Yawn!!! I had to roll out of bed this morning at 6:15 in order to get to RIT for rules class this morning at 9:00AM. I passed everything that I have to pass to be a car host again this year. They are now making car hosts take the basic rules class and the Basic operating standards to work on the cars. I have been suggesting that for several years......
The third class is for the engineers and conductors and goes well beyond the basic stuff I have to learn.... If it wasn't for having to get to the Boy Scout District Dinner to hand out an award, I would have stayed and taken that one too. I am dragiing around here at the moment as I haven't Slept well in two nights. The cough has almost gone away from the Black mold and mildew, but I still don't feel well....
I also had a minor accident on the way home. At one intersection over by Phelps, there were 4 cars waiting to turn onto the main road. I was turning left onto the secondary and there was a pickup truck going across on the main highway. There was lots of room for me to turn in front of the pick-up truck so I slowed down a bit and started to turn. Doesn' one of gthe cars turning left from the secondary to the main road pull up about 5 - 10 feet blocking my path. My choice was either to hit him or let the truck clobber me. I choose to head accross the intersection onto the grass across the intersection, but whacked my drivers side mirror! No real damage to that, so I got back on the road and proceeded home. When I got home I found I hit something else on the passenger side of the car (I didn't even notice it. Must have both happened at the same time.) That did some nasty damage to the front bumper on that side....
Have to get ready for the Boy Scout District Dinner tonight. Catch you all later.
73
Ray
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Evening Dinners
Flo, Beer for me and Tin Can when he shows up.
Work Front It was not a good day, sales where bad. Plus Jerry got Caboose with me because I had to correct his mistakes from the day before. Need to reread the booklet YGW sent me. More than likely I am being to harsh with Jerry with him suffering from brain damage from the car accident he was in. But, it is still madding for me to have to explain over and over what he is doing wrong.
Credit Front Checked with Chase Bank and there is nothing I can do to get there card approved faster. Next I checked my credit score with Credit Karma, I see Chase did check my credit score. My score is now at 742 from 728 a few weeks ago. Pretty sure I will get the Chase Slate card befor my 0% intrest runs out on my Captial One card.
Train Front I tested the LED's for my PK 2000 B&O GP 7 and the solder work is fine. I am going to use the PK 2000 GP7 7 chassie that Tin Can gave me, it has gray trucks. It should work well with the gray band around the top of the B&O 3406 GP 7. Need to take some photos of the new B&O fleet I have.
YGW If you check your cell phone, I did call you tonight and left you a message.
Running the N&W Y-6b tonight, great engine!
Ken
I hate Rust
Wake up, everybody ! ... It's morning. ... There is good food in the Diner !
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Yawn.
I meant to sleep in this morning, but woke up instead and couldn't get back to sleep. I went out last night to hear one of my favorite local bands. It was a new venue for them, a couple of towns over, but that town has a much later closing time for bars. So, the band started at 9 and stopped playing at midnight, which is kind of beyond my normal hours. I'm feeling it now.
Coffee and juice and a sesame bagel with peanut butter. The wife got up earlier and went to church.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Good Afternoon!
The sun is slowly setting, so I guess I could have said "Good Evening".
The first official day of Spring started as a wet day, which is not unusual in our neck of the woods. It started to clear later in the day and now we are enjoying a beautiful sunset. Temperatures did not go above the 10°C mark, so it´s crisp and clear - the way I like it.
Nevertheless, I am not feeling up to par today. My heart decided to go racing again, which is really tiring. I managed to run a morning and a mid-day train, but that´s about all I was able to do.
My son is joining us tomorrow for a kind of suprise visit, making his mother one happy gal. Maybe he has the time to help me install the backdrop (with him doing the work and me giving the directions) - we will see!
I´ll be staying at the RC for a while - anybody care to join me?
Afternoon folks,
Chloe, just a cup of hot choclate please... I am still sick, but appear to be getting better. The cough is almost gone, but every time I do cough, I really feel it from the muscles that I have been useing! Just feel very tired...
I am going to relaxe the rest of the day. how about if I join Ulrich at the Rivet Counter for a while and we can talk about trains........
