Elliot's Trackside Diner JUNE 2010

[galaxy]

Hi guys and welcome to the newest local of the diner!!!

Come into the airconditioning and sit a spell and gab all you want!

Not to far to find it, right near the old one: http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/173328.aspx

New rivets have been installed in the counter and new paint on the walls.

FREE PIE AND CAKE FOR EVERYONE TO CELEBRATE!

have a great month of JUNE ahead!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Getting started a day early I see.

[james saunders]

Well Hello All, Looks very cosy in the diner!!

 See you all a bit later.

[Packers#1]

From the other diner: Garry, nice loco. I remember in some magazine (think it was an issue of Trains in the past few years) there was an article written by someone who was on the Cadiz RR management about when they went diesel.

[fec153]

Sat. 345- Milwaukee Roaqd 261 .  MAN, what a BIGA$$ engine!

Place looks good. Thanks.

Flip

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

 I see we did not wait until June 1 to move, but I found it. 

Packers#1

From the other diner: Garry, nice loco. I remember in some magazine (think it was an issue of Trains in the past few years) there was an article written by someone who was on the Cadiz RR management about when they went diesel.

It was in Trains and written by Stan White who I know personally. The Cadiz Railroad was a family business for many years. It its final years it was owned by its largest shipper. Illinois Central abandoned its connecting line, and Cadiz RR went out of business afterwards. The forlorn Alco S1, sits near the I-24 / US 68 interchange. Last year, a roof was built over it, and frankly, it's a really ugly roof making it hard to get a photo. I took the posted photo maybe three years ago.  

A few montths ago, we (Stan, Gus, Dan, and I) went to the Princeton, KY RR museum. The volunteer at the museum is a friend of Stan's (both in their 80's). Princeton was once a small terminal on the ICRR. It was interesting to learn about the gold trains on that line that once served Fort Knox.

[galaxy]

Well, another hot day gone by.

We didn't make it to Steamtown cuz we slept in again, forgetting to set the alarm. We like to be there when they open as we can see them preparing the loco for it's daily run in the roundhouse; watch them grease/oil her up; watch them pull it out and spin her around on the turntable so all is visible; then go to ash pit and dump; then go to get coal {a modern front end loader loads it} and take on water; then go and get the passenger cars for the day's run before settling down to wait for its loading and first run of the day. That is the real exciting part! SO is watching her being "put to bed" for the night. By the time we would have gotten there she woulda been sitting loading passengers. Bumer. WEll there will be other days, though I don't know if htey will run the steam again until the first excursion on June 26th. 

We actually didn't do much but take some "down time" and ocassional nap for rest.

Tomorrow we get the 98 Gr caravan from the dealer and take her to Firestone to replace the strut towers, which are badly needed. Everybody knock wood for me that there won't be anything else found wrong, except we know the shocks need to be replaced as well-in due time after the struts are paid off the CC.

Someday-maybe tomorrow after we drop off the caravan we need to take all the cans and bottles to the recycler. They pay extra on tuesdays and i need to find the porch again so I can get to the grill so I can GRILL something!! . Need to get the {artificial} stone waterfall out of there also and see what I need for a new pump. Draining the pond for clean up tomorrow will help. Hafta get some algea killer and my other half wants water plants to go in the pond this year. They have to be the kinds that can stand the rushing water from the waterfall. No more fish for the pond. They either die or the neighborhood outdoor cats eat tehm for dinner.

I need to play with the raised planter bed later this week as it will be much cooler and I won't bake in the sun playing in it. CAn't decide what to plant this yearso I think I will just stick with flowers to make it look pretty. HAs to be easy-care as my back can't take bending over it to fuss. We will put down red dyed woodchips to keep weeds down- the red chips is my other halfs favorite and we have left overs from last year...sure wish I could get a garden train out there somehow.

well, have a great night guys. Prayers to those in need and welcome all to the new and improved diner!!!

[AmanaMedic]

 Good evening, not sure what condition the kitchen is in with the sudden move...so will go for a cup of coffee for now.

