Elliott's Trackside Diner XXI - Further down the line...

[blownout cylinder]

Robby P.

 Keith.......Well last year the power went out here in my town, and it was on a snowy/cold night.  The power was out from 5:00pm till about 9:45pm.   No heat (natural gas), and no lights.  The temp in the house got down to about 48deg.  We just had some candles, and a old propane heater I found in the garage (a small one for camping).   Just bundle up, thats about all you can do.  Years ago my grandmother used blankets and covered doors to rooms to save heat.  I still do that now on nights that are in the negatives.   That really works. 

We do that with our house when things get really really cold. Audrey's quilt collection comes in quite handy for things like that. Most old victorian era homes had quilt hangers on the doorways to allow for the hanging of blankets and quilts on doorways---another thing was to roll up blankets and such and stuff them into the bottom of the doors when closed---some of them were a little drafty----well---sorta--

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How do people---

got done with all the seminar stuff for this week--now I'll have a coupla days off--to do HD things---yay----

Chloe, I'll have a coffee and a cinnamon bun please---I'll be at the RC for a bit----

[jeffrey-wimberly]

  It's 51 here tonight. The low will be a balmy 47. I'm not on much tonight because I'm in extreme pain. The nerves in my feet just suddenly decided the were going to work for a while. Hopefully the neuropathy will set in again soon and I'll have some peace.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Robby P.

 Jeff.....I sent your package out yesterday.  You should get it in a couple of days.  I sent you a message, but not sure if you got it.

I got it. Thanks.

[galaxy]

Good evening!

Hawaiian Kona Chocolate Coffee please.

SHEESH!! All you southerners complaining about cold and a little bit of snow! My goodness!

It is cold and snowy here too, about 1.5 inches fell yesterday. Hi for Friday is posta be 20-ish. But *alas* it is December already ya know! If all I have to put up with is this til April, I'd be happy. Then Spring can come. Used to be into June before you could put away your winter coat, and in Sept you might need it again, so I won't complain. I won't complain either if the snow keeps managable.

All you guys waiting for Santa to bring you your train gifts had better hope for some snow for his sleigh!. 

This year there will be no train gifts as trains are halted now. No more stuff till we have a place to really put them, I say. A friend has said I could set up a train layout in his canvernus barn, BUT: 1} he is 45 mins away-a long way to go just to "play", costs gas $$  2} the barn is NOT heated or A/C'd  3} The barn is naturally dusty,  so I think I have declined his generous offer. I mean the barn is like 30 feet x 75 feet so some kinda layout could be built in there for sure.

well, I shall take leave of you for now, guys....see ya on the morrow.

 

 

[Robby P.]

 Well watched some of the Steelers game, and they lost.  Seems like the playouff picture is out the window. 

 Gotta go in tonight for work.  We are now working 6 days a week.  I guess thats good.  More money for stuff (bills, taxes ).

 Jeff.....I sent your package out yesterday.  You should get it in a couple of days.  I sent you a message, but not sure if you got it.

 Keith.......Well last year the power went out here in my town, and it was on a snowy/cold night.  The power was out from 5:00pm till about 9:45pm.   No heat (natural gas), and no lights.  The temp in the house got down to about 48deg.  We just had some candles, and a old propane heater I found in the garage (a small one for camping).   Just bundle up, thats about all you can do.  Years ago my grandmother used blankets and covered doors to rooms to save heat.  I still do that now on nights that are in the negatives.   That really works. 

 Well I will be hitting the hay soon.  I will see evrybody tomorrow.

[Blazzin]

  "Coffee Please" 

Hey all~  Well winter has hit soutern California.. you certainly feel the cold snap.  My son called, he asks me.. "Its suppose to snow tomorrow ! What do we do if the power goes out?"  "How do we keep warm, and keep from freezing?"   I said.. get lots of blankets.. maybe some candles.  So what do you do?  I'm not sure what you'd look up?  Winter survial?  lol.

[Packer]

Hey ya'll, an order of cheese fries for me.

Well I hit a snag with the Gp18 last night. I put the shell in the freezer to break the glue. It gets better since somewhere between last night and this morning, someone put it on the Ice rack. When I got back, half of the front pilot got chewed off. TO top it all off, none of the glue bonds broke, but the plastic got real brittle and crakcs easily... Hope I can fix the unit...

[TMarsh]

Afternoon. I'm not real hungry and am saving room for dinner later, but boy a Chili Dog sure does sound good. I'll take one and a Dr Pepper please. All the elevators are closed today due to being full and the corn is still standing in many fields.Suppose to sn** less than 1/2 inch after midnight. Yuck. They're using the Freezing drizzle words for tomorrow morning. Super yuck

I best hibernate in the basement today. I think that'd be wise.

Have a Great Day!!

[Cox 47]

Good morning...Its clear and 30 here posta start snowing tonite...Any of those coney Dogs left Jeff?..I'll have a couple and a RBF please...thank you...I started clipping stuff from MR and RMC yesterday and putting in a note book..The first cut was the hardest..just hard for me to cut up something that cost that much but there is no way I can save them all and at least I will have what I wanted to keep..My brother is coming this afternoon this will be His last visit till spring as He is headed to Florida..Sorry to see him go its just the two of us left now...John like your fiddle yard..where does it connect with the rest of your layout?...You all have a good one...Jerry

[der5997]

 Good morning everyone. A JR Regular, and a Boston Cream please Zoe. …ooops, the JR Regular has cream in it too, if you’d be so kind. Thanks.

It rained all night instead of snowing, Snow started about 7:30 this morning, and so we look more like Leesville here on Sober Island NS!

There was a high wind as well but that’s died down a bit now. Any-the-hoo, the Parade is postponed a week. Can’t say I’m sorry, gives us a chance to do the Christmas Cards this afternoon. Keith: Those turnout sizes…I’m using Peco, so their sizes don’t match North American numbers too well. What I’ve been calling #4 is their Short  and what I’ve been calling #6 is their Medium Only their Long looks like the size you are thinking for a #6. So, perhaps you will be OK after all LOL. Ulrich:

am thinking of something modular, to be stored on a shelf when not in operation. I guess I need a lot of persuasive power to get her approval.

Here’s how I store my fiddle yard, pretty much the same idea as you have – so if this helps in your persuasion….    (I’ve sent it as an email too, might be handier to show to Petra.) Maybe you go this route while saving for that Sn3 beauty. Sue are you and Larry in Sn3, or am I thinking of another lady mrr username “Sebring” whom I cyber-met back in the 90s?You have no idea how much better about things your story of “Herr Flick” makes Kris and I feel.  We tend to be rather like Basil Fawlty of “Fawlty Towers”…”Don’t mention the war!” Jeff: That’s quite the travel record, interesting that Leesville keeps calling you back. That’s the family connection, right? Timers are going off downstairs, so I’d better go and do my bit towards lunch. TTFN.  

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Blazzin

  Jeff.. you living in La, how come you got snow there.. I would have never guessed you would have snow in Leesville.  And I check on the map.. you're fairly close to the mightie Mississippi river.  I guess I'm getting at.. "Chili Dogs' ?...  what happened to the Gumbo.. and REd beans and rice stuff.?  I'm mean you're right there for some good food~ lol

I live in Louisiana but I'm not from Louisiana. I'm originally from Tyler, Texas. I grew up in different parts of the world. My first day of school was in La Rochelle, France, then from there to Heidelberg, Germany, then Williamsburg Virginia. From there to Italy then to El Paso, Texas then to Leesville Louisiana. But the trail didn't stop there. From there it was to Stuttgart Germany then to London with brief stops in Spain and France, Then on the Greece. From there it was back to Leesville Louisiana where I started off on my own brief tour with the military, to places like Ft Leonardwood Missouri, Scott Air Force Base in Illinois and a little fleaspeck military compound in Alaska that was as far north as you could go without getting your feet wet. Where did I end up? Back in Leesville Louisiana.

[Cederstrand]

Strong coffee in a  SNOWY SOUTHERN  mug, please & thanks. Yes, I counted at least a dozen flakes of snow outside the window a couple nights ago.

***Ulrich, that Railmaster Mike is a sweet looking loco indeed. At that price, we would need to win the Lottery. Sure can understand your desire to have one.

Need to go feed the old mares their morning soaked food. Winter is especially tough on the old ladies.

Have a great day, all.

Rob

[Robby P.]

 Good COLD morning.   Still got some snow on the ground. 

 Not much planned today other than clean the house some, clothes, and watch some of the Steelers game.

 Hope everybody has a good Sunday.

[Packers#1]

der5997

Sawyer: I'm typing while listening to and watching off and on your new video. Switchbacks I find are a great way to get things done, and add operating interest, just as you are describing (about the fertilizer etc.)  Glad you are allowing for the loco plus cars...what about  future locos and double heading?

 

Thanks John! As to double heading locos, it's the local wayfreight, I won't be double heading it. I might run a loco on each end at some point though. As to new locos, I sued the longest loco I have, my U23B, and I think the tracks extend a bit farther than they have to for the U23B to work, so hopefully I've got enough room, lol.

[Blazzin]

  "Chloe .. Good morning.. Yeap ..Coffee .. thanks"

  Well todays my day for the big poker match.  I'd say around 20 thousand contestants.  Its in 5 hours and I really don't even care for playin cards.. never really have.  Although there was a tme back in the 70's when 6 of us were Single Deck Card Counters in Black Jack.  Never really did that good.. but one time I sat down with 2 bucks ..and walked away with over 400 dollars.  WEll` back in 1976 ..  that was alot of money.  Should be a quick death in Poker anyways.  But If I win.. I'm off to the Bahama's..?  Woo hoo~

  Well the storm didn't come in at 4 am.. I guess its the "Quiet before the Storm"  From the weather channel.. West Coast is going to get hard with rain.  Especially Los Angeles.. and it looks like winter weather for the whole nation.  Wow is that Pacific storm going to combine with the Artic blast.. if I read this right.. the whole nation is in for a deep freeze of snow and rain for the next week.  But now the local channel is sayin we won't get rain til Monday.  Thats the problem when you live next to a main body of water.. the weather man has trouble saying when its going to hit.  Hmm coffee .. I just love how it warms ya up.

  Jeff.. you living in La, how come you got snow there.. I would have never guessed you would have snow in Leesville.  And I check on the map.. you're fairly close to the mightie Mississippi river.  I guess I'm getting at.. "Chili Dogs' ?...  what happened to the Gumbo.. and REd beans and rice stuff.?  I'm mean you're right there for some good food~ lol

Keith

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning. It's 33 here and mostly cloudy. Thankfully no white stuff. The high will be in the mid 50's and it will be partly cloudy.

Nothing on the schedule today accept rest and watch some old movies. I also have to look over the paperwork I got from the Deer Creek hospital. I'm in the wound care program there. Going there rather than the clinic makes it easier to get any lab work, X-rays and exams done as all the equipment will be right there. Deer Creek is only 1/8 of a mile from the clinic so it's not out of my way. My first visit there will be Tuesday. The high point yesterday was having dinner with my parents. We pigged out on chili dogs. I've got my morning dose of antibiotics laying up here on the layout extension so they can warm up for about an hour. So far the new heater is showing itself to be a good investment. It hasn't dropped below 70 in here yet.

[Anonymous]

 Lunchtime in Germany!

Flo, I have the Steak n´ Salad dish, and a 7up...

Folks, I am in love again! The "object" of my dark desires is this:

It is a Railmaster Sn3 White Pass & Yukon RR Mike. The kit is at $ 575 not really a bargain and it will take me years to save up that kind of money, but me just wants ...  Gives me something to look forward to

Now I have to develop a "legend", i.e. track plan and operation scheme for it and I need to find a good excuse to squat on that extra room Petra wants to keep for our son (and her).

 

[blownout cylinder]

Ulrich: A friend of ours has a room that was commandeered by his wife for their son's visits as well---he got this idea for a layout that he could fold up into a wall so that when the son showed up the layout was folded up into a wall cabinet almost like a Murphy Bed---which does essentially the same thing---fold up into a wall unit----his son is into the MR hobby as well----layout is out now all the time----wife is just----grrr---methinks she was looking to get the room for her own---didn't work quite--

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Good Morning--

Getting ready for a bunch of stuff doing at the university---have a few more of these things then break for Xmas holidays----

I'm into the hand laying of another yard around the Exceda Wye area---small service yard---so's that i can do some RDC servicing there----at least that is what the plan is

Chloe, I'lll have a coffee and a toasted bagel with cream cheese please---I'll be at the corner booth

[Anonymous]

 Good Morning,

 

as you guys are all heading to get your , the new day just starts over here. Today is Santa Claus´s day /Nikolaus) , all children get little presents to help them over the time until Christmas comes.

Zoe, coffee in my LKAB mug and a toasted bagel, please.

My Mom called us last night. My father was just short of a stroke. He´ll be turning 83 tomorrow, and I am really worried about his health. My Mom is also not in a good shape. One kidney has stopped working and the docs don´t know yet whether they should take it out.

Makes my own worries look so small...

I started to discuss my MRR plans with Petra. seems as if I will have a long way to go before we can reach a w*rkable compromise. Our spare room ( meant for Christian, our son, when he comes to see us) would be a good place, but Petra wants this to be off-limits for any trains. Now, I don´t think my son would mind sharing the room with my trains on his occasional visits., but Petra wants a permanent room for him - oh, mothers!

I am thinking of something modular, to be stored on a shelf when not in operation. I guess I need a lot of persuasive power to get her approval.

Have a good Sunday, y´all!

Btw, speaking of accents, who told you, zhat I hav zhis typical German accent, like Herr Flick in the British comedy series "Allo, allo"? Tell me quickly, or I hav vays of making you talk! (A former colleague of mine spoke like that, we called him Herr Flick and he wondered why)

[Blazzin]

  Jeff.. I get it now~ .. I'm old.. my brain hurts.  I wrote down your address.  I looked at it.. Louisiana?  Reminded me of this guy I worked with, he was from La.  He start talking about 'River food'  .. and I'm like 'What' ?  And he'd go on.. say.. "Oh yeah.. all along the Missippi.. there's good food"  and he say start talking.. "Monday.. every Resturant has em .. hmm Red Beans and Rice" and he go on.. and kept gettin hungrier.. but he'd talk about food .. and get me goin. Lol.  I'm off to bed.. we've got rain coming.. suppose to arrive early this morn' like 4 am.. and then maybe perhaps a chance of rain for the next 7 days.  We could use it down here. 

Now on a different note: Concerning accents.. and so on.  I've been told her on the west coast they've noticed certain phrases.. such as.. "Alls ya have to do is.."

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Blazzin

Jeff.. you did check and open the pic I sent?  Take your pick? LOL. you are cracking me up. 

Yes, I opened the pic. I sent a reply telling what I find interesting to your personal email.

[Blazzin]

  Jeff.. did I mention he went into the even the dimensions on the C5 cargo plane?  Jeff.. you did check and open the pic I sent?  Take your pick? LOL. you are cracking me up. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Blazzin

  Jeff .. Jeanne says Hi~ believe it or not.. we're here in the bedroom watching.. WWII ''In Color" she bougth it for this weekends movie watching. We're wer at the HS and the guy there said.. the height of a dock is 48 inches.. the same height as the RR car.  Then he went into dimensions of Tractor Trailor rigs.. then shipping.. then the space shuttle.. he said.. its all basic.. and uniform.. even a pallet is .. 40 inches by 48 inches..  I said "oh~"   Jeff.. check your yahoo mail.

That's interesting info on the docks. I checked my email and sent you a reply.

[Blazzin]

  Der John "sorry to disappoint, but I'm replacing most of my 4s with 6es. However, in doing that I've discovered that I actually gained space in the yard." 

 Oh no no no.. say it isn't so~ LOL.. we'll oops.. And here I've worked so hard on this.. lol. Not kidding either.  Jeanne had decided to put everything away for the ThanksGiving dinner.  And I've got every all scattered about now.  I've been having fun.. for what its worth.. those #4's measure 5 inches.. yep ..? its them?  LOL..

  Well maybe.. in between ..to the right.. in between those 3 foot long flexi's  .. I guess I could add some #6's to the right and achieve hopefully my yard space that I desire.  Sounds like fun. 

  Jim.. ?  If you're following all this.. I want you to know.. (and Der John)  the length of the proposed area is .. four feet long.. and I thought I'd have enough space for all this!  But in short I've placed the max/min of turnouts and got this.. to me  this is the very basic design I could achieve.  Two liner's fit into one foot. But anyways.. I won't bore you peeps too much. But.. lol.. But this is the main.. on the left.. and the pulling off the main.. with all available space allocated to the various parts to obtain a very long lead yard track to the main.. which is Phillips idea.  Those turnouts were placed.. in my humble opinion.. to obtain.. all access to the rest of available space.. according to the limited number of turnouts allocated in the 4 feet of space.  Whew.. now why would anyone want to read that ..yikes.  But I think I'm on to something here.. and maybe I'll add some #6's here and see whats up.  I know.. just doing this i.e. laying out of the turnouts.. was quite an exercise for my brain. Jeanne even got into this.  

  Der John.. if you left off on page 23 on thurs.. well you're way behind on the reading.  Hey you see the link on the dog surfing?  Also, thank you for the tip on the track tie's.. lol.. so thats how ya do it.  I got it now.. and once again to your careful 'insight' as I have stated before.

  Jeff .. Jeanne says Hi~ believe it or not.. we're here in the bedroom watching.. WWII ''In Color" she bougth it for this weekends movie watching. We're wer at the HS and the guy there said.. the height of a dock is 48 inches.. the same height as the RR car.  Then he went into dimensions of Tractor Trailor rigs.. then shipping.. then the space shuttle.. he said.. its all basic.. and uniform.. even a pallet is .. 40 inches by 48 inches..  I said "oh~"   Jeff.. check your yahoo mail.

 

[der5997]

OK, so it was Thursday night late, and Page 23. I had a long post all set to go. I was checking the links In Preview, and couldn't have noticed that one was not "Open in new window". So when I closed it, Poof, there went the entire browser, and the post with it!  Since then I haven't been able to get the time to get back into the Diner.  The main reason is that Sunday is the Santa Clause Parade, and Guess Who is doing the float for the Hysterical Society. So I've been fully occupied making placards for the sides and front and back out of a refrigerator box from the local Sears outlet. Finished those late this afternoon, and thought I'd try to catch up on the Diner tonight. So, this is an amended version of the post that never was.  There's old news / topics, sorry about that. I do know that there is a mismatched

[ quote]...[ /quote] pair somewhere I have to find before I can send this!

CapeJim:

A few too hundred too many miles, I'm afraid, Ray!

I Googled up a Distance Calculator, and the results are...

743.57 miles straight line            Rochester - Cape Girardeau.

770.31                                      Geneva - CG.,

so now you know!

Can't remember now who said about gluing ballast

In defense of the spray, I didn't really do it very long. Just gave it a try to see. I've resigned myself to just accepting there is no shortcut without consequences

. That's exactly it! One has to really let it soak, and doing that by the "drifting in from on high" method takes time, and in my case wears out my "pump-spray" finger!

Keith:

And so Der John,   I can't remember what size turnouts you used.. but I'm hoping you said you had to remove the #3's. ... And not the #4's because that looks like what I'll have to work with.  I would have preferred a longer one like the #6's

...sorry to disappoint, but I'm replacing most of my 4s with 6es. However, in doing that I've discovered that I actually gained space in the yard. I'm not sure just how, but it also has to do with re-configuring the arrangement of the yard throat with a curved turnout, and the ladder with the #6s. See below for pics.

Cats in the Cradle

   ...but you've put the time in with him, so the ending of the song won't likely be an issue!....That soldering stand looks very handy. Unfortunately for me, this is a USA only item  

Right now.. I'm having problems hooking up straight track onto a turnout.. with the connectors.. and trying not to cut out the ties.  Anyone care to help me with that~? 

...What's the deal with not cutting the ties? They slide right back where they came from after you've done a little surgery. That is, trim off the details that are on the top of the ties (it's these spikes, clips etc. that prevent the joiner doing what you want it to do in the first place; and also stop the tie from being slid back  into place now you want to do that!) Then file a groove across the tie where the rail would sit. This makes space for the joiner, once the tie is back in place. If you are using AMI roadbed, replacing the ties will also require a small piece of silicone paper to act as a lubricant for the ties which otherwise would hang up on the AMI. (or wax-proof, but I prefer the silicone - the stuff AMI comes rolled on is ideal, or the backing from postage stamps - at any rate Canadian stamps !)

Ulrich: 30 years have made a world of difference to the performance of N locos, and rolling stock (no more clunky wheels either ) Track is available in Code 55, even 40; but I use Code 80. Painted and ballasted it looks fine to me. Cost of N is greater than HO, but a small switching layout won't need a huge roster, or miles of mainline. 

Garry - "downsizing" to N scale would just be out of necessity. I like the bigger scales much more, also due to my eyesight not being what it used to be.

....There is an alternative...HOn30 .That's because the 30 inch gauge track in HO scale uses N scale track. The equipment is not as varied as for HO, but it's an idea, because the scenery would be what you are used to = HO Scale.

Galaxy:

He has about 6 old TVs floating around that don't work and some need tubes to operate in black and white! It costs $8 at the trash transfer station to get rid of an old TV for recycling, and he won't pay it.

...which is why we have free drop off  of any electronics, but the cost is recovered when you buy new, a "Recycling Fee", usually $25 on a mid-sized electronic whatever. The drop off depots are few and far between. We use the one in Truro, as we are there quite often, and we take the old stuff our grandkids seem to generate.. "I got it from a friend"....

back, BTW...glad the medical issues are somewhat improved.

{I seem to have "dyslexic typing" when I type so I hope you all can read what I type, as I don;t often even pick up mistakes when I proof read as I read it normally. I was hoping after teh hand surgery it would change, but apparently not.}

...left to myself my typing is awful; one reason I use WORD when I can, as the Spell-check picks up a lot of nonsense! The other main reason is it's not so easy to have a post go Poof!(but it seems I still can manage that!.).. Third of all, you can save the thing and add to it the next day if there isn't time to post on any particular day.( which is how I've been able to pick up where I left off, because the main post was saved in WORD)  

Ray: Again, what can one say? Your modeling is an inspiration.

They just made piles of it right in the middle of the road........  It was an experience, I'll tell ya.

...they do the same on Vancouver Island...or did when we were there in the 80s. I couldn't believe it!

BridgeTom:

We'll see.  I mean, we need water like crazy out here, but I don't think we need it all at ONCE!

,,,which is why when we are praying for rain for drought affected countries like Ethiopia, we pray for "appropriate rain"

Unfortunately, today, my Bronchitis came back with a vengeance

...Ahem! What did Dr. DER tell you?

Just out of curiosity I checked out the accuracy of the "15 posts / page" predictor for avoiding TOP honours. The last Diner location's total post count divided by 15 comes to 49.73 So, I guess that's Myth the Busters can't bust!

Ryan: congratulations on the Professional Mrr status....

In the meantime, if you like building model structures, try your hand at building a Gingerbread House.

Gingerbread House in N Scale?...Hmmmm....seems like a lot of efforts for just a bite!

Jeff: Glad the ankle is showing some improvement; and the foot wounds reduced to just one sounds like a real answer to prayer .

Somebody pinch me with serious pliers, please! It's been snowing here for over 4 hours!

...we are waiting for our first serious snow of the season... and the Santa Clause Parade is tomorrow, of course!  Our news tonight was full of pics of the snow in Texas!  More there than we are expecting tonight.

Sawyer: I'm typing while listening to and watching off and on your new video. Switchbacks I find are a great way to get things done, and add operating interest, just as you are describing (about the fertilizer etc.)  Glad you are allowing for the loco plus cars...what about  future locos and double heading?

Todd:

I know she's never left Central Illinois with a silent "S".

...opps, have I been dropping that "s" all this time and not known I should have been sounding it?

Rob: Glad "The Eagle has landed!"...I forgot to let you know it was in the mail. Sounds like it survived the combined tender mercies of both our Postal Services! The plastic box came (as you will see if you turn it upside down) from Hong Kong full of either vehicles or people, can't remember which. Please don't sweat the Navy blue  thing, but if you do come across any, the darker the better. Thanks.

Looks like it might be a forced move for the Inlaws from where they're at to a more structured assisted living facility.

...structure is what some folks need; however often they don't respond to it well at first.

If anyone remembers Krump, here's an album of photos he sent me on Friday of Rail Inspection cars. To whet the appetite of those who model transition of before, one of the few colour shots is  While we're on the subject, Flip sent a set of photos of the2009 CP Holiday Train in Montreal the other day. Here's that (much shorter) album. I sent these on to Noah, and asked him if it had shown up near him yet. (You may recall he kept us updated on sightings in his area.) He replied

Nothing yet, but it is due through my neck of the woods this weekend, and then within a short distance of where I go to school later next week. Thanks to my school work I'm not 100% sure if I'll make it out this year or not, but there's a pretty good chance I will. The interesting part is that this year the schedule includes a lot of daylight running, providing opportunities to take pictures of the train while moving "on the road" that weren't previously available.

I finally got the track cut and joined for my freight yard re-model. The configuration in the yard throat isn't quite the same as either my original version, or CapeJim's computer assisted tweaking. Here's the throat, and the crossover from the rear of the new arrivals track to the engine service area. The new crossover at the other end of that arrival track  has the access to the engine house  off it.  Next up will be to solder all the joints, remove the entire yard trackage from the layout in one piece (I may paint the track while it's out) lay down double sided tape along the marked paths where the tracks go, and replace the yard tracks, pressing the track into the tape. With the tracks removed, I should be able to make sure, with a ruler (yes, a yard stick! ...groan)  that the runs are straight. I've been using a mirror to check how things are going, but it isn't the same as lining things up with a ruler. There isn't room for me to get my head in between the upper and lower levels to eyeball the track alignments. Then the wiring has to be sorted out, old leads re-connected, and new ones made. The track busses are right underneath that shelf, and I'm not anticipating too much trouble.....(Oh why do we say such rash things?......)

Last night (Wednesday) we had 3 events rolled into the one evening. Community Tree Lighting with Carols by the school children immediately followed by "Old Fashioned Christmas" at the Museum (the tree is right outside) Then the Chamber of Commerce Christmas do. So all that's upcoming here is the Santa Claus Parade, appropriately enough (for tjhose of Dutch extraction anyway)on the 6^th. The Hysterical Society is putting in a float which is our van duly (and we hope not too dully) decorated.. That's all got to come together Friday and Saturday. Snow is forecast Sat night into Sunday.

Bedtime again.  So, I'll say Goodnight, and God Bless. Prayers for all in need of healing, comfort, prosperity and peace.

 

 

 

 

[Packer]

Hey ya'll. Some hot cocoa with marshmallows for me

Looks like old man winter's here. It's 25 outside right now. Anyways, the BN GP18, GP9 and the UP GP7 shell showed up today. So I'm unwrapping them and gonna test them out.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Blazzin

  Jeff.. and I sent you an email or two.. via real email and the forums email.. something should through.. lol.  I sent you a list.

I got your emails and sent you my address. Sounds like some good stuff you found.

[JimRCGMO]

Good Evening, Janie - I'll have a CAW mug of coffee and one - oh, what the heck, two - of those double chocolate chip cookies that Ray baked, please. Thanks!

Looks like it hasn't been really busy this afternoon in here. Guess everybody must be w**king on their MRR'ing stuff.

blownout cylinder

Does anyone get people ---speaking of accents----saying SAAR-DEE for Saturday? We get that a lot around here. This in a place of no accents----

  Nope, Barry - unless we get someone from Ontario who got lost on the turnpike and winds up here...

Ryan - after looking at that video, I'm sure the mods were afraid it might be catching... But I don't think I'd try any o'that... That's just crazeeeeee!

NS Joe, if your team wasn't a first year team, they could always claim "It's a rebuilding year, we lost our best players to... "[Insert 'moving out of district', 'graduation', 'to the pros', etc. here...]  I saw a towel one time that had every reason you could think of (and a few more than that) for why the team lost. But hey, it still means that the team lost - which sucks when it's your team that did! Hope you all win Monday's game. I'm guessing that your Dad's okay with the new plans for the layout (and now you have to run it past Mom)? Best wishes with getting the okay to start the expanded and revised layout!

Ray, that sounded like the meeting was a great one for everybody who attended. And yeah, sometimes (in one of my less charitable moments) I've wondered about having some 'lion-like' consequences for the parents of those less-than-well-mannered kids (after all, where do you think they learn those behaviors?).

Rob, sorry to hear about the move for your in-laws, even though it's no doubt necessary if things are going downhill. Sounds like you enjoy your new 'package', and I'm guessing DerJohn shipped it in Homeland-Security-and-Customs-Office-proof packaging. Did you have much difficulty opening the package? And 'Sons of Anarchy' building? Got any pics of that one yet?

On those PMs, I don't think I've lost any yet - but I've had some give me duplicate notices (same time and date). I tend to use the emails more often, anyway.

It's a blazing hot 29 F (-2 C) currently in Cape Girardeau, so I'll probably have frost again in the morning to scrape off the car windshield.. Ah, the joys of winter! Got to get a better scraper yet.

I bought some additional colors of acrylic paints (the crafts kind in the little bottles) and the W-S checkers game, then got lunch today at one of our local Mexican restaurants. After filling my tummy, I took my shopping list by the grocery store to restock the cupboards and fridge. Planning on making Mom's beef Stroganoff tomorrow for dinner, and a roast one night next week (well, actually I'll be using my trusty crockpot to fix it).

I went looking for my folder that has my list of what gauge wires I have, but couldn't locate it. Didn't want to go through my 'wiring' box and re-list everything, though. Pulled out the MR Easy Model Railroad Wiring book, which has the wire gauge sizes for the different uses, and printed out some articles on the topic that I had saved on the 'puter's drive. After some reading, I think I may re-do the wiring where I've been using the rail joiners. But that'll be tomorrow...

And Barry - No, I haven't been out searching the stores for RMC's...

I'll get back to MRR'ing stuff tomorrow afternoon, after our MRR club 'Christmas dinner' (at a local Oriental buffet? Hmmm...). No kidding, they really decided to have it there - because among other things, Cracker Barrel didn't have a separate room and was too noisy. Some days, I just can't seem to figure much of anything out. Anybody had days like that?

I'll be trying to figure out my wiring plan (for tomorrow's MRR'ing) over at the RC for now. Janie, could you bring me a glass of Finger Lakes wine, please? Yeah, that'll help me make sense of a few things...

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

 

[Blazzin]

  Jeff.. and I sent you an email or two.. via real email and the forums email.. something should through.. lol.  I sent you a list.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Blazzin

Jeff, I've been asleep.  I'm not doing pm's.. just the email stuff.  So, I'll email ya again.  Whew.. hmmm coffee~

OK, I've sent you an email.