Good Moring All....Its sunny and 67...Visiting Nurse just came I'll drop back in latter...Have a good one...Jerry
LSWrr 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.
Ditto here.
Morning Gang: Not much new here. I've been busy with the ranching stuff. Haven't had much time to check in here and visit.
The rail traffic here has been down also. It makes it easier to get accross the tracks but it doesn't do much for the stock of UP.
I've got to get back to work on fences. I had the phone compnies mark there fiber optic lines that are on the UP easement. That was about three weeks ago. I told the that I'd be building new fences there and should be finished in about four weeks. It's been three weeks and I havent' even got started.
Opps, Mary Ann said we have to get going so I'll sign off and try and get back later.
Take Care
howmus 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.
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.
Carefully consider your carbs! If Gov. Paterson has his way they will be listed on everything AND TAXED for his "obesity tax"!!!
LOL
-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.
Robby, that makes sense out here the locals are all switched on 3rd shift with the exception of the steel treating mills and the Salt Mine. We have Cargill Salt mine in Cleveland and Morton Salt mine in Fairport with 2 table salt mines just SE of Fairport. Cargill is serviced twice daily with about 15 loaded outbound each train. Empties are delivered on 3rd shift. The steel treating mills here are an international trade so not much slow down with them. Steel comes in from Europe is treated and sold back to Europe, China, and Japan. About twice a year we get a Russian freighter in to drop off or pick up steel coils.Ray, hard choice, but hopefully the hearing lasts longer. Have you ever thought about teaching what you learned in the music field?Paul, when you get done with your fence stop by. I need to replace the fence along my side yard.Lee
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Mornin' Nothing for me thanks I already ate. Maybe some coffee please in a T&P mug. What? No Texas and Pacific? Tomorrow? OK, any mug. Thanks. Beautiful day, sunny today high about 82F. Brenda's home sick, I hope she doesn't have the Swine Fl...er, H1234 or whatever we're supposed to call it. Because of that I probably won't wander too far from home today. Hm. Basement's not too far. It's the dogs Birthday, so she's happy that Mommies staying home and they get to do some of her favorite things. Snuggling and taking naps. I'll probably take her for a ride or a walk later, then she can come back and snuggle and nap again. Silly Labs. I do have to check out a rattle under her car, (Brenda's, not the dogs. We live in town so the dog doesn't get to drive much) then wait tables at the restaurant at 4:30 til 9pm. Tips only, but that gives a few more MRR bucks and since Thursdays are Mom days and I end up in Springfield, and that just happens to be an open day for the FLHS, the timings good.
I got the latest news this morning on the lost Pearl Beer car. They didn't have another one so they bought one from another "supplier" they hope to receive it before Memorial day weekend, check it out, then send it to me. Yup Jim, they said to keep the Carnation car as a sorry for the mix up consolation prize. It's a metal reefer. Don't know who made it but it appears to be made the same way an old Athearn Pabst Blue Ribbon kit was. The doors open so it has possibilities for some sort of stationary something. Two of the ice hatches are missing the latches, but I won‘t be using it as a working car so whoopty doo.
Jeff- Former U30 looks like it came that way. Good job.
Ray- Sorry to hear the news. It's gotta hurt being told that. At least you have many many good memories. Maybe with those special outside sound deadening earphones you can still dabble from time to time? I think the trade off however will be a satisfying one to hear the grandkids perform.
Ouch! On the water/sewer bills. I thought ours was bad. Luckily if we have a large water only use, like a swimming pool filling, water line break etc. you can call the village and they will subtract the sewer charge off an agreed amount of water.
G-Did I understand correctly, 10% of sale price? Meaning market value of the property? Whew! Ours is 7.46% of 1/3 fair market value times a multiplier that's usually 1or 1.1 (it varies from year to year)so the amount taxed is usually just slightly more or sometimes equal to 1/3 the properties value. The schools, county, township, village, VFD and anything else gets a % of that amount.
Galad- Congratulations on the house. And good luck with the "fight". I hope you strike a deal that let's you build at least close to what you want.
Well, I have effectively piddled away most of the morning, so I'm off.
Have a Great Day!
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Coffee in a large UNION PACIFIC mug, please & thanks.
I'm not even going to try catching up on all the posts. Timber company is harvesting trees around us soon and I'm stuck with removing tons of fence the FIL put up before I married into this crazy family. Once married, I could put my foot down, but the damage was done and as usual, I'm the one stuck with fixing what he left behind. Gurrrrrr! Trying to hire a neighbor to give me a hand with it. The wire isn't the hard part, it's the countless posts I dread. OK, rant is over.
On a bright note, wife landed a job she wanted.
No time for trains yet and probably won't be for another week or more.
Hope everyone is doing well these days.
Rob
Afternoon evenin' guys....
Didn't do much but laundry and H2O plants. Need to really get at the pond. Drained it today. Tomorrow I will clean it before it gets to hot and refill it...Looks like we lost the tomato to frost even though we covered it.
In the Electronics/DCC section was a post with the question of "Do you think instruction manuals are written BY engineers FOR engineers?"
I posted the following that I meant to somewhat humorous and sarcastic but yet to a point. I thought y'all might enjoy it here and get a bit of a laugh:
Quoting Galaxy:
">>I agree about some manuals {for anything} are written as though an engineer will read it.
I call any manual for any thing with over 10 pages a "NASA sized instruction manual". Because everything but the proverbial kitchen sink is in there. {I know, I know, that way they can say "it's in the manual"}.
My cell phone manual has 175 pages to it {granted it is small in size so fewer words on the pages}. Why? Its a phone!!!! I want a phone for emergency purposes, I do not want to text, access the internet, take pics {It does not access the 'net nor does it have a camera in it}, OR let it change the oil in my van or have it clean my house for me!! {WELL- MAYBE it could clean my house for me}. Should be simple for a simple phone for simple humans to operate.
The more complicated an item/manual gets the less interested I can be.
Take a vehicle. I do not want it to open doors for me, I do not want to be restricted to PAYING for satellite radio or the onboard cell phones in it. I want it to get me from point A to point B safely. And I have a GPS already {far cheaper than the onboard version}.
The GPS has multiple full sized pages {about 200 and something} that are exclusively on a computer disk, so I have to use the computer to try to find what I want!? {How does that help me while out on the road somewhere strange?! I do not have a wireless laptop!?}
For my trains, I want to run them easily and want to be able to easily operate them. I want simple instructions. That is what I like about the Bachmann EZ Command system. I do not care to have 150 different bell rings to choose from or have 120 horn sounds to pick from. 10 should be enough?! I do not care to have 1,685 different CV functions that will change my oil or clean my house. {again, MAYBE clean the house?!}
These days they are sticking complex electronic items in everything from stoves to washing machines, and along with that comes thoroughly complex instruction manuals that make it a requirement to have a Doctorate in Electro Metaphysic Hyper Abidextrosity to operate when simple mechanical turn knobs worked for decades, AND anyone could aproach a stove and operate it effectively without additional instructions from the In Laws while at their house!!!
I don't know, maybe I'm just getting older, crabier, and more complex myself. Now where is the instruction manual on how to effectively operate ME?!<<"
Enjoy your evening! {or is that to simple? LOL}
I agree.
Didn't do much this morning. Got some laundry done then took the truck into town to pick up a couch table for my mother. I then had to get the thing into her house and situated where she wanted it. Ever place furniture for a woman? 'It doesn't look good there, move it over there', 'No, it doesn't look good there either. Move it over there'. After about a half hour it was in a place where it looked good. The first place it had been in! That was this morning. I'm still waiting for my back to stop hurting!
