Steven Otte Anyway, if you, like me
Anyway, if you, like me
I'll take a pass on that burger.
Rich
Alton Junction
Good morning, one and all, and welcome to Eclipse Day at the Diner! Today, I'm told Brunhilda has whipped up something really special for lunch, a Total Eclipse Burger. Let's take a look...
OK, I'll let someone else do the taste test on that one.
Anyway, if you, like me, aren't in the path of totality, or, also like me, live where it's likely to be overcast all day, remember you can follow the eclipse LIVE on the website of my colleagues down the hall at Astronomy magazine. Check it out! (And remember to wear your special glasses! )
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
The ZZZZ i hear in the late summer and fall are Cicadas not crickets.
its total eclipse day, we shall see what craziness ensues.
Will the ER fill with lunatics....
Bear. LOL ..
we have more out of town guests for the eclipse than we expected. ... the exact location where the eclipse will have its longest duration is only 25 miles from here ( between Hopkinsville and Princeton. ) .
We are very busy with guests. weather is hot and one of our AC's quit. I was able to fix the AC fortunately . Should be good weather to observe the eclipse.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
herrinchoker I still have my #14 lense for my welding helmet, same one I used many years ago--Will change it out tomorrow, don't know what percentage we will have here on the Island. Two days of much needed rain, won't have to water the green growth tomorrow--- Prayers for those in need- herinchoker
I still have my #14 lense for my welding helmet, same one I used many years ago--Will change it out tomorrow, don't know what percentage we will have here on the Island. Two days of much needed rain, won't have to water the green growth tomorrow---
Prayers for those in need-
herinchoker
If my map is right somewhere between 55-65%, depending on what island you are on.
Hobby Front: Got the parts of the hopper painted that I wanted to. I plan to finish getting it assembled and painted this evening. The decals will have to wait as I will need another set to finish the lettering. If I feel like it, I might also get some of the lettering of the gon done as I have some of what is needed. However, I also need another set to finish the drop end gondola. Both of those sets will be ordered later this week.
I'll have the usual, prime rib with sour cream and horseradish with a loaded baked potato.
You know I don't post here too often. because I never was invited.
But I would like to share something with you.
Did you know most people live their whole life not knowing the difference between a cricket and a tree frog.
When you wonder why you have that feeling of fall while your driving down the highway and that z sound sound from the ditch sounds the same at 60 miles an hour during the day. That is a sign of fall.
The z sound is crickets. I never understood why they sound the same driving 60 miles an hour down the highway but next time pay attention, they do.
Crickets sing all year, only at night, except during the day only in the fall. Thier song, just a buzz z sound. You only hear them during the day in the fall.
With that said next time you're enjoying your night and solitude. Listen to the night sounds.
If you focus you only hear the Z buz sounds coming from the ground. Those are the Crickets that is the only sound they make.
If you pay attention and look focusing on the tops of the trees you can hear an ink ink ink ink. Those are the tree frogs they are very colorful and beautiful I caught one once when I was a kid.
Then if you listen to the chorus of the whole thing you can hear a wheat,..... .......wheat,........wheat, at a slower pace. These are bigger tree frogs and rarely found or ever scene because as well as the other tree frogs they are nocturnal and only come out at night.
With that in mind next time you're out at night before this winter. There is still time with my given information. Check it out. You'll be glad you did.
Evenin' folks!
Janie, another slice of the cake for the Eagle and a cup of decaf would be great right now..... Yep I got to shake hands with an Eagle at suppertime today! Young man from our church but is a Scout in Penn Yan, NY where he lives. I used to volunteer with the kids Grandfather for our church camp many years ago. Wonderful family and I am very proud of kid! He did a couple of Merit Badges with me. Railroading was one of them. In the slide show playing on a screen during the celebration he had a few slides from the R&GV RR Museum when the troop visited out there to do the merit badge.
I am just about out of steam...... Spent the last 4 days out at the Museum working with the Viscose #6 loco. I am train crew, but not running or working on the loco. I have learned a lot of odds and ends about how the Steam engines were handled and what has to be done to run them. The sound of the steam whistle echoing through the hills out there sends chills up my spine. We are also using our newly (re)built open air flat car for the trips, and the museum has installed a viewing platform on the hill by the restoration shop for watching our trains pull the (3%) grade up from the depot to the mainline. Had a huge crowd on Saturday and today looked to be starting out great as well. (I was only there for two runs before I had to leave to get home and changed for the Eagle Ceremony.)
Here is the little teakettle, Viscose #6:
Inside of cab:
First fire just lit.... No real draft as of yet.
Used air from the brake line of the train ahead of it to create the needed draft to hurry up the process:
Drawing on its own and building a head of steam:
The kid on the right is the son of our track foreman. He is 12 years old and going into 8th. grade. Just earned his Railroading Merit Badge last Spring (I was the councilor). He was learning how to do the job of fireman!
The kid hand fired the locomotive for about 2.5 hours Saturday Morning. Should have seen him at lunch time when his "shift" was done. He was completely covered in coal dust and soot and could barely move. He road the rest of the day laying on a bench in my caboose... I think he now nows that Manual Labor is more than just the president of Spain. Biggest grin on his face though!!! He has quite a story to tell his classmates when school begins in a couple weeks!
The loco was very smooth starting the train. Actually less coupler slack than with our diesels. We did have one bad move though... The train pulled up about 15' short of its mark on our second run on Saturday, and when the conductor had the train back up to the right spot, there was some problem with the train brakes not being able to overcome the steam pressure in the cylinders and the engineer couldn't stop the train before we lightly rammed the 45 tonner stitting behind the train... Nothing terrible, but very embarassing with a couple hundred people standing there and riding the train at the time. A major conference of the Engineer, conductor, several other "big Wigs" and the folks from Viscose ensued with some exacting direction of how the conductor could have stopped it. (Throw the train brakes into emergency on the caboose, which he couldn't have done because he was standing on the ground directing the train back at that point.) I was just inside the door of the caboose and when I saw what was taking place, I yelled for everyone to hold on tight! There were no injuries or damage to any equipment, but still something that was embarrasing and just shouldn't happen. We tested the process on the way down to the yard this morning with no one on board except the crew, so we know what to do...... Steam is a bit different!
Have a great night!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Man, I wish I could just drag stuff to the curb and make it go away. We're limited to 1 big garbage can per week. Stuff like old fence wood needs to be contracted out. We get an unlimited amount of "recycling," but that is stuff like bottles, cans and papers. I have lots of old refuse that I will never use, even if I end up setting up my trains again in parts unknown. I wish I could just put it in garbage bags, but if I do that they will not take it.
All that's left standing of my layout now is the original Phase 1, a 12x5 foot table. The other sections have all been dismantled, and all but one have been stored in the bike room next to the garage. There's one big section that's ready to move, but it's too awkward for one person, so I'll grab one of the painters who show up tomorrow to help me move it.
I've got lots of trains in boxes, too, but I'd like to get the layout sections stowed first before I move them to the garage. Such a huge job.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Evening all...
I spent the morning cleaning the front storm door. I have to do this every year for some reason. It appears to be mold all over the door. So I use straight bleach & a rag, which does remove it with some elbow grease. What puzzels me is that this door receives full sun, while the storm doors on the back & cellar doors do not, & I don't have any problem with them. All 3 doors were made by the same manufacturer. Just another one of those things that boggle my mind, & there's quite a list of those I'll have you know. Also cleaned off the work bench down in the cellar. I discovered wood that hasn't been seen for some time. But I don't harbor any thoughts that it will stay clean or organized for very long.
We had a nice dinner this evening of a Delmonico roast, baked potatoed, roaster vegatables, a bottle of Reisling from Seneca Lake, & a piece of the wife's birthday cake. Now I'm ready for a nap. That's not going to happen though as I have a couple of more chores to finish up for the weekend.
Now that everybodus well rested from the weekend & ready to face Monday, let me say "Good Luck".
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
Afternoon Anyone?
Flo, Flo where are you? Hum, looks like I am my owen again. I like free . I will pour for any diners that make it in!
I was a bad boy last night! Wife made some spaghetti and around 1:00 AM I woke up hungery so I had a cup and half of spaghetti and a few slices of peaches. Woke you with a blood surgar reading of 219!
Now for some reson I felt good around 11:00 AM. Got the frontyard / weed farm cut. Drag out a good sizes fallen limb cut up and dragged around for pickup. Next I cut up about 184 feet of old fence in to car trunk sizes chunks and got as many as my trunk would hold in the trunk. Rest I carried out to where I park so I can load it Tuesday. By the time I was done and checked my blood surgar at 3:00 PM I was at 147.
So this leaves me some what confussed. I have real been watching what I eat and hoping for a good A1C next week. It is seldom I see a 200 reading now days. Normaly when my levels where tested at the VA I was in the 260 range. I was tired most of the time. With lower readings in the 80 to 164 range I am still tired? Today, I felt like working at 213?
ATF on the rails front. For some reason the section aginst the outside 's wall rails get dirty real fast? The Mighty CB&Q's F7's started to stall in one spot. Few daps of ATF and problem is gone! .
BBQ is done and so am I.
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Gidday Chloe,Chloe,Chloe, Chloe, Chloe, Chloe, Chloe, Chloe
] on Flickr
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
MisterBeasley I'm up here in New England, so no eclipse for me.
I'm up here in New England, so no eclipse for me.
At least according to the map I have, New England will still have somewhere between 65-70%. My neck of the woods will be about 89%, so I have my glasses and the day off.
Won't stay for long. Watching the Bronco game and planning to paint the new hopper car as the paint for it arrived today.
I'm up here in New England, so no eclipse for me. I've seen one (Nova Scotia 1972) so it's already checked off. For the car freaks, the clutch on my Triumph Spitfire (car) disintegrated on the way home in Truro. I had to take another day off to get home. Truro is a lovely place, and the blown clutch was a blessing, as we enjoyed the extra day thouroghly.
My layout is all taken apart. I've got three sections still standing, and tomorrow the legs will come off and two of them will be in the garage, with one waiting for a bit more manpower. Pretty much everything else is boxed up. Not sure when, or if, I will ever open the boxes again but I'm hopeful.
Garry,
Sounds like loads of fun. I will be on call for work, but me and a co-worker will go out on the roof or the top of the parking garage.
I got my Taco Johns eclips glasses. ( yes they are certified)
moelarrycurly4 all eclipse ready here. nothing too bad so far. field over near Hopkinsville kY filled with eclipse viewers.
all eclipse ready here. nothing too bad so far.
field over near Hopkinsville kY filled with eclipse viewers.
MLC .... Family members are here from Ohio and Michigan for the eclipse including these three grandkids with eye protection in our family room. We'll go out on the boat for a while this evening.
....
Alvie ... Congrats on getting a new truck..
Tom ... Happy birthday to your wife. ..
Everybody .... have a nice weekend..
Hi all,
Have not been posted here in some time. I've had plenty going on in my personal life which I'll talk about a bit more below. I've taken a bit of a break from model railroading as it's summer and I'm spending more time outside. Also just taking a break for the sake of taking a break. Been spending more time at the gym, with my friends outside, and swimming, hiking and other things.
Had to replace my Ford Ranger recently. A 16yo truck with 163k miles and it has been starting to break down more lately. I spent 1200 in repairs in about two weeks. I decided it is time to buy another. I wanted another truck, but did not want another Ford Ranger though I liked mine a lot. I bought a 2012 Nissan Frontier from a Chevrolet dealer in Maryland. I had no trouble with an out of state sale, and the dealer had been great to work with. The truck is a big improvement over my old one but it also has a quarter the miles and is 11-years newer. I'm looking forward to putting it to work doing my side work of the landscaping and handyman work I do. It'll help with the payments and insurance. I'm debating getting an aftermarket warranty. The truck only has 42k miles on it, and a good reputation for reliability. A warranty is 90-150 extra a month for 2-years. I'll figure out what to do although I'm tempted to just try and save the money and pay for repairs out of pocket when needed.
-Alvie
It sure is lonely here. Even had to get my own cup of coffee. I think I'll just hang around a bit & see if anyone else shows up.
Ken - Glad your wife didn't have to have the stents implanted. Although it's not a completely risk free procedure, it's not that bad. When I had a couple put in some years back, they had me up & about in no time. No discomfort, soreness, etc.
We did our usual Saturday morning railfanning, but it was the slowest we have ever had at this location. Only 6 trains altogether. 3 intermodal, 2 mixed freights, & 2 engines running light. Lond delays between trains too, as twice we had meets right in front of us. The good part of the day was 2 other regulars showed up & we had quite the gab fest. Even so, the wife & I left early out of boredom. I guess we are spoiled & expect busy tracks all the time.
Had to have a plumber come to the house yesterday. Have a pretty good drip coming from the cold water pipe in the cellar. It's the 3rd or 4th time this pipe has developed a hole in it. He's coming back Monday & is going to replace about 25 feet of it with plastic pipe. He's also going to replace the saddle valve with a tee, a shutoff valve, & reducer to the little copper line that feeds the humififier on the furnace. I won't be sorry to see the saddle valve go as it's a real pain. I don't know how many I've had to put in over the years. That's one thing about old houses, they never run out of problems.
About an hour ago, some heavy thunderstorms rolled over us. Gave everything a good drenching, but more importantly, both the temperature & the humidy took a significan drop. And that's a good thing.
Yesterday was the wife's birthday. The old girl turned 78. I got her flowers, a nice gift card from Barnes & Noble & then took her out to dinner. I think she had a nice day.
Here's hoping everyone has a nice weekend.
Did repair on the Wife's car today, replaced the drive axles as the originals were clunking. Found the wheel bearing was also toast on the passenger side of the car.
It was close to failing catastrophically. ( well she wants to drive the car until the wheels fall off)
has 260,000 miles and 20 years on it.
all reapired now, just need alignment and new tires.
Hello? Flo? Anyone one here?
Hum, guess it is serve your self! So that means no one keeping a tab! Now where are the mugs, Oh there they are. Hum, free taste the best!
17 hours and no one has been in, seems like my store.
Only thing to real post about is today a 1/2 hour trip turned into a 1.5 hour road trip! Highway 270 west to St Louis was shut down no matter which ramp I tried. Had to go to Alton ILL to Mo so I could I could get what I wanted. Never made to St Louis but on Mo side taxes saved me $20.00 on what I bought.
Stopped by K-10 Model Trains for the first time in around 4 months.Only thing I bought was some glue and got out for $2.08. That just not even sound right!
Sue is doing fine! She changed the gause from her groin and I helped. Everything looked fine with no infection. But her groin was all green. Brings a new meaning to My Favorite Martian!
Ken,
Glad for your news---
Jan
Ken ... Great news from you! Glad things went well for Sue.
Mr. B .... Please tell Ulrich I miss his posts here next time you email him.
I'm busy here with company until Tuesday. ... Here for the total eclipse that will happen Monday .
Good Evening,
Another beautiful day here with sun and a temp of 28C. We went out for lunch at our favourite patio. The lunch was great as usual so we had a very nice time. I had a Cajun chicken sandwich and my wife had prawns.
Ken, great news about Sue! You do have my sympathy about stuff. My wife has enough clothes in this house to stock a small shop. All the closets are bursting which means she has 5 closets with her stuff and I have one. She really needs to get rid of the clothes she no longer wears and I have to say she did make a start in the spring.
Up early tomorrow as in 4:45 so we can be out the door by 6. The birding spot is about a 45 minute drive north of the city. At least it will be a warm day and it is a good thing it is early as they are predicting a high of 33C or about 90.
Ed, you sure have a lovely property.
Well soon time for a early night for me.
CN Charlie
Ken, good news about Sue. I hope she sees renewed vigor and understands that getting her knee fixed will be good for her.
My father-in-law got his hip replaced at 85 so he could get back on the tennis court, and he did.
Afternoon Diners
Flo, Ed, Gary, Inch, Brent, Jan and I will have a Royal Crown on the rocks and leave a stein outside for Ulrich.
Good News and a little bad news today.
Good News Sue did not need a stent and excpet for a little plage on a vavle everythings looks good! Needs to see the heart Dr for what we hope is for one last time.
Tad bad news, I don't get to rent a 30 yard dumpster to get rid of all the junk!
I am very glad things are looking good for her heart wise. Now if she will just let them fix her knee so she can walk well again. Funny, while I know she is 66 years old, I cannot really think of her as being 66. Maybe because that would make me 61?
Did enjoy seeing my daughter today.
Well my coupler is dragging in the dirt. Later a happy cudaken.
Good morning from the cool, cloudy Eastern side of the Pacific Ocean, just above the 49th.
It seems I have a lot of catching up to do. First off Ken, here is hoping all goes well for Sue's procedure today. I have known a few people that have received stents and it has given them renewed energy and improved overall health as their activity picked up as a result of feeling better.
Cograt's to Steven on ten years. Were they ten long years or ten short years? You can tell by how much grey hair you have.
I worked in logistics for the Federal Government for 36 years and loved every minute of it. Even though I was at the bottom of the ladder, I made a point to get involved in the decision-making process by offering positive solutions and ideas to management and often found myself talking to Senators and upper-level managers and attending meetings of various importance. I felt my contributions had made a huge difference in the way things were done and found that very rewarding.
Ed, on our property we are constantly beating back the maples as they breed like rabbits. You have a beautiful piece of property there, I bet you don't leave home much.
Jim, cograt's to you as well. Grandpa eh! Well, we know where the train money will now go. You will spoil her rotten I am sure.
I am 60 and my kids are 18 and 15, so I don't see grandkids in my future as my kids are so career focused, however you never know. One thing about having kids late in life for me was, I was better off financially so was able to not have to worry about money the way younger families do. The trade off is having less energy for them, however, I still did the hockey coaching and all those other thing parents get involved in.
Ray, I have enjoyed reading about your life, it is like reading a novel that leaves a smile on your face. So much good stuff happening even though you have had some real heartbreak along the way. People tell me I should write about my adventures. I am more than happy with all the things I have done in my life. I did what I wanted to do and not what others thought I should do. Things have been pretty much perfect for me. Getting my bucket list completed before settling down was a good decision.
I got all the pot lights up in the kitchen/family room, as expected it took longer than I thought and being the fussy sort I had to make several trips into the attic to ensure the wire routing and fastening was to code. That way there will be no surprises from an inspector when it comes time to sell. Knowing people that had to correct a lot of things because they didn't do it right the first time makes me a wiser home improvement slave.
I think I may take the kid to the par 3 golf course today, we have a couple of beautiful ones close by where most of the holes are in the 150 to 220 YD range. He leaves in 13 days for Ottawa and it is starting to hit home.
All the best to all for a good Friday.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
First, Jim, congratulations! And thank you for the sparkling cider for us tea-totalers. I hope they live close enough to visit often (but not too often. ).
last mountain & eastern hoggerROR> I sure hope it has cooled off some for you, that was some pretty wicked heat you were having. I don't like the coldest part of the winters here, but, I can take them better that that kind of heat.
It has cooled off a little, but the best thing is a respite from the humidity. We are back to the dry air that makes the heat more tolerable and allows the temperatures in the morning to drop more drastically. One thing about the heat vs. the cold, we don't have to shovel sunshine.
Richard
Good morning.
I'll have coffee and panckaes. Must I wait until Ed is 125 for maple syrup? ... LOL
angelob6660Ed- Are you really 125 years old?
Ha! Most days I sure feel like it.
Dave, that tractor has more than earned it's keep around here It is also my primary piece of s**w removal equipment.
I have some trees around here that I planted almost forty years ago. They are around fifty feet tall I survey the wooded areas of the property and find a specimen for transplant. I love trees!
Oh, and the orange-looking leaves are actually reflecting the red brake lights of the tractor
Have a great day, folks...
Prayers to those in need and especially for you, Sue and Ken!
Regards, Ed
Hey diners,
UP831- Congrats on having a granddaughter!
Ed- Are you really 125 years old?
Ken- Good luck.
I was really upset yesterday but I decided to wait about my complaint. I bought 4 of those new 1970s ex-BLMA flatcars. By looking at the flatcars the pedals on the flatcars weren't installed. They're user installed pieces in which they got lazy.
For some reason I decided to search Norfolk Southern coal trains. I do know I still need locomotives, but only found one and bethgon coalporters.
I find disturbing news Union Pacific, CSX and Norfolk Southern are laying off employees due to economic growth. It was bad enough to see hundreds of unused locomotives in sidings because of it.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.