Elliott's Trackside Diner XII

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good evening...

Phone company problems had our phone and internet service out of order for several hours.

I was just looking back and some of your posts, and was impressed with Mark's (Hoople). I think he's and example of the the quality of young guys here (He's not the only one at all). Did you see his willingness to work and save up for a car? I read that, and I think there is hope for the youth.

I see, the Sundown Locomotive Works has been busy with yet another interesting model. Good work, Jeff.

Todd, I recall some long car rides on US 66 before the interstate was built. We traveled between Chicago area where I grew up to St Louis where my Dad had grown up. We could have even stopped at that Standard gas station to fill up.

I'll have an RBL with SRP with FVIC on top, please.

 

 

 

[JimRCGMO]

Good evening, Chloe - just a hot fudge sundae and a cup of decaf please, in a Rio Grande mug. Thanks!

to the Diner, Galad! And not to worry, even if you don't model ANY steam locos, the crew in here will be nice to you - it's just that (ahem..) some Diners are partial to Berkies or to articulated locos... Have a cup of your favorite beverage on me - Chloe, put Galad's mug of whatever he's having on my tab, please, 'n' thanks!

Robby - you've been getting more reference materials for yourself with that camera, haven't you?

Todd, some nice photos on the Williamsville Route 66 page - I think I have another Route 66 website in my bookmarks somewhere, too. Didn't mean to give you a heart attack there, but you can't blame a guy for wanting more MRR layout space, right?

Jeff, that modified U-boat keeps looking better, the more you get done on it. Great job (and you have a great imagination, too)! 

So Barry - does all that planting mean that you are in the 'pink' of things there? Better put your SPF 50 on, just in case... some really bad sunburns I've seen have been on windy (but sunny) days.

Well, Nittany Lion, at least now you don't have to worry about not having packing material if you need to mail something to a relative. Guess Klein's wanted to make sure nothing got broken (or they ran out of the smaller boxes when you ordered?)...

Morgan - is that as in, the SP Daylight, perchance? Sounds like a cool railfanning deal; will school be out by that time when it comes?

PC, so do you feel much different now that you have graduated? Smarter? Craftier?

At MRR club tonight one of the members had a new diesel (a newer one, beyond that I'm not sure, except that it was a transtion C&EI/MoPac version) with sound, which had a really nice sound to it. Also, one member was soldering feeders to a last part of the back staging yard (so we could park locos back there and turn them off if they have sound), another was test running a fairly long train of freight cars (43 of them, I think the total was). And another was working the RIP track as we found cars with various problems. Not lots going on - those who want to, will meet next Monday.

Got my book in today after work (the one by Dave Frary, John Olson, Malcolm Furlow and Paul Scoles) with the 100+ MRR'ing photos - pretty interesting, about also how they did the photos, so it'll be useful for getting certain types of lighting when my layout is further along and photo-worthy...

I'll be finishing up my hot fudge sundae and getting on the way soon. Prayers for those in need of healing or comfort, and those with doctor's appointments coming up (anyone got one of those this week?).

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[Flashwave]

HOLY CRAP THE DAYLIGHT'S COMING TO CHICAGO!!!!

*Ahem* Sorry. Er. YESS!!! FINALLY!!! HALLELUYAH (I know that's misspelled, I don't care)!!!! Ticket prices are killer this short a notice but maybe I could cling to the cowcatcher thingy for an hour, or four, or more.Train Chasing. Anyone who's interested, it's taking the place of the 261 for the Friend's of the 261, since shes' down for the 5 year. Minneapolis-Milw-Chi-Durand Mich.

Welcome new guy Galad.

Jeff, the GE is looking real nice. COmes together in the end, dpn't it?

[NittanyLion]

 Get home from work today and a package is waiting on the porch for me.  Apparently the odd size requirements of a single Walthers modular packet, a DPM kit, and some 24" styrene strip required me to also get approximately 10 cubic feet of packing peanuts.  I dont own luggage as big as this box.  Nevertheless, MB Klein was pretty speedy.  Usually I deal with Walthers or the local guys for orders, but they had the prices this time around.  Everyone always says good things about them, and it never hurts for one more voice I guess.

