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

[pcarrell]

Eric, your Mom is on my prayer list.

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Chloe - just a cup of hot cocoa for me, please 'n' thanks. Whew! PC beat me to the TOP.

It got chilly tonight - 18 F, but with the humidity at 71 percent, so it soaks any heat out of your bones when you're outside. (It's not a 'dry cold', Barry... ). I figure there will be frost on the car's windshield in the morning, likely.

NS Joe, hang in there, you'll have finals out of the way soon, right? It's good that you have a teacher who's not a hard-nose and will allow you to make up stuff for class.

Eric - As for 'change', we know how accurate our weatherguessers are, and we don't get to vote on them. (And that's probably a good thing, or a couple of ours in this area would've been out of a job long ago...). Oh, you were talking about politics? Will continue to keep your Mom in my , definitely.

Okay, Diners, we'll have to slow things down a bit, so Ryan can catch up. Otherwise, no more of his delectable menus, and we know how we love food around here, right?? Ryan, I understand that Reader's Digest is working on a condensed version of the Diner, real soon now...

jeffrey-wimberly

 Lee: Recieved your package this morning. I thought you were sending a few pumps. There's almost enough there to build another station. Thanks.

  Jeff, maybe Lee figured that since you have a fairly big station, you needed a lot of them. Hey, you can justify have a couple three tank cars a day if you put enough pumps and cars up! Have them selling the gas at $1.00/gallon.

Bama, what kind of dance class is your daughter taking - ballet, jazz, ballroom, or...? Heck, back when I took dance lessons as a teen, it was at an Arthur Murray dance studio (which tells you how far back that was ). Judging from that list of locos, did you find the timetable and engine roster you were looking for?

Barry, that guy was lucky he survived that one! And you're lucky there was pie left when you came in, too. CN Charlie, you were lucky to find pie, too. Have the twins been making a lot more pies since PC's piefest the other day?

CN Charlie, I bet if you sent it to Robby, he could hide that with some weathering... That is frustrating when that happens, though. It's probably 'warmer' up there because you sent all the cold air down our way.

Rob, cute photo of your 'outdoor' cats. Do they come to the porch or the barn when the weather gets nasty out your way?

Tom, thanks for posting that photo of your mine tailings trestle. I'd thought of using N scale track for my mine - how close is that to what mines used - anyone know?? That diner in Truckee sounds great, plus railfanning. Oh yeah! On your neighborhood cat, it may depend on if he gets a better (food) offer from someone else (isn't that a bit like some of us Diners around mealtime here?)

Todd - regarding your 'tale' -  ROFL!! Yeah, I think I've seen that photo of the kid and dog praying, too. Funny one!

I started on my Walthers (modulars) freight warehouse last night - the one they showed in the sale flyer the past couple of months. I think I may need some more module kits, which is surprising after all the ones I had and those I ordered in... I also found that (wisely) Walthers put PDF files with directions for all the modular structures that they've been featuring in those sale flyers. They're on the Walthers site, and I think the link is off the main page where the image is of their modular kits. Next, I'll just need to find space to put the warehouse someplace on my layout (now or when I get to expand it).

Well, I'd best get moseying on home. Prayers continue for those in need of healing, comfort, or all of the above (and some of us can stand that, all right). Stay warm, folks - with or without the longjohns!

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[blownout cylinder]

Ryan and Eric; we'll be praying for all of your families----take care---

As per usual I'm trying to type around the cat----'Spring' is like a child---I get on the compooter I get 'Spring' schmoozing along headbutting and all making chirping calls---MAH MAH and all that

and to add to Sawyers comment re; painting---some colours like Pikestuff's blue on their buildings tend to have to be primered over as well, so keep an eye on your supply of primer paints---I also have to remind self to do ---------------Inventory Control of paint supplies

Basically it has been an odd day---I got home to find Audrey under the sink with my pipe wrench after she cleaned out the 'U' joint in the drain----she dropped a small fork into the sink and found what looked like KELP in the drain----she just shook her head as she showed me this----it did make the sink drain faster after she cleaned it though----

Hopefully things won't be as odd tomorrow-----

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good evening diners.

Pie? Yes, indeed. Southern Pecan here.

Eric ... I really like the house you posted.

Tom W .... Your mine scene looks terrific.

On the subject of flat car decks., I spray earth color on mine. Usually that's all they need before installing a load.

Regarding decals.........  I recall somebody had a problem with them falling apart in the water. That would be due to keeping them in the water way too long. Try this method:  Assume you are applying a decal on side of a railcar. Place railcar on flat level table. Keep it horizontal.  Cut out decal. Dip in water for only five seconds. Place wet decal while still adhering to paper backing on railcar side. Add a drop of water on top. Use two tooth picks (one in each hand) to gently test if decal is loose from paper backing. If so, use the toothpicks to gently slide decal off the paper backing. Use toothpick to move paper backing out of the way. Gently position decal with toothpicks. Absorb water with small piece of paper towl. Position decal again. Gently press down with Q-tips (No rubbing; just press down.)  Apply a drop of Solvaset on decal. Absord excess Solvaset with Q tip. If decall moved, repostion before decal softens from Solvaset. When dry, you may spray a little Dullcote to seal.

[TMarsh]

Arthur Murray! Just a minute I think I have a cane around here for you Jim. What? How do I know about him? Uh......on second thought, never mind.

I second the primer. My office warehouse (or something like that) was yellow and I painted it white without priming. I knew better and did it anyway. Luckily for me it turned out OK it tamed the white down and gave it kind of an old yellowed look.Pike Stuff uses strong colors and are fine if that's what color you want but don't lend well to changing colors. Usually, not always, I can get by without priming. Not with Pike Stuff. And that liquid glue stuff I got does not hold AT ALL on their plastic. The old stand by, Testors in a tube, works just great.

Well eyes are gettin' heavy. Prayers for those in need.

Todd

[blownout cylinder]

   Arthur Murray---he of the ballroom dancing scenarios? yoiks!!!

Well---I'm in the same boat as Todd-----I's be heading off to sleep as well----g'night

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN !

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

Today: A chance of flurries before 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 22. Wind chill values as low as -7. West wind between 9 and 15 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Southwest wind between 13 and 15 mph.

Lee

 

[blownout cylinder]

    Good Morning-----Well, kinda

The current temperature is -16C with a predicted high from the weather guesstimators of -8C. We are supposed to have a mix of sun/cloud today and tomorrow with only a slight chance of snow on both days. Oh---and tonights low is around -10C with tomorrow's high at -4C-----

Chloe---Can I get a full breakfast platter with a strong cuppajava? Please?

I'm glad that today is an off day-----I'd be more like the dude with the coffee cup if I wasn't having the day off----------

[LSWrr]

Jeff, I’ve amassed a large collection of “stuff” over the years I’m glad you can find a use for it.  Don’t forget to have a kerosene pump or diesel pump off to the side of your service station.  I haven’t been in the diner much do to offline projects and I missed your first post.

How much was Gas & Diesel in the 1950’s??? 

I have yet to build my service station, need to get to that soon. 

Decals; I use a shallow, large glass ashtray and a hemostat. Clip the decal to the hemostat, set it in the water filled ashtray, the notches around the ashtray rim hold the hemostat nicely.  I use a brush to apply some Microscale setting solution to the model then apply the decal.  The setting solution gives me a little more time to mike fine adjustments.  Now I put a drop of Microscale decal clear coat on top of the decals to preserve them vs. the spray clear coat.

Bama, are you going to buy new or are you looking for used engines?

 Lee

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning.

It's 28 and clear. The high should be in the upper 50's and it will be clear.

Yesterday I made a structural change to my Model Power fire station. It wasn't deep enough to house my pumper and tender so I extended the back of the structure (1st floor only) by an inch and three quarters using parts made from the wing wall I removed from the O.L. King and Sons building. It isn't the greatest looking job but it does what I need it to. Now the pumper and tender (both from Boley) fit all the way inside. The balance of the day was taken up with working on the car and having dinner with the parents. They know tacos are one of my favorites and made sure I knew about them.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      1/21/2009

Wind Chill:  28°F
Humidity:  91%
Dew Point:  26°F

So Far Today
High:  31°F
Low:  28°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  0mph NNE

  Today  High: 58    Sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

  Tonight  Low: 38    Clear. Lows in the upper 30s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

[BamaCSX83]

The fire station looks good.  As far as my daughter is concerned, she just started ballet (she's only 2), so its pretty much just learning the basics, the VERY basics.  I think that she did very well for her first day, kinda surprised the teacher that she picked things up so well.  As far as locomotives are concerned, I would "prefer" to buy new, undecorated DCC-ready kits and then detail and paint them into proper CSX colors, but if I find a "good" already done engine that fits the bill, then I'd probably snatch it up.  Well y'all, I've got a first job coming in at ten, so I'll probably skip outta here in about an hour to go prepare for it.  I also forgot to say that I'm also going to need two high nose GP38s and another low nose GP38.  I could probably also use a few GP50s and 60s just to tie in with all the six-axle power that I'm going to have.  Oh well, I'm probably going to go and start my "layout" buying fund here soon (which means probably putting $5 a week into a savings account and just not touching it until I get enough up to buy some stuff, be that scenery, rolling stock, or whatever.  Probably my first buy is going to be a building that I can turn into my "layout building" since there isn't going to be room in the house anymore (wife simply INSISTED on having a guest bedroom).  Also, I didn't ever find an "accurate" timetable so I don't know exactly when particular trains are coming through Troy, but I did find enough pictures of each train to where I know pretty well what "model" of engines are pulling them (since I know that locomotives are pretty well going to go anywhere they're sent on a train) so I know what I need to buy the most of, at least it seems I do.  I'll still be glad to take any help that I can get when it comes to things through, that way I can perhaps narrow down the HUGE number of engines that I'm going to have to buy.

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning Zoe - I gather from some of the responses that I provided the memory exercise for a few Diners with my dance studio reference (and the younger ones may be Googling it up as I speak). (Cane...harrrumph!...)  Oh, Zoe - I'll have a glass of Ed's OJ and a JR regular, please. Thankyou, ma'am.

Barry and Todd - thanks for the tips on priming Pikestuff buildings. I have the 'add-on' office kit, but am planning on just putting it somewhere that you can't see the backside, and using sheet styrene for the back wall. Mine just has that blue-ish color and white for it.

Barry, our temperature was sort of like yours today - just that it was plus and Fanrenheit, instead of negative and Celsius. Our wind chill was about 11 F, but we're supposed to have a thaw today, into the low 40's (F). No snow predicted, though, so that's good - it might just freeze over tonight anyway.

Lee - I have a spreadsheet file that is from some university's study/research project, and it shows the price (regular back then) was around 29 to 31 cents a gallon. Anybody need other years? I don't have diesel prices in it, alas.

Hey, Jeff - that fire station looks great, and on the addition, if you weather it right, nobody will notice, anyway.

I'll be at the window booth, kicking back for a bit, and see who else comes in this morning.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[New Haven I-5]

PIE!

[howmus]

 Mornin' everyone!

Zoe I'll have my usual dark roast in a FGLK Mug and a bowl of oatmeal if you please.  Got to stop eating so much or none of my clothes will fit anymore........

Currently 15°F here in the Finger Lakes with a high of 20° later this afternoon.  Tomorrow may get all the way up to 30°.  Guess I better get my shorts and t-shirts back out...... If the forecast is right we will have only 3 days in January that the temperature has risen above freezing here. 

