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

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Just popped in for a ciup of hot chocolate before bed....

Been tryig to get caught up over the past few days.  Have not been sucessful.  I was asked by the powers that be to write up (and possibly present) a page of information on being a "Car Host" out at the museum.  Since I have been one "complaining" that there is no specific training for the crew position for what we do out there.  I figured I best say yes to it.  Have less than two weeks to get something done and cross referenced with the rule book..... 

Yesterday the high for the day was around 33°F...  Today it was in the mid 60's.  February 18 and the high was in the mid sixties!!!  Only thing I can say is that I used considerably less electric to drive to Canandaigua and back to take care of my sister's kitties today.  When the temp is cold it can use around 20% of the power to heat and defrost the cabin...  That is in addition to the normal "everything moves harder and the air offers more resistance" in the cold.  So today I got over 4 miles per kWh with the volt.  Been lucky to average 3 all winter.

Tonight I went to check something in the calendar on my iMac and found it was empty!!!!  The calendar data for my computer had disappeared.  Tried to bring it back with the time machine and it wouldn't do it.  Will have to get in touch with the lady at the Mac Store and have her tell me what I need to do.  That will take all my free time on Monday!

A quote for tonight....

"Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic.  Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love." - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Have a great night and I'll try to stop by tomorrow!

73

[cudaken]

 Evening Diners

 Flo, Ed will have a Bottle of Crown Royal, I will have a and I will pick up the Diners Tap's tonight. Been slow today Flo? I know where everyone was, at my store!

 Work Front WOW! From 10:00 AM till 1:30 PM I was slammed with 9 customers! Now I know that does not sound like a lot but in this line of sales it is. Normally a good sale of $790-$1,000 range takes say 45 minutes to a hour and a half. So 9 customers in 3.5 hours is a lot!

 I sure had the right kind of customers! In that 3.5 hours I had (Durm Roll Please)  $6922.00 in sales! With the Spiff's I made $738.00! To bad I cannot do that every day, I would make draw (get commission) and earn around $150,000 a year. But in the real world that won't happen in this company.  But On The Bright Side I did make a extra $280.00 in spiff I will get!

 Spider Cam Hum, guess I might need to do a series on the Spider Cam. I run the layout from the switching tower and never really get close to the layout. Unless I am cleaning wheels, tonight I was cleaning wheels on the Bessmers and the Mighty B&O F7a's. Seems the Spiders From Mars are attacking my HO town! From where I am sitting I cannot see it, but up close it looks like there are easting a 69 Cougar, 72 V8 Vega, Semi Trailer and a 1970 Hemi Cuda!

 Later, Ken

 

 

 

 

[cats think well of me]

YGW, my things are selling pretty well at the moment. The auction site has been helpful as a place for getting rid of excess and rarely played with model railroading goods. 

Alvie

 

yougottawanta

Alvie - Do you sell on Ebay ? How well are your products selling ?

 

[MisterBeasley]

hon30critter

MisterBeasley that's the only place I've had my hair cut for the last 40 years.

Thumbs UpThumbs UpThumbs Up Dave

I get a great haircut from Jack every time.  In contrast, the wife raves about a hair place, but then the next time she goes somewhere else and ends up complaining about it.  "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

[angelob6660]

Afternoon Diners,

jlehnert

All too true!  The movies we think are classics (in one way or another) they’ve never heard of.

If you watch TCM, Ben said he's no longer surprised on how many young people watch very old movies. But I believe some young people don't watch them at all. I never heard of Blazing Saddles, but my dad has.

Bear- In the first video of the Australian ore train. I created that particular paint scheme but with a scarlet red instead of blue without the logo. You can see within 1:03-1:09. I made a switcher version for it too, it's a good paint scheme.

["JaBear"]

Gidday Chloe, a large glass of iced tea, please.

 

Gee Galaxy, you’re making me feel old, but those lists did make me smile. Sometimes, especially if I’m working with younger engineers, I find myself, not necessarily explaining how to do the task in hand but why we do it, usually with a humorous yarn even if it doesn’t reflect well on me. Recently I told a story and after the two guys stopped laughing, they asked when did the event happen, on telling them it was around the end of 88, both said that they weren’t even born then!!!

