Half an hour ago, a truck drove into a group of people attending the traditional Christmas market near the Memorial Church on Kurfürstendamm in Berlin, killing 9 and severely injuring over 50 people. The death toll is expecting to increase throughout the night.
This was not an accident, but the cowardly act of a terrorist who came to seek shelter and refuge in our country.
My prayers go out to those who were killed or injured, and to their relatives.
Good Afternoon, Diners
Flo, I've only enough time for a cup of boiler-wash java—straight. Thanks!
yougottawanta the Hooby Barn stalled.
YGW, I'm sure it was a typo but I like the name, it should stick as the moniker for your building. "I'm going out to the HOOBY Barn to play with trains".
KEN! I have NO idea WHAT could have happened to your package??? I see the tracking information has not been updated since the "interception". I hope you have time to get to the P.O. and straighten it out. I hope they didn't destroy the contents!
Ulrich,
Glad to hear from you but I sure wish you had better news, and your post was just before the nasty truck attack in Berlin just a little while ago!! I see the parallels you speak of— No one deserves to live in fear. How sad.
Thanks for the neat card featuring your layout!
MoeLarry, nice brush with fame. Morgan Freeman is someone I'd love to sit and chat with.
AngeloBob, I sing the Green Acres theme song every time I get on my tractor!
I'll try to stop-by later,
Best Wishes for a safe and happy day!
Ed
Good afternoon. Frigid in Michigan.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Afternoon Diners,
I couldn't wait until after Christmas to buy a book. Its a 16 year old book that features the Carolina Central layout called N Scale Model Railroading Getting Started in the Hobby.
I also got my sister a movie Return to Green Acres since she loves the tv show. To bad they didn't release season 4-6? I'm stay waiting for future Petticoat Junction seasons.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Good after noon/ morning.
brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Beach Bill: It is a local guy named Lucios Spiller he puts on a great show.
Keb is great, somewhere I have a picture of me and Keb back stage. Met him a Bonnie Rait concert he was the suprise guest for Bonnie's birthday.
Here is a picture of me and BB
Me and Buddy Guy
Morgan Freeman at Ground Zero Blues Club.
Hey all
The w**k week just got a LOT busier ! Two things happened. Our sales agent sold another home ! It is amazing turn around since the election we went from before the elEction, predicting a recession in our industry this coming year to a sales boom ! The contract has been released for yet another home and I am to start as soon as possible.
Second reason and one that I am very thankful for our company given us off the entire Christmas and New year - with pay ! Hurray! So now I have to do a lot of adjusting schedule wise, make arrangements with vendors and other folks to have things covered while I am off. The site has to keep moving. I will wor remotely via phone as much as possible.
Train Front : Last week due to bad weather and my being overly busy at w**k the Hooby Barn stalled. I had a conversation with the concrete/Excavation company. The plan is to make the necassary adjustments and then pour ftgs by Wednesday and pour walls on Friday. Monday start framing.
When I come up for air I will pop back in read the post and generally say hi to all. I scanned through them.
Havent seen Ulrich and I sent him an email which he has not responded to. Has anyone heard from him ?
Difference of opinion leads to inquiry, and inquiry to the truth.
Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle. The real extent of this state of misinformation is known only to those who are in situations to confront facts within their knowledge with the lies of the day.
Tyranny is defined as that which is legal for the government but illegal for the citizenry.
YGW
Good Afternoon!
I finally made - I got through!
My Internet service has been quite intermittent the past week, and it has been a hot or miss game to be able to post anything or even answer an email.
The service seems to be back now, but I still wonder for how long. I do not have received any explanation for the down times, so it could be a political thing.
Situation is this country is getting worse and I am quite sure that the holidays ahead will be the last ones in freedom and peace. Legislation is preparing strict laws curtailing freedom of opinion and speech, the introduction of censorship and other nice laws which have a direct link to the times of the Third Reich, only this time with a red instead of a brown color.
