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

[Blueberryhill RR]

Jim F - Where to in NC?  Lisa

Charlotte NC

I saw on the news tonight that a little boy found a 5 legged Toad in North Carolina today !!

Thanks, John

 

I know an " old TOAD " that lives in NC.

[Brutus]

JOhn, 5 leg toads and such were actually caused by some bacteria or other "bug" in nature, not due to mankind.  The Greenies had a field day with all these abnormal frogs and such for a while and then it turned out it was all natural, so you don't hear about it as much.  I read recently how most of the big names in the Global Warming camp are former commies and others of the same "let us run everything for you" types.  Don - loved that economics lesson.  I wish my parents and in-laws would figure this out.  Also wish I could complain about paying the $59!!!  One problem with your example is that you left out the earned income tax credit, so in fact the first two men would get money back, because they would get the amount of contribution from their employers - your employer actually pays taxes for you as I understand it, or rather as part of the cost of having an employee, which slot you fill.

Spent the entire day walking around outside with my son at his fieldtrip to a YMCA camp down in Potosi MO.  ABout 50 degrees with a 50 mile an hour wind, so I've got sunburn and windburn on my entire balding head and my feet hurt too!  He did great at archery though!  Maybe trains tomorrow - ttfn!

[mitchelr]

Morning all,

The weather is turning for the bad here in WNY this morning.  Yesterday was great with highs about 75.  I went for a hike of about 5 miles on one of the trails around the area.  It was a beautiful day for it.   On my way to work this morning the temp dropped 5 degrees in about 5 minutes and it's getting very windy and rainy.  The forecast is for 3 to 5 inches of snow tonight.  That just isn't right. 

 Hey Mitch and Laz - I see where you guys are having kids this week.  Do you have kids in school next week?  If you do that is why you get done so much earlier than we do here.  Plus we don't start till after Labor Day.   I am taking some vacation time after today but it doesn'tlook like the weather is going to cooperate.

Have a good day all.

TomS 

 

KIDOs have off Thursday and Friday and we are  back at school on Monday, snow make up day.

laz57

TomS and LAZ - our student have an early dismissal tomorrow as it is the end of the quarter.  Then we are closed Friday and Monday.  We usually start back to school the week before Labor day and end sometime the first two weeks of June.  This year we used 5 snow days so we won't finish with students until June 14.  If we had no snow student would be finished June 7.  Teacher's contract ends June 15.

Mitch 

[dougdagrump]

  Unfortunately, the first victim of full time 18 volts has been discovered.  The K-Line caboose, mentioned earlier today stopped smoking.  Figuring it was simply out of fluid upon refilling it I noticed the plastic body near the chimney badly melted.  Not a pretty sight and of course the N5c no longer smokes.  Anybody have luck claiming warrantees on K-Line products these days?

Bruce Webster

Bruce, Join the crowd, a lot of us learned this the hard way.  I ruined one, have several others that I have never run.  Someone posted a fix for this a while back, but I don't remember the details.  A half wave rectifier in series might solve the problem.  A resister of the proper size would work but then you have the heat from the resistor to deal with.  Roy, any suggestions?

Try this : http://www.electricrr.com/MiniCommanderAcc.htm

[ChiefEagles]

No five legged toads today.  Did find a deer tick stuck to my leg.

[Jumijo]

Good morning from New England.

We got about 4 inches of snow over night. So glad spring is here... The car slid coming out of the garage and scraped against the door frame...

Chief, ever heard of Lyme Disease?

No 5 legged toads here either. Just a one-eyed worm that keeps hanging around.

Have a great day all!!!

Jim 

[Anonymous]

Jim,
Having worked as a 1099 contractor a few years back I can confirm that your employer DOES pay about 1/2 your taxes... it just made me want to puke so I went back to working for someone else, but the memories are still there...

After figuring my wife's and my joint taxes this year, I decided to see what it would have been if we hadn't gotten married... yes, you guessed it, we would have gotten about 75% more back... just disgusting how single people say married people have it better on taxes... give me a break!  Then there is my FiL... retired, worked his *** off for most of his life, now lives off his retirement accounts and gets a little sumpin sumpin from Uncle Sammy for his 40+ years of working... and he owes Uncle Sammy $10,000! and the state reaches in his pocket and grabs an extra $3,000.  We told him he needs to buy a vacation home - his response, 'What for?  I haven't been on vacation in 70 years!'  We told him it was to reduce his tax burden so he wouldn't have to give as much to Uncle Sammy.  He said, 'OK, once you move in and are settled, then we can look at vacation properties.  Where do you like to go on vacation?'  LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wife told him Hawaii sounded pretty good... he said, 'Yeah, like I'm flying to Hawaii to buy a house.  Find something closer, like 1 hour from my house!'  Looks like he's buying some marsh land near the Chesapeake!  LOL!  No, really probably something around Catoctin...

Brent

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a cold 30 degrees. Snow flurries predicted. Only going up to 38 today. What happened to Spring ??  Flowers, coming up, are covered.

Today, I plan on taking it easy. Last 2 days have been hectic. I have a few phone calls to make and then, I will spend some time running trains. I need some relaxing time. Yesterday, Dentist would not fix broken tooth, without running up about $ 4000.00 on the work. Wants to redo everything. Told him, all I wanted was a repair. What a business. So, I will keep looking.

Dining car is here and ready for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Thursday.

Chuck

[Dr. John]

Good morning from Dixie! It's a brisk 48 degrees and breezy this a.m. Sun is shining, so it just feels good. May get to freezing by Easter morning, though.

Chuck, good luck with your tooth!

The old Presbyterian church up the street is tearing down their sanctuary because of structural issues. Beautiful old gothic building. Our church offered to buy their property, but they decided against relocating and will build a new sanctuary on the same site. Wonder how much a gothic style building costs to build these days? May walk up the street at lunchtime and watch the wrecking ball at work.

[Anonymous]

Good morning all!

  We're back to winter mode here in the Great White North.  Although it barely snowed an inch it's thrown the Toronto area driving public into kaos once again.  They've already closed a few major highways due to bad accidents.

Dennis and Chief:  If my fading memory serves me, the isuue with certain cheap powerbars with surge protectors is that they have open ground circuits.  They're meant to trip ( close the ground circuit ) during overload situations only and thusly they don't provide a constant ground, something TMCC needs.  I think this type of surge protector is similar to load fault outlets found in bathrooms which will trip power off if moisture causes an unwanted ground (eg. a hair dryer falling into a sink full of water ).  The better quality power bars, or at least the type we need for TMCC, have full time ground and their surge protector circuit works differently.  In conclusion, what we have here is not a safety issue.  It's just that the cheap brand surge protector doesn't provide the ground needed to make TMCC work correctly.  At least this is what I've been led to believe.  I could be wrong.

Dougdagrump and John:  If I make another smoking caboose purchase and want to run it, I'll certainly do as you suggested.  Unfortunately the horse is already out of the barn .  My N5c kinda looks like it had a collision or something fell on it.  Darn shame too as it's my best looking and most expensive caboose.  It'll be relegated to running with the warped side out of view from now on.

  I'm wondering if using a fan driven smoke unit would circulate enough air to keep the body from melting?  I think this would provide full time smoke without the chance of meltdown when it sits idle while powered up.  I can't be sure but I suspect it was during idle that the meltdown occured.   I should have at least propped the doors open for better air movement.

Bruce Webster

[Buckeye Riveter]

Something moved and I felt it.

Good morning from beautiful Ohio where we have snow squalls on this great January, February, March, April Day.  We even had people sliding off the road this morning.

I have already drank a one-half gallon of lemonade this morning.  I am floating!

I found a non-powered Amtrak Genesis.  Now the big train can really strecth its legs when I get the track.   For pulling power, you just can't beat Williams.  My powered Genesis with TMCC can really get out and run. 

See ya down the tracks,

[1688torpedo]

 Hello All!    Don B-  I hope you're not trying to say that you pay the taxes for all of us on the Coffee Pot! Good information you posted though. Does Bruce get a Deduction for his Corvair's in Canada as they are his dependent's ? Buckeye- Hope your Kidney Stone situation improves soon. Chuck - Hope you're able to find a Dentist who will not charge big $$$$$$ to work on your Tooth. Chief - Be careful about that Deer Tick as they can cause Lime Disease which is a debilitating condition & nothing to joke about at all. My Cousin in Connecticut has a wife with it & she got it by working in her garden & got bit by a Deer Tick & now there is not much she can do now as far as physical activity is concerned & stays home most of the time now. Some days are better than others for her. it is a bad condition to have. Go see a Doctor to be sure. Take Care all.

[Anonymous]

Buckeye,
Good luck and don't shoot the dog!

Brent

[dwiemer]

Good Morning Y'all!  I tried to post much earlier, but the system was down for a little while.  Anyway, Brent, tell your FIL to move to a state like Georgia, we passed a law that keeps the state from taxing retirement income.  This works for the state, but he woud still have to pay fedral taxes.

It is a beautiful day here and while I came to the hospital for rounds, the wife is home with the kids, heading to the park to enjoy the day.  Temp is about 60 or so and should make it to a pleasant mid 70's.

