CLOSED////////The Coffee Pot is still on and over 3 years. Here we gather as friends with trains.

[Anonymous]

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY TO YOU

BUCKEYE!!!

YOU'D THINK HE WOULDA LEARNED BY NOW......SOUTHERNERS HAVE LEARNED ALL THOSE YANKEE TRICKS................

[Anonymous]

Good Morning Gang,

Sunny and mid to upper 60's today.  Thanks to all who provided their feedback on my track/switch delima.  I think I'm going to go with Atlas track and Atlas switches.  My closest LHS is caboose hobbies and they stock both, but no Gargraves or Ross Switches.  The next closest store is way of North of town and I rarely get up there and all they have is Gargraves track...still no Ross switches.  When I weighed out all my options I think in my case it's important to have a local supplier...yes I know I can get stuff through mail order...but my layout will continue to grow with new purchases of track and I think I'll save in the long run by being able to get it locally.  Caboose sells the Atlas track at a fairly good price and they treat me well.  I picked up enough track to duplicate what I had with the Fastrack. 

I picked up an awesome deal on an Atlas Switcher yesterday at Caboose.  This now gives me two TMCC locomotives. I'm excited.

Getting ready for our trip to Texas on Wednesday.  My parents live half way between Waco and Austin and we usually always get together for Easter.  The weather is looking nice for the arrival...We drive and take I-70 out of Denver through E. Colorado and W. Kansas to Salina, then turn and head south on I-135 to Wichita where we hit I-35 and stay on that all the way through.  It's a long drive....about 14 hours....but the Fiance and I like a good road trip every now and then. 

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday.

Jerry

[wrmcclellan]

Morning all!

Jerry,

We drive to Denver area once or twice a year. You can knock some significant time off the trip. The only time we take the 35/70 route is when we expect bad weather in N New Mexico (Raton and Raton Pass).

Take I25S to Raton and then take 87 E to Dalhart and Amarillo. Then take I40E (a few miles) to Hwy 287 to Ft Worth and hit I35W there. Although there is two lane hwy on this route - lots of 4 lane passing areas. It is also a more scenic dirve. Easily knocks an hour off the drive in good weather.

Buckeye - do you have your GRITS permit?

Another beautiful day here! Started in the 50's and headed to 80. Had the windows open on the house for the day yesterday. The electric company got worried and called, but we assured them the A/C would be running again soon.

John - thanks for the update on 30 in York area. We usually stay in the Harrisburg area.

[Anonymous]

Morning all!

Happy April Fools Day!  Let me be the first to say that Buckeye's announcement didn't fool me for a second.   Yeah, right! Got a big kick out of his Phunnies yesterday though.  Also have one to add to it...You know why the quality control engineer hated his job at the sewage treatment plant?  Cuz " A waste is a terrible thing to mind"

After all my recent moaning about not having my TMCCII Legacy remote and command base yet I broke down and did the next best thing.  While surfing E$ay.ca I came across a TMCC remote and command plus a TPC 300 for the buy it now price of $160...all new from 2002 and never used.  One of the big deal clinching factors here was that the seller lives only 10 miles from me...so the money saved on tax and shipping made deciding a no brainer.  Upon consumating the deal ( I hardly felt consumated at all ) I picked up my purchase last night and did the simple install of the Command base.  I think the step that took the longest was rigging a proper ground to the wall wart...the rest was easy.  By the end of the evening I was getting the hang of the basics and running 2 locos at once.  Might hook up the TPC today and get the conventional locos running if I can tear myself away from programming and playing with my TMCC equipped locos.  Sooooo nice to fire couplers with one button instead of the clinks clanks and clunks of PS1.  Suddenly, the Legacy pre-order isn't as important as it once was .

Tom,  Nice pics of all those Cadi's on your layout!  Looks like a reunion of Loto winners at the starlite diner.  What with the Loto fraud allegations happening here it could also be a pic of a CANADIAN LOTO VENDORS reunion.

Bruce Webster

 

[dbaker48]

Bruce,

That's a great find!  Congradulations!  Just remember though you can NOT programm the TMCC for Corvairs, so don't get carried away.  Now when you get Legacy that may be different.  Sometimes you may find some features not mentioned tin the TMCC products.  Enjoy!! 

[Anonymous]

Hi Roy,

I've lived in Denver for about 10 years now and I've taken just about every route between here and Central Texas you can.  I did the I-25 route you're talking about for about the first 4-5 years....and while I know the I-70 route is slightly longer....I generally feel that I make that time up since it's interstate highway all the way.  I guess the scenery factor isn't that big of a deal for me since the mountains are in my backyard.  I think it would be a different story if I still lived in Texas. 

