Welcome to Jeffrey´s Trackside Diner , this month located in Milwaukee, WI to celebrate MR's 1,000 edition. We will visit all of Wisconsin. It will be fun for everyone.
This Diner 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. Please remember the Forum is owned by Kalmbach, and they set the rules. Please review the rules in Steven's post at the top of the General Forum. (MR Forum Policies)
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!
The RIP track is the place for us to pay our respect to our friends and forum members who are no longer with us.
There should be much to share about Milwaukee and the rest of Wisconsin. Perhaps, some of you would like to tell your memories about some of the 1,000 issues of MR. As always, ALL ARE WELCOME in the March Diner!
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Party Down, Chow Hounds. ! ! !
Bratwurst; WI Cheddar cheese, pizza, beer, and Root Beer Floats (RBF's) are being served at the Rivit Counter !
Bear and Ken .... Where are you ?
Hang on a little while, Gary!
The Jet Lag is kicking in!
Good Evening Crew,
Just a short stop before hitting the sack.
Brunhilda, nice to see you this evening, when you are free I'll have an RBF and some cinnamon toast with PB, Thanks.
Well, still a tad early, but welcome everyone to March 2017. BEWARE OF THE IDES OF MARCH..
Congratulations once again the the Kalmbach staff on the Issue #1000. Mine arrived today I only had time for a glance but will dig into it tomorrow. Can hardly wait. It looks like a great issue.
Thanks Garry for moving the Diner, you did a great job. I thought Wisconsin Terry might have done that, he must be busy and not checking in as often.
Hope Ulrich, Petra and Galaxy are all in good health and getting things on a better path.
Very close now to finishing uup the main bathroom that I have been so poky at. That means getting closer to spending more time with the LM&E before it will be time to start the mowing and battling the weeds.
"Cody" our new adopted dog (last summer) is doing really well. He has had six Chemo treatments and has two left to go. He is much more content and less frustrated. We called off alot of his training as he was so concerned with himself and frustrated with the way he felt, he couldn't concentrate very well. We'll get back to that seriously when spring comes. Not that he isn't well behaved and loves everybody and thinks they should all love him as much. He is a Great Dog.
Well back to work in the morning for me until Saturday, 4 shifts. Don't like that in my old age, but I am covering for another guard who is ill. They believe he has Norwalk. Then a second Guard who's MIL passed away and the funeral is on Sat. They will pay me back when they can work for me when I want time off.
The toast was done just right Brunhilda, Thanks.
Will check back in later. Have a great end to the week and week-end all.
We remember the the Great W.P.
Johnboy out >>>>>>>>>>to ZZZzzzsssland.
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Hmmmm, Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the beginning of March?!? (Stands there shivering). Oh well, it's for a good cause. I hope things will be as temperate as they have been in southern Ontario the last couple of weeks.
Thanks for starting the thread Garry!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Heartland Division CB&QBear. .... Where are you
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Whew lets not have stroms like that again, lots of wind damage here, took to the basement at 5 am due to tornado sirens, had the proverbial "freight train" sounds pass close to the house. lots of power out and trees down here in Paducah, some buildings damaged but my house is fine.
Well Hello all !
Took off the day to stay home with my daughter. She has strep throat and MOH had to go into work.
Garry - Thank you so much for moving the train to Milwaukee. Bit chilly here !
Ken - LOL Hope you made it to the rest room ! I sent a few photos of the slab pour this morning. When it stops raining here I will take and send a current photo with some wood actually installed.
Mr. B - Did you build a train station on your layout ?
Steve - What is "Tardis" ?
Ed - Boy the twins were cute even back then !!
Johnboy - What is "Great WP " ?
JaBear - The " Pink ice finger buns look delicious. Do you have a recipe ? What do they taste like ?
Galaxy, Ulrich, Howmus, Lion - Hey guys we miss you all how about popping in !
Henry - In one of the other post I saw that you invited others into the forum - I was much impressed with that. Keep up the good work !
DER - I replied tp your email.