THAT Cadiz locomotive... a guy could really have fun with a die-hard rivet-counting nit-picker! "They didn't fill-in the pilot!" "Look how thick the posts are on the front handrail!" "There's too much rust on the trucks!" "Obviously, the modeler used a brush and not an airbrush from the uneven finish!"

*sigh*

Here's hoping my fellow Americans had a good Memorial Day weekend...with the meaning of the day not lost in the "hey, it's summer now!" frenzy. I covered one of three ceremonies in North Liberty this morning. The featured speaker was a young Lieutenant, deploying to Afghanistan this fall. He delivered Lincoln's remarkable Gettysburg Address. If anybody in attendance had any question about why the day exists...the LT put them to rest, and then some.

 

Chris

[ns3010]

 Evening all. Hey, did I hear someone say FREE PIE?!?!?! I'll take some apple, please!

Happy Memorial Day. Thanks to everyone who is or has served.

Catching up from teh old place...

CN Charlie- Sounds like a cool little railroad!

Ulrich- Hope June will be a better month for you than it sounds like May was

---------------------------

Well, it looks like I'm probably not getting the job at the ice cream place. I didn't hear anything back, so I called them today, and they said 1) they want to wait to hire until it gets closer to summer and 2) they want to take older kids first (and I understand that), but I already have priority over the 14 and 15 yr. olds.

Fortunately, the restaurant (also across the street, right next to the ice cream place) seemed pretty interested. When I told them I had experience washing dishes, bussing tables, and serving down at the yacht club, the guy seemed pretty interested.

If I don't get a call from them before the weekend, I'll probably stop in again and put my name in at some other places, just to be sure.

-----------------

Well, it's getting late, so I'll catch ya guys later!

[blownout cylinder]

ns3010

 Evening all. Hey, did I hear someone say FREE PIE?!?!?! I'll take some apple, please!

Hey!! Where is this FREE pie!?!?---i'll take some strawberry Rhubarb pie please--oh and a RBF as well----

I'm heading back to work myself after being off sick with the heart issues--very happy about that let me tell you!! Heeheehee.

I'm getting ready to go and find some more sites to get pix of---got a few on mind for next week----

Galaxy: Audrey and I are seriously thinking of heading to steamtown ourselves----

Welp---you all have a good evening---I'll be around everyso often---------

[CNCharlie]

Good Evening,

Rob, you asked it it was hard putting MT couplers on a MP loco to replace the rapidos. I have only done the tender and it is quite easy. In fact that job was my test to see if I could work with the small size of N and while the first install likely took me an hour, the last one was probably 10 minutes. The procedure has been posted but if you want to know how, just send me a PM. I looked at the Trainworld site tonight to see if they still had any of those $50 Mikes and Pacifics but alas none were listed so I guess they are sold out. You could always call them as their website isn't the most accurate. That is the way I order from them. Don't call the 800 number as they won't be very helpful.

Busy day for me back at work but I am just glad I still have work to go to.

The rain finally stopped but the forecast is for more, you guessed it, next weekend.

One layout tour I attended yesterday was certainly a melancholy affair as it was the last day this fellow was running his layout before tearing it down this week due to a move. He is a master builder and has to give it all up due to failing eyesight. I am glad I got to see it. His scratch built coaling tower was truly a masterpiece, not to mention many other structures. His layout, 40 years in the making, was all transition CN and his brass steam collection was impressive. When I heard he was planning on moving a few months ago I suggested to my wife  selling our house and buying his house would be an excellent way to acquire a fabulous layout at virtually zero cost she wasn't in the least impressed. She muttered something about 'have a nice time in your new house but I'm staying here'. 

Good grief it's 10 p.m. What happened to the evening? I had planned on doing a little layout work. Oh well maybe one of the rainy nights we are promised.

CN Charlie

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Janie - I'll have a slice of apple pie a la mode, with a Santa Fe mug of decafe, please. Thanks!

Sorry for my extended absence, but have been trying to get more organized around home, plus awaiting the return of my laptop (due in tomorrow- YAY!) It will be soooo good to have a real keyboard again...

Haven't had enough time in the Diner to stay current (I think it's about 15 pages of posts that I'm behind now) 

Jeff, how's the van and the mods for it coming along? I'll have to look for what pics you've posted since the one exterior bunch you had first posted.

Garry, that's one excellent module you guys put together - I can't spot where the module ends and the background starts.

Rob - glad at least you have narrowed down the cause on your Polaris. Now, hopefully you wil be able to find the hose you need quickly (and, at a decent price).

Ulrich, good to hear there are good men over in Deutschland as well as (a few) over here in government (briefly...). Hey, Janie, what's this doing under my feet? I do hope things get turned back around soon for you so we don't lose contact with you (or with Galaxy).

Galaxy, it might've been hot here today (about mid-80's (F)), but I was lazy, and got a very slow start on the day. Plus, set up the slow cooker for a pot roast for dinner, took out the trash and ran by the grocery store for milk, some other food goodies and a couple of potatoes to go with the roast. Thought about taking a nap, but decided not to...

Chris, sounds like you attended a quite worthwhile Memorial Day service. I think I missed our here, due to my (lethargy) and late start. Should've gone to bed a bit earlier I did go to the 'Bay today and order some of those LED's someone (you, maybe?) had mentioned. Anything special for a powersupply needed for LED's (anyone who knows)?

Joe, hope you land one of those jobs soon; it would reduce some time spent in the looking and start some MRR money-earning for your summer. Be careful about that Formspring site - they had a (not-so-complimentary) piece about that site tonight. Said because people can post anonymously, there have been some abusing it to the point of cyber-bullying. Watch yourself out there, y'hear?

Our MRR club didn't meet tonight (because of the holiday), and also because we got the 10 sheets of sheetrock put up on Saturday a.m. Got an email that a couple of the club members got the switches for the overhead lights moved to right by the doorway (and put another switch next to those for the layout master power switch).

I need to get more 'stuff' cleared out. The clutter has been wearing on me, distracting me from other things (MRR and otherwise) I'd rather be doing. Would toss much of it out, but have to check that there's nothing with my financial info on any papers (meaning, check it and shred as needed).

Talked with our LHS owner/MRR club member about best way of cutting the Athearn RDC shells to get a more prototypical appearance. Also have two more of the Ernst gearing kits ordered to upgrade the motoring on the Hi-Fi (rubber band) drives. I do have one that has the later Athearn gear drive, so may not need to go much on the drive on that one.

Tomorrow is back to the office, but at least it will be a short week - plus the laptop will be arriving (YAY!! YAY!! - jumps around from table top to table top..."Oh, Hi, Vinnie, uh, I'm just getting down now. Sure, Janie, just give me the cleaner and I'll start polishing off the table tops...").

Prayers will continue for those needing comfort, healing, and financial improvements.

 

Blessings, and a good new month,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[Cederstrand]

Plate full of tacos and an iced decaf coffee, please. 

***CNCharlie, I'll post the "rapido to knuckle" question again when I get that far. Of coure I still have a few vintage locos that could use that transition now. Atlas Pacific, Kato Japanese version Mike, and some assorted 0-6-0's of assorted brands.  

***Jim, should get to it tomorrow, or at least get the part ordered. Sure will be nice to have it running again. I use it for a LOT of farm stuff.

Thanks to all who are serving or have served, including my dear old dad, (WWII lead bombardier B24 Liberator).

Never made it to the train room. Maybe tomorrow night.

Cheers! Rob

 

[TMarsh]

Hey, nice job G!! Place looks like new. I'll have the same thing Barry's having. Good to see Flip stopped in.

Busier at work than I thought tonight I guess the rain kept people from cooking out even though it quit early.

I did get into the trainroom and got the, hopefully, finish layer of mud spread for the main street boulevard in Gold Creek put down and about 2/3 of the retaining wall done. I'm not happy with the colors, but since I don't know really what I'm looking for I guess it'll do. I want an old look but to me it looks too black. Sure wish I was color savy. Maybe, next time I'll find a picture of something like I want and ask what colors I should use.

