Good Morning from Philadelphia,
A lazy start to my day as the museums etc don't open til 10am or so. Has breakfast with the CFO and now I'm just putting my plan for the day together. Weather here is slightly overcast and should be in the mid thirties. I will have a regular (cream - no sugar) whilst I wait.
Paul - sorry to hear of your friends troubles. He will be in our prayers.
Der - now that you've caught the cleaning bug please remember to go easy on your less tidy friends. some us of seem to need clutter in order to think.
Jerry - love the diner especially the novel use of an engine. Wouldn't that look grand in 1:1 scale !
NJBob - there are a few wack jobs and grouches out there on the big street. Rommel is new but daKraut has been around for a while - I think the name is supposed to be tongue in cheek. There are a few others out there whose tone is too serious or self important to suit me but the information available is worth the occasional aggravation so long as one resists the temptation to retaliate. Sometimes I'm reminded of the refrain in one of my theme songs "Oh but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now." I think a lot of the incivility stems from the annonymity of the internet. You can say things you'd never think of uttering face to face. Anyway the crowd in here is much nicer as many have mentioned so you always have a shelter from the storms outside.
Well, gotta go finish plans and map consultations. 'll catch y'al later. J.R.
Good (frigid!) morning. I'll have large cup of Bailey's and coffee, hold the coffee please.
what Lee said about the arctic blast! It's -18 with wind chill of -28 now.
LEE: I 'bout spit my coffee out reading about what you feed Jasmine!!
NJBoB: Have anything to trade? I could use some grain hoppers.
Yup. it's my b-day. Even received my official greeting from AARP.Maybe I'll use the card to spread PL300 for roadbed!
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
Good morning all,
My dear friends from Canada, I genuinely appreciate your gesture of sharing, and I thank you, but you can keep your Alberta clippers to yourself:
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHEAST OHIO AND NORTHWEST OHIO..DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WIND CHILL READINGS COULD POSSIBLY DROP DOWN TO BETWEEN 10 AND 20 DEGREES BELOW ZERO TONIGHT. THE COLDEST WIND CHILLS WILL OCCUR WITH THE HIGHEST WIND GUSTS. DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WIND CHILL READINGS COULD REACH DANGEROUS LEVELS OF 10 TO 20 DEGREES BELOW ZERO AGAIN SUNDAY NIGHT
Paul, sorry to hear about your friend, but he has and sounds as if he is still putting up a good fight, you have to give him credit for that.
Terry, my first train set was Tyco, I remember as a kid my first tunnel was an empty Coke box on the living room floor. I still have that first set. The locomotive still runs. Most of the rolling stock I have is Tyco brown box that I've painted.
Paul, yes ice can do nasty things to a cold freighter. It will be interesting to see the final bill on that recovery.
ED, what am I feeding Jasmine? Well since we ran out of Jehovah's witnesses, people coming to the house to read scripture's from the bible, and other sales persons (they would throw milk bones in the back yard so they could approach the door bell) she is left with only her regular dog food and has lost considerable weight.
Lee
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Good Morning from Tipton IN !
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
[....until they start chewing the bark off your trees and killing them, that is! ]
***They have no destructive advantage over our cows & goats. (no porkys here, but had them visit periodically back in WA) Anyway, even after we coated the trunks with a tar mixture & wrapped them with chicken wire, within 6 months the cows and goats would be back at rimming them. Rob
Evening fellow diners. Just got home. I think I'll just have coffee-Thanks.
Terry-I'm interested in the passenger cars.What do you want for them?
Cox47-nice job on the town. I like the diner-the extension is a nice touch.
Not too much else going on. I'm going to try and borrow a camera this weekend. There are somemore pics I want to take so I can post them.
Before I went to work today I just happened to poke my nose in the other room and there are two wack jobs there with the screen names of Rommel and da_kraut.Personally I find those names offensive and happen to mention it to one of our pt moderators and the response I got was a sudo history lesson and not much else. Might as well have been talking to the wall.Maybe if I ignore those two they will go away.
