Elliott's Trackside Diner XXIII: Moving on...

[jeffrey-wimberly]

LSWrr

Jeff, that’s good news about almost healed.  Still have the wound vac?

Yeah, I still have to wear that parasite. Maybe only a couple of more weeks. I'll be happy to get rid of it.

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

  Last night I finished removing the rubber ballast from the roundhouse area.  Now I need to figure out how to attach the turntable motor to the turntable.  The turntable has a brass tube and the motor has a small diameter steel shaft.  Tonight we are heading over to one of the MRR Club members to run trains on his layout.



Sam, electronics have a very small mark-up.  Typically the discount is only $10 to $20 and it would cost about $18 to ship it to you.  I would watch the sales flyer maybe you can get a better deal.  I know the Digitrax radio throttles are running about $110.00.



Jim, when I built mine I assumed I would still be on active duty and would be moving every 4 years.  Without knowing what situation I would be moving to next I only made the tables 4’ long.  If I had to do it over I would have made the tables 6’ to 8’ long.



Jeff, that’s good news about almost healed.  Still have the wound vac?

Welcome aboard Danny!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

AmanaMedic

JEFF, JIM, SAM: THAT monument is really cool...but a few things are missing: a BIG U.S. flag, and flags for all 5 branches.

I don't want the monument to be a big overpowering affair, just a part of the park. Simple, unobtrusive. There's one of those big multi wall affairs in Leesville and it stands out like a sore thumb.

[tbdanny]

Thank you all for your warm welcome.  I think I'm going to enjoy it here.

[AmanaMedic]

Good Evening, Chloe? Did somebody mention toast??? I'll take a stack, please 'n thank-you...sugar and cinaminonononimum would be just fine...with a RBF to chase it down.

First, TBDANNY: Nice to meet you, have a seat, make yourself at home. Care for some toast?

SAM: Which elevator were you referring to? Actually...doesn't really matter, I don't have anything but the pics. I haven't been back THAT way since Christmas break of 2002. Kinda sad really, THAT's my "go hide from the world" place... Both are rather small, for point of reference, I think the Campbell's wood elevator is probably significantly bigger than the one at Flush (the one surrounded by all the trees), and the St. George one "might" fill one 100 ton grain hopper on a good day.

I discovered I don't even have a pic of the St. George depot...I coulda/woulda SWORE I shot it too. At one time, I had scale drawings of the Post Office/telephone office/general store/bar/antique store/storage unit THAT once sat caty-whampus from the church. My Granpa owned it for awhile, then Eldon had it. Now it sits in a recreated villiage in a park in Wamego.

JIM: Welp, the chickens maybe didn't hatch, but eggs were sure incubating...the ROW had been graded, and the town was platted (?), plotted (?), heck...it was all laid-out for streets, commercial district, residential blocks, etc. It just never came to fruition beyond what you saw. I think the eggs got scrambled. My Dad has an old book "100 Years in Rock Creek Valley" which covers the history of the town/surrounding area, the first settlers (my ancestors), and has a map of what Flush was supposed to look like. One layout ideer I've had for many, many years, is/was to model Flush as-if the RR had made it.

I revisit this ideer from time to time...with the thought THAT the UP woulda bought-out the little independent line, then probably abandoned it in the late 70s/early 80s, and THAT a new short-line (possibly funded by the many wheat growers in the area) would've come along and resuscitated it...much like the Iowa Northern Ry (formed when a bunch of farmers banded together and bought-up an abandoned Rock Island line between Cedar Rapids and Manly).

But then I look at all the CNW stuff.........

PHILLIP: GLAD Mrs. PC is doing well! As for hospital food...I ate more of it as a paramedic student doing clinical rotations in the ER than I ever did as a hospital employee (hospital based ambulance services). Not because it was so lousy... St. Luke's in Cedar Rapids made a decent cheeseburger... but because I worked evening and overnight shifts...after the small-town community hospital vomitoriums had closed-down for the day. In Creston, I discovered THAT anytime we'd try to have real food... the more I was looking forward to eating, the more business we'd get. We had a large charcoal grill out back of the ER. Whenver Arnie (partner) and I would fire THAT mother up...it was just like lighting the bat signal: every wannabee patient in Union County would show up at my ER door.

Steak just ain't 'sposed to crunch...

***EDIT*** I did take issue with the Dietary Staff at St. Luke's once... Following the Dec. '96 fire engine rollover, after my jaws were wired shut, I was on...a "liquid diet." Go figure.

I was served: mashed potatoes, pudding, apple sauce, and ice cream.

They caught on after a day or two... then it was some kind of, I think...beef broth...and coffee. I couldn't really tell you which one was which.

JEFF, JIM, SAM: THAT monument is really cool...but a few things are missing: a BIG U.S. flag, and flags for all 5 branches. Sorry, I got to meet seven United States Marines this evening...feeling kinda patriotic. The Cedar Rapids Recruiting Station presented a banner (with team photo on it) to the Clear Creek Amana high school softball team for winning the state championship. The guys (all Sgt's, with lots of stripes, hash marks, and medals) showed up in the dress blues. Then, stayed for the basketball game, cheering for the Clippers (home team).

Class.

Pure class.

Too bad the girls lost...again (winless this season).

Well, tomorrow looks like it'll be...interesting, to say the least. We're expecting freezing rain and/or sleet overnight, and through the day and night tomorrow. I'm supposed to cover the Clear Creek Amana school board meeting tomorrow night. I am hoping and yes...praying...THAT they postpone it. THAT might cover it for me (she's much closer than I), BUT if anything were to happen to her, I'd be wracked with guilt (the "it shoulda been me" syndrome). Loving Wife is contemplating taking a vacation day...or working from home.

Have a good night, and a SAFE tomorrow...best wishes to all in need.

Chris

[CNCharlie]

Good Evening Diners!

A cup of strong coffee please Chloe as it seems it is another late night for me. I haven't been in for a while as I have just been busy and also She Who Must Be Obeyed has been on the computer most evenings so no Diner for me.

Anyway we are in our second week of above normal temps here in Winterpeg and that means highs of about -3 or 4 C which is close to 10 above normal. Saw a university student in shorts at the crosswalk tonight after I picked up my wife from work. It also means the roads have been very messy and I no longer can tell what colour my car is. Perhaps I'll treat it to a wash tomorrow.

Had to take a half day holiday last Friday so I could get to the 2 LHS's as there isn't time on weekends. I had a great afternoon and picked up an Intermountain F7 in CN green and yellow. Taking holidays to visit an LHS isn't a big deal for me as I get 6 weeks holidays which is a plus for working at the same place for over 25 years. I also found an IHC interior for a RPO that I had been looking for and it was on sale for only 6 bucks. Can't get them any longer what with the demise of IHC. In spite of being so busy, I did manage to get that sound decoder installed in my PK2 0-8-0. It was easy to put but don't ask me about headlights suffice it to say that I installed lights 4 times.

PC, glad to hear your wife is doing well after surgery. 

Jeff, good news on your foot wound. It was a little worisome at Christmas. 

Little Pippa is doing much better now and she has now learned to ring the bell to go outside from Robbie. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Well it is definitely past my bedtime so good night all.

CN Charlie

[tbdanny]

Sam,

Thanks for the welcome, and good luck for your exam tomorrow - it was the 21st, wasn't it?

Chloe, I'll have a slice of white chocolate cheesecake for the moment, and a glass of orange juice.

[Trainman Sam]

Hey guys, I'll be heading off to home and bed...

But first,

tbDanny- to the Diner!  Pull up a seat, grab a bite to eat!  Chloe or Flo will get you what you want, in a hurry too! 

You came to the right place to sit back, relax, and unwind after a rough day!

Chloe, set our new friend up with whatever he wants, my treat!

Adieu, a domain! (french my wife just taught me meaning= Good bye, til tomorrow!)

[JimRCGMO]

Hi, Chloe, just a mug of hot chocolate, please. Thanks.

ns3010

Ugh, with confirmation tonight and exams, I AGAIN was unable to catch up. Tomorrow, I promise...

  No problem, Joe - they'll still be sitting here... waiting for you... kinda like a bad cold...

PC, good that your wife's up every so often - not only for avoiding those clots, but also since the nurses have to wake her every hour or so anyhow... Just wait'll she gets home - she'll be betting you at the footraces!

Vincent, I sent you an email back. Thanks!

Garry - nice shot of the Aeroliner. Did you see the bigger steam locos when you were there? I know some of those might have been in not much better shape, but when I went to the museum, there was one that was getting into pretty good shape (of course, I forgot by now which one it was - that was about 20 years ago...).

Got done here earlier, went home and thought I was going to fix something for dinner. Fixed me a salad first and then checked the fridge. Hmm, found out that the only thing that I had thawed out for dinner was stew meat (which I'd bought for making beef stroganoff). Decided that I would eat out, so I came back here and quietly grabbed a seat in the (other) corner booth before anyone noticed I'd been gone. I was sorta peek-ed with hunger - that taco salad wore off too quickly! But that hospital ribeye was not bad, not bad at all, and the baked potato with the sour cream and chives and butter filled me up okay.

I was about to upload my photos into the rolling stock database at DMW, when I saw that I only get to post an online link, no direct load into the database. Dang! Ah, well, tomorrow I'll get all the pics loaded to a Photobucket folder and copy down all the information for the database fields...

[Edit:] to the Diner, tbDanny - great choice of roads (one of the connecting RR's for my HO scale layout)! We have several N scalers here, including DerJohn, who could scratchbuild just almost anything (obviously he has better eyes than some of us...). Have a mug of your favorite on me (and I think our twin virtual servers (Zoe and Chloe) have a few bottles of Jolt in the cooler, if you're having a coding session some evening)

Well, I'll be finishing up my hot chocolate and heading out. Prayers for those needing healing, comfort, and an evening's rest (of more than an hour at a time...).

 

Blessings, and a good night (or morning in Ulrich's case),

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[blownout cylinder]

howmus

I don't doubt that the food is good....  Many people have told me how good Hospital food is these days.  I even know some Luneys ah... people that go out to eat at the Hospital in Canandaigua

Ray: I remember going to University Hospital at UWO a lot when I was there as a student. Get the middle of the night "grease crisis", as it was called, and, because the university did not have anyplace open at 3am a bunch of us would go there to the cafeteria and eat there. Hey, it beat having to wonder about 2 miles out of your way to have woodchip burgers at some same ol' same ol' burger joint----which may, or may not, be open Besides, we often preferred going there rather than brave the -----erm coff--"food"  at the Centerspot that often was blargh!!

[tbdanny]

Evenin' all,

This is the first time I've popped by the diner, so I figured I'd stick my head in and introduce myself.  N scaler, and you can probably guess my road from my avatar.   Layout is currently in the scenery stage, having been fully tracked and wired.

Other hobbies include Nintendo Wii gaming and writing sci-fi, with a view to getting published one day.  Professionally I'm in I.T., specialising in computer networks.

I'll have to drop in more often, but for now it's nice to meet you all.

Cheers,

tbdanny

[ns3010]

Ugh, with confirmation tonight and exams, I AGAIN was unable to catch up. Tomorrow, I promise...

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello ....

Rob mentioned the Aerotrain. Here is the one in the St Louis museum. I took the photo about 5 years ago. It was in bad shape as you can see. I heard it is being restored, however.

PC ... Glad to learn Mrs. PC's surgery went well. I'll say hospital food I have had in recent years has been rather good.

I was in Nashville past couple of days.

This afternoon, I worked on my second FT AB set.

Cheers, everybody!

[howmus]

 Evenin' folks!

I have spent most of today sorting through and wo*king with the 100 photos I took yesterday at the MLK March and Service.  I am about 3/4 the way through them right now.  I did get some good usable shots so I am happy.  They will become part of some advertising for the work of the committee in the community.

pcarrell

They've got her up and walking every two hours.  Not too far though.....just down the hall and back.

 

Philip that is good to hear.  Please know that all of your family are still in my prayers.  I hope she continues to do well and will be back home soon.

pcarrell

The hospitals around here hire gormet chefs to prepare the food.  They're quite proud of their cafe's. 

 

I don't doubt that the food is good....  Many people have told me how good Hospital food is these days.  I even know some Luneys ah... people that go out to eat at the Hospital in Canandaigua.  It is not the quality of the food, it is the proximity to the hospital!  I hate the places!  I spent way too much time eating there while my wife died in one.  I have avoided hospitals at all cost whenever possible.  I have eaten twice in a hospital over the last 20+ years.  Once when I was tricked into having to stay overnight by the surgeon when I had a minor procedure about 15 years ago.  I could have gone home the same day but then I would have had to have been "Put to sleep".  Uh Uh!!!!  I have had several pets over the years "Put to sleep"!  Can't fool me, I know what "Put to sleep" means.........  So I had a Spinal instead.  Later they said , "Oh you have to stay over night."  One of the worst 24 hour periods of my life!  Couldn't wait to get out of there and have a decent meal and get some sleep!  They wake you up every hour to see if you are still alive....  The other time was when My Father was in after his heart attack.  My sister (who volunteers there) insisted that the food was wonderful just like everything else at the Canandaigua Horsepiddle (The same one that received several warnings recently from the state about patient care and such......).  I gagged it down....  I think my opinion may have something to do with my fear of Horsepiddles.......

So forgive me, I was just having some fun (based on my warped sense of humor and a hatred of hospitals).

OK, Zoe, a cup of decafe to go.  I still have 30 photos to wo*k on.

73

[pcarrell]

Trainman Sam

... and I did enjoy my pistachio encrusted alaskan sea-bass with cilantro topped mashed potatoes!

I was going to get that, but I'm a sucker for the tortilla soup and soft taco (with blackened chicken) combo.

[Trainman Sam]

Phillip- Glad to hear she's up and about... and I did enjoy my pistachio encrusted alaskan sea-bass with cilantro topped mashed potatoes!

Jeff- I looked under monument, nothing came up.  So, tried under their "accessories" and "plasticville", I think it hit under "accessories"... My mind has become toast! 

What Chloe?  No, I didn't say I wanted toast, just that my mind was toast! Lol...  And NO I haven't touched the whipped cream or miracle whip since last week, I heard that Vince wasn't too happy about the hoo-zee-mah-whatsits that I built, and subsequently destroyed, out back!  Sheeesh...

Alrighty then, I'll be in the corner  booth surfin' the net, in search of some other cool oddities!

OH, before I forget, a friend of mine sent me this video, anyone modelling the 50's, and or Philadelphia or surrounding areas would find it most "enlightening"... WORTH the 9:31 minutes to watch!

http://www.archive.org/details/Miracleo1955

(EDIT- Did I mention, you can download it for free... and watch whenever you want!)

Off to THAT corner booth...

[pcarrell]

On the hospital food issue.........you guys don't think I'd feed you dog food, do you?  The hospitals around here hire gormet chefs to prepare the food.  They're quite proud of their cafe's.  And I must admit, I've had the food and I'd say they've got good reason to be proud.  I had a top notch lunch......and you all missed out!

As for the wife, she's doing well.  They've got her up and walking every two hours.  Not too far though.....just down the hall and back.  They want to keep her moving so she doesn't get any blood clots, ya know?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 

Trainman Sam

Jeff- here's the monument at Bachman

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=690

 

JimRCGMO

And here it is on Walthers:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/160-42218

Thanks. I was looking under memorial, not monument.

[Packer]

hey ya'll

Not much done today, except a take-home exam for psychology. Guess you can't really spell that with out psycho, my head hurts from trying to figure out that stuf...

Jim, E-mail sent

Sam, read and replied

Joe, good that the spanish exam was easy

[JimRCGMO]

Trainman Sam

Jeff- here's the monument at Bachman

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=690

 

And here it is on Walthers:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/160-42218

I couldn't find it at first either, because Walthers/Bachmann calls it a "Center Square Monument", instead of a VFW memorial (what one online HS called it).

That should help all who want to look it up, between Sam's post and mine.

 

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[Trainman Sam]

Jeff- here's the monument at Bachman

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=690

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JimRCGMO

Jeff - thanks about the monument info. Looks like they still make it, about $7.50 regular price. I like yours better than with the railing around it, actually. Good to hear your two visits went well (or as well as can be, in the case of PT...).

Yeah, the physical was just the general stuff plus a blood test. The physical therapy included range of motion and a bunch of X-rays. Glad to see you can find the memorial somewhere. I can't find it on Walther's or Bachmann's sites.

[JimRCGMO]

Good Afternoon, Zoe - I'll have a taco salad (hold the jalapenos, thanks), with sour cream and shredded cheese so I can add a little 'touch' to it, and a RBF, please. Thanks! Uh, NO, no matter what someone might have suggested, I do NOT want liver in any form, thankyouverymuch!

Hmm... I just noticed that last night, I posted the BOP (Bottom of page), and I think the night before that, I hit the BOP again. Wonder how I've been going about that (and could I raffle off chances on my BOP slot..)? Ah, just luck of the draw, I guess.

Vincent, what scale is your NW2, and got any pics? Oh, and who made it - runs okay? I might be interested in that...(email me, please)

Chris, that one elevator was kinda like counting the proverbial chicken eggs... But I'm sure at the time, they probably had good reason to expect that "of course the railway will come through this way!"

Todd, thanks for clearing up that matter about track plan changes. Best wishes on the new tracklaying.

Lee, several great pointers about moveable layout sections. And you said it with fewer words than most documents I've seen do. I have your Photobucket account bookmarked for my reference/creative inspiration use. Good to hear that Walthers supports (even smaller) free enterprise.

LSWrr

Oh and I even found time to take down the Christmas lights.

Hey, guys - I guess the season is over, since Lee took his lights down!

Jeff - thanks about the monument info. Looks like they still make it, about $7.50 regular price. I like yours better than with the railing around it, actually. Good to hear your two visits went well (or as well as can be, in the case of PT...).

Barry - I know that you always do what your boss tells you to do (especially when it means you get to do the w**k from home). Of course, since the roads aren't in great shape up your way, anyway... But I'm sure you'll tough it out today.

PC - Great to hear the news on your wife's surgery. Now, let us know how her recuperation goes. (very well, I ). On that hospital food offer - okay, so long as we don't have to wear those gowns (drafty!).

Bama, you had a fine day there, sounds like (and got Heather a fun time with the train)!

Ray, you want us to send along our weather when we get done with it? We hit 60 F today, mostly sunny and a light breeze (3 mph). Might have some rain tonight, but nothing heavy. Maybe some rain next couple'a days.

Joe, congratulations of getting the Algebra test done with, and on doing well on the Spanish one. (I trust that your Algebra average was high enough that you will pass, right?)

Sam - no problem on coming up with the layout ideas. You might talk with Todd about that, as I understand he can probably relate to some of what you mentioned.

I went to the license bureau (in the next town over - their people are friendlier than the bureau in Cape) and got the renewal stickers for the car's license plates, so that's out of the way for another year. Glad to find out that since my car's relatively newer, I don't have to have it inspected for another couple of years.

Before I went over this morning, I checked the p.o. box, but didn't get one small order I had coming. Did get my RMC issue in, so I have some reading material. I also did some checking online about decoders that will fit in/go with some of my locomotives, and printed out some info on those. Also photographed most of my rolling stock that I have out of boxes. Dallas Model Works has a thing on their website where you can put your cars and then make up a consist for trains. Except for my having to get online to do that, I like the idea.

I'll be at the window booth, whittling away at my (NON-hospital) lunch.

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[Trainman Sam]

Good afternoon all!

Phillip- GREAT news on your wife, we’ll be praying for her speedy recovery!

Jim- The under and out was the intention of the dotted line, I hope to connect it to the “main” on the table layout I currently have going. I included the NH&I’s largest customer, CRC Chemicals, on the layout for this iteration, mainly due to the number of carloads that I could have going in and out on an almost “daily” basis: Covered hoppers bringing in different “dry” chemicals; tank cars bringing in other “liquid” chemicals, and boxcars to ship out the finished products!

I was planning on expanding THAT table as well. I am just not sure as to whether or not I will stay with the 5’ x 10’ or change AGAIN to an around the walls attempt. Most likely an around the walls attempt due to my wanting to use the room for a “Home Theatre” of sorts… we’ll see!

As to the last layout idea, it is the expansion project I was mentioning earlier. The lower half will be a yard (the left hand side) and an engine servicing facility (the right hand side). The two tracks that diverge off the “main” between the “industry” and the “yard” switches are probably going to be an interchange with a second “major carrier” (either NS, CSX, Conrail, or some other road name TBD [see just how up in the air my ideas can be!!! Lol])

Vincent- check your PM’s, please?

Chris- You wouldn’t happen to have some sort of “blueprints” available for that cool looking grain elevator would you, or happen to know approximate dimensions?

Rob- Aren’t we a small bowl of plain “mixed nuts”!!! heeheehee

Lee- Dean is on my prayer list! I gave you credit on the portable portion, because I hadn’t thought about THAT until I had seen your website! Great pics BTW! Any chance your friend with the BHS has a Digitrax Zephyr? I’m in the market…

Jerry- what size yard office are you building? Love to see “project pics” if possible? And good luck with it!

Joe- unfortunately this person took three years of Spanish but can’t remember diddley, what does that say??? Lol, but seriously…

Todd- good luck on that track “revision”

Chloe, may I please have anything BUT liver, mashed potatoes and sautéed onions? THANK YOU! Lol

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Finally got all the doctor visit business taken care of for another week. The official estimate is that in two weeks the wound should be healed up. That would make me happy. I'm thinking about doing a little work on the layout but I'm just too tired right now. Maybe later.

[ns3010]

Afternoon all. Chloe, I'll take a RBF, thanks.

Had my Algebra exam today, and dang, was it hard! I didn't finish, but hopefully she'll go somewhat easy on me.
Spanish on the other hand was way easier. ¡Muy facil!
¡El examen de Espanol fuy muy facil, no es dificil! <--- That's epic, right there! Didn't even need a translator to do that

Well, I gotta go study for Theology and Chem, but I'll be back soon.

[LSWrr]

PC that is great news, wishing her a speedy recovery and a time of rest for you to re-charge your batteries!

Friends don’t let friends eat hospital food.

[2 foot Jim]

PC;  Prayers for your wife's recovery and for you while you care for her.

Hospital food!  A nurse once told me that the 2 things you need to get well are good food and rest, so in the hospital they feed you food that nobody likes and have a policy against letting a patent rest.

It helps me to remind myself that as bad as the hospita food seems, for a lot of the world that despised meal would be a great feast.

Jim

[Cederstrand]

Tomato & veggie soup with chicken pieces, please.. 

***PC, sending healing thoughts your wife's way, at least what few I can spare. 

***Lee, congrats on the acquisitions.

Have a good day all.

Rob 

[howmus]

fec153

Ray- As long as the onions were sauteed properly and the mashed 'taters aren't lumpy

Flip

 

ROFLMAO!