Things are getting back to normal here in the diner.
Fergie returned,
OJ ED (Murphey) has crawled back out of the sand and orange peels.
Cajun Ryan favors us occasionally.
Bama resurfaced.
We can always find Sue over in the Beer Barn when needed.
Still looking for a couple of those Texas Boys.
Feels like the gang has been reunited. and that is Great.
Johnboy out.........................for now
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Ulrich,
Sent you a message
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Johnboy, every now and again, the batteries do run out and we have to resurface to run the diesel engines.....(since you say I resurfaced, like a submarine).
Ulrich I figured a 1.2 amp decoder would do best, although I guess it would be easiest to get an ammeter, hook it to the track and actually run the engine and see what she'll draw, but at the same time, I don't have an ammeter to do such with, so I guess I'll be guessing until then. Might wanna get a cheaper decoder to start with since I'm doing some trial and error.
Welp, I'll take an order of biscuits and gravy with a large glass of milk and some sausage on the side. I'll take it in the window booth and see what comes down the track and whom comes in.
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe, I'll have a breakfast Bagel w/Cheese and a pot of dark roast coffee in a FGLK mug this morning. Oh and a tall glass of Ed's fresh squeezed OJ!
It's another gray day here in the Finger Lakes, temperature hovering right around freezing. Snow is little by little melting off the roofs of houses in the neighborhood.
Good to see some old friends back visiting the diner lately. Hope you folks hang around more often.....
Have a stack of odds and ends i need to get done today. Biggest is to photograph the Art projects from the MLK Service and get them into the computer. As soon as I get THAT done, I need to make the rounds of the schools and get everything back to them.
Hope you all have a great day today!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Me again!
Zoe, a strong coffee, please.
Left home at eight 8 am and just arrived back - that´s close to a full day of work. I do have to get used to that again
Todd - women - a never ending story. I always say that a woman´s mind and the contents of her purse will remain a miracle to men. Thanks for your suggestion on what to do on her birthday, it is close to what I had in mind. I will leave out the part of the cooking though, I am a miserable cook and I am certain she would not enjoy the meal (I also would get a lecture on how to do it right the next time, which I don´t want to get)
Supper time is coming - I might drop by a little later!
TTFN
Good morning friends!
Chloe, may I please have a TALL stack of flapjacks and plenty of syrup to go with it, along with a Large RBF? Thank you!
I am currently biding my time before I have to report to Broad Run yard. Sign up at 4:30pm, deadhead to Washington D.C. on VRE 338. I will get to D.C. around 6:15pm, and await the arrrival of our "Special Train" to return to Union Station around 10pm. We will bring THAT equipment back to Broad Run! Should be back to Broad Run around midnight if all goes well... Weather guessers are calling for around 4-6 inches of the white stuff tonight, supposedly starting to get heavier around 5pm, so we shall see!
Ulrich- I echo the sentiments of Lee and the others... gift for her and "small" gift for self...
Prayers for all in need...
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)
Probably won't be on much today. Left side of my neck and face hurt and my left shoulder and ribs are numb. Most likely due to a pinched nerve in my neck. The disk between the C-5 and C-6 vertebrae is compressed on the left side and the bones occasionally put pressure on the sciatic nerve. This can result in numbness or pain ranging from minor to agonizing. Right now it's just a nuisance. If it keeps up I'll have to get into my traction rig. Not looking forward to that.
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
The wife and I celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary yesterday, I covered my bases by ordering a dozen of roses to be delivered in the morning, then dinner and a movie afterward. That makes her day as she really loves to receive flowers. I also remembered to get a nice card. Well, to be truthful, I'm not allowed to forget to buy one for any appropriate occasion. The way it works is she sends me into Hallmark when we are at the mall with instructions to go get a nice card. This system keeps me out of trouble.
We saw "The King's Speech" last night and I thought it was excellent. No car chases, shootings, or violence, just a good story line with good acting. I rather enjoy movies that are based more on fact and reality than those which stretch your imagination to the maximum.
We sort of contiinued the celebration this morning by going to our local restaurant and having breakfast. Real party animals don't you think. Tomorrow the wife will have a cataract removed from her left eye. Although she has very little vision with that eye, we are hoping there might be some improvement. When they did the right eye last month, we and the doctors, were very pleased because she did see improvement. As she has been legally blind for a very long time, we will take anything,
Hope everybody has a good one.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
Hm. I'm home. Imagine that.
