It's coming up on lunchtime here and since Garry is buying, I'll have the chicken kabobs.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
in a SOUTHERN mug, please & thanks.
Couldn't post yesterday for some reason. Nice photos, folks. Philip, what's wrong with Diesel as a name for such a cute little Tank as that? And Mike/Mikado works for me as well.
Picked up another HO circus wagon and a few more structures for the wife's layout. Maybe by this time next week there will be a carpet down in the new train room.
The one MAJOR project ahead for me is to cut a hole between the trainroom and workshop. This will include much bracing for the structure above, removing a few bricks & mortar (any suggestions on cutting out bricks & mortar without damaging foundation?), and then framing in a door. May not look pretty, but will come in handy cutting train table parts in the workshop and being able to walk directly into the train room with them. Contractor was going to add $800 to do this....forget that!
Question: Is it normal for there to be a crack all the way across a house foundation? There is one in the train room that travels across the entire width, alhtough I see no sign of it on the outside concrete, just across the floor.
Haven't met with our contractor yet. Wife wants to deduct not only for the hardware we supplied, but for some of our time spent installing and fixing things, including what they messed up.
Healing thoughts to all in need!
Rob
Thanks Sue. I worked on the new backdrop, and um....well.......the other side looks better. I will have to work on that.
Phillip, we had the same problem with out boxer. We had max, sarge, and ended up with Zeus. I kinda like the greek god names. I would love to get a female boxer and name her Hera. I just like the history of the gods. Since Zeus was strong and mighty, we thought a boxer is strong and very mighty looking.
Heres a few shots of the boxcar. Sorry about the one pic. I must have bumped the camera. I still need to do touch ups, and finish the roof. Heres a before, and the after shots.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
"Rust, whats not to love?"
Philip ... How does "Hobo" sound for a name?
JimCG .. The bait shop's pizza is OK, but don't ask about the toppings.
Our trip to Cincinnati is delayed due to weather. Also, familiy in Cincy has the flu.
I got some scenery work done this morning on the layout.
Happy Model Railroading!
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Mornin' (well it was when I started this) everyone! Ever try to type with two 20lb. cats trying to sit on your shoulder......?
Zoe, lots of dark roast coffee in a R&GV Museum Mug please, and maybe one of those raspberry danish you got over there.
Last night I loaded the wood stove and set on idle (almost shut down) like I do every night and went to bed. About 2 AM I woke up and smelled a faint "hot" smell and noticed that the house was about 90°. I went out to the living room where the stove is and it was a major blast furnace. As in red hot in a couple of places. Seems that the door on the stove didn't shut tight and she was just a roarin'! I picked up a hot pad I use to open the door to quickly open and shut the door to seat it and it burned through the hot pad in a second. Burned my hand lightly too before I dropped it. Grabbed the poker and used that to reseat the door. Then I stayed up for a half hour to make sure it was under control. Everything is OK this morning. I have fire brick behind and on one side of it so there was little danger of the wall going up in flames and the chimney is in good shape (cleaned out well last night too). Reloaded it with wood this morning and it is back heating the house. Didn't get back to sleep for a couple of hours though as I checked it a few more times just to be sure it was OK.
Still need to find one more usher for tomorrow night, I am down to the last few names on the list to call. Any other month you make 3 or 4 phone calls and you have the ushers for Sunday. This time of year...........
Philip you are right! We all need some prayers from time to time.........
[edit] Philip how about naming him my favorite loco, the USRA 2-8-2. He could be called Mike for short. Your wife might not even figure it out....... Mikado, yep, that has a nice ring for a Bulldog.
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
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?
I'm back.
I finally got brave enough to turn the computer on. We had some serious power outage potientials the last few days. We only lost power twice, but the heavy snow on the trees is a threat. We still have 1 1/2 feet of snow up on our hill, so I declined to go to work this week. My car won't be leaving any time soon. Larry is taking this week off too it is safer that way. Yes, the Pacific Northwest just shuts down when we have snow.
Jim, In response, the only cougar problem so far was a neighbor loosing a cat.
Robby, Looks like you are getting a good start on blending to your Bob Ross trees.
Lee, Good choice on the Laser-Art gas station. They make great structures.
Rob, I assume that your dad got much more snow that your sister.
Time for breakfast, waffles?
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Jim, I will try to get some pictures of the hills/mountains later this week. I will work on them later today. I still need to do some painting, and some foliage needs to be added.
Its still cold, but warming up to 34 today. Thats much better than 15 deg.
I am currently finishing up a rusty boxcar. I still need to do some last touch ups, and I will post some pictures of it in the next few hours.
Well I will hop off of here, and get some shots. Be back in a bit.
JimRCGMOJeff, good to hear about your niece's progress on her home. I bet she's happy about it, too (but chomping at the bit for things to be done). Nice caboose there! Shame you don't have any cats to steal it away...
Good Morning, Zoe - been like an amusement ride on the way in today (YeeHaw!). I'll have a couple of poached eggs (haven't had them that way for a while), couple of strips of that near-bacon (healthy) stuff, glass of Ed's famed OJ, and a cup of coffee, please. Thanks!
Worst part of getting going today was getting up that first hill - just to be sure (after the wheels slipped some) I dropped it down into the lowest Drive until I got better traction going up the hill. Then eased on down the other side and up the next one. Nice and easy, nice and easy. (Don't think Tina Turner was talking about driving on freezing slush when she said that famous line...) Not as many vehicles out there, and apparently they were watching their driving, for the most part, too. Started braking for stops and turns way ahead, which was a good thing at one intersection - slid a little bit before I stopped. But now I'm at the office, safe and sound. Will be very suprised if we get anyone this morning (at least, until it starts warming up this afternoon to the predicted 36 F).
Got a bit of catching up on everyone's posts, since I didn't make it in last night. Last night at MRR club, we got the rest of the 100 pair of feeder drop wires cut and stripped and bent. I also got in the majority of the Walthers modular kits I'd ordered, and paid my December club dues.
Garry, you had me wondering after you mentioned taking your wife and friends to dinner at the bait shop. I just hope you weren't able to see them dipping your dinner out of the tanks...
Morgan, it sounds like your layout's getting ready for Christmas decorating, with those trees and all.
Lee, I may have to try out that Krystal Klear stuff.
Ray, I think I'm about as 'wrapping-challenged 'as you described. Plus, it seems like the pieces of paper that I save from the previous years, never is big enough for what I want to wrap the present with. So I may wind up using another pattern. Don't think my ex-wife was that much better on the wrapping than me, though, so your wife must've been the (good) exception on the wrapping rule. And that 'water supply protection' photo... And I'm sure your friends will appreciate their present.
BC, I think your area wins the 'prize' for the coldest, most miserable weather lately (if that's any consolation, that is). Trade-offs for having more tolerable summers up there, I suppose. I'm sure you were happy when you found that the mill would fit into your space without alterations, eh?
Jeff, good to hear about your niece's progress on her home. I bet she's happy about it, too (but chomping at the bit for things to be done). Nice caboose there! Shame you don't have any cats to steal it away...
Merry Christmas, Gav (and may you have a holiday from the lads)!
Lee - got your email. On the buildings, I was considering using the DPM Goodfellows Hall as a (smaller) hotel. I'll probably keep my eyes open for a possible building for a theater for now.With most of my buildings only being a couple of stories tall, I feel like the MT Arms is too tall to use.
Robby, how'd your 'painted hills' turn out?
twhite Remington also likes to unwrap packages, I've found out. Spooky taught him. Either that, or he arrived pre-trained. Went out this morning, looks like a paper-shredder went through the place. I yelled "BAD CAT!" They both gave me a "What's YOUR problem, Daddy?" look.
Vincent - Some nice new locos for the layout, and good luck at the LHS'es in Pensacola!
Inch, thanks for the news on Jerry, and let us know what you find out from Sallie. Hope Jerry's not got anything permanent (and that they get it taken care of promptly). Stay warm up there; your area and east of you appears to be getting some of the worst of this round of weather.
