Ah what a day! W*rk has in me Cleveland for this and that. Spent all day in airports and on planes. Not to mention I forgot to pick up a copy of GmRR 2011 before I left. Didn't see it in any airports either, but I didn't expect to....off to sleep.
Kyle
PUGET SOUND LINES
"Service, Pride and Efficiency"
Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Evening, bucket of hot apple cider please 'n thankya.
Welp, I managed to not get arrested at the AMTRAK event yesterday. I thought about shouting out "you LIE!" a time or two, then saw the gorillas in the black suits with the funny things in their ears...and decided against it. What gets me about this AMTRAK project, is I just don't see how it will live up to the hype. Almost 1,000 people traveling between Iowa City and Chi-Town every day by train? Really? "600 good paying jobs here in Iowa when we need 'em most!" Probably an out-of-state contractor like RJ Corman... with some temporary local help.
They're saying 2013 for getting the service from Chi-town to the Quad Cities, 2015 to get to Iowa City. They do want to expand to Des Moines, then to Council Bluffs/Omaha. OK, THAT makes a helluvalot more sense. But, they already have a route across southern Iowa. However, duplication of effort is apparently just dandy when a poly-tick-ian up for re-election next week can stand next to a large "check" for $230 million, and look at the cameras and say "see, see what I brought you good people? See how wonderful I am?" Ultimately, Ray LaHood wants AMTRAK trains everywhere...no matter where you want to go, the train will get you there. Of course, he is also on-record saying he "wants to get people OUT of their cars." Well....I want to stay IN my car, thank you very little.If you want to ride AMTRAK for every inter-city trip, go for it! I'll not stop you, I'll not say one thing about it. But having "choices in transportation" should NOT mean FEWER "choices" to choose from, and it should NOT mean being "nudged" to a "choice" I wouldn't otherwise choose.
I will say this, IF the government is going to run a passenger rail service, then it should be ran as a business. If it consitently loses money...FIX the problem...or get OUT of the business. We can't afford to keep tossing good money (is there any such thing anymore?) after bad.
***Warning, soapbox alert***
Why is it, it seems some people want to take us back to the late 1800s or earliest 1900s for our standard of living? Why is it the ones who scream the loudest about "progressing" (as-in "moving forward") are the ones who really want us living more austere, more dependent lives???
***this has been a soapbox alert***
For the big event, the IAIS brought out two executive cars and parked 'em in front of the old depot in downtown Iowa City. The event itself was held in the parking lot under a tent canopy...on a 35 degree day. Even all the hot-air from the poly-tickians couldn't warm us up. Many in "the media" showed up in light clothing, obviously expecting to be either IN the depot, or INSIDE the nifty passenger cars. Heh heh heh. Even the little PR cutie from the Chamber of Commerce was cold. IF'n I was single, I would've offered to help warm her up....
I'll tack up some additional pics from the day (sorry, didn't get any of the aforementioned cutie) in a day or so. I was disappointed they didn't have their RI "heritage" unit with the passenger cars. I asked the IAIS guys, they said "it doesn't look so good with the cars." The IAIS is black, with red and gold stripes. The black and gold = U of I Hawkeyes, the red and gold = ISU Cyclones. The heritage unit is silver and maroon. Yup, THAT would look a little odd with the black passenger cars. But, "the Big Lug," our governor (for a few more days) is doing a cross-state whistle stop tour on Monday, and his train will have the heritage unit.
I think I've held the floor long enough...gonna grab a corner booth, enjoy this fine cider and see who/what makes it in this late evening.
Chris
Here's one shot from immediately after the event, it's a raw, straight-off-the-camera image...so apologies if it's an obscenely large file.
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
Ken, hey, it woulda run though, right? I can just see that thing sticking outta the hood of a 71 Charger
Chris, nice pic, least you got SOMETHING outta the deal!
Galaxy, well, I'm not taking the test until Wednesday afternoon now. Turns out the DMV is open every other saturday. Guess what they're doing this saturday? NOT open. oh well, gives me more time to practice.
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
A large slice of pumpkin pie, served on a Santa Fe plate, please.
Not even going to attempt to catch up on posts. Will be ready to catch a ride to the next Diner in a few days from now. Hope Y'all are doing well.
Cheers! Rob
Good morning all,
good morning RT! Nice to see you around.
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Good morning.
Well we are off to shop today. So no MRR for me. Plus today is trick or treat, and I'm skipping this year.
Hope everybody has a good Saturday!!
"Rust, whats not to love?"
Mourning New York!
Flo, just a cup of Coffee Please.
Packers#1 Ken, hey, it woulda run though, right? I can just see that thing sticking outta the hood of a 71 Charger
You lost me Sawyer
Kitchen Cabinets are done! Makes the kitchen look much more cheerful.
Plans for Today
Install bathroom door frame
Install a set of knobs on folding doors
Install transition plate for folding doors
Paint section of floor molding and install
Pick up paint for folding doors and kitchen wall
That should make for a full day. Because we all know with me doing it, nothing is going to go right!
Train Front Just look in the storage room I want to rip out. I see a problem, the Breaker Box bottom is 41iches off the floor, and goes to around 65 inches. With me planing on a 48 inch tall bench part of the breakers will be covered. If I leave a 36 inch walkway I will only gain 5 more feet for the layout. Need to think about this some more.
Ken
I hate Rust
teen steam fan Jeff-did you think about putting 2 part epoxy in the crack or is the tank shot? Wish I could help you get a better car.
Jeff-did you think about putting 2 part epoxy in the crack or is the tank shot? Wish I could help you get a better car.
teen steam fan Welp, my weekends are now shot. My parents DRAFTED me into ballroom dancing classes. To give an idea on how delicate I am on my feet, I can't get my Polaris quad to do a wheely to save my life.
Welp, my weekends are now shot. My parents DRAFTED me into ballroom dancing classes. To give an idea on how delicate I am on my feet, I can't get my Polaris quad to do a wheely to save my life.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Good Morning! Coffee please and an egg McMuffin... type.... thing. Thank you.
Had to chuckle yesterday as I was paying Mom’s bills. Received a bill from a major Subscription Medication program, Silverscript, and apparently they had not received the last months “dues”. Well the check was mailed out the day before the letter and it has been cashed so all is well, but that’s not what made me chuckle. The letter stated “We have not gotten Septembers payment yet”. (chuckle) “have not gotten” Struck me as funny. In school we were taught to try to avoid several words one of which was yet (and of course another was THAT) and steer clear of the word “gotten” WHICH makes it one of my favorite words. I guess the author of the form letter felt the same way.
Had to make some front legs myself. Even the little 383 will dip an 800lb engine stand with the heads on, it gets a tad bit bouncy for comfort too.
“universal fit” HAH! What they don’t tell you is what universe they fit in.
Thanks RT! I have not “met” the man either. Would be nice if he gets back on board. He still has his seat reserved at the RC. Don’t have to reserve Duke’s, he’s always sleeping in it anyway. (The guy sleeps a lot)
Garry- Sorry about your pains. I hope you can make it to the wedding, but don’t push it too hard. I’m sure she will understand. It would make a nice surprise though. No apologies needed on the drunk drivers feelings. I don’t believe anyone likes drunk drivers. I’ll admit I like to drink a beer or two, but I don’t like getting drunk so I know when to say when. If they knew they were going to be the only person on or near the road as they travel home, then it would be just their life they're gambling with. (actually with as much as I consume in one sitting, a pretty safe bet ) But we all know it’s not that way and unfortunately, it’s usually the drunk who walks away from the crash the best.
TSF- Isn’t “I can't get my Polaris quad to do a wheely to save my life.” Kind of an oxymoron? But good luck on the ballroom dancing. You may take a ribbing from some of the guys, but you’ll be a hit with the ladies when you get a bit older. They like a guy who can dance more than just jumping around like fish out of water.
Chris-
Ken- Maaaaaybe, the breaker box can be incorporated. Like a gorge or a river. But wait, must be able to get to it unobstructed. May need repairs or breakers replaced added etc. Hmmmm. How can we deal with this…...
OK, getting cold here in NY and it’s getting a bit brisk here in Illinois.., er sorry, Illinoy. (though I do believe we are in for at least a couple nice days) I think Arizona would be juuuuust fine.
Better get a movin. It’s a chance to spend all day at Mom’s house.
Um…..Flo honey, Janie dear, (I see they both are here this morning) when Chris comes in, get him a nice cup-a-joe. Relax his nerves from yesterday. Psssst. No one say Amtrak today AH!!! I said it.
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.
good morning .
I'll grin and bear it to AL..... Thanks Todd and others for your thoughts.
Hope I find the Nov. diner. Looks like some uncertainty about the Nov. location.
Happy Model Railroading.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Back in the shop this morning to meet the client we brought the car from Ontario for..... A regular for me in my New Haven travel mug if you please. I also get to fix the corner of the trailer where the trim blew apart in Niagara Falls (on the bridge of course). THAT'S another story.
Soapbox alert:
I guess my perspective on train travel is a bit different. Here we have always had commuter traffic to and from the Big Apple even through the railroad bankruptcies. It has been riddles with featherbedding and arcane w..k rules most of which have been fixed or at least modified so they are not as onerous as they once were. It takes about an hour and a half to get to New York from Danbury where the passenger service now terminates and about the same from Wassaic where the parrallel line terminates. These tracks have been in continuous service at least since the civil war and for the most part are intact. The service is now govt run by Metro North and Conn Dot with all the usual cost overruns and subsidies and the continual wrangling over ticket prices and said subsidies. Amtrak runs the intercity portion of the passenger service from Boston to Miami and New York north to Montreal, Toronto, west to Chicago, etc.
To me, subsidizing commuter traffic with public funds is ok because it significantly lessens the road traffic into and out of the city every day and is more efficient environmentally. It can always be better/faster/cleaner but much of it is already electric (though the Danbury branch had it's catenerary removed in the '60's and it's never been put back). The subsidies are always under attack from the smaller gov't folks, but they never seem to object to the massive subsidies for roadwork or air traffic so I take that with a grain of salt.
We have no high speed rail service between major cities outside of the Boston/Washington run of Amtrak. My deifinition of high speed is anything over 60mph average by the way. The current Amtrak run from New York to Miami takes 32 hours to go 1300 miles or 41 mph average (granted that is for the local that makes more stops than the express). The problem isn't the starting and stopping, it's the gerrymandered route the run takes and the inordinate amount of time the train sits stopped waiting for a 6mph freight to clear the track, or creeping along at 10 mph or less on damaged track. If the train could average the aformentioned 60 mph average, the trip would take 21 hours and be doable. 32 hours in a nonsleeper car is starting on torture, 21 is an adventure.
So in my opinion, all this federal money should be directed towards fixing dedicated passenger track and electrifiying same though I admit it's not as sexy as standing at a depot and pointing out an all new service. All transportation modes get subsidies so to my thinking, the political types need to stop spending rail monies like it's play money and start investing with an eye towards a return on the investment. Next time we can discuss how we arrived at the equipment we currently run and why we can't get it built here in the Estades Unidos. Here's your soapbox back Vinnie and I hope this lasts long enough to be read. CUL, J.R.
I agree J.R. Not as much on the electric part, though I see it's advantages in densely populated areas. Guess I'm old fashioned in some things. I like bellowing smoke and really don't see much of a difference in the blastings of a 747 trying to take off (I was told by a pilot there is no such thing as "taking off" It's all "trying" until the plane actually starts flying so to speak. He also told me there is no landing either. Just a controlled crash. Comforting) in the amount of exhaust. Anyway, that's an arguement for the environmentalists. Not me. We've built some pretty clean running engines as of late and can do better as time goes on.
I would like to see more passenger service return, unfortunately the freedom and independence that goes with coming and going in your personal vehicle probably has way more to do with it than anything as far as ridership goes. THAT's why my little world has railroad company passenger service not AMTAK, in the current times. My world, my way. 'Tis good to be king of Toddland.
We subsidise everything else and think it's ok, so why not railroads. They actually serve a useful service for us all.
That's just my 2 cnts that may not even be worth that. (he he. Got two, count 'em TWO that's in one sentence.) EDITED: Make that three, (snicker)
DANG IT!!! I said Amtrak again. Sorry Chris. Oh! I said it again.
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe, I'll have the #2 special, over easy on the eggs, bacon, home fries, and a double order of sourdough toast. Huh? Of course I want the dark roast coffee......
Well, I have tentative approval of all the paperwork for the Civil Certificate. Just need to get together with our AP Manager and get everything signed. May happen sometime this week (told him coffee and lunch are on me) or at the latest, the Batavia Train Show in a couple weeks.
I won't get on the this morning, but will say I prefer funds to be used to create infrastructure. After WWII, the railroads lost support from the gov't to help pay for infrastructure. All those $ and more went to build highways.......... Big Oil had a lot to do with THAT.... Opps, I'll get off the now.... I'll go sit in the back booth and listen to Duke
Factoid for the day: One legal 80,000 pound GVW tractor-trailer truck does as much damage to road pavement as 9,600 cars. (Highway Research Board, NAS, 1962). I remember reading years ago THAT the truck proudly complaining about paying $10,000 a year in road use fees, does on avereage $24,000 damage to the roads. Guess who pays for the other $14,000 per truck????
OK, OK, tell Vinnie I will shut up....
Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
I had an unwelcome visitor last night. I kept hearing a tapping noise at the door but when I would look out the window I couldn't see anyone who might be knocking. Finally I just opened the door and in shot a squirrel. Not one of the little gray critters either. This was one of the big red ones. Anyways it ran in and made a beeline for the underside of the layout. Of all the places it could go (including a really hot place that came to mind) why there? I moved several cases of rolling stock out of the way then went under the layout after it armed only with a heavy metal bucket with lid and a 1x2 about 18" long. I located the big bugger behind a box of assorted MR supplies, structures, power packs, etc. I flushed it out and it ran into the bucket but before I could get the lid on it jumped out, bounced off the underside of the layout and landed right between my knees at which time it jumped up and shot out from the layout, down the hall and into the bedroom. Great! I found my furry intruder under the bed. Aha, I thought. This would be a great use for that 'Grip-n-Grab' I bought a couple of months ago. I got it and reached for the squirrel. I should have known this was seeming way too easy. Just as the jaws of the grabber were closing around it the squirrel jumped up onto the jaws then ran up the grabber then up my arm, over my head and across my back. It bounded over the laundry basket at the other side of the room and ducked behind the TV stand. By this time I was feeling like I was the butt of some practical joke thought up by someone with a sick mind. The space behind the TV stand is open at both ends but I can only cover one at a time. Then I had an idea. I placed the bucket on it's side at one end then thrust the end of the grabber in at the other end. The squirrel ran out and went right into the bucket. I dived on the bucket and slammed the lid on it like a wildcat pouncing on a rabbit. Finally I had my unwelcome guest right where I wanted it. I took the bucket outside, set it on the ground and removed the lid. NO SQUIRREL! I went back inside and there the bugger was, on the layout, right on top of Ezra's Exxon station mocking me. I quickly noted that it had tipped over Ezra's house and knocked over a GP7. Now I was mad. I reached for the grabber and with the speed of a rattlesnake striking it's victim I caught the fluffy tailed rodent. This time I could see that I had it. It was right there in plain sight. I took it outside and slung it partway across the yard just to keep it from trying to run up the grabber like it had before. It ran up the nearest tree and sat on a branch and started barking at me in what seemed a most uncomplimentary tone. That was fine by me . I went back inside.
Goooooooooooooooooooooood Morning, bucket of coffee, and one of those egg McMuffin things....they seem popular today.
I probably oughta clarify a weeeeeeeeeeee bit. I'm not 100% anti-AMTRAK. I am on this particular route, which is more of a "gift" to certain politicians hoping to get re-elected next week than a "needed transportation option." I agree commuter rail and intercity rail can be, and IS a good thing, in certain areas. This just isn't one of them.
As for subsidies, I'm not a fan. Period.
Our "junior" senator, Senator Tom "I never met a communist dictator I didn't love" Harkin, said the train will likely run on biodiesel, it'll have paperless tickets, the signals will likely be powered by solar panels, and the stations will all be environmentally friendly.THATs all well, good, and fine. Wouldn't it be "greener" yet if it was electrified???
A lot of it boils down to a created "demand" over an actual demand for the service. They are literally banking on college students going home to "Illinoy" every weekend via the train. They're also banking on a lot of retired people taking in a show in Chicago and not wanting to drive. I think what they'll get is an intial burst of riders...for the "excitement" and "newness" of it all. As time goes on, it'll have less and less riders.
IF the government has to be in the passenger rail business, then yes...I'd like to see them put money into routes THAT ARE getting used, heavily used, THAT not only justify their expense and exsistence; but maybe even make a *gasp! profit rather than needing more and more propping-up by the taxpayer.
Just a thought, but the IAIS does run "passenger service." They have "The Hawkeye Express" which runs on Hawkeye football Saturdays from Coralville (suburb of Iowa City) to near Kinnick Stadium. They use bi-level cars pulled by a silver and maroon ex-AMTRAK F40PH (or something like THAT). They have at least two passenger cars our Governor (for a few more days) likes to use...a LOT. IF there truly were demand for IC to Chicago passenger service...wouldn't it make sense for the IAIS to just do it themselves??? Oh, wait, it's to their advantage to have the feds (us) pay for the track/signal upgrades rather than expend their own capital... I still say, the IAIS is the biggest winner here, regardless of what the Iowa City hippies claim.
I'm not trying to start any great debate here...heck, maybe I shouldn't have said anything about it in the first place. Maybe I should've just said "hey guys, I saw this neat train the other day" and left it at THAT.
As it is, I have to get to w**k here yet this morning. I have to start out listening to the tape from the event and then try to come up with 700-800 words about it to get turned in tomorrow morning upon pain of death if I don't.
***EDIT***...and I got TOP. THAT'll learn me to just keep my big mouth shut.
Lunch time here. I'll have a bacon cheddar burger medium rare with a sourdough bun lightly toasted and sides of onion rings and slaw please.
Chris - it's all healthy discussion and I see some threads of agreement through it as well. Not a debate at all especially in these divisive times.
I got totally wound up this morning but I thank you all for letting me vent. Should we discuss the now cancelled passenger tunnel under the Hudson next?
T'was good to see RT drop in and even better to hear that Elliot is surviving if not thriving. I know once you've had serious cancer you're only ever in remission, but that is still way better than the alternative in my book.
Once i get done with lunch it's back to reassembling the tag trailer which got sidetracked with mounds of unsorted "stuff" i kept tripping over in the shop.
Jeff - there you go again scaring off potential operators on your pike! Glad you were able to shoo it out and more glad you weren't bitten. In these parts when we get a screwy agressive animal they are almost always rabid and that gets real unpleasent for the visited.
I see my order is up - I'll be at the end of the RC near that gy who's sleeping. J.R.
JEFF: Funny story with the squirrel. Glad it did not bite you. Here we would likely call animal control to come get it.
David Parks I am the terror that flaps in the night!
Afternoon all!
Zoe I'll have the Ruben Sandwich and a Dr. pepper for lunch. I'll go sit in the back and behave myself.......
I have to drive up to Canandaigua one more time ti feed my sister's cats.... Haven't seen either of them in a couple of days, but the food and water dishes have been used, so I am not worried. And tonight I get the pleasure of picking up my sister at the airport (someone always has to take her to the airport and pick her up because she doesn't like driving at night and she would have to pay to have her car in the parking garage and she is so worn out after these trips and it really doesn't put anyone out to pick HER up at the airport after sitting and waiting 2 or 3 hours for her flight to finally arrive and.... Opps here comes THAT box again....)
Funny she won't drive down to my house and feed my cats when I am away because it is too far for her to drive everyday...... Evidently if is much farther from her house to mine than from my house to hers.... Actually I would rather she not come to my house to feed the cts, because she would leave me too many suggestions of how I should keep my house like she keeps hers because everything she does....... Well! Anyway! I will, allow her to take me out to dinner sometime soon..... Her nickel!
I have the quarry lift-out almost ready to be installed on the layout. Trouble is there is lots of stuff to do THAT can't easily be done before it is installed, and will be a pain to do after it is installed.... Once it is in place, the idea is THAT it won't be coming back out. So.... need to do some measuring and pre-planning..........
Jeffrey, Funny story! I thought you liked wild-life. You could have made some fresh stew there.......
[edit] This just in. I checked my email just after I posted and one of the Volunteers at the R&GV RR Museum sent this: http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/buffalo/article235975.ece
The Mark mentioned in the article went to High Shcool with me. Enjoy!
Best get going over to feed the cats.
howmus Jeffrey, Funny story! I thought you liked wild-life. You could have made some fresh stew there.......
Evening guys,
not much to say. Went and helped a friend out sitdown stuff so my back wouldn't kill me.
Visited with Dad for about 2.5 hours. I often do that when out his way.
I found out it is IMPOSSIBLE to lock your keys in the Kia if the key is in the ignition, I have a "mechanics key" {single on a ring with name tag} I keep in the glove box. I went out to start it to warm up/defrost and I used the mechacnics key to start, then locked the door and it auto-unlocked! I tired agian, same thing. so I closed the door and used my key fob to try and lock it, but key fob doesnt work either when the key is in the ignition. {I live i n a safe neigborhood but you never know who sees a vehicle runnign with keys in it and open ivitation for a joy ride if doors are not locked-I dont need that!} SO i had to leave it runnign with the doors unlocked as I sat inside {where it can not be heard it runs so quietly} while it warmed up. Its neat feature and can be handy to keep you form locking keys inthe car, but doesn't help in a situation where on might be elswhere in a less safe neighborhood and wants to warm er up.
SO Jeffrey- no "hossenfeffer" with squirel tonight? Mm tastey. Pine resin is good for what ails you, didn;t you know? Yeah right.
SAWYER-so Wed. the big day...you will do fine and get your restricted drivers license,,,,then look out everybody a newbie on the road! DOes this mena you get a car for xmas if you pass?
GMTRacing-my my whata rant!
Ray-intersting factoid. I worked in a truckstop in the early-mid 80's. yOu shoulda heard the trucker complaints about fees and taxes and permit costs and what not! ANd how the "4wheeeler" got away scottfree! But WHO pays the bills ont eh hiway repairs nto subsidized? who maintains the secondary roads these guys need to deliver their loads? Oh, don;t get me started...I had two sides of the issue long enough back tehn....
I always wondered WHY it was called "Elliots" thought someone just made up a name for a fictitious somebody-or-other.
Gee, RAY-all you have done is be on the almost everyday about taking care of your sister's cats. Next time tell you won't do it if it bothers you that much! Especially if she won't reciprocate. And I hope dinner on her costs MORE thana "nickle". sheesh. Feel the love?
Well time for some PF Chang's Chinese spicy Orange Chicken heat and eat dinner. Hope it tastes good. was at Sams club 2 pkgs in a box for 12.98 making it $6.50 for package that I think will barely feed teh two of us once around, and of course we will be hungry an hour later and snacking!
later dudes
-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.
Evenin' Diners!
Flo, I'll have the BBQ Chicken.... Huh? Yep! The Cornell Recipe. And salt potatos, a fresh role and some cole slaw as a side. Decaf to go along with THAT.
galaxy Gee, RAY-all you have done is be on the almost everyday about taking care of your sister's cats. Next time tell you won't do it if it bothers you that much! Especially if she won't reciprocate. And I hope dinner on her costs MORE thana "nickle". sheesh. Feel the love?
Well Gee Galaxy, If I did THAT, I wouldn't have as much to complain about and what fun would THAT be!
After my Father died in 2001, my sister asked a neighbor kid to feed and watch the kitties (my Father was the one who would come over and do THAT - he lived not far away). The kid "forgot" all about it! I went up to check on her house a week later and found a very scared, hungry, and MAD cat in the house. I still don't know how she survived THAT long a time.... After THAT I told my sister I would see to it the cat(s) were looked after...... So it really is my own fault. On the other hand I would feel terrible if the cat died from neglect during those times. Just THAT the timing with all the things I have going on right now just wasn't conveinent this time....
I forgot to pick up my sister's coat when I went up earlier today...... So! Guess where I go on my way to Rochester airport??? I am going to take my new issue of Model Railroader with me so I can read about Rod Stewart's layout. The centerfold is definitely WOW! if you like urban RRs.
OK, catch you all later!
Evening, Janie, Flo - I'll have a bowl of chili, coupla packets of those oyster crackers, and a RBF to wash it down with, please. Thanks!
Sheesh, 17 pages of posts? I have been gone waaaay too long!!
Figured I better show my face again before the bloodhounds get turned loose, hunting for me. As for what I've been up to (MRR-wise), I found a bit over a dozen of the MR back issues to fill out some of the earlier years I have partial coverage for. Those should be in next week (maybe...). Got an order in from the LHS owner, which included the W-S Mickey's MIlk truck. I figure that I'll use the Magnuson kit for a milk truck for my 'Boy Scout troop van'. Yep, one more mini-project - just what I need, right? I also got in the Merten miniature golf (& figures) set. It's kinda neat - I decided to modify a couple of the straight holes, since I recall those courses usually having a couple of 'dogleg' holes with about a right angle turn to get to the hole. I noticed one thing they left out, which I may need some help figuring how to build - a windmill for one hole! I'm sure it wasn't just a Midwestern thing, but I recall about every mini-golf course I have seen, had one hole with the turning windmill that you had to shoot through (in between the arms of the windmill). Anyone else recall about that? The figures in the set look pretty good, though they come with a round base (not overly thick, but I'll trim them off and just use the W-S sticky glue to keep them standing up).
We appear to have passed our re-certification (still awaiting offical word) at the office. Our supervisor has been out all week, babysitting her hubbie in the hospital during and after his transplant surgery. Sounds like many prayers have been answered, and his body's doing okay with the new kidney.
I also got in the Scalecoast (paint stripper stuff), so I expect I'll start seeing about taking the paint off the water tower this weekend. The directions say you can use it to remove lettering (just use a brush, and wipe off soon after, before it takes all the paint off).
Chris, on that fire engine, I found out a while back that most of Boley's vehicles are dated too new for my layout, so I doubt seriously that if Boley makes a fire truck that it would be old enough (on the prototype) for me to use. Oh, love that photo you posted today!
Ray, I'd second what others said - great job on the module, and those turnout throws (I got lucky and guessed right the first time!) look awesome.
Ulrich, sorry to hear about your father having a stroke.
Todd - so how's that thar Foy-yay coming along? Are you refurbishing the 'Powder' Room also? I see you and CudaKen are having a home remodeling competition, it seems. I'll just sit back and watch you two busy beavers...
And speaking of the King of Extreme Makeover - Home Edition, what are you up to with your place, CudaKen? Can you see 'Done' yet? (Imagine that image that PC used to post about "Can you see Friday from here?", with the zebra(?) way up the giraffe's neck, trying to look). And are you and the better half still on talkin' terms? (sorry, couldn't resist checking).
I see Paul stopped by - yeah, I can imagine how long the baling can take. One of my first (temp) jobs when I got to college was when a guy came in the dorm, wanting people to help with hay baling for the day. I took him up on the offer and went (not knowing diddly-squat about haying back then), wore the short-sleeved shirt I had on. (BIG MISTAKE!!) First, my arms wound up getting red, itchy/painful, and the guy put me driving the flatbed truck we were putting the ('square') bales on. However, at that point, I had little experience with stick shift transmissions, and he kept hollering at me about riding the clutch every so often (he must've been far more knowledgeable about trucks than I was). Don't recall if (or how much) I got paid, but I was glad for that day to be over, and I didn't want to go back the next day (not that he offered...). One of those "learning experiences", y'know...
JR, that size layout sounds pretty good to me (having about 16 square feet to fiddle with currently). Looking forward to seeing what you come up with for yours. Maybe you and Ulrich should be emailing ideas for him to draw you up something?
Kyle, you could take a look at some of Ian Rice's layout designs (Roque Bluffs and others) that he's had in MR and in some of his own books. I think the Roque Bluffs layout fits on top of a bookshelf unit (and that's in HO scale).
Oh, on the weather front here, past two nights we had some frost on the car's windshields. I was thinking "I need to find my ice scraper before the cold stuff gets here", and when I did, it was a plastic POC with the scraper blade having only about 1/4th of it left (not broken off). Yesterday a.m., I didn't have to get out and about early, so I let the sun do its thawing job, but this morning I needed to go do laundry, so I tried using the broken scraper. Grrr....!! Need to find a suitable scraper in some store locally. Problem is, all the Wally World type stores carry the same kind. I used to have one decent scraper that had a hard rubber handle and a brass scraping blade. Now, THAT one w**ked fine! Think I lost it in some move, maybe...
Who knows of anyone making a tolerable yucca plant (in HO scale) I could get? I'm going to paint the 'fairways' on the mini-golf course the pre-Astroturf green color, use some fine ballast in an off-white/light grey color for the areas in between the fairways, and I need some yucca plants for 'vegetation' (remember that my layout is set in the Southwest, right? Oh, THAT mini-golf set even comes with hole marker poles with the flags numbered. Cool! I'll post pics (probably later in the week) once I get things further along.
Jeff, I promise I won't tell the ASPCA about what you did to that poor, little defenseless squirrel.. ROTFLMAO!! Glad you got the bugger out (finally).
Flip had forwarded me a copy of Elliott's email (which I guess RT posted in here - I haven't enough time tonight to wade through all 17 pages of posts....), and it's good to know Elliott's still around, even if he's not had it too great since last time I saw him (back in the old Coffee Shop that preceded the Diner).
Welp, I need to head for home in hopes of getting some fairways painted this evening (before or after ), so I'll see you all later (hopefully next week, if things slow down enough at w**k). Let's see, we have Trick or Treat, and then Tuesday, all over again... Hey, I will definitely be getting to the polling place on Tuesday, and I will be soooooooo glad once all the poli-tickyall ads are gone and the post-commentary is done. I figure about Christmastime things should start to settle down, right?
Prayers will continue for Ulrich's father and everyone else whose posts I probably missed in the other dozen pages that I didn't get to) - my apologies to those, and prayers for wisdom (especially for whoever we wind up electing to their respective posts, and for those of us who will then have to put up with whatever they do for the next however many years...). Okay, soapbox, you can go back to your corner now.
Blessings and Prayers,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Evening all. Sorry it's been so song, but I've still been busy.
I got my wisdom teeth out yesterday morning, so I've been doing a lot of nothing the past two days. But I'm feeling pretty good, so it's not too bad.
In MRR news, I got all the foam down and put some track in place (I could have said all this before, but I honestly have no clue at all). Here's what the layout looks like as of now:
Well, I gotta go. I'll catch ya all later.
My Model Railroad: Tri State RailMy Photos on Flickr: FlickrMy Videos on Youtube: YoutubeMy Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives
Hey guys
Been fiddling with the car some more. Changed a radiator hose to stop the coolant leak. I think it worked, but only time will tell. I also Took the fog light brackets off. Should only taken 30 minutes but wound up taking 3 hours because the nut plates broke. I saved the brackets in the event I find a good drivers-side on in a junkyard.
Tommorrow I'm gonna try to swap the driveshafts again. Hopefully leaving the PB blaster stuff on it for a few works. Also gonna see what's up with the new check engine light. I had nothing till I swapped the radiator hoses and removed the fog lights. So I'm wondering if the system is freaking out about there being no fog lights.
Ken, yeah, it's a pearl car. Guess that's why I can't really phatom a engine hoist rated for 1000 pounds. Never dealt with a big block or a blower. Biggest I've messed with was a 351 windsor.
Jeff, Was that squirrel eating mushrooms before hand? Crazy though he did all that.
Galaxy, I can see where a feature like that would be bad. I can kind of say I have the reverse of that. Apparently I can start my car without a key... Just turn the little thing where the key goes into the ignition and it'll start up. Dunno what's up with that, but I kind of wish I knew what the guy did with the old 97 I had. It's ignition worked fine, and it had remote locks. I've thought if he still had it, I coul swap the stuff around.
Chris, One think I've never understood about amtrak is why don't they have anything like RDCs. I doubt the trains are anywhere near full. The train sounds like a train the Milwuakkee had ferring college kids from madison (might be wrong) to chicago on the weekends. didn't last long
Rob, Guess I'll give them a try then.
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.
Gooooooooooooooooooooooood Evening, bucket of hot apple cider please, and thank-you.
JIM: Yup, Boley stuff is mostly 1990s, way too new for you, I'ma thinking. Did you ever decide on an ALF or a Mack? You might've said, I don't remember. I stumbled across some Ivers Engineering American LaFrance (ALF) 1950s pumpers on TheBay last night. Couldn't sleep, so did some random searches, put in American LaFrance, found real ones and model ones. You STILL haven't gotten the paint off of THAT water tower? Geesh! I guess Testor's paint is tougher than I thought! Thanks for the kind words on the photo by the way, after getting head shots of the muckety-mucks, and the all-important "grip and grin" shots, I HAD to find something to shoot THAT wouldn't make me want to move my lower intestines... I might try the earlier shot I tacked up as black and white...see how THAT looks. First, I have to FINISH the darned article. I can only w**k on it for a few minutes at a time...I find myself yelling at the computer, much like yelling at the TV or the radio.
I must be getting old.
VINCENT: I keep thinking an RDC would be perfect for what they want to do on THAT Amtrak run. IF the line is extended to Des Moines and Omaha, I can see a more traditional train...maybe. It will still be competing with the Colorado Zephyr across southern Iowa though. I really don't see 920 riders per day, everyday (two round-trips, 230 capacity each way), at least not running Iowa City to Chicago. I guess we'll find out in 2015 when "The Green Line Express" (formerly "The Chicago Flyer") rolls in to Iowa City for the first time.
But, I think I've said more than enough about THAT...so we'll return you to your regular Saturday evening activities...
JEFF: I about fell out of my chair reading about your encounter with Mr. Squirrel...sounded like a Warner Brothers cartoon! You really DO have a flair for writing. I think I've said it before, but I'll say it again. Get a tape recorder, tape your stories, let somebody else worry about doing the writing. You've got some good stuff there.
JR: Thanks. It is so very easy to step (or in my case, leap) over the poly-tick bounds. I guess THATs what you get when passionate, informed people gathering 'eh?
NS JOE: What is THAT industry on your layout?? I think I might be able to use parts of it in my future Quaker Oats complex, or for Cargill East...if I ever get THAT far...
Welp, back at it. I still have Congressman Dave Loebsack (D, IA2)'s comments to go through and pull out some quotes; plus the hottie, I mean the president and CEO of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce. Then, I'll hammer-out a little timeline of how this...project...has progressed in case THAT Editor has room for a "side-bar" article. I'm hoping she'll find a way to use either the horizontal or the vertical pics I've tacked up, but she'll probably just run the grip-'n-grin of the poly-tickians standing around the big check.
Chris, THAT industry is Walther's Magic Pan Bakeries. One of the good things about it is is THAT the main structure is modular, so you can build it almost any way you want it.
Good evening Diners: Green tea and some cherry cheesecake please Chole.
Garry:
Der John ... Thanks for posting the old photo of the classic Durand, MI depot.
Rob:
The black is the track, and the color blue is the walkway. The orange X is where I want to change things up. I know some people like the yard, but I thought about taking out a track and putting in a warehouse. The other orange X is where I was going to put a scrap yard, but that might change also. I have about 1 1/2 - 2 feet to work with. I was hoping maybe I can get some input in this, and see what I can do. The rest of the track is staying, but its just the orange areas i would like to change.
Jeff: With your phone dependent on your internet being up, is that the safest for emergencies, considering the variety of situations you might face? Just watching your back here! Bummer about the power outs (and another cause for concern in having computer dependent phone service.) I hear you on the family assuming they should get real estate for way less than it's worth. Had to explain those facts of life to our daughter who thinks it would be just great for us to "give" her the house! Now of course we are the villains!
As it was falling toward the door I slammed the door shut. I hope that when I open it again to continue clearing it out that I remember that and stand to the side.
Todd:
Too bad so many in "the mainstream media" have forgotten THAT in their quest to advance one political party while openly denigrating any/all opposition at every turn.
THAT's why my little world has railroad company passenger service not AMTAK, in the current times. My world, my way. 'Tis good to be king of Toddland.
Galaxy: Thanks for the heads up on the time change - same for us north of your border (except Johnboy's province which , like the law of the Medes and Persians "altereth not" in the summer, and so doesn't have to now. Hope your back allows a better sleep tonight. ( I see you are getting some better now [Page 51]- but not so much a page later, bummer!)
Hee Haw TV show in the seventies
Ulrich: Great news about the interview....we're confident you can get that. Huge find in your attic. Tell the purists where they can put t heir superior knowledge, a treasure indeed. Space for a decoder in the tender I imagine...
Garry: Rotten way to miss an interesting tour. Hope everything sorts itself soon, and the AL travel isn't as bad as anticipated.
Chris:
and steer clear of the word "gotten" WHICH makes it one of my favorite words.
Ray:
I remember reading years ago THAT the truck proudly complaining about paying $10,000 a year in road use fees, does on average $24,000 damage to the roads. Guess who pays for the other $14,000 per truck????
Caught up to Page 56 now, and sorry if I've missed a bunch of things I should have mentioned. (Like saying what an awesome mail-box that engine on the stand was, what with the morning papers and the weekly flyers delivered already!
We were away yesterday and overnight - the two books that Kris and her writing partner Patricia wrote on second hand clothing shopping in the Maritimes have been turned into a Musical. We went to see it - Pat had reserved tickets, but we were to pay at the door. When we got there, surprise, surprise, the tickets were complimentary! K&P went backstage after the show, and were very warmly welcomed by the cast who were just thrilled to meet them. Am Drams, but very well done, and very funny. Made it home late afternoon, and will welcome bed tonight as it was a fair drive all in all.
Time to call it a day then. Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers for al in need of Healing, Comfort, Employment/Prosperity and Peace.
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
Well, today has been, to phrase it up, a DAY.
Galaxy, OHHHH if only life were so easy... see, the plan was for me to use our little 96 Civic for the test. Went out and practiced (my driver's ed instructor basically had me do the test idk how many times (she was an old test-giver for the DMV), all primed up for early release day on Wed. Well guess what? the gol-danged son of a gun Civic is broke. I dunno what's wrong. I didn't even find out till like 9:something tonight I think. So now my option is to either wait, or take the test in the Honda Odyssey. FAT CHANCE! I doubt that thing can make a three-point turn on the streets of the test, let alone parallel parking that behemoth. Oh well, could have a worse option, say, a F350 super duty? (and dnt get me wrong I love trucks etc).
So basically, I'm screwed. great... just great. Now I want to go rent a friggin smart car to take the test; I'd have to fake the three point turn and parallel parking....
Like I said, today has been a DAY. So I'm gonna end my rant and go lie down in my bed now and get some shuteye... oh well, least I know that God has a plan man, even if we don't understand it at all.
Sawyer, how old do you have to be for your license in SC?
Up in Jersey, its 16 for your permit, 17 for your license. When I did my 6 hours for my permit, they scheduled my test for me, 10 am on my birthday.