Hey Everyone, Zoe can I get some coffee, a patty melt on rye extra onions and fries.
Well it is a beautiful day here in the Smoky Mountains, upper 40's and not a cloud in sight, but that is supposed to change tonight with snow Monday through Thursday. Went out and walked a part of the fence line, the wife's horse got out last Friday, that is the second time in a week. The first time he got loose we found him a couple of streets over in another pasture with another horse, seems he made a friend because sure enough he was back there again. I thought I had fixed the fence so he couldn't get out but he must have found a bad spot in the barb wire some where else. Since the Dr. took me off of work and the surgery last February, I am just so out of shape, that I can not walk the entire fence line. My oldest daughter and her boyfriend walked it for me last week when they were up from Charlotte, but they missed the big hole that was there from a fallen tree that was the route of his first escape, so who knows what else they missed.
Galaxy; I hope that things start to improve for the MIL and that work helps TOH get a break from the stress this is all putting on her.
Ulrich; Hate to hear about the house and all, I know this economy has been tough on alot of people, and I hope your situation improves soon. I was diagnosed with cancer in Oct. of 2007 and they took my right kidney, but the cancer kept coming back in my bladder and I missed a lot of work, luckily we had AFLAC cancer and short term disability insurance. Then in Oct. of 2009 the Dr. put me out of work and in Feb. 2010 I had surgery to remove my bladder, then there was chemo followed up by radiation, and I have still not returned to work and I don't believe I will be able to return to my old career, I drive, load and, unload an 11 car auto transporter. My employer has me on medical leave and still covers my medical insurance for me, but I doubt that I can physically do the job anymore.
The Wife and I are originally from Calif. she has always been an artist and I just love to travel and the adventure of seeing new historical places, so the thought of buying a house and settling down in one spot has not been a priority. We have lived all over the country but 16 years ago when our youngest daughter was born we started to slow down, My wife thought she wanted to be a geologist so 12 years ago we moved here to North Carolin so she could attend Western North Carolina University, it wasn't long before she realized that geology wasn't her thing so she took a four year break from school. She did eventually go back and got her BA in painting and ceramics, she is now almost done with her Masters in Fine Arts with a ceramics and Sculpture concentration. Just before I got sick we started looking to buy a house but that was put on hold and we eventually lost our SUV to repossession because of missing so much work.
Anyways the place we are currently renting is an old farm house that has major structural problems, a huge 8 stall barn 11 acres of pasture and a 20' x 24' work shop that is the wife's glass and ceramics studio and my wood shop. For Christmas my wife gave me 30' of atlas code 83 flex track and cork road bed, plus a 100.00 Lowe's gift card for bench work. She also gave me "permission" to use part of the studio as long as the layout could be moved when we have large projects going on. So I have drawn up plans for a modular layout using six 4' x 2' modules one 4' x 4' module and one 2' x 2' drop in for access to the open center, the entire layout has a foot print of 8' x 12' and if everything works I plan on building a rolling storage rack that will hold all the modules when the layout is being stored. I am also planning ahead so that if we do get to buy are own place soon the layout can be expanded to an around the room layout.
Wow I have really been rambling on here so, I had better end this and will give everyone a shout later.
Ron
I refuse to grow up!!!
JohnDer: I think it was one of their earlier boxcab things...I got the photo from a fleamarket awhile back...as to why it is plugging in I'm wondering whether it was not something else being done..
welb, by code is baking be stubbier...hack hack aaaaacccccinnnski!!1 sniff sniff...so I'b goig bag to the corder bood to seeg sobe cobford...I'll just hab a coffee ad a bran mmmmuffin blease...
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/
Coffee in a SUNNY SOUTHERN mug, please.
***Der, that is a cool looking silo complex. Well done!
Horses: I've euthanized more dogs, cats, and farm critters than I care to think about. The most difficult by far was our old horse Sandy. Perhaps it does have to do with how many years you spend with them and that you develop a sort of partnership, riding through the countryside together. And each has a quite different personality. Sandy was our only horse who could open "lift & slide" type locks inside the barn to let other horses out. I still miss her presence & winney when I would walk out the front door. I suppose you just have to be a horse person to understand.
Sprayed some fencing for the wife's (HO) house that has a backyard pool. That house represents a good friend of hers Stanley (not to be confused with my brother, Stan). Then I got out the can of dull coat and more liquid poured out around the cap than sprayed out. Oh well.
Picked up some neat little benches on the-bay for around the hospital. Now for the wait until they arrive.
Cheers! Rob
GO PACKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
A true friend will not bail you out of jail...he will be sitting next to you saying "that was friggin awesome dude!" Tim...Modeling the NYC...is there any other?
Afternoon all.
Almost done with my Spanish paper. I almost have the three required pages done, and I have 840 of the 1000 required words done. Hopefully finishing it shouldn't be too hard.
Ulrich and Jeff, I know what you guys mean about not being able to get stuff done. I have exhausted my modeling budget for the year, and there's a lot of stuff I need. Luckily, I'll be back at work in May.That, and I procrastinate. A lot...
G, you can't be selfish in asking others for prayers. The only way one can be selfish is not praying for others when asked to.
Over the past few days, I've done some upgrading to my website. You can check it out (link in a minute), and then give me feedback and suggestions (would be greatly appreciated) by using the newly added contact form on the "Contact Us" page. Here's the link to the new website, using the new link shortener. Sorry, but the [url] tags don't work with the bit.ly shortener, so you'll just have to copy and paste.bit.ly/tristaterail
Well, I better get ready to go, cause I'm going to a friend's house for the Superbowl. Don't really have a favorite team this year.
Catch ya later.
My Model Railroad: Tri State RailMy Photos on Flickr: FlickrMy Videos on Youtube: YoutubeMy Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives
der5997 ...same Tipton as Bill comes from, or is that a different State?
...same Tipton as Bill comes from, or is that a different State?
Sorry, shoulda specified. All of these communities are in the Great State of Iowa.
And, for kicks and giggles, I looked up ethanol in the 1996 North American Emergency Response Guidebook (most recent in my personal library). It do say, for fire to "isolate" for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions and to "consider" initial evacuation of 1/2 mile.
THAT would be an awful darn long pole to stick the hot dogs and marshmellows on...
We had a Haz-Mat Ops Level refresher program last year, and the guy showed a video of an ethanol tank car exploding. I forget how far a chunk of it landed...pretty sure it was further than 1/2 mile...
THAT is why I was always quite content with Haz-Mat Awareness Level training. I figured I'd just go "be aware" of the situmacation from somewhere else...like maybe the next county over!
Chris
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
Good afternoon - looks like many will be in front of a TV this evening. I'm ready to be paid to root for either team - because whenever Kris or I get interested in a particular team it invariably bombs. We call Ice Skating on TV "Watching people fall over" because no matter how ell they have been doing up to the point we begin to watch, it's DOOM from then on! We'll probably watch "Alister Cooke's America" on PBS later on.
TSF:
DerJohn, Cool loading dock. Was the building a kit?
No, that's scratch, designed to fit a particular site, part of a removable view block to give access to tracks behind it. hides this that white vertical wall is part of the design-on-the-fly process I used, you can see the back wall of the building - it's all made from gas pump advertising sign plastic..
Ulrich: That's a very neat shot of the bridge on that type of module. How high are the ends?
the "Ghan" in Australia,
Barry: Here's praying your cold will exit pronto! ...Likewise Jeff re your ankle. Barry, What is that thing in the photo? It looks like it's getting a re-charge, but doesn't appear that green. Speaking of green, that tank car fire was at least 'green", it being ethanol and all!!! Good thing no-one was hurt. I wonder from how far away marshmallows could be toasted? Just so Chris has a heads up, ye ken.
Jeremy: Welcome back. Bummer on the job close out - What line of work would you be in? Any chance of a change?
Chris:
The new owner and his partner own papers in Mt. Vernon/Lisbon, Marion, Clarence/Lowden, Tipton, West Branch and West Liberty.
