Good afternoon.
I made a video for the kid in Ottawa, he is chomping at the bit to get home for Christmas. His giant suitcase full of dirty laundry is ready to go.
He gets home Friday morning at 0900hrs after his last exam.
All the best for a good evening.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
wetidlerjr Why does Ulrich (Sir Madog) show up to me as "Anonymous"?
Why does Ulrich (Sir Madog) show up to me as "Anonymous"?
Bill ... I guess he followed through with a request to Kalmbach to end his account. Last time he was here, he became unhappy with something and decided he wanted to leave. ..Unfortunately, he leaves a forum with people who like him. ... Anyhow, I'm glad to see you here again.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Good morning to all!
On the subject of cats, my daughter has a pair of them, both from rescue. They are both well-behaved, playful and affectionate, and the best of friends. "Bandit" is all black and "Tux" is black with a white chest.
My girlfriend has both a tiny cat named Emily and a big Doberman named Bruce. She tells people he's a "90 pound lap dog" because he insists on sharing the couch with either or both of us. I agree with the problem of having to take a dog for "walks," but it gets us out for exercise which we might otherwise skip, and that has to be good.
As a retired guy looking to move someplace warmer, I found the concept of "The Villages" interesting. I've never been there, and Florida is too much on the "warmer" side for me. I guess some love it and some hate it. Urban legend has it that the place is a hotbed of senior sexuality and related diseases, and the women outnumber the men 9-1. All of this comes from a couple of "sensationist" magazine articles, and some fact-checking shows it to be largely baloney.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Morning diners,
RideOnRoad It rained pretty good last night. It's kind of a big deal since it has been 143 days since the last rain, a new record.
It rained pretty good last night. It's kind of a big deal since it has been 143 days since the last rain, a new record.
I didn't know you kept track of the rain.
Plus it's raining here too, we're apart a few hundred miles.
Brent- Although I'm easy to buy for. My family makes it difficult.
Steven- CSX does have heritage units, but their not colorful. They have decals or stickers on far edge on the nose.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4426799
Here's a picture of one of them.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Good morning from the really wet West Coast, it is 6c, pouring rain and the pumps are holding. One thing about the amount of rain we get is everything is always nice and clean when things dry up.
I remember having some good PM conversations with Jeffery, he was a very nice man and I was saddened by the conditions he found himself living in.
My inlaws have a real them and us attitude, even toward their own kids. I have made it clear that the family home is the family home and my kids can come home to live whenever they want to. That goes to other family members that may need a place to stay as well. No deadbeats though.
We are having close to twenty for Christmas dinner this year. The numbers have been dropping over the years as the geezers pop off, however, the younger ones are growing in numbers so some table logistics are in order. We may just set up in the Kitchen/family room with two sheets of plywood this year. We use to do that at the peak of numbers a few years back and the MIL had made beautiful tablecloths to fit over our two 9' x 5' pieces of plywood that go end to end.
We do gift draws for after dinner. People always fight for my name because I am so easy to buy for. A $75.00 gift certificate to PWRS. After this Christmas and my Birthday in January, I should have about $800.00 on account there to help pay for my two Rapido Royal Hudsons that I hope will eventually show up. Gotta love Christmas.
Well better get back to the preps for the big day. I am running on impulse power the last few, as dealing with the flood has severely damaged my warp drive.
All the best to all.
Richard
Good morning, everyone. ..... Coffee and a donut, please.
wetidlerjr Good morning!
Good morning!
Bill ! ... Great to see you. ..... Thanks for your brief comment (fond memories) about Jeffrey .... He had a lot of friends on various forums.
Everybody: ..... Have a great Sunday !
Heartland Division CB&Q Good morning ... (I should have said this yesterday ...) Yesterday was the third anniversary of Jeffrey's death. His "Franken Diesels" and his wonderful sense of humor are missed for sure. Running Bear: .... I continue being thankful for your friendship. Rest in Peace ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Good morning ...
(I should have said this yesterday ...)
Yesterday was the third anniversary of Jeffrey's death. His "Franken Diesels" and his wonderful sense of humor are missed for sure.
