Elliott's Trackside Diner VII: Best View Of The Rails In Town!

[claymore1977]

 *Shudders*  Spiders over a certain size give me pause.  Scorpions are on my personal 'Genocide' list.

As for the weather, how is the LA winter this year?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

claymore1977

I grew up in the central part of Arizona, so *Anything* with greater than 4 legs makes my heart miss a beat when I see it at night. Spring here in PA yeilds a rediculous amount of bugs

I spent some time in west Texas and New Mexico myself where I saw some spiders that looked like they could walk off with your breakfast plate. Spring here in Louisiana comes complete with an invasion of an almost unbelievable number and variety of bugs.

[claymore1977]

jeffrey-wimberly

Not to worry. Wolf spiders are harmless to humans.

 

I grew up in the central part of Arizona, so *Anything* with greater than 4 legs makes my heart miss a beat when I see it at night, in the dark, when I am heading to get a midnight glass of water.  Been away from AZ for 10+ years now and I am still a bit jumpy, although I have learned to welcome a few cridders in the house.  Spring here in PA yeilds a rediculous amount of bugs :/

[jeffrey-wimberly]

New Haven I-5

Jeff, be careful with that spider!

Not to worry. Wolf spiders are harmless to humans.

[New Haven I-5]

Jeff, be careful with that spider!

[blownout cylinder]

   Morning All---

Chloe--Can I get a full Breakfast Platter----eggs sunny side up---and a large jug of coffee please---

Well, we are currently sitting at our high today -3C and we'll go down to -5C for a low tonight. Tomorrow we will go all the way up to 0C! Then it is back to the bottom of the bowl for us. In the meantime we are currently enjoying a heatwave!!!!

Today is catch up at w---k day. Two new clients, both out of town, and I get them, so have meetings planned with them and family members to see what needs they have----Then, with any luck, a sidetrip to Home Desperate to pick up some copper pipe for our basement washroom---that was deactivated years ago by previous owners---all drains have been cleaned out, the floor redone and I got the new fittings BUT ----no piping---so piping and such we get----

So. What's up with the rest of you?

I'll go to the back window seats and watch the trains for a bit-----

[LSWrr]

Jeff, Shop-Vac works great on large 8 legged hobo’s on railroad property.

 

NittanyLion, I have two railroad employees that keep me from loosing small pieces; Tiger and Chrystal.  Something small flies off the work bench they pounce on it.  You just need to retrieve it before they make sure it’s “dead”.

 

Unca Roggie, all of the LHS around me will order a sales item for me and when it comes in they honor the sale price.  I ordered the Northern light and power in February of 2008 for $24. January 2009 it came in, I paid the sale price, no questions asked. 
Lee

 

[C&O Fan]

Morning all

Just delurking long enough for a quick cup of coffee

then it's off to the hospital to meet with my surgeon for a check up

Then i'll swing by my LHS to pickup some supplys to finish my latest scratch build

The express building at Quinnimont on the C&O 

gonna be a beautiful day with temps in the 70s and sunny

What's up with you ?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 37 and clear. The high is expected to be in the upper 60's and it will be partly cloudy.

Did some work on the Lakeside Shipping building and the Midtown Consolidators building yesterday. The latter now has it's loading docks reattached. The balance of the day was spent on outdoor projects. Today I'll see if I can get to the Walther's engine house an evict it's 8 legged resident, a largish wolf spider. I also need to go through the gas station details I received from another modeler and see what I'll be using right away and put the others in the parts bin for future use. I also have to go through the parts bin and toss out whatever can't be used. I know there're a couple of Bachmann diesels (FT's I think) that I need to look at. They could probably be made to run quite well with the proper attention but are pre-DCC dinosaurs.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      1/22/2009

Wind Chill:  34°F
Humidity:  99%
Dew Point:  38°F

So Far Today
High:  39°F
Low:  37°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  5mph NNE

  Today  High: 68    Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

  Tonight  Low: 52    Mostly clear until late night then becoming partly cloudy. Warmer. Lows in the lower 50s. South winds around 10 mph.


 

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

    I'll have a regular and a hard roll please Zoe - grilled with an extra slather of butter if you will. Been AWOL again as w..k catches up with leisure. Plus we''re getting ready at the museum for the Big E (Amherst) train show this weekend so we went through our surplus to requirements stuff and will bring some for the bargain table. FYI - a show is probably the best place to look for out of production stuff as we're for instance dragging up a whole box of unbuilt Athearn freight cars plus a ton of sectional Atlas track to dispose of.

   Meeting today with the building inspector, his assistant, the head adjustor, project reviewer, the first contractor and the second contractor to iron out whats' what and who pays for the stuff the inspector flagged this week. Hopefully we can then do the punch list (mostly framing) and then move forward. Both the CFO and I will go so wish us luck.

   We're also slowly moving stuff from our present shop two exits up the road to the new shop. About 10 miles but a whole different world away. We've always had our shops in urban environments but the new place backs up to a farmers hayfield. The New Havens Maybrook line is still about a 1/4 mile away as it is now but it only sees a couple of trains a week mostly the late Tues stone train in the warmer weather, and the occasional car or two for the remnants of industry southwest of us. We're trying to get permission to run a fan trip down theMaybrook next year for the museum. So much for our doings, I'll try to get in and catch up in the next day or so, but the schedule doesn't look that promising from here so I may end up just lurking some more.   Catch Y'all later,  J.R.

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

 

Hi Gang,

Well it is starting to thin out a little in here, I guess some of the boys in the East have gone to bed.

Chloe, if you are still working I'll have a large slice of Pecan Pie with whipped cream and ice cream. I have to look after my cholestrol.  No hold the ice cream and give me a chocolate milkshake.  That should give me technicolor dreams.

I made a little progress tonight. I got seven of my backgrounds up and in place more securely than they were and I also installed five lights for the staging and classification yards on the south wall on the lower level..  I ordered them from IKEA in Seattle and picked them up at my son's in Spokane when we visited in late November.Could have gotten them out of Edmonton but they would have been twice the price. They are the screw in fixture with a 15 ft. cord and plug. They work slick and only cost about $3.00 each. I put those curly floresence bulbs in them. I have another three to install above the lower level on the north side and two go over the engine servicing area in the center pennisula not far from the lower exit of the Helix.

Feels good to get some work done, lately any time I have had I have just run some trains.. Oh, also today I cut out a piece of plywood that will be used for my control panel. 52'' x 10''. Stopped by Home depot and got a couple of fancy end type hinges for it so that I will be able to flip it over to work on it.  I use three Contorl Master 20s on the layout, but tonight I have figured out that I will have to operate the lower level from a remote position that will be handier when you are working the yards and industries down there.

In the mail today I recieved a book I bought off ebay,  "A PORTRAIT OF A SILVER LADY"   The complete story of the California Zephyr. What a great book. By the way Kalmbach published it about 20 years ago. A little plug for the Sponsor.

Sue, come around one of these days when it warms up, I want to go for a ride on that new scooter of yours.  Looks GREAT.

Rob & Tom those are great looking felines, better keep them apart or they might form a union, with Blowouts they would have enough for a Qurom, and you know where that would lead.  Rob, they would be sleeping on your bed not in the barn.

Well off to bed, in need of some ZZZZZss.

Prayers and Blessings to all in need.

By the way, our fierce cold has departed for awhile, it is now about -10c, and in the day time it has been around 0c.  Much better than the last two weeks.  Oh Oh on the weather just now they say back to -20c tomorrow and a few more days after that.  CN Charlie don't get the boat out yet,

Johnboy out.................................

May the rails never be silent.

[unca roggie]

Nice looking cat, Rob. 

Well, between doing all the insurance things I needed to today, or get yelled at by everyone, I managed to do two online orders, one to an outfit in San Diego I'd used before, without incident, and one to Walthers. 

I bet everyone here knows already what I learned today: that if you want any of the "specials" in the Walthers monthly catalogs they send out, you need to act QUICKLY...almost everything I hit "buy now" over, came up saying NOT IN STOCK. 

Could it be they have, like, ONE of each of those items, which we are to conduct a RACE to try to get? 

Part of why I did an order, is over what I mentioned in here about 8,677 postings back: I was growing concerned that it may soon be impossible to buy an Athearn kit for such things as their reasonably priced boxcars, etc.  The first purchase I made once bitten by the model railroad vampire at age 11, was Athearn's 50 foot doubledoor auto boxcar, an SP with cool yellow stuff splashed across it..."Hydra Cushion" and the like.  It ran $2.98 as some of you will recall. 

IF I could have gotten one, today (OUT OF STOCK) it would have been $8.00  Now, if you work out the percentage increase in THAT and compare it to how the Hostess Cupcakes I gorged on last night used to cost me 15 cents, and now fetch over TEN TIMES that amount, you'll see why I'm whiney over how such marvelous items appear to be reaching extinction. {Long SIGH.......} 

Flo: can a guy get an order of sour grapes in here?

[Cederstrand]

Tall glass of cool lemon water, please & thanks.

Another of our cats to share. This one is Casey. When wife went to the shelter, they told her Smitty & Casey were from the same litter and whichever one she didn't take would be destroyed. Do they look like brothers to any of you? I think she got conned. That being said, they are both pretty neat cats.

During the day, Casey can be found either in the barn or sleeping on top of Yeti (old Pyrenees dog). Casey spends nights in Cheyenne's stall, (a full size horse), and usually IN Cheyenne's hay. Amazing she has never been stepped on.

Off to do last critter check & breaking of ice before calling it a night.

Healing thoughts to those in need.

Rob 

[blownout cylinder]

  I'll take a couple more of the Chocolate/Raspberry CreamCheese PIES!! in a take out box home with me please----

I'm headin' home for some sleep-----g'night all----
                                                                 

[ns3010]

JimRCGMO

NS Joe - is your hand sore from writing all your Spanish exam answers down? And didn't your geometry test even have a pie chart?

 

Yes, it is! And the geometry exam didn't even have a circle. It only had a couple triangles and a trapazoid. The formula for pie is: PIE!!!(circle)=pi.r^2

Todd, thanks!

Tired, I'll have another piece of PIE!!! before I go to bed.

Night all.

[blownout cylinder]

   Todd--I was told there was something called retirement when I got retired---is there such a thing as retirement? Or is it, that when you are are retired that your 'tires' are 'RE'placed hence---re-tire-ment..                                                                 

I'm going into the back now----Chloe can you get me a Choclate/Raspberry Cream Cheese PIE!! please?                                                         

[TMarsh]

NittanyLion- I KNOW, I KNOW! First you go to the farthest corner of the room from where you are working. Take two steps back and a half step to the left. Look up. When you find it you can spend the rest of the day asking "How in the @#%*!? did it get over there". And if that doesn't work, it went to the same place my chimney half and assorted other pieces have gone. Oh the treasures we will recover if we could only answer that question.

G'night

[TMarsh]

Ray sounds like you have a full and wonderful life. A big and hearty belated congratulations on receiving the “Heritage” Award. Sounds like it is quite an honor. As I said I am Methodist. But my entire family (My Father was Methodist as Mother married into the denomination,) is Baptist. Southern Baptist at that. My Mother when she grew up spent time in the Baptist of course but in her small town of Nebo, spent quite a bit of time in the Presbyterian church also, I believe she has said.

Unfortunately I don’t know much of my Fathers side of the family, (you listening family history buffs and younguns who may not hold much for family history) so my “family” is mainly on my Mothers side. I wish now that I knew more of family history on both sides. Pay attention while you can because someday it may be too late! Oh yea, write the names and dates on the back of any photos you have or catalog your cd‘s with the same info. You just never know.

I know what you mean Paul, when you need to get a regular job to relax from the retirement. I was forced into early, very early, retirement 4 years ago and am wondering when I get to relax!

Well once again I think I will make it an early night. Tried to clean up the train room today between laundry and trying to turn an old AHM 3 dome tanker into something. I also looked at my other cars from the first go around with this little hobby from the seventies and tried to figure what it will take to make them look at least halfway decent. Wore myself out.

Prayers to those in need

Todd

EDIT: Oh sorry, I forgot to mention PIE!

[NittanyLion]

 You know what always gets me?  Oops dropped a piece or it took a rather dramatic exit from the sprue...and where did it come down?  Didn't land on the workbench, didn't land on the floor under the workbench, didn't land on me.  Where did you fly off to, little black triangular brace thingie?

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: Not much goingon with the HO but I'm up to my eye balls in the 7 1/2 inch gauge 4 inch scale stuff. I'm building new trucks for the narrow gauge gondolas. Just doing the journal boxes is going to take some time. I use 2in square tubing for the basic box and have to make the covers and backs from 1/8 x 2in flat. Then braze on the hinges and fill with a hard lead for the bearing. All I have to make are 42 of them.

Today has been busy as usual. I really need to go and get a job so I can get some rest. I thought retirement was so you could relax and enjoy life.

Well I'm bushed.

Good Night All

[BamaCSX83]

Hmm, Ray now has top honors....  Any good suggestions from anyone as far as a goodly supply of covered hoppers, preferably 55 and 56 foot ACF-type hoppers, along with ribbed-types.

[howmus]

TMarsh

Ray- Sounds like your semse of humor is something I can identify with. You mention Methodist a lot. That wouldn’t happen to be your….um…choice? It is mine.

 

I think the only way I survived 32 years of teaching music was due to my sense of humor.  There are still people here in Geneva that think PDQ Bach was a real composer......   You do know that J. S. Bach had 21 children.  I guess that goes for Mrs. Bach too.  That was also the reason why he was Baroque all the time.

