Elliot´s Trackside Diner May 2011 - Welcome Aboard, Everybody!

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone,

Zoe, the Eggs Benedict looks good this morning, a glass of OJ, and lots of dark roast coffee in my R&GV RR Mug.  Please and Thank You!

sfcouple

howmus,

That is a great idea you had for the fascia labels and that is exactly what I'm looking for.  What kind of spray adhesive did you use?

Wayne 

Thanks Wayne!  I used Scotch Mount repositionable spray adhesive by 3M.  Made for posters and other places you want to put up paper and then be able to remove it later.  I got it at Staples a while back.

Here in the Finger Lakes it is one of those now it's sunny, now it's not, now it's sprinkling.... Ooooo now it's sunny days.  i am just about out the door to my son's house to w*rk on his woodpile for a few hours.  Catch up with you all later!

73

[BRAKIE]

Good Morning All!

Not much to report from the land of Buckeyes on this Derby Day Saturday..While I'm not much on horse racing I always watch the Kentucky Derby and today's race is the 137th "Run for the roses"..

Yesterday afternoon while out and about I saw the CF&E local powered by a I&O GP40.Oddily one sees more I&O locomotives on the CF&E then CF&E locos...I haven't heard that many NS trains and I suspect that has a lot to do with the floods.

I shall have a cup and look over da forum.

Have a good'un!

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!! Just coffee please. Thanks

Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Guess I’ll be outside most of the day. Maybe some layout w**k tonight. I hope. Depends on what's on the Sci Fi Channel. (I think "SyFy" is silly)

Jeff- That’s too bad about Nu-Comp. I have a couple of their mobile homes myself. I liked them. Speaking of Mobile homes, is that a picture of your current trailer? I thought yours looked more like a construction office trailer (don’t know how to describe it really) and sat up higher. More squared than that too.

Ray- I’m sorry you had to endure current childrens television. I had to put up with it myself. Every day. All day. It still haunts me some times. No wonder our children are turning out the way they are with all these diseases and strange clothes. The cartoons are horrible. Whatever happened to Johnny Quest? Space Ghost? Looney Tunes (the real ones)? Lancelot Link Secret Chimp? Now THAT was a good show! (though not a cartoon, THAT one had it all. Action, adventure, romance, comedy, chimps dressed like people. My favorite actually.)  Those were just a few of the good ones. Hong Kong Phooey, huh? The Phooey Mobile? huh, huh? (nudge nudge)  What turns my stomach as much, if not more, than the cartoons now are the over emphasized, force acted, forced attempt at funny, goofy non cartoon kid shows on the Disney Channel. The lady who owns the Restaurant brings her children up on occasion and they watch this nauseating stuff. If you ever see something that in the title sounds something like “..(something) Life of Zack….(or Zeke)…(something)” Run. Run like the wind. Say what you have to, pay them if you must, just get out of the room fast. Worse than Saved by the Bell IMHO. Makes Joanie Loves Chachi seem like Masterpiece Theater in comparison. Definitely ain’t no Gilligans Island or Pettycoat Junction._ I like the new switch labels by the way. Very nice. They definitely look better than the old ones.

Keith- See? Have faith in the USPO. Like I said, I’ve never had a mess up I can blame on the PO that I can recall.

I’m thinking next week of possibly mailing myself somewhere as a testament.

IndyJim- I know what you mean on the water. Mom’s house has developed a knack for water showing up lately also. After all these years, as we are trying to sell it we have water seepage. Oh and don’t feel bad about the , like all the food here in the Diner, it has all the taste but none of the negative effects.

(ahem) But you still have to be 21. Sorry, guys, it’s the implication we have to deal with.

Curt- I’d get a piece of styrene and practice a bit first. I would also recommend Acrylic paints as opposed to enamels until you get pretty good. They at least can be erased easily. As can powders like Jeff said. Careful on the drips. A tiny runs are all you need. A run you can see well, usually ends up looking too big. Remember, little is big in our little world.

