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The MAY, 2021 Diner: Touring the US Anthracite Region

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 12:23 PM

Man!   Those cruise ships sure are Gigantic now is the word I'm looking for.

The only cruise ship I've ever been on was in 1988, the Carnival, Festival.  I remember the letdown thinking she was a cruddy tub when I boarded her.  That was when the strong lesson "you get what you pay for" Sunk in, no pun intended.

The ex-wife and I tried to make the best of it leaving Florida for Nassau in the Bahamas.  It was pretty hard to make the best of it as the first day was a rough day at Sea and the whole ship was sickIck!

 

My truck is finished and Damien is going to come pick me up.  It was the fuel pump.  Judy will be delighted she doesn't have to walk home tonight and so am I.

I finished putting the stationary caster wheels on my benchwork cabinet this morning.  I'm loving it!  There is eight of them and I can roll the whole layout back and forth with two fingers.  I think I'll have time to install the shelving hardware after I buy Damien lunch and pick up my truck.

 

 

 

TF

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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 12:09 PM

We've done our cruising on Windstar Lines.  The ships are much smaller than the city blocks on hulls.  Our favorite only holds 300 passengers.  Because it's small, it can go to places the giant ships can't.  The cruises don't have kids.  I don't know if that's policy or simply because they don't serve kid food or go to kid destinations or have kid amenities on board.

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

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Posted by Water Level Route on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 11:31 AM

Humans once thought the Titanic was impossibly large.  Compared to a new one...

Mike

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Posted by NorthBrit on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 11:03 AM

Kevin & TF  The cruise ship is mid-size.  Brilliance of the Seas at 90,090 grt of Royal Caribbean  Cruises Ltd.  She cost $350 million.

Just an example today.   Our last cruise in November 2019 was from Barcelona to Dubai on MSC Bellissima.  She is 171,598  grt  -  still small compared to some at over 220,000 grt.

 

David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 10:35 AM

Good morning ... 

Cruises ? ..... Being on a big ship full of thousands of people does not appeal to me. I do not like being in crouds. 

What I did like very much was riding on the Rocky Mountaineer in western Canada. 

Everybody ..... Have a nice day. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 9:39 AM

Track fiddler
  Looking at that bridge it truely fascinates me that the new cruise ships will not fit under it.

Cruise ships are huge now, and just getting bigger.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 9:11 AM

SeeYou190

If you click on the SGRR herald, that will take you to my public bio page, and my email address is listed on the right. That will be easier!

That is the "Sunshine Skyway" bridge into Tampa bay. Currently, all cruise ships that are under constrcution WILL NOT fit beneath that bridge. There are all kinds of plans to keep the cruise liners in Tampa, but time will tell.

 
It may come as no surprise but this is what I get when I click.
 
 
Same thing when I try to access messages or anything on this site since I got my new android phone a year ago.
 
 
Wow!  Looking at that bridge it truely fascinates me that the new cruise ships will not fit under it.  The last time I was on a cruise ship they may have been a little bigger than a large PT boatLaugh  I haven't seen the new cruise ships yet but they must be astonishingly tall!
 
 
 
 
 
 
TF
 
 
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 8:38 AM

TRACK FIDDLER:

I got your letter yesterday. I am looking very forward to seeing you.

If you click on the SGRR herald, that will take you to my public bio page, and my email address is listed on the right. That will be easier!

Track fiddler
That sure is a steep graded bridge on the horizon.  It must pass over a tall ship right of way. 

That is the "Sunshine Skyway" bridge into Tampa bay. It was built that tall so the Cruise Ships could fit beneath it to reach the Tampa Cruise Terminal.

Currently, all cruise ships that are under constrcution WILL NOT fit beneath that bridge. There are all kinds of plans to keep the cruise liners in Tampa, but time will tell.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    March 2017
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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 8:06 AM

Good morning again

I sure hope Damien gets my truck done today.  Walking Judy to work this morning was a soggy one.  It wasn't raining, it was just a heavy mist like split pea soup hanging in the air.  This evening thunderstorms are predicted.

Thanks for the chocolate sundae last night at rack time JohnDinner

Those surprise visits are fun Kevin.  My son decided to do that a few weeks ago and it certainly was a surprise. 

That sure is a steep graded bridge on the horizon.  It must pass over a tall ship right of way.  Your murky picture reminds me of that one song lyric,  "A distant ship smoke on your horizon".

 

I'm going to tip my layout benchwork sideways and replace the roller casters with some really good ones I found on eBay.  These are stationary because the layout only needs to roll backwards and forwards.  I didn't like how the swivel ones argued with me every time I went to change direction on the carpeting.  After that I'll get all the shelf bracket hardware installed and put the shelf frames I milled yesterday together.  A good project for a rainy day is always fun.

 

Have a good one y'allWink

 

 

 

TF

 

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Posted by York1 on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 7:03 AM

SeeYou190
We had a surprise visit from our youngest daughter today! She flew into town and showed up at the door about 7:00 AM. She spent the day with us, and has a red-eye flight back home that left about an hour ago. She had wanted to fly in on Mother's Day, but this was better. Happy dad!

You can be proud of her, and you can be proud of yourself for raising such a great child!

 

NorthBrit
Apparently the leader of the Rainbows had asked the children to get something they could not live without.   Dawn said Julia did not want her Momma.  Oh no.   She wanted her Papa.    Never argue with a lady,  no matter how young she is. 

Nice!  Something like that makes your year!  Grandchildren are fun.

 

Henry, we don't get any of those UFOs out here, probably for the same reason we don't get tourists -- there's nothing to see here.

It's raining, and I have my next appointment with the physical therapist.  I'm sure my knee will be hurting a lot more by the time I get home.

Have a good day, everyone.

York1 John       

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Posted by NorthBrit on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 6:23 AM

Water Level Route

P.S. David, that is a great story!  I bet you've been grinning ear to ear since!

 

 
Pleased as Punch.   Big Smile
 
 
David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 6:23 AM

Good morning

BroadwayLion

You cannot fool the LION....

Bowling Green is a SUBWAY stop in New York City!

 
So I want to get this straight.  If one is mowing the lawn as a sport, knocking down as many grass blades as you possibly can, if some straggly areas are still sticking up in the corners of the yard, your lawn mowing bowl was not a strike? Laugh  
 
Do you get a chance to pick up the spare with the weed whipper then, or is that against the rules? Huh?
 
 
I was reflecting on my layout this morning on how much I've gotten done so far over a long period of time.  Even though what's done so far looks pretty decent it sure doesn't look like much accomplished yet.
 
My conclusion, .....To complete this layout is going to take a lot more man yearsLaugh
 
 
 
 
 
TF
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  • From: Ludington, MI
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Posted by Water Level Route on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 6:02 AM

hon30critter
snow blowers were made by MTD. At one of our training sessions it was casually mentioned that the snowblowers had been designed in Tennessee. I thought that that was rather ironic, especially since they didn't work particularly well.

I used to maintain an MTD snow blower for my old neighbor.  What a nightmare!  I vowed I would never knowingly buy an MTD product.  What a piece!  

It was a beautiful evening last night.  Temperature was perfect.  Unfortunately I was exhausted so I didn't get anything accomplished, other than relaxing.  My daughter's soccer season will be wrapping up in a couple weeks.  I'll have a lot more time on my hands then.  That will help me get to where I want to be on projects.

Have a good day guys!

P.S. David, that is a great story!  I bet you've been grinning ear to ear since!

Mike

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Posted by NorthBrit on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 4:01 AM

Good morning Diners.   Tea and toast as usual please,  Janie.

Kevin.   A lovely surprise for you,  your daughter visiting.

Lion  on a Aircraft Carrier!!!     Captain

 

I was due to take my younger granddaughter, Julia  5 year old, to 'Rainbows'.   (The first step to be a Girl Guide.)   The Heavens opened and down came the rain.   At short notice a zoom meeting was arranged. 

