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Elliot's Trackside Diner September 2010 Locked

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Posted by howmus on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 10:07 PM

Evenin' folks!

Flo just a decaf for me tonight...

Long first meeting...  Found out the Kabob Lunch our Deacons put on to support the Pastor's Discretionary Fund will be on Oct. 3rd.  Actually we picked the date tonight....  Nothing is in place for it and it is 3 weeks away.  Oh Joy, Oh Rapture!  Not only THAT but several of our usual people who take over and make sure everything gets done are on the (how should I say) Injured Reserve list......  It's been a Summer of surgeries, family problems, and hospitalizations for several of my Deacons.  Going to be an interesting 3 weeks ahead I think.  We appointed people to several roles, but i will have a bunch of phone calls and arm twisting sessions to get this done......  Fun being where the buck stops at times!

Flashwave

Ilegal? Is this to open up more bands for federal use or what?

It is actually a long story.  Started about 10 years ago.  I knew about it as a professional Sound Man and check all my wireless equipment to verify I don't have any in the 700 KHz (actually 695 to 805) band.  That band was originally used by TV Broadcasting.  The wireless transmitters were squeezed in between the frequencies used by the TV stations.  What happened is that with the completion of the move to Digital Broadcast for TV, the band was given to Public Safety use.  Aka: Police, Fire, and Ambulance.  All other uses of the band had to stop last June.  At my church no one ever thought to check the band we were in or even had a clue about it (It didn't click with me either), and first learned of the problem a few days ago when we were looking at repair for 2 units that are now cross talking.  Our Pro Sound supplier looked at his records and did a Oh $#!%!  He is working to get us some new units at cost from a well known company....  What we do in the mean time I have to work out with the finance committee and the pastors, sound tech, and a few other entities.  I can supply legal working mics for a few weeks no problem, just need to find out what they want to do.  You can read about the ruling here.

Have a great night everyone!

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 AmanaMedic on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 11:00 PM

**WARNING** I'm stepping up on the soapbox...

howmus
What happened is that with the completion of the move to Digital Broadcast for TV, the band was given to Public Safety use.  Aka: Police, Fire, and Ambulance.  All other uses of the band had to stop last June.

A "peachy" ideer on somebody's part... OK, now we've got more frequencies to conduct our fire, EMS, and po-leese business on. But, our current radios won't work and play nicely on the "new" bands...so, it's a good time to own stock in Motorola! Johnson County (Iowa City area) just made the switch about two months ago. Our chief bureucrat Emergency Mis-Management Agency doofus says we'll make the switch next year. He wants to move two or three departments at a time. No word on how we'll get six truck radios, a dozen handi-talkies, and 20 pagers up-graded or (more likely) replaced.

Keep in mind, two years ago the County had this bright idea to install laptop computers in all Sheriff's cars, each ambulance, and one per fire department. It was supposed to give us real-time mapping capability, and help the dispatchers to keep better track of us. Huh? Welp, the "test units" failed miserably. Normal truck vibration coupled with piizzzz-poor roads all but rendered them "shaken, not stirred." The brand new 'pooters, mounting stands, hardware, etc.; all sat in a pile in a storage room at the Sheriff's Office for well over a year. I think our EMMA doofus finally sold 'em to somebody else. THAT or he's decided to dedicate his incompetence to other projects.

Back to the radios, I'm sure it all makes sense to somebody, somebody with the power to issue yet another un-funded federal mandate.  I haven't seen (or, more appropriately, heard) any problems with a lack of frequencies. I realize part of it deals with "interoperability," or the ability for a Fire unit to be able to speak directly with a Po-Po car, or units from hither and yon, and vice-versa. But...THAT's why we have "State Fire," "Law Aid," and other various "common" frequencies on our radios; and have for a long, long time.

The most terrifying words in the English language: "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help." - Reagan.

OK, I'm off the soapbox, it is back in its corner...

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. I've got iTunes playing on the "iTunes DJ" setting. Haven't looked at the playlist, just letting it roll. As I tacked up the pic of Clarence 134, our first-out pumper, "Fighting 17th" from the movie "Backdraft" started playing...

Chris

 

 

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Thursday, September 9, 2010 12:10 AM

 

Hello everybody. End of a long busy day here.

Below is photo I took from rear of Amtrak train in Colorado.

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, September 9, 2010 12:36 AM

AmanaMedic

OK, somebody please explain to me why these wireless systems are now banned/illegal. Is it due to the govt's stupid wide-band/narrow-band crap THAT forced digital TV upon the masses, and will force my Fire Dept. to get new radios next year??? Angry

Pretty much. All our depts here have already had to upgrade. My old police 2-way is no good for transmitting anymore but it still receives just fine, only on the lower frequencies we still use in the field. Our main equipment is in the gigahertz range now. We had to reprogram the base radio at the station and put all new radio equipment in the trucks at significant expense. Speaking of digital TV, the system the local cable company has (converter boxes for analog TV's) stinks. My parents have it and they're become more impatient with it by the day, as some channels come through with minimal interruptions while others are interrupted several times each hour. For the converters to work properly the cable system within the home must be in perfect condition. My parents system was installed over 10 years ago and is far from perfect. It was good enough for the cable of the time but not for this new crap. I keep telling them to go to satellite and I think I'm starting to wear them down. I get perfect reception on all channels and I get way more channels than they do for less than they are paying for the digital cable trash they have.

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Posted by LSWrr on Thursday, September 9, 2010 6:19 AM

Good Morning,

Cable vs. Satellite; Yea what Jeff said.  The big secret I guess is the cable company uses satellite dishes to receive your programming and send it down a wire to your house.  Every time they add a few homes to the cable a booster is required on the pole due to signal (power) loss from the cable length (Ohms).  If you have a dish on your house you’re cutting out the middle man.  The satellite box has its own booster.  

Ken, so do you have a loose motor in that locomotive?

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

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Posted by Wisconsin Railfan on Thursday, September 9, 2010 6:29 AM

Good Morning Folks!

Just a cup of coffee please.

Chris - Thanks for posting another C&NW picture - I have not worked on the loco for the C&NW diorama yet - I am just about finished with the dio, I have been a little busy lately.

Have a great day all!

Steven

The train came by and I got on, that’s when it all began
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09/09/2010
Posted by wetidlerjr on Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:09 AM

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

 

 

 

Geeked

 

Dinner

 

 

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

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Posted by Robby P. on Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:22 AM

 Good morning.  I'm fighting allergies this morning!!

 Well I spent the day in the basement yesterday, and will probably do the same today.    Other than that, not much planned.

 Chris.........I see you found a eight ball.

 Garry.......Nice shot!!

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

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Posted by teen steam fan on Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:42 AM

Morning guys, late start day for me. 

Chris-You got your 8 ball back Happy Day. 

Oh, and Rob, your not the only one. My allergies are driving me nuts. Do you have problems with certain candle scents worsening yours?

I got to do Matrix work in Algebra, So I've gone through several Ipod apps to find a calculator that can do matrix operations. 

 

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

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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 galaxy on Thursday, September 9, 2010 8:17 AM

Morning guys,

WEll today is errand day. Get my other half's check and bank, shop for groceries and household and a new small portable heater for the bathroom, if they are even out yet. Gets a bit chilly in htere when nekkid and all wet and the old one burnt out the fan motor the other day. If I was really adept and a new fan was cheap enough I could probably replace it myself, but I wouldn't know where to even get a fan that would fit a small ceramic heater. Besides, I already threw it out in Mon's trash. The old one lasted about 5 years of daily use aobut 2/3 of the year. one thing I cannot stand is being chilled while nekkid and wet, and my other half is worse than I am at it. Hopefully they willhave small portable heaters out at Lowes any way, if not Wally WOrld. Hope to find one for around $30, but expect to have to pay about $50 as nuttin is cheap these days. $19.99 would be even nicer!

Chilly and breezy today possed to be around 60-ish. In fact all week we will be lucky if we see a high of 70* on two days only. Brrr already! rain will drizzle in and out today also due to lake effect rain showers. Watch it will only rain when we go into or come out of the stores and buildings today.They say we typically start put at about 73-75 the first day of the month and end up downhill all the way to about 60-63 by the end of the month for highs. Bummer. My birthday is comming up the end of the month and I always hated the arrival of it as it definitely means winter is on its way. My other half's b-day is in the middle of April which is happy time as spring is springing and warmer days are to come.

Do androids dream of electric sleep?

WEll, I suppose I should jump in the shower {actually I will step in very carefully} and get ready to start the day.

Have a great one guys {and gals}!

TTY'ALLL8R

 

-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 TMarsh on Thursday, September 9, 2010 8:38 AM

Good morning, coffee please, something has my head all a dizzy kinda whoozy thing. Better make it that extra caffeine thing some of theses guys drink.

Coffee  Indifferent Thumbs Up

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 jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, September 9, 2010 9:00 AM

galaxy

 

Do androids dream of electric sleep?

I have no idea. I'll ask the next time I see one.Laugh

 

Good morning. It's 75 and cloudy. The high will be 94 and it will be mostly cloudy. There's a 20% chance of thunderstorms.

Not much on the schedule today. Just going to use the time to get some rest. I didn't get much sleep last night due to bone pain in my ankle so I'm not feeling all that great. About the only task I have to accomplish today is too scrape some overspray paint off the windows of my van. That work goes fairly quickly as long as I have a sharp blade in the scraper. Also have some touch up painting to do.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
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Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
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Running Bear Enterprises
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beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by howmus on Thursday, September 9, 2010 9:49 AM

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have the egg, bacon, and cheese muffin and a pot of dark roast coffee in a FGLK mug this morning.  I think I'll quietly go sit in the back booth.

What's all the shouting about?  Ah... Chris had the wrong button pushed last night?  Did it have anything to do with something I said?  Kinda thought it might..........  Well tell him I said, "sorry".  Didn't mean to start something here. Tongue Tied

I'll be picking up the truck this afternoon and have a meeting (Pack 6) tonight.  Have a couple of contacts for church to make as well sometime today.  If a package I am expecting arrives, I may find my way downstairs to the trainroom and spend some time model railroading.

Catch everyone a bit 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 AmanaMedic on Thursday, September 9, 2010 11:22 AM

 

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Mornin', BUCKET of coffee please 'n thank-you.

Thanks to JIM, I again (as some have noted) have an eight-ball! Cool Living at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Ball St...in the dwelling I call the "eight-ball house," what else could I do??? THAT and I perpeptually feel as though I'm trapped "behind the eight ball" on a routine basis...

RAY: Not to worry good Sir, I wasn't shouting about it...just pondering out loud about the whole deal. Actually, it's one of those deals where shouting does no good. Apologies all around if I did raise my voice up on the soapbox.

JEFF: Do I dare ask how the transition (FD radios) went???

"Do androids dream about electric sheep?" Douglas Adams??

W**k today will consist of writing an article about Solon moving from Class 2A to Class 3A in sports (bigger schools), trying to get some people to answer their phones, and trying to nail said people down for interviews IF they do answer their phones. Tonight is high school volleyball coverage, just down the road in Mt. Vernon as my Clear Creek Amana Clippers face the Mt. Vernon Mustangs (Lady Mustangs?). Tomorrow is going to be miserable. The forecast is for rain/heavy rain...with the "best chance" during high school football. Unless there be lightning, the show WILL go on...StormUmbrellaIndifferent

Well, best get at it I 'spose... the blasted telephonic device isn't dialing itself, THAT article is writing itself either.

Anybody know where I can get a paranoid android? I mean, with a brain as big as a planet, he oughta be able to knock this crap out for me toot-sweet fast right???

Chris

 

 

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

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, September 9, 2010 12:09 PM

AmanaMedic

JEFF: Do I dare ask how the transition (FD radios) went???

About like you'd expect. There were some new functions to get used to, channels moved around, different ways to turn them on and off. On the old systems you just turned a knob or flipped a switch to turn them on and off. On these new ones you select what you want from an on-screen menu. Whoever designed the darn things never drove a fire truck in their life. It requires that there be another person in the cab to operate the radio as the driver can't take his eyes off the road to read a menu. The newer hand held units (Kenwood) are a disaster. The power on them is so weak that they can't reach the truck a 1/4 mile away while our old Motorola HT1250's (reprogrammed) can hit the repeater almost 20 miles away. Guess which one I prefer. We're tossing the new hand-helds as they break down. Until we find something that works on par with the Motorola units we'll stick with them. Just goes to show that newer is not always better.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

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


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Posted by Flashwave on Thursday, September 9, 2010 12:42 PM

Afternoon guys. Hmm, what's for lunch, I dunno, just bring me a milk and I'll get'cha when I figure it out.

Interesting stuff Ray, Chris, I still however fail to see the point. Ah well.

Some friends and I are doing Never too Late at a barn really nice barn playhouse Opening Night!

Bill Tidler: (Somebody grab him on his way through next) You're in Tipton, get something for us from Pork Fest. (Pictures?) ITM is taking the cabeece up there, and running between there and Noblesville. I'd do it but I'm playing Stage-God.

-Morgan

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Posted by Robby P. on Thursday, September 9, 2010 1:17 PM

 Just  a quick stop.

 Other candles and smells don't really bother my allergies.   Maybe its the animals after all of these years Whistling.

 Here's a Ex.B&O hopper.  Now its a CSXT hopper.  Got some grime and load spill going on!!  I hope to have it finished up by this weekend.

[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?"      

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Posted by AmanaMedic on Thursday, September 9, 2010 4:01 PM

Goooooooooooooooooooooooood Afternoon...plate of cheeseburgers please... I've got cross country and the article on Solon moving from 2A to 3A done. Time for a snack.Dinner

"Interesting stuff Ray, Chris, I still however fail to see the point. Ah well." Well MORGAN, what it boils down to is a simple idea: THAT anybody on an emergency scene (fire, EMS, law enforcement) should be able to talk to anybody else on the scene via the 2-way radio. It's a simple thought...and a good idea. But, fire has had it's own frequencies since radio was invented, PD and EMS as well. Trying to get anybody to agree on truly "common frequencies" has been made problematic for a variety of reasons. Different agencies not only operate on different frequencies, but different "bands" as well... Cedar County fire depts on 154.000 for example, Cedar Rapids Fire on 900-something. Then, factor in the explosion in cellphone use, and a plethora of other "wireless devices" operating on a limited frequency/band spectrum... and some genius gets the idea to scrap the existing systems, ban existing equipment, make other items (analog TV) obsolete...and re-invent/re-configure the whole darn shooting match. In theory, we'll get more "space" to use, more channels availible; and ultimately, more "common frequencies" so my Chief can talk to the Sheriff's Deputy blocking traffic down the road without having to rely on a dispatcher to relay the message, or work-out a "patch" between different frequencies.

Simple idea, convoluted complicated, bureucrat-ridden solution.

JEFF: Thanks...yup, just about what I thought. I just can't wait... We have enough trouble with the handi-talkies we've got getting bumped off the "right" channel, I can just imagine the "fun" we're gonna have when the interior crew has to break out the manual to find the right channel before going in... You're right, the guys THAT design these things have NEVER used them under real field conditions. Super Angry I'd love to see these guys actually try to USE these things in actual fireground conditions. Never happen...but a guy can dream right?

 

Back to RR stuff... The only thing I'm sure of with the future RR, is THAT the CCP yard can be modeled completely, yet greatly condensed. What I mean, is it is only 5 tracks (6 counting the "main") wide. The length and capacity will be cut, but THAT isn't a problem. I don't need to hold "84 40' cars" the way the real one can (per an Illinois Central track chart). And, with the new thought to have the Quaker traffic off-layout, the following scene CAN be replicated:

The hoppers on the right are blocking the main. This was a Cedar Rapids to Manchester train before the power came up the tracks to the right, and put it all together. The Quaker plant in the background will be the wall of the RR room, to the left will be staging. To the right, the ex-RI roundhouse and shop buildings, and the City Yard. From there...I'm still debating.

Another debate has now gripped my warped mind. Around the walls of the RR room are a CNW yellow and green band, seperating "darker sky blue" from "lighter sky blue." I'm starting to think maybe, since it's a thematic device, maybe the band oughta be Chicago Central and Pacific colors on the CCP wall...but then, do I do IC/ICG off-white and orange? or red with a white stripe???

1600, time to get back to hammering out stuff for THAT Editor. I have to head-out for volleyball at 1730/5:30.

Chris

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

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Posted by galaxy on Thursday, September 9, 2010 4:02 PM

Hi guys

Try ALLERGIES AND A COD at the same time! makes one rather miserable! ANY type of scented products can set off my allergies teen steam! I am very "scent sensitive!"

Well found the new little ceramic heater for the bath. It was only $16.00 at Wally World so it was a bargain compared to what I was expecting to pay. Identical to the one we had but white in color and seems to have a stronger blower fan than the old one. AMybe the old one was wearing out a long while ago before it quite completely. I wonder about a fan motor like that around all that moisture in the bath, but need it to warm up the bath so don;t freeze when nekkid and wet. Other half more susceptable to cold that way than I am, but i don;t like to be cold in the bath either. It does get cold in there and we have to use RV antifreeze in the tub drain when temp gets below 20* or it, too, freezes.

spent $167 on food stuff at Wally WOrld...even there food budget gets strained these days. As other half is only part time and I am on disability I think it time we applied for food stamps. May not get a lot, but anything to ease the food budget pressure will help. I hear people making about 40k can still be eligible so we should easily get something.

Well RObby P. that is a Chessie you are "defacing" there...I might have to pick a fight with you over THAT!  Wink

WEll don't know yet what's for dinner but Judge Judy is on now so I gotta tune in so see y'all later!

-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 jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:26 PM

We've been getting rain and thunder showers from late afternoon into the evening today. Glad I got the touch up painting on my van done before the rain started. My nephew was so sure it had a radiator leak. Nothing serious. Just a little rusted area around the overflow. I blocked it up with some epoxy. The radiator has anti-freeze in it now and there's no leaks anywhere. The scrap yard made an offer on the Century today. $100. That's fine with me. I'm surprised they offered that much. They should be out in a day or two to pick it up.

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 cudaken on Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:40 PM

 Flow, just a Dew please.

 Well did not make in for breakfast, had way to many Beer last night. Took the Rubber Band Drive RDC last night for a spin and it turned in to a full blown Train Night. Broke out some engines I had not ran for a while. Then got the Big Boy out dragging some fast freight. Darn that Loksound 3.5 in the Big Boy sounds great, and get it up to 50% power it gives me AH, well it makes me happy. At one point I had 5 trains running at the same time, sure keeps you on your toes.

LSWrr
     Ken, so do you have a loose motor in that locomotive?

 LSWrr, I have it on my desk, but have not broke it open. I don't think it is a lose magnet. When I spin the flywheel by hand there is no dragging that I can feel. I wonder if you can just buy bearings that will fit?

Johnny Lighting Cars Just got my first order from Die Cast Alley. They shipped in a realizable time frame and was well packed. I am very happy with the J/L cars even if they are a tad big at 1/64th scale. But for $2.99 to $6.99 they are a good deal. As a whole they seem to be true to scale (other words match each other) with the exception of the 68 Shelby GT 500. It looks a little big when compared to my 69 Charger.

 Lawnmower War I called Home Depot Tuesday about the POS I had. I was told on the phone if I had the receipt (which I do) they would do a exchange on the spot. Got there Wednesday with the POS, now they want to send it in for repairs! Grumpy Boy I went off on them! Department Manager finally gave in and did the exchange but said "You have had the mower for a long time now, it should be a warranty repair". Now I do see his point, picked it up on May 7th. But I pointed out to him "My Central Hardware Central Park Lawnmower worked for 17 years with out a problem, so it does not seem long to me". He did see my point.

 The new one, well it starts and I can adjust the cutting height easier (same model) but I see problems coming. Engine will not stay at a constant RPM. Does not change much, I would guess 100 to 150 RPM's, just sufficient to get on my nerves.

  Night all, see you folks in the mourning.

                             Ken

         

I hate Rust

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Posted by Packer on Thursday, September 9, 2010 8:11 PM

Hey guys

Cleaned out my work bench and room for once. Found my kadee clearence drill, several kadees, and a few metal wheelsets. Also found that one CB&Q box I got from Jeff. In other train related news my other SW10 showed up, but it was far from NIB. If ebay had a rating for used by 10 year old, I think that'd fit it pretty good.

Chris, I see you got your 8 ball back. Would you happen to know if CNW had ACF (railbox) boxcars? I checked online to see if my athearn BB one is legit, but the only cars I found close to it's number were berwicks. I guess I could change out the stirrups to make it look more like a Berwick.

Funny you metnion your police ditched the laptops in cars. Most of the police carrs here have them, yet the roads are bad enough to knock mirrors off of cars (I have to dodge the holes and stuff otherwise my car will scrape and bounce a little bit). Sometimes I think it may distract them when driving. I was driving back from school last night and a police cruiser pulls right in front of the car in front of me. I could hve sworn there was a laptop on in the car.when I went by him later.

Galaxy, I've got a few cheesie cars that I'm going to have to weather. I don't think I'll patch them for CSX, since I don't think CSX had been formed as an RR yet in my modeling era (77-87)

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.

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    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Thursday, September 9, 2010 8:20 PM

Ken, check out my updated sig, have the Dodge colors flying now.

Well, had a practice game for reffing today. Went good, I knocked the rust off and did a decent job. Had some fun out there, it was the U11 age group so 9 and 10 year olds; instead of asking "goalie, are you ready?" I asked them "GOALIE, are you ready to ROCK?!" Hey, no sense being a boring ref lol

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Thursday, September 9, 2010 9:16 PM

Evenin' folks!

Just a cup of decaf Flo.  Had way too much for supper tonight.

Just got home from a Cub Pack Committee meeting tonight.  THAT time of year is upon us!  The month has just started and I have already had two nights where I had to miss one meeting in order to attend another meeting.

Chris, you know I was just jerking your chain this morning....  First time I heard about the lose of the bandwidth, I was not a happy camper.  Got over it as soon as I found out it didn't affect any of my current equipment.  i had an old Nady wireless in THAT bad when I first got into using wireless mics for Gigs but THAT had long since been put on the "only use if absolutely necessary" shelf and has long ago been recycled.  Seems like everything you buy today has some reason to be wireless, so the channels are getting crowded, and it does make sense to keep everyone else off emergency bandwidth. 

I think about what it took to get a fire truck out to a barn fire fire back when i was a kid....  First you had to get THAT lady down the road to get off the phone so you could get an operator.  "You don't really have an emergency and I want to talk to Ethel!"  Then you had to hang up, and pick up again and hope the operator had disconnected the line.  "Number Pahleeze?"  Operator our barn is on fire!  "who am I talking to?  Oh hi Bud!  Put your Dad on the lIne!"  Can't he's throwing water on the fire......  Oh, a few minutes or later the siren would go off, and thee truck would lumber out of the firehouse a mile or two down the road.  They would then arrive and keep the 2 or 3 hundred neighbors who got there first away from the fire so they wouldn't be hurt.  Then we watched it burn down......  Well, it didn't happen to our barn, but it did to a couple of our neighbors when I was a kid.  I think we forget just how good our fire and emergency systems are today!

Didn't get to do any MRRing today again, but a package did arrive by UPS with some items in it.

My son Matt is the Director of Communications and Public Affairs for Argonne National Labs outside of Chicago.  Part of his job is to oversee the publishing of information about the research done at the Department of Energy Laboratory.  He sent me the link below to let me see a recent article on the research and involvement in the Automotive X-Prize program.  Check out the horsepower of some of the finalists and remember they have to be able to get the equivalent of 100 miles a gal.

Some really amazing things are in progress out there, many are not ready for publication yet, but breakthroughs for solving many energy related issues are on the horizon.  Many companies like GM (just to name one) rent space and use the lab to work on such things as technologies that will be used in the Chevy Volt....... He told me of some truly amazing technologies they are working with out there.

Automotive X Prize Program Contest

Enjoy!

73

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

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Western transplant to the Deep South
  • 4,256 posts
Posted by Cederstrand on Thursday, September 9, 2010 9:34 PM

Pickup died today in our driveway, right after a hay run. When I went out to drive it to the barn, dashboard lights & beeeeeep came on as usual, but not so much as a click from the engine or starter. Battery drained fast, but would recharge fine. Sound like a dead Starter to you guys???

Sigh Rob

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Marion, Iowa
  • 1,263 posts
Posted by AmanaMedic on Thursday, September 9, 2010 10:25 PM

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Evening, plate of cheeseburgers and a bucket of coffee please, long night ahead at my sports desk/photo desk/general news desk.

RAY: I kinda thought THAT was the case (jerkification of the chain), but just in case... I have been known to rattle the pots and pans around here.Whistling And yup, it is kinda amazing how far emergency response has come. They still had the "fire phones" in Clarence into the 1980s. Upon receiving an emergency call for the department, the Sheriff's Office would dial the fire phone, and the firemen would be alerted THAT way. When the 911 addressing came in, I guess it gave some people fits. "Merle's Road" was now 150th St., THAT kind of thing. The dispatchers still get people who call in with things like "we're on the second road down from Schlobotnik's old farm." Huh? E (enhanced)-911 and the CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) says they're at 3647 Walker Road...THAT's where we're going... with at least one pumper, the tanker, the equipment van, and the brush truck; with mutual aid either rolling too or on standby.

But yes, we DO still sometimes have to just watch the barn burn...

VINCENT: I still gotta get your couplers in the mail. I had 'em mostly ready to go, cleaned-off a good portion of my w**k table...now I gotta find the relocated pile they got relocated into. I guess you could say they are in an "undisclosed location!" Bang Head As for the CNW boxcars, they had ones similar to the Railbox...but older. They had the couregated, corregated, hell's bells...they had a lot of rounded things on the ends...like the AccuRail exterior post boxcar. I had an Athearn blue box in the "new" or "Traditional" yellow, numbered in the 155000 series. Looked good. Found it was "too new" for THAT class of car. It now is a kitbashed MoPac car (has Rivet Counter ticket punched by Flo on her way by...). The Berwicks were...610000 series, I think. I've got one by Branchline, nice kit! I need a few more for Quaker Oats food product service. IF the CNW Freight Cars book wasn't on the other side of the room...I'd have evidence to back up my ramblings. The CNW 155000 cars started out kinda boxcar red, a lot of 'em got the Zito with black ends and silver roofs. For some reason, THAT series of boxcar looked really good THAT way. Hard to explain. Roush Bakery and Quaker used 'em in Cedar Rapids.

Here's what a typical one looked like:

I think this one is a Berwick in the same general number series:

And this one is the Branchline (Blueprint Series???) offering:

Now, with all THAT said... the Athearn is "close." It wasn't close enough for me...but if it is for you, I'm not gonna squawk about it!Cool

Gotta get back to w**k...the clock ticks ever closer to FACETIME with THAT Editor!

Chris

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

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Shalimar. Florida
  • 2,622 posts
Posted by Packer on Thursday, September 9, 2010 11:15 PM

Rob, Sounds like a starter to me. The one in my car went bad not to long ago, it wasn't kicking the gear out so it was just spinning.

Chris, My car is has a number of 156187 (Technically a rail runner car) My car is a closer match to the 2nd car pictured. right number of ribs on the side, stirrups, and doors. Just the end ribs, lettering and logo placement (not on a plate) are off. This one is as close as I've gotten to the car in question:

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=410956

IMO, the athearn railbox boxcar is kind of inbetween those 2 you posted. Might leave it for a while. When I did more searching, I found some list put out by the CNWHS. It says the car is not not-prototypical. Dunno how that one works out though... I'll get a pic of the car when I show how I'd been painting the roofs of cars silver (noticed that on a bunch of BB cars, and some DW cars too)

I think I've been getting a bit better about the accuracy thing though (rivet counter ticket also punched). The last 3 accurail cars I bought I made sure that there was a prototype for them (would of been 4, but the place ran out of the CNW welded AAR boxes). Never built a branchline berwick before, the not so-LHS has a bunch in IC.

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
    November 2008
  • From: Williamsville, ILL
  • 3,698 posts
Posted by TMarsh on Thursday, September 9, 2010 11:36 PM

(yawn) Good evening It's late and I'm tired. I think I'll just have.....Zzz

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
    July 2006
  • From: Marion, Iowa
  • 1,263 posts
Posted by AmanaMedic on Friday, September 10, 2010 12:49 AM

Hmmmmmmmm, seems TODD has done gone unconscious. Anybody wanna help me move him to the back? No?

VINCENT: Yup, I dug out the "CNW Freight Car Roster and Pictoral, Freight Cars Journal Monograph #14" by freight car guru David Casdorph. THAT number do belong to a batch 'o boxcars built by Berwick for "paper products." I read somewhere THAT the herald plates didn't last very long. The various forces exerted on them by the cars rolling down the track often caused the welds to break, and the large metal plates to fall off...Surprise Naturally, I never found any in my times along the ROW...

Having seen THAT the cars are for "paper products," I'm still assigning mine to Quaker Oats, guess they'll be bringing in pallets of cereal boxes, ready for Cap'n Crunch to fill with his Cedar Rapids made CrunchBerries. One easy "fix" to make a boxcar look closer to the prototype is hacking off parts of the side sill to match. The Branchline kit wasn't too bad...lots of little "bits," but no worse than the Athearn PS boxcar kits. TheBay seems to have a bunch of 'em.

I know I've got some "foobies" on the shelves. Most of the Athearn grain hoppers have either been chopped into CNW converted cement hoppers, or repainted to IC orange for the CCP (waiting to get decals). A couple of others are waiting for replacements by Intermountain to be built/painted/decaled, then they too will either get chopped or repainted.

Overall, I just try to get something THAT "looks right." But again, what "looks right" to me, and what "looks right" to you...may be two different things. To each his own, be governed accordingly...

 

Hey Flo? Now I've got a hankerin' for some CrunchBerries... got any? I'll be at the Rivet Counter. I'm still waiting on a coach to make good on his promise to have stats from tonight's last night's volleyball match posted to Iowa Quik Stats. I can't write my article without them. Angry

Wanna know who lies more than a politician? A HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS COACH.

Chris

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

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: IN/USA
  • 2,495 posts
09/10/2010
Posted by wetidlerjr on Friday, September 10, 2010 4:46 AM

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN

 

 

Geeked

Dinner

 

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

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