Siesta Time...
What, I'm not allowed to do that at work; bummer! Another Ed's OJ in the special Ferromex glass please...
Got the past weekends Trip Reports post on my blog now so feel free to stop by and check them out. We were in a mixture of DSP&P, C&S, and AC territory chasing old narrow gauge railroad history while it can still be found up in the Colorado Rockies.
Darren (BLHS & CRRM Lifetime Member)
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (DHVM), Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures)
My Blog
Afternoon everybody,
It's been a busy couple of days for us. Last Sunday we went railfanning for a couple of hours. One of the reasons I enjoy doing that is coming upon those unexpected sights you see on the rails from time to time, like a private passenger car on the tail end of an Amtrak. Sunday, it was this:
A Norfolk Southern ES40DC pulling just 7 cars on the mainline out of Conway Yard. First a gondola, then 5 flats with I don't know what, trailed by another gondola. The loads appear to be pre-fabs for something or the other. Wouldn't they make an interesting item on a layout? I wouldn't be surprised though, if someone in the diner knew what they were.
Then came Monday. First breakfast at our local diner, then grocery shopping. After that we ran a whole lot of errands, including lunch, and finally got home around 3:00 in the afternoon. Then a couple of loads on laundry.
Late Tuesday afternoon, we saw another surgeon about my wife's ankle. Pretty impressive as he is all business and very direct. We both liked him. He explained how everything in the x-rays (2 dimensional), and the original surgeons view, looks terrific. But, when you look at the results of the CT Scan (3 dimentional), it's a different story. There appears to be what is referred to as traumatic bone loss with a good piece of bone missing. Short story is they gave her a cortizone injection, ordered a leg or ankle brace, and that arrangements would be made at a clinic in the hospital for further instructions and evaluations. We will see him in September, when a final decision will be made as to her having to have a bone fusion or an ankle replacement. So that's where we stand now. She isn't having a lot of pain, it's more of a stability problem. He told her to restrict her walking somewhat as it is bone on bone. However, the damage is done and little additional damage will occur. All in all, a mix of both good and bad news i guess.
Did some yard work this morning. Mowing, hedge trimmimng, and even a little weeding in the flower beds. I think I'm going to relax a little this afternoon. Our very best wishes for speedy recoveries to all those in need. Have a good one everybody. Tom
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
Ken - YIKES! I am just glad those critters don´t live in our neck of the woods.
OK. I have something to talk about, HELP!
Sue was complaining she could smell me smoking. She wanted to open the back door! Well I did what she wanted, Big Mistake!
I was playing with the layout plans on the computer, then I heard something and looked down!
SNAKE
Yep a snake has gotten in to the Garage! Headed right for where I have a ton of boxes next to the desk! I have ripped out the rolling self, no snake.
Had to tell Sue, she is freaking out!
Any ideas how to poison a snake?
I am not really afraid of snakes, but I must say it got my heart beating!
Looking down at my feet Ken
I hate Rust
Morning Folks!
Flo, Coffee Please.
Funny, nothing to complain about today?
Shaddy Well she is back to being her old self. Barks when I come home, eating like a Wolfhound should and leaving big all over the backyard. Which I have to cut Thursday.
Sure looking forward to Thursday, well not cutting the grass.
Latter!
Ken
I'll have some of the same coffee Bill is having. Looks like it does the trick.
Sun is out here and it looks like a beautiful day ahead. Even managed to get about 7 hours sleep (in 2-3 segments) which is a lot for me. Should have a productive day for a change.
Healing thoughts to those in need.
Have a good one y'all.
Cheers! Rob
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe, I'll have the big breakfast, the #2 special, over easy eggs, bacon, home fries, and a double order of sourdough toast. Don't forget a fresh pot of dark roast coffee too.
Currently 64°F with a high of 69°F here in the Finger Lakes this morning. Partly cloudy skies right now but predicting some showers and maybe a thunderstorm later in the afternoon. I need to get moving and finish mowing the lawn this morning.....
How about a short hike over to the Ice House at Tobyhanna, PA today:
It's a working museum and provides the locals ice from the old Ice Pond next to it. They have an ice festival to fill it every February. They have all the old tools on display:
Ulrich, I have already talked to my insurance agent as well as looked up information on line. I may actually get a 10% reduction in insurance rates because of the solar power panels. I will check with a couple of firefighters I know and get their take on it. Thanks for the link! It would seem that much of it is a training issue as more and more people go to PV. One reason the preferred place for the inverter today (at least around here) is outside the house may be for safety concerns.... The lease thing is sounding more and more attractive to me, BTW. Before I sign anything, I will be talking to my lawyer for advise.
Vincent, she is way too young for me.... LOL Still easy on the eyes though!
Have a great day, and be careful out there!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Morning All,
Just had my first cup of coffee in 8 days. It tasted as good as anything I have ever drank . Doing much better. I could probably go back to work this Sunday but the Surgeon wants me out for 2 weeks and she has to clear me so I can go back to work . The last couple of days I have been lurking here but just couldn't get motivated to post because I felt so blah...
I watched a show yesterday on a excursion in the 1980's with the Reading 4-8-4 as the motive power, and I really enjoyed it.
tdk6060- Welcome to the Diner.
Ken- That is a great layout plan. I actually feel like a sense of loss now that I am pretty much done with mine. For the last 17 months I have put a good part of my spare time into building it.
Barry- Glad you are doing well.
Someone (sorry I don't remember) recommended getting PB8 and it has made all the difference in the world. Thank you.
Ulrich- Now that I am older and maybe a little smarter I understand that the average soldier world wide are just trying to do their duty in very trying times and don't usually deserve the bad labels placed on them. Of course I am not talking about the fanatics that are out there.
Like everyone else I am worried about Galaxy. I sure hope he is fine.
Everyone take care and prayers for those in need.
Curt Webb
The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad
http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/
Good Morning Modelers!
It's 60F and clear here in the Mile High city heading for the mid 80's so at least the old forecast of 90's all week is not happening but it's still warmer then I care for.
Good morning. It's 76°.
Heat Index: 76°F Humidity: 94% Dew Point: 75°FHigh: 81°F Low: 74°FRain: 0.01" Rain Rate: 0.00"/hGust: 7mph SSW High: 92°. Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Southeast winds around 5 mph.No plans for today. I may get some layout work in later.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
... and as seen from the other end of the Big Pond:
They had a chance to survive the ordeal. In the following 11 months until the war ended more, German soldiers wee killed than in the years before.
Thanks to those brave men who brought peace to Europe, we now enjoy 67 years of freedom here!
June 6, 1944
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Good morning, Chloe. I will have a large black coffee and a cinnamon roll, please.
Ray, That is a great photo in the loco.
Later,
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Good Morning!!!
Sunny, with a high near 78
Just coffee please. I think I’ll eat at the Cracker Barrel.
I am concerned about Galaxy as well. I remember a while back he disappeared for a bit and when he returned he had taken a trip. Said he didn’t like letting the world know he was leaving. But this is too long for any trip he would make. I’m holding out for his computer to have crashed. I hope that is the worst.
Harry
Ken-
Gonna get the oil changed in my truck today. Why, when I’ve been a mechanic my whole life, would I have someone else change my oil? Warranty. I have it done at the dealership so there is no issue should something go wrong and they cannot blame me for not changing the oil and they can’t blame someone else for not using the right oil or filter. Problem is…..I kinda like it and may not change it on my own anymore. Besides it's really not that much more and I don't have to hassle with getting rid of the used oil.
So I’ll be heading to Lincoln here about 8:30. I’ll probably hit the Walmart while I’m there also, then back home to yes, mow the yard like I was gonna do yesterday.
Ya’ll have a good 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.
Good Morning..
Going to have our 30% chance of showers with the risk of those ol' t'underin'boomers again today...we got a drenching yesterday...again...
Today is my second visit to the hospital for the cancer treatments...I seem to be not having too many issues with it this time.......
Cancer can go BEEEEP!!! itself...
Ken: A pop up would be a good idea for that area...btw, "poop up"
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/
Good Morning! from Tipton IN.
Well time for bed with dreams of the new layout dancing in my head.
Bottom left is the one part that bothers me.Holding yard is all so on a grade. Be a tuff build.
For Tod Maybe I can add a poop up hole! I know, pop up.
Night all.
Looks like a great start for a plan! The reason I say "start" is because I know how much refining of the plan must take place before it is actually usable. 3rdPlanIt is a great design program for doing exactly that.
I have spent literally hundreds of hours working on my layout plan, going from a naive rooky with totally unrealistic expectations to (I hope) a reasonably informed model railroader. I can't tell you how much valuable information I have gained from these forums, and how many times I have tested my plans against the information posted and found my plans in need of revision.
Like everyone, my layout needs funds. We have paid the last of the college tuitions (unless he decides to go to university!) and my plan was to start building the layout once Cole had graduated. Unfortunately we are now faced with having to replace the roof about 10 years sooner than expected, and the eavestrough/soffit/ facsia needs to be redone too because the inferior materials used by the builder have become a black moldy mess. There goes the layout budget for at least another three years.
So Ken, my advise is to go for it! That is, whenever you can! Never give up!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
As you folks are heading for , I am up for a couple of hours already. I am having a hard time to find the amount of sleep I need.
Janie - a mug of extra strong coffee for me, please!
I am really worried about Galaxy. I had sent him a PM a few days ago, but did not get an answer. I don´t have his email address, so PMing is the only way we can try to reach him. I am sending a few his way!
Ray - here is a bit of reading on the impact of solar energy on firefighting. Before you get those panels installed, do check with your local fire department and your insurance company. Insurance risk managers in Germany predict the home owner´s insurance premiums to double or even triple in the next years due to the hazards fire fighters encounter. While the panels do not increase the fire hazard, special care has to be undertaken when trying to extinguish a fire in a home equipped with photovoltaic panels. In most cases, fire departments are not prepared for this type of "electric" fire, so they just let the buildings burn down in a controlled way.
Have a nice day!
Edit: Ken - I am rooting for you to win the lottery! We need to work on that track plan, though. There is a serious reach issue on the lower left side, which needs to be addressed.
Evening Dinners
Flo, Beer Please.
Work Front Not a bad day, I got to work at 1:45 and Dave was gone. Not really busy and Dave was in good mood. Crag showed and, well I was not in as good as mood as I was. Seems he did some Caboose Kissing and Dave is not going to get rid of him for now.
Hum, saw next week schedule? I am working 40 hours, but only for 4 days! While I don't get 3 days off in a row, that works for me!
Train Front Today I ran my new layout using 3rd Plan It. I figured out how to run 4 trains at the same time. Man it was great, lot of action and plenty of room. Mains are 150 feet long. I have not posted the plan for sometime, here is the coming layout.
What you cannot see in the 2 D versions posted is the left side is on a grade. The loop that goes around the round house goes under the raised track under the left and comes out by the yard. I call that my trunk line (is that the right term) It can be ran as a loop, or point to point. Plus there is a reverencing loop.
If I can make headway with either Work Front or Bank Of Stupid I am going to build this thing! Now if I win the Lottery I will be hiring Ulrich and Petra (Petra will be baking and severing to Ulrich and I)to help me build it.
Well, time to daydream and run what I got.
Good Evening...
Had a wonderful day of rain and silliness with Spring here...Springing all over the place...chased him around...then actually tried to run some trains...
Going to head for ...now, g'nite....
Evening guys
Been out and about.
Ray, Mid to late 20s would make her a few years older than me (22, but could pass for Sawyer or Joe's age). lol
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
Evenin' folks!
Janie, just a decaf right now. Thank you Ma'am.
Been a busy day here. Got a little over half the lawn mowed tonight and should be able to finish it tomorrow before lunch to stay ahead of the predicted "liquid sunshine" in the forecast. Took out another ice melting cord from one of the gutters, rolled it up and put it in the shed. Not sure why i am saving them, but you never know, they might be useful someday.... Printed out a pile of documents to be sent to the "very big" bank where we may get a donation from a person who likes to give money away. Philanthropist they call them, I think.
Manét has been in a playful mood and has interrupted me every time I sat down at the computer today to play with the laser light. I have to make a movie of him..... He sure can move fast for a 20+ lb. cat! His brother, Blackie, just sits and watches the light most of time. Once in a while he will try to atamp it out with his paw, but won't chase it all over the room.
Tomorrow I meet with the second Solar salesman. He was the one that stopped by last week to check out the roof, electric equipment, and my trains.... Hopefully he will have a better offer than the one today. The third company is the one with the Lease as one of the options. They should be calling me later this week.
The inside of the old pop-up camper my son and I were in at a State Park north of Steamtown back in 04... Was very comfortable actually!
Galaxy, oh Galaxy??? Where are you Galaxy?
Hope you all have a good night! Prayers for all in need!
Harry k Birks
Time for me to call it a night. See y'all tomorrow.
It's 93 here now. Glad I got the parents yard mowed early. Being on the tractor behind that hot engine wouldn't be pleasant. Decided I had to get it done today as the extended forecast shows rain for nearly every day through to next Tuesday. Now that the job is done it'll probably change to blazing sunshine every day.
Afternoon folks,
Janie, I'll order a bit later.....
Vincent, she was a lot closer to your age than to mine..... I would guess mid to late 20s probably. Hispanic/Latino heritage I think, beautiful light brown skin and those dark eyes that just look right through a person. Very pleasant and has a smile that would melt glaciers! Too bad I'm not about 35 years younger.... She is also married.... Oh well! (grin)
Never did show anything from Steamtown yet today... How about one of me in the cab?
Later!
fec153 JEFF- The "F" units, N.Y.Central, what series are they?
JEFF- The "F" units, N.Y.Central, what series are they?
Got the parents yard mowed today and had another tractor breakdown. Nothing major, just a tie rod end. Yeah, I know, wait a minute! You replaced that LAST year! Last year I broke the RIGHT side tie rod end. Today I broke the LEFT side tie rod end. Naturally it happened at the top of the yard just like the other one so it was a slow trip back to the machine shop halfway down the yard. That doesn't sound far but then you realize how big five acres is. I only had to go two and a half. Got the big tractor parked in it's space and got out the little MTD Yardman to finish the small area outside the fence, a whole twenty minutes of work. Went to the repair shop afterward and got a new tie rod end and laid it on the hood of the big tractor. I'll put it on when I feel up to it. Afterward I came home and ate a couple of bologna and cheese sandwiches. Shortly I'll put on the latest Mythbusters show and lay back and fall apart.
CURT- Were you able to to switch to the other items on the right side??
Prayers and Blessings to all.
Flip