Rob- Oh my goodness! It's dejavoo. Several years ago I had a semi that would die after I forget how many miles and would not run on the right tank. It had a manual switch valve from left to right. Drove me crazy for a couple days trying to run down where it was sucking air from. Could not find a leak anywhere. Turns out the pickup had broken about six inches down and when the fuel level got down to there, you guessed it, ran out of fuel. Who'd have thought of that. Never ran into something like that before or since. I never even thought of that for you as I assumed yours would have been a bottom feed. I sure hope that's it and you can fix it cheap. 

Welp finished my pie so off to bed. Prayers for those in need.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Jim said: "Garry, that's one excellent module you guys put together - I can't spot where the module ends and the background starts " ... ...  Jim: If you are talking about the photo of the yellow Alco S1, I have a secret.  .... Shhh.... Don't tell..... we employed a neat little optical illusion.... We had a full sized locomotive (the real thing) and took the photo outdoors.... It was an overcast day adding to the mood. ... Aren't we clever?  . Remember not say say anything. .. We would not like for too many people to find out.

[TMarsh]

Heartland Division CB&Q

I have a secret.  .... Shhh.... Don't tell..... we employed a neat little optical illusion.... We had a full sized locomotive (the real thing) and took the photo outdoors.... It was an overcast day adding to the mood. ... Aren't we clever?  . Remember not say say anything. .. We would not like for too many people to find out.

AH HA!!!! I heard that!!! Thought I was asleep didn't you?!

 

[Anonymous]

 Good Morning Everyone!

Galaxy - you did it! I had set my alarm clock to 12 pm sharp, just to get up on time to move the Diner to its June track ( and be ahead of you, he, he), only to see, that it was moved already! A job well done, Mr. G  - the place looks nicer than ever!

Chloe, just a coffee for me, please.

Nothing planned for today, just a little banking business and a short HD list to work down.

CUL

[galaxy]

Good morning guys!!! 

 A cup o joe togo gotta go pick up the caravan.

blownout cylinder

Galaxy: Audrey and I are seriously thinking of heading to steamtown ourselves----

Until June 26th, I would  call their toll-free number first to be sure when they are running steam. June 26th is their first excursion and for July and August to Labor day at least they will be running steam Wed-Sun. I didn't ask if they were running steam all the month of June when I called, just wanted to be sure if we went down this weekend that they would be running steam.

JimRCGMO

Galaxy, it might've been hot here today (about mid-80's (F)), but I was lazy, and got a very slow start on the day. Plus, set up the slow cooker for a pot roast for dinner, took out the trash and ran by the grocery store for milk, some other food goodies and a couple of potatoes to go with the roast. Thought about taking a nap, but decided not to...

Sometimes ya just gotta have a "downtime" day, Jim.

Sir Madog

 Galaxy - you did it! I had set my alarm clock to 12 pm sharp, just to get up on time to move the Diner to its June track ( and be ahead of you, he, he), only to see, that it was moved already! A job well done, Mr. G  - the place looks nicer than ever!

Yep. It may not have been eactly at midnite, and a little earlier than exactly June 1st, but I needed time to paint and replace those wornout rivets in the rivet counter!

well, have a great day everyone!

Type back at you later

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

Garry, I’ll shoot you my phone number, not sure what my schedule will look like but we could stop and have a cup of coffee someplace…

CN Charlie, did you get any pictures of the layout before it was torn down?

[blownout cylinder]

TMarsh

Heartland Division CB&Q

I have a secret.  .... Shhh.... Don't tell..... we employed a neat little optical illusion.... We had a full sized locomotive (the real thing) and took the photo outdoors.... It was an overcast day adding to the mood. ... Aren't we clever?  . Remember not say say anything. .. We would not like for too many people to find out.

AH HA!!!! I heard that!!! Thought I was asleep didn't you?!

 

Garry: thought that he couldn't hear you in his sleep huh? He hears REALLY well----

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Good Morning

We're clearing up after yesterdays 4" rainfall and viscious t'underin'boomers came through---Byron--which is just to the south of us got 3" of golfball sized hail last night and we saw a funnel cloud just to our east---just loverly out there yesterday----today we are going to a high of 26C with a bit less humidity--BUT--we will be right back to the swing of things with more rain and nastiness by tomorrow

I've got a follow up witht the heart specialist this afternoon and a visit to our FLHS in store as well--Think I'll see whether I can pick up a set of elevvator parts and some more windows and doors again----need the ding things here---

Flo, I'll have a coffee and a breakfast bagel please--I'll be at the window booth checking out the outside scenery---

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning.

It's the day after Memorial Day, but we won't forget our fallen heros, our vets, our troops, and their families.

JimCG ... I was kidding you last night. You're supposed to laugh.

Lee... you can send a PM with info. There's a coffe shop on Van *** Road near Hall Road (M59) where I met with Duke a couple of times. I eamiled him, but don't know his schedule. Being June, there are good odds he'll be riding his 2-Wheeler.

Hey! has anyone heard from PC?

Ulrich ... Have you retained any of your old German currancy. It may be neeed after the Euro collapses. What a mess in Europe. ... I think all governments can learn some lessons from events over there especially in Southern Europe. ... Will governments learn? I doubt it. No government seems to have learned when Iceland's financial system totally collapsed a couple of years ago. ... So they'll just keep on spending more and more money regardless of its lack of availability.

[TMarsh]

(Comes in whistling and with a slight smile on the face for the second day) Good Morning all. Day after Memorial Day and I hope that this weekend was not the only times this year we remember until Veterans Day. Also, don't forget in 14 days (or 15 depending on how you count days) it's Waylon Jennings birthday. No cards expected.

Well just been piddling around the house doing some odds and ends this morning waiting for the truck to arrive at the restaurant, then off for my multitude of things saved up for me to do on my "Day Off". Bless their little ole pea-pickin' hearts. That's very thoughtful of them

***..... Just wanted to see if that's the word Garry got starred out on. EDIT: Yup, guess so.

What's that Zoe? Why was I smiling when I came in? Well, I had a couple PM's with Jeff and it brought back some fond memories of the old cars from back in the ‘70's and late ‘60's that either me or my family had. And of course the others out there offered. Got me thinking about the "project" in the garage I started in the late ‘80's. My favorite car I ever owned. I bought, in 1980 right out of high school, a 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner coupe. Took it apart in or around oh, '86 '87 to rebuild it. Yup, still sittin in the garage. Nope, don't run yet. Oh, since you asked, a 383 and yes it has a four speed and a dog leg pistol grip. Stripped down no option car except for an AM radio and 3-speed wipers. Figure that. Bench seat no console. Power steering or brakes? What's that? Air conditioning why yes. Roll down the windows. Still warm? Pull that handle there, it slides the vent open. Still warm? Push your wing vent some more, ( we oldtimers will explain the wing vent windows to you whippersnappers some other time.) What? Still warm? I'll push the right foot farther down. Sorry about the air flow in the back seat, those pop out rear windows help us, but not so much you do they. What's that noise? That's called the engine. No sound deadening material, real dual exhaust with less than high tech mufflers and a engine that is physically half the size and weight of your Cobalt, has a tendency to be a bit noisy. Gas mileage? Well actually it got about the same as my 1994 pickup, about 12- 16 MPG depending on where I drove. Oh, there's a gas station better pull in. Nah, it doesn't matter which side I pull in, the fuel inlet is behind the license plate. WHERE IT SHOULD BE! All this and running, needed some work of course, after all it was 10 years old and had 130,000 miles on it ( Might as well had been a billion back then), for..... Ready for this....... You young kids sit down........$160. Cash.

If I'd have known the $100 to $1000 cars then would be worth 5 to 10,000 in a bucket today, my buddies farm would be full of those old muscle cars. If only I'd known those were the days then. That was my favorite car I ever owned, what was yours?

