Elliotts Trackside Diner (est 1-1-07)

[inch53]

Evenin, I'll have a barley pop please Flo.

Got back from a fish fry down ta the campground abit ago and found the dinner on page 2. So just a quick stop for now.

Catch ya'll laters

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

I had a friend hit by lightning several years back on the golf course.  He survived after a few days in intensive care. Long term impacts, fortunately, were minimal (some hearing loss).

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

       The damage from lightening strikes is amazing. I hadn't heard of the electricity running through the plumbing pipes. I'd always figured it jumped to the fixtures through adjacent wiring runs. Good to know though we're not in the habit of showering during lightning storms. Too easy to end up burnt medium rare, no?

You said it! I avoid the tub and shower like the plague during a storm, no matter how dirty I am. It can wait.

[GMTRacing]

    Just waltzing through today. Didn't get the FA at the museum lifted back onto its' trucks as the towing guys need some 40,000 lb cap. spreader bars fabricating. Not sure I have the tube to do them either though it didn't come up as a question. Probably best to let them make their own out of I beam. Spent a couple of hours checking the bolts and plates on a couple of  tracks in the yard and fixing (again) the range selector on the dump truck, then here (w..k) to make parts for a Lotus 7. Right now I,m waiting for the shift lever I just bent to cool off so I can refit it. I need to piece together a headlight rim for one of the 44 tonners later and maybe rework a spike setter if I get really ambitious. No end of projects.

   The damage from lightening strikes is amazing. I hadn't heard of the electricity running through the plumbing pipes. I'd always figured it jumped to the fixtures through adjacent wiring runs. Good to know though we're not in the habit of showering during lightning storms. Too easy to end up burnt medium rare, no?

   Back to it so I can get some time tomorrow for the layout. CUL, J.R.

[grayfox1119]

Jeff & Dick, good to hear both of your lightning strikes will/have been covered by the surge protector company. I've been fortunate in that my present place has the underground power lines (just those little green boxes on the ground out in the back - or that might be the phone company's) our power comes in under the ground and comes up by the building where the meters are. Dick, as you're the EE guy, I've guessed that a lightning strike would self-ground before it got to my apartment building since it goes underground. Is that close to the truth, or have I just been foolin' myself, and I've been lucky so far?

Oh yeah, and I see I got the TOP honors today, so Janie, keep me a total. I'll be back later to settle up and/or do dishes. Be nice guys, I have to pay the rent out this paycheck.

 

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

 JIM, lightening bolts can carry millions of volts of electrical energy depending upon the buildup of electrical charge between earth and the cloud above. It does not matter whether or not the power lines, or any lines, such as Cable, Telephone, etc. are underground. If the bolt hits a the lines on the poles, it follows the lines right to a source of grounding. There is NO protective device that can withstand a direct hit of a high energy bolt of lightening. Just look at substations with all their lightening rods and grounding, ey they still get hit, and get knocked right off line. The best way to protect any of your electrical appliances during an electrical storm, is to UNPLUG them. We had a terrible storm years ago, and we live on a hill at 1000 feet elevation. I thought the house was going explode the thinder was so loud and lightening was hitting all around us. I have an electrical transfer switch that I installed back in 1967 when I built this house. The intended purpose was to use a generator for power outages. By code, you must prevent the generator from backfeeding out onto the lines so that you don't kill a lineman on the poles, so I have to physically throw the knife-switch to the generator position which cuts me off from the outside power company. I was able to throw this switch during this bad storm, and several more over the years, to isolate my house from the powerline and therefore any possible damage from hits on the powerline.

Lightening can hit water lines, and follow them right into your home. Have you ever wondered why they tell you not to take a bath/shower, or use the sink with running water during an electrical storm? The pipes are buried in the ground, yet people have been killed in their homes by electrical charges that followed the water lines. And they are grounded aren't they! There're buried 4 feet deep!!!

The bottom line...lightening bolts can split trees in half, cause them to burst into flames, etc. That takes tremendous amounts of energy. Nothing is safe when a lightening bolt hits it's target. We can only do just so much, but by following accepted safety rules, we can really cut down the possibility of damage or injury.

FERGIE: The eyes of the satellite will be checking you out this summer!!! LOL

[cheese4432]

I'll have some of those delicios looking cinnamon buns and some waffles with rasberry syrup. To drink? oh I'll have some apple juice.

I've been enjoying the reviews how about you fellows?

anyways after I'm finished with reviews Ill have to get the supports all cut up and placed then bynext week all the track will be down permanently!.

[ChessieFan13]

good morning all!

Its after work for me just finished up a 12 hour shift.  Thought I stop in and say hi!

Got nothing planed today except sleep if Im not on this thing for the next 5 hours

J.W.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff & Dick, good to hear both of your lightning strikes will/have been covered by the surge protector company. I've been fortunate in that my present place has the underground power lines (just those little green boxes on the ground out in the back - or that might be the phone company's) our power comes in under the ground and comes up by the building where the meters are. Dick, as you're the EE guy, I've guessed that a lightning strike would self-ground before it got to my apartment building since it goes underground. Is that close to the truth, or have I just been foolin' myself, and I've been lucky so far?

Our telephone lines here are all underground. The lightning hit that little box on the side of the building.

[Fergmiester]

Good Morning All

Another cold day on the Briny Ocean Tossed. Shaken but not stirred. Not a bad day out here 2-3 metre seas, picked up and dropped another mooring in 2000m+ water.

Anyway we're here!

Garry: They will be 2-10-2's as the available clearance was a tad too short. I can live with that as this will be grunters on the spur lines hauling ore. I changed the trailing trucks to something I prefer and I'm happy with the results.

Dick: Real time imagery eh?!  Wait till summer and you may catch us sunbathing.. Hubba Hubba!

Well I'm ready for clear coating and after that will be assembly and just in time to pack up and head home.

 

Anyway I must run

fergie

[JimRCGMO]

Good morning, Diners! Janie, I brought some cinnamon rolls in (hide the extras so the late-risers can have some too).

I'll have one of those, plus some waffles, cup of coffee and a glass of Ed's OJ, please.

 

Have some fog this morning, but the rain might have stopped here. Supposed to hit the mid-80's (F) today (about 29 C.), and it's 67 F with 93 percent humidity currently and no wind.

Since it's Saturday, laundry to be done. Then I'll need to do some sorting, reorganizing and tossing of stuff that's been boxed up way too long. Oh yeah, need to vaccuum and clean the bathroom (oh, whoopee...). It is payday - just checked my bank account online and it's in there. (Does a quick happy dance....

Jeff & Dick, good to hear both of your lightning strikes will/have been covered by the surge protector company. I've been fortunate in that my present place has the underground power lines (just those little green boxes on the ground out in the back - or that might be the phone company's) our power comes in under the ground and comes up by the building where the meters are. Dick, as you're the EE guy, I've guessed that a lightning strike would self-ground before it got to my apartment building since it goes underground. Is that close to the truth, or have I just been foolin' myself, and I've been lucky so far?

I'm also going to make myself get the dining room table cleared off so I can solder those leads on - you know, guys, the ones I've been trying to do for the past week or two (seems like years...). I will get myself onto that today! 

Janie, those waffles were good! Left you a tip on the table. Better get it before someone else comes in.

Hope Fergie gets some calmer seas and the rest of us landlubbers have some good trains time today. Prayers for those with health and other concerns. I am so glad it's the weekend (and payday)!

Oh yeah, and I see I got the TOP honors today, so Janie, keep me a total. I'll be back later to settle up and/or do dishes. Be nice guys, I have to pay the rent out this paycheck.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 

JEFF: Seeing you had an  APC, you are covered by their insurance guarantee to anything plugged into the outlets that are protected.

That's right. Dell is sending out a technician to fix the system, no charge. We found out last night that the insurance on the APC will pay for ALL the lightning damage in the station. Lines, phones, everything. We don't have to pay a cent!

JEFF, lighting can do some damage. Had a strick when I was working at a feed store. Lighting hit the pole with the transformers on it, blowed one off, and fried the boxes in the mill and warehouse. Guess we were lucky it burn the place down.

