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

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

Jeff, sounds like us in Cleveland the cable system is horrible.  Most people have satellite or ATT Universal for their TV.  DSL is the popular choice for internet.  I’m thinking about switching to the ATT Universal for the TV and get rid of the satellite.

Todd, you have a good point there.  The only buildings I need now for the layout is a Medusa Cement plant, I do have room for 2 more Huelets (hint hint).

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JimRCGMO

Jeff, good to hear those chills don't stick around long. Would an electric blanket you could have set to warm you up, and then just turn it on, help with the chills?

Been there, tried that. It didn't work very well. I was warm outside but still cold inside.

 

LSWrr

Jeff, sounds like us in Cleveland the cable system is horrible.  Most people have satellite or ATT Universal for their TV.  DSL is the popular choice for internet.  I’m thinking about switching to the ATT Universal for the TV and get rid of the satellite.

The only internet available out here besides cable is dial-up and satellite and they're both slow as Christmas. I went to satellite TV because of the constant cable TV problems I was having. Fuzzy picture, picture with line interference, sound problems, etc. I have none of that with satellite. I lose reception now and then when a big storm comes through but it's only for a minute or two. It has to be a really big storm to do that.

[blownout cylinder]

jeffrey-wimberly

The only internet available out here besides cable is dial-up and satellite and they're both slow as Christmas. I went to satellite TV because of the constant cable TV problems I was having. Fuzzy picture, picture with line interference, sound problems, etc. I have none of that with satellite. I lose reception now and then when a big storm comes through but it's only for a minute or two. It has to be a really big storm to do that.

There are a bunch of places just outside of London ON with the same issue. Outdated lines being used to carry more than 4X the load capacity of the system handling them. Very little $$$ spent on the systems over the years for upgrade amounting to breakdowns and in a couple of cases we seen up here---complete collapse. All kinds of infrastructure got ignored over the years--

[JimRCGMO]

Good afternoon/evening, Janie - I'll have a bowl of broccoli cheddar soup, side of whole grain roll, and a RBF, please 'n' thank you!

LSWrr

The only buildings I need now for the layout is a Medusa Cement plant, I do have room for 2 more Huelets (hint hint).

So, how much space do you have left there, Lee? Sounds like a lot, if it's a Huelet-sized (or two).

Jeff, sorry to hear that - sounds like you basically get to ride out the chills. What's on tap for the layout today? Any new word on when the doctor will have the IV feed taken out and you can sorta resume normal operations there? (Hey, we can hope, right?)

Sawyer, good photos of your scenery (here, and the others in WPF) - things are shapin' up on the ANRR! Guess that means that Al is lurking around again...

After finishing laundry and then lunch, I (early afternoon) ran some errands. H-L to pick up some acrylic paints (basic stuff, burnt umber, burnt sienna, a 'desert sand', and a nice brick color) and couple of JL Innovative RR Xing crossbucks. I also got another W-S Checker Players figure set, as when I was looking at which W-S figures I had, I couldn't find about half of the set (including the 2nd player and the dog). I also was looking for a laundry basket, as the handle on one side was broken and making it harder to carry. Had to look at K-Mart, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart. Most of them either just had those puny round baskets or the big, deep ones that would be a PITA to haul to the laundromat. WallyWorld had one that was much sturdier than the 'Sterlite' (AKA POC...) one I saw at Target, and it was less than the other decent basket Target had. Wal-Mart at about 2 p.m. in the afternoon wasn't too bad.

And WPF looks great, though apparently some folks either are still shopping or else sleeping off the turkey from yesterday... Guess the rest of our Diners are possibly in that last category - kinda slow in here today. I figure Garry's still busy with all his company, from his post yesterday. Several Diners we haven't heard from in a few days. Maybe they've been busy on their layouts...?

Got a few chuckles from the "I didn't know train tracks ran next to a train station..." topic out in the Forum. NS Joe hada good one in there, too.

 

Unless illness is why some Diners haven't been in lately, there may not quite be as many major health things going on (except for Jeff's antibiotics and Rob's ongoing sleep problems, both of which I hope will be winding up soon).

I'll be heading back home in a bit to get something done on the feeder wires. And oh, yeah, the dining room table... Got to find a better way to avoid using it as the convenient dropoff platform; it keeps accumulating...

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Zoe just a cup of decafe in a FGLK mug please.  I'll go to my usual seat at the Rivet Counter for a while.  

Thank you all for your kind remembrances of the anniversary of my arrival in the life.  It was a great day!  Basically my whole family (immediate family) was assembled for the feast.  Both my sisters (who managed not to get into an argument .... although my "world traveler" sister did her best to insult my other sister (the reverend) by telling her her experiences in life don't count...) my sons and their families and of course I did have time to finally sit down and enjoy the meal and conversation.  Number one Granddaughter made a bee line for the Tomas set, set it up and played for a couple of hours with it.  We had Turkey, bread stuffing (my Grandmother's recipe), squash, mashed potatoes, pumpkin bread, rolls, cabbage salad, pumpkin pie, and ice cream cake (the birthday, remember?). 

My oldest sister (she is an ordained Deacon in the Episcopal Church) and I had a great time together and spent a good many hours talking and just enjoying each others company.  For my birthday she gave me a DVD of Celtic Thunder "Take Me Home".  We watched it last night after everyone had left.  She is a delightful person and fun to be around.  She turned 70 last summer and is in amazing health. She left about an hour ago to go the Canandaigua to pray at her husband's grave and some of the other family members.  Then she gets to spend the evening with my other sister, the middle child, who appears at times to be 66 going on 13 (if you catch my drift).  Still plays the "Middle Child" and family brat whenever possible (and did yesterday).  Luckily my children and their families are a moderating force when they are all here.

Sorry for the rant.....  We all have those things in our families I know.

My son from Chicago and his partner took about a gazillion photos of the layout yesterday.  We talked a bit about what is happening with Electric Car Technology and he shared with me some of the new deigns being worked on at Argonne National Laboratory where he is the Director of Communications and Public Affairs.  Good plug in Electric Cars that can go as far on a single charge and have better driving specs than the gas powered cars of today are not far off into the future.  They are working with Toyota of America, Honda, Ford, GM. and others on a breakthrough of battery technology that will be a major step forward and the batteries will be fully recyclable at end of life.......  Some neat stuff coming down the road!  You can see my son on Chicago News here: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=6984009  He is the first guy they talk to (not a scientist...).  For any that may be interested, some of the areas of research being done at Argonne can be seen here: http://www.anl.gov/Science_and_Technology/divisions.html

I will be uploading a few photos later tonight and tomorrow....  Hope each of you are having a blessed day!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JimRCGMO

Jeff, sorry to hear that - sounds like you basically get to ride out the chills. What's on tap for the layout today? Any new word on when the doctor will have the IV feed taken out and you can sorta resume normal operations there? (Hey, we can hope, right?)

 

No work on the layout today and it looks like there won't be any this weekend either. My foot and ankle just hurt too bad. Lots of nerve and deep bone pain. I just don't even feel like moving. My right ankle is three times the size of the left. The doc said kast week that it was the Charcot starting up again. I think a new set of X-rays is in order, because it seems like something is going on in there.

[Blazzin]

    "Coffee please"    Hi everyone, wow.. where did the last 3 - 4 days go?  Seems we were getting ready for Thanks Giving.. then that .. and now cleaning up.  Whew~

 Sawyer,  wow nice pics.  I saw your last update video.. I said.. to Jeanne my wife.. "I  remember this guy~!"  I remember the video and you .. but couldn't place the name.  Nice,  How long now you've been working on this? 

Keith

[Packers#1]

JimRCGMO

Sawyer, good photos of your scenery (here, and the others in WPF) - things are shapin' up on the ANRR! Guess that means that Al is lurking around again...

 

Thanks man. I'm having fun building the layout as well, lol. Al could be, or he could have just been bored and searched youtube for someone to bash. Who knows?

Thanks Keith. I've been working on this layout since August, been at model railroading since I was abt. 8 (7 years ago). I'll be making a video-slideshow to show how the yard has progressed since the start.

[blownout cylinder]

sheeeesh----leave the computer for a few minutes---done this for years---and what did I see on the keyboard?

A certain little one named 'Spring'-----must've been warm enough

[AmanaMedic]

Good evening, a slice of pumpkin PIE and a pot of coffee please 'n thank-you...yep, at the RC as usual.

Well, from all accounts, it sounds as though everybody survived Thanksgiving. I ended up having to sit and smile at the in-laws all day... won't have to deal with them again until probably Easter.

Far too many things to comment on from the past 9-1/2 pages...won't even try, too tired. THAT and I got an on-deadline (kinda) thing to write for THAT. I covered a ribbon cutting/grand opening of a new winery/distillery near Swisher. It's the only licensed distillery in the state of Iowa, moving from flood zone Cedar Rapids to a hill in the country.  If any of you wine connoisseurs happen across anything by Cedar Ridge Winery, it oughta be pretty good based on what the samplers were saying today. Cedar Ridge also has a line of Vodka ("Clearheart" brand), and sometime in the next few months will roll-out a bourbon whiskey .

Anyhow, I got a bunch of pics shot which will be transferred to THAT by some web-based thing called Send Space. It's either that, or I drive the little plug-in disk thing down to her over the weekend. As for the article...it "should" be easy, a glorified advertisement disguised as "news." It's proving tough to write however. I'm looking at a crappy "walk-up" the local daily paper did on it...trying to find inspiration. Might just shelf it until tomorrow. As long as THAT has it by Sunday afternoon for the proofreader to look-through, all will be well in her little world.

It's not procrastination when you have no clue what to do...

Good night,

Chris

[ns3010]

 Evening all, I'll take some egg nog, thanks.

LSWrr

snowing

Uh, Lee, wasn't it you that added the S word to the "List of Prohibited Words"?...

Thanks Jim! My jaw just dropped when he said that... And I was dying when I started reading that thread...

Well, I gotta go, but maybe I'll be back in later.

[howmus]

 Evenin' folks!

Nothing for me tonight Zoe.  I'm stuffed!  I'll just go sit in the back booth for a bit.

Well, Thanksgiving and my birthday are over, but I thought I might share the things I am thankful for......

For food:

For little girls and trains:

For little girls who fall asleep on Grandpa's shoulder:

For crazy sons:

And for the whole family!!!

73

[fec153]

Ray- Great family pix.

J.R.- Sebring weather for next weekend- Fri. 53 low,76 cloudy, sat. 53 - 75 60% showers, Sun.-59 to 78 mostly sunny .

Blessings for all.

Flip

 

[TMarsh]

Evening. Turkey sandwich please. With Miracle Whip thank you.

Well things didn't go exactly as hoped today. I started out working on my concrete crossing, then Brenda called and had to take her lunch. Sat at the elevator too long then got a call from the Restaurant and they needed me to come in . Soooo I never got back to the train room at all. But tomorrow!

Jim- Yeah I do fry in my garage. But I do it with the door closed no know one sees ma and gets any bad ideas. I admit I'm a potential statistic and have done it that way ( unless it's warm out) for so long I get less oil splatter than frying chicken in the kitchen, but that doesn't mean I get sloppy. I position myself so ans plan for the worst every time. The gas shutoff is in sight, the lid is near I run through the whole scenario as the turkey is being dunked. Slowly, very slowly. Kids don't try this at your home. Let me be the one you say I told you so to, not you.

Sawyer- Al Mayo. Now there's a joke. Good modeler from what I've seen, assuming he did it and didn't buy it , but a joke.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

We're having turkey soup...... wonder why...

Ray ... thanks for showing the photos of your Thanksgiving gathering.

Here are some from here.  .... First is a four generation picture with Shelley, one month old Oliver, Shelley's mom, and our daughter. .......Next shows my brother in law who is recovering from surgery and deciding what to eat.......... last is our view of the lake ...

[ns3010]

Ray and Garry- Great pictures!

Went to a bonfire on the beach tonight. Not much else other than that.

While on the beach, we talked to one of the guys about jobs for next summer I was interested in badge checking, since you get paid to sit on the beach and sleep all day (and I hear pay is good!), but he mentioned lifeguarding. He said something about being 16 (which I'll be in June), and then he said something about a junior lifeguard program, but he didn't go into detail. So I'm not sure if you have to be 16 to be in the junior program, or if it's 16 to be a regular lifeguard. I'll check the website over the next couple months and see what I can find out.

I also found out today that there will be a Toys For Tots train in two weeks. As long as my parents have no problem, I'd like to go out and make my donation, as well as maybe grab a few shots of this special train, since it will have NS, NJT, M&E, and NYS&W equipment on it, which is an extreme rarity. Since I go to catholic school, I'd feel really guilty if I didn't make a donation...
Even though none of you guys are from around here, if you're interested, I made a thread in the General Discussions of the Trains Magazine forums, and there's a link to the website also.

I'ma gettin tired, so I'ma hit it... Night.

EDIT: Looks like I'm buying breakfast!

[nik .n]

 Milk and beef jerky, Chloe.

Hi!

The CP Christmas train blew threw around 2 today, on its way to Scranton for the big thingamabob at Steamtown. Well see it again at night on the Nicholson Bridge. I also saw another D&H painted engine with a manifest heading towards Scranton a few weeks ago.

Nothing on the modeling side, except picking up a tank car for my brother. When I purchased it, The box said it was a chemical tank, but when I was swapping the couplers, I saw in fine print, "For Corn Syrup Only." I laughed.

My sister bought a 2003 Chevy Silvarado with a 3/4 ton rear and front axles and a manual gearbox. All she needs is the registration.

Jeff, Take Care.

Ray, Happy Birthday!

Sawyer, Great job on the layout!

Der John, Great looking engine house!

Have A great Saturday!

See yall!

 

   

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning--

Got the weekend seminar stuff going on so here I be getting up and having my----I need to wake up coffee

Weather be getting a little more sunny later on today---not seeing rain until tomorrow evening by the looks of things. High today will be about 5C while tonights low gonna be around 2C.

I'm going to be having a wee bit o' fun later on----got an email from LHS owner about an order that came in-----heeheehee And no---it is not another pie catapault or whoopie cushions or---

Chloe, I'll have a coffee and a big ol' stack o' pancakes with maple syrup please. I'm going to the window booth here and watch the day wake up-----BBBRRRRROOOOAAPP!!!---oh for ----another whoopie cushion?

 

[LSWrr]

Last Night the guys and I went to visit John Penca’s layout located just east of Cleveland.  John has an extensive HO-Scale layout and an O-Scale layout in his basement.  His O-Scale layout was featured in the September 2009 Classic Toy Trains Magazine.  O-Scale is nice, however I still prefer my HO-Scale. 

 

 Here is a link to last night’s pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/575702594DzRHHm?vhost=community

 

[fec153]

Lee- Thanks for the link.  WOW!!  Must be nice to have that much room. Not to mention a big income. I figure some a--h--- will say , Hey, his cars aren't weathered".  My blue eyes have turned green with envy. May he and his friends have many years of MRRing.  Darn sure looks great.

Flip

 

[TMarsh]

Good Morning, Turkey Omelet please and coffee. Today: Sunny, with a high near 60. South southwest wind around 9 mph. Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 42. South southwest wind around 8 mph.

Say, I can't seem to find my other whoop..... Oh I see Barry found it.

Some good looking families out there. A lot to be thankful for, for sure.

Lee- Great shots and a fantastic layout.

Flip- Like you said, you'd have to be a real stinker (he he, get it?) to complain about that. Besides there isn't anything wrong if he doesn't want to do it anyway. I was too busy admiring to even notice the cars weren't weathered myself anyway.

Well that and there were a few distractions that rival Lee's Lady in the jumpsuit.

Have a Great Day!!!

[fec153]

TODD- Yep, great layout. Being a fumble fingers, I have a great admiration for those that can. Oh,well. At least mine runs.  lol.

Prayers and Blessings on all.

Flip

 

 

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN

[LSWrr]

Bill, good to see you in the diner, how was your Thanksgiving?

John worked for PC and then Conrail since 1972, so he has put several years into that HO layout.  I'm glad you guys liked the pictures.

[Packers#1]

TMarsh

Sawyer- Al Mayo. Now there's a joke. Good modeler from what I've seen, assuming he did it and didn't buy it , but a joke.

 

Ditto. and JKTrains (jerry) has even found his way to it. Now i'm REALLY laughing my butt off.

nik.n thanks!

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Ah, Zoe, lets see......  I need my usual cup of dark roast coffee in a FGLK mug please, and, hmmm.  I know how about the last piece of the pumpkin pie on the counter...  Yep that'll do.  I be at the Rivet Counter for a bit.

