Elliot´s Trackside Diner April 2011

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Jeff ... I hope your van is cleaner.

John Boy ... You said "Garry, how is your water situation going to be this year? and when do you see the rise occurring?"

We've had plenty of rain, and it reminds me of last year. The Nashville Flood was a year ago on may 2nd.

[AmanaMedic]

"Chris,  Do you have any flooding down your way ?  or has the wind removed it all.?"

Huh? What? Hello?

Oh....hi guys, thought I heard somebody call my name... been busy with all kinds of stuff for THAT Editor, so have been hitting the take-out window more lately. THAT and the often-commented SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWness of the Kalmbach system at night (when I get the chance to stop in )

Flooding? Nope, none around here. The Quad Cities are experiencing their usual annual routine, but it doesn't seem as dire as in years past for them. The Iowa Chicago and Eastern (ex-Millwaukee, ex-Soo, ex-CP, ex-IMRL, now CP again) runs alongside the river. I would imagine they've had to do some heavy-duty detouring from Sabula, Iowa on through the Quad Cities.

We have had a LOT of wind here lately. Really does wonders for my sinus...

YOU GOTTA WANNA: Welcome! Sorry I didn't get the chance sooner. One thing you may notice in here is THAT there is a tendency for people to use THAT a lot when the opportunity to use the word THAT arises. Here's why: I w**k for a pair of weekly newspapers. One of my bosses, "THAT Editor," all but forbid me to use THAT as it is one of the most overused words on the planet. Having mentioned THAT in here one fateful day...well, THAT was THAT!

ULRICH: Sorry to hear about your neighbor. It's been said before, I'll say it again. You're a good, decent, caring, noble man. Darn few like you left in this world. I agree with whoever (whomever?) suggested your business buddy sponsor you for a green card. Is there a need for charecter references? I think we'd all agree to agree you're a charecter.... Seriously, if there is any way for us to help get you over here...just let us know! Awesome modules you've got going by the way.

Guess I'll have a pot of coffee and see how the polishing of the Rivet Counter has been progressing...

A Happy Easter to the believers, a good and SAFE weekend to all.

Chris

[blownout cylinder]

Barry ... What? Certain characters? ... Yeah, right! ... Also, do you have personal knowledge about Vinnie's being the "waitress protector"?  

Weeelllllllllll.....I'm going to plead innocent of any such doings.........as I have been rendered......on more than one occasion by them as well hitting me...with a 

Johnboy...It has been interesting around here...

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Heartland Division CB&Q

Jeff ... I hope your van is cleaner.

Here's a loco that's cleaner, for now.

[Packer]

Hey guys

Been feeling really down in the dumps lately. List of reasons why

1. My english instructor changed the instructions on a paper, and I didn't know about them. So got an F there. I needed to get at least a C on this one  to pass
2. Bought a new car to laptop cable (for tuning) and it didn't work.
3. Took my car in for an alignment ($180) and found out I was really close to what I wanted it set at; but they didn't get the wheel straight. 
4.  (the big one) I find out the one girl at work that I like is doing something to herself (don't think I can mention it in the diner) I wish I didn't know about and I'm still having a hard time swallowing it. (still is 3 days later).
5. Haven't been able to sleep very well in the past few days.
6. Got sent home from work because I was not being "nice enough" to other employees that were standing around texting while on the job.

That's all since Monday...

Ulrich, Sorry to hear about the neighbor.

Galaxy, Good to see you're okay and the damage isn't extensive. As for the insurance thing, my brother got backed into a few months back. He has a 1998 mustang, and the front bumper cover, header panel, headlights, and fender were busted up. But the insurance thing did get them fixed.

I've been working on a resume to a job on base. hopefully I get this one.

[Curt Webb]

Evening All,

Flo I would like a turkey BLT, salad with Blue Cheese and a dark beer please. On second thought keep the beers coming please.

Had a good day today. Never left the house. I spent about 6 hours on the layout. I was able to finish both mains and the three approaches to the yard, so the only track left to lay is the yard itself. I figure another 3-4 hours. I also trimmed several sections of roadbed where it  was too wide. I was thinking to myself while I was working that I had not had a hands on hobby in several years and how satisfying it is to work on a project to the best of your abilities. Maybe I will finish up the track work Monday.