 

 

Party lines, our ring was a long and two shorts, (D). I’m sure that we didn’t have others listening in on anywhere near the scale that Herrinchokerwas describing, but I do think that my late night conversations with my then girlfriend did, on occasion, give a little titillation to at least one busybody. Who would of thought back then that not only can you talk to someone on the other side of the world, but you can see them as well; the realms of science fiction!!

 

As we’re Down Under, I thought perhaps you chaps might like a change from “narrow gauge” steam to something a little more familiar looking.

 

 

 

““Old” is not a dirty word. Old age is not an illness. It took a long time and a lot of hard work to get here and I see no reason to apologise for my arrival.”
— Irma Kurtz

 

Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them.

Cheers, the Bear.

[jlehnert]

Hi (cough, hack,snort) all.

Dealing with the first (and hopefully last) head cold of the year.  Not bad as head colds go, as I'm only using kleenex boxes at the rate of one per day.  Had to skip class today, but I should look and feel human enough to go to w*rk Sunday night.

YGW - Transport Medic in NoVA and 911 Medic down in Spotsylvania.  The 1966 blizzard (I looked it up) only dropped around 18 inches, but had very dry, light snow with heavy winds.  The way the wind blew; the drift from our house covered the neighbor’s driveway, cars, front door, and ended up with the nice snow ramp to the second floor window.

 

Galaxy – All too true!  The movies we think are classics (in one way or another) they’ve never heard of.  During a big snowstorm the “old farts” made the twenty-somethings at the firehouse sit down and watch “Blazing Saddles”.  The baked-bean jokes continue to this day.

 

Time to hit the hay again.  Liquids, rest, and time, are what the body needs, and that bed is looking mighty inviting.

 

DC Jim

 

Whoops, looks like top of the page, so a batch of cherry turnovers is on me!

 

[angelob6660]

Evening Diners,

That was very funny, thanks for sharing, Galaxy.

Alvie- I hope you have fun on that Disney cruise. I sometimes hear it's not great for adults. I hope that's not the case.

Ulrich- I hope you and Petra are being safe for her recovering.

YGW- Thanks for accepting my friend request.

Dave- Sorry about losing your son Glenn.

I estimated it will take two years for hair to grow pass my shoulders. One year it reaches on top of my shoulders. I try to get a haircut twice a year.

I made some paper templates of switches and track so I wouldn't ruin the clean track. To figure out where to place structures, roads, and track has been a tedious process. I had found out three different types for a single track plan with one side being charged. Mostly the roads and buildings change and very less room for industries.

I'm very close to finishing the final design. This is what happens when you don't build a your industries and towns first before the track.

[angelob6660]

I was just thinking of the my layout. I thought of buying some people, vehicles a bridge, leftover structures. 

I could buy two or three building kits and probably kitbash them, but then I thought maybe I shouldn't because it's a little train set. Then I rethought of it again and maybe I should because it is little. It will be more unique that way.

I hoping the construction of this layout will start in the beginning of March or early April. I have my fingers crossed. For the first time in 30 years I'll have a working train set that's not on the carpet.

[hon30critter]

Thanks to those who offered condolences on the loss of our son Glenn.

Dave

[cudaken]

 Evening Diners

 Flo, Ed and I will have a please.

 Pretty Lack Luster Day Again. Had 6 customers and 3 bought but nothing big.

 Nice day with the high being around 70.

 Guess that is all I have to say tonight.

 Ken

 

 

[der5997]

CN Charlie:

Terriers have won the show more than any other group by a significant margin. 

  Would you happen to know the ratio of Terriers to “all other breeds” amongst contestants? Dogs aren’t my fav. animals, but I agree, West Highland Whites have a certain panache!

YGW:

What is a Kato V4 ?

Kato says it’s like a box of chocolates! Google it and see. LOL

Der - How in the world do they keep the water from leaking into a house when you have snow piled up against it and it starts to melt between the snow and house ? Wouldnt that create a gieant "ice dam" ? Here we only have a few places where a house will ice dam. And we build very differently in those locations. What do they address that up North ?

