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

[laz 57]

Morning to All,

I'm not sure why, but our schools are closed today.  There's barely any snow.  I think we could have made it in and gone home early.  Oh well, I'll enjoy the day.  I have to take vacation, but I've got so many days built up I'll be glad to use one today and even tomorrow if the predictions hold out. 

Really am hoping for some warmer weather soon so I can get out in the train room. Been too cold even with the space heater. I received the new Kline catalog in the mail a few days ago.  I'm really lovin those SuperStreets.  Makes me wish I had more room. 

Chief - Glad to hear that your hand is doing well.  JimA - I am  glad Julia is starting to get better too.  Colin - I will keep you and your family in my prayers.  

Take care,

Mitch 

Mitch I have actually wondered this on numerous occasions.  My boss told me yesterday that here in MD they err on the side of caution because it is safer to close school than to have the kids report in, the weather turn bad, and then send them home on slick or icy roads.  School buses are no where near the safest vehicles on the roads... ever look at how they are built?  I can't believe we have kids, or anyone for that matter, riding in those things!  They are built on truck frames (two parrallel beams) and the body is simply bolted to the frames with 1/2 inch bolts, the bodies are simply 1/16 inch steel, nothing more.  Seats are held on by 8 1/2 inch bolts and there are no safety belts... of course if one rolls it disintigrates and there isn't much left but the frame...

I'm at work this morning, but planning on leaving early as the snow is to turn to freezing rain or ice by noon... going to make the commute home lots of fun!  Picked up 120 lbs of ice melter this morning since I forgot to stop while out last night...

Brent

 

BRENT,

   Why is it that if your kid isn't in a safety seat you will be fined but we leave em ride in school buses everyday and not even have a seat belt on?

I can't figure that out.

laz57

[Anonymous]

Morning all from a little warmer NC - about 42 here this am and rain predicted. 

Prayers and get well wishes for all those under the weather - no pun intended for those with snow.....Anyone traveling in the white stuff - please be careful - I need your help on this forum.

Please add another one to the list - the father of one of my very best friends passd away about 3 wks. ago from melanoma.  Now, she is to undergo a special procedure this Friday for the removal of a cancerous lesion on her arm.  Please include her in your prayers. 

Well, stuff to do before the 6 y.o. grandson arrives this afternoon.  He wants me to help him "build"  something today.  It will be for his dinosaurs I'm sure.

Later!

Lisa

 BTW  StubbsO and thanks for your service!  Extend the thanks to all your buddies over there.  We pray for your safe return home!

[Jumijo]

. . . Ran trains last night.  I swear the smoke is better in a colder room.

Jim, glad that Julia is doing better.  No fun for a parent or child.  I drink Gatorade when I'm sick, too. . .

Thanks, Buckeye. I'm pretty distraught over Julia's condition. A lot is hinging on her doctor's appointment this morning.

I've always thought that the smoke is better in a cold room. My basement only has heat when I turn it on. Sometimes I run trains without any heat on down there and like you, I could swear my trains seem to smoke better. Maybe the heated vapor just shows up better in the colder air? I also know that when it's humid and warm in the summer, the smoke is not so good.

Jim 

[dwiemer]

Laz, they did a program on "Workin' on the Railroad" on DIY network.  Not sure if the program notes are still on the web site, but they used styrene sheets and coated them with chalk.  Then, they would scribe expansion joints and cracks in the styrene and rub a darker chalk into it, makes for some very realistic looking steets, and they also used it for sidewalks.  It is on a segment about city scenes and vignetts.

Hope everyone has a blessed day.

dennis

[laz 57]

Thanks DENNIS, I'll be looking for it.

laz57

[Anonymous]

Morning to All,

I'm not sure why, but our schools are closed today.  There's barely any snow.  I think we could have made it in and gone home early.  Oh well, I'll enjoy the day.  I have to take vacation, but I've got so many days built up I'll be glad to use one today and even tomorrow if the predictions hold out. 

Really am hoping for some warmer weather soon so I can get out in the train room. Been too cold even with the space heater. I received the new Kline catalog in the mail a few days ago.  I'm really lovin those SuperStreets.  Makes me wish I had more room. 

Chief - Glad to hear that your hand is doing well.  JimA - I am  glad Julia is starting to get better too.  Colin - I will keep you and your family in my prayers.  

Take care,

Mitch 

Mitch I have actually wondered this on numerous occasions.  My boss told me yesterday that here in MD they err on the side of caution because it is safer to close school than to have the kids report in, the weather turn bad, and then send them home on slick or icy roads.  School buses are no where near the safest vehicles on the roads... ever look at how they are built?  I can't believe we have kids, or anyone for that matter, riding in those things!  They are built on truck frames (two parrallel beams) and the body is simply bolted to the frames with 1/2 inch bolts, the bodies are simply 1/16 inch steel, nothing more.  Seats are held on by 8 1/2 inch bolts and there are no safety belts... of course if one rolls it disintigrates and there isn't much left but the frame...

I'm at work this morning, but planning on leaving early as the snow is to turn to freezing rain or ice by noon... going to make the commute home lots of fun!  Picked up 120 lbs of ice melter this morning since I forgot to stop while out last night...

Brent

 

BRENT,

   Why is it that if your kid isn't in a safety seat you will be fined but we leave em ride in school buses everyday and not even have a seat belt on?

I can't figure that out.

laz57

I went to pick up my niece from school one day and a lady was picking up her daughter, in the back seat she had her youngest and he wasn't strapped in, the school guard (local police officer) told her that she could get fined for that.  Her response, 'Well then you need to ticket the school district for not strapping each child in a seatbelt when they are on the school buses.'  The little boy was a terror, the cop tried 4 times to get him to sit still so he could strap him in, little kid put up on heck of a fight (I was kinda proud of him), cop says to him 'If you don't settle down, sit still, and stay in the seatbelt, I'll have to put you in the back of my car and take you to the police station and you father will have to come get you.'  Amazing how quick kids straighten up when the thought of DAD arriving to take care of you!  LOL!

Gotta love quick thinking cops too!

But, yes we need to have the laws changed so that school buses are built stronger and require that all kids be in seatbelts at all times.  The problem is there is one driver to what 30 kids?  That is asking a lot of that one adult!  IMHO, parents need to start disciplining their kids when they act up, if I acted like some of these kids today... well let's just say I would have had one sore rearend!

Brent

[Jumijo]

Laz, I just painted my board gray and added cracks with a pencil.

 

 

[cnw1995]

Good morning from a snowy Chicago where it is blizzarding and feels like 6 degrees with the wind, unusually it is from the east, the lake, so adding to the fun. It sure is something seeing my commuter train headlight loom out of snowsqualls at 0-dark-thirty this morning right on time. Today is my long day with class tonight so I'm resigned to spending quite a while clearing off the car in the lot late tonight. Have to trot out at lunch for a few more Valentine's Day goodies - should've done this earlier.

 Dennis, wish I had that channel to watch about Iowa's interurbans - there's a rich history there.

Colin, Jim A and Chief, you'll continue in my prayers.

Don, for the last month here, on every weekend, multiple teens have died in some pretty bad car accidents. We have one of the more lax driver's license systems too. I'm glad nothing happened!

[Anonymous]

. . . Ran trains last night.  I swear the smoke is better in a colder room.

Jim, glad that Julia is doing better.  No fun for a parent or child.  I drink Gatorade when I'm sick, too. . .

Thanks, Buckeye. I'm pretty distraught over Julia's condition. A lot is hinging on her doctor's appointment this morning.

I've always thought that the smoke is better in a cold room. My basement only has heat when I turn it on. Sometimes I run trains without any heat on down there and like you, I could swear my trains seem to smoke better. Maybe the heated vapor just shows up better in the colder air? I also know that when it's humid and warm in the summer, the smoke is not so good.

Jim 

Jim,
Gatorade is one of the best things you can drink when you have a cold, especially a fever.  When you run a fever your body processes liquids much faster and you burn electrolytes faster as well.  Gatorade replenishes electrolytes much like Pedialyte does, and it tastes 1,000,000 times better.  The problem with Gatorade is it is high in glucose and other sugars, so for kids it is not the best drink, especially if they are not active.  You can put Pedialyte in other flavored drinks and thereby reduce the sugar content.

