Today is supposed to set a record--the earliest day in the year to be over 115F. The temperature is forcasted to top out at 118F. I was out for my ride at 5:15am to try and beat the heat. It mostly worked. It was about 75F when I left and 85F when I got home at 7:30. 85-90F is my upper limit. I used to be able to handle up to 100F, but no longer.
Richard
JAMES MOONLion, neat signal lights. Are those more pieces of christmas lights? Or some other repurposed lights?
Ewe knead knot even ask... All of my LEDs (of Late) are of the Christmas variety.
These were so bright I had to put the visors on them to prevent excess light es
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Steve:
I look forward to the Rock Island branchline article; I love branch lines and branch line layouts. Maybe someday you'll be editing an article on mine!
Been a long hard week; and I am still fighting this respiratory crud. Had a consultant come in at work, and I had to be there.
YGW: Sorry to take so long. A rain wrapped tornado is hidden behind walls of torrential rain; can be very dangerous.
Time for a late night dish of chocolate ice cream and a glass of cold ice tea. It has been a busy week since my daughter and granddaughters moved in. I haven't had access to my computer until tonight as daughter is out of town visiting a friend and older granddaughter is visiting a college age friend and my youngest granddaughter is a play practice tonight. She has a dancing part in Oklahoma which is scheduled to open next weekend. This is a semiprofessional cast and my granddaughter's first part in an adult theater production. Pretty proud of her to have the courage at 13 to audition for and get cast in this production. The musical will be performed in the newly renovated 900 plus seat theater.
I basically missed the moving of the diner this month. I have had a little time to do a little track spiking this week. Need to glue down more ties and stain up another batch of ties.
Ricky, I empathize with your asthma issues. I have occassional ashthma attacks and it is no fun. Stores that spray scented products are really asking for liability problems. My wife raised the issue in one of the stores she was a manager in and they basically stopped the indiscremenant spraying of perfume near the escalators. Retail is a tough life and I admire you for pursuing it and being a top seller. It takes attention to the job to do what you are doing.
YGW, your thoughtful tribute to your father shows the importance all of us have as fathers in guiding the lives of those nearest to us. I will always miss my own father as he gave me my real love of fishing and outdoor living. Never go fishing without thinking about all the good times we had fishing together. Read in the WSJ that the average new home construction now averages over 2,400 sq. ft. I guess that is why you must be doing lots of new models. Not sure why people need that much space but I did a 7,000 sq. ft. house and thought it was a lot of wasted space and oversized rooms. I sure would not have wanted to furnish the monstrosity.
Ken, sounds like the yard wars are progressing. Not surprised at your experiece on the patio table.
Lion, neat signal lights. Are those more pieces of christmas lights? Or some other repurposed lights?
Wife just left to pick up granddaugher from play practice so the computer room is about to revert back to a bedroom, again.
Go Penguins! Am enjoying the Stanley Cup finals.
Jim
Evening Dinners
Flo, Blow Out Plater and a please.
Nothing intresting at work today.I am going to have to start looking for either a new job or a second job. My income is going straight down the coal shut!
yougottawantaIf you want a better price find a lone guy who install fences.
YGW I may try that, but I wonder if single person will take a charge card? Guess I could get a cash advances but I would pay out the caboose depending on the amount. Now if someone would do it for $900.00 I take it! Last bid was $2500.00, don't think so! Plus it was pressured treated wood and not ceader like the $2600.00 bid. I have Home Depot coming out this Thursday, we will see what they say. E-Mailed the Zoing Inspector and told him what I was doing and he is working with me. For a Zoing Inspector he is a OK guy.
How much do you folks think it would cost to have a 35 foot tall tree removed?
Ulrich and others, I have many reason I blame this mess on my wife. Yes, she did not make the tress and plants grow. But on the other hand she did not want me to trim the bushes and vines! She did not want anyone to see her when she was outside? She never has had anything to be ashamed about when it came to looks or weight! But that is the reason I am looking at a 7 foot tall fence.
Main reason is like I stated before. I told her what would happen if she called aminal contol on Tony. Told her "he will call zoning Sue". She could have walked Sparkie The Rocket Dog in the back yard, but Nooooo, Sparkie wants to walk in the front yard!
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Good evening everyone,
Wishing all here are doing well. I'm at work until 11pm tonight, and go back first thing in the morning. I came in at 2pm instead of 3pm as my coworker needed to leave early.
I put together some of the Sergent couplers and I'll write a separate post on the main forum discussing how that's going, plus initial impressions and go from there.
Alvie
LIONS build from scratch.
Scratches are all that a LION has to work with.
Would you like some?
Lion - Wow did you build it from scratch or parts ? Either way pretty amazing. ROTF - "McBeasts!"
yougottawantaLion - Would that then be called a "McWildebeast" ? Surprise What is the post to the left of the yard engine with all of the wires ?
McBeasts! : )
You are looking at the rear of a NYCT type signal. I need to apply some black modeling clay to the back of the signal to hide the wires and obsucre light leaking from the LEDs.
Here is a finished signal.
Hey all
My time in here will be getting more limited for a few months. Construction season is in full swing here. The palce looks like several ant hills stirred up. Men and equipment, supplies, delivery trucks....all over the place. Several houses we are starting trades in and to make matters more difficult several units are proto types. WhIch means massive amount of extra time working out thE difficulties....Mowed over half of the yard last night, Mowed until 10:30. Will almost finish the rest tonight.
Lion - Would that then be called a "McWildebeast" ? What is the post to the left of the yard engine with all of the wires ?
Garry - It is amazing how fast they grow up ! What I cannot get over somethimes is the grandchildren are in mid thirties and having children ! How did they get that old ? What does that say about my age ??? Older than a bag of rocks !?
JaBear - It is winter there ? Oh please bag some of that cool air and ship it here ! Does "mince meat" mean ground beef ?
Ulrich - Glad you like the bear picture. Momma was MUCH BIGGER. She was so big I was stunned and she disappeared before I could get a snap shopt of her. In another area we saw a very small cub. Made me VERY NERVOUS I started back tracking looking for Momma. Never want to come between Momma and her cub! The video was amazing. That is some insane detailing !
Mr. B - How long did it take your shoulder to heal ? I fell late last year and my shoulder finally finished healing last month.
Douglas - Please pop in more often ! Your "stirred not shaken" qoute made me smile. It reminded me of my late wife. That was a line from Sean and 007. She used to giggle when he said that in the movie. LOL I have never heard "green out of your grass " Like that one !
Ken - I make it a point of trying to NEVER taking my wife or my three daughters shopping at least most of the time ! This past weekend I went to tractor supply to get a part for the weed eater - had my girls with me - I came out $250 dolars lighter in my wallet and WITH OUT the part I went in to get !!!
Richard - Did the meat taste the same there ?
Steve - LOL Yep most cows are bigger than 4'
UP831 - Welcome to my world - the spanish have this word that sounds like this "Min yawn ah", have no clue how to spell it BUT it means "tomorrow". When I am discussing trying to get something done today this is not a good word !
Angel - that is a pain !
Ricky - I am amazed at the self control you show
Jeremy - How is the foot - hope to hear from you. Hopefully the infection didnt travel all the way to your heart !
DER - Where are you - miss you - sent you an email
Reinhard - Hope all is well in your world !
Flip - Recieved some of your emails but for some reason they have been going to my spam folder ??? Keep cominhg
Howmus - Howdy
No model RR this week end. We will be celebrating my fathers 80 birthday !!! I have to take a second and brag on my father. I am so proud of him. He was born in Appalachia and only had a third grade education. Through hard work, Gods providence and some common sense he is now worth a million. Not bad for a poor farmers son He also taught me how to be a man. My mother passed away when I was 16. She was sick for 8 years that I remember. He took care of her, stood by her, loved her, provided for her....the day she died he balled his heart out. One of the very few times I have seen him cry. When my wife became ill and no matter how late it was and I needed help ( emergency type help ) he and my step mom were there. There were some very bad nights that we endured. I remember him sitting with me in an ER one night , just me and him while my wife lay struggling for her life fighting the cancer. He said to me "son, it doesnt look good, does it" then he cried because he loved his daughter in law. I think that was the last time I saw him show that deep of an emotion. I could write several novels on all of the great things I have learned from him and watched him do, endure, persevere, succeed at.... I have been greatly blessed and enriched by my father. If this is the only thing God blessed me with is a wonderful dad then my life I would consider fulfilled.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I will TTYL
YGW
Good morning ...
Douglas ... Nice to see you again.
McDonalds...... I recall we ate at one in Spain, and it wa not very good. I won't try one again if overseas. ... We use McDonalds when we are on road trips. I would rather eat an Egg McMuffin than a McD burger.
Our oldest granddaughter is having her 15th birthday today. Amazing.
Happy Model Railroading
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
When McD's serves wildebeest on a bun, then I'll come.
BK is better, better yet is a Ribeye at the Longhorn. not fast, but at least it is grood.
RideOnRoadI remember two things. First, the bun was more like a bakery roll than what I was used to in an American McDonalds. It was amazing. The french fries (pommes frittes) were not as good as their American counterparts.
Now it´s the other way around - the fries are OK and the buns, well, I don´t like them, but I don´t like McD.´s anyway.
Good Morning!
The night was bad - I must have overdone it yesterday. The pain is back full throttle. That sucks!
I will keep a low profile today!
howmusJust got an email from my DIL asking for my help. Seems she just found out her sore shoulder trouble is a torn rotator cuff. two tears, one major and one minor. She may also have a bone spur, too. She will have surgery on June 14 and since my son and his MIL work, she will need help taking the girls to their activities for anout 8 weeks while the shoulder heals (she won't be able to drive during that time).
Been there, done that. It was not fun. I did mine skiing. It was about 20 years ago. It took a long time to heal. I was told not to play hockey for 6 months, but after a couple of months I was more or less OK for everything else. I was driving within a week. I'd imagine today's techniques are a lot better than when I had it done.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
HELLO RAILFANS!!
Been a mighty long time since i parked my caboose in a booth, so gather round, Flo - I could use a Pepsi no ice (stirred not shaken), and I see if I can amuse yall for a while.
First off I hope everyone is doing ok. Hope i havent missed too much calamity in my absense. I myself have kept somewhat busy. Unfortunately on the railroad front.... nothing more than a glance left, right, repeat, at a grade crossing and thats it. The busy part hasnt been the hobby unfortunately.
Matter of fact, im kinda scratching the ole noodle trying to remember when the last time i did anything concerning the hobby. Last report I had moved to the boonies of western Nawth Cacka-Lacky, and was gonna keep time on the Blue Ridge Southern. Wasnt long before the 'new job' pulled the air on that idea!
Now its weekdays in Charlotte, wkends in Canton. As a bonus i get a somewhat tenuous commute to go along with it. We all know there arent enough days in the weekend so betwixt the chores, tasks, responsibilities.... who the heck has time to railfan??? Anyone else see something wrong with this picture or am I the only selfish one towards railfanning?
Dont get me wrong, I happen to be boarding within earshot of a Norfolk Southern main, AND another shortline in Charlotte. Only two miles from an Amtrak station, so not all is bad as long as my hearing holds out. If I was hankering too, it wouldnt be much to amble on down to the station and take me a gander of what Amtrak calls the 'Crescent' now a days.
Being here has given me the opportunity to get a website going. If I could get more than ten minutes a month to work on it, it would be shweet! I finally have a place to host pictures and videos. Not to mention I dont have to carry a laptop around with me now to access my personal stuff concerning the hobby.
For instance, Im at a trainshow. I come across a model I would like but due to old age and the wonderful memory problems associated therewith, I cant remember if I have it already. One quick clickity-click click click on the mobile cup-n-string device and I have the answer.
If Im at a historical event, need some info because once again my swizzle stick just aint stirring the martini... quick click and Im perusing thru my personal library. No Google, No EBay, and NO ADS! (biggest pleasure!). Yeah, I know. It isnt the hobby we know and love exactly, but its the only time i can devote to the hobby even if its not touching a model. I have my hands on a keyboard all day.
I figure I will get there one day eventually. Im still not in a place conducive to building any kind of layout. And the railfanning is on a low back burner. I tell ya folks, its almost enough to take the green off your grass!
I spose the most important thing we have is our health. Im doing fine in this arena and hope all of you are the same or better. This last year sure has been a long drawn out year.
Like i said i can host pics and vids now so you might be seeing some of those soon. Just remember, I am lousy at photograpghy. Just plain lousy! So I will appologize now if i offend any shutterbugs among us. Hints, Tips, and help in this arena is always appreciated!
Folks I spose thats pretty much it in a nutshell. Again, sure have missed coming in more often. I will see yall soon as I can.
Your Friend,
Douglas
Thanks for the Help, RideOnRoad.
ATSFGuy. . .I'm not sure how to upload photos to this message board, I tried dragging them from file explorer, but when I submitted the topic they disappeared. I have never really tried cut and paste before so I am unsure how that works.
There is no way to upload photos directly to the forum. The only option is to post a link to the photo that has been uploaded elsewhere, for example PhotoBucket. Here is a link to the thread discussing posting photos.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/249194.aspx
Flo, please.
Just a quick post just to let you all know I am OK. Took Sue to lowe's so I could return a $7.00 paint brush I did not need. Walked out with a $118.00 4 foot round wrought iron patio table for Sue. That will teach me to take her to Lowe's with me! Well, it was my idea and she was shocked when she saw me come back with it.
It took me all most a hour to build it, and lets just say you get what you pay for. Soon as I got it togather, a weld broke and I had to zip-lock a leg on.
Pole Saw from Harbour Freight. Two faults I can find. 1 I had to assamble it? That was a pain in the caboose but it works good! 2 My branches are two tall! Well not the fault of the saw! Had to use my step ladder to get to some of the dead wood.
Afternoon all:
Here are some diecast cars I have displayed on my club layout
No photos, just descriptions
MBX GMC Wrecker
JL 1948 Tucker Torpedo
MBX Dune Buggy
HW 1959 Cadillac
JL VW Panel Van
MBX 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Hardtop (Carhenge Promo)
(Still looking for this one)
What do you guys think?, any of you have models like this on your layout?
I'm not sure how to upload photos to this message board, I tried dragging them from file explorer, but when I submitted the topic they disappeared. I have never really tried cut and paste before so I am unsure how that works.
Ulrich: I was in Hamburg in 1977 as a student and ate at a McDonalds. I remember two things. First, the bun was more like a bakery roll than what I was used to in an American McDonalds. It was amazing. The french fries (pommes frittes) were not as good as their American counterparts.
BroadwayLion Monks are not supposed to eat the flesh of four foot animals, but the last time a looked, hamburgers do not have any feet.
Monks are not supposed to eat the flesh of four foot animals, but the last time a looked, hamburgers do not have any feet.
If anyone complains, point out that cows are much, much bigger than four feet.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
up831I ordered a hamburger at a food place and got a weird reaction.
Hamburger were largely unknown in Germany until the mid-1970´s. The first "Golden M" restaurant started in 1971 in Munich and it took a few years to spread across the country. McD.´s was for a number of years the only place you could order a hamburger, so a weird reaction when ordering it outside of one of their places was quite normal
Recently, hamburgers are on the retreat in the fast food market, replaced by "healthier" food. It´s strange, though, that KFC, Pizza Hut and others, aside from Burger King, never really caught on here.
The most popular fast food in Germany since 1949 and still going strong is "Curry Wurst" - what that is you can look up here.
Good Afternoon Diners,
Flo, coffee with lots of cream, please.
Ya know, some days just go wrong.
Day started out ok. Met with the rep for the custom cabinet line we are becoming a dealer for. I'm excited about that.
Then.......a client calls about a panel he has needed to finish his project. The van isn't here so we can't get it now, and I promised this guy the van would be back first thing this morning and we'd get the panel to him. Well, the van arrives an hour later. i explain to our person driving down to the warehouse exactly what to pick up, with accompanying paperwork. He was talking about some cabinets he was to pick up to assemble for a different client. Next thing I know, he's off in the van and left the paperwork I gave him on the counter. I run out to catch him and say come back. He says tomorrow morning. I say, "no,now!" He says, "I come back tomorrow morning." At that point, ya just walk away. This is costing my client money by having employees doing nothing because we can't or won't deliver the goods when needed. Grrrrrrrr!!
Obviously I've left some details out, but you got the jest of it.
If president Kennedy had gone to Hamburg..... When he said, "Ich bin ein Berliner," he called himself a jelly donut! He should have said, "Ich bin Berliner."
i did the same thing in Frankfurt. I ordered a hamburger at a food place and got a weird reaction. It wasn't until 3 years later I found out what I'd done.
I hope everyone is ok and safe.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Afternoon Diners,
yougottawanta Angel - How did you function with out a phone ???
Angel - How did you function with out a phone ???
The same way everybody function before the invention of cell phones.
My decided to get my new phone last night. This morning was a different story. They say it's easy to more your same number to your new phone. Which provided to be difficult. I had to call to find out my account and pin number which I don't remember. (Long story short) With a lucky guess with my pin number I was able to keep my same number.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Afternoon diners.
Cloe, I will have a Barry burger, fries, and an iced mocha coffee, please..... Yes, it is one of those days... The heat and humidity is really beginning to bug my asthma. (There is another med I can go back on, but I really dislike the side effects of it.) Having the burger and fries, mainly because I know I should eat something... I just don't get that hungry when I am working harder to breathe than I should have to!
Weather: Yesturday we hit 88, high humidity, today we are forecasted to be around 85, very high humidity, with a chance of thunderstorms later. The storms last night woke me up, one loud thunderclap, and a ton of rain. (My dog made sure the thunderclap woke up all of us, as it startled him and he started barking.) If the humidity was a little lower, I could manage better. But between high pollen counts, and high humidity, I am not breathing as well as I should be.
W**k: Had to w**k on Monday and Tuesday, on Tues we had a couple of tux orders, they came for their appointments, but the unscheduled truck showed up at the same time... Cut my lunch short to help out. Was already having some asthma issues when a jerk customer took a body spray that we had for sale, opened it, and sprayed a ton of it to see what it smelled like... First, we have testers for a reason bud, second, they are below the counter for the reason that myself, and the store manager, both have breathing issues. One of the other managers will get the tester, and spray a small amount onto a card for that reason. You don't need to spray half the can into the air. Asthma has been really bad ever since.
Got called into w**k yesterday, as the one managers' grandmother was taken to the hospital, and was placed into ICU. She is not well at all. (93, they found her unconscious on the floor... Was unresponsive still last I heard.) The local hospital had to send her elsewhere, as the local hospital had zero beds outside of ER, and ER was almost full. (So, of course, I looked at the assistant manager and joked that I can't pass out, as there was nowhere to go! I Was then informed, that, if I did pass out, she would just kick me under the counter, and continue with customers until closing, as we were busy.)
While this was going on, a manager from my former w**kplace, the place that had gotten rid of me over asthma issues, came in, and when she saw me, started running her mouth off at the store and assistant manager. (She had assisted the store manager in my termination, so she is named in the EEOC case.) I refrained from jumping in, until I was asked, point blank, why I had not gotten fired here yet. I responded by only saying that the store manager here appreciates the w**k I do. The store manager then stated that if this individual was here only to cause a problem, she could leave. She was extremely irritated at this.
At close last night, I sat second in sales, and lead on one number set, getting already more this month than I had all of last month, with 9 versus 6 all of last month, and sit tied for third on the new account set goals, with 2, although one will most likely be lost again, as it is the same style as one that didn't count last week, with a old closed one being reactivated. We have already gone over where we needed to be on sales, for the week, so are doing very well as a store this week, as we still have Thursday through Saturday sales to add in. The problem, we will also be over on payroll, as sale set took more time than we were allotted. But, corporate had messed up the sale set file, and we were still moving things around last night. They (at corporate) flat out stated that the store and assistant managers were not allowed to go home until everything was set, as it is a big weekend sale. (I went home about 40 minutes prior to close, having w**ked an extra 6 hours and some odd minutes, with only a 10 minute break due to asthma issues, so had to get off the clock, as I hit the state maximum 6 hour mark with no lunch break, that I wasn't scheduled for originally. Bonus pay for me!)
Hobby front: Haven't really played with the airbrush this week, due to asthma issues, but will have to test some things either today or tomorrow, as I need to do a custom vase for a family members fiancè's bridal shower. (Someone else "volunteered" my services in this. Anyone have experience with doing anything glass? I am doing primer, then finish colors, then seal coat, but if anyone has any tips above this....) Fortunately, they haven't also "volunteered" my services (yet) as photog. (This family member also knows I have the equipment for that as well, and that I have assisted with wedding photography in the past. I am hoping they forgot that point though...) I have started on the car kits I had picked up in Jamestown, finishEd assembling two, getting the third together, having it about half finished. (Proper weight, Kadee's, and metal wheelsets for all, then detailing and weathering will follow.)
Hello to all, and hope all have a good day!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
So you think your layout is sufficiently detailed?
Well, take a look at this:
Been a very frustrating day. Started off with a very heated "discussion" with one of my venders who has been given a multi million dollar contract here and part of that contract states that he will manage the work. They are not managing the work. All kinds of things are going wrong because of his work not getting checked and verified it is completed. It got heated when he said he doesnt care about the contract and he wasnt going to discuss the contract ! WHAT ! The discussion went sharply down hill from there !
Howmus - I would have thought that saying was much older than Muhammad Ali ?
Mr. B - I dont think much of yard work either !
Richard - 30,000 miles ! That has got to be a record ! Guiness Book of world records maybe !
Lion - Oh geez you have me rolling on the floor ! With comments like " fare game", "Monastic lions", "Foul bird" enjoyed reading your comments !
Ulrich - Hmmm I didnt open the PDF. will look into that ! Hamburgers ? LOL !
Garry - Thanks about the comment - just wish there were some takers !
Alvie - You may get a chuckle out of this - while driving teh truck I stopped at a light and though - gee some tractor trailer trucks brakes are stuck I can smell them, next light I see some smoke float by and think that truck has to be close by ! Where is it, I start twisting and turning to see the truck, next light I see LOTS of smoke roll by and look in my side view mirror and to my alarm I see LOTS of smoke pouring out from my wheels ! It was ME that was smoking
V8 - LOL Happiest day of your life yto get your dentures back ? Oh my gosh that is too funny ! What about your first kiss ? Or your first child ?
UP831 - Baling hay is HARD w**k ! Man I used to have to stack the bales of hay in the top of the barn. It felt like it was 140 degrees in there !
Ken - What did that new fence company price look like ? If you want a better price find a lone guy who install fences. Places like Lowes, Long Fence comoanies subcontract there work to these guys and just add their cost and profit onto the fence guys prices who have cost and profit figured in too.
Gotta run County inps is on site. Please excuse typos and such no time to edit
TTYL