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Jeffrey's Trackside Diner: APRIL 2024 Locked

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  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: Westford MA
  • 542 posts
Posted by Tophias on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 10:46 AM

I roger that John. I'm just taking a few minutes and a cup of coffee after three hours in the yard. After break, three more hours expected and HOPE I'm done with spring clean up.

Regards, Chris

P.S.- my first visit to the diner. Next time I'll have to order breakfast, 2 over easy , corn beef hash, home fries and sourdough toast. Come to think of it, I should have had that today!

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
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Posted by Water Level Route on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 11:35 AM

maxman

 

 
Water Level Route
The owner unlocked the caboose during business hours so anyone could check it out.  I liked climbing up in the cupola

 

These days that would be a lawsuit waiting to happen.

 

Funny you say that.  I decided to see what if any business was in that building now.  Its a lawyer's office.  Definitely nobody getting in that caboose now!

Tophias, welcome to the diner!  Don't be a stranger.  

Mike

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: Westford MA
  • 542 posts
Posted by Tophias on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 12:33 PM

Thanks Mike. I've been somewhat active on the rest of the threads but never thought to be active at the diner. It always seemed like you all know each other fairly well and I didnt want to be like that friend/relative that rings your doorbell at 9:00 at night. Big Smile

  • Member since
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  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 12:52 PM

Tophias

Thanks Mike. I've been somewhat active on the rest of the threads but never thought to be active at the diner. It always seemed like you all know each other fairly well and I didnt want to be like that friend/relative that rings your doorbell at 9:00 at night. Big Smile

 

I have a kill switch on mine for just such occasions. Smile, Wink & Grin
 
 Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
  • 1,862 posts
Posted by Water Level Route on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 2:07 PM

Tophias

Thanks Mike. I've been somewhat active on the rest of the threads but never thought to be active at the diner. It always seemed like you all know each other fairly well and I didnt want to be like that friend/relative that rings your doorbell at 9:00 at night. Big Smile

 

I understand. I was the same when I first came in here. No worries though. Good bunch of people in here. Stick around and you'll be one of the old hats in the crowd before you know it. 

Mike

  • Member since
    October 2020
  • 3,604 posts
Posted by NorthBrit on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 2:14 PM

Good evening all.   A glass of Pusser's rum please,  Janie.

A busy day running about for others.  Glad it is all done.

Now I can relax.

 

David

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

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
    January 2021
  • 527 posts
Posted by Attuvian1 on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 3:26 PM

Tophias

Thanks Mike. I've been somewhat active on the rest of the threads but never thought to be active at the diner. It always seemed like you all know each other fairly well and I didnt want to be like that friend/relative that rings your doorbell at 9:00 at night. Big Smile

 
Welcome, Chris!  Plenty of room at the table.  But situational awareness is necessary: there's a Bear from New Zealand that likes to drop in.  Ostensibly to chat with the girls and have coffee and pie, but we know better.  Just offer him berries bearies.  He likes to do cartoons on the napkins. 
 
Attuvian John 
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 3:47 PM

Attuvian1

 

 
Tophias

Thanks Mike. I've been somewhat active on the rest of the threads but never thought to be active at the diner. It always seemed like you all know each other fairly well and I didnt want to be like that friend/relative that rings your doorbell at 9:00 at night. Big Smile

 

 

 
Welcome, Chris!  Plenty of room at the table.  But situational awareness is necessary: there's a Bear from New Zealand that likes to drop in.  Ostensibly to chat with the girls and have coffee and pie, but we know better.  Just offer him berries bearies.  He likes to do cartoons on the napkins. 
 
Attuvian John 
 

And, don't buy any Fiji War Bonds from that guy. His commission is excessive. Laugh

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 3:54 PM

Tophias

Thanks Mike. I've been somewhat active on the rest of the threads but never thought to be active at the diner. It always seemed like you all know each other fairly well and I didnt want to be like that friend/relative that rings your doorbell at 9:00 at night. Big Smile

I used to work in Westford, MA.  I worked at Haystack Observatory, the big golfball on the top of the hill.  I loved that job.  I was much younger then and bicycled to work from Concord and later Bedford.

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

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 9:38 PM

Attuvian1
Ostensibly to chat with the girls and have coffee and pie, but we know better.

The locals take it seriously!

 

 Bear_Big_Bench by Edmund, on Flickr

Anybody see that operator? I thought we had train orders!

 Niles, Michigan by Edmund, on Flickr

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
  • 6,250 posts
Posted by "JaBear" on Thursday, April 11, 2024 12:28 AM

 Dark picture 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
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, April 11, 2024 12:36 AM

Tophias
my first visit to the diner. Next time I'll have to order breakfast, 2 over easy , corn beef hash, home fries and sourdough toast. Come to think of it, I should have had that today!

Hi Tophias,

Welcome to the Diner!                            Welcome

The Diner is a nice place to visit after a hard day's work, or after a hard day's relaxing. You seem to have picked the former!

You have been warned about the 'Bear', but beware of the other crazy old farts that hang around here too!!

There is one 'rule' in the Diner (other than being polite) that we try to observe. That is that the person who's post is on the top of the page gets to buy dinner, or lunch, or breakfast, or booze (I personally like that last part) for everybody in the Diner. What the poster chooses to buy for everyone is entirely up to them. If possible, posting a picture of the meal adds a nice, warm touch. 

You won't know if you are at the top of the page until you post, but it's easy to go back and add the Diner meal to 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!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, April 11, 2024 12:59 AM

I got our income taxes done and I was pleased to see that we are getting nice refunds. Of course that money was ours to begin with so it's not like the Canadian Government is giving us a gift.

We also had a meeting with our CIP (Certified Investment Planner) and he showed us how rich we will be when we get to age 100!!

Seriously, he showed us a number of things we could do to save on taxes as well as how to make best use of our life insurance. I promised Brent that I would never again offer financial advice on the forums but I'm going to bend that rule a bit to suggest that you consult with an independant professional retirement planner if you haven't already, and the sooner the better! (i.e. not somebody who's pay cheque is based on how much product they can sell you).

I hope that Brent agrees with what I said. 

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, April 11, 2024 5:54 AM

Good morning Diners.   A large coffee on the go please, Chloe.

Welcome   Welcome on board Tophias.

 

Still have a house full of grandchildren, so chaos rules  (not really) Big Smile

After lunch I shall be taking them home.  As two grandchildren live 40 miles away the afternoon is taken care of.

 

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 2011
  • From: Westford MA
  • 542 posts
Posted by Tophias on Thursday, April 11, 2024 8:17 AM

Good morning Flo, just an English muffin, grilled if you don't mind, and coffee.

From one "old fart" to all you others, thank you for the warm welcoming you have extended. Much appreciated.

Today in Massachusetts it's ugly, rainy, with wind expected to increase. After 7 1/2 hours of yard work yesterday today is a good day chill, read, lots of coffee, and work at the layout. Going to replace speakers in 2 old LL P2K GP30's that I recently swapped the decoders out of. My first such attempts. All went well utilizing Decoder Buddy's and then just popping on the new 21 pin decoders. I've completed 6 decoder replacements of the factory QSI decoders and all went 100%. Not sure how I managed to pull that off but it was a big confidence booster. But now I see (or hear) the limitations of the old speakers so back in I go. Going to utilize SSS speakers, specifically designed for the respective locomotives. They sound great, having replaced three factory speakers recently in 3 brand new Atlas GP40's that had such tinny sounding speakers.

That's it for now, time coffee #3.

Regards, Chris 

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Thursday, April 11, 2024 8:43 AM

Good morning, diners.  Brunhilda, I'll have bacon, eggs, and coffee, please.

It's a beautiful day on the Great Plains, but we sure could use rain.  The lady at the seed store told me to wait until next week to plant grass.  I've got some areas that need to be replanted.

Chris, welcome to the diner!

On the layout front, I'm finally ready to lay some more track for a locomotive shop and a future chemical plant.  I won't have enough left-over track from the last layout, so that means I will have another trip to the model train store!  Smile

Have a great hump day, everyone.

https://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?media/mkt-okc-march-1957-yellow-caboose-805.102686/

York1 John       

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
  • 1,862 posts
Posted by Water Level Route on Thursday, April 11, 2024 9:21 AM

Good Morning Diners.  Brunhilda, can I just get an ice water please?  I've had enough coffee at this point.  Any more and I'll get the shakes.  I can't drink as much as I could in college.  Coffee or alcohol! Laugh

My youngest's high school soccer team had their first home game last night.  While it ended in a frustrating tie that never should have happened, my daughter played great, right up until she sprained her ankle pretty badly with about 10 minutes left in the game.  Sure is nice to see her past her knee issues.  She's playing like she did before the knee problems, and that's wonderful.  She scored 3 goals officially last night, had a fourth that the ref couldn't see so didn't count (a defender in the net dribbled it back out), and was responsible for setting up one of her teammate's goals by disrupting the other team's keeper and a defender at the same time, feeding her teammate the ball in the process.  Proud of her!

John, how dare you try to pull me back to Wednesday!!  The work week is long enough for those of us who still have to do that. Laugh

David, have fun with the grandkids!

Chris, it's always gratifying when a decoder install goes well.  Had a few that didn't and I had to step away from them to calm down more than once!

Have a great day guys!

Mike

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,877 posts
Posted by maxman on Thursday, April 11, 2024 10:55 AM

hon30critter
There is one 'rule' in the Diner (other than being polite) that we try to observe. That is that the person who's post is on the top of the page gets to buy dinner

Oh?  That's not quite my rule.  When I eat, everyone eats.  And when I pay, everyone pays.

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: Westford MA
  • 542 posts
Posted by Tophias on Thursday, April 11, 2024 11:17 AM

MisterBeasley

 

 
Tophias

Thanks Mike. I've been somewhat active on the rest of the threads but never thought to be active at the diner. It always seemed like you all know each other fairly well and I didnt want to be like that friend/relative that rings your doorbell at 9:00 at night. Big Smile

 

 

I used to work in Westford, MA.  I worked at Haystack Observatory, the big golfball on the top of the hill.  I loved that job.  I was much younger then and bicycled to work from Concord and later Bedford.

 

Mr. B, I've driven up the road a couple of times but you can only get so far and then must turn around. Nice view though. BTW, Gerry Rooks from the now closed Maine Trains is still active doing locomotive repairs, decoder installs, and all things DCC.  Him being 82 I marvel at his eyes and hands proficiency. 
Regards, Chris 

  • Member since
    October 2020
  • 3,604 posts
Posted by NorthBrit on Thursday, April 11, 2024 11:42 AM

We have had so much rain recently  ____

The incessant rain lashed against an streamed down the windowpanes.  The wind howled, rattling the tall sash window frames as it boomed and echoed in the wide, stone chimneys.  The lashing rain saturated the land and clattered on the portico roof,  making the glass sing before it rushed down to flow along the cast iron guttering.

It drip-dripped interminably from the trees and bounced high in the puddles, as the packed soil of the pathways became sodden and slowly turned to ooze.

 

Flo.  I need a drink.  A double Pusser's rum  please.

 

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, April 11, 2024 11:44 AM

Tophias

Mr. B, I've driven up the road a couple of times but you can only get so far and then must turn around. Nice view though. BTW, Gerry Rooks from the now closed Maine Trains is still active doing locomotive repairs, decoder installs, and all things DCC.  Him being 82 I marvel at his eyes and hands proficiency. 


Regards, Chris

Did you ever see the movie "Knowing?"  It was a sci-fi flick.  Parts were actually shot at Haystack.  I recognized one shot as being from just outside my office window.

I still miss Gerry and Maine Trains.  I spent hours finding treasures on the racks of that shop and searching the bargain bins for others.

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

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Thursday, April 11, 2024 12:04 PM

Water Level Route
John, how dare you try to pull me back to Wednesday!!  The work week is long enough for those of us who still have to do that.

 

Mike, sorry, but even in retirement I'm sometimes still on school principal time.

For my job, Thursdays were the days with the most discipline problems.  Many of the other principals I knew said the same thing.  There were ideas about that.  The best theory was that by Thursday, the kids were tired of school, but couldn't yet see the end.  By Friday, the end was in sight, and they didn't act up -- they just wanted the weekend to start.

Thursdays were the worst, while Fridays were the best.

Thursday is still my hump day -- except Thursday, Monday, Wenesday, Saturday -- they're all the same now.

For those of you still working, have a great day after hump day!  Stick out tongue

York1 John       

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: Westford MA
  • 542 posts
Posted by Tophias on Thursday, April 11, 2024 2:19 PM

MisterBeasley

 

 
Tophias

Mr. B, I've driven up the road a couple of times but you can only get so far and then must turn around. Nice view though. BTW, Gerry Rooks from the now closed Maine Trains is still active doing locomotive repairs, decoder installs, and all things DCC.  Him being 82 I marvel at his eyes and hands proficiency. 


Regards, Chris

 

 

Did you ever see the movie "Knowing?"  It was a sci-fi flick.  Parts were actually shot at Haystack.  I recognized one shot as being from just outside my office window.

I still miss Gerry and Maine Trains.  I spent hours finding treasures on the racks of that shop and searching the bargain bins for others.

 

Mr. B, thnx for the heads up regarding the movie "Knowing".  If I can find it on demand on my Comcast system I'll watch it.

Regards, Chris 

  • Member since
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  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, April 11, 2024 2:49 PM

Good day from the raw, wet, West Coast. I am worn out and will do nothing more than hang out in the train room today with the Gord tunes playing. I did play my guitar for a couple of hours and my arthritic hands were firing on all cylinders today. I love it when that happens.

Chris, welcome aboard, the more the merrier, and the more means someone else pays before it comes back to me.Laugh

We have 30+ coming on Sunday for my future DILs wedding shower so the wife is running at full speed, she is amazing. My daughter and the Maid of Honour are in the middle of final exams over in Victoria, so they are not much help even though they picked the date. 

I had put in about 1/4 acre of new lawn and the seed has sprouted which is good to see.

hon30critter
I hope that Brent agrees with what I said.  Cheers!! Dave

I agree 100% Dave. I found out early on that you never get the whole story from people who ask for advice. The devil is always in the details of their own situation. I have the highest respect for Accountants, Lawyers, and other competent professionals. I use them all the time and they are worth every penny.

I enjoy hearing stories about people's working lives here, either current or pre-retirement. I find them interesting. I have some real doozies that can never be told and some that would not be believed if I did tell them. It was an unusual path as to how I ended up doing what I did.

I had an extra large blood panel drawn a month or so ago to be used by a study group. Today I got interviewed about my diet and exercise program. Apparently, my blood work could not be more perfect. A 20-year-old athlete would be happy with what my results were they said. Big Smile I get used as the example of the person who does everything right they say. Now watch me drop dead tomorrow.Laugh

My sister phoned yesterday and said they are getting $30,000.00 for five days of filming for a limited murder mystery series. Their house was built in 1950 and is nothing special but it is exactly what they want for the flashbacks. They also get a $1000.00 a day for accommodation elsewhere for the week. What do you want to bet they stay with us?Laugh

I have no more photos of cabooses in my stash so this will have to do. Taken near Banff on a day my son and I spent together just hanging out.

 

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
    January 2008
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Posted by saronaterry on Thursday, April 11, 2024 5:58 PM

Welcome, Chris!!

 

Terry in NW Wisconsin

Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, April 11, 2024 9:36 PM

Good evening

Hi Chris, WelcomeSmile

MusicA horse is a horse of course of course, especially a horse that you endorse  If not this horse an Iron Horse, than talk to Mr. EdMusic  Wink

How ya been doin Ed?

 

 

One by Terry's neck of the woodsPirate   Taken by TF

 

Seen some nice caboose scenes hereSmile, Wink & Grin

 

 

TF

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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Friday, April 12, 2024 4:14 AM

Track fiddler
MusicA horse is a horse of course of course, especially a horse that you endorse   If not this horse an Iron Horse, than talk to Mr. EdMusic 

Doin' fine here, TF. Some side effects, seems like a lower resistance to picking up a bug. Twice the grand kids visited and twice I've had the flu shortly afterward Ick! Most recent being they were here for the Monday eclipse and I'm still in rough shape from picking up whatever they were sharing.

Mr. Ed likes trains. Who bought his ticket?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IryOI8rUjA4

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    October 2020
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Posted by NorthBrit on Friday, April 12, 2024 4:35 AM

Good morning all.  A large coffee please, Zoe.

What was going to be a quiet day, grandchildren have arrived.  Big Smile

 

David

 

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

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • 1,132 posts
Posted by saronaterry on Friday, April 12, 2024 5:39 AM

Track fiddler
One by Terry's neck of the woods

Baronette, Wi.

Terry in NW Wisconsin

Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: Westford MA
  • 542 posts
Posted by Tophias on Friday, April 12, 2024 7:35 AM

Good morning all. Flo, how about a bagel with peanut butter and coffee please.

Mr. B, got to watch "Knowing" last night from Comcast On Demand. My guess is this was a direct to DVD release, not shown in theaters. That said, was pretty interesting. Both my bride and I watched completely without dozing (we started kind of late). Interesting how B-Roll footage of Boston was edited into the production. One scene definitely was off, when the main characters were having lunch at the roof top of the museum with the Custom House in the background. With that angle they would have been in the middle of Boston Harbor eating lunch! But all in all nice film.

Regards, Chris 

 

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