Elliott's Trackside Diner X - Are We There Yet?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

grayfox1119

Ask me how I feel about Tobacco companies after loosing 4 uncles, one cousin, an aunt, and now my BIL all to lung cancer.

The same way I feel about them after losing several family members, a numder of cousins and several good friends.

[grayfox1119]

Sad news, my brother in-law died, he was 62. He was a heavy smoker that just could not break the habit. To make matters sadder, he died in the hospital while his daughter was at her baby shower, her first child due next month. Ask me how I feel about Tobacco companies after loosing 4 uncles, one cousin, an aunt, and now my BIL all to lung cancer.

[grayfox1119]

Ahhh Duke!! Those lovely Berkshires!! Just came up from the train room for a break, I have installing profile boards (WS) on the layout. The last few days I have been cleaning up the incredible mess from the December 12th ice storm. I used 5 gas loads in my chain saw in one day alone! In between this action, I take a break and get down to the train room. All this brush cutting, chain sawing , lugging branches and cut logs is what I call "savage amusement". LOL OK, glue is dry, back to work, coffee break is over.

[Paul W. Beverung]

Afternoon Gang: Not much going on in MRR land for me. I got the two lawn tractors out and started to get them in shape for mowing. I already need to mow what should be lawn but is all weeds. Since the burn ban has been lifted I need to light off the brush pile. It really isn't big enough to burn yet but since the ban could be put back on I need to get it going.

That's about it for now.

 

[Packers#1]

 Oh, got a tip-off abt. a show in Columbia SC on May 2nd, googled it, here's what I got (scroll down a bit):

http://www.knightshows.com/

http://www.knightshows.com/Columbia_Doll_Show.html 

I'm going to make sure I go.

[Robby P.]

Well give me cheeseburger, onion rings, and sweet tea.  I'm pretty hungry.

Here's a shot of the scrap yard I've been working on.  I still need to add some scrap, and some junk cars.  The white area is where the scrap will be.  In the far left corner is where the junk cars will be.  I handmade the fence.  I like how it looks "beat up".  

 

[bjdukert]

Afternoon all

Bill here is one for you and this is what the caption says. Oh yeah,these are 2-8-4 Berkshires.

OLD RELIABLE: Lima 724 wheels KC-44 over the Indianapolis Division crossing and past the old division office at Tipton. This fine S-1, a regular on LE&W manifests, is likely to make the entire 223-mile run from Frankfort to Bellevue. As usual, high noon at Frankfort (below) finds PB-12 leaving town. The 716 and 725 will help move the hotshot over the remaining 469 miles to Buffalo, a feat to be accomplished in 14 hours.

Best to all on sick call and those recovering

Talk to you later

Duke

[LSWrr]

Jerry, no I’ve decided to rebuild them and then sell them.  I picked up new wheels for the tenders and over the summer I’ll start replacing the motors.


Lee

[Packers#1]

TMarsh

Sawyer- Track plan “Loookiiing Gooood!“ (Sorry, Chico and the Man is a bit before your time) Boy I sure wish I was more comfortable with this forum when I was expanding my world. I was just getting on to this and I didn’t want to get derailed because of my lack o knowledge. Of course I now know that would NOT have happened here. I thumbed through track plans and combined what I thought would fit the space I had (and it did. With a few small exceptions). With the input from everyone I probably would have been a whole lot happier. Now it’s too late. Well, It’s NEVER too late. I just don’t want to tear everything up…..yet. NO! Stop That!

 

Hehehe, thanks Todd. Well, I talked w/ my mom on the way home from denstist (more on that in a sec), and looks like I'll hopefully get a 2x10 area, so just means that I'll be trimming the town bit off (which means the no scenery area now gets a town instead).

OK, the two bad things abt. the dentist (and only two): 1) the PITA flouride treatment!!!, and 2) your teeth are sensitive for about a day after.

I still love going to my dentist though, b/c he's also a model rialroader. I was the last kid he had before lunch, and got to talking abt. trains while he was checking my teeth and also afterwards. He's into HO scale, and that's abt. all I know. 

[Cederstrand]

Coffee in a Large UNION PACIFIC mug, please & thanks.

