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

[der5997]

Morning everyone: I'm told that the coffee is on downstairs, so thi swill be quick.[:D]

Bob: You were talking about tressles last night. Here's a shot of a curve tressle I built for my second layout using bents from my first. (I'll show you a video of that if there's time when you come)


Ed: I said on the Sunday Photos re your beautiful switcher job, that I had only an out of focus pic of a Docksider I had detailed. For what it's worth, here it is. You can't see any detail. It's got a scratch built tender to give it the range to be where it is out under the big Albertan skies![8D]

Regards,

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All:

Well it's a good thing for the storm to have passed and everyone to survive. I don't like the track, so far, on Ivan as it's going to be another mainland storm. In 60 years I don't ever remember three of them this close together. I remember several times that two of them got so close that they merged into one. Last night I got some of the Tortises hooked up to their terminal blocks, now I need to go buy some DPDT switches so I wont have to throw them by hand. I can't make up my mind weather I want to use regulat or mini switches. I hate to buy one size and then not use them, as john said "I canna abide waste".

Ed:
I don't know if I can keep up with that pace of laying two feet of track every couple of days. That works out to be about a foot a day and that is one heck of a strain for us old people. Noah could do that in ten minutes but look at how young he is. I looked at your loco pictures and was impressed, but I do agree with one of the posts over there "don't drop it or you'll lose it in the carpet." I can see how we get the eyes in better shape (optiviser) but what about those big fingers. They just get bigger when I put my optiviser on. Granted tweesers help but sometimes they just hurl a piece out into space. Talking about dropping a small item on the floor. If is a smooth floor like the lanoleum (SP) in the train room just lay a flashlight on the floor and the beam will make a long shadow, it makes it easier to find. If it's carpet use the vacuum cleaner and throw it away, if you don't, you're going to find it with your bare foot in the middle of the night and it's going to hurt.

John:
I enjoyed talking to you last night. When my dad died my mother gave me his optiviser and now I have two of them one with a 4 lense and one with a 10 lense. The 10 is not used very much because of the short focal length, about 10 inches. That makes the work to close to my face and I'm breathing on the work. I used one the other day with a 7 lense and it was just about right.
I am looking forward to seeing your "timesaver". Every once in a while I worry about big things and go into deep thought; 1) does Normal scale save as much time as Horriably Oversized scale does; 2) when you run a fast time clock do you do it at 12 times the speed of a regular clock; and 3) since you can't see your trains - how do you know they are running?[:D][:-^] So much for the deep thoughts.
When does Fergie get back off his tour of duty?

Tom:
You've been very quite. Is the bedroom finished yet? We are going to mount the toilet in the bathroom that we've been referbing today. All I have to do now is come up with the money to buy a new cabinet for the sink. It probably wont be purchased until we get back.

Lupo:
It's hard to believe that you got that letter that quick, I mailed it on Thursday and you received it on Monday. I can barely get a letter to Houston that fast. I transulated it into Dutch and then did like you said and transulated it back into English and it wasn't anywhere near the same.


Just received an e-mail from Fergie:
He said to give his regards to the "coffee house crowd". When he gets back we'll have to congradulate him on this hitch as he was the captian this time. He said that he hasn't scraped any paint off the hull yet.

Ya'll have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob

[egmurphy]

Afternoon all you Coffee Club members and other hangers on,

Thanks to those of you who clicked over to the Sunday Foto Fun thread and saw my switcher. I guess I picked the slowest Sunday on record to post it. I appreciate your comments. It was fun to do. Maybe after I get the layout in some sort of operating shape I’ll take time to do something like that again.

I don’t know, John, but Dwyle Flonking sounds like a waste of good beer. Of course, maybe it does bear some similarity to some of the stuff we used to do back in my college fraternity days. You’re right, I tried to blow up the picture of your docksider but it doesn’t have enough detail. Nice backdrop though. Handpainted or did you use some type of stamp to replicate the trees? Old layout, as it doesn’t seem too Maritime under those Alberta skies?

