Elliot's Trackside Diner 26

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

 Hello from MI.

Galaxie ... good to see you are back in the diner.

Ulrich ... I like the double ended diesel. Diesels with two cabs were rare in the USA. Also, I like the track plan. Johnboy suggested adding roads, and I wonder if he wants to operate busses there. 

Lee .. I suppose I should coordinate trips to MI with you r trips to MI. 

Looks like I'll see Duke Tuesday. 

Not much mrr'ing at all  during this trip. I did spend a few minutes in a model train store, however.

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.  Its cloudy and the rain is coming!!!

 Not much planned for me today.  Maybe wash some clothes, and see what I can do in the basement.   

 Hope everybody has a good Sunday.

[galaxy]

Good morning Vietnam!   OOPS, I, uh, mean America!   OOPS, and others!

OK, OK, So The movie line doesn't work well here.

 Hawaii Kona hazelnut coffee and, oh, I'll live large and have a danish. {durn now that I have mentioned  a danish, I really want one now!}

Hope everyone has a great day.

I have a few erands to run and its supposed to rain today. Now I have to stop some where and get a danish!

galaxy

[TMarsh]

Good morning all. Coffee please. Don't want to miss Church AGAIN.

Ulrich- Sector plates or not, I still seem to like the second, or should I say last version of the track plan you showed. Don't know why, I liked the other also, but that area being all you can model for now, I'd pick this one if it were me.

Have a Great Day!!!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning. It's 53 and sunny. the high will be in the mid 60's and it will be aprtly cloudy.

I got a lot of repair work on some structures and a couple of freight cars done yesterday. Today I'll just take it easy and get some rest.

[LSWrr]

Good morning,

Yesterday afternoon I went over to Radio Shack to pick up some red 22 GA wire and finished soldering the leads to the storage tracks around the turntable.  The LHS wanted $6 for a six position rotary switch, RS wanted $2.  I picked up a few switches and a couple new soldering tips at RS.  Now I need to connect the giant mess of wires under the roundhouse module to the control board I made last night.  There is a train show out near Milan, OH today I hope to pick up a small power supply for the turntable motor and lights for the roundhouse.

I’ve not been spared from the auto repairs; hopefully I finished the last of them yesterday. January I replaced the batteries and the alternator on the truck, February I replaced the starter, yesterday I had the upper and lower radiator hoses and thermostat replaced along with the valve cover gaskets. The hoses and thermostat were preventative maintenance, so I really can’t add those to the cost of the “repairs”.       

[Anonymous]

 Barry - a traverser is a transfer table, which you can build by using drawer slides. A sector plate is similar to a turntable, the pivot though not being in the center. Both beasts need to be build with an utmost degree of precision to avoid binding - not an easy task! I have built 1 transfer table so far and it required constant adjustments - no fun in this, believe me. Sector plate and transfer tables are a modeler´s last resort, if you do not have sufficient space to use turnouts.

Better to avoid ´em in scales smaller than O gauge!

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning

Up and running around getting stuff ready for seminar and church this morning---even with eyes half cross eyed from sleepiness.

Ulrich: I must've missed something about those sector plates and traversers ---- what be these critters?

Well, Flo--I'll have a giant tub of pure caffeine and a toasted bagel with cream cheese please. I'll be at the corner booth for a bit

[Anonymous]

 Yaawn !

( A ragged looking guy opens the door to the diner and lurches down to the corner booth, sitting down with a thump)

Good Morning,

Chloe, darling, coffee - please, a bucket full, to get my eyes open!

Well, what a night! After closing down my laptop at shortly past 3 am, I switched the TV on and watched a silly war movie for just about an hour. Went back to bed, staying awake for another hour. Now I am up and all tired  .

Sawyer - you´d better take care of that shoulder. I know what I am talking about. I hurt my shoulder badly 37 years ago, while I was your age, in a basket ball match. Every now and then, I still get a painful reminder of that incident. So don´t take it too lightly.