Things went well at the Banks. Mom was right, empty safe deposit. IRA of course will take about two weeks for the check, AND the accounts I was waiting for to use for her stuff, well, the bank asked why because they were now mine and had been since she passed. Again, Mom set it up so I wouldn't be out a dime on the expenses.
Tom- Congrats on the anniversary! I hear you on the card. I think I could never buy Brenda a thing except a card and she would be happy. Problem is, ask the guys how I feel about cards. I also like movies based more on fact than fiction. But I like a good fiction too. Alsooooo, adding your wife to the prayers for the surgery to be not only a success but to also give a little boost in the vision department.
I'm off to the basement. Let's see if I make it there.
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.
Just a quick stop to warm up. I have shoveled the driveway two times now, and its still coming down. Its that nice heavy snow!!
Tom.......Congrats on 47!! I'm lucky to have made it to four.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
Good afternoon.
Here is a view from earlier today of pelicans in our bay. We lost power for part of the afternoon.
Tom in PA ... 47 ! .... Congrats!... Best regards to the Mrs. !
Todd ... Did you get to teh basement?
Sam ... Sounds like you are doing well there on the VRE.
Robby ... I hope Jesica's spirits have improved!
Galaxy ... I hope you are noticing improvements as you recover from surgery.
Ulrich ... Evidently, things are getting better for you. If so, I'm happy afor you.
Johnboy ... Yes its was good to see those diners here. Hope they return soon!
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Evening all. Haven't been in here in forever, and I've probably missed a lot.
Over the weekend, I was down in Baltimore for my cousin's wedding. It was nice, but strange. They didn't have a priest; instead, my cousin's best friend took online minister classes just so he could do the ceremony. Never heard of anything like THAT before!
On Sunday, we went down to D.C. to Catholic University's open house, and to see the city, since I've never been there before. CUA was nice, and will likely be on the list to continue looking at.
While I was down there in Sam's territory, unfortunately I didn't get to see many trains. Since we were in DC on Sunday, MARC and VRE were not operating (neither runs on weekends), but I was able to see some MARC and Amtrak trains from a parking garage adjacent to Union Station. I also saw some NS and CSX on the way into the city from I-95, as well as MARC MP36PH-3Cs and stored GP40WH-2s at their maintenance facilty.Monday afternoon, before we left, I stopped by MARC's Camden Station in Baltimore, since it was only a few blocks from our hotel, unfortunately, I didn't see any trains in the half hour I was there (stupid peak hour only service!), but I saw a good bit of MTA light rail.
The US Lacrosse convention was also a few blocks from our hotel on Saturday, and that was pretty neat. I got a bamboo shaft for 80 bucks, normally $120.
I have plenty of shots from DC and the light rail, and I'm downloading those from my camera as I type.
Hockey has been pretty good as well. We won the last two games.However, I am 99% sure I have a concussion again. I got hit hard on Friday, don't remember the hit or the moments leading up to it, and everything after it was fuzzy. And I still have headaches. I talked to the trainer yesterday after school, and she thinks it's a minor concussion. So I can't play or do gym until the headaches stop.I just want to be careful because the one I got freshman year in lacrosse was pretty bad, and I would prefer to not be braindead...
Well, I've talked more than enough for now, so I'll be at the RC getting some food (crabcake sandwiches, maybe? I had one in Baltimore that was so good, and I REALLY want another!) if anyone wants to come over and talk.
My Model Railroad: Tri State RailMy Photos on Flickr: FlickrMy Videos on Youtube: YoutubeMy Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives
The plywood is cut and has been attached to the framework. Next will be cutting and attaching the foam. BUT, I have to leave for a bit so I doubt I will get that done tonight, but you never know. Once the foam is layed then I will have to look at the trakplan for that part and decide if I have to or want to I should say, make any changes. Things look different when the benchwork is up as opposed to on paper.
Joe- I know all about the internet clergy. We have one who lives here in town. He is not a Pastor of either of our Churches, doubt if they would allow it anyway. He doesn't act like any Man of the Cloth I've known (well one but he was unique) except at times he really lets fly with opinions. Funny he never quotes any scripture, he just give his ideas on what the Bible say. Kinda. Like he sees it more accurately. When he sees fit and at a convenient time. Like getting out of a jam particularly with the law.
I'm sure there are many, many fine Ministers Ordained over the internet, but the couple I've met would give you a sour feel for it. That is unfortunate for those who are legit. Too bad, because it's that way for many things.
Hey guys, I think I'll try a glass of the oj in the tanker next to the diner.
