Elliots Trackside Diner IV, Under New Management!

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

[LSWrr]

Good morning,

  

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.  Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind 5 to 8 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

 

Paul, as soon as I get bored with working on my MRR to do list I'll be right over, LOL

 

Dale is a big MIR fan and would love to see pictures of your 300+ ore cars. Dale is the Sherriff Deputy that comes over and helps with my RR and currently is painting 100 people for me, LOL.  I had 14 2 bay hoppers and after working on the 45 four bay hoppers I just decided I had enough so I gave him the 2 bay hoppers in exchange he is painting those people for me.

 

Thanks for sharing the pictures Duke.

 

Fergie, the housing market here is great if you're a buyer. $140,000 homes for $80,000 and there are over 8000 homes to choose from thanks to predatory lending in the past.

 

Now I really want to be Tom's cat, all the food I could eat when I get the munchies after my drugs, wow. (no I don't do drugs)

 

Terry don't put off the CT scan.  I've lost a few family members in the past because they were afraid of the tests or telling the Doc exactly what was wrong.  I'm sure you'll make a speedy recovery.

 

I called LHS, traction tires are on the way.  I took the Rivarossi Challenger apart and there is ZERO room for more weight.  Not sure what to do now.  LHS offered me a new Challenger (Mantua Classics) for $240.00.

 

Lee

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 77 and clear. The high today is supposed to hit the century mark and it may get mostly cloudy. There's talk of a small chance of showers but I think that's a myth.

Got some modeling done yesterday. I made and applied the decals to my Mantua/Proto 2000 Frankenstein the set to work on an old (pre Y2K) Bachmann FT-A shell. I distressed it slightly so it will look like it's had a hard life then painted it in the colors of the MGRy and distressed that in places too. Also applied the road name decals.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      7/29/2008

Heat Index:  80°F
Humidity:  88%
Dew Point:  72°F

So Far Today
High:  80°F
Low:  75°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  6mph W

Today  High: 100    Mostly sunny with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 100. Light and variable winds becoming south around 10 mph in the afternoon.
 
Tonight  Low: 75    Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds around 10 mph in the evening becoming light and variable.

[pcarrell]

Mornin' all!

Hope you all are doing well.

It should turn out to be a hot and humid day across Indiana today with highs approaching 90 degrees. If we hit the 90 mark, it would mark only the third time this hot weather season. On average, we should hit 90 degrees 18 times. We did it last year 37 times.

[JimRCGMO]

Morning, Diners - going to be another hot and humid day here in Cape G. The weatherguessers are predicting high around 98 F and heat index in the 3-figures range. Sheesh! Where is late fall when you want it...?

PC, that pic of Lowell must be after he's had his drug shot, and possibly also after his dinner. That is one pampered cat, all right.

Tom, hoping that they'll get the fires outside of Yosemite knocked down and out today. Say Hi to Lowell and Spooky for us.  

Jeff, good thing you knew that place, and could tell what was really going on - saved the rest of your team from using up time and gas (and ) when not needed. Sounds like one good side effect of it being so hot down there is, you're getting a lot done on your MRR.

Terry, do take care of yourself and have the tests done (and Rob, too), please. 

Went to MRR club meeting last night, and we had a good turnout - but our architect/designer of the layout wasn't there, so couldn't get everything started. Mostly, a few were getting some backdrop supports put in, and others were smoothing out some kinks in the roadbed - in a spot where there are two crossovers back to back, and the track has to taper lower to the side track. That's because our mainline roadbed is two layers thick, and the sidings and yard/engine areas are only one thickness tall. We have found that a Surform is a good tool for making a decent taper-down between the mainline and any side tracks. What we were working on only needed about 3 or 4 people to do, so the rest of us left a little early. Once Kevin (our architect/designer) gets back, we'll know more about where the roadbed needs gluing down. The benchtop wood is all in place (except for maybe some edges to be smoothed out), so it's ready for roadbed at that point.

Zoe, I'll have a plate of Bill T.'s buffet, some of Ed's OJ, cup of coffee and a glass of milk, please. Thanks! I'll be at the corner booth.

Prayers for those in need of healing and other needs, and for the A/C to work well in all the areas where it's hot (that's a lot of places nowadays). 

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[SilverSpike]

Good Morning!

Nice to see the regular breakfast buffet is still in action! Yum, and thanks Bill!

Glad to hear that Tom's cat is on the mend and eating well too!

Here is a really neat story about a true friendship between cats and people:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiGKWoJi5qM

Hey Duke! Great pics from Part II of the Steamtown Trip! I always enjoy your photos, and thanks for sharing them again.