History Qoute of the day :
I do not wonder at your disgust at the wickedness and folly of mankind. I have so much of the same feeling; that I am sure, there an be no condition in Life more unhappy, than to be engaged in the management of public affairs, with honest intentions, but hard as the lot is, it must be borne at least till things have got into a tolerable way
Francis Lightfoot Lee: to Richard Henry Lee 15 Dec 1778
You are all my witnesses, that this is the first time of my introducing any political subject into the pulpit. At this season, however, it is not only lawful but necessary, and I willingly embrace the opportunity of declaring my opinion without any hesitation, that the cause in which America is now in arms, is the cause of justice, of liberty, and of human nature.
John Witherspoon: The Dominion of Providence Over the Passions of Men - May 1776Quoted Document: The Dominion of Providence Over the Passions of Men
Few escape from all the storms of life unwrecked; but few are cheered amid the tempest with the hopes of such a haven as that which you have reached.
Arthur Middleton: letter to Thomas Jefferson December 18, 1822
Congrats MRR On 1000 issues - Well done and I hope there are 10000 more at least !
TTYL
YGW
Good Morning,
Very nice in Milwaukee, thanks Garry for moving the Diner! Feels just like home, at least weather-wise. Are we parked on a Beer Line siding? Do we have some of Milwaukee's finest on tap? Hope so. Mind you I think I'd rather have coffee at this time of the morning.
Work continues on the N scale ground cover. I have about a third of the layout done. Now that really isn't much considering it is a door layout but I am doing it carefully. N scale requires a lot more precision than HO.
On the HO I'm running the Light Mountain with a train of express reefers. That engine sure runs nice with the new decoder and the wipers replaced. I wonder why Bachmann doesn't do a re-run on that loco as it looks great and hasn't been produced for 10 years or so.
I see Yoga is on the agenda for today at the Reh-Fit. I don't mind it at all. There's only 8 guys in my class so it isn't hard to get to know them a little.
We signed up for the Birding and Breakfast that starts April 19th at Fort Whyte Conservation. You have to sign early as it tends to fill up quickly. Looking forward to it. I hope my heel is healed by then.
See you soon,
CN Charlie
Though our 1,000th issue came out this month, maybe we should have waited for the April cover date before moving the Diner here. This morning's cold drizzle has changed to wet snow. We're supposed to get 1"-3" of accumulation before it's over. Oh, well. Huddle up and grab a hot chocolate and a dunker, everyone.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Afternoon Diners,
I'm have some donuts and hot chocolate, thanks Steven.
I thought of something two days ago but I thought I could wait until March. It was a idea. Maybe in the two to three years we could go travel to national train show or something and meet in a group gathering.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Mentioning the favorite MR issues, there are quite a few others that I keep in my "handy" pile but these are my two favorites: November 1993, because of the Paint Shop article discussing the Northern Pacific F unit schemes and December 1969, because of breakdown on ACI labels (Very much needed for modeling the early to mid-70s as I do.).
moelarrycurly4 Whew lets not have stroms like that again, lots of wind damage here, took to the basement at 5 am due to tornado sirens, had the proverbial "freight train" sounds pass close to the house. lots of power out and trees down here in Paducah, some buildings damaged but my house is fine.
MLC .... A lot of trees are down here. We lost power for 3 1/2 hours.
Steven ... Thanks for the donuts. I suppose we will be posting pictures of Milwaukee as well as the rest of WI from all times of the year. So we can ignore today's weather. .... Maybe the April fools joke is the cover date is a month early. I wonder why magazines do that. My copy is not here yet.
Ed ... The MILW E6 has a remarkable nose job. LOL
FRRY ... Intersting about certain issues of MR are important to you. Speaking of ACI labels. I recall the Grand Trunk Western was very much in favor of them, and they had scanners strategically located across the railroad. Of course, the big problem was the labels got dirty.
Angel .... It would be nice to all get together. I have met a few of the Diners in person.
