Elliot's Trackside Diner V, at the diamonds

[grayfox1119]

Good morning gents... a brisk Autumn morning here, partly cloudy skies, 55F, and 12 mph winds from the cold NW out of Canada. Today, it is bring in the firewood day project. 3 cords worth. Might even get some time for MRR'g, and, the new Walther's catalog arrived today ( the monthly one ).

CSX and the State have just announced an agreement!! The State will purchase the tracks from Boston's South Sation all the way to Worcester ( central Mass. ) CSX owns the Framingham to Worcester section presently. The State will immediately add 4 more commuter trains per day from Worcester to Boston and return and a 5th later this year. The State will be responsible for track maintenance and also dispatching on the Boston to Worcester section. The State will also work with CSX to move the freight yard out of Boston, and relocate in 2 or 3 other locations, those being Westboro, Worcester, and Brookfield, all of these in Central Mass, and much closer to my home. Great for railfanning !!! The State will also help CSX with construction projects at some bridges and other areas to allow DOUBLE stack cars to enter New England from NY to Boston via the Mainline. Some of this money will come from the new Fed bill just past, $900M for railroad projects around the country.

PC: I saw you running for the door, but I hit the SEND button last night nanoseconds before you, thanks for breakfast, Honey nut Cheerios and 2% milk, glass of ED's OJ. Got to keep the calories at below 1400 a day.

JEFF: The RR crossing DOES look better black, even silver would have looked better than stark white. I see it is a little nippy in the far Southland this morning Jeff, you must have the heat on for a while?

JIM: Yes, it is very nice to have the window project done before the cold arrives, last Friday night we had the window out with blue tarp over the opening, so if it had been like last night, it would have been frost on the oats for breakfast and ice crystals in the milk. LOL

ED & JP : Jon Lester pitched a great game last night, RED SOX beat the Angels 4-1 in first game of playoff. Our new Canadian addition, Jason Bay hit a 2 run HR in the 6th, and Jacoby Ellsbury made a great catch in CF.

FERGIE: More rain for NS??? Your rain barrels must be overflowing? Are you using the 1/2" PVC pipe spline system for your new track install? I saw that method on Electrolove's thread. I suggested to him, et al, that you could run the electrical feed buss through the pipe and have holes drilled where you need to feed the tracks.

JOHN: Model RR is fun again you say?? When did it stop for you? Ohh when Kris told you to get outside and bring in the wood to the shed....LOL I must say I am jealous John, you are way ahead of me with your layout, and it looks terrific.

CUL, time to get going outside, see you guys for lunch,

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Ezra Smith's home away from home when he's 'In the doghouse'.

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning, Zoe

SUCKERED IN!!!!!!!

RATS!!!!!!

OK Chloe.....here they come!  Get ready!  I'll grab the tables on the left, you get the right!

Zoe, I'll be nice to PPC, since he has the tab, and only get one of those chocolate donuts and a cup of the coffee, please.

Thanks! 

Jeff, I'd agree - those crossing signals look better with the black posts and hardware.

Rob, nothing quite so (non-)exciting as a few hours in a doctors'/hospital waiting room, is there? Hope your sleep gets back on track - if you get your gurgle checked and it isn't anything, tell your wife to let you sleep unless you stop breathing or something important like that. Will be keeping your water/rain needs in my Sure would be nice if the contractor would get you a good A/C-heating unit and get started back on track with the house, though.

Fergie, sounds like the weather your way is very helpful for working on the MESS(tm). Hope you have good progress on the rebuild.  

Gav, how have the lads been this week for ya? 

Dick, bet you're glad to have the bay window done before the snow starts falling.

And speaking of that white stuff, the morning weather guy was talking about possible snow out in the Northwest (in higher elevations) already . Hey, I'm not ready for winter just yet - what do you think - TrainsRMe1? Hoople? Sue (if you're peeking in the window)?

Inch and Jerry - any forecast for the colder stuff up your way? 

Well, time to head back to w**k. I'll see you Diners later.