I'll just stay in here from now on-it's safer.Well I got to go now. Got to get up at 5AM for work.
How did this happen?Top of the page again.At this rate I'll be broke by the end of the weekend.
See you all later-NJ Bob
Good Evening Coffee Clubbers,
Another beautiful day down here in Paradise. Continued to drizzle, and stayed relatively cool, throughout the morning. Despite this inclement weather, your intrepid orange grower headed out to the grove and picked more fruit. Hope you enjoy!
It's been interesting and informative reading through the bio's that have been posted. Even though I've been here a long time, I learned a lot about the newer folk, and some interesting stuff about the older patrons that I didn't know before. Thanks to all that took the time to post.
Lee: Jasmine is my best friend; she is a 146# black Labrador.
Inch - good to see you stopping back in.
Jerry - the diner turned out great. Congrats.
Terry: Unfortunatly, I pushed fifty tooooo hard and it's pushing back tommorow!
Catch you tomorrow,
Ed
Good evening Diners: I was going to say "stormy evening", but while the storm we had from 3:15 p.m. has now passed through, and it's a whole lot quieter now. (8:30 as I'm beginning this.) Just rain and wind, Dick, no snow at al on Sober Island.
I forgot to say the last time I was in that on my trip to Truro a week ago today, I saw two trains, but of course the camera was at home! The first was a Central Nova freight in New Glasgow. Coal gons, oil tank cars, and a small string of 50' box cars made up the train. The second was the VIA "Atlantic" out of Halifax on it's way to Montreal. That was in Truro. I got to the grade crossing just as the gates were coming down. I was first in line, so saw the whole thing. The lead loco was #6418, of interest to me because my VIA loco is #6419! FP40's. I think I'm right that the Atlantic is the oldest continuously run passenger train on the continent; having been maintained through several changes in RR ownership. Anyway, I now know how the VIA FP winterization hatches look.
My general level of enthusiasm just keeps getting higher. While clearing my desk I found a bottle of eye glass cleaner behind the monitor. It's not just a bottle, folks, but a pump spray with the all important fine mist and no blobs! ... now I can continue with the ballasting much more efficiently. But not immediately, because I'm really, really delighted with the GLEAM method of track cleaning. Thanks for mentioning that a few days back Terry, and I'm very glad I asked about it. Ryan, the link you posted to the 2006 thread was all I needed. If any one is interested, I've made a synopsis of the thread as a WORD doc, and will email on request. I've adapted the method to suit the tools I have on hand. Here's the makings of a 1500 grit strip for the sanding units I bought years ago for general modeling work. I cut the paper into a strip, ACCed the ends, using that bit of silicone treated paper from my AMI roadbed box to ensure nothing stuck to the work bench or to me. ($ store crazy glue, nothing fancy). The finished strip mounted in the holder is like this. I'm using a spare stainless fork from the kitchen for the burnishing phase. One of the regular sanding sticks is used for the rough sanding at the start, then the 1500, then burnishing. I tried for a "Jeff Style" along the tracks shot of the results, but I didn't get the focus right. I think I was too far down the tracks too, judging by Jeff's pic on page 103. Here's an idea of the GLEAM with the reflection, not shadow of the loco just in front of it on the rails.
I haven't any paste metal polish yet for the final stage. Maybe I can find some when I go to Truro again tomorrow. In the mean time that loco is going everywhere I've GLEAMED so far at the #1 step of the 28 step speed table. It's never ever done that before! I'm a happy camper. Thanks for all who have helped in this.
Now, I'm a few pages behind, so will attempt to catch up before bed-time...
Rob:
Der, nice looking ground cover. Do you treat it for bugs or bake it or???
porcupines are slow, nice little critters
Colby: I'm working on adding a small power plant made out of what was leftover from a crane I had.....That's a tad enigmatic, care to explain a bit more, sounds interesting.
I'm working on adding a small power plant made out of what was leftover from a crane I had.
