Elliotts Trackside Diner II

[fec153]

pc- DITTO NJ Bob's comment. Would not like to be in your shoes. Picture is fine. Good looking boy.

 

I am a lucky O.F. 2 healthy children, wonderful wife, great hobby, and The GREATEST friends in the world. There are a couple of you that have really gotten to know me and I am greatful as all get out to be accepted as a friend. [even tho Vinnie still has his doubts]. .As to smoking-I am still at it. Started at age 15 and now 56 years later, still puffing away. Just had physical with chest x-rays and A-OK. Go figure.

Rfd did the Copper Canyon this morning. Modern pass. cars and a yellow caboose. Movie was shot from engine window. Could make out NdM on nose.

Prayers still being said for all. Stay warm and well.

Flip

 

                            

 

[Anonymous]

Phil- All I can say is "Way To Go"

I think that's great.Your son must have been thrilled. NJ Bob

[pcarrell]

Wanna hear what got me cranked up last night?

My boy plays on a local basketball team.    He mostly warms the bench but occasionally he gets some game time.  Not last night though!  Last night he was a starter on the "A" team!  He played most of the game and it was a close one.  In overtime he managed to draw a foul from the other team which got his team the ball back and they went on to score the winning goal!  As some of you know, my son has muscular dystrophy.  It's not too bad now, but it will get worse.  For him to be able to be such a part of his team last night was, I'm sure, a moment he'll not soon forget!  He felt bigger then the biggest kid on that court last night, who by the way, was the kid he was gaurding!  Here's my boy with the ball (Not the best pic, but it works for me!).  The big bald kid was the one he was guarding. 

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

COLBY;

If you use recycled rail joiners make sure that you solder them.  Used ones can give you lots of grief.  New ones are the best, but if you are pinching pennies then do as I say above.

Good luck and keep us informed on all your successes, or you will be

Johnboy out.

[pcarrell]

Afternoon all!

Been kinda busy lately, so I have more reading to do to catch up with all of you.  Just thought I'd stick my head in the door and say hey though.......HEY!

[ModelTrainLover]

Hey Guys!

I've been working on the New York & Maine Central Railroad today, and I gotten more painting done. It's comming along nicly, I need to get to a weekend were I don't have anything going on and beg my mom to bring me to the LHS. Which for me means about a 45min drive to the closest one. I need roadbed, new rail joiners or refurbish the ones I have, paint and if I want to get turnouts for more sidings and a passing track, buildings to replace the paper ones I have, ground foam, and finally a spool of wire so I get ride of all the 2-5 inch bits of wire I have in my H*ll box.

Colby over and out

BTW go light on the food. other wise we might had to add double doors to the diner.

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Good Brunch Time, Guys and Gals,

Guess I won't need a nap today. I slept right through until 11:00am. I couldn't believe it.

I had been up at 5:30 as one of our dogs wanted out but went back to bed and crashed.

Well seeing it is lunch time, I'll have the bratwurst and suaerkraut, the stuff that Rommel and DaKraut are wolfing down at the center table. Maybe I can join them.

JEFF.  I know you are a stickler for detail, but isn't that a little much. I know you would treat your section crews well, but the size of that air conditioner that you put on the lineside shanty is a bit over done, dontcha think ???

Jerry,   What a wonderful gift for your daughter and her family. You have some very generous and concerned neighbors in your area.  I bet prayers had been answered.

Not staying long right now as my wife has me lined up to do some errands for her (well us together) and also a job to do for the nursing home where she is the Administrator.. So I had better get this lunch down and get moving.

Have a great day to all and especially you train show goers.. Let us know of all the bargins that you pick up and any new ideas or tricks.

Hope it has warmed up a bit for you all. It has here but still -12c. (Hmmm, think I'll put on my shorts !!!!!!!)

Johnboy out.....................

The "Wobbly" will wobble later.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JEFF: NICE clouds!!!!

Thanks. Those are all hand painted.

[der5997]

Diners!  I don't get to use that one very often, as I'm usually in here at night.  BTW, if anyone has a "Good Evening" .gif file or similar, I'd welcome it!  A medium JR Regular please , and a nsa orange muffin, thanks.

 

Johnboy:

and never a legitimate reason and they are never particulary sorry for the inconvenience.

...just every now and then they screw up in one's favour.  When we were getting fixed up with High Speed there was a delay in their delivering the gizmo that replaces the old dial up modem. They said it would come by courier, and we waited in all day so as not to miss it and have to wait over a weekend. Turns out that by "courier" they meant the normal postal "Expedited" delivery.  So the thing came in the post anyway.  I phoned about this inconvenience, and received, eventually, a coupon giving me $20 worth of iTunes downloads, or some such.  Anyway we don't use those, so I phoned again and pointed this out.  In response, they took $20 off the next bill.  So that turned out OK.  And, since I've ranted in the past about Aliant's lack of service, I should in all fairness name them now as having sorted this one out.

Well I now have some hard shell on about 1/4 of my mountain range, about four feet. 

...16 feet of mountains, that's going to look very impressive indeed! I never tried a snow shed on my BC layout.  Toyed with the idea, but in the end there just wasn't enough space for everything.  No-one else has ever had that problem, right Jerry?

Mitch:  That's very encouraging news about your Mom. Interesting to see she's a fan of that murderous community Crabapple Cove.  Our favourite Angela Lansbury performance is her Ruth in the film version of Pirates of Penzance. (1983, so the Googled article tells me)

TiptonBill: I see that Rommel is a NPK fan too.

CapeJim: I've sent you an email.  That roast beef dinner looks just what I could do with, come lunch time!

Rob: CapeJim(I think)'s thoughts

Rob, sorry to hear about your stress and troubles. Will keep you and your wife in my prayers, but remember to take care of yourselves while you're dealing with things. Probably wouldn't hurt to give each other a hug, either!  

Lee: Should the L. S. & W. be spelled out to explain what it stands for?  I've emailed a couple of other thoughts.

Jeff:

been busier than a pair of jumper cables at a hillbillie funeral.!

...ouch!

Jerry:  That's a real Praise the Lord event for your #2 daughter and her family.

TTFN, things to do, track to GLEAM,

 

[saronaterry]

LEE: I like the write-up,also. BTW< my puter says the map E-mail got sent??!!? Don't know why you've not recieved yet. Want me to send again?

DICK:,Either belatedly or right on time!

JEFF: NICE clouds!!!!

Made another big batch of sawdust ground cover,it's turning out real nice. BTW,I'm only using the belt sander stuff, it is extemely fine. Looks the same as WS fine turf!(I have 1/2 a jug for comparison.)This batch will yield two full WS  shaker canisters !

Terry

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Lee ... I like the write-up. Sounds like it fits on an annual report. Very good.

Jerry .... Good to learn of the good news about the vehicle for you daughter.

Rob ... we hope to learn soon that you and the Mrs. are feeling better.

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello .......

Oatmeal & OJ, please. thanks.

Good luck with your banking, JimCG.

Mitch ...Glad to learn "Mom" is doing better and settled in her new surroundings.

Dick ..... That's really great to have a birthday one day and have a huge train show (Amhurst) in the area immediately after. We'll be looking forward to learning from you about your new acquisitions. Will you be seeing JR at the show. I know a guy in KY who is going all the way there just for that show. It must be something.

I like the PA, Jeff. I, too, like the MKT PA's. I was inspired to paint a PA1 myself for MKT and bought a set of Con Cor Texas Special cars for it. It's one of my favorites.

A little history: The old Burlington Route contemplated buying the MKT way back in the 1800's. Before that could happen, Congress created the ICC, and railroad mergers became nearly impossible with the then-new regulations.  Many decades later, railroad mergers were again occuring. The Burlington Northern was created from mergers. It bought Frisco instead of MKT. MKT was later merged into UP.

Happy Model Railroading

[Cox 47]

Good morning....Its chilly 27 with just a dusting of snow..I'll have biscuits and gravey and coffee please...Thank You...Sallie and her Sisters are going to their mothers today so looks like a long day by my lonesome...May run trains and probaly take a nap...I have some painting to do but its too cold and damp to go out on deck and do it...

My number 2 Daughter and her family had a blessing this week...She had hit a patch of ice back before Christmas and totaled out their old car...They had been walking since...A man they didn't even know came to their house Thursday afternoon and gave them a Chevy Suberban...Gave them a check for Taxes and a check for licence and tittle transfer...They have 5 little girls ages 3 to 9 and she and her my son-in-law are in Jr. college and he works too...They couldn't have needed it more...

You all have a good saturday...Jerry

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 38 degrees here and wet (not surprising, this is Louisiana after all). We're expecting a high 0f 50 this afternoon under partly cloudy skies.

Been working on the layout for the past week. That's been almost like work! One of my neighbors says I've been busier than a pair of jumper cables at a hillbillie funeral.!

Today's Weather for:      
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      1/26/2008

Wind Chill:  33°F
Humidity:  100%
Dew Point:  37°F

So Far Today
High:  45°F
Low:  37°F
Rain:  0.05"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  9mph NNE

Today    High: 55    Decreasing clouds. Not as cool. Highs in the mid 50s. Light and variable winds.    

Tonight    Low: 35    Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. Light and variable winds.

[LSWrr]

I need a little help with the introduction for my web site.  How does this read to you?

The L. S. & W. is a fictional free lance HO (1:87) scale layout based along the lower Great Lakes during the 1940's and 1950's

The L. S. & W.  is an regional rail operation that delivers the services needed by a diverse group of customers. Our team of dedicated employees throughout the Lower Great Lakes Region handles the shipment of over 120,000 carloads annually of a wide variety of products-- coal, Iron ore, agricultural products, salt, bulk cement, petroleum, metals and forest products. 

[JimRCGMO]

Almost forgot - Ed, thanks for the link to the LOC photos!

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning, Janie - I'll have a couple of eggs, hash browns, two strips of bacon (yeah, that near-bacon probably would be better for me), some toast, coffee, and I'll take a glass of Ed's OJ while you're getting the platter ready, please. (Gulp-gulp-gulp)

 

Thanks!

Mitch, thanks for reminding me about credit unions - we have one here, and I may go by there this morning to get info. Thanks to the rest of you for letting me vent - my usual way is to vent, blow off the steam, and then I feel better afterward. No problems with my blood pressure that way (vs. if I held it in for long). for your Mom's continuing recovery and treatment.

Rob, sorry to hear about your stress and troubles. Will keep you and your wife in my prayers, but remember to take care of yourselves while you're dealing with things. Probably wouldn't hurt to give each other a hug, either!  

What, Janie? They did? Hey, Dick! Since you didn't say last night, the ladies and the cook went ahead and made you another cake just in case today's really your birthday!

For those who are planning their LHS trip with the tax rebate, I did notice that last night's news pointed out that it may take until May/June for the IRS to get to sending it out, but then it will take another 8-12 weeks to get them all mailed out. So it might be toward the end of the summer before we get those checks. I know I won't be waiting for it to cover my loan agency's/bank's fu-fu. I may make a brief list for the LHS, but will save it until the check arrives before contacting my LHS...

Well, I'll be working on my breakfast now. Feel free to join me when the rest of you arrive in the Diner.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

Today: Light snow likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 30. South wind between 6 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Tonight: Light snow likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 25. South wind around 8 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. A STRONG COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE THROUGH NORTHEAST OHIO AND NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON OR EVENING. A  WESTERLY FLOW OF COLD AIR BEHIND THIS FRONT MAY PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS OVER EXTREME NORTHEAST OHIO AND NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO SAY HOW MUCH SNOW WILL FALL OR THE EXACT AREAS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BUT THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS.

Lee

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning from Tipton IN ! 

[Cederstrand]

***Mitch, that sounds like good news about your mom, or at least it's better than it could be. Hope she continues doing better.

For those ranting about banks and such, all I can say is if I get started my head could explode and mess up my desk and computer screen, so I won't go there.  

Both my wife & I are having some health issues again. Under way too much stress that I will not go into here on a forum. It is probably going to get much worse before there is any chance of things turning around, but life goes on.

Well, hope everyone is doing well. Enjoyed the photos and reading about the projects some of you are working on. More photos please!

Good Night Rob 

[eeyore9900]

Evening folks-I'm a bit hungry (& cold) so a bowl of chunky chicken & dumplings soup & a Pepsi please!

Update on Mom-GREAT!!!!! I stopped in after work today, & she was sitting up & eating dinner. Her color was much improved since Wed, & her mood was MUCH better! She seems more "Mom"! She's been doing therapy, & it seems to be working very well. I mentioned everyone's thoughts & prayers here for her, & she thought that was wonderful! (Hey, she brought me my 1st copy of MR in Jan. of '78-hooking me on the hobby-she's fully aware of the mag! ) I asked her about the diagnosis on her, & she said it is COPD, along with a very mild heart attack, & congestive heart failure. Prognosis is meds, & continued therapy. Turns out though, which she never told me, that her "asthma" she's had for over 25 yrs was actually COPD-I guess she never really gave me all the info all these years. Anyways, she's eating well, going thru with her therapy like a trooper, & enjoying her favorite TV shows in the evening. "Mama's Family", "Murder She Wrote", & TV Land Reruns.

JPowell-GOOD LUCK on your house hunting from someone who has BEEN THERE last year! At this time last year I'd never believed I would be able to get one anytime soon, but thanks to a reputable & recommended local mortgage lender & an FHA loan, it worked out-now for all the fine tuning of the place, & of course, LAYOUT BUILDING!!!!

Cape Jim-I hope things work out for you & your bank-Best thing I ever did was join a local credit union 20 yrs ago & it's like banking with your best friend-RARELY any problems, very laid back, & they were the ones who recommended my mortgage lender ^ maybe something to look into if that's an option where you are?

Dick-HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!

Ed-since you're generous with shipping your oranges to us on our RRs, I may have to dig out an old Athearn reefer & repaint & reletter it EMOX (Ed Murphy's Oranges) for the future layout!

Well, it's 1AM-the dawgs got to rip & tear together for awhile, & they're worn out-Dawn's at work (graveyard) & I guess it's time for bed for me too-nite all!!!

 

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Good evening Gang,

Just a quick cocoa with marshmallows and a slice of leftover fruit cake, Thanks Zoe.

It is just about bed time. But I wanted to wish DICK a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY before the day was over.  So heres to ya Birthday boy .

Cape Jim, Take a breather ol'  Buddy, don't want you blowing a gasket there and needing your buddys to be picking you up.  It is the S___s when those banks and utility companies screw up. They actually make you the VICTIM twice or more, and never a legitimate reason and they are never particulary sorry for the inconvenience.

Sounds like everyone other than Jim had a pretty good day today, so for that we can be very thankful.    That darn ED down there in paradise, golfing and napping,  I try not to envy, but he makes it pretty tough.

Well I now have some hard shell on about 1/4 of my mountain range, about four feet.  Have two of the tunnels pretty well completed. Now as I progress towards the canyon I need a snow shed and two more tunnels.  Going to be a little tricky as one portal will be almost beside but five inches lower than the other.. Going to take some creative genius here to pull it off right, so I'll need all the moral support you guys and gals can offer on this one.   But if I do say so myself, it is starting to look quite impressive.

I also feel left out with all of you going to all these train shows lately.  I'd sure like to come along if it wasn't so darn far away.  We get a show here in November which I missed as I had to work that week-end this past year and then one in Moose Jaw, 44 miles west of us (CPR Division Point) in March. and thats it.  I have always been able to find a good deal or two, or be able to haggle some one down a few bucks on something I really want.  Two tears ago I got $50.00 off an Atlas U-23B Western Pacific, which is a real sweet runner.

Well I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open, so I'll call it quits for tonight.

Prayers and blessings to all in need.  Look after all our four legged friends as well.

Johnboy out......................

The "Wobbly" now has a tunnel to run through.   And FOUL RIFT there is a light at the end of it too.

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Diners - been kind of a long day (or maybe just seemed like it..). Glad to be home again. Ah...

Think I'll have a glass of wine and roast beef for dinner tonight.

So, Dick, is it your birthday today, or Saturday? If it's Saturday, you'd better let Chloe know so she and the chef can get another cake ready for you (and get the balloons and streamers ready). We'll warn DerJohn and Fergie and Luc that you need an encore...

Oh, DerJohn, I got your second email today - I think AT&T/Yahoo was having trouble with their mail servers today. But try to get the tech support people to own up to that... So, anybody who tried to email me today, please re-send it. I think AT&T and/or Yahoo might have things working now. (Crossing my fingers...)

[rant on] Very frustrated with banks at the moment (though a bit cooler under my collar than earlier today). Went online to check my bank account today and discovered the place with my student loan had run not one payment (which I had authorized, and is fairly large), but a second one the next day (yesterday). Think their **** computer had the hiccups. So I go by my bank over lunch, to get them to correct it, and find out that it can take up to ten (working?) days for their people to get my a "provisional" credit back against my account. And it can take up to 90 days for the final confirmed credit! [mutter, mutter, %^@&*#...] So my account is overdrawn until they get the "provisional" credit for me - I will probably get my next paycheck before the stupid bank gets it cleared up. Oh, yeah - I also talked with the loan agency, and they (no surprise..) told me to contact my bank (as if they couldn't do something on their end without the bank's okay...). Luckily, the vital things are paid, I have groceries and half a tank of gas (which should be good to get me through to payday). Just burns me up that nobody's in a hurry to provide their vaunted "customer service". Their only customers of interest to them are their stockholders and employees (IMHO). In the words of Bill the Cat:

[rant off]

If you guys going to Amherst on Saturday find anything of interest, post some pics, please. (Yah, I guess Dick will need to take along his camera, huh?)

Well, back to my time. See you all tomorrow!

 

Blessings and a good night's rest,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

 

[Rommel]

***Rommel, let me take a wild guess at your favorite train movie. Was it "The Train" (released 1964)? 

Close thats my second

Von Ryans Express even better now on DVD LOL!

[Fergmiester]

Good Evening All

1st Off! I've been busier than a one armed paper hangar. Been in the basement cleaning upp and sorting out gear!

2nd off... I'm off to Sunday River tomorrow to do some Skiing! And knowing the fact I' haven't been on the 2x4's for 3 years... C-ya on You Tube!!!

 

Fergie 

[der5997]

Dick:  Hope the cold didn't prevent you from having fun today!...and it looks like the party's on me!  Well, they say there's nothing like Nova Scotiian hospitality, so order up folks.

On the mrr front I've now GLEAMED across the doorway module (at the lower level at least) and have established a beachhead of clean on the main part of the layout. In the process I ‘rescued' 2 tank cars and a caboose that have spent the last few months of operational inactivity stranded on the module.  They are now in the lower yard.  That's the first actual train to run here for ages due to scenery priorities.  I'll have to get back to ballasting again anyway. If I carry on cleaning track with this GLEAM method in the direction I'm headed, I'll run into the last un-ballasted section as soon as I have cleaned the tunnel I'm about to enter.  I've also got to re-ballast the track I just re-laid yesterday (after I've painted the rail, that is).  There is another project I'm lining up.  That's a passing siding on the upper level off the viaduct.  It's where the interchange is.  I'll need another RH turnout, but should be able to get that next Wednesday.  Here's the arrangement, roughly.

There won't be a track crossing in the foreground.  Instead the present turnout on the mainline will be moved down onto the passing track to link in with the loco escape from the interchange track.  This is much better, as it frees the main from that traffic.  The 3 track grade crossing will have to have some important looking gates and lights, if I can find some.

 

Rommel:  Interesting buildings.  I take it that there are "undamaged" ones available.

 

Ed:

  derJohn - layout continues to progress well.  It's looking good.  Btw, you and I seem to be the only one's who think that Dick's birthday isn't until tomorrow.

...thanks, and you'll notice Dick didn't say which is which when he dropped in!  Sensibly stretching the celebrations to two days, I hope.

 

Jeff:  The new paint job looks good, as your locos always do!

Paul:

I have to check with Walthers has one more Milw Rd Erie Built. One dosen't look good.

...what's that ad for chocolates?  "One is never enough!"

 

I'm off to do more cleaning, which means figuring out how to get the facia off without damaging the road into my trading estate.  I knew when I sceniced that that his day would come.  I think that a cut off disk in my Dremmel look-alike may do the trick (or maybe a utiliy knife, but the cut off disk is more fun and noise!). Here's the "problem"

...that facia unscrews, but the interface between it and the road is solid.  I have to get the facia off to clean the track in the tunnel.  Happy days!

 

all, and God Bless. Prayers for all in need of healing, comfort and peace.

 

 

[grayfox1119]

Good evening to all, and thank you everone for the BD wishes, the cake, the dancing on the tables, and Der John's singing to Luc's guitar and Fergie's banjo, I have never heard anything quite like it......those Nova Scotia guys really know how to party don't they? I guess it is those long cold winter's above the 75th.

Getting ready for the big train show tomorrow, will be out on the road at 8am, and be there about 45 minutes later. Do I really have to cart my camera around with me???

 

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: Mary Ann and I fullfilled our ORF quotas for today. We took a nap this afternoon. Very unusual for us but the weather was cold and rainy and damp so was about perfect.

Lee: Have you heard anything about the Mc  Carthy? The last I heard they had it afloat and the water in the engine room was down to 5 ft. They can't do much because of the cold. I wouldn't want to dive in that weather for sure.

Der the layout is looking good. I have to check with Walthers has one more Milw Rd Erie Built. One dosen't look good.

Well I'm going to cut out and see what Walthers has.

Good Night All

[egmurphy]

Good Evening Coffee Clubbers,

Another beautiful day down here in Paradise.    I had a burst of energy today and completed a small project that had been on Fran's "Honey do' list for a while.  Nothing big, but more than I normally do.

And then for further adventures in cooking,   I created an "NdeM Gulf Oyster Stew" for lunch.  Actually, I doubt that NdeM ever had such an animal.  Even Fran wrinkled up her brow when I told her what I was going to do with the oysters.  That's not a common dish down here.  But it turned out very well, and even Junior ate his (after knowing ahead of time what was in it!).  I guess the spoonful of chili powder that I added helped out. 

After that I was just drained.... So had to take a siesta! 

derJohn - layout continues to progress well.  It's looking good.  Btw, you and I seem to be the only one's who think that Dick's birthday isn't until tomorrow.

Dick:  If the main cable breaks, and the safety guide cable lets go, then what? Any rapids downstream?

I suppose we go for a river cruise.  I don't spend too much time worrying about it.  Nope, no rapids.  The ferry is about 20 miles (as the river winds) from the mouth and at that point it is still very much tide controlled.  Not brackish, the salt water doesn't come upriver very far, but the river height rises and falls with the tide.

Northern Phil:  I used to play a lot of Avalon Hill war games in the 60's and 70's.

Me too!  Mostly "Gettysburg" and "D-Day".  Back at that time, in the early 60's, I also belonged to a Civil War roundtable discussion group.  They were pretty common back during the centennial.  I thought about those Avalon Hill games when Rommel first posted.  Glad you mentioned it.

Ryan:  With all the time you got, maybe you might see more golf in your future!

That's the plan.  We'll see how well we execute.

That's about it from down here.

Hasta mañana,

Ed

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Been doing some work on the red PA1 so it looks a little more like something from the MKT.