Well, I have fooled around long enough. Waaaaay long enough. I will mow first, then….who knows.

Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

TMarsh

Jeff- That’s too bad about Nu-Comp. I have a couple of their mobile homes myself. I liked them. Speaking of Mobile homes, is that a picture of your current trailer? I thought yours looked more like a construction office trailer (don’t know how to describe it really) and sat up higher. More squared than that too.

 

It is indeed a picture of my current trailer. It's a 1950 25 foot Nashua, model KL. It's 61 years old this year. I bought it in 1994 and moved 16 miles from it's previous location. It was a heavy load even for a 3/4 ton truck. The inside has been retimbered, a new floor put in and the wiring brought up to above code as I knew what demands I would be putting on it. I did almost all the work myself. The inside looks like a carpenter's nightmare but it's livable. I couldn't get the seams between the roof panels to close up which resulted in some pinhole leaks, so I built a steel over-roof on top.

[TMarsh]

Excuse me, is there a medical professional in the house? I seem to be leaking. It's not raining, yet I am wet. Odd the places I'm getting wet at, are covered by my hat and my armpits.

Jeff- I must be remembering a picture you took, possibly of a neighbors. The trailer itself was not much bigger, if at all, but looked like something very closely resembling, a construction jobsite office.  Oh well, as long as you know what your home looks like I suppose that's all that counts. I see why you went overboard on the grounding though. Metal and trees. Lightning food.

Well, so far so good on the yard. Just came in to get a glass of good ol H2O. Almost time for lemonade according to the weather out there.  Scratching the last couple years of leaves and thatch I have let get out of control up and mowing with the bagger hopefully will allow the thinning spots of the yard to fill in this year. Last couple of years with Mom and all, I have just basically let the grass grow too tall then run over it with the tractor (which doesn't cut the grass fine at all. More like a rough cut mower.) and letting it just lay and build up. I may have to sprinkle some seed in several of the spots smothered out.  

Best get back to it.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Curt... Regarding the ice house.  Here you can see part of mine.

In most cases, I paint plastic kit parts before assembling them. I sprayed the white plastic parts of my ice house with flat white paint before gluing them together. After assembly I weathered with a very thin wash of earth tones and grays. (Watered down acrylics) My weathering is so thin, you can not see it very well in the picture. After the acrylics dried, I sprayed with clear flat finish. Matte spray works fine.

With you kit already assembled, I suggest next spraying with matte spray in order for the surface to be able to hold the acrylic washes.  Then use washes of acrylic paints. When dry, spray with matte spray again. It is best to use several applications of acryiic washes allowing each one to dry before doing the next.  

 

[Cederstrand]

Strong coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.

***Jeffrey, I like the weathered UNION PACIFIC loco. It still has the right name on it.

The work crew showed up today and went to work chansawing and carting debris into manageable piles, which I have been pushing into bigger piles with the little tractor.

My wife seems depressed with thoughts of moving. Her mother suffered from that same "the grass is always greener syndrome" and I remind her that our damage is nothing compared to so many other folks who lost homes and even loved ones. Hopefully when the roofs are back on all the sheds and the barn she will feel better about it. We will have to hire out for the barn roof, as I don't think I'm up to tackling such a project. But the rest I should be able to accomplish, at a slow pace with plenty of rest periods. I also pointed out to my wife that fixing stuff is not a race and there is no deadline. We have a lot in common, but sure have different perspectives on things, if that makes sense!?!

Have a good day y'all. Rob

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

grayfox1119

Good evening gents, did a little work on the layout before heading out for the day with the wife and friends, thought I would stop by the Diner for a RBF, very warm here today.

GARRY: I was shocked to see how close the lake came to your house with all that 15" of rain you had. Luckily it stopped before it reached your MRR room and house.

Anyone seen John, Ed, Duke or Fergie lately?

Bon soir

Dick.... I heard the total raibful for 30 days of April was about 20 to 25 inches.

