Mornin' everyone!
I slept in this morning and feel good and rested for a change.... Zoe I'll have the #2 special, over easy on the eggs, bacon, homefries, and a double order of sour dough toast to go along with a pot of dark roast coffee in a FGLK mug. Please and Thank You! I'll be at me seat at the rivet counter.
Currently 18°F outside with a high around 29°F later this afternoon. "We're havin' a Heat Wave..... Tropical Heat Wave........"
Nice thing is I haven't had to mow the lawn in some time now....... Love Winter!
Robby I had a good many of those cables rot out and break on me. It almost always happened when you were 50 or so miles from home...... Only good thing was in the old 36HP Bugs, you could pull out the choke and get a "high Idle" setting just before the choke set in and still drive the car. Drove home that way several times. On the "improved auto choke models" you had to get out of the car, open the engine hood and using the screwdriver for the tool kit (which consisted of the screwdriver and a crescent wrench) and manually increase the idle speed to just off "blow up the engine" and then drive home. The clutch was the same type of thing and I drove home starting the engine in first gear and crawling to home or the dealer in first or second gear. When you had to stop you just turned off the key and added brakes........... What I loved best about them was that that there was almost always a "work around" for all those little things, which added to the fun. Today I doubt I would consider it "fun" .....
Have about 3 days of w**k to get done this afternoon, so i best gett moving. Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
JimRCGMOJeff, sorry to hear about your computer problems. How old is the motherboard you have in there?
Galaxy: Check your PM's.
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
Good Morning ....Its cloudy and 30 here..weather guesser on TV says posta start snowing this afternoon maybe another 3 inches...I'll have coffee and dougnut please...Thank You...
Robby...Congrats Happy Anniversary!...
Keith...Glad to see you back...
Gary...You are in my prayers..
This is my Christmas present to myself..I finnaly got an Con Cor F 3 on Ebay..I picked up a Monon shell a few years ago at a train show when I first got into N scale..Darn thing didn't have a pilot so I cut one off a scrap shell
You all have a good one...Jerry
" Keith....I was wondering what happened to you. "
Ah~ your not missing much..lol. Ok.. this mornings topic~ ElectroFrogs verses Insulfrogs. And I only come here to present it.. because I feel like one big dope.. and quite frankly am afraid to post it on the main forums. I'd probably get blasted.
Ok. Concerning Electrofrog verses Insulfrog turnouts. I'm looking for separate lines, this is, when a train comes off the main line, Can it jump onto another hot line from another transformer? I wish to have separate lines.. for even my very long Yard Lead.. verses the yard.. verses the A/D line.. and so on. But it seems to me.. I'd have to buy a few more electrofrog turnouts..to accomplish this. What am I getting at? I dunno~
But lets think this out. If you wanted to come off the main.. jump over an insulfrog..with cuts in it (Dremel) and then it is supplied by another transformer. This layout is so long, I'd be guessing I could run almost two on the same line. One train passes by on the main (express) While the other is in the A/D area, the engineer is unhooking and picking up another line of liners.. and taking off on a very long yard lead.. (which is basically the 3 main I had planned. So without getting this so confusing. Are there pitfalls using Electrofrogs in certain areas.. using DC? From what I can tell, these electro frogs might be just what I need to separate certain lines from others.. also using the cut insulfrogs. In the meantime... I am reading up on Electro verses Insulfrog. Keith
Good morning. Its a cold morning. Its about 10 degrees right now. Maybe some snow late tonight.
Well I got a guys phone number from work, in case the roads are bad. Yeah the guys number that we wrecked together. I will let him damage his car.
Gotta make a appointment for the dentist again. This is the tooth that might have to be root canal or pulled. I hope not.
Today is my anniversary. Three years. Never thought it. Not much planned for the evening. Maybe go out to eat.
One thing about the VW is..........................Its all done by a cheap cord (gas and clutch). Sitting at a red light, and you hit the gas to go.....and POP. Now your stuck. Same thing with the clutch. I really hated that about them. Plus I agree with the heaters. Half the time you are "sky high" by the fumes.
Keith....I was wondering what happened to you.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
"Coffee please"
Hi all~ remember me... well I dont'. Seems the past week has been one big blurr. Aside from fixing the furnace three days ago, I have a garage door to fix today. No work on the layout, not until payday.. tomorrow. When the pilot light on the furnance went out.. well we woke up in the morning with a chilly house of mid 40's. The houses built out here.. have stucco... chicken wire.. and tar paper... thats it. I guess though, these cheap houses.. all stay together during an earthquake.
Tom, for what its worth.. your 16 year old daughter... ever consider a heating blanket for her? I don't know why this works, but for some reason.. a sore abdomen feels much better with a very warm blanket on the tummy. I have done x ray exams on many doctors in the very same field of abdominal disorders..such as Chrons.. and they dont' know why either..but it does help. Oh they have some general idea's.. but heck.. it might change the trip to the hospital.. to just being maintained and monitored at home. The last thing you want is for it to flare up. I believe the word is 'exacerbation' .. to make things worse. Some illnesses just have a 'downward spiral effect' and if you can just catch it in time.. before it starts... its a whole lot better. Think back when you have ever had the flu, why is it.. you place a pillow on your abdomen.. it just feels better.
Now concerning a good heating blanket. There is a 'moist heating blanket' by Themaphore.. Battle Creek, Mich. You'll find one at some hospital supply for the public, usually right next to a hospital.. or close by. I prefer 'Moist Heat' because it goes deeper.. by a factor of 15 times.... as oppose to dry heat, which is a factor of 2. Last time I check.. those big moist heating blankets run around 80 bucks a lot less than what we all pay for some train/engine. But aside from her abdominal aches, this blanket is also great for a sore neck.. and or a sore back. The big one.. the 80 dollar one.. is large enough to cover most of your back.. from shoulders across.. to down to the lower waist. People have come back to me later on, to thank me. I hope this helps. I have worked so long in a hosital, I still have empathy for any patient. I just want her to live a normal life and I sure.. you do too. Keith
/Good Morning
-15C right now and with enough wind earlier that made the windchill down to -21C---just lovely. We's going to be getting some more snow today/tomorrow with a chance of rain showers tomorrow as well. Probs just enough to make for icy conditions New Years Eve....
Funny thing that. The VDub---if one got the low hp one--one had trouble getting out of its own way! My dad had one of the late 1950's versions---his was 40hp--and I remember that it felt like it took about a minute just to get across an intersection, for pete sake. The thing sounded like it was going to bog down and stall but it never did. But I do remember that we never got stuck in the snow---and we did have some drifts to go through at times. I think that the powerband for it must've shown that it was a torquey little thing though. Mine was a little newer--and just as torquey with more hp--. As for heat----remember the aftermarket heaters?
Then, of course, there seemed to be a lot of odd little cars around then as well. A friend of ours had a Renault 2CV---the interior of which was kinda funny--2 'lawn chairs' pretending to be car seats and a shifter that came out of the middle of the dashboard. The Renault was also a high sitting car that you could easily put on its side if you were a little TOO frisky with it--- We had an autoshop teacher who had a little Mini-Cooper----we actually got it on to the roof of the high school, turned it upside down and took the wheels off of it. He saw the car after he went out looking for it-----he gave us a BIG lecture for that----but he also laughed about it---
Got to do some picking up of those New Years Eve supplies---having a few of the neighbours over then--so I better go do dis--
Chloe, I'll have a coffee and a toast with jam please---I'll be at the RC for now---
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/
Christmas and traveling around Ohio was detrimental to working on the layout as usual. I did install the Northern Light & Power plant with some minor kit bashing it is defiantly a unique building. Once the plywood and the substation is installed I’ll get some pictures up.
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Good Morning Everyone,
Zoe, coffee in my LKAB mug and a blueberry muffin, please. I´ll be at the window...
VW bugs - it was one of those love or hate affairs. Simple facts told you it was not a good car, bad fuel economy for a 34 hp car, no space for passengers or baggage, no heating, fogged up windows all the time. But it got you where you wanted to go, was inexpensive to buy and lasted nearly a life time with a minimum of care. Isn´ t it that, what we expect to get out of a car? Instead of giving the customer what he wants, the industry is producing cars with a power no one needs, loaded with gadgets no one needs, consuming fuel at a cost, no one can afford. Time to look back, folks...
Chris - I am sorry to read about your "mood". Don´t let it get you, my friend. Life is so much more than just money - it is love, faithfulness and friendship. One can run on very little money ( I am just learning this ), but you cannot live without love.
Tom - my cousin is also suffering from Crohn´s Disease. It was found out, when he was just about the same age as your step granddaughter is now. Keeping a strict diet can do miracles, especially when the disease is discovered in a young age. My for her ...
Garry - I know exactly how you feel - my doc keeps telling me the same for the last 10 years. It is not a pleasant thought, though, to maybe need a new pump. Just take care, willya?
I see that we have some new folks frequenting this place - a hearty from snowy northern Germany. It seems, as if the weather guesser were correct in their prediction - lotsa that white stuff again. I´ll better take the train home tomorrow, instead of asking Petra to drive me home.
You all have a good day - will drop by later in the day.
JimRCGMO Garry, glad to hear that you had a good report, 'cause we wouldn't want you to need a transplant anytime soon... [whew] Jim in Cape Girardeau
Garry, glad to hear that you had a good report, 'cause we wouldn't want you to need a transplant anytime soon... [whew]
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Thanks, Jim. i'm good for a while. Each time I have this test, I recall being told if my condition worsens, I'll need a transplant. I don't want that, and so I become apprehensive until the results say I'm still OK .I'm thank for for doctors and othe medical professionals who kept me alive.... Thanks to others who commented.
Cal Tom ... Prayers for Robyn with Crohn's disease.
I had a little time for the model railroad today. I'm working on my Stewart FT ABBA set. It will be quite a while before I'm done.
About VW bugs. .... Did anyone see Herbie the movie? .. Also, I recall how everybody drove those things. Either the brake pedal was depressed all the way or the gas pedal was depressed all of the way. There was no inbetween.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Thanks Sam. As for your design dilemma, I'm gonna have to see THAT sketch before I can give you any opinion, edumacated or otherwise. In general, I'm all for anything giving a longer run and/or more switching opportunities.
Have a good night,
Chris
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
AmanaMedic THAT said, thanks guys, for letting me. This is a heckuvalot better than throwing something across the room, putting my fist through a wall, etc., etc., etc. Like I've said before, cheaper than therapy...
THAT said, thanks guys, for letting me. This is a heckuvalot better than throwing something across the room, putting my fist through a wall, etc., etc., etc.
Like I've said before, cheaper than therapy...
Hey Chris, I've found that throwing something across the room is helpful but only if THAT thing goes SPLAT when it finally hits something... (Don't say I told you, but PIE'S used to be the "therapy" of choice around here! Lol!)
Anyway, I think quite a few of us know what you're going through. The Therapy/Catapult is here whenever you need it buddy!!! I'll be prayin' for ya...
Hey, I'd like your opinion guys... What do you think about the connection from the switching layout I have now to the new 4x8 (or larger) coming from underneath? I was toying with the idea that the track would start from an elevated "rocky" downgrade... But on retrospect, I am considering have it come up from underneath where it comes out of a "Tree" tunnel... please let me know what you think, I'll try to get a rough sketch together...
Sam
May He bless you, guide you, and keep you safe on your journey through life!
I Model the New Hope & Ivyland RR (Bucks County, PA)
JimRCGMOI bet it'll be a while before you forget to put away the glasses at an accident scene, though, right? I've found my costlier mistakes tend to be the ones I usually don't repeat. So did you meet the Perfect Wife at the local VW dealer? Hope your mood fades away soon (or the PW cooks your favorite dinner or otherwise improves your mood...
Thanks, JIM. Actually Loving Wife and I went to the same college back in '91-'92. I got shot down by her on just about a daily basis. Roughly ten years later, we're w**king at the same community college (me in the EMS Education Dept., her in Graphics and Marketing Dept.). I was leaving my program director position, and she finally accepted an offer of lunch at the campus vomitorium for a "goodbye lunch." She later agreed to another lunch, then finally an offer of a night out. THAT "night out" turned into about a 2-1/2 day event.
As for bone-head moves and the repitition factor...the gals at the eyeglass place gave me a hard case "you can drive a combine over." I'm tempted to take some screws and my cordless drill up to the station and INSTALL the darn thing IN the "crash truck," since I'm pretty much always stuck riding out in it. They also rigged up a strap for the pair. I can't stand it, but might hang it by my helmet. IF I'm gonna keep 'em on (if I'm stuck on traffic control), I can quickly attach the "idiot strap" to them.
It just floors me, and...I'm 40, I'm not some naieve' kid; but it just floors me how everything revolves around money...and how I quite frankly just don't have any due to a plethora of choices and decisions I've made over the past 20-odd years. "This is the price you pay for the life you choose" was a line out of The Godfather 3. It is so true... I can't afford to keep working for THAT, but Loving Wife wants me to have a job I "enjoy" vs. hating every minute of it. She'd rather we be practically dirt-poor with me doing a job I like, than be "comfortable" financially with me suffering through every minute of w**k.
Some people are in a tough spot due to circumstances NOT of their choosing, not of their own doing...no fault of their own. I'm in a tough spot, and I put myself in it. I can't blame anybody else. It's not any politician's fault.
It's also NOT up to any politician to improve my situation.
So.....thanks again JIM, I appreciate your good wishes, but no...this mood probably won't pass for awhile. Heck, the ONLY food that even looks good is the virtual food here. Real food just isn't sitting well.
Stress....it's a wonderful thing.
It probably doesn't help THAT I haven't had a "puff-puff" as TODD might say since yesterday. I'm trying to stretch this pack out as far as possible...I just won't have any bucks to replace it when it's gone. I've also cut way back on my caffiene intake, trying to stretch our cola supply and give my stomach a break. Two addictions cut back suddenly...yeah, THAT'll irritate me.
But, hey...I didn't have a cat hack up on me this morning... I'm not dealing with doctors, not moving inlaws, the POS computer seems to be running OK....Rerun is securely snuggled-in on the bed.
The more I think about it, I really have no business complaining about a single thing.
tcwright973Okay all you VW Bug lovers, are you sure you haven't forgotten some of the downsides to those rascals? A couple of us use to take turns driving to work. Two of the guys had Bugs, and I remember having frozen toes in those things because of the gasoline heaters that produced tons of cold air. The other thrill was driving on snow covered roads and having many exciting moments because the tires didn't fit in the ruts that normal size cars had made.
Ah yes the heaters...... The last one I had and the last couple my wife had (we had his and her bugs...) had heaters that worked quite well. They pulled the heat off the exhaust pipes and could get good and hot. The early were called "dirty air" heaters that simply blew the air cooling the engine into the car. On a cold day they produced no heat! The ones with the Gas heaters were pretty good, but it sure cut into your gas millage to have a gas burner lit in your car..... My first bug had a top speed of 71.5 mph and every morning when we drove from Canandaigua to Rochester (My wife worked in Rochester and I was at Eastman in Rochester) we would get to "Can of worms" on Rt. 490 and find the gas pedal frozen to the floor...... Not a good thing! We rigged up a short pole with a hook on the end that the wife would pull the gas pedal up with breaking the frozen situation... It also did not have a gas guage. On Friday as we would be driving home, the car would start to sputter and cough. I would reach over just above the gas peddle and flip over a metal handle to open up the reserve tank which would get us to the gas station when we got home. The real bad thing was forgetting to turn the lever back up when you refilled the tank. (Don't ask!) Used to cost a little over $3.00 a week for the two of us to drive 75 miles a day back and forth...... Course that was a lot of money to a poor college kid with a family back then!
As far as the ruts, I found it was usually we were the first car through and made it with no problem. The next car saw that we drove through it so they tried and ended up stuck half way through. The car after that just drove into the back of the car that got stuck trying to follow us...... It actually happened!
Jim, the server is part of a business the former division Super has. He also hosts the museum site. he deos this for free for us. Evidently there was a glitch as later this morning i recieved a whole slew of emails that were form the museum dating before Christmas. Problem has been taken care of. MRR time? You must be jesting! (See previous post!)
Well, hello everyone, again!!!
I think I am going to shelf my NH&I major layout design for now... got to get those MoW guys some experience laying track on a smaller territory first... I'm looking into some sort of modified 4'x8' or slightly larger table to attach to the little switching layout I currently have!? As soon as I unearth my layout drawing kit and get something on paper I will scan it into my 'puter and post it here for comments...
Lee- Love the landscaping!!! Keep the photos comin'! The deer are a cool touch! Hope there isn't anything "toxic" in those barrels, otherwise you might wind up with "DeerZilla"!!!
Chloe, can I have a RBF and a Large Apple Pie??? (hey, what's the glares for??? Can't anyone have pie in here anymore???) Sheesh!!!
Anywho, I'll be in the corner thinking about my layout possibilities...
Strangely enough, my bug had good heat. It was way better then my dirt bike!
CNCharliePC, nice to hear you are working on your layout again and I was curious as to why you are changing your staging to Unitrack. I will soon start on my N scale adventure and am debating between Unitrack and Atlas code 55. I like the look of the code 55 but it seems a bit finicky to lay. What flex are you using?
I'm using Atlas code 55 for all the visible track and I love it......very easy to work with. I was using Atlas code 80 for the hidden staging yard, mostly because I could recycle it from my old layout. Thing is, it wasn't holding up well, so I wanted something that was rock solid, plus, the turnouts have built in switch machines, so it simplifies things. It's going to be a strange mixup down there, since much of the large turnback curve is perfectly fine. Oh well......it's all good!
As for laying the flex, it's a piece of cake. I use latex caulk and it works great. Personally, I like the "springy" flex better then the stiffer stuff. It makes much smoother curves I think, and transitions are textbook smooth.
Good Evening, Chloe, think I missed the dinner rush. I'll have a hot fudge sundae and a CAW mug of decaf, please. Thanks!
All this talk about the VW Bugs lately - I'm kinda like Ulrich said (might be a bit cramped in one of them) but I've never driven one, though I have ridden in one. I'm just not wild about stick shifts, living in places where there are stop signs at the top of hills (and usually traffic crowding my car from behind...that, and I like my legroom!
NS Joe, we'll see about how your and my decals compare later this week - I didn't get around to trying mine out today. I'll let you (and the rest here) know
Jeff, sorry to hear about your computer problems. How old is the motherboard you have in there?
Ulrich - wonder if the doctors will let you know whatever they found out (if anything). Maybe they couldn't find anything wrong to explain your 'glitch.' Glad at least that you got to leave early. Hey, that new VW Beetle looks sharp - can't understand how come it isn't selling there, unless everybody's as tall as you are. I do recall when I was in my sophomore year of high school, there was a story about some guys from track practice who supposedly grabbed the four corners of the coach's VW's bumpers and turned it 90 degrees - IN its parking space. But I don't know for sure if that was just a fable, or if they really did that.
Robby, just in case, get that resume ready for a round of job apps, if it comes to that. And even with the sn*w tires, you'll still have to watch out for the idiots out there with you on the roads... Drive more carefully than they will, and you should be okay.
Uh, Todd, and how have you learned that pretty ladies have 'nasty toes'? Should we ask Brenda about that one, or not? Glad your utility bill is lower, anyway (now, how to get those others down, right?).
Calif.Tom, you're right about Crohn's - I have had two friends who had it, and they both lived in about the same area (smaller town outside of Cape area). I wondered if there was something in the ground water that might've been connected with it in their cases. Heckuva thing for a 16 year old, though (and not peachy for even an older person). On those 'City' cars, no problem - I'm sure your LHS would LOVE to pre-order the entire set for you, right?
Dick, I haven't seen Fergie in ages (maybe he's out there, frozen to an iceberg, or the polar bears have kidnapped him?), and haven't heard from Ed for many weeks. Duke's still taking his usual ROF naps in one of the back booths, unless somebody mentions Bershires, of course...).
Chris, I bet it'll be a while before you forget to put away the glasses at an accident scene, though, right? I've found my costlier mistakes tend to be the ones I usually don't repeat. So did you meet the Perfect Wife at the local VW dealer? Hope your mood fades away soon (or the PW cooks your favorite dinner or otherwise improves your mood...
Ray, is there anything that you can do about the MRR division's server, or is somebody else in charge of it? How did your MRR'ing time go today after you got back from getting your sis home?
Sawyer, it sounds like your industry setup will justify a lot of traffic on the ANRR. Good planning/designing, I'd say.
Hmm, Galaxy, I'll have to get back to you on next year's present. Lemme take this Walther's catalog to one of the back booths for a bit... I was kidding about being adopted, but said that because it sounded like you did a good job of figuring out something for the people on your list. Now, back to my browsing of the catalog... Oh, as for technology, my PowerBook is only about 9 years old, so who needs bells and whistles?
Rob, hope you get a good night's rest/sleep. The whole thing with getting the in-laws moved (and their gear) is - I'm sure - a drain.
Aztec Eagle - to the Diner, and fill us in on your layout (or your dreams/plans for same). Modelling a specific RR or freelancing, what era/time period, etc.? And have a beverage of your choice with your fiesta dinner there. I think your appetite could about keep up with Jeffrey's.
I started on painting the sacks, tools and stuff today. Got the first coat done on the sacks, and decided I will need to do some sanding/trimming/cleaning up some mold joint lines on things, since the off-white I'm using tends to show up the flaws really well... I got a late start today, too - didn't set the alarm (since I'm on vacation, right?). I did get my wiring and electrical items inventoried (wire, various switches - SPST, DPDT, momentary push-buttons, etc.). I finally got out my Jerome & Southwestern book to see, and yup - got all of them exactly as the listing read in the book. Some of you Diners who have been around a bit have heard me tell that about 20+ years ago, I had started getting lumber and other items (like electrical stuff...) for that layout design, but the separation and divorce sidetracked me until a few years ago, I was at my storage shed for something else and decided to take home a box or two of MRR items, I got started hanging around the Diner (called the Coffee Shop back then), and so here I have a completely different design going.
Anyway back to MRR'ing currently - I also decided that I had these Accurail kits yet to be assembled, and since a certain Diner needed something other than hornhooks, I'd just pull all the Accumate ones out and add them to the batch for him. That took a little while, since they were inside plastic bags with trucks and wheels (and I wanted to re-staple the bags back up after I got the couplers out).
Gee, about tired from all that talking! I'll finish my sundae and then head for home. See all of you in the morning!
Blessings and prayers for good nights' rest and healing,
Evenin' folks!
Zoe, just a decafe and a seat in the back by the fire......
What a day! It started first thing this morning....(well most days do, but just listen will ya...) Igot out of bed and made my way down to the littlwe room at the other end of the hall like always. Sat down on the throne and realized tha one of my arms felt very cold. Put my hand on the cold spot and found my hand got wet...... Washed up and went back to the bedroom nd took a look at the sheets I had just put on clean last night. I noriced that Manet was not in his usual place up by the pillow, so I checked iot out. Yup nice hairball right by the pillow on the sheet! The day has gone downhill from there.....
Had to go to my sisters house before driving to Rochester to pick her up at the airport. I feed the cats while I was there, locked up and headed for Rochester. Got to the airport and moseyed over to one of the kiosks where they tell the ETA of incoming flights and found her flight listed as Delayed.... I was an hour early, so I settled in for the wait. At the time the flight was due from Atlanta, I shuffled over to see what it said and it said, On Time (scheduled to arrive at 4;50PM). Half hour after that it said In Flight. About 2 hours later I checked it and it said Arrived. I looked around and there was my sister walking from the other end of the Airport over to where her luggage was going to come flying out of the chute onto the big merry-go-round thingy of 45 minutes or so after that. BTW they appear to have a rule that says which ever exit they let you out of at the airport, you will find your lugage at the complete opposite end of the airport. (Another good reason not to fly I think...)
So after she said all the goodbyes to the couple that run these "excursions" to the "Very Far" we made our way out to my car. Headed for the Thruway and home (her house). She got telling me all about her trip, so I drove by the Canandaigua exit of the Thruway and the next one after that, meaning we got off at Geneva and then I had to drive her back to Canandiagua..... Finally got home a bit before 10PM, ate a quick supper and saw that I had 4 phone messages that should have been dealt with hours earlier. Two of the messages were from my sister telling me her flight had been delayed and not to go to the airport until later.... (The call came 10 minutes after I left the house.) One was about the MLK Scholarship award second payment for a girl heading back to college early. Hope she doesn't haver to leave tomorrow morning..........
Oh well it was an "interesting" day I guess. Hope yours has been a bit better....
Jeffrey, I guess suggesting you run out and buy one of these might be out of place then? Apple Mac Pro
Okay all you VW Bug lovers, are you sure you haven't forgotten some of the downsides to those rascals? A couple of us use to take turns driving to work. Two of the guys had Bugs, and I remember having frozen toes in those things because of the gasoline heaters that produced tons of cold air. The other thrill was driving on snow covered roads and having many exciting moments because the tires didn't fit in the ruts that normal size cars had made.
Hoping everyone has a very happy and safe New Year.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
Good Evening Diners!
Haven't been on the home computer since the 23rd so I've had a lot of catching up to do.
Well it seems most of us had a good Christmas. Ours was very hectic as in ironing the table cloth at 2 a.m. on Christmas morning. My poor wife was exhausted by the end of day as she spent all day in the kitchen going at a pace I can't keep up with. The meal was really spectacular but she says she won't do it again as it is too much work for too few people. We spent all of Boxing Day and part of the next just vegging in front of the TV as we were too tired to do anything else.
I too had a VW bug while at University. I got a 1961 Beetle Deluxe in early 1968 and you are so right about it going through snow especially the one I had as it had studded snow tires. Mine also had a gas heater which had 2 settings, off or full blast. The heater was under the back seat so you flipped it up for use and then flipped the switch which caused a swoosh from the ignition and then the heat came on with fan force that blew around any passenger's hair. Soon you felt as if your face would boil so you shut it off and quickly the car was freezing again. So it had 2 temp settings, freeze or broil.
Sam, if you want an 0-6-0 I can sure recommend the PK2 version. The detail is amazing and it will really crawl. Mine was produced by Life Like and putting a decoder in it was plug n play.
PC, nice to hear you are working on your layout again and I was curious as to why you are changing your staging to Unitrack. I will soon start on my N scale adventure and am debating between Unitrack and Atlas code 55. I like the look of the code 55 but it seems a bit finicky to lay. What flex are you using?
Chris, I can relate about a pet dog running free. Many years ago I had an Afghan Hound when I lived on the outskirts of a small town in northwest Ontario. In the winter I would let him out for a run and wow could he run. I measured his stride and it was about 6'. I had to stop his winter runs as once he crossed the river in front of my parents house and investigated the barn on the other side. I thought he would get lost for sure as across the river was Minnesota. He did come back though and I caught up with him trotting down Main Street. I opened the door on the truck and said, 'Nazareth get in here' and for once he obeyed me.
Robby, I sympathize with you on your problem with snow and the boss. Where I work you are docked a day if you don't show up and the only excuse for weather is if the city is officially closed which I can't remember ever happening. There have been days with blizzards but again that isn't an excuse but at least they don't give you the sack.
Well we have to take our little Pippa into the vets tomorrow and it is likely that we will have to get one eye removed as there is a crack in the cornea which just won't heal especially in a dog as old as she is. I'm not looking forward to tomorrow but I guess that pales in comparison to some of the health issues some of you face.
Not a lot done on the RR over Christmas but I did get some trees installed. I have been running my CP equipment and have to say that S3 is an amazing little loco.. It can creep so slowly it is barely moving.
See you soon,
CN Charlie
Hey, I survived...
After dinner I went to Home Depot and picked up nuts bolts and lock washers to put together the "new/old" table in my basement. Got the table assembled and had my wife help me move the train table onto the "new/old" table... ran my new 2-8-0 around and it kept stalling... yes indeed I had to rub down every single rail to get the oxidation off... I'm gonna have to replace all the tracks at some point to reduce the amount of maintenance I have to perform just to run an engine around... I also lost the manual to my Bachmann EZDCC somewhere during the move, so off I go to download it from their site...
Chloe, may Please have a large coffee and a tuna fish sandwich, I have a feeling it is going to be a little bit of a search to gbet the manual downloaded.
EDIT: BTW, the 2-8-0 shows every single flaw in my trackwork... looks like I'm going to have to redo the tracks sooner rather than later if I wanna run this little beauty around...
BTW:It's Snowing In North Texas!!We Even Had a White Christmas!!Thanx and a Tip O'The Fedora to Bing Crosby for that holiday standard!!Even if he did beat his kids!!
Okay.If it's after midnight,I'll have a big ol'plate of Huevos Rancheros with refried beans;choizo and flour tortillas!!!
Tall glass of cool lemon water, please.
Long day of packing the LAST of the Inlaw's stuff from their old room and moving it into a storage locker. Only thing we kept was a display frame thing with glass shelves. I thought the wife could display some of her Breyer horses on, but she thinks it would make a nice model train display. We shall see.
Beyond exhausted tonight, so will catch up to y'all another day. Hope everyone is doing well.
Rob
Hi guys!
whew gone a few days and the diner breeezes by with lost to read...several pages worth.
I will have, lemme see, a cup of tea in a Chessie Mug.
The prayer candle is up for those in need.
jeffrey-wimberly galaxyJeffrey W. I am also very jealous of that 50' B&O Yellow Boxcar. I go nuts for anything B&O , C&O, Chessie, and am warming up to modern day CSX! If you really like it maybe we can work something out. Got something to trade?
galaxyJeffrey W. I am also very jealous of that 50' B&O Yellow Boxcar. I go nuts for anything B&O , C&O, Chessie, and am warming up to modern day CSX!
Maybe we should talk in PM's Jeff. IIRC I DO have something you were interested in before my summer of discontent of multiple surgeries, and family surgeries gone wrong too.
fec153 Galaxy- Anything in particular in B&O / C&O ?? In H O of course. Flip
Galaxy- Anything in particular in B&O / C&O ?? In H O of course.
Flip
Flip, no nothing in particular and yet one of everything I just like to loosely proto/freelance model B&O and all its incarnates as my fav, with a few trackage rights to PRR to pass through. And Yes, HO of course and all DCC compliant. On disability my budget doesn't allow me to induldge myself as much as I'd like.
JimRCGMO Galaxy, it sounds like you did up your Christmas celebration for everybody on the gifts. Can I be a relative of yours next year? We tried to do our part to keep things toned down, and besides, this is Elliott's (Trackside) Diner, so we usually wind up having a mug of coffee (or something stronger) after things wind down and we settle down at the RC. Jim in Cape Girardeau
Galaxy, it sounds like you did up your Christmas celebration for everybody on the gifts. Can I be a relative of yours next year? We tried to do our part to keep things toned down, and besides, this is Elliott's (Trackside) Diner, so we usually wind up having a mug of coffee (or something stronger) after things wind down and we settle down at the RC.
Gee, aw, shucks. Jim, It wasn't all that much for presents for family. But maybe for next year I could adopt you...what would you like for a present?
And it was understood that it seemed there was some temperament on the almost-near flame war I saw going on in the diner, had it escalated I know the diner woulda been shut down. That woulda been a shame.
