Elliotts Trackside Diner (est 1-1-07)

[myred02]

Afternoon all! Not much from my end. I'll have a 12 oz. steak and a coke, I've got an appetite to chase off...

Jim: My layout is based on a CSX (how did you guess? ) double-tracked mainline and yard cutoff that goes through a small Kentucky town. It's in HO scale, and it is based in the summer sometime between 2003 and the present. My control system is a Digitrax Zephyr, but the layout is by no means finished. I just finished taking up track and structures so I can put a few more layers of foam down. After that, I'll have fun getting my final track plan down and start sceniking (sp?). I hope to have some switching, mainline action, and perhaps some street running.

Garry: Of course I go to the lakes! All the time! Fishing, boating, hunting, the lakes have it all! Also, have you ever been to the Kentucky Dam? Union Pacific runs a coal train across it on Paducah & Louisville trackage. It's neat to watch it go by on the dam when you're snag fishing on the banks below it.

-Brandon

[ModelTrainLover]

hey guys.

For those who know a lot about video/ computers. Is there a way to transfer a video from a VHS to the Comp directly, or does the video have to be copied to a DVD then sent to the Comp?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff......Hope things are going better for your Mother...Same goes for you gotta take care of yourself too....

I know. I've been spending extra time at the job lately. It helps to keep my mind off other problems. Speaking of the job, we're closing the shop for the day now. We had to get 37 units ready for delivery to New Orleans tonight. We started with eight this morning and slaved like dogs all day. We loaded the last three a little while ago. There are still four units on the shop floor but they're for an order going out at the end of the week. They'll be ready by nine tomorrow morning. All they need is the final poly coat.

[grayfox1119]

The AC is turned ON now....it is 86F with a DP of 65F, so it is VERY uncomfortable. It really bothers the wife, she is very uncomfortable in heat and humidity. I have been working out in those conditions all my life, so I guess I have a built-up tolerance for it, but when it is in the 90's with high DP, I hit my limit quick working in full sun. A lot of Gator-aide and Arizona lemonaide flavored ice tea down the hatch today.

  We lost power this morning, right after I finished morning post in Diner. Power was out from 9:30 until 12:30 due to a transformer that caught fire. Could have been caused by a "furry fusible link" aka "squirrel ". There is a very large increase in the population of squirrels and chipmonks this year, probably due to the mild winter we had, in concert with very low amount of snowfall.

GARRY: Congratulations !!!!!! Rhubarb was spelled correctly, see ...you CAN do it, you can teach an old dog new tricks ...lol

Too hot in the house, going back outside to sit in the shade.

[bjdukert]

Afternoon all

Dick I sent Bill N some info on the NMRA convention and train show but haven't heard back yet and at that time he was busy as most of you ORF's are.   Look for an Email.

Garry I will race you to Dick's house for some of Lorraine's strawberry-rhubarb pie

 Brandon

Glad everyone liked the pics

That's about it

Best to all on sick call and those recovering

Talk to you later

Duke

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Grayfox: We get a lot of those transformer 'blow-outs' here because of squirrels and bats. Ours are the big red squirrels, so they take a little longer to burn off than the gray ones do. Sure does make a loud KA-BLAM when one of them jumps onto a transformer and blows the fuse on it.

[pcarrell]

Evening all!

luct, good to see you buddy!  Sorry to hear of all thats going on though.  I'll be sure and lift you guys up in prayer.

Jeff, my friend, please let your mom know that there are a lot of believers out there who are pulling for her.  We care!

 

Well, I've just been hanging out not doing much of anything.  It's been pretty nice actually.  Went over to a friends house that I haven't seen in a while.  We at around and hung out, and somehow in the middle of all of that we managed to install a decoder in one of my Spectrum 2-8-0's.  And to top it off, it worked!  Who knew?  It was almost like we knew what we were doing or something!  Oh well, it was an accident.....it won't happen again!  I've been running DC for so long, and I got a Digitrax setup for Christmas, but I haven't had anyplace to hook it up.  I guess now I'm going to have to make that final push to get the last of the staging yard done so I can hook it up and run something!

