Elliot´s Trackside Diner - September 2012

[kbkchooch]

Sounds like little Spring is falling asleep on the job!!  

[cudaken]

 Evening Folks

 Why thank you Flo for the

 Jeremy glad to hear you landed a job! What will you be doing?

 Far as the new shop, not that impressed! One thing I HATE is the counter tops are about a foot shorter! I am 6'4" and it was hard to type standing up before! The so called move was very ill planned (And Why it shouldn't be after all) I made 3 trips back to the old shop for stuff today.

  See you all later.

                  Ken

[JeremyB]

Cheers Dave I appreciate it :)

[howmus]

Ahhhhhhhhhh!  Ow!  Oh...  Evenin' folks!

I hurt!  Done stood for 7 hours straight on board the Erie Road Caboose...  Trouble with being car host is that you are in constant motion the whole time you are there.  Janie, cup of decaf would do wonders...  Thank you Ma'am!

We had a very good day out at the museum with about 200 visitors riding during the day.  They set off a Torpedo in my honor at the end of the day...  One of my usual routines after I give the safety speech to riders on the old Erie Caboose is to tell them they should feel free to ask me anything about the train they want to know.  I tell them I have a wealth of little known and completely useless information and that I even know such things as why we have torpedoes on board.  Then I just turn and walk away....  I am almost always stopped by one of the ladies who wants to know what a torpedo is on a train.  I then say, "Ah, good question!"  The past president was on board for one of the trips and I had him laughing pretty good when I did the routines.  So as they were putting the 80 tonner back on the engine track at the end of the day, they set off one with the 80 tonner.  If you have never heard one go off it is about having 3 or 4 m-80s go off at once!

Jeffrey, bummer about the charger for the chair.  Hopefully they can get fixed so your mom can tear up the hallways at the nursing home!

1920 Case Tractor?  Most of the ones I have driven over the years that were made in the 20s and 30s were very smooth running and fun little tractors.

I checked that little dial on the side of the house after I got home tonight from the museum....  Reads 9 less than it did at sundown last night!   i like nice sunny days that don't need to have an air conditioner running!

I'm going to see if I can still walk around for a bit or if I need to crawl to the little room down the hall.

Later!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Curt Webb

Jeff- Hope you got your Mothers chair working.

Not today. Looks like it needs a new charger.

[Curt Webb]

Afternoon All,

It has been a MRR day today. I finished up the platform last night and today I built a 1989 Revell model of a lumber crane and modeled a lift harness for LCL containers. I  still need to put the LCL containers in the gondolas and put people down along with shipping crates. I also still need to do some touch up paint.

 

 

JeremyB- Congrats on your new job and good luck.

Jeff- Hope you got your Mothers chair working.

Ken- Hope the new work place building is a improvement.

Paul- Hope your wife is doing well.

Hope everyone has a good night and prayers for those in  need.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Well I tested the charger and batteries on my mothers power chair. The front battery showed 5.5 volts and the rear battery showed 1.2 volts. The charger in stand-alone showed zero and hooked up to the chair it showed zero and there was no change in the status of the batteries. Based on that alone I'd say the charger is kaput. I reported these results to my father and  he'll be contacting the company that handles the chair about it. Needless to say my mother isn't a happy camper. She was looking forward to zipping around the nursing home in her Jazzy chair (planning her escape more likely she is) and here it doesn't have enough power to get out of the house to say nothing of getting it in the back of my fathers pickup. Looks like that's not happening anytime soon.

[blownout cylinder]

Good Afternoon...

Had some fun this afternoon...we got some new plants in to fill in some holes left by some rather overly enthusiastic mole/vole/whatsit last night..

[blownout cylinder]

kbkchooch

Karl- Sounds like our Lawn and Garden equipment is the same. I have a IH Cub Cadet in need of some work and a John Deere push mower running like a champ. Of course the Cub is vintage 1976 or 77, can’t remember what year it was bought, so it’s carb issues after all these years are not too bad. Only thing ever had to do to it othern tuneups and only had three of them.

Todd

I wish I had stuff that new!  Well kinda! The little Deere is a 1977 vintage, but the Cub is 1967 vintage and the big Deere is from 1955! The trouble is they don't wear out! Yes, they break parts from time to time, but its usually things like belts or blades or dolly wheels. The crankshaft seal on the Cub is the first major issue its ever had, but, if I can't fix it I will remotor it...make a lawn mower racer or a pullin tractor out of it! (yeah,,,I'm a former Redneck!)

Learning Chinese are ya?  My son spent a semester last year in Beijing learning Chinese,,after graduation he wants to go back as an English teacher in China. Yeah, he'll fit in, he's 6 ft 7 and blond!

Our neighbour to the east of us has a Case Crossmotor from the 1920's ...dang thing is just too much of a boneshaker for me!!!

[JeremyB]

Hey Fellas,

Start the new job tomorrow, bright and early at 6:30am. The wife and I went out today to find it. Its a lot closer then I thought get this, only 6 minutes by car from the house to there. Im going to walk I think as I need the exercise and the wife needs the car to go to work because she is a bit longer to work.

I don't think a 20-25 minute walk is all that bad is it? save money on gas and get exercise all at the same time. If I dont pop back in here tonight, wish me luck guys and I will come back tomorrow to report how the first day was.

- Jeremy

[pascaff*]

Morning All,

   Currently 59 with and expected high of 87.

   Lee - When I was growing up on Long Island all the Indian names seemed very easy for me to pronounce. I do not know why, maybe it was because I learned them as a kid. Now I have a hard time figuring out how to pronounce a lot of words.

Sundays the store is open from 10:00 to 6:00. so I have an open and closing day. A good thing we only have to work every weekend.

   I will stop at the hospital before and after work to check on my wife's progress. So another long day ahead fro me.

  Prayers to all in need.

     Paul

[cudaken]

 Morning Folks

 Flo to go pleases.

 Just a quick hello before I head to work.

 Today will be my first day working in the new shop. Saw the the insides last Friday night when we moved. While new, many parts of it is much smaller than the old shop. Mot crazy about the layout but I will get uses to it.

               Ken

[kbkchooch]

Karl- Sounds like our Lawn and Garden equipment is the same. I have a IH Cub Cadet in need of some work and a John Deere push mower running like a champ. Of course the Cub is vintage 1976 or 77, can’t remember what year it was bought, so it’s carb issues after all these years are not too bad. Only thing ever had to do to it othern tuneups and only had three of them.

Todd

I wish I had stuff that new!  Well kinda! The little Deere is a 1977 vintage, but the Cub is 1967 vintage and the big Deere is from 1955! The trouble is they don't wear out! Yes, they break parts from time to time, but its usually things like belts or blades or dolly wheels. The crankshaft seal on the Cub is the first major issue its ever had, but, if I can't fix it I will remotor it...make a lawn mower racer or a pullin tractor out of it! (yeah,,,I'm a former Redneck!)

Learning Chinese are ya?  My son spent a semester last year in Beijing learning Chinese,,after graduation he wants to go back as an English teacher in China. Yeah, he'll fit in, he's 6 ft 7 and blond!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 71° with 100% humidity. There's a fair chance of rain. It'll be mostly cloudy with a high of 88°.


Only thing on today's schedule is to check the charger and batteries on my mothers power chair with my digital meter. I specify digital because I also have an analog meter. Other than that nothing else is planned. I may get some layout work in later.

Here's a link to a short video of my GP7's and GP35 pulling a string of twenty-seven cars.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

TMarsh

My learning of Cantonese is coming along slow but well I suppose. Only spend about 15-20 minutes of a morning on it so all things considered. Bought one of those headset microphones so I could hear myself and compare to the “teachers” instead of in my head. That helps more than I thought it would. I still haven’t learned how to say “Gee I know this is Walmart and it’s expected, kind of a tradition actually, but didn’t you think you should maybe have looked in a mirror first before you wore that?”   I’m working on it.

I have a Klingon language CD that I bought many years ago. Very interesting. Boy, the things you can learn from it.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

LSWrr

I asked a girl working in the restaurant if she would pronounce where we were slowly so I could get the proper pronunciation.  The young girl looked at me exasperated and said: Bur-ger-king….  

Let me guess! Blonde?

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!!!  

Coffee and the Sunday Breakfast Buffet please. Thanks.

Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.

Corn Harvest is going along well so far. Yields are down, way down, but may not be as bottom pit as thought. We’ll see when it’s over.

Odd what I don’t think about looking up myself at the time and what I don’t. Thanks for the pronunciation info guys. And the history too. Though I should have guessed a hard A (or long as some were taught) beings how it had an ai. But then again by my theory on the United Statesian language, we have ripped off words from juuuuust about every language in the world and, like everything else, altered it to make it our own so Canandaigua could very well have been pronounced Jones. Why the English haven't sued us for Trademark violations I haven't a clue.

Though I believe Ray was “agreeing to disagree” for forum rules reasons and not for fear he would get in an argument with Garry, (oh looky, turns out I was right) it brought to mind this…. No two people will ever agree on everything. Well, I agree with everything my wife says but that’s self-preservation so it doesn’t count. But it’s how we handle our disagreements that make us friends or enemies.

Garry- Nice shots! I like the one where they’re replacing the trucks the best.

Karl- Sounds like our Lawn and Garden equipment is the same. I have a IH Cub Cadet in need of some work and a John Deere push mower running like a champ. Of course the Cub is vintage 1976 or 77, can’t remember what year it was bought, so it’s carb issues after all these years are not too bad. Only thing ever had to do to it othern tuneups and only had three of them.

Haven’t even started the thing this year. Shoulda got a carb like I was gonna and get the thing fixed, but noooooo, had to see if I can fix it and she’s still sittin waitin for me to get “round-to-it”. (shakes head)

 Ray- Oddly enough, your panels do not look um…., can’t think of the right word, ugly’s not it. Unattractive, distractive….something like that. Maybe it’s the roof, but yours seems to blend pretty well so I wouldn’t have an objection myself. Well for my house anyway. I’m one of those people who don’t care what you do with your property as long as it doesn’t affect (or is it effect, too early to think) me and solar panels that some may think makes you house ugly, doesn’t affect (or is it effect, too early) me. But like I said, at least in the pictures, it don’t look bad atall.

OHHH!! I walked right into that one Lee….

Got pulled away from the shower project yesterday. Imagine that. Today I hope to get the base down and then things will halt for two days until the mortar sets enough to get on it. I hope so as I said I’d look at this guys ’56 Ford Pick-up he got back from the body shop that the generator went up in smoke on Monday afernoon. I planned on setting it Wednesday night so it would be ready for this weekend to start on the walls. THAT didn't happen.

My learning of Cantonese is coming along slow but well I suppose. Only spend about 15-20 minutes of a morning on it so all things considered. Bought one of those headset microphones so I could hear myself and compare to the “teachers” instead of in my head. That helps more than I thought it would. I still haven’t learned how to say “Gee I know this is Walmart and it’s expected, kind of a tradition actually, but didn’t you think you should maybe have looked in a mirror first before you wore that?”   I’m working on it.

Ya’ll have a good day!!!!

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning

Weather here is sunny with a few cloudy periods...high near 72F. 

Have to go after the garden a bit this afternoon...maybe get a bit of hobby time in later...

Yesterday went off without a hitch...no issues to speak of...well, maybe excepting that I did not have enough waybills....d'uh....

Ray, Garry:  That was why I was not going to say anything...Vinnie was sitting right behind me....

Jeff:  Bookmarked the site

[LSWrr]

Good Morning All:

JeremyB, congrats and good luck on the new job

Jeff & Ray, everything in my job depends on me pronouncing FRENCH or INDIAN named locations, I have no idea why I haven’t been fired, LOL.  It doesn’t help matters that the spelling of certain locations has changed since way back when.  I do find it very interesting to learn what the name means and how it got the name, it sometimes provides entertainment when dealing with people.

A friend and I stopped in Weyauwega, WI for lunch and I asked a girl working in the restaurant if she would pronounce where we were slowly so I could get the proper pronunciation.  The young girl looked at me exasperated and said: Bur-ger-king….  

TMarsh, I base the difficulty of the job on the number of trips I make to Home Depot.

Jeff, I hate those simple troubleshooting jobs like your Mom’s power chair not recharging.  For me it always boils down to a stupid safety switch or setting that has to be engaged before you can do what you want.  Good luck…

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning! from Tipton IN.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

East bound NKP, Downtown 1950s, Fort Wayne IN

TIPTON IN

[galaxy]

Morning coffee in the diner

GOOD MORNING!!!

Today is Sunday, September 16th, 2012!!!

Have you even been told to "hold down the fort"? or have you ever told someone to "hold down the fort"?

 

hold the fort/holding the fort - take responsibility for managing a situation while under threat or in crisis, especially on a temporary or deputy basis, or while waiting for usual/additional help to arrive or return - 'hold the fort' or 'holding the fort' is a metaphor based on the idea of soldiers defending (holding) a castle or fort against attack by enemy forces. Fort and fortress are old English words that have been in use since the 1300s in their present form, deriving from French and ultimately Latin (fortis means strong, which gives us several other modern related words, fortitude and forté for example). The first recorded use of 'hold the fort' is particularly noteworthy and although earlier use might have existed, there seems little doubt that this story was responsible for establishing the expression so firmly and widely. The expression seems first to to have come to prominence in American Civil War newspapers and other reports (notably that of Daniel Webster Whittle, US Civil War army major, evangelist and writer) of semaphore (flag) messages exchanged on 5 October 1864 between General Sherman and John Corse, a commander of 4th Division, Fifteenth Corps, who defended a crucial position (because it contained a million and a half rations) with 1,500-2,000 men (reports vary) at the Battle of Altoona Pass, near Atlanta GA, when attacked and outnumbered by 3,000-6,000 men and heavy artillery of the Confederate army under the command of general Samuel French. Corse's men suffered casualties of between a third and a half, but against all odds, held their position, inflicting huge losses on the enemy, forcing them to withdraw. After the battle, newspapers reported that Sherman had sent a semaphore message from a distant hilltop to Corse, saying 'Hold the fort; I am coming. WT Sherman.' According to these reports, the message had a stirring effect on Corse's men, although Corse it seems maintained that he had successfully held the position without Sherman's assistance, and ironically Sherman seems later to have denied sending such a message at all. Whatever, the story of the battle and Sherman's message and its motivating effect on Corse's men established the episode and the expression in American folklore. Shortly afterwards in 1870 a rousing gospel song, 'Hold the Fort', inspired by the battle, was written by evangelist Philip Paul Bliss (1838-1876). Bliss was apparently later presented with a conductor's baton, made from wood taken from the pine tree on which Sherman's semaphore flags were flown at the battle scene. The song became very popular and would no doubt have given wide publicity and reinforcement to the 'hold the fort' expression. The song was also brought to England and Ireland in the 1870s by evangelists, where it was apparently received rapturously by all who sang it and heard it. Incidentally reports after the battle also quoted Corse's message of defiance to Sherman after his troops' heroics, 'I am short a cheek-bone and an ear, but am able to whip all hell yet..' and for a time this became a famous saying as well.

Hold The Fort (Philip P Bliss, 1870)

Ho, my comrades! see the signal waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh. (Chorus:)
"Hold the fort, for I am coming," Jesus signals still;
Wave the answer back to Heaven, "By Thy grace we will."
See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on;
Mighty ones around us falling, courage almost gone! (Chorus)
See the glorious banner waving! Hear the trumpet blow!
In our Leader’s Name we triumph over ev'ry foe. (Chorus)
Fierce and long the battle rages, but our help is near;
Onward comes our great Commander, cheer, my comrades, cheer! (Chorus)

(Sources include: Robert G. Huddleston, writing in the US Civil War Google newsgroup, Aug 24 1998; and cyberhymnal.org)

Please note: a Fortnight is equal to 14 days..the length of time certain members of the defending forces were kept on patrol/defence of the fort. They would work 2 weeks on and one week off to be with their families. SO the fortnight means 14 days {of service}.

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Janie, a cup of decaf and a plate of cookies would be very good right now!

Garry said, "I hope you understand I value your friendship more than anything else."  Thank you sir, and the feeling is absolutely mutual!  The biggest reason for my earlier statement was I figured we were very close to going past the out of bounds line with the subject...  Didn't want either of us to get a visit from Vinnie!

J.R., good to see you here again!  I figured you have been way too busy to just sit and drink coffee around these parts.  Too bad when you go to the Glen you don't have a spare day to come up here to the other end of Seneca Lake for a visit.  "Hideous looking installation..."  LOL!  I'm sure there are some around here who probably think that about my house now!  My own sister called within minutes of me sending her a photo of the system to tell me it was OK but she wouldn't want anything that ugly on her house!  Actually in most locals a permit wouldn't be issued unless it was just right in terms of everything about it.  I now know way too much about the whole process....   So... You are going South for an Holiday I see....    Do hope it all turns out good for you.

I have to be out at the Museum a bit earlier than usual for Crew Call tomorrow (or should I say earlier than if I was a Museum Guide).  So I will be heading out for a long nap soon.

Prayers for all in need!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

GMTRacing

   Jeff - good to see you're hanging in there. I know your situation is very limited money wise but you really are an inspiration to the rest of us with your no quit attitude.

Never say die. Just keep pushing on.

*

*

Time for me to call it a night. Yeah it's a bit early but I've been really PO'd this evening and I don't want to tie anyone in a knot. I figure the best thing is to shut down and go to bed. The reason for all this is that I was trying to get my mothers power chair to take a charge and it won't. I did everything by the book several times. Checked the battery connections ana went over all the wire connections seven ways from Sunday. We get a red power light on the charger but no charge light. My father was in the next room reading the manual and telling me what it said. I was going over it for the tenth time and I was beyond extremely annoyed. He knew from hard experience he'd be better off staying in the other room until I cooled down a bit. I have a really short temper and when it snaps it goes all at once and my anger lashes out in every direction seeking a target. Trust me, you don't want to be there. My anger is something to behold at the best of times and well worth avoiding at the worst of times. I've tried all kinds of therapies, all kinds of anger management courses and routines, tranquilizers, nothing has worked. This isn't a recent thing either. I've been like this all my life. I'm agreeable enough most of the time but when I get mad it's best to just step back and avoid the fireworks. Hence my shutting down early. Tomorrow I'll go down and put a meter on the charger and see if it's putting out anything. If it tests good the techs are getting called to work on the chair. If it isn't good the techs are getting called to replace the charger. Enough about that. See y'all tomorrow.

[GMTRacing]

Good Evening All,

    Ooooooh twwo days in a row here. Got all of the support equipment and parts loaded and started on tires. With 5 cars in the container there won't be any free space when done.

   Jame - thanks for the heads up, I meant the east coast U.S. for the strike. Hopefully we won't have sililar issues in Oz. The container should go to bonded impound and then to Eastern Creek where it will be released to us then reloaded at the end of the weekend and go to New Zealand for races there before returning to the U.S. The CFO has handled the paperwork and is at her wits end with the U.S. agent who haven't a clue. The EPA is involved now and have made it all very confusing - this for cars that have never seen a street or even been capable of registration for street use.

   Garry - the 44 tonner DCC conversion was indeed difficult. I finally used an N scale NCE piece that just fit the body. I wouldn't have been able to do that with the older twin motor version as they drew too much amperage to be safe. I think Wolfgang Duder posted installation tips a while ago (now that you're done) and he also added sound to hs. Someday, someday.....

   Jeff - good to see you're hanging in there. I know your situation is very limited money wise but you really are an inspiration to the rest of us with your no quit attitude.

  Ray - I looked at solar as well but don't really have the house position to take advantage of it without making a fairly hideous looking installation. I'll be interested in how it works out for you.

     Time for some Z's gotta get back at it to finish loading tomorrow so we can ship Monday morning. J.R.

[kbkchooch]

Howdy gang!

Bizzy day,,,had to work from 7 to 3, the dinner at the in-laws, came home, worked on the Cub Crapette for an hour,,,,no joy. Put new latches on the shed doors, then cut and placed landscaping ties for the basement entrance, placed stepping stones and pea gravel,,,,darn, now its dark!!

Gotta cut the grass tomorrow (thank goodness the John Deere hasnt died yet) plus attempt the Cub again tomorrow, BEFORE the Raven's game and Nascar come on!!

Somewhere in the I need to sneak a little hobby time too!!! 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good afternoon.

I'm glad to say the GE 44T is back on the rails and running on DCC. That was a very tough job for an engine so small. Everything that possibly go worng kept going wrong. Sometimes repeatedly.

Ray ... I hope you understand I value your friendship more than anything else. I am delighted you have your new system, and I hope you continue to provide updates. Perhaps, my character flaw is I am suspicious every time I see numbers for the first time. I'm very skeptical every time. I automatically suspect they are wrong and then look for information to verify my thoughts. Maybe, I'm a rivit counter of economic data. .... Vinnie? .... Barry says he's already looking for me? ..... Should I believe Barry, too?

This afternoon, I was at my friend, Gus's house near here. He is a retired Illinois Central locomotive  engineer, and I took these photos of his layout. His locos show a variety of colors used on the IC, and some of the models are units he operated during his long career. The trio of Alco S1's are of the Cadiz Railroad which operated in this area. It connected with the IC RR.

 

 

 

 

[JeremyB]

Hi Fellas,

Just stopped in to say Hi. I have to go back a few pages and catch up.Well, I start my new job on Monday morning at 6:30am. I will be working 45 hours a week. Being off on my severance for the last year and a half its going to be a big change getting back in the work groove. I am a little nervous about starting a new place so this weekend Im just trying to keep busy and keep my mind occupied. I guess when it comes down to it Im lucky I have a job.

[cudaken]

 Evening Dinners.

 Flo, just a beer pleases.

 Nothing really nothing to say tonight, just wanted to stop by and let you all know my heart is still beating and there is a roof over my head.

 Ken

[james saunders]

GMTRacing

Good Evening All,

   Haven't done much for the last couple of months but work or sleep. The container to Oz leaves Monday two weeks early because of an impending east coast dock strike the first of October. Of course we found out over the weekend while at Watkins Glen when we couldn't move to get anything done. Oh, well. It's stilll better than the alternative. It's just been a very difficult couple of months.

   I'm trying to catch up posts to see how y'all are doing. Catch ya later, J.R.

J.R - The strikes are common here by the "Wharfies" on the east coast. The company I work for imports product from China we receive 100 - 120 containers a year and probably half are affected by either go slow or strikes which shut down the ports.

I hope your container isn't held up too long if at all.

In news for me, I'm working on track plans for my new layout. Today there is a model train show on the other side of town which I may attend. Later on I will move the layout into position and drill and install the pilot holes for the bolts which will hold the two modules together.

Thats all from me.

Cheers

[howmus]

Afternoon folks,

Flo, a nice glass of lemonade would hit the spot right now.

Todd, Jeff found the Wiki about the place I see....  In Rochestarian (Local dialect with a very hard "A") we say it Can-an-day-gwah.  The word is from the Iroquoian, meaning "The Chosen Spot".  Couldn't gradeeate from 3rd. grade there unless you knew all about that and why the little island at the head of Canandaigua Lake is called Squaw Island!  The Tuscarora word really means "The place where those &*%%#$ people live"... Of course that was before the Tuscarora became the 'little brother' of the Iroquois and were then protected by the confederacy.  The first treaty made by the new US Government was with the Seneca Nation and was signed by Chief Red Jacket in Canandaigua, NY.  It is still in force today and involves a quantity of cloth and a few other things given to the the Seneca nation each year.  There is a parade and celebration of the treaty every year there.  The Wiki Article is incorrect saying that Ganondagan is a name for Canandaigua.  Ganondagan is the old Seneca Village that is located just South of Victor, NY and is now a park and museum run by the Seneca Nation.  I have several friends who work there as educators.  My sister gave me a water drum hand made by one of my friends at Ganondagan a few years ago at Christmas.

Garry, I think I hear Vinnie stirring in back....    So I guess I will just have to say we disagree on a few things, and I totally respect your right for you to have your beliefs.  I don't think friends need to or even should always agree on issues.  If they have to agree totally then it isn't really friendship!  With THAT, I promise not to bring up the subject here again....  (I may give updates on KWH's though!)

Got the woodsplitter out to the museum, unloaded, and back home without incident this afternoon.

Catch you all later!

73