Elliot's Trackside Diner XXII-Just a track over

[TMarsh]

Ulrich- Whew! Need I say I was getting worried too? Boy I was afraid something happened. I don't know how to calm your nerves, but just know we are praying for you. Don't worry about the speech, I'd probably have trouble understanding you anyway.

Rob- the last sentance of Ulrich's applies to you also. Well the second to last.

Jeff- I thought I heard a scream from south of here. Do you get a discount for fixing the leak yourself? I didn't think so. But hey, if it pulls all that fluid out I would expect it to heal much cleaner with less chance of an infection. You don't need anymore infections so hopefully it will be worth the trouble.

Ray- All I can say is Life Alert. Pretty cheap insurance. No it won't help if you pass out suddenly, (gulp) or worse, but if you fall or get injured and can't get to a phone, help is just a push of the button away. My Mothers got one and loves it. Has come in handy many times. If you think you don't need one yet, let me tell you a brief story. A friend of ours isn't a young man but not old either and gets around, well better than me. At least as good. Anyway he was going downstairs the other day and as he approached the last step he'd been stepping on countless times, he reached for the light switch and missed the last step. The area he fell into was bare so he didn't hit anything and yes there was someone following him down the stairs at that time. Luckily he only bruised his knee and his ankle was sore for a day or two along with his hand he tried to catch himself with so the only thing he hurt, he said, was his pride. But my point to you, my friend is, what if. Things happen out of the blue and in places you'd least expect them. A little button around the neck under the shirt could mean the difference between help coming and laying in the basement until someone in your family or church wondering why they haven't heard from you in a good while, comes calling. Not nagging. Just a thought for you to ponder. You can still have your trains and someone is as close as your button. (sigh) Yes, you could probably get it to stick to your belly button it you want. ( I know he'll ask)

Oh and Garry- It just doesn't seem much like the usual Christmas here either. Hard to get in the spirit for some reason. We have the tree up, but that's it. Oh and cookies and candy have been recieved but none made.

[Packers#1]

AmanaMedic

GOOD Evening!

*Looks at the resident Green Bay fans, grins*

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Steelers WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, yeah, it was by the hair of their.....chiney chin chins...BUT they pulled it off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SAWYER: TODD beat me to it young grasshopper...just wait. Just wait young'un, someday THAT N-sane scale will seem microscopic. I'm only 40, but some of the little stuff in HO is enough to make me about go cross-eyed.

 

least green bay put up a fight, lol. 

I know my eyesight will go, get arthristis etc. oh well, I'll jsut enjoy N scale while i can

Vincent, rugby has a constant game flow that looks way more fun than football.

John, i can't wait to get out on the field and play. My mom's dad played semi-pro rugby in England and also helped found Clemson's rugby club. He died from cancer before I was born though (he was a nuclear engineer back in the day when it first started).

[fec153]

Jeff- what do you call that thingy  that moves the curser ??   Are you interested in a KCS box car?  LHS has one and there are two cars I'm eyeing.   3 cars for $12.              

Who was interested in Cabeeses? He also has 3 of them. ATSF , CONRAIL , with someone in the cupola and the third is a bay window but can't remember the road.

Wish  you and Ulrich better health.

 

Flip

 

[fec153]

Barry- How the heck do you TOAST a western omlette??  Coffee? Champagne??

Flip

 

[blownout cylinder]

fec153

Barry- How the heck do you TOAST a western omlette??  Coffee? Champagne??

Flip

 

The western omelette is placed on toast instead of plain ol' bread--heeheehee

We do our toasts with 25 yr old single malt scotch-----

[jeffrey-wimberly]

fec153

Jeff- what do you call that thingy  that moves the curser ??   Are you interested in a KCS box car?  LHS has one and there are two cars I'm eyeing.   3 cars for $12.              

 

Yeah, I know. A mouse. I was referring to the furry four legged kind. Now you should know by now that I'm interested in any railroad equipment with KCS on it. 3 cars for $12 is a pretty good price. Check your PM's.

[blownout cylinder]

Why is this in the bottom?  BUMP

[Packers#1]

 Hey Chloe. I'll take a tall glass of powerade. Fruit punch flavor.

 Rugby practice went well. I'm tired out though. managed to hurt my nose b/c I tried running over a guy football style and smashed my face; not to self DON'T DO THAT!

[der5997]

I had asked "Has no-one been in since Jeff?  That's hours! Maybe all that baking for Christmas is keeping folks close to home?", but by the time I got that posted, the place began to fill up.

Ulrich: Great to see you back in. How about I pick up your tab for the page? I've emailed you, check your in-box.

Garry:

Jeff .... I recall owning one of those Deep Rock, 3 dome tankers long ago. It's a real classic. You probably haul other commodities than bulk geritol in that one. Prayers continue for your health problem.

...they get everywhere! This one's due to become a loco fuel supply tank  on the freight yard service tracks. I gain a spare pair of trucks in the process. The car itself is out of my era (as are all the tank cars in my fleet, unfortunately . The backdrop for this shot is a "present to self" which arrived in the mail today. I've now had a good read of the instructions, and this will be a challenge. It's the first laser cut wood kit I've tried - although I do have a wood chip truck in the kit drawer, it's far less detailed than this interlocking tower. I bought the tower because it is very close to the one I scratched   from the photo  Noah or  TiptonBill I think it was posted some years ago now.

Vincent:

I'm at home right now, and am giving the gleam process a go. I must say I'm pretty impressed with the results so far. I deviated from the usual practice, and use 600, then 1500 grit sandpaper before the stainless washer. I have yet to see if it helps steel track, and have no brass track to see if it helps it.

  Sounds familiar, I use 600/1300 - and the back of the handle of a stainless fork liberated from kitchen duty, but otherwise pretty much the same. One reason I use the fork handle is that for Gleaming track in the less accessible places I attach the sandpaper / stainless implement / polish to a stick The fork is a quick fix, the washer I didn't even want to think about! I have Jeff to thank for opening up that way of cleaning track. I'll be very interested to see if "Gleamed" track in my re-laid freight yard stays clean longer than it did in the old one with the dubious wood-stove ash laden ballast. Strictly commercial WS ballast this time around!  Thinking about it, I may just stop at the burnishing stage. I find my polish, " Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish" - stains the paint on the rails whitish where any excess touches it. Any thoughts on that Jeff or anyone else?

Big Bang Theory tonight, a "must watch" in this household. So I'll say Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers continuing for all in need of Healing, Comfort, Prosperity and Peace.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

der5997

I find my polish, " Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish" - stains the paint on the rails whitish where any excess touches it. Any thoughts on that Jeff?

 

I carefully apply my Blue Magic cream polish thinly on a piece of cork then set it on the railheads so just the railheads get covered.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 I just received notification that my recent order for two Bachmann Silver Series flatcars with container loads has been shipped from Trains and Lanes Hobbies in Easton Pennsylvania. It should be here in about a week.

[Packer]

Hey ya'll, an RBF and some caramel popcorn for me.

A box of frieght cars I got in a trade arrived today. I traded 5 undec athearn 85' TOFC car kits, an athearn BB GN wood reffer, and 2 P1K conrail hoppers for 9 boxcars. 1 is a LL BAR high-cube box (P1K has a car that is the same shell, with an upgraded frame), 2 Bachman 50's BN and RI, 3 athearn BB ACF boxes, 2 Claremont and Pittsford and 1 Railbox. 2 BB outside brace boxes, 1 GN 1 UP (the UP is 1 number lower then the UP one I already have, whew...) and 1 MDC FMC box in B&M. I'm working on plugging the holes for the trucks on the Bachmanns and LLs so that I can put athearn trucks on them. One of the frames for one of the athearn cars was bowed up in the middle (from side-to-side no less) and it craked when I tried to bend it back and it's coupler mouting pads are all messed up. I'll probably try making a new floor out of styrene and mount a coupler box to it.

Also got my car started finally. For some reason the key won't even start it, and I've been using a starter switch to make sure it is all working. I noticed a wire to the starter was messed up, so that's getting replaced tomorrow.

Der, I tried Mothers all metals polish for the polishing phase. It does tend to get all over the place.

Jeff, I'll have to rember that one and get a small piece of scrap cork.

[fec153]

Vinnie- whats wrong with a piece of cork roadbed??  Or a cork stopper from a wine bottle?

I use old roadbed and it works fine.

Flip

 

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

just a cup of decafe Chloe.  I'll go sit in the back booth and keep warm.

fec153

Vinnie- whats wrong with a piece of cork roadbed??  Or a cork stopper from a wine bottle?

I use old roadbed and it works fine.

Flip

 

Yep!  That's what I use, little hunk of excess or old cork roadbed.  Works very well.

A friend of mine from my Division of the NMRA sent me a video of a new French Train built by the Alstom Rail Group in Belfort, France.  It is of a test run of the train.  It reached a speed of 574.8 Km/h which is 357.2 MPH or Mach 0.482...... WOW!  I sent the video along to my Sister the Reverend out in South Bend, IN.  She rode on a High Speed Train when she went to Formosa last summer.  She was very impressed with that train.  She got her calculator out and figured that the new French train could go from Chicago to Orlando in about 3.5 hours!

I spent a couple hours finishing up the rest of the rail bars on the track over the summit at Bare Mountain.  Also got several Christmas presents wrapped for family.

Hope each of you have a great evening!

73

[Cederstrand]

Chicken with Tomato soup, please. 

***Ulrich, that is spooky. Glad your son will be visiting. How is Petra handling this. Can't be easy for either of you. Sending healing thoughts your way. 

***Jeffrey, your pump alarm situation is anything but funny. That being said, somehow the way you described it had me chuckling away. Hope it is working!

***Der, nice work there!

***Garry, Thanks!

Have to sleep without the cpap tonight, as sores popped up again on bridge of nose. About 18 lbs later, I believe my weight loss on the caveman diet has finally tapered off. At least I sure hope so. Haven't made it down to the train room in a few days. Kinda tuckered out right now.

Rob

[TMarsh]

blownout cylinder

The western omelette is placed on toast instead of plain ol' bread--heeheehee

????????? Oh I'd never make it in the Great White North. Omlette on bread????????? "Tis a silly thing.

Prayers for ALL it seems. G'night.

 

[AmanaMedic]

Good Evening, a RBF please 'n thankyou...yep at the RC.

Welp, did some writing for THAT, still have one school board article to go, then THAT will be THAT for THAT for this week/this year.

Snowing here, roads getting greasy. Had to roll-out on an upside down car in the ditch just west of town. 'Shore 'nuff...it was upside down allright. For once, I didn't get stuck on traffic control (on 2-lane US Highway 30...never fun. I ended up in the right place/right time to get to tend to the guy still in the car. Since nobody else was with the patient, the former paramedic in me kicked-in and I ended up holding manual stabilization on his head until the ambulance EMTs arrived to put on the c-collar, etc. I even got a baseline patient report for the EMTs...kinda like old times. I know some of them are still kinda ticked I let my certification go/never joined the bambolance...I just like being a firefighter better, although it is nice being able to do more than just wave at the passing cars once in awhile.

In the process, my glasses apparently fell off, either in the car or the snow. Peachy. I was hoping, when I realized they weren't on my head, THAT I'd left 'em on my dashboard back at the station. Uh uh. So...I hoped I'd left them at home in my great haste to slip and slide my way to the station. Uh uh. I looked around a bit in the car at the scene...didn't see them. Looked around a bit in the snow. Uh uh. IF they ended up outside, they surely got stomped on, burried...might find the remains come spring.

I needed a new pair in a bad way anyway...just not exactly a budget item right now. Guess it's "get glasses" instead of "fix truck." The one time I end up actually helping somebody...I end up paying for it.

Funny how THAT works 'eh? And...we're expecting a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnng winter storm for pretty much the rest of the week. Not the best time to be going anywhere. *grumble grumble grumble*

Loving Wife wasn't sure if she got me on a dental plan through her insurance or not...I'm rather doubting it. When she regains consciousness in the morning, I'll have her look. Meanwhile, I'll see if the tow truck guys will let me take a look in the car. It should be parked right down the street. Maybe it didn't get mashed by the long spine board (backboard) in the process of extricating the guy.

ULRICH: I hope you're doing better today, since it oughta be about breakfast time over there.

Welp...back to w**k, pulling a third-shift gig tonight.

Have a good, SAFE rest of the night, and an even better tomorrow.

Chris

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,


Thoughts and prayers to all those on the binnacle list

binnacle is a case or box on the deck of a ship, generally mounted in front of the helmsman, in which navigational instruments are placed for easy and quick reference as well as to protect the delicate instruments. A binnacle may be subdivided into sections and its contents typically include one or more compasses and a oil lamp or other light source. Other devices such as a sand timer for estimating speed may have been stored in the binnacle as well.

 The ship's Binnacle List is the medical department's report of personnel at sick bay, excused from that day's duty

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Packer

Jeff, I'll have to rember that one and get a small piece of scrap cork.

I get my cork at Wal-Mart in the stationary dept. It's the small sheets used for bulletin board refills.

[blownout cylinder]

Morning-

We have a sunny morning---YAY!!!

Got a bunch of last minute stuff to do before the relatives show up. That means-------

Chloe: I'll have a coffee and an egg on a bun to go please-------

CCCEEEEYYYAAAAAA---bye!!!----zzzzooooooooommmm!!!!-------------

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

  A regular to go and an order of Barrys' malt flavored toast please. (Would that be on Rye bread?) Lots to do again in the shop - got new water pipes bent up for the Cooper Monaco and started on the fuel cell installation. I want to get the car plumbed and fired up before I stop for break at the end of the week. Tree is finally up but not trimmed yet at the house.  Catch y'all later, J.R.

[TMarsh]

Good morning. Coffee please and if J.R. can try the malt flavored toast, I guess I'll try the Western Omlette on bread. Hm. Kinda like a horse shoe. But not. Next time....., hold the bread.

Well, if I can get off of here soon I think I can squeeze in a bit of model time before I get going for today. First thing I have to do is unload grocery truck at restaurant at 10:30. Then run some errands and I must now get a gift for Brenda the perfect wife prior to Christmas as she has done the same. This year we decided to purchase a gift for both of us from both of us after Christmas when everything goes on big sales. I was perfectly happy with those directions and acted accordingly. Now last night, she says, "oh by the way. I got you a couple of things for under the tree." (translation for you single guys who have never been married: "I"ve rethought my position and realized you probably will go with what I said I want and not what I really want, even though you should already know that‘s what I really want even though I said that's not what I want. Historically, I admit, I have used the phrase "that‘s not what I said I want you to do!" quite often in the past. Therefore I have decided it is in my best interest, even at this late date, to come out and say, "despite what I said for the past month and up until this morning when you asked....., again, I want something under the tree before Christmas now so...., start scrambling buster or I‘ll give you that "It‘s OK Honey" coupled with the sad "I didn‘t get anything for Christmas" look on Christmas morning along with the usual "How come you didn‘t.... (insert forgotten whatever for the year) Now mush!! A get me something good or else! I love you.). Now, I must change directions and scramble for an idea in two days. I have thought of train related stuff, but.......don't think that'd fly. Women. Tell you one thing, then the ONE THING you actually listen and pay attention to, they do something different. No wonder we don't listen to them.

Have a Great Day!!!

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.   This time its not snow, but ice pellets.   Man oh' man what a winter so far, and its only a day old!!!

 Well work is starting to slow down.   Our peak season is over.   They said it "dies" off pretty good in Janurary.  Maybe I can find something else part-time with this job.

 Not much planned today.  Maybe just sit around the house.   Still can't go out to finish up shopping.  Can't trust the weather.

 Hope everybody has a good morning.

[Cox 47]

Good Morning...

Prayer for Ulrich Hope your doing better..

Its cloudy and 32 here...I'll have coffee and Christmas cookies to dunk please..Thank you..Hope you all are ready for Christmas..doesn't look like all our kids will be here at one time but hope to see them all during Holidays..

I scored a Con Cor F 3 to put Monon shell I have on..been looking for one for a long time..This is a Atlas RS 3 that was sent to me..it needed a shell..I found a L&N shell..Engine runs great...

You all have a good one...Jerry

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 45 and partly cloudy. The high will be in the mid 60's and rain is expected.

Well I've been to the doctor office already to go over the results of all the tests that were done last week and it isn't looking good. The X-rays and MRI indicate that some of the bone infection (osteomyelitis)that had had been in the foot has spread to the ankle and possibly the tibia (shin bone). While it's possible that I may have to lose the lower half of the right leg it's also possible that they may be able to save it. They did more tests this morning and they'll be letting me know the results of those in a weeks time. In the meantime I'm to continue doing what I've been doing. In the model railroad department I got an email notification yesterday that two Bachmann flatcars with container loads that I ordered on the BillMeLater program have been shipped from Trains and Lanes Hobbies in Easton Pennsylvania and should be here in a week. I like using BillMeLater because I can pay it back $10 at a time as I'm able to and there's never any personal information exchanged. I order what I want, they send it and issue a paper bill and I send them a money order. No credit card info, no checking account info, etc, in short, virtually nothing an ID theft vandal can use. There's nothing on the schedule today so I'll likely be watching some old movies or maybe doing some work on a kit.

[der5997]

Good lunchtime Diners! The smoke alarm just went off - Kris opened the oven door (she's in full sausage roll making mode today) and that's enough excited ions to set the thing going. Flapping a tea towel at the alarm usually makes it clear. I'll drop off some in here next time I'm through. - along with some mince pies and a small snacking quiche.

Rob: Here's food for thought about the sun exposure thing. Todd:

blownout cylinder:

The western omelette is placed on toast instead of plain ol' bread--heeheehee

????????? Oh I'd never make it in the Great White North. Omlette on bread????????? "Tis a silly thing.

