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Tha Whistle Stop

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Posted by Dave-the-Train on Monday, December 4, 2006 11:32 AM
 jblackwelljr wrote:

Dave - are grilled eggs something you can order out at a restaurant or hotel or is that your own invention? They sound interesting - I get an opportunity to come to the Manchester/Widnes area now and then - I'd like to try them.  BTW, snow is not like hair - I don't know anyone who has hair that doesn't want it - if you do, have them send it to me  - hair, that is.

All - weather changed with a vengeance on Friday.  Tornado touched down one county over.  It went from 70 to 30 degrees overnight.  Phil, I'm sure you were right in the middle of it where you are.  Snow (flurries) possible on Monday. 

I just put some finishing details on my set of cheapo IHC passenger cars - upgraded wheels, Kadee 148 couplers and added weight.  Then applied the hangy-down ladders and grab bars - aarrghh!.  I can't believe I put those tiny parts on cars that no one will really ever use.  Am I a modeler yet? 

My own invention... most people think I'm nuts when I mention it here... but Americans are more adventurous with their food so I thought I'd mention it.  I don't know if your cookers have grills like ours.  It's amazing the things that we just assume will be the same but then find are different.

If you know when you will be around Manchester/Widnes e mail me and I'll see if I can inr=troduce you to a decent pub.  If you can time a trip right the macclesfield shoe is usually good... will try to post the dates when I know them.

Weather changed here too on Saturday night. 80mph+ rain... and Welsh rain is wetter than English rain!

"Are you a modeller yet"?  Would you have been satisfied without doing the work?

  • Member since
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  • From: County Schuylkill
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Posted by jblackwelljr on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 3:29 PM
 Dave-the-Train wrote:
 jblackwelljr wrote:

If you know when you will be around Manchester/Widnes e mail me and I'll see if I can inr=troduce you to a decent pub.  If you can time a trip right the macclesfield shoe is usually good... will try to post the dates when I know them.

"Are you a modeller yet"?  Would you have been satisfied without doing the work?

Thanks Dave - not sure when I'll be back in the UK but I'm always up for a decent pub.  Heck, I even like the not-so-decent ones.

About the modeler question - you're right, I would not have been satisfied without doing the work.

Jim "He'll regret it to his dyin day, if ever he lives that long." - Squire Danaher, The Quiet Man
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  • From: Cherry Valley, Ma
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Posted by grayfox1119 on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 3:50 PM
Lisa, did you get to the RR show in Marlboro, Ma this past weekend?
Dick If you do what you always did, you'll get what you always got!! Learn from the mistakes of others, trust me........you can't live long enough to make all the mistakes yourself, I tried !! Picture album at :http://www.railimages.com/gallery/dickjubinville Picture album at:http://community.webshots.com/user/dickj19 local weather www.weatherlink.com/user/grayfox1119
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  • From: In the State of insanity!
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Posted by pcarrell on Thursday, December 7, 2006 2:41 PM

Wow, this fell all the way back to pg 5!

So, Lisa, how was that show?

Philip
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  • From: Olympia, WA
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Posted by gear-jammer on Thursday, December 7, 2006 10:14 PM

It has been a few days since I turned the computer on.  I am anxious to get back to the layout.  It has been a whole week.

Later,  Sue

Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.

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Posted by pcarrell on Friday, December 8, 2006 10:44 AM
 gear-jammer wrote:

It has been a few days since I turned the computer on.  I am anxious to get back to the layout.  It has been a whole week.

Later,  Sue

I know what you mean.  I'm itchin' to finish up benchwork tonight!  I want to get to laying subroadbed in my staging area.  Then it's on to backdrops!

Philip
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  • From: Olympia, WA
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Posted by gear-jammer on Sunday, December 10, 2006 11:41 AM

Philip,  Did you get your benchwork finished?  That was an exciting stage for us.  We had moved our small layout into the dining room while we waited for the mainline.  What an excuse to not invite people over for Christmas.  When the mainline was functional we hauled the old layout down to Larry's uncle. 

This was a short weekend for Larry, so we spent it cutting down a tree and decorating.  We no longer have any christmas trees of marketable size, so we fall a large tree (30') and use the top.  We are at a stage when they need to be thinned.  Larry cut 7 trees before we found one that was usable.  Sometimes a branch breaks when the tree falls.

We put Thomas, Percy and James under the tree.  James is noisy and probably needs some work, but his color is great under the tree.

Later, Sue

Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.

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  • From: In the State of insanity!
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Posted by pcarrell on Sunday, December 10, 2006 11:45 AM
 gear-jammer wrote:

Philip,  Did you get your benchwork finished?

Nope.  I got some done but the wife and daughter are sick, so I'm Mr. Mom this weekend.  Oh well, maybe later.

Philip
  • Member since
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  • From: Olympia, WA
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Posted by gear-jammer on Sunday, December 10, 2006 4:39 PM

Philip, Sorry to hear that you have illness in the family.  Hopefully, it is not the flu which seems to last for 3-4 wks that everyone around here is getting.

I haven't had a chance to work on the layout for two weeks.  We at least operate the trains while we work out.  With the mainline as a large loop, it takes quite some time to make the journey.  Today the F-7 AB is running freight.

I made wreaths this morning which should be the last of the decorating for Christmas.  Then back to the layout.

Well back to work, Sue

Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.

  • Member since
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  • From: County Schuylkill
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Posted by jblackwelljr on Monday, December 11, 2006 10:51 AM

Success at the Reading Expo Center train show this weekend.  I found a Vollmer station kit that is out of production and matches (sort of) my hometown Rdg station with some modification (prototype long gone).  It kind of jumped off the shelf at me.  Reasonable price and only a billion parts...woo-hoo.  Also picked some Accurail hoppers.  My wife was along and she actually enjoyed the show.

Phil - sorry to hear about family illnesses.  Prayers have been duly submitted
Jim "He'll regret it to his dyin day, if ever he lives that long." - Squire Danaher, The Quiet Man
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  • From: In the State of insanity!
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Posted by pcarrell on Monday, December 11, 2006 11:44 AM

Appreciate the prayers all.  They seem to be on the mend now.

Didn't get any more done on the layout though.  That's OK, I've only got the rest of my life!

Philip
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 11, 2006 9:43 PM

Good evening all,

PC the Wilmington show was great, all of us(boys, hubby and myself) had a great time). It was also fun to see the old home town, haven't been back for about 10 years, there were quite a few changes but the old house is still standing.Glad to hear that the family is better.

Grayfox, Didn't make it to that show would have liked to but all my weekends get tied up this time of the year. I don't have a free Sat.  until the 3rd week in Jan. Oh well, it's all fun.

 

GUB
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Ingersoll, Ontario
  • 342 posts
Posted by GUB on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 9:11 AM

 lisap wrote:
 

 It was also fun to see the old home town, haven't been back for about 10 years, there were quite a few changes but the old house is still standing.

It's always nice to go back and have a look at the old homestead. In my case I always drive by the house I grew up in Chatham. It's been a couple of years since I last drove by. Regrettably there are too many changes for my liking. I do have many fond memories. Since the Christmas season is upon us I always remember the year I got my first train set. Not sure how old I was, probably 10 or so. On Christmas morning I went down stairs to find a huge layout in the dining room. Well, huge for me. My Dad and his freinds had set it up on a 4'x8' sheet of plywood on the Dining Rm. table. It was he best Christmas I would have for many years. Now when I think back on it there was a party at the house that Christmas Eve and I am sure that they were having just as much fun setting it up as I would have  running the trains. Years later I would get into HO scale. Not sure what happened to the old Lionel set.  Dad sold the HO stuff when I went to college. No I am back into the hobby once again - HO scale. Unfortunately I have to limit myself to research, kits and dioramas until the attic gets finished. But that is another story for another day.

Thanks for stirring up the memories.

GUB

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 2:24 PM
Gub, I'm glad I was able to stir up some good memories for you, and I hope your able to get the attic set up for you layout soon, as everyone here knows I'm out in a shed with my trains and that's not a great place to be in the winter.
  • Member since
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  • From: County Schuylkill
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Posted by jblackwelljr on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 9:36 AM

GUB - I find as I get older I get more nostalgic and even sappy.  I remember my Dad and his friend assembling a ferris wheel from my AC Gilbert erector set - I was only 5 and probably too young for the set.  Took them hours but I played with it for months.  He's 80 now - I'll have to jog his memory about it.

Lisa P - Since you're in southern NH, I imagine the shed doesn't get too cold in the winter - you can spend most of the season there - right?

All - My wife and I got to spend a day with our son in Brooklyn & Manhattan last week.  Rode a lot of underground trains, ate pizza under the Brooklyn Bridge and walked around Brooklyn Heights - beautiful.  Treated him to dinner and lo and behold, we ran into two of his friends, who joined us.....I think they snookered us.

MisterBeasley - Your subway video and layout pictures are awesome.  Subway cars from that era are really beautiful - and no graffiti.  I'm modeling eastern PA coal region - can I get away with a subway in a coal mine?

Jim "He'll regret it to his dyin day, if ever he lives that long." - Squire Danaher, The Quiet Man
GUB
  • Member since
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  • From: Ingersoll, Ontario
  • 342 posts
Posted by GUB on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 9:46 AM
 jblackwelljr wrote:

 ate pizza under the Brooklyn Bridge

Was that Grimaldi's by any chance?

GUB

  • Member since
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  • From: County Schuylkill
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Posted by jblackwelljr on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 10:03 AM
 GUB wrote:
 jblackwelljr wrote:

 ate pizza under the Brooklyn Bridge

Was that Grimaldi's by any chance?

GUB

Oh, yeah - middle of the afternoon, no crowd and cold Brooklyn Lager.

Jim "He'll regret it to his dyin day, if ever he lives that long." - Squire Danaher, The Quiet Man
GUB
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Ingersoll, Ontario
  • 342 posts
Posted by GUB on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 10:12 AM
 jblackwelljr wrote:
 GUB wrote:
 jblackwelljr wrote:

 ate pizza under the Brooklyn Bridge

Was that Grimaldi's by any chance?

GUB

Oh, yeah - middle of the afternoon, no crowd and cold Brooklyn Lager.

I was there last January. Four of us went to NY for a long weekend and one of the must go to places was Grimaldis. It was crowded even in the afternoon. Cramped quarters, but the beer was cold and the pizza was great! I would go back in a heart beat. We did have a little trouble finding the place after we got off the subway. Under the Brooklyn Bridge is actually under the bridge. Try telling that to the navigator. But it was well worth it. We chose this place after reading that it had the best pizza in all of NY. 

GUB

  • Member since
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  • From: County Schuylkill
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Posted by jblackwelljr on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 3:09 PM
Hey - I just experienced my first earthquake 2 hours ago - and I didn't even know it.  A little after 2, the building "shuddered" and I remarked to myself "What was that?"  No damage, it lasted for about 3-4 seconds, but according to NEIC, it was a 2.5.  I know, I know - tiny by most standards, but this is Pennsylvania.  I thought maybe the local NS freight derailed.  My office neighbor thought he had gas. 
Jim "He'll regret it to his dyin day, if ever he lives that long." - Squire Danaher, The Quiet Man
GUB
  • Member since
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  • From: Ingersoll, Ontario
  • 342 posts
Posted by GUB on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 3:36 PM

Here in Ingersoll that is a daily occurance. Just outside of Iingersoll ther is a Lime Quarry and they blast every afternoon close to 2:00. It's a little unnerving at first. Like your neighbour I too thought it was gas.

GUB

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 6:49 PM
 jblackwelljr wrote:

Oh, yeah - middle of the afternoon, no crowd and cold Brooklyn Lager.

 mmmmmmmmmmmm......beer!

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Posted by jblackwelljr on Thursday, December 14, 2006 3:57 PM

Talldude - That was my first taste of Brooklyn Lager - not bad.  I wouldn't call myself a beer connoisseur, but I live where they make Yuengling, so I'm somewhat enlightened. I can smell the brewery from my house and they still blow the steam whistle every morning at 7AM.   And I've hardly ever met a beer that didn't have some redeeming quality.  Oops, this isn't the Beer Barn.  Sorry. 

 

Jim "He'll regret it to his dyin day, if ever he lives that long." - Squire Danaher, The Quiet Man
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 6:26 AM

Hi Everyone,

It's been several days since I last checked in, I've been so busy with Christmas prep. I haven't had the time. The weather here makes it difficult to get into the Christmas spirit, being a native New Englander makes it hard to accept a "green" Christmas, we've been having record high temps all this month. The family and I are making the best of it but it's just not the same. I won't be able to come in until "next year" so.....

I wish you all the very happiest of holidays!

  • Member since
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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 6:39 AM

I'll second that about the green, or rather brown, Christmas in New England.  But, think of it this way - I've probably already saved enough on fuel bills this season to buy a decent locomotive.  And, if this global warming turns Massachusetts into something more like the Carolinas, well, maybe after I retire I'll start building a garden layout.  Global warming seems to be bad news for the Patriots, of course.  Where are the snows of yesteryear?  Those guys really are better in Clydesdale mode, plodding through across the old frozen tundra in Foxboro, laughing all the way...

Still, we're hoping for some decent skiing over the vacation week.  We'll be up at Sunday River, where the snow guns put down the white stuff when Mother Nature goes MIA, but they can't do much with temperatures in the 50's.

Anyway, a Merry Christmas to you all, and may you find the train of your dreams beneath your tree.

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

  • Member since
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  • From: County Schuylkill
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Posted by jblackwelljr on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 10:29 AM

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas......but I think that's the only way I'll see one around here - in my dreams.  Anyway it's still Christmas and a very special time of the year for many.  I'm glad I've had this opportunity to "meet" you all and I wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and a blessed Holiday season.

BTW, my wife ordered something from Walthers and used my email address.  She then gave me stern warnings not to read any emails from Walthers.  Yeah, right.
Jim "He'll regret it to his dyin day, if ever he lives that long." - Squire Danaher, The Quiet Man
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  • From: Olympia, WA
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Posted by gear-jammer on Thursday, December 21, 2006 2:30 PM

Lisa,  I am glad someone is in the Christmas spirit.  The big wind storm that hit on Thursday, left us without power for 40 hours.  Both dentists that I work for are still without power.  The power company said maybe Friday.  The news this morning said only 100,000 homes left without power.  We have a generator, which we have used 3 times this fall.   Hmmmmm.  We do not suffer too much.  We haven't turned our Christmas lights on, because the people on the next hill still do not have lights.  Somehow, that would not be very considerate.

No power, no trains.  Withdrawal!!! 

Later, Sue

Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 22, 2006 10:55 PM
 jblackwelljr wrote:

Talldude - That was my first taste of Brooklyn Lager - not bad.  I wouldn't call myself a beer connoisseur, but I live where they make Yuengling, so I'm somewhat enlightened. I can smell the brewery from my house and they still blow the steam whistle every morning at 7AM.   And I've hardly ever met a beer that didn't have some redeeming quality.  Oops, this isn't the Beer Barn.  Sorry. 

 

 I'll definitely give it a try if I see it somewhere. :)

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 22, 2006 10:56 PM
lisap, I still have some xmas shopping to do.. can you do it for me if I send you the list? :)
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 22, 2006 10:58 PM
 gear-jammer wrote:

Lisa,  I am glad someone is in the Christmas spirit.  The big wind storm that hit on Thursday, left us without power for 40 hours.  Both dentists that I work for are still without power.  The power company said maybe Friday.  The news this morning said only 100,000 homes left without power.  We have a generator, which we have used 3 times this fall.   Hmmmmm.  We do not suffer too much.  We haven't turned our Christmas lights on, because the people on the next hill still do not have lights.  Somehow, that would not be very considerate.

No power, no trains.  Withdrawal!!! 

Later, Sue

I think I'd have to turn the generator on and run the trains, if only for a few minutes.  Hope power is restored soon! 

  • Member since
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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, December 23, 2006 1:47 PM

Well, if the white Christmas won't come to us, we'll go to the white Christmas.  We're leaving today for a ski week at Sunday River in Maine.  Not much natural up there, either, but we will see man-made snow.  We may have to take a bus to get to it, even though we're staying slopeside.

Anyway, I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas!

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

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