Robby P. Just a quick stop.......Gotta beat the snow!!! ......... They are calling for 2 inches tonight!!!! That's by day break, and I have to get up at 3:00am. I'm sure the roads will be a mess. I honestly don't know what to tell them. I'm not to drive with that guy again, and I'm not putting my car in danger. If it gets wrecked, well.........I will be out of work for a few days, or will have to leave work early (take the wifes car to work). Either way they won't like that. I just don't know what to do.
Just a quick stop.......Gotta beat the snow!!!
......... They are calling for 2 inches tonight!!!! That's by day break, and I have to get up at 3:00am. I'm sure the roads will be a mess. I honestly don't know what to tell them. I'm not to drive with that guy again, and I'm not putting my car in danger. If it gets wrecked, well.........I will be out of work for a few days, or will have to leave work early (take the wifes car to work). Either way they won't like that. I just don't know what to do.
Robby...ain't it grand living in a snow belt??? Think or our neighbors to the north.
Robby P. I agree 100%!!! Its not that I don't want to go to work, I don't wanna wreck my car, get hurt, etc...
I agree 100%!!! Its not that I don't want to go to work, I don't wanna wreck my car, get hurt, etc...
Unless there is a good "State of Emergency" Most employers will expect you to show for for work even if it takes you hours to get there. Just think a good three more months of winter!!!
Sir Madog I have to get ready to be taken to the hospital. Jeff - take care while I am gone, will you? You all have a good time! Will see you next year!
I have to get ready to be taken to the hospital. Jeff - take care while I am gone, will you?
You all have a good time! Will see you next year!
Ulrich, Special prayers will be for you too!
BamaCSX83 I do have a question that y'all might be able to answer. All of my rolling stock and other locos still have plain ole horn-hooks on them. I'm fairly certain that the Bachmann engine that I've got on order will probably come with some form of knuckle coupler. The obvious question is will the two work together, or will I be stuck having to immediately convert all my existing stuff over to knuckle couplers (planning on doing that in the future, but its not a "do it right now or else" thing on my list).
I do have a question that y'all might be able to answer. All of my rolling stock and other locos still have plain ole horn-hooks on them. I'm fairly certain that the Bachmann engine that I've got on order will probably come with some form of knuckle coupler. The obvious question is will the two work together, or will I be stuck having to immediately convert all my existing stuff over to knuckle couplers (planning on doing that in the future, but its not a "do it right now or else" thing on my list).
Bama I have two passenger cars that have horn hook couplers that will hitch to my Bachman engine knuckle couplers and play well. I have yet to convert them, I will. They just need to be hooked/unhooked by the "hand of God" method.
Jeffrey W. ain't modern tech and the costs associated with it grand? I often fear being left behind for lack of the budget to support it. AND some of it I don't want!!
WELL! I still ahve 2 pages to go but this is enough rambling from me for those who even read what I write, dyslexic typing as it may be...
Have a great night and a better tomorrow guys!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
LSWrrSam, I have an older Bachmann 0-6-0 with tender; not too impressed the locomotive doesn’t move until you have about 50% power on. Not sure it’s worth the effort to install a new motor and convert it to DCC or not. We shall see.
Lee, is it a relatively nice looking model? or does it leave you wanting for more detail?
Well, gotta go... The wife just told me it's time to go have diner with her parents.... Wish me luck!!!
Good afternoon, Chloe? a double cheeseburger basket 'n Coke to go please 'n thank-you. Oh, a couple plain cheeseburgers for Rerun too while you're at it.
All this talk about VW Bugs would set Loving Wife's heart a-fluttering. She loves those cars. Someday I'll have to get her a real one. Her 2000 New Beetle has been a fine machine. My 2002 New Beetle...welp, I keep debating how best to get rid of the piece of crap. Fine German engineering with ***-poor Mexican assembly.
Got the new glasses yesterday, a costly penalty for a dumb-*** moment.
ULRICH: Glad they're kicking you out, hopefully for good reasons.
JEFF: Sorry to hear of the 'pooter troubles.
ROBBY P: Snow tires and invincibility do not equal. In other words...they'll help, but I wouldn't bet my life on them. Use all due discretion and caution 'eh??
I'm in a little too foul of a mood to hang out in here amongst nice people today.
Hope everybody has a good, safe rest of the day, and an even better tomorrow.
grayfox1119JEFF: Time to get rid of Xp and get Windows 7 , build a new PC Jeff, or at least get an new i7 Motherboard.
Went out and priced a new main board and processor today. The board (IDE capable) is $54 and the processor (2.6 dual-core Intel) is $81. Comes to 146.48 with tax included. I'll have to spread that over 2 or 3 months.