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Jeffrey's Track Side Diner - October, 2019 - This Month Visiting New Zealand Locked

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Posted by maxman on Monday, October 7, 2019 3:26 PM

Track fiddler
Post hog post hog.

Not on my screen, but not a big deal to me.

Track fiddler
My Judy is really something with her pull tabs.

May I ask what she does with these?  Lady at our club also collects them, and says they're for a charity.  I looked on-line and so far as I can tell the charity collects them and takes them to a recycle center where they get the going per pound rate for aluminum.  Takes a lot of tabs to make a pound.

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Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, October 7, 2019 4:56 PM

You will have to talk to my Judy about that one.  This is not my department you know.  I have been swatting bees to protect Judy from her allergies all day.

 I,'m done

 

TF

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Posted by NWP SWP on Monday, October 7, 2019 8:47 PM

Hey guys,

Drove about 1300 miles yesterday and today, I'm beat.

I WENT TO ALTOONA!!!

Went to the Horseshoe!

Me and my brother were on the Virtual Railfan livestream!

Just to make sure, the invitation to visit the MSMRC is open to all of you guys, if any of y'all are ever near BR send me a PM and we can set up a meet.

My sister is officially married!

The wedding was LIT!!!

(Lit basically means awesome, fun, exciting)

I caught boogie fever! I had some of the best moves on the dance floor, I had like 6 people come to me at the end of the reception to tell me I was on fire out there!Laugh

I may be moving back to NY, its something I'm personally considering but also my parents have mentioned it on this trip so that may be happening, then again it might not.

Later guys!

Steve

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

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Posted by hon30critter on Monday, October 7, 2019 10:09 PM

Steven Otte
Today's lunch special will be beef tenderloin sandwiches made from Dave's leftovers.

Okay Steven!!

Good idea!! DinnerBowYesYes We will have to get some buns tomorrow. We already have the cheese.

Thanks!

By the way, on the weekend we wanted to offer something a little better than your run-of-the-mill horseradish from the local grocery store, so Dianne searched far and wide and finally found some with the 'Keg' brand on it. I'm not sure if the Keg operates in the USA too, but up here it is considered to be one of the higher end chain restaurants, and both their food and service is really good. So, of course we were expecting the same from their "extra hot" horseradish. We were totally disappointed. 'Hot' it was not! More like bland, bland, bland! Our local No Frills grocery store's stuff is just as good (or as mediocre if you will) as the Keg stuff which was twice the price. I am so tired of being disappointed by products that claim to be good, and could be good if they wanted to, but just are not. Our only choice as consumers is to vote with our pocket books and not buy the stuff again.

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 cudaken on Monday, October 7, 2019 10:56 PM

 Eveing Diners

 Flo, give the gang and I a Beer please and Dirk Pip a dog treat.

 Work Front Had a great Augast sales wise so I am backing it up with a rail sucking October.

 Garry if you like reading try Clive Clussler. I would all most bet you seen some of Raise The Tittanic while channel suffering.

 

 

 With us knowing where the HMS Tittaic is and the shape she is in, it does take some of the fun out of it now. But it was around 1980 when the movie was made. So what if? Book was way better but for a move knock off worth watching the whole movie.

 Later Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 4:23 AM

Good Morning!

We are on page 5 - guess how I noticed that!

This is one of those days! This morning, the washing machine acted up a little, must be some hiccup in its program. I hope this will mend itself, after we pulled the plug. The bugger is not even 3 years old! Adding to that, the light bulb in the fridge went out, so I got a new one. When I came back, Petra told me that the plumbing under the sink in the bathroom had rotted away and needs mending. Under normal circumstances, I´d just get out my tools and do the job myself, but our landlord wants to have a word in that, so now we are waiting for the plumber to come and fix it!

I don´t like days like this!

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by York1 on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 9:04 AM

Good morning.  I will be on my way in a few minutes to visit granddaughters, so my days are scheduled.

Ulrich:  1. Washing machine, 2. Refrigerator light, 3. Plumbing leaks.  Since bad things happen in 3's, you are now done!  You can relax since nothing more will go wrong.

Ken and others, I know this is sacrilege to some of you, but I have never been a fan of any BBQ sauce.  Something about the combination of sweet, tangy, hot taste just didn't appeal to me.

One of my father's late-in-life projects was that he started making homemade horseradish.  He grew it and bottled it.  I could not eat even a small bit -- it was way too hot.  He was the only one who could stomach it.

Off to the gas station, then on to entertain family members.  It's a perfect day here -- temps in the 70s, sunny, and dry.  Wish I didn't have to spend it in a car.

York1 John       

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Posted by RideOnRoad on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 11:11 AM

A couple of years ago I bought a piano off of Craigslist to practice tuning and repairs. It has been sitting in the garage, just taking up space when I got an email from a local piano guy asking if anyone had an old, free piano they wanted to get rid of. I was tired of it taking up space in the garage so I said come get it. Yesterday a guy with a flatbed trailer arrived to take the piano. I asked what he was going to do the piano. His response, "Blow it up." He is going to get a high speed camera to record the carnage and is going to send me a copy.

Richard

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 11:23 AM

York1
Since bad things happen in 3's, you are now done! You can relax since nothing more will go wrong.

I hope you are right, John. I pretty much had it for the day! And the plumber didn´t come...

York1
I have never been a fan of any BBQ sauce

You can count me in! I don´t mind plain old ketchup or a good (!) Dijon mustard/German Löwensenf, but leave out those sweet and smokey tasting BBQ sauces!

York1
homemade horseradish

That can be terribly hot! Although horseradish is not that high up on the Scoville count, its high content of rather volatile essential oils make it "bite" in the nose and throat, while peppers "burn" the tongue. Add a little cream to the horseradish and it becomes palatable. Horseradish goes well with cooked beef!

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 9:07 AM

Howdy ..... 

Evidently, the Forum was disconnected again. 

Oh well. I had little model railroading to report. .... Doing other stuff. 

 

Everybody: Have a nice Wednesday. .... 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 9:14 AM

Good Afternoon!

The forum was unavailable for quite a length of time - again. I wonder what is going on?

The plumber came this morning and finished the job within 15 minutes - good. Petra was off to see her dentist, as she had developed issues with the detal job she had done a few months earlier. It´s all fixed now - good!

Nothing else to report, other than we are having miserable, but typical weather. Just wet & windy. Not good!

Today´s New Zealand train video features "Steam Incorporated - Centennial South Island Rail Tour 2015"

Enjoy!

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 9:50 AM

Heartland Division CB&Q
Evidently, the Forum was disconnected again. 

.

Yes... but we are back in buisness again. Happy times!

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by York1 on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 10:18 AM

RideOnRoad
I asked what he was going to do the piano. His response, "Blow it up." He is going to get a high speed camera to record the carnage and is going to send me a copy.

 

I'm not sure if he will allow the video to be shared -- it would be fun to watch.

York1 John       

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 10:27 AM

SeeYou190
Yes... but we are back in buisness again. Happy times!

Not without a hitch in the gitalong, though! It took me over 30 minutes and several attempts to join in again!

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 11:03 AM

I'll say a quick hello and nothing else to report.  I was already locked out once after the forum came back today. 

I don't have time to look for it but there was a photo shoot yesterday at Strasburg with the 611 hauling frieght and one of their passenger trains.  There are at least 2 youtube videos on it.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 2:10 PM

Good afternoon —

Glad to see we are back in business Smile

I talked with Ken last night and he says HI to everyone. He is having computer/ISP problems and is trying to sort things out with his service provider.

Hope we get an update from him tonight?

I hope everyone is doing well. I've been harvesting and stacking my firewood. I have several "staging areas" around the yard and now I'm consolidating it all under the lean-to for ready access when the cold winds blow.

 Otis_woodpile by Edmund, on Flickr

I have plenty of help Whistling

Regards, Ed

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 2:16 PM

BigDaddy
I don't have time to look for it but there was a photo shoot yesterday at Strasburg with the 611 hauling frieght and one of their passenger trains.

Here is one of them!

It´s only 9.15pm, but I am dead tired - must be comibg down with something I did not invite to join me. I´ll be heading for the hay soon!

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by tin can on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 3:46 PM

Daughter-in-law texted last night that she has accepted a teaching job at Marquette, in Milwaukee.  For me, the most exciting part is that Milwaukee is the home of Model Railroader!  And basements!  If I could only re-kindle my son's interest in trains.  He has discovered hockey; played his first pickup game on Sunday.  His main comment was it requires a whole new level of conditioning.  I hope that Milwaukee needs civil engineers, too....

Remember the tin can; the MKT's central Texas branch...
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Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 7:30 PM

Tinplate Toddler
I don´t mind plain old ketchup or a good (!) Dijon mustard/German Löwensenf, but leave out those sweet and smokey tasting BBQ sauces!

I don't care much for BBQ sauce on its own, but it can put a nice glaze on ribs and meatloaf.

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 gmpullman on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 7:46 PM

For those adventerous souls with thyme on their hands you can try this Union Pacific dining car recipe for BBQ sauce. Adjust to taste Dinner

 Union_Pacific_Diner_0010 by Edmund, on Flickr

 UP_960_dir-1980a by Edmund, on Flickr

     

Bon appétit!   Ed

 

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Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 7:58 PM

Ed,

The BBQ sauce recipe sounds good except for one small detail. It calls for four tablespoons of Accent, or monosodium glutimate if you will. I'm sure it would add enormously to the taste but I hope nobody suffers a heart attack from it!Smile, Wink & GrinClown

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 gmpullman on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 8:24 PM

hon30critter
I'm sure it would add enormously to the taste but I hope nobody suffers a heart attack from it!

Who knows? Maybe they will proclaim that MSG is good for you again, like they did with red meat?

https://msgfacts.com/msg-beneficial-reduced-sodium-diet/

Lots of pros & cons out there. Who do you believe?

If I were to make that recipe I'd probably leave it out. Still, the average consumption of MSG in US and UK is about 0.55g and it is 1.2 and 1.7 g per day per person in Japan and Korea.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/msg-good-or-bad

Sometimes you find out some of these "warnings" come from large corporate interests and they don't want their cash cow to die of hardened arteries!

I remember the controversy over the US ban on Sodium Cyclamate (sweetener) they claimed it caused cancer. But in order to consume the equivalent amount of the sweetener a person would have to consume 550 cans of diet soda per day. I just wonder of some interests in the sugar and corn syrup industry had any affect on the ban? Whistling

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 9:02 PM

Hi Ed,

Interesting articles. Thanks.

I guess I've been brainwashed about the negative effects of MSG. None the less I'm not about to start using it again, not that we ever used much anyhow. Dianne and I produce some pretty tasty meals and we rarely add salt so we will keep on doing the same thing.

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 ricktrains4824 on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 9:08 PM

Good evening all.

Flo - A Coke float tonight please, thanks.

Berea Train Show - Sunday was very busy in the morning, with many vendors having a line! The crowd did thin considerably by early afternoon. (2:00 and after was flat out sparse.) I found a couple of nice deals, from a E8A new in box for a pair of Andrew's, to a pack of Micro Engineering Weathererd flex track (new) for a very reasonable price. (Almost down to Atlas Flex pricing.) 

I also came home with a couple of T-shirt’s, a pair of hats, and a couple of rail cars. I also won a door prize (YAY!) this year. That ended up being one of the two rail cars I came home with. (Almost chose the family pack of tickets for Mad River & Nickle Plate Museum, but without knowing if they had a time limit, and knowing I won’t be that far into Ohio for a while....) 

I was surprised that I couldn’t find one of the items I was looking for, as I thought that would be the easiest. But all were either sold out, or didn’t bring that kind. 

While there, I witnessed a HO scale model Schnabel car navigate a pretty tight turn back curve, that had to be about 24” (give or take a couple inches) radii. I was very impressed that the modeler was able to get it to operate at that tight of a radii. (It was slow, but it made it!)

Needless to say, that impressive performance was a crowd stopper!

The group of friends I went with then went to the old Depot in Berea, and we watched real trains for a while before heading home. I got a few prototype pics, as well as the obligatory Jet takeoff pics. The shot of the day, I actually did a video, as it had snuck up on us headed west, and then was coming back east a little later, so quickly pulled up my cell phone to video it. It was a CSX local, that was a caboose, a box car, and a GP38-2 (I think) west, then just loco and caboose back east. 

I will have to figure a way to post that one. (Maybe via YouTube?)

Ken - Hope the computer issues get sorted out soon!

BBQ Discussion - I do like the sweet smoky flavor of BBQ sauce on ribs, and as a glaze, but prefer more of a steakhouse style sauce than a sugary one. When I grill, I will do more dry rubs of my own mixed creation than sauce, except on ribs.

Sweet Baby Rays is ok for things like pulled pork sandwiches, but is a bit more sugary for my tastes on almost everything else.

StevenNWP - I love Horseshoe Curve. Glad you got to visit.

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.

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Posted by SPSOT fan on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 10:58 PM

I noticed the forum was down for a bit the past day and a bit. Luckily it was shorter then last time the forum went down! Glad to see it working again!

Regards, Isaac

I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!

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Posted by "JaBear" on Thursday, October 10, 2019 4:15 AM
Gidday Chloe, with all these HOT BBQ sauces, cool refreshing milkshakes for all, please.
  
Thanks to Ulrich for being a gracious host while Her-in-doors and I have been away.
 
We had an 80th birthday to attend in Hawera, South Taranaki, so, shock horror, took three days off, and drove down. Only a 690 km, (430 mile) round trip but Taranaki is on a limb, and is bounded by some “tiger country”, so it’s not a quick trip with enough 30 mph corners on State highway 3 to keep the average speed down.
 
Taranaki by Bear, on Flickr
 
Once in Taranaki it’s fairly flat, with rich soil, and good rainfall, which makes for prime dairy farms, and also large deposits of oil and natural gas.
As you can see from the map, Taranaki is dominated by Mount Taranaki, “living under the mountain”. This photo was taken from Hawera.
 
Mt Taranaki by Bear, on Flickr
 
In these parts the “wild West Coast” is also noted for its black iron sand beaches. This photo was taken at the “Three Sisters”, with the Tasman Sea behind.
 
3 Ladies by Bear, on Flickr
 
While I didn’t see any trains, here’s a video of a Milk Train in the “Naki”.
 
 
 

“Kilometres are shorter than miles. Save gas and take your next trip in kilometres.”- George Carlin.

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 Tinplate Toddler on Thursday, October 10, 2019 4:35 AM

Good Morning!

Luchtime is coming up, so make that just a cup of coffee for me, Flo, please! Petra is right now in the kitchen, starting to prepare one of my favorites - Apfelpfannkuchen! I have to confess I have a sweet tooth!

Good to say you back safe, JaBear - it´s been a pleasure to stand in while you were away!

After all these steam videos in the past days, let´s take a look at modern trains in New Zealand, operated by KiwiRail. KiwiRail Holdings Limited is a New Zealand state-owned enterprise responsible for rail operations in New Zealand. Trading as KiwiRail and headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, KiwiRail is the largest rail transport operator in New Zealand. KiwiRail has business units of KiwiRail Freight, The Great Journeys of New Zealand and Interislander. KiwiRail released a 10-Year Turn-around Plan in 2010 and has received significant government investment in support of this in an effort to make KiwiRail a viable long-term transport operator.

Prior to the establishment of KiwiRail, rail transport in New Zealand has been under both public and private ownership. Government operators included the Public Works Department (1873–1880), New Zealand Railways Department (1880–1982), and the New Zealand Railways Corporation (1982–1990). New Zealand Rail Limited was split off from the Railways Corporation (which continued to own the land beneath the rail network) in 1990, privatised in 1993 and then renamed in 1995 to Tranz Rail. In 2004 Tranz Rail's rail, ferry and trucking operations were acquired by Toll Holdings and renamed Toll NZ, with the central government buying back the rail network under the New Zealand Railways Corporation (trading as ONTRACK). As part of this acquisition, Toll agreed to pay ONTRACK Track Access Charges (TACs) in exchange for exclusive network access for 66 years, subject to a "use it or lose it clause": if freight and passenger volumes fell below their 2002-2004 average for three or more years, Toll would lose its exclusive access. The agreement set a base track access fee but left future track access fees open to negotiation between ONTRACK and Toll. After several years of negotiations, the two parties could not come to an agreement on the amount that Toll should pay. On 1 July 2008, the government announced the purchase for $690 million of Toll Rail, the rail and ferry assets of Toll NZ, but not its trucking operation. The new company was named KiwiRail and launched on 1 October 2008 at a ceremony at Wellington railway station. Since trhen, the Government of New Zealand has invested a significant amount of funds into the railway system, after many years of neglect through the private owners.

Let´s go on a ride with the "Northern Explorer" on the Northern Island.

Enjoy!

 

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, October 10, 2019 5:19 AM

“Kilometres are shorter than miles. Save gas and take your next trip in kilometres.”- George Carlin.

I tried that once but it took four times more litres to fill the tank than gallons!

Regards, Ed

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, October 10, 2019 6:44 AM

gmpullman
For those adventerous souls with thyme on their hands you can try this Union Pacific dining car recipe for BBQ sauce. Adjust to taste 

.

I don't have any "Number 2 1/2" cans in my pantry. Not even sure how big that would be.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Thursday, October 10, 2019 7:38 AM

Here is the second video Henry mentioned earlier!

Did N&W 611 really haul freight trains? With her streamlining, she looks more like a fast passenger engine to me!

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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