Elliot's Trackside Diner V, at the diamonds

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Morgan: Looks like your package was very similar to the one I got. I had a blast rebuilding mine.

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN ! 

[Cederstrand]

Tall glass of cool lemon water, please. 

***Philip, my brother (the one who lives in Hong Kong) taught Journey's new lead singer how to speak/sing better english, a few years back. How did he sound?

Well, I made a last second bid and picked up some more cars for the wife's circus train. Really only wanted the one, but the caboose & crane car were part of the package. So, for about $5-$6 each and some coupler conversions (perhaps some "circus" colors/paint, too) they will be ready to roll. I would think a crane car would come in handy for a circus train, yes?

Going to try hitting the hay. Have a good night all.

Rob

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Wow! .......Dick got an MTH Mohawk.. I'm impressed!  Watch out if they ever build a CB&Q 4-8-4! I'll take one of those.

Ryan ... I hope your Dad is OK ......... Prayers for him.

RT ......I'm very worried about you. You were going for a heart cath. We've not heard from you. Prayers for you.

Happy Model Railroading!

[TrainsRMe1]

 Hey all,

    I just wanted to roll in and say "hey do" to you, We have been busy painting our house, and I mean BUSY, We want to get it done before the rains set it here, and when that happens it could rain and get really stromy up until Feburary,  So the work on the layout has been put on hold for a while,( ahh I will sneak a day here and there,) Anyway I hope all is well with everybody, Our prayers to you at Ike's way, Thanks Zoe I 'll take a ice tea for now, it got up to 90 here in Portland!!!!! See you guys (and Gals) Tomorrow

                               SMOOTH MILES HAPPY SMILES-

                                                            Trainsrme1

[pcarrell]

It's been a busy last few days!

I started school again, my job got insane, my son started basketball again, and, as you all know, yesterday was my birthday.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!

The wife and I went to a concert last night for my birthday.  It was Cheap Trick and Heart opening for Journey.  Heart rocked the house!  Nancy Wilson can still shred with the best of them, and Ann Wilson still has the best set of pipes on her of ANY female rock vocalist, hands down!  Journey was good, but I was never a huge fan of theirs.  The new singer was good, and you could close your eyes and you'd swear it was Steve Perry singing.  Cheap trick was a little disappointing.  They were "on it" with the hits, but they were kinda sloppy on everything else.  I expected them to be tighter for a band thats been jamming since the 70's.

Oh well, I'm outta here!  Got a busy next couple of days!

 

BTW, Ryan......hows Dad doing?  I pray all went well.

[Flashwave]

Dad and I found a package. Wonder what could be in it?

Here's a hint, plus my haul from the train show. I'll savbe the dialuppers.

Lee, I love the hoppers (3). They too, won;'t see much of any change. The caboose was nice, SF may be one of the roads that crosses over, if I ever decide for sure what I model. The Gons (2) may go into MoW or Excursion. Hmm. Some of the stirrups disintegrated on the way down, but I can fix that. A hand brake did a nice zipper impression too. Easily repaired. Can't wait to have  aplace to get them running.

 

 

[Cederstrand]

9/11 "NEVER FORGET"

Spent most of the day with wife on the lost contents list. At least 2/3rds of the way complete, so sending them in to get that started. We're burned out on it...no pun intended.

Hooked up the old bilge pump for the water storage tank down at the barn. Nice not to carry 8 buckets of water each day...that was getting old with the extra horse in the barn. At least "our cows" didn't get out like someone elses here.

Question, I have two (N) Intermountain F7 locos. Both run smooth as silk. However, every so often while running in reverse, there will be a slight flicker of light (headlights)? They obviously are meant to stay turned off in reverse, yet they both have that rare, spuratic flicker? Do all these Intermountain models do this? Could it be a transformer issue? Could dig out the other transformer to check that one, but it is packed up until the train room is ready. Any thoughts?

