The Coffee Shop (a place to chat) Est. 2004

[Anonymous]

Jim- Good luck on your test and a happy Birthday. We all should wake up every morning and thank God that we are be still alive to able to enjoy life and this hobby.

YNCS- Welcome the the Coffee shop. it's one of my fav parts of the forum. Much better and much cheaper coffee than starbucks.

I haven't been on much lately Kinda got tired of the UP threads so I decided to spend my time in the basement modeling. These past two weeks have had many sold out concerts so I have come home tired everynight. I have almost two weeks off so all is well. i'll soon be well rested again and hard at work on the layout.

Andrew

[krump]

excuse my Canadian ignorance - I understand the Navy stuff a bit, but squid appears as slang connected with Navy position--- I'm lost on the "bubblehead" comments though and can only offer the guess that this term would refer to a Navy DIVER ??? - or is it simply referring to submarine personnel?
any clarity here for me...? [8D][:D][^][C):-)]

[krump]

Hi Jim, taking a coffee break from the studies I guess. God Bless you with the tests tomorrow - you'll be in my prayers, cheers

[Anonymous]

I too, am tired of all the UP bashing but people keep posting in those threads and keeping them on page 1. Dan, myself, and others have started topics trying to get people back to modeling and train layouts but the bashing just seems to draw them in.

Several people have threatened to leave the forums over it. But they are still hanging around even after threatending to leave. It seems to me that people just like having something to complain about. So I guess I should stop complaining about complaining. [}:)] [;)]

Well the "countdown" has begun, we are T minus 24 (hours) now. Awww, shucks, the joys of another year of wisdom. [;)] I am not getting better, I am getting older. [;)] I think the commercial said it otherwise, but the body and the commercial don't see eye to eye.

So off to bed I go, or is that off to Ohio? Ohio, WHERE is Ohio? Who is Ohio? Whose your daddy? [;)] Insane, oh, I thought he said TRAINS, so I asked for a double helping. [:P][;)]

[philnrunt]

YNCS-Welcome aboard, matey. So on your layout, are there port and starboard switch's, and do you have a hard time not blowing the ballast trains?You'll get your landlegs soon enough!
Jim- Happy early B-Day, also said it over at the Diner. My crystal ball says you'll get 98% and lots of goodies! My bowling ball says...hmmmm... rather hard to read.No matter, it's gonna be your day.
Ed- good to hear from you, I was looking thru the wanted posters for any LHS banditos wanted dead or alive, glad to say I didn't see you mentioned. I sure envy you the sights you are seeing. You are in a great area. In Moab, have someone 4-wheel you up the Lion's Back, and you will have the best view of all. Boy, it's pretty out there.
Still no word from Bill? Gettin worried 'bout the boy. Gonna need to put posters up for him. Maybe they heard some news about the missing nephew. Sure hope it's good.
Hang in there folks!

[lupo]

Well Jim another PRE [bday] from the other end of the globe as well!
BTW: you are not getting older, your'e getting more experienced !

[krump]

start the day with a coffee, then everything's in a good direction. cheers all
philnrunt - how was last week's "brunch" ? I've missed the forum for a bit...

[Anonymous]

OH Boy, I see Ed listed as "in" the thread. Now we can hopefully hear more about his train trips. Since I didn't get to "Pack" and go with him [;)] , but I know he is having a grand time and enjoying every minute of it. I am really looking forward to the pics too. [:)]

Lupo, more experienced?, nawwwwwwww, well maybe, at taking "pills" anyway. [;)] If ya know what I mean.

Here is a little "history" for us history buffs:

July 12

1914 Babe Ruth makes his professional baseball debut, pitching for the Red Sox

1954 Elvis Presley signs his first recording contract and quits his job as a truck driver.

1984 Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale announces that he has chosen U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro of New York to be his running mate. Ferraro is the first woman to run for vice president on a major-party ticket.

