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

[underworld]

Roy I think I'll pass on trying the vegamite....your at least the 10th person I've heard say it's not exactly a tasty treat!

John Baker What is Marmite???

 

About 22 degrees right now....we're supposed to have some HIGHS this week in the single digits!!!

 

underworld

Underworld, Marmite is a bi-product of the brewing industry. People usually have a strong reaction to their first taste. I like it on toast , but my cousin from California hates the stuff it was intresting watching her face when she tried it while visiting us.

http://www.marmite.com/ 

However if it came down to Marmite or Waffles, Waffles win hands down.  

Nick's guide to obscure and not so obscure UK food continues....LOL

 

Nick and John Baker Thanks for the Marmite info! I guess I'll have to try it sometime. The local Meijer store (kind of like WalMart) has an international food department, I'll have to see if they carry it. They do have real Kit Kat bars....the ones that they make in this country use artificial chocolate!!!! They also have greats like Violet Crumble and Aero Bars.

underworld

[laz 57]

Guys,

Cold here too, high of 35 for today, and windy. Supposed to get real cold Tuesday with a high of 20. Good train running weather, although the basement train room is getting a little chilly.

I ran my B&O F7 ABA from K-Line this morning pulling a 5 car set of B&O 18 inchers from K-line. On the other loop my son was running the B&O E7 ABA from Williams pulling a 5 car set of MTH premier streamliners. Beautiful stuff.

Laz 57, you got a heck of a deal on the NYC F3 from MTH and six cars. After running my B&O stuff this morning I don't know what got into me with the NYC F3s. I guess the grass is always greener.

We are having a Superbowl party here tonight, 25 people coming, so we have been running around getting everything in order all weekend.

Go Bears!!! 

 

 

 

CRAIGNOR,  How do you like those K-line F7s?  I was thinking of those or the K-line f3s that came out in 2004.  Do all the units have motors and do they smoke?  I'll be looking for those in ALLENTOWN on Feb. 24th when they are having the big show there.

laz57

[A&Y Ry]

Most years I fall asleep and miss the less than super football game and always miss the awful halftime show. Any way, one can watch the series on the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders tryouts on Channel 57 which is far better [keeps most o-gaugers awake].

 

underworld:

Toledo's Mud Hens. In late Spring 1950 I was on a Navy Far East baseball team in Sasebo, Japan with a "bonus baby" pitcher owned by the Mud Hens named Lefty Jukes. Also later a outstanding righthander from LaGrange Georgia named Cardwell joined Jukes on our staff.

Korean War started before we could whup everyone and win the Far East Military Championship. We were in an Amphibious outfit and most were immediately assigned with our Landing Boats to scattered duty stations---I drew a short straw and after Inchon served with a Marine Combat Team [CTE 95.23] on an island in costal North Korea [I was mostly too frightened to be scared]. 

[underworld]

Well I was really bored at work yesterday so I threw this together... just a rough rendering of what I am contemplating for the new house train room...



--- Click slightly to the right of the image and it will blowup in a new window... you can then click the other image and it gets bigger. ---

The RR Yard is self explanatory...

The 6 track 'yard' is going to be a passenger station - very large... each loop will have its own 'Express' track with two sidings to get to their area of the station.

The yellow line is a two trolley line... but now that I have see the SuperStreets video that may change...

The blue line is a logging train line.

There are two two track bridges in the background over the river and a single track bridge in front of the double bridge, slightly lower.

The mountain line would be 16 inches above base, most of the track would be at grade 0", the mainlines would attain a maximum height above grade of 8", no uphill grades greater than 3% and no downhill grades greater than 2%.

There will be a town between the passenger station and the lake, to the right of town will be a mountain in the background and a large oil field in the foreground.  There will be another mountain in the rear left corner, with farm land in the foreground to the left of town.

The turntable will be removable to provide access to the yard.  The 4 long spurs off the turntable will be covered by a scratch built roundhouse.

Really interesting design....I wish I had that much room available!

underworld

[dwiemer]

Marty, my pleasure.  It seems that we hear a lot of negative things about them, and about many things.   It is great to also tell some good things.  Now, if we could only get them to build an O gauge layout with the same level of resources that they put into Epcot, .....Oh, I am dreaming.

Dennis

[MartyE]

Dennis

Thanks for that story.  I'm glad she had such a great experience as Disney.  Those folks sure know how to make someone feel special. 

[dwiemer]

 

But probably their most famous for their Southern Hospitality & getting together for warm friendship & good conversation !!

Thanks, John 

 

John, I am glad you got  a shot of the Chief and I on a good day, sometimes it seems like we have more bad than good.  I remember this particular day, we started with a nice big bowl of grits and had some catfish and hushpuppies for dinner.  Just don't get any better than this.

On a serious note, had some friends with a severely handy capped daughter, who came to visit with us.  They are in the process of adopting from China and wanted to ask lots of questions/ see our photos and all from our experience.  Anyway, they had gone to Walt Disney World with their daughter a few weeks ago.  From the time they entered, they were treated like royalty.  All the characters came up to the daughter and played with her.  They had special people, who when they saw her in line, they would bring her and the parents around and bring her in the front for every ride/attraction, no wait.  And most significant, They had a Family photo taken.  The girl was unable to hold her head up.  when they looked at the photo, they could not see the girls face.  The folks at Disney took the information, and searched through some other photos that they had of the daughter when she could sit up.  They had the graphics folks work on the photos for a couple of weeks and send the family the doctored photo which looks great (can't see any signs it was not as taken), and then to top it all off, Disney did this for free.  So, for a brief moment in time, their daughter was given the chance to be treated like a princess and when the family photo on the wall is seen, she is no longer this disfigured girl with many difficulties, she is just a girl.

Humbled,

Dennis

[fifedog]

csxt30 - that's good stuff riechair...

[1688torpedo]

  Hello All!   CSXJohn-  I didn't know the Chief's Yacht was anchored in Ashtabula Harbor! I hope it is licensed as well. & it better not have any Grits on board as they are considered contraband & addictive too. The Chief must be really working hard on his layout as it is freezing here. However, never fear. We are happy to share our Snow & Cold with the Rebs down South. We are not selfish. We are very kind & giving. So, "Let it Snow all the way to Roseyville". Colin - Glad your father is better & hope you feel better also. Take Care all.

[tmcc man]

Good afternoon everyone,

Getting ready to head out soon. Superbowl Party at my friends house, right after dinner at his house. It should be a good deal.

Craignor welcome to the Pot. You should check in when you can. This is a great bunch of guys, and gal, Lisa.

[Craignor]

Guys,

Cold here too, high of 35 for today, and windy. Supposed to get real cold Tuesday with a high of 20. Good train running weather, although the basement train room is getting a little chilly.

I ran my B&O F7 ABA from K-Line this morning pulling a 5 car set of B&O 18 inchers from K-line. On the other loop my son was running the B&O E7 ABA from Williams pulling a 5 car set of MTH premier streamliners. Beautiful stuff.

Laz 57, you got a heck of a deal on the NYC F3 from MTH and six cars. After running my B&O stuff this morning I don't know what got into me with the NYC F3s. I guess the grass is always greener.

We are having a Superbowl party here tonight, 25 people coming, so we have been running around getting everything in order all weekend.

Go Bears!!! 

 

 

[csxt30]

Marty, we never watch the Super Bowl.......................   The more refined in life.  

Translated from Suthern to English, this means, "The TV doesn't work because we don't have electricity or indoor plumbing.  We go hang out with our buddies at the moonshine still in the hollow."

Buckeye : we don't want to short change them guys down there cause I know they do a lot of other outdoor activities too !!

Like sailing & camping out !!

How about big tournaments, with score by score accounts on the radio ? !!

 

But probably their most famous for their Southern Hospitality & getting together for warm friendship & good conversation !!

Thanks, John 

 

[ChiefEagles]

Marty, we never watch the Super Bowl.......................   The more refined in life.  

Translated from Suthern to English, this means, "The TV doesn't work because we don't have electricity or indoor plumbing.  We go hang out with our buddies at the moonshine still in the hollow."

Still more refined than the Ohizo gang.

Marty, got isle seats on two long flights [one RDU to Pheonix] and up front.  Home to get booted to big seats on them.  Middle seats are no fun and then you get some lady seated next to you that needs a seatbelt extender.    Good luck.  Maybe you will get to move.  Present your Gold Preferred at the counter and see if they have any "holes" in their seating.  Maybe big seats will notify you.

Cold and windy.  Getting colder by the minute.  Bundle up and walk to the pond.  Later.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Marty, we never watch the Super Bowl.......................   The more refined in life.  

Translated from Suthern to English, this means, "The TV doesn't work because we don't have electricity or indoor plumbing.  We go hang out with our buddies at the moonshine still in the hollow."

[underworld]

Cheer up, Marty. It's Groundhog Day!

Another busy mawnin' heah. I just took a break for lunch. I like David's idea of an erotica column in CTT. A scantilly clad hottie with toy trains in each issue would really boost circulation!

I love scantilly clad hotties . . .

Jim 

Sounds like a GREAT idea!!! I'm a photographer....

so I work with quite a few hotties......

underworld

[underworld]

Buckeye:  Those stones are mighty rough!  I've had 4  - but was "lucky" enough to pass them within a few hours.  Had a 8lb 13oz baby which wasn't as bad and I'm telling you THAT WAS NOT EASY!  (Sorry guys, you have no idea what that's like!)  My son has had 2 of those bad boys and he's pretty tough but they put him on the ground in a heartbeat!

Underworld:  Others may know but I don't - What part of the country are in?

Well, our weathermen/women have egg all over their faces - They all missed this one.  Supposed to have gotten 3-5 inches of the white stuff and all we had was a dusting- which was gone in an hour after it stopped.  Now it's just a nasty cold drizzle.  Stayed home today and worked on the dreaded taxes.

Hey, I love shredded wheat!

Lisa

Hi Lisa, sorry haven't been on in a few days. I'm in  snOHIO !!! Toledo, home of the Jeep, Tony Packo's, The Mud Hens, and fortunately inaccurate weather forcasters!!! If we had 5% of the snow they called for so far this season we would have a few feet on the ground. Instead we have about 1 - 2 inches that fell last Sunday and right now I think it's too cold to snow! I'm hoping to hold off any significant snow till I can finish working on my other car because the one I'm driving right now doesn't have reverse!!!

underworld

[Brutus]

Marty, you can't kid us - we all know the Super Bowl was really "in the can" a month ago.  They shoot it out in the desert at the same studio where they filmed the "Moon Landings".  If it's 3GB of info, Lionel should sell all those manuals and diagrams on a DVD-ROM for like $10.  They could include all their old commercials and stuff, too!  Cold here in Arnold - friends are dropping their kids off so the wives can have a Pampered Chef party.  My friend John is coming over and we'll all make some pizzas and watch dvds.

TTFN!

[dbaker48]

Brent - Hope it all works out for you on the house hunting!!  A tremendous ordeal!!!!

Jeffelectric - Spend money at a LHS?  No way, saving everything I can find for York.  Very busy doing all the pre York stuff.

- Bought wife an eliptical machine she liked.

- Began thinking about Valentines gift. (Theatre tickets?)

- Anticipated honey-do list.  

Also, John what's happening at the Museum?  havn't heard anything about it... nothing since the day you spent all morning hooking up a coffee pot.

 Roy - Provided this information a while back during a conversation regarding Service Manuals, documentation, etc..  It was a link to Lionels website and the available documentation that can be downloaded in pdf format.  I finished downloading all the information, it comes to about 3 gig total.  Really great information to have at your finger tips.  I can REALLY become dangerous now.  THANKS ROY !!!  (I attached a sample here)

 

 

 

 

 Got elevated G scale shelving painted, ready to start hanging.  Checking track inventory, and bid on a couple lots on the bay.  

SO ENJOY THE DAY.....  MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN!!! 

 

 

 

[MartyE]

Cheif

Being in Television and have worked at least 10 super bowls I am more than happy not to watch it when I do get the chance to be home.  Last year on game day we worked for 26 hours straight.  Nope not missing that one bit!

  On a unfortunate note since they had to change my reservation for next weeks flights, I am now in a center seat from Phoenix to Pitt on Friday.  Imagine that a CP in a center seat!

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all.  Three pages since last night!!!!!!!   At this rate, we will jam the server in less than a year.  Mitch, glad to see you back and only on a trip and not anything bad.  John B and Nic, hope you have sweet ice tea [none of that hot stuff the Queen drinks ] when I go to England.  Wife has always wanted to go but does not like to fly and especially over water.  I laugh.  She says, "What if something happens?"  I say, "You are going to land."  Now it may be a hard landing but you are going to come down.

 

Everyone keeps talking about this "Super Bowl"  What is that?  Should I be concerned?

Anyways I plan on spending a better part of the day adding more foam landscaping to my layout if it's not too cold downstairs.  Bought 3 cans so I need to plan every use so I can empty a can in one use unless anyone knows how to keep them for a few hours without clogging.  It's just a bit nippy here. at 6degrees.

Marty, we never watch the Super Bowl.  We use to go to the movies and eat out as we were the only one there [not really, be surprised at the folks who don't watch it].  The more refined in life.  

Back from Early Church and SS.  Now to go eat out.    Have a great day.  OH, NC State beat Carolina last night.  Big upset.  Sidney Lowe [coach] wore a red blazer for this event.  It was in honor of Jimmy V.

Later

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

  Its a balmy 18 degrees here.  To get to 22?  Then really cold and windy tonite.

MITCHBACK.  Hope you took the DAM tour.  And had a DAM TOUR GUIDE.  we did and really enjoyed it out there.  Did you win BIG BUCKS in VEGAS?  Hope so?  Remember YORK is coming up.  Spend all your winnings there.

  Called up a guy from RIVERVIEW TRAINS IN TEXASS and got a MTH F3 NYC ABA with PS2, and 6 passenger cars for $650, last nite.  Thought it was a good deal? 

  Going down to local watering hole for super bowl with wife and brother and his wife.  Wings, hotdogs, meatball, beans,cheese, and all the rabbet food you can eat for $5bucks.  Not bad got to buy your own beer.

GO BEARS!!!

laz57

[mitchelr]

They had a problem with a cable tramway that collapsed in September that set them back until at last 2010 according to our guide.

2010!?!?!  How long did it take to build the original Dam? 5 years!  That 3 more years from now! Seems those boys could learn a lesson from the past!

 

Marty,

That's exactly what I thought when I was there, but this bridge is humongous.  They talked about how it would be one of the tallest poured concrete pillar bridges ever built.  It's only about 30 miles from Vegas, you should try to take a spin down there if you get a chance when you are in Vegas for the All-Star game.

 

[url]http://www.hooverdambypass.org/whats_new.htm/[url] 

Mitch 

[MartyE]

They had a problem with a cable tramway that collapsed in November that set them back until at last 2010 according to our guide.

2010!?!?!  How long did it take to build the original Dam? 5 years!  That 3 more years from now! Seems those boys could learn a lesson from the past!

[mitchelr]

Mitch,
Welcome back!  Looks like you had fun visiting Arizona and Las Vegas!

Did you get to see the bridge construction over the Colorado River, just South of the Hoover Dam?

Brent

 

Brent - I sure did.  That is going to be one daunting project to finish.  They had a problem with a cable tramway that collapsed in September that set them back until at last 2010 according to our guide. 

Mitch 

[pbjwilson]

My Super Bowl Prediction

Bears 367, Ditka 24, Payton 35, Sayers 14, Butkus 7, Colts 0

[tmcc man]

Good morning everyone,

The Auto Show was okay, I wasn't feeling well, so I really didn't want to walk around much. I didn't get many pictures, because it was so crowded.

When I walked into the show, I headed right for the Mercedes booth. Many of you know that I am a huge Mercededs fan. Well, I started talking to my dad, and then he spotted someone who works with Mercedes. My dad asked about a training program, and the guy gave us his card, hours he works, and his number. He said he is going to try to get as much information as he can to help start me in the program. I almost died. I couldn't say thank you enough. So overall, that was the best part of my day.

When I got home, I packed up my XBOX 360 and headed to my friends house, where we played 360 for about 3 hours and then watched PINKS Racing. I was really tired after my day, so I was glad to go to sleep.

I hope everyone has a good day.

[rtraincollector]

Going to be another cold one here in Northern, MD!

Looks like the house is a no-go... We didn't hear anything on Friday and then yesterday we spoke with our realtor and this is the story:

1. Selling realtor never contacted the bank
2. He never sent our offer
3. House is up for auction on 2/20
4. Our realtor contacted bank and they told them that if the seller will list with them and they get the offer in early next week there may be a chance to avoid auction
5. We have given up on that house... may be seeing a lawyer to have selling agent's license revoked and have his 'lawyer' prosecuted for impersonating a lawyer
6. Wife wants to go look at 15 houses today!!!!!!  I could scream! 
7. Many have potential for nice train rooms

Keep you posted on the housing dilemma of the century!  LOL!

Oh, and a realtor is coming today to tell us what we need to do to our house to get it on the market and sold quickly... so I have to run... long day ahead!

Brent

Good luck hope all turns out for the best.

[MartyE]

Everyone keeps talking about this "Super Bowl"  What is that?  Should I be concerned?

Anyways I plan on spending a better part of the day adding more foam landscaping to my layout if it's not too cold downstairs.  Bought 3 cans so I need to plan every use so I can empty a can in one use unless anyone knows how to keep them for a few hours without clogging.  It's just a bit nippy here. at 6degrees.

[Nick12DMC]

Super Bowl will be on TV here in the UK. I just found this info on the NFL site.

"In the UK, Channel 5 will televise the Super Bowl on terrestrial television for the first time since 1997. As part of Super Bowl Week on Channel 5, the broadcaster will also air a 30-minute prime-time program each day leading up to the game focusing on its significance as an American social phenomenon and the premiere global sports event."

Have a good Sunday all

Nick 

 

 

[Anonymous]

Going to be another cold one here in Northern, MD!

Looks like the house is a no-go... We didn't hear anything on Friday and then yesterday we spoke with our realtor and this is the story:

1. Selling realtor never contacted the bank
2. He never sent our offer
3. House is up for auction on 2/20
4. Our realtor contacted bank and they told them that if the seller will list with them and they get the offer in early next week there may be a chance to avoid auction
5. We have given up on that house... may be seeing a lawyer to have selling agent's license revoked and have his 'lawyer' prosecuted for impersonating a lawyer
6. Wife wants to go look at 15 houses today!!!!!!  I could scream! 
7. Many have potential for nice train rooms

Keep you posted on the housing dilemma of the century!  LOL!

Oh, and a realtor is coming today to tell us what we need to do to our house to get it on the market and sold quickly... so I have to run... long day ahead!

Brent