Ozark:
In N scale i have two: One is in a large shobox, just a simple point to point switching layout.
Ryan:
Der John, nice screen saver you got there!
Again, thanks for the GLEAM link.
Jeff:
That comes later. First I want them seen as they are just from the shop.
Terry: Thanks for posting the town and layout and train room pics. Nice work, you've got a lot of space to play with then?
Ed:
derJohn - Geez, I've never seen a desk look that clean. Except for the first day that they delivered mine, that is.
When you say "dust that is generated from the logs", are you talking about the fallout at the bottom of the woodpile? We have a ton of that, maybe I need to take a closer look.
Lee: Thanks for the new word (elisions). WORD spell check didn't have a hissy fit at the spelling
but SSI took us to court wanting the last 3 years payments back because now we didn't qualify. Even though we did qualify while we were getting the SSI.
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
Evening all
Paul Sorry to hear about your friend and it brings back memories of the fight Jack went through. Good to hear the little one is coming along and it is something with what they can do now for those so little.
Jerry I really like what looks to be the entrance to your Diner.
Ok here goes. My folks bought my brothers (2) and I a Lionel,believe it was the Super Chief, back in the mid 50's and we ran it out of fuel and didn't keep it. That was the end of my model railroading until I got married and bought a Normal size set and had problems with the switches. The lady that ran the LHS gave me Jack's number and he showed me what I did wrong and then asked me why I was going with Normal size and that is when he took me to his house and let me see his Horribly Oversized layout and I was hooked. He was also the one that taught me to run a live steam locomotive and started out with a 15" gauge Crown and then he bought a 7.5" gauge live steam 4-4-2 Atlantic. He passed away two years ago this last Nov. I have one of those basements like Terry and my layout is roughly 16'x 16' walk in with an extension that I just put in to make it a walk in and that side is about 30' long and there is also an 8' x 6' peninsula . It is called The Bald Eagle Valley II RR in honor of Jack's Bald Eagle Valley RR,strictly freelance,and set in what ever time period, but will be steam.
As for some personal,four years U.S. Airforce,one year Viet Nam (68 Tet Offensive) released (honorable discharge) 70,married,two grown girls,two really good SIL's,three granddaughters and one grandson. I have also been fortunate to have met 6 from the Coffee Shop (Diner) in person and one of those now resides across the street but I still keep in touch from time to time.
That's about it
Best to all on sick call and those recovering
Talk to you later
Duke
"Don't take a wooden nickel,because it isn't worth a dime" by my Dad
"There are only 3 things you need out of life:A gentle grade,the wind in your face,and cinders in your hair.....But keep an eye on the water glass!" Jack Evans
***Paul, that is sad news. Sorry!
-Rob
Started life in NJ, grew up in AZ, lived in WA, ended up in GA where I eventually married my wife Barbara (we met in England). We have travelled to Africa for our art, but that was before we met. I'm a full time wildlife artist, wife is a nurse. She was also a firefighter and drove ambulance, EMT, etc...
My eldest brother's Lionel & HO trains had me hooked early in life. I starting with N scale as a young boy and have stuck with it ever since. One of my sisters has HO, as does my wife. Body is paying for many youthful years as a serious endurance athlete (ancient history). Still into MMA, but only at a fraction of what I once did. Life is still good.
Until a few years ago, wife and I raised Paint horses, Miniature horses, Miniature Donkeys, Pygmy goats & Miniature Zebu cows. Although we still have many of them, we only breed the Pygmy goats & some miniature cows now. Have a number of rescued dogs, cats and PB-pigs, all elder now. Lots of free roaming birds, too. That's about it. (perhaps more than you wanted to know)
Now for my usualin a SOUTHERN mug, please & thank you!
