Elliots Trackside Diner IV, Under New Management!

[Fergmiester]

Fergie:  After I wrote that about your loco, I realized that you were out to sea.  Hey, it's called 'short-term memory loss' and it's EXCUSABLE at my age, LOL! 

Jeff:  Sorry your B'day turned out to be a series of fire calls.  But as I said, you guys are my heroes!

Tom  

 

That's OK Tom memory is a passing thing all to hard to catch at the best of times! Though Inch seemed to remeber my whereabouts. A coffee and Apple pie for the man!!

Jeff: Sorry I missed your Birthday so HAPPY Belated BIRTHDAY. Chances are you wouldn't have had all those firest to go to if you hadn't of lit up your B-Day cake!  ... It's a Joke son, a joke I say!

Anyway we're still bobbing around here by the Oil Rigs off of Newfoundland doing sampling of water. If it wasn'tfor the fog life would be so much nicer.

Later All

Fergie

 

PS Lee... Have Fun!!! ha ha ha    ~ Decalling, a modellers bain if there ever was.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff: Sorry I missed your Birthday so HAPPY Belated BIRTHDAY. Chances are you wouldn't have had all those firest to go to if you hadn't of lit up your B-Day cake!  ... It's a Joke son, a joke I say!

Is that what the six-alarm fire on the table was?

[Cox 47]

Good morning....Its cloudy and 72 here this morning...We got more rain last nite a couple of short power outages and a tree down...but could of been a lot worse..I'll have a Ky ham sandwitch and coffee please...Did some more clean up of layout and went thru a bunch of magizines looking for stuff for backdrop....Got the idea to use a mirror to add some miles to road...set the mirror in and I think it will work

 

 

I think I can hide the sides of the mirror but not  sure about the top....

You all have a good one...Jerry

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning, Diners! How's everyone doing today? Zoe, I'll have one of these rolls,

and a cup of coffee, please.

Thank y', Ma'am!

It's like Animal Planet in here today - Mark, congrats on the new pup (and we will look forward to seeing pics)!  

Cute puppy, Flash - she looks like she has plenty of energy (just like a puppy!).

Garry, I don't think I'd want to try to sneak into your place, with that cat in the house. But I'm sure she's better on medication, huh? Not quite as laid back as Tom's Lowell, though.

Tom, maybe Spooky thinks styrene is crunchy? Dunno why they'd like it, 'cause I'd figure wood would appeal more to a cat. 

Sheesh, that Prius driver sure appears to be lacking in the brains department... His wife needs one of these:

but sure, I might be wrong...

Rob, I think your wife finding your cat's hairball is sort of a Murphy's Law thing. You're lucky you weren't planning company, or that would've guaranteed that one of your guests would've found it!  

Slight rain and some clouds today. It cleared up a few minutes ago, but then clouded back over. But not having the fog like Fergie is out on the ocean.

Gav, have fun today with giving your lads their recompense...

Almost forgot to mention - Jerry, that mirror trick looks great! You could hide the top by having some over-arching trees hiding just the top of the mirror, since someone would have to be down fairly low to even see under the trees. We've had some streets/roads in this area where the trees from either side make a kind of natural arch over the road. Something like that would maybe work for you. I may have something you could try. I'll email you more on that.

Apparently we had some rain yesterday afternoon/last night, but at the time I was heading west about 40 miles (to assess a client who was quite delusional, claiming the nursing home was his property, and that the nurse there was his mother, etc.) Definitely ready for the hospital, so I contacted the judge and obliged the client. Just wasn't wild about the drive out there and back - they're re-blacktopping the roads, so there is no center stripe and no lines to give you a clue where the side of the road is. Even less fun if it's after dark! It's out in the definitely rural territory, with hills and some dropoffs in places. I was glad that I got done and it was still daylight on the way back.

Hoping to do a little MRR'ing stuff tonight. It seems like forever since I've done anything on the layout or putting kits together (or...). Have a bunch of car kits to assemble, Kadees to put on some engines and cars, etc. But I'm sure nobody else has that kind of problem, right?

Zoe, could I have another cinnamon roll, please? Thanks again.

 

Blessings on your day,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I had a little mis-adventure while mowing my parents yard this morning. More later.

[inch53]

Chow time, a grilled ham n cheese, onion rings, and a iced tea please Zoe

Rains over for a couple days maybe. I dumped another .9 out of the rain gage awhile ago and noticed the hill side has slid some more. If it keeps going it'll be on the edge of the road.

GARRY,

Liked the bull story, I can just imagine the look on everyone's face after it happened.

FERGIE,

I'll be honest, the only reason I remembered is I seen someone else's post.

JERRY, I think the mirror works great.

Since we were camped at FT Massac state park, I guess some the fort is a good place to start.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation147.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation145.jpg

Here's some views from the towers

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation150.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation152.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation155.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation157.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation158.jpg

Of course when your in Metropolis, you have to go n see if Supermans around.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation172.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation176.jpg

They've got a nice little Suoerman museum there and for $3, it's well worth it. Left there n went to the Hollywood museum and found these outside.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation185.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation186.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation187.jpg

We went over to Paducah n got some barge shots

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation160.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation194.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation057.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation062.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation063.jpg

Headed back to IL across the US-45 bridge, which Mother didn't really care much for driving on. It has a steel mesh deck, and most cars like to wonder abit on it.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/vacation066.jpg

If you kook down, you can watch the river pass thru it.

Best gets back ta chores, later all

[Cederstrand]

 in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please & thank you.

***Flashwave, CUTE puppy!

***Lee, thanks for the website tip. Will certainly take advantage of it.

***Terry, hang in there. Sending healing thoughts your way!

***Garry, that bison story is hilarious. Their breath alone is almost enough to knock me off my feet.

***Inch, interesting trip pics. I wonder what was in that barge?

On the topic of cats & dogs, this is a regular occurrence here on the ol' farm:

And then there is our only indoor cat. She has a plastic fetish:

Chance of severe thunderstorms here today. Drove through a brief shower after picking up a couple round bales. Hope it pours later. We REALLY need the water again. Rob

[Paul W. Beverung]

Afternoon Gang: Mary Ann and I went to the hospital to get my pre op done for my catarac surgey Friday. The left eye is going to get taken care of then I can get glasses. My vision is really 1000% better since the right eye was done.

Not much going on here. I've been out in the machinery shed doing some cleaning up and strating up. I hauled 2 loads of trash and recyclable stuff off yesterday. Boy the stuff really piles up if you don't stay on top of it.

I'm going to head back out to the shed now.

See you all later.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I had a little mis-adventure while mowing my parents yard this morning. More later.