JimRCGMO- Yes my layout will be DCC with turnouts controlled by tortoise machines except in the yard where they will be manual. I am not going to control them via DCC, I am afraid that it will cause me personal overload. I will be using a control panel. 

Galaxy- Hope the house hunting went well.

Jeff- That loco looks like it has been run to death.

YGM- Best wishes for your wife.

Heartland- That flood picture reminds me of a black and white photo I have seen of Johnstown, PA  I believe in the 20's or 30's.

Packer- All I can tell you is to keep plugging. Some weeks are like the one you have had.

Here's a picture from last years Gatornationals. 

Everyone have a good night.

[GMTRacing]

Good Evening All,

    Been one step forward and two back all day. Got a car delivered yesterday but it's coming back because it is falling out of 3rd and 4th (and we don't know why since we just went through the gearbox for just that problem). Got new wheels fitted to a Cooper only to find it doesn't have even a shred of brakes (pedal on both circuits goes completely to the floor and no it wasn't in for brakes). And so on.

   Packer - I see you're having a week too. If the girl is doing something dangerous, is there an anonymous call line or something? Too bad you live so far away - I had to take care of the texting while punched in thing myself.

   Good to see Chris drop in - I second the don't bother to post at night thing. Hope they can figure it out but I do appreciate the use of the forum and other perks provided by the big K.

    Gonna toodle off home and see what trouble i can get into tonight.    CUL, J.R.

[howmus]

Ooooooh....  Oooooowwwwweee....   Ahhhhhhhhh...Ooooohhhhh!

Flo, just a decaf for me right now...  Oh man, do I hurt....  Spent most of the day out at my son's house helping him.  Since it is Earth Day today, here are a few good news type things from around the area:

Today the Geneva Community center flipped the switch and started running on Solar Power.  Their new 117-panel rooftop solar system is now up and producing electricity.  It should generate 24,828 Kw of electricity and save around $3,800 in electric cost the first year and should generate around $146,000 over the next 25 years.  Also a new e-waste recycler opened their doors here in Geneva today.  2trg's new Geneva facility occupies 47,000 square feet of space in a business park (used to be American Can years ago) and will be recycling all kinds of electronics from computers to printers, hard drives, TV's VCR's old cell phones, etc.  they offer "...best practices in data security and environmental stewardship with integrity, ethical practices, and a strict zero landfill policy..."  They will be employing about 40 people to start with.  One of our former Mayors of Geneva is the manager of the facility.  i did my part by driving over and giving them an old laptop, several dead hard drives, an old pro tape player, and a dead Canon printer.

I then went over to my son's house and spent time with the chain saw cutting up one of the huge Maple Trees he had taken down last week.  My wood splitter is already over there, and it looks like his family will stay nice and warm next Winter and use a lot less fossil fuels....  He is talking about adding a stove insert to one of the 2 fireplaces in the house along with the small wood stove in the kitchen, family dining area.  I know I will have some muscles talking back to me tomorrow.  He is loving the electric chain saw I got him for Christmas Last year right now......  I did the major trunk of one tree with my big saw while he worked on smaller branches with his.  Unfortunately part of his yard is too wet right now to allow us to load and stack the wood that is cut and split.

Hope all of you are having a great day!  I'll be catching up on posts outside th diner for a bit...

later!

73

[teen steam fan]

Evening guys. 

Got the Jeep in primer. Hopefully block it out tomorrow then paint prep tomorrow or Monday. 

Figured what I'm doing for paint. Plain 99K Dupont black with House of Kolor mini-flake mixed in with some binder on top of the color and under the clear. It's going to look pretty cool when its all done and over with. Then have Jive, the pinstripe guy redo all the Jeep badges. Happy Easter guys. Assuming I don't check in before

[cats think well of me]

Hot chocolate coffee for me in the smoking section please Flo.

Evening all! Ray, I'm super happy to hear of the solar array now in place in your town, that will do much to curb the local consumption of fossil fuels for power. 