From the This Day In History website. I love history. [:)]

Have a great day.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by krump

excuse my Canadian ignorance - I understand the Navy stuff a bit, but squid appears as slang connected with Navy position--- I'm lost on the "bubblehead" comments though and can only offer the guess that this term would refer to a Navy DIVER ??? - or is it simply referring to submarine personnel?
any clarity here for me...? [8D][:D][^][C):-)]

Sailors have been developing jargons and slang for centuries. It's often difficult for the outsider to determine what's being talked about when a couple of sailors start talking. In answer to your question, bubblehead is U.S. Navy slang for a submariner, not a diver. As further examples of slang, there's

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon
I'm a brown shoe, still on active duty.......

......but coffee is only a buck a week at the geedunk.

A brown shoe is also known as a airdale, which is slang for an aviator. BTW, black shoes are skimmers, or surface sailors. The geedunk is the snack bar, something only found on bird farms (aircraft carriers) and other large ships or the geedunk can be an informal coffee mess.

Sailors are also fond of nicknaming ships. Some of these nicknames are innocuous, for instance my first ship was the James K. Polk, nicknamed the Jimmy K. Some of the nicknames aren't so nice, as with my second ship the Ulysses S. Grant was called the Useless S. Grunt.

My favorite story about ship's nicknames comes from the Royal Navy. In 1912 Winston Churchill was First Lord of the Admiralty, the civilian minister running the Navy. He wanted to call a battleship that was being built the Pitt, after two Prime Ministers, father and son, named William Pitt. The British monarch doesn't have particularly much power, but he does have a veto over ship's names (they are, after all, His Majesty's Ships). So Churchill submitted Pitt to King George V. George was originally the second son, wasn't expected to become king, and was expected to actually work for a living. So George entered the Royal Navy and served for nearly 20 years, rising to the rank of Captain and commanding a cruiser, before his elder brother died and he became the heir to the throne. George vetoed the name Pitt. Churchill saw George and gave him a 15 minute lecture on the Pitts, explaining that either one of them was deserving of having a ship named after him and the two of them together? Well, there could be no question that there should be a battleship named Pitt. George replied that he had no objection to the Pitts, but rather to the name. He knew what sailors were going to nickname a ship called Pitt. The ship was called the Warspite, and was one of the more famous battleships in both World War I and World War II.

[dharmon]

Well Senior,

I'm sitting down with the first cup of coffee. Supposedly checking my message traffic and inbox. But the folks have to reboot the system, so I guess I'll just spend some time here. My YNC has been on leave, and I've already flooded his desk with all the paperwork he left me before he took off. I even used spelcheccck this time so he might actually be proud of me.

Krump...

As the Senior Chief said, a squid is another term for a sailor.

Now here's the twist..brown shoes or airdales (aviation types) like me refer to the surface guys (skimmers) as "shoes". They are traditional navy and wear black shoes as opposed to Naval Aviation where the officers and CPOs wear brown shoes with their khakis. The "shoes" have a variety of names for airdales, most of which are not appropriate for this family forum....[:)]


There was a cartoon a few years back which demonstrated the difference between shoes and airdale mentality. The first frame showed a watch turnover between two surface guys...going over every detail ad nauseum. The second frame was a watch turnover between two aviators...it was "Oh, sorry, I'm in your seat."

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

There was a cartoon a few years back which demonstrated the difference between shoes and airdale mentality. The first frame showed a watch turnover between two surface guys...going over every detail ad nauseum. The second frame was a watch turnover between two aviators...it was "Oh, sorry, I'm in your seat."

In submarines, a common watch turnover was "Air in the banks, water in the tanks, boat's afloat, I had it, you got it."

When I was in my last ship, I was going through the Control Room when the Chief of the Watch asked me to relieve him so he could go to the head (toilet). I sat down in the chair, having received a quite sketchy turnover (both of us expected him to be gone less than 5 minutes). Almost as soon as he left, there was a problem with the nuclear reactor which required it to be shut down. So we went up to the surface to snorkel (use the emergency diesel to provide power) in a North Atlantic winter storm. We stayed there for three hours and the Officer of the Deck would not allow me to be relieved for the entire time. I was not so willing to give head reliefs after that, and I insisted on a full turnover if I did.

[Anonymous]

Hey Everybody, and especially, welcome to the newcomers. Happy Birthday to anyone so unfortunate to be a year older since I was last on-line - It seerms like I've been gone forever, but I've had a bunch of pressing distractions and commitments I had to address - doctors, dentists, etc., and there had been a mutually-imposed 'exile' from this forum until today - I say 'mutual' because my better-half told me to get my butt to work on finishing some unfinished projects, and in a big way. The other half of the 'mutual' thing was when I said "okay".

The kitchen, breakfast room, and a bath are all spackled and painted, and most of all the new lighting has been installed. I just can't go out and buy new replacement lite fixtures - I have to find old ones and restore and refini***hem - some are bargains, and some turn out more expensive than just buying new. We are completely redoing our home in a typical 1920-1930 arts & craft (craftsman bungelow ) style, and are backdating it from a 1990's ranch. Lots of work, but I actually enjoy it, and I hope to use this home as an example of what I do - both remodeling wise, and furniture & cabinet crafting - also of the same era. It's paying attention to the details that could make one go broke!

The good news is that I'm making progress in the basement - currently being transformed from a 'dungeon' to a wood shop, a model railroad room, an exercise area, etc. It is a lot of work moving water lines, rewiring, framing around duct work, erecting 2x6 walls, and so on. Just getting the almost 300 studs - mostly 10 footers and a bunch of 2x6s - down to the basement was all fun and games. I knew my wife was serious when she helped me do that!

I wish I could relate some good news re: my missing nephew, but there's still not a trace of him - anywhere.

My trip to the Narrow Gauge Convention in San Jose this Sept. is off, unfortunately, for my daughter wants me to visit her and her new baby - due July 15th - later in the Fall. I'm sure I'll be able to stay occupied and find things to do in the SF Bay Area - when she's at work. That is one of the most beautiful parts of the USA, don't you think?

I'm also sick of and bored with the ludicrous rants re: UP, Horizon, Athearn, etc. and find the 'Coffee Shop' a rewarding place to hang out. Did anyone read the 'less than kind' references to this place on the topic 'ENOUGH !!!'? That kind of negative 'speak' has also caused me to reflect on how much time I had been spending on the Forum lately. I posted my thoughts in the Prototype Section in a response to yet another UP rumor in the topic "UP Wins Lawsuit !!", and to the topic "ENOUGH !!!' (did I get the # of expalnation point correct on each?) LOL I have vowed to just 'step around' those topics from now on, as one does when you walk thru the dog's "mine-field" in the backyard. Maybe they will just fade away if people stop stepping in them, and get sucked in and responding to them - yours-truly, included. That's another reason I stayed away for the past week - to put things in perspective, and in the hopes that I'd come back to a more positive, and more friendly forum. Not yet, I'm afraid. C'est la vie.

Anyway, I appreciated the suggestion to print some posters looking for me. I have missed the sincere, idle chatter, and think I know some of you folks better than those I often see in person and say " Hi, How' ya doing today" or "Have a Nice Day". God, don't you hate that expression? It's not unlike commenting with just "Whatever. . ."

See ya for now. It's good to be back.
BILL

[coalminer3]

Hello all: Back in the heat and humidity after a 2-week road trip to cooler climes "see the folks" and the "big city." Both are still there. It does seem funny to travel 2800+miles (out and back) w/o leaving CSX/NS territory.

work safe

[Noah Hofrichter]

Wake up people[zzz], were over 1000 posts!! [bday] Jim got the honor this time. We should have a party this next weekend. Who's bringing the grill. I'll bring some deviled eggs to pass around!

Noah

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bill mathewson

I posted my thoughts in the Prototype Section in a response to yet another UP rumor in the topic "UP Wins Lawsuit !!", and to the topic "ENOUGH !!!' (did I get the # of expalnation point correct on each?)

Hi Bill,

Seems like some housekeeping has occured. Unless these old eyes are failing me, the bogus newsflash along with another thread in which a potty-mouth vented his anger are gone. Perhaps the UP bashing might be contained to a few threads.

It was getting frustrating but out of the frustration I found a couple of other interesting forums. Decided there was no need to abandon this one entirely due to the childishness on the part of some. Nice that adults of all ages can hang out in the coffee shop, though.

Anyone know if it possible to change the user name on an account? The FAQ says it can be done but the Edit Profile page doesn't seem to know this. I could just close this account and start a new one. I'd like to change it to reflect my new layout name. Looks like I'll have to start over, not that I have much of a track record here other than a long time as a lurker. Watch for a newbie named "Muddy Creek" soon.

Wayne

[Noah Hofrichter]

I wi***here was a way too. I'd like to change mine as I didn't know what I was supposed to write in the box so I put my real name. I'll give bergie an e-mail an see if he knows a way.

Noah

[philnrunt]

Bill- so glad to see you back- I was just putting on the uniform to start the search. Phew, searching in uniform is way too hot, and I would guess even more so down south. I saw Savannah and Charleston mentioned on the weather channel due to the heat and humidity. Sorry there is no new news on your nephew. We'll all keep good thoughts.
krump- The "brunch" was excellent! Nothing like a good Buffet to satisfy your hunger! I'll definitely eat there again, and would recommend it to all my friends.
Jim- Again, a happy Birthday and many many more!!!!
I noticed that MAbruce stated in the Enough !!!(etc) post that he doubted anyone cares about whether a member feels like he knows someone on the forum or not, I can't agree with that, because without the benefit of face to face meetings, the little winks and nods that pass between all of us can be mis-interpreted. The more you know and feel comfortable with someone, the better those -read between the lines type things- come off. At least thats my 2 cents.
Now all we need is an update from Ed on his latest ramblings, and we will have it made!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Noah Hofrichter

I wi***here was a way too. I'd like to change mine as I didn't know what I was supposed to write in the box so I put my real name. I'll give bergie an e-mail an see if he knows a way.

Noah

If there is a way, then I'm going to change mine to either Zephyr-9900, SilverStreak, or BurlingtonLines (I think burlingtonroute is taken[}:)]).[:D]

cjm89 is good enough though.[:p]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Noah Hofrichter

were over 1000 posts!! [bday] Jim got the honor this time. We should have a party this next weekend.

Noah

Party next week. Heck no. My PARTY is today and that warm breeze you all are feeling is just the candles on my cake. [;)] [:D]

Bought myself 2 pair of new jeans and a 6 pack. The 6 pack was socks though. [;)] [:D]

I was born on lucky 13. Yes, really I was. [B)] So all day long is my day. I should call in "sick" and enjoy the day but I am taking 2 vacation days this Thursday and Friday and heading to Missouri to see my folks. Mother is 85 and her birthday is soon too. She is a Leo and I am a Cancer. Well so much for the family history lesson. [;)]

Glad to see some of our regulars back in having coffee. We all missed you.

Sorry that there isn't any new news about the missing person. Not having closure is a terrible thing and left hanging in limbo is agonizing. My heart goes out to you and yours.

I hope the "Honey Dos" go ok. Remodeling isn't fun and actually is hard work. I used to help dad during the summer when he did carpentry work for people.

Memory is weak tonight. I probably am missing something but just went blank.

So I guess that means time to go to bed. I am even too tired to make any jokes. [;)]

<And that isn't like Jim at all. [;)] >

[Anonymous]

Jim - Sorry I didn't notice your earlier post - HAPPY BIRTHDAY you old fart ! (is it okay to say that here? I should be able to 'cause I'm probably older than you - heck, I'm older than dirt!)

Phil - good to be back amongst some fine folks. Thanks for your concern, and your thoughts re: my nephew. I'm just beat from using muscles that had long since gone into hiding. Swinging a 22 ounce "California Framer" all day long over your head while hanging off the side of a tipsy ladder is challenging both my equilibrium and my body. There's just some places that an air nailer won't fit. Fixing the bottom plates to the concrete floor using a 22 calibre charge in a nailer you have to wack with a hammer is tough on the ears, too. Then there's the sawdust in my nose and behind my contacts, and the occasional scorpion I step on ! That has forced me to start wearing shoes in the basement now ! I hate scorpions worse than spiders, and delight in squishing them.