Now on with the mis-adventure. I was just wrapping up the south-west quadrant of the front yard (a half acre by itself) when I saw my mother standing at one of the three front doors of the house frantically waving her arms over her head in  an effort to get my attention. Well, it worked. I stopped the tractor and went down to see what was the matter. That's when she told me there was a critter in the house. I asked her what type of critter and she said it was a possum. At that point I knew I had a fight on my hands. Those things are NASTY with a capitol 'N'! First item of business was to get something to trap it in. An old four gallon galvanized bucket that we use to catch rain water from the roof immediately sprang to mind. I got it then had her show me where the possum was. It was in the library. Great! That gave it a thirty foot long section of wall that was nothing but shelves and pigeon holes, a couple hundred places to hide. There are countless odds and ends along the wall and a heavy flat-screen TV right in the middle. Guess what the possum was behind. That's right, the TV. The one thing in the room that couldn't be moved by myself or my mother. While she locked the dogs (three of them) in a bedroom I set about reducing the number of possible hiding places for the possum. After a little while I had it trapped in a ten foot long space in which it could only move along the wall behind the TV, and there was nothing for it to climb. I set the bucket on it's side at the south end then started poking at the possum with my walking stick. It immediately turned and went the wrong way, north, toward the end that my mother was at. She used an old bamboo umbrella (don't ask me how old it is, I just know it's older than I am) to whack it gently on the nose and turn it in the other direction. I then poked at it several more times with my walking stick. Eventually it was desperately seeking a way out and I provided it. I moved aside a heavy stamp album that was blocking the south end. The possum ran through the hole and ran smack into the bucket. I quickly tipped it upright and slammed a square of tin down over it. I quickly tied the tin down and carried the bucket out to the tractor and took it a quarter mile down the road to an abandoned boat launch. There I released the possum. It ran out of the bucket, turned and glared at me, hissed, then ran off into the woods. I went back, returned the bucket to it's original location then finished mowing the yard. My mother decided that possum catching was above and beyond the call of duty and took me to lunch at the restaurant of my choice after I finished the yard and got cleaned up. That thing bit my walking stick at one point and left some pretty deep teeth marks in it. And just to keep this model railroad related, the library in my parent's home used to be a two car garage in 1970, in which the HO/OO layout that I got in Germany as a Christmas present in 1966 was set up.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Wow, Jeff, that's some adventure with the possum.

Also, Jeff, have you seen the Atearn F7's in Southern Belle colors?

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH80204

Inch ... Great photos! .... That one barge photo looking from Paducah towards Metropolis shows the BNSF truss bridge over the Ohio River. The bridge was originally a CB&Q bridge. Now, any railroad in the area can use it, and it's common to see UP coal trains headed toward the P&L RR in Paducah. KY power plants blend western low surpher coal with KY coal to meet emissions standards. Did you see the IC RR 2-8-2 at the Paducah riverfront? I've been over that old US 45 bridge, too.

Rob .... Thanks for sharing photos of the pets. Anybody let the cat out of the bag?

Jerry ... Nice progress on the layout.

Everbody else ..........Any layout progress to report?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Garry: Yes, I have. They're quite nice but they pale in comparison when you've seen the real thing up close as I have.

[Cederstrand]

Wife's guardian was with her today, driving home through a bang-up thunderstorm that came through here a bit ago. Huge tree fell right behind her car. She pulled into the Fire Dept to let them know, before someone came along and hit it. Fell in a very bad spot and covered the entire roadway. Many positive strikes with this cell. YeeHaw!

***Jeffrey, glad to hear you were able to transplant the possum with no harm done.

Rob

[pcarrell]

Jeff, were you playin' possum?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

No, I wasn't.

[LSWrr]

Evening all,

Rob, you were hoping for rain, sounds like you got it.  We had 2 storms pass through here and in 12 hours we got 2.75 inches.

Jeff, that possum story is pretty good sounds like you had one heck of a day.  HAPPY Belated BIRTHDAY!

I made the mistake of not using the bucket as you did one day; the dog was in a fight with a big possum and I used a baseball bat to break up the fight.  I hit that possum as hard as I could and poof it was "dead".  I grabbed the tail of the possum to carry the body to the trash can, well guess what about half way to the trash can the end of the tail wrapped around my finger.  I was a bit scared at that point and promptly dropped the possum and the dog and I headed into the house.  The possum got up and wandered off into the tall grass about 5 minutes later.

Didn't have time for MMRing yesterday or today, but I ordered 40 pairs of LL knuckle couplers for $25.20 and 20 sprung operating ground throws for $47.92.  That should take care of the yard and the locomotive shops on the layout.  Due to my highly efficient storage system I lost a box of ground throws some place.  My girlfriend figures as soon as these throws come in I'll find my other ones.

Lee

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 74 and partly cloudy. The high today will be in the lower 90's and there's a fair chance of thunderstorms this afternoon.

