Good afternoon diners.
Flo - Floats of any kind for all. (Make mine a cola float.) Thanks.
Just wanted to update everyone that I'm still around, just extremely busy!
Trains - The rebuilt Mantua 4-6-2 is now back together, and runs very smoothly.
Layout news - I had to go to our local big-box hardware store recently, as we needed to get a new pressure tank for our water well, so I picked up a sheet of plywood, a sheet of 1" foam board, and some 1X4's (really 3&1/2") to rebuild the area that needs rebuilt. I asked the guy I found in lumber if he could assist with grabbing the sheet down, (higher shelf than my 5'7" frame could reach without monkey-style climbing the rack) and trimming it to fit in my CR-V. He noticed my rail t-shirt and casually asked what the plywood was for. My answer of a train layout made him ask a follow-up question - "Lionel, or HO?"
Turns out, his Dad has a huge Lionel layout set up in the basement. So, as he was trimming the ply down, we talked trains and hobbies. As the plywood was being trimmed down, it fractured on one small area on the final cut. He immediately offered a replacement sheet, and I turned that offer down, as it was small enough to not matter to me. (I can very easily hide that small area under the foam anyway.) He then insisted on giving me a discount, and took almost half of the price off!
Who was I to argue?
So, I will be able to start getting to work on the new layout soon!
Hopefully all are well, best wishes to those not, and all enjoy the day!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Ihave not been to the UP , but have stayed in Fort Custer Recreation area for about 5 years , when there was a radio show at Kalamazoo
NorthBritJames with his 'Footballer of the Year' trophy
SeeYou190I loved all the State Parks I visited in the Upper Penninsula, but I did not see that one. I think I should go back at some point.
Our other favorite in the U.P. is Tahquamenon Falls State Park. Both are wonderful to visit. I agree you need to make a return trip. In the lower peninsula, Hartwick Pines State Park & Ludington State Park are the two to see (in our opinion anyway). Hartwick Pines has some of the last old growth forest in the State and a logging museum on site. Ludington State Park is just a gem, with two beaches, tons of hiking and biking trails, a lighthouse, and more.
Mike
Hi Everyone,
Brunhilde, coffee with cream, please.
well, this month has been interesting. Rather than bore you all, I've had a few health issues that came on suddenly. It's been a bit of a trial, but we believe it not to be cancerous. Whew!
Ed: I've not heard Emily Linge before. Pleasant. The song is definitely McCartney. Few people in modern music can write melody. McCartney is a strong exception.
I've known a few Newfies in my time. Pleasant folk. No, I'm not kissing a cod!
Its June 28th. Any thoughts as to where the diner's going next month?
Nothing MRR to report.
Edit: Top o' the page. Sorry, no tantalizing pics to offer, but the Keith's Pale Ale is on me.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Water Level Route We went to a state park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula that has basically zero cell phone service (Yay!) and is the site of an old iron smelting ghost town.
I loved all the State Parks I visited in the Upper Penninsula, but I did not see that one. I think I should go back at some point.
hon30critterWe have to make you all into virtual honourary Newfies by kissing the cod! Please remember that you only have three chances to complete the act.
This is a hard "NO" from me.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Okay gang,
Before we kiss Newfoundland goodby, we have to make you all into virtual honourary Newfies by kissing the cod! Please remember that you only have three chances to complete the act. Otherwise you will be required to spend the rest of your life regretting the lost opportunity to have been intimate with a sea creature!
Click on 'Watch on YouTube' on the lower left.
Cheers!!
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. Bacon, eggs, and black coffee, please.
David, congratulations on your grandson's award and on being able to take a cruise again. It sounds like a wonderful time.
Mike, that sounds like a great getaway. Last summer, we spent time at a national park with no cell service. It was nice to see the grandchildren enjoying themselves without staring at a screen.
MLC, if you could be in just one film, Rudy is the one to make it. What a great sports movie.
Time to get to work on the layout. I'm still working on a tunnel. It is slow-going.
Have a great day, everyone.
York1 John
hon30critter NorthBrit Now packing clothes etc. for a few days away on the high seas. A fortnight in the Mediterranean. Have a good trip David! Dave
NorthBrit
Have a good trip David!
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
NorthBritNow packing clothes etc. for a few days away on the high seas. A fortnight in the Mediterranean.
Good Morning Diners! Flo, waffles, sausage, and a black coffee in a Chesapeake & Ohio mug please.
Been away camping for a few days with the family. Sure was nice. We went to a state park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula that has basically zero cell phone service (Yay!) and is the site of an old iron smelting ghost town. It's always an enjoyable trip there, and being forced to disconnect is usually needed more than we realize.
For those that remember, my black water tank gauge started reading normally again after a few uses of the toilet, but now is back to reading 2/3 full after emptying out. That problem I can live with if needed. The bigger problem was my hitch. The integral sway control is not working this year. Last year, worked perfectly, this year, doesn't work at all. Literally nothing has changed with the camper from last year, and the only change on the truck is new tires. Called the manufacturer yesterday and they are sending me a new part and a prepaid shipping label to send them mine. It's the strangest thing to have it go from working fine to not at all. Should have the new part in about a week. It won't take me long to know if it fixes it.
Got a good deal on an A/B set of Life Like Proto 2000 Alco FA's a while back, and the decoders came in yesterday for them. Can't wait to get them up and running on the layout! Aren't new toys fun?! Have a great day everyone!
Good morning Diners. A coffee on the go please, Janie.
Had treatment on my shoulder and leg and given a list of exercises to do.
Now packing clothes etc. for a few days away on the high seas. A fortnight in the Mediterranean.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
David
The World Is A Beautiful Place
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
Goodnight all... see you again tomorrow.
BATMANIt is a nice dry heat
No such thing.
Pennsylvania equivalent is dry sleet.
I was in the movie Rudy. Well it was voice work. I was part of the crowd that chanted "Rudy. Rudy" So that counts.
If we did short lines etc (suggested by Paul) in August I could contribute more.
Hi gang,
So far we have two good suggestions for the Diner for July. John (York1) suggested California, and Paul (Lazers) suggested visiting short lines and regional railroads wherever they might be. Both ideas sound good as far as I'm concerned. In fact, I'm going to suggest that we use them both, one in July and the other in August. Which one do you want to do first?
If anyone else has any other suggestions please speak up! There is nothing wrong with having two or three ideas in the stack for use in the future.
Good evening Diners. A bottle of Champion ale please, Brunhilda.
A busy few days before we go on holiday.
Whwerever the Diner goes in July is fine by me. I do like Lazers suggestion though.
Stay Safe Everybody.
BATMAN
Brent -
How would CP describe the three cars on the near end? They are unusually long and I'll bet are products of the CP shops. Have to be put-togethers of at least two separate cars, but what? Sure would like to see their undercarriages and the trucks they're riding on. Can't imagine the minimum radius required for relatively realistic running if they were modelled.
John
Good morning from the beautiful Pacific coast. Environment Canada issued a heat warning for the mid-30s c / high90s f. It is a nice dry heat so it's kind of nice. I'll get for a walk through the cool forest later.
My buddy sent me this pic, he does that when it is time to go for a sail. He had a Fraser 36 for years. He sold it so now we rent a boat for the day. He gets a good rate from his friend and tells me to just bring lunch, dinner, and the beer. When I was younger I had several friends with sailboats in the 36' to 50' range and was always out on the water. They all got sold as we got older.
Four of our dogs got a royal soaking by a skunk yesterday, even though the little guy unloaded 200' from the house, our house still stinks, though it is getting better. There was a whole lot of dog washing going on yesterday.
Short lines for next month is fine with me, but then again anywhere or any theme is good. It will all get covered at some point. Sometime down the road, I would like a MOW ( Maintenence Of Way ) theme. I love that part of railroading. Also, an engineering theme would be good, there have been some impressive projects to help get the trains from A to B.
Took the top off the truck yesterday. It only takes a few minutes as I back in, hang it, and drive out.
Got an appointment to get my haircut tomorrow, I get it cut twice a year whether it needs it or not. I go from very short to down to my shoulders in six months. This heat reminded me it was time. The lady that cuts my hair is 62 and a real knockout gives me a shoulder and neck massage as part of the treatment and always asks if I'm still married. The stylist next to her told me when she stepped away once, that I am the only person that he has seen her give a massage to. I am 65 and have no gray on my head, however, the stuff that comes out of my face is all gray, go figure.