Oh well, back to the train room!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff, my friend, please let your mom know that there are a lot of believers out there who are pulling for her.  We care!

To Pc and the others out there, you know who you are:

Thanks. Your prayers, thoughts and concern are like a ray of sunlight on a cloudy day, always making the day brighter and driving away the gloom. Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated very much, not only by me, but by my father as well.

[pcarrell]

(Said in my best Spicoli imitation.....)

 

Dude!  It's totally cool man!  Besides, prayer is KNARLEY!!!!!! 

[cheese4432]

I haven't been to the diner in a long time...or the mrr forums actually. I'll have an early dinner of spare ribs. Um no progress here because of lack of brown paint, and the ability to mix some becasue light green, light blue, and dark red make pink.

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang:

Luc: Take care of Gloria and yourself. We're still pulling for ya.

Jeff: It's good that the desk order is finished. I think that you need a rest now.

Dick: It's been raining here most of the day. We've had 2.5 inches here at the house as of 6pm. There was 3inches at our sons house as of 5:30. The creek is floing bank full and the pond is full and overflowing. Of course this means more flooding and in the same areas thet were flooded the last time. Right now it's still raining but it is supposed to stop tonight and then crank up again tomorrow late morning or early afternoon. Rain is predicted through Saturday. The weather radar was just on the TV and it looks like we have another hour in store for us before it passes.

JimCG: What happened at the meeting last night?

Well it's early but I'm tired. Sometimes it's more tiring doing nothing then it is working.

Good Night All

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff: It's good that the desk order is finished. I think that you need a rest now.

So do I. I have muscle aches in places I didn't know I had. Those desks weigh over 150 pounds each and it's a real workout when I have to lift them onto a table to work on them.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello.......

Thanks, Jeff, for acknowledging the diners. We're always here for you and your family.

Brandon.......  shhhh...  don't tell the public our secret about how nice the LBL area is.  One of the best features is the lack of people. Yes, I've seen the UP coal trains on the P&L at the dam. You should include layout visiting as part of the day when you're at the lakes. Gus and I will gladly show our respective layouts with advance notice. We're near the US 68 bridge over Barkley. I explained to the diners what is burgoo a few weeks back.

As info to others ........... Lake Barkley is one of the largest man made lakes anywhere.  It's the Cumberland River dammed up forming a lake over 50 miles long. Kentucky Lake is to the west of Lake Barkley and is the Tennessee River dammed to form a larger lake.  Between the two lakes is a National Park named Land Between the Lakes (LBL).  Adding to that are some large state resort parks........  Barkley Lake Park, Kenlake Park, Kentucky Dam Village Park, and Pennyrile Forest Park. Not too far to our south are some Tennessee parks, too.   Vacation, anybody? 

Dick.......  have I been okay spelling strawberry?

Happy Model Railroading!

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Did y'all hear the news story about the foriegn credit card thief who was caught trying to sell the credit card information for Herman Munster of 1313 Mockingbird Lane, Mockingbird Heights, California? Fox immediately sent out sgt Joe Friday in car 54 to head up the investigation.

[JimRCGMO]

Good evening, Diner folks! Luc, I've asked Chloe to transfer your bill onto my account for this page. My treat for you.

Jerry, I just finished taking down all the books (and the four bookshelves that were full of them), plus the row of LP albums that were under the lowest shelf, so the repair guy can fix the A/C tomorrow. He sure better get it fixed! Now I'm really sweaty - gonna need that shower pretty soon tonight.  Wouldn't want to be downwind of myself right now.  But the bookshelves needed some dusting, anyway, right? 

Colby, you can do that video transfer with what's called a 'bridge' - converts analog (VHS video) signal to digital (computerized video) to load into your computer (for editing, uploading, etc.) - but they're not very cheap if you're just doing one or two conversions. ...plus cables, etc.