Penguins game on the TV, more or less beautiful weather if not cool, and a few projects moving ahead.  Great night tonight.

[blownout cylinder]

Evenin'----

Got all kinds of sunshine today hence I now am sporting a bit of a tan---after all---when one spends a lot of time doing the deck planting and the flower planting--had more border plants to stuff in the back yard One will get somewhat tanned---heeheehee. Anyhooo-after we spent all that time doing the plantin' thing i was roped into doing the BBQ thing by some neighbours for our block so called party. More like a bunch of people just gabbing but what the hey----- Had a lot of fun doin' that---hence my arrival now--.

I'm in the process of trying to figure out how to configure the extended part of the layout. I got some idea of actually putting in a limestone quarry as well as the potash processing mill/plain ol' fertilizer plant--which will take up a goodly amount of space---and no, I'm not thinking of the entire quarry operation!--more like Lance Mindheim's approach--edge of fascia being used to suggest such an operation---but who knows---

Jeff: The loke looks really plausible in style--I like what I see there---

Galad!! ---just don't listen to PC when it comes to me and pie catapaults---he is a little shy when it comes to admitting these things are built by him after all-----and what era etc do you model?----

Robby: I've enough plants to stuff in this place as it is---and we are supposed to get more of them yet---sheeesh. And how big is your backyard?----70 plants---eeerrgh.

Chloe, I'll have a cheeseburger with an RBF please---and a SRP as well, no I'll take the pie with me thanks---

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 After a quick strip and a repaint here's the GE withn the reworked cab.

[pcarrell]

Welcome to the coffee shop galad.  You have nothing to worry about from me........it's Barry who likes to use the pie catapult a little too often!

Hey Attaboy.......good lookin young lady you've got there!  Congrats!

[TMarsh]

Lee- Sounds like a rerun to me. I remember all too well "the past" then the screwed up "rush" to undo what they did. You'd think they'd learn. Oh well, looks good in the papers to many people.

  Not intended to be a political comment. Both sides do it. (whew!) It sounds like a lot but over time the life style and the area in which you live usually mimics the salary you recieve. And I'm not just talking eating out everynight and partying all weekend. Unless you are on AD pay, your area reflects what you get paid, so housing is comparativley high. AD pay, no mercy, 'cept, well, you know tis stuff. Buuuuttt... There are jobs and careers far less fortunate, so by no means am I complaining, no no. The DOD has been very good to me. And I'm sure you feel the same way. And I know EXACTLY what you mean by the hours! But hey, the overtime is good!!! ROFLMAO!!!!   (Ho wee, my head hurts.)

Galad- . Please do tell us a bit about yourself. Have something off the menu on me. Just beware if Barry, PC or Robby or... well almost anybody offers you some pie. Be specific on finding out HOW you'll recieve the delectible dessert. 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 I got the old Bachmann GE cab stripped and applied many of the details from the Atlas cab to it. I can see why those detailed models sell for so much. That was ALMOST like work. Went to paint it and discovered I'm out of white paint. I'll have to settle for gray. That means I'll have to repaint the deck sections and railings as well.

Looks like this page is on me. Enjoy!

[TMarsh]

JimRCGMO

I'll take a new house with a decent-sized basement for my new layout.

Don't scare me like that!

Since my wife's camera shy, I thought I'd share with you all my towns web page. Train related? Well...., the historical museum is in a couple of old GM&O boxcars. And the library is in the old train depot. Other than that, not really. Unless you want some modeling ideas I suppose. If you click on the Route66 link it covers a later period and the 1973 photos from the now gone water tower, a bit more recent.

http://www.williamsvilleil.org/.

They've recently updated the website and removed a lot of pictures from the "old days" and recent pictures. I hope they put them back up, especially the old ones. Probably won't though. Jeffs comments on Fisher got me thinking about our town. It hasn't changed a whole lot either. 

Oh and feel free to click on the Church web site from the churches links to see my church and some of the happenings. Methodist Church. Kinda proud of that little church. (This suggestion, or offer, is not intended to be anything other than showing off something I'm involved in. If you feel as if it is anything more, please disregard the suggestion and I apologize).

[LSWrr]

GALAD,

 

 

Welcome to the diner.  What scale are you into and what era?  feel free to tell us about your dream layout....

If you like Berkshires or Mallets that will be a plus!

Lee

[LSWrr]

Todd, you are so right, I’m 2 years past my retirement date and I would get $1,583/month but I get to keep my medical at a 20% co pay.  Up here I spend about $1,300 on house payments and utilities so it’s not worth retiring unless I could start a second career right away.  The new Commander in Chief is making it tougher to stay in, he just instituted a new weight limit on us and I need to loose 29 pounds over the next 17 weeks to keep my job.  I’ve seen this before when Clinton was in office; first lower the weight standards then institute high year tenure to lower the number of Active Duty members.  It’s cheaper to pay us unemployment or retirement than to keep us on the payroll.  That’s sad since I earn $5.55 an hour some days.

Tougher if you’re a retired Civil Servant, my Mom and Dad retired only to find that their SS payment are reduced by 40% for the first 5 years because they had Civil Servant jobs for over 30 years.

I haven’t read the How to Detail a Steam Locomotive yet, but the Freight Cars of the 1950’s was really good.  The last chapter was how to identify a 1920 to 1959 box car.  It explained all the details and what changes were made to box cars over the years; including what pre- 1950’s rolling stock survived in service and for how long. 

Did you know those wood vinegar and Heinz 57 tank cars remained in service until 1972?

Lee

[Robby P.]

 Jim............ I wish.  I got that shot coming from a flea market.  It behind a old feed store. 

 Got this "rusty gem" today.   Caught it on its way out.

 

[galad]

Hello folks , I'm new here and pretty new to the hobby.  Just passing by and having fun reading this topic and thought I would say hello.  I'm surprised its so cold where some of you live this time of year, its 63 degress here in NC and about one of the nicest days I have ever seen.  Nice to meet you guys.

[JimRCGMO]

Hey, it's lunchtime! Zoe, since Todd said 'whatever they want', I'll take a new house with a decent-sized basement for my new layout. What? Only food on the tab? Knew it sounded too good. Ah, well, in that case, I'll just have a BLT on wheat toast and a RBF instead. Thanks!

Looks like our Northwestern contingent is checking in today. TrainsRMe1, there is light at the end of your garage, eh? I could stand to do some hauling to the dump too, I think.

Mark, you are realizing that you might be tempted to spend some of that LHS cash before you get out the door, right? At least, when I worked in places that tied in with one of my hobbies, I tended to make use of that employee discount thing (photography store, computer store...). Never worked in a LHS, though - maybe it'll work differently for you (or you may be more motivated for one of those Mustangs.

Jeff, I think that GE cab looks better than the EMD one (never thought I'd say that!). That's coming along nicely, now that you have the fans and brakes on it and all.

Barry, what's your holiday - Victoria Day? And do you celebrate your holidays up there on Mondays, as we twisted Yanks do on this side of the border? At least you're starting toward some tolerable weather later today. We're supposed to have 3 or 4 straight days of sunshine in a row this week.

Okay Robby, now you have me wondering - is that photo live/prototype, or one of your outstanding weathering jobs on a model? If it's the latter,

Jerry - that's a great job on that balsa bridge! Bummer about your brother and the job, though.

Galaxy, hope they get you a loaner on your machine today or get it fixed super quick (today). I hear they do make a BIG difference on sleep when you have them. Good luck on the property (and on that other one you'd probably like better).

Yesterday afternoon/early evening - since the weather was nice out - I decided to paint the Goodfellows Hall kit walls (and chimney things). My handy brick red spray. Next, to find the spackling compound in local store (found the empty container, and it is an acrylic spackling type), do the 'mortar' and some other weathering on it. There is a good point on the wall where I could make the depth not as wide on the side walls. Still debating on that one, but I haven't even settled on where to put my 'hotel', so no giant rush yet.

I'll grab a seat in the window booth before the rest of the lunch bunch arrives. Hope everyone else's weather is good today.

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[jeffrey-wimberly]

TMarsh

Though my layout is set in modern times, the towns are of the "older small town" types so the buildings are of course older and they would be suitable for the transition era

If you ever get the chance go to Fisher Louisiana. It's almost like stepping back about 80 years. Many of the buildings are from the 20's. If it wasn't for the vehicles and some of the modern conveniences you would think it was around 1920 - 1940.

[Cox 47]

Good Morning...Its sunny and 56 here..I'll have coffee and toast please...Thank You..My Son called me this morning He got laid off His job in the oil patch till 1st of July..He was in Effingham  to see about getting "rocking chair"  checks...My brother came down yesterday and we got miror cut for high way overpass for east end of new yards..Bridge is balsa wood painted with $ Store grey primmer..Rock work is stacked "pink' insulation with a plaster skin then carved...Hope I can make high way look like it disapears in tunnel in rock work..

You all have a good one...Jerry

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Flo I'll have one of those Raisin Bran muffins you got on the counter and a cup of dark roast coffee in a R&GV Mug if you please.

Just saw on Weather.com that little Chemung, NY (I used to teach there as it is a part of Waverly Schools) had what was probably a tornado touch down Saturday.  They said it destroyed a church and several homes.  No injuries were reported.  We get them up here but only very rarely.  I survived one when I lived near Batavia, NY around 1980.  Scary!

Got to empty out the truck this morning and get over to school and rescue my monitor speaker before some one decides to sell it on me.........   That and some banking to do and several odds and ends that need to be done as long as the sun is shining today.  So I best get at it!

Hope you all have a great day even if it is Monday! 

[galaxy]

MOrning guys!

Give me something to open my eyes..anything please. Rough night. Chilly morning.

Have to take my CPAP night time breathing machine in cuz the start/stop button catches and doesn't always work. If they have to keep it I hope they give me a loaner. Sleeping without it is hard to breathe now cuz i'm so used to it and the O2.

Going to happen by one property out in the country as we will be 1/2 way there when we take in the CPAP machine. It's the cheaper of the two we are thinking about, but its really farther out than we would like to be and in the wrong county. But we will look. TG for help from my father on a good sized downpayment. With the $$$ I just sunk into the van makes me wonder about property, though.

Planted the plants for my MIL yesterday. She wanted fresh salad greens for fresh salad and we picked her up some parsley which she loves to eat right off the stalk and some mary-golds. They are in window boxes on the deck railing so she can enjoy them. She is happy. Before her stroke many years ago she used to love to play in the dirt. At 82 Now she laments a lot of things she used to love doing.

Well, on the train front, I decide not to be too hasty and throwing things out, BUT will consider throwing out some stuff I just kept "just in case I need it" out. Tonight is garbage recycle night so I work more on the {enclosed} front porch clearing out junk and stuff and stuff and junk after we are out. A nice cool day today to do it.

Well I need to shower that should wake me up and get ready to go to the health support center.

Have great day everyone!

 

[Robby P.]

Its a frosty morning.  Had to cover the plants up last night.   Stole the neighbors idea.  Just used some Wal-Mart bags to cover them.  Gotta do it again tonight.

Worked on my small diesel shop yesterday.  Laid some track, and will work on it some more this week.

Gotta do some things around the house today.  Other than that, not to much planned.

Barry...after you plant your deck flowers, you are more than welcome to help here.  We are still planting the 70+ flowers we bought.

Well give me a blueberry muffin to go.

 

[TMarsh]

Well, it seems I've won a Bachmann "Jupiter" 4-4-0. As I said before, I saw a Bachmann 4-4-0 in the LHS and was not impressed and had changed my mind (imagine that). For some reason I bid on this "Jupiter" because it was real low and I bid low not expecting to get it. Winning bid $13.51. Soooo fo $20 United Statesian, I guess I can fiddle with it and hopefully make it what I want. I might be looking into the "How to detail a steam Loco" download Lee.

Though my layout is set in modern times, the towns are of the "older small town" types so the buildings are of course older and they would be suitable for the transistion era also, with just the switch of the vehicles and the removal of a few cars with out roof walks (in my world, of which I'm king, many cars have not had them removed yet). Settle back in your seats Bridge Tom, and the rest of you steam guys. I'm not ready to make the jump yet. Just one of many thoughts. I have 1 18 inch curve and a couple 22" curves that may/should cause probs with the locos. Oh well, we'll see how the little 4-4-0 works for the tourist runs first.

Barry- The list, ah the list. As Brenda asked "shouldn't you finish the things you started first?" I gotta list as long as a Berkshire () to get done before looking for supplemental income to the retirement check. 

As Lee  could probably confirm, Federal Government (civilian worker, blue collar)retirement is not as lucrative as most people think. Long description, but if all you get is the FERS side, which  is me until I reach 62, (part of long story), you need supplamental income if as "young" as me. Sooo I got about 15 years to wait for the second of a 4 tier system to kick in then about another, what, 10 or so for the second, tier,Soc Sec, and theThrift? Well I took that on my retirement, due to circumstances that made it less tax invasive. 

No word on the Pearl car after he said he'd check to see if he had another. And appologized of course.  

Speaking of TV it seems all we watch are Law and Order, and versions of, and NCIS. The occasional silly Sci Fi Channel movie and this time of year the Weather channel when storms hit. We do watch other things of course but when the weather breaks very little TV is actually watched. It's usually on all the time for the dog during the day though. She likes the pretty colors and things with a lot of movement. Besides she keeps me posted on the latest commercials. 

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

It’s a chilly 36F outside, hopefully summer will be here soon.

Eric, Shoot me an email and let me know what you want for those switch machines. That service station looks really good.

Jeff, nice progress on that locomotive!

Hee Haw is on our RFD-TV, I did manage to watch a couple of episodes this weekend.

Attaboy, congratulations.
 Ray, I’m right there with ya, now there is almost nothing to watch on TV, I’m tempted to turn off the satellite.

This weekend in the train room; I managed to paint 3 box cars and 12 semaphore poles.  I replace a broken #4 turnout leading into the east end of the yard with a new #6, but I had to pull up the rails to adjust for the different size turnout.  Then the 2-10-2 decided it wanted a larger radius curve right there so I had to pull it up again and ease out the curve a little (all the other locomotives liked the curve).  I also touched up and re-lettered the Athearn 200 ton crane and boom tender car (pictures to follow later).

I also downloaded from Model Railroader Online: Freight cars of the 1950’s ($8) and How to Detail Steam Locomotives ($11).  I saw both of these books at the LHS for $19.95 each, I can’t believe I saved almost $21 by downloaded these.    

Lee

 

[blownout cylinder]

Hello---and a Good morning Todd, Jeff-

We're at -1C right now--frost is in the air and it will soon warm up to the mighty 17C today. I've got some yard work to do today so I'll catch up on MRR'ing in the afternoon. I'm about ready to start redoing some of the cottage garden so that'll be first dang thing to be done. Then comes cleaning all the gutters, then comes the placing of all the potted plants on the deck staircase, then comes-----

Our evening production of firework displays went on last night and tonight will be even bigger as it is a holiday monday---------

Mark- The reportoire doth grow, even if the guitar playing is at a minimum. Keep it up---As for the savings--it would work out to that--and you  never know, prices might go down in that time frame too. Market being the way it is---

Todd- and the list goes on----so tell me about this list you speak of----sounds very familiar

Chloe--I'll have a bowl of raison bran and a CNJ mug of coffee please.--I'll be at the back with Todd--

[TMarsh]

Mornin' all. Bowl of Sugar Coated Sugar bombs please. Oh yeah and coffee too please. Thank you. Worked a bit on the supply house soon to be something else a little yesterday. Not pleased with the way the doors turned out. Gotta work on them some more.

Supposed to be a nice day today, I should work on the truck, needs an upper ball joint. Of course the church painting still needs completed. Aaaaand the list goes on. (la dee da de dum, the list goes on)

Guess I'll sit in the back and look though the wish books.

Have a Great Day!

EDIT: Oh, Zoe, Give 'em what they want and give the check to me. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 52 and clear.The high today will be in the upper 70's and it will be sunny.

