Elliott's Trackside Diner XII

[pcarrell]

TMarsh

Philip-

I haven't changed my mind about the brain picking. Funny thing, late last week I had written my thoughts for you to poke through, sort of to give you an idea of how I see things, and strangely enough on Sunday the preacher spoke of "Blind Faith". I thought of what Der said and it kinda fit with what he said. You don't suppose someone .....? Anyway, I'm re-thinking this little point of view, sorting a few things out and I'll get with ya soon.

God does indeed work in mysterious ways..............

[pcarrell]

Alright you chow hounds.....LINE 'EM UP!

[LSWrr]

Corey, sorry to hear that news.

www.usajobs.gov is a great place right now to find a job for those of you looking.

 Galad, 1910-1920 would be an interesting era to model in.  Several of the classic locomotives were in production, the Mallet, Challenger (1915), and I think the Pacific’s were “born” in that era.  When did USRA take control of the railroads? 1919???  Galaxy, those doublewides are really nice!  They beat the 10 x 50 I lived in when I first got married.  The 10 x 50 was nice, when you sat down for supper if you forgot something it was within arms reach.  I lived in 3 mobile homes over the years and liked them all.  A few doublewides up here even have basements!    Lee

 

[galaxy]

Good afternoon all,

Garbage men took all I put out this week. That is good as they can get fussy over something simple and not take it all to "teach you a lesson".  Next week I throw away more stuff. Cannot wait.

Did some errands we needed to do. Had $10.25 in nickle bottles to return.

howmus

Galaxy, did you get the link I posted about the Museum?  We had 162 people out to the Museum for opening day on Sunday.  I think that may be a record.  They had a birthday party for the daughter of one of the members and that accounted for 40 or so.  All guests were paying so hopefully we can pay our costs for the day...........   

Yes, Ray howmus, I did. Thanks very much. Haven't gotten there and don't know if we will this year. I put $1,000 into the van last month that I had and this month put $1350.00 of money I DONT have on a credit card for more repairs, so the next 4-6-8 months will be paying that off. Disability only goes so far. And with cut backs in hours for my other half, we don't have the proverbial pot to **** in this year. Our anniversary is July 12th, but I think that weekend we have a yard sale. AMybe have a little extra $$ then, dunno.

LSWrr

Galaxy, those doublewides are really nice!  They beat the 10 x 50 I lived in when I first got married.  The 10 x 50 was nice, when you sat down for supper if you forgot something it was within arms reach.  I lived in 3 mobile homes over the years and liked them all.  A few doublewides up here even have basements!    Lee

Yes, some double wides are great. We have no problems with manufactured homes. We have looked at new ones and would love to get a new one, but out of our budget. The one on the property looked to be about a 28x70, twice the size our single wide. SO that raises the heat bill, and it's oil instead of Nat Gas we have now so I can see a lot more $$$ more for heating.  It will also need some {minor?} roof/eave repair, don't know how major yet. If all it needs inside is paint and new carpet, that would be great, but some people trash places before they leave them.. I think maybe tomorrow we call the agents and look at the property just to be sure. We have a close friend who may finance us as with me on disability hard to get financing. I have a very good credit score, but not the income to back it up. Property/school taxes here in NY are very high, and a slab foundation is far cheaper than a basement. We'd rather have one but the property taxes on the property with a slab and a "garage" {pole building no doors}  on less than an acre are already $2200 a year. We might get some abatement if/when been on market for awhile and we get it for cheap we can contest and stated value is lower than they charge for, but we are not talking about chopping that in large numbers.

well guys, have a great afternoon.

[Flashwave]

*Sniff* I hate allergies.

It;s May in Indiana! The race, the people, the flowers!
The crowded highways, the dummies who can't drive in traffic, the sneezing...

[pcarrell]

Man, all this rain the last month or so is really messing with the farmers.  It's gonna be a late crop this year!

Fortunately, we have a few days of sun coming, so maybe the fields will dry out enough to get a tractor through and get some seed in the ground!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Flashwave

*Sniff* I hate allergies.

You and me both. This time of year about drives me crazy! Ragweed pollen, pine pollen, etc.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

What I am semi-officially calling the U30M-R-EM645 is about as finished as I can get it. I've painted the air lines at both ends, installed a firecracker antenna and added a set of four scratch-built air tanks on top of the long hood between the radiator fans and the dynamic brake housing. I also replaced the visors.

[howmus]

jeffrey-wimberly

Flashwave

*Sniff* I hate allergies.

You and me both. This time of year about drives me crazy! Ragweed pollen, pine pollen, etc.

 

Me too!

Jeffrey looks like you are having fun with the loco! Meant to mention it this morning.

I got back from the audiologist a while ago.  He didn't tell me anything that i didn't already know except exactly how severe my hearing loss is now.  I asked him as i left if it was time to give up the music business and he nodded his head yes..........  So I guess if I want to hear my Granddaughters as they grow up, I guess it is time to hang up the hat.

Gotta get over to School.... I still have a concert to do tonight!
 

[ewl01]

Sniff... Wad are you compaining abot?  The wedder is woderful!     Same here, I hate the drugs though.  I take enough as it is.  The allergy stuff makes me feel weird.

Property Tax..... I have a 3 bedroom home built in 1933 on a lot 150'x50' that I paid $103,000.00....the taxes were $4350.00 last year not including the $400.00 sewer tax.  That's 12% of my gross salary.. I love New Jersey.

Sorry, I'm know we all have a story to tell, this was another of mine.

Lee - I sent you an email.  Don't know if it made it or not.  If not, a PM?

Jeff - I LIKE IT!!!!   I can hear the scale, prototype, rivet counters screaming from here!  Ahhh HAAA HAAAA HAAAA HAAAAAA!!!!!!

Obviously not much MRRing going on. Been busy at work, parade arrangements being made for Monday, EMS coverage being arranged for the summer sports, at home, Lawyer tomorrow, Tons of EOB'scoming in from the folks hospital stays. 

One Dr's office insisted on seeing my mother for a follow up visit before they file the insurance claim.  My sister told them "that's not possible".. Indignant "And Why Not? We need to see her!"  "Because she died 3 months ago!"  The Dr's office hung up.......  Ain't life grand?

Eric

 

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evenin'--

Got done with all the visits and ever't'in' there. The Home Despot visit netted me my foam and the potting soil---garden center I usually go to had none left and of course the only stuff left we couldn't use------so it was pick it up there instead in smaller bags which takes up more space which-- I ended up finding some more pieces of this mystery boxcar and just remembered that I bought one at a rummage sale(?) someplace or other-----AAARRGH!! am losing more marbles!! As if there were any left, that is----

Corey; Galad: I seen that happen here too. The numbskulls get away with stuff and the rest of us pay for it. I just found that I use whatever meager skills I can muster and find my work elsewhere--I'm doing more 'puter stuff lately and learning as I go---my degree does say that I am capable of learning something-----

Eric, Jeff: I am always amazed at how some of these guys can scream about being to prototype but constantly "Forget", as opposed to, "Remember", that these modifications -rebuilds and pure scratch/bashing of lokes goes on in real life! Maybe there is a fear barrier that keeps 'life' from getting in the way of an idealized form of their system---- ---they just don't deal with change very well--

Chloe, I'll have a cheeseburger with fried mushroom gravy on it and a RBF, then I'll finish this off with an SRP as well please----no, I'll take the pie to my table thank you----

[ewl01]

Barry - I was just perusing the latest issue of Scale Rails.  There is a review on the ExactRail car carrier.  In the article the author states how the car pushes the edge when it comes to the NMRA car height spec.  He then goes on to say (paraphrased here) '.....if you're like me, you have tunnels, overpassses.... that sort of "forgot about" S-7.  Some adjustment in these spots may be necessary.'  (S-7 is the NMRA standard for height clearance)  So much for the 'Scale' part of the rails.  Like many things in life, it's only right when it suits the them.  

  Gets off of soapbox again.........

 Chloe, may I have a piece of carrot cake anda decaf please?

***** The quotation of "forgot about S-7" is a direct reference to the Product Review from the June 2009 Scale Rails magazine.  It is not intended to imply any opinion of, or criticize, the author, or his practices, but to acknowledge oversights that occur in the field of Model Railroading, during the implimentation of any rules and regulations that may apply to the hobby.*****

Eric

[Hoople]

 Morgan: About 3 hours away form either one, in Seattle.... Not too feasible.

 Jim: I know whatcha mean... But shhhh.. No politics on the forums!

 Garry: Thanks!

[AmanaMedic]

Good evening everybody,

'Twas a busy day here in the home office playing newspaper writer. I finally got a call back from the North Liberty Fire Chief about the lightning detector they bought and loaned to the youth baseball/softball league. He wants to get a story in the paper "ASAP," then took 3 days to get back to me. Oh well...typical "white helmet." Actually, he's a pretty decent Jake. Neat device, even if it does look like it should say "Fischer-Price" on it and be in the toy aisle...

Tracked down a County Supervisor...in Washington DC. He's trying to squeeze more money out of the elected representatives. I'm doing a follow-up piece on the historic bridge in Sutliff that was nearly wiped-out in last year's flooding. Last month, the supervisors tried to get the Conservation board to "take" the bridge...now the County has it (locals leased it...long story) back, and they're doing all kinds of inspections to determine if they should fix it or scrap it. FEMA will pay 100% to scrap it, and a 90/10 split with the state if the County wants to fix it. FEMA pays 0 if the locals want to do anything.

Tomorrow night is the dreaded school board meeting... Oh joy. Can't wait. After that is an early deadline due to Memorial Day.

JEFF: If ya really wanna mess with the prototypical rivet counters... I think I've got some decals for the CAT logo that goes on the CNW's SD-CAT. Hmmmm, a GE body, with EMD features, and a CAT engine...yeah...somebody's head would probably explode at the thought. Lemmeknow if interested.

Otherwise, not much to blather on about, so will yield the floor, bug Chloe for my usual burger, and retire to the back to see who else comes in this evening...

Chris

[Robby P.]

I will pop in right quick.  Give me a slice of "key lime pie" before it hits the  wall !!!!!!!!!!!

Well didn't do to much today.  Looked for a new job, and messed around the house.  Washed the mother-in-laws bed.  Its a shame I had to move it to the garage.  I'm sure she will be warm enough .  Ummmmm............I think the wife saw me type that .

Made a few laps with the engines on the layout today.  Moved some cars around, and then it wanted to act up (the layout).   How can it run perfect for weeks, and now this.  I guess I will work on that tomorrow.  Might just be a loose connection.

Well everybody have a good night!!

[Flashwave]

Hmm. Bout what it is from here to Chicago. Summer trip? What I;m going to have to do. Maybe. more to come later

[blownout cylinder]

ewl01

Barry - I was just perusing the latest issue of Scale Rails.  There is a review on the ExactRail car carrier.  In the article the author states how the car pushes the edge when it comes to the NMRA car height spec.  He then goes on to say (paraphrased here) '.....if you're like me, you have tunnels, overpassses.... that sort of "forgot about" S-7.  Some adjustment in these spots may be necessary.'  (S-7 is the NMRA standard for height clearance)  So much for the 'Scale' part of the rails.  Like many things in life, it's only right when it suits the them.  

  Gets off of soapbox again.........

I was thinking about a situation that happened a few years ago that had me chuckling. A person that I know in Woodstock ON phoned me up barking about how he discovered that his prototypically correct model of the footbridge over the CN doubletrack had to be redone because 'they' had to increase the height of said bridge to compensate for the doublestack height of the container trains. This coming from a guy modeling the area, as it was, during the 1950's. Then he went on to bellow about how 'they' dared to take out the Bay Street bridge which supposedly left him with no choice but to tear his prototypical bridge out----then went on about the Wellington Street bridge and all the 'remuddling' he had to do with that bridge.