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 55 and clear. The high today should be in the mid 80's. It will be clear with lots of sunshine.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      10/2/2008

Wind Chill:  55°F
Humidity:  85%
Dew Point:  51°F

So Far Today
High:  60°F
Low:  55°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  0mph NNE

Today  High: 85    Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight  Low: 55    Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Northwest winds around 5 mph in the evening becoming northeast after midnight.

[LSWrr]

Good chilly morning to all! 

Today: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a west wind between 20 and 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tonight: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 51. Windy, with a west wind between 25 and 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I don't like the stark white of the Bachmann railroad crossing lights. A little flat black paint works wonders.

[Fergmiester]

Good Morning All

Well now since Phil is still at the Top!  I might as well dig in with an order of Bluberry pancakes, Bacon all smothered in Nova Scotia's finest maple syrup

Well today is definately a rain day as John will attest to as we watch the green and blue fill up the radar image of the Sou Western Shore on the Environment Canada site.

Of course rain here means a MESS day in the basement though I must confess I have been spending considerable time down there already this week working on a new "spline" System suggested by Electrolove on another thread.

I see that someone has started a thread complaining about the WPF thread. I read it and I guess some folks just like to complain. If it wasn't for the diner I may not come in very often. This is really a great bunch of guys here.

Yes Paul: I went looking for it this morning to see if it would go any further  South and guess what? She's Gone! Good riddance I say as I always thought WPF was a free for all, have fun and post what was going on, on the MR kinda thread. I didn't realize it was limited to the Professional modellers only... silly me

Rob: What I wouldn't do for a good nights sleep! Haven't slept well since I got off the ship a week ago. Neck is all twisted and so forth I think I need a chiropractor or physiotherapist to get me realligned. Hard to believe after all the weather accross the continent this past month water issues still plague some.

Johnny Boy: Nice to see you. I will be up in TO next week for a few days and hope to drop into Georges to have a chance to drool!

Dick: To answer your e-mail I haven't treaded into Vermont in over 12 years. Came close last year when I went skiing in Bethel but never to Vermont. Just got the book. Now I have to think what's next for my "Morning Sun" collection. ANd Yes Kyle did miss us... just!

Lee: When I first got my Empire Builder I was runn ing it off my MRC Tech 3 power pack. Did that for about three years. I finally went and bought the Digitraxx 5 amp power supply as I was starting to max out on the 3 amps available. Nice thing with the Empire Builder is that with the Booster you can expand and with the "walk around" you have full access to everywhere on the layout.

Anyway Gents

Time for me to get crack'n

Fergie

[pcarrell]

Mornin' all!

Hey Rob, hope the time with the FIL was good while they treated the MIL like a VIP.  Just don't keep the results on the QT since we're all praying for them, and you all too.  And tell that CONT to get busy on the MRR room and not go AWOL or he'll end up on KP, or worse, MIA.  If that happens he might be decalred a POW. (Feeble attempt at humor there....)

Later all!

Prayers for all those in need, and thats a whole heap of us!

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN ! 

[sleeper33]

 Oh well

 off home to bed via the doc's

 take care all and be safe

 

[Cederstrand]

Cup of Chamomile tea, please & thanks.

Spent a couple hours with FIL, waiting for MIL to have an MRI (wife went with her to make sure she didn't back out of it). I think he would agree with me that watching grass grow would have been more entertaining than sitting all that time in a waiting room.

Hadn't heard a peep out of our contractor sinse last Sat(?), until he left a message on our machine. He is trying to find a beter price on the heating & air system for us. So still nothing is getting done on the build. Maybe next week?

Exhausted. Wife woke me up last night after I had only 2 hours sleep...said I was gurgling and was concerned. I didn't get back to sleep...ugh! Life is interesting.

Creek continues to dry up with no rain in sight....gulp! Good thing is my order full of filter materials arrived so I can make a new filter bucket (to clean up mucky and/or stale old water. Looks like I will be using it by this weekend to deliver safe, drinkable water to the critters.