In Lancaster, friends of mine and I distributed fliers concerning the fracking going on in the Northern part of the state and the issues surrounding how it affects drinking water supplies. Also for this day, I half slept while Capt. Planet episodes were playing on Cartoon Network. A cheesy show with good intentions to say the least. I also fixed up my bike finally after an incident last week where I sheared the derailleur apart forcing me to replace it, the chain and a shifter cable. I also walked everywhere today. 

I got an email from the railroad museum about volunteering some to help construct the model railroad that is in progress and I joined a local club which I had been real happy to see had a rather large in-progress layout, though much I can run on, with a DCC system I've used before (Digitrax) and they're renting the space. 

Alvie

[teen steam fan]

Packers- Really really stupid question, is the toe in set right on your car? If it is, there is a way to get the wheel straight.. Just put a line on the tie rod adjusters and then adjust them equally until the wheel is straight. Should work or take your car to a different alignment shop. The toe in should be about 0.05 give or take on factory specs 

[LSWrr]

Good Evening all,

3 new progress pictures to share; the first two are the new Atlas substation and transformers at Northern Light & Power and the third is of the ducks and geese in fox creek.

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2798393340029441264iifsyD?vhost=home-and-garden

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2798393340029441264iifsyD?vhost=home-and-garden

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2336395680029441264TipOkU?vhost=home-and-garden

[JimRCGMO]

Good Evening, Chloe - I'll have a roast beef sandwich, a bowl of broccoli cheese soup, and a Dr. Pepper, please. Thanks!

Heartland Division CB&Q

We've had plenty of rain, and it reminds me of last year. The Nashville Flood was a year ago on may 2nd.

Garry, wasn't it about that time when I came over and visited you and your train buddies there? I think I recall seeing on the TV about the Nashville flooding that evening I was about to head back (when I was eating some of THAT 'Bait Shop pizza')

And Garry, see? Jeff's van IS cleaner than that loco is/was.

Hey, Jeff, is that that (in the back of your loco photos) one of those Detail Associates backgrounds you got? Looks good, whoever's it is.

Galaxy, how'd your MRR-basement shopping go today? Any likely prospects for the layout? (We hope, we hope...)

Chris, at least your area of the US isn't about to turn into a marsh/swamp (like some other parts of the country lately). We have a tornado watch (AGAIN?!) tonight until 1 a.m. (Thinking about just moving to the Southwestern US and learning to deal with the heat out there...)

UGW - sent you a 'conversation' (AKA personal message) (hopefully) in answer to your question(s).

Vincent, it sounds like you have had one (or more) of THOSE days. Can you take the cable back (and get one that you can actually use the next time you want to check out your car)? I'd say you deserve some MRR'ing time.

JR, it also looks like you've had one of those days, at w**k for you. Hope you & your team get things figured and fixed ASAP.

Curt, I'm like you about signals and turnouts - no need to further confuse me by trying to do those with DCC, thanks.

TeenSteam, please post some photos once you get your Jeep 'repaint' finished - sounds like it'll be a beauty when you (and Jive) are all done.

I'm gonna head for home (before tonight's aerial entertainment arrives here and maybe takes the power down). Oh, forgot if I mentioned that the digital TV converter box seems to have died on me overnight - wouldn't give me any channels this morning. I checked Target and Wally's place, but the lower-priced one that I saw on WallyMart's website was not in stock locally (but the $50-60 one was...sheesh!). Think I'll check K-Mart on the way home for one that's more priced to my liking.

See you all tomorrow, and prayers will continue for those with sore muscles/other pains and aches, those in need of rest and sleep, and in need of comfort.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JimRCGMO

Hey, Jeff, is that that (in the back of your loco photos) one of those Detail Associates backgrounds you got? Looks good, whoever's it is.

It's part of a Detail Associates background mounted against a Busch background. The quality of the Busch background blows it away but it looks good in photos.

[Packer]

Evening guys.

I've been doing some tuning on the car. Turns out radio shack has car outlet to laptop cables that'll work. Been tinkering with different air meters since mine was kind of sluggish. Tried the one from a 1988 mustang GT and it picked up a lot. Then I tried a 92mm meter with the electronics from a 2002 lightning. It was better for drivability but at top end it wasn't as good. Going to downsize to a 75mm air meter tomorrow.