Jim - the reason why I started to plan again is because Chris, our son, wants to have his wardrobe and we will have to get a new one for my stuff. Though this expensive will nibble away a good portion of my MRR budget, it opens up a set of new chances. I will have to re-arrange the furniture, which adds about 4` to be used for my layout - not in full depth, though. Those 4 feet (and about 2 on the left side) I can use as fiddle yards with cassette staging, taking away the need for those sector plates and traversers, which are quite difficult to build. Still not decided, yet, but I lean towards the new plan (at least for the moment ).

Johnboy - sorry, no roads! Figure those terrace houses to be on a slight embankment, with only a foot path leading to them. The access to the station is not depicted on the layout. 

John - was that the annual train to New Delhi? It pretty much looks like the trains in post-war Germany, when city folks would flood the countryside in search for something edible to be traded in for jewellery, oriental rugs etc.

Ray - one day you will have to get the little one her own Thomas set!

CUL!

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Flo just a cup of decafe if you please.  I'll be in the back booth keeping warm.

Going down to 32°F tonight and then will start getting warmer for a few days.  I have enough wood for about 2 more nights and THAT does it for this season.  Hopefully my son and i will find a few trees we can get to cut and split for both of us to stay warm next winter......  For his house there is a large Locust tree right next to his deck on the house which was hit by lightning at some time and should be taken down soon..... Before it takes out half his house!  He has a couple others THAT should come down at the same time, but they are pine and no good for the wood stove.

JimRCGMO

Ray, I forgot, do both granddaughters (peaceably?) coexist in the same home?

 

At this time, yes very well.  Usually they play together and are both very easy going.  But Olivia draws the line at HER Thomas the Train set!

Hope all of you have a great night!  I am heading for bed early as I have to be on the road to Batavia by 7AM in the morning!

73

[Anonymous]

 Yaaawn!

5 minutes ago, it was 2 am- now it´s past 3 am. Police! Will someone please call the Police? They stole an hour from me - help!

Well, I can´t sleep, again. Whatever keeps me awake does a good job. Chloe? What´s THAT? Hot milk, with a generous swig of whiskey? All right then, I´ll give it a try ,,,

 

 

[Packer]

Evening ya'll

Got the car running again. I haven't been able to replace the power steering line because I had to order on. Unfortunately it won't be here until Tuesday.

I'll be out back catching up

[Packers#1]

der5997

Sawyer: Ahem!...but you ad fun, right? Now you've got the summer to heal up in. I'm told mrr is great therapy. LOL.

 

yeah, I had fun, and closed out the season. hoepfully I'm healed by the summer b/c I'm planning on going to Furman University's rugby camp hopefully.

[Espee Black Widow]

Good Evening All,

Flo, I'll have a piece of Dutch Apple pie with a slice of Vermont cheddar and a scoop of vanilla ice cream please. I' ve been away for a while and have a lot of catching up to do. I'll be in the booth in the back.

Well finally got management to select a color for her new laundry room. Went and picked up the paint today. Boy they're not bashfull about what they charge for a gallon of paint. Oh well, that much less that I'll get to spend on trains. Haven't done much on the layout. I had started to build one of those DPM building kits years ago and never finished it so I started back in on it. Painted the windows and doors and the window sills and lintels. Looks pretty good so far. I'll have to give some thought on how to apply "mortar" to the brick work. Was thinking of using Roberts mortar or EZ Mortar. Anybody have any suggestions?

Pat

 

[TMarsh]

JimRCGMO

Todd, I think ya mighta dropped these three coupler springs when you got up

Uhhhhhhhhh. Spares. I always carry spares. (maybe now I can get those cars to couple properly again)

 

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Flo - I'll have a Santa Fe mug of hot cocoa, please. Thanks! Very plain post tonight; forum and the iPod Touch seem to disagree about showing me the editing tools... Ray, I forgot, doboth granddaughters (peaceably?) coexist in the same home? Galaxy, back- guess Murphy visited your entire computer. Hope that was the end of THAT. Chris& Barry, I'll tell you later about my upstairs neighbor's water heater snafu... Whatcha got planned for that SP flat, Jeff? Todd, I think ya mighta dropped these three coupler springs when you got up Ulrich- keep it up on the layout plans and you'll commandeer, uh, I mean, use all that spare room's room. DerJohn - 'Entry System'? Sounds like a way to jack up door prices! Johnboy, those roads are *behind* the buildings Ulrich has there... Well, my (fat) finger has had enough. Think I'll drink up. Blessings and prayers, Jim in Cape Girardeau

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evening---

Galaxy: Nice to hear from you again! My fleet car is a Kia Sedona. It's used primarily for all my road travel that I do out of town. It has been a dependable little beastie--

Got out a little earlier which gave me just enough time to do some "honey buy things"

Now that I'm here Chloe, I'll just have some coffee and a toasted bagel with some herbed cream cheese please----I'm over at the window booth for now

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Hi Ulrich,

Please tell me you haven't forgot to provide for some roads. I don't see any in your plan as of now.

