Robby - my for Jessica and you! Brighter days will come!
LSWrr Good Morning, Larry; according to the weather guessers you will be knee deep in snow by morning where I’ll only get 1-6”. I can transfer a proper modern rotary plow and 2-8-4 to your layout if you need help digging out. Fergi: I’m working on scenery and in the middle of back drop work so I have everything everywhere on the layout, LOL. I’ll try to do some new pictures next week. Utica - Macomb TWP, Michigan trip is this Saturday… Ken, that storm is heading up into Ohio from the south, but I hear it will stall out at Larry’s house and I won’t get much at all. I loved the Zombie term. Jeff, I love the bus! Open house Last night: Wow, talk about a mini disaster! The BLI 4-4-4-4 is unresponsive. The two Berkshires lost their programming, the new switch machine on Main #1 wasn’t operating properly (needs a minor adjustment), I never finished the repairs to Main #3, and the driveway became a solid sheet of ice by the time everyone was ready to go home. The big attraction that saved the night was the upgraded wiring under the layout and the discovery that I used mostly working brass turnouts on the layout to save money.
Good Morning,
I believe the snow has stalled because its peppering down outside as we speak..
Just finish touching up some handrail on my HO C&HV units..
Sounds like the gremlins came calling during your open house.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Robby... If there's anything we can do to cheer up Jessica, let us know. Meanwhile, we care.
George ... New layout looks good so far.
Lee ... I hope weather allows you to travel as planned.
Ken .. Keep the white stuff. I do not want it.
I completed my Keiber truck and weathered it. It is now in teh weeds and tall grass in the scrap yard I am amking.
Happy Model Railroading.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Extra strong coffee in a Southern mug, please.
I received new instructions from the Railroad Boss: Wife wants me to pave over all the parking area around the Diner, Train Station, etc... with the black stuff. She would rather have it look more like the road. Can't say I blame her, as so much light colored concrete is almost a distraction from the rest of the town.
Been revisiting the idea of a cleaning car for the wife's train. They are soooo expensive. Been thinking of a Centerline car with the rolling drum in the middle. (Jeffrey, isn't that what you use?) Recommendations??? If I order one tonight, perhaps it could arrive by her birthday.
Looks like snow returns tonight. Wish we could have some of that global warming. Then we wouldn't be having such a record winter. Betcha if we took a poll of all the Flora, it would be virtually a unanimous vote to increase CO2.
Healing thoughts to those in need!
Cheers! Rob
howmus Jeffrey, hope your Doctor's appt. goes well. I've been trying to get the vision of an ankle THAT looks like an Amtrack wreck out of my head........
Jeffrey, hope your Doctor's appt. goes well. I've been trying to get the vision of an ankle THAT looks like an Amtrack wreck out of my head........
Well the X-rays showed just what I figured they would show. The entire foot is twisted over on it's side and it's there to stay. We discussed taking it off but that's being reserved as a last resort. What's causing all this trouble is a condition called Charcot Foot. Look it up if you don't know what it is. A more common name is 'Diabetic Osteo Rheumatoid Arthritis'. There's very little that can be done to stop it and it takes no prisoners. The doc is going to see what can be done about having a brace made to help take the weight off it. That would also make it a bit easier for me to get around. Right now I have to wear a a rather bulky orthopedic boot that makes me feel like I have a boat anchor on the end of my leg. But it's either that or I don't walk as I can't put much weight on the foot without breaking the joint loose completely. When I was ready to leave the docs office the van wouldn't start. Turn the key and all it would do was click. I had a pretty good idea what the problem was. My father's pickup does the same thing now and then. I got down on my back and crawled underneath and pulled on the cables right where they connect to the starter then tried the key again. It fired right up. From there I went out to Ft. Polk Entrance Rd to a furniture store my nephew told me about yesterday. Believe me, furniture was the farthest thing from my mind. What I was interested in was the free cell phones that are being given away to those who qualify. Those on Medicaid, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (section 8), Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or The National School Lunch Program Free Lunch Program all qualify. I qualify under the first three. It's a free Blackberry with 68 free anytime minutes a month. Additional minutes can be added for a fee of course. All I got it for is to put it in the van with the insurance and registration paperwork so it will be handy if I have a breakdown or other roadside emergency, so the 68 free minutes are all I'll need. The phone costs me nothing, the minutes cost me nothing, the service costs me nothing. No contract, no credit check. This is just what I've been waiting for. At the moment I have it charging. Once it's charged I'll password lock it and lock it in the overhead compartment (insulated from the heat) with the vans legal paperwork.
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
Robby and Jessica: Our thoughts and prayers are heading your way
Jeff: Good thing programs like that exist...hopefully things will work out footwise..
Right now I have a little Spring sitting in a vase position and looking like he is getting ready to fall asleep...
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Jeffery First thanks for the answer on the F 3 motor. I need to PM Darth Santa Fe and see if he thinks it will work. I all so think I finally have a box for the stuff I am hoping to send.
Good luck on the ankle. Scares me some and I have seen the black boots. My left ankle wants to shift inward with certain shoes and the heel wears quickly in that direction. I all so have bone spurs in the same ankle and it hurts and swells if I am on it for 1/2 hour or more. Guess it was 10 years ago the Doctor told me the only way to get rid of the problem was to have my ankle fused solid. I was riding motorcycles at the time and was afraid I would not be able to shift, so I passed on the surgery.
Snow Front I got out around 1:30 and did some running. They did a great job getting the roads cleared off!
Few more pictures, this is one of my house.
They seemed to dump extra salt in front of my house, works for me!
Work Front My store is 16.9 miles from my house in Belleville IL. Just called and Chad said the store only got 3 inches? Funny how it goes when it comes to weather.
Hope you all have a great train night.
Ken
I hate Rust
Oh man! We've got a cold 20 mph north wind coming off the lake. The temp is 43° but the wind chill takes it down to close to freezing. I just went out there to put the cell phone in the van and I wasn't out there but maybe five minutes and I'm still cold even though I'm sitting only 15 inches from the heater. Tomorrow night will be even colder. And this is only January?
Cederstrand Been revisiting the idea of a cleaning car for the wife's train. They are soooo expensive. Been thinking of a Centerline car with the rolling drum in the middle. Recommendations??? If I order one tonight, perhaps it could arrive by her birthday. Rob, please check your personal E-mail... Johnboy out.
Been revisiting the idea of a cleaning car for the wife's train. They are soooo expensive. Been thinking of a Centerline car with the rolling drum in the middle. Recommendations??? If I order one tonight, perhaps it could arrive by her birthday.
Rob, please check your personal E-mail...
Johnboy out.
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Cederstrand Been revisiting the idea of a cleaning car for the wife's train. They are soooo expensive. Been thinking of a Centerline car with the rolling drum in the middle. (Jeffrey, isn't that what you use?) Recommendations??? If I order one tonight, perhaps it could arrive by her birthday.
Evenin' folks!
Flo, just a cup of decaf for me. I'll be in the back by the stove keeping warm.
There was a terrible accident involving a snowplow and a School Bus in a neighboring School District this morning. Bright sunshine creating glare off the snow appears to be a factor in the accident. The bus drove into the back of the snowplow which had slowed to make a right hand turn. The bus driver and 2 other people (one student) were trapped in the wreckage for over an hour before they were able to cut them out of it. Two people are in critical condition i believe, and 2 are listed in Guarded Condition, but miraculously so far no deaths. Those were air lifted out to hospitals in Syracuse and in Rochester. Most of the kids (37 of them on the bus at the time) were taken by another bus to school and checked out there by medical personel for injuries. Over 20 of the them were later taken to an area hospital for a range of injuries. The investigation continues.
I got all the first place art and poetry over to the newspaper early this afternoon. also sent over a list of all the winners. One of the editors says they are planning a full page in the Sunday Paper for it. One of the Art teachers at the Public High School was very happy with the winners.... emailed me a big thank you! All but one of the high school Art Awards went to her students....
I managed to assemble a couple more belt drive tools tonight while waiting for the wash to get done. getting close to gluing the equipment in place and adding all the belt drives. THAT should be fun.
Do any of you out there have any experience with TurboCad?
Welp, I think it is time I turned in for the night....
Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good evening
Rob.... Regarding track cleaning cars, I use the inexpensive Walthers box car with an abrassive pad attached beneath the car. Works OK. I also use bright boys. A friend of mine uses one of those expensive CMX (or whatever they are called) cars which have cleaning fluid, and he likes it.
Jeff ... I'm sorry to hear about your situation with your foot. Prayers for you.
Galaxy ... I hope you keep recovering. Prayers for you.
Ray ... Sounds like a bad wreck.
I completed my derilict old 1920's Kleiber truck. It's heavily weathered with rust, and it is in the weeds in the corner of the scrap yard I am making. Also, I just included the junk yard dog with a fenced area for it.
Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Chamomile tea, please.
***Ray, that sure sounds like a bad accident. Anytime life-flight is involved, it's not good.
***Jeffrey, I did the gleam method on the wife's tracks, but perhaps didn't do it right or long enough. It did work for a while. Now it seems to require cleaning every time we try running the train. Very sorry to hear about your foot condition, however inevitable. That's a tough one.
Thanks for all the suggestions on track cleaning cars. Ordered one tonight and with any luck, it will arrive in time for the wife's birthday next week.
Never made it into the train room this evening. Determined to make it down there tomorrow evening and get that "asphalt" poured. Good night y'all. Rob
We have about 4” on the ground this morning, last night I had to repair a toilet and a storm door at my friend’s rental property and the roads were a sheet of ice with an inch of snow on top. My F-250 Diesel ABS didn’t care for that one bit. 1-3” today with a high of 17 degrees F wind 25 mph.
Rob, I own two centerline track cleaning cars and I highly recommend them! Best thing to come to the hobby since nickel plated track. You can use Whal clipper oil or Goo Gone. I tried the gel goo gone and that worked very well too. The cleaner surface is disposable dish cloths you can buy at any dollar store and they need replaced about every 4 months. They might be $60 - $75 for the track cleaning car but you get what you pay for and IMHO they are the best.
Jeff sorry to hear your foot condition is going downhill. Sounds like a good deal on the phone, I’m impressed they have a decent phone to go with the program.
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Ray: Hope things go well for the families there...that is a rough situation for sure..
Welp, I'm on to another medical checkup of my ICD...this will see if it actually took an I'll be able to do more things with my left arm....
Have a good one people!!
Good snowy morning. We got about 5-6 inches, and maybe another inch today. The bad thing is, now we are getting the "Canada" cold air.
That's for the prayers . Its a thing with life.......stress!!!
Not much planned today. Keep shoveling the driveway, and get the house cleaned up a bit.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
Morning from the Frozen Midwest! It is zero this morning, not a temperature we get here very often. Hope the car starts.
I am beginning to wish I worked yesterday and not today. While I like snow, I hate it when the temp is in the teens. Plus the store does not have great heat either.
See you later
Good Morning everyone! Looks like I have a few States to travel through to catch up with the Diner! I'll get started while I'm on layover today. Been busy with life stuff, but will hopefully have time to get here more often.
Have a great day,
Sam
May He bless you, guide you, and keep you safe on your journey through life!
I Model the New Hope & Ivyland RR (Bucks County, PA)
Good Afternoon,
Winter has come back. St. Peter is currently dumping a ton of snow on us. I do hope and pray that it won´t be as bad as last month.
Flo, a mug of coffee, please.
Jeff - I am very sad to hear about the development of your foot. Petra and I keep you in our !
Robby - maybe it´s just age, but I think that life was a little less complicated and stressful way back when I was your age. OK, we also had to work hard to make a living, but there was more respect and a lot more common sense in dealing with other people.
Sam - good to see you again!
Received some bad news about my mom. One of her cardiac valves refuses to work properly, putting her out now and then. She is right now at the hospital and gets a check-up, so they can schedule the upcoming surgery. It is a routine job for a younger person, but at the age of 82, the risk is much higher. Once I know when the surgery will be performed, Petra and I will stay with my dad for a few days, so we can take him to the hospital to see my mother.
Have a good day!
Good Morning! Coffee and biscuits and gravy please. Thanks
Ulrich- Your Mother is in my prayers.
Today: Increasing clouds, with a high near 12. Wind chill values between -9 and 1. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Tonight: Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11. Wind chill values between 2 and 7. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Currently it is -6 with a wind chill of -19. People, this is silly. There is no sense in weather this cold.
Robby- I’m sorry to hear about the issues Jessica is dealing with. I will add her to my list.
Jeff- Sorry about you foot. I was hoping…..well, anyway, it is a good deal on the phones and like Lee said I’m impressed they give more than the basic phone. Though I must admit I do feel a bit of underhandedness going on. Give someone a fancy phone like that and hopefully they will explore it’s possibilities and BAM! Got ’em. Still though, there will be plenty like you who only use it very little if at all other than emergencies and it is nice of them.
So, what happened yesterday? Pull up a chair and sit a spell. Flo, refill on the coffee please. Best leave the pot. OK, I needed a new snow blower. Been puttin it off for a couple years now. I have a little 2 cycle MTD that takes the better part of a day to go through and get started at the beginning of the season and then when the snow flies it takes sometimes an hour and 4 million pulls to get the dad blamed thing started and by that time, who knows. The snow could be melted. (removed long explanation why needed NOW) Well the money in the snowblower fund had grown sufficiently to allow this purchase. And I go to get one. Lowe’s, and a JD 1028e. Standing trying to determine what is worth $200 more than the one sitting next to it that matters to me other than red or green. (removed long explaining why picked green one. It involved a passing customers ravings about it though.) Ready to go, assembled oil added, just add gas and go. Guy asks if I needed help loading I say sure and off we go, he pushes to checkout then truck. we pick up to set in truck and ……UGH!!! “Yeah,” he says after the struggle for us to get it in the back was over, “that’s another thing about John Deere, the others have a lot of plastic and thin metal in them and one guy can just about load one themselves. A John Deere is all steel and it takes all two peole can do to load it.” Thanked him got in the cab and thought. “D(ang), how in the h(eck) am I gonna get this thing out? The one thing I didn‘t count on was it being heavier than ANY other snowblower I‘ve dealt with.” (Well other than the one my buddy uses on the farm.) Off on a quest for ramps that the wheels would w**k with. (removed long explanation why wood planks or the inexpensive ramps for ATV’s and such wouldn’t work) That took me right up to the time I had to go to w**k and needless to say, the snowblower is still in the back of the truck along with a set of ramps. The snow may be melted before I get it out.
Just another day in the life of Todd.
Welp best get crackin’ I’ve gotta type up a receipt. I did sell Mom’s car yesterday. $1500 for a car that Kelly Blue Books for $3500. But we all know what that means. Nothing really. Someone made an offer and, IMO was acceptable under the circumstances and I said sold. It’s in excellent shape and mechanically great, but it does need a battery and hasn’t been run in at least 3 months. BUT! Most important, it’s gone. As is of course. No warrantees expressed or implied and the owner understands the car has sat and I have no idea what may or may not have gone wrong with the car since except I was the last person to drive it and AT THAT TIME there appeared to me nothing wrong with the car other than the fuel gage is inop and had been for years. The receipt will say the same.
Y’all have a Great Day now ya hear?!!!
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Good Morning All,
Another 5-6" of snow this morning but we got the house cleared and headed into the shop a little late and under blue skies. Go figure. Traction control on the new Fiesta work well.
Our prayers for those of you still recovering, getting examined and just in need. Jeff - hope they come up with some sort of solution for you. I know just from what little i did to my foot that it's a challange some days just moving. Can't imagine what it would be like with the whole thing angled.
Todd - the cheapo aluminum ramps w..k just fine for our snow blower and also for getting race cars on and off the lift here. They are light enough to allow the CFO to tote them around as well.
Coffee's here and I'm out to the shop. Catch y'all later. J.R.
Hi gang
Went yesterday to help a friend do somethings. got to sit for most and didn't have to do any lifting, more thatn the weight of a say a book. SHifting/sorting so papers is easy enough.
This same friend has a HUGMONGOUS GINORMOUS Bard tht he has offered me space into which to build a layout of my liking. Problem is, it is a BARN, unfinsihed, unclimatically controlled and dirty dusty. I have said "would love to but sorry I can't" due to conditions. That and he is 45 mins drive away and that is a long commute {not to mention gas costs} to drive out there. I have strongly suggested to those who want to build a layout in a garage or unfinished basement that they do some insulating and finishing before what could be definitely hundreds of dollars and often into the thousands of dollars for a layout to make it hospitable to the model trains. SO why would I do any less? and I don't intend to try to fishish a segment of HIS barn with insulation, sheetrock and climatecontrol equipment. Nice idea though...I could have a 200' x 150' layout on dogbone style or u shaped and still nto take up all the barn,,,,,*sigh*
I Want to thank whoever said continued prayers for healing. GOing well, bandages off and looking good on the incision. I see the surgeon next ties to remove teh removeable stitches.
Jeffrey, sorry about your foot. BAd shape and keeping it may be a sight better than loosing it I suppose? Know all to well pain in getting around, just different areas of the body.
Todd, Interesting aobut the snowblower. Thank you for removing long explanations. I know what its like to get someone to load somehting heavy for you {I have to with the cane in my hand} but wonder how the heck one gets it into place at home. FOr many things, a little at a time, but for big things...maybe you shoulda seem if they deliver it for you. All metal snowblower sounds good but wonder if the plastic is better. probably nto if you run it into things plastic can breack, metal will only dent I guess. Now when you get it unoaded and running, you will have to chase after it, they tend to get away from one when one is using it. FOrtunately I have MOH who is strong with a decent back, but a snowblower would be antother thing....i might have to pay delivery charges to get it home.
Well we had snow aobut 5" lightweight fluffy stuff according to MOH. so good, but MOH hates the bitter cold that makes it taht way.
Have to go to run a few errands today but will be home resting most of the day. {after the surgery I have that excuse} LOL.
TTYALLL8R
-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.
Good morning. It's 32° and cloudy with a wind chill of 25°. I'm not going out there anytime soon if I don't have to. The high will be 46° and it will be sunny and turning cooler tonight.I got the work caboose painted last night and put the L&A decals on it this morning. It still needs more work but is as complete as I can make it for now. As for plans for today, i have none, except to stay in where it's warm.
J.R.- Strength wasn't really the issue. The only issue with the "cheapo" ramps was they were all built like ladders and the spacing of the rungs available at the four locations that sold them close by. The spacing of the rungs was far enough apart that the wheels would have fallen in between and either stuck or made for one heck of a bumpy trip. The other option was the caps you put on 2X6's or 8's and I figured that would be like trying to get the thing up a sheet of ice. Or down.
G- Understanding the plastics now a days are a lot better than they were many years ago, certain things like gearboxes make me kinda shy away. It ws mainly the recomendation of a satisfied owner and the mention of the ability to (turn off your ears Ray) "suck up and spit out a cat without knowing it" plus assorted other things that really sold it. PLUS past experience with John Deere that after the warranty, any parts I need can be ordered and the dealership has a drop box at Brandts here in town where they will drop off the part. I have moved snowblowers before and figured a little help from Brenda may would most likely be required, but she will not be able to help me with this, unless of course the guy was letting me do most of the lifting. A possibility.
Todd, Yeah the wheels in the rungs thing makes for a bumpy ride, but the better el cheapo ramps have little straps to fasten to the tailgate so they don't bump off and drop the whole thing. Before we had the ramps, my preferred method was to drop the gate to an angle and drop whatever heavy object I was wrassling onto some old deflated tires (dismounts even better, but most of you don't keep scrap tires in piles at home so probably that's not an option). Pictures at 11 CUL, J.R.
TMarsh ... unless of course the guy was letting me do most of the lifting. A possibility.
... unless of course the guy was letting me do most of the lifting. A possibility.
A possibility. I have felt that experience before with a "helping hand".
But now, with a cane in hand,nad handicapped plates on my van, I require them to do the lifting/or ask a manager to get someone to help.
Sometimes, Sometimes, I feel sorta guity when a man who is obviously in his 60's or older has to do the lifting, even if his back is not in such great shape. But I just had two major surgeries to remove two tumors from my back in the last 3 months. SO, sorry pal, you get paid to do the lifting. By yourself, or with one or two of your coworkers.
J.R. - Yeah, believe it or not, I did think of tying the ramps to the truck. They have a tendancy to let go at the most inoportune time. You don't have to ask how I know. You've probably al;ready figured that out.
G- I know what you mean. Before I "recovered" I had teh same issues with help lifting and loading the smallest items. Or at least to me thaey seemed that way. But this time I had no issues. The kid may have been twenty.
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe I'll have a short stack of buckwheat pancakes, side of bacon, and lots of dark roast coffee in a FGLK Mug. Oh, and bring over the bottle of NYS maple syrup please......
Ulrich, prayers for your Mom (and you and Petra as well)
Robby, you and your wife are also in my prayers. Not fun living with that much stress.........
Currently 20°F outside here in the Finger Lakes, the high for the day..... Seems like some of you over West of here are sending us the chill you have right now. By Sunset this evening it is supposed to be all of 5°F. I have to do some shopping, and then I plan to kick on the heater down cellar and w*rk on the projects for a change. I am waiting to hear back from the FGLK on permission to do some railfanning that could get me on their property for some great (I hope) photos....
So far the students and driver in yesterday's accident are holding their own. You can see the buss and read about it here.
Best get moving!