Bob, I think the race is still fairly close. I was going to shock you today with the surprise that I had finished laying track in my yard. I mean, I have, but of course it’s only 4 tracks with about 5’of track total among the 4 tracks. Ahem, but then you know how the itch to operate gets a hold of you? Well, fortunately it got a hold of me. Ran one of my switchers around the yard with a few cars to see whether the track and switches caused any major problems. The only problem I found was that one of the switches (ordinary Atlas manual ones) apparently has a contact flaw because the tracks beyond it were dead! [:O] The good news is that it was the last switch, so I only had to rip out and replace two tracks and the switch. There goes a day’s progress!

You’re right about the thumb comment. Even when I can see the switcher, it’s hard to find a place to pick it up where I won’t accidentally crush a handrail or grabiron. I’m also starting to wonder if I’ve left enough room between my yard tracks for the big hook (aka ‘hand’).

Our floors are all ceramic tile. Kind of the same effect, but small pieces can hide down in the grout seams between the tiles.

Chris – Ooohh, that hurts. [banghead]

QUOTE: “The benchwork for the layout is finished other than sanding and varnishing, however I might have to later redo it because a 4x8 is pretty bulky for the space it's going to be in. I am almost sure I'm going to have to move to N scale, and build N-trak modules to put them on. ……I still have the urge to just start completely over, with modules and N scale CB&Q/BN layout. It's pretty frustrating, but it looks like I just built myself a $110 workbench, not a layout.”

Any chance of using the material for the modules? You’d get 4 2x4 pieces out of your tabletop. Or simply redoing it in N scale but in some other configuration other than 4x8, maybe something around 2 or 3 walls but narrow?

Phil (northern Phil, that is), what is your favorite road? I could probably dig up an avatar for it over on TrainBoard (they’ve got a lot) and getting it put in your signature isn’t all that hard. I’m sure that between me and your other forum buddies we could walk you through it. Isn’t the remains of Frances heading towards you? Need some more rain?

Anyway, no major surprises today (other than the dead yard tracks). It’s actually time for me to start thinking about hooking up some of those feeder wires to block switches. With all the insulated joiners being installed, it’s getting harder and harder to run an engine any distance.

I’ll drop back later after cocktails and dindin. [dinner]

Hasta luego,

Ed

[Noah Hofrichter]

Teffy, It's more like two feet of track in about a half hour, by the time you include manacuring the balast profile. I don't secure mine down right now, as I know I'll be moving it someday, and that way i can re use it when moving the track design, like most recently.

Not much new today, Saw a few nice looking CP units yesterday. Also got to see the BNSF run through with coal for the Portage Wi power plant. Seems to run through about the same time every day, as he came through about the same time last time we went.

See you all later,
Noah

[fec153]

Junctionfan- At least we get enough warning to prepare. To stay or to go, that is the question.
philnrunt- Philip in Greek means" lover of horses". South and east of me got clobbered.
they really need help.
Teffy and all- get a large bath towel. attach one end to work bench so when sitting,put
other end on lap. falling parts should fall onto it.
OH SUGAR! Just saw probable track of Ivan. 50 50 chance hitting Keys. Or going into
gulf and anywhere from Texas east. Anyone in Canada have room for a couple of
storm weary folks? Just kidding. Wish could afford to move.

[stumpiesgrump]

i run 1x3 (shelf) along the walls with bridges between the wood lengths. the corners are dioramas ( i.e. partial sections of towns/industries). each corner (24" track radius) begins with the railroad aspect of that particular town (station) and includes what will fit into that corner without appearing cluttered. with careful cutting, i can use several portions of any given building in more than one corner. -stev

[Anonymous]

Ed:

If we ever move to another house it will definently have a basement so I could have my HO models on the 4x8, for right now I'm coming up with a design for an N scale CB&Q, NP, and some BN and BNSF, luckily Kato is coming out with a N scale California Zephyr!!!!![:D] Had I known this was going to happen I would have began in N scale to begin with, even though about half of all CB&Q models in N is based on late 1950s-1960s equipment, I can still get wood-sided cabooses, cab units, and even some steamers in N. And I can see why N scale is growing in popualrity-I guess quite a few people have had the same problem I have!

