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Elliot's Trackside Diner XXII-Just a track over Locked

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Posted by Cox 47 on Monday, December 28, 2009 8:54 AM

Looks like its on me...There goes my Christmas money!...Order up and enjoy...Jerry

ILLinois and Southern...Serving the Coal belt of southern Illinois with a Smile...
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Monday, December 28, 2009 9:40 AM

 Good morning. It's 30 and sunny. the high will be 50 and sunny. Weather guesser is saying rain looms and will make it's presence known within 24 hours.

I can tell it's gonna be a typical Monday. My internet connection is making like the stock market. One minute it's up, the next it's down. Someday they'll get that fixed. At the rate things progress here it may not be in my lifetime but it will eventually happen. Then again there's always the chance that pigs will fly. If there was a viable alternative that would allow me to keep my broadband internet speed and my VOIP phone service without depending on this flaky cable service here I would change over in a minute. Can't do DSL because I have no regular phone service, WiFi out here depends on the cable and satellite is way too slow (56 kbps). My phone service requires a minimum of 128 kbps with 256 kbps or faster being recommended. So it would appear that I'm stuck with the flaky cable service. And they're still wondering why I switched to Dish Network. It had a lot to do with them decreasing their service while raising the price of said service. $70 a month for around 60 channels, half of them shopping, news, christian and special interest channels was a bit much when I can get 250 channels, including a bunch of movie channels for that same $70 and I don't have to put up with a lot of worthless shopping, news, religious and special interest channels. I was able to more or less pick and choose what I wanted. Later I have to attach a new vacuum suction line to my foot. The one that was on it wouldn't maintain a seal no matter what I did to it and I eventually ended up taking it off last night and putting on a standard dressing. I tell you, sometimes I get so fed up with this vacuum unit that I feel like just pitching it out the door. On the other hand, it has helped to close up the wound a lot. On the modeling front I did a bit of work on the containers that came with my new flatcars. I faded them a little and added some bleaching. I have yet to do anything to the flatcars themselves. They're marked for the Union Pacific and you know what I like doing to UP markings. It be patching time!

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Posted by howmus on Monday, December 28, 2009 9:44 AM

Mornin' everyone!

Chloe I'll have a big bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar, and my usual dark raost coffee in a FGLK mug.  I'll go sit in the back by the stove and keep warm.

We got about an inch of fluffy white last night.  They  salted the streets a while ago and it is currently melting off the blacktop.  The Lake Effect Generator has kicked in and we could have up to 8" by tomorrow morning.  I doubt THAT will happen.  More like 3 or 4 inches where I am likely.

About all I have to get done today is to get the wood splitter unloaded from the trailer, and find out what happened to the email I sent out 2 evenings ago announcing the Joint Lakeshores and Central NY Division meet in a couple weeks.  It appears to hase gotten lost in cyberspace somewhere.  Most likely will get some time to "play" on the layout, etc.

Robby glad you didn't have any trouble getting to and from w**k last night!

Prayers for all in need!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by GMTRacing on Monday, December 28, 2009 9:48 AM

Good Morning All,

   Haven't been in over the weekend as we've been quite busy with thehouse and the traveling about on Christmas Day. Got quite a lot done on the house including a load floor in the attic and the storm door on the front finally which was accomplished by cutting out the door frame to allow a 36" door in a 35" opening. I'll have to do the same on the rear door frame as it was also plated with alloy trim. Also started patching holes where we had to move outlets and continued sorting boxes of "stuff". moving 4x8 sheets of flake board into the attic was fun but sons # 2 & 3 helped so it went fairly quickly.

Robbie - I know how you feel about driving in bad weather conditions. I know 2" of sn*w doesn't seem that daunting, but having to do it in the dead of night often before the crews have been called out and frequently when it is over a sheet of frozen stuff you can't see its really another subject. Really it is often easier further north where it usually is only sn*w with no ice beneath.

Speaking of which we had freezing rain this morning on the way to the shop but the trip featured only one lurid slide (Ford Focus with snow tires and traction control - a good thing).

PC - Now that you've ventured back in there, you might want to finish the tidy up and then pick just one area at a time to concentrate on. Finishing trackw.rk makes sense, and then pick one area to start to lay down scenery. I see you have the same "gotta buy this kit" weakness I have. I think using the distraction to create a budget for trains is a good idea - besides I find toys that run are a lot more interesting for us adult types than static model cars (no I haven't gotten rid of my slot cars - see previous).

Sam - I haven't seen any 060 HO Baldwins. The only ones so far have been USRA types from Bachman (run ok - good price - won't move much without drama) and the beautifully done Proto (OMG expensive !) Mantua do a couple of tank engines but I've never seen them in person.

Hope the rest of you had a nice Christmas and I'll try to stop in later. Our prayers for Jeff and Ulrich.

