Elliots Trackside Diner IV, Under New Management!

[twhite]

Morning all from SunnyCal:

Supposed to be about 90 here today with a slight Delta breeze.  The Telegraph fire is now at 35,000 acres and moving toward El Portal, which is the gateway to Yosemite and the eastern terminus of the now-defunct Yosemite Valley Railroad.   Hope they can catch it.  We've also got a 60 acre fire in the Feather River Canyon near Belden which has closed Hwy 70.  Don't know if the UP rail line is affected or not, but the fire's burning on both sides of the canyon. 

And we had a 5.4 shaker in Southern California yesterday with little or no damage.  Of course, the Pundits on NBC were all commiserating about when California is due for the BIG ONE and slips into the ocean again.  Ho-hum.  If they did their homework and studied a little Plate Tectonics, they'd realize that earthquakes in California means that the state is RISING in elevation, not about to slip into the Pacific. 

Who says this isn't an exciting state to live in?

Just got the furry fellah back from the vet for his daily injection.  Cute thing--Bonnie and Sherrie, the vet's assistants are now calling ME to let me know when's a good time to bring Lowell over.  They're kind of crazy about him.  Now if Bonnie could transfer some of that affection to ME--she's really cute and sweet.  A little young, though.     Lowell's had a couple of really good days, eating tuna and baby food.   Unfortunately, I have to keep Spooky away from his food after he walks away from the bowl ("Hey, Daddy, where did you get THIS terrific stuff?").  Ran into another guy at the vet's who was just finished having his cat injected.  I asked him how long it had been going on, he said, "Three years."  The cat looked GREAT!

Wow, there's hope!

Well, got to feed the beasties, then go out and work on the mine-trestle a little more.  Have an all-day Music Minister's conference tomorrow to deal with yet MORE changes to the Mass decreed by the Vatican.  Nothing really major, just a re-installing of certain phrases that were dropped back in the 'sixties by Vatican II.  At least they'll be in English--my Latin's gotten like Scarlett O'Hara's Antebellum South--Gone With The Wind. 

Best to all, prayers to those in need. 

Tom

[SilverSpike]

Gasoline in this area is down to about $3.50 at the truck stops just this side of the KY/TN state line. Is the long predicted popping of the oil price bubble finally happening?

I really hope so Garry! Still around $3.78 a gallon around these parts now. But I'll say it will burst when oil drops down to the $80.00 a barrel range again, which is what it really is worth according to the OPEC execs.

[pcarrell]

Hey Packers, I have an article at home on just this kind of swap.  I'll scan it when I get home and then get it to you.  It should help.

[Packers#1]

I might use a high nose GP38-2 instead. I think it's pretty straight forward, and worst comes to worst I can just get new handrails and use the GP38-2 as a GP38-2. The biggest concern I think there would be is the b-mann shell not matching the Atlas mechanism, which of course spels doom for this project, cause I don't have the tools to grind down he frame. If the shell's to big, then just get some styrene.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello ...

Mark .... you mentioned you were making a Branchline HW passenger car.  I have made only one, but I really liked doing it. I'd like to make more. ...For now, most of my model railroad time is spent on the layout instead of cars and locos. Otherwise I's be building more of those kits.

Gasoline in this area is down to about $3.50 at the truck stops just this side of the KY/TN state line. Is the long predicted popping of the oil price bubble finally happening?

 

[pcarrell]

PC...OK you got me what were you and your wife talking about last night??

Sorry, my Theology teaching creeps in from time to time.  Eschatology is the study of "End Times", in particular, as it relates to Bible prophecy.  In other words, how does the Bible say the world as we know it will end (including what's the next thing on the "calender" that's supposed to happen), when does it say that'll happen, and then, what happens after that?  It's really a facinating subject (with some surprising answers), though honestly, I enjoy Cosmogany (not to be confused with Cosmology) much more.  Cosmogany is the opposite of eschatology in that it is the study of beginnings.  Another way to say that would be that it's the study about how the world began.  This includes a Biblical view, science, theories, hypothesis, and so forth.  I like Cosmogany better because we can see the evidence of it, whereas with eschatology the evidence hasn't been made yet since it hasn't happened yet.

And so ends our brief tour entitled "More then you ever probably wanted to know about.......".   (My wife says I read too much!)

[Cox 47]

Good Morning All....It's cloudy and rainning here this morning posta rain off and on all day...I cleaned track with Goo Gone this morning and sat My Doddle bug on and have it running laps i have had it 5 or 6 years now with no paint gotta get it painted and decaled for IC...I am watching a couple of IC cabooses on Ebay but looks like they will go to high for my taste...Grand Daughters are watching Disney channel in bedroom I have old Boris Karloff in The Old Dark House  on Turner Clasic Movies...

Flashwave....Glad to hear your dad is doing better....

PC...OK you got me what were you and your wife talking about last night??

Terry...I'll bet what ever you had tasted mighty good!!

You all have a good one...Jerry

 

[JimRCGMO]

Morning, Diners! Since our phones are on the fritz here today at w**k, I figured I could stop by for a little breakfast snack.

Packers#1, I'd say (as Jeff said) it depends on how your skills are for modifying the body shell, making the fuel tank the right size and length, etc. Personally, the most I've considered changing is the one Geep I have (a 9 or 7, I can't tell 'em apart most of the time, anyway), that I have dreams of converting from high nose to low nose. But there, I'll have to find the right kind of window for the top/wide window, as well as figure how to make it not look like a total hack job (my main challenge there...). But you may have better resources (and time) available than I do. Best wishes on it, if you decide to go ahead!

Jeff, those decals on the 'newer' printer settings look better, good thinking!

JP, we'll tell the band to keep practicing and see you next week. Feel free to leave the heat over there, though. No need to bring it back home with you, we have enough out here already.

Lee, from the weather radars this a.m., it looks like we're missing your storms - all the ones out here are tracking up I-44 toward St. Louis area and missing us. They might give Inch's and Jerry's lawns a watering on the way over to you and PC, and maybe (very slight) they might give Garry a little sprinkle or two. Sorry Jeff, I don't even have any wet stuff here to send your way, even.

I would chime in on the heavyweights 'thread' here, that I like the heavyweights, but the CAW RR also have the RDC's for their more modern passenger runs. But the CAW RR CEO has a soft spot for the heavyweights, so he has his business car as a former observation car converted for his use. The crews say that the RDC's are a bit easier to keep clean, however.

Well, I'll be in the window booth a while. Hope everyone's health is doing well today (yah, you two also, Lowell and Spooky ). 

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[Flashwave]

Morning All

Hope your Dad continues to improve Flash

It's a slow process for me

it will be 3 weeks friday since my last treatment and just yesterday i ate something other

than noodle soup

the treatments have left me very weak yesterday i tried to take the clogged pipe loose under the bathroom sink and i was too weak to twist it free

i had to give up in utter disapointment

maybe i can cut it free using my dremel

It'll get better.

As for pipe cuttin g, why a dremel when you can go BIGGER!!

[grayfox1119]

Good morning, bright and sunny here, 76F, 62% RH, 64F Dew point. The veggie garden is coming in now full steam. It looks like a banner year for tomatos, cucumbers, peppers, corn and beans.

I received a back order today from Internet Trains. They had a big sale a month ago, and I ordered an undecorated Atlas S1. Of course they were sold out the day I ordered it. It was placed on back order. Well today it arrived, and it was an S4!!! I guess they have a policy that if they cannot deliver within 30 days of the order, they have the option of shipping a similar item. S1 and S4 are similar, but battery boxes and other items are not the same. So I guess I have some bashing and smashing to do. Any suggestions/reccos Jeff for this model?

FERGIE: Alarms are going off in the Arctic!!! Quick, get the Hudson back out to sea and head north to check this out!!!! http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,394282,00.html

A huge piece of the ice shelf has broken away today!!! Extreme danger to shipping!! The Brass manufacturers are shipping products to the east coast from Korea via the northwest passage, we have to protect those brass locomotives on container ships.

DUKE: Excellent photos, the videos of Horseshoe curve were great. Can you just imagine seeing a big Berk with a long drag back in the late 40's? I wonder who has videos of that?

MIKE: Pellet costs are rising again, better get your shipment early!

Later

[C&O Fan]

Morning All

Hope your Dad continues to improve Flash

It's a slow process for me

it will be 3 weeks friday since my last treatment and just yesterday i ate something other

than noodle soup

the treatments have left me very weak yesterday i tried to take the clogged pipe loose under the bathroom sink and i was too weak to twist it free

i had to give up in utter disapointment

maybe i can cut it free using my dremel

[Flashwave]

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).

GG - Syracuse???? What are you going to my home (I Live in the Syracuse area when I'm there!!!) for?

Well gang - 31 more hours till I'm done working here for this trip.

Take care!

Quick! Race him home (yours, I mean)! Good journey JP.

     Morning all. Been working on a rendition for a website based on Northern Enterprises. It;s gone through enough phases to be a layout. Need pictures.

     Gonna run to Indy today, It's Dad's Birthday today. that we've spaced in all the hubub. So some flowers are going his way.  Physuical therapist has him in a walker hobbling to the doors, and there saying Rehab in a week. Almost there!

     Yep, it could rain.

[JPowell]

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).

GG - Syracuse???? What are you going to my home (I Live in the Syracuse area when I'm there!!!) for?

Well gang - 31 more hours till I'm done working here for this trip.

Take care!

[pcarrell]

Mornin' all!

Man, I stayed up too late last night.  I was talking eschatology with my wife.  Very interesting stuff indeed!

Lets see, a look out the window reveals that it's grey outside!  Radar is showing scattered showers across Indiana on this early Wednesday morning. I don't expect any all day rains but showers and thunderstorms could pop at anytime. A couple of storms may contain heavy downpours.

Weather guesser says:

Today: Warm & humid with scattered showers & t-storms...high: 85  

Tonight: Chance of a few showers & t-storms, muggy...low: 70  

Had some grilled fish on the new grill last night........ummmmmmm GOOD!  Maybe I'll do some chicken breasts tonight.  Where my grill is located is under cover, so todays rain won't spoil that.

Great stuff on the horseshoe!

Oh well, I'm off!

[SilverSpike]

Morning!

Howdy  Chloe! I'll have the usual! Thanks!

Duke, those vids at Horseshoe Curve sure are nice! Seems like a lot of squeeky wheels too, I especially like seeing the NS consist! Thanks!

Ben kicked my butt in three games of racquetball last night at the Y, and now I have tendonitis in my right arm, my left shoulder is in pain too, and my left knee just don't feel right either. Tried holding the racquet with my left hand to rest my right arm and that just don't fly too well.

We signed up Ben for Fall baseball Junior League, supposed to start up next month.

Anyone watch that YouTube video that I posted of the lion and his owners yesterday, really neat example of how animals really are special.

You all have a good one!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Lee: Send that thunderstorm down this way. I have a lawn that needs a good watering.

[LSWrr]

Good morning,

Hazardous Weather Outlook

THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE REGION TODAY AND THERE IS THE

POSSIBILITY FOR AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM THAT WILL PRODUCE

DAMAGING WINDS AND MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL

The coal drag moved last night with a single 1970's Tyco Mantua steam locomotive.  My challenger is hanging its front end in shame.

14AUG I'm hosting an operating session on my layout.  What started out with 2 people coming over has grown to about 6 people; fortunately 2 are coming over in the morning, 2 in the afternoon and 2 that evening. 

Speaking of heavy weights; I have an old set of AT&SF green heavy weights I plan on painting in LS&W colors and naming the "Dorothy May" after my gf, sorry no dome cars.

Lee

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 77 here and clear. It's due to be mostly cloudy later with a high in the mid 90's. There's a good chance of rain today but I'll believe it when I see it.

I was doing some experimenting with my printer last night and I solved my decal printing problem. I simply make the decals at a larger font, say 12 instead of 6, then set the printers scaling for 25% and viola, nice crisp decals with no fading or blurring. An example is in today's photo.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      7/30/2008

Heat Index:  82°F
Humidity:  88%
Dew Point:  73°F

So Far Today
High:  80°F
Low:  77°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  6mph WSW

Today  High: 95    Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Light and variable winds becoming south around 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent.
 
Tonight  Low: 75    Mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the evening...then partly cloudy with isolated showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds around 10 mph in the evening becoming light and variable. Chance of rain 50 percent.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

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.

So guys, you think this is doable?

Any project is doable. But there's a question you have to ask yourself, is this something I feel I can do. I've been doing things like this for many years and I can tell you, it's not something to be taken lightly.

[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).

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

[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.

[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]

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?

[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

[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

[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! 

[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

[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

[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