Elliot's Trackside Diner XXII-Just a track over

[blownout cylinder]

pcarrell

For all those questioning the "conditions" on being allowed to poke and prod my modelling efforts, you'll notice I left that open ended.  I just might return the favor!  You know, like iron sharpens iron!

Can we use barge poles?

[Paul W. Beverung]

Here it is Christmas Eve and we just got back from our daughters house. It's only 2 miles from here but it took about ten minutes to maks the trip. Reason is we are having a white Christmas. Two to three inches of snow fell today. It really was pretty, even if I had to feed and move cattle in it. The cab on the new tractor really was great. No trains but maybe tomorrow if the wind dies down I'll go over to the track and get out the 7 1/2 inch gauge and make a run. Tonight it's to bed and keep warm.

I hope that everyone is having a wonderfull Christmas.

God bless all those on duty at home or overseas.

[GMTRacing]

Good Evening All,

      Shops all locked up, presents wrapped, time to kick back a bit. After breakfast tomorrow we'll go up to my sons and be with all our side and his inlaws. Fortunately we all get along so it should be a good time. Growing up we did much the same but for sure we cousins didn't get on that well and I have the scar tissue to prove it. Trying to improve on that, may you all have a Merry Christmas and feel some peace on earth.   J.R.

[TMarsh]

Ah, the buffet is still here good. Oh look prime rib cooked just a hair past med rare and lobster! Baked potato, and a seven layer pea salad.

Very slow at the restaurant tonight but that was expected. Still I made 50 United States dollars in tips. So it wasn't a waste of time. We did close early because no customers later.

 Chris- Hey, I like the roundhouse so far. Especially the walls and the poles. Very nice and realistic looking! I forgot to mention the buffet works for the four legged members of the family. Glad Rerun gave it a look.

Sump pumps really a cranking now. I took the rain gage in a while back so I have no idea how much rain we have. But as wet as it is I sure hope we don't get a big freeze.

Well, best hit the dessert side and then hit the hay. I was told we are going to the boys place in the morning for a Brunch as opposed to dinner.

Prayers for everyone to have a wonderful Christmas eve. Especially for the ill, homeless, troubled, those serving our country in ALL ways, military and community, those who are surrounded by family and friends and those who are alone. Actually one is never alone if they know where to look.

[blownout cylinder]

All about us is peace and quiet. 'Spring' is in the guest room keeping an eye on our guests--my sister and BIL and the niece and nephew and all that---they're heading out in the afternoon to Windsor to see his relatives and we're going to have other sister show up later on tomorrow.

I've got a few details to attend to ---cranberries--then it'll be off to bed for me--

Have a safe and merry Christmas to you and yours from ours

[howmus]

Good evening to all!

Zoe I'll have a glass of egg nog with a bit of Myers Dark in it to warm me up and calm the soul.....  Just got home from Lessons and Carols Service at Church.  I am now sitting here listening to Solstice Live by the Paul Winter Consort.  It is kinda a Christmas Tradition for me.  Some very ancient music from many cultures.  The last song always gets to me bigtime....  "Midnight/Adeste"  In the midst of a very upbeat chant, the soprano sax comes in with "O Come All Ye Faithful, and by the second verse the huge pipe organ at the Cathedral of St. Paul the Divine enters and it just fills the air as I melt........!  Powerful album!

Tomorrow I will be with my son and his family most of the day.  

My prayers to all of you for a safe and blessed Christmas Season!

73

 

 

 

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never put it out."

 

[pcarrell]

blownout cylinder

pcarrell

For all those questioning the "conditions" on being allowed to poke and prod my modelling efforts, you'll notice I left that open ended.  I just might return the favor!  You know, like iron sharpens iron!

Can we use barge poles?

Do you have poleing pockets on your loco's?  I run steam, so I do!

[der5997]

Merry Christmas every-one! (It's just a bit past 12:15 a.m. here on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore.)...I haven't checked the pages to see if Dick posted this generic Holiday Wish, but here goes in any case. It covers all the bases! He sent it in an email the  other day.

 

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.  I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2010, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great.  Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere.  Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

May your Christmas be filled with blessings.  Jeff, we remembered your situation, as well as that of others having a difficult time right now, in our service here this evening.

Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers continuing for all in need of Healing, Comfort. Prosperity and Peace.

[pcarrell]

[AmanaMedic]

As The Red Baron did sayeth unto Snoopy the Flying Ace on the frozen banks of the Rhine...

"Merry Christmas, my friend(s)!"

As the CNW Boone East Dispatcher MLJ said to train crews operating near Beverly Yard one Christmas Eve roughly 20 years ago: "Be on the look-out for low-flying reindeer."

Again, a very Merry Christmas to all of you and yours, from me and mine...

Chris, Kit (AKA: Loving Wife), Rerun Florian, and Cloe the Cat

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

 Merry Christmas, everybody!

Did you know Santa Claus prefers HO scale for his layout?

HO HO HO HO HO

On that note, enjoy the day. We are having a good visit. I still will have very little computer time. 

[Robby P.]

 Good morning, and Merry Christmas!!!

 Hope everybody has a good Christmas.  

 

[TMarsh]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

From the Marshall family, Todd, Brenda and Missy (woof)

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning. It's 30 and sunny. The high today will in the upper 40's and it will be sunny. A welcome change from all the rain we've had lately.

It's a cold Christmas day here with no sign of rain. Looking forward to spending some time with my family later today. My sister has been cooking her traditional Christmas dinner since late yesterday and should be just about done with it. My nephew and my niece and her husband will be setting the dining room accordingly. I used to help out in that but owing to certain circumstances I'm not allowed to do anything but sit by and watch. I hope the rest of you have as good a day as I'm looking forward to having. Happy holidays.

[blownout cylinder]

Merry Christmas !!!!!

From Audrey, 'Spring' the cat and I----to you and yours--

Have a housefull of people runnin' 'round-----gotta keep track---have a good one--

[Cederstrand]

A coffee in a small Christmas Mug, please & thanks.

Except for adding the train under it and a bunch more ornaments, this is our "tree in a box" from HD we had up in about 4 hours. First ever artificial tree for me personally. I didn't mind the change one bit. 

 

Was a big hit with the Inlaws children, looking at all the character/figure ornaments. SIL married into a Jewish family and they're a lot of fun around the holidays. We had a great time!

One heck of a blustery night with very strong wind gusts. Hope there is no roof damage on any out buildings. Off to do critter rounds here.

Rob

[ns3010]

Morning all, and  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Yes, I'm finally back! I got my computer back two days ago, but was far too busy to get on.

Woke up this morning to find many train items below the tree (I already knew what they would be, since my mom asked me for the list, since she's clueless when it comes to train stuff...). I got a few cars (including a broken centerbeam, which will be returned). Walther's couldn't ship my airbrush because of "shipping restrictions" (I'll ask them when we call about the centerbeam replacement), and they forgot to ship the decal paper, although the online order says they did (or, my parents forgot to give it to me...).
I also got a hockey stick, and I'm getting money for skates later.
I'll get pix up later.

Have an excellent day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cox 47]

Merry Christmas....Hope You all are having as good a one as sallie and I!...Jerry

[Anonymous]

 MERRY CHRISTMAS

to all of you over at the other side of the Big Pond!

Ulrich, Petra, Christian and Stephanie

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 What did I get? Well, $170, two DVD's (Star Trek Nemesis, Harry Potter and the half-blood prince), a Gator-Grip ratchet driver, a 22 disk CD holder, a trackside diner** and a KCS 50' boxcar** (arrived in the mail yesterday, opened today.

** (Both from forum members)

The diner:

[fec153]

Hey Jeff- Is that the one I sent tuesday?  Wow! One of Santas elves must have goosed the postman. Hope you like it.

Best wishes as always,

Flip

 

[der5997]

Christmas Dinner, let’s see. Harvey’s Bristol Cream sherry while we think about things, and then the roast stuffed shoulder of lamb with roast potatoes, celeriac, sweet potato, carrots onions (all roasted) plus peas and cauliflower, gravy, mint sauce, red wine jelly, and a bottle of the ’07 Elderberry and apple wine. For dessert, Christmas Pudding, with custard and whipped cream. Coffee (JR Regular, but with a dash of Kahula  ’cos it’s Christmas!) and home made chocholate truffles and marzipan goodies. Thanks Rob!   to the Diner, barrokChuck and back 2footJim   Todd:

or what about the person who needs the specialist.

