Elliot's Trackside Diner XXV- Milepost 25

[GMTRacing]

Good Evening All,

     Back from the museum and none too soon - the roads are icing up pretty good. With all these critters on staff now have we become a branch for Noahs' ark? Between the racoon taking the utensils off the table before you're done eating and the deer chewing up the vase of flowers by the register it's getting a bit nuts. Better not say that, we'll have squirrels next. That's what happens I guess when you pay peanuts - you get  monkeys.

Flip - glad to hear things went well today. Here's hoping the recovery goes as well as the operation.

   Spent the evening painting the scenery on the O gage layout and tidying up a bit. I really should take some pics so you can see the progress..Speaking of O gage, has anyone heard from Attaboy of late?

   Time to grab some shuteye as I'm nodding off here and last time I did that some wise guy painted eyeballs on my eyelids. Sheesh - bet you didn't do that to Duke. Catch ya tomorrow. J.R.

Oh boy - TOP again - now I've bought my own breakfast. The canteen is open for late night snacks folks.

   

[twhite]

Evening all from SunnyCal (but not for long, I understand). 

The past three days have seen blue skies with puffy little clouds and a high of about 67 around these parts. 

It's also seen me in the garage doing early Spring Cleaning on the layout.  And--GASP--!  Actually running some trains.  And it's also seen my garage become an evening Freeway for interesting critters.  Now, I live in the suburbs of a rather large city, remember.  About the only thing you'd think I'd have wandering into the garage would be a neighbor's cat or two on the prowl for either a female cat or a stray mouse. 

Nope.  I've got my family of raccoons back again.  They come into the garage via my back yard over the fence from the school in back, traverse my garage and go out the door and across the street to my neigbhor's garbage cans.  Then when they're finished, they saunter back through the garage and back out into my back yard and over the fence.  I'm IN THE WAY, of course.  At least from the looks on their furry little faces when they wander by my feet heading to the utility opening in the garage floor wall.   One of the little ones has taken it upon himself to walk to the door that separates the garge from the music room and whack on the door.  He thinks it's a short cut, or something and can't understand why he can't get through.  This, of course, brings Uff-Dah to the other side of the door, and the two of them 'box', neither knowing what the other one is.  This goes on until momma raccoon snarls and errant child mutters and follows her out of the opening.  Meanwhile, I'm just standing by my Controlmaster 20, shaking my head. 

Spring has Sprung, I suppose.  The Freeway is again open.  I have learned not to do too much 'night' running around here, this time of year, LOL! 

Well, the Little Lady got her green boiler the last couple of days.  No photos so far, because I have to do some really TRICKY touch-up painting, and right now she looks a little--ah--'weird', shall we say.  But I think she's going to turn out pretty well.  I'm still running in her mechanism, and that part of it's running smoother and smoother.  Gave the mechanism a turn around the layout yesterday, and it's not bad.  Nice and quiet and relatively smooth. 

But you know--and here's where I could kick myself, but not really.  I had a Sunset Z-6 on reserve at Bruce's, then started thinking about it and realized that much as I love that big Alco Challenger, the most it would ever be on my layout would be a WWII "loaner".  So I cancelled it, and put some of the money into the used Key Rio Grande 3400.  Then on another thread, I saw that Z-6 in action, and I almost banged my head against the wall.  OHMYGAW!!!!!  What a beautiful, smooth-running piece of machinery that loco is!   I mean, it's a brass MASTERPIECE, and the price is to die for! 

And right now, I've got my little Key 2-8-8-2 still in parts on the kitchen table being repainted and literally rebuilt.  And I ain't as young as I used to be, LOL!   Takes me longer to 'tinker' these days.  I can think of other brass locos over the past thirty years or so that were 'basket cases' that I had up and running in two or three hours, and this little baby has taken me almost four WEEKS!   And it will probably be another week before I get the boiler details painted right.  I mean, by the time she's up and running and working trains on the Yuba River Sub, it could be SUMMER! 

Makes me wonder.  I'm not getting discouraged, don't think that, but I'm just getting angry that I'm slowing down when it comes to things like this. 

Oh well---  I'll stop now before I get Maudlin, LOL! 

Best to all, prayers to those in need.

Tom

[Trainman Sam]

ns3010

BTW, Sam, I hear that after Christie cut $33M (~1.5 months) of funding from NJT, has there been talk about the F-word (NO, not THAT F word!... the one with the forced days off, Fur***ghs), or even as bad as the L-word (Lay**fs)? On an unmentioned and not-to-be-named NJT forum, people (especially the employees) are really worried. It seems Christie expects Transit to get their act together, and fast...

It's not so much a rumor, as something coming down the pike, FAST...  There was a memo at the Bay Head Crew Room, stating that the three union heads sat down with Christie's newly appointed NJT guy,  no specifics.  We are the SAFEST commuter railroad, yet of the three major commuter railroads in the NY/NJ area, we are the third LOWEST paid, but Christie thinks we (the unions) have FAT contracts, FAR FROM IT.  Most guys are scratching paycheck to paycheck (me included).  It's only the older guys that are collecting the HUGE paychecks, and as soon as they retire Transit splits up the job and makes two smaller ones out of it.  Hopefully these guys Christie has appointed have good heads on their shoulders and realize that the reason for the Student Engineers is that there are so many Engineers that are of retirement age, and they only have to walk into an office and announce that they are retired, no questions asked, just the crew caller has to find someone to run the rest of the guys trains...  Rant over, almost, I just wish I knew if I'm gonna have a job in two weeks... Stepping off ...

To answer Blazin/Keith- NO I don't have deep pockets, I don't have even a quarter of the stuff I will need for this layout, but I DO have an AMAZING wife, who understands my need for a hobby, but even she balks at the price of some things... But she comes around after a while, I just show her the price of O, S, or G scale stuff and she kinda gets that I am saving money by staying with HO scale (neverming the look she gets when I show her N-sane scale stuff!)

I am just trying to plan the best possible layout/trackplan, that will best represent NH&I they way I think it should look in model form, and also have the most "play" value built in.  If it takes me several years/decades to build it, so be it!  I want something that looks/runs/feels as good as possible.  I figure, the more I plan NOW, the better it will come out later, because I will have worked out a lot of the bugs before hand.

  I know, I know... Insert Lee's Rules here:___________________________________________________

I got three of the books that I ordered, the only one that didn't come, won't until April!

It's late, so I'll start reading one of the books and then hit the sheets!  Good night my friends.  Please add my fellow classmates and myself to your prayer lists, as we may have to find new jobs in the near future, Hopefully not.

[Anonymous]

 Good Morning,

well, actually, it is already close to lunchtime, so just make it a mug o´ coffee for me, Zoe, please.

It is a sunny day again, but with night time temperatures below the -15 C mark, last night, it is not teally a warm day - shiver! Where is Spring - Barry, no, I don´t mean your cat...

Flip - I am glad, that your wife´s surgery went well - my healing  for a speedy recovery.

Jeff - Congrats on getting rid of that ol´ pestering vac thing! One more step towards a more regular life! Take care...

Rob - good to hear that your pump is at normal working level - heart issues are no fun, and I know what I am talking about!

Chris - a very belated  to Rerun - next time you take him in here, there is another bag o´ burgers waiting for him at the RC .

Keith - our CFO´s, SWMBO´s, better halves, whatever your name is for the lady sharing your life, are fully entitled to know everything about our hobby, anything but the cost involved. Whenever I bought something in the past, it was always a "little loco" or a "little car". It still works, after so many years! Petra thinks in $$ - terms, not in $$$$! But, psst, don´t let her know....

Garry - I like that pic of your caboose!

Have a good time!

 

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

Barry, better question is why are the two of you talking to the raccoon?  I’ll wait for the fox to take my order.

Jeff, I have a friend that sells and installs wind turbines for about $20,000.  The electric company is required by law to buy any excess power you generate at the same rate they sell it to you or provide you a power credit if you need to draw power off the lines.  If you email me the average KWh/month I can get you a close estimate to what size turbine you need.  This isn’t a fly by Night Company they just signed a contract to install turbines for Canada and are currently working in negotiations with China. I’m glad to hear you got that sucker off your foot and it sounds like you got a good boot there.

Garry that’s one handsome caboose you got there!  Those big ones are always cool looking.  I have a all wood kit for the morning and evening dairy run.

Flip, I missed the post about Mrs. Flip’s surgery, I’m glad things came out well for you guys.

I’m still working on the turntable; I installed a new rail in the turntable pit and decided to insulate the rail into 2 parts made the first cut and part of the track sprung off the ties, same with the second cut.  So I spent an hour messing with that last night.

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.  We have some light snow coming down, but maybe 1 - 2 inches today.  

 Glad everybody liked the pictures.  I got some more today.   Almost all of them are from the 70's.  They are neat to look at!!

 Not much planned today.  Maybe later I can post some more pictures.

 Hope everybody has a good morning.

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

   Ended up with around 6" of sn*w at home and at least 8" at the shop (only 10 miles away). It was a nice bright morning with no wind so the drive here was easy. I'll have a regular and a corn muffin please - yes toast it and butter it please/thank you.

Jeff - Glad you got rid of your personal hoover. Hope the new shoe/boot works out also - bet it'll be good to be able to get back to the layout.

Lee - I hate it when THAT happens. When we kit bashed the turntable at the museum we found a piece of PECO flex that we used as it takes a set when you curve it. We were losing ittrying to keep the Atlas track round and unkinked long enough to solder the join. Having insulators just wasn't on. The PECO w..ked well.

Tom - How does the Rio Grande Z6 and 2882 stuff relate to the ex N&W Y-3's surplused off in the thirties? If the raccoons keep using your garage for a highway, can you set up a toll booth? On trak make an HO raccoon raiding barrel detail casting that might interest you also.

Ulrich - ditto on the not revealing all on the cost of the hobby. Sort of like don't ask, don't tell. I had a friend who always told his wife that his race car stuff  was all "around 3 grand" . She chose to believe it and turned a blind eye to the rest. Even though he could afford his hobby, if she'd known the true cost of stuff it would have been very unpleasent.

   Time to get up from the counter and head out.   Catch y'all later,  J.R.

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning-

Everything has a little bit o' freezing drizzle on it--and the drivers are going all guibbly again.

Oh well--we are at 0C right now going to a high of 1C and that'll be the first time in weeks we saw anything near or above 0C around here

Ulrich: Our little "Spring" is all cuddled up in our bed. The seasonal Spring don't show up around here till sometime next month-----hopefully

Great. Now one of the things in my "Seeking Alpha" stock market things are talking about Municipal Bonds having issues------I'm waiting for a couple of people I know to come up with their views---another we don't need

Sam: What is going on now with NJT that there is now this going on with your job? We got you on our Prayer list now

Chloe, I'll have a NORMAL sized breakfast bagel and a coffee please. I'll be at the RC

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 28 and sunny. The high should be 55 with no sign of clouds.

Yesterday I got freed from the grip of the wound vac and got an orthopedic boot to help support my ankle. Now I can start concentrating on layout work again now that I don't have to be worried about splitting my ankle joint apart. It's going to be slow at first as I get used to the limitations imposed by the boot but I should be able to get a quick list of what I can and can't do. One thing on the list already goes without saying. No fancy gymnastics. I can't turn my foot unless I turn the entire leg. The left and right twist of the lower leg that everybody else finds so simple to do is physically impossible for me. Vertical climbing is pretty much out for now. Going into a squat position or rising from said position has to be done with the majority of the weight supported by the good leg. That's a minor limitation. It shouldn't take me long to round out the list. No distance walking for sure. It does feel good to be able to walk around a bit though without feeling like I'm going to fall over any second.

[fireman216]

 Good morning everyone!!...I would love some thick french toast stuffed with baked ham and melted cheese please...and a coffee extra regular in a NYC mug please..thanks. Well...been a week since the surgery to repair the rotator cuff in my right shoulder. The doctor is amazed at the outcome. I have pretty much stopped using the sling and can do some basic "flexing" movements without too much agony. Night time is still unbearable with pain so the wonder drugs really help to "zone" me out. I find myself down in the train room just staring at a string of cars making it's way around and around the layout. Therapy will start next week...oh joy...can't wait for the "bending" and "stretching". The good news is that I will still be home for the next three weeks!!...With my arm feeling this good I can get about a years worth of layout work done since the wifes at work and daughter is at school. Looking forward to our clubs show this Sunday..(HERE ME RAY?)..We open up both layouts for the public and have about 3 rooms of vendors downstairs...plus our divisional NMRA meeting is held with annual elections. Hope everyone is well and safe. Currently 27 out with a windchill of 15 with a small storm hitting today with about 4-8 inches of fresh fluffy stuff. Tim

[TMarsh]

Good Morning. (walks right past, and ignoring, the raccoon wearing French maids outfit. It’s best if you don’t encourage the behavior.) I’ll have an Omelet. Make that a Denver Omelet. Or Do you call it a Western. Oh my gosh. Were are we? East or west of the Mighty Mississippi? That makes a difference you know. How do we know what to call the steak? Kansas City Strip, or New York? I need coffee.

Stayed up too late watching White Collar. Never seen it before but last night I watched an episode and they played several back to back. It’s got a running storyline apparently along with the crime of the week. Never should have started watching it. Kinda interesting.

Flip- Super glad to hear Debs doing OK. We’ll shift gears into the healing up prayers.

Jeff- Hey! That is good news about the puss sucker. And the boot too. I hope that helps you be able to get around much more comfortably. I hear Spring is coming and I have a feeling you will be itching to get out and do this enormous amount of things off the J.D. list. (that’s Jeffrey Do). 5000 square feet? Wow. Mom had, including the unfinished basement, about 4500 square feet and I know all the stuff she crammed in there. I hope your parents don’t save everything they get. You’re right I would take way too long to pay for that solar power.

Rob- Great news for you too!

Tom- Those coons must be pretty used to people! Can’t say I’ve ever been that close to one that, um,is still breathing. Kudos though for not just arbitrarily taking them to meet their maker when they appear really to do no harm to you. It is quite rude however to barge into some ones home and use it as a shortcut. At least they could leave a little morsel from the neighbors trash can as a sort of thanks. A “People Bag” if you will. Oh, and by the way, in reference to the length of time it takes you to do anything on the layout. Remember, you’re retired now….., sort of. And as we retired people say, I don’t know when I found time to work. It’s normal.

Fireman- Good news for you too!

Always nice to hear good health news.

So far there is nothing on the plate for today. Wednesdays, like Saturdays are the two days I don’t have a scheduled thing to do. So, layout room here I come. Construction continues until I run out of recycled materials. As the motto of the Union Pacific goes, “There’s no stopping me until I get stopped.” What? No Zoe, that’s not their motto, but it fit a railroad theme. Say, don’t you think Garry has a nice caboose? I do too.

Have a Great Day!!!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

TMarsh

Jeff- Mom had, including the unfinished basement, about 4500 square feet and I know all the stuff she crammed in there. I hope your parents don’t save everything they get.

Yep, they're pack rats.

[Anonymous]

 Hi Everyone,

thought, I just drop by for a coffee, a slice of that delicious looking pecan pie and a chat by the RC.

Does the raccoon, who is serving the coffee, already have a name, or shall I address him? with just "hey, you there"?

Well, I have been doodling with some track plan ideas, again just for the fun of it. Came across some British web pages, and, golly, their modeling craftsmanship is just gorgeous. Lotsa kits available. The plan I made is an O scale adaption of a layout designed by one of my favorite "layout artists" - Iain Rice. It is essentially a branchline terminus, set somewhere in the Southeast of merry old England, in the times of Queen Vicky.

Well, a nice exercise to keep my mind and hands busy.

Here it is:

 

It always amazes me, how small the British build even big scale layouts -

If you look closely on the plan, you can even see the Vicar on his tricycle...

Edit:

... and this would be the loco to service the station:

 

[Blazzin]

  "Coffee Please~"

  Good morning to you Ulrich, ... and all~  I don't know about you my friend, but Keith and Jeanne have been a special item for over 34 years.  This time, she never saw it coming.  But I would guess,  to be in Model RR... one would have to have a special wife to tollerate the piles of stuff here and there as Jeanne puts it.  "But don't touch anything~ I know right where everything should be"

  Sam, you do right by planning ahead. (25 years ago I built N scale-things have changed since then)   Me.. well I call myself the 'Test Crash Dummy' and you can learn a lot form a dummy too~   But if I were to make a wild guess....  I'd say,  oh.. building a layout.. is probably 80 percent planning.. and only 20 building.  Something I never would have guessed.  But if you do plan ahead,  it should go pretty fast.  I think it was Tom or Todd.. I always get the two mixed.. but its true when building.. TAKE YOUR TIME.. you can't rush a thing like this... and I am glad I did at least.. not rush things.. and just go slow.  I had went back and re-did my staging area at least 4 times.  I wasn't going to let something .. 'just slip by'.. and then regret it later.  And everytime I would look at that area.. well.. I'd be saying.. "Shoulda coulda woulda"  as well as kick myself. 

  So.. Sam.. plan.. plan way ahead.  Take your time.. and don't rush.

  As for me today~  Its a sunny morning.. too sunny with clear skies.  So yes.. it will be warm here.. I won't say how warm .. but under conditions like this.. I can honestly say.. we'll have a very cold night.  The heat of the day.. at sundown.. starts to rise.. sucking in cold air.   The warmer the day.. the colder the night.  Can't have one without the other I guess.

  My layout is going slow,  but I am planning.. and I have a desire to go with 'fiber optics'  and being my first attempt at fiber optics.. I shall do my version of an easy fiber optic approach.  What ever the case.. if it doesn't come out.. the very worst that could happen .. is that I have loose dangling fiber optic wire underneath the staging area. My approach? ... lol.. two things.. 1. If you were to do fiber optic..  the easiest way to me.. is to build a diroramma .. to be placed in.. when ready and.. 2.  Try not to get fancy with optics.. but in the hard areas.. use the optics more like ground lighting.  That is~  flush with the ground.. and more like landscaping lights around bushes and trees.    Yeah well~  We'll see how it goes.

  Today, I shall put on a movie... (for those who like war movies)  Battlefielled 360' Enterprise aircraft carrier.. and also 360' with General Patton.

  Jeff bud, I keep looking at your pics.. thats.

  Joe... just love those vids.. yes I saw the new one.

   Bye~

[Anonymous]

 Keith - I am married for over 25 years now, and believe me, Petra knows all about me and my hobbies. A long time ago, she decided, that this hobby is much better than fooling around in bars, and cheaper as well...

She just pretends not to know anything about the $$$ involved, as long as I am not overdoing it. Kinda keeps me happy, although I am not spending a single $ on it, at least at the moment!

[LSWrr]

JR, Thanks I'll keep the PECO track in mind.  I tell you if I get into too much more trouble with this thing it might wind up in the middle of a busy street!

[BamaCSX83]

Morning all, took me a little while to find the place, but I like it.  Chloe, I do have one tiny question, where did we get our new employees?  Oh, they wandered in when we set up...okay.  Well if you ever want to remove them, just look in the back window of my truck, I've got two things that will take care of them hanging (.30-06 and a .410 pump).  I'll just have a hot ham and cheese with an order of cheese fries and a RBF please ma'am, and yes, could you please bring it to me, I'll be seated at the RC. 

Not much has been happening down here, this past weekend was Amy and I's 5 year anniversary and VD, so nothing in the form of MRR happened.  Monday was filled with all sorts of running around shopping and yesterday I did some much needed maintenance on the car.  Today I have w**k from 12-7, so maybe I can play a little after I get home. 

Thanks Chloe for bringing the food by, I know that the new staff has been doing well, but I'd much rather have your capable hands bring it to me.

PS, Jim, check your email

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, wait you're not Zoe, you're a raccoon dressed up to look like Zoe......  Sheesh!  Are there any real waitresses here this morning?

I'll go sit if the front booth and see if the service improves any and watch the mainline outside.  I understand another tank car of Ed's OJ is due any day now.

Stayed up till after midnight last night w*rking on my taxes.  Should have them done by the end of the week, I hope.  May even find some train room time if I am lucky.  Oh, there's Flo!

Flo, I'll have a bowl of hot Cream of Wheat w/ brown sugar and a cup of dark roast coffee in a FGLK Mug, please and thank you.

Wait, THAT wasn't Flo, what the heck!  THAT looks like a fox dressed up to look like Flo......!  (Well Flo is a bit of a fox herself    )

Tom, used to love it when camping at Boy Scout camp when a momma raccoon and her kits would come into the campsite after taps.  Well, until momma decided to climb up on the bunks to check out the Scouts, that is........  They sure are cute, but keep well back and don't get between momma and her little ones!!!  Hopefully rabies isn't around your area!  When I was first a Scoutmaster back in the 1970's the Troop was at summer camp (we picked the farthest campsite out from the center of camp) a raccoon family would come into the campsite and check everything out every night about 11PM.  The Scouts would lay in bed and watch the 4 of them wandering around the campsite checking out things.  Near the end of the week one of the babies got preoccupied with the fire pit and didn't notice momma and the others leave.  All of a sudden he realized that he was all alone!  He ran around the campsite screaming and crying.  Completely terrified!  A minute or so later momma chirped from down the trail and he took off as fast as his little legs could go to catch up with the family.  I am sure the incident is still told by the Scouts to their kids! 

W*rk awaits....  Hope to get the rest of the sorting done and entered into my database for reentering into TurboTax later this week.

73

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Sir Madog

 Keith - I am married for over 25 years now, and believe me, Petra knows all about me and my hobbies. A long time ago, she decided, that this hobby is much better than fooling around in bars, and cheaper as well...

She just pretends not to know anything about the $$$ involved, as long as I am not overdoing it. Kinda keeps me happy, although I am not spending a single $ on it, at least at the moment!

The hobby is much cheaper than psychiatry, also.

Ulrich and Lee ...Thanks for the remarks about my caboose.

Jeff ... nice weathering of the freight car truck. Keep on trucking!

[Trainman Sam]

blownout cylinder

Sam: What is going on now with NJT that there is now this going on with your job? We got you on our Prayer list now

 

     What's going on with Transit is that the new Governor cut state subsidies by $33 Million.  On top of THAT, his newly appointed people at Transit are telling us the want to:

     A) cut service (of which Transit was trying to INCREASE service)

     B) Increase fares 20%-30% (so what was already costing riders $300-$400 for a MONTHLY pass, with the hikes it'll cost them closer to $500-$600 a month (Lucky for our customers, Transit has to hold public hearings in order to raise fares).

     I am part of the second to last LETP (Locomotive Engineer Training Program) class, with the one behind us having twenty people.  We have worked our butts off to get this far, and don't want some politician messing us out of all our blood, sweat, and hard work.

[Long rant removed by poster](EDIT: I'm looking on the optimistic side, that I WILL have a job!)

Thank you for all your prayers...

Well, back to my layout.  The NH&I (prototype) uses mostly three car consists, and only travel between New Hope and Lahaska.  On special occassions they do use more cars in consist, and traverse the enitire line to Warminster Station.  My version of history has them running rush-hour trains from New Hope to Warminster Station (so that all those awesomely wealthy and influencial residents don't have to drive as far), as well as NJ Transit having seen the light and built a connecting line from Raritan to Lambertville, with a newly built bridge across the Deleware (yet they built it to blend in with the other bridges on NH&I property).  Transit will be running RDC's until the funding is there (how ironic that I had that planned...) to purchase more PL42's and Multi-Levels, and the trackwork is improved to increase track speeds (RDC's have better pick up and go for the type track that is there, a TON of curves that look like they would have rather extensive speed restrictions).

Hopefully the CFO allows an allotment for IHP's Silverliners (that is, when this whole job situation is resolved).

TTFN

 

[Blazzin]

  Ulrich... LOL> concerning Petra's answer~ ... ah.. thats pretty much what Jeanne said in so many words.!

  Ray, I've been reading here in this thread ...  all about the raccoons.. and the momma's and their babies  And speaking of Keith and Jeanne being an item back then... I had just remembered our honeymoon. 

  Back then,  things were tough, and getting worse.. lol.  Jeanne's older sisters had big.. Big weddings.. that only ended up in a divorse.  We were young then,  both sets of parents asked.. in so many words.. "You want the money?"  we said.. "ah.. we'll think about it.. but yeah.. sure .. why not?".. We got married in Vegas (everything is a gamble) .. sent out invitations.. we're getting married.. if you want to join us.. we'll be in Vegas.  We got married at some place.. called the "Little Chapel of the West"  by a minister who's name was Keith.. and his wife was named Jeanne.... no kidding..   Well in short.. we had one night at the Imperial Palace.. (honeymoon suite) .. and then we took off for the Redwoods of California.. Northern California.

  We arrive at the redwood park (we had reservations).. yep.. we went camping for our honeymoon... lol.  The park ranger at the gate asks me.. if I wanted anything in particular~  

 I said.. "Ah.. how bout by a stream.. deep in the redwoods.. big ones.. away from everyone else?"  she replied..  "You don't ask for much do ya?" '

I replied.. "Well its our honeymoon.. and you asked"

  The ranger steps back.. hand on chin.. pondering.. and says..

"Well .. maybe I shouldn't .. but what the heck~"  "You want it.. you got it~"

  This site must have been for park rangers only.. Grisley Adams type.

  So here we are.. away from everyone.. deep in the woods.. the saying.. "Can't tell the forest fore the trees"  comes to mind.  When you are deep in a forest.. your eyes adjust to the minimal light there,  but when you finally step out of the woods... you're blinded by the sunlight... lol.

  So here we are deep in the woods.. at bedtime.. as the fire got dim.. it was so dark.. you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face.  We had pitched a tent out there.. amongst the redwood giants that have stood since the time of Christ.. and we here this strange sound.  Far away.. but its an eerie sound.. something you've never heard before. We're in the tent.   I mean.. if you heard a mountain lion.. well at least  you know whos coming for diner.

  But this sound.. was more of a screeeeching sound maybe like an owl but much louder .. way louder .. and getting closer.  I have confronted many things in life.. but this one.. had me..   Let me tell you .. when you are in a real forest, dark.. real dark... and the fires out.. What are you going to do?  Its the New Jersey Devil!  It had to be~  The sounds of this moving through the brush was enough to get you going.. but the sound of this screech.. I got a flashlight .. stuck it outside the tent.. no.. not my head.. just the flash light.   And that darn thing was a baby racoon.. looking for its mama.  It had gotten lost from the pack.. it was only when the flashlight was shinning on the whole pack.. could you see the family re-union.  There must have been about 6 babies.. but that one.. was lost.. and you could hear it~..

oh well so much for racoons... it made me remember our honeymoon... I'll have to ask Jeanne if she remembers that darn baby racoon.

[Trainman Sam]

fec153

Prayers were answered. Deb was in the o.r just over 3 hours.

Glad to hear that she came through so well!

fec153

You folks make me feel like the wealthiest man in the world having such friendship  given to me.

It is only possible when the friends are of the same calibur!

Prayers continue for Deb!

I wanted to apologize to you, my friends, for having ranted for the last few days.  I guess the pressure is starting to wear on me.  I am very optimistic that I will still have a job, Lord willing.

BTW?  When did the deer, racoon, and possum start working here? Have I been THAT out of it?

Chloe, may I please have a RBF, and a bagel with cream cheese? Thank you!

I'll be in one of the booth's studying my MRR mags...

[Anonymous]

 Sam - I know you will have a job, I am absolutely positive about that . Just tell those crazy politnicks, that the only way to cut down on deficits is to improve service and lower the fares - it works!

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Sir Madog

 Sam - I know you will have a job, I am absolutely positive about that . Just tell those crazy politnicks, that the only way to cut down on deficits is to improve service and lower the fares - it works!

It used to be my job to prepare budgets for big companies, and this included some of my time with the railroad companies. I think I'll share a little perspective.

No matter who is the governor of NJ or who is the CEO of a company, numbers tell the story. Basically, it is the job of the governor or the job of the CEO to cut spending if there is not enough revenue. That is how it is. Plain and simple.

My approach was to prepare a budget assuming management made no changes. Typically when I did that, the estimated bottom line was either too small or it was negative. Next, the CEO, would know how much total spending to cut. The cuts would be allocated to all of the departments. Next, the company had fewer employees, and other cost saving measures were implemented.

In a nut shell, that's how things are.

If NJ or any other state does not have enough revenue, they have to cut spending. Too many governments are in deep financial trouble because, their leaders do not control spending.

I hope my remarks do not sound political. I am just explaining the facts of economic life as I see them.

[Anonymous]

 Garry - as an ex-CFO I have learned, that cost walk on two legs. Cutting costs means laying off people. Unfortunately, most managers react to declining revenues by just cutting costs, instead of growing revenues again. This may require an investment, but so what.

If the world had been run by Controllers and CFO´s right from the beginning, we would still live in caves ( and the white man would not have discovered America).