Afternoon Diners,
First things first...
MisterBeasley If you used it in N scale, I think the railings would be too big. The underneath structure is girders, but unless you're spanning a tall gorge, you will never see the interior girders so using only half as many would not be an issue.
If you used it in N scale, I think the railings would be too big.
The underneath structure is girders, but unless you're spanning a tall gorge, you will never see the interior girders so using only half as many would not be an issue.
1.) With the modern rails I was going to cut them down to size with a saw but I think it's going to be too messy.
2.) With the interior girder underneath is going to be covered with a bridge, passing underneath two curve tracks.
Today I purchased water cooler pads to replace the older 4 year old ones. Which their supposed to be replaced every year before and after summer. This was a hot day for it. Unfortunately it took two hours and four hurting fingertips putting them in.
Although I got my Conrail B23-7 yesterday I can't test them because I don't have a DCC system. I'm going to wait until Micro Mark comes out with their $4.95 shipping charge.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Herrinchoker,
Just saw your post "what was the dog doing?" - I think the real question is "what was the dog NOT doing". He removed a decent section of leather from our recliner sofa. Spread trash from evey place he could find it. Pooped wherever he wanted to. Chased the cats. Tried dining on our wicker furniture outside. Eat a bag of mulch and spread it on the deck. Tried to eat my ethernet cable from the modem, Threw a bowl of pot-potporri across the living room and then proceeded eat it. That's just one on or two items on the list.
Today, I was eating an pickled egg and some potato chips. The wife rang the door bell and when I got back to my food the dog was licking his chops and the pickled egg had vanished. Give him 10 seconds and something happens.
My wife thinks obedience class it the answer - HA - I'd like to see that happen. If he spent a fraction of the time listening as he does destroying then I might think that obedience training might be half an idea.
Chris.
Loco Guy - is a state of mind - not an affinity to locomotives.
Sit back and enjoy your track...
Because of the curve, the platforms have mechanical extensions to let boarding and leaving passengers cross the gap without falling between the train and the platform.
This time I tried something new (to me) - I took a metal polish paste design to clean and polish stainless steel sinks et. al. and carefully rubbed it onto the railheads. After it had dried I polished it off and the trains seem to run a lot better. I think this is what is called "gleaming", isn´t it?
I was thinking of buying a Rix HO Highway Overpass instead of buying 4 N Scale ones to make a 4 lane bridge. I don't know if the dimensions will transfer well. If anybody knows nor has done it let me know.
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
Chris--
Some things you might try...Mouse traps on the table, sideboard, etc. These will discourage the dog from attempting to snag food that is left unattended. I currently have a female Chessie that was kept in a crate, in a garage, for almost three years--Reason, small children in the house, dog was deemed food agressive when a rug rat walked by with a peanut butter sandwich, you know the obvious. Shelby will try to reach anything within three feet of a counter/table/stove edge. I do not hold edables below my waist when traversing the house, not unless I want a dog holding my hand, that is holding the edible. She does not apply any pressure, it's like, "Hi--let me help you, that looks heavy" Mouse traps worked wonders.
House poo--When I was training I kept pup in a crate. When the pup woke up, it went out, when it ate, it went out, when it had a drink, it went out, and I made sure pup knew what it was there for. I kept pup on a lead, the last thing I wanted was pup to wander around on a "sniff fest." That gets old, real quick, on the 8th. of January, 10:30 at night, -4 deg. with a 20MPH North wind blowing.
To make an impression on the dog you have to catch it in the act---poo on the floor, in the trash, whatever. Never walk into a room , find that the dog has done somthing, call the dog, and then repramand. All you are doing is teaching the dog that when it responds to it's name it will get a repramand. I will let you guess as to the final outcome.
Eating shoes, chewing on chair rungs, and the like--I used bug dope with a lot of DEET in it, just apply a small amount in stragic places, pup will not go back.
When dogs are bored they will get creative, make sure pup has some KONG type toys to play with.
If you don't want the dog on the furniture use a sheet of newspaper with mouse traps undeneath, the noise will frighten the dog when they snap. (both of my dogs have their own sofa.)
Rescue animals can be a challange as you hve no idea the amount of baggage that they are carrying.
I had a Chessie that came out of one of the top field trial blood lines at that time. The former owner thought that because the sire was FC/AFC, CFC/CAFC (American/Canadian Field Champion) that KC would be the same. The last thing this idiot should have ever had was a dog. The dog was kept outside, the neighborhood kids would tease him, the owner used a electronic collar to the extent KC had scar tissue on his neck. Some of this I discovered from two different pro trainers at field trials I ran in. I had one of these men tell me that there was a side bet amongst the members of the club as to how long I would have KC before I put him down. The second day I had him, because of not knowing the dog, I was chewed quite well-still have the scars. I worked with him for nearly five years before I could trust him around other people.
You will have to have patience as you bring your dog along.
PM me if I can be of further help.
Herrinchoker
Flo, a for me and a RC Cola for Ulrich.
Work Front Turned out to be a good day for me, but I think I may have a problem. Seems Jerry cannot seem to under stand what is called The Up System. It determines who gets the next customer that comes in. If you are with a customer and the other sales person get's the next customer.
If Jerry spend say 3 hours with a customer and the Ken gets 10 customers I keep the sales. If the Jerry customer leaves after the Ken's 10 th customer leaves Ken gets the next customer.
Worked out well for me today. Jerry spent way to much time with a customer written up there ticket for $260.00. I had two POS customers in the mean time, they left before Jerry got done telling stories and jokes with his customer. After his coustomer left, I told him I got the next customer. He thought that was unfair? Next customers in spent $2000.00 and I made a extra $115.00.
BBQ is done and the Trains like me tonight.
Later, Ken
Evenin' folks!
Janie, just a cup of hot chocolate please....
I'm still among the sick here... I did get up and went to church mostly to hear (and see) my granddaughters sing for Palm Sunday. I got to our usual seat first and some young lady I did not know came and sat down, She was followed by our Sunday School Superintendent (must be a DIL I guess) My DIL sat in the last seat behind the aisle. I got up and went over to say hi, and was told they weren't staying for the Palm Sunday Brunch and Auction. I decided since I am not eating much except comfort foods at the moment not to stay either. Half way through the afternoon I called my DIL and told her I wasn't coming over for supper due to not feeling well.
I have decided this isn't an allergic reaction but I think I have a mild case of the Flu. (Yes I had the vaccination last fall) What I am coughing up is clear, whitish stuff so it does not appear to be bacterial. I am on the mend I think. I decided to take a nap. Oh! When I got home from church today, Blackie was waiting for me to give him his treats for lunch. Manét was nowhere to be found. I went in the bedroom to change into my every day clothes from the Sunday Go To meeting Stuff and there is a big lump in my bed. Yep Manét who wanted to get up on the bed when I was dressing for church was still there completely under the covers. He was nice and warm. I decided to take a nap this afternoon and Manét was still cuddled under the covers. I crawled into bed and in a couple minutes he was right up by my side snuggling with me. Blackie came in a joined us! Something about two large cats purring very loud right next to you that is very relaxing. I didn't fall asleep, but got up feeling much better!
I did try to get some more photos of the bridge scene today, but none of them are usable. Will keep trying. Tomorrow morning I am going to drive over to where I was forced off the road on Saturday and get some photos of the scene. Also to find out exactly what it was that hit and tore my passenger side bumper. I did find that the lower bumper is not a terribly expensive part and the cost shouldn't be much more than my deductible... I probably will forgo going to the Insurance company.
I have to clean the kitties litter box and then head out to bed.
Prayers for all in need!
Good Morning Diners,
Flo, I'll have a large cup of coffee with lots of cream, please.
Not much happening nere, but had a pretty good week last week. Sold a couple of kitchens and a couple of Other blessings happened, too.
Der: If you are referring to the lower cabinets in kitchens, etc., they are called base cabinets. If not,.....never mind. (In Gilda Radner voice).
I'm guessing the the SCARM people assumed that if one wants to put a smaller scale track on the same layout as a larger one, that it would be elevated to give the effect of distance. Don't ya just love intuitive software?
Ray: please get better quickly.
Have to go.
Hello to all and I hope everyone is OK, safe, and warm.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Good morning ....
My 96-year old Mom was in ER all of yesterday, but thankfully she will be okay.
I'm planning to be a "gandy dancer" today on my layout. I will be making corrections to some existing track. I will pull up some track to correct problems with the grade in the sub-roadbed. Then I will re-install track. In the process, three turnouts will be replaced with new ones, and another turnout will be relocated. Hopefully when I'm done, all of my trains will run through this section with no derailing. Most trains already run through okay, but some trains are too sensitive at minor imperfections in the track.
Herrinchoker ,
Thanks for all the hints and tips. I think the mouse trap idea is cool - I just wonder if the dog can figure out how to relocate it to my chair .
On the whole the dog is pretty good (in comparison to ones I had many years ago). The only dog I ever had "Layla" that was my pride and joy. I don't think I ever had to teach her anything - that dog was smart. She waas more like a hunting buddy than a dog.
She was run over and killed by a JERK in a mustang doing 60mph in a 30mph zone. Of course they didn't stop - just kept on driving away even faster.
It's taken me about 8 years to get over that and go with "Mickey" the new dog. So I will just have to work with him and hopefully by summer he'll be in good shape. He'll need to be as it gets HOT here in Mississippi in summer so most of his time will have to be indoors.
Funny you should mention shoes - he took a visit to my wife's closet and chewed up a nice pair of sandals. I'll let the wife know about spraying them with a repelant. She may be okay with that - unless she wants to loose more fotwear.
Greeting to all here. Flo, I'll have a bacon butty and cup-a-tea.
Chris, Sorry to hear you are having many problems with the new dog. Our new rescue is working out well. She is totally house broken which I believe is a characteristic of airedales. They just don't seem to ever go inside unless they are very old and losing control of body functions in general. Adele has shown a tendency to want to table surf but backs off if scolded with a firm no. Yesterday we went for a two mile walk which she handled very well. I was pretty well worn out by the time we finished up.
On the railroad front, I fabricated another no. 5 turnout but am not the least bit happy with how it fits. I am going to try a no. 6 I had fabricated but did not use after I found that no. 6 turnouts actually curve to a 40 ft curve versus a 26 ft curve for a no. 5 turnout. Hand laying track is a continuous learning experience for me.
Time for lunch so I can get ready for my learning in retirement math class this afternoon.
Jim
ouch, oooch ouch ouch oooochhhh, The honey does this week end about killed me ! Started remodeling the living room. Ripped all of the door, window and base trim off. Installed 5 1/4 base, 3 piece crown and puttied the trim. Moved teh furnioture out and back again. Saturday was a LOOOOONNNNG day. I am so sore from all of that w**k !
Ken I saw you called - to sore to even lift teh phone. What is a good time to call back ? Glad the little thing I sent is helping you with Jerry !
Garry - Glad you Mom is doing okay. WOW 96 ! Thats amazing. What a blessing. I lost my Mom when I was 16. Still miss her.
UP831 - Blessings. Such good things to have in ones life : )
Howmus - Hope you feel better. Appreciate the comments in the NMRA thread - Thanks
DER - LOL ! "Blathering on" made me laugh. Reminded me of a sweet wonderful British lady I know.
Chris - We have a black lab ( she is very BIG lab ) and we used a dog trainer, What I quickly learned was that Dog trainer was not what she really did. She was actually a human trainer. She taught us how dogs think and how to work with the dogs langauge.
Ulrich - Still in the RC ? Can I buy you a piece of triple chocolate cake ? And a glass of ice cold milk to wash it down ?
JaBear - Good to see you. Hope all is well. Vacuum wipers ? Really ? That is insane who would build a vehicle with THAT ! Must have been someone from the West Va. design dept !
Lucas - Want anotehr peice of cake ??? I have wide shoulders I can handle the blame
GALAXY !!! I am so glad you made it back. I was very worried about you. Sounds like you have a lot going on.
Well my modeling funds will have to be trimmed a bit. The frig compressor came to $730. Gas bill came in $1200. BUT I did score a couple of coal cars on ebay for $4 each and got combined shipping. So not a total loss.
TTYL
YGW
YGW,
I think we already know "mickey's" dog language - we say "no" don't poop on the floor - and he looks and gives us the "WHATEVER" look.
JIM,
I think your lucky to have a female - my Layla was a beauty - perhaps male dogs share charateristics with their male owners - not to say I am stubborn and don't listen much
Anyhoo, it's a nice day outside so I may open up the garage doors and turn on the smoke units for my T1's and let them run.
Woke up to 5 inches of snow. Well, at least it's above freezing now and it will stay that way for a while. The pavement was warm to begin with. After the plows did their thing, the remaining snow on the roads and driveway melted quickly and the driveway, at least, is completely dry.
I'd hoped to be on the bicycle again, but at this temperature it looks like I'll be confining my workouts to the gym for another week at least.
Good Evening!
Just reporting in for a spell. Mind if I sit down at the RC?
Our son was with us for a few (too few) hours today. His train was late, so we had to wait for him for about 15 minutes in rather unpleasant weather. He was fortunate the delay was in the last leg of his train journey, which usually takes two hours. By car that would be anything from 75 minutes to 90 minutes.
Lots of small talk while enjoying the best Petra´s kitchen was able to offer on short notice. It was good to have him with us, as we don´t see much of him these days. But now I am exhausted. No MRRing today and most likely tomorrow as well.
Not really happy today
Chloe, just a refill for my cup of decaf please...
I am finally feeling better today. Slept soundly last night for the first time in days. Didn't roll out of bed until 9:15 to give Blackie his 9AM insulin shot....... Took a couple photos of the damage on the Pip and then drove over to the intersection where it happened to see about getting some photos over there. Couldn't figure out what I hit that broke the bumper/lower cowling on the car. It may just have bottomed out and hit ground as I went off the road. The intersection was quite busy as usual so I didn't stop and get out of the car. Have an appointment to check and realien the front end as nessessary for this Wednesday at the dealership. They don't do body work, but there is an excellent shop within walking distance of my house. So when the dealer tells me exactly what needs to be repaired, I will take the car over there to have it priced out. It is likely that the replacement will not be much more than my deductible on my insurance. So if that is the case, I will pay it all out of pocket. The insurance company would likely put me in a different risk class and it would cost me much more than the out of pocket over time.... (I know how these things work..)
Have to go to the Credit Union for some pictures of dead presidents and then to the grocery store for supplies...
Catch you all later!
This struck me hard.
LOCO_GUY She was run over and killed by a JERK in a mustang doing 60mph in a 30mph zone. Of course they didn't stop - just kept on driving away even faster.
Chris- The same happened with a different neighborhood dog. I was taking my evening walk outside the neighborhood streets. Where I saw a little white dog leaving the house and decided to follow me. I stopped, looked and he crossed the street ( one side safety) but before he began crossing a big truck hit the dog with his tire. That little guy made a spiral twice around landing on the asphalt. I made a small prayer for him.
Angelob6660,
My Layla, lived on a 54 acres plot - we never worried about her visiting the road - she had too much room to run and play. But a car broke down on the other side of the road and she went to investigare.. Disaster right there - curiosity killed the dog.
If those a**holes had kept to the speed limit then maybe she would have survived.
LAYLA - RIP she was an exception dog - friend - partner.
Sir MadogLots of small talk while enjoying the best Petra´s kitchen was able to offer on short notice. It was good to have him with us, as we don´t see much of him these days.
Our daughter Annie is enrolled in a nearby school studying acupuncture, but she lives an hour or more north of us in Maine. So, every week she makes one or two trips down here to school. We have to ask her every week for her plans, and we try to accomodate them. More often than not, we spend a pleasant evening dining on sushi at our local Japanese restaurant.
Last week, my wife was at her church fellowship group, while I took Annie to a favorite tavern for music and dinner. Our waitress, whom I've gotten to know, pulled me aside and said, "Your daughter is absolutely beautiful." Yeah, Laura, I agree.
Good evening Diners: Weather front, we’ve a snowstorm for the first full day of Spring. While it’s stopped for now, we won’t clear the drive until tomorrow – no need as it’s not impassible.
Train front. Scanned both left and right hand Peco short, medium, & long turnouts plus long curved both L&R. Happy to see that the images when transferred to Publisher and printed out, exactly match the real life dimensions. So, I've made templates – now it’s on to measuring up distances from the SCARM plan to transfer to the layout. Happy days!
Also, I’ve re-done the Z tracks for the Nn3 up to the tourist attraction – and taking Ulrich’s tip, bent the straight lines a bit to avoid a “hazard". Re-aligned the mainline tunnel portal so as to curve things up a tad there as well. I’m hoping it gives an impression the main continues off the layout’s front edge in the tunnel – and consequently the tunnel mouth on the far side is, as it were, unrelated. Here’s the result
UP831: Der: If you are referring to the lower cabinets in kitchens, etc., they are called base cabinets. If not,.....never mind. (In Gilda Radner voice). Had a laugh at her screen test video, thanks for the lead! The cabinets are the plastic things under the layout; they have to go somewhere, and this seems a reasonable solution and most of the contents are mmr related.
I'm guessing the SCARM people assumed that if one wants to put a smaller scale track on the same layout as a larger one, that it would be elevated to give the effect of distance. Don't ya just love intuitive software?
Garry: Glad your mom’s come through the ER OK. Worrying though, isn’t it?
Chris: Flo, I'll have a bacon butty and cup-a-tea. “I could murder a bacon butty!” Sound familiar? Right up there with Onslow from Keeping up appearances “Here I am, completely surrounded by no beer!”
Flo, I'll have a bacon butty and cup-a-tea.
YGW: DER - LOL ! "Blathering on" made me laugh. Reminded me of a sweet wonderful British lady I know. - now, she wouldn’t blather on herself would she?
The track plan printed off well, and I’d better put measurements of track positions-from-layout-edge on it while it’s in one piece as Penny has already torn one side while blocking my view of what y’all have posted! Catch you later, or tomorrow maybe. Prayers for those in need
Flo, please and give Ulrich a RC Cola.
yougottawantaGlad the little thing I sent is helping you with Jerry !
YGW Some times I rather you sent me a Base Ball Bat, but that is just mean. Now if you can get him a job as a county inspestor where you live! Far as calling me, call me at work anytime while I am there. I do less at work than when I am home.
Sue Broken Foot Front Her foot is healing, bones are meading and are in algimmet. But with all of her ill health I know she will never be 100%. Well, before she fell she was only 75%.
Der I really like the old HO layout you had! Do you by chance have any more photos you can share? What grade did you run?
See you all Tuesday.
Shaddy the Wolfhound, I do miss her.
PS, I have no idea why the walls look green in the photo.
Morning!
I can´t say it is a good morning today, because it isn´t. Brussels has seen a series of terrorist bomb explosions, targeted at the airport and two subway stations. The explosions killed 21 people and injured at least 35. People are asked to stay at home and refrain from using mobile phones to "leave the lines open" for rescue services.
The blasts were Muslim suicide attacks.
I am not going to say anymore, other than a silent prayer for the victims of this dreadful incident.
Sir MadogI am not going to say anymore, other than a silent prayer for the victims of this dreadful incident.
I share your distress and your good wishes for the innocents. I'm sure I speak for the rest of the community here as well.
Morning all.
My heart and thoughts go out to all in Brussels and in the EU.
Glad to be back in country and state and looking forward to more visits at the diner.
Keeping busy getting the railroad rolling again; a good feeling. Hope everybody is doing well since I was not able to keep up with the posts.
YGW - sent you a PM.
All the best.
Reinhard
Joe F
Let me offer a cautionary word, that while it's fine to offer thoughts, sympathies, and prayers on the occasion of the Brussels attacks, let's be careful to not get into the religion and politics behind them.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com