I found out an old female co-worker and really good friend of mine is coming back to the job. Haven't seen her in several months. After hearing about this one I forgot and quit really caring about the one from earlier. Me and this one coming back used to get along really well. So well people would joke that we were married

Curt, yeah. I know it sucks, but I'm by no means a quitter.

JR, Guess it could be dangerous. It's more or less illegal (unless in Nevada) and immoral. IDK if there is a call line or anything. But I think I lost intrest in her between typing that and now. Especially since an old friend of mine is coming back. What'd you mean by "too bad you live so far away"?

TSF, If the guys at big 10 tires set it to what I asked for it is. I asked for .5 degree toe in, 4.5 degrees positive caster, and . 5 negative camber. Factory is .5 toe-in, 3.6 positive caster, and up to 1.5 degree positive camber . I'm using a very modified set-up. H&R race springs, Bilstien Shocks, Maximum motorsports caster-chamber plates, urethane spring isolaters and bushings (front only). The set-up I asked for is what was recommened by MM for this set-up. I've never heard of that one with the line though. They said to comeback in a week because they think those plates may have shifted.

Jim, I don't think so. It was ordered and I guess it's cheap there for a reason... Some MRRing time would be nice, but I'm at one of those times in my life where it's either "money and no time" or "time and no money". now it's the latter. Maybe I can make it to my friend's op session tomorrow.

I'm gonna hit the hay now. Night guys

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Ken .. .Are you OK? ... Just saw on the Weather Channel that tornados are in St Louis area. Major airport in St Louis is closed after tornados damaged terminal and injured people. Shuttle bus lifted by tornado.

Tornado watch in effect in western KY now. 

Jim .. Yes, I recall we were at the Bait Shop Pizza place last year and watched Nashville News such as this on You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5gYhLKwSp4&feature=related

 

My friend was driving back from Atlanta that day and was stuck on I-24 there. 

 

[cudaken]

 

 Well we got hit bad with Tornado's tonight. Lambert Airport got hit with a twister, most of the walkways where destroyed, C terminal roof is gone and a 727 was picked up and moved 45 feet full of passengers. Luckily so far no one has been found dead, but the airport is closed.

 45,000 homes are with out power, and some where around 8 tornado's have touched down. I wonder if I have a store for Saturday, Belleville IL got hit after I closed. My wife and I lucked out, two storm fronts moved on either side of our town that had rotation. 

 Now that I got the weather up date over with, Hello Fellow Dinners!

  Flo, Please! I need it after driving home through this mess.

 YGW Was it you that asked if you could just hook up a DCC system to a layout wired for DC? If it was, yes and no. Yes if you can pass the Quarter Test. If you don't pass you will have to work on your wiring. When I went DCC I had my layout blocked where I could use two Transformers. 1 for the A line and 1 for the B line (I used plastic rail joiners on all track that crossed from 1 line to the other) so they where isolated from each other.

 All I did was remove the B line transformer and replaced it with the Bachmann E-Z Command and it worked just fine. I never crossed a engine from one line to the other, something would have melted.

 Next, I added a 8 amp booster to the Bachmann E-Z (only 1 amp but would still run 3 sound engines) and both the A and B where DCC and again no problem.

 Where things went bad was when I added the K-10 Mining Section to the layout. It is 9.5 X 5 foot and I used 22 gauge for the feeders with LONG RUNS to Electrical Blocks and to make matters worse, I used the same gauge wires FOR THE BUSS WIRE from the electrical blocks to the buss wires on the main layout! 

 I started cooking decoders. They did not just go poof, they would last 10 to 15 hours then the smoke would get out. Luckily Simon 1966 lives close by (member of the site) and he came over and spotted the problem, the 22 gauge Buss Wire and the 2 to 4 foot long feeder wires.

 We did the quarter test, booster never shutdown, just made a frying sound. Pulled the 22 gauge Buss Wire, added 12 gauge Buss, shorten the feeders and did the test over. Booster shut right down!

 Latter on I added another 30 feet of track for a small industrial yard. Did the quarter, did not shut down. Added 6 feeders and did the test again, shut down like it should.

 What fooled me was in DC, if it moves the wiring is right. But DCC is using electronics (computer chips in the engines) and just because it moves does not mean there is not a problem.

