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Elliot´s Trackside Diner April 2011

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Posted by Cederstrand on Saturday, April 23, 2011 3:39 PM

Coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.

***Barry, hope you didn't do anything too serious to your ankle. "Lots of ice".

***Jeffrey, careful there not to mimic my sleep patterns.

Cheers! Cowboy Rob

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Saturday, April 23, 2011 3:34 PM

Today is Shelley's b'day, but she's still with the new grand-papoose in MI. Iplan to go there in a few days, and we'll celebrate late. She want to do Frankenmuth again. Thosefamiliar with MI know what I mean.

Larry... I'll be going through OH via I-75 and could stop for coffee , Coke, or dome food if you're interested. Do you ever have cause to go to Findaly or one of those I-75 towns?

Lee ... I know you are farter from I-75 than Larry, but if you happen to be over near I-75, let me know, too.

I'll try to locare Duke in MI, too. Berkshire! .... No reply.  ... Dirty Berkshire! ...No reply... Dirty old broken Berkshire! .... Still no reply .... Oh well.

Then a week later, I might be dring down from Grand Rapids through IN.  ... Bill T or PC ... I could stop for coffee in In, too, perhaps. PC? Has anyone heard from him lately?   

Sometime I'll have to go through IL and bother those guys, too. Jerry or Inch told about a great hamburger place. Still want to see Rob and others in my travels.

Johnboy ... I suggest not waiting to see sawbones. Sooner the better! Head injuries may be very serious .... Vinnie! I'm reporting JohnBoy for not seeing Jawbones, yet! Suggest you take care of the matter.

Barry ... You too. See sawbones about your ankle.

Chris .. I saw that post of yours about writing that story for that editor. That's something.

Looks like thinderstorms will be here daily ofr a few more days. Warm and humid now. I hear thunder approaching in the distance.

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by GMTRacing on Saturday, April 23, 2011 3:04 PM

Tom,

   You didn't miss much. The only stuff you can do is ferrous metal, the rest we have to use dye penetrant on which makes a horrible mess. IIRC, most of the choppers were aluminum and the turbines were mostly hi- temp stainless which is non magnetic. Still it was a good job for a rainy Saturday.   J.R.

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Posted by AmanaMedic on Saturday, April 23, 2011 2:59 PM

JOHNBOY: Sounds to me like you got ZAAAAAAAAPED! Definitely go talk to the 'Ol Sawbones... I don't think just blacking out and dropping would've put you through the wall like THAT. I'm thinking you had a little "help," like maybe 110, 120 volts worth of "help?"

VINCENT: You could've had a "chat" with the Hondurans I had to w**k with a few years back at the auction house. Nice guys (mostly), but they did love to stand around and yak away on their cellphones. They also did a wonderful magic trick of disappearing when there was w**k to do. And, on the rare times we'd get a box of "dirty magazines" in for auction, they'd grab a handful and disappear into the mens room for a few hours...

YOUGOTTAWANTA: I can use "THAT" sparingly, when no other word will do... HER (THAT Editor) objection is THAT it is so heavily used, THAT whenever possible, any word other than THAT should be used. THAT is why she doesn't like "THAT."

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Afternoon everybody. BARRY-sized cheeseburger basket with a bucket of Coke please. Thank you.

Well (with a skeleton in cement shoes at the bottom), I finally had to go mow the yard today. Cleaned the air filter, changed the oil, dumped in some gas, primed the heck out of her, pulled the cord a hundred times, primed it some more, pulled the cord a dozen times; and va-roooooooOOOOOM! The mower roared to life. Did the backyard, took a break, refilled the gas; and she started on the first pull. Got the front mowed.

Now, I gotta write an article for THAT Editor... I've been cogitating on it since Thursday afternoon, still don't know quite how I'm gonna pull this one off.

Wishing all a good, SAFE rest of the day, and a very happy and SAFE Easter tomorrow!

Chris

The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!

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Posted by tcwright973 on Saturday, April 23, 2011 2:29 PM

J.R. - Magnaflux, now that's a word I haven't used in many years. In the mid-sixties when I was being trained to be an Aircraft Engine Repairman at the US Army's aviation school, we learned how to use that process. I thought it was very interesting. However, when I got to Viet Nam, we didn't have access to it so I never had an opportunity to actually use it. Many other special tools and testing equipment weren't available either. Oh well, 95% of our training was on reciprical engines and the rest on turbines. In fact I never saw a complete turbine engine in school, only what you would call a short block. As you have probably guessed by now, I ended up responsible for 33 UH-1 helicopters powered by Lycoming T53 turbine engines. I should add however, we still achieved excellent flight availability and rankings. I really came to enjoy the work.

Tom

Tom

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Posted by GMTRacing on Saturday, April 23, 2011 1:19 PM

G - on the house front I agree with Johnboy but the appraisal should note the presence of aluminum wire. Also the house with the bulgie concrete block foundation is a no go - sounds like it's already on the way out. I hope you don't have to look at as many places as we did before we found ours, but patience is a virtue.

