Elliot´s Trackside Diner - January 2013

[LSWrr]

Good Morning all,

 

As you know Jeff those brown outs can cause more havoc on electronics than a spike in voltage.  I would check the power supply first and go from there.

 

It seems every time I get $1000 in my savings account something goes bad; this morning the furnace decided to act up.  I came to work but now I need to call a repair man to come out and fix the furnace….

 

Jeff, I’m sorry to hear about your mom.

 

Tom, I think when I was an E2 I lived off base with my girlfriend who worked at Wendy’s.  She made more money than I did.  Unfortunately if you are active duty most of your take home pay is your housing and food allowance.  When you retire your retirement check is based only on your base pay.  Hence why I didn’t retire until I had a full time job lined up.

 

I’m going to try and get a repairman out to the house this afternoon, I’m glad the high today will be in the upper 50’s and the lows will only be in the 40’s.

 

Ulrich, one of the guys I worked with owned a singlewide mobile home and had it moved every time he was transferred.  He did that for 25 years moving the home about 12 times.  Before he retired he bought land in Michigan and developed it for the mobile home so when he retired he had it moved to the pad and that was it.  Same home, 13 different address.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 46° with 100% humidity and patchy fog. It'll be cloudy with a high of 72°.


It's still wet here in the Sportsman's Paradise but at least it's not raining. It's cool enough to make it a little chilly in here so I have the heater turned up a bit. Shouldn't take long for that little smaller than a shoebox heater to warm it up from 58° to 70°.

No plans for today. I'm thinking I may have to drag out the spare parts for the computer. I don't know how long it's going to keep going. Last night something caused a heck of a big power drain in this area. From the lights I'd say the incoming power was cut by half and there was a strong scent of ozone in the air. The computer was affected. How bad I don't exactly know. I don't have my test equipment anymore. Most of the USB ports on the back of it aren't working anymore. They still come up on the system hardware check as good but they won't respond to anything being plugged into them. The ports on an add-on USB board are still working and that's what's keeping my modem going as well as the phone, secondary hard drive and flash drives on the powered front hub. All the USB ports on the main board are dead. The main hard drive and DVD drive seem to be unaffected.

I may get some layout work in later.

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning, I guess...

To me, this is still the middle of the night, but, what the hey, Good Morning anyways...

Have a bunch of Powerpoint things to accomplish today..then it is orff 'til Tuesday....

I had a productive day just getting through all the paperwork and getting the reports put together...worked on them until late in the afternoon...lots of fun to be had here...oh...I even managed an incident, accident free operating session!!...yay!!

Anyhow who....have a good day!!

[galaxy]

Morning coffee in the diner...

GOOD MORNING!!

Today is Friday, January 11,2013!!!

Sometimes, when people say we "play with toy trains" it "gets our DANDER up", SO:
MEANING:

Become agitated or angry

ORIGIN:
It is often reported that 'it gets my dandruff up' is one of Samuel Goldwyn's celebrated Goldwynisms. When it comes to having aphorisms that he didn't coin attributed to him, Goldwyn is up there in the big league with Oscar Wilde and Yogi Berra. Whether he made that quip  is open to doubt. What is clear is that, like those other supposed Goldwyn coinages - 'statue of limitations' and 'stiff upper chin', the 'dandruff' alternative is repeated now for its comic effect. Dander is an informal term for the skin that is shed from the bodies of animals - dandruff in fact. So, perhaps the Goldwynism may not be all that far from the mark.

If 'get one's dander up' is synonymous with 'get one's dandruff up' we need to explain how dandruff can be 'up' exactly - not an intuitive picture to visualise. The earlier phrase 'get one's hackles up', which has the same meaning as 'get one's dander up', may help. Hackles are the hairs on the back of the neck, especially of foxhounds when excited by an imminent kill, but is also applied more generally. As dandruff may be attached to hair, it is possible that 'get one's dander up' derived as a jokey alternative to the 'hackles' version.

As is often the case with the etymology of old phrases, there's another possible derivation. 'Dander', also means  'ferment', that is, the froth created in the  fermentation of yeast in brewing or baking. The word may have been borrowed to form the expression 'get one's dander up' in order to convey the imagery of a frothing or agitated uproar - similar to the associated phrase 'get oneself into a stew'.

There's also a speculation that the phrase was originally 'get one's dandruff up' and that it followed the imagery of a violent and agitated scuffle in which the participant's dandruff might be expected to fly into the air. That one is easily dismissed as the 'dandruff' version post-dates the others. The earliest citation I can find for that version is in The Wisconsin Tribune, April 1853:

"Well, gosh-all Jerusalem, what of it?' now yelled the downeaster, getting his dandruff up."

As we shall see, the 'dander' version is earlier than that.

So, 'get one's dander up' derives from either dander meaning hackles or dander meaning ferment. Both are plausible.  Dander did certainly have the meaning of ferment by the time the phrase was coined, as recorded in Sir John Dalrymple's Observations on his Yeast-cake, circa 1796:

"The season for working molasses lasts five months, of which three weeks are lost in making up the dander, that is, the ferment."

Likewise, the 'hackles' meaning was coined at around the same date, as is seen in this entry in the 1786 edition of The   Sportsman's Dictionary:

"Some horses have neither scales, dander, or scabs."

The first reference that can be found to 'dander' being 'up' (or raised), that is, being used with the meaning of excitement or annoyance, is from an story in the 1831 edition of The American Comic Annual, by Henry J. Finn, in which a character is teased for his small stature:

" A general roar of laughter brought Timmy on his legs. His dander was raised... straining up to his full height"

It would be nice to provide a clear assurance as to the origin of the phrase but, frankly, both 'fur' and 'ferment' meanings of dander have a reasonable claim and your guess is as good as mine. One thing I can say with certainty is that Samuel Goldwyn didn't coin 'get my dandruff up'.

 

The prayer candles will be lit for those in need....[angel]

["JaBear"]

Gidday All, a balmy, 71 F,76 % humidity,  Friday evening here. 

Hard to be upbeat though regarding the various unemployment  issues facing several of you.

   Having been on both sides of the shop floor.  I personally think the rot started when "the workers, or staff, became referred to as "Labour Units". Idiotic labour laws make my blood boil.  I'D better shut up, don't want to create work for our moderators.

OzJim, while too modern for me, I like the look of your purchases in WPF, just hope you don't have too much time to spend on construction of your new layout.

"The Return of The King" is on the idiot box so am going to blob out.

Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them.

Cheers, the Bear.

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning! from Tipton IN.

Friday, January 11, 2013

TIPTON

[BamaCSX83]

Good evening all.  Just catching up on things here before I check for light leaks in my eyelids.  Took almost 2 days to catch up on things. 

First things first: Sorry to hear of everyone's job issues, I know what its like to get let go from a place that you've put a lot of time and effort in to.  Seems as if today that being a good employee and an asset to the company isn't what it takes anymore, you just have to follow all the rules and regs to the letter and to heck with actually doing things the right way.

Secondly, I have to say a big Roll Tide for my alma mater, the University of Alabama winning National Championship number 15 back on Monday night against Notre Dame (know a lot of y'all don't pay attention to collegiate sports, but I do, especially the Crimson Tide).

Thirdly (and I think, lastly) to y'all that are sick and unwell feeling, my thoughts and prayers are with you, y'all get better soon, ya hear?!

Welp, that's about it for me, yesterday was a good day of railfanning, got to see CSX bring a unit grain train into town for the local feed mill, then watch the Conecuh Valley RR break the train down and start feeding hoppers in and out of the mill (their spur isn't long enough for the whole 130-ish car train, so they have to shove in 5 or 6 cars at a time).  Also got to make it just south of Troy, AL, to Brundidge, AL where CSX is installing a new switch and siding at an industry there to make them rail-served.  Looks like I'll also be planning to add this siding and industry to my track plan and layout once I get it built. 

Ok, its late enough and Heather (the now 6 year old!) has to get up early and be thrown on the bus for school (no, I don't throw her, at least not on the bus, might throw her up in the morning to wake her though, she always likes that

[Anonymous]

jeffrey-wimberly

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

Good Night, Jeff!

Got up at 4am and can´t go back to sleep. I am still tired, but if I try to sneak into our bedroom, the door´s squeaking noise will wake up Petra. Heaven forbid - she´ll be all day long.

I hope this month will be over soon - January is always a very tight month. We had to cheap in an extra € 200 towards the 2011 heating bill our landlord presented us for Christmas and our car insurance had to be paid this month as well. Guess where that money came from...

My MRRing budget is down to zero, nilch, nada, nullo, nichts, futsch und weg!

Have a good one & CU later!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

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

KCS 682, SD40-3. This was taken four or five years ago in Leesville (Museum of West Louisiana). At that time it was one of just a few KCS SD40 type locos still in the white ghost paint.

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Janie, just a cup of decaf please.

The highlight of the ay was feeding my sister's cat this afternoon.  He was very glad to see me and had eaten every morsel of the food my sister left for him.  He unlike his predecessor Monét has figured out how to tip over the bag of dry food and help himself...  He is a very active but sweet cat and is curious about everything.  He will take one of his little toys and dunk it in his water dish at times, and gets up on the counter and drinks out of a glass my sister has some plants rooting in.  I filled it back up and he immediately jumped up on the counter and climbed over some things to check and and make sure I had left him more water there....  He sniffed and then looked at me very approvingly.  My sister, of course, left me half a small bag of kittie litter for him for the 18 days she will be gone.  So this afternoon when I went home I went shopping for a large bag of the litter she uses.  It will need to be changed tomorrow when I am there.

I filled up the PIP with gas after shopping as I had gotten a 20¢ discount per gallon on a fill-up.  The special ends in a couple days, so I won't get a chance to get more points towards another discount before the come-on ends.  I have heard the gas where I usually get it appears to give better mileage anyway.

My Christmas Present to myself from Micro-Mark came today, but I haven't had time to snap a photo of it or check it out yet.

Prayers for all in need!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

An old railfan video of my own.

[Burlington Northern #24]

that Ace looks great, I did some railfanning but it's on my ipod waiting to be sent to youtube.

[JeremyB]

Hi Guys,

Was out this morning doing some railfanning and thought id post up some pics

[alexstan]

I'm getting taxed 48% right now.

[rdgk1se3019]

jeffrey-wimberly

Let 'em have it with BOTH barrels then  throw on the gasoline and the lit match eh?

Right......I don`t screw around when it comes to MY money.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

rdgk1se3019

They thought they were so funny to do that.........but the joke is on them ......I contacted the Department of Labor both on the state level AND the federal level.

Let 'em have it with BOTH barrels then  throw on the gasoline and the lit match eh?

[rdgk1se3019]

When I left East Penn RR on November 2nd I was owed for a 13 hour work day from October 31st 2012................they sent me my last check for only 12 hours.

They thought they were so funny to do that.........but the joke is on them ......I contacted the Department of Labor both on the state level AND the federal level.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Went to town with my father today. First we had a late lunch at Los Mayas Mexican restaurant (formerly El Giros) then we went to Wal-Mart to pick up some essential items. From there we went to the nursing home to check on my mother. I wish I could say she's doing better but that's not the case. All they can do is try to maintain a status qua. She's so bad now the only thing keeping her going is the drugs. She's steadily slipping away. The docs say it could be any time. They don't think she'll make it to summer and frankly neither do I.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good afternoon, everybody.

Jeff ...... Yet another Sundown Shops creation is moving down the line! Neat!

Today has been mostly non-model-railroad stuff. I did, however, add some details to my CB&Q car 308, a Diner/Parlor car.

Have a good one as Jerry says.

[kbkchooch]

Hiya y'all! 

Curt Webb

Galaxy- I am very sorry to hear about YOH. Didn't you mention in the past that she was having issues with her boss.

OZ Jim- I am sorry to hear of your loss of your job also. In this day and age it can be a nightmare.

That goes for me also you two! I can truly relate!

Our company Christmas party was December 15th, the following Monday, around 10:30 am they told me they were making some changes and my services would no longer be required. Turn in your uniforms by Thursday, and you will have 2 checks coming to you then. 

When I asked what I did wrong or why, they just continued to repeat that they were making changes, and if I needed a recommendation, I could count on 1 from them! Yeah, welcome to Maryland, another state where they really don't need a reason to send you packing!  

So like I said, I can relate. Fortunately for us, were OK, tight, but OK. The bright side (if there is one) is that I am getting caught up on the honey-do list, and I also am getting projects done. Modeling projects that pay cash!

Layout room renovation has come to a screeching halt, and the truck wont be fixed soon, but we'll live .  I AM getting out of the auto service business. Probably go for (actually back to) insurance sales, but as part of an agency, with regular office and hours. We'll see! Were on Career Builder, Monster, the locals papers web classified and Craig's List daily. Something will turn up soon! 

Til then, we'll just keep on keepin on!

[Curt Webb]

Afternoon All,

Ran some errands and cleaned house. I ran my M-1 on the new track work without issue, but it kept derailing in a area that hasn't been touched and after a close exam I see a rail that has a large gap. I'm not sure what caused it since it was not there before, so I will have to replace a small section there. I could  probably do it now but I just don't have the desire or energy right now.

I am supposed to receive the PSX-AR I ordered tomorrow. I will have to play it by ear about installation since I am watching Quintin tomorrow while Tony has a doctors appointment.

I'm supposed to go to Prototype Rails Saturday in Cocoa with a friend but I may get mandatory OT because of staffing issues at w**k.

Galaxy- I am very sorry to hear about YOH. Didn't you mention in the past that she was having issues with her boss.

OZ Jim- I am sorry to hear of your loss of your job also. In this day and age it can be a nightmare.

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

[TMarsh]

Ooops! Sorry G. I didn't mean it the way it sounds. I really intended on sympathizing with you and saying how cheesey the "1 minute" excuse was. The rest was just me jabbering about the subject NOT thinking and CERTAINLY not intending on it sounding like I'm just running through all the reasons you both could get a worse deal as it turned out to sound. Though I think you probably know that, just wanted to say sorry anyway.

My intention, though I see now I never reeeeally got there, was to add that because, once again, those who've learned to work the system have only created a problem for others. Now, an employer instead of layoffs, can just come up with some hinky reason that wouldn't really hold up in the past, like 1 minute early, and avoid insurance claims. Not saying that's what happened to G's OH, or it's really exactly that way, but just saying possible. 

[galaxy]

Weell, TODD THANK YOU for adding to the depression level in this house! I do know what you say is true. Employers need to be reined in some because they can fire willy nilly and not pay the consequences! The only GOOD job lately is being a POLITICIAN..they seem to stay in a job no matter how bad they do!

WEel, MOH went on  a cleaning spree this AM for which I don;'t have to do it, but i did do the dishes and rana load of laundry. MOH ran the rugs in the bathroom and hall.

We are kinda expecting company,...I hope so cheer MOH up. We are definitely expecting company tomorrow, though...so maybe. Monday, after MOH has had a a few days to depressurize, Will start the unenjoyment process and looking for a new job. there should be 2 more paychecks earned vacation time and personal time coming though...Tehy make you wiat a week anyway. DOne on computers now.

Well, that is all to report from LAKE WOE IS US...note: NOT lake woebegone....

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Been doing some work on the still unnamed thing. Several things are different, one of them is quite obvious.

[tcwright973]

Lee - I had to chuckle when I read your comment about earning 24 cents an hour. When the Army drafted me in 1965, base pay for an E1 was $96.00 a month. The downside was that I was married, so they took 50%, or $48.00 from my monthly pay to add to the wife's allotment. That was okay while in basic training, but later,  I had to call and ask her to send me some money just so I could buy soap, toothpaste and such near the end of the month.

On returning from Viet Nam, I was stationed at Fort Knox. As the company I was assigned to was out in the middle of nowhere, I called home and told the wife to go buy a car. Later, when I went to register the car on Post, They wouldn't do it until I got a note from her saying I was allowed to have the car because the title was in her name. Oh my, the good old days.

 

[Burlington Northern #24]

Packer

Morning guys

Been working on 2 of the 50' modern tank car kits from MDC. I've always though these were the most difficult kit that MDC had made. I have some bit drying on them, but I should be able to finish them today. Although 1 car I found out is too new for me. I model abut 1976-1986, and one of the cars has some dates of 1999. Guess I'll weather and try selling this one.

BN24, All the record I can find state either that a single CB&Q F unit made it to the merger, and was scrapped almost immediatley; or none made it. The Q F-units were painted either white or silver, but I don't think any had stainless sides like the Es did.

jeffrey-wimberly

Heartland Division CB&Q

Jeff .... You might like this picture of a GP35 on Alco trucks. It is Ann Arbor RR #385. I once lived in Ann Arbor, MI for about 3 years. . 

http://www.railroadmichigan.com/aa385s1.jpg

Thanks. I like seeing things like that. There were many railroads that did that. They traded in EMD and Alco F units and had the trucks from the Alco units reused on the GP35's as a cost saving measure. Some notable examples were the Gulf Mobile and Ohio, Southern and the Ann Arbor.

Don't forget the Frisco. BN had some of them as a result of aquiring the Frisco. I think some may have even had torpedo tubes and ALCO trucks:

http://www.trainpix.com/BN/EMDORIG/GP35/INDEX.HTM the ones towards the bottom that have SLSF are the ones that Frisco contributed.

what a waste of good locomotives, that's such a shame.

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a couple sour cream glazed donuts and lots of dark roast coffee in my FGLK Mug please.

Man today must be the day for grumpiness around here.....  I'm grumpy too!  The weather people promised a full day of bright sunshine all day today.  What do we have?  Dark gloomy, depressing, cloudy, icky stuff out there.... 

I have called in a request for an Rx for my glucose test strips already, answered several "emergency" emails, and may actually blow off some steam and clean a bit of the house while I wait for a couple folks to show up to pick up or drop off items for the MLK Committee this morning.  Then I have to drive to Canandaigua to visit my sisters little cat and see how much damage he has done to her house in her absence.  I do feel sorry for him as this is the first time his human has left him since he adopted her.  He is a sweet cat, so I really don't mind.  Just hope he doesn't get vicious and attack me like the last cat did.  She was convinced her human's absence was all my fault.

Hope everything gets better in the employment issue for those having difficulties!

73

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!!!

ZIVA!

Coffee and some of those little chocolate covered donuts with a glass of milk too please. Thanks.

Didn’t make it in town yesterday to get my Chinese food fix so things are a bit haywire in the dietary area.

Galaxy- Sorry to hear about YOH’s job situation. Even though she has been warned about clocking in early, and I do understand their issues over time and many employees as it relates to payroll issues, but I find it odd they would have it set to 1 minute. Ya I guess over the course of many pay periods and if someone were to get mad at the company, they could go back and claim they were not paid for those few minutes and added up could be some time. Maybe not much, but any time is time when it comes to a not paying me situation in say court. You could claim anything... like the Walmart issues, so the company just tightens the straps. Many places used to have a minute or two, even five set as a cushion. Stated of course, that five minutes either way will result in the even hour. One place I w**ked wrote, 7 minutes after a quarter hour was paid at the last quarter hour, 8 minutes after the quarter will be paid to the next quarter with supervisors approval and initials on the time card.  I say used too, but that was back before computers did all this stuff. Exact time is hard to do especially if you have several people coming on and off shift to get say fifteen people on and off the clock will be all but impossible within one minute without a complete evacuation of those working and even then…. Other places use the doesn’t matter what time you clock in or out, without a supervisors initials, you will not be paid for any time over your scheduled hours. Before or after. Late a minute or two wasn't usually docked unless it was a lot. So I do see their point. Just not one minute. Sounds to me like they are using that as an excuse. Either way, I do hope she finds employment soon. I know it’s tuff for you guys as it is, and any unemployment will still be less than what she makes so….I hope it is a very quick turn around.

Odd they would need an excuse because more and more states are going to this…and I can’t remember the actual term, but basically it’s a no reason for release. Illinoyz is one of those states. Meaning they can let someone go for really no reason as long as it isn’t related to religion, race or sex as examples. They have obviously made the distinction between being a woman and being attractive so now, I guess you can say you’re too attractive of a person to me, even if you weren’t a woman (or man), so you’re fired. So, if New York is one of those states, unless she can prove she was discriminated against on one or more of the federal or state exemptions, they can release her and there really can be no recourse.

As for unemployment, even that is being scrutinized more. It’s not a given like it almost used to be. The employer has more of a say. If they can show cause for termination, the employee may not be eligible for unemployment based on the reason. This has happened twice since Brenda was the assistant manager at the elevator. No show no call for a day doesn’t get you unemployment, nor does taking off early (not one minute either) several times, especially since it was written in the employee handbook. (actually just a couple pages they were told to keep and read) T'was fair reason and unemployment was denied. Simply getting fired isn’t a given anymore. At least around here.

AussieJim- Sorry to hear of your situation too. At least they gave you warning. Good luck on your search.

I got  few more things pulled out and thrown away in the trainroom yesterday so….., looks like I’ll do a load of laundry today and use that time to do some more trainroom stuff. Hopefully. Gotta w**k this evening so…

Ya’ll have a good day, ya hear!!!!

[Packer]

Morning guys

Been working on 2 of the 50' modern tank car kits from MDC. I've always though these were the most difficult kit that MDC had made. I have some bit drying on them, but I should be able to finish them today. Although 1 car I found out is too new for me. I model abut 1976-1986, and one of the cars has some dates of 1999. Guess I'll weather and try selling this one.

BN24, All the record I can find state either that a single CB&Q F unit made it to the merger, and was scrapped almost immediatley; or none made it. The Q F-units were painted either white or silver, but I don't think any had stainless sides like the Es did.

jeffrey-wimberly

Heartland Division CB&Q

Jeff .... You might like this picture of a GP35 on Alco trucks. It is Ann Arbor RR #385. I once lived in Ann Arbor, MI for about 3 years. . 

http://www.railroadmichigan.com/aa385s1.jpg

Thanks. I like seeing things like that. There were many railroads that did that. They traded in EMD and Alco F units and had the trucks from the Alco units reused on the GP35's as a cost saving measure. Some notable examples were the Gulf Mobile and Ohio, Southern and the Ann Arbor.

Don't forget the Frisco. BN had some of them as a result of aquiring the Frisco. I think some may have even had torpedo tubes and ALCO trucks:

http://www.trainpix.com/BN/EMDORIG/GP35/INDEX.HTM the ones towards the bottom that have SLSF are the ones that Frisco contributed.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Sir Madog

Instead of living in a house or apartment, we should all live in trailers, ready to follow work at any time. Jeff seems to be ahead of the wave in this, though not voluntarily.

Yeah, there are many in this country who are in the same type predicament I'm in. I'd love to be able to afford a real house with plenty of room but things being what they are I make do with what little I have and even that's more than what some have. I'm fortunate in that I have no big expenses like rent or a house payment or a car payment. Anything like that and there'd be no way I could keep up.