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

[gear-jammer]

Just a quick coffee before I head out to work.

Jim,  Nice score.  Looking forward to that new camera.  That bank is great.

Sue

[LSWrr]

Good morning diners,
 
Lake Effect Snow Warning
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLEVELAND OH

LATE AFTERNOON ANOTHER SURGE OF COLD AIR IS EXPECTED TO PASS OVER LAKE ERIE. AS WINDS SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST AND NORTH DURING THE NIGHT THERE MAY BE A TAP OF MOISTURE FROM LAKE HURON THAT WILL ASSIST IN INCREASING THE INTENSITY OF THE SNOW SQUALLS FURTHER TO THE WEST
ACROSS CUYAHOGA...LAKE AND GEAUGA COUNTIES. SOME THUNDER WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE MOST INTENSE SNOWFALL. THE SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES FOR LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND ESPECIALLY OVERNIGHT. AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF A FOOT WILL BE POSSIBLE. EXPECT TO SEE ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS INTO TUESDAY NIGHT BEFORE
GRADUALLY ENDING ON WEDNESDAY.

[LSWrr]

I don't know whether you two have seen this or not, but just in case you haven't ...  Keep this handy guide in your work shop or your modeling work bench.....DRILL PRESS: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted part which you had carefully set in the corner, where nothing could get to it. WIRE WHEEL: Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the Workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned Calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, ''What The....??'' ELECTRIC HAND DRILL: Normally used for spinning pop rivets in their holes until you die of old age. SKILL SAW: A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short. PLIERS: Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of Blood-blisters. BELT SANDER: An electric San ding tool commonly used to convert minor Touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs. HACKSAW: One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board Principle. It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your Future becomes. VISE-GRIPS: Generally used after pliers, to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense Welding heat to the palm of your hand. WELDING GLOVES: Heavy duty leather gloves used to prolong the conduction of Intense welding heat to the palm of your hand. OXY-ACETYLENE TORCH: Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable Objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the Wheel hub you want the bearing race out of. TABLE SAW: A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood Projectiles for testing wall integrity. HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK: Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper.EIGHT-FOOT YELLOW PINE 2X4: Used for levering an automobile upward off of a Trapped hydraulic jack handle. E-Z OUT BOLT AND STUD EXTRACTOR: A tool ten times harder than any known Drill bit that snaps neatly off in bolt holes thereby ending any possible Future use.BAND SAW: A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut Good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash Can after you cut on the inside edge of the line instead of the outside Edge. TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST: A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect.CRAFTSMAN 1/2 x 24-INCH SCREWDRIVER: A very large pry bar that inexplicably has an accurately machined screwdriver tip on the end opposite the handle.PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER: Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids and for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your Shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips Screw heads.STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER: A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws.PRY BAR: A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.HOSE CUTTER: A tool used to make hoses too short. Works equally as well on Boxes and thumbs.HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the Object we are trying to hit.MECHANIC'S KNIFE: Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard Cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on contents Such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector Magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for Slicing work clothes, but only while wearing them. "DA**IT" TOOL: Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling ''DA**IT'' at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning.

It's 41 and clear. The high will be around 70 and it will be clear.

I found something amongst an assortment of old rolling stock yesterday that I didn't expect to find. An old AHM helium car with markings for the Atomic Energy Commission. I've heard that these are somewhat rare though I don't believe there's anybody clamoring for them. The old talgo trucks were pretty much toast so I replaced them with Mehano talgo trucks which have had Kadee couplers fitted. I also brought it up to NMRA weight standards and it now tracks very well. I also sent my switcher team on it's first run yesterday pulling a mixed bag of coal hoppers, tank cars and general freight. They did very well. Not a bit of slippage with 12 NMRA weighted cars. Now I just have to set their acceleration and deceleration values.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      11/17/2008

Wind Chill:  38°F
Humidity:  94%
Dew Point:  36°F

So Far Today
High:  41°F
Low:  38°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  0mph NNE

Today  High: 68    Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. Light and variable winds.
    
Tonight  Low: 42    Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 40s. West winds around 5 mph in the evening becoming north after midnight.

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

[Cederstrand]

Tall glass of cool lemon water, please & thanks.

Had to remove, re-wire, then rehang the only track light my contractor put up the other day. The way all the wires came through one spot and were then jambed against a metal edge was all I needed to see. It also needer to be moced over about 8" to accomodate the next track over. There are large holes on each side to run wires comfortably out for connecting up. Geepers, hope none of the other lights are poorly wired like that one was. What I saw was unmerving.

Also tackled the wabbly fan today. First discovered it was not set in it's grove, Also found a set screw entirely loose. Worst of all though, I found the attachment bracket screws (which supports the rest of the weight of the fan) were loose. Now how long would it have taken all that play to wear down and snap those screws? I am now seriously considering installing the remaining 6 fans myself, for peice of mind.

Have a great night all. Rob

[LSWrr]

Jim,

The Branchline trains have two product lines.  The yardmaster series is the economy version.  It’s still a very nice kit.  You can also get 5 packs same boxcar, same road, but 5 different numbers for $49.

I built 2 Bowser covered 70 ton hopper kits and they have a ton of detail parts. I think they were $7/each and come in 5 road numbers.

My LHS doesn’t have a bargain bin he just randomly (it seems) marks something down and sticks it back on the shelf.  So if you have the time to go through the shelves you’ll find something at a bargan.

Lee

 

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: I didn't get to do any MRRing today large or HO scale. I went to the gun show in Ft. Worth. I met a  guy that I worked with at Six Flags. He usually has a table selling ammo box's and stuff like that. He said that they had another layoff and that Six Flags was going to declare bankrupsey. Now Mary Ann is all worried that I won't be getting my retirement check. That could be a proublem but the worst is I would have to find some kind of a job to fill n foir ai  bit.  . The forum is doing it's weired bit again. I should have done this on word.

Tom I warned you that Remington was too big for cabeese. I told you he'd just skip them and go for the Yellowstones as some thing more in his league.

Rob I've been looking at a Taurus ultra lite weight in 38 for a snake gun. I could carry it in my back pocket and not have to have the extra tool to carry .The gun is hammerless so no hanging up getting it out. I'll load with shot rounds for the snakes.

I have to check with Walthers on my E-7s for the Hiawatha. It's getting near time for them to be out. I guess the last two cars are sitting up there waiting for the gardens to get a order together for min $150 to ship.

I guess I'll head for bed.

Good Night All

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Der John .. that pie looked good, but infortuantely, I arrived after Jim CG, and .....well,,,, you know the rest of the story, I bet.  I like the little boat. That cat was not exactly N scale!

Tom .... Remington looks like a winner. Train cat? Well "Remington" sort of rhymes with "Burlington".

Jim CG ... the new cars look nice. I have two of those gons but not that road.

Happy Model Railroading!

 

 

[JimRCGMO]

Lee, thanks for the suggestions on the kits. I've never done a Kato kit yet, though I have one RTR covered hopper and an Atlas RTR one. Both of them look well-detailed, so we'll see how hard their kits are. I haven't tried Branchline yet - don't recall, but it may be that they don't have as many kits of the western RR's.

Of my two LHSes, one doesn't keep lots of extra kits (but will special order whatever I want at a discount - he's the MRR club member), and the other I think has a wholesaler in St. Louis that they go to every so often to get their train kits. Trains are not the #1 seller for their LHS - their #1 is various kinds of dolls (Think sorta overgrown Cabbage Patch kinds, where you 'adopt' the doll).

I haven't made it up to one of our area train shows in a while - missed the fall Boeing Employees MRR Club show several weeks ago, and the big Collinsville one is in the spring. Not as many LHSes (not-so) in the St. Louis area anymore - I think 2 or maybe 3 closed in the past year and a half, and I haven't been willing to take the drive up to St. Louis just to see what there might be, since I can order stuff at discount from our MRR/LHS guy for less than the gas for a trip up to St. Louis (even if I found a bunch of bargains). Long way of saying that my LHSes don't have the bargain bins that some do, and it's a bit of a trip (120 or so miles) to hope I find some in St. Louis.

Well, time to get going. See you all in the morning.

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[LSWrr]

Remington looks very relaxed in his new home.

Jim, you go right ahead, LOL.  I just happen to find good deals on some of these kit cars at my LHS.  I still have a few to swap couplers on and a few to do some touch ups on but I think I’m near the end of the tunnel on the rolling stock project.  I haven’t done a Kato kit yet, let me know how those go together.

So far I prefer the yellow box Accurail, Bowser, Branchline trains kits.  The Athearn are always a good kit as well. The Branchline kits come with all metal wheels and they just glide over the rails without fuss.  Inexpensive too, I think $8 to $12 a kit.

I thought the Extreme train was a good show and I’ll keep watching it.

So far lots of snow, but the wind and occasional rain has kept the accumulation at Zero. This afternoon we had thunder snow, which is always something special in our weather patterns.

 

Lee

 

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Janie - just a cup of hot cocoa for me tonight, please. Somewhat long day, but pretty good.

Tom, Remington looks very regal, as a cat should, and he's already attracting a following, has two neighbor cats dropping in to the Diner, and DerJohn brought another cat by, too!   Was Remington curious about the other cat scent in the house (pawing at bottom of door, etc.)? And what happens if those two figure how to open the doors while you're away at school on Monday? Better make sure the Yellowstones are hidden out of sight before you leave... Between Spooky getting the cabeese and  Remington grabbing a Yellowstone or two, they'll have a train of their own!

Robby P.

They are calling for snow showers all week.  It will be a fun one to watch today as the Steelers play the Chargers.  I always love a game in snow.

Sure Robby, - so long as I'm inside and watching on TV, and not in the stands...

Terry, sounds like an excellent train show at your place yesterday. Now, rest up.  

Uh, Rob, I'd be careful if your wife's asking for a pistol. Don't sleep too soundly when you go to bed, y'never know... On your layout, you'd better have those clear plastic guards around the sides of your layout where the tracks are, 'cause you know Murphy's Law says that the week before you get ready to put down tile (with padded underlay), a prize loco will jump the curve or derail at the worst possible spot. Just be careful in designing your tracks.

Jeff, you know some Rio Grande fans get a bit touchy about their locos. I like that paint scheme, too, and it's just a connecting line for my RR (according to my hypothetical history of the CAW). Sounds like downright frigid weather for what you usually get down there - brrrrr!!

Sue, hope your bike comes soon - and good to hear about your (& Larry your painter's) progress on the coaling tower. Remember to show us some picks of your progress, okay?

Paul sounds like it was overall a very nice birthday for you - well done! 

I've decided I will be telling my brother and my daughter and son-in-law that I have a digital camera on my birthday & Christmas list. Getting tired of watching everyone else's pics and having none of my own to show. So in place of that, here're some pics of my recent auction wins (three different items):

       

I may use that one for something other than a bank, though. Then this gondola:

       

and these covered hoppers:

       

(Yeah, I can hear Lee muttering under his breath "Oh, great, Jim's gonna try and compete with me on most kits?" - Nah, Lee, no way I could compete with you there. )
 

Need to finish up my cocoa and head on out soon.  Prayers for those who are ailing (and those who'll be shovelling snow in the morning. ).

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

 

[twhite]

LSWrr

jeffrey-wimberly

 

railroadnut675

Has anybody seen the show "Extreme Trains" on the history channel?

Yeah. I watched the pilot show. It was pretty good. The host needs some help though. He's a bit over the top.

A little over the top? reminds me of GEO BEACH, the guy from Tougher in Alaska, way over the top. 

Watched the first show--it was a little 'frantic' for me, but then I suppose that's what the History Channel means by "EXTREME".  I understand that the second show is about following a freight train from LA to Dallas (which probably means UP's 'Sunset Route' and the old T&P from El Paso to Dallas, and that should be interesting, if they'll stop SPEEDING UP those train shots.  I'd sure like to see how the double-tracking between LA and El Paso is coming along. 

I don't think I'm going to have any trouble turning Remington into a Train Cat, he's in the room where my display case is (secure, of course) and he likes to sit on the chair and stare through the glass at my articulateds.  I think he's going to bypass cabeese entirely and head for the Yellowstones.  This should be interesting. 

Best to all, prayers to those in need.

Tom

[gear-jammer]

I am passing through for my first round of hot cider.

Larry painted my coaling tower this morning.  I am hoping to bring it in for weathering before I attach the stairs and chutes.  There is plenty of fine detail that will surely cross my eyes.   Also, I got a black coat on the interior of my background building.

It feels good to make some progress.

Later,  Sue

[New Haven I-5]

Hoople

New Haven I-5

Hoople: Those Rivarossi locos are really good. $150 for the 03 DCC ready version is a STEAL. You cannot find that price on eBay!

Your not kidding. I just looked on Ebay and found just about the same engine, except #840 going for $250.

You are only going to get that price ($150) at a train show or at a flea market.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

LSWrr

jeffrey-wimberly

 

railroadnut675

Has anybody seen the show "Extreme Trains" on the history channel?

Yeah. I watched the pilot show. It was pretty good. The host needs some help though. He's a bit over the top.

A little over the top? reminds me of GEO BEACH, the guy from Tougher in Alaska, way over the top. 

I was being polite.

[LSWrr]

John, That's a fine pie for inspections, I mean boat.  There is a company locoal here that makes N & HO scale coast guard vessels.  Maybe an old pickett boat would do well too.  Next train show I'll share one of his bus cards.

Lee

[LSWrr]

jeffrey-wimberly

 

railroadnut675

Has anybody seen the show "Extreme Trains" on the history channel?

Yeah. I watched the pilot show. It was pretty good. The host needs some help though. He's a bit over the top.

A little over the top? reminds me of GEO BEACH, the guy from Tougher in Alaska, way over the top. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 

railroadnut675

Has anybody seen the show "Extreme Trains" on the history channel?

Yeah. I watched the pilot show. It was pretty good. The host needs some help though. He's a bit over the top.

[Cox 47]

B.......U..........M........P....!!......Jerry

[railroadnut675]

Has anybody seen the show "Extreme Trains" on the history channel?

It comes on Tuesdays at 10 p.m.

It looks pretty good on the commercials.

[Hoople]

My post doubled for some reason.

Sorry guys.

[Hoople]

New Haven I-5

Hoople: Those Rivarossi locos are really good. $150 for the 03 DCC ready version is a STEAL. You cannot find that price on eBay!

Your not kidding. I just looked on Ebay and found just about the same engine, except #840 going for $250.

[New Haven I-5]

 Tom, Remi is born to be a train cat! It seems to me he likes Broadway Limited imports and Key Brass imports.

 Hoople: Those Rivarossi locos are really good. $150 for the 03 DCC ready version is a STEAL. You cannot find that price on eBay!

 

                                            Has anyone been on any of the trains unlimited tours? I checking to see if there is any good action next summer. I would like to know if it is worth the price.

[der5997]

Diners: I told PC that I’d try to drop in for pie sometime, so I guess this is it! I’m so behind in replies (Page 38!) that I’ll do as some-one suggested they were doing, and skip – if there was something you’d asked and I’ve missed, please ask again.  Happy birthdays to those I’ve missed, and prayers for healing for those on the MO’s list!

Train show in Dartmouth was less than brilliant, but Fergie was just leaving as we arrived, and Kris got to meet him, so that was good. Only stayed an hour.  The layouts were same old same old, for the most part; and looking more tired as the years go by.  Although there were none of the N Scale stairs I’d hoped to get, I did score a few small craft.  One of those, suitably dressed up with radar and whip aerials should do for a port inspection vessel.  Lee can then do his inspections for Transport Canada…the weather’s better here Lee, for the moment!

 

The chap who gave me the Z Scale freight car to get wheels for the crane two years ago was at the show.  I wanted to get the crane put together so I could take a photo in to show him how it’s coming along, now it’s painted all blue. Had to re-design the doohickies that suspend the power cable out along the boom.  Didn’t get that done, so had to content myself with photos you’ve seen. He remembered the conversation 2 years ago, and was appreciative of the progress shots. The other purchase was a few sets of letters going for $0.50 per sheet, and I can use them almost anywhere (Railroad Roman, alphabets 3xwhite and a black one, plus 2 sheet of yellow strips, different thicknesses, that will do fine for warning hash marks around the layout (probably the dock first.)

 

 

Tom: Congratulations on Remington, and only 4 years old….there’s room to grow there!    Lunch is calling… TTFN.

 

 

 

[Hoople]

 Sue: I hope you can make it to either Puyallup show next year. On April 25-26 they are having the Trains, Trains, and More Trains show again. Then, at the usual timeslot of this show, instead of GTE... they are having...

THE 2009 WORLD'S GREATEST HOBBY SHOW.

So yes, I definalty hope you can make it. It's going to be awesome.

Mark

[Robby P.]

I will just start with some hot cocoa.  Man its a cold one today.

They are calling for snow showers all week.  It will be a fun one to watch today as the Steelers play the Chargers.  I always love a game in snow.

Replaced some track yesterday with some new track, and man what a difference.  It did lap after lap.  No problem.  I still have some more pieces to replace but that will be later. 

Hopefully Tuesday I will finish up the engine with the extra details.  I will get some shots of it next WPF.

Well everybody stay warm, and have a good one.

[Cox 47]

Good Sunday Morning All...Its sunny and 33 here this morning...I'll just have coffee this morning still kinda full from last nite my son His Girl friend and 3 Granddaughter came yesterday and surprised me with a early birthday party for my birthday that is coming up Thursday......His Girl friend made my favorite meal Fried chicken  ,Mashed Taters,Gravey,Hot Rolls and a cake...sure was good and He gave me the New Indy Jones DVD....Hope to see my brother today and maybe more of the Grand daughters...Saw our neigbor has a Deer hanging in His back yard Deer season opened here yesterday...You all have a good one...Jerry

[gear-jammer]

Good morning, All.  I dropped in for coffee and a cinnamon roll.

Mark,  Sounds like you made a haul at Puyullap.  I don't think that we will make it this year.  Maybe next year.

Sue

[pcarrell]

Mornin' all!

I guess it's safe to come out, since I don't think I'm in danger of hitting the top of the page!