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

[TMarsh]

Oh, and the O-ring that kinda fits, will.

Until the project is done, and then it won't.

Order up!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 I'll have the bacon and eggs.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

If you Canadians would like to share a Tim Hortons donut with some Tim Hortons coffee, I'll have that. You can't beat TH coffee and donuts.

Yesterday was busy. Not much MRR stuff to report for yesterday. this morning I have already been working in the train room. I'm still working on my scenery project, but it is getting close to being worthy of photos.

JimCG .... Of course the Chapel Car is available. Prayers for Eric's parents continue along with prayers for others in need.

Well, do you all think one of these days that Shelley and I should take down the Christmas tree. Should we wait until February? ...... That would require boxing up the Lionel trains until next Christmas time.

 

 

[Cox 47]

 

Good Morning All....Its sunny and 14 here this morning...Just a cup of coffee for me My son's Girl friend fixed biscuits and gravey for us this morning...My son is here this week-end working stuff around so I can get a hospital bed that the Dr. wants me to have so I'll not be sleeping in my recliner....Its going to put my layout in bedroom and maybe [just maybe] a little more room!...

I got some more done on Mine kitbash yesterday before kids got here...

Looks like those darn teenagers tipped Farmer Brown's John Deere tractor over again!!

You all have a good Saturday....Jerry

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Jerry....... I've heard about cow tipping but not tractor tipping!

Tipping the waitress is acceptable, however.

[gear-jammer]

  

[Paul W. Beverung]

Morning Gang: Mary Ann has the hacking cough again with some feaver. She saw the doctor yesterday and got some stuff for it. Of course she didn't sleep much last night which means I didn't sleep much ether.

A friend of mine lost his wife the otherday. She had a brain tumer. The funeral is this afternoon but with Mary Ann being sick I may not be able to go. This is his second wife. His first died of cancer about 15 years ago. He must really be hurting.

I've got a load of laundry in the washer and a couple of more waiting so I'd better get at it.

See you all later.

Hang in there Eric.

[howmus]

 Friend of mine just sent me this......  I just have to share it!

The Tricky Professor

Introductory Chemistry at Duke has been taught for a long time by Professor Bonk, and his course is semi-affectionately known as "Bonkistry."

Anyway, one year there were these two guys who were taking Chemistry and who did pretty well on all of the quizzes and the midterms and labs, etc., such that going into the final they had a solid "A".

These two friends were so confident going into the final that the weekend before finals week (even though the Chem final was on Monday), they decided to go up to UVirginia and party with some friends up there. So they did this and had a great time. However, with their hangovers and everything, they overslept all day Sunday and didn't make it back to Duke until early monday morning.

Rather than taking the final then, what they did was to find Professor Bonk after the final and explain to him why they missed the final. They told him that they went up to UVa for the weekend, and had planned to come back in time to study, but that they had a flat tire on the way back and didn't have a spare and couldn't get help for a long time and so were late getting back to campus. Bonk thought this over and then agreed that they could make up the final on the following day. The two guys were elated and relieved.

So, they studied that night and went in the next day at the time that Bonk had told them. He placed them in separate rooms and handed each of them a test booklet and told them to begin. They looked at the first problem, which was something simple about molarity and solutions and was worth 5 points. "Cool" they thought, "this is going to be easy." They did that problem and then turned the page. They were unprepared, however, for what they saw on the next page. It said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(95 points) Which tire?
 

[TMarsh]

Woo Hoo! News Flash: Excitement builds in the small town of Gold Creek. They are restoring the original town from the 1800’s, before they expanded across the ditch sometime after the turn of the century, from a ghost town to a functioning tourist attraction . Now as luck would have it, they have discovered an old baggage car recently uncovered from a remote location that until today has not been picked through. They have come up with an idea to run an excursion trip once a month or so as an attraction. The details have to be worked out and a meeting set up with the owners of the railroad, to see if they can use part of the shortline. If all works out then they will hunt for a small steam loco and possibly a passenger car if the demand for seating exceeds the current baggage cars capability. Of course the couplers need replaced because the car was obviously used as a static display and the couplers are non-functional. Once replaced then it will be delivered to the town and work will begin on repainting and a bit of sprucing up.

