Elliot´s Trackside Diner March 2011

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Chloe, I'll have a hot fudge sundae and a Colorado-Arizona-&-Western mug of coffee, please. Thank you, ma'am.

AmanaMedic

What's THAT Flo? They're CURT's and they're OK?????

... [clip] ...

Man. I can just see the look on some thug's face when after breaking into CURT's house, he finds a squad of skunks staring back at him!!!

Hey, Chris, I bet that Curt's pet skunk Stevie would take a smaller bite (if any) out of your meal if Stevie delivered it to you (remember back when we were up in the deep Northwoods on that siding? You know, the one where Zoe and Chloe had the raccoons helping out, and the moose doing the valet parking - or whatever he was doing outside the Diner then...). And yeah, I can just about see a crook breaking into a cold sweat as he's busy backpedalling out the door, too!

Beautiful weather today - got into the upper 70's (F)/(lower 20's C) this afternoon. Shame I had to be at w**k and inside. At least I had windows to see how good it was outside.

Found out that they apparently gave me (and I guess, the rest of the crisis team) a 3 percent raise (got our paystubs for tomorrow's direct deposit). I'll take it - let's see, that means after you count the loss of the stipend and then add the 'raise', I'm about 13 percent behind where I had been. (Ah, I should be glad I have a job, right? Okay, I'll hushup...) But then again, when I consider our 'public servants', who vote themselves raises and cost-of-living(-it-up?) increases way above that.... Okay, time for to go back to its corner.

Ah, Jeff - good to hear the ball teams will still be playing ball in the park. After all, it is spring training and not far from the start of "Playyyyy BALL!" More good progress on your roads, too.

Rob, from how you described the plastic container, if that ain't the W-S sticky-glue stuff, it's a very close cousin to it. On your layout shots, is that a double slip switch? I was thinking it was just a 30 degree crossing on the one mainline (from the other mainline) going to the siding (to the left of the photo I'm thinking about). I'll defer to our electrical gurus in here about your track wiring question; I may have others of my own once I get the bus wires and feeders hooked up and try to get things where I can actually run a train...

Ron/DrgnTrppr, let's look over those layout photos together - maybe we both can get inspired for our own layouts. (But, that would mean I'd have to actually accomplish more than I've been doing, wouldn't it? Hmm...) Will add your son to the list, and send him our thanks!

Todd, I'm sure *real* classical guitar lovers will shriek when I mention this, but I've seen some brands of classical strings that have balls on the ends, and there are 'shiny' looking strings that are very thin wire over nylon - the bottom strings might be - the old 'silk-n-steel' ones I used to have on my (former) Gibson with the white sideboards (a few decades back). But the silk-n-steel ones had lighter weight steel for the uppermost strings, so maybe Willie's mix-and-matching to get what he likes.

Ray - ("show-off'?) Shavings? Now you're just trying to keep up with DerJohn (but he does his magic in iNvisible scale). That enginehouse is looking even more amazing!

Curt, I missed the photo of (Stevie?) that you'd posted, but went back and found it. Cute li'l (or not so li'l) fella. I'd agree with whoever it was - Rob? Todd? - that he could pass for a badger up close. But I don't think any crook trying to break in would want to face a badger, either... Those layout pics look good - you have (what I'd call) a good spread of territory there for your RR.

Brakie, good story about your sittin' and sippin' stop - hopefully, you're not on Homeland Security's watch list now... (Just kidding, I think...)

Jerry, how's the Illinois & Southern been doing lately? Have you and Sallie been up to anything with the grandkids?

Lee - that (fictional?) exchange of yours with the electrician sounds like why I don't do much fussin' with AC power...

Ulrich, you might try to find online the Canon site for Germany and download your drivers from there. Worth a shot, anyway. I've been able at times to do it for my Canon printer. Hope your rest of the week starts turning up.

Ah, tomorrow is time to figure what gets what part of the payday. Usually, this one out of the month has more flex to it (but I found out I missed last month's electric bill, so will have a double portion of that to pay). Need to get a money order ready to mail, and if I have some left over after the bills (and state income tax payment), may bid on some train stuff on deBay. We'll see.

