Elliots Trackside Diner IV, Under New Management!

[gear-jammer]

Fergie,  You knew that a Challenger was on the top of my wish list.  It was beautiful, but somehow I could not part with the money.

Sue

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

[pcarrell]

Hey!  Good Morning All!

I'm back from my mini-vacation.  5 days of riding the high seas of Dale Hollow, KY / TN on a private houseboat.  Life is tough!  Spent a good portion of the time riding the two jet ski's with the wife.  Those suckers are QUICK!  Lightning fast acceleration and a 70mph top speed makes for an exciting ride.  We also took a few hundred dollars of fireworks with us.  We found a nice beach to shoot those off at.  Overall, we had such a good time we made plans to go back at the end of August.

So, I've got some catching up to do with all of you.  I've got to run now, but I'll swing by later and spend some time in the corner booth reading up.

Later!

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

I REMEMBER!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEFF!

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning, Zoe - I'll have some waffles, cup of coffee and glass of milk, please. Thanks!

Tom, I can just about picture your cats (and their BLOCKED EXPRESSION! Hope the breezes shift and clear the smoke out soon (and that they get those fires doused and out!). No fun!

PC, sounds like you had some fun in the water. Welcome back!

Flash, sounds good that they're revising downward what they will need to do for your Dad. Rest up and refresh yourself now, and tell him he's still in our Looks like you had a good operating session, too (where did you fit the time for that in?).

Inch, sounds like a very worthwhile trip for you, a good visit with Garry and his buddies, plus you got some revisiting with your ol' friend, too. Good to get back home, though, I'm sure. Always was when I would go on a trip.

Sue, I think I'm with you - those Challengers are a bit too rich for my blood (especially that one on eBay that Fergie mentioned). What have you been up to, lately?

As for locomotives for me, a smaller (maybe around the walls later) layout and mostly B-B/four axle diesels with a few medium-sized steamers is easier to maintain (and dust...). I'm watching the 'Bay for another 2-truck Shay; may get that over the next few months if I see one at a good price.

And thanks for reminding us, Garry - Jeff! Have a slice of cake, and Zoe said there's ice cream to top it off with, if you want.

 

Back to my waffles and let's see how the new engineer on the morning freight does today.

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[SilverSpike]

Jeff! Here's wishing you the very best on your BD!!!!

Welcome back PC! Sounds like a nice family vacation!

Hope everyone had a great 4th weekend!

My sister-in-law made a surprise visit and stayed with us for the holiday! It was fun showing here around the area and cooking too...

I did me BBQ Beer Chicken which was a hit! Still got a few left overs too!

Ya'll have a goonin'

[ModelTrainLover]

Wow....

wtf have I been?

Hey PC, Jeff and the rest of u who may still remember me. Right now the bets way to sum up what I've been doing is this. Lifeguard job, ROTC Camp, camping, working on layout. I just got back from cashing in my very first pay check ever!! $48.83 for 6.5 hours ($8 an hour). I get paid every 2 weeks and this one was for a training session back on july 9th. I work at the city pool, downtown. AS for the layout. I've done some reballasting and it looks great pics are comming up.

Also I'm going to the Maine Operation Lifesaver meeting in Agusta this thursday to see what it can offer me in volinteer experience, and representaves from all the railroads with in the state will be there, so that will givew me a chance to talk with them, make a good impression, and hopefully get the ball really rolling for me to land a job with the railroads.

I can now say that I've been to the top of Mt. Washington and seen the cog's locomotives up close and personal. I even got to go inside the cab of one of their locos on the Mt.

0-2-2-0 is the wheel arrangement used.

[NS Luc]

Good morning

[Cederstrand]

in a SANTA FE mug, please & thank you.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY", Jeffrey! Hope you have a great day and can run some trains.

Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Thanks. I'm forty-eight today. Over the hill and descending the other side.

I've been working my butt off today. First I was down at my parents place helping my father remove an enormous Lady Banks bush from an old garden plot. Took about three hours to do that and drag it over on top of the burn pile. I walked over (what can be called walking for me) to my home and heard the fire dept radio announcing a fire in Evans which is about twenty miles away. I grabbed what I needed and got in the car and didn't spare the horse power getting to the station. Once there I prepped the trucks and got them started then went out on the first one leaving the station. We were just over halfway there when we got the call from 911 to disregard. The fire was under control. From there it was back to the station and my boring life.

[pcarrell]

Hey Jeff...........

 

[pcarrell]

Well, business as usual.........I'm back in town, and back on TOP!

 

What's it gonna be folks?