Noah:
One of the things about the modern systems, you only have to live by one and you can still see trains from the other class 1s and even occasionally a regional. For instance I've seen ex-ESPEE tunnel motors, BNSF AC4400CWs, and NS Spartan Cab SD's around here. Heck, down by the oil refinery in Hartford, IL I've seen a few Utah Railway Geeps!

Not much more news on the badly delayed layout, but my dad and I are already talking about the new one. He doesn't know I'm going to convert to N scale though.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Junctionfan



Good god man, how do manage do live in places prone to such bad natural disasters.

Come to Los Angeles, its 101 today [8D] and the scientist at Cal Tech for the last couple of months have been predicting a magnitude 6+ earthquake for the south eastern part of state....[:0]

[der5997]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TEFFY
I hate to buy one size and then not use them, as john said "I canna abide waste".

Bob. now I know why you like Santa Fe. Check out the October 1993 MR article on Santa Fe T rail tressles. They re-used old rail as stringers in quite a lot of tressles, and have a general policy of re-using stuff rather than throwing it away][:D]

QUOTE: Talking about dropping a small item on the floor. If is a smooth floor like the lanoleum (SP) in the train room just lay a flashlight on the floor and the beam will make a long shadow, it makes it easier to find. If it's carpet use the vacuum cleaner and throw it away, if you don't, you're going to find it with your bare foot in the middle of the night and it's going to hurt.

Ah yes, but, if you put a toe end of one of Mrs. T's stockings in the vacuum cleaner nozzle, you can catch those bits. The received wisdom is to ask first. You and I know that, but I mention it for Noah's benefit.[:p]

QUOTE: John:I am looking forward to seeing your "timesaver". Every once in a while I worry about big things and go into deep thought; 1) does Normal scale save as much time as Horriably Oversized scale does;

Now let's see... Normal is 1/160 and Horribly Oversized is 1/86, but then it's time, so we have to take the reciprocal of 1/160 which is 160(?) and 1/1/86 is 86(?) 160-86= 74. 1/74 = TT scale. So it looks to me that it's time for TEA![(-D]

QUOTE: 2) when you run a fast time clock do you do it at 12 times the speed of a regular clock

I try never to do anything fast[:)]

QUOTE: 3) since you can't see your trains - how do you know they are running?[:D][:-^]

Easy, they all make the most terrific noise, either because they are cheap locos, or because of the way the layout acts like a sounding board[B)]

QUOTE: When does Fergie get back off his tour of duty?

Don't know, but perhaps he said in his email? Captian Fergus, has a certain ring to it, eh?

fec153

QUOTE: Anyone in Canada have room for a couple of storm weary folks?

Room, lots of it, but didn't anyone tell you about WINTER?[tdn]

Ed.

QUOTE: I don’t know, John, but Dwyle Flonking sounds like a waste of good beer.

No , it's old beer, as in bar swill.[xx(]

QUOTE: Nice backdrop though. Handpainted or did you use some type of stamp to replicate the trees? Old layout, as it doesn’t seem too Maritime under those Alberta skies?

Thanks, the trees were hand done, no stamps (would they be green stamps?[:p]) Just dabbled onto the wall over a wash of various greens, using the edge of the brush. Dark green (not quite black[:)]) for the distant evergreens. The layout was in Spruce Grove Alberta, HO before our move east and into N.

Managed to saw out a bit more of the frame modification for converting my Atlas GP7(9?) to DCC. that's all the train stuff I've been able to get done today, and thte riding mower battery was dead, so the grass didn't get done either.[V] I hope it's not a loose belt, as getting at the insides of the thing looks to be about on the edge of my expertise[:I]

Got to go[|)] God Bless,

[fec153]

Yeah, I know about winter. Know it first hand. Blizzard of 48/49. also Dec.56. Went
back to Miami jan. of 57.
Phil

[fec153]

Yeah, I know about winter. Know it first hand. Blizzard of 48/49. also Dec.56. Went
back to Miami jan. of 57.
Phil

[Junctionfan]

I don't think I would like LA because the only time I want to "shake, rattle and roll" is to music[:D][:D] As far as up here is concerned, we rarely get tornadoes and its usually cities up around Lake Huron like Barrie and the Windsor/Detroit area. The strongest tornadoes we usually get are F-3s but in the late 50s my little rincky-dink town suffered a really destructive F-5.