Have a good night all. Rob

[sleeper33]

Hi gang

finally all the little cherubs are all tucked up for the night bless.

 so I'll have a tea please. hope everyone is well and all layouts are having no faults.

 got a life like gp38_2 the other day and surprisingly runs ok apart from running opposite to everything else. oh well maleesh.

 I'll be at the counter if anyone wants me

 

[pcarrell]

Edit: Hey PPC has the top. Thanks buddy. To show my appreaciation I'll only have a sirloin medium with baked patato, butter, chives, and bacon bits. How about a salid with blue cheese dressing and a large glass of Merlot. Oh yea, a slice of cheery cheese cake for desert. Oops almost forgot the shrimp coctail. 

Hey, you know how to eat pretty good on my dime!

[der5997]

Good evening all, an Earl Grey tea please Zoe.  Thanks PC!

Johnboy:

The "Wobbly" hasn't wobbled for a spell.........  But it needs to. 

...Know the feeling, but I did get a small amount of running on the dock today after I cleaned off the crud from weathering the too new concrete with India ink wash.  Smooth as silk for the time being, puts the fun back into "MRRIF"! ...Where have I been? I think it was called summer...battling ants, and the weather, and then a whole lot of yard work when the weather got better...but some mrr squeezed in here and there. Nothing like as busy as Dick, but I hate getting up ladders!

Jeff:  Yes sir! That abandoned track looks mighty fine!  The 69 Olds is a looker too!  Sorry to hear about your mucked up appointment.  At least now they should put it through on the correct plan.

Sawyer: We're pulling for you!

Ryan:

So, ground Cassia, is that cinnamon?

...As far as I can tell, they are related by taste. Could it be that Cinnamon is the bark, and Cassia the flower buds of the same tree? Anyhow, I've seen alternative medicine reports praising Cinnamon that said "be sure you get the Cassia Cinnamon because that's the only kind that...."  We get our Cassia as dried buds at the Bulk Barn, and grind them up in the Magic Bullet.  I haven't taken the time to investigate further. I got the Cassia buds out of curiosity, and really like the flavour, not as in your face as Cinnamon IMHO. (On the other hand, where else but in your face....)

Gav:

IT RUNS IT RUNS!!

...Taa Da! Isn't that a great feeling? Have fun!

Mac: ...I echo the thoughts of those who advise slowing down so as not to make mistakes.  Been there, done that, can't recommend it!  Looking forward to your news.

Trains:  Good luck in the junkyest garage contest, that's a new twist. 15K would get you a modest little train room though, wouldn't it?

A progress report from the container crane manufacturer.  Not only did they do the drawings in record time, but began "cutting metal" (aka styrene strip) a day earlier than expected. The main frame, and the boom are done, now the reel houses, cable store (my names, I doubt if that's what they are really called) etc. have to be made.  The thing is quite large, and will dominate the dock, but it's quite small compared with the Post Panamax  or Super Panamax ones by Paceco Corp., the Portainer people. I could justify an electrical sub station on the dock just for this crane!  Pics when I've got the boom attached and those houses on.  I've yet to figure out exactly how the trucks will be constructed, but I know I can do it, based on past experience of flying blind![blindfold]

Paul:

If it wasn't for the diner I may not come in very often. This is really a great bunch of guys here.

...that's why I only come here, except for some special interest topic.

Time for bed. Goodnight everyone, and God Bless. Prayers for all those in need of healing, comfort and peace.

 

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: Not much going on since this afternoon. I did get over to the track to help get ready for the meet. It starts tomorrow but I don't think there will be any one there until Friday. the gas thing is keeping some of the regulars away. Just too expensive to travel long distances. I did get the diesel out and fired it up, the same problem is back again. It surges. My friend who has been working on it is goin g to come over and have another go at it. The next thing to do is replace the fuel line since it maybe old and deterating. If that doesn't cure the problem I may have to replace the engine.

I see that someone has started a thread complaining about the WPF thread. I read it and I guess some folks just like to complain. If it wasn't for the diner I may not come in very often. This is really a great bunch of guys here.

