Elliot's Diner, Mark XV

[AmanaMedic]

Good afternoon, ladies? a double cheeseburger with fries and a Coke please 'n thankyou while I sit at the RC and get caught up (again).

RAY: Good point about Adolf's termination...hadn't thought of that. I think having 80+% of the townfolk standing around with the pitchforks and torches may have helped him to make up his mind. Our Mayor canned the previous cop too. That one was easy to get along with, and did a good job. His muck-up? He was busting people living in Hizzonnor's rental properties! There were suggestions of drug dealing. I suspect at some point, the properties could've been confiscated. Goodbye rental income...so goodbye Officer!

JIM: West Branch axed Adolf...so did Mechanicsville. Both towns are here in Cedar County (it ain't a big county). Mechanicsville guys have told us "we tried to warn your council, don't hire this guy!"

Good thing: Adolf is history. The part-time cops are taking up the slack...supposedly. Bad thing: Our County Sheriff does NOT want to contract with the city to patrol here. County will respond if called, they just won't be driving around town before-hand. So...when seconds count, the fuzz is minutes away. Time to buy an arsenal... a street sweeper would be a good start...

ULRICH: Hey Pal, yet another track plan for me to file in the "layout ideas file!" THANKS! Have a struedel, or RBF, or...whatever and tell the lady to put it on my tab...the expense account with THAT editor.

JEFF: Looks like Company No. 6 had best keep the tank FULL on that black over red engine...I don't think she'll clear the door with anything less! Prairieburg discovered that when they got a new 2800 gal. tanker back in the mid 90s. It was empty the first time they went to back it into the station...and was too tall. I think they knocked the lightbar off. So, they filled it, put the lightbar in a lower, less-visible location and it cleared with an inch or two to spare.

In the modeling arena, I'm on-hold with a CCP caboose, trying to find the decals for it. There USED to be a small maker which had 'em. They're apparently defunct now. This will make two projects dead on the rail for lack of decals. The other is a converted Athearn grain hopper, now resembling a Portec used by XTRA leasing. Islington Station Decals had the set... can't find it anywhere. I've even been trying "theBay" for about 2 years now.

So...with the caboose dead on the rail, I'm back to the 41' CNW gon I started earlier this year. I've finally bit the bullet and decided to go ahead and try to make the 40 teeny tiny little styrene triangles I need for gussets on the sides. Thankfully, this thing will be black, so the minor differences from gusset to gusset hopefully won't be as noticible. A NWSL "Chopper" would probably do me a more uniform job than what I'm achieving with an Xacto and scale rule in trying to make 6"x6" triangles out of 1' squares. But, such an apparatus is NOT in the current budget.

I'll hang out at the RC for awhile, see who else makes it in today...

Chris

***EDIT****

Whooops! I've got tops, so...order up gents, tell the lady to put it on the expense account with THAT editor...

[howmus]

Afternoon everyone!

Just got home from 4 hours of w**k at the museum.  We were picking up scrap iron to fill up a 30 yard dumpster to sell to a local scrapper.  Hopefully put a little $ back in to our treasury.  So we had everything from the forklift to the backhoe and bucket loader, to an old Army Semi Tractor up and running to pull an aged old flatbed trailer that must have had at least 50 tons of iron scarp loaded on it out for recycling.  I told them to scrap the old flat bed as well.  It has definitely seen better days.......  I was amazed that it held together to get it down the dirt road to where we are handling the scrap.  All this is to make room for the rest of our new siding which will hold the restored Empire State Express cars.

Zoe since Chris has the top of the page, I'll have a RBF to gain back some strength after a busy day..... 

I have to be back out there early tomorrow to work train crew for the day.  I will be a car host on one of the cabooses.  I always enjoy that!

I guess I'll check out the new "water" I poured last night and see if it set well.  I am using Envirotex Lite over some woodland Scenics "water" that never did really set up like it should have and has collected lots of dust over the past 3 years.  The envirotex will set to a very hard glossy finish that can be cleaned when necessary.  Also want to get going on a few more details that need to be done before I have the "judged" here to do a merit judging for me.  Getting close though.....

73 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

AmanaMedic

JEFF: Looks like Company No. 6 had best keep the tank FULL on that black over red engine...I don't think she'll clear the door with anything less! Prairieburg discovered that when they got a new 2800 gal. tanker back in the mid 90s. It was empty the first time they went to back it into the station...and was too tall. I think they knocked the lightbar off. So, they filled it, put the lightbar in a lower, less-visible location and it cleared with an inch or two to spare.

I hear you on that! Sundown VFD's pumper truck stands 10' 1" tall and the bay doors are 10' 3" tall. With a 1,000 gallons of water on board the truck squats an additional inch.

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evening---

Got back from a day trip north of here to find this

and this

and another of these

There is more of this coming at you----we even found an abandoned co-op so I got a little piculous

So we were a little rediculous today-----

and we had to dodge t'boomers as well-----

[TMarsh]

I hear that train a comin. It's rollin round the bend. I ain't seen the sunshine since, I don't know when.....

Sorry another thread got this song in my head.

Oh... Death Race is on. Probably won't be as good as the original Death Race 2000.

[Packer]

Hey all. Just dropping in before I hit the hay.

I was out last night until midnight drag racing. I cracked out some really low RTs while I was at it, a 0.1769, a 0.0488, and a 0.0048. IMO, 48/10,000ths of a second is pretty darned good, even for deep staging (rolling turning off the pre-stage light).

The worst part of staying out til 12 was that I only got a few hours sleep since I had to be to work at 7. I figure I can make up for it by going to bed early tonight.

Barry, nice shots of all the grain facilities.

Robby, nice catch on the cabeese. I have a few pictures laying around of a few CSX cabeese, except one was still in the seaboard paint. IIRC, there was one in Cheesie paint near it. In that same area I found a BN caboose several months later.

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Hi Diner Crew,

Just a short stop tonight,

I wanted to give some rightful recognition to our friend from across the pond.  >>  ULRICH  <<    He is now OFFICIALLY ONE OF US.

He took the inititave and ordered a RBF on his own..   He has truly acquired the TASTE.

CONGRATULATIONS   ULRICH     I AM SO PROUD OF YOU.

Johnboy out............................

[Cederstrand]

Some really Great pics being posted in the Diner these days.

I'll have a tall glass of cool lemon water, please.

Wife wants to drag me to the Docs next week to get checked out. I think I already feel better so won't have to go. OK, if I'm still dizzy come monday, I'll probably go. One of my ears has developed some soreness and swelling, "and it ain't from wrastling".

Brought in some of the wife's HO "fixer-uppers" to start work on. No progress to report on though.

Have a good night all.

Rob

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Janie - I'll just have a Santa Fe mug of decaf and a hot fudge sundae (want to just drop off nice an' easy tonight...)

Chris - it might be worth a look at Champ(ion) Decals. Although they say they're trying to wind down, they still have a lot of their decals left and the website is (probably 99 percent) up to date for online ordering. My decals I got in today I had ordered over last weekend (I think it was), so they made pretty good time getting here.That's weird about filling up the tanker lowering it enough to clear the door...

Inch, I got my W-S Tie and Plank Mill kit out this evening and looked at it. That's gonna be a lot of detail w**k (trimming flash from the metal castings, painting all the stuff, etc. It's almost as much w**k as a craftsman kit (and probably less than some of the newer craftsman kits)! Should be very nice-looking once you or I get done with it, though. A lot of detail castings in that kit, plus trees, logs, planks, sawdust for a pile, etc.

Ray, at least after your day today, handling the caboose tomorrow will seem like nothing to you, I bet! Better have a second RBF for your energy.

Aw, Barry - there ya go, getting all artsy-smartsy on us, with that shot up the middle of the elevator (or wherever that one was taken from). Looks like you had some fun out there today!

Ulrich, not to worry about what Johnboy said - we'll treat you like one of our own, regardless of how many RBF's you have each day. But yeah, you fit in real well with this crew (Hey, wait! - Did I just compliment, or insult Ulrich?...)

Besides taking a look at the W-S Tie and Plank Mill, I also started putting together my background warehouse (the DPM one) and the first/second phase of my 'grouting' (if you can call it that). Here's the right half of the wall (before the 'grouting'):

and here's 'Stage 2', after applying the 'grout' (but before I rub most of the extra 'grout' off. Either that, or I might decide to add more and make it a stucco-ed walls on it):

(Don't look too closely at those pics...) I'm just starting on the wall at this stage - I plan to have some variation in the basic 'brick' color (some darker, for example) by the time I call it 'done'.

Rob, don't fool around - get yourself to the doctor on Monday, okay? It doesn't sound like your symptoms are improving on their own, and may be sliding a bit instead. Do get it checked out, so you can get back to fiddlin' with your wife's (or your own) structures.

About time for me to finish up my sundae and coffee, and mosey on home. I'll see you all tomorrow!

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[Anonymous]

 Good Morning Everybody,

Flo, just a coffee,  please, too early for an RBF...

Day 2 of a wet weekend and again no steaming in the garden. My son has come for the weekend, but I hardly see him. It is either doing some studying for the upcoming end-of-term exams, or hanging out with the old pals. Why do I feel so old all of a sudden?

Barry - nice shots! Have saved them on my ´puter as a reference should I model a grain elevator. Btw, how does grain come to Alaska? Is their a grain elevator at, let´s say, Seward? Should I add one on my layout?

Rob - take care of your health - it´s not yet time for the final "all aboard" call, so don´t play with it!

Robby P.  - will we see a pic of a caboose weathered and detailed by you, just like the ones on your pictures? Talking of weathering, how about a clinic for us in a central location (i.e. Hamburg, and I´ll throw in a visit to "Miniatur Wunderland!)?

Chris - I live in Smalltown/Germany, population 25,000. We have a police station staffed by 4 coppers - but only during the day. 2 of them drive around in their brand new Mercedes (takes them 20 minutes to cover the town) and then hang around at our cafe or burger place. 2 of them remain at the station, reading a newspaper, playing cards. Not much going on here - maybe a chicken run over by a car, maybe a lost wallet... . 18.00 hrs sharp, they lock up the station and that´s it until 8 o´clock in the morning. No patrolling, no cop in sight... Should something happen and you ring 1-1-0 (that´s our 9-11), the cops may come all the way from Luneburg (not Lunenburg in Nova Scotia), which is just 50 miles away... Don´t get me wrong, there is a lot of crime, but usually, these things happen at night, not during the day. We don´t need daytime coppers and nighttime sleepers...

Jim - keep us posted with that background warehouse...

Johnboy - so I have passed the test?

Have a good day, all of you!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning.

It's 68 (coolest it's been in a while) and partly cloudy. The high will be in the upper 80's and it will be partly cloudy.

There was a really heavy rain in Leesville yesterday but not a drop out here. We did however benefit from it as the temperature dropped significantly with the outdoor temp being under 80. This is almost unheard of for July. My sister and her family returned home last night from their trip to north-west Texas. For me this means I don't have to go over to feed their pets anymore. What a relief. My mother's health continues to improve. A couple of weeks ago it took her 5 to 6 seconds to cover the measured yard (36"). Now she can cover that distance in less than half the time. Also she's gone shopping for clothes twice in 3 days. This is a good sign. Now if she could get to the point of being able to prepare her own meals I could get back to my normal life, such as it is.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      7/19/2009

Wind Chill:  68°F
Humidity:  96%
Dew Point:  67°F

So Far Today
High:  70°F
Low:  68°F
Rain:  0.01"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  0mph NNE

Today  High: 92    Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight  Low: 68    Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. East winds around 5 mph.

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning

We's be getting some more showers today, tomorrow, tuesday---etc etc etc with highs stuck in the low 20's

RAY: Or anyone else for this matter---can anyone explain this to this little one?

Like--how'd this get so weathered that the wood is showing? Oh, BTW, this is at Palmerston ON-on a 2-6-0 switcher

[ewl01]

Morning all!  French toast, bacon and a decaf if you would Flo.  Thanks

Went up to see sis at the house.   Just to visit, she gets lonely by herself. We are slowly getting rid of un-needed household goods.  Our church has helped find new homes for many items through the social help network we are a part of.

 I did stop at the LHS up there and picked up an Atlas Lackawana H16-44 along with some other items.  Felt good to spend money on something I didn't really need!  Hopefully after work I can get some MRRing done.

PC - Sorry I'm late in sending my prayers for your son.

To others - I'm sure I've missed others in need.  To you, I also send my prayers and best wishes.  You were all there for me in my time of need.....

This will be another busy week.  It's Neptune City Day set up week.  The DPW is responsible for collecting all the loaned items required, stage, cooking items, tents, fencing, road barricades for the 5K race, etc.  Then it's the "manditory volunteerism" on Saturday.  All town employees and services (FD,FA)  are expected to give 3 hours of time per person to help with the event.  Let's see, 6:30am to 10:30pm - there are 52 employees and 10 FA members.  The FD runs a food tent all day with their 25 active members, the FA is there for the race and of course staffs a FA tent all day.  Some of us are there for more than 3 hours.....

Later, Eric

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.  The suns out and the high will be about 74.

 I didn't get anything done yesterday, other than going to the LHS/caboose shots.  From 3:00pm - 9:00pm a neighbor help put in a new front door on the house.  I thought it would have taken a hour or so.....well 6 hours later its done.  The door was free (wifes cousin), and its a VERY nice door.  That was my day yesterday.

 Todays plan.  Well I might start on my next boxcar.  Thats about it.

 Hope everybody has a good day, and I will be back in later.

[TMarsh]

Good mornin, I'l have the French Toast, yup with real maple syrup since it re appeared. Also, scrambled eggs,  bacon, a bowl of grits with real butter and coffee please. Thank you.

Another unseasonably cool day today. Yesterday it only made it to 76F and today it's s'pose (Midwest for Suppose. Also commonly pronounced 'pose or post) to be about the same. I'm thinking of going to church on TV. I think I will. I'm gonna pack (means take) my perfect wife to see mom today and then maybe the Chinese buffet for a late afternoon dinner. She likes the place.

Ulrich- Like Jim said you didn't have to order an RBF to be accepted, but thanks. (I won't tell JohnBoy you switched it with Barry's empty when nobody was lookin'. Your secret is safe with me) I hope you're paying attention to the translations. I realize not everyone speaks Central United Statesian.

 Rob- Please don't be stubborn. You have donkeys for that. GO TO THE DOCTOR!!!. I'm not one myself, nor do I play one on TV, (well maybe a couple of times with my wi..... Never mind) but being dizzy, light headed that kinda stuff.... don't mess around. GO TO THE DOCTOR!!!

Robby- I don't think you've done a coboose yet have you? It's too bad you are limited in your customer base with specific road names. I bet if there was just one or two railroads your stuff would fly out the door faster than you could make em. ( I think you're right there with AJ myself. sssshhh!!)

 Vincent- That's pretty....., No Vinnie, I said Vincent, you know Packer. That's alright easy mistake. That's pretty quick. If you're as fast with your hands as you are with your feet you could catch flies!

I think I'll do a little MRRing today and a bit of cleaning the office. I still have to wash the dinning room carpets. Then I have to be ready in case they need me at the restaurant if the get swamped this evening. (sigh) Another cup of coffee I think I'll sit in the corner booth and look out the window for a bit.

Oh, I'm glad I didn't pay to see Death Race, but it was better than I thought it would be. Brenda also rented  Gran Torino. Now I thought that was a real good movie. I would recommend it, though not for small children as the racial slurs get tossed around like candy but it really wasn't as bad as I had assumed it would be. I was really a good story. Same old plot, old meany gets softened, but then again, is there too much new anymore? They also advertised for the "Dirty Harry Collection" You get a Harry Callahan ID and badge!!!! I want it.

Have A Great Day!!

 

[Anonymous]

 Hi Guys,

it is late afternoon here in Germany and I thought to hop in here for a quick beer. No Flo, I showed you my driver´s already some days ago. Hey, I brought a keg of some good German dark beer with me,  just to share...

It´s not been a really good day today. My nerves started to play tricks on me, resulting in my right hand shaking like mad. I am typing this up with my left hand.

Rob - not so long ago I felt dizzy myself, and decided to ignore it. It was a minor stroke which made my hand shake, and it is not getting better. So, please, see a doctor!

 I have to stop drawing track plans. Although I can get really exited when I have finished a new plan, I get second thoughts a day later. But as I don´t have the means to get started, planning is all I can do...

Well I must be off - not a good day today. Hope you enjoy the beer!

[Cox 47]

Good Moring All..Its partly cloudy and 69 here..Havn't been in for awhile as the old saying goes "if it wern't fer bad luck I'd have no luck at all"...My Internet and phone service has been in and out,I have a broken axel on my power chair,My lift chair is throwing fits,My dressing for preasure sores were late coming in,With phone out my life line won't work!! Things have got to get better...Visiting nurse came friday she called my Dr. and he gave me a script for something for my nerves so at least that is helping some..

Havn't done much rail roading but I have been working on a box of stuff My son picked up at the thrift store...It all Old Stombecker stuff..I have two of the trains restored with one more to go..also there was a set of wooden clown made by Stombecker also called Bill Dings clowns..

 

Thanks for letting me vent on you all..Have a good one...Jerry

[Robby P.]

 I will take a sweet tea to go.

 Jerry..............That's my luck as well.  It all hits at once.  My grandmother use to call herself Mrs. Murphy (Murphys law).   I'm sure it will all get better.   I do like the train you got

 Well Not much has been going on today.  I did work on the boxcar some.   Might not look to good right now, but that will improve tomorrow.

 Before:

 

 After (for now):

 

 

[AmanaMedic]

Good afternoon all, Chloe? Flo? Zoe? or Janie? whichever/whomever...I still can't tell you ladies apart... how'sbout a double bacon cheeseburger and fries please, with the large Coke please 'n thankya at the RC...

It's a picture-perfect, COOL for mid-July in Iowa day. Perfect for being outside...yet here I sit, 'cause I just don't feel like doing any of the 101 things a-waitn' for me out there....

ROB: You're STILL having the dizziness/light headed, etc.??? GET THEE TO A DOCTOR!!!! If I'da read all the other posts a little closer, I would've been all over your case sooner on this. It could be simple inner-ear thing, minears, or something more substantial... don't risk it!

OK, off the former paramedic soapbox for now...

ROBBY P: Another masterpiece in the making

JIM: Thanks for the tip on Champs...will give 'em a shot. I've never seen a listing of their stuff, so never really even thought about them. I used to all but have the Herald King catalog memorized... Also, fully loaded with H2O, the weight compresses the springs on the axles, making the truck a little bit shorter. Sometimes, only a few inches is all ya need. A lot of fire stations, especially volunteer stations, were built when apparatus was a lot smaller. Today's larger rigs just don't fit so well sometimes.

ULRICH: Nice to see common sense in govt. is in full force over there too... In Cedar Rapids, one neighborhood in particular has been a "hot spot" every summer. In recent years, thugs have moved in from Chicago. A few months ago, a cop was severely beaten by a 17 y.o.. NOW, the CR cops are opening a "temporary substation" near by, with hopes of a permanant substation in the area. It too will only be open during "regular business hours." So...if ya wanna go score some crack, best wait until after 1700 hrs., otherwise, The Man might be around. Of course, they'll still continue the around the clock regular patrols of the area...but having the cop shop itself only open during reg. business hours seems kinda...counter-productive?

One more reason why we don't live in Cedar Rapids...

Hey, ROBBY P: I forgot to say "thank you" again for letting us all know about that rusting solution. I'm very happy with it, and appreciate you telling us about it. Here's the floor of THAT gondola I'm back to w**ing on. Raw shot off the camera.

I'll be over at the RC if anybody needs me...though guilt is setting in on me over the 101 things waiting for me to do outside on this nice day...

Chris

***EDIT***

JERRY: Sorry Pal! I almost forgot about your situation... Back in my home healthcare delivery days, that's the kinda stuff I would've handled as "the on-call guy." Wish I could do something for ya on the chair and the scooter. What's the lift chair doing or not doing?

 

[Robby P.]

Chris..........No problem.  I don't use it that much, but I might on this boxcar (roof).

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Found a new car at the local Wal-Mart today. A 1967 Mustang.

I also checked the paint aisle and found ColorPlace spray paint in white (gloss/flat), black (gloss/flat), primer gray, blue gloss, green gloss and red gloss.

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evening

The little 'Spring' is curled up between my arms so I'm kinda typing with the single finger hunt and peck again

It's finally cleared up after giving us another round of 30% showers. This gave me the chance of doing some weathering work on the Limestone hoppers . These hoppers have also to be patched so the first thing is to patch 'em heeheehee I've got 3 to play with so I'll post them when I get them near done---it took all afternoon to FIND the dang things----maybe they ran and hid

Rob:--Like everyone said ----look after yourself----see a doctor

Chloe--I'll have a Cherry Pie and a RBF please---I'll be at the RC seeing who else shows up

[JimRCGMO]

Good Afternoon, Flo - hey, what the heck, I'll try some of Ulrich's German beer, please. Just a short mug of it though (have to drive home) - and a pretzel please. I always tend to associate beer with pretzels, myself. Well, maybe I'll have a nice roast beef sandwich also. Thanks, Flo.

TMarsh

I'm not one myself, nor do I play one on TV, (well maybe a couple of times with my wi..... Never mind)

 

Todd, you're in rare form today, aren'tcha?  We're having an excellent day here in Southeast Missouri, also - currently 78 F (26 C) at 5:27 p.m. (which might be the high temp for the day). Nice to only need to run the fans today instead of the air conditioning.

Jerry, it's pretty much as you said about that luck. I would think that if your phone service went out, there should be some kind of alarm go off on the lifeline's other end, and have someone sent out to check what's going on. I like your train set - and I've seen some of those 'Bing' men before; they're neat fun to play with.

Ulrich, I'll let someone who actually knows answer your question, but I would think that - depending on their length of growing season - in Alaska they might have some winter wheat or such up there. Maybe not in Seward (I forgot how far north in the state Seward is...), but in some of the southern parts of Alaska. Hey, I couldn't find 'Smalltown' - how do you spell that in German? (Dang translation software...) I was trying to locate about where your town was using Google Maps. I found that their maps don't have nearly as much detail for European countries as in the USA. Also, are you being treated for your symptoms from your stroke?

Rob, I'll chime in one more time for only one phrase (about the dizziness and other symptoms), one you mentioned a bit ago: hypertension (high blood pressure)... I believe you can ask your resident medical person, but dizziness or some of your other symptoms can (I think I recall) be due to your blood pressure being too high. No messing around (sorry, Fergie), you hear? Otherwise we're all gonna come down there and hogtie you, toss you in the back of the pickup, and have your wife drive you to the doctor or hospital ER. (And no, I am not a Dr., nor do I play one, nor have I... oh, nevermind...).

Robby, that boxcar looks great already to me. But hey, I'm easy to please sometimes. (And I'd agree about the tie with AJ)

Chris, hope maybe Champ has something like what you need on the decals. As I think I mentioned before, they say they're selling down their stock to be able to retire, but their website says that those decals must be like coat hangers in a dark closet (multiplying...). So I thought it's just possible they might have your RR ones you need. Nice job on the gondola, too - I'll have to look up what place it was that Robby said carried that 'rusting' stuff.

I was sorry to see about Walter Cronkite dying. I thought a lot better of him than any current network news person who was gushing on about him (bar none, hands down, no exceptions, CBS/ABC/NBC...). I think part of his good sense as a news person came from the fact that he was born in the Midwest (St. Joseph, MO, I think), instead of some big city (no offense intended to any Diners who live in a bigger city - you Diners pretty much all tend to have better sense than most city folks I know or have met). Okay, time for me to step down off the , eh? (Almost got into politicking there...)

Not much in the way of MRR'ing w**k going on for me today - I got playing around with a computer game for a while after lunch, and then wound up looking at the Motley Fool website, seeing some articles they had on personal finance, setting aside a cash cushion (what's that? something for the window seat?) and such. Ulrich could tell us the phrase I recall from my Dad's (German) side of the family, went something like "We get too soon old, and too slowly smart..." (or close to that). Now, it seems like I have too many needful things to do in my weeks, and not enough time. I don't even have a spouse to split some of the chores with. I think I recall hearing somewhere that it's not usually the big disaster-type things that wear you out, but the little things.... 

Y'know, Flo, maybe I'll have a refill on my beer mug, after all...Yesshuree, I'll jush call a cab if I need to get 'ome, or maybe I'll doze off in that back booth, and have Zoe wake me up when she comes in in the morning.

Prayers will continue for those ailing (and needing to see a doctor, hint, hint...) or in need of comfort, or those job-hunting and needing help covering bills, etc. And I will continue to say Thanks for all of you Diners and families.

 

Blessings, and Good Evening,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

(one Missouri river city, about 400 miles from Walther's birthplace, in another Missouri river city)

 

[Packers#1]

 Hey guys, finally got my new room painted. Here's a couple pics.

My future layout space. I'll be moving the weight bench and chair. might move the blue crates, I'm not sure.

Here's my workbench, storage area, and study desk. I still need to hang those Titanic prints up.

 

Finally, a shot of my rs1 on the test track:

Also, shot this video of a train running on the layout with our digital camera. Yes, it's crappy quality. I'm not sure if it sped the train up any though.:

 

[howmus]

Evenin' everyone!

Got home from the museum about an hour and a half ago.  Had a great day with a lot of first time customers who to a one were very complimentary about both museums and the Trolley and Train rides.  We had quite a few who new nothing at all about trains (you can spot them as they are the ones who show up in flip-flops).....  One lady when told she could ride on either caboose or the engine, asked, "which one is the engine???"   Today they had all the doors on 211 opened up so you could see the 567B Prime Mover really well.  One guy as we entered the yard and I happened to mention that the old Alco was now boasting an EMD 567B Diesel engine looked at me and said, "I knew that wasn't an Alco!  I just didn't look right.  So we ran the entire gamut......

Zoe any of that German dark beer left.  What?  ID?  Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!  Do know how many years it has been since I have been proofed?  (Makes note to leave Zoe a large tip....)

Barry I would say that wood beam has seen better days.  Don't go climbing on it!  Down here stateside we usually refer to what you are seeing as "Dry Rot".  It is caused by water (go figure)........  We see it a lot over at the museum.  Here's some......... 

 

Rob I'll add my voice of concern as well.  Even if you feel better on Monday, go get it checked out.  If it is something serious, it is far better to find it as early as possible!  There are a bunch of animals where you live who really need to have you around.  Besides we need to have you around here as well!  You will be in my prayers!

I am suitably tired out from playing "Car Host" on train crew all day (7 hours) and have developed a stiff neck as well.  I need to check out how the "water" pour turned ou last night and do a couple other odds and ends around here, so I'll finish that mug of German Dark and get to w**k.

73 

 

[AmanaMedic]

Good Evenin', ladies? RBF please...yup, over at the RC.

SAWYER: Man, wish I'd had a room like that in my teen years... Sounds like you've at least had a productive weekend. I spent most of yesterday in a drawn-out political debate/battle with my incredibly ignorant little cousin on a social networking site. In other words, I haven't gotten anything done I'd planned to.

JIM: Thanks for the encouraging words on the gon. I got the "magic juice" at a Michael's (spelling?) Craft Store. For the floor of the gon, I took a surplus Testor's bottle cap, put a drop or two of the "metal" part, and diluted it about 50/50 with water, then brushed it on. I'm happy with it.

I looked at Champ's site...nothing there I can really use. I can pilfer from a CNW set for white "CC" lettering and numbers...and I think I've got a pair of Chicago Central bar and diamond logos left. What I'm lacking is a distinctive, unusual "lube plate."

Chris

 

 

[Packers#1]

AmanaMedic

SAWYER: Man, wish I'd had a room like that in my teen years... Sounds like you've at least had a productive weekend. I spent most of yesterday in a drawn-out political debate/battle with my incredibly ignorant little cousin on a social networking site. In other words, I haven't gotten anything done I'd planned to.

 

sounds like you had a fun time w/ your cousin Chris. what networking site? also, thanks for the compliment.

[AmanaMedic]

Sawyer, I'm on Facebook. Since I leave my politics in the parking lot here at the Diner, and consider this place "neutral territory;" facebook is where I go to post my thoughts on the current state of affairs, post opinion and news pieces I find interesting, and engage in at times very heated and intense political debates. Facebook is as close as I'll ever get to having my own radio talk show. The Diner, like I said, is neutral. In here, "left" and "right" are directions. "Right wing" and "Left wing" refer to which part of the chicken dinner ya dig into first.

As it should be.

G'night everybody...

Chris

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello everybody...

It's been a little hectic this weekend. I did have some model railroading time. I am building a prototypically correct Burlington sleeping car.

If you have some time on your hands watch these great You-Tube videos. These are really old films of the GN in Washington state. My friend, Gus, forwarded them to me from one of his friends...... 

THE CASCADE DIVISION--A Young Operator Remembers

This is a collection of shaky but interesting home movies taken between 1957 and 1971, during and after my dad's employment on the GN, with authentic RR communications from that period. It is divided up into four parts, with links as follows:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BpAPrAyyFw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwPCN-EteSo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x53ZZ2gVYWk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUdRTJlcgBA


This is probably the last GN video you will ever see, unless something else turns up in someone's attic someday. Be sure to click the HQ button at bottom right for a slightly less fuzzy picture.-- Tom Garrett

 Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

 Garry,

 

thanks for sharing!

Brought back fond memories - I was able to visit Scenic, Merrit and Skykomish during my time as an exchange student back in 1973, I also remember taking Amtrak from Seattle all the way down to Los Angeles - the longest train ride I ever made!

Ah, memories ...