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Jeffrey's Trackside Diner for September, 2023

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  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, September 23, 2023 9:48 PM

Ophelia rain all day.  The wind blew over my rain gauge so I don't know how much. Once upon a time I wanted a weather station, but you can spend $1,000 on a decent one or $79.95 for a crap station.

I need to figure out how to run a bus line to the extension and a separate line to the reversing section.  How close can they be to each other?

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by "JaBear" on Sunday, September 24, 2023 4:33 AM
Gidday Chloe, spent a fair bit of the day down at the Club, dismantling the Mountain Layout and transporting it to its new home, which is the only original builder who is still a current Club member. While the layout was intended to be portable and in deed exhibited at a fair few shows; that we had to dismantle a smallish ranch slider door to get it into its new location does not bode well for any future outings!!
 
Mr.TF, I’m trying to work out if CC stands for “Cute Child”, Cool Child” or “Cheerful Child”, either way I rather suspect that in her presence, one is kept both young (???) and happy!! We have a saying in my line of employment that if you’re not leaking blood then you aren’t working hard enough. Putting arms into confined spaces if someone has been lax in tidying up lockwire ends and split pin / cotter legs can be good places to cause “leaks.” So, your “Blue” finger indicates to me that you’ve been hard at work!!!
 
You talk about the cross-cut Bass wood coffee table, it’s a pity that there is no picture, I reckon it would have been a thing of beauty. When I was around 11 0r 12, part of the school curriculum was “Manual and Technical Instruction”. For us country kids in small schools it meant that for one school term, there were three school terms per year back then, for one day a week we travelled to the nearest big school that had such faculties.
It was a big deal, travelling to the “Big Smoke, two different buses, about an hour’s travel, for the seven of us, (I said it was a small school). The girls did cooking, and sewing, and we boys did wood work. A high light was at lunchtime we got to get to swim in the City’s Indoor heated pool, and the bakery on the way back to the class rooms made large tasty cream buns. Long story, short, my Mum kept and used the foot stool which was one of the items I made there, and gave back to me just before she passed away. I still use it.
 
  Foot stool by Bear, on Flickr
 
Ed, I do like that table you built for your son, and also “Hats off” to the maker of that Bear bench, in Idaho. There are some clever ffolkes about.
You mentioned that there would be free firewood from those trees the Amish felled for your neighbours. I’m not up to what species those trees are, but surely those logs would be straight and clear enough to make for good millable timber?
 
 
Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them. Kia Kaha.
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by Track fiddler on Sunday, September 24, 2023 7:14 AM

Good morning

The sites quite glitchy today.  Spent the better part of the hour over coffee this morning, typing some good things to say, and phoof, all was gone.  Got the dreaded 403 forbidden.  Guess I'll try again later.

 

TF

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Posted by Track fiddler on Sunday, September 24, 2023 7:25 AM

Good morning

The three month weekend is finally overLaugh...Whistling

I'd never thought about that Bear, but CC must stand for all you saidSmile  We certainly enjoy our time with her as she's always so happy and full of life.  It's always our thing, that she gets an extra set of crans for me to color with her, when we go out to lunchLaugh

Can't imagine moving a big layout like the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum that was moved years ago.  Not just cutting it up and putting it back together again, but labeling all the wiring to be rewired correctly must have had its challenges.  Club members like you are definitely appreciated.

My daughters took me to see that layout earlier this year for Father's Day, and then to Cecil's for one of their famous Reubens for lunch.  That was one of the greatest Father's Days for sure.

The footstool is a thing of beauty.  It goes without saying, it has some great memories stored in the grain of the wood. It's certainly nice it's still around after all these yearsSmile

My Judy and her sister Kelly were each given Bell Telephone foot stools when they were young and worked at the phone company.  I've used Judy's stool quite frequently doing projects through the years, so unfortunately it looks terrible.  After I'd seen her late Sisters stool at their house, still looking in like new condition, restoring Judy's foot stool is definitely something in the planning now, as the subject is brought to my attention hereWink

 

TF

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  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Sunday, September 24, 2023 8:44 AM

Good morning, diners.  Donut day!  Just black coffee from the diner, please.

Have a great Sunday!

 

The Northern Pacific building in Tacoma, Washington:

 

 Northern Pacific Railway Headquarters Building (Tacoma, Washington) by cmh2315fl, on Flickr

York1 John       

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Posted by Track fiddler on Sunday, September 24, 2023 9:06 AM

Hi John, your comment put a smile on my face, ThanksSmile  Neat building.

The Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum used to be in the Bandana Square, Northern Pacific passenger car repair facility.

A huge medical conglomerate bought the building and raised the club's rent so they were forced to move the huge O scale layout.

That was quite a few years ago.  There wasn't much of a choice but to move, as the high rent would have forced them to charge too much for admission.  Years before, the admission was only a requested donation.

 

TF

  • Member since
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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Sunday, September 24, 2023 10:50 AM

York1

MisterBeasley, I hope you can stay high and dry through the storm.

We did.  It was just wind, mostly, with occasional periods of heavy rain.  We were supposed to have 3 days of heavy rain but only ended up with one day of intermittent showers.  Typical weather guesser hype, i guess.  Neither of us is a big drinker, nor do we use anything else, so "staying high" is really not in our active vocabulary.  All the beach towns have opted out of the mad rush to have cannabis shops everywhere.

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

  • Member since
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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Sunday, September 24, 2023 10:58 AM

BigDaddy

I need to figure out how to run a bus line to the extension and a separate line to the reversing section.  How close can they be to each other?

I've always just run parallel wires an inch or so apart for my bus lines, with a bit more for multiple bus lines.  Some users suggest loosely twisting the lines of a bus around each other to reduce RF interference,  but I've never found that necessary.

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

  • Member since
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  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 4:23 AM

 Hello by Bear, on Flickr

Good Grief Chloe, patronage certainly has slipped badly, and I’m sure it can’t be your service and the cooking!!
 
 

The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it. Terry Pratchett

Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them. Kia Kaha.
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
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  • From: Ludington, MI
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Posted by Water Level Route on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 5:53 AM

Good Morning Diners.  Flo, a coffee please in a New York Central mug.

Not much for news from my neck of the woods but I though I better support the diner staff.  The coffee is cheap, but I'll tip well.  Sat down and made a prioritized list of the house projects I need to get done before the weather turns poor.  What started out feeling overwhelming became quite manageable when I got done.  That's good.  I could use manageable. Laugh  If it comes down to it, I have vacation left to burn at work so I could always do that.  I just hate to use up the last of it with three months remaining in the year.  Never know what could come up.

SP&S bridge over the Klickitat River.  Completed in 1908.

Mike

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 6:14 AM

Long story, short, my Mum kept and used the foot stool which was one of the items I made there, and gave back to me just before she passed away. I still use it.

Must be a rite of passage, Bear. I have the stool I made for mom in grade eleven (1972) 'wood shop' finely crafted strips of walnut, cherry and maple:

 Stool Sample by Edmund, on Flickr

Today the grandkids use it to see the trains, although I admit, none of them really need it any more as several of my grandkids are taller than me Whistling

I’m not up to what species those trees are, but surely those logs would be straight and clear enough to make for good millable timber?

Oh, the Amish trucked away thousands of board feet of workable timber. I get to pick through the leftovers and gladly split and stack to my heart's content, and the cats don't complain much when the wood stove is glowing red!

 Timber by Edmund, on Flickr

This is about a tenth of what they harvested.

 MILW, Tacoma, Washington, 1978 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr

Cow Creek sure required a lot of steel to get over it!

 BN, Benge, Washington, 1973 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr

Another one for the bridge guy...

 BN, Wishram, Washington, 1978 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr

Speaking of woodworking, I enjoy watching the talents of Grandpa Amu and the things he comes up with:

 

I hope everyone is holding up well these days —

Cheers, Ed

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 8:27 AM

Good morning, diners!  Chloe, I'll have bacon, eggs, and black coffee.

Another morning of hurrying to get outside and do some painting.  It seems like I can't get a full day of work -- there are always some interruptions or other obligations that shorten my painting time.  It has already taken much longer than I thought.  I can't seem to find a full day of painting time.

I hope everyone is in good health.

 

The Amtrak Coast Starlight along Washington's Puget Sound:

 

 the Coast Starlight along Puget Sound by t55z, on Flickr

York1 John       

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 9:56 AM

York1

Good morning, diners!  Chloe, I'll have bacon, eggs, and black coffee.

For me, the day starts with feeding the cats.  Not that they need it immediately, because they're happy and well fed, but they won't leave me alone until their breakfast is served.

Be happy when your physical labor is kept short by other events.

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

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 4:01 PM

I am back home from Orlando. I have to catch up and unpack. I wiill be back later tonight.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Currently in Chicago area
  • 830 posts
Posted by up831 on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 5:37 PM

Hi Everyone,

Dropped in to say hello.

Going out of town to Montana tomorrow.

Plan to see Little Big Horn among other things

Hope everybody stays safe warm and dry in the meantime.

Less is more,...more or less!

Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 5:41 PM

Welcome back, Kevin.

 

up831
Going out of town to Montana tomorrow. Plan to see Little Big Horn among other things

That is a neat place to visit.  They have it so that you can really get a "feel" for what happened in the battle.  Have fun.  Enjoy the 80 mph limits on the Interstates!

York1 John       

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
  • 1,862 posts
Posted by Water Level Route on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 5:52 AM

*Turns the lights on*

Looks like the staff is asleep.  Must be from boredom.  I'll get a pot of coffee started.  And while nobody is looking, I'll grab a cheese danish from the case.  I'll leave a couple bucks laying there so Vinny doesn't throw me out when he wakes up if I'm still eating it.  Maybe I'll get some toast going.  Or better yet start frying some bacon in a second.  Maybe some of these smells will draw someone in.  

Yakima & Pacific Coast Railroad bridge.  Circa 1891.

Mike

  • Member since
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  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 10:29 AM

Good morning.  Chloe, I need black coffee.  A lot of black coffee, please.

I'm taking a coffee break from painting.  I got a lot done yesterday, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel -- assuming I don't fall off the ladder and spend time in the emergency room.

One good thing -- we are having perfect weather.  A high in the 70s, dry, and clear.  Great weather to accomplish outdoor tasks before winter.

I hope everyone can check in.  We are missing some diner regulars.  

 

In Tacoma, Washington:

 

 E23B by Mike Keyes, on Flickr

York1 John       

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    January 2021
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Posted by Attuvian1 on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 10:34 AM

Water Level Route

Or better yet start frying some bacon in a second.  Maybe some of these smells will draw someone in.  

Mike,

Flash from the past: worked one summer in a deli down in Jackson (MI).  Owner showed me a trick on putting up a BLT quickly, particularly after the grill had been turned off toward the end of the day.  As the deep fryer was still hot, you could drop your bacon in it and it was done in less than 30 seconds.  Tasted the same as I recall.  Of course you had to do this by placing your body between the goings-on and the customer - no reason to have them raise their eyebrows over what was about to be put on their plate. Whistling Laugh.

Surely, Brunhilda won't mind if she catches us behind the counter . . .

John (the Attuvian)

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 10:45 AM

Washington Is A Beautiful Place

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Good morning everyone. It is good to be back. Chloe, please bring me a big stack of buckwheat pancakes and a large cup of black coffee.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

After five days of wargaming I am having a hard time getting started on the drywall finishing again... I need to get motivated and get to it.

up831
Plan to see Little Big Horn among other things

It is an excellent visit. As John said, you can really get a fell for the events the way that the battlefield is preserved and presented.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 10:48 AM

I fixed the spelling of JEFFREY in the Diner title. I will fix the RIP Track graphic by next month.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
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  • From: Ludington, MI
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Posted by Water Level Route on Thursday, September 28, 2023 5:48 AM

Good Morning Diners.  Zoe, coffee and a blueberry muffin please.  Quiet in here lately.

Spent the evening changing out the headlight assemblies on my youngest daughter's civic.  What a PITA.  You have to take the whole front of the car apart.  I've replaced my share of headlight assemblies in my time, and this required more disassembly than any of the others I've done.

 Headlights by Michael, on Flickr

Looked good when I got them done though!

 Headlights by Michael, on Flickr

In taking it apart, I found that someone else has had the front of this car apart before as a number of the push clips were missing and two of the very few bolts you have to take out to do the job had been replaced.  I have a lifetime supply of the push clips on order from eBay now.  As long as I have kids/nephews/etc rolling in older cars, I'll hang onto the surplus.  Never know when you'll need them.

Mike

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, September 28, 2023 10:50 AM

Washington Is A Beautiful Place

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Good morning everyone. Chloe, I want a bowl of oatmeal with a teaspoon of sesame seeds mixed in. Thanks.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

At the wargaming convention I saw my good friend Tomas again. He is a very talented painter, and I have posted some examples of buildings he has painted for me in Show Me Something from time-to-time.

He had his daughter with him. It has been five years since we had seen her, and she is so grown up now. It seems like just yesterday she was born!

Tomas used to come to my house and play wargames, and my wife and youngest daughter would play with his daughter. She was the best baby and sweetest little girl.

My wife made a rule that Tomas could only come over and game if he brought his daughter with him. She adored that kid.

It was so cute the way she hangs out with her dad and makes fun of him when things go wrong on the battlefield. I remember my babies doing that with me.I really miss that.

I sent a picture of her to my youngest in Washington. She couldn't believe how big she has become. She said it was the first time she realized how quickly time goes by.

She is painting miniatures now too. I remember my kids doing things like this to my models.

I think this is wonderful.

Tomas said he is so afraid of her growing up any more. He already knows all this is on an expiring time line, and she will be off doing her own thing very soon.

I met Tomas when he was 15. My middle daughter was the same age as his daughter is now when we met.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by York1 on Thursday, September 28, 2023 12:28 PM

Good afternoon.  It's lunch break, so I'll have bacon and eggs for lunch.  And coffee.  The diner, like all good restaurants, serves breakfast all day.

Mike, I know what you mean about car lights.  I had a car that it was nearly impossible to change the tail lights.

Kevin, that's a great story about your friend and his daughter.  Kids grow up faster than you think.  She did a great job painting!

We're taking a friend to a doctor's appt. in the city, so the afternoon is painting-free.  I can't say I'll miss it.

It would have been fun to ride the platform on the back of this train.  People sure dressed up to go back to nature in those days.

Have a great day, everyone.

 

 US WA Seattle WA Tacoma Portland RPPC Circa 1910 Shasta Limited Railroad Mt Tacoma became Mt Ranier 1939 Northern Pacific Railroad & Oregon Railway & Navigation by Don...The UpNorth Memories Guy... Harrison, on Flickr

York1 John       

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Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, September 28, 2023 3:54 PM

The end of the month has snuck up on me. There is only a day and a half left!

Where should we take the Diner and who would like to move it?

Cheers!!

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 Track fiddler on Thursday, September 28, 2023 9:51 PM

Evening

Done with the haul for the weekend.  Eat, sleep, lather rinse repeatCrying...Laugh

 

Two Green Machine's trailed by green boxes, plus a Sky Blue Great Northern in the lead.  What could be more better over a bridge?

Put a smile on this Kids faceStick out tongue  Why wouldn't it? Pirate

 

 

Another one for the Ohio Kid

 

Always appreciatedWink

 

TF

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, September 28, 2023 11:53 PM

York1
She did a great job painting!

Didn't she! I love the flower garden along the bottom. Daughters do the cutest things.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

I have my new computer up and running.

This thing is a beast. 32GB of RAM and a 2TB solid state hard drive. It has some crazy Intel processor.

Photo editing is instantaneous. It was worth every penny.

I still need to get iTunes up and running, but other than that, everything has been transferred over succesfully from the old workhorse.

My previous computer was over ten years old. I sure got my money's worth out of that one.

I also bought a new "brown switch mechanical keyboard" for it. That is really a wonderful piece of equipment. It has the tactile feel of an old IBM electric typewriter, and I feel right at home typing on it. It is so much more comfortable than those flat keys, and it even has a nice clickity-click as I type.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, September 29, 2023 2:05 AM

hon30critter
Where should we take the Diner and who would like to move it?

How about we continue down the Pacific Coast and head to Oregon?

I can move the Diner again, but I am not sure I am very good at it.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Friday, September 29, 2023 2:45 AM

SeeYou190
How about we continue down the Pacific Coast and head to Oregon?

Hi Kevin,

That sounds good to me! I love the west coast. If I was able to move anywhere  that I wanted, it would be to British Columbia.

SeeYou190
I can move the Diner again, but I am not sure I am very good at it.

Why don't you think that you are any good at it?!? You have done a great job in the past. Just keep doing what you have been doing!

Cheers!!

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 Friday, September 29, 2023 2:53 AM

hon30critter
Why don't you think that you are any good at it?!? You have done a great job in the past. Just keep doing what you have been doing!

OK... if no one else volunteers to move the diner... I will hook it up and drag it to Oregon!

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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