Johnboy - scary stuff. You very well might have a concussion from falling and no memory of it. I had a friend who slipped and hit his head have just those symptoms though you would have some lumps from it. Any history of heart trouble/blood pressure issues? Hope you're ok either way.

  Had just about enough fun in the shop - waiting for the Magnaflux to warm up then once THAT stuff is done it's off to home. Back in tomorrow to finish up loading as the last two cars are not going to be done until then.Bang Head oh and the tractor won't be ready til Monday now either   Oh joy, oh rapture.   J.R.

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Posted by last mountain & eastern hogger on Saturday, April 23, 2011 11:45 AM

[quote user="galaxy"]. 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.


Galaxy,  Just a reminder, that a lot of the house construction that went on from around 1960 to the early 70s had aluminum wiring in them.  It did work but is more of a hazard than copper.

Well, I had an eventful evening last night. Wish I could remember it, and yes I was sober. I was up on a four rung step stool working on the light above the vanity mirror in the 3/4 bath ( that is the last I remember). The next thing I vaguely recall is sitting on the edge of the bed with my wife there, telling me that she had heard a loud noise and came to see what it was. She found me laying with my head towards the doorway with my right shoulder through a hole in the drywall I had just newly created.  Bang Head  She said she had helped me to the bed under my own power and that I had laid down for awhile and then sat up. I don't recall any of that from being up on the stool to sitting up on the bed.This must have taken up about 15 minutes in all.  She said that I spoke to her, answered a couple of questions, briefly, But it is not in my memory bank.   This is a little scary, as if I had slipped, I think I would have remembered it.  Will check this all out with the sawbones (Dr. for you young ones) later this week.

I did sleep well and slept in to boot, I am now quite hungry, so will go to have some bunch.

Hope you all have a great week-end.

Johnboy out................................and now some drywall repairs.Grumpy

from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North.. 

We have met the enemy,  and he is us............ (Pogo)

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Posted by GMTRacing on Saturday, April 23, 2011 11:02 AM

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.

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Posted by howmus on Saturday, April 23, 2011 10:40 AM

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

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by Curt Webb on Saturday, April 23, 2011 10:29 AM

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. 

Curt Webb

The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad

http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/

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Posted by BRAKIE on Saturday, April 23, 2011 10:27 AM

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!

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, April 23, 2011 9:52 AM

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).

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Posted by TMarsh on Saturday, April 23, 2011 8:08 AM

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.

SighToday 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 hereSad (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 satisfactionBang Head. 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!” Super Angryand 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!!!

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. Laugh

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, April 23, 2011 7:51 AM

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...

 

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/

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Posted by galaxy on Saturday, April 23, 2011 7:22 AM

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

-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.

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Posted by Cederstrand on Saturday, April 23, 2011 6:25 AM

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.

Cowboy Rob

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Posted by LSWrr on Saturday, April 23, 2011 5:26 AM

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.

BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret)
 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

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04/23/2011
Posted by wetidlerjr on Saturday, April 23, 2011 12:04 AM

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

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Posted by yougottawanta on Friday, April 22, 2011 11:26 PM

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 Thumbs Down no more P---I---E for me.  I think scales should be outlawed in doctors offices Embarrassed

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 newsWhistling

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 Idea

Curt - oooomy that Daytona charger is sweeeeeet Big Smile 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 Storm .Idea Hey maybe I can make hay instead, sell a few bales and then buy some more rolling stock Laugh

 

Sorry all cheap computer acting up.

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Posted by yougottawanta on Friday, April 22, 2011 11:01 PM

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 Thumbs Down no more P---I---E for me.  I think scales should be outlawed in doctors offices Embarrassed

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 newsWhistling

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 Idea

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

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

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Friday, April 22, 2011 10:15 PM

 LightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightningLightning

 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, Beer 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 Bang Head from the electrical blocks to the buss wires on the main layout! Bang Head

 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. Lightning Boy I hope I have a places to work Saturday.Whistling\

               Cross your fingers for me.

                   Ken   

  

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Friday, April 22, 2011 10:06 PM

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. 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Shalimar. Florida
  • 2,622 posts
Posted by Packer on Friday, April 22, 2011 9:55 PM

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 Confused

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

Vincent

Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Friday, April 22, 2011 8:51 PM

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. Thumbs Up

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.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    November 2004
  • From: Cape Girardeau, MO
  • 3,073 posts
Posted by JimRCGMO on Friday, April 22, 2011 8:40 PM

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

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

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. Thumbs Up

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...)Bang Head

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. Yeah

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. Huh?Dunce

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. Cool

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.AngelAngel

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Euclid, Ohio
  • 2,822 posts
Posted by LSWrr on Friday, April 22, 2011 8:02 PM

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

BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret)
 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: K.I.S.S- Keep it simple stupid
  • 676 posts
Posted by teen steam fan on Friday, April 22, 2011 8:01 PM

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 

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!

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: Lancaster city
  • 682 posts
Posted by cats think well of me on Friday, April 22, 2011 7:52 PM

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

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: K.I.S.S- Keep it simple stupid
  • 676 posts
Posted by teen steam fan on Friday, April 22, 2011 6:54 PM

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

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!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Friday, April 22, 2011 6:33 PM

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

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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