So - Dick and Jeff, do the repair crews around your areas get a free 'toasted lunch' while they're repairing the transformers? Luckily for me, our nearest transformer station that we're on doesn't have much of any trees nearby it. Now, if an enterprising and pole-climbing town possum decided to go exploring some night,... 

Paul, sorry - forgot to mention on the club's decision. We voted (pretty well unanimously) to accept the offer with a few provisions (the landlord had agreed on them earlier): the landlord preps the basement area (drop ceiling, drywall and painting same, lighting as indicated/needed, electrical outlets, four foot entry door (for bringing in the current layout sections), and we don't move our stuff out of the current space until the basement is completely ready for us. Oh yeah, we agreed to accept the amount the church agreed to pay us, and we're taking them up on providing some muscles for moving the layout stuff, cabinets, boxed layout stuff to the basement once it's ready. Hey, several of us aren't as young as we used to be, so we'll use the help!

Think I'm going to go hit the showers now. See everyone in the morning!

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[der5997]

Good evening all.

Garry:

Der. ... what's up?

…Way too much museum, Heritage Society, and “Visit of Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor Of Nova Scotia to Sheet Harbour on July 7th.” stuff. Very little time to do much else , even Yard W**k when it isn’t raining. Did get the driveway sprayed to stop it becoming more to mow! Never mind, the lupines are now in bloom, and should be just grand for Canada Day on the 1st. I see CapeJim has obliged with your daily TH fix…I was going to photobucket for it while I was reading down the page here. Now I’m in photobucket, I see that they’ve changed the format yet again. Second time this year, I think.

Brandon: Bet you’ll be glad not to have to risk those locos to a fall. In the mean time, may I offer a tip from the “Museum Artifact Handling Manual”, and suggest carrying them (one at a time as you do) in a tray. Always make sure your route is clear for each trip, because things can change unexpectedly (cats are a case in point.)

Colby:

hey guys. For those who know a lot about video/ computers. Is there a way to transfer a video from a VHS to the Comp directly, or does the video have to be copied to a DVD then sent to the Comp?

…What I do is to copy from the VCR to a camcorder, and then download the camcorder into the PC (I’ve got a firewire for that which makes it quicker) So, if you have access to a camcorder, it’s a way to go.

Rare security video footage of Jeff (wasn’t it?) and the conga line

Bed beckons, , so Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers continuing for Jeff’s mom, Luc’s Gloria, and all in need of healing, comfort, and peace.

[egmurphy]

Good Evening Coffee Clubbers,

Just wanted to check in quickly.  We've been here northeast of Houston for the past few days, staying with the daughter, son-in-law, and grandson.  Got some minor shopping done, enjoying being around real stores again.

Tomorrow we fly Houston-Newark-St Johns.  We'll be gone for almost 4 weeks.  I should be able to check in on progress here as we will be at my sister's, and she has a computer and internet connection.  Weather forecast for there for the next 10 days has highs in the 50's and lows in the 40's, with wind and showers.  I'm looking forward to not needing a/c.

Later

Ed

[grayfox1119]

So - Dick and Jeff, do the repair crews around your areas get a free 'toasted lunch' while they're repairing the transformers? Luckily for me, our nearest transformer station that we're on doesn't have much of any trees nearby it. Now, if an enterprising and pole-climbing town possum decided to go exploring some night,... 

Well Jim, from what I see of these furry fusible links after they jump onto the 13kv tap, there is nothing left but charred fur...now if you care to eat a furburger, well that is something you have to acquire a taste for. LOL  

PAUL: I hope your house and barn are above the flood plain. The Gulf moisture just keeps streaming north over you guys. We have some friends in a small town about 20 miles North of Oklahoma City, and from what I see on the map and on news reports, they are getting hammered also.

GARRY: Yup, you have "strawberry" spelled correctly also. If you keep this up, you will be on TV in that show against 5th graders. I think you will blow them away Garry!!!!! I vote for you !!

JEFF: We have a few Red Squirrels around here also, but the Grays are FAR more prevalent, and they sure do like transformers for some reason...maybe Cape Jim is onto something, but not the linemen...the squirrels. thye are probably carrying their acorns to the transformers to have roasted nuts.

Time for bed, dentist tomorrow for quarterly cleaning.....got to protect those chompers,

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana.

06-27-07

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

Today's Weather for:  
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      6/27/2007 

Sundown Fire Dept., Station 23
 
Heat Index:  82°F
Humidity:  99%
Dew Point:  76°F
 
So Far Today
High:  77°F
Low:  76°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  8mph SSE
 
Today  High: 92    Partly sunny with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Southeast winds around 10 mph. 
 
Tonight  Low: 72    Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening...then slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the lower 70s. Southeast winds around 10 mph in the evening becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.

[Cox 47]

Good Morning All.....Its cloudy here this morning maybe some more rain today....I hope to get some train time in latter...got the new Model Railroader DVD yesterday and I want to watch that latter.....Its just about time for them to pick Sallie up and I think I'll grab a nap after she leaves...Hope you all have a good day....Jerry

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning, Zoe - I'll have some of those pancakes with strawberries like Jeff has, please!

Cooled off last night pretty well, which was nice. Next, I just need the A/C guy to get here today and fix it before I get back home.

Jerry, which MR DVD is that, that you just got? One of the Dream-Plan-Build series, one on scenery, or something else? (Inquiring minds, and all that... )

Time to eat my breakfast and then head off for the 'W' thing - you remember, Paul? That place they pay you to go to on Monday through Friday?

Prayers for all in need today (that's a lot of us and our loved ones), and those in need of strengthening and comfort (that'd be the rest of us, yes?).

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[SilverSpike]

Good morning folks!

Still playing catch up since being out all of last week, and glad to see some of the old guard still making appearances in the Diner.

I just wanted to share with you this email from our cousin who is in contact with Kathleen and Kyle. And to let you all know that your prayers and thoughts from a few months ago have worked wonders:

Hey you guys -

I wanted to let y'all know I talked with Kathleen a while lastnight and she sounds like she's doing really, really well... She's still seeing her counselor every week... and Kyle is still seeing his. They've recommended some books for her to read and one is written by a counselor whose husband committed suicide and she didn't even see the signs (very validating for the readers... that even someone trained to look for the signs didn't see them....)

They've been traveling a lot with the motocross stuff... two weekends in San Antonio... now they're off to Universal Studios for a few days... then Teneessee for the motocross finals... so she's tired, but she sounds like Kathleen again... She says she still thinks about it every day (of course.) But she doesn't feel the guilt most people feel... She's still very angry at him and is disappointed (grieving?) the relationship she THOUGHT they had (i.e. why didn't he tell her he needed help... wasn't happy... etc.....) VERY understandable...

Anyhow, I thought y'all would want to know all our prayers worked! ;-))) phew - what a relief! Thank you Ryan and the train guys! LOL!

Love y'all!

~L~

Cheers,

Ryan

 

[Cox 47]

Howdy All.....Still looks like rain here.....I'll have a Diet Coke please....Got the ground cover in behind the mine this morning and the footings glued in....Thats a lot of proggress for me....

JIm....Yes its the DPB # 9....Ithink its pretty good ....Jim Hedgier has a good clinic on kit bashing background buildings....Also a good feature on Don Casler's B&O

Gota go....Jerry

[JimRCGMO]

Ahhhhhh.... Air conditioning again! Came home for lunch (and in hopes of the repair guy having taken care of things. Whole new in-the-wall unit, with energy saving and a remote (I am spoiled - thank you for the creature comforts, God).

Ryan, great to hear your news and that they're doing better (and they likely will continue, sounds like). Thanks for the report!

Jerry, I guess they're not advertising the DPB series any more. I missed the first one, and haven't been able to get a reply from them since about how anyone else can get a look see. Oh well, tell us how it is once you get a good look at it. 

Grabbing a root beer float to go, please, Zoe! Looks like we may have another pop-up shower this afternoon, too.

 

Blessings on your afternoon,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[Paul W. Beverung]

Afternoon folks: Well we had 4.25 inches Tues morning to this morning. Most of that was yesterday afternoon to this morning, 4 inches. The creek is bank full yet and all the bar ditches are running like creeks. This is the 3rd wetest June in history and will likely move up to number 2 before it's over.

JimCG: That sounds like a good deal for the club. Have you got all that in writting? I don't trust anyone too much anymore since we have been dealing with these oil and gas people.

I'll check in this evening.

  

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I had a busy day today. I got three more desks ready to go out tomorrow. My boss broke his right hand yesterday when a 1/2" drill with a 3" hole saw kicked back on him, leaving him with his right hand in a cast, so I basically had to be his hands today. Under his guidance, I built a large desk with a built-in station for a computer tower on the left end and two large drawers on the right end and recessed shelf space in the middle. That took most of the day. I finally got it all together, got the wheels on it and got it into the poly booth and put the first coat of poly on it. Tomorrow morning, I'll hand sand it then put it back through the booth for the second and final coat, then the contract will be finished. Oh happy day, I won't have to look at any more desks this year! Yippee!

[grayfox1119]

Too hot to even eat tonight..very humid, you sweat walking outside. We have storms all around us, but so far nothing here......I think tomorrow will be a different story as the front arrives from Canada in mid afternoon, then watch the sparks fly!!  This morning it was quarterly visit to Dentist for cleaning with water jet pick...I just love that thing. I set 4 more stones on the wall that I am repairing, and that was it.....I was dripping wet and with the thunder getting louder, there was no sense taking a chance of a downpour and weakening the joints before they set.

The temp here is 80F with a Dew Point of 71F and the Rh is 74%, downright Tropical, I think I just saw a Parrot.

JEFF: That must feel real good to complete that huge order.....but what makes you feel that you are all done with desks for the rest of the year? Once others see the workmanship, they will want to order some too........don't rest too long, you may be right back at it sooner than you think.

PAUL: We set our record in May, now it is your turn I guess. No shortage of hay this year Paul, unless the rain keeps coming, then you won't be able to dry it before bailing.

FERGIE: No action in the Atlantic, in fact, there is a Bermuda HIGH set up and stationary, so you are all set for next 7 days until home port.

ED: Wave as you pass overhead on your way to Newfoundland, the temps there are in the 50's, a drop of 45 degrees from olde Mexico.

RYAN: The power of prayer once again shows us the way.

CAPE JIM: I concur with you regarding AC. We have one unit in our bedroom, and the other unit is in the wall of the Family Room, both are running, and it keeps the whole house comfortable. There is such a high demand on the power grid up here due to this heat wave, that my line monitor is reading 115V, normally it is 120V on the nose.

TIFN

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JEFF: That must feel real good to complete that huge order.....but what makes you feel that you are all done with desks for the rest of the year? Once others see the workmanship, they will want to order some too........don't rest too long, you may be right back at it sooner than you think.

There are no other orders due until after January 1st, and I can pick and choose wich contracts I want to work on and which I don't. No more desks for me this year.

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: Not much since this afternoon. We picked up the new to us mower this afternoon. The store sharpened the blades and lubed it for us and they were not getting a dime out of the sale. We've been doing business with them for over 30 years. I guess they like us.

Jeff: good to hear that the last desk is out the door. Hum. I do need a good computer desk. Nothing fancy just "L" shaped, with storage above and a couple of drawers. A nice sliding shelf for the key board and a good solid top so I have someplace to bang my head when the puter drives me nuts.

Dick: It hasn't rained today except for a few sprinkles. The Brazoes river is at flood stage. Our creek is going down. There is more rain for tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday.

I guess I'm going to hit the sack and watch television. There isn't much on tonight so it may be a movie on DVD.

Good Night All