CUL, J.R.

 

  

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Posted by der5997 on Monday, December 28, 2009 10:13 AM

Ray:

Attendance at our church was down today also.
...we used to call the Sunday after Christmas "Two men and a dog" Sunday! It seems it's the same all over!

BamaC:

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 see PATom has answered much as I was going to. I'll just add -a converted caboose is also handy if you run those-.My 2 cents

Ulrich:  I hope I haven't jammed up your inbox with too much stuff over those months!

 I was hoping to be able to take my copy of January MR with me, but it has not yet arrived. You guys will be receiving your February issue before I will get the January one.

...I get my copy a month later than the issue date from the local library. Usually the Jan. issue come sin the Halifax branches by Dec. 5th, and then the Dec. issue is available for loan out. Our Sheet Harbour branch gets it for me some time after that. This year that didn't work, and I'm still waiting for December! Some months it never gets to Halifax! Anyway, I wonder if your library system subscribes, or has contacts with other library systems that do. That way you could continue to get the MR, if a bit delayed. Just a thought. The downside for me is that the library won't release the password for the "subscriber content" - despite the subscription being paid for out of municipal tax dollars  which come in part from me! they say it has to do with the password making the  subscription details open to all. Frankly that's a smoke-screen IMHO.  (Side bar: if any kind MR subscriber would trust me with their password for access to subscriber content, that would be just fine by me!)

Your hospital stay is in our prayers.Angel

TA462: to the Diner! We were on the other side of Toronto when we lived in Ontario years ago. Have friends of the family etc. in Bellville and Smith's Falls though. Any details of your Ontario Northland?

Jeff: Boy, can I relate to the useless channels thing! We have Bell TV through the satellite, and so far have just the basic plus one specialty package. They keep trying to have us upgrade to a second specialty package, but frankly there is so little of interest to us out there that it hasn't seemed worth the effort despite the upgrade-to-a-second-package being only about $5 extra/month. The sea of channels we get  now are about 85% dross as far as we are concerned. Why pay more for yet more dross?

Lunch time in a bit. Have to move the door module back into position so I can run trains around the layout again  (Oh yes, and to clear floor space so the grandsons can sleep in the train room from Tuesday through Friday nights Whistling) Probably I'll do more track cleaning once the layout's re-united. The at least I can enjoy some run time before the invasion!

TTFN.

"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Monday, December 28, 2009 10:19 AM

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'm also looking at getting a few parts for my GP40-2, too bad I can't find any of the stuff in stock.

As others have said, make a transition car with a horn hook on one end and a kadee on the other end. It took me a couple of years to switch all the couplers out.

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Posted by BamaCSX83 on Monday, December 28, 2009 10:43 AM

Yeah, it'll more than likely take me that long to get all mine done, that's why I was asking.  Well, I guess I'll wait until I get the loco in hand to see what all it comes with so I'll know what I really have to do.  I do hope that it'll come with a set of horn-hooks so I can convert the rear coupler over to that for the time being.   BTW, does anyone know off-hand what Kadee coupler #'s fit BB Athearn, Tyco, and Life Like cars and locos?  I know that Kadee has a conversion chart, and I'm more than willing to look through it, but I'm hoping that most of them will take #5's.

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Posted by Cox 47 on Monday, December 28, 2009 10:57 AM

Bama its been awhile since I was in HO but Kadee 5's used to fit most of th Blue boxes....Jerry

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Posted by Cederstrand on Monday, December 28, 2009 10:59 AM

Fake coffee in a  UNION PACIFIC  mug, please & thanks. 

****Jeffrey wrote: [They're marked for the Union Pacific and you know what I like doing to UP markings] I'm just wondering if there is a cure for that Union Pacific phobia you seem to suffer from?Smile,Wink, & Grin (glad the pump has been helping the healing processThumbs Up)

***Der, I'm blessed to have a wife who would rather go pet on her cows than enter a crowded store after Christmas. Neither of us like shopping, except for model trains (and Breyer Model Horses when she sees one she wants).Laugh

Wife approved of the work on her hospital. Took it down to the train room and found it is a very tight fit with minimal parking for the wee folks. I'll bet the wee Docs & Nurses will enjoy working there with such a limited number of wee patient visitors.

Off to do critter rounds. Have a good day y'all.

Cowboy Rob

 

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Monday, December 28, 2009 11:06 AM

BamaCSX83
Yeah, it'll more than likely take me that long to get all mine done, that's why I was asking.  Well, I guess I'll wait until I get the loco in hand to see what all it comes with so I'll know what I really have to do.  I do hope that it'll come with a set of horn-hooks so I can convert the rear coupler over to that for the time being.   BTW, does anyone know off-hand what Kadee coupler #'s fit BB Athearn, Tyco, and Life Like cars and locos?  I know that Kadee has a conversion chart, and I'm more than willing to look through it, but I'm hoping that most of them will take #5's.