Well, the raiLink herald decals I tried yesterday didn't work out too well. I have to find some way of setting the inkjet printer ink so it will not run in the water-based decal-it goop, or in the soaking the decals have to go through before they are finished. I'm thinking as a first step I'll try "cooking" the ink by ironing the images before I apply the decal-it. I thought of Dullcoat, but the decal-it goop has to get at the ink in order to absorb and lift the image into itself so the backing paper the image was printed on can be soaked and rubbed away. I think I'll try printing something off on tracing paper so ther's less actual paper to get rid of anyway. It's tea time, so I'll have a green tea please and go to a window seat and watch the action in the yard. TTFN.
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
TMarsh TSF- I, uh…., didn’t get them um…., “relationship” of the horse to the …….farmers ? Could you kinda clarify that for me. And I know what you mean. No killing is easy. Actually is should never become “easy” especially when it’s doing no harm. Sometime things have to be done, however, for the good of the animal. Unfortunately in my experience, horses don’t just die easily and often, for various reasons, need help to end their suffering. Wouldn’t want one other than for a tool, but they end up becoming a sort of companion if you own one and they live longer than dogs. And you know how we get attached to dogs.
TSF- I, uh…., didn’t get them um…., “relationship” of the horse to the …….farmers ? Could you kinda clarify that for me. And I know what you mean. No killing is easy. Actually is should never become “easy” especially when it’s doing no harm. Sometime things have to be done, however, for the good of the animal. Unfortunately in my experience, horses don’t just die easily and often, for various reasons, need help to end their suffering. Wouldn’t want one other than for a tool, but they end up becoming a sort of companion if you own one and they live longer than dogs. And you know how we get attached to dogs.
At the farm I work at, the woman who lives there, the horse was her daughter's. Her daughter got killed about 20 years ago in a car wreck and the horse was one of the last things that reminded her of her daughter. The horse was about 20 something years old and had arthritis real bad.
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!
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Super Bowl Afternoon!
Bad news: I gotta W**K during the game!
Good news: I'm getting PAID to watch my STEELERS hopefully pulverize the Packers! (Sorry SAWYER and VINCENT...but THAT is just the way it is...and of course, it is what it is!
Best wishes go out to GALAXY and others in need, with hope for comfort from above as well.
CUDAKEN: I don't know how your local media outlets are. THAT EDITOR would take your call, ask some questions and probably sit on it for a few weeks to let it percolate in her mind. If you really want to hang your undies out for public examination, you could try a local TV station, seems at least one in every market has a "so-and-so on your side" person. Keep in mind, they could easily end up painting you as the village idiot, either accidentally or on-purpose. I'm IN "the media," and I don't trust "the media." As for sending more payments, what I would do ***Unsolicited potentially unwanted advice follows*** is call the bastages first chance I'd get, explain to the knuckle-head who answers the phone EXACTLY what you've told us. Then, if they can't or won't spell-out exactly what the situation is...I'd be demanding to talk to somebody higher up the food chain. And I'd keep asking to talk to someone higher and higher up until the situation is resolved...one way or the other.
THAT said, I abhor dealing with financial stuff over the phone. I always tell 'em "send me something in writing." They claim to "record your call for quality control purposes." Fine. I don't have THAT luxury, and I want documentation. There is an old adage in EMS: "If you didn't write it down, you didn't do it." I apply THAT to all things financial.
I'd also be calling the closest office for the VA, and see if they have any kind of legal help for veterans. Being a life-long civilian, I wouldn't know. I would hope they'd have some help or advice for you though.
ULRICH: Gusts up to 160 mph??? YIKES! THAT would be the end of the world around here. Heck, the Emergency mis-Management Agency folks blow the tornado sirens if winds higher than 60 mph are expected. 160? I think those sirens would be flying away...along with cows, barns, houses, pretty much anything else above ground.
JIM: I think it was you who asked how THAT new management process is w**king out at w**k. We met the new owner...seems like a good guy, younger than I thought he'd be. He's very "hands-off," meaning our papers will run the same as they have. He just handles the payroll, mailing and billing. Mr. Boss and THAT Editor are still very much in-charge. No increase in pay seen or anticipated...I'm just glad it wasn't decreased! The new owner and his partner own papers in Mt. Vernon/Lisbon, Marion, Clarence/Lowden, Tipton, West Branch and West Liberty. Maybe someday, if there is an opening in Mt. Vernon or Tipton, they'll remember me... Mt. Vernon is 20 minutes away (west on Hwy. 30). Tipton is 14 miles south of me.
