Good Morning!
Just dropping by to say hello!
I am not a happy camper these days. A number of health issue keep me down in the dumps at the moment. Add to that the rather unpleasant, but typical "summer" weather we have here and you have the perfect mix for a cute little depression.
Talking of weight, I am on a slow path of reducing my weight. I am down by about 5 lbs. since March, which is OK, as I am not pushing it. It´s more a general change of food habits than a diet.
Petra has a degree in ecotrophology and knows quite a lot about diets and also diabetes. Most of the diets don´t work long term, if you go back to eating your "normal" fare after you have reached your your goal. You´ll be pretty quickly back from where you started. The best diet is to eat the right amount od the right food and give your body a regular work out.
The right food certainly does not include or , nor any soft drinks or deep fried food. I am afraid that pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs are not on that list, either. Better to stay away from any of the fast food places, as well as any "industrially" made food, which contains more fat and sugar than anyone would want to know.
Poor Ken - now just about all of us have dumped a ton of well-meant advice on you, but I promise you will get only one more from me!
Buy a bicycle and do 10 miles on it - each day!
I should listen to my own advice!
Edit: I got tops - so your favorite poison is on me today. Make that mineral water for Ken!
JamesNWR05 FRRYKid- That's quite a collection! I've got maybe 30 engines and cars altogether, for me it's a constant wager between whether to get an engine, a building, track, scenery, so on and so forth. I usually go with the engine, to be honest
FRRYKid- That's quite a collection! I've got maybe 30 engines and cars altogether, for me it's a constant wager between whether to get an engine, a building, track, scenery, so on and so forth. I usually go with the engine, to be honest
I realized after I mentioned what wasn't on the picture, I had forgotten a few pieces of equipment. In another storage container that is strictly for a planned branch & separate railroad entity, I have three 2-6-0 steamers (Model Power, converted to Kadees), three S-4 switchers (Atlas yellow box), 17 Roundhouse 34' Overton passenger cars (pre-Horizon), a boxcar, and a work caboose modified for open-air passenger rides.
cudaken I don't want to go E-Bay happy again! Spent well over $30,000 on E-Bay. I was a Power Buyer!
I don't want to go E-Bay happy again! Spent well over $30,000 on E-Bay. I was a Power Buyer!
It has calmed down quite a bit but there have been times that I have gone a bit crazy with eBay. Considering I don't have an LHS, eBay is my hobby shop.
Sir Madog Edit: I got tops - so your favorite poison is on me today. Make that mineral water for Ken!
Flo, or whoever's handy: It's not poison per se, but could I get a virgin piña colata? I think I would also like a clubhouse sandwhich as well. Thank you so much.
Good Evening,
Been on and off the site, cleaning up around the house and working.
My Final grades came in on May 30th, here they are,
CMT 235: A
HUM 1: A
CMT = Computer Maintence Technology
HUM =Humanities
51/60 units completed so far, I can now relax till fall, 3 more semesters to go!!!
I've been thinking about adding an Amtrak train to my collection, leaning towards using a couple of older Walthers Superliners and a 73' Budd Baggage in the Phase IV Scheme.
It would be something like this,
1. 73 Budd Baggage
2. Superliner II Transition Sleeper (crew only)
3. Superliner II Coach
4. Superliner II Diner
5. Superliner II Sleeper (passengers)
I can always add more cars to it later, but this is perfect to start with, (yes I know it looks pike-sized!)
Here are the locomotives I'm thinking of using,
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The AMD 103 P40,
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or the legendary F40PH,
I'd love a Dash 8-32BHW from Atlas, but every internet search engine and ebay lists them as Sold Out!
What do you guys think? Which one shall I buy?
yougottawantaDave - What is the statud of the leadership of the club ?
Hi YGW:
I'm guessing that you meant 'status'. We have three officers still in place. Our Secretary and our Treasurer are both regular attendees at the meetings and are doing their part very well. The Vice President has recently landed a good job but it is out of town so he has announced that he won't be around much. Too bad because he has a lot of spirit in him. The President has resigned without explanation. All he said was that he would see us in September. I do know that he has recently come out of retirement to teach courses for the CNR and that is keeping him very busy. We do have a couple of other very active members who have been heavily involved in securing the new clubhouse and looking after all the details like insurance that are involved therein.
FWIW I'm not worried about the survival of the club. In fact, now that we have a decent clubhouse I think we can actively start recruiting new members, and if we handle things properly, the fact that we are about to start building a new 'permanent' layout should create a lot of interest.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Morning all
Dave - I am glad to hear that the club is moving in a positive direction. Do you think there is someone who will step up to take the President position ? I am sure you are right once the club is in the building more people will show up. When we have building programs at our church the members get excited and then the numbers increase. People want to be a part of a growing organization.
Ken - I may have one. I will check this weekend.
AtSF - that's not the right question The question should be how many of each should I get ? !
Howmus - I had a similar experience. While my wife was ill and in the process of dieing I put on 90lbs. Still trying to get it off. It is wonderful that you have been able to loose the weight what happened to your qoutes? I enjoyed reading them.
Ulrich - I am sorry you are in the dumps is there anything I can do to lift your spirits ? What gauge are you in ? What engine manufacturer are you running in your layout ?
Henry - can you approach the fence guy and bring the subject up in a meeting ?
Gotta get back to w**k
TTYL
YGW
Good Afternoon!
All this talk of weight and losing it made me step onto the scale. Since March, I have lost 10lbs. instead of the I thought I had lost. I am down to a little over 230 lbs. now, at 6´5" not a bad weight, but still to much for my aging hulk and frame. A lot of the loss is water, not fat.
yougottawantaUlrich - I am sorry you are in the dumps is there anything I can do to lift your spirits ? What gauge are you in ? What engine manufacturer are you running in your layout ?
I keep trying to reach for the ladder to climb out of the dumps, but each time I think I´ve got my feet onto the first step, someone seems to move it away. Life has decided to pass by me, so all I can do is to wait for it to stop and pick me up again.
Regarding your question, there are only two manufacturers selling Swiss HOm (for 1,000mm gauge) locos and cars. One is Bemo in Germany, which is rather expensive, and the other one is Ferrosuisse, A Swiss manufacturer selling handmade brass locos at prices you can get a good used compact car for. Bemo locos are in the range of $300 to $360 for electric locos, and steam locos are in the range of $700 and upward. The steamers are handcrafted metal engines and very nicely done, more collector´s items than locos you´d want to wear down running on a layout.
Way too expensive! Better to be happy with what I have got!
Good morning, everybody !
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
The past couple of weeks have been a mixed bag for me. Three weeks ago we took a whirlwind trip to Anaheim with the grandkids for a day. Good idea--going to Disneyland with the grandkids. Bad idea--going on grad night. From about 3:00 on the place just kept filling up with HS seniors. Still a memorable day for the grandkids. The following week the grandkids (and their parents) came to our house for a week. They live in Idaho so any visit is at least a week. It was great to have the here, but it was relaxing to have them go.
The day they left I started getting sick--bronchitis. With my history of asthma, bronchitis hits me particularly hard. It has been a week and I am still not much better. I have had an on-again-off-again fever ranging from 102 on Monday to about 100 this morning. I hate being physically compromised!
There has been some progress on finding the exit ramp to my current "retirement." I posted for a job at the State of Arizona that looks as if they lifted the description and requirements right off of my resume. I also have a first interview (phone) with a telecom company that has real promise.
Finally, on the train front, I had the trains running for the grandkids. I think I have told you that my son has six kids, the oldest is eight and the youngest is one, and has a pair of three-year-olds. I am always amazed that these three-year-old will watch a train go around for fifteen minutes and only leave when it is time for dinner. Layout is L-haped, N-Scale layout that is 11' x 14', so it takes a little more than a minute for a complete loop.
Well, off to rest for a while...
(Anxiously awaiting the chaos that is page 5.)
Richard
Checking out the MR Project Webcam and they have bunches of foam to create mountains. It's will be interesting to see it come together.
Rochelle Saw a blue and gray engine with a big E on the side, paired with a WP engine. Anyone know what those might be? Before the diamond rebuild I swear I heard someone shooting a 22, on multiple occasions. On google maps, there isn't enough land for that to be safe in a residential/commercial neighborhood.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Good morning all from the mostly sunny West Coast.
Ken, thanks for the beers, I see they are lined up on the bar. I'll take them now.
It has been a busy week. Last fall my wife broke/dislocated three fingers in a horse accident. She does not heal well at all, as she tends to get huge amounts of scar tissue wherever she has been repaired. So she had surgery in the fall and then because of the scar tissue, had a second surgery in early May. So on Tuesday she came in and said one of her fingers (she is still in a cast) has dislocated again. So in to see the surgeon and he booked her in for surgery the next day (Wednesday) apparently the scar tissue actually pushed her finger out as she healed even though she had pins in for a couple of weeks after the last surgery.