Jerry

[tmcc man]

Hey guys,

I have a quick question. I bought a MTH 1 gauge Dash 8, and was wondering since their O gauge products can run with TMCC, can their G products do this as well?

[Anonymous]

Bruce,

That's a great find!  Congradulations!  Just remember though you can NOT programm the TMCC for Corvairs, so don't get carried away.  Now when you get Legacy that may be different.  Sometimes you may find some features not mentioned tin the TMCC products.  Enjoy!! 

Don,

While going through the initial programming on my locos I didn't hear any Corvair engines firing up in the garage.  So you must be correct about them not being TMCC compatible.  This is a good thing though since Corvairs like going places they shouldn't under conventional control

I took out my 18071 Daylight GS4 last night to enter it's data into the system.  If you've followed my rantings on this engine you know I'm not really pleased with it.  Well, it seems TMCC has a way of turning a sows ear into a silk purse.  What wasn't a very nice runner became real fun to operate.  One of those hidden features came to light during that session.  This GS4 has a whistle and a horn!  Pretty cool.  I'm learning as I go.

Bruce Webster

[Nick12DMC]

Hi All,

       Thought I had better check in. Been working away most of the week in Oldham. Not to far away from John B's part of the world. Found a good Indian restaurant on Friday night John.

Another Pub to add to your list is "The old grey mare" not a bad pint but a little busy as we were there on Wed. night there was a football (soccer)match on Sky TV.

Very sunny evening here in Peterborough.

Have a good Sunday

Nick

[John Bakeer]

Hi Nick, Oldham is 15 miles from here and I seldom go there, I tend to stay within walking distance (1/2 mile) of home as driving is out and my water works make buses mighty inconvenient (slight pun).

There are Grey Mares in Hyde, Denton, Chapel en le Frith, Charlesworth, Stockport, Hazel Grove, I could go on, they're as common as horse muck. Fortunately they don't all have that modern blight; Wall to wall footy and/or loud music. I avoid such places if I can, can't wait for the smoking ban in July, I am fed up of my smokers cough and my clothes having to be washed nearly every day to get rid of the tobacco stink! 

           

[rtraincollector]

Well it is time I fessed up to everyone on the pot.  Two weeks ago I had a little discussion with the boss that lasted four hours.  The company has made me an offer I cannot refuse and it is a great career move for me and should increase my take home pay over 60%.  They will provide all moving expenses and help me sell my current house.  A job for Mrs. Buckeye is in the works at one of the local colleges.   I am not too fond of the company car they will be providing, a Chrysler, but I can live with it.  The membership to play golf is nice, but the fishing in the area is supposed to be better than Ohio.  Needless to say the winters will be very mild.  In about five weeks from today, April First, the moving vans, (we have a ton of junk) will be pulling up to our beloved Ohio home and packing our belongings to to move us to a new house near Wake Forrest, NC.   

Sadly, it is with a heavy heart that I will be saying goodbye to all my friends in Buckeyeland. 

Hip waders are on so keep it coming

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

   Well opening day o trout fishing yesterday, da brother and I got started at the crak of 4 PM.  We fished till 730 and both of us got 5 for a total of ten fish.  Not to small biggest was bros at about 14 inches.  Mostly brookies with one rainbow and one brownie.  Rained today so will bag it till tuesday when my students will float stock local creek.  All 13 miles of it in canoes.  They are to put in about 9000 trout.  Will tell em if they want good grades to stock my favorite spot.

RT Istill got the chest waders on for BUCKEYES story, gettting to deep for hip boots.

BRUCE great deal on the Cab1 and the TMCC unit.  Hope you like it.

TOM, goooooo TRIBE, hope its a better year?

Have agood one.

laz57

[jefelectric]

Hey guys,

I have a quick question. I bought a MTH 1 gauge Dash 8, and was wondering since their O gauge products can run with TMCC, can their G products do this as well?

Colin,

As far as I know, you can't run MTH DCS engines on TMCC.  You can run TMCC engines with DCS.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Lisa, I wanna be your neighbor.

[cnw1995]

Good evening from a grey and blustery Crystal Lake where it is supposed to be in the 30s this week - great baseball weather - can't wait until the Sox beat the Tribe tomorrow afternoon. 

