Dianne and I exchanged Christmas greetings with Ulrich and Petra. His message was positive and upbeat. He was disappointed that his son didn't visit over the holidays, but other than that they seemed to have had a good time.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Ken:
Sorry about your dad, especially at this time of year.
Eveing Folks
UP831 Thank You for setting up the gang and I with 's.
Flo, Give SteveO, Steven and Rick a RBF and leave a Stein outside for Ulrich.
Still dealing with lossing dad. More than likely it will make me a better father in the long run.
Work Front. Guess who showed up? Yep Nancy! We had $5200.00 in pay in full sales which is pretty good. But in written sales (Means it is not paid in full just a deposit) we had $8000.00 in written sales, that includes paid in full sales and layaways. Nothing like watching a 74 year old woman beg for a $10.00 deposit for a $2800.00 layaway! 95% percent of her $10.00 layaways die on the vine.
Weather Front. It is dam cold here for the midwest. It is 9 degrees here in Maryville. I am frezzing my rail spike off in the garage with the gas heater on high, spaces heater going and wearing two pair of sweat pants.
Trains are running great.
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Good snowy evening all.
Zoe - A big peppermint hot cocoa please, as it is frigid out!
Ken - So sorry about your dad. That was a horrendous way to find out.
Weather - Erie Pa got all the snow... Snow belt in my area got 8"... Erie has hit 63" in two days. Set the record for the most in a day, two days, three days, and a week.... I will let that one sink in for a bit.
Most Erie has gotten in a month, is 97.5".... In a month....
They got to 34.5" shy of that... In two days...
And it is still snowing, at 2-3" per hour....
Most of Erie and surrounding areas got shut down, due to impassable roads. The movie theater, the Millcreek Mall, and numerous other stores, businesses, and too many roads to count were all closed because of the weather. PennDOT, and PSP (Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation and Pennsylvania State Police) flat out said to stay off of the roads, and were enforcing the rule that no one was allowed out unless they had either one (or more) of three things. Snow tires, tire chains, or four wheel drive. If you don't have those things, you get a massive fine and your car towed for your troubles. (Which, if you were stupid enough to go out without the proper equipment, you needed towed out of wherever you got stuck at anyways...)
They can keep it... No offense to the Erie-ites, and, I do like snow, just do not like to get it all at one time.
Although, where I live, we usually get hit harder than Erie, and do often get much more than Erie. (Our record is 104" in a month, with a 2 day total of 73" before. But as we don't have Erie International Airport, it's not "official" for us.)
And now, it's just plain cold....
W*^k - Been a interesting couple days. I will leave it at that...
Hope all are well, and all enjoy the evening.
EDIT: I should mention, that monthly snow fall record of 97.5" in Erie...This is the current record, and the current monthly total at Erie Airport is exactly, now, as of 11 pm, 97.5"...... Another record will fall tonight. They are forecasting another 3-6" for Erie, so, they have a good chance to be over 100" for the month by morning.
Oh, and, with 34" in 24 hours, they shattered the prior 26.5" in 24 hours record.
Now you know, as they say, the rest of the story.
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.
Good afternoon Diners,
Brunhilda, I'll have an extra large coffee with lots of cream, please. Also, set Ken and the gang up with a .
No real winter solstice traditions for me because I don't observe it; however one year my son and I sat on Dec 24th and watched "it's a Wonderful Life" from like 6:00 pm straight through to past midnight just by changing channels. That is a good memory.
Ed: that little snow plow is just begging to be modeled by some skillful modeler. I tend to agree that it's short so they could turn it with the locomotive. My question is where do they put any ballast in a plow that short?
it is cold here! Not weather to my liking, but ya deal with it.
Ken: Condolences on your fathers death. I hope all will be well for you and your family.
Hello to everyone, and I hope everyone is OK, safe, and warm.
edit. I'm at the top of the page. Your orders are on me!
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Good Afternoon, Folks!
Happy Boxing Day...
JAMES MOONThat’s just plain crazy. Happy shoveling to all along the Lake Erie shore.
This little fellow will make "short" work of those plowing jobs!
Plough_CN-55499 by Edmund, on Flickr
This has to be the shortest plough I've ever seen on the railroad!
Do you suppose it was designed so it could fit on a turntable along with the locomotive?
CN_Plough_55401 by Edmund, on Flickr
Sure would make a neat little model. Maybe the Walthers plow can be hacked into something like it?
I'll stop by later for a nice bowl of Cincinnati style five-way Chili, and maybe one of Ken's beers
Cheers! Ed
Everybody outta bed. It's not Berea, but it's all I got this morning from Coal City IL
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Well it turned out to be a nice Christmas after all Sister in Law surprised me with money to spend at the train show. Perfect because the wife wants me out while the furniture is moving Saturday, so I will go to the train show Walmart and then see the Star Wars movie. Cannot think of a better way to spend a “get out of the way Saturday.”
I need more reversing track for the Subway and while I am at it I think I will swap the stock couplers for Kadee 158’s and see if that makes for a more prototypical looking space between subway cars.
Joe Staten Island West
A belated Merry Christmas to all, and best wishes for 2018!!
Sorry, this is a few minutes late. I have been having such a good time with my wife Dianne, our son Cole and his wonderful fiance Kaitlin that I didn't have time to get to the computer on Christmas day. This is the first time we have had Cole home for X-mas in four years, and having Kaitlin here was a big bonus. We are teaching her how to play euchre and she is off to a good start. We also played a Canadian trivia game which we were absolutely lousy at but it was fun. We cheated by giving lots of hints if we knew the answer to the question!
I prided myself on not going back for seconds during Christmas Dinner. . I was sorely tempted but I managed to maintain my resolve! That was until the snacks came out for the after dinner games and the cookie platter was brought out again. That pretty much killed the attempt at waistline control!
We have suffered the benefits of having employees (my wife's) who really like their managers. Dianne got a bunch of very generous gifts from her staff, but the best was a Jamaican fruit and rum cake that was literally intoxicating (and I believe quite flamable)! It was so moist that you could have squeezed the booze out of it. We were warned not to drive after having some. I chuckled at the warning but after the first piece I suspected that the warning was true! There is still half a cake left. What to do, what to do?!?
Cheers everyone!!!
Ken!
cudaken Amazing with my child hood I have not needed therapy.
TRAINS are therapy. Every time someone asks me "how much did that cost?" pointing to a locomotive or something I just say, "about three sessions worth" and then they understand.
It sounds like you have a good grasp of how things are dealt out in life... that's good, Ken!
I hope the coming New Year brings you some good cheer!
centurycard by Edmund, on Flickr
Best Wishes to ALL!
Ed
Happy Christmas evening all! Cold, cold, cold. It only got to 1 above today. Expected to get to -14 tonight.
Dessert: As I mentioned previously, I was making a caramel apple torte for dessert. Unfortunately, both Mom and Dad thought that it was a little bit heavy. Hmm. Have to come up with something a little bit lighter for next year. (As of late, I can't seem to come up with anything dessert wise that keeps them happy.)
On a different point, however, Dad didn't say much when I asked about snagging a piecce of plywood to built the new layout section. He also doesn't say much when I use his radial arm saw for cutting things. (He didn't train me on using it until I was high school. He was concerned about me misusing it and causing problems.) Does make it a lot easier for cutting plywood and such. The 1x4s can usually cut with a hand saw but the radial arm saw does make it easier.
Judging by the weather, I may be able to buiilt the framework I need the second week of January. From what the weather is showing, next Monday will be a repeat of today.
I also have decided that I will leave the shop only as one kit. I took a quick look at the available space and determined that there isn't wnough room for a second kit. (Besides which, it saves me money not buying the second kit. I have enough other bits and pieces that I need that saving money will be handy.)
Eveining Diners
Flo, the gang will have a glass of spiked eggnog with a chaser. Give the none drinkers what every they like.
BigDaddyKen my condolences on the loss of your dad. Hideous way to find out too.
Henery I think you put it best! I was stunned by the news but not what happened! Told my wife last year "what you want to bet Mom does not call when Dad dies?" Just another messed up chapter in my life! Amazing with my childhood I have not needed therapy. Still turned out to be a decent person and father to my daughter.
Thank You for all of the condolences. I learned a lot from Dad, good and bad, but more good. Part of me will miss him, part of me not as much.
Christmas Was pretty good. Daughter and SIL did get to the house pretty late, around 2:15. I had not eaten yet and I was glad we ate before we opned the presents. Gave Sharon and Shawn some cash and a Lowes Gift Card. They are remodining there bathroom. Over all pretty pleasant Christmas and for a change a White Christmas.
Todd Great To See You!
Ed You gave me the best Christmas Pesents. Running the Mighty B&O F7's, Mighty CB&Q F7's and NYC RSD as I miss spell.
Merry Christmas, Ken
Ken my condolences on the loss of your dad. Hideous way to find out too.
My sirloin roast turned out well. I cooked it at 450 for 20 minutes to avoid browning it in a skillet. Not that anyone noticed but the bottom didn't get very brown. Next time I will dirty a skillet. It turned out well as did the potatoes. My son made green beans and pine nuts and tiramisu.
Narrowly avoided taking my OH to the ER. Her oncologist decided 100.7 wasn't high enough, given her lack of symptoms and to wait for 101. It never hit 101 but now, 24 hours later it is again 100.8.
I thought I mentioned my DNA testing before. I am 0.1% Yakut a Siberian oriental tribe. Did the Russians go west or did the Yakut go east 4-500 years ago? My wife who thought she was 1/2 German is more Scandanavian than German.
Hope everyone is having a happy holiday.
Ho ho ho..., Meeeerry Christmas!!
just pulled the prime rib outta the oven and brought some in to share. er.. I guess rib roast actually. Prime rib sounds better to me Though. Maybe others can bring in a few dishes and we can have a late potluck Christmas party.
Ken- so sorry to hear about your dad.
Welp, all is well here I suppose. Good to see you guys. Quite a few new guys I see. That’s great.
getting ready for the wife to start coughin (she’s had the flu all last week but better now) so I best get back to w*rk here.
I’ll try and stop in on New Years to help get Jim off the chandelier. Happens every year. Still don’t know how he gets up there.
Ya’ll have a great day now ya hear?!
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.
Merry Christmas, all! Hope it is a safe one!
-6 , sunny and windy. Wind chill is at -28.
Sorry about your Dad, Ken. That really sucks.
Spoke to my son in California, all is well with him and DIL. They leave for Maui next week for DIL's brother's wedding.
Daughter and SIL/ grandkids were on the way up to visit. About 15 miles from their home the emercency brake light was on. Looooong story short, they turned around and limped it home. Disappointment all around.
Soooo, I'm in the basement running trains and working on minor projects. Wife is watching Christmas movies.
Wife gave me 30 Prieser Holstein cows and a 3 pack of Accurail GN covered hoppers! She got a remote starter for her SUV.We get each other stuff all year, so we try not to go nuts on Christmas. The stuff for the kids/ grandkids is a completely different story! LOL!
Have a good one!
Terry
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
Merry Christmas everyone though it just doesn’t feel like it (Sort of feeling how Charlie Brown felt). In fact the only tree that we put up this year is a Charlie Brown tree.
I am hoping to finish the SIW move this week before the Greenberg trainshow so I can pick up a few odds and ends there.
I did not stay up for midnight mas. Went to Mass on Sunday and again this Morning, that's, enough, thankyou.
Anyway, at this morning's Mass Fr. Odo really belted out that last stanza of Joty to the World on the organ. You could feel the building shake and the lights dim ans the organ burned up those ampeers.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Merry Christmas to all!
Sorry to hear about your Dad, Ken. May he rest in peace. Is your Mom going to be OK without him around?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Merry Christmas diners,
cudaken Kicker? Dad hated Funerals and people fighting over what they get. So while it was no surprise he did not want a furneral the shocker was he died Dec 15th 2017 and she did not call me? God I knew my family was Dysfunctional but this has to be a record!
Kicker? Dad hated Funerals and people fighting over what they get. So while it was no surprise he did not want a furneral the shocker was he died Dec 15th 2017 and she did not call me? God I knew my family was Dysfunctional but this has to be a record!
My mom has the same idea. She wants to no fuss over family gatherings and sadness. We will see what happens when we get to that bridge.
Sorry about your dad, Ken.
Galaxy- It seems more than I do. My dad's side is Swedish and Italian, and my mom's is Mexican.
So do you celebrate your ancestry cultures since you found out more?
Have a Wonderful Day!
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
To All---
Merry Christmas, and a healthy, safe, prosperous New Year !!
From the Island,
herrinchoker
Morning everyone, and Merry Christmas to erveryone who partakes in it. Mom is working, so we're doing the gift opening here later today.
Ken, I am sorry as well for your loss.
I watched all the Christmas movies last night as well. Fell asleep to "It';s a wonderful life". We received snow here last night, so I finally got the "White Christmas" I've wanted for awhile.
I plan to go post christmas shopping for my model train gifts- since very few know what I want, I always suggest to get me money so I can pick it out myself.
(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).
Good morning all.
Merry Christmas
Ken, my condolences on your loss.
Just a sputter of snow this morning inteh wilds of Western KY. ( like 5 flakes)
Heading over to the parents here in a bit, my sister and brother in law are visiting.
I watched all my obligitory Christmas movies last night.
See you all later.
Seasons Greetings amd Happy Holidays, Wish you and yours Good Tidings and a Merry Christmas from the NorthWestern Pacific and SouthWestern Pacific Railroad System, the Great Pacific Fleet!
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
Seeing as how it's now midnight and officially Christmas here in the Central Time Zone...
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!
I'm very saddened to hear of your double-dose of bad news, Ken. You and Sue are in my thoughts. Well, maybe it is a triple dose since it happened so close to Christmas, too.
Maybe your mom just didn't have the courage to call to let you know. Some people don't know how to handle death or bad news.
If there's anything I can do to help don't hesitate to ask...
Your friend, Ed
Twas the night before Christmas when across the layout not a creature was stirring, not even a Krauss (Maffei), the locomotives were placed in yard with care, in hopes that the Zephyr soon would be there... the sleepers were nestled in a quiet spur, while the Mallet Articulateds were placed in their sheds...
Thats all I've got right now if you have a suggestion please do post it...
My condolences to you as well, Ken. Thankfully my parents are still around, but for how much longer I don't know.
I will add a ¡Feliz Navidad! to the mix as well. I will be going out to the ranch and making dessert. My tradition. I change it up every year. (Some years I have no idea what I will do until very close. Some years I know fairly early.) This year was changing up until the first part of the month. It will be a Caramel Apple Torte. Angel food cake, caramel pudding, cake, canned apple slices, repeat. I will be putting it in clear glass mugs (think beer type mugs). I couldn't find a clear glass bowl so I improvised. The pudding and the apples I had but the cake wasn't added until earlier this month.
Mom will have ham with cherry sauce. Yams with brown sugar, topped with pineapple slices and flavored mini marshmallows. (That is something her mom, my grandmother, always made and we have kept that tradition.) I also think there will coleslaw and asparagus.
Also will most llikely be doing a few repairs at home. Mom can't and Dad isn't moving well enough to do it.
Merry Christmas to all........
And to all, A Good Night!
73
P.S.- Ken, my deepest sympathies on the loss of your father.
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Merry Christmas everybody.
We leave for Ohio tomorrow. Next we go to Michigan. Be back in a week. Another whirlwind trip .
If I get a chance, I’ll check in here during the week.
...
Ken... Condolences about your father dying and sad to hear about the family being disfunctional.
Have a good week, everybody.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU