Elliot's Trackside Diner OCTOBER 2010

[wedudler]

Good evening!

We had a sunny autumn day.

Now I have to prepare dinner. Later I will go into my basement and solder the fourth turnout for a friend. He wanted two dual gauge SG diverging and two dual gauge NG diverging turnouts.

Wolfgang

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 59 and sunny. The high will be 88 with a chance of dust storms.

Nothing special going on today. I may clear some of the seemingly never-ending clutter off the layout and mark off the area that's to be removed. Other than that I don't think I'll be doing much.

[TMarsh]

Good Morning! Stack of Buttermilk pancakes with butter and maple syrup, and three sausage patties and I think I’ll have some of Ray’s dark roast too please. Thank you.

Battle of the Kitchen/Family room is over. I have WON! My table saw blade made it all the way until the last five cuts before it dulled enough to start taking little chips out of the finish of the cut. They are well covered by the trim so it isn’t a problem. I’ll have to see what brand blade it is and buy it again. It made a lot of cuts in laminate flooring before it dulled. And it wasn’t a new blade to begin with. It has earned the right to be called …..good. Now it’s some cleanup, paint trim then attach and I’ll be moving to the Battle of the cabinets. Brenda has taken today off and will assist me. It goes quicker when you aren’t by yourself. One can paint or stain while the other is doing something else. The key to a timely finish on a project is more than one person. Remember that.

Ken-  It’s a 12 amp 10 inch single bevel. (Oddly enough the box says 12 amp. Or was it the sign at Lowe’s. I’ll have to check it out.) for $219 at Lowe’s. My old Craftsman was an 8-½ inch and it was getting harder to find the blades for it. Not hard, just harder to find a good blade. Plus, it was a bit small even for me. It would not cut smaller pieces of trim well unless you carefully pulled the work away from the fence into the blade. A problem the new one does not have as the saw blade extends past the fence and goes deeper into the base so the entire width of the blade is used with no little gap in the corner of the base and the fence. Actually not a gap, but more like the blade just barely reached the area so a shattered corner often resulted. Most times it was usable, but quarter round makes a surprisingly load pop when the blade hooks it an snaps it. I chose 10 inch instead of twelve because twelve is a bit big for me and though it would be nice and cool to have a big miter saw to pack around, I just couldn’t justify the added expense. (about $60 I think) So better judgment won this time. Uses?  I use mine for almost every cut that will fit in the thing. I use it for straight cuts probably more than miters. It insures a straight end on the 2X4’s or 1X4’s, whatever and will make two pieces that need to butt together fit the same. I’m a thinking’ facia. No pull off line at the end or weave from a circular saw or the dreaded “CRAP! Cut that sideways.” I love the thing.

Jeff- Glad you’re feeling better. Though the bone out of the foot story was a bit creepy. As to the wiring, if you have a ot of rewiring to do, I’d take it all out and redo it all. If it’s not a whole lot, then just those parts. Sometimes the aggrivation and confusion factor weighs in heavily with a major rewire to just start clean.

Ulrich- Jeff doesn’t smile. Well except for two occasions when he’s working on the layout and when some idiot does something stupid and gets caught in some fashion. ( he does kinda start to grin when they mention that Mexican food place he likes)

Well,The saw spent the rest of the money I had stashed away and was only short by $40. (but it does work very well and is better than the old Craftsman I must say. Of course we are talking diesels to steam in terms of comparing the two) So, it appears I will start to save again. Kinda wanted to use it to switch to DCC earlier than planned and a trunk floor for the old Roadrunner. Oh well, saved it before, I can save it again. Just money, they print more every day.

Best get a movin, I want to get some stuff done before going to see Mom and Brenda will want to dine out I suppose. ( I need to get a harness attached to the stove) then I’d like to get back to the house and get some more done.

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

[wetidlerjr]

 

10/10/10 !

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

 

[blownout cylinder]

Good bordig--

Welb, I dow hab a code. *coff coff gack hack aaaccccchhhooooooooooo! sniff sniff* Sobody gabe it to be ad dow by dose is all blugged ub.

