Hello
We do not have any storms up here showing up---but we will be getting nice damp NorthEast winds and dang bitter CCCOLD for the weekend.
Woke up wid de siduses doig their thig---ebry so ofden by dose wood fide a new vein of sobdig ad I end ub talkig lige dis-----yay
Gonna spend some time today doing some work on my basement empire and actually get something accomplished---maybe----no HD list--------yet
Chloe, I'll have a small portion of toast with jam and a small cup of coffee please. I'll be at the RC for a bit
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/
Good morning. It's 45 and cloudy. The high will be in the low 60's and it will be partly cloudy.The VCR I picked up yesterday is working just fine, even better than I expected, as it seems to have no problems whatsoever. No remote was included but it took me only a couple of minutes to program my universal remote for it. Nothing special on the schedule today except to go to the pharmacy later to get some prescriptions refilled, six in all.Looking at possibly getting some layout work done today, no matter how minor it is, even if it's just replacing some structure lights.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Mornin' Yawn!!!
Zoe I could use a nice big bowl of hot cream of wheat with brown sugar to go along with the pot of dark roast coffee (In a FGLK mug), please and thank you. I'll be sitting at the Rivet Counter for a bit.
Barry.... I thimk wha you got may be cashing.... sniff. I'm getting better, but was all stuffed up myself this morning. Probably from disturbing all THAT dust around my house yesterday.
One of the real high points of having the Scouts over last night was seeing the grin on the Committee Chairman's face. He originally thought doing RR MB would be boring for the Scouts (he told me last time I got together with the Troop) but has changed his mind. His son was the one who got to run a train last night. Dad was beaming from ear to ear! Another high for me was listening to several of the Scouts talking about a 24 year old who got hit and killed in a small city North of here last week. He was walking on the tracks (CSX) taking a short cut. The Scouts told me they knew better than to do something THAT stupid because I told them not to! If I have have kept even one of them from having a tragedy in their lives, I will be happy. And of course I will never know........
Rob, too bad you folks don't live next door. I would love to have you over to run trains. For THAT matter it would be a privilege to give you a hand with chores when you need help! I have the upmost respect for those people who have taken in abused or abandoned animals and cared for them. The scouter who came over to help do the Amtrack requirement with the Troop fell in love with my 2 kitties. He hadn't been here a minute when the two of them decided he was OK and proceeded to hop up in his lap. He had never been over to my house before........
OK, have to go shopping sometime today and make a big dish of baked winter squash today. Tomorrow we have Christmas at my sister's house.......... Don't ask!
Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
"Coffee please"
Morning all~ Not too much to say today. The past few days have been bright sunny mornings with cloudy overcast by noon. This moring, its raining and that says it all.
As far as my layout is concerned. Well~, at my age, hopefully, I've learned to listen to that voice in the back of my head that says; Do it right the first time, you'll always regret it if you don't.. everytime you see that particular flaw.
So, I went back and re-did it. No not all, but certain things that were bothering me.
1. And probably the only real consideration ... was to have the train pull off the main.. but have a choice of pulling into the A/D or just pull straight into the yard lead. To me~ and just my own opinion.. (could have read it somewhere)(probably,most likely) was to be able to pull off the main and be able to go straight to the yard lead. When doing so, I think it might also cut down on the switching and/or adding more cars. It just seems right to me.
2. Those Electro frogs might be more problems than they are worth. My whole approach was to keep this as simple as possible. I think I kept one electrofrog in the layout just so I could have one idle track for the 'switcher' to sit..(about middle of the staging area) and to be ready for action. I also left the other Electrofrogs in the other main.. just in case I decided to go DCC. Its a much simplier approach with only having 2 electrofrogs. Although, working with the minimal amount of Electrofrogs, might be as simple hooking it all up.. wires and all to each section.. and if any shorts.. start cutting gaps in the rails. I can just hear someone now~ "Don't be a fool! you'll regret it" One of my many hurdles to come, I'm sure.
3. Also, I've come to many simple problems ..but unless you are thinking about em... one might just paint themself into a corner here. Before I even consider laying down cork.. and the completed soldered track (staging area).. I'm going to have to figure out.. just how and the heck am I to run the wires? I feel like I have to break out the drill and start making holes.. and/or drill with the hopes of running some pvc or plastic conduit underneath through certain parts of the layout.
Well thats it.. if I've been away for awhile.. well that means I've been busy with the layout. My own personal blog has been whiped out.. it made it to page 26.. and now its gone. I can only hope its still there for my updates and can be retreived. Ta TA for now.. Keith
Robby P.We are under a winter storm warning. The weather guy is calling between 8-12 inches of snow.
Same here Rob... I've already put my car in the garage, the wife will be home after 7 and I'll have her do the same. Her uncle has a snowblower, so I am trying to keep the driveway as clear a I can to get the most out of that contraption!!!
Well, I made it through my first two weeks of trainhandling! YEAH!
I've been attempting to "fudge" history with the NH&I. My idea is that the Reading had good business develope on the branchline, and even connected with the RR that operates across the Delaware River in Lambertville, NJ. To further flesh out my idea, I had it where when the Reading went caput, the NH&I was formed, and continued to build the freight and interchange to where all three Deisels that are owned and operated were required to switch all the different industries. Thus making the businesss super profitable, allowing them to purchase more steam equipment for the tourist portion of the business, and also allow them to have better track maintenance equipment and crews. We shall see how this goes! I have to write it down in order not to forget it!
Lee- sounds like that roundhouse is going to be pretty special! Love to see photos when it's complete?!?
Here is a question, but I'm not sure if I asked it before:
How many ADD kids does it take to change a lightbulb?
Wanna ride bikes???
(hee hee hee, I love that joke! Before anyone starts complaining, I have ADD and most of the people that I know that also have it LOVE that joke!)
Well, I'll be in one of the booths, with my puter, surfin' the web trying to nail down possible sites for some of the businesses and industries I want to model on the NH&I.
Chloe, may I please have a Coke, fries and lots of BBQ sauce? Thanks...
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)
12 inches of snow coming my way, I guess it's a good weekend to hide in the layout room! I guess I need to couple the Mikado to the rotary plow.Sam I’ll see what I can do tonight or tomorrow with the camera. It looks really ugly right now.
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Sam.....I believe this is going to be a bad storm. Its already sticking here, and the wife gets home in about a hour. I'm just wondering what it will look like at 3:00am .
My supervisors are so determined to get everybody in to work tomorrow morning. Well FedEx has three trucks coming from all of this bad weather. Columbus, OH.....Harrisburg, PA......and Cleveland, OH. Last time we just had a few inches they ran about two hours late. Who knows tomorrow.
I guess thats what I get for having a Tues- Sat job .
"Rust, whats not to love?"
LSWrr12 inches of snow coming my way, I guess it's a good weekend to hide in the layout room!
Went to the pharmacy to pick up the prescriptions I needed. Six in all. I had called the docs office at 8:00 this morning to get renewals on three of them. By 2:00 pm only only had been renewed. Found out it now takes an average of 24 to 72 hours for a fax to get from the docs office to the pharmacy. Med rates go up and the quality of service goes down. Wonder if they outsourced the faxing to China as well. The two remaining items MIGHT be ready sometime tomorrow, if not then Monday or Tuesday. Naturally they're the most critical items on the list.
Veggie plate, please.
***Lee, your loco roster caused uncontrolable slobbering all over this key board here. That's a very cool assortment.
Wife approved of the rock work I did last night. Next we will discuss whatever else she wants done (rock wise) to that hill. Should be able to start painting it next week.
Rob
Trainman SamHere is a question, but I'm not sure if I asked it before: How many ADD kids does it take to change a lightbulb? Wanna ride bikes??? (hee hee hee, I love that joke! Before anyone starts complaining, I have ADD and most of the people that I know that also have it LOVE that joke!)
Evenin' folks!
Zoe I'll have a dozen HOT "Buffalo Wings" served properly with the celery and blue cheese dressing.... Oh, and a cup of Hot Chocolate to wash it all down.
Been mostly taking it easy today for a change. Went over the the Allergy Clinic for my shots and then went to Tops to do some shopping. Ran into about a dozen or so people I know so it took a while to get done......... I get into what was the shortest line to check out of the store, and right ahead of me in the cart was the cutest little Black kid I have ever seen. About 3 years old tops and just the happiest little guy! I look ahead of him and his Mom is one of my students from way back when. Little kid struck up a conversation with me. We talked about the balloons at each check out line and the people on the covers of the magazines.......... I finally told him I had trouble hearing him and showed him my hearing aids. He was fascinated to say the least. I told him I went deaf listening to kids sing.... His Mom looked at me and started to roar. She was wearing a t-shirt with piano music on it......... As I was leaving the store the 2 of them were waiting in the lobby of the store for someone to pick them up, so I stopped and told her what a cute son she has and that he absolutely made my day! (Think I may have made hers too.....) As I left I looked back to see his little hand waving Bye Bye to me.....
Came home to find one of my cats was missing. After looking all over the house and just before panic set in, I remembered that right after lunch I had gone into one of the bedrooms I use just for storage and Manét had snuck in and wouldn't come out. I went and opened the door and he was sleeping on the bed behind a stack of boxes, looked up at me and said "Meeeeeeeooooooooooow", which translated means, "Daddy you locked me in here and I couldn't get out. He got up and marched out of the room and was very "I don't like you anymore for about an hour. As soon as I sat down to read the evening paper though, he ws right up in my arms cuddling. He has been right by my side ever since.
So far I hve gone down to the layout room and turned up the heat.... maybe I'll mosey on down there and see what I should do next...
Rob, don’t be too jealous, some of those are in various state of disrepair. I have all the parts including replacement motors it’s just finding the time to re-build the MANTUA and Rivarossi units.Jeff, when I was stationed in Michigan I had to go out through the garage door or the sliding patio door some days because of the 21” of overnight snow that blew into 7’ drifts against the house was blocking the conventional doors. Ok, enough chatting; time to paint more walls of the roundhouse and machine shop…….
Work was canceled!!!!!!!!!!!! My boss just called and said they were having problems getting trucks in, you think!!!! Right now I just took a measurement and we were at 5 1/2 inches and still the worst to go.
I'm so happy and the wife is as well. I guess I will talk to everybody in the morning.
Evening all from UnsettledCal:
There's been a delay in the storms, but the temperature has dropped considerably and it's overcast out, so who knows what's going to happen in the next several hours? This has really been the winter of "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes" out here.
Anyhow, today was my day off, so I settled myself at the kitchen table along with Uff-Dah and Spooky, to work on the little 'rescue' loco. Spooky got bored rather quick, since there was no Caboose involved in the project, so it ended up with me and Uff-Dah. Uff-Dah got a little annoyed with me when I told him to keep his paw out of the plastic jewel box where I had all of the spare screws, springs and stuff, and went into the living room and started boxing the mirror.
Loaded some of the 'poisonous' weight into the boiler, and then Frank called me from Bruce's, seems that the green paint I bought for the boiler yesterday got left on the counter (I THOUGHT something was missing, LOL!). Told him I'd be down this afternoon. Set the mechanism on the test track to make sure everything was running right, and--CLICK, CLICK---BAM! The little dear froze right up. All I could think of was OMYGAW, I stripped a gear! Looked at the mechanism. Found another little surprise--one of the rod-rivets had worked itself out of the driver and was catching on the main rod. Looked at it more closely. This was a round-head SCREW! Another little 'gift' from the previous owner.
Anyway, the upshot was another trip down to Bruce's to rescue the green boiler paint, and while I was at it, I picked up some more universals and screws and all sorts of stuff. Came back, remembered that I have all of those 'miscellanious' brass parts from other Key brass locomotives in their boxes (which they so generously include with their locos). Raided the boxes. Found the proper rod screws. Took out the round screw, installed the Real Thing. Had to take the rear gearbox apart to make sure that I hadn't stripped the gears (I hadn't), re-assembled it, and then decided to install an A-Line universal set between the two sets of drivers (the original brass universals looked really trashed). Put the mechanism on the test track, hooked up the tender, and it started up nice and smooth. Only now it runs better in Reverse!
Back to the drawing board, he said with a sigh. More adjusting. But at least no gears were stripped. I had horrible visions of having to order a new pair of gear sets from Northwest Short Line, but I think I'm okay.
Further adventures to follow, I'm afraid. I'm glad that in my Old Age I've discovered the Quality Of Patience, LOL!
Lee: Nice roster there, buddy. The one thing I am going to have to obtain when I get my yard built on the other side of the garage is both a turntable and a roundhouse. And believe me, it's going to have to be at LEAST a 12-stall. Just to house my articulateds. I mean, seriously, aren't they FUN? All those wheels and rods moving?
Ray: You've got a quiet cat, too? Spooky carries on a conversation at LEAST 24/7 with me, her being 'Royalty' and all, but Uff-Dah is the quietest cat I've ever owned. He 'squeaks' once a month, and that's it. I always have to make sure he's in an un-closed room before I leave for work. He has a habit of locking himself in the bathroom after boxing the mirror on the inside door closed, but will he use his voice? No. He just bats at the door until someone comes to rescue him, LOL! Seriously, I'm wondering if, as a 'rescue' cat, his previous owner had his voice-box removed or something. I've had him over a year and a half now, and I STILL don't quite know what his 'meow' sounds like. Spooky, on the other hand, gives me ARIAS all of the time, LOL! Speaking of, you should have heard my guys spitting out the Latin in "In Taberna Quando Sumus" yesterday. WOW! "Carmina" is going to knock the audiences socks off this April at the Spring Concert. It's just a Trip to see how a bunch of teen-age boys are getting into singing this music. As an added treat, I told them I'd ordered a couple of songs from "GLEE" for them to encore with. I've got a real bunch of happy campers, LOL!
Well, back to the little Mallet. Boy, talk about a bunch of TLC for this baby. I've NEVER had a loco that needed this much work. WHEW!
Best to all, prayers to those in need.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Ja hey dere!
I haven't been here in a while, and thought that maybe you wouldn't mind if I hung around for a while?
twhiteRay: You've got a quiet cat, too? Spooky carries on a conversation at LEAST 24/7 with me, her being 'Royalty' and all, but Uff-Dah is the quietest cat I've ever owned. He 'squeaks' once a month, and that's it. I always have to make sure he's in an un-closed room before I leave for work. He has a habit of locking himself in the bathroom after boxing the mirror on the inside door closed, but will he use his voice? No. He just bats at the door until someone comes to rescue him, LOL! Seriously, I'm wondering if, as a 'rescue' cat, his previous owner had his voice-box removed or something. I've had him over a year and a half now, and I STILL don't quite know what his 'meow' sounds like.
Ray, TomW: 'Spring' is definitely NOT a silent cat. He chirps, trills,'mmm?mmm?'s', squeaks, whines----he has a full out reportoire to go on. Now 'Lady'--my sisters one cat---is the silent one. In all the years she had her that fellow has squeaked twice that she remembers. Now 'Sweetpea' whines when you pick her up when she's playing---NEOOOOWWW!!. Any other time? ''MM?--m?--mic mic mic mic? mm--ow?---mm--aa"
We are just plain ol' dull and CCCOLD this evening. We had to put up with a nasty northeast wind which also gave us a wonderful windchill as well. So we just stayed home and played with 'Spring'. Tomorrow we are back to the weekend seminar bit---
Chloe, I'll just have a fruit salad and a RBF tonight please---I'm going to sit at the corner booth---out of the draft----
Good Evening, Chloe, I'll have a hot chocolate and a slice of apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, please. Thank you!
Ray, that was great about the FRED comment - sounds like your troop's kids had a ball at your place.
Trainman SamHope everyone here has been well... I think we ought to get a guard dog for the diner. I don't like thinking that it's just Chloe and Flo in here at night!
Sam, I can tell you've never seen either of the twins wielding one of those cast iron skillets, eh? And you never really know when Vinnie is lurking around (you just don't notice him, sometimes)... The ladies can do fine with protecting themselves and the Diner - just ask Flip about Chloe (but not within earshot of her, for his sake!). Good that you lucked out with your instructor being changed over to another run.
Barry, thanks for the post on my topic out in the main forums - I will probably be going with that Walthers (remake of the Magnuson) milk truck for the troop van, I think. Oh, I've been having some kind of congestion lately; need to get some antihistanmine or decongestant/cough syrup or such, I think. All right, Ray - you have it too? I think Chloe may need to get us one of those big jugs of the quickdry-handwashing stuff in here.
Hey, Dick - good luck with finding much of any Blue Boxes nowadays! Didja forget Athearn has stopped production of those (at least a month, maybe two ago)? Yeah, they did - I was crushed when I first heard about that. So I guess we'll have to stock up on Accurail or maybe Tichy kits, right?
We've got a bit of slushee coming down tonight (but only a winter storm 'advisory') - it's 34 F now, and only will reach 31 F tonight. Plus, the ground's not that cold, so it won't stick through tomorrow. Just fine with me - keep people off the streets tonight, and my on-call tonight a very 'silent night'...
CN Charlie - when the folks come with those butterfly nets to 'nab' your wife, I hope you do explain to them that it's not what it looks like, right? That she's really talking to you and the sound hasn't slowed down to where you are yet?
Rob, that sounds great about your doctor's note about the test results! Keep up that good w**k on THAT!
Heartland Division CB&Q So, JIm, I see you have issues. Also, Jim, you are looking for a truck to resemble the Boy Scout truck. I suggested the CMW REA truck in your thread. Before that, I thought of the smaller delivery truck by CMW as you can see my gray one at the Texaco station.
Also, Jim, you are looking for a truck to resemble the Boy Scout truck. I suggested the CMW REA truck in your thread. Before that, I thought of the smaller delivery truck by CMW as you can see my gray one at the Texaco station.
I'll sit at the window with Barry while I finish my pie and hot chocolate. Everybody stay safe and warm tonight (and tomorrow).
Blessings,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Just came in the house after clearing my driveway and the sidewalks in the neighborhood with the snowblower. That's the second time since around 6 this evening. I guess there's about 8 inches out there. I don't even want to think what it's going to be like come morning. I'm pretty sure it's going to be too deep for my little snowblower though. Oh well, there's always the spring thaw.
Pittsburgh, PA
Gustatus Similis Pullis
Just a cup of decfe if you please Flo.
blownout cylindertwhiteRay: You've got a quiet cat, too? Spooky carries on a conversation at LEAST 24/7 with me, her being 'Royalty' and all, but Uff-Dah is the quietest cat I've ever owned. He 'squeaks' once a month, and that's it. I always have to make sure he's in an un-closed room before I leave for work. He has a habit of locking himself in the bathroom after boxing the mirror on the inside door closed, but will he use his voice? No. He just bats at the door until someone comes to rescue him, LOL! Seriously, I'm wondering if, as a 'rescue' cat, his previous owner had his voice-box removed or something. I've had him over a year and a half now, and I STILL don't quite know what his 'meow' sounds like. Ray, TomW: 'Spring' is definitely NOT a silent cat. He chirps, trills,'mmm?mmm?'s', squeaks, whines----he has a full out reportoire to go on. Now 'Lady'--my sisters one cat---is the silent one. In all the years she had her that fellow has squeaked twice that she remembers. Now 'Sweetpea' whines when you pick her up when she's playing---NEOOOOWWW!!. Any other time? ''MM?--m?--mic mic mic mic? mm--ow?---mm--aa"
Yep Manét is a talker. He has quite a variety of meows that almost seem to make sense at times. Sometimes I will say "Meow" right back to him and he will stop and give me the "Why did you say THAT" look as if to say "man are you stupid"! We have very interesting conversations at times...
Blackie is quite quiet except for when you take him to the Vet.... Then he says "meow, meow, meow, moew, MEOW!!!! meow....." Followed by, "Meeeeeeeeeooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, zup, zup zup, meow!" He actually sounds like a baby crying. The first time I took him to the Vets after he was declawed, I am sure he thought I was going to leave him. Cried like a baby, shivered and shook.... He was a very happy cat when we got back home and wanted to snuggle the rest of the day.
Jim, actually this is the only Troop in town I am not registered with. The other two Troops are chartered to my Church and I serve as the Chartered Organization Representative for them. The Troop I am doing the MB with are a handicapped Troop. They are a sketch at times and I do enjoy working with them from time to time. Several years ago when I was the Council Camping Chairman I had the dubious task of banning the Troop from our Boy Scout Camp. A couple of the leaders back then didn't think they needed to follow some of the rules out there (off season) and got our Ranger completely Ticked off! He was ready to quit, and I was the new guy in charge of camping and a very large group of committee members were waiting to see what I was made of! I wrote the letter after the committee approved it and had it signed by myself and the Council Executive who was shaking like a leaf being forced to make a decision in the matter. We finally modified the letter to give them a chance to meet with me or my representative to come to an agreement. They could not go back out to camp for 6 months and then had to meet before they could go back out. Their next camping trip was planned for after the 6 months ban...... I think they got off with only a hand slap. During the meeting, they aired some problems they had with the council, like the fact they did not have a commissioner working with the Troop (the last one they chased off........). So in fact the incident was the beginning of getting them some training, commissioner help (their commissioner now is thee best in the council!) and was the start of them really getting a Boy Scout program started. At that time none of the Scouts had progressed past Scout. There are now 2 boys who have earned Life, and one who is at Star. One of the Scouts may make Eagle within the year. It took a while for me to be allowed to come visit... The first time was for a Christmas Party about 3 years after the blow-up. Their new Commissioner wanted someone to play Guitar and lead singing...... Hmmmm Who do we know??? Since then there has been a lot of bridge building. The leader who was royally p!ssed at me is the one who's son got to run the train lst night!
I did get back down to the layout this evening. Put a few more cars in the database and checked each out to make sure they were operating well. Got into the passenger fleet and tried out a Branchline 81' Heavyweight Coach. Derailed on the first curve. Then I remembered why THAT car had been put asside. One of the wheelset sockets on a truck had fallen out and gotten lost..... Since I have most likely thrown it out if it was on my workbench, I decided to order a new pair of trucks for the car. I can do THAT before I head out to my Sisters tomorrow for Christmas Dinner...... Don't ask!
Hope all of you have a great evening!
Jimbo,I just read your post.First of all,TABunch for the mad props \about my newest Grand Nephew!!He should be here any day now!!
It'd be nice if my family lived in Fort Worth or I lived in Houston as I'd love to see him more than once or twice a year!!
However,I'm planning him a Johnny Cash"Crawl the Line"Onesie soon!!*(*BTW:It's available online at the Johnny Cash Radio Website if you want to buy a little one -or big one-in your life any and nearly everything that has to do with the Late;Great;Still Alive Somewhere JR Cash!!).
Anyway,back to your posting.about the van/truck model.I'm just making an uneducated guess here but I'm guessing your'e looking for REA/US Mail Delivery Vans.
The CMW International Stepside Van is discontinued,but maybe if you look online or check out some train shows and/or swap meets you might find some.
Now IMEX used to make a series of 1:87 Ford and International Trucks.Now I think theyr'e discontinued as well,but theyr'e still available here and there.They made some for REA.I bought two or three.
Athearn made a Cabover Ford Truck for REA as well as a Panel Truck in REA Scheme.
On their web page newsletter of upcoming releases,they plan to make a Ford Panel Truck in REA Air Express Scheme later this year.
CMW has an IH Box Van in US Mail Scheme.
Sylvan Models has some REA Trucks in resin kit form.
Jordan Models has a kit for a 1929 Ford REA Truck.