I then went to ask him---"What era are you modeling?"

Long Silence.

From the other end I hear-----"Don't confuse me with the facts----"

EH?

BTW--this was a train related soapbox---brought to you by strange people who think they have to change everything simply to fit the times-----they're NOT MODELING--

[TMarsh]

I have all the respect and admiration for the work and research that the hard core prototypers do. But man I just don't see how it can be enjoyable. Well, yes I guess I can. If that's what they enjoy. Me, I just wanna have a good time and build a railroad that I like. That is what's fun to me. But what do I know, I root for the Texas Rangers. Oh wait, who's number 1 in the AL? 3rd best record in baseball? Look out World Series here we come. If not this year....well, next year.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello...

Welcome to Galad. Hobby Lobby is a great store and they still observe Sunday at any of their stors I have seen.

Eric... Property taxes are high there it sounds. Add up all taxes, and they seem excessive to me.

Corey...Sorry to learn of the lost job.

Tomorrow, we will attend a funeral for a friend who died of a heart attack while home alone.

Also, our church friend with cancer is suffering with pain, and the situation is bad. Her husband called today with an updates about her appointments today. This couple has such a remarkable faith, and that is inspiring. I dislike seeing somebody suffering like that.

 

[TMarsh]

Garry- Prayers for your friends.

The dog just nudged me. Time to hit the sack.

[galaxy]

GOOD MORNING GUYS! WAKE UP CALL!

I will have a breakfast croissant and a big mug of coffee, please. 

Morning Jeffrey since you are usually first to say so.

Prayer candle will be lit at 10 AM for those who need special thoughts or prayers.

 

ewl01

Property Tax..... I have a 3 bedroom home built in 1933 on a lot 150'x50' that I paid $103,000.00....the taxes were $4350.00 last year not including the $400.00 sewer tax.  That's 12% of my gross salary.. I love New Jersey.

Eric

On the tax front of the property I was talking about: It's a double wide trailer on a slab {considered a non permenant structure} listed on the market for awhile for $30K, most likely to be had for $20k.....which would make the $2200 for property taxes near or about over 10% of value of said property at sale time. {Then there is the school tax issue}. But whether we pay it in taxes, or $300/mo lot rent {$3600 a year } on our current trailer....somebody will get our money.

jeffrey-wimberly

Flashwave

*Sniff* I hate allergies.

You and me both. This time of year about drives me crazy! Ragweed pollen, pine pollen, etc.

My Dr. started me on Singulair last year at spring allergy time and I thought it did little good. He said keep taking it for your fall allergies and keep taking it. This year, it seems to be working real great! I can actually breathe most of the time and the lilacs didn't have nearly the devasting effects on me they usually do!

howmus

I got back from the audiologist a while ago.  He didn't tell me anything that i didn't already know except exactly how severe my hearing loss is now.  I asked him as i left if it was time to give up the music business and he nodded his head yes..........  So I guess if I want to hear my Granddaughters as they grow up, I guess it is time to hang up the hat.

Sorry to hear that, howmus....I know you really love your music, but going deaf is a permenant situation, and preferably, a non-option. I hope you choose wisely.

Probably won't do much today, except maybe go look at the properties?? {Have to discuss it with my other half when we are both wide awake. See if there is still interest. The van repairs have me thinking we don't have any cushion now....property might be out for a while maybe a year or two?? I mean, what if we buy something and need major repairs??}

HAve a great day

[blownout cylinder]

Good morning.

