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Elliott's Trackside Diner XII Locked

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Posted by LSWrr on Sunday, May 24, 2009 8:50 AM

I have a bit of an enigma for the group……

I have a short in my 3rd mainline and I can’t figure out where.  I did install a new turnout on the east end of the mainline, but I removed it to see if that was the problem.  I thought I heard buzzing from the west end but didn’t find anything wrong.  I’m running DCC (Digitrax) and can’t seem to find the short.

Lee

 

BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret)
 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

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Posted by Packer on Sunday, May 24, 2009 8:42 AM

Morning all.

My family and I are supposed tobe going out of town this weekend.Only problem is we can't make ourr minds on where to go. Tallahasee or Pensacola?

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. By the way, the guy in the Trans Am is nuts.

Vincent

Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

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Posted by Robby P. on Sunday, May 24, 2009 7:23 AM

Is it morning?????  Some dog was barking ALL NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!  Going from neighbor to neighbor, barking!!!!  I let the boxer out after him (looked like a small mix beed), but the boxer didn't do anything Dunce.  Plus boxers aren't mean dogs.  That was going on all night.

Cook out today, and taking a nap later.  Thats my plan for today. 

Jeff.........I bet the Trans AM wrecked due to "Buford T. Justice".   I guess "Snow Man", didn't tell him about the speed limit.  

Well everybody have a good day.

 

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Sunday, May 24, 2009 7:19 AM

Good Morning--

A rather cloudy morning with some showers for us. High today will be 23C with tonights low at 6C. It looks to be a more cloudy week coming up with some showers here and there.

We had some rain last night so any mowing will have to wait---our lake/pond thing is a little bigger again. Hence another floating dock will be thrown out there. Troy, a friend of ours up on Oxtongue Lake, told me this morning that the buddy who rammed his personal watercraft on to a rock not too far from the village side of the lake will be out of the hospital tomorrow. There are charges pending on him. This is one of those things were there are lakes that are deemed QZ, and he was running around on one of those lakes----drunk. OOPS. How's the weekender going to get home now----when you get charged with impaired you can't drive either---no license---OOPS.Whistling

Jeff --Looked out there---no sign of him?--all b'ar traps are accounted for----Confused I think the dude faked it----Whistling

So we're going to have a day werein I can do some MR stuff---YAY!!Approve----oh ssshhhhh yourself-----Whistling

Chloe, I'll have a toast and coffee, please----Smile,Wink, & Grin

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

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Sunday, May 24, 2009 6:47 AM

Good morning.

It's 66 and foggy. The high will be in the low 80's and thunderstorms are expected.

Didn't do a lot on the layout yesterday. Just tossed out the scrap loco pieces that were generated during the last couple of projects. These included a cut up barely recognizable Athearn SD40-2 shell and a cut up Bachmann GP50 shell. I spent most of my morning helping my mother pull weeds. Man did that have my back in an uproar. It still has knots in it. After that we went into town and had lunch at El Giro's then went to the hospital to check up on my father and take him some things he had requested. He's marginally improved. They've dealt with his pain but still don't know exactly what's wrong. He HATES hospitals and being cooped up in general so I knew he knows he has a bad problem by going anywhere near one so it almost floored me when he told the doctor not to send him home until it's cleared up. At present he's by his own description 'weak as a 3 day old kitten'. We stopped by an auto parts store and picked up two cans of Fix-a-Flat for the tractor then it was back home. That was mid afternoon. I got a report that some dodo had been speeding through the middle of town in a 35 mph zone and wrapped his old model Trans Am around one of the big poles that hold up the huge sign in front of Wal-Mart. Barely made a scratch on the pole but folded the car almost in half. This wasn't one of todays lightweight wonders but one of the old muscle cars made back when they used steel. I got a little time to clear up some of the debris on the layout then had to get ready to go out to dinner with my mother, sister, niece and her boyfriend whom she's considering to put on a ball and chain.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      5/24/2009

Wind Chill:  66°F
Humidity:  100%
Dew Point:  66°F

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

Today  High: 82    Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight  Low: 68    Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.


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Posted by LSWrr on Sunday, May 24, 2009 6:26 AM

Good morning all,

My mother made it home from the hospital last night, thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers.  Jeff, sorry to hear your father is still in the hospital hopefully he will be coming home soon.

Lee

 

BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret)
 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Sunday, May 24, 2009 5:47 AM

blownout cylinder
-i gotta find out where Todd went to.

Check the bear trap. I heard something out there screaming like a whipped step-child.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
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Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
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Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, May 23, 2009 11:11 PM

TMarsh
Somebody get me out of this thing!!!!

snip*snip*snip---> SSSHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOMM!!!------->

Gone!!! In a flash!!!!

Boy, did you all see Todd go? I never knew he could run that fast. And right through the door too--never broke a sweat or anything! WOW!!Shock

Chloe, I'll have a coffee to go please----i gotta find out where Todd went to.

Have a g'night all---Whistling

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

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Posted by TMarsh on Saturday, May 23, 2009 10:06 PM

Paatoooey!!! Luckily my superior escape skills came in handy. I've freed myself of the gag and now onto the binders. Amateurs! I should be out of this in no time. I'm parched. Dr Pepper please, and a straw. Didn't get anything accomplished on the RR today, for obvious reasons. I did get to imagine what it would be like if I went to my Nieces graduation party. I took my mom and my Aunt who came up from Nebo,Il then tomorrow, Mom's going back to Nebo with my Aunt to spend Memorial Day with her so they can do the family grave visits etc.

Jim-Nothing on the layout today, Hopefully tomorrow after yard work. We've been lucky on the open window thing for a bit now. Luckily there are no allergies here and the basement is cool. Looking forward to the photos.

I've gotta get some lighting in the train room so's I can take some photos.

Madsinger- I have a bad spot also. Down to one now and it‘s over a culvert. Once that's done I should be care free until one of the old, old turnouts causes troubles like last time. I should have just replaced them.Banged Head

Eric- Amen brother! By golly it sounds like summers gearing up around there!

Tom- Say! That's quite a compliment if a raccoon can't tell the difference between your modeling and the real thing!

Jeff- I had an old Trans Am. 1979. Antique by today's standards true, but man that thing would move. And corner, my gosh you'd have thought it was on , well, rails. When someone looses control of that car, unless they were on a race track, it doesn't matter what the speed limit is, they KNEW they had to be speeding!!

Chris- Hey!!! Whaduhyah mean "the Illinoiz crowd? I take offense to.... Oh wait, no I don't. You're right. Laugh

Well best get back to getting out of this. Who's the Boy Scout with these knots?! Oh well, this is just a mere setback (grunt). I should be outta this in no ti...BLACK SNAKES!!!!  (one octave higher) There's snakes in here???!!!! Somebody get me out of this thing!!!!

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. Laugh

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, May 23, 2009 9:53 PM

AmanaMedic
Anything left of the "ditz brain?" Wait, lemme guess. After you guys broke out the toys and removed the vehicle from the patient...he signed the EMS refusal and walked away with only a scratch and soiled undies...Mischief

I don't know. I got the report third hand. I do know he was hauled off in an ambulance.

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Posted by AmanaMedic on Saturday, May 23, 2009 9:46 PM

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.

Anything left of the "ditz brain?" Wait, lemme guess. After you guys broke out the toys and removed the vehicle from the patient...he signed the EMS refusal and walked away with only a scratch and soiled undies...Mischief

Between the action on the Jersey shore...and little 'ole Leesville, LA... I'm gettin' a bit nervous. So far (knocking on wood...oops! sorry horse...there, NOW knocking on wood) it's all been EMS runs in my fair county. Durant is rolling on a 16 y.o. male who "hit his head on concrete and now is having trouble remembering things..." Genius at work, no doubt.

ChrisEight Ball

EDIT: I think Barney, Roscoe, Enos, and Cletus are holding a little "fund-raiser" for the City of Clarence this weekend, with US Highway 30 running through town, they'll have pretty easy pickin's, especially the Illinois crowd that races through here...Whistling

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, May 23, 2009 9:44 PM

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!.  

Anyone check for booze on his breath?

We did have someone crash his car into a barrier/guardrail not too far from here a few weeks ago. Went through a stop sign---said that he forgot what a stop sign meant---Grumpy--neighbour told me that the same fellow was stopped a couple of months ago doing 225kph in a 50kph zone. Forgot he was on a street. Near a school zone----SighAngry and sees his Z28 as a "toy"GrumpyWhistling----there must be a lot of undiagnosed Alzheimers patients out there.

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...

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Posted by ns3010 on Saturday, May 23, 2009 9:36 PM

Evening all.

I ordered 2201 this afternoon. Since it's the holiday weekend, it'll probably be here towards the end of the week.

To make a long story short, I have to make a change in my plans. Instead of getting a second SW1500 and making it into 1302, I'll make it into 1301.

JimRCGO- Yes, it's definately a SW1500, not a SW7.

Nik- Yes, the Trainline GP9m. I'm not too concerned for pulling power, because right now, I only have two cars (a boxcar and a ballast hopper), and trains would probably never be more than about 6. For now, it will be used as a switcher. Eventually, it will probably go into MOW service.

Eric- I'm kinda a weekender, yet I'm kinda a resident-sort of. During the year, I come down for several weekends. But I spend the entire summer down here.

G'night all.

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Posted by Robby P. on Saturday, May 23, 2009 9:28 PM

Its a cool night tonight.  Just that perfect not to cold, and not to hot.

The M-I-L is still here.  Kinda ready for her to leave.  That's not till Wednesday Sigh.   Kinda ready for some privacy.

Didn't get ANY  layout work done.  I did show the M-I-L the layout and she liked it.  Probably not going to work on it tomorrow either.  

The wife is moving better.  She said she wanted to go do some grocery shopping.  I said "Jess, you just had surgery yesterday."  She responded......."I'm not broke!!!"  As she was saying that, I was leaning deep into the couch Blindfold.

Well guys/gals.  I'm going to bed.  I will see y'all in the morning.

Oh, hopefully I won't wake up to a raccoon!!!

 

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, May 23, 2009 9:22 PM

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!.  

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by AmanaMedic on Saturday, May 23, 2009 8:59 PM

Good Evenin',

Janie, Flo...a tall RBF please and...is that a horse in the back corner??? Over there, by the pie launcher.

Optical conclusion? Oh...OK.

Well folks, we got the mowing done...again. Wife did more weed mitigation and prep work for eventual landscaping. A very productive, HOT and humid day in the yard.

I even got a little MR w**k in. About a year ago, I took an Athearn PS-2 3-bay covered hopper, hacked out the middle bay, mashed it back together again, and reworked the surviving two bays. The result? A replica of a real project XTRA and CNW undertook in the late 80s to boost the cement hopper fleet. I finally found/bought the decals for it and am in the process of applying them. It's cheaper for me to buy my beloved Herald King decals from a dealer on "the Bay" than it is to go direct, even though HK is up and running again in Davenport. That's including the postage. This is the third such car I've done. The first was back in late 88 or early 89 after seeing the "how to" article in RMC.

Two of the three involved rebuilding cars built nearly 20 years ago, when Herald King had the decals for all of the neat grain hoppers I was seeing, but Athearn was the only PS covered hopper on the market. Now, with the right hopper availible thanks to Intermountain...the "foobies" get stripped, hacked, and bashed. Although...to satisfy the more persnikitee...I really oughta be using the Proto high-side cov. hopper instead to get the correct space between the ribs.

Did the horse just flinch?

Have a good-un...

ChrisEight Ball

 

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Posted by ewl01 on Saturday, May 23, 2009 7:50 PM

MadSinger

ewl01

One morning I woke up to a cold nose.... one of my 2 cats I figured... WRONG!!!  A raccoon!!

Oh boy, Eric, that must have been awful.  Did you get a rabies shot?Whistling

Fortunately I didn't get bit.  I'm more concerned about getting bit by some of the patients we deal with than getting bit by an animal....Dead

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Posted by MadSinger on Saturday, May 23, 2009 7:27 PM

ewl01

One morning I woke up to a cold nose.... one of my 2 cats I figured... WRONG!!!  A raccoon!!

Oh boy, Eric, that must have been awful.  Did you get a rabies shot?Whistling

I got about a foot done of track today, but it was too nice to be kooked up in the trainroom, so most of the day I was putsing around outside.  It will be a long project.

God bless,

MadSinger

"I don't like spam!" "I am not on a bloody wire, I am flyin!'" "I can't tell the difference between Wizzo butter and a dead crab." "You took an order for 18 million kilts from a blemonge, and believed it?!" "And in other news, during a Parlimentary debate, members accused the government of being silly, and doing not at all good things." (All from Monty Python)
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Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, May 23, 2009 7:08 PM

Attempt number 3.

Hello. I guess I'm going to be trying this again---'Spring' got on to the laptop twice and landed both times on the arrow keys----Whistling

ewl01
Jim - I used to be one of those weekenders 'til I moved here.  Now I see life from the inside being involved with the EMS and Police

We have people we know who are right up in Cottage Country as I attempt to type this. This weekend appears to be accident weekend as we were told that someone jammed a Seadoo right on to some rocks only 50 meters from shore at one nearby lake----guy almost killed himself.Shock

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Got alot of things done--did some mowing, did up some deckwork and got prescriptions picked up. Managed to also pick up some track and some pieces of rolling stock from FLHS as wellSmile,Wink, & Grin

We had an interesting discussion at LHS about the debate that went on on this forum. I had to comment on the analogy that one could be an artist by buying the painting someone else did. My sister, I said to this fellow, had someone tell her that he was a potter because he bought other potters works. He howled.Big Smile although he did say sometimes some people did get a little too liberal with the definitions there---Whistling

Anyhoooooo back to cuddling the little one-----Smile,Wink, & Grin

Chloe. I'll have a pulled pork sammich with BBQ sauce, big plate o' fries and a RBF please---I'll be with the bunch at the corner booth----with another horse?

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

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Posted by howmus on Saturday, May 23, 2009 7:06 PM

Evenin' folks!

JimRCGMO
I'll see about finishing up my soup and wait here in the window booth to see if Ray arrives with that trout. Makes my mouth water, just thinking about that....Dinner

 

Mine too, Jim.  My son and his family stopped in for a few minutes (needed one of the tarps that is on his big boat) and I asked him where all that trout was he promised me?  Seems that he and his fishing buddy got skunked today.  They did locate a hot spot with a lot of bait fish and could see some very large fish down on the bottom (with one of those cheater type fish locating thingies.....)  He has high hopes for tomorrow.  Right now the leader is an 11 year old girl with an 11 lb Lake Trout.  The largest trout taken out of the lake in recent years was an 17.36 lb. Brown Trout back in 1998.  Art is hoping for that 15/16 lb. monster to get hooked on his line!!!  There is a bit of competition out on the lake this year, as 1412 people are registered for the annual event.  It is the biggest tourist weekend of the year here.

May have some fish for supper tomorrow?!? One of those 15 pounders can feed quite a few of us I think.

I have finally gone mad and started to put details like a robin on the ground near a tree and a couple of squirrels in a tree on the layout.  From 3 feet back I can't find where I put them.......  But I know they are there!  Even have a couple of large black snakes looking for something to eat. Whistling

Later! 

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by ewl01 on Saturday, May 23, 2009 5:59 PM

Jim - I used to be one of those weekenders 'til I moved here.  Now I see life from the inside being involved with the EMS and Police. 

Jeff - Hope your dad gets some rest now and the Dr's can locate the problem.  It stinks having parents in the hospital.

[(quietly so as not to disturb or offend anyone).... I agree with the insurance comment.  Some of my Mom's specialist Dr's were suggesting treatments that, unknown to us, were too late do do any good but were worth a good amount of fees.  The Internist (good guy) called me one day and asked that I take over her care because of what was going on.  Good thing Mom had a living will... ]

I guess it's time to shut up and sit in the corner, drink my decaf and listen to what the others have to say....... 

Eric

 

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Posted by ewl01 on Saturday, May 23, 2009 5:37 PM

Tom - I can identify with the critters.  I have (had) a cat door in my kitchen.  Now, I live by the shore, and you folks west of here, I'm sure have your share of animals.  The housing here is pretty tight, we have trees and yards of course but not a whole lot of space.  One morning I woke up to a cold nose.... one of my 2 cats I figured... WRONG!!!  A raccoon!! fortunately we were both so surprised that nothing happened, it took off down the hall and down the stairs back to the kitchen and out the door.  I wonder how many times it had been in since it seemed to know the way!

Squirrels are another visitor.  I started to notice the cat's dry food was disappearing rather quickly.  Well, one day when I was home in the morning I heard some noise in the kitchen.  The cats were both in the living room and went to investigate.  I followed to see 3 squirrels run out the cat door with cat food all over the floor........

Possums are frequent visitors to the trash along with the 'coons. Welcome to life in the 'wilds' of eastern NJ.  Needless to say there no longer a cat door in the kitchen.

To be on topic here... Chloe I'll have a pulled pork sandwich with that tangy South Carolina sauce that is MMmmm so good!! And, a Dr. Pepper please!!!   I moved some supplies from the dining room table up to the attic.  A visit to Home Depot should be happening soon to get that foamy stuff so I can get going.  Things have slowed down on the family front for a few weeks (no estate taxes!!) so I'll have some time (I hope) to get back into the project. I need to get some track down, even if it's just 2 turnouts and a length of track!

Eric

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, May 23, 2009 5:18 PM

My mother and I spent the morning pulling weeds then went to town for lunch. Afterwards we dropped in on my father at the hospital. They've managed to take away his pain so he can at least sleep now. They've narrowed the problem area to the upper part of the digestive tract. They'll be doing an exam in a couple of days to find out exactly what is wrong. In the meantime I'm sure they'll continue milking his insurance for whatever they can get. After we left there we went to the nearest auto parts store (Advance) and picked up a couple of cans of Fix-a-Flat for the old tractor. It's been raining a more or less steady drizzle today interspersed with isolated showers. We've gotten a 1/4" so far today.  

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Posted by JimRCGMO on Saturday, May 23, 2009 5:12 PM

Good Evening, Janie, Flo - I'll have a bit of that trout, if Ray brought it by for the cook. Oh, not yet?Sigh Okay, I'll have a bowl of the brocolli cheese soup and a slice of whole grain instead. Maybe he'll be along soon...

MadSinger, now that you mention it... I never have taken my NMRA track gauge to my layout to make sure my track is up to snuff. (But then, that means I have to learn how to use all those nicks and doo-dads on it...Oops). Good luck with yours.

Looks like Rob is still recuperating from pulling all those posts. Poor fella looks tuckered out. I won't wake him up (or Duke). Zzz

Eric, do you moonlight as a copy writer for the New Jersey Shore Tourism Bureau? Smile,Wink, & Grin All the sights, sounds and smells of a summer vacation by the beach (including some the brochures never quite seem to mention, eh?).Laugh I'd have to agree with you on the selection and general quality in MRR'ing stuff being higher than when I was a kid, even. Now back then, I really liked the detail in the Revell kits, but nowadays, There's even more to pick from, at or above that level of detail. You're likely right on the LHS'es being fewer and further apart, but we just have to hunt a little more. Of course, with the Internet, PMs and emails, it's easier to get recommendations from other MRRers on which places are in your area (or are the online places to check out). Yeah, these are the "Good ol' days...". Yeah!!

BridgeTom - maybe the raccoon had an itch on its back or belly that only some 1/87th pine trees could scratch? That is something else! Was the garage door open very wide when he/she got in, or is the raccoon just one crafty little devil? And maybe Spooky and "Uff-Dah" let him in - or were they napping on the job (so to speak)? Are there any woods close by your home, or was this one just on his/her way to the Jersey Shore and passing through....Whistling I think you get the prize for MRR story of the weekend so far.

Still no sign of Jeff? Wondering how his Dad's doing (or if the doctors have figured things out and started whatever treatment needed for him).

After a little hunting around in my art tackle box, I found my (ahem...) Jon Nagy Artistic Pastels, in "24 Brilliant Colors". But except for the reds/oranges/pink, they should be subdued enough for weathering. I bet I got that 40 or maybe even 50 years ago, as a birthday or Christmas present (in some kit, along with a pad of drawing paper, pencils and other accessory items). Oh boy! Now I'm ready for weathering! Big Smile

Having found my stuff for weathering, I looked this afternoon on the H-L site, and noticed that they had on their weekly specials page: "30 percent off on diorama or railroading accessories" (but couldn't find MRR stuff mentioned in the ad, but of course that's pretty small online). So I printed out that webpage and took it with me to H-L. It was indeed 30 percent off any MRR'ing accessories, so I snagged a few JL Innov.  items - blue Pepsi soda machine (and case), couple of painted gas pumps, and one of those oil can stack things (the step-up kind they used to have out front) (Another example of how we have it made today vs. when I was a kid.)

Have had all of two phone calls (on one client) - first one that the person wanted to go to the hospital (but the spouse didn't trust driving them there), and then another call an hour or so later (telling me that the crisis line people got an ambulance and got the person to the hospital). So, unless the social worker at the hospital decides she's snowed under with people to assess, I figure I won't get called out for that. Now, just 15 more hours to get through without any calls until end of my shift (and my real vacation)...

I do need to find out more about the ins and outs of using a NMRA gauge. I know how to do the basic things (track gauge width, overhead and side clearance), but the other things on there I'll need to ask one of our club members to show me how to use. We'll probably have a couple or three members show up Monday night at the clubhouse.

I'll see about finishing up my soup and wait here in the window booth to see if Ray arrives with that trout. Makes my mouth water, just thinking about that....Dinner

[Edit] Well, girls, looks like I'll have the dinner tab. Just start it up for me...

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Saturday, May 23, 2009 4:10 PM

Afternoon from SunnyBalmyCal, everyone. 

Had an interesting layout visitor last night.  Went out to do some work on the Deer Creek Yard and lo and behold, there was a raccoon sprawled there.  We took one look at each other, he got up, lept off and went out the garage door.  Oddly enough, he didn't do any damage, since I didn't have any cars on the tracks (been working on some turnout points).  Certainly was a bit of a surprise, though.  They are known to use my garage as a short-cut occasionally, but this is the first time I've ever seen one use the layout as a rest stop, LOL!   Of course, I was smart enough NOT to go up to him and ask him to move. 

Interesting what kinds of little forest critters have moved into the Suburbs, lately.Tongue  Oh well, as long as I don't end up with a cougar in my back-yard Fruitless Mulberry, I suppose. 

Got onto the RTR thread and found it locked.  Read through it anyway just for the fun element.  Now pardon me while I go out and plant the seeds to grow the trees to manufacture my stripwood, LOL!  Actually, I do both.  Doesn't bother me.  Live and let live and all that good stuff.  The main thing is to get it on the railroad and let it do its job. 

Ray:  On the Copland song--it wasn't "Ching-a-Ring Chaw" (though I just love that song), it was "I Bought Me A Cat."  We were REALLY playing with the tempi on that one.  But it seemed to amuse Mr. Copland no end.  He was actually a great guy--very warm and down to earth.    Agree with you about "Songs Of Travel"--that's absolutely ESSENTIAL vocal repertoire IMO. 

Jeff:  Hope your dad is getting better.  Is it Diverticulitus or IBS?  Or has the doctor let you know, yet?  Neither one is much fun to go through.  He's in my prayers. 

Well, time to get ready for Saturday Vespers.   It's Ascension weekend, so the music is pretty lively.  Better run through it before I head down.  Next weekend is Pentecost, and the Gathering song is INSANELY difficult, so I've got my work cut out for me this week. 

Best to all, prayers to those in need.

Tom Smile

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Saturday, May 23, 2009 3:46 PM

 Well, just went to the LHS. got some stuff to experiment around w/ making water, and then also ordered my track and joiners through them. The guy said he'd have it by Wednesday or Thursday, but I'll probably go get it next weekend. Might get some scenery stuff then as well.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Jersey Shore
  • 361 posts
Posted by ewl01 on Saturday, May 23, 2009 2:17 PM

Afternoon,  The weekenders are here at the shore. Accidents galore, confused drivers abound and the first boat fatality occured the other day.  I hear sirens in Avon by the Sea and now the smell of smoke is filling the air,  a life-flight helicopter just flew north overhead going towards the trauma center.   I think I'll stay home for now....

RTR cars...kits..., builtup buildings.... laser-cut wood...plastic... ABS.  There's something for everyone, for every want or need.  What a great hobby!!  No one can complain that the industry doesn't listen to it's base.  If Detroit had listened to it's customers instead of dictating what kind of car they can have, Detroit would still be a leader..... MRR has so many companies, large and small willing to invest substantial amounts of money to meet our desires, our wants... our needs.. specialty items... items for the masses.  The last few years have been the best for the hobby that I can remember in the last 30 years I have been in the hobby.  Sure, one may have to look a bit to find what they want.  Even in NJ, with it's population density it is hard to even find a real hobby shop, much less find what you want.  Thank goodness for internet shopping.  Virtually everthing needed is at your fingertips... at a price of course.  And that, is the result of progress and modernization.

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Western transplant to the Deep South
  • 4,256 posts
Posted by Cederstrand on Saturday, May 23, 2009 1:41 PM

1/2 cup of coffee in a  SantaFe  mug, please & thanks.

Just going to rest in the corner booth for a bit. Hope everyone is having a great day.

Cowboy Rob

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Viroqua, Wisconsin
  • 125 posts
Posted by MadSinger on Saturday, May 23, 2009 1:39 PM

Jim, I have to rework some shoddy track work I laid a few years back.  I didn't know what I was doing then, and it is a derailment nightmare.

I reallly don't like RTR myself, I would rather build a kit.  Not only are kits generally less expensive (barring craftsman kits from this), but I would rather build it myself.  It's just more fun.  I also think if you have to put it together yourself, it makes the value of the item soar, because you can think: I built this.  Just my My 2 cents on this subject.

MadSinger

"I don't like spam!" "I am not on a bloody wire, I am flyin!'" "I can't tell the difference between Wizzo butter and a dead crab." "You took an order for 18 million kilts from a blemonge, and believed it?!" "And in other news, during a Parlimentary debate, members accused the government of being silly, and doing not at all good things." (All from Monty Python)
  • Member since
    November 2004
  • From: Cape Girardeau, MO
  • 3,073 posts
Posted by JimRCGMO on Saturday, May 23, 2009 1:28 PM

Afternoon, Flo, I'll just have a root beer float please, one of the tall ones. Thank you.Smile

blownout cylinder
I'm pretty sure a person can, in fact, lay bets on the page length before it gets locked, although I wonder if some of the monitors don't have some fun doing this wager thing, themselves.

Now, Barry, how do you know that the monitors don't? Smile,Wink, & Grin

Ray, I must be getting bargains on my kits, or else I'm NOT getting bargains on the RTR stuff - I've never had a kit (freight car, anyway) be as expensive as a RTR one. Now if we're talking craftsman quality, lasercut structure kits, that's another matter....Whistling  But then again, I don't have very many craftsman level kits (or that many lasercut kits). I just personally have a wee bit of Scotsman in me when it comes to structure kits that go into the three-digit range. Your mileage may vary of course (and my hat's off to those who actually build those kits and make them look so scrumptuous!). Thumbs Up Good that you're paying your respects to your former Super. Sounds like he was the kind who makes a teacher glad to be in that district. (I won't get into why I got out of teaching, but in a backwards kind of way, it was sorta related).

Hey! Ray's having fresh trout for dinner, Diners! Everybody get here by suppertime! Hope he brings enough for everyone! Dinner

MadSinger, now that you're feeling better, whatcha got planned on your MRR'ing?

Oh, by the way, Todd can have all my share on the Brussell sprouts. No problem, buddy! Now that cabbage or the brocolli I'll fight ya for, but the B.S is yours....(heh, heh, heh)  And how come he's so quiet this afternoon? Can't hear you Todd, that rag in your mouth is muffling your voice. Whistling

Jeff - sharp car your niece got. Thumbs Up Hey, how far away is Houston from you? (Time or distance)

Morgan, the pics look like that should make for a great layout when you link them up together. Yeah!! Have you been looking at David Barrow's 'Cat Mountain' and domino layout ideas? I recall that one of the MRP issues had an idea like that.

So far, so good for my on-call. I'm hoping everybody is out of town or having so much fun now that the sun is out, that nobody needs to go to the ER or is that stressed out. Yeah!!, and that's my story, all right.

Got a new 'wastebasket top' shredder - old one finally wore out, and I was able to get the same brand (and I think, same model). Also picked up some printer cartridges (ouch!) and a ream of printer paper, and my antihistamine tablets, plus one of my two eye drops for the glaucoma (other one will be ready on Tuesday, they said). H-L's coupon this week is only on unfinished craft wood - but I don't think they have scale lumber that I recall seeing...Confused Maybe I'll swing by there and look anyway.

Had to turn on the A/C in the apartment this afternoon as I was getting ready to head out for lunch. It was getting a tad too muggy for me. But the last utility bill was lower, so it should help out on this month's bill (well, the one that will arrive next month).

What's everybody doing on their layouts today? I think my MRR w**k on my stuff will begin tomorrow, mostly. Maybe even have some photos of my weathering attempts by Sunday evening or Monday. I certainly hope so...

Prayers for continued healing and for some good weather (just not enough to make the grass, dandelions or crabgrass grow).

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

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