York1Our state just outlawed homemade memorials, and the state will put up a small sign instead.
Florida did exactly that years ago, but now people just add homemade bits and decorations to personalize the state supplied signs. I think it is all very tacky, but not as tacky as the big "in memory of..." stickers that take up the entire rear window of a pickup truck.
gmpullmanWe got our "Stimulus" money yesterday. We're going to divide it amongst the kids who all have more needs than we do.
We are also sending ours to the kids, but we need to wait for a paper check.
I love the big wrench picture.
CNCharlieKevin, sorry to hear about your window problems. Can they be fixed?
There is nothing wrong with them, there are two problems...
1) The crew that installed them were a pair of complete jack-asses that I never would have let anywhere near my house under any normal circumstance. I was led to believe the installers would be professional employees of the company I bought the windows from, not some sketchy smart-mouthed kids.
2) The windows are not what I was shown when I made the purchase. I paid a premium price for top of the line Pella windows, and that is not what was installed.
howmusSo... 8 years ago I put in the solar panels and have never looked back!
I have been considering something. There are solar panels that can be added to houses here that heat the city water supply before it enters the hot water heater. Kind of like an Elesco Feedwater Heater for your house.
People that have them claim ridiculous electricity savings. I would like to get some reallistic numbers on what I could expect before I bite this bullet. They are not very expensive. They might be the same thing as solar pool heater panels.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
hon30critterand I'm glad you didn't suffer serious injury when the plywood knocked you down.
I landed on my head ...... so I didn't feel a thing ....
Rust...... It's a good thing !
Afternoon folks!
Got my lawn mowed for the second time this season yesterday.... The last quarter of it I did in a snow storm!!! 'Tis that time of year here in the Finger Lakes Region of NYS. We have four seasons here you know! Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and Road Construction....
CNCharlieA roof is something we will be looking at in the next 10 years or so. We had the original replaced in 2003, it was 43 years old.
Well, since I have been living in the house I am I (we) have put three roofs on the house in the 39 years I have lived here.... First one was an elcheapo (so called 10 year roof) the year after we bought the place. We went as cheap as we could 'cause that was all we could afford. The next was about oh... 10 years later (go figure). That one was rated for 30 years IIRC. Then, I decided to install Solar Panels. I was highly advised to put in a new roof before the panels simply due to the cost of having to remove the solar panels and reinstall them to put on a new roof in a few years. The steel roof will last somewhere between 50 to 70 years so I shouldn't have to worry about the roof anymore. It was also about the same price as Asphalt Shingling at that time.
So... 8 years ago I put in the solar panels and have never looked back! They have about the amount of output every year that will more than power the total needs of the Tesla, so I am happy! A few photos of the installation way back then...
Roof installation:
Finished roof:
And of course that side of the roof with the solar panels:
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
hon30critterWow, when you screw up you really do a good job!!!
Yea..... the mechanic's at work have a few " choice saying's " about me and breaking stuff. But I don't dare post them here.
But, I can "water it down" a bit....
"Gee Timothy, when you foul stuff up you dont kid around !" " You get it right the first time! "
They have another saying about when I break stuff on a Friday afternoon ...... But I can't make THAT saying sutable for forum use, .... no matter how hard I try.
Little TimmySo I thought today would be a good day to finish the roof on the goat barn ... But then the wind picked up just as I tried to maneuver a 4X8 piece of plywood. (How did I end up on the ground??? ) So then, I attempted to hang up some Hummingbird feeders for the wife... I managed to smash a beautiful glass feeder ( my wife's favorite one by the way ) and cut my hand all to "heck"!!! So now, I have an unfinished roof , and a bloody hand.
Wow, when you screw up you really do a good job!!!
Seriously, I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. Hope your hand heals soon, and I'm glad you didn't suffer serious injury when the plywood knocked you down.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
So I thought today would be a good day to finish the roof on the goat barn ...
But then the wind picked up just as I tried to maneuver a 4X8 piece of plywood. (How did I end up on the ground??? )
So then, I attempted to hang up some Hummingbird feeders for the wife...
I managed to smash a beautiful glass feeder ( my wife's favorite one by the way ) and cut my hand all to "heck"!!!