Well, I think I've got about 2 hours till the trucks show, so I'll maybe do some sanding on the boulevard. If I get that acceptable, (notice how I'm shying away from using the word done?) then I can start doing some landscaping in Gold Creek.

I notice I have the breakfast tab. No wonder Vinnie was eyeing me since I've been here. Best get my VCC number back on file for this month. 

Have a Great Day!!!

[Anonymous]

 Good Afternoon Folks,

we started the day with some nice weather, but now it is rather dull outside, with an odd spell of rain - time to stay inside and do some armchair model railroading. 

My Mom is still very weak - there is no improvement. I am afraid, that she has lost her will to fight. What eats me up, is, that we do not have enough money to pay for the gas to go there. No news about that job, I am still condemned to wait for the hopefully positive answer. That would certainly help a lot to get things moving in the right direction. At the moment I just have a hard time to see the light on the end of that big black tunnel I am in.

Garry - people never learn! There has been many attempt in history to form currency unions and all of them failed after a short time. A currency union without a political union is doomed right from the beginning. Countries like Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy never played by the rules set forth in the agreements. As a result, we Germans have to pay the bill - like always in the last 55 years. Germany is the biggest payer into the coffers of the European Union and much of our national debt (in fact, all of it) can be owed to that. We did not only have to shoulder the tremendous cost of the unification with East Germany, but also pay for the development of the countries I mentioned earlier. Germans are no people to take their wrath on the roads, like the French do. Lenin once stated, if the Germans were to make a revolution on a train station, they would buy platform tickets to be able to enter. Hitler was elected, because people were tired of the fighting between the Reds and the Browns in the streets of Berlin in the 1920´s, fostered by a weak government and the economical crisis following the Black Friday. Without "Outside Help" of the Allied Forces, we would not have been able to get rid of him, despite the over 100 attempts. The fall of the Berlin Wall was also not caused by the declared will of the people of East Germany, but a result of the weakness of the former Soviet Union and Gorbachev´s address to Honecker to just help himself, if things were getting to be rough. So we just end up paying. Some see this as continuing reparation payments ... No idea, where this will all end. The European Union and the Euro are as dead as the Dodo, but nobody dares to say that, as long as Germany is still able to pump money into that system. But for how long?

We have to open up the list of missing people - PC, Keith, where are you?

Zoe, I´ll have a glass of milk, please.

 Edit:

Todd - is this the one?

 

[TMarsh]

(Wiping drool off of chin and counter)

Ulrich- I wish!  It's the correct year and model but waaaaaay fancier. I'll dig out an old picture of it circa the eighties before the second and current re do and post it sometime.  

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JimRCGMO

Jeff, how's the van and the mods for it coming along? I'll have to look for what pics you've posted since the one exterior bunch you had first posted.

I haven't done much work on it lately. Been too busy looking for parts. I found a steering column and steering gear box that will fit it in a 79 Dodge van. The gear box is a direct fit but the column while being correct mechanically isn't a direct fit electrically. It has a different warning (4-way flasher) switch. I asked the owner to check into seeing if this can be addressed by changing out the 79 columns harness connector with the harness connector from the 81.

 

 

I got my new shoes last week and have been breaking them in slowly for 15-20 minutes a day while watching for red spots or other irritation on my feet that would indicate there's a problem with the shoes. I have an appointment with the foot doc later today.

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

My, my, the place looks really nice!  I see even the Rivet Counter has been repaired......  Zoe I'll have a slice of THAT Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and a mug of dark roast coffee in a FGLK Mug if you please.  What?  Yes for breakfast!  

Big change here in the Finger Lakes from yesterday.  Yesterday was bright an sunny most of the day with a high in the upper 80's.  Had a noisy thunderboomer pass through with some rain last night just about the time we sat down to dinner at my son's house.  Got a total of 1/3 inch of precipitation last night.  This morning it is currently 68°F outside with the humidity at 92%.  High will only be 74°F.  May get another 1/4 inch of rain today they say.  Everything is sticky and damp.  I will likely start the dehumidifier down stairs in the train room for the year.

