Elliots Trackside Diner IV, Under New Management!

[New Haven I-5]

Bob K., my heart breaks with yours.  I won't pretend that I can even fathom what you're going through, but just know that we're here for you.  I have already been praying for you and your children about this most difficult of days.  I think Gerry said it all very well.

We also need to keep Michael (8500HPGASTUBINE) in our prayers. It is coming up on a year that he lost his son.

Yes. We really need to. There has been many family problems on these forums. Some of which have included members of former members.

 

     Now, about Model Railroading, last night I found out I can quill on my DSD-101LC Heavy Sound Decoder on the N&W #1218 whistle!

[bogp40]

We also need to keep Michael (8500HPGASTUBINE) in our prayers. It is coming up on a year that he lost his son.

Very true. I think about that often. Something like that can really tear a person up.

Jeff, I have thought about Michael and Kim often. I remenber his pain in a post and wanted to throw out his trains and have nothing to do with them. I am glad that he appears to have enjoyed the hobby. Remember all the pics of his beautiful UP brass? that stuff is awesome. I on the other hand found it difficult to continue being so involved , especially in the club and my scenery. You know, if your heart's not in it ,it's tough to do......

[Fergmiester]

Crystal, Tyger and I had a SERIOUS MISUNDERSTANDING this morning. Cats are not permitted on L.S.&W right of way!  I'm making trees from dried plant material (basil I think) and the cats decided it would make a nice salad.

hehe...

Miss Molly, MESS Mascot our 70lb. Border Collie/Labrador Retriever Mutt took a shine to the herb pot on the deck last summer. dirt everywhere and she decided it would make a wonderful perch for her so to view her kingdom. Finally had to move it out of harms reach. Animals love herbs

Sorry I haven't been around much but it "Year's end" and it's been a busy busy time

Not much happening on the MESS trying to do some kind of work but by the time I get home I'm exhausted. I did buy one of the new micro Tsunami decoders for my Bachmann 2-10-0. I just have to find the energy to install it!

Hoople if your BB runs as well as my Challenger you won't be disapointed!

Bob: I am still going through Dad's stuff and it's a painful process. At the same time I still have happy memories and thoughts of times gone by. Other times I feel very empty. I'm looking forward to the spring time as it will mean new life yet I will miss his presence as we both went to the garden centres to pick up flower trays for our gardens. Just won't be the same.

Well anyway I must run.

Later All

Fergie

[Cederstrand]

in a Soggy SOUTHERN mug, please & thank you!

***JR, that building looks great. Well done!

***BobK, my thoughts are with you today. Cannot imagine how you are feeling. BTW, those audio clips are very dramatic. Yikes!

***Fergie, how does that 2-10-0 run for you and is it comparable in quality to their 2-8-0? I have the latter (in N) and have wondered about the 2-10-0 (maybe down the road one day). One of the tougher things I have done is let go of a couple things my mother passed on to me from her Dad. But I know she would understand my need to do so. Loss is TOUGH, no question about it.

Rained hard this morning, filling the holding tank to about 5", just enough to water the cows tomorrow. Need LOTS more rain. At least the pastures were watered.

Packed up all my trains from the art studio and moved them into the dungeon, where the table lives. Decided it was time to clean and better organize the studio and this way Millie Kitty can't get to them. I let my Bachmann Northern go on the-bay for less than I paid for it. Kinda need the more than I needed that particular loco. Not going to sell any of my prized trains, but will likely need to thin out the herd a bit further. 

Hey guys, so what is this 2% grade rule all about anyway. Out of curiosity, I raised a section of track about 3" in a 3' stretch and the few locos I tried had no hesitation running right up it, which is certainly more than a 2% grade. Or, is it more to do with realism than actual grade? Granted, I didn't have any cars behind them, but I'll wager they still would have managed the steep grade. Just wondering.

Rob

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

We also need to keep Michael (8500HPGASTUBINE) in our prayers. It is coming up on a year that he lost his son.

Very true. I think about that often. Something like that can really tear a person up.

Jeff, I have thought about Michael and Kim often. I remenber his pain in a post and wanted to throw out his trains and have nothing to do with them. I am glad that he appears to have enjoyed the hobby. Remember all the pics of his beautiful UP brass? that stuff is awesome. I on the other hand found it difficult to continue being so involved , especially in the club and my scenery. You know, if your heart's not in it ,it's tough to do......

I know where you're coming from. To me, it's like the old saying, if the horse bucks you off don't stay off, get back on and continue. Look at me with my huge handicap and disabilities. I don't let them stop me. Sure it hurts to continue, but I enjoy the hobby so much. Right now I'm repowering a P2K E6 that a friend sent to me. I have to take it slowly because I have no feeling in my hands and they cramp up often. When I became disabled I nearly gave up the hobby because I could do hardly anything. There have been many times that I've looked at the stunningly realistic modeling I used to be able to do and what I'm limited to now and thought 'Why do I continue? I can never match that again.'. I finally came to peace with that and decided that I would simply do the best I can and be happy with that. With time, a lot of patience and a lot of pain I taught myself to be able to regain some control of my arms and legs. Now I can walk unaided again, though not far, a few hundred yards at best. I got enough control back in my hands that I can perform basic tasks but I lack the manual dexterity to do detail work and fine painting. It's also difficult to use an airbrush but I do from time to time.

[LSWrr]

Rob, 3% grade would be 3" rise over a 300" run.  2% = 2" rise and a 200" run.  The Steam prototypes had issues with anything over 1% and a horrible time with 2% (depending on the locomotive).  Hence the need for helpers.  I'm horrible at math, but I think you made a 6.4% grade.   Now if you are working in feet it would be a 1' rise over a 100' run.

[gear-jammer]

I thought that I would show up a little early for lunch.  Does anyone have any good suggestions?  Maybe something spicy.  I am starting to get a scratchy throat from all that partying.  If I didn't thank everyone personally for showing up for that great birthday party.  I want you all to know that your presence was special. 

 I guess Dick wins the pool.  Wasn't he the closest on the guess?

Tom,  The creekbed won't get water until Larry finishes his trestle.  Gravity could make a pretty good mess.

JR,  I love the colors on this building.  I hope when I start on structures that mine look this good.  I am used to teasing.  I was brought up that you tease the people you like, and the others, well...........

 

Bob,  No trains.  I did place an order with Walthers the week before,  several service structures for yard.  We have plans to finish a section near the mainline that will allow photos of something besides the shays. If we get the backdrop near the TT finished I can work on the RH.

Fergie,  Were the cats eating groundfoam salad?  Our cat would be more apt to bat the trees out of place.

Back to the trainroom to put another coat of dust on the horses.

Sue

[Hoople]

PC: I'll have to check, the front wheelset does seem to have a big flange.

Lee: We will need a mondo sized grade, I do have a %6 we could use, lol. I did nail down the turnout, but it's just the front truck.

Bogp40: She does run pretty well. One of the diecast parts (yet to locate which) shorts out on a section of rail, and her front truck jumps off on one switch, something that I'm working on.

Flashwave: The screw on the front truck seems to give it alot of freedom, I'll tighten the chains and see how she does...

Fergie: Depends on who made the challenger, but she does run real nice and the sound is the best out there.

Mark

 

[Cederstrand]

A strongrefill, thanks!

***Lee, so I take it keeping grades at 2% or less is more for cosmetic/prototypical reasons than actual function? Even my oldest little 0-6-0 shoots right up that 6% grade. With a door size table, there seems little point trying to make a "realistic" grade, which doesn't bother me at this point, as long as it doesn't start looking rediculous. Curoius: Wonder what the % grade is on those up-and-over figure 8 sets? Anyone know?

Hey, not sure if it is applicable to model RRing equipment, but I just tried this stuff called DeoxIT on my computer sound system and all I can say is WOW...sounds like it did when first bought many years ago.

Off to do critter rounds before the next storm hits. Looks like a banger (red blob on satellite) heading our way. Yee Haw! Rob

[LSWrr]

Rob, yea.  I've always been impressed with people's helix system for upper and lower level layouts.  I bet those over and under sets are running a 6%.

I'm operating on a budget so 99% of my fleet is Mantua steam locomotives and they tend to wheel spin on 5% grades and they make bridges sag if not supported properly.

Lee

[grayfox1119]

Good afternoon to all, just dropped in for a minute, have to go out in 15 minutes to a 50th BD party for SIL.

LEE: I see tnat BobK has already answered your question to me regarding the train crash in MA. Canton and Stoughton, Ma

BobK And Mike, just as PC and others have stated, I cannot begin to feel the heartbreaking loss that both of you have experienced over the past year. The loss of a wife for you Bob, and Mike, the loss of a son. My thoughts and prayers to both of you today.

Got to go now, see you guys tomorrow,

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Grayfox is buying? I'll take the steak and potato dinner.

 

[sleeper33]

 Evening all

 just a tea for now please

 pc. glad your sons home and hopefully out of pain.

 Hoople so your bb has arrived. great for you have hrs of fun with it

 on my front managed to get all the old cork off my boards and have sanded them down in preparation for the new stuff to go down hopefully next week. then more tracklaying

well just going in the corner and drink my tea

Gav

[der5997]

Good evening to one and all.  Too much snow yesterday and last night...as much or more in one dump as we've had here all winter, and it's meant to be Spring....Grrrrrr.  For another Grrr, the price of gas here, assuming 3.78 litres/US Gallon, is $4.47 per Gallon. So a round trip into the Harbour from here is now over $2.15 Cnd. Gives one pause.

I've been having trouble finding a tallish station to act as my main line passenger terminal.  I'm leaning towards bashing this Model Power  kit into one.  I figure I could hide the lower storey behind some stone facing with new windows and doors, throw a canopy across the front, and the upper floor would be pretty much as is.  What do you think.

Many pages to catch up, so here goes....

Sue: Sorry to have missed your celebration...hope it was all you wanted it to be ...and that river bed is just plain wonderful.

[you asked if I'd harvested any bushes for layout trees...yes, over 400 of my favourite False Spirea have been slowly drying out in the basement over the winter.   In the mean time I've accumulated a number of alligator clips and tweezers type hair grips to act as "clothes pins" (smaller than JR's corner holders!) fro when I have to hang them up so the dilute white glue I shall have dipped them in can dry and fix them straight.  That means one clip on trunk on the line, and one as a weight on the other end to stretch them straight.

Ryan:  Thanks for the head's up on the Adobe Photoshop Express site. Sad to say it's only for you guys at the moment.  Looks really useful as a knot hole in Photoshop's fence!

Scott: Good to see you're doing well, and enjoying the job. Isn't it great to know you are trusted to do a great job?  Are the safety goggles in case the coffee spills at a misaligned switch? (oops)BTW, how many Mega pixels in that camera phone?  I was surprised (because I don't pay that much attention to those details) to see an ad. In a flyer this weekend for a 8. something Meg camera phone.  My Kodak C330 point and shoot is only 4.1!

Rob:

***Der, sounds like you got a great deal.

...These are the chaps...  That's the eBay image, so won't likely enlarge, but I think these will add a modern look to my station parking lots etc. Speaking of lots, there's 50 of these in the package, so I believe, so your

My thinking was to keep 1 and sell 2, and make a few in the process.

strategy may be something I should look at.  BTW, that painting of the rabbit leads me to think that your backdrops are going to be spectacular! 

Curoius: Wonder what the % grade is on those up-and-over figure 8 sets? Anyone know?

...My guess would be about 5%                

 

PC: That is such good news you've been posting recently! There is a Judge who judges justly, as you are well aware!

I kinda hope he doesn't grow a lot more.  He's 5'5" now.  My wife is 5'9" and I'm 5'11", but my dad is 6'2" and my brother is 6'3", so who knows.

...who does he take after mostly?  You or your wife?

The Police joke is winging its way all over!

Goofymike: ...you've found the right spot (IMHO).  There are a number of West Coast mrrs who drop in here on a frequent to occasional basis, BTW.  I'm on "the other coast" from you in Nova Scotia, and had a grandfather who was an engineer on the line in Australia that goes across the null-arbor plain along what was called when I was at school in England, "The Great Australian Bight".

Lee: Kudos to your "kids" for their achievements and goals; to you also for the Admiral's List!

BobB:

I start my new job tomorrow (March 24)  and I'm a bit nervous about it all.

...So, how did  it go?

BigBlueC:

Looks like the forum is out of control right now, glad im not part of this mess.

...which is why, partly, I stay in here.

NittanyLion: Can't recall seeing you in before, so ....

Mark:  Glad you are enjoying the BigBoy, and thanks for the look at your layout!

Once I did this, there was a gap in the tracks. Big enough to derail rolling stock, small enough so that fitter pieces wouldn't work.

...had to do the fitter piece thing about the same day you posted that.  For some reason that probably had to do with the lateness of thehour, and the rotten cold I had then, I missed seeing a gap of about ¼ " had come into a joint while I was re-arranging the track I'm playing with in the re-design of my programming/test track.  As you see, I'm using up all sorts of cruddly odds and ends of left over track for this! In fact seeing it magnified like this, it looks pretty awful! ..but it is possible in N. I've got to solder that yet (and straighten it out some by the lookof it!

Garry: That mill is fantastic!

BridgeTom:

Plus the required Renaissance a-capella piece, of course.  Gotta keep them Adjudicator's happy. 

...sounds like figure skating 25 years ago!

JR: Hudson Wire is looking good, the clothes pins come in handy, don't they!  The brick weathering worked out just swell, I'd say.

Ozark, thanks for the up-date pics!  The elevator is coming nicely too.

Flashwave:  Thanks for the reminder about he brake cylinders jamming the trucks on tight curves.  It isn't the case in one of my pesky situations, but I had forgotten that tip.

BlueFlamer: Where in Etobicke?  40 or so years ago we were on Whaley Drive, down by Brown's Line.

TiptonBill. Here's a 1941 Tie Date Nail to go with your Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Pin 1941.

RT:

I got it when I bough some train stuff a few years back I had to send it to bachmann to be repaired

...that was back in the old Coffee Shop days wasn't it?

As Dick says, Good Luck with the new job.

Lee: Can't find the pic now, but back in the just mentioned Coffee Shop there was a winter shot of the town sign for that, all dripping icicles!

BobK: Our thoughts and prayers are with you today.

My sister-in -law and April's friends are going to empty my closet of her clothes,

..that is quite the best solution.  It's not a thing one should have to do alone.  Also, not something to be done very soon after a funeral, and you are wise in both choices.  Thanks for the note about Michael.

Fergie:

Miss Molly, MESS Mascot our 70lb. Border Collie/Labrador Retriever Mutt

...Good Golly Miss Molly, wasn't that long ago that you were just a pup.  Now you're Long Tall and Sally-like!

Earth Hour in about 15 minutes, and we're shutting everything down for that time.

TTFN

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang:

BobK my thoughts are with you on this day. I have been thinking about you and Michael.

Has anyone heard from Michael?

I got word today that my friend Tony has slipped into a coma. He's isn't expected to last but a couple of more days.

I went over to the track today and cleaned up a bunch of weeds that had died along the right of way. These weeds grow to 5 feet and when they die off they fall over and block the track. I used my tractor with the grapple on the bucket to rake them up and haul them to the burn pile. We burned the trash pile and it was quite a fire for a bit. The others were working on the new transfere table for the diesel area and the parking bays. The meet is in just 4 weeks so the track owner is in a panic.

I wounder where Ed is. He maybe NOB. I know that he's coming up for the meet the end of April.

Der I am not going to think about how the depot will look since thinking gives me a headach.

I am going to head out and check my E-mail and then hit the sack.

Good Night All

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Today's project was to rebuild and re-motor a Proto 2000 E6-A that had been stripped and made into a dummy loco. I do believe I accomplished my goal.

See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrZ1E_DxNl4

 

[rtraincollector]

Bob K. I missed your post but I feel real sorrow for you I can't imagine going thru what your going thru. I have lost both my parrents but this has to be worst as your expecting the other to be there and there not. So sorry wish I knew how to help ( I like trying to do things like that) but this one is out of my ability. Wish you the strength to go on and find the good things in life to keep you going.

 

Bill&Donna R.

[Cederstrand]

refill. I know it's late...and I don't care.

***Der, I've seen those car groupings on the bay. If I wasn't going steam era, I would have picked some up also. They look real nice. And thanks for the compliments on the painting. I'm actually leaning towards a walk-around layout with no backdrop.

***Paul, sorry about your friend Tony. His suffering is almost at an end, which (I believe) is a blessing.  

***Jeffrey, nice work on the E6.

Rob

[Cederstrand]

Yikes! Wife came home early from work because her Dad was brought to the hospital after having a seizure. At first it looked like a small stroke, but turned out to be caused by an infection (combined with stress). Needless to say, my wife is pretty upset. All for now. -Rob 

[pcarrell]

Boy, there really are a lot of us hurting right now, for various reasons.  We're quite the motley crew, huh?  Prayers for all indeed!

PC: I'll have to check, the front wheelset does seem to have a big flange.

Two ways to go here.......1) use a file or a dremel tool (carefully, so as not to heat up the frog and melt the plastic ties and ruining the turnout) to deepen the flangeway, or better yet, 2) visit Northwest Short Line and see about a new low profile wheelset.  Shouls only be a few bucks, and it'll only make the loco better.  Also won't risk messing up the turnout.

Der, he takes after me mostly.

Gav, his pain comes and goes, but it mostly goes.  He just gets some from the nerves on the top of his foot now and then.  Those nerves have never really been used much, so this is just them "waking up".  The place where he had most of the surgery really doesn't hurt much at all. (Praise God for that!)

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good evening everybody .....

I have worked on scenery for much of the day. Still have lots to do, but I'm pleased with the progress. As I work on scenery, I think about stuff and some of the conversations during the day pertain to some of that stuff.

I was still thinking about Bobk and his deep loss. Also, I was wondering how Paul's friend was doing and now I see Paul's post. that's really sad , Paul. I did think of Mike (8500 gas turbine), and yes, I recall Fergie losing his Dad. PC's son and wife are still a matter of concern, of course.

Some of you may recall my posts a few months back as my wife lost her sister.  you had many kind thoughts and prayers. They are still very much appreciated.

One of the most inspiring people in the forum is "The Spray Can Rembrandt", our good friend Jeff. Today, he kindly took time to explain his situation and I'm sure it's not easy to talk about it. It says a lot that he is comfortable with his friends in the diner to share his story. Jeff's really quite remarkable, I think. As he said, he remains active with model railroading, but I read of his service to the volunteer fire department.  By the way Jeff. how's that foot doing? recovered now from surgery I hope.

Der .... I like the idea of kitbashing that kit into a station. I hope to see the results soon. Any word from Luc? Gals you liked the steel mill photos.  

Rob .... I hope your FIL is okay. Let us know.

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Evidently, nobody is up late. I posted these pictures in wekend photo fun. i'll poste the mhere, too. this is some of the new scenery, I have mentioned. there's a lot more to do. It's my new branch line. The GE 44 ton locomotve is similar to some operated by CB&Q in branch line service. 

[bogp40]

GARRY,  I did as well. These are some recent club pics.

Well it is getting late, still talking w/ my company. May need to sneak off to crash.

Today went well. Actually much better than I thought. My girls didn't do too great, especially at the cemetary. I thinks it hurts me more to see their sorrow. It's the first time that they were able to go there.

I appreciate all your replies, your prayers have helped. I'm nowhere out of the woods on this, but am very hopeful and have been doing much better.

I will heed Jeff's advice, time to move on, I have felt that the world has continued to just pass me. It's time to catch up, April would want it that way.

Thanks to all,

[sleeper33]

 pc tell him my thoughts are with him from overhere and of course with  the rest of your family

 

  cheque please girls

 see you all tomorrow

Gav

 

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

Paul, I'm sorry to hear about Tony's condition. I'm glad you and him had time to visit over the past few weeks while he was in the hospital, I'm sure it meant the world to him.  I hope you can remain focused on the good times you shared with him.

My condolences, thoughts and prayers to those that have lost friends & family members.

I wish I could claim to have thought this up, but I didn't. I don't even know who did. It's based on one of those pieces that go around the Internet, passed from person to person. A friend sent it to me and I couldn't resist adapting and using it here, If you need help with your glass of water we are all here to support you.

A famous speaker was asked to talk about stress and stress management. Wanting to give the group a practical demonstration of what was being discussed; the speaker poured out a glass of water, held it up above her head for the audience to see, and asked: "How heavy is this?"

There were many guesses, ranging from an ounce or two to almost a pound. After a while, the speaker asked another question: "How long do you think I can hold it like this?"

Again, there were lots of guesses. Some said maybe five minutes, others fifteen. One suggested an hour.

"The actual weight of the glass of water doesn't matter much," the speaker said. "I'm not very sure how long I can hold it as I'm doing now, but I can be pretty certain that holding it for a minute or less wouldn't be a real problem. If I hold it for half an hour, I'll definitely have a bad ache in my arm. If I hold it for many hours, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it will feel and the more damage I will do to myself. Right?"

Everyone nodded their agreement.

"That's the way it is with stress too," she went on. "If you try to carry your burdens all the time, even if they're quite light, sooner or later they're going to feel heavier and heavier. Soon, you won't be able to carry on without doing yourself damage. Like this glass of water, you must put them down for a while and rest before going back to holding them up again. When you're refreshed, you can carry on, if you must."

There was the kind of silence you get when a roomful of people suddenly realize a truth that ought to have been staring them in the face. A mixture of enlightenment and embarrassment.

"So," the speaker concluded. "Take some rest. In fact, whatever burdens you're carrying, let them go whenever you can. Don't risk hanging on until you need that ambulance."

Lee

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

[jeffrey-wimberly]

***Jeffrey, nice work on the E6.

Thanks. I had one that had a bent frame, twisted truck and a busted shell (dropped it) so it was a relatively easy matter to transfer the weights and all the workings to the new frame. I don't have enough extra parts on hand to rebuild the other one yet.

Rob: Sorry to hear about your wife's father. I hope he comes through all right.

One of the most inspiring people in the forum is "The Spray Can Rembrandt", our good friend Jeff. Today, he kindly took time to explain his situation and I'm sure it's not easy to talk about it. It says a lot that he is comfortable with his friends in the diner to share his story. Jeff's really quite remarkable, I think. As he said, he remains active with model railroading, but I read of his service to the volunteer fire department.  By the way Jeff. how's that foot doing? recovered now from surgery I hope.

Garry: it just goes to show that you can't keep a good man down, and it's very hard to get a very determined one down in the first place. No, it's not easy to talk about what I've gone through, but it can help others to see that when they think their situation is bad, hey, there's someone who has had a very bad time and if he could get over that then I can get over this. My work with the FD is one of the things that keeps me going. It gives me a reason to keep pushing.As far as the foot goes, it's really coming along nicely. The wound has closed from over 40 mm to less than 20 mm and it looks like it will be healed up faster than first estimated.

I appreciate all your replies, your prayers have helped. I'm nowhere out of the woods on this, but am very hopeful and have been doing much better.

I will heed Jeff's advice, time to move on, I have felt that the world has continued to just pass me. It's time to catch up, April would want it that way.

Bob: Good for you. That's the kind of spirit I like to see. Keep pushing forward, for the world waits for no man.

Good morning.

It's a delightful 70 degrees here under a cloudy sky with a high of 76 expected with thunderstorms wanting to make their presence felt.

Today's Weather for:     
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      3/30/2008

Heat Index:  70°F
Humidity:  90%
Dew Point:  67°F

So Far Today
High:  70°F
Low:  66°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  16mph S

Through 8 AM...widely scattered showers and thunderstorms will be found all across central and southwest Louisiana...southeast Texas...and the coastal waters between High Island and the lower Atchafalaya River. Occasional lightning...gusty winds to 30 mph...and rainfall amounts up to one half inch are possible as this activity moves off to the northeast at 20 mph.     

Today  High: 82    Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Southeast winds around 10 mph.   
 
Tonight  Low: 62    Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 60s. Southeast winds around 10 mph.


 

 

[pcarrell]

Morning all!

Sounds like most here are doing well, and for those that aren't, prayers for you.

And Lee, good illustration!  Sometimes those of us (like me for instance) with thicker heads need to be shown, not just told, the truth!

Oh well, I'm outta here!

Later!

[grayfox1119]

Good brrrrrrr morning to all, Zoe, I need something HOT, anything right now...yes, I know my CC is on fire, TOP for two days now, lets see if I make three, the history bar is very near the bottom on this reply.

Why so "Brrrrrr" this morning you ask Jeff? Well, the Honeywell controller started to chatter like a chipmunk last night just before we were leaving to go out, so I had to shut the furnace off. It would fire and quit, fire and quit, fire and quit and I saw sparks under the reset button on the Honeywell controller, so that meant the relay was not holding IN. Of course the repair people would come only on emergency basis on weekends, and you guys all know what that would cost. So, this morning the house was down to 50F. I re-fired the furnace now that we are home and awake to keep an eye on the furnace, I don't need a backfire and soot all over the place with the Train room just 10 feet away. The woodburner will be keeping us warm tonight though, and hopefully the repair guys will be here early tomorrow morning.

JEFF: Eat up lad, the CC is on fire, eat while you can before the card expires !! LOL

BOBK: You guys do some outstanding layout work, very impressive Bob , it really inpsires me to get my a**  in gear. As to the runaway lumber car, I haven't heard any cause yet. It seems to me that several things were wrong/ procedures not followed, have you heard anymore?

DER JOHN: The season is a little skewed up there in NS isn't it? You get the most snow all season NOW at the end of March??? And what's with that piece of track??? It looks like it was roasted in the firepit!!! And gas at $4+ a gallon??? Have you considered a motorcycle? DUKE wants a new bike, I am sure he will give you nice deal.

LEE: Great words of wisdom for sure on stress. The last 4 years at work were so bad, that if I had not retired, I might have been been an engineer on that mountain RR.

[bjdukert]

Morning All

Paul,Fergie,and Bob I know how tough it is because of when I lost two friends (Jack and Louie) within a week of each other two years ago and my Dad this time last year. Take care and as I was told by you and others here in the forum,it does get better,not necessarily easier,but better.

PC Still the best to your wife and son

Garry The scenery really looks great and the first one with the barn looks like one I have seen on the PA turnpike.

Bob Your club's city scene sure does look good.

Dick I traded my 04 in and bought an 07 in Nov of 06 but if John would like to talk,I think we could work something out.

That's about it

Best to all on sick call and those recovering

Talk to you later.

Duke