So now, I have an unfinished roof , and a bloody hand.
( You guys do remember the Demons Hollow slogan don't you ???)
It's not considered a "project" until someone bleeds.
Good Afternoon,
Another cool day here, only about 45F and cloudy. The ice still hasn't all melted in the pond so I'm looking at mid-week to do the clean out and fill.
Kevin, sorry to hear about your window problems. Can they be fixed? We have never replaced whole ones, only the glass. Our house has wood frames and we just had the double pane ones replaced with triple about 25 years ago. The frames are all Douglas Fir that is quite resistant to rot and just gets harder with age. In fact you can't drive a nail into any of the wall studs, you now have to drill and then use a scew, the wood is so hard.
A roof is something we will be looking at in the next 10 years or so. We had the original replaced in 2003, it was 43 years old. It was tar and gravel which lasts a long time. We replaced it with torch on, as I was told be several companies that the tar they use now wouldn't last like the original. Ken, just be thankful you don't have tar and gravel as they cost 2x shingles.
Speaking of renos, I was hoping to replace the fence in the back yard but with the hit our investments have taken this year, I will have to postpone that project.
Not much going on here. Sure is quiet outside.
CN Charlie
gmpullmanSame here. Sadly, and ironically, someone near here was hit and killed tending one of the memorials.
Two years ago we drove down to a Mexican resort. Along the Mexican highway, there were several memorials, but there they built actual small wayside shelters and chapels. Some were very elaborate.
Our state just outlawed homemade memorials, and the state will put up a small sign instead. I've seen this in quite a few other states.
York1 John
Hello, folks
What a difference a day makes! Sunshine and blue skies, but still chilly.
We got our "Stimulus" money yesterday. We're going to divide it amongst the kids who all have more needs than we do.
BigDaddyI'm not fond of those road side memorials either.
Same here. Sadly, and ironically, someone near here was hit and killed tending one of the memorials.
Metal roofing has really become popular around me. I had our "tractor barn" re-roofed with metal roofing and I'm sure glad I did. Should have done the house at the same time.
I used metal roofing on all my outbuildings and, of course, on the caboose, too.
IMG_8593 by Edmund, on Flickr
There's a popular Amish outfit that specializes in metal roofing near me. He is always busy.
THIS photo should have been posted back when we were having the "Big Wrench" discussion.
4070_EJT_W3 by Edmund, on Flickr
Your's truly — some forty-five years ago!
Top-O-the page, folks!
How about a nice slice of Pecan Pie?
pie-pecan by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
Water Level RouteSorry to hear about your hand and the train cars. That sucks.
Yeah, that accident really took the wind out of my sails, and it happened the same time the window installers were here botching up my house. It was too much.
The fan did not hurt my hand, it startled me more than anything else.
The thing that bothers me the most... one of the resin freight cars was decorated with a set of decals for the CALLOOSAHATCHEE CENTRAL, which was the private roadname of a local modeller back in the 1980s that was a great influence on my early modelling.
He passed while I was in college in 1986. I held onto those decals for decades until I had a suitable car to use them on, and now it is gone.
It is not like that car was my most treasured, or most special, but it was something I was proud of.
Between that accident, and the problems I am having with my right arm, I am really in a funk right now.
Hey all, quiet afternoon here. I got some railroad work done this morning, just glueing down the risers for my grade and put down the plaster cloth to cover it. I also finished up a bridge for it.
Thank you to everyone who commented on my pic. This bridge is located about 40ish miles southwest of Pittsburgh PA. The house is really close to the tracks, close enough to reach out and touch, from the edge of the berm there. The trestle above is on the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway (ex NS,ex ex NW,ex ex ex P&WV) built between 1929 and 1930 on the way to Connelsville.
(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).
Brent,
That Monopoly board is one of the neatest things I've seen in a long time! What a treasure!
Kevin,
Sorry to hear about your hand and the train cars. That sucks. On the other hand, I'm glad you clarified about what all made it in the dumpster. I was starting to think you had trains in the bathroom!
All,
Hope everyone is healthy and safe!
Cheers!
Mike
BATMAN It was so long ago we used a hammer, not a nail gun like I would use today.