I still have very many old issues of MR. It would not be possible for me to read them all however. I used to have some my Dad had in the 1940's, but I sold them on eBay to get additional cash for the layout. All the photos were black and white.
Speaking of Ulrich, I hope he is doing better.
PMRailfan: DER - Virtual pounds! Since you put it that way, bring on the blueberry boxcar pancakes, the caramel covered caboose crepes, the flat car flat bread! I, unlike most folks probably, have a special scale to weigh myself. Not only does it give me a tonnage readout, but also tells ones personality. This morning when I stepped on it, it read: "Tell Moe and Larry to step off" I guess it’s all good, especially if it has a “Trailing Equipment Detector” for those “feels like I’m draggin’” days!
DER - Virtual pounds! Since you put it that way, bring on the blueberry boxcar pancakes, the caramel covered caboose crepes, the flat car flat bread! I, unlike most folks probably, have a special scale to weigh myself. Not only does it give me a tonnage readout, but also tells ones personality. This morning when I stepped on it, it read: "Tell Moe and Larry to step off"
YGW: Hope the family is feeling better today. Got the email, much appreciated.
Moelarrycurl4: Glad you and yours are safe – don’t need those storms! Thankfully our sirens tend to be the EHS ambulances or the RCMP…
CN Charlie: Work continues on the N scale ground cover. I have about a third of the layout done. Now that really isn't much considering it is a door layout but I am doing it carefully. N scale requires a lot more precision than HO. Any chance of photos? My N is on 2 doors set in an L – and ground cover is yet to be…
Angelob: That’s an interesting idea. If it came about, I wonder if some of our long-time MIAs might be interested. Personally, I doubt we’d travel – but who knows….
Looks like “Lenten Fare” is being got together upstairs – better go see what help I be. TTFN.
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
angelob6660 I thought of something two days ago but I thought I could wait until March. It was a idea. Maybe in the two to three years we could go travel to national train show or something and meet in a group gathering.
We send some staff members (usually Neil, Cody, and the MRVP crew) to the NMRA National Convention every year. But if you want to meet everybody, there's always Trainfest, held every year in West Allis, Wis. And while you're in town, you can tour Kalmbach's offices and visit Wm. K. Walthers' showroom.
Hello Railfans!
Had to make sure I got in here this month. Such a landmark for MR I have to offer congrats and praise.... SALUTE! Im looking very much forward to the next 1000. Keep up the excellent work MR!
Lets see, a memorable issue..... hmmmm. Pretty tough question actually. Considering that MR is just a wealth of info. If we consider Walthers catalog the bible of pieces, parts, and products, MR would certainly be the holy grail of what to do with said stuff. I honestly cant see the hobby being anything close to what it is without MR.
Look at what weve gotten.... great layout visits (my fav part), instructional articles for novice and experienced alike. Weve had unknowns to published authors, even legends in our hobby have contributed. Product reviews, announcements, related company adverts, heck we even had LHS listings so anyone and his uncle could always find a place to get what they wanted.
Come on folks, we have the Greatest Hobby IN THE WORLD(!) brought to our front door step. Sure other hobbys may do this but its a pale comparison to what MR offers.
My point being is I guess my favorite issue would be any that had Model Railroader printed across the top. The only downside i see is they dont come in the manilla envelopes.
Its safe to say that without MR, well, lets try not to think of that. From Alleghenys to Zyphers, MR is #1 with me. And Im thankful they exist.
For this month, what i would like to see, and I think it would be appropo, is to have the staff of MR come in to the Diner and give us some posts on the future outlook for MR. Id like to hear from the folks at MR (no offense Steve, but more staff than just you, we know your not the only one) on whats in the planbook.
Assuredly im looking forward to the diner this month as I know Im going to see some good pictures (beside the food). Last celebration of MR I got to see was when they took the Hiawatha around to various layouts. Awesome idea!
Thats my fond memories of MR. One and all of them. Lets here some more folks.
See yall later!
Douglas
Good Afternoon Diners,
Flo, I'll have an extra large coffee with lots of cream, please.
