Elliot´s Trackside Diner - February 2012

[moelarrycurly4]

That is a mean looking radar picture 

take cover.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

The weather here is getting nasty and the radar picture doesn't look good. I was outside working on my van seeing if I can get the automatic choke to work properly. I kept hearing this sound to the west like a long train passing. Well, the tracks here are to the east so I knew it wasn't that. One look at the sky told the story. 2:15 in the afternoon and it looked like 5:30. Heavy clouds coming from the west and the noises growing ever louder. I know it's thunder but it's steady. No a good sign. I've got everything here tied down. We'll see how it goes.

[galaxy]

Well,

I tried to do my morning thing this AM...BUT this darned site wouldn't let me in!!!!

Well a small storm of rain came in the AM..meaning I ache and hurt from neck to ankles and beyond.

Did do the grocery shopping this AM..but now can hardly move nad every movement = pain. Nothing in my war chest is surpassing it.

Well, thought I'd check in and say hi!

 

[Trainman Sam]

Ok, this is a new experience... Going through customs to get to the diner!!! Obviously the guy at the window isn't a rail fan, had to explain what a reverser is and what it does... Lol. Haven't Vernon lately due to my antivirus expiring on my NetBook and current negotiations with the CFO as to allocation of funds for such an undertaking! Hard to see well enough to read for very long viewing this on my phone... Prayers that all are doing well!? New on my front, I have been holding a regular job for the past four to five months, as an engineer that was ahead of me was 'called back' off furlough to the RR he was working for prior to coming to the VRE! I also am PROUD to say that tomorrow will be seven weeks quit smoking for me! Just started P90X to lose the 50 lbs. that I have gained since last year this time... Amazing how getting in the seat can cause your circumference to expand! Haha I'll be here for a bit trying to catch up on several months of posts, wish me luck!

[tcwright973]

I'm having a nice day so far. We got up this morning and went to our local restaurant where we had a nice breakfast, then off to run some errands and do a little shopping. We needed to get some birthday and other cards for some upcoming occasions so we stopped at a card shop. There I witnessed one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. This lady bought two cheap cards and some other item. Naturally she had coupons, some kind of rewards card, and who knows what else. Anyway, her and the saleslady get into a somewhat heated discussion about how those discounts should be applied, with the saleslady trying to explain that the computerized cash register calculates it, and she can't over ride it. The customer is insisting that it should be calculated differently. I thought for sure I was about to witness a real hair pulling finale. Finally the customer gave up. I know the customer is suppose to be always right, but in this case, she would have tried the patience of Job. The best part... either way you did it, it came out to the same amount. Took 5 or 6 minutes for a grand total of $5.45. Very hard not to laugh at the situation.

I wish I knew why I always manage to get in line behind some of these people. Maybe that's one reason I seem to be buying more and more on line. We are at home now, so I just have to hide from the wife and her "Honey do" list.

Have a good one..

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning! from Tipton IN.

 

 

:cool:

 

 

TIPTON

[howmus]

Ohayōgozaimasu!

Zoe I'll have the #2 special this morning.  Over easy on the eggs, bacon, home fries, and Sourdough toast to go along with a pot of dark roast coffee in a FGLK mug.  Please and Thank You Ma'am!

A rather gray day outside here this morning. Currently 35°F with a high of 37° forecast for this afternoon.  Other than a few "partly cloudy showers" no precipitation is supposed to fall on us here today..... 

Yep, I couldn't get in late last night, and had to log in this morning......

Checked this morning and the fraudulent charge on my CC has been given back as a credit to my account, so for the time being, all is well with the world.  Have lunch at noon with the new District Executive for our Boy Scout Council.....  Rumor has it he is having to replace several major positions in the district.  I hope I am able to say "NO!" nicely when he twists my arm.  I will no longer step up to a District or Council Leadership position after getting burned very badly about 8 years ago....  It has taken me most of the time since to repair relationships and earn back the respect I lost because of some stuff that came down from above!  Those people have long since left, but I subscribe to "Once burned, twice shy."  I can gladly work behind the scenes to help the organization, but I don't want my name on the door again.......

