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Elliot´s Trackside Diner August 2010 Locked

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  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Alexandria KY
  • 470 posts
Posted by Zandoz on Sunday, August 29, 2010 10:10 PM

Hello folks!

Another highly unproductive week here. Sigh  I still can not make up my mind what route I want to go for controling the Unitrack turnouts, since by bright idea went dim.  I'd hoped to get back to working on the rest of the wiring this evening, but I just did not feel up to it.  Hopefully tomorrow evening. 

But on a brighter note, the domestic warfare here has died down considerably.  

galaxy
Got a haircut also. In the seventies as a teen I wanted long hair that was feathered back on the sides, as was a popular style back then, so I had long hair then. Now, funny thing is I can't wiat to get it cut when it gets to be about an inch, inch and a half  in length. I don't quite have it buzzed, but I DO have it cut to about 1/2 inch now every month now! The difference is I can not be bothered with the care and maintenance of longer hair now, and I don't like it sticking up in 14 different directions that I have to brush out when I get up anymore! My how things change as I age.

I've gone though a similar evolution.  For years I looked like a long lost member of ZZ top...long beard in front....longer hair in back.  Now days I go the full buzz-job route.  Low maintenance and no barber bills.

Dealing with the breakins and young punks spreaging mayhem is a way of life here. Last year we had several thousand dollars in tools, jewelry, and collectables stolen.  Even having 3 dogs, with two of them being pit bull look-alikes has not been a complete deterrant.  A couple weeks ago we caught 2 teens on our garage roof trying to bypass the 8' fence by climbing the back wall using stuff from the neighbor's yard.  Unfortunately, those who have spoken up against taking matters in your own hands are correct...a guy up the street spent 30 days in jail for going after a punk who hit him with a brick while on the way to the store.  As frustrating as it is, let the authorities take the action.

Garry:  To see me you would have probably been seriously lost...LOL  We are on a little one lane side street.  On the other hand, Saturday evening I would have been out on the porch listening to the ball game, so I could have waved back.  I hope you had a good trip.

blownout cylinder
*** i step into a quiet place***

HELLO!!!!

Is anyone here?!?!?

Good Grief I can actually get an echo in here! 

I never claim to be all here <inset rim shot here>

I've noticed that pics of our pup friends have been popular...here's our wrecking crew

 Zan's wrecking crew

Sassy on the left, the "old girl" Princess in the middle, and "the pup" Pippin on the right.

Have a good one, all! 

 

 

Reality...an interesting concept with no successful applications, that should always be accompanied by a "Do not try this at home" warning.

Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.

"Oooh...ahhhh...that's how this all starts...but then there's running...and screaming..."

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Marion, Iowa
  • 1,263 posts
Posted by AmanaMedic on Sunday, August 29, 2010 10:17 PM

 Flo? Pour RAY here another cup...on my dime, or quarter, or whatever it's costing us these days...

RAY: Thanks! You said pretty much what I was thinking... The adult expressed his disappointment, citing visits by W and Clinton also. I was hoping for a way to "play it right down the middle." I think you helped me tremendously with your insight! I've always said the reader of our little newspapers should NEVER be able to figure out where I stand on an issue. I don't get paid to write opinion pieces. To not mention the..."incident?" would be an almost glaring omission given the heavy media coverage prior. But...it's a fine line to tread in mentioning it. Again RAY, thanks for the help!

And THAT folks, is yet another example of what makes this group different from any other forum I can think of. And....hopefully it will continue after the "Big Change" hits. Count me among those hoping it does NOT go to a Facebook-based format, or other "social media" thing. But, I'm not paying the bills for what Kalmbach does...

Back to the Scouts, they probably enjoyed looking at Miss America more anyway...Whistling You know, the guys couldn't tell me what she had to say?? Mischief

 

The now-CNW hopper is seeing progress made. I've hacked up the underframe, so as to remove one of the middle two bays. The prototype is a 3-bay, Athearn's is a 4-bay. It's an easy enough conversion and really makes a difference in the appearance of the finished product.

