Elliot's Trackside Diner FEBRUARY, 2013!

[JeremyB]

Hopefully you get that cleared up Karl, a chimney fire can be real dangerous. Would there be a buildup of creosote?

Just about to jump in the shower and try to eat something ( never really hungry in the morning at first ) then off to work. Be back later this afternoon guys,

[kbkchooch]

4 a.m. wakeup call. House full of smoke. Wife woke up 1st to pee, thought she would put more logs in the woodstove. Stove started smoking profusely from the seams and the seams of the fluepipe , so she got me. Dumped the ash pan 1st, no help. Propped open the basement door, smoking stopped, cold came in. Lowered the glass in the storm door about 6 inches, then closed the door. Happy medium achieved! Smoke dissipating  , not too cold inside. Went out with a Halogen flashlight, the top of the chimney is shrouded in smoke, cant see much but I'll bet the screen around the cap is clogged up. Looks like I'll be on the roof at 1st light. Now I'm awake,  so plans now change. Wife now back in bed, I'll keep an eye on stuff til she gets up and it's light out. Then after this gets resolved, I'll drop some packages at the post office, then go back to bed for a bit!

Jeffrey, Looks like the boss cracked the whip on the sundown shops, got that unit out right away!! 

Ulrich, I can't imagine, for you.

Be back later!

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning! from Tipton IN.

Friday, February 22, 2013

TIPTON

[Anonymous]

Just a quick hello again!

I am in about the roughest time of my life. I just hoipe and pray it´ll end soon and I will have my parents successfully moved into the nursing home. When that will be done, I will be able to tell you more about what I am going through right now. Think of the worst you can imagine and double it - that´s about it.

Blessings!

[BamaCSX83]

Hey y'all, just stopping in before bed.  Been pretty busy with w**k and a few things around the house.  Haven't been able to catch up with anyone on here in quite some time, so if you've been asking of me, things have been good, just busy (as most family life is around now).  Things will slow down in another month or so, so that'll be good.  Had an interesting day today as it seemed to be tune-up day.  With the exception of two vehicles that came into the shop, EVERYTHING wanted a tune-up done on it.  I think I've put in enough spark plugs on vehicles to sink a battleship today.... (not that I'm complaining, I LIKE doing tune-ups!). 

Tonight was pan-seared Talapia with mashed cauliflower and rice pilaf.  Washed that down with two glasses of sweet tea and a big bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream (I know, I know, a little gluttonous of me, but it  WAS good).  Tomorrow is supposed to be a rainy day, but its ok, the garden needs it (got strawberries, potatoes, onions and a  few other odds and ends planted earlier in the week).  I've also been collecting eggs from our chickens (we have 6 hens), which has been good.  Heather (the 6 year old) especially likes to go out on Saturday mornings and collect the eggs as soon as the hens start to cackle. 

Welp, enough rambling for me, I need to head off to bed as 0530 comes far, far too soon.

Later taters!

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Janie, a cup of hot decaf would be great at the moment!

Ahhhh...  Long day.  Meeting went well and everything appears to be coming together for the 50th. class reunion this summer. I came home plugged in the PIP to get a few miles of electric and had supper.  Then drove to Rochester for the monthly Museum meeting and program.  For some reason tonight as we had our program I kept thinking how much our business meetings resemble the Possum Lodge Meetings on the Red Green Show....   We had a great slide show on several local railroads from back in the 70's...  Some great shots and interesting details.

Cleaned out my in box for my email earlier today and found some I was supposed to respond to several weeks ago... Opps!  I have sent out a few, Mea Culpa messages tonight.  just aren't enough hours in the day I guess, especially if some of them are spent sitting here staring at the computer.

Guess I'll go plug in the car and then head out to bed.

Prayers for all in need of them!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Well the FP7 is fixed. I test ran it first on DC to see if all was well. Naturally it wasn't. The front wheelset of the front truck kept derailing on the curves no matter if they were left or right. I checked the gauge of the wheels. It was fine. So then I put my glasses on and gave it a real close look. I could barely see it. The pickup shoe of the right front wheel was riding on top of the wheel. Using a flat tip screwdriver with a 1mm wide tip I pushed the pickup shoe up, back and down behind the wheel where it belonged. I repeated the test run and this time it was perfect. So then I hard wired in a Digitrax DH123 decoder then programmed it on the program track. A test run on DCC went off perfect. I installed a pair of Kadee #148 Whisker couplers and called the project done for now. It needs a few little parts but they're purely cosmetic.

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

[galaxy]

cudaken

 

 Dave, thank you for your concern and I hate to say it but I do mean it. Most of the time I hate how my life has end up.

 Like Ulrich at one point in my life had the world by the tail! Worked for the same company for 18 years, was in charge of 8 states, had my own secretary and a Lincoln Town Car as my company car. No worries about making the bills and had money for toys. But the owner died, board brought in idiots from the out side to run the company and they did run it!  Straight in too the ground!

  I all so seem to have a knack of getting jobs with POS companies, like this one! Heck, I did not even apply, they called me!

 So do I think I have severe depression, I am sure I do! Am I thinking of OFFING my self, just every once in a while. But I am still a tough old bird and still have a little fight left in me! What does not kill you will make you stronger!

Ken, I am glad you said the last line. "what doesn't kill you iwll make you stronger".

Ken, Just when you think your life is really really bad, you will meet someone who's life is even worse. I once had the world by the tail {for me anyway}, but I have also been as low as homeless sleeping on other's couches, surviving on food from dumpsters and donated food pantries, living out of a duffle bag and collecting cans/bottles for the nickel each on the sides of the road in the dead of winter with no coat to get to DSS in the city  to get food stamps and welfare!!

I often did not get any  help from my parents/family, i was not {and still am not}  the "favored" child. My parents recently said "well I GUESS we COULD have helped you out". Meanwhile half the "family fortune" has been given to my sibling.

I have also attempted suicide 4 times, been hospitalized 29 times for suicide/bipolar/depression and severe  alcohol abuse {due to winter depression}, at times up to 46 consecutive days. And I have my fair share of other health  problems as well.

I am not happy with where my life is now, and MOH has had to deal with some of it in the past 12 years, but I can at least say, with medication and being sober for many years, I am at least "STABLE" {?}.

So chin up old fellow!

It could be worse!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Curt Webb

Go for it Jeff

I'm working on it now.

[Curt Webb]

Go for it Jeff

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I've come to a decision about the Atlas FP7 with the broken truck. I want it running tonight. I have an Atlas GP40 that has a flaky motor. I've looked at the trucks. They're the same as what's in the FP7. So I'll take the front truck from the GP40 and put it into the FP7. When the other FP7 comes in, probably next week from the looks of it, I'll check it out really good. If it runs well I'll keep it together and get parts for the GP40 some time time in the future. I'm not eager to get it running anytime soon. But I want this UP FP7 running tonight!

[blownout cylinder]

Did someone mention PIE?!?

Sure!! I'll have some!!!

[cudaken]

 Evening Folks!

 Flo, Beer and keep them coming!

 Dave, thank you for your concern and I hate to say it but I do mean it. Most of the time I hate how my life has end up.

 Like Ulrich at one point in my life had the world by the tail! Worked for the same company for 18 years, was in charge of 8 states, had my own secretary and a Lincoln Town Car as my company car. No worries about making the bills and had money for toys. But the owner died, board brought in idiots from the out side to run the company and they did run it!  Straight in too the ground!

  I all so seem to have a knack of getting jobs with POS companies, like this one! Heck, I did not even apply, they called me!

 So do I think I have severe depression, I am sure I do! Am I thinking of OFFING my self, just every once in a while. But I am still a tough old bird and still have a little fight left in me! What does not kill you will make you stronger!

 Big News For Today is the weather in St Louis! Did I once say I like snow? Well I do like snow, but what was falling the sky today is not normal snow! What ever the stuff is that fell on us started around 11:00 AM, got I am guessing was 4 inches. Left the meeting at 2:30 PM and took me 45 minutes to make a 10 minute drive to the shop.

 Company was closing the store at 5:00 PM (one of the only good things I can say about this company) and I left at 4:30 PM. My normal 30 minute drive took a hour and a half! Interstates where still covered with snow? We only got 4 inches? Just seems really odd for the small amount we got!

 Curt, that will be the next thing I will do. I use JMRI to run the layout. I might try waking it up with the DT 400 first. I only use it when I am cleaning the wheels now.

  See you all later, Ken

 

 

[Curt Webb]

Evening All,

Thanks for the pie Galaxy. I just finished a Subway sandwich for supper. MOH is at my daughter's house watching our youngest grandson who is feeling under the weather, while Peggy, her husband and our other grandson are at counseling.

Cleaned house today after I finished putting ground cover on the mine. I put the mine and hill on the layout, put in the conveyor and put down ground cover around the hills.

Tomorrow I am going up to the LHS (Jon's) and after I get back I will "plant" the removed trees back on the layout. After that I will take some photos and post in WPF.

Ken- If my suggestions did not work, can you check out your E6 on JMRI?

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

[Lehigh Valley 2089]

cudaken

 Well it is Thursday,

 Well I am up way to late with me having to me at a 9:00 AM meeting but stuff happens right?

 Finally got the trains running right

 Ever hate your life?

 Ken

 

Which Big Boy was that? 4005?

Hello everyone. Not much going on today. Nothing for me to report today.

[galaxy]

Well

3 loads of laundry later and a full report from MOH about the doings at the enjoyment office {a federal  service which may get cut  next week  GRRR. OF course MOH has to reformat the resume, as is old school. They have free classes for skills workshops on new computer programming stuff we will gl to { IF it too doesn't get cut}. I will go to be able to help assist MOH in doings.

Then we got the letter from the park management { in another state} and it seems..they have allowed us to OVERPAY THE LOT RENT and never bothered to tell us! The star deduction for property/school taxes deduction  is higher than they told us so we have over paid! Gee, but when we are $1.00 s SHORT on the lot rent they notify us immediately with a 15% penalty! {don't laugh it happened once, how, we don't know}. We called, can deduct form the next lot rent due for MARCH. SO we had to settle their hash!

Then dinner was side  garden salad, roasted Chuck roast, minced onion gravy, herbed angel hair pasta, shredded french style green beans, and dutch apple pie ala commode for dessert. YUM haven't had a dinner like that in a long time.

{We had lemon pepper sautee'd fish last night, MOH doesn't believe in having fish every friday just cause it's lent, had that too much as a child, I was NOT raised that way so it doesn't matter to me}

I never got  to the trains putting away thingy...too much going on!

NOw to join MOH for another "food coma " nap.....

later, have a GREAT NIGHT,

Special prayers for those in need....

 EDIT: I got top, so Dutch Apple Pie ala commode for everyone!!!!

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I got a little Nippon Cam300 camera in the mail today. Nothing grand. It's good for taking VGA quality photos. The photos are stored in the cameras internal memory until downloaded via USB cable to a computer. The photos come out with this quality:




Thunderstorms coming through here now so I gotta scram! Rain, rain, rain.

[galaxy]

howmus

 

Currently 14·F outside with a 17 mph breeze to blow the white stuff that is coming down lightly around so it doesn't hit the ground and stick....  Even with it being quite cold outside the little through the wall heater for the living room kept the house comfy over night.  Thermostat said 66°F when I got up this morning.  I have started the wood stove to bring the warmth up a few degrees and let the heater take a rest from spending my $ on natural gas.

 

This should be about the last of the "cold days", RAY. THE ACCUWEATHER long range forecast says high 30s this week, and mid to high 40s the next 3 weeks with the high 50s after that!!! so we should be mostly out of the cold. SO WARMER AIR ON THE WAY!!! {then we'll need A/C!!}

MOH has a meeting at the enjoyment center. should be nice. Hope it produces results. Will be signed up for weekly alerts anyway.

ALzy laundry day for me. Dishes all doen last night and finished off this AM's dishes already.

I have been getting severe hot flashes...I don't know it it is 'Andropause" or not. but with the night temp at 63F and I have to remove my shirt cause I am suddenly HOT, seems a bit extreme. See the DR next TUesday. Earliest I could get in! I don't really sweat when I get them, other times I soak the shirt or pillow,  but boy oh boy am i burning up! Then I get freezing again.

Well, off to do things.
I hate to say it, but i thik time to put under the tree trians away, now.

Aftrer an aftrernoon nap...

MOH gettign ready now so I'd best go say goodbye!

 

 

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a short stack of Buttermilk pancakes and a couple sausage patties, some pineapple syrup (I assume there is such a thibng in Howareya) and keep the dark roast coffee coming, please!

Currently 14·F outside with a 17 mph breeze to blow the white stuff that is coming down lightly around so it doesn't hit the ground and stick....  Even with it being quite cold outside the little through the wall heater for the living room kept the house comfy over night.  Thermostat said 66°F when I got up this morning.  I have started the wood stove to bring the warmth up a few degrees and let the heater take a rest from spending my $ on natural gas.

I have a meeting for one of the reunion subcommittees I am on in Canandaigua this afternoon and then a Museum meeting tonight in Rochester.  Those will pretty much take up any hobby time today I think.

Rob, get the cough checked out, and don't hesitate to use the inhaler.  It works quickly and makes things settle down.

I have a number of things I need to do this morning, so I best keep moving...

Later!

73

[pascaff*]

  Morning All,

     Currently 27 with an expecter high of 47 under mostly sunny skies.

     Today is an 11 to 6 shift, kind of a weird one in that not late enough to do much in the AM, and get home to late to do much in the PM except Skype with my son who is in Australia.

     Prayers to all in need.

      Paul

[Cederstrand]

Italian roast coffee in a  UNION PACIFIC  mug, please.

***Dennis, nice job on the wall!

Doing critter rounds last night felt like a death march (uncontrollable coughing) so no more. Will instead feed early and then just stand guard to keep the guineas and peacock away while critters eat.

Have a terrific day all.

Cheers!  Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 51° with 91% humidity. The high will be 72°.


Wet seems to be the best word to use to describe what it's like here this morning. I have no particular plans for today so I guess I can clean up the layout some more. That usually seems to attract calls concerning work outdoors or calls from my father wanting something done, but who knows, maybe no calls will come and I can actually get something done. I'm also expecting a small package or two in the mail today. One is a small camera and the other is an Atlas FP7 that I bought for parts. I think it's someones detailing project that was never finished as all the molded on grabs, etc have been sanded off. The detail kit with the grabs and all is supposedly included with it. Who knows? If it's not botched I may install them myself just to have something to do. I bought this unit on the supposition that it has the 70's era Roco/Atlas drive that I can put under the 70's era FP7 UP shell I have or use pieces from the drive to fix the drive that came with the UP unit. It just needs the front truck replaced. If this new one turns out to have the 80's era drive and it runs good I'll just put the whole drive under the UP shell and be done with it. That would give me two FP7's with the 80's era drive. I have two others, one with the 70's era drive and the other is a 70's era unit that's been repowered with an Athearn motor and shafts. I know there's a lot of people thinking that can't be done as an Athearn motor is too big. It's kind of like pushing a grapefruit into a six ounce can but it can be done. You just need a big shoehorn and be willing to chop up the frame a bit. Well, enough about that.

[kbkchooch]

Morning Gang! 

Wow, 21 degrees this morning, lil nippy! Cloe, I think I'll have a short stack and some bacon this morning, and let me try some of that Kona coffee. Oh some good news, for a change. Mom was moved out of the hospital to a nursing home about 10 days ago, and yesterday went back to the assisted living center. Back in her own bed, her own room, and her own (now rested) care staff! 

Dennis, I gotta get me on of those lights!! bet I can scare the daylights out of some of the neighborhood kids with that get up! 

CDN Dennis, Nice job hiding the window! We've got Canada Dry Ginger ale here! C'mon down!

Ray. We just started Midnight on Cosequin (sp?) in his diet. He's 14 now and goes s-l-o-w-l-y up the steps, has trouble at times getting on the beds, and sometimes seems to hurt just being picked up. I'll let you know how its working, might be an idea for Blackie.

Jeffrey Any more rain, and you might want to consider pontoons and an outboard motor for the trailer!

Ulrich. Quick, move em NOW! Before they get a chance to change their minds!

Galaxy, I can name that song in....um....ahh....72 notes!

Finally, anybody want to order on of these?? 

http://www.bradfordexchange.com/products/917777_express-train-collection-baltimore-ravens-super.html?cm_ven=RMB&cm_cat=Froogle&cm_pla=Direct&cm_ite=917777&utm_source=RMB&utm_medium=Froogle&utm_campaign=Direct&utm_term=917777

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!!!

Coffee and eggs benedict please, thanks.

Snow, mainly after 3pm.  High near 30. Breezy, with a east wind 14 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

• Tonight Snow, freezing rain, and sleet before midnight, then areas of snow and freezing drizzle.  Low around 27.  Winds could gust as high as 29 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 100%. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible.  New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

(he he. For those of you who tuned in earlier, you'll notice I came back and posted the weather. Since I referred to it later in the post. )

Bob- You did beautiful work on that house!

G- No I didn’t watch the one about traffic too much, that one I kinda lost interest in quick, but I watched the one about the train simulation. Oh yes I know about having to do something even if it costs are huge. Believe me. Not to that scale of course, but I know what you mean. It makes sense, just a lot of pineapples for that thing. Of course with tourism being so confined and all, it may pay for itself faster than any other state.

Ulrich- I’m holding my breath until they actually get into the retirement villa. I will pray they stay on course this time.

AAAAAGH!!! My RETNA’S!!!!!!!

Whoa Dennis, that babies gotta light up the w*rk space!

Hey Lee -Glad to see you're still kickin. You talking Congressional Budgetary Sequestration (I just made that name up), or you thinking of locking yourself in the house for a while?

Well as you can see by the weather report, I doubt if I’ll need help from John Deere seeins how I’ll be at w**k while the bulk of it happens. Besides, some have now knocked it down to about 1-2 inches of the white stuff. Takin my snowblower to an 1½ snow is like using a D-9 bulldozer to…..oh I don’t know, clean Ray’s garden. I know that didn’t make any sense…., but I’d already typed D-9 bulldozer and wanted to use it. Couldn’t think of anything else at the time.

SO! Today. Brenda has created a pile, not of clothes but of bathroom stuff (rods, mats old shower curtain. That kinda stuff), in the Living Room. I will try to relocate that today. Why the Living Room?  Whatcha askin me for? I don’t know, I just live with the woman.

Maybe I’ll get some more train time today, don’t see why not. Gotta do some scenery stuff before the bridge can go in unless I want to fight that….which I don’t. But first I need to see about copyrighting "Congressional Budgetary Sequestration" and "CBS". That last one may be tough. Like when I tried to get the rights to any and all forms of the word "not". Apparently you can't do that. Boy I'd a been rich by now.

Ya’ll have a good day, ya hear!!!!

[LSWrr]

Good Morning all,

 

I’ve been reading and researching sequestration and how that might affect me most of the month and I’ve been neglecting the diner.

 

I hope everyone is doing ok out there.

[JeremyB]

cudaken

Jeremy Thanks for explaining why you clean the tank so much. I have really never had to worry about nitrates. I all so never kept goldfish either. When i worked in a pet shop I told customers to stay away mixing tropical fish and goldfish.

 Far as me saying "It gotten under my skin", it was a bad choices of words. 

 On your work front, what are you doing now Jeremy? 

No problem Ken, my wife always thinks I l clean it too much also. Im enjoying the job so far. There moving me over to there other building next week so Im hoping I like it there too, I have heard some crappy things. Well I have to get going for work. Nothing on tap tonight after I do house cleaning. I might just pla some video games baseball. I have some on THE PC that are great if your in to statistics.

well Im out until later this afternoon.

[Burlington Northern #24]

cudaken

 Well it is Thursday,

 Well I am up way to late with me having to me at a 9:00 AM meeting but stuff happens right?

 Finally got the trains running right

 Ever hate your life?

 Ken

 

with the pressure from my failing math class grade and all of the bussing of a 45+ table restaurant by myself on a very busy night, I'm on edge and am unable to find any motivation to do anything. day 5 of 9 in the work week, I finally found out why I got stuck with a 9 day long work streak. 

[galaxy]

Morning Kona Coffee in the diner...

ALOHA!!!

GOOD MORNING!!!

Today is Thursday, February 21st, 2013!!!

HAve a great day!

Ah Ah AH, hey hey, Oh, oogabooga oogabooga, Ah ah ah ah, hey hey  oh...

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning! from Tipton IN.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

TIPTON

[hon30critter]

Ken:

"ever hate your life". I hope you mean that in jest.

That is kind of a scarey statement. I have been in the position where I did not like the way my life was going. In fact I was really upset and depressed about what was going on. I had lots of very negative thoughts. Fortunately for me I admitted how distressed I was to my family doctor, and he immediately identified the fact that I was suffering from severe depression.

I am on some fairly strong meds now, and if I miss them for even one day the negativety sets in again. However, when I am on my meds I am a happy go lucky guy who can easily roll with the punches.

I ain't no shrink, but if you are feeling really down then please seek some help. If this message is overboard then I apologize. Just tryin' to look out for my buddies.

Dave