As exciting as yesterdays possum chase was I could have easily done without it. I'm not used to moving that quickly, therefore my back feels as though it's going to snap in two at any instant this morning. I think I'll just take it easy today.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      7/10/2008

Heat Index:  79°F
Humidity:  92%
Dew Point:  72°F

So Far Today
High:  78°F
Low:  74°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  0mph NNE

Today  High: 92    Partly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Light and variable winds.
 
Tonight  Low: 75    Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the mid 70s. Light and variable winds.

[pcarrell]

Mornin' all!

Hey!  Look at that!  I made two posts in a row and still managed to not hit the top of the page!  Thats gotta be some sort of record for me!

[inch53]

Mornin, coffee n a chocolate milk please Zoe

TODAY: Sunshine with Some Clouds.  Bit Less Humid.  High 85.  Calm Wind Becoming South 7 mph.

 TONIGHT: Mostly Clear, Warmer & Increasingly Muggy.  Low 65.  South Wind 6 mph.

 TOMORROW: Sunshine with a Few Clouds, Hotter & More Humid.  High 90.  South Wind 9 mph.  Heat Index to 95

ROB,

 The storm ya'll got yesterday may have part of the front that came through here and cause a lot of wind damage round us.

JEFF,

Me n my x-BIL had a possum that wouldn't die one time. We got'em while coon hunting one night.

GARRY,

I got some pics of the 2-8-2, when we were in Paducah Fri, to post. I've still got to upload them yet. Also there's some from the museum there.

Best gets moving J birds hollerin to go outside and I've got some things that need doing. Thoughts for all in need n hope ya'll has agooden

[C&O Fan]

Morning all

just tea please

Got to go in early today for my weekly Dr visit before my treatment

 

Started a new project this week to take my mind off the radiation treatments

see this thread

http://cs.trains.com/forums/1483940/ShowPost.aspx

One treatment today then 2 on friday and i'm finally done

looking forward to my throat healing so i can swallow again

Have fun every one !

[jeffrey-wimberly]

One treatment today then 2 on friday and i'm finally done

looking forward to my throat healing so i can swallow again

Hallelooya! There's light at the end of the tunnel.

[Cederstrand]

in a SOUTHERN PACIFIC mug, please & thanks.

Last storms though here nocked out our Internet last night. Tis' back up and working now. Have a good day all! Rob

[Cox 47]

Afternoon....Sun is shining and its warm here today...I'll have a ham salad sandwitch,chips and a Diet Coke please...Thank You...Not much modeling today got a bad case of the "slows" maybe its the dog days of summer?...fished around on Ebay could find anything of interest that I can afford..seems like stuff is getting more expensive there as well as ever where else I saw 6 Dummy Bachman signals for almost 10.00 plus postage!

Jeff glad you came out with just a couple of bite marks on your walking stick..I had a little dog when I was a kid that got messed up fighting with a possum...

Terry glad to hear your getting close to the end of your treatments...You are in my thoughts and prayers...I checked out our engine house..looks good keep us up dated on it...

You all have a good one...Jerry

[twhite]

Morning everyone--

Well, yesterday was a day I don't want to repeat--the temperature was 108 here in SmokyCal, the Butte fire up near Paradise has exploded up and is threatening about two towns--over 12,000 people have been evacuated, and the heat has kept the smoke so low to the ground that the firefighters can't even see the flames.  And to top that off, the smoke is so thick that they can't get into that area to dump Borate or water.  The Feather River canyon is closed--at least the highway.  Don't know if UP can run any trains up there, either.  And in the Valley, it was so thick that I couldn't even go outside.  Unfortunately, I did, like some kind of idiot, and ended up in Emergency over at Roseville for a breathing treatment.  Nothing like a Nebuliser for about three hours.  Luckily, I had a freind drive me over or I don't think I'd have made it on my own.   I have doctor's orders to stay INSIDE, period!  I think I'll listen, this time 

The smoke is better today--it seems to be higher overhead--but we're still looking at a high of about 106 or so through tomorrow.  Delta breeze is supposed to kick in by this weekend and help scour us out a little, though the news reports tell us that the air won't really improve until about Tuesday.  Hope they're wrong (as usual) and we can start breathing a little EARLIER.  Boy, do I feel for those firefighters on the lines up in Butte County! 

