Elliot´s Trackside Diner DECEMBER 2010

[TMarsh]

Good Morning! Coffee please. Nope, just coffee thanks. Dark Roast.

My gum is sore around the wisdom tooth that is/has been coming out for the last few years. Hopefully another chunk will come off soon and the pressure will be removed. Should be just about gone by now.

I did get into the train room yesterday. (woo hoo!) Just kinda stared and moved a building or two around to see where it’d fit best-ish. One of those, "I like and want this item but really no place for it maybe try it here" buildings. Mostly I need to clean up. Hoo boy! Much stuff has been dropped off in there as a place to put things I brought back from Mom’s remodel.

Flip- J.R.-- That was too obvious. I did come up with the car Der showed, but I figured that wasn’t it. I assumed it was a nickname for some design of car. Er……I mean, Yup! That’s it all right.

I have to shake my head at cellphonists. (a recently discovered species) Right after I utter some words my Mother would wash my mouth out over. The only problem I have with the no talk on a cell phone while driving laws is, it isn’t, that is can’t be, as effective as they proclaim. We have a problem with cellphone distraction and they can’t really do anything about it. Here is the problem, (patoohy. Ah, there's a little chunk) it’s not the act of holding a phone to your ear that is the problem. One hand on the wheel has been an issue for yeeeears. No law against that, but yet if you’re holding a cellphone, it’s more dangerous. Not so. It’s the conversation and the type of conversations that take place that take peoples attention away from the road. That, and the fact that cellphonists are easily distracted from the task at hand with the introduction of a cellphone anyway… ooo. Look at the pretty flowers… Is that my phone? CAR!!!!! Problem is you can’t enforce a no gab or talk law. CD’s, interior conversations with passengers, (The reason many states, Illinois being one, do not allow drivers under a certain age to have a car load of kids without parent or guardian in said vehicle), even talking to oneself like I do about some aggravating event is the main reason for distractions taking a drivers attention from the road. Cellphones add to the amount of distractions available true, but that is only one of many. So the only way you can tell if they are talking on the phone or to themselves is by looking at the phone attached to the hand to the ear. So, they make it sound like don’t hold the phone to your ear, and get a hands free version, then the conversation won’t be distracting. Have a hot dog. See? Now you’ve freed up that hand to eat with as you negotiate I-35 at rush hour and still discuss the work schedule or who is bopping who in the neighborhood. CAR!!! Does it really make it safe to have that thing hang off your ear but dangerously distracting if you hold it there? It’s just a thing to make it look like they are doing something about a problem for which there is no enforceable solution. Now Texting on the other hand.... that not only takes you mind but your eyes away.

Now if they can just do something about all these pro NASCAR drivers out there practicing their maneuvers on the roads.

Welp, today I’ma gonna head to the Walmart, (yes, again. I need some sort of suffering today) I need to pick up some candy for Brenda’s stocking, and some Tylenol for Mom. Not for me. Actually the tooth chip I spit out earlier seems to have relieved the pressure and the ache is all but gone now. Anyway, then I need to hit her Apartment mailbox, then the house to clean up a tub, then back home. This of course depends on how she is doing today.

THEN! I might get to go into the train room and straighten up a bit. Might as well, with Mom here I can’t get too far for too long anyway.

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

[GMTRacing]

Good morning all,

    28F out - a virtual heatwave - I may go to the beach today.  In the meantime while I wait for the meds to kick in I'll have a regular and a blueberry bagel please Zoe.

   So how cool is that - a fleet of cars dedicated to keeping cookies fresh during shipment. And we thought Sesame Street was far fetched !

   Vincent - tap extractors are magic aren't they?

  Barry - have fun with the RS-2 just be careful of the incision when you're asked to help "bar" the motor prior to firing it up.

   Lee - not good news about the GF. There's lots of ways second hand smoke can cause dificulties but I hope they can find something to help.

   Lots to do again today so I'd best get to it. Are Ulrich and Bill having a global contest to see who can get here earliest?   CUL, J.R.

[SilverSpike]

Morning folks!

Cup of Joe Flo! Thanks!

Temps not below freezing last night, might thaw out the snow on the back deck from last week!

Ken, I will try to answer you questions about the RAM requirements. Since 3rd PlanIt (3PI) is a graphic hog, you would need more than 820 MB of RAM to ensure smooth operations of the software. I am assuming you meant MB of RAM and not GB. My PC is maxed out at 3 GB of RAM, even though it has 4 1-GB sticks, the XP 32 bit OS does not recognize more than 3 GB. I may have to upgrade to Windows 7 at the 64 bit OS, which would be able to utilize all 4 GIG. Back to your subject, IMHO, the more RAM you can afford the better, and with your current system I would not recommend purchasing the full blown software until you upgrade your PC, if it can be upgraded. I am not sure what the minimum requirements are for running 3PI, but as a rule of thumb you can never have too much RAM or a higher speed processor.

Later folks!

 

[galaxy]

Good morning

Man the new muscle relaxer the Dr gave me...puts me to sleep. I think i can only take at night.

Got the Certification from the Dr. for the Handicap tags for the Kia. I can get the tags for my registered vehicle and get the hangy thingy for any other vehicle I am In. Thats a relief. I relize this does NOT mean that I will always get a close parking space, especially at Wallyworld! But MOH drops me off at teh door and then parks, and has to go get the vehicle to pick me up. MOH will like parking so close too, though knows can't do it if I am not with, or It could get reported and I could loose it.

Got to go "put goop on my chest and take a picture of my heart" as the pulmonologist put it- he means an ultrasound today. IF I can find the place. they are remodelling the hospital and have it all discumbobulated and bass-ackward. AND try adn find a parking spot!!! I will have to walk form the south 40 I am sure to get tehre out of breath.

well I have to try to go to the town clerk's office this am to get the hangy thingy.

Toodles

[jeffrey-wimberly]

galaxy

Got the Certification from the Dr. for the Handicap tags for the Kia. I can get the tags for my registered vehicle and get the hangy thingy for any other vehicle I am In.

They did away with the handicap plates here for the most part, with the exception of those for people who use a wheelchair or a powerchair, For others, such as myself, only the hanging tag is issued and can be used in any vehicle I happen to be in. I also have the handicap ID card which I can use in lieu of the hanging tag. Just leave it on the driver's side dash. The use of the ID card varies from state to state.

galaxy

Got to go "put goop on my chest and take a picture of my heart" as the pulmonologist put it- he means an ultrasound today. IF I can find the place. they are remodelling the hospital and have it all discumbobulated and bass-ackward. AND try adn find a parking spot!!! I will have to walk form the south 40 I am sure to get tehre out of breath.

I've been through several of the ultrasound things myself from checking out my heart, checking my liver and kidney function. I still have to have at least one a year to keep tabs on my diverticulitis. Now as far as finding a parking spot goes, I can really identify with you there. At the local hospital the docs and staff figure they can park any old where including in the handicap spaces. I had to go in for a physical one day and then couldn't have it done because I had over exerted myself because I had to walk (if you can call it that) a distance of about three football fields to get to the building because the ONLY parking space I could find was way down at the end of the parking lot. My niece works there as a radiologist and she said the staff get their butts reamed over that one!

[TMarsh]

Odd isn't it? Hospitals have not many more Handicap Parking spots than the local buffet. If I recall correctly, the horsepiddle Mom frequents has like 8, maybe 10 handicap parking places. Sure it is in the same space as the front door and is a seperate area, but it is rather tight and I would be challenged to park a van in there if that is what they have to drive. Of course it is alway full so I guess there will only be 10 handicap people in the place at one time. Considering it's a health care facility, that's comforting. Her healthcare empire where her Doctor's office is has less and they are farther from the door than Walmarts.

What I like (sarcasm) is when we used to take Mom to Ryan's (buffet), how many times we could not park in a non- handicap space because Mario Andretti whipped in the last space and we would be struggling across the parking lot watching the handicap people jump out of their vehicle and almost run to the door to beat others coming in. Maybe I''m wrong by drawing conclusions, but I'm not really sure they need it.

As for me, if I take Mom to a place and I either drop her off at the door when Brenda is with us, or if she waits in the car for me, I do not use the handicap space even if she is with me. I feel if she is not going to walk from a parking space, the one who is is not handicapped and therefore the space is not needed. Of course it is aggrivating to see someone leave the vehicle who did take the space moving better than I do, but I give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they are just having a good day. (or at least I try) Maybe they will have trouble by the time they're ready to leave.

You'd think they would at least limp a little or carry a cane to make me feel better.    

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 64° and mostly cloudy. The high will be around 70° and there's a 40% chance of rain (Just a hair under an inch according to the weather guesser).

Maybe I'll get some work done on the layout today, IF nothing else comes up. Maybe I should put a sign on the door. "DO NOT DISTURB UNDER PAIN OF GETTING A SEVERE BEATING". Of course that wouldn't work with my nephew. He'd enjoy it too much! Nothing really special has to be done. Just mix up some plaster to do a skim coat over the wall joint compound to fill in the cracks. As anyone who's used plaster on a layout knows it's best to be able to do the entire job without interruption as the stuff sets up really quick and joins between wet and dry areas can show up fairly well and require sanding to smooth it out. While I do have an orbital sander to do any sanding that may be required I do so hate the mess that ensues. I have an attachment I made to attach the hose from the ShopVac to the sander but that limits the use of the sander to open areas. Getting it into a tight area with the vacuum hose on it isn't much fun.

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe I'll have the #2 special, over easy on the eggs, bacon, homefries, and a double order of Sour Dough Toast with a cup of dark roast coffee in a R&GV RR Mug,  Please and Thank You!

Its a gray dark morning here in the Finger Lakes.  currently 24°F with a high around 27°F later.  May get a flurry or two, but nothing to cause any problems...

This is the building I was talking about last night.  This is before I added the rail to the ties. 

Today I will get most of the presents wrapped for Christmas...  If the paper lasts.  If not, I will be doing a quick shopping run I guess.

Cold in the house, so I think I will go light the wood stove.

Later!

73

[BRAKIE]

Good Morning All!

Not much to report from the land of Buckeyes other then its snowing and I still haven't made up my mind on changing eras.Tempting and it sounds good to model the late 50s something I haven't done in what 40-50 years? but,still...Ah well.Plans for today is fool around with Slate Creek and see what I can come up with...Looking back over 2010 I just can't help but wonder where in blue blazes did it go?

I shall have a cup and look over the forum.

Have a good'un! 

[LSWrr]

GMT, Dorothy’s issue is phlegm in the lungs is not forcing itself out, somehow it’s stuck in there.  I tell her to drink more water in hopes it will help hydrate things and loosen up the phlegm.  She has been in the banking and medical field most of her life so she really hasn’t been exposed to second hand smoke or work place pollution.  We shall see what happens.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

As usual, something else came up. I had to take my mother to a company sponsored dinner.

The dinner went off just fine. Just an early Christmas dinner. One of those grab a seat where you can type deals. I had a nice comfortable padded office chair and there was plenty to eat. I didn't want to leave but I still had to go by the pharmacy in town to see if they had my syringes in yet. They did. I brought enough food home to last a day or two.

[TMarsh]

BRAKIE

 Looking back over 2010 I just can't help but wonder where in blue blazes did it go?

 

If you find it, let me know. I have more that needs done.

Lee- Do you think Mucinex (sp?) might work? I don't know if it's beyond the abilities of the stuff but according to the commercials...... you'll want to stand clear when she coughs.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

BRAKIE

Looking back over 2010 I just can't help but wonder where in blue blazes did it go? 

Into the past.

[fec153]

Thanks Sir John. And don't you know, it isn't available and its a number I want.  Murphys Law.    lol

Flip

 

[fec153]

Well doggone it. Lee, the car in the picture is another one I would like to have.

Flip

 

[Packer]

Afternoon guys.

Got the timing cover plate and water pump installed, along with all the pulleys and replaced my rather large crank pulley with a smaller one from a mustang cobra. Only problem is my belt is now too long, but I needed a newer one anyways. Tried getting the stock rubber bushings out of the original control arms from my brother's car (his car and mine have the same type. So I figured clean these up and switch to the Urethane bushing while they were out) I forgot how they are supposed to come out. I've drilled a few holes through the rubber, but nothing so far.