Well I guess I'll head to bed.

Good Night All 

Edit: Hey PPC has the top. Thanks buddy. To show my appreaciation I'll only have a sirloin medium with baked patato, butter, chives, and bacon bits. How about a salid with blue cheese dressing and a large glass of Merlot. Oh yea, a slice of cheery cheese cake for desert. Oops almost forgot the shrimp coctail. 

[pcarrell]

SUCKERED IN!!!!!!!

RATS!!!!!!

 

OK Chloe.....here they come!  Get ready!  I'll grab the tables on the left, you get the right!

[pcarrell]

Evening, Chloe - I'll have a hot fudge sundae and a cup of decaf, please. Thanks, PC!

Huh?  Hey, I hit the top often enough......oh, what the heck.....I like ya!

Chloe, another for me, on my tab.

[grayfox1119]

Good evening gents, a little late getting to the Diner today, been busy completing the Bow window install inside the house. All done!!! Tomorrow I need to head up back and start bringing in firewood to the empty bay in the garage. I like to have about 3 cords brought in and another cord outside near the shed, covered with a tarp as reserve in case things getting very "Arctic" this Winter. MRR projects are at various stages of completion waiting for me to get all this other stuff out of the way.

 We saw the sun finally this afternoon, but another front is moving in, so no final clearing until Thursday afternoon. Then we have a nice spell of weather coming, 7 days of sunshine.

Gas has dropped to $3.38 a gallon, and in Brockton, Ma ( south of Boston ) one station is selling gas for $2.90!!

JEFF: That is really maddening, you waste your time, gas, all because admin can't get appointment times straight...this isn't rocket science!! I think we have all experienced that mishap. What they do up here now, is call you on automated voice, to say you have an appointment at a given time at a given date, is this correct, press "1", etc. etc. very little cjance of screw ups. Even the Dentist has gone to this system as well as reminders on internet.

I like your purchases, they will look perfect on your layout.

MAC46: Welcome to the Diner, have a rootbeer float and burger on my tab.

MIKE: You will have to keep working on the CFO regarding the woodburner. Just wait until Pellet costs get out of sight, that will upset her budget and open the door for wood stove negotiations. LOL

TRAINBOY: Good to hear from again, we thought you might have met up with a Grizz or something in the woods.

CN CHARLIE: Micro-Mark has some great tools also, they have an online website, and their line of modeling tools is very extensive, I have bought from them, and can highly recommend them.

SUL,

[Packers#1]

Packers#1

THAT WAS THE FUNNEST FOOTBALL GAME YET!

Final score:

Schofield 50,

Paul Knox 12

I got no tackles, but then they were a pass-heavy offense.

Way to go, Sawyer - sounds like you guys did great! Does your area have any regional or playoffs if you do well enough for the season?

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

Well, it's the county. Tonights game wasn't a conference one, so if we lost, we'd still have the playoff hope. We have to beat Aiken Middle (a team we dominated in the Football jamboree when we were still not a great team[teams play eah other a quarter]) and Kennedy Middle, our rival (think Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears). they beat us by 12-6 our first game, but we're a heck of a lot better team than when we played them (I can actually tackle, for one). If we win those two, it's the championship!

[JimRCGMO]

Packers#1

THAT WAS THE FUNNEST FOOTBALL GAME YET!

Final score:

Schofield 50,

Paul Knox 12

I got no tackles, but then they were a pass-heavy offense.

Way to go, Sawyer - sounds like you guys did great! Does your area have any regional or playoffs if you do well enough for the season?

 

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Chloe - I'll have a hot fudge sundae and a cup of decaf, please. Thanks, PC!

JohnBoy, good to see you in. As for Sue, I think she's been busy running the Beer Barn elsewhere in the forums, but is still around there.

Jeff, those trackside shacks will look great once you weather them some. And another muscle car? No gas shortage on your layout!