Someone mention Al and JK?  There's a pair for you.  

Speaking of odorous...... Barry, what have you been eating?  Can't blame Thanksgiving.  Yours was a while back.

I'm recovering from the holiday and all the company.  I love to have my family around but it does tire me out when I am in charge of the feast.  (I wouldn't have it any other way!) I'll share one more photo here.  My son and his family had to hurry off to the next feast at his MIL house.  He had just picked up and put away Thomas for the day.  Olivia was not happy about the whole thing and wanted to stay with Grampa and get Thomas back out.  My other son caught her pleading to stay a while longer (Don't want Gama's house!):

You know, "Life IS Good!"

Garry, I enjoyed your photos!

Hope to find my way to the basement and the layout this afternoon.......

73

[Cederstrand]

A strong coffee in a large UNION PACIFIC mug, please & thanks. 

***Ray, that pic of you and your grandaughter is precious!

***Garry, how big is that lake?  

***Joe, Life Guarding is a good job. Aside from the physical benefits the feeling you get after saving a life is it's best reward. perk. Did that for many years, (a long time ago).

***Lee, bet it was great seeing that layout in person. Thanks for sharing the pics.

Well, it's time for farm chores. Hope to get down to the train room this evening. Y'all have a good day.

Rob

[Cox 47]

Good Morning ....Its sunny and 49 here...Just stopped in for coffee...Still recovering from thanksgiving...you all have a great saturday...Jerry

[blownout cylinder]

Good Afternoon--or evening--

Got the Saturday portion of the weekend stuff done and picked up an order that I completely forgot about from my LHS. More scratchbuilding parts and the cast items for two machine shops and a garage. Now I can complete the two machine shops----

Ray: Me? Oderous? But why? Those chile dogs I had last week----

Sawyer: Al AND JK all at once?---man---that must've been a show--

Chloe, I'll have a coffee and some 4 chocolate brownies please-----I'll be at the corner booth---oh---3 whoopie cushions? ah---TODD-----

[JimRCGMO]

Good Afternoon, Flo - I'll have a BLT and a RBF, please. Thanks!

Rob, got your email - might've understood about 10 percent of the stuff at that link (or less!) A lot of the things you've mentioned make a little more sense now.

Chris - LOVED your procrastination quote! Think I'll steal that for one of my email signatures... Good luck with getting the rest of the stuff for THAT editor ready and to her world in time.

NS Joe - actually, I don't think we ever got so 'official' as to have a posted list of those words we avoid saying. (Well, except for MESS(tm), which Fergie doesn't exactly own, but he does have access to this Lancaster with a rather large bomb bay - capable of holding a LOT of pink paint...) We just avoid those words out of respect for certain others, kinda like nobody badmouths any Berkshires (right, Duke?). Hope you figure out which summer job you want to go for at the beach. Ah, warm breezes off the ocean...

Ray and Garry - good to see your family pics from Thanksgiving, and good to see you in again, Nik.n and Bill T.

Nik.n, sounds like you've been fitting in some railfanning, so next thing will be the layout, right?

So, Barry - what's your LHS got awaiting your arrival? A Challenger? In brass?

Lee, great photos of John Penca's layout. I'm with you though, I'm fine with HO scale - I can see it, and it doesn't take as much room as O scale. I was thinking about if an O scale loco missed a curve and sailed off and landed on somebody's foot - YEOOWWCH!

Ray, sounds like Gama needs to start her a layout, eh?

It's been a good day so far - weather was cool this morning  about 40 F, slush on the car windows), but warmed up to the low 60's (F) by afternoon. I was able to run some needed errands this morning, and no pages so far today - hey, I'd be very thankful if it kept up that way until 8 a.m. Monday morning, when I get off of this on-call!

Got part of the dining room table cleared off (using the bedspread as a re-sorting area), and started marking some spots where I need to drill holes for my other feeders. Still haven't found my drill bit box, so the actual drilling and soldering the wires may need to wait until payday. Don't think I could ask my daughter and SIL for one - couldn't wait until Christmas for it!

Well, I'll sit at the front booth (after I carefully check the seats and under them for any strange devices...).

 

Blessings and prayers for a weekend to be thankful for,

Jim in Cape Girardeau