Nope!  I'm Presbyterian.  I was born Baptist but became a Presbyterian as soon as I found out (I was raised in a United Church that was both Baptist and Presbyterian).  Around here there is a definite Madness in their Methodist.....  Sorry, old joke.  This years Martin Luther King Service was held at and hosted by the Methodist Church (I have become friends with their pastor, a great gentleman).  Years ago it was always held one of the small Black Churches here in Geneva.  Then the Presbyterians offered our church as it was much larger and could more easily accommodate the number of people that attended.  That is how I became a part of the committee and it has been a wonderful journey over the last 19 years.  I have gained many friends and some wonderful insights over those years and 8 years ago was elected vice-president of the committee.  I was also honored several years ago by the committee with a "Heritage" award for my work here in Geneva.  I am the only "white" person to ever receive it.  I have also had opportunities to meet and talk with some of the great people of the civil rights movement.  Rep. John Lewis who was standing beside Dr. King the night he was shot to name one.  It has made me a much kinder and wiser person........  OK, off the subject.

Prayers to all in need and hope you have a good night! 

[BamaCSX83]

Cool deal, Luke, just remember guys, order on up, its on me!

[New Haven I-5]

Good Evening!

   Thanks everyone for the...... PIE! I'll have the Steak & Lobster, a Baked Potato, and a Coke.

 I got an email today saying my PikeStuff Small Modern Enginehouse shipped, so it should come tomarrow........ maybe Friday.   

 

 

                                               I be back later,

                                                Luke       

[BamaCSX83]

Todd, yes, yes, that's it.  What you called it!  Well, looks like tomorrow might be slow.  All I've got on my plate so far is checking the brakes out on the church van (no big deal really), and that's it, but I'm still going to just hold court there till about 3 in the afternoon, then hopefully come home and "play" on here.

[TMarsh]

CAKE!~ Who said cake ?! We don’t want no stinkin’ cake! Unless of course it’s Texas Sheet cake or maybe a Mississippi Mud cake. You know I think I’ll take a piece of both.

Bama- Might I assist you ….. Female canine. And I agree with Jeffrey Kadee #148’s

Joe- Worthy of a chuckle on the Pi/pie thing

Ray- Sounds like your semse of humor is something I can identify with. You mention Methodist a lot. That wouldn’t happen to be your….um…choice? It is mine.

Rob- Luckily you’re in N-scale (correct?) You are wise in letting her have the lions share of real estate.

Oh for Pete’s Sake I guess I’ll have what Jeffrey’s having AND what Jim’s having. I’m gonna weigh 3,000lbs

Jim- I could use those 4 point restraints for my wife when I ..um.. Lets say “don’t understand“.

Well I guess I better scoot on home. After I eat of course . Little woman is bowling tonight so it’s me and the dog.

Prayers for those in need.

Todd

[howmus]

JimRCGMO

Ray, maybe the Arthur Murray places were a Midwestern and Western kind of thing back then.

 

Oh.... You meant Arthur Murray the dancer.  I was thinking Arthur the avocado tree at Mad Magazine.

JimRCGMO

But it sounded like (if he ever gets the phone call from his son) Ray might've had a busier day than you did.  Did you get everything fitted in, Ray?

 

Yep he called me back.  Truck is now at the dealers awaiting a new battery.  No, I didn't get everything else done.  But..... There is always tomorrow.  By Friday I will be answering angry phone calls and e-mails as to why they don't have all the art and poetry back at the schools!  I also realized I am completely out of the little award certificates (1/3 of a page) that I need to print out the Honorable Mention awards.  I won't have them in stock for about a week.  More phone calls from the schools as upset parents are calling the schools to find out why I haven't done my JOB!  Of course all of this is volunteer.

Sure is good that I am now retired and have all this "extra" time on my hands. 

[BamaCSX83]

Yeah, Athearn Blue Box GP40-2, probably 15 years old now.  No, normally I do fewer jobs than that, but I dunno, it just seemed really busy today, I think that tomorrow I'm going to start out early and try my best to finish up around 3 in the afternoon and try to make it in here in the evening.  Well, since everyone else is ordering up the good stuff, I'll go for another RBF and a bowl of mixed vanilla and chocolate ice cream.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Wow! ........... Are you guys ever chowing down!!!!!!!!! .......... Steak & Lobster...... Ribs........RBF's.......... and PIE! .........

Is there any pie left?

I worked a little on a heavyweight dining car (CB&Q prototypically correct) that I am building from a kit from NKP Car Company. http://www.nkpcarco.com/index.html This is my third car from a NKP Car Co. kit. They are fun to build.

On the layout, I am making a stream. I am using the same WS stuff for the water that Sue is using. It will have a waterfall and a coverd bridge. Some other area in my new scene are done.