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Elliot´s Trackside Diner July 2011 Locked

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  • Member since
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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, July 7, 2011 8:02 PM

Thank you all for the birthday wishes. Now I can say I've been around more than half a century and not having just owned a Century. Been pretty busy here today and I've gotten nothing done on the layout. Truth is it's looking pretty cluttered from all the project work lately.

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


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Posted by teen steam fan on Thursday, July 7, 2011 8:16 PM

Ken- If you have water in the oil or steam coming out of the exhaust, it is a bad head or bad block. If that's the case get rid of the car. Its more problems than its worth. 

If your looking, there's an auto junkyard by the old Joliet prison that has good deals on parts I've heard. 

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!

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Posted by howmus on Thursday, July 7, 2011 8:34 PM

Evenin' folks!

Janie, I'll have one of those lemonades al la Jeffrey tonight.  I'm feeling brave and inquisitive. 

Got a package from Micro mark today.  Inside was a little Bachmann 0-6-0Tto be used for switching the Quarry area.  It will be housed in the Engine House I have been building.  Cute little thing.  I took it out of the box and set it on a track at the quarry, but haven't yet run it.  I also received a table top belt and a disc sander they had on sale THAT I have had my eye on for some time.

Bought 4 more gallons of paint for the shed.  Three to finish the sides and one for the trim.  i am tearing out all the trim and replacing it, so I went to 84 lumber and picked up some 1 x 6s to rip in half to do the trim.  managed to get the credit card back up where I know it has a balance on it I did!  Then I had to pick up food for the kitties and groceries for myself..... 

Galaxy, here's hoping they accept your offer!  keep you in my prayers for success.

Here in the city of Geneva, we have designated neighborhoods now.  Couple years ago City Council set up a Community Resource Center and separated the city into areas based on the type, age, and businesses found in each area to "assist residents in making improvements to businesses, homes, and neighborhood public spaces in an effort to develop livable communities."  Anyone in the city can get information and advice for doing renovations and property improvements at no charge.  Couple of colleges are doing student internships in conjunction with the program.  Each neighborhood has a loosely organized Committee to organize events such as picnics, clean up days, garage sales, etc. for the area.  The city has also found grant money it is designating for help in some of the run down areas to renovate and help homeowners fix up houses.  Participation is completely voluntary.  So far it is a winner!  Out in the Town they have some HOA things which do tend to be a PITA!

Got more done on the shed, weeded some garden, and have sat down now to relax for a while.

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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Posted by CNCharlie on Thursday, July 7, 2011 8:34 PM

Good Evening,

Well let's see if Jeff's tip works as I did install IE9 or I should say Micorsoft installed it for me.

Anyway, a very Happy Birthday to you Jeff! Hope your day and those to come are good too.

Let me see, what was I posting over and over last night.

Corey, nice to see you back in the Diner. How are things in Mankato?

Ray, that engine house is really amazing. Are you sure those photos aren't from a real one? I agree with Todd, with that level of realism I would expect that little fellow in there to be turning out something on that lathe.

Well I guess I'm getting the loco purchase withdrawal symptoms as I'm thinkhing of getting a True Line Trains CN Northern. The price has come down substantially and a shop in Toronto actually has them on sale. It is still very expensive but it would be my only chance to get an actual model of a CN steamer. Besides my Dad left me some funds 20 years ago that will cover it and it would be for something special. Say I've just justified it. Amazing what loco lust will do.

I'm not going to make this post any longer as I want to see if it will actually post.

CN Charlie

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, July 7, 2011 8:44 PM

CNCharlie

Well let's see if Jeff's tip works as I did install IE9 or I should say Micorsoft installed it for me.

Looks like it works to me.

Anyway, a very Happy Birthday to you Jeff! Hope your day and those to come are good too.

Thank you.

howmus

Evenin' folks!

Janie, I'll have one of those lemonades al la Jeffrey tonight.  I'm feeling brave and inquisitive.

Try it. Many who have tried found they like it.

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


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Posted by Curt Webb on Thursday, July 7, 2011 8:45 PM

Evening All,

Home from w**k. It started raining about 2 PM and just stopped. I got soaked earlier on a call. Doing my laundry now. Tomorrrow will be back to Tortoise installation. Hopefully on Sunday I can start fine tuning my track work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FzWh3Sqhnw&feature=email

Hope everyone has a good night.

Curt Webb

The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad

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

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Posted by Cederstrand on Thursday, July 7, 2011 10:44 PM

Chamomile tea, please.

***Curt, that's some real neat old steam footage.

Long day of mostly rest...still an exhausting day.

Have a good night Y'all.

Cowboy Rob

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Posted by ns3010 on Thursday, July 7, 2011 11:04 PM

Evening (morning all).

Same old going on here. Had my first day off today after eight straight days of w**k, and, to be honest, I almost had difficulty figuring out what to do with my time. So I went to the beach, finished up the first of three summer assignments for AP Calculus, and that's about it. I'm back on tomorrow from 4-close.

Happy B-Day Jeff!

Curt, do you have to install any pig switches? Smile

I'm not sure if I'll be in tomorrow. My uncle (kinda, he's more of my grandmother's cousin's husband... I think) is up from Florida and will be spending the day here tomorrow. And then I have w**k at four. If I make it in, it probably won't be until late again.

See ya later,

Joe

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
My Photos on Flickr: Flickr
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07/08/2011
Posted by wetidlerjr on Thursday, July 7, 2011 11:45 PM

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

 

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

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Posted by galaxy on Friday, July 8, 2011 2:41 AM

GOOD MORNING!!!

Torture day at teh dentist. WIll be in pain later.

Now where ARE those percocets?

-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 galaxy on Friday, July 8, 2011 2:56 AM

howmus

Galaxy, here's hoping they accept your offer!  keep you in my prayers for success.

Here in the city of Geneva, we have designated neighborhoods now.  Couple years ago City Council set up a Community Resource Center and separated the city into areas based on the type, age, and businesses found in each area to "assist residents in making improvements to businesses, homes, and neighborhood public spaces in an effort to develop livable communities."  Anyone in the city can get information and advice for doing renovations and property improvements at no charge.  Couple of colleges are doing student internships in conjunction with the program.  Each neighborhood has a loosely organized Committee to organize events such as picnics, clean up days, garage sales, etc. for the area.  The city has also found grant money it is designating for help in some of the run down areas to renovate and help homeowners fix up houses.  Participation is completely voluntary.  So far it is a winner!  Out in the Town they have some HOA things which do tend to be a PITA!

MOH often *sighs* as we drive by some of the Victorian Splendor Homes int he Historical districts around here. My first reaction is a steady "I don't want the heating bill". {and having friends who bought one and pay a bout $700 for oil each month during heating season PLUS an electric bill for Electric heating in some parts of the house and often complain of "being cold"} MOH has now relented on THAT issue- that we can't afford the heating bill for a" Victorian PAinted Lady" Mansion sized house in the historic district. The other reason I don't want a house in teh Historic DIstricts is the Historic DIstrict COmmittee tells you every move you can make and what colors you can paint your house. {If you can prove via paint chip removals from teh exterior of your house that the house INDEED was once that color, you MAY have a leg to stand on. Hence, a lot of them are white houses as white is a safe and satisfactory colro for any house int eh Disctrict. I don't like someone telling me I cannot paint my house pink with purple and emerald green polkadots if I want to. or what plantings I can have that are historical to the area".

One guy in the historic district recently had a scandal and lawsuit slapped on him as he replaced the "historic {inefficient, rotting, damaged lead-painted} windows" of his building with new modern energy efficient dual pane windows and screens TAHT HE WAS TAKEN TO TASK over it AND,If IIRC was finally instructed to tear out the new windows and pay a craftsman to remake historically accurate windows reinstalled to match the historic district codes.

NOT for me!!! NO ONE is gonna tell me I have to suffer drafts and high heating bills with old windows jsut cause they match historic codes! NO wonder people fight "historic districts" and tear down old and build anew everywhere else!!

SoapBox over Bang Head

Whew!

-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 blownout cylinder on Friday, July 8, 2011 5:36 AM

Happy B-Day Jeff!!!  Happy B-Day

Galaxy:  A friend of ours lives in a historic district here in London ON. The one set up where he lives looks at preserving what is already there...in a more realistic manner. For example..there is a list of window manufacturers that make windows to the specs provided by the owners..no special milling needed.Cowboy

Good Morning

Everything is all peeping and buzzing outside....going to be upwards of 80F today feeling more like 86F...later on ..

Have a quiet day planned ahead of us today..get to run my choochoos......Whistling

Jeff: We tried the lemonaide with the other stuff...it is good!!!Smile, Wink & Grin Mind, my stomach can handle the hot stuff...MischiefWhistling

Flo, I'll have a coffee for now please..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 Cederstrand on Friday, July 8, 2011 5:37 AM

Chamomile tea, please.

Have a good day all.

Heading back to Sleep here. -Rob

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Posted by LSWrr on Friday, July 8, 2011 5:46 AM

Good Morning,

Doc gave me a shot and some pills for an upper repertory infection / bronchitis.  I went in too soon he said to differentiate the problem.  My BP was 100/100 but he said it was from my body fighting the infection and the coughing fit I had right before they pulled me in the back.

Jeff, Happy Birthday!

Galaxy, with all the home foundation problems do you have black clay up there?

Ray, that engine house looks great, I was just adding it up in my head and you must have sunk $250 into that project.

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

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Posted by yougottawanta on Friday, July 8, 2011 6:46 AM

Chris wrote

YOU GOTTA WANTA: Bud, I gotta disagree with you on the HOA. Why? Three words: Private Property Rights. HOA's are notorious for putting up rules to where a decorated vet gets "in trouble" for putting a flag pole and Old Glory in his front yard. Do I like or agree with everything my neighbors do? HELLLLLL NO! But, they bought their property, they pay taxes on it. As long as it's not a hazard to me and my property...I really don't care what they do (says the guy with a fire engine parked in his back yard...) I live in about as "redneck" of a town as you'll find in east central Iowa. One neighbor has a pen with a large white duck and a half-dozen chickens. The guy across the back alley and down one lot has race cars. The "King S***" behind me has a freakin' rottweiler THAT the city won't do anything about. Across the street from me is "white trash central." But ya know what? The guy is one of the nicest and most honorable guys I've ever met. I'm pretty sure there isn't a HOA on the planet THAT would allow him to keep his house/yard/vehicles the way he does. Nor me my fire engine, or the neighbor his winged critters. Duck guy IS in "violation of city ordinance," but, this being Clarence...the city hasn't and probably never will do anything.

All THAT said...if somebody chooses to live under the nit-picking and additional rules (and lack of freedom) of a HOA...more power to 'em. Me? I prefer my liberty, thank you very much!

Wow settle down Chris. I do not disagree with the reasons listed above.In fact where I live we do not have an HOA. I am speaking from a financial perspective. While we all want to do what we want to do at our castle, those decisions may not be financially beneficial for everyone. Let me explain: Lets say you work for the good ole US of A military or IBM  ( I've Been Moved ) where a person is moved every few years across the country or even the world. That type of person needs to sell their houses quickly and at the very least get back out of it the money invested. Lets say they buy where there are no HOAs and a terrible neighbor moves in next to them and the new neighbor  has mean dogs that like to attack children and cute little kittens and cudjo is breaking the 2 ton chain leashes and taking dumps in the yard of IBM/Soldier. The new neighbor also starts parking broken down vehicles all over the yard that they start filling with trash and then the Rats move in.Then they put up a chicken coop with a group of roosters who like too serenade the neighbor hood at 5am on the weekends.Then orders from headqaurters and the soldier/IBMer is instructed to move to the other side of who knows where. The IBMer or soldier is going to have a very difficult time selling their home  because of the issues created by the "new neighbor" They (IBMer/Soldier) are stuck in a very difficult financial place. They are over seas, paying two house payments , traveling to fend defend their property and clean up the dop droppings and kill endless families of rats is very expensive. They cannot quite their jobs, they are facing foreclosue because they cannot make two payments etc...For these type of people HOAs make sense. It protects them from the decisions of others who they have no control over and whose decisions have a very real and negative impact on the soldier or IBMer lives. In short depending on whether a  house is a home or a financial investment, long term of short term use determines whether an HOA is beneficial. If you can live with Rats, Children eating dogs, Rooster alarm clocks on the weekends then an not having an HOA is okay. If you dont want to live with these things then an HOA may not be all bad.   

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Posted by cudaken on Friday, July 8, 2011 7:37 AM

 Morning Folks

 Well, It is my Monday so back to work I go.

 Flo, Frosted Flakes and OJ.

 Teen Steam There is No water in the oil, No oil in the water and No smoke out the tail pipe. That is why I am starting to think the problem may not be a head gasket. 

 Jeffery I personal think a new head will make the rings go bad is a bit of a Myth. More than likely it was just time for the rings to fail or something got left in a cylinder when the head was off. While I know you tried it and the rings failed, I have all so done and the motor lasted another 60,000 miles. In fact, the motor was still going strong when I pulled it out of the Charger. Yes, it was the original 440 that I did the heads on and they are way different motors. But that myth has been around for decades. 

 Train Front Was way to tired after cutting the grass yesterday to run to k-10 Model Trains to have the motors amps tested. So no new engines on the track this week. I did repair one of my 40 foot box cars last night. It is a Life Like car and one of the trucks wore out. Used a piece of plastic spur to fill the hole, installed a 2 56 screw and new Athearn truck.

 Well, that it for me this morning, see you all after work. 

        Ken   

I hate Rust

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Posted by B&O1952 on Friday, July 8, 2011 8:26 AM

Good morning fellas!

We just had a passing thunderstorm here, but it looks to be a nice day from here on out.

After a long week of camping, swimming, and one of the worst gout attacks I've ever had, I finally managed to complete the N&W J painting. I didn't clear coat it as of yet, because I think I may have to tweak a few things first. Anyway, here's the painting:

I also said I'd show an image of the wreck that I survived while working as a Conductor back in 2004, here it is:

That was one long night!

Well, I have to set up my next painting today, I'm thinking Nickel Plate through the grape vinyards of southwestern NYS could be interesting. I could put a NYC train in the backround as well since the two RRs ran parallel for a long distance. You could see lake Erie from the tracks too. I've got a few nice pics of the berks and NKP hudsons in the area.

Just coffee for me today Flo, I gotta keep the gout in control!

Have a good day everyone,

-Stan

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Posted by Curt Webb on Friday, July 8, 2011 8:45 AM

Morning All,

Supposed to rain all day today so the last shuttle launch will probably be delayed at least until tomorrow. I'm siting here watching a recorded episode of the Outer Limits. After it is over I'm going to get started on the layout, I'm figuring about 4 hours to be done installing Tortoise's. Going to the train show tomorrow then I may go to the club after words, not sure yet.

Rob- My favorite part of the video are the K4s in the snow scenes.

Everyone take care.

Curt Webb

The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad

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

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Friday, July 8, 2011 8:45 AM

Stan ... Great painting !!!!! ......... Were you in the orange unit? Hope not.

I'll have coffee and a donut. 

Cheers, everybody. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by B&O1952 on Friday, July 8, 2011 8:52 AM

Garry, Yeah that's where I was. You've never seen anything until you see the world from a GP40 going sideways through the woods!. I had one back surgery to rebuild my neck, and I still have to get my lower back repaired. I'm not complaining though, I am alive to tell about it!

-Stan

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Friday, July 8, 2011 9:10 AM

Sounds painful, Stan. I wish you the best.  I know back pain, thanks to a drunk that hit me at 50 mph breaking some vertebrae. Also, Galaxy here has back problems, too. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by TMarsh on Friday, July 8, 2011 9:13 AM

Good Morning!! Coffee please. Thanks. Running late this morning.

Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.

I tell you what, even though I used a less potent form of hot sauce and the Jalapeno juice was also from a bottle (which if I were to read the ingredients, probably contains other peppers also and admittedly was a disappointment when I got it as to the heat level. It really is weak, but tastes ok ) the lemonade was not bad at all. It was not hot….though when I try it again, I will not go right to the ten drops, but again start with 4 cause I‘ll probably use a different brand of hot sauce. You can always add, but can’t take away. It actually did not have much of a different taste at all. It was not offensive anyway. There was just a bit of a peppery feeling afterwards once the lemonade washed down. Kind of a delayed reaction. This of course based on how much of whatever sauce you use. But mixed carefully, it’s actually not bad. Sumpm different anyway.

Ken- It could be either, both…, or neither. You really need to do a compression check first. Dry and wet. Could just be an ignition problem too. Or a fuel…Could have dropped an injector, or……?-- There are many myths out there based on just what you said. However, one thing is certain. On a motor with age, like happened to Jeff, once you’re in there….should you run the risk of opening it up again. Sometimes it’s just prudent to replace the not broke stuff. Depending, of course, on your intentions with the car. Let’s face it, bluebook value means nothing. a car is worth what it would cost to replace it if you need to. Insurance difference too. If the car is worth 300 dollars and it needs 500 dollars worth of repairs, is it worth it? Well, if getting another car that would be in at least the same mechanical condition, after the repairs are made mind you, will cost you $1000.…the I’d say your car is worth $1000. So a 500 dollar repair bill saved you $500. Not counting the added insurance because of a newer car. And remember. Just because it’s newer, doesn’t mean it will breakdown less.

Stan- Glad your still around after that.

Gotta run out to Mom’s this morn to check out the basement. We got 1½ inches of rain in about an hour, hour and a half  last evening starting a bit before 5. The bulk of it in the first half hour or less.  The exact time I had to leave for w**k. Then I don’t know what til w**k tonight.

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 Friday, July 8, 2011 9:16 AM

Back problems are not new to me either...

Galaxy...or any one else for that matter:  Regarding house hunting or any reno work involving piping...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/story/2011/06/29/wdr-kitec-ipex-class-action.html

The Kitec plumbing system consists of blue and orange flexible piping and brass fittings, used to carry cold and hot water through a home. Kitec products were also used in radiant heating systems.

The pipes were made from polyethylene and a thin inner layer of aluminum, and plumbers considered them to be an excellent product because they were cheaper than copper and their flexible nature made the product easy to install.

The class action lawsuits in Canada and the U.S. allege that the product was negligently manufactured, which caused the pipes to disintegrate prematurely.

The pipes were sold from 1995 to 2007, and potential claims have been filed by residents of Alberta, B.C., Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes, according to Dave Robins, the lawyer representing Canadians in the class action lawsuit.

Apparently there is/was a settlement proposed in the US as well...just a heads up to check the plumbing as well

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 twhite on Friday, July 8, 2011 9:32 AM

Morning all from SunnyCal:  Our heat wave seems to be leaving gradually--it was ONLY 97 here yesterday, and the Delta Breeze seems to be kicking in this morning.  This is our Valley's natural 'Air Conditioning' from the Coast.  Hopefully it'll hang around for a week or so. 

My sister phoned from Nevada City yesterday--she got all the paperwork for the Title transfer on the house, but we have to fill it out ourselves and take it to the Assessor's Office.  Hmm, I wonder what the people in the Assessor's Office get PAID for, anyway, LOL?  So that means another trip up to Nevada City on Monday to hash all of THAT out.   Luckily, all the paperwork on the property was in one envelope in mom's safe deposit box, so that should simplify matters considerably.  I just hope the transfer doesn't affect the property taxes--we're Grandfathered in under Prop 13, and right now, the taxes on an acre of property that is worth about the same amount as a small European country is under $200 a year!  Property values in Nevada County are still holding their own despite the economy.   As I told my sister, "There's STILL Gold in them thar hills." 

Did some fiddling around with the gear-shafts on my Basket Case Yellowstone yesterday.  This is the one I got several years ago in pieces and had to re-assemble--an old 1964 Akane.  The other two were working just dandy (a little coffee-grinder noise from the Akane mechanism, but that's to be expected), but #3911 was acting up.  Love working on brass--four screws and the boiler lifts right off and there she is--all of the 'guts'.  Seems the universals were 'dragging' a little on the U-shaped frame.  Got that fixed, courtesy of some emery paper and Labelle grease, tested the motor, popped the boiler back on, took it out into the garage, hooked it up, cracked the Controlmaster 20 and---NOTHING!  

Or at least I THOUGHT nothing, until I saw the drivers moving almost imperceptably.  Intrigued, I cracked the throttle a little more.  She 'crept' down the yard track, not a single noise except for a slight clanking on the eccentric rods.  Not a sound.  Not a 'peep'.  I took her through my #5's, hooked her up to about 20 freight cars, pulled her out of the yard and onto the main and--WOW!   She responds like a dream, runs smooth as silk, pulls like the usual team of oxen and NO NOISE!   And this from an old Akane 1964 mechanism with the original open-frame motor.  All I've done is replace the tubing between the driver sets with Universals.  THANK YOU, NWSL!! Bow

And this is the locomotive that I brought home from a train show in pieces in a sack, LOL! 

Jeff: A belated, but Happy B-Day.   I remember 51--vaguely--.  I sure hope that Medicaid approves that brace for you.   And I DID celebrate for you with another Tobasco Lemonade, last night.  Whoo--that stuff's ADDICTIVE, LOL! 

Stan:  Move over, Howard Fogg, STAN'S HERE!   That is one gorgeous painting--Bow.  Is that a '56 Chevy hardtop on the underpass?   Love to see what you'd do with an Allegheny or a Y-6.  Beautiful work!  I always thought those N&W 4-8-4's were one of the prettiest 'streamlined' locos around--a sort of East Coast answer to our West Coast GS "Daylights". 

Well, that's about it from SunnyCal this morning.  Time to feed the cats (Uff-Dah is staring at me and threatening to park his furry little butt right on the keyboard), and then get ready for the Big Show at the Civic Center.  Today's Vendor Day at the NMRA Convention, so I'm going to toddle down there and see what's going on (and pray to God that nobody's selling Used Brass Articulateds, LOL!). 

Have a great day, everyone.

Tom

 

  

 

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  • From: Ft. Wayne, Indiana
  • 142 posts
Posted by Drew4950 on Friday, July 8, 2011 9:52 AM

I think tomorrow I will do a Saturday morning coffee clatch in the train room. Clean up a little. Run some trains. Think about what the sceenery will be like. Maybe take a progress photo or 2 . Somebody asked for some of those.I will see what I can do.

On houses and neighborhoods

       I live in a national historic district. I am 25 feet outside of the local historic district (for now) and so I do not have restrictions on exterior changes. I have painted 2 sides of my house purple. Officially it is called Renwick Heather and is a Victorian color appropriate for when the house was built. It is kind of a mauvish greyish purple. I am also using Downing Slate and Downing Sand as accent colors. The slate color is a dark grey and the other is kind of a greenish concrete color. The local historic district designation has been good for the neighborhood. It has kept the slum lords in check and made it difficult for them to cut up beautiful old mansions into tiny little apartments. This Old House magazine voted it the best historic neighborhood in Indiana in 2010.

       It is a great neighborhood and is close to everything I do. However times have not always been good. For instance the night my ex-GF and I were awakened by semi-automatic gunfire at 12:30 AM. A couple of gang bangers ran into each other at a party down the street and decided to have a gun fight. There were well over 100 shots fired. It left 3 people dead and 2 people were wounded. 2 of the dead were within about 150 feet of my front door. One next to my car parked in the street. The next morning the cops dug a 9mm hollowpoint bullet out of the north side of my house. If any good can be considered as coming out of this situation it is that the 2 bangers ended up dead and the shoot out did not take place at a local high school football game as anticipated by the cops. And although the cops knew everything no one has ever been arrested. I did hear that gang activity came to a complete stand still for about 6 months after that. And the ex-GF did not like coming to my house much after that either.

     And about a year later someone broke into my house. Apparently my stuff was not good enough for them as nothing was stolen and it was a year later before I found something that I felt was not in the right place. The cops could not believe nothing was taken. There were over $3000.00 worth of bicycles within 10 feet of the front door they entered through and a large tool box full of mechanic tools in the kitchen that was not touched. Stereo, computers, television..nothing missing. (My RR had not been built yet.) It was kind of odd listening to the cops talk about which bicycle they would have taken. They had ripped the electric metre and phone junction box off the house because  I had stickers indicating my house was protected by ADT. It is amazing that stickers can have that effect. Now days I do not worry to much about security as Boris is a very large black dog.

Now to find my password for my photobucket account. Have good day everyone and don't eat too much.

 

Modeling a railroad hypothetically set in time.

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: East central Illinois
  • 2,576 posts
Posted by Cox 47 on Friday, July 8, 2011 10:12 AM

Good Morning All...Its sunny and 72 here after some rain yesterday evening...I'll have coffee and a sweet roll please...Thank You...

Worked on fiddle yard yesterday pulled stuff off...put in new switch and ground throw and traced down bad rail joint and got it back up and in operation..

You all have a good one...Jerry

ILLinois and Southern...Serving the Coal belt of southern Illinois with a Smile...
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Friday, July 8, 2011 10:36 AM

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a short stack of blueberry pancakes (gotta have them while blueberries are in season you know), a side of breakfast sausage, leave the bottle of real organic maple syrup right here at the table, and keep my R&GV RR mug filled with dark raost coffee if you would.  Thank You Ma'am!

Interesting discussion on the HOAs.  Like most things there are two sides to the story and many good reasons why some would want to have one and others wouldn't.  I think the best advise to anyone buying a house in a HOA neighborhood is to read carefully the fine print!  I know of one guy out in the town in a housing project with one who is in the middle of a dispute about him putting some of those horrible, ugly, property value lowering, awful solar panels on the roof of his house.  They can be seen from the street.....  "OH THE HORROR!!!!!!".  Personally I would gladly buy a house in a neighborhood that required solar panels on every house THAT can be seen from all angles.......  But THAT is just me.Whistling  I think they can get to be rediculous at times, but can also protect home owners from loss.

$250 on the Engine House?  At least!  But I have had lots of fun........Smile, Wink & Grin

Need to get moving.  Want to get as much done today on the back shed project as possible.  Hope to cut and paint some new trim for it before lunch.

Later!

73

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

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • 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, July 8, 2011 11:15 AM

twhite
I DID celebrate for you with another Tobasco Lemonade, last night.  Whoo--that stuff's ADDICTIVE, LOL!

Yes it does seem to be somewhat addictive. But it's good.

 

Went to my parents place for breakfast then went online to Ebay to find a coil spring air helper system for their Marquis. Found one and ordered it for them. Other than that nothing going on.

 

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
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Friday, July 8, 2011 11:58 AM

Stan, well that had to be one insane ride; bet it'd made the Intimidator seem like a walk in the park.

Sorry fellas, been a busy week, my uncle came in town (he bought a red Nissan 350Z hehe). I'll be gone until at least wednesday with rugby camp.

btw, anyone ever try to learn to drive a stick in a Nissan 350Z? I managed to not blow the tires or kill the tranny, although I haven't gone and checked to see if there's skid marks where I really smoked the tires. That thing's gas pedal jumps to 4,000 or so rpm if you barely touch it with the clutch in.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 8, 2011 11:58 AM

Good Evening,

just a short stop to bring an end to this day.

Janie, I have a lemonade a´la Jeff, with 12 drops of regular Tabasco, please.

Started to w*rk on my third module. Added ballast to the track, which now waits for the glue to set. Somehow I am not really happy with the result, but I have to wait until tomorrow to do some touch-ups. As I seem to be getting a headache I better call it a day and retire to the sofa, watching the idiot box.

CU tomorrow!

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