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

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:28 AM

LSWrr
60% off locomotives, very nice!  I hear that my older locomotives (90% of my fleet) can’t run on DCC with open frame motors, so now I have to decide on selling them off and replacing them or do some major rebuilds.

I know what kind of decision you face. Couple of years back I rebuilt a Bachmann diesel that's now over 30 years old so I could convert it to DCC. To do this would require removing the old open-frame motor and the wornout trucks. I ended up having to reengineer the frame so I could mount a can motor  and new trucks with their respective gear towers then had to make drive shafts to link the motor to the towers. No easy task that. I went through all that and it runs very well but I can count on one hand the number of times I've run it since then. Would I do it again? Well, I'll put it this way. I have a Bachmann 0-6-0 that's about the same age. I'm not even comtemplating taking any action on it. It came with a pancake motor and it'll still have that pancake motor in it when I finally get rid of it.

LSWrr
Jeff, I left my bag at the house so I’ll ship that stuff out tomorrow, sorry.

No problem. I forget things at times myself. Actually more times than I'd like to admit.

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Posted by SilverSpike on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:32 AM

Went to Walgreen's last night to get some Zyrtex for Ben and Monique since they take it every day for sinuses and they had all Christmas lights 50% off and lots of stuff with slashed prices. I got an electric Dr. Scholls foots warmer for only $18.99 and Monique got one of those massage/heating pads for only $22.00, has a car plug adapter too.

Heartland Division CBandQ

Ryan .. Six bean soup would be good.  Does the chef make house calls to prepare it?

Duke.... I am glad you checked on Dick, and I hope he and his family are OK. That was quite a storm up there according to the news. Have you seen a long term weather forecast for S E MI?

 

Hey Garry, house calls only within a 3 block radius of my house! Sorry about that, but the recipe is included! Chef

I second what Garry said, thanks Duke for checking in on Dick! I was thinking about them with the ice storms and power outages, hope they are OK!

RT, nice cheese cake dessert there! Any left........PC and Jim!

Thoughts and prayers to those in need and recovery.

 

 

 

 

Ryan Boudreaux
The Piedmont Division
Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger era
Cajun Chef Ryan

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Posted by Cox 47 on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:49 AM

Good Morning All....Its cloudy 17 with lite snow flurries....I'll have coffee and sweet roll please...Thank You...Not much going on here on Pearl street...I worked on 2nd "hill" yesterday and ran trains...Here is a coal drag meeting the IC run thru Pig train at stoy junction....

You all have a good one...Jerry

ILLinois and Southern...Serving the Coal belt of southern Illinois with a Smile...
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Posted by pcarrell on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:52 AM

SilverSpike

RT, nice cheese cake dessert there! Any left........PC and Jim!

What?  Why you lookin' at me?

Philip
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Posted by howmus on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:53 AM

 Mornin' everyone!

A nice seasonable 24°F outside this morning in the Finger Lakes, but the weather guessers have issued a weather advsiory for tonight.  They have some real weather in store for us I guess just like many of you folks are getting.....

From the National Weather Service Buffalo, NY office: 

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 12 PM EST WEDNESDAY.

SNOW AND A WINTRY MIX WILL PRODUCE SLIPPERY DRIVING CONDITIONS TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING... INCLUDING THE WEDNESDAY MORNING COMMUTE. LIGHT SNOW WILL START ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TIER EARLY THIS EVENING AND RAPIDLY SPREAD ACROSS THE REST OF WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEW YORK DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE NIGHT. THE WIDESPREAD SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT BEFORE TAPERING OFF WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO MIX WITH SLEET AND POSSIBLY SOME FREEZING RAIN AFTER ABOUT 3 AM... ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE WESTERN SOUTHERN TIER AND THE FINGER LAKES. SOME FREEZING DRIZZLE IS ALSO POSSIBLE FOR A TIME WEDNESDAY MORNING AFTER THE STEADIER SNOW ENDS.

TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS BY MIDDAY WEDNESDAY ARE EXPECTED TO REACH 4 TO 6 INCHES NORTH OF THE THRUWAY... WITH 3 TO 4 INCHES ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TIER WHERE AMOUNTS WILL BE HELD DOWN SOMEWHAT BY MIXED PRECIPITATION. ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH ARE POSSIBLE... MAINLY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TIER AND FINGER LAKES.
 

I have to go into school for a rehearsal this afternoon but then can hunker down and work on the layout tomorrow.  I do worry about my son as he works 2nd shift and has a 15 mile drive to get home on country roads.  Hopefully it won't be too bad when he gets out of work.  Think I'll gas up the snow blower before it gets too deep as well.

Flo, I'll have a cup of Dark Roast in a FGLK Mug this morning.  Oh, since Jeffrey is buying, I have a raspberry danish. 

[edit] Almost forgot...  I have gotten a series of e-mails from the Rochester Chapter of the NRHS letting us all know that a popular railfaning location in Rochester, NY is now off limits to all railfans.  It's the parking lot of an office building at the corner of Blossom Road and University Ave. New owners don't want "riff raff" hanging around the property.  They are giving people one warning and then calling the police.  Former owner liked having us around as it helped with security on the property and he encouraged us railfaning there.  Some of our members are considering renting the smallest space in the building possible and using it as a place to "dump" stuff.  That way all  RC NRHS members would be tenents and legally be able to be there.......EvilBig Smile

Prayers for all in need!  Hope you stay warm and have a great day! 

 

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by Cederstrand on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:54 AM

refill, please & thanks.

***Terry, that Miners Shack looks great.Thumbs Up If my wife sees it, she'll want one on her layout. (she's out of controlLaugh)

Thanks for all the HO Hospital suggestions. Hope not to have to kitbash anything other than my (N) Soylent Green Plant.

I found two HO hospitals, one is a Model Power (not available anywhere), the other made by Faller (St. Joseph's Hospital). Not entirely sure the Faller is HO scale. Waiting to hear back from that store. Oddly enough, there seem to be several hospitals made in N scale...now what are the odds of that happening!

Wife is going to be taking care of her folks the next few days. MIL is getting a series of shots in her back and will be unable to take care of FIL. He is a LOT of work these days. I dread the day they end up back here, but it is probably inevitable. A couch in the train room would sure come in handy.Whistling

Hope everyone is doing well today. Cowboy Rob

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Posted by Cederstrand on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 11:34 AM

in a UNION PACIFIC BIGBOY mug, please & thanks.

***Jerry, we sure look forward to joining you in the abillity to "run trains" one day. Must be great to have a finished layout.

***Ray, love that idea. That would show the new owner not to mess with Railfans.Pirate

Seems quiet in here today. Turns out that Faller hospital was N scale. Gee, if I can't find any in HO, I might have to combine one end of both layouts and do some forced perspective, just so the wife has a hospital. OK, so perhaps this is a way to keep her from taking over the entire room.Pirate

Looks like the fella I bought those two models from may be able to replace my mistaken N with an HO gas station after all. That would be excellent customer service. I'll still sell off some of my structures to put towards buying track. Just wouldn't look right to have duplicate structures on our two layouts.

Painters were back at work yesterday and one is here working today. The build is almost completed. A few things we'll have done after our contractor leaves, like soem additional tiles laid and then the carpeting. The huge dumpster was hauled off this morning. 

Cowboy Rob

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Posted by JimRCGMO on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 12:11 PM

Good Morning (well it still was when I started) Zoe - since it took a while to catch up on the posts, I'll have a nice bowl of beef stew, some whole grain bread, a couple slices of cheese and a root beer float, please 'n' thank you.

Rob, that kinda sucks on your hours being cut back to about nothing. Would you make more My 2 cents drawing unemployment or taking the one day a week? Sorry I didn't get back to you last night on my email - it was getting nasty and the police were telling everyone to NOT get out unless you absolutely, completely, positively HAD to be out (like an emergency). So I stayed home, where my connection is so-so at the moment. I'll write you the email today at work, and send it when I get to lunch from the WiFi at the restaurant. From what I recall of your website before, your weathering is great. Thumbs Up I think BC's about right on your CFO's hospital - either the European companies or the Walthers/DPM modulars may be your best way to go. (The DPM window choices would be better, while the Walthers are somewhat simpler to put together however you wan)

I think I must be in 'kid mode' today - when I got up and saw all those schools (on the bottom part of the screen with our local TV station) that were closed today, I figured for sure that our office wouldn't be open. Big Smile Called them about 20 till when I usually start, and they were open.Sad Oh, shoot! Evil Luckily, I'd had a little to eat, so I just needed to shave, throw some clothes on for today and get loaded up to go out (and scrape off the car's windshield). I had the foresight last night to leave the wipers in the 'up' position last night, with a large trash bag held under them, so getting the front windshield cleared off wasn't too much w**k.

CN Charlie, Johnboy, BC, and our other 'Frozen Frontier' Canadian brothers - so how many places shut down up there when it's -40 C/F? Some places in the US last night, I heard some places were cold enough that engine blocks were in danger of freezing. Shock That's really nasty cold - if I lived there, I'd be getting one of those block warmers (or an electric blanket) for the engine overnight. I suspect even your polar bears up there are wearing their red longjohns when it gets that bad! Wow!!

BC, from the photos and your description of that Purina mill, it sounds like you love a good challenge, eh? Wink Best wishes on getting it the way you want it.

Good to see DerJohn and Duke in the DIner again, and Der, those carvings are amazing! Thumbs Up Duke, thanks for the info on JR. Good to hear of the progress on his house. Amazing what can happen with a good contractor, huh?

I sure hope Dick has a lot of blankets and wood for that stove to keep them warm while their power's out. ShockYeah!! We dodged the bullet on losing power around here with this batch of weather last night. About all the schools in this part of MissouriLand are closed, though.

Lee, what I decided to call "Murphy's Bar" is the DPM kit aka Kelley's Saloon (I think it's #243-10100 in Walthers). I like being able to use Murphy's Law things for jokes related to it, so I changed the name to that.

All right, RT, are you trying to tempt us away from (as it was said) "portion control"?Whistling 'Cause that sure looks tempting to me, and I can imagine what PC might think about it ("MINE! YUM!")Smile,Wink, & Grin What, Zoe - you say that PC and the others finished it off before I got here? ShockWow!! - what a bunch of piehounds! Smile,Wink, & Grin

Inch, just remember that after the candy-making is done, then comes the candy-eating.DinnerSmile Good to hear you're getting some train-running time in.

Terry, I like your miner's shack - and as you said, it needs a rocker and a hound dog. There might be a suitable dog in the Preiser or Woodland Scenics dogs and cats sets that'd w**k (though they may or may not be a hound dog, if I recall correctly).

Ryan, those foot-warming tools should be very useful this winter. Yeah!!

Ray, that sounds like a good idea for dealing with McScrooge the new owner... Whistling I'm guessing he isn't worried about getting a lump of coal in his stocking this year, either. Shock

Jerry, your new hill looks good. You're about done on your layout, I'd guess. Or, what else do you have in mind to do on it?

I'll be settling into the booth and get to my lunch now (before PC eats that, too...Whistling)

Prayers for a warm and dry place for all to be in today. I'm hoping our weather will moderate out by the weekend. I heard rumors of temps into the 50's (F) by Sat. That'd be nice!

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau (which is knda white and a bit slippery today)

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Posted by Cederstrand on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 12:51 PM

***Jim, you have me (Rob - Cederstrand) confused with Robby. Yes, my wife is the one looking for a HO scale hospital. No, I'm still a full time artist, although these days it's almost like being unemployed.

Cowboy Rob

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Posted by Robby P. on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 1:48 PM

I get confused as well.  Blush

People back down south called my Robby, people up north call me Rob. 

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

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Posted by pcarrell on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:33 PM

Philip
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Posted by Robby P. on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:41 PM

Well heres a mountain/hills I have been working on today. I ran out of plaster.  I will have to order some more tonight.  I was very close to making a tunnel, but nope I didn't.

I also gave a shot of what the new backdrop looks like, and the rest of that curve.  I didn't make the backdrop as tall either.  I didn't wanna feel boxed in.

 

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 3:45 PM

Good evening/afternoon, depending on whichever way one carves up the old clock---everyone!

I've been at the doc's. So far the arrythmia is behaving itself and the blood sugar is doing the same--I've been diabetic for a few years now so getting used to poking myself every so often--so I befigure that I must be still ticking...Whistling

Jim; Nah. It's more like--gee, what would happen if---OOOPPS!---kind of/sort of... Actually what is more challenging is trying to convince Audrey that this is a good idea...She is more partial to the smaller scale elevators(that way we can stuff more of them on the layout.

Rob; Is she proposing to have the hospital have a spur there for coal by any chance?Whistling

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/

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Posted by Cederstrand on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 4:48 PM

refill, thanks.

***BC, after discussing some options with the wife tonight, we're now leaning towards a dual scale layout with forced perspective. The hospital will be up a small hill, like it is in a nearby town here. Will be an interesting challenge for first us time modelers. I would prefer to use a river to divide scales. Still plenty of time to figure out a reasonable approach to this. At lease there are Hospitals available in N scale (take THAT all you Hugely Oversized modelers...Laugh)

If I doze off in the corner booth, just let me be. (unlikely after above comment, eh!) Cowboy Rob

 

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Posted by New Haven I-5 on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 5:20 PM

jeffrey-wimberly

LSWrr
60% off locomotives, very nice!  I hear that my older locomotives (90% of my fleet) can’t run on DCC with open frame motors, so now I have to decide on selling them off and replacing them or do some major rebuilds.

I know what kind of decision you face. Couple of years back I rebuilt a Bachmann diesel that's now over 30 years old so I could convert it to DCC. To do this would require removing the old open-frame motor and the wornout trucks. I ended up having to reengineer the frame so I could mount a can motor  and new trucks with their respective gear towers then had to make drive shafts to link the motor to the towers. No easy task that. I went through all that and it runs very well but I can count on one hand the number of times I've run it since then. Would I do it again? Well, I'll put it this way. I have a Bachmann 0-6-0 that's about the same age. I'm not even comtemplating taking any action on it. It came with a pancake motor and it'll still have that pancake motor in it when I finally get rid of it.

LSWrr
Jeff, I left my bag at the house so I’ll ship that stuff out tomorrow, sorry.

No problem. I forget things at times myself. Actually more times than I'd like to admit.

Jeff, check your pm's.

- Luke

Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's

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Posted by pcarrell on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 5:21 PM

Cederstrand

At lease there are Hospitals available in N scale (take THAT all you Hugely Oversized modelers...Laugh)

If I doze off in the corner booth, just let me be. (unlikely after above comment, eh!)

Don't worry buddy.  You doze.  I've got your back!  (Watch this.....I'll distract them!)

 

 

 

 

OK EVERYONE......FREE SURF & TURF DINNERS ALL AROUND..........ON ME!

Philip
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Posted by howmus on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 5:53 PM

Ooooooooooo, Aaaaaaaaaaah!

Flo I'll have that surf and turf special!   And some decafe in a R&GV Museum mug!  Thanks.

I'll be in the window booth watching the snow fall..........  Hasn't started yet but soon I guess. 

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by demonwolf224 on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 5:58 PM

Today was a good day for me, right now were having our first heavy snow, it's been snowing since 5:00pm eastern, really heavy. Well saturday were going to State College to do some last minute Christmas shopping, and I still got a good $100 on my Christmas buget!!! Plan on getting an Athearn geep, in a conrail heritage, maybe buy an airbrush.

This post has come to you from Lewistown Pennsylvania!!!
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Posted by bjdukert on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 6:40 PM

Evening all

Got through to
Dick tonight and he said all is well considering everything. They had a lot of ice and quite a bit of damage to their trees but the house is ok and he was out with his chainsaw today doing a lot of cutting. John got through to him as well and he can probably add some more to what I have said and Dick is going to try to get into the Diner soon.

That’s about it

Best to all on sick call and those recovering AngelAngelAngel

Talk to you later

Duke

"Don't take a wooden nickel,because it isn't worth a dime" by my Dad

"There are only 3 things you need out of life:A gentle grade,the wind in your face,and cinders in your hair.....But keep an eye on the water glass!" Jack Evans

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Posted by Cederstrand on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 6:43 PM

Gotta have that Surf and Turf....I'll take the Surf, Wife can have the Turf.Chef (Thanks, Philip)

Does anyone recall the name of the HO circus car series that was offered earlier this year in one of the MRRmags? Of the three copies I found, none had the company's ad and wife is bugging me about it. I was going to look into it for her Christmas present. I need to find the rest of my mags, as I know the ad appeared in a couple of them. Any help will be appreciated.

Cowboy Rob

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 7:05 PM

Rob; In an Information desk column from Jun'08 there was a mention that someone picked up an entire set through Walthers. Supposedly it even had the wagons. Is it possible that they might have those things seperatly?

Oh BTW, can someone help me with the difference between speedmatching and adding loco to consist in DCC? This little one seems to need to build up a glossary of terms if he is going to finally get into DCC.WhistlingConfused

The name was/is Great Circus Train...

Cederstrand

Gotta have that Surf and Turf....I'll take the Surf, Wife can have the Turf.Chef (Thanks, Philip)

Does anyone recall the name of the HO circus car series that was offered earlier this year in one of the MRRmags? Of the three copies I found, none had the company's ad and wife is bugging me about it. I was going to look into it for her Christmas present. I need to find the rest of my mags, as I know the ad appeared in a couple of them. Any help will be appreciated.

Cowboy Rob

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...

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Posted by TMarsh on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 8:22 PM

Evening all, nothing for me thank you, just slid in for a bit. Gotta get on with projects.

Rob- don’t recall a Circus Train but Sparklingstarmodels.com has circus wagons?? a few months back. Maybe help??

Great photos guys Thumbs Upand the miner’s shack, I see Bloodhound.

Inch you’re right snow we got not much accumulated but the roads were/are NASTY Grumpy I went in town and it took me 30 min to get to Spfld. And I only live about 10 mi. 5 cars were in the ditch in about a 3 mi stretch.

Be careful out there if you’re in the weather and if you’re not, well don’t tell me where you live or I might show up!!! Laugh I don't know what I'm gonna do when winter gets here.

Todd  

Central Illinoyz

In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.

I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk. Laugh

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Posted by Cederstrand on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 8:22 PM

Found it: sparkling star models. Looks like remakes of the older circus cars. Think we'll buy just one to see what it looks like and how much trouble it is to assemble/paint/etc.

***TMarsh, you must have hit Post just seconds before I did. That's it though, so Thanks!

Cowboy Rob

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 8:30 PM

 Had the SPSF GP38-2 running on the layout for the first time today, With her partner, MGRy #350, the two of them have lots of power.


Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
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beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by Paul W. Beverung on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 8:39 PM

Evening Gang: Ladies I'll have the surf and turf on PC. Thanks PC.

It's been really cold here lately. OK, not as cold as maybe Johnboy or Der but for us cold. This morning it was 21 when I took Mary Ann in for her dialysis. When you think that Sunday it was in the 70s Monday came as quite a shock. East of us they have been having freezing rain and sleet. That really makes it fun driving. Some of the folks that have four wheel drive can't seem to understand that it's not the starting that's dangerous it's the stopping.

I talked with the folks at Walthers today. They said that things have picked up since last month. I hope so. Maybe it's a sign that things will get better sooner then later. I was checking up on my order for the Hiawatha set. The Super Dome is late due to them having to hand paint the dome. It could not be done in the normal way of printing. The Sky Top lounge is in and they have one put away for me. The E-7s are not in yet so I told them to wait untill everything is in and then ship. No shipping charge then.

Not much going on here. I have been working on my new office. It's the bedroom that we recently moved out of. I set up a desk along one wall with an old counter top on a couple of two drawer filing cabnets. Unfortunately like many layouts it's already getting too small. I am sorting through all my " stuff " and getting red of a bunch of paper work and duplicate and triplicate research paper. I've found a letter that my dad wrote me way back in 1977. He's been gone along time so it was good seeing his hand writting again. I'll keep it.

Well I guess I'll head for bed.

Good Night All

Paul The Duluth, Superior, & Southeastern " The Superior Route " WETSU
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Posted by LSWrr on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:00 PM

Evening all,

Been gluing people to my passenger station and platforms tonight, 56 people down and only 44 to go.

Rob, any chance of converting your wife to N-Scale????

Jeff, I hear you on rebuilding locomotives.  I have several late 1960-1970 Mantua steam cast metal locomotives.  I Have 4 Pacific locomotives and not to fond of that style, hopefully I can swap them for Mikado or Berkshires.   The new motors are $29-$45 each, then I’ll need to swap out the brass trucks on the tenders for nickel and pick up a decoder.  I figure $87 to rebuild one of these and I can get Challengers (used) DCC ready for $125.

Robby, the new layout looks good so far.

Jim, very cool, I do have a O’Reilly pub and maybe a Lee’s Pour house.

Well it looks like Jeff and Jerry are running trains while the rest of us “work” on our layouts, LOL.

Blownout;  I’m new to it as well and hopefully will cross over in 2009.  I bought “THE DCC GUIDE” from Model Railroader and found it to be very helpful in terms and understanding the basics.  About 2 months ago MR had a comparison of most DCC systems available, that is what finally sold me on the Digitrax system I want Lenz was a close second.  

Lee

 

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 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:20 PM

Good evening.

In spite of the ice I went to town. Only the Post Office was open. Such much for a trip to the hardware store to get supplies for the layout. No, I did not want the fund raiser fruit cake on the counter with the rat poison and the snake poison.  Returning home, I almost did not make it up the hill at the beginning of our road in my truck that normally goes anywhere. By the time I crested the hilltop, all four wheels were spinning enough to get the speedometer up to 80 MPH. I tried other methods only to start sliding and the to back down the hill for another running start.

JimCG ... Do you have the same icy stuff there?

Duke .... I'm glad you contacted Dick. Next time tell him we're sorry about the ice damge to his trees, but hopefully, next years trawberries and rhubbarb crop is unaffected. We need those strawberry/rhubarb pies.

Jeff ... You keep the workers in the Leesville Locomotive Shop busy with thsoe neat looking convesions.  Will the workers get a Christmas break?


Terry ... I really like the shack!

Jerry ...The layout looks nice. It looks like the piggyback busienss is doing well. Are there Christmas presents loaded in the trailers?

Rob ... I see the Model Power hospital listed by a "but it now" seller located in Australia on Ebay. The building  It looks European for sure, but perhaps it could be "Americanized".

Robby ... The layout progress looks very good.

PPC ... What a wonderful Christmas message!  Really cheer us up with the laughing Santa story.

Well, Ryan.... maybe, the chef could stray from home just to the diner.

Inch .. You were correct about the icy weather here.

Everybody ..... Here's something for you to do if you would like a break from model railroading...

  http://www.chilloutzone.de/files/player.swf?b=10&l=197&u=ILLUMllSOOAvIF//P_LxP92A42lCHCeeWCejXnHAS/c

Happy Model Railroading.

 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    August 2007
  • 2,123 posts
Posted by CNCharlie on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:30 PM

Good Evening Diners!

Well I'm sorry about all the cold air that is spilling down from our way but sad to say there isn't much end in sight as the weatherman here says it will be cold until Christmas. It has moderated somewhat as there isn't a windchill warning any longer now that it is only -38C.

Jim, the only way an engine block will freeze at -40 is due to inadequate anti-freeze and yes a block heater is an absolute requirement or your car won't likely start. The problem isn't the cold coolant but the oil as even 5W-30 gets rather stiff. The block heater heats the coolant enough so that it does keep the whole engine warm. Volvos though have an oil heater which is a far better system. As far as anything closing at -40 the answer is nothing. The mall was packed on Sunday, parking lot full and the windchill was -40. I even saw a couple of teenage guys running out to their car and they didn't even have a jacket on never mind gloves. Ah, the craziness of youth.

Gary, you were asking Der, What's a D10? That is a RR question I can actually answer. A D10 is a 10 wheeler class of the CPR. In fact it was their favourite class as they had more of them ( about 500) than any other. They were used largely in branchline service for freight and passenger use right to the end of steam, so 1960 here on the prairies. Rumor has it that TruLine Trains is bringing out a high-end plastic version, likely in 2010. CP or not there will be one in my yard!

Hope everyone is well and keeping warm!

CN Charlie

 

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: Nova Scotia, Northumberland Shore
  • 2,479 posts
Posted by der5997 on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:49 PM
Talked to Dick today and he may not be able to get in to the Diner for a day or two. So much damage to his trees from the ice storm.  The whole neighborhood’s a wreck and a tangle (Sesame Street fans will get that one)  His phone came back on this morning, and power Sunday night (I think).  As he said here on Friday, he’s got a generator, and of course the wood heat, so the power out’’s not a problem. Lee:
Faller makes parking meters in N and HO scale but chickens don't have pockets to cary change for the meters!
…That’s ‘cos they just wing it.
  Mike :
On the chicken house, you might find a small warehouse [about a 30'x100'] that looks like a pole barn to use for it.
…that should do it nicely. By the time there’s a series (3?) of grain feed bins down one side, and a couple of big fans at one end, who’d know it wasn’t a major chicken palace?

That was written before I’d read my way to Rob’s reply to Mike

***Inch, that might be what we end up doing, a long warehouse type structure. Can always add a couple little feed silos to the front, fans, AC units, etc on the sides. ((( I won't burst her bubble regarding her dream layout, I'm thrilled that she is so into it to begin with. )))
…So Rob, is this great minds or what?Whistling

 

Robby: Sorry to hear about the re-treading job.  On the bright side, along with the things you mentioned, is that IIRC you weren’t totally thrilled about that particular job in the first place. Lousy shift time if I recall.Sue:
I start work 1 hour late this morning.  One snowflake and the world stops.
…and 2 your road crews pile in the middle of the road?  That’s what they did/do in B.C.  Struck us Easterners as very odd!
Ryan:Those 6 Bean Soup canisters are a great idea, and your gift-wrap sure shows them off!BowOoooh!  I’ve caught up to where I posted the other day! Sorry to have missed a whole lot of birthdays along the way.  I’ve a question for the getting-on-towards-Christmas crowd.  Did you get the “This will do for his Christmas and Birthday” treatment?  Oh the joys of childhood!Hey RT!  Thanks for the cheesecake.  Looks a lot like one that turned up in the Classic Toy Trains 4 year old Coffee place today. Thumbs UpWinkGarry:
Der John ... What is a D10?
… Ask and ye shall receive! http://www.railarchive.net/rlsteam/index.html?MainFrame=http://www.railarchive.net/rlsteam/cpr.htm  Scroll down to the third photo., and read below.  ....and for the probable model I inherited (you’ll see the problem I had was par for the course!)
http://www.riograndesouthern.com/RidgwayShops/CPR_D10.aspx Terry: Nice house (good tea? Wink – ST Next Gen fans Smile) Seriously, fine modelling.Thumbs Up That’s all for tonight folks.  Goodnight all, and God Bless.  Prayers for all in need of healing, comfort, employment and peace.Angel              

 

"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Olympia, WA
  • 2,313 posts
Posted by gear-jammer on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 10:03 PM

Good Evening, All.  Chloe, I would like a hot cider, please.  It is too cold here for my usual RBF.  We have another round of snow due tonight and tomorrow.  I am hoping to get to work before it starts.

Larry took off this morning.  He is back on his run to BC with sheet rock.  Today's load is ok, but tomorrow he thinks it will be chains all day.  That can sure rattle your brains out.  With him gone,  I am carrying the hot water to thaw the water trough out.  They are predicting this cold until Christmas.  How rare if we have a white Christmas.

Sue

Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.

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