When I used to do a lot of volunteering with Habitat For Humanity, we used a hammer to put on shingles. Volunteers were not allowed to use power tools.
HA! I made it in the door today before they could lock it, they must have not seen me coming. Yep, it is hit and miss on whether I can reply to threads or not, at least I am able to see what you rabble rousers are up to on a daily basis.
Today is day 16 of sunshine, had a bit of a sprinkle overnight but it is back to 20c temps today.
Our trainroom bathroom reno has ground to a halt as we cannot get a pan for the shower anywhere, I may have to uncover the layout as I am going through serious withdrawl. I had covered and sealed it to protect it from the drywall and construction dust.
Heartland Division CB&QBrent ... I like the photo of the CP train in snow. Is it The Canadian ?
Yes Garry that is the Canadian heading East. It has just gone over the continental divide after climbing up through the Spiral Tunnels and past Wapta lake where the divide is. It is close to Lake Louise in that photo. The photo was on Google images, it is not mine.
Roofs are just one of those things you have to deal with. I have put three new asphalt ones on in my life on new construction when I was helping friends or relatives build their new houses, but that was a long time ago. It was so long ago we used a hammer, not a nail gun like I would use today. It would be a much quicker job nowadays.
My roof is 6000 sqft and I had a steel roof put on it when the cedar shakes needed replacing. That thing is amazing as we have had some huge branches fall on it and they just bounced off. They would have gone right through the shake roof.
Talking board games, back in 1930 when the world was thrown into depression my Dad wanted a Monopoly game so bad he decided to make one. It is probably my greatest treasure. He got on his bike and went to a lot of paint stores in Winnipeg to get enough paint chips for the properties and title cards, he typed up all the cards and carved the pieces. The only thing he bought was the money. We have spent hundreds of hours playing on this board.
Ed and Jimmy, I really like the pics, something about that NS paint scheme I like.
Went for a 3 hour walk through the woods yesterday with three of the dogs, it was very quiet and we just came across a mom and her two kids that was it. I think we will head out soon and do it again as I am sick of house projects and need a break.
The kid got his $2000.00 from the government as he cannot work in the movie industry as it is shut down. I think he will get it for four months but he really wants to get back to work as he can make $2000.00 in less than two 12 hour days on a big budget movie.
Well I best hit the trail before I get kicked off of here. I think they know I am here now I heard the back door of the diner slam.
I hang this on the fridge when the kids get frustrated.
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."
Jimmy_BraumThanks to help from some people, this was able to be photographed. For those who aren't from the Pittsburgh area, this is the Norfolk Southern Ellsworth secondary Branch. The sole customer on the line was Consol Eighty Four Mine. That mine shut down in 2010, and so did thhe train traffic. Well, today NS reactivated it, for car storage. Here is probably the biggest diesel power ( Besides the SD80MAC) this line ever saw.
Jimmy, that is a neat bridge in your photo.
I know that photos can compress distances, but that house appears to be just a few feet from the track.
cudaken TF When we bough the house we where told there was 2 layers of shingle's on it. Neighbor and 2 roofers has told us there 3 layers. High estimate last year was $12000.00 and low was $9000.00 so this one was not bad. Going to check with the second contractor that gave a $9000.00 bid after I get the home Loan. He has done work for a friend of mine and Larry trust him. Liked the thrid contractor as well. Fixed the knowen leak for free, which is good move on his behalf.
TF When we bough the house we where told there was 2 layers of shingle's on it. Neighbor and 2 roofers has told us there 3 layers.
High estimate last year was $12000.00 and low was $9000.00 so this one was not bad. Going to check with the second contractor that gave a $9000.00 bid after I get the home Loan. He has done work for a friend of mine and Larry trust him. Liked the thrid contractor as well. Fixed the knowen leak for free, which is good move on his behalf.
Nine sounds like a great price Ken especially if your guy comes recommended
A lot of contractors don't even like taking three layer roofs because they're so hard to clean up the bottom layer is usually cooked and brittle falls apart in crumbs.
So many contractors through the years told people a layover is fine, but it's not, your roof life is shortened by half laying over. The layer underneath creates a heat sink and burns your roof out quicker.
I would definitely go for the $9,000 guy, it sounds like a really fair price. Being that he buttoned-up the leak for you for free, sounds like he is a great guy
TF
Afternoon All,
Not going to be in the shop much longer today. Got done what I needed for Monday but my knee hurts so much it's really uncomfortable to walk.
Did remake the roundhouse roof in aluminum so it won't keep warping up so that's good.
Thanks for the kind words Garry. i have lots to do before I even approach your level.
Jimmy - where was that shot taken? The bridge in the backround is fabulous! I didn't know NS had trackage rights out that way. When I stay in Pittsburgh, I always try to book the hotel on the south side that overlooks the tracks but all the traffic I've ever seen is CSX.
Kevin, I feel your pain but I won't pry. When we had our house fire, the first contractors we had in did such a terrible job that we actually went to city hall and got the head building inspector (who nobody wanted to deal with) to come out. He shut the job down, called in the contractor, his boss, and the insurance company and gave them hell. That was after they didn't tarp the building properly during a hurricane and the secondary claim was twice the initial one. Hope it goes better.
Made the mistake of clicking on one of the popups here (vintage racing posters) and now i get innundated with cheesecake poster pics every time I log on. The boss thinks it's hilarious. J.R.
Good morning ...
Mr. B ..... You metioned the board game, Dispatcher. I ahd that game long ago. I do not recall much about it now.
Ulrich ... Thanks for sharing the videos.
JR..... I like the way you put togethr buildings to fit your city scene.
Henry ..... Sorry to hear your friend's mother died. .... Also, I hope the moving goes well.
Kevin .... That looks like a lot of very hard work.
Ken .... Good luck regarding your roof situation. Three layers of shingles? ... How old is the house ?
JImmy .... That is a nice photo.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
No, I am not being a post hog, but I found this interesting footage of Spanish steam in the 1960s. Filming and taking pictures was prohibited during the time of the Franco regime, so these pictures are quite rare!
Note the broad gauge of Spanish trains! The gauge in Spain is/was 1,676mm compared to the standard gauge of 1,435mm.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
GMTRacingKevin - is that all the demo or do you still have the slab to cut? What happened with the first three windows? Did I miss a post?
That is just my part of the demo. Drywall from four rooms, carpet and tile from those rooms, bathroom vanity/toilet/tub, old bedroom furniture, garage door opener, two ceiling fans, stepping stones, and one train layout segment. Whew.
The dumpster cost four times what a Bagster costs, but holds ten times as much, so it is OK if not 100% full.
The slab is not cut yet. I am waiting for the tub to be delivered before I contact a plumber.
I did not post about the windows. This was the first time a contractor has 100% let me down on my house. I have had two roofs installed, A/C replaced twice, house repiped, carpets, cabinets, counters, and so on all done, and the work has always been good and I have been satisfied. This was terrible, and I really am not ready to talk about it.
Good Afternoon!
We are "enjoying" lovely Spring weather - nice, and sunny, not too hot. Just the way I like it. If we could only go outside! We are really locked up, with the police harassing anyone who dares to just go for a walk.
I am trying to come up with an alternative to our plans of moving to Denmark. I still have that dream of a small log cabin by a lake, with a mountain view and a red pickup parked in the drive way, but when I start to count my pennies, they tell me it´ll remain a dream. That sucks rail spikes, as Ken would say! I have to watch out not to slide into a depression.
Here is a nice toy for us boys!
To whomever suggested packing my building is big zip lock bags, thank you. We are still waiting for a written contract. My SIL's contract to sell her house fell through. She is also moving to VA and will be about 8 miles away from us and 1/2 block from her daughter.
That works out for the daughter because she and her husband work shift work and they have 4 kids, from 1 -15.
Checked into Facebook to see that a friend, who is my age, mother died. Then there was a reminder that it was Susan's birthday. Susan, another friend passed away a couple years ago after long term side effects of a cardiac arrest and a stroke because of it.
Sometimes family member use it to say how much they are missed. However it alway looks creepy when somebody just wishes them a happy birthday, as if they are still around to read it. I'm not fond of those road side memorials either.
For some good news, it's raining and I have some flex track with ballast I removed sitting outside.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Good morning.
Just got back from the two mile walk on the trail. I saw the blue heron today -- that's the first time I've seen it this spring.
I think I may go for a ride today to see something different. Like most other people, this is the longest stretch that I've ever spent at home.
When we moved to this town and bought this house, the roof was not in good shape after a hail storm. I got the insurance money and decided to keep the money and do the roof myself.
When I started, I was able to carry a bundle of asphalt shingles on my shoulder up the ladder. By the time I finished, I was carrying about two individual shingles up the ladder, and dying each time. Even though I did a good job and it lasted for years, I swore I would never do it again.
Have a good Saturday everyone.
Good Morning All,
Halfway down the page we were.
Kevin - is that all the demo or do you still have the slab to cut? What happened with the first three windows? Did I miss a post? If my CFO saw a dumpster ready for pickup that wasn't full to the brim she'd figure I hadn't done enough and get some more to do.
Ken, The roof is right there after the foundation for importance. Good luck with the project. I don't do roofing. I don't like heights. When we got our house it needed a roof and the CFO said "We'll just do it ourselves" I've done plenty of roofs (farm girl). I got up there and it's 2 1/2 stories down and the roof was ancient so the grit in it wasn't really fastened any more. One step up and slide half a step back so I opted out and we hired a pro. Worked out well and it lasted until the fire so no complaints there. Our marraige was young enough then that she didn't trade me in on the spot so it all worked out.
Still reworking the one outside corner backround building though I put some asphalt streets in last night also. I had some of the AMI O scale track bed left over from another project so I used that. After I work it and get some texture I can paint it with asphalt coloured paint and add some extra fine ballast here and there. Not as much as the parking lots because I will want to add centerlines and stop lines which is nigh impossible over rock.
paving 3 by J.R. Mitchell, on Flickr
All for now. Ciao, J.R.
cudakenHigh estimate last year was $12000.00 and low was $9000.00
I have always had a rule never to go with the lowest bidder. I usually go with the middle one.
The company that employed me for the last thirty years was NEVER the lowest bidder, but we always delivered all expectations. I look for companies that do the same.
However, after my experience with the first three windows, I am going to rethink this strategy.
The dumpster is full with the remains of all the bedrooms and two bathrooms.
That was a lot of work to load it up. I am worn out.
dti406 When I was in college on Sunday we would play Avalon Hill board games like Battle of the Bulge, Africa Corp, Stalingrad, Guadalcanal, Jutland and Midway among others. Rick Jesionowski
When I was in college on Sunday we would play Avalon Hill board games like Battle of the Bulge, Africa Corp, Stalingrad, Guadalcanal, Jutland and Midway among others.
Rick Jesionowski
I had Gettysburg, Tactics, DDay and Dispatcher, a railroad game, when I was a young teen. Last year, I still had the games in my attic and donated them to a gamer shop. He seemed happy to have them.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
It's been a long day, but I got some work finished. The layout is getting lots of attention since there's not much else going on.
Afternoon Diners
Flo, give the gang and I a please, Ed a crown royal and Dirk half a dor treat.
TF When we bough the house we where told there was 2 layers of shingle's on it. Neighbor and 2 roofers has told us there 3 layers. So I am going with 3 layers. As far as Squares, well I think I was told 20 so that is 2000 square feet and that sounds right. There are 2 peaks, house looks like a upside down T with the family room that is in the back. Front part of the roof has a dormer and the bid includes replacing the rotten wood with vinyl siding.
Later, Ken and Dirk say's Woof, Woof.
I hate Rust
Wow Ed. That is some amazing photo there.
Hope are all well here. This is all I have to report...
Thanks to help from some people, this was able to be photographed. For those who aren't from the Pittsburgh area, this is the Norfolk Southern Ellsworth secondary Branch. The sole customer on the line was Consol Eighty Four Mine. That mine shut down in 2010, and so did thhe train traffic. Well, today NS reactivated it, for car storage. Here is probably the biggest diesel power ( Besides the SD80MAC) this line ever saw.
Sometimes the real railroads never get around to finishing their scenery
CP_Rail-Kanaka by Edmund, on Flickr
Friday night.