Elliot´s Trackside Diner - November 2013

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning ...

Still waiting to hear from Todd, Jerry, and Inch of  Illinois regarding Sunday's deadly tornadoes. Hope they are OK.

Galaxy, I'm sorry to learn about the back problems. I am wondering if you could have corrective surgery. It comes to mind because I had some extensive back surgery. A drunk driver ran into me at 50 mph, and I spent about a year with surgeries and physical therapy. Following that. I have had over 20 years of mostly normal life. The back still bothers me at times, but I am thankful it is not worse.

On the layout, I am currently enjoying running my NP ABA F-units.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Heartland Division CB&Q

Hey, Jeff .... Isn't that wrench an overkill for those 2-56 screws you use in Sundown shops? 

We have wrenches here that are bigger than that one but not near as heavy. The one in the photo is made of iron, the others are brass and some are aluminum. Some are in sizes you just can't believe! Ever seen an 18" pipe wrench? That's not 18" length either. It's the full open gap between the jaws! The length is over six feet and it's a two man wrench. It's made of brass. They were all found in my grandfathers old welding/machine shop near Tyler, Texas back in the 80's. It had been closed over ten years earlier before he passed away. My father brought many of the tools here to be used in the construction of a homemade drag-line dredge that used a 1958 Willy's Jeep as it's source of power.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I have a railbus model somewhat similar to what Ulrich showed. It's a VT class, don't know if it's a 95 or 98. The loud sound the railbus made led to the Germans nicknaming it rote brummer (red buzzer).

[Anonymous]

kbkchooch

Ulrich. The railbus is kinda cool looking, but if you hit the brakes hard going downhill, does the front end touch the rails?? 

Karl - at 20 mph I doubt this could have ever happened

Here is an update on my ongoing projects:

1. The Critter

That red definitively has to go! It looks awful! There are also some areas requiring some touch-up work before I finish it. All it needs is to have the electrical pick-up installed and the window glazing fitted. And, of course, a heavy dose of weathering.

2. An old and forgotten loco

About 15 years ago, I bought a kit of an old, pre WW I 0-6-0 loco, which I assembled, but nver completed it. There was an issue with the gear box which made me put it aside. While searching for some Christmas decoration up in our attic, I found the box containing this oldie but goodie. It´s a no longer made Model Loco/UK kit of a Royal Wuerttemberg State Railway class Fc from the 1880´s. It only needs very little to finish.

Have a good one!

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have the #2 special this morning.  Over easy eggs, bacon, home fries, and a double order of Sour Dough Toast all to be washed down by a pot of Seneca Lake Roast Organic coffee in my R&GV RR Mug....  What?  Yes, the blood sugar was 116 this morning and I am celebrating....  Yes, Ma'am I will skip lunch to make up for it.

Dark and gloomy around here at the moment but the old sun is supposed to put in an appearance around noon today.  I have a Doctor's Appt. early this afternoon where I will learn how all my blood work came out from last week.  Couple evenings ago I got a call from a crazy lady down the street.  Now I don't mean crazy as in Looney but rather crazy as in a bonafide character...  Her older sister who lived almost across the street from me passed away a couple days ago and she wanted me to be aware of it.  Both sisters are in their 90's I think.  The one that died has been crippled for many years, ended up in the hospital and had two surgeries, and just didn't make it.

Karl, thanks for the comment on the blacksmith shop wall...  This without a doubt the most "interesting" project I have attempted.  It is pushing the limit of what I know how to do and I am learning a lot of how not to go about it as I make it...

Jeffrey, we have some wrenches that size out at both of the museums....  One of my favorite acquisitions of railroad tools is my little tiny pry bar...  The Gandydancer's Tool!  When Scouts working on the RR Merit Badge visit my layout, I hand the bar to some of the 11 or 12 year old Scouts and ask them how they'd like to spend an 8 or 10 hour day wielding that on a track gang?  "When John Henry was a little baby..."

Ulrich, the critter is looking great!!!

Later!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 54° with 53% humidity. The high will be 68°.


Today I'll see if I can get Oliver a bit farther along in the Kings Port and Western passenger coach he's making his way through. There are still things to find and bad guys to overcome and he still has to get to the lead loco to stop the train.

No other plans for today.

[chochowillie]

Sir Madog

Dennis - I know how you feel! I have been there a number of times in the past when things didn´t turn out the way I had hoped for. The best is to step back a little while and do other things, before attacking the issue again.

That is exactly what I'm going to do. I bought a new Nikon 5200 this summer, took a ton of pictures and now that it's all white around here, plan on taking a bunch more. The is no end of beauty in nature if you just look for it.

I also purchased Adobe Light Room to do the touch up/editing of my photographic efforts and I need to do a ton of work on the pictures taken this summer. What an astonishing piece of software especially when you combine it with Adobe Photoshop.

Of course I could also go down and clean out my wood working shop. What a mess it is in. Too many tools and not enough room so stuff just seems to collect. I knew I should have built a double car garage when we moved into this smaller home. Unfortunately $20,000 seemed like more than I was willing to spend at the time and it still seems like too much.

Love the little layouts you design by the way. You seem to get so much enjoyment out of doing them.

Well, it's snowing again so off I go to shovel..... again. Sheesh!

Cheers

Dennis

[inch53]

Mornin, an irish coffee, double on the irish part part please Zoe, it be downright cold outside with the breeze. We survived Sunday’s  doings out here in the woods, we had high winds [50 -55 mph], blowed down a lot of limbs and some rain, the worst of it went north n south of us. Try to call Jerry and check on him with no luck yet, but as far as I know, just limbs down in town too. Kids, grandkids and the rest the family alright are all ok also.  One of #1 daughter’s friends had just moved to Peoria which was hit hard with straight line winds, and she hadn’t been able to contact her yet, to see how she was.

Going to try TODD laters n find out bout him, didn’t see much of anything on the news about much damage his way. #3 daughter lives south of Springfield and their ok.

Ken should be ok, most worst went north n south of him also, from what I could see on radar.  

So that all I know for now, more laters on ,if’en finds out anything.

[galaxy]

Kyle

Morning??? It's 10:30 at night. I am still wide awake, but I got to get up early tomorrow (or today according to your watch) so I am going to go to bed soon.

Kyle, In MY time zone I posted this promptly at 3:39 AM, making it very early morning to MY segment of the USA...for those who get up then or later...in MY segment. You may note that Ulrich posted at 7:40 AM MY time, and to him it is afternoon, while apparently to you it is about what 2AM?

Still no Todd?? makes me wonder, hope is simple out of power and not worse! he is a regular daily poster, so makes me wonder..

well, went to get my injections and then off to a diner where two people can get a COMPLETE breakfast for just $10.00! {coffee, 2 eggs, hashbrowns, 4 toast points..what else? etc..}. I willnow be sore for the rest of the week.

Garry:Surgery, for now, is OUT according to the Neurosurgeon. WHat they can do won't promise ANY results better than what I have...there was an experimental surgery I'd be ripe for but by the time he saw me, it wasn't returning the good results they had hoped, so for now I am out of luck in that dept. {it costs my insurance company $1800 for me to see him and about $250 for him to evaluate me or maybe the other way around}. I've had plenty of MRIs done so they know what they are looking at now.

so now rest for the rest of the day..

[Anonymous]

chochowillie

Love the little layouts you design by the way. You seem to get so much enjoyment out of doing them.

Dennis - I do this out of necessity - my modeling budget is close to nil, so whatever I can spend must be spend on the right things. Careful planning is a way to cut down cost, as is scratchbuilding...

Talking of small layouts - this seems to be it now:

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Inch ..... Thanks for the update. I suspect Todd is without power and is waiting for service to be restored. Hope it is nothing more....  I hope your hear from Jerry soon.... I don't think the storm was very bad near Cuda Ken, but I wish he would stop in to at least say "Hi" to us. .... The Sunday storms were nasty. 

Galaxy .... That doen't sound good. Maybe the insurance company is not pushing for more work because it will be very costly to do surgery. I wish there was a way to solve your situation so you don't have to deal with so much back pain. Of course, each case is unique, but the surgeon repaired my spine with several metal parts, and it is mostly okay now. Prayers for you.

Ulrich .... I like the railbus. Also, you are right. People can enjoy this hobby with limited resources. I like your tiny critter. 

 

[pascaff*]

 Afternoon All,

   For you folks in the eastern time zones. It is still morning out here.

   Currently it is 53 with an expected high of 58 with an occasional shower or two.

   Another w**k day for me, plus had to do some banking, so no railroad stuff today.

   Prayers to all in need.

    Paul

[howmus]

Afternoon folks!

Chloe a cup of hot chocolate would be really good right now!  Still all of 36°F outside.  i will be lighting the woodstove soon.

Just arrived home from the Docs...  He looked at my blood work, nodde4d his head, then smiled and said, "everything is right where we want it!"  Total cholesterol was 135...  Yep 135!  Right where it was 6 months ago too!  Blood sugar was 95 and the A1C was 5.7!  The nurse who took my Blood pressure found it to be 195/93.   Doc took it after giving me the results of the blood work and it was 140 over 80...  they shouldn't let very attractive young nurses take old men's blood pressure, you know!  Well, I ain't dead yet!

I think my high sugar readings are the new meter and supplies I have been using.  I guess I'll find out where I can get Medicare to pay for them and go back to the one I was using before.  Cost to me will be about the same or a little more as they want me to pay both the co-pay and shipping for the supplies.  Only places you can get it from are in Flowiduh, Clownifornia, or the back woods of Aridzona.  Not even one supplier here in NYS.  Sure goes across the grain for someone who prides himself of buying locally....

Catch you all later!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

howmus

"everything is right where we want it!"  Total cholesterol was 135

Geez, mine is 91 and they're telling me it's high.

[howmus]

Jeffrey...!!!  91? TOTAL cholesterol???  According to every source I can find, under 200 is desirable for Total Cholesterol.  LDL Cholesterol should be less than 100, and HDL should be above 60 to be optimal.   If your Total Cholesterol is only 91, I have to ask if you have any joint problems???

Oh, I have lost, according to their scale, 2 lbs. in the last 6 months.  However according to my scale compared to their scale I gained 15 pounds since breakfast and 25 lbs. according to the scale at my other doctors offices...  Then they want my blood pressure to be normal!  Right!!!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

howmus

Jeffrey...!!!  91? TOTAL cholesterol???  According to every source I can find, under 200 is desirable for Total Cholesterol.  LDL Cholesterol should be less than 100, and HDL should be above 60 to be optimal.   If your Total Cholesterol is only 91, I have to ask if you have any joint problems???

Be careful what you ask for. Since you asked, yes I do. Cartilage in my left ankle is compacted (so was that in the right) as well as in my knees, lower back and in my neck. Most of that I've had since I was ten. That's what can happen when you land on your feet after falling two stories. Not surprisingly I couldn't walk afterward until my nerves stopped tingling. My younger sister helped me get to a red cross first aid office in the building I had fallen from. All they found was a sprained Achilles tendon. The other stuff started popping up a couple of years later. I've had ankle, knee and back problems since that time. My joints ache in cold weather. The problem with my neck cropped up around twelve years ago. One of the disks is compacted enough that the sciatic nerve gets compressed from time to time and lights up my nerves down to my knees. I have an over-the-door traction rig that helps relieve that. As far as other joint pain I've had arthritis since I was twenty.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Well our friend Oliver is in the forward half of the coach now. I've already written in the subroutine that allows him to defeat the witch with the gun providing he has the right items on him. Now Oliver is no Macgyver. He's more like Gomer Pyle. He can't make a working gizmo from a piece of chocolate, a paper clip and a gum wrapper but he's certainly capable of using certain items as weapons for offense or defense. He finds something on one of the seats but I won't tell you what it is.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

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

[TMarsh]

HELLOOOOOOO! 

I made it!!!

Thanks for the concern guys, got a call from Inch today, I appreciate that too, checkin on me. As you guys suspected, I'm fine as is my property and all my friends etc. We didn't get the bad part just a bunch of wind. Kinda like Inch. Only lost power for about 4 or 5 hours Sunday afternoon so that's not the excuse. Reason I haven't been in is......I'm stupid. Yup. Too stupid to figure out this computer. I tried to stop in Sunday morn before the storms, but I couldn't get to the forum. Said bad....something. Try later or check address. Anyway, I figured it was something to do with the website and went on my day. Checked in Monday and same thing, Tried a few times throughout the day and then today this morn I figured I'd log out then log back in. Did that and Voila! (that's French) I was in. Got caught up and tried to post then I found out I wasn't logged in after all. Now, I can't log in It just comes back with the empty sign in slots. 

Well, I ran my spy blockers, anti spywares, malwares, and anti-virus and rebooted....., went to work, came home and still no good. Decided to try under Chrome and here I am. Like I told Mike I was gonna do, tomorrow I'll try under another computer and see, but this is IE...whatever, and the other computer is an older version. Maybe Brenda's laptop.We'll see.

Aaaanywho. I'm fine and I guess I can get in under Chrome (never thought about it until tonight). Gotta be something simple with the other. If I don't I'll just use Chrome to do my gossiping here. First issue I've ever had with IE of any version so I think something got changed.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Nice to see you Todd. I can identify with your browser problems with IE. After version 7 it went to trash for me. All I got was error after error. Tried the compatibility tricks and that didn't work. It did the same crap on three different computers running different operating systems. W98, W2000, XP. I changed to Firefox had haven't looked back. I started off with Firefox 3 on Win98 back then. I'm up to like 25 on WinXP now on this computer. Firefox 23 on my computer at home with Win8.

[JeremyB]

Hi Guys,

Up at 3am, I cant sleep anymore. I have to be in to work in 4 hours so Im sure I will feel tired around 5am or 6am.

[Kyle]

They probably updated something that was suppose to fix/improve problems with other sites that have high traffic.  They don't do testing on all websites, so there are a few problems with certain sites.  One time an adobe flash player update caused a program to crash everytime I tried I start it, finally I just ended up removing flash anytime I wanted to use the program , and just reloading it after.  At least it isn't as bad as the IOS 7 problems, you can't get the old version, I have seen IOS 7 and don't like it so I have not and will not update my I-Phone.

[galaxy]

it is 4:00 AM my time,so morning coffee in the diner...

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING!!!

Today is Wednesday, November 20th, 2013!!!

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

Today's fun limmerick:

There once was a guy named Kyle,
Who always loved to smile.
He went to the fair,
Tripped over a bear,
Now there's a lawsuit on file.

Today's weird words:

Inhebetate- Make something dull or blunt. This can be referred to an item, a story, a party, etc

parnel: a priest’s mistress; a loose woman

Infucate - To use makeup. To paint your face.

There definitely was an inhebetate about infucating the parnel! **

**that may sound a little dirty, and honestly guys, these words are pulled randomly from several reliable sources, how they manage to form a fair sentence each morning is beyond me!

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!!!

Coffee and the Brakeman’s Special please. Over medium on the eggs and wheat toast. Thank you.

Welp, couldn’t get in the forums since Saturday. My fault. Figured something was wrong with the site but, no. I could go other places on the site, just not to the forums. Still can’t on IE. Something had to have changed on the browser I’m figuring. Told Mike I thought maybe Kalmbach had decided I don't spend enough time with my trains and locked me out.

Ray- Yup, super kudos to the dealer for informing you. But I find it cool that the company called you. E-mailed some generic thing sure. But called? Very cool. I was also gonna suggest Aileene’s craft glue…but Karl’s may be a better choice. Not sure how Aileene’s holds up over the years. I use just regular styrene cement, but it gets tricky with the oozing part sometimes.

Paul- I’m glad you had loved ones with you on Friday. A very sad day I’m sure. I like Pho too. There is a Mom and Pop place in town I go, no not a buffet, that makes really good Pho. A friend of mines MIL came to their place a couple weeks or so ago and I was over and she made some Pho. She’s Vietnamese. She just hovered aound me asking “You like? You like?” The only English I think I heard her say. She did pat me on the shoulder when I said I did. I took that as either thank you…..or "good boy, I let you live".

Terry- Glad to see you again. I’ll look forward to some pro-fessional photos!

Jeffrey-  First problem I’ve ever had (other than that compatability issue, but clicking the torn paper icon fixed it) with any thing to do with IE. What I don’t get is why all of a sudden. Nothing was added, no updates that I can see, nothing. Just woke up one day and poof! Problem. Oh well. Like you and many others, I’ll just use another browser for here. Chrome seems to work fine and I can attach this to that just like IE. Oh, and NOT nit pickin, but that last screen shot you showed where poor Oliver doesn’t have such a great time with that .44, you mis spelled “the”. No I’m not critiquing your spelling, that’d be the last thing I do, but I happened to notice that one and if you send it out or market it for old Apple people (that’s people with old Apple comps, not old people with an Apple …..Raaay!) I figured I’d help. Do I get credit on the credits? (kidding)

Nope, storms split around us and went to the north and the second round went to the south….sorta. We got some rain, and some wind damage (not our house) and we were out of power for about 4 or 5 hours Sunday but that was it. Not so lucky were those in Washington.

Welp, plan on going out to Sheilds...Sheils..Sheels....Pauls' place, and maybe see about spending some cash to put in his pocket while he's still part owner. Then probably go to my Buddys' house and start working on his basement walls.

Bowl of Pho does sound good....

See ya'll tomorrow unless I get locked out again.

Prayers to all those affected by the storms here and abroad. And of course those here in need, but that goes without saying.

Ya’ll have a good day, ya hear!!!!

[MisterBeasley]

Good morning.  Thanks to all for checking in.  We do worry about our friends.

It's Wednesday, so that means I played hockey again last night, and I'm running a bit on the slow side today.  Weather is fine, though, clear and 40-ish.  We won the game, 22-13, which is a bit less of a "defensive matchup" than we usually have.  Even giving up 13 goals, I only felt bad about one of them, a rising shot from the blue line by Tony the Chicken that I just plain missed.  (Yeah, Tony the Chicken.  Some guys just end up with "hockey names," like Buffalo, Tippy-Tap, Skrapper, Pumpkin, Offsides, Brown-from-the-sun......)

Jeffrey, I would have dispatched the Witch with a water pistol, or perhaps a super-soaker, as a tribute to the Wizard of Oz.

Todd, Brakeman's Special, eh?  Sound good.  I'll have one of those.  And thanks for reminding me to get a couple of potatoes so I can make myself some home fries over the weekend.

[Packer]

Morning guys

Went to the train club last night and grouped those SD40-2s together. Weird that my zephyr had issues programming them to a 4-digit address, but JMRI did it in a snap. They run pretty good together, even with DH123s.. I may upgrade the decoders at a later date, and stick sound in one of them.

I did have another hiccup from the SD40-2 I got from ken. 1 solder joint broke and the headlight doesn't work. I know where it is and will re-solder it in a bit. I also talked to a Santa Fe guy at the club and he gave me a few detailing pointers on it. I need to add an airline to the horn, or I would if it didn't go MIA. So I need to find a horn stand and a yellow close to ATSF yellow. He also said he had some brass antenna stands when I mentioned that the factory one has a broken leg. Maybe I could try to get one from him.

Anyone ever hear of this one: My phone crapped out last night. Just a blank white screen, but everything else seemed to work. Before I went to bed it's screen went to a reversed color screen, but it worked. Now it's back to normal. IDK what the issue is...

Todd, where are you? And the other Illinois posters?

Garry, By chance do you know what nose light I should get for my C&S/CB&Q SD40? I have an old Kato I'm modifying to look like a C&S one. I already filed a spot in for the nose light. I just don't know what housing I should use. The only things I need to finish are the nose light housing, decals (I modified the nose to get rid of the ratchet brake), and a decoder. I have everything else on hand. I just want to know what light housing so I can order the stuff when I can.

 

[galaxy]

Hi guys 

I seem to have a problem I hope someone can help with to a basic comnputer illiterate.

i used to have NO problem posting a copied URL link to here and clicking enter key to make it clickable when I posted. Now I seem to have a problem with that. It won't be clickable anymore. Furthermore when I click the chain link button tool bar to make it clickable, it reads out OK for the link's addy, but when I click it to make the link clickable, it comes out not to the right url when I post and you click on it in my post!

Hopefully someone understands that. We have google chrome as an extra browser besides Aol {which may have IE attached to it, but how would i tell and access it since we no longer have a desktop icon to lead to it??}

I have been on this site since 2006 {or was 07} and I have NEVER had this problem before!

Help!

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning. Oatmeal and OJ please. 

Todd .... Glad you are OK. When you were absent, I checked the news for your area, and it did not tell of major storm damage ..... Sounds like you are an expert at computer glitches. Perhaps, you can get a job building websites for government health care plans.  .... Ooops. Okay, Vinnie, I won't go there. 

Regarding computer operating systems. Our 2 desktops are an Imac and an old Dell. I saw Jeff telling about Firefox and other people too. So, I installed Firefox on the old Dell. It was a great improvement. The Dell was close to being tossed in the garbage because it was barely usable. Now, I can use the Dell, and it is okay. Still not as good as the Imac, however.

Mr. B ... It's good to see you this morning. I'm glad you enjoy playing hockey. I suspect if I tried to skate again, it would be so funny even the ice would make a few cracks.

CN Charlie .... Are you looking in today? How do you like retirement now?  Also, thanks again for contacting Barry. I miss his posting, and wish he would schedule time with us again. 

Sunny and cool today. We have weekend house guests coming and we're getting ready for that. These are people who live farther north and are stopping here in KY on their way home from Florida. I need to spend time chasing away potential gremlins in the model railroad layout. 

Edit ... Galaxy. .... Ask Jeff about suing Firefox. It might help you.  

Vincent  .. You posted too. I'm not sure. SD40's are too modern for my era. ... I'll check and get back with you if I see something. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

MisterBeasley

Jeffrey, I would have dispatched the Witch with a water pistol, or perhaps a super-soaker, as a tribute to the Wizard of Oz.

I had given something like that some thought but it involved popping the cork on a shaken bottle of champagne to blind her then take her down in a cross body block. But as there wasn't a bottle of champagne laying around Oliver had to resort in throwing things at her.

TMarsh

Jeffrey-  NOT nit pickin, but that last screen shot you showed where poor Oliver doesn’t have such a great time with that .44, you misspelled “the”. No I’m not critiquing your spelling, that’d be the last thing I do, but I happened to notice that one and if you send it out or market it for old Apple people (that’s people with old Apple comps, not old people with an Apple …..Raaay!) I figured I’d help. Do I get credit on the credits? (kidding)

I'd already spotted that on the debug run-through and it was corrected yesterday when I was  adding that sequence (430 line series) into the corrected code. Thanks for pointing it out. The program as it is now is a rough draft, sort of like a storyboard for a movie. I get it working right first then go back and build up the dialogue.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 46° with 67% humidity. The high will be 68° and feel like 71° with some clouds.


Maybe today I can get Oliver through the rest of the coach and into the next Kings Port and Western coach with further incident or maybe I'll throw another surprise or two at him first.

Nothing else going on here today that I know of. Seems like it's too quiet.