 So, when you add a DCC system to a layout wired for DC and you past the Test, you are fine. I might have scared you, but honestly it really is simple. Just know the terms, which I did not at the time. And Pass The Test.

 Another Tornado by my store.  Boy I hope I have a places to work Saturday.\

               Cross your fingers for me.

                   Ken   

  

[yougottawanta]

Hey all stopped in for a quick cold one , diet soda please, went to the doctors early this week. Had to step on the scales no more P---I---E for me.  I think scales should be outlawed in doctors offices

Chris What about THAT ? Is THAT a word you are nopt allowed to use ? That sound crazy. Maybe THAT would change his mind about THAT ? Glad to hear THAT you were not flooded out. THAT is good news

Jeff how are you fealing better ? Perhaps you can get the guys down at the loco shop to clean the van like they did the engine

Curt - oooomy that Daytona charger is sweeeeeet Has Ken seen that picture yet ?

Galaxy - did your OTH get off work in time to go house

[yougottawanta]

yougottawanta

Hey all stopped in for a quick cold one , diet soda please, went to the doctors early this week. Had to step on the scales no more P---I---E for me.  I think scales should be outlawed in doctors offices

Chris What about THAT ? Is THAT a word you are nopt allowed to use ? That sound crazy. Maybe THAT would change his mind about THAT ? Glad to hear THAT you were not flooded out. THAT is good news

Jeff how are you fealing better ? Perhaps you can get the guys down at the loco shop to clean the van like they did the engine

Curt - oooomy that Daytona charger is sweeeeeet Has Ken seen that picture yet ?

Galaxy - did your OTH get off work in time to go house hunting (as I think Ulrich stated earlier ) building to house your layout in ?

JR Hope your evening got better

73  - I think I have some Tylenol ifyou  need some ?

LSWRK - Nice work

Uhlrich you holding up okay ?

Cuda - that sounded like a mean tornada ! I bet the airline gets some clothing bills from the passengers for new pants , that little 45 foot hop probably scared the pants off a few of them ! My layout is a sgl block. Do you see any problems there ? I will certainly try the quarter test.

Jim - did get the message. Looks like I will need to open a photo bucket account.Is it easier than it reads ?Thanks

Didnt get a chance to work with the layout this evening even though the boss let us off early. Got home and my better half had her treatment today , she was not feeling well . I took over with the kids and cooked dinner, cleaned up, got the kids ready and in bed. Thats okay. Maybe this weekend. Though it will be busy. Sister up from NC, dinner with family, worship on sunday then the dang yards needs to be mowed if it will ever stop . Hey maybe I can make hay instead, sell a few bales and then buy some more rolling stock

 

Sorry all cheap computer acting up.

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

[LSWrr]

Good morning,

Ken the maximum recommended distance on a DCC booster is 50 feet.  After 50 feet the safety shut down may or may not work.  I installed my Digitrax in the middle of the north wall on the giant oval so I have 37’ to the right and 40’ to the left of the DCC booster.  The new train room will have its own booster tied to the main booster by CAT5e phone line.  Good to hear you dodged the storms.

[Cederstrand]

Glass of water, please.

***Ken, glad you were spared the tornadoes. And sorry for those who were not so lucky.

Have a good day y'all.

Rob

[galaxy]

Morning all

Well my other half did get out of work barely in time, in fact had I called to remind, MOH would have still been there when we were supposed to meet teh RE agent, MOH works the floral dept,. of the local grocery chain and it was Godd Friday...people want their Easter bouquets!!

HOUSE HUNTING:

WEll we looked at two houses. One a ranch estate sale built supposedly in 1965  that went form $72K to $75 K because the replaced the cess pool with a 500 gal septic tank. The hole int he back yard did not look like the also installed a leach field piping, a law now for septics. SO we are skeptical. The basement was clear and dry, but had a cinder block foundation and it was bowed in ever so slightly on all 4 sides and repair attempts had been made, buthere was still cracks. The layou was very funky and the 3rd BR was 9x 7, hardly a BR. a den yes, BR no. The bath was so small and tight you could sit on the toliet and wash you hands in the mini sink in from of you. Tub surround looked good and aparetly had be updated as it did have a single watrer control-not sure if they had that in 1965 or not. The kitchen was samll and had "original" apliances...built in range and built in wall oven. My fathers house was built in 1957 and has the original like fixtures but this house looked to be form 1950, NOT '65! THey did work though. The LR was a mere 12'x11.5' we have a 13.5 x 16 in our trailer! The furnace was at least as old as the house as my father had one like it that died 10 years ago. Oil furnaces dont fail, tehy disintegrate. It was obviously built to minimum code as the floor joists were 2x8 instead of 2x10s or 2x12s. The attic was toatlly open to the garage and had a pull down stairs we didnot go up...should have as we could ascertain if the insulation had been upgraded formthe 3 " batting lik e my father had until the oil embargo when he installed new 10" bats on top. The roof rafters looked to be only 2x4s, again a minmum code. The roof looked to be a second on top a first, but looked like it may last 10 more years. The layout was funky as well. The shed would have to be torn down and removed and rebuilt OR a readymade Amish one in place to replace it. SPeaking of the garage, the door hegith was so low I don;t think any minivan would fit in it. The electrical? sheesh. I expected better from 1965 than my father had. No go. would need to be rewired and updated to grounded plugs and replace teh fuses with circuit breakers. I can't plug in my Cpap machine, oxygen machine for breathing let alone teh computer, microwave, A/cs etc!{t My father always had circuit breakers and update to 100 amp service without rewiring.} so we don't get that. the washer and dryer were "negotiable" the dryer was from 1950 a the newest.{the year I actually think the house looks like it was built in} The washer was newer aand had the energy lable still on it. I would wnat tehm included, thankyou very much and go out and replace teh fridge and dryer. Even our buyers agent said she didn't see paying more than $50k for it. The kitchen is really a complete gut job. teh bath needs modifications, but could be made noce if the linnen closet was taken out and a sink with cabinet for storage instaled there next tothe toliet instead of across form it. I told the our RE Agent {REA} to nose around and seee if htey would take a $30-40 CASH offer as to the repairs upgrades needed. If estate sale they may buckle, who knows. We would put in another $30 to fix up! at least! Been on th market for over a year now. We can see why. the best thing it had going was the vinyl siding and replacement windows! The kitchen. even gutted still has little room for a good sized table, small round table maybe.

The second house we looked at was built in 1956 a cape with one BR and the Ba on the first floor. The second floor was barley or height, let alone our taller friends. It was in better shape and had a 'updated kitchen" that made it a prixze over teh first one. It has strange windows that won't hold a/cs {crank outs} so we would have to replace teh windows right away. The basemnt was partial and appeared dry, though te washer and dryer were up on a  platform, the furnace and water heater werent. It was actually  in better shape than thefirst one, but we wil think on it ast hey want $65k for it. we could probably get that down to $60 easily enouhg, and maybe even $55k.We stil want a ranch, but would consider a cape if it had br and ba on first floor. Large LR and large kitchen and dining area! we could redesing and upgrade the kitchen/dinig to include a washer/dryer closet and still ahve room for all apliances and table.

There was a thrid house, small 2 Br 1 Ba house we couldn;t look at, but the REA gave us disclosure sheets on it. HTings like asbestos and radon testing and lead paint Q's were not answeres so either there IS that stuff, or the owner doesn;t know. The bigger problem is it is below a flooding dike in teh backyard so the owner could answer "no" to being in floodplane and it survived the 2006 majour "500 year flooding" we had here in 2006, but you never know when a dike wil give way and we would probably have to pay a preety penny for flood insurance- it may even be required onthose houses down below the flood line, dike or no. We only drove by it, not got inside. we nixed it due to the dike. The house we really wanted to look at was cancelled at teh last minute {probably due to good Friday and Easter weekend} It will require the owner come dowm a bit too, but cash talks, all else walks....hopefully we get to see it next week. It is a 2 br 1 bath, but drives the price up as it is updated and has a finished basement with fireplace and a detached 2 car garge. It would have to come down $23k to meet out top line budget and may not. was built 19 60 I think there abouts...so may have good electric, amybe not. Dunno until we look at it. It mentions 3 brs and 1 bat, but 1 br is in basment and doesn;t have a window of egress, a law now that we could see on a drive by.

Well, that is that. on the house hunting. we will keep looking. Befoer we knew our full buying capability, there was a house built in '94 with full concrete foundation basement 3 br, 1 ba large yard that went FAST-in one week! and the deal will go through, unfortunately as it passed financing and inspection adn apraisal. DURN it!

If we had a higher budget, we could look at more expensive houses, but we can't our limit is our limit/

Nothing else I guess.

Havea  great day

Prayer candle up for those is need!

TTYALLL8R

[blownout cylinder]

Ken:  Here is hoping that there is a store to get to..and services are running there...

We just got barrels of rain be fallin' on our heads here..supposed to get more wind and rain later though....so much for temperate climate...

Today I had to phone up my substitute because I done twisted my ankle getting down some stairs last night...and so, my ankle is now all swoll up...  

Icing time is coming right up...

Flo, I'll just have a coffee for now..I'll be at the RC for a bit...

 

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!! Big ole mug of Dark Roast and the “Super Breakfast Special For Those Fixin To Be Involved In Things They Just Know They’ll Regret Thereby Ending Life As They Know It” please. Scrambled on the eggs thanks.

WOW!!!! How’s our friends in the St Louis area and paths East??? Ken? Inch? Jerry? Garry? (I did hear the Tornado Warnings did get cancelled before the storms reached Garry’s area, but still…) Jim? Things get rough far down as you? PC? Didn't see if it made it to Indy

Ok, I see Ken and Garry checked in. We had one cell, wasn't tornado-ey I don't think, but it skirted just north and never even dropped a drop of rain. Not sad about that. Nice light show though.

Today is the Village Easter Egg Hunt. The annual event put on by the Village Foundation where they go out and spend all sorts of money they could spend elsewhere and buy bicycles..candy…toys etc, and out of probably 200 families showing up, maybe 50(if your lucky) come from here (shakes head). The rest come mooching in from Springfield, Sherman and surrounding towns. After the event, the Foundation hens spend teh rest of the day and into the next  couple months cackling about how they didn’t recognize many of the winners. HELLO!!!! You open this thing up and advertise to towns with thousands of people, invite them to a town of 1,500 (if the wind isn’t blowing too hard and you count a few visitors) and can’t figure out why the people who live here and who the Hunt is for, don’t get very much???? Why, oh WHY did we ever let them vote. I’ve been roped into this event (again) first by having to assembly the bikes and then deliver them to the park. I know it’s a ploy as when I get there with the bikes, I will be held hostage and not allowed to leave until the torturous event has been cleaned up to their satisfaction. Woe is me.

Luckily, yesterday between questions of “when are you going to air the tires up on those bikes in the basement?” and me responding “when I take them to the truck Saturday” and “ just don’t put it off and run out of time (mumble something I don't know if I want to hear)” and me responding “ the freeloaders are getting a free bike for crying out loud. They’d better not have the nerve to say anything about no air in the tires or I’ll take the bike and throw it in the dumpster in front of their eyes!” and then I get.....the look.

I did get to play with my choo choo train set yesterday. Applied some plaster cloth around some of the peninsula and it sure was a whooole lot easier to deal with than the POP soaked paper towels. It’s also a bit, no a lot, easier to just bop in and lay a piece if you want, just cut a piece dip in the water, rub and apply as opposed to mixing the whole amount and waiting to get where you can use enough to make the mess for and then have enough time to make a mess. Anyway, that part is starting to take some shape. Not sure what will happen in that part of my world today, but hopefully some time will be available.

Enough whining from me.

Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 73° and mostly cloudy. The high will be 85 an dit will be partly cloudy and breezy.

I signed my mother out of the rest home this morning so she could be at home for an insurance physical then came home myself to get some rest (right after I make this posting). I got only two and half hours sleep last night. I hope to get a few more before going to Ryan's with with my parents today. Obviously no layout work planned for today. Got the decal work done on one of the U25B's (Stewart/Athearn) yesterday. Still have the other U25B to do (Stewart/Kato).

[BRAKIE]

Good Morning All!

Not much to report from the land of Buckeyes on this pleasant spring morning other then I notice the grass is greener and I am beginning to see tiny leaves on the trees so,maybe springs about to spring forward..No modeling yesterday but,I did update my  N Scale inventory by adding the last three months purchases.I need to update my HO inventory as well.