Here is the lake at normal height looking to the left of the flood photo I posted. The smaller tree next to the sun is mostly under water with the flood.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I found some very dirty windows.

[Attaboy]

Good afternoon, everyone.  Thought I would stop in for an RBF today.  Not much going on here.  I'm in the middle of a seven day stretch at work without a day off.  Thirtyfour hours this week, and it's supposed to be part time!  They're two people short on my job right now and the rest of us have to pick up the slack until they hire more.

Divorce is still plodding along, she's supposed to sign the final papers on Wednesday now.  We'll see if she actually does it.  Not going to hold my breath.

That's about it for now.  See you later.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

TMarsh

Jeff- I must be remembering a picture you took, possibly of a neighbors. The trailer itself was not much bigger, if at all, but looked like something very closely resembling, a construction jobsite office.  Oh well, as long as you know what your home looks like I suppose that's all that counts. I see why you went overboard on the grounding though. Metal and trees. Lightning food.

Possibly you're thinking of this trailer. It's twice the length of mine and is 41 years old.

 

Cederstrand

***Jeffrey, I like the weathered UNION PACIFIC loco. It still has the right name on it.

Not anumore it doesn't. It done been patched.

[Curt Webb]

Evening All,

Just got out of the shower after cooking BBQ for 4 hours. I had that greasy feeling from the smoke. Tomorrow morning I am taking MOH and Mom out to breakfast so the grand kids can attend. We are going to Mimi's Cafe.

Tomorrow MOH says she wants to sew all day so the deck is clear for me to put together my last building which is the meat packing plant.

Garry- You have the same three structures that I will have in your picture. Thanks for the weathering info. 

Rob-  I'm glad you got some help today. Don't hurt yourself fixing things up. None of us are getting any younger.

Attaboy- Fingers crossed that the divorce will be final Wednesday. Positive thoughts.

Everybody have a great night.  

[JimRCGMO]

Afternoon/Ev'nin', Janie - I'll just have a RBF, please. Had a pretty late lunch/dinner thing at local Mexican restaurant (chicken chimichunga with ALL the fixin's - UUUURRRRRRPPPP!!) Uh, yeah - s'cuse me, please! And thank you, Janie!

Looks like a bunch of you have been posting some nice photos in here (which probably means I missed a bunch more good ones in WPF) - Garry, Jeff, and maybe others I missed.

And I see that Dick's stopped by - Hey, Dick, I've got some emails from DerJohn (and John P.) in the past couple of weeks (but I think that may have been before all of our deluge started in the Midwest). It's been a while since Fergie was by (month or two?).

Galaxy, keep hanging in there (but don't hang the in-laws!)

Vincent, actually, if you got the book from a student who missed the buyback, you probably got a better price than the store would've given you for a used one! Didja figure out what was happening with your car on the track yet?

Ulrich, as others have said, you and Petra have been a good help for Allison's family through all the details to be handled lately. Sorry to hear that the pipes wouldn't be playing for her funeral.

Todd, the type-size problem is gone, so I figure it was a kink in the forum's software (again?)... Ya better be careful on those 'magic fingers' on your keyboard, or Homeland Security will be knocking at your door, asking why you brought down the area air traffic control computers...  (Just kiddin' you there, I think) I'd agree on the better kids' shows 'way back then' - now you got me thinking about Fractured Fairy Tales (and the Wayback Machine), Road Runner and Wiley E., and even Foghorn T. Leghorn and that Dawg... Yeah, bring 'em back!

Rob, too bad that your logger neighbor is laid up and won't be able to get the bigger jobs tended to for that long. Don't overw**k yourself on the jobs you can do - you don't need to be laid up in bed from it. Oh, and thanks for keeping me turned (more or less) around straight about your place.

Jeff, I'm glad I got a chance to pick up some of the NuComp trailers (sell-off of some MRR stuff when one former MRR club member moved and sold off about all his train stuff to another guy - who then asked the club members if we wanted to buy some. (I think the guy who bought the stuff didn't really know what some of the items were selling for currently, but I tried to pay him a reasonable price for what I bought). By the way, City Classics (I think) makes a trailer pretty much like that one you got from NuComp.

MononJim, THAT would've been really bad if you didn't get to w**k, wasn't it? Hope you get the water problem found out and sucked out (thank Heaven for wet-dry shop vacs!)

Curt - as you said, the good side is NOT having the hangover the next day. And welcome to TrainGeekville here.

Wayne, we forgot to warn you - remember that Fergie guy that Dick asked about? (Ahem...) Fergie's RR's reporting marks are the MESS(tm), so you'll need to send along the annual royalty check to him for using the MESS(tm)'s name.   But as you said, the layout and room may be a MESS (tm), but (in this case) it's YOUR mess (non-tm). With all that I see in your photo, were you able to bring along some of your former layout's stuff? And by the way, I think all of us (at one time or another) would have NOT won the "MRR-Neatness-Freak" award.

OzJim, thanks for the update. Will be looking forward to seeing what your new layout looks like (I think I recall the last one - sorta, kinda, maybe..)

Garry (or Brakie) - I forgot about the Derby's starting time today; who was the winning horse?

LoneGeep, yep, we all have been at that "How the heck do you do...?" stage around here. The ones who've been here a while are often the ones who can tell you how to get things going (like Jeff and others).

Ray, thanks for the photo & idea on the labels for turnout switches. I think I still have a can of that ScotchMount (if it hasn't gone bad on me). Oh, FYI, that sponge fella was "SpongeBob Squarepants" (I think I've got THAT right) - mercifully, I have never had to sit through an entire episode of THAT.[whew] You're right though, they need a "retro kids' cartoon" netw**k. Heck, like my one email signature says:

“I love Saturday morning cartoons. What classic humor! This is what entertainment is all about... Idiots, explosives and falling anvils.”
     -Calvin (and Hobbes)

Ken, as others said, you still have enough days to make up THAT difference (and knowing you and your customers, you'll be making the bonus)!

I started on my first Hydrocal kit today - Downtown Deco's "Coin-op Laundry", and got the four walls together (pretty much straight). Used 5-minute epoxy, which seemed to hold things together okay. Sanding the walls was a bit messy (clogged up my finer sanding block some). I'd already spray-painted the walls and other pieces with some flat white paint I'd got at H-L (Hobby Lobby) to seal them up. Will need to cut another 'roof' piece, from .040 or .080 styrene. Not sure if the piece that Randy from Downtown Deco sent me wasn't square or if (more likely) my walls aren't fitting together like they intended 'em to fit. No problem, I have some of THAT styrene around here... somewhere! Maybe tomorrow or early next week I'll have pictures. While I was looking for something else, I saw the W-S 'jail' (white metal) kit I had started. Decided I'd wait to clean/strip the metal and see about re-gluing it (with epoxy this time).

I also noticed my (apartment-sized) stereo wasn't quite sounding right today (a bit flaky). Then I realized that I've had the stereo almost 20 years, so THAT might be why (D'uh!). So the question is, do I see about what cleaning & fixin' the current stereo would cost me (and hoping that THAT fixes it), or just start some hunting for a newer one? Either way may involve more outlay than I'd like for now. Still waiting for gas prices to slip a bit before I fill the tank (or even halfway do that).

Well (a smidgen higher level in there, after some rain this morning), I'll be moseying on out for now. Hope to get back in tomorrow afternoon. Prayers for comfort, healing, and a good night's rest going out, among other things on the list.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[TMarsh]

Didn't get but the side yard done today, then I decided to replace the rotted brickmolding ubove the garage door (one of many HAYEG's). That took a trip to town. While I was there I also got a few 5/4 X 6 deck boards for the skirting around the back porch to finish that after 10 years or so. Yup, another HAYEG. That will commence tomorrow I suppose.