J.R., They are. It save me from buying a real (not my little propane one) torch and torching it out; While the block is in the car and there is still oil in it (someone else's idea; I think it's a bad one)...

Robby, The car showed up today. Luckily I was home so my parent's couldn't gift wrap it and "present" it to me . I'm liking the car already and I haven't taken it out of the box yet. Thanks.

Barry, pretty neat your friend bought an RS2. Wonder if the recording will be as quiet as the RSD15 I got earlier this year?

John, I just stuck a few drops in the hole. But the Richmond Controls SMDs will fit that application. Only issue is trying to find out how much voltage/current is put through the accesory function output on the Athearn SW1000 circuit board (1.5v through the head/revers lights, if the accesory function is 1.5v as well it won't light) But I'm more than liekly gonna use a TSU AT-1000 for a sound/motor decoder in the unit.

[blownout cylinder]

Vincent: I'm suspecting that it should be. This thing can get rid of background hash pretty good as well. I've used the thing off a couple of soundboards recently..thing is I've also got my hands on a couple of Audio-Techica  AT2021 mics as well...

 

...and nope. No holding no engine in starting from this one!! LOL!!

[galaxy]

jeffrey-wimberly

galaxy:

Got the Certification from the Dr. for the Handicap tags for the Kia. I can get the tags for my registered vehicle and get the hangy thingy for any other vehicle I am In.

They did away with the handicap plates here for the most part, with the exception of those for people who use a wheelchair or a powerchair, For others, such as myself, only the hanging tag is issued and can be used in any vehicle I happen to be in. I also have the handicap ID card which I can use in lieu of the hanging tag. Just leave it on the driver's side dash. The use of the ID card varies from state to state.

 Now as far as finding a parking spot goes, I can really identify with you there. At the local hospital the docs and staff figure they can park any old where including in the handicap spaces. I had to go in for a physical one day and then couldn't have it done because I had over exerted myself because I had to walk (if you can call it that) a distance of about three football fields to get to the building because the ONLY parking space I could find was way down at the end of the parking lot.

They probably did away with the license plate tags in your area due to to many non handicapped people using a handicapped's car and using handicapped spaces. For instance if MOH has the vehicle and I am nto in it, MOH can NOT park in the handicapped spot, or I will have my tags and hangy thingy revoked. I MUST be in the vehicle. So MOH better not and knows better! MOH actually turned in some young girls who had their mothers car adn parked int he handicapped space and turned them in...end result Mommy lost her tags! Bet THOSE GIRLS paid for that for a long time!

TODD and Jeff Both- the hospital has get this....TWO...just TWO handicapped parking spaces in a lot of about 4 football fields! I ended up half way to the south 40 to park adn had to sit down inside the door and rest when I got there before venturing on.

Got the pic took. it will aslo be sent to my cardiologist for review.

Jeffrey- the bridge arrived today, now to find some spare rail joiners...

Well, I could use a nap before stiking up a fire oon some steaks tonight when MOH gets home at 8:30!I took that darned muscle relaxer when I got hame....didn't dare take it today being out driving so much.

TTYL8R

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

galaxy

Jeffrey- the bridge arrived today, now to find some spare rail joiners...

 

Glad you like the bridge. I had gotten it for a previous layout but never used it.

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Flo, I'll have Italian Sausage with onions and peppers, side order of fries, and a trip to the salad bar.  Oh, I'll need a cup of decaf in a FGLK Mug as well.

Well (deep subject), presents are pretty much wrapped.  Just need to make a short trip down Rt. 14 tomorrow and stop in at Earl Estates Winery to pick up a few bottles of Mead and I will be finished.  They will only need a bow on them...... 

I also made up some new labels for the Toggles controlling turnouts and some on/off switches on the layout.  These should show up better than the "labels" I did a couple years ago.  The labels are not sticking well so these will be printed on Photo Paper and will be sprayed with an adhesive and then put in place.  Hopefully they will be better.

I'll catch everyone a bit later!

73

[TMarsh]

Vincent- Your description of gifts reminds me of when I was young and recieved things like, every year I'd get a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. I was pretty excited opening those. That meant that tube was mine and I didn't have to share with my sister. They were two gifts SEPERATELY wrapped HAH! I miss those times. You will too.

[blownout cylinder]

I wonder what set this off...

Talk about a smackdown...

[jeffrey-wimberly]

blownout cylinder

 

FOOD FIGHT!!!

[teen steam fan]

Hey guys... YIPE!!! (ducks) Brings a whole new meaning to Fast Food now doesn't it?

 

Jeff asked for it, so he was warned. he he he 

[cudaken]

 TODAY SUCKED!

 Flo, beer and keep them coming!

 John Thank you for the belated Birthday wishes for Tiff. I am sure you miss Rosie like I will Tiff when her times comes. But they will live forever in are hearts.

 Ryan, How did you know I ran XP? I don't know how many sticks of ram this computer has in it, but I do know it is 1.25 MB (your right I used the wrong term) of Ram. It was a hand me down gift and I am sure it needs to be reformatted. Has a ton of junk installed and at idle it is using around 520 MB of Ram.

Talk about bad timing! Yep, I am out of work again! If you remember the father of the Phillips sons farther passed away the Saturday before I started training class. Well most of there assets are now tied up in Probate Court and they had to let all 8 of us that where in training go! 

 It just figures, the last few years Christmas just seems to blow here at the home front. Last year Sues brother died Christmas Morning and this Christmas I am out of work again. All that I accomplished was spending $80.00 in gas and lost $200.00 in unemployment.

 It did feel good to have a reason to get up in the morning and some places to go again, I will miss that.

 Plus Sue has a SSI check coming the first week of January, guess we will be sending that one back as well.

 Hardest pat was telling Sue, I wished the drive was longer.

 Easy come, easy go I guess.

          Ken

[galaxy]

cudaken

out of work again! If you remember the father of the Phillips sons farther passed away the Saturday before I started training class. Well most of there assets are now tied up in Probate Court and they had to let all 8 of us that where in training go! 

Sorry to hear that, but when GOd closes one door, he often Opens another! Perhaps there is something better on the horizon for you! You did, after all, do nothing but bemoan the job and its appointments and its acumen to you.

Good luck! maybe they will invite you back in the spring!

 

See y'all tomorow!

[der5997]

Good evening folks: Some more of those sausage rolls please Chloe, and Green Tea. I'll be over at the Rivet Counter, Thanks.

 

Ray:

Question for you folks.  The tracks going into the Engine House at the moment are just glued onto the ties in the building.  Should I ballast the ties/track with some fine ballast/Stone Dust (ie; from the quarry) or put down a wood floor matching the rest of the floor over the ties showing a bit of the ties on the side?  Remember this would be back in 1925....

....My guess, and it's nothing more than that, has to do with function.  If a wood floor would make it more efficient = less costly to do what has to be done between the rails, then I think they would have floored it. If there is no cost advantage, they wouldn't have spent the money.

Der, Using a cell phone while driving (except the hands free) is illegal around here too.  THAT doesn't stop anyone!  Kinda reminds me of the line form Jeff Foxworthy, "What's tha Sayence o' drinkin' if ya ain't gonner drahve..."  Sort of what's the sence of yakking on the cell phone if ya ain't drivin'........  Every 3rd car has a driver talking on the darned things!

....the police are taking an increasingly dim view of those infractions here, and are ticketing offenders more and more.  Doesn't mean that it doesn't happen, but I've observed a marked decrease in people driving with one hand to their ear. 

Today I will get most of the presents wrapped for Christmas...

...Thanks for the reminder, so since Kris went off to the gym this afternoon, I grabbed the chance and wrapped everything that had to be! Was there a mrr connection? Well, I did have to use a miniature Phillips head screwdriver to remove and replace the battery cover on an small electronic game...does that count?

 

JR:

Der - could you try a test patch of silver or gray with some white talc sprinkled on over? I did that a while ago on some aircraft models and thought it worked out ok for a weathered look. 

....thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try when I've got a gray solvent based paint. THAT's my sticking point - can't get a gray paint; nowhere locally or in the New Glasgow / Stellarton area stocks Testors or any other solvent based hobby paints any more.

Ulrich:

Looks like the only thing that parts the US from UK is the common language

  Wasn't that Winston Churchill? "Two peoples separated by a common language"?  No, I sit corrected by Google, it was George Bernard Shaw!  On "enquiry" you are right, it's an unknown word, I've had to add it to the Dictionary in Spell Check.

The K-27 looks somewhat wrong - just like the prototype. A too big an engine resting on too small drivers.

So glad you said that, because I was thinking it last night, but didn't want to be negative in case you liked it!

It was quite difficult to draw it - there is so much detail, which unfortunately is hardly visible.

Must be Z, couldn't possibly be N! - Wait, maybe it's T Scale!

 

Barry:

JohnDer: I have heard him on Inspire...as well, I believe I may have heard him on a few stations around here.....

..yes, very likely as you are in his old stomping grounds before he moved to the Muskokas to plant a church, from which he has recently retired. I think the first Saturday in January will be the celebration of the 50 year anniversary of Phone-in shows.(Also a Saturday, as it happens!) Thanks for posting that sound recorder as our Hysterical Society is in the market for one, and hadn't thought about a tripod as well (didn't even know they came with tripod mount point.)

 

Robby:

John..........Maybe just enough to get the shine off .

...yes, easy does it, but a bluish grey - I've some light blue to add. I could just use the grey spray primer I've got, but it's a pinkish grey.

 

Lee:

DerJohn, the silver sharpie markers do a good job if you want simulated brush marks, been using it on my signal masts and friends ask me how small of paint brush it took to get the swirls.

Thanks, but brush stokes I 'd like to avoid on this one! Good to know, though. If appropriate, please let Dorothy know we are thinking of her.

 

Flip:

Thanks Sir John. And don't you know, it isn't available and its a number I want.  Murphys Law.    Lol

...but of course! You know we aim to please LOL

 

Vincent: I think that's a good plan, to use the decoder rather than worrying about the capabilities of the Athern board. Good luck with the Richmond SMDs.

 

Galaxy:

MOH actually turned in some young girls who had their mothers car adn parked int he handicapped space and turned them in...end result Mommy lost her tags! Bet THOSE GIRLS paid for that for a long time!

...maybe they did, maybe they din't; the real loser in the whole thing was, natch, the mother - need for privileged parking not diminished; access to same gone for a long time What's your OH's take on that?

 

Ken: Sorry to hear about the job, especially in these circumstances. since you were employed when they cut Sue's SSI cheque, why would you have to return it now you're again without a job. You won't, after all, get back on unemployment benefits instantly, will you?

 

While the glue dried on the smaller silo discharge pipe (not as simple as it sounds, look how I had to support it!   I went to the basement to see if I could find the Barbecue paint. ......No BBQ paint - but I found the white, and a different, dark - not pinkish-grey.  Mixed those, and added silver. Test samples on the 4 materials used in the models look very promising. Tomorrow perhaps I'll get time to spray for real.  That's it for today - tomorrow I pick up some snow ploughs and a GP 7 truck gear box brought to Sheet Harbour by the other local mrr when he was in the Halifax LHS on Tuesday.  I get to see his layout too.  looks like I may get an early night. Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers for all in need of Healing, Comfort, Prosperity and Peace.

 

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Ken: Sorry to hear about the job falling through. Something else may come up for you. My grandmother used to say taht when God closes a door He opens a window. You just have to find it and climb through.

[TMarsh]

Ken- Sorry about the job.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good evening.

Lee ... Sorry to hear about your GF's lung problem. It's very important to find out out what is causing it. Hope it's not too major.

Ken ... That's not good news at all. Hopefully, there's something better very soon.

We'll be off to OH and MI tomorrow. I let you regulars take care of things. Looks like Vinnie may have to get Barry under control.

I might not be on for a while. Merry Christmas!