So I drive her into the big city, drop her off and go home. She is taken upstairs at the end of the day and waiting in the hall outside the OR with another patient who has had all his IVs put in when all of a sudden over the intercom a "CODE ??? CODE??? comes across. An accident had occurred with multiple serious trauma patients coming in. Well, the guy had his IVs removed and my wife and him were taken back downstairs and told to go home. When I arrived to pick her up, the Helicopters were coming in thick and fast. My wife and this guy were the last two of the day and got unlucky. She said the OR floor went from nearly deserted to full of staff in minutes and was really impressed with the organization and how smoothly it all happened. They had five ORs ready to go in minutes.
So I took her back this morning and she's booked in the OR at 11:00.
My daughter had an interesting day yesterday at school. A kid in the group she was with had a major seizure. The first teacher on the scene was a complete basket case so my daughter took over (she's 15) and instructed a kid to call the ambulance and then she proceeded to help clear his partially restricted airway by getting the kids to roll him on his side and she pulled his tongue out. All those days in the Vet hospital OR helping Mom with middle of the night emergencies have made her a very calm, cool capable person when bad things happen.
Dave, any more thoughts of taking the president's job? I think you should give it a go if you get the chance. Of course, it might turn you off Model railroading forever.
I am really impressed at those of you that have been married for so many years. It took me forty years to find someone I actually wanted to marry. I am glad I waited for the right one. There were others I considered marrying, but I wasn't 100% certain about it, so didn't. My wife and I have been married 20 years and were really good friends for 14 years before that. I was too busy taking care of my bucket list to want to get married early, as well as working all the hours I could. So I now have the perfect wife, a comfortable life, and a really worn out body. Two out of three ain't bad.
Son worked on "Hit The Road" (a new TV series) with Jason Alexander a couple of days this week. He thinks it will be a good show and had a lot of laughs on set.
Had what I thought was a good question for Filosophy Phriday this week, but with all that has been going on, I can't remember what it was.
Have a great weekend, all the best to all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Bike ride for me today, second in 2 days. The problem this year has been the weather, but winter seems to be over now and we've gone from 40s to start this week to 70s today. This is my exercise program to curb my diabetes. Going for walks just does not do enough for me, so I need my biking.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Since I'm only using a few cars, I guess one locomotive will do.
I'll start with the Athearn P40 #810
Evening Diners
Flo, Ed, Brent, Jan and I will have a please.
Sort Of Work Front. I had a whole customer looking for a Twin Mattress! Cannot believe only one person in 9 Hours on a Friday! I am so screwed.
Brent How's the sick Doggie? Tail wagging again?
BATMAN All those days in the Vet hospital
I hope you are talking about a Veterinatrian Hospital and not the VA Hospital!
YGW Let me know here in the dinner if you happen to have a extra PK1000 E unit. Then PM me what you need for it.
Train like me today and just crawing around the layout!
Ed Man I love the Mighty CB&Q's!
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
BATMANDave, any more thoughts of taking the president's job? I think you should give it a go if you get the chance. Of course, it might turn you off Model railroading forever.
I'm still seriously considering it. In fact, Dianne and I have been discussing getting a second vehicle so I can get around on weekdays. We are considering either a Chevy Volt (hybrid) or a Chevy Bolt (all electric).
Right now she is driving a Honda Odyssey about 95 kms or more each day. The cost of gas is about $75.00 per week plus wear and tear and maintenance. That would cover more than half the cost of owning and operating a Volt for four or five years. I'm looking at four or five years because that is about how much longer Dianne has to go before retiring. The biggest negative for the Volt is rather poor reliability ratings when compared to other compact hybrid vehicles, but at least the Volt won't leave you stranded for hours if the battery dies.
I haven't made a final decision on going for the Presidency yet. I will see how it goes at our meeting next Tuesday. Buying a car just so I can do the job better seems to be a bit excessive because I just don't need a second vehicle otherwise.
It´s sunny outside, which makes me feel a little better!
Janie, just coffee in my RhB mug, please!
I am in a picture taking mood this morning (with nothing better to do).
HEY! When did JUNE happen?
Time is different when you get older.
Well, if it *is* June (as you say), then I am 69.
I never bargained on being this old. But it does beat the alternatives.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Good Morning all
Joe Staten Island West
Sir Madog,
Are those LGB Scale models?
Well, we did go to the casino in Wheeling this Wednesday morning. Pretty bad day for us as we were in & out kind of fast. Usually we win enough games to keep playing for a couple of hours, but not this time. I really don't go expecting to win, but it's nice to be able to play some.
