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

[fifedog]

Mornin' boys.  Mornin' Fortner.

Blueberry - Can't imagine what Earnhardt would think of the Jr/Theresa squabble...

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is cloudy in SE Indiana with a chance of rain today.  Somehow that is ironic as it has been dry all summer and now when they are having a big outdoor event for the Colts first game of the season, it may rain.  Go figure.  Last night was bitterly disappointing as the boys' team got thumped 6-1.  Maybe it would not be so bad if I could see some effort, but they phoned that one in.  I have been involved directly or indirectly in working with some of these kids over the past 12 years and it really hurts to think I may have been wasting my time.  They have a road game tonight against a team they beat earlier in the season by a large margin.  If they barely win (or worse, lose), I will wonder if the season can be salvaged.  The girls play at home in a winnable game, but I wonder about that as well. 

Congrats to Buckeye on the new job and good luck to RT in his search.  I have been in your shoes, and it is no fun. 

 Just the usual fare on the dining car this morning with an extra helping of toast.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a sunny 64 degrees. Going up to 93 today, with sunshine.

Today is a busy day.  I have to drop off the dog at the groomer's at 10 am. He needs a bath and haircut. Then, at Noon, I will get a haircut. Then, it will be time to pick up the dog. This afternoon, I will take it easy. I guess this is " haircut " day.

Indians are still holding First place in their division. Looks like they may be in the playoffs.

I watched the program " Dale " last night. It was very good. Showed all the old Nascar races and even the last one at Daytona, which was his last.

No time for trains today. I will take some time this weekend to do some train running.

Well, Dining Car is here. Looks like the usual menu. Breakfast is served.

Y'all have a great Thursday.

Chuck

[laz 57]

Good morning from New England.

Brutus, I mean Jim, please tell us how you were able to change your name and keep your post count intact. I might want to change my name as well.

Hey Laz, how is the layout coming along? You haven't provided an update for a while now.

Off tomorrow to have some work done on the old (and beloved) Chevy. A lifter has become loud all of a sudden. 149,000+ miles on her and I want to keep her until she reaches 200,000. The Chevy, not my wife.

I finally broke down and watered the lawn last night. It's turned a lovely tan color.  

Time for tea and crumpets.

Am I the only one who didn't find the parrot in that photo? 

Jim 

 

JIM, We are done with all the bench work, track and wiring.  We have a gun show on Saturday and I plan to take camera and then post layout on Sunday.

Later.

HAPPY FRIDAY EVE.

laz57

[laz 57]

Brutus!!!!!??????  Oh well.  I guess its a Yankee thing.   [don't tell him it sounds like a dog's name]  LAZ, forgot to tell you.  Last night at around 10:30, when I got home from Town Board, there were 16 sets of eyes over my back fence in the soybean field.  14 were a mixture of tall and short and in one group.  Two more were tall and off to their own.  Deer are completely eating up my corn I put out at the pond area each night.  Got salt block too.  As all the streams are dry around here now, the pond is their source of water so they are seen constantly coming and going there.

Goooooood night all.

 

 

CHIEF,  When is hunting season?  Might even try to eat GRITS?

Thanks for the heads up CHIEF.

laz57 

[Jumijo]

Good morning from New England.

Brutus, I mean Jim, please tell us how you were able to change your name and keep your post count intact. I might want to change my name as well.

Hey Laz, how is the layout coming along? You haven't provided an update for a while now.

Off tomorrow to have some work done on the old (and beloved) Chevy. A lifter has become loud all of a sudden. 149,000+ miles on her and I want to keep her until she reaches 200,000. The Chevy, not my wife.

I finally broke down and watered the lawn last night. It's turned a lovely tan color.  

Time for tea and crumpets.

Am I the only one who didn't find the parrot in that photo? 

Jim 

[csxt30]

Oh !! Hi Jim !!  I see you posted about same time as me !!  I just got home, so have a good rest of your night at work !!

Thanks, John  

[csxt30]

Brutus eh, well ok it's your name but jim worked for me.My user name goes back to school days also we had our secret club, a round table kind of thing. very few new members were ever added.  We kept that club all through high school.

I got the front panel back on the fuse box fit the square blocks into the square holes and it went on. now back to getting the right of way clear. and all aboard.

                       Sleep good tonite,      Sir James

Glad you got that last detail fixed.  I feel for you.  Had a big mess after a storm and contractors were working on the house for about a month - about 1.5 years ago now.

First day of HS some kids were making fun of another boy and calling him Popeye.  I said something like hey, it's the first day and a new school, why not just let all that gradeschool stuff go and start over, huh?  So, they said shut up Brutus and it stuck.  Guess I resembled him a good bit a few years ago with the beard and hair, but now it's mostly beard and stubble on the head   Call me Jim or Jim F or Brutus or anything, I'll answer!