Paul- Tell your friend he is in our prayers. And so is Mary Ann for her illness. Hope it’s nothing serious

Ray-  Ya think the professor's been around the block before?

Back to the basement.

The Three Rules Of Plumbing

Rule 1: Water don’t run uphill (edited for G rating)

Rule 2: The boss …um…isn’t nice (edited for G rating)

Rule 3: Payday’s on Friday

We’ll assume Rule 2 doesn’t apply Barry, and good luck with rule 3.

Todd

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Good morning Gang,   What a beautiful fresh morning out there, not a fly nor mosquitoe to be found.

On my way to work this morning it was -37C with a wind chill taking it down to -47C, I so guess I won't get any sun tanning done today.

Since Christmas I haven't been able to find my "Chapel Car" book.  My wife is going to do some "Sherlock Holmes" work today while I am                                                away to see if she can locate it.  It is my guess that she put it away and can't remember where that place is.   Ha Ha.

Who is that new girl working this morning?  Looks like she is a Southern Belle.   Must be some relation to Jeff or Paul.

Lets all take a guess at her name, my guess is that her name is Betty Jo.     Who is next?

If that toaster is still warm, I'll have a toasted bacon and tomatoe with chopped onions and some mild salsa.  Dr. Pepper to chase,  Thanks.

That primer that I found under the basement stairs that I put on the plywood for the control panel, hasn't completely dried and its been two days.                                            It is a couple of years old so maybe it has seperated or something even though it was well mixed. I think it will be dry enough tonight to put on the first finish coat .

I got several Athern 72 ft   CZ.. passenger cars off e-bay and one of the dome cars had a different name. Of my original four domes,                                                           two of them had the same name, so last night I swung the better running gear over to it and now the four have individual identities. 

Now I would like to make the changes necessary to convert a FB unit into a steam generator car, we sure need it in this climate.

At this Temp, I don't think there will be any traffic around this place today, so it will be extremly quiet for a change.

JERRY,  I have now heard everything,  you will be the only guy that I know that will be able to operate his layout and stay in bed. (What a Guy)

JEFF, How is your pet spider lliking his new digs?  There should be better hunting over there than in your enginehouse.

KEVIN,  (Blue Hills),  Where have you been hiding out?  We haven't heard from you in quite awhile,  did you go down to visit Ed, in old Mexico,                                          He is another guy that hasn't been in much this winter. Whats up ED ???   Keep the OJ flowing, it is really in demand here.

ROB,  That is one big feline, I can't imagine what your mice look like.

ALL OUR BUDDIES FROM THE MID WEST TO THE NEW ENGLAND STATES & MARITIME PROVINCES,  you had better keep                                                          your long RED  WOOLIES handy as they say these temps will move right on east over the next 4 to 5 days.

I had better start to look like I am earning my keep here, so I'll sign off for now and check back in for a night cap later tonight.

Keep smiling fellas and gals, It could be worse.   Prayers and blessings to all in need.   Hope we find that Chapel Car book.

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

May the Rails never be Silent.                                                                                                       

PS. My post looks alright in original and after editing it it has all these stupid spaces in the sentenses that I can't edit out, Whats with that??                                                 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

howmus

The Tricky Professor

Tricky is right! That was rich!

[Packers#1]

 yeah jim, but in my current room, the ceiling slopes down, so one wall is no use, b/c the ceiling slopes down to low, the other wall has my desk, a third wall has shelves that are built into the room, and the 4th is where I'll put the layout.

I'm thinking a 3 feet by 6.5 feet layout, set in mountains, w/ a small yard, one online industry, and a purpose for the yard. will explain it all later.

[Packers#1]

galaxy

Unless it has some of the "dirty connotations" I've known to be associated with the word PIE {none of which belong here on this site!} I don't see the fascination with PIE . I agree with Packers#1- CAKE is just as good!!!! Especially with good frosting!  I said that a few days ago!

SO, I will buy CAKE for anyone who wants some!!!!

 

I'll take a big slice, if you're still buying.

[Cederstrand]

 refill, please.

***Jerry, you have some mighty strong teenagers around your layout, especially with a JD of that size. (I would just shoot them) Nice progress on your kit-bash project!

***Tod, [Rule 1: Water don’t run uphill] Tell that to a pool inspector when you are adding water using a hose without a reverse shut-off valve on the end. It matters not that physics prevents water from miraculously leaping up 2'  from the pool to potentially contaminate the water supply. So many regulations are just plain NUTS.

***Ray, that's a good one.

***Paul, that must be beyond difficult for your friend. Yikes!

There be sunshine out...back to work I go. Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

last mountain & eastern hogger

JEFF, How is your pet spider lliking his new digs?  There should be better hunting over there than in your enginehouse.

I haven't seen it back here so the new place must be to it's liking. I'm still wondering how it got in here in the first place.

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

ROB,

But they are worried about Syphoning if the end of the hose gets into the pool and then somewhere along the line there is a water main break or a pump fails and the pressure goes down then the pool water will be sucked back into your system.   (not good for you.)

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

[galaxy]

Packers#1

galaxy

Unless it has some of the "dirty connotations" I've known to be associated with the word PIE {none of which belong here on this site!} I don't see the fascination with PIE . I agree with Packers#1- CAKE is just as good!!!! Especially with good frosting!  I said that a few days ago!

SO, I will buy CAKE for anyone who wants some!!!!

 

I'll take a big slice, if you're still buying.

Absolutely! Step right up and make a selection from the cakes available.

{Take two...they are small!} 

 

[pcarrell]

HEADS UP!

(This happened on one of my other computers, not this one.)

I just went to my Photobucket account and was almost intantly attacked with a fake virus protection program called A360 that automatically downloaded itself and some nasty stuff onto my computer.  Almost 100 Trojans were included in this "special" download.  It bypassed my firewall and my virus protection.  This thing is UGLY!  I'm running scans now, but I don't think it's going to see them.  I found the file in my Program files on the C drive, but it won't let me delete it, move it, or do anything to it.  A virus scan on it directly says that theres nothing there, yet it's right there in front of me. 

Proceed to photobucket with EXTREME caution!

[Packers#1]

galaxy

Packers#1

galaxy

Unless it has some of the "dirty connotations" I've known to be associated with the word PIE {none of which belong here on this site!} I don't see the fascination with PIE . I agree with Packers#1- CAKE is just as good!!!! Especially with good frosting!  I said that a few days ago!

SO, I will buy CAKE for anyone who wants some!!!!

 

I'll take a big slice, if you're still buying.

Absolutely! Step right up and make a selection from the cakes available.

{Take two...they are small!} 

 

 

I'll take one for victory. We finally won a game, 21-18 over Mt. Harris. And we did it w/o our 2nd biggest guy. I got 4 points, including the last shot. We were up 19-18 in the 4th, my teammate passed me the ball down low, and if i held it to let time run out, they'd wrap it up, so I shot and put us up by 3. We were down by 4 at the start of the 4th, but we won by 3. ah, good day.

Kinda nasty outside today, probably going to see if the Winter X games are on, and do my homework for this weekend.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

pcarrell

I just went to my Photobucket account and was almost intantly attacked with a fake virus protection program called A360 that automatically downloaded itself and some nasty stuff onto my computer.  Almost 100 Trojans were included in this "special" download.  It bypassed my firewall and my virus protection.  This thing is UGLY!  I'm running scans now, but I don't think it's going to see them.  I found the file in my Program files on the C drive, but it won't let me delete it, move it, or do anything to it.  A virus scan on it directly says that theres nothing there, yet it's right there in front of me. 

I didn't know this thing was hitting everybody! I ran into the very same thing! Here's how you can get rid of it.

Do a search of your hard drive using '360' as the search parameter. A file named 'A360.exe' and a directory of a similar name will be listed.

Rename the file to 'A3601.ex1' then reboot your computer.

Do the search again and delete the files.

Run your antivirus program and Yahoo Anti-Spy if you have it.

This will rid your machine of the malware. If you are using Firefox with Adblock or Adblock Plus there's an additional step you can take. Go back to Photobucket and when the thing pops up again right click on it and adblock the crap out of it. I did that this morning and haven't seen it since!

