Evenin' folks!
Janie, I could sure use a cup of decaf, and a slice of the Chocolate Cream Pie over there on the counter...
Been out to the museum for the second weekend of running Steam! A couple times the steam wistle would sound when I was talking to people on the caboose. i would stop, smile, and tell them, You gotta love that sound! Just something about a steam locomaotive belching thick black coal smoke and poluting the air and everything.......... Ah yes!" Then I would say, "That was told to you by a tree hugging greeny who drives an electric car, BTW!" Got some good laughs from that, I did. Their engineer was at the throttle all day, and he knows how to "work" the steam whistle really well. I mentioned to several gropups that back in the day the farmers who lived along the tracks knew who was the engineer by the way the whistle sounded as each had there own singature way of making it sound.
MisterBeasleyI'm curious, Ray. Why are you shaving off your beard?
Heartland Division CB&Q Ray ... 20 years of a beard ? ... Sort of like Rip Van Winkle ? .... LOL
Ray ... 20 years of a beard ? ... Sort of like Rip Van Winkle ? .... LOL
Ah... Well. The reason I grew a beard (or kept the beard) after my wife died was the weight gain. It was useful in covering up the 3rd. and 4th chins. I also have psoriasis and have had off and on a patch on my chin. The beard helps make that much less noticable. I haven't been bothered for a few years with that on my face so, 1. I want to see what is going on under the beard and see what I look like without it, 2. I want to see what that might do in making me more attractive to uh, lets say some of the women I know that I wouldn't mind being more attractive to....
Prayers for all those in harms way tonight! Stay safe out there.
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Evening Diners.
Just finished up a Six-Day work week and a 10 hour day on a Saturday.
I started this morning at 7:30 and ripped out an old outdated round spindle western railing and replaced it with a new modern railing. My customer was very pleased.
I am very tired I prefer a seven hour day at my age. A ten is a little much for a Saturday. You better know it I've had a beer or two or four since then. Who's counting ?
My dad taught me you work hard and you play hard. The trick is you get a little wiser and not play so hard so you can work hard again.
I still enjoy putting my tool belt on and hope I feel that way for about another ten years as I'm looking forward to retirement.
If you zoom in and look to the right of the picture I was short one spindle. I thought I had a couple extra. The first angled one I cut going down the stairs, I cut wrong. Wouldn't you know it, I needed that one. Chuckle chuckle.
You all have a good night
Evening Diners
Flo, Gary, Ed, Inch, Brent, Jan, Track Fiddler and I will have a Crown Royal and a Chaser please.
Work Front It was a OK day untill Nancy (owner's wife) called! How does Mavin stays married to her is a mystery to me? And he has guns! That woman could make Gundiah mad! Sad thing, she has no idea why she makes people mad!
Ray I have had my beard for around 34 years now. OK, I have shaved it off maybe 2 times 3 at max. First time I guess I was around 30 and there was no double chin. Both my Mom and Wife liked me better with the beard? I keep mine very short, around 1/2 inch max. Much like Maximus in the movie Gladiator. Maybe just wacking it down to a half inch will do the trick?
Slip And Slide Railroad. Just about have it cured! Just one section is still slick. Engines slow down but make it all the way around. Kind of fun watching struggle a little.
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
BATMAN I also dug up three basketball sized rocks that were coming up from the depths of the Earth in the front lawn. The John Deere was letting me know it was time for them to go. I think they are making rocks much heavier these days.
I also dug up three basketball sized rocks that were coming up from the depths of the Earth in the front lawn. The John Deere was letting me know it was time for them to go. I think they are making rocks much heavier these days.
Reading that brought back a memory from growing up on the ranch. (Yes, that is the same ranch where the layout still resides.) Just about every spring; my brother, my cousin and me spent days picking numerous sandstone rocks out of the field. No matter how many rocks we seem to have picked out the field, they are seemed to reappear. We would haul trailer after trailer of rocks off the field. It got very annoying very quickly.
howmus Monday morning I also will become, for the first time in well over 20 years, clean shaven. Should be interesting. I will keep the beard for the weekend so I don't look too funny if the skin under the beard is totally a different color than the tanned skin on the rest of my face and arms
Monday morning I also will become, for the first time in well over 20 years, clean shaven. Should be interesting. I will keep the beard for the weekend so I don't look too funny if the skin under the beard is totally a different color than the tanned skin on the rest of my face and arms
That kind of sounds like what would happen to me if I were to shave mine. I've had a beard of some sort since September of 1997. (First year of college in North Dakota.) I decided to start growing it after Mom & Dad came over for Parent's Day. I haven't shaved if off since. I do trim it but I wear it somewhat bushy though. I don't like it on my cheeks though. (It itches too much if it gets thick.)
cudaken That woman could make Gundiah mad!
