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Jeffrey's Trackside Diner, July 2017 - All are welcome, All Aboard! Locked

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Posted by howmus on Sunday, July 30, 2017 9:06 PM

Evenin' Folks.

Janie, I could use a cup of decaf for the moment please...

Just learned that a dear colleague and friend, of mine (Stu) passed away last Tuesday.  He was an Industrial Arts, graphic arts, and photography teacher mostly here in Geneva for over 35 years.  I taught with him at the Middle School for several years, he and another friend of mine put the new roof on our house a couple years after we bought the place, his MIL lived across the street from us.  She died from Bone Cancer just a week or so after my wife died of leukemia.  They (we) were very close friends.  Stu was an outdoorsman who was a member of my Boy Scout Troop Committee for several years.  He coached Golf, was an avid canoeist competing in canoe and kayak races throughout the northeast. He was the first American to win a canoe race around Manhattan against Canada, participated in the Olympic trials, paddled for years in team triathlons with family and friends, and more recently completed a 90-mile canoe race in the Adirondacks with his son, Stuart.  Built several houses and cabins around the area during his summers off from teaching and after he retired.  He was both a deacon and an Elder of my church, And…………. Also happened to be a Model Railroader.  Stu and his wife used to come over and greet guests when I had my layout open a few times.
 
Stu had several major strokes and they found that he had acquired Lyme disease at some time (found too late to be able to treat it), and he spent the last several years bedridden or in a wheelchair.  He seldom got out of the house for the last couple years.  He was 84 years old.  He is peace now, but I will miss him!  Please include a blessing for the life of Stu in your prayers…..
 
73

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

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, July 30, 2017 9:50 PM

Hi Ulrich:

I heard about the three attacks and my thoughts immediately turned to you and Petra. All I can say is don't let them win. Do your best to continue to go about your daily business. I know your neighbourhood is rough, but it's only the perseverance of good people like you who will win the day. Dianne and I both hope you can keep your spirits up in the future whatever it may bring.

Regards,

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Monday, July 31, 2017 8:20 AM

Good morning ... I'll have coffee and a donut, please. 

We attended a family gathering in Nashville yesterday. Nice weather. 

Ray .... Sad to hear about your friend, Stu....  Condolences to the family. 

Mr. B. .... I recall staying in the hotel within the World Trade Center. It is still hard to believe buildings are gone as well as the many tragic losses of life. 

Ken ... I hopr Sue's stress test results are favorable.

CN Charlie... I imagine 90 F seems hot there. 

Tom. ... Good to hear about your railfanning. 

It's the end of the month already. ..... Where are we going for August ?

Today, I'm taking the truck to get tires and then to the shop for repairs. 

Happy Model Railroading... 

 

 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by GMTRacing on Monday, July 31, 2017 8:59 AM

Good Morning All,

    Just a regular to go please ladies. Back from Nova Scotia with a load of stuff from my parents house. My daughter and I got boxes of books and a couple of pieces of furniture she and the CFO wanted along with a bunch of keepsakes that had meaning for various of the kids. Piled it all in the Excursion and got through U.S. Customs ok. Nice man checked us who was more interested in the bomber crew photo of my dad than the rest of the stuff. Six hours driving each way and a 6 hour ferry ride makes it an easy trip.

   Sorry to hear of the troubles in Germany and the excess rain closer to home. My sisters friend was over visiting in Nova Scotia from Munchen and just sort of takes it all in stride.Like me very much from the don't let life get disrupted school of thought. The rains have avoided us for the most part. Hit a couple of short storms during the trip but no problem (the Excursion is built on a truck frame and isn't a light vehicle but any measure). That may all change this week.

   Back in the shop and typical of Monday things are piling up so I've gotta run.

                       CUL,  J.R.

 

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Posted by Jimmy_Braum on Monday, July 31, 2017 9:25 AM

Hey everyone. Hope all is well

im dried out finally. What a long couple days That was, waiting for the water to crest. It crested Sunday morning around 1am close to 30ft iirc. Flood stage is around 26ft.  

saturday night had a few different forms of excitement for me.  

I went to see an eagles tribute band "7 Bridges".  Really excellent tribute band, and they sound like them. Well anyway, I got to talk with them, and they actually remembered me from last year.   I guess hanging out with a band for two hours trapped in a tent waiting for a severe thunderstorm to pass will help them remember a guy lol. 

Im in the middle lol  

Today is a day off for me, so maybe I'll try to do some more model projects  

 

(My Model Railroad, My Rules) 

These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway.  As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).  

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Posted by angelob6660 on Monday, July 31, 2017 9:45 AM

Morning diners,

Ray- Sorry about losing your friend Stu. Angel

Mr. B- How far down does that infinity pool goes before it circles back up?

Ulrich- Be safe.

Jimmy- That's amazing!!

Modeling the G.N.O. Railway, The Diamond Route.

Amtrak America, 1971-Present.

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Posted by tcwright973 on Monday, July 31, 2017 9:56 AM

Ray - Thanks for the update concerning your sister. I have been wondering how she has been doing, but didn't want to ask. Here's hoping she has mant, many good days & years ahead of her. Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. I know how that goes. I actually don't have any close, personal friends anymore. I've outlived them all. There are some I miss as much as I miss family members who are also gone now.

J.R. - Good to hear from you. I miss your updates on your racing activities. Maybe you can find some time to squeeze in a comment or two from time to time.

Garry - I'm so lucky to live near a busy main line. Always seem to see something new, or hear something different on the scanner. The wife packs us a little picnic lunch & we sit there & forget all the trials & tribulations of daily living. I'm lucky that she enjoys it as much as I do.

We are done with shopping & errands early for a change, so I guess I better head out & get some grass cut. It's going to be another hot one here, so I'm not really looking forward to outside chores today.

Have a great one...

Tom

Pittsburgh, PA

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Monday, July 31, 2017 10:04 AM

angelob6660
Mr. B- How far down does that infinity pool goes before it circles back up?

I don't know.  The pools are arranged so that your viewing angle from the perimeter does not allow you to see directly into the depths, so the illusion is perfect.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by FRRYKid on Monday, July 31, 2017 11:22 AM

Morning all! Flo (or whoever's handy), could I get a roast beef omlette (with some blue cheese dressing on the side), wheat toast, strawberry jam and some OJ. Thank you so much.

Hobby Front:  Added a new manufacturer to the mix of my rolling stock: Bowser. I bought a 70 ton hopper via eBay to make a sand car. Ex-NP prototype. Also will be getting a new freight car sometime today. The lettering will be removed and relettered to fit a different NP prototype.

I also three cars in various stages of backorder from a couple of different places. Hurry up and wait, of course.

"The only stupid question is the unasked question."
Brain waves can power an electric train. RealFact #832 from Snapple.
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Posted by BATMAN on Monday, July 31, 2017 1:14 PM

Good morning all from the sunny and gonna be hot West Coast.

Ulrich sorry to hear of the attack. When you have done a lot of traveling there are days that will stay with you forever for one reason or another. For me, one of those days is a day I spent in Konstance having lunch and drinking wine all afternoon while watching the boats coming and going from the harbour. It is a beautiful place and I always wanted to try and do that day again. It is so sad that people have to hate and destroy. I think if people could just accept one another as they are and just sit and enjoy having a glass of wine together while watching the boats go buy, instead of finding a ridiculous reason to hate the world would be much more close to being perfect.

Angelo, I think an infinity pool is one where the water is at the level of the sides of the pool and therefore appears to have no sides and thus no ends.

I have not seen the 911 memorial in New York, however, after seeing the Vietnam wall in Washington D.C. It is a special place indeed. Seeing these places in person and the effect it can have is why travel is so important. I have never met a person who is well traveled, that is a bigot or a racist.

 

trolleyboy
Batman- Yikes yes lightning strikes are not to be trifled with. Amazing the interesting paths they will take to get to the ground , that bang must have scared the pants off your sister and her family.

