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Jeffrey's Trackside Diner, February 2017 - this month staying "Down Under"! Locked

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Jeffrey's Trackside Diner, February 2017 - this month staying "Down Under"!
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 11:52 PM

Welcome to Jeffrey´s Trackside Diner , this month located "Down Under" to beat the Winter frost!

We begin our visit to this continent in Belgrave, Victoria, home of the Puffing Billy Railway.

This place is open to all forum members! For those joining "the regulars" for the first time - Jeffrey´s Trackside Diner is a place to gather, a place without an agenda or a topic.  It's free to all, to read, to join in, or just to enjoy some virtual food.  Our gracious hosts ask only that we avoid certain hot-button topics like politics and religion that sometimes raise tempers.

The place is managed by Vinnie - under the watchful eye of Steven Otte, who represents the owner. Waiting staff  are Flo, the twins Chloe and Zoe, Janie and Brunhilda - friendly, no nonsense folks!

So come on in, enjoy the delicious virtual food and share your day with us!

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 11:53 PM

The RIP Track

 

The RIP track is the place for us to pay our respect to our friends and forum members who are no longer with us.

  • Barry Arnold aka BlownoutCylinder
  • Jerry Cox aka Cox47
  • Wolfgang Dudler aka Westport Terminal
  • Bob Hartle aka cmrproducts
  • Ed Murphy
  • Bill North
  • Stein Rypern, Jr. aka Steinjr
  • Andy Sperandeo
  • Jeffrey "Running Bear" Wimberley
  • Alan B

"Gone, but not forgotten"!

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 11:56 PM

Good Morning!

I hardly slept at all last night, so I got up in time to move the diner to its February location. Following Steven´s suggestion, I moved it into a warmer climate...

I´ll be off to our hospital for further tests. I don´t know when I will be back, as it will take some time.

Have a good one!

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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 12:08 AM

G'day Mates!

Great choice, Ulrich! Lots to see here. I've always wanted to visit the Sydney Opera House! Here's my chance, just an 881 km. side trip.

I see there isn't a sign on the Puffing Billy to warn riders to "Keep Arms And LEGS Inside The Train At All Times"

                                                                                      Photo by Diliff; Creative Commons

Neat Stuff...

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Ulrich, during your hospital stay...

Regards, Ed

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Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 12:36 AM

gmpullman
I see there isn't a sign on the Puffing Billy to warn riders to "Keep Arms And LEGS Inside The Train At All Times"

Ah, the process of natural selection at work!

Smile, Wink & GrinLaughLaughLaugh

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 8:28 AM

Went to the club (which shall remain unnamed to protect the guilty) Tuesday night and got treated to two heated arguments.

One was about trying to keep ourselves from destroying the newly repaired parts of out travelling layout. The new repairs are on the outside edges of the layout where constant leaning on the surfaces had pretty much destroyed the scenery. Somebody said we should be able to lean on the layout if we want to. The guy who just spent several hours repairing the damage disagreed. (Can you blame him). That took the better part of 45 minutes to sort out before everybody calmed down. I thought at one point there was going to be fisticuffs!

The other was about whether or not we could fit an 18" x 18" cash dispenser into our floor plan for the upcoming sale. We have 10,000 sq. ft. of floor space. The person who had spent hours trying to fit all the vendors and displays into the available space was adamant (rather loudly I might add) that there was no more space! He is a rather senior citizen. We decided to not stress his heart anymore. We decided to defer to his opinion and see if we can fit the cash dispencer in next year.

Once the dust had settled, several of us got down to the job of replacing some rather lousy ballast. We pounded and scraped away at it for about an hour before I remembered that the easiest way to remove old ballast was to soak it first with a water/alcohol/soap solution. (Thanks to the forums for that suggestion). Once we did that the old ballast came up easily. What took us an hour to do poorly we could have done much better in ten minutes if we had soaked it first!Bang Head 

So, interesting night at the club!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 8:39 AM

Good morning all.