I see lots of canal, but no room for any traffic.  Whats up with that??.

Johnboy out.......................

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 So far today I've repaired three structures (minor stuff) and one 50' double door boxcar. It's needs were a bit more major. Both coupler pockets required repair before the couplers could be reinstalled. The trucks fit too tightly on the bolsters and could hardly turn, and this was without screws. I removed both trucks and reamed out the mounting holes in them with a small drill bit until they fit properly. After that, putting one of the ladders and one of the doors back on was a snap. I have two more boxcars which require somewhat more extensive work in the paint department. One has been stripped but still needs the stubborn bits gotten off. The other needs to be stripped back completely. And I found out the name of the magazine I referred to earlier. True West.

[TMarsh]

Afternoon. Garage is cleaned up and the fish stuff is put away until it is brought back out in late August to be renamed..... Chicken Stuff. Took about 3 hours longer than usual. Buddy and I did a lot of talking. I mean a LOT. But, I did get to see a not too often seen sight on this railroad route, (the garage faces the back of the elevator and the UP goes between them so good view of anything passing by) a Conrail #8459 teamed with a NS pulling a mixed freight with one flat car. Very rarely do I see those through here anymore.(flatcars)

Ulrich- OK, I like this one too. I think more so than the last. It may have a lot more modeling opportunities than before which would occupy more time and for longer, plus with the ability and the space to do even a small expansion, this could carry you through the cramped times. PLUS, it goes very well with the new loco. Yup, I like the scene.

Derjohn- What my problem is, the car that has the couplers in question is an old who knows what with truck mounted couplers. The coupler mounts are somewhat bent upwards and the coupler actually sticks up halfway out of the standard height couplers of the adjoining whatever it's coupled too. I need to saw off the mounts and mount them to the body, but haven't yet because the old layout had some 18" curves and I was afraid if I did that, the car wouldn't take the curves and I'd not be able to use it save for, maybe, long couplers . This layout has 20" as the smallest and it isn't on the main so I will do it now and position it correctly. It is something that really needs to be done no matter what anyway. The other cars that don't have coupler issues, manage the transition well.

Jeff- I would get the mag too if I were you. It's somewhat difficult to get stories from the mid to late 1800's that have not been fancyfied. Especially when it comes to "outlaws"

After a very quick bit of research I find NS apparently owns 8459. (Thought probably so being where I saw it. NS does show on this line occasionally) It still is blue by the way and the photo in this link looks to be the same lash as was passing through. Consist is different and I wish, for curiosity I had noticed what the NS number was.

Nap time before supper.

EDIT: Just found a very good reason Conrail and Norfolk Southern and CSX get teamed up.

[galaxy]

Good evening guys....

I'll be bad and have a big delicious chicken pot pie and icewater with lemon please.  See now, I have icewater with lemon to justify the calories of a giant pot pie full of calories and probably MSG and other things not healthy for me.

Today turned out to very nice...lots of sun,   but still the wind a bit chilly at 45*. Spring however is on the way the early bulbs have poked their heads through awhile back. Didn't do one blessed thing today except run a few loads of laundry. Desaparately needed laundry. Have been running all week, so nice to do nothing for a change.

That and with my back in such a state that I am worn out and the muscle relaxers tend to put me in la la land. Tra la la. La la la.

Prayer candle is lit for those in need of thoughts and prayers.

