Elliot's Trackside Diner V, at the diamonds

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Happy Labor Day weekend everybody!

I'm hoping that hurricane stays away from Jeff and from Terry. Send it back to Cuba.

 

[Cederstrand]

refill, please & thanks.

***Jeffrey, if it does come through your backyard, saty safe and do take some photos to share. If it does, would you expect the power to go out for an extended period of time?

Did a hay run today. Then mixed some Quickcrete and set the support posts for the mini-bridge that will connect the end of the new sidewalk with the porch. Called the contractor and nixed having him do that small porch section around the side of the house (in the deep end). It will be a chore for me to build that section alone, but I keep thinking about the expense. There are other areas I would rather put funds towards.

Healing thoughts to those in need.

Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Hi guys!

A cup of Joe in a Chessie mug. 

 

Data on Gustav

Storm Path:    
Date: Aug. 29, 2008
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Winds: 80 mph
Strength: Cat. 1
Direction: Moving northwest near 11 mph
Latitude: 19.3 N
Longitude: 80 W

Hope you stay safe Jeffrey!!!

Right now the projected path takes Gustav right through my backyard!

[galaxy]

Hi guys!

A cup of Joe in a Chessie mug. 

 

Data on Gustav

Storm Path:    
Date: Aug. 29, 2008
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Winds: 80 mph
Strength: Cat. 1
Direction: Moving northwest near 11 mph
Latitude: 19.3 N
Longitude: 80 W

Hope you stay safe Jeffrey!!!

[C&O Fan]

Snip.

The evacuation from the southern part of the state seems to be in full swing. The southbound lanes of hwy 171 through Leesville had almost no traffic while the traffic in the northbound lanes was insane!

Yes Houston has become a staging area for buses and we now have lots and lots of

helicopters

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Done been to Alexandria and back. Picked up a package of 40 Kadee #5 couplers, a Genesis Trinity covered hopper and a Bachmann remote left turnout.

The evacuation from the southern part of the state seems to be in full swing. The southbound lanes of hwy 171 through Leesville had almost no traffic while the traffic in the northbound lanes was insane!

[JimRCGMO]

Afternoon, Janie, I'll have a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of chili, with a tall glass of Dr. Pepper, please. Thanks!

Mitch, adding your Mom to my list as well for She sounds like a strong one - is that where you get your toughness from? Can't keep a good man (or woman) down, huh? for her!

Terry, that's a funny one - good that folks there can laugh at things. About like this cartoon I saw back a while:

 

After some of the weather in various parts of this country this year, I don't think any area has  perfect weather.  

...After a run around the track with one derailment on the way back I loaded up the damaged gon and another one I need to paint and put a coupler on and headed home. Gee it's fun running trains. Hard work also when they are that size.

Paul - Ouch, that sounded like a wear-ya-down kind of day. You make me glad I'm only working with HO scale. Hope you don't have to take any more cars to the RIP track and shop for a long, long while! Sure you can't talk 'em into hiring you back at Six Flags? Might not be as hard of work as retirement.

Dick and Duke, I'm not in a big rush for fall this year, but I'm not really dreading it, either. Well, maybe in a hurry for the third week of November to get here, Morgan...

Sawyer, take care of yourself at those practices and scrimmages - it's too early in the (pre-) season to have yourself out of commission.

And I was wondering if the Cardinals will make the wild card for playoffs this year or not. Hasn't been their most spectacular year, fer sure. How've the Red Sox been doing, guys?

Good to hear the Walthers 2009 catalogs will be "coming soon to a LHS near you..." Maybe that means our LHS owner/MRR club member will be bringing a box of them to the next meeting.

Not so sure I'll start putting together the grain elevator today, since (unless I change my plans for my next layout sections to be built) the elevator won't be in the next two I'll be building. Maybe I should instead, work on getting my wiring ready.

Think I'll get a pad and paper and try out some possible options in the corner booth for now. 

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[LSWrr]

I had to go back to LHS this morning, forgot to pick up more replacement couplers, the 2009 W catalog showed up while I was there, got the first one out of the box!

[bjdukert]

Dick

DUKE: See above......early snows coming, Canadian Geese headed south already.

Yeah,they are all headed here to Mich. but there is still one place of Canada that is South of the U.S.A. and they can go there.

Garry Bet they didn't need any help with all those posts,but what about stretching the fence  and digging the holes??? I guess it is going to take me a long time to catch some of you.

That's about it

Best to all on sick call and those recovering

Talk to you later

Duke

[jeffrey-wimberly]

New Orleans is being evacuated. Tourist have to be out by noon.

[Cederstrand]

in a BURLINGTON NORTHERN mug, please & thank you! 

***Mitch, healing thoughts heading your moms way. That's a tough one. Have been seeing the effects of strokes on my FIL.

***Paul, running that scale of train always seemed very cool, but you are having too many derailments. Isn't there some little gnome crew you can hire to work on the rails for you while you sleep?

***Terry, that's a good one. There is some truth to it, too.

Long day ahead. Catch y'all later. Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 77 and clear. The high will be in the upper 90's and it will be mostly cloudy. There's a small chance of thunderstorms.

Please excuse the slightly different layout of data. Our weather monitor seems to have a gremlin in it this morning.

UV Index:           0 Low
Wind:         From ENE at 3 mph
Humidity:         88%
Pressure:         29.95 in.
Dew Point:         71°F
Visibility:         7.0 miles

Gustav Data

Date: Aug. 30, 2008
Time: 5:00 a.m. ET
Winds: 110 mph
Strength: Cat. 2
Direction: Moving WNW at 10 mph
Latitude: 20.2 N
Longitude: 81.3 W

Today  High: 98    Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. East winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tonight  Low: 72    Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s. East winds around 5 mph.

[C&O Fan]

Morning all !

Mitch, My prayers for  your Mom

Looks like landfall for the storm will be between Jeff and I but it's still early

In that vain I offer a little humor

  If you're new to the area, you're probably wondering what you need to do to prepare for the possibility that we'll get hit by 'the big one." Based on our experiences, we recommend that you follow this simple three-step hurricane preparedness plan:

STEP 1. Buy enough food and bottled water to last your family for at least three days.
STEP 2. Put these supplies into your car.
STEP 3. Drive to Nebraska and remain there until Thanksgiving.

Unfortunately, statistics show that most people will not follow this sensible plan. Most people will foolishly stay here in Galveston. Therefore, we'll start with one of the most important hurricane preparedness items:

HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE:
If you own a home, you must have hurricane insurance. Fortunately, this insurance is cheap and easy to get, as long as your home meets two basic requirements: (1) It is reasonably well-built, and (2) It is located in Nebraska.

Unfortunately, if your home is located in Galveston or any other area that might actually be hit by a hurricane, most insurance companies would prefer not to sell you hurricane insurance, because then they might be required to pay YOU money, and that is certainly not why they got into the insurance business in the first place.

So you'll have to scrounge around for an insurance company, which will charge you an annual premium roughly equal to the replacement value of your house.

At any moment, this company can drop you like used dental floss. Since Hurricane Alicia, I have had an estimated 27 differenthome-insurance companies. This week, I'm covered by the Bob and Big Stan Insurance Company, under a policy which states that, in addition to my premium, Bob and Big Stan are entitled, on demand, to my kidneys.

SHUTTERS:
Your house should have hurricane shutters on all the windows, all the doors, and -- if it's a major hurricane -- all the toilets.

There are several types of shutters, with advantages and disadvantages:

Plywood shutters: The advantage is that, because you make them yourself, they're cheap. The disadvantage is that, because you make them yourself, they will fall off.

Sheet-metal shutters: The advantage is that these work well, once you get them all up. The disadvantage is that once you get them all up, your hands will be useless bleeding stumps, and it will be December.

Roll-down shutters: The advantages are that they're very easy to use, and will definitely protect your house. The disadvantage is that you will have to sell your house to pay for them.

'Hurricane-proof'' windows: These are the newest wrinkle in hurricane protection: They look like ordinary windows, but they can withstand hurricane winds! You can be sure of this, because the salesman says so. He lives in Nebraska.

'Hurricane Proofing Your Property: As the hurricane approaches, check your yard for movable objects like barbecue grills, planters, patio furniture, visiting relatives, etc. You should, as a precaution, throw these items into your swimming pool (if you don't have a swimming pool, you should have one built immediately). Otherwise, the hurricane winds will turn these objects into deadly missiles.

EVACUATION ROUTE:
If you live in a low-lying area, you should have an evacuation route planned out. (To determine whether you live in a low-lying area, look at your driver's license; if it says 'Galveston' you live in a low-lying area.) The purpose of having an evacuation route is to avoid being trapped in your home when a major storm hits. Instead, you will be trapped in a gigantic traffic jam several miles from your home, along with two hundred thousand other evacuees. So, as a bonus, you will not be lonely.

HURRICANE SUPPLIES:
If you don't evacuate, you will need a mess of supplies. Do not buy them now! Galveston tradition requires that you wait until the last possible minute, then go to the supermarket and get into vicious fights with strangers over who gets the last can of SPAM.

In addition to food and water, you will need the following supplies:
· 23 flashlights.
· At least $167 worth of batteries that turn out, when the power goes out, to be the wrong size for the flashlights.
· Bleach. (No, I don't know what the bleach is for. NOBODY knows what the bleach is for. But it's traditional, so GET some!)
· A 55-gallon drum of underarm deodorant.
· A big knife that you can strap to your leg (This will be useless in a hurricane, but it looks cool.)
· A large quantity of raw chicken, to placate the alligators. (Ask anybody who went through A hurricane; after the hurricane, there WILL be irate alligators.)
· $35,000 in cash or diamonds so that, after the hurricane passes, you can buy a generator from a man with no discernible teeth.

Of course these are just basic precautions. As the hurricane draws near, it is vitally important that you keep abreast of the situation by turning on your television and watching TV reporters in rain slickers stand right next to the Gulf and tell you over and over how vitally important it is for everybody to stay away from the Gulf.
Good luck and remember: It's great living in paradise! Those of you who aren't here yet, you should come.

 

 

---

It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.

[LSWrr]

Mitch, we will keep your Mom in our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.

Train Shows coming soon: (Toledo) Lucas County Fairgrounds 21SEP08 and (Cleveland) Berea) Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds 04-05OCT08.

Went to my LHS yesterday and found 2 end loading automobile box cars for $8 each (Round house kits).

Thoughts and prayers to those in need.

Lee

[steveblackledge]

Jeffery Your right,,, 60163, whooops

  

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN ! 

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: Just a quick one for me. I went over  to the track and fired up my diesel. It ran pretty good so I moved to the depot and picked up the freight train that I had dropped there. I was going to pull it to the yard and sort out the cars untill I found the one that was dragging. Going through the switch to the yard lead a tank car split the switch and derailed 3 other cars. That tank car was built from a piece of steel pipe and was very heavy. When it came off it broke the knuckle on my gondola. Anyway I got the mess ( sorry Fergie ) cleaned up and found out that the tamk car is the one causing the drag. After a run around the track with one derailment on the way back I loaded up the damaged gon and another one I need to paint and put a coupler on and headed home. Gee it's fun running trains. Hard work also when they are that size.

Well I'm off to bed.

Good Night All

Well how about that. Top of the page. Have at it gang.

[grayfox1119]

Good evening to all, I see that Gustav is taking aim at Gulf Coast and all the oil rigs. They have evacuated those already. With the Gulf waters very warm this time of the year, this storm has every chance to become a CAT5 before hitting land. And if it hits Louisianna as they predict, I hope the repaired levies hold.

Got most to the trim on the roofline painted, I really don't like being up 30 feet on a ladder anymore, I don't trust my damaged sport knees anymore.

JEFF: You may be high enough above flood waters, but those pine trees all around your trailer are no match for 115-150 mph winds. Please be careful if it looks like quadrant 1 is going to hit your area.

RYAN: Ohh man......you really know how to come up with just what I like on the menu!!!! I love those, I have them everytime we go to breakfast at the Cliff House in Ogunquit, Maine.

FERGIE/JOHN/LUC/CN CHARLIE/JOHNBOY: Ok guys , what is going ON? In the last two days, I have spotted TWO flocks of Canadian Geese headed south!! This is still August!!! They never pass Central New England until the end of September!! Does this mean we are going to have early cold and snow?? Do you guys know something and are not telling us?

DUKE: See above......early snows coming, Canadian Geese headed south already.

Bed time,

[eeyore9900]

Hey everybody-just dropping in for a few & an update.

Well, Mom had another stroke it seems. This time her left (good) hand & foot are affected, & talking to her (although we haven't had confirmation) it seems to me her voice & speech are affected as well. (Not sure if anyone else has noticed, but it seems to me-she's my Mom after all) But on the bright side, her thinking & logic is still well & good, as she asked me to pay some bills for her, & seemed to be thinking clearly.

I know the last time she went thru this, a # of you kept her in thoughts & prayers. It was much appreciated, & passed on to her. I hope you can do it again. She's a fighter, & like her sister, she isn't going to cross over until she's darn good & ready! (& IMO, she's not ready yet!)

[Packers#1]

You wish Lee. Well, maybe the biggest rivalry in Aiken (Aiken High and South Aiken) was on show tonight at Aiken High's stadium. The Hornets (Aiken High) won 28-2. The only points the Throughbreds (south Aiken) got came from a safety.

[LSWrr]

Rob, Pocher made some fine model cars back in the day I remember building a dump truck kit from them and I had to assemble the hydraulic pistons, steering arms, tires,  and everything worked.  As far as I know they went out of business and nobody bought them out unlike Rivarossi who sold their molds and equipment to Hornby.

Well to celebrate Packers 1,000 post I guess he gets the tabs for desert!

Lee

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Data on Gustav

Storm Path:    
Date: Aug. 29, 2008
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Winds: 80 mph
Strength: Cat. 1
Direction: Moving northwest near 11 mph
Latitude: 19.3 N
Longitude: 80 W

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

That's a lot of posts. Imagine the really long fence you could build with that many.

Jeff, That's quite a bit of dirt on the locomotive. Reminds me of the old Rock Island. Most of their engines never saw a wash rack. They did a lot of "kit bashing" when they rebuilt old units with bailing wire and mixtures of different componenets from various manufacturers.

I have no progress to report as I'm still resting a lot. I have operated several trains in recent days. I was running NP after my GN trains. Now, I'm back to good old CB&Q. My NP 4-8-4 is a "close enough" model that is the Bowser northern type steam locomotive. Those who have not yet built a Bowser should try it some time. The time spent will be enjoyable. My Bur,inton passenger train on the layout is now my Denver Zephyr.

Happy Model Railroading.  

[jeffrey-wimberly]

THIS IS MY 1000TH POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's great! This is my 9,063rd post.

[Packers#1]

Hey guys:

THIS IS MY 1000TH POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for not kicking me off so far, lol.

football: coach mcknight went home sick, so it was just first string Offense against the D. and I'm all D. I had 1 tackle, got a .5 tackle, and got a fumble recovery. shoulda got a forced fumble to, but coach blew the whistle. Also got my shin hurt.  A dude I almost tackled got free, and his knee hit my muscle right beside your shinbone.

[Hoople]

Oi, when was the last time I posted here? About a week ago, I guess.

Well, I did get some neat stuff for my birthday... Got a decent amount of cash, looks like I'll be getting that BLI GS-4, and I got $100 to my hobby shop, and I got a cymbal.

Now the cymbal, didn't sound too good, but dad said I could trade it in. So, I went to the Paiste website and went to the soundroom and tested some out... Narrowed it down to three cymbals... I look on guitar center, and the one I want was too high of a price to be traded for. So, today, we go to guitar center. And guess what? The only cymbal of the three I picked was the expensive one... Too bad. But, they are having the labor day sale, and it was $60 off. Only $9 difference between the tradeoff...

So I paid $9 for the cymbal I wanted most. It sounds perfect, and it happens to be the same model that John Bonham (check avatar) used! So, It all ended well.

Mark

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I find a lot of clips about the 60163 Tornado, not a 60013.

[Flashwave]

Thanks Jim

Rob: I forgot the link. That's a McHenery. I'm not sure if it's short enough. There are others. The cars I thought were Model Power, (Scratch: AHM sounds closer) were sold in sets of 4 with other coaches. There might be a combine, two coaches, and then the advertising car. I've seen it in old Walthers Catalogs.

Others to go back and read. Any guesses on the schemes I themed the names with?

Funny, this elkection, we're gonna wind up either way with an experienced old fart and a young gun with a minority.

Inch:funny I love it

 

 

[steveblackledge]

Hi Jim, good to see you around,,, yes we have lots of very exciting steam trains on the main line, check this one out,,, she's BRAND spanking new, the first all new steam train in well over fifty years to be built in britain,,, they won't let me put a link in :(  just type in "60013 tornado" and you will see lots of clips on you tube,,, she's limited to 90 mph for now till she's run in :)

 

why can you not put links in 

[JimRCGMO]

Afternoon, Zoe - I'll have a BLT and a root beer float, please. Thanks!

George, good to see you in again. Sounded like you and your nephew had some fun this summer while he was visiting. Did you introduce him and his friends to MRR'ing? (and if not, why not?

TrainsRMe1, would your idea for the house include an industrial grade sprayer? Good luck with getting that chore done! I recall when I was a teenager, me and my brother spent a good chunk of one summer with propane torches and spreaders, blistering off the old paint in preparation for the new paint - talk about hot!

Steve B., good to see you back in the Diner (and glad you were able to track us down again). Your area seems to be blessed with all kinds of steam locos that are still running. Best wishes on a successful move to Down UnderLand.

Inch, that was a funny one - told it to one of my co-workers today. He said the Catholic church's solution on their squirrel problem was more like a Baptist church he knows.

Terry, I'd agree with Lee - salty dogs, indeed! Guess they have their sea legs, huh?

GraftonStationRR, to the Diner - tell us a little about yourself and your layout/plans/dreams. I'll cover your drink this afternoon, and I see Rob has the TOP honors, so he'll cover your lunch. 

Sounds like Gustav has everybody concerned, and with good cause. Jeff, watch out for any tornadoes that might spin off of Gustav!

Our weather today got wet for a bit, but it's lightened up some (still cloudy, though). Cooled it off some, as it's only 78 F (26 C) currently at almost 2:30 p.m. Possible storms later today/tonight off and on.

Morgan, nice layout ideas there! Shame you have to wear a sweater to school in August, isn't it? You and Sawyer should change places for a bit to even out your body temperatures.  

Need to pick out some of my MRR projects, kits, etc. to work on this weekend (ANY of them, just to get started again!). I'm inclined to pick my scratchbuilt church, and the grain elevator kit I have (the Walthers 'wood' one). That, and also probably work on my background factory and loading dock from the DPM modulars.

I'll grab a spot in the window booth (while there still is one - gee, people are coming in in bunches).

 

Blessings and prayers for a safe weekend,

Jim in Cape Girardeau