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Jeffrey´s Trackside Diner March 2020 - This Month in Texas!

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  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Sunday, March 15, 2020 9:50 AM

Howdy... 

TF .... I like the creative wall decorations at the railroad themed pub. 

Kevin ... It's hard to imagine Florda roads without traffic on them. The one thing I dislike about Florida is typically there are too many vehicles. 

Henry .... Thanks for posting you insights regarding the virus. I heard, it is a good idea to drink some water every 15 minutes to wash any viruses into the stomach where the acid kills them. 

We cancelled all our plans for the rest of March, and we are prepared to stay home all of the time. Today will be our fourth day of isolation. Fortunately, this is a good place to be hermits. Mail is now our only phyisical contact with other people, and we wash our hands after opening it.

I hope all of the precautions everywhere result in much less infections.  

 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Sunday, March 15, 2020 9:16 AM

Good Afternoon!

We have a nice day - it´s sunny and bright for a change! Quite cold, though!

The panic continues. All of the country is more or less shut down, with very few exceptions, like the German counterpart of the IRS and other, nasty "services". Other European countries have issued draconic measures to fight the spreading of the virus, some have completely closed their borders for non-citizens, some have issued a rigid curfew, closed down all other shops than food stores and pharmacies. Germany keeps the borders open for all, invited or not invited. This country is lost - beyond any hope.

I am trying to divert my interest by making plans for a HOn3 layout, if I knew where to get HOn3 track from. Not much, just a simple oval, built in segments for portability, each segment made from 2 layers of 4" thick Styrofoam laminated together and the sides protected with 3mm hardboard. That makes a lightweoght, yet very strong benchwork. I was hoping that Blackstone would have extended their range of Protraxx HOn3 track, but they still don´t offer switches. Maybe they will do, when I finally get around building that layout. After we have moved!

Stay safe!

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

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

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  • From: Blair, Nebraska
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Posted by Boiler-man on Sunday, March 15, 2020 9:03 AM
Hon30critter, That Is Not Funny
Boilerman
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Posted by York1 on Sunday, March 15, 2020 7:03 AM

Good morning.  Not much news here.

Panic buying hasn't hit my small isolated town yet.  I have a dentist appointment this week in a city an hour away that has reported some cases.  Not sure if I should cancel or not.

Headed out the door for church, then home for a long day inside.  It's cold, but at least the snow stopped.

Hope everyone stays healthy.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, March 14, 2020 9:31 PM

BigDaddy
The good news is I blitzed around the D.C. beltway this morning like it was 1990.

My wife and I went for a ride today just to see the empty roads... and the roads are nearly empty. It is spooky out there.

We are hunkered in for six weeks. We have plenty of food and supplies and do not need to leave the house for any reason. I hope we are not infected yet, and I hope we make it through this OK.

My wife is in nearly all the "high risk" groups, so avoiding infection is of top importance.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, March 14, 2020 7:03 PM

I am back on the grid after a trip to the Shennadoah Valley, which marked our arrival with it's first case of community acquired Covid.  The ER workers are hoping they test positive so they can have 14 days of paid leave and are able to steal some toilet paper on their way out the door.

Mark me as one who is fatalistic. 

Testing is over rated.

  • There are no criteria on who to test
  • Doctors are just sending their patients to the ER with a note that says "Test for Covid 19".  There are waiting rooms full of patients with something with others who may or may not have corona.  Meanwhile they are cross contaminating each other.
  • The positive test rate is only 1-2% and it takes 2 days to get the result.  Realize that if you are infected, there is a latency period before your infected can be detected, so there will be false negatives. They tested POTUS. Should he be tested every day?  Should he/everyone be tested every day?
  • There is no place to put healthy people in a hospital, so they send you home to "self isolate" with the rest of your family.  Somebody is going to need to go to the store or talk to a friend.
  • While the test is "free" somebody is paying for it.  If you are sick enough to go to the ER, they feel obligated to test you for other viral diseases.  Another big cost.
  • It then becomes a numbers game and I'm not smart enough to see how it works. 
  • Test 5,000 symptomatic people and 100 people at most test positive.
  • Remeber there are a lot of asymptomatic people capable of spreading the disease.
  • Of those 100 people: two of those die. At this point age and health is the determinant of survival.  Knowing for certain the diagnosis is only of statistical importance.

Back in Annapolis, the only meat you can find is some pork, and hoity toity free range eggs at $8 dozen (the usual price, not marked up)  Even pasta is short supply.

The good news is I blitzed around the D.C. beltway this morning like it was 1990.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by cudaken on Saturday, March 14, 2020 6:42 PM

 Eveing Diners

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

 Coronavius fall out in Maryville ILL

 My LHS K-10 Model Trains has shut down! Crying With the owners health problems I was not surprsed.

 Local Library is now holding ordred books in quarantine for 2 days. The workers there have no idea if that is the time it takes for the virus to die.

 Why do Wifes do this? OK, my wife bought a decorative Toilet Paper stand to hold the T/P. I will give her credit, she tried to put together her self but could not. When I got home she asked me to do it for her. While I was assembly it she started telling me how to do it and I was doing it wrong? Whistling Ok, she tried and failed, yet she wanted to tell me how? Laugh Heck I have bulit car engines so I know how to bulid things! Bang Head

 Ed If you find what I am looking for let me know the cost.

 Later, Ken and Dirk says Woof, Woof!

I hate Rust

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Posted by Track fiddler on Saturday, March 14, 2020 6:04 PM

Say hi to the Kid for me.

 

Bust through the wall

At a fun little Pub we ate at.

Would anyone like a beer after lunch? Laugh

 

 

TF

  • Member since
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  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
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Posted by BATMAN on Saturday, March 14, 2020 5:09 PM
The kid is on his way, Yippee!
Hear the mighty engines roar - see the silver bird on high
She's away and westward bound - far above the clouds she'll fly
Where the morning rain don't fall and the sun always shines
She'll be flying over my home in about five hours time

 

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by BATMAN on Saturday, March 14, 2020 3:47 PM

Now that is a choice place to eat!

The mother-in-law is already home. She was in the CT scan in less than 10 minutes after arriving at the hospital and discharged clear. Good news.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    March 2017
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Posted by Track fiddler on Saturday, March 14, 2020 3:31 PM

Red Wing is definitely a train town.  Don't matter where you are, you can hear them.

The Weeknd ain't over yet!  I feel right at home here.  The Canadian cars were going by 50 miles an hour on the tracks right outside our lunch window.

I may just stay a whileSmile, Wink & Grin

 

 

TF

  • Member since
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Posted by BATMAN on Saturday, March 14, 2020 1:42 PM

Good morning from the sunny but very windy West Coast. It is around freezing with a 40kt wind so it was a chilly 2-hour walk with the dogs. Invigorating to say the least.

There was a message waiting for us when we got back that a friend of my wife's passed away in Washington state overnight from Coronavirus. Her daughter said that her underlying medical condition contributing to her death was listed as obesity. Compared to some of her doggie friends I don't remember her being that heavy.Hmm

The mother-in-law had a bad fall and FIL took her to the hospital as she hit her head very hard. They took her in quickly and wouldn't let him in the door as he is in his eighties and the place was packed with sickos. So we are waiting for news as it sounded like she was concussed.

I'm dying to run some trains but my layout has been sealed to prevent construction dust from coating it and now the reno is on hold as so much else is going on.Sigh It is relaxing to watch a train or two after a hectic day.

The kid is on his way to the airport in Ottawa and we are waiting to hear if my daughter needs to be brought home, UVic does not seem to know what they want to do. The ferries are on and off with this high wind situation so she will have to wait until we can get there. We may get her on a plane and go move her out when we can. My sons University has cancelled the year and there will be no exams so he is off the hook. He will be attending online from here.

Well, another cup of coffee is due and my hands have warmed up enough to sit down with the axe for an hour or two. This will be the first tune I play.

All the best to all.

 

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, March 14, 2020 1:36 PM

Bah.  We went out for dinner last night, to our favorite bar to say goodbye to a bartender who is leaving for the police academy.  We got there, got a beer and wham!  The power went out.  We finished the beers and another, but we couldn't get food or even another beer, so we went elsewhere for pizza.  When we got home, we had no power there, either.  All's well now.  At least one supermarket has toilet paper.

Going out shopping for dinner now.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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    August 2007
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Posted by CNCharlie on Saturday, March 14, 2020 1:28 PM

Good Afternoon,

Another quiet day here for us. We are avoiding all social contact even though there are only 4 presumptive cases of the virus here in Winnipeg. 

I bought a small freezer to replace the 70 yr. old basement fridge that quit at Christmas. For a while I had thought it might last forever but I guess 70 years isn't too bad. The delivery guys were surprised at how heavy it was as I had paid for removal. We are now starting to stock the new freezer but when I went to the store yesterday, most frozen veg and most of the fresh meat was sold out. We have plenty of paper products and a lot of canned, dry food but need a little more of that as we want to build up supplies for a 6 week quaranteen if necessary. Another shop and we will be there. 

Not much new here. Winter is back for the next week or so. I was running my new brass Hudson and continue to be amazed at the skill of the fellow who did the 'tune-up' for me. It can practically creep. It seems ok on my 22" curves. I suspect that it is due to the precise nature of the Unitrack that I used for the mainline.

I had been looking forward to the birding and breakfast at the local sanctuary in April but it has been cancelled. Not surprised. I doubt we would have gone anyway. I guess it will be backyard birding for us this spring. 

Have a good, germ free day,

CN Charlie

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    March 2017
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Posted by Track fiddler on Saturday, March 14, 2020 12:12 PM

Lunchtime, here is Redwing for you, nothing but the finest Plumbing

We ain't too fancy in Minnesota, ...  here's the Bloody Mary,  you don't need to order lunch, you already have it.

Are you kidding me? Laugh

 

 

TF

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • From: 53° 33′ N, 10° 0′ E
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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Saturday, March 14, 2020 10:43 AM

York1
Ulrich, I'm amazed at the callousness of your brother. It's too bad that families can treat each other like this. Hope you can put it behind you and concentrate on your future in a different location.

John - the really bad thing about it, is that my "normal" inheritance would have allowed us to buy one of the smaller houses and complete the move. It is what it is - contesting the will won´t lead anywhere. My brother is a greedy, low character who leads a low life. He is quite rich, but I wouldn´t want to change with him.

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

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

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Saturday, March 14, 2020 10:23 AM

Oh,  they're bringing it in by the tanker load now? ... greatLaugh

The Foreigner concert was canceled last night.  I guess I wasn't too surprised.

We moved on to the historic St James Hotel in Red Wing to have a fun night instead.

The hotel is a blast!  Judy took me there for my birthday once.  They have two bar restaurants with really good food, one on the 5th floor and one in the basement.

The one in the basement is like being in a 17th-century CastleSmile, Wink & Grin

 

 

Have a great day everyone.

 

 

TF 

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Saturday, March 14, 2020 10:09 AM

Good morning.  I hope it's a good morning where you are.  I woke up this morning to a bunch of snow on my driveway that needs to be cleared.  Not my idea of a great way to greet the morning.

Ulrich, I'm amazed at the callousness of your brother.  It's too bad that families can treat each other like this.   Hope you can put it behind you and concentrate on your future in a different location.

Ken, at least your wife found some toilet paper.  Our grocery store and Walmart have been out for days.  Besides the virus, there may now be other reasons for not shaking hands with people.

Kevin, I imagine Florida will be one of the hardest hit states in all of this.  Besides the citrus industry, I would imagine tourism is about the biggest source of state income.  It's going to take a while.

TF, if you win a million at the casino, I hope you remember your friends in the diner!

Brent, your comment on lawyers' fees reminds me of a former student, who told me his law firm made him keep eight to ten open folders on his desk.  He would cycle through the folders each hour.  Each client was charged a full hour fee.

Dave, I'm glad you are feeling better.  Depression is a terrible thing to suffer through.

Mike, Hope you give us a picture of the completed feeder.  My wife hangs a flat piece of wood with a plastic bowl attached to it.  Not a good setup, but she sure gets the orioles (and robins) eating the fruit and jelly.  I might try to build something like you are doing.

Jimmy, good to hear from you again.

Ed, that's an interesting folder on the Santa Fe.  Reading the description of the passenger services brings back great memories.

Water Level Route Mike,  Glad you finally got a seat in the dining car.

 

I don't have anything to report on home front, other than shoveling that heavy wet white stuff.  My wife watches out the window, ready to dial 911 when she sees me collapse.

York1 John       

  • Member since
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  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
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Posted by BATMAN on Saturday, March 14, 2020 9:02 AM

mbinsewi
Brent, I believe I saw that tank car on a CN long haul manifest, south bound, from Canada.

You did Mike, it was on the return trip empty.Laugh

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Saturday, March 14, 2020 8:29 AM

Brent, I believe I saw that tank car on a CN long haul manifest, south bound, from Canada. Whistling

Pretty much everything is closed, postponed, cancelled or on hold here in WI. including schools, statewide until April 6th.

High school kids are devastated over the WIAA finals being cancelled.

Wife has a yearly podiatry convention coming up the end of April, downtown Chicago, at the Hyatt.  She's waiting to hear what will happen.

Just about done with my oriole feeder project, and then back to railroad stuff, before outside project and construction season gets going.

Have a great weekend!

Mike.

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: NS(ex PRR) Mon Line.
  • 1,395 posts
Posted by Jimmy_Braum on Saturday, March 14, 2020 6:22 AM

Hey all, Im still alive.  I've just bern too busy to log on. 

Corona: All schools in PA are closed for two weeks, Pittsburgh is under a state of emergency and there is nothing to watch this weekend.  I look at it this way. yes it is a serious virus, but, if we keep our heads and use common sense, we'll get through this.   

In any case, Im going to isolate myself ONLY if it gets pretty much worse out there. Im still doing some of my normal routine, but im still being smart about it- washing hands, keeping my meds up to date, bleaching surfaces, etc. No I didn't buy bulk of TP lol

  In any case, There's a division meeting tomorrow and im LOADING up on scenic materials- just in case. 

Keep up the good fight all. 

(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).  

  • Member since
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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Saturday, March 14, 2020 3:13 AM

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

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

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, March 14, 2020 2:59 AM

BATMAN
I just don't react to problems with emotional fanfare and neither does my wife. We see a problem we never dwell on it we deal with it and move on, I think that is why we make the perfect team.

I would say the same about Dianne and me. Stuff happens, and heaven knows we have had a lot of stuff happen over the past 15 years, but we are still happy and doing fine. The only times where things get a bit difficult is when my depression kicks in, but Dianne is very supportive and the problems usually go away pretty quickly.

It accomplishes nothing to go berserk because something negative has occurred. Far too many people can't control their emotions.

Dave

 

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

  • Member since
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  • From: Bradford, Ontario
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Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, March 14, 2020 2:49 AM

That proves it!!! Just like the Chinese are saying, Donald Trump had the virus made in the USA and is shipping it all over the world!!!

Not!Smile, Wink & GrinLaughLaughLaugh

Dave

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

  • Member since
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Posted by BATMAN on Saturday, March 14, 2020 12:01 AM

Image may contain: sky and outdoor

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Friday, March 13, 2020 11:10 PM

Evening all, took the wife out for dinner at our favourite Thai joint. Business was down quite a bit according to the staff, we had a quiet meal with great service. Went back to Costco and stocked up even more up as we weren't expecting two more mouths to feed, the freezer is full now and the generator is ready if the lights go out. We are currently having a good blow off the Pacific.

I spent the entire day working on this estate settlement and I will need to go to Seattle this coming week providing its not closed.Laugh I have two law firms working on this, one in the U.S. and one in Canada at a combined fee of about $1200.00 an hour. Glad it is not my money.

The train show was canceled on Sunday and Supertrain in Calgary is scrubbed in April, suddenly having all those kits on the shelves makes me warm and fuzzy all over.Laugh Oh wait. I have a bathroom to reassemble as soon as I have a minute. 

Daughter's University has not pulled the plug yet and she needs to stay on to finish up some science experiments anyway. I suspect we will see her in a week though. 

I bought myself a nice bottle of Cab Sav on the way home tonight. Haven't had a drink in a couple of weeks and it is going down well, so I will take another glass up to bed, flip on the tube and try to understand why people can't think and act rationally in the face of adversity. I have been called Mr. Spock most of my life as I just don't react to problems with emotional fanfare and neither does my wife. We see a problem we never dwell on it we deal with it and move on, I think that is why we make the perfect team.

Image may contain: sky, cloud, train, tree and outdoor

All the best to all.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • From: 53° 33′ N, 10° 0′ E
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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Friday, March 13, 2020 10:50 PM

This is one of those nights! I didn´t find any sleep. I still can´t get over what my mother and my brother did to me. Well, once it has been settled what is due to me, I will burn all the bridges between us.

SeeYou190
so we are severely limiting our social exposure.

That´s what we have been doing in the past few weeks. I think both Petra and I went through a mild form of that infection already, but we won´t be taking chances. Public life is coming to a halt here, as schools close, soccer matches, concerts and other public events are being cancelled. We will face a hard hit on our economy, which will make the state of the country even worse than it already is. Personally, the worst thing for us that we have to postpone our plans to go house hunting in Denmark now for the third time. Denmark has just announced the closure of the border. We can just hope one of the options will still be available, when life goes back to normal.

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

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

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, March 13, 2020 9:55 PM

Well... We are now stocked up on supplies for six weeks of hunkering down.

I hope this does not happen. The food options after 8 days get bad, then go worse. The thing that is better about Coronavirus supplies is that unlike Hurricane supplies, these can require refrigeration/freezing.

If this gets so bad that we cannot keep the power turned on, well, that will be real bad.

My wife is in a high risk group, so we are severely limiting our social exposure.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Friday, March 13, 2020 6:59 PM

 Eveing Diners

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

 Ulrich Soory to hear about your family problems. I been there and done that when I loss my dad.

 Coronavirus front in ILL. Well the state has shut down all the school's till the end of March? There goes part of the kids summer vaction. Some resturants are all so closing but I donot think that is state enforced.

 Wife spent $52.00 Wednesday on Toilet Paper?Whistling Laugh Well that will last us 10 weeks or more, but I am sure she will want more.

 Later, Ken and Dirk say's Woof, Woof.

I hate Rust

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    August 2003
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Posted by gmpullman on Friday, March 13, 2020 5:23 PM

Chico says:

       Santa Fe — all the way! It's Fun to Ride The Train!

 ATSF_TexasChief_6-1-70 by Edmund, on Flickr

 

And some interesting "Along the line" points of interest to Texas:

 ATSF_TexasChief_6-1-70c by Edmund, on Flickr

 

     Cheers, Ed

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