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

[Anonymous]

Tom:
There was Peoria, and Chicago and St. Louis, but they were all big cities, which I don't want to model.

Fergie:
Snow?? There's no snow around here!

[Anonymous]

We are getting to the bottom of page 1.......

Just keeping guard!!!!!

Our road is almost contineously being plowed, might have someting to do with the firehouse about a block away.

So far about 3 or 4" of [censored] white stuff, winds from the north about 30kts. Drifts on the side of the road are getting evident.

The funeral home is coming along, working on the windows.

Back later

Happy MRRing

Luc

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All:

It's cold here at 36 F. Last night it got to 31 F. Yukka, Yukka, Yukka. Weve got all three space heaters on but not turned all the way up. Fergie: tell AJ that they don't explode. To all you other guys - when Stephanie told AJ (Fergies oldest son) that we used gas for heating he ask her why it didn't explode.

I think that we need to make Lisa a Texan. I ask her about the weekend of camping in the cold and was informed "I'm a Canadian, I can do that". sounds just like a Texan. Eh Paul.

One brother-in-law gave another brother-in-law a car with a blown head gasket. My job was to furni***he tow car, the giver was supprised to find that we could move the car at 70 mph. In kph, that's fast.

I don't know who:
I have the unlimited long distance but it doesn't include calls to Canada.

I don't know who:
The roof hatches, are I think, a product of Hollywood. Also lots of northern houses don't have upstairs outside doors so you could get out of the house in a drift.

Well I've got to get ready to go to church.

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

Bob

[JPowell]

Morning all -
I want to 1st thank you all for the thoughts and prayers. We've been heading this way for about 6 months now and we've been talking about it and have told eachother that it will not be a 'nasty' one. All she wants is what's her's and vice versa. If she get's a place before I do (She's going to buy a 2-3 bdrm condo), she said that I can go w/ her and her son, pay 1/2 rent till I have my own place this summer.
As for the weather, well the Base Commander closed us down at 1:45 yesterday afternoon. I left here about 2ish, went to get gas, and it took me almost 45 minutes to get home and I only live 10 minutes away! According to The Weather Channel, the official report from the airport was Syracuse only got 14" - Not true - Remember, I live 10 minutes from work (airport) and had more then 14". I'd say closer to 24-30" was at my house. One point yesterday afternoon...about 5ish, I had to take out a bag of trash....had a 5' drift between my place and the neighbors.....WOW! Now, blue sky w/ very few clouds and very bright sunshine!
TTYL
JP

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: grayfox:
...ED !!!!! WHERE IS THE OJ ????? Doggonit I was primed for a tall fresh squeezed glass full...

Must have been delayed somewhere along the NS due to storm conditions, once it crosses the border it's out of our hands. Now remember that it's pure, unadulterated, orange juice. No preservatives. That means it starts fermenting soon after it leaves here. If that tanker takes a couple more days to get delivered, you guys won't have to add vodka, schnapps, or anything else!

I just had some with my bacon and eggs for breakfast. Sure is sweet. And the coffee is pretty good this morning too. Nice and strong and hot.

Overcast with just a bit of drizzle down here this morning. We've gone quite a while with no significant rain, and the farmers are really hurting. Most of the farms down in this area are pretty small, and most don't have any irrigation systems. So they really depend on the rains.

We should have a couple of football games today played as the game was intended to be played. Outside, in the cold, in the snow, maybe even some mud. It's been a long time since I've seen a game where the numbers on the jerseys were obscured by mud.

Later,

Ed

[Anonymous]

Hi guys and gals

The center of the storm will pass us out to sea about 150 miles but we are on the full wind side of this storm.

Tom - CFO and I are warm and cozy (she's still sleeping), at least for now.

*** - I saw some reports out of Boston showing 12 to 18" in your area. If you're trying to get rid of it, please sent it south[;)][;)][;)].

Fergie - Relax!!! this is no worse than a force 12. [:)][:)] In the old days when a was a young Sub on exchange with th RN submarine service, we had this say "happiness is force 12 storm at 900ft". That's 900 ft down. hehehehe!!!

As we keep tracking the the blizzard and constructing, also watching for number 5000, have a great day. I'll be back later on.

Happy MRRing

Luc

[Fergmiester]

***: I'll be honest with you and the rest of the gang. I brought in the wood yesterday as I'm just over a week before heading back to sea and still have a week of training so time is of the essence. I learned along time ago if you wear the right gear for the right job you can endure just about anything. The worst I ever saw it was up in Quebec when I was a Cadet. -40 with a -105 windchill you could feel your flesh freeze instantly. They issued us with Bomber boots and heavy insulated coveralls. Ah the good old days!