Buckeye, you got me until you mentioned the Chrysler as your new company car...

Roy, those sure are great side-trips for the LCCA Chicago convention - but the prices are breathtaking to me. I think I'm going out of town around July 30th, but if not, I'd like to try to connect. That Hotel is out by the airport - I guess you could say it's within a cab ride of the CTA Blue line.

[dwiemer]

Good Evening everyone.  Hope y'all had a good weekend.  We had a concert at church and I had to work a special portable camera.  No train activities, but I will be off call in the morning so I hope to hit the trains in the afternoon.  Hope y'all have a great week,

Dennis

[ChiefEagles]

Sad news.  Got to find a new home for this.

Mr. and Mrs. Buckeye is moving into my lawnmower garage.  His company closed the deal with me today.

Home and full from dinner.  Wife cooked bar-be-qued pork ribs, boiled potatoes, green beans and cherry cobbler. 

Chat later.  Almost microwave popcorn time. 

[1688torpedo]

 Hello All!   Bruce- I thought that TMCC & Legacy were designed to operate a Corvair's Horn & to start it up with remote control? Must be a hoax Buckeye- Enjoyed your April Fools Hoax about moving to North Carolina. John F- Glad that you & Colin got to meet each other. Take Care all.

[Brutus]

Man, I'm beat!  After working "all day" yesterday on the basement, I started in again today and got all the romex run for the bedroom except to connect light fixtures, which we have yet to purchase.  Need to do the bathroom electric next.  Would have kept on, but I was sure we were going to dinner with our friends, so I got to work cutting the lawn at about 1:30.  They stopped by and I talked with Dave for a while, then got back at it.  We were going to hook up for dinner.  Anyway, about 4:15 my wife came out to check on me.  The lawn had already grown so much and was so damp that I had to basically cut the front and sides 2 - 3 times (some spots were more troublesome than others).  We have a pretty big lot.  Cutting the back hill, I just wanted to get it cut down.  ANyway, my wife came to tell me they were ready to go to dinner and wanted to go right then.  I was almost done, so we decided we'll just catch up with them later this week.  Went to Steak and Shake and had a dbl cheeseburger, fries (gave them to my son) and a milk shake.  Don't upgrade your shake to include "pieces".  They had chocolate chip cookie dough, so I upped my shake - except now the straw is useless!  I figured today was probably free weigthwatchers points since I worked so hard for 2 days.  Anyway, the backs of my legs hurt from standing on the ladder so much and then the mowing, but my tummy is full and it looks like Mirna and Charla will be eliminated, so my weekend was pretty good!

[Anonymous]

   Bruce- I thought that TMCC & Legacy were designed to operate a Corvair's Horn & to start it up with remote control? Must be a hoax

Kieth,

The TMCC purchase was quite timely....the Corvair will soon be out of storage for another season of roadkill-o-rama.  Can't wait to see how the "Boost" button works with the cars turbo.  I'm sure the Roadsounds is faulty on the Corvair since the brake squeal is constant.  Will reset the momentum too cuz the Corvair doesn't move until you're half way down on the gas peddle.  With my luck the headlights will start flickering and the car will die in the middle of rush hour.

Bruce Webster

[Anonymous]

Lisa, I wanna be your neighbor.

 

Wake Forest, NC is about 90 miles from me.  Wake Forest University is about 35 miles from me.  Make up your mind.

Lisa

[Anonymous]

Sad news.  Got to find a new home for this.

Mr. and Mrs. Buckeye is moving into my lawnmower garage.  His company closed the deal with me today.

Chief - I'll meet you at Dewey's to pick it up.  It will look quite nice parked beside the one I have just like it.  Since I've mowed our yard THREE times already (#4 Monday), I may need a spare.  Thanks for the offer.

Lisa

[Buckeye Riveter]

Lisa, I wanna be your neighbor.

 

Wake Forest, NC is about 90 miles from me.  Wake Forest University is about 35 miles from me.  Make up your mind.

Lisa

[tschmidt]

It's been a fairly quiet weekend here and I think the week should be about the same. With the kids out of school on spring break it should be quiet in the office.

We went to the movies this weekend to see Wild Hogs. It was entertaining and rather funny. No academy award here but it was worth going to.

Take care everybody and have a nice evening.
TomS

[Nick12DMC]

Sad news.  Got to find a new home for this.

Mr. and Mrs. Buckeye is moving into my lawnmower garage.  His company closed the deal with me today.