It won't have any horn hooks with it. On most of my rolling stock I use either the Kadee #5 or the Kadee #148 (whisker). On my tank cars and hoppers I use the Kadee #118 shelf coupler. It mounts just like the #5.

 

 

Cederstrand
****Jeffrey wrote: [They're marked for the Union Pacific and you know what I like doing to UP markings] I'm just wondering if there is a cure for that Union Pacific phobia you seem to suffer from?

Yeah, plenty of paint and decals for patching.

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Posted by Robby P. on Monday, December 28, 2009 11:15 AM

 Its lunch.  I see Jerry is paying.  I will take a cheeseburger, onion rings, and a sweet tea.

 I was looking at the computer upstairs, and then it crashed!!!!!!!   Talk about a way to start the day.  Some virus hit the computer, and now it wont get by the "windows restart".  So I guess its done.   My wife has a nice laptop, and a older laptop.  I guess I will have to hook the old one back up.  I have a DELL account, but I don't want to charge a computer.  I'm looking at $500 for a decent one.

 What else................I worked on my "liftout" bridge.  It works!!!  No more ducking under!!!  I will have to "tweak" it thou.  Make sure the track lines up, and buy something for the wires to connect into.

 JR........Thats what happened last time.  The snow was down before the roads were treated.  The are calling for some more s**w New Years Eve Night.  Take about a way to end and start the new year.  I will be off thou.  

 Ray....Thanks.  I was alittle worried thou.  I just need to get some snow tires, which you need $$$ for that.

 Well I better run.  I believe the weather man called for a quick dusting on the way.

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

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Posted by GMTRacing on Monday, December 28, 2009 11:57 AM

Time for lunch ! Some coffee, a toasted cheese and ham with mustard, and maybe some of that apple pie later, please.

Robbie - glad you made it there and back. More than once we've ended up staying later than intended at w..k to allow the plows a shot at clearing our way. Spent three hours stranded on an icy bridge with a half dozen others one morning before the sanding truck appeared (and he had to back over with the sanders on).

Bama - As Jeff and Jerry already mentioned, #5's should do most of your Athearn cars. The Tyco and LifeLike are another story as most of them have truck mounted couplers. What seems to work best there is converting to frame mounted trucks which entails the addition of mount blocks for the coupler boxes. That runs into money in a hurry so I used the other dodge mentioned and fitted one car with a "transition" set of couplers, the Kaydee on one end andd the hornhook on the other so I could still use the horn hooks of the stock cars. Works ok, they just don't back up well is all. I also cut the uncoupler pins off the bottom of the horn hooks so they'd look better. Because I had a host of troubles with my 85ft passenger cars when I first got them, I also fit them with the horn hooks so they wouldn't  uncouple so easily on the transition between an incline and the flat afterwards. As i progressed and fixed the transitions on the trackwo.k I also retired the horn hooks and replaced the trucks with Kaydee or Walthers using metal wheels and put in coupler box pads where needed on Tyco's I kept. That way I did them a few at a time and didn't break the bank. Hope that helps.   J.R.

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Posted by Trainman Sam on Monday, December 28, 2009 12:14 PM

JimRCGMO
Trainman Sam - I'm hoping your Bachman looks better than that one in the pics you posted! Shock That's some severe weathering job, all right...Whistling If you're in HO scale, I have their 0-6-0 (saddle tanker) switcher, which looks pretty good and runs okay (so far as I can tell- did some test runs on the MRR club layout). I think your 'puter may have the hiccups, looks like your photos are duplicating or something.

GMTRacing
Sam - I haven't seen any 060 HO Baldwins. The only ones so far have been USRA types from Bachman (run ok - good price - won't move much without drama) and the beautifully done Proto (OMG expensive !) Mantua do a couple of tank engines but I've never seen them in person.

 Thanks guys, I'll have to keep looking... I might get the USRA 0-6-0 as a "temporary stand-in"

Robby, glad you had better driving conditions than expected... I hate driving in bad conditions as well, I heard we're supposed to get some precipitation later this week!?! Let's hope it avoids us!!  Stay safe out there!

I am glad this week has finally arrived, my first "vacation" since I started working in march... time to recharge the batteries, and avoid the wifes "To-Do List"!!! 

Chloe, may I please have an orange juice, pancakes with syrup and coffee in an NH&I mug?  Thanks

I had an experience over the weekend:  I switched from AT&T to Tracfone on saturday.  Unfortunately the salesperson at Walmart forgot to mention that it can take 7 to 10 business days to "port" my AT&T number to Tracfone... So I called technical support (Tracfone) yesterday and the first person I spoke with asked if she could put me on hold while she checked the status of my account.  FORTY MINUTES later my cordless phone died and I had to call back on the hard wired phone in my kitchen!!! Grrrr!!! I got through faster this time and the gentleman I got a hold of apologized for my inconvenience and told me that it should be on today because the guy that ussually handles the switchover procedure is off on weekends...  ok, I'll get off my soapboxSoapBox

 I'll be sitting on the corner waiting for the phone to tell me that it is activated!

 

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)

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Posted by JimRCGMO on Monday, December 28, 2009 12:36 PM

Good Morning, Zoe (well, almost lunchtime; that's what happens on vacation. Slow start, run a few errands, and where DID the morning go?)Wink Since it's this close to lunchtime, I'll have a roast beef open face sandwich, some mashed potatoes with that, spear of pickle, and a Dr. Pepper, please 'n' thank you!

AmanaMedic
TODD: What? You mean you didn't faithfully recreate a La-Z-Boy in all it's intricate details?? You didn't craft an exact replica of a Bark-O-Lounger? I'm shocked! Nay, STUNNED, appalled!Laugh

ROTFL!! Now, Chris, you know that's a challenge to any of us Diners with a bit of RC in us. Somebody will no doubt come up with one... maybe even DerJohn, given his previously exhibited and amazing skills at kludging together stuff in either HO or N scale. Thumbs Up

And Chris, I was pleased for your and our Illinois Diners' sakes to see that swirly thing is moving over away from you (but unfortunately for Barry and Ray...Whistling).

PC, I think you've done some since the last pics I recall seeing of your layout. I'll have to go back over your plans and see where your steamer missed/skipped the helix. And you have one heckuva collection of muscle cars/kits, my man. Bow Layout looks good, all right. Yeah!!

Robby, good to hear about your roads being okay this morning. Thumbs Up

For DerJohn and Barry (and others - I maybe wasn't clear on my description), the dominant color on my pine tree trunks will be a greyish brown. The roof brown was more to hint at the 'grooves' between the bark segments. A bit like this picture shows.

Not sure where I'll actually be putting the Delaney Transfer building yet, so we'll see on your suggestion, DerJohn. Thanks for the idea. Oh, Todd, one phrase I tell myself is, "Just close enough, yet believeable." I'm no better than an apprentice RC, myself. Smile,Wink, & Grin

Wonder how Ulrich and Garry are doing with their respective hospital visits for checkups and all. AngelAngel Guess we'll hear later today. And Jeff, we've got you on the AngelAngel list for your trip tomorrow.

Ulrich, best wishes on cleaning out your email box of all those emails, too. Need one of these?

TA462/'Ontario Dave' - You're absolutely right, the usual problem isn't the s**w, but the ones who don't know how to drive on those roads... And Sign - Welcome to the Diner! Have a mug of your favorite beverage on me - just tell Zoe what you want, and fill us in on your layout/plans/dreams.

Bama - check your emails... And Jerry (and JR, and Jeff, and...) is/are correct on the #5's. That's what the majority of my rolling stock gets (a lot of BB's, some Protos and Accurails).

Trainman Sam - good luck on dodging the CFO's HD list...WhistlingLaugh And best wishes on getting your phone # switched over pronto! Yeah!!

Today's errands included getting a money order to drop by the county collector's office today. Ah, personal property taxes... And next month is renewing the license plates. Sigh Not sure it's there just yet, but I'll check the post office box for the new MR issue. Smile Tonight's MRR club meeting, and I'll be back by after that, likely.

Meantime, I'll be at the window booth, w**king on my lunch. Dinner

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

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Posted by TMarsh on Monday, December 28, 2009 1:43 PM

Good, um, afternoon. Busy busy busy I am. I'l take it easy on Jerry as I've already eaten. (EDIT- Well it was a nice thought but it looks like it's now on me)

Jeff- Maybe some of those bean counters would like to swap conditions for a week or so to see if it's "worth it" or not.

Bama- I'm partial to the 148's myself. I've cut the couplers off the truck mounted TYCO's and attached to the body using styrene shims where neessary with no trouble yet. Yet. 

Robby- Glad the weather held out for you. I echo the thoughts of "it isn't me I'm worried about it's the yoyo who thinks his driving skills are way better than they are that scares me".

4 wheel drives get up and goes better but they don't stop any better and sometimes worse. Slick is slick no matterwhat you drive.

A 4wheel drive many times just doubles the tow bill!

Have a Great Day!!

Todd  

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Posted by ns3010 on Monday, December 28, 2009 4:28 PM

Evening all.

Not much goin on here.
Today, we called Walthers, and they'll send me a replacement centerbeam, but we have to send the broken one back. We also asked why the airbrush wasn't shipped, and they said because the Propel can can't go by airmail. So we're gonna have to reorder that, as well as a can of Glosscote. But my dad found the decal paper, (yes, he lost it...), so that's good.

Goin to Boston till New Year's Eve. Leaving early tomorrow morning. Hopefully, I can catch some trains from the road tomorrow. Since we're spending all of Wednesday in the city, maybe I'll see some MBTA schtuff.
Don't know if I'll be back in before then, and up there, so just in case, Happy New Years!

Catch ya later

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Posted by JimRCGMO on Monday, December 28, 2009 5:40 PM

Good Evening, Chloe - I'll have a bowl of chili (no, not the 'burn the roof of your mouth' version that Todd and those other guys like, thanks) with grated cheese on the top, plus some cheesey fries, and a RBF, please. Thanks!

Todd, on that insurance thing, I'm sure if those bean-counters had a family member who needed treatment for their neck, they'd find a way to get it okayed. Whistling Oh, yeah - and on the snowy roads, stupid reckless driving is reckless driving, no matter what the person's driving...

Well, NS Joe,  sorry to hear about the delay on the airbrush (and that you do have to send the broken one back, but I guess they may have to send them to the manufacturer to get credit for the defects).

Got my personal property taxes paid and have the receipt for that (which I'll need next month to renew the license. I'm not sure if this year will be when we don't have to do the car inspection thing, or if it's next year that that part of the new law kicks in.

Didn't get my new issue of MR in, but I did get the new Walthers sale flyer in, both at the P.O. box and at w**k. I stopped by the office to drop off some paperw**k from Christmas Eve afternoon (when everybody decided to leave a little early and I had to scramble to avoid getting locked in). I brought along my first sheet of decals with me to the MRR clubhouse (there's an area with good ventilation in that building where I can spray them. And the area is warmer than trying to spray on my back deck (outside, in 30 F degree weather).

How's the weather for our Eastern Diners shaping up? Couldn't tell from the weather maps if that snowy/swirly area was fading away or just not showing up as much over the Great Lakes as it heads your way.

Still looking for some word from/about Garry or Ulrich (though I suspect it may take a while to get word on how Ulrich's doing). Jeff,  still keeping your doctor's visit tomorrow in AngelAngel

I'll settle back into the window booth and see if they'll have another busy evening for the switcher over there.

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

 

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Posted by howmus on Monday, December 28, 2009 6:15 PM

Evenin' folks!

Chloe I see you have Chile as a special tonight.  Hope it has some kick to it?  It does, OK I'll have a hot bowl of "Hot" Chile tonight.  A cup of decafe to defuse those jalapeño peppers would be good as well.  I'll go sit at the Rivet Counter for a bit.

JimRCGMO
How's the weather for our Eastern Diners shaping up? Couldn't tell from the weather maps if that snowy/swirly area was fading away or just not showing up as much over the Great Lakes as it heads your way.

Well Jim.......  It will be a white evening with some white knucle driving for some.  The Lake Effect Snow generator is cranked up pretty well throughout Western NY.  West Seneca (South of Buffalo - I have some cousins that live there) has already gotten 8.5 inches of the fluffy stuff today with a lot more in store for tonight.  The Finger Lakes region won't be hit too hard.  4 or 5 inches is about it.  Unless the wind knocks it around, that isn't enough to worry about firing up the Snowblower for.....Whistling  Unfortunately  the wind will be picking up so I most likely will get to play tomorrow with the machine and clean out my driveways.  Then the city will come along and fill in my driveway so I can go out and clean it again so the city can fill..........

Tomorrow afternoon I get to drive to Rochester airport to pick up my sister in this.......  I wouldn't mind at all except for the previously mentioned people with their big 4 wheel drive trucks and SUVs (that they have no clue how to drive) thinking they are invincible.  My favorite car to drive in snow....  The old VW Bugs I drove when I first started teaching.  Rear engine and rear wheel drive and the emergency brake located where you could easily grab it to put brakes on just the rear wheels.  Got me out of a lot of close calls that would have been a bad accident for sure.  I could go through almost anything with those old putt putts.

Catch you all later!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Monday, December 28, 2009 6:46 PM

howmus
  My favorite car to drive in snow....  The old VW Bugs I drove when I first started teaching.  Rear engine and rear wheel drive and the emergency brake located where you could easily grab it to put brakes on just the rear wheels.  Got me out of a lot of close calls that would have been a bad accident for sure.  I could go through almost anything with those old putt putts.

I had one of those for a coupla years. The wonderful thing was getting into the car turning it on and driving away while everyone else was sitting around shovelling away that 8" of snow.Smile,Wink, & Grin

Good Evening--from Whiteburg

We got about 6" of the stuff and the drivers are freaking out and spinning all over. It took Audrey about an hour to get home from a big box only 10 minutes away---all the major routes had accidents on them---Sigh

I got a bunch of things done at the office BEFORE it got stupid out here so I got home at a good time.

We're supposed to see this wind down tomorrow so we'll see how much did fall then.

mmm--seems a certain thread has gone into kvetch mode about a certain person---OY VEYWhistling

Chloe, I'll have a QuadraGreaseburger--nah make that 3 of 'emMischief--and a plate of poutine as well---that's fries with cheese and gravyEvil--as well as a supersized chocolate shake please---I'll be over at the corner boothWhistling

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/

  • Member since
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Posted by der5997 on Monday, December 28, 2009 6:47 PM

Good evening folks. Ran some trains this pm. I do need to clean the track generally, it's been idle for all the time it took to remodel the freight yard. Maybe I'll do that this evening - there's no Big Bang Theory tonight, not even a repeat. Dullcoated the parts for the interlock tower. It's a laser cut wood kit, and since I use acrylics I'm concerned about that thin wood warping. I found I didn't record, or have lost, the formula for the main building paint for my Maritime Trunk RR! So this afternoon I "reverse engineered" a pretty exact match from the likely pallet of colours in my paint drawer. So, all in all, not a wasted mrr day.

Joe:

Goin to Boston till New Year's Eve. Leaving early tomorrow morning. Hopefully, I can catch some trains from the road tomorrow. Since we're spending all of Wednesday in the city, maybe I'll see some MBTA schtuff.
  Good luck with the railfanninig on the road! If you catch any MTA schtuff, keep an eye out for Charlie (He rides forever 'neath the streets of Boston, he's the man who never returnedClown)

CapeJim:

Got my personal property taxes paid and have the receipt for that (which I'll need next month to renew the license.
...you have to be able to prove property ownership in order to drive? Confused in Sober Island.Confused

Tea time and a second dessert maybe - there's a banana that needs attention downstairs. I'll likely not be back in tonight - maybe not at all tomorrow with the grandkids etc. so, Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers continuing for all in need of Healing, Comfort, Prosperity and Peace.Angel

 

"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.

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Posted by howmus on Monday, December 28, 2009 7:07 PM

blownout cylinder
The wonderful thing was getting into the car turning it on and driving away while everyone else was sitting around shovelling away that 8" of snow.Smile,Wink, & Grin

 

And the fact that when nothing else out there was even going to turn over on a cold morning, they would start!  My Father bought me my first one as wedding present.  It was my first car, a 1960 tomato red, 36 HP VW with well over 100,000 miles on it.  One Winter Morning, when I was in college and we lived across the road in a tiny trailer (Not too much bigger than Jeff's), I went out to start the bug.  Found my Father standing across the road at his house waving at me.  He yelled, "Don't even bother!"  Nothing will even turn over (it was -20*F out).  He had tried both cars, one of which had the battery charger on it.  It turned over  s  l  o  w  l  y...... but would not fire up, then the older car which wouldn't even turn over once.  He finally went out to the barn and tried the Ford 861 Powermaster tractor (6 volt).  The tractor said... click....  Dead!  Dad said he was going to walk up to his cousins Farm Machinery place about 1/4 mile down the road and get a truck to jump everything.  I told him to wait a minute and I would give him a ride.  He went into a fit of laughter as he knew the VW was also a 6 volt system.  I got in the car (It was outside in the driveway), put in the key, the starter groaned, then went, brrrrrrrrr, and the first cylinder over said, phuuut!, she groaned again and the second cylinder, said POP and the car slowly started going, PUTT, PUTT, PUTT, PUTT.  After a couple more revolutions it took off on its own.  I got out to see my Father kicking snow, jumping up and down, and using all of those words He told me never to use........ Smile,Wink, & Grin  He then got a ride up to the "Corner" so he could get the other cars and tractor started.  I loved those little cars!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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  • From: North Jersey
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Posted by ns3010 on Monday, December 28, 2009 7:46 PM

Jim- After the last few days, I can see why they wouldn't ship it by air... And it's not that bad. As long as I get it by the time my Atlas Genset comes in (counting the days! [not reallly, but im super excited]) Big Smile. As for the centerbeam, I guess they just want to make sure I'm not scamming them and getting a free car out of it...
And I just printed my first sheets of decals too. They're in the garage drying as I type this. If they dry soon, maybe I'll be able to decal that caboose tonight?
As for weather, it's cold, but no white stuff. We had flurries today, but it didn't stick. And all the stuff from the last few weeks melted after those two really warm days...

Ray- Have fun with that white stuff!

Barry- Last year, there was one day in October where we got about 6 inches, all while I was in school. Since no one was prepared, a 20 minute bus ride home took 3 hours... THAT was fun...

John- Thanks! And if I see him, I'll get a picture for you Wink

Well, I've gotta go check on those decals. I'll try and make my way back in here tonight, but just in case, Happy New Years!

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
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Posted by fec153 on Monday, December 28, 2009 8:11 PM

HI Todd- Just wanted you know, winter is getting here in mid-Fla. Temp. is now low 50's should get down to38 tonight and a high about 57. Man ,that is cold.   lol

Nah, I shouldn't do this but Darn, its good for a joke. What I don't like about cold weather is I cant run my trains-TO COLD in the garage. 'Sides, my fingers, nose and ears turn brittle.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas.  Wish y'all Enough.  Blessings and prayers

Flip

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Troy, AL
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Posted by BamaCSX83 on Monday, December 28, 2009 8:23 PM

Evening all, thanks for the information on the couplers.  I kinda figured that I wouldn't be able to keep the truck-mounted ones on the LL and Tyco stuff, but I don't have too-too many of them, and I guess that'll give me practice, won't it?

Jim...Check your emails.

Janie, I'll take a bacon cheeseburger order of bacon cheese fries, and a ginormous RBF.  Ran the fireworks stand for a little while this evening, had to do a little repair work to the place as the 20amp breaker that powered the outlets died, so I had to replace it, or in this case piggyback the outlets onto the unused 20amp AC breaker.  Was fairly uneventful, only had 1 sale for $45.  So we called it a night early and here I sit. 

Well, that's about it from my neck of the woods, gotta go w**k at my "normal" job tomorrow, big fun for me I guess.  I hope that I can see my SD40-2 come in maybe Wednesday.

  • Member since
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Posted by pcarrell on Monday, December 28, 2009 10:07 PM

Yeah, I had a 72 Bug......GREAT car!  Couldn't kill it!  floated it out into Long Island Sound, across rivers, hit a telehpone pole at 25mph and backed up and drove away, you name it.  An old girlfriend finally burned it to the ground.....LONG story.

I've often thought of getting another.

Philip
  • Member since
    November 2004
  • From: Cape Girardeau, MO
  • 3,073 posts
Posted by JimRCGMO on Monday, December 28, 2009 10:26 PM

Evening, Chloe - I'll just have an oatmeal raisin cookie and a Rio Grande mug of coffee, please. Thank you!

Welp (as Todd would say), the weather reports from 'back East' (as some of my relatives might say) do not sound great. Barry, Ray - good to hear you both are at home and off the roads there. Sn*wblower? What is such a thing? I have never seen one of those in the wild, I think...Whistling (I'd better be careful, or certain Diners might be throwing some sn*wballs at me - or else, saving them up to throw at me next summer...) May the city plows NOT cover up your driveway more than the requisite one time. Oops

Bama/Eddie - got your email, and backatcha!

DerJohn - I meant the auto license, not the driver's license. My bad! To renew the plates here, it used to be you had to have the property tax receipt (or exemption note from the county clerk, saying you didn't have anything the previous Jan. 1st), then take the car to get it inspected (don't want nobody littering the roads with parts falling off'n their cars, y'know), and then take the inspection paper, form, and tax receipt to the license bureau office (home of such wonderful customer service that they would give Al Quaida a good name...), where you get to stand in line to pay your money and get your plate (DO NOT wait and go there the last 4-5 days of a month. Don't ask me how I know...). Some years, they just give you a stick that goes over the previous year's year number. Oh yeah, and if some vandal steals/scratches off the sticker, you're out of luck and have to go get another one. Ah, bureaucracy!

(Sorry for the slight SoapBox there... I should be glad that I now have a vehicle to get around in now, right?)

Ray - thanks for that story about the cold day and your VW - choice one! Laugh

NS Joe, I think you may have the edge on me there, with your garage to do the spraying in. The area in our MRR club (a basement area) had some dust or something on the floor, so there were a few flecks or something on a couple of the larger logos. I waited for the spray to dry, and tried to gently rub the flecks off. Got some but not all. We'll see how they are tomorrow when I'm gonna try to start by decalling a 40' boxcar with some. As for the airlines, I suspect that the Al Quaida director of training may be in a heap of trouble, with two 'fowl-ups' in a row. (That's if he hasn't - so to speak - lost his position as 'head' of training...Whistling Uh, I better change the topic) Hope your GenSet arrives before too much longer.

Never did find that topic somebody (Ray?) thought would be locked. Do they drop to the bottom once they're locked, 'cause I looked in the first three pages in the index? Ah, well, no biggie.

No word yet from Jeff, Ulrich or Garry on their doctors'/hospital visits. Let's make sure to keep them in our thoughts/prayers (and their doctors/nurses/medical staff). 

