Elliot´s Trackside Diner, Mark XX

[bjdukert]

 Has anyone ever noticed what the locomotive is at the top of the page pulling the reefers????  Looks like a good choice to me.

Duke 

[blownout cylinder]

Heartland Division CB&Q

Jerry is that a string of cars on your fiddle yard? I'll make a note of that. Hey, Diddle, Diddle, the Geep and the fiddle ........ Oh never mind........

Have a bit more coffee ---- you could use some

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Good Evening--

got all kindsa stuff to fiddle with tonight---gonna try to pluck some ties out'n from some rail so's I can redo a derail in this one-----

going to leave that all alone now before someone manages a perfect pitch---

Chloe, I'll have some coffee and a pumpkin pie as well please---I'll go sit with Duke in the corner booth----yes, I'll behave myself--yes ma'am---no ma'am----I did not supplement Garry's coffee---

[Packers#1]

 Went for a run. Ran for 9 mins. 11 seconds, then walked the rest of the way home, lol.
Pretty good day at school, got almost no homework. I might do some scenery work later today.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good afternoon. ..

Jerry is that a string of cars on your fiddle yard? I'll make a note of that. Hey, Diddle, Diddle, the Geep and the fiddle ........ Oh never mind........

Rob, if you have insomnia problems, perhaps you can take sleeping lessons from Duke. The Berkshires awake him briefly, but evedently he conked out in the corner booth again. ....

Zoe you can serve a geritol and espresso coffee to Duke. Make it a double.

Der John ... Sounds like you are making good layout progress.

Keith ... You too. Pictures are impressive.

[der5997]

Well, that was wierd! I put the cursor over the Reply button expecting the ghostly hand, but got a "Circle with Bend Sinister" (Universal "Bannned" symbol) instead.  It got sorted, but was strange for a minute.

Green tea please Zoe: Thanks.

Jerry: I like what you are doing with the Fiddle Yard. Mine needs the same treatment, but is low on the priorities list right now.

Keith: I'm re-moddeling my freight yard re-placing Peco sharps with Peco Mediums. That's because I can't get my 50" and longer cars to track in reverse as whole cuts of cars through the sharp turnouts. If your equipment is going to be passenger, then I'd re-think the sharp Pecos. However, in their defense, I have to say that a series of two crossovers made from Peco Sharps, to access the secondary passenger terminal in my passenger yard, takes the 80' cars in both directions without complaint. Perhaps it's the overall number of cars / cut that is the difference. I run short (4 cars max) through that set of turnouts. Your thought of getting the actual turnouts and trying the configurations out "on site" gets a HUGE from me. It's what I'm  doing, even after CapeJim's helpful computer assisted drawings of my basic plan.

On the Whale-back and reverse Whale-back tender discussion, the A&WRR (my Alberta layout) ran a docksider on fan trips. To increase range on this oil burner equipped loco, a Whale back tender was added. I made this actually to improve electrical pick up. The frame was scratched to accomodate a short tender truck I had, and the body was made from one of those toothpaste "pump" things that were popular at the time. I thought the effect was neat. Sorry about the picture quality, the image is a heavilly sharpened crop from a much larger scene that was not in sharp focus in the first place. There is enough detail to see the curve of the tender ends.  Just to add to t he merriment on this subject, and to please CN Charlie in particular, here's a pair of CN Whale-back / Reverse Whale-back combo tenders.

Ulrich: Your experiences with that "seminar" remind me so much of when I "retired" from my pastoral ministry and went on (Un)Employment Insurrance. Part of the conditions for that were similar "seminars" Nothing to do with my field of expertise or interest. But i've found that there's always something to be learned, even if it's "just" character building!  I hope the move goes well, and the phone company comes through as promissed. They sound every bit as slow as I've heard British Telecom is. Not enough competition.

Time to see about Rosie-the-Dog's dinner. TTFN.

[Cederstrand]

Coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.

***Jerry, what else do you plan on doing to the fiddle yard? Looks good to me.

When my wife told me the gutter guy was coming early this morning, I removed my el-cheapo gutters last night in the dark. New gutters look better and will work much better at keeping leaves out of the water holding tank. When I'm up to it, I'll put my old gutters up elsewhere on the farm. 

Haven't been up to working on the track issues today. Thanks for the suggestions. Had too much farm stuff to do and way too little sleep. Bad insomnia last night. Trying to stay awake long enough to do the evening rounds before I crash.

Rob

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Not much going on here. Just watching 'The Prisoner'. It's very different from the one I watched in 70's even though the story line is very similar.

[Attaboy]

EDIT: As i prepare to walk out the door, I got to thinking. You may not know me that well, so I figured I'd pop back in and say, I'm only kidding.

Not to worry Tmarsh, I know a joke when I see one, usually.  It's not as bad as I've been getting from some family and coworkers.

howmus

I am lucky that being a widower, I don't have a "honey do" list.  I do have certain relatives who come to my house (a sister) and suggest that I need to do things like wash the windows.......  I can stop her pretty short by getting a pail out, handing it to her and saying, "Go ahead"!  I also remeind people that they don't live here and I will get to those tasks when I feel like it.......

That's kind of hard to do with wife that does live in the same house.  If I did try something like that I might not live there any longer.

[howmus]

Mornin'...... er, uh..... (looks at watch) I mean afternoon everyone.  Needed to get a haircut this morning and do some banking, and go to the post office and....  Well, anyway I didn't get in until now, so i guess I'll start with lunch.

Flo I'll have the fish sandwich with fries and a side of coleslaw.  And a cup of dark roast coffee in a R&GV mug.  I'll be at the rivet counter catching up with what's going on around here.

Attaboy you will love retirement!  I highly recommend it!!!   Hope your last day of w**k goes well for you.  I managed to be retired at the of 53.  NYS offered a buyout worth 5 years of service to get rid of us old tier 1 teachers to save money.  I would have lost money to stay teaching for 2 more years. 

I am lucky that being a widower, I don't have a "honey do" list.  I do have certain relatives who come to my house (a sister) and suggest that I need to do things like wash the windows.......  I can stop her pretty short by getting a pail out, handing it to her and saying, "Go ahead"!  I also remeind people that they don't live here and I will get to those tasks when I feel like it.......

I see lunch is here so I will catch you all later!

73

[Blazzin]

  Todd, in short that magnifying glass is so nice.. I can actually sit upright in a chair and do the work.  I guess Jeanne got tired of hearing my gripe.. "ARGH! .. my aging back~"  I can actually sit here at my computer desk.. watch T.V. / DVD .. have the computer on as well.. and sit here and work on my models.  I do also have a spot light that is behind my head.  It also helps me keep warm during the cold mornings.  .. Right now.. I'm looking for some extra small Peco turnouts.  I know I have them around here some where~  Keith

[Anonymous]

 Just to say hello to all of you!

Not a good day for me - wasted hours in the seminar and could not do a thing in the new flat!

RANT!

I´d better go, before Vinnie gets his shotgun... 

Have a good one!

[Cox 47]

Looks like lunch is on me...How about a Pizza Buffett?...Order up and enjoy!...Jerry

[Cox 47]

Good Morning all...its cloudy and 42 here but not rainning...I'll have a double cheese burger,fries and a diet coke please...Thank you..I pulled the fiddle yard off layout this morning..ballasted a couple of tracks,got to get caboose Industries ground throws in,ground cover down, and some work on back drop...

You all have a good one...Jerry

[TMarsh]

Keith- That was just a casual observation. Camera angles, lighting, N scale. All make a difference as to what you are really looking at opposed to what I see in a picture. I'm sure with enough determination and headscratching you will have what you want.

Magnifying glass on a stick. Yes, invaluable tool even for HO. I have one myself on a movable arm contraption thing with a light. Love it. I really like yours with the "helping hands" clamps as part of it. My clampy thing is seperate. You've seen them I'm sure, black stand two clamps. It works well but sometimes too close to the surface. Yours looks like you could move it a good distance up.

[TMarsh]

Attaboy

I have several small projects to finish now that I will have the time to do it. 

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!! Oh you new ORF's really crack me up!

Attaboy

Pat is already working on her Honey Do list.

See, it's started already. Wait 'til friends and family step in. (chuckle)

Attaboy

I figure by spring I'll be ready to look for a part time job just to get out of the house a little.

My plan too......... 5 years ago.

Finally was able to squeeze one in a couple months ago. Two or three nights a week, for about four hours a stretch. But after the first of the year!! I mean it this time. I'm gonna do it! MRR budget is stretced too thin.

Well, that's my plan anyway. (giggle)  

EDIT: As i prepare to walk out the door, I got to thinking. You may not know me that well, so I figured I'd pop back in and say, I'm only kidding. I truly hope your day tomorrow is wonderful. I remember my last day. I kinda got misty eyed on the way out the gates knowing I wouldn't be back under the same conditons ever again. Had a lot of good times there. Retirement is great, still busy beu kind of a relaxed busy. I'm sure you'll agree and have a ball. This is what we've all worked for. For at least a couple of us here it came a bit sooner than expected, but it still ain't half bad. Good luck tomorrow.

[Blazzin]

  "Coffee Pleeease~"  Jeff.. I just love your pics/ engines.  Everytime I see that Rambler.. /  AMC car of yours.. I laugh.. I want one.. but in N scale..  I really don't get that kind of choice.  Concerning your engines.. I would guess.. there is one type of engine you like.  I know.. when ever I see a particular pic of some type of frienght loco..I get all jazzed.. and Jeanne says .  "You have at least 3-4 of those already".  I don't know Jeff, but it seems like.. I get to liking one type.. and I gotta have the whole line.  lol. 

whoa,  Chris Rob Todd .. and others .. I thank you for looking at my cramped space.    I appreciate it that you took the time. Only thing I can say.. is.. 'I'll get back to ya"... one of the better things of using this 7/32nd  plywood for the ramps,  is that they are strong enough not to move when weight is placed on them... but easy enough to remove.   I believe there might be enough room.. taking into consideration the the ramps are now available for only 2 mains, instead of 3.   So, I will probably consider cutting some stuff in the next couple of days.  I really don't like working on the layout while buildings are on it.  But here's the 3 things I've come up with.

1.  Cut out areas .. making more room. 

2.  Get all my Peco and Atlas turnouts.. and look at the  angles of the turn.. and their length.  I guess this is where the #6 .. or #4 turnout comes into play.  And I'll probably learn some more here~

3. Consider making 'dioramma's to be drop in .. at a later date.  By doing so, I think it might help me place the buidlings into its own area. Also,   as I look at the buildings.. esp the stations.. or the freight station docks.. their level.. appears not to be correct.. especially when you add cork to the track.  Its almost as if the buildings are off .. by the height of the cork.   Just off hand I haven't actually measured it.. because my eyes dont' see too well at my age now.  Which now leads me to something Jeanne just got me.'

  The handy dandy new improved.. 'Whatever'  I think its fishing gear.. 'Fly Tackle'  holder... lol.  Its great.. " I can see~"  "I can see!"  .. its also great for the person who wishes they had at least two more hands.  hmm coffee~

 

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.  Seems like the rain will be on and off today.

 Not much planned today.  Maybe go to a few stores in town.  Work is starting to pick up.  Gotta go in early tonight.  They are talking about 6 days a week in Dec.  

 Hope everybody has a good morning.

 

[Attaboy]

Thanks for the congrats and well wishes everyone.  For those that asked, I don't have any definite plans yet.  Besides mrr I enjoy working on the house.  I have several small projects to finish now that I will have the time to do it.  Pat is already working on her Honey Do list.  For Monday my first official day of retirement...let's see...I think she has me scheduled to clean the bathrooms.  Who said retirement wasn't a step up?  I figure by spring I'll be ready to look for a part time job just to get out of the house a little.

[blownout cylinder]

AmanaMedic

JIM: Those "center turn lanes," we call 'em "suicide lanes" around here. The stupid "round-a-bouts" are creeping ever closer. Iowa City and Coralville have a bunch of them...even little North Liberty has one now right outside the newest elementary school. Of all the stupidist places to put one...I'm sure the bus drivers have "fun" negotiating it twice/day.

HAH!!! There are a whole slew of the dang "round a bouts" being discussed for here!! 3 new subdivisions have the &%^%$% things being 'planned' --one in front of a school--which will really ball things up for the bus drivers---One place that has heaps of them is the Kitchener-Waterloo ON region---even out in the middle of the country around there! 2 lonely petunia concession roads were joined in like manner

----------------------------------------------------------------

Good Morning--

It is currently rainin' to beat the band out here--current temperature is 9C going to 11C later today---grumble mumble snark-- Got spoiled with all that wonderful sun

Got a few things to pick up today and do as well---gonna be an otherwise slow day---

Chloe, I'll have a coffee for now---I'll be at the RC for a bit--

[TMarsh]

Good Morning. Stiiiiiiiiiiiill raining. Today: Showers likely before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 46. Southwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Tonight: Areas of fog after midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 35. West wind between 3 and 6 mph.

psst Joe- The magic number is 15. 15 is the number of posts to be reached. That number of posts, 15, having been reached, a new page of posts will be started and the counting of posts will begin again until the 15^th post is reached..... Again. Of course not taking into consideration the posts that post while you're posting a post, you should be able to post your posts without posting the TOP post most posting times. Post. HA! Got 15 "posts" in this post! Ooops 16...... 17.

Rob- If they ran fine before the ballasting, I'm betting it's a bit of glue or more likely a small bit of sand built up too high in a spot where the ballast got too far up the rail, (had that myself in a couple of spots) Watch real careful where the wheels leave the track in the switch. Could be the ballast is not letting the points make contact ( and that could be anywhere in the movable parts of the switch), or the ballast is up too high somewhere also. Shouldn't be a big problem. Oh hey, Jeff's got a good point. After soaking the area you may have some swelling you're dealing with.

Talk about "round-abouts" the only one I've ever experienced was in Alexandria, LA. Never been there before of course, (or since), and trying to get to the Lonestar restaurant. Not expecting this little European gift from somewhere a lot hotter than anyplace on Earth, and never having had to deal with one before, I made three circles I believe before figuring out, at what was apparently rush hour, how to get out where I needed to. If I recall correctly I just bailed out on the third time, might have only been two, and made my way to the "closed" Lonestar. I believe that night I ate at a neat BBQ joint that was designed somewhat rustic inside. Wood and kinda westerny. Cafeteria style I thhiiink. Yes it was. Pretty good if I remember correct. Maybe it wasn't a round about. Possibly a bulge around something like trees or a park or something and I turned around and made another stab at it. Can't really remember I just know I made a couple runs through this thing. Jeff'l know where I'm talking about. Used to be a fast food fish place by there. Not Long John Silvers, the blue building places. EDIT: Captain D's.

Best get a start on the day. Today's Mom day so I'll be occupied pretty much til w**k tonight.

Have a Great Day!!!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning. It's 38 and clear. The high will be around 70 and it will be partly cloudy.

Didn't get much done yesterday. After I got back from a general checkup at the docs office I worked on the layout a little. I don't know why but I was so tired I could hardly stand, so I got a couple hours of sleep and felt fine after that. I don't know how long I'll be online today. I was having so many connection problems yesterday that I got completely disgusted and shut the computer down around 5:30 - 6 pm. I'm having some problems this morning but not as bad.

[LSWrr]

Today: Occasional showers, mainly before noon. High near 57. South wind between 15 and 18 mph becoming light. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight: Showers likely, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 42. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph increasing to between 14 and 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JimRCGMO

Jeff, I'd agree on your O.L. King building - maybe add a window bricked over, too. Is that the Walthers coal company kit? Wouldn't mind finding a LHS that had one left. (I don't do the 'Bay any more since they went to forcing buyers to use PayPal 99 percent of the time, so that's not an option)

Here's a list of places you may be able to find it.

 

 

Cederstrand

The (HO) locos front wheels (Bach 2-8-0) derails about every 5th time through one particular switch and slow speeds are now iffy in a couple spots. Seems almost like a gauge problem, but why would E-Z track change after ballasting? More likely something I did to it. Still some work to do.

If the track should suddenly rise or dip on one side that could cause a problem with 6 axle diesels and especially with the rigid wheelbase of steamers. Get a good stiff ruler and lay it on the track lengthwise and look to see if one rail is higher or lower than the other, especially in curves.

[AmanaMedic]

Good Evening...almost "morning." Just a night-cap RBF I think.

JIM: Those "center turn lanes," we call 'em "suicide lanes" around here. The stupid "round-a-bouts" are creeping ever closer. Iowa City and Coralville have a bunch of them...even little North Liberty has one now right outside the newest elementary school. Of all the stupidist places to put one...I'm sure the bus drivers have "fun" negotiating it twice/day.

Getting caught up a little here...

LEE: Unintentional eyebrow removal of a cute female colleague? DOH!!! You only had to avoid her for the rest of the day? Wow. I used to know quite a few 91-B (medic) females in an Iowa Army Nat. Guard ground ambulance company. I think it would take them more than a day to a) grow them back, and b) forgive/maybe forget!!! I made it a rule to not cross ladies that are qualified on M-16 rifles. I've seen that green Army tape you spoke of. I think a guy could tape an Abrams tank back together with it.

JEFF: Those buildings you tacked up pics of look great!

KEITH: I'm with the King of Toddland...I kinda got "lost" trying to finger-out your bridge/yard tracks/station situmacation. I also agree with his concerns...but, THAT said, my opinion is still rated as being worth about a half-a-cent. Your results may vary.

Whoever tacked up the pics of the Berkshires... WOW!!!! The sunset shot with the light caught in the smoke/steam: YOWZA! VERY nice piece of w**k! Great light, great composition, great timing. Yeah...I'm more than a few shades of jealous over THAT shot.

Speaking of THAT, I'm gonna have to call her later today to see if she wants me to cover a Cub Scout Cake Auction later this evening. Mr. Boss told me last Friday it was "tentative," and that THAT would get back to me on that. Welll, THAT hasn't called or e-mailed me about that, so I'll have to talk to THAT about that.

There, I think I got that out of my system...

ULRICH: I hope they get you re-connected with the world much, much sooner than later. I see somebody suggested your local library for internet connectivity during the lull. Be sure to remind us before you "go dark" to borrow a term from the TV show "24." 

Time for me to inspect the inside of my eyelids, the Wife's cat is silent now...in about an hour it'll be yowlin', howlin', and raising a ruckus like it is on the verge of dying. I have found yelling at it doesn't w**k, threatening it with death doesn't deter it either. Even suggesting that Rerun might visit and really give her something to cry about doesn't stop it. Neither does talking to it nicely. Anybody want an evil, possibly demented cat from hell???

G'Night...

Chris

[Cederstrand]

A large glass of lemon water, please. 

***Jim, the new cpap arrived. Although quiet, it audibly changes with your breathing (up down up down) which is a little annoying. The new nasal mask works better for me than the full mask which my wife wears. Niether of us sleep the entire night with them, but they do help some. I was off by a week, I don't see the pulmonologist until next week. Hopefully she can order me the bipap.

Turns out that sand for quickcrete does have a smattering of magnetized pieces in it. No shorts though. Some serious clean up and scraping inside the rails to do though. The (HO) locos front wheels (Bach 2-8-0) derails about every 5th time through one particular switch and slow speeds are now iffy in a couple spots. Seems almost like a gauge problem, but why would E-Z track change after ballasting? More likely something I did to it. Still some work to do.

Inlaws are here. Their decline is taking a toll on my wife. At least her dog returned home after missing all night. I had searched the hills for him to no avail. Glad he found his way back.

Good night all.

Rob

[ns3010]

BamaCSX83

by the way, ladies, please put the tab on me

Nah, don't worry about it.
I've washed so many dishes in the past 3 years, this is nothing. I was just more surprised that I got TOP again. 'Twould seem I'm on a streak...

When you work in a kitchen, washing the dishes is nothing. Now, those HUGE (probably about 15 gallon) pots, and all those baking sheets get to be a PITA. And the worst part is that they don't fit in the dishwasher...

[BamaCSX83]

Evening all.  Just stopping in for a brief RBF and then off to bed.  Gotta be at w**k tomorrow morning at 7.  Things have been pretty busy around my neck of the woods.  Glad to hear that everyone is more or less doing well.  Ulrich, we'll be looking and praying for you sir whilst waiting for your newly hooked up phone and internet. 

Well, that's about it for me, I'm off to bed. 

Goodnight all (by the way, ladies, please put the tab on me)...

[ns3010]

Evening all. Chloe, I'll take some cheese fries, thanks.

Audrey!

Ulrich, glad that it'll only take a week for you to get back, instead of two months!

Today was a kinda meh day. Not necessarilary bad, but nowhere near great.
I found out that one of my best friends is transferring out, and Friday is her last day. But tomorrow is my last class with her and that's double Theology. She was really my first friend in HS, other than the people I already knew. So this really sucks. Normally, I wouldn't care if someone left, but she's one of my best friends, and she's basically only here for one more day.
Anyway, I wish her the best of luck.

On a better note, yesterday was the first hockey practice, on land at school, and had it again today. Tomorrow evening, we have ice practice, and we have our first scrimmage on Friday. Although we did really well last year (finished second in our division, not bad for a second year team), we're gonna suck this year because a) our amazingly good goalie (he had a .967 save percentage, and he was only a freshman), and b) we're Varsity now, so it'll be awful when we get massacerred...

I gotta go, so I'll catch ya later. And I promise Chloe, I'll w**k off yesterday's tab tomorrow, when I have more time...
EDIT: Holy Crap, I got TOP AGAIN! Why do I keep getting so lucky? Now tomorrow's w**kload in the kitchen washing dishes will be doubled... Grrrr...

[TMarsh]

JimRCGMO

Todd, on the in-town roads, don't you love the center-left-turn lanes? You know, those ones where you start to go into the center lane to turn left in about 25-50 feet, but as you are doing that, the guy (or gal, we'll be fair here) in the oncoming lane has started to pull into the same lane because he/she's going to turn left about 50-100 feet down?!

Oh, yeah! Doesn't that just make you want to boil your socks and pour the juice on the designers desk.

 

 

[TMarsh]

Good evening. I'll have a piece of Pecan Pie with vanilla ice cream also please. That Ray really knows how to pick the good stuff.

I got down to the train room today for a bit and worked on the Whataburger some. Not real happy with the way it's turning out. We'll see after abit more. Did some weathering on my TYCO UP guinea pig boxcar, why didn't someone tell me about powders? Seriously though, after watching Cody's office I decided to give it a whirl. Not as easy the first time around as he made it look naturally, but I think I will have better luck with powders than with paint and brushes. I'll re post those pics to refresh your memory someday.

Rob- Layouts looking good!

Attaboy- Early congrats on the retirement. Don't make plans for much AFTER Saturday either. Retirement isn't full of naps and Model Railroading after all. I don't care what they told you!

Ulrich- Whew! A week ain't that bad. Shoot, not even that long. Long enough granted, but I thought you were talking longer. Like a month. You'll be so busy the time will fly by.

Keith- Lost ya hoss. You're wanting suggestions/opinions on the route of the mains? As I look at the lines you've drawn the ladder looks a bit, er, cramped? Is that the word I'm looking for? And the blue lines or the mains if I understand correctly, are they supposed to tie into the ladder in the yard? The angle for a main line switch ladder that will be running 80ft cars (heavyweights?) and the compactness, or at least the apparent compactness, has a concern for me. There may be more room in real life than appears in the photo. You might be craming a tad much in a small space. Then again..... I may have mis understood everything after " Ok.. you guys.. here what I am working with."

(yawn) I think I'll get heading for an early turn in. Rainy cold days always get me sleepy.

Prayers for those in need.