Elliot´s Trackside Diner - September 2011

[AmanaMedic]

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood evening, I'll take a....uh, never mind, I'll just fetch it myself.

Here, as threatened previously...is "the beast."

The guy who assembled this....thing...apparently is an "experimental engineer" for John Deere in Dubuque. When parked, the body as you can see, sits on the ground. When driving, airbags lift the body up about six inches. The engine is a Cummins diesel. There is only one pedal...likely the brake. It was surmised by the crowd THAT gathered, THAT it has a hand throttle. We couldn't decide which was the gear shift, which was the throttle. The drive shaft is mostly open and has "meat grinder" written on it. One observer noted: "What this car says...is a giant ***expletive omitted*** you to the gubermint!***

Quite the 1:1 "kitbash" 'eh?

GARRY: Happy Anniversary! The Wife and I have one coming up next year. She's a good gal, I'll probably keep her and renew her contract for services rendered for another year... (hat-tip to Walter E. Williams for THAT comment!)

Chris

[jeffrey-wimberly]

AmanaMedic

Here, as threatened previously...is "the beast."

The guy who assembled this....thing...apparently is an "experimental engineer" for John Deere in Dubuque. When parked, the body as you can see, sits on the ground. When driving, airbags lift the body up about six inches. The engine is a Cummins diesel. There is only one pedal...likely the brake. It was surmised by the crowd THAT gathered, THAT it has a hand throttle. We couldn't decide which was the gear shift, which was the throttle. The drive shaft is mostly open and has "meat grinder" written on it. One observer noted: "What this car says...is a giant ***expletive omitted*** you to the gubermint!***

Quite the 1:1 "kitbash" 'eh?

That 'thing' looks like a squashed down version of the Munster Koach.

[AmanaMedic]

"That 'thing' looks like a squashed down version of the Munster Koach."

Ya know, I kinda like the scrap metal version better...

I wonder if the Munster Koach wasn't part of his...inspiration...though. I agree, lots of similarities. Too bad we didn't stick around until it left, I would've loved to have seen THAT thing roll-out. Another dude in the crowd said he'd seen it flying down Highway 61 the day before, cruising at 65-70mph. 

Chris

[blownout cylinder]

Chris:  Yep. That's the one I saw in that mag I mentioned...and I've seen that before as well..amazing little piece of kit that.

Good Morning...

It is going to be a bit cooler today..in  the dull dull dull ...66F for the high...fall is here...well...sorta...

A bunch of basic things need bought and bills paid so I have my day pretty well done in...maybe get some mrr time later perhaps?

Flo, i'll have a coffee for now please...

edit: I beat both Galaxy and Ulrich in here?

 

[galaxy]

GOOD MORNING!!!

Today is TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011!!!

Already!

[wetidlerjr]

http://www.streetrods-online.com/RAT%20RODS/rat_rods.htm

Rat Rod definition:  A Rat Rod is a newly developed name for the original hot rod style of the early 1950's. A Rat Rod is usually a vehicle that has had many of it't non-critical parts removed. They are usually finished in primer or paints that are often period correct. They are very often a conglomeration of parts and pieces of different makes, models and after market parts.  The term "rat rod" was first used by the high dollar, show cars guys to describe the low-buck, home built drivers. Don't forget the roots of the hobby (streetrods), it was the little guy in a garage on a budget (with help from his friends) that started it all. If you call them HOT RODS, TRADITIONAL RODS, STREETRODS, or RAT RODS they are here to stay and are making a showing at auto related events across the country.

AmanaMedic

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood evening, I'll take a....uh, never mind, I'll just fetch it myself.

Here, as threatened previously...is "the beast."

The guy who assembled this....thing...apparently is an "experimental engineer" for John Deere in Dubuque. When parked, the body as you can see, sits on the ground. When driving, airbags lift the body up about six inches. The engine is a Cummins diesel. There is only one pedal...likely the brake. It was surmised by the crowd THAT gathered, THAT it has a hand throttle. We couldn't decide which was the gear shift, which was the throttle. The drive shaft is mostly open and has "meat grinder" written on it. One observer noted: "What this car says...is a giant ***expletive omitted*** you to the gubermint!***

Chris

[gear-jammer]

Good morning, Chloe.  I will take my coffee in a NP mug, please.

der, I am enjoying your scenery updates.

Ray,  Can't wait to see what you do with the quarry.

Rob, I hope the tornados miss you.  My brother's BIL who lives in Missouri, had his garage collapse on him.  When they rebuilt their house, they built it at ground level like a daylight basement.

Jim,  Yes, no brass on the floor.  A couple of traffic jams that were workable though.