 Julia and Dawn were at the zoom meeting  with Julia doing little challenges.  Not to be in the way I went to our second lounge area.

Suddenly,  Julia rushed in,  "Come Papa.  Quick Papa come,"  taking me by  my arm and hurrying me to see the meeting.

Apparently the leader of the Rainbows had asked the children to get something they could not live without.   Dawn said Julia did not want her Momma.  Oh no.   She wanted her Papa.    Never argue with a lady,  no matter how young she is. Big Smile

 

A busy day with different jobs to do,  so I had better start.

 

David

 

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 3:47 AM

Gotta' keep those big wheels turnin'

 

 Maintenance at Bethlehem by Steve Baldwin, on Flickr

Big Blue is coming:

        

I always associated sourdough with San Francisco and the West coast. Had something to do with the goldrush and constantly moving around? I had a sourdough starter that was about ten years old, then one day it just turned to a chunk of rock for some reason.

I really should get some more. I miss baking sourdough. I made some tasty sourdough English Muffins Dinner

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
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  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 11:59 PM

hon30critter
it was casually mentioned that the snowblowers had been designed in Tennessee.

I wish to clarify something.

I meant absolutely no offense to the people of Tennessee. I was only commenting on MTD's rather unusual choice of a location for developing snowblowers.

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 ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 11:42 PM

hon30critter

 

 
gmpullman
In the early '80s it was bought by MTD. MTD* is known for cheapening the quality while riding on the reputation of the former brand. I have several aquaintences familiar with the MTD corporate philosophy.

 

When I worked in the Hardware dept. for Sears Canada all of our lawn tractors and snow blowers were made by MTD. At one of our training sessions it was casually mentioned that the snowblowers had been designed in Tennessee. I thought that that was rather ironic, especially since they didn't work particularly well.

Dave

 

When Cub Cadet was owned by IH, it was a great product, almost as good as these Wink:

 

 

These days there are few good "garden tractors" to be had new. After 25 years of service I did recently have to remotor the one pictured above, now it is ready for the rest of my life time.

When I bought it, in 1996, my wife rolled her eyes at the price. I told her then, "trust me, this is the only garden tractor we will ever have to buy".

Today, even after having to buy an engine, see gets the value.

The picture above is a few years old, but the tractor still looks pretty much the same. Repairs have been minimal, and the new engine is more powerful.

Unlike many tractors, this tractor is gear drive, not hydrostatic, yet it still has features like instant forward/reverse, eight different ground speeds, and it is rear engine with a cast iron trans axle. 

That blade has cleared 20" snowfalls from the 7,000 sq ft driveway at the old house - many times.

Hope they get you taken care of Henry.

Unfortunately, the market for good garden tractors is really gone, and GRAVELY stopped building theirs in 2002. Now they make zero turns, mostly expensive commercial grade ones.

Sheldon 

    

  • Member since
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  • From: Bradford, Ontario
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Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 10:22 PM

gmpullman
In the early '80s it was bought by MTD. MTD* is known for cheapening the quality while riding on the reputation of the former brand. I have several aquaintences familiar with the MTD corporate philosophy.

When I worked in the Hardware dept. for Sears Canada all of our lawn tractors and snow blowers were made by MTD. At one of our training sessions it was casually mentioned that the snowblowers had been designed in Tennessee. I thought that that was rather ironic, especially since they didn't work particularly well.

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
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 10:19 PM

We had a surprise visit from our youngest daughter today! She flew into town and showed up at the door about 7:00 AM.

She spent the day with us, and has a red-eye flight back home that left about an hour ago. She had wanted to fly in on Mother's Day, but this was better.

Big Smile Happy dad!

The World Is A Beautiful Place.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 9:40 PM

Has Lion seen these Unidentified Aerial Phenomena? Several have commented that we have high resolution pics from Mars and grainy images from all the UAP's

One theory I heard is that there is so much reporting now, is because they are getting ready to tell us that we have been invaded by aliens. 

See Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and the Vogon constructor fleet.

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by York1 on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 9:15 PM

That Kearsarge was old and beat up at that time.  I think there's a new ship with the same name.

 

Edit:  Top of the Page!

It's almost bedtime for me.  How about a bowl of ice cream with chocolate sauce before hitting the rack?

York1 John       

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Posted by BroadwayLion on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 9:10 PM

York1

 

 
BroadwayLion
LION has been on several cruises. Aircraft Carriers off of North Vietnam, you know.

 

My brother flew anti-submarine flights off the Kearsarge during that war.  Did you ever have any connection with that one?

 

 

I was going to say NOPE, but the fact is that the name seems familiar.

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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  • From: North Dakota
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Posted by BroadwayLion on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 9:02 PM

I hear more birds now that I got hearing aids.

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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Posted by York1 on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 9:01 PM

BroadwayLion
LION has been on several cruises. Aircraft Carriers off of North Vietnam, you know.

My brother flew anti-submarine flights off the Kearsarge during that war.  Did you ever have any connection with that one?

York1 John       

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 8:56 PM

LION has been on several cruises. Aircraft Carriers off of North Vietnam, you know.

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
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  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 8:54 PM

You cannot fool the LION....

Bowling Green is a SUBWAY stop in New York City!

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 8:19 PM

My neighbor loaned me his zero turn, with a steering wheel, electric cup cadet.  It is fast, a smoother ride, and quiet.  It also has a lower center of gravity.  The ground is sloped around my house and I wouldn't dare mow it with the gas mower.

The zero turn really saves time because you can turn it and mow right next to where you just mowed.

It does cost twice as much as the gas model.  You save on gas and oil but Lord knows what a new battery costs.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 8:13 PM

gmpullman
MTD* is known for cheapening the quality while riding on the reputation of the former brand.

Cheapening quality is one thing, but delaying customer satisfaction when a failure occurs is unforgivable.

I know the brands we were service points for would never have tolerated this on a warranty situation.

I hope Henry is able to get this resolved.

I bought a Toro mower new around 2012-2013. At five weeks old it failed to start. The point of purchase was not a service location. I had to drive it to Bradenton for service, and I had headaches similar to what Henry is describing.

I hired a lawn service while it was in the shop, and after it was in the shop for four weeks I was able to get a refund.

I have had a lawn service ever since.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 8:07 PM

 

BigDaddy
They need some authorization from Cub Cadet to tear it down more,

 

SeeYou190
Most manufacturers want the customer satisfied as quickly as possible.

Cub Cadet used to be owned by International Harvester. It was a proud brand known for quality and service.

In the early '80s it was bought by MTD. MTD* is known for cheapening the quality while riding on the reputation of the former brand. I have several aquaintences familiar with the MTD corporate philosophy.

Cub Cadet ain't what it used to be.

*Modern Tool & Die

Regards, Ed

  • Member since
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 7:48 PM

BigDaddy
Called the riding lawn mower shop that has had my mower for 2.5 weeks.  No compression, and it's not the valves.  They need some authorization from Cub Cadet to tear it down more, have no parts and have never seen a mower with low hours blow the motor.

This is something I hate to read.

First, they cannot confirm it is not the valves unless they tear it down. All they can really check with it assembled is valve adjustment. To properly test valve seating, the head must be removed. It might be possible to do a vacuum port check through the intake/exhaust connection, but these are not as conclusive as a static fluid test.

Second, NEVER tell a customer, prior to diagnoses, what is "normal" or "never seen before" on an engine.

Every failure is unique, the complaint must be troubleshot thoroughly, and the root cause determined prior to any comunication with the customer.

Then make the repairs to address the root cause and any progressive damage. Never compare it to another failure, and make sure it is correct when the customer retakes possession.

I have a hard time believing that they cannot get authorization to make a proper diagnoses. Most manufacturers want the customer satisfied as quickly as possible.

I would expect that as soon as low compression is verifed not to be a maintenance issue or adjustment problem, that a new engine would be installed. With the high expense of current in-shop labor rates, it was almost always more cost effective for the manufacturer to replace a small engine rather than make an internal repair.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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