FIL is doing fine. Wife is on her way home.

Still working out the least amount of track needed to complete my (now simplified) layout. Wife only needs 3 strait sections of plain old Bachmann track for hers. Wish there was a train store nearby. Wife said it is a good thing there isn't one, or she could get in trouble.

Enjoying everyones pics, including those "catches".

Have a good day all. Rob

[ewl01]

Afternoon everyone!   A slice of pecan pie and a decaf while I wait for the work day to end.

Gray day today.  Typical Monday here at the shore.  Going to pick up a can of primer and test it on a small building I assembled for a boiler house for the coffee plant.  Haven't been able to get to HD for the foam, so I've been doing buildings until I get something on the framework.  I'd like to get some track laid down so I can see how much room ai really don't have!!! 

Ordered a wood barge kit from Walthers that was on sale.  Figured it would look nice next to the pier that a company had on the river behind the plant.

It seems that Walthers is bringing out the waterfront series piece by piece.  I hope the pier kits come out too.  The Car Float (in transit), Tug, and Pier warehouse are already out.

OOPS!! It's the boss!  I'll take that pie and coffee to go!

Eric

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Got an especially long train (long for my layout) running today. Three locos on the head end (2 L&A SDP40F's, 1 UP GP40) 11 cars, a fourth loco (KCS GP40) and 11 more cars and the front and rear of the train are about 14 feet apart, so it's nowhere near chasing itself. The layout is bigger than it looks in photos you've seen.

[blownout cylinder]

AmanaMedic

TMarsh

Jeff- An old gas station. PERFECT place for a place called “Pack A Pig” I’d definitely stop in if I was passing by. That would be a place where you’d have the best chance for BBQ to die for! (did I just say “to die for?”)

There's a little old corner gas station in Cedar Rapids, not far from the Penford plant, that's been a hot dogs and burger joint for years. It's called "The Flying Weenie (sp.)" and has a Piper Cub type plane sitting on the roof.

Locals rave about it. The wife and I tried it out once...I didn't think it was all that great. The inside was rather grungy...OK for a gas station, not so cool for a food shop.

Woodstock ON is home to a hamburg joint called 'Fritz's' Fries' This place was established around 1973 on the ashes of an even older greasy spoon---London ON has a few out in the east end along with a few motels that have been in the vicinity since the '50's.---There's still a lot of those kinds of places around---kind of makes one think that maybe placing a few of those around the layout might not be a bad idea

[howmus]

A good afternoon from the sunny Finger Lakes!

Got up this morning and checked my email.....  Got one from my Sister in Law in Canandaigua.  She was letting us know that her Father had stopped eating or drinking.  He is 95 years old and is in the County Facility.  He evidently fell a couple times last week, didn't break anything, and doesn't appear to be in any great pain.  Can't walk more than a couple of steps and is now using a wheelchair to get around.  He just appears to have lost the will to live and it shouldn't be long before he is gone.  This is personally very sad for me as he is the last one left of that generation in our families.  He is also the gentleman who got me into Model Railroading as an adult. 

Chris, at one time my FIL had a the jigs needed to rebuild a piper cub.  I remember him flying his over our house when I was first married.  Always flew with the door open as he was claustrophobic.  He has a couple of exhibits of airplane stuff at the Glenn Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, NY.

This also puts some ??? on the layout tour this weekend.  I guess I have to play it by ear.  Hey I'm a musician, I ought to be able to do that. 

Just a  mug of dark roast to go, Flo!

[AmanaMedic]

TMarsh

Jeff- An old gas station. PERFECT place for a place called “Pack A Pig” I’d definitely stop in if I was passing by. That would be a place where you’d have the best chance for BBQ to die for! (did I just say “to die for?”)

There's a little old corner gas station in Cedar Rapids, not far from the Penford plant, that's been a hot dogs and burger joint for years. It's called "The Flying Weenie (sp.)" and has a Piper Cub type plane sitting on the roof.

Locals rave about it. The wife and I tried it out once...I didn't think it was all that great. The inside was rather grungy...OK for a gas station, not so cool for a food shop.

The 2008 flood swamped it to where the plane looked like a sea plane. Guess they mucked it out, cleaned it up...and are back in business. Hopefully, it's at least a little cleaner now...

Have a good day, and, we've got that bright yellow orb in the sky Jeff was talking about too...'sposed to get into the upper 60s today according to National Weather Speculation. A good day to work from home. I think Rerun (Mr. Rerun Florian Umscheid, my little fuzzy buddy) is going to be begging me for lots of trips outside today.

Chris

[Cox 47]

Good morning all...Its sunny and 47 here this morning..I'll have coffee and toast please...Thank You...Had one of those nights when I couldn't sleep last night plan'in to hit the recliner for a nap...Gonna work alittle on fiddle yards.... hope I get sme used switches in mail today from N scale yard sale deal..

Inch...Looks like you did well at show and sounds like you and Deb had a good week-end...Congrats on your anniversary..How many does this make?

Jeff..I think the old PLasticville gas station looks pretty good the way it is..but want to see it when you get it reworked...I had a Plasticville Yard Shanty years ago that was a old box car..detail on it was good and when painted and weathered it made a nice looking model..

Lee...looks like you did OK at train show too...Have you started to sell off your Steamers yet?

You all have a good one...Jerry

[TMarsh]

Mornin’ Full Stack, couple sausage patties, maple syrup and a mug of black coffee please. Thank You.

Rob- Sorry about your FIL. Still praying for the wife’s strength.

Ray- Now you’re startin to get me a bit excited for you on this open house. All my fingers and toes are crossed that it comes off smooth. Keep runnin them trains and workin out those bugs that show up only at “showtime” Of course you probably know aaaaaaaaall about that stuff by now. Layout’s looking great (WPF pics)

I sure appreciate the talk and sites on asphalt roads. I have the most trouble with roads of all types. For my settings, styrene doesn’t look right. Also being someone who doesn’t get along with colors well, the coloring is tough. (can’t look at a color and say “if I mix this with this “) Weathering is also an issue. I was practicing on an old covered hopper this weekend. (nodding head) I liked about 40% of it. The rest looked like crud, but that’s what they make alcohol and a paper towel for. I’m getting there. I’ve got to get past the one or two brush strokes should do it stage. (“Patience, son. I say, I say, patience.)Keep posting those pictures Robby. I use those a lot for a how to guide. Sorry, can’t afford to pay you in cash so have some diner coupons.

All this talk of train shows kinda makes me jealous. Springfield is not the capitol of anything. Except ole Abe, and I already talked about that. Driving to a distant town is never a good option as I never know what I’m doing until the phone rings so I can’t plan much. We’ve had one trainshow there last year and well it wasn’t anything to brag on. Kinda like Lee’s WGH show but in a hotel banquet room and without the huge crowd or the kid problems. Oh or the food/ beverage. No real deals just some vendors from who knows where selling stuff as if it were on their store shelves. Some used stuff but primo priced. Ah Springfield. Still wanting to be a town they’re not.

Sawyer- Track plan “Loookiiing Gooood!“ (Sorry, Chico and the Man is a bit before your time) Boy I sure wish I was more comfortable with this forum when I was expanding my world. I was just getting on to this and I didn’t want to get derailed because of my lack o knowledge. Of course I now know that would NOT have happened here. I thumbed through track plans and combined what I thought would fit the space I had (and it did. With a few small exceptions). With the input from everyone I probably would have been a whole lot happier. Now it’s too late. Well, It’s NEVER too late. I just don’t want to tear everything up…..yet. NO! Stop That!

Jeff- An old gas station. PERFECT place for a place called “Pack A Pig” I’d definitely stop in if I was passing by. That would be a place where you’d have the best chance for BBQ to die for! (did I just say “to die for?”)

With all these photos you guys are posting, I’m getting quite the collection in my MR/Pictures/info and ideas folder. Thanks from all of us who do better by seeing many examples of fine work!

Well time to get busy. Ya’ll have a great day!

 

[Robby P.]

Another day has come.  Where does time go?

Inch, not a bad find.  I am the same way.  I end up spending my money before I get half way done at a show.

Jeff, I smell the BBQ right now.   I haven't had a good BBQ snadwhich since I moved to Pa.  Thats one thing I miss about NC.  * I hope your place sells red slaw with its BBQ

I will try to get a shot of my scrap yard.  Well whats done so far. 

I was going to try to get some train hunting in this week, but someone on a website says CSX is changing rails, spikes, etc for about four days.  Thats from Pittsburgh through Cumberland MD.  So that idea is out the window.

Well I guess I will try to get some shots of the yard, and I will be in for lunch.  Not to hungry this morning.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

LSWrr

Jeff, if you’re interested in 50 foot automobile box cars let me know what road names and what your top end price would be.  The first weekend in October is the Berea train show (same idea as Railfest).  I can normally pick up used Athearn and Bowser rolling stock for $2.50 to $5 a unit.  I can get new Accurail kits from my LHS for $8 to $12.

My top end price for used stock would be $7 a unit for a total of 5 units. That comes out to $35. If the prices are lower then however many unit can be had for $35. For new stock it would be $10 a unit for a total of 5 units or however many could be had for $50. Roadnames don't really matter. I usually run anything that rolled on rails in the lower 48.

Good morning.

It's 53 and cloudy here. The high should be in the low 70's and it will be partly cloudy.

The National Weather Service has issued a special bulletin! There will be a strange bright yellow object visible in the sky today. As it hasn't been visible in over a week they want to be sure that it's sudden appearance will not cause a panic. This is not a harbinger of doom, merely the return of good weather. In other news, my sister's new Acer notebook has developed a problem. It works and shuts down fine as long as nothing has been connected to the USB ports. If ANYTHING has been connected to any of the USB ports (it has three) it will not shut down! It just hangs up and crashes. The acer service techs we've talked to say this is totally weird. We did a complete recovery on it on the advice of the service dept and it still does the same thing, indicating that it's a hardware problem. She'll be sending it back to the nationally recognized company she bought it from (QVC) for replacement. This has been my first direct contact with Windows Vista Home Premium and I must say that I'm not favorably impressed with it. Didn't get anything done on the layout yesterday as I was tied up with her computer most of the day. How do I get a day of my life back? Now to get this onto an MR topic, at the bottom of this post is a photo of the structure that will be the 'Pak-a-Pig' barbecue and smoke house, home of authentic Louisiana barbecue.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      3/16/2009

Wind Chill:  54°F
Humidity:  94%
Dew Point:  52°F

So Far Today
High:  54°F
Low:  52°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  6mph NE

Today  High: 72    Mostly cloudy early in the morning then becoming partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly sunny in the afternoon. Warmer. Highs in the lower 70s. North winds around 5 mph.

Tonight  Low: 52    Clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Northeast winds around 5 mph.


 

[LSWrr]

Nice haul Inch!

I'm thincking about ordering 2 of the 2-10-2 IHC locomotives this morning for $119. 

Lee

[inch53]

 

Mornin an irish coffee and a short stack with sausage, my dear

We made it over to the train show in St Lou and when Jim said it's was a good one, he was right. I only took $40 and I was broke in less than 20 minutes. 30 of it went for this and the guy threw in some other odds n ends.

Me n Mother decided next time we go, we're taking more money [almost got the CC out] and she found a mall close to there. Sunday morning we went by Cahokia Mound state park for awhile and found this sign at the entrance.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/007-10.jpg

I won't go into details, but we're to broke to pay attention in this state.

Made our usual stop at Pocahontas and eat at the Powhaten restaurant, which we do every time we're over that way. Country singer Gretchen Wilson's mom worked there when we started stopping. Good food and the prices aren't too bad.

Got a little rail fanning in too when we caught a ballast train headed east by Casey.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/013-7.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/inch53/014-6.jpg

 Worst part of the trip was the drive and St Lou traffic. Glad we weren't trying to do it in one day, neither me nor Mother rides good anymore.

LEE,,,, the WGH show sounds like a GAT show I went to. Way to many people for the area and the noise was almost deafening.

Way behind on reading again but I seen some great pics on here, thanks for posting them.

Need ta get movin on chores, behind there too. Thoughts for those in need n hope ya'll has a gooden

[LSWrr]

Good morning all, 

Jeff, if you’re interested in 50 foot automobile box cars let me know what road names and what your top end price would be.  The first weekend in October is the Berea train show (same idea as Railfest).  I can normally pick up used Athearn and Bowser rolling stock for $2.50 to $5 a unit.  I can get new Accurail kits from my LHS for $8 to $12.

Jim, I was lucky to find that team track kit.  I can ask around, but I think next month is the Toledo train show.  If you are still interested I’ll hunt one down for you.  I picked mine up for $20, but it was marked $36 (I paid in $1 bills).

I typically have two barging tools with me at train shows.
1. Walther’s sales flyer.
2. Several one dollar bills.

Train Show vendors can’t just run to the bank when they run low on change and if I can get it from the sale flyer cheaper he can lower his price and get my money or I’ll skip him and he will never see my money.

Lee

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning--We're at the round goose egg( --0C). And another sunny day is in store for us today. We'll be at 14C today so more outdoor stuff is planned for this afternoon.

Chloe--I'll have a toast/jam and 2 eggs sunny side up and a coffee please. I'll be at the back enjoying the sunrise

[wetidlerjr]

 Good Morning ! from TIPTON IN.

[Cederstrand]

Chamomile tea, please & thanks 

About a half hour ago FIL had a seizure, so my wife is on her way to help him. She was so tired when she left, I worry about her.

On the train front, before turning in last night I added to the end of the little staging area (in the form of a triangle). This will make the trackwork into the yard a little easier to figure. Needed to do this so there would be room for the SP Daylight (Lava Light Express?) train to park as a complete unit.

Well, no point my staying up. Good morning night. Rob

 

[TMarsh]

Lots of people still do. I remember when the interstate stopped at Williamsville. It went through about, oh '75 or '76 I think. I know I wasn't driving yet (legally ). I go to Lincoln the old way still. Very rarely take 55. No charm. Bsides 66 is closer to the RR.

G-night all. Best git to bed.

[blownout cylinder]

Todd: We have relatives who live near Rolla MO, so we kind of drove that route on/off for decades--even if the dang Interstate was there---

[TMarsh]

Barry- Alas the Pig Hip was destroyed in a fire about 2 yrs ago. (this month I believe, wouldn't swear to it). I guess it was quite popular. When you grow up around something it just doesn't have the same appeal as it would if it wasn't so near. Kinda like Abe Lincoln. When I visited the sites so much in grade school and middle school it became old hat and not as interesting as it is to others. I haven't even been to the Lincoln Presidential Library yet. I will, but I feel as if I've already seen everything.

P.S. Looks like I've got late night raids and probably breakfast. Fridge is open, coffe's always on and the griddle will be hot and ready for pancakes and sausage by 0500 CST

[Packer]

Evening all, I'll just have a RBF. I'm wiped, I was hoping to get to work on my 2 U33Cs today, but I had to stay an extra 4 hours at work today (going from 6am-3pm to 6am-7pm). So it'll happen tommorow after college.

In other new I just snagged an Atlas U30C with sound/dcc installed by Tony's Train Exchange for 75 bucks. I also relized I spent a bunch of money on engines (all atlas) in less than a month. (75 for the U30C, 70 for a pair of U33Cs, 250 of 4 SD24s one having sound, so a total of 395 in a month for 7 engines, 2 having sound) Guess I'm doing my part of stimulating the economy. The sound equipped SD24 and U30C are UP, so after some swapping of parts, I'll try to get rid of those as non-sound units. I might keep them as interchange units since the BN and UP interchanged alot. That and in a consist it'd be the Packer's colors.

Amanamedic, those CN&W units look good.

Lee, from what you said, that WGH show sounded like a madhouse. Glad I don't have kids.

I'd post more, but it's late and I'm beat. Night all.

[blownout cylinder]

TMarsh

blownout cylinder

I take it that Route 66 isn't too far away? HMMHMM

Right through town. Apparently you are familiar with our little neighbor about 10 miles to the north?

 

Indeedie do--went that way several years ago when the place was still doing business--where'd they go to?