I shall have a cup and look over da forum..

 

Garry,I live in Bucyrus...Needless to say if I could work my will I would move South to Lancaster but,there's to much at stake for a move such as my doctors,family etc.

Have a good'un!

[Curt Webb]

Morning All,

Getting ready to go to Wally World for  groceries...can't wait. Going  to my parents house tomorrow for Easter dinner. We are bringing side dishes soooo.....Wally World.

I was looking at my layout last night and when I am done laying track I have to do some serious car testing. I think I am going to have to move the passenger station to another siding due to turn radius, luckily I have a couple of options, but I am not happy. I don't know why I can't see these problems ahead of time.

LSWrr-   Loved the photos, especially the water scene.

Ken- Glad you are OK. I read about the plane that was swung around at the airport with the passengers in it. That would  of been unbelievable.

Blownout- I remember when the photo drive thru booths were everywhere.

Jeff- I like that background. I think I have decided on the company Sceniking for mine.

Well I am off to the store then to the club this afternoon.

Hope everyone has a good  day. 

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a breakfast bagel w/ cheese and a cup of dark roast coffee this morning. 

Currently 51°F here in the Finger Lakes with a high in the mid 60's predicted and lots of clouds and wind.....  Right now the sun is trying to peek through every now and then. 

Got a few sore muscles from the work out yesterday, but not too bad all told.  Felt good to get outside and do some w*rk of the physical kind.  Today I am going to spend as much time as I can in the layout rooms.

Glad to see that you all stayed out of harm's way yesterday.  Ken, I hope the store is still standing today when you get there....  I have only been in one tornado in my life, and that was in Batavia, NY back in the late 70's.  Got about 6"s of hail in a few minutes, some houses split apart, a mobile home was ripped off it's lot and tossed like a toy a couple hundred yards, some very large willow trees along a stream became toothpicks, and it mowed a 200 acre field even with the ground that had been planted with tomatoes and peppers.......  One brand new house (the family was to move in the following day) had its roof ripped off and thrown into the swimming pool behind it.  A neighboring house had a huge tree limb  slammed right through the side of the house (wall was still there just a a foot around hunk of wood hanging out of it).  It came within a couple hundred yards of our mobile home and either lifted over it or veered away.  Our poor dog was ever after that terrified when he heard thunder!  Amazingly the lawn chairs on our patio weren't even tipped over.  Oh, BTW, we were driving in Batavia when it hit and managed to get shelter behind a massive stone building.  Very, very scary... Seeing the damage, we were shaking all the way home expecting it would be gone....  Luckily tornadoes are very rare in this part of the country.

Have a good day before Easter!

73

[GMTRacing]

Aggh  - a Fiat 850 Spyder - Barry how could you !

   Good Morning all,

     46F and raining. At least no funnels here. Hope the rest of you make out ok. T'would really suck if Kens store has moved to Ohio. And Ken, thanks for reexplainin' in clearer language what I spent half a page trying to.

   Railyardw..k this morning. We got the new oil cooler piping bent and fitted but not attached as it started bucketing down on us. Now that I think of it, w..king outdoors in crummy weather was why I lost enthusiasm last time too. At least there were two of us (the CMO helped) so misery had company. The copper tube fit the home made bender I got from my grandfathers shop perfectly and did a great job. Used a bead roller to make the beads on the adaptors and sweated them on so we should be good to go if the weather ever lifts.

   Vincent - if the sheel is just crooked, TSF's advice will be the ticket. Just keep track of the amount each side is turned. >5 deg toe is more than we would run and we usually use 5 to 7 pos for the caster setting especially for a rear drive car with power steering. A skoch more on the right side to account for the crown of the road on a street car. as far as your former friend is concerned, the uniformed officers will end up sorting her out sooner or later. The so far away part was tongue in cheek as in you could have made a guest appearance here at the shop and repeated the lecture with managements blessings.

   Lee - like the power station and progress shots. You may need to laon Jeff the mop, bucket and scrub brush for his latest patch job. Grotty to the max dude!

   Since we called it in the yard, I'm back in the shop to do some chores I didn't get to yesterday.  CUL, J.R.