Zoe - Welcome back, glad to see you are feeling better. I will take a apple danish, and a large OJ please. Thanks.

Der & Howmus - Nice looking work, really good progress.

Ken - Well, sounds like we both had a "fun" day yesterday... I pulled muscles (almost every one) in my left leg trying to unload a trio refridgerator in the snow... Slipped on the wetness on the trailer deck plate. Not something you want to do when trying to move a large (400lbs plus, easily) fridge! Luckily, I didn't have it, or me, tumble off the trailer. (That could have ended really bad!) Hoping for (both) you (and me) to be able to move around better soon! (I'm just a little gimpy, but can handle it.)

Speaking of Snow - Lake effect today.... Yay! (Not really....Grumpy) 6-12" today, more tonight... Already lots of incidents due to the weather... Going to be a "fun" day.

And, speaking of w**k - The new DM came last week, but bumped up his visit to a day early due to Leo, to Wednesday. He was very nice, and liked what we were doing, for the most part. We will be remodeling this month and next, moving around departments, and repainting the store.

Most likely going to pass the "opportunity" at the other location, as someithing just doesn't sit right with me on it.

Hope all are well, and will check in later. Enjoy the day!

EDIT: Corrected a auto-correct fail.... Stupid tablet thinks it's smarter than me and found out it wasn't... Laugh 

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.

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Posted by BroadwayLion on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 8:51 AM

gmpullman
I see there isn't a sign on the Puffing Billy to warn riders to "Keep Arms And LEGS Inside The Train At All Times"

 

Not so many lawyers down there. Maybe they do not take cases on whatever... maybe they can see that there is no point in litigating for the benefit of a dope doomed to loose.

 

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 9:15 AM

BroadwayLion
Not so many lawyers down there.

The lawyers were all invited to ride the first train that almost made it across the bridge!

Confused

Happy February, everyone!

Ed

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Posted by Steven Otte on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 9:18 AM

Good luck with your tests today, Ulrich.

Meanwhile: Someone brought in donuts today! Woohoo!

All right, I admit it, it was me.

--
Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editor
sotte@kalmbach.com

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Posted by CNCharlie on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 11:02 AM

Good Morning,

Those donuts look good but as we are Down Under, I better have a brew and toast with Vegimite.  No brew doesn't mean a beer, it is strong tea. That is the extent of my knowledge of local lingo.  

Sure is hot here, but I shouldn't be surprised as it is summer. Mind you 35C is a big change from -20C.  

There is a great Australian TV series called Sea Patrol that ran on a channel up here for some time. I watched all the episodes. You might be able to view it on Youtube. 

I'm off for another class this afternoon. Yoga is on the agenda but I won't be able to participate yet. Think I will just do some laps on the track. 

Laters, 

CN Charlie

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Posted by yougottawanta on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 11:04 AM

Hello all

Another day in paradise ! Overcast, temps in the low 50s....no snow or rain. Still 6 feet up, so it must be a good day !

Steve - Thank you for the donuts ! I love jelly filled and boston cream pie donuts Dinner

Ken - Hope your knee is okay ?

Ulrich - I agree with Henry "you do not have permission to leave us" !!! Hope your doc visit goes well !

Ed - LOL First trip was the lawyers Laugh. I looked at the trestle and frankly I do not think I would ride across that thing. I have seen way to many failures where, the wood is bolted to the face of another timber and it failed. I want to see it notched in and bolted ! Glue wouldnt hurt either !!!

Dave - Dont you hate it when one misses the obvious ! Like forgetting to soak the ballast. Sound like a few members need anger management !

Ricky W - How in the world do you sell in the middle of a remodel ?

Henry - I am with you on the Ulrich comment ! He just simply cant do that !

History qoute of the day:

Let us take care of our rights and we therein take care of our prosperity. Slavery is ever preceded by sleep

 

 

A country cannot subsist well without liberty, nor liberty without virtue.

 
TTYL
YGW
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Posted by angelob6660 on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 11:05 AM

Morning diners,

Thanks Steven, I will have some chocolate donuts.

First of the month. I know that Australia has three different railroad gauge tracks. To bad they didn't standardize to one size.

Modeling the G.N.O. Railway, The Diamond Route.

Amtrak America, 1971-Present.

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 12:14 PM

I am back from my day in our hospital. They did a number of test, which, if done one after another, would have taken not more than, say, two hours. I should have brought something to read with me, but as I didn´t I had to spend the time counting the tiles on the wall of the hallway. GRRR!!!

No results, yet - I have to show up for that on Friday!

Steven, thanks for bringing the box of donuts. I am going to wolf `em down - didn´t get anything to eat all day long!

angelob6660
To bad they didn't standardize to one size.

That´d be quite boring, wouldn´t it? Oh, btw, American railroads alo have three different gauges, IIRC.

I hope you folks are happy with my choice of location for the month.

Today´s video does not only take us back to Japan, but also back to Winter. Enjoy today´s feature of steam and snow!

 

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Posted by FRRYKid on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 12:20 PM

Austrialian summer sounds good especially around here. We had a snowstorm here in the last few days and it has made the roads to the west a nightmare. A part of I-90 is closed due to three accidents in short distance. Pulling out my shorts and muscle shirts (or as I call them "ink shirts" to show my two tats off) sounds very good. Smile

"The only stupid question is the unasked question."
Brain waves can power an electric train. RealFact #832 from Snapple.
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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 12:57 PM

Good afternoon.

DONUTS?!? Thanks Steve!

Slow day at w**k today, snowstorm is probably not helping that. We have sold, so far, 7.98....

So, to go along with the donut, could I get a glass of milk Flo? Thanks.

Ulrich - Hoping for a positive outcome from the tests.

Well, back to w**k.... Er, uh, something like that anyways. Whistling

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.

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 7:32 PM

Good evening ...

" Down under" ? .... That is where we are when we are woring on wiring beneath our layouts ... Whistling

Next month we can do "Duck under " ..... Laugh

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by der5997 on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 8:38 PM

A very good day to one and all: G’Day, even, though I fancy that could get old fairly soon. Toast and Vegemite, Yum! Autolysed yeast extract is healthier than the hydrolyzed (less salt) so, better in that regard than Marmite, IIHO; but the colour lacks the satisfying depth of Marmite…Oh well!
Steve:
Der5997, if the photos you've been taking to document your process are in sharp focus and of a sufficiently high resolution to print (2500 pixels wide at least), you might consider submitting an article to MR. Your technique is interesting.
Ah, who knew? Embarrassed The trouble is that I’ve only got a small Kodak point and shoot – and I delete the originals once I’ve edited and “resized-for-the-web” in MS Office Picture Manager, the down and dirty edit program I’ve used for years. The focus, for instance, is whatever the green frame in “Auto” or Close-up yields. There are no f stop adjustments available other than the general “type of picture” wheel on the top of the camera.(Kodak Easy Share C330)
However, here’s a thought, I’m going to take some more pics as I go along on this journey. How about I email you a couple of the originals and you can see if they are up to snuff. (Properties say 2304x1728 pixels in the original) I was going to PM you, but I use Photobucket, and that will change the Properties right there. So, if email seems good to you, please send me a suitable address.
Once I’ve found where the new Diner location is, I’m off to do the foil liner for the second tunnel. Hopefully, News before eleven!
BTW, here’s a thought for anyone opening up a new Diner location, is it possible to leave a bread-crumb trail (aka the new url) in the old Diner? Then whoever locks up can do so with a lighter heart!
YGW: https://translate.google.com/#fr/en/Mais%20natureelement That’s a handy little App to bookmark, Google Translate. It isn’t perfect but gets one by.
Ulrich: I went looking for some Lamingtons to bring to your excellent Oz location for the Diner, but couldn’t find them quickly, however I did find what I couldn’t yesterday, that N Scale Snowblower  It’s lousy waiting for test results. We’re praying everything will be positive. Also keeping Petra in our thoughts.

Garry:

" Down under" ? .... That is where we are when we are woring on wiring beneath our layouts ... WhistlingNext month we can do "Duck under " ..... Laugh
Are you perhaps thinking of Crocodile Duckdee? If so, maybe it’s this one https://ca.news.yahoo.com/video/daring-duck-plays-dangerous-game-164617145.html My version of this autoplayed, which was annoying. Other’s results “may vary” LOL

Layout Front: I did get my second tunnel liner in place, and the foam poured around it. Not without incident – whoever it was who said last month that Murphy had taken up residence with them, rest assured, he was very active here during the “Pour”. The nozzle for the foam canister had broken while I was trying to clean it from last time. So I cobbled it together with tape, wrongly thinking it would hold. Shortly into the pour the tape failed and high pressure foam began going in many undesirable directions. I cleaned up with Varsol as best I could, and since time was of the essence, rushed to the local Hardware store to see if they had a spare nozzle. No luck – so I had to buy a whole new can.(total house to house trip time 8 minutes) Mr. Murphy must have stepped out for a second because once home the pour continued flawlessly – including the death of the first can and the continuation with the (“unnecessary”) second! Cleaning up with more Varsol has made things a bit stinky – but that too shall pass.Does anyone have a better cleaner for expanding foam? Even the miss-placed foam which leaked out past the tunnel portal and towards the track was not as much an issue as I had dreaded. So, I’ll get to cut things away tomorrow and see what the liner is like. The test train negotiated the tunnel well just before the pour…
Here’s the painted foil for the liner:  and I crushed it lengthways so as to make the single piece form well along the tunnel length: 
I had lined the scenery faces likely to come into contact with the new foam with wax paper hoping that the masking would make removing the liner casting easier:  We shall see. Here’s the mostly cured pour, the expansion is I think complete at this stage.: 
I’d better get his posted so the News will indeed be before eleven! Prayers for all in need not forgetting Mrs. YGW. Angel
 

"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.

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Posted by cudaken on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 8:42 PM

 Being Sick is not good. Ick!

 Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by bagal on Thursday, February 2, 2017 2:03 AM

Evening all. Well I live down under, but might as well be up over because we have had a pretty poor summer. Lot of rain and few hot days. Even had the fire going in January! Unbelievable!

Bill

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, February 2, 2017 7:49 AM

Thanks fo the donuts!  One of the managers at an office I support in the greater DC metro area brings bagels every Friday.  The favorite are cheese jalapeno - mmmmm....

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by Steven Otte on Thursday, February 2, 2017 8:57 AM

der5997

 
Steve:
 
Der5997, if the photos you've been taking to document your process are in sharp focus and of a sufficiently high resolution to print (2500 pixels wide at least), you might consider submitting an article to MR. Your technique is interesting.
I’m going to take some more pics as I go along on this journey. How about I email you a couple of the originals and you can see if they are up to snuff. (Properties say 2304x1728 pixels in the original) I was going to PM you, but I use Photobucket, and that will change the Properties right there. So, if email seems good to you, please send me a suitable address.

 
Normally we discourage people from sharing their contact information on a public forum like this, but my address is hardly a secret. Smile Send it to sotte@mrmag.com.

--
Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editor
sotte@kalmbach.com

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Posted by Cederstrand on Thursday, February 2, 2017 10:22 AM

Italian roast coffee in a "City of Canberra" Beyer-Garrett locomotive mug, please.

Healing thoughts for those in need of them.

Cheers! Cowboy Rob

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Posted by yougottawanta on Thursday, February 2, 2017 10:33 AM

Hello all!

Another busy day at w**k. Unscheduled meeting at lunch time !

Train front - Should find out today on the availability of the fill material keep it in your Angel that they find some. The Hobby barn is on hold until we are able to backfill !

Ken - Hope you fill better soon

Gagal - What do you model down under ?

Der - OH ! I have an app on my phone I use soemtimes to communicate with the hispanic workers on my site. I am slowly learning spanish here.

Garry - LOL ! Duck under/down under !

Ricky W - LOL "work or something like that ..." What do you do when there isnt any traffic ?

Ulrich - I ALWAYS take a train magazine with me when on my way to the saw bones. Especially if taking someone to the ER. I know its going to be at least a three or four hour visit around here. Especially during the kids sport seasons. Local kids fill up the ER with cuts, knee and arm injuries etc....

History qoute of the day

What are the maxims of Democracy? A strict observance of justice and public faith, and a steady adherence to virtue.

 
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 2, 2017 10:53 AM

Good Afternoon!

It´s been a quiet day and that´s fine with me. Nothing thrilling to report, in fact, nothing to report at all.

I am not looking forward to tomorrow´s day of tests, but this time I´ll be prepared by taking a few back copies of MR along with me - just to cover the endless of of waiting on not really comfortable hospital chairs.

Cederstrand
Italian roast coffee in a "City of Canberra" Beyer-Garrett locomotive mug, please.

... and here is the video to your mug!

Enjoy!

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Posted by der5997 on Thursday, February 2, 2017 11:06 AM

Good Afternoon Diners: So, 6 more weeks of winter – that’s because although both Wiarton Willie and Shubenacadie Sam (closer to here, just down the road really) predict an early Spring, we’ve had snow and sun so far today! https://ca.news.yahoo.com/groundhog-day-day-many-look-090004856.html

Steven: Thanks, I’ve sent you an email.

Train Front: Had to do some “mining” to get at the tunnel lining casting from last night. This is a reminder to anyone following this technique that if you have tight spaces such as these diverging route tunnels, it’s probably best to do the liners BEFORE putting in scenery form which would trap (as mine have) the liner casting making removal a “challenge”. So, I had to pry up the offending hill in order to get at the liner from that side, to free it up. Once that was done (thanks to our longest carving knife) I removed the wax paper barrier on that side of the liner casting. Surprise! The foam had not completely cured overnight in the airtight environment created by the wax paper. So there’s the second technical note of the day. Patience mes braves! This race is not to the swift.

I’ll have the Crab and Avacado croisant special please, and black tea. Thanks.

"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.

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Posted by up831 on Thursday, February 2, 2017 1:30 PM

Good good Afternoon Diners,

Working the day shift again Brunhilda?  I'll have an extra large cup of coffee with lots of cream, please.

The sun is out and it's a beautiful day here.  Normally I dread seeing the sun in January and February because that usually means the temperature drops like a rock.  But not today!  It's around 40F. Cool

Vegimite has its fans, but I am definitely not one of them.  I don't care for the stuff at all! Dead

If the groundhog sees his shadow we get 6 more weeks of winter, but if he doesn't, we only get 42 more days.

Gotta run.

Hello to everyone, and I hope everyone is OK, safe, and warm.

Less is more,...more or less!

Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)

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Posted by moelarrycurly4 on Thursday, February 2, 2017 1:54 PM

Goood afternoon 

give me the groundhog grinder.

 

Not much going on today just on call at w*rk

need for people to quit calling the helpdesk at one time. 

they all wait until 3pm

then call

 Vegimite yuk  yuk yuk

 

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Thursday, February 2, 2017 10:10 PM

Dennis....   Being February 2nd, it may have been a ground hog. 

Speaking of that. There will be 6 more weeks of winter.  More time for model railroading. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by FRRYKid on Friday, February 3, 2017 12:12 AM

Heartland Division CB&Q

More time for model railroading. 

Not for some of us. There are some of us that don't have heated areas for their layouts. And I don't seem to get much non-layout work done during the winter months. (Too much other stuff keeps coming up.)

"The only stupid question is the unasked question."
Brain waves can power an electric train. RealFact #832 from Snapple.

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