Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Elliot's Trackside Diner September 2010 Locked

69920 views
790 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Shalimar. Florida
  • 2,622 posts
Posted by Packer on Sunday, September 5, 2010 5:28 PM

Hey guys

Got the A/C in my car fixed finally, after a major "Doh" moment. If you guys remember the relay box I got from before? When I put it in, the A/C didn't work ; so I took it back out and used the old one. Today I went under the hood to check the wiring to the compressor to see if a joint between the relay box and the compressor was bad. Well guess what I found when I looked under the hood? The compressor was unpluuged! Dunce. Plugged it in and put in the new relay box and viola, cold air!!! lesson learned, plug stuff back in.

In train news, I got the box of stuff I ordered from hogtrainz, a set of TOFC cars I bought, and I bought another SW10. The hogtrainz box had 3 accurail AAR welded boxes (one each, MILW, GM&O, MKT), 5 packs of branchline bluepring metal wheels, and one Kato motor. I had ordered 2 Kato motors and a CN&W box (same type as above), so they refunded me for them. The set of TOFC cars was all athearns, 1 each C&O, UP, SSW, PFF (PFE or a TTX car?). The other SW10 hasn't come in yet.

on those SW10s, one will recieve a sound decoder and I'll add weight to them both. I would like to light the beacons, but the location makes in nearly impossible... I might be able to get it with fiber optics, but it won't be very bright.

I also modded an older Kato/Atlas Century chassis so I wouldn't have to pry the weights off, clean them, than glue the weights back down every time I have to have it apart for maitenence. I wasn't really looking foward for drilling metal through with a pin vise, and using my full-sized drill would be bulky. I had an idea to make a home-made mini-drill though.

Home-made mini drill: I Took a spare athearn motor, took off one of the flywheels and attached my double ended pin vise to the bare shaft. then I stuck my drill bits in the other end. Not nearly as fast as a drill, but better than pin vise my a mile. I used an older DC powerpack for control. It was kind of tricky to use whole holding the pieces in place, but it worked and I had good control of the speed.

Garry, happy belated B-day

Jeff, I did something like that the other day. I was adjusting the fender bolts (lining the fender up) and the wrench contacted the postive terminal. that was pretty shocking. I didn't fly or nothing. Just spassed out and ended up kind of flinging the wrench.

Vincent

Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Western transplant to the Deep South
  • 4,256 posts
Posted by Cederstrand on Sunday, September 5, 2010 4:39 PM

Strong coffee in a  UNION PACIFIC  mug, please.

***Garry, that is a good pic of a true mobile home, (and our new desktop background).

***Todd, nice layout progress there!

Ripped out all the street lamps from the wife's (HO) town last night, including those I worked so hard to place in front of the hospital. Had to rip out the hospital to get to themBang Head, so will have to fix the pavement now, too. Anyway, installed 3 new lamps and will try to get 3 more done tonight.

Been working on the future front pasture, mostly root-raking in the evenings. These days a couple hours of that plumb wears me out.

Hope everyone is doing well. Cheers! Cowboy

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Sunday, September 5, 2010 12:01 PM

I worked on my father's truck this morning. Yesterday I couldn't get the passenger side window to go back up. Power windows, gotta love 'em! The problem turned out to be a loose wire on the control switch. It took less time to correct the problem than it did to get the door panel off and back on. Then I went down to clear out the Century a bit more. I went all through it removing anything that had my name or address or any other personal info on it. Then I removed the magnetic signs and flags from the doors. They had been on there so long it was almost as if the they had bonded into paint. The fire dept sign on the right side came off with some persuasion but the one on the left side ripped all to pieces. They had only been there since 2000.

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
    July 2006
  • From: upstate NY
  • 9,236 posts
Posted by galaxy on Sunday, September 5, 2010 10:56 AM

Morning guys!

Well, we went to Railfest 2010 at Steamtown. They have visiting modern diesels from: CSX, NS, CP, Amtrak,someone else {I can't remember who},and the vintage diesels Steamtown repainted for Lackawanna,and the Reading lines, which pulled the excursion to Moscow, PA. with Steamtown engineer Bernie, who has been in Railroading since 1948 and obviosuly will be caried out of the loco cab and put into the ground as he is so devoted to RRing the guest engineer at the helm. There was also the NS exhibit car, which was only exciting if you got to "drive" the trian engineer simulator {the line was long so we didn't get to}, and a full compliment of Amtrak cars-which I alwasy find claustrophobic in nature and could not imagine cooped up in for a few days in a small berth!

They ran both steam enigines, #2317 Canadian Pacific G3c Pacific for the local "Scranton limited" yard ride, and #3254 Canadian National Mike for the "vintage caboose ride" run, which only ran back and forth on the same track in the yard all day. 2317 is supposed ot go away now for her 1374 day teardown/rebuild after today. Today {Sunday} they are supposed to run an excusion with a steamer pulling the way. They had some major track work going on in the yard so they had the setup all discombobulated we thought, but it worked, I guess. The static steamer displays were NOT back from asbestos abatement yet, so people new to Steamtown for this railfest could have been disappointed.

In the backshop, #26 is still in lots of pieces and doesn;t have her boiler tubes in yet, and they say she will be ready to run next summer? It seems as if the only things they got really accomplished on her this summer was the slopeback tender, which done which still  isn't even set on the wheels yet, either. MAybe they are optimistic they can get it done by next Railfest Next Labor day weekend?

The "Big Boy"'s cab was open to the public. They painted her preservation black with red handles and boy were there a lont of them! I woudn't want to be a fireman to have to know which ones did what! Even the guide didn't know what they all were for.

Boy were there some REAL "IDJIOTS" there. NOt just "idee ots", but "id jets" staying on the tracks, or too close to the tracks while the trains "played" in the yard!!!!! Talk about making the engineers nervous and the ground crew and conductors had to keep yelling at people to get out of the way!! Some people!

There just did not seem to be as much "substance" to this year's Festival. I don't know why. Of course, after just one hour of standing around watching them play with the steamers, my back {to borrow Jeffrey's phrase} began hurling major insults at me. ANd the weather held off rain, but the breeze was a bit chilly and after just 3 hours the buffeting of the wind on us was getting too much.

 Misery loves company and our RRfan nut friend also has back problems on the order of having had surgery to install a electrical nerve pulse stimulator IMPLANTED in his body, so his back was feeling it, my other half has back aches if standing still a lot {which we did} and I of course, have my own back issues, so we all three were like the walking wounded walking around with canes! Boy getting old and having problems si nto fun. We took a sit down break every 45 mins-1 hour to rest our backs. I can see a Disney WOrld trip in our future might be problematic as I just can;t stand that long. WE actually left after just 4 hours, but had seen everything we wanted to see, and sat the last half hour watching them load the excursion train till it pulled off to the sunset so to speak. I did find the cane to be of help, and am glad it was yesterday we went as today is chillier and windier here than yesterday was. I was a very tired {fatigued} boy when we left.

Today definitely feels like fall to me. The house a bit chilly at 65* this am...shoulda worn more than jsut shorts to bed. Today is far colder than yesterday, but we are 20* + leower than Fridays temp. That often happens around here the first week/weekend of Sept that the temp drops and stays down. It is only to be inthe lower 70s this week I think.

Of course the cold I caught from my other half is now settling into my chest, which is bad for me as I am prone to brochial infections and pneumonia. I hope I get over it fast and that doesn't happen! GOing to the DR. won't really help unless I get real bad as they can't do much but give you worthless antibiotics, which either don't work, or the germs will be resistant to anyway. I am certainly miserable today though.

WEll, that is all for today, I need to get some much needed rest as I dont feel very good and havent been sleeping well lately either.

TTYA'LLL8R

 

-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.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Sunday, September 5, 2010 10:03 AM

Mornin' everyone!

(Mornin' Bill)

Zoe I'll have the Spam, bacon, cheese, spam, egg and spam sandwich with lots of dark roast coffee to warm me up this morning.  On second thought, I just remembered I don't like spam, so you can give my spam to Garry to take camping with him........

Garry. nice camper ya got there!

I Have to look through the thousands of family photo i inherited from my dad one of these days and see if there any of the old farm trucks we had (1934 & 1936 chevy 4 ton axle).  Learned a lotta that redneck stuff myself grownin' up on a farm in Hopewell...

Currently 59°F here in the Finger Lakes under partly cloudy sky and lots of wind.....  Nice weather to tackle the lawn mowing ordeal.  Probably need to check the garden to see what is ripe out there and should be brought in as well. 

Is it my imagination or is the info/ad bar on the right hand side of the page getting wider every day????  I have this 3" wide gray nothing on it after "Shortcuts"......

Best get a move on!  later!

73

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

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Shelby, NC
  • 2,545 posts
Posted by Robby P. on Sunday, September 5, 2010 9:54 AM

 Good morning.  It's another cool morning. 

 I finally decided to see if I can get some of the "street running" this morning.  I finally made my way down to the street and I made it in time to catch a CSXT coming by.  I also get a shot of the street/rail, and Jessica got a shot of a old school house.

 Now my plan is to work in the basement some.  Maybe make some boxes, and work on a Ann Arbor boxcar.

 Todd........Your layout is really coming along.   Nice shots!!!

 Enjoy the pictures everybody!!

[View:http://cs.trains.com/trccs/themes/trc/utility/:550:0]

[View:http://cs.trains.com/trccs/themes/trc/utility/:550:0]

[View:http://cs.trains.com/trccs/themes/trc/utility/:550:0]

[View:http://cs.trains.com/trccs/themes/trc/utility/:550:0]

[View:http://cs.trains.com/trccs/themes/trc/utility/:550:0]

 

 

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Sunday, September 5, 2010 9:47 AM

Good morning....

I'm on my good behavior today. It's our anniversary.

Jeff .... People can call you redneck only after the van looks like this one. They are a bit premature with the redneck comments now.

It be fun to make an HO reckneck truck like that one.

Ulrich ... perhaps you can scratch build a model out of inexpensive materials just for fun.

Todd ... the layout is progressing very nicely! ... It'll be a great layout some day.

Happy Model Railraoding!

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: K.I.S.S- Keep it simple stupid
  • 676 posts
Posted by teen steam fan on Sunday, September 5, 2010 9:32 AM

Morning guys. Short stack of pancakes. Thanks. 

I think its my turn to put a dime in the jukebox. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKYY8RlqTTs

Gotta haul some boxes for a friend. So my little jeep's got a 3 place snowmobile trailer hooked up. Once my supervisor (the person I'm hauling for) shows up, I'm on the road. 

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!

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 5, 2010 8:44 AM

Good Afternoon Folks,

Flo, I´ll go for a Barry-sized Hamburger with all the works, and a RBF, please. Goodness, don´t let Petra know this. Although I don´t have a cholesterol issue, she likes to keep track of my food intake.

It is a nice and sunny day today in northern Germany, but with a definite "smell" of autumn in the air. Temperatures have reached a comfortable 17 C, after only 2 C at night. This is my kind of weather.

As my funds still don´t allow for any MRRing, I have been watching some old (and boring) movies. Petra and I went for a walk in the neighboring forest, where we could watch some deer basking in the sun. Lots of squirrels, busily collecting nuts for the coming winter - a sure sign, that we will be in for some cold weather - or may be not, should we go to Tanzania!

Still no news from that end, but they had announced that they will be out for a few days.

Todd - that layout of yours is coming along nicely

Redneck repairs? I never touch my car, other than cleaning it and maybe giving it a lube job. I am glad My Renault runs like a jewel and is covered by a 1 year warranty!

You all have a good day!

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Williamsville, ILL
  • 3,698 posts
Posted by TMarsh on Sunday, September 5, 2010 8:38 AM

No Redneck repairs for me. Never.

OK, so I decided to make good on my promise of update pictures first before leaving. Happy? Good.

(pins a couple pictures to the wall) Now, the photography is less than good, but when it comes to that, so am I. As youall  know I have not been able to do anything in a while, so naturally all is a w**k in progress and nothing is even close to being done and is not presented as such. (the preceding statement was not directed at any frequenters of the diner. It was for forum legal purposes only.)

This is looking at Gold Creek from the west with the Post Office/ GeneralStore/ Bar up and to the left. To it's right will be the Dance Hall. Were the glue gun is will be the B&B.  Where I am standing is against the wall (actually, in the closet) and where the corner will expand to for the next yet un named town. Not sure what will be there other than a passenger station. Possibly a residential area in the closet. To the right on the peninsula is the Tourist Trap Town

 

This shot is from the south. You can see the so far Tourist trap town in the upper left on the peninsula. In the foreground is the beginings of the elevator and where the benchwork stops will continue around und up shot to the unamed town. To the right off screen, is a couple businesses that I neglected to get in the shot. Maybe next time.  

So that's where I stand now. Hopefully, I'll be back soon with more stuff done and it will look better.

Next.

 

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
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Sunday, September 5, 2010 7:59 AM

 Flow, a big Dew again, nothing to eat for right now.

 Jeffery If you install a fan in the dog house you will have heat now!  One thing I have learned in messing with cars is "just because it is new, does not mean it not broken". Have you checked to see if there is gas getting to the carburetor while the engine is just cranking? could be a semi clogged fuel filter or a weak fuel pump if the accelerator pump is good.

 Far as the You just might be a redneck comment, glad you where not P/O. I as well have came up with some rather creative (Redneck) repairs. One time on a 70 Charger I had, the top radiator seam split, fixed with Body Filler till I could get the tank fixed right. Then there is my 70 Cuda, neutral safety switch went bad and car would not start. Hooked up a remote hand held starter and ran it to the dash. It as only temporary fix.  Been like that for 10 years?

           Ken 

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: IN/USA
  • 2,495 posts
09/05/2010
Posted by wetidlerjr on Sunday, September 5, 2010 7:27 AM

 

 

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Williamsville, ILL
  • 3,698 posts
Posted by TMarsh on Sunday, September 5, 2010 7:26 AM

Good Morning, coffee to go please.

On the run this morning.

Have a Great Day!!!

(seems like I  was just in here. Hm, I was.)

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

Moderator
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: London ON
  • 10,392 posts
Posted by blownout cylinder on Sunday, September 5, 2010 5:18 AM

Good Morning

We are to see a mix of sun/cloud today with our high going all the way to 70F. By Tuesday we will be right back to the swing of things with another sticky day of about 85F and high humidity again

Right now I just finished off another crisis call and have just about enough time to fill out incident reports on this one--so I'll be doing this before I pass out.

Chhloe, I'll have a larg IV bag with rawcaffeine please--I'll be at the window booth for now--

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
    November 2008
  • From: Williamsville, ILL
  • 3,698 posts
Posted by TMarsh on Saturday, September 4, 2010 11:07 PM

Good evening, Raspberry Iced Tea please. I like that stuff.

Started part of the upstairs bathroom floor theis afternoon prior to going to work. I shouldn't have as all I did was worry about the time and had nothing but problems. Brenda says it looks fine, I think it looks like crap.

Zan- All in all I think you'll be happy with DCC in spite of the hidden expenses at this point. I'm still on DC and not sorry about it, but I do see DCC in my future. IF you do not already have your layout wired for DC then I would go DCC. (I know you don't) Me, I'm wiring for DC, but with DCC in mind. It wil be and easy switch for me.

 I was gonna say something else but can't remem.... Oh! Jeff- pretty nifty idea you have there. Pretty good hand warmer for those days when the temps drop into the 40's this winter too.

PFTIN.

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
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, September 4, 2010 10:57 PM

Zandoz

Jeffery: Your starting issue with the van carb brought back memories...Long ago and far away,  I ended up putting manual choke kits on 3 different  MOPARS, all with the venerable 318 V8s...My mom's 70-something Dodge "Street Van", my dad's 68 Fury, and a friend's 70 Coronet.  All three developed similar failing to start symptoms after settting longer than a couple hours, within a matter of weeks of each other.   I remember for a couple weeks having to frequently pop the engine cover on the van to start it for mom...I wish I'd thought of the access hatch solution.

Your mention of the 1970 Coronet got my attention. I had a 1968 Dodge Coronet that I bought for $150 in 1980. As I remember it was registered as a Dodge Aspen Coronet R/T. It had a 318 with a 4 barrel under the hood and it had starting issues too. No problem starting it, just keeping it running. It would have to be revved up slowly to near redline before it would run without stalling out. After I pitched the 318 and dumped a 426 Hemi with a high rise crossram intake and twin Holley carbs in it that ceased. It looked good and sounded better. Didn't pass many gas stations but it ran great! You'll never believe what I rescued the 426 from. A heavy duty forklift! The guys who had it couldn't get it to start. I looked at it and told them I wanted the engine. They practically gave it to me for $50! At that time it only it only had a two barrel on it. What a waste! Wanna know why it wouldn't start? The hot wire to the coil was broken inside but the insulation was unbroken. I spotted that. After I repaired the wire it started up and purred like a wildcat. Best $50 I ever spent!

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
    January 2005
  • From: Alexandria KY
  • 470 posts
Posted by Zandoz on Saturday, September 4, 2010 8:34 PM

Good evening folks!

Sigh  Well, I did it....I took the DCC plunge.  I hope I don't regret it.  For the past several weekends I've wanted to make the trip to the semi-local train shop...something always come up that derailed the plans.  Today I called to ask if they were open, this being a holiday weekend...they were...then I thought to ask how wheelchair accessable they are (never been there before)...they were not at all.  After discussing it with my wife, we decided to go ahead and go, I'd stay in the car, and she would call me from inside on her cell, so I could explain what I wanted (wife did not know DCC from XYZ).   Off we went.  After a few minutes inside, wife called and put the shop owner on the phone...he said he'd just come out to the car and talk to me directly.   He told me he had one Digitrax Zephyr in stock, and it was a very good price.  Yes  Then came the bad news.  I had brought along my Kato F7 A&B set, my pair of Kato RDCs, and my Atlas VO1000 for an estimate on decoder installation.  Though Digitrax apparenly makes a designed to fit decoder for the F7s, the owner said they would not install them because they have frequent burnout problems...he recomended TCS decoders, and they would probably be custom installations at about 3 times the price of drop-ins.  He said the RDCs would be even more likely to be custom installations.  The VO1000 would definately be a custom installation.  End result being that  he'll call me with an estimate of how many times more than what I had expected the cost would be. Bang Head

Jeffery: Your starting issue with the van carb brought back memories...Long ago and far away,  I ended up putting manual choke kits on 3 different  MOPARS, all with the venerable 318 V8s...My mom's 70-something Dodge "Street Van", my dad's 68 Fury, and a friend's 70 Coronet.  All three developed similar failing to start symptoms after settting longer than a couple hours, within a matter of weeks of each other.   I remember for a couple weeks having to frequently pop the engine cover on the van to start it for mom...I wish I'd thought of the access hatch solution.

Have a good one, all.

Reality...an interesting concept with no successful applications, that should always be accompanied by a "Do not try this at home" warning.

Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.

"Oooh...ahhhh...that's how this all starts...but then there's running...and screaming..."

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, September 4, 2010 7:57 PM

cudaken

Jeffery, you just might be a Red Neck. I mean that in the nicest way. Why not replace the accelerator pump? It would have taken about the same time! Just hope it does not backfire while you have the hatch open!    

        Jeff Foxworthy

You bet your Big Boy loco I'm a redneck! An Indian but still a redneck nonetheless. If there's an easier or simpler way to do something I'll find it. That's one of the things my father likes about me. I come up with ways to do things that don't even occur to him. The carb shouldn't need the accelerator pump replaced. The whole thing is brand new, not a rebuild job.. It doesn't have any of that electronic stuff in it either. It's a good old fashioned dumb carburetor.

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
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Saturday, September 4, 2010 6:49 PM

Jeffery, you just might be a Red Neck. I mean that in the nicest way. Why not replace the accelerator pump? It would have taken about the same time! Just hope it does not backfire while you have the hatch open!    

        Jeff Foxworthy

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Saturday, September 4, 2010 6:24 PM

Evenin' folks!

Flo just a cup of decaf if you please.

Well....  Today was my BILs Memorial service at a little country church out in the Bristol Hills (here in NY near Canandaigua lake).  Place was packed!  Bernie had a lot of friends over the years.  The Card and Photos I sent to the family were displayed in the church during the service.  My niece gave me a bug hug when I got there thanking me for the photos and started to cry....  She is a sweetheart!  There was a reception put on by members of the church right after the internment of the ashes.  We then went back to my nieces house for the party!  Got to see and chat with several people from the Fox side of the family i haven't seen for a bit.  Got home about an hour ago.

Was cool and windy all day.  We all agreed it was much better to have it 65°F and windy than 95° and 90% humidity and no wind!

Some kits came in yesterday, so I may get a few minutes to get some MRRing done tomorrow..  The lawn is getting high again so if doesn't rain (we are getting a bit of the turbulence from Earl right now) I may have to get it cut tomorrow.....  I'll play it by ear. 

Speaking of piano players....  What ever happened to Tom White....  I see him out in the main forum from time to time.  I miss his photos of the cats (and everything else).

Later!

73

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

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Saturday, September 4, 2010 6:05 PM

Howdy ..

Thanks again for all the much appreciated b'day greetings.

Jeff ... Yes, that's "inventive".

Chris ... Thanks for the link to the photos. I like #104. The bridge has character. So does the Burlington passenger train.

Ulrich ... I've not heard back from CO friend. His town is at about 9,000 feet above see level. I think one end of town is 1,000 feet higher than the other. Perhaps, they averaged the altitude. There plenty of towns not so high.  Meanwhile, it might help to research the chambers of commerce or visitors organizations and ask what to do.

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, September 4, 2010 4:45 PM

Well I discovered this morning that to get the van started for the first time of the day I have to prime the carb. Now I quickly realized that taking the dog house (engine cover) off every time I need to prime the carb would get very old very fast. So, being the inventive guy that I am I cut and hinged part of the drivers side of the dog house. The hinges are on the bottom and it's held tightly closed at the top by a sliding barrel lock. The locks normal position is down so there's no danger of it vibrating open. Tools required: Dremel with cutoff disk and drill bit, drill with screwdriver bit, pliers, JB Weld, knife. I cut about 6 inches high and 7 inches wide in the left side of the dog house then used the knife to carefully cut the insulation lining the inside. I mixed up some JB Weld and applied it to the back side of the piece from the dog house and pressed the insulation down on it. I then drilled 4 holes in the piece and ran 1.5 inch machine screws through from the outer side so the ends of the screws came through the insulation (washers on each end). I put a nut on the end of each screw and while holding each nut with pliers I used the drill to spin the screws tight. That done it was an easy matter of placing the hinges and screwing them down. I then put the piece in place in the side of the dog house drove in the screws for the lower half of the hinges. I then placed the barrel lock at the top and drove the screws to hold it. Here's a couple of pics to show the end result. One with the side closed and the other with it open.



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
    July 2006
  • From: Marion, Iowa
  • 1,263 posts
Posted by AmanaMedic on Saturday, September 4, 2010 3:26 PM

Good afternoon....bucket of coffee please 'n thank-you. Yup, cool enough for coffee again (for the next day or so...).

JIM: Thanks Pally! We'll see here in a few minutes if THAT eightball w**ks or not...Whistling

After sleeping in far, far, far later than I'd planned to (Noon-ish), Ima w**king on photos and a game summary from last night's high school football. I'm less than thrilled with what I got for photos. Some of it, is the great lighting (brand new field/lights, last year) wasn't so great this time around. I really need a "fast" lens, but THAT isn't in the budget for at least a year. I think the lights (with a year of use on 'em) aren't as bright also...sounds like a cop-out, but last year I was getting shutter speeds of 1/250th and 1/200th. I was lucky to get 1/160th and 1/125th last night with the same equipment, same settings. Ever try to stop a football player at 1/125th?? They get a bit...blurry. Bang Head

In happier news, a dude posted the following link to the Ames Railfans Group on Yahoo...it has some nice UP and CB&Q stuff from Omaha in the late 60s.

http://www.pbase.com/deanej/trains

 

I'll be in the back booth trying to hammer-out captions and a game report...

Chris (Kalmbach, I want my 8-ball back...)

 

 

 

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

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Shelby, NC
  • 2,545 posts
Posted by Robby P. on Saturday, September 4, 2010 2:12 PM

 Well the yard sale went but, but it was pretty cold today.  Mainly windy.  Now its time to grocery shop.

 Jeff........Well it was something I didn't know went together!!!   It was my VW Bettle, just chromed the whole engine, and I said to myself "let me change the nasty filter".   I spilled some of the gas on the engine, but didn't think much about it.  Tightened the screw down (filter) and went to start the car.  Looked in the mirror and "flames!!!!".  Jumped out the car, grabbed the hose (you can laugh at this point now) started spraying water......Well it got worse!!  Finally grabbed the fire extinguisher and put it out.  The bad thing is......The chrome was covered in smoke.  I had to polish the chrome, but none melted.    So much for me being a mechanic/fireman!!

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Canada
  • 1,745 posts
Posted by JeremyB on Saturday, September 4, 2010 2:10 PM

Hey guys

I like the new forums we have, its been quite a cool day here in S.Ontario, really starting to feel like fall. I was just wondering has anybody heard from Jerry lately? havent seen him post a few weeks?

- jeremy

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Western transplant to the Deep South
  • 4,256 posts
Posted by Cederstrand on Saturday, September 4, 2010 1:20 PM

Strong coffee in a Burlington Northern mug, please.

***Garry, a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you. Hope it was a good one.

***Jeffrey, I gotta admit to being partial to Ray's idea of a 5-chime rail air horn.Headphones

Wife & I dropped by the not-so-LHS ealier this week. Picked up some cheap street lamps for her town, made by Model Power (I think). Regular little bulbs in them, but should be "safe" to use. Also picked up a different set of WS figures with a better representation for the "Bubbles" character (Trailer Park Boys). Just need to paint some glasses on him.

Hope everyone is doing well these days. Cheers! Cowboy Rob

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Saturday, September 4, 2010 1:02 PM

Jeff, yeouch man that had to hurt, glad the van is running though!

Ulrich, I'll hopefully start it before Christmas. The main thing is benchwork and track. I'm going to swap to Micro-Engineering track and I also want to use ME turnouts for AT LEAST the mainline turnouts. I hope we don't have as cold a winter here either; our rugby games are in February and March.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    November 2004
  • From: Cape Girardeau, MO
  • 3,073 posts
Posted by JimRCGMO on Saturday, September 4, 2010 11:01 AM

Good Morning, Janie - I'll have the #2 special, scrambled, with wheat toast, blackberry jam, couple of stripes of bacon, and a Rio Grande mug of coffee, please. Thank you!

It got cool in Cape G-land last night - 'twas 52 F (11 C) this morning. Only supposed to hit 78 F (25 C) today - Yep, feels like fall is here! I almost decided to wear a jacket heading out to the laundromat and Diner (but didn't). But by Monday, back up to 90 F (hoping the humidity stays low).

Belated Blessed and to Garry - did you celebrate by having 'Bait Shop Pizza'?

Sue, how come you have to raise the sawmill area? Are you going double-deck on your layout? (Dang! Missed you two times!)

Chris, I got your email, though. Thanks! And guess what I found? (Feel free to borrow it...) Whatcha got going this weekend for THAT editor, by the way?

CN Charlie, I got an answer back from Walthers on the P2K grabirons, offering to send me a set of the grabirons, but the guy at Walthers said he used the A-Line grabirons set (about 50 in the whole set of varying sizes, I guess) for more durable ones. I'm thinking I may go THAT route (durability would be better, IMHO). (And I won't tell the beavers if you don't...).

Ulrich, I think rather than a trip to the outhouse in the night, I'd find other ways to manage that problem. Wouldn't want to be a midnight snack for one of those five beasties.

Galaxy, I went to my opthalmologist yesterday and told him that I (like you) was having dryness of my eyes also. He gave me some samples of some eye drops (might've been that Systane, I'd have to head home and look at the box). He also said my eye pressure was doing very well (one was 10 and the other was 12 - of whatever units they use to measure THAT). The nurse checked with the doctor when she did the field of vision test, and only checked the right eye (my good one, so to speak). Guess the left one's not changed and the central area's mostly gone; my vision in that eye is good around the edges. I'd already had some optic nerve damage in that eye by the time I noticed and saw the doctor the first time. So all you Diners, remember to get your eyes checked (especially as you get older), okay? And Galaxy, good to hear the Kia was covered under warranty.

Barry - about those layout photos? What Robby said. (I at least want to see somebody else's progress, so I can get motivated enough...)

Hi - I see you were in, Inch - have you heard from Jerry lately?

Ray, that's not good on 'Anacrucis', and sure hope the estimate is the maximum that it will take to fix that bearing. That's one impressive set of horns you linked to there.

Jeff, all that effort and hunting down, and then it bites you? Sheesh! No wonder you weren't feeling too chipper. I certainly hope that's all you need to do on the van for a long time.

Todd, doesn't sound like you've had time to do much on your layout lately. I can understand that.

This evening, I will finally get a chance to catch up with my buddy Mark again. He's treating this time. Ah, I see my laundry's about done across the street, so almost time to go.

Think I'll see about some progress on that transfer warehouse I started a lonnnngggg while back (the Walthers modulars one). Also see about painting some stuff (like shells on my two P2K GP7's and maybe also the Athearn GP9, for the CAW) while it's nice outside on the deck (aka my spraybooth). Might even get photos up by Sunday or Monday (but no guarantees).

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Olympia, WA
  • 2,313 posts
Posted by gear-jammer on Saturday, September 4, 2010 9:55 AM

Good morning, Chloe.  Coffee and a cinnamon roll, please.

Garry,  Hope that you had a Happy B-Day

Today, I will try to get some ballast/dirt done on a stretch of track leading up to the log landing.

Later, Sue

Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Williamsville, ILL
  • 3,698 posts
Posted by TMarsh on Saturday, September 4, 2010 9:14 AM

Good Morning.

Garry- Happy B-Daylate!!! Cake

More w**k at Mom’s house.

Inch- Sound great! Except, that weekend is the Williamsville Fall Festival and Brenda is in charge of it. So, if I miss any part of it I will……..die.

Jeff- (still laughing from your description of the shocking experience) Do not feel like a dunce. I've worked on vehicles for over 30 years, over twenty of those “professionally” and I cannot even begin to count the times something simple was overlooked because of the evil “A**-U-ME” I'm sure J.R. will say the same thing. And, since I seem to be jinxing things lately, I will reserve my congrats on the van until after you get it inspected and running for a few days. Get the bugs worked out ya know.

Actually, while we are on the subject of bugs, I knew of winged ants but not of winged termites. Then one day while working on a previous project to get Mom’s house ready to sell, I noticed a herd on the drywall and some damage. I sprayed with killer and examined the little buggers at which time I noticed that the body did not fit with that of an ant, but more that of a TERMITE! At which point I’m sure you know what I thought and said out loud. Several times. Called the exterminator and they came out, checked everything sprayed and said to relax, the grinding machines haven’t showed yet and explained pretty much what Tom said. A little drywall mud and some plaster and good as new.

Speaking of Mom’s house I must get going because I have to w**k tonight for someone and I lost almost half a day to that.

Bill doesn’t say much does he. Just sits in the corner drinking coffee and smiling.

Y’all have a Great Day now ya hear?!!!

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

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!