Welcome to Jeffrey's Trackside Diner. It's a place where you can come and relax and talk about most anything except, religion, politics, immigration, or any other hot button topic that gets people angry and upset. Please see forum rules if you have any questions.
The staff here is very friendly and able to serve. There's Zoe, Chloe, Flo, Janie, and Brunhilda. They'll serve up plenty of virtual food with a smile and a friendly, "Howdy."
Thats right, this month we'll visit those fine folks in Texas and see what their railroading is all about.
Enjoy!
Save
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Morning diners,
Thanks for opening the diner UP831.
I went to the store early this morning to get some isopropyl alcohol, caulk, but I didn't get glue. I'll get that when I go to Michael's to get a replacement backdrop. (different material) I ordered styrene that was to short.
I'm surprised weren't get getting rain from Harvey since it went to the east instead of going west.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
I added the RIP Track stuff to the opening post and corrected the spelling of Jeffrey's name. Hope you don't mind, up831.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Mind? Quite the contrary. Thank you for adding the RIP Track and correcting Jeffrey's name.
i wasn't sure how I would do it, but it all worked out. Thanks again, Steven.
WOW! What is that bright blinding thing in the corner booth? Is that Ray sans beard? Holy chick magnet! Must have his eye on someone. Congrats on the article, haven't seen it yet, but will.
Well, it is another sunny day on the West Coast, haven't had any measurable rain since May 11. We have smoke coming in again, however, it is blowing in from Washington State this time instead of the interior of the Province.
Put the kid and Mom on the plane to Ottawa yesterday. Lots of extra baggage charges as he was even taking his hockey gear with him.
I really hope he enjoys himself and has a rewarding career that gives him a great feeling of accomplishment. I know if it is not what he expected he won't think twice about moving into something else. It is a small elite group that he is studying with from all around the world. They have all been chatting on Facebook for the last couple of months and are really looking forward to finally meeting one another.
Ken, that is a great thing you did, not taking advantage of that elderly lady. If more people did things like that, the world would be a nicer place indeed.
Mr. B. I feel for you, and the place you are at right now. Try to stay well rested, as that helps to get through the really tough days.
Angelo, do you like the Supergirl series? It is filmed all around the Vancouver area. There is a large wilderness type park close to where I live and movie companies are constantly there filming. Different areas of the park look like different planets as the terrain changes so much as you walk through it. When "Stargate" was on, they use to just leave the big Stargate and control panel in the park as it was too expensive to move it. It looked like solid rock, but in reality, it was made out of plastic. It was so light you could actually pick it up. They would just move it around the park anytime they needed a new planet. They would also leave the fighters from Battlestar Galactica just sitting in the park and move those around as needed as well. No one ever did anything to them and they would just be there for weeks on end unguarded, though very few people would be in the park other than us locals. Recently the new "Lost In Space" series has been spending a lot of time there filming. I take the dogs for walks there and the cast and crew will often come over to say hi to them. Not much security as we are more rural, so you can just walk around the set and watch what is going on. Look for dog hair on their clothes if you see the show.
Several years ago we had hired a nanny from Slovakia and one day we had taken her with us to a small farming town called Cloverdale. She said I feel like I have been here before. I said do you watch "Smallville". She said it is one of her favourite shows in Slovakia, and she watched it with her friends on Friday nights. I told her this is Smallville. We had to take pictures of her all over town before we left. She e-mailed them to all her friends back home.
We went to one of our favourite restaurants on Wednesday and they are having to close early due to lack of staff. They pay $24.00 an hour and still can't get enough people to work there. With students going back to school there is real competition for help these days.
I sure feel for those people hit by Harvey and now Irma is on the way. I think I would move after the first one. There are so many places I would love to live in the world, but life is just too short.
Think I'll take a dog or two and go see if there are any movies being shot in the park today. I saw signs yesterday indicating two different shoots going on yesterday, so they are probably there today. Last time the dog came out of the forest into a clearing and got startled by an alien walking to the washroom. She started barking at it until the alien spoke to her and put her hand out, then all was well.
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."
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Good afternoon Diners,
Brunhilda, no time for anything now. I'll stop in later.
In keeping with our destination this month, here is a link to a report in a news magazine on the current rail situation in the Houston area and environs. I hope Vinny doesn't Deem this as political. It's certainly not meant to be.
https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2017-08-30/railroads-warn-of-long-closure-of-houston-area-tracks
Home front: getting ready for the Labor Day weekend. MOH and I are going to a church camp out, will come home on Sun, then go to a nearby burb for their village festival Sun and Mon. It's funny how when you get older, so much of this stuff doesn't seem as important as it once did. It's still fun, though.
Hello to everyone, and I hope everyone is OK and safe.
Evening Diners
Flo, Todd (fellow Road Runner Owner) Ed, Gary, Inch, Jan, Brent and I will have a please and give Rick a RBF.
Work Front! I was more stunned by work today than seeing Todd here at the dinner! I had 10 customers today! While they where buying dirt (cheap stuff) 7 out of the 10 bought! It was only $1620.00 in sales, but 10 customers? Been a long time scene that has happned!
Brent They cannot find help at $24.00 a hour? Do I have to learn French? So did you get any photos of the Battlestar Vipers? I use to real enjoy that show!
UP Thank you for opening the dinner. I was thinking about it, but just ran out of time before work.
Slip And Slide Railroad Seems that most of the slip and sliding is over with! Sad news is I fired up the Mighty B&O F7's the other day and the A unit sounds like it has a cracked gear? Making a god awfull clicking sound. Maybe some lubing will fix it? Funny thing the A unit was running fine that last time I worked them?
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Evening All! Flo (or whoever's handy), could I get some breaded mushrooms, blue cheese dressing and a raspberry ice tea? Thank you so much.
Hobby Front: Got the decal sheet a lot sooner than I thought. (Yesterday) I discovered that the sheet in question is from the early 90's, based on the envelope that it came in. (Help from the forums.) Hadn't seen one that old before. (I wasn't decalling my stuff quite that early. However I will keep the envelope in my binder to save it as it is quite rare. I also have another older envelope that will also end up there as well.) I got the sheet sprayed and it will be ready whenever.
As a result, I will get the hopper finished on Tuesday. (Yes, that is a little different schedule. Given this is Labor Day weekend and the normal place where I eat will be closed, Mom is willing to take me out to the ranch on Monday.) That will give me more time to get the layout worked on. The main plan is to finish recorking the yard area and get the new drying house and sand tower finished and setup.)
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good morning
Texas is a good choice for a place to visit this month. I was born in Houston, TX
UP831. Thank you for starting the September thread.
Todd ! ... It is great to see you again. I missed the Toddland adventures. Hope you and you family are well.
I'm using my iPhone to post and this is brief .
i arrived in Michigan last night okay. It was still raining with remnants of Harvey when I left Kentucky. It was windy with much rain, but it was not storming. I was going through Indiana when I drove out of the rain.
Everybody: Happy Model Railroading
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Mornin' folks!
Zoe, I would like the #2 special, eggs over easy. bacon, homefries, and a double order of the sourdough taost with a pot of Marakkesh Express dark roast, organic , fair traded coffe to keep my R&GV RR Mug filled for a while. Please and thank you Ma'am!
Thank you Bear! The article is in the October Issue which I imagine has not floated across the ocean to where you live quite yet...... Yep... Torpedoes can get your attention real quick!!! One of the many reasons I decided to become clean shaven is that I have had some precancerous spots removed from my head and face before and wanted to make sure nothing was under there growing. I have some badly degraded skin on my arms and neck from being a farmboy who got bad sunburns every summer growing up.
I took a copy of the MR Magazine with the article to my sister yesteday along with some veggies from my garden as I had to deliver a check to the bank that handles the 501c3 account for the MLK committee. She greeted me at the door with a scowl on her face but invited me in. I handed her the magazine and she got very angry with me and said, "Why would I want THIS???!!!" I calmly told her she might be interested on what starts on page 24. Of course, for her she looks at my getting published as a major threat to her supremecy as the "Arteest" in the family. I took the magazine back from her and said, If you don't want it, that's OK I still have to buy several more copies to give to friends. She then asked me if I had even thought to send a copy to my son in chicago. I let her know that I had just mailed copies to him and several others in the family including our sister in Florida. She then said, "I guess I could at least skim the artilce while you have it here, but since I (me) haven't sat down and seen her photos from her last 5 trips to the "very Far" she wasn't interested! Once she looked at the article she commented that she really liked the photos. Then she read a bit and looked at me and told me maybe she would keep the copy as there is a WOMAN(!) who volunteers at the hospital that is always showing the book of poems (that she thinks are just icky) that her daughter got published and now she could bragg about her brother to her!!!! (She loves to play the "One Uppsmanship thing.") That is not what I had in mind, but I did leave the magazine with her...... She can't figure out why most of her friends have desserted her. I do worry about her as her mental health is not getting better. I also reminded her that I have seen the photos of all her trips except for the last one, I believe. She had calmed down and was actually being pleasant to me by that time.
Today I will be canning green beans from the garden and doing some much needed work around the property as well as contacting some folks about the next NMRA Meet coming up in November...
Hope you all have a great day out there!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Today we are getting the remnants of Harvey. The spaghetti models of Irma are mostly showing it heading right up the Chesapeake Bay. I hope not, our power grid is mostly 3rd world.
I forgot to paint the caboose steps and floor with the rest of the caboose. I didn't like the color of the caboose so I kept adding paint to the mix. That also meant it got multiple coats that the steps didn't. They aren't even close to matching.
My garden is just starting to kick in. I was a little late but for the longest time my plants did not set any fruit. I had cucumber vines that grew 10 feet and died without one single cuke. The honeybee loss in Maryland is 55%, much higher than the national average.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Congratulations Ray!
Henry, Irma following a path up the Chesapeake is not a good prospect. TS Agnes followed a similar path, and did all kinds of damage along the Susquehanna, in 1972. Hopefully it remains in the Atlantic where it belongs.
My tomatos were plentiful this year, and there are still some green ones forming. The cukes were not as plentiful, and are done, nd the peppers are coming on strong. Might try another round of lettuce, but there is significantly less direct sun on the garden once September begins.
Eveing Diners
Flo, Ed, Brent, Gary, Inch, Bear, Jan and I will have a cold please.
Work Front Was Kind Of Slow, but after yesterday I was not shocked. Seems the rule is busy one day, slow the next.
BATMANKen, that is a great thing you did, not taking advantage of that elderly lady. If more people did things like that, the world would be a nicer place indeed.
Brent I hate to say it, but it was more for my own sanity than anything! When I said it would be A Forever Sale I ment I would be dealing with her for ever! When a person is 91 more than likely they won't listen that a hard matterss is not good for there back. In her case her back was curving outward. For the life of me I could not spell the word, but my wife has it. She use to be 5'11" and is now 5'8".
How About A Visit To Kalmbach? Found this on U-Tube and enjoyed it!
cudakenFor the life of me I could not spell the word, but my wife has it. She use to be 5'11" and is now 5'8".
Hi, Ken...
Is this the word?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteoporosis
Or this???
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoliosis
Cheers to ALL!
Ed
I watched some old MR videos yesterday to see if I really needed scenery cement with the alcohol that I bought. The truth was I did need it.
Since I modeling the desert scene first I didn't need to get CA. I totally forgot about my bridge that needs to be built, in the dry wash/river. I'm just getting a little tired of spending money.
Ray- I got my issue of MR yesterday, so I'll read article later on today.
Ken- I saw that same video also.
Good morning everyone. It's been raining off & on for the past couple of days, but seems to be clearing up now. Not quite as chilly today as it has been either. Came close to turning the furnace on Friday night. Blankets were much appreciated in the middle of the night.
Had our Saturday railfanning outing yesterday. Very cloudy with rain from time to time, so not great for photography, but that doesn't matter much as I'm not a good photographer anyway. It was busy though with 19 trains in 4 hours.
6 mixed freights, 10 intermodals, 1 empty coal train, 1 trash train & 1 engine running light. The only foreign power was 1 Union Pacific.
Jimmy Braum - We saw something yesterday & I immediately thought of you. Around 9:10 a single engine came by on track 3 headed west. 5 minutes later it came by again on track 1 headed east in a reverse move. It came west again at 10:30 on track 1, but this time it had 95 empty coal hoppers. About half were Norfolk Southern hoppers, but the other half were Wheeling & Lake Erie. Those were a mix of old hoppers & the newer ones with the speed lettering. Kind of unusual for me in that I've never seen these hoppers on the Fort Wayne Line before. That's not to say it hasn't happened, just that I haven't seen it. I'm thinking they may have picked them up on Island Avenue, but that's just a guess. Possible interchange with the AVR at Bruceton, AVR to Island Avenue. It was nice seeing them no matter how they got there. These kind of sightings drive me crazy though wondering where they are coming from & where they are going. I really do need to find a conductor/engineer and make him my new best friend.
Have a great week everybody & have fun each day
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
My layout is gone. All the benchwork is disassembled and stored. Everything else, other than a few odds and ends, is neatly boxed up and labelled, and sitting in the garage. Its next stop will be a storage unit somewhere.
I should have salvaged what I could of the track and just disposed of the benchwork. I may be able to re-assemble parts elsewhere, but it would be hard to get the big sections into wherever I end up.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Beasley, I am too without a layout right now. I am using the time to make a complete new freight car fleet.
.
I am looking forward to a relaxing Monday. I get a two-day weekend this week. It has been a long time since I had one of those.
I continue to have way too much fun with my camera. No decals have gone onto freight cars in three weeks.
We will see how this continues.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Howdy, everybody!
we are having a great family visit today . Celebrating my birthday today. Will celebrate our anniversary Tuesday .
Ray... I'm still looking forward to seeing your article. My MR did not arrive before I left home although I did receive my Trains magazine.
Happy Model Railroading , everybody .
Evenin' folks!
A few days back some of you hinted you wanted to see what I look like beardless... Well this afternoon I set up the Canon Rebel on the tripod down in the trainroom, set the ISO to 800 (so I don't have to use the flash) and took several photos of some funny looking old guy next to the layout. Only one turned out to be anything I would let anyone see, so here it is. One funny looking old guy next to his layout (you might recognize the scene). BTW, selfies are not easy to do with a real camera.....
Hope I didn't spoil anyones supper....
Will the real Ray Howard please step forward. Oh wait, that is the real Ray Howard. My, what a distinguished looking gentleman he is. Looking much younger without the beard Ray.
Well...
After a very fun day of shooting model train pictures... my battery died!
Waiting for it to recharge... Taking FOREVER! Watched pot syndrome.
I already have the next shot prepared.
Flo, give Gary, Ed, Brent, Bear, Jan, Inch and I will have a Crown Royal with a chaser please.
Boy Today Sucked Rail Spikes! Only had $45.00 in sales. Worst part of the day? While it was a small deal pendeing of $494.00. While I was checking to make sure we had everything at the warehouse I had person that bought from me in July come in.
Only thing she bought was a mattress protector. She did not read the washing and drying insturction that came with it! She must have had the dryer on to high of a temp (says tumble dry or air dry only on the package) and the mattress protecter had melted and stuck togeather! It is made of Gore Tex and it does not like heat! Told her she need to call SBS for the warantty claim (guessing she all ready had and they told to pound sand down a rat hole) but she started ranting. Called the main offices and they all so said call SBS. She really went off when I would not let her talk with Paul!
I am not the laundry person at home. But beeing a car guy I know what stuff looks like when it gets to hot! She was just trying to get something for free because she screw up!
But the timing could not have been worst! Yea, the other customer did not buy.
Trains are Running Great and the BBQ is done.
So, Ray, how do the ladies like it?
I will confess, I took a few self-portraits when I was first courting my girlfriend long distance in the summer of '16. I managed to get one that was, well, kind of like "beefcake." She keeps it on her phone and uses it to brag about her boyfriend to her friends. To hear their responses you'd think I was the male version of a Playboy bunny. No, I'm not, but it's good for my ego.
MisterBeasleySo, Ray, how do the ladies like it?
Well....... Those ladies who have seen it are very positive in their remarks... Of course they are all happily married so I don't know about their saying that. LOL Time will tell, but it was definately time for a new look. I do feel good about what I see in the mirror and know that I will be very serious about taking off another 25lbs. minumum. That would get me down to what I weighed when I got married over 50 years ago.
Ray- I can't see you with the beard on, but you do look better without. I read your article but I can't spoil it because Garry hasn't received his yet.
Zoe, I'll have a couple sour creame glazed doughnuts to dunk in my Marakkesh Express dark roast coffee please.
angelob6660Ray- I can't see you with the beard on, but you do look better without.
Now you can....
That was the last photo of me taken with the beard when my son was here for his 30th. class reunion a couple weeks back. We were clowning around comparing phones and he snapped a couple photos of me. You can see the eyelid problem I need to get taken care of in both photos. Possibly over the winter I will have it done. need to make sure my insurance will cover it. That reminds me, I need to make an appointment to see the eye doc. this fall.
Just realized that I need to take the Volt in for a tire rotation and to check on some electrinic related things that are due for service, so that will be on the docket for tomorrow (make the appointment). I will be participating in a National Drive Electric Week event at RIT in Rochester this Saturday. https://driveelectricweek.org/event.php?eventid=910 So far 25 electric cars, including mine, will be on display with 13 different makes and models represented. That should be fun!
Sun is busy shining outside here in the Finger Lakes Region today, making me some electrons to air condition the house at the moment. Currently 75°F on its way up to 85°F this afternoon. I may get started on the staining of the fence this afternoon.
Have a great day!