Good morning
Glad to hear your meeting went well Mike, and your daughter's trip turned out good. I've never been to Peru, so don't know much about their food over there. Being that there isn't much food I've not liked though, I'd probably like that food as well
BATMAN TF, what ya taken at school?
TF, what ya taken at school?
Hi Brent. I've been looking to hang up my tool belt, winding down into something that lacks physical labor before reaching full retirement. After studying and passing the CDL test, the towel was soon thrown in on that idea for too many reasons.
Talking to a city building official not long ago, he filled me in, that with a life experience in construction, and having an active trade license for a certain number of years, counts the same as having a bachelers degree, after taking a certification course at the Department of Labor and Industry.
So the plan is to pass the state exam and work for the government as a city building inspector. Remaining in the same field and still being active feels like the right move. And if ya can't beat em, join em
Gettyimages
Have a great Thursday everyone
TF
Good morning from the foggy middle of the continent. I'll have bacon and eggs, please.
Mike, it sounds like your daughter had a great trip. Her mastery of Spanish will only help her when she is job searching. She will stand out to prospective employers.
Our daughters grew up in mid-city New Orleans until high school. When we moved here, our church sent a youth group to New Orleans to help build some homes in that part of the city. When they got home, my daughters were laughing that they had to translate New Orleanese into English for their friends.
David, I hope you are feeling better and the x-rays come out OK.
TF, at my age, the thought of sitting through classwork sounds like a nightmare. You're a better student than I am.
Brent, I hope the rain helps with the keeping the fires in check.
Dave, I imagine your house will be quiet with your wife gone for a while. I'll bet she will love that trip.
Charlie, good luck with the raccoon problem. My wife fights the battle daily. I told her I can stop the problem in one evening, but she won't let me.
I'm a guardian for a mentally-handicapped man in another town. He has been having health issues, so I am going to drive there today to be with him at a doctor's appointment. I may have to be the one to give the doctors permission for the treatment plans, including possible surgery. I'm a little leary of having to make that decision for someone else. I want to make the right decisions for him.
It's also lawn day, so I don't think there will be any time for the trains today.
I hope everyone, including those not mentioned, have a great and healthful day.
The caption for this photo says it's an unusual signal with the letter 'A' meaning it is an absolute signal and means "Stop", not "Stop and Proceed".
https://railroadsignals.us/signals/unusual/index.htm#Baltimore_MD1
York1 John
York1 TF, at my age, the thought of sitting through classwork sounds like a nightmare. You're a better student than I am.
Hi John, My thoughts were just the opposite. I'm the guy who always hated school while growing up. This time it was kinda fun as something quite different from the same old, same old. It actually felt a bit depressing when it was over.
And I'm not so sure about me being a better student than you, but if you say so. A retired experienced school principal certainly would know more about students than me...
Track fiddlerA retired experienced school principal certainly would know more about students than me
The major part of my days were spent walking around hallways asking kids, "Where are you supposed to be?" It didn't take much intelligence or effort.
York1Dave, I imagine your house will be quiet with your wife gone for a while. I'll bet she will love that trip.
The house is quiet but I actually have a number of things going on. The contractor who will do the garage ceiling and his electrician are coming by next week, and our nephew Joe is coming on Sunday to spend a couple of days doing all sorts of things that we can no longer do for ourselves. One of his jobs will be to patch the garage walls. They are a mess of screw and nail holes and dents.
We are also having the deck roof panels replaced. Hopefully that will be done before Dianne gets back.
She's already having a great time and she hasn't even gotten to Haida Guaii yet. Her sister is showing her all around Vancouver. They have been to some great restaurants.
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 day Diners. A mocha coffee please, Chloe.
An easy going day today.
Still not heard regarding results of x-rays - except "If you do not hear anything then all is well?
That may be okay by the doctors, but they 'lost an x-ray' that showed a shadow on a lung.
Although the 'If you do not hear anything you are okay reply is in place, my
medical history says I have a shadow. Therefore my holiday insurance is null and void. I cannot go abroad on holiday. So far we have lost a holiday on a cruise.
End of
I need a double whisky after that.
Hopefully see the train room later.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
That kinda thing irritates the heck out of me as well David. The results from my colonoscopy were finally given to me by a new gastrologist.
Yes, the general results were given the day of, but they said a biopsy was taken from an inflamed area to check for cancer, as it was a reason for concern. They never gave me a follow-up report.
Two years later the gastrologist let's me know every thing is fine after being asked. After being told no one ever followed up with me on the biopsy results, he says, sorry about that
They're called health care professionals. Perhaps some need a little more practice
York1 Track fiddler A retired experienced school principal certainly would know more about students than me The major part of my days were spent walking around hallways asking kids, "Where are you supposed to be?" It didn't take much intelligence or effort.
Track fiddler A retired experienced school principal certainly would know more about students than me
Well, not to engage in a ping-pong match, but a principle position is viewed as a very admirable career. Not a very common position to achieve, as there is only one per school, as leader of the entire faculty.
Trying to guide young adults towards a proper path in life is nothing to be sneezed at either. Ya shouldn't be so hard on yourself John, you have a lot to be proud of my friend
Did you switch all them turnouts correctly Floyd?Gettyimages
Make it a great day gentlemen
Good morning, diners. It's Friday! The best day of the week for the workers -- just another day for us old retired folks.
Chloe, I'll have bacon, eggs, and coffee please.
Dave, it sounds like you will have a busy week. How is your health coming along? Are you feeling better?
I've missed Bear checking in for several days.
While I was typing this, Cookie the dog came into the train room very excited. She got me to go to the front door with her. Friday is garbage day in my town, and when the garbage men come by, they always leave a dog biscuit on our front porch. They can see Cookie as she watches them out the window. She came and got me to go and get the biscuit for her. Little things that make the day enjoyable.
Nothing but layout time scheduled today. It's going to be hot and humid, so it's a good day to stay inside.
Have a great Friday.
https://www.railroadsignals.us/rulebooks/prr56/index.htm
York1 The major part of my days were spent walking around hallways asking kids, "Where are you supposed to be?" It didn't take much intelligence or effort.
Back in my engineering days, that was actually a school of thought on running things. We called it "Managing by wandering around." When you think about it, spending a lot of time in an office with the door closed adds a degree of separation between the manager and the work he's supposed to be managing. On the other hand, a manager who is on the shop floor, in the lab or walking the halls is approachable and visible. He is the first to hear about problems and about what is working well.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Evening
Friday night state fair music of the 70's
One hit wonders, a big motza ball thrown out there for different music tastes.
But always better than rap Mom
York1 I've missed Bear checking in for several days.
The Bear usually checks in early everyday in his evening of our morning.
Someone was mean. That goes back to what my Grandmother used to say, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all". Some just don't get that. I'd probably take a break too.
Returning home from Mallards, for the best glazed salmon
Looking for a signal video.
Found it
York1Dave, it sounds like you will have a busy week. How is your health coming along? Are you feeling better?
Hi John,
Actually, I have screwed up my sodium levels again by drinking too much water and Gatorade Zero. Tonight I was feeling a bit dizzy and faint so I ate some salty granola bars and haven't had any fluids for a few hours. I am feeling better now.
Yikes! Gettyimages
Hate it when that happens.
Looks like another one hit the floor!
Soo Line - Bensenville, IL by d.w.davidson, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
Good Afternoon,
Was a nice day here, about 75F but the clouds have rolled in and we are expecting showers.
On the racoon front, it has left the carport/garage and took its youngsters too. Guess there wasn't enough room for them all. No sign of it for 3 or 4 days.
The planting is finally done! My wife said she had cut back, only 94 pots and 11 hanging baskets. Mind you some baskets and pots are small with only 1 plant. I think we need to cut back about 50% next year as it is just too much.
Think I will start re-reading some of Ian Wilson's books. I will start with the first, Steam at Allandale. I have them all so will take the rest of the year or more. I read them slowly and try to imerse myself in the time and the many great photos. I also have a Roberson Davies Trilogy, the Deptford Trilogy on my summer list. He is one of my favourite authors.
Well time for a snack before supper, some Antipasto on crackers. Join me if you feel inclined.
CN Charlie
Good evening, everyone.