[sunsetbeachry]

Already 55degrees and going to 60+ today ;nite will be in the 40's,no clouds here at all ocean sounds heavy right high tide comming in. Prayer for Deb. Ulrich?? Kathy used to give me a credit card for MMR and she automat.. paid sme no questions asked but when it came to "stones" always asked me if they were worth the price....

not much time at the moment for mrr has'to get ready for tax man....all the paper w rk needed for the lawyer 'tis nice that he is handling all the problems that come up because Kathy died but as my little sister says "you're sitting pretty for the rest of your life "  We worked hard for this and when I leave the grandkids get it all!!!!! and son gets alot also Yippie. in the meantime I play with all may toys and really finally retire.

PRAYERS FOR ALL;;Fair Winds and Following Seas......chuck

[TMarsh]

Heartland Division CB&Q

Too many governments are in deep financial trouble because, their leaders do not control spending.

May I offer up Illinoyz as an exaple. That being said I still hope Sam is good to go on his career.

Howdy. Dr Pepper and some Nachos Grande please. Progress is slow but steady. About ready to lay some hidden track so I can build a second tier for scenery. Also about ready for another picture. I will take it myself so you are not pained with visions of me.

Jeff- Oh. I feel sorry for you if they move. It doesn’t sound like you would have much help.

Ulrich- You’ll have to ask Ray about the name of the raccoon. He seems to be missing one but as of yet hasn’t come face to snoot with the one here. Well, except for today and the coon was dressed up in a disguise. Not sure if it’s his or not. It does seem to be musically inclined as earlier it was playing Chopin’s Concerto for Piano no 2 in F minor on the harmonica by the pie vault. I left. Too strange.

Petra sounds a lot like Brenda when it comes to my hobbies. I’ve yet to regret spending to much time on the layout. Bars, in the past, yes.

Welp, back to the railroad. Just didn’t want to get so far behind it takes……….. What the heck is that! An Armadillo? Shhhh. Watch this. quiet...,quiet...., riiiiight...about........BOO!!!!    HAH! I love to do that.

[Robby P.]

 Good afternoon.  Just a sweet tea for now, please.

 Jeff.....I agree, nice wheels.   I forgot to say something earlier.

 Bama.....Congrats on 5 years.  I just made it to 3 years .

 Sam........Let me guess.......Rendell?

 Well here is a few more pictures.  

 Some from the past derailment (I posted a few days  ago, well here's the cleanup).

 

 

Some more older pictures:

 NW 1776 w/b with inspection train at Pineville, W.Va.  11-29-75

 

N&W block signals and bridge looking west at Sweeneyburg.  12-4-88

NW 915-959-798 mine run power at Page, W.Va.  10-19-80

 

[ns3010]

*Walks in with cookies, and sees one deer wiping the tables, and another sweeping the floor* Oh, I see our staff is growing! Anyways, my mom made cookies, since she's off this week, so eat up! And yes, I guess the staff could have some as well...

Afternoon gang.

Had a half day today; got out at 12.

Have to go to mass for Confirmation tonight, even though we already had it at school... Too bad they won't exempt me from the classes, since I go to catholic school...

Got most of my homework done, so I'll be over at the RC. Mr. Raccoon, could I please get an RBF?

[AmanaMedic]

ns3010

Mr. Raccoon, could I please get an RBF?

'Eh, are you SURE it's a "Mr.???" Personally, I'm NOT gonna lift the apron/skirt and check...

Good afternoon... hmmmm, what happened to this armadillo? Oh..... Welp, THAT's unfortunate.

SAM: Here's hoping you survive the budgetary axe...there are no easy answers when poly-ticks (of either party) start trying to "fix" things...

FLIP: GLAD Mrs. Flip is doing well, continued best wishes for her.

ULRICH: Good to see ya! Rerun and I thank you for the B-day wishes...he's looking forward to THAT bag 'o burgers you've got for him. Trouble is...I don't think he'd "work and play nicely" with most of the critters who have occupied the Diner here lately... He might mistake the raccoon for his squeaky toy raccoon...with a negative outcome for all involved!

Just passin' through...gotta get ready to go to a work session followed by a regular monthly meeting of the board of directors of the Clear Creek Amana school district. Yeeeeee-haah. Had to save THAT's can this morning, picking up a last-minute county board of stuper-visors meeting...

IF I'm still awake later, I'll stop back...and we'll see how Rerun gets along with the 'coon, the possum, the...armadillo???

Chris