[grayfox1119]

Good morning all, what a wilf night here in Massachusetts, the winds kept us awake most of the night, just a constant howl. When I looked out the rear bedroom window this morning, I thought I was looking at a "white out", then when I got a better angle on things, it was a HUGE drift all along the rear of the house which faces West. The snow just blows in from the Northeast right over the top of the house peak, and deposits on the back. The drift must be 6 feet high. I tried to measure the snow, but I cannot find a spot because of severe drifting, as near as I can tell by averaging, we have over 22 inches and still coming down hard. Visability is about 400 feet to the neighbor's house, that is the only way I can tell.

Luc: that was a great radar picture from the airport, looks like you guys are in for it next!

Fergie: You are one well organized guy!!! Shovels for the kids, send the troops out to attack the snow and keep the path to the woodshed and outhouse clear while you direct efforts from the bunker!! I did the same thing years ago, now the kids show up with their 4X4 and plow us out. ( We got running water a while back, so the outhouse is now a greenhouse of sorts)[;)][;)][;)][:)].

Tom: you are so correct about the plasterboard, it is apain to go get, a pain to carry into the house, a pain to hang, especially alone on the pieces at the top....man they are heeeaavvy!!

Jim: Time to get up Jim, the coffee is ready, and the bagels have cream cheese to spread on them.

ED !!!!! WHERE IS THE OJ ????? Doggonit I was primed for a tall fresh squeezed glass full, tsk, tsk !! That golg game yesterday must have really taken it out of you !!!

Breakfast is ready, see ya later guys,

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tomwatkins

Good Mornin' Everybody,


Flip, you're a man after my own heart. Corona is good stuff. There is one school of thought that holds that Corona is for drinking, everything else is for steaming shrimp.


I'd better go for now. Take care everybody, especially those of you way up north in the storm.
Tom

Tom, Phil.... Buddies!

If you hear someone beating down your door, not to worry as it will only be Lisa and me.

Love Corona, Love Shrimp, Keep the snow.

Fergie

[tomwatkins]

Good Mornin' Everybody,
I hope everybody further north is hunkered down inside and staying warm. It looks like it's very cold and snowy up north and just going to be nasty. All we got down here were a few flurries, some wind and cold. It appears to have tracked just far enough north that it missed us.

I spent yesterday planting trees on the railroad. About 50 more down, only thousands more to go. The is now one more corner of the railroad room where it is always Springtime. Next up is to start building the Hiwasee River section. I'll start gluing up foam to my plywood base section for that today.

Turbo One, whereabouts in San Diego are you? I was out there at MCRD going to radio school in 65-66, and Louise lived in El Cajon in the late 80's. It really is a beautiful place. We both have good memories of it. Have you been to the La Mesa club's railroad at Balboa Park? That is an impressive model railroad.

Der, Re smaller sizes for the same or more money: The one that really gets me is potato chips, but that's the way of the world.

Flip, you're a man after my own heart. Corona is good stuff. There is one school of thought that holds that Corona is for drinking, everything else is for steaming shrimp.

Grayfox, you're making good progress on the railroad room. Getting the wallboard up will be a major milestone. That's another of my least favorite things to mess with.

Jim. good luck on the test and interview. What road is it?

JP, that sounds like a good plan. It gives you something positive to hold onto and work towards, and that's important.

Chris, the NKP sounds like a good idea. Were there anyplaces where the NKP and the Q interchanged? If so, one of them could be your focal point and let you run both roads.

The prayer request from Cpt. Shackelford for his troops really brings everything into sharp perspective. Driving trucks and hauling cargo is not "glamorous" duty. It's just hard dangerous work that has to be done. Opinions about the war may vary, but the people over there need and deserve our thoughts, prayers and support.

I'd better go for now. Take care everybody, especially those of you way up north in the storm.
Tom

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cjm89

Lately I've been thinking about starting over and switching from modeling the Q to modeling the Nickel Plate, but in the same era as what I would have built my CB&Q layout in. The reason I want to switch is that NKP steam is quite popular and available in plastic, and has a lot more interesting roster than the Q. Anyone think it's a good idea, especially when I barely have any CB&Q equipment so far?

Christopher

How can you talk about trains at a time like this[:0] The Coffee Shop is now under snow alert! Where are your priorities Man!

Snow's been going for just over an hour now. We have two systems coming together and intensifying and the lead one has slowed down.

I bought two shovels for the kids so I'll be able to direct snow removal operations from the basement, somewhere along the main line as I'll be hooking up more switch machines and working on scenery. You see I too have priorities[:D]

Don: Welcome TO was my stomping grounds as I grew up there in Willowdale.

Fergie

[Anonymous]

Good morning all.

The snow just started here, I think we'll get about 5 or 8" with strong northerly winds we're looking at blizzard conditions. If you'd like to see how it looks on the Halifax Internation Airport radar, go to http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/radar/index_e.html?id=XGO

You'll need to refresh it once in a while. It updates at 10 minute intervals.

You'll find der John in the Sheet Harbour area, east of the radar center while Fergie and I are in the Halifax area to the south.

Well, got laundry to take care off and I have a funeral home to build.

I'll be back later.

Happy MRRing

Luc

[Anonymous]

Early Morning Folks [;)]

I am not sleeping well and the dog needed to go for a walk so I am up. It is 21 outside but the windchill is 12. Thank God the wind has died down some.

John [:)]

Thanks for sharing the voting prayer request. As the election draws closer things seem to get uglier over there. Please, everybody, pray for the safety of all troops who are over there in harm's way.

Back to bed now. [;)]

[grayfox1119]

Man, this is one wild night!! I have a Davis Weather Station in the back yard on the top of the hill, and I give surface reports to the Boston TV weather broadcasters as part of a citizens net. The winds are a steady howl, gusting now at 20 MPH and steady 15, and storm is still well to the south of us. We have heavy snow now, temp is 11.7F, and the barometer is 29.73 and nose diving fast. This storm is really deepening off the coastline!! By 6am, the winds are expected to top hurricane force at 74 MPH.
Just stopped by for hot coffee, Greg, keep the coffee hot, it will be a long night here, and YES, it most certainly is a 3 dog night with wind chills at -25F
Time to send out the midnight report, see ya later,

[Anonymous]

Evenin' y'all:

Did some electronic railroading earlier. On the way home from OKC I was playing with the Magellan GPS, and found three railroads in OK that I'd never heard of The Wichita, TIllman and Jackson (about 100 miles long); The Texas and Oklahoma; and the Hollis and Eastern (13 miles long). Kinda interesting what Magellan can tell you. I also found out BNSF is huge in OK they have branch lines everywhere, but we all know AT&L is still the best[:D]. Even got to go to the LHS today, picked up more LED's and micro bulbs, those are kinda fun to put in, and really fun to watch when they all work.

Paul: I peeked back at your first post, things were quite a bit different back then, fewer members and different pics in signatures.

Well, sounds like we got off easy, its just cold around here, in the teens and twenties, but no Snoah. Don't know if that's good or bad, its kinda nice to have one good snow a year, but none of that 15 or 20 inch stuff, y'all Canadians can keep that to yourselves[:D].

It's late, gotta go,
Greg

[Paul W. Beverung]

Elliot; I just tried that url and it worked great. Of course it took me awhile to figure out what the URL was. Thanks again.

Paul

[Paul W. Beverung]

Elliot; I think that you and I found it at the about the same time. I was looking page by page and just as I was on near 100 I saw that you were on too. Of course I did it the hard way. Page 101 14 Sep 04. Thanks for the help.

I just saw on the news a bit of video from up north. Oh boy was the snow coming down. The weatherman was talking about it being the light fluffy kind that was going to blow and cause drifts. I guess it was in 1947 that we had the big storm in Milwaukee. I can't remember how deep it was but I do remember that it was up to my 5yr old chin. Dad had to dig a tunnel to get to the front door of our house.

I think that this is post no 201 for me. Another mile stone past. We'll be at the 5am donut shop for our usual Sunday morning coffee and sausage rolls . I can hardly wait.

Good Night All Best wishes to all of you up there on the snow.

Paul

the Duluth, Superior, & Southeastern

" The Superior Route "

[Big_Boy_4005]

Hey Paul, look at what I found back on page 101.[swg]

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=101&TOPIC_ID=15409

[JimRCGMO]

QUOTE: Originally posted by der5997

QUOTE: John- I beg to differ with you. It started near the circle and the jet stream moved it south and east thru Canada into the states and ever eastward.Enjoy the skiing Flip

In that case we'll charge you Value Added Tax[(-D] The first report we had of this was that it was coming from the Dakotas.
...<snip>...

Which leaves me wondering - how come Customs doesn't stop the blizzards to check contents (like I understand they do for everything else)?[|(][?]

Jim in Cape Girardeau

(where it's still 20 F with wind chill up to 7 F
- we may have to send some of our weather
up north to warm up our Canadian friends)

[Anonymous]

hey all-
just popped in to see what was new. Hope all the folks in the northeast are staying warm!

JP- hope everything turns out OK for you. Been through separation and divorce myself. I'm pullin' for ya

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Paul W. Beverung

Allmost forgot. Is there an easy way to call up a particular page? I've been trying to find my first post in here.

Paul

Paul, up at the top of the page is the URL in your browser's window. Part of that URL is the page number. You can jump to any page you want, as long as you know where you are going. I can't remember when you wandered in, maybe back before page 100.

[fec153]

Paul- I wish I knew. Hate going back page by page. Seems to take forever.
Flip

[fec153]

Der-John Just remember, NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. We went thru that once b4 .
Flip

[Paul W. Beverung]

Allmost forgot. Is there an easy way to call up a particular page? I've been trying to find my first post in here.

Paul

[Paul W. Beverung]

Hi Gang; Well it sounds like that storm is really going to be a bad one. I hope that everyone is ready. Stay warm and dry.

Cpt. Shackelford and the men and women of the 57th TB. A more noble mission would be hard to find. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Remember to watch your back trail. We are behind you. I wi***hat I could be there with you. God Bless

I got out and worked on the 7 1/2 inch this afternoon. My son came by and we hauled and put out a car load of ballast. The EMD ran pretty good despite not being touched for several months. The weather was alittle cool with a brisk wind out of the north so we didn't last wore than one car load. Face it I've got soft down here.

Paul

the Duluth, Superior, & Southeastern

" The Superior Route "

[Anonymous]

Jim,

You are correct, Its is an Alco! A RS-11 to be exact.

Hope you feel better soon!

Jim in Cape Girardeau,

They are 3 rail O scale models, and have Sound systems built it.

Glad you guys enjoied them.

This is just a small loop I put down to play with trains, and thought Id share what i was doing with some folks here.

here is a NYC Hudson - http://rapidshare.de/files-en/416593/NYChudson0002.AVI.html

I run prototipical stuff on my normal layout, and thought I needed a break!

Regards,
Chris

[der5997]

QUOTE: John- I beg to differ with you. It started near the circle and the jet stream moved it south and east thru Canada into the states and ever eastward.Enjoy the skiing Flip

In that case we'll charge you Value Added Tax[(-D] The first report we had of this was that it was coming from the Dakotas.

Ed and Brian:

QUOTE: It's great to not have money concerns, and to be able to get whatever you want. But I suspect a great number of model railroaders have to budget their hobby purchases, and/or save up a long time to get stuff.

Quite so, and one of the things I like is to see what good result I can come up with for zero or very little outlay. That's why I collect odd bits and pieces that are usually, in any normally well ordered household, junked. Take for instance those plastic tags that hold labels to new clothing. The small end, the one that looks like a T with a round cross piece, take a good look. Cut off the long thin lead about 1/2 inch from the cross piece. (Use a scale rule if you are particular) and what have you got? An HO push broom for the cost of the paint. (You may want to trim the cross piece too, depending on the type of broom) The ends of some tags have a cylinder type arrangement that suggest to me some electrical or AC equipment in the smaller scales, maybe something you might find on a roof somewhere. Yours for the price of the clothes or shoes![^] As to Bachmann, Brian, their Spectrum series is really worth looking forward to.

Rob: Why is it that things fall apart at just the wrong time?(Yes I know, Murphy's Law, but the Why? remains. [}:)][alien] BTW, your "Mind the doors please, and move to the back of the car." reminds me of the London Underground at those stations with curved platforms. The guard calls out "Mindthegap!" - all one word[:D]

Toronto Don[#welcome] Hope you enjoy the company in here. 3 years at the Centre of the Universe were enough for us, back in the late 60s, then we got out to S.W. Ontario. Now in Nova Scotia, waiting for this next storm. What scale BTW?


CapeJim

QUOTE: Computers are our friends, Tim? Only if you do things their way. Darn things want you to be a perfect speller... ... Don’t get me wrong, I have fun with my computer, but computers seem to be stubborn at times.

...and subtly programmed. Try typing "which" in WORD and see what happens. I'm partial to conspiracy theories from time to time, and have a theory that the Microsoft folks are trying to warp English Usage to eliminate "which"...why would this be?????[}:)][:O][:P][alien][;)]Is there a "Which Hunt?[(-D]

QUOTE: (kind of like "Don’t let dogs or small children outside without a tether"...)

When she was about 3 our daughter was blown over in a snow suit, and carried along the icy road towards the harbour by the wind on Fogo Island, Newfoundland. It happened fast, and she slid even quicker! Funny now, not then!

Just thought ***, more for the storm preparations list: We fill water buckets in addition to the usual camping water containers. The buckets are for flushing the toilet should the power go out for an extended time. We also have a hand pump on the well, in case an outage is very long.