As I said before it´s time for us to pack up. Prep work for an orderly retreat have commenced, although I have not been able to make much progress. It all boils down to find a country and a place for us to live in freedom and peace.
A few days early, but I don´t know for how long I will be able to stay online ...
Weather wise it hit -2 below with a wind that gusted to just over 50--I won't say it was cold, but I noticed most of the seagulls were in the lee of the rocks crowded around small fires.
We had one winter shrimp season it went to -41 below, that fall I put white oak ice sheathing on the boat, made it look like crap unpainted, but the first day I left the harbor running through 1/2 inch ice I really didn't care.
I cut a gash just over 7 feet out of the bow of another boat I owned when I ran it into 2 inch ice. I was doing ok with the water coming in, until the Tug Kennebec came to break me out. The boat drifted away from the ice leaving a gash just over 14 feet long, 1 1/2 inches wide. Some of the crew on the tug had thought to bring some canvas and plywood and while I was unbolting my electronics and throwing it onto the deck of the tug they were down forward plugging the cut.
I ended up at Bath Iron Works under #6 crane- there was a large brass "D" on the bow of the boat that they hooked into and lifted the bow enough to slap on a plywood patch. I had contracted to tow a pleasure boat that had been brought in by rail to the shipyard down to another yard here on the Island to have all the finish work done. I finished the tow, and then had to have my boat hauled and have 18 planks replaced, nine on each side. Went behind over 2000.00 on that trip. My last boat was sheathed with 1/4" tefflon 12 inches above the waterline, to below the turn of the bilge. (3 feet) No--I don't much like winter.
Have started building some high tension towers for powerlines from kits, should be intersting.
Time to bank the fire and turn in--prayers for those in need, hope all can say warm.
herrinchoker
Good evening.
We are on our trip and I am posting with the iPhone.
Richard. .. glad you have family visiting with you.
Ed ... You commented in WPF about Burlington E units. You said you preferred models with sides plated to look like stainless steel instead of just painted . Actually either way would be correct. EMD delivered E7's, E8's, and E9's new with the entire unit painted aluminum. In later years, Burlington replaced the sides on about half of the units with stainless steel. The exceptions were the E5's which were entirely stainless steel.
Everybody. .. have a nice evening
Life in the house just got a little more exciting--my son and his family have arrived for Christmas and will be here for the next 2+ weeks. His family is made of a wife and six children, the oldest of whom is eight years old (the children, not the wife). Did I mention it includes twins two year olds? It is going to be fun. I will need a vacation after my vacation.
Richard
Good evening all.
Chloe - A slice of apple pie with a scoop (or two ) of ice cream please. Thanks.
Weather - Rain last night turned into snow today, making a nice skating rink style driving condition today. More snow tonight, before sunshine tomorrow. Just need it to warm up to melt all the ice now!
W**k - Sold a few things today, but the big sale, he wouldn't pull the trigger. Hoping he comes back tomorrow..... He wanted the big snow thrower, which we are out of, but can order. Trouble is, it is our best seller, and the longer he waits, the further out his order gets pushed.... And it is already on back order until the second Thursday of January!
Other w**k news - Got a surprise check yesterday from a former employer, seems they were told they owed me a months worth of salary.... And, no, not by me! Seems that a federal judge disliked something they did, although I never experienced it.... But the judge ruled that everyone who worked there during that time gets a check, the longer they were employed, the more the check, although it is not enough for the stunt they did pull with me... Either way, I will take it!
Other news - Our local newscast had the story that defined Irony - One of the local firefighter training facilities held an impromptu training session this afternoon.... When it caught fire.... Seems when the mornings training session was over, the crew they were training left a hot-spot, which then rekindled and burned the entire interior, and the roof, to nothing. The concrete shell is the only thing left.... Oops!
Yep - That defined Irony all right!
Hope all are well, and all have a good night!
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.
Evenin' folks!
Janie, I could use a nice hot cup of decaf right now, please...
Had a nice long post allwritten up earlier this afternoon, hit "Submit Your Reply" and it disapeared into outer cyberspace never to be seen again.
I was going to tell you about the Santa Trains out at the Museum yesterday. All trains were soldout except for the last one of the evening. Weather held out except for the then melting and very slippery icy spots... The crews got a large amount of salt up to the "North Pole" so Santa and the visitors could move around a bit more safely.
Today was "Pageant Sunday" at church when the Sunday School gives the Christmas Story during the service. Granddaughter #1 was one of the Sheperdesses and Granddaughter #2 was Mary.... The whole pageant was well done and after the service was the Plum Pudding Feast.... I then went over to their house for Supper.
Ah V8 old car guy, 69°F outside is NOT conducive to a "cold wind".... LOL Currently 20°F here in the Finger Lakes on its way down to 15°F tonight. That is fairly nice weather around here this time of year. I'd still rather live here than where you do! We have 4 seasons here in NYS.... Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and Road Repair!
Have a safe and comfortable night wherever you are!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Evening Diners
Flo, Ed will have a Crown Royal on the rocks and I will have a
It is cold here for the Midwest at 5 degrees. While not usual still not welcomed either.
Frozen Work Front. One of the furances at worked died and the company we use could not find the needed 30 year old part. When I got to work today the store was a whole 51 degrees, when I left it was up to a while 59 degrees! Going to call my furances guy Monday and see what he can do. 59 degrees is great for cutting grass! Not so much for selling mattress.
Der Thanks for the links! What do you call the simley faces anyway? Photo Bucket does not like my old computer much.
Ed this is what I found on the USPS site.
Commercial online USPS Package Intercept requests have three redirect options:
All USPS Package Intercept mailpieces requested at the Post Office are redirected back to the mailer.
Link if you have not all ready read it. Guessing you used a old box like I do. If there was a old bar code that could have caused the problem.
I will call my local Post Offices and see what they say. With luck I can pick it up before work and burn the Card Board to stay warm at work!
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Hi all,
Working throughout the weekend again, oh yay. I'm looking forward to having Christmas eve and Christmas off as I'll be away Friday to Sunday night.
I ran a train for about an hour at my club's open house. Just a BLI K4 and 11-cars. I picked my more durable easy to run models for the train to avoid embarrassing derailments and other problems.
Alvie
Der What site did you get the snow plow scene from? First time I cracked a smile all day!
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
I finally found what stock car I had. I think I told you it was 8 panel stock car (4 on each side) decorated in GN blue. The manufacturer is Model Power/LIMA. It always confused me because it wasn't Life-Like, Bachmann, Trix.
Train News: I received my NYC HW Coach with a package of lightweight trucks. The trucks fit but now I got to trim a lot excess plastic. The trucks are touching the underframes making the wheels barely touching the rails.
moelarrycurly4 It has been a good three days away from everything. tonight we go see one of our favorite blues players in Clarksdale MS.
It has been a good three days away from everything. tonight we go see one of our favorite blues players in Clarksdale MS.
Moe: Who was that you went to see? We went up to Wilmington (NC) not that long ago to see Keb' Mo' and enjoyed every minute. Curtis Salgado was playing on the CD in the train room the last time I ran trains.
It is supposed to get above 70 degrees here at the beach today, but the sun is still having a bit of trouble burning off the morning fog. Seems like a good time to watch some of that Bears game played in the deep freeze.
Bill
Lion:
How's the leg doing? Got subway fever yet?!?
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Join the LION in a Sticky Bun. We also got eggs and beef sausage, and some milque.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
cudaken Ed If you are watching the tracking of the package it seems you told them to send it back to you?
I saw that!
I thought by intercepted was that you raced after the truck and pulled the package out of the back!
I didn't request anything, I don't know what gives?
USPS, a Government agency... What could go wrong???
Sure sorry about the delay, though. Whatever happened to
"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"
Ya' just never know...
Regards, Ed
Flo, Ed and I will have a .
I hate this time a year! I love the sprit of it but this time sucks rail spikes when it comes to the old paycheck! Even when I was in the Auto Body bussines it got sloooooow so the old paycheck stunk. I only remember maybe 6 Chistmass where money was not tight and I could give what I wanted, not what I could afford.
Little Worried About Ulrich You out there buddy?
Lonney It would be nice to have a grand child to enjoy the trains with. But, that will never happen.
Ed If you are watching the tracking of the package it seems you told them to send it back to you?
"This item has been intercepted on December 17, 2016 at 9:23 am in MARYVILLE, IL 62062 and redirected as requested by the sender."
Not sure what it means, but I did not get the Christmass gift. I wonder if the Post Master is giving them a test run, he is all so a train guy. Should have told him I had trains coming the other day.
On the MR front. I went to my club'so holiday show today with a K4 and a very short train, fit into one A-Line box. The K4 had a TCS-Wow installed the other day by yours truly. Two things, I wish it had Keep-Alive, which I'll add eventually. Next, I don't know what I did wrong but the wiring work, or something, has made the locomotives front two drivers barely touch the track, so I'll play around with it and get it to level out. It made running a nightmare as it would stop, and start frequently going down the track. Plus running like a jack rabbit here and there as well. Plus derailment. Never had such a frustrating time running a train on the club layout.
I didn't have tools to fix it, so another club member let me run a train they had on hand. Going back tomorrow with another train, and different loco.
.. maybe someone else can chime in?
Good morning
It was 45 yeaterday and today it is 70, tonight temps drop into the teens very quickly. we head home tomorrow in the bitter cold and possible ice on road, ( will watch for weather updates. )
Good morning all.
Flo - You work on Saturday now, too? Ok, well, you're right, someone has to do it. I will have the blue plate breakfast special, with eggs, bacon, whole wheat toast, and a OJ please. Thanks.
Lonnie - Welcome to the diner! Nice that your son is into trains as well.
Weather - Ice storm has affected us here as well, though not as bad as other places. We got just a glazing so far, but it is currently 31 and raining, so.... At least we are warmer today, Thusday's high was a whopping 18, yesterday we hit 22, with lots of wind both days, compared to today's current of 31. That is supposed to change to just above freezing, before falling again tonight. Then more snow on top of the glaze of ice the next two days, going back down to teens on Monday.... Of course with wind and snow... Does it come any different this year?
W**k - Our 17* snow throwers finally came yesterday afternoon, the truck got way layer in NY state due to the snowstorm. (17* - should have been 18, but a NY state store called us, they found they accidentally had one of our snow throwers... Oops.) Go in later this afternoon to close, expecting to sell and load a few more snow throwers....
Hope all are well, and all enjoy the day!
Coffee and 2 eggs over easy
Lonnie great story.
My barber shop was almost empty on Thursday afternoon. The owner has a lot of medical problems, and really struggles just to walk around. Maybe that has turned his customers off. It used to be much busier. The busiest barber shop I ever used; it turned out they were selling steroids and cocaine. All the barbers were young guys with huge muscles and they had a gym in the basement.
Terrible wreck last night in Baltimore with the ice storm. Mostly it is a bridge through south Baltimore and when they started wrecking a tractor trailer tanker went off the bridge and exploded. It was captured on cell phone so you will see it on the evening news tonight. 40 vehicles involved.
We are celebrating Christmas tomorrow because one of my sons will be in California with his girl friends family. Venison lasagna is on the menu.
Y'all be safe out there.
PS Last Christmas train weekend at Chama. The got everything shoveled out yesterday and got more snow last night. I have not seen any more deer for the last 6 weeks. http://coloradonewmexicosteamtrain.org/camera-portal-horizontal.htm
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Good morning to all. No railfanning again this weekend. Got up this morning to around a quarter inch of solid ice. I wouldn't even try to get to the garage, let alone go anywhere. I've been fighting a terrible cold for about a week, so it probably wouldn't be a good idea to go out. I did go to the barber shop yesterday. Spent over 2 hours waiting for my turn. Very crowded he was. I did notice everyone that was waiting when I got there, and who came in after me, not one was under 75. As I was sitting there, I thought we all looked like we were waiting for the last bus to the cemetary. Nobody was smiling, talking or even look like they were interested in anything. So I listened to some old time radio & my music from the 50s & 60s on my IPhone to pass time. I just thought it was a sad scene.
I will try to get the Christmas tree put up today. It's not one of my favorite chores, but you gotta have a tree, right? Otherwise, it just wouldn't be the same. I often wonder how my Mom & Dad did it when I was younger. When my sister & I went to bed on Christmas Eve, there wasn't a tree or gifts to be seen, Santa Claus did all that, so on Christmas morning, there it was, a beautiful tree with all those gifts underneath. What a wonder. I doubt my parents got an hours sleep.
Things are coming along with my new laptop & Windows 10. Windows 10 seems to have everything I used in Windows 7, MicroSoft just managed to find a way to hide it or bury it. Kind of frustrating in a way. But I'll get use to it I hope.
Looking back over this post, it seems like a real downer. Sorry. I didn't intend to make things so gloomy. I'll just blame it on this cold & let it go at that. Have a great weekend. Stay warm & safe.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
Good morming, everybody.
Lonnie .... Welcome to the Diner. .... Sounds like your 5-year-old is on the right track.
Ray ... Interesting about your getting air for the tires. It is annoying some gas stations charge money so you can self serve air for tires. Sonsors in cars can be annoying too especually when they have false readings.
We're leaving for our Christmas trip later todya weather permitting. ... We'll go to Cincinnati, Detorit, and Grand Rapids before returning here in western KY in about 10 days. .... Not much computer time for me until after Chrostmas. ... I'll check in via I-Phone when I get a chance.
Merry Christmas.
Good morning all. Proud parent moment for today. Saturday mornings my 5 y/o and I have base (ment) days while mom gets a little extra sleep.
"Hey buddy, what do you want to watch on TV this AM?"
"Nothing dad. I want to play trains in the train room..."
And for those that don't know, when you run trains with a 5 y/o, EVERY loco has sound. lol
All of you mentioning the Polar Vortex prompts me to mention this little weather tidbit: As I type this, it is 8 below heading for a low of 24 below. High on Saturday of 10 below with a low of 18 below. Not expected to get back above zero until Sunday with a high of 18 (above).
Hobby Front: Finally got the newest members of my engine fleet (the two U25Cs) on the test track this morning. After a little bit of coaxing, one of the engines took off very well. The other one appears to need some help. (Considering they are somewhere around the same age I am, that's not a big surprise.) I will need to disassemble it to get into the trucks to check lubrication and such and maybe check the wiring while I'm at it. Some of the detail parts (plows and coupler screws) are expected Monday according to the tracking and the others parts (the couplers themselves) show as in pre-shipment. It's not like I don't have other projects I can work on while I'm waiting for those parts.
I think I have the needed decals figured out. Turns out I didn't need the caboose set that I ordered. (I think I will use it later to make a BN bay window caboose. That's about the only type of BN caboose I don't have. I've got enough engines that a few more cabooses wouldn't hurt anything.) All the decals that I need for the renumbering appear to be on the BN engine sheet. I will need to use the NP engine sheet to fix the striping on both as they are a little faint in a few areas and the vertical stripe on the back of the engine is completely missing.
The 45 is also in progess. I got one side glued on Monday but decided to let it dry solid before I would get other side changed as the cab was a bit flimsy without the support. I will also need to use part of the NP decal set to fix a curve that has come loose in the process of storage.