After slaving away on the U30C yesterday I have a fairly descent looking locomotive emerging from the chaos. Today I'm taking the details from the disintegrated Atlas GE cab and will be applying them to the old Bachmann POC GE cab and see if I can make it look fairly good. Spent part of the late afternoon yesterday down at my parents place helping to clean up the back terrace and pool area then helped move a couple of railroad ties in the garden. Despite having been in there for several years they're still quite intact and are just as heavy as I remember them being if not heavier.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      5/18/2009

Wind Chill:  50°F
Humidity:  87%
Dew Point:  48°F

So Far Today
High:  55°F
Low:  52°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  8mph NNE

Today  High: 78    Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight  Low: 52    Clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

[Hoople]

 Hello everyone!

 Been awhile since I was in... Graduation is in a couple weeks, so I've been a bit busy...

This weekend was good... Learned another song on my guitar. I know the rythm guitar parts to these songs now: Wanted Dead or Alive, Rock N Roll, Misty Mountain Hop, Heartbreaker, (the intro to) Stairway to Heaven, Highway to Hell, Back in Black, Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution... I think thats it so far, I'm not sure... Guitar is only at my dads, so I see it twice a week at most.

Also this weekend, I made $40... Mowed my dad's lawn, and his neighbor's lawn. Now I've got lawns to mow every weekend... Dad's and his neighbor's one week for $40, Grandma's next week for $30.. So it totals to about $140 a month, which is rather nice profit....

I'm also going to try and get a job at the LHS this summer (It's really local, I can walk to it), so I can start saving up for a car. I turn 15 this summer, and 16 next summer. Figured I should start... I know my dad would get me a car, (He bought and paid for all of my sister's car,,, 9 grand...) but I'd like to pay for most of it myself, largely so I can choose what car I get, and to have the satisfaction. So, I've calculated that if I work max hours (40 hours non-school weeks, 18 hours school weeks) at 85% of minimum wage (what most 14-15 year olds get paid) which is $7.27 an hour, I should be able to save about 11 grand by the time I turn 16... Yeah, basic math... I think that would be good, but this is just a scheme... One of my grandest scheme yet...Scratch that, it is my grandest scheme... Best thing is, I've checked around and there are 6 2005 Ford Mustang V6's with 5 speed manual transmission in the area for around that price. Perfect... Now I there are other conciderations, such as mileage, MPG, insurance, et cetera, but this just a scheme at this point. I've got a year and three months to get the details worked out. So far, things are looking good.

I really need to stop scheming.

Mark

[TrainsRMe1]

Hi Everybody!!!!

  Man it's been a "Hot Minute" (a Long time as we say here in Portland) since I've been in here!, how have you guys (and Gals) been? Cloie, I will take a slice of apple pie with a cold glass of milk please.

  We have been really busy tryin' to get our house together, we're in the process of installing a new fence in the front yard, it's ceader with a lattace top and boy it was warm today!! We still have the house painting to do, and OF COURSE we have been cleaning out the garage/new trainroom it's coming along slow but good, my wife has alot of old family treasures that she wants to keep, I understand that.  As of yesterday we took a load to the dump and for the first time I could see the space I will have for the layout wow what a Nscale layout I will have, the measurments are not 18ft x 18ft, it's length is 19ft x 171/2 ft width !!!!   Well I got to get some sleep it's a (YUCK) workday tomorrow, ya know I should'n complian these days I'm thankful to have a job, and on top of that I need the cashflow to buy new loco's LOL heyyoo!

     You guys take care and I promise I will post pic's of the soon to be new trainroom. As in the mortal words of a well known radio sports annoucer here in Oregon by the name of Bill Schonley  I will say,:"So Long and Goodnight eeeeeeverbody!!!" 

                                 Bright Minds keep clear tracks

                                                  Trainsrme1

[Cox 47]

Evening All..Just stopped in for a snack before bed..How about a small RBF and 1/2 slice of Pecan pie please...Thank You...You all have a good nite...Jerry

[blownout cylinder]

Jeff- That looks good. I was kind of having some trouble visioning the EMD cab on in the first place---I think it would have been WAY too blocky----

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 All is not lost. I found another GE cab. It's a junk part from an old Bachmann trainset loco I picked up at a yard sale years ago. It doesn't look as nice as the Atlas GE cab but it doesn't jump out and smack you between the eyes like the EMD does. There's still more to do but that's all I'm doing today.