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Jeffreys Track Side Diner - APRIL, 2019: Chicago, Illinois Locked

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, April 4, 2019 12:34 PM

Clint Eastwood would blow the man right out of his boots.  The guy that entered my house would rub the side of his neck and say, "what are you trying to do", tickle meLaughLaughLaugh

 

Good thing I purchased hollow pointsWhistling

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, April 4, 2019 12:29 PM

maxman

 

 
Track fiddler
The quote from Clint Eastwood on the golf course that day. "I don't let the old man in". I like that one.

 

Yeah, sure.  Easy enough for Ole Clint to say.  He has a .44 magnum.

 

LaughLaughLaugh  Yeah you're right.  I'm only half the man.  I'm looking at my 22 caliber rifle right now,  locked and loaded for my home defenseLaugh

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Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, April 4, 2019 12:27 PM

Yea, along with a fist full of dollars. Whistling

Mike.

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Posted by maxman on Thursday, April 4, 2019 12:23 PM

Track fiddler
The quote from Clint Eastwood on the golf course that day. "I don't let the old man in". I like that one.

Yeah, sure.  Easy enough for Ole Clint to say.  He has a .44 magnum.

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, April 4, 2019 12:22 PM

Heartland Division CB&Q
I remember when the railroads provided dedicated bus transportation between the majot stations. For example, passengers arriving in Grand Central via B&O could take the bus to Union Station to board a CB&Q train. 

Yep, that was the Parmelee Transfer service. A longstanding institution in Chicago. I remember they were still running in the early Seventies but I think when Amtrak consolidated the operations to Union Station there wasn't much need to run from depot-to-depot.

LOTS of information here:

http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/p/parmelee/parmelee.htm

Good day to all — Ed

 

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, April 4, 2019 10:47 AM

Thanks Charlie and Garry.  Ya put a smile on my face.  I'm going to start thinking more like Charlie does, (Young) I like it. 

The one that sticks in my head lately is what Brent posted the other night.  The quote from Clint Eastwood on the golf course that day.  "I don't let the old man in".  I like that one.  I have already adopted it,  I'm going to live by it.  Instead of always complaining about my aches and pains, I am going to start replacing negativity with positive things to say... and think.  I needed a lesson in this department, Your mind is a powerful thing, it will do what you tell it.

Judy and I just turned 55 last year.  Our birth dates are less than 2 months apart,  we have been together for 26 years.  I wouldn't trade one day of those 26 years for all the money in the world.  According to Clint Eastwood's way of thinking,  we have a brand-new 26 years together to look forward to.

She supports my railroad hobby,  obviously,  it's in the living roomLaugh  I support anything she comes up with.

She's always finding fun stuff for us to do on our day off together.  Last Monday we went to TILT.  This old school bar just loaded with old-school pinball machines, up in Minneapolis.  Lunch special,  a loaded Chicago dog and 10 tokens for $9.  How can you beat that?

I kept winning games on the Beatles one.  We had fun for 2 hours.  She always finds fun stuff for us to doSmile

TF

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Thursday, April 4, 2019 9:54 AM

Good morning, everybody ... Coffee and a donut, please. 

TF ... That is a nice photo of a happy couple. Nice to see both of you . ... It looks like your next project will be challenging. have fun. 

Ken .... I hope the roof guy came and fized the roof for you. 

Ed ... That F7 is interesting. ... Nice phtos of Chicago Grand Central Station. I rode the B&O Capitol Limited from there many years ago. .... I remember when the railroads provided dedicated bus transportation between the majot stations. For example, passengers arriving in Grand Central via B&O could take the bus to Union Station to board a CB&Q train. 

JR ... Good to hear you had time to work on the layout. Sorry to hear you have knee problems. 

Eilif ... Glad you are here in the Diner and particpating in the Chicago discussion. I agree the Museum of Science and Inducry is worthwhile. I went there a lot when I was young, but hardly any visist to it in recent years. 

Below is a photo of the Electroliner operated by the Chicago, North Shore, and Milwaukee Railroad. The train used CTA elevated tracks on the Loop where passenger could board the train to ride to Milwaukee or cities located along that line. ... I recall riding on it several times. It had a front row seat across the aisle from the motorman. I sat there on a couple of the trips and enjoyed the view from the front window. It was a fast train on parts of the trip. 

[/url]

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by CNCharlie on Thursday, April 4, 2019 9:53 AM

Good Afternoon, well it isin Johannesburg

We are nowin S.Africa on our way to safari in Botswana andZimbabwe. It is hot here and seems more so after Winterpeg.  This will be our last one as we are finding the travel verytaxing.

TF, youand your wife look young to me in that photo! 

Ken, sorry to hear Sparkie isn tdoing well.

You won t hear from me for couple of weeks as there is no Wifi in the bush. 

CN Charlie

 

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Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, April 4, 2019 9:37 AM

That was one massive train shed.  

I think someone in here is building one.

Mike.

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, April 4, 2019 9:22 AM

Good Morning —

How about a look at the other Grand Central?

 

 Grand_Central by Edmund, on Flickr


 

 Grand_Central_Train Shed by Edmund, on Flickr

Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress) Cervin Robinson

 Grand Central Station, 201 West Harrison Street (Corner of West Harrison & South Wells), Chicago, Cook County, IL

If you go looking for it today, don't expect to ask for a B&O timetable or see a Redcap.

 Grand-Central_site by Edmund, on Flickr

Those two strips of concrete toward the far end of the grass are probably remnants of the passenger platforms. Those will be gone soon as there is apartment building construction going on there today.

...and in better days!

 BnO_Capitol_E8-1452 by Edmund, on Flickr

The Capitol, the day after Christmas, 1967.

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by Eilif on Thursday, April 4, 2019 9:03 AM

Nice to see the Museum of Science and Industry mentioned.  Getting close up to the Pioneer Zephyr and NYC 999 is great and even over a decade later the "Great Train Story" HO layout is worth spending some time with.  Not to metion the planes and other vehicles they've got.

SeeYou190

 

We are not doing hot dogs or pizza "Georgia Style", or anything crazy like that down here. You up there in the far-far-north better lay off chicken & waffles.

That is our thing.

 Thanks.

 -Kevin

.

Sorry buddy,

      Thanks to the Pullman Porters and the Great Migration, we've long adopted a few southern staples, especially in the south side and over here on the west side where Soul Food is big.

Interesting that another gentleman mentioned souped-up Mac N Cheese.  That's made alot of inroads here over the past decade to where now it's on most bar menus.  I think that had more to do with hipsters though.  Mac N Cheese has been a soul food staple since the 50's but only more recently did it show up with other stuff in/on it.

cudaken

Eilifi Thank You for the Bessimer Photo! Big Smile Yes I am a bit of a Bessimer nut thanks to Ed. Has I miss spell I have Bessimer SD 7 #802 dragging some hoppers and Bessimer SD 7 #453 is getting ready to hit the rails again!. You made me smile for the first time today! Big Smile

 

Happy to bring you a smile on what sounds like a tough time.  I don't have much of an agenda when it comes to trainspotting.  I just photograph whatever I happen across during the day that seems notable and/or is in range for a good shot.    When I saw the Bessemer I knew I had to get a picture.

 

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading. 

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Posted by GMTRacing on Thursday, April 4, 2019 8:45 AM

Interesting building. If DMIR would it be some sort of multi track loader building? Based on a prototype?  Nosey people would like to know.Whistling   J.R.

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, April 4, 2019 8:19 AM

Good morning.  I could definitely use a black coffee today, thank you.  A nicer weather outlook for tomorrow, plans for an outdoor project in the works.  Today I think I will start a new model.  

 A combination of styrene and wood.  This one's going to take a while.

TF

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Posted by GMTRacing on Thursday, April 4, 2019 6:06 AM

Good Morning All,

    Another milder morning but still too much wind. Enough infact that the CFO (that would be my wife) cancelled her trip to Fun and Sun in Lakeland, the big air show and meeting. Too bad but safety first is best.

   Spent some time working on the layout last night. Found so far a total of 5 turnouts from Peco where the drive wheels can bridge the gap at the frog and short the works. I never had the problem before but this is my first full DCC layout and I'm learning all sorts of stuff I didn't know. This is just to get the trackage working, can't wait until I start doing mods on the rolling stock and sound systems. I'm using my Bowser U-25B to prove all the tracks as it seems the most sensetive to bridging gaps and finding track faults. The two steam locomotives I have seem to sail right through anything (both BLI's).

    Still having issues with my bad knee. Probably will call the doc if it's not improving tomorrow. I do have Arthur itis in it and it is also the one where I tore the MCL years ago so problems were expected. Just didn't think a pair of 10 hour days in a pickup would trigger it. In the old days, we'd team drive cross country 16 hours at a time. 

   Well time to hobble out to the shop. Making a wheel straightening fixture and getting a modified gearbox sorted out plus all the usual interruptions.  CUL, J.R.

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Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, April 4, 2019 5:50 AM

gmpullman
looky there! Top 'O the page! Grab your favorite waitress...    and tell her what you're having  The tab's on me.

Laugh  OK Ed, but I'm telling her YOU said it was OK!  Surprise Laugh

So.....anyway...you guys are either up early, or out late...Indifferent

I'll start out with a coffee..........how about whole wheat toast and BB?  That'll do it for now. Smile, Wink & Grin

Another day in Chicago.  Yesterday, the city woke up to a new Mayor.

Looks like we've wondered into the "page number twilight zone"

Mike.

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, April 4, 2019 1:28 AM

cudaken
I am a bit of a Bessimer nut thanks to Ed.

Wait 'til you see my next project, Ken!

A Bessemer F7, still in orange, with B&O lettering and a bronze Capitol dome on the nose door!

 

Best of both worlds Smile


 

Well — looky there! Top 'O the page! Grab your favorite waitress...    and tell her what you're having Wink The tab's on me.

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, April 4, 2019 12:50 AM

Ken  I have to ask.  How is it that you got your name cudaken?

You must have had a Cuda.... had or possibly still have it.  A 1970 440 Cuda is my second favorite car.  

Iz  just Gots to know's 

I need the Cuda story Ken

TF

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Posted by cudaken on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 10:49 PM

 Eveing Diners

 Flo, give the gang and I a Beer give Eilif what he wants and leave a stein outside for ulrich.

 Eilifi Thank You for the Bessimer Photo! Big Smile Yes I am a bit of a Bessimer nut thanks to Ed. Has I miss spell I have Bessimer SD 7 #802 dragging some hoppers and Bessimer SD 7 #453 is getting ready to hit the rails again!. You made me smile for the first time today! Big Smile

 Life has sucked rail spikes for the last few days!

 Work Front 2 days with out a customer!

 Roof It did not get trapped and we have rain coming Thursday. Sigh Matt (our handy man ) said he be here Thursday at 7:30 AM so we hope he beats the rain.

 Sparkie seems to be going down hill again. He seemed fine before I went to work but when I got home wife said he would not eat again and does not seem to drink his water. Pee is very yellow from what my told me. I gave him some of my rotisserie chicken. He was fine with that so maybe he will snap out of it again.

 Golden CorralWhen it opned we where pretty impressed with it! Now, well they still have some food we like. There fried chicken is still good, I love there meatloaf and few of there iteams are Ok. Not a total waste of money but if I wanted to impress someone not where I would take them to dine.

 Later, Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 10:38 PM

Am I a lucky man or what....  just look at her  Everyday I wake up  I thank the good Lord  I'm waking up with this Kid at Hart that always remains a kid   My Judy  There's nothing more

Track Fiddler

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 10:11 PM

Got to love my Judy. 

Since I moved my layout from the dining room table, I'm now back to modeling on the glass table,  my Judy has joined me and is modeling too.

She's making a penny ball.  She told me about it and I said "what" she said yeah a penny ball.

She found a penny and placed it in the center.  It's her Mom's birth-date.  She put four pennies around that.  Those are the dates of her three siblings birth dates and her's.

Now she's just gluing pennies around and around to fill it.

I've been helping her with my railroad T Pins because her glue lets the pennies slip.  Got to love my JudySmile

Track Fiddler

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 9:57 PM

Howdy ... 

Speaking of All Nations Hobby Shop in Chicago, I recall going there many years ago when I was young. 

Here is another histroic photo of Chicago Union Station. There are more tracks coming in from the south (left side of photo) than from the north.... Tracks on the south were PRR, CB&Q, and GM&O. Tracks on the north were MILW. 

Here is a MILW train which has just departed from Union Station. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by drgwcs on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 8:54 PM

SeeYou190

 

 
Eilif
One last shout-out for Zientek trains, just a couple neighborhoods east in "Pilsen". If you visit Chicago, you've got to stop in and see it. New stuff too, but more NOS rolling stock kits that you've proably ever seen in your life,

 

.

Why didn't anyone mention this place when I was in Chicago last December?

.

-Kevin

.

 

Kevin I was one of the ones that was giving you hobby shops- (Lived in Chicago but moved away) I could have sworn that I mentioned Zientek's, could be wrong or maybe I didn't emphisize it enough. Sorry I generally lurk in the diner but probably ought to chime in this month. I just wish I could find my pics of the layout at Science and Industry.......

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Posted by mbinsewi on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 8:19 PM

So, speaking from the far far North, mac and cheese with everything imaginable is a Southern thing, isn't it?

Mike.

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 8:07 PM

Eilif
Chicken and Waffles are semi-legendary

.

Hey, hey, hey! Not cool.

.

We are not doing hot dogs or pizza "Georgia Style", or anything crazy like that down here. You up there in the far-far-north better lay off chicken & waffles.

.

That is our thing.

.

Thanks.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by Eilif on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 6:37 PM

A Food-and-Trains suggestion for those visiting Chicago.  

White Palace Grill at Canal and Roosevelt.  

It's an institution. Everything on the menu is great, but the Chicken and Waffles are semi-legendary.  Eat well and then walk a half block West On the Roosevelt viaduct to see the outlet of Union Station on the north and the Amtrak yards on the South. 

White Palace is one of the reasons I now rarely eat at IHOP, Dennys, Waffle House, Golden Coral, etc...   We're very thrifty folks but the wife has shifted my thinking to the point of view that if you're going to take the time go to a restaurant, spend the cash and take on the calories, it's worth spending just a bit more to eat really good food rather than save a couple bucks and stuff yourself on mediocrity.

That said, I do McD's more often that I should when in-a-hurry and on-the-go.

zstripe

 Mike,

The Clearing Yard is The Belt Railway Company of Chicago. Has one of the largest Hump Yards in existance......a stones throw from CSX Intermodal, Bedford, Pk Il. Where I had My trucks leased to and also was a crane operator for a few yrs. in semi-retirement. I have a close friend that worked for The Belt, now has beeen retired for many yrs.

http://www2.beltrailway.com/

The Belt Railway is just a few more miles down Cicero Ave, a mile or so past Midway.  From the drive on the south side next to the Aldi you can see a fair bit, but walking up on the overpass is quite a vista.

 

mbinsewi

I'm never sure what yard is who's !  They probably all "play" together anyway.  I do know of CN's Kirk yard, in Gary, which I believe they accuired with the "J".

Funny you should mention the J.  Our townhouse in West Chicago was only a few blocks from where the J crosses the CNW line.  EJ&E is one of my favorites now but because we lived just a few dozen feet from the CNW line (and I was less than 10) I never knew that the J was so close, nor do I have any recollection of big orange SD's. 

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading. 

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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 4:47 PM

richhotrain
Probably All-Nations Hobby Shop. Rich

By golly, Rich, that's it.

 19780140 26 All Nations Hobby Shop by David Wilson, on Flickr

I only visited there once but it was mighty impressive. Another favorite was to ride the C&NW to Park Ridge and take the short walk from the depot to the Hill's  Hobby Shop.

Fond memories, Ed

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 4:37 PM

Eilif
One last shout-out for Zientek trains, just a couple neighborhoods east in "Pilsen". If you visit Chicago, you've got to stop in and see it. New stuff too, but more NOS rolling stock kits that you've proably ever seen in your life,

.

Why didn't anyone mention this place when I was in Chicago last December?

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 4:35 PM

gmpullman

I'm trying to remember the downtown hobby shop I visited back in 1971. Just about two blocks from Union Station, may have been on Monroe or Adams?

Probably All-Nations Hobby Shop.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by zstripe on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 4:12 PM

mbinsewi
remember when the CN was the WC, they always talked about the Clearing Yard, whatever and whereever that was/is. Mike.

Mike,

The Clearing Yard is The Belt Railway Company of Chicago. Has one of the largest Hump Yards in existance......a stones throw from CSX Intermodal, Bedford, Pk Il. Where I had My trucks leased to and also was a crane operator for a few yrs. in semi-retirement. I have a close friend that worked for The Belt, now has beeen retired for many yrs.

http://www2.beltrailway.com/

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

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Posted by CGW121 on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 4:11 PM
I almost never post here but the aarp( or yarp) has a very good medicare supliment insurance. My wife works in the medical field as a case manager in  a rehab unit at a local hospital. She works with this stuff 40 plus hours a week. AARP has one of the best plans. Others are as snarky as a used car salesman. It is too bad they try to pull one over on senior citizens.

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