Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Happy 1st of December - 24 shopping days until Christmas (Yes, I wait until the last second)Happy Chanukah for those celebrating......I wonder if the above would get me banned - wars have started over religious beliefs......Not a fan of these heavy handed tacticsAfter work, ran down to the FD to sell Christmas Trees. I have to put in 10 hours, so 4 are in the books. Jenni came down and kept us company. Sold 4 and that was the night. We did have a fire call during, was a false alarm. A dinner at Panera - the only non fast food place open, then home.We did pick out 2 trees and tagged them, so Saturday, we'll see what we have. My Princess and future SIL will be joining us for the purchase, as they need one as well.County Meeting tonight, I'll have to leave early, as I have to pick up the mail prior. I have a phone call to make and depending, I may have another stop to make before my Trustees meeting at 7 and regular meeting at 8. Elections are tonight and I'm running unopposed. So, this is a slam dunk.37 F now and 48F later - looks like the Sun is coming out.....
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
Mornin' guys and gal(s). Partly sunny and 38 along the Patterson Creek cut-off. NRHS chapter meeting tonight, which is the only event on my slate. Ms Kelly's slate may MAY have more scripture...
Greenberg Show at Timonium, MD this weekend. Not going, working on the NPX.
Thanks for starting a new Coffee Pot, Kevin.
anjdevil2 Elections are tonight and I'm running unopposed.
Yeah, that just happened to me. Starting in January I'm the new president of the Virginia Train Collectors Association. The outgoing prez asked me if I wanted to take over and he tackled me before I could get out the door!
I think the formal change of command takes place in January. I'm not sure if there's a formal swearing-in with my left hand on a Greenberg's Price Guide and my right hand raised while I take the oath of office. We'll see.
Actually, I don't think the job's all that onerous, mostly just keeping the herd moving in the right direction.
Flintlock76 Yeah, that just happened to me. Starting in January I'm the new president of the Virginia Train Collectors Association. The outgoing prez asked me if I wanted to take over and he tackled me before I could get out the door! I think the formal change of command takes place in January. I'm not sure if there's a formal swearing-in with my left hand on a Greenberg's Price Guide and my right hand raised while I take the oath of office. We'll see. Actually, I don't think the job's all that onerous, mostly just keeping the herd moving in the right direction.
Flint - There is no Bible and, yeah, I take the reigns in January.
Like the Toy Train segment, the membership is aging and not well. I have 3 years to either pi$$ off or bring the association kicking and screaming into relevence.
I'm hoping, with the help of several past presidents, to start sponsering speakers that can talk about the fire service (and bring in a few sheckels in the process), bringing in new and younger blood to foster new ideas and ways of thinking/doing things.
I may last 3 years or just 1 - but it's something I think I can do.....
All this and starting a new marriage and being Vice President and Sr. Trustee. Thank GOD my fiancee supports me in this and our collective train/Mopar habit.....lol
Wow. First page of the month. Haven't done this in a long time.
Sunny and almost 60 here in mid Mo. Got firm dates from two of the 4 contractors involved in my front porch renovation today. Their work will be done before the end of next week. More progress on the project!
Got a package of parts from the Train Tender yesterday. Now I can make progress on a 2026 repair job that fell my way. Biggest part of the job will be getting the puffer piston under stuck from the smoke unit. I'm assuming there is some smoke pellet residue gluing the piston in place.
I (your name here) will do my best, to do my duty, to train collectors, operators, enthusiasts and fans, both great and small, regardless of gauge, brand affiliations or personal preferences, to foster peace between toy lovers and rivet counters, to engage future generations at every chance, to not run off the rails to smell the buttercups, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, so help me (enter name of favorite manufacturer here)!
Same me, different spelling!
8ntruck Wow. First page of the month. Haven't done this in a long time. Sunny and almost 60 here in mid Mo. Got firm dates from two of the 4 contractors involved in my front porch renovation today. Their work will be done before the end of next week. More progress on the project! Got a package of parts from the Train Tender yesterday. Now I can make progress on a 2026 repair job that fell my way. Biggest part of the job will be getting the puffer piston under stuck from the smoke unit. I'm assuming there is some smoke pellet residue gluing the piston in place.
Jeff turned 70 two days ago
pennytrainsI (your name here) will do my best, to do my duty, to train collectors, operators, enthusiasts and fans,
I LIKE that Becky! I may just use it!
Good Morning - Meeting went well, the president showed up - he is getting around, slowly. Great to have him back. I am now the President Elect of the Association.Had meatballs and salad for dinner at Princeton/Mercer Engine 3 (where the meeting was). Conte's has the best pizza and Italian food....Spent the night with Jenni, and now back at work.The interview with Monsignor (for the annulment) went well, my ex is contesting it. She has already re-married, so I have no idea what her problem is.Rain last night, 50's today, colder tonight. One of the association members is stopping by at the FD while I'm selling trees to have me look at some 40's era Lionels. THIS could be interesting....That's all for now, check back later
Very strange to be December second and not to need a jacket to go outside. 58 by 2:00pm. I will take it.
Checked out the train selection at Menards and it is very low. Just some military flat car loads and several other hopper cars, lots of very big buildings, nothing I want.
Got news that one of the gifts I ordered will not get here till after December 25th, go figure! Granddaughter's last cheerleader game tonight, pizza after that.
I got one of those un-contested titled seats at the Moose once, decided after the fact, that the position sucked and I was the sucker who got it.
pennytrains I (your name here) will do my best, to do my duty, to train collectors, operators, enthusiasts and fans, both great and small, regardless of gauge, brand affiliations or personal preferences, to foster peace between toy lovers and rivet counters, to engage future generations at every chance, to not run off the rails to smell the buttercups, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, so help me (enter name of favorite manufacturer here)!
So far so good here, Chanukah has been going well. Video call the siblings off in college every night to celebrate together as a family. My 2321 Lackawanna quit on me when I needed her during Thanksgiving, and the other day I decided to see what was up with one of my most reliable locomotives. The yellow wire from the E-Unit had broken from the brush plate. I realized preserving original wiring wasn't an option, as this had happened before. The E-unit wires were all far too stiff, and I had to tear into it. Rebuilt the E-Unit while I was in there to do the rewiring, since I didn't want to have to be in there again any time soon. Runs like a champ once more, but the bearings on the brush plate are looking very worn so I may be looking at doing more work on her in the near future.The layout at the trolley museum has been doing well, I finished my rewiring for the time being and it runs like a charm. The voltage drops are gone, and the train can maintain a much more even speed now. Also ended up helping with a little of the 1:1 scale work, it was fun but very chilly towards the end of the day.Looking forwards to seeing more of the family around this weekend, hopefully I can set up some trains to wow the little ones (and my grandfather, who might love them even more than the kids do!)Hope all is well, take care and stay warm-Ellie
"Unless bought from a known and trusted dealer who can vouch otherwise, assume every train for sale requires servicing before use"
fifedog Mornin' guys and gal(s). Partly sunny and 38 along the Patterson Creek cut-off. NRHS chapter meeting tonight, which is the only event on my slate. Ms Kelly's slate may MAY have more scripture... Greenberg Show at Timonium, MD this weekend. Not going, working on the NPX. Thanks for starting a new Coffee Pot, Kevin.
https://brentsandsusanspicutures.shutterfly.com/
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Good Morning and Happy Friday!!!I am off for Lionel Train Day tomorrow, I'll put a couple of hours in for trees and then run over to Trains and Things in Ewing. They have the Train Day Box Car, so it will be coming home with me. I have the "green light" to find and buy a Blue Comet engine. Now, here is the rub: I can try to find an MPC era engine or find a TMCC Blue Comet. If I can get an MPC, I was considering moving the electronics from my LionChief to the MPC. The TMCC will be expensive.Last night was another 4 hours at the FD selling trees. I got 1 run in for a "burnt offerings" in a motel. Damn microwaves, always burning things......We sold 10 trees, I have 2 on hold so we can check them and take them home. Jenni wants to use the road runner to bring the tree home, so that's what we will do. Home by 10.Will try to get some ornaments on Mom's tree today and tomorrow, I put out more outside lights at Mom's.43F here and it got windy last night 46F later with Sun.
Just returned home from babysitting youngest grandson. FifePops handed him the LionChief remote to his folks' Hogwarts Express. He did fine for 10 minutes, until trying to put in his mouth (he is only ten months after all). Still, no pile-ups during his first trick.
Good Afternoon - Got some lights up at Jenni's, then went Christmas shopping last night - I wasn't ready for that - stopped at TGI Fridays for dinner - food was good, ribs didn't agree with me later on.We now have 2 N&W 746 J Class ornaments - will probably give one to Jenni's Dad. Spent the morning setting up another heated cat house for the ferals, I have one more to do. Decorated the tree for Mom, she'll put more on it then I need to get 1 more box out and finish off the house.Off to Lionel Train Day at Trains and Things, then getting a tree with the kids and Jenni - I found the moving blankets so I can install the tree in the back seat.Mostly cloudy and 45 now. Probably spend the evening moving furniture and getting the tree set up. Jenni is getting excited to get the trains up and running.Work on Monday, then off Friday to Sunday for my niece's delayed reception - she got married last year - 12/5.Fife - start 'em off young, that's the best way to do it.....
Back when I can,,,,,,,,,,,,
Evenin' guys and gal(s). Overcast and 50 along the Patterson Creek cut-off. Worked on the real train all day yesterday, and brought up ol' tanenbum today. Been a-trimmin' all afternoon, and had to "rassel" the angel on top, with the help of a step ladder. She had me so frustrated that it almost turned into a ladder match. Neck sore now.
Hello, Well winter is trying hard to break into the North Bluff. Will be down to 12 tonight won't get over 33 today and the wind is pushing over 30 mph. Still not a flake of snow but we are ready if it happens.
Waiting on gifts we have on order and almost done with the shopping. Wife wants to put the tree up tomorrow and I want to find a reason to not be here.
Would be nice to hear from Roy, and Shake and Bake and the two Dougs but I understand why they have ditched. Can't say I blame then either.
Neighbor got a visit from the IL. DNR yesterday. Walked right into his shed. Seems they changed the rules on bating back in 2014 because of CWD in deer and he found out the hard way. $195.00 for the state coffers. When they left his house they went to the house of one of his friends that hunts on his land and gave him a ticket as well. No feeding of whitetail of any kind any more but food plots. Good to know.
I think it is all about the revenue more than the deer?
About it from here.
KRMWife wants to put the tree up tomorrow and I want to find a reason to not be here.
I kinda know how you feel, but you know what? I'm the one who sets the tree up and strings the lights on it, one hand I say to myself "What a PITA!" but after it's done I tell myself, "Man! I did GOOD!"
Not bothering with a regular Christmas tree this year, the tree shortage has hit the area. Trees were for sale the week prior to Thanksgiving but we never get one that early. Even with watering we can't shake the feeling that after a month indoors the thing wouldn't be a Christmas tree anymore, it'd be a Christmas bomb!
So it's back to running the trains around our fall-back fiber-optic "Robo-Tree." Works for us!
Good Afternoon!!So, Saturday afternoon, I did get to Trains and Things, picked up 6 O-48 Fastrack curves ($30), he had a ton of O-60 and O-72 curves.... I had to forage through the boxes to get what I was looking for....got my Lionel Train Day car - #7. Bought a box full of stuff which included a 1110 engine and tender, flat car, NYC gondola, hopper and caboose. Quite a bit of tubular tack, however, the surprise was at the bottom of the box. 4 brand new MPC 4 pack of straight track, 1 brand new 4 pack of curves and 1 brand new 45 degree crossing. ON SALE! for a $1.59 from Two Guys (a local department store that went out of business 30 years ago). I suspect it'll go on either the bay or f-book market place for a collector.We went and picked up the trees, the kids got theirs in the house and were happy with the selection, Jenni and I plopped our tree in the back seat of the road runner and went to her house, the road runner was topless, with a 7' tree in the back. We stopped for hot chocolate at Wawa half way back (yeah, it was cold) we had sugar and peppermint bark cookies with our hot chocolate. We got the tree in the house and watered. Dominoes for dinner.Sunday we went to a friend's house and picked up a lighted wreath and garland set for Jenni's mantel, then headed over to my house to meet up with the cat sitter, which went well. We then hit Home Depot, Cracker Barrel, Dairy Queen (for some drinks) Michael's and then Acme (or Acca Me for those in the Philly area). Chicken and Mashed Potatoes for dinner, strung up some lights on the tree and looked over the 2187WS set.
The 671RR is in BEAUTIFUL shape as is the PRR tender. I have boxes for the gondola, the engine and tender the lighted caboose and the milk car...which is still very white!! There is an RW transformer which needs a cord, O scale track and a UCS track - the wires are toast but the controller is like brandy new. There was also a 1110 engine with a Lionel Lines slope back tender, Baby Ruth Orange box car, dump car and a 6017 caboose with an 1103(?) transformer and uncoupling track - again the wires are crap, and some O-27 track - that I may give him $50 for as a recent sale was for $50 with the boxes.I have no clue if any of this runs, it was getting late, I'm assuming it all will. Later in the week, I may get some track up and a CW 80 and get it up. I have a friend that will give my guy $300 for the set if I pass, but I'm thinking more like $350-400 - it is that clean. All with the boxes and the master case. At work today. crappy night, not much sleep, but I'm off Friday, Saturday and Sunday ----maybe I'll sleep Saturday as we have to be in VA for my niece's wedding reception....
off to work.......
anjdevil - Nice booty haul.
As to Tree settin' up....I cheat. We have a 7.5' Essex Fir,pre-lit,tapered bottom. We also have several additional sets of sugar-globe color lights, zip-tied to the branches. Because it has that faux snow look, we didn't want to pack it up each January. So I simply carry it outside, to the store room, and we cover it up with a disposable Xmas tree bag. Keeps the dust off, and the branches relaxed. Work smarter,not harder.
I just acted as Oberon, King of the Fairies, in a production of Midsummer's Night Dream at my university. It was a lovely time and I've made new friends.
I'm about to enter two weeks of exam. The good news is I have an interesting research paper to work on. I'm nervous but I'm excited for a long winter break soon.
There will be lots of work on the layout at home I imagine but I'll also have to figure out gifts for my family members. I'm visiting my girlfriend in New Jersey too which I'm looking forward to. (Mmm Wawa) I'm looking to see if there's any fun excursion train rides in or near New Jersey in January. I've been to Strasburg recently, so I'm looking for something else (hopefully that runs a little longer than 45 mins.) If anyone knows any good train excursions in that area let me know! :) I'm also excited to see New York City at Christmas time.
On the layout front I need to get working on my second level so that I can finally get the scenery going. Gotta figure out what material to use for the track to go on and to figure out how to cut that material in a round way for the curve bits.
I'm also excited to keep working on my project to put a Marx 666 metal shell on a Marx 1829 motor. The shell transfer was a success, now I've gotta get the motor running. No idea how much of a project that will be, I haven't taken a good look at the motor. Cosmetically I think I want to dress it up like Southern Pacific 4-6-2 from the Commute Service in the SF Bay Area. Might even build a vanderbilt tender for it with one of my spare tenders as a donor.
The NdeM Niagara project is also swirling in my mind. Sometimes distant, sometimes at the front. I found a clip of a Niágara whistle on Youtube and it really gives me chills listening to it. I'm really a fan of these steam locomotives. They're pretty modest, in steam locomotive terms, but still unique looking. They're 4-8-4s (my favorite kind) so they have both power and speed. They have a nice symettry to them too. Very beautiful beasts. The clip of the whistle is below for those interested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVQsQrPr3kg
Good MorningDecember 7th, 1941 - the Greatest Generations's 9/11........Never Forget --------------Sold trees after work, then the skies opened up about 8, then wind followed. It was blustery and brutal. Did some food shopping for Mom and had Taco Bell afterwards. The 4 AM fire Call for an MVA on the NJTP didn't help my sleepy time....Sun is trying to break through it's now 34 going to 43.Line/Exec meeting at the FD tonight. If early enough, may run over to Jenni's for a bit.Tomorrow I'll finish off decorating the house for Mom.
Fife - I/we opt for a live tree, it's what I grew up with and Jenni loves it. I buy the kids their tree, and I supply the trains that go under it. My future SIL is a sucker for the Remote Polar Express.... . I think I have him hooked, lol.I'm most likely going to opt out of the 671 set, I want to be fair to the owner and I don't have the money. A friend is interested in it, so he'll give him the money that's fair and I'll keep the cheapy set. HCF - welcome to the forum...WHERE in Jersey you goin'? Flemington has the Black River and Western, Phillipsberg has the Belvidere and Delaware (the Bel Del Line). Also, the Whippany Railway runs excursions.
Also the New Hope and Ivyland in New Hope, PA (In between the Bel Del and BR&W)
In Delaware, there is the Brandywine railroad and in PA (both about an hour from Central NJ) is the Colebrookdale Railway. Those are the ones that I know. Hope that helps (I'm off of Exit 8 - NJTP, for reference...)
Not much else - back later
Hey there! I appreciate the welcome! I'm going to Central Jersey, Edison.
I had never heard of the Colebrookdale RR but it looks really nice and pretty. It is definitely a bit pricey but it looks like a lot of fun. Might have plan a lunch train date.
Evenin' guys and gal(s). Overcast and 40 along the Allegany front range, where we might get some white stuff overnight.
As I quietly ate dinner with Ms. Kelly, I thought about Mr.&Mrs. America sitting down to eat 80 years ago. How scary the world suddenly became. How unsure of the future they must've felt. The fear they felt for their children, and for family in the armed forces. What sacrifices would they face at home, and would they even be safe in their homes, work, and places of worship. How quiet that meal must've been, waiting for voices on the radio to deliver more news and any information concerning the day's events, and how would the nation's leaders meet the challenges ahead...
fifedog Evenin' guys and gal(s). Overcast and 40 along the Allegany front range, where we might get some white stuff overnight. As I quietly ate dinner with Ms. Kelly, I thought about Mr.&Mrs. America sitting down to eat 80 years ago. How scary the world suddenly became. How unsure of the future they must've felt. The fear they felt for their children, and for family in the armed forces. What sacrifices would they face at home, and would they even be safe in their homes, work, and places of worship. How quiet that meal must've been, waiting for voices on the radio to deliver more news and any information concerning the day's events, and how would the nation's leaders meet the challenges ahead...
So Well Put Bruce! Or have I forgot your name? Have always thought the same about my parents in their late teens and my grand parents and their thoughts on that day. We have had it made and don't have a clue.
Here's an interesting thought for Pearl Harbor day.
It's 80 years since the Japanese attack that brought the US into WW2, but 1941 was 80 years after the attack on Fort Sumter that began the American Civil War.
Just think of the astounding progress that was made in those 80 years!
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