Charlie, that antipasto sounds good. Thanks.
It's been a long day made longer because my wife wanted me to go with her to Walmart. I dutifully went and pushed the shopping cart.
The new layout building continues to challenge. I'm finally to the point of finishing some exterior walls. It hasn't been easy.
Have a great Saturday evening.
Track fiddler Returning home from Mallards, for the best glazed salmon Looking for a signal video. TF
Good morning diners. Flo, I'll please have a short stack of blueberry pancakes.
TF, several years ago we took a extended family trip to Alaska. Flew into Anchorage for a few days, then went down to Seward for two days. So I'm thinking when it's dinner time, while in the area of the worlds best salmon stocks, I'll gourge on salmon. It was an unbelievable disaster. Best salmon in the world and not one chef knew how to cook it properly. Overcooked, dry, tasteless by then. Two dinners and a lunch and all sucked. We then went back to anchorage and took the train to Denali and on to Fairbanks. On the night before we flew home, in the little local hotel, we had an early dinner. When the waitress asked what I wanted I told her anything but salmon, and explained why. She assured me this chef was different. So with a leap of faith I ordered salmon, and it was finally great. At least it ended on a high point.
Regards, Chris
Hi CNCharlie,
I'm glad the raccoons have gone. Have you considered doing a heavy spray of flea killer in the garage. I know your wife might not like the idea, but just ask her if she would rather have fleas in the house.
Good Evening,
Cooking salmon was one thing that I learned to get right on the grill. Our grill has racks that are pressed steel with close spaces, great for grilling fish. I don't like salmon steaks as it is too easy to overdo them. I like fillet stips 2-3" in width with the skin on. I cook them on medium heat for about 10-12 minutes until there is just a little transluscent flesh in the middle. I brush them with a mix of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I cook with the lid down. I don't buy salmon anymore as my wife won't let me go into the store since covid. Always turned out moist and great.
Dave, spraying for fleas is a non-starter. We have them here but not the problem I remember when I lived in Barrie. There I let the landlords cat into my apartment, that was in the basement of their house, and it brought in fleas that got into the carpet. The little begars liked to jump up and bite my legs. They had my apartment fumigated.
Wonder if Ray has gone to visit his son in England?
Just finished supper so time for tea and tellie.
Good morning, diners. I'll have some bacon, eggs, and coffee, please.
I gave up trying to post yesterday. The forum didn't seem to like my computer.
It's going to be another hot (102°F), humid day on the prairie. I wonder why some pioneers ever stuck it out here. Thirty below zero in the winter and 100°F with humidity in the summer. Air-conditioning was one of mankind's greatest achievements, right up there with the wheel and discovering fire.
Our town sits on a BNSF double track mainline for coal. Just a few years ago, there were 120 trains per day -- half of the trains with coal and half empty hoppers. The coal came from the Powder River mines in Wyoming, and the trains all were headed east to the power plants.
This was just for BNSF. Union Pacific and others were hauling coal also. The amazing thing about it is that at the rate we were mining the coal, it's estimated there was another 400 years of coal left.
Then the downturn in the use of coal happened, and the number of trains dropped dramatically. I don't have any official numbers, but I would guess there are fewer than 50 trains per day now.
I miss seeing all those trains. We have had some other types of trains besides coal, but not many.
I heard my first fireworks of the year yesterday. For the next two weeks, there will be lots of noise. I love fireworks, but I've just about given up buying and firing them myself. I'm content to watch the neighborhood kids having fun.
I hope everyone has a great Monday.
https://railroadsignals.us/signals/trilights/index.htm#south_of_Port_Royal_PA
Good morning from the left side where it is a perfect day weather-wise as in 20c and clear.
Looks like I will get my D-10 back from Rapido today, got the track all cleaned up to give it a good shake-down. That being said yesterday I was running a Hudson and it started to glitch, starting and stopping and then finally a loud screeching sound. I guess it is off to Rapido as well, I am guessing it is the decoder but I am not as well-versed in that part of the hobby.......yet. Only time for so much, but someday.