I forgot to mention earlier, hey TODD, I'm about to the "walk away sulking" phase of track planning.  I've been whittling down the "wants," ever since I started doodling, sketching, and drafting plans, dreams, and schemes 5 years ago. The Quaker Oats complex is the biggest fly in the ointment. How big? Why thanks for asking... put it this way, it's a big, hairy 'ol thing... might need a couple dozen of KEN's bug-zapper/grass staticizers to knock it's heart.

The "best" way to even remotely accurately model a greatly condensed version of the Quaker complex, would be to build it in the middle of the room...even then, N-sane scale or Z scale would be the way to go. Even at half of Z sized stuff...It'd be a comedy/tragedy of errors and epic FAIL. Quaker might be all "in staging." The "City Yard" would be modelable, and provide opportunities for switching as the CNW yard jobs stage Quaker cars. THAT would allow me the two short industrial spurs for Jerabek (beer) and Loftus (lumber), and the CRANDIC connection I desire. 

At the same time, all THAT stuff is south of the CCP yard and "City Yard." In my world, it would end up to the north. Quaker can still be represented, at least in part, as a large monolith along the backdrop (wall). Half grain silos (doubling the stock in a Walthers elevator kit) would give me "Elevator G" and I could still have G's grain dump complete with the yellow 44 tonner Cap'n Crunch uses to dump his corn. Smile,Wink, & Grin

Here's a shot in the "City Yard." Quaker is behind me, the power plant has the CCP yard alongside it (to the left, parallel to the power lines) Included is also a small sample of the variety of cars staged for Quaker: BN hopper (sugar?) ex-ROCK box for finished product (I think), and one of the many big yellow CNW malt hoppers.

A shot THAT gives a fair idea of what this latest concept would look like: an ex-ROCK box in the "City Yard" with the sprawling Quaker complex as backdrop. Shallow relief flats "should" do the job quite nicely... 'eh?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Stream-of-consciousness, and you guys are lucky enough to listen in to the inner workings of my brain. Mischief

Flo? Has the drawing table and pad for head banging been packed up yet?? It has?

Shazbot....

Welp, maybe, just maybe I'll have a drawing for you guys in the new location...

I'll go sit down and shut up now...'till Vinnie boots me out for the move.

Oh...Happy belated Birthday VINCENT! Your couplers should go into the mail sometime this week... And, I personally would pass on the Falcon SD40-2... one was wrecked prior to my era (6910, I think), and the other was repainted. Nice thought though!!! I might have to pick your brain on what BN ACF Centerflo hoppers (the big ones) typically carried...

ChrisEight Ball

The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Troy, AL
  • 724 posts
Posted by BamaCSX83 on Sunday, August 29, 2010 10:40 PM

Hey y'all!  I know that it has been a while, but I've not been able to catch up.  Nothing major has prevented me from stopping in, but lots of minor stuff has.  Where to begin?  Hmm, guess that I should begin at the beginning, eh?

First things first, shortly after my last post in here at the end of July, the monitor on the laptop decided "I don't like you anymore" and quit.  Well that problem is now resolved partially as we are using an external monitor tied into the laptop, but that's how things go.  On other hands, at w**k, my store manager quit, leaving things a little confusing for about two weeks.  Things are much better now, and the result is that I am now "acting assistant manager" of my store.  I've also had a rather large number of vehicles that have needed my attention and expertise.  So, overall, yeah, its been a might bit busy.  Good news is that I managed to get a coat of blue on my GP40-2, and its the right shade!  Can't say the same for the yellow as its the brighter YN2 shade of yellow instead of the more golden colored yellow used in YN3 schemes.

I think, if possible, I'd like to have a RBF and see if I can play a little catch up on here.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 30, 2010 12:57 AM

 Bama - good to see you!

Good Morning,

well, just a few more hours and the forum will be closed for the migration to "new and improved" spheres. Hope to see you all back there!

It is a gray and ra*ny day, temperature around 10 C - way too cold for the season. Time to get ready for hibernation Big Smile.

Yesterday, I was leafing through the remains of my library - due to the move to this little flat, I had to part from many books, in fact, too many. I found a book on log homes and cabins - oh, sweet dreams! Why can´t I just beam Petra and me over the Pond and have a peaceful and serene life? It may be just the weather outside, but I feel a little depressed.

You all have a good time!

CYA

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Monday, August 30, 2010 5:13 AM
 Looks like I got here right before the movers. Just checking to see if the site is still up.

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Reynoldsburg. Ohio
  • 316 posts
Posted by Wisconsin Railfan on Monday, August 30, 2010 5:26 AM

 Good Morning Folks!

 

Just a cup of coffee please!

Hope everyone had a good weekend, I took the lazy route this weekend.  See ya'll on the new and improved location.

 

Steven 

The train came by and I got on, that’s when it all began
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Euclid, Ohio
  • 2,822 posts
Posted by LSWrr on Monday, August 30, 2010 6:53 AM

Good Morning,

Rob, I bought the WS metal street lights for my town, the budget didn’t have the money for lighted streetlights so I went with these, very nice and they would fit a late 1930’s and later town.  I painted mine Kelly green with flat white globes.


This weekend’s projects: custom painting my limited fleet of Diesel locomotives yellow and black.  I printed a few decals for them as well.  I have 4 GP7’s, 2 GE44T and a GE70T on my diesel roster. Back in the early 80’s I kit bashed one of the GP7’s into a “B” unit.  Today I have some ¼” material on the bench that will be the footers for my Hewlits. I’m cutting dados in the strips every 5/32 and will be hand laying ties then gluing N-visible rails for the Hewlit tracks.

BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret)
 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: IN/USA
  • 2,495 posts
08/30/2010
Posted by wetidlerjr on Monday, August 30, 2010 7:21 AM



Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • 2,751 posts
Posted by Allegheny2-6-6-6 on Monday, August 30, 2010 7:58 AM

 Morning Gents a large coffee and a bacon egg & cheese sandwich on a hard roll with a side of home fires please.Just wanted to pop in before they take the wheel off the site for some refitting and a new paint job. Lets hope t doesn't go the way of most websites when they "make improvements" aka nothing works any more....lol Well seems I've done built myself into a corner. I built my new yard section which is l shaped 27' long and figured well I can just make a lift out or swing bridge  to connect it to the existing part of the layout.

Where I planned in my head of course and not on paper a semi helix to bring yard trackage up to the branch line level which is 4-3/4" above the yard.  Well if I put the helix where i had planed in my head again and not on paper the exit track is right in line with another section of track that can't be removed. So unless I decide to put  a crossing section of track right there it ain't gonna go as planned. So along with doing a bunch of stuff with my son today who is home in between summer camp and school I have to figure a way to make this work or I'll be stuck with a separate switching layout.........lol

I guess nothing the sawsall can't fix. You all have a good day and we'll see you in a few, happy model railroading.

Just my 2 cents worth, I spent the rest on trains. If you choked a Smurf what color would he turn?
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Williamsville, ILL
  • 3,698 posts
Posted by TMarsh on Monday, August 30, 2010 8:06 AM

Good Morning. (Walks in with purpose carrying chains and padlocks)Large coffee please. And a straw. Thanks. ( wraps chains around body and booth table and padlocks self)

I won't leave. If this place goes it's taking me with it. Me and Ray. Ray? Ray! Where's you go?! Ray! I thought we, ........RAY!!! WERE"S THE KEY!!!!!  Can I get an empty bucket please? 

Have a Great Day!!!

Todd  

Central Illinoyz

In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.

I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk. Laugh

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Monday, August 30, 2010 8:28 AM

 Good morning. It's 75 and cloudy. The high will be 94 and there's a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms.

The plan for this morning is to remove the 2 way police radio, light bar switch box, police air horn module and in-dash stereo from the Century. If I'm feeling strong enough I might even take the light bar off the roof. This afternoon I may get some layout work done. There's a load of wires that need to moved or rerun through different areas. Yesterday I ran my two SDP40F's over part of the new track. No problems were evident. I also ran the two GP7's over the new track with no problems.



Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Monday, August 30, 2010 8:34 AM

  I am back, guess the IT guys stopped for breakfast as well.

 Well, like many people are going to be reading this, but I am waiting for paint to dry. Looks like it is going to rain today so I am painting the Luna on the train layout. Laid down a section of foam over the rails and have the Luna on top of that. I wonder how long it is going to take to dry?

 With any luck (I stay feeling good) I may have Floor War's part II  Laying of the tiles going when the dinner reopens.

 Bought some Quikrete Adhesive to glue the Luna to the concrete floor patch. Wife is going to be gone most of the day, so I hope it stops smelling by the time she gets home.

                      Ken Villa

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Monday, August 30, 2010 8:57 AM

Mornin'!

Zoe, just a dark roast to go!

later!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Reynoldsburg. Ohio
  • 316 posts
Posted by Wisconsin Railfan on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 11:04 AM

Good Day Folks!

Just a cup of coffee for me!

Off to look around the new site!

The train came by and I got on, that’s when it all began
  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 11:07 AM

   Hum, looks like I am the first back to the dinner!  Flo. Big Dew to go, got to get back to the floor, making good head way.

               Cuda Ken

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Shelby, NC
  • 2,545 posts
Posted by Robby P. on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 11:15 AM

 I see we are back and running, plus I see Ken was the first back in.   Well I guess I'm second Mischief.

 I've been working on a boxcar most of the day, and I honestly didn't do much since the other day (MRR wise).   Maybe tomorrow I might go and do some train hunting, but today will be spent in the basement.

 Hope everybody is doing good, and I will pop back in later.

 

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Freelance, USA
  • 490 posts
Posted by nik .n on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 11:39 AM

Steak and a milk, Flo.

Hi everyone!

Just dropping in to see how everyone is, and it appears that most, if not all, are fairing well! Big Smile

Everything is good at the homestead. I'm doing a display with the Endless Mountains Model Railroad club at Bridge Days in Nicholson, PA. So if you come, I'll be glad to talk to you.

Also, my sister is back in collage studying for a nursing degree. She is also trying to get into the guard, so this will be interesting to follow. But there are some downturns. My dad is being laid off from work. But the good news, though, is that the company has absolutely no idea as to how to run the railroad, and is outsourcing all of its field staff (including cell techs, store sales staff, and regional managers (which is what my father is)) to India. So how is that going to work? Laugh

I have been keeping busty with life. I have been active with the previously mentioned club, and I have been working on restoring a 1967 John Deere 110 lawn tractor with hydraulic lift:

(not mine, BTW)

I'm currently stuck trying to find a new engine block, as the rod explosively left the engine under the ownership of the previous owner.

 

Anyway. Nice to see you all here. Have a great day!

Nik

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: upstate NY
  • 9,236 posts
Posted by galaxy on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 12:02 PM

Well, aint this just fancy!

It will take some getting used to I guess, but we will endure.

I see I must be about 4th to enter in unless someone else beats me. I just took a chance to see if up and running and see it is.

Well I shall hunt and poke around and see whatelse is new and what else I have now to get used to on this new fangled forum!

TTY'ALLL8R

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Shalimar. Florida
  • 2,622 posts
Posted by Packer on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 12:55 PM

Looks like I'm #5 in line

Since the weather seems to not pose any chance of raining for a little bit, I'm gonna try and save that one GP9. If all that fails, it gets a re-paint.

Chris, not really sure on what the BN ACFs generally carried. Some were refriderated, others were for cement  or company sand service (all of those being grey to white). Other than that I'm not really sure.

Vincent

Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Reynoldsburg. Ohio
  • 316 posts
Posted by Wisconsin Railfan on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 1:07 PM

cudaken

   Hum, looks like I am the first back to the dinner!  Flo. Big Dew to go, got to get back to the floor, making good head way.

               Cuda Ken

 

Beat you by 3 min Cuda Ken Big Smile Just playing I was going to say, first post - but didn't want to offend anyone Big Smile

The train came by and I got on, that’s when it all began
  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: Indiana
  • 3,549 posts
Posted by Flashwave on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 1:26 PM

Hey Dudes and Dudettes,

I don't li8ke the new forum, but the phot galleries are a nice feature I WILL be using.

Should we think about moving the Diner now that it is the 31st, and we've hit 60 Pages?

EDIT: Yeah, I think I'll get her moved before the dinner rush. Let's batten down the hatches! (And the ceramicware)

Here's the new siding. Shouldn't be too awful hard to find.

-Morgan

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