Elliot's Trackside Diner V, at the diamonds

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello ....

Jerry asked if there were any photos of my construction.

Here's a picture. The new benchwork is in the foreground. The layout will follow the wall from the left side of the picture and enter a reverse loop from the right side of the picture on the new benchwork. There are two levels on this part of the layout.

After taking the photos, I looked outside, and I saw two barge tow boats passing each other.

Last picture is my new NP F3B coupled betwen two NP F7A's. The B unit was an undecorated Stewart dummy model that I painted a couple of days ago.

Happy Model Railroading 

[Cederstrand]

 in a SOUTHERN mug, please & thank you.

***Terry, units look good.

Had to get up early today to go back over my wiring needs with our contractor. I'm ready to wire for "surround sound" this evening, once the house wires are in place, (so I can avoid them). Contractor is cutting the hole for the new master bedroom door as I type. I used so much caulk, tape, insulation, etc...he said my studio could have withstood a hurricane. Hey, I never anticipated turning my studio into a house, so made it to last. Anyway, need to hang out downstairs to keep an eye on things, if you get my meaning. Our contractor I trust completely, but some of his hired help....well....

Oh, septic truck nearly rolled down the hill outside my studio window. There is a huge towtruck out there pulling it to safety right now. Driver probably isn't enjoying it much, but I snapped a couple pics for fun.

Got a few more post holes dug for the deck. With all that rain, they sure were easier to dig, at least until I hit that hard layer (shale?).

Hope everyone is having a great day. Rob

[C&O Fan]

Morning all

63 degrees here this morning gonna be a beautiful fall day here

JIM when i wired my layout I installed a 14 gauge track buss with 22 gauge feeder wires about every 3 ft

then ran the buss wires to a DT/DP switch because i started out with DC powered by an MRC power pack

Then later added a Digitrax Zephyr

 

[Cox 47]

Good Morning All...Its sunny and cool here this morning..56 right now but headed to the upper 70's...I'll have a sasage sandwitch,hash browns and coffee please..Thank You..Got a coal drag doing laps right now..Looks like I need to do some track cleaning...

Jeff...Looking forward to seeing more photos of coaling tower..

Rob..Match box looks like it is going to make a good circus wagon..

Sawyer...Good Luck in Wednesdays game..My son was a Defensive End in High School...Gotta love those Linemen!...

Garry..Any photos yet of your layout expansion? How big will it be?

Well Medi-van just picked Sallie upand I have some errands to do...You all have a good one...Jerry

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning, Diners! Zoe, I'll have the breakfast special, cup of TH, and a glass of milk and of Ed's OJ, please. Thanks.

Not much planned for today - weather supposed to get into the low 80's this afternoon (about 49 F now), so I opted for short sleeve shirt today. Feels almost like summer again.

Was thinking about the wiring for my layout last night/this morning. Anyone have tips on how to wire for DC, with plans for later converting to DCC?

I'll be in the window booth, if anyone else comes in.

 

Blessings and a sunny day for ya,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[LSWrr]

Good morning!

Today: Sunny, with a high near 67. North wind between 6 and 9 mph becoming calm.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. East wind around 9 mph.

Looks like a good weekend coming up.  I'm putting in an order today for a new truss bridge and maybe some couplers to finish up my coupler conversion project.

Thoughts and prayers to those on the sick and injured list.

Lee

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 63 and clear. The high should be around the mid 80's and it will be partly cloudy.

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

Wind Chill:  63°F
Humidity:  79%
Dew Point:  56°F

So Far Today
High:  65°F
Low:  63°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  0mph NNE

Today  High: 85    Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.    

Tonight  Low: 62    Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN ! 

No comment

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Howdy

I looks like Sawyer is becoming the hero of teh diner with that big football win.

Speaking of the old pigskin, don't for get the annual ham festival is this week end here in western KY.

Jim CG .........It was terrific of you to share those photos of Drew. The first picture was very touching. . 

Ryan & Duke .... I'm very glad you could meet at the meet! 

Jerry ... I like the LL HO SD9's, but don't know about N scale ones. Good luck.

Vincent ...That sounds liek another EBAY misadventure.

Paul ... That's quite a memory you have. I'm glad for you you got out OK.

TrainsRMe ...Perhaps the home owner was delinquent on his property taxes, and the city took action.

Rob .... I thik our rain pattern has been much like yours in recent weeks. We finally got a little yeasterday.

Jeff.... The coal tower definately has possibilities, and we are awaiting the outcome.

Everybody .... I'm please to say there was significant progress on the layout today. Gus and Dan helped build more benchwork, and now I may continue my layout expasnion.

Also, has anyone heard from Tom W. Last I recall he was having problems with meds that  were to treat an infection he got from his mishap. Hope we here soon he's doing better.

Happy Model Railroading!

 

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: I took the portable track panels and my two narrow gauge gons out to Clark Gardens this afternoon. John and I got the stuff unloaded and the crew from the gardens elped us blot the track together. Tomorrow we'll load up the locomotives and take them out.

Rob good to hear that you got somem rain. Just in time, eh?

Lee I had some really good instermentation in that old Huey.

Well I guess I'll hit the sack. That was hard work for an ROF today.

Good Night All 

[TrainsRMe1]

Congrats Packers #1 go for the ring man!!!

   Today it's been raining and the temps have dipped, they say snow could fall in the mountain passes, but we'll see.  Anyway I'm not sure if this made national news or not,but in the west part of Portland we have what is called the West Hills, and there are alot older homes that were built there in the 40's and 50's, well for some unknown reason one of the houses slid down the hills destroying it in the process, there were no earthqukes, no heavy rain, the main road in the area is blocked causing a massive detour, check out KGW.com, you should see it!!!!

  Well gotta go, I see ya tomorrow

                                    Trainsrme1 

[Packers#1]

Way to go Sawyer

We are really happy for you. 

Keep up the good work but keep your hands off the face mask.   The made me do it. !!!!!

Will look for the report from the play offs.

Johnboy out......... 

Thank you every1! Johnboy, we just gotta win wednseday, and then we're in the championship. If we lose, then we're playing for third (as my coach says, for the door prize, as in golf).

[Cederstrand]

 BLT on rye with everything on it and please burn the bacon. Thanks!

Picked up a cheap one on the-bay for the wife's circus/carnival layout. May be a bit on the large side, being a diecast (Matchbox?), but should look OK towards the front of her layout. When the time comes, I'll add some other colors to it to jazz it up for her.

Rained a wee bit more today so ALL the troughs and holding tanks are FULL. HURRAY!

Feeling dizzy tonight, so going to go rest awhile. (probably inner ear issue) Have a nice evening all.

Rob

[SilverSpike]

 A cloudy, cool 54F here right now, I decided to get two of my 5 gallon gas cans filled as the price of gas has dipped to $3.31 a gallon.

RYAN: What's for lunch, this cool air and log splitting has ne hungry as a bear !!!

 

Dick, Due to an apparent gasoline shortage in North Carolina delivery we are still paying around $3.65 a gallon for regular.

 

I hope you found some lunch Dick, as I have been outta pocket in the MR Forum since last week. I've been spending more time over on the MRH forum now and still working on my articles.

 

I do have to report that we did get to meet up with Bob (Duke) on Saturday at the Apex Live Steam Meet and got to ride two loops around the property. We had sort of a timing issue due to arriving later in the day with attending the NC State vs. Boston College game earlier in the afternoon, but it was a nice visit again, our 3rd in fact. Hopefully we will get it together better next year with scheduling and such. 

 

Happy Belated Birthday Rob!

 

Nice grand kids pics there Jim!  

 

Thoughts and prayers for those in need, recovery and healing!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff..Whats your plans for the coaling tower? You track work looks good...

Here's what it looks like so far.

I will be adding rotted rafters sagging under the weight of a scratchbuilt rusted metal roof made of pieces of painted and rumpled pieces of corrugated aluminum foil. The hard part will be cutting by hand the small pieces of wood for the rafters. I have no scale lumber so they will have to be cut from craft sticks.

[Cox 47]

Afternoon All....Its sunny and 71 here...I'll have a Windy City dawg drag it thru the garden,onion rings and a root beer float..Please..Thank You and make sure you get that on Jeff's tab....I am bidding on a Life Like SD 9...I havn't had any experience with LL 3 axles in N scale anybody else tried them?...

Jeff..Whats your plans for the coaling tower? You track work looks good...

Jim..Thats one fine looking Grand Child..can see the Pride and love in your eyes...

You all have a good one...Jerry

[jeffrey-wimberly]

There was a bit of an accident in town this morning. A tractor trailer rig with a flatbed fully loaded with sawn lumber was pulling out onto the highway from the lumber mill when his load suddenly shifted sending 2/3rds of his load onto the highway blocking both southbound lanes. With the police, emergency vehicles and recovery equipment, there was only one lane out of four open and that was a northbound lane.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

***Jeffrey, are most of the figures in that work crew from China? Curious.

Yes they are. They're from Model Power. Made in China. Seems like it's getting harder and harder to get anything that ISN'T made there.

[rtraincollector]

Morning all Got up at 5:30 a.m. got dressed made lunch and dinner as have O.T. and got work ( stop at hardee's as they have 2 Bacon, Egg, and Cheese biscuits for $2.22 going on here ) ate them went into work put lunch and dinner in fridge boss goes your scheduled off today as you light duty doesn't end till tonigh. I go wait I thought it was last night. Nope so sent me home I get to go back tomorrow oh well one more day and I lose 4 O.T.

Well not much else happening will talk to you all later

[Cederstrand]

please & thanks.

***Jeffrey, are most of the figures in that work crew from China? Curious.

Not enough sleep, but must get up to meet that foam insulation guy. Why didn't I say "afternoon".

Have a great day all. Rob

[JimRCGMO]

Morning, Zoe - glass of OJ, cup of coffee, eggs and toast with blackberry jam, please, and a glass of milk, too. Thanks!

Rob, it may be that some in that layout topic are comparing track lighting to the fluorescent (spelling?) lights or shop lights that many people use, which would be much cooler than the track lights. Good to hear you got some rain. Sounds like your contractor is trying to work for you (and with you). That's good, also.

Sawyer, way to go - great to hear how you (and your team) did! Now, on to the championship, guys! 

Looks like we'll be having another sunny (though a bit cooler) day today. About 46 F with some fog in and around rivers or other low-lying areas. S'pposed to only get into the low 70's (F) today, so will be nice out. I broke down and got a long sleeve shirt out for today.

I'll be in the window booth, if anyone else comes in.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[LSWrr]

Train room lighting:

I use compact floresent bulbs, but you can't use a dimmer switch with them and in the winter you may need to wait 5 - 10 minutes for them to warm up, but they only put out a little heat.

Paul; our birds were having some issues with the fog yeasterday.

Lee

[C&O Fan]

Snip

I was reading posts on the perfect train room post and seems many folks suggest track lighting is kinda hot? With ceilings over 9', is this still going to be an issue? I use track lighting in my studio and have not noticed any heat from them, although the studio has a pretty high ceiling. Just seems to me with track lighting (each on it's own dimmer switch) I will be able to play with time of day, which would be nice. Any thoughts?

Snip

Track lighting can put out heat

the high intensity type bulbs get really warm

I have 2 of those and they are much hotter than the rest of

the regular incandesent bulbs

[LSWrr]

Good morning!

Today: Sunny, with a high near 69. West wind between 14 and 17 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. West wind between 11 and 14 mph.

Lee

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 60 and clear. The high will be in the mid 80's and it will be clear and sunny.

I've got all the trackwork for the crossover done with the exception of some ballast to be laid in. The state has seen fit to give me a team of prisoners to help with that. I'll be sure to put them to good use.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      10/9/2008

Wind Chill:  61°F
Humidity:  81%
Dew Point:  55°F

So Far Today
High:  61°F
Low:  58°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  3mph NNE

Today  High: 85    Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. Northeast winds around 5 mph.

Tonight  Low: 55    Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. East winds around 5 mph.

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN ! 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

***Jeffrey, please tell me you're not going to re-paint that beautiful Union Pacific trailer!?!?

Nope. I'm just going to strip the graphics off so it's a white undecorated trailer.

I have one of these:

and you steam guys don't want to know what's happening to it at this time.

 

[Cederstrand]

***Jeffrey, please tell me you're not going to re-paint that beautiful Union Pacific trailer!?!?

Wife wants to take a trip before years end to see two layouts: http://www.unioncountyhistory.org/page3/page3.html and http://www.georgiamodelrailroad.com/  She said both are in the same direction from here and that we should see both on the same trip. Both layouts have a circus or carnival, so will be of special interest to her for idea generation.

Good night! Rob 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Special delivery from Orlando (Trainmaster) earlier today.

Athearn rtr BNSF SD40.

Athearn rtr UP 50' flat with 45' trailer.

[Cederstrand]

Glass of cool lemon water, please & thanks. 

***Sawyer, CONGRATS on the WIN!

***Jerry, that's an excellent UP pic. It's now my latest desktop background. Thanks for posting it.

RAIN...GLORIOUS RAIN...and LOTS of it. Barn tank is FULL and house tank is only a couple inches from full. EXCELLENT! Have not been down to check the creek, so hopefully it's more than a puddle by now.

I was reading posts on the perfect train room post and seems many folks suggest track lighting is kinda hot? With ceilings over 9', is this still going to be an issue? I use track lighting in my studio and have not noticed any heat from them, although the studio has a pretty high ceiling. Just seems to me with track lighting (each on it's own dimmer switch) I will be able to play with time of day, which would be nice. Any thoughts?

Told our contractor today that I would take care of all the insulation. Meeting with a spray foam guy in the morning to get an estimate. Later I can add some regular fiberglass insulation over the spray foam, just like I did with my studio. Tight as a tick and oh so quiet. I don't like working with the fiberglass stuff, but I am concerned with the $$$ (short term) and don't mind taking over some of the work, as long as it gets deducted from the contract amount.

After getting his quote, our contractor is going to do the electrical himself. I guess this is fine, as I can work with him (so to speak) to make sure all lights & recepticals are where I want them. (perhaps he's thinking of the money too?)

Heating and air guys should finish up tomorrow.

Off to the barn to put MsBeDowntown up and let Tinytoons out. Have a great night all and thanks again for all the kind birthday wishes. Much appreciated. Rob