I actually spent about two hours in the train room Sunday and started some filing and painting of the Alexander Scale heavy tooling equipment. I started with the Modern Drill Press Floor Model and then worked on the Bridgeport Vertical Milling Machine, and then put a coat on the Lathe Tool Maker. I need to get me one of those aligator clamp thingys, my hands are as steady as they used to be.

So this past Saturday I made a batch of Meatballs and Spaghetti, still got some left too, lunch today leftovers are yummy! If anyone wants the recipe check it out, it is linked to my Cajun Chef Ryan blog. Here is a photo of them plated up....

You all have a good one!

[markpierce]

So this past Saturday I made a batch of Meatballs and Spaghetti, still got some left too, lunch today leftovers are yummy! If anyone wants the recipe check it out, it is linked to my Cajun Chef Ryan blog. Here is a photo of them plated up....

Crispy leftover pasta.  Cook two slices of bacon cut into small pieces.  Transfer to paper towel.  Save 2 teaspoons of the drippings.  At medium-high, add 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes for a minute. Add 4 oz. of cooked, unsauced, spaghetti or fettuccine at room temperature, spreading it out in the pan.  Cook without stirring until the pasta begins to crisp and brown on the bottom.  Sprinkle 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan and the cooked bacon.  Continue cooking for a couple of minutes without stirring, season with salt and pepper.  Serve upside down (crisp side up) with another sprinkling of Parmesan...... What could be simpler?

Mark

[SilverSpike]

So this past Saturday I made a batch of Meatballs and Spaghetti, still got some left too, lunch today leftovers are yummy! If anyone wants the recipe check it out, it is linked to my Cajun Chef Ryan blog. Here is a photo of them plated up....

Crispy leftover pasta.  Cook two slices of bacon cut into small pieces.  Transfer to paper towel.  Save 2 teaspoons of the drippings.  At medium-high, add 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes for a minute. Add 4 oz. of cooked, unsauced, spaghetti or fettuccine at room temperature, spreading it out in the pan.  Cook without stirring until the pasta begins to crisp and brown on the bottom.  Sprinkle 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan and the cooked bacon.  Continue cooking for a couple of minutes without stirring, season with salt and pepper.  Serve upside down (crisp side up) with another sprinkling of Parmesan...... What could be simpler?

Mark

Yup! I loves me some creative use of leftovers!

[Fergmiester]

FERGIE: NO WAY !!!! That price is beyond a STEAL!!! It is far cheaper than the price of BRASS!! Did you order this? Let me know where please.

Dick: I had a chat with this guy last night and he appears to be very knowledgable about brass and pricing. He's been selling it for about 20 years. he also has 0ver 3000 titles of Railroad related books and carries a large collection of Sunset Publications

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140250394224&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fws%2Fsearch%2FSaleSearch%3Fsofocus%3Dbs%26satitle%3D140250394224%2B%2B%26sacat%3D-1%2526catref%253DC5%26dfsp%3D32%26from%3DR7%26nojspr%3Dy%26pfid%3D0%26fsop%3D32%2526fsoo%253D2%26fcl%3D3%26frpp%3D50%26fvi%3D1

Lee: My Gawd! Those numbers are staggering! I realized the Mortgage issue in the States was bad but.... This kinda puts it into better perspective.

Paul: No it's not going to be PINK! Try Dae-glo Green After All it is Southern ya know You seem to be enjoying your retirement. lots ta do.

Mark: the gentleman that sold me the Ps-4 said this was a 72-73 run. and about 1000 were made. He also told me the prices for brass are lower in the second half of the month. Thought it had to do with Payday and people having more cash at the beggining of the month.

As for the bidding I've never been into the bidding thing but this time I sat on my hands for 3 days, watched the activity, which was very slow and bid with under 30 seconds left and I allowed for a large margin. BINGO!

Anyway not much else on the go as I  I wind up for crew change tomorrow and head off into the garden for the next 28 days.

Might even get at the layout and start widening the curves.

Fergie

[markpierce]

Fergie, PFM imported about 4,000 or so of these models between 1960 and 1976 for retail prices varying from $50 to $150. Thus, there are a bunch of these models out there somewhere.   Their current "value" is around $400 per the Brass Model Trains Price & Data Guide.  So, you did get a good buy. 

I trust everyone by now knows that it is the second highest bid (plus the minimal bid increment) which determines what a model will go for in an ebay auction.  So, it depends on how much that second-highest bidder wants the item.  You were fortunate you were the only last-minute bidder.  I've seen bids double or more in the last minutes of bidding.  That's what often happens to me.

Mark

[twhite]

Morning all from SunnyCal--nice balmy day out here, supposed to hit about 85 or so in the Valley.  Actually, it's cloudy today.  Don't know whether it's real clouds or just the Bay Area fog coming in further than usual. 

Yosemite is VERY smoky, the Telegraph fire has grown to almost 30,000 acres and is threatening the town of Mariposa.  Already destroyed a lot of structures in the area.  It's not threatening the Yosemite Valley itself, but is burning west of it in VERY rugged foothill terrain.  I hear a rumor that the fire was started by--of all things--target practice.  Seems a hot bullet zinged into some brush and--here we go again.  It's 10% contained, but no estimate of control at all, so far.  I've never been so anxious for a summer to end in my life!

Philip:  Yup, that looks like Lowell after one of his happy pills, LOL! 

Mark:  I know what you mean about the next to last bid on E-bay.  That's how I lost that Akane Yellowstone, but by the time the bid came through, it was so far above what I thought the loco was worth, I'm kind of GLAD I missed it.  It went for about the same price I'm paying for that new Z-6 when it comes out.  I love Akane Yellowstones, but NOT for the same price as a brand new Sunset.   I'll have to try that pasta recipe--sounds yummy!

DVR'd a neat program off of RFD TV yesterday, about Union Pacific running the Shasta line from Eugene to Cascade Summit.  As I was watching it, I was reminded that SP colored their diesels gray and red for a REASON--all those stiff grades and long tunnels around this neck of the woods.  UP yellow and gray sure looks like crap after it's run up all those grades and through all those tunnels.  Maybe UP ought to consider the old SP color for their diesels out here on the Coast, LOL!  I mean, we ain't talking the flat plains of Nebraska anymore, guys.

Well, got to feed Lowell, his pill's kicked in and he's looking at me as if I just got struck with a case of Terminal Stupid.   Besides that, Spooky's sitting right next to him with her usual "Breakfast is LATE, Daddy" look.  Feed the Beasties, then since it's a nice day, go out into the garage and maybe run my CZ.  Looked at it yesterday and realized that I have (horrors!) two Rio Grande dome cars with the SAME NAME!!  I must have been in a big rush at the LHS that day. 

Best to all, prayers to those in need.

Tom

 

 

[JPowell]

Hi gang!

  Figure since I am here, I might as well post a posting (does that even make sense?) for I'm not sure if I will be able to between now and the time I get home. However, they did chance our work schedule today. Tomorrow was suppose to eb our last workday w/ changeover taking place Thursday afternoon, but now the changeover is not till Friday afternoon. I should be home by this time next Tuesday, then a few days r-n-r before I have to go in to work and submitt my leave request that will take me out of work until after Labor Day!

  Well guys, I'm going to get my butt back to work. If I get the chance to get back in here before mid/late next week, I will. Other wise, be safe! I'll be home soon!

Take care!

[grayfox1119]

Good afternoon from sunny, 80F, 56% rh, dp 63F, Central Massachusetts ( Translation: Algonquin name for "Land of many hills" ). The garden is still very dark and wet soil, but at least I didn't sink in the garden today.

TOM: I really feel for you guys out in CA. I was in Yosemite and Sequoa back in 1984, travelling from San Jose through the wine country and those two stunning parks. It is such a shame to see all the beautiful land go up in smoke, and the losses of the people who live there. I hope the rains come early this year, but not too heavy, we don't want mud slides either.

FERGIE: Ahhh, the infamous Trader Horn. Are you going to retrofit for a decoder? I imagine you will have to isolate the motor?

Ok guys, with gas prices what they are, it has cut into our MRR budget. So, here is a new concept car that has great looks, gets over 90 mpg on pre-vaporized regular gas. Check it out at :

http://www.flixxy.com/fuel-vapor-car.htm

Now I know that JEFF is going to buy one, and DUKE will be right behind him in line. There is also a rumor that FERGIE has one on order as well as LUC and DER JOHN.  Even PC is thinking of getting one. MIKE, RYAN, GARRY, ROB, JIM, ED and JERRY are looking over the specs, and CN CHARLIE and TRAINBOY are quite excited also. SUE is looking at investing in the company that makes them...SMART LADY !!!!

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Howdy!

I suppose the marching band is now rehersing for JP's homecoming on next Tusday. It'll be a big celebration at Elliot's Trackside Dine; I bet.

