Elliot's Trackside Diner V, at the diamonds

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Man, I'm impressed with #7. That guy is quick! I see Sawyer (#71) isn't joking about his size. He looks like a skyscraper moving around out there. I'd hate to be on the recieving end of one of his tackles.

[Robby P.]

Good video.  Was that you that got the fumble?   You should change your number to the great Jack Lambert 58, which I am a HUGE fan of.  The problem with that would be he was a LB.   Plus you would have to miss some teeth.  Not good with the ladies. 

[Packers#1]

Hey ya'll, check it out. I found a video w/ the highlights of our football game wednesday. I'm #71 out there.

http://apps.augusta.com/video/video.html?id=1405

[Robby P.]

 Good late afternoon guys.  I am hungry, um..... how about a pork chop.  I haven't had one in awhile.  

 Went to the hobby store to get some rail joiners.  Read a few mags, while waiting on someone to check out.  I thought this was a VERY neat idea.  Instead of using plastic rock castings, use a large or small rock, which ever your choose.  Then take some play-doh (or how ever you spell it), push the rock into the play-doh. Take the rock out, and use the plaster, and pour it into the play-doh.  Let the plaster harden and the play-doh as well.  Later after its all dry, peel the play-doh off the plaster and clean with a tooth brush.  BAM!!!!!!  You have a new rock for the layout. 

 All you would have to do is find a nice looking rock, and some play-doh.  You could make all kinds of rocks, or what ever you would like.

 I thought that was a neat idea.  I am sure some of ya'll have heard that, but if not heres the idea.  I will have to try it out.

 

[Packers#1]

I'll have 6 XL Mountain Dews if you don't mind. I'm SO sleepy, lol.

I've been making some scenery on my engine terminal. Now i gotta get some more white glue to add water to so I can finish it up. Oh well.

[JimRCGMO]

Afternoon - Flo, I'll have a root beer float, please, since Garry's buying...

Thanks, Garry!

Got the necessaries done for today (laundry, car maintainance, misc. toiletries and tp bought), so the rest of the day is mine. Hmm, if/when God lines me up with some sweet thing, I guess I might have more of my weekends taken up with those HoneyDo Lists, right guys? Trade-offs, trade-offs...

Watched some of the Texas-Oklahoma game while they were checking out my car, and that was fairly exciting and back-and-forth. And the Texas state fair is huge (well, it should be, in Texas, I guess - d'uh!).

Did an inventory of my DPM and Woodland Scenic kits and scenery stuff this morning. Had been thinking about what else I needed/wanted. I think I should probably stick to their smaller (metal) building kits for a while, or until I get some of the DPM kits built.

Rob, you may have several of those 'mini-trees' that would be quite usable with a little ground foam glued on them after they're soaked in the matte medium and dried. And the cost is right, right? I have a foam board with several 'tree structures' in it (one of which has a huge ball of foam or other scenic stuff on it - I figure I can pull most of the stuff off that and make several more lightly 'populated' trees with the other branch structures.

I'll be back at the window booth, 'w**king' on my RBF, if Sue or anyone else wants to come have one.

 

Blessings,

Jim in (sunny ) Cape Girardeau

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello!

To answer a couple of questions, my layout extensions will have a two level reverse loop. You can see the layout section in the back left of the picture has two levels.  The upper level will be part of a city, and the remaining part of the city will be to the right in the photo.

I'm glad the NP F units were appreciated by Sue the NP fan.

 

[gear-jammer]

Good morning, Gang.  I will have a quick coffee, please.

Garry,  I enjoyed your photos on WPF this week.  NP rules.  Your A-B-A unit is a nice touch.  What do you have planned for your new benchwork?

Philip,  Have you been taking any layout photos lately?  I remember that you started off fast and furious when you moved into your new place.  That was how long ago?

Rob,  I notice that your are scavengering the pastures for tree like weeds.  When I hang mine, I dip them in a Matte medium so they don't crumble as easily. I can't wait to see what you found.  Didn't you have a fire a while back?  How are things doing with that?

der,  Are you drying weeds again?  It is that time of year.  I have been using Sedum for my tall rangy Maples.  My friend Donna has some huge ones that she cuts off every year.  I am lucky that she hangs them to dry for me.  I was drying the butterfly bushes, but I think that I can get my Aggro trees to be similar in shape.

I will stop in later and have one of Jim's RBF's.

Sue

[Packers#1]

Sawyer...Have you tried Pasta loading before your games? My Son's team would go to the local Pizza Hut before games for all the Pasta they could eat..Also Booster Club would fix Pasta before games..

 

No, but then, we stay at school. When the end of school bell rings, we go to the locker room, drop off our backpacks, go to the multi-purpose room, eat a sub (6 in. Blimpie) and drink Gatorade, go over strategy, then get dressed and wait for the bus. Pasta sounds good though, I love it, lol.

[JimRCGMO]

Morning, Flo, Janie. Are you ladies expecting a big rush for breakfast today? Oh, I'll have some of Ed's OJ, cup of coffee and some waffles please, with maple syrup. Thanks!

PPC, haven't seen that Red-X fella for a while - he's still trying to figure that box out, huh? Hope you get your nap in today.

Paul's probably already running his loco at Clark Gardens by now. I think the weather's supposed to be good across much of the mid-country today, so that'd be nice for their train-running.

Rob, hope you get your tractor woes fixed/resolved/traded off... How does that JD dealer stay in business? I'd be thinking people would get as disgusted as you have, and nobody would buy from them. But that's just my ...

Laundry time now for me - I went by and put some gas in the car this morning ($2.919/gallon). Yessiree, I enjoy that trend on gas prices.

I'll be at the window booth, working on my breakfast and waiting for my load of laundry to finish up. Hope everyone gets a good time of MRR'ing in today.

 

Blessings and a good morning to you,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff, are you still looking for rolling stock?

Of course. I'm always on the prowl for more rolling stock. I have plenty of locos, 47 by last count.

Jeff..Any more work on Coaling Tower?

Not at this time. Right now I'm working on a covered walkway that's big enough to span 4 tracks. On top of that I'm battling some dang virus that's messing up my concentration and screwing with my vision

[Cederstrand]

in a BURLINGTON NORTHERN mug, please & thanks.

The driver who delivered hay this morning said our tractor should easily back up the hill it's on, which is what I thought. Seems it went from a 4 wheel drive to a 2 wheel drive, ever sinse the J-Deere folks last touched it. I am beyond disgusted with those idiots. Not once have they ever fixed what I asked them to, and one time they replaced a perfectly good part with a new one "which then broke the first time I used it" so I had to have a neighbor weld it back. Yea, never ever again. ***Paul, our next tractor is going to be a Kubota, as they are cheap and everyone around here has one.

Rob

  

[pcarrell]

It's the red "x" guy! Where'd you find him?!

I've had him tucked away for a while.

[Cox 47]

Good Morning All...Its 56 and partly cloudy here this AM....I'll have Biscuits and Gravey with coffee please..Thank You...Some body wanted the LL SD9 more than I did so I have a bid on 3 fixer-upers a RS and 2 GP 20's...I put the Circus train up on the shelf and ran coal trains yesterday..Also ran a LL GP 38 for about an hour trying to smooth it out but still takes off like a Jack Rabbitt and is herky jerky I don't think there is much you can do to smooth out the darn things...Looks like I'll have lots of train time today Sallie and Her Sisters are going to visit Thier Mother..

Garry..Thanks for photos of new bench work..Keep us updated...

Sawyer...Have you tried Pasta loading before your games? My Son's team would go to the local Pizza Hut before games for all the Pasta they could eat..Also Booster Club would fix Pasta before games..

Jeff..Any more work on Coaling Tower?

You all have a Great Saturday....Jerry

[LSWrr]

Good morning all.

Jim, my layout is wired for DC right now, but its set up to convert to DCC.  As long as you use the proper gage wire, insulators on both rails when you insulate, 2 insulators for blocks, and doesn't use a common ground rail you should be fine.  I have feeder wires every 3 feet and on every turnout.  The main power wires (buss) should not extend more than 50 feet away from the DCC power source.

Mitch, The Berea train show was pretty big, mostly HO scale this year. The show occupied 4 barns and the prices were more than fair on used rolling stock.  The locomotive prices were competitive but nothing to lose sleep over.  I picked up some bridge piers and abutments (Chooch), some small tools, and a few old MATUA rolling stock pieces in very good condition; all metal Even the HAZMAT diamond on the tank cars were metal with spring cushioned trucks for $2.50 each.  I found a Walther's work train #1, in its original box unopened for $25.  An all wood craftsman kit baggage/cargo caboose for $4 (assembled), and a scratch built scaffold car.

I'm glad to hear your Mom is doing well, and hopefully she continues to make good progress.

I'm still looking for Sagami MC-94 can motors for my aging fleet of Mantua steam locomotives.

Jeff, are you still looking for rolling stock?

Lee

[jeffrey-wimberly]

It's the red "x" guy! Where'd you find him?!

[pcarrell]

Mornin' all!

Couldn't sleep this morning, but I'm pretty sure a nap is on the agenda for the day.

Hey, I came across my old friend the other day.  Do some of you old timers remember this guy?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 61 and clear. It will become partly cloudy later as the high rises to the mid 80's.

Yesterday I installed a DZ125 decoder in my new Athearn BNSF SD40. The rear light is brighter so I set it to run long hood forward, partly because of the light but mostly because I like to see them run that way. The rear light is set to stay steady while the cab light becomes a double pulse strobe light while the loco is traveling short hood forward. I also put a DZ125 in my GP35/S6, no light options on that one.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      10/11/2008

Wind Chill:  61°F
Humidity:  90%
Dew Point:  58°F

So Far Today
High:  64°F
Low:  61°F
Rain:  0.01"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  0mph NNE

Today  High: 85    Mostly sunny early in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Patchy fog early in the morning. Highs in the mid 80s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight  Low: 65    Partly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. East winds around 5 mph.

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN ! 

[TrainsRMe1]

 Hi Chiole,

   I will have a bowl of that beef stew, that looks good, but I'll have a glass of milk,  we had company over tonight,for dinner it was nice, we sat and talked about the day's events, not much on the layout front today folks, sorry,  I hope to get some wriring work done tomorrow morning, before we go out on our Saturday walk around the neighborhood, Well not much else here gang, so I'm going to hit the sack, I will be in later this weekend sometime, I'm very sorry for not posting any more pic's yet, I will get to it as soon as I can.

      "Clear smooth minds mean smooth running layouts" 

                                               -Trainsrme1

                                                        

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang:

Rob nothing runs like a Deere. I've got IHC and Case International. Ya can't beat red.

We took the locomotives out to Clark Gardens today and the others brought there stuff. We got everything unloaded and set up by 5pm. Boy was that alot of work, I'm really bushed tonight and a bit sore in the shoulders. Fortunatly the crew at the gardens is really a good bunch of guys. Four of them lifted my steam loco off the trailer and onto the track. Of course they are all youngsters compared to me. Everything looks pretty good. We have equipment in three scales on desplay, 1.5 in, 2.5in, and 4in scale. We also have displays of projects in the works including a new 2-8-0. Of course I'll be running my locomotive on air up and down my portable track. It's 110 ft long and on a grade. Tomorrow we'll set up a TV and show videos of live steam from all over the country.

Mitch good to see you back and for your mom. We are all pulling for her. How's Dad holding up?

Well I guess I'll head for bed. I have to get up early in order to get out there on time.

Good Night All

[Cederstrand]

Tall glass of cool lemon water, please & thanks.

***Mitch, try not to be a stranger. Very glad to hear your mother is progressing well. That is tough and takes time & good therapy. Continued healing thoughts heading her way. 

While checking fences today, out in the pasture there are literally hundreds of excellent N & HO scale trees, just growing on branches of various weeds (some branches, others are seed/flowering thingies). So anyway, think I will collect a bunch of them and hang them upside-down to dry, so they will be ready for doctoring up for use on the layout next year. Sure would save a lot of . Can always pick up a few of those fancy (expensive) finished model trees to place in the most important spots, if need be.

Was clearing out a couple dirt mounds where the deck is going and got the tractor stuck on the grade. It remains parked there tonight. Couldn't even use the loader to push it back up. Seems ever since it went to the J-Deere dealership, there has been something amiss with the power and/or transmision. GURRRR! Anyway, I'll dig out the snow/mudd clamp things tomorrow to get it off the hill. Wouldn't have had such a problem had I done this BEFORE it rained. Oh well.

Have a good night all. Rob

[JimRCGMO]

Hi, Mitch, good to see you in the Diner again. Good to hear your mother's progressing on her therapy (and wonderful that your uncle had the wheelchair for her!). Even if you didn't make the train show, it sounded like Dawn and you had a great time at the zoo. At least they didn't mistake you for the critters and try to lock you in for the night... Have a cup on me, and sit a spell, rest your feet.

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[eeyore9900]

Hi folks-just coffee in my Eeyore mug (if it's still back there-if it is, it's probably dusty)

I know I've been a stranger here in the past couple months. Trying to do this & that, & when I do get to the forum, I end up running out of time to stop in here. HENCEFORTH, I'm going to try (stress "try") to make it a point to at least stop in here on the weekend.

First off, Mom's still in the hospital but progressing. Dad & I were able to watch her in therapy last week, & she's doing well, getting up, getting into bed, & doing simple kitchen things. (they have all those things set up in the therapy area) But she's going to need a wheelchair, & as luck would have it, my uncle still had my aunt's (Mom's sister who passed in 2000) & the therapist checked it out & said it was up to date & virtually good to go. The only thing it needs is an armrest for her left arm, which is still very weak. She's very much "with it" & her talking is completely back to normal. (she was playing Bingo with other patients on her ward a few weeks ago-I came up & sat it, & she was spotting the #s on her card faster than I could!)

Other than that, things are about the same except $$$ has been tighter. So I haven't been able to do basement improvement & layout benchwork like I wanted to be doing by this point. So I've been working on my weathering & tagging my models, & working on track plans & operation ideas for the future layout.

Lee-As things have been going, I didn't think I'd make the train show at Berea, & I didn't. But the day before I thought I might after all, as Dawn wanted to hit Metro Park Zoo Saturday as the weather was good, & she considered it an early b/day present for herself. (hers is 10/31) I thought that in the off chance we could cut out early & maybe catch an hour or so of the show on our way home, but as it turned out we spent the entire day at the zoo, & found ourselves getting shooed out at 5 by park employees! Oh well, I'll get up there some year. (at least I got to observe (barely) & hear the NS & old CR units running short trains back & forth along the north edge of the park)

Well, that's about it for now folks-I haven't had the chance to go thru the previous posts, but I hope all are well & good, & I'll do my best not to be a stranger!

[Packers#1]

Aw, c'mon Sawyer, I bet it's that you really have that 'hunter' instinct, and love going after those quarterbacks. (like a tiger after red meat...) Sounds like you have a great time with it, for sure!

 

Jim, I just wish I could capture how fired up i get when I'm losing energy and take it to the first quarter when it would really help.

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Chloe. I'll have a bowl of beef stew

and a glass of wine, please.

Thanks, Rob!

Our weather here was gorgeous (once) again today. I could get used to this!

Terry, thanks for the pic and the wiring info. I need to figure out what gauge of wire I have - some of it (I think) is LaBelle (and not labelled for AWG), the other is Radio Shack (which I'm pretty sure is labelled). Then there're the feeders that drop down from the Atlas rail joiners/terminals (the ones that come pre-soldered to the joiners). Not at all sure what gauge those are, but they'll be very short, so it's possible that may not be critical on gauge, compared to the busses or longer feeders. Do you know on the Atlas joiner terminals? Got a diagram (labelled ) of which wires come from/go to which connectors on the DPDT switches? (I think I already have one or two of those, but may need to check tonight after I get home)

Garry, thanks for the pics of your expansion area, and that F7B unit looks impressive. - Do you have any ideas for how you'll have that scenicked? Mountain tunnel? Cuts and tunnels? Canyon(s)? Oh, I checked the MRC site for locos, and all they show right now are some F7B's, which are just under $20, so I'm guessing they're unpowered at that price. Does Stewart only make kits for diesel locos? Seems I recall it that way, but I could be wrong...

For those tracking such stuff, our gas in Cape G. today dropped to $2.939 a gallon at our cash-only place (for super unleaded). It dropped about 3 cents a gallon just from when I went by it earlier in the morning to when I went past during lunchtime. I can live with that, especially since I'm planning on filling my car's tank in the morning before doing laundry.

Got my Woodland Scenics catalog in today. Looks like the reason I got a $1.95 refund is that the DPM catalog didn't ship with it. Guess I'll have to re-order it.

Rob, keep those workers 'on track' there with your housebuilding. Like you say, the problem isn't usually the contractor or foreman on the job, but one or two of the workers. They don't have their company rep on the line for how well (or not) the job was done. That, and good work habits aren't as common as they used to be. (Gee, do I sound like an old geezer there?) Maybe if you took your camera with you when you go on inspection around the house, certain persons will straighten up, out of fear that their boss will see your pics and fire their 's...

Rob, I wasn't for sure from your post - those are geldings, right? Or have they not figured that part out yet? (Squeals, thumps, hooves and all...)

Jeff, I forgot to mention earlier, but I'm looking forward to seeing your 'weathered' coaling tower. Y'know how I love those older and slightly dilapidated buildings... When you first started talking about the coaling tower, I thought you were going to turn it into a shed or something. This should be even more fun, I suspect!

Aw, c'mon Sawyer, I bet it's that you really have that 'hunter' instinct, and love going after those quarterbacks. (like a tiger after red meat...) Sounds like you have a great time with it, for sure!

Chloe, could I have another bowl of stew, please? Yes, please - one more glass of wine, too. I'll have Rob drive me home if needed...

 

Blessings and a good night's rest for all,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[Cederstrand]

refill, please & thanks.

***Garry, EXCELLENT bench work & room pic. Gets me salivating to start on one here.

Lots of banging away today. Ogt the center rail in around the porches (so FIL won't fall through the screen when he's here. They're working late to get the new door in, or at least finish cutting & framing for it. As long as it is temporarily sealed before they leave, that's all I ask.

Moved all the geldings in with their respective herds, so the farm is ALIVE with all sorts of squeels and thumps (from hooves kicking & connecting).

Rob

[Packers#1]

Cool jerry. I love playing defensive end, I'm just glad coach hasn't made me play offensive line in a game or much at practice. But I can if I have to, he had me practice at left tackle for a little while. But now I'm at starting defensive end and on the scout team defense.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good eye Vincent!   These are MRC F7's. For whatever reason, MRC's F7's did not stay on the market long. They run smoothly and are quiet, and it is a mystery to me why they did not sell well.

[Packer]

Those F7s look more like F9s to me, but they might be late phase F7s. (48 inch DB fan, can't see the carbody louvers)