Weather's been typical for this time of year - hot & humid w' rain in the afternoon almost every third day. We had an incredibly violent electrical storm a few days ago, and lightening burned down two houses in the area. One of them belonged to one of my wife's co-workers. No one was hurt, but a week ago, 3 people were killed by lightening about fifty miles away. Nasty stuff.

Has anyone heard from 'emory' recently? He was a regular on the NES until just before the door was slammed shut on it.

Lupo - I'd be fibbing if I said i hadn't forgot about getting you the info on my UP stuff. I did forget, and will get it to you real soon.

Tom - we should try and get together soon and share info on our interchanging railroads. We're not too far away from each other, and I hear the coffee is exceptional up in the mountains.

Wayne - where in the northern Adirondacks are you located? I grew up in the Mohawk Valley, and spent many a summer weekend at Old Forge or Lake George, and skied almost every weekend in Turin or at McCauley Mountain outside OId Forge. God's Country. Last time I was up there I paid a visit to the Adirondack RR - now called something else I think, saw the shops near McKeever or Thendara (can't recall - it's been a long time) and walked across the trackless trestle at McKeever over the Moose River (?), just as we use to in high school. They sure have tidied up the former NYC Union Station in Utica. Too bad more of those classic depots haven't been preserved. We are fortunate that there are several resurrected depots where I am now, espedcially the ex-L&N ones in Woodstock, Holly Springs, and Blue Ridge, GA.

Hey it's late - tomorrow's another day of more blood, sweat & tears, followed by the next day.
BILL

[lupo]

[bday][bday][bday][bday]
JIM!!!
[bday][bday][bday][bday]

and how many candles has your cake to deal with as from today ??
Do not forget to blow them out before starting to eat it!
I wish you a very fine day!


Bill, I'll see your mail as it gets to me.

and about emory: he deleted his membership, but he is doing fine, very busy at work and in the process of moving to a layoutspace with atttached living quarters. he said he might be back once he settled down.

And to All: [:o)] "enjoy" your chores around the house, !
When doing those it gives me time to THINK and IMAGINE what to do when they are finished.[:)] [:p]

[tomwatkins]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM, I know that all caps is considered shouting, but gee, it's a birthday greeting. Hope you have a great one. As far as getting older goes, Louise has stopped putting candles on my cake. The last time she did, all the smoke deectors went off and the fire dept. showed up. Oh well! As long as I can get vertical in the morning, take nourishment ( Coffee is one of the basic food groups isn't It?) and do something productive and or enjoyable I will not fuss about getting older.

Bill, We're glad you're back. Home improvement projects are hard work and they take a lot of time and money. But they sure are nice when they're done. I'm sorry there is no news about your nephew. I think not knowing is the hardest thing. I definitely think we should get together. Email me off list or call me. We're in the phone book.

YNCS and dharmon, I'm enjoying the stories. I grew up and lived in Jacksonville Fl. most of my life. We lived out at the beach and I built model aircraft and spent a lot of time photographing aircraft, so I've known a lot of both brown shoes and black shoes.
I'd never heard the story about Sir Winston and HMS Warspite. That was a good story.

Noah, I think the party sounds like a great idea. I'll bring the burgers.

Well folks, It's time to go and get productive. There are errands to be run and yard work awaits. Later it will be time to head to the basement and install the two remaining finish pieces in the hole in the wall through which the Graham County RR will pass. Then a little joint compound and paint to finish it off and I can lay the track. Progress is sometimes slow but it's steady.
Have a great day, everybody,
Tom

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

[I was born on lucky 13. Yes, really I was.

I can top that. My birthday is April 1st.

Anyway, happy birthday.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bill mathewson


Wayne - where in the northern Adirondacks are you located? I grew up in the Mohawk Valley, and spent many a summer weekend at Old Forge or Lake George, and skied almost every weekend in Turin or at McCauley Mountain outside OId Forge. God's Country. Last time I was up there I paid a visit to the Adirondack RR - now called something else I think, saw the shops near McKeever or Thendara (can't recall - it's been a long time) and walked across the trackless trestle at McKeever over the Moose River (?), just as we use to in high school. They sure have tidied up the former NYC Union Station in Utica. Too bad more of those classic depots haven't been preserved. We are fortunate that there are several resurrected depots where I am now, espedcially the ex-L&N ones in Woodstock, Holly Springs, and Blue Ridge, GA.

Bill,
I'm outside of Saranac Lake. I have an office in Lake Placid. I've been coming up here for vacation since 1975 and moved here full time 4 years ago.

i'll be starting as a volunteer on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad soon on the Northern end of the line. The Utica end runs up past Thendara & the Northern end runs from Saranac Lake to Lake Placid. Both those stations have been restored. Haven't gotten down to the Utica end yet. The website is http://www.adirondackrr.com/

There is a shorter Scenic line, The Upper Hudson River Railroad, down by North Creek on the old D&H's Adirondack Branch. http://www.upperhudsonriverrr.com/

Other than these & an occasional Amtrak trip south, I don't get to see many working trains.

Wayne

[Noah Hofrichter]

Not much to report today. Finnishing the actual building of the Tranfer Caboose in the next few days, hopefully pictures will follow soon.

Noah

[Anonymous]

Went railfanning for the forth or fifth time in two weeks:

Train Symbol Engine #(s) Time
11J SD40-2 #3396, SD40-2 high hood #3256, 12:09PM
38G C40-9W #9090, SD70M #2591, SW1001 (still in blue) #2110


we then saw 19G sitting in the siding and it waited for the following trains:

34M C40-9W #9438, C40-9W #9637 2:48PM
16T three C40-9W's (9353 leading) 3:47PM

19G finially started up:

19G C40-8W (still in blue) #8325, C40-9W #9258, SW1001 #2104 3:55PM
35A C40-9W #9413, C40-9W #9806 4:45PM

9 out of 15 engines we saw were C40-9W's (the common power on NS, over a third of the NS roster is C40-9W's).

[egmurphy]

Just a quick update guys.

Happy birthday Jim.

Noah - no, sorry, didn't get names. But they said they had a G guage garden railroad. Can't be that many of them in Richland Center.

We've been here in Moab, Utah for the past 4 days. For any of you that haven't had a chance to see some of the national parks out here, they're absolutely fabulous. We've spent time at Mesa Verde, Arches, and Canyonlands. I'm sure there are more spectacular parks (Grand Canyon comes to mind) but this has really been a great vacation.

Tomorrow we're off to Durango. Thursday is the big day to ride the Durango and Silverton.

Not much railfanning the past few days. There actually is an old D&RGW (now UP) line into town, or at least into the northern end where it apparently veers off to a local phosphate mine. The track looks like it's in good condition but we haven't seen any trains. None of the locals I've asked knew anything about it.

Anyway, pictures will follow once we get back home (Tuesday the 20th).

Glad to see the regulars and the new coffee shop patrons keeping the fire going.

Best regards to all,

Ed

[krump]

I was born in leap year, so that would make me, let's see ... 10, right about now - since I got my first train at that age about 30 yrs ago, hmmm, You do the math, it's starting to hurt my head.[%-)][%-)][%-)][%-)]
- Happy B-day Jim- I've ordered you a slice of coffee-cake, and a mocha
-ps: if you've seen RMC July 2004, our club's sawmill is featured beginning on pg 69 -

[lupo]

Morning All!
Hey Ed, cool your'e going to Durango!
If you have extra time check out the road just outside Durango, to Silverton, there is a long straight strech where the tracks are just a few 100 feet from the road, you can follow the train with many crossings (whistle). I made some nice videos when we where there, they did a lot of switching in the yard to turn the engine, you can make some great pictures from the engine with the sun behind it, takes some adjusting from your camera but the smoke and steam come out beautiful! [:D]
After the return trip from Silverton the staff working the yard were also very friendly, taking time answering all kinds of questions from the viewers

Krump, have you seen your dutch train your mother brought you allready?[:D]

[krump]

Lupo,
I sent you an email - but the picture was tiny. gives you the idea though
cheers