Congratulations to Kalmbach for the 1000th issue of MR.
How Many magazines of any kind can claim that kind of longitivity?
Probably my most memorable issue of MR was the first one I ever bought. I spent 50 whole cents for the September 1961 issue and it had a feature article of John Allen's Gorre & Dapheted. But then again, there have been so many "memorable issues." It's hard to limit it to just one or a few.
Starting with October 1961, there was the 5 issue series of articles by Bob Darwin on super detailing brass "Big Boys" back when such things were more affordable. Years later, there was the article by Bob Zenk, which made plastic diesels rival brass in detail. There's all the structure articles, layout "how tos," the track plans, locomotive drawings, and hey, even the diesel color charts. It has all been good!
I'm sure I'm in a very small minority, but I actually loved Model Trains magazine. Being a young lad at the time, it probably was more in my level of Comprehension.
Where would our modeling skills and the scope of our layouts be without MR?
I think it would be kind of neat to all assemble at the convention. Maybe gather at Kalmbach, take a tour, and eat them out of house and home! I've never been to the national convention, and I'm not sure if my schedule would even permit, but that's a ways away and it sounds like fun.
Hello to everyone, and I hope everyone is OK, safe, and warm.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Pepperoni pizza, please.
***Ed, those Hiawatha Twins put a smile on my face. Reminds me, I put in a pre-order a year or two ago for a Fox Valley Hiawatha loco and some cars to match. Double checked a couple months back and that particular dealer said I was still covered. Sure wish they would get them manufactured already.
Cheers! Rob
On to one of my favorite issues, It was the issue that featured an article on Building the Lido theatre. I am and always have been a movie theatre nut. ( I even managed in a few for a while.) The fact that the author made a blinking marquee was great. ( I can still see the cover, it had a steam loco and "kitty litter scenery", I have a copy in my stash somewhere.
Another issue was the one with the article " Its snowing again in Winter Park. As a child those winter scenes impressed me.
I am sure i can think of more but It will let others comment for now.
Hello all,
Yes, I'm still alive, though sometimes I wonder.
Saw the neurosurgeon. Hmm. He is now looking at surgery on my lumbar spine as hte injextions I get aren't workign so well anymore,and this winters wet dreary constant drizzling snow has really caused me added pain. Morphine, codeine, injections, PT doesn't work anymore. I have an MRI for my back on the 10th to see what he can do. I see him agian on the 15 for my neck to determine if the other herniated disc should come out. Then I see him agianfor MRI lumbar results to see what he can do. I ahve a pelvice tilt, hte rihgt side is higher than hte left. A chiropractor {who gave me no relief so I stopped going to him} years ago took Xrays standing up and said my left leg was shorter and gave me heel lifts to compenste. I wore that for a year, but it became so uncomfy I gave up. NOw i'm trying it agian, but I don realize after 53 years of being out of whack its going to be uncomfy to be IN whack. The CRP Dr refused to give me my injexction the other day as he wants to wait for the neurosurgeons decision. GRRRRRRR. That means what relief the injextions do give for teh short period they do give it, has to wait. I am NOT happy. ANd in tremendous amounts fo pain. Even if we do do surgery, it will be 3 months before it happens.
HOPE ULRICH and Petra are OK.
Well, I feel like an impostor here as I'm not even "arm chair modeling rihgt now. LOL
Well, it si spring ups and downs, 60-70F one day, 20-30 the next.
Hoep all is ok wiht you all.
-g
-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.
How many here remember going to Kalmbach Publishing when it was still at 1027 N 7th St. in Milwaukee, and can remember the pungent odor of printer's ink that filled the air? I remember that when they wanted to paint a backdrop on the walls for the original MR&T the paint wouldn't stick - the walls were permeated with chemicals from the printing process.
