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Jeffreys Trackside Diner, January 2018 at Tehachapi Loop Locked

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 11:21 AM

Steven Otte

Ricky W., it's supposed to hit a balmy 17° today. Since I last complained about the cold weather when it was -7°, I couldn't complain again unless it got colder than that, or we had a stretch of nicer weather. So now that it's been in the double digits for a few days (a 20-degree swing!), next time the temperature drops, I can complain again. It's a self-imposed rule to spare my friends from the incessant whining. As a former Floridian, I have very little cold tolerance.

I had a similar experience, although it was because I am a former Californian due to the military moves, from age 7 through about early college.  My first wife was from Syracuse New York (land of Lake Effect snow and cold winters).  When we first got married and I complained about the cold weather.  She imposed a rule on me after less than a year that I could only complain once a week because she got tired of my whining about it.  My job was as a field geolgist so I worked outside to my chagrin.  I wore TWO pairs of long-johns, jeans and insulated cover-alls, and a balaclava.  I'm remarried but my daughter told me when I visited recently that her mother keeps the house thermastat at 55 degree's at night and 58 during the day!  And I thought I was cheap with the heating bill at 64 (night) and 67 (day) which my 2nd wife isn't happy with! 

As for music, I grew up with '70s classic rock, and my wife with '80s new wave. Neither of us are fond of popular music from the late '90s on. But since we got an Alexa that lets us listen to Amazon music, we find we quite like modern indie music. Imagine Dragons, Vampire Weekend, The Killers, Florence + The Machine, Chvrches, The National, Arctic Monkeys. There's a lot of good stuff coming out these days, it's just not being played on top-40 radio.

My wife bought an Alexa a year ago for Christmas and but we mostly ask her to play 70's and 80's music with the Music Unlimited subscription.  Her 23 year old son listens to the Artic Monkeys and other groups I've never heard of.  My wife, who is from England just tells her son it's a load of ...    BTW, she found she could make Alexa speak with a British accent using the Alexa app on her phone!  Stick out tongue

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by NWP SWP on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 11:15 AM

Steven O, weather isn't much better here in Flo-Rida, ice has got I-10 closed between I-75 and Tallahassee so looks like we may not make it back to Louisiana till tommorow, oh well...

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by Steven Otte on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 10:54 AM

Kevin, you grew up in Cape Coral? You missed me by a few years. I worked for the Daily Breeze newspaper there from 1989-1991, and left when I got married. I moved back to town in 1994, just in time for my divorce.

Ricky W., it's supposed to hit a balmy 17° today. Since I last complained about the cold weather when it was -7°, I couldn't complain again unless it got colder than that, or we had a stretch of nicer weather. So now that it's been in the double digits for a few days (a 20-degree swing!), next time the temperature drops, I can complain again. It's a self-imposed rule to spare my friends from the incessant whining. As a former Floridian, I have very little cold tolerance.

As for music, I grew up with '70s classic rock, and my wife with '80s new wave. Neither of us are fond of popular music from the late '90s on. But since we got an Alexa that lets us listen to Amazon music, we find we quite like modern indie music. Imagine Dragons, Vampire Weekend, The Killers, Florence + The Machine, Chvrches, The National, Arctic Monkeys. There's a lot of good stuff coming out these days, it's just not being played on top-40 radio.

--
Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editor
sotte@kalmbach.com

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 10:49 AM

I see Inch posted this in the "Show Me" thread .... I guess he wanted to post here in the Diner. .............

 

"My email has been hacked so closing account. Please respond to me on this site.
 

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4309

DISCLAIMER-- This post does not clam anything posted here as fact or truth, but it may be just plain funny"
 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 9:08 AM

Good morning .

I returned home late last night from frigid Michigan and bitter cold Ohio to cold Kentucky. .... Must be winter.

I hope each of you had a great Christmas, New Years Day, etc. 

I've not read all your posts. I see some are about music. There are others here who are more musically incined than I am. So I'll skip that part of the conversation.

Does anybody have New Years Resolutions pertaining to yopur model railroads ? 

I plan to continue with my layoiut expansion. Currently, I'm working on a corner scene which has my old 1900 era as I have been talking about. 

While I was gone, USPS delivered repair parts for a locomotive I am fixing. Also, I plan to install more DCC decoders. 

Feel free to show progress with your model railroading in the Diner. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 4:36 AM

Hey Bear!

Was that music video filmed in Montreal?

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by GraniteRailroader on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 4:15 AM

Morning diners! 

 

Quick stop for a 5 AM coffee while on the plow route. Temps are up to about 10* so it's time to scrape and salt. Should get some good melting action and get our "critical list" dwindled down quickly. 

Cheers!

 

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Posted by "JaBear" on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 3:41 AM
Gidday Chloe, could you please make sure those that need them get some hot drinks, please. As it is currently 2240 hrs and still a humid 67F, a nice cold lemonade would be nice, thanks.
 
On looking at something like the Tehachapi Loop, I am struck by the hot shot surveying that first went into formulating the route, then, more importantly, the hard work that went into the actual construction.
 
 
Like all of the railroad construction that went on, prior to, and during this time, it was carried out by gun powder/ dynamite, and pick and shovel, in the Tehachapi Loops case by predominately 3000+ Chinese labourers.
 
It is often foolish to try to compare todays living/working conditions with those of the past, a generalisation perhaps, but life was cheaper back then.
 
Even so I feel that as well as remembering the “Great Ones”, we should really salute those extraordinary “Ordinary Folks” whose hard graft, and for some the ultimate sacrifice, laid the foundations for what we so often take for granted today.
 
And with that, and as music ha been mentioned recently, I feel a tune coming on…….
 
 
“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” – Colin Powell
 
Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them.

Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by cudaken on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 10:56 PM

 Ken stomps into dinner and looks Devil

 Eveing Diners

 Flo, Inch, Ed, Gary, Brent, Jan, Anglob, Galaxy and I will have a Beer please. Give SteveO, Steven and Super Sales Man a Hot Cider and leave a mug outside for Ulrich.

 Why am I mad? Well.

 1 Worked sucked rail spikes. Only 2 customers all day and one was dumber than a box of rocks!

 2 Out of toner for the fax machine. Warehouse guy forgot to bring them with my store order! He could not find toner in my area or a refill kit for Fax Machine so I get to drive to St Charles Mo before work to pick it up at the Warehouse! Bang Head That is a 85 mile round trip drive. Bang Head

 3 After work I had to come home, pick up the Wifes car to put in gas for her. Reason why you ask? Whistling Becuse she cannot get the gas cap off?  It is because she won't try! SoapBox Told her tonight this is the last time I do it! If you cannot put gas in your car, YOU DON'T NEED TO DRIVE! Give me a break, we have owned the car for over a year now!

 

ricktrains4824
Ken - Does it make someone a good salesman if they can talk you into a bigger lawn mower, in a snowstorm, with wind chills below zero? And, could Nancy learn something from that? Smile, Wink & Grin

  Rick it depends. If your customer came into buying a snow shovel and you sold him a lawn mower as well great job! If the cutomer came in as was looking for a bigger lawn mower it was a lucky sale. Either way good for you!

 Could Nancy learn anything from you? No, I don't think she can learn a thing!

 Train Engine Question? Anyone here have a new BLI Pargon 3, RSD-15 or SD 7 engine and what do you think of it?

 Later, Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by howmus on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 9:22 PM

Evenin' folks!

Janie, I would just like a refill for my decaf before bedtime, if you would....

A lot of nasty weather to be out driving in to the west of me here in NYS today.  Over in Lancaster, East of Buffalo there was a pile up involving 75+ vehicles on the NYS Thruway this morning.  One person dead and traffic stopped for hours.  I was on the Thruway between Geneva and Victor myself.  Thruway was fine but the North South roads getting to the thruway were very tricky in places.  I took a different route coming back home off the Thruway and it was almost as bad as the one I took getting to the Thruway....

So why was I out at all, you ask.  My new suit, I bought a few weeks back, was finally ready for me to pick up at the Men's Wearhouse in Victor, NY.  Have to go out tomorrow as well.  Doctor's Appointment pre getting the "Roto-router" job done.

Got the next to last section of hand laid track finished this evening.  Well, it still needs to be painted and ballasted, but it is in place.

Quote for the day: "Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence." - Robert Frost

Have a good one and stay warm out there....

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by NWP SWP on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 8:10 PM

Afternoon diners, it's cold outside, I'll have a glass of sparkling grape juice, and give the rest of the gang whatever they want, it's quiet here in the diner, where is everybody???

I wasn't trying to insult anyone just poking fun at you guys talking about female popstars being future exes... which is quite funny, but anythings possible! Smile, Wink & GrinWhistlingLaugh

In other news I'm heading back to good ole Louisiana tommorow...

Modeling front, Project Big Bad John is still in progress, and I am weighing whether to give a diorama a go not fully decided yet, just kinda thinking out loud...

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by NWP SWP on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 4:34 PM

I think you're reading too far into it, and yes I've heard the stories...

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by GraniteRailroader on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 4:26 PM

NWP SWP

about an average guy liking a rich girl... 

There's more to it than that especially if you know about how he met Elle and Christie while on vacation, our how his previous separations left him with women throwing themselves at him. His perception of his own appearance had much to do with the lyrics in the song... 

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Posted by NWP SWP on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 3:22 PM

I wasn't speaking of age I was referencing the Billy Joel song "Uptown Girl" which is about an average guy liking a rich girl...

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by angelob6660 on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 2:48 PM

Afternoon Diners,

I remember reading about someone gets sick around this time of year, on the previous page. 

The Flu season has hit to 36 states.

 Steven- She's only 5 years younger than me. 

Modeling the G.N.O. Railway, The Diamond Route.

Amtrak America, 1971-Present.

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Posted by moelarrycurly4 on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 12:59 PM

I have loaded up on Kero now during our "heatwave" of 14

In case we have power outages, there were a few this week.

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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 12:24 PM

Good (frosty) afternoon all.

Janie - I will take the largest mug you have filled to the brim with hot cocoa. Thanks.

JaBear - Yep, them omissions is dangerous! Wink I'm glad you have "perfected grumpy" also. Laugh

SteveO - Hope your not frozen to a Popsicle yet! I heard that you are a bit colder than my area.

Ken - Does it make someone a good salesman if they can talk you into a bigger lawn mower, in a snowstorm, with wind chills below zero? 

And, could Nancy learn something from that? Smile, Wink & Grin

Not too sure if it was a good salesman job, or just a one off sale. Either way, I will take it! (I just won't like loading it during said snowstorm!)

Steven (SWP) - While the diner is in a warm spot, all of our sleeper berths aren't. (Nor is the MOW train we young ones seem to be volunteered for.) So, we are only warm while in the diner. 

W*^k - I go in shortly, so will be catching the fast train back from the loop. 

Weather - Well, it's no longer snowing... (today....) Yay for little things I guess. Although, our "feels like" temp is "way to stinkin' cold!" Grumpy

Erie Snow Record Front - They now sit just shy of 26" under the record snowfall for the season. Yes, I did say the season.... Can we break another record? (At least 3 more months it can snow, so there is a good chance.)

Another snow clipper is lined up for Thursday. Confused

And they smashed the record for a month in December, with over 120" in the month. (Old record was 97") 

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.

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Posted by NWP SWP on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 10:58 AM

Seems as though you guys are in search of an "Uptown Girl" Laugh

I have top of page, drinks on me...

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by angelob6660 on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 10:32 AM

Morning diners,

SeeYou190

 

 
GraniteRailroader

 

 
angelob6660
 Taylor Swift.
 

 

 
My future ex wife AngelWhistling
 

 

 

.

I think my future ex wife will be Ariana Grande!

.

WinkWhistling

.

-Kevin

.

 

Yeah she's pretty good too. 

My was going to be Selena Gomez.

I watched a special about Bob Hope on the PBS channel. It was very interesting.

Modeling the G.N.O. Railway, The Diamond Route.

Amtrak America, 1971-Present.

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Posted by NWP SWP on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 10:04 AM

Good morning diners, apparently moving to Tehachapi hasn't helped the cold problem...

On the model railroading front, I'm still working out the frame, drive, and prime mover setup of Big Bad John but I am making progress, slowly...

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by moelarrycurly4 on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 9:17 AM

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

 

Its cold.

So cold my wipers would not shut off in the car. Finally got it jiggled and it shut off.

 

Back at work this morning after a bit of time off. I need to get more Kerosene for my basement heater.

 

brrrrrrr. and brrrr.

 

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 7:58 AM

Good morning. 

another day to bundle up because of cold weather. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by "JaBear" on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 4:46 AM

on Flickr

 Whistling

on Flickr

Smile, Wink & Grin

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 1:42 AM

herrinchoker:

Thanks for the explanation of the reason for a puppy rail. I suspected something like that but I wasn't sure.

I also had no idea how much bringing a new puppy into the world could cost! Thanks for the summary.

We enjoyed our wonderful dog Jake. He was a German Shepherd but not purebred so he was a bit smaller than most Shepherds. Great disposition. We managed to teach him not to bark at every kid who walked by the house (I think he had been taunted by kids before we got him), and he would walk beside me without a leash, and he never pooped when we were out on a walk. He saved me the task of having to feel warm dog droppings through the film of a plastic bag. Wonderful dog!!!

Unfortunately he died from complications related to severe epilepsy at the age of seven. That was not a nice thing to go through.

We would have gotten another dog except that I was tired of cleaning the back yard up after him. Nobody else would do it despite the promises made when we got him. I have often said that there is a huge opportunity being missed in the dog food market. If someone was to make a dog food that caused their poop to glow in the dark they would make a fortune! I would definitely get another dog!!!LaughLaughLaugh

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by herrinchoker on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 12:20 AM

hon30critter,

A puppy rail is established on all four sides of a whelping box, (place where the gyp,(female dog) has her pups), usually coming out from the side of the box 4 inches, and is 4 inches from the bottom of the box. This prevents the gyp from forcing a pup into the side of a box, killing it by accident. A gentleman by the name of T.E. Scott devised a stainless steel bowl, (oversized hubcap), that has a heating element with a therostat that can be used in a whelping box to prevent the pups from becoming chilled, and killed by being too cold. Ever notice pups are usually in a pile when they are sleeping, or not scooting around the box ?

A litter of pups, (6), by the time special diet for the gyp, shots, dew claw removal, worming, and general check-ups, I would break even at $1200.00 per pup. Didn't want to loose any. I would put a litter on the ground every three years, as each breeding takes that long to evaluate as to ability, being biddible, conformation, coat, and instinct. Sometimes it would be in the cards to NOT repeat the breeding. Ostensibly dogs were bred to improve the breed, not to make money.

herrinchoker

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Posted by hon30critter on Monday, January 1, 2018 11:06 PM

herrinchoker
Glad to see the puppy rail in the whelping nest, not many know about that.

OK, I'll bite. I haven't been around any newborn pups - ever (a couple of cat litters but they don't count, right dog lovers?!?Smile, Wink & Grin) What is a puppy rail and what does it do or prevent?

Brent - loved the song! Put me in a warm space. Thanks for posting.

Dave

NO, I don't hate cats!!!!

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by RideOnRoad on Monday, January 1, 2018 10:35 PM

cudaken
. . ."You need to eat better, eating spinach everyday cannot be good for you!". . .

Um, Popeye.

Richard

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Posted by NWP SWP on Monday, January 1, 2018 8:47 PM

I apologize for moving the diner early I just wanted to get it posted so it was there for 12:01 AM January 1st, I did not know that the candle picture was so important and will remember to post it next time...

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by cudaken on Monday, January 1, 2018 8:44 PM

 Eveing Diners

 Flo, give the gang a Beer and wipersnappers a hot chocolate.

 Steven You did move the dinner a tad early. But we are use to Ulrich moving the dinner. With him being in Germany it was after midnight for us in the states. Ulrich all so started the candle in the hand photo. I was surprised not to see it when you moved the dinner but it was not a problem for me.

 Work Front with Nancy. Sigh Yep she was there again. Bang Head She was bored out of her mind, so I was her tagret for intertainment! She told me "You need to eat better, eating spinach everyday cannot be good for you!" Confused

 Later, Ken 

I hate Rust

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Posted by NWP SWP on Monday, January 1, 2018 8:42 PM

Evening diners, I'll take a pecan pie custard concrete on the upper observation deck...

Some music I really like is remixed classical the only one I know of right now is a Fifth of Beethoven, when I first heard it I was a bit confused!

Today we went to the Citrus Bowl, left early due to the rain and cold...

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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