I had an interesting day yesterday though. Found out that the fellow who used to have his LHS in Woostock ON is still in business--out of his home instead! I've got to pick up a few things from hime still so I'm glad that he is still around.

Flo, i'll just hab a goffee ad a toast with jam blease---I'll be at the bag with by code--*sniff sniff cof*

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.

 Sounds like most of us were busy yesterday.   Me???  I just took it easy.   Went to change a fog light out on the car, but of course the store was out of them.  Went to the LHS and bought a few cars.  Also the owner is letting me sell my cars at his store!!!   Maybe that will take off!!! 

 Not much planned today.  Watch some football, and do some clothes. 

 Sawyer........Those are some neat hoppers.    I don't have much "southern" to look at up here.   My old town in NC, just go down the road.....and you could find a whole line of cars.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Howdy

We drove to Cincinnati yesterday and spent much of today there. We watched the grand daughters at tennis lessons. We had lunch at cheesecake Factory where the girls ate calamari and corndogs. . Next, we drove to Detroit where we just arrived. ....

might not be posting much for a few days.

Happy Model Railroading.

 

 

[Packer]

Hey guys

Cleaned my room/workshop again. After I did that I realized how many project cars and locos I got. Guess I better start slowly chipping away at them. Also found some of my early attempts at weathering, I'll see if I can save them. If not re-paint. Just finding the decals to do 12 FMC hoppers, 2 PS boxes and an FMC box might be kind of tricky. Anyone know where I could get metal ladders for frieght cars? the plastic ones on some of my older cars are broke or missing.

Sawyer, nice pics. I lke the close-ups of the NS B32-8. BN had 3 Dash 8-32Bs, similar looking locos with probably the same internals. The cab and rear louver arrangement is different than the NS one.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Well my sister and niece were going to the rodeo tonight so I had to bow out of that. Way to much walking for me.First there's the parking in the Leesville baseball/softball complex. That means a 400 yard walk to the rodeo arena gates. After that it's another 200 yards to the area where our seats would be then there's the climb up the bleachers. I don't do well going up and down steps and the walk there would have already reduced me to a basket case. So instead I went to my parents place and we had homemade hamburgers while we watched Wheel of Fortune. It was a good evening.

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Flo I'll I'll have the Fried Fish Dinner, Fries, and a trip to the salad bar along with a RBF. 

Spent all day w*rking just up the hill from where the diner is parked for the month.  Just across the lane from the Restoration building at the Museum.  W*rking on the wood pile splitting firewood so the volunteers can stay warm this Winter when they come out to the museum.  I don't know if you have noticed, but the leaves are a bit past thier peak right at the moment.  A lot of bare trees for the last weeks of our Fall Foliage runs. 

Today was a nice warm day with the temperature in the low 70's, lots of sunshine and all kinds of things going on out there.  Had a group from Xerox visiting the museum for a special party, so the 80 tonner was fired up for a few runs during the early afternoon.  Kinda like this, but both cabeese were being pulled by the 80 Tonner #1654: http://www.youtube.com/rgvrrm#p/u/23/JEYpRdRgcyw

Got home late afternoon, fired up the computer and printed out mailing labels and envelopes for the NMRA membership.  I have most of the envelopes stuffed, addressed, and stamped.  Just taking a quick break for a bit.  They will get mailed out before i hit the hay tonight.

Best get back to w*rk....

Later!

73

[cudaken]

Afternoon NY.

 Flo, I am hungry today! To bad I am broke, (spent the day with the wife) so later I will root around in the Dumpster for dinner. I will take a .

 Question I think I have a buyer for my Snap On Box, if I do I sort of want a Miter Saw. Besides making Miter Cuts, what else can a miter saw do? I was thinking about the $100.00 one I showed a picture of from Harbor Freight.

 Train Front Finally ran some passenger trains through the spur and it works pretty darn good. For some odd reason my Erie Built A will derail on the east bound passing turnout. Not all the time, will make it around 10 to 20 times. Seem to do it more at high speed, but over all I am happy with it.

Well, the Money Pit just got home, see you all Sunday.

                   Ken 

 

[teen steam fan]

Hey guys, tall cold diet dew please, thanks. 

Got the quad fixed. Spent 17 bucks on a new bearing, had to because no auto parts stores had Polaris in their computer. The brakes were the worst part of it all, had to crawl on my back under the front end with pliers to snug up the joint. But now it's done

[Packers#1]

Robby P.

 Good morning.  Another nice day.  The high will be about 75 degrees.

 I'm off to the LHS this morning, and grab up a few cars to do.   Maybe start on a new car later today also.   Not a very busy day for me!!

 Sawyer...........Nice shots!!

TSF, yeah man, that's the first time I've seen something other than a EMD Geep here. I started literally salivating a bit when I recognized it was a GE haha. That sucks about your phone, good thing it shut up. I turn my phone to silent when I get to school and turn it off, I've still discovered it got turned on. my guess is somehow the power button accidentally gets pressed. Also, every noise is set to no noise,s o the only way it'll make noise is if it ends up on vibrate.

NERM, thanks man, if you want to sue those as reference pics when you do go ahead, that's part of the reason I take so many shots. I have a few of a GP50 for when I begin that project.

Jeff, the point is so you have it when the bell rings and you aren't bound to many of the rules anymore. And also if something goes wrong and you need to talk to your parents. TSF, yeah, we're also supposed to leave them in our lockers. BS lockers get broken into all the time. I'd rather get caught with it on me, least then I know where it is.

Robby, thanks man, you might want to pick up a hopper or two, check out the last 4 photos.

Well, I also got a chance to go see the Depot and also the Passenger cars. I never got before pics, but needless to say, they were rotting to heck. Now they have a nice coat of Pullman green.


Here's the Depot building:


Now for some HOPPERS
Thought this was a pretty neat shot.

Not really weathered, but still a neat little hopper.

Really neat Southern Hopper, looks like she had a logo on the left.

Now here's three beat to heck hoppers.

[Anonymous]

Just stopping by to say hello!

It has been a sunny, but fairly cool day today, but as the sun is now slowly setting, it starts to get really cold - signs, that the upcoming winter will be a cold one!

Zoe, I´d like to have a mug of hot chocolate and a handful of chocolate chip cookies to munch on. I hope they are as good as Petra makes them

Jeff - ouch! I do hope your foot will be healing soon - I´d like to see a smile on your face, when you post a picture of you again!

You all have a good Columbus Day weekend!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

CNCharlie

Jeff, How's the layout re-construction coming?  It looked like a great plan but I can sympathize with the amount of work.

There hasn't been any progress.

 

 

Good morning. It's 56 and sunny. The high will be 90 and it will continue to be sunny with a 20% chance of dust clouds.

Today I'm not hurting as much as I have been for the last few weeks. I'm sure several can remember that I said I broke my foot/ankle again a little while back. Well yesterday I found a chunk of bone the size of a 1/2" nut that was working it's way out of my ankle. I helped it along and removed it. There was no pain involved, no blood, no mess. I put an antibiotic cream into the wound and bandaged it. I redressed it this morning and it looks good. I can move around a lot better though I still wouldn't be able to win a foot race with a fish. In a couple more days I may be able to start work on the layout again. There's a ton of wires to reroute and I have to put in an additional support leg before I can cut and remove the front center section of the layout. That will give me a walk-in area and make it much easier to service the track at the back of the layout. I'm wondering if it wouldn't be easier to rip out the wiring and redo it.

[cudaken]

 Mourning NY

 Flo, I have French Toast and a cup of Coffee.

 Charlie I am feeling better today, thank you for asking.

 Todd I cannot say I blame you about going with the Dewalt Mitter Saw, by the way how much is it? One's I posted pictures of from Harbor freight are 10 inch and 15 amps motors.

 Today I need to run to Lowe's and see if I can return the POS $4.00 Foam Roller, a Mop my wife wanted (I knew it was junk when she grabbed it) and get a fresh gallon of paint, paint strainers and hope they have paint gun filters.

 What I hope to get done today is the lower cabinet doors and drawer painted. Wish me luck.

                   Ken

[TMarsh]

Good Morning! I’ll have the Finger Lakes #3 Special please. Um, over easy and coffee thanks.