I will be doing some assembling of the first Turnout using the Fast Tracks jig today.  Most everything in terms of skill level should be withing my abilities, so I am just going to take my time and follow the directions online......  Hope to get most of the garden planted today as well if the rain holds off this afternoon.

Later!

73

 

[Packers#1]

Garry, sweet. that guy is a trip, I loved the article. If you ever get a chance please tell him that. Well, had two exams today. spanish was pretty easy, but geometry was TOUGH! my mind was ready to jump out and run off during it haha

[Blazzin]

  "Good morning.. coffee please"

  Whew.. the kids are back from college,  a new pup that has to grow up to the size of his paws and me working on the layout.  This  will be a Reader's Digest Version.. I know I know.. lol.. hard to believe... but I'm short for time.  I have decided to work on the layout and get some results here.  So here goes... excluesively at the Diner only~

  Ok.. Lights.. street lights for that matter.

  With a Brawa street light far left from Germany.  The ten on the right were extra sent to me with minor defects (bent) and from China.  No biggie.. some white glue and they're fine.  I like the detail.

  Remember these two?  Mother and son? 

  Some where in the back of my head,  I remember some old Disney movie.. and the one dog is describing the older dog.. who is watching over them at night.. "As if the genes for the very first dog were in her" 

  Der John.. you wanted to see how I was doing the back side of the 'lookout point' ? 

  BTW down at bottom middle is my attemp at laying cobblestone street for the street car.

  And this one..  gheez.. I thought I was a kid .. sitting in the backseat of the car.. as we drive up to the beach. 

  Notice the street lamps in the back? 

  Ugh.. I can't believe this is taking so much time~  One of these days..I'm gonna lay some track.. for my fiddle yard... lol. 

  Now if I get real energetic today.. and I don't think so~  I might mow the lawn.. and take out a few bolts and remove an Alternator.. and surprise Jeff.  But right now.. its almost 11:30.. and its cloudy.. breezy cold.. and its the typical June Gloom weather. 

  Just thought I'd drop in and say hello..   yeah right.. Who?

[tcwright973]

Todd,

You asked "What was your favorite car?" That's an easy one for me to answer. It was a 1954 Pontiac StarChief Catalina convertable. What a boat. Powder blue with dark blue leather interior. Once cranked up, that straight eight did the job. It was a cherry when I bought it in 1958. Unfortunately, I hit a panel truck head on about a year after I got it. I loved it and so did the ladies. I really do wish I still had it.

Tom

[Packer]

 Afternoon ya'll

Been a bit busy recently, so a belated Memorial day to all the veterans out there.

I have managed to fix the high idle on my car. All the fiddling with the TPS and throttle body didn't do much (dropped from 1300 to 1100) so I disconnected the idle air bypass. Sure enough it dropped to where it should be (800-900). I'm gonna grab another IAB and use it as a template to make a restrictor plate. Also did a bunch more body work but I still have a ways to go.

I did learn something recently the hard way. Rember how I was drinking lots of powerade for dehydration? I ended up getting hives all over the place shortly afterwards. I looked at the ingredient label, and found coconut oil. Didn't know that was in there but sure enough after switching to gatorade (no coconut oil) the hives went away. Gotta be more careful about coconut products...

Todd, having only owned 3 cars I really don't have much to go by. I had an 88 mustang that was almost the same as my current 90 one (2.3l manual) , except powder blue with a blue interior and a sunroof. I bought it for $200 and my father was able to drive it home (I would have but I was 14). I ended up selling it for $400 because it would have cost much more to fix it then replace it. A year later I picked up the 97 Mustang (3.8L auto) I had for $800, but I had to supply a rear axle. Then that got wrecked and I picked up the 90 I have now for $1000 and drove it home. The 90 now has a bunch of parts from that 97. Guess I'll go with the 97 because I did so much with it and it was my first actual car (never did drive the 88). If I could have any car as the favorite, it'd either be a 1969 mustang fastback or a 2011 mustang GT.