We're going to a high of 25C today--in the sun again---of course I'm stuck in the office today so I MIGHT get the chance to do some stuff in the sunshine eventually. We's going to be even warmer tomorrow before it cools off over the weekend----and yes, PC, our friends out in the country are FINALLY getting a chance to do some planting this week---they're only 2 1/2 weeks behind---

Got some paperwork today to attend to and then it is off to attend to some client visits---and then maybe a visit to a FLHS to pick up some more glues and stuff----gotta keep ahead of the stuff y'know---

Ray-Yikes!! Not much of an option there!! But how to do anything you enjoy doing when you are told to quit--what you gonna do?---I've been around a lot louder stuff in my time, including full stacks of Marshalls and things like that---full out stage monitors, or, for a while, Kelsey Hayes wheel foundry. Now, THAT place was LOUD! Music isn't the only activity that's loud-- ---managed to keep my ears pretty complete BUT,BUT,BUT---everyone--do keep your ears somewhat intact please!! And now we have DCC with sound----OY--keep it low ---

Galaxy-Property taxes, water rates, sewer rates---it all ends up coming out of pocket--heck, even a portion of your RENT goes into property taxes--somebody else gets the money--sometimes-- But I don't think I'll get into THAT topic-----

Chloe--I'll have a coffee and muffin to go please----gotta run---

Have a good day, people!!!

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

   May I have a regular please Zoe. 44F out just now with the sun and no breeze. Should be sunny and get into the 70's today. Nice change from the weekend in Wisconsin where it was in the 50's and lots of wind all weekend. Standing outside in the wind like that for 12 hours at a time really wears you down even with the awning we work under at the track. Othr than that the weekend went alright despite a few little problems. Both our drivers won races (one his enduro the other his sprint race) so the effort was worth it.

    Not much news on the MRR front - I'm working on the facade of the O gage round house for the museum by bashing a set of cut stone tunnel portals to suit. Should end up with a 6 stall structure. The house is moving along with the insulators starting tomorrow and then sheet rock. Imagine interior walls again! I'll try to catch up posts and catch y'all later.  J.R.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 55 and clear. The high will be in the mid 80's and it will be partly cloudy.

Finished up the body work on the U30 rebuild yesterday. All that remains is to add decals for the roadname and numbers, ditto for the SD27J. I got my car back from the shop yesterday. The power steering line has been replaced and the steering is working great. The bill wasn't quite as high as I thought it would be, about $153. My father was happy to get his truck back. I have no plans for today. I'll probably clean up the layout some as it's a mess from the last few projects.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      5/20/2009

Wind Chill:  55°F
Humidity:  82%
Dew Point:  50°F

So Far Today
High:  63°F
Low:  55°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  5mph ENE

Today  High: 82    Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 80s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight  Low: 62    Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

[secondhandmodeler]

Good morning folks.

Ray, I'm sorry to hear of your news.  I know you're quite passionate about your music. 

I'm sorry for those of you that have had deaths in your family or circle of friends.  Money problems pail in comparison to sickness or death.

The wife and I have decided to wait on buying a car.  She has the use of her company car a few more weeks, so why rush out and buy a new one?  She has quite a few contacts with people that know how much of an asset she was to her company.  We want to wait and see if she has a new job fairly quickly or if it takes forever.  If she doesn't get a job right away, she can take my car while I'm at work.  It will also allow me to save the two thousand dollars I need to buy the car we really want.

No trains to talk about though.  It just hasn't been a priority this week.

Have a great day!

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

Eric, I shot you an email and a PM.

Jeff, Eric, Barry; I agree it’s not a bad thing to be a rivet counter, but hey people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. I went with a free lance MRR just to throw my rivet counter friends off the scent, LOL. Often I show them a picture of a prototype and then they see what I did wasn’t so bad.

If I “buy” $1 of water from Cleveland, Euclid charges me $2 in sewer fees.  3 years ago we had to fight with the city that if we water our yard why should we pay the sewer fee?  We lost the fight but everyone in town stopped watering their yard, the resulting dead grass caused the city to rethink their position.

Rail traffic has slowed down a lot around here. The auto racks don’t move much, the only thing you see now is intermodal, Amtrak, salt, and coal.  On occasion you see long trains of boxcars, something I thought had faded into history.

Lee

[Robby P.]

Ahh a nice warm morning, right now its about 55!!

Well the M-I-L comes today.   Gotta get the house ready.  So probably not to much R.R. related today.  Maybe a quick lap or two on the layout.

Our taxes went down $200 thanks to the casinos here in Pa.   Our sewer is about $85 every two or three months.  We get the trash bill once a year, and its about $120.  Local tax is about $350, and the other tax is about $500.  We don't have them (taxes) into the house payment, so we have to save up for them.  Now thats ROUGH!!!

The rail traffic has slowed down here also.  A CSX did derail last night.  About 15 miles from me.  A guy I know said it normally doesn't get busy till after 3:00 pm.

Well everybody have a good day.

 

[howmus]

Mornin' folks!

Chloe I'll have another of those raisin bran muffins you have there.  What?  I don't know how many carbos they have, and I don't care........  Sheesh!  Oh and lots of coffee, dark roast in a FGLK mug please.

Thanks you to all who have mentioned my hearing.  Yes it is hard to make the decision to give up recording and live sound, but it may slow further loss of hearing.  My goal would be to be able to hear my Granddaughters sing or play instruments when they get to that age...........  I figure I may have a bit more time to have fun with the trains.  I still have 3 more gigs I have promised to do, the Middle School Band concert next week (not a problem), the Middle School play in June.  Just body mics - no music, and graduation the end of june (usually a noisy one...... )  Probably recording is the worst culprit as I have to turn up the volume and usually listen to each piece several times as it is mixed.  It is also the $ maker that has paid the bills.  I have have never really made much money with the business.  I have had a lot of fun! The loss is such that I can't get clarrity of speech with it anymore.  The audiologist said that with the loss I have some people can still understand speech well and others can't.  Unfortunately I fall into the second category.......

My sincere prayers to all of you that have suffered loss and are in pain!  

Tonight is the MLK Dinner.  Most everything is ready for it so hopefully it will be a fun evening.  Our keynote speaker is a college student who received an MLK Scholarship 3 years ago.  He is now a student worker in the office of the college president and serves in the prestigious position of Student Trustee of the College (Hobart and William Smith College here in Geneva).  Originally the President of the college was going to introduce him tonight.  Unfortunately he is out of town so one of our members who works at the college will do that honor.  The speaker is not only a brilliant and hard working young man, but also a fantastic singer.  He originally came form Newark, NJ where he sang in the Newark Boys Choir. 

Hope all of you have a great day! 

[galad]

Good morning folks!

I found a great house at a great price that has a nice big game room for my train layout.  Best of all the guy is gonna let us finance it straight through him so no need to get banks involved.  My credit is not what it once was with changing jobs and the economy.  I find it ironic a bank would turn me down for a loan when they wouldn't even be in business right now if it wasn't for billions of dollars of bailout money, not to be political but it just seems hypociritical.

Anyway, the "fight" has already begun between the wife and I on what to do with the game room.  I of course want to use the whole thing for trains and she wants to divide it up into a play room, computer room etc.  I think I am going to create a webpage and blog my layout progress, I'll create a link when I start. 

I'm off to go make the kids some breakfast, cyas.

[Packer]

Hey ya'll

Jeff, those rebuils are looking pretty good. 

My GP35 arrived yesterday when I was off at college.

It's a decent looking engine (correct horn location for ex-GN units) and runs pretty well (It's a tad noisy, but I've only and it about 9 feet or so which helped a bit from when I first started it). Not a bad deal at 35 bucks. I do want to find lightbulbs like the type that are in it since they do put out a good bit of light and I have a few other Athearn engines that would benefit from having those instead of a LED behind a crappy lense (mainly in my SW1500s).

Still no sign on my C30-7, I'll be sending them an e-mail today to see what's up.