It's a lots of small jobs day, so best get to it.
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."
Good morning everyone.
Chloe just dropped off a large cup of black coffee to get me going.
Short Lines and Regionals sound good to me, but so does California.
The lawn company mowed my lawn this morning. After two days of very heavy rain, my backyard looks terrible now. Even with a lightweight wide tired mower it sure kicked up a lot of mud.
Hi, I got an idea for the Diner - more of a Theme than a specific place.
I would like to suggest 'Shortlines & Regionals'.
I find these to be a fascinating aspect of N. American Railroads, more so than the Class ones. They can include examples from any Country.
Everyone must have recollections of S/Ls past that are regretably no longer with us.
But also interests in ones that are with us today and have been around for a long time now and are success stories in their own right.
Or just starting-up, having been recently taken over from a Cl.1 or an old moth-balled line brought back into use, or one that has simply re-invented / re-named itself. Also how they interchange with the Cl.1s.
Point is that all of these IMO are good subjects for Model Railroads and gleening ideas and inspiration from, for your layout.
Paul
"It's the South Shore Line, Jim - but not as we know it".
Good morning, diners. It's another beautiful day outside, with the temps only in the low 80s. We must be living right.
A busy day ahead, but after tonight, I have the rest of the week with nothing scheduled. That's exactly the way I like it.
Dave, I have no suggestions for the diner's next stop. I enjoy just about anywhere. I've only been in the diner for several years -- how long has it been since the diner visited California?
This is the old Burlington station in our town. It's now used as an office by BNSF. In the distance is the footbridge. It was built by the town after some middle school kids climbed between some stopped train cars on their way to school, and one got injured when the train started.
Have a good day, gentlemen.
Good Morning,
Up early today as wife had a 7am doc appointment. Was home by 7:30.
Quiet day yesterday but have to get the mower out later and do a few errands. Such is my exciting life. I did run a train yesterday for about 10 minutes.
Forecast is for sun and 80F, with sun and 70s for the rest of the week.
Our resident racoon has been visiting every night at dusk. He cleans up the seed we leave for the squirrels. If we don't put a little seed down for them they go after the bird feeders. My wife calls him Kyle.
Wonder where the diner is headed after Nfld? Sorry I can't think of a destination but will just tag along wherever it goes.
CN Charlie
Look for the Pot O' Gold —
ACes under a rainbow by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
It might be wearing blue paint!
I've recently been scanning some of my dad's snapshots of the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad. Not quite Newfoundland, but nearby Maine. At least it is narrow gauge:
Sandy River No. 22 and Friend by Edmund, on Flickr
Wonder if the dog's name is Sandy?
Maine Central crosses Sandy River, Farmington by Edmund, on Flickr
The other day the high was 97°F. Today only 70. Much more closer to the comfort zone. Maybe I'll get to some firewood?
Cheers, Ed
Well, it has gotten very late. I hope all the waitresses don't go find jobs elsewhere for better tips.
I am heading to the sheets.
York1It seems like the waitresses are standing around alot today.
Yes, a slow day in the Diner for sure.
I had a very uneventful day, and everything was just as it should be.
Hoping all are well and I might check back in again later tonight.
Good evening, everyone. I'm finally home and sitting. Another busy day tomorrow.
It seems like the waitresses are standing around alot today.
I complain about the weather, but today ... no complaints. It was perfect.
It's now 8:30 p.m. and I am tired. I think I'll have a big bowl of ice cream and set off to bed.
Here is the BNSF yard at Lincoln, NE. On our drive into Lincoln, the highway crosses directly over the yard. The problem is that I can't stop on the bridge to take any pictures.
I hope that this documentary won't break the Forum rules. I shows the efforts that the Newfoundland people put towards winning WWII. Click on 'Watch on YouTube' on the lower left:
I have been sleeping well for the last week, and I am feeling much better. I hope whatever it was that was keeping me awake has passed.
Nothing new to report... just getting ready to face a day.
Take care.
Gosh. All this lovely food. A drink of 'Champion' is the drink of the day.
IMG_2255 by David Harrison, on Flickr