Speaking of newspapers... THAT fireball picture came from an ethanol train?? Peachy. We get 'em all the time through Clarence on the ex-CNW . While we have mutual aid agreements throughout the county, and Cedar Rapids Fire is willing to send their new "foam" pumper and trailer...we've pretty much conceded there isn't enough alcohol resistant foam in this half of the state to put out something like THAT...so we'd just be sitting back "a safe distance" and watching it burn.
Well, 'spose I've got just enough time to try to do something (even if it's wrong) before heading out to w**k later this afternoon. Here's hoping (again) for comfort for those needing it.
"You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children's children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done."Ronald Reagan40th president of US (1911 - 2004)
Hi Guys
Havent been in for a while, Just thought I would stop in today to say Hi. I also have come down with a nasty cold ( I guess its that time of year ) we have had some pretty good snowfalls lately in this part of Ontario so Im looking forward to spring, except the part that my employer is going out of business and come May were all out of jobs. I received a pretty good severance pack but still have to go job hunting :(
take care
Jeremy
Sister called and will not show today. I knew three times in a row was too much to expect. Still, at least they called this time before, the time they were to arrive.
About time to head out anyway to the apartment. Brenda wants to pack a few things for the niece and straighten up a wee bit. Then, probably go to someplace, Best Buy is about the only option around here with ANY type of selection, and look for a computer monitor that show the correct colors. Then probably to the grocery store. Hopefully back home and I can work a bit on the choo choo's.
Maybe Walmart will have a roasted whole chicken left by the time we get there. I have to admit they are pretty darn tastey.
Ulrich- Still, a 160 mph gust is just plain bad!.
Toodle-oo for now.
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.
OY!!...
taken from....http://www.thecourier.com/
It´s just a lazy Sunday afternoon. Been watching the idiot box, as Ray calls it. I had the choice between watching "Vertigo" and a history feature on the occasion of Ronald Reagan´s 100th birthday. I opted for Vertigo but SWMBO decided to take a look at the history thing. Actually quite interesting...
Tonight, there will be a feature called "Rail Adventure on 5 Continents". It´ll show the most spectacular railroads in the world. I guess it´s gonna be the Transcanadian, the Tibet Line in China, the "Ghan" in Australia, the "Blue Train" in South Africa and, of course, the Gotthardt Line in Switzerland. In any case, 90 minutes not wasted. I just hope that Petra does not want to watch the Sunday Crime time feature.
Todd - it was "only " gusts which topped 160 mph, but it was pretty bad that way. No building can withstand a sustained blow of that speed. Again, it is a miracle that no one got hurt, although a lot of trees fell onto the tracks, catenary went down. I am just glad that our power and telephone lines are underground.
TTFN
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe just a cup of dark roast coffee to go. Gotta get over to church soon.
Galaxy, my prayers to you and the whole family. These are hard times to go through!
The family will be going out to dinner to celebrate my son's MIL's Birthday tonight prior to the Stupid... Stupor... ah whatever the big thing on the idiot box is tonight. I think they are going to go to a house where there is a wall to wall screen tube to watch and cheer, and drink, and cuss..... I'll pass and find something better to do maybe in the train room....
Catch you all later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good morning
THANKS to all who said prayers and "uplifting messages of encouragement" in their postings here about the MIL and my family and frined's wife! Muchly appreciated.
MOH is off to work, which will help keep MOH's mind off MIL. MOH will have a very busy day today, that was forwarned by a "heads up" call from coworker last night.
I will go to the hospital to meet MOH at MIL's room when MOH gets out of work,a s MOH is stopping by there then. We will also drop in on train nuts friend's wife adn see her too,, as she is 4 doors down from MIL on the same floor. WE will see how she is doing with her pain. JUst talked to train nut's friend, she is in less pain but still being fed via tube with "nurishing stuff" as she hasn't eaten since last Sunday anything solid. He looked in on MIL, knew it was her by her european wool blanket that FIl took in for her to be warm. He said she was sleeping and FIL hadn;t arrived yet, Hes never met MIl formally and doubt he will nowas MIL doesn;t want visitors. I know why...she doesn't want anyone to see her in such bad shape, and cuz she drifts in and out of sleep,conscience. SO now NOT really the time to introduce her to a friend. She does recognize FIl and MOH right off, but sometimes has to think for a minute as to who I am I, even though Iv'e been in the family 10 years now.
Prayers GO OUT to the others who need thoughts and prayers! ANd continue to pray for us. {we can't be selfish in prayers needed}
Well I will putz around the house doing chores as best I can I have 2 loads of laundry to do and put away, and a dishwasher to unload and reload. ANd I really should run the vaccuum. I HATE that chore and usually MOH does it, but has been lax. I should change the bedding too and run that throught the laundry too. SO I guess I have a full day as long as I take breaks and let my back rest and it holds out.
Don't know what to have for dinner,as can't plan if we are going to be at the hospital. There might be enough sloppy joes left over to have a couple of those, but not much as we kinda pigged out on it last night. Was gonna have Chix Cordon Bleu but they take 40 mins in the oven, and we will be hungry coming home. maybe after hospital we stop at Denny's to eat. Spliting an entree works well for us eating out and costs only aobut $8-10 plus tip so we can usually get out for around $12 bucks. I definitely have enough to eat as the corrective surgery left me with half a stomach and the half MOH eats usually is satisfying, at least to get home to potato chips for snacks, but MOH can afford to eat them, I can't.
WEll, I have bored you all enough.
With all that's been going on the new train board for the under teh xmas tree layout has still been out, as it needs to be "built", but not a shred of work has been done, and in fact we haven't even run the trains lately even thought they are right there in front of us! Fisrt, need to paint it white, mount the framing on it, and caulk down the WS risers to elevate the N scale loops above teh HO loop. But alas, we have other things going on.
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!! Cup of French Roast and 2, no 3 glazed donuts please. Thanks. Today: Ron- Hope you start feeling better. I would lean toward the foam if I were you. At least 2”. I had a layout that did not have foam and all was well. But after talking on these forums I then I added to it using ½” and liked it. So when I began building this version, I decided to use the popular 2” and I like it real well. Many get along fine without but for me I like it. Pictures of trains on your layout? If so can hardly wait. We are a nosey bunch round here. A 50 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 34. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming northwest. Tonight: A 30 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 21. North northwest wind between 5 and 8 mph. We are having that tropical heat wave Ray’s always singing about!
Good Morning!! Cup of French Roast and 2, no 3 glazed donuts please. Thanks.
Today:
Ron- Hope you start feeling better. I would lean toward the foam if I were you. At least 2”. I had a layout that did not have foam and all was well. But after talking on these forums I then I added to it using ½” and liked it. So when I began building this version, I decided to use the popular 2” and I like it real well. Many get along fine without but for me I like it. Pictures of trains on your layout? If so can hardly wait. We are a nosey bunch round here.
Ulrich- I’m still waiting to hear you say, “OH! Sorry, it wasn’t 160mph after all” THAT is insane. Hurricanes don’t do that. Tornadoes do, but are cyclonic of course, but SUSTAINED 160MPH!! Everything should be flat. Man. You guys must really build’em. Maybe the Floridians and East Coasters should take construction lessons from Germany.
I second Ulrich’s suggestion for the Chapel car. Boy I hope I didn’t set of a chain of events with Mom passing right out of the chute this year.
Best get a move on, gotta meet the sister in at Mom’s apartment by 9 am today. Like I said she showed yesterday, so if she shows today, that will be three appointments in a row. This streak cannot last for long, but I don’t care I just need her to get the stuff she wants so I can do what I need to do to lear the apartment ASAP. I'm betting she won't get ther until abooout 10:30-11 ish. Then can't finish because BIL is back on the board today with the first possible shift at 2 I think.
