Elliott's Trackside Diner XII

[Robby P.]

Good morning.  I will take the hungry mans breakfast , and a sweet tea.

I might work on the layout some today.  I would make a trip to the LHS, but sure if they will be open today.

Well everybody have a good day, and a GREAT Memorial Day.

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

   A beautiful day this morning with the trees full of leaves and varied shades at that, this is my favorite time of year. Yesterday my daughter graduated getting her BA in Psycology and the weather held until the end of the day so the outside ceremony was lovely (and not too long).

     In the middle of the nicest time of the year, Memorial Day brings back memories of the friends who didn't make it home or suffered wounds before and after that affect them still. This day is theirs along with our gratitude for and rememberence of their sacrifice.

J.R.Mitchell CTR3 USN 70 - 74     member Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 71,72,73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning.

It's 66, cloudy and a bit wet here. The high is expected to be in the mid 80's and thunderstorms are expected.

I heard yesterday that my father is to be released from the hospital soon as his condition (gastritis) is treatable on an outpatient basis. OK, so it's treatable, still something has to be causing it and I have yet to hear anybody say what that something is. There's a number of things that it can be ranging from minor to life threatening. I had to shut down for a while yesterday due to thunderstorms and used the time to get some much needed sleep. Maybe I'll have some time today to get some layout work done. There's still a lot to be picked up.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      5/25/2009

Wind Chill:  67°F
Humidity:  99%
Dew Point:  67°F

So Far Today
High:  70°F
Low:  66°F
Rain:  0.01"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  6mph WSW

Today  High: 84    Highs in the mid 80s. A 60 percent chance of Showers and thunderstorms is likely. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight  Low: 68    Partly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening...then a 30 percent chance after midnight. Lows in the upper 60s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.

[LSWrr]

Good morning,

Dorothy (GF) will be marching in the Memorial parade in downtown Cleveland, they march through town and end at the USS CODD where they observe a 21 gun salute and deploy a wreath to honor those that served before us.  I will be volunteering in Rocky River, OH at the launch ramps to see everyone has their safety equipment before they head out, no tickets just focusing on safety.

BM1/E6 Lee D. Soule
U.S. Coast Guard
Ninth District Staff, Aids to Navigation branch.

formally attached to the Harbor Defense Command (HDC-1)
Ashwebeia, Kuwait
OIC, Tactical Combat patroll boat 11

In June I will be celebrating my 22^nd anniversary of service.

 

[blownout cylinder]

Hello--hello--hello--hello--

Lots of people in here---

Have a GREAT Memorial Day!!!

I tried to get into the military some years back but I was not suitable as I had a heart issue--

Got 11C right now going to a high 20C. With the ever popular mix of sun/cloud. Right now it is sunny and a bit breezy.

Gonna get a bit of MRR'ing done today--got to re-lay some track as I discovered a warbly bit in the Willliston yard that I thought was no longer there. Me eyeballs must be gittin' old--- But I also have some groceries to get and some gardening to do and some-----a this, that, and the other thing----

Chloe, I'll have a coffee and some toast please----I'll wait for who ever shows up

[inch53]

 

Evening, Floe could I get a barley pop please.

 FLIP,,, good to hear from you. Hope you didn't get hit hard by the floods down your way.

Sgt, USAF 71-74, ANG 74-77

Tomorrow me n Mother will go to our home Legion post in Marshall to honor all those veterans, who have past and those still with us.

And thanks to all you other vets out there

[der5997]

Good evening Diners:  Seems like ages since I did more than peer in the windows (May 11^th, page 37 - I just checked) I have seen enough to not disturb any sleeping or dead horses, but I have ton of views on the subject!  OK, I'll just say this...I was going to post about "real" scratch builders having to drill for the oil to process into styrene sheet, mine and smelt the ores to make the brass, etc, but I see some-one took care of that p.o.v. with far less hyperbole, so won't go on.

CapeJim:

Heard from DerJohn earlier today, and he was trying to get the connections between the track by his window-slide-out section to match up (after replacing one #4 switch with a #6 one).