Sorry, we didn't finish the staging yard.  I think that 2/3 of the ties are painted & rails rusted.  Snore.  I will keep working.

Later,

Sue

[cudaken]

 I need a Tetanus Shoot from just looking at that rat rod. Should be called Rust Rod. Not my cup of tin, so to speak.

 Morning Folks!

 Flo, french toast and a cup of coffee please.

 Have a interview today in Edwardsville IL today at 10:00 AM. Only thing I know for sure is it is telemarketing and they run help wanted ads all the time. That is never a good sign. I know they will hire me, heck they would hire a talking dog if it could dial a phone. Problem is in IL if you turn down a job, you can't get unemployment. But then again, I really don't have much to lose. Will just tell them I cannot start till next Tuesday. (have other interviews lined up)

 PA's Got the couplers on the dummy engine and it tracks well. Kadee #4 are a tad to tall. Drop couplers would be way to low. So far keeping car coupled to it has not been a problem. Later I will see what kind of amps the A unit pulls and look for a wiring harness.

 See you all later

              Ken

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

   Got through Lime Rock though the last race we had cars in was washed out. It bucketed down on and off all day and it looks like the Glen weekend is going to be more of the same with rain predicted all weekend. Oh joy oh rapture.

    I'll catch up posts when I get a break sometime mid month.   CUL, J.R.

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!!  What’s a choo choo. I don’t know what a choo choo is.

Just coffee today please. Thanks. (I'm not gonna ask them to do anything after they came in and saw the way we left the kitchen. Whoa! The girls are NOT happy)

I did get down to the trainroom and did a little w**k on the, as of yet unprototypical land formation. Pretty much all I did was add a little more dirt and another coat of drywall mud to bring the road up to the top the bridge almost. But hey, it was at least something. What I really need to do is get down there and…clean up the room! Man. How does that happen when no one’s been in there.

Jeff- I suppose you’re right. (of course you are, you live there) When I was down there I must have been around the lucky ones. Bugs that is. Then again, our ideas of a manageable amount may differ too. Seriously, I was mainly referring to Senor Mow-skweeto. Of all the places I’ve been, Louisiana is numbeeeer….three. Florida one, Wisconsin two, and Louisiana three. Now, I’m not comparing water places to middle of nowhere dry places. I’m talking no water places. You get near water and I think everybody can take claim in a tie. Admittedly, I have not been everywhere.  Yes even the Garter snake makes me hurt myself when surprised. Not a big fan of snakes.

I remember in the flood of ’93. We were on the Mighty Mississippi. 1 foot to go before over the top and there was plastic and sandbags ready to take on and hold back over a mile wide swath of Old Man River who was saying with a grin….”this is MY turf…remember? Just letting you know I can take this back any time I want. I think I‘ll go….THERE!” Levy break. Anyway, the need was to run around the clock so they brought in some portable runway lights from the Air Force. I NEVER saw bugs that huuuuge in my life. BILLIONS of them……and alien looking. Next day the put me driving a truck delivering levy repair supplies up and down the Sny for the next 30 some days. Got away from those lights anyway. Creepy.

Der- Yup just goes to show you can’t judge a company or it’s product on one purchase. Though many of us do. Like the Chevy. Most popular brand in the States, one of the most bragged about too. How many times have I heard “shoulda bought a Chevy” ? Countless. Everybody makes a lemon.

Thank goodness I never ran across one of those Palmetto bug monster things when I was there! It may have received a 9mm FMJ. Er, um, if they had... given us.... real bullets that is. You know that iis the bad part about a pistol in training. Everyone else gets blanks. You have to shout….., bang. Of course that gives you the John Wayne gun, but still….., bang? Feels like a 6 year opld out there playing Cowboys and Indians. Oops. Sorry Jeff. Nothing meant by that. 

Fire ants!? Hate ‘em.

Ken- Don’t change a thing, but I think your problem is WITH spell check. When you post without it, you have far less umm…, amusing phrases.

Looks like “the Beast” needs to run with a bit more air in his tires. I suppose he’s not overly concerned. Probably needs the cushion.

Well, went out and opened the windows at Mom’s house yesterday. Place hasn’t been aired out in, oh I don’t know…20, 25 years? Mom wasn’t big on open windows. Said she grew up without AC and now she likes it and is going to use it. Me, I like the windows open. AC is when it’s above 90 and no breeze or when the humidity is up.

Back to normal today with w**k tonight. Beautiful week in store it looks like but a bit on the chilly side in the 70’s. I think I’ll get the tractor and mow Mom’s yard this week. Even it out you know. Oh and…shave. Maybe. First the hair, then the beard. I don’t know if I can handle this much change in one year.

Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!

 

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a blueberry muffin and a cup of dark roast coffee in a FGLK mug please and thank you!

I has been raining here in the Finger Lakes region with the sun shining........  Since Saturday we have gotten close to an inch and a half of rain.  Today is supposed to without rain (except for THAT which is falling now I guess), and then we could get between 1 and 2 inches of rain tomorrow........  Tomorrow's will be the remains of Lee.  The weather channel has corrected the watering need estimate for the area......  It now says NONE!  Currently 58°F.  Air conditioners are turned off!

Ken, good luck (not getting hired) today at the interview......  Every once in a while just interject an obscenity in your answers and you should be OK.......

Chris, THAT monstrosity looks like something my late BIL would have built way back when....  He had a couple of Enduro Bikes that were a little of this and a little of THAT and an ancient Jeep with a Chevy 283 V8 under the hood for blowing away the Mopars on Main Street in Canandaigua.  I got to drive THAT monster a few times.  He even built a wood burning lawn mower once...  Actually w*rked..........  More or less.

Oh,  Mornin' Bill!  Hi Sue!

Later!

73

[Anonymous]

Hi,

just a short visit to say I have survived today´s visit to the STALAG. I am bone tired, though, and I need to address this with my doc. There is something wrong in my body.

I am still not happy with my station module. I looked into those Rix Products highway overpass and I think they are well suited for what I intend to do, but they are not available here - rats!

Ken - keeping my fingers crossed for the right job for you to come up soon!

Have a good one!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Ken: Good luck on the interview.

 

Good morning. It's 71° and sunny. The high will be 82° and it will be mostly sunny.

Went to my doctors appointment in DeRidder this morning. They finally discovered what I've been telling them all along. The brace they made is totally inadequate for the job. So it's back to square one. I have no idea what I'm going to do with the rest of the day.

Yesterday I had to dig up the leaking water pipe that my nephew said he was going to repair - last month. I got tired of waiting and did the job myself. Took about half an hour. I'm sure feeling it today but at least there's not a wet spot in the yard anymore. Finally had enough dollar bills to rub together to send off the payment for my History Channel magazine subscription. So now they shouldn't bug me about it for another two years.

[LSWrr]

Ray, we got 2.5” of rain between 1700 Saturday and 0700 Sunday.

[Curt Webb]

Afternoon All,

Well I survived my yearly Dept physical. No issues on the stress test (always good to know at 55) and the only issues were my Cholesterol is elevated and I have had some hearing loss in my left ear, but I haven't noticed that yet. I also found out that I weigh 10 pounds less than last year, always a good thing. So I guess I need to talk to my MD about my cholesterol and probably go on a statin. We get a good physical every year that includes blood work, urinalysis, vision test, audio testing, pulmonary function, chest x-ray, resting EKG, stress test, and post EKG.  

Jeff- Are you starting to model KCS RR or have I just not noticed until now?

Everyone take care.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Curt Webb

Jeff- Are you starting to model KCS RR or have I just not noticed until now?

You just hadn't noticed. The main rr on my layout are the MGRy and the L&A. KCS puts in an appearance now and then.

[cudaken]

 Afternoon Folks.

 Flo Diet Dew please.

 OK Todd, what did I spell wrong now? I bet it had to do with the Beer Brats? From what the wife said the short name for Bratwurst is the same as screaming little kid's Brats.

 Well, I got the job if  want it. I was told to think it over tonight and look at the math and paper work I was given and call him back at 10:00 AM Wednesday. Hum, I will be driving to a interview I have at 10:00 AM. Told him I would call him at 3:00 PM.

 Heck, I could make good money there. But sitting there dialing number after number after number more than likely will drive me nuts.

 Where would you folks go to get your credit score? I just did a on line application and when I go for the interview I need a copy of my credit score. Not totally comfortable with putting my SS number on line.

 Have some more running to do.

            Ken 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Ken: Got your box. Check your PM's.

[Cederstrand]

Coffee in a SOGGY & SOUTHERN mug, please.

***Chris, had to share that rat rod with my racing engine building cousin. He gets a kick out of such creative folks endeavors. It reminded me a little of the Munsters ride, too.

The creeks and river never left their banks. Still had to muscle the debris packed panels back across the gap before returning the horses to pasture. 

On the other end of the farm where there was a small ditch, it has now washed out into a small canyon. Would probably take a half dozen dump truck loads of boulders to fill it. Bummer!!!

Have a good day all.

Rob

 

[ns3010]

Afternoon all.

Had the first "real" day of school today, if you don't count senior orientation last week (which, for the record, was 150% pointless). Not bad. Ya know, been better, been worse. Here's my schedule:

Homeroom
1-Art Fundamentals
2-Theology 4
3-Web Design
4-Gym
5-Calculus Honors
56-Personal Finance
6-Lunch
7-AP English Literature & Composition
8-Study Hall

Not terrible. The good news is THAT there aren't any times where I have more than one bad class in a row. Come to think of it, none of my classes are particularly bad; some are just better than others.

A lot of the teachers stressed THAT they want us to get a final grade of 95% or above so that we won't have to take a final exam in that class. I think this is do-able in Art, Theo, Web, and Finance, which would only leave me with one exam in Calculus (AP English doesn't take a final due to having the AP Exam). However, it would be nice to not have any exams, but we'll see.

Well (spilling over from all of the rain the last two days), I better get to my homework. Not much, just a few minutes of Personal Finance and trying to figure out what school stuff I have and what I need to get.

What's new with you guys?

-Joe

The sun begins to set behind a PL42AC, as seen through Bound Brook station.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

So far today I've remotored a Proto 2000 BL2 (Athearn motor from SD40), a Stewart F9A (motor from Proto 2000 FA1). I have a Stewart F9B here that needs a motor. I may be able to shoehorn on an Athearn motor. I also have a Proto 2000 E7A with a cracked nose that needs fixing. I figure a little super glue gel should do the trick. I seems I never run out of fun things to do.

[Cederstrand]

Just saw a serious Lionel train crash. Have been watching a 1957 movie, "The Black Scorpion". A group of giant scorpions crossed the tracks, the last of which turned and met the train head on. Train engineer didn't stand a chance.

[csxns]

Going to the train room to see what i can get in to,Hopefully the big spider will be gone.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Cederstrand

Just saw a serious Lionel train crash. Have been watching a 1957 movie, "The Black Scorpion". A group of giant scorpions crossed the tracks, the last of which turned and met the train head on. Train engineer didn't stand a chance.

I wonder if they had Gomez Addams plan the crash.

[howmus]

Afternoon........ Grrrrrrrrrr!!!

Flo just a RBF, maybe THAT will take the edge off........

My day was going just fine!  I made an appointment this morning to take my little utility trailer down to a local tire store/ repair place I have patronized for years.  Got down there, they came right out and did the inspection which took the better part of 45 seconds.  I had them hit the axles with a shot of grease while it was there.  They did THAT at no charge (you can see why I patronize the place).  As I was moving the truck and the trailer to just outside the service bay so they could do the grease, I pushed down on the brake pedal and it kept on going right down to the floor....  I was able to pump it and get enough brake to stop the truck, but again the pedal continued to the floor.  I got out and told the service attendant.  Then opened up the hood of the truck as I couldn't find any brake fluid under the truck.  Yep she was spraying brake fluid onto the manifold!!!  So, the truck is still down at the service shop as is the trailer.  They will call and let me know what it is going to cost to repair...  If it is more than the value of the truck, the recycler is right down the street......  The fluid is spraying out from under the reservoir.  Probably the brake master cylinder..........  They did give me a loaner to get home with....  An old Ford F-150 that appears to be in worse shape totally than the Dakota.

Actually it could have been much, much worse.  Like if I had been hauling the log splitter in the trailer with the truck doing 75mph down the thruway when I found I didn't have any brakes........

Then Joe comes online and tells us he has an 8th. period Study Hall.  THAT brings back some horrific memories of being assigned an 8th. grade study hall last period in the day.  THAT would be a difficult task any time, but this was 150 8th. graders in the auditorium all by myself.  It also had every problem kid in the 8th. grade in there as well as the Special Education kids....  After about 3 weeks of sheer Hades and all kinds of difficulty, i got called into the Principals office to explain why there was so many problems.  He even had the Vice-Principle come in to the meeting.  He sat me down and said, "What do you suppose you are doing wrong?"  I lost it completely!!!  Questioned whether the guys parents were ever married and called him several other unmentionable names.  I then said, "I'll tell you what I am doing wrong!  I'm working at this [expletive deleted] school!"  I then told him my resignation would be on his desk the following morning and walked out.  The Vice-Principle who had his face buried in his hands while this was all going on, followed me out of the office and said, come on into the conference room, I think I can help.  After about an hour I had settled down (thanks to the Vice Principle who very much agreed with me).  He cleared his schedule on the days I had that monster SH and came in and did duty with me.  Even then it was more than even the 2 of us could handle at times.....  8th. period Study Hall?  OMG!

OK, I'm now going to do something else for a while, like bag my head on the wall!

Later!

73

[Cederstrand]

One last coffee refill, please.

***Ray, sure glad you made it. That could have been much worse indeed. Yikes!

***Jeffrey, it did resemble a Gomez Adams crash. He was a Master.

***Curt, before you jump on the statin bandwagon, do a search on the dangers of statins and the great cholesterol myth. My wife was a CCU nurse for 25 years and very few people who had heart attacks ever had elevated cholesterol and most were below normal. But they all had one thing in common, inflamation: upper respiratory infections or were smokers. She never saw anyone die of high cholesterol.

After discovering the new canyon at the edge of our back pasture we've decided the best course of action is to collect everyones dead riding mowers, along with any cars, trucks, planes, and trains (OK< no trains) and fill as much of it as we can. Then, throw some kudzu in it and hope for the best. It's a really BIG hole. IOf you want a chuckle, here's a really funny guide to growing Kudzu: http://www.walterreeves.com/how-to-archive/how-to-grow-kudzu/

Rob

[cudaken]

 Hum, it has been a day.

 Flo a Keg of pleases.

 Well, I have had worst days, but it has been a while. Heck, getting fired was easier than today. Just plain worried out.  High lights?

 1 Computer system messed up state wide for energy assistants, told to come back when I have a interview set up?

 2 Had to buy a tire for the car, cords where starting to show. Had to fight with the idiot about the prices. Just bought one few weeks ago, and they wanted $20.00 for the same tire. I did win.

 3 Paid the water bill, that was easy. Hearing my wife worry about if they would only take $30.00 instead of $70.00 on the other hand was hard. They took the $30.00 with no questions.

 4 Got home, wife's VCR had died. Replaced it with one are daughter gave us years ago. Won't work and cannot find the owners manual on line. It powers up, but we have no idea how to work it?

 5 Bought two kinds of medication's for the Wolfhound to get rid of fleas. Wife gave them to Shaddy Backwards. Told me she could hardly stand up.

 6 Told her to call the Vet, our Charter Phone was down.

 7 Called Vet on her cell phone, while on the phone, Wolfhound seemed fine.

 8 Spent 4 hours with my wife none stop, no wonder I need a beer

 When I look at what I typed, it does not seem that bad. But, living it on the other hand. Well today is why God showed man how to make Beer!

       Ken

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evening...well...sort of

What a day, what a day...

1st...had an accident downtown...guy doing a left..right in front of me...he gets nailed by me..my Audi is a total write off..as is the other buddies car...only injury? My left elbow received a crack on the ulna...

2nd..after getting checked out at the hospital finally get to the university..find out that my schedule has been changed a little..now I have a class on Wednesday Afternoon as well as weekend seminar things...and I ended up spending $785 on new books for one %$^%%$ course...   

3rd...get phone call from insurance agent..they will cover minus $500....so back on the hunt for another car...

4th...find out from Audrey that her car not starting...battery dead...

5th..get neighbour to pick me up from university....only to find out that I needed to pick up groceries before coming home..AFTER I get home...

Ray, Ken...anyone else...mind if I sit with you wounded people?

[cudaken]

blownout cylinder

Good Evening...well...sort of

What a day, what a day...

1st...had an accident downtown...guy doing a left..right in front of me...he gets nailed by me..my Audi is a total write off..as is the other buddies car...only injury? My left elbow received a crack on the ulna...

2nd..after getting checked out at the hospital finally get to the university..find out that my schedule has been changed a little..now I have a class on Wednesday Afternoon as well as weekend seminar things...and I ended up spending $785 on new books for one %$^%%$ course...   

3rd...get phone call from insurance agent..they will cover minus $500....so back on the hunt for another car...

4th...find out from Audrey that her car not starting...battery dead...

5th..get neighbour to pick me up from university....only to find out that I needed to pick up groceries before coming home..AFTER I get home...

Ray, Ken...anyone else...mind if I sit with you wounded people?

 I will buy. Bright side of today? Trains are running great! Cheers!

[teen steam fan]

Ken, Ray, blownout- Yikes Sounds like you guys need beers. I'll buy instead of Ken. 

This may bring a smile to your face. 

And this is a true story. Almost too stupid to make up.

My wood shop teacher had just taught my class how to use a table saw. A kid in my class was screwing around during the lecture. 

A friend of mine was using the table saw under the instructor's supervision, adjusted his grip on the board, and the board caught and launched back. My friend was out of the target zone. The kid that was messing around wasn't so lucky

He got a glancing blow from his "family area" and the board flew across the room (I'd say it was about 70 feet) and slammed into the scrap wood box, moving the scrap wood box on impact. 

 

Crud, I got TOP. Eat up