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Elliot´s Trackside Diner - September 2011 Locked

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  • From: Euclid, Ohio
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Posted by LSWrr on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 8:12 AM

Todd,

 my CenAir will do that in high humidity-high heat days when it doesn't get a chance to shut down long enough between cycles.  I'm interested in hearing your HVAC guys comments on the subject.

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

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  • From: upstate NY
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Posted by galaxy on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 8:29 AM

Hi guys, and Sue,

First I was gonna quote copy all those who commented while I was without power and dind't have internet access. But there were so many! SO I will say  HEARTY THANK YOU TO ALL WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT US DURNING THE CATASTROPHIC FLOODING THE BESEACHED OUR AREA!

I promised y'all an accounting of what happened lately.

For those who don't know, the Greater Binghamton area is settled on the BANKS and surrounding hills of the Susquehanna River {abbreviated "S" hereon} and the CHenango River { "C" hereafter} and ALL their creeks and stream tributaries running down from the mighty  hills. a few Areas are lower-level on the banks, But nowhere is it ever below the rivers and creeks, like New Orleans is below sea level!.There are a few other rivers in the surounding area and counties also that cause trouble for floks there.. I live in Tioga COunty and Broome county is in my back yard where Binghamton and the Greater Binghamton area is.

My town, according to the Sunday PAper got just over 10" of rain in roughly a 24 period. I was watching TV and news on Wed. that showed areas like West COrners {the creek did it}, Old Vestal Road neighborhods being flooded rapidly and deeply by the river/ and run-off from the hills., so I knew we were getting a lot. I could also tell by the rain on my tinny-tin roof of my trailer {badly needly resealing} and by the "river" flowwing down the road in front and the ponding in my yard and drive we were getting a pounding. Wednesday night we went to bed about 9=9:30 as usual, but at almost exactly the power went off and set off the alarm on my Oxygen generator! Then it came back on, then off again. Finally all power was out at 2:15 Thurday early AM.

First, I would like to say we DO sit "high and dry" based on the 2006 flood that hit the are hard, BUT NOT as hard as we got nailed getting Tropical storm LEE, his gathering of additional stroms and rains as he proceeded up the East Coast and JUST AFTER having Hurrincane Irene dump on us the week before! The S river would have to flood a 4 lane interstate {which it DID} AND cross a 4/2 lane local highway/parkway {which it DID} and come up about another 50 feet before lapping at our door. Even then, we have about 2-3 feet of clearnace before it would be IN our trailer. SO we are lucky I guess.

The electric subsation is located in a lower-land area called Castle Gardens, which is flood prone. WHne the water reaches and submerges the substation, our power goes out or is cut off. SO THAT happened on Thurdays at 2:15 AM. Probelmn is, they have to wiat for the water to receed, the station to "dry out" and get washed down BEFORE they can turn it back on. When the power went out then, MOH {My Other Half} said "what do we do now?" I said "we go back to sleep, there is nothing we can do and keep your flashlight handy. The pweer was out from Thurday 2:15 AM til Monday about 6-6:30 PM!!!

We have lots of Tea Light candles {burn about 4 hours} and have two regual Oil lamp, one large oil lamp, and one small oil lamp too. Growing up in Owego area, the power was out every othe week, so We learned to keep Kerosene lamps {at the time} on hand. MOH also learned to keep oil lamps {safer} on hand and bought two new ones to replace old ones a few odd years ago We have a battery operated radio to get info on, but I swear, in such a catastrophy you would think they would give more local news!!!!

The river breached the older flood walls on the E side of Binghamton {hereafter Bingo or B}, causing evacuations and people there to loose a lot, the walls HELD in 2006 flood, but not this time}. They were also concerned aobut washout at the base of the flood walls like what happened in new Orleans. BUt that part seemed to hold. The evacuated the southern part of Binghamton as the river runs right along a the parkway highway there and flooded in areas that had not had flooding before! W side was bascially oK, but some areas were evacuated and Downtown Bingo was evacuated, especially BU student housing and student auxilary campus downtown. Much of bingo was evaced to shelters. SOme shelters had to then be closed as they flooded and sought higher-ground shelters.

The N part of the city of Johnson city, a suburb, had water racing down Reynolds road by the Oakdale Mall  to Harry L. Drive and flooded the stores and plazas and housing there. ANy lower lying areas or river hugging areas in Endicott got flooded.

Some people were only lucky to have a few feet of water in thier basement, but that destroys things in a finished basemnt and destroys things stored or used in the basement {washer/dryer/water heater/furnace/ Model Railroad!.

The whole village of OWEGO nearby, and the county Seat of Tioga county was flooded and rapidly. SOme employees from the Owego store were shifted to work at the store MOH works at in Bighmaton {stayed dry, but a trick to get to} and they said the Nat. Guard came in, siezed the intercom and said " ALL customers and emplyees have SEVEN MINUTES to Evacuate this building!" It was built higher than htat area around it, bu not high enough apparently. Besides with teh town flooding fast, it was get out of get flooded! There is STILL a ban on ALL traffic in the downtown Owego part. My father lives outside  owego, and had some water come into his basement from teh hills behind him, which is a trick as he re-graded the yard DOwn AWay from the house several years ago. The "natural ditch" he left didn't do a good job of diverting water. He just had spillage or up flow from the floor drain, not feet or inches, enough to destroy some things sitting on the floor, but not enough to flood.

There are other towns around here that got washed away.

SOme dykes around here were breached by height or by water seeping in around them, or reverse pressuring flood gates.

We basically are high and dry, but socked in by water. There is one over-teh-hills-and-through-the-woods way we have to possibly get out. IF the bridge at teh ed doesn't get washed away. the area next to the bridge saw some serious back errosion, so I don't know how safe teh will consider it in the future. The one road was closed off for immediate repaving as the shoulders were gushed away, the pavement sliding and crumbling and the sheer extra volume of traffic on the steep hillroad. Surprisingly enouhg there was a shelter near us open, but we had no need of them.

Becasue so many roads were underwater, and of course "rubber neckers" out to see the sights, the open roads were clogged for those going for supplies or to/from work.

Being without power is bad enough, but for days on end, a raw deal! WOuldn't you know it,... just when  our Train nut friend said he'd loan us the $ to get a generator, and the store actually got to open {Harbor Freight Tools} nad Got some into stock, and we get it, gas cans and heavy duty extension cords and get it out of the box and set up on cinder blocks 4 feet from the nearest structure, THe BLOODY POWER CAME BACK ON!!!

Dry ICe only goes SO far in protecting your Freezer. WOuldn't you know that Price Chopper had Mega sales on beef..including NY strip seaks at what $2.99 or $3.99 a pound, and other GREAT deals that I had just packed our refer/freezer ful as well as the small upright freezer with meat and beef! Dry ice only goes so far in protecting it and after eating some meat that had defrosted in the freezer but looked and smelled ok made us both sick and vomited it back up! Not to mention the daily treks to go FIND the dry ice. The one firestation nearby had boxes of MREs and I should have asked for some. SPam and tuna and Peanut butter/jelly only go so far as power is out!!!! SO longer story short, I had to throw out the two freezers of food as the only food that APPEARED to stay frozen was immediately right aorund the dry ice. Cleaned out the fridge too. HAd to go shopping to replace stuff....$200 smackers.

Good thing I have credit cards. We did eat out on Monday though at restaurants NOT under boil wter advisories and OPEN WITH FOOD.

We have a little portable camping stove that has a base for teh small propane tanks and screws on top to make mini-gas stove. That was what we had to cook and heat water on. TG for "instant" {burned} coffee!

MOst towns/counties are still under States of Emergency, and travel advisories. We are still under boil water advisory. Gov. Cuomo immediately sought Federal aid for both Irene and Lee, so many will have help. Farmers lost crops naturally.

Our generator is "not rated for sensitive electronic items like TVs, stereos, and computers and printers without a {even flow} current controller adn adequate surge protectors inplace". BUMMER!

We still ahve to oil it, ad gas it up and make sure it actually starts and runs ans operates something!!!! We were worried someone might steal it and had the store employees load it up when I backed up to the pallet of them. But at home, It took 3 men, 2 boys and a mule to get ti out. Not really, MOH, myself  with my bad back and our Train nut friend {also with very bad back} who loaned us the money to get it got it out. As much as it weighs, I don't think anyone will "run off" easily with it! It is 6500 watt surge, 5500 watt running with electric start option, but noone sells the bloody battery for it. "O, its just a motorcycle battery"...Wally world had about 100 different mortor cycle batteries,a dn none looked to fit eht space in the battery holder. I don't think Harbor Freight even sells them online! Whata  crock to charge for "electric start" when you cant get a battery.I don't know maybe any 12 volt, 70 CCA battery willl do, but will the battery clips on the generator work???

WEll, The roofers are due at 10:30, and I have a TON of laundry to do and to get teh dishwasher done so I'd better go.

There are still people without power, without homes, who "can't get tehre from here" and such so we are lucky.Thank goodness we have gas hot water and it wasn't shut off..at least we had hot water to shower with. Our neighbor has a gas stove so she could cook, but had electric hot water so had none. SHE got laoned a genereator JUST AS THE POWER CAM BACK ON. Our neighbors down the road got one JUST BEFORE THE POWER CAME VBACK ON!

When we were house hunting we turned down lots of houses protected by dykes, now it is easy to see why!.

I have bored you all to toatl tears now, so I shut up.

 

I will talk at you all later maybe.

Have a great one!

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 cudaken on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 9:54 AM

 Morning Folks

 Flo, eggs over easy, hash browns and coffee please.

 Had quite the storm last night, well no comparison to Galaxy's. Looks like we finally got a fair amount of rain. Today's high will be 68 degrees.

 Lee thanks for taking a interest in the quest for a better resume.

 "The 1-2 page resume doesn’t work anymore."

 So Lee, it should be longer or shorter? Last training I had on the subject you wanted a short to the point resume, not a small book? But, things could have changed.

 One I am looking at modeling mine after features high lights of my career like (10 years of experience in running multiple stores for 2 nation wide company's)

 Guess I should all so look at the Government Job links you gave me. I did save it.

 Galaxy Glad you have power again. Do you have home owners insurances? In the ice storm of 2006 we where without power for a few days. We turned in $200.00 in spoiled food to our insurances company and they covered the lost.

 Well, I drop by a little later.

             Ken

 

I hate Rust

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 10:21 AM

Good Afternoon,

The STALAG has not been at all bad today - the smoke is clearing up a little, showing a good chance of a job at the end of it. I hope this one materializes and takes me into retirement in ten year´s time...

Galaxy - great to hear that you and your family got through the disaster unhurt. We was worried, mate! Shocking report you gave us - my prayers to those who had to suffer a loss of whatever kind!

Ken - my "long" resume has 7 pages, my short one just two. There is no set rule for a resume, but the higher the requirements for a job are, the more proof of capabilities and competence you will have to give. I have to admit, that we do things completely differently here in Germany. A job application has to have a covering letter, explaining briefly why you apply for that specific job and the company offering the position, a resume and employer´s references. In my case, that´s a 40 page package (who´s going to read all this?). I think that Lee has put it to the point - your resume should be focused on the qualifications required for the job.

Got some "homework" to do - CUL!

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Posted by howmus on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 10:22 AM

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a short stack of blueberry pancakes (while they are still in season), bacon, and lots of dark roast coffee in a R&GV RR mug.  Thank you!

So far we are having a great day here in the Finger Lakes region, currently 65°F under sunny skies with a high of 71°F.  Absolutely perfect out there....

Galaxy sounds like you had quite an experience down there!  I hope the clean up goes well for all of the folks with property destroyed during the storm!

TMarsh

Oh Ray- Sorry, didn't mean to leave you hanging. Almost forgot. The Surpentine belt. The 4 bazillion point vehicle inspection you were going to have. They always point out the "cracked serpantine belt". Neglecting to mention they will crack fairly quickly and that is acceptable as long as the cracks are not lined across the belt or if chunks are missing. But hey, to those not in the know, the belt looks like a cracked mess and they sell a belt.

Todd....  Ah the belt.  OK, I get it.  THAT type of stuff is why I'm willing to pay a bit more and only patronize honest businesses that I trust.  When I get something like the serpentine belt con, THAT is the last they see of me.  Also one of the reasons THAT Mall Wart hasn't gotten 1¢ from me let alone $20 over the last 15 years.  If THAT is the only place I can buy it, I guess I don't need it.  I try to follow Mahatma Gandhi's "Be the change you want to see in the world!"  (Not always sucessful......Whistling). 

Guess I best be getting to the day's tasks.

Catch you all 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 LSWrr on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 11:36 AM

Ken, the reviewer shouldn’t have to ask you to explain something; it should be documented on your resume if it applies to the posted job description.  The answers you provide on the application should be supported in your resume. You shouldn’t use bullets, abbreviations, acronyms or short sell yourself.  The resume should be directly to the point, don’t confine yourself to 3 pages if you have 6 pages of experience. If you provide a phone number until you get the job you should practice answering the phone: This is Ken, may I help you.  Even if you know who is calling, it will become a habit for when the job offer calls you back.  It shows your professional on and off the job.  You sell things for a living; sell yourself to the potential employer.

 

If your take a resume class in High School or College and your 18-24 years old I bet you’ll have a 1-3 page resume.  If you’re like me and have been working since 1985 you’ll need more than 3 pages.

 

Think of it this way: I want to replace 5 windows in the back of my house; I want double hung, white vinyl windows.  I have contractors stopping out the next 4 days for an estimate.  How many out of 4 vendors will take my order and leave and how many will give me a 1-2 hour sales pitch?  I'm going to have these windows for a long time and I need to know everything about them before I choose one model over the other...

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

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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 Wednesday, September 14, 2011 12:21 PM

This morning I stripped three Athearn locos for parts. An SD9 and a pair of Alco P's (PA2/PB2). Parts taken included decoders (Bachmann), motors, gears and in the case of the PA2 the horns.

I used the horns from the PA2 on the E7 I recently acquired. The existing holes were too small. I thought a 3/64" bit would be big enough but even those holes were too small. Next in line was a 1/16" bit. I thought that if I went any bigger I was going to have use a fly swatter to kill anything that crawled out. The 1/16" bit did the trick. The new horns fit perfectly and a little super glue should insure they stay put.

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 blownout cylinder on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 1:49 PM

Good Afternoon..

Spent part of my afternoon working on the layout..and got to run some trains as well! Now what I need to do is check for some loose ballast..as it appears that some of this has got into a couple of switches ...

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 jeffrey-wimberly on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 4:16 PM

I got a wrong number call last night. When I picked up the phone someone was instantly asking for someone that obviously wasn't at this end of the line. So I answered with 'Welcome to USA Prime Credit. My name Peggy. May I help you? Dead silence on the other end then 'Click'. :D



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 howmus on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 4:57 PM

Evenin'

Flo, I'll have the "blue Plate Special" tonight and a Cherribundy light to go along with it.

jeffrey-wimberly

I got a wrong number call last night. When I picked up the phone someone was instantly asking for someone that obviously wasn't at this end of the line. So I answered with 'Welcome to USA Prime Credit. My name Peggy. May I help you? Dead silence on the other end then 'Click'. http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa268/theforumsmiles/ROTFLMAO.gif

Now Jeffrey.... THAT is just plain mean!   I love it!  (Gotta write THAT one down to use......Smile, Wink & Grin)

Made a couple modifications on my little utility trailer so I don't have to remove the entire racks to get my Log Splitter loaded.  Tomorrow I will be picking it up from my son's house where it has set all Summer and get it ready to take over to the museum where it will sit all Fall.... I will be picking up some wood to be split myself, but THAT can wait until late this Fall.

Gotta get a move on.  Have a 50th. reunion committee meeting in Canandaigua tonight.  Actually we are planning a 49th. year class reunion........ Laugh  We didn't have a 40th. so we are anxious to get all of us survivors together before we lose too many more.  37 of our classmates have already died........

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 Cederstrand on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 5:30 PM

Coffee in a SUNNY SOUTHERN mug, please.

***Jeffrey, that's a fine looking SantaFe loco. Loved your phone answering...toooo funny!

Grabbed some Kudzu today while out and about. Then this evening we tossed it in the small canyon, fertilized it with an old riding mower and took off before it grabbed our ankles.

Hope y'all are doing well.

Cowboy Rob

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 5:35 PM

Good Evening...

Well, it is now dull and cool out here...55F going to a low of ....43F???...OIConfused

Had a bit of work on the switches...and found a few spots wherein the ballasting was coming up...relaying some ballast on the cards for tomorrow I guess...

Chloe, I'll have 8 Hexaplexii burgers with the mushroom gravy and cheese slathered on and a tub of fries and gravy please...oh...and a large bucket of RBF as well...I'll be at the corner booth 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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Good evening...
Posted by wetidlerjr on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 5:45 PM

 

Good Evening ! from Tipton IN.

Mischief

Geeked

 

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

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Posted by james saunders on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 6:42 PM

Good Morning all, I've spent the last couple of nights planting tree's and fiddling with placement. I'm pretty happy with it so far. I will need probably another 10 or so tree's I think to finish it off. Here is a photo :

 

 

Last night I cleaned the tracks off from all the gunk thats built up by not having anything run for a couple of months. I ran a couple of trains to make sure all the track was ok and, for 15 minutes no derailments.

In the far corner of the layout you can see (maybe?) I have a small 3 track staging yard, well this going to be extended along the wall about another 3 feet on a narrow shelf to have a 5 1/2 foot long two track staging yard so I have somewhere to park my intermodals and unit grain trains. The smaller 3 tracks which has a capacity of around 20 cars will be used for the locals and smaller freights. Who knows maybe one day these two double tracks will become part of another section of layout.... hehehe Perhaps a coal branch with a flood loader??

Here is another pic of the layout showing the progress so far: 

And one more of the three new freight cars I got, The two BLMA reefers and the Micro Trains CR boxcar which has some pretty nifty art work on it... 

DerJohn: Thanks for the insight. Be sure to keep us updated. Yes

 

Better go get some w*rk done... 

Edit! Looks like I'm buying... Take it away!

TTFN

James, Brisbane Australia

Modelling AT&SF in the 90s

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Posted by galaxy on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 7:07 PM

Hi guys,

Got the roof done finally. It was bare metal so in pretty bad shape. He's doing our neighbor's tomorrow and another neighbor is interested.

SOme people still without people stil without power. Sad. but they are still flooded.

Some people still in evacuation centers and not looking for a home in about 2 weeeks from now. I think I said that wrong, but you know what I mean.

Some don't have houses to go to at all.

Backed-up delayed mail was finally delivered...a lot of bills at once!!

Ithink landlords will rip off people by charging high rents for the area to compensate for the demand.

FEMA help is OK'd by the WHite House. SOme will get FEMA trailers to live in. After New Orleans FEMA fiasco, I'm not sure that is a blessing.

THere is a CURFEW from 9pm-6 AM in ALMOST ALL towns/villages/cities around here!!!

Looting is a minor problem- often  its scavengers looking for metal items curbside to turn into cash.. a lot of work for little money...I could be wrong. Cops are on roads checking ID's to certain areas rip for Looting.

Boil water advisory is still in effect here.... a diesel spil in a water station belwo flood stage caused MORE problems. Our water has to be boiled as the water DEPT. is still under water and The COunty Health Dept. Has taken over Water Dept. now! We have bottled water to help.

County/town offices are re-opening now. SOme sustained damage, minor and major and some offices are not open yet. Town of Owego is now open to limited traffic.

Feels good to see TV news and get back on this site!

Weel, have a great nioght...I may sleep in so don't look for an early wake-up call!!!

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 Heartland Division CB&Q on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 8:32 PM

Hello everybody. 

Jeff ..... "Peggy" ? .... oh,... 

Galaxy ... Glad you survived. Sounds like a very rough time. ... We've had major storms 3 years in a row, and lost power for extended periods. Each time, the insurance company paid us $500.00 to replace spoiled food. ... Last two years, it was flooding with high water on the lake... 2 1/2 years ago was the Kentucky Ice Storm Disaster. We were stranded at home for 9 days with no power, no water, no regular phone, and no cell phone. ... FEMA is a dumb idea and should be discontinued in my opinion. They were little help in the ice storm. 

JR ... I'm glad you like the ballast idea. 

I'm just completing my current ballast project. I ballasted about 120 feet of track for this one for my Union Station.   

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by CNCharlie on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 10:03 PM

Good Evening,

Nice to see you back in the Diner Galaxy and glad to hear you didn't suffer much damage in the storms. I agree with the others regarding an insurance claim for the spoiled food. You should do an estimate of the cost to replace while it is still fresh in your mind.

Another cool night here with frost again. Might get up to 60F tomorrow but the normal high this time of year is only about 65.

I have been reading the posts about the U2g on the main board and find it amazing that there is so much speculation based on guesses rather than facts. I just couldn' sit back any longer so I posted my comments but mine at least are based on facts. I do have some knowledge of the company involved and find it amazing that some people just don't bother to get a few facts before they spout off. Opps, soap box coming out, kick it back quick.

Well time to go out and cover the flowers. We throw old bedsheets over them and were able to get most to last to the end of October last year.

CN Charlie

 

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Posted by galaxy on Thursday, September 15, 2011 3:59 AM

GOOD MORNING!!!

Today is Thursday, September 15, 2011!!!

WARNING: Curfew remains in effect for many areas!

Boil water advisory is in effect here!

MAil delivery will be as normal, but may be late!

Note: for those who submitted that I contact my insurance agent about the spoiled food...I happen to have the recent reciepts for most of the frozen food and meats i bought then froze in the freezers. unless they take it at my word, then I do have proof. I pay very cheap rates now for medium-good coverage and is less than the cost of the food I lost per year in premium. I would hate to see that go up just to cover about $200 in meat!

ENJOY YOUR DAY!!!

 

-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
    November 2008
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Posted by L&NTim11060 on Thursday, September 15, 2011 5:46 AM

Good morning all...Good to see Galaxy again, well I got the parts I was missing from CMR I,m hoping to start assembling the bridge tomorrow. Wife says I should mow the yard first Hmm I,m ordering the motor for the turntable this Saturday with any luck I should have things up and running by the end of October.

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

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Posted by LSWrr on Thursday, September 15, 2011 5:58 AM

Good Morning All,

 

The high today will be 58F and the low will be 50F.  Last night I brought the house plants back indoors.  Tonight I need to straighten up the dining room as the first window contractor will arrive around 1730.  I pulled a building permit to replace the driveway drain; I hope my friends will come through to help out this weekend…

 

Stopped at Carl’s layout, he is modeling the PRR 1 year before the merger with NYC.  Pictures to be shared as soon as I get the time…

 

 

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

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Thursday, September 15, 2011 8:04 AM

Good Morning..

Well, it be raining and kinda dull outside..we are currently at 46F going to a high of 54F today..in the rain...

Got some things need done this morning..a hd list showed up...yay. Later on today I'm going to the trainroom and rejig some ballast that got loose on me

Flo, I'll have a coffee and a breakfast bagel...no..not the 20lb one...the regular size one...sheeesh....

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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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, September 15, 2011 8:24 AM

Good morning. It's 72° and partly sunny. The high will be 84° and it will be partly cloudy.

Yesterday I stripped out an Athearn SD9 and an Athearn PA2/PB2 set and turned them into dummies. Now I have three motors and three Bachmann decoders that can be used elsewhere. I also have some gears if I have a truck with a busted one. I used the horns from the PA2 on the E7 which looks much better now. Today I'll be helping my father put new tires on his boat trailer. Putting the rim on the left side is easy. The one on the right side is a two man job as you have to have a wrench on the back of the bolts to keep them from spinning. Later I'll see about getting some of the layout project area cleaned up for the new arrivals that are on their way.

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
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  • From: Williamsville, ILL
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Posted by TMarsh on Thursday, September 15, 2011 9:17 AM

Good Morning!! Coffee and a couple sweet rolls please. Thanks.

Sunny, with a high near 63. Wow. It’s only suppose to get to 66 tomorrow. If the house cools much more I’ll have to turn on the (gulp) furnace.

Lee- I’ve known several AC units over the years do that, freeze up, like you said, if the unit doesn’t shut down soon enough. Ours here has never done that even when it runs long and often, like when the temps were really hot a while back. What got me was that it happened on a mid eighties day when the house was fairly cool anyway. With the temps in the 60’s this week and the 70’s next, I will probably wait til next week to get him out here. Oh and by the way….um, about this weekend, sorry I can’t help, but the wife you know, she um, kinda made plans and well, you knowWhistling.

G- Glad you survived and didn’t get flooded. Sorta. Well, your home anyway. I know about the power outages. When I was growing up, every time you turned around, the power would go out for some weather related reason. We used to joke that the power would go out if the humidity got to high. And when we had the outages we never turned food loss into insurance either. Even now we don’t. We do have a generator but don’t usually run the freezer with it because the freezer in the garage is not frostfree, stand up, but not frostfree, so it stays colder longer and usually the power isn’t out long enough to do any real damage anyway considering the longest power outages are usually in the winter due to ice so…that helps the freezer being in a cool environment. Last time the power was out for two days and the stuff in the door got a bit soft, but the stuff on the shelves, the surface of the package thawed I guess you’d say, and a lot of the ice did melt in the freezer, but the majority of the food remained sufficiently frozen except for a few things that did not have enough mass to aid in it’s own cooling process. But, my reason for not turning food, and my parents too, was that usually no other claim was submitted and we always, as do I, carry a $500 deductible, so the food, would be pretty much be a wash or maybe, so small an actual claim balance, you’re right, it’s not worth the claim. Our company measures you off how many claims you have had in like the last 5 or 10 years and determines if you qualify for a reason to raise your rates. Doesn’t matter if the claim is $5000, or $50,000. It’s a claim. EVEN, I’m told, if the claim turns out to be under the deductible and the company pays nothing.

Jeffrey- I too must remember the phone answering thing next time I decide to answer the phone. I wish I could think as quickly as you.

Well, I’m suppose to go to a “farewell cookout” at Camp Lincoln today at 11:30 for a guy I used to work with several years ago. Was gonna go, but today I’m kinda wondering if I will. Haven’t been back but twice since I left in 200...(blink blink)..5? Gee, I can’t remember. Or was it ’06? Hm. Strange. Anyway, I feel my time could be better spent attempting to accomplish something constructive here or watch ZeeVA as opposed to going out there. Very few people are there at that shop I know anyway so to them I’m just a ….legend. “So you are Master Sergeant Marshall! Wow! Can I have your autograph? Can I take a picture? I’d loooove to have your child!” Which is really odd to hear coming from a 32 year old man. The new Army I suppose. Anyway, as you would expect it’s rather embarrassing so I don’t know if I’ll attend. We’ll see.

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
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  • From: Finger Lakes
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Posted by howmus on Thursday, September 15, 2011 10:13 AM

Mornin' everyone!

Chloe, Couple of eggs sceambled, bacon and whole wheat toast....  Oh!  Dark roast coffee in my R&GV RR mug.  Thanks.

"drip, drip, drip... drip, drip, drip... dribble, dribble, dribble, drip, drip, drip....."  (from Rainy Day in Utica New York by Dr, Seuss)  Yep a bit of liquid sunshine is hitting the area today.  May get a bit over an inch today and tomorrow.....  Grumpy  "It's gonna, Rain..... Rain..... rain,rain,rain......"  (Song, 100% Chance of Rain about Noah and the Ark.)

That reminds me where's Tom?  Been a few days since he has been in.  Hope he is OK!

Galaxy, I would check with your insurance agent and find out how they do business.....  If the claim is less than your deductible, don't make a claim!  If not, most insurance companies used to consider a $200 claim as a "nuisance" claim and just pay it with no change on the price of coverage.  Good idea to check it out.  Hope you have a local agent you can talk to....  The "1-800-talk to an idiot" companies will srew you every time.

BTW, Ken, did you see that BOA is laying off 30,000 people?  Now to don't don't have to worry about talking to an idiot on the phone.  You will never get your call answered.  You may be able to go online and read a FAQ page though.............WhistlingWhistlingWhistling What?  You say the very big Advertising Agencies representing the huge Corporate Conglomorants don't have our best interests at heart???  Surprise  Who woulda thunk?!?  I think I'll stay with my Credit Union.

Got stuff I gotta do....

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
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09/15/2011
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 15, 2011 10:17 AM

Good Afternoon,

the STALAG closed early today, so I did get some spare time to work on my station module. I have added  WS clump foliage to the little hill and blended turf to some of areas I want to be "green". The glue is now drying, so no photos, yet,.I will also some of Ken´s trees to that area, but they need a little re-work. It is amazing how much difference those changes already make. Should my order of houses and detail parts arrive by Saturday, I´ll be able to finish the module.

Chloe, coffee and a slice of that apple pie, please, and add some vanilla ice cream and crushed walnuts.

Todd - night time temperatures are only a fraction of an inch above freezing in our neck of the woods, so we have turned the heat on already some days ago. Well, summer is over before it even started Grumpy

Jeff - that is one of my favorite scenes on your layout! Thumbs Up

Galaxy - saw your post in the welcome thread for Darren. Good to see that you have kept your good spirit through the storms and the flood Smile, Wink & Grin

James - Thumbs Up

Jeff - I imagine your voice not really being one of the high pitch kind. I am now trying to figure out what a Peggy with your voice would look likeMischief

Ken - how did the interview go? Still pulling for ya, mate!

Off to reading more posts now - have a good one!

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Posted by cudaken on Thursday, September 15, 2011 10:20 AM

 Good Morning Fellow Dinners.

 Well yesterday I ran my wife all over. With the Gold going for $1800.00 per ounces Sue decided she want to sell a old child gold ring she got when she was around 5. Ring is 18 kart and only weights 1.69 grams so it is not worth a lot of money. She called around and people where telling her $70 to $75.00 with out seeing the ring.

 First places I took her is a pawn shop where I bought my guitar called Pawn King. They offered her $60.00 and she was mad. Told me they where Cheap B's, hum, they seemed fair to me in the past.  Took her to the stores that told her $70 range. She was offered the following $50, $35, $32 and $29.00 for the ring. Whistling Told her they would tell her more to get her in the store.

 So long story made short, spent $10.00 in gas and 3 hours driving only to go back to Pawn King which is only 2 miles from my house. Then she want to go eat, so we went to a Mexican Restaurant for a buffet. After that I was pretty much done for the day. In fact I did not even have room for Beer in the evening. I could not fall asleep last night, might because of lack of beer? Did not fall asleep to around 4:00 AM.

  Unemployment Funds Well looks like I am getting my unemployment. Went on line and said I have $798.00 which made me feel a little better. OK, a lot better. I was told I would only receive $178.00 a week, but I did get one letter (I was told it was wrong) that I would get $398.00 like last time. Looks like I am still getting the $398.00 a week. I am crossing my fingers that the deposit is correct.

  Todd I know very little about A/C but I have been told when the A/C freezes up, it is low in Freon. I have had a couple of windows units do that and Freon fix them both times. 

 Well, I got to run.

      Ken   

I hate Rust

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Posted by howmus on Thursday, September 15, 2011 10:23 AM

Chloe, can I get a refill on the coffee?  Thank you Ma'am!

Sir Madog

Jeff - I imagine your voice not really being one of the high pitch kind. I am now trying to figure out what a Peggy with your voice would look likeMischief

Ulrich, may Jeffrey is one of those "Bargain Counter Tenors"???  Smile, Wink & GrinLaugh  Sorry, Tom W. would know....  It's a PDQ Bach thing. Whistling

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 blownout cylinder on Thursday, September 15, 2011 1:48 PM

howmus

Chloe, can I get a refill on the coffee?  Thank you Ma'am!

 

 Sir Madog:

 

Jeff - I imagine your voice not really being one of the high pitch kind. I am now trying to figure out what a Peggy with your voice would look likeMischief

 

 

Ulrich, may Jeffrey is one of those "Bargain Counter Tenors"???  Smile, Wink & GrinLaugh  Sorry, Tom W. would know....  It's a PDQ Bach thing. Whistling

73

Maybe he used Autotune? MischiefSmile, Wink & Grin

--------------------------------------------------

Good Afternoon...

Ater a bit of a snooze I did a few things with the loose flapping ballast and got some more put down in a couple of areas of one yard that needed done.

I've got a few more trees done as well so that filled up one small valley...

Chloe, I'll just have a coffee for now please...no...I don't need a 20lb bagel...sheeesh.GrumpyWhistling...I'll be over 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/

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Western transplant to the Deep South
  • 4,256 posts
Posted by Cederstrand on Thursday, September 15, 2011 2:10 PM

Italian Roast Coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.

Have a good day all.

Cowboy Rob

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  • From: upstate NY
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Posted by galaxy on Thursday, September 15, 2011 2:30 PM

Sir Madog

Jeff - I imagine your voice not really being one of the high pitch kind. I am now trying to figure out what a Peggy with your voice would look likeMischief

Ulrich, over here in the USA is a TV commercial for the Discover Credit Card that does a take off:

:man  calls their "credit card service center" for his old credit card

: {Russian accented MAN in Syberia answers phone} "Hello, USA Prime Credit. My name Peggy. may I help you?"

: man  tells "peggy" he wishs to cancel his card, as Discover card pays him a % of purchases back in cash credits.

: {Russian accented MAN answers} "If I loose customer, I must go re-training program..."

: man tells "peggy" that "aw, com'on, retraining can't be that bad"

:{Russian looking woman stands behind MAN who calls himself peggy with a puppet with a baseball bat in it's hands}

: man hears THUD on phone

:man says : "wow that is bad."

THERE ARE A FEW OTHER COMMERCIALS WITH RUSSIAN ACCENTED MAN CALLING HIMSELF "PEGGY" AT "USA PRIME CREDIT" WHEN DISCOVER CREDIT CARD HOLDERS CALL...

{Oops sorry about caps}

They ARE rather funny to see and hear...

SO there is the joke behind Jeffrey's answer on the phone, which I have to admit, I am gonna "steal" and use on annoying phone calls from sellers of things to survey takers to whomever/whatever I don't wnat to talk to and find to be an annoying call.

Hilarious, Jeffrey...!!!

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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