Enjoyed the java, and I might try the cocoa next time. There wasn't any sugar free hot chocolate to be had in the Harbour today, so Kris got cocoa instead. I'm off to run some trains.
Goodnight, and God Bless.

JimH:

QUOTE: John
I received the prayer request. I was thinking you might go ahead and share it here in the coffee shop. The more praying for it the better.

Just saw your post as I was checking that mine made it on safely.[:)]
OK folks, here's the prayer request I sent Jim. It was forwarded to me through the Congregational Christian Churches in Canada, but has a US Forces focus.

----- Original Message ----- From: Arunas Kalinauskas

Forwarded: Jim Potter

Prayer Request From: CH (CPT) Lyle Shackelford Battalion Chaplain HHD, 57th Transportation Battalion "Keep 'Em Moving"

I have an urgent request for prayer. Your prayers can make a difference. I am an Army Baptist Chaplain in Iraq. I'm am sure you will be moved by this request even if you do not person! ally know anyone involved. Thank you in advance for your faithful prayers in this matter.

As a transportation battalion, my unit will be delivering the voting machines and the ballots to villages and cities throughout Iraq during the upcoming elections. (January 30/31) Our convoys are prime targets for the insurgents because they do not want the equipment to arrive at the polling stations nor do they want the local Iraqi citizens to have the chance to vote; timely delivery must occur so that the elections occur. Encourage your friends and family members and those within our churches to pray specifically for the electoral process. Historically, the previous totalitarian regime would not allow individual citizens to vote. Democracy will not be realized in Iraq< /st1:place> if intelligent and competent officials are not elected to those strategic leadership positions within the emerging government; freedom will not have an opportunity to ring throughout this country if the voting process fails.

Announce this prayer request to your contacts throughout your churches, neighborhoods, and places of business. Those with leadership roles within the local church post this message in as many newsletters and bulletins as possible. There is unlimited potential for God's presence in this process but if we do not pray then our enemy will prevail (See Ephesians 6:10-17) A prayer vigil prior to the end of the month may be an innovative opportunity for those within your sphere of influence to pray. This is a political battle that needs spiritual intervention. A powerful story about God's intervention in the! lives of David's mighty men is recorded in 2 Samuel 23:8-33. David and his warriors were victorious because of God's intervention. We want to overcome those who would stand in the way of freedom. David's mighty men triumphed over incredible odds and stood their ground and were victorious over the enemies of Israel. (Iraqi insurgents' vs God's praying people). They don't stand a chance.

I will pray with my soldiers before they leave on their convoys and move outside our installation gates here at Tallil. My soldiers are at the nerve center of the logistic operation to deliver the voting machines and election ballots. They will be driving to and entering the arena of the enemy. This is not a game for them it is a historical mission that is extremely d! angerous. No voting machines or ballots.

No elections. Your prayer support and God's intervention are needed to give democracy a chance in this war torn country. Thank you for reading this e-mail. Please give this e-mail a wide dissemination.

Thank you for your prayer support for me and my family. Stand firm in your battles.

Blessings, CH (CPT) Lyle Shackelford

[fec153]

Y'all stay inside , now, ya hear? you'll freeze your digits off iffen yah goes out in that dere mess. I know from blizzards and white outs. Was on the Pennsy Tpke. in one indec. 56.
Only way I knew I was still on the road was there wasn't any bumps.

Trying to remember who flew /still flies. Have a good one to pass along via "E"
Flip
P.S. Prayers for all you northerners. Stay warm.

[Anonymous]

Lately I've been thinking about starting over and switching from modeling the Q to modeling the Nickel Plate, but in the same era as what I would have built my CB&Q layout in. The reason I want to switch is that NKP steam is quite popular and available in plastic, and has a lot more interesting roster than the Q. Anyone think it's a good idea, especially when I barely have any CB&Q equipment so far?

Christopher

[Fergmiester]

Well Lisa got home this afternoon after I had been out in -16c for about two ours. (lasted for about an hour in the t shirt before I put on a wooly pully[:-^])

Anyway she just about lost it after she realized that the dreadknots in my mustache and beard were actually icicles. Took a picture but it didn't turn out. Shucks.

Anyway we're in for it, so hold on tight!

Luct was at George's today and saw a CP 4-6-4. But it wasn't yours. George threw me out after a half hour when I started to talk about snow. Go figure.

Later Gents

Fergie

http://weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/satellite/animateweb_e.html?imagetype=satellite&imagename=goes_ecan_1070_m_..................jpg&nbimages=1&clf=1