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Jeffreys Trackside Diner January 2024 Locked

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  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, January 12, 2024 5:19 PM

BroadwayLion
The Chair
 
“The Chair” had been giving us trouble for some time. Every time JP came into my room and saw the chair upside down, he knew that he was in for another day of great adventure.
 
It came to the point of repairing or replacing the chair, and the abbot and I agreed that it was better to repair the chair, we could always buy a new one if this did not work: this chair could always be used elsewhere.

·         We bought a new “Tilt Control” since the old one wobbled to and frow and gave Br. JP endless days of trying to fix this.

·         We bought a new lift cylinder since the old one kept sinking to the bottom of its travel. Besides, I wanted it to lift me higher than the original one would go.

·         We bought new casters since the old ones did not cast as well as we thought they might.

As you may see, the gas cylinder was a bit bigger than what I was really looking for. I will return it and get one half its size. At least now I know.
JP and I, well at least I, thought that these parts would be easy to change out, and so they would have been if the old gas cylinder could be removed as easily as the pictures on the Internet would lead one to believe. In the end it was just as easy but required a rather large pipe wrench to provide ample torque to remove a simple press fit fitting.
I am now waiting for the new gas cylinder to arrive so that I may finish the job in just another five minutes.

 

                                                                                    ----- Elias
 

Yup. When I worked at Raytheon, we had a computer lab, all wired up and equipped with new computers, but they wouldn't let us use it because they hadn't ordered chairs for it.

I started saying they could put an office chair 200 miles over the Pacific going 1000 miles an hour and our radars could detect it, track it and knock it out of the sky, but put that same office chair on a showroom floor at Office Max 3 miles away and it became Acquisition Impossible.

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

  • Member since
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  • From: Bradford, Ontario
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Posted by hon30critter on Friday, January 12, 2024 4:07 PM

BroadwayLion
Spaghetti Tonight!

Hi Br. Elias,

I used to love pasta! Now you have me worrying about what's going to be in my next bite!!Smile, Wink & GrinLaughLaughDinner

How are you doing? Have you been able to get upstairs to your magnificent subway lately?

Wishing you all the best!!

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
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Friday, January 12, 2024 3:07 PM

Spaghetti Tonight!

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

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Friday, January 12, 2024 3:04 PM
The Chair
 
“The Chair” had been giving us trouble for some time. Every time JP came into my room and saw the chair upside down, he knew that he was in for another day of great adventure.
 
It came to the point of repairing or replacing the chair, and the abbot and I agreed that it was better to repair the chair, we could always buy a new one if this did not work: this chair could always be used elsewhere.

·         We bought a new “Tilt Control” since the old one wobbled to and frow and gave Br. JP endless days of trying to fix this.

·         We bought a new lift cylinder since the old one kept sinking to the bottom of its travel. Besides, I wanted it to lift me higher than the original one would go.

·         We bought new casters since the old ones did not cast as well as we thought they might.

As you may see, the gas cylinder was a bit bigger than what I was really looking for. I will return it and get one half its size. At least now I know.
JP and I, well at least I, thought that these parts would be easy to change out, and so they would have been if the old gas cylinder could be removed as easily as the pictures on the Internet would lead one to believe. In the end it was just as easy but required a rather large pipe wrench to provide ample torque to remove a simple press fit fitting.
I am now waiting for the new gas cylinder to arrive so that I may finish the job in just another five minutes.

 

                                                                                    ----- Elias

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

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, January 12, 2024 2:47 PM

Getting buried in S, and SE WI. today.  Snowing since 3 am, about 11" so, and counting.

Mike.

  • Member since
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  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
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Posted by BATMAN on Friday, January 12, 2024 2:24 PM

Well, I opened up my NCE controller and found a wire disconnected, soldered it back on, and away we went!

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, January 12, 2024 1:55 PM

50 degrees in those F-units here in Delaware.  It's been unseasonably warm here in Delaware.  We've had wind and rain here, but we've had no snow the last couple of years.  I miss the snow from Massachusetts, but not the taxes.  I had a good income and good investments, but the taxes there were so high I wouldn't have been able to afford my old house if I'd wanted to stay.

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

  • Member since
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  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
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Posted by BATMAN on Friday, January 12, 2024 12:08 PM

Good morning

Clear blue sky, -22c and a -40 something windchill. Sometimes we have years where the temps do not get to freezing. The furnace has not shut off for at least 30 hours, I can't wait to see the gas bill.Laugh It will not get above freezing for a week they say.

Lot's of backyard hockey rinks going in which unlike the rest of Canada does not often happen on the West Coast.

Here are two of my past efforts, they were great fun. Nothin like body checking your children into a snow bank.MischiefPirateLaugh

 

My NCE radio controller stopped working unless I plug it in, so today I will open it up to see what I can see. I was waiting for my daughter to give me back my train room office from when she was here over Christmas. It was full of all the computers she uses for work/school and gaming. Through her work with a group from Australia, she has become good friends and once quittin time comes they play video games all night.Indifferent The Toyota is full of computer equipment going back and forth to Victoria.

Stay warm.

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."

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Friday, January 12, 2024 11:23 AM

up831
Here, it gets cold and snows, then the sun comes out, the Wind comes from northwest, and the temps drop below zero every time.

 

That seems to be what we also have.  The snow will stop this evening, and then the temps will drop -- 25° below zero F Sunday morning.

From this afternoon until Tuesday, we will not be above zero.

I keep thinking about New Orleans.  When I lived there, if it got into the 40s, people wore heavy coats.  It did occasionally freeze, but that lasted just a few hours.

Once while I was there, it snowed!  Less than an inch, but it was pretty neat to see the palm trees and the live oaks with snow on them. Kind of like Brent's photo from Vancouver.

I can see why many people from my area own houses in Arizona and disappear for three or four months each year.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Currently in Chicago area
  • 830 posts
Posted by up831 on Friday, January 12, 2024 9:58 AM

Hi Everyone,

Brunhilda, coffee with cream, please.

Here in the Chicago area we have "snowmagaddon" At least as the weather people are reacting.   It started at about 3:00 am and is supposed to go til midnight tonight.  In some cases it's supposed to snow 1" to 3" per hour.  Of course, this can turn into a more critical situation if there would be a prolonged shutdown.  But right now, it's just a bunch of snow.  However, I do want to clean off the cars before the temperature drops.

An observation:  Where I grew up in Kansas, it would get cold and snow, then the sun would come out, the wind would come from the southwest and the temps would return to 30's and low 40's.  Here, it gets cold and snows, then the sun comes out, the Wind comes from northwest, and the temps drop below zero every time.  I do not like winter here, at all!  If that scenario isn't totally accurate, it sure seems like it.

Hope everyone is safe and warm and healthy.

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 Friday, January 12, 2024 8:33 AM

Good morning, everyone.  Bacon, eggs, and black coffee please, Brunhilda.

My walk with the dog was very short this morning -- she actually wanted to come in instead of me dragging her in.  The wind is howling, the temperature is 3°F, the windchill is -4000°, and we've gotten about six inches so far.  It's supposed to snow all day.

Since retirement, I have no problem with this.  Let it snow!  I used to hate days like this.  Kids and teachers loved snow days, the principal hated them.

I don't know everyone's age in the diner, but I assume many of us are at the age when a visit to the doctor is no longer "routine".  Every visit means more issues to deal with.  I hope anyone with health problems finds them to be minor inconveniences instead of overwhelming.

On the layout front, I finished laying all the streetcar track last night.  Today, I will clean track, and I hope to get some wiring done -- maybe by evening I can sit a streetcar on the track to see if can make the trip with no issues.  This is my first affair with a DC train system since I was a young boy.

My youngest daughter and family are skiing in Colorado.  I wish I could have gone with them.  I have not skied in many years.  (I had to look up that past tense form of ski -- when I typed it, it didn't look right.  It still doesn't look right.)

I hope everyone has a great Friday.

 

From Ecuador -- this almost kooks like a photo of a model layout.  I assume this is a switchback in the mountains, although I couldn't tell from the comments:

 

 Estación de Sibambe by Oscar Padilla Álvarez, on Flickr

York1 John       

  • Member since
    October 2020
  • 3,604 posts
Posted by NorthBrit on Friday, January 12, 2024 7:01 AM

Good afternoon Diners.  

It appears we are back up and running.  lo and behold  ----

TOP OF THE PAGE.

A MEAL AND SOFT DRINK OF YOUR CHOICE.

Put it on my tab please, girls.

 

Younger granddaughter is visiting this weekend.   There will be dancing and dressing up with Mama's help.    I'll be joining in with stories and tales to tell.

A Happy Weekend.

 

David

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

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: IN/USA
  • 2,495 posts
Posted by wetidlerjr on Friday, January 12, 2024 6:42 AM

Good morning! Smashboard IMC/Cloverleaf (former LE&W/NKP) Kokomo Indiana

 

Kokomo Cloverleaf & PRR Diamond 1968.jpg

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

  • Member since
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Posted by NorthBrit on Friday, January 12, 2024 6:05 AM

Good morning Diners.  A coffee on the go please, Brunhilda.

Getting 403 again.   Cannot keep hanging around as other things to do.

 

David

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

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
  • 1,862 posts
Posted by Water Level Route on Friday, January 12, 2024 5:49 AM

Good Morning Diners.  Chloe, a farmers omelette and coffee please.

The weather guessers are calling for some real winter weather starting today.  My neck of the woods is being told 8-14 inches with up to 50 mph winds.  Temps slowly dropping from 35F today to 8F Monday night.  Should be exciting!  I love this stuff!

BATMAN
I also have some electric gloves, those are terrific.

My wife got me my first pair for Christmas.  For what little I've been able to use them, they are indeed terrific!

WW2 vintage GMC DUKW

That is so cool!  They are the neatest machines and to have a couple still operating regularly is fantastic.  

Somewhere in Costa Rica

 

Mike

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Friday, January 12, 2024 3:51 AM
I don’t wish to be a Post Hog, but if I have to work around the 403 Forbidden garbage, then I’ll try to do so!!
 
 
Cheers, the Annoyed Bear.Sigh

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

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Friday, January 12, 2024 3:37 AM
Gidday Chloe, a large glass of something cool, please.
 
York1John, you can rest assured that I’m not counting down to Autumn. Heck, we’re almost half way through this month!!!!
 
Got to pick the first tomatoes yesterday off my yellow cherry tomato plant, very sweet and tasty.
  
Ed, I can only hope that after your course of treatment, your oncologist tells you the same as mine did today; he never wants to see me again! I said the sentiment was mutual but if I ever catch him and or his team in a social setting, I’m buying.
 
Though I paying for it now by being in catch up mode, the overdue arrival of the engine did allow me to take time off when my daughter bought her boyfriend home for a week. My son and his partner came over and it was the first time the family had been together for 4 years. Her-in-Doors was especially happy, which of course makes the Bear happy! As Her boyfriend had not been to this neck of the woods before, we did the touristy things which we wouldn’t normally do!
 
One tour company operates two WW2 vintage GMC DUKW’s and one tour offering is “splashdown” on three of the local lakes. The drivers have an almost nonstop patter, on local history and the different types of volcanic activity, very informative but also quite humorous, the boyfriend said he learnt more about volcanoes in the two hours than in all his previous years!
 
 Duck 2 by Bear, on Flickr
 Duck 1 by Bear, on Flickr
 
Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them. Kia Kaha.
Cheers, the Bear.Smile
 
HmmHmmm looks like the Forum is being “Trickesy” AGAIN!!! 403!!!Angry

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

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, January 11, 2024 6:50 PM

Thank yoyu, everyone, for the kind words toward Wilson's legacy. He was certainly 'one-in-a-million'. Nearly sixteen years we were blessed with his calming presence and wisdom, he was one 'cool dude'. He will be buried next to Cicero and Floyd in the shadow of the caboose which was his 'real' home — in his world view, anyway.

CNCharlie
Ed, I thought you had surgery last summer to remove your prostate.

Yep, had the prostate yanked back in June. Subsequent PSA test in August showed .34 ng/ml and a few weeks later it was .40. Urologist says cancerous tissue can remain. Last PSA in December showed .49. 

Seems the urologist is more concerned than the oncologist who had more of a 'wait and see' attitude. Apparently the urologist won the debate and insisted that the radiation proceed. At first they said only one treatment would be necessary. After yesterday's visit the prognosis is daily treatments for the next five weeks.

Medicine is still a 'practice'.


 

Paraguay:

 FCPCAL, Pirayú, Paraguay, 1991 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr

Turkey, with a 'Southern Pacific-esque' skyline casing:

 TCDD, Kurtcemeni, Turkey, 1973 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr

Thanks again to all!

Ed

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Thursday, January 11, 2024 5:10 PM

BATMAN

 

Almost....  For me there would need to be 3 dogs, about a dozen cats, and two very special Guernsey Cows that were my Showmanship animals at NYS Fair back when I was a Teenager.  (I still have my New York State Master Guernsey Showman ribbon hanging here at the house)....

Both those cows, I could go out in the field where the whole herd was grazing, call their name, and they would come right over to where I was, put their head and neck right around me and give me a hug!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
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  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
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Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, January 11, 2024 4:14 PM

The temp dropped 5c in the hour I was gone. I usually let the dog dictate the route we take but even she cut it short today at just over 6km. The wind cut through us like a knife and the trail was like the ice capades.

I had the electric gloves on(I must be getting old) The snow was just starting. Looking back down at a very steep 147-metre change in elevation climb according to my Garmin. 

Ripping through the forest with a dog (or dogs) is the best. At 67 I have never not had a dog and can't imagine not having one. 

In 67 years I have said goodbye to many.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, January 11, 2024 3:23 PM

Hi Ed,

I'm very sorry to hear about Wilson's passing. He was always a pleasure to see on the forums.

I'm also very sorry to hear that you have to undergo radiation treatment. I wish you the best possible outcome.

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
    October 2020
  • 3,604 posts
Posted by NorthBrit on Thursday, January 11, 2024 2:12 PM

Bear.    WHAT A LOVELY TOON.

Mr B.   Where do you think your going?   Your animals haven't  come to see you go off anywhere.  

 

David

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

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, January 11, 2024 1:38 PM

I miss Wilson, too.  Our cats, Whiskey and Snowflake, are part of our family too.  They're younger cats at 2 and 4 years, and will probably outlive me.

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

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Thursday, January 11, 2024 1:33 PM

 Talks & Walks by Bear, on Flickr

"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: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
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Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, January 11, 2024 11:47 AM

Good morning from the West Coast where the temps are falling. The palms along Vancouver's beaches are experiencing a -25c wind chill today and will have to put up with flurries for the next week.

Ed, I'm so sorry to hear about Wilson. He has been a member of the diner crew for a long time and will be missed. I always enjoy the photos you post of all your animal family.

I will also be sending positive thoughts for your ongoing battle on the health front.

36 years with the Feds has left me with enough cold weather gear to last several lifetimes. I have the bearskin hats, gaiters, balaclavas, strap-on spikes for the boots and so much more. I also have some electric gloves, those are terrific.

Not sure if I will get my 10km in today, I'll probably do the 7km loop, if that, depending on how slippery it is. I will burn about 1000 calories doing 10km, that is a whole lot of bacon and eggs. I also will throw a couple of diced-up tomatoes, onion, and cheese in the pan. The wife also gives whichever dog I take an extra heaping helping as well on the day.Laugh

Better get to it.

All the best to all.

16 Stunning Photos of Vancouver Covered in Snow - Inside Vancouver  BlogInside Vancouver Blog

 

 

 

 

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    October 2020
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Posted by NorthBrit on Thursday, January 11, 2024 11:34 AM

Good evening all.
Today I received results on my hole in the heart and irregular heartbeat.
Not good according to the doctor.
There again it wasn't good when I was born. Then I was given less than a month to live.

Over the years the many tests and results have been more or less the same. 'Take it easy or else'.
Oh well. One day they will be right. NOT YET THOUGH.

 

David

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

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,877 posts
Posted by maxman on Thursday, January 11, 2024 11:12 AM

gmpullman
and if that wasn't the frosting on the cake of my day, my oncologist told me during an earlier visit that I have to begin radiation therapy for prostate cancer beginning Monday, six days a week for the next five weeks.

Yup, been there and done that. Hopefuly you won't have to endure the next step, which involves those Tena things and gets progressively worse.

  • Member since
    October 2020
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Posted by NorthBrit on Thursday, January 11, 2024 9:48 AM

Charlie & York1 John.

Last year we watched Traitors (U.K.)   then Traitors U.S.

Both were set in a Scottish castle.

 

This year both Traitors UK and US have been made.  The UK one is being shown here now.   I understand the US show is being shown over the pond now.   We get the US show later.

 

It is one of the very few programmes we watch on television.

 

David

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

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Thursday, January 11, 2024 9:34 AM

Good morning, everyone.  Bacon, eggs, and black coffee, please.

Ed, very sorry for losing your cat, but even more sorry about your next weeks of daily radiation.  If it's any consolation, I have several friends who have gone through it and are now doing great.  I hope your other cats can give you some consolation.

Bear, thanks for the cartoon.  I still like the one that got purged from the other day.

David, I've never seen that program.  Not sure we get it here unless it's on BritBox or something like that.  We don't do any streaming here, so it may be available and I'm not away of it.  I'm going to check our cable service to see if I can find it.

 

Today there will be more work on the streetcar track.  I'm not real good at this.  I drew out what I planned, I marked it on the surface, I began laying the track, and then I decided I didn't like the curves.  Today I will try to fix that.  At this rate, I will be able to report some progress in my Diner postings in 2026.

Charlie, we are hunkering in for several days.  Six inches of snow tonight on top of the mess we got Monday, and this time the temps drop drastically.  Even the dog doesn't want to stay outside so long in this.  

Only 68 days until Spring (or Autumn for Bear).

 

Vietnam:

 

 vietnam by nogwai, on Flickr

York1 John       

  • Member since
    August 2007
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Posted by CNCharlie on Thursday, January 11, 2024 9:24 AM

Good Morning,

Ed, so sorry for Wilson's passing. He was a fine fellow.

Ed, I thought you had surgery last summer to remove your prostate. In any event that is unsetlling news. There was a guy in my support group after my surgery who elected to go the radiation route and he said it wasn't bad at all. 

We had a storm last night that gave us 6" of the fluffy white stuff. Going to be cold for the next week. High today of 1F. 

David, I saw ads for Traitors on TV here but didn't watch it. 

I need more coffee.

CN Charlie

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