 

Blessings and a warm night's sleep (especially for those in the Eastern drifts...),

Jim in Cape Girardeau

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Posted by howmus on Monday, December 28, 2009 10:28 PM

 Evenin' folks!

Zoe just my evening cup of decafe if you please.  I'll go sit i the back booth and warm up for a bit.

pcarrell

Yeah, I had a 72 Bug......GREAT car!  Couldn't kill it!  floated it out into Long Island Sound, across rivers, hit a telehpone pole at 25mph and backed up and drove away, you name it.  An old girlfriend finally burned it to the ground.....LONG story.

I've often thought of getting another.

 

My last "Bug" and my first "new" car was a '71 Superbeetle.  When I first got it I put in an extractor exhaust system (which was not much more than a "scavenging" straight pipe).  It kicked the 60hp 4 cylinder flat engine up to around 72hp.  Pretty good boost % wise.  I used to do Wheelies with it when I would leave Chemung School after teaching music there.  A couple of my students thought that was very cool!!!  You may have heard about these two....  Bret and Todd Bodine?  Anyway I drove that Superbeetle for 15+ years and it finally died (the body just complete self destructed - something about New York Winters...).  Something about that first "new" car though...

I did a bit more scenery tonight.  Cutting, shaping, and gluing down foam board mostly.  Also completed the main construction of another Tichy Flat Car.  Just needed some poiping put in place.  I have one more of those to build.  Will wait until the lkast one is together before painting either of them.

Hope everyone is having a good evening.  My prayers for all those who need them!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Monday, December 28, 2009 10:33 PM

Good evening ...

Looks like y'all had some great Christmas celebrations, I'm glad for that.

Our trip to Ohio went fine, and we had some great times visiting the family there. I took the truck because weather forecasts were awful. It was not very bad driving going to Ohio. However, on the way home yesterday, we had snow the entire distance from Cincinnati to Louisville. Then from Louisville to Elizabethtown, it was freezing rain. So, the truck was the best vehicle. At E'town, we headed west on the KY Parkway and weather cleared after about 50 miles.

Today, we were in Nashville. I'm pleased to report test results at my medical appointments today in Nashville.  The good news is my heart did not get worse during recent months. Of course, I would prefer seeing an improvement. As long as it does not worsen, that's fine because I don't wish to be a heart transplant patient.

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Troy, AL
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Posted by BamaCSX83 on Monday, December 28, 2009 11:04 PM

Garry, glad to hear that your doctor's appointment went okay.  Also glad to hear that you had a good time with family over Christmas.

Jim, email sent to you sir. 

Well y'all, its just ticked off to 11pm and I'm up and wide awake.  I'm going to be taking a shower and hitting the sack in a few no matter what.  I've got to head up to my land tomorrow morning and wait for the gas company to show up and refill our tank (someone, read: Amy, didn't call them last Monday and we kinda ran out Christmas night, so we're back at the house in town).  Oh well, I don't have to be at work till 1, but I do have to get out to the fireworks stand to open it up for the first crew to come by and run it.  I've kinda inherited being the 2nd guy in charge of the whole shebang.  I'm not complaining, its just funny how all I did was volunteer to help run the thing, yet I've become the other "go to" guy about it.  I finally got a call this afternoon to get a side job that I had lined up for earlier in the day taken care of.  Nothing major, just replacing a fuel injector on a '96 Cavalier, thankfully my customer is pretty good and has already told me that I'll be checking some other vehicles out for them.  Nothing in the world like having repeat business.  Ahh, well, I'm getting ready to knock off here, the day might be long tomorrow.  I've got w**k from 1 till 10 tomorrow night, so yeah....

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Posted by TMarsh on Monday, December 28, 2009 11:26 PM

Good evening. I'll have a bowl of red from the pot Jim wanted nothing to do with, a peanut butter sandwich and a glass of milk. Manna from Heaven.

Ray- Ah the VW bugs. Great cars actually. Excellent in bad weather and made you appreciate the creature comforts. All that plus an exhaust that sounded like a goose breaking wind in a fan. Loved them. I wouldn't recommend taking one on for hops either. I've seen many a tough car to beat, be embarrassed by the unassuming Bug. My Dad had one back in the '60's, a black one with a whiteish interior. I can still smell the thing. Yep, even right now I can. Not a bad smell mind you just a distinctive smell the interior had. I recall him letting me start the car as he, of course, stepped on the clutch. First car I ever started. Boy I sure thought that was great! I'm not a big NASCAR fan but I sure recognize those names!

Flip- (sigh) Couldn't resist could ya.

Garry- Great news indeed!!!!! Like you said could be better, but it's still GREAT!

Welp, the chili's a workin on me so I best be headin home afore I gets throwed out.

Prayers for those in need and for Doctors to make the right choices.

Todd  

Central Illinoyz

In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.

I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk. Laugh

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