Dr. John, good luck on the Tacoma, let us know how you like it.

Chex Mix, Popcorn, Icecream, but no more brownies!  I think Doug M finished them off!

BRUTUS ?  What will Chewy think ? !!  AND NO BROWNIES ? !! 

Good night all !!

Thanks, John

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Hello all,

I am at work and this is the last night shift then off for vacation, looking forward to the trip.  The guys are all out busy with testing and monitoring and I'm taking a quick break.  

Buckeye-congrats on the job.

Chuck-you may want to share your words of wisdom with RT and others who are in a negotation for salary.

Chief-The deer are really plentiful where I work.  It is a large reservation with no hunting and hardwoods surrounded with crop land.  It is not uncommon to see 20 deer driving around the plant parimeter.

Thinking about a display of some of my AF accesories; a section of track and the accesories with activation buttons mounted on a board.  I don't have room on the layout and I want to see the items operate.  It may be neat for the train show we have in the fall.  Aquiring materials and thinking.  If I act on it I'll post pics.

Real dry here still.  At least don't have to cut much grass.  I'll do our yard and my neighbor's but the large yard I do for another friend is brown and not growing.  Good in a way bad in a way.

Our local community is upset and in essence in mourning for a 12 year old boy who was a real great kid who had a  four wheeler accident and fliped it.  Crushed his brain stem.  Still alive, but no brain activity.  Please keep him and the loved ones in your prayers.

May God bless

Jim

[ChiefEagles]

Brutus!!!!!??????  Oh well.  I guess its a Yankee thing.   [don't tell him it sounds like a dog's name]  LAZ, forgot to tell you.  Last night at around 10:30, when I got home from Town Board, there were 16 sets of eyes over my back fence in the soybean field.  14 were a mixture of tall and short and in one group.  Two more were tall and off to their own.  Deer are completely eating up my corn I put out at the pond area each night.  Got salt block too.  As all the streams are dry around here now, the pond is their source of water so they are seen constantly coming and going there.

Goooooood night all.

 

[Brutus]

Brutus eh, well ok it's your name but jim worked for me.My user name goes back to school days also we had our secret club, a round table kind of thing. very few new members were ever added.  We kept that club all through high school.

I got the front panel back on the fuse box fit the square blocks into the square holes and it went on. now back to getting the right of way clear. and all aboard.

                       Sleep good tonite,      Sir James

Glad you got that last detail fixed.  I feel for you.  Had a big mess after a storm and contractors were working on the house for about a month - about 1.5 years ago now.

First day of HS some kids were making fun of another boy and calling him Popeye.  I said something like hey, it's the first day and a new school, why not just let all that gradeschool stuff go and start over, huh?  So, they said shut up Brutus and it stuck.  Guess I resembled him a good bit a few years ago with the beard and hair, but now it's mostly beard and stubble on the head   Call me Jim or Jim F or Brutus or anything, I'll answer!

Dr. John, good luck on the Tacoma, let us know how you like it.

Chex Mix, Popcorn, Icecream, but no more brownies!  I think Doug M finished them off!

[Dr. John]

Thanks for the sound advice on my pending truck purchase. Rich, I've had good experience w/ Enterprise sales before. The folks in Montgomery were very nice. Unfortunately, none of their vehicles have manual trannys - a feature I want. Ran into the same issue once before when looking for a jeep. Did buy my older daughter's car through them and was very pleased.

For me, Nissan is a close second to the Toy Taco. If I can't get a good deal on a Tacoma, a Frontier would do nicely. I'll just be glad to pull the trigger and close the deal.

Buckeye, Birmingham is a great place for a wedding! Much better than those other hick towns you mentioned. If you get the chance while you're there, get someone to take you to Dreamland Barbecue for some ribs. That will make your trip worthwhile!

Goodnight, all! 

[ChiefEagles]

Evening all.  got Soundstop down on ALL of the layout.   Also got it leveled.  Ready to put down the last half of the track in the back room.  Thne wire.  Also adding three new switches [OH NO, MTH switches].  Going to Mom's tomorrow.  Seems I had more time when I was flying.  BTW: flying the Dallas/Ft. Worth 23rd and returning the next day or day after.  Will be a marine dealer show at Texas Motor Speedway.  Buckeye WHO?????

[sir james I]

Brutus eh, well ok it's your name but jim worked for me.My user name goes back to school days also we had our secret club, a round table kind of thing. very few new members were ever added.  We kept that club all through high school.

I got the front panel back on the fuse box fit the square blocks into the square holes and it went on. now back to getting the right of way clear. and all aboard.

                       Sleep good tonite,      Sir James

[Brutus]

Jim - When you talk about the bridges, we have a section here, (91 Fwy through Corona & Riverside) which is one of the primary routes east.  A private company was "awarded" the rights to a "Fasttrack Lane, they were given an exclusive for toll charges.  And a contractual guarantee from the state that no additional public lanes would be built for 80 years.  They then "adjust" the toll relative to traffic flow.  If its heavy the toll is as much as $6.75 for 4 miles, when its light then its $1.60.  If too many people use the Fasttrack, then they raise the price pushing everyone back to the public lanes.  Then when the pain level gets high enough people go back to Fastrack.  Then if too many do they raise the price again.  To make matters really bad it is the only road through the area.  Next closest one is 30 miles north and it is always blocked.  Can't win.

Man!  Talk about capitalism run Amok!  I remember a discussion of "utility" in economics, eg: A thirsty man will pay $1 for a Coke, but to sell him a 2nd Coke he will only be willing to pay say $0.50, etc...  I guess it makes sense to limit the traffic in their fastlane by economic pressure, but it just feels wrong!  Is the company a subsidiary of Big Oil???

[Brutus]

Congratulations Buckeye!  And I hope something shows up soon RT.  Rained last night and a few times today - glad I didn't put the primer on last night or I'd be starting all over again.  Charles Ro sent me a Lionel catalog - man, that was nice of them!

Oh yeah, we are getting to have a lot of Jim's and upon some advice from a buddy at work I got my user name changed - this is my nickname from High School.

[Blueberryhill RR]

jaabat & rt - Ok, I wan't going in that direction.  But I did break a smile, but just a little one.

Blueberry - How about your boy racing CAMRYs next year...?

Fifedog..... That is hard to believe. I really don't think Tony will do it.!!!

Chuck

Well, I stand corrected. Tony announced today that he will be driving a Toyota for 2008......

GOOD BYE , Tony !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Blueberryhill RR]

I want to publicly thank, Chuck, who back in early May during lunch in Cambridge, OH, I told him of my pending unemployment.  He really gave me some sound advice as we negotiated the final agreement. 

You are very welcome, Buckeye. It was a pleasure helping a good friend.

Chuck

[Blueberryhill RR]

jaabat & rt - Ok, I wan't going in that direction.  But I did break a smile, but just a little one.

Blueberry - How about your boy racing CAMRYs next year...?

Fifedog..... That is hard to believe. I really don't think Tony will do it.!!!

Chuck

[dwiemer]

Buckeye, congratulations on the job.  Even though you really want to move to where you know the best folks are with the best food (grits, etc.), I am glad you found something in Ohio.  It may be bad, but it's the bad that you are used to  Just kidding.   Good luck with the job. 

Chief, you are far too busy with these phone calls and interviews...don't they know you have a railroad to run?  Besides, you have that Mayor thing to take care of also.

Rich, everyone, thanks for the kind thoughts.  As for it being bad news, the service was wonderful, more of a celebration of his life.  He was but 29, but far wiser than his years.  He was strong in faith and absolutely knew where he was going.  No pain, no problems.  I think he was really happy to be going, but that was only tempered by his knowledge of his wife, family, and friends left behind.  Look forward to catching up with him when that time comes.

God Bless,

dennis

[sir james I]

I turned this on and now I don't know what to say.DA.  Rich- I have replacement coverage less $500 but I doubt I'll get full value, more like what they say the items were  worth. I did not get to the trains yet today, but maybe later, Wife and 2 grandsons going to Awanas tonite maybe then.        Regards   Sir James

[anjdevil2]

Hey all.  I had a spare minute, I'd figure I'd better check in real quick.

Roy & Dennis...prayers for your friends.  My Dad is a cancer survivor.  I feel blessed everyday that he is still here (1000 miles from here, but here...!)

Dr. John...If I may...Used cars are my business.  Try enterprisecarsales.com.  Not to be an advertisement, but no pressure, they can get you a good used Taco-ma at a set price with a great warranty.  E-mail me if you have ?.  I used to work at a Toy dealer and have nothing good to say about the dealer or the product (worst 3 years of my life!!!!).

Got some work done on the layout...my LHS showed me a 671 w/tender and a 2026 w/tender....hmmm...should I or shouldn't I.....

Sir James...hope you get most of that covered by insurance.  I've been to a few lightning strike fires....no fun for us or the owner.  Thank God no one was hurt and there was no flames.

Gotta go.. too much work and no time...SNAFU days are here again!!

Rich

[Jumijo]

Hi gang,

Thought I'd jump on the computer while Julia is doing her homework. Chief, remember that box of train parts from a few months back? I started assembling it yesterday and this afternoon it ran around the layout!

And it wasn't smoking either!

Jim

[jonadel]

Dr. J--

I've ordered the Consumer's Report print outs on the last two Toyota's I've purchased, it's a good value at $10.00. When I last compared Nissan to Toyota I found that the Nissan's had a higher incendences of repairs than Toyota, that being said, Nissan is still an excellent product but it's not a Toyota (put down your flame throwers, I've owned two Nissans that I really enjoyed).

When I went in last time to buy at the Toyota dealership I knew which car I wanted, on the lot, and said this is what I will give you. Period. They didn't even counter offer, so I said to the young salesman "I know you can't make the deals so tell your sales manager that if he doesn't meet my price I'm driving 30 miles where I know they will take the deal, you folks lost me on my Tundra & 4 Runner, do you want that to happen again?" They met my price within 60 seconds, end of story.

[dougdagrump]

Afternoon All !

What a BEAUTIFUL day, mid 80's, humidity is gone and no more A/C. Went out with my coffee well before sunrise and it was almost enuff to give you a chill.

Dr John, That is why I was leaning more towards the Nissan, manufacturer & dealer incentives whereas Toyota wasn't offering squat. But if you look at the Toyota lots it sure seems as though they are sitting on a lot of inventory.

Sounds as if Chief is on somebody's list for screwing up a windfall profit. Isn't it fun when you can do the right thing and get someone teed off at the same time.

[ChiefEagles]

Afternoon.  Got ready to work on layout.  Phone rings.  TV interview.  Finish and haed to Lowes and cell rings.  Interview.  The day has gone that way and no lunch nor layout work!!!!.  I made the Wake Co Schools mad when I "testyfied" before the County Comm yesterday.  They were going to pay 150% over the value of land for a school in Rolesville.  Lots of calls and emails praising me for my stand. 

BTW:  Who is Buckeye?????

Later [I'm hungry]

[Anonymous]

Well this has been a productive day...

I took the day off so I could receive a large shipment coming in via UPS... still waiting... could have gone in for 1/2 day had I known this...

So today I have:
woke up at 8:30 (3 hours late)
put a coat of primer on the lower 1 foot of the shed (seal the portion that could get wet)
ate lunch
watched the PSU/FIU game
fell asleep watching the game
rewound the game to where I fell asleep
finished watching the game
now I'm watching the Braves/Phillies game

Buckeye - LOL!  I didn't know Appalachian State moved to Columbus... interesting... This is the last year on Flllllllyod's contract and I wasn't expecting him to be extended.  After watching the PSU game again I have a feeling Glenn Mason is hedging for the scUM job... Listening to him talk about what he would do in certain situations caused me to lose a lot of respect for him and I could see him in Maive and Blue.  Congrats on the Job!

Roy - Sorry to hear about your loss.

RT - Hope you find something soon.

Dr John - That is what I do... I walk in with my best offer, ask for theirs, show them mine, tell them if they match it I buy, if not I walk.  I am not into spending 6 hours chatting with someone... if they want the sale they will do it, if not... I'll find someone who does.

Fife - Susan requested that I bake her a cake since I am off today... I asked her if she ever baked me a cake when she was off, and I reminded her that I am not a baker... I've never been able to bake a cake and have it turn out nice... mine always look like Mt Everest...

hmmm... still no knock at the door... going to go get step up for painting the shed...

[Buckeye Riveter]

Dr. John, I fly into BAMA on the evening of the 13th, big wedding and leave the 16th.  Just how hot does it get down there?  BTW, do your research on the Internet and when you go into a dealer tell them you want Internet pricing. 

Buckeye, by mid-September it should be in the upper 80's/ low 90's for highs, upper 60's/low 70's for lows. We're past the really hot weather (I hope!). Humidity is still pretty high, though.

Yeah, I went in with my Internet pricing. Salesman wasn't impressed. Neither was I (with him!)

Dr. John, I was ready to buy a Toyota last year.  Knew what we wanted.  They lost the sale because of their salesman.  Wake up car dealers!  No matter how good of a product, it is still a relationship business.

The bride and groom had the choice of:

• Boulder, Colorado
• Washington, D.C.
• Minneapolis, Minnesota

for the wedding.  So where did they choose, Birmingham, Alabama.  

[Dr. John]

Dr. John, I fly into BAMA on the evening of the 13th, big wedding and leave the 16th.  Just how hot does it get down there?  BTW, do your research on the Internet and when you go into a dealer tell them you want Internet pricing. 

Buckeye, by mid-September it should be in the upper 80's/ low 90's for highs, upper 60's/low 70's for lows. We're past the really hot weather (I hope!). Humidity is still pretty high, though.

Yeah, I went in with my internet pricing. Salesman wasn't impressed. Neither was I (with him!)

[Nick12DMC]

Hi All, Back from sunny Spain. Hope everyone is OK as I haven't been able to catch up on the pot for two weeks.

Nick