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
galaxy My cell phone manual has 175 pages to it {granted it is small in size so fewer words on the pages}. Why? Its a phone!!!! I want a phone for emergency purposes, I do not want to text, access the internet, take pics {It does not access the 'net nor does it have a camera in it}, OR let it change the oil in my van or have it clean my house for me!! {WELL- MAYBE it could clean my house for me}. Should be simple for a simple phone for simple humans to operate. The more complicated an item/manual gets the less interested I can be. Take a vehicle. I do not want it to open doors for me, I do not want to be restricted to PAYING for satellite radio or the onboard cell phones in it. I want it to get me from point A to point B safely. And I have a GPS already {far cheaper than the onboard version}.
I had to quote that all because you do hit some points that do, at times, get me. My cell phone is one that I do IM a lot on and can post pix with--lousy pix, but they work for what I need it for right now--The OP who posted the question on the Electronics/DCC forum seemed, to me, to be carrying it just a little much though. You seem to be able to do what you want the dang things you got to do --but he made it sound like no one was able to do anything with them. My NCE Powercab did have a large manual but I got the thing to do what I wanted without too much squabbling---does that make me an engineer? I sure hope not!!--of course, most of the time I just sort of push the button and run for cover Then write my own notes on what happened.
I usually learn in a hands on form anyway so the manual is used for a back up AFTER I do the deed and discover that, yes, sometimes it is easier to just read the dang instructions. It does make one wonder though---Me, I'd rather be driving a car that I can fix myself---now? We are in BIG troubles---
We made the dang car so complicated and now dealerships are dropping out like flies---boy--one hand I see opportunity. OTOH though, a lot of yeeesh
Good Afternoon/Evening
I got home from a busy day and see a lot of conversation about taxes and such. I only pay through the nose so what else is new. If one combines all the federal/state/provincial/sales/municipal/school/and don't get me started on health premiums and what all--there is a small--almost microscopic amount left for food, clothing, heat, hydro---I'm surprised we even have enough for MRR'ing---gee--do you think it's time for another "MRR is expensive" thread?--Nah--that'll rile a few people up---'scuse me --I'm getting piculous---
So, Chloe, can you get me a Rib eye steak--medium rare, with all the trimmings--an SRP with a RBF please
So, again. As I sit meself down to dinner---I'll be in the corner booth watching the trains---no, Chloe. I'll just get myself--thanks---
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/
Hello everyone,
Man, it feels like forever since I got into the neighborhood, and don't ya know, I had to ask the dispatcher where the Diner moved to! I hope and pray that everyone is doing well... I am proud to say that I am officially a NORAC Qualified, Student Engineer!!! I did not realize the complexity of Railroad Air Brake Systems... geez... My mind is spinning from all the info that has been thrown my way this week...
Chloe, may I please have a LARGE coffee in a NH&I mug? Oh, didn't realize I took it home the last time I was here... then can I have it in my ever ready backup mug? That's right, the NJ Transit one!!! Thanks... BTW is there still a menu here? Or has that been retired from service?
Any how, I will be in the back booth, got a TON of studying to do...
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you! Please pray for me as my 1A final is in a week or so...
May God Bless you and yours!
Sam
May He bless you, guide you, and keep you safe on your journey through life!
I Model the New Hope & Ivyland RR (Bucks County, PA)
JimRCGMOBest wishes, including on converting the garage space for the layout - does the garage have heat and air conditioning?
Best wishes, including on converting the garage space for the layout - does the garage have heat and air conditioning?
Jim, the garage doesn't have climate control yet. I'm going to add a room this summer for a model workshop. When I retire in November I'm taking enough cash from my pension fund for some home maintenance including a heat pump in the garage. I had a geothermal heat pump installed in the house last fall and had the contractor make the ground loop big enough for both. The layout room itself will be 27 feet 4 inches by 23 feet.
Good evening, another great day weatherwise here in Central NE. Tomorrow it is due to hit near 90F, and we are planting the garden. The threat of any frost is nil at this point, and we are on a high hill where frost is highly unlikely. I am trying desperately to get all the outside work done so that I can get back to the layout.
That was quite an accident in Texas, a bridge caught fire, one locomotive all burned to toast, Flip sent me the photos, what a mess!!
Later guys ,
For you Rob......
A Test..........
Are your In-Laws crazy?