Another day of House Wars. (Changed the name. It’s actually more fitting for me. I’m more like the Battle of the Floor) Will get the rest of the kitchen floor laid this morning and the trim in the Family room and kitchen. Then it’ll be counter top attachment, sink, a few odds and ends then it will be room done. On to the Laundry room and back bathroom. That should be pretty quick (I hope) cause all that is being done is replace the flooring and a sink top. I would like to get to that room today, buit I need Brenda to help hold the sink cutout as I cut it out so's it doesn’t break the counter top.

Robby- I think it’s the yellow. You get rid of Railbox’s pretty quick don’t you? Boy the yellow really shows how good a job you do. The dark colored ones look fantastic of course, but the yellow really shows the work well and the contrasts are striking. Make sure you have some yellow cars for the show.

Thanks for the condolences on the miter saw. But, it was an old one and actually, it may have been for the better. It had a good life and served me well over the years. Earning a position of almost indispensable and favorite tool. Like I said, once you have one, you’ll love it as well. I’ve built many a thing with that saw (sniff) I shall miss it. It’s just too bad she didn’t make it to the end of the bench work for the layout. BUT!!!!! Welcome to the fold the new miter saw. A shiny new DeWalt model (mumble garble grumble) can’t remember. I just read about what it’ll do, size of blade and the amps. It’s a 12 amp 10 inch blade though. Same amps but a bigger blade than the Craftsman. It was an 8 and half or quarter. Can’t remember either. What? Look Flo, I have so much to remember that‘s NOT written down, I don’t waste my super giant brain power on stuff that is easily looked up when I occasionally need to know. It’s written on the saw when I need it and THAT's all I need to know. harumph.  

Chris and NERM- Though I like Harbor Freight and cruise the place frequently. At least for me anyway. I am leery of some of their items. Especially power tools. I’ve “saved” a few dollars before and it ended up……well, not really saving me anything. Instead, costing me the price of the Harbor Freight tool in addition to the one I purchased. NOT knocking Harbor Freight or any of their stuff, just that well, some things aren’t meant to be used quite as often as I use them. There. That sounded good.

 I do like that little air brush. In fact just sent a guy to HF to look for one the other day. He’s one of those gamers who was talking about how he wanted a brush but they were so expensive.

Vincent- “It’s about time” So often I see these people blasting around like me driving the speed limit is soooo holding them back. They drive like the road is theirs and cut people off, speed and complain that I drive like a little old lady when I drive the speed limit. So, when someone like that gets pulled over I say, “It’s about time” they got you you so and so. Usually when someone refers to my driving, (actually very rarely anymore) I look at them calmly and say, “ I have nothing to prove about my driving abilities. I’m happy you feel you do, but I’ve grown out of the  "look how cool I am. I drive fast" stage of my life. So, if you pay my licenses and taxes at the pumps, I will then take your suggestions to heart. Until then, Might I suggest you leave a bit earlier. By the way, I’ve had no speeding tickets and one insurance claim for a rock flung at my windshield by a gravel truck. How about you?” Either they say nothing or that doesn‘t mean anything, just that they got caught ( how's that for a response?), or they say they’ve had none also, to which I respond “…..well then, save your money cause “it’s about time".”

Charlie-  

Well, best get a movin. I hope to get a lot done toda…….Holy cow! Looks like the morning post got a bit long. One of these days I’ll have some MR stuff to chat about. Won’t that be nice? Nod your head Flo. Good girl. AAAAAAAAGH!!! Hot coffee!

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

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.  Another nice day.  The high will be about 75 degrees.

 I'm off to the LHS this morning, and grab up a few cars to do.   Maybe start on a new car later today also.   Not a very busy day for me!!

 Sawyer...........Nice shots!!

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

 

 

[CNCharlie]

Good Evening,

Well we had a scorcher today as it hit 26C which is about 80Fand it is supposed to do so again tmorrow.  Really far above normal for this neck of the woods. Normally we have put away our summer clothes by now but not this year.

Ken, hope you are feeling better. There is a nasty flu/cold bug going around here but luckily I've avoided it so far. I'm being really careful as I couldn't visit Mum if I caught it. She isn't doing very well.

Todd, I also send my condolences. May your saw RIP.

Jeff, How's the layout re-construction coming?  It looked like a great plan but I can sympathize with the amount of work.

Jerry hasn't been by for quite a while but he does post on an N scale forum I look at so I trust he is OK.

All quiet from Jim too.

Looking forward to doing a little relaxation this week-end just sitting in the back yard with a glass of red wine and maybe a railroad magazine. It has been a very hectic week at work and at home too.

CN Charlie

[teen steam fan]

jeffrey-wimberly

 

If you have it turned off while at school what's the point of taking it with you in the first place?

 

I drive to school and my parents have me take my cell phone to call them in case I break down. (Jeep, 4.0 engine in well maintained shape, doubt that's gonna happen.) Besides, kids at my school are supposed to keep their cell phones in their lockers turned off, but hardly anyone does. Besides, stuff has gotten stolen from those lockers in the past. I am NOT getting any of my stuff stolen. A buddy of mine got wiped out, his PSP, cell, and Ipod all in one fell swoop. The school wouldn't make the kid who stole it, (Yes they found him) pay for the stuff he stole as he already sold it. The school itself did pay for it but I'm not getting on the soapbox about that one. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

teen steam fan

Had my cell phone go off in 8th period today at the end. I'm standing there talking to 3 or 4 other guys near the end of class, one minute to go and all of a sudden Tornado's whistle comes out of my pocket. Thankfully I grabbed my pocket and shut it up. I have no idea how it turned on because I turn it off as soon as I get to school. Still haven't figured out how that happened and one of the guys I was talking to knew it was me but didn't say anything.

If you have it turned off while at school what's the point of taking it with you in the first place?

[the North East Rail Modeler]

teen steam fan

Had my cell phone go off in 8th period today at the end. I'm standing there talking to 3 or 4 other guys near the end of class, one minute to go and all of a sudden Tornado's whistle comes out of my pocket. Thankfully I grabbed my pocket and shut it up. I have no idea how it turned on because I turn it off as soon as I get to school. Still haven't figured out how that happened and one of the guys I was talking to knew it was me but didn't say anything. 

Outch. Well, I guess it's good luck that you didn't get caught wth the thing.

It's because of stuff like that, why I don't have a cell-phone. They always go off at the worst times. Even if you were sure that they were turned off.

 My sister and I had to walk home today from the bus stop, and Mom told me to have a cell phone for the walk (we have been having more problems with crime in the neghborhood, and Mom wanted me to have a way to get help, if we needed it) All throughout school, I was as nervus as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockin' chairs.

Well, have fun tomorrow.

[teen steam fan]

Well, I know I'm late, but earlier I just stuck my head in. Hopefully Monday I'm going out riding with my friends. Don't worry guys, I'll be safe and I tread lightly. Might post some picks if I can find my camera and get it working. But first things first, Need to go get some parts, being a 16 dollar bearing from Polaris. Hopefully that's all I need, but I'm gonna price a brake line and buy it if its cheap for insurance.

Had my cell phone go off in 8th period today at the end. I'm standing there talking to 3 or 4 other guys near the end of class, one minute to go and all of a sudden Tornado's whistle comes out of my pocket. Thankfully I grabbed my pocket and shut it up. I have no idea how it turned on because I turn it off as soon as I get to school. Still haven't figured out how that happened and one of the guys I was talking to knew it was me but didn't say anything. 

[the North East Rail Modeler]

Good evening. I'll take a milkshake tonight.

cudaken

 Todd, where do we send the flowers? I was on the Harbor Freight web site today and did look at miter saw's. They have a couple on sale for $100.00 and $75.00 and reviews where not bad.

Yep, that's one think I know about Harbor Freaght is that the tools are just as good as the other stores, but are cheeper without a sale. Yet, they go ahead and slash prices across the store for no reason.

Good tools, Good prices, Good DIY days

 Packers, Really nice photos of that NS Dash-8. I'm going to scratch-build one one of these days.

  Let's see, On my scratch-build list: almost every model of diesel locomotive that was used in the U.S.A.

 I'm a scratch-builder. What Can I say?

[teen steam fan]

Nice find Packers, kinda cool what you can find. Nice avatar.

[Packers#1]

CHECK IT OUT! Norfolk Southern sent a Dash 8 to work the Aiken Branches. I also got soem pics of a few interesting hoppers, I'll share them later

[Packer]

Hey guys. Didn't stop in yesterday because I was helping my father finish up his LTD LX.

I called athearn today about my RS3 motor and they said to send it back to them and the'll send a new one.. So now to find a box small enough for it. I also started cleaning the gears out on some locomotives I have, but I ran into a problem with removing the old lube. I was using Vaseline as lube and it seems to stick to everything but the gears. I've been soaking them soaking for 3 days in 70% alcohol... So, What removes Vaseline that is plastic safe? Or do I just have to wait longer for it to come off?

Jeff, I hate those types of people that tell another how to run their lives. One neigbor lady reported me for tying my dog to a stake in the ground. She complained that I'm supposed to have a dog runner. Well the dog nearly killed himself when he tried to jump the fence when on the runner. The stake was far better.

Todd, Okay, but I don't get the "it's about time" part. I would think it's more of a "karma" or "take your own advice" thing

Ken, not sure on that either. I can turn the motor by hand and it binds in some spots. When running it sounds and feels like a rock tumbler.

Sue, would you happen to know if the NP grain boxes (like the athearn model) had silver roofs? It's kind of trick to find photos of boxcar roofs.

[cudaken]

 Afternoon NY

 Flo, nothing for me but ice water.

 I am 90% sure I am coming down with something again. shoulder and neck has hurt all day. Now I feel like I am getting a fever as well.

 Todd, where do we send the flowers? I was on the Harbor Freight web site today and did look at miter saw's. They have a couple on sale for $100.00 and $75.00 and reviews where not bad.

 $74.99

 $99.99

  I went to Harbor Freight I did pick this up.

 Had pretty good reviews, top being a 5, it scored 4.5. Most of the reviews where from people shooting latex paint! Plus at $16.99, well I have spent that on rollers, paint trays and brushes. Long as I can find my air regulators I am good to go!

 Here is a link.

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/paint/household-low-volume-low-pressure-spray-gun-92841.html

 By the way, how do I make a Live Link?

 Hope I feel better Saturday, either going to see the Challenger, or get some painting done!

                              Ken

 

[Flashwave]

galaxy

Evening guys,

Yep computer been hit by another virus. One of those that list a whole bunch things wrong with your computer {viruses, adware, spyware, trojans, email worms} then offers you to BUY their "cleaning system" to "clear up such matters". and locks into your computer interfering with what you a re doing and probably meawhile keeping track of everything you do to.

It also interrupts service and causes problems when you start up / turn off your computer by blanking your screen saver.

Have to call the computer man again. Going to be gone tomorrow. so we will try to keep computer going til monday when I can call computer guy? The computer is also a gift from a friend who maitains a company contract with hte computer repair people so he maintains it for us, but may nto if we have to have another virus removed. Not sure where the other half goes online, but i don't go too many places online, but do do a lot of google searches.

Let me intorduce you to a tool I found. It's called Web of Trust, and is a user-rated anit-popup. Quite simply, you get one of those pop-ups that people have red-flagged, it re-routes to its own screen and says "Hey. people have had problems here. Do you want to continue?" And to date, I've yet to have it flag anything that I knew was safe. It doesn't catch anything new, but the few day old pop-ups are usually well taken care of.  I run a triage of stuff as reccomended by my Mom, who's a tech wizard for IUPUI: Symantec Anti-Virus, Adaware, and Malwarebytes. Between the three of them, t'aint nuthin gets missed. Used to run Spybot, but more and more it's a bloated program.

Also, next time you get one of those, kill your internet network ASAP. They don't tend to download until you click on something, and without the internet to keep fueling that fire, you can more easily close it out and the page it came from. Works for me.

And becausde I saw it in my skimming: KILL. MCAFEE. It's almost as bad about pop-ups as it is that virus.