Jim......  Arthur Murray?  Thought he was a plant. I went to Mrs. Buck's Dancing School when I was a 5th. and 6th. grader in Canandaigua.  Everyone who was anyone was invited to attend (for a fee) and learn how to properly ballroom dance!  (Puts finger under nose and lifts........)  It was held in the old Canandaigua Hotel near the NYC Passenger Station.  The station and hotel were favorites of the Vanderbilts who spent many vacations there.  The hotel burned to the ground about the time I graduated from college and is now a nice park in the city.

Rob nice shot of your "outdoors cats".  Are they friendly? 

Jeffrey that fire station is coming right along.  I like what you have done with interior. 

Ah, Luke, PIE is never  

Didn't get back in last night to post anyway.  Went to the MLK Celebration at Hobart and William Smith college last night.  This was open to the public, but many of us received personal invites from the President of the college, the Office of Intercultural Affairs, and the Student Activities due to work with various community organizations.  I got to sit with my pastor and his wife, some teachers that I used to work with, and the president of Hobart and his wife. (edit: just luck of the draw, no assigned seating.)  Also got to chat with some folks I haven't seen in several years and catch up with their lives.  All wonderful people who I enjoy. Speaker was a Baptist Minister from Rochester who is also a professor at two colleges in Rochester.  He was excellent and spoke about the call to youth to be positive workers in their communities.  I just kind of relaxed the rest of evening after I got home.
 

[Cederstrand]

in a Santa Fe mug, please & thanks.

***Tom, I've always like that tailings trestle. Just think of all the wee little folk could get into with a track to nowhere.

Yup, those two cats are friendly. Smitty starts purring loudly before you even pet him. He is more canid-like than feline. He was rescued from the pound. Jambo was born to our #1 Killer Cat "Inky" and learned over time that people are good. He accepts petting and will readily purr, but I wouldn't pick him up.

Gotta get busy here. Have a good day all.

:^) Rob

[der5997]

folks:  The Arts Society presentation hit them out of the park!  They provided a projector and screen, and I had about 40 photos beginning with some canyon bridges (Hello Tom!,and that’s a great tailings trestle scene! ) from my B.C. layout in the 80s, and some of the Alberta layout, then the rest of the present Maritimes one. Followed that with the video. There was a question and answer time while a few models were passed around. A new couple who live in Switzerland and winter here (!) said they have a brother who scratch builds locomotives…small world. Mark:

Sawyer: You may not be an idiot, but just because you 5'11'' and 188 doesn't mean your invincible. At 5'7'' and 150 I can take down my friend Victor who is 5'11'' and 217... And he's a noseguard.

…Now you boys play nice, y’ hear! I wasn’t figuring on starting no war.  Eric: Prayers for your mother’s treatment and healing. It may be an old kit build, but that house is a thing of beauty. I’ve not built a laser wood kit yet…I’ve a wood chip trailer sitting in my to-do drawer, that’ll be my first. On porch details, I had a house on my B.C. layout with a freezer on the porch., It was open, with some-one getting stuff. There was an interior light in the lid, and a red “power on” light on the outside; fibre optics natch!  Those lights were in fact indicators for a light-powering transformer being "on". In the dark, even across the room, they showed up!  That was in HO.  I agree with you about the scratch built miners’ house BTW, that’s really fine modelling. Sue:

der,  Great video.  Does the top layer connect with the bottom?

…Thanks, and Oh yes indeed the levels join up!  The layout is a folded dog-bone, with the end loops stacked above each other in a corner, with the mid-point a loop sandwiched between them.  Here’s how the very early stages looked in construction…it was the first part built. Sorry it’s so over exposed, it’s on a read-only CD, and I can’t fix it.

Jerry:

Der....Great video! can't wait for more

…Thanks, and it’s whetted my appetite too!  Next perhaps I’ll send the VIA around, when I’ve got the P42 to haul it. I did like that close trackside video some-one posted the other day. Almost like one was laying down near the tracks. That would be something to attempt.

CapeJim:

I think you were responding to an earlier post, maybe.

…or getting you confused with Ray maybe?

I'd thought of using N scale track for my mine - how close is that to what mines used - anyone know??

…N track scales out as 30” in HO, but you should cut out quite a lot of ties from N track to make it look more prototypical.HOn2½ mine cars then work very well.Joe: A bit embarrassing that fire false alarm with the competition there! Never mind though, the extra fire drill won’t be wasted if it saves some-one’s life in the real thing. Let’s see the station when you’ve done, sounds neat.  On running the crossing gates, I’ve seen people do it, and every time I just can’t wrap my head around WHY? Barry: Scary driving! Good you were able to help out, and that the driver wasn’t injured. These things happen so fast. I agree with Jeff about not passing using a snow covered lane, unless you know the road really well, that there are no hazards like that pot hole.CNCharlie:

Modern cars start ok but not that many years ago, no block heater, no start when its -30. The block heater just makes it easier on the engine, not to mention getting heat faster which in itself is an essential.

..Oh yes, and when we moved from Vancouver Island to the Edmonton area did we ever need that block heater. Unfortunately the Mazda B2000 we’d bought on the Island did not have a port for putting a heater in the block! and $$$$$  Madsinger:

At speech team Sat. two teens crashed into a telephone pole right outside the HS.

…why is it that so many vehicles that go off the road hit poles?  I mean when you add up the thickness of the poles along a stretch of highway, and divide it into that length of road, what do you get? Not a very high %, I bet…and yet time after time it seems, the car hits a pole!

Bama:

I'm going to need CW44AC's, CW60AC's, SD50s, SD60s, ES44DC's and AC's, ES60DC's and AC's, and maybe a few SD70s and SD80s....Gee, wonder what I'm gonna do with all these engines........

…um, lay more track?

Jeff: The joint on fire station addition will soon get covered with that vine stuff that grows so well on your layout anyway, so no worries.  The engines look really “at home” now!Looks like it’s lunch time, so I’ll have the pork curry and green beans please, with black tea. Thanks.TTFN

 

[ewl01]

Good Morning All!  Zoe, couple of eggs easy, corned beef hash, and some hash brown taters. And a decaf of course, Thank You.

Keeping busy at work here

 Well it was morning, now it's lunch time.. busier than I thought.

Cheeseburger and Onion Rings please Chloe!

Classes start tonight (college) whoo boy.

Later, Erc

[blownout cylinder]

  Hello pipples---Chloe--I'll have a cheeseburger delux with gravy on the fries and an Apple Pie please---oh yes, and a coke as well.

I'm going out to a couple of LHS's to get some paints----JimRC; remember me babbling on about Inventory Control? ----eerrgh---Ahem--cough cough.

Once I get back, I really have to get into the train room and get to some track work------in the meantime I'll sit by the window and do some daydreaming--
                                                                                

[ns3010]

Afternoon Chloe, I'll take a bacon cheeseburger with fries and a coke, thanks.

Exams are almost done. One more day and two more tests, both easy. And we get Friday off (and we got Monday off too, which means 3 day week!!!) Spanish exam today was easy. (El examen de espanol no es dificil, es facil.) Easy, but extremely long. 16 page exam and 8 pages of writing the answers- yes, there were over 200 questions, all of which involved writing. And room 217 (where I took the exam) was really warm, so it would have been easy to fall asleep.

Well, I'm off to study. Later, maybe I'll work on scenery and (finally!) upload my video (if only I could find the cable to connect the camera to the computer...)

[Cox 47]

Howdy All...Its sunny and warmed up to 24 here....I'll have a ham and swiss cheese,chips and a RBF please...Thank You...havn't got much done this morning Visiting Nurse was late and just left so kind of a wasted morning..You all have a good one...Jerry

[pcarrell]

New Haven I-5

PIE!

INFIDEL!!!!!!!!!  SACRILEDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[howmus]

Ah....... Lunch time!  Zoe, I'll have the Hot Roast Beast Sandwich with a mug of Decafe in a R&GV Mug please.  And for dessert, a slice of that Pecan Pie! Pie is always on topic here, right Philip!

I feel a bit like the mosquito in a ............. colony today.  I know what I want to do, I'm just not sure where to start.  I am waiting for a call back from the dealership to make an appointment to get the battery replaced in my 2002 Dakota Pickup.  I guess 7 years is about all I can expect from a battery.  Then I have to call my son and have him pick me up when I drop it off.  (Hopefully that will get done before he has to go to work this afternoon.) I also have to take down the winners art and poetry that is still up at the Methodist Church, sort all the entries by class and school, scan in the winning entries, sort and take prize money and awards to each school for the students that didn't get it at the service, and have to be at the Boy Scout Office for a Science and Technology Committee meeting by 4:00PM today.  So here I sit waiting for the phone to ring.

Have a great afternoon all! 

[Cederstrand]

refill, please & thanks.

Finally something MRR related to report on. On a whim, I recently purchased a very old (N) Bachmann Docksider, the one with all the delicate black plastic gearing. Mind you, I sold off 3 Docksiders previously during my "upgrade period". So anyway, in spite of a mouse eaten box, with a drop of various labelle oils here & there, returned it to running health. Only damage done was breaking a step getting the shell off, so need to carefully glue it back on. Even though it is unlikely I'll run it on the future layout, I have always loved the look of those things. Sure wish someone would start producing them again with all new modern technology.

Hope everyone is doing well today. Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 For lunch today I had taco soup. It was so good I went back for a second bowl.

[galaxy]

Hi guys.

HAwaiian Kona coffee in a Chessie Mug

 And Pasghetti with my homemade sauce please.

I wish the temp would get to 20 and above and STAY there for while. That way we could stop dripping the faucets and not have to worry about frozen drain pipes!! Friday is supposed to be a whole 34*, then drop down to negative numbers and single digits again.

Where is our January thaw already?????

Here's something to think about:

NINE WORDS WOMEN USE

(1)   Fine :   This is the word women use to end an argument when  they are right and you need to shut up.

(2)   Five Minutes :   If she is getting dressed, this means a  half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

(3)   Nothing :   This is the calm before the storm. This means  something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

(4)   G o Ahead :   This is a dar e, not permission. Don't Do  It!

(5)   Loud Sigh :   This isn't actually a word, but is a non-verbal  statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)

(6)   That's Okay :   This is one of the most dangerous statements  a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

(7)   Thanks :   A woman is thanking you, do not question, or  faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarca sm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' . that will bring on a 'whatever').

(8)   Whatever :   Is a woman's way of  saying   I hate   YOU!

(9)   Don't worry about it, I got it :   Another dangerous  statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

 

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Galaxy: Those words are SO true!

[howmus]

My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary.
She said, 'I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 200 in about 3
Seconds.'

I bought her a scale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then the fight started...
 

[Robby P.]

Ahh the good ole' diner.  I don't come in as much, why who knows.  I need to get in more.  Plus I need to catch up.  I am a few pages behind.

Let me try to catch up with whats been going on with me.  Lets see........

The cocker spaniel got in the candy while I was in the basement.  I wasn't to happy but it was my fault. 

Finally stop snowing.  What we have is good for now.

Um........Really not much.

Ok heres the latest "weathered" car.  I gave it a good fade, and some rust.  Theres still the roof, the other side, the underneath, wheels.....well you get the point.

Before:

After (as of right now):

The last shot is a close up of the rust.  Still kinda wet, sorry about that.  I guess it would look better dry.

I will be back in later. 

Robby

[blownout cylinder]

   I just got back from LHS run---back with paints and some more brushes---'Spring' started beating up on the other ones and hid a couple on me so----          ----and I found-----acquired a few(3) flatcars for the odd load of whatever comes my line's way

We are currently basking in sunshine!!!!!!!! Even still, it is only -10C even now

Now, I think I'll order a STRAWBERRY- RHUBARB PIE and a nice cupparawcaffeine please. I'll go sit in the back by the window and watch some switching going on