Hey, Paul - good that Mary Ann thinks the new spreader looks good. Do you think the tire itself, or the stem is the problem? I've had some tires on cars where the valve stem had to be replaced (luckily a friend with mechanical skills suggested having that checked before I replaced the tire)

Well, I'm a couple of pounds lighter tonight - got a haircut after work. (It had been tooooo long, usually I get it cut once a month or close to that) This time, I think it was almost 6 weeks, so I was a bit, uh...

...well, you get my drift, right? I feel much better now!

CN Charlie, if that collection is that old, might not hurt to get it appraised by someone and make sure you're selling it for enough. You could have one awesome collection there, especially if the stamps are well-preserved and in good condition.  

Got off work early today - co-worker got back from lunch late - about quarter of 3 (I'd had something to eat earlier, because we were having a retirement potluck for a billing clerk, but I hadn't got out of the building - which is important for those of us working crisis). So I suggested to her (rather than my come back with 45 minutes left in the workday) that I just leave at 3:30 and take my lunch at the end, so to speak.

Took a look at some of those NMRA electrical/wiring pages you mentioned (it was you, Garry, right?) and printed them out to look over. Or at least, I think I got the pages you were talking about - I got some pages about that. Any of you Diners who've wired your layout to begin with, intending at a later point to convert to DCC (The wiring, rather than the power pack or DCC booster, etc.)? Any tips on doing that? 

I'll settle in here in the booth and get to my dessert now.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

 

 

[Packers#1]

THAT WAS THE FUNNEST FOOTBALL GAME YET!

Final score:

Schofield 50,

Paul Knox 12

I got no tackles, but then they were a pass-heavy offense.

[CNCharlie]

Good Evening Diners!

Great to see you back Johnboy, and yes the boat is out and it is for sale. I have an interested party so we shall have to see what happens. I think I've priced it very fairly as I want to sell it sooner rather than later. Too often people ask too much and then have to cut the price after other boats have sold and interest in theirs is gone--just like selling a house.

Garry, glad to hear your health is improving. You asked about my AF trainset. I decided it would be easiest to sell it closer to home so I sent it to a shop in Toronto. Apparently they have a couple of people interested in it. I plan to convert those funds into another steamer as it just seems the right thing to do.

Speaking of selling things, I also have started the process to sell a stamp collection that belonged to my grandfather as I will never do anything with it. It is old too considering he stopped collecting when he retired from the post office in 1940.

Another great day here, sunny and about 65F.

Well I've got about 10 more horn sounds to audition on my RS3, the fun just goes on and on.

CN Charlie

[Paul W. Beverung]

Afternoon gang: Just a quick stop in.

We got the spreader this morning. It is in better shape then I remembered. Mary Ann even thought it might be allright after looking at it. I did use the scrap value of it comment. I'll have to have the left tire fixed. I hope that it is only a leak.

I'll be back in tonight.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Went to the LHS today and picked up three items.

This set of trackside buildings: Model Power #643


And two packs of Kadee Whisker couplers:


A pack of crossing gates and railroad crossing signals (non-op): Bachmann #42200


Then I hit Hobby Lobby for these two items.

A Western Pacific flatcar from the Bachmann Silver Series and a 1969 Olds 442 from Model Power's Exclusive Collection.



 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello everybody....

Johnboy.............It's good to see you.

I may resume construction of the layout soon. The treatment for my problem seems to be working. I'll be at the docs in a couple of weeks again for that, but I think I'm recovering. I'm walking as part of the treatment. Meanwhile there is pleanty of light duty work for me to do. I'm studying how to do my enxt kitbash which will be the Twin City Zepher's dome/parlor/observation car. I worked on my E5 units yesterday.

Again, thanks for everyone's concern about our church friend. We're hoping they got all the cancer out yesterday.

Happy Model Railroading

 

[TrainsRMe1]

 I thoght I would come back in for a visit, Zoe, since Bill's buyin' I will have the steak -n- eggs combo, with coffee please, oh I will take that over in the Bailey Yard view room please,

  Thanks Jim, I think I might enhance it up a wee bit. 

   jeff, I love the Pic's I have a abondon right of way, next to the UP mainline.

   Mac46 PLEASE be careful, I tried a little shortcut wiring work one day, first it took me ALL day to do it, then not only did I alomost fry one of my loco's but as you know with DCC it did'nt work anyway!!!!

And to all the rest have a great day and I'll will be back tonight

                        A smile can go for miles(especially in Nscale)-Trainsrme1

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Good Morning Gang,

Nice to see you all again.

Chloe, please make it a cinnamon bagel and iced green tea.

I see that long lost "Der" finally showed up again, welcome back, where have you been??

I too have been missing in action for awhile, much like Paul, only on a smaller scale, I've been busy with yard work. I had alot of settling around the house after 25 years. So lots of sidewalk work and backfilling  (OH MY BACK).  Not the kind of work for a 68 year old.

CN Charlie, Glad to hear the Boat came out for the season OK.  Will that be your last time ?Is it now up for sale? 

Rob, sounds like there is good progress on the new house. Every day that train room is one day closer to you.

Hope to get back in more often soon. By the way has anyone heard from Sue in the last couple of months??

The rest of you are looking real good.   Glad to hear your chair got fixed Jerry.

Ed should have a new crop of citrus for us soon

Ya all keep smiling, ya hear ? 

Johnboy out............

The "Wobbly" hasn't wobbled for a spell.........  But it needs to. 

 

[JimRCGMO]

Morning, Diners! Zoe, since it's a special occasion (Bill T.'s buying ), I'll have eggs, bacon strips, toast with blackberry jam, glass of milk, glass of OJ (Is Ed's new shipment in yet?), and a cup of coffee please. Thanks!

TrainsRMe, hope you win that 'garage makeover' - will you be trashing it up more, to enhance your chances? Best wishes on that.

Jeff - love your A/C plant sign, and the abandoned spur looks great, too! Smart driving on the return from DeRidder to endrun around that log truck, too.

JR, I see you've been busy (and when haven't you been, lately? ). How've your teams been doing the past several weeks, by the way? Cars holding up okay?

Rob, so long as your wife doesn't have security cameras on her car, you might get away with that... Hopefully, some better sense will prevail in your area and gas prices will go back down. I think we're around $3.399 here (the cash place only has super unleaded for several months).

Garry, let us know on your friend's test results (once they get them back), and we'll keep things up here. By the way, enjoyed your kitbash topic (though that might be beyond my current skills level).

Paul, best wishes on that spreader - you could pitch it to your CFO with that "I can get that much back by selling it for scrap, if I can't get it good enough for running" reasoning, right?

Mac46, make sure whatever you do on the wiring is done well, even if it takes you a little longer. The other Diners are more knowledgeable about connectors, so I won't make any guess to tell you. Heck, I still have to put in my bus wires for my layout (and that's DC)! Would it be workable to have your F-I-L check the wiring when he gets there, and maybe he'll improve whatever you (and the Diner electrical crew) come up with in the meantime?

Gav, congrats on your progress (and running trains)! That's always a good step forward. Have the lads been behaving themselves, so that you've had time to get some MRR'ing work in?

CN Charlie, sounds like you're having a ball with your RS3 there - keep it up.

Inch, good to hear KC's back up to her more usual self again. Keep yourself warm there - I've been seeing how your temps (and Jerry's) have been cooling down since that front moved through. Loved your Retiree's list, even though I can only imagine most of that for now...

Nothing new on my MRR front to report. Didn't make it to MRR club Monday, as I'm stretching the gas in my car's tank till payday (next Tues.). Should make it, since I'm not on-call before then. 

Think I'll chow down for now in the window booth. Warmer sitting in the sun than that breeze out there today. Supposed to just reach the mid 60's (or maybe low 70's (F) here. Hope you all have a sunny day (especially TrainsRMe and the rest of our NWest Diners),

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff..Nice photo I like the "abanded" spur..Hows the A/C plant coming?

I've made the sign, that's about all. I have errands to run today and bills to pay.