...actually Jim lad it was pretty much sorted by May 16 or 18. The modeling part by May 14. Here's the new look

TomWright:

Has anyone else come to the conclusion that you miss a lot when taking photos, or is it just me?.

...Yes Sir! More questions raised than answered, like the "How it's Made" program on Discovery Channel!

Sawyer: That small switching arrangement you have reminds me of my fiddle yard.  Even down to the Caboose ground throw! Got to love that 1 inch foam. It's the base for all the scenery on this layout.

Regarding tomorrow, I've had this chap on file for a year or three. Many thanks to all who serve.  My uncle Richard was killed by friendly fire in the Royal Navy laying the pipeline for gasoline to the beachhead after D-Day.

Early start tomorrow as Kris has to be at the New Glasgow Library for a  presentation she and her writing partner are giving at 10:00. We want to be there before that, and it's a 1 to 1 ½ hour drive.  BTW, she found out a week or so ago that she's been short-listed for an Arthur Ellis award. That's a Canadian Crime Writer's recognition. We won't be able to go to the dinner in Ottawa ($75 a plate, let alone the air fare, hotel etc. etc.) but it's great to be asked!

Goodnight all, and God Bless.  Prayers continuing for all in need of healing, comfort and peace.

 

 

 

[fec153]

Well darn. Haven't been in in months and now it's my treat. So dig in one and all.

Flip

 

[fec153]

For all Nam vets- WELCOME HOME!

For all fellow Vets, Thanks for serving.

PFC 54 -56  7th I.C.C. 3rd Div.  Ft Benning    Hq. & Hq. Co.

Flip

 

 

[howmus]

JimRCGMO

Okay Ray - we want to know where you found those HO scale critters. I know Preiser has snakes and maybe a bird that could be repainted as a robin, but who makes the squirrel? And Eric and I want to know if they make raccoons, too.

 

Busch HO 1153.  http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/189-1153 

The set is unpainted even though the photo at Walthers shows them painted.  Painting those butterflies is a bit much for me......... 

No Raccoons but Woodland Scenics makes some that have taken up residence on my layout.  http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/785-1875  If one of them wakes you in the middle of the night, well............

[JimRCGMO]

PN3 (E-4)

US Navy

Feb 69 - Sep 71

(mostly at) NATTC, NAS Mfs

J W Rohde

(Dad was a Sgt. in the US Army Communications Corps (I think that was it), served in Europe during WWII, died in 1996).

[jeffrey-wimberly]

It's pretty much been one storm after another here today. They're short in duration but come close together. At one point the cloud cover was so thick the street lights came on.

bjdukert

I would like to start this off because of what tomorrow is. Memorial Day

Thanks to all that have served and those serving now and especially those who gave all.

Good call.

J S Wimberly
US Army 78-81, 64C, Co B 105th S&T Bn Ft Polk, La. 5th Inf Div (Mech)

[bjdukert]

Evening all

I would like to start this off because of what tomorrow is. Memorial Day

Thanks to all that have served and those serving now and especially those who gave all.

SSGT

USAF Dec 66—Dec 70

Viet Nam Aug 67—Aug 68

Best to all on sick call and those recovering.

Talk to you later

Duke

[TMarsh]

I did it! After two (three) "days of gittin' ‘round to it" I got the yard mowed. Started off with a nap. Now it's steaks on the grill so line up folks and tell me how ya want ‘em. Save room in case Ray brings in the monster though.

Jim- Closest Bible I have near me is the King James Version. I'll have to get to the New Standard in the other room to understand. And oh yeah (says sheepishly) I'll get the screen door fixed. In my prayers you are.

TomWright-Are you sure these "misses" are accidental?

BridgeTom- I hope it's just a touch of something too. First you get to go back to teach, then wildlife can't tell your model from the real thing, you find out you are a celebrity, (and deservedly so. I've been to your site several times ) and now a fantastic track cleaner with no effort. This is shaping up to be a stellar year for you.

Well the grill is hot so I'll be out back. Watch out for Jeff's bear traps. I think I might have bumped one last night as I was........leaving.

[twhite]

Afternoon all from StillBalmySunnyCal:  The weather is just delicious outside, about 80 with a nice Delta Breeze.  And no pollen!! 

Went to the lab at Kaiser this AM to get some blood work done.  I seem to have picked up a case of the 'trots' and the Dr. wants to know if it's a return of Giardia that I had a couple of years ago.  God, I hope not!  Hope it's just a little stomach bug that will go away in a couple of days. 

Anyhow, after going over to the Roseville Lab and having my blood drawn, I felt that I owed myself a New Toy, so I went on into Roseville Hobbies and--while I was drooling over their brass case (natch!) what should I see on their 'new arrival' shelf but the Atlas Track Cleaning Car.  Now I've heard about this little doohickey, how it does everything but make decent coffee, and since it has a built in vacuum cleaner, I decided that with my ongoing Pollen Problem in the garage, the Heck with it, let's get it. 

Mike's got two teenagers working part-time for him.  As I took the New Toy (plus another refrigerator car, natch!--Garry, it's a wood-side Burlington) to the counter and handed over my visa, one of them looked at it then at me and said, "Are you Tom White?"  "Yes."  His eyes got VERY big as he asked, "The YUBA RIVER SUB?"  "That's the one."  He turned to the kid at the cash register and said--very breathlessly--"He's got the most INCREDIBLE layout on his website, you've GOT to see all of his brass steamers!"   And he went on like he was a walking, talking commercial for my modeling efforts.  I was REALLY flattered!  Asked him about his layout, the three of us spent about 30 minutes just shooting bull.  They asked me what I did, I told them that I taught at Jesuit High School and a couple of my choir members were also model railroad buffs.  It was a great time.  I came out of the store with the feeling that if those two have anything to do with it, the future of this here hobby is in REALLY good hands! 

So:  With that out of the way, you're all on the edge of your seats wanting to know how the Atlas Track Cleaning Car works, right?  Say YES, TOM!   Thank you. 

It's MARVELOUS!  It's got fine-grit abrasive pads (finer than a Brite Boy, BTW) for taking up REALLY thick dirt on the tracks, a vacuum cleaner for sucking up the debris, and a polishing pad for fine-tuning the railheads.  It can be used either wet or dry (I have to use it dry).  All of these are attachments that go onto the end of the motor shaft and can be used in any combination.  Atlas recommends the abrasive first (but not all the time) then the vacuum, then the polishing cloth.  With the polishing cloth, you can also put in your favorite liquid track cleaner.  There's also a brush attachment to be used with the polishing cloth that dips down and cleans the inside of the railheads for better conductivity.  They've thought of everything with this baby.  And it's made in Great Britain, and the British tend to do good stuff. 

Anyway, I spent about a half hour out on the layout using the car ( it needs a loco to push it), and it is kind of a sight to see, this very 21st Century styled car being pushed along the tracks by one of my little 2-8-0's, but the main thing is that it works.  After using it, I ran a short train around the layout, and everything just purred.  It's a GREAT machine, and I really recommend it.   Frankly, I think I'll be able to do more running and less maintenance this summer, thanks to that marvelous little vacuum cleaner attachment--boy does it suck up the dust! 

Well, that's about it from the home front. 

Jeff:  Prayers for your father.  Hope they find out soon what the trouble is.  If you've had trouble with water down there with all the storms, you might want to mention having him tested for Giardia.  Reason I say this is that a couple of years ago, we had some water troubles here at the treatment plant in Folsom, and some of us came down with the same thing.  The cure's not too bad, but it takes about a month's worth of pills and drinking GALLONS of water.

Best to all, prayers to those in need. 

Tom  

 

[ns3010]

Evening all. Janie, I'll take a RBF and a bacon cheeseburger, thanks.

I was going to ask my parents if we could stop at a hobby shop on the way home tomorrow, but I spent all the money I had on sunglasses, and I went to Wawa (best place ever!) for lunch. But I went job hunting today, so hopefully I'll make some money this summer (if I get a job, and I already "w**k" at a place on Saturday nights [it's a kind of "if they need you and if you can come" job]).

