Elliots Trackside Diner IV, Under New Management!

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: It's been a few days since I've been able to post. I get in and read up to a point and then something happens and I have to run.

Rob you really did have a complete destruction of the house. I hope the the rebuild goes smoothly and quickly.

Tom that rock work looks good. Rock on.

Lee: How do you keep your cool when you are inspecting those pleasure boats with the girls in there strings running all around?

Not much going on here except work and running around with the grandkids. I thought I was retired? We're going to Dallas tomorrow on the train. Rachel the 3yr old is a train nut. She loves to watch the trains go by.

I've got to get back to the house stuff.

Good Night All

[Flashwave]

 

And now--ON TO THE CREEPER!!

Tom

Forgive mme for being the nay sayer, but what's up with the streaky puddy look in the center of the pic? There's a couple of seams I notice to where the mold isn't yet flush, right around the tunnel. await color

*ducks*

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Chloe - I'll have some *beef* stew please,

 

and a root beer float (that way I'll have my beverage and my dessert in one!).

 

Thanks, Jerry!

With the possible raccoon special tomorrow, and Gav mentioning rabbit stew, the Diner is beginning to sound like this place...

Tom, those bluffs are looking mighty fine there! Keep up the great work. I really like your rock bore tunnel.

RRNut675, that's one tasty cute-looking bunny! Do you get to help feed the varmit?

Darth SF, congrats on your new Shay - I hope to get me one of those in a few weeks. I have the Roundhouse 2-truck Shay, but need to tinker with it some as well (have a linkage that's got some slippage in it). It (and the three truck Shay when I get it) will be for the mine run and/or for the sawmill run (both of which go up into the mountains when I get that part of my layout built).

I'll be at the window booth - I think the afternoon peddler freight should be returning pretty soon.

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[sleeper33]

 ah

i see rabbitr stew on the menue

Gav

[twhite]

The ironic thing about the rabbit-- it is only about a year old

Railroadnut: 

Those little critters grow FAST, don't they?  My next door neighbor's daughter had one for years, it kept getting out of the cage and hopping over into my garage (closely followed by every cat in the neighborhood).  Funny thing, no cat ever got hold of it--those cute little bunnies can BITE!!  That's sure a handsome bunny, though.  Actually, they make GREAT pets!

Tom

[twhite]

Terry--

Thank you sir , I think it's coming along.  Just seven more feet to go (WHEW!).  Finally got the Hydrocal working today for some rock castings (read the box, duh--you SHAKE it, before you pour it ) so between the Cripplebush, Hydrocal and Sculptamold (I really LIKE that stuff, BTW) it should be fairly smooth sailing. 

The tunnel will be a rock bore just like it is (adding old smoke, of course).  I had a stone portal there originally, but since the tunnel is on a curve, one of my articulateds kept getting hung up on it.  The rock bore is a casting I've had laying around for years, and it's wider, so I decided to utilize it instead.  Plenty of clearance for my articulateds.  In fact, while I was installing it, I kept test-running my Yellowstones hauling some 85' passenger cars so I was sure that it would clear equipment on both sides.  I'm going to crumple up some aluminum foil and paint it black and dark gray for the lining.  Just enough lining for viewing--I don't trust fully lined tunnels--it's like INVITING a derailment, LOL!

Hope the treatment went well today--you know my prayers are with you, friend.

Tom

[C&O Fan]

Wow Tom what a difference

Nice !

Will the tunnel opening be a rock bore or will you add a  portal ?

[twhite]

 Snip

Snip 

Tom

 

 

WAIT A MINUTE ! HOLD ON !
DIdn't it always look like this ?

I need a before and after photo please

Terry: 

No, it looked like this, LOL!

Just finished the rockwork and putting on the basic coat, now I have to do staining and coloring and lining the tunnel with crumpled foil to simulate having been blasted through solid granite.  So now it looks like this:

 

And now--ON TO THE CREEPER!!

Tom

[railroadnut675]

The ironic thing about the rabbit-- it is only about a year old

[sleeper33]

evening all

just a tea for now please

 well weather is mad over here at mo high winds and rain ( great summer weather ) little cherubs leaving in droves so getting quieter soon on days

 oh well be at the counter if anybody needs me

 Gav

[Cederstrand]

refill, please & thanks.

***Tom, when it comes time, how about coming over helping me build some of that awesome rocky mountainous terrain on my layout? Very Nice!

***Railroadnut [Large rabbit model weathered and detailed by me, and fattened by my sisters class] I first read it as "flattened". Thanks for the chuckles.

***Darth Santa Fe, CONGRATS on the new 3-truck Shay. They sure are cool looking locos. Hope you get the hitch smoothed out.

My computer screen started getting blurry, then I realized there was a pic of "Da Bomb" on it, so quickly scrolled down. Whew!

I called the "not so LHS" and they haven't touched the two locos I dropped off for having details installed a couple weeks ago. No problem, as I don't know when I'll have time to make the return trip out there anyway. Was talking with him about our fire and he said his home had just been struck by lightning during the last storm that had come through, but it caused no major damage. I told him he was very lucky.

Need to down some more coffee if I'm going to keep these heavy eyelids open. Rob

 

[railroadnut675]

Weeeelll,

   My sister gets to babysit the class bunny Mocco, for three weeks, starting in 9 days.

*Large rabbit model weathered and detailed by me, and fattened by my sisters class.

[Darth Santa Fe]

On the topic of the shay, have you noticed your's tender twisted at an angle so one side of the third truck isn't making good contact?

I haven't noticed, but I haven't really been looking too closely in that area either. I'll have to check that out.

[Flashwave]

Wow, it's been a while since I was on the forums. And even longer since I visited a diner (we're up to IV now!?)!

Things have been a little slow over here (model railroading wise) due to finally getting a NEW computer, which I've been spending most of my time getting tweaked to my liking. My last one is now 8 years old, so it was time for an upgrade.

Now back to the railroad. For my #8th birthday, I got a new Bachmann Spectrum 3-Truck Shay! It is one cool engine too! The running is a lot more shaky than my other Spectrums, so I've been working on it quite a bit. I've pin-pointed the cause of the shaky running to the engine on the side. I've got the construction memorized at this point, so it's not really hard to take apart. This thing hopefully will be a really smooth runner when I get done with it. Now for some logging cars! And to get finished with my E6A!

On the topic of the shay, have you noticed your's tender twisted at an angle so one side of the third truck isn't making good contact?

[C&O Fan]

 Snip

Snip 

Tom

 

 

WAIT A MINUTE ! HOLD ON !
DIdn't it always look like this ?

I need a before and after photo please

[Darth Santa Fe]

Wow, it's been a while since I was on the forums. And even longer since I visited a diner (we're up to IV now!?)!

Things have been a little slow over here (model railroading wise) due to finally getting a NEW computer, which I've been spending most of my time getting tweaked to my liking. My last one is now 8 years old, so it was time for an upgrade.

Now back to the railroad. For my #8th birthday, I got a new Bachmann Spectrum 3-Truck Shay! It is one cool engine too! The running is a lot more shaky than my other Spectrums, so I've been working on it quite a bit. I've pin-pointed the cause of the shaky running to the engine on the side. I've got the construction memorized at this point, so it's not really hard to take apart. This thing hopefully will be a really smooth runner when I get done with it. Now for some logging cars! And to get finished with my E6A!

[Flashwave]

Good morning, opr, afternoon, or wjhatever. Just saw the new Athearn MR&T. I likes, but I have a thing for non-standard railroad names and designs.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Tacos for me.

Mustn't forget the hot sauce.

[Cox 47]

Good middle of the day all....its sunny and warming to low 80's today here....I'll have a Windy City Dawg,onion rings and a Rootbeer Float please...Thank you...

I got the Life Like GP 18 in mail ...Its the early run with truck mounted couplers..I found a feller that has a MTL conversion for it that He is willing to part with..I thought about making it myself but my hands and eyes havn't been to steady lately so I'll take the easy way out..Saw a neet show on RFD network had NKP and Wabash..Had some Wabash from early 50's at Decatur

Terry..You are in my thoughts today...

Tom....Wow rock work is looking great...Like the trees too are they Birches?

Jeff...I'll bet the A/C is needed to make modeling more pleasant when the heat and humidity comes up down your way..

You all have a good one...Jerry

Ouch!! looks like its on me...Girls get my apron out....

[twhite]

Morning everyone.  Just about to go back out into the garage and work on the Buttes again (WHEW!).  Got a section started yesterday--hung up one of the Cripplebushes.  Thank God for Weldwood!  This is what you get for putting scenery OVER scenery.  Anyway, here's a photo of progress so far:

I have to do some Sculptamolding today to blend the rockwork.  This is about a foot and a half of the seven or so feet left to do:

Keep having to run my biggest articulated hauling a couple of 85' passenger cars to make sure that I've still got clearance between the track and the boulders.  Lotsa fun.  But I like the Cripplebush--they're perfect for wrapping around the irregularities on the base scenery.  As soon as I finish this one section, it's CREEPER time so that I can get to the rest of it.  That's when the fun will REALLY start, LOL! 

According to the KCRA weatherman, it's supposed to hit 94 today, which means 103 or so. 

Inch:  Pardon my ignorance, but what does a Coon trap LOOK like?  Is it a big cage, or something with snapping jaws?  When I was a kid, a buddy of mine had a pet coon, we always used to get a kick out of feeding it sugar cubes and watching it get all ticked off when he'd wash them.  Weird critters .  Haven't seen my two lately, but I know they're OUT there. 

Terry: Prayers for you at the treatment today. 

I'll be getting my 94 year old mother for a week or so starting next week.  My sister and her boyfriend are heading down to Morro Bay and Pismo Beach so it's my turn to babysit.  Actually, mom is okay to have around, as long as she has a book to read or one of those old MGM musicals to watch and some chocolate covered raisins handy (chocolate covered RAISINS?  YECH!).   

Well, off to the garage, everyone.  Wish me luck.  But could someone answer me a question?  How does Hydrocal go BAD?  The directions say to let it set for 5 minutes.  So how come 20 minutes later it STILL looks like Cream of Potato soup?  Sheesh!

Tom

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

***Jeffrey, does that giant alien spaceship (which resembles an AC unit) ever blow hurricane force winds across the park?

It rarely, if ever, gets to gale force. The airflow is directed upward.

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning, Zoe. I'll have a cup of coffee, glass of Ed's OJ, and some waffles this morning, please. Thanks!  What? If Inch is successful, we're gonna have a fried raccoon special on Thursday? That'll be good, since from the way Ryan's packing away the ham Garry brought, it'll be gone before supper, maybe by lunchtime even.

Terry, you are a true MRR'er - you even picked a train-related chant for yourself! Keep at 'em, like that Li'l Engine That Could. As Tom said, you're already halfway there, so keep plugging away.

Garry, the morning show today covered about that grain elevator with the collapsed silo, and said the co-op was trying to unload the other silos so they wouldn't also decide to fall down. After reading your description on your layout and ops, I think I need to get further along on my layout, so I can get to the operating stage.

Lee, sounds like a good trade for that breakfast - are you replacing the screens, or patching all the holes her young'un put in them?

Rob, that sounds like a lot of room (and especially in N scale) - way to go! Were the plans pretty much satisfactory, so they can go to the contractor, building & zoning and everyone else involved, and get your construction going? Hopefully so.

Time to get to my waffles now. Hope everyone's weather is pleasant and (BridgeTom) with cool breezes today.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[C&O Fan]

Morning all

Happy late Birthday

Alex

  

 

Well Tom did you get the rock work done ?

Where's the pictures ?????

 

Guess i'll get a cup of green tea and honey to go

back to the hospital

[Cederstrand]

Strong cup ofin a SOUTHERN mug, please & thank you.

***Alex, think I missed wishing you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

***Jeffrey, does that giant alien spaceship (which resembles an AC unit) ever blow hurricane force winds across the park?

Met with the builder yesterday and the room my wife wants to make the "dedicated train room" measures: 18' x 20' How cool is that! She wants a free standing 4' x 8' layout for her HO. This still leaves me ample space to make, perhaps a 3 door layout. Or a shelf layout with a table at either end (so trains could turn around/continuous run). Her real hope is to have the new place built by Christmas, while her folks are both still around for a family get together. It's spooky how fast they have headed down hill these past couple years. Time will tell.

Off to do critter rounds. Have a good day all.

Rob

 

[SilverSpike]

Hey there Garry! Nice to see you this morning.

Oh....Chloe....add some of that ham to my order with the eggs please! Yummy....

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

PS ......... Hello Ryan!

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good Morning....

For those who are about to order breakfast, I did ship a load of country ham to the diner.

I saw a photo from the air published in Wall Street Journal of the a RR bridge in the Iowa floods. It had been a double track, multiple span steel truss bridge. The railroad had parked loaded freight cars on it. The spans still standing had about 15 houses floating against it. At least one span was missing. Also, (not in WSJ) I saw some pictures taken at a large Cargill grain elevator with overturned grain hoppers partly buried in a huge pile of soaked grain.

As for houses, we'll be thinking of JR and Rob as they rebuild from their house fires. I hope they continue to keep us informed.

A late happy birthday to Alex.

My model railroading time lately has been just operations. I have enough layout and enough industries to keep my busy. I have a sequence of events instead of a time table. I call it sequential scheduling. The complete cycle can take about 4 to 6 hours, but I don't do it all the way through. I'll operate for an hour or so; do other stuff; and the retrun to the layout for more operations. I have a lot more work to do. Layouts are never "done". Before the operatings, I installed some Rix railroad telephone poles.

Happy Model Railroading.  

(Hurry if you want country ham, and get yours before the chow hounds take theris.)

[SilverSpike]

Mornin fellers!

Thanks for picking up the tab Gav! I'll have some scramble eggs with wheat toast, coffee and some fresh squeezed from Ed's Private Reserve, vintage 2008.

I'm loving this cool front, temp was 57 F this morning when I let the dogs out the back yard. I could get used to that! And the high supposed to be in the low 80's today.

What ya'll wantin' fur lunch today?  I'm cookin.....

 

 

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

Had a horrendous downpour this morning at 0345.  Ran around like a mad man to close all the windows.  Going to help out the neighbor girl replace all the screens in her house today.  Seems her 4 year old son likes to use a pencil to poke holes in all of them.  In exchange for all my hard work she is taking me out to IHOP this morning.  Wahoo.

Today: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 63. Northwest wind between 15 and 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight: A chance of showers, mainly before 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 52. North wind between 7 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS

NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH ALONG THE LAKE SHORE WILL PRODUCE

CONDITIONS IN WHICH RIP CURRENTS WILL OCCUR AT THE BEACHES AND

NEXT TO PIERS.

 

SWIMMERS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION AND BE ALERT FOR WATER MOVING OUT

AWAY FROM THE BEACH. IF CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...SWIM

PERPENDICULAR TO THE DIRECTION IN WHICH YOU ARE MOVING WITH THE

CURRENT.

Lee

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 70 and quite cloudy here this morning. The high will be in the mid 90's and there's a fair chance of thunderstorms this afternoon.

It got pretty wild here yesterday with thunderstorms coming and going, high winds, power going on and off and the cable signal was mighty flaky at times. I hope it doesn't make a repeat performance today. I sure hope the problems with Photobucket are over for a while. I see that it's back up this morning. I couldn't get on it at all at one point last night, though my photos were still available.

Today's Weather for:      
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      6/18/2008

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

So Far Today
High:  72°F
Low:  70°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  6mph NNE

Today  High: 95    Partly sunny. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 90s. Light and variable winds.    

Tonight  Low: 68    Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the upper 60s. Light and variable winds.