Good afternoon Diners. A coffee and a blueberry muffin please, Janie.
Had an interesting few hours playing Seniors Cricket, before the rain spoilt proceedings. I must be getting used to it. I feel okay afterwards.
Another game tomorrow. A longer one of six hours (if the weather allows).
Edit. Top of the page. Janie. Open a tab for me and a drink for everyone.
Off to run trains.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning, everyone.
Since it's morning here, David, I'll have coffee right now and save the Lancaster Bomber until after lunch.
We're having another dark, cloudy, rainy day. I love days like this, and my wife hates them.
I'm going to run some trains today. I did yesterday, and I decided that sometime soon, the layout will undergo some major changes. I've already thought about it before, but I just can't take that first step.
My daughters' plans of a trip to Israel have been postponed until December. I'm seriously considering going with them.
Everyone, I hope you have a good, healthy day.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
John. What changes are you planning?
NorthBritJohn. What changes are you planning?
Right now I have a double mainline around the outside of the layout, and some switching sidings, very short, at various places.
I like to add a small loop with some bridges that cross the mainline. It will require some major changes, including adding some more table work, removal of a mountain, and the removal of a small non-usable intermodal set of tracks.
This is a change for me, since I had been considering scrapping the entire layout and building a new one. Since this was my first layout started three years ago, I've made a lot of mistakes, and found lots of things I wish I had done differently.
I was in a similar position of having a layout that had a number of restrictions. I had a station that could only accommodate four carriages at most. Crown Point Yard was much smaller. To get around that I altered the entire layout by doing it in sections. Though part of the layout was demolished I was still able to run a restricted train service.
By doing that it made me 'get on' with the remodeling and not become 'bored' and stop altogether.
The Station was 'closed' and a new Crown Point Yard was built in its place. I had a small scrap yard which was remodeled in the area of the old Yard.
Now I am not restricted to the length of trains.
Once I had done that I tackled what was nondescript to become Clarence Dock.
John. Whichever way you go about the remodel, just 'bite the bullet' and do it. Otherwise it can 'eat away at you' until you can become disgruntled and pack up.
I have seen it happen too many times. Many a layout broken up because of an error or two; the owner moved on to something else.
As for the errors and mistakes; we have all been there. and some of us are still there.
Good morning .....
John York 1 ..... It sounds like you have good ideas for changing your layout. Keep us informed as you progress.
David UK ....... I can understand what ou are talking about regarding restrictions on the layout. It seems like there is never enough room to do all we envision.
...
I added pictures to the coal hauling thread. In the past few days, I made loads for my coke cars, and I posted photos of that .
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Good Evening:
TF, I remember when I had to have the fuel pump replaced on my 2009 GMC Canyon. It was the middle of January and wasn't a job I wanted to do myself so I took the truck to a shop.
I told them there's a bunch of stuff in the bed, you want me to take it with me? Oh, no that won't be in the way (Steel plates and bags of concrete for Winter weight). I told them you're going to have to remove the bed, anyway.
NO, we've never seen a fuel pump where the bed had to come off.
Three days later I get a call, you can pick up your pickup.
I told the manager, I see all the stuff rearranged in the bed. Yeah, he says, you were right. The bed had to come off.
Darned thing is, I knew the pump was good BIT the very short 90° bend in the pipe coming out of the assembly had rusted through and was spitting gasoline.
I checked the shop manual and the first step was to remove the minus cable from the battery.
Step 2: Remove bed!
$950 to replace a perfectly good fuel pump but the sending unit and all was one assembly. No way to get in there to make a repair.
Everything else on the fuel system, including the tank, was corrosion resistant but this little tube was just plain steel. To make it worse, they design the tank so the sending unit sits in a recess that fills with road salt and mud!
C'est la vie — Ed
gmpullmanNO, we've never seen a fuel pump where the bed had to come off.
On a lot of full-sized Ford pickups you can either drop the tank or remove the bed to replace the fuel pump. It is a six-to-one-half-dozen-to-the-other situation. If the tank is empty, drop the tank. If the tank is full, pull the bed.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Howdy .....
I wish Ken would show up with a round of .
I'm glad to see so many contributers to the coal thread.
Not much model railroading today. We were boating.
Good night
Hope all are well. I had a great dinner, and I am waiting for Chloe to bring me that big slice of cherry pie.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
Good morning Diners. The usual toast and tea please, Chloe.
The Heavenly watering can is working overtime. It has caused the Seniors Cricket to be cancelled. It gets worse. It means we can go shopping instead.
Ken. I hope things are getting better. Hope to hear from you soon.
Others 'Missing'. I hope all is well.
Good morning
Hi Ed, Kevin. Damien removed the tank to replace the fuel pump. One of my straps was corroded and the tank was hanging out of kilter so he replace those too.
My buddy Erv had a bad fuel pump last year. He has a heavy duty hook in the middle of his garage ceiling he uses to dress out deer. He used that to pull the bed off his Chevy to do his. A little more dinking around but a lot easier on an old guy when he doesn't have an auto lift. "A half a horse a piece" Erv always says
From what I understand these units are finicky and like to be surrounded by gas as a coolant. Sucking air while the gas is sloshing around in a low tank also causes them to wear out sooner as well. Probably is my fault mine wore out prematurely. I've been known to let the gas level run low but won't be doing that anymore. It's high time I quit coming into the gas station like a little humming bee fetching a little more nectar
Damien replace my fuel pump 3-4 years ago during that big April snow storm. I was up at the VFW having brunch with the guys when it went out.
I was curious when I was told gas is always cold so I felt the swivel nozzle while I was fueling my truck. I was amazed how ice cold it was.
The bill for the repair with Damien's tow guys charge was $580. He gets a preferred rate from his tow guy because he's a frequent flyer. Anywhere else this service charge of $580 would have been close to twice that or more without the tow charge added. It goes without saying my mechanic is a fair honest man who has certainly earned my business through the years.
I'll be finishing up my cabinet shelves today. I couldn't quite get done yesterday. All that up and down and crawling around on the floor wore me out before the day was done. I hate to admit it but this year and a half of Corona crap, I have become out of shape from less physical activity anymore. Nicer weather and frequent rides on my mountain bike is the plan to get back into shape here.
Make it a great day
TF
Good morning everyone. Its Friday, so chocolate cake for everyone. Who says it can't be for breakfast?
My daughter's soccer game for tonight was cancelled as the other team has Covid running through it, so I unexpectedly have a bunch of free time tonight! My youngest wants to watch "Glory" as she has become really interested in the Civil War lately. Might have to do that tonight now instead. I certainly won't mind that. I enjoy a good war movie. Doesn't matter which war either.
Have a great day everyone!
Mike
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good morning everyone. I am going to settle in while I wait for Chloe to bring me a bowl of granola and a cup of coffee.
NorthBritThe Heavenly watering can is working overtime.
We are still waiting on our Summer rainy pattern to start this year. There is a high pressure stubbornly positioned that is preventing the sea breeze from forming clouds. It will be raining every day very soon.
Hurricane season starts in a few days. They are already watching two systems that are showing signs or organization.
Track fiddlerMy buddy Erv had a bad fuel pump last year. He has a heavy duty hook in the middle of his garage ceiling he uses to dress out deer. He used that to pull the bed off his Chevy to do his.
Yep, the decision whether to pull the tank or the bed can depend upon if you have a lift, or if you can get three buddies to help you pull the bed off of the truck. Or, as in Erv's case, the hoist!
Water Level RouteMy youngest wants to watch "Glory" as she has become really interested in the Civil War lately. Might have to do that tonight now instead. I certainly won't mind that. I enjoy a good war movie. Doesn't matter which war either.
My youngest daughter also liked to watch war movies with me.
Glory is a good one. We also liked Cold Mountain. We did not like Gods & Generals.
Gidday Chloe, if there’s any left, I’d like to try a bottle of NorthBrit David’s, Thwaites Lancaster Bomber Ale, please.
I would too. Now that I can shop more easily, I hope to find a sample of this soon.
Good morning, everyone. Bacon, eggs, and black coffee please, Brunhilda.
I'll write this knowing that as soon as I say it, I will go out to try to start my truck and it will have a bad fuel pump. In all the years with all the cars and trucks I've driven, I've never had a fuel pump go bad. There, I've done it now.
I have what may be my last visit with the physical therapist today. He will hurt me for the last time. The virus did not affect my physical activity, but the knee sure stopped me from walking for several months. Hopefully I can get back at that soon.
Hope everyone has a good day today.
I was looking at some of the weekly sales flyers. One of them was touting overnight delivery, next to a picture of a cup of coffee.
I wonder what that was all about!
ROAR...
I want to go up to the train room, but there are too many stepss between herea and thjere. I sure wish they would put an elevator in that building.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
BroadwayLionI want to go up to the train room, but there are too many stepss between herea and thjere. I sure wish they would put an elevator in that building.
Could you 'accidentally' change some computer code to make it appear you've been given permission for a ground floor space to use for the layout room?
There must be trouble in the subway room!
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BroadwayLion I was looking at some of the weekly sales flyers. One of them was touting overnight delivery, next to a picture of a cup of coffee. I wonder what that was all about! ROAR...
The GF is an over-the-top coffee snob. She actually orders unroasted coffee beans online and roasts them herself. As often as not, coffee roasting sets off the smoke detectors. Not pleasant. She also insists that coffee has to be drunk no more than two days after roasting, so this is a small batch, every other day process.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
York1 BroadwayLion I want to go up to the train room, but there are too many stepss between herea and thjere. I sure wish they would put an elevator in that building. Could you 'accidentally' change some computer code to make it appear you've been given permission for a ground floor space to use for the layout room?
BroadwayLion I want to go up to the train room, but there are too many stepss between herea and thjere. I sure wish they would put an elevator in that building.
Nah. it would not work. Too much to move, we are talking 12 scale miles of track, and many real miles of electric wiring.
The stairs are quickly becoming the lest of my problems: my manual dexteirty is also a problem, and sometimes I think my brain as becoming as numb as my feed. The abbey is alreasy getting ready to retire me from nursing and computer management. It might give me more time to post here or something, but I had just laid down for a nap after lunch, and now it is time for Mass...
ROAR
I didn't know people roasted their own coffee. Sounds like a pain. Just order some beans from Black Rifle Coffee.
There was a peanut roaster at one of the markets in Baltimore. Fresh roasted peanuts are way better than cold peanuts. The roaster looked like this. We took the peanuts back to class, after lunch break. If it was a bad lecturer, we crunched the peanut shells with our feet.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddyIf it was a bad lecturer, we crunched the peanut shells with our feet.
That sounds like great fun!
Good morning Diners. The usual tea and toast please, Flo.
A mixed day of thick cloud, rain and little sunshine.
Grandson number 3 visiting this weekend, so see what fun we get up to.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
Good morning everyone.
I made my perfect tacos for dinner last night, and I ate way too much.
This morning I am feeling bad, but also good at the same time. There is still plenty left-over for another taco dinner tonight.
I am up very early (for me) today. Heartburn is pretty bad. I am going to leave off the hot peppers and hot sauce tonight.
Yesterday I realized I have been over two weeks from my second Covid-19 vaccination. I thought it was this upcoming Monday, but it was last Monday. I am as immune as I can get. For some reason I am not excited to go out and do anything. Maybe I have become acclimated to being a hermit.
This has been a quiet Saturday in the diner. I hope that means everyone is A-OK.
Just finished my left-over tacos for dinner. Just as yummy on day number two.
Good evening, everyone. It's been a long day. Not a particularly good one.
I worry about things. I tend to blame myself for something, and it kind of casts a dark cloud over my head. Later, I kick myself for doing and saying something. Instead of trying to be funny, it would be better if I just didn't go along.
SeeYou190Heartburn is pretty bad. I am going to leave off the hot peppers and hot sauce tonight.
I'm not sure what caused your heartburn. For me, it is my age. I used to be able to eat just about anything, but now have to avoid certain spicy foods. It's too bad because some of those foods were my favorites.
I'll try to touch base with everyone tomorrow. It's probably better if I just go to bed. Have a good evening.
Evening
John, You worry too much, don't sweat the small stuff
Here are some Amtrak cars being delivered:
I don't see any models of these arriving on my layout anytime soon
I DO like the way they used Central Valley lattice steel beams on their trestle bents, though
Why don't they match the neat looking "Viewliner-Style" like the new baggage cars they got just a little while ago?
On the Rear by Craig Sanders, on Flickr
I'm just not all that interested in "contemporary" railroading these days, I guess.
We had Mexican tonight, too. Mrs. Pullman found some pork butts at 69¢ a pound. We put one in the "digital cooker" (insta-pot) and they were as tender as filet mignon!
I'm still nursing my third mojito
My son gave us one of those insta-pots two years ago for X-mas and we really enjoy cooking with it. Of course, we old timers remember the pressure-cookers of yore. These are just an updated version of those.
Cheers, Ed
gmpullmanI don't see any models of these arriving on my layout anytime soon
I am also not a fan.
gmpullmanWe had Mexican tonight, too. Mrs. Pullman found some pork butts at 69¢ a pound. We put one in the "digital cooker" (insta-pot) and they were as tender as filet mignon!
I have never used my insta-pot for anything but rice. I should try it for something new.