Elliotts Trackside Diner II

[SilverSpike]

Morning folks!

I'll have some of those hot fresh do-nuts and some coffee Zoë! Thanks. What's that...Chloe has a bad cold, ahhh....tell her to get on down over here, I got some special elixir under the counter that'll fix err up rite quick!

Front passed through the night and got a touch of light rain, and temps are falling throughout the day, winds gusting to 30 MPH too!

Put some new roofing on the roundhouse last night, and test fitted the cap too.

Oh, and the corrugated sheets arrived by flatcar.....

Ever have one of those days when you get out of bed, and all you want to do is get into bed?

Thats me today!

Funny PC, because me and the wife both felt like that too this morning....we had a late night because she pulled a double shift yesterday and didn't get home until 10:00 pm last night. Then trying to wind down until 11:00 pm...then up at 5:30 am....

Work from sunup to sundown yesterday, then go to school until 10pm, home by 11pm (got a long drive from school to home), then eat dinner, wind down, and back up before daybreak today.  Mondays are rough!  And they don't make Tuesdays much fun either!

PC that'll do it fur sure! Pulling a late nite that like makes for a tired morning the next day! Cold temps don't make it any easier either!

Lee thanks for the water pipes treatment, I also heard a hair dryer might work too! Those Lincoln Arc Welders are out of my league, plus I might burn up some hair or insulation or something in the process!

And Lee, hopefully it was an indoor pool that you swam in! I like that stand-in idea with Colby!

Kevin you got some of the coldest temps reported here in the Diner, Zoë's got a pot of hot coffee on stand-by just for you! And thanks for the water pipe tips too!

Seeing as how Jim gives the heads up on the nastiness heading east, we should appoint him as the point signal man for throwing up the red flags on a regular basis! Might have to get me a freq scanner too!

Hey CN Charlie, if you ever need some of the "hot" stuff, you just have to ask the waitresses about von Ryan's Express, it's a special "Hot Toddy" concoction that'll keep your blood flowing in any temp!

Paul they sure do keep those light rails on a tight schedule eh! Prayers continue for Tony!

Ed glad you like boiled dinners, we used to boil all kinds of stuff in ole New Orleans, like shrimp, crawfish, lobster, sausage, good eatin' too. I decided to join the Spring Layout Party 2008 at TrainBoard.com as a way of putting the turbo charger in my RH project, and I thought it would be fun too to see what others are doing. And maybe my motivation would help others, trying to be a positive enabler. Thanks for the heads up on Fergie's photo....

Congratulations Fergie on the "Railfan Photos of the Week" at TrainBoard.com!

ED,   Just for your information, they had to shut down the whole Syncrude plant at Fort MacMurray, as it was so cold that a lot of the instruments had frozen up and they lost control of some of the units. They

John Boy, now that's cold! Burr...

Mitch, glad to hear mother's improving, prayers continue!

RT, good luck at the doc appointment today!

The lunch and dinner special menu will follow soon, inspired by the Illinois Central Railroad today!

Cheers,

Ryan

[SilverSpike]

Today's Lunch and Dinner Specials ~ Illinois Central ~ Main Line of Mid-America
~ Soup du Jour ~	c $2.95 b. $3.95
Hot Beef Consomme
~ From the Grill ~	$6.95
Salisbury Steak Mushroom Sauce, Stewed Tomatoes, French Fried Potatoes, Hot Rolls, Choice of beverage and Dessert
~ Diner Special ~	$4.95
Double Deck Ham and Cheese Sandwich with Garnish of Lettuce, Tomato and Pickle Slices, Choice of Dessert and Beverage.
~ Blue Plate Special ~	$5.95
Hot Pork Sandwich with Brown Gravy, French Fried Potatoes, Stewed Tomatoes and Choice of Beverage and Dessert
~ Dessert ~	$2.95
Apple Goodie, Whipped Cream Chocolate Sundae with Cookies Dessert Peaches in Syrup
1862... 100 Years! ...1962 100 Years of Dining Car Service Abraham Lincoln was in the White House and the Civil War was in its second year when the first railroad car was put into operation. That was a century ago! It's a far cry from the dining car of the 1860's and that of today. But now, as then, rail travelers add immeasurably to the pleasures of their journey by enjoying a repast in the dining car. This is especially true on the Illinois Central trains. Nothing pleases us more than to know that an Illinois Central repast, whether breakfast, luncheon, dinner or snack, adds much to the enjoyment of a journey via the Main Line of Mid-America.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff, I like the lighting on your layout. Someday I hope to get to that stage but would be happy to just get my roads done. This Saturday the wife works so the paving crew will be out in force.

Thanks. It's far from done though. I still have several more structures in place that need to be wired plus a box of structures underneath the layout that need to be placed. As for roads, I got the roads on the extention done in just over a weekend. The roads on the main part of the layout still need to be done.

 

Good morning.

Today's Weather for:     
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      1/30/2008

Wind Chill:  30°F
Humidity:  54%
Dew Point:  19°F

So Far Today
High:  40°F
Low:  32°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  8mph NNE

Today    High: 58    Sunny...cooler. Highs in the upper 50s. East winds around 10 mph.     

Tonight    Low: 42    Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers in the evening...then showers and thunderstorms likely after midnight. Lows in the lower 40s. East winds around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.


 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning...

Storm caused loss of power here for a few hours. The train room is a safe shelter for tornados, but I do not get anything done in candle light.

HEY Everyone, if you want to see an exciting trsin news clip. Go to foxnews.com and find the story (front page as of a minute ago) of a mini-van getting hit by two suburban trains in Hinsdale, Illinois. A polciecar video camera recorded the accident. The guy was lucky to survive.

I grew up there when it was CB&Q, and I recall a close call in Hinsdale. Back then, a young mother and her baby were stuck in their car on an icy crossing. Rear wheels were spinning on the rail as a Zephyr approached at 70 mph. A man behind her shoved his truck's front bumper into her rear bumper. Then he pushed her car to safety with her and her baby inside. The train barely missed his real bumper. No injuries. No damage except a crossing gate. He was the hero of the day.

Well, I see Ryan has an ICRR menu. I'll have a hard time picking out my item becasue they look so good. Ryan's roundhouse is so realistic, that the sheet metal arrives on flatcars. Nice. 

I'm glad to hear that Mitch's Mom has been doing much better. Prayer works.

I, too, like Jeff's layout lighting.

Happy Model Railroading.

[Cox 47]

Good Morning all...Its sunny and much colder here this morning after a stormy night...Lots of limbs and power lines down and some tornado sightings...No damage here except it blew my grill accrossed the deck and down the ramp but didn't hurt it..

Wow IC menu...Thanks Ryan I can't decide it all sounds good...I think I'll try thr Dinner special...Double Ham and cheese with the trimings and the Apple desert Please...Thank You...I rode the IC when I was a kid went to the Dinner they brought me the menu I looked it over and almost fell off the chair..prices were out of site for a kid from the hills of southern Illinois..I had a single scoop of vanilla ice cream...But I was a king setting there eating it [didn't have enough to tip waiter]

Lee...Glad you came through deal with Raccoon OK!!..We got folks around here that hunt them for their hide and some eat them...My father-in-law made his living hunting them for awhile..The hide were worth good money...He even had a string of dogs to run them...I'll bet Inch has done a little Raccoon...Sallie helped her dad hunt them when she was a kid..Her Mother baked one but She said it was very greasy and no one would eat it...

Ryan...Roofing looks good...Can't wait to see the whole roof...

I finnished 3 piles of coal for my truck dump and took apart a Micro Machine skip loader to repaint and weather...I think the truck dump and loading is going to work much better on my small layout but I wish I would have had roor for the New River Mine..

You all have a good one...Jerry

[grayfox1119]

Good afternoon everyone, it was raining and 50F this morning, now the skies are clear and the temp is 39F and dropping like a rock, and winds are gusting to over 35mph. We are far luckier than you guys in the Midwest though, man, that was nasty weather.

Picked up the paint to do the ceiling and walls in the master bath for that project. And while I was at the paint store, ( Pittsburg Paint ), the owner showed me the latest ceiling paint...it goes on "purple" and dries pure ultra white. The purple going on is to let you see where you have missed covering the older faded white. Isn't that the cats' meow???!!!!

GARRY: I checked out foxnews.com story on the crash, what a video!!! And the 2nd train really finished it off in a blaze of fire !!!!! The driver was cited for DUI, ( No s*** Dick Tracy !!!)

KEVIN, JOHNBOY, CNCHARLIE: What terrible cold and blizzard conditions you guys have had!!! Man that is cold enough to freeze the whiskers off a Polar bear!!! We haven't see cold here in central Massachusetts like that since the early '40's. The coldest we ever get in the modern era is -15F and that is rare now.

MIKE: How is your Pellet supply holding up? The stove will get a workout this week buddy.

JEFF: I want to pass on a warning for you and your fire dept. The new hybrid cars are a real danger for electrical shock when/if you need to use the jaws of life to extricate someone for the car. The heavy cable running under the car from the battery pack , if cut with the jaws, can kill. Several of our fire departments up here are training their men how to handle these accidents safely, what to watch out for. Please check on this Jeff, people have been hurt.

RYAN: I'll have the Blue Plate special today with hot mulled cider for drink.

JIM: Many a good man has lost a "prize" woman because he procrastinated far too long. Make your move man !!!!  Ask her out, but first, bring her a rose for the services she gave you at the drivethrough, this is a great way to break the ice and show her that you are a nice guy ( of course we all know that in the Diner, but you need to show her ) .

MIDWEST GUYS:  You ain't seen nothing yet, there is a big storm brewing in the SW that is going to bring snows all the way to Detroit...get ready!!

Time to throw another log on the fire, see you guys later,

[ModelTrainLover]

I've made states in the 100yd freestyle (58.28), 100yd butterfly (1:10) 200yd IM (2:29) 200yd freestyle (2:09) 50yd freestyle (26.76) and I think something else but I can't remember. So I gess I can beat anyone in this diner at swimming.

I bet i could beat you at the 500 free (5:58) and the 100 breaststroke (1:15)

I'll hold you too that!! LOL.

Lee: how much? 5$ a lap? $10-$15 for every minute under 12minutes?

Flashwave: are you a coach for a Y-team or a high school team?

well KVACs are comming up and the team is getting ready for them.

Now which is better to get ready to roll trees or tree kits?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JEFF: I want to pass on a warning for you and your fire dept. The new hybrid cars are a real danger for electrical shock when/if you need to use the jaws of life to extricate someone for the car. The heavy cable running under the car from the battery pack , if cut with the jaws, can kill. Several of our fire departments up here are training their men how to handle these accidents safely, what to watch out for. Please check on this Jeff, people have been hurt.

Thanks for the heads-up. We're way ahead of you. The local departments are already getting instruction on this new danger.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good afternoon .....

I enjoyed the Blue Plate Special........... Thanks Ryan.

Dick... I emailed a few people about the police video recording of the accident, too. Some of my other friends were impressed too. AS for DUI, that's a sensitive thing to me because I know first hand what can happen if one hits my car with me inside. It was a bad one.

The storm last night resulted in excitement here in the Land-Between-The-Lakes area. A tow of 15 barges brushed up against a bridge pier where US 68 crosses over Kentucky Lake (Tennessee River). The highway was closed pending bridge inspections. Those piers are remarkably solid and when barges side-swipe them (as in this case) the pier wins.

Happy Model Railroading 

 

 

[grayfox1119]

JEFF: I'm happy to hear that you guys are all over this one, it is a real danger !

GARRY: Don't forget to watch the Discovery Channel tonight 10 EST, 9 Central Time. A new method to save lives at crossing accidents.......air bags on the front of locomotives. Isn't it amassing what we have to do as a society to protect people from themselves?

[der5997]

Good rainy evening Diners:  I'm away from home right now as Kris a has a book reading at Lower Sackville Library tonight, and I'm killing time while she and her co-author Pat do their thing.

This computer, apart from having a strange keyboard, also says that I've only got 45 minutes left, so I'm going to post this now, and then go to the Diner proper, and read back pages until the time's run out, as I don't want to lose what I've written.

Was able to get the Peco RH turnout I need to do the passing track at my interchange; so that will be a soon-to-be-got-at project.  The good thing about water based scenery is that well soaked cloths laid on the bits you want to change, and left for about a day soften it all up to where one can just scrape away the unwanted parts.  That goes fro the sawdust/white glue ground cover as well as regular track ballast and so on.

I'll have a medium JR Regular and an oatmeal-rasin cookie while I catch up on the pages. CUL.

 

 

[der5997]

CapeJim:

Thanks, DerJohn! Good to hear that you got some of the 'round tuit' jobs accomplished over the day Saturday.

...I've actually got one of those Jim, a Round Tuit that is!  It's a ceramic coaster...it's at the museum 'though.

Colby: Congrats on the swim victory.  Way to go! But you are going to have to watch your self or you'll be swallowing Ozark's wake!

Ryan:

When the temp drops below 32° F here I drip my pipes,

...we don't start to drip here until it's about 15°F, and then only in Kris' Mom's suite if the wind is set to the East or North East. Then we do have well insulated walls.  Turning off and draining the outside faucets is a good move, one we make every Fall.

I am trying to come up with a similar installation for my roundtable using a rheostat for varying the motor speed,

...do you actually want a variable speed for the turntable, or merely a slower one? If the latter, then a simple cut to the input voltage for the motor may serve you well, and be easier to achieve.  I think that a suitable resistor in the motor circuit may do the trick.

Jeff:  Those Bill Boards and the other lights are really convincing. Doing the separate floors adds a  lot.

Well, that's page 120 looked at, so I'll get this off, and grab another cuppa. TTFN.

[rtraincollector]

Lee thanks for the info on fed jobs in ohio but as wife says SNOHIO is to cold for us lol . We like it south of the mason dixon line. Yes I'm a yankee fron Pa but its been to long for me to even think go back there to live visit in summer but thats it lol.

 

well all, all went well as expected at docs office today .

Not to much happening other than wife just told me she got me a birthday present (friday) and in case it don't arive well its 2 train cars for my standard Gauge train she said I'll have to do some work to them (paint wise probally ) but one is a baggage car (been wanting one ) and the other is a Observation car (needed one for parts)

so thats going to be nice will give me a baggage a passenger and a observation car with a spare observation for parts I need. Once I get the new cars will post pics of my standard gauge set with the additions and even one of the car for parts.

[der5997]

Well, that's page 121, with 11 minutes to go! 

Dick:

DER JOHN: Isn't it fun doing all that TS with a rats nest of wiring?...

...The worst part of the wiring job was that the old bulbs were on a 18 vdc circuit, and the bi-colour LEDs need an ac source since the relay plus a couple of diodes splits the signal into two polarities one for red, the other for green. I had a time sorting out where the 18 volt circuit ran, because I hadn't bothered to label it as such way back when... The 14 vac was already installed when I did  my other bi-coloured LED s, so it was just a matter of tracing that wiring and hooking up to the right spots on the terminal strip.

found out you need a few more 12V relays ( add that to your shopping list ),

...not really, as I don't see a need for more relay equipped circuits...but who knows in this game?

cleaned up the shop

...and it's still more or less clean a week later!

 

Lee:

Every part of my body hurts!  I had to do my annual swim test today for the Coast Guard; 500 yards in under 12 minutes, followed by push-ups and sit-ups.  This getting old thing is a pain!

...just reading that is exercise enough for this OF!

See you soon, I hope.

 

 

[der5997]

Fergie:

by Mike FERGIE,,, congrads on making the photo of the week over in Trainboard.

Ozark: Irish coffee for breakfast, now there's an idea....aids in the FL Ingit system decisions?

Ryan: That's neat, the corrugated sheets on the flat car.

That's page 122 time's up.

[der5997]

Seems all I had to do was to wait for the computer to shut down and re-boot!  So, I'm all caught up.  Since it's Dick's ticket, I'll just have a light supper of Finnan Haddie and Haggis, with a good single malt, say Glenfiddich, in honour of it being Robbie Burn's day around his birthday last weekend!

Dick:

The purple going on is to let you see where you have missed covering the older faded white. Isn't that the cats' meow???!!!!

...sure is!  I've got the same system in a ceiling spackle to do the seams in the backdrop where the corners will be coved in to the walls. Blue in this case, but the same idea.  Haven't used it yet, but I want to see where I've left too much spackle on the plastic or the walls before it's too late.

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

 

 

[LSWrr]

Ryan,

If you have plastic pipes you need to buy the heat tape made for plastic pipes.  Install the heat tape with that metal tape then wrap it with a good thick insulation, try not to use the grey foam stuff since the heat from the tape will cause it to breakdown.  Buy the gold fiberglass stuff with the white metallic paper (made for steam pipes).  If your pipes still freeze after all this work it's because you forgot to plug in the heat tape.

$5/ lap? Let's see the pool we use it's indoor, heated and you need to do 12 laps for 500 yards.  Let's make it $10/lap and I'll pay you in trackside dinner gift cards?

Power came back on just as the inside of the house hit 47F.  It was horrible, the dog and cats were sleeping together on the couch!

Lee

[CNCharlie]

 Good evening diners!

 I thought we had it bad here with the cold but some of you to the south have really been getting some nasty weather. It is supposed to moderate here on the weekend so perhaps the tap is being turned down on the really cold stuff.

Last night I decided to install the decoder I bought for my latest acquisition, an Athearn RS3, but no go. I forgot to heed the old adage, measure twice or at least once. I found that the decoder was about an eighth of an inch too long. I was very pleased with myself for getting a Lenz decoder for $19 but now will have to get another at the LHS. The Lenz came from Vancouver so a return isn't viable.

Have to run as a TV show I like is about to start.

CN Charlie

[Flashwave]

I've made states in the 100yd freestyle (58.28), 100yd butterfly (1:10) 200yd IM (2:29) 200yd freestyle (2:09) 50yd freestyle (26.76) and I think something else but I can't remember. So I gess I can beat anyone in this diner at swimming.

I bet i could beat you at the 500 free (5:58) and the 100 breaststroke (1:15)

I'll hold you too that!! LOL.

Lee: how much? 5$ a lap? $10-$15 for every minute under 12minutes?

Flashwave: are you a coach for a Y-team or a high school team?

well KVACs are comming up and the team is getting ready for them.

Now which is better to get ready to roll trees or tree kits?

Y? not familiar with, so I'll have to say Hich School (varsity) What's the Y stand for. Or am I just an idiot?

Trees don't "roll" well without gale force winds, in which case scenerey is the least of your worries.

Also, I must point out that a spring shower could bring snow to Detroit.

I'm curious to see if an airbag disrupts the coupler.

And who do I ned to contact for computer errors? I couldn't get on the forum at my Mom's, despite getting e-mails from threads I'm susbcribed to(meaning, you all could get on) And I can get on here too.

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: I must say that I'm really tired. When I got up this morning all I wanted to do was go back to bed. Unfortunately Mary Ann wanted to go to town for breakfast and then go and pay bills, pick up meds, and get some pictures of the baby printed. After that we went to see the baby. She is now 5lbs. 2 ½ oz. She is really doing well.

Lee I see that they had a seiche hit Lake Erie. Four railroad cars were lost off a bridge across Sandusky Bay. One of the cars is said to contain hazardous material. Are you anywhere near there? As to the swimming I don't see where you need that talent since if the boat sinks all you have to do is walk to shore.

Jeff the lighting is looking good. I hadn't thought about the hazards of using the jaws on a hybrid car. That could be a shocking experience.

Ed I didn't get a chance to take a nap. It's all Mary Ann's fault. I hope that doesn't hurt my reputation as an ROF.

CN Charlie: Gee that's tough getting the wrong decorder. Now you will have to get another locomotive so you can use it.

I am really feeling pooped so I'll say good night.

Good Night All

[inch53]

Evening, a barley pop please Cleo

LEE, those big coon are nothing to mess with if they feel trapped. They have very sharp teeth n claws, believe me I know first hand..

JERRY, yep chased a few coon in the past. Me n my [now x] BIL had a couple hounds, a blue tick and a red bone. Hides were running bout $5 to $7. A cured one would bring $10 to $15 back then, [so it paid for the dog food], now their worth $5 maybe. I got a blonde coon one time and figure some bucks there, it was only worth $4. Their good eaten too I fixed a couple young ones last year outside, smoked one, grilled the other.

DICK,, pellets are getting a little low, but planning on a run this weekend. Last week was worse than this one will be for temps, with the lows round 0, highs in the low teens and a stiff wind for a day or two. Went through 4 bag in 1 day, we normally use a 1 ½ or 2 a day.

We already know bout the upcoming storm and no I'm not thrilled about it. Weather guesser's were talking mostly ice for here on the noon news. Now it's 3"-5" of snow by Fri afternoon. Guess we'll wait n see tomorrow n Fri.

RT,, Mother said you called, but I've lost your number [again]. Forgot to say we've got a new Email address, so send it through here.

PAUL,, good to hear the baby's doing well. She'll be out helping with the cattle before you know it

Needs to get a shower n ta bed, I'm tired tonight, KC wouldn't take her little kid nap, so I didn't get my ROF nap. Hope ya'll has a gooden n stay warm

[egmurphy]

Good Evening Coffee Clubbers,

Another beautiful day down here in Paradise.    Didn't get as warm as forecast today, and probably only climbed up into the mid-80's.  Might hit 90 tomorrow.  I hope not.

We went out to the orange grove today to  squeeze another jugfull of orange juice and cut more fruit.  Turned out a bit more exciting than we were expecting.  No, the car ferry didn't bust a cable and float downstream.  The bees were delivered.  That's right, 40 beehives full of busy little bees.  Previously we have relied upon ordinary wild bees to pollinate the trees.  But this year someone asked if we would be willing to let them put some hives there for a month or two during the flowering season.  I figure it couldn't hurt, so we'll see how it works out.

When we went back to the edge of the grove to see how they had been set up, our young puppy (6 months old) went with us.  Unfortunately, curiosity overcame him and he investigated too closely, drawing the wrath of more than a few bees.  At that point he came running to mom and dad for help, bring the bees with him.  Fran says she got stung a couple of times, and the pup probably got stung 3 or 4.  I escaped  without injury, although I had a few light on my arm and buzz around my head.  The efforts we go through to keep you guys in OJ. 

Oh, yeah, and we harvested a bunch of limes.  So I expect that tomorrow's night's dessert will be Key Lime Pie. 

Johnboy:  Just for your information, they had to shut down the whole Syncrude plant at Fort MacMurray, as it was so cold that a lot of the instruments had frozen up and they lost control of some of the units.

That's unusual.  The systems and instruments are usually steam or electric traced, and insulated, to allow them to operate at temps below that.  But I suppose if they have a failure in the tracing it could affect several instruments and make the unit unstable.  I know it used to get real nippy up there.  I'm glad I turned down the offer my old company made me about a year and a half ago to come out of retirement and run one of the new projects up at Suncor in Ft Mac.

JR:  It looked like we'd used the F. L. Ingit system for sorting.

Can I assume that's an old manual style system??? 

CG Jim - good luck getting the banking straightened out and also enjoying drive-in banking.

Ryan - I think the corrugated metal looks good as roofing material.  But can I assume you're going to weather it?  I wasn't sure if that was included in your bullet of "Weathering all details, roundhouse, turntable, and track" in your Layout Party Premise statement.

I was surprised to hear how many of you lost power due to weather conditions last night.  I though we had it bad down here with our underpowered grid.  Now I don't feel so bad.

Dick - Time to "Throw another log on the fire" - one of my all time favorite songs.  I liked the Waylon Jennings / Tompall Glazer version from "Wanted - The Outlaws" album.  Man, that was a long time ago.

Put another log on the fire

Cook me up some bacon and some beans

And go out to the car and change the tire

Wash my socks and sew my old blue jeans.

 

Come on baby you can fill my pipe and then go fetch my slippers

And boil me up another pot of tea

Then put another log on the fire babe

And come and tell me why you're leaving me.

 

Now don't I let you wash the car on Sunday

And don't I warn you when you're gettin' fat

Ain't I a gonna take you fishin' with me someday

Well, a man can't love a woman more than that.

 

Ain't I always nice to your kid sister

Don't I take her driving every night

So sit here at my feet cause I like you when you're sweet

And you know that it ain't feminine to fight.

Paul B:  I didn't get a chance to take a nap. It's all Mary Ann's fault. I hope that doesn't hurt my reputation as an ROF.

Well, if I were you I'd be mentioning it in a very low voice.  Maybe no one will notice. 

That's about it guys.

Hasta mañana,

Ed

[sunsetbeachry]

   HI ALL!!!

I know I am late as usual but when there is a lot of w**k to do 24/7 366 I get here when I can. I've read alittle bit every so often and I do love the way that you all have with words...... The new plans for the RR are not coming along very well, lots of paper on floor and lots of ideas even trying to put them all together I would need a much, much, much, larger building. So noe is the time for shrinking and leaving out some of the things that I really don't need. I still will make all the mtns. floor to about 70 in. in height, and have decieded on an "E" with the middle being "36in" wide and 18in to 24in wide. Thats about all that is really finished. OH the middle will be the highest of most as the top of the "E" will be the cold deck and loading area.

Kathy is doing "F.I.N.E."as usual. I'm doing about the same..........

Got to go. Kathy is waking no going to awaken for her 8;00 pain pill.

To all God Bless and keep all well.              Chuck and Kathy 

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Diners, this is Jim the 'Midwest Point Man'! Chloe, I'll have the Apple Goodie and a cup of coffee please. Thanks, Dick! 

JIM: Many a good man has lost a "prize" woman because he procrastinated far too long. Make your move man !!!!  Ask her out, but first, bring her a rose for the services she gave you at the drivethrough, this is a great way to break the ice and show her that you are a nice guy ( of course we all know that in the Diner, but you need to show her ) .

Thanks for the advice Dick, but 1) she must've been on her lunch when I went by over my lunchtime (and my 4 p.m. client ran me past their closing time), and 2) I barely know her, so she might be a prize - but that isn't necessarily the same as being 'my' prize. I'm willing to trust God to open the doors and make it possible if that's who He has in mind for me.

Well, as for the weather, we're under a winter weather watch tonight through some time tomorrow, and it looks like the snowy part will likely go by us to the north, up Inch and Jerry's way (and then on to Indiana and Ohio)... They're saying it may change into freezing rain/snow tomorrow afternoon, then into (over Thursday night) possibly 6-8 inches of snow by Friday morning. Which likely means you guys north and east of us may get more snow than that(!). Hey Johnboy, c'mon down our way - you'll feel right at home (except it may be a bit warmer than you're used to...). And we ain't even talking how much those of you off the Lakes might get from the good ol' Lake Effect!

Got word today that my P2K undecorated GP7 that I won on that famed auction site is on its way. I'll apparently need to find some decal or dry transfer numbers to match the numbering that's on my Athearn (Frisco) PS 2893 covered hopper. Our LHS owner/fellow MRR club member emailed me back that Athearn doesn't make any decals for renumbering their cars (unlike Accurail). Anyone ever renumber an Athearn car and know of a renumber decal source?

I see that Colby and Lee have opened up negotiations for swimming test proxy...

Der, you're Mr. Productive lately - keep up the good work! Oh, the Round Tuit I have is wooden - guess it's a cross between that and a nickel, huh?

RT, congratulations on your and your presents. Hope they arrive realy soon.

Turns out we had an EF-1 tornado a bit north of our immediate area yesterday afternoon, plus some straight-line winds in some areas, as well.

Watch yourselves, Midwesterners! But it looks like Mark and Sue's neck o'the woods has even more snow - they're saying Seattle area has as much as 40 feet of snow in some spots.

Paul, you may need to have Ed email you some tips on how to get in your minimum daily requirement of nap time - we don't want you losing your ORF card! Hope you get some rest and caught up soon.

Well, I'm ready for another cup of coffee, please, Chloe. Thanks! I'll be warming myself over here by the stove. Hope everyone stays warm and safe over tonight and the next couple of days.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[philnrunt]

    Guys let me tell ya- you know what the death of this country is gonna be? I'll tell you what it's gonna be-outsourcing!

   Last night, at 2232, we lost power here in Dunkirk. Off and right back on. People started calling, asking why, oh why, is our power going off? I pointed out the 60 mph winds, tree limbs, etc, but had them argue that no trees had fallen in THEIR yards, so their power shouldn't be affected.

   The power blipped off and on 20 TIMES between 2232 and 0045, when it went off for good. I called I&M (power company) ((for the third time, the other two times they couldn't locate their substation without an exact address, which it does not have)) to report this, on their special "police emergency only" line. The little sweetie on the other end (no doubt sitting in Key Largo sipping a Cuba Libre)informed me that this line was not for power outages, just "real emergencies, like poles or lines down". I explained to her in as controlled a manner as possible that 2000 people without power (I mentioned heat, 4F temps,people on oxygen supplies, and other life support also at this time) was as close to an emergency as it gets around here , and she proceeded to give me the non- emergency tx number-18003114634 IIRC. I called that number and listened to a recording tell me how important my business was and how I&M was environmentally responsible -and I called back on the emergency line -really wanting to speak to the same operator- but instead got an older, helpful lady who actually knew what she was doing.

   You know what is going to be the end of this country? Thats right, corporate stupidity-no wait, outsour...., well, just ebverything, including bad spelling!

   We were the hardest hit area in Jay Co, lost a couple of trees, a couple of vehicles parked under those trees, and alot of building parts. Other parts of Indiana were hit much worse, including a mother and daughter killed in a mobile home that rolled over in Posey Co.

    Took 160+ tx calls from people wanting to know why this had happened.

    Air bags on the front of locomotives?!?!? I say mount chain saws and great white sharks on 'em, cause those people pulling out in front of 5,000 tons of rolling death are the very same people calling with incredibly stooooopid remarks. Thin the herd. Cut out the feeble.  Improve the strain.

    OK, back to normal now, just a mean old ba***rd again.

    JimRC- I did check out the Great Model RR article, all it said was the structures were a mixture of styrene and wood, and alot were kitbashed. Was there a website for the RR mentioned on the Atlas site? I could use a few buildings like that too, they scream "midwest". Sorry I couldn't find out more.

   Ed- I actually thought about you when the lights were going on and off, and afterward about what you said in your e-mail about Junior. I agree, I sure don't envy his generation. It seems like there have always been problems and idiots around, but these days due to pollitical correctness, you can't tell them that and get on with business, you have to listen to them so they can feel validated.

   Like a parking ticket. And just about as smart as one too.

     Boy, everytime I step down off of this soapbox, there's another one under it.

   Sure am glad to have you folks here to sit and bi**h with. Good for the soul.

    Fergie, congrats on the pic getting chosen for Trainboard. Good shot.

    Sees ya. 

   

    

[philnrunt]

    JimRC- OK, we need to talk.

   This next batch of bad weather looks like it's going to hit on my shift AGAIN!!!

   Jim, old friend, what did I EVER do to you?!?!?!?

    Get out there with a fan, or a jet engine, or something and blow this stuff down Ed's way!

   He, uh, yeah, thats right, he told me he WANTS this kind of stuff. Yeah, yeah, thats the ticket, he said the colder the better!

   Oh, and BTW Diner folk, the way I remember Flip getting his name was he and I were frequent posters in the old Coffee Club, and more than once he responded to something meant for me,and I did the same for him, so he just said he would use his old nickname, to reduce confusion. That is the main reason I use (mostly) user names, as these are totally unique to each member.

    Thats my story and I'm stickin' to it.

    And this chair, come to think of it. 

[philnrunt]

                          CHOW DOWN, FOLKS!

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning from Tipton IN ! 

 This is my last day on the Norfolk Southern payroll !  I will start retirement tomorrow although I have been on vacation since last Thanksgiving. It will end my family's 98 year association with the Norfolk Southern  (starting with the Lake Erie & Western).

[LSWrr]

Good morning all! 

Phil, I was told I shouldn't worry about my power outage, anytime I'm without power the Illuminating Company will not charge me for ANY electricity!

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING.SNOW...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD ACROSS NORTHERN OHIO AND NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA LATE TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING. THE PRECIPITATION SHOULD START LATE TONIGHT AS MAINLY SNOW THEN CHANGE TO MOSTLY FREEZING RAIN INTO FRIDAY MORNING THEN TO MOSTLY RAIN FOR A WHILE FRIDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE CHANGING BACK TO MAINLY SNOW BY LATE IN THE DAY FRIDAY.THE PRECIPITATION TYPE AND SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL DEPEND ON THE EXACT TRACK OF THE LOW...BUT 4 OR MORE INCHES OF SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY FOR AREAS NEAR LAKE ERIE. AN ACCUMULATION OF A QUARTER INCH OF ICING IS POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE AREA FROM THE FREEZING RAIN.

I'll be boxing this up for the next south bound freight!

Lee

[inch53]

Mornin, coffee Zoe

Crazy weather here, 2 days ago we had thunderstorm and tornado watches n warning, today it's a winter storm warning.  5"to 9" snow forecast here. South of us might get 1"to 2" of sleet then snow.

Don't know bout the rest of you but I'm ready for May..

PHILRUNT, this one isn't JIM's fault, it's coming up from down in PAUL's direction in the panhandle.

Know bout the electric company, we're part of a co-op, so we get to pay some of the highest rates in the state and the some of the worsted service. Don't even try n called about an outage during no-business hours, most the time all you get is a busy signal.

Tipton BILL,, congrads on joining us old retired folk [ROF], may it be a long and happy one. Just think of all the MRRing time you'll have now, and don't forget rail fanning.

Best gets moving on chores, hope ya'll has a gooden n stay safe.