OK! Girls! Better start putting out the chips and dip, wings start icing down the drinks and most of all….setup the flat screens. Before we staunch Footbaaaaaaall fans show up. The day we live for is upon us (grunt grunt) It’s the World Series day and I’m a rootin’ for the Steelers because I like the color of their uniforms best. It’s a contrast thing.
Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!
EDIT: Ron and the weather paragraph got switched. Why does it DO that! (rhetorical question) Gotta be something I'm doing and not knowing it.
　
jeffrey-wimberly I need stuff like ballast, blended turf, coarse turf and coarse foliage. Until I get those items I see no point in even attempting to proceed on it. At the rate I'm going it may be near summer before I get started on it again.
I need stuff like ballast, blended turf, coarse turf and coarse foliage. Until I get those items I see no point in even attempting to proceed on it. At the rate I'm going it may be near summer before I get started on it again.
Same here ...
I need quite a bit of that WS stuff, plus track, ballast, paint, a power pack - it´ll be a long time till Christmas ...
Hi Everyone,
the storm is gone, but now we are getting wet feet. We had a month´s rain in just two days, and there is no end in sight.
Stay safe!
Good morning.
Not much planned for me, but to watch the Steelers win number 7!!!
Have a good day guys!!
"Rust, whats not to love?"
Good morning. It's 33° and clear. Today will be mostly sunny and warmer with a of 62°. There's a 50% chance of rain tonight.Ankle feels like it has a hot knife stuck in it so I likely won't be doing much today. I'd like to work on the layout but I don't have much of the stuff I need for scenery and don't have the funds to buy more so it's shoved way back on the back burner for now. I need stuff like ballast, blended turf, coarse turf and coarse foliage. Until I get those items I see no point in even attempting to proceed on it. At the rate I'm going it may be near summer before I get started on it again.
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
Morning...
I got up to a code...yeb..a good ol' fashioned code...AAACCCCHHHHIINNSKI!!!...sniff sniff...
So, I had to phode ub by subervisor ad say that I could not coblete by shift as I foud out that I got a code...coff coff gack HACK!! HACK....sniff snuffle....
Adyway, Flo, I'll just hab a coffee and breakfast bagel please...I'll be at the corder bood for a while....HACK HACK snort sniff sniff...
Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Good Morning Gang,
it was a fairly quiet night, the storm has calmed down to a normal wind with speeds at 30 - 40 mph. It is really a miracle that no one got hurt.
Janie, I´ll have a Sunday big breakfast with all the works - scrambled eggs, sausages, crispy fried bacon, a stack of pancakes with real maple syrup, buttered toast & jam, a glass of Ed´s OJ and a gallon of coffee in my JNR mug, please.
This year seems to turn into a year of departures, so we better keep the chapel car coupled to the Diner. My go out to all worried about a loved one!
Ron - I have long been looking for a way to re-enter into our hobby. It´s been over two years now since I lost my job and our house, which had been home to us for over 12 years. We are now living in a tiny 3-room (rented) flat, with a spare bedroom serving as office, guest room and laundry room. Aside from the fact that there is only little room to put up a permanent layout, the cost for such venue would be way beyond our means, as my MRRing budget cannot exceed a handful of $ a month. Even with a job (for which I am still hoping), our financial situation will improve only slightly, as the foreclosure of our house let us with a considerable debt, to which I will have to contribute for 5 more years. All of that is certainly not a good position to engage into our hobby. I have made numerous plans (the gang can tell you how many), but all of them failed due to the lack of funds. At the beginning of this year I sincerely thought about dropping any dream of having a layout again and to get out of the hobby for good, as it began to hurt, only planning a layout but not being able to build one. A few weeks ago I came across a Japanese homepage, showing a layout being constructed using mini modules, each module being only 12" by 6" for a straight module and 12" by 12" for a corner module. The modules are connected via Kato´s Unitrack joining system and consist of only three pieces of plywood nailed and glued together - quite simple and cheap. The basic cost for a module runs around $ 10 - that´s a chunk I can swallow. I can now build module by module, and eventually I will end up with a ssmall layout I can assemble on my desk in a few minutes and run some trains - that´s all I can ask for at the moment. Here is a link which shows, how the whole set-up works:
Mini-Modules
With just a little effort, something as atmospheric as the following pic can be made:
I have started to build the "benchwork" for the first three modules, but construction has come to a momentary halt until I can free up some funds to by some track and a DC power pack, as I cannot use the one I have (its PWM will destroy the coreless motor of my loco).