Rob
Paul W. Beverung wrote: Evening Gang: I got some bad news tonight. If you remember back a while I said that a great friend of mine was fighting cancer. I got a call from one of the guys wifes that he has been taken to Dallas VA hospital and the docs give him maybe 2 weeks. He sbeen fighting the good fight for so long. I'm going to go in to see him tomorrow for sure. With all that has been going on with us I haven't been able to get to see him much. Nice job on the diner Cox. I like the F unit cab on the side. Is that the kitchen? That would explain why Gerry is doing all those recepies.Lee they have started to pump out the Mc Carthy's ballast tanks. They are in a bit of a hurry as the ship doesn't have power and no heat. It wouldn't do for the tanks and plumbing to freeze up.Well I'm going to cut out. Mary Ann is going to fix supper and I don't want to be late to the table. See you all later.
Evening Gang: I got some bad news tonight. If you remember back a while I said that a great friend of mine was fighting cancer. I got a call from one of the guys wifes that he has been taken to Dallas VA hospital and the docs give him maybe 2 weeks. He sbeen fighting the good fight for so long. I'm going to go in to see him tomorrow for sure. With all that has been going on with us I haven't been able to get to see him much.
Nice job on the diner Cox. I like the F unit cab on the side. Is that the kitchen? That would explain why Gerry is doing all those recepies.Lee they have started to pump out the Mc Carthy's ballast tanks. They are in a bit of a hurry as the ship doesn't have power and no heat. It wouldn't do for the tanks and plumbing to freeze up.
Well I'm going to cut out. Mary Ann is going to fix supper and I don't want to be late to the table.
See you all later.
Terry
Foulrift, I also have a few (old) Rivarossi UP cars that my dad bought me that don't really work in my plan.They're yours if ya want them.
Evening all,
FoulRift, I just happen to have some AMTRAK passenger cars here, would that do?
I also have 2 almost brand new AMTRAK FP locomotives sitting here I'm not sure what to do with them.
Terry, yes she is 145#, she was 155# and the vet said she needed to lose 10 to 15 pounds to be healthy. She has a very commanding bark, I must say.
Cox, nice diner you have there.
I'm going to the pleasant Valley train show in the morning to find a movie theater and some street lights for Fox creek.
Ok, guess it's my turn.
First and in my mind at least, most important:Paul , Lee and any body else, THANKS FOR SERVING!!!!!!!!!I had (still have !!) 2 brothers that served in Vietnam so ,in thier words, "I didn't have to." Thank You all.
OK, Off the soap box.
LEE: 146#???? I thought my lab was BIG!
JIM: Pete the porcupine is fine, although the CFO got a suprise as he was in the garage when she pulled in last night!
NJBob: yer doin' fine ,Ya might as well stay!!!!!!!!!
Yes I live in the boonies. We have some land that's part pasture/mostly woods. There's fox, deer ,wolves ,grouse, pheasants,black bear,and of course,porcupines!
I deer hunt right out the back door.
To all my friends north of me,ENOUGH with the Alberta clippers!!-4 and wind chills of -30 to -40!!
Bio: I got a Tyco(yes Tyco )train set for Xmas at 7,Still have the engine and caboose. Stayed with it through the first big "D"( I got the kids!!!!)the second losing a battle with the big"C", and the current,VERY understanding CFO.Yes ,I AM VERY LUCKY! I protolance the BN Indianhead division in northern Wisconsin in a 42 by 30 basement that my wife made me build a house over. Good all around!!She gets the loft for quilting.(and the garage.) Fair trade.Unfortunatly, I pushed fifty tooooo hard and it's pushing back tommorow!
Hopefully, some more pics over the weekend.
Hope and prayers that need them!!
Hey all. Congrats Terry, your not paying. :P
Since we're talking about it, My story's pretty boring I startwith trains at about 2, after pasking mom where the tracks went. The tracks that were taken up before I was born. The same set of tracks that I would watch for a train on out the window. (And for you PRR fans, the same set of tracks that T1s ((4-4-4-4)) would go screaming across topping 110) I had a 4-4-0 by bachmann, now broken, but majority here to be fixed. And a large collection of wooden trains. (thomas/BRIO/etc) I gradually converted to HO in 2000, and have been designing the Half Moon Orion And Northern for the last 1 and a half. first built layout, probably close to 50 different designs, some erased and or saved over. No job yet, but I've thrown my name in the hat at Big Four Hobbies. Zac said he wasn't hiring but to keep checking back. No prob, I'm only in there once a week.
Oh, and I showed up here in looking for something info wise. Can't recall now what it was. Stopped in, can't leave.
((What did no one get my donner pass cookbook joke on page 101??))
-Morgan
Greetings from downtown Philly,
Took Amtrak out of Stamford this morning with the CFO who has a Lacrosse coaches convention here. Here turns out to be the old Reading passenger terminal in the center of Philadelphia. They used the train shed for the lobby of the convention center and we're in the old city hall annex across the street. We were booked on the Acela thismorning but the CFO had the bit well and truely between her teeth and charged onto the wrong train. Of course it left before I could catch up and get us off but no worries it was going our way and even was scheduled to arrive before the Acela. We were just out the extra money for the business class ticket and I really did want to see how this modern streamliner rode. So we rode on the coach (at least it was an express) pulled by one of those oversized toaster ovens. We did clock it at 128 mph in the wilds of New Jersey using the CFOs' GPS Garmin thingy and it did ride smoothly.
I'm putting an itinerary together for tomorrow so I can tour while theCFO attends her seminars. Shame the trolley museum is closed until March.
Good to see Inch drop by again though he seems to be having a tough time of it with his family issues. Good also to hear the babies doing better, blood clots that are really pinched nerves (painful but not deadly) and another milestone for Mrs PC and the SSA.
As for resumes: Born in Brooklyn 57 years ago. Grew up in Connecticut and California moving back to Ct my senior year of high school. Partied my way out of college, 4 years in the US Navy as a Communications Technician (R branch). Worked at Cheeseborough Ponds as a material handler then wrangled a job with Porsche transferring to Bob Sharp Racing (Datsun) as a mechanic and truck driver. Then to Mecca Development (R & D and a racing Alfa Romeo) then ten years with Bob Akin Motor Racing after which the CFO and I opened our own shop for vintage racing cars which we've done since 95. Currently we have ten employees and take care of about 40 vintage and historic road racing cars taking them to about 27 events a year. I got my first train set from my aunt and uncle when I was but a lad (A.C. Gilbert American Flyer Silver Bullet). The trains were sold when we moved to California (8th grade) so I could buy this new fad called slot cars. That lasted until the Navy years with my brothers and I running all over New England as I suppose semi-pros runningin a couple of the regional series. My first Christmas home I was shopping and found a twenty dollar Tyco New Haven train set at K-Mart which I promptly set up in my apartment. The sets got added onto over the years through the start of a family until a lack of interest put them away. My youngest found the boxes and wanted to see what it was all about which held his attention for about a week - all it tookfor me to visit an LHS and see what was available now. I now have gone from a 4x8 with green sheet grass to a 12 x 12 roughly room with an around the walls and stairs and furnace two level layout sort of modeled after the New Havens' Berkshire division (the old Danbury/Norwalk then Housatonic). No catenary, and the upper level is double tracked which the CDOT is just talking about doing, but it is my layout and I do have fun. I have mostly diesels but have included a few steam locos just because. I model the early sixties though most of my paint schemes date from the late 40's and early 50's because I like them better. I suppose the steam will be for my model rail museum along with the electrics I can't help getting. The model railroading led me to the real Danbury Railway museum where I volunteer on the model railroad crew and help in the mechanical department. If I ever find time, I'll restart the restoration of a 1:1 Alco RS-11 (ex New Haven 1402) at the museum.
I started hanging in the coffee shop that preceeded the diner I & II because I liked the tone a lot more and we all made an effort to be civil. This is probably the only place on earth that Red Sox and Yankee fans make an effort to get along. I've met a couple of the patrons in person (Trolley Rob and Duke) and hope to meet more as I travel to races and train shows. I suppose this will melt someones dialup router, but that's a bit of my story. J.R.
(so did I get the job?)
Well, since the resume's are being posted again, might as well add my
I'm John (aka JP - since there are a few of us in here.). I'm 36, born here in Syracuse NY, 90% divorced, dating a wonderful lady, and I have no kids.
My career goes something like this....
Sep 87 - Dec 91 - Stock clerk / Shipping & Receiving Clerk / Cashier for a local drugstore company.
Jan 92 - Jan 98 - Active Duty Marines as a Postal Clerk (yes, mailman!) that took me to places such as Okinawa, South Korea, Thailand, Austrailia, Somolia, and areas of the 'Gulf'
Jan 98 - April 2001 - Various odd jobs (driver for a Courier Company, Crew Foreman for a Landscaping Company, Guardsman (reservist) w/ the New York Air National Guard)
April 2001 - Present - Fulltime Active Duty AF w/ the same Air Guard unit here in NY.
As for my modeling, I'm into HO Scale. I currently do not have a layout as I live in a 1bdrm apartment, but I have started parrts of the benchwork for at a minimum a 4x8 layout. Once I get a house this fall, I'm sure I'll add to what I have designed / built already. My theme is going to be a mish-mash of railroads... Conrail, CSX, Finger Lakes RR, G&W, etc. mostly switching, but with plenty of variety as well.
Well all, off to get some things taken care of.
Take care!
//signed// John Powell President / CEO CNY Transportation Corp (fictional)
http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s303/nuts4sports34/
Hunter - When we met in January of 2000, you were just a 6 week old pup who walked his way into this heart of mine as the only runt in the litter who would come over to me. And today, I sit here and tell you I am sorry we had to put you down. It was the best thing for you and also the right thing to do. May you now rest in peace and comfort. Love, Dad. 8 June 2010
I love you and miss you Mom. Say hi to everyone up there for me. Rest in peace and comfort. Love, John. 29 March 2017
I guess it's close enough for lunch so I'll have a bowl of soup,grilled cheese sandwich and a diet coke.
Does anyone in the diner model the New Haven RR in the steam era? The reason I ask is some time age a friend of mine loaned a binder with one year of MR in it. Not sure of the year but one of the issues features the NH. If anyone is interested I could copy the article and send it.Just a thought,but let me know.
Well no late classes at the Community college(I'm a security guard) so in order not to lose a days pay I'm going to another post at a local truckstop.I don't really like the place but it's a days pay.
Does anyone by chance have an old HO passenger they might want to part with? Condition and length or car not an issue.Perhaps a trade of some sort could be arranged. NJ Bob
Good Morning Diners!
Not often that I get to drop into the diner in the morning but I've been home the past 2 days trying to get rid of a nasty cold. You know your not feeling well when you could run trains all day but think " I can't be bothered". Speaking of cold, I read Jim's weather report and thought " Say, it must be spring there" , at least we would call that spring weather. Here there is a severe wind chill warning of -42C. That means exposed skin can freeze in 5 minutes. Mind you despite my not running trains, I did manage to put together a couple of Accurail wood boxcar kits that I picked up last weekend. I'll need to replace the couplers and trucks but for $7 who can complain. Besides they do look quite good.
I'm looking forward to lunch and some of that Seafood Chowder that's on todays menu. I'll bet it will clear out my sinus.
As far as a bio goes, I was crazy about trains as a lad and built a 4x8 HO layout that was torn down in 1961 when we moved. I still have the locos and rolling stock which I kept thinking that someday I might want to get back into the hobby. In fact my first loco was an Athearn F7 that was 50 years old last year and it still runs. I looked at the hobby a few times in the past 40 years but for over 30 years sailing was my passion. Never thought I would ever say it but I am seriously thinking of selling my boat that I've owned for the past 24 years. About 2 years ago I saw a train set at the local Superstore that was decorated as a CN Hudson. I liked it and thought, why not so I bought it and the rest is history. I really like steam and am lucky in that I grew up here where they ran steam until 1960. I'm currently building a 4x8 and am at the scenery stage. I think of it as a learing layout but I really can't do one much larger as the basement is fully developed with no plans to fit a model RR.
