Evenin (yawn) everybody. Read in a health magazine that McNuggets are pretty good for the health conscious diner. Not because the nuggets of whatever they really are are good for you, but because, and I quote, there are only four of the measly little nuggets so they can’t hurt you. Sort of the same comment on the "less than 2 oz McDonalds hamburger". Not really big enough to hurt so have one today. They also suggest you enjoy a Taco Bell fiesta taco, but order something else healthy so you won’t be hungry again by the time you leave the parking lot.
Jeff- Not laughing at you bud, laughing with you. OK so this is kinda laughing at you.
Chris- Nope, not arguing. I knew your problem wasn’t with trains or passengers but the reason behind the push for this particular line. I thiiiink you may have mentioned it before. Good conversation at any rate. By the way, the politickians on this side of the river will be glad you pronounce the state corrrECTly by the way.
OK, not to be rude but page 56 is loooooong so I’ll pick up tomorrow all after G’s post with the Kia's door locks ( good idea for some of us who usually leave the keys in the ignition and then go somewhere, hit the power doorlocks, slam the door and then panic sets in until; I feel the keys in my pocket.)
AFTER I say Ray, I know what you mean about doing things when asked but when you ask, it’s too difficult or they are really busy right now cleaning their toes or something. Yet we just keep on saying OK don’t we.
PFTIN.
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Good Morning - yaaaawn!
I got my times mixed up - we reset the clock last night. Europe does that on a different schedule than the Americas / UK, for whatever reason.
Flo, I´d like to have a big Sunday breakfast, lots of coffee, scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, pancakes w/maple syrup and buttered toast, please.
Jeff - I like your story about the squirrel and I am glad it escaped We don´t have that many around in our neck of the woods, so they are just cute, and not a pest. I am with Chris, you have a talent there!
Chris - whenever politickians start to talk about railways - I am afraid there is nothing good coming out of that. Opening new lines seems to be a craze nowadays, but I doubt that those folks, who are deciding on the issue, do understand what actually is necessary to turn that line into a success. It is not enough to put a new loco and some new cars on a freight line, add a few platform and call this a passenger service. Unless train travel is nearly as convenient as taking the car, you won´t get people to change their habits. Unless trains take the people to where they really want to go, they will continue to use their cars. You need to have a dedicated network of public transport facilities available, which is costly to build and operate, while at the same time never being able to earn its keep. Commuter traffic relies on subsidies and always will. It works over here, because our society has decided that rail travel is needed and we are willing to dedicate tax money to it - a lot of it! I know that a lot of decision makers in the US look at Europe and the fantastic network we have, but I am afraid that this just can´t be transplanted to the US. Amen!
Been checking my track plan, i.e. counting the number of switches. It is actually not more than 10, plus two turntables. Although this is still quite a chunk to swallow, it puts construction of this layout a little more into reach, should I get this job ...
You all have a good day.
Btw, my father is feeling much better. Chances he will be able to leave the horsepiddle this week are pretty good.
Good morning.
Well we went shopping yesterday, and bought a "hermit crab" for Jessica's classroom. I was worried about it not being warm enough, but I forgot about the cats!!! Woke up this morning, and the poor things cage is upside down!! The crab is fine, but I felt bad.
Not much planned today. Do some clothes, and watch the Steelers vs. Saints game tonight.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
Just woke up from a snooze
Zoe, make that a strong and hot coffee for me - I need to get going. Tonight is the "Long night of Railways" on TV - a special feature to celebrate the 175th anniversary of German trains. Got to stay up for that!
Where is Barry, Sam, Keith, Kyle - the MIA list is getting longer each day!
A dull day - and I am feeling "piculous"
Good Morning ! from Tipton IN !
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Packers#1 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.
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.
O GOOD GRIEF, Sawyer! I have driven minivans for the last 20 years and I assure you they WILL do a k-turn you just tighten it up a bit over the civic. I learned to drive on and took my test on a full sized Dodge Maxiwagon VAn...19 feet long! The biggest, longest, badest model they made.{like your F350 Dual cab Superduty!} Most of the older guys here also took their tests on "land boats" in the 60s and 70s BEFORE they came out with midget cars!
We will all for you to pass!
You WILL survive and You WILL pass!!!!
Ulrich changed his clocks last night.....WE here in the USA {FOr those who do change} Change at 2 Am Sunday Nov 7th, 2010 and it becomes 1 AM Sunday Nov 7th so we get an extra hours sleep, though it will be dark like at 4 o clock pm now! Fair Warning! UGH
Today is laundry day for as long as my back holds out. In fact l no time like the present to go start a load...BRB.. ah done. The thing about having an extra large capacity heavy duty washer is that you can do 1.5 to 2 loads at once. Problem is we couldn't afford the matching large capacity dryer and there is nothing wrong with ours...it just has to go two dryer loads for one wash load.
SHoulda done telled y'all earlier but AC Moore had T-shirts on sale s-xl for $2.00! and for us bigger guys 2x and 3xL were just $3.00! Only until Yesterday!!!! Unadvertised special I guess cause I didn't see it in the flyer in last Sundays paper. But ehty {hmmm notice how I just spelled "they" there..I'm dyslexic and even I have trouble reading that word!!!} "they" do occasionally advertise them for those or other low prices. I bought 4 new 3xl as my 2x have shrunk and dont quite cover me. shoulda bought more! AC MOORE has them on sale frequently so a good place to get quality tshirts for low low prices...!!!!! Maybe to make room for more sweatshirts...which are also at great prices when on sale!
Been sending emails of xmas ideas of stuff to my other half besides train stuff. I couls use a few other things as well if I thinka bout it. I like to have all online CC used deals DONE before black fridaya nd cyber monday as crooks are nto searching so hard for CCs to steal from like they will later. My otherhalf has no CC so has to use mine{ANd I only have ONE CC I use for online purchases....that way if it gets comprimised like it did this year I know where it got comprimised.}, and complained I'd know what was bought, but I would know WHICH ones all I need to know is how much charged and thats it. I may see to whom the charge was made whne the bill comes, but won;t know which products! I sent lists form trainworld and wholesaletrains.com and from Amazon.com and from Cafe press...and I wil find others, I am sure. I aslso told ohter half I need more ides i have some already bought {good thing I ordered the Kato GG1 in March it is no longer available} adn have some other thiings in the works, but need more ideas.
Have you all started xmas shopping yet, or are you all last minute procrastinators?.
ALso gotta figure out teh new board for hte under-the-table-top-tree layout. I need at least 40"x 40" to put a ring of 18r ho track so I can get rid of the old 15r on the old under the tree layout. I'd like to switch it a bit more and have at least a short straight track in the middle of the circle. we will see. Gotta watch to be sure it doesn;t stick out too far and we ccan pass by it to get into the kitchen too!! Then maybe i can run my new Mike I asked for!!!! {Oh the joy!!!}
Gotta got o gas sale day adn gas up the Kia and get a sunday paper. shoufld go now while there is a lull while people are in church. we get church on tv.
well I have laundry going and no rinsing so I think I wil leave you of here for now and check out the rest of the forum.
Have a great day all.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Sawyer: Don't sell the Honda Odyssey short. I can make a 3 point turn and parallel park my van with only a bit of work and it's bigger than the Odyssey.
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! And Happy Halloween. Sorry no time for a card. Nice decorations by the way. Speaking of the library, does anyone else read the Walthers flyer like, waaaaaay too many times in the “reading room” or is it just me. Coffee and a dozen glazed donuts to go please. Lotsa things to do today, so I’m gonna make it short. Yup that’s what I said. Make it short. Of course I could have made it shorter if I hadn’t repeated myself..., or said that. Or that. Or… never mind. DerJohn- I used the word “denigrating“? Hm, I’ll have to look that up in the dictionary to see what I mean. I watch very little if any news also. Most is tilted to political lines so I can’t tell what is half true sorta or half kinda false…..oops, sorry, "edited for brevity". Honda Odyssey a behemoth? (EDIT: Ooops! clicked the post button too soon. Why? I don't know.) In 1978 I took my drivers test in a 1970 4 door Chrysler Imperial. SIXTY three feet long and 27 feet wide with a hood big and flat enough to plant an acre of corn. Beat THAT! All steel though. Man could that thing take a hit. I could not do the alley back into the road satying in the lane of direction of travel thing. The car was not clear of the power pole on the non street side of the sidewalk before the rear was in the other lane. The Tester looked at me and said, "Well, I guess it's not your fault". By the way, we don't have parallel parking in Williamsville so when I learned to drive we just pretended there was a car in front and back. Luckily when I went to take the test, the Tester did the same. Probably figured the car would not fit in a parallel space anyway. Which it would. Y’all have a Great Day now ya hear?!!!
Good Morning! And Happy Halloween. Sorry no time for a card. Nice decorations by the way. Speaking of the library, does anyone else read the Walthers flyer like, waaaaaay too many times in the “reading room” or is it just me.
Coffee and a dozen glazed donuts to go please. Lotsa things to do today, so I’m gonna make it short. Yup that’s what I said. Make it short. Of course I could have made it shorter if I hadn’t repeated myself..., or said that. Or that. Or… never mind.
DerJohn- I used the word “denigrating“? Hm, I’ll have to look that up in the dictionary to see what I mean. I watch very little if any news also. Most is tilted to political lines so I can’t tell what is half true sorta or half kinda false…..oops, sorry, "edited for brevity".
Honda Odyssey a behemoth? (EDIT: Ooops! clicked the post button too soon. Why? I don't know.) In 1978 I took my drivers test in a 1970 4 door Chrysler Imperial. SIXTY three feet long and 27 feet wide with a hood big and flat enough to plant an acre of corn. Beat THAT! All steel though. Man could that thing take a hit. I could not do the alley back into the road satying in the lane of direction of travel thing. The car was not clear of the power pole on the non street side of the sidewalk before the rear was in the other lane. The Tester looked at me and said, "Well, I guess it's not your fault". By the way, we don't have parallel parking in Williamsville so when I learned to drive we just pretended there was a car in front and back. Luckily when I went to take the test, the Tester did the same. Probably figured the car would not fit in a parallel space anyway. Which it would.
Y’all have a Great Day now ya hear?!!!
Mornin' and A Happy "All Saints Eve" (aka: All Hallows Eve or commonly called for fun and profit Halloween).
Zoe I'll have...... Ah..... Hmmmmm.... Know What? I'll have what Todd is having, just make sure the coffee is dark roast in in my R&GV RR Mug!
Something happened last night THAT I though could not not conceivably ever happen.... My Sister's Plane was a half hour early!!!! I guess she had a great time over in the "Very Far" as she always does. They visited several Buddhist Temples and climbed steps...... Thousands of steps. They up around 5000' at the time and climbing 1000's of steps......... She did it and she was almost able to keep up with a little 83 year old lady who was on the trip as well. She aspires someday to be a little 83 year old lady who can climb steps at 5000' altitude better than all the other people on the trip........... Good goal! Monet Marie (the cat) was delighted to have her human servant back home and was being lovey to both of us. I think the cat has finally figured out my sister's disappearances are not actually caused by me, but rather I am the fill in for her during those times......
Nancy (sister) went upstairs to find a note from the guy who refinished the floors in her bedrooms while she was gone. he had turned off the water to her bathroom sink as he couldn't get the faucet to shut off. So I was enlisted to turn on the water as Nancy was conviniced he just didn't know how to turn off THAT faucet. So I got down on the floor, removed all the STUFF under the sink, got my arm back in there and started to turn on the ancient old valve for one of the water pipes..... After about 2 turns, water is gushing out of the valve stem..... I shut it back off.... Water is still gushing out of the valve stem...... i yell for Nancy .... No sister! I leave water gushing out of the valve stem long enough to run down the stairs to get sister to help. She is in the kitchen with a paper towel cleaning up little tiny bits of cat food and other random items THAT have accumulated on the kitchen floor..... I tell her about the gushing water in the bathroom, she goes right on cleaning the little tiny bits of this and THAT on the floor...... (can you say, uh... never mind). I run down the basement steps and try to find the valves in the cellar going to her upstairs bathroom... Luckily they Are in workable condition and shut off! I run back upstairs (she is still fixated on the little bits of this and THAT on the kitchen floor. Mind you I can't see anything on the floor worth worrying about....).
I run upstairs to see if the gushing has stopped and grabbed onto the hand rail for the stairs. It pulls completely out of the wall at the bottom...... I yell for my sister and tell her what happened. She comes and looks at it and says, Oh.... Hmm. Her still being concerned about the little pieces and microscopic this and THAT on the kitchen floor. I continue upstairs and find the gushing out of the valve has stopped. I go back down stairs and Nanacy hjas finally gotten all the pieces of this and that cleaned up on the kitchen floor. She now comes up to examine the flood THAT has happened in her Bathroom.......... She mops it up and I tell her THAT all the water has been shut off and the only way she be able to flush will be to carry water from the kitchen and fill the tank by hand. I expect a tirade of indignity to be thrown my way... She says, "You forget, I just spend 3 weeks in Bhutan, climbing steps and using the bushes along the road to do these kind of things....." She will call the guy (former student of hers) who is her plumber this morning.
I then got out of her house before anything else happened........
Sawyer, I took my drivers test in early December of 1962 2 weeks after I turned 16. I was using the "Family" car which was a 1959 60HP Rambler American Station Wagon with a 3 speed on the column. It was a small car for those days. I would have been more comfortable taking it with the old 4 ton axle Chevy Farm truck, but..... it didn't have any doors on it and wasn't allowed with the Farm plates to be driven for "Pleasure". My Father drove me to the test. I met the guy doing the test, and he told my Dad he could ride along in the back seat if he wished. My dad just grinned, looked at me, and said, "Nah, he can make enough mistakes all by himself". Then went and sat on a bench and watched me start off. First thing I did was start the car, release the parking break, put it in first, let in the clutch and stalled it! We were parked on a slight hill, BTW. I then completely panicked!!! The guy giving me the test, said, "Wait, don't start the car yet. Just relax a couple minutes. He asked me some questions about my experience driving (I started driving at the age of 4! Old Ford 8n tractor). We talked for a few minutes, and started again. Ended up with a perfect score! I know you can do the test well in whatever car you do it in. Just take a deep breath and relax!
Catch you all later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Getting dark outside. The kids are getting ready for their greedy deeds - t´ is the night of the nights
Zoe, how about a Halloween Special for me.
Folks, I see the Mike has built up enough steam pressure to be hauling the Diner to its new location tonight, but where to? Chances are pretty good that I will be on the throttle, so you´d better let me know where to steam off to.
Sawyer - I still have vivid memories on my driving test I took back in 1973. That was in Poulsbo WA and involved the whole bit - three way turn, parallel parking, angle parking, backing out of a drive way, entering a highway. The guy had so much fun of testing a German, it took 45 minutes for me to finally pass the test. When he handed me the license, he said "Son, now you can drive on your Autobahns". I still have that license, although it expired 35 years ago.
Happy Halloween!
Joe, it's 15 years old for your permit. Used to be 16 for your license, might be, I dunno. Apparently there was a rumbling about changing it, but I'm not quite sure if they did. And for the test, you just show up and take it, there is no scheduling. However, there are waiting periods before you can retake the test if you fail.
Galaxy, oh if only we had an F350 Super duty! oh well, one can dream. and I'm probably just going to wait, although I do think I could pass; I've had to wait this long for my restricted, it doesn't really matter to me if I gotta wait longer to get a car I know I can pass the test with instead of something I'll probably fail in.
Ray, I probably could pass in the Odyssey, but I'd rather wait ad take it in the Civic.
Ulrich, haha, nice man!
Well, nothing much for me. The remote will be busy flipping between the race and the Packers game though. We don't celebrate halloween.
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Goooooooooooooooooooooooood Mornin', Happy Shove Candy at Greedy Kids Day.
TODD: Thanks Pal, I was hoping THAT was how my tirade was taken.
ULRICH: You Sir, GET IT! 100% Spot-On in your A-sessment of the passenger rail situation. And yup, the European model was mentioned. But, this isn't Europe, no matter how hard some try to make it become Europe...it just isn't. They keep calling this line "high speed passenger rail." I didn't think 79 mph qualified as "high-speed," especially with 75 being common on nearby Interstate 80... They say it's a "boost" for the business traveler. Really? An hour to hour and a half commuter flight vs. six hours on the train...really? Color me skeptical. As for convenience, well...LaHood figures in 20 years, "80% of Americans will be connected by passenger rail." Ok...so to visit my Uncle in Kansas, I could either a) drive it in 8 hours, or b) take a train from Iowa City to Des Moines ("Duh Moyn"), transfer to the Des Moines to Kansas City train, at Kansas City transfer to the Kansas City to Topeka train, transfer again at Topeka to the Manhattan train... How many days do you think this would take???
I really wish the opposing party would've had a pork cook-out nearby...
SAWYER: With the driving test, just relax. You're not testing for brain surgery or rocket science. Just be careful, check your mirrors, use the turn signals...piece of cake Bud. You'll do fine. Save the NASCAR moves for when you leave the testing site with license in hand!
Later this afternoon/early evening, the Wife and I will take Rerun to Cedar Rapids for "Boo Burgers." Having the streets of Clarence full of children running amok is just too much for the furry boy to deal with, so we high-tail it out of town and get him some cheap burgers. Hmmmmm, I wonder if LaHood would let us bring Rerun on his train if it ran from Clinton to Cedar Rapids and stopped in Clarence... then, we'd have to put him on the bus with us to a burger joint.
Have a good, safe day everybody...
Chris
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
What? No unwanted visitors yet? What´s happening?
Zoe, one more of your excellent Halloween Special , please.
Chris - here in good old Europe, anything above 64 miles is considered to be long distance . Just to give you a practical example. Hamburg to Munich is a distance of about 550 miles. Your option is to take the plane, the train or the car.
With a car, you need about 7 - 8 hours for that distance, the plane takes about 75 minutes, but you need to drive to the airport, park your car, walk to the check-in counter, wait in the line, clear security. As you are requested to check in 1hr. ahead of departure time, you already have 2 hrs. on the clock, before the plane takes off. Upon arrival in Munich, you will find that the airport is a 90 minute train ride away from the city of Munich. Add to this about 15 min. for leaving the plane, buying the train ticket and boarding the train, you are now totaling 5 hrs. for the trip - the same time the train takes to get you there and at about the same cost, but much cheaper than taking your car. This is where train travel makes a lot of sense, but how many times do you find a situation like this in the US?
I don´t think that long distance train travel in the US makes sense, unless you build a dedicated system, capable of achieving average speeds of 200 + mph, which is technically viable, but economically not feasible. I am afraid that I don´t see much of a chance to resurrect the good old days of trains in the US - you just can´t turn back the clock 60 years, only 1 hour is possible.
Did I tell you that I wrote my thesis in economics on the future of train travel in Germany? I´d be a good adviser to your administration
Well, I´ll be calling it a day for now - I want to get some rest before train night starts on TV.
TTFN
Good afternoon Diners:
Todd:
( good idea for some of us who usually leave the keys in the ignition and then go somewhere, hit the power doorlocks, slam the door and then panic sets in until; I feel the keys in my pocket.)
I watch very little if any news also. Most is tilted to political lines so I can't tell what is half true sorta or half kinda false...
Man could that thing take a hit.
Ulrich: Excellent news about your father! Also, will keep you all in our thoughts for Friday and beyond.
Getting dark outside. The kids are getting ready for their greedy deeds - .....
Galaxy:
Most of the older guys here also took their tests on "land boats" in the 60s and 70s BEFORE they came out with midget cars!
and Sawyer, because I could parallel park and 3pt the A40, I found it's a transferable skill! And in my case I was doing this on the "wrong side of the road!". Don't panic man. Remember FEAR is False Expectations Appearing Real. In the UK at that time, when driving any vehicle while in the process of getting your license you had to have a big red L on the back, maybe the front too, can't recall. I think now, in addition to THAT, once you have your license, it's Provisional for a few months, and the L is swapped for a P. Naturally there are dire consequences for being caught not displaying one or the other without a full license.
Just read this sad news on Yahoo: (It probably won't be active for long) http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/101031/national/montreal_train_accident (Careful with that link - it's sett o open in a New Window, but didn't when I tried it in the Diner. I've re-set three times too, and it will open in a New Window if you Right click the link and choose that option, so good luck!
Ray:
First thing I did was start the car, release the parking break, put it in first, let in the clutch and stalled it! We were parked on a slight hill, BTW. I then completely panicked!!! The guy giving me the test, said, "Wait, don't start the car yet. Just relax a couple minutes.
Your sister sounds like one Kris would call "A piece of work'!
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
Flo....I'll have whatever Stout you have on tap, actually go ahead and start the second one too please. While we're at it, grab one for everyone in here....it's on me.
Whew! What a day. Been in Cleveland the last few days in support of Obama, and Biden's joint visit. My hotel sucks, and I was awoken this morning around 3 am (2 hours early to boot) to the sound of shouting and sirens outside my hotel room. Then it was off to the arena to do some w*rk. Been a loooong day, and my feet are killing me. Went off without a hitch, so I guess it was a success.
I fly back to rainy Seattle tomorrow, and couldn't be happier. I have some projects to work on. I have a little off time next week, and I'm ready for it. I tried my hand at airbrushing an undecorated locomotive. Turned out ok, but the paint is a bit rough. I think I put on too much too fast. I also had trouble with the dry transfer stripes. Thats why we learn though right?
Well hope all is well in you guys corners....I'm leavin on a jet plane...
Kyle
PUGET SOUND LINES
"Service, Pride and Efficiency"
Kyle_Y I fly back to rainy Seattle tomorrow, and couldn't be happier.
I fly back to rainy Seattle tomorrow, and couldn't be happier.
OK, Vinnie, sit down. I'm shutting up now.
Afternoon Folks
Flo, bring me a Pitcher of Please, and a straw.
Just been one of those Weekends for me.
What would a Saturday be with out a Emergency Visit to the Vet? This time it was Shaddy the Irish Wolfhound. Saturday mourning around 8:20 AM she seemed to having something stuck and could not sallow it. Looked in her mouth and could not see anything. Took me 15 minutes to get dressed, and get the car ready to take her to the vet and she still seemed to have something stuck. Got her leash and she went into Hyper Stupid Dog Drive. Got her to the Vet, she was fine by then. But at her age of 8 which is old for a Irish Wolfhound I had to play it safe, we lost Sonya the first Wolfhound with in 3 hours of us knowing there was something wrong.
Vet was surprised (first time seen by this Vet, same animal hospital I have used for 20 years) when he saw she was 8 years old. He thought she was around 3 years old. She is in good shape, but still cost me $70.00. Boy that would have bought a lot of lumber for the layout!
Shaddy behind me in the Train Room a few weeks ago.
After that I was pretty well spent, and start felling crappy and Saturday was done for.
Sunday Well I did get a few things off my list.
Got the Bathroom door frame back up
Base board molding painted
Transition strip for folding door cut and installed.
Clean the folding door making them ready for paint
Started to install knobs on the folding doors. That is when Sunday went south! Threaded rods (bolts with heads cut off) where to short. There will be a knob on both sides. Not a big deal and went to Sear's a quick drive. Got the need bolts (will cut the heads off) and looked around a little. Being broke sucks!
10 Table saw on clearances for only $125.00
Gas stove (are oven is dead and part and installation is $250.00) clearances $279.00.
Keep thinking about the wasted Vet Visit $70.00
Oh well just deal with it. On the way home I stopped to get gas. Young man asked me if I give him a jump, his Mon's 2007 Caliber would not start. Took a quick look and when he turned the key, lights on the dash would come on, go off and come back on. Plus a battery should not go dead that fast and if it is dead it should stay dead. I thinking it was more than likely a bad battery terminal but I was in the wife's car and had not tools.
Jumped the Caliber for 10 minutes, nothing but a click. Offered to help push it away from the pumps and to give Denver (his name) a ride home. We could not get the darn thing out of park? (floor mounted shifter) Yes, I tried with my foot on the brake pedal and nothing. So I gave him a ride home.
So I was done for the day and it was thirty.
Todd On the breaker box, if I tear down the storage room I will leave a 3 foot wide walkway. Still try to come up with a track plan that tickles my Fancy.
Jeffery enjoyed your Squirrel story. Any updates on the layout?
Galaxy Hope you are feeling better
Jim I can sort of see the light at the end on the tunnel (I hope it is a Big Boy) as far as the kitchen. I am no longer ashamed to have someone see it. Sill have a ways to go. Next is the Family Room.
Vincent I would love to get your Pearl Brewery car (Yours to Todd) what would you take for it?
Der 5997 I had shop towels in the scoop to keep dust out of the carb's. I have seen engines with scoops used as mail boxes. I am a gear head but not that bad!
Sawyer Good luck on your driving test. Sharon my daughter took her driving test in my 1970 Cuda. When the instructor saw what see was getting in to drive, he took a step back and looked like he was going to puke! Did not help that Sharon revved it up to around 4000 RPM's after she got in. She did pass and I am sure you will as well.
See you all Monday where ever that is.
Ken
I hate Rust
cudaken Jeffery enjoyed your Squirrel story. Any updates on the layout?
Ken:
My Pontiac did that when the Starter died. Dont know all of it, bvut the Batteyr could charge the alternator, but nothing to sustain it like having the car running, it drained itself dead again. Hope he gets it fixed alright.
-Morgan
jeffrey-wimberly OK, Vinnie, sit down. I'm shutting up now.
Who's Vinnie?
Also, Where is the dinner going for November?
the North East Rail Modeler jeffrey-wimberly: OK, Vinnie, sit down. I'm shutting up now. #1 Who's Vinnie? #2 Also, Where is the dinner going for November?
jeffrey-wimberly: OK, Vinnie, sit down. I'm shutting up now.
#1 Who's Vinnie?
#2 Also, Where is the dinner going for November?
#2: Nobody knows for sure until it happens. Somebody will do it but nobody knows who. It could be me, Ulrich, Todd, Ken, etc. Whoever does it will have their own destination in mind.
jeffrey-wimberly Just need to have a period of time in which I can spend my time on it and not have to do things for others.
Just need to have a period of time in which I can spend my time on it and not have to do things for others.
E Tu Jeffrey, E tu. Missy is a skeleton. She doesn’t seem really thrilled with the skull hood, but she's having a blast.
E Tu Jeffrey, E tu.
Missy is a skeleton. She doesn’t seem really thrilled with the skull hood, but she's having a blast.
Door bell is ringing. Beggars are showing up begging for candy that I paid for. And I want. There it goes again. I don’t mind the Tiny Mites. But some are a bit old and should have a job to buy their own candy.
Ray- I don’t know what story was funnier yours or Jeff’s. Tie I suppose.
On jumping vehicles. I used to all the time. Had a nice heavy set of cables. No problems til one time. At a gas station someone had an old For…doesn’t matter what brand. Don't want to make it sound like I'm picking on any brand they all could have problems. Anyway, car would not crank at the pumps. Said they had a problem every once in a while, jumped it and it would be OK. Attached the cables got in the truck revved the engine a bit to get it off idle and signaled for them to start their car. I knew exactly when they hit the starter. The RPMs dropped on my truck the lights went dim, (nighttime) and the alt gage buried itself to the discharge side. Their car didn’t even crank. I jumped out signaled to stop and said “sorry you’ll have to call a tow” When I was removing the clamps I saw they had melted the jaws on two clamps. I don’t jump just any car anymore.
Well, best get back to “greeting” the beggars. Brenda has stepped in the office twice now. Third times a charm.
Hey guys
Finally got the driveshaft swapped out on my car. Having a breaker bar and letting the PB soak for a few days seemed to help. Also found out what the code on my car was. Oxygen sensor went bad. Luckily I saved the spares (I had bought a prochamber that had new ones, but the ones in the car were fine) I had from my 97 (me and my brother were sharing the spares since he has a 98) and they are the same. Yay for not having to spend any money to fix it
Alos fiddled with some of the creature comforts. Got the passenger side window controllable from the drivers side, faulty switch was the culprit. That job was really easy (I thought it would be time consuming, but I was done in less than 3 minutes) Also took a look at the power mirror switch but that didn't end well. Opened it up and it pretty much exploded... Ugh, so I have to wait to get one from a junkyard. Well the mirrors are in an okay postion, not exactly where I want them to be but close.
Sawyer, Dunno about an F350 but I took my drivers test in a 2003 Expedition. Parents decided it would be best if I didn't use my Mustang (similar reason to ken's daugther and the cuda perhaps?). The expedtion was pretty much a tank.
My test was way too easy. Answer 25 questions, drive around a block, (stopping and turning) and park into a diagonal park spot. I drove like a grandma and was done in less than 10 minutes. If you ask me, it should have been much harder. No parrallel parking, no signaling, no driving in traffic (the block was in a almost abandoned neighborhood, only saw 2 other cars), or anything like that. No wonder there are so many accidents and bad drivers here...
Ken, I took a look at the pearl car and forgotten that I had replaced one of the steps with an A-line. Dunno if you still want it. Not likely you'd trade for it?
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.
Hey guys,
Just came to even up before the move. Today I had to rotertill the garden, hard Illinois clay, I hate it. Spent more time wrestling with the dang rotortiller than I did working the ground. Just had my sister's birthday dinner and next week she's getting her permit. Hey Vinnie, possible I can crash here for the next month or so?
If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran
When in doubt. grab a hammer.
If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer
If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer
If it's broken, get a hammer
If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!
Good Evening All,
A nice glass of that open Cabernet that Ray has left over will do just fine I think. Had our annual VSCCA board meeting today and THAT pretty well shot the day after laundry duty. Yesterday was consumed by the shop so no progress on the layout front this weekend.
All the talk about driving tests reminded me of the one I endured when we moved back to Connecticut from California. Now mind you Todds' car was large, but we had a '62 Ford Country Squire that was so large it used Todds' car in the trunk as a spare. It required a tender trailer for fuel and tug boats to parrallel park it. Now I'd already taken the test twice in Ca (don't ask) and wasn't looking forward to this third time in a new state filled with little narrow twisty turny roads leading into congested quaint little towns. Still everything was going ok until said parrallel parking test when the power steering failed. I wrestled the beast to the ground, got it parked and expecting to have just failed turned to the tester who was asking "What the heck was all that about, son?" He was so impressed when i told him he passed me on the spot and cancelled the rest of the test. We limped back to the testing center got dear old dad to call the tow truck and off we went after getting the stupid belt tightened (I wasn't the ace mechanic then I am now).
More train trips: We can get two people to and from Philly from here in less time and for the same money that it takes to drive so long as the tracks aren't under construction and that includes the tunnel under the Hudson. Using the CFO's GPS locator we hit 117 in the flats through New Jersey. The Acela went quicker by about 15mph but overall transit time wasn't much better. Flying to Philly from here involves driving to the nearest airport (White Plains) then taking the plane, then getting a rent a car, cab or train to get to the actual city. Overall time flying including the before and after flight stuff 6 hours. Driving time on average 4 hours. Train time plus SEPTA from the station downtown 4 hours. So some shorter runs will be more effficient with good transit. Same trip to Corning NY? Forget it - take the car. I see the role of trains more as short range commuter runs and longer excursion trips. More than 24 hours without a sleeper berth is probably undoable or at least a real slog.
RDC's - love em. We have a couple at the rail museum and they still w..k well. The New Haven had done a couple of lightweight over to match and used them at peak to add capacity but Budd raised such a fuss that they discontinued that practice. Many of the MU's and other self propelled cars they had could be coupled and run together by one crew (engineer, brakeman, conductor) and a couple of special consists were tested (we had a 4 car privateky owned Roger Williams set in the yard which is currently out for restoration). One problem is the RDC's weren't heavy enough to trigger some of the crossing signals and they would often derail in bad snow storms forcing the New Haven to couple them to switchers to cut a path through the snow next to the rails. Currently I'm told the roads run 4 or 5 car consists mostly empty off peak because it is more expensive to uncouple and tie them up somewhere than it is to run them hooked up and empty. Don't know how the current push/pull service copes with snow these days when the unpowered coach/control car is leading the consist. The older MU's didn't have that problem as they were each powered electric cars and from the era when heavier was better. Until all the track is electrified from Maine to Miami, my vote is to bring back the Turbo Train. That sucker could really move and still holds the speed record on this continent. Designed in Connecticut too by golly HARUMPH!
And so hpw was your day? Hardly any trick or treaters here this year and most of them were way too old to be out begging candy and way too foul mouthed for us to countinence so the lights went out early. J.R.
Chris, I'll make sure to repress my inner stock car driver. speaking of which...
HOLY COW that was a RACE!!! I couldn't decide what to watch...so I watched both the game and the race. No HUMONGOUS wreck but Allmendinger did go on his roof and hit the wall perpendicular to it. Not that I'm complaining...the racing was better anyways. and HOW BOUT THE GREEN BAY PACKERS?!?!?! DOMINATION! That's the Jets first shutout loss since 06! We might be banged up but we're warriors! and we get the Cowboys next week...and Jon Kitna. hehe. I'm sure he has some FOND memories of Lambeau field and the Green Bay Packers.
Some great driver's test stories guys! I especially like Ken's daughter revving the Cuda; apparently they'll fail you for revving the engine or something here.
Vincent, our test at the DMV involves making a left out of the DMV on one of the busiest streets (4 lanes + median) and getting in the right lane, then driving down residential streets that are barely more than a narrow strip of pavement that is just wide enough to not be one way (not to mention there are some one-way street pairings). Then we make the three point turn, backing maneuvers, all that fun stuff. did I mention the two stops at every stop sign? least there's plenty of room for the parallel parking. Oh well, trust me, there's still plenty of idiots driving in SC
No Trick or Treaters here, but we went to bed for a nap with the lights out.
It is TRICK to move the Diner, but it will be a real TREAT where we are going:
The diner has moved here:
http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/181848.aspx
AND iS NOW CLOSED FOR THE EVENING!!!
HAppy Halloween!