

Went to Farm and Fleet to find out I was there an hour too early. So went to Walmart and low and behold there were 4 packs of 12 rolls of TP left,,,SCORE!!!! I took one and the others were gone before I got out of the beer row.    Also picked up some oil so I can change it in Sandra's car.  Went back to Farm and fleet and scored some cat food for George the cat so he is good to go as well.  One day at a time!

Fife, falling trees where you want them to drop is a skill for sure. I used to be darn good at it back in the day. Now I am just old and worrried.

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Clearing and 40 along the Potomac Highlands.  We visited the grocery store, prepping for the grandsons and Oldest Princess's visit.  Wasn't crazy, except for the bare shelves in the paper aisle.  

On a serious note, stay clear of elevators, folks.  Think of them as vertical petrie dishes, when it comes to the Woo-han.  That's why NYC is getting hammered with cases.

My neighbor is having his property cleared of some fallen trees.  Sent his guy over to give me an estimate on the tall, dead tree nearest Fifedom.  Price was right, and this young man dropped it perfectly away from our home.  They will haul away gratis.  Scratch one worrisome hazard.

[KRM]

Or,,,, if it ain't me WHO cares...

[Buckeye Riveter]

Stupid is as stupid does.

[Flintlock76]

dougdagrump

Growing up how often did you hear "I told you so" ?

CBS News report:

"Forida Spring breakers test positive for coronavirus".

I'll let you pick a Forest Gump quote of your choice.  

 

Depending on the neighborhood it would have been "Serves you right!"