[der5997]

Good afternoon Diners!  A green tea and a 15 second nuked Lassie Mog please.Flip, I know what you mean about being pages behind.  I think I last said anything here on Wednesday, and that’s 13 pages ago now!  Thursday was a trip to the city – medical check with new endocrinologist.  Results were good enough for him to discharge me (keeping file open so no new referral necessary if there are issues in the future). So I’m really thankful and pleased with that. Have to think of another reason for a trip to the larger LHS! Speaking of LHSs, got a note today that the eLHS whose good customer service I told you about on Page 31.  My MRC sound decoder came, so they are shipping the P42 and the decoder on Monday.  Have now made solid contact with the HO mrr in Sheet Harbour.  Here’s his credentials  That’s him at the controls of Bosnian Steam about 10 years ago.  Since any old yerk would not get to do that, I’m assuming he was reasonably highly placed in the military (SFOR).Here’s the layout in his shed, his description of it follows. 

It's just a big doughnut ... using an old Lynn Westcott design and the LA Junction Railroad as inspiration. I used to be a geodesist and I've travelled the world following quite a few Great Circle routes; moreover, I've collected my stuff from around the globe.  Hence, I've named the railroad accordingly. It's called "The Great Circle Railroad" ... and "Runs to Nowhere with stops at Anywhere and Everywhere"! I run anything Canadian or Canadian-operated.  Motive power is roughly equal in both CN & CP.  Also bits & pieces from Ontario Northland; BC Rail; TH&B; Dominion Atlantic; White Pass & Yukon; Montreal & Atlantic; plus the Department of National Defence to keep things interesting. Mainline is 128 feet on two levels.  Max gradient is 2.5 % and there are several spurs: one to a mine; another to a saw mill; a third to a factory complex; another to the shops with the round house & turntable; and finally, there's that switching puzzle to the right in the picture.  There is provision for five staging tracks at roughly eight feet each ... but, they don't exist yet.

…He said he would take more pics soon, so I’ll pass those along as well. There’s more to the description, but space is a factor! Sawyer:

I'll most likely be creating an around-the-walls style layout, I don't want to have a bunch of work invested into my 4x8. I think I'll have a very slim, but very long, shelf layout in my bedroom for now.

…You’ll enjoy the around the walls format, I’m sure. Just don’t let the door eat too much territory! (I had a pocket door built in , but you may not be able to swing that. (I know, pocket doors don’t swing…) Joe:

Sawyer, I think you're wrong. Today, I finally threw out the rest of the N stuff that I got two years ago from my uncle. Since I got it, it's been in boxes under my layout.

…So, you had them in quarantine…no wonder you weren’t infected! Barry:

I'm still in N scale----I'm just using more powerful Magnification

…Yeah, I’m finding I have to use reading glasses for just about anything I’m doing that’s fiddly these days.  Eric:

They're intimidated by the HO but N are like mice... 

  No we’re cat-less, the threat has been removed, not that Pampas George was interested in catching the trains. Only interest he ever took I guess was when I was dismantling the A&W for the move to Nova Scotia. I had screws in the top of a shoe box, and PG let his general un-ease with the disturbance of routine made known by peeing in it!  Here’s the only cats we have now, and they don’t get around much any more! Oh, almost forgot, there’s the one Kris painted on the stairs! On the topic of cats…and computers, Tom, how about this…    BTW, Tom, do you remember Kruk from the original Coffee Shop?  There’s hope perhaps for snowpack for your Sierras, he sent me these photos of the CP Main at Revelstoke, B.C.    Galaxy:

SO, I will buy CAKE for anyone who wants some!!!!

…me please, it’s easier to get low sugar cake than low sugar PIE!

now y'all want to know what a triffle is, right? How triffle!

…what brand of sherry were you going to use in that, and are you planning on Lady’s Fingers or Sponge Cake? In any case, bring it on, since I’m sure you’ll be using lashings of whipped cream!  Barry: A subsection of Thompson’s Axioms -2a- reads that “If the ABS should in fact be found, the solvent you had will have dried up, and the solvent will comply with T’s As 1-3!” Jerry: That mine is coming along very nicely  Garry:

Jerry....... I've heard about cow tipping but not tractor tipping!

…those lads are fed nothing but the finest Scots Porridge Oats!   BTW, it’s Burn’s Day tomorrow.I trust we have an ample supply of Haggis and Single Malt laid in.  Paul: Prayers for Mary An and yourself, also your friend…that’s very rough for him.Ray: Loved it! ROTFL., Ditto Todd. PC and Jeff:  Thanks for the warning and fix.  Haven’t seen it yet….No, search says it’s not there. So I’ll post this with the images I’ve collected from PB. I think I’m going to hard wire in a loco wheel cleaning station to the layout. The salt deposits are already affecting the track and building up on the loco wheels since the last cleaning, what was it…about a week or so ago?  I’m going to find an audio plug, fix it in the facia, run wires from a handy set of track feeders, and put alligator clip leads on the male end.  Then the alligators will clip into my brass suede brush with the missing two rows of teeth, and I’ll be good to go.  The latter part of that is what I’m using now, but it means keeping a small section of rail unpainted to clip the alligators onto to power the brush. I just crank the throttle wide open, and hold the loco to the brush.  Sometimes it takes a bit of rubbing before there’s contact and the motor fires up, completing the job. I find I can get in fine enough to clean each set of axels.  Actually, come to think of it, there’s already a suitable plug in the facia that I used before I went DCC. It was for my home-made DC walk-around transistor throttle.   As I was telling Dick earlier today, coupler and trip pin gremlins are coming out of the wood-work.  I think it’s because so many of my freight cars are Train show purchases…and there was a reason they were on sale!  In sorting out a flat car (it had two trailers on it, but I’m not running many of those) I decided to give the empty some weight. So I’ve dug up a couple of old loco motors that were in my bit box, and have devised some cribbing to hold them at each end of the car, over the trucks.  All that remains, after the glue dries, is to do some tie-downs out of thin wire. I weathered the deck first with brown powdered ash over Dullcoat.  Whitish ash along the body. I’d better do something with the new truck side frames and couplers….Pics when finished. 

Other fish to fry now, so I’ll say TTFN.

 

[pcarrell]

Now wait a minute.......did I hear this right?

 

NO PIE!?!

 

 

 

Sad state of affairs we're in these days......economy is so bad we can only have cake........

[JimRCGMO]

Afternoon, Flo - I'll have a root beer float and a slice of apple pie with a scoop of the French vanilla ice cream on top, too, Flo. Thanks!

TMarsh

OK let me have it on the brands. (Oops I forgot where I was).

  Todd, it could've been worse, if you were out in the other forums (fora?), they would've let you have it, all right (with both barrels! ). Tucson - clearing them out? I think I must've skipped a page or two...

Barry, Todd and Jeff - you left out axiom 3b: "...AND the ABS pipe you cut will - of course! - be about 1/2 inch too short for the location." And Todd - my rule 3 would be "Payday is twice a month, and not necessarily on a Friday."

Jerry - your layout sure has some strong teenagers there! Coming along on your mine - where will you be putting your tipple for the trucks?

Paul - better take care of Mary Ann, and get her healed up from whatever's giving her the fever.

Ray - I'd say the professor has indeed been around the block (and maybe had a flat tire of his own in his day)!

Johnboy, if you're planning on suntanning today, it'd better be in a greenhouse - with special glass on it! And thanks for reminding me of one thing to be grateful for, on those cold days. I figure on your formatting for your post, it's just a forum software glitch - the gremlins have been playing tricks

DerJohn, tell Kris that I think she did an excellent job on the cat on the stairs!

Well, on my train front, last night I got the sections for one long wall and one side wall put together for that Walthers warehouse I'm w**king on. I'll be resuming on that after I get home from the  Diner. Today, I went by Hobby Lobby and bought the W-S Farmers' Market figures set. I want to go back later and also use another 40 percent off coupon and get another set of those Floquil weathering pens, too. Hmmm, I just remembered - for our resident plumbers and 'consultants', I have some detail castings in my Details tub that include some J's and other plumbing parts. Maybe I should see what size O-rings are in there....?

Actually, that pie and the RBF has me feeling kinda sleepy. Maybe I'll just take a short nap before heading for home.... Huh? Oh, sorry 'bout that.

Blessings and prayers for healing and comfort,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[JimRCGMO]

PC, don't worry about that nasty rumor about running out of pie. Flo, go bring PC a piece of pie from your secret hiding place. They were just foolin' with you, Philip.

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[Robby P.]

Well I finally make it back, and hear theres no PIE!!!!!  How can that be?

The wife and I went to some stores today.  Found a old SEGA game system for $10, and thats with 4 controllers, and 6 games.  I had to get it.  That was my youth days (My wife thinks I still act young thou).

Went to a hobby store and found some stuff.  Got a Southern Pacific GP40-2 dummy engine, and I will sell that.  I don't really need it.   There Woodland's stuff was cheap.  Oh......and they have a decent layout with Lionel, and some Ho trains.  I was looking at the HO scale stuff, and heard a small crash. There was about 3 Lionel trains crashed into each other.  Boxcars, tankers, passanger cars, engines, was everywhere.  This mans wife said, "oh that happens in real life".  Well the guy doing the demo didn't like that response.

I guess if theres no PIE, I guess I will have a RBF.

Well guys and gals I will head out.  Everybody have a good night.

Robby

[BamaCSX83]

Glad to see all y'all, I haven't been up to a whole lot the past few days, yesterday was spent pulling the engine out of a jeep so I can do whatever needs to take place to stuff a new engine in.  Along the MRR front, haven't done anything, but I think what I'm going to do is take CSX's current engine roster and buy a percentage of each engine type so I can model what trains come through Troy (counting even the "run when necessary" trains) there are about 30 that come through, so I know that there is going to be a LOT of motive power that rolls through the area, which means getting a lot of varied rolling stock.  Then of course comes all the new rolling stock that I'm going to have to purchase too....

Flo, I'll have a RBF and sit here by the window and watch the trains come through this Saturday evening/night.

[blownout cylinder]

       The basement is now kinda dusty, I'se be dusty and the living room is the only quiet place in the house all about me is  with the occassional glob of paint and what all else.

PC; This is what I'd like to use on human specimens that love to make people work hard on doing a simple thing----When did this piece of nastiness show up anyway?---Does Pb know they've been coopted?

Jeff---We got to the point where we will be popping the toilet onto the O ring---hopefully it will deign to give us permission by FITTING---

JohnDer; Glasses and a whole pile of LIGHT-----

Jerry;---They must've used a large winch?

Gerry ---and why not? TH is best----then again---

Anyhooooo----back to the basement with me I go----heeheehee

 

[ewl01]

Evening folks.  Chloe, how about some warm pecan pie with some ice cream, and a decaf.

This has been one very long day.... and not a very good one either.

The one bright spot was the visit to the LHS for some n scale shopping.  Bought several packs of 19"(or whatever it is) radius track, 1 pack of long straights an an Atlas Conrail dash 8.The owner is selling his n atlas locos at an extra 10% off of his 20%.  (less20, then less10) still a good deal. I have an MRC 2400 power pack at home (somewhere) along with some rolling stock (again, somewhere). 

Then came the hospital visit.  Both parents are on the same floor.  Dad is extremely ill, stage IV pancreatic cancer.  In the last several months the cancer has spread while he suffered from other illnesses.  Spent a long time with 2 of the doctors reviewing the extent of the illness and expected outcome,  An outcome that is rather obvious. 

Time to return home tomorrow, work and school await. After I find a space to lay some n-track!

Eric

[Packers#1]

 Hey der, saw those canadian pics on another site.

Joe, yeah, you weren't infected b/c you had them hid

[blownout cylinder]

   AAh! Now that I cleaned up, I'm going to order a FieldberryPIE!!!!!! and a Black Forest Cheese CAKE!!!!!!! as well as a french vanilla flavoured coffee please. I'm an equal opportunity eater of cakes, pies and pastries----- no probs here!!!