...I'm with you on that, even here in the Great Green North (version East.2.0.1) Toast rather than bread, on the side, not under, and whole wheat, naturally!

Chris:

needed a new pair in a bad way anyway...just not exactly a budget item right now. Guess it's "get glasses" instead of "fix truck." The one time I end up actually helping somebody...I end up paying for it.

..what goes around, comes around. It will be interesting to see just how you end up being blessed in this.

Lee:

The ship's Binnacle List is the medical department's report of personnel at sick bay, excused from that day's duty

That's interesting. One wonders why, of all the places onboard with which such a list could be associated, the binnacle was chosen. (puzzled) There must be some sea lore lurking there.

Jeff:

I get my cork at Wal-Mart in the stationary dept. It's the small sheets used for bulletin board refills.

...I'm thinking, for the small quantity I need, I'll chop pieces from a bottle cork. I don't need cork for roadbed at this stage. Thanks for the cork-as-polish-spreader reminder. I'd forgotten that detail.  I'll adapt the shape to fit on my "Gleam Stick"  with the pad and emery paper removed, so there's a cork surface for each rail either side of that groove. How thin is thin when spreading applying the polish? Is a mere smear enough to get the job done?

I sure hope they can save your lower leg, it's marvelous what can be done medically these days.

TTFN

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

der5997

Jeff:

I get my cork at Wal-Mart in the stationary dept. It's the small sheets used for bulletin board refills.

...I'm thinking, for the small quantity I need, I'll chop pieces from a bottle cork. I don't need cork for roadbed at this stage. Thanks for the cork-as-polish-spreader reminder. I'd forgotten that detail.  I'll adapt the shape to fit on my "Gleam Stick"  with the pad and emery paper removed, so there's a cork surface for each rail either side of that groove. How thin is thin when spreading applying the polish? Is a mere smear enough to get the job done?

Thin is just enough to coat the surface. If you can push it down on the railhead and the polish goes down further than the railhead it's too much. On the amount of cork that you'll need maybe you forgot that you'll need some cork to buff the dried polish off with? A little bit doesn't go very far. I generally get about 18" of rail out of one piece on the buffing step. It won't hurt to have too much cork. and you'll certainly need more than you can get from a bottle cork.

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have an "everything" bagel and a cup of dark roast coffee in a FGLK mug, please and thanks you.  I'll in my usual seat at the rivet counter this morning.

Happy Mid Winter to all of you!  What?  Well according to the modern calendar it just started, but the traditional "old" Calendar, Winter is now half over.......... (I like it better THAT way!)  

Today will be a get caught up day here.  Finish wrapping the presents, get all of them where I can grab them to take with me Christmas to my Son's house.  Still need to find Ushers for Christmas Eve and the Sunday after Christmas.  I should get some time with the layout as well.  Need to finish just a few more railbar installations, and then paint the rest of the track in the area.  Then I can move on to scenery and making a bunch of buildings for the logging area on the mountain (hill) (whatever the heck it is......).

Jeffrey, sorry to hear your tests were not good.  I have had a nagging suspicion that you were heading into a critical situation with the foot.  I will keep you in my prayers for a good resolution for the whole thing!!!  Tough being a diabetic.  (I worry about where I will be 10 years from now with mine.  At the present, all seems to be good...................)  You sure have had a bad year!  Hope next year will be much better for you!

Catch you all later!

73

[fec153]

Jeff- Got your KCS box. Its a 50 footer in red. Plastic wheels but K/D's. Found a box for it but waiting for Deb to wrap it. I think its worth the 400.            Uh,400 pennies,that is.       Will mail it ASAP.

Wish you "ENOUGH".

Flip

 

[pcarrell]

Howdy All!

Been busy 'round my place lately.  The in-laws are getting ready to head to Florida for the winter.  They have been spending a bit more time with the grandkids. 

My daughter is preparing to move out.....so she thinks.  No money and little work should cure that though.  She had a great job in the field she went to school for, but she decided to quit that job.  Now, she has nothing.

I have a friend who is preparing for the hereafter.  He's in the hospital now and the docs say his chest wall has collapsed.  They don't expect him to make it much longer.  He asked me last night to do his funeral.  Tough one..........but I'll do it.

On a brighter not, my mom decided it was time for a new, well, new to her, car.  She got a 2001 Jaguar.  VERY NICE!

So, I see Jeff is in need of big time prayer.....consider it done my friend!

And Todd may be the smartest man in the diner today!  Good for you!  So when did you say you were teaching that "Husbands 101" class?