Blessings to all in need & have a good one!
Hey guys.
I've been doing some scenic work on the layout, sanded out some of the grain in the partical board and then laid down some Spackle to even it out. Hopefully tomorrow I can get some buildings set up and get a run down barn and fallen down building. Add in a rusty Fowler General Purpose traction engine and a junked car and we have that seen I am working on.
On my TV now is the UK Top Gear Arctic Special. A Toyota Hilux pickup with a Dixie horn. WHAT ARE THEY THINKING. At least get a Jeep.
Had to help at the farm I work at to put a horse down. That is one thing I never want to experience again. The horse was the farmer's sister and the woman's daughter's. The daughter passed away about 20 years ago. So keep her her in your prayers.
Good Evening Everyone, Floe coffee extra thick, and a slice of peanut butter pie.
Galaxy, Ulrich, and Garry; My prayers have gone out for your Families and I hope things get better for your loved ones soon.
Ulrich, I would love to hear more about your modular layout. That is the way I am going, have completed the bench work on the first module but have stopped until I decide on whether I am going to put foam down on top of my plywood or not.
Jim, Thank You for the Welcome.
Was up in the studio for a little while this morning and was going through a box and found an old CON-COR structure kit of a school house still sealed in the box. I also found a bunch of telephone poles and lighted freeway signs, all still in there original packaging. The better half was shopping in Asheville so I called and had her pick me up some model glue, then I opened the school house box, and found that this has to be the worst model I have ever seen. There is so much flashing left on the trees that I am going to have to spend a week trimming and sanding most of the pieces. Oh-Well, I have not been feeling 100% lately anyways so I will have something to do until I start to feel better, Wife thinks I have been overdoing it up in the studio, she is probably right, haven't felt this bad since chemo.
The wife got me an early anniversary present, a nikon 85mm macro lens for photographing her glass and pottery, but I cant wait till I get back to work on the layout and can get some shots of trains with it.
So that's about it from the smoky mountains so I will be looking at you all tomorrow.
Evening all.
Disgusting day today. Rained all day. It'll be great when it all freezes over tonight...
We lost our game tonight. It was embarassing. Well, at least I know that no one could try and blame it on me!
Everyone- Thanks for the input on the history paper. The topic has to be post-Reconstruction, so I can't do anything about railroads and the Civil War. However, if I do end up doing the Rise/Fall/Rise Again of railroading, I could probably get my teacher to let me go back just before the time period and write about the beginnings.
Todd, I could find a way to blame President Bush for making people not ride trains, and then blame global warming on people driving!
G, you, your MIL, YOH, your friend, and his wife are all definitely in our prayers.
Ulrich, prayers for you and your mother as well, as she prepares for her surgery.
Barry, that sign is great! And the photo of the GP38ish thingy is neat too. A little research reveals that is an experimental genset concocted by Progress Rail Services. Interesting looking thing…
Garry, prayers for your daugher as she gets ready to have her baby!And prayers for your mom and Fred
Jim, considering that my Theo teacher is a nun, I highly doubt that she has an interest in trains! The assignment was to pick a local charity that we are interested in and write about how it exemplifies our beliefs of love for others. I picked Toys For Tots, which ran a collection train a week before the paper was due. I guess a week before the train, my dad was talking to his friend, who happened to be involved in the train. He invited us to be on it and help out, and that was that. Here are some photos and a video of the train.I ended up getting a 95 on the paper, BTW
I’ll be hanging around for a while if anyone wants to talk.
Good late evening, a hot chocolate for me please.
Rob:
***Der, we love how you created the building that looks just like a giant box of cerial. That must have taken you a lot of time.