As far as the work thing goes, I am with a wholesale distributor and manage the credit function. I also do financial counselling for small retailers. I'm not ready to retire yet and with my wife's passion for travel, I can't. Last year we went to Africa, Kenya and Tanzania. Glad we went then and not now with all the political turmoil in Kenya. Too bad as it is a lovely country.
Well I suppose I've taken up an entire page by now but once I get started there's no stopping me! I'll blame it on the fever.
CN Charlie
Attaboy wrote: Work processing medical evidence for (ahem, cough, cough) social security disability claims.
Work processing medical evidence for (ahem, cough, cough) social security disability claims.
Sooooooo! It was YOU!!!!!
Just kidding........I know you guys have a tough job. It's just hard to see folks that are deserving have to work so hard to get their benefits that they paid into for years on end. This time it hits close to home, so it's a sore spot.
Good Morning
Oatmeal and manderine OJ please. Again saving room for Ryan's menu later in the day.
We were with relatives in Nashville yesterday.
Paul says "I guess it may be time for us old hands to give a resume again"
Accordingly, I suppose you can blame Paul that I am posting the following:
I've been a lot of places and done a bunch of things. Born during WWII in Texas, I have resided in eight states. Trains and model trains have taken up much of my time over the years. My own "model railroad museum" includes the remains of a live steamer built by my granddad in the 1920's. My dad was an active live steam model railroader, too. In my early years, our family traveled extensively by train throughout the USA. Some of the trains we rode were the PRR Broadway Limited, The B&O Capital Limited, IC's City of Miami, Santa Fe Super Chief, SP Daylights, Burlington Zephyrs, and MILW Hiawathas. There were others. From ages 5 thru 18, I lived very close to CB&Q's mainline into Chicago. In the first Chirstmas there, we rode a Burlington suburban train (steam loco) to downtown Chicago to see Santa Clause in Marshal Fields. We saw the Toy Department before Santa Claus, and they had a really neat Lionel Trains display. I asked Santa for one of those train, and that's what showed up under the Christmas tree that year. I've owned toy and/or model trains ever since. My oldest HO locomotive is one My Dad brought to me from one of his business trips to Japan. It's a Tenshodo NYC 4-6-4 that I restored about five years ago. The Hudson is over 50 years old. The design of my present layout reflects the fact that I haved moved so many times. The HO layout is being built in sections that could be moved.
My career had its share of adventures. As teenagers, my best friend and I earned a lot of money for model trains with our own lawn mowing business in suburban Chicago. Later I worked selling auto parts with a retailer. Next, I supervised an advertising agency's mail room. Then, I became a city transit bus driver. While working as full time driver, I was also a full time college student studying business. I ended up with both a BBA and an MBA. Work experiences included marketing, economics, accounting, and finance, and that involved computers and other business machines, transportation, manufacturing, and consulting. Much of that was with a railroad company. Shelley and I are retired and we reside on a large man-made lake in Kentucky. We have five adult children with spouses and there are (so far) four grandchildren.
Happy Model Railroading
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Morning everyone. Sorry I didn't get the chance to get back to the diner but after diner I took the opportunity to work on a couple of RR(HO) projects and then went to bed early.
Duke-Ed-Jim et all.I'm feeling much better about myself and being with a great bunch of people.I'll admit I do venture into the other room once in a while and have gotten some good tips and help from some helpful people but I would still rather be here.
Ryan-thanks for the offer of a meal on you.If the offer is still open then I.ll order later.
The current layout that I am planning will be my fourth.It is an industrial switching layout loosly based on Progressive Rails AirLake Industrial Park. I did not use their trackplan but developed my own.I will post the plan for you. It features 3 industries,a team track, freight car cleanout track,2 track yard,a runaround and a switchback.
My first layout was a standard 4x8 and it was a learning experience. The next one came out a little better but I didn't make good use of the available space for industries etc.