Hope Julia feels better sson!  I hate seeing sick kids... but it is better for them to be sick when they are younger because that helps build their immune system.  Keeping your house 100% clean is not a good idea when you have new borns and young kids, they need to be sick (not all the time mind you).

Best wishes
Brent

[laz 57]

I like ROCK and RYE for a cold.  Take a shot or two before bed and put on sweats, sweat it out during the nite feel great in the morning.  Grandparents from the old country had done this for years and still works today.

laz57

[cnw1995]

Forgot to update everyone that I got my Corgi motor back from Bowser yesterday - after a five minute install, it works great. Murphy's Law being operative, it immediately ran into a loose bit of furnance filter from a tree the cats demolished -- of course this bit bound into the gears and stopped the trolley dead. But I gradually fished it out and it works again.

[Jumijo]

Julia is back from her doctor's appointment and does not need to be hospitalized! They did see enough improvement today to keep her from that. Wheewwww!!! What a relief! Give me a cream soda straight up!

Doug, I was just wondering about your trolley the other day. Glad to hear it's fixed.

Jim 

 

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Jaabat - Prayers answered.  Glad to hear the news, keep those fluids going. 

Just fininshed the coaler, here is one pic because I don't want to bore everyone.  I may start a seperate thread with the whole refurb pics

Well maybe two, I really like the way it turned out.  Still need to get a rod for the trolley attachment at the top, for now I used a coathanger and order some windows and a gilbert decal and it will done.

 

  Jim

[cnw1995]

Jim, post it as a separate thread too! I echo what Jim A said - beautiful work. Great colors. I've always wanted one of those --

[anjdevil2]

Jaabat - good for the little one.  Mine just got over a bad flu (102.5+) sent off to school this morning after 5 days.

Jim - NICE work on the coaling station.  Very impreesive! Wish I had your patience...

 

Just a word on the weather..high of 68, heavy rain due at noon, as it is cloudy already.!!

And I do wish I was back in NJ to play in the snow!! (Dad has a snow blower now, so no shovleing for us!!!)

[Jumijo]

Jimbo, please post all your restoration photos where we can see them. I'd love to see the whole process, and the before/after comparison. What an outstanding job! I'm really impressed! YOU'RE HIRED!!

Jim 

[Brutus]

School is out - sleet and freezing rain (Kevin - I asked you to open that door for me!) now turning to snow!  I'd rather have all snow.  Anyway, I told the boss it was my turn with the kids today, so he wouldn't be surprised.  Gonna play some games with the kids and then finally run some wiring on my little layout.  Chief, glad you are doing well today and also Julia is keeping stuff down, that's a good sign.  TTFN

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is freezing rain, sleeting, snowing in SE Indiana with temps in the 20s and 30s.  Prayers and good wishes all around for those who are ill.  I am not so sure about a separate prayer request thread.  Part of the appeal of the coffee pot is that we talk about anything that concerns us.  I did not go into work again today.  Only two out of the seven people in my section went in and one of those two lives in downtown Indy and was able to walk to work.  I went and got Valentine's Day items last night before the weather turned bad because I knew I was not going anywhere today.  There is actually not much snow here in Greensburg, but the freezing rain is making everything slick.  I got up at 5 AM this morning, had breakfast, sent the dining car to "Points East", and got ready to go to work, but I turned on the TV to see what the roads were like.  That pretty well made up my mind.  One nice benefit for working at the state is the amount of time off you have, and I will be using it.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[ChiefEagles]

Back from meeting.  Wings time.  Jimbo, glad to here the report on Julia.  Now is the time to feed her GRITS.  Butter, pepper and salt.  She will be up and running around in af ew hours.

[Jumijo]

Back from meeting.  Wings time.  Jimbo, glad to here the report on Julia.  Now is the time to feed her GRITS.  Butter, pepper and salt.  She will be up and running around in af ew hours.

Yeah, running to the bathroom!!!

[Buckeye Riveter]

It is 26 degrees on the ground in Buckeyeland.

It is raining.

We are becoming coated in ice.

[mickey4479]

Hello from cold but pretty snow fall Kansas City.  Nothing like you guys in the east will experience soon.  Only got 3 inches of the white stuff.  Once upon a time I experienced lake affect snow in eastern PA and NY on a ski trip.  We drove from St. Louis through Cleveland and nearly bottomed out in a Carmen Gia.  Stay well.

[Jumijo]

It is 26 degrees on the ground in Buckeyeland.

It is raining.

We are becoming coated in ice.

 

The cool, cruel work of Mr. Freeze, no doubt. John, dispatch the Dynamic Duo in the Batmobile to dispatch the dastardly desperado!!! It gives me chilblains just thinking about it!

Jim 

[csxt30]

It is 26 degrees on the ground in Buckeyeland.

It is raining.

We are becoming coated in ice.

 

The cool, cruel work of Mr. Freeze, no doubt. John, dispatch the Dynamic Duo in the Batmobile to dispatch the dastardly desperado!!! It gives me chilblains just thinking about it!

Jim 

Jim : The Dynamic Duo has been spotted high atop of Mt.Apitz headed our way !! They have swung into action !! We'll just have to wait to see how this all plays out !! I think they already have a plan !! Will keep you posted on any more new breaking news on that dastardly desparado capture coming up !! 

Thanks, John

[cnw1995]

Holy Iceberg, Batman!

[jefelectric]

Afternoon,

The storm is upon us.  Started snowing lightly about 5:00 AM and has been snowing ever since.  About 4 inches on the ground now.  I haven't been outside since I took Jean to work this morning.  In a little while I will go out and blow off the driveway & walks.  Local roads are snow covered, not sure what the main roads are like.

Check this out.  I wanted to know what the Lehigh and New England FA1 looked like, there is no picture on the Williams site, so I emailed Marty at Ma & Pa Junction and he took one out of the box and took a picture for me.  How is that for service?

Pretty nice I think.  Just the thing for a New Englander - JAABAT!

Will keep Chief & Julia in our prayers and add Colins Grandfather.

Enjoy your trains.

[dwiemer]

Nice engine John,

Warm, in the low 70's here, but the sky is ominous.  Winds have picked up and they are talking a turnader watch for several hours.  Anyway, on call so I will be here at the hospital for several more hours and hopefully it will have blown through by then.  I do want to get home and get to work on the layout.  Should not take too long before I am running trains.

Looks like we have a bunch more folks joining the CTT forum.  It is great to have more new blood here with more ideas to add. they can share.  I consider myself a "Newbie", but when looking at the overall picture, I have been around for longer than many.  It is great that everyone is greated with open arms to this site.

God Bless,
Dennis

[Nick12DMC]

Nice engine John,

Warm, in the low 70's here, but the sky is ominous.  Winds have picked up and they are talking a turnader watch for several hours.  Anyway, on call so I will be here at the hospital for several more hours and hopefully it will have blown through by then.  I do want to get home and get to work on the layout.  Should not take too long before I am running trains.

Looks like we have a bunch more folks joining the CTT forum.  It is great to have more new blood here with more ideas to add. they can share.  I consider myself a "Newbie", but when looking at the overall picture, I have been around for longer than many.  It is great that everyone is greated with open arms to this site.

God Bless,
Dennis

I'll second that Dennis. This is a very friendly site. They even welcomed us dudes from across the pond! Guess they might have to have a CTT forum convention...John B is doing a photographic survey of UK pubs so we have plenty of info to choose a suitable location here. Comfy Chairs : check, Real Ale : check, Log Fire : Check

Regards

Nick

[rtraincollector]

had the law layed down on me this afternoon. Now that I bought a new truck I need to stop buying trains for a while. (like at least till christmas) . now she did say I could sell some ( not what I want to do but she gave that option seeing she thinks I has to many lol)

Not much done today train wise or other had some running around I had to do today.

Lisa prayer added for your freind

[ChiefEagles]

CTT convention.  All fly to London.   Wife says we are going for 25th Anniv.  4 years from now [if she will fly over water ].  Rainy and a little cool.  Did I hear SNOHIO?   Get those Yanks.   Took a break and ran several different trains.  Got to go.