Jeff- Not sure if that's it or not. I recall it being rather short. It could however have been a picture of that trailer with just the back half from about the back window rearward showing too. I can't remember the reason for the picture. It was a some time ago. I think it was weather related, I'm wanting to say something to do with lightening or just bad storms probably a year ago maybe. Or, could have been just showing the wooded area. I believe it was in the area, at least, in which you live.  Maybe not. If I'd have saved the picture you'd know. Well, even if I did it would have been gone now with the big crash earlier this year. No matter. I've no real reason for dwelling on the subject other than the same reason I googled the words to the theme song from Branded. Just popped into my noggin and couldn't remember them all and.....well, that's about all it takes for me.

Relax Vinnie, I'm not stalking Jeffrey. Funny thing about me. I'll wonder about the silliest things for the longest times. Usually invokes this blank stare from Brenda meaning "Really? You spent all that time on that silly thing?" If it's important, I'll spend a little time then put it off for later.

Welp, gotta few more things I need to get done before dark. Say, that reminds me. I don't recall all the words to the Hamm's beer song........    

[grayfox1119]

Good evening gents, stopped by for a big sized RBF. We had off and on TS all day, some very small hail also at times.Once minute 70's and PC skies, then huge Cumulus clouds and thunder. Enough to clear the grand daughters softball team off the field, one clap of thunder up here in the north and we clear the fields, end of story!

Was doing some annual Spring maintenance on my 36" mower bed, and when I tried to remount the 3rd blade all it would do is spin! Bad sign. I took the pulley housing off the bed and the shaft just fell off. The shaft was badly worn even though it gets greased regularly, very strange, but it lasted 31 years so I can't complain too much.

Next was the 48" bed. That went OK except when I tried to get one of the three blades off, the nut just would not give even after many applications of WD and other rust removers. Finally I used all of my extension bars on my socket set (3/4") and it finally let go with great speed, so much so that I gave myself a fat lip, I *** near knocked myself out!!!  At least that tractor is up and running otherwise I would have a HAY field right now.

GARRY: That is an insane amount of rain for a month !!! It must have set records for your area???

CAPE JIM: I hear from Der John quite often, we converse via email regularly as well as ED , Fossil Phil,  Duke and Garry. Fergie is up in the Arctic playing with Polar bears I guess.

Bon Soir,

Dick

[CNCharlie]

Good Evening!

Dick, great to hear from you. How is your back? Seems to me you hurt it last year on a tractor.

Rob, sorry to hear about all that storm damage. After something like that I think it is just human nature to at first be glad to be safe and then dealing with the damage sets in. I'm sure that as you work through it your wife will see that it can be fixed. I think my wife is something like yours in that regard.

Galaxy, glad the 'procedure' went well. I can relate as I've had to do the 'cleanout' twice in the last year.

Not much new here. I heard a couple of thunder claps a few minutes ago and it is raining hard now. Lucky we did most of the final clean-up in the back yard last night.

I've been busy putting decoders in a few N scale locos. I did a RS18, F7 and 0-8-0 this week and now have a Model Power Pacific on the work bench. I have 3 MP locos to do but they look to be very straight forward. Then it is on to a BMan Consolidation and Mountain that require loco disassemby to do.

I was at the LHS today and picked up a Central Valley Truss Bridge kit, a new tube of CA glue and a blade for the razor saw. I bent a blade sawing down a weight for the tender on the 0-8-0. Fred at the LHS was amazed I got a tube of CA to last 5 years. Getting some out the last time I used it a month ago involved some very hard squeezing and it was pretty much putty.

Tomorrow we are taking the MIL out for dinner for Mother's Day. Seems stange that there is only her this year.

Well if there isn't anything on the tube I'll think I might go run some trains. Why did I say 'if there is anything on the tube'? I know full well there isn't so it is staight to the trains. Maybe a little sherry would go well with that. Why not.

CN Charlie

[ns3010]

Happy National Train Day!

Been busy around here.

We had a game on Thursday. Another rough one, we lost 17-5. Also, of course, I dislocated my shoulder (the same one THAT was already bothering me). I hit a guy, it came out, I fell, and it went back in when I hit the ground, so it was only out for about half a second. I talked to the trainer at our school yesterday (the game was away), and she told me not to practice. I wasn't at practice today because of SAT's (more on THAT in a minute...), and we have off tomorrow, so THAT's a whole three days of rest, which I thought would never happen. It still hurts, and my arm still feels heavy (almost like someone is pulling down on it), but it doesn't feel like it's gonna come out again any more, which is good. We'll see what happens with practicing on Monday.

Had SAT's this morning. Ugh. Four hours of hell. The ACT's were way easier. I also feel like I didn't do that well on the SAT's, and if THAT's correct, then my ACT scores are good enough THAT I don't have anything to worry about.

Also, most of my homework is done. I finished all my homework for Monday and did a little to get ahead for next week. I also have my Precalc paper mostly done. All I have left to do is final revisions, add a works cited, and submit it to TurnItIn one last time.

Well, I think that's about it from here. What's new with you guys?

          
| Joe |

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JimRCGMO

Jeff, I'm glad I got a chance to pick up some of the NuComp trailers (sell-off of some MRR stuff when one former MRR club member moved and sold off about all his train stuff to another guy - who then asked the club members if we wanted to buy some. (I think the guy who bought the stuff didn't really know what some of the items were selling for currently, but I tried to pay him a reasonable price for what I bought). By the way, City Classics (I think) makes a trailer pretty much like that one you got from NuComp.

The one from City Classics is a 35-40 footer. I have one on the layout already.

[Packer]

Evening guys

I messed with some train stuff today, and not the usual ops session. I put my SW15 back together, but then lost my DH163IP I have for it. It'll turn up eventually. Then I messed with my dual-decodered F45 (the orignall MRC board only controls lights and sounds; 9-pin harness for motor control) a because it wouldn't run and found out the DH163P wasn't working for some reason. I tried to pull it but then the 9-pin harness in it broke. Put it in the SW15, but then the athearn 9-pin harness broke. I ended up pulling the SW15 harness and using it to give the F45 a harness. I guess it's progress, but I'm starting to like TCS decoders better now, since my stash of digitrax decoders are failing randomly.

Jim, I don't know much about the whole traction-loc thing, but pretty much one tire was spinning with one doing the work. . But a friend who can rebuild these says that the clutches in it are probably worn out. JR could probably tell you more about them. Safe to say I'm done racing until I can get that fixed (sill be done at the same time as the gears)

[cudaken]

 Evening Fellow Dinners!

 Thank you Flo, and I take a Pitcher as well! The looks good as well, I will take one!

 Work Front Boy what a beautiful day! Temps where in the mid to high 70's, blue skies, soft breezes (Todd, I am not making that mistake again! ) I wont have went mattress shopping either! Spent most of the day looking for rope and a exposed beam (all ready had the ladder) to throw it over and get it over with!   Someone send me a gun please!

 A whole $1400.00? To put in terms Packer would understand. I need to get my sure grip fixed (Mopar Term) Cut a .050 on the tree and install a 500 HP Fogger,some slicks and adjust the pion snubber. Another Mopar thing.

 See you all Mother Day!

                Ken

[yougottawanta]

Hey all. Been tied up lately. Had my six year old birthday last Saturday. Went off well. , candy , presents, friends. Took them on a tractor and trailer ride thru the woods and back. Games with balloons, some play outside and we finish the day with letting them run some engines on my layout. When they finished all they were able to say was "WOW" !

The past week has been rough. Current employer last month cut salary . My former employer called and asked me to come back with a raise and thirty percent more than currently making. Told him Wednesday I would come back. Then my current employeer gave back the salary that he took away . Now the difference is only a few percent different with the current job half the commute .. Because of my wifes medical conditions I really need to be closer to home. What to do ? What to do ?

Today MOH is feeling really bad and has been in bed for the better part of day. Me and the girls built some birdhouses for MOH,Grandma, MIL and the neighbors little girl came by so we built one for her Mom. My little ones were tense today. Fighting a lot. Did not put two and two together until the end of the day. The girls were upset and tense about Mom being sick and Mothers day marks the one year anniversary of the brain tumor being removed . Even though her feeling badright now is due to some dental issues, which the dentist took care of late this week. They are scared. To tell you the truth I am a bit on edge about this annivesary and the fact that MOH is not recovering as quick as she should from the dental procedure.

Sitting here listening to Nat geo. All day terrosist. I knew people injured at the Pentagon. One of our sister churches, a lady from there was killed in the Pentagon. A friend of mine was pulling a dumpster at the Pentagon when the plane hit. He told us that there were some men standing on a helicopter pad pointing at the plane coming in, then the plane hit the building and the men just disappeared. Gone.Blown away,vaperized. I am so glad they got man this week. There is very little I like about the current adminstration. But I give them one big for this past week. That  day a coworker called me to ask if I had heard the news about the towers. I had not so I went to a local eatery and while eating lunch I watched as they played the clips of the towers burning. While there an Arab started rejoicing ! It took every ounce of self control not to start pummeling that guy.Still ticked off about that guy. 

Well done ! To our armed forces.

[Anonymous]

Good Morning,

for those who have not yet looked at the calendar - it´s Mother´s Day today. Don´t forget to tote a bouquet of along when you go to see your Mom.!

It is not only Mother´s Day today. 66 years ago WW II in Europe ended with unconditional surrender of the German Wehrmacht. Some years back, I asked my father how he had experienced that day. He told me that he and his family had re-united only shortly before that day, after a 300 mile walk with the Red Army in the back. They were at a farm in southwestern Germany, only 3 miles away from what would later become  the Iron Curtain. Luckily on the right side. He also told me that there was just a feeling of relief that this agony was over and that all of his family had survived the ordeal. Of course, there was a lot of fear what the future would bring. Little was known about the atrocities the regime had committed during the past twelve years. A few days later he walked 10 miles to the next railroad line - just to see the first train in peace time. A true railfan! Guess he passed that bug on to me!

Chloe, a Sunday Special breakfast for me, please. Coffee, crispy fried bacon, scrambled eggs, hotcakes, sausages, buttered toast will be fine!

No MRRing the next two weeks! My desk is a mess - maybe I should clear it before leaving to my parents´ place. I planned on doing a little ballasting today, but it won´t dry before I have to leave.

YGW - that´s a tough decision to make. My stomach tells me that you should keep your word and move back to your old employer, even if that means a longer drive. After all, you never know when to expect the next salary cut with your current employer.

Rob - those pictures are awesome! it must be a sad feeling to see your home being subjected to the forces of Mother Nature. I hope that the clean up and repair work goes well, and that you can soon enjoy your beautiful home again.

Still no word from Bama - I am worried!

On this special day - may there be peace on earth!

Blessings!

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

[LSWrr]

Good morning,

Friday I picked up my UR92 control head and my AR1 Automatic reversing unit from the LHS.  List price $170.96 I paid $149.  Saturday I installed a new powered passenger side mirror on my truck.  That’s about it, I really wanted to get in the train room and start running feeders on the new section of layout but just didn’t make it down there.

[sfcouple]

Good Morning and Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers out there who deserve a special day of recognition.  

Up early today, darn restless leg syndrome kicked in last night and I was up walking around most of the night.  

Managed to find and unpack one of my Sierra West kits yesterday that was on my old layout and hopefully it won't be long before it has a new place on the layout under construction:

wayne

 

[galaxy]

Good morning guys! Steak and scrabbled eggs with whole wheat toast points and a cup of Hawaiian CHocolate macadamia nut coffee in a Chessie Mug.

yougottawanta

The past week has been rough. Current employer last month cut salary . My former employer called and asked me to come back with a raise and thirty percent more than currently making. Told him Wednesday I would come back. Then my current employeer gave back the salary that he took away . Now the difference is only a few percent different with the current job half the commute .. Because of my wifes medical conditions I really need to be closer to home. What to do ? What to do ?

Well if your current employer is all but matching your former employer's offer, and you will save gas by being closer to home, I would stick with current employer, BUT I would ask if he intends to "bait and switch" you by offering a higher salary taht will only last temporarily!!! The extra "few percent" you might get at old employer might be eaten up in gas for the extra distance!!!

 

WEll, MOH {My Other Half}  has a long 10 hour day today. 4 in Bakery and 6 in FLoral. SHould be in floral the whole day as people will be getting flowers for Mother's day all day long. But Bakery is shorthanded, so MOH is needed there. Going to Wally world to do some shopping - dreading when that CC bil comes in- of course if MOH continues with mega hours, wil be easier to pay off.

WEll I'm off {by one bubble to teh right}

Have a great day guys.

DONT FORGET IT IS MOTHER"S DAY!!!

TTYALLL8r

 

 

[howmus]

Mornin'!

Janie, cup of dark roast coffee to go.....  thnks!

On my way out the door to church this morning.  Our young poeople who are joining the church will be doing the service this morning, and my #1 Granddaughter is singing in the little kids choir....  Don't want to miss THAT!

Catch you later!  Oh Happy Mother's Day to all the ladies out there!

73

[Cederstrand]

Strong coffee in a  CSX  mug, please.

***Wayne, that's a neat looking old building you have there.

Have a good day y'all.

Rob

[TMarsh]

Good Moooooorning Captain! Good morning to you son hey, hey-eyyy! I’ll have the same as Ulriii-ich ple-eeeeease. Tha-aa-a-a-aaa-nk you.

No time for Choo Choo’s yesterday. Hopefully today will lend some time for that most delightful of all indulgences.

YGW- Tuff one. I’ve got my opinion as to what I’d do sitting here. I’d be wary of the return of the salary from current employer based on when he offered to return it. Before or after he found out you were leaving, or if this is a temporary return only to be cut again later. Companies that cut salaries concern me as to their solidity. Of course the same may happen to the new company and then you find yourself going back to the old and asking for your job back. But, since I’m not actually wearing your shoes, I don’t honestly know what I’d do. Either way, make sure the person you are declining understands it is purely a money thing involving the wifes health issues and not a problem with the company. Makes the possibility of coming to the boss asking if they have any openings a much more worthwhile trip.

I plan on doing some more mowing, then work on the skirting (I guess you call it that) on the back porch. I imagine sometime today I’ll end up taking Brenda out to eat unless that recipe book open to a delicious looking Beef Stroganoff is an indication of her intentions. I sit here with crossed fingers.

In the meantime, think I’ll hit the Bay for a few seconds to see if there is anything I just can’t live without, then maybe stop and check on the…….. I really need to come up with a name for the layout, pike, trainset, MRR whatever it’s supposed to be called.

Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!

[Curt Webb]

Evening All.

Hope everyones significant other and Mothers had a great Mothers Day. After breakfast MOH had another inner ear problem so she was in bed most the day. I spent the day  putting together my meat packing plant, all I can say is WOW. I think it took forever on the windows, after that  it moved along fairly quickly. Based on the space I have available I had to modify the location of the loading shute so that it goves over top of a double track. I ran cars on both tracks to make sure it will work. I still need to mute the green on the ice house.

Tomorrow I am going to the LHS for metal wheels and couplers and then make the 3 stock car kits. I am also going to adjust the outside brace for my tunnel, add a mounting brace for my AR1 and mount my UP'5's and UR-92. Sunday I should start wiring the layout.  

Hope everyone has a goodnight.