PC, love your Santa pics - don't think I'd want to be on the first Santa's 'bad' list... Hope your first scenario for w**k is the accurate one for you today.
Likely to be a rather "All is calm,..." morning here, until it warms up this afternoon and tonight. Our high for the day will be tonight. They're predicting about 47 F for overnight temp.
I'll settle into the booth here and get busy on my breakfast before it cools down too much. Prayers for a safe Christmas for all, especially any who have to travel.
Blessings,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Good Morning!
Little slow gettin' goin' this morning, but thats OK. I suppose the weather report doesn't help my motivation. It's kinda bleak. The commute home looks like a real party too!
Today: A chance of snow showers before 1pm, then snow showers and sleet likely between 1pm and 4pm, then freezing rain and sleet after 4pm. High near 31. South wind between 14 and 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. Total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Santa's gonna have to toughen up to get through this weather!
Well, I wonder what the world of telephones will bring me today? Could be quiet, the weather not being much of a factor and folks being off work for the holidays. On the other hand, it could be challenging, this the weather not cooperating and everyone wanting fixed up and a major holiday to make scheduling a "pleasure" (Thats the work we phone people use when things are all messed up!.....now you know.).
Oh well, I'd best get ready for whatever this day will bring. Gotta get the techs out the door and scattered around the city in readiness for the possible bad stuff.
Prayers for all those in need......yeah, thats you too! We're all in some sort of need, huh?
Good morning and MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone. The current temperature is -15C and partly cloudy. We are expecting it to become snowy with about 2-4cm for today and we will have snow--heavy at times--overnight with 5-10cm expected. Tomorrow we will get a bunch of------RAIN!!---on top of all the snow. We will have a white christmas mixed in with the usual slop...
This morning, hear a lot of 'Spring' chirps and running around galoomphing all over the place---get up and discover 'Spring' is now into the forestery business,having removed about 15 trees from the village under the tree. Funny thing about it all was that he didn't move the lemax moose we placed in the middle of the trees...hhmmmnnm...
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Good morning. It's 39 (35 WC) and cloudy. The high is expected to be in the low 60's and very cloudy with a higher than average chance of rain. Yesterday I received a package which I'd been waiting about 5 days for. In it were 2 Athearn SOO LINE covered hoppers and an Athearn Conrail wide-vision N-20 caboose kit. The caboose went together very well with no flash having to be trimmed anywhere. It has of course been fitted with Kadee #5 couplers and is awaiting a set of RP25 metal wheels. The covered hoppers were already assembled but were on the light side. I installed the needed amount of weight to bring them up to 5 ounces and Kadee #5 couplers were installed in place of the horn hooks they had been equipped with. All that remains is to equip them with metal wheels. I then went over and helped my niece do some work on her home. I cut the remaining pieces of trim molding so the crown molding can be installed then helped her install the base board molding in the back bedroom. Today's Weather for: Sundown, LA 71446-6114 12/23/2008 Wind Chill: 35°F Humidity: 55% Dew Point: 26°F So Far Today High: 41°F Low: 36°F Rain: 0.00" Rain Rate: 0.00"/h Gust: 22mph SE Today High: 62 A chance of showers in the morning...then showers likely and isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Not as cool. Highs in the lower 60s. Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent. Tonight Low: 62 Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Warmer. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Good Morning from Tipton IN !
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Evening folks!
I have spent the evening mixing down a short recording for a couple people who performed in it. A Christmas gift to them if you will. Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols performed by our church choir a couple of weeks ago. Not the best performance of that I have heard (I have performed it at least 4 times during my career. 2 times with piano and twice with harp..... aaaaaahhhhhhh yes!). It was also recorded under less than favorable circumstances using the built in mics in the church. (We record all our services to take along when Deacons do visits to shutins.) That all said, I still sat here with tears in my eyes at the end of the 6th. movement..... Tom will understand I am sure! The line that starts, "If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy...." Does me in every time!
So I have one more on my list done for this season.
Payers to those in need. Stay warm and safe!
Evening, an irish coffee please Flo.
We've had temps down round 0 the last couple days with wind chills of 15 to 25 below. It was some better today, 17 with sun and the wind had laid down to a light breeze. Tomorrow, freezing rain, sleet then changing rain till Wednesday. So with the weather forecast we went n picked up a few things we need for Christmas just in case.
While we were out, Sally called and JERRY's in the Casey Health Care [nursing home] RM 211. I don't have any details yet, so I'll give Sally a call tomorrow [to late tonight] and let everyone know.
Also Deb's uncle Leo died Sunday evening and her sister Dena had called to let us know when services were and where. Now there's a trip to Lawrenceville Wednesday for services.
That's about all the excitement there's been for us. Did go to Bell Ridge yesterday for our Christmas with Mom [She always does hers the Sunday before] and had fun there visiting with family. Going to Deb's dad's Christmas morning, then that night is with her Mom here at the library in town. Ours with all the kids is next Sunday. Roni and the kids were coming, but the way the weathers been tween here n Ohio, we told her to stay home.
I'll get back in here tomorrow, I bests gets round almost time fur bed. Thoughts for those in need and have a gooden
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4309
I'll have a cheesebuger with a Kona dark roast decaf please. We are having a quiet night here. I'm listening to our 'moaning monnie' winds and thinking about trying some weathering out to make one of the old E8 bodies I have even more delapitated looking. HA! Try spelling that when you are all sleepy. Think I'll finish this off and head off for bed. G'night----
Today's plan was work then play with trains. The 2 engines and 2 decoders (NCE DA-SRs) I got came in the mail today.
The first engine is another P2K GP30:
The second engine is an Atlas U30C: (My first Atlas, for 35 bucks it was a steal)
I managed to use the second in my SD9 which had a broken light function.
Tommorow's plan is to go to P-cola and go through the junkyards. While I'm there I'll hit the hobbyshops over there. I'll pick up a pack of kadees and maybe some more coal hoppers (I'm at 25, would like about 40 or so to fill up my track at the MR club)
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
Evening Gang: Just a quick look in and then to bed.
I got my 2-10-2 the other day. Now I have to go down to the basement and clean off enough of the layout so I can give it a test run.
I see that Walthers is going to produce a model of the Hulet unloader. I can't possibly use one on my layout but I may have to get one and just do it for display.
Well the tempurature has been on the cool side for the last couple of days. About 20 in the morning and warming up to about 34 in the afternoon. Not as bad as up in the northland but for us it's cold.
Time for bed.
Good Night All
I got the needed work done on the two SOO LINE covered hoppers I got in the mail today. Kadee #5 couplers have been installed and both cars have been weighted to NMRA standards (1 ounce initial + 1/2 ounce for each inch car length (8" coupled length) = 5 ounces). No need for weathering as they alreadyhave exquisite weathering (Stand up and take a bow Lee) that I'm going to leave as it is.
Afternoon all:
It's clouded up, colding down and looks like our friend from the Northwest is moving in BIG TIME. We are supposed to have snow down to 1500 feet tonight, rain here in the Valley, and then it's supposed to head East for a lot of your other folks. Mom just phoned from Nevada City, the've got about a foot up there with more expected. Tomorrow is supposed to be a 'window' between storms, but then another one is moving in on Christmas Eve, and this is supposed to be a mixture of an Alaskan cold front and a Pacific front, so that means we'll get WET here, and TONS of snow over the Sierra.
And then it moves East. As nasty as it gets--and has been--here in California, those storms seem to get realy IRRITATED going over the Rockies, and hit you guys in the Midwest and East like gangbusters!
Finished my Christmas Shopping, I'm holding off on the wrapping until Remington and Spooky calm down and find another hobby besides UN-wrapping.
Stopped by Railroad Hobbies in Roseville. Drooled. The brass case was FULL to overflowing with all sorts of delectable goodies, including a classic PFM version of a Rio Grande M-63 Northern, all painted and weathered and just staring at me saying "Buy me, Daddy" until I looked at the price tag. WHOA! And I'd heard rumors that used brass was going DOWN in price! Luckily, I have two Key models of the same locomotive, so I was able to just smile and say, "Later, baby." And for anyone who can't live without the 'early' version of the UP Challenger (the 'interesting' one with the six-wheel tender and the headlight on the front of the smokebox), they had TWO! Of course, I'm not going to spoil it all and say what they cost, LOL! And at least three versions from different importers of those little, amazing SP "Valley Mallet" 2-6-0's. I just stood there and drooled. Walked out with a bunch of pre-made evergreen trees and a Roundhouse 40' wood reefer (you think I'd pass up a refrigerator car, you fools? ) rather nicely decorated for GN/WFE.
It's always a pleasure to go into that store. One nice thing about BOTH of our LHS' here in the Sacramento area, there's always a lot of customers, and some really GREAT help manning the stores.
So this evening, I'm going to go out to the garage and do some serious tree-planting and hear the rain whacking against my newly (last year) roofed garage. Then come in and let Remington and Spooky chase my Christmas train. Maybe have an eggnog or six--after all, it IS the Christmas season
Best to all, prayers to those in need.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Hello from the freeze box known as London. According to what we got told here we sat at -10C pretty much all day. Oh well, at least we only got 5cm today---I don't even want to see what we get tomorrow.
Ray; I only have one question. What were they smoking? Or was it just the wobbly pop that made them think that up?
Tom; Both would be into gift removal services I presume? Or was it scrap dealing? Remington probably noticed something that yielded under the paws and decided that it was time for exercise....yeah right
LSWrrJeff, it looks good. I hope my box came in the mail today, otherwise who knows where it will be after Christmas, LOL.
Jeff, it looks good. I hope my box came in the mail today, otherwise who knows where it will be after Christmas, LOL.
Lee
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Afternoon Gang: I just had a nice long newsey post going and bam it dissapeared. I think that I hit the ctrl key with my hand resting it on the keyboard. I'll just make this quick and maybe come back later tonight.
My best to everyone.
Lee: The box came in today. It took about 20 minutes to put that caboose together. Some of the tolerances were really tight but it came out looking pretty good.
Heartland Division CB&QI would suspect that the fire department contacted the railroad to request holding the trains. That is the usual procedure if fire department is obstructing tracks in an emergency.
I would suspect that the fire department contacted the railroad to request holding the trains. That is the usual procedure if fire department is obstructing tracks in an emergency.
I would suspect you are right.... Of course then they wouldn't need the hose ramps would they....??? I was sent that photo in an e-mail from a guy who is an avid Model Railroader and a Fireman. Couldn't resist sharing.
twhiteHow thoughtful of them to provide what looks like ramps to take the trains up and over the hose-lines, LOL!
Ray:
How thoughtful of them to provide what looks like ramps to take the trains up and over the hose-lines, LOL!
Well, not much from the home front here in SunnyColdCal. We're having a clear, cold (for us, at least) morning right now, with another storm dropping in from the Northwest this afternoon, complete with low snow levels and more rain predicted for the Valley. Everything looks so GREEN in my back yard! The Northwest is a major mess, my son phoned from Vancouver WA and said that they don't plan on driving down for Christmas. I told him to stay put, we can postpone it until the weather clears up. Travelers are stranded all over the place--Greyhound has cancelled all bus routes to the Northwest until further notice, and I guess the airports around here are in the same condition. AMTRAK, anyone?
Right now the Midwest and East is due to get OUR last storm, so my sympathies to you all back there, it was a cold one for us, so I can only imagine what it's going to be like by the time it hits you.
Set up the little On30 train around the tree, with a lot of help from Remington and Spooky--it's so much fun trying to make sure that the train gets around the layout at least ONCE! Remington also likes to unwrap packages, I've found out. Spooky taught him. Either that, or he arrived pre-trained. Went out this morning, looks like a paper-shredder went through the place. I yelled "BAD CAT!" They both gave me a "What's YOUR problem, Daddy?" look.
Well, have to do some last-minute shopping (which gives me an excuse to drop by Railroad Hobbies in Roseville), so I'd better get ready.