  Are you thinking about the snow against the basement window? (Yesterday’s chore – and it was packed hard by the wind too!) The answer to that is a shovel. If you’re thinking general house construction, then the first line of defense is a good foundation drainage system, and the second a concrete contractor who knows what they’re doing so the foundation wall doesn’t crack. Thirdly, an efficient water barrier applied to the foundation wall before the backfill goes in. Lastly, and this is more a summer thing, having the roof run-off diverted away from the house at ground level. See the down spouts here: 

I’m not a builder, so that’s all I’ve got…

Dave:

(By YGW) I am sorry for your loss. Very painful. I take my hat off to you and YOH. Many couples do not survive the loss of a child. I am glad you made it. You can be very proud of your son Glenn, He sounded like an outstanding individual. Good job raising him.

– couldn’t have put that better. I’m glad that you can speak frankly, and that this is a safe place to do so.

My theory is that I towed 'The Man's' line for all of my life until I retired.

– that’s why I grew a beard when I left the food industry!

Ken:

 Ulrich Are you and Petra doing OK?

Re Ulrich: I’ve had a PM from him on another matter, and I told him many in the Diner are anxious to know how things are going. He told me to say that with everything going on in his life right now he’s having to take a break from dropping in here for a while. He said to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers.

Let’s hope things turn a better corner for them both soon.

Ed: Neatly kept property that. I’ve not seen brick porch pillars extending above the roof line like that. Is that a common feature of Milwaukee, does anyone know? Maybe some-one else was left “a few bricks short of a load” quite literally!

Do you remember the last time you dialed the telephone?

No, as to time – but yes as to type of phone – it would have been a pay phone – maybe in Ontario, where we were residents last in 1981.

anglob:

It looks good, but it looked different on Scram than real track.

  I found the same thing happened for me in transferring SCARM to reality. My curves just didn’t match. I think I prefer reality’s version as it’s less “formal” – and Ulrich had suggested I try for a less rigid look.

The backdrop will be mounted behind the layout, no room in the middle because of the road and structures. 

I’ve done that by painting it directly on the wall – but then I have a very understanding Mrs. – and yes, it took a LOT of work to cover when it came time to rehabilitate the “bedroom” for house sale!

Train Front: Very slow progress due to life, snow clearing, Mrs. DER’s sudden onset cold (yesterday) did I mention snow clearing? Anyway, I did get the foil liner covers for track workers’ refuges made  and have started to apply the liner foil I’ll run out of the foil I painted tomorrow – and I’ve now painted up some more, which should be enough. I changed the paint mix a bit, so the far end of the tunnel will have a slightly different “geology” – suggesting a change in locale. (Well, to me anyway

Alvie: Enjoy your vacation – sounds like it’s well earned. Serious re-thinking of our plans for this year. We shall see.

herringchoker:

We were on a 10 party line, our ring set was two short-one long. It was not at all uncommon to hear noise in the background when you recieved a call, washing machine-baby crying, radio playing-the neighbors were always well informed…

Ah the joys of Party Lines! The local, privately owned phone company for the one we had in S.W.Ontario in the 70’s is still surviving, and an ISP, much as LION mentioned about their local company.

Galaxy:

I get mine cut at Cost Cutters for $10 on wed. $10 deal day.

…haven’t been to a barber for maybe 50 years. Another of the ways Mrs. DER blesses me! So I don’t ever complain about any expensive do-dad she may acquire!

Time for bed-lunch and so I’ll call it a night. Prayers for all in need.

[galaxy]

When I was a teen,I would have killed for long hair, it didn't grow very long as it is thin and fine.

 

Now, I CAN'T be bothered with hair more than 1 1/2 inches long!

 

Thats is what's left!

I get mine cut at Cost Cutters for $10 on wed. $10 deal day.

-g

[hon30critter]

MisterBeasley

that's the only place I've had my hair cut for the last 40 years.

Dave

[MisterBeasley]

Ha, I grew my hair shoulder length until my late 20s.  I just got tired of it.  It was taking to long to get it clean and dry.  I had a local woman who cut hair do it the first time, but she was out of town the next time I needed a cut.  I went to the local barber shop, and that's the only place I've had my hair cut for the last 40 years.

[herrinchoker]

YGW,

The turkeys are wild, until they see the pail half full of corn--at that point they become 1/2 wild in that they beat the snot out of each other as they run/fly up the driveway to be the first to feed on the corn that has been left.

[hon30critter]

Galaxy!

FWIW, I have long hair. It's below my shoulders. Unfortunately there is nothing left on top. I tell people that I grew taller than my hairline!

And yes, I love the second looks I get from the prim and proper crowd. My theory is that I towed 'The Man's' line for all of my life until I retired. Now I can do my own things, and letting my hair down is one of them.

Dave

[galaxy]

Steven Otte

If any of you have ever wondered to yourself, "Exactly how potbellied and hunchbacked is Steve Otte, anyway?", head over to MR's Facebook page. I just posted a behind-the-scenes video of a promotional photo shoot that definitely shows the answer to be "very much so." https://www.facebook.com/ModelRailroader/

 

 

Ok, Mr. Otte, I will resist the urge to call you a pot bellied pig, Oops, I think I just did.

I hope your statement above was that you desire to lose weight, not to dimish yourself!

I'm losing my pot belly. I am actually regaining a lap!!!

I radically changed my diet when I became diabetic and lost 36 pounds in 2 months.

I then hit a plateau, but with spring and more excersize, I will reduce more I am sure, I could stand to lose another 36 pounds easily.

~I eat once every 5 hours at teh most, but it doesn't have to be a four course meal.

~I allow myself only 6 carb exchanges a day{15 grams is one carb, and you get to deduct the "dietary fiber" number from the total carb number as fiber is "free food"}. One slice of bread is One carb exchange.

~I eat only a piece of meat the size of a deck of cards at dinner.

~I eat more fruits and vegetables, for instance broccoli is a "free food"-eat all you want!

~I cover half the plate with veggies {and corn doesn't count {sugar}...green or yellow or orange veggies, please!}

Sugar? what's that? I use stevia, I grew it in my garden this last summer! The leaves are VERRRRRRRRRRRY sweet tasting, sweeter tasting than sugar,but NO Sugar. "free food"

My 5'6" frame is now happier not carrying all 276 around!!!

 

Typical day:

Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal, 2 tbs unsweetened baking cocoa powder, 1 tbs stevia 

mid mornign snack: banana

lunch: 1/2 sandwich on whole grain {NOT whole wheat crap} bread with 1 slice deli meat, one tbs mayo and 1 tsp whole grain mustard, one slice low fat cheese OR one serving of soup {usually 1/2 the can or ready-to-eat soup} with 6 crackers

afternoon snack: 1 orange, apple, pear, mango etc...jsut one

dinner: sensible: deck of cards meat;  with 2 tbs of starch: one small- medium potato, 1/2 cup rice; 1/2 palte veggies.

snack: one cup popcorn or one 2" square sugar free cake with sugar free icing; one small sugar free fruit muffin, or one sugar free sweet, keeping to the one carb exchange!

You can see I'm not hungry as I am always 'grazing"!

 

Happy eating, 

_g

[galaxy]

Ah,It's all about perspective, or the signs of life:

 

1966: Long hair 
2016: Longing for hair

1966: KEG 
2016: EKG 

1966: Acid rock 
2016: Acid reflux 

1966: Moving to California because it's cool 
2016: Moving to Arizona because it's warm 

1966: Trying to look like Marlon Brando or Liz Taylor 
2016: Trying NOT to look like Marlon Brando or Liz Taylor 

1966: Seeds and stems
2016: Roughage 

1966: Hoping for a BMW
2016: Hoping for a BM 

1966: Going to a new, hip joint
2016: Receiving a new hip joint 

1966: Rolling Stones 
2016: Kidney Stones 

1966: Screw the system
2016: Upgrade the system

1966: Disco
2016: Costco 

1966: Parents begging you to get your hair cut
2016: Children begging you to get their heads shaved

1966: Passing the drivers' test
2016: Passing the vision test 

1966: Whatever 
2016: Depends

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Just in case you weren't feeling too old today, this will certainly change things. Each year the staff at BeloitCollege in Wisconsin puts together a list to try to give the faculty a sense of the mindset of this year's incoming freshmen.  Here's this year's list:

The people who are starting college this fallacross the nation were born in 1998.

They are too young to rememberthe space shuttle blowing up.

Their lifetime has always included AIDS. 

Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic.

The CD was introduced 7 years before they were born. 

They have always had an answering machine. 

They have always had cable. 

They cannot fathom not having a remote control…

Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave.

They never took a swim and thought about Jaws. 

They can't imagine what hard contact lenses are.

They don't know who Mork was or where he was from.

They never heard:

"Where's the Beef?"

"I'd walk a mile for a camel" or

"de plane, Boss, de plane.."

They do not care who shot J. R. and have no idea who J. R. even is.

Mc Donald's never came in Styrofoam containers. 

They don't have a cluehow to use a typewriter. 

Do you feel old yet?  Pass this on to the other old fogies on your list.

 

So have a nice day!!!!!  It is good to have friends who know about these things and are still alive and kicking!!!!  
-g

[hon30critter]

RideOnRoad

The behemoth I have been working for is continually "right sizing" with layoffs every 4-6 months. I feel like I have been working for the Dread Pirate Roberts, "Good night, Westley. Good work. Sleep well. I'll likely kill you in the morning."

When I worked for Sears Canada it was the same thing. The junior managers were to the point where they were scared of being called in for a meeting with their bosses, regardless of the supposed topic. When I first started with Sears in Peterborough in 1979 there were more than 40 Division Managers in the store. Now they have maybe five. Yes, computerization has eliminated a lot of the paper work but the amount of physical work hasn't changed much.

Dave

[hon30critter]

yougottawanta

Next week we will be framing !!

I always thought you were supposed to let concrete cure for a while before putting a load on it. Has that changed? Just curious, I'm not questioning your methods.

Dave

[RideOnRoad]

cudaken

. . .ROR Does the new job have health inscurance? Guessing you do not have to move. . .

It does have health care coverage. As it turns out, I am better off opting out of their coverage, taking their contribution, and applying it toward COBRA coverage from my previous employer. As a retiree under the age of 65, I have the option of getting COBRA coverage for 18 months after leaving.

No move required. Old and new position are home-office-based engagements so nothing changes there. I will need to travel 50-60% of the time, which isn't much different from before. I am really looking forward to working for a small growing company. The behemoth I have been working for is continually "right sizing" with layoffs every 4-6 months. I feel like I have been working for the Dread Pirate Roberts, "Good night, Westley. Good work. Sleep well. I'll likely kill you in the morning."

[yougottawanta]

Hobby Room *** UPDATE ***

We PASSED our slab inspection ( even though I forgot to leave out the approved plans !!) hate it when I do that. BUT we will be pouring concrete on MONDAY YAAAAAHHHHHH Fianlly !!! Next week we will be framing !!

[tcwright973]

Garry - You are right, I do have many interesting memories. And the older I get, the more I enjoy them. Growing up in the 40s & 50s sometime seems to be almost a magical experience. Of course, for my Dad & all my uncles who served during the war, their memories were probably a lot different than mine. But the thing I enjoy most is seeing how far technology & our society has come. We had party lines too, as well as things like an icebox. The first refridgerator was a marvel. So many things that are just taken for granted today. Sometimes though I sit back & think faster & newer isn't always better. On the other hand, just look where medicine has evolved. So good for us. 

[MisterBeasley]

cats think well of me

On the life front: Going on a Disney Cruise with my family next week for a week cruising the Carribean.

I just got back from a Caribbean cruise a couple of weeks ago.  It was on a 300 passenger boat, no kids.  Absolutely great time, island-hopping from St. Martin to St. Lucia and back.

I went to the doctor yesterday to get rid of my cough.  I've never gone to the doctor as an adult for a cough, but this one has persisted for a month.  He said I should take Benadryl, which seemed so simple I should have done it myself.  It sure worked last night and I feel a lot better already.

