Elliot´s Trackside Diner - January 2013

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning! from Tipton IN.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

TIPTON

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning

We are in for a mild day today...temperature going up to 40F!! Yay!! Heatwave!! Tropical Heatwave!! But with showers...not so yay...more like...sigh.

Around here we have yet to see much snow...it has been a relatively dry January so far here...even with the showers there has been little of that even...

Today I need to get more groceries into mine manse and also get some more pink stuff  well...tomorrow will be my day for train room ...that is..if HD list does not show up...

Ray:  Prius has a clutch? Think I'll stick with my Audi A4

Jeff:  They ding us with all 4 here as well...as well as a package we have to fill with a certain something...

[jeffrey-wimberly]

yougottawanta

Jeff - I feel your pain about the power and beaucratics involved. You think that is bad you should try to deal with setting up an entire site . And power is not even the worse, Verizon is the so bad that ever who the new guy is we all pass it to him. NO ONE want to try to order site service from them. Oh and if you want to go into a racket start a water company. Now get this. When we build a site we pay a site contracter to install the water pipe in the roads (costing many tens of thousands of dollars up to and beyond a cool mill. Then we pay a plumber to install the water crock and associated plumbing and then run a "lateral" to connect to the water main and then run it into the house. Average cost 10k for the lateral per house. Now get this - the water company only installs teh water crock. Guess what that cost ? 30 k !!!. Then after the HO move in they pay for the water coming in through the pipes we installed and then they pay for it going out the waste pipe ! The water comapany gets the water for free from a local river. I am telling you the mob could not have started a better racket. Second thoughts maybe it is being run by the mob. It sure is legalized thevening.

It's a circus out here too. When I set my trailer up back in '95 the water came from a private blow well that served five homes. All five split the electrical cost of the well equally and the same when repairs were required. It was a nice little system. The only time we had low pressure was if everyone washed their laundry at the same time. Then the parish decided they're going to set community' water in each district. I got in the ground floor on that and got my meter, purchased and installed for $50. When the water main was laid in the crew tied in all the meters at no cost. As for the water line from the meter to my home, I did all that myself. I've had the occasional leak from time to time but nothing serious. Anyone wanting get a new meter installed now has to shell out $500 or more for the meter then they have to pay for the enclosure then pay for the installation and pay a connect fee. As for the plumbing from the meter to the home, that's the homeowners responsibility.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 31° with 100% humidity. There will be a few clouds today. The high will be 62°.


Slightly cooler this morning than what the weather guesser had guessed it was going to be. Layout work has come to a standstill due to lack of funds for such. The only project on the table at this time is the grain elevator. I have most of what I need for it. I still need to make a base for everything to be secured to. I hope the surprises are over with.

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!!!

Coffee and Oh! I see Sue was here, that last cinnamon roll ple….wait. Huh? Where did it go? Now it was there just a second ago. Oh well, get me one of those caramel rolls then please. Thank you.

Garry- Another   on the WPF picts.

I’m gonna start looking through that thread again. WPF that is. All it does is make me want to get back in that trainroom again and now I pretty much can, so it’s not like a carrot dangling any more.

Rob- No have Shay here.

J.R.- Pukka huh. Well that’s not exactly what I would have guessed. Wonder if they changed the way it was pronounced, like they did the planet Uranus, or the dog Shih tzu. Too many 5^th graders giggling.

Even though they pronounce Uranus different than when they taught me back in the dark ages (my mom and Dad were taught Yosemite was pronounced Yose – mite with a soft “s”), it still sounds like body waste. Guess they just can’t get away from a chuckle on that gassy blob.   Say, gassy planet…hm…Uranus….it’s aaaaall starting to come together now.  

Jeffrey- You’re water hookup racket, is just like here. You do all the w**k, pay for all the stuff to hook up and then they bill you to turn the valve on (that you paid for somewhere along the way I'm sure, to the tune of $150. That was residential a few years ago so who knows how much now. And…,is that a spider the train in your picture this morning hit and blew to pieces laying alongside the tracks, or just my imagination?

Well off to start the day. Ray gets up early, I slept in. Felt kinda good too. Ray should get up early more often. Anyway, gotta do the grocery list, figure what we’re gonna eat this week. I think I’ll pick up a few more snacky things this week, kinda had a hankerin last week and didn’t have anything to snack on. Odd, not really a snacky guy. Oh I hope I'm turning into one.

Hope Benda wants to go to Thai Basil for dinner too. Talking about it last night at w**k I got a cravin for some Pho soup flung on me..

Ya’ll have a good day, ya hear!!!!

[Curt Webb]

Morning All,

Sitting here drinking coffee. Plans for today are to glue the rock faces on the hills and give the plaster a basic brown color. Later I'm going to the club to do some operations.

I mentioned yesterday that I had gone to the LHS in Orlando (Colonial Photo and Hobby). It was pretty sad. They used to have a very large selection of pretty much everything train related. It is evident that they are not restocking what they are selling. They had between 1/3-1/2 of what they normally would have. It would not surprise me even though they deny it, that at some point in the near future they are going to shut down the train section of the store.

On a happier note Phil and I are going to meet again for coffee next Saturday. It's always a pleasure to see and talk with Phil.

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

[kbkchooch]

Mornin gang! 

Flo, Coffee please, in my Western Maryland mug. Don't bother rinsing it out, the dust adds texture.

This week month has been pretty rotten so far. Still searching for a new career. Ken, I don't know why we still punish ourselves with folks who are smart enough to make a good living, have a nice car, but cannot understand the simplest of concepts.  

Speaking of cars, sort of, I got 2 cords of firewood delivered, but the guy got his truck stuck in my yard. It seemed like it only needed a little help, so I grabbed the Ranger, we hooked up a chain and I started to pull. Now I was in the street and something under the truck went WHAM! Now I have no forward gears! The truck backs up ok, shifts in and out of 4WD ok. *** Ford!!  Called a friend witha tranny shop, $2150.00 estimate! Thats gonna stay parked till I get back to work! Thank goodness we have 2 other cars!

Then the kitchen. Oh yeah honey, lets strip and repaint the cabinets! Should only take a day or 2! Yeah right!  The previous owner had painted them with a navy blue basecoat, with maroon and white accents. After stripping the cabinets, (they were a nice walnut under that) filling the hardware holes, then a coat of Kilz and 2 coats of white, then new hardware and rehanging the doors and repainting the kitchen walls and ceiling, whew, it was done. 2 days? It took a week! 

Today I get to fix the ruts in the yard, now that the wood is all put away and its warm (40f) outside. 

It is however, encouraging to hear that Mr. Murphy is an equal opportunity aggrevator, and has been tormenting several other diners this week too! 

I've got to go play in the mud now, peace homies, I'll catch y'all later!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

TMarsh

Jeffrey- And…,is that a spider the train in your picture this morning hit and blew to pieces laying alongside the tracks, or just my imagination?

That's your imagination. It's a pile of couplers, brake cylinders and assorted junk.

[saronaterry]

Good Saturday morning! 28f and cloudy. Sunday's high: 5f , Monday:-4f. Brrrr.

May do some trainin' today. Might do a lot of nothing, too. Going to meet a bunch of friends (one who shares my b-day) and take a party bus to dinner and a few taverns later. Should be fun.Yes, 55 years ago a MRR was born.

Hope I her from PFC Son today, it's been a while. I'm sure he's busy, though.

That's it for now.

 

 

Terry in NW Wisconsin

 

[rdgk1se3019]

Curt Webb

I mentioned yesterday that I had gone to the LHS in Orlando (Colonial Photo and Hobby). It was pretty sad. They used to have a very large selection of pretty much everything train related. It is evident that they are not restocking what they are selling. They had between 1/3-1/2 of what they normally would have. It would not surprise me even though they deny it, that at some point in the near future they are going to shut down the train section of the store.

When I spent 8 years in Kissimmee FL that was a go to place for trains......especially when good old Gene was running the trains dept.

When I was there for a short vacation in 2010 I was there and just shook my head in disgust.

[rdgk1se3019]

Top of the page.......here`s my credit card.........everythings on me.

[Burlington Northern #24]

howdy gang, I finally fixed the curve problem on my layout. I'm selling it though, next layout I will not make the same mistakes. a gentleman from new york wants to know if I'll ship it to him, he's paying shipping.  I guess I'd better get on it then. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

The diner was almost on page two! Not on my watch!

Got photos here of the electrical boxes. Pretty obvious which is old and new.

Watching Apollo 18 today. So far, BORING.

[rdgk1se3019]

jeffrey-wimberly

The diner was almost on page two! Not on my watch!

Uh........its like now page 42??

Are you a few pages (40) behind?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

rdgk1se3019

jeffrey-wimberly

The diner was almost on page two! Not on my watch!

Uh........its like now page 42??

Are you a few pages (40) behind?

Page two of the main forum page. You know, where you select the thread you want to look at?

[rdgk1se3019]

jeffrey-wimberly

]Page two of the main forum page. You know, where you select the thread you want to look at?

Oh I see what you mean.

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Janie, I'll have the home style meatloaf dinner, scalloped potatoes and winter squash please.  A cup of decaf top wash it down would do nicely!  Thanks.

Long day, but a lot of fun!  We had over 75 people at the Meet this morning!  That is about double what we norm ally get.  Had one gentleman (a member of this forum BTW) who came all the way from Bradford, PA and 3 folks from over near Buffalo also.  We are planning some other possible combined events for the future.  Had 3 excellent clinics, hot coffee and donuts (had to go across the street at one point and buy some more even).  Some good layouts on display in the afternoon.

Barry....  I have looked and looked for that clutch!  Finally got out the owners manual and looked it up.  Not even a mention.  You don't suppose it doesn't have one do you?   Speaking of the PIP, it is about 35 miles from my house to Auburn.  Averaged 93 mpg on the way over there.  Got 63 mpg average for the trip home.  Not bad. 

Todd... Yep had to get out of bed this morning at 5:45AM.....  AM!  Tomorrow I have to get up by 8AM or so to get to church to be an usher and give the Moment for Mission we have at the start of each service.  Monday I have to up by 6:30 again to get to the Methodist Church for the activities for MLK Day.  Tuesday I am sleeping in late!!!

See my dinner is about to be delivered...  Later!

73

[Cederstrand]

Coffee in a  UNION PACIFIC  Mallet mug, please.

***Jeffrey, which one is the new box? Is it the one on the ground?

Late start this morning and didn't accomplish much in the train room. Mostly deciding what goes and what stays. No energy, which happens all to often these days.

Went ahead and added a third (HO) pre-order loco, a Proto 0-8-0. So now I have heavy frieght, passenger, and switching duties covered. Still want to add a logging loco to the mix, either a Climax or a Shay.

The more I think about track laying, the more inclined I am to stick with Bachmann EZ track or Kato Unitrack. I really prefer to keep the process simple these days. Would a (HO) Mallet travel well through #6 switches?

Need to lay back down awhile. Very tired.

Cheers!  Rob

 

[cudaken]

 Evening Dinners

 Flo, Beer Pleases.

 Man I am wiped out! Getting up at 5:30 AM is for the Birds! If I did it everyday, would not be bad, but once a week? That sucks.

 Hum reminder for Sunday

 Big Boys

 Aquarium stores involving cat and Irving. Cat lost.  

 Prostate Examine

 Trains are running great, Mr Murphy must have found rubber gloves are more fun than messing with train layouts! Thanks Jeffery!  Hum, hope they did not uses there thumb! 

  See you all later.

                 Ken

[Packer]

Evening guys

I'm finally back home and have some time to relax...

I got up around 6 to go with my dad to Pensacola to go junkyard picking. I found a few pieces I need, and he got quite a bit of things he needed. I'm still hoping one day I run across a 1998 mustang with a black interior and cup-holders. I want that center console because the flip-out cup holder that's in my car is kinda ghetto (cheesy).

Afterwards I hit the Hobby shop I normally go to in Pensacola. I looked for the bulk pack of Kadees and they were out. I looked around to see if they had the proto-max knuckle couplers, but my eye caught something I've never seen there before. Any guesses to what it was? DETAIL PARTS. Okay, they didn't have many, but they had one I had been looking for for a while. The Train Station Products screen to convert P2K GP18s to GP9s, also picked up a detail kit for EMD fuel tanks (like the Bluebox SD40-2's). I checked the room for used trains and found something that immediately caught my eye. It was a P2K GP7, custom painted in daylight colors for Cotton Belt. Upon further inspection, it's a fixer-upper. Handrails are gone, grabs are messed up (wire, but upside-down and bent at a weird angle), windows and numberboards are MIA, and a few other things. But It ran good when they tested it, and at $20 I took it. So far a good day, right?

I decided to hit the train museum in Milton on the way back. They had a TON of detail parts. I picked up some parts for my Kato SD40 (Cut levers, rear brake stand, MU hoses; I have everything but a noselight for it now), for my F-units (some DW kits I modify to use on stewarts), A few anticlimbers for my C30-7s and SD40-2s, speed recorders, extra pilots (for GPs), and a few extra AAR lift bars. I also picked up an Atlas EV GN caboose (for $7) and an undecorated one as well.

As far as cabooses go, I think I have enough for a while now. If the weather is good I'll try again with those cabooses from before. If it works on those bachmann ones, I'll strip my Cotton Belt (an atlas EV caboose) and paint it and my undec one at the same time.

I'm kinda wore out now, but I'll try to get pictures up since I found some batteries.

[JeremyB]

Hi Guys,

Jeff: Thats quite some damage, there calling for alot of wind for us here tonight.

Have that job interview on Tuesday, also a friend of the wife told me to take my resume over to his place as there hiring full time soon and he has been there for over 20 years so hopefully that might help.

Still debating on going to out annual train show tomorrow. I find it just seems like a glorified train garage sale now. It use to be a great show with running layouts and numerous vendors but now it seems like alot of the space is filled for people trying to sell non model railroad items. I dont know, I will see how I feel in the morning. I'm not one to really purchase anything at shows aside from maybe some rolling stock and books or magazines. Well Im going to bounce out of here and go and watch the hockey game.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Cederstrand

Would a (HO) Mallet travel well through #6 switches?

That's a good question. I ran a Y6B (Rivarossi) through a couple of #4's.

JeremyB

Jeff: Thats quite some damage, there calling for alot of wind for us here tonight.

You can keep the wind thank you very much. We had enough of it here as the mess behind my trailer attests.

[Burlington Northern #24]

well that's a slight disappointment, found a 4 car BN passenger car set a kato one which was being sold as part of a lot. I asked the guy how much he wanted for them "$150" they'd better have some lighting kits in them for that much. why do I say that? because I've found a site that has a 6 car set for the less than what this guy's asking. come on end of the month I want those cars and an E8A.

[fec153]

Hey KEN !!  N C I S is on. It's lets watch ZIVA time.

Flip

Prayers and Blessings.

 

[Curt Webb]

Evening All,

Back from the club. Ops was canceled because our dispatcher is in the hospital with the flu. So I decided to come home  and spend some time with MOH.

Tomorrow I need to replace a burner on a glass top stove (have the part) then I plan on putting ground cover on the 3 hills. The entire extended family is meeting for supper at 7 PM at a excellent local Italian restaurant. Monday it is back to w**k .

Rob- My Dad has a Bachmann 2-6-6-2 that runs through  #6 Atlas switches and # 5 PECO switches on my layout without an problems.

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

[Curt Webb]

Looks like I have top. Vinnie has my card so eat and drink up.

[rdgk1se3019]

Hi All,

Anyone know where I can get replacement axle gears for a Walthers HO scale 60' doodlebug?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Today I was busy with the laundry. Yeah, that time of the month again. Nothing else done today except a bit of TV watching.

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

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Howdy ..

Dennis B ..... Evidently, your Walthers doodlebug has the same problem as my Bachmann doodlebug. I'm thinking of buying the NWSL drive for the Bachmann doodlebug. However, it's not cheap.

Terry .... Nice photo.

Todd  ,,, thanks for comment.

Rob .... I'm trying to reach JimCg to ask how he likes his shay (I think he has one) 

Vincent. .... I saw your work so far on the BN caboose. Nice. 

I'll be gone a couple of days. Tomorrow we see the in-laws in Nashville, Tn and spend the night. Monday, I'll be at medical appointments in Nashville for my heart condition. 

Cheers everybody. 

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning! from Tipton IN.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

TIPTON