Hey, can any of you old railroaders help me out a bit here? I've decided that I want to try and get a job working on the railroad. Can you guys tell me what looks good to them on a resume?
If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran
When in doubt. grab a hammer.
If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer
If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer
If it's broken, get a hammer
If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!
Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Evening,
JOE: Internet-based ordination? Yup... Our firefighter-Pastor and I were talking about THAT one fine day while baby-sitting a ruptured gas line. He said his son had gone and done THAT "just to screw with me" as he said. I've thought about doing it and starting my own church: Lucky's Burger Joint and House of Redemption... mostly just to annoy the beejeebers out of my bioooootch-in-law, I mean, my "SIL."
Then, I thought better of it. I mean, why call down even more lightning bolts aimed at me??
TEEN STEAM FAN: I'm not a railroader, never even played one on TV. But, I've applied at various times over the years and can tell you one thing THAT will absolutely NOT impress them: admitting to being a "railfan" and/or having any knowledge of their operation. At least the CNW wasn't impressed. A sympathetic CNW brakeman (when they still had brakemen) told me part of the rationale is/was, "you can't teach a man something if he already thinks he knows it." Apparently they wanted complete ignorance, a totally blank slate to work with. If you don't mind a weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee bit of relocation, the Iowa Northern Railway is currently hiring for conductors. They're a shortline running ex-RI tracks from Manly, IA to Cedar Rapids. The Iowa Interstate hires occasionally as well. The last time was for conductors to be based out of the Demokratik Peoples' Republik of Iowa City. The Quad Cities, Des Moines and Council Bluffs are other IAIS terminals they hire for from time to time.
Heck, back in my late teens/early 20s, THAT seemed like an ideal gig: being a brakeman/switchman. I was very much single, zero prospects, I was actually "in-shape" rather than "in a shape," I didn't hate summer, I didn't hate winter, my sinus/skull hadn't been traumatically re-arranged yet leading to skull-crushing headaches in hot humid weather, I didn't mind the idea of being on-call 24/7/365, didn't mind the thought of living out of a traveling bag...
I'm sure BRAKIE can offer some good insight!
Well, time to knock-out some content for THAT Editor. Tomorrow is going to be taken up by visiting gun shops in The Demokratick Peoples' Republik of Iowa City. THAT should be a real experience! THAT has me doing a major article on Iowa's new gun laws, which has led to massive surges of gun permit applications at the Sheriff's offices. I figure while I'm compiling stats from the gun shops on their customer traffic, I can also do a little looking/dreaming while I look over their complement of "boom sticks."
Chris
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
Thanks Chris, I'm just hoping I don't have to go to college. Too expensive for me.
And as for relocation, I've got nothing holding me down. If I get a nice signing bonus for buying a house, I'll be fine. I'll look into that Iowa road. Thanks
Just for kicks and giggles, I dialed-up Indeed.com, a job-hunting site, and typed-in "railroad" and "Iowa."
This is a CP Rail/DME/IC&E listing for Davenport, Iowa THAT spells-out what THAT particular Class-1 RR is expecting, and looking for.
https://performancemanager4.successfactors.com/career?company=CPR&career_job_req_id=2542&career_ns=job_listing
Norfolk Southern is apparently hiring for Des Moines as well. I doubt any of them offer relocation incentives, they might, but I wouldn't hold my breath on THAT.
Back at it, one article "in the can," one more to go...
Good Evening from Winterpeg,
Well on the weather front we are supposed to get up to 5F on Friday with a chance of showers, then down to 0F for Saturday and -6F for Sunday, oh but it will be sunny.
Just trying to shake of a cold I picked up over the weekend. Not feeling too energetic so have mostly just been in front of the TV most evenings.
Tom, congrats on your 47th anniversary. We will hit 29 this summer which I just can't sometimes believe. Where did the time go? I'll be lucky to make it to 47. Not sure my wife will think it lucky.
Ulrich, I'll be sending you a PM.
Well not much new here.
CN Charlie
Evenin' folks!
Flo, just a decaf for me tonight.
Finished up the last bit of work on the items I am doing before returning all the Art and Poetry back to the Schools tomorrow. Did a few other odds and ends as well.
On the hobby front, I went down cellar and stared at the workbench for an hour or so. Didn't really accomplish anything. I am trying to figure out how to install the belt drives on the equipment. Kinda which comes first thingy. Every plan i have come up with makes it impossible to finish....... maybe THAT is the way they intend??? I don't know. Anyway I cut some scale 4" x 8" beams to use to hang the drive gear on and stained it to give ir a weathered old look. May get a chance to start installing stuff tomorrow.
Catch you all in the morning!
Good evening ..
Barry! ..Staring at the workbench? ...For an hour? ..... sshhhh .... don't tell people. You don't know what they'll thin of you,
CN Charlie ... Thanks for the Winterpeg report ..... brrrrrr .
TSF... I think you will be better off in the long run if you do end up with a railroad career. I would encourage you to keep trying. ... Eventually, you will be glad to be on Railroad Retirement instead of Social Security. RR Retirment pays about 50% more than SS,, and Congress did not raid the RR Retirement fund as they did with SS. ...... Hard to advise on a resume, however. You should focus a certain kind of job. I don't think it hurts to be a railfan as long as you show you are eager to learn instead of a "know it all". Be respectful of those who are hiring at all times. Be able to demonstrate you are a good worker. ..... College? It may depend on the job, but even a few classes would help. ... I worked in the office and had business degrees prior to railroad. You might wish to consider that. ... Find out how college costs can be paid. Some employers help with that for instance. .... I did move on to non-railroad stuff mid-career, and the transition was not hard. .......
Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Gerry: I think you got me mixed up with Ray ....I was staring at MY workbench for 2 HOURS!!
Good Morning Pipples!!
Yep...you read that right...I got into a meditative funk yesterday and stared at my workbench for 2 whole hours...I now have an idea of what I have to do on my layout though so it was not all a total waste...
Today we will get another 2-3" of the white stuff then a little break until the weekend which will be another snowy one...then the bottom will drop out of the thermometer...
Anyways...Flo, I'll have a coffee and a breakfast bagel please...I'll be at the window booth waiting for daylight to appear...
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/
Good Morning,
Bama, The Athearn diesels with the motor in the center of the locomotive, there is a conversion kit for $19.95 from Digitrax. In the kit is a replacement (insulated) motor mount and the decoder replaces the metal strap on the top of the engine that connects the two trucks. No experimentation required, the only thing you can do wrong is make the engine run backwards. No soldering the kit is plug and pray. The front drive assembly is still available through Athearn, You can order it online or you can find the stock number and order it through your LHS. http://www.athearn.com/Products/Parts/Default.aspx The gear box spline is 12 for $12 and the gear box is $8. I think the gear box lid was 3 for $3. Well worth the investment! If you order through Athearn there is a $10 shipping fee.
Had a couple of the guys over last night to oil locomotives. Not sure what happened but a SD9 picked a switch on the main. Ran the locomotive through the turnout 10 more times and couldn’t recreate the derailment. The coupler trip pin was properly set before the derailment, so not really sure what happed. The Athearn BB SD9 is making a noise, sounds like a flywheel is rubbing on the body but no marks on the inside of the shell. Sound disappears when the body is removed.
Good morning. More snow in the forcast....again.
Not much planned today. Got a few things to do around here, and maybe see what I can do on the layout.
Garry........Jessica is doing better, but right now I feel like the relationship is in a bad spot. Just a lot going on for the both of us.
I will stop back by later.
Thanks for the replies folks.
Chris-Thanks, but I'm not even old enough to apply. One thing I am doing is finishing High School first, so next year I am really going to work hard.
Heartland-Your right there. Some people dismiss being able to work as a benefit. I don't really railfan, but I've always had an interest in railroads (Explains why I'm here)
Good Afternoon,
Lunchtime - Zoe, I´ll go for a bowl of hot chili, please.
The bug that caught me has its grips on me, I feel feverish and just blah! So I won´t be up too much today, just to try to shake this bug of.
Ray and Barry - staring at the layout for one or two hours - that ain´t nothing. I bet I can top this by staring at a plan of a layout for three hours!
TSF - normally, I´d say try to get as much education as you can reach. A good education opens a whole bundle of opportunities to you, whereas a vocational training leaves you somewhat limited in choice. I don´t know what type of a career the railroads offer nowadays, but in any case it will be a looong way up. Life as a railroad man working in operation also means long hours at odd times. You will need a lot of dedication to be able to cope with that. If you are prepared for that, and you think your interest in being a railroad man is strong enough to have a life ruled by the roads time table, then go for it - after finishing high school with excellent grades
Robby - there are always ups and downs in a relationship. If the love for each other is strong enough (which I believe it is) then Jessica and you will get out of the doldrums pretty soon. Both of you are in rough times, so try to relax a little and give her a big hug! It worked (most of the times) for me in 27 years and it has worked for my parents, who will be (hopefully) celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary in June.
I think I will retire to my sofa now, have one of John´s Whisky Macs and enjoy feeling miserable!
Ulrich: mmmmm......I seem to remember staring at my layout plans for about 3 hours...then staring at my layout for about 2 more hours....mmmmm
Robby: Audrey and I have been through the mill and back a few times...what with my health and hers as well...plus her family issues and what all else...we definitely became stronger or it....you two need each other more at this time...
Today is definitely a clean up the house kind of day...better get at it....have a good day...
Good morning. It's 37° and partly cloudy. The high will be around 60° and sunny.Left side of my neck, side and upper thigh are still tingling but not quite as numb as they were yesterday. Still not feeling up to par either but I felt good enough last night to attend the fire dept board meeting. We're working on getting a new class A pumper truck. Once it's been acquired the old one (98-99 GMC) will be going to our sub-station at Empire Point. The old pumper truck there (71 Crown) will no longer pass the pump test and needs to be replaced. Our new truck will be on an International chassis. Need to get some laundry done today so I'll likely spend some time in the traction rig whgile that's going on. The upper part of my left arm isn't numb and I have the use of it but it's tingling like ants are using it for a race track which is almost worse. At least there's no pain but it's still aggravating. If the traction weights don't help I'll have to see the doc about it. Probably won't get anything done on the layout today unless I can get this tingling issue sorted out. I still think it's due to my C5-C6 vertebrae being out of line. I also need to get the carb on the van adjusted. The fuel mixture needs to be a bit richer. Talked to the nephew about it yesterday and he'll get on it as soon as he can. I don't need it done right away but I don't intend to be still waiting on it a month from now either. I could do it myself but with my nerve problems being what they are I'd rather not unless I absolutely had to.
Good Morning! Dark Roast in a T&P mug please.
Today: A chance of flurries. Cloudy, with a high near 32. West wind between 9 and 13 mph. Tonight: A chance of flurries before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 23. Northwest wind between 6 and 8 mph.
Looks like I can put the snowblower away for the year. Glad I rushed out to replace it.
Well, other than w**k tonight, I have nothing scheduled to do today aside from a quick 5 minute trip to the bank. I should go to Sam’s Club like we were going to last weekend, or, I could wait. That may be subject to my next conversation with Brenda. She is entertaining tonight. Bringing the hens from the Community Foundation over for some cackle fest they call a meeting. She’ll most likely need something to serve them and she’d best not use my Jalapeno poppers. I asked her why they didn’t use the Village Hall like always, she gave some reason, but I think I quit listening after “Because….” figuring it didn’t really matter why, they were coming anyway regardless. Besides, I won’t be here anyway.
I want to lay that foam today also if I can, that way I will be able to complete my loop and a train can run on the old Don’t have A Name For It Yet Railroad.... or "-way". First, after the foam though, I’ll need to see how what I want fits in the area. (I’ve changed my wants just a bit for that space. Ssssh)
Well, I best get to the bank. And get my list of changes early so I can hopefully get to the basement for at least a short while.
Before work I gotta turn the thermostat down and open a window or two before the hot air machines get here with their gums a flappin. I hope they don't smoke. That means the house will stink for two days like after her Bunko nights she used to have. We smoke, but not upstairs. However when company comes over that smokes, we do allow smoking upstairs for that event. It is becoming more and more common for folks, even smokeres, to not smoke inside now, maybe we can change the smoking joint decision. I'm not sure I was around for that joint decision anyway, but then again it was years ago it was made.
Y’all have a Great Day now ya hear?!!!
blownout cylinder Ulrich: mmmmm......I seem to remember staring at my layout plans for about 3 hours...then staring at my layout for about 2 more hours....mmmmm
Barry - that´s not fair, as I don´t have a layout, yet! But beware, I´ll beat you the moment I have started on my layout
Jeff - I hope you´ll be feeling better soon. Petra and I will send special your way. There is always a sad look in her eyes when I tell her you are not feeling well.
Todd - lucky you! I got caught maybe once or twice in my marriage in a hen´s gathering and it was no fun.
Take a look at this little video!
Janie, a mug of hot chocolate please, and add some Laphroaig to it, dear. Now John will complain about wasting this marvelous Whisky in a hot chocolate, but believe me, it´s got a grand taste to it!
Back to the sofa!