Before I forget, Congrats to our friends from across the Pond to getting your sailors/marines back from Iran.  The same idiot that held our hostages during the Carter administration is now the president of that country and held your folks.  Got an idea for what we should do, but I will try to get back to the trains....

Drove through the local NS yard yesterday, was suprised to see a few UP Geeps/SDs lashed up with some NS and a Southern engine.  Kind of makes for a good photo, of course I didn't have my camera at the time.

Anyway, have a great day,

Dennis

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  Cooler and freeze warning [poor plants and trees].  Yanks are invading the South.  Only good thing is the Yanks are getting Snohio.

Lymes, had it so should not get it again.  Well, all the test said no but I had all the symptoms so most said I had it.  Not fun.  I actually ended up with all joints swollen I could not walk nor move arms and jaws hurt so bad I could not chew nor talk.  [me not talk!!!!]  Could not chew well for 3 days.  Took a week to get to walk enough to go back to work.  Ever since, tick bite really leaves a bad sore for weeks.

Buckeye, there is one on Choochoo Auctions.  Started to bid on it and convert it like you did.  Real tempting.  Cheap bid price too.

Been downloading Fishing Hot Spots into buddy's Garmin GPS.  Now it is ready to install on boat.

Trains calling me.  Later.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

A late good morning to all,

Buckeye, glad things are moving along and I hope everything comes out OK  .  My bride's carpel on both hands went well.  We ended up shopping for over three hours when she was dismissed.  She slept fine last night and helping her shower this morning was .  .  .  interesting  .

I'm working on the dirt road to the sawmill on the layout and should finish it up today.  I also need to get to church to set up for services tonight.  The next three nights will be busy.  The heating system boiler at our sister parish died monday, so got to figure some kind of heat for services Saturday night and Sunday morning.  No chance of the new system being in by the weekend.  

Got to run, take care and May God bless you all

Jim 

[Anonymous]

Dennis,
Thanks for the recommendation!  I'm sure they won't go over well since he hasn't been out of Maryland in over 20 years!

Hey, if you are an illegal immigrant you can move to Maryland and get a driver's license... and if the State Legislature has its way illegals will be able to go to State Colleges at in-state tuition rates WITHOUT meeting the minimum residency requirements (all legal citizens must wait 2 years to qualify for in-state tuition).  But hey, they aren't asking for any special benefits!   Oh and the dems in office claim it will only cost the tax payers 1 million per year to do this!  Yeah, until the word gets out that East California is doing this then it will cost us loads more... I'm starting a petition to change the official name of Maryland to East California...

Brent

[Brutus]

Brent, if you pay them to move there, they will do it.  Unfortunately, both sides of the political class seem to think that they can buy votes for generations to come this way, even though most voters want to cut off illegal immigration.

[dbaker48]

 Hello All!    Don B-  I hope you not trying to say that you pay the taxes for all of us on the Coffee Pot! Good information you posted though. Does Bruce get a Deduction for his Corvair's in Canada as they are his dependent's ?

 

Keith, 

I wish,  I'm down their drinking that $2 and $3 beer.   I thought the analogy was really good.  Weird stuff like that I find interesting.  

Another, my MIL is always coming up with these "They Say" opinions and facts that are totally unsupported.  As an example, making all the major news the past 24 hrs has been this story about how dangerous some roller coasters are at Magic Mountain Park.  This "consumer watchdog association", has stated over 18 people have blacked out, and on and on.  Story been published in two newspapers, and all the local nightly news.  As it turns out this group consists of 4 people, none of which have any kind of degree or any background in safety, engineering, or medical.  Two are hotel workers, one works at a gas station, and a housewife.  They put up a website, and released a press release regarding their concerns.  The principle was interviewed on a local radio talk show and he finally confessed he was trying to negotiate a settlement so as not to release the bad PR.  A big scam, nobody saw through it.  Just because you hear it on radio or television doesn't make it true. 

 

[1688torpedo]

 Don B-   If you stop in Ohio & visit Tom ,Buckeye, & Me. we'll go on a spending spree & buy a six pack of Pepsi to share with you. or maybe three cans of Coke at 60 cents each? Cheaper than Beer anyway. I'll let you know when your 1688E is finished. should not be too long now & I'm sure you'll be happy with it as Fred does a very thorough job with his restorations. I've got another of mine to give him for a restoration as well pretty soon. Take Care.

[Jumijo]

Good afternoon everyone!

The recent snow is melting good out there! With temps expected near 50 for the next week, it shouldn't last long.

Keith, lately I've had a hankerin' for a 1688. Ever since I saw that set at the show a few weeks back.

Chief, I have it on good authority that a Priority Mail delivery is heading your way. Should be there Friday, Saturday or Monday at the very latest. @#%^&* snow may have slowed it up. 

@#%^&* snow!

Jim 

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

   Only 38 out here today big difference from tuesday where it was 73 and I was fishin in short sleeves.

  Off today worked around here getting things cleaned up.  Having company over tomorrow nite for big get together.  Going to be running trains for all and consuming some 12 ozers.

LEMON, LIME Desease, isn't that the craving for drinking lots of 7up?

Picked off 32 ticks from me last year and 40 from the dog.  Bad year for em last year.  Hope this year is better?

HAPPY FGRIDAY EVE.

All have a good one.

laz57

[Buckeye Riveter]

Laz, how many ticks did ya pick off the BEAR?

[laz 57]

BUCKEYE, you don't want to know got too close and am still hurting.

laz57

[1688torpedo]

 Hello All!    Jim A-  If you really want a 1688, Let me know & I can get you one & I'll make you a fair deal as well. Frank53 needs one for his Tubular also as a reminder of how nice prewar trains run on it.  Laz- sounds like you & the 800lb bear need to spray some "OFF Bug Spray" on you giz to keep the Ticks away Grits may even help in this case as the Ticks may not even like Grits any better than us Northerners do. They might smell the Grits & go Yipe,Yipe,Yipe! Take Care all.

[ChiefEagles]

LEMON, LIME Desease, isn't that the craving for drinking lots of 7up?

Picked off 32 ticks from me last year and 40 from the dog.  Bad year for em last year.  Hope this year is better?

laz57

Is there any difference between the two [LAZ and dog]?

Weedeated and edged.  Then took lariapee [sp] to pond and planted it on the "fishing bank".  Stuff is almost impossible to kill and will stabilize the edge of the bank.  Have been taking several loads since last fall.  That planted earlier is doing great.  Pam is digging it out of her flower beds.  Re-raked in my grass seed I had sown at the pond "fishing bank".  Now I'm tired.  Think I will go run trains until micro wave popcorn time.  Pam is cooking a chocolate/chocolate cake.

[jefelectric]

  Unfortunately, the first victim of full time 18 volts has been discovered.  The K-Line caboose, mentioned earlier today stopped smoking.  Figuring it was simply out of fluid upon refilling it I noticed the plastic body near the chimney badly melted.  Not a pretty sight and of course the N5c no longer smokes.  Anybody have luck claiming warrantees on K-Line products these days?

Bruce Webster

Bruce, Join the crowd, a lot of us learned this the hard way.  I ruined one, have several others that I have never run.  Someone posted a fix for this a while back, but I don't remember the details.  A half wave rectifier in series might solve the problem.  A resister of the proper size would work but then you have the heat from the resistor to deal with.  Roy, any suggestions?

Try this : http://www.electricrr.com/MiniCommanderAcc.htm

Thanks Doug, I never read all the details, thought it was just to turn the smoke on and off.  Will have to get a couple when I get the dozens of project that I have half done, or unstarted, finished.  I downloaded the instruction manual, 28 pages, and it is printing now.  Jon, makes some nice stuff, have used several of his TMCC conversions.

[cnw1995]

Good evening from a cold and sunny Crystal Lake where I just returned from all day at White Sox Park. And they won too - it must be me. Or maybe my youngest, for whom it was his first major league game. Boy, was it cold - coldest I've ever been at a baseball game (though there were some early season Little League games...). The Tribe look good. The Sox look rusty - their bullpen looks worn-out after three freakin' games. I left super-early this morning presuming there'd be traffic - and got to the park a tad too early - 2 and a half-hours early. Lots of fun entertaining a 4 yr old at a park without anything to do at 10 am. Just got a renewal notice from Williams for their club - maybe'll I'll do it again for one of their cars.

[dwiemer]

Well, today went down the toilet rather quickly.  I was about to leave the hospital and got hit with a emergency case.  Looks like trains will have to wait....again.  Gotta run,

dennis

[Anonymous]

Went to pick up sofa at warehouse and the front legs were messed up... told them to reorder one and they could deliver it for free... manager came back and said I would have to come back, told him I took 2 hours off work, that would cost him $250.00 for wasting my time, and he could keep his sofa... he said delivery would be free... LOL!  Did get to pickup the new bar stools for the kitchen, put 'em together when I got home... look real nice.

Got call about kitchen table... could be sold!  That would be nice...

Keith (1688torpedo)... email me... I may be interested in one after you fill all current orders...   Can I get one in B&O Blue?

Brent