Somebody run their train a few extra laps for me. My layout is buried, and collecting dust. But that another story.

galaxy

[der5997]

  ..and good to see TiptonBill dropped by (thanks for the coffee chugging blue smilie, that one's filed!), and galaxy too. (OK, that was when it was morning here, which it isn't anymore, even for Keith! ) In fact the afternoon is almost over, and Rosie-the-dog started a tentative request for dinner before I came upstairs from finishing a book that really has taken too long to read - what with the taxes and all. (Finished Friday ) THEY go in the mail Monday on our way to Town, maybe even The City - and the LHS. With any luck there should be a rebate direct deposited in the taxman's own sweet time. Mostly already spoken for, as a new "Entry System" (used to be called a door, but that was then, this is now) was installed this morning at our daughter's place - so there is the cost of doing that, plus they found out that the previous owner had run the wire to the over-the- door light up behind the door frame fascia, drilling holes in the bottom and top of the frame to take it. Can't do that - especially with the all vinyl Entry System, I have to find an electrician to put it in properly. The door installer wouldn't do it as he's not qualified as an electrician. CYA, but I take his point.

Todd:

The coupler is bent high on the one end and that is the end I have attached to the good ol' F40PH at NMRA standards.

...I have a similar situation with ConCor Budd cars and a Life Like F40PH (N Scale) My solution is to do somewhat as the RRs do with oil tank car couplers - extend the vertical height (or is it depth? LOL) of the coupler faces. Here's my version, and it works for me. This is a yet-to-be-painted fix, good thing, as it shows the part better.

Ulrich:

The postman did not bring my loco, but I expect it now any day to come

...nor mine - a repaired decoder install mailed out from Halifax early this week (Mon? Tues?) Maybe it will stagger in early next week. If it wasn't for the price of gas, and that I had set this week to do the tax returns I would have driven in to get it. EDIT I see that yours has arrived - so there is hope! It looks a real beauty! How much does it weigh?  I think your suggestion about finding out  about the ploughs from a Brit forum is worth taking up.

Will there be brighter days again?

... )

I´ll be using either Peco code 100 or code 75 track - not yet decided.

...don't forget That a OO loco on code 100 looks like an HO on code 83 or there abouts   Take care of your health, I know the  house situation is a real worry, but there are many thinking of you and praying for a sooner rather than later solution. The "everything old is new again" version of the layout saves complications with sector plates and traversers, ‘tis true - but does it give you the train length on either side that will allow the moves you will need to make for satisfaction? Just a'wondrin'.

JR:

In the 50's there was still a lot of passenger traffic in England

...and there still is. The last time I was "over ‘ome" I had bought a BritRail Pass in Canada for a ridiculously low $99.00 which gave me unlimited access to just about the whole system except the Chunnel. I used that a great deal and went all over the place. It was a fabulous value and very useable - lots of lines.

 gtr: Welcome, and care to tell us about the Grafton Terminal RR?

PC:

someone wanna give me the cliff notes?

...that would be Ray a she's working on limestone quarries (groan!)...and you missed a banana pie that Sam snatched, but was put out on the counter to lure you in! LOL.

Ray:

I have a couple "Shake the Box" kits I could do, but not up to the level we like to show.  Also have to pack up everything and be ready to take off early tomorrow morning.

   If those supplies don't arrive, could you take the "shake ‘n bakes" and do some super-detailing. That could give ideas to the "shakin'" crowd on how to upgrade to a better look with relatively low expense/effort.

Sawyer: Ahem!...but you ad fun, right? Now you've got the summer to heal up in. I'm told mrr is great therapy. LOL.

Seriously Rosie time now. TTFN.

 

[Packers#1]

 Well, we got STOMPED! they had 6 tries; we managed one. To top it off I think I managed to hurt my shoulder even more. got to where my mind wanted to go into the rucks or tackle someone and my shoulder was like "UH...NO!" lol. hopefully it'll heal up
I did make a couple hits though, specifically when I got ticked off enough to ignore the pain.

[Anonymous]

 Good Evening,

Chloe, I´ll have the burger platter with all the works, please.

Well, the sunny days are over - it´s back to the wet days again. Wanted to go for a walk, but THAT weather kept me inside. So I started - and you have probably guessed it - fiddle around with some more track plan ideas. I just love to do that, but, promised, I will start to work on a layout within days!!!! Promise!!!

I keep on coming back to my original layout theme - a small station on a two track mainline, framed in between to road overpasses, and terrace houses as back ground. Somehow I can´t get that picture out of my head. Here are the new ideas:

With a little moving around of furniture, it´ll even fit into the room... 

I will have to flip a coin now! I must suffer from a bad case of indecisiveness

Tonight, we will be changing to DST - always two weeks behind you guys. On that occasion - order up - it´s on me!

Out for the day!

 

[ns3010]

Afternoon all.

Can't hang now, got stuff ta do, but I"ll be back later

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Cox 47

Jeff was the first train robbery in Indiana?

You got it. Seymour Indiana, Oct 6, 1866.

[Cox 47]

Good Morning All...Its sunny and 43 here posta warm up...I'll have coffee and a sweet roll please..Thank You..

Good to see Bill this morning!...Jeff was the first train robbery in Indiana?

You all have a good one...Jerry

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Yesterday I was looking around at one of the flea markets here and saw a rather old magazine that had, among other things, a story about the first train robbery in the US. I read the article with some interest. I have a somewhat personal interest in that train robbery in that I'm a descendant of one the men who pulled off the robbery. I found the article to be very accurate and not the hyped up kind of trash writers sometimes use to hook readers. When I have some money in my pocket I'm going back there to purchase that magazine.

[TMarsh]

Good morning all. Coffee and a sweet roll please. Thanks

Fish fry's are.... OVER!!! We did well again last night. Today I must go to the garage at 10 and clean up. That will take a couple of hours and then we will see what the rest of the day brings.

Ray- That first picture just shows in Olivia's face, the frustration.

G- Good to see you're still with us!

Ha,ha,ha. Oh you guys and your losing model parts. I can't believe with all the experience you have you still lose parts. I myself, don't have that problem (leans back in booth, places thumbs in bib straps and does a Barney Fife sniff). What's that Flo? What's that in my hair? Hm heeeey, that's a brake wheel. I wondered...., uh, er, I mean yeah that's where I usually put small parts. What? In my pocket flap seam? There's tha...... Uh I gotta go!!

Have a Great Day!!!

[galaxy]

HI guys!

Hello to all! I will have a "moons over My hammy sandwich and strong coffee please.

After being without a computer for 6 weeks, seems strange to access the diner again. I had problems with the hard drive several times, fried a circuit board, then harddrive failed again with an unrepairable error on it, and then the monitor went kaplooey, so basically I have new computer now. I have to have professionals do such work as I am not into fixing computers anymore than I can fix a car.

Speaking of cars, WHile we are keeping the '98 grand caravan, whom's repairs I have lamented so much this past year in the diner, I bought a new to me 2006 Kia Sedona minivan. We are keeping the caravan as it has had everything replaced and fixed so hopefully it will now last awhile. Besides which we had to replace a 92 Taurus that was plain wearing out and not worth putting money into..

 The biggest thing I don't like about the Kia is that we do have a payment on it, but we are trying to boost our credit ratings in anticipation of buying that MMR space with a house sitting on top of it some time in the future, but sooner than later I hope. My credit rating really doesn't boosting as I have excellent scores, but I haven't had an installment loan in years and while good credit card ratings are great, installment loans are better. My other half has a few medical bills in collections that need to be taken care of before we can boost that score with an installment loan on another newer vehicle when the Kia is paid off. To get the lowest possible payment we went on a 60 month plan, but I have two plans that will get it paid off in 3 if not 2 years.

Nothing new on the trains front,. I still havent taken down the layout yet. Nor have I "found the room" it's in yet. I finally got a package off to Jeffrey w.

Winter months are not good to me mental health wise as deep depression sets in bigtime, and manic episodes are rare. I have finsihed the physical Therapy on my hands after the surgeries, but now I go to PT for my back. Unless I am sitting down or laying down I am in agony and keep pulling the muscles. Simple chores like the household duties become so painful I have to pause often to sit down. A TENS unit helps a little but not much. Have an MRI scheduled for next Thurs. Muscle relaxers are nice drugs, but put me in la la land and off to sleepykins, so can't aways take them.

WEll I have written another book.

The prayer candle is lit here often and those in need are in our thoughts as we lite it. 

Have a great day guys!

galaxy