good morning........Oatmeal and OJ for me.....I'll be at the corner booth too...... Hi, Jerry!.........
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Good Morning, Zoe, Diners. I'll have the #2 special, wheat toast and blackberry jam, glass of Ed's OJ and cup of coffee, in an Espee mug, please. Thanks!
Todd, my LHS/MRR club member can order anything in for me, and club members get a discount on orders, but not quite that 40 percent off at H-L. Also, H-L carries W-S figures and scenery supplies, which our LHS/MRR club guy doesn't (and H-L is now carrying some DPM kits. As you described, I'm also a 'frugal MRR shopper'....
Chris, thanks for the info on the 'concrete' walls construction. Good luck with your trip down Dingleberry Road...(somebody definitely had a sense of humor when they named that one)
Galaxy, hope you get those folks to clear the old trailer out for you (and still get a good price on the land). Best wishes on your tire shopping - not my favorite thing to do (ever, even when needed).
Ray, that's bad enough at that school as is, but yes, could've been much worse for others, too. I do like your shirt slogan, though.
Rob, you might check that the front wheels are actually sitting on the rail when stopped. Kevin (our MRR club guru) has one of the 2-10-2's that he got, and we noticed the front wheels would have problems. Kevin said that he'd noticed the problem and suspected it was because the wheels were 'riding high' vs. where they should sit. Might be worth a look at yours. Will keeping Cold Mountain off his hooves a while help heal that up, or will some doctoring also be in order?
Paul, your cows sound about like the cats which can get up a tree, but then cannot figure how to get down again... Good to hear you have your recert. done - how long does that go for? And how's Mary Ann coming along?
Oh, darn - I missed the fun stuff last night, and now it's moved on me... Sending you an email later today, PC...
Jeff, great work on your diesel mods. Thanks for the info on the paint stripping, too.
Hey, Jerry, how's your fiddle yard coming along? Any new photos?
We had some rain last night (but not lots), and may have some more today. Cloudy right now in Cape G. The river's up (as is the Diversion Channel - it's flooded out into some farmland near it, I noticed on the way down the interstate last Sat. to the LHS south of here). It sounded like St. Louis area might have rougher weather, and we'll see how much it continues east from there; I think this may be a slow-moving front. But watch yourselves, Inch and Jerry (and even Todd, maybe)!
Debating if I want to get the DPM hotel kit with this week's 40 percent off coupon, or go with the Goodfellows Hall for a hotel (not as big, maybe better suited for a smaller town's motel). I'll sit back here with Jerry and do some doodling on that idea...
Blessings and prayers,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Hello again. I posted in a thread about mortar joints. If you would like to know how I do my mortar joints. you may read about it.
Gary, I just posted on the mortar topic, also. I had read - possibly in John Olson's (MR) Jerome & Southwestern book - about using acrylic (Not sure here) caulking? joint compound? - something in a small plastic tub (about 8 oz., I'd guess), which comes in white. I like my mortar more of an off-white, though, so I've been thinking about how to add some coloring to the caulking/whatever. Put it on with my finger to push it into the crevices, and then wipe off the surface with a paper towel or such, which leaves it kinda older and messier-looking. Maybe that'll give somebody a starting point for their mortar experimentation...
Good afternoon, cloudy, wet, and cool here. One round of rain gone...bigger storms likely this afternoon, especially East, SouthEast of here (Sterling, IL to Quad Cities line).
JimRCGMOChris, thanks for the info on the 'concrete' walls construction. Good luck with your trip down Dingleberry Road...(somebody definitely had a sense of humor when they named that one)
JIM: Apparently, way back when, the land was originally owned by a man named DinglebArry. Local history (i.e.: rumor) has it he had quite the distillery business going during prohibition. Somewhere/somehow, Dinglebarry became Dingleberry...much to the consternation of the guy that bought the land in 1980 and made an apple orchard out of it. Technically, it's located on Orchard Lane, but it's actually a part of Dingleberry. Will be taking the wife there this fall. Grant Wood would've loved the place...incredibly scenic, probably beyond incredible with all the fall colors. Real picture postcard stuff.
PHILLIP: Was that an ex-CNW geep I saw in the pic from the old elevator???
Time to grab some breakfast/lunch. Have to call up a park ranger this afternoon to pick his brain about some hired youth group doing paid volunteer work around the Coralville Resivor (sp.). I know it's six "kids" and a team leader, funded through some kind of grant.
A SAFE afternoon to all...
Chris
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
Garry
Uh, oh.... We have another Berkshire fan in the diner.........Now it's Corey..........
The Berkshire is one of the best looking locomotives that I've seen.
Best to all on sick call and those recovering
Talk to you later
Duke
"Don't take a wooden nickel,because it isn't worth a dime" by my Dad
"There are only 3 things you need out of life:A gentle grade,the wind in your face,and cinders in your hair.....But keep an eye on the water glass!" Jack Evans
AmanaMedic PHILLIP: Was that an ex-CNW geep I saw in the pic from the old elevator???
Sure was! Here's a different pic of the same loco.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/Picture050.jpg
pcarrellSure was! Here's a different pic of the same loco.
Thanks for posting THAT! The 4290 series of geeps was one of my favorites back in the day... between the lower green band, the extra stacks, etc.; they really stood-out from the plain vanilla ex-RI geeps.
And....right back atcha, here's a different pic of the same loco...
Caught her working Beverly Yard in...'88, I think it was.
Yep! A good old GP7.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
jeffrey-wimberly Yep! A good old GP7.
Correct!
This particular unit was built in June 1952 as CNW 1578. It was rebuilt in the ex-CGW shops at Oelwein, IA in Dec. 1980, becoming the chop-nosed CNW 4295. She was retired in 1993 and sold to OmniTRAX (GWRX) in October '93. All per "Diesels of the Chicago & North Western" by Paul K. Withers.
GOOD to see she didn't get scrapped, and is still working. Not bad for a machine almost 57 years old...
Her stablemates aren't exactly spring chickens either!
Good Evening---
It is now raining here---get ready for it Ray--it is the steady version right now but just about 1/2 hr ago it was just bucketing right along there---
PC- Those are great looking lokes--and who says these ol' birds can'y work anyways!?
Had to do some running around this aft to pick up some more of that blue stuff. I keep forgeting to do inventories of these things so hey ho off I go, I go
Chloe, I'll have a RBF please----I'll be at the back booth for awhile---
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
They're old all right. I dug up the roster for CIW.
CIW 88 SW7CIW 101 SW7---Built 1950CIW 102 SW7---Built 1950CIW 611 Type unknown CIW 4295 ex-C&NW GP7CIW 4296 GP9CIW 8307 GP10
Evening guys!!!
Gonna have rueben sandwiches tonight.
JimRCGMO Galaxy, hope you get those folks to clear the old trailer out for you (and still get a good price on the land). Best wishes on your tire shopping - not my favorite thing to do (ever, even when needed).
Jim- We don't know about the property yet. We've looked at it online listing, google earthed it and will go look for ourselves before calling the realtor for a thorough walk-through look-see. It's the land {2/3rds acre}, the existing well, septic and electric hookup you'd really be buying for the $16k- not really the trailer. I dunno whether or not new owners MUST go to City sewer or not, it says it's "available", which sometimes means new owners must convert...
Tires...well got 4 new 55k mile tires for $402.29 including all but a new front end alignment, a lifetime alignment was another $162. That means as long as I own it, every 6k miles they will do the alignment for free at any Firestone. One-time alignment was $80...so for the cost of two alignments {and in NY with our awful horrible pot-holed roads really need one every year} so I will get the value out of it. I don't go far often so the 55k tires should last me about 4-5 years....
Gonna plant this weekend finally. Supposed to be better weather-no frosts. Gotta plant fo the MIL also. Not much-just window boxes of salad greens and mary-golds...Not looking forward to playing with the pond waterfall pump, I think it burned out last year. Will have to do without a new one this year if it is burned out, put too much $$ in the van.
Planning a trip to Steamtown soon. We might also check out a few running tourist railroads here in NY, but they run diesels, not steam. Only one in NY started to run steam last year. We'd like to go back to Strasburg. Depends on gas prices this summer.
Speaking of gas...prices...golly!!!! jumped 4 cents a gal while I watched sitting at a light. It's now around $2.30-$2.37 here now. Still cheaper *so far* than last year? but summer ain't here yet.
PC - when I mentioned it I didn't really want to be a party pooper on your guy's discussion of origin of things/religion/creationism/evolution/cosmogny thingy etc ....just did not want the thread to be shut down on a technicality. So many differing views on that subject. Of course, Any subject here in the diner could touch off a fire of controversy. Or even flying pies!!
Well, I'd better get to those reubens!
Have a great evening!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Except for some minor detail work the SD27J is finished. The decoder has been installed and programmed on the program track and tested on the main.
galaxy PC - when I mentioned it I didn't really want to be a party pooper on your guy's discussion of origin of things/religion/creationism/evolution/cosmogny thingy etc ....just did not want the thread to be shut down on a technicality. So many differing views on that subject. Of course, Any subject here in the diner could touch off a fire of controversy. Or even flying pies!!
No, no, no....it's not like that at all. I was getting uncomfortable as we were pushing it and I don't want to show disrespect for our hosts.
Now duck, or you're gonna get it.........oh wait, it's german chocolete......maybe you wanna get hit!
Matter of fact, pie for everyone!
Coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.
Hope everyone is doing well this evening. Scanned through the pics posted...nice!
Not much new to report on here. Dabbled on the wife's HO canyon a bit this morning before running some errands. Picked up Farriers Formula for Cold Mounting. That's about all I plan on doing for her as long as she doesn't become real sore. The hoof will eventually grow back out. It is a long process, in her case probably 6 months. Time will tell.
Rob
Good evening,
Chloe, a bur..... Yep, burger time, you guessed it.
Well, another dull evening on the Clinton Subdivision for UPRR Disp. 12. A line of very heavy rain producing thunderstorms is soaking his part of the RR. He's putting out flood warnings from MP 60 (between Mechanicsville and Lisbon) to MP 91 (Fairfax). All trains to comply with GCoR 6.21 and 6.21.2 requireing them to approach bridges, culverts, and other "potentially hazardous" locations prepared to stop; and to be on the lookout for water over the rail. Sounds like really gully-washers heading this way.
JEFF: That's an interesting looking unit you've created. If Paducah was still in business, you could probably give 'em some ideas. Speaking of Paducah, looks like the GP-10 PC posted was one of their creations.
Hmmmmm. We've got lightning zinging about...probably oughta shut this thing down for awhile...
Afternoon all from SunnyCal--it's a balmy 80 here right now, and we're supposed to be between 100 and 105 by Sunday, her in Pollensville (Sacramento). Yah, right! That means that this weekend I can go out to the garage and watch my track expand. Whoopee.
Found out why my two semaphores went Blooey, I connected two of them (one double-light) to the same 1.5 volt battery box, and it was too much. SURE, I know all about elecrtonics Added another battery box, and everything's under control again. At least for now, LOL!
Went back to school to work with the choirs for Baccalaureate--a kind of Old Home Week. Being an adamant rule-follower, I checked in at the Dean's Office to get a Visitor's Pass, since I'm not there, this year. The Dean's secretary just stared at me. "Doc, you've got to be KIDDING!" Anyhow, my back hurts from being pounded by about 45 Seniors. Ed Trafton, the Resident Genius at school, handed me the music for Baccalaureate--he's done this INCREDIBLE arrangement of "All Creatures of Our God and King" for mixed choir, piano, organ, percussion and brass. I looked it over, jaw dropped, and he grinned and said, "I think the only thing I DIDN'T put in is Cleopatra's Barge." "No," I shook my head, "THAT'S there, too." It's going to be (as my students often say) AWESOME! I've got rehearsals the rest of this week and the first two days of next week, so as usual, I'm moving my sleeping bag into the Music Department.
Dang, it's good to be BACK!
Had to take "Uff-Dah the Viking" (formerly known as Remington) to the vets yesterday for another allergy shot. They seem to last about six months down here, which the Vet told me is pretty darned good for this area--some cats need to go in every two months. Yes, the pollen down here can affect pets, too. He was a little cranky when I got him home, but he's fine now. Even crawled up on my lap this morning before I went to work (unusual). Even Spooky was surprised at this sudden show of affection. After all, it's HER lap, LOL! He's been eating like a horse today again, so I know he feels better. He's lost his winter coat, except for his 'ruff', so right now he looks like a short-haired cat with a neck problem. Kinda cute. Evidently this is normal for Norwegian Forest Cats in the spring and summer. Spooky, my Maine Coon, keeps her coat pretty much year round, so she's kind of walking around with this "I'm still beautiful, YOU look weird" look on her face. They crack me up. And to think that there's a possibility that the two breeds just MIGHT be 'related'.
Have to go out and vacuum the layout again this weekend. I STILL think I'm going to get one of those new Atlas track-cleaning cars. It really seems worth the money. The late, wet Spring around here has just EXPLODED the area with pollen. Ah, "California Basements"
Best to all, prayers to those in need.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
I'm going to slide in .... tuck the napkin in and have the seafood platter . And please keep the hot coffee coming .
Have alot of detailing and weathering to do .... lord it takes a long time to finish . Bought another Williams Cab Forward ... want to change the numbers on this one so they're not the same road numbers ... mount the little hang on brakeman to them ... glad I grabbed 2 when I found them . Have to weather/grey out those chrome drivers/ecentrics ... and add a few detail colors here and there . Gotta stop buying those rascals ... LOL .... CF's . My atlas station and yard tower keep looking at me to finish them ... and the water tower .... not enough time in the day .
Evening folks!
Friday the 13th. was on Wednesday this month................... The day was going fairly well at school for the rehearsals. Until the director and pianist decide they need the Foldback System (monitors) for both the singers and the accompanists (piano, bass, and drums). I told them that we only have two monitor speakers and that only half the channels work anyway and that my monitors have a different wiring hook up to what the school's system has (Speakon Connectors).......... Got a heavy look and rolling eyes from both of them so....... I managed to find a Speakon to 1/4" Phone plug adapter at the local music store. Went back over to school to make sure that their system uses 8 ohm speakers as does mine, and then checked to make sure that 2 of the 4 foldback channels indeed do work. Found that 1 and 2 both work so one channel will drive 2 monitors for the choir, and the other channel will drive one of my monitors for the band.... OK, that settled, happy director!
I get home and have to do the shopping for the weekend, but still don't have a clue of how many people will be there. Since I didn't have much for lunch, I grabbed a few saltine crackers to snack on as it is almost 4PM. Bite down and I feel and hear CRUNCH! Broke a tooth! Can't get in to see the dentist for 3 weeks between his schedule and mine. Well, I'm not in pain and will just have to be careful.
Decide that I should start the old Dodge truck up and make sure it runs as that would be the vehicle of choice to cart the Gas Grill out to camp (where we are working there is no fire pit, and there is no grill that can be moved except a gas grill that may not work.....). I start the truck, fires right up, drive down to the Drug Store to pick up the new meds, then drive over to the gas station to fill up the gas (which hasn't been done since last fall), get to the gas station, my front brakes have locked up again!!!!!!!! I am not a happy camper. This time both front brakes are locked. You can smell it really well sitting in the truck. I fiddle with the brake pedal and get enough play to drive it home. By that time it is a couple minutes before 5. I call the dealer, get the office, but the service dept. has just closed for the day. Left a very nasty message for the service adviser! The truck has been driven exactly 34 miles since they completely replaced the brakes, rotor, and lines to the front wheels....... Really lucky I didn't wait until Friday morning and have it happen 20 miles from nowhere on the way to camp.
Finally got the shopping completed for Fridays lunch at camp this evening. On the way home I see lights flashing down the road in front of a local church. I get closer and see 3 Police cars (Which is 1 more than thought Geneva had) sitting in front of the church and in the driveway (figured they must be dealing with the biggest crime of the century hereabouts, and they all wanted to get in the newspaper article about it............. No Alice doesn't live in the church)! They appeared to have apprehended a man (at least it appeared that way as they had him spread eagled leaning on one of the cars and the entire police force was walkin' around and writing stuff down and taking pictures of the scene of the crime and stuff). Got home and I am wondering if they have finally caught a man who stabbed his girlfriend a few weeks back and has been on the loose. Hope that was what it was. The guy they have been looking for was a student of mine who was always a quiet kid in school and was not a trouble maker. Not someone I figured I would see in Police Beat. Have no idea what happened, but his girlfriend ended up at a major hospital in Rochester and was in Guarded but stable condition the last I heard. They shut down all news about it until they caught him.
Tom, isn't it great to go back and have the kids react that way. I had a similar kind of welcome the last couple days from those kids I taught way back in 2nd grade (now juniors and seniors). Enjoy the rehearsals and the service! I know you are looking forward to being back at the piano bench!
twhiteHad to take "Uff-Dah the Viking" (formerly known as Remington) to the vets yesterday for another allergy shot.
I am glad "Uff-Dah formerly known as Remington" is doing well! I just got a hair wash from my little 20 pounder, "Manét" as I started to type this. He is now sleeping next to the computer.
OK, I'll take my decafe, thanks Flo, and head to the back to relax and chat for a while.
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Ole Timer:
Just had to pop in here. Even though we're in two different scales, let me assure you that there are two locomotives that one can NEVER have too many of: And one is a Cab-Forward (the other for me, is a Missabe-style Yellowstone, LOL!).
Just remember that Southern Pacific had almost 250 of those beauties in various classes, and you'll be fine. In fact, you can go hog-wild and not even feel any guilt at ALL! . In HO scale, I've got an AC-5, 6, 8, 11 and 12, and they all get a workout. They might be the most 'unusual' articulateds ever built, but they were also among the most numerous. And boy, did they work WELL!
So go for it.
Tom :
Great ... now I don't feel so guilty ... i love those darn engines . The difference in scale is nothing to me they're all beautiful . The basics are the same ... love em - buy em - change them . I was into HO for years but sold everything except 1 engine and a scratch built crane and tender . My bro-in-law got me into O scale about 2 years ago. Much easier to detail ... bigger ... but the sad thing I found out there's not 1/10 the engines,cars, and detail items for them ... O scale is really lacking on that end big time .
pcarrell galaxy PC - when I mentioned it I didn't really want to be a party pooper on your guy's discussion of origin of things/religion/creationism/evolution/cosmogny thingy etc ....just did not want the thread to be shut down on a technicality. So many differing views on that subject. Of course, Any subject here in the diner could touch off a fire of controversy. Or even flying pies!! No, no, no....it's not like that at all. I was getting uncomfortable as we were pushing it and I don't want to show disrespect for our hosts. Now duck, or you're gonna get it.........oh wait, it's german chocolete......maybe you wanna get hit! Matter of fact, pie for everyone!
Yes, I could see that it would get interesting. Around here anything is poiiiZZZZIIINNGH!!!
SSSSSCCCHHHHKKLLLOOOORRRTTTTZZZZ!!!!!
OK---anyhooooo--As I was saying around here anything is possible
Evening, Chloe - I'll have a cup of hot cocoa and one of those oversized oatmeal raisin cookies, please. Thank you!
galaxyOf course, Any subject here in the diner could touch off a fire of controversy. Or even flying pies!!
Hey, Galaxy, when it comes to 'Pie Wars', it doesn't take much, between the hair trigger on the catapult and that dang remote ("Who DOES have that remore?"... as I ease my back to the wall, very carefully...) Naw, on the property, I was just hoping you wouldn't have to fool with taking out that existing trailer yourselves. Now, if you could just continue to use the existing septic tank and not have the $$ outlay for connecting up to city water and sewer...
All right, BridgeTom - careful, or our resident electrician Diners will have you back in remedial electricity 101 (along with me - that's one of my VERY weak areas...). Sheesh, you're starting the triple digits already? This is NOT the time to be doing that, with the fires they've already had down south of you. Oh, I heard on the news during the last southern Calif. batch of fires, that someone had installer lawn-type sprinklers on their roof, with a switch to turn them on. The silly things worked - the guy's home was spared from the fires' damage. Hey, I say, whatever works! Oh, I just want to know one thing: how can we get Ray and his equipment out there to record your team's baccalaureate music??... I can about hear Spooky now - "There is NO way that I am remotely related to that scruffy-looking interloper! Harrrumph!!"
PC and Jeff - some good ol' loco photos; thanks for posting them! I was gonna guess SW7 on those pics, one of my favorites.
Ole Timer, I think most of us have told ourselves that kind of thing: "Okay, just ONE more [fill in MRR item of your choice here - articulated, structure kit, bridge, etc.] and I'll be done, I swear that is the LAST one I'll get." (Yeah, right...)
Well, almost time for me to finish up my yummy cookie, drain my cocoa, and head for home. Prayers and blessings for those in need, and those in the Midwest, watch yourself with this front coming through tonight.
twhiteJust remember that Southern Pacific had almost 250 of those beauties in various classes, and you'll be fine. In fact, you can go hog-wild and not even feel any guilt at ALL! . In HO scale, I've got an AC-5, 6, 8, 11 and 12, and they all get a workout. They might be the most 'unusual' articulateds ever built, but they were also among the most numerous. And boy, did they work WELL!
Freelance: I can beat ya on the wierdness factor. In the late 19teens, Half Moon was looking for bigger power, without bigger engines to drag mine trains out of the boon-hills. The result was 4-6(8?)-2+0-8-0 Duplexes (second drivers under tender). They were given saddletanks to compensate for the increased thirst. But the tanks blocked out so much that they were turned around and became Cab Forwards. Yes, Saddletanked, Duplex Cab Forwards. Freaky, huh?
-Morgan
Morgan-just got the image of one duplex saddle tank cab forward---imagine them triple headed----
Well, the thundering boomer just started up for the evenin'. We got winds be roarin', and the rain just comin' down-------so I'm going to turn off this 'puter.
Have a good evening people----
Evening all..Just stopped in for a diet Coke before bed..We have been under a tornado watch all evening..They just dropped it but put on a thunder storm watch till 4 AM...You all have a good nite...Jerry
So I'm attempting to make a foundation for a kitbashed building. I wanted to use .080 thick styrene cut into 7/16ths strips, but the shop didn't have any .080 thick sheets two weeks ago. Thus my lack of patience has spiraled from the initial $2.99. Laminating them turned out to be harder than I thought to keep even. And for whatever reason, I am terrible at making straight cuts over a distance. I'll measure six times instead of twice like everyone's dad taught us, but somehow one end comes out slightly taller than the other. Sanding them even was a chore, so i cut them free of the walls and wrote them off as the cost of learning. Another shop DID have .080 thick sheets so I figured I could improve my cutting. Well turns out that thick of stock is an absolute bear to cut with a knife. Is it just me or is Plastruct's white sheets tougher stuff than Evergreen? And not just because of the thickness. Another $6 went down the hole. At least 90% of the sheet survived (only cut two pieces off before realizing this isn't getting better). And of course there was a second sheet in there, so between the two pieces I have some heavy stuff that can come in handy someday. So off to the internet where I found out that Evergreen makes .080x.438 strip, exactly what I need. But that's $6.50...and shipping was $7.15. Ordered a few more things to pad that order.
I want to get a time machine so I could hit myself in the head for jumping back into the hobby and making a beeline to kitbashing something and planning a layout around nothing but scratchbuilt or kitbashed everything. But the time machine wouldn't work the first time and somehow cost me twice as much as if I'd just ordered that strip styrene when I ordered the kits in the first place.
Here have a picture with the old foundations I never liked
Good morning.It's 69 and partly cloudy. The high will be around 90 and there's a small chance of thunderstorms.I have to go see the foot doc this afternoon. That means I'll have to cut the grass this morning due to rain coming in tomorrow. Yesterday I finished the SD27J and installed the decoder then gave it a test run around the layout. I still have to make the decals for it but that's a minor matter. The U30C is next on the list of locomotive projects. I don't see much getting done on the layout today.Today's Weather for:Sundown, LA 71446-6114 5/14/2009Wind Chill: 68°FHumidity: 100%Dew Point: 68°FSo Far TodayHigh: 72°FLow: 68°FRain: 0.00"Rain Rate: 0.00"/hGust: 9mph NNEToday High: 90 Partly cloudy. Highs around 90. South winds 5 to 10 mph.Tonight Low: 68 Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.