You passed!
grayfox1119That was quite an accident in Texas, a bridge caught fire, one locomotive all burned to toast, Flip sent me the photos, what a mess!!
Evening, Chloe - I'll have a cup of coffee in a D&RGW mug, with an oatmeal raisin cookie please. Thanks!
Galaxy, how many more loads to the curb (and weeks) before you get most all of your 'stuff' cleared away, wouldja guess? (Just trying to figure how many loads I might need at my place, allowing that we have 6 or 7 other apartments 'sharing' the smaller dumpster at the back of our parking lot...) And your comments on 'instruction' manuals (now THERE'S and oxymoron!) - Hilarious! But true!
Thanks, Morgan, PC, Ray and Jeff - you reminded me that I need to get a package of my single-purpose generic OTC antihistamine. For me, it doesn't leave me groggy like that all-purpose/shotgun approach ones do. I do think that this year's season isn't toooooo bad around here (so far).
Jeff, good job on the latest loco rebuild from Sundown Loco Rebuilders. Well, those yellow shades kinda make a statement, but what the heck...
Ray, sorry to hear about your having to give up the music recording/editing, but being able to hear the grandkids' things (at school or otherwise) would take priority for me, too.
On the whole rivet-counter subject, I do know that if I have a question about "how" (not "is or isn't it?") the prototype in my era would look like or do something, I'll ask the r-c's. But then I'll apply my ol' "windage" factor to their answer, in terms of "How much trouble would it be to make it that way, vs. what's MY acceptable level of effort/pickiness?" I only figure I have so much time to put into the layout (and have a real life away from MRR'ing... GASP! - HERESY!!). So there are my limits, y'know. I do not want to turn into a perfectionist (again) about my model railroading, for sure!
Barry -
Eric - LOVE your 'disclaimer' about the S-7 deal!
Oh, Chris - it arrived (Monday, I believe it was). Thanks! How'd the school board meeting (or is that beating?) go?
Mark - politics? What politics?
Careful, Robby, or the wife'll have you sleeping out there in the MIL bed and her in the house.
JR, good to hear that some actual w**k and progress is being made on your house. Hopefully, you'll be able to move in a few years before you retire, right?
Corey, that sounds like a wise choice to delay on the car decision, until you know some more about how finances might be.
Packer, nice GP35 (and a nice price).
Galad - better make those persuasive arguments (if you want to avoid chaning to Z scale, anyway...) Congrats on the house, though!
Rob - great to hear about your wife's new job (and hope it pays a good enough wage, and doesn't require so many hours that she's tuckered out by the time she gets home, too).
Trainman Sam - I think (as Galaxy pointed out...) there's probably a 300+ page manual for those brakes... And welcome back!
Attaboy - good planning ahead on the heat pump installation(s). And congrats on being that close to retirement; now, don't start listening to our (already-retired) ORF's in the Diner, or they'll talk you out of that retirement thing.
Now Dick and Jeff, you do realize Fergie's gonna be after you for using 'his' word.
Not much going on for me today - except about four of my clients didn't show up. Luckily, 2 (or 3?) of them were follow-up appointments, so I didn't even have to write any documentation for those.
'Bout time for me to head for home. Take care of yourselves, Diners.
Blessings and prayers,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Evenin' folks!
Well the MLK Dinner is history. The speaker was Impressive! He is one of our scholarship winners from 3 years ago. He was a kid who started life in the inner city of Newark New Jersey, Got accepted to the Newark Boy Choir School and came with the Choir to Geneva, NY for a concert when he was a 6th. grader. The following summer he went to an Episcopal Church Camp that was run by the Rector of the Episcopal Church he sang at here in Geneva. He was introduced to a music teaching couple who are from Geneva at the camp. They invited him to come live with them and go to school here. His Parents (Father is a minister in Newark) agreed to have him live here to get him in a better environment. By the time he was a senior he was singing both in school and at the church, was a lead in several musicals and plays. He also established himself as a very charismatic student leader. As a Junior at Hobart College he has also established himself as a leader of the student body and works for the president of the University's office. Tonight he once again established himself as a charismatic statesman as he addressed this years group of scholarship winners as well as most of the leaders of the Geneva community (including the mayor, most of the city council, the Superintendent of Schools and several assistants, many teachers, ministers, and all the rest of us). All I can say is WOW! Life is fun when you get to a part of things like this.