For more recent modelers,Norscot has a UPS Delivery Van and Atlas makes a modern delivery van as well.
Hope that helps.
As TV's Judge Glenda Hatchett says"Don't Get Me To Testifyin'!!".
Flo,There's a John Wayne Marathon on TCM Tonight*so just let me have a dozen Breakfast Tacos to go!!
I want three with potatoes;three with bacon;three with regular sausage and three with chorizo!!
(*Okay.There's not really a John Wayne Marathon on TCM tonight!!But they did show In Harm's Way;True Grit and The Shootist!!).
TMarsh:TABunch for your congrats about my newest Grand Nephew!!
My Neice,though born in Houston lived in Flatonia for her first 18 years on earth.
She probably doesn't recall it,but in May of 1977,she got to watch#4449 haul the westbound American Freedom Train with her Meemaw and Pawpaw and her Uncle John as it steamed through Flatonia,Texas.
Of course,she was a year old at the time,so most folks don't remember what they did when they were a year old!!
So I'm hoping when he's a little older they'll take him down to the junction in Flatonia to see the trains.
Since they live in North Houston,they can also take him to Spring.The ex MP(Now UP)Galveston-Houston-Palestine Line runs through there.
Also,the Texas State RR isn't too far up I 45 North from Htown and the Hill Country Flyer's not too long of a drive on US290 from Houston to Austin,plus Hermann Park in Houston has a great miniature railroad they can take him for a ride on as well!!
I hear you on today's"Country"-And I use that term very loosely!!-Music!!
A good portion of what comes out of"Nash Vegas"is nothin'but"Chicken Fried Hallmark Cards"!!!It's really nothing but cutesy arsed pop country sung by pretty boy hat acts like Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney!!!!
On the other hand,Classic Country is"Redneck Gangster Rap"!!
It was sung by hard edged men and women who'd seen and lived life's other side!!
Compare Tim McGraw's"Where The Green Grass Grows"to Johnny Cash's"Five Feet High and Rising":Tim McGraw has this kinda'Green Acres'fantasy about packing the wife and kids and leaving the city and moving to the country where he can'Watch His Corn Come Up In Rows'!!
Right!!!I grew up on a farm and it's lonely hard work!!You just don't plant the seed and magically wait for the crops to grow!!!
You gotta buy the seed;plant the seed;make sure bugs;birds;drought;floods or frost don't get to it-then you gotta harvest the corn then repeat the process all over again!!
Now Johnny Cash's"Five Feet High and Rising"is a biographical account of how the Mighty Mississippi flooded and nearly destroyed the family farm and how the Cash family escaped by the skin of their teeth!!!
Of course Porter Waggoner's"Cold Hard Facts Of Life"and;Stonewall Jackson's"Life To Go"wouldn't make it on today's country radio either!!!
One bright spot though,here in the DFW Area there are three stations that play classic country:KTFW-92.1 Fort Worth;KCLE 1460AM out of Cleburne and KBEC 1390AM out of Waxahachie!!
Plus,with the latter two,you can go to Waxahachie and watch the UP(Ex MKT line)and BNSF(Ex BN line)or Cleburne and watch the BNSF(Ex ATSF Mainline)and Amtrak's Texas Eagle AND listen to real country music!!
A couple of bloopers that only a railfan would catch:In the 2004 Ray Charles Biopic"Ray",there's a scene where their band bus goes under an overpass with a modern Stack Train rumbling over head.
In 2005's"Walk the Line",there's a scene where the young Johnny Cash(Jauquin Phoenix)is leaving the family farm to join the USAF.There's the whistle of a passing freight in the distance.Listen closely and it sure sounds like a modrern EMD or GE Locomotive!!
Well,tell Flo or Chloe to just go ahead and bring me the#2 Tex Mex Breakfast instead and cancel the 12 Breakfast Tacos to go!!!
Like Arlen,Texas's favorite propane salesman,Hank R.Hill once said"Bobby,Soccer Was Invented By European Women To Keep Their Husbands Out Of The Kitchen!!"
Of course,he also said"Bobby,You Can't Trust Vegatarians.The Other Day I Caught Two Of Em'Trying To Siphon Gas Out Of Our Trucks."
Anyhow,the main difference between Soccer in the US and in England is that in the US Soccer Fans generally don't riot!!
And actually,Canadian James Nesmith didn't invent Basketball!!
The Aztec Indians of Southern Mexico invented a version of it at least 500 years before Dr.Nesmith did!!
However,if you were the Captain of the winning team,they promptly cut your head off as an offereing to the Great God Quezcoatatal!!
Anyway,Good Luck with your Rugby/Soccer Team this season!!!
"That's What She Said!!"-Steve Carrell:The Office.
Maybe not directly,but the Big 4 and KCS do get inderect Federal Subsidies.
The KCS got Federal Subsidies in order to rebuild the former SP"Macaroni Line"from Rosenberg to Victoria.
*** HE'S GREAT!!!
JIm,For a cheap version for your layout,how about Life Like's Scenemaster Cars and Trucks?They have a Milk Truck that you could give a quick repaint and lettering job plus it's under$10.00!!
As the sn*w is putting a blanket over the night in the US, a lonesome man is heading for his favorite place. The door flings open - dead silence fills the place in an instant.
Bonjour, Mesdames et Messieurs,
well, this place is getting crowded nowadays - - AztecEagle and Madsinger!
Chloe, I´ll have my regular French breakfast, cafe au lait in my ARR mug, deux croissants, beurre et confiture d´fraise et d´ceries! Merci, madame!
It seems, as if Punxsutawny Phil has taken over the job of a global weather beguesser - his prediction fits the bill here as well. It has stopped sn*wing, after we had a record high of 28" of that stuff, with wind drifts up to 5´ ! Now we have the seesaw of temperatures, freezing at night, thawing during the day, and turning the roads into ice hockey fields. According to Phil, it´ll stay like this only a little over 5 weeks
Barry - how awful and scary to have someone not invited in your house. Good to hear that it worked out well. Take care of your cold!
I just wonder, how Jerry is doing - have not read anything from him lately.
Bon weekend!
twhiteSawyer: Take it easy and careful, my friend. Rugby and Bronchitis are not a good mix. Rest up, okay?
Sawyer: Take it easy and careful, my friend. Rugby and Bronchitis are not a good mix. Rest up, okay?
morning Chloe. Yep, I'm up at 6 am. no, I'm not crazy. my sister has a volleyball tourny in Columbia today, and since my rugby match is near there today (we do have one saturday match) I'm going up w/ my parents and I'll jsut go over to my match when it's time to play.
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Sir MadogIt seems, as if Punxsutawny Phil has taken over the job of a global weather beguesser - his prediction fits the bill here as well. It has stopped sn*wing, after we had a record high of 28" of that stuff, with wind drifts up to 5´ ! Now we have the seesaw of temperatures, freezing at night, thawing during the day, and turning the roads into ice hockey fields. According to Phil, it´ll stay like this only a little over 5 weeks
And that snow that fell over PA etc was just south of us too! All we saw of that was the dang NE wind that right now is giving us windchills--since we are at -14C now--of -20C! Any snow we're seeing this week will be on Wednesday. Great. I'm leaving town on a sunny Monday----supposedly---and coming back on a snowy and windy Wednesday
Hello.
I'm up and getting ready for weekend seminar series version II. Ain't it fun? Well---it could be Gotta bunch of guest speakers lined up for this'un. Seeing whether any market prognosticators could come up with some non doomish market news -----
Sir MadogBarry - how awful and scary to have someone not invited in your house. Good to hear that it worked out well. Take care of your cold!
The fellow is being held in custody until his trail date this time---I think they're starting to get the point with some people about keeping repeat offenders behind bars now----I know---one can hope As for this whatzit I got ---- meh---I'll figure it out---it found another vein last night but it's better now
Chloe, I'll have what Ulrich's having please-----Yes, by the corner booth---seems a little out of the wind there please--