Good morning all. Icy cold blasts are spoiling what could be a lovely day.
Dave. Like you we very rarely have a picky supper. Just now and again it gives me a break from a busy day.
Douglas. I hope things are getting better.
Charlie. I think i undertand what you are going thru. Dawn is obsessed anything coming into the house is sanitized etc. It is a struggle getting her to leave the house to go to the Hospice or Doctors. Hopefully this Covid stuff will end soon and we get our lives back.
Baking a pie this afternoon. Not sure what, but I'll see what ingredients I can put in it.
Coffee time. Biscuits are on the table.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning
Another beautiful one! Today is going to be the warmest day so far this year. A high predicted in the low to mid 60"s, ...Nice! Another great day to be alive! To bad it hasn't rained yet to wash the salt off the roads or I'd take the Stang out for a romp.
Well, covid or not, It looks like I'm spending a week with my brother-in-law as they are coming down from Wisconsin next week. We had an unfortunate occurrence last week as Judy's best friend suffered a severe heart attack. She started feeling chest pain at work and she works at the hospital. Why the RN didn't give her an EKG and just sent her home is beyond me. She walked in the door and her daughter asked her, mom, why are you home so early? She said "Well that was really something" and fell over on the floor. Of course her daughter called 911 immediately.
The paramedics from the hospital know her is the only reason she's alive today. They hit her with the defibrillator almost 50 times is what I was told. Normally they wouldn't have tried that many times. She has suffered cracked ribs as a result but they saved her life. She was legally dead for 15 minutes and is having some memory problems.
Where she lives it's only an hour away from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. It was too foggy to fly her there in the helicopter, so as soon as she was stabilized the ambulance took her there. She has had two stents put in her main arteries that were plugged and a pacemaker.
The girls are going to take turns taking care of her as she is home now. What is strange is she forgot who her daughter was temporarily but she remembered Judy. She had her daughter dial-up Judy because she just needed to hear her voice. Judy and her sister are going to take their turn taking care of her next week. I'm so thankful Sue is recovering and still with us.
It looks like my brother-in-law and I are going to hang out for a while. They had better lock the doors on the condo complex, cuz when my brother-in-law and I get together, Look Out! Him and I invented fun
Thanks for the Billy Joel song Bear. I don't know what it is, why music sounds so much better when someone posts it for you
The world is a beautiful place
Keep your chin up Douglas. Things always get better. What helps me when I'm down is unfortunately, someone is worse off than me.
I remember you talking about that before Charlie. Hopefully you can get through to her as she is lucky to have you. Maybe when it's beautiful out and the birds are singing, she can forget her fears.
Have a great day gentleman
TF
Hello Railfans!
Top of the evening to yas! Thought id stop by before i park my head on the pillows.
I wanna thank you guys for the well wishing. After reading Charlie and TFs latest posts, i didnt feel as bad as they do. So imma passing on the well wishin to them.
Had a pretty productive day. Got a few things solved. Some things not. Some things are even beyond my control - which is the problem to begin with. However, Im gonna call it better than it was and 'proceed restricted'
If i had to fess up the whole truth id even have to say a couple things actually went my way. Believe you me.... no ones more suprised about that than I!
All said, i got a few things done without inventing any new... um.... bad words . So without further adieu i will leave you fine folks to your lazy Sunday.
Have a 'better' day everyone!
A#1 North!
Douglas
Good morning. It's sunny and warm. It really feels like Spring. Daisy the Dachshund loves sitting outside with all the smells in the air. She gets winter cabin fever worse than we do.
It's also nice that church is getting back to normal. I actually had to find a parking place this morning.
TF, Douglas, and others, glad things are going a little better.
Bear, good news that the earthquake didn't affect you too much. Please keep them on your side of the equator.
Charlie, I hope you (and your wife) can get some relief. You are having a lot to deal with.
The layout work is on hold until I get a part I've ordered. I'm getting more and more serious about tearing up part or all of the layout and reconfiguring things. One part of me doesn't want to, and one part does. I'm not sure which side will win out.
If you've seen the Grand Canyon only from the south side, it's worth the time to see it from the north rim. There's very few people there! Grand Canyon Lodge was built by a Union Pacific subsidiary in the 1920s. It's a great place to hike the canyon's trails.
This sign is in the lobby:
This is one of the patios overlooking the canyon:
Neat place.
York1 John
York1If you've seen the Grand Canyon only from the south side, it's worth the time to see it from the north rim.
When we went to the Grand Canyon in April, 2019 we stayed in Utah and wanted to go to the North Rim because everyone I talked to said it was a better experience. Then we found out the North Rim is closed in April, and we were on the wrong side.
I had to drive all the way around the Grand Canyon to get to the South Rim, and it was CROWDED, but still worht the trip. The parm management said the crowds were light, so I am sure I do not want to go back to the South Rim.
On the trip, around the canyon we found some neat sights to see, so it turned into a good day.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190Then we found out the North Rim is closed in April, and we were on the wrong side. I had to drive all the way around the Grand Canyon to get to the South Rim, and it was CROWDED, but still worht the trip.
That's too bad. I think the North Rim opens in May. That's a long ways around.
A while back I was at the South Rim in January, and it was crowded, but not nearly like later in the year. I hiked to the bottom and stayed at Phantom Ranch -- it was a great experience. I would like to do it again, but I don't believe I would be able to hike out again. That was tough.
Storm over Dodge’s Bluff by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Amtrak No. 5, the California Zephyr, crosses over McDonald Creek at the base of imposing Dodge’s Bluff just east of Utaline, Colorado, on July 18, 1990. Four EMD F40PHs haul the 16-car train westbound through impressive Ruby Canyon.
Santa_Fe_Grand-canyon by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
Oh Yeah!!!! Thanks Bear!
I wonder how many folks out there noticed the mic Billy was using? I owned about 10 of those back when and they were my go to vocal mikes most every time. Plain old standbye SHURE SM-58!
Thanks for posting that. Made my day!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good afternoon all.
Flo - Your stuck working another weekend? Sorry about that. I will have a Coke float please. Thanks.
Everyone - Well, I'm still around. (Vinnie, I'm just giving fair warning. No need to be alarmed. What's that? Oh, it's nice to see you too!) Glad to see most are hanging out still.
I did drop off radar for a while, but was dealing with some stuff. Had to take a break from a lot of things. Still dealing with fallout from one thing, but I've decided it's their problem instead of mine. I know that I did what what was right, and it had to be done, and if some can't understand that, so be it.
Finally getting back into some of the things I took the break from, but have not yet gotten back into everything.
Enough of that - Let's talk trains!
Ed - That had to be one really rough "bump" they got for that kind of damage. Yikes!
I like the canyon pics from everyone! That is one of the places I've not made it too yet, but would love to go someday. Eventually I will get there.
Missed the NS 911 Honoring First Responders in the area today. Maybe I will catch the return trip if they are nice enough to leave it on the same train.
Layout - Remodel has not progressed very much yet, so still just working on nailing down the track plan, and small modeling projects for now. Hoping that come spring (once the ground is less muck) we can get some stuff done.
Seems to be the weather is looking a bit nicer for the coming week, maybe I can get the garage warmed up to fire up the paint booth towards the end of this week. I have a couple items ready to go, but with the garage only being insulated, not heated, it's a bit too cool to paint still. But with 60+ forecasted for a couple of days in a row, it should become feasible.
Meanwhile I will sit here enjoying the scenery while enjoying my Coke float.
Hope all are well, those who are not get feeling better, and everyone is enjoying the day!
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.
Glad to see you back in the Diner, Rick
The fellow narrating that video said he figured the cars hit the locomotives at about 20 MPH. Lots of momentum there!
A while back someone commented that a photo I posted looked like a model. I came across another photo that sure fits that description:
Hottest of the hot by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
(What freight trains should look like )
Here's the same engine leading a Santa fe freight at the NAPM model layout:
Return of the Warbonnet by NAPM Model Railroad Club, on Flickr
I scoped out a plumbing job at Mrs. Pullman's mother's house. About 200 feet of rusty, Galvanized water pipe has to be ripped out and replaced.
I said, thanks but no thanks. We have a good, local plumber that can tackle that job and be out of there in a day or two.
About two years ago my neighbor had a leak right at his well where the pipe connected to the outside of the pitless adapter. I forget what month it was but I do remember it was bitter cold.
The plumber hand-dug six feet down to the outlet pipe and replaced about four feet of that where the line had split. Had the water back on only a few hours after he called him.
He charged $350 for the whole job and my neighbor said, yeah, he was OK but he sure charges a lot!
I thought that was about half what an average well repair job would run. I sure wouldn't want that job. Sometimes it's better just to not recommend someone when somebody asks.
C'est la vie —
Regards, Ed
gmpullmanAbout two years ago my neighbor had a leak right at his well where the pipe connected to the outside of the pitless adapter. I forget what month it was but I do remember it was bitter cold. The plumber hand-dug six feet down to the outlet pipe and replaced about four feet of that where the line had split. Had the water back on only a few hours after he called him.
Plumbers earn their money. Plumbers in cold areas really earn their money.
A few years before I retired, an outside water main going into the school broke. A student's father owns a plumbing company and came to fix it.
In below freezing temps, in an 8 foot deep hole, in the mud and water in the hole, they had to take out the old main connection and put in the new.
I will never complain about plumbers or how much they charge.
Post Hog Alert!
This reminds me of a teacher's husband who was the only locksmith in our area.
At 1:00 a.m. he got a call from a woman at a gas station at the Interstate who had locked her keys in her car.
He got out of bed, got dressed, stopped at his shop for his equipment, and drove the four miles to the station. He unlocked her car, which took him about two minutes.
When he told her his charge was $50, she refused to pay and told him she wouldn't pay someone $50 for two minutes' work.
He said, "Fine." He put her key back into the car, closed and locked the door, and drove away.
I'm not sure how she ever got the key, but she did not call him back.
York1 Post Hog Alert! This reminds me of a teacher's husband who was the only locksmith in our area. At 1:00 a.m. he got a call from a woman at a gas station at the Interstate who had locked her keys in her car. He got out of bed, got dressed, stopped at his shop for his equipment, and drove the four miles to the station. He unlocked her car, which took him about two minutes. When he told her his charge was $50, she refused to pay and told him she wouldn't pay someone $50 for two minutes' work. He said, "Fine." He put her key back into the car, closed and locked the door, and drove away. I'm not sure how she ever got the key, but she did not call him back.
After years of dealing with John Q Public -
This is exactly how every "entitled customer" should be handled.
These films remind me of my "old days" when you could see so many different railroads and such a variety of equipment.
He wasn't kidding about the bad track. You could go under 20 or over, say, 35 but there was that certain speed where the cars would rock and roll and, yes, sometimes flop right over due to the excess rocking.
P1090025 by Edmund, on Flickr
Still fun times, though.
Ed, where are the ashtrays and the cigarette smoke in that lounge car?
York1Ed, where are the ashtrays and the cigarette smoke in that lounge car?
Oh, that photo was taken in 2002. The purge has begun
The PRR addressed the issue early on —
PRR_smoking2 by Edmund, on Flickr
I sure remember being in plenty of smoky lounge and club cars back in the day. Passing through the Mahoning Valley and into Pittsburgh didn't exactly help clear the air, either
Good evening, Diners.
I have not participated here in a few days. As info., I have not felt well for several days. My congestive heart failure is bothering me. I had an appointment with my cardiologist on Thursday, and he ordered some tests. Some are discouraging. Tomorrow, I have more tests. The cardiologist has already changed one of the drugs which are controlling my condition, and that should help. I hope to get back to normal again soon.
Meanwhile, I'm too tired to do much of anything including participation in the Diner.
Everybody: ...... Have a good evening. Your friendship here is appreciated.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Garry , praying you condition improves
York1He said, "Fine." He put her key back into the car, closed and locked the door, and drove away.
True story:
Back when I was doing field repair work, we had a customer in Saint James City that owned a 45 foot Sport Fisher with a pair of 650 HP diesel engines.
One had a failed starter, Another tech diagnosed it on Friday. We had the replacement starter couriered down from Atlanta for Saturday delivery. I was available Saturday, so I took the repair job. The customer wanted me there at 3:00 AM so they could sail out by 5:00 to go kill a tarpon or two.
I met the courier at 2:00 AM, and drove the the customer's house in Saint James City.
Now... this is 3:00 AM in Florida coastland in Summer. The mosquitoes are thick as fog, and this is an open deck marine vessel.
So... I sprayed myself down with Deep Woods OFF to ward off the mosquitoes.
The customer's wife started yelling at me for spraying that "smelly stuff" on me, and she did not want the boat to smell like bug spray. She ordered me to go home and get a shower. She went on and on about how they were missing prime fishing time for tarpon. I cannot share the language she used on this forum.
I had been awake for 23 hours, and I was not in any way going to get 200 mosquito bites so they could go kill a tarpon. Time-and-a-half has its limits.
So, I went home and took a shower. Then I took the battery out of my beeper, took the phone off the hook, and went to bed.
Good evening
The customers over the years and so many stories I could tell. I wouldn't even know which one to choose from. Tonight I don't think I'll tell any of them.
You guys already did. Replacing all the galvanized pipe for $350 sounds like a gift to me. And then the customer or the neighbors being unappreciative saying that it costs too much
And the little old lady that was Saved by the Bell, waking up the locksmith out of a sound sleep to get conveniently back into her car so she could drive home. Perfect! Then she complains about $50. Unbelievable! I just loved that story and really like that locksmith
People down in Texas after the big freeze with the power outage at the same time can't even find a plumber to save their soul. I would hope when they finally get one and they have their water back, they don't complain too much but just be appreciative that they were fortunate enough to be next in line.
Then the carpenter or a drywall guy has to come in and repair all the water soaked drywall and cuts that had to be made for the repairs after the plumber is done. I would imagine that costs too much too.
It's the same with everything. I remember people over the years that wanted custom Cabinetry. I learned quick to keep current with updates on a signature daily for time spent. Waiting till the end of the job was never a good idea in my younger days.
I don't know what people think, that you just show up and wave your magic wand and everything is done. They don't understand how much heart and soul, craftsmanship and experienced trade professionalism that goes into any job.
Towards the end of my career I had many forms and was always insisting on a signature daily to prevent not being paid by people that don't understand how much goes into a job. A large majority of my jobs were time and materials as I was never able to see through walls. 50% up front. Brought up to 80% before the job is finished.
Your stories made me swallow hard, bite my lip and laugh, all at the same time
Thanks for the stories and the humor guys, Interesting stuff
Heartland Division CB&QMeanwhile, I'm too tired to do much of anything including participation in the Diner.
Garry,
Please take it easy and take care of yourself. I hope to hear more from you when things are better.
You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
Good Lord!
Where does the time go some evenings?
Oh Well, maybe I might sleep a little later to my liking tomorrow.
I don't post this much so I hope you appreciate it Kids!
Now that's the Boss.
Wifey could not even compare to that.
Green Machine
As Sinister as she looks, it makes me wonder when they chopped the hood down so the engineers could see on both sides
Good morning all. Today's forecast is sunshine all day. Why is it raining?
Lovely pictures by everyone. Thanks.
Smoking. Interesting how things change. Where people could smoke before is now 'out of bounds'. Other places to smoke have to be found/provided.
Coffee time.
Good Morning:
I awoke to this today —
March_Sunrise by Edmund, on Flickr
My sleep schedule is all whacky. I actually slept all night and awoke at 4:45!
Track fiddlerPeople down in Texas after the big freeze with the power outage at the same time can't even find a plumber to save their soul. I would hope when they finally get one and they have their water back, they don't complain too much but just be appreciative that they were fortunate enough to be next in line.
That's a similar situation we were in when we found Richard from Pike's Plumbing.
After the 2008 "correction" real estate prices tanked and we were looking for a condominium for Mrs. Pullman's son and wife to live in. We found one that had been foreclosed but, don't 'ya know, somebody must have turned on the water main in January, and nearly every solder joint was ruptured and lots of the copper was split open!
I was working steady 12 hour shifts and couldn't do the job. Dee Ann called maybe eight plumbers, out of those only two replied and of those two, only Richard showed up to even look at the job. This was on a Sunday morning, yet!
He got their water on temporarily later that afternoon. He also cleaned out TWO toilets that the daughter-in-law continued to use, but couldn't flush!
He put in three days of work, provided all the material and left everything spotless, and even suggested the drywall contractor that was also a good, reasonable worker.
I expected a bill somewhere around $3600 to $4000.
How about $1,450! I sure hope he doesn't plan to retire soon
— A beautiful place:
Outrunning the storms by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Gòod Morning,
I woke up at 04:30 and just couldn't get back to sleep.
Garry, Sure hope you are on the mend soon.
Supposed to hit 55F today. Robbie doesn't like the wet outside. I have to carry him to a patch of snow to do his business.
Maybe I'll run a train today. I know I often say that but that beautiful little J4e Pacific is just sitting in front of the station.
Time for brekky. Sure would like some kippers and scrambled eggs but that isn't going to happen even if I had the kippers, She hates the smell.
CN Charlie
Good Morning All,
Garry - I hope you get better soon. Hopefully the doc can figure out a better course for you.
Still struggling in the shop trying to catch up though we did go see the grandson yesterday. That was great. He is now 18 months and turning into a little dickens. I don't think my son appreciates it too much when I just laugh at it but then again payback......
I won't even start on customer stories but it seems most of you have the same perspective. Like the guy who couldn't pay his bill because he was going on vacation to the Carribean. Sometimes it was necessary to go outside and see if there was a steeple on the shop roof (as in a church - a non profit organisation).
Hopefully today we get the final ok on the house deal and financing so wish us luck. Catch y'all later, J.R.
Good morning, diners. Flo, bring the coffee. Just leave the coffee pot on the table.
Garry, I hope the medicine issues get straightened out quickly.
Ashtrays. I remember that every living room, even in houses of people who didn't smoke, had an ashtray or two.
My father got free cigarettes after they landed in France in WWII. I imagine that if someone wasn't a smoker, they sure were after the war. I remember when he quit. He started smoking a pipe, thinking that a pipe was so much work that he would get tired of it. Even with the little vent window in the car, we couldn't stand the smell of whatever his pipe tobacco was. But it worked. After a short while, he quit completely.
I wish I had learned from him. I smoked a lot for some years before I quit.
The best plumbing money I spent was to have my sewer pipe replaced to the street.
Sometine before we bought the house the line had been updated to PVC , it is a long run down teh back yard . A few years after we moved in, like clock work every FEB the sewer would back up into the basement. I would call the pipe cleaners and we would be good for a year. clogs were cause by roots. I finally after three years or so got tired of this and called some one out to replace it.
They found that the original pipe joints had never been sealed so roots moved in.
They did the job right for about $3k. the plumbers took $750 and the rest went to the backhoe owner.
Still good after all these years.
moelarrycurly4Sometine before we bought the house the line had been updated to PVC ,
My house was built in 1977. All the drain piping both inside and out is sch. 40 PVC.
I remember my dad saying "that plastic stuff isn't any good" well, he was raised on cast iron and clay pipe.
I have never had one bit of trouble with the DWV system or the septic piping at my house. The PVC looks as good as the day it was installed.
I did have one P trap rot out. It was brass
This looks like the inspiration for the Rockwell painting:
lot 390 001 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr
Here's one for that guy that likes bridges!
Montana Rockies Daylight by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
I hope you find some relief soon, Garry! Pulling for you
Me again, gosh it is only 8:30. I think it will be a long day.
John, my Dad started smoking in the war too. After the briefing before a mission they had to wait around and they smoked to try and ease the stress. My Dad changed to small cigars which wasn't great in the car during winter. The heater in a Morris Oxford isn't great so opening a window just meant you froze. We are talking Winnipeg here so it was froze indeed. Don't think I'ii ever forget the smell of a Trump cigar.
Bet I drink a lot of coffee today. At least I have the good stuff.