Inch:  Neat photos, and thanks for the one of the lookout tower.  Reminds me of the one I used to clamber up and down on up at Banner Mountain in my home town.  Before I realized that I had Acrophobia, I mean, LOL!  Loved your 'possum' story--those are smart little critters, aren't they? 

Jeff:  Loved your 'possum' story, too.  Dang, those little beasties are mean, aren't they?  And TOTALLY unafraid.  I had one a couple of years ago that used to sit out on the patio at night and hiss at the cats through the glass doors.  Don't know what happened to it--it got replaced by the current tribe of back-yard raccoons, I guess. 

Well, Spooky and I are going to try and finish the lookout building today, then since I'm TOTALLY house-bound, I guess I'll catch up on some movies.  Got one the other day about the French Resistance fouling up the Germans before D-Day called LA BATTAILE DU RAIL (Battle of the Rails) that is just a WHOPPING good film--it was made right at the end of WWII.  French film (subtitles) but really GREAT railway shots, and the darndest, BIGGEST train wreck I think I've ever seen--real train, too!  One of those "Let's back that scene up and see how they DID that" scenes, LOL!

Terry:  Glad that Friday is your last treatment--the double cheeseburger is on ME!!  And many more of them, buddy!  Prayers and good thoughts for you.

Well, Spooky and Lowell are staring at me which means breakfast for them and a stretch at the kitchen table gluing on little parts that Spooky won't run off with (yah, sure!).

Best to all, prayers to those in need.

Tom     

 

[grayfox1119]

Good afternoon to all, thought I would stop by the Diner for a RBF. Many storms coming through here lately, last night we got hit twice, but at least the humidity and dew point are low today, but still HOT. Been in the gardens trying to stay ahead of the weeds, we have started picking tomatos, broccoli, cabbage, and spinach, and the beets are just about ready as well as Zuchinni and summer squash. The garden is about 1 month ahead of last years crop for tomatoes, we love that!!

MRR action has been limited to trip to LHS for a few cars and a book.

The new weather station software arrived from Davis Instruments, and I now have my weather data for Leicester, Ma online real time. If you guys just click on this link, or paste to your web browser, you can check  my weather station data and get up to the minute data. They have a nice product.  The link is: www.weatherlink.com/user/grayfox1119

I see I missed two big events, Jeff's BD party, and also Jeff's big Possum Posse!! Happy belated Birthday Jeff !!!. I won't ask if there is anymore cake left, I know that Duke, and Fergie would make short work of that desert !!

Ok, got to get back outside, and yes, in case you have heard on the internet, there is a grassroots move to elect me President of the U.S. I don't know who started it, but it was on Channel 3 today.

Later

[JPowell]

Good day gang!

  I've been meaning to tell you all that i emailed the LHS i go to back home, and had the owner place a order for me for some advance reservation items from Athearn. 4 of them are for MRR's upcoming anniversary and have reporting marks of the MR&T w/ the anniversary shield on them. The total, before taxes and the owner looking at the order, was $287.00; after - $262 + tax came to $285 and some change. The items are expected sometime in November. Once I get them, I'll take photos and post them on here for all to admire.

Take care!

[LSWrr]

John, how is the litter box?  You going to be out of there before 01AUG08???

I found my stash of ground throws!  Told ya if I ordered new ones I'd find my old ones!