But the big disappointment was the buffet. We go all the way down there because of it. Especially the roast beef. It was always tender & flavorable, but they have dropped it from the lunch menu. I mean, everything else is very good, but the beef was the drawing card for me. I doubt if I will drive all that way anymore.
The only uptick for the day was on the way home when we passed the spot where we usually railfan & caugh Norfolk Southern's "Virginian" heritage unit going east. No chance for a photo though because of traffic.
Spent a couple of hours railfanning this morning & caught 13 trains. The 3rd engine on one was Norfolk Southern's "Pennsylvania" heritage unit. Didn't get any good photos of it however. There's something about that color that causes a lot of reflections from the side panels. Maybe I'll get lucky someday & it will catch a stop signal. Wishful thinking I know, but hey, one can always hope.
Probably will get up early tomorrow & do some weeding in the flower beds, & then cut the grass in the back yard. Temperatures are suppose to start climbing into the 90s, & I don't handle that well anymore. Hoping everyone will have a nice weekend & stay safe.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
ATSFGuy Sir Madog, Are those LGB Scale models?
Gee - that layout would easily fill a spare bedroom in G scale, but it is only 3 by 5ft.!
No, the scale is HO scale, the gauge is 12mm!
Bah. This week went from winter on Monday to summer today. The heat hit me and I took a nap instead of a bike ride.
Good evening all.
Flo - I will take the RBF that ken so graciously paid for. Thanks.
Ken - Thanks for the RBF! I know what you mean about "guarding the store" lately....
YGW - Free stuff is always good!
James - If you want snow, just come to my area of NWPA... Our "snowstorms" are usually measured in feet... And no, we don't close down everything until it is really snowing!
Ulrich - Sunny days are always better! Nice pics also.
Trains - Nothing new to report.
Next Saturday evening the Lakeshore Railway Historical Museum, located alongside CSX and NS in North East (the town) Pa, is holding their annual "Night at the Museum" event, where they stay open all night long for railfans. I am hoping for good weather, as I am planning on going for at least some of the night. Something about a night-time photo shoot of trains is just way too cool too pass up... And that will be a very interesting day, as there is a train show in Titusville, at the OC&T train station that day as well. So, my plan is, train show, w**k, then museum.
Yes, I am crazy!
(If anyone else will be attending either event, let me know... We could meet up and chat for a few.)
W**k - Had a great Friday, then guarded the store today... I sold one thing all day...
Weight - All the talk of losing weight has me reporting where I stand - I need to lose another 10 lbs to be back to my high school weight. I am a light-weight, compared to some, but I only stand 5'6" high, so, under 200lbs is good, my goal is back around 155-160.
Yes, that does make moving fridges, stoves, etc... around at w**k interesting!
Hope all are well, and all have a good evening!
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.
Flo, Ed, Jan, Brent and I will have a please. If Joe is enclined give him a as well.
Joe323
Lion
I swear my wife is a Vampire. Soon as I got home she sucked the life out of me! All she talks about is what hurts, what she wante us (means me) to do, what she is worried about and what she wants.No wonder I don't want to talk to her any longer.
Work Front Good thing I enjoy reading! But over all I was a good day for me. If I did the math right I made a extra $110.00 in spiffs with only 5 customers!
VA Health Care and Blood Surgar Front.
1 Well the sort good news. I will get some extra test strips so I can test my blood sugar level twices a day. Better than twices a week!
2 Vision sure has changed, not sure if that is good or not? Can see Computer Moniter better with no glasses than with them on. Before I had to use the bio-focals?
Trains are running great, Ken
Morning diners,
Happy Birthday Month, LION.
I was going to write a few days ago, but every time I got to look Charles keeps coming up to me and wants to play. Then he gets bored a few minutes and moves on and by the I get back I either forget or not important to write.
I saw the new game play of Star Wars Battlefront II. It looks good but I'm not sure about the gaming fighting style it reminds me of Call of Duty.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Evening Diner?
Flo, wake up! I will have a and if any other folks show I pay there Bar Tab.
Work was as dead as the dinner today. To be honest I was fine with it being dead. Blood Sugar was normal and I felt like the walking dead. Just takes a while to get use to lower Blood Sugar levels.
Dropped my Town Car off to get the A/C unit going. It is being converet to R134. Hope Bob does not find any other problems. Just cannot handel the heat like I could when I was 50 and younger?
Did a Quick BBQ and it is done.
Hey everyone. WHAT A GREAT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY!
Well, before I say what the weekend consisted of...guess where I was?
Answer: Horseshoe Curve.
I took my first ever Amtrak trip this Saturday. I went with nine other people. We boarded the train at Greensburg PA, and went east to Altoona PA- home of the horseshoe curve. It was such a great smooth ride. I got food in the cafe car, and got to see us pass over the curve onboard. We then got off in Altoona, and walked to the museum there. We spent two hours in the museum, and a decent bit in the newest addition: The Harry Bennet roundhouse- housing several pieces of equipment, including a GG1 and the state locomotive- the K4 1361. We then walked to Nickolettas for lunch. excellent turkey club. Then half of us went to see the Altoona Association of Model railroaders club....1.31 miles from the amtrak station. Amazing layout, and the fact they just got an N scale layout was another wonderful addition. We then boarded the train back at 5:26. We were about 2hrs late, but that was because of a freight that was put ahead of us.
Then today- My new favorite nascar driver got his first career win in the cup series- Ryan Blaney driving for the legendary Wood Brothers team. Now I just have to hope the Penguins win tonight, and this will have been the best weekend in a long time for me!
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
I'm just finishing up a nice steak dinner - baked potato with sour cream, steamed asparagus and a thick rib-eye. I went to the buther shop and payed a bit more for a better slice of meat, and I must say I grilled it to perfection. I drank an Arrogant Bastard IPA with it, my favorite ale, particularly with steak.
It was a hot day, over 90, but I did my bike ride anyway. It wasn't bad on the old rail-trail which runs through the trees most of the way and was much better than riding on the road.
Partly sunny, but mainly quite cloudy day today! I am not feeling well, as my old ticker is acting up. While the BP is OK at 120/70, the heart rate at over 100 is not. With my heart attemting to win the Capetown Races, I feel tired all the time, but can´t find any sleep.
Some people ride a roller coaster for kicks, but some folks are just as happy riding the strretcars of Lisbon, which appears not to be too different, according to the following video!
And some more pictures of my layout.
Have a good day!
I'd rather ride a trolley than a roller coaster, any day.
Today I'm meeting up with a guy I've known for years online, but never met face to face. He's not far, just up in Manchester, NH. It's a sad day for him. His cat has reached the end of the line, and the vet said it's time to give him his final rest.
Good morning all
Hobby front - FINALLY ! The extrior siding is FINISHED HURRAY ! I am so glad to be done with that phase of the project. I have already started the next phase which is paint prep and caulk. I will do the roof in the fall when it cools down.
W**K front it is gonna be HOT today. 80 degrees by 8am ! Supposed to feel like 100 degrees today.
Ulrich - I watched the your video this morning. I was amazed at the steepness of the streets and I wondered the trolley cars that are jacked up on one end do they lower and jack up on the other end when going up a hill the opposite slope ? I also noted that the trolley cars were tagged - I just dont get that, why someone thinks they have permision to paint someone elses property..... I also thought it absolutely amazing that cars were running amongst the trolley cars. That would make me VERY NERVOUS ! Thanks for sharing the video. I hope you feel better soon.
Henry - It may have been workiers shooting nails vs bullets. There is a tool made by many several manufactures that actually shoots case hardened nails into concrete or steel with a 22 load. The tool company commonly used around here is "Ramset" and "Hiliti" They can shoot 3 1/2" nails into concrete, shoot shorter ones into steel...
ROR - Some kids you have there. You have every right to brag on them - well done raing them ! Are you still feeling under the weather ?
Mr. B - Did you find a place to move out to ? How are you doing ?
Ken - I am sorry I forgot to look this weekend. I had three grand children, two nephews at my house this weekend plus my three kids ! I had to come back to w**k to get some rest ! And not much to be had here : (
Angel - Did you post a photo the other day of layout progress ? I was scanning through quickly and I thought I saw some of your work ?
Joe 323 - tell us a little about yourself and your modeling interest
Ricky - Free stuff is good in this case : ) Free poison ivy would be a bad thing Thanks : ) You are getting back to your high school weight ? That is some accomplishment ! That is a great goal to set for one self ! I am very impressed.
Tom - How long of a drive is Wheeling WVa from you ?
Lion - June ! When did 2017 get here ??? Heck it will be 2018 before I know it !!!
Dave - What issues is being reported on the Volt that they say it is unreliable ?
Batman - How is your wifes fingers ? Very impressive that your daughter was able to handle the emergency
Jimmy - Did the Penguins win ?
Ulrich - I watched teh video this morning Do the cars jack up on the other end when going up opposing grades ? I see tagging is a world wide curse... I do not understand how someone can mark up property that does not belong to them...Hope you feel better. Nice photos of your RR.
Lion - June ? How did 2017 get here so fast ! It should still be 1980s !