Elliots Trackside Diner IV, Under New Management!

[grayfox1119]

Good afternoon to all, 78F, RH of 48%, BP of 57F, PC skies, just a perfect Summer day here.

MORGAN: Our prayers are with yours, we are always here for you buddy, but I know that you already know that.

FERGIE: I see the Hudson made the news, also I see that some guy on the Hudson was able to perform the appendectomy with his MRR took kit!!! Gee, that guy was lucky!!!

Now lets see, CV......Central Vermont, and number series 700, that would be Texas 2-10-4's. They really looked good running th rough Vermont Green Mountains, and over deep ravine river gorges of the White River. Nice choice Fergie. Where did you purchase it from, LHS or Internet Co.?

GARRY: The Rhubard and Starwberries have all gone now for the season, now the Blackberries, red raspberries and blueberries are coming in strong up here. Of course the Veggie garden is going great guns also, especially with these warm nights and higher humidity.

Here is the local weather right at my garden on the hilltop where my weather station equipment is located: www.weatherlink.com/user/grayfox1119.  I am thinking of adding a camera on the pole also, that way you can see the type of critters that we have at night trying to have a midnight snack.

CNCHARLIE: Just keep on sending that great weather down from Canada good buddy, we can sleep at night with 60's. LOL

J.P: Hey, I see you have a Birthday too!!! Did Fergie eat all the cake ? Jeff was supposed to save a piece for me...JEFF? Did you eat my piece of cake?? SUE DID ???!!!! You can't leave a piece of cake anywhere in this Diner these days, someone always finds it.

OK, back outside, too much to do these days.....see you guys at supper ( up here in the country part of New England we still call it Supper, in Boston and the cities they call in "DINER") ........excuuuuuuse me !!! LOL

[Cederstrand]

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY", JP...may it be filled with plenty of train related fun stuff.

Wile I'm here, arefill, please & thanks!

Light thundershower here. YES! Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JP!

[Cederstrand]

in a SOUTHERN PACIFIC mug, please & thanks.

***Flash, YIKES, so sorry to hear of your Dad's condition. Sending continued healing thoughts his way and others here who have been having a rough go of it lately.

LOTS of most needed rain fell yesterday. Two holes have opened up here on the farm. One from where deadfall had been burried in the barnyard. The other from an old septic tank in the back yard. Will fill both these holes with rocks when we can get a load of them in the weeks to come.

Rob 

[twhite]

Morning everyone

Well, we got our Delta breeze this morning, which seems to have broken the back of our heat wave, and is keeping the smoke high overhead.  It's actually breathable out here, and kind of cool (relatively speaking).  Supposed to have a high of 97 or so, today, which beats the pants off of the 108 we had yesterday.  And Delta breezes have a very high humidity content along with the cool temperatures, so possibly--I say POSSIBLY--it might help the firefighters on the Butte and American River burns. 

Mark--That breeze must be whooshing through the Carquinez straits by now, hope your temps have plummeted from that 93 you had yesterday and cleared the smoke out.  Right now it's 70 here.  And the smoke is WAY high overhead.  Can't smell a thing.   

Flash--I'm so sorry to hear about your dad.  Prayers for his recovery, and please try and keep us posted.  We CARE, my friend!

JP: . 

Fergie:  YEAH!!!    Now all you have to do is wait five days to run the little puppy.  Can't wait to hear what you think about it!  As far as the Napa Valley, it's still here.  That one fire burned away from it, thank God.  But their high temp was about 103 yesterday.  Hopefully a lot cooler today.  St. Helena is one of my favorite spots on the entire earth. .  There's a little restaurant up there that serves the BEST Bratwurst I've ever tasted.  Ever! 

Paul:  Best wishes for a good surgery. 

Well, I put a reservation in on the GN Z-6 with Mike, yesterday.  Should be coming in around October, which is cool, because by that time, I'll be back teaching three days a week, and that money just goes for my hobby budget.  Well, KIND of--.  Still have bills to pay   Little things like utilities and such (I don't even WANT to see this month's electric bill after having to run the AC 24/7 for the past three weeks).

Have to run over to the LHS today and get some paint for the Lookout tower--need some Forest Service green for the trim.  Floquil's "Southern" green is just about spot-on for the color.  And then, if the weather keeps up, I'll finish her up and plop her on a Butte, this weekend.  FINALLY!

Best to all, prayers to those in need. 

Tom

 

[Fergmiester]

Good Afternoon All

This will be No. 2 post here today as my first attempt was lost!

Nice to see Dick back as you were missed! Actually I was hoping you'ld stroll in before this as I added new power to the M.E.S.S. roster, New England power to be more precise Dick, I'll give you a hint... CV No.'s 700 to 709.

Speaking of which... According to the CFO The "Package" has arrived!!! Y_E_Ssss!!!

Now all I have to do is wait 5 days to get home (And beat the arrival of Bertha)

Oh by the way we made headlines today though the stories have a few inaccuracies, which is not too uncommon for the media when they report on stories on the Coast Guard.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/07/11/sea-rescue.html

Tom: take care of that breathing as asthma and other related problems is no fun. This humidity has been problematic for my asthma this past week. Good thing I'm at sea as it would be a real problem! How's the Napa Valley fairing through out this?

Flash: Sorry to here about your Dad's problems. We can only hope things work out for him. Unfortunately this will take time to resolve so go easy on yourself.

C&O: Good to see you keeping up your spirits as the treatments and their effects can really drain the life out of you! Really good to see you doing some MR'ng!!! 

JP: Sorry but I don't envy you one bit! That heat would cause me to melt, then again I could afford to loose a few pounds. 

Anyway I have to go and do more paper work (Processing Trees)

Later All

Fergie

[JimRCGMO]

Morning, Zoe. Cup of coffee and a glass of Ed's OJ, please. Thanks!

Flash, sorry to hear about your Dad, and will be praying for you and him (and family). As others have said, feel free to come in here to talk, or let us know of other ways we can help.

JP, , and don't go too wild there in the sandbox!

And for your birthday, and Terry's finishing up his treatments:

So dig in, you two! All the other Diners will get their slices after you, of course...

Lee, the reason I knew on your couplers situation is that I have a number of cars (and some locos) that need their couplers replaced with the Kadees. Once I get going on mine, I'll probably need to order another pack of 10 or 20 pair.

CN Charlie, good to hear that you made it to the boat this time. Next time, you might get out and sail on it. Got some tired dogs, huh?

Paul, from what you said, putting up with the drops and the eye surgery is worth it, for the results you've had on the other eye.  

Looking forward to the weekend (though tonight and tomorrow a.m. are partly spoken for, with helping the friends load up their stuff in the truck for moving). Hoping to get back to the MRR'ing stuff. Might even have word on getting together with a lady from church. We'll see...

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[JPowell]

Hi gang!

  Thanks for the wishes. Day is going ok so far.

  My current departure date is looking like end of month, but those of us who have served, know very well that it most likely will be later than earlier.

  Well guys, got to get some work done.

Take care!

[NS Luc]

Hello.

A controversial subject: Petrol prices....  here is a link that you may wish to look at.  It gives current price on the market as well as some forecasts.  I don't know who backs it but it appears to be fairly accurate.

 

http://oil-price.net/

[Cox 47]

Good morning!!.....Sunny and warm here...Just stopped in for a cup of coffee...Have a good one...Jerry

[CNCharlie]

Good Morning!

 Sorry, I didn't realize I was top of page so order up and don't be skimpy! Chloe has my CC and who knows how long it will last before it tops out.

 Flash, so sorry to hear your news. As has been said we're here for you if you need us.

 Just a quick note as have to take my wife to the doc's for her test results from a check up.

CN Charlie

 

 

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

 

Flash, sorry to hear about the problems, we will keep you and your family in our prayers.

 

Jim, yes I've been putting off the coupler shift for several years, but now I have a mix of horn and knuckle couplers, time for me to stop straddling the fence.

 

Paul, good luck with the eye stuff, let us know how it goes.

 

Hopefully JP will get out of there before the AUG heat & humidity hits.  135F w/ 88% humidity is not fun.

 

Lee

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Flash: That's terrible news. Remember, we're here anytime you want to talk about it and to help in any way we can.

[sleeper33]

Morning all

 I think i'll have a sausage sandwich and a tea please.

 checkouts going well just starte raining again lol it was Glastonbury 2 weeks ago should have rained then great!

 oh well breakfast is ready so ill be at the counter if anybody needs me

 

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Oh, Flash. Sorry to learn that. It sounds terrible. We're here to be your friend, and we'll be praying. Please tell us if there's more we can do.

...and, Paul, best wishes and prayers for the eye surgery.

CN Charlie .... good to hear about the boating.

DIck certainly had a lot of veggies this year. Holy cow. He left out the strawberry rhubbarb, but I had better hold off on too much calories. So that's fine.

Tom ... Perhaps now would be the time to travel out of your area for a while. Too much smoke is bad stuff.

 

[Flashwave]

Well, here goes a semi-intrested post. You won;t see me but for little spurts on other threads, just lsin heart to do much of anything. Yesterday they decided to remove the gallbladder. From there, there were complications. There was so much blood loss that BP dropped like a rock and the kidneys shut down in defence of trying to run w/o lubrication (bloodflow). Add to that the colin, and he's having breathing problems, it;s not yet looking good. He's responsive, but sedated (he hears, and will squeeze hand or twitch his leg if told to, but is out), hooked up to a breathing machine, and strapped to a rotator bed in Crit. Care. The're debating continous dialisis, if the body is even in any shape to be able to handle that. The kidneys could restart, since it sounds like thhis was a body's defense response, not actual injury, but they aren't holding their breath. We were up there all day today. But I've spent m,ost of my time staring off at nothing and haven't the heart to do a lot of typing or coming in here.

Prayers and well wishes for all,

 

 

 

Cancer? We're supposed to be treating cancer?    

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang:

Jim CG I'm not nearly as nervious as last time about the surgery. I'm looking forward to getting it over with. The worst part is all the eye drops for weeks after.

Tom I hope that the weather turns around out there. Having to stay in the house just to breath is a bummer. We had a fire today over about a mile away according to my son. He said that about 10 acres burned. A couple of years ago Texas had about 750,000 acres go up in flames.

Terry take care of yourself and I hope that the treatments go all right.  

Speaking of eye drops It's time again.

Good Night All

Good Night All

 

[CNCharlie]

Good Evening Diners

Well we did manage to get out to the boat yesterday and it turned out to be a beautiful day, with a temperature of about 75 and a nice breeze. We didn't manage to get the sails hoisted but had a nice afternoon. The dogs certainly enjoyed it but I think it was too much for Jamie as he has just slept all day today and hardly seems to have the strength to eat.

Tom, I can't imagine what you are going through with the heat and smoke. It truly sounds terrible so hopefully we can send some cooler air down your way soon.

Jeff, that was a great story about the possum but you probably don't think so now. I have only seen one once on a trip to Florida many years ago. Our local nusiance animals are skunks and racoons. Don't really want to encounter either but I think we had a racoon getting into our garage a few weeks ago.

Last official day of my holidays tomorrow and I'm taking my wife out to dinner at the restauant where she is volunteeing tonight.  A last "blow-out" as we need to put a lid on expenses for a while. I think I have only about 2 years work before I have to take a retirement so we need to get ready.

On the RR front I have finished painting/weathering my engine shed and have re-aligned the tracks in the yard so the spacing is correct. I hope to get it together soon but it is summer and its hard to go downstairs when the weather is nice.

Well it is nearly time for me to go and pick up my wife so I'll sign off for now.

CN Charlie

[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.

[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 

[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

[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

[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!

[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

[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     

 

[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

[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

[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.

[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 !