They were in the car backing out of the driveway when it hit. The car actually shook quite violently when it happened.

Sorry to hear of your friends passing Ray. A lot of good memories come flooding back when you lose a friend. I have recently had two good friends die of cancer. I met them when I started with the Federal Government in the mid-seventies. We worked on a bunch of special projects together that involved going into a lot of dusty old Government buildings that were probably filled with asbestos. We were known as the three musketeers at the time, as we went about our duties. Even after we stopped working together we always kept in touch. 

Jimmy_B, That is a cool pic, The girl next door that I grew up (we are still good friends) married a famous Nashville superstar. He was on tour and she came to Vancouver to meet up and have a few days with him. She came a couple days early and stayed with me and we hit all our old high school haunts. When hubby arrived we went to the concert and she had asked if they could stay at my house as he was sick of hotels. We had a great time together and had fun playing out on the patio together. My next door neighbour said a couple of days later that the music coming over the fence was great and I am really improving.Laugh I told him who was really responsible and he said I should have him back more often.Laugh

Ken, I hope the fact that they seem to have caught up with Sue's heart problems before she had a significant event happen, means they can stay on top of it and she will have a long productive life ahead of her.

 On the movie front, the kid had two of those extremely long boring days that Johnboy was talking about. Friday was 13 hours with only 40 minutes on set. He was chasing down the guy he beat the crap out of two days earlier. In other words, they shot him beating the guy to a pulp and then two days later they shot the chasing him down part.

Sunday, he was there 14 hours and had one scene that took 30 minutes to do. He was running while one of the big co-stars was shooting a machine gun at him. Fake bullet bits flying up all around him.

Sunday they fed him the best prime rib he had ever had at lunch.Grumpy At dinner time he asked the chef if he had anymore. The chef said for you, of course! He made him a prime rib hash with eggs.

The kid signed in for the first time as a union member on Sunday and they have to pay him at least $24.00 an hour now, although he has been paid $35.00 on just about every project he's worked on. Being union he gets paid for a lot of extra bits like travel and stuff. 

He has to take Tuesday and Thursday off for medical apps and gettin ready for University stuff. It is a costly two days off for him, but it has to be done. They changed the shooting schedule just slightly as he was needed in one scene. Usually, if they are missing anyone they can fix it in editing.

Well, the pull out of the job jar was painting. It will be too hot if I wait much longer.Cool Maybe another cup of coffee is in order.Whistling

All the best to all.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Monday, July 31, 2017 1:17 PM

FRRYKid
Added a new manufacturer to the mix of my rolling stock: Bowser. I bought a 70 ton hopper via eBay to make a sand car.

I built a Bowser covered hopper a while back to make it into a salt hopper for my tannery.

I thought it came out pretty well.  Nice detail for a low-price kit, and it was pretty easy to build up.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by FRRYKid on Monday, July 31, 2017 2:29 PM

MisterBeasley

I built a Bowser covered hopper a while back to make it into a salt hopper for my tannery.

I thought it came out pretty well.  Nice detail for a low-price kit, and it was pretty easy to build up.

I presume those were custom decals.

The only reason I went with the Bowser car is that is was the only car that I found that matched the prototype. I happened to be the only person that bid on the car. I am starting to wonder if people just want to buy RTR cars these days. (I will admit I buy a lot of RTR cars myself. However I do decorate a lot of my own equipment. As a freelancer, I kind of have to do that.) The decals are the next thing to order when the budget permits (aka about two weeks from now).

"The only stupid question is the unasked question."
Brain waves can power an electric train. RealFact #832 from Snapple.
  • Member since
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Monday, July 31, 2017 3:37 PM

FRRYKid
I presume those were custom decals.

Yes, I did them myself on my computer and printer.  It was a fun project.  When I took this picture, the castle on the other side was incomplete.  I had messed up the decal and had to re-print it.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Monday, July 31, 2017 5:22 PM

Good evening all.

Zoe - A Coke Float tonight please. And is that Dutch Apple pie I see? A nice slice of it as well please. Thanks.

Ulrich - Sorry to hear of the issues. Glad you and Petra are ok though!

Ken - Hope Sue's results came back ok... And Your slow days seem to be contagious lately... Horrible sales at my store past few days as well.

Ray - Sorry about your friend. 

Brent - Seems funny that they shoot scenes out of order, but I have heard before that they do some things differently because of editing needs sometimes. Still sounds odd though.

Hello to all others I have missed.

Weather - Sunny and warm. Yesterday I went to a picnic with friends, and we all played some Baseball (really played "500", where one hits and the rest catch, no base running. Fly catch is 100, one bounce 75, grounder 50, fielder reaches 500 points, they swap places with the hitter.) and then played football. (2 hand touch) I ended up on "The old man team" in the football game, boy did that make me feel old! (At 31, I wasn't the oldest, but was older than everyone on the opposing team.) We trounced the young team though. (62-21!) Older means smarter, right? So, smarts beat power on this one!

Funny part was, they assigned me to cover Logan (12 years old) on Defense, mind you, I am 5'6", and almost back at my high school weight, so I'm not that big of a guy. Logan is 5'5", but still skinny. (100 pounds dripping wet, maybe....) He stayed covering me when we had the ball. Both of us broke free once on eachother, but neither of us caught our pass. (Juggled and dropped mine, they overshot him on his.) Both of us also had one shot as QB, but neither of us scored. (Turn over on downs for us both.) 

One set they had him snapping to the QB, and then curl/flat routes every time. So, me being smart, was going right with him, making them throw longer routes. Final play of the set, they put an extra person right next to him. I went to take away the flat curl that they had him doing each time prior, and promptly collided with him, and the second person next to him. 

That play, they were having Logan do a post pattern, and the other person a streak route... I bumped him off his route, and both me and Logan ended in a heap on the ground about 4 feet from the QB, with me trying to keep from landing on him. (No injuries...) While that wasn't the plan, that took away two of four receivers, and created an interception for my team. (We were all three laughing it off... So it was good.)

By the end of the game, half of us were walking on the last couple of plays... 

The moral of the whole story? 

At 31, I am no longer quite as young as I used to be... I am feeling it a bit today.

It was fun though!

W*^k - Slow, slow, slow... Saturday I had one sale, and not a big one. (Push mower.) Friday was a bit better, but not much. I was off yesterday and today. Just hope tomorrow's truck is better than last week's.... 

Trains - Not much to report on, working on a few small projects, but have it to where I can run stuff, at least for now. (Loop, but better than nothing!) 

House hunting front - Looking seriously at a couple options. Hoping to move on one or the other soon.

Hope all are well, and all enjoy the evening!

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

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Posted by trolleyboy on Monday, July 31, 2017 6:54 PM

Good evening gang think I'll have a large malted choc shake tonight,just don't tell the wife or she will down it on me.Smile, Wink & Grin

FRR- you are very correct,the hobby has very much switched to the RTR as the main form of rolling stock. It however nice to see that in the last couple years Accurail as increased their kit selection and Bowser makes very nice kits I have many of  both those manufacters stashed away for kitbashing and for those rainy day I need to build something moments. I'm very much a builder a model railroader in the old form. I mean I will buy Canadian prototype stuff that is RTR from Rapido ,or Truline as that is their sepacialties but I really do prefer kits. ( makes me a dinosaur ) If you like nice simple ,but failry well detailed kits Atlas has released a bunch of the old Branchline caars as kits again in their Trainman line,not super detailed but they are sturdy easy to build,have decebnt detail and aer realtivly inexpensive.

 

Ray- Very sorry to hear about your friend.

 

GMT- Nice to see you back , it's good to hear you had a reasonable trip given the circumstances.

 

Batman- Yikes,I'm not supprised though that they felt that in theh car,sounds like that was a real direct hit to do that sort of damage.I remeber about 8 years ago we were at the museum,there was a localized Thunderstorm that popped up at theh east end of the museum property. It was black as night at that end of the property and the overhead took a direct shot on the catenery at the yard lead. There was a transformer on that pole witha power unit for the yards mainline switch,well the transformer was blown right off the pole and the top six feet of the pole was reduced to splinters no bigger than a toothpick.

We wree almost mile and a half away at the west end of the property. Thankfully we got the two cars that were on the line poles down and we were tying them up when we heard the bang. Seconds later we could see the after effects of the hit coming down the overhead wire as a fast moving charge of electricity. Vrey scarry and sobbering. You never quite know what Ma nature will through at you.

 

Rob

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Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, July 31, 2017 8:19 PM

Just a quick hello.  I am afraid I might miss someone if I start mentioning all those who need our prayers.  We are thinking of you.

We had 4" of rain this weekend.  It has been cooler the last 2 days but the mosquitos are out if force.  I brought the hummingbird feeder inside to fill and giant black ants came out of the feeding spouts like a horror movie.

Toby is taking stairs carefully. I am sleeping downstairs on the couch so he won't try to make it upstairs  He seems to think that means I can take him for an extra walk in the middle of the night.  The couch is comfortable but too short.

The Sept MR arrived and there was a tip, color the paper with a black magic marker of hard to read white decals so you can see what they are.  I'll have to try that one.

I'm having a dizziness workup tomorrow  Electronystagmography is the $10 word.  I'm not supposed to eat before the test, because they don't want a mess to clean up.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by gmpullman on Monday, July 31, 2017 9:56 PM

It is already AUGUST in parts of the world and no one has mentioned a new home for the Diner yet...

The thought occurred to me that we could visit Ulrich in Hamburg to keep him, and Petra, company and show a little unity and spirit to help assuage some of the suffering there and to help bring back a feeling of community to his home town.

What say you, fellow Diner Denizens?

There HAS to be some great places in Hamburg to dine AND watch trains, yes?

 

Regards, Ed

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Posted by trolleyboy on Monday, July 31, 2017 10:12 PM

That works for me. We can have Oktoberfest early.Beer

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Posted by cudaken on Monday, July 31, 2017 10:13 PM

 Evening Diners

 Flo, Ed, Brent, Jan, Inch and I will have a Beer please.

 I Hate Late Customer! Angry Well not tonight! Big Smile I had be back from earlier today walk in 5 minutes before closing. Took about 20 extra minutes to do the paper work and explain a few things about the mattress he bought. While I got out 20 minutes late I made a extra $120.00 in spiffs.

 Wife Health Front About what I expected so not great and not terrible I hope. Cardiologist told her he thinks she has 2 clogged arteries and may need a stent or 2 depending what they find after more test. There is some scar tissue on her heart. They will be a Echo Gram in a few weeks and then we go from there.

 Later, Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Monday, July 31, 2017 10:34 PM

Howdy 

Ed.   .. good idea about the Diner visiting Germany .

Ken ...  if the doctor thinks your wife may need a stent, I don't think there should be any delay .

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Monday, July 31, 2017 10:34 PM

Zoe - Just a couple of chocolate chip cookies, and a glass of milk to go with them. Thanks.

Ed - No objections from me. Sounds good. 

Ken - Stent's aren't that terrible, if needed. Certainly a very manageable diagnosis if it stays.

Good night all.

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

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Posted by BATMAN on Monday, July 31, 2017 11:08 PM

 

gmpullman

It is already AUGUST in parts of the world and no one has mentioned a new home for the Diner yet...

The thought occurred to me that we could visit Ulrich in Hamburg to keep him, and Petra, company and show a little unity and spirit to help assuage some of the suffering there and to help bring back a feeling of community to his home town.

What say you, fellow Diner Denizens?

There HAS to be some great places in Hamburg to dine AND watch trains, yes?

 

Regards, Ed

 

OOOOOH! What a great idea! 

I will take a little side trip to Konstance and try and relive that day in 1988. Now if that beautiful girl from Switzerland is still around.Whistling

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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