You're right about that, for sure. I've seen quite a few homes and businesses get burned down due to lightning strikes. We actually had a strike that was helpful one time though. At the top of the road I live down there used to be a really flaky transformer. It hummed really load all the time, came over our radios and tv's, interferring with the signals and would trip anytime a thunder storm came around, but the electric utility insisted that there was nothing wrong with it. One night a thunder storm rolled in and within the first 2 minutes a lightning bolt hit that tranformer. It exploded and took the top eight feet off the pole. The electric utility replaced the pole and put up a new transformer and we haven't heard a peep out of it and the radio and tv signals are clear.

======================================================================

Good morning and top 'o' the day to all of ye.

Today's Weather for:  
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      5/5/2007 

Sundown Fire Dept., Station 23
 
Heat Index:  80°F
Humidity:  89%
Dew Point:  72°F
 
So Far Today
High:  76°F
Low:  75°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  9mph SSE
 
Today  High: 88    Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph. 
 
Tonight  Low: 70    Mostly cloudy. Lows around 70. Southeast winds around 10 mph.

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana.

05-05-07

[inch53]

Mornin, just some coffee for now Janie,

Still got rain forecast for here today, so nothins got done on the garden or other outside chores. Suppose to end by this evening an clear some for a couple days, maybe I can get the yard mowed atleast.

DICK,, the railfannings chances been mighty slim lately with the weather, chores, n kids, so no new pics. Still take the camera when we go some place, just not many good shots around.

GARRY,, sounds like you had a good trip, even with the weather. If'en you ever go through Terre Haute, In., theres a great german resterant the "Bierdstub" to try. Me n mother get over there every so often. Prices kinda high, but the food is great

GMT, glad ya'll found some parts, sounds like an ok outfit to deal with. Thanks for the pics too.

JEFF, lighting can do some damage. Had a strick when I was working at a feed store. Lighting hit the pole with the transformers on it, blowed one off, and fried the boxes in the mill and warehouse. Guess we were lucky it burn the place down.

Been trying to get some wiring done on the layout, but the weathers got the arthur acting up, so it's hard to get round under the layout. I best get round ta chores, if I want any play time. Hope ya'll has a gooden n stay dry

inch

[cheese4432]

It didn't warm up this afternoon But then again we didn't have to turn the fans on either so there was less nois and tha's always a plus. I finally got the up and down part fixed now I need to make some more supports for the up part of the grade and the inner loop needs some to because of the pair of turnouts that joins the mainlines.

 

For supper I'll have some waffles with strawbeery sauce and some maple syrup on the side please. For a drink I'll have some sprite and skip dessert tonight I think the strawberries will be sweet enough thank you. 

[grayfox1119]

RYAN: That Cape Jim is one smart dude, he has figured out one method we employ here at the Diner to keep tabs on everyone....Google Earth. The satellite shots are remarkably accurate. Last week we saw MIKE out rototilling his garden, we saw JEFF surveying the damage at the Fire Station, we saw DER JOHN out taking a walk, and we actually saw FERGIE's ship out at sea. BTW, GREAT PIC of you and the Queen mom.

JEFF: Seeing you had an  APC, you are covered by their insurance guarantee to anything plugged into the outlets that are protected.

Time to hit the sack, see you guys in the morning,

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: I got the railroad grass and weeds mowed and was reminded about how many ties I have to replace. I out out a car load of ties in January and haven't been able to get back to doing anything with them. Now after all the rain I have to round some of them up from where the run off washed them.

I think that I will head for bed. I'm tired and it's late. Tomorrow I'll go over to my friends and give him a hand getting ready for the live steam meet next month.

Good Night All 

[JimRCGMO]

Good evening, Chloe - Jerry still doing dishes in the back, or did he get caught up yet? I'll just have root beer float, please.   If I had one of those dagwood sandwiches like Jeff had yesterday, I'd have to save half of it for dinner!

A pretty good day at work - was doing well until one of the support staff who answer the phone said something to me about it being a "quiet day." I told her we don't say that word around here. Sure enough, few minutes later we got several crisis situations to deal with. I strongly admonished her about that, so hopefully she won't do that again... This afternoon after I got to go to lunch was better.

My supervisor mentioned to me that she'd noticed I was a bit more frazzled than usual this week. She asked how soon I'll be able to take my licensure exam, and offered some ways that they could help me arrange to do that without lots of delay, so I could do something besides crisis work. Nice that she at least recognizes it. 

I have a troublesome problem with my 'puter tonight - the left arrow keycap on my PowerBook cracked, and I haven't been able to figure how to get a new keycap on the mechanism, which makes it difficult for anything using the left arrow. Actually, I replaced the levers mechanism from a former keyboard and got that in place okay, but the keycap went flying earlier this evening, and I need to go hunt it down and try to get it to stay on (again).

Ryan, you have to remember, Dick has all that spare time on his hand, and probably knows all the ins and outs of how to work Google Earth, so he can keep tabs on your whereabouts. Well, that's unless the Queen Mum tipped him off...

Good to see that the Cardinals won today (sorry for any Astro fans out there...). 

Monday is payday, but if I figured correctly, the direct depo$it will have to be processed tonight after the bank closes for the night - so (based on my past experiences) that means the paycheck will be available in my account Sat. morning. [whew] But just in case, I have enough cash to do laundry tomorrow morning...

Well, the late news is on, so I'll head out for the evening. Prayers for everyone's weekend and good health.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[pcarrell]

YUP!

And it's about ridin' weather!

 

I see Jeff already has his scooter out!  Now he just has to work on riding it!

[SilverSpike]

Anyone seen RYAN today? I was watching TV and I thought I saw him in Williamsburg, VA with the Queen of England who is visiting the first English Colony in America, Jamestown, VA. I hope his boss doesn't see him on TV.

I Well, time to get outside to work...see you guys later,

Darn it again!

Dick, you got some kinda covert operation going on here? I mean you seem to know exactly where I am and what I am doing at all times....

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 I had an APC UPS system for my PC and the wife's, so they covered the MB. I have since found that it was a ground strike, and it lifted the ground from 0 volts to some higher voltage which caused all the trouble. I now have an APC lightening protector on the Cable line and the phone line is protected by the APC UPS system.

The surge protector that was blown out at the fire station was an APC also, the biggest, baddest one they make. It's totally fried.

[grayfox1119]

JEFF: Those Indian packs sure sound a lot lighter than those beasts that we carried through the woods, and I'll bet they are insulated better against that cold water on a sweating back!!!

That electrical strike must have really been a loud crash! We had a very similar strike 3 years ago in August. There is a high tension tower line 400 feet behind the house that crosses over the hill we are on, and a lightening bolt either hit the tower or a tree near the lines. The flash of lightening was so bright ( daytime) that it blinded me for a minute, and the thunder clap was immediate, so I knew the strike was nearby. It took out two TV's, the MB on my PC, the comm board on my wife's PC, the portable Phone, one garage door controller. There were sparks coming from several outlets in the lower level of the house. I had an APC UPS system for my PC and the wife's, so they covered the MB. I have since found that it was a ground strike, and it lifted the ground from 0 volts to some higher voltage which caused all the trouble. I now have an APC lightening protector on the Cable line and the phone line is protected by the APC UPS system.

 

[cheese4432]

Well I better hurry up with my school so I can fix the drailment problem. I'll  have a grizzly bear with a glass of water will be fine.

 

And yes I think the diner will be closed for the next two days for mainteneace.

But if you are not a subscriber you will be able to view subcriber only stuff.

[bjdukert]

Garry

Speaking of MI... Anybody thinking of attending the NMRA convention in July? I'm considering doing so.

I am planning to go on Sat for the train show but won't make the convention.

Duke

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JEFF: Do you remember fighting brush and woodland fires with pump tanks on your back? Back in 1955 when I was 16, I was a volunteer firefighter in town on the auxillary squad, we would cover the town/s between noontime and 5pm after school when the regulars were at their fulltime jobs. I caught many a bad cold doing that job....the tanks were filled with cold water, and we would be sweating bullets in the woods...the next day we have a terrific cold. Now we have tankers and miles of 1 1/2 lines.

I've done that, many times. They're called Indian packs, and I carried many a one into woods and forest fires. We carry 1,200 feet of hose on each pumper truck, 500 feet on the tanker and 250 feet on the brush truck. Even with all that it's sometimes nessacary to break out the Indian packs. Our first ones were metal mounted on backpack frames, the ones we have now are canvas and plastic. Much lighter and easier to carry.