Of course, when I was a little kid, my Mom took me to the doctor all the time for my cough.  He sat down behind his desk, lit up a cigarette and said I was allergic to dust.  The fact is, I am sensitive to cigarette smoke, but they didn't even consider that a problem when I was a kid.  My Dad smoked.

[yougottawanta]

Hello all

Train front - Waiting to here from the inspector. May be in trouble. I forgot to leave out the approved plans this morning !

Tom - That is interesting. Do you know if many people listen to the programs ? Focus on the family used to do a radio program for kids. My kids LOVED to listen to it.

Herrinchoker - Are the turkeys Wild or the tame version ?

Alvie - Do you sell on Ebay ? How well are your products selling ?

Ricky w - We did get hit pretty hard by the protest.  Many did not show up. Those who took off without permission I sent home today and gave them off Saturday too. They can return to on Monday. I will not fire them but give them Grace this time. I do not take kindly to men taking off without given me a heads up or recieving permission. We had a superintendent fired because he did not show up and did not call in. Very disrespectful to everyone else who have to adjust and cover for them.

Johnboy - Hey good to see you in here ! 200 FOOT ?

Ken - No I wish I had made that part of the building longer. Overall it is 50 feet long. Is that you in the picture ?

Steve - I think you are too hard on yourself.

ROR - What is the new job ?

Dave - I dont think the dial phones will work anymore without a special adapter

Angel - I approved your friend request.

Ulrich - Are you okay ?

History qoute of the day :

I regret that I have only a little bit of pocket lint to give to my country.

Nathan Hale

 

My name is Clark, and I have come out to see what you brave fellows are doing in Kentucky and to lend you a helping hand, if necessary.

George Rogers Clark

 

If Parliament may take from me one shilling in the pound, what security have I for the other nineteen?

Richard Henry Lee

 

TTYL

YGW

 

 

 

[angelob6660]

Hey diners,

I tested the track plan. It looks good, but it looked different on Scram than real track. I noticed I can't add hills, or slope unless I want the road to look it. The backdrop will be mounted behind the layout, no room in the middle because of the road and structures. 

I wished I did keep the 2x2 foot foam blocks but I believe the same problem occurs filling in the gaps to glue them together.

Since I have the track outline. I have the other fun part of designing something in the middle of all it. Placing the structures I have is starting to be a problem.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning ... 

Ricky ... It sounds challenging to fix up those old locomotive models. 

Alvie ... Wow ... You acquired some nice stuff for your model railroad. I have a Stewart VO1000 from before Bowser acquied Stewart, and it has been great engine to me  for several years. 

Herrinchoker ... That is an interesting memory of the old party lines. 

Lion ... You did a good job of summing up the technical advances for phone service. I know AT&T has been acquiring other companies including Direct TV to keep up with trends.  

Tom... You have some interesting memories, too. I recall watching the old westerns on black and white TV when there was no color TV available. 

John Boy ... I'm wondering if you were able to complete the 200' marthon during the time I was typoing this post. 

[tcwright973]

herrinchoker - You mentioned listening to old radio shows. Being born in 1940 I remember doing the same thing before we had a TV. But I still get to do that. Here in Pittsburgh, one of our radio stations has old time radio beginning at 10:00 pm. Jack Benny, Fibber MaGee & Molly, The Shadow, Gunsmoke with William Conrad, Hopalong Cassidy, Lum & Abner & many, many others. Listen to these blasts from the past almost every night. Some go back to the late 30s.

[BroadwayLion]

Well, yes. our first telephone hung on the wall and had a crank on it. That was from the Richardton Telephone Company. Our number wa 15.

Our number is still 15, although over the years they added more and more digits in front of it. The Richardton Telephone Company merged with others and more, and then took over all of the AT&T / Bell accounts in Stark County. It is now called the Consolidated Telephone Cooperative. And, by the way, they have ripped out all of the copper wires in town, our little town of 600 people now is 100% optic fiber.

They wanted to compete with the cable company for TV accounts. The cable company but in heavier cables with more capacity, but eventually they raised their prices one too many times, and so now we have one big bundle with Consolidated which includes Telephone, TV and Internet, and our internet supports 4 servers and 30 workstations.

 

ROAR