Mike, glad your daughter had a good time in Peru, I have been to South America but haven't made it to Peru.....yet! My sister gets to South America often, she is a dog show judge and does a circuit down through South America, over to New Zealand, Australia and up through Asia then home. I think travelling gives people a completely different perspective and understanding of the world. Best education there is and sampling the food is part of what makes it great.
John, we get a lot of BNSF coal trains from the Powder River Basin to Roberts Bank here. I'm not sure how many trains per day, but there are a few.
TF, being a building inspector will be much easier on the body.
When I was working for the Feds, I worked on a project plan to redirect logistic resources such as airplanes, trucks and personnel in times of disaster or conflict but mostly how to get things back up and running if things hit the fan. With all the courier companies and Canada Post having vast quantities of trucks and airplanes, there are a lot of resources that can be diverted from courier use to get the important things moving in a hurry. With the possible changes that may be coming to NATO things are being updated and I got a call from the FEDs as my name was all over the plans as I helped update the plans three times between 1980 and 2004. They didn't want me to come back to work but just wanted to know if they could call me if they had any questions. Twenty years is a long time, doubt I have anything to offer.
NorthBrit Still not heard regarding results of x-rays - except "If you do not hear anything then all is well? That may be okay by the doctors, but they 'lost an x-ray' that showed a shadow on a lung. Although the 'If you do not hear anything you are okay reply is in place, my medical history says I have a shadow. Therefore my holiday insurance is null and void. I cannot go abroad on holiday. So far we have lost a holiday on a cruise. David
I can go online and see my X-rays, MRIs, CTs and lab work. My wife can tell me what sorry shape I am in before I talk to the Doctor.
As far as not being able to travel due to insurance issues, my sister had to stop travelling for a year out of the country until she got the all-clear on the cancer front.
Hope you can get it sorted out David.
Salmon! We eat lots. The farmer down the road owns three fishing boats and hangs a wooden fish on his mailbox when he has fresh fish from that day. $5.00 will get you a whole fresh-off-the-boat 20lb salmon. That's the neighbour price. We eat a lot of stuff out of the Pacific. The guy next door gives us a bucket of crabs several times a summer. Though I see this year his 30' boat is still out of the water in his front yard, I better get over there and tell him to get with the program.
Hope you are feeling better Dave and are back home.
05:something hours at the Batcave.
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."
The dog food beat my D-10 from the mail-babe.
Was that that two posts in a row Kid? Ya forgot your Post Hog sign in my friend
One for you and me Brent
Past but not forgotten
POST HOG!!!!!!
Gotta love Rapido!
They didn't fix my D-10, they sent me a brand-new one! For my trouble there was a 1930s-era Union X-3 tank car in the box to boot!
Like I am always saying, it is how a company handles an issue that determines whether I keep doing business with them and Rapido goes above and beyond in my book.
I see TF snuck one in on me.
Two longs and a short...
Wyeville Jct with semaphores Aug 1980 by Mark LLanuza, on Flickr
In my area the ERIE Railroad still used semaphores well into the 1980s. A bit of that 'old railroading charm' disappeared with them.
gmpullman In my area the ERIE Railroad still used semaphores well into the 1980s. A bit of that 'old railroading charm' disappeared with them.
There one day and gone the next. Didn't like the loss of the Caboose either.
Most of the simpler times were better
Good morning, everyone. Bacon, eggs, and black coffee, please.
I complain about the weather forecasters, but I'll give them their due when they're right. Yesterday they predicted 102°. At 5:00 pm, it was 102°. The high humidity made it pretty uncomfortable outside. I worked up a sweat and Cookie was panting alot for our evening walk.
We're getting ready for a vacation next week. We'll be getting together with the daughters and families at a nice place. The only downside is it's a 12 hour drive for us. Going there, we'll drive in one day, but coming home, we're going to split it into two days.
Errands to run, grass to cut, dog to walk, clothes to wash, etc. Another day with no layout progress.
Dave, I hope you were able to get home from your second trip to the hospital. They're getting to know you too well there. Get better fast!
Have a great day, everyone.
https://www.railroadsignals.us/basics/basics2.htm
My view at approximately 5:30 this morning.
The clouds were kinda dragging on the trees. Never really seen this before. Perhaps it was too foggy to see before.
Some other neat cloudsl