Running Bear: .... I continue being thankful for your friendship. Rest in Peace
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Fond memories...
Beautiful night tonight, well hello there folks, I think I'll have a slice of pumpkin bread Ala mode with vanilla bean ice cream and a glass of chocolate milk.
On the railroading front... it's getting closer to Christmas and here in Louisiana the weekend of Christmas Eve calls for an appearance by that magical white stuff that we call snow! Most of my wish list consists of railroading related items and whatever I don't get will be put on my birthday list After Christmas we are off to beautiful sunny Flo-Rida for new years eve it's LIVE IN CONCERT NEW YORKS OWN, THE PIANO MAN, BILLY JOEL, NEW YEARS EVE IN SUNRISE FLORIDA AT THE BB&T CENTER I don't know why but I always have to type it like that and new years day it's the Citrus Bowl game and then three days at Disney, anyway while I'm there I'd like to possibly see a train show if there are any around Orlando and also what LHSs are around Orlando that you guys would recommend?
Ohh and I forgot to mention now that CSX has lost its malevolent dictator does anyone suppose that they will make some Heritage Units? And what's holding BNSF back? And CP absorbed the MILW and SOO correct? So some heritage units from them would be interesting too.
Well goodnight all!
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
I guess I am lucky with respect to our dog. We have a large back yard and since it is fenced in we let him out to do laps for exercise .
Seems like EHH will not be missed by many at CSX.
Joe Staten Island West
Good evening all.
Chloe - How about a slice of that yummy looking chocolate cake, and a nice glass of milk, please. Thanks.
Dog Vrs cat discussion - I have one of each. Love both.
I currently have a Golden Retriever, named Dozer (his "official" name is longer, as he is a pure bred, but we just call him Dozer.) because when he was a young pup, he would be playing with us and suddenly take a short nap, or "Doze", at random. 10-15 minutes of him napping, and he was ready to play again. So, Dozer it was.
My kitty, is a large brown/black striped tabby named Max, as he is just about Maximum size for a cat. (He is not fat at all, but is a large breed, and weighs in, skinny, at 25lbs!)
CSX - So, place our bets they undo all the dumb things EHH did? (As a current song says, "I wouldn't bet that if I was me.") Seems to me they kinda wasted a ton of money on that move.
W*^k - While we were busy, I missed the steak dinner by $900.... Although if our one finance company had done their job, I would have hit it with room to spare my first sale of the day... But because that company dropped the ball (left me in the "waiting to get answered que" for over an hour!) we (they included) lost the sale. (Two field managers for that company got some not too nice emails, and one got a very irritated voice mail from me... And a couple angry texts from my stores owner.) {The owner's contest for the steak dinner was to hit a sales amount through that one finance company only. We don't always get a sale through that company, as they don't run nowhere near as many special finance deals for our customers as the other finance option does. They are always our second option of choice because of that. While I did hit more than some others, out of necessity, I still missed it by $900.}
We surprisingly still have a handful of snow throwers on hand, although the on hand count is getting very thin. (Sold out of both of the the 26", and sold out of the 28", only one 30" left, one 24" Husqvarna left, two of the larger motored 24" and 3 small motored 24" ones still in store. And one 42" that goes onto a Garden series Tractor, tractor not included. That's it. Last week we had multiples of each, including 10 of the larger motored 24"!)
Weather - Freezing rain/drizzle now... Give me snow over that any day!
Hope all are well, and all enjoy the night!
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.
My wife and I drove up to The Villages today for their annual train show.
.
I have lived in Florida my whole life and never been to The Villages before. I am NEVER NEVER NEVER going back! That place is awful. If you ever come to florida, please avoid The Villages. Stick to Orlando!
The train show was OK. The Lego Layout was not there as advertised. Some of the displays were just sectional track on green felt.
Going to the Tampa Train Show tomorrow. Hoping for better.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
cudaken I going to try to get the A unit sound going first so only one speaker.
Right you are, Ken. I forgot— it is the B unit that has two
Ed
Good evening.
Henry. ... I also heard about Hunter Harrison dying. He took medical leave beginning yesterday and CSX stock dropped about $4.00 per share.
Regarding cats and dogs. We have had both over the years, and each has been part of the family .
Eveing Diners
Flo give Ed, Gary, Richard, Angelob, Inch, Brent, Galaxy, Ray, and I a please. Allso put Rick's and Steven's drinks on my tap. Leave a Stein outside for Ulrich.
Richard I got a giggle out of that one my self. But not nearly as funny when Todd caught this spelling error. I was trying to type Gentle Breeze and spell check made it Gentiala Breeze!
Ed Thank You for the tips. I going to try to get the A unit sound going first so only one speaker. With me wiring the speaker into the power pickup last year in the motor power socket I may have blowen that speaker.
Wife is nuts, BBQ is done so later.
Ken
I hate Rust
Sounds like dogs are the next deplorables.
We cleaned out our woods and with two light snows we can see our foxes.
With one inch of snow forecast to start at 3 pm Friday, they closed schools at noon. Traffic at rush hour has gotten so bad that gridlock is the norm. Throw in a little snow and there is no hope.
The CEO of CSX, Hunter Harrison, passed away today. He is hated in the Trains communtiy. CSX paid buckets of money for his "precision railroading" even though he was obviously in poor health. Needing suplemental oxygen is a pretty good defintion of that. Wall Street loved him and added about $40 billion dollars of market cap to CSX.
I know companies like Smuckers complained that CSX service cost them millions of dollars. Don't know if that was his policy or people trying to sabatoge his policy.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
maxmanNot my idea of a good time.
Ditto...
http://wtvr.com/2017/12/15/bethany-stephens-dead-mauled-to-death-by-pit-bull-dogs-goochland-county/
Sometimes that walk can get pretty nasty.
Regards, Ed (former dog owner, too)
joe323Anyway can someone explain to me what is the affection that Model Railroaders have for cats? I aways feel a bit out if place cause we have a dog.
Cats basically take care of themselves. The 14+ hours per week that one spends walking a dog is better spent with the trains.
And with dogs one has to carry a bag of poo on the way back from the walk. Not my idea of a good time.
Good afternoon from the Great White North. Yuck describes the weather, nuff said. I saw the above Santa Letter in an ad and boy did it bring back memories. I spent a lot of time in logistics for the Federal Government. I remember getting important things off airplanes from our embassies around the world that at times were somewhat sensitive. Some embassies were in the deepest parts of nowhere on the planet and often in my sealed documents that accompanied the shipment there would be a handful of letters to Santa. The kids would drop them at the embassies, figuring Canada was as close to the North Pole they could get. Airplanes coming in from all over the planet would frequently have letters to Santa that were not mail, but in the spirit of the season would be chucked into a hold of a plane coming our way. There was usually a Postie somewhere on the airport we would give them to and there was a letter to Santa drop off at the Canada Post facility if we were going by. I'm not sure how many Santa letters Canada Post gets but it has been millions over the years I'm sure and apparently they answer them all. Got to give them a pat on the back. It would be really hectic at this time of the year. All the courier companies and Canada Post aircraft and the airlines would be maxed out and we would all be cooperating with each other trying to steal the last little bit of space on a plane for something that was of course really important. An aerospace company just outside Vancouver did all the computers and software for each Space shuttle mission and I was often involved in getting it on its way to Florida. Nasa needed emergency replacements and wanted us to get them as far as Seattle where they had a plane waiting. It was a horrendous night and those in charge told me they had rounded up an airplane to take the stuff to Seattle. At about 0300hrs I arrived with it at the airport to find this "kid" waiting for me. We had to take the 20 seats out of the plane to get the stuff to all fit. We got it packed in and he asked me what it was and I told him. I remember saying to him "now you can tell everyone you worked on the space program", his eyes were like saucers when I said that. He was nineteen and climbed over the stuff to the cockpit and I watched him leave into the rain and sleet. Scary way to build hours in the left seat. I really miss my work so thanks for letting me reminisce a bit. Hot toddies on me tonight as I will be manning the pumps with the approaching storm. I have two pumps in reserve. All the best to all.
Good afternoon from the Great White North. Yuck describes the weather, nuff said.
I saw the above Santa Letter in an ad and boy did it bring back memories. I spent a lot of time in logistics for the Federal Government. I remember getting important things off airplanes from our embassies around the world that at times were somewhat sensitive. Some embassies were in the deepest parts of nowhere on the planet and often in my sealed documents that accompanied the shipment there would be a handful of letters to Santa. The kids would drop them at the embassies, figuring Canada was as close to the North Pole they could get. Airplanes coming in from all over the planet would frequently have letters to Santa that were not mail, but in the spirit of the season would be chucked into a hold of a plane coming our way. There was usually a Postie somewhere on the airport we would give them to and there was a letter to Santa drop off at the Canada Post facility if we were going by. I'm not sure how many Santa letters Canada Post gets but it has been millions over the years I'm sure and apparently they answer them all. Got to give them a pat on the back.
It would be really hectic at this time of the year. All the courier companies and Canada Post aircraft and the airlines would be maxed out and we would all be cooperating with each other trying to steal the last little bit of space on a plane for something that was of course really important.
An aerospace company just outside Vancouver did all the computers and software for each Space shuttle mission and I was often involved in getting it on its way to Florida. Nasa needed emergency replacements and wanted us to get them as far as Seattle where they had a plane waiting. It was a horrendous night and those in charge told me they had rounded up an airplane to take the stuff to Seattle.
At about 0300hrs I arrived with it at the airport to find this "kid" waiting for me. We had to take the 20 seats out of the plane to get the stuff to all fit. We got it packed in and he asked me what it was and I told him. I remember saying to him "now you can tell everyone you worked on the space program", his eyes were like saucers when I said that. He was nineteen and climbed over the stuff to the cockpit and I watched him leave into the rain and sleet. Scary way to build hours in the left seat.
I really miss my work so thanks for letting me reminisce a bit.
Hot toddies on me tonight as I will be manning the pumps with the approaching storm. I have two pumps in reserve.
Good afternoon everyone serving latkes tonight to those who celebrate Hanukkah.
Anyway can someone explain to me what is the affection that Model Railroaders have for cats? I aways feel a bit out if place cause we have a dog.
Hobby-wise I just ordered a set of Bachmann reversing track as I am planning to run a set of Walthers subway cars back and forth on The set won’t be long enough but after I add a few pieces it should make for nice scene on one of the shelves overlooking the SIW.
Hello, Folks!
Just "checkin' the mail" here before I go out for a little snow plowing...
Hey, Ken
cudakenOne looks like the current one and the other one has a swirl pattern in the cone and say's it is 8 OHM's and 2 watts. Is one better than the other? Any tips when solidering?
The BLI speakers are wired in series so you want to have them matched as close as possible. Can you read them with an ohmmeter before you wire them up?
BLI_SPK by Edmund, on Flickr
I don't notice much difference in the swirly ones over the plain cone ones. The baffle/enclosure makes more difference in sound than anything.
Soldering? Very small tip. Tin the wire first so all you have to do is QUICKLY touch the heat to the solder pad to get the wire to stick without the need to add any more solder to the joint. Have enough heat so you can get in-and-out quickly.
Thanks for the I'll save it for after I get back in from plowing.
Otis is back from the vet and he is snooping around his new surroundings. Most cats hide for a few days but not this guy. He's wandering all over and checking things out. Been to the litter box twice!
I'll be checking in later...
RR_Postcards_0001 by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
cudaken. . .leave a stain outside for Ulrich. . .
Sometimes typos make me smile. (No offense intended.)
Good snowy morning all.
Zoe - I will have a nice cream filled donut, with a mint hot cocoa please. Thanks.
Steven - (NWP) - (I'm trying to sound like Lion would here..) The tiger is Ramu. Lion is a monk, on a monastery. Ramu also lives at monastery. So, while not a pet, Ramu as close as Ramu can get to being pet of (a) Lion.
And, if you go to visit Lion, no need to worry about any guard dogs. Ramu laughs at guard dogs!
Speaking of guard dogs - The main difference between a watch dog and a guard dog, is a watch dog will see something, and will bark, really saying (in dog speak) "Hey! Look at this! Hey! Check this out! Hey! You might want to do something about this! Hey!"
A guard dog sees the same thing, and, without barking, says "Well, would you look at that.... I got this."
So Lion - Is Ramu more of a guard tiger, or a watch tiger? I would guess Ramu is more of a guard tiger, as Ramu can handle most anything!
Weather - Cold, and snowy in NWPA. (We got roughly 10" between last evening around 4, and the current time, 11am, at my house.)
W*^k - Selling snow throwers like they were hotcakes or something... Can't figure out why everyone wants those this time of year.
Trains - Posted a pic in the WPF thread, of a weathered box car. Not so sure I like the color of the trucks, might dirty them up a bit more. (Too dark {read black} for how I like them, but a good stand in.) It was done with a airbrush coat of clear flat acrylic, then with PanPastels. (The trucks are airbrushed a grey/black flat acrylic, but I think they will get my custom mixed "dirty" acrylic next time I fire up my airbrush.) I still need to brush paint the wheelsets, but overall it came out good, I think. (Not a rust bucket car, but a "in service" stand in.)
Critiques welcome on it. (I can always make it better!)
Just don't ask how I managed to duplicate the photo in the post! (Not sure how I managed that one... I only linked it once... Maybe something with Flickr?)
Well, I have to go get ready to sell more snow throwers. (My boss challenged all his stores this morning, and a steak dinner is on the line!)
Hope all are well, and all have a good day!
Flo, Ed, Jan (good to see you in the dinner Jan) Gary, Angelob, Inch, Brent, Ray and I will have a Please. Give Steven, Rick and Frry Kid a RBF and leave a stain outside for Ulrich.
With all the cat lovers here I feel like I am in a Cat House, well that better than being in a Dog House!
Has a whole I like Animals better than humans!
Sparkie The Rocket Dog came from a local American Eskimo Rescue at age 10. He is going on 14 now and is blind and deaf, but still the most loving dog we have ever owned. And we have had some great dogs!
Ed Thank you for the photo and I have it saved! Only thing left is solider in the new speaker and hop tha gets the sound going again. I opened the speaker package you sent last year and there are two speakers. One looks like the current one and the other one has a swirl pattern in the cone and say's it is 8 OHM's and 2 watts. Is one better than the other? Any tips when solidering?
Later Folks, Ken
Evening diners, thought I'd stop in and say howdy... so as stated above Broadway Lion has actual tigers as pets? Please just answer yes or no because the previous answer utterly confused me!
Modeling front, nothing to report today.
Well holy grandfather clocks Batman look at the time I'm out of here for now off to fire up the Batmobile. See you back here, same Battime, same Batchannel!
Lion. LOL. Just the tongue of the tiger probably weighs more than the 7 pound cat here.
Brent, Interesting comment on people dumping pets at the border. I have been crossing the border for over ten years with my dogs. We always carry their immunization records but have never been asked to provide them. We have had great luck with our two rescue airedales. Both super dogs.
Tried making spritz cookies this evening. Not exactly a success as I failed to pay attention to the size measuring cup I pulled out of the kitchen tools drawer. Apparently my wife had used the one cup measure and put it in the dish washer. I just grabbed the largest cup in the set not realizing I had picked up a 1/2 cup measure. The cookies did not come out of the press as well as they have in the past as the butter to flour and sugar ratio was too rich. The cookies ended up very thin but taste fine. Hopefully my next baking outing will turn out better.
Finished my Christmas shopping today for the wife. She takes care of the daughters and grandchilderen. The one daughter is getting a new kitchen facet set as the 12 year old one has failed. Almost hate buying a new one as it probably will not last as long.
Seasons Greetings and a Merry Christmas to all,
Jim