Home and full from dinner.  Wife cooked bar-be-qued pork ribs, boiled potatoes, green beans and cherry cobbler. 

Chat later.  Almost microwave popcorn time. 

Chief, If your including free shipping, stick that puppy in a container bound for blighty. I will give it a good home 

Regards

Nick 

[mitchelr]

Hey Mitch,
Looks like your assistance is needed in Morgantown:

I watched the game Brent. It was a great game for us Mountaineer fans.  Let's hope Coach decides to stay put like Rich Rodrigues did.

Mitch 

[Jumijo]

Good morning from a drizzly New England.

We had a nice weekend and the kids enjoyed spending most of it outside. They were all nice and sleepy by 7:30 last night.

Last night I ran our El Capitan set on the outer loop and a long coal train on the inner loop propelled by our NYC starter set 4-4-2.

Also this weekend, I finally finished up the Chief's tunnel portals. Will be shipping them out this week.

Sox/Royals this afternoon. Schilling is on the mound for Boston.

Jim 

[Anonymous]

Monday... is it Monday yet?... please say its Monday!?!?!

I have absolutely no recollection of Friday night - this morning... I'm totally whiped out...

Thursday I started painting the Living Room wall that the wife decided should be this hideous shade of dark pink (before I met her), so I had to put a coat of sealer on it to prevent bleed through.  So Friday I get home and decide to put a coat of paint on it, done, looked aweful, figured I would let it dry overnight to cure a bit.  Woke up Saturday, put another coat on it, still bleeding through, one more coat - that did it.  Then wife decides we need to move furniture around because the entertainment center was no longer in the way.  So the she cleaned the house while I started working on her nightstand (latest pre-moving project - an old nightstand that she wanted to have stripped and refinished to match some bedroom furniture) thing has been sitting in a covered porch for many years and had a large water stain on top, top was cracked, drawer front was broken, bottom shelf was cracked - so I had some gluing, filling and sanding to do.  Glued it up Wednesday night last week and took clamps off Saturday - everything looked solid!  Started sanding.  Then wife decides we need to goto the grocery store, got that done, come home drop off groceries, head to Father-In-Laws.  On the way there she decides we are going downtown to go furniture shopping... get to FILs, drop off his groceries.  Spend 2.5 hours looking at furniture (most of the time spent waiting for salesrep) .  Have all the furniture ordered for the new house.  Got a nice dark brown (walnut) leather reclining sofa, tanish chair and ottoman, for the FR, and wife ordered her server for her DR set.  Then we walk across the street to their 'clearance' store and she finds the table for the foyer... no more furniture shopping !!!!

Yesterday I'm in the garage waiting for entertainment center people to come pick it up, while waiting I get the nightstand sanded... looks really nice.  After they leave I start staining the nightstand when the phone rings.  It is FIL... someone took out his mailbox the night before, so now we have to get ready, stop at Lowes to pick up new mailbox, and go help him install it.  Also stop at PetsMart to get cat litter and food (we are nervous with all these recalls from menufoods).  Anyhoo... get to FILs... someone took out the neighbor's mailbox, his mailbox, AND hit a telephone pole and drove off... nice!  Can't wait for him to move in with us and get out of that area!

Took FIL and I about 2 hours (me mostly) to get the old post out (had to use the 1982 Nissan pickup to yank two aluminum shanks out of the ground - they were used to anchor the old post), get the new post set and mailbox mounted.  I think I took a 2 or 3 hour nap!

Got home last and couldn't fall asleep... this is getting ridiculous!!!!!!

So here I am at work... yeah!

Brent

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a clear, sunny 55 degrees. Going up to 72, with sunshine all day. The buds are coming out on the trees. Flowers are coming up. Spring is here.

Today, I will be taking the car in for an oil change. Then, I plan on spending as much time outside, as possible. I might run the mower on some of the front, that is starting to grow. I have a lot of work to do, on the lawn and flower areas.

Dining Car is here early. " Points west " is sleeping late today, again. So, on to breakfast.

Y'all have a great Monday.

Chuck

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is sunny and mild in SE Indiana with temps rising to the 70s.  Rain on the way for Tuesday and then back to the cold weather on Wednesday.  I watched the IRL race on Sunday, and it was good for the first 75 laps and then Manning went spinning around.  Could have been a nice finish for AJ's team.  Team Red and Team Green were all in the first five.  Worked on some odds and ends type of jobs on Sunday.  Not sleeping in this morning, but just late in posting.  I had a good breakfast on the dining car.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana