Elliot's Trackside Diner NOVEMBER 2010

[howmus]

Afternoon folks!

Let's see, Janie, I think i would like the Hot RB Sandwich, side order of onion rings, and a Dr. Pepper to tide me for a while.

Garry, actually there birthdays are about a week apart.  Son's is Oct. 28 and her's is Nov. 5th.  They just decided this year to do them both after the fact.

Well.... Chris, some wells are shallow.  The one we had on the farm when I was a kid was a dug well THAT was only 15' deep.....  Not "deep" at all.  But when my family and I lived in Oakfield, NY, we did have a well THAT was over 300' deep drilled in our front yard.  THAT I think was deep for around this part of the country.  So....  Well. (a deep subject.... at times....)

Went down to the layout room this morning and found I had another little mousie visitor down there.  I say "had" because it found the peanut butter baited trap.......  It has been disposed of.  Trap is rebaited and set.

I also did a load of wash and a bit of w*rk on the Stone crusher building.  I'll have picts soon.  This is one of those projects THAT is changing as it goes due to space issues, etc. 

Later!

73

[cudaken]

 Ulrich That is pretty close to the spaces we have. We can infringe somewhat by the door on the right. Been playing with some ideas of my own as well.

 All so remember we need room for the desk as well.

          Ken

[Cox 47]

Good Morning All...Its sunny and alittle warmer here...I'll have coffee and a sweet roll please...Thank You...Sallie is off to Dialisis both kinda tired had Grand kids here all week end..Working on a B-man caboose that I am rebuilding..cut a chunk out of it and gotta change windows..You all have a good one...Jerry

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning.

Looks like "honey do's" are in season for many of you. Careful, it may be a disease.

Krump... Good to see you.

Galaxy ... No question is dumb if you need to know the answer and you do not know it.

Ray .. Sounds like a great b'day. So, both son and d.i.l. have same b'day.

 

[Anonymous]

AmanaMedic

 

ULRICH: I had a German neighbor who referred to American beer as...well...the by-product of drinking beer...the reason God gave us urinals... He would pour down Budweiser like it was mere water, without any effect whatsoever. Good 'ole Hans...some days, I wonder what ever became of him. Good guy, great neighbor.

Chris - I would not go as far as Hans did in his comment, but I could also pour down loads of that stuff without having any effect on me. German beer seems to be much stronger. As the legal age in Germany was 16 in my days, I may have had some good training...

 

[AmanaMedic]

Gooooooooooooooooood *ow ow ow* Mornin', bucket of coffee please...

Well (NOT a deep subject), operation Smooth Move, AKA: Project Ex-Lax, is all but complete. All THAT is left of the massive relocation of the bedroom is...the Wife has to move the bulk of her clothing. All of the heavy lifting, literally and figuratively speaking...is DONE.

And I am feeling it today.

Yesterday, we "saved big money" when we shopped at Menard's...or so I hope.

The Wife is happy...and that's what's really important...right? JIM seems to think so.

TODD: Glad you liked the shot of CNW 1302. What struck me, was the Zito yellow was still bright and "clean," but the rust was bursting through it, same with the green.

Here's another scuzz-bucket for your consideration:

ULRICH: I thought your "dishwater" comment was more a flavor thing... I had a German neighbor who referred to American beer as...well...the by-product of drinking beer...the reason God gave us urinals... He would pour down Budweiser like it was mere water, without any effect whatsoever. Good 'ole Hans...some days, I wonder what ever became of him. Good guy, great neighbor.

I s'pose I oughta start making phone calls/e-mails to line-up this week's assignments, for THAT Editor's newspapers... so off to w**k I go. A good, SAFE day to us all 'eh?

Chris

 

 

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have one of those Breakfast Bagels w/ Cheese along with my Dark Rost Coffee in a FGLK Mug.

Last night was my son and my DIL's birthday party.  His MIL made some Delicious Home Made Lasagna (Some leftovers are in my refrigerator for supper tonight) and fro dessert we had 3 different choices, none of which was actually cake....  All were good as well (don't ask me how I know!).  Two of the three had candles placed in them so we could sign the song (twice).  The candles were the ones THAT you can't blow out.  So they had a lot of fun blowing out the candles, blowing out the candles, blowing out the candles, blowing out the candles, blowing out the candles.......................

On the way home I saw a rare night time train move in the yard on the FGLK.  They had a train THAT was a mile or so long, just sitting on the yard lead, and blocking all the RR crossings except one just beyond the yard lead in Geneva.  They rarely do major moves down there at night and have been doing some major work in the yard, so I'm wondering just what was going on.  I can tell you there were some unhappy motorists sitting in their cars waiting.............

Robby, be sure to show the 1920's boxcar here when you get it done!!!  A certain modeler who models 1925 wants to see it....

Ulrich, glad the car repairs were less than you thought, but still a bummer I know.

Galaxy, have fun in Elmira, but don't blow the whole budget!

Well (deep subject a well), I have a whole day of Stuff to get done, so I best get moving!

Later!

73

 

[Anonymous]

Ken - I still have a hard time to identify the space you can actually use for layout. I am also worried about that door to the right.

I have marked the area, which think you could use, in your drawing. Is it correct?

The white squares are in my understanding "off limits" for a layout.

[TMarsh]

Good Morning! Coffee please.

I too am in the middle of my layout reconstruction. Remember?

I too could be telling of my progress.

I too could be taking pictures of my progress.

I too could be building kits.

I too could be adding bench work.

I too could be wiring track.

But NOOOOO!!!

Working on the Laundry room and bathroom today.

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

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 38 and sunny. The high will be 73.

Got a little work done on the layout yesterday. I put in 2 pieces of 2x4 under the edges of the park section to give it some support so it doesn't fall into the waiting jaws of the langoliers. I also pulled down more of the old wiring. Now that the wires are loose of their mooring points they now hang beneath the layout like a multi-colored spiderweb waiting to snare - what. The job now is to remove them and isolate the track wires. The wires that go to the outside rail have to be marked so I can connect them to the proper buss wires when I put them in. The buss wires will be green (outside) and white (inside) with the track feeder wires connected accordingly. I'm hoping to reduce the number of blocks to 7, so that means 14 lengths of buss wire. 16 gauge should be big enough for what I need. I still need to run down feeder wires for the new track that is in place now. I put the rest of the track for the new run in place last night. After I attach the feeders and solder the rail joints I can start securing the track in place.

[galaxy]

Morning guys

back  to Brakie and krump!!! SIt and stay a spell!

 

Boy did I ask a dumb question over on the DCC and electronics section. I have a blonde streak down the back of what's left of my sandy brown hair so I am entitled to a DUH! Blonde moment! I sorta figured the answer, but there had already been a reply so I couldn't take it back. Oh well. Now I have a new question. probably just as dumb. SO I won't ask it. Maybe I beter before I blow something up. Nah, don't want to speak up and remove all doubt about one's dumbness.

Other half has dental appoint. ANd tomorrow we go to Elmira to wholesaletrains.com 's shop{whoo hoo though that is dangerous to me as I spend more in the store than i do online!!!} to look for a nice train station for our train nut friend. He didn't find anyting that he liked that fit his budget. There were only TWO train stations available at teh SYR show surprisingly enough adn neither was great one was well worn already assembled, the other was a massive station. we'd like to get him a  nice little country station {insert>cute< here} and maybe another building or two for him to play with, Right now he has to set up/tear down on dining room table. ANd it annoys the dogs when he runs trains, LOL. I can find new trucks for my HO caboose in the B&O livery I found with horn hook couplers, gonna need to saw off the coupler box cover I guees to insert new KD #5 though the hornhook is spring loaded so I maybget teh #148 whiskers KD if they have it. the trucks are also wobbley and shot on the caboose...but what do you want for $3? Didn't notice till I was home. I was jsut thankful I found a B&O coupula caboose I ahve been searching for I may ahve paid the man $25 for it!

Next train show is in early Jan here in Binghamton at Roberson Museum Center. THen THEN the BIG one in SPringfield Mass the end of January!!! Whoo HOO!! We should have some money by then!

Well I should go eat my waffles now...

Robby P.

 I've been debating to get two more cars for the train show.   So...........I guess I will make a trip to the LHS and get two more.   I was thinking about getting a 1903 wooden boxcar, and another 40' PRR boxcar.   That will give me 26 cars.   I think that should be enough.  

 

Robby- 2 more cars couldn't hurt!!! ANd your selection of older cars may strike an early 20cent. modelers heart with absolute delight. Oh if you don't haven't already maybe take 8x10 glossies of the REAL RR cars you modeled your weathered cars on so they can see how much yours look like the real thing! {can you tell which is real and which is memorex?}

Well, later guys

 

[Robby P.]

 Good cool morning. 

 I've been debating to get two more cars for the train show.   So...........I guess I will make a trip to the LHS and get two more.   I was thinking about getting a 1903 wooden boxcar, and another 40' PRR boxcar.   That will give me 26 cars.   I think that should be enough.   I guess I will also do some rail-fanning while I'm out.

 Come back home and give the dogs a bath, and clean up some.   So I have a busy day.

 I will pop back in later!!

[Wisconsin Railfan]

Good Morning Folks!

Cup of coffee please!

It was a busy "honey do" weekend, hope everyone has a great week.

Steven

[cudaken]

 Mourning AZ

 Flo, Big Diet Dew please.

 I had been keeping some odd hours of late, getting up at 4:30 to 5:30 AM for sometime now. But withis the time change I was up at 3:30 today?

 Morgan I used RTS 8.0 to draw the garage with, each square is 1 foot if that helps.

 Ulrich The door on the right is the biggest problem in my mind. Now personally I would not mind if that door was blocked. I could use the family room door to get into the garage. It is all so goes to the patio and is only 2 feet from the rear garage door. But, I am pretty sure Sue would throw a fit if I closed that door off.

 I am not in a hurry so both you and Morgan take all the time you need. Plus I do enjoy playing around with the RTS as well.

 Think I will play with the plan now my self, will try smaller turns.

                 See You All Later.

                           Ken

[Anonymous]

Lunchtime!

Flo, make that a chili dog and a RBF for me, please!

The bill for the car repair was less than I´d figured, so I should be glad. Still a lot of $$$ from my MRR budget

Hi, krump, and welcome back!

The day started out as nice day, but now it is overcast and "dull".

Have a good one!

[krump]

Good Morning everyone,

thought I'd stop in for a meet & greet (it's been a long while), mocha coffee with a frosted cinn bun please.  so greetings to all, and esp to my long time buddies

 

 

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

[Anonymous]

Good Morning,

I am up early today - have to take my car into the garage. It is the 2nd attempt, I hope the have the right parts for it now. It is going to cost me a fortune, money I had reserved for some MRRing

Flo, just a coffee for me please.

Ken - if I understand that drawing of your train room correctly, there are some bad obstacles which eat up a lot of space. I understand the lower part of the room to be more or less off limits for a layout, and the A/C unit on the left will also require some access to it. The door on the right needs access as well, and maybe even an aisle leading to it. It is not going to be an easy task to come up with a track plan that incorporates all your druthers and still looks good. I will need a lot of thinking time (which I have).

I must be getting ready to go now - CUL

[ns3010]

Evening all.

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING POST CONTAINS A RANT.

Ok, so I finally picked up my genset today.
I was originally supposed to get it in January.
It got pushed back to June.
Then to September.
It shipped in September.
Called the LHS in October, they didn't get it.
They got it last week (Monday or Tuesday I believe).
Picked it up this afternoon, a full ten months after the original delivery date. Fifteen months after I ordered it.

So by now, you must be thinking, "Great, he finally has it! Now he can be happy!"

Nope.

It's missing a handrail. I already emailed Atlas's parts department, so hopefully I'll get a reply within the next few days.

I just can't win.

[/rant]

[howmus]

Afternoon folks!

Janie, a cup of hot cocoa would hit the spot right now.

Looked out my living room window a while back and noticed my driveway on THAT side of the house is very full of cord wood.....  The guy evidently brought the rest of the wood yesterday while I was at the Museum.  So I will be stacking firewood most of next week as well as getting ready for the train show next Sunday.

Heartland Division CB&Q

Ray .... Did the LHS also change owners? I would think they would try even harder in a down economy.

Nope!  In fact the son of the owner who now manages the store is a former music student of mine.  Whenever I go in we always have a great talk about everything from trains to music (he is also a composer).  Some of the problems I know have to do with changes in how much credit they can get from Walthers...  But I would still think that items they can get in and have go right back out the door would be a good thing for them.  I don't know?

Later!

73

[Flashwave]

cudaken

 When in Doubt Blame Charter seems to have been RIGHT!   Just uninstalled the Anti Virus (Called F-Securities and I am not making that up)! Computer is now moving fine again! I wounder what the F stood for?

 Even got the garage drawing uploaded to my Photo Bucket account.

 Good, seems to posted as a bigger picture this time. Now for the tour so to speak.

 At the very top, I subtracted approximately 3 inches to clear the braces and tracks of the garage door. 

 Left side starting at the 10 foot mark. That is where my window A/C unit is located. I marked out a 3 X 3 section so I can get to the A/C unit for when it needs work. I am thinking of doing a lift out hatch so I can get to the A/C or build that section extra strong If I have to get on the bench.

 Bottom left side. Small box is my wall mounted breaker box, and big 3 X 3 section is my up right 100 gallon Air Compressor, I all so have a 3 foot wide walkway by the breaker box.

 Bottom Right is the door that goes to the patio.

 Left side 8 squares up is part of the dressing room that was in the garage when I bought the house. House has a in ground pool and that section was for guest to change in. I ripped out most of it when I bought the house so I could have my desk there. It will not come down due to having electrical connections (wall socket and light switch) in it.

 Left starting starting at the 13 foot mark. That is the door that goes into the kitchen. As long as the door can be opened to 60 degrees I am fine with it. 

 This is with the storage room removed.

 What I did not show is my desk It can be moved. Where it currently sitting is right where the small ends. Right front corner of the desk touches the end of the small wall. Desk it self is 5 foot by 30 inches. 

 Well there is the run down and looking forward to ideas. If you like real pictures I be happy to post them.

Now that the computer is happy again I think I will play with the RTS program some more.

 Sing along with me.

Charter Suck's, Charter Suck's, everyone that has Charter Know's they Suck! 

     See you all later.

                        Ken

 

You would have to make it difficult... Ah well. I need to finsh up a shell and then I'll stare at it for a while. Actually, what I'll probably do is paste it onto RTS and stretch it until the gridlines all match up, then see if I can't tunr the yard to make things fit. I really think Madog is overcomplicating things for himself, the Station doesn't need to go in until the rest of the line is plotted, just like a real town. Take that aside, and the only big pieces are the yard, the Grain Silo, and the Mine. To get a yard long enough for twenty cars (5.5 in a piece is 9 feet in the shortest track, and then you need almost 7 feet for yard leads total) That yard may have to angle, but then an angle can be longer than a straight side.

[JimRCGMO]

A quick Good Ev'nin' to you, and Flo, could I have a RBF to go, please. Thanks!

AmanaMedic

Oh joy. Oh rapture.

But, the Wife is happy...and that's what really matters...right???

...

Chris: (A)  Joy and rapture, indeed, and yes, keeping her happy is of primo importance in MANY households...

B) Nice weathering job on your switcher there - WHAT?! Oh, that IS prototypical, eh?

Wonder of wonders, Teffy is around and peeking in the Diner windows? He's one of the earlier (Coffee Shop, pre-ETD days) Diners who persuaded me to chop my 4X8 into four pieces and to go with sectional around-the-walls kind of layout (plus, I have a nice 2-6-0 Mogul that I have by way if Teffy. Hey, Teffy, how're you and Stephanie doing? It has been 'ages' - too long!

Hope Robby's been doing gangbusters at the Greenberg show this weekend. I'm sure you'll do well, and drum up some more business as well.

Brakie, to the DIner (again? It must have been a while back, or I was doing like Duke and catching some at the time when you were by). I have enjoyed your wisdom in the other parts of the Forums around these parts.

This weekend, I myself have been doing assorted MRR-related things. Checked my list of MRR books (still have one to determine if I really have it or not), also took the vaccuum cleaner to the bedroom (around the shelving where I have the MR mags in their little 'boxettes' - those ones with the open top where you put the issues), and put a lot of my flexible track into a box (less sliding down the pile and off the top of the shelves...). I now have a few sore spots on my hands, from trying to fit 'just a few more' pieces into a box that was likely not really big enough. (Of course, getting track pieces into a box is not as easy as it is to get them *out* of same...). But I got a lot of the track into the box for now. And that end of the bedroom is less dusty and somewhat neater than before.

And the pager just went off, so I'll be heading out. Oh, I neglected to re-set my clocks, so got up an hour earlier than needed to go back to wind up a commitment at one local 'gendarmarie' (hey, you might be able to figure out that kludged word).

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

 

 

[der5997]

Ken:

By Chris - CUDA KEN: I use AVG anti-virus (free edition), and Super Anti-Spy Ware (free edition) and have not had any issues with 'em while using Firefox. I also got a freebie called "Crap Cleaner" THAT does a nice clean-up job.

...Same here, same zero problem count. Don't have the Crap Cleaner though.

 

Ray: I hear you on the LHS drop in service issue. There are two LHSs from which I can choose. The smaller I'd like to patronize more, but it takes forever to get stuff, and as far as my needs go, he just doesn't carry the things I'm after most of the time. Gives me a discount and so on, but I've pretty much gone over to the less convenient to get to but better equipped for my purposes one.

 

Garry:

Here, I use hedge clippers in the summer.  

Anyone can do THAT, both the A and M Clippers are winter ones, very special! LOL

(The new smilies don't have my favorite one anymore.)

...send me a PM or an email, and I'll see what I can do. I've a number of the old ones on file.

 

Jeff:

Nope, me no Spacemouse.

....I was working from the "Space Mouse for President" thing in your signature.  Teffy  sounded like he was referring to a Coffee Shop patron with that handle - I don't recall one, do you?  If not, it's possible my guess was along the right lines and he was remembering  that line from your sig. and identifying you.  Probably not something to take further, I'll see if he replies to my email.

 

Getting dark out now....so I guess Dinner (more like tea) is the next thing.

TTFN.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

der5997

I guess in the times he looked in none of those were on that page. He asked after Spacemouse (Is that you Jeff?

Nope, me no Spacemouse.

[cudaken]

Heartland Division CB&Q

Ken ... I did not read all your posts. Are you re-doing your layout?

 Yep Gary, if I can find a suitable plan I am breaking out the saws all. As a whole I like the bench but after 5 years I am getting bored with it. Main thing is I want 4 or more main lines so I can run 4 trains with out them hitting each other if I get distracted. Plus, it is flat, I am sick of flat.

              Ken

[Kyle_Y]

KOstriker.....better off the tap

Tried the wet decals last night. I don't know if it was lack of coffee, exhaustion, or what but I could just not get it going! I finally said Eff if, this starting to feel like w*rk. So I snagged some thai food, and came back to it. I realized the complicated striping that I"m looking for would be better off painted! Spent a good hour with the masking tape, and came up with something marvelous. I'll try and post pictures today after the paint sets!

 

Kyle

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Larry (Brakie) ... I, too, am glad you are here in the diner. Feel free to vist often.

Der John .... You said, "Also, Kris says to mention that we in Nova Scotia get the Alberta Clippers, what you guys get are Montana Clippers." ....... Here, I use hedge clippers in the summer. ... (The new smilies don't have my favorite one anymore.)

Ken ... I did not read all your posts. Are you re-doing your layout?

Jeff ... Speaking of re-doing layouts, you have quite a challenge there.

Ray .... Did the LHS also change owners? I would think they would try even harder in a down economy.

Todd ... glad you are one of the faithful, almost daily visiters to the diner.  

My basic track plan works fine for me. It is an aorund the wall layout primarily. It's double track with a reverse loop at each end. Towns and industries are located along the way as is suitable. My plan does have a couple of peninsulas, too.  Also, I included a second level on part of the layout.

Happy Model Railroading.

[cudaken]

 Boy it does not seem like 12:30, going to take a while to get use to the time change.

 Got a few more Honey Does done. Got the new shop light up and sure woke up the right side of the garage. Brought out some plants and fixed the wife's Mop. She said she wants to Mop the new floor. I am not holding my breath. I be happy if she did the darn dishes.

 Ulrich Thank you for taking a interest in my project. I played with it some today but I keep coming back to the same thing. Might be I am just to use to seeing the garage. Looking forward to a different point of view.

             See you all later, Ken

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe I'll have the #2 special this morning, over easy on the eggs, bacon, home fries, and a double order of sourdough toast.  Oh!  And a large cup of dark roast coffee in a FGLK Mug if you please (and don't forget to refill me often....).

Well!  (deep subject) I actually feel pretty good this morning.  Other than having a few sore muscles, I'm not in any pain.  I should probably get out and do some "Physical W*rk" more often. 

Brakie,  Good to see an LHS doing a good business.  I have always tried to patronize the hobby shop here in Geneva as much as possible.  A couple of years ago something happened to their business practices along the line.....  Used to be I could walk in, look around and if they didn't have an item I wanted, they would order it in and I would have it within a week.  They also give regular customers a 10% discount on anything in the store.  When the economy turned sour a couple years back for some reason if I order anything, I wait and wait , and wait.  The last order I gave them was for some items I needed to complete the Module I just had judged for the "Civil" certificate.  THAT was 5 months ago.  Still waiting!  I placed the order 3 months ago with Caboose Hobbies.  Got it in 6 days......  I have told them I will not order any more from them until the order I placed comes in....  So, I haven't shopped their much lately since most everything I need is not on the shelf.  Sad, as I will always patronize local business when possible!

[edit]  Got interrupted while typing this earlier........  About 3 hours ago.  Oh well.

later!

73

[Anonymous]

Good Evening Folks!

Pitch-black dark night outside - feel like looking for my cave to hibernate!

With all that talk of beer, I´d thought I bring some good stuff to share with you:

That´s tasty stuff and a little stronger than your regular US brew.

No, not for me, Zoe, I´ll settle with a plain ol´ but good coffee, please.

Chris - that "dishwater" thing comes from that fact that it is as foamy as some of the beers I had in the US, and the taste was pretty much alike. I know there are some good beers around, not easy to get though.

Ken - thanks for the drawing of your train room! Now i will have to get into thinking mode before I will be able to come up with something close to your ideas. It is not going to be easy, as your wish list is quite extensive. It´ll be some days before I can start on it, so don´t be angry if I cannot provide a plan in short time.

You all help yourself to some of the above