Plumb tuckered out tonight. Rob

 

[LSWrr]

Duke, several insignificant things happened before the planes flew into the world trade center.  Those small individual insignificant things didn't add up until after the towers fell then the true significant value of those things finally added up.  Now everything is reported in detail and all the details go to one office where they look at everything to see if anything adds up to something.  Did that make sense???

Lee

[grayfox1119]

Good evening to all, I hope that all our friends in Texas do not suffer and severe losses or damage from Ike, some areas on the coast will get hit with a very large tidal surge of over 15 feet flooding these areas badly.

Went to LHS yesterday and bought the new MTH Mohawk 4-8-2 L 3a. Number 3006 ran on the former B&A main line ( now CSX ). It was used here on both Freight and Passenger trains, I have many photos in books illustrating this beauty. The detail on this locomotive is fantastic, you guys really need to check it out in your LHS even if you have no intention of purchasing one. MTH is doing a GREAT job with detail and quality.

PC: Happy birthday Philip, and may you enjoy many more on your journey to becoming a member of the OF's club...LOL 

RT: Very sorry to hear about your health issues and the water damage, prayers for you buddy, you WILL get through this RT.

RYAN: Prayers for your dad buddy. My son had the same operation when he was only 27 ( now 40 ). The procedure is a far cry from what my father had when he had his GB removed at age 34, then it was a major deal and out of work for over 1 month.

JEFF: Looks like you may get some rains from Ike as it takes a sharp right turn in Texas. Nice job with those kits !!!!!!! Very impressive work as usual.

Later guys,

[bjdukert]

Lee    Didn't know that and it was probably one of those things that was never reported by the news media.  

[LSWrr]

Weathered wood flatcar, 40' TYCO with McHenry couplers.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2356809270029441264zHSYUQ?vhost=good-times

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2341217280029441264uypsAf?vhost=good-times

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2137067090029441264fmXLiM?vhost=good-times

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2363865020029441264cYFdNd?vhost=good-times

The deck is painted with burnt umber and burnt sienna acrylic artist paint.  I used a stiff sash tool (round artist brush) to paint it on.

Duke, it was hard to watch the TV for a while.  Did you know they originally tried to hit a different ship months earlier, but when they launched their boat the explosives were too heavy and the boat sank at the launch ramp.

Tom, good to hear you're on the mend!

 

Lee

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I got the initial plaster pour done on the new section. Once it's sealed with shellac it'll all blend in with the wall color.

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: I'm looking at a weatherman show the lastest guess as to the track for Ike. It looks like it will come ashore west of Galveston and hook more to the east passing east of the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area. We are expected to get 2 to 3 inches of rain. About the only thing I've done in preperation is to get the new tractor out of the old hay barn. The barn is about 80 years old and might go down in a real high wind. I'll have to ask John if he wants to get his new bailer and rake out also.

I talked to Ken Larson today. He called to find out how we were doing. He's doing well and getting ready to put in some signals on his layout.

Right now my eyes are bothering me from getting the cows out of the pit area. They broke in this morning so I left them in there to eat what they could. I had to walk through alot of ragweed to get them out so the eyes are giving me some trouble. I'll go down and get my eye drops.

So that's it for tonight.

Good Night All

[twhite]

Afternoon all--prayers for everyone on this sad anniversary. 

Garry:  What a wonderful story--and yes, Canadians are like that.  Wish we all were, sometimes.  A wonderful country and wonderful people.  We're lucky to have them as our good neighbors. 

Jeff:  Again, condolences on the loss of your friends on this day. 

Terry:  Ike does NOT look like a Happy Camper.  I hope it loses strength as it comes your way.

Ryan: Prayers for the operation.  Those new surgical techniques sure get you out of the hospital fast, these days.  Ask me, I know, LOL!   

Watched the History Channel this morning--a very touching and moving show about the disaster of 9/11, garnered from home video and the shock and disbelief of the average American--definitely different from the news coverage I remember that day.  I was teaching at St. Francis girl's school that day, woke up with a cold, thought about not going in.  Cancelled my first class, arrived on a campus still as Death.  Walked into the choral room to about fifty shocked teenage girls, with our SmartBoard tuned to the TV.  Spent the rest of the day consoling, trying to let them know "No, it can't happen here" while we were all watching it UNFOLD 'here'.   One of the saddest days of my entire life.  We must have gone through the full spectrum of emotions on that day.  The President of the school sent an announcement that the faculty should have a meeting on how to help the girls deal with it.  We informed her that we couldn't take the time away from the girls for a 'meeting', because we were ALL helping each other deal with it and the last thing that the girls needed at that time was the absence of faculty so we could gather in a conference room for Platitudes.   We made it through.  It took about three days or so, but we did make it through.  

Well, nothing much else new around here.  Got my four tank kits, started work on them--little TEENY parts, but at lest they'll fit on the flatcars.  I'm walking MUCH better--wheelchair to walker to cane to hobbling in two weeks--I get the stitches out next Wednesday, and hopefully, the blood-work will show the Staph gone so I can get this damned tube out of my arm!   If I get a clear shot from the Dr., I'm phoning the school week after next and telling them that I'll be back.  Recuperation is NOT my 'bag.' 

Lowell's doing well, still eating me out of house and home.  Now he waits until I feed Spooky then hops up on the counter and nudges her out of the way.  Tuna, you know.  We're kind of graduating from Gerber's.  And Spooky, the Princess, lets him.  He may be only half her size now, but she knows a buddy when she sees one, especially a sick one. 

New back-yard cat has decided that I not only feed her well, but that she'll hop up on my lap when I sit down at the picnic table with the food bowl.  Changed her name, calling her "Gizmo."  She kind of looks like one--a 'contraption.'  Cute, though.  Have to take her into the Vet next week in case she's not 'fixed' already.  That's ALL I need! 

Best to all, prayers to those in need. 

Tom

   

[bjdukert]

Lee

I was on the USS Cole six months before it was hit and made some good friends; one didn't make it, eight were injured pretty bad.

I have a friend by the name of Al Foster that I haven't seen in quite a few years but I believe that the one that didn't make it was his wife's brother. That was a sad day as well and shows what a small place the world has become.

Duke

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I'm getting ready to do some plaster work here. The area you see in the photo will be filled in with plaster. After the plaster is dry the green clay will be removed, leaving the stone wall as the front of that section.

[Packers#1]

What's up, folks? Man, i'm still sore from the game yesterday. Thank the lord that coach gave us the day off from practice tommorow. BTW, does any1 here have a facebook account? If you do, here's mine it's not in any way competing w/ model railroader):

http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1444895994&ref=profile

[Flashwave]

Hello All. Pleasent 11th. (Not a happy day to remember, but I don;t want to be all depressing)

 I don't know of anyone personally, buit I know where I was. I was the first one into class from something, the tv was on, but it was a rare comercial break. People were talking about it, but since I was already in the building, I knew nothing about it. I didn;t believe what they were saying, or even have heard of the Towers. we needed to get class going, but weeall wnated to continue watching. 

I really wish I had a good layout, so I could run some of the Bicenntenials in honor of the innocent lost, and those who go on with their names.  

Rob: I have a baby sledge. Could I be of use tonight?

[LSWrr]

Jeff, sorry about the friends you lost I know how you feel.  I was on the USS Cole six months before it was hit and made some good friends; one didn't make it, eight were injured pretty bad.

Lee

[JimRCGMO]

Zoe, since there haven't been many in the Diner for a little, could I have a portion of Ryan's salmon, too, please? I wouldn't want the salmon to feel neglected there...   Thanks!

Was trying to track down the topic on the Walthers 90' turntable kit (I think the one I have is the newer one, and not the older one that some were talking about). Finding some bits and pieces with search, but not sure I have what some of the posters were talking about. Ah, well...

Back to lunch!

 

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[JimRCGMO]

Morning, Diners - Zoe, cup of coffee and some of Ryan's lunch specials, please. Could I have the ribeye steak with some veggies, too? Thanks!

Terry, do you have your windows 'plywooded' over, and is your place on high enough ground, far enough from the ocean (say 20 miles or more), etc.? 'Cause otherwise it might be time to go visit some friends or relatives elsewhere. Don't take any undue risks.

Jeff, I like that gondola in your photo today - looks like it's been around a while, y'know? And [#ditto] remembering today's significance, Jeff and Lee.

Garry, I posted to the 9-11 topic, with some restraint. My heart goes out to those who (regardless of their political beliefs) lost loved ones at the Pentagon, Trade Towers, and in Pennsylvania that day.

Rob, I have a rubber mallet I could use to help you , though not a bat. (And Tom, no, it's not an articulated mallet...)  Hope your SIL (Rob) is hiding out somewhere else until Ike gets past her place. Hers does not sound like a place I'd want to ride out a hurricane, at all!

Didn't get to the P.O. box yesterday to check for a package. Didn't even get to lunch at all! Had two to hospitalize and one more we were trying to find temp. housing for (but somehow the person must have ticked off a lot of people). Got away after 9 hours there, and ready for dinner! Days like those can wear a person out as much as physical exertion for me.

We've got some clouds today and it looks like some occasional sprinkles in this general area. But that's not unusual, as it seems to rain at least once during fair week. This weekend we're supposed to have rain (I guess from Ike's leftovers passing through).

I did get my replacement DVD-/+RW drive in today. Just need to get a playlist together in iTunes and test burn a CD-R...

Blessings and prayers for those hurting today,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I saw Jeff lost two friends on 9/11. Sorry to learn about that Jeff.

Thank you. They were both 45 at that time.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

I'm re-posting my 9/11 account here. Mr. B will have the 9/11 thread removed because the political bullies would noy refrain from being nasty.

I saw Jeff lost two friends on 9/11. Sorry to learn about that Jeff.

............................................................................................................

Here's a little personal account of 9/11/01 if you all don't mind. Two day days before the attacks, Shelley and I flew from Nashville, TN to Halifax, NS, Canada.  It was on American Airlines with a flight change in Boston. We could see Manhatten and the WTC from the air on the first flight.

We spent 9/11 watching the horrors from our hotel room.  Waiting for flights to be resumed to return home seemed unacceptable. We just would not be ready for any flying for the foreseeable future. There were not many alternatives. We chose Via Rail.  We departed Halifax on VIA's Ocean a few days later, and we had a room in a sleeping car just ahead of the dome/observation car. (Photos Below) The all Budd train reminded me of the many Zephyrs I saw and rode in my youth. We arrived in Montreal the next morning, and next board the train to Toronto. We stayed in Toronto two nights. Then we rode Amtrak's International to Flint, MI.  There we rented a car and drove to Nashville to get our car from the airport there.

I must say that the Canadians were just wonderful to us.  People in Halifax would ask if we were from the USA, and we said "yes". Then they extended sincere, condolances. It happend several times. We met many Europeans who had been stranded in Halifax. Some  50 trans-Atlantic filghts were diverted to Halifax, and a runway was closed to accomodate parking of the aircraft. The spontaneous caring for Europeans and for Americans by the Canadians in Nova Scotia was truely remarkable. If you are ever to be stranded, Nova Scotia is the best plce for that in my opinion.

Canadian flags were at half mast almost instantly. USA flags were promptly displayed nearly everywhere. I even saw a hand made USA flag in the window of a railroad interlocking tower as we entered Montreal. I don't think you can find a greater group of people than Canadians.

Thank You, Canada!

 

 

 

 

God Bless USA

God Bless Canada

God Bless the 90 nations who lost citizens in the 9/11 attacks.

God Bless families of the victims

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Looks like some of those political commentators are spoiling the 9/11 thread.  Why don't they keep their opinions on politics off the forum?

It's appropriate to post respect on such a thread. I found a railroad theme to 9/11. Seemed OK to me.

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello everybody.

I posted my 9/11 account in the 9/11 thread if you are interested. We were in Halifax, NS on 9/11/01.  Canadians reacted with extraordinary compasion as you will see if you read my story. Thank you, Canada!

Ryan, I'll be interested in how you do with the Cajun spices. We had "dirty rice", cajun fied chicken, and southern style green beans for lunch.

Happy Model Railroading

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Of the six car bodies Lee sent me, I've rebuilt 1 caboose, 3 hoppers and 2 gondolas. That's all six. The gondolas, unlike the other cars, are fitted with Talgo trucks. When I get suitable frames for them they will receive new trucks and body mounted couplers. For now, this is how they look:

[SilverSpike]

Happy Belated Birthday PC!  

Ryan: Good luck to your father. The gall bladder surgery is rather quick and relatively easy. My older sister had gall bladder surgery a few years ago and was back at work the very next day.

Much appreciated Jeff! Yes, the actual procedure only takes about an hour, it's the prep and recovery that takes most of the day. And BTW Jeff, that caboose really looks good there!

While I honor our American Heritage with Patriots Day today this 7th anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11/01, I pray not only for our country, but for my father to get through this surgery today!  Thanks for all your continued thoughts and prayers. Hugs and prayers to you all!

Ryan, will be keeping your Dad's surgery in mind. Those specials for lunch look really good, and I may have to stick around for lunch, today...  

Really appreciate your thoughts today Jim! His surgery started around 8:30 am CST this morning. Today's lunch specials are listed below.....

Ryan, thoughts and prayers to your Dad, I hope everything works out tomorrow.  My mother may need to have her gallbladder removed this fall she is having her tests done this week.

Much appreciated Lee! Thanks again and give my thoughts and prayers for your mother too!

Ryan ...... We had New Orleans food today for the Katrina refuges who opened a restaulrant in Hopkinsville.

Everybody.  If you get a chance, please read my ran about ebay in the ebay thread and post any thoughts you have.

Shelley has a brother living in Corpus Christi, and I heard he's head inland to avoid Ike.

Garry, it is amazing how many NOLA transplants have opened up N'Awlins restaurants across the southeast in the past few years. I am working with a local bottler company here in NC on creating a line of spice mixes, sauces, and dressings and selling them soon under my Cajun Chef Ryan moniker. I will check out your eBay rant soon!

And Ike shows signs of strengthing, we have some cousins in Houston who may need to batten down this weekend. They used to live in LaPorte, TX which is on the southeast side but moved to the northwest side of Houston which is supposed to be away from the flood prone areas.

Looks like Paul may be getting some much needed rain too from this one soon!

Ryan prayers on the way. How about the receipe for that breakfast casarol ?

Ike is predicted to hit between Houston and Corpus. Then it will head north straight for us. We woun't be able to get the hay baled before it hits. If it moves fast it will bring high winds with it. There is no chance of us getting flooded as we are on a hill but wind is another thing. At least we have a basement to take shelter in. Most of the newbes here don't have anything.

Oh yes, Ike is not to be taken lightly, but with you being so far inland the winds should be down to TS levels once it hits your area, but the rain may be the issue.

Breakfast Casserole recipe can be found on my Cajun Chef Ryan blog at this URL:  http://cajunchefryan.rymocs.com/blog2/recipes/hearty-breakfast-casserole/

Lunch and Dinner Specials

Herb Crusted Salmon with Lemon Dill Sauce

Grilled Ribeye Steak

Baked Pears with Chocolate Raspberry Sauce

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Ike is coming for you Terry.

[C&O Fan]

Latest Track puts the eye right over the top of my house

http://www.stormpulse.com/

I'm off to buy some plastic to cover the layout

Take care all