LSWrrHave you ever thought about teaching what you learned in the music field?
Uhm, well I taught music for 32 years (K - College) ... Does that count? I figure there is a time for everything under the heavens....... Hmm sounds like a song I know. To quote a phrase, "What a long strange trip its been". I have had a wonderful career, and thoroughly have enjoyed destroying my hearing. Now it's time to move on to a new chapter. There is still a whole lot of things that I want to do like hang gliding..... May not get to do that, but you get the idea. I have told the crew at school that I would be glad to come in and train people to do the job.
Rob congrats to the wife on getting the job. Hope it is a dream job!
Galaxy and Barry one of my mixer manuals makes great reading. Every time it starts to get dry they insert some totally off the wall remark in it that has you really giggling. They do remind you that if all else fails, read the directions....... Some of the pro software I use tells you not to read the manual as it is way more in depth than you need to know. If you are having trouble, then go look it up. What I like are the idiot proof ones like on the new mower I just bought. Did you know that if you put your hands or feet under the running mower you could get injured? WOW! I never would have thought of that!
Hope all of you have a great night!
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
JimRCGMOJeff, good job on the latest loco rebuild from Sundown Loco Rebuilders. Well, those yellow shades kinda make a statement, but what the heck...
howmusGalaxy and Barry one of my mixer manuals makes great reading. Every time it starts to get dry they insert some totally off the wall remark in it that has you really giggling. They do remind you that if all else fails, read the directions....... Some of the pro software I use tells you not to read the manual as it is way more in depth than you need to know. If you are having trouble, then go look it up. What I like are the idiot proof ones like on the new mower I just bought. Did you know that if you put your hands or feet under the running mower you could get injured? WOW! I never would have thought of that!
I had one like that for my LG250 phone--lotsa pages---1/2 of which is all cautions and warnings---so maybe they're not all that bad?---do you think ---maybe?---kindasorta?
I have my old instructions for the VRS from, I think it was, Cubase. Being a Virtual Recording Studio it had all the main features of a recording studio but, supposedly without all the dang wiring and effects boards and what all else. I just bull headed my way through the thing and within the first week was at the point I could get some dang thing out on CD. We still have that on another computer here at home--still as good for what it can do. And the manual? Still as unread---
Evening All...Not much rail roading today..just stopped in for a diet coke..You all have a good nite...Jerry
JimRCGMO Thanks, Morgan, PC, Ray and Jeff - you reminded me that I need to get a package of my single-purpose generic OTC antihistamine. For me, it doesn't leave me groggy like that all-purpose/shotgun approach ones do. I do think that this year's season isn't toooooo bad around here (so far).
The rain has been beating the pollen out of the air so far. If we get a dry spell, it'll get bad now that the plants are "well watered".
Good evening, Chloe? a bucket of that unique coffee please and thankyou.
JimRCGMOit arrived (Monday, I believe it was). Thanks! How'd the school board meeting (or is that beating?) go?
JIM: Good deal! I tried to send you an e-mail or two via the Kalmbach system...never could tell if it went through or not. The regular monthly meeting of the board of directors of the Clear Creek Amana Community School District...went surprisingly well. In fact, they closed up shop early for once! I've only got one article coming out of this one. A proposed change in graduation requirements has gotten some folk's knickers in a bit of a twist. The high school kiddees still have to have 56 credits, but some proposed changes in the social studies requirements are causing a fuss. Instead of the 8 credits currently, they would only need 6, with 2 additional credits of electives...many of which can be found in the social studies offerings. The board was split 4-3 in favor on the second reading (first was last month while I was covering a joint meeting of the conservation board and board of supervisors for Johnson County). Next month "should" be the third and final reading...and probable action. Arguments against state the kids are getting short-changed in social studies. Arguments for state the kids will have more choices, with some being able to pursue other classes more in line with their future studies in college...if they don't want the other soc. stud. electives.
Doesn't seem like a big deal to me... looks OK on paper. But, I'm just a scribbler...not an opinion writer.
JEFF: Given any thought to sticking the CAT logo on your U30C-REM-1-whichever/whatever??
As for the discussion about book-length instruction manuals... I'm all for keeping things as simple and uncomplicated as possible.
With the prototype/rivet counting stuff: I try to strike a ballance. I want my CNW motive power and freight cars to "look right," but won't get my knickers twisted if say...a covered hopper has a slightly different hatch on top than the real one, or if my Athearn GP-7's hood is a scale foot wider than the real one. An absolute foobie? Now THAT bugs me. Then again, I've got a Ridgely and Midland County boxcar in the fleet...and of course that was Tony Koester's road. I had a heckuva time trying to figure out how to justify it on my future layout, figuring out what would be headed for Cedar Rapids from his neck of the woods. I came up with paper products going to either Longview Fibre, or the Weyerhauser plant, both making cardboard containers, both on the CCP.
Hmmmm. Maybe I'm more of a "rivet counter" than I give myself credit for. Do any of you "pre-justify" a car or locomotive purchase? What I mean is, unless it's a home road car (CNW), I try to figure out a rationale for it's existence in my future, as yet unbuilt world. A case in point: I got a McKean boxcar off "the Bay." It's a USLX lease fleet car, with a little Kellog's logo and "Leased to Kellog's" marked on it. I figure, it can be justified as a load of Corn Flakes, etc. going from their distribution facility, to the Nash Finch warehouse (on the CCP). Since that would be in the un-modeled, off-layout part of my world...I'd be able to put the car in the transfer from CNW to the CCP yard. In other words...I couldn't just buy the darn thing because I liked the looks of it.
Am I nuts?
*yawn*
Time to get a caffine bolus onboard...and start writing this article for THAT editor. Deadline for the week is tomorrow, thanks to Memorial Day. If all goes well, I "should" have it wrapped up and filed (via e-mail) by....0300
G'night...
Chris
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
Large glass of cool lemon water, please & thanks.
***Jeffrey, she just wanted to make sure that first spot really was the best for it. Hope your back eases up soon.
***Sam, congrats on your NORAC Qualified Student Engineer status.
***Philip, that was a tough test...took my brain almost an entire millisecond to determine the correct answer.
***Jim, Ray, thanks. She will work only two days a week with very long hours but excellent pay plus benefits.
Well, tomorrow I'll give some of those posts a try and see if they'll come up by hand. If not, I'll cut them down at ground level with the chainsaw.
Good Night all. Rob
howmus Did you know that if you put your hands or feet under the running mower you could get injured?
Uhhh......but then how can I tell if the blades are moving?
Chris-Nah, your not. Like I said the rivet counters are enjoying the hobby as they choose. What does get my goat,if I had one, are the ones who belittle and chastize others for less than prototypicalness.(word?) I'm really happy if the average Joe looks at my railroad and thinks it's neat. If they are concerned that Amtrak doesn't use F40PH's for more than gutted baggage cars or that some of my boxcars have roof walks in the modern era, then well my suggestion is go look at someone elses that is "correct". Rule 1.is being followed and I'm enjoying it as much as they are. Besides I probably couldn't tell the difference between an AC6000CW and a Dash8-40CW, so they're at the wrong house anyway.
Good night and Prayers for those in need.
Good morning... Chloe? another bucket please and thankyou.
Popping in for a quick sanity break from the school board article. This month, they chose a wonderful echo chamber to hold the meeting in. My company issued digital recorder just 'taint cut out for THAT kind of environment. The recording sounds like the meeting was held in a public restroom...lots of echo/reverb. Maybe I could hire our resident sound expert to mic/record next month's circus...I mean, board meeting...
TMarshWhat does get my goat,if I had one, are the ones who belittle and chastize others for less than prototypicalness.(word?)
Then again, I might just scrap the idea alltogether and go for a fictional CB&Q branchline in SW Iowa... But then, I'd hafta start a whole new file of photos so THAT will "look right."
*sigh*
Back to the trench,
Interesting cmments on Rivet Counters. I hope people do not think I was putting them down or making fun of them. Being that particular has it's place. A museum display should be as accurate as possible. That being said, TMarsh covered the issue... don't criticize anothers attempt at the hobby... Sure a lot of us would like to have things as accurate as possible, others build just for fun. That's what makes it a hobby, the self satisfaction that one did the best they can based on their own desires, abilities, funds and time available.
My 'disclaimers' are part in fun and part intentional. Sometimes things get around and I just want to clarify why I used a particular example. Life's hard enough without someone thinking they were singled out when a general observation is made using their words. My lawyer suggested I at least footnote my sources, he actually had a legal issue with an online comment that ruffled a few feathers with his fellow hobbyists (not MRR's)
Anyway. Good Morning All!! Looks to be a beautiful day, pollen, taxes, and everything else aside.
Chloe! Coffee and Tea for everyone for staying and listening to me.
Maybe the long weekend will bring some MRRing here. Hmmm, the railbarge needs some weathering....
Eric
Rob, tell Mrs. Rob congratulations on landing the new job!Galaxy, after careful consideration and preponderance of the evidence I believe the people at Digitrax could offer a beginners guide to their equipment. Most of their manuals seem to be written by NASA. I’ve had to rely on third party how-to books, or have a friend translate the Digitrax manuals for me to get started. On the other hand their decoder install directions are simple and to the point.
Lee
Everything the Great Lakes fleet moves was delivered to the docks or picked up from the docks by rail....
Great Lakes trade in the commodities that fuel North American industry is being hit hard by recession and some 30 US lake vessels, out of 74 that could be operating, are tied up for lack of business, the industry reported Thursday. American lake vessels in April carried only half the iron ore, limestone, coal and other commodities that they have carried each April for the last five years, and their tonnage for the first four months of this year is down 61% from the five-year average for the period. The Lake Carriers' Association, whose 18 member companies operate 65 US-flag vessels on the lakes, also brought into statistics released Thursday the tonnage of non-member firms operating nine ships, mainly liquid bulk carriers. Of the
74 ships in all, at least 44 are presently in service. For the year-to-date, US ships carried 6.6 million tons, down 59% from the period a year ago. With the US steel industry "operating at less than 50% of capacity" and when "the pulse in the construction industry is weak," the LCA said April cargo movement totaled 5.1 million tons, down 49% from just over 10 million tons in the five-year average. Iron ore cargoes suffered the biggest decline, down 62% in April to 1.7 million tons from 4.6 million in April 2008 and 4.7 million for the five-year April average. The first four months' total was
2.7 million tons, against 4.6 million last year and 4.7 million over five years. Canadian shipments of iron ore to Great Lakes destinations through the St. Lawrence Seaway, always much smaller in total, also fell sharply.
Limestone, used in construction but also as fluxstone in steel mills, dropped 48% April over April to 1.1 million tons. The total coal trade, mainly for power plants, at 1.9 million tons in April "was within striking distance of a year ago (2.1 million)." on strong shipments of western coal from Lake Superior, the main source of US supply. Coal shipments from Lakes Michigan and Erie were down badly, the LCA said.
Good Morning--
We're going to a high of 29C, all in the sun!! Get to do some client visits this morning and some office work in the afternoon. I might get some MRR'ing later on in the afternoon----or more cat cuddling---'Spring' is requesting---
Well, a lot of interesting comments popping up about all manner of stuff here--I'm kind of thinking about learning curves and poorly written instruction manuals---anyone here remember some of the early computer manuals? They were't exactly the best in the world either. Then again, I remember seeing some lovely papers I had to read in university that were 90% nouns and not much else besides---
Chloe, I'll have a coffee and a muffin to go please--
Have a good one people---