#3 was a total bust.I was trying to do a small switching layout but it didn't do what I wanted it to do.
#4 as I mentioned above took a while to finalize the design. I used XTrakCad to design it and with the help of a friend got the plan done. I am also planning on having a highway overpass as a viewblock and to add interest with track,roads and an industry under it.
You will notice an empty space on the righ side.When I first palnned this it was going to be 2'x7'. I later learned that I could fit a 2'x8' in my room so I changed the layout size in the program. What I am planning on doing(and I already did this on paper) is to center the layout on the 8' that will extend the switchback,yards and inbound/outbound tracks.
Anyway that's where I stand with my layout.
I spent so much time talking I forgot to order breakfast,so I'll have pankcakes w/sausage and coffee-Thanks-
BTW-I'm on the top page so order up-It's on me today.
NJ Bob
Morning all, I'll have a hot cocoa, Zoe. After the two inches of snow last night it will taste good.
Okay, I'll get in on the short bio, even if I haven't posted much lately. I'm 55 years old. Work processing medical evidence for (ahem, cough, cough) social security disability claims. I'm currently working on the XPRR (experimental railroad) a 7 X 15 layout in the basement just to get some experience. My dream layout will be in the detached two car garage train room in the back yard. I'm planning an HO/HOn3 fictional layout loosely based on the East Broad Top. I've also met some of the folks here in person, like Duke up there above this post, and they're a great bunch of folks here.
Don't worry PC, I won't take anything personally about SSA disability. The system does need some tweaking. We sometimes have to deny claims we feel should be approved and allow claims we feel should be denied. The ALJs (administrative law judges) that do the appeals also take their own sweet time with hearings and decisions.
Well, break time is over. Thank goodness I'm on two weeks vacation after today. Maybe I can stop in more often.
Good morning,
Does anybody have a good link for window images? Looking for images I can scale and install in my layouts window fronts.
Today: A chance of snow showers before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. Breezy, with a west wind between 18 and 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Tonight: Scattered snow showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. West wind between 15 and 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Rail traffic around here has really increased to the point I typically get stopped by 3 trains on the way to the gas station. The top 3 are containers, auto racks, and corn syrup. Makes me wonder who is buying all these cars and candy bars!
Mornin, coffee n couple doughnuts please Zoe.
I told ED I might stop in after he tracked me down 4 doors over. Haven't had much to talk about that was on the good side of things. #2 son n his wife are spitting up, so he's staying here some. #3 SIL found out, he's getting transferred to Terre Haute In now, 5 months after buying a house in Girard IL [a 3 hour drive apart]. #2 and 3 DIL's have had both their work hours cut back, and the company Mother works for are talking cutbacks too.
On the good side, with the DIL's getting fewer hours, I've had less baby-sitting duty and since the weathers not been so great outside, I have gotten more playtime on the layout. Got most the fiddle yard laid out and the sidings are going in.
Have been hearing some good things in here though,
PAUL , sure glad the baby's doing so well and your DIL didn't have a blood clot
PC,, good to hear your wife's doing well now after surgery and the disability pay may be coming in soon. It was almost 4 years till I got my first check after applying.
We've been keeping ya'll in our thoughts, even the healthy ones.
Most every one is making progress on their RR and there been some really good pics posted, thanks.
WELCOME to all the newbe's n hope ya keep coming back. Don't worry bout chiming in, it took me awhile to gets comfortable when I first stopped in.
Best get back ta chores, if I want any playtime. Hope ya'll has a gooden, stay safe n warm with this cold spell coming in
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4309
Morning all!
Another beautiful, if not chilly, morning in central Indiana! It's a brisk 18 degrees out there right now, but it just didn't feel that cold when I came in. Maybe I'm getting used to it? (That would be a bad thing!)
Not much going on today. I'm doing the work thing and I'm planning on lunch with a dear old friend. I haven't seen Dusty in a while, so I'm looking forward to that!
Well, gotta make like I work here!
Later!