Elliott's Trackside Diner - June 2012

[Packer]

Afternoon guys

I'm camping the mailbox again, this time waiting for some parts for my GP38Xs. The GP5 and F-unit project is still stalled out. Both are waiting on parts, tools, and adhesives. I have some #80 bits, but they were made without a point. I'm thinking of trying to add a point to them (too small for a drill sharpener, may try a drill and a file)

Work was hell again. Unfortunately I'm stuck until I gaduate college in a few months.

Harry,

Ken, your boss sounds like my boss. BTW, I'm still intrested in those F9s at K10, so check your PMs.

Darren, I have a walther's caboose like that one. I just wish I could get it apart to pus some people in the interior.

Ray, she wasn't my age was she?

[howmus]

Testing, testing....  Anyone here???

Had two posts so far today go off into cyberspace and not get to where they are supposed to be.....

OK, this one got through.....  Chloe, just a cup of hot Chocolate to tide me over to dinner, please.

Just got done talking with a very attractive young lady from one of the Solar Companies.  She discussed the contract and the installation with me from the company she represents.  Doubt I will be signing the contract as it is for a much smaller system than the other companies say they can install on the roof.  I will have to see once I get the offers from the other companies.  She had to check out the electric box to be sure it can work for the system.  Got the bottom of the stairs and her eyes all of sudden got very big!  She still has her Lionel train set from when she was a kid and has been thinking of getting back into the hobby....  She asked if she could take a couple of photos of the layout for her family.  I also gave her a card for the museum and told her when we would be operating the diesels this summer. 

pssst!  Who's the new guy?  I can't understand much of what he says...  Does he know English at all?  I have never figured out texting as a language....  Probably I nice guy, but it would be nice to know what he is saying........

Best be getting a few more things done.

Later!

73

[Stourbridge Lion]

Afternoon Modelers!

Was at the Eye Doc this morning and for a change my prescription has basically not changed so the deterioration is slowing down from a lifetime in front of computers screens.  We broke the record high yesterday but today it should stay in the 80's.  Working on updating my Travel Blog from last weekends trip into DSP&P areas including finding this CB&Q caboose.

[Cederstrand]

Italian roast coffee in a  UNION PACIFIC  mug, please.

***Harry, welcome and make yourself right at home.

Some great pics being posted in here. Keep 'em coming!

Have a good day all. Healing thoughts to those in need.

Cheers!  Rob

[cudaken]

 Morning All

 Flo, Big Cup Of Coffee

 Harry Welcome to the dinner, hang out as much as you like.

 Lee Is there anything you can do to get your calcium up?Hope things go well on the 22nd.

 Going to sip my coffee by the RC counter and look at all the pretty engines. Think I will go in to work around 12:00. Think the main thing that made me mad is he called 20 minutes before closing and expected me to drop what ever I had planed and come in early today.

 See you all later.

             Ken

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 82° and partly cloudy. The high will be 95° and there's a 20% chance of rain.

Looking at the weather forecast this morning makes me think I'll wnat to mow my parents yard today. Seems every day for the next seven or eight days shows 20 to 40% chances of rain. No plans for layout work today.

[tdk6060]

Thank u all for leting me in the diner. a cup of tea please.thanku.im working on HO freelancing, dcc ,a lot of steam.a good lot of rolling stock,just have to get wood for bechwork.have a plan o got out of MRR. thank u all , and all the drinks are on me.

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!!!

Coffee and Huevos Rancheros please. Thanks.

Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.

Pretty good song there Mr B.

Little Buddy (bats eyes) - I have afriend who’s name is Jesse Lewis. Last name I’ll leave out for legal issues. Most call him Louie. His Dad refers to him as either Jesse or Louie. Sometimes in the same conversation and talk about confusing sometimes. I’m kinda used to it but some don’t know Louies name is really Jesse and they get very confused. Especially since there is a kid who works at the restaurant by the name of Jesse. As for me…..like you I can’t print most the nicknames I’m given. Mostly it’s been Toddy because my Middle initial is D and my Dad started it with saying Todd D as almost one word.  

Jeff- I think Ezra needs a beat up track hoe. Or excavator. Whatever they call them now.

Ulrich- Ditto what others have said. I would just politely explain that things are looked at differently in Germany and there would be little response from those over there other than a sneer and would not be profitable at all. To get that conveyed without insulting his "business" is the trick.

Joe- Congrats on graduation. Saaaaay, pretty girl. Congrats on THAT as well.

Lee- Glad you stopped in. Sorry to hear of your situation. Adding you to my list of prayer recipients.

Welp today in between “shifts” at w**k, I must mow the yard and w**k on the recipe book cabinet (if I ever say I’m gonna build another cabinet, just reach through the monitor and punch me in the face), cut the last piece for the railing above the kitchen cabinets ( do the same if I mention doing that again as well) and, I have to stop by the Church to write another check.

Best get movin, but first, I must hang Jeff’s DL photo out amongst the Black Raspberries. Birds are getting bad and eatin all the ones that turn.

Ya’ll have a good day!!!!

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning

Going to be sunny with the ever popular 30% chance of rain be falling on our heads..which it proceeded to do yesterday...in monsoons

Today will be a somewhat quiet day for this little one...I'll be spending part of the day writing a couple of songs which have been sort of floating around in my brain the last few days..and, hopefully, getting them down in my DAW....

Thanks for all the prayers and such guys...

for you, Lee. Hope things get better for you....

[MisterBeasley]

Good morning - well, Tuesday morning, which is better than Monday for many of us.  Still stuck in this dismal, 53-degrees-and-raining pattern for a few more days.  (That's 53 degrees Fahrenheit, Ulrich.  It's New England, not Hell.)

The wife was thrilled with my "frog project."  No, not turnouts, but ceramic frogs, warts and all.  She has two of them, and each lost a pair of feet to combat with elementary school kids.  I used some Woodland Scenics latex to make molds from the ramaining good feet, and then cast new ones for the damaged frogs.  So far, so good.  Painting is next, as "white gloves" look silly on frogs.

[LSWrr]

Good Morning All,

 

I’m very sorry to hear about Ed, thoughts and prayers to his family.

 

Been real busy with work and medical appointments and haven’t been in the diner for most of last month, sorry.  Surgery is set for June 22^nd.  My real complaint right now is due to the lack of calcium in my muscles I’ve been suffering with ghost pains and I’ve had to slow down since the bone density scans and cat scans reported a 33% loss in bone density in my neck, arms, and upper back.  I’m looking forward to the week of recovery after surgery.  I’ve been stocking up on MRR projects to pass the time and I have a dozen MRR magazines for the overnight stay in the hospital.

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning! from Tipton IN.

 

 

 

 

 

[cudaken]

 Evening Folks

 Flo, Beer Please.

 Work Front Today was slow, but I did make a extra $30.00 today. Far as Clifford the MIT far as I am concern he is worth less. Sounds like a Game Show Host (X Car Salesman) and has no scenes of urgency at all! Example. Came in today and there was 3 tickets in the done file. Next we have to set them up in the computer for delivery. That means making sure the DOT numbers are in, Tech's number's and outside parts invoices are in. Then they are moved to the Ready For Delivery file.

 I pointed out to Clifford that the #1 complaint is we take to long to get the work done. (reason we are trying to find things wrong so we can sale them something extra) So if we have got the work done on time, and it is hanging in the done file and we don't call them we are late! Said he understood. Yeah right.

 Tech brings in a ticket and places it in the done file. Clifford is running his mouth and telling a story to a customer he cashed out for a $19.99 oil change. I went and took a smoke, in fact 2 of them. Came back and Clifford was still running his mouth and the other ticket was still hanging there!

 Tried to tech him how to write a estimate for a tie rod end. He got the part in, wander off, started to show him how to use the labor guide. Wander off. Got him back to the estimate, saw a customer that was waiting and started telling a useless story about his dad. He finally finished the Est, it only took him 45 minutes.

 I could go on, but why waste your time like he is mine.

 Oh, Dave called me at work at 8:40 PM, wants me to come in at 10:00 and not 3:00, tuff. His bad planing does not constitute a emergency on my behalf. I have a 35 car coal drag that I got to get to the Kingsdown Power Plant at 11:00 AM and 25 Reefer Beer car train to pick up at 12:00 PM. That is what Schedules are all about right! 

 Ken 

 

 There is a Big Boy Coming!

[CNCharlie]

Good Evening Diners,

A nice day here with a temp of about 80F. Supposed to hit 85 tomorrow.

Ray, I have dealt with quite a few leases as part of my job, both from an interpretation of the legal clauses as well as the financial implications. I would be very careful in dealing with such a long term agreement and I would suggest you consult with a professional before signing. The number one issue on any long term deal is 'how can I get out of it  if I don't like it'.  There should be clearly defined penalties and also an actual value on a purchase option at the end of the lease. What happens if a prospective purchaser of your house doesn't want solar, what can you do?  I know you will be cautious but I get nervous when anyone talks about a long term lease. Often the company just sells the lease and you may in the end not be dealing with the solar company. This happens all the time in business especially with larger capital asset purchases.

Well time for bed,

CN Charlie

[jeffrey-wimberly]

howmus

Jeff, I meant to tell you THAT is an excellent photo of you...  with or without the glasses!  You look almost human.....

Here's one without the glasses.

Hope I didn't break too many video screens.

[ns3010]

Evening all. Just stopping in

The trip home was successful. Long, but everything was fine. The second leg of the trip was home was behind one of the new dual-modes. Everything seemed fine as far as I could tell!

Thanks, all on the graduation congrats! Not yet, though- three more days...

Well, it's getting late, and I'm dead, so I'm out for the night. Catch ya later!

-Joe

The deadline at NJT's Meadows Maintenance Complex consists of Metro-North F40PH-3C 4911, F40PH-2CAT 4127, GP40PH-2B 4218, and GP40FH-2  4138. Also part of the line, but blocked from view, are GP40FH-2's 4136, 4141, and 4142.

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Janie, just a decaf and maybe one of those brownies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top too.  Huh, oh yes some chocolate syrup and a bit of whipped cream would finish it off very well.....

Jeff, I meant to tell you THAT is an excellent photo of you...  with or without the glasses!  You look almost human.....

Jim, I'm not sure what you are referring to with "stove"?  I have decided that I will keep the stove as I won't have to do much other than just get the chimney replaced....  I can still carry wood and ashes for a few more years, so I might just as well keep the gas use to a minimum....  I heard back from the guy about more info for the lease for solar panels today.  The lease is transferable, but a new owner has to agree to the terms of the lease.  At the end of the lease they can take off the panels, or the owner can buy the panels at fair price (whatever that means.....?).

The photos I have been showing are from when my son and I went to Steamtown for a Fall Foliage excursion back in 2004.  We camped in a small "pop-up" camper I had back then.  The first morning the campsite looked like this:

That evening after dark we saw this scene outside the door.  Look closely you will see a pair of white dots from the camera flash....  Pull the full size one up and you should be able to see awhat we saw....

There were two of them less than 25 foot from where we were sitting at the time.

Have a good and safe night folks!  I wish there was some way I could find out what is going on with Galaxy!

73

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JimRCGMO

Jeff, I like your new avatar photo - got a bigger one I can use to scare off any mice? (Just kiddin'...)

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Chloe - I'll have a hot fudge brownie sundae, and a  Rio Grande  mug of decaf, please. Thanks!

Busy day at w**k today, no lunch break. Thank Heaven for the chocolate stashes around our building (and that I know where most of them are!), and for our soda machine downstairs!

Curt, good to hear that your pain is fading fast (or sorta fast).  for healing and recuperation before your days off w**k run out.

Ray, that's an interesting... stove? Is that the one you're talking about taking out? The deal with leasing the solar panels sounds like a better one to me than buying them outright.

TDK6060, to the Diner, and have a beverage of your choice on me! Any prototype RR that you plan to model, or will you be freelancing yours, as myself and some other Diners are doing? Fill us in on what your dreams/plans are.

TSF, glad you found your way to the new location. Sometimes the rest of our lives gets in the way of the MRR'ing (or the FUN) part, doesn't it? (Best wishes on the cultivating not taking too much time...)

Vincent (Packer), yeah, if the parts are gonna run you that much, I'd likely do it one loco at a time. You might check and see if there are online places that have the parts (or can special order them) for you at some discount (any reduction will help, I'm sure). As for your scrape on the nose, is the little pad on your glasses gone, or worn pretty thin? Only thing I sometimes notice with mine is, a slight indentation if I've been fiddlin' with mine (like recently, after getting new ones and trying to adjust), but no scrapes unless the little pad slips off unexpectedly.

Ken, love your photo of ol' 4019! (Droolworthy!.... (4015 looks great, too...) While I can (a little, but not that much) see some of Craig's not wanting to miss the bus (especially if it's the last one, which I didn't get the sense that it is, right?), it's not up to you or anybody else there to stay late so he can catch that bus. He may need a job with different hours (just not there, perhaps)... (Did I mention how nice that 4019 looks in that photo?...) Thoroughly enjoyed Mr.Beasley's Del Shannon parody - had me humming along!

CN Charlie, I've seen a number of Atlas stations, towers and other structures that a good paint job really improves their looks. Got pics when you get done?

Barry, may you have smooth sailing with the treatments this week (and the rest of the weeks/months, as well). And I'll second what Jeff said.

Jeff, I like your new avatar photo - got a bigger one I can use to scare off any mice? (Just kiddin'...) [ditto] what Rob said. Good report there from your doctor.

Ulrich, that thing about talking with your high school buddy probably was more being rusty in the speaking of the language than anything about your being older. (Now on the multi-level stuff, you could just explain that since it was illegal there in Germany, you couldn't get involved with it at all, and leave it at that).  On your language thing, I always found that I could get by (as best I could, anyway) better with reading another language, than I could with speaking - and particularly with listening/speaking to a native speaker (they're usually talking faster than I could!). Prayers for healing (and comfort with/in your skin).

Mr.Beasley, other than the adapting to slightly different things, your wife (I'd bet) will probably adapt quite well to her MacBook Air. From those I've seen, I expect she will really like how fast it boots up. If you need help, ask Ray or myself and we can either answer or suggest sites that will help. Nice choice on the birthday present, by the way.

Darren, are you thinking of building one of those inspection things that was in (forgot if it was MR or MRH) the magazine recently? That photo does look familiar...

Rob -   Hey, thanks for posting that picture of your layout. Enjoyed seeing it again.

NSJoe, you clean up good! Cute-looking prom date, too! Enjoy these days, probably some of the best in this part of your life (from my recollections of mine...). Ah, college years await you...

"Railroads like to couple up"...Grrrooooaaann, Garry!

Todd! Kudos on getting your 'office' whipped into (some sort of) shape! (Now if a few of the rest of us could manage that...)

On my MRR front, got the grey primer out and painted the shingle roof pieces for couple of my Main St. Heritage kits. Also pulled the roof off one side (it didn't fit right, anyway) and cleaned off the dried AC. After I get back home, may have time to epoxy the roof pieces (and supports that I cut) in place. Hope to get some photos posted later in the week.

Bit of a rainy spot tonight - was pouring down a bunch about 45 minutes (or so) ago. Have a severe thunderstorm watch tonight (that is, no dancing in the puddles, just in case...) Should help some gardens (those that didn't get washed away, at least).

Jeff, nice photo of your construction equipment in transit.

And I think I'll also head for home myself... Prayers for good night's sleep, for comfort and healing, and for several of our MIA Diners (including Galaxy, if you're out there peeking in the drive-through window...) to swing by and let us know they're okay.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape G.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Time for me to call it a night. See y'all tomorrow.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

BOC: Hope you get to feeling better soon.

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evening...

Sheeesh..got the first part of the treatments done..now I have to wait until Wednesday for the next pile of ...'stuff''

I'm bushed...I'm heading for bed...g'nite....

[Cederstrand]

Coffee refill, please.

***Vincent, a little redness, providing it doesn't bother you is probably fine. If it is digging in and making your nose sore, then have your glasses adjusted and ask for an upgrade in pads. If they are fitted right and the pads are decent, they should be comfortable to wear all day. My two cents worth.

An overhead pic of the middle of my HO layout, mainly the town of "Sherman's Crossing". Not much has changed on it.

Have anice evening y'all.

 Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Sir Madog

Jeff - I like your new avatar!

Here's the photo I used for it:

 

[Packer]

Afternoon guys

Not a whole lot on the train front. I'm still wigging out about the remenents of the paint in the tight spots of my Fs. I think I'll pull some of them out later this week and try priming a few after affixing the doors and striker plates. If it don't work, I can alwayr re-strip them, right? Last resort is to get an air eraser from HFT and some baking soda...

I noticed when I took my glasses off after work, I have what looks to be something similar to a scrape where the pads rest on my nose. Is this normal or is it something I need to address (i.e. different pads, adjustments, etc.)

Ken, I agree with jeff, 5 amps should power a whole lot more than 7 locos (heck, I think my local MR club runs on just 2 DB150s and is capable or running a ton of locos). The most I've loaded my Zephyr up on is 4 Sound/DCC engines and 4 DCC engines (speed matching). 2 of each type were running, and 2 of each were idling. As for your fried digitrax decoder, I've stopped buying digitrax. Even though they are local (an hour or so away) their warranty kind of sucks (I've been waiting over a year to get a DH163IP back) and I've had too many new decoders be DOA out of the package. I didn't notice any slow-down when doing that. BTW, check your PMs, I finally have the money for those F-units at K10.

Joe, Congrats on graduation. You graduated in the same year as my brother.

Jeff, So your van does the same thing as my mustang when going over uneven road? I know mine was set to NOT compensate for the pitch in the road because I asked for a different adjustment than the what the factory recommends. I asked to adjust it so that the compensation is evenly distributed among each side using the new setting. (i.e. adjust by taking a bit from one side and move it to the other). The place adjusted it to the new settings (which work wonderfully BTW), but didn't compenaste, so it pulls a little to the left. Add the in the 255 wide front and 275 wide rear tires and rough roads cause the car to want to go all over the place. On smooth roads, aside from the pull, it turns really well (I think enough to possibly stick with my brother's Miata in a corner)

[Mr. Dispatcher]

Ken- Try placing a small 6" fan blowing on your DB150. It might keep it a little cooler so that it does not shut down if it is overheating.   Otto

[howmus]

Afternoon folks!

Chloe, just a cup of hot chocolate to tide me over to dinner....

Got a few things done already, but not nearly as much as I had hoped for.  I just got off the phone with my insurance agent who assured me the new roof would not affect my homeowner's policy cost.  He also thinks I may qualify for a discount when the Solar Panels are installed.  Many companies offer a renewable energy discount to homeowners for such things.  Ulrich I was very surprised to hear that over there it would cost extra! 

Todd and Jeff, I get called lots of different things by various people.  Some are not printable.......  LOL  As a child my nickname was Buddy...  Only my sister in Canandaigua still calls me by the name....  I think because she considers it will keep me at the bottom of the pecking order in the Family.  My other sister calls me Ray as do most all my friends.  There is one cousin (whom I have little use for) that not long ago after I told her my friends call me Ray said to me, "I'll always think of you as 'Little Buddy'..."  (Batting eyelashes at me!)  I keep my distance from her whenever possible.

Back to w*rk!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

cudaken

 Thought I found the problem with the RTR Dash 9. Head light wire had melted to the light board. Fixed it and gave it a test run. Now I did have 6 other engines running at the time. After a few minutes the DB 150 shut down. You would think 5 amps could power 7 engines.

I should hope so! I run four at once (non-sound) on my Zephyr with another eight sitting idle on 'hot' track. So that's twelve decoders drawing power with four motors running and an active MRC sound system on two and a half amps.

[cudaken]

 Flow Diet Dew to Go please.

 Getting ready to head to work.

 Train Front Cant read the decoder while it is in the Blue Line. So I started looking for a engine that has a 8 pin socket. All but one have been hard wired or does not use a plug. Only one that still uses a 8 socket is a messed up E-6. Plug in the DZ 163 and decoder pro could not read it. So is it the decoder, or the engine. My guess I blew the decoder, but no burnt spots?

 Thought I found the problem with the RTR Dash 9. Head light wire had melted to the light board. Fixed it and gave it a test run. Now I did have 6 other engines running at the time. After a few minutes the DB 150 shut down. You would think 5 amps could power 7 engines.

 Sometimes I wish I stated DC, like today.

 See you tonight.

                  Ken

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

TMarsh

I wasn’t even close was I Jeff. Actually, it was obvious if I’d thought about it.

Hey, nobody's perfect. Names in my family can be a confusing affair depending on what side of the family they're on.