ELLIOT's Trackside Diner VI: The Full Meal Deal!

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Rob .... You are concerned about a foundation crack. Where is it? If it is a wall, I would be very disturbed. If it is the floor, that's not such a big problem.

Dick .... Good to see you in the diner.

Tom .... You mentioned being tempted by brass in the LHS.  Good boy.  You stayed within your quota. Feel free to post more of your locos if you get a chance.

 

 

[Cederstrand]

Chamomile tea, please & thanks.

***Jeffrey, you just can't leave well enough alone...always changing stuff...what's wrong with that white picket fence? I thought it was great when you added it, but of course it's your layout.

***Dick, you work too hard. Curious, what make/model chain saw do you use?

Found a site regarding the various types of foundation cracks, of which there are a number and depend of the actual type of foundation & set up that was used. (ours is a Monolithic slab) Could be a harmless shrinkage crack, but those generally are not continuous. Settlement crack? Don't know. Very unlikely to be a frost heave or expansive soil damage, I think. Did notice a small cave in around the septic and some lowering of the area where the line was burried, but I do believe this is quite normal. A different neighbor (not the contractor) did our septic tank and we have used him before for ponds & road making. He's always been quite good to work with and said (when he installed it) this would happen over time. An easy fix with our little tractor and a few scoops of dirt. Anyway, I'll study the crack in the slab in detail tomorrow.

Below are a couple items I picked up for the wife:

This one might turn into some kind of home business. Taxidermy perhaps? Any suggestions? Not sure she will like the bright green, so a paint job may also be in order. (she hasn't seen this pic yet) Was going to get a brick & mortar Movie Theater until she told me her layout must have a Drive In Theater. Hmmm, how to convert an old DVD payer into an HO scale theater screen! I know it has been done before.

Good night all. Rob

[grayfox1119]

howmus

Dick I wondered how you were doing with that storm.  I'll take a blizzard any day over an Ice Storm!  Glad the generator worked well for you and careful with that Chainsaw

We have the same rain storm due late tonight Ray, and it will start as snow as it is 21F right now, but warm south winds will raise the temp to over 40 tomorrow, so we will get rain here too. I am Lector at the 4pm Mass tomorrow, and the wife is Eucharistic Minister, so we will need to be at church by 3pm for the 4pm Mass service, then it is off to our daughter's house.

[grayfox1119]

 

LSWrr

Dick, sounds like you had quite the adventure I’m glad your cat like reflexes and the generator saved the day.

Thanks Lee. And you are right ON in regard to people burning out their new generators, the very same thing happened here also. A local dealer was telling me all about his episodes with customers at HD. What people don't seem to understand, is that you must shut off all the equipment in your house FIRST before connecting power from the generator. Generators need to be started UNLOADED. Then figure out what equipment you can safely turn ON without going beyond the capacity of the generator. Also, equipment with motors such as washers,refrigerators, freezers and well pumps all draw a surge current when first starting.

[howmus]

blownout cylinder

'Spring' will, on occassion try to step onto the keyboard while I am typing---which leads to arcbgbyvbhgbhb b all over the place---

 

This old girl, Shiela, used to do that all the time.  I got her from my Mom when she passed away and had her here for 3 years.  Had to have her put to sleep last summer at the age of 21.  She was all of 4.25 lbs. at that time.  She was never more than about 7.5 lbs.

 

All right Lee, Fantastic!  You are going to love the Super Chief.   

Dick I wondered how you were doing with that storm.  I'll take a blizzard any day over an Ice Storm!  Glad the generator worked well for you and careful with that Chainsaw. 

We are supposed to get some snow overnight changing to a mix of snow and freezing rain near morning and then about a half inch of rain on Christmas Eve.  I have no where to go until the Christmas Eve service at church tomorrow night, so it sounds OK to me.

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: Really quick one tonight.

PC Winston.

Robby that box really looks great.

Inch keep us informed on Jerry and let his wife know that we're all pulling for him.

Good Night All

[blownout cylinder]

Lee; To coin an old phrase---RIGHT ON!!!

[LSWrr]

Well Dorothy and I have a full schedule this week between work, visiting relatives, and foster caring for a bull mastiff puppy so we decided to exchange presents tonight.  I bought Dorothy a new winter coat and a watch and she bought me a new robe and she insisted I try it on immediately.  Well guess what was in the pocket; an invoice for a Digitrax Super Chief 8 amp DCC starter set and power supply. It should be here monday or tuesday.

[blownout cylinder]

good evening people. I'll have a couple of chicken kabobs with some eggnog please.

Ray; I will not even try that trick with 'Spring' on the shoulder. BTDT. not good---

'Spring' will, on occassion try to step onto the keyboard while I am typing---which leads to arcbgbyvbhgbhb b all over the place---

We are going to attempt to pick up my sister who is coming down for Xmas---weather permitting of course---

Speaking of weather, Dick is right about the freezing rain bit. I saw a tower fold up like wet noodles---it is amazing what ice will do---amazing beauty in the sun but nasty otherwise. We are supposed to get another 10-15cm of snow and ice pellets tonight before it all turns to rain. We are going up to---   +4C!! tomorrow. hhrrumph.

All is well on the train front, the mill is going to its spot after I get it put together and I got another couple of houses on the block---each with tin roofs.

 

[LSWrr]

Evening all,

Dick, sounds like you had quite the adventure I’m glad your cat like reflexes and the generator saved the day.

Generators; just a note if anyone is shopping for one look at what you want to run off the generator and look at the “start up power” the generator can provide.  My Dad works at Home Depot and said over half the people that buy generators burn them up because the start up power rating is too low for their needs.

RT; Berkshire or Mikado comes to mind.  Dorothy read “diesel” and said “NO NO BAD HUMAN!”

Ray, it’s a fireplace not a locomotive.  I’m glad nothing serious came from it. I’ve done the same thing myself with a coal/wood stove.

Sue, I’ll post pictures when I get started on it, it was a tough choice between the Laser-Art and the Bar-mills models.

Robby, great ridgeline and nice work on the weathering!

Ok we have freezing rain tonight, about 1” of ice on everything outside and it’s not suppose to switch to snow until 0700. Dick stop by for a cup of coffee and bring your chain saw, LOL.

Lee

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

twhite

BTW:  Jeff--I like the idea of the hedge.  Do you have a monument that you could use the picket fence around? 

I'll be using some of it around one of the houses on the layout.

[TMarsh]

Evenin’ All. How about some Chicken and Noodles please and a cup of coffee. Black and steaming, thank you. Icy but melting here. We’ll see what the night brings. Been busy on a brake job for the local elevator and man what a nightmare!! In 25+ years as a mechanic I’ve never had a chunk like this. Excuse me for talking with my mouth full but I’m starving.

Lee- That is my favorite station of them all. Good choice.

PC- I like Winston and Boxcar, but what do you think about “Chopper“?? Good idea on waiting though, we did. Ours ended up being Missy because I always said something like “you better watch it Missy” and she started answering to it. LOL

Howmus- Glad everything was OK with the stove.

Rob- I agree with the others , cracks in a foundation are a No-Go. Think resale even if you don’t plan on it now. If the contractor gives you a song and dance about normal settling, contact someone who will give you an “inspection” and see if the cracks are “normal”. May cost a bit now but not as much as later.

Robby- I agree with everyone, my weathering looks like a 2^nd grader used a paint brush. Wait that might be what happened.

Ryan- Do you think a shingle or two would be missed? Yum

Jeff -that’s a great looking park

Well, the dog needs attention and I have a bridge that need worked on and a bed that needs used. (in that order)

G’night all. And special prayers for Jerry

Todd.

[twhite]

Ahah!  The Great Pet Naming Adventure: 

When I bought Spooky from a local Maine Coon breeder, I asked her if it was a male kitten.  She assured me that it was.  (Hey, ever tried to sex a Maine Coon at 3 months with all the HAIR back there?).  So I watched the kitten do its thing for a couple of weeks--it was a very WEIRD kitten--and finally the breeder phoned and asked me if I had a name for it, yet.  At that time I was an "X-Files" freak, so I said, "Yes.  Fox 'Spooky' Muldar."  Hey, the guy was from New England, right?  And this kitten just knew that it acted like it knew that "The Truth Is Out There."  So, "Fox 'Spooky' Muldar the kitten became.  I proudly took it to my vet to have it examined.  Vet said, "I've never seen a Maine Coon before, but this is the prettiest FEMALE I think I've ever seen." 

WHAAAAAAAAAATTTTT?   I said, "SHE is already registered with the Maine Coon Breeder's Society as a MALE!" 

"Better re-register her,"  My vet grinned.  And that's how my FEMALE Maine Coon got her name.  "Spooky."  Forget the "Fox Muldar."  Besides, She Who Must Be Obeyed still knows that "The Truth Is Out There."  She keeps proving it to me all the time, LOL! 

So be carefuil what you name your pet.  They will probably live up to it (right, "Spring"?).  Now if I could only re-name Remington--he's too used to it, unfortunately.  Like I said, for a 'Wegie', "THOR!" would be pretty good--including the exclamation point.  He is proving to be a kind of  Viking Hammer around here.   

I still say wait and let 'em tell YOU what they want to be called.

 

BTW:  Jeff--I like the idea of the hedge.  Do you have a monument that you could use the picket fence around? 

Tom

 

[grayfox1119]

Good evening everyone. It has been over a week since I stepped into the Diner. Little did I know December 11th that we would have the worst ice storm in over 70 years. Over 1 1/2 inches of ice covered the area bringing down huge trees and literally breaking branches on every single tree in the area. Some people are still without power north of us where the ice was even thicker. It is interesting to note that 1" of ice on a full grown tree adds 2 TONS of weight to the tree. No wonder they break.We had bought a 13.5KW generator back in 2000, and did that generator help us out big time. We had two of our son's and their family over here for several days until their power was restored 5 days later. We had power companies from as far away as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ohio, New Jersey, etc all here to help out as well as tree companies to clear away all the fallen trees. I will post some photos here soon and on Webshots for you guys to witness the devastation. And to add more fun, Mother Nature threw 3 snowstorms at us to boot. We have 20.5" of snow on the ground now. I had to use the snow rake today to remove huge drifts on the north and west roof to prevent any possibility of ice dams forming because of rain due tomorrow and Friday. Now on the MRR action front, the first of the two rooms is all ready now, all I need to do is reassemble the benches. I was going great guns until the storms hit. My chain saw was working OT this past week, I didn't even know where to start there are so many branches down and some still attached but broken at every elevation on the trees. One branch about 4" in diameter that was broken but caught up in the tree came loose as I pulled it and knocked me flat on my a** nearly taking my left ear off, it gave me a cut but nothing serious. I underestimated the weight of the branch as it was loaded with ice. I bounced up faster than I ever thought possible for this 69 year old body, as the ground was soaking cold wet and it went through my pants and jacket faster than a dry sponge. That added insult to injury. So I hope that all of you are well, and I want to wish each of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!!

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Thanks, Duke

Merry Christmas.

PC... Another suggestion is "0-4-0" to recognize the number of paws.

Naming dogs, reminds me of Shelley telling me their family dog when she was a child was named "Nothing". She said occasionally tha Nothing would run off, and she and her siblings would go through the neigborhood shouting: "Nothing!" .... She also tells me that Nothing barked excessively. The man next door came to complain. He asked Shelley's Dad why Nothing barked so much. The response was; "Because he can't talk." (This paragraph is about Nothing.)

Jim CG..... I assume you are not in the mood for bait shop pizza.

 

[bjdukert]

MERRY CHRISTMAS

     TO ALL

           Duke

[rtraincollector]

pcarrell

OK, so I have a real problem here!

I NEED YOUR HELP!

You see, I bought a little English Bullbog puppy for my wife for Christmas.  He's a little boy, and he's only 7 weeks old, so we have to wait until the 3rd to pick him up.

Now I had to put a deposit on him, so I took my wife out to see him already. 

Now comes the problem..........what to name him?

Here's a pic the breeder took of him.  It's pretty bad quality, but you get the idea.

I like the name "Diesel", but the wife isn't on board with that.  We've kind of agreed on Max, but that's kind of bland.  Tank is a possibility, but the kids aren't so hot on that.

So, I ask you all, what do you think his name should be?

Well heres a couple of ideas we had some outside cats when we lived in Va and I named one caboose as he always showed up to eat last so he always got the scrapings ( wife got to saving some back just for him)

I also called another Boxcar just because i had a caboose so I needed a boxcar I also had one called cannonball as he was always flying thru it seemed either after another or one after him lol.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I've been playing around with ideas for a hedge around the park. I'm thinking about dumping the white picket (too residential) and replacing it with a thick hedge that goes all the way around the park. That will help it look more like a community area.

[Robby P.]

Jim, I just use various brushes.  I don't use any bristles at all.  Thats more for the layout.  They vary in size from 5/0 to 20/0.  The 20/0 gets you a very thin gash, or very small rust pits.  thats the brush I need to buy.  They are about $4 each at Micheals Craft store.     Those were one of the first hills I painted on the layout.  It has a more white color than gray.  Its kinda to late now to fix that.  I don't like it myself.

 

[JimRCGMO]

Afternoon, Zoe, I'll have the chili, a PB&J sandwich, and a root beer float, please. Thanks!

pcarrell

He's a lover.  He wanted to be held and played with.

Great dog, PC. Sounds like a definite gotta-have dog. I'd be inclined to go with Mike (Mikado) for a name, if the rest of your crew can't delay that gratification at all very long. He'll be fun to play with, I'm sure.  

 

Morgan, I'd kinda agree with you on asking for that receipt on the weather. I'm not sure what to think of our Missouri weather - it got up to 36 F earlier, but when I just checked online a few minutes ago, they were just now showing the temp slipping back to 32 F That'll be no good for the trip back home this evening!

Robby, I liked your 'patched' roof panel, and nice touch there, with those snow banks behind the boxcar. Maybe Santa will drop you off some new brushes for Christmas... Do you use bristles or what kind of brush for your weathering stuff?

Garry, when I was a young(er)'un, my brother liked anchovies on his pizzas. Guess that might be close to your Pizza and Bait Shop, eh? Hmmm - maybe I could have a hole-in-the-wall pizzeria on my layout....

Rob, I would definitely agree with PC - a crack line across the foundation is not at all a good thing. Even if it doesn't show through now, it could easily later, as water pressure outside and temperature changes w**k against it. I'd note that on your list of flaws for the contractor, since (even though he may not be wanting to fix it) that could end up costing you later.Might want to re-think using that contractor again later (if he's still using the same crews) for any other jobs around your place.

Ryan - that is one yummy-looking gingerbread house! May your Christmas and New Year's be joyous and fun holidays!

Very nice day at the office - only a couple of calls and one walk-in client today.

I'll slide Duke over and be in the booth, polishing off my lunch.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

 

[pcarrell]

Flashwave

PC: ......Did he like you? Was he all over your legs? or stay more in a corner?

He's a lover.  He wanted to be held and played with.

[Flashwave]

Hey piples. It's glazed out today. Sealed decks make no difference what-so-ever when it comes to freezing rain... How about some Rman Noodles?

PC: Well, I asked Tally, I think she suggersted naming him "Stretch" or maybe she was trying to say "grunt". But then, She's a silly puppy.... Winston is a fairly common name for a bulldog. He is cute. Have loads of fun with him. But I suggest like Tom has, t wait. Did he like you? Was he all over your legs? or stay more in a corner?

Tom: Thanks for all the weather, but ould you send the recept next time? I'd like to return it for a PC Turbotrain.

Jim: Layout? Do I have one of those yet? Must be a Christmas present[/smart aleck]

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

 

[Robby P.]

Thanks for the comments everybody.  I'm not to happy with it.  I need to get some new brushes. 

Sue, I have been working on the other side of the layout today, and probably all week.  I think that ridgeline looks the best, with the weathered car.  I will get a shot (or 2) of the other side maybe tomorrow.  Maybe everyone can let me know what that one looks like. 

Time to put up some towels, and clothes.  I try to stop on the layout by 3:00, and clean up a bit.

Everybody have a good rest of the day.

[pcarrell]

Those are some great names!  We'd thought of one or two of them, but some are new. 

Oh, and Tom, I suggested we wait for a week after he gets home too, but I think there's a little too much excitement on the parts of others to ever consider something as insane as "waiting"!

Robby, top notch work man!  You're a master!

Rob, cracks in the foundation.......NOT normal!  The town inspector made the builder take our foundation out and redo it when they found minor cracks in ours when they were building it.  The builder was less then thrilled, but had to comply with the town inspector.  He's the boss when it comes to that stuff.

[gear-jammer]

Way to go, Ryan.  Nice gingerbread house.

Robby,  I like your weathering job on the boxcar, but even more, I like the 2 ridgelines on your backdrop.

Sue

[SilverSpike]

Been a week or so since my last post, playing catch up is no time for that, sorry!

Robby P, great weathering on that rolling stock!

Tom, that is one Purdy Cat!  Meow!

Made some Ginger Bread Houses this past weekend with the family, fun tradition we have been doing the weekend before Christmas for about the past 10 years or so.....and good enough to eat too.

If I don't drop in again also wanted to wish everyone...

Happy Holidays!

and

Merry Christmas!

[twhite]

Morning from Sunny(yup)Cal.  Whatever was supposed to hit us last night had second thoughts and went away, which means it's probably going to be REALLY ticked by the time it hits the Rockies and the Midwest.  Temperature's about 40 here, which as I understand from several of my buddies out in the Midwest would be considered a Heat-Wave right now.  Man, you guys REALLY have my sympathies! 

Did some tree-planting on the layout last night, then went in and ran the Christmas Train for the edification of my two furries.  I should have videoed it--it looked like a Godzilla movie, LOL! 

Philip:  What a cute lil' fellah.  If I had an English Bulldog, I'd name it Winston Churchill, but that's just me, understand.   Actually, I'd probably wait and see what he's like.  I know with my cats I usually wait and see what kind of weird little quirks they have as kittens, then name them accordingly. Of course Remington came pre-named from the previous owner, otherwise I'd have named him Thor (he is a bit like a Hammer, LOL!). 

Blownout:  That story of Spring and the beanie bird is hilarious!  And thanks for the back-story on how you got him--he's one lucky kitty, IMO.  Can't believe that there are people out there who treat animals like that--talk about Medieval Mentality! 

Robby:  That's some really nice weathering there, my friend.  Not one of my talents, I'm afraid, every time I try weathering a car it looks as if it's been buried in the Sahara Desert for the last century.  But I sure appreciate those of you that can do it. 

Well, talk about the weather--just looked out the window, it's all suddenly clouded over.  We're sure living up to the old adage of "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes" around here, lately. 

Spooky just came in and sat on the keyboard, so it's feeding time.  So later, everyone. 

Best to all, prayers to those in need. 

 

She Who Must Be Obeyed 

 

Tom

 

 

[C&O Fan]

pcarrell

Snip

 

Snip

So, I ask you all, what do you think his name should be?

I vote for " TATER "

Its true he's just a little" spud "right now but when he grows up he's gonna be a real couch potato

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

jeffrey-wimberly

 It's coming up on lunchtime here and since Garry is buying, I'll have the chicken kabobs.

 

That's fine, Jeff, I'll get some carry-out from the bait shop...........