Lee

[markpierce]

Morning everyone--

Well, yesterday was a day I don't want to repeat--the temperature was 108 here in SmokyCal, the Butte fire up near Paradise has exploded up and is threatening about two towns--over 12,000 people have been evacuated, and the heat has kept the smoke so low to the ground that the firefighters can't even see the flames.  And to top that off, the smoke is so thick that they can't get into that area to dump Borate or water.  The Feather River canyon is closed--at least the highway.  Don't know if UP can run any trains up there, either.  And in the Valley, it was so thick that I couldn't even go outside.  Unfortunately, I did, like some kind of idiot, and ended up in Emergency over at Roseville for a breathing treatment.  Nothing like a Nebuliser for about three hours.  Luckily, I had a freind drive me over or I don't think I'd have made it on my own.   I have doctor's orders to stay INSIDE, period!  I think I'll listen, this time 

The smoke is better today--it seems to be higher overhead--but we're still looking at a high of about 106 or so through tomorrow.  Delta breeze is supposed to kick in by this weekend and help scour us out a little, though the news reports tell us that the air won't really improve until about Tuesday.  Hope they're wrong (as usual) and we can start breathing a little EARLIER.  Boy, do I feel for those firefighters on the lines up in Butte County! 

Tom     

Tom, I trust you're feeling better today.  Here, 60 miles southwest of Sacramento and that much closer to the ocean, it is just about as hot as yesterday (it is 93 degrees now) but even smokier.  I had to leave my "cave" this afternoon for a trip to the commissary (Lucky supermarket) to restock my diner and tavern car.  Stepping outside was like entering a 10-foot-square closet full of chain smokers.  In my 60 years of residing in this area, I have no memory of such a long period of smoke-filled air (1 to 3 days was tops).  Hasn't it been about three weeks now?  Gasp, cough, cough!

Mark

[JimRCGMO]

Afternoon, Zoe - I'll have a RBF, please.

Thanks!

, Jeff, that was an adventure with the possum. You missed the chance to knock him off and have some fried possum. I understand that they taste almost like chicken... Is your Mom's umbrella intact after whacking Bre'r Possum on the nose? If it's a bamboo one, that is old - I think I've only heard of those kind (never saw one). Hope you get feeling better in your back.

Paul, hope you're all ready for your surgery tomorrow. We'll be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

Lee, if you're ordering that many couplers, you must have as many freight cars needing them changed out as I do. That was some possum tale (tail?) you had, too. Don't blame you for dropping it and high-tailing it for the house. I figured that your girlfriend's probably right about those ground throws. Kind of a corollary to Murphy's Law, except that for me it usually is when I get the new ones in that the old ones show up... That's why model railroaders have a few extras of various items around their layout or workbench!

Hey - PC didn't hit the TOP for two times in a row! That's enough reason for a party, I'd say!

Terry, hope you get all your treatments done and start on the healing. Actually, that's another reason for a party - Zoe, how about ordering a cake for the occasions (get Terry's and PC's names on it)?

Dang, Tom - you folks out there definitely need a break from that smoke (and so do the firefighters and all the other people up there in those towns)! Keep yourself safe, and if you have to temporarily go somewhere else to just breathe air, go do that, too. You might need one of those plastic 'cages' like Rob showed us, for keeping Spooky out of your MRR works-in-progress...

I got an email from JP today, and he said he's getting bored with the food choices, but that he only should have a couple/three weeks until his replacements get there. Asked him about the 'weather' there, and he said his place is air-conditioned (Tom, maybe he could reserve you a room with less smoke?). He said he'll have some vacation time after he gets back, and be looking for a bigger place to live when he's back. Don't forget to write him, guys!

[e-mail]

Mark (Pierce), you've been in before (if my memory isn't on the fritz), right? Been a little, but good to see you in again. I hate to think of those who have to be out in that smoke for any length of time there.

Well, almost time for me to head home, so I'll finish up my RBF for now. Prayers for some cooler weather for most of us (and less drama in the weather for most all of us Diners).

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

I see JP has posted. i hope he gets back on tomorrow.............. It's his birthday!

Happy Birthday, JP ............

....and best wishes to Terry as he completes his treatments......... We'll have to serve cheeseburgers when he's up to it. (Texas beef, of course)

Happy Model railroading.