I stopped at the Sundown fire station on my way back from town a little while ago and found that the station had taken a major lightning strike last night. It hit the service box on the outside of the building, causing the box to explode. I found pieces of it (big pieces) scattered in an almost straight line out from the building to a distance of about thirty feet. Upon examining the phone lines inside the station I found that all the connections were blown apart and the lines were melted. This is looking like a total rewire. Also their computer took part of the hit. It was plugged into the biggest, baddest surge protector that Dell sells and still got hit. The port in the protector where the phone line goes in is burned and melted. This was a really big strike! One of my fellow fire fighters asked me if that phone line was grounded. I told him the same thing that many professional electrical techs have told me. There's no such thing as a grounded phone line. As far as I know that's not possible without degrading the service. I've worked on many homes and businesses as an electricians apprentice and I know a lot about electrical application and safety. I rewired my own home when I rebuilt it and it and it passed as surpassing code, no problem. My main wiring, breaker box and outlets are earth grounded. My trailer has been hit several times with little or no damage.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello everybody

Dick......  sounds like there will be zillions of strawberry ruhbarb pies this year.  Keep on gardening.

Everyone:   Does site maintenance mean the diner is closed or what?

[grayfox1119]

Good noontime everyone.....just a grinder for me...too much do, not very hungry, but plenty thirsty...it is DRY out. RED FLAG is up for fire warnings all over central and northern New England.

GARRY: You guessed correctly , we have about 12 Rhubarb plants in the garden up back, and they take such little care to raise, being perennials, plant them once and that is it, every year you get plenty of Rhubarb, I can usually get two crops during the Summer.

PAUL: Sorry to hear about your horse.....think back 34 years to when your first got the horse, what were your doing, how time goes by so fast.

JEFF: Do you remember fighting brush and woodland fires with pump tanks on your back? Back in 1955 when I was 16, I was a volunteer firefighter in town on the auxillary squad, we would cover the town/s between noontime and 5pm after school when the regulars were at their fulltime jobs. I caught many a bad cold doing that job....the tanks were filled with cold water, and we would be sweating bullets in the woods...the next day we have a terrific cold. Now we have tankers and miles of 1 1/2 lines.

DER JOHN: Now you know you can't eat that stuff, your GL level will go through the roof, leave all that sweet stuff for Colby, he is hungry as a bear when he gets into the Diner after school.

Anyone seen RYAN today? I was watching TV and I thought I saw him in Williamsburg, VA with the Queen of England who is visiting the first English Colony in America, Jamestown, VA. I hope his boss doesn't see him on TV.

I was talking with FLIP, the fire in Florida is about 30 miles away, but he sees the smoke. I think relief is on the way for both Florida and Georgia this weekend with rain.

Well, time to get outside to work...see you guys later,

[cheese4432]

 

Is now!

It's a bit chilly this morning though I exspect it to warm up this afternoon.

 

I'll have that powered long john with the chocolate icing, with bacon, a costco size blueberry muffin with a glass of orange juice.

 

And I hope I'll have time today to fix that little up and down part on the curve.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff.....Nice weathering job on tank car ...How did you do tagging is it a decal? or did you free hand it?

That one is a Blair Line decal that I picked up at the LHS. The next one I use will be one I print myself. Those Blair Line decals are unbelievably fragile and tear very easily. That one broke into 7 pieces before it even came off the sheet.

[Cox 47]

Looks like I am buying again!! Get the apron out girls I'll be helping with the dishes...Order up and enjoy.....Jerry

[Cox 47]

Good Morning All...I'll have a cup of coffee and one of Bill's dougnuts please ...Thank you...Today looks like a rerun of yesterday cloudy damp and cool had a little thundersorm a few minutes ago.....Not doing much railroading watching some WW 2 stuff on History Channel...

Paul....Sorry to hear about your horse but 34 years is a long time for a horse...

GMT....Sounds like you got a lot of parts you needed to bad you couldn't just go down to the hobby shop and pick up a couple of packs of Detail parts LOL

Jeff.....Nice weathering job on tank car ...How did you do tagging is it a decal? or did you free hand it?

You all have a good one....Jerry