Time for this fella to head for home and get some shuteye - on-call the next four nights (after tonight) in a row, but I'll have the daylight to run errands. Prayers will continue for those ailing, for protection, safety in travelling, comfort, a good night's rest (and smoky hairdo's), and general well-being.

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[CNCharlie]

Good Evening,

Just had a nice post done and then poof! Gone.

Maybe it was too long.

Anyway, glad to see you in the diner Jerry. How are you and Sallie doing?

Did some work on the layout tonight. I put down the first layer of plaster for the freight shed parking lot. First I've done in a couple of months. After I've finished the freight shed install, not much more to do except a little detail work. Oh well, good thing I've got my pending N scale empire to work on.

CN Charlie

[ns3010]

Evening all.

Sorry I haven't been in in a long time; I've been REALLY busy.

AND, I won't be in until April 21st. I'll still be busy, but more importantly, I'll be starting a program to get me more motivated about my model railroading. You can read more about the program and check for updates often here: "30 Day Model Railroading Revitalization Program" on Evernote

Wish me luck! See you April 21st!

[cudaken]

 Evening Folks!

 Flo, Big Boy Sub, toasted wheat bread and extra everything, tender of onion rings and a please.

 Over all a pretty calm day and warm day. Work went fine and had wrote another $1500.00 in business. Ben called and said the store in on track for another $48,000.00 Month and he and Barry are pretty darn happy!  But, I need to get the profit margin up around 4% before they are doing the happy dances. 

 I really go like working there and told Ben that today. They pretty much let me do what I want as far as what I have on the sales floor and stocking. I all so finally feel somewhat secured with the company.

 Bank Of Dumb Asses. Got a letter today that pretty much said Eat Poop And Die about modifying my home loan. But I pretty much knew that was coming, from what I was told before I can only be behind 12 payments. But I am not worried after I saw the lawyer. I just keep making over payments till I get caught up

 Beside the fact they mislead me and caused me to get this far behind.What up sets me the most is I really can't tear down the current layout  and start the new one!  Well, it gives me time to save for the next layout. I am guessing the next layout with new lumber, a extra 200 feet of track (2 Main lines will be 150 feet each), cork, foam, and another 20 turnouts I will spend $1600.00.

  For the new folks here is the next layout. 26 x 19.

   

See you all latter.

             Ken 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good work there Curt.

Got the foot doc appointment out of the way earlier. He had me fitted with a new walking boot as the old one was worn out and was doing more harm than good. After that I went to Wal-Mart to get a 12-pack of foam paint brushes then came home and did some road work on the layout. It should be dry by morning at which time I can get started on another section of road.

[Curt Webb]

Here is one more

For some reason I couldn't get 3 to post together.

Everyone have a great night

[Curt Webb]

Hi all,

Flo, I would like  a beer please.

Here are two pictures that kind of show what I am doing. Keep in mind 1/2 of the layouts have been laid. I get the rest (PECO #5) on 2 April

 

[TMarsh]

Didn't get anything but the lights turned on in the trainroom today. So, since the lights are on, I think I'll head down there now. What I really need to do is some cleaning. Probably will do some.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I got started on one of the gravel roads today. Yep, that's what a gravel road looks like here. Sharp edged gray rock with a healthy appetite for tires.

[Cederstrand]

Coffee refill, please.

Heard about the small train derailment in S.C. which killed a six year old and injured a bunch of others. Yikes, that's a real tough one. Healing thoughts to all those involved.

Just watched Pocahontas Glory on RFDTV, an episode which I'd seen before. Still most enjoyable watching Mallets and others steam away. Those flat-head electrics are very cool, too. I can see why some folks choose to model those.

Last of the wife's autos arrived today, all Mini-Metals from years 36 through 70. We actually see autos from all those years around here, although most of the anitques are in yards, from rusting old hulks to fully restored beauties and everything inbetween. So why not on her layout, if that's what she wants!

Off to trim more branches out along the edge of a pasture. Perhaps tonight I'll make it back down to the train room. Cheers! Rob

[teen steam fan]

Hey guys. What's with all the black and white fur flying around from out back? No sir Vinnie I didn't see a thing. (Sergent Shultz voice) I know nooooooothing, I see nooooooooooothing. (/Sergent Shultz voice) 

Not much new from me. 

Urlich-  What operating system is on your laptop? I have windows seven on mine and got an Epson hooked up wireless no problem. No promises I can help you but the offer is there. BTW, count me in on one of those passes

[tcwright973]

Brakie's story about the police was kind of interesting because the wife and I were talking about this yesterday. As it was such a nice day here we went railfanning at our usual spot on Norfolk Southern's main line. The local police, who I don't know at all, happen to cruise on by as has happened on a number of occasions. None have ever stopped to inquire what we were doing there. From time to time one will even wave. As I have been going there for 4 or 5 years, about half the time with the wife, I suppose someone will get curious at some point.After coming home we had my favorite dinner of a Delmonico roast, baked potatoe and green beans. Naturally, this was enhanced with a nice Reisling from a winery on Seneca Lake. Thought about how lucky Ray is to live near so many great wineries.  I have no idea what I'm going to do when I get too old to make a wine run.

The mailman delivered a 70 ton hopper painted for the Pittsburgh Coal Company today. This is another one of those items which I'm not even sure had a prototype, but the name was certainly well known around here in my youth when most folks still had coal furnaces. So I decided to spring for $20.00 and get one. A downside is that only those around my age will recognise the names.

Hope everyone has a good one.

Tom

[blownout cylinder]

Good Afternoon.

We are still dull out here...and kinda misty rainy...and getting cooler....

I'm having some switching fun with the layout ...another switch has decided to go south on me    ....so I get to go and fix/repair something again...

Welb, I better go get ready for the evening classes...this time on-line...heeheehee

[Anonymous]

Hi Folks,

what a day. It started bad in the morning and ended just the same.

In the morning, I hooked up my little canon photo printer to my notebook in the attempt tp print a few of those rail passes. It is supposed to be plug & pray, but I could not get it installed without the CD ROM containing all the necessary printer drivers. This CD ROM is, of course, on the list of missing items from our move into this flat

Furthermore, it is now final that our attempts to get the business up and running without the help of the banks have failed. Starting up a business requires an amount of attention, which one of the partners is not willing to give. He is highly unreliable, but blames all others. I am not willing to chip in more unpaid work without any chance of a return in the future.

Isn´t it a beautiful day? Well, it was sunny, all day long

Zoe, pour me a cold , please.

Have a good one!

[BRAKIE]

Rob:Larry, it's a good thing that cop didn't recognize you and haul you off to jail or you would have missed out on watching trains, huh?

----------------------------------------

That's only because he didn't  run my ID..

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Cederstrand

***Jeffrey, isn't that Esry's(sp) old house?

Yep. That's Ezra's Exxon station. Just look for the weird place with the Cape Cod cottage on top.

 

LSWrr

I hired an electrician to come fix the outlet and switch, he’ll be out Wednesday morning.

 

Me: how much to fix the outlet?

Electrician: did you attempt to fix it?

Me: Yes

Electrician: $50 to undo whatever you did and $50 to fix what was wrong in the first place.

It's nice to have friends

That sounds about right. That's why I learned from a professional electrician and rewired my home myself.

[LSWrr]

Rob, I hired an electrician to come fix the outlet and switch, he’ll be out Wednesday morning.

 

Me: how much to fix the outlet?

Electrician: did you attempt to fix it?

Me: Yes

Electrician: $50 to undo whatever you did and $50 to fix what was wrong in the first place.

It's nice to have friends

[Cox 47]

Afternoon All...Sunny and in the 70's here....I'll have a diet coke please...Thank You....Just stopped in to say Hi..and slip into back booth to watch trains and see who drops by...

You all have a good one...Jerry

[Cederstrand]

Coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.

***Larry, it's a good thing that cop didn't recognize you and haul you off to jail or you would have missed out on watching trains, huh!

***Galaxy, it would be great to live close enough to make those trips to rail museums. Enjoy!

***Jeffrey, isn't that Esry's(sp) old house?

***Lee, I see your hair quit smoking. At least the bulbs are all OK.

Cheers! Rob

[DrgnTrappr]

Hey everyone, Flo Coffee and a slice of apple pie please.

