Mornin'........ Er.... uh, Afternoon everyone! Man the morning around here was really short today. Probably because I didn't get myself out of bed 'til after 10AM and have been returning phone calls from the Scout Office without ever getting the person who called me for the last 2 hours.........
It is a hot 84°F right now in the Finger Lakes with high humidity so my air conditioners are on and earning their keep today. Partly sunny with a chance of a few thunderstorms this afternoon as well. We have a flash flood watch in effect for creeks today (or cricks as my grandmother used to call them... as in Flint Crick about 10 minutes from here). You might be from the Finger Lakes if you measure distance using time..... It's about 50 minutes to Rochester from here and the R&GV Museum is about an hour away...
I will be spending most of today doing the wash, so I will have ample time to do some model railroading as I should stay down cellar to make sure the wash is doing OK.......... Also need to pay the "first of the month" bills that haven't been paid yet...... I think I best finish my coffee and get a move on.
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Coffee in a large UNION PACIFIC mug, please & thanks.
Started assembling "botching" a Cornerstone ADM grain elevator kit. This one is N scale and will be part of the Soylent Green complex. on my layout.
Well, late start on the critter rounds. Gotta go.
Healing thoughts to those in need.
Rob
Good Morning All..Its cloudy and humid 79 and posta t-storm ..I'll have a diet Coke please...Thank You..Not much going on here..you all have a good one...Jerry
Corey- My opinion is if the pivots are tight and the point appears to be thick enough or protrudes from the notch, (like I said I am not familiar with Peco), then you may benefit from filing yes. but, if the pivots are loose and you can jiggle the point away from the rail, even a little bit, unless the point is real thick and flat, I doubt you would gain anything except maybe a small bit of time if that. You need to look into replaceing the switch,(last option), Tightening the rivets, (next to last optoin as too tight can cause the same problems but could damage switch)
OR something obvious I didn't think about the first time, check to make sure the switch is being thown completely and solidly. Sometimes there is a small bit of gunk that keeps the points from going flush. Or if you have ground throws or switch machines make sure they hold the points fairly firm against the rail. Also if you do not have some sort of locking on the switch, like I do not yet on many turnouts, the vibration could cause the points to move a bit allowing a gap for the flanges to split. I'd look for reasons the points either aren't closing or are vibrating opn before doing any surgery. A lot cheaper too!!
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Ulrich: Keep the faith. I know how hard things can get where medical problems are a concern. I've been battling with mine for over a quarter century and they're progressively getting worse. Haven't had any heart trouble to speak of though I do have some of the muscles in my chest that caused a lot of concern until the docs found out what they were. That was quite scary, now it's just irritating. Take care of yourself as best you can. I hope things get better for you.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Todd, do you think I should try filing the point? I had hoped that buying Peco turnouts would help me avoid things like this.
Morning, Happy August 10th, get those cards in the mail today so you won't be late for august 13th.
Depending on who you listen to, high today of either 87F or 91F. 50/50 rain and or thunderstorms.
Ulrich- Keep the chin up . Things will get better.
Corey- I have no experience with Pecos other than stories I'd heard as a youngster. Quite the character he was. However I've had a couple of Atlas turnouts do that with only certain cars. The pivot rivet, (he he rhymes) gets a bit loose after 25 or 30 years and allows the sharper/thinner wheel flanges of certain cars to cut the points. Letting usually half the car but sometimes the whole thing to take a side trip.
Not much else going on today. Gotta get to the Church to do the bookwork, then back home for a bit of reconstruction work hopefully, then off to work.
Have a Great Day!!!
Man, what a busy weekend! I've been running like a chicken with my head cut off! (Sorry, poor visual there.)
Whats up with you all?
Good Afternoon Folks,
terrible weather at this side of the Big Pond, rain, rain , rain! St. Peter must have opened the floodgates...
Nothing positive to report from my side, just struggling to survive - somehow. I still feel kinda weak. More check-ups to come - my doc is not really happy with me. Sold all my model railroading stuff, there is nothing left. I feel so tired...
Good Morning All,
I'll have a regular to go Zoe. Humid already with a high predicted in the 90's and rain as well. Hope you're feeling better Jeff - that was good advice from Tom or at least using the stuff outside (tough in the middle of storms though).
Good to hear from Ed. Chin up Ed your son will probably be fine once he gets his "sea legs". When son #2 went off to Plattsburg we had the same worries and for the most part he did just fine (and he called when he didn't) Oddly enough Plattsburg is also a 6 hour trip from Danbury so I can relate to that as well. Far enough away for him to feel independent when you're not around and near enough to still offer a lifeline.
Ray - sorry the picnic didn't turn out as well as you would have liked. For sure the storms stopped any drop in visitors an at least you got the event in.
Hope the rest of you are well - I've spent the weekend refinishing the staircase at the house - the only bit of wood work reused as is. Lots of scraping and sanding but I got the stain on just at dusk yesterday so we'll see how it looks today. Now to do the bannister and columns for same.
Catch y'all later, J.R.
Today: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after noon. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. West wind between 10 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. West wind between 7 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Jerry, I was trying to think of the last time I ran a wire into myself, hum I just can’t put a finger on the last time I did that.
Jim, Most of the work has been remodeling the basement to accommodate the port facility addition. The outside chores have taken a bit out of MRR time as well. With the T-Storms moving in I plan on installing the German figures tonight.
ED, Good to see you back in the diner! Sounds like you had an adventurous past 4 months!
Watching my neighbor’s house this week; Last year he forgot to mention a maintenance guy was coming to remodel his bath room. I came home from work and there was a guy hauling power tools out of my neighbor’s house so I asked him who he was and he gave me an attitude and said: “kiss my ___” and mind my own business. I called the cops, 6 cops arrived and pulled him out of the house at gun point and threw him spread eagle on the concrete drive way. I walked over to the fence and asked him how my ____ tastes now. So far no issues to report.
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Good morning.It's 76, mostly clear and on the wet side. The high will be in the mid 90's and there's a chance of rain.Seems I got my sister's yard mowed in time yesterday as we had a couple of short showers later. It's been raining on and off during the night and there's a little more due today. I finished the DPM Seymour Block kit yesterday and will probably get started on the Skip's Chicken and Ribs kit today. It's already painted so only requires being put together and touched up. Not sure what else I'll be doing today as many of my usual activities take place outside.Today's Weather for:Sundown, LA 71446-6114 8/10/2009Heat Index: 82°FHumidity: 96%Dew Point: 75°FSo Far TodayHigh: 77°FLow: 76°FRain: 0.00"Rain Rate: 0.00"/hGust: 5mph NNEToday High: 92 Becoming mostly cloudy. A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning...then scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.Tonight Low: 75 Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
Hello ....
ED ! Good to see you, Ed........ Your posts have been missed. Thanks for the update...... Sounds like a neat location to rent a house so close to the railway! ...... I hope you brought a load of OJ.... Best OJ anywhere!.... I did not like the part when you said you would be busy in the weeks ahead, and that would keep you off the forums.... I was hoping you could spend more time here. .Your link has neat pictures...
Barry, I like the bridge photo. I noticed the piers in particular, and I think it would be fun to try to model them.
I think it will soon be time to pick on Berkshire locomotives again. That should wake up Duke.
Bridge Tom ..... I've been wondering if the NP Challenger ever showed up.
I'm still hoping Ulrich is OK. He sounded like things were really bad for him last time he was here.
On the layout, I am back to working on the big expansion. I'm working on the freght yard now.
Cheers, everybody.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Just stopped in before calling it a night. I've got the passenger train cut through town roughly laid out. It should work out better than before. At least I like it better. I'm trying to preserve the old track bed and put some old brass track as an abandoned track section where they left the rails in because I like the idea of the setup I had. Also I'm trying to keep a section of rock that I liked with the end of the as of yet dry creek bed. So far it looks like it will work good. At the very least I have eliminated the 15"R curves in town and I'm happy about that. Also it looks like I'll get to pick up another spur with the added space after Gold Creek gets rearranged. Bad thing is with the new track plan I won't be able to run a train until I get my shelf side built. I have the wood except for plywood and styrofoam so we'll see. I don't want to rush this just to get a train running. That's where I get myself in trouble. I keep saying "let's do this right even if it takes longer than you want. If you need something wait until you get it. Don't just make do with what you have just to get it done" So far I'm feeling good about this.
Ray- For some reason I feel really bad your picnic didn't go as planned. Almost as if I were involved. Funny how we feel for people we've never met. We not only rejoice in the happy times but also get saddened not only in sickness and hard times but even for things that in life are trivial like plain ole social events. You made me feel just about as excited as you were and your report really dissappointed me. I can only imagine how you must have felt I have had the same things happen over the years myself. I hope the next time you do this it turns out well. By the way I love the photos, they look great. The ones that didn't show or left early sure missed out.
Jeff- "just haven't felt right". Hmm. Did you feel this way before you mowed?(was that today or yesterday?) Think maybe the heat and/or humidity might be gettin' to you? Sometimes it can get you when it doesn't seem that bad out ya know. The nail polish remover might be involved, but have you been drinking water. Water or gator aide type stuff, not diet Dr Pepper or iced tea. I'm not tellin you anything you don't know, so you know dehydration will get the best of us. Especially the ones who know what to look for, sometimes they push it and say "nope, won't get me, I know what to look for". (HAH!!! Beat ya to it didn't I ??!!!) Been eating? You know the old "too hot to eat" thing can get ya too. I don't know anything about diabetics or how that stuff affects the problem, but I'm sure you're checking all that stuff. You are aren't you? Take it easy and watch yourself.
Ed- I feel honored to meet you. The famous Ed of Ed's OJ I assume. I've heard so much about you that I feel I've met a legend. Thanks for stopping in and telling us abit about yourself and what's been going on. I hope you get a chance to stop in more often.
Evening All..Just stopped in for a double RBF...good to hear from Ed..Jeff hope your feeling better..You all have a good nite...Jerry
Evening all. Janie, I'll take a Philly Cheesesteak and a RBF, thanks.
Can we PLEASE get this YOUKNOWWHAT catapult out of here, before someone slips on a YKW and... OWWW! That's why we should get it out of here...
I'll be at the RC catching up. Janie, can I please get another RBF and some Advil cause my head hurts after slipping on that YKW...
My Model Railroad: Tri State RailMy Photos on Flickr: FlickrMy Videos on Youtube: YoutubeMy Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives
It's been a long time since I posted anything here, I can't even remember how many versions of the Diner thread back it was, so I figured it was time to give you an update on what's going on. Giving a quick read to the last few pages it seems like more than half of the regulars here are totally new to me (and vice versa).
Retirement continues as usual. It was a little nerve wracking while the market (and my IRA) was in free-fall, but it seems to have settled down for now. We've been travelling a bit, as we usually do, and working out at the orange grove when we're here in town.
We've had a drier than normal year so far, and the trees reflect that. They dropped a lot of the fruit just after setting, and it looks like the crop will be significantly smaller than normal. There should still be enough for us, and of course, enough to ship up to the diner. In early summer we had a good crop of Key limes and passion fruit. It's still a lot of work but we get a lot of satisfaction out of it.
While we were up in the Houston area in mid-July we finally got the word on Jr.'s college admission efforts. He made it into his second choice school. At least he got in somewhere, and actually wants to go to college, so we're thankful for that. He'll be going to a (very) small branch of the state university, but the only branch that offers Industrial Engineering. I'm actually not convinced that he's really suited for Industrial Engineering, but he picked the major. I just hope he enjoys it enough to work hard at it. Science and math weren't his strong suits in school.
We hurried back to Mexico and headed up to the town where the school is located to get him registered and look for a place to rent. Mexico, as I've always said, is a lot different from the US. Kids don't look to get out on their own like they do up NOB. It's a small percentage of kids that even go to college. Most of those go to a college in their home town and live at home. The small number that go away to school generally either live with relatives or in a pension (a rented room, possibly with some meals or kitchen privileges). I haven't seen any dorms at any university, or heard of any (although I suppose that some may exist). It would be a very small number that get their own apartment.
As we always planned, we'll be renting a place up there and will split our time between our house here in Tuxpan and the place up there. We'll roughly spend 50% of our time in each place. That way Jr. still gets the parental support he wants (yeah, I know, different from NOB) and we can still take care of our responsibilities down here on the coast. Responsibilities that include the orange grove, of course.
He'll be going to the Universidad Veracruzana (Veracruz University) in Ciudad Mendoza (4 miles from Orizab). It's up in the mountains at about 4,000 ft elevation, the surrounding peaks go up much higher. In fact, Pico de Orizaba at 18,500, is the highest mountain in Mexico, and the 3rd highest in North America. So the climate will be much more to my liking than down here on the coast, cooler and drier. The place is about a 6 hour drive from here (incl potty breaks, but not including time for a meal), even though it's only around 250 miles.
Here's a bit on Pico de Orizaba, and you can see from the small insert map about where it is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pico_de_Orizaba
We found a nice (by Mexican standards) small 2 br home to rent, walking distance close to the university, convenient to the town center, that doesn't need too much work, and is very inexpensive. The most expensive part will be completely furnishing a second house. We've already started repainting the rooms, and we've bought and had delivered the most critical items, beds, stove, and fridge. We'll gradually fill in the rest of the stuff as we go along.
The best feature of the house is that the railroad mainline runs right in front of the house. Right in front. Like there's maybe 25 feet between our gate and the nearest rail. Yeah, you hear those suckers when they run past, especially as they have to sound their horns for the grade crossing 150' from the house. Me, I'm thrilled. Fran says she can put up with it. Jr isn't thrilled, but he didn't a vote.
Here's a grab shot to give you some idea. Fran is standing in front of the gate to our carport. The narrow concrete band is our street. That's the Ferrosur (FSRR) mainline on the left. Should be a decent place for railfanning, ya think?
We went down to the telephone company office and contracted for service. It'll still take 2-3 weeks to get the phone installed, even though the line exists, and one week more until I get internet service. Yeah, patience is necessary to live successfully down here. At least I think the speed of the internet will be faster, even though it's the same DSL over phone from the same provider I have here, just a better line quality.
I'll probably be spending less time on forums, both because of being busy with the move, and also because I expect to be more active while we're up in the mountains instead of staying cooped up in the a/c all day like I tend to do down here.
We're actually back in Tuxpan right now for a few days. We'll be heading back up there middle of the week. Jr. actually starts classes on Monday the 17th. We'll stay on for a couple of weeks to get him into a routine before leaving him on his own {{{shudder}}} for a week for the first time.
I think it will work out okay.
That's it for now.
Ed
JPowellWe had a line come through at about 230pm. Then a break till about 730pm.
Yep! Those are the one of which I spoke........ We got the first one (heavy downpour) around 12:45 at the museum. And the second one was here about 6:30. If I was driving from my house to yours, I could just have stayed right in it............ [edit} And hold on to your hat, Barry is sending a really mean looking one down from Canada that should be hitting you in about an hour, and we will get 45 minutes or so after that looking at the shape of it. We are both under a severe storm watch for tonight.
Got the car unpacked and downloaded the few photos I got today. This is the Spaghetti Warehouse Trolly where we had lunch.
The inside:
Our division display:
And the only steam loco in their collection. Definitely not runnable. When they got her the cab was missing so they fabricated one from plywood....... The wagon in front of it is a horse drawn milk deliverly wagon from way back when.
Oh, BTW, Tom. I think think Manét would make a better goalie. Nothing gets by him! Blackie would be a good forward as he is very quick. Both good skaters, expecialy when running on the kitchen floor.....
blownout cylinder Speaking of rumblin'boomers--we just got another one----yay
Speaking of rumblin'boomers--we just got another one----yay
We had a line come through at about 230pm. Then a break till about 730pm. And since then I've heard it on and off in the distance. Most of them storms here are moving to the southeast. The current cluster out near Toronto is expected sometime between 1030pm and 1am.
Well gang... pending notification from the g/f w/ my reservations, I should be leaving here for Des Moines tomorrow at 6am.
Take care!
//signed// John Powell President / CEO CNY Transportation Corp (fictional)
http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s303/nuts4sports34/
Hunter - When we met in January of 2000, you were just a 6 week old pup who walked his way into this heart of mine as the only runt in the litter who would come over to me. And today, I sit here and tell you I am sorry we had to put you down. It was the best thing for you and also the right thing to do. May you now rest in peace and comfort. Love, Dad. 8 June 2010
I love you and miss you Mom. Say hi to everyone up there for me. Rest in peace and comfort. Love, John. 29 March 2017
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
ewl01Jeff - I was going to say check the gas connections (guessing you have propane), but you would have smelled that. Even non-acetone stuff can be nasty in enclosed areas. We've found that even stuff that is supposed to be NON-TOXIC can still be dangerous.
Evenin' folks!
What a day for a picnic....... We had only about 10 people show up. I was hoping for a few walk ins to bolster the ranks, but nope. One person didn't show who was on the list. We got the grill fired up out side the building that houses a large part of their exhibits, luckily everyone got their lunches cooked and had just sat down to eat when...... KaBAMMMMMMM! Thunderstorm hits. OK, should pass and we would still make the 1:30 trolley down to the other museum....... Another line comes through with both lightning and torrential rain. Lights flicked in the Spaghetti Warehouse car where the picnic was held. Probably got 1/2 inch of rain in 15 minutes. Lucky the lunches were cooked as the grill is now out and a wet mess. Announcement comes over the PA... "all trolley trips are canceled until the storms move through". 2:30, light rain, and the 3 people from the NMRA who had not given up and gone home rode the trolley, then the train down to the R&GV Museum to look around down there and get a guided tour of the restoration building. Only one had not ever been there before. He did rave about it when he got back and said even with the rain, it was a great day. Very discouraging for the two of us who have spent 2 months putting it together............. Oh well, such is life.
On the good side, one of the volunteers at the New York Museum of Transportation joined the NMRA today, and many folks stopped and talked about the hobby and enjoyed the exhibits we had up. Oh, I also joined the NYMT so I am now a member at both museums out there.
JimRCGMORay - EXCELLENT scenery (and building) work there in WPF! On your one photo, I'm guessing that the ballast jar and cup are up in the tree line, right? Or else you did an even better job with PhotoShop than you did on the scenery and buildings... I'm gonna save the scene with the bandshell and buildings for later use;
Thanks Jim! It is coming along well. Yes the ballast jar is up on the next level. I had to get the track ballasted up there before put the trees in other scenery along the top edge or I would be having more fun with the topside creeper..........
JimRCGMOI like your variations on the bricks - they had that back in the '20's? Cool!
That was something I did check out thoroughly and found that in this area of the country painting the bricks that way was quite common in the 1920s. It is very much a regional thing. It was pointed out that there are still buildings in Geneva that have the same type of thing today and you can see on one building where a building next door has been torn down that the paint on the brick dating from the 1920s (that has only recently seen the light of day since the 1920s) is painted.... With that in mind, I felt comfortable doing the brick work that way on the layout. While I did some checking on line, most of the "evidence" I have is anecdotal from some elderly locals...........
BTW, I booted up the computer when I got home and yet another torrential downpour with a good light show went through.... I shut down in a hurry!
I'll have a couple photos later of the displays and the Spaghetti Warehouse Trolley.
jeffrey-wimberly It may just be the aftereffects of working with the nail polish remover (non-acetone) yesterday when I was stripping some decals from a Walther's REA reefer. That stuff can be pretty rough.
It may just be the aftereffects of working with the nail polish remover (non-acetone) yesterday when I was stripping some decals from a Walther's REA reefer. That stuff can be pretty rough.
Jeff:
Take it from an Official Old Fart who has mild COPD--anytime you're working with any kind of solvent--including spray paint--grab one of those nose masks that can be got at any drug store and use it. It really helps. I use one even when I'm cleaning my locomotive wheels with alcohol. It makes a heck of a lot of difference. I always keep a package of them hanging around the garage when I start spraying stuff or rubbing stuff off with solvents. They're disposable, and the ones I get come about 10 to a pack. They really help.
Take care of yourself.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Jeff - I was going to say check the gas connections (guessing you have propane), but you would have smelled that. Even non-acetone stuff can be nasty in enclosed areas. We've found that even stuff that is supposed to be NON-TOXIC can still be dangerous.
Been busy with work (14 days straight), EMS (averaging 4 calls a day), and family estate stuff (ughh,still), lately.
Cobbled a BLI NYC DCC unit together with the junk boxes I bought. Just have to find the weak link in the wiring that keeps shorting the DCC unit out.
I know I missed a bunch of folks, sorry. Eric
jeffrey-wimberly I don't know what it is but I just haven't felt 'right' all day. Can't quite put my finger on it.
Jeff, have you been eating/sleeping okay? Blood sugar (low/high) or such, perhaps? Or any other usual culprits that might be behind things? A/C coolant leak? Dead skunk under the trailer? (okay, the last one was a joke, of sorts...) Just trying to think of some possible cause here.
Jim in Cape Girardeau
I don't know what it is but I just haven't felt 'right' all day. Can't quite put my finger on it.
Robby P: I sent your message back to you today via email and PM.
Jim........I was looking at some old MRR magazines, and found one I kinda like. Its in the Feb. 07 edition. I like how the track is laid out. Might get some good ideas off of it. I hope to get the tables built, and maybe later this week get some more shots up.
"Rust, whats not to love?"