That woman could make Gundiah mad!
I presume you are talking about Gandhi.
Hobby/Personal Front: Got the three pieces of cork sheet this afternoon. Also have the corner braces for attaching the new section of the layout. The sanding house and tower should be here Monday (according to tracking). Though it may be a challenge getting what I want to do done. Somewhere in the mix, I have to juggle (proverbially) Mom's pets needing to go to the vet. The dog doesn't have a problem. She loves to go car rides (especially with Mom). The cat, OTOH, hates going for car rides. (She yowls anytime she is in the carrier.) The last time I helped Mom take the cat to the vet, she didn't want to get out of the carrier. She even tried to get back in the carrier once she was on the exam table. I ended up zipping the carrier shut. She was not a happy camper. I wouldn't be surprised if two factors come into play: 1) She's a Siamese and 2) she's quite old (at least 16).
Morning all,
Yesterday proved to be interesting for us while railfanning. Much better traffic wise when compared to last week with 12 trains passing by. 3 mixed freights, 1 grain, 1 coal, 5 intermodal, 1 engine running light, & 2 pre-constructed switches being transported on those special cars. Foreign power consisted of 2 Union Pacifics.
Turned out the switches were being installed right down the road from us on a siding.
Somewhere around 11:00 am, A Norfolk Southern reported to Conway Terminal that they had hit a car at a rail crossing in Haysville. It's a gated crossing entering the Ohio River Blvd. & about 8 miles up the road from where we were sitting. We pass it coming & going & are very familar with it. I decided not to drive up there because there really isn't anywhere to park & it's a very busy highway. The train crew reported no injuries to themselves, & later it was reported no one else had been injured either. The Trainmaster & other officials responded promptly & all tracks were shut down. The train was an intermodal & took 1.5 miles to come to a stop. The engineer reporting that the head end of the train was near the Sewickley Bridge. It was reported that the lead locomotive suffered only minor sheet metal damage. I never heard a report about the auto. In less than hour, all tracks were reopened & the train was given permission by the Trainmaster to proceed to Conway Yard. When it came by us, I couldn't see any obvious damage. Here's the lead locomotive as it passed us.
So all in all, the scanner had a busy day. Always sad to hear about these things though. I'm sure the train crew was upset, & I'm sure the person or persons in the car were terrified as well.
Ray - be sure to post a picture if you shave your beard. Myself, I just can't picture you without it. I've never had one. I always itch when I skip shaving for 2 days, so I've never tried going beyond that. It would save a ton of money with the cost of razors & blades though.
Have a great week everyone & stay safe.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
I always think it is interesting that they build panel tracks and switches and replace them like model railroad track.
On the weather side of things, a lot of my friends in Houston area are reporting massive flooding now , with rain rates of 8 inches an hour at some times. Many have water in their homes.
Good afternoon all.
Just popping in quick while guarding the storefront today.... no customers in sight.
moelarrycurly4 Looks like Texas went from "Total eclipse of the heart" to " Rock you like a Hurricane " in one week.
Looks like Texas went from "Total eclipse of the heart" to " Rock you like a Hurricane " in one week.
Wouldn't Luke Combs "Hurricane" be more apropos, seeing as (stereotypical) Texans love country music?
Sorry, I couldn't resist that one...
Tom - I have a pic on my computer I will have post... Near me several years ago a NS 9-40CW leading a coal drag pegged a PSP patrol car. (At a whopping 25MPH) Only visible damage to the unit was a large white scuff across the plow. The patrol car was totaled. I have the pic of the unit afterwards.
I will pull it, and the pic of 1070 from my computer later.
Hope all are well, and all enjoy the day!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Just a quick "Hello" to anyone lurking in the Diner...
Not many by the looks of things Even the coffee urn is cold!
Perfect, cool weather here in NE Ohio. Time to get back to ch**es.
Here's a little "blast-from-the-past" — May 4, 1969 and the NKP 759 is making her way west on the Golden Spike Limited. I'm in that croud somewhere. This was the overnight layover at Cleveland Union Terminal.
759_CUT_5-4-69_web by Edmund, on Flickr
In other NKP Berkshire news, I see the 757 may be making her way back to Bellevue!
http://www.madrivermuseum.org/news.html
I hope that everyone is safe and well, especially those on the Gulf coast dealing with Harvey!
Prayers to those in need...
Regards, Ed
Ricky - I don't know how fast the train was going, but over the years as I have driven along that stretch of track, the average speed is usually about 45 mph. After all tracks were open, they did place a 15 mph restriction & instructed other trains to make a lot of noise because of the number of people gathered at the scene.
Evening Diners,
I been thinking of the Burlington Northern railroad around 1978-1981 with 3 F7 helper locomotives. The layout can easily converted into BNSF.
The layout that had that idea was my Pine Spears. Located in Washington state, along the old SP&S line of Fallbridge Subdivision. Which is still an active line from the BNSF.
To my surprise I found Supergirl season 2 in Target. I didn't know it was even out, by that I decided to check on Amazon for Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 4. In which it was released on the 22th I think.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Eveing Diners
Flo, Ed, Gary, Inch, Brent. Jan, Track Fiddler and I will have a please and give Rick a Rootbeer Float!
ricktrains4824Just popping in quick while guarding the storefront today.... no customers in sight.
Rick the same at my store. Won't go into details because there are none!
Blood Sugar Been cutting back on fats and have had some of the best reading I have gotten. Woke up with a Blood Sugar of 77 so a tad low. At 2:10 I was at 103! Normally around that time I am in the 160's. When I got home at 5:40 I was at 94? That is the lowest I have been during the day! Down Side I felt like ash pitt. I was hoping to get the rearyard cut and BBQ some chicken. Guess I am eating Shake And Bake Chicken and looking at weeds instead.
Later Ken
Evenin' Folks1
Janie, I need a decaf for the moment and a soft seat to sit and relax in!
Wow! great month out at the R&GV RR Museum! Both weekends had excellent crowds, and the first several runs this morning were standing room only. This was to the point that our usual policy of "you can ride trains as long as you want" was cancelled until the last couple of runs. The museum has added a train watching platform up on the hill where the upper yard and restoration building are located. that was packed all day.
Every time the wind would shift and the coal smoke would drift over and into my caboose, I would take a deep breath and tell everyone how much I love the smell of coal fired steam trains and the gorgeous steam whistle! Nothing like it with all the polution, carcinigens, and cinders! Gotta love it! I would also do this complete with huge grin and hand gestures. Then I would say, that folks is the word from a Tree Hugging Greenie who drives an Electric Car! That brought quite a bit of laughter, every time I used it.... I actually do love the smell of coal smoke and was very happy to be able to be on board most of the times we ran this month. Absoloutely "COOL!"
The only time I couldn't was last Sunday When I attended the Eagle Ceremony and dinner. OK, I let you in on the final reason I decided, on the spot, last Sunday that the beard WILL get shaved off tomorrow morning... There were many people from my church at the Eagle Ceremony as the young man is a member there. The Retired Pastor of my church and his wife were there and he gave the invocation and the final blessing at the ceremony. Several other families who are both close to the Eagles framily and the Retired Pastor where there and had comendeered a whole table for the afternoon. My new pastor, who has the Title, Rev. Dr. was also there. When I arrived she was standing off to the side talking with the Mother of the Eagle. I came over and said hi to both of them.
Our Paster is not only a brilliant woman in her early 60's I think, but is also probably the closest to being a "10" at her age I have ever seen (I am not the only guy in town the thinks that, I know). Absolutely gorgeous lady. I also agree highly with her interpretation of the faith, her outlook on the world in general, and she serves on the MLK committee with me.
With that as a bit of background.... As I was talking with her before the ceremony, I mentioned I was thinking of shaving off the beard and asked her what she thought. She leaned over to me with a twinkle in her eye and a very smirky grin and said, "Ray, I don't like Beards!" Then gave me a huge smile!!!! Yep the beard is getting removed tomorrow morning!
Now, I have no notions of her and I becoming an item. She is way out of my class (She is single, and I know she has 3 grown children, BTW). But it sure did make me feel good! Time will tell, and I shall see if any other nice single ladies out there my age feel the same about beards... Who knows?
Prayers for all in the path of harm! Have a great evening.
Good evening !
Ed .... NKP 759 is a beautiful locomotive. I'm glad it was preserved.
Tom ... I enjoy your interesting photos.
Angel.... If you model BN, you will have something in common with FRRY
Ken .. Good to hear the blood sugar was reduced, and I hope it gets stable and you feel good.
Ray ... I agree the smell of coal smoke is good. LOL at your comments about being a greenie. ... Ah! Now we know the motivation for shaving of the beard. You rascal. ... Hey You are a top knotch guy. You deserve the best.
Everybody ... If you want to know how I made my "water', read my thread.
Steven .... You might also be interested in my "water" thread. I do not recall reading of anyone else using my method. I guess I am the first one.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
I can't agree that the smell of burning coal is good. All it reminds me of is cold showers & no heat at every Army post I was stationed at in the 60s. Coal smoke permeated everything. I think the Army bought the most inefficient & cheapest coal fired boilers ever made.
Evening diners
I'll have a pigskin football with a side of pork ribs
Vikings win preseason home opener game against San Francisco 32 to 31. Skol ! Tight game
Minnesotan stick your head out what do you think about that !
Midnight diners.
I will have the Canadian walleye fillet with asparagus.
I always have Sunday off. I did some well-deserved relaxing today as it was earned.
It's not often I have a Monday off...... As it turns out I do.
Yep yep yep Yahoo Yahoo Yahoo !
My wife seems to think we're going to the Minnesota State Fair tomorrow. I don't think so......I'm going to do some more relaxing.
I will have to consult with the war department in the morning.
Edit. I will let you know how that goes.
Good Morning everyone.
Flo - A Nice hame and cheese omlet, with a side of breakfast potatoes, whole wheat toast, and a big glass of OJ please. Thanks.
Ken - I ended the day with, hope your sitting down, a whopping $38.14 in sales...
Tom - If it was where I think it was, they were most likely near the 45MPH Track speed. (I go across the Sewickly Bridge each direction 2 times a year, when going to a meeting in Coraopolis. I have paced a couple intermodals along the way to/from 79 until we hit traffic.)
As promised, a pic of the aftermath of the D9 vrs. PSP car. (Loco only. Way to many others around the PSP car, but it was totaled.)
NS 9196 After accident by Richard Woodworth, on Flickr" alt="NS 9196" width="640" height="480" />
And, the pic from my catching 1070...
NS 1070 by Richard Woodworth, on Flickr" alt="1070 - 1" width="640" height="480" />
Wabash 22K Trailing shot by Richard Woodworth, on Flickr" alt="1070 - 2" width="640" height="480" />
Ray - Your having the steamer at the museum reminded me of a funny incident when I rode behind Viscose and sister steamy Flagg Coal locomotives. The local FD was brought in to refill the water tanks, and this happend....
Steam Foam 1 by Richard Woodworth, on Flickr" alt="Steam Foam" width="640" height="480" />
Yes, they did mistakenly fill her with FOAM instead of water!
They had to drop all the water, and refill her again. Made a 1hr 45min trip take almost double that!
Weather - Warm Sunny days, clear cool nights.
W*^K - says it all.....
Trains - Nothing new to report. (Yet.) I will be putting long shank couplers on the mis-behaving box car, just to see if it helps. (Later this afternoon. I have a couple errends to run first.)
EDIT: Hmm... Somehow, all the pictures were loaded twice? Let's see if I can adjust that...
She gave me those puppy dog browns after we slept in this morning. I'm kind of a softy when it comes to that one. It looks like we're going to the fair.
It's overcast cool weather and should be no big crowds on a Monday. So that's a good thing
Coming down to the end of the month, we're going to have to figure out where the Diner is moving to next month. And who's going to move it, if Ulrich isn't around.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Morning diners,
Heartland Division CB&Q Angel.... If you model BN, you will have something in common with FRRY
Yes that would. It's one of many railroads that I like modeling.
Steven Otte who's going to move it, if Ulrich isn't around.
who's going to move it, if Ulrich isn't around.
I thought of that too a few days ago.
Ricky - You got it. After getting off I79, the Haysville Crossing is the 1st red light you hit, with the 2nd being at the Sewickley Bridge.
I don't know why, but I can't see your photos, or those of anyone else using Flickr.
[S. Otte ]
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
CONGRATULATIONS are in order "BIG TIME" to our buddy
Ray Howard
for his article in MR this month on his "Octagon Blacksmith's Shop."
We all watched as this model came together in the pages of the Diner here, and I think we all knew that it was definately editorial material. I know that Ray had entered it into the NMRA for a MMR award, but I never heard whether he won it or not. I sure hope so.
Congrats again Ray, it is a beautiful building and makes a wonderful scene on the SLOW. It shows your skills, patience and determination paid off great, and it shows very well in the pages of our favorite "Rag'.
Johnboy out................
Judy and I had a fun day at the fair. We pretty much go just for the exhibits and the food. The first thing we grab is the walleye cakes they are so good.
Five six hours is plenty to do what we do.
Midway is short-lived. Judy just has to go on the Tilt-A-Whirl. It's the little kid in her and my favorite part about going to the fair is seeing her smiling laughing face while we're going round and round. It makes me laugh too.
Howdy .
Steven .... I can not volunteer to start the September Diner. Trevel plans starting Friday morning.
Anybody else care to volunteer?
John Boy .... Texas is a good idea. Maybe you should reconsider and volunteer to start the September Diner.
Ray ... I have not seen the latest issue of MR yet, but congratulations on your article.
Track Fiddler.... I'm glad it was fun at the fair.
Evenin' Folks!
Janie just a cuop of decaf for me, please....
Well, Deep subject. Johnboy and Garry, I guess it is now out in the wild as they say so I can now talk about it... Thanks for your comments on the article. Hope everyone enjoys it! I have suspected it was about to be published for a couple months now and today, just after I read Johnboy's comment I got the mail and Kalmback Publishing was kind enough to send me a copy of the magazine to add to one which I will get from my subscription. I can tell you I was thrilled to see the great job they did with the layout of the article! If I ever get some time to sit down and write some more, I will get another article off to them for consideration.
Ricky, Say, I recognize the second Loco in the photo..... I think the guy standing in the door of #6 is the fireman that was at our museum with it. I guess the weekends are being considered a huge success. We don't have a financial breakdown of how we did, but we sold out most runs and sure did have a great time running behind the old girl!
OK, Beard is gone, and there seems to be a couple less chins than there was back when I grew it to cover up the things about 25 or more years ago. Now I need to buy some new razors (old fashioned kind) as the electric trimmer with a the shaving attachment did a ---------- poor job of cleaning everything up to my standards. I just priced the top of the line electric shavers and..... I can buy a lot of blades and shaving cream which will do a better job for that kind of money.....
I went to the dentist today to have them put the temporary crown back in (it has already fallen back out at dinner tonight....) and both the dentist and the dental technician (both ladies) were grinning when they saw me.... Also went grocery shopping and who should be using the self checkout line at the store but my DIL. I walked up behind her and said hi. She turned around, took one look, and her mouth dropped open. Her response was, Oh my God! She told me I looked several years younger and she likes it. So..... Time will tell, I guess.
If we move the diner to Texas, who will supply the lifeboats?
"The tragedy of this country is that everyone who knows how to solve all our problems is either cutting hair or driving taxicabs." - George Burns
Stay safe and dry out there!
Heartland Division CB&Q. . .Anybody else care to volunteer?. . .
If no one else steps up, I can open the September diner. We could do Fort Worth, home of the stockyards. It would be a little later in the morning since I am on west-coast time.
Richard
Remnants of Hurricane Harvey might pass through this area according to weather guessers. If so, it would be similar to remnants of Hurricane Katrina which went north along the Mississippi River Valley until the Ohio River Valley where it went eastward. I recall in Western Kentucky had severe storms then causing one drowning in Hopkinsville.
So, storms here in a few days might impact our weekend travel plans.
Late night dinner and a movie is on Judy and I tonight thick taco dip. Refried bean's sour cream Angus burger onions lettuce pace salsa extra cheese and black olives enjoy
Flo, Gary, Ed, Inch, Brent, Jan and I will have a cold and give Rick a Root Beer Float please.
ricktrains4824Ken - I ended the day with, hope your sitting down, a whopping $38.14 in sales...
Rick You creamed me Sunday! I was sitting on a Goose Egg with a big fat Zero.
But, I bet I beat you today! Only 2 customers all day. The second couple that came in was very stand offish. After 10 minutes I was thinking this is going no where fast, did not see any signs of getting through to them. I be darned, I finally got through to them and they spent $2700.00 before tax!
You sure it was not dumped into the steamer?
Blood Surgar Front. It was another win for me! Woke up low with a 66 but felt OK. After eating at work at 10:45 I tested again at 2:05 I was at 138! When I got home at 8:55 I was at 129! That was the lowest after working 9 hours I have recorded so far!
Ray Congrats on being in the Magazine, is this the second time? Far as the beard being gone if the ladys like! How to you feel about being clean shaven?