Elliot's Trackside Diner JUNE 2011

[Cederstrand]

It's 908 F cooler here than down in FL., so we have no reason to balk.

Iced coffee in a  SUNNY & SOUTHERN  mug, please.

Timber company is working our backyard today. They even took a bunch of our trees, That's OK because it will make it easier for me to put up a fence. Wife wants to plant pecan trees in there. Not much else to report on.

Hope y'all are doing well.

Rob

 

[galaxy]

Eveing guys

Hmmm

I found this in my TRAINS magazine email segment today:

Threatened with lawsuit, Maryland Transit Agency backs off photography curbs

Published: June 1, 2011

BALTIMORE – The day after the American Civil Liberties Union threatened a lawsuit, the head of the Maryland Transit Administration repudiated efforts by some of the agency’s police officers to forbid photographers from taking pictures of its trains. Agency Administrator Ralign T. Wells told the Baltimore Sun the agency would settle all the issues raised by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland before a lawsuit can be filed. The action stems from an incident in March when railfan Christopher Fussell of Portland, Ore., was stopped while taking photos of the agency’s trains. He told the Sun he was taking pictures of passing trains when an MTA employee told him the activity was forbidden and she would summon police. The Maryland ACLU said in a letter to the agency that agency police officers that responded “acted in a hostile and threatening manner to someone who did absolutely nothing wrong, spewing misstatements of the law at every turn.” Fussell refused to stop filming when officers told him to “cease and desist,” asserting that he had a constitutional right to take pictures in a public place. He captured the encounter in a video now posted on YouTube under the headline “Detained in Baltimore.” Agency police officers also ordered Olev Taremae of Bethlehem, Pa., to stop taking photos during an incident in February. The Maryland ACLU had raised the right to take photographs in 2006 after an officer ordered one of its staff members to stop filming at a train station. Wells said agency officers were not properly representing MTA policy when they ordered the photographers to stop. He said he would apologize to the photographers and take steps to make sure that officers respect the First Amendment rights of photographers. “We don’t have a policy restricting photography,” Wells told the newspaper. “The actions of some of these officers are not reflective of the agency stance.” Wells said, “There’s just a high sensitivity post-9/11 to photographers. We obviously have to back off of that.”

Just thought y'all might like to read that- at least those who don't get those emails..

Hot is right...and getting hotter as Wednesday approaches....but then back to the 70s. Oh well.

TTYALL8R

[Curt Webb]

Ulrich- great looking module. What did you use to weather the retaining wall?

North East- 999 F Yikes. It really is hot as . And everybody not from the South thinks we exaggerate about how hot it is.

[steamfreightboy]

I drove by 30th st station earlier today and I saw one of the commemorative paint scheme p42s. I think it might have come in on the eastbound pennsylvanian.

Have a good day!

sfb 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Hope those folks there have at least 2,000,000,000 sunblock.

[the North East Rail Modeler]

Good Afternoon, everyone.  Only 2 days left of school and I'll be out for Summer.

999 out!?!?   And I thought Florida had it bad (Wait, That is Osceola County, Florida)

Weather for my neck of the woods: NOT 999, but a brisk 90-something,  with the miracle of trhe day: RAIN    It started when I got home from school (around 12:30) and it's still raining outside.

Funny thing is, the news people said we had a 0% chance for rain all week this week, and, when we went on-line to try and see how big the storm was, the "accurate" radar said there wasn't a cloud in the sky, let alone a steady rainfall.   I don't know if it helped any when it comes to preventing wildfires, but it sure does help to cool everything off.

I'm going to go and sit on the front porch and watch the rain for a littlebit

[jeffrey-wimberly]

blownout cylinder

Are things getting a little warm down there?

That reminds me of something that occurred around the time Rita hit. It was about 94 in Leesville but the thermometer outside the Merchants and Farmers bank read 192. Just slightly warm that day.

[galaxy]

WEll, My appt. with Mental Health is over now. ANd we ate at Denny's. Now with it being warm, tummy full, and nowhere else to go I think it nappy-poo time for MOH and me when MOH gets done with the lawn and showers.

Jeffrey- your abilities may be hampered by your disabilities, but your creativity excels! ANd I couldn't tell if a 10 year old novice or a 60 year old master craftsman did your layout! {and I ain't just strokin' ya!}

Ulrich- Nice Job!

UGW- nope. Nothing new on the house horizon. Got a new listing today but in part of town we don't want...zoned both commercial and residential..heavy on the commercial side.

WHo else? Anybody heard from Robby P. lately? I don't seem to see him on here anymore. He may psot in Weekend photos {which i admitedly don't ck every week}, but he hasn't been in the diner lately for sure.

Well you know what my schedule is this afternoon...nap time!

SO wake me if any one important comes into the diner ok?

[blownout cylinder]

Are things getting a little warm down there?

[blownout cylinder]

jeffrey-wimberly

 

Sir Madog:

 

 

jeffrey-wimberly:

 

I agree. Those modules are looking better than anything I've done in recent years.

 

 

 

Jeff - mind if I disagree? You have created a number of beautiful scenes on your layout, which are very inspiring for my own w*rk!

 

I thank you for that. I guess we're all our own worst critics.

 

Truth is spoken here...Very good looking modules there Ulrich!!

[simon1966]

Heartland Division CB&Q

Simon ... The K-10 layout looks really great with lots of industries. If I could get to East St. Louis, I would like seeing it.

 

Garry.

 

 

Garry, if you do ever find your way up this direction let me know.  I would be happy to show a fellow Q fan around the K-10 layout.]

[Anonymous]

Garry - Petra is getting desperate. The list of food we dare to eat is narrowing down day by day. No lettuce, no tomatoes, no cucumbers, no sprouts. In fact, all vegetable sales in Germany have dropped to nil in recent weeks.

That´ll be pizza e pasta for some more time

Ken - there will be a part on the layout with a little temple on a hill - Gurin Sosu Temple. : I´ll be you guess what that means!

CUL

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning.

Both Barry and Jeff have ankle problems. Hope they improve.

Simon ... The K-10 layout looks really great with lots of industries. If I could get to East St. Louis, I would like seeing it.

Todd ... I hope you rememebr the name of Tourist Trap Town.

Ulrich ... The news here says invetigators are not certain it is sprouts. So, perhaps you should not have lettuce either on that Barry-sized burger.

I had my huge bon fire last night to get rid of all the branches, logs, and so on that had gloated on our property.

I just completed my coal-fired power plant a few weeks ago, and of course there is an article by Jim Hediger in MR on the topic after I was done with mine. I was comparing after the build. I suppose, there are things I may have done differntly based on the article, but I'm still pleased with my results.

 

Now, I just competed another industry. It is a building materials supplier.

 

Two mainline trains are operating on my layout this morning. They are merchandise freight train with 2 SD24's, and my version of the American Royal Zephyr with a single E8.  I like the concept of "pike sized" trains.

 

My layout progress has been subjected to numerous delays so far this year due to my helping with my elderly mother in Alabama. Like others, I do what must be done first.

 

Happy Model Railroading.

 

Garry.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 81° here but a very nice 70° in my trailer. It's partly cloudy and there's a 50% chance of rain of rain this evening. The high today will be 98 and the sun will be appearing from time to time.

My ankle is either not hurting as bad today or I'm bearing the pain better today. Whichever it is I'm able to get around a little better. I may work on another mobile home today and there's a big treeless area on the east side of the layout that needs a number of those big leaf bearing weeds put in. There's no shortage of projects here.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Sir Madog

 

jeffrey-wimberly:

 

I agree. Those modules are looking better than anything I've done in recent years.

 

 

 

Jeff - mind if I disagree? You have created a number of beautiful scenes on your layout, which are very inspiring for my own w*rk!

I thank you for that. I guess we're all our own worst critics.

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe I'll just have the #2 special, over easy on the eggs, bacon, home fries, and a double order of the sour dough toast, along with lots of dark roast coffee in a R&GV RR Mug.

Gonna make this short as I need to get the mower out as the grass isn't!  Right after lunch, I need to get cleaned up a bit and head over to the museum for a tour group THAT is coming today.  By the time I get home, hopefully I will be able to finish the lawn (front part...).

Ulrich, the modules are looking great!  You do excellent work!  The "n" visible club in Rochester, NY is now making a bunch of the T-track modules to take to shows.  A few of them are NMRA members, so I may get some brought to the Summer Picnic this year....

Have a great day everyone!

73

[Anonymous]

jeffrey-wimberly

I agree. Those modules are looking better than anything I've done in recent years.

 

Jeff - mind if I disagree? You have created a number of beautiful scenes on your layout, which are very inspiring for my own w*rk!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

claymore1977

 

simon1966:

 

Looking really good Ulrich.

 

 

 

Agreed.  Mighty nice :)

I agree. Those modules are looking better than anything I've done in recent years.

[claymore1977]

simon1966

Looking really good Ulrich.

 

Agreed.  Mighty nice :)

[simon1966]

Looking really good Ulrich.

[Anonymous]

Me again,

it is sweltering hot outside, so I deceided to come here and cool off a little.

Flo, that´ll be a big RBF for me, please.

Ken - it was a small bag ( 1quart) you sent me. It was good for 2 modules, with a little left over.  One  big bag should cover all my remaining needs!  Those two Chooch portals will be employed in this layout, in a very dramatic scene I am right now planning. They are just too nice to be hidden in the back part of the layout.

After carefully planting each individual bush and shrub on the tunnel layout, I brought it upstairs to dry quickly. Temperature up there exceeds the 120 F mark today, as we are having a tropical heat wave

I know you guys are all eager to see how the module came out - well here are a couple of shots:

Still needs a little bit of tweaking, but I am already happy with the result. Ken - this side is actually facing away from the operator´s view point.

[simon1966]

Curt Webb

Simon- Is K-10 trains a store, club, or a combo of both?

First and foremost it is a store, owned and run by a single individual, also called Ken.  (Cuda Ken is one of his best customers, and the stuff going to Ulrich has all come from K-10)  Ken the owner has a really long Polish (I think) name with 10 letters after the K.  He is an ex army helicopter pilot, Vietnam I think? and his call sign was K-10 because none of the other pilots could pronounce his name!  Anyway, behind the small store is this 4000 sq ft layout.  There is not a formal club, but there is a regular crew that volunteer their time to help run the layout.  The first Sunday of every month is open house when for $5 pretty much anyone can be handed a throttle and take a train for a spin.   You can bring your own locos and run on the DDC portion of the layout, or on a very long DC loop double track main, so everyone gets to play.  Or you can run one of the many trains on the layout. I think it is wonderful that the hobby is promoted in such a way and that Ken is willing to allow the public to just have fun on his layout.  Of course it brings a lot of folks into the store, so it is good for business also.

[Curt Webb]

Morning All,

At w**k today. supposed to be hot and dry again today. I believe the high is supposed to be 93 F. I should receive my back drop and bumpers today in the mail. I realized last night I need to  do some more painting on my cornerstone diesel servicing facility, that should be the last of the building painting to be done.

Barry- Hope your ankle is feeling better.

Simon- Is K-10 trains a store, club, or a combo of both?

Ken- That is probably what I am doing incorrectly for speed matching. I run the un coupled loco's back and forth in a long yard for 5-6 times. After that I run them and they seem fine until I get to about the 45 minute mark then the non-sound loco starts pushing the sound loco. Next time I speed match them I will do it after running them  for awhile and doing the cleaning. Thanks. 

Everybody take care.

[simon1966]

Ken, some progress on the servos, got one working but need to get my linkage sorted out.   The wire I was trying to use was not stiff enough.

Here are some more shots from yesterday at K-10.   We did shoot some vidoe.  I have not looked at it yet and it is not uploaded

The boys are handed a throttle and off they go.  A kids, and Dads paradise.

Crispy's Australian AC6000

Andrew awaiting clearance to proceed down a very long single track main

Both boys awaiting clearance.  The fantastic steel plant in the foreground

Andrew switched over and started to run his Virgin Trains Pendolino

The smile rather says it all...

The boys were running for 4 hours!

[cudaken]

Morning Folks

 Flo, Ham and Egg Sandwich and a Diet Dew Pleases.

 For some reason my eyes are watering today, never really had that problem before?

 Ulrich, Box will be going out this Wednesday, Sue did not think she could figure out how to mail it. I will see what extra it might cost to ship a little faster.

 Are you just out of clump foliage, or are you out of grass as well? This bag of clump is 3 quarts (2.8 liters) how big was the other bag? I am beginning to think the bag I am sending will not do the whole layout.

 Will you be using the Portals I sent on this layout, or your next project? I do like what you have done with this current section and looking forward to pictures of it after it dries.

 How did you make the rail pass you sent me? I like to do one for my Railroad the C&K. 

 Well about time to get ready for work, think I will run the trains for a few minutes first. See you all after work.

              Ken

    

[steamfreightboy]

Morning!

Hot tea in a Nevada Northern mug, please!

Not much to talk about yet today. I told you about yesderday, yesderday.

See ya later!

sfb

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!! Coffee please and one of them big fat waffles with strawberries and whipped cream too thank you.

Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Not bad I suppose but it’s a little early for so much of the nineties.

I think I may have messed up my trailer last night. I’ll post a picture and see what you guys think. For real too. Honest opinion. What I went for was an al-you-min-eum (or uh-loo-min-um to most of us) roof that the seams had been sealed with sealant. If you’ve lived in a metal roofed trailer, or paid attention you’ll know what I’m referring to. Just doesn’t look right to me, but I am biased against most everything I do. Maybe just made them too wide. Then again, some things don’t lend themselves well to modeling. Oh well, I’ll let you guys give your opinions. It can be changed easily, but I would like the effect.

I also put down some dirt in the street of the Tourist Trap Town that had a really great name that I forgot (I need to write this stuff down) and decided I need to raise the train station off the ground a bit. It will look better and be more in line with the way they built the things out west in the 1800’s.

I think I’ll mix things up today and do the Church deposit in the afternoon and go out to Mom’s in the morning to do some yard w**k. Maybe some MRR time today too as I don't have to w**k tonight. I want to do some stuff to the as of yet unprototypical land formation and tunnel grouping, and Gold Creek is laying dormant and I need to spend a bit of time working on that too.

Do you realize, most every form or variant of the word aluminum, is pronounced uh-loo-min-...something.., except the actual word aluminum?

Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!

[LSWrr]

Good Morning,

I’m still behind on posts…

Ulrich, nice tunnel you have there!

I spent Friday at Periodontal for a jaw check up on the surgery I had in April then I wander around Pat Catan’s looking for HO-Scale fence.  I think I found the right stuff, I hope to do a mock up and compare it to the Bar Mills chain link fence.  If it works I’ll post a few pictures.  Saturday I did vessel safety checks down at the Yacht Club. Sunday I soldered the power leads to the port facility, painted the rails, cleaned the rails, and poured the concrete pad for the break bulk terminal.  Tonight I hope to sand the pad and lay the rails for the cranes, then pour that pad.  Once the port facility is finished I’ll start on the operating coal mine on the other side of the room.  I hope to get enough done by October 8^th to have an operating session.

Healing thoughts for all those on the Binnacle List…  

[blownout cylinder]

Good morning...

I had a good day of doing nothing but icing my ankle that I fell on on Saturday....still trying to figure out what exactly occurred but  got the feeling that I did do something that I should not have done to set off the fainting spell....something like running up a flight of stairs maybe?

So, besides going to the doctors today and getting a few things done at the bank I'll be getting some photo work done with a module we're attempting to build up...

Flo, I'll have a tub of coffee and a breakfast platter please....I'll be over at the window booth watching the place wake up...

[Cederstrand]

Coffee in a  SOUTHERN  mug, please.

Y'all have a good day!

Rob