Dave Nelson
galaxy Hello all, Yes, I'm still alive, though sometimes I wonder. Saw the neurosurgeon. Hmm. He is now looking at surgery on my lumbar spine as hte injextions I get aren't workign so well anymore,and this winters wet dreary constant drizzling snow has really caused me added pain. Morphine, codeine, injections, PT doesn't work anymore. I have an MRI for my back on the 10th to see what he can do. I see him agian on the 15 for my neck to determine if the other herniated disc should come out. Then I see him agianfor MRI lumbar results to see what he can do. I ahve a pelvice tilt, hte rihgt side is higher than hte left. A chiropractor {who gave me no relief so I stopped going to him} years ago took Xrays standing up and said my left leg was shorter and gave me heel lifts to compenste. I wore that for a year, but it became so uncomfy I gave up. NOw i'm trying it agian, but I don realize after 53 years of being out of whack its going to be uncomfy to be IN whack. The CRP Dr refused to give me my injexction the other day as he wants to wait for the neurosurgeons decision. GRRRRRRR. That means what relief the injextions do give for teh short period they do give it, has to wait. I am NOT happy. ANd in tremendous amounts fo pain. Even if we do do surgery, it will be 3 months before it happens. HOPE ULRICH and Petra are OK. Well, I feel like an impostor here as I'm not even "arm chair modeling rihgt now. LOL Well, it si spring ups and downs, 60-70F one day, 20-30 the next. Hoep all is ok wiht you all. -g
CNCharlieWe signed up for the Birding and Breakfast that starts April 19th at Fort Whyte Conservation.
The swans have started north. Dianne saw about 60 this morning. We will go searching for them on Saturday. We know of a couple of spots where the fields flood every spring and they can usually be seen there.
We looked into buying a decent spotting scope last year but 'decent' = Expensive! Too rich for our blood. We had a cheap one years ago and it was exactly that - cheap! Not worth the time of day.
Boy Jim, (UP831) that sure brings back some memories. I also was a graduate of Model Trains before moving on to MR. I even had a couple of little hints posted in it . Boy was I proud.
You are correct, Model Railroader has been with us this whole life time trip that we have been on. Thanks again Kalmbach Staff for all you have shared with us devotees.
Prayers for you Galaxy, those are some tough problems to overcome, but overcome you will. Some of us will even fire up a candle for you....
Johnboy out................
Howdy, everybody .... I would rate our first day in Wisconsin a success ! Thanks for all of the comments especially memories regarding MR.
Der ... It's good to see all of your layout progress.
CN Charlie ... I bet there is coffee here every morning. ... BTW, "a coffee' is the person who is the one who has coffee spilled on them by the coffee spiller.
Steven .... Thanks for inviting everybody to tour Kalmbach's HQ during Trainfest.
Douglas .... Sounds like you have many fond memories of MR. Feel free to tell of more that may come to mond.
Jim UP831 .... You, too, have a lot of memories of MR ... I , too, recall the 50 cents price and the John Allen articles.
Rob .... The Hiawatha must have been sidetracked. Hope you get it soon.
MLC .... Building a theatre would be fun. ... Hmmmm... Kitty litter scenery ? I wnder about that.
Galaxy .... Sounds like you are still on a rough road. Prayers for you.
Dave Nelson ... It is good seeing you here in the Diner. Thank you for sharing your memories. I did not have the opportunity to see Kalmbach at its original location as you did.
Uncle Bpb .... It is good of you to offer words of encouragement to Galaxy.
John Boy .... I recall Model Trains magazine. Sounds like you had some publicity in it.
Dave (Critter) ....The swans must be beautiful to see.
One of my early memories of MR is the October 1959 issue. 50 cents was teh price of course. It hd an article on how to make the Pioneer Zephyr starting with extruded aluminum car bodies from Mantua. Mantua then sold them as blanks for you to cut your own windows. I was in my mid teens at the time. Evntually I became frustrated trying to make the nose out of sheet metal. I never completed it. As time passed, I was busy attending college or working to pay for college. Later I did silly stuff such as getting married and having children. As i got back into model railroading, I found other trains to model.
The incomplete train has been in a box with the October MR for a very long time. Below is a photo I just took of it.
I have a lot of other MR memories as well as memories of Wisconsin. When I get a chance, I will share some of them .
Heartland Division CB&QMLC .... A lot of trees are down here. We lost power for 3 1/2 hours.
Most we ever loose power for is 2-3 minutes.
Helps to have 100 KW generator in the power house.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Mornin' everyone!
Just stopping by to say hi and that I found the new place.....
Zoe, I need a large pot of Seneca Lake Blend Dark Raost Coffee for my R&GV RR Mug and I'll have the piece of coffeecake that Lion brought in that is on the left side....
Finally have the last rough draft of the first version of the final document for parents and Scouts that the committee will review tonight and probably make way to many changes in for the Handicapped Troop I am the Commissioner for..... Did give a copy to the District executive of what we had a week ago. So when I saw him at Roundtable last night I asked if he had time to read it yet. His eyes lit uop as he said YES! and asked if the council can use the documant as an example for unitrs. I told him to remember most of the document was taken from one that troop published out on the West Coast and that I would give him a copy of the final form we end up with for him to use as he wants...
Been way too busy trying to catch up with deradlines that have already past to spend much time online.... Have the Car Host document almost done for the Museum rules class (just need to find the rules in the NORAC Rule book that corrosponds with my ranting....)
Need to get my shower and head to the barber to get my ears lowered...
Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
A frosty one this morning with a temp of -4F and a winchill of -21.
Dave, we don't get swans here but many thousands of Canada Geese and many other waterfowl as we are on a major flyway. In fact I heard a few Canadas flying over yesterday. They are early and I hope they can find some food. We don't have a spotting scope. A few fellows at Birding and Breakfast do so we all use theirs. One is a Minox and I think the other fellow has a Zeiss. All very expensive. My wife has a pair of Meopta binocs that are really fantastic. I have a pair of Celestrons that I bought last year that are ok. I also have a pair of compact Swarovskis that fit in a shirt pocket. They are really great but the field of view isn't ideal for birding. I would like to get a better pair of binocs but where do you stop? It can get like collecting locomotives.
I had a good Yoga session yesterday. On Monday we will be back to our usual cardio and weights.
Der, I don't have a Photobucket account and I haven't taken any photos of the layout so I'm afraid you won't see any visuals of my progress. I did do a little on it last night and hope to get the 'town' area finished up today.
The other day my wife said to me that she was going to 'clean the house'. Robbie immediately ran and stood in front of the closet where we keep the vacuum cleaner. We tried it again a few days later and he did the same thing. How on earth does that dog figure out such things. We certainly don't try to teach him.
Well, that is about it for me today.
Richard
angelob6660 Maybe in the two to three years we could go travel to national train show or something and meet in a group gathering.
Maybe in the two to three years we could go travel to national train show or something and meet in a group gathering.
Back when Erik Bergstrom was our genial moderator, he arranged for the creation of "Forum Member" T shirts that you could buy at a modest sum, with the idea that you would wear them to model railroad and railfan events and fellow Forum members could seek you out. I still have mine somewhere and it might even (ahem) still fit. I don't wear it much as a T shirt with the big slogan "FORUM MEMBER" looks sort of dorky these days. Times have changed.
We do have an annual get together and photo of Forum Members at Milwaukee's Trainfest each November and have been doing that for something like 15 years. Over the years many MR and CTT and Kalmbach staffers have joined us. Here is the 2012 photo with Jim Hediger of MR, and Mary Graf from Kalmbach.
And 2010, when Jim Wrinn and Mike Yuhas joined us
The numbers seem to be dwindling however, as you can see from last year's photo with Cody and Neil.
A few times we did the same thing at the big train show in Madison WI but that seemed to die from lack of interest.
And twice we had a Forum Member gathering at Railroad Days in Galesburg IL, including the memorable year when the Kalmbach tent (and stacks of magazines) went flying in the wind. I have a photo of the tent flying but none of the group meeting itself - I guess we got distracted!