[Flashwave]

Flash, sounds good that they're revising downward what they will need to do for your Dad. Rest up and refresh yourself now, and tell him he's still in our Looks like you had a good operating session, too (where did you fit the time for that in?).
Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

The trick is to ignore the clock and let him sleep lots.

PC: Yep, and I'm not. I think I've avoided the tab for this entire location of 158 pages.

Happy BDAY Jeff.

Tom: Sorry the fires is back.

I see Fergie's still in a fog... Weather. Yeah, I meant the weather. hee hee.

Colby: Lifesaver? I wish we had anything that fun out here. You might try what I'm doing, and see if there's something like our State Fair Train. It's not as direct as OL, but it'll look good on the ol' resume. Also some "hands on" experience. And the best part is, most schools "should" let you out for that.

Well, there's a puppy to be walked, phonecalls to make, and I think I';m gonna skip the free running tonight.  

 

 

[JimRCGMO]

Jeff, what you said about over the hill reminded me of a bumper sticker I once saw on the back of a truck:

"Over the Hill - and Picking Up Speed!" 

Well, at least you got some blood pumping with the brief fire call. Now you've had your aerobic exercise for the day...

Welcome back, Colby - that Operation Lifesaver meeting sounds like a good idea for maintaining your visibility with the RR folks (and possible future job prospects)!

So Ryan - will Zoe have some of that Beer BBQ chicken on the lunch menu today? Sounds yummy.

Luc, good to see you in the Diner again. Any more news for yourself or Gloria?

Oh, Zoe, if you will have some of Ryan's Beer BBQ recipe chicken, I'll have some of that, with a Dr. Pepper, please. Thanks - I knew I could count on PC hitting TOP before I got my post done...[;}

 

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[twhite]

Morning all from HOTSmokierCal: 

Supposed to hit 102 today, and be up about 107 or 108 by midweek.  And we've got our smoke back here BIG time!  Better news about the fires today, the crews seem to be getting a handle on the ones at Big Sur and Santa Barbara, plus the American River fires are about 40% under control (which is about 20% more than yesterday).  However, the high pressure has again filtered all of the smoke down to the Valley here.  It's "Unhealthy for All" today, which doesn't explain the joggers I saw out this morning.  Hope they made it to where they were going without collapsing!  Turned the fan on in the garage early this morning, but all it seems to be doing is blowing the smoke around.  And all this too, will pass--SOMEDAY! 

Jeff: and many more.  Forty-eight isn't the 'top of the hill' by a long shot, I've got twenty years on you and I'm still climbing, my friend.  Sorry your B'day had to begin with a fire call, though.  Of course, you fire-fighters are BIG heroes in my book! 

Flash:  Hope Dad is continuing to improve.  Prayers for him from this end of the country. 

Garry:  Thanks for the feedback on the Reynolds Wrap.  I think I'll try it out when I can get back into the garage. 

Hey, guys, I've got what might be a pretty stupid question for you diesel fans--I have a BLI E-6 A-B-B "City of San Francisco" unit that I run sometimes (wish I had a decent set of "City" cars to go along with it), and I've noticed that on the tops of the units there's a whole series of little-bitty 'rings'.  Anyone know what they're for?  I thought maybe you were supposed to put wire through them to simulate some kind of radio antenna.  Anyhow, if anyone has any ideas, I'd appreciate it. 

Well, can't go into the garage, so I'll do some more work on the lookout tower today.  God, I hope I don't have to go through another siege of 'Cabin Fever' like last week.  This is getting really OLD! 

Best to all, prayers to those in need. 

Tom

[Cox 47]

Afternoon all...cloudy with more rain here today...I'll have a nice slice of Garry's Ky ham and Ice Tea please..Thank You..Thanks PC glad you had a good time sounds like a great place but we have missed you here in the Dinner!!

H___A__P___P___Y   B__I__R___T__H__D__A__Y    JEFF!! 48 years your just hitting the prime of your life!

Colby...Operation Life Saver sounds great hope you enjoy it....

Tom...Take it easy in the heat and smoke...

I pulled most of the buildings off the layout this morning and pulled out the back drop..Its just never has looked right and I have rebuilt it twice so I am going to do away with it and try to go with photos glued to the painted backdrop..need to make about an inch look like 20 miles..I have a old Model Railroad buddy posta come by in early August and that got me going..

Inch glad to have you back can't wait to see some of your photos...

You all have a good one...Jerry

[Flashwave]

Morning all from HOTSmokierCal: 

 

Hey, guys, I've got what might be a pretty stupid question for you diesel fans--I have a BLI E-6 A-B-B "City of San Francisco" unit that I run sometimes (wish I had a decent set of "City" cars to go along with it), and I've noticed that on the tops of the units there's a whole series of little-bitty 'rings'.  Anyone know what they're for?  I thought maybe you were supposed to put wire through them to simulate some kind of radio antenna.  Anyhow, if anyone has any ideas, I'd appreciate it. 

 

Best to all, prayers to those in need. 

Tom

If the're in a line, then they're for antennae. google Pennsy diesels. But there should be some on the "corners" as well, which are lift rings. Brakedown cranes and shop cranes would thread them, and be able to lft them with a fair amout of ease, as hauling up a multi ton diesel can be described as easy can be.

EDIT: I can;'t find the BLI E-6s, but the E-7s are set up in quadrants, so my bet is lift rings

[JimRCGMO]

Afternoon, Zoe - time for a root beer float, doncha think?

Thanks!

Tom, I think those are the lift rings, for when they have to work on the engines, they can lift the body shell off of the chassis with those. I'm 99 percent sure, anyway...Guess Flash and I combined might have most of it figured. Sorry to hear about your air quality condition out there today (and your high temps for the rest of the week ). Are you sure your joggers weren't wearing oxygen masks when they were out this morning? Good that they're getting some of the fires contained some more.

Jerry, sometimes it's good just to take things down to the ground and rebuild. You could go with fewer buildings, or shallow ones at the back by the backdrop, or a number of ways. Good luck with it, and we'll be glad to chip in our if you'd like.

Looks like we might be getting an afternoon pop-up shower before it's time to head home. Clouding up, at least. Not that they need it, but this morning's weather was showing storms possible across Iowa.

I'll see about my RBF for now. Nothing like one on a hot afternoon, nosiree!

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[Paul W. Beverung]

Afternoon Gang: Just a quick stop in.

Jeff and many more.

JP, JP's Mom, and JP's Dad.

Rob: Take it easy there.

I've got to get on the road. See you all later.

[pcarrell]

Thanks PC glad you had a good time sounds like a great place but we have missed you here in the Dinner!!

I was missed? 

Boy, you folks have friends in low places, huh?

[twhite]

Afternoon, all. 

The smoke LIFTED!!  YEA!!  Of course, it's 104 outside, and the air is just dry as the Sahara, but the smoke isn't there.  It went AWAY!  Which means, if it stays away, I'll go out into the garage as soon as it drops to about 90 or so. 

My sister phoned, she and mom are without electricity up in Nevada City, nobody seems to know why--I mean there are no fires burning power-lines, but it also means that I might have company, if their power remains off for an extended amount of time--at 94, Mom needs to have at least a COMFORTABLE temperature and lots of liquid intake.  Seems that the PG&E power grid up there has decided to collapse and no one knows how long it will take to get them back on line.  I guess it's ALL of Nevada County, so we'll have to wait and see.  She joked that I am using too much power down here in the Valley, I told her that we're not even on the same GRID and my AC is already set at 84, and if I turned it off anymore that Spooky would be taking her afternoon nap in her water-dish.  But I may have company if the outage up there lasts too long.  That's okay by me, my sister and I can catch up on all of our John Wayne westerns while mom sits in her easy chair and reads those incredibly Pornographic historical novels she likes so much. 

Flash and Jim--thanks for letting me know what those little 'rings' are for.  Frankly, they were driving me NUTS!  Goes to show you--what I know about diesels could be put on the wrong end of a thumbtack. 

Philip--Of COURSE we missed you, guy!!

Jeff--Hope you're enjoying a whole BUNCH of BBQ beef ribs.  Yummy!

Fergie--Where's the locomotive?  I haven't heard any shouting, yet!

Mike phoned from Roseville hobbies.  Sunset is taking pre-orders on the Z-6--do I want the GN or the SP&S?  Or maybe since I've got that neat coaling tower I bought from him, the NP coal-burning version?  Decisions-decisions--but he's one cool guy, I don't even have to put down a deposit.  Feel free to give me some hints, guys--I'm kind of leaning toward the GN version, even though I understand GN didn't like them.  But I have some video footage of a GN version whacking itself up through the Deshutes River canyon on the Oregon Trunk, and it looks SPECTACULAR!  Anyway, all opinions will be considered.

Flash--I think I've got it figured out why the Z-6 isn't modeled that 'commercially' and the UP Challenger is--none of the Z series were preserved, and UP preserved it's light-footed racehorse (the Z's were more powerful).  Betcha if a Z (or a Rio Grande Baldwin L-105, for that matter) had been preserved and was in running condition these days, we wouldn't have a new UP version coming out every six months, Just my opinion, mind you. 

Anyway, that's it from SmokyCal this afternoon. 

Best to all, prayers to those in need.

Tom

 

[Flashwave]

Thanks PC glad you had a good time sounds like a great place but we have missed you here in the Dinner!!

I was missed? 

Boy, you folks have friends in low places, huh?

yeah, but we also have friends with tendencies to attract TOP honors.

Tom: Check your Fs. They SHOULD have lift rings as well. Challengers: It also helps that UP is around, the others aren't. Bummer though.

hey, since I missed the Fourth around here, here's a runby of HO&N's Bicenntenial F3s. This was the only F3 ABA, we the others eventually earned an extra B unit. Somehow, this one managed to stay pure as the setup we bought it. (or will buy it...) 

 

She was one of the Rocky Mountain Subs when the Daylight had to drop out for repairs. But we were lost amongst the BN and ATSF... 

[gear-jammer]

I thought that I would stop by for one of Jim's RBF's.  Yummy.

Jim,  We have not been doing much construction on the layout.  We exercise the locos weekly though.  The outside work has kept us busy.  We put down some beauty bark.  What a difference that makes.  We have been doing some chipping along the driveway.  The next project is getting back to cutting firewood.  The trees are down so all we need is the cut and split part.

Good  luck on the 2-truck shay.  We love ours.  We actually have a second one.  When Larry gets time, he will attack the second.  The NWSL regearing kit was the answer for making a work horse.

Have you been staying busy?  Do you have any rail fanning trips planned?

Later, Sue

[Cederstrand]

***Jerry, sounds like a plan. Nothing wrong with redoing stuff, especially that which you are not real happy with. Look forward to seeing what you come up with.  

***Tom, your mom sounds like one tough old lady. She also really should have working AC. Glad she has a son like yourself to help her out if need be.

My free issue of Model Railroader arrived today and my wife got the first look at it. She found an ad for some Woodland Scenics she now "must have". Perhaps sometime tomorrow I'll have a chance to peruse the mag, too. Looked like some great layout pics in there.

Good Night All. Rob

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello ...

Tom's really catching the Z6 fever...go easy now.......Repeat over and over. " I, Tom, have outstanding Yellowstones and do not need a Z6." ......... uh oh.... temptation is getting impossible to resist.....Anyhow, I hope the smoke stays away.

It's good that Inch is back home but it was a delight for him to stop by with "Mothere" (Mike & Deb). They are super nice people. He mentioned others should stop here if invited. ....if invited...... hey if your a diner here your invited....

Jerry, looks like you have your work cut out........... Some of Inch's pix were of here.

JimCG .... did I hear correctly.???..........you have caught the loco bug and it's about a Shay.

Rob .... enjoy the free copy of MR. ...and it has a "must have"....... OK

Happy Model Railroading

Hope it was a great birthday, Jeff.

 

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

[pcarrell]

Thanks PC glad you had a good time sounds like a great place but we have missed you here in the Dinner!!

I was missed? 

Boy, you folks have friends in low places, huh?

yeah, but we also have friends with tendencies to attract TOP honors.

......and the truth comes out............

Tom, glad your smoke moved out.  That was really nasty sounding!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 73 and somewhat clear at this time. The high is expected to be in the mid 90's and there's a fair chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and tonight.

I'm going to try to get some layout work done today though I'm still a bit stiff from yesterday.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      7/8/2008

Heat Index:  77°F
Humidity:  95%
Dew Point:  70°F

So Far Today
High:  74°F
Low:  72°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  3mph ESE

Today  High: 95    Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Light and variable winds.
 
Tonight  Low: 72    Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening...then slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the lower 70s. Light and variable winds. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

[Cederstrand]

Insomniac's Breakfast Special, whatever that is...I've earned it. With 2 1/2 hours sleep, I'm beyond tired this morning.

***Jeffrey, that is an excellent park scene.

Rob

[Fergmiester]

Fergie--Where's the locomotive?  I haven't heard any shouting, yet!

Tom

Ya Ya .. Didn't you read Flash's response... I'm in the Fog and 400nm to sea (and freezing) I'm waiting for an e-mail from the CFO to say it's arrived, then you'll hear the cheers!

Lee: I've noted your b-day old man, Mine's in January. Spent 9 hrs in the FRC yesterday and I'm getting too old for this nonesence...

 

Later All

Fergie