The local Utilities company called me from a local number yesterday to set up a time to come and change out the old gas meter in my house.  I think I know now what the partial messages from them from the 1-860-xxx-xxxx numbers was all about.  I have made it very clear to everyone I do business with I don't answer robot calls from those kind of numbers and won't call them back at some unknown #....  They don't learn well I guess (.........press 3 to be put on hold for a half hour, If this is an emergency press 4 and we will transfer your call to an automated message machine, press 5 to order more expensive service....etc,).  Anyway they are scheduled to come over next week (I hope the floor don there will be painted by then so I can clear a path to the meter.....

I'll catch up with you folks later!

73

[JimRCGMO]

Morning, Zoe - I'll have the #2, scrambled, with a glass of Ed's OJ, an apple on the side and a  Santa Fe mug of coffee, please. Thanks!

blownout cylinder

Yep, Barry, I think I've attended some meetings at w**k that were DoubleFacePalm ones...

Curt, the new radius on those curves looks better to me, too.

Jeff, hope you get feeling better after a bit of a nap. Nice job on weathering those cars (I like that first covered hopper best, too).

Darren, I see your RR is putting that gondola into revenue service right away. Want to keep that RR income from the customers; they'll eventually weather and age by themselves, all too often.

Ken (if it doesn't get you in trouble with the birthday girl), to Sue! (Hopefully you got her a card and such...)

Not a lot going on yet for me today (which is sorta good). Got in the computer stuff I had ordered (at good prices), which is good timing, since last night I was having problems with that external hooked-up hard drive. Got an enclosure for that drive, and a bigger drive to swap out with the dead drive inside the iMac. That will likely be a project for Friday or this weekend...

I'll be at the front window booth, awaiting my breakfast. May you have a good day (whether it's at w**k or in bed, or elsewhere)!

[Edit] Well, looks like I have TOP - Zoe, start the tab and better get out the AYCE breakfast buffet line..

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape G.

[cudaken]

 Morning!

 Flo, Coffee please.

 Flo, what happened last night? Lights where on but the door was locked?

 Well today is Sues  today. Can't say how old she is, she know right where the frying pan is! 

 See you all later.

               Ken

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!! Coffee and huevos rancheros please. Thanks

I see the door was locked this morning. Doing a little maintenance the sign said. Who let Barry eat the sushi? Oh well, looks all cleaned up and cleared out. Speaking of that, I guess I should w**k on unclogging the bathroom sink where a certain someone other than me washes her hair. Haven't figured that one out yet. I won't tell you her reason. It won't make any sense.

A chance of rain, then rain and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Patchy fog before 9am. High near 45. South wind between 8 and 11 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Start of the waiting game. Actually this is pre game. The game officially starts at 0830.  (written at 0630) The game has actually began now. Or is it begun.

Jeff- good job on the weathering there.

Curt- I think you’ll like the re-radiused curve much better. Not only for operating but for esthetics as well. Also give a nice tucked in comfy spot for another scene of some sort.

Anybody else wonder where the extra letters come from after they type something?

Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!

[Cederstrand]

Italian roast coffee in a  UNION PACIFIC  mug, please.

Nice layout pics being posted, folks. Keep up the good work.

Slow getting going this morning. Have a good day all.

Rob

[BroadwayLion]

HEY, LOOK! The LION has a green dot under his avatar.

[Stourbridge Lion]

Good Morning Modelers!

It's 19F and Partly Cloudy right now but should turn out to be a nice day. Coffee to go please...

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 55° and cloudy. The high will be 71. There's a 40% chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms this morning. This afternoon will see a 90% chance of thunderstorms with some storms being severe.

I feel tired today, unfocused and I'm having trouble keeping my mind on any one thing. It feels almost like my school years when ADHD ruled. Can't concentrate. Slight headache. Back to bed I guess.

[blownout cylinder]

And a Good Morning to you!!

We are seeing dull dull dull this morning, sometime, today it will be a mix of sun/cloud...

mmmmmm...seems that there were not many people on last night....what happened?

Well, it was one of those nights werein the cs.trains.com website had a regular maintenance thing occur..which meant no loggy in....

Anyways, Flo, I'll have a coffee and a toast please..I'll be at the RC for a bit...

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Janie, just a cup of decaf for me....  Oh, heck, a slice of the pecan pie would be good to keep my sugar up a bit too....  I'll be in the back booth by the stive for a bit.

Went to the Scout Meeting tonight to w*rk on Railroading Merit Badge.  I have decided these are a great bunch of Scouts!  A lot of fun to be around and work with.  Even the Downs Syndrome lad came out of his shell a bhit and was participating in the discussion.  We did FRED....  I think they all had THAT one down and got it signed off, reviewed the 5 Class 1 RRs and all of the local shortlnes.... We looked at a bunch of different kinds of RR Signals and learned how they operated.  Then we finished out the evening with a DVD from Operation Lifesaver for Middle School Aged kids.  They were spellbound and very, very quiet at the end of the film,  We talked about what they saw, and my assignment was for them to think about the movie and what it said about being safe around trains!  I didn't have the film last time I did the Merit Badge with Troop 1.  It was an excellent addition.  Adults thought it was great for the Scout as well.

Got home and found my #2 son (in Chicago) had called.  I called him back and we chatted for about a half hour.  We don't see each other or even chat on the phone nearly as often as we should......

Jeffrey, if you were to crop the top of THAT photo down to the lower backdrop, you would have a fantastic photo there...  Nice!

Hope each of you has a wonderful evening!

73

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Time for me to call it a night. I'm feeling quite tired. I'll see y'all tomorrow.

[Curt Webb]

Evening all,

Doing laundry after my regular work week. Taking my Dad out tomorrow for his Bday. I do have to work  Friday for 16 hours. Supposed to be 80 F tomorrow and around that for the next 3 days. I tore out one side of the siding exit Sunday and put down cork tonight. I wont be able to lay track until the first week in  March since I pick up the needed turnouts (PECO #5) on the 25th. Wed & Thursday I will  do the same on the other side of the siding.

Jeff- Nice job on the weathering. My favorite is the covered hopper (#1).

This is the best I could do for the curve radius based on pre existing turnouts that I am not going to redo. The bare wood that is curved is the old track base before removal.

 

 

 

 

Hope everyone has a good night. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Fourth weathering project today.



That's all for today.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Cederstrand

 

jeffrey-wimberly:

 

First weathering project today.***Jeffrey, real nice work on this one.

Thank you!

 

Third weathering project today.

[Cederstrand]

jeffrey-wimberly

First weathering project today.

***Jeffrey, real nice work on this one.

Need more Coffeeeeee, please. Will be next to the stove until I warm up.  Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Second weathering project today.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

First weathering project today.

[Stourbridge Lion]

Morn'n Modelers!

Day started out with work calling at 6:30A with issues on our Production systems so cut breakfast short and hopped onto the laptop to find and fix the issues.  Not the most enjoyable way to start ones day!

Right now it's 26F and Sunny and trying to remember to pick up a special desert on the way home for a V-Day dinner or you know who will be hurting tonight outside in the dog house!

[JimRCGMO]

Morning, Zoe - I'll have a blueberry bagel please, with a Rio Grande mug of coffee. Thanks!

Hey Todd, I just saw some woman fishing a cast iron skillet out of the dumpster out back. You know anything about that? Hope your appliance delivery goes well (and soon) for you.

Ray, I think I recall most of the Scout Law, and pretty well all of the Scout Oath (and it's been  about 40 years since I was active (even counting OA). That judge is one we could use more like him nowadays (and I'll stop before that comes out of its corner...)

Garry, yep, as Ray said...[groan]

Reading about the problems with others opening your mail makes me glad I get mine at the P.O. (though when I get mail for either someone in another box, or a previous tenant of my box, I turn it back to the postal people (the ones that w**k there, that is).

W**k front has been... interesting lately. My immediate supervisor (who leaves a week from this Friday) was visited by our CEO yesterday (maybe trying to talk him into not leaving, but I doubt that he had luck with that). (I've been looking into other options in the area)

OzJim, like what you're doing with your layout. Yeah, definitely if the spare pine tree gets snagged by others passing by that part of the layout.

Keith, great to see you in the Diner again (and to know that you're still around). We were kinda worried about what might have happened to you.

Ken, (if I had to do that) I'd find out any and everything you can on the B of St. from state or federal officials first, before asking the bank's people (just based on how inconsistent their past answers to you have been. Oh yeah, and I'd mention to the state/federal folks about how much B of St.'s answers vary and leave you wondering what exactly they are trying to pull... (Just my , of course...). Hope your w**k situation improves, also.

Only had a little slick spot at one point on the way home yesterday afternoon. So I decided to just stay in the rest of the evening. It's warming up better today (s'posed to get into almost mid-40's F this afternoon), so I may haul the iMac to the WiFi tonight, as I have received notices that both my federal and my state tax returns have been accepted. Next to print them out for my records (with the DCN/whatever number on them). HR Block has therefore run their $19.95 charge for the state one, of course. But give my return for both federal and state this year are bigger than they've been for at least a few years, I'm okay with that. See about socking away some of that for an emergency fund (which I haven't had in a while).

As for MRR stuff, I should have my ATSF boxcar kits in today at the P.O., so may go get them over lunch (or after w**k). Still wondering what will take the sticky (release agent?) residue from that Magnuson kit. Maybe I'll post in the bigger forum and see what others have to tell me. If the weather's better this next weekend, I hope to do some painting on some buildings for the layout.

I'll kick back here until time for lunch.

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape G.

 

[Cederstrand]

Extra strong coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.

***Jeffrey, excellent lighting on those pics. That is when the U.P. colors are most stunning.

***Roar, another great pic there.

***Ken, good luck with that stuff. Hang in there, as if there is any other choice.

***Todd, just think how nice it will be when everything is finally in place, finished, and you can have more train time.

Have a great day, all.  Rob

[howmus]

Yoi gogo no o tomodachi!

Once again I got busy with ten other things and didn't get here for breakfast....  But what the heck, Zoe, I'll have a breakfast bagel with sausage and cheese and a few cups of dark roast coffee in a R&GV RR mug.  Please and thank you ma'am!

A happy whatever the heck day it is today to all of you...  May you get something railroady from whomever today!

Currently 34°F outside the window here in the Finger Lakes with one or two stray flakes of white stuff coming down....  Maybe just blowing around, who knows.  High of 35°F sometime today they say.  Cool enough THAT I am going to go light the wood stove in a few minutes.

Catch you all later!

73

[cudaken]

 Morning Folks!

 Flo, Coffee please.

 Still trying to wake up, guess I did no sleep that well last night.

 JR, I read there is some kind of settlement with Bank Of Stupid and I need to look into it to see if I have anything coming from it. Worst part is even caught up I will have to deal with Bank Of Stupid on getting the Loan Modified.  

 I will see you folks later.

         Ken

[BroadwayLion]

LIONS with Cameras... Newkirk Avenue

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

  

Love Poem by a Redneck

 

 

Collards is green
my dog’s name is Blue
and I’m so lucky
to have a sweet thang like you.

Yore hair is like cornsilk
a-flapping in the breeze
Softer than Blue’s
and without all them fleas.

You move like the bass,
which excite me in May.
You ain’t got no scales
but I luv you anyway.

Yo’re as satisfy’n as okry
jist a-fry’n in the pan.
Yo’re as fragrant as "snuff"
right out of the can.

You have som’a yore teeth,
for which I am proud;
I hold my head high
when we’re in a crowd.

On special occasions,
when you shave under yore arms,
well, I’m in hawg heaven,
and awed by yore charms.

Still them fellers at work,
they all want to know,
what I did to deserve
such a purdy, young doe.

Like a good roll of duct tape
yo’re there fer yore man,
to patch up life’s troubles
and fix what you can.

Yo’re as cute as a junebug
a-buzzin’ overhead.
You ain’t mean like those far ants
I found in my bed.

Cut from the best cloth
like a plaid flannel shirt,
you spark up my life
more than a fresh load of dirt.

When you hold me real tight
like a padded gunrack,
my life is complete;
Ain’t nuttin’ I lack.

Yore complexion, it’s perfection,
like the best vinyl sidin’.
despite all the years,
yore age, it keeps hidin’.

Me ’n you’s like a Moon Pie
with a RC cold drank,
we go together
like a skunk goes with stank.

Some men, they buy chocolate
for Valentine’s Day;
They git it at Wal-Mart,
it’s romantic that way.

Some men buy fine diamonds
from a flea market booth.
"Diamonds are forever,"
they explain, suave and couth.

But for this man, honey,
these won’t do.
Cause yo’re too special,
you sweet thang you.

I got you a gift,
without taste nor odor,
more useful than diamonds...
IT’S A NEW TROLLIN’ MOTOR!!!