…that’s the scary thing.  Our New Glasgow friends are pretty sure that some of his symptoms stem from the blood pressure meds he was prescribed by a doctor whom they know had at one point mixed up his and her files! So he ended up, they think being treated for her bp symptoms. I think this is a reflection on case loads rather than the system as a whole – but it isn’t good.

Chris- I was told by an electric company worker dude, there are three backups ( I took it to mean like fused circuits) in the system. So if your power goes out momentarily once, twice, the third time it comes on, start looking for candles and get the generator going. You're out of backups. It's been a number of years so my exactness of terms and exactly what he said is a bit fuzzy but you get the idea

…I’ve heard of that before; and we’ve witnessed it a time or two here. Kind of baseball like if you  think on it.   Hey, that got me thinking…Spring Training can’t be that far off now, can it? 

 

Silver Pilot: I was interested in your Username, and wondered how it was derived. Has it anything to do with this kind of thing?

 Chris:

"unfold it, plug it in" unit is just easier...

…we are even lazier, if that’s possible. We have an artificial tree that we’ve had for many years…I know we had it in Spruce Grove, and so it’s a minimum of 12 years, probably 15. In those days we were into the unfold – dress- plug-in routine. Now we don’t bother to do that – since it’s not large, we unplug it on 12^th night (Jan. 6^th ) and put a blue re-cycle bag over it and away it goes in storage for another year! (are you listening CapeJim: ….It takes me a couple/few days just to get my tree up and the lights and decorations (mostly) on it. Hate to think of having to do that in the space of a couple of hours, with the kids waiting, listening, sniffing the air, outside of the door. !)

Loving Wife noted last night THAT I need a bigger w**k area up here...

….a Loving Wife indeed!...and one to keep!   Like t he Roundhouse interior   CapeJim:

Now caroling someone at 4 a.m. might be hazardous to a caroler's health in some areas.

…as indeed it says in Proverbs 27:14!   Vincent:

Chris, I'm gonna have to agree with you there. Especially around here where you have the locals, the guys from Alabama, and a bunch of northerners and Canucks around here. Neither group seems to be able to drive really well

…I’d be willing to lay a small wager that I could tell you the Provincial of origin of some of those Canuks from their licence plate!    Paul: I forgot to ask, how was the Pecan harvest this year?  BTW, our New Hampshire “summer” neighbours left for Connecticut and Florida  two days ago. In our goodbye conversation he mentioned that he had seen that Daniel Boone IV (or VI, he couldn’t remember which) built a live steam loco probably about your 71/2 gauge. It sold at auction for around $70, 000 recently.  Jeff:

I used to help out in that but owing to certain circumstances I'm not allowed to do anything but sit by and watch

…good plan!    Maybe I’ll get some mrr time this evening, might be able to get the ballasting progressed from where I had to leave off two days ago! Hope you all had a Happy and safe Christmas. TTFN.

 

[Packer]

Merry Chirstmas Ya'll

This is my main train-related christmas present, that ended up turning into a project.

When I was painting the end rails and step edges white, I aciddentaly got some paint on the blue. I tried a bit of rubbing alcohol to get it off. It worked, but the whole unit faded a lot. I managed to get it mostly back to normal by scrubbing with an old toothbrush and cold water.

Then my bro knocked it over when I went upstairs for a snack. I had to re-install (it was backwars anyways, the 2 horns are supposed to face the long hood, since the long hood is the fron on this one) the horn and add Cal-scale lift rings since a majority of them broke off. The pics are after all of that. Not too bad IMO, just have to be care with BSB things from walthers P2K to avoid spontanious insta-fade.

I also got 5 athearn RTR cars (40 for 5 random ones at trainworld)
- L&N single door boxcar
- DVS FMC box
- GRN ACF box
- MKT 50' express reffer
- MP 40' AAR box

[blownout cylinder]

Good Christmas day evening---

Everyone be quiet as the weather sorta made everyone say---go to Windsor?--Neh--wait until tomorrow

So today is all cuddled up---

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 The temperature got up into the lower 60's today and there wasn't a cloud to be seen. It's down in the low 40's now heading for a low in the upper 20's. I'll be having the heat on tonight.

[howmus]

Evenin folks!

Just a cup of decafe Zoe.  I'll be sitting in the back booth keeping warm by the fire.

Looks like most everyone had a great Christmas Day 1 today.  I know I sure did!  Got up bright and early and went to my son's house for breakfast.  Had a nice breakfast Quiche with eggs, ham and cheese along with a couple of cups of excellent coffee.  I tried to be a bit neater than Emily though:

Emily got to ride on her brand new Thomas The Train toy.....

When she looked the other way, older sister tried it out herself:

Olivia got some blocks with the Tidmouth Station she got:

And some more track from Grandpa as well:

She was not happy that we couldn't imediately drive over to Grandpa's house to use it!  The rest of the set stays at my house.

I then drove to Canandaigua to feed the kitties.  Monet Marie actually let me pet her again.....

Drove back home just in time to go over to My Son's MIL house for a wonderful Christmas Dinner.  Frankly i am ready for a "Long Winter's Nap!"

High point of the day???

Emily slept on my belly for about an hour until she was woken up by Olivia who wanted Grandpa to play with her......

Second best high point of the day.  I tried to play a Nickolas Bishop of Smyrna with this, but they had to know who gave it to them.  Just a little "Gift Certificate".  Since they are buying a house and moving in just a a couple weeks, they now have a major deposit on some new furniture as well.  My son knew about it, but had no idea how much.  Lets just say..... Substantial.  Karen didn't know how to react and had gone from double take to disbelief and had just put on her total shock face as I snapped the photo.   Yep this kind a thing can be fun....

What did I get for Christmas?  I just showed you!

73

[ns3010]

 Evening all. Chloe, I'll take some hot chocolate and a piece of pie, thanks.

 Hope everyone had a great day, and got what they asked "Santa" for!

Here's what train stuffI got:

And a broken centerbeam, which I'll return to Walthers next week...

I also got some paints, but Walthers forgot to ship the decal paper (DOH!). The observation is too long for my curves (I'll be starting on a new layout soon), and I don't want to take the centerbeam out of the box, just to make sure Walthers will take it back (but I'm SOOOO tempted to run it, just once!), so currently only the tanker is operational.

For non train stuff, I got a new stick and a pair of skates (both of which I needed REALLY badly. I have practice on Saturday, and might go to an open skate tomorrow. If I do go, I need to go to the pro shop (where my aunt and grandma got them, which is at the rink) and get them heat molded to my feet... and sharpened, since they're about as sharp as an apple... lol

I'll be hanging for a bit catching up.

[Packers#1]

 Merry Christmas to everyone! Here's a youtube update vid. I've since added a LOT more scenery though, so pics tomorrow or whenever the scenery dries.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXqLNvMlHcg

[AmanaMedic]

Good Even'nin... a RBF please 'n thankya...

RAY: It goes without saying, but I'm gonna say it anyways. yer a good man!

PACKER: THAT's a sweet lookin' Geep! It sounds to me like the unintended fade might be a good thing, make it a little easier to BN patch/weather. Looking at it makes me ponder "what-if" I'd gone with an alternate idea of modeling a CB&Q/BN branch in SW Iowa...around the merger time. I'd have red and gray Burlington units of course, but post-merger, and sure could have a fine looking GN unit like THAT prowling up and down the branch as well. But, then I look at all the late 80s/early 90s CNW stuff sitting around...and back to the reality of, well, reality.

TODD and Der JOHN: Thanks guys, for the kind words on the roundhouse interior. The interior walls are just notebook cover cardboard with more-or-less 12" planks also made from the same cardstock. I hit it with the greatly thinned light gray I'm using for mortar, then hit it with a completely uncontrolled, un-scientific ink wash blotted back off here and there. The first wall went better than expected. The second, WORSE than expected!

I've found THAT when it comes to the Atlas roundhouse, I would NOT recommend it as a "first project." The least bit of warpage (of which there is a fair amount), coupled with a little less-than exact alignment on some parts, despite almost fanatical care; leads to a bit of a "challenge" getting some things to have a nice "fit and finish." So far, I'm finding I have to do a lot more "custom fitting" than I thought I would. I don't know if its an issue with me, the Chinese molders, or maybe the dies are just getting worn-out. I'm guessing this kit has been around for a few decades???? Its coming out fine, just taking a bit more w**k than I thought it would even factoring in its monstorous size.

I'll soon be to a stopping point. I can't install the front walls until some parts/materials are obtained. THAT may be another month or two down the road. Gotta take care of the fiscal responsibilities before I can look at the fiscal irresponsibilities. "Fiscally responsible fiscal irresponsibility."

So far, a very Q-word day around here... Here's hoping it stays THAT way.

A good evening to all, and to all a good night!

Chris

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Janie - I see you got the holiday duty; glad you have the place open. I'll have some Christmas cookies and an ATSF mug of eggnog, please. Thanks!

Sorry I missed everybody who was in last night, didn't have a good connection at home, and went to the 11 p.m. service last night. We didn't get any of that white stuff last night OR today (that I saw - maybe it melted too quickly?).

PC, I was thinking flint sharpened iron, but I see you were quoting from a different 'proverb'...

Chris - thanks for posting the pics of the roundhouse interior. On the second photo, if you put an upright soda machine back of the silver w**kbench, it'll block even more of the back of that stall. Looking good! And thanks for reminding us about those who serve others, even on the holidays. One church locally was mentioned (again) on the news tonight - they make up meals and take them to a lot of places where people are w**king on Christmas Day (airport controllers, med-chopper crew, ambulance company, people w**king at the gas places that are open, etc. They started out with about 315 the first year and now are a little upwards of 1100 meals being delivered today. (It helps that a local restaurant is owned/run by a church member, and that they aren't open officially on this day...)

blownout cylinder

Can we use barge poles?

  Uh, Barry, let's not be rash and... 'barge in' there on JR...

JR, sounds like a good plan with the cousins (for this year?).

Rob, that tree of yours looks great - do you store it with the ornaments on, or do you have to put those on/take them off each year? That's a full size tree, while mine is only about four feet tall. We had a lot of windyness last night and today here, I think up to 30-35 mph or above. I could hear it blowing against the windows this morning when I woke up (late).

NS Joe, sounds like you had a fun time of opening your presents this morning! Maybe if you're lucky, Walthers will say just to keep the broken car and you'll be able to fix it and have an extra...?

Ulrich - great to see that Christian and Stephanie have arrived for their visit with you and Petra.

DerJohn - while I'd love being able to just 'sack' the tree away for easy of setup the next year, I have some personally made ornaments, some small Hallmark ones, and a crocheted/starched angel that goes on the top of the tree, and I'd be afraid that the small stuff might get lost and the fragile stuff might get damaged. Besides, the tree and ornaments in their boxes take up less space for me to store, and I can keep them all on one corner/side of the bedroom closet. Couldn't do that with a fully-standing/assembled one. But thanks for the idea!

Vincent, that's a very nice Geep there - I'd say you did fine on that project.

Ray, looks like you are keeping the grandkids 'on track'.... (Or did their parents know enough to get those presents for them? Looks like being on your list for Christmas is a good thing, based on the expressions.

I got up about 9:45 this morning (hey, I didn't get back from church and to bed until about 12:40 this morning!), and once I got going, put the roast in the crockpot. I decided to get our the china (from Mom & Dad - it's many years old) and dishes.

Here's the menu: round roast, herb mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce (jellied), both kinds of olives, salad, roll, milk and a Christmas mug of coffee. (Got the blue 4-cup Mr. Coffee fired up). And I restricted myself to one helping. Of course, I did go get a 'Drumstick' (the ice cream kind) and a Mr. Pibb for dessert before I came into the Diner. Might have a Christmas cookie or two also.

I started on the pine trees  (WS #24, the taller ones with metal trunks) tonight. Takes a bit of doing to get the trunks twisted into sorta spiral fashion, put some variation in the branches spacing, and have it look irregular (like tree branches do in 1:1 scale). I also moved the stuff for the church I'm scratchbuilding together. Will see about more on that and the trees tomorrow after laundry. Oh yeah, need to get those gift certificates for daughter and SIL tomorrow - two stops. And get the e-certificate off to my brother (may get that off tonight...). But hey! I'm on vacation, so no major time pressures. I will probably not go by my usual haunt for lunch, as they're near the mall, and that will be enough of a madhouse tomorrow...

Hope everyone had a great holiday, spent with loved ones (two and/or four-legged ones) and family, and may you have got enough hugs.

 

Christmas blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau