Yesterday was very busy. Out the door & on the way for breakfast befor 8:00am. Then grocery shopping. That was followed by a trip to the library, then shopping at different stores, then lunch, & then more errands. We got home in mid afternoon & that's when i got the biggie of the day done. All the outside Christmas lights & decorations taken down. It was in the mid 40s & just too good an opportunity to avoid freezing fingers to pass up. It was raining lightly, but not that much of am inconvenience.
Today is laundry, but I'll start taking down the inside decorations as well.
I'm starting to get a little more comfortable with Windows 10 on my new laptop. Got everything transferred over from the old laptop without any problems. I decided to keep the old laptop just for my railfanning photos, etc. But ran into a problem there. It's hard drive is too small to hold all my railfanning photos, so I may look into another external hard drive that will be dedicated just for that. It appears that they are available for under $100.00.
Have a great day & stay safe...
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4309
Discussion of guns (and especially gun laws, which falls under politics) is specifically forbidden under the rules of the Forums. Even here in the Diner.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Ken, the SS reflects my other paasion from a very young age. I have owned an original 1970 Camaro SS 396 for almost 32 years now. I bought it in 1985 and drove the wheels off it, raced it, re-painted it, re-built it twice (the engine 4 times) but now sadly, she just sits in the garage while I raise my 3 and 4 year old. I put a little less than 200 miles on her last summer. Damn shame right there!!
The work thing has been brutal the last 8 years. I been in the medical device manufacturing industry setting up and running 5 axis Haas cnc machines, but last december my company decided to pick up and move to ohio. I was there a little over 4 years and I loved the place. I then took a shot at another shop, much smaller and much less organized and lasted 8 months. Dude said he could no longer make payroll and I was out. I blame myself for that move, should have never made a hasty decision like that. Think I'll grab me some hi-octane and a jelly fill for the ride home.
Rich
Evening Diners
Flo, Ed will have a Crown Royal, give SS (Hope that is not a Super Sport Chevy thing being Cuda Ken) Richard and my self a .
Richard Well if the SS is a Chevy thing, I am fine with that. I like all HP cars, OK most of them. Sorry to hear about your dad, nice it got you into trains and you have some of his. Far as your job, what did you do? While I am working I have not had a good job for 10 years. Last year I made what I made in 1985? If it was still 1985 I be sitting pretty.
Big Daddy Hum While I am sure it is just in my head (I seemed overly hard wire in the brain to look for faces) I swear in the first photo (one on top) your Grandmother Desert looked pissed off and is going to eat my faces! Even has little claws! Looks great cut up (killed) and bet it taste great!
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Evening all!
Cool and rainy night, so I'll have a warm slice of cherry pie to help keep my spirits up.
I'm very familiar with the Cog Railway and Mt Washington, having visited the area yearly with the Boy Scouts for the past 40 years. I agree with Ulrich that something was lost when the Cog switched from steam to diesel. The first train of the day is still steam, but everything else is diesel. Meh.
One other thing Mt Washington is known for is unpredictable weather. A multitude of people have died over the years, and a significant number have been from exposure. A couple of years after I started going with the scouts, a bunch of us decided to climb Washington using the trail up Tuckerman Ravine. Around a dozen 12 - 17 year olds, accompanied by two college age adults. This is the first weekend in August, and when we start out it's sunny with temperatures in the high 70's - low 80's. By the time we get up to the bottom of the headwall (a several hundred foot expanse of bare rock) the summit is in the clouds. Not a biggie, as the summit is in the clouds >200 days a year. We get half way up the headwall and the temperature is dropping and it's starting to drizzle.
We get three quarters of the way up the headwall, and now we're getting freezing rain. Big question now is should we continue up where the temperature is most assuredly NOT going to get warmer, or try to go down over the already very slippery rock. Since any fall would most likely be fatal, the decision was made to continue up. By the time we reached the summit, there was 4 inches of snow on the ground. We were good scouts and followed the motto "Be Prepared", but there's a difference between preparing for rain and cool temperatures, and preparing for snow and ice. We didn't have $20 between the entire group, and back then college students didn't have credit cards. We were pretty miserable. Luckily the operators of the Cog took pity on us, and we caught the last train down of the day. Weather at the bottom...... Overcast, dry, with temperatures in the 60's. A memorable day in more ways than one.
Gentlemen, thanks for the invite and the condolences for my dad. He was a train buff since the 40's when he was a kid and got me hooked on the hobby at a young age. I got a phone call from the dispatch office on the HV basement line that a string of empty boxes needed to be sent back to the yard. I had to high tail it down the pike and open up the yard. So after that quickie, those Boston creams and a cup of hi-test sounds about right.......
Henry ... That sounds like it would taste very good.
Ulrich ... I know apple strudel is good . Yum !
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Afternoon Diners,
Henry- I'll have some of that Norwegian dessert.
SS Express- Nice to see a new face.
Weather has been cloudy lately, but no rain. We will see.
Since my railroading hobby is making no process. My mom decided to give me a loom knitting kit to make hats.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Made my grandmother's desert yesterday, there is enough for the whole diner. Gibanaci is what she called it, however it was only called that in a small section of Crotia. Serbian gibanici is much different. It is called potica in Poland and similar deserts can be found all the way to Norway. Mine is filled with walnut, but prunes (better than it sounds) and poppy seeds are also used.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Good afternoon all.
Flo - Wow, them BBQ ham sandwiches look and smell great, a nice extra sized helping, a side of fries, and a Coke please. Thanks.
Galaxy, YGW, Cudaken, Garry, and all others whom I have missed - Thanks for the well-wishes for me, and my family. It is noticed and appreciated.
CNCharlie - Good to hear the surgery went well. Now hoping for a full, quick, easy, complete recovery.
SS Express - to be he diner! Have Flo & the girls get you whatever you would like, my treat.
Family update - Well, somehow my uncle has managed to make it another day, though I really do not know how. His vitals still were falling, up until a brief reprieve late last night, so we are expecting "it" at any time now. For some reason, your vitals will ramp back up, shortly before everything stops functioning, and that is where he appears to be at now.
Weather - Warmer today, near 45, with rain showers off-and-on, but expected to fall back down to "winter-time" temps later this week.
W**k - Off today, but go in next two, for full shifts each day, and get to unload our appliance truck in the morning.... Hopefully my "hint" to the DC (Distribution Center) is remembered this time. I had to tell them that "Just like Clark, I don't wear my cape to work!" after the last truck. They had double stacked front-load washers, dryers, both gas and electric ranges, and had tripple stacked a chest freezer with two dishwashers... And I have to unload these by hand! Our store simply does not have power equipment, other than a hydraulic lift to get from ground level to truck level, and back. So, I am pulling from the truck by hand, then using the lift to get them down to ground level. I still have to unstack them somehow.... So, while I am using the lift, to lower them, I am then pulling the top one back into the truck to unstack them, but then have to bring the lift back up to pull from the truck again, this is extra moves, w**k, muscle power, and time, that we could be avoiding. There is more than enough room to unstack them before they load the truck, to load it single-stacked, and they have power equipment to do so. They need to be sending them single-stacked to my store. Double-stack the ones who have a fork-lift available, fine, but unstack for the rest of us.
Trains - Boy am I ready to start on something train-related, whatever scale it might be.... Now if I could only find enough time.....
Hope all are well, and 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.
Hello all
Happy New Year.
Train front - This Thursday we should be forming and inspecting the fdn walls to be poured either Thursday afternoon or Friday. Yesterday I went through the plans and made a very detailed count of all framing, windows, doors, hardware etc.. for the Hobby Barn. Then I emailed that list to my vender. Today I called him to review the list and verify that he understood the details. Should be getting the real cost today. Hope to be framing next week.
DER - How is Mrs. DER ? Hope she is home and doing well - saying a for both of you.
Ken - Thank you so much for posting the photos. I will ask around a w**k when I go back return.
Ricky W. - How is your uncle ?
Lonnie - The steam festival was that trains or farm equipment type stuff ? Either way sound like fun !
Ulrich - Some good resolutions. Like your first one very much. Shame they have repalce teh Steam. I am with you I like the diesals much better. It is very interesting how German and American cars and locos are built so differently. I find that very fascinating. Same purpose, same princples etc...but put together differently.
Tom - If you cant get out You Tube has some wonderful rail fan videos you can actually watch some live !
ROR - What makes that place so windy ?
Bill - Sent you a PM. Love black eyed peas !!! Maybe that is why last year was so tough on us. We didnt eat any for the new year !
V8 - Did the law change there ?
Howmus - You are always talking about your solar power. I watched some videos this weekend on you tube where people have taken washing machine motors and alternaters and hooked them up to creeks or windmills and generated power for there houses ! Maybe you should research that too ?
Angel - Why are you having a hard time design a RR with New York central ?
CN Charlie - Hope you heal up and your health returns. I know what you meant about the catheter. I WAS SO GLAD when they took the tube out of my chest !
Rich - So glad you took us up on the invite. Hope you decide to stick around. Flo the cup of Joe is on me and I will even cover his : ) Sorry for the loss of the job and your Dad. that is tough double hit. Hope you find emplyment soon and I think it wonderful you are completing your fathers projects very nice.
Today I am going to skip the history qoutes for one day instead I am going to share some lessons learned as I battled the cancer with my late wife:
1) You should eat desert first. You never know if you will be around for the main course
2) Doctors dont know everything
3) If you dont want to you dont have to. There were times when the hospital wanted us to wait for the stupid wheel chair ride out at the end of treatment. They took to long so we left. Nothing they could do abot it
4) We are all terminal. No one leaves this world pulling a Uhaul behind them.
5) Because we are all terminal. Enjoy the trip. Its not about surviving the storm but learning to dance in the rain
6) Spend time with the ones you Love. Always say I am sorry and I value you.
7) Anger and resentment are destructive time wasters. Why use up God given seconds wasting time being angry and bitter when you can use that time to enjoy the good things
8) I found that no matter how bad things got and there were some really, really, really rough times - God loved me so much that he still was there for me when it was bad. He sent peopel to lift us up, he sent people to help us out, he sent people who gave resources ( time, money, prayers etc..) to help us out in our most desperate hours
9) Each day is like a chapter in a book. One can write a book on each day.
10) When leaving someone always say - I love you - not for you, but for them. It is the greatest gift you can leave someone with.
11) Time is one of the most precious commidities. Once gone it is not recoverable. Use it wisely.
TTYL
YGW
Mike - Were you able to get your sons furnace up and running ?
Good Afternoon!
I think I´ll have some of that apple strudel Flo is hiding under the counter, please. I don´t mind having a generous helping of warm and thick custard poured over it!
It´s been a cold, but mainly sunny day here. Winter has not yet decided to come back after its short stopover at the beginning of November. Well, Winter has just begun, so I guess we will be in for some surprises this year!
Saw a few deer grazing on the meadow behind our house, thoroughly enjoying the sun. Nature is always so pretty, I think we still have to learn to be more respectful!
No plans for the rest of the day. I have not yet run a train on my layout this year, but I don´t feel like doing it today. I have thoughts of relocating the layout from Switzerland to the Harz mountains in Germany by exchanging two of the building into structures of the appropriate architecture. It´ll be only a small investment, which should help me sell it. I can then sell my Swiss locos and cars separately, which should also make a pretty penny - all proceeds going into the piggy bank labelled "The Great Escape".
Have a good one!
CNCharlie so hopefully that side effect you mentioned won't be such a problem but you really never know.
so hopefully that side effect you mentioned won't be such a problem but you really never know.
Just to be certain on the good luck for 2017, I'll have some black eyed peas again today in addition to those enjoyed on Jan. 1st.
CN Charlie: I can well understand if our fellow readers are approaching the level of "cringe" with the discussion on prostate cancer and treatment side effects. I'll just add one more observation from my experience and then try to avoid further discussion here at meal time.
When diagnosed with cancer, I did some serious thinking as I expect most folks would. I recognized that I really like living and wanted to do everything that I could to stop the cancer and allow me to enjoy those things as long as possible. I like sitting down at a nice restaurant and reviewing the menu with the opportunity to order what I like. I like walking on the beach. I like the smell of a new train book when the shrink-wrap is first taken off. I like the opportunity to see my grandchildren smile. Those things were more important to me than the not-uncommon side effects of treatment. SO, before surgery I told myself that I was going to focus on recovery and just not worry about the side effects, and would evaluate things after 6 months. In retrospect, I should have told myself 8 months; it takes a while for nerves to recover. I thus recommend patience and speaking honestly with your doctor.
A rainy day here on the Carolina coast. Mrs. Beach Bill wants to go to the movies today and who am I to argue with that?
Bill
Good morning everybody.... Coffee and a dounut, please.
It is foggy and 50 here. ... I saw a pair of bald eagles yesterday. They were high in a tree near our house. Magnificent !
galaxy Condolences to those who lost someone this past year! -g
Condolences to those who lost someone this past year!
-g
Galaxy .... Thanks. I used to call my mother almost every evening at about 8:30. ... Now, I think of her at that time every evening. She was 96 when she died in May 2016.
Good "day after," to all of you!
CNCharlie: best of luck that you finished with the prostate cancer. I am at least 3 Rd in direct line for it and maybe more. But: my father's father died a ripe old age of 92 or 93, from eventual complications of the cancer. My father was about the age I am now(53) when he was diagnosed and opted for" cryosurgery", where they freeze the tissue, ideally not giving the cancer anything to feed on. He is now 82 and consider ed cancer free for what about 30 years. I have had BPH issues since I was 25, I found that out when I started hemoraging (SP?), And so I am really getting concerned about the possibility of cancer connection now. And YES anytime I've had a catheter in it was More than just a nuisance, it drives me nuts as it tends to pull on me, due to er ah " natural expansion and contraction" then it pulls and Hurts like a um er Bear. So Best of luck that you are Now cancer free. If you do have ED issues, as someone's noted, ask your doctor! It's not as embarrassing as you might think, especially if the Dr is a he.
To all who suffered needlessly in 2016 like me, why I certainly hope you and I have a far better year!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
My first trip up Mt.Washington was by cog, second by bike.
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
SS Express:
Rich, condolences on losing your father. Sorry to hear about your employment situation too. I am blissfully retired and I wouldn't go back to work if you offered me a million dollars an hour! (Well, I might go back for a couple of hours at that rate but not much longer!) I hope you find a rewarding position soon.
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Rich ... It is great to see you in the Diner. .... Sincere condolences regarding your father's passing away. .... Feel free to visit the Diner anytime.
Good evening, first time visitor to the diner. I got a request to stop in and say hello and get a hot cup of joe (hi test for me). Been a quiet year for me on the railroad this year. Been out of work since september so action has slowed on the Huntington Valley basement line. Set up an old Nscale section at the house so the kids could have trains running on christmas morning. My dad passed away back in mid october so I been trying to finish up some details he was working on. He had a Bachman Spectrum FB Morse 4 axle loco that never ran that I can remember. I finally got around to taking a look inside and discovered a broken pick up wire and missing driveshafts. After some re-solder work and a five finger discount from another bachmann wreck, This things runs very well with DC power so now I need to decide if I want to upgrade to DCC and add another loco to the basement line. Sometimes your the bug, and sometimes your the windshield I guess.......thanks for listening fellas........
Chamomile tea, please.
Got the last shelving unit assembled and started putting some of the HO structures and assorted train boxes up. Still much to do.
I would love to see a working cog railroad for HO scale. That would be very cool.
My dad had prostate cancer. His was very slow to develop and being well on in age, the docs told him something else would take him long before that would. He opted to do nothing and lived many many years with it. And sure enough, it was something unrelated that finally took him at age 89 (if memory serves me).
Healing thoughts for those in need!
Cheers! Rob
Happy New Years to all. Spent a quiet evening yesterday at home. Wife fixed beef stroganoff for diner using filet for the beef. It was very tender and tasty.
Worked on the new workbench this afternoon. I am making a doves tailed drawer for the center of the bench. Routed a groove for the drawer bottom in the sides, front and back. Then tried to remove the router bit and could not finish loosening up the collet nut. Spent an hour reading tips on getting stuck bits out of routers with out much useful info. Finally found a site that had the owners manual for a Porter Cable model 690 router. Bingo, they had directions for how to place the router on a workbench to tighten and loosen bits. This, along with more elbow grease did the trick and I was able to get the bit out and the clean the collet out and install the next bit. Hope to get the sides dadoed for the back n the morning and the set up the dove tail jig. I have had the dovetail jig a couple of years but this will be its maiden voyage.
CN Charlie, hope your healing progress rapidly and 2017 brings good news on health reports.
Mt. Washington tramway looks like a lot easier way to the top then they way the daughter's family took this past summer as the hiked up Mt. Washington. She said it was tougher than hiking the eastern Sierras which she has done a couple of times with us.
Jim
BigDaddy I did learn last night that Corni is how Cornelius Vanderbilt (NY Central) was know in the Anderson Vanderbilt Cooper family and that Anderson denies that the Vanderbilt's, Rothchilds. Rockefellers and Carnegies counted their money when they got together.
I did learn last night that Corni is how Cornelius Vanderbilt (NY Central) was know in the Anderson Vanderbilt Cooper family and that Anderson denies that the Vanderbilt's, Rothchilds. Rockefellers and Carnegies counted their money when they got together.
I don't knwo if they could count all that money.
I certainly don't have any of it, nad Anderson has LOOOONG declared he gets/got nothing in the way of family money so he makes his own, and accordingly Gloria Vanderbilt, his mother didn't have much in the way of family money either, that is why she got into Jeans Fashions.
Just because parents or grandparents or greats greats made moeny doesn;t mena it trickles down beyond a generation or so, at least not anymore.
WHo has money these days anyway?
lol
-G
Evenin' Folks!
Janie, just a refil for my decaf right now.... Still stuffed from dinner!
Went over to my Son's house for dinner tonight. His MIL had baked a nice pork loin roast with all the trimmings for supper. Delicious!
Now, I have to tell you that last week, about 5 days ago, DIL brought home a tiny little Shih Tzu dog. He is about a year old and full grown at around 11 lbs. She heard about him from one of her friends and stopped at the house of the people trying to get rid of him. He was one of a litter of 3 puppies. The other two got adopted quickly, but nobody wanted this little guy as he was very skittish, shy, and growled at anyone he doesn't know. I have a feeling he wasn't treated very well by the family that owned him.... He appears to be half Shih Tzu and half either Wire Haired Terrier, or Miniature Poodle. I met him yesterday and when I walked in he growed, was scolded by DIL, and shrunk back under the counter as far as he could. As I talked with DIL in the kitchen he eased out and just looked at me. Put my hand down near him and he growed again, but then leaned out and sniffed my hand. Shrunk back under the counter. Second time I came out where DIL was working on Dinner, put my hand down and he actually let me pet the top of his head. I took a couple steps back and he came over to me and let me pet him a couple times then disappeared back into the corner....
That went on a few times during the evening and by the time Midnight came he had come into the living room and let me pet him, though still very shy.... Tonight I went over and he came over to greet me and let me pet him and scratch his head. A few minutes later I sat down on the couch by DIL and he jumped up to sit on her lap. Next thing you know he is snuggled down between us, let both of us scratch his head and pet him. About 5 minutes later..... Well the photos show it best! DIL got a couple of me with my new best friend....
That little guy is absolutely adorable and I think is loving his new home!!! He is just over half the size of my kitties here at home, BTW.
Their old Beagle (at least 11 years old) had a bad day I guess. He has arthritis and was limping badly early this morning. Also appeared to be having some trouble breathing. They got him his morning aspirin (vet recomended) and he seemed better tonight....
Have a warm and safe night out there.
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Flo, Ed will have a Crown Royal and I will have please.
Went to bed last night at 11:50 PM. Got woke up by some fire works but fell a sleep quickly. Sure was in the Green Fog today!
Work Front while slow started out well. First ticket for the year was $1765.00 so not a bad started. We where going to be open till 6:00 PM but all the stores where slow, so we closed at 5:00 PM.
Ed At your train party, did you use High Ball Glasses?
YGW I forgot to post this photo.
12/29/16 7 - view of the boom extended to check and see if they equipment was set up close enough. Waiting on concrete to show up.
Trains Running the BLI Hudson again, boy that is a great sounding whistle!
Miss spell to you all later, Ken
I will tape Sherlock, but I liked Jeremy Brett's version better.
Prostate Cancer, a friend of mine wrote sort of a blog on prostate cancer. He is an engineer by trade, but very obsessive compulsive. He had cancer himself and explains it in more in depth than you would usually find in an article directed at a non-medical population. Yet he makes it very understandable.
http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/prostatecancer.htm
Good evening ....
I hope each of you had a very nice New Year's day.
Steven ... the February issue of MR is another great one. Keep up the good work.
CN Charlie.... Altough not pleasant, your surgery is a blessing assuming it is successful. Praying for that.
Rob .... That sounds like a great locomtove model even though I am not a New Haven modeler. ... I wish BLI produced a CB&Q 4-8-4.
I've been running my Empire Builder along with my version of the Nebraska Zephyr and some freight trains this afternoon.
Happy Mdoel Railroading.
Good Evening,
Henry, you are certainly correct in that the same care isn't available to all but then again I think that is true in many places. I have a good friend who lives in Johannesburg and he has many good medical contacts given all the surgeries he has endured. Sadly a lot depends on you financial circumstances.
Dave, of the 2 prostate remedies the preferred is surgery. One reason is that if some cells are missed, then radiation is possible. If you get radiation, surgery is no longer an option due to the amount of scar tissue. I was lucky in that I was under the age cut-off for surgery which is generally 70. One reason I had blood loss is that the surgeon did some nerve sparing which complicates the process somewhat so hopefully that side effect you mentioned won't be such a problem but you really never know.
I am reading a magazine, Great Trains, East which is really quite good. Must have been great to travel by train in the era of the name trains. I would like to take a trip from here to the west coast by train but I would be going alone as my wife wouldn't come. Via still runs the Budd stainless steel cars so to some extent it would be like travelling back in time. I would like to get a little Roomette, take a few good books and just enjoy the trip.
Rob, I am jealous about that I4 you got for Christmas. I was tempted by one as I am a sucker for steam with 80" drivers. I would keep the NH livery as it is an iconic loco of that road.
Der, hope your wife is recovering well.
Well time for supper, another walk around the house and then to the recliner for some TV. There is a new Sherlock Holmes on PBS tonight.
CN Charlie
Happy New Year to all my Diner friends. While I'm stopping by, could I get a grilled chesse sandwhich with a bowl of clam chowder, given the weather. Thank you so much.
BigDaddy Did I just see one NFL player rip a necklace off another after the play? No wonder their ratings are down.
Did I just see one NFL player rip a necklace off another after the play? No wonder their ratings are down.
You did. The game involves two bitter rival teams. (Denver Broncos [my team] and the [hated] Raiders.) With those teams I'm not surprised, but I woun't be surprised to see a fine coming from that.