The sun is out and everything is blooming here in the smoky mountains, they say it is going to be 70 today and 78 tomorrow. Printed out some copies of an Atlas #6 custom line turn out so I can get the track plan transferred over to the bench work, other than that I dont have much planned for the layout until we get back from the ceramic artist conferance in Tampa Fl.

Guess I will go and sit at the window and enjoy this great weather.

Ron

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a breakfast bagel w/ cheese and a pot of dark roast coffee for breakfast.

Going to be a busy next couple of days here.  i have a dentist appt. early this afternoon, have to do some banking, buy stamps for a mailing for the MLK Committee, drive over to feed my sisters cats, and do a whole boat load of printing......  Won't be much or any time for MRing.  Tomorrow I have a meeting in early evening then have to drive to the Rochester Airport to pick up my sister and deliver her to her house.  It will be the wee hours before i arrive back home.  Think I will just sleep on Wednesday..........

Best get to doing some of the above listed stuff...

Later!

73

[BRAKIE]

Good Morning All!

Not much to report from the land of Buckeyes on another warm sunny morning..While out railfanning last Thursday I had one of the local Police roll up on me and ask me what I was doing..I replied just chilling sipping on a Pepsi,reading some model train magazines and waiting on trains to roll by.His reply (insert funny look),Oh,ahh,ok..Are you the owner of that car? I replied,yeah,nobody else would claim it or even want it   (its a 95 Buick Le Sabre in good condition) at that he chuckle and said enjoy this nice weather and left the area..We have several new and younger officers on the force since a lot of the older officers does station duties or has moved on to other towns and cities or quit the job entirely and moved on to other occupations.

No updates on Slate Creek..Modeling wise I spent yesterday inspecting my cars at the club.

I shall have a cup and look over the forum.

Have a good'un! 

[galaxy]

cats think well of me

For the first time in many years, I dropped by the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum and it's neighbor the Strasburg Railroad, definitely should have not gone so long between trips! (seriously I don't think I've been there since 2004!) Now I'm an N&W guy first and foremost and much to my delight N&W 475 had been working the excursion trains that day so I got to see and hear an N&W steamer in the middle of Dutch country :) I took some photos (will post eventually) after spending I think 4-hours at the museum and tourist railroad site. A serious highlight included talking a museum staff member into letting me go into the E44 on display where we found a most unusual book of "manifold recipes" which incl. pizza and, we got a chuckle over this, burritos! Having the cab opened invited numerous other museum guests as we all hung out inside and chatted it up, particularly after checking out the cookbook. No, we did not sample anything from it. 

Alvie

We LOVE to go periodically {every couple pf years to S PA to Strasburg to the RR Museum of PA and to of course ride teh trains at Strasburg RR. WE get there early to see them bring them out and fireup/service for day's work and the we alsways pay the extra for the Rail Baron's Pass which gives us a few rides on the different plush cars, and access to the museum. We usually eat either lunch of dinner on the train as well. WE usually make it a 3 day deal. Its about a 4-5 hour drive for us and we go directly to hotel to check in, then right over to Strasburg RR to watch for the rest of the day. The next full day we spend riding and the museum. The last day we usually go train-shopping before heading home. LAst year we took a train-nut friend of ours with us who had never been there and he, too, loved it and wants sometime to go back. maybe in a year or two.

ANd of course we troll the model RR shop and the one down the road, never knowing what we may find.

We also live close enough to Steamtown in Scranton PA so we go there frequently, though we are getting a bit tired of same-old-same-old at steamtown. This past year they had all their static dispays of locos gone for asbestos removal per law. This comming summer they should have a revamped steamer up and running later in the summer that we haven't seen run yet. SO it could be interesting. We have gone on all their excursions, so no real need to do those again, but we do get our"fix" of steam trains there!

This summer we were hoping to go to COnnecticut where they have a steam train that runs you to a steam paddle wheel boat which takes you up the river then back to the steamtrain to "home". SOunds like fun. DOn't know if we will be able to go, though. Need repairs on the house first.

Each year we take a vacation to a steam tourist line somewhere. I am very fortunate that My Other Half is also into trains!!!

Strasburg is well worth the trip!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 64 and mostly cloudy. The high will be 80 and it will be partly cloudy.

I'm getting a little layout work done this morning. Got the Midland Gulf billboard set up just north of Ezra's Exxon station. I'll put some turf down on the outside edge of the west side of the main part of the layout and secure the Burlington Route billboard there. Got a doctors appointment to go to this afternoon.

[galaxy]

Morning.

Another slow restful day for me.

Winter is returning this week with temps only in the 30's, and wintery mixes coming. We are taking a step backward from spring. But Mother nature always seems to have at least one mare major snow dump on us before the end of March, so I don't even think about spring until APril.

Last year we took the winter cover off the A/c and installed the BR one the first week of April. We will see about this year.

Haven't noticed buds yet, but haven't really looked. ANd the neighbors Daffy's and spring bulbs haven't appeared yet, so.....

It also seems the earlier Easter falls, the earlier the spring and Easter is later this year. WE can still have snow on Easter or after Easter, but it usually is the first real tell tail sign of spring round these here parts.

MOH will go shopping for MIL. MOH went shopping on Sat for them, then the MIL wanted MOH to go out AGAIN to do more shoping. MOH said no way. You will just have to wait til my day off on Monday so get your list together. MOH said MIL's gears and short term memory is failing. Of course, so is the FIl's. Being in the 80's and having a few strokes can do that to a person.

WEll, thats all to bore you with.

TTYALLL8R.

 

 

[galaxy]

jeffrey-wimberly

galaxy:

Dishwasher is finishing its job.

 

Back in the 70's my parents had three dishwashers. Me and my two sisters.

In the 70's, I too played dishwasher.

My mother always said "if you want a dishwasher, wait till you are on your own and if you want one YOU can buy one."

SO I am, ANd I did.

[Curt Webb]

Good Morning,

I am at w**k, picked up 5 hours of OT today (pays for the layout).

Cats think well of me- I have to admit I am a little jealous of your museam stops in PA. I have not made it there yet.

I will talk to you all later.

 

[TMarsh]

Just checking. Don't know why the previous posted in small whisper font. It won't change, so just thought I'd check.

[TMarsh]

Good morning!

Coffee and a short stack of blueberry pancakes please. Thanks

Partly sunny, with a high near 73.

Don't know what will happen today. I know I must start the taxes sometime. Always hate to do that but, I must do my part. It's the way the government gets paid and I want to do my part to unwillingly support research in some area that only the researcher can see the purpose for.

Put a bid in on a loco. My max is kinda low, just the way I like it. E-bay for me is mainly for bargains, and/or things I just can't get any other way. Ever once in a while not, but generally speaking..., my preference is the LHS. Price of course is always a factor. So far I'm winning, but I doubt it will go for less than $50. It's a Proto2000 but no mention of DCC equiped or sound. So I'm betting on the lack of either. I don't need it, and I could spend the $50 plus shipping better elsewhere at this time. It would be a Jim Dandy replacement for the as of yet not done AHM S-2 though .

Gotta sort through more of Mom's pictures. Don't want to run out of time on that. She had some great old pictures.  

Welp, best get seein what will happen in the land of me today. I'm a hopin.....OH, a potential buyer is sending an appraiser out to Mom's house today. Hopefully that will turn out good. We already had the thing appraised and are asking $45,000 less. And that is before the remodel. Personally I think the guy shot it high, but I think we should still be in the ball park with where we are now.

Anyway, best get a move on. I'm BURNIN' DAYLIGHT! (courtesy John Wayne. The Cowboys 1972. All rights reserved I'm sure.)

 Have a Great Day now, ya hear!!!! 

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning..

Well it is clearing up to be a sunny day today..after we had some monsoonal T'underin'boomers come through last night...

Ray: Where did you find the shavings for the lathe...hmmmmm? ...Nice looking details...

Well( not so deep)...I'm getting ready to start work on getting someone to do our roof...*sigh*...more boodles of cash out the hobby window....

Flo, I'll have a coffee and a bagel with cream cheese please...I'll be at the window booth watching  the sunrise...