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Elliot's Trackside Diner JUNE 2010 Locked

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  • Member since
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  • From: upstate NY
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Posted by galaxy on Saturday, June 19, 2010 11:55 AM

Hi guys.

Well we went out for breakfast this AM and to Sam's club and the farmer's market.

BOY! people were out IN FORCE today, with lines and cars and people everywhere, oh my!  It's because it's the first good sunny/warm weekend of the summer. At least there weren't too many idiot drivers out today, no room for errors today like on a normal day {idiots driving that is}.

Jeffrey: I wondered where/how you knew so much about cars. Now I know. WHat I know {or used to be able to work on my vehicles for} could fit in a thimble compared to you. Nowadays I can't even touch them or at least don't trust myself not to mess something like that up. You know the drill : labor rate: $65.00/ hour   OR  "$150.00/hour if you worked on it first!".  I see now why you like the older stuff.  But If it gets cold down there like it did this past winter, aren't you going to miss the heater though??? Heck, if you paid $400 for it, we sold a 92 Taurus for $500 that only needed a new radiator and needed a tranny adjustment as it would buck once every 500-1000 miles. It ran the way it was only had to keep an eye on radiator fluid and was my other half's daily driver to work. too bad we didn't live closer, you coulda had it for the 500.00... ran great, just those two things about it and we only got rid of it to update our "fleet" as I do need a/c to breathe well on hot sticky summer days and a reliable transport to medical appts, and we weren't sure we could trust either anymore and we can;t fix em like you can. {and the a/c no longer worked unless you had it charged every year but you said you dind't want that anyway.} It's the 98 caravan we kept that was giving us all the problems, that now seems to be functioning right since the dealer found the loose wire in the engine harness and fixed it. And we have basically "rebuilt" it so it should last till we run it into the ground or at least  near it for some years to come as my other half's daily work driver. I joked after we got the new Kia, that maybe we picked the wrong vehicle {taurus} to get rid of {instead of the caravan}. BUt now the wiring solved it runs very well and even the a/c still works good.

WEll, feeling better today after being out, but now I think it's nap time.

have a great day y'all!

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 19, 2010 11:53 AM

 Helloooo - is there anybody here???

What happened? Did Vinnie? You don´t say, Flo! Well ...

I am just here for a bowl of hot Mexican Chili soup, some home made bread and a beer. It´s been a cold day over here, so I need something to warm up.

Who ever happens to drop by - you all have a good day!

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Saturday, June 19, 2010 10:53 AM

Well, it's good to see Todd. Where is everyone else?  ..... I'll have coffee and waffles with real maple syrup and real butter.

Todd ... I hope your grandson is recovering OK now from the injury.

There was quite an accident on US 68 near here late yesterday. That highway has some dangerous parts. One is going over a hill which hides an intersection beyond it. Three touring style motorcycles with three retired couples from North Carolina crested the hill without slowing to the 35 mph limit. A car ahead had stopped waiting for oncoming traffic before turning left. One cycle hit the car and two went into a ditch. Three wrecked expensive motorcycles and some injured seniors were the result.

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by TMarsh on Saturday, June 19, 2010 10:01 AM

Goooood Morning. How's everbody? Hello? Wow, almost 10 and no one here yet. Just coffee Flo Thanks.

Well I guess me and the dog slept through the storm last night or ewarly this morning, depending on what you call it, to me it's last night...... Excuse you Missy. Sorry, dog burped. Anyway, I guess we had a good one last night, wind rain thundr, lightning, the whole shootin' match. Got about 1¼". Brenda was awake but me and the dog new (sorry, "knew" stupid keyboard, sometimes lght touches of the keys leave letters laying around and sometimes normal strikes leave letters off. I KNOW it's not me.) nothing. Speaking of knowing nothing, Mom gets out of the Stalag this A.M. We will retrieve her around the time the Golden Corral opens (her idea) because she wants to take us to the buffet. Looks like it may be just a bit later but, she will be happy she is free. Me too, but then again the worry of every time the phone rings, is it that she has fallen again come back. Oh well. She's happy and it‘s better than the alternative.

Ray- I do believe I would have enjoyed your class and probably learned more than I did. And that is my feeling as well. I'm not against the learning of dates and such, just at a later time. The massive amounts of boring and what seems to be worthless information is lost on many youngsters. Give them a story to pay attention too, something to visualize or laugh at. That's what a child or young teen deals with best and not make the "boring" conclusion. Like you said, it is more important to know about George Washington and A. Lincoln, than the exact dates they were born and when they hocked up their first big loogy.  

Have a Great Day!!!

 

Todd  

Central Illinoyz

In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.

I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk. Laugh

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Posted by AmanaMedic on Friday, June 18, 2010 10:17 PM

 Well, good evening... a Barry-sized cheeseburger with a plate of fries and a tall, cool 7-Up please n' thank-you...

We had ourselves a busy day, and an even busier evening. Facetime this morning with THAT went well... got home just in time for a line of severe thunderstorms to move through. We had what is known as a "bow line echo." NOT a good thing to see on the radar. Since I'm not on the storm watch team for this week, I elected to stay home with a very nervous Rerun. Had some trees drop onto US Hwy. 30, our main drag. This evening, the second round hit. 

Here's where things got interesting...

I responded this time, got to the station to find only Robbie standing there. Then, Big Ross pulled in behind me. Robbie directed us to take the brush truck out west to a little roadside park, to see if we could see anything. Long story short, we had a large tree drop across Hwy. 30 directly in front of us. Another second or two, and we would've been underneath it. I tell Big Ross to back up the truck, so we can block traffic and divert 'em onto a side street. He stops next to another tree. As I'm pulling on my bunker coat and helmet, in the pouring down rain, and marble sized hail, I see the tree. "Hey Ross, maybe you oughta move the truck over there (across the street on the side street). He no sooner gets the truck moved, and THAT tree starts dropping large branches on the road. 

In short order, with help from others on the dept., we get the trees cut up and dragged away. Then, we find out a roof has blown off a building downtown, and is now up against Bo Jack's...the local dive bar. A good time was had by all as we lifted it off a parked car, then used a tractor with a loader bucket to wad it up and shove it across the highway, and down the street to a vacant lot. It must've been something to see. How it missed some major powerlines...I'll never know. 

Just another day in Iowa...

 

ChrisEight Ball

The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!

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Posted by howmus on Friday, June 18, 2010 9:30 PM

 Evenin' Folks!

Flo just a cup of decaf if you please.

I spent most of the day doing outdoor chores.  Finished the lawn and started to put together the Bed and sides for the trailer.  Did some grocery shopping as well today.  Nothing really inspiring..........

Got to play in the train room for about a half hour this evening. Smile

Tomorrow will be a work day out at Boy Scout Camp and since I didn't go last week, I think I better show up tomorrow.  I will probably trim the grass and weeds next to tent platforms in a site or two.  Sunday is Railroad day at the R&GV RR Museum and I will be on train crew!  Yeah!!!!!

What is THAT sound Rob?  Crickets?  Hmm, it has been a bit quiet in here today.  must be everyone else has spent the day doing "chores".

Hope you all have a great night!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by Cederstrand on Friday, June 18, 2010 8:25 PM

A bowl of garlic seasoned brown rice and a Decaf coffee, please. 

***Keith, I've bid on a few of those old Lionel giraffe cars, but they always sell for crazy money. You could make your own that would look better anyway, even if not animated.

***Galaxy, glad you're feeling better. That sounded rough.

Thought I heard crickets chirping in here as I came in the door.Whistling

Started assembling another (HO) circus car, this one is a clown theme box car.

Had to stop to pound in a couple metal posts to pull a fence back up in the back pasture. A temporary fix until I replace that post hole digger auger bit.

Cowboy Rob

 

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Posted by galaxy on Friday, June 18, 2010 2:54 PM

Just popping in to say hello, and feeling better today.

At least I can keep some light food down, and the Pedialyte has helped.

maybe this weeekend I get something done in the train room.....

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

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Posted by Cederstrand on Friday, June 18, 2010 12:51 PM

Coffee refill, please.

***Keith, that's a mighty fine looking circus car there. Have some others online we could view? Although I have a cheapo circus train for my N scale (which has never seen the rails), the wife's is HO. She is not particular on roads or anything else. Hers is a 100% "whatever she fancies" layout, which is fine with me. Heck, mine will be equally non-prototypical if not more so. After all, the main industry will be a Soylent Green Plant and volcano mineral collecting/processing operation.Whistling

Speaking of the Soylent Plant, found a pretty cool loco to use for transporting "stock" from the prisons and other institutions to said plant. Only thing is, it is pricey and has a rapido coupler. Wonder how difficult it would    

be to convert?

Cheers! Rob

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Posted by Blazzin on Friday, June 18, 2010 12:26 PM

  Jeff,  many moons ago, Chevy had come up with a 327.. with an under-rated HP of 350.. which I believe was more more than that.  Well,  I went off the deep end and bought a Used El Camino.  Hurst shifter, the works.  Jeanne went through the roof, well she needed a car yes.. but not a race car. Rat TAT tat under the hood, plumes of pure heat coming from underneath the car.   Powerful, wonderful~ except Jeanne tells me "No Way, I don't care what you do, but take it back and get our money"

  I call up my brother in law, whom I've known since I was a boy (church members) but my B-I-L is a man of many talents.  I call him up.. and tell him.. I gotta take a car back and get my money... What do I do?

  And being that he is.. he had an answer. 

He tells me I've got to go into the guys office.. lays the keys down on his desk and tell him.. "Look, its a square deal, but I'll have a divorce on my hands .. and you gotta help me." 

  My B-I-L tells me.. you can't tell him its a lousy car.. or anything but.. "You'd like to keep the car, but can't"

  He tells me to lay the keys on the desk,  but don't leave the office.. stay there no mater what. ... lol.   Don't leave the office until you get your money back. 

  So I do exactly what he said.. and the guy says.. "I've got to go check it out.. make sure you haven't ruined it or something~" 

  But NO WAY do I follow him out there,  he would have just handed me the keys and tell me..Buyer beware!

  He comes back to the office and he keeps on.. but I keep saying.. "You gotta help me"  So the guy gives me back my money.. I call up my brother in law.. and say.. "Bill once again you have pulled me from the fire"

  He laughed.. we both had a good laugh.  Seems my story was very convincing.  The reason why,  as talk to my brother in law on the phone.. well as I was taking this El Camino back.. I went off the off-ramp of the freeway fairly fast... well, it was a nice sweeping turn of an off-ramp.  I hear this 'Bonk' as I am taking the turn,  I look out the window.. and see the front wheel wobbling..  .. but still on !  "OMG as I look at the wheel" 

  I pull over and look at the lugs.  Stripped.  And put on that way with a 'hope and a prayer'  There was no jack in the truck, and the lugs needed to be tightened.  A tire iron was on the flooring  and had been there a while.  I picked it up, tightened the lugs.. rolled the car forward.. tightened some more lugs.. then laid the tire iron  back exactly where it was.  When I got to this guys' office.. well I had a very convincing story.  NO I made no mention of the wheel and stripped lugs.  I was just glad to get my money back.  And, was glad the wheel didn't fall off when he went and test drove the thing.  But anyways.. that was my only one time shot of having a very fast car.

  I would tend to wonder about that guy if he knew it had a  bad wheel,  the whole thing would have been a nightmare.

 

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Posted by Blazzin on Friday, June 18, 2010 11:49 AM

  Rob, anytime you wanna talk about Circus trains.. let me know.  I've had some time collecting a few when I was laid up in bed for a few months.  Trying to collect a Circus train required certain compromises.  Like which circus.. and who bought out who?  And is it just as fun to have all three?  Who's going to be down there with a magnifying glass reading N scale lettering?  Then again.. from what I read... the Florida East Coast lines.. colors of cirus red/yellow/orange was the main puller of a Circus train.  But I have a few,  some are new releases of box cars with various Circus Acts.  But anyways collecting them has been time consuming. 

100_1260.jpg picture by Blazzin55

  This one I am proud of,  although Jeanne about went through the roof when she saw 'How Much',  now looking back it was a nice price.  From what I've seen lately,  its pretty slim pickens out there now.  I'm glad I started collecting early on that.

Rob... "Perhaps the engineer wasn't aware of the problem?"

  Nah.. this was at least 5 flatcars.. and maybe a few others that had brakes on.  The tracks almost seemed like an S curve and it even had a 'Hill and Dale'.. low then high onto the turn (I actually went and checked it out the next day) and I can only guess.. with that type of speed and weight distribution (cars with loads and some with none) that .. that was the way to keep the cars on the track at that speed.  The speed and the noise was so scary.. the next day as we sat at our 'Hobo camp' site by the fire .. we'd sit and chuckle everytime a freight train went by.. and we'd both say.. "Nothin like last night~"  It reminded me of the old "I Love Lucy Show" were the same thing happened.  The rumbling, I still can't even convey the powerful sound of a train coming at you!

  Then again I grew up with words like  "... faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive!"

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Posted by Cederstrand on Friday, June 18, 2010 11:09 AM

Strong coffee in a  SANTA FE  mug, please. 

***Keith, that was some passing train you related. Wouldn't mind seeing and hearing one like that myself, so long as it stays on the rails. Perhaps the engineer wasn't aware of the problem?

Have a good day y'all.

Cowboy Rob

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Friday, June 18, 2010 10:55 AM

Good morning everyone.

I've been spending more time on my DCC learning curve lately. There are lots of neat things to do with DCC. Now, I have about 16 locos equipped with DCC operating in the steel mill and the lower level.

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, June 18, 2010 10:51 AM

Blazzin
   Jeff your knowledge and work of automobile's amazes me.    Considering all in all.. especially those new tires.. I'd say you made out pretty darn good.

When you consider my past experience it's not quite so amazing. Because of my nerve and bone problems not to mention a mild heart attack I was forced to give up the more stressful of my 3 hobbies. That hobby was building hot rods. The last one I built for myself was a 68 Dodge Coronet Aspen R/T that I rebuilt from the ground up. I took out the 318 that was in it and shoe horned in a 426 Hemi with a high rise cross ram intake manifold and twin Holley 4 barrel carbs with a turbo charger. It would pass everything but a gas station! I sold it for $5,000 in the mid 80's. Cars I've worked on since then have just been ones that I've added stuff to. The van is the first in many years that I've been rebuilding from the ground up and it's been taking it's toll on me. Therefore I'm taking today as a day of rest. Don't want to push myself into another heart attack. The last one was bad enough to keep me off my feet for a week.

 

JimRCGMO
Jeff, I hope that switch solves the brake lights problem, and that you can untie yourself after you get under the dash there. I'm sure you will get it w**king, and before too much longer (unless the nephew's involved. Actually, after reading what you had to pay for that van, compared to what shape it was already in (& those tires), that's a pretty good deal even before you started on it!

A brake light circuit is actually pretty simple. There's just the brake light switch and the relay box that cuts out a brake light when a turn signal is on. If the problem was with the relay box the turn signal wouldn't work. However, the turn signals work quite well so the problem almost certainly has to be the brake light switch. The power to head end of the circuit is OK as the warning lights all work. The stop lights and the warning lights draw power off the same fuse. Since one is working that means power is getting to the head end of the other as well.

 

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by JimRCGMO on Friday, June 18, 2010 10:10 AM

 

Cederstrand

***Jim, there is NO WAY I could paint HO figures, even with a magnifier. Eye floaters would drive me crazy. Might manage touching up a few, but that's it. You enjoy yourself with those Preisers. Bet you're doing a superb job on them...

 Preiser PR-17224 Shopping Carts

 

  Hey, Rob, thanks for that photo (& link)! I hadn't seen that they have a set of 10 like that. THAT'll make it simpler to put an interior in my one grocery store once I get one of those sets. Thanks for the compliment on my alleged painting skills, but you remember what I said earlier about motivation being a problem I've had?...Wink

Robby - a mere 85 degrees? Hah! Wink I'll see your 85 and raise you 95 (F) (our high that they're forecasting for today, tomorrow, maybe Sunday also).  Enjoy those 80's before the real weather arrives.  Yep, getting near to summer, alrighty. Break out the sunblock, and turn on the fans and A/C. Cool

Jeff, I hope that switch solves the brake lights problem, and that you can untie yourself after you get under the dash there. I'm sure you will get it w**king, and before too much longer (unless the nephew's involved Whistling Actually, after reading what you had to pay for that van, compared to what shape it was already in (& those tires), that's a pretty good deal even before you started on it!Bow

Ulrich, from just the photos of Miniatur Wunderland that I've seen, I'm sure you will thoroughly enjoy the visit. Just remember that it took the guys who built that many years to get it built up to the current (amazing) state it is. Any of our layouts will pale in comparison, but even then it will take years to get just where we want ours to be. Yeah!!

Todd, I had to go look up those last two dates - I must've not had as great of a history teacher as you did, huh? Smile,Wink, & Grin Got a chuckle out of your satire - I may have read that one (or its twin) online somewhere...Whistling My best history (they called it 'social studies' back then) teacher was in sophomore year of high school. He did things like putting a crossword puzzle (with history-related answers) up on the board for us to figure out. That was more fun than just the plain ol' date-memorizing (mind-numbing) stuff. Yeah!!

I've been in the process of moving my 'Tunes over to the laptop. Last night, I dragged the whole music folder from the external drive to the laptop's iTunes, and thought it had (as it's supposed to do) copied them over. However, upon disconnecting the external drive later, I found that they weren't copied. It was too late last night to continue, so I dragged one external drive to the office with me (figured it could copy the files while I'm seeing people; better than watching and waiting for it...). I checked settings and it appears to be doing what it (IMHO) shoulda done last night. We'll see...

I went looking for my Champ Decals catalog (and my collection of decals last night. Need to find suitable Southern Pacific decals (pre-1960's) for one boxcar I got recently. Hadn't been able to find the decals until I checked the box with my old Walthers catalogs. I did find some SP decals on the Microscale site yesterday, too. The Champ Decals catalog is very useful for me, because it will show what goes where on a given type of freight car (which I might not know..Dunce).

I'll sit a spell at the window booth and discuss the finer points of history with Todd, maybe...Whistling Whaddya say, Todd?

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

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Posted by howmus on Friday, June 18, 2010 9:58 AM

 Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, a short stack of buttermilk pancakes with a side order of bacon would be just what the doctor ordered this morning.  Oh!  And a cup of your finest dark roast coffee to wash it down.  Ah, don't forget the NYS Maple Syrup.

I'll go sit at the rivet counter this morning......

blownout cylinder
Ray: why so glum my friend?----Whistling

 

Oh, I was just going to argue with you on the "Cats have staff/servants thing.  I have usually heard it as servants, but I see it can be found online either way, so it is really a moot point.........Smile,Wink, & Grin

Need to at the lawn again this morning, then do some grocery shopping.  need to pick up some hardware for the trailer as well while I am out.  Sure wish I could find more time for the hobby.......  Guess it has something to do with Spring (the season not your cat Barry). 

Todd, I agree with you on teaching History.  I didn't teach much about specific dates when doing Music History until the 8th. grade classes.  Even then I felt it was more important for them to know the dates of the style periods rather than "J. S. Bach was born in 1685 (In the very same year as Handel)..."  I did want them to know THAT Bach was Baroque.  Well, he had 20 kids!  No wonder he was Baroque! Big Smile  The final exam for 8th. grade music had a series of 10 pieces of music from the various time periods of musical history.  They would have the composers name, the name of the piece of music, and also listen to a short  excerpt of the music.  They would get to "Concerto for strings, Harpsicord, and Recorder" by J. S. Bach (Both of those items should tell them the style period by themselves) and I would look around the room.  One time a kid was mumbling under his breath, "Oh, I know this, darn......"  As the piece finished I would remind them that Bach had twenty children......  Talk about lights coming on!  Followed by very big grins throughout the room!  I can guarentee you all of them still remember that Bach was a Baroque composer.  After all isn't THAT really what I wanted in the first place?  Had a couple of kids who later told me now I know why you said the stupid joke.....  I would just grin and say, "Yep!"

Best be getting to the days w*rk!

Later!

73

 

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by Blazzin on Friday, June 18, 2010 9:49 AM

  Rob, just wanted to add my two cents.  I'm planning on a  Circus train / cars.  And one of them, I'd like to cut a square hole in the top of a cattle car or box car and have two heads of Giraffe sticking out of the top of the box car looking out.  I had seen a pic of that, and plan on doing it myself it looked nice and different.

Keith

 

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Posted by teen steam fan on Friday, June 18, 2010 9:48 AM
Sir Madog

A friend of mine has invited me to go and visit Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg with him next week - that´s going to be one of the year´s highlights for me.

You all have a good day!

NICE, let us kn ow how it is. I've seen pictures of it on line, looks really cool. May have to take a vacation over there to see it.
Thanks for the suggestion of a loud horn. I'm actually thinking of converting to DCC. Get a model of Tornado, I have her whistle as a ring tone on my cell, I'm sure you guys get my drift.
Rob, good luck with your wife's MRR, Hope she learns how to do some kit-building and trouble shooting.
Bugger, I get top honors, get the buffet out. Its on me. (I hope not literally.)

If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran

When in doubt. grab a hammer. 

If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer

If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer

If it's broken, get a hammer

If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!

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Posted by Blazzin on Friday, June 18, 2010 9:44 AM

  "Good morning Coffee please"

   Jeff your knowledge and work of automobile's amazes me.    Considering all in all.. especially those new tires.. I'd say you made out pretty darn good.

  Now as for me .. and my Aerostar,  slightly under $400 to replace the alternator and most places said right off,  its kind of hard to get to and alternator is the expensive part of the bill.  Labor is $60 a hour.

 Now as far as my layout goes... I'm moving slowly.  I am at the point where I'll actually might be laying down track..

AFTER I finished (start) weathering the train yard track,  I'd like to be able to solder the power / wires now, but the exact location of the train yard in relation to the diorama is not set in place.  So I am going slow, as Todd said.. so long ago.  lol. 

  We're going camping this coming sunday or monday.  I really don't care to know all of the details.  I did remind Jeanne of last year's camping expedition.  Last year she came to me.. and said  "I've got a camping ground site reserved for us at your favorite beach"  When she told me that I was quite surprised last year.  Imagine getting a site so late in the season, hmm usually we have to start looking at Jan 1st at the stroke of midnight.

  Well there was a reason why that particular camp site was open.  It was away from the beach, away from everything and next to the ATT SF railroad running right next to us.  Not to make matters worse.. the tracks came straight at us (well almost) and then turned away from us.

  Now being I grew up next to a trainyard,  I figured.. what the heck.. shouldn't bother me hearing the Super Chief going by, it might be kind of nice.   Well~  that night a fast moving freight train went through and moving fast and loud.  I have seen and heard fast freight moving before but not like this.  Running full speed and with brakes on some of the cars.  I would have guessed there were 3 engines pulling this load. The sound of fast moving diesels pulling a load was a bit much.  I don't even know why the brakes were on some of the cars but just imagine hearing the horn of a couple of diesels coming at you getting louder and louder,  plus the sounds of the squealling brakes sounding off. 

  I said to Jeanne,  (in so many words)  "Wow that train is getting louder and louder"  "Its not even here yet, and the noise~and the ground is shaking!"   I mean this, all of you would have been scared.  I said to Jeanne after it passed  "Good thing that train was going the other way.. I'd hate to be here if it came the other way"   "He must have had only so much time to get through and keep the main line open"

  So we go back to sleep, well sure enough  that same train comes back the other way.  And Jeanne says to me as we in the tent.. "Its coming back the other way!" 

  "Ah it couldn't be worse than before~"  I replied.

  Well it was,  seems he was going faster and louder.  This time coming almost straight at us before he makes the turn.  Now I know some people would like to think,  I'm spinning a good 'yarn' here.. but I'm telling you truth.  The sounds and rumbling we more than you could imagine.  Jeanne and I are just waiting for this to come.  You could hear it coming.. louder and louder. 

  Jeanne says to me, "Now this isn't going to derail and come straight at us!"  "IS IT?j"  ... as these Diesel engines blow past us.  I replied "It probably just keep making the same sounds as it comes straight at us"

  The sound was more than you could imagine,  and the brakes were on again making a terrible noise running at full speed.  I stuck my head outside the tent as it blew by,  and it seemed the flatcars were the ones with the brakes on,  maybe to stablized the whole load... I dunno, but that was one frightful event. 

  Jeanne swears to me this time we have a site right on the cliffs overlooking the ocean.

  I'll be back later to document the size of my son's Hound Dawg.  I can't believe the size of this pup .. whew!

   Keith

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Williamsville, ILL
  • 3,698 posts
Posted by TMarsh on Friday, June 18, 2010 9:22 AM

No Jeff, $400 is not a bad deal at all. Around here it would be more than $400 even if it didn't run and no parts. Add in the parts, even if you do have to supply the labor, and you got a great deal.

Todd  

Central Illinoyz

In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.

I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk. Laugh

  • Member since
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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, June 18, 2010 8:26 AM

LSWrr
Jeff, wow, sounds like that van is going to be something with all the work you have put into it.  I can’t wait to see the finished project.

Well there's really not much inside to look at. There's no heat or AC, no stereo and the climate control panel is completely gone. No blower/defroster. The windshield defroster is an electric rig that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket. I bought the van to serve as basic transportation and that's precisely what it will be. Basic, no frills. I'll eventually put in an AM/FM/Cassette stereo and a couple of 6x9 speakers, nothing fancy. The object now is to get it up to the point that it will pass inspection which in this area doesn't take much. Good tires, headlights, brake lights, tail lights, turn signals, warning flashers, horn, wipers and serviceable exhaust system with minimal noise limits. In other words the noise can loosen dental fillings 2 blocks away as long as there's no leaks. No catalytic converters to worry about as the vehicle has never had any in the first place. Being that it's a 3/4 ton it's exempt.

 

 

TMarsh
Jeff- Gee, it sounds like a treasure hunt inside the van. Every space has a spare part or two. Or maybe not a spare part.....Whistling

It was a rebuilding project in progress when I picked it up. It would run and that was about it. I've put a load of work into it and it's almost ready to hit the road. Not a bad deal for $400 considering it came with most of the parts I needed and had $600 worth of brand new tires on it, new brake system, suspension system completely rebuilt, brand new carburetor, new distributor and a newly rebuilt transmission.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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  • 3,698 posts
Posted by TMarsh on Friday, June 18, 2010 7:56 AM

Morning. Biscuits and Gravy please. Coffee too thanks.

Suppose to get more rain today. I hope not.

Rob- I'm with you there Bud, the lighted magnifying glass on a arm thing is the only way to fly. Love it.

Jeff- Gee, it sounds like a treasure hunt inside the van. Every space has a spare part or two. Or maybe not a spare part.....Whistling

Barry- My approach to history would be, up through High School, exact dates and such would not be testable. Example, Knowing about the Boston Tea Party the reasoning and the reaction, or Lewis and Clark and their expeditions are important events in our history. Or knowing what the articles of the U.S. Constitution are. All important things to know about. But the exact dates things happened? Nnnnnot so sure. Ask many if not most kids what is history and they will respond much as I did. Just a bunch of dates. Sorta like reading Numbers and Deuteronomy. Leave most dates out except for the obvious , July 4th 1776, March 2, 1836, and June 15th 1937, and teach the meaning and how it affects and it just might be more interesting than the test pretty much consisting of questions involving exact dates something happened or when an amendment to the Constitution was ratified. Leave them in the books of course and in the discussions, but to make someone fail or score low on a test because they didn't know the exact date Pocahontas pooped for the first time west of the Rockies, is silly. Or what is more important, everyone should know about the rights pertaining to search and seizure, but, is it all that important to know it is was ratified on the 25th of Feb 1967 and not 1956? Or ‘68? To a lawyer or a teacher, yes, but to you and me? Not so much so. My point is, you can teach a child what they need to know and make it much less mind numbing by leaving those dates out of testable material and make sure they know the material and the reasons, it would be much more interesting. Let's save that super specific stuff for the advanced classes, the college classes for those who want to either major or delve deeper into history. Many teachers may disagree, but from where I sit, the majority of kids, react to History in the same way, even if they do well, "it's just a bunch of dates. Pretty boring." Not many kids look beyond that. It just makes it harder for those who aren't as good a student and throws a tremendous obstacle in the way. They can tell you all about the movie Frankenstein they watched or the story they read or even heard, but ask them when it was written, or the dates it supposedly took place. This is not a rant, or even a cry for reform, just my thoughts on the subject.

Gee, that was long. I sure wish I could get back to the train room so I would have choo choo stuff to talk about. Even if it is failures. I need to pick up a couple random stone tunnel portals. There MRR stuff.

Robby- Glad you're not going to tank the review. Honest yes. But so many get a bad taste in their mouth they do ignore the good things, if any, a shop does. That is why I usually don't hold much regard for reviews. Very few people will submit a review if it is a good product, but let it break and they flock to the internet to post bad reviews, so it appears to be a piece of junk when in reality it is actually pretty good. Or funier yet are the ones where they obviously bought something not suited for what they needed, but slam the product for it's inability to get the job done.

(the following satirical example is recited using a slightly puckerd mouth and a funny sounding tone of voice)

" A piece of junk. I bought this little 2-cycle motorized snowblower because they advertised it as being lightweight and rugged. I'm getting older now so I figured it'd be a good thing and still some excersize, but being easier for the wife instead of shoveling. Shel retired last year and I though this would be a nice retirement gift. It is lightweight but after using it just 4 times on my 1/4 mile gravel lane it quit. First the plow board broke, plastic. It is severely under powered, the auger would constantly clog up with a wet show. AND it requires a special mix of oil and gasoline, so that requires a separate gas can just for this POC. Now it's broke and sitting in the garage. Isn't even heavy enough to make a decent anchor. Do not buy.  (no stars)."  

Have a Great Day!!!

Todd  

Central Illinoyz

In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.

I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk. Laugh

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 18, 2010 7:44 AM

 Good Afternoon,

the weather is fairly mixed - a little sunshine, followed by a spell of rain. Just like I am feeling right now, after having received that letter about my job application.

Public life has come to a halt, due to the soccer world championship. Currently, Germany is playing Serbia, with Serbia leading 1:0 Sad Seems, as if there are some open bills to be paid in that match - open since 1914 Big Smile

A friend of mine has invited me to go and visit Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg with him next week - that´s going to be one of the year´s highlights for me.

You all have a good day!

Moderator
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Posted by blownout cylinder on Friday, June 18, 2010 7:12 AM

Hello---

We getting sunshine and mild temperatures again today--27C and not too much stickiness as what Lee's getting---yet----tomorrow is when we'll be sticky and hot---32C with t'underin'boomers in the morning--yay

I'm not going to be doing much MRR'ing this weekend---we be getting all kinds of stuff brought in to the house and me getting photos done and going out with friend doing this---heeheehee

For now I'll have my coffee and a danish please---I'll be at the RC for nowBig Smile

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

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  • From: Euclid, Ohio
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Posted by LSWrr on Friday, June 18, 2010 6:50 AM
Good morning all,

Jeff,
wow, sounds like that van is going to be something with all the work you have put into it.  I can’t wait to see the finished project.

Not much going on here today 85F+ and high humidity by this afternoon, Saturday night and most of next week we are going to get hit with some storms.  I have a bunch of older steam locomotives to remoter and repair this weekend.
 Lee

 

BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret)
 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Shelby, NC
  • 2,545 posts
Posted by Robby P. on Friday, June 18, 2010 5:57 AM

 Good morning.   Its going to be a warm one.  The high will be about 85 degrees.

 Well we went and checked on the car yesterday, and its finally painted.   The body shop manager is VERY worried that we are not happy, and Allstate not being happy.   The gave us a brand new rental car, and told the car will be ready next week.  The suspension problem was a lower control arm.   The also want to make sure the "review" is good.    We won't "low ball" them but we will be VERY honest.

 Today is another day at work.  So no MRR for me.  Hopefully this weekend I can get the two boxcars weathered.  

 Hope everybody has a good day.

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

  • Member since
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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, June 17, 2010 11:41 PM

 Well I checked out the brake lights. The circuit is DOA. I suspect the problem is a bad brake light switch. There's a new one in the glove box so I'll try installing it and see what happens. It's gonna be a tight squeeze as there isn't much room under the dash and at 242 pounds I'm a pretty good sized guy.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Western transplant to the Deep South
  • 4,256 posts
Posted by Cederstrand on Thursday, June 17, 2010 11:17 PM

Some raw mixed nuts w/ raisons, please. 

***Jim, there is NO WAY I could paint HO figures, even with a magnifier. Eye floaters would drive me crazy. Might manage touching up a few, but that's it. You enjoy yourself with those Preisers. Bet you're doing a superb job on them. She got the following carts, along with 2 different sets of women hanging laundry, a CSI group, medics with stretcher, and a couple trees (which after seeing them, wants me to fix them):

 Preiser PR-17224 Shopping Carts

Tonight I put together one of 4 old circus car kits for the wife's circus train. It is a Travis Bros. Flying Trapeze Act car. The replacement couplers lined up perfect with wife's Bachmann 2-8-0 which is her designated circus loco. Should finish Bubble's shed tomorrow and if up to it, will tackle another circus car. If it wasn't for that lighted magnifier, I couldn't put any kits together.

Have a good night y'all.

Cowboy Rob

 

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Thursday, June 17, 2010 10:36 PM

Flip: Hope all goes well with you---we'll continue to pray---

Ray: why so glum my friend?----Whistling

Todd: I was in the same boat--just could not see the value in taking history or english even--now I think that I was dumb for thinking that way---Great work there Sawyer and Joe-----

I'm having fun with some of the revisions--my track planning takes place on paper and pencil---seems I work better that way----

Welp---I best be heading off to get some Zzz Y'all have a good nite----

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

  • Member since
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Posted by TMarsh on Thursday, June 17, 2010 10:28 PM

Strawberry rhubarb pie and a cup of decaf please. Oh, I best get out of the way of the bathroom in case......um.... well, you know, just in case.

I'm really pleased the youngsters among us do so well in school and use the term "worked my butt off". So many today don't take school seriously. I didn't and, like Jim, was an underachiever. I just couldn't see a use for much of what was being taught and certain subjects I just didn't think were worth the time. Now that I'm all growed up, I see I was wrong. No not all the subjects I took were really necessary, and I have my own objections with the way History is taught, for which I will be glad to explain my views (yaaaaawn) but not now. It's late and I'm tired. Anyway, just wanted to say great job guys and stick with it. You may never know what you'll use.

Flip- Are you going in for surgery? You're also in the prayers regardless.

Prayers for those in need.    

Todd  

Central Illinoyz

In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.

I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk. Laugh

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