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April 2020 Coffee Pot. 16 years old [April 1]. Bacon and Country Ham to smell up the kitchen. Some Eggs and Hot Coffee. Locked

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Posted by cheapclassics on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 12:36 PM

Good afternoon all,

Got the Escape back yesterday.  Looks brand new!  Went to Aldi's for some items and then mowed wtih the John Deere.  Finished up about 7 PM.  Rested the remainder of the evening.  Good weather yesterday and today.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by fifedog on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 10:46 AM

Fed-Ex guy just left a package!

It's from Hobby Lobby!

JTT cattails, mini-trees, and flowering tufts!

Heh-hmmm. Yes.  Well.  I'll be in the train room if you need me. 

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Posted by anjdevil2 on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 10:16 AM

Fife - that looks great !!!

Buckeye - Very Nice!!

Hey all, still working what amounts to part time, but I'm working, so, yeah.....

Waiting for the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds fly over later today, we are on the flight path so we might get a double shot of both teams.......

No work on the layout - still - Spent after work at Jenni's putting the china in tha cabinet.  Need to dispose of the boxes and many gavew up their usefulness yesterday.  Jenni is at her house now, getting the fireplace up to code so she can burn things in it.  I should make an appearance at my layout later today, I have to pull some things out and ship, some other things are heading West to Jenni's house.  Then to fix the dishwasher and replace the broken handle $30 - then hopefully home.  Not sleeping well and it's taking a toll on me....go figure.... Bang Head

Bright sun and maybe hit 60 today, I'll take the breif respite from the rain.

Back to work - and it is getting a bit busier and that, my friends, is a good thing.

 

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


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Posted by wrmcclellan on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 10:10 AM

Morning folks!

72 and headed to 89 today. Sunny, but potentially violent storms late tonight (11pm). According to the Mrs, a boomer came through around 5 am, luckily I did not wake up!

Dennis, very happy the fall did not injure you. Be careful! Always enjoy your posts!

Fife and Buckeye - layouts looking great!

Buckeye - you need to model the piers/approaches and cantenary on each side of the Hell's Gate. Of course this would take up all the layout space you have Whistling

DonB - my wife only participates with strict guidance - to me! 

Chief - nice you are giving blood! I am sure your blood is loaded with sweet tea antibodies!

Work continues on the junk room clean out. Progress is very slow. Argh!

Regards, Roy

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Posted by fifedog on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 9:59 AM

I have 2 spotlights working this area, with the main one coming from the upper right of this view.  Dry-brushing with all top-down strokes, on all crossmembers, plates, and rivets.  The rivet plates on the top side get a slight side-to-side "dusting".

 

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 9:28 AM

73 and warming fast.  Chores and vampire visit for blood draw.

Gardens look great.

Off to farms tomorrow to try and bear proof three feeders.  Refill them with corn.

Buckeye, way to go.

Enjoy the day.

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

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Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 8:24 AM

Good morning from Jelloway Creek,

Dennis....Please be careful on that hill. 

Don.... I put the last section of track in on the upper layout. Did a test run and then cut a 3 ft. section out for the Hells Gate Bridge.

Fife.... Would like to see a photo of the rivets on the black bridge when you get a chance and are not going anywhere. 

Have a good day.

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

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

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Posted by fifedog on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 6:41 AM

Mornin' boys.  Drizzle and 43 along the Patterson Creek cut-off.  First it was 15.  Then 30.  Now it's Day 43?  By nature, I always suspect, never simply accept.

Did spend some time in the train room yesterday.  I toned down the yellow construction paper windows with white acrylic "glare" streaks.  Improved the appearance.  Then I grabbed the fan brush and started popping out highlights on several bridges.  On my black Bachmann bridge, dry brushing white really brought out the rivet detail.  Added some foliage around the new warehouse, but I'm running out.  I simply can't order what I need from Michael's or Hobby Lobby, as it's either "in store" pick-up, or I can't tell from pictures how an item might "fit" my garden.  I did run all 4 lines, still with Postwar fleet.  Just a few minor derailments; no pile-ups.

Stay sane.

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Posted by dbaker48 on Monday, April 27, 2020 11:29 PM

Good Evening,

Happy Belated Birthday Angdevil !

Dennis, Hope you didn't get hurt from the fall!

Dougdg, My next door neighbor's weeds are actually over 6' tall!  If he had some goats in there, they would be lost.  I can actually see the weeds over the wall that borders our property.

Spent the day on Gate #2, Kay "helped" me today, didn't get a lot done, too many questions, "What do you want me to do?", What was this nail for, hundreds of questions, I couldn't think.  I believe I'm going to go buy me a bunch of clamps, (hence a silent partner).

All is well, we are speaking again tonight. 

Take care all and be safe.

Don

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Monday, April 27, 2020 1:21 PM

66 degrees with a stiff wind and full sun,,,NICE!!! Perfect for me! Rain tonight so it will not dry out.

 Hope you had a great birthday Rich.

Dennis, did the dog make you fall or did you just fall??

Wife just got home from Krogers and got TP and other paper products. Yes

Joined 1-21-2011    TCA 13-68614

Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by anjdevil2 on Monday, April 27, 2020 1:11 PM

Good afternoon, and THANK YOU for the Birthday Wishes!!!

I was on the Book of Face Friday night - late and picked up a #97 Coal Loader from NY Electric Trains live sale for $47, shipped.  It needs help, but I bought for the building, to replace the bent up one I have from a neighbor.  So I'll have an"extra".  I'll expect that at the end of the week.

Saturday we went to get my Harden China Closet out of storage and into Jenni's house - she traded the artwork of 3 portraits to have it moved 15 miles to the house.  I "helped", but there were 2 younger guys in a pickup truck that basically did all the work.  It looks great.  We agreed, it goes with the house if the house is ever sold.  We put up some curtains and got more boxes removed from the house.  Jenni made baked chicken for dinner, had cupcakes with Jenni and Mom.

Went to Jenni's parent's house yesterday - rainy and crappy for the most part, took a side trip to Long Beach Island (I haven't been there in 20+ years) took a quick peek at Barnegat Light (the park is closed by out illustrious "governor") had dinner and picked up her grandma's china.

Stopped and picked up some essentials at the ShopRite (yes, they were cleaned out of all paper products, save for napkins), cleaned the mirrors and the glass shelves in the China Closet and started to clean and oil the wood inside the cabinet - this so Jenni's can start getting the China in there.  I'll do the rest of the cabinet another day, it's gonna take a bit of time to do.

Rain - Breeze 50s - Saturday was night in the AM and cold in the PM I'm done with this crappy weather.

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


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Posted by dougdagrump on Monday, April 27, 2020 10:48 AM

Morning all.

Hope it cools off a bit today, have had to run the ac two days in a row. 97* two days in a row is to hot for so early. Getting a bit stir crazy between the lockdown and forbidden to do amy yardwork on the hill in  the backyard, that's where I got my pelvic fractures. Can you say graceful ? Rightnow it looks like it would take a herd of goats at least two weeks to eat all the weeds.

Time to move on, later all.

 

Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.

www.sd3r.org

Proud New Member Of The NRA

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Posted by wrmcclellan on Monday, April 27, 2020 9:07 AM

Good morning team!

Sunny, windy today, allergy time, and may hit 84 today. 66 right now Cool

Nice family dinner last night. We ordered Italian takeout from a restaurant one of our son's best buddy/HS friends owns.

Still working on house clutter clean out. Got 5 boxes of stuff cleaned and thrown out for today's trash/recycles pickup. Got two closets sorted and rearranged after getting the boxes out. There is way too much stuff packed in here! It is crowding my trains!

 

Regards, Roy

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Monday, April 27, 2020 8:43 AM

M orning.  65 and warming fast.  Chores today if I can get past helping Wifey with her gardening. Confused

Hope all are doing well.

10:00 phone food security meeting.

Stay safe. 

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

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Posted by cheapclassics on Monday, April 27, 2020 8:15 AM

Good morning all,

Watched the Indycar Irace Saturday.  Did very little either day.  Nice work, Fifedog!  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by wrmcclellan on Sunday, April 26, 2020 12:09 PM

Morning/afternoon folks!

Sunny and low 80's today. Had a nice evening outside yesterday. Grilled some chicken.

After more work sorting, trashing, rearranging stuff from the 'junk' room, I took some time and repaired an AF 785 coal loader that I picked up for a very nice price at York years ago. I thought it was in worse shape than it actually was. Good news is all the parts were there. The roof was cracked and had been glued, but not badly. The coal clamshell trolley was put together wrong and would not go into the structure when going up to dump. I studied a lot of photos on Google and figured out what the issue was. The trolley is a Gilbert HO freight truck (I think) and contrary to what one might think, it is to be installed upside down. 

The wiring had been cut from the controller and was filthy. I used some denatured alcohol and cleaned the gunk off the wires, tidied them up, soldered and heat shrink. Lubed it up and it runs/operates great!

Regards, Roy

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Posted by sir james I on Sunday, April 26, 2020 11:12 AM

Just checking in.

Cloudy and 50's today. No news, hoping the grass cutters will show this week. It will be their first week out and with some rain in the forecast I'm wonerding if they will show. Watched the church service from Facebook, Wife more than me. I'm glad it's there for her as we don't have a fancy phone.

S.J.

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

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Posted by Banks on Sunday, April 26, 2020 10:17 AM

Hello there,

another rainy day in the 40s. Gonna be a lazy day here. Helping Mrs make Gobs later.

From Roy

Trainworld Virtual York Day 1 - April 22, 2020 - 7 pm EDT approx 2 hrs

youtu.be/78z1GSNpymk

Day 2 - April 23, 2020 - 7 pm EDT approx 2 hrs

youtu.be/paq-aSxuMes

It is pretty much an infomercial. The Lou Palumbo interview was interesting. He talked about the early days of York. The Trainworx segment was good too. Both the 1st night. The rest was fast forward.

Best move on.

 

Prayers for those in need and this pandemic to end.

 

Banks, Proud member of the OTTS  TCA 12-67310

  

   

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Sunday, April 26, 2020 9:32 AM

Morning.  Western omelet cooked just right.  Had rain early before daylight.  Garden plants happy.  21 tomato plants and 11 peppers planted yesterday.  Tomato plants have blooms.

Church on TV at 11.

Stay well and safe.

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

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Posted by rtraincollector on Sunday, April 26, 2020 8:42 AM

Morning all

Nice work there Fife. 

Not to much going on here, been putting up some shelves, and rearranging some trains around. ( in SPF )

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

http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/

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Posted by fifedog on Sunday, April 26, 2020 6:57 AM

Mornin' boys.  Very wet and 49 in the Potomac Highlands.  Spent yesterday picking up some posies at a local farm, and gardening with the girls outside.  Pizza from Little Ceasar didn't have much flavor.

anjdevil - Happy B-Day

Buckeye - No, but if you launch your layout, please take some video while you're out on the lake. Laugh  Oh, and Happy B-Day.

Thanks for the kind kudos, everyone.

 

 

 

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Posted by dbaker48 on Saturday, April 25, 2020 11:20 PM

Good Evening,

Wow!  What a GREAT JOB Fife!  You and Alexis really did a fine job!  Those pictures are an awesome scene, I like the construction paper in the windows also.  You are really fortunate to have so much talent available.

Chief, May be you can find some pickle barrels or drums to use for the planting?  30% rain? That would be no  chance here.  I was running trains for a little bit, the Challenger sure does a great job, and runs really nice.

Dennis, The few times I've been on the freeway, I too have noticed how fast people are going.  Also I've seen a LOT of tire donuts in the streets.  Saw that are daily televised pursuit had a vehicle towing a "spike strip" tonight.  Of course he was running on flat tires for quite awhile.

Kev, Nice pictures!  When is turkey season?  Looks tempting! Is that a bird feeder in the yard?  BTW sure yard and garage sure looks nice.

Roy,  Seems you and Janice are doing very well with the social distancing and dinner partys.  More power to you!  Can't imagine you guys would have a very bad junk room.  I like the trade option you have working, sounds like a win-win.

Banks, Are the videos on You Tube? I keep missing them due to the time change.  I assume that for the most part they are kinda like infomercials.

Buckeye, Only one more section of track to be done?  You've really made progress in a short time!  Looks really great, should be a lot of fun! Good luck with the scenery.

I finally finished the first gate, fortunately it came out pretty good.  The only bad thing is in the "gate kit" I needed to purchase, much of the hardware I'm not using.  The hinges that were included are well made and strong.  They do require a 4x4 post for mounting, and I am not using one.  Not enough room.  Then some interconnecting brackets I don't need.  The only thing I'm actually using is 2 hollow vinyl uprights, which I reinforced with 2 2x3's.  (1 for each gate.)  I think I really blew it on that.  The kit cost $100 and I probably used $10 of the material.  The "fence" panels, 1 for each gate, I got for 50% of the price, ($20), because they were damaged on one end.  Which was excess width anyway.  Oh well.  Will start the 2nd one tomorrow.

The weather is cooling down as of tomorrow, record highs broken all over the place.

Take care all and be safe!

 

 

 

Don

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Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Saturday, April 25, 2020 6:42 PM

Fife...Looks good. 

Cleaned garage today.

First tree in the woods starting to leaf out. 

One more piece of track and the upper mainline will be complete. 

Has anyone used Flex Paste for scenery?

 

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

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

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Posted by Banks on Saturday, April 25, 2020 1:02 PM

Hello there,

Fife.....looks good

50s and break from the rain here. Returns for tonight and tomorrow. Watched a bit of the Virtual York  Thursday night, didn't stay long as the new stuff doesn't interest me. Last night I did watch the TrainWorks segment on the 1st night replay, Lou Palumbo tonight and maybe fast forward thru 2nd night.

Best move on.

Prayers for those in need and this pandemic to end.

Banks, Proud member of the OTTS  TCA 12-67310

  

   

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Posted by wrmcclellan on Saturday, April 25, 2020 12:49 PM

Afternoon folks!

Sunny and cool today. 70? Grilling out this evening - will be pleasant.

Had a nice social distancing dinner at another neighbor's house last night. 

Made some progress on the 'junk'/storage bedroom yesterday.

My buddy has decided to proceed on the trade for my CCI 773 Hudson and I keep the J3a. First right of refusal deal. Either one gets first crack at the traded loco if one changes their mind or wants to dispose of their collection. Trade back or pay a reasonable going price. I have done this deal with several others successfully. A 'no regrets' transaction. He likes the 773 as it will run on O36/O42 and the J3a will not.

Fife - Nice job!

Anj - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Regards, Roy

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Saturday, April 25, 2020 10:31 AM

V8Vega

 

 

it was cold clear up to last Tuesday, yesterday 96 and today 95. KEV must laugh at me when I say it's cold.

Dennis, it is all what your used to. I don't mind 45 degrees but when you add the damp weather on to it. Just sucks.

 I may have to do just that Chief! Wink

Even the turkey don't like this cool damp weather today. Just sucks for us all. Three males and they don't feel like showing off today. Smile, Wink & Grin

 

Joined 1-21-2011    TCA 13-68614

Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Saturday, April 25, 2020 9:19 AM

Bacon and grits for breakfast.  Cloudy and 30% chance of rain this evening.  Going out to plant garden.  Tomato plants and peppers are getting too big for big pots.

Fifey, great job as always.

KEVd, stay in and enjoy the layout.

Stay well. 

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Saturday, April 25, 2020 8:38 AM

Great job Fife!

Rain Storm StormStorm LightningLightning Storm and 45 degrees will be about it for the whole day here. Tongue Tied 

Not much else. Waiting on some warm weather.

Joined 1-21-2011    TCA 13-68614

Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by fifedog on Saturday, April 25, 2020 7:40 AM

I've emerged from the train room victorious.  I've been putting off filling in a foot-and-a-half hole in my Cumberland City area, that reveals 2 hidden return loops.  When I built the city, I just hadn't decided what I was going to put there.  The challenge was to mask a 6" gap between the 2 tracks of 3-rail on the bottom, with the loop of AF directly above.  And I needed to work withing a space of about 3" of depth in doing so.  Easy, right?  

I decided on a warehouse concept, based on the former Western Maryland structure that once towered over the Queen City.  It would be built in 2 halves.  The bottom would be a flat loading dock, that would separate the 2 tangents of 3-rail, allowing the inner track to pass in front.

 

 

Don't stick that lamp too far out there!!!

 

 

The upper half would act as a scenic viewblock, for the AF loop to run behind.  I originally wanted to add a peaked roof (like the prototype), but decided against obscuring the N-scale factory in the backdrop.

 

 

The building is comprised of 2 AmeriTown buildings from the old layout.  The 3 story structures were totally stripped apart, repainted, and spliced together.  I wanted to avoid the glare of the window glazing, so Youngest Princess came up with the idea of using yellow construction paper for the upper windows.  I left the lower unit's windows uncovered, to allow for monitoring the back 3-rail loop.  Alexis also did the weathering.  An awning of corrigated craft paper hides the subroadbed between the 2 halves.  The entire top half, with awning, lifts out for track cleaning.

 

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Posted by dbaker48 on Friday, April 24, 2020 9:30 PM

Good Evening,

Boy, there sure seems to be a lot of confusion across the nation regarding "stay at home", and "social distancing"!  

We are still at home, aand will probably stay that way for awhile.  In our case it really is not a significant issue.  I can surely understand people need to get back to work, families need to be fed, and most bills still need attention.  I sure hope people can find some patience to do the right thing.  Especially our young people.

I've spent the last 3 days working on ONE gate!  One day wire brushing the exsisting frame, its a wrought iron gate we use to have around our pool, and had a considerable amount of rust.  Then second day painting the frame, and removing the wooden planks I had on the front of it.  Today I began the reconstruction, replacing the hinged upright, and re-inforcing the vinyl panels with 2x3 and 2x2 inserts.  Got the frame rehung, and now will just have to fasten the vinyl panel to the frame.  So should finish it tomorrow.  THEN have to repeat the same process for the other gate.  Its a little bit warmer than I would prefer, (been upper 80's) but the time really passes fast.

I can honestly say I'm still impressed with how our Govenor has been handling this whole thing.  He wasn't too happy about the beaches being re-opened, and encouraging people to think long and hard about it.

Oh yeah, I did get a haircut too, by Barber Kay.  So I probably need to stay home anyway.

Take care all and please by safe!

Don

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