I'll be in the back, watching waiting for the local to return.

See ya later.

[tcwright973]

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Day. It took me about 45 minutes to find the pipe in the front lawn I use as a base for my flag. After all these years of hunting that thing in the spring, I finally wised up and painted a mark on the walk to put me in the ballpark.

 I have been thinking about having an engine custom painted for a short line here in Pittsburgh called the Allegheny Valley. I have a number of photos, but realized that the top of the low nose wasn't shown in any of them. So the wife and I took a ride down to West Park on the North Side today. There is a bridge that crosses over Norfolk Southern's tracks that the AVR uses. After waiting about 15 minutes, I got my photos of the low nose. Good thing I did, as it is not the color I thought it would be. However, after downloading the photos when I got home, I now have questions about the roof of the cab. Oh well, it's a good excuse to go out railfanning again next Sunday

Has anyone else come to the conclusion that you miss a lot when taking photos, or is it just me?.

Tom

[Cederstrand]

Freshly squeezed OJ, please & thanks.

Still among the living. All I've done today was minimal farm chores, and that was challenging enough. Very tired today.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Rob

[JimRCGMO]

Afternoon, Flo - I'll have a bottomless RBF please. Thanks!

Think it's a combination of things, but I definitely need to be in the DIner this afternoon with you folks. Part of it's some sleep problems this morning (I'm guessing around 4-ish), and never really got back to sleep, despite trying different ways of lying in the bed. That, and finding out at my buddy Mark's birthday that (1)it was his birthday (so had to cobble together a card from a paper towel and everybody signed that) and (2) later in the evening having it reinforced that I was the oldest person there (by almost 10 years - and another one or two reasons related to that). Think I've been having burnout at work too. I'll be in the back booth, listening to everyone else. Today is kind of a Matt. 13:18-22 afternoon.

I got enough stuff by the bookcase moved so that I can get to the books (and the albums under the bookcase) to have them moved later today or tomorrow.  Oh, the reason I need to do that? Last night, the wall unit A/C tripped the circuit breaker. Hmm, that's odd. I trip it to off and then flip it back on. I hear a racket and then a 'whoosh'-ing sound. I look outside, and I'm guessing that's the coolant escaping out the back to the outside (well, better that than filling up the inside of the apartment...). So that means when I call the landlord to ask him about getting the A/C fixed/replaced (he replaced the one before it a couple or three years back, I think), I need to have (like the last time) the last unit of the 3-unit-wide bookshelves (poles and shelves, fasten them together kind) taken apart and out, so the repair guy can get the current unit out and put the replacement unit in. I suspect probably a bird tried to build a nest in the compressor or the coils outside. Luckily it wasn't too hot last night without the A/C. I'm getting tired of that apartment (but have to go there to get excess papers tossed out so I'm closer to being able to move...). Pfffffttttt!  Oh, and the weathering practice probably may be delayed (as will be the photos, no doubt).

jeffrey-wimberly

Some ditz brain went speeding through Leesville today and wrapped his old model Trans-Am around a pole in front of Wal-Mart. He claimed he didn't know what the speed limit was. HELLO! There are speed limit signs every 500 to 1000 feet!.

 

Yeah, Jeff, but at the speed that guy was likely driving, that means he had a split second (if he was paying attention) to see and read each speed limit sign before he whizzed past it... Good to hear that your Dad is going to cooperate with the doctors. I bet he just wants to make sure it's a lonnnnnng time before he ends up there again. Wouldn't blame him a bit if that was it.

Okay Ray - we want to know where you found those HO scale critters. I know Preiser has snakes and maybe a bird that could be repainted as a robin, but who makes the squirrel? And Eric and I want to know if they make raccoons, too.

Todd, I'm sure I'm not the only former Boy Scout in the Diner. Besides, I think we have some maritime folks who happen to know some knots, too... But I didn't tie those knots, nope, not me! I understand you did cut out of here pretty quick last night. I didn't see it, but the hole in the screen door does favor you a bit...

Barry, I guess the speedboater can walk home... Serves 'im right - I think that's a definite case of justice, if he has to.

MadSinger, I'm with you - I heard that our local SuperHero sounded a bit, uh, different as he was heading out the door (Ray or BridgeTom - what was the voice above the soprano in the voices?)...

Dick, I hadn't heard from Fergie in a long while, and DerJohn hadn't said anything about him, so don't know if that Somalia 'escort service' thing about Fergie is true. (Boy, does that sound like something else, now that I see it in print!)

Heard from DerJohn earlier today, and he was trying to get the connections between the track by his window-slide-out section to match up (after replacing one #4 switch with a #6 one).

Duke must've woke up long enough to send me an email yesterday and today. But I see he's all comfy cozy again in his usual spot there...

Good to be in here with this 'crazy' bunch today. Even if you have to watch your step on the way in the door from the back parking lot...

If some of you all would keep me in your prayers lately, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

I'll be snarfing down my RBF in the back booth (and listening to Todd's explanation of last night's events....)

 

Blessings on your day,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[blownout cylinder]

Good Afternoon/Evenin'---or whatever time it was/is----

Spent a bit of time this afternoon getting pix off my camera into 'pooter so that I can get these into my PB account and start trying to resize the dang things. So when I get them transferred on to this forum I'm not going to have them extend the right margin out into Timbuktoo! I also discovered that my quarry mill pix may be a little pieced together kinda. That mill is so large that even my panaramic view was not liking to take it all in --so it will be a few days yet---- Oh, and when you do see them--in a few days---check out the powerlines--around the West mill site--the lines are completely white--all limestone dust. Even the plants--- So if anyone wants some weathering fun---think Limestone quarries with kilns etc-----

Chloe, I'll have a pork sammich with the HOT BBQ sauce and a RBF. And I'll finish off with a SRP as well please------I'll go WITH the pie thanks to the corner booth and wait to see if anyone shows up--- 

[grayfox1119]

 Good afternoon to all, warm, humid and partly cloudy here with off and on rumbles of thunder as a front approaches. I was doing the "Jeff act" out in the pool area when I heard a few claps of thunder, that was enough for me to head for the house. If your close enough to hear the thunder, your close enough to get whacked by lightening.

JEFF: Sorry to hear about your dad, I hope they find the problem soon.

DUKE: SR pie is almost gone and it sure was good this year, still more Rhubarb in the garden, so we will have more pie this week.......how mnay miles from Washington, Michigan to Leicester, Ma? 600 miles?

FERGIE: Has ANYONE heard from this sea faring man? Is it true that he is on a Canadian escort ship off Somalia fighting pirates?

Later,

[MadSinger]

Of course Todd, you were yelling. Sure.

[TMarsh]

Good Mornin' almost Afternoon. Coffee please. We had cupcakes at fellowship after Church so I'm not hungry.

Well I didn't get a chance to say thanks Barry for cutting me loose. Though of course with my Houdini like escape skills I would have been out in a jiffy anyway. Where did I go? Well I misunderstood about the Black Snake. No I wasn't running away! I, uh, thought that, well, you know, someone needed help. I was only trying to get there fast. That's what I'm all about saving people in danger. Fearless.

I've got to mow today since I didn't do it the last two days like I'd planned. Then I suppose I'll head on down to Toddland (of which I'm king) and move a train or two around. Haven't done that in a while. I hope they'll start ok. Might even take the little 4-4-0 apart and see how it's wired so maybe I can make it cross the frogs without having to do the capacitor thing. Might even lay some track for the yard so I can have a place to store the cars and put a few more together.

Have a Great Day!

EDIT: And by the way for your information, That noise you refered to as screaming was not me screaming. It was......um.... me yelling that I was on my way.

[Cox 47]

Good Morning ....Its sunny and 80 here...I'll have coffee and a sweet roll please...Sallie and I are planning on watching the race on TV latter..maybe some train time after that...You all have a good one..Jerry

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Packer

Jeff, Only way to tell it was a Dash-2 is by the porches. I think it'd still be workable with cannon and co parts, after the cut in the sill is fixed. IIRC, the only think in that area is the blower housing. Using cannon and co parts, everything above the sill could be re-done.

If you want it I can send it to you on the 1st of the month. It's one of the old BB Athearn shells that clipped on at the sides, not with the pins that go through the frame.

[Packer]

Jeff, Only way to tell it was a Dash-2 is by the porches. I think it'd still be workable with cannon and co parts, after the cut in the sill is fixed. IIRC, the only think in that area is the blower housing. Using cannon and co parts, everything above the sill could be re-done.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Packer

Jeff, how much was left of that SD40-2? I've been wanting to try my hand at using Cannon and co. parts to make some locos before I try an SDP40 kitbash (using a Kato SD40 and an Atlas SDP35), A Cut up Athearn Dash-2 would be great since it'd probably cost less that either the Atlas or Kato Shells.

As I said, it's barely recognizable.

[ewl01]

Morning All!!!   Chloe a decaf and a muffin... um, blueberry? Great.

Looks like the weather's going to hold for a good part of the day.

Day started at 4:50am with a F.F. with respiratory.  We keep telling him if he stopped smoking... you know ther rest.  The local boys are going on their 2nd Annual Kelly Bro's. Memorial Day Motorcycle Ride.  Wish I was joining them but my bike's been down for 2 years due to lack of funds and time with school and what not. I will be going to the picnic after.  It's right across the street, I made up a batch of pulled pork and a marinated londonbroil.  These guys even hire a professional chef for the steaks...first class.

Talked with one of the cops at the call this morning (they're the first responders).  Seems some of the weekenders (Guidos*, cops term not mine.  See; Urban Dictionary for current definition) were at one of the local clubs last night still trying to get in at 2:30am when the bar closes at 2:00am.  There are different classes of weekenders... the ones that own second homes here...the true weekenders that rent on Sat-Sun... People like Joe who have relatives here (their not really weekenders, your okay Joe) THEN.... there are the club weekenders...it's like watching a casting call for the Soprano's.**  Stereotyping? Maybe but that's how they dress. Guys pumping their fists in the air, Guinea-T's and chains, the girls, jeans so tight they can't sit down and hair to here and back.  Like a time warp.

Time to go wash the rigs for tomorrows parade through town.  Police color guard, politicians, little league drug alliance committee, Fire dept. and us bringing up the rear.  No band, towns not big enough 'cept for maybe a couple of kazoos and a harmonica.  Even the blessing at the memorial by the river beach (on the inlet) is canned music.  There's a lot of military stuff around here bases, comminuications, naval weapons storage, logistics bases, so a lot of people here served.  It is nice to see them get the recognition.

 I think Monday will see some topic related efforts in MRRing.

Enjoy your holiday, prayers and blessing for all. Eric

*,** [ I do not personally endorse, promote, or engage  the use of ethnic, or racial terms or phrases. The term as it is used here does not apply to any one ethnic group, but to the dress and style of a particular group of individuals regardless of their heritige. The use of the term is attributed to another individual used in the course of a conversation. The descriptive was used to create an image that a reader would most likely be familiar with and was not meant to be derogatory..  Thank You]

 

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Robby P.

Some dog was barking ALL NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

 

Huh?, I didn't hear a thing. 'Course I wouldn't.... Sometimes there are benefits to being deaf. Poor little doggie, probably lost or was dropped by the owner.

A cloudy day here in the Finger Lakes with some showers predicted.  Currently 61°F with a high around 70°F.  Looks like a good fishing day for my son. He should be out on Seneca Lake right now.  I will be going over to his house for lunch today.  Said he would call to tell me to come over when they are taking a break.  He will then head back out for another 4 hours ort so to catch that "whale" that is reputed to out there.  (For many years Geneva used to have a Summer festival called the "Whale Watch".  A bit of local humor....)

If the rain holds off for the afternoon, I hope to finish getting the garden ready to plant.

Zoe just a cup of dark raost in a FGLK Mug, please.  Gotta save my appitite for some BBQ chicken today (or maybe fresh trout?). 

[MadSinger]

Morning all, Happy Lord's day