Barry:
JohnDer: I like how those decals are working out...I'm looking at getting something together as well or some freelanced decals as well as some not so freelanced ones... ....I'm still looking for my dang DVD's....
Ken:
John Who is Kris?
Do they work with the VA?
Do they have any idea what department I need to contact?
Time for me to call it a day, so Goodnight all, and God Bless. There's a lot of hurting folks out there, so prayers for all in need of Healing, Comfort, Prosperity and Peace.{angel]
Howdy. A couple double fudge brownies please and a cup of hot chocolate. Marshmallows? Why sure, haven’t had marshmallows in hot chocolate in years. Make it the big ones thank you.
What’s this? My bids been cancelled for the window se…. Oh! Hi Jim. Saved your seat. Knew you’d be back so I, uh, kept it warm for ya.
Galaxy- I read it, I understand. Your whole family remains in my prayers. I personally agree with the anti- misery standpoint. As for the ranting, vent buddy. You and your OH are under a lot of stress right now and I do mean a lot.
Ulrich- your Mom is in my prayers also.
Garry- Gee whiz! Your Mom too? I hope she adjust well. I’m sorry about her companion, I hope it was a gentle transition from life to life as I do for G’s MIL if that be His will.
Welp! My sister showed up, 2 hours late as usual, but she did show up and with a Uhaul truck. They filled it up. To bad they didn’t bring a bigger one they could have taken more. They said they would return tomorrow early. That is about 9 am and get the rest of the stuff they want. The part about taking things just to help get rid of the excess seems to have fallen wayside, but I’m just glad they got what they want so I can move on with the rest.
I think I’ll step down into Toddland (of which I’m king) and see what I can NOT do because what I want/need to do I need something for that I don't have and I keep forgetting about until I get down there. I’m sure a few of you followed that because you are familiar with the situation.
Evening Folks!
Flo, it is Miller time!
Galaxy Sorry to hear your MIL is in such bad shape. I hope things go better for your family. Seems the Hospital is ran by Bank Of America.
Just because you are Paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you! Today turned out to be a Poop Day! Here I was busy till 11:30 and after that only 3 more customers. All 3 walked with out buying. It is all-wise the salesman fault! Around 5:00 Ben and the owner called to see what happened. Told them how the ups (customers) contacts went. Then the second guessing started. You could have said this or that, or offered this. While I understand why they do it (done it my self when I was a area supervisor) it is still no fun. So the not so warm and fuzzy feeling is back again. In sales you are only as good as your last day, so I suck again.
House Front I will be sending in the $1,000.00 and crossing my fingers. It is a big leap of faith, but I sort of feel it is miss guided. But as all that chimed in have pointed out (including myself) If I don't send in money they will foreclose.I won't pray for my self, I feel it is a selfish (spell check) act. But, I can use all the help I can get. folks.
John Who is Kris? Do they work with the VA? Do they have any idea what department I need to contact?
I am done bending your ears and time to slip into a induced coma! Wish me luck Super Bowel Sunday, not a normally a great Mattress Day.
Boy I wish I carried a box for a living. Some places they our happy you show up on time and don't walk into the walls!
Ken
I hate Rust
JimRCGMO Jeff, I hope things stay warmer down your way (but some rain would be nice, yes?), and that something opens up so you can get some of those things tended to on your van. How's your layout re-do coming along, by the way?
Jeff, I hope things stay warmer down your way (but some rain would be nice, yes?), and that something opens up so you can get some of those things tended to on your van. How's your layout re-do coming along, by the way?
Good evening ...
I have a very sad 91 year old mother in AL. He 90 year old companion (Fred) passed away this afternoon. Thanks to you DIners for your thoughts and prayers about this situation. Next, my sisters and I will be helping Mom in her transition. This will be tough.
Of course, we are more than thankful we are about to be blessed with a new grandchild next week.
Rob ... Yes, some day we'll have to arrange a get together. I've even wondered if you and Bama could meet with me in Birmingham, but it is a lot of miles for all.
JimCG ... I wondered where you were. Good to see you again.
Galaxy ... prayers continue fo your family members.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU