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Elliot´s Trackside Diner - September 2011 Locked

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  • Member since
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  • From: New Milford, Ct
  • 3,232 posts
Posted by GMTRacing on Sunday, September 18, 2011 9:00 AM

Good Morning All,

     Round about 60F with a light overcast this morning. Galaxys' heater hasn't stirred the breeze off the water here yet so it's calm. Rain predicted for tomorrow. Could be a good day to do some chores here at Moms'.

   Todd - I had to go back and check and sure enough what I meant to address to Rob was directed to you instead. Sorry about that - I know you need no coaching on starter diagnosis. And thanks for the coffee. I do prefer that exorbitantly expensive Maxwell House stuff - you imported and all here in N.S.

   Ulrich - love the station module. Will you end up stringing catenary wires as well? Can't wait to see it in with the rest of the layout.

   Sounds like Galaxy is in for a long haul back to normality. After cruising through the remnants on the way home from Watkins Glen, I'm not surprised. There really was a lot of damage to the area. It looked like the HD he mentions had a high water mark half way up the wall and they were using a Bobcat to move mud out when we passed by. At some point government just has to step up and say "no you can't get permits to build in flood plains". I can sympathize to an extent, but people rebuilding multiple times in the same place and expecting a different result is just nuts.

    The CFO and I are off to a park for another hike so I'll check in later.   J.R.

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Sunday, September 18, 2011 8:33 AM

Good morning .... 

I'll have an Illinois farmers breakfast, please.

Galaxy ... Sounds like a huge mess. I recall after the ice storm here, the local super market donated a huge truckload of gallon bottle of water. One of the churches helped by allowing people to pick up their water at their building. The churces cooperated by having volunteers to handout the water. The Red Cross set up shelters and provided meals. 

JimCG ... Thanks for the remarks. There are no double slip switches. Most are regular turnouts, but there is a double crossover, a three-way switch, and a curved switch. 

I started laying track for the street car line, and I have 15 feet in place so far. 

The thread for CP and CN fans has a link to a great website. Glancing through it, a saw many interesting photos. Can you imagine the CN with the Santa Fe warbonnet scheme on some of its locomotives? I saw pictures of some GE units that were acquired from BNSF in Santa Fe colors with a the CN wet noodle patched over it. 

 

 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by galaxy on Sunday, September 18, 2011 7:40 AM

Well, I went to my usual place for the Sunday paper.

Although the county health dept. has clarified that the Town of Owego, the Villages of Owego and Nichols are under boil water order, we MUST be out of it on our end by now {we are TOWN of Owego}. WHY? because the Kwik Fill/Red Apple convenience store was OPEN and serving their breakfast sandwhiches, which, unless they go through the hassle of boiling and sterilization AND the approval of the Health Dept. to re-open and serve food, our AREA MUST be OUT of the boil water advisory now. It is amazing they kept it this long, because Binghamton, which had oh, about 60% flooded had good clean water restored quickly.

Of course, then again, the grocery store where MOH works, had to follow and use sterile juice to wash hands and etc. until the order was lifted...

I cannot wait til tomorrow to call the county health dept. and see if we are still under boil water advisory.

We will be glad it is over!!!

Reading more flood news in teh papers this AM. Sad. For the people who lost much or everything in the flood. WE were just heavily inconvenienced, but some are still without a good place to live.

Did see an article about the Atty. Gen's office having price gouging laws in effect for the area. that is good.

Was looking for the link to the photo published int eh Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin that had the arial shot of total floodiong in Owego, but it  is archived now in words only. Darn. Was hoping to share it with anyone who wanted a look-see.

Got the free pennysaver press which is Owego's only in-county newspaper was out today even thought he offices had flooded quite deep. They obviously missed last week's edition as iot comes out on Sunday and is delivered across much of the county.

LOL. Lowe's had hoped to make a killing on their generators, but people who bought them and the power came back on returned them. We will keep ours as this is not the first time the power has been out for days while we high and dry.

Apparently according to rumors, Home Depot here will not reopen. They were kinda stupid to begin with in building a new store in a known flood plain area to begin with. If I remember correctly they survived barely the 2006 "500 year flood".

Gander Mountain Sporting goods store I guess will also not reopen. They got totally flooded out in 2006's "500 year flood" just after opening!

PETA wants Petco to close the J.C. store permanently as over 100 animals, mostly small rodents, reptiles and fish were killed whenthe store flooded. There is the blame-game-argument that J,C. did not notify them of flooding to come and so they could evac pets. JC says they notified as well as being built in a known flood plain area it's Petco's management's fault. WE have the same story in Owego with the nursing home. Emergency services says they called several times about evac-ing patients, but the nursing home declined. Nursing home says they asked Emergency services for help before the Nat Guard had to show up to evac 61 of 70 patients up to Ithaca. The blame game will continue....

Also, although high and dry here, there are quite a few houses nearby who obviously had water in their basements. Dunno if those houses also had sumppumps that failed to work when power went out or not, but the have lots fo flood debris out curbside.One or two of the houses we THOUGHT about buying, but won't consider now....

Well that's all for now, enough depressing news.

Talk at you all later.

Geeked

 

-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 TMarsh on Sunday, September 18, 2011 7:14 AM

Good Morning!! Sunday Breakfast Buffet please. Yes some coffee. Thanks.

Occasional showers and thunderstorms. High near 73. Southeast wind between 8 and 11 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Brenda is off today. They decided to not open the Elevator due to the rainTongue Tied. It's not raining.  I’ve never seen them decide to close because it is supposed to rain. Usually they say IF it rains we will close early. Odd.

Spent most the day out at Mom’s yesterday. Haven’t done anything all week out there except empty the dehumidifier. At least that I remember now.

Rob- I hope the starting issue gets w**ked out. All had good advice. J.R. is right (even though he addressed it to me, I’m pretty sure he meant you. We are getting old you knowLaugh. ) and he’ll tell you the same thing I will. Any help you get without looking is just suggestions. I w**ked the last year I was w**king for Uncle Sam, in the Fuel and Electrics section rebuilding Injector pumps, alternators, generators ( the gas powered AC kind you power tents and entire companies with) air conditioners and starters etc, etc, etc. That kind of stuff. Actually a pretty nice last year for a guy who was really starting to have trouble crawling in and out and up and under vehicles every day. I could have gotten used to "benchwork" like that. ANYwho, I will add, I have seen starters lock up and they will also give you symptoms of a bad battery because of the lack of starter movement. Usually you can pick this up when testing the battery while using the starter based on how the needle reacts. It usually will not bury itself quite like a bad battery will, but may pull lower than a good battery would or should. But, not guaranteed. I’ve seen one or two that pulled the tester down like it was a dead short without a peep from the starter. Weird, you’d thought it would have made the tell tale BUZZZZZ! Complete with the nasal filling smell of ozone. That didn’t happen much though. Shorts yes but like that one no. Just threw that in there to make it sound way worse than it probably isWink.

My job now is to make people appreciate their local mechanic and all he has to go through just to make the customer happy. ( “ I can’t believe he charged that much just to replace my alternator. That should have been easy…” buried up behind the engine where you can barely reach it for all the stuff the factory installed after the alternator was installed and the engine mounted in the car complete with hoses and huuuuge wiring harness bundles cut to EXACT length so they will not budge one centimeter to allow access to the liiiittle nut you need to get to because the guy who designed it will never have to work on it “…I replaced one when I was a teenager on my 1969 six cylinder Nova and it only took like ten minutes!” )

Flo! Set J.R. up with an extra large cup of that fancy expensive coffee he likes for all he does…..on the TOP of course.

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 cudaken on Sunday, September 18, 2011 7:09 AM

 Morning early risers.

 Flo, yep coffee and I will take a sweet roll as well.

 Got up at 5:00 AM today and been poking around the site.

 Getting ready to hook up the PR 3, read some CV's and speed match some engines. Need to start doing the train stuff in the morning before Sue gets up.

 Ulrich, I all most forgot I sent you that type of tree. Are you going to straighten out the bent post on the train station?

            Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by L&NTim11060 on Sunday, September 18, 2011 5:44 AM

Good morning all...Well I think that when I get home from w--k today I,ll finish the TT bridge so I can prime it for painting on Monday. Also I,ll try to start on the pit walls. Oh I should mention that the place where I ordered the one TT isn,t at my LHS. I have nothing bad to say about them. The place I ordered it from is way east of Ohio Whistling

L&N.....Gone but not forgotten

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09/18/2011
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 18, 2011 3:33 AM

Good Morning!

A gray and wet day again. I finished my w*rk on the station module and shot a few pictures this morning.

Too bad my package did not arrive by yesterday. I could have finished the far left side by adding two more of those tiny Japanese houses, added road vehicles to the streets and populated the platforms with passengers and railroad personnel Crying Next week ...

Ken - your trees look super! I am glad I have some more left for the other "end of the line".

Flo, just coffee for me this morning, please.

CUL!

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Posted by galaxy on Sunday, September 18, 2011 2:07 AM

GOOD MORNING!!!

Today is Sunday, September 18th, 2011!!!

Huh? wha? What am I doing up so early? I'm playing the insomniac's role tonight. Usually I just get up to go and get online quickly to say good morning. TOnight I slept for 2 hours...

Curfews, Boil water advisories, Water conservation measures, looting laws all still in effect.

The waste transfer station in Barton NY is closed indeterminant due to the flood.

All household waste and hazardous waste MUST be separated from flood waste.

Flood waste in Broome county is being collected separately in a park to be removed and paid for by FEMA. Seems the county landfill is really full to capacity already, even with heavy recycling measures in place reducing what was being sent to the landfill by 75% over the last 15 years or so that recycling and bottle bill laws have been in effect here.

Unknown where Tioga COunty's Flood waste will go as almost the entire County seat  of Owego was flooded. Owego was voted as "best small town in America"...was it last year or year before? FEMA is sure to help. There was a new member on this site here from Owego who PM'd me a few times...don't recall screenname, wonder how he fared? Mayor Ed Arrington said {paraphrased} "the worst part was getting the flood debris OUT of the buildings and once beautifull and stately grand Victorian mansions" lining Front and Main streets. Our former Real Estate Agent {when we were looking} lived in a large old house in Owego, wonder how she fared as well? We DO hope the entire village of Owego will not be "wiped off the map" by this flood.

Sunday Paper. ALl my usual spots to purchase the sunday edition are closed or were flooded out. Don't know where, other than Wally world that I will get a copy. Last Sunday's paper with flood photos, was passed on to us as it was delivered in withteh Fri-Sun delivery package all at once a neighbor recieves.

It is currently 46* here. I agree with Ray's sentiments earlier about it being a wee bit chilly here now. About 10* below average for this time of year.

APPLE HARVEST expected to be a bumper crop this year as most apple orchards are on the hillsides, and not in the flood plain where other crops were lost. The temps, rain and drought times did not affect bearing of fruit.

MOH declined to go work in the Owego store hanging shelf tags as sinuses have been acting up since the flood waters have receeded and "stuff" in the air stirred up..including human waste particulates. We both are sufferers of allergies and rely on things like psuedoephedrine to clear our sinus passages.

Well, now I go watch some TV, MOH will be up in 2 hours to start getting ready for work adn I shall probably then be going back to bed sleeping some out of exhaustion.

-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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Good morning...
Posted by wetidlerjr on Saturday, September 17, 2011 11:00 PM

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

Laugh

 

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

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Posted by Cederstrand on Saturday, September 17, 2011 10:37 PM

Chamomile tea, please.

Worked on removing fence nails from an old fence we no longer need, so we can then re-use those posts on the new fence. Also decided to pull several old gates which are seldom used and are not necessary, so we won't have to buy any new ones. Need to complete this project on the cheap.

Can't find my current tester. Wasn't in the train room so will need to do a thorough search for it tomorrow. Thanks for all the tips and suggestions. From what has been said, pretty certain it's the starter.

Exhausted. Time to hit the hay.

Sleep Rob

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Posted by GMTRacing on Saturday, September 17, 2011 8:42 PM

Good Evening All,

     Lazy day today. Went hiking on more rail trails. The CFO is looking at ones near Fergie and mentioned she'd found a place called Georges' Trains and maybe we could go there... Love this woman. Also started some HD stuff on Moms house fixing a wall and some tile in the bathroom. Need to earn my keep doncha know.

    Sorry to hear Galaxy is still boiling water and under curfew. The little things after the storm are the ones that really rankle.

   Todd- If the lights don't dim and there is no clicking, the solenoid is at fault. It is normally not replaced as a matter of course on starter rebuilds. If the lights come on and go dim or off when you turn the key to the start position, the battery is most likely at fault. Clicking indicates the starter is trying to engage the ring gear but there is insufficient voltage to spin the armature up and engage it. Usually that is a starter problem but it could also be a battery or cable or connection fault. It's easier to diagnose with a batttery load tester to help, but those are the basics you're looking for. Automatic or standard gearbox?

       I'll be hanging out at the rivet counter for a bit.....   CUL, J.R.

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Posted by JimRCGMO on Saturday, September 17, 2011 7:55 PM

Evening, Flo, just a Dr. Pepper in a 'go' cup, please. Thanks!

Garry - love your backdrops (would get something like that, except my RR's an independent branch line more out in the rural area). Great w**k on your tracks - do you have a double-slip or two in there? Sure looks like passenger terminal tracks should look. Thumbs UpBow

Jeff, you're just good at 're-cycling' stuff  (whether it's decoders, locos, or like 'Robin Hood'? Smile, Wink & Grin). You have a good eye for catching the bargains, too, and that helps with getting the good deals. YeahBow'

NSJoe, good start on the school stuff (which likely means you've developed good study habits in previous school years). Keep it up, and best wishes on your new 'jobs' (and on finding out what the heck you're supposed to do). Thumbs Up Wink

Todd, you beat me to it on Rob's comment about "water the Kudzu"... Laugh

Rob, do you have THAT flamethrower fueled up, just in case? Whistling Hope you get the starter/battery/wiring thing figured out soon, so you can get the places you need to (or your wife can get to here w**k)

Looks like a few DIners have been waking up early. I usually don't do that kinda thing. Zzz (Unless the dang pager is going off, anyway...) May that be only a brief temporary glitch!

Lee, that's a new one on me - pole-digging party, eh? Smile, Wink & Grin Does it involve Beer and Pizza for the visiting participants (like some other ways I've heard of for getting help on bigger chores)?

Galaxy, sounds like your new furnace also provides entertainment! (tee hee...) Good comment by your OH there. Thumbs Up Nice thing will be that when that does kick on, it likely won't be on for as long (hopefully, saving on your total gas bill).

Oh, as is not at all uncommon during district fair week, today it rained (again), kind of a drizzling, water-the-garden kind of rain (until a bit after noon or so). Supposed to get some more tomorrow - that'll be really fun for the fair and carnival w**kers trying to pack up everything to haul down the road to their next location. Usually, they leave either Sunday or Monday morning (possibly depends on how late everybody leaves the fair Sat. night). Our other (really heavy) rainy day this week of the fair, somebody apparently got into some of the concessions/games/trailers and stole stuff from the fair w**kers. It was mentioned on the local news that night.

Russell, good to see you in the Diner again (and great that your diesel's problem was a quick fix. Smile

L&N Tim - yeah, given how long your LHS guy is taking, I figured you would definitely NOT want to do that to whoever you sell the TT to. Sounds like your (better) turntable is coming along nicely - good! Thumbs Up

Ulrich, sounds like you're making good progress - now go enjoy your night out tonight! Dinner We'll look forward to your photos when you get the chance (and time).

Johnboy, you may want to look up the (St. Louis County) Museum of Transportation, depending on if you're coming through St. Louis on your way to Springfield. They (while back when I was last there) have several locos and passenger cars there. Enjoy the time on vacation (and off w**k)! Yeah

Oh, good, Ray - another thing to put on the calendar - Satellite falling on Sept. 24th. ("...Get helmet out on Sept. 23rd, just in case...").Surprise Yipes! On your reunion bunch, sounds like a lot of your fellow teachers were as crazy as you (I mean, uh, well, you know....)Whistling

Kind of a lazy day for me here - nothing much related to MRR'ing going on. Will see about getting back to some of that tomorrow after church.

Prayers for full night's sleep for a few of our Diners, for moisture levels to go down in Galaxy's area (hey, maybe you can point those furnace vents toward that stinky neighbourhood nearby, or at least at David's place so they can get their stuff dried out), and for Rob to get a little rain for his kudzu (can't believe I'm actually putting that one on the AngelAngel list....), and to get the battery/starter thing fixed.

I'm gonna call it a night for now; see everyone tomorrow afternoon.

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape G.

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Posted by AmanaMedic on Saturday, September 17, 2011 7:55 PM

"By the way is there anyone who can tell me how close is the Kate Shelly Bridge to I-29 ?  and or directions to it,  I sure would like to visit there if it is reasonably close."

Why yes JOHNBOY, I can help you out here! I-29 runs along the west edge of Iowa. The Kate Shelly is just west of Boone in the middle of the state. I-35 (through Ames) would take you within 20 miles of the bridge. I-29? You're looking at a long "side trip." Also, I-29 might not yet be open all the way to Missouri due to Missouri River flooding. US Highway 59 has been THE detour, with road rage and wrecks a-plenty according to family in the area.

Here's the easiest way to THE BRIDGE: US Highway 30 WEST of Boone to J Ave. Go NORTH on J Ave. to 208th St. Turn RIGHT (EAST) onto 208th until you hit a "T" intersection. THAT is Juneberry Road. Turn LEFT (NORTH) and you WILL see THE BRIDGE.

If time allows, you should check out the Boone and Scenic Valley Rwy. in Boone. They run a daily (through October) tourist type train on the former Ft. Dodge, Des Moines, and Southern. The FtDDM&S was originally an interurban. The CNW bought 'em out. The line has it's own "high bridge," which while not as impressive as THE BRIDGE, it is still quite high and an incredible view, especially in the fall.

 

Good evening, I'll take a cup of coffee and have a seat at the RC.

Happy Constitution Day to us United States-ians...

Chris

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

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Posted by howmus on Saturday, September 17, 2011 7:35 PM

Evenin' folks!

Cup of hot cocoa for me tonight Janie! There is a definite chill in the air....  Currently 49°F and the low tonight will be 44°.  Actually a couple degrees higher than last night.  The house has lost all the residual heat from the warmer days and is now cold..... Brrrr.  So I kicked on the gas heat in the living room tonight just to take the chill off.  This is the earliest I have ever turned up the heat...  I should be turning it off if the temp get back into the 70's during the day next week.

We had a great reunion of the gang from the Fine and Practical Arts Dept. from the old Middle School.  Had a few others that often hung around with us come as well.  Close to 20 people.  We told a lot of old tales from way back when, and celebrated 3 birthdays.  One turned 39, again....  She has been 39 for around 45 years I think.  Her husband (who was a wacky Social Studies teacher) just turned 80, and the lady I picked up and had ride with me to the party turned 90 last week!!!  This lady taught me how to cross country ski back 20 years ago.  She took it up after having a near fatal skiing accident in Switzerland in her late 60's doing downhill.  Doctor told her it was time for her to give up alpine skiing so she took up cross country instead.  She now gets around with the aid of a cane and a walker......  Still quite the character though!

The Social Studies Teacher is one who has a bunch of stories we love to retell.  Way back when he was a young teacher he, along with the rest of the Social Studies teachers, attended a State yearly conference (every dept. had them) in Rochester, NY.  Everyone had to show up for the morning session as you had to officially sign in (or else!).  Lunch was on your own and you were to return after having lunch.  Yeah, right!  He was driving so they went to a bar and drank lunch....  After downing a few too may they all piled back into the guys car and tried to remember how to get back to the conference they were now supposed to be back at (an hour or so earlier...).  He ended up going the wrong way down a one way street and was stopped by a police officer.  The officer asked him "didn't you see the arrow" (for the one way street)?  He thought for a second and said, "H%ll officer, I didn't even see the Indian!"  The vice-principle of the Middle School had to drive to Rochester and bail him out of Jail.......  True story!

News release....  The National Weather Channel has this: "A defunct research satellite is falling from space back to earth. It is expected to reenter the atmosphere late Sep or early Oct. NASA predicts it will land somewhere between Canada and South America. And you thought our hurricane landfall forecasts needed work! The debris is expected to have a footprint of 500 miles, but the risk to safety/property is very small."  Unless it just happens to hit you I guess???  They now think it will re-enter the atmosphere on Sept. 24th.  I'll be at the Museum if I am needed....Whistling

Hope you have all had a great day!

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 Heartland Division CB&Q on Saturday, September 17, 2011 6:04 PM

Hello everybody ... 

I'll have Chicago style pizza because we are in IL. 

On the layout, I am about to start laying track for my streetcar line. 

Cheers, everybody. 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, September 17, 2011 4:40 PM

At last! I finally got a shipping confirmation that my new Model Power GP9 has been shipped. I ordered it on the 12th and now it's on it's way on the 17th. Only a delay of five days. >:( :o

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 cudaken on Saturday, September 17, 2011 3:53 PM

 Hello, anyone here?

 Boy Flo, it been slow lately. Yea, I know what you mean about time to start looking for a better job. Can I get a Beer please?

  Another Lazy day At Cuda Ken's. Wife knee is giving her fits and she can hardly walk. So this morning I made her breakfast, feed the Girls (dogs) and did the dishes. Trade off? Well with her not being able to walk much, she has not be bugging me out here in the garage. Yes

 Did make it to K-10 Model Trains Ken the owner asked how Ulrich's layout is coming a long. Ken gave us some discounts on the need supplies when he was there. Need to print out some pictures to show him Ulrich work.

 Picked up a few things. Got a MRR Magazine, it was last months. New DH 163, not sure if I am going to use it in the 2-10-2 or the PA.

 All so bought a cheap Athearn Passenger trucks. Hope I can use then to fix a Con Cor car that trucks have worn out.

 Ulrich Looking forward to some more pictures. I was all wondering if ichi-ban meant To Tall. Whistling I did see you install the portals in I think the water fall section.

 Well, I might drop by later.

            Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, September 17, 2011 12:42 PM

While checking out my heater I discovered it had a broken switch. It's a simple plastic light-up rocker switch that has a very small and thin metal contact in it. It's job is to turn on/off the low heat element. There are two heating elements. Both are 700 watts each and put out 2,300 Btu's each. There are three switches. Main power, first element (700 watts), second element (1400 watts). When the heater is on low the first element switch is on and only the first element is energized. When the second element switch is turned on the second element is energized and the two elements together are putting out 4,600 Btu's of heat. Now for the second element to work the first element must be on. The second element can't be used on it's own. Turn the first element switch off and both elements turn off. Guess which element switch was broken. You got it, the one for the first element. Without it the second switch doesn't get power. Since the first element can be turned on and off with the main switch the first element switch is redundant. Therefore I was able to remove it and use the metal tab that was in the switch to join the wires together thus completing the circuit and energizing the element. It's as if the switch is always on. Turning the main power switch on and off turns both elements on and off so I still have control. I let the heater run for a while to see if the connection would get hot and it never did. I had to check it with a lab thermometer since I can feel only high heat with my hands. It warmed up a little but never anywhere near to what could be considered dangerous. While all this was going on there was a dangerous situation taking place with my $30 Chinese made Task Force six volt flashlight. After about twenty minutes of constant use the cheap little switch in the flash light melted. Boy, talk about chinsy. If you can't trust a well-made high quality Chinese product what can you trust?Whistling

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 last mountain & eastern hogger on Saturday, September 17, 2011 11:40 AM

Whistling

Good Morning Gang, it's great to see ya all.

Chloe I'll have the Diner Brunch today, whatever it is, just surprise me OK? and a Cherry Coke to flush.

This is my last day of work for awhile, some vacation time is arriving at 4:00pm today. Sure looking forward to it.  We will venture south this time as our youngest Son is in Grad School in Springfield Missouri. We'll also slip down to Branson and take in some of the Ozarks. I'm sure we will enjoy that.

Any suggestions on RR sites that I shouldn't miss traveling there and back.??

I have a couple of orders of scenic stuff and vehicles and a couple of Difco dumpers that will be sent to my Son's to save on the shipping costs. So I will have some new toys to look at and play with when I get there.

This is the Saturday that I usually give you your History Lesson. BUT, this week our Guy Dan the AltonFan has posted an absolutely GREAT Video in the thread called   "What is it ?" It is a video that you all should see.  It is about the various Yards in the Chicago area of the C&NW. RR. around 1945 and covers all types of goods from steel to perishables to livestock.  It is very well done and I will not take up your time with another History lesson as I doubt if I could top this.  A BIG thank you to Dan for posting this, I really enjoyed it.

I will check in with you again once we get to Sprinfield.

By the way is there anyone who can tell me how close is the Kate Shelly Bridge to I-29 ?  and or directions to it,  I sure would like to visit there if it is reasonably close.

Prayers and best wishes to all those finding that a black cloud is following them these days.  Glad to here from Galaxy and that his feet are dry.  I'm sure there are a lot of our other RR buddies that weren't so fortunate.    What a year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Keep Smiling..

Johnboy out...................................for now .       VACATION   Yeah  Thumbs Up  Thumbs Up

from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North.. 

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

  • Member since
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 17, 2011 10:34 AM

Ken - ichi-ban just means good - you guessed it right!

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Sundown
  • 406 posts
Posted by Train Master on Saturday, September 17, 2011 9:56 AM

Yesterday we had a chance to take swimming lessons in the house. One of the hoses to the washing machine busted and flooded the wash room and bathroom. The water flowed down into the floor vents and was filling up the air ducts. The ducts were not made to take that kind of weight and tghe bottom of them came apart in a few places. My dad said the ducts needed to be cleaned anyway. The AC/heat unit is above floor level so was not damaged. The hose was replaced yesterday and me and dad are going to fix the ducts today. So much for my plans for the day.

David Parks
I am the terror that flaps in the night!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Saturday, September 17, 2011 9:22 AM

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a short stack of buttermilk pancakes (since the blueberries are gone), some sausage, and lots of real maple syrup to go along with the dark roast coffee this morning.

Just popping in to check out the forum before going to the Middle School reunion party today.

Nice day outside....  Currently 52°F with a high of maybe 63 later this afternoon........Whistling  I hope it gets warm enough for the Bumbley Bees from the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station to visit and pollinate more string beans for me.

Have a great day!

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 Saturday, September 17, 2011 9:18 AM

Good morning. It's 67° and mostly cloudy. The high will be 89° and it will be mostly cloudy.

To recap yesterday I removed the decoders from four locos I no longer run. With the and a couple of others I already had on hand I converted some locos I rebuilt to DCC. An Atlas FP7, two Stewart F9's and a Proto 2000 BL2. I now have two decoders left. One Bachmann light board decoder and one Digitrax DZ125. The Bachmann decoder is reserved for the new Atlas FP7 I have coming. That leaves the DZ125. It could go into a Model Power GP9 I have coming or it could go into an Atlas H24-66 I have in my display rack. At this point I haven't decided with one it will be.

Today I'll be cleaning up the layout. It's pretty cluttered from all the work I've been doing. I'll also vacuum the dust out of my heater and test it. It should work OK but you never know.

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
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Saturday, September 17, 2011 9:07 AM

 Hum, Flo looks like I am buying. Whistling

 Ulrich is "ichi-ban" a good thing? Glad you are getting some rail time in.

 Ken

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Saturday, September 17, 2011 8:59 AM

 Morning Folks

 Flo, Coffee please.

 Rob you said it reads dead battery as if instantly drained? How are you testing the battery? If the battery is truly drained my first guess would be the battery has gone bad.

 First thing I would do, is clean the battery post, if it will still not start do you have a different battery you can try?

 What year truck is it? Some of the GM vehicles had computer chips in the keys them. My wife's key for her Firebird went bad and was acting the the same way. Except the dead battery part. New key did the trick, but sure was not cheap.

 Clean the battery terminals first. When i was having problems Daytona cranking over, that was the problem.

 Got some early running around to do today. Paying bills that is. Then hopefully I will get some rail time in.

 See you later.

                                 Ken

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    April 2003
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09/17/2011
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 17, 2011 8:54 AM

Good Afternoon Gang!

Janie, coffee and a blueberry muffin, please!

I have been doing some w*rk on my station module, although the package I was waiting for did not come Grumpy. The right side of the module is taking shape - I added clump foliage, blended turf and some of Ken´s trees, which look very good on the module. Ken´s trees are ichi-ban!!! Everything needs to dry thoroughly before I can take picture - tomorrow I´ll post some - promised!

We are invited for dinner tonight - it´ll feel good to get out of the house for a change.

Have a good one!

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Williamsville, ILL
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Posted by TMarsh on Saturday, September 17, 2011 7:43 AM

Good Morning!! Coffee please. Thanks.

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.

Gotta go out and spend some time at Mom’s house. How long? Probably all day….again. Probably more accurate to tell you what I did than what I'll do.

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

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Ohio
  • 106 posts
Posted by L&NTim11060 on Saturday, September 17, 2011 5:53 AM

Good morning all........Well I got most of the bridge done Friday also got the pit floor primed and the ring rail installed everything is moving along pretty well. I ordered the motor and motor mount for the turntable this morning. Hope it gets here as quick as the turntable did. Jim I,m think I will put the other TT on e-bay or sell it on here when Walthers release it ( when ever that is Angry ) I promise that I won,t take anyones money then take up to a year to send it out Big Smile.

L&N.....Gone but not forgotten

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  • From: upstate NY
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Posted by galaxy on Friday, September 16, 2011 11:30 PM

GOOD MORNING!!!

Today is Saturday, September 17, 2011!!!

{can you believe it already more than half way through September???}

Temperature here is currently 45*.

Curfew remains in effect form 9PM to 6 or 7 AM {depending on area} in some areas still.

Boil water advisory for some areas continues. This includes our area, and BOY are we SICK of it!!!! Be sure if you have an individual well that was flooded to proceed with well decontamination proceedures. All Permited Restaurants in Tioga county cannot re-open until certified by the Health Department.

Looters WILL be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. SOme homeowners have posted signs : You Loot, We Shoot. This is a matter for the police, not the individual doing what is known as "taking the law into their own hands".

Colder areas with {brr} first of the season frost advisories.for tonight. Be glad you have a furnace, if yours was not flooded.

Restaurants were busy up and down the parkway last night. We tried to eat out, splitting a meal as we most often due and take advantage of Denny's AARP discount, but they,too, were full with waiting people. SOme people still don't have a house to live in, let alone cook in.

Houses along our area had water in their basements. Several have cleaned out to the curb stuff that was damaged, even though their houses were "hihg and dry" from the raging flood waters. But apparently not "high and dry" enough to avoid getting water int he basements!

Houses in the Twin Orchard are of Vestal need to follow sanitization proceedures for removing human sewage from the premises. A lot of their flooding happened due to backed up sewers. We won't be buying a house in THAT area, I tell you! You can smell that area from the Vestal Parkway.SAd but true.

Well, see you all later, I am sure new furnace will get it's second workout early AM when chill is beset upon the trailer.

 

-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.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Indy
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Posted by mononguy63 on Friday, September 16, 2011 10:28 PM

Evening, all. I'll take something to drink. Don't care what it is, just make it good 'n strong.

Thought I'd get the layout back up and running and take a video or two in the area where I'd recently installed new scenery. There was quite an accumulation of junk blocking the line in multiple locations. Got that all cleared away and got out a couple of locos. Real sporadic running. Hadn't run anything in some time - must've been a combination or dirty track and engines needing a little re-breaking in. So I took the Brite Boy to the more troublesome stretches, and the locos ran a little better, but not great. Finally set out some cars and built a train. But nothing worked right. Wobbles, stiff running (some cars had to be pulled downhill) and derailments galore. Finally got things running at least in the vicinity I was going to shoot - started one video, and the first car behind the locomotive derailed literally right in front of the camera. I just turned off the lights and went upstairs.

Hopefully the gremlins will get a good night's sleep and feel a little less mischevious tomorrow.

Later

Jim

"I am lapidary but not eristic when I use big words." - William F. Buckley

I haven't been sleeping. I'm afraid I'll dream I'm in a coma and then wake up unconscious.  -Stephen Wright

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