Elliot´s Trackside Diner - November 2013

[Anonymous]

My final post before I quit w`king with the computer:

"The Four Seasons On Schietwedderogge"

Spring;

Summer:

Fall:

Winter:

There is hardly any snow on those coastal islands...

See you all tomorrow!

Edit: Rats - I got TOPS! Flo, here is my CC, put everything those chowhounds will be having during the rest of the day on my tab, please.

[Train Master]

Sir Madog

Also missing: David

Which David are you talking about? I am still here. Just watching.

[Anonymous]

Train Master

Sir Madog

Also missing: David

Which David are you talking about? I am still here. Just watching.

I was talking about the terror that flaps through the nite!

[Train Master]

I thought you were. I have not gone anyplace. I have been busier than the proverbial mime at a shouting match.

[kbkchooch]

Hi Y'all! 

Flo my dear, I feel like Schnitzel &  tonight!

Sorry I haven't been around much this week, been bizzy bizzy bizzy!  I see I wasn't gone long enough to make the MIA List.

Dennis. It occurred to me that your grandfathers passing happened just about the time that you and I were saying goodbye at the show. It was good meeting you there, and I hope you will be back for more!

Todd. I had a bout with Planters Fascia. After month of hobbling around I got some good orthotics for my shoes. Within weeks, I was feeling better, and now I don't wear them at all. Where did I get them,,,,,From a doctor,,,,a Doctor Scholl I believe,,,,,,at Walmart. Believe it or not.

Ulrich, Milwaukee this month? Might this have anything to do with Trainfest next week! 

Oh and Ray, I know it's not as good as the PIP, but the last tank of fuel in the Impala, worked out to 28.5 mpg. None of those trips were "open" road , most  less than 15 minutes. Not to shabby for 3389 lbs of sedan, eh? 

So what have I been up too?

Still looking for employment, doing odd jobs, and some projects for other folks,

But,

Fresh out of the erecting shop. Looking forward to a few shakedown runs at a friends pike, then final touch up and light weathering. All the CV's have been programmed, and it sounds Mahhhhvelous! 

This started like as an old Mantua (red box, cast gearbox) Mikado kit. The boiler had some cracks, so I tossed it and placed a Pacific boiler and steam chest on her, added a can motor & flywheel, a Bachmann tender (the original had cracks too) and a host of detail parts to make it a USRA Light Mikado. But with that boiler, it's anything but light!
The kit was given to me by a former club member, and mentor, Charlie Bullinger 2 years ago. It was always one of these "I'll get to it " projects. When he passed away this summer, I started on it in earnest. I think Charlie "s probably sitting up there, smiling down on the good home his engines are enjoying. (This one, along with the Sakura 0-4-0t and a brass 2-8-4 C&O Kanawha)

Ummmm,, Schnitzel! I'll be in the corner, making my tastebud happy!!

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Janie, just a cup of decaf fro me please.

Didn't get home from the museum tonight until 7:30PM.  Took about an hour and a few more minutes to drive the 51 miles home on the thruway.  I followed a large truck doing about 58mph most of the way home.  Any faster would not have been safe.  Very, very dark rainy and difficult driving.  Was glad to pull into my driveway and get in the house.  Didn't take me long to get the wood stove up and running!

Currently 39°F with rain outside.  The temp will get down to around 31°F and the rain will turn to snow overnight.  I have to get up and drive back to the museum for closing day out there tomorrow.  Hope the stove works in the Erie Caboose...  The scouts I did the RR Merit Badge with today were a great bunch of young men.  Only five were there for the whole day.  4 completed the MB and one didn't do a prerequisite requirement so he will have to finish the MB later. They are camping in the cabooses tonight...  Brrrrr!

Karl, 28.5 mpg with your Impala?!?  Wow, musta been downhill both ways...  Of course your car outweighs mine by 224 lbs....  I can remember when 28.5mpg was great though! (Actually for a car like that it still is good gas mileage!  My sister doesn't get that with her old Corolla.)  I drove my BILs souped up jeep for a week way back when.  It was a little 4WD thing with a Chevy 283 tucked in it.  He used it to blow away the 70's muscle cars on Main St. in Canandaigua.  I think that monster got something like 4 or 5 mpg.  Sure was fun to drive until it ran low on gas...

Got to feed the wood stove one more time and then head to bed for some zzzzs. I already turned back the clocks so I can sleep a bit later tomorrow.  Have a great night and stay warm!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Not much to report. I didn't get any work done on Paradise Cove. I did however finally complete my collection of Harry Potter movies. I found a Deathly Hallows 2 DVD online for $4. That's the total price, nothing extra for shipping. So naturally I grabbed it. You don't find deals like that every day.

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

Remember to set those clocks back!

[galaxy]

Due to the time set back,  I am officially "early" this morning! 

Morning coffee in the diner..

GOOD SUNDAY MORNING!!!

Today is Sunday, November 3rd, 2013!

I DO hope that Those of you in the USA who change clock time to Standard time, have Set your clocks 1 HOUR BACK if you haven't already! In effect as of 2:00 Sunday, the 3rd, making it then 1:00Am.

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

Today's Fun Limmerick:

There once was a fly on the wall

I wonder why didn't it fall

Because its feet stuck

Or was it just luck

Or does gravity miss things so small?

Today's Children's medicine claim:

Delicate girls and women are to often dosed with drugs when their blood is really starved.

They need the blood-strength that comes from medicinal nourishment.

No drugs can make blood.

Scott's Emulsion is a highly concentrated blood-food and every drop yields returns in strengthening both body and brain.

If you are frail, languid, delicate or nervous, take Scott's Emulsion after meals for one month.

Contains no alchohol.

Scott & Browne, Bloomfield, N.J.

Today's weird words:

franion: (n.)(obsolete) a gallant; a paramour, a loose woman; also, a gay, idle fellow

Nuppence - British slang (for) No money. To be paid nothing

apercu: a glance; a brief survey or sketch; an immediate impression especially an insight

Etymology: French, from aperçu, past participle of apercevoir to perceive, from Old French aperceivre, from a- (from Latinad-) + perceivre to perceive — see perceive

[Anonymous]

Lunchtime in Germany!

Not a day to be spent outside - it´s quite windy, with an odd spell of rain.

Only coffee for me - I´ll be having lunch at home today. Petra is just preparing a Quiche Lorraine, and there is already a lovely smell coming from the kitchen...

I set out to make a 3-D drawing out of the 2-D view this morning. When I loaded opened the file, all the work I did yesterday has miraculously disappeared, only the file without all that added detail is still around. I can´t explain this, I did save the file a number of times in between.

Feeling

Now, I am not going to do this job all over - may give Google Sketchup a try.

Have a good one!

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 50° with 87% humidity. The high will be 67°. There will be some clouds.


I may do some work on Paradise Cove today if I get the chance and if I feel like it. Other than that I have no plans.

[Anonymous]

Phew - was I lucky!

I was able to recover one of the files - the detailed track plan:

This is the Spring version.

I made some changes to the track layout - makes it easier to build :

I think I´ll go for # 2 version

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Howdy ...

Ulrich said as he started the November thread: " Welcome to this month´s Elliot´s Trackside Diner, now at a new location in Milwaukee. We will explore the Kalmbach offices, have a chat with Neil, David and Cody and take a close look at the making of our favorite magazine. .....  I was there last year, and Jim Hediger conducted a very nice tour of MR's HQ. I met Neil Besougloff and Steven Otte too.

Here I am with Jim and two of the project layouts. I have more photos to show later.

Karl .... Your 2-8-2 looks fabulous! That may be worth posting a video.

Bill T ... A big thanks for the coffee on this side of the street!

Ray and Karl ... MPG? I don't bother to keep track of that for our vehicles, but they are not high numbers I am certain.

Last night I worked on my old H&R kits for CB&Q bi-level commuter coaches. These are "low tech" kits and require a lot of work. Parts do not fit well, and time is needed to correct these problems. 

We're leaving for late morning pew-warming. Cheers.

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!!!

Coffee and HEY!!! Bills’ back!!!

Oh sorry Flo, the Sunday breakfast buffet please. Thanks.

A “predigested food in liquid form….” (deep inhale….exhale…shakes head quickly and shivers)

Didn’t stay up for the time change this year. I usually don’t in the fall. Come 2a.m….., like déjà vu.

Thanks for the concern and advice on the foot. I bought these $50 arch support and cushions for the shoes. At 50 bucks I suppose I should call them orthotics instead of inserts. Sounds like I have the same doctor as Karl. Yup, gots a little clinic right there in the Walmart. Quiet guy…., must be a mute. He just prints out what he wants you to do. Raise this foot. Raise that foot. Lean forward. Anyway, Friday night was the first night wearing them and boy howdy could I tell a difference! Checked out the recommended exercises and they were just what my friends wife said. Keep forgetting to take the ibuprofen, but the pain is much much MUCH better in just what, two days. Pretty much staying off it too, but the inserts seem to be the biggest help. Even with no shoes, getting up after a rest no longer sends me through the roof for the first several steps.

G- I find it would be very difficult to get anything out of Sam’s Club larger than fits in your pocket without the cashier seeing it. Therefore, since she found it in plain view in your cart, I would think the final check you out the door lady would be rude to accuse someone of anything more than not pointing out to the checkout person they mis-scanned something and that is IF they even realized it in the first place. Some eagle eye the cash register, most like me, just kinda don’t pay much attention since they started using the scanners years ago. Now when they rang things up by hand, yes. But not now.

Been kinda busy with the restaurant last couple weeks due to my buddies illness (didn't help the foot issue either). Seems there’s a virus going around that mimics the flu but is not. Anywho, had to go up last night and “check on” his daughter and the other girl waitressing. Everything was going well but ended up staying until 10-10:30 incase she wanted to go home (my choice, not his or hers). But the last two bar patrons were tired and weren’t gonna stay long so she stayed. So did I because, well, I’ve heard that many times before. T’was ok though. Don’t get to talk to her much lately. Life you know. Three small children growing up doesn’t lend for much free time to hang out.

Brenda got the day off wo*k today  so it’s Sunday as usual around here. Buffet for dinner and light supper  consisting of chili that I will make this morning. In between we will probably walk around the Walmart and then just kinda laze around the house doing odds and ends. Sunday, of course, being a day of rest.

Ya’ll have a good day, ya hear!!!!

[pascaff*]

 Morning All,

  Currently it is 37 with a high of 50 under partly sunny skies.

  Had a great time yesterday with my daughter, her husband, and his dad  at a Sushi restaurant in Lake Tahoe, the Nevada side. Spent about 2 hours having Sushi and good fun conversation.

  I did stop at the only model railroad store in the area and bought a 53 Chevy panel truck and a 52 Cadillac, and 62 T-Bird. I am hoping to make the panel truck into a hearse for my cemetery scene, which I plan on w**king on today. Not much else planned for today, but that may change.

 Galaxy - I do like your limericks, some even make me laugh out loud.

  Prayers to all in need.

   Paul

[chochowillie]

Well now, winter has REALLY arrived here. Spent most of the day shoveling sn*w. Then had to start all over again due to high winds and drifting. Oh well, it had to happen sooner of later.

My back deck has 4 feet of snow on it  That will wait till tomorrow.

Cheers

Dennis

Looks like the supper rush is one me folks. Flo here is my CC and of course you get a generous tip.

[galaxy]

well

Had a delicious dinner last night with close friends who of late we don't see enough of.

SInce MOH and I have no children and no relative's children to rely on, we discussed making their child/grandchild beneficiaries of our meager estate. We will have a meeting with said child as his direct participation will be required for assistance in the final needs of the surviving member. Since we are all "family", it should not be a problem, unless he flat out doesn't want to deal with it. Said estate should grow by then and we'd jsut as soon leave to someone we know than not.

Same friends have a HUGE barn, a MMR space available to me to build a 15-20x 20-30 footer IF I so desired! Problem is that it is a "rough space" having no heat/Ac, no insulation and "leaks" moisture, dust and dirt. ALso has only a 10 amp circuit that feeds about 3 overhead flourescent lamps and only one 4 banger outlet!! other problem is it's a 3 hour round trip to get there, and I am not that 'desperate" for a larger space to go vamping off frequently to do so. They are so busy as to not to share my passion, but do respect it obviously!

well, today I slept litterally all day! MOH is home from work and has slept 5 hours already too! Must be the weather. Has to be, that and the time change?

Well, I have to get dinner done, hopefully the smell of food will wake MOH to desire to eat.

late 

[BamaCSX83]

Hey all.  Just stopping in for a light meal and a RBF for the night.  And whilst I've been out, its not been due to the chidren, in fact, they've all done very well.  My reason for not being in here has been work related.  We've had an employee fired due to his not having a current driver's license (which he hasn't had for a year, or more due to unpaid tickets).  I've been working 6 days a week from open to close for the past few weeks, so its been a very, very hectic time.  I have tried to stop in from time to time to check things out, but its not been really possible. 

Finally got an afternoon to get onto the computer, aaaand since it was near the start of the month (so I wouldn't have as much to catch up on), I dropped in caught myself up on things. 

From the MRR standpoint, I've been doing not a blasted thing, from a real railroading standpoint, I've been keeping my eyes open on the tracks in and around Troy and the surrounding area.  Been able to see a few "unusual" trains come through (unloaded coal, intermodal, extra auto movements), so things have seemingly been going well on the CSX Dothan Subdivision (of which I'm glad to see and hear). 

Welp, I'm going to sit here at the RC and see whom else strolls in and what they're up to, then I'm going to head to bed and get read to put the ole nose back to the grindstone, or the tire (since I work at a tire and service shop).

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Well I didn't get a chance to do anything on Paradise Cove today other than confirm it's still on the diskette and make sure I have a viable duplicate of it. My father and stepmother kept me tied up doing little things they're more than capable of doing themselves.

I checked the tracking and see that my new CP/M co-processor card has departed White Plains. My new A2M0003 Apple disk drive is in Shreveport and should be here tomorrow. Those two items are for my mothers old Apple //e. My A2M4050 Apple //c external disk drive has just made it into the mail. That item was modified to work on an Apple 650-X104 drive controller and is therefore a candidate for my Frankenstein collection.

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

[twcenterprises]

Well, it's been a while since I've been in the diner, though I've been posting in some of the other threads.  I finally got module 4 built and in place on the new layout, all that's needed now is to cut the plywood to shape so everything can be screwed together and in place.  I'm using the cookie-cutter method on 2 modules for the lower part of a no-lix from staging to the main level.  I haven't taken pics yet, and the old layout is still in the room, being dismantled.  I do *not* plan to remove every last piece of track, as the half-circle on the end is the same radius and in the same position it would need to be, once I cut the sheet of plywood in half.  No need to make things harder than necessary.  So it will stay, and I will carefully cut around it.

Good to see everyone again, and I'll try to come a bit more often.

Brad

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Janie, a cup of hot decaf coffee would be really nice right now...

Well....  the season is now over at the R&GV RR Museum.  It was an excellent one with about a 50% increase in ridership this year.  No accidents for the year, and lots of very happy visitors.  When i got there this morning the Boy Scout Troop was just having a closing ceremony led by one of our volunteers who is an active Scout Leader in a council near NYC.  I signed in and then met the troop out near the tracks where they had started GE 80Tonner # 1654.  They were moving the loco over to track 4 where the cabooses are stored to couple on.  I got a big kick out of hearing the Scouts I had done the merit badge with just yesterday explaining to their parents what each Horn signal meant, how to be safe while they were watching, and what was happening...  They got a ride up to midway station and back.  On the way back I arranged for the 5 Scouts who completed the merit badge and the Scoutmaster to get a cab ride in the loco.  You would have loved the look on their faces when they climbed down at the end of the ride!

Had another gentleman there today who is retired from Kodak and was pleased to see Kodak #9 (RS1) sitting there.  He turned to me and said, "OMG!  I used to watch her work at the yard!"  I got very lucky and the stove worked correctly in old Erie C-254 where I was car host.  It was snowing at the museum when I arrived...  High was 35°F for the day.

On the way home there was a major slow down at exit 45 on the NYS Thruway.  Major accident.  Seems an idiot missed the exit so tried to do a U-Turn (very illegal on the thruway) somehow causing a tractor trailer to cross the median and flip over blocking one lane on both sides of the thruway.  It involved a fire in the tractor as well after the accident and they had put it out using foam.  About 5 fire trucks were still at the site when I finally got by there.

Bill, thanks for the refill for my coffee.  Good to see you again!

Catch you all in the morning!

73

[galaxy]

morning coffee in the diner..

GOOD MONDAY MORNING!!!

Today is Monday, November 4th, 2013!

Make it a great day!

Today's fun limmerick:

I need a front door for my hall;
The replacement I bought was too tall.

So I hacked it and chopped it
And carefully lopped it;

And now the dumb thing is too small.

Today's weird words:

hecatomb:  (/ˈhɛkətuːm/ or /ˈhɛkətoʊm/; Ancient Greek: ἑκατόμβη hekatómbē) Greek Myth.:: a great slaughter or sacrifice offered to Greek gods Apollo, Athena, and Hera, during special religious ceremonies

Echopraxia - Ancient Greek: "ἠχώ (ēkhō) from ἠχή (ēkhē "sound") and "πρᾶξις (praksis, "action, activity, practice):: When you mimic the moves of others whether consciously or unconsciously (i.e. yawning)

Emacity: [from L. emacitas, a desire to buy] /ee MAS i tee/}(n.)::

a fondness for buying things

[Anonymous]

Good Morning!

What a miserable day outside! Lots of and - best to stay inside!

Flo, it´s too late for breakfast and too early for lunch, so I will just settle with some coffee. I´ll be staying at the RC to see who will be joining me.

I had one of this "Duh" - moments this morning. Yesterday I tried to get that cobble stone texture integrated into the track plan. So I fired up WinRail and actually drew the texture, which finally amounted to some 5,000 shapes - too much for my old `puter to handle. I wasn´t really happy with the looks of it, either.

This morning I tried a different approach. A web search resulted in a picture of a cobblestone street, which I copied, cut and assembled into the size I need for my layout. Instead of some 5,000 shapes, all I had to do was to integrate one (!) shape into the plan. The result is very pleasing. Did the same with the water in the harbor basin.

All I need now to get started on the layout is a 2´by 4`sheet of 9mm plywood...

Make it a great day (I like that statement each morning, Galaxy)!

[galaxy]

Sir Madog

Good Morning!

Flo, it´s too late for breakfast and too early for lunch, so I will just settle with some coffee. I´ll be staying at the RC to see who will be joining me.

Make it a great day (I like that statement each morning, Galaxy)!

Daisy, re-up me on some coffee with ULRICH.

Ulrich, I say that because one can have a good day, or one can have a bad day, but a day will happen anyway.

It is 50% of what happens to one during the day and 50% how one reacts to what happens, and if one chooses wrong, it will be a "bad" day. BUT if one chooses to MAKE it a great day, no matter what happens, It may just turn out to be that- a "good" day, or more importantly a "GREAT" day!!!

So, make today a great day!

[TMarsh]

Good Morning!!!

Coffee and a Denver omelet please, thank you.

Long day of nothing yesterday. Would have been a good day to spend some time in the trainroom but didn’t. Did make some chili though, turned out too tomato-ee. The kids have been wanting me to make some so I’ll give most to them and try again. They’ll be a bit disappointed because I’ve used the same recipe for years and well, quite frankly I’m getting a bit tired of it so I thought it time for a change. Kinda make it a bit more tomato-ee. Something. I don't know.

Oh well, Church business this morning, hopefully the eyeglass place will call and say my new peepers are ready and then tonight it’s back to the restaurant for a wine and ravioli tasting. If the owner is still sick, his wife and daughter are gonna do it and that means…..you guessed it. Todd will haveto help. Well, not have to but I will. They’ve never done one and I have so….  They hate to ask, but get a look of relief when I walk through the door. Especially the wife. She gets a bit nervous when things get busy. 

Ya’ll have a good day, ya hear!!!!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 51° with 93% humidity. The high will be 72°. Cloudy.


I intend to get some work done on Paradise Cove today. I want to get Nelson Street finished. Then I can start programming the variables for the character to play in the train room at 1020 Nelson Street. I wonder how long it would take to program in a Gomez Addams type smash. Somehow I'm going to incorporate the character into the action taking place. Now to put him on the layout to see what's happening from a railfan perspective or do I put him ON the train. That's the fun of these things.

My A2M0003 Apple disk drive should be getting here today. The CP/M card is still showing as having departed White Plains. Did I fail to mention this has never been out of it's box except for photography? I can't see a brand name on it anywhere. The only marking on the box is 'Interface'. It might get here tomorrow but I'm betting more on Wednesday. The Apple //c A2M4050 disk drive is still showing 'Electronic shipping info received' so I may get it by Friday.

[pascaff*]

 Morning All,

   Currently it is 29 with an expected high of 47 under mostly cloudy skies.

   I need to stop at the SS office to determine how much of my late wife's survivor benefit I van receive, and how much I can earn before they start to deduct money from the payment. Then off to w**k.

   I w**k on the cemetery scene yesterday, and started to build the church that will sit next to the little grave yard. Also finished two of the billboard kits. Did not do much else except run trains, so it was a good day.

   Prayers to all in need.

    Paul

    I

[CNCharlie]

Good Morning,

A very large cup of coffee please Chloe and a toasted cinnamon bun please.

Well today starts my first week of retirement. Sure seems odd to be at home and not at the office looking at the Accounts Receivable reports as I've done for the past 30+ years. I had a good time last week doing not very much. Let's see, on Tuesday and then my last day, Thursday, my day started out with coffee and reading the paper on the net, then I went for coffee and toast in the cafeteria, then a little more on the computer, then I was taken out for a nice lunch, then back for cake at the office, then time for coffee again and then home. I got quite a few nice retirement cards and one very large one signed by many people in the office. Overall a nice send-off.

On Saturday we went out for dinner with friends to celebrate my retirement and birthday which was yesterday. We went to a place called 529 Wellington where they really know serve wonderful beef. I had smoked salmon to start followed by a nice tenderloin and then a maple creme brule for dessert . 

By the way, a Happy Birthday to Johnboy as I know yesterday was his day too. 

Not sure if I'll get any train stuff done today as it is going up to about 40F and so a good day to finish up the yard work. 

See you soon,

CN Charlie

[Anonymous]

- CNCharlie and Johnboy - even if it´s a little late!

CNCharlie - happy retirement, filled with good times and cheerful model railroading!

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a short stack of buttermilk pancakes with real NYS Maple Syrup and a side order of bacon to go along with a pot of dark roast coffee to keep my R&GV RR mug filled.

Happy belated birthday to CNCharlie and Johnboy.  Hope it was a great day for each of you. 

Currently 37°F outside with a high of 42°F forecast for this afternoon under partly skies.  Right at the moment the big vright thing is up in the sky.  Hope it keeps right on shining.  Ended up making just under 300 kWh of electricity last month.  This month should only be around 200 kWh.  That time of year.

I am trying to get caught up on several items needing to get done a week, month, or more ago today.  Have to take my Youth Protection Training for Boy Scouts before I send in all my membership forms due soon.  Also have to see if I can find out some information about a building and business called Benham's Elevator for a friend of mine...  he needs the information like yesterday for an article he is writing.  Doing the wash while I sit here typing, have to go grocery shopping, pick up some Rx's call the dermatologists office to renew an Rx that has expired, clean house, cut down and clear garden growth, mow the lawn...etc. etc. etc!  May even find time to look at the layout in passing.

Later!

73