[lupo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by stumpiesgrump

i run 1x3 (shelf) along the walls with bridges between the wood lengths. the corners are dioramas ( i.e. partial sections of towns/industries). each corner (24" track radius) begins with the railroad aspect of that particular town (station) and includes what will fit into that corner without appearing cluttered. with careful cutting, i can use several portions of any given building in more than one corner. -stev

[#welcome] to the coffeeshop stev, how do you like your coffee?

sounds nice setup you made do you have pictures to share? wich scale do you use ?

[krump]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fec153
[ Anyone in Canada have room for a couple of storm weary folks?

Lotsa room here for you Phil. 7 acres... and the bears are hibernating soon enough, so they won't be a problem. Of course you could always come inside (for coffee), and we have room there too - just might have to bunk in the room with the kids (8,7,5). We offer theme rooms to storm weary travellers - Do you prefer the Barbie guest room (pink and purple as chosen by our girls) or the Spiderman guest room ?
The lodging and food are offered in exchange for drivng the kids to school, Ringette, and gymnastics, but you could also join me for clubbing on Tues nights.
The decals arrived today (thanks again), and I figure they only took a week and a bit. If you stuck a few extra postage stamps on your arm / thumb, travelling would be pretty cheap, but you'd arrive in time for Canadian Thanksgiving in October. It's only a 5500 - 6000 mile trip one way, approximately.
Doors open, coffee's on. Back around dinner time. We like Pizza [:D][:D][:D]

cheers,

[tomwatkins]

Good Mornin' Everybody,
It's a grey, rainy day in the mountains today. The rain started yesterday morning, sometime after midnight, and hasn't really slacked off yet. It's supposed to start clearing later today. We really haven't had any wind to speak of, so we don't have anything at all to fuss about. I heard from Bill Mathewson yesterday. He had both rain and pretty strong wind in his area, with some resulting damage around his property and house.

I sure hope everybody came through the storm Ok. This was a bad one because it was so large and slow moving. Now we get to see what Ivan is going to do. It will be good to get this hurricane season behind us.

It's good to see that so many people are making progress on their layouts lately. I've been stalled due to the amount and magnitude of the "Honey Dos". We're still in the midst of the room makeover (Will it never be finished?) and we had a couple of large trees in front of the house that needed to come out. They were old wild cherrys, and they were'nt healthy any more. They were about 60' tall. So Monday we took them both down. I got about half the mess cleaned up before the rain started, and I'll finish it after things dry out a little. The good thing is that these things only have to be done once.

Well, I'd better get started on the days's projects. The sooner they're done the sooner I can get back to the railroad.

Have a great day everybody.
Tom

[der5997]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fec153

Yeah, I know about winter. Know it first hand. Blizzard of 48/49. also Dec.56. Went
back to Miami jan. of 57.
Phil

And still you want to come[?] [:0]

Junctionfan: Want to narrow that Lake Huron reference down a bit. We lived in Tobermory for a few years in the late 70s.

Regards,

[Anonymous]

Good Mornig All:
Not even on my first cup of tea yet as the water is slow to heat. We had an ops session last night - 5 engineers and one dispatcher. I got to run my BLI 4-8-4 and it was nice to watch it run through scenery with a string of cars. Makes me want to come home and start working on scenery on the Almost Nothing.

John:
When we get there would you show me how you did those multipull (SP)quotes? I was talking to our Winnipeg guide on one of our trips and was lamenting about the hot weather in TEXAS and how comfortable it was in Canada and how I should move to Winnipeg. His comment was " Yes Bobbie but you must remember that last winter we saw 50 days and nights where the temp never got up to 0 degrees C". Heck, we have had several winters were the temp never got DOWN to 0 degrees C.

You are my type mathamtician - time for tea
Santa Fe also used rail for pilots on the steamers at rebuild time.

Ed:
I know how you feel about laying a switch that doesn't work. I laid a Walthers #6 in the ladder only to have the points break (come unsoldered). I sent it back to Walthers and they said it would be six weeks before they could replace it because they were out of them. Next time I'm going to fire up the iron and fix it myself - new or not. I'm like you, it was the last switch in the ladder so that yard is waiting for parts. That makes for a good reason to run trains. The track spacings in my main yard are 2 1/4 to 2 3/8 and I have room for my hand down from the top. The spacing in the staging yard is at least 2 5/8 because They are both covered with towns and the vertical clearance is only 4". I know that that is poor design but I didn't want a steeper grade. It was a trade off, you know how that goes. I did put several home made (read cheap) re-railers on the staging tracks to help with derailed cars. They are just pieces of bass wood sanded to the right shape between the tracks and then a piece of bass wood on the outside at rail height. I don't know it they are working or I just haven't had any derailments since it is straight track, but I'm happy.

Krump:
I mailed some stuff to Lupo on a Thursday and he got it on Monday, and that's from Beaumont Houston, you know, to the Netherlands. I couldn't believe that they could move mail that fast.
How does one sleep in a spiderman room? It looks like the patterns would keep you awake.

stumpiesgrump:
[#welcome] The tea and coffee are very good and fixed just the way you like it. Of course you also get to be the waitress.

Fla Phil:
The magic words are "..should fall into it". You're right and that's an idea that I'd forgotten about. It sure beats crawling around on the floor with the flashlight. Sounds like you fared pretty good with this storm. I have some friends in Palm Bay and she said no loss of electricty, phone, gas, or water. They did cut off the water at 2:00PM untill 6:00PM yesterday. The only thing damaged was mobile homes and flimsey carports, no brick and mortor buildings.

I went into profile yesterday and did some updating so I don't know what the end of this post is going to look like.

Let me get out of here as today is Dr. day
Bob

[der5997]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TEFFY

John:
When we get there would you show me how you did those multipull (SP)quotes?

Why waste visit time when we can waste it right away! click on the quote icon. In the new message field that generates, keep the top line that begins with the Forum Code for quote. Delete all the post up to the bit you want to quote. At the end of that part, type the close quote code. Then move on, deleteing up to t he next bit you want to quote. Now you have to tpye in the begin quote code, and finish with the end quote code

QUOTE: You are my type mathamtician - time for tea

add your comments: Never could figure math out at school, was afraid to ask questions.[V]
on to the next quote, type in the begin code, followed by the bit you want to quote, and finish wirth the end quote code

QUOTE:
Santa Fe also used rail for pilots on the steamers at rebuild time.

Yes the article mentioned that.
then delete all rrest of the text you don't want to deal with

Don't forget that any smilies you put in are added to the very end of the text, and have to be cut and pasted where you wanted them. Told you it wasted time
[(-D]
Got to go. Regards,

[Noah Hofrichter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by stumpiesgrump
i run 1x3 (shelf) along the walls with bridges between the wood lengths. the corners are dioramas ( i.e. partial sections of towns/industries). each corner (24" track radius) begins with the railroad aspect of that particular town (station) and includes what will fit into that corner without appearing cluttered. with careful cutting, i can use several portions of any given building in more than one corner. -stev

Welcome to the coffee shop!! Feel free to stop in any time, we're open 24-7, as least that's what the sign says!

Noah

[egmurphy]

Evening crew,

Noah, you said:

QUOTE: Teffy, It's more like two feet of track in about a half hour, by the time you include manicuring the ballast profile.

Ballast? I didn’t think we were including the ballasting in that time estimate. Hold on here, I’ll need to recalculate my construction estimate.

Chris commented:

QUOTE: but my dad and I are already talking about the new one.

That’s good.

QUOTE: He doesn't know I'm going to convert to N scale though

That’s bad.
Let us know how it turns out.

QUOTE: And I can see why N scale is growing in popualrity-I guess quite a few people have had the same problem I have!

That’s WE, as in the same problem you and I both have. Yeah, I think it’s a common problem for a lot of folks.

John:

QUOTE: but, if you put a toe end of one of Mrs. T's stockings in the vacuum cleaner nozzle, you can catch those bits

Ooohh, that’s a good one. Yup, can definitely use that tip. Thanks.

QUOTE: would they be green stamps?

Don’t tell me you’re old enough to remember those???

Trying to remember my Alberta geography, where’s Spruce Grove? Up near Edmonton?

QUOTE: Want to narrow that Lake Huron reference down a bit. We lived in Tobermory for a few years in the late 70s

Does Sarnia count? I lived there in ’71-’72. Talk about one cold sucker in the winter when the wind came down off the lake!!!

Bob, the center to center spacing between my yard tracks is only about 1-1/4” +/- a bit. That winds up giving a clear spacing of about 3/8” between adjacent cars. So I’m probably as likely to derail something as I am to successfully rerail a car in the yard. One of the joys of Normal scale.

Just want you to know Bob, that I got another 2-1/2’ of track fastened down today. So those footsteps you hear behind you probably aren’t mine.

Anyway, you guys have good evening. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Hasta mañana

Ed

[krump]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TEFFY


Krump:
I mailed some stuff to Lupo on a Thursday and he got it on Monday, and that's from Beaumont Houston, you know, to the Netherlands. I couldn't believe that they could move mail that fast.
How does one sleep in a spiderman room? It looks like the patterns would keep you awake.

yeah, mail to and from The Netherlands moves pretty quick - when my mom was visiting relatives there this spring, a postcard arrived in 5 days.

close yer eyes[:p][:D][:D]

[krump]

SAD NEWS FOLKS...

I didn't want to start a new topic, and this seemed like a good spot to share this news.

4 hrs ago (6 pm PST) the president of our local Model Railroad Club succumbed to a brave battle with lung cancer. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.
Some of the Club members had visited earlier in the afternoon, and I arrived at 6:20 pm to visit after a lengthy workday out of town (20 min too late) ... I was the first one to arrive at the hospital after he'd passed away - so I took the responsibility of relaying the news. Though I was discouraged to be too late today, I have a fond memory of my last visit with him, when I dropped off a picture that my daughter had made for him (of a train), and I was given the opportunity to pray for / with him. He was a good friend and a wonderful mentor. He will be missed by myself and the club members. Just thought I'd share what was on my mind at the moment.
I think I'm still in shock about it, just doesn't seem real yet. - only diagnosed 6 weeks ago

blessings,

[Anonymous]

Krump

Sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. It will be a sad time for all who knew him. If he knew the Lord then now he is in a much better place and is not suffering any longer. May God give the family and friends the grace they need to live each day.

[Anonymous]

Hi everybody - Have been playing hooky from here for awhile, as I've committed - perhaps overcommitted -to get a whole bunch of unfinished projects and honey-do's completed before I tackle anything new. Actually making progress finishing off the basement - going slow and easy at it because my leg 'issue' is still there, and I'm not pushing myself beyond better judgement.

Wish I had some railroady news to report, but that's been temporarily placed on the back burner, until my shop and spare room (for modeling and an office) are completed. Hopefully I will be in the benchwork construction phase shortly after the first of the year. Will finally be in the Bay area in December for a week visiting my daughter, and hope to do some train stuff while there.

Frances has passed by finally, and didn't do too much harm to my property - some roof repair needed, a big 60-70 foot tree leaning towards my house now, and a lot of tree limbs & branches to clean up. My sisters (vacant) house, closer to Atlanta, is right next to a creek that floods during a drizzle, and that's a whole 'nuther deal. I got off lucky - very lucky compared to folks south of us. Our house sits on the topside of a ridge, so we are in little danger of getting wet unless the roof blows off. Lets only hope that Ivan doesn't clobber Florida again. It just got upgraded to a Category 5 storm w/ sustained winds of 160 mph, and is heading right for Jamaica, having just destroyed 90% of the homes on the island of Granada !

Krump - awfully sad about the club member and friend of yours that just passed away. What can one say at a time like this without sounding trite. Although I didn't know him or his family, it is obvious by the sensitive tone of your post that he was someone special to you, his family and his friends. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you, and hold onto those wonderful moments of that special bond of friendship you shared. He would want that, I'm quite sure. . .

Will try to check back in more often - hopefully the next time with something to do with railroading. Everyone be smart and be safe - that's an ugly storm out there.
BILL

[Anonymous]

Hi Lupo !

[lupo]

Hi Bill! got your mail, I'm in the process of waking up, reply to it after first coffee wich is coming up !

[philnrunt]

krump- I'm sorry for your loss, from your description he sounds like a decent man. I lost my brother to lung cancer in '98, when he was 47. We had a years notice, but of course, it never is enough time.
fecPhil- I never did like horses, fine animals, but just not my cup of tea. So now I just pick a country and make up...er, that is discover after in depth research, a names meaning. I mailed my friends in N.P.Richey, they dodged the bullet again, hope Ivan isn't the Terrible. We'll be keeping a good thought for all of you and for my Keys, a hugely special place in my heart.
Ed- Our summer this year has been like Seattle's usually is, 60's and 70's and grey days. My friend in Seattle has, on the other hand, had 80's and 90's and sun. Go figure. Now , i am getting ready to give my trailer a bleach wa***o get the algae, mold and mildew off of it.Rain? We don't need no stinking RAIN!
Bill- Glad to see your'e back. Will that leanin tree survive Ivan?
Ya know, a model of the FEC after a hurricane would be interesting, Dave in Virginia might go for something like that. I saw a diorama at Caboose Hobbies in Denver years ago of a swamp railroad, the tracks were just sticking out of the water, and it was pretty neat. It was a static display, and putting the rails in resin or whatever you might use for water could pose some problems with conductivity, but still, it would be different.
Anyway, hang in there guys, and keep up the good work.

[lupo]

Krump, sorry for the loss, I am sure he will be missed,
but the fine memories will last.
take care.

[egmurphy]

Morning group,

Bill - good to hear from you. I understand how real life can get in the way of modeling time. But then again, you need to finish your basement/shop mods to be ready for the big layout. Good to hear you didn't suffer any significant damage from the storm. Good choice building up high. Take care of the leg.

Krump - sorry to hear about your friend. I've known others who had similar experiences (that of going very quickly after being diagnosed). It's a bit scary to even think about that happening. Very good that members were visiting him that very afternoon. Speaks well for the comraderie among the club members.

Phil, I figure all that stuff about how rainy and terrible it is in Seattle is a load of bunk dreamed up by the locals to slow down the number of Californians coming north to live. We had a project up north of there and I made a number of trips over a two year period. I was usually very pleased with the weather (of course I could just have been very lucky very often). [:D]

Haven't heard from Bob this morning. All that progress I've been making must have him out in the model room trying to keep up!!! [swg]

Incidentally, don't know if you guys have dropped in over on the 'Layout at a Glance' thread. I've added a post with the general idea of my layout. Need a couple of you regulars here to add your info. But then again, most of the layouts described there are Horribly Oversized, so maybe you wouldn't really be interested. Mine seems to be the smallest one (ain't it always that way [:O])?

I think our forum buddies in Florida better get the storm shutters ready to go back up. The track of Ivan looks like it's headed for the Sunshine (?) State again.

Hasta luego,

Ed

[Fergmiester]

Try Wednesday! I just pulled into Dartmouth this afternoon and will in for the next day or two then heading up the Eastern Shore again. I asked to have crew change in Sheet Harbour. BTW John I anchored off your back door last night but as I didn't see anyone wave this morning I figured you were either in the bunk still or in the wreck room!

Teffy: did you get my e-mail yesterday? I'll be going home tonight so those measurements I asked about, don't worry I'll measure them up tonight.

Anyway I gotta run

Regards
Fergie