Another thread has links to pictures of the great Nrothern full length domes. I commented there that the travlers back then were dressed up. it's not at all like some of the people you see in today's airports. Keep that in mind with your 1/97 figures.

Happy Model Railroading.

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I suppose the marching band is now rehersing for JP's homecoming on next Tusday. It'll be a big celebration at Elliot's Trackside Dine; I bet.

The band is getting warmed up.

 

On the modeling front, my FT-A is as finished as it's going to get. The F7-B still needs some paint on the diaphrams. I wish the decals were better but this new printer is a piece of junk.

[bjdukert]

Afternoon All

Dick

Is the Pacific being rebuilt right there in Steamtown?

Yup,that it is and I do like the car but I wonder how it would do in some of our Mich winters as they can be as bad as you get.

Fergie Not pink huh?? Just keep an eye to the sky for that Lancaster.

OK,here are some pics from the Horseshoe Curve and I forget who it was that asked about the loco that is there now and about the K4.

This is what is on display now

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/bjdukert/?action=view&current=HORSESHOECURVEJULY08005.jpg

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/bjdukert/?action=view&current=HORSESHOECURVEJULY08004.jpg

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/bjdukert/?action=view&current=HORSESHOECURVEJULY08003.jpg

The next two are videos to let those of you on dial up know.

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/bjdukert/?action=view&current=VIDEOS08007.flv

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/bjdukert/?action=view&current=VIDEOS08008.flv

As for the K4. It has been 11 years since it was taken from the Curve and this is what it looks like now. It is at Steamtown and the bay and tools have been donated by Steamtown.

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/bjdukert/?action=view&current=STEAMTOWN013.jpg

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/bjdukert/?action=view&current=STEAMTOWN012.jpg

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/bjdukert/?action=view&current=STEAMTOWN010.jpg

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/bjdukert/?action=view&current=STEAMTOWN009.jpg

I have pics from Northlandz as well but I need to decide which ones I will load into my Photobucket account because I took a lllloooottttt of them.

That's about it

Best to all on sick call and those recovering

Talk to you later

Duke

[LSWrr]

Twhite, I copied the same program on my DVR, very nice looking country side.

I hope RFD-TV picks up the 2009 season of Tracks Ahead in January.

Lee

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Tom .... What will you do with teh duplicate dome car?

Duke .... Thanks for posting the interesting pictures of your trip.

You may be interested in old family phtos from Horseshoe curve.............

 

[Flashwave]

Tom .... What will you do with teh duplicate dome car?

Duke .... Thanks for posting the interesting pictures of your trip.

You may be interested in old family phtos from Horseshoe curve.............

 

Showoff.

Tom: Might I sugest painting over and renaming?

[twhite]

Garry and Flash--

I've got four domes, a-la the original CZ.  I'll just put one in front and then separate the other with the other two (which have different names).  Maybe nobody will notice . 

Either that, or run the train VERY fast when company comes over.

Tom

 

[Cox 47]

Evening All...Its been another hot one...As a feller said yesterday what do you think the weather here in the mid-west is gonna be like in July and August?...I'll have a diet Coke with lots of ice please...Thank You...Gonna slip over in the corner enjoy the A/C and see who comes in....Jerry

[bjdukert]

Garry   The first time I was at the Horseshoe Curve was in the mid 70's and it was on a bike(750cc 73 BMW/5) trip with my wife.  The old building was still there,you could take stairs to the top,the K4 was fenced in,and a fence along the tracks.  It was free also and it is now part of the National Parks system and $5 to get in.   Thanks for the pics and the steam would really have been something to see.

Duke

[SilverSpike]

Ok guys, with gas prices what they are, it has cut into our MRR budget. So, here is a new concept car that has great looks, gets over 90 mpg on pre-vaporized regular gas. Check it out at :

http://www.flixxy.com/fuel-vapor-car.htm

Now I know that JEFF is going to buy one, and DUKE will be right behind him in line. There is also a rumor that FERGIE has one on order as well as LUC and DER JOHN.  Even PC is thinking of getting one. MIKE, RYAN, GARRY, ROB, JIM, ED and JERRY are looking over the specs, and CN CHARLIE and TRAINBOY are quite excited also. SUE is looking at investing in the company that makes them...SMART LADY !!!!

Yeah! And at $75,000 each I'll be ordering two of em! One for me and one for the misses too! 

[markpierce]

Garry and Flash--

I've got four domes, a-la the original CZ.  I'll just put one in front and then separate the other with the other two (which have different names).  Maybe nobody will notice . 

Either that, or run the train VERY fast when company comes over.

Tom

Sorry, no domes from me.  I'm a "heavyweight" kind of guy and am hoping that "the green" will return.  (Although I do have a rather vague memory from the early '50s spending a bit of time in a WP dome car on the way from Oakland to Omaha.)  Aaahh, there is nothing like the sight of SP baggage cars, lunch cars, round-roofed diners, and so on.  Speaking of which, I'll be beginning construction of a Pullman 8-1-2 named "De Wolf" tonight, ala Branchline Trains, with mechanical brine air conditioning, no less.

Mark

[twhite]

Garry and Flash--

I've got four domes, a-la the original CZ.  I'll just put one in front and then separate the other with the other two (which have different names).  Maybe nobody will notice . 

Either that, or run the train VERY fast when company comes over.

Tom

Sorry, no domes from me.  I'm a "heavyweight" kind of guy and am hoping that "the green" will return.  (Although I do have a rather vague memory from the early '50s spending a bit of time in a WP dome car on the way from Oakland to Omaha.)  Aaahh, there is nothing like the sight of SP baggage cars, lunch cars, round-roofed diners, and so on.  Speaking of which, I'll be beginning construction of a Pullman 8-1-2 named "De Wolf" tonight, ala Branchline Trains, with mechanical brine air conditioning, no less.

Mark

Mark--

Actually, you're my hero.  I have a lot more fun running my Pullman-Standard "Scenic Limited" and 'transitional' 1950 "Royal Gorge" mixture.  Actually, the reason I bought the CZ to begin with was because my Department Chair brought in HIS N-scale CZ and I got jealous, LOL!  Unfortunately, this summer, he bought an N-scale "Daylight" and that leaves me COMPLETELY out of the loop.  I HATE it when he does that!

Tom

[Packers#1]

I don't want to start a seperate thread for this subject, and I've posted it in teen model rr place, but here's a project i'm kicking around: Taking a bachmann GP50 model and an atlas gP40-2 and making a good GP50 out of it. the GP50 was built on the smae frame as a gp40-2, so that might work. I'd start this by first getting B-mann's GP50 model (only $36), then getting an atlas GP40-2. Maybe the b-mann truck sideframes could be recycled, I don't know. If that doesn't work, I could say it was built on traded-in trucks. looking at a GP40-2, the handrails match perfectly, but I'm not sure about the steps. I think the hardest part of this project would be making the bachmann shell mate w/ the Atlas Handrails and frame. Of course, there's some extra tubing on the GP50 fuel tank, but I think some brass wire might take care of that. 

prototype (not my photo)

picture of bachmann's n scale model (not my photo)

Here's a pic of the GP40-2 I was looking at (not my photo)

So guys, you think this is doable?

[Flashwave]

I don't want to start a seperate thread for this subject, and I've posted it in teen model rr place, but here's a project i'm kicking around: Taking a bachmann GP50 model and an atlas gP40-2 and making a good GP50 out of it. the GP50 was built on the smae frame as a gp40-2, so that might work. I'd start this by first getting B-mann's GP50 model (only $36), then getting an atlas GP40-2. Maybe the b-mann truck sideframes could be recycled, I don't know. If that doesn't work, I could say it was built on traded-in trucks. looking at a GP40-2, the handrails match perfectly, but I'm not sure about the steps. I think the hardest part of this project would be making the bachmann shell mate w/ the Atlas Handrails and frame. Of course, there's some extra tubing on the GP50 fuel tank, but I think some brass wire might take care of that. 

prototype (not my photo)

picture of bachmann's n scale model (not my photo)

Here's a pic of the GP40-2 I was looking at (not my photo)

So guys, you think this is doable?

I'm not sure why you need the GP40-2 What's wrong with the parts on the GP50?

[Packers#1]

Flash, look at the prototype, then the b-mann model. Fuel tank is horrible, and the front of the handrails is terrible. and the b-mann model would be a pain to convert to DCC, and it probably won't run well, if at all. The Atlas gP40-2 would be way better for a model, and besides, why not do it? I'm not working on a major layout as of now, and I've got a b-day coming up. So I could get the GP50, and then get a GP40-2 for my b-day. And I've moved my layout to South Carolina and there'll be a NS interchange, and there's usually a GP50 around here, so it would make sense to be working on my RR.

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

[Guilford Guy]

Morning Folks!

I didn't sleep a wink last night(although I slept to 2pm yesterday)

I'm off to catch the 8:20 train to New York, and ultimately Syracuse soon... Talk to you guys Friday(I'm sure I'll be asleep on Thursday).