I prefer a sea cruise to a flight any day, but from where I am, I can't get a cruise without a flight and usually two. I like to make sure I've got an extra day after flying in in case of problems, and an extra day at the end just to recover and reset.
One of our cruises in the Caribbean all went fine, but out flight home was cancelled. There was a Snowmageddon event that shut down Washington, D.C., so we had the staggering misfortune to be stranded in Phillipsburg on St. Martin. Oh, well, we took one for the team.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Oh, that's too bad, Mister Beasley! That's a terrible place to be stuck. Actually, I guess I'd like to know how you did that. My being stuck in airports occured in Atlanta, with no place to go but try to sleep in the airport chairs.
MLC, those radios are a work of art. That's an unusual hobby -- you're the only person I know of who restores old radios. I guess I've never asked anyone else and there may be millions of others, but I'd bet you are one of only a few doing work like that!
We are in the middle of a heat wave here! It's 44°F. After the below zero weather we had for the past month, this feels like July.
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."
York1 My being stuck in airports occured in Atlanta, with no place to go but try to sleep in the airport chairs.
My being stuck in airports occured in Atlanta, with no place to go but try to sleep in the airport chairs.
I've never been stuck in Atlanta, but my luggage has. It took them two days to find the bags.
MisterBeasleyI've never been stuck in Atlanta, but my luggage has. It took them two days to find the bags.
! Funny you should say that.
Last year in March, I flew from Orlando to Omaha with a stop in Atlanta.
After a four-hour layover in Atlanta, we flew to Omaha. Every single person on the flight from Orlando to Omaha had their bags left in Atlanta.
I can't complain too much -- they brought my bag to my house on the second day -- not too bad out here where there are a lot of miles between houses.
We did 960 s/f of carpet removal over the weekend; did three pickup loads to the dump of old carpet, old tile, padding, and underlayment. Had to come to work to get some rest. Flooring guys showed up today to do prep work; leveling and tear out of a tile entry way. Hopefully, they will start laying floor tomorrow.
I told my wife the only work we are doing next weekend is taking down Christmas lights. Then I intend on doing some work in my train room.
I am expecting an order from Proto87 stores that will let me build the last two towns on my branch line (going to start at the end and work to the junction). Branch line will be longer than the main line. The purpose of the main line will be to operate trains from staging to the junction to the end of the branch and to run the different trains I have built and run on modular clubs the last 40 years.
I got stranded in Phoenix when East Coast flight control went down and they told us it would take 4 hours to get our bags. We never got our bags. We checked into a motel with no clothes and the motel didn't have toothbrushes or toothpaste for the guests. It torpedoed our idea to relocate to AZ.
Brent, I would message you but I can't do that anymore any of my browsers. Why would a puppy have a liver shunt? I tried to ask that on Ask a Vet on Facebook and they would only allow me to ask it: if it was my dog. It was not my dog, but a rescue, undergoing a 5 figure revision of a "liver shunt"I've done porta caval shunts in cirrhotic patients with bleeding esophageal varicies and it's a miserable operation for the anesthesiologist and I will spare the forum the details. From a medical standpoint, I was extremely interested. From a personal standpoint, if I had to spend 5 figures on a puppy, who needed another 5 figure revision in 6 months, I wouldn't do it. My wallet biopsy alarm is going off.
In real life I woke up at 2 am wondering if my shoulder surgery would be canceled. The esteemed governor of Va has declared a hospital surgery, but so far no word from UVA
MR Front, I am trying to hook up some wires from my Powercab but it is working above my head, which is painful and shakey and I am going to have to revise it to build my reversing loop but I hope to get it done tomorrow before my surgery on Wednesday.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
York1 ! Funny you should say that
! Funny you should say that
I found out while trying to get my bag back that Don't Expect Luggage To Arrive Airlines only scanned in bagged ID tags at the departure and destination airports, but if you've lost a bag at an intermediate stop, forget it.
I remember telling some phone bot that no, I did not know the Zip code of the hotel where I was staying, but if you walk to the other end of the hallway where the bags should have come in and go up the escalator, you're there.
Good Evening,
Still working on that Branchline sleeper kit. It is the most difficult kit I have ever done, the ice A/C unit has 26 parts and that is just part of the underneath detail. The brakes, air and signal lines were another twelve. The parts fit well but my 74 year old eyes are struggling. A Red Caboose boxcar kit is simple by comparison.
TF, thanks for sending some warm air our way. It should arrive tomorrow. Our dishwasher only has one dial and it is going strong 32 years after install. It is a noisy unit though.
Jet lag is something that has never bothered me much. I travelled a lot when I was working, and in Canada that means across time zones. Perhaps I just got used to it. Even flying across the pond only took me a day or two to adjust.
Time for supper soon. We tend to eat late as my wife gets up very late.
CN Charlie
Good evening —
One for David:
Midland_Manxman-1905 by Edmund, on Flickr
And one for John:
Omaha_Union_Station by Edmund, on Flickr
I was ten years old the first and last time I set foot in this station. My dad and I were heading to Durango and we stopped in Omaha to smell the stockyards and buy a newspaper. Fond memories. Most railroad stations then were truly cathedrals of transportation.
Have a great night, everyone!
Cheers, Ed
“Well, ...I'll be patient and wait for that cake for quite a while Bear. Maybe another year. Especially if "Her Indoors" makes it, and not you.”
It might surprise you Mr TF, that I’m a far better cook than “Her-in-Doors”. And she’s happy to admit it. I’ll cook tea if I manage to get home at a respectable hour.
A strawberry shortcake I made at my daughter’s request for her 21st.
That said, if you want cakes/desserts then my daughter can’t be surpassed. A three-tier wedding cake that she, and my sons then girlfriend, made, as a present for my son’s best friend’s wedding. It was at least over two foot tall!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good Morning All,
9F this morning but with no wind chill or chilly wind it is very nice if dark. I'll just have a regular to go please.
That is a nice little Railroad Bear. Really nice people and very well done equipment. I was envious of their equipment and sheds as at the time I was doing a lot at the Danbury Rail Museum and all the work was outdoors. Not much fun in cold weather at all. It's a couple of hours each way for you is it not?
076 by J.R. Mitchell, on Flickr
The fireman gets to sit whilst drifting downhill - he had to shovel like a demon going back up though.
078 by J.R. Mitchell, on Flickr
As much as I travel, I have lots of stories but none with lost luggage. Just lucky I guess. I do prefer the smaller airports though. We try to avoid for instance Orlando when going to Florida and use West Palm Beach (home of the miracle flights) or lately Tampa. When you fly Delta, Atlanta in ineveitable but you need to be careful with some flights as when they wanted to fly me from Hartford to Daytona via Detroit. Not happening and found another carrier.
All for now, lots to do as the first weekend is hurtling up on us. Ciao, J.R.
Good Morning Gents! Chloe, blueberry pancakes please.
Usually when I fly I try to go carry-on only, but have had to check baggage a few times with no issues (knock on wood!). Thanks for making me jinx myself.
Cold one again this morning, but the temps are supposed to increase about 20 degrees today to a balmy 32F. Will feel like summer.
Cheers!
Mike
Good morning Diners. It has been a busy morning here and now after 11.00am. A large coffee please, Chloe. A piece of cake Bear is tempting us with if there is any left.
Ed. A great poster of The Manxman. Never been to the Isle of Man. Now traveling has been disrupted with Covid we shall have a look on getting there.
Only had our luggage 'lost' once; on a flight back from Tenerife. A strange situation as on checking in we were asked unusual questions. We know the luggage was opened and inspected. It all arrived by Special Courier the following day.
---------------------------
If you have an old carriage or two that have seen better days and you do not know what to do with. Make them into a Diner.
Bellingham, (Northumberland) Tea Rooms
The old North British Railway line through Bellingham has long gone (1958). Now the old station is a Heritage Centre. The Centre explains of life in the area in times long gone. (Well worth a visit.)
In the Station Yard is two old Southern Railway carriages converted to tea rooms. A busy venue that has to be booked in advance!
On the other side of the carriages is the platform to enter them. Car parking spaces can be seen. No parking cones at two of the bays. The rain has stopped leaving a puddle or two.
WP_20170921_13_19_53_Pro by David Harrison, on Flickr
Stay Safe Everyone.
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.
Over at the houses they tore down a couple of weeks ago they are now removing the slabs and driveways. Wow is that loud. The road is closed, so there is a lot of traffic on my street this morning as it is the detour.
There is a slight break in the hot weather. For the next few days the temperatures are expected to have lows in the 50s and highs in the low 70s. I guess that is as good as it is going to get.
I need to remove some of the ceiling in the living room and work on the air conditioning. I was hoping for a cold week to do this work, but it looks like we are not getting one this year.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good morning
Steak and eggs sounds good to me thank you. Sounds good to anyone else I'm buying.
Just got back from taking Judy to work and seeing my Son and Grandchildren off, back to North Dakota. They were down for the last Vikings game taking on the Bears. It was nice that they won for a change and I'm glad they're changing up the coaching staff for next season.
Jeremy had an important business meeting in Rochester while he was down here. The meeting went well and could be his next big step in his car industry career. Judy and I are quite proud of him and hopeful, as Rochester is only an hour and a half away, opposed to seven and a half. It sure would be nice to have the Kids closer and be able to have family day on Sunday again.
On the luggage subject, Judy and I have always traveled light with carry on duffel bags. It's nice to jump off the plane and go. I don't ever remember wearing everything I pack and think we could get by with one bag.
Those look like some award-winning cakes Bear I had No Idea! when I rattled off my cocky little comment Hopefully I put a laugh or smile emoji behind it to soften the blow like I usually do The comment was only meant as a funny guy thing and I'm hopeful you took it that way
Enjoyed visiting the clocks you restore again MLC. You sure have a knack for restoration
Enjoy that mild weather I sent you while you can Charlie. It was short-lived down here with a Tropical Heatwave of 30° for one day and back to the Frigid Freeze Factor the next
Well, I've sure been sleeping better but feeling a bit under the weather. I caught Judy's cold she brought home from work. I'm glad my job for today was rescheduled last night. Also glad it's just a cold and nothing worse.
I think I'll just relax at the glass table and epoxy 12 Micro Engineering bridge shoes to some micro styrene squares to dry overnight. It sure would make more sense if ME made their bridge shoes out of styrene instead of pot metal. There's a boatload of other things I can do buttoning up some other bridge projects around here as well.
Make it a great day gentleman
TF
It won't even get up to freezing here today, which is cold for Delaware. The GF hates the cold, while I think it gets too hot here much of the year. I can't ski or play hockey anymore with my bad heart and a bad knee, so the winter isn't much fun, either. Getting old is no fun.
Yeah but you look good Mister B. I think getting old sucks too with my temperamental knee and shoulder but it's also a privilege I guess. Come to think of it, none of my platonic GF's like the cold either
I almost forgot to mention I went down to visit my buddy Bruce at the Hobby Shop yesterday. Lookie what I found!
This one has some OK detail. Dem is some big chains and will be fun to paint silver and rust I think.
Not often you find that DMIR stuff around here. Perhaps not my pick of the litter of cabeese but searchers can't be choosers.
I also picked up some MT body mount knuckle couplers I've gotten good at installing to make this caboose a nice part of my roster.
TF, I'm going to replace some Kato couplers and I asked on another thread about the best N scale couplers.
Two suggestions were given: Microtrains and Atlas Accu-mate.
I know nothing about any of the couplers other than the Kato ones don't work well for me.
What do you suggest for me to buy?
Mornin' Folks! Well.... Still morning here for another few minutes....
"We're havin' a heat wave...... Tropical Heat Wave!" It is already up to 5°F (-15C) here in the Finger Lakes Region of NYS. Sun is out and only an inch or so of new white "stuff" on the driveway to shovel, so I'll keep doin' it by hand, I guess.
I can still shovel the $*!! but gettin' so I like it less and less. I'm now officially a Geezer, I think.
Of course, here in NY you are likely to find all kinds of conflicting stuff going on....
Have a great day out there and stay warm..... or cool! Which ever you need.
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
BATMAN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjYDnqjKVcw&ab_channel=KenDBerryMD A new addition. Not much like a real Canadian Pacific one but will have to stand in until I can get my hands on the Overland brass one. All the best to all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjYDnqjKVcw&ab_channel=KenDBerryMD
A new addition. Not much like a real Canadian Pacific one but will have to stand in until I can get my hands on the Overland brass one.
All the best to all.
Brent,
One of our local LHSs has an untarnished and unpainted Overland Model 2-200 (OMI #3144) with the similar high plow. On sale in their consignment display case two days ago. Can't recall what they were asking for it. Let me know if you're at all intersted and want a picture.
John
More black coffee!
Henry, I hope everything goes well with your surgery tomorrow. Be sure to check in and let us know. How long is the recovery before you can do railroad work again? I forgot, but is this due to an injury, or is it just worn out from too much work?
It must be interesting to face surgery after your lifetime of performing surgeries yourself. As a surgeon, do you give advice to your surgeon?
Mike, be sure to let us know how your daughter's surgery works out.
You both are in my prayers.
Hi Everyone,
Brunhilda, coffee with cream, please.
Bear: you and your daughter are very talented cake makers. I'd dare say good enough to do it professionally. Was the top ornament on the wedding cake edible?
just the usual going on today, work and stuff. Right now I have a good (for me anyway) situation where I mostly work 2-10 pm 4 days/week. It's not full time, but it's enough. Lately, Thursdays I get to go see my grand daughters, which is a delight. They can be a lot of fun. I just marvel at their young imaginations.
One year, my family and I took the ferry from Yarmouth, NS to Portland, ME. we thought that if we ever wanted to take a cruise, this would be a good trial run. Eleven hours, glass smooth crossing and we still felt queasy. similar thing happened we took the boat from San Pedro to Catalina. Although once past the breakwater in LA harbor, the waves were rougher. The boat was smaller than the ferry, too. I guess we're confirmed landlubbers. Arrrr!
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Jim, don't judge cruises by ferry boat rides. Cruises are on larger ships and are intentionally slower-paced. Ferries generally try for faster trips.
I've taken both the old steam ferry and the newer catamaran ferry between Portland and Yarmouth. They tried to pitch the catamaran as some kind of exciting, luxury excursion, but it was really like riding in a big, crowded airplane for six hours. You couldn't go outside because it was moving too fast, and the only outside deck was a tiny protected space at the stern that was full of smokers.
Then again, we've ridden a few cruise ships, most recently small ships with only a few hundred passengers. Even sea days with no port stops are a delight, and the ride was always smooth as glass.
York1 TF, I'm going to replace some Kato couplers and I asked on another thread about the best N scale couplers. Two suggestions were given: Microtrains and Atlas Accu-mate. I know nothing about any of the couplers other than the Kato ones don't work well for me. What do you suggest for me to buy?
Hi John
I noticed I accidentally typed ME instead of MT on my last post and corrected it shortly after. That's my answer would be MT trucks and body mount knuckle couplers I believe is the Cadilac in N scale.
Nothing wrong with Atlas as they work good with the MT ones so I don't replace those. Given the choice I buy the MT's in bulk when I run out.
As of yet, I have two Micro Trains passenger car sets and one Kato set. I have noticed those gray Kato couplers can be problematic. Once they're connected they seem to be all right so I don't want to replace them all any time soon. I guess for now my CB&Q Silver Streak set will just be Plug and Play with no Slice and Dice
It sure would be neat to have enough layout real estate for a passenger car repair facility with a small switcher and a long transfer table.
Section houses were a one-time common trackside structure:
B and M_Crawford Notch by Edmund, on Flickr
What a "classic" scene! Some section houses had sleeping quarters for the track workers and section foreman.
BnM_section house_2 by Edmund, on Flickr
Note the Highball signal in the distance. Are those logs there to be cut up for firewood? Also note the "directional" guard rails. They are only pointed for the normal direction of traffic. Never saw that before. Modeler's details!
BnM_section house by Edmund, on Flickr
One for MLC:
RCA_1937_9K-3 by Edmund, on Flickr
Magic Eye? Magic Brain? Must be a DCC model...
$130.00 in 1937 is comparable to $2,562. today. These babies were pricey!
Was close to 0° F last night, going to 44 tomorrow. Just a dusting of snow.
I hope everyone is doing fine and staying in good health —
Regards, Ed
I've ridden the old ferry, the older (smaller) ferry and the Cat and much preferred the Cat especially as the trip time was about a third. There was varying service. Sometimes we went from Bar Harbor and sometimes from Portland and always to and from Yarmouth.
I thought there would be no issue riding a ferry after 4 years in the Navy including riding out typhoons but I was wrong. The little ferry rolled a ton and I got ill before I moved to the center of the boat. The newer bigger Bluenose was better but we went across in the middle of a storm one winter and everyone was sick until I got sick in sympathy. The cat was great, did one trip in a storm and though it had to slow a bit I still had no problems. It had forward and astern viewing balconies that were open through most of the trips so I'm not sure why Mr. Beasley was confined to quarters as it were.
Good Afternoon,
A very balmy 21F! Thanks TF.
John, regarding N scale couplers, I installed MTs on a pair of Kato PAs and it was a tough install but it did work. The MT couplers allow closer couling but they are looser so there is slack in the train. Atlas couplers are larger and there isn't as much slack bu cars aren't as close coupled. I prefer MT.
Sea sickness was never a problem for me. I remember waking up on the Yankee Clipper as I was sliding off my bunk. With every roll the porthole beside my bunk went under water.
Gorgeous cakes Bear!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good morning Diners. As I keep getting 403 Forbidden I shall have a Full English Breakfast please, Janie.
Dawn and I are missing travelling on cruise ships. We used to go on 3 or 4 cruises each year. Now there are so many rules and regulations holidays are no longer fun.
Lineside Fences
British Railways fences at Shildon, County Durham. Note the different types. The footpath alongside. The road bridge over the tracks.
IMG_2384 by David Harrison, on Flickr
Good Morning Everybody. Flo, coffee. Lots of it. Really tired today for some reason. Not sure why. I didn't sleep well Sunday night but have felt fine. Maybe it's finally catching up to me.
York1Mike, be sure to let us know how your daughter's surgery works out.
I did some digging and couldn't find any of my photos of the old coal tower in town. Trying to find one I can share from the web.
Cheers guys.