Elliot´s Trackside Diner DECEMBER 2010

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, bowl of "Hot Cream of Wheat", brown sugar, and a cup of Dark Roast Coffee w/ several refills.....  Tell Barry to put the catapult away!  Must be his arm is able to work again.....

"I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas......"  Yep we got some partly cloudy going on here in the Finger lakes at the moment.  Currently 25°F out there with a 15 mph wind (gusts to 20 mph).  No significant accumulation expected.

Ken, I feel very bad for you!!!  What a bummer....  As others have said, something better will come your way.  just hang in there!  You are in my prayers.......

Best get more wood on the fire so I can get a few needed things done here and stay warm at the same time....

Later!

73

[teen steam fan]

Hey guys. Merry Christmas to all

Here's something I found that's quite interesting 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVmjrs8r7sY

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 39° and mostly sunny. The high should be 56° with increasing cloudiness. The high for Christmas Eve is expected to be 65°.

Today I'm toying with an idea about tearing down an old caboose and combining parts of it with a 50' flatcar to make some kind of work caboose. I had been thinking about trying to get some work done on the layout today (and I still might) but right now my ankle hurts too much to be on my feet for more than a few minutes. I do hope that nothing else comes up today but that may be asking too much.

[LSWrr]

Ken if you go to www.usajobs.gov and find something you may be eligble for I’ll help you apply for it.

[ns3010]

Morning all. *Ducks from XXXL stack of pancakes flying past my face*
Great, I see that SOMEONE *cough, Barry, cough* has taken the catapult out again...

FINALLY ON BREAK!!!!! It's about time...

Last night, I made a gingerbread house, and I was thinking of bringing it in to share, but 1) I can't trust you guys to keep your paws off it until Christmas, and 2) I can't trust any of you to not throw it, either.
So I'll deliver it late tomorrow night...

Well, I've got a semi-long day ahead of me. My mom asked me to make the last of the cookies, I have to finish cleaning up my room and downstairs (aka the train room) and vacuum. Then I have the rest of the day to myself (until the powers that be come home and give me part two of the list of things to do...).

I'll be back later to do some catching up and whatnot.

[TMarsh]

Good Morning! Coffee please. Thanks.

Last day it sounds. Then tonight after midnight….sn*w. Thankfully, nothing like some of you have.

Trainroom today? Not a bad idea. We shall see what this crazy life brings my way this glorious day. Hopefully it is in the cards.

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

[cudaken]

 Morning folks.

 Flo, some corn flakes and a glass of milk please.

 I do keep telling my self there is something better around the corner as far as work, but don't know if I still believe it any longer. 

 One of the things the things I regret is I missed a interview for a job because I was in training and had a few calls that I never got back to. Well, we know about hind sight don't we.

 There where a few things I was not crazy about with Ashely. But I love the fact it was only a 40 hour work week, 6 miles from my house, and you had 5 days off with pay after 6 months and 10 days after a year.

 OH well, time to start looking again and I really did want to get out of sales anyway.

                Ken

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.  Just got about half a inch of fresh snow last night.   Nothing to write to home about thou.  Mainly snow showers all week. 

 I will try to get some more shopping done this morning.  Not to much, but just a few small things.  Lets see what else.......Go by the bakery and get some pizza shells.   Maybe run by the library and get some MRR magazines. 

 Vincent.........Glad you got the car, and you like the look of it.  PUT IT TO GOOD USE !!!

 Ken..........That's bad about the job, and its like they forget that people have lives.   Keep your head up (which I know its hard to do, believe me), and I'm sure something will come along .

[Anonymous]

Good Afternoon,

Janie, just coffee for me, please.

It´s done - I finished the  business plan paper, so it can be turned in before year end. No more chores before Christmas!

Yesterday, when I went to the train station to fetch Christian, the heater and fan of my car refused to work. It´s not going to be a big repair, but as it can´t be done before next week, this means we won´t be able to go to my parent´s place on Sunday To say I am p... off by that is only a slight understatement!

Ken - I am sorry to hear about your loss of the new job. Hopefully, 2011 will turn out to be a better year on the job front for the two of us!

It is snowing again, a day to be spent on the sofa, enjoying some of the goodies Petra has made for Christian (if I get any of it).

CUL

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning..

Ken: Man, that sux huge. I'm thinking the same as some others here though. There are other doors that do open. When I took my PSW I had the same issues...I ended up with a good paying profession here...even with the heart issues.

JohnDer: Tascam, Zoom, Roland all have portable recorders that have that tripod option on them...look for the ones that have also an external mic connection as well---that does come in handy...

Good Morning.. 

We got another 6" dumped on us last night..now we are back to plowing out the driveway ...again...with the Powerwagon ..and what is more fun is that there is expected another 4-6" of the dang stuff...AGAIN later this evening..

Oh well, later on this afternoon Audrey and I will be headed out to the Diner down the road from us so we can sit with our neighbours and watch other people go nuts with their shopping 

...as for the pie fight. I was  not there....

Flo, I'll have a coffee and a toast with jam please...and I'll be at the RC for a bit....

[LSWrr]

Good Morning,

I hope to drop in the diner tomorrow and Saturday but if I don’t Merry Christmas to all….

 

Garry & Todd, they have her on a couple of inhalers and some other drugs, she decided to see a different doctor for a second opinion.

 

Flip, I’ve been trying not to buy more rolling stock this year.  Maybe I’ll have better luck in 2011.

 

Ken, sorry to hear about the job.

 

Went to the club Christmas Party last night, very quiet we only have 5 members these days.  The club layout is in the basement of the historical society that will be closed now until mid February.  So we might have the guys over to my layout a couple of nights to run trains.

[Wisconsin Railfan]

Good Morning Folks!

Cup Of Coffee Please

Have  a Great Day All!

Steven

[galaxy]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOd MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOrning!

TIME TO WAKE UP!

Up early to go help a friend do some stuff. Hope my back holds out for awhile I'll be standing. Not to taxing, As i can periodically sit a spell and help to. Then we have horse'derves with said friends, exchange gifts, have dinner, then Black FOorest cake with Kirschwassa and vodka soaked cherries, and then come home exhausted without our naps.

Yep, a full day.

You all will just have to miss me!

Have a great day everyone!

TTYLATER

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

 

[BamaCSX83]

Good evening/early morning all.  Just stopping in for a warm glass of milk before bed.  Today was a long day, got the thermostat replaced in the Venture van that I spoke of, then after that I went to my "real" job.  When I got home this evening I had to put Heather (my 3-year old, and oldest) bed together (her Christmas present), and I also wanted to stop by here before crashing for the night. 

Just checked the weather for my area for the next few days and I keep seeing the work sn*w mentioned.  A white Christmas might be fun, especially since there hasn't been one here since 1946 (long before I was thought of), so I'm praying for a little snow to cover the ground on Christmas day. 

Gotta close again today at w*rk, but I don't have to be there until 1:30 so at least I'll get to sleep in this morning.

Ken, my deepest and sincerest apologies on the loss of the job, but as everyone has already said, keep the faith and the man upstairs will take care of you.  Who knows, perhaps once things are settled with the courts all 8 of you will be rehired, or you will find something better.  I'll be praying for either/both for ya.

Welp y'all, I'm off to bed, I can hear the wife gently snoring and its starting to make me think I should definitely do the same...

Later taters!

[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!

 

[TMarsh]

Ken- Sorry about the job.

[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.

[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.

 

 

 

[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!

[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

[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 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

blownout cylinder

 

FOOD FIGHT!!!

[blownout cylinder]

I wonder what set this off...

Talk about a smackdown...

[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.

[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

[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.

[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

 

[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!!

[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.