Morning Coffee in the Diner...
GOOD MORNING!!!
Today is Tuesday, January 29th, 2013!!!
The prayer candles are lit for those in need!
Make it a GREAT DAY!!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Gidday J.R. pleased to see you managed to get to visit Glenbrook, and a cab ride in a Ja as well !!! Safe travels back to home.
The east coast of Oz storm is still leading the news, poor souls.
Currently 2225 hours, 58 F, 82 % humidity, was 86 F down in the yard this afternoon.
Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Goooooood Morning,
I figured I'd better stop by and say hello and things before JIM and GARRY send out the search party. Been feeling kinda curmudgeonly lately, didn't want to infect anybody in here with my foul disposition. I've been hanging out in the back corner keeping an eye on things though, and wish to convey my belated condolences for the recent losses among us. Please don't take my silence as apathy or insensitivity.
I see KEN posted a funky UP snowplow, so thought I'd follow THAT up with a Cheap and Nothing Wasted creation: an ALCO kitbashed by the CNW into a snowplow specifically for the double-tracked East/West mainline. With the left-hand running, this critter could plow one mainline without piling snow up on the other.
On the w**k front, THAT Editor is as batty as ever...I'm kinda getting tired of her perpetual dramatics. I'm also getting sick of being the only one on the staff on one particular side of the political spectrum. I should be used to it, the majority of "the media" is aligned on one side, with a much smaller minority of us on "the other side." Thankfully I only have to deal with her every-other-week now rather than weekly. BIG Boss finally realized I've got, as he said, "a darn good eye for great action shots." Too bad there wasn't a raise to go with THAT pronouncement. I've been doing a LOT of cogitation about the w**k situation. I'll not go into it farther than THAT...seems there's enough turmoil and trouble in peoples' lives around here without crabbing about my particular goings-on. Suffice it to say, I predicted on 12-31-12 THAT "2013 is gonna suck, big-time." So far, I'm not real impressed with how this year is shaping up.
It's not all gloom, doom and pissyness though. I have made some progress on the future RR, officially known as the Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: "Proudly shipping yesterday's Crunch Berries tomorrow!" No track has been laid as-of yet, but I have decided I can follow the actual track plan for the area reasonably well, reducing the number of tracks in some instances and greatly compressing some other portions. The "Elevator G" project has been attacked sporadically.
I've still got a long way to go on it, but it's far enough along I can accurately determine where the tracks can go. At some point I'll have to figure out how to better blend the "aged concrete" paint and weathering. I also need to tackle the open steelwork on the north end (right side) of the unloading shed.
If it seems to dominate the scene, it kinda has to:
Next up? I'll probably try to obtain an old, inexpensive Atlas turntable. The plan is to convert it to a conventional bridge-type to match the ex-IC turntable. It doesn't have to function, but it does have to look good since it'll be very much in the foreground. The toughest part, I think, will be getting rail curved for the pit and fabricating wheel assemblies. I've got a handful of old magazine articles to guide me, and a few pics of the real one. In the meantime, I can mock THAT up pretty easily: an 11" diameter circle should w**k. Again, it's needed to determine where the tracks can/will/must go.
Somehow, drawing things out on graph paper just doesn't w**k for me...I have to have 1:1 mock-ups and track pieces to fiddle with.
On THAT happy note, here's hoping for better circumstances, good health, blessings from above and a general improvement in all our lives. If you need me for anything, just look for the bearded guy with the baseball cap pulled down over his eyes and a Nikon hanging from his neck in the back corner.
Chris in Iowa
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
Good Morning! from Tipton IN.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
TIPTON
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Evening Dinners
Flo, Beer Pleases.
Galaxy, yes I have not posted here at the dinner for a few days but I have been following what was going on. I have had a lot on my mind but was not ready to talk about. Now that it is over, here we go.
Work Front Drama. Last Saturday I had a customer come in with is Dodge Caliber and it was missing out when accelerating and at higher speeds. While the customer was at the counter I asked how long ago did he have is transmission flushed, he was not sure. So I sold him a transmission flush, I all wise ask about scheduled maintenance’s.
We did talk about possible things that could cause his Dodge to stumble, weak ignition or fuel system needing to be clean. But I do not sale repairs at the counter. That is why I used an Engine Diagnostic code on the ticket.
Jason the services writer took the transmission flush off the ticket and rewrote the ticket the way he wanted it. He never spoke to me about this or asked why the flush was on the ticket in the first places! How I found out was when I over heard Jason talking to the customer on the phone! When I question Jason about this, he told me "because you told him that was the problem, and it is not"! I told Jason "I did not sell the customer an Transmission Flush for the problem that brought him to our shop that day. I all wise ask about scheduled maintenance’s".
Well Jason went ballast on me and start screaming that I did! I told him "I did not" and things went down hill fast! When Jason ordered me into the shop and I did not move it was because I was stunned and not a act of defiance’s. In retrospect I can see how it was taken as an act of defiance’s. Next thing I knew, he told me to clock out and go home!
Went out to the shop and talked with Taylor (shop manager) and told him my side of the story. Told me to sit tight and he would go talk to Jason and see what happened. Came back out and told me to take the rest of the day off, reason Jason went nuts was because "I was in his faces". If I wanted I could come in Sunday to make up the missing 3 hours. Told Taylor I was 5 feet away from Jason and was talking is the same tone of voices as I am using now. I all so understand that he has to back Jason and was sorry I cased him any grief. If you folks knew me in person, you would know when I am really P O I get quite and very mono tone!
So all weekend I have been letting this mess stew in my mind. Have lost sleep and did not get anything I was hoping to get done, done. Wrote a letter for HR in case I was written up, I was not going to sign the write up but give the letter to Taylor instead and fax to HR.
Got to work today and seems all the worry was for nothing! Jason shook my hand and said sorry things got out of hand?
My ace's in the hole you ask?
1 Dillon, fellow sales person heard the whole exchange.
2 Taylor and I have caught Jason rewriting my tickets before! Last time it cost me $45.00 in commission! So if this became a official, Jason would not like the out come!
Do I think Jason was trying to steal from me in this case? No, I think he just missed judged my reason for selling the flush. Only thing I can think of was because he thought I was accusing of rewriting one of my tickets again!
Pretty long post for me and glad at this point it is water under the bridge!
Ken
I hate Rust
Evenin' folks!
Janie just a cup of decaf please.
I got a lot of items checked off the list today. Have finally scanned or photographed all the winner of the Art and Poetry Contest and have them stored on my computers, got all the 1st. place ones down the the local paper, got an email from the city desk editor who said they will be run taking up a full page sometime late this week. had lunch with the District Executive for Boy Scouts who wanted to make sure I knew what I was getting myself into filling in for my friend who had a stroke.... I think he is comfortable with my take on the units..
Blackie sometimes appears to be getting better and then appears not to be better..... I should have got him to the vet today, but never had time to call over there. Tomorrow they are closed, so it will be first thing on the list for Wednesday. Even if he is better, I want to get him checked.
So Karl? Ah, is it somebodies birthday that we know here in the diner? Hmmmm. Wonder who it could be?
Oh, I see Ken's seat is empty agin tonight... Wonder if he doesn't like us anymore, or if something is wrong? Ken, please check in and let us know you are OK! We like to pick on you, but we only pick on people we like, you know!
The Winter Steam Train video was great!
Well, I have the PIP plugged in and charging. Drove all over town today and didn't use a drop of petroleum stuff! Don't have to drive out on the highway for a few days, so my % of electric should get a bitu better with it.
Hope all of you stay warm and safe out there... My prayers especially for the people in Oz with the tornadoes and flooding!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
james saunders A video has emerged of one of the tornadoes hitting the small town of Bargara on Sunday. It is quite distinguishable and to me looks like a tornado of EF2 to 3 strength. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-nPHBb7OIQ And we don't get tornadoes in Queensland... (according to most residents...)
A video has emerged of one of the tornadoes hitting the small town of Bargara on Sunday.
It is quite distinguishable and to me looks like a tornado of EF2 to 3 strength.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-nPHBb7OIQ
And we don't get tornadoes in Queensland... (according to most residents...)
Karl
NCE über alles!
Chamomile tea, please.
***Terry, really like your layout.
***James, I've had my fill of tornadic weather. Have severe weather moving in here Wed..
***CDN Dennis, that is a very nice video of steam. Especially enjoyed the sounds recorded.
Had a long and productive day, both farm and train room. Paying for it in a big way tonight though. Tomorrow will be a mandatory rest day for sure.
Good Night Y'all.
Cheers! Rob
James, Brisbane Australia
Modelling AT&SF in the 90s
Packing it in a little early tonight. With all that's been going on with the family and memorial preparations I've been pretty busy and I'm at the point where I just can't take much more. I'll be glad when it's all over and done with. I've not been feeling good today so didn't get anything done on the layout. It's gonna be a warm night. Looks like 65°F. Expecting some rain tomorrow.Well, that's it for now See y'all tomorrow.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Just ran across this on Youtube. For all you Steam Era buffs, it's kind of nice to see. Hope you enjoy it.
Cheers
Dennis
c2u49H3HEB8
CDN Dennis
Modeling the HO scale something or other RR in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies Alberta, Canada
Don't worry Jeremy it could be worse always raining like it is in Washington!
Got my Kato BN E9A and my Kato 6 car BN set, maybe I should order the other road number for the BN E9A. anywho the room is clean and ready for a 4' x 6' N scale model train layout. That will have block control, signals, crossing, street running, Etc. whooowee! I'm gonna bug you guys with questions!
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
Jeff: I have seen you mention your tobasco lemonade before, it still sounds somewhat gross to me,lol I guess because Im not a big fan of lemonade and tobasco.
Terry : I always enjoy seeing your layout, has a nice finished look to it. My wife watches " The biggest loser " also. I only watch it when I'm dead tired and don't feel like working on anything on the railroad or on the PC.
Wacky weather here today. First it was snow that turned to freezing rain and then back to just a cold miserable rain. Just gives you a damp feeling. I have that job interview tomorrow at 4:30pm so hopefully that goes well. Well I might go run some trains and find something to work on at the bench.
Very cool, J.R.! I once rode in an F-7 cab with my (Deceased) wife on our anniversary back in 1993. I'll never forget it!!
32f and cloudy. We recieved 6+" of snow last nite, freezing rain/snow mix predicted for tonight/tommorow.ISH!
Set the vanities and tall cabinets at the remodel today. I should be ready to tile Thursday if my partner gets his plumbing done. Hung sheetrock while he was working on it. I hate hanging rock.
I'm going to try and finish the wheelset swaps tonight. I can do it in front of the idiot box while "Biggest Loser" is on. The wife and I like the show.It's one of the few positive programs on, IMHO.
That's it for now!
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
Good Afternoonish...
Good thing it was a work at home day today...now it be foggy as all get out here.
Going to have a bit of an operating session with the neighbour and go to bed early tonight...early morning doctor check up ...
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Good Morning All,
It's 19ish and sunny here in Pukekohe. We fly back tonight but saved the best for last. Yesterday we went to the Glenbrook Vintage Railway where they were operating a steam double header for the holiday. We got there early and looking around was encouraged prior to the trains arrival from the workshops. I went to the interlocking tower they had and was invited in. After a time of shooting the breeze the CFO appeared below and we went for a coffee continuing to look around. When the train appeared coming up hill, one of the tower folks came by and asked if I'd like a ride in the cab. No need to ask twice, I was delighted. I was introduced to the engine driver (Warrick) and instructed to report to the cab for the trip back (they had extra crew on for the trip down as there was a possible fault with a water valve). We rode down through the countryside in an open coach and got out while I beavered forward to the cab. Cab passengers ride the plate between engine and tender, I took my place and off we went.The engine is coal fired by hand and the fireman was hard at it. Watching Warrick operate the controls and ease us off smoothly was just impressive - no coupler snatch at all ! We stopped part way back to tour the railway workshops then continued on up the 2% grade to the station and museum. All in all the thrill of a lifetime. The smell, heat and noises of live steam are incredible. We did most of the trip at 50kpm with the charge up the hill topping 70kpm.
I'm glad to see James got through the weather ok. The news is full of pictures of the damage which extends now the length of the east coast.
I need to sign off now and finish getting ready to go to Auckland. CUL, J.R.
galaxyI went back several pages...is it my imagination, or have we NOT HEARD FROM CUDAKEN for a while???
Hmmm
I went back several pages...is it my imagination, or have we NOT HEARD FROM CUDAKEN for a while???
Did I miss something? Is he on vacation or something?
I DO hope he is not in the hospital over his toe/foot/leg!!!
Maybe he or Simon will chime in about himself?
Things that make you go "Hmm"...
I lit a prayer candle just for him, just in case,,,,
Good Morning All..Not much to report from the land of wet Buckeyes other then I'm getting a lot of railfaning in from my kitchen bar..So,far I haven't seen any of NS's heritage locomotives. I did see a SP 50' boxcar still in original lettering including SP by the numbers.Modeling wiseI been cleaning and servicing the locomotives that I will be using at the club during our open houses.I shall have a cup and look over the forum.Have a good'un!
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
howmusWhy is Todd having supper for breakfast???
This inquiring mind wants a nice refreshing Tabasco lemonade!
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe, I'll have a short stack of buckwheat pancakes with real maple syrup, a couple breakfast sausages, and a cup (or 3) of dark roast coffee in a FGLK Mug. Please and Thank You Ma'am!
Yep Galaxy, Hawaii has all 4 seasons. Yes they do, and all at the same time!
Why is Todd having supper for breakfast???
Interesting Diseasally thing there... Has a cab on both ends? Think I'll stick with good old dirty, smelly, polluting Coal fired steam personally. Won't do much harm in HO anyway...
We are having some weather here in the Finger Lakes this morning... Got about an inch of sn*w overnight and then it got covered with up to a quarter inch in Ice, and now we should get a bit of rain to keep the roads slick and dangerous... By this evening the temperature should get up to 37°F or so and melt off all the sn*w, Ice, and anything else and soak into the ground and run into the sump down cellar. Guess I will get to find out how well the fix I did yesterday will hold up...
I have to take photos of the winners of the Art contest, then take the 1st. place winners to the paper. I have a lunch meeting at 1PM with the Boy Scout District Executive to fill me in on the units I am subbing as Commissioner for. I doubt he has any new information that I don't already know, but still a good idea to make sure we are both on the same page....
Best get back to w*rk.
Later!
Sir Madog tcwright973 I have no idea who makes these, where they are going, or anything else about them. Other than the graphics logo, there wasn't any lettering, not even road numbers. Nice looking units though. Looks like GE class 66 based locos for the China State Railway. The locos will be completed in GE´s own China plant. Out again - will be back later!
tcwright973 I have no idea who makes these, where they are going, or anything else about them. Other than the graphics logo, there wasn't any lettering, not even road numbers. Nice looking units though.
I have no idea who makes these, where they are going, or anything else about them. Other than the graphics logo, there wasn't any lettering, not even road numbers. Nice looking units though.
Looks like GE class 66 based locos for the China State Railway. The locos will be completed in GE´s own China plant.
Out again - will be back later!
Johnboy out..........................and wondering
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Extra strong coffee in a AT&SF mug, please.
Have a good day all.
Healing thoughts to those in need.
galaxyTom, I get nothing but a blank white page....
galaxy tcwright973 You gotta love the internet. I got up this morning and the answers to my questions about the engines I saw yesterday while railfanning were posted on another forum. They are General Electric CM20EMP bound for Indonesia. http://www.ecomagination.com/portfolio/cm20emp-indonesianlocomotive Tom, I get nothing but a blank white page....
tcwright973 You gotta love the internet. I got up this morning and the answers to my questions about the engines I saw yesterday while railfanning were posted on another forum. They are General Electric CM20EMP bound for Indonesia. http://www.ecomagination.com/portfolio/cm20emp-indonesianlocomotive
You gotta love the internet. I got up this morning and the answers to my questions about the engines I saw yesterday while railfanning were posted on another forum. They are General Electric CM20EMP bound for Indonesia.
http://www.ecomagination.com/portfolio/cm20emp-indonesianlocomotive
Tom, I get nothing but a blank white page....
TMarsh Hm. Didn’t know it rained in Hawaii. I guess it’d have too. Never hear of it though, even on TV. Did it ever rain on Hawaii 50? I don’t thinks so.
Hm. Didn’t know it rained in Hawaii. I guess it’d have too. Never hear of it though, even on TV. Did it ever rain on Hawaii 50? I don’t thinks so.
Yes, Todd, King of Toddland, It even SNOWS in Hawaii !!! High on the mountain tops it snows in Hawaii !
Hawaii has all four seasons of weather..just an FYI
ANd as JEFFREy pointed out..Hawaii even has a spot that rains 360 days of the year.....on the mountain top.
Well, I was going to "go west Middle aged man" to do an errand, , but with the weather here being snow/sleet/freezing rain and everything CLOSED for the day...I think I stay inside and do some laundry.
Probably not as bad onthe roads as they make it, but I am not going to take achancve. I have PT tomroow so I have to go out and then i will 'go west' to do the errand.
Good to see OzJim made it through the storms.
*
Good morning. It's 65° with 97% humidity. It'll be cloudy with a high of 75°.Yesterday I got some of the clutter cleared from the layout. Today I plan to remove more. But planning to do something and actually doing it are two different things. Other things tend to get in the way. Other things around here equals family. They're busy getting my mothers things sorted out for whatever fate awaits them. One thing for certain is that the ministry's for the needy around town are going to be getting tons of clothing. What they intend to do with the antiques and other stuff I have no idea. I've already told them that any electronics will pass by me before they go out the door. Well what's good electronic items and bad electronic items all look the same to them. Checking them out and testing them for condition, use and functionality is one of my areas of expertise. So naturally I get called down there to check some things out every couple of days it seems. There wasn't a call yesterday or the day before so today will probably be the day.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
Good Morning!!!
Coffee and the three piece fried chicken plate with mashed potatoes and green beans please, thanks.
A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 60. Tomorrow it’s suppose to be almost 70 and heavy rain. Like 90% chance. I hope both are true. Well as long as there’s no flooding of course.
Good to see you made it through OK OzJim.
Welp, I got the main all cleaned up and no didn’t fall for a nap. The Little AHM That Could made it around even at a fairly slow speed. Well except for that Walthers curved turnout. The insulated point is too long and the front wheels can’t span it. At a faster clip it zips right over of course, but at a slower pace it’s like a wall. Unfortunately the “slower pace” is about the speed the layout should be. Anyway, after listening to that thing grinding away and following it around listening for changes in tone or speed, or both, so I can hit that area a bit better, I noticed it was starting to sputter and spurt, so to speak. It wasn’t the track. So I checked out the wheels on the loco and cleaned them again, one was a bit dirty again, but that didn’t do too much to help. I’ll check the pickups again, but I think if I get down there today and I hope to, if it runs great for a bit then starts to sputter like last time, I think my 40ish year old engine may finally be giving it up. No electrical smell of death though. We’ll see. Could be I just need more cleaning too. Hope so. I’ll miss that grinding/buzzing sound. Maybe just not run it as long.
Ya’ll have a good day, ya hear!!!!
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.