Elliotts Trackside Diner (est 1-1-07)

[james saunders]

Evening guys,

I pulled my calf muscle this afternoon playing cricket, man it hurt. Still does. And lucky me living in a two storey house and having my bedroom upstairs.

Oz

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana.

07-21-07

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

     Regular and a short stack with blueberries and syrup plus some of Eds' oj please .

     Back in the shop this morning to do some more catch up. The Order Of The Phoenix was pretty good last night though a bit different. A lot less plot development and a lot more action but you really had to have read the book to understand all you were seeing.

     Did go to the LHS yesterday looking for metal wheel sets for the uNseeable display at the museum. They didn't have any - does anyone know who makes replacement metal wheels for the N trucks? Just changing all the rolling stock on the display will cut a  lot of the dirt issues on the track. Probably need to get 100 or so as half the passenger cars and most of the older freight cars are on plastic.

     Looks like another nice weather day - I'll try to get over to the museum yard later and get some w..k done there. Plus I owe Ryan some pics of the pits. Have a goodun'.  CUL,J.R.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

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

Today's Weather for:  
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      7/21/2007 
 
Heat Index:  77°F
Humidity:  95%
Dew Point:  70°F
 
So Far Today
High:  73°F
Low:  71°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  3mph S
 
Today  High: 88    Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. Light and variable winds.  

Tonight  Low: 72    Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s. Light and variable winds.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning...

Shelley and I are departing for Cincinnati this morning, and to Detroit next day. Hope she leaves enough room in the back of the vehicle when she shops the malls there because i'm going to the national train show. I'll need some room myself.

DUKE .....  On Saturday I will be at train show from mid morning to noon approximately.  I'll be stopping from time to time at a dealer called Classic Trains & Ferrari's of Paducah, KY. Bill is my friend and he has another frined who will be helping. Bill's got a fun personality and he sells a huge selection of railroad books. Also he sells dining car china and some model trains (mostly HO). He's the only guy I know driving a Ferrari in western KY.

JR ... you mention Elkhart Lake.  I was there long, long ago.

Ryan ......are you sure you don't want to cook for Detroit?

Have a nice week everybody.

[bogp40]

Good morning to all,

Just letting you know I'm still hangin' in there. Just haven't been up to posting lately.

Just been trying to keep busy and get lost in my w**k. That seems to get me through the lows. Well at least I've been enjoying working with those last antique doors and moldings (the icing on the cake). My fellow carpenters just don't what to deal with the tedious items. They know I'll do it. Just don't let them realize that I like it. The rebuilding of the good morning staircase was quite the challenge, sort of a 1:1 version of a kit bashing project.

Recently I have come to the realization of just what a toll the past year has taken on me an my children. Just got to get through it though- got to be there for my kids. Being depressed or withdrawn isn't the answer.

Hope everyone has a great day. I will try to enjoy the beautiful day we're having here on the south coast of Boston.

[GMTRacing]

Bob - Good to hear from you again. I can understand what you mean when you talk about the satisfaction in "kitbashing" na staircase and the fact that you are depended upon to do the "boring" detail work. I geet the same here. Many of the people that have been through here dislike the older cars and leave them to me. I revel in the satisfaction that comes from figuring out how to repair or restore things that have no parts available or are so antiquated that it takes a lot of hand work to fix. My favorite projects have been the ones that came in and everyone said there was no chance of making a good car again from what was left. Hang in there we're with you too.   J.R.

[bogp40]

JR,

I know exactly how you feel with the older cars. I am always having even some of the "newer- younger" mechs drilling me for info and advice especially about cam specs, cylinder head avail, and carberation. It is almost becomming a lost art to do the "old style" troubleshooting and/ or solve some of the strange problems that can be encountered with some of the older cars. The worst has to be the '85-87 Rottenchesters 2V or 4V. I have installed 4-5 carbs on these and they will run 4-5 different ways along with their own set of troubles. Making an '87 Monte run with the stock carb is almost an impossible task. Change out the carb/ intake and now it won't pass emmisions. Fun isn't it. My experience was with street running of Chevy big blocks, not too much w/ the 427, mostly 396/402 and LS5 and LS6 454, Mopar 318/340/360, Pontiac 389/400 both early and ramair I/II.

I absolutely love the Carter Thermoquad, many just call them junk. I say great then throw on a Holly or Edelbrock/Carter and give them all to me. I have never seen a carb that is so versitile and has so many adjustments to suit most needs of a motor. I actually still have the origional Carter strip kits for the AVS,AFB an TQ. Cannibalizing many over the years has even added to my collection of needle and seat combos and other rare parts.

Can't be done or impossible is not in my vocabulary, it may be very difficult and costly but there is always a solution. 

[GMTRacing]

Bob,

    I haven't had to deal too much with Carters or Rochesters (except for the F.I. on older Vettes). Most of my cars run S.U. or Weber and a few Solex. The old sand cast Weber DCO is a good challenge - few interchangable parts and fewer gaskets but when they run correctly - hard to beat. Lots of people get all sideways about S.U. carbs as well, but once you figure out how they work and how to "read" a needle and check it against a chart they get real easy. Usually the closest we get to V-8's are the flathead Fords or early Caddy 331's. Lots of those still use Stromberg 97's (supposed to keep them period correct) so the only Hollies we ever see are on the tow vehicles LOL. I did get to look after a C4R Cunningham at one point - small hemi V-8 and custom manifold with 4 Rochesters.  J.R.

[Cederstrand]

***Garry, how about some tape down the middle of the car, one side for Shelly's stuff, the other side for only train purchases? Enjoy the show!

***Bob, wishing you the very best during obviously difficult times. Hope you can spend some enjoyable time with your children.

No storms here today, just sunshine. Need to finish window trim in the library, baseboard in and around the kitchen, then start removing my tools from the living room so I can start preping for the wood floor.

Daydreaming of the day I can start a layout. Also keep eyeing a couple of the newer Kato & Atlas diesel locos, but have a hard time justifying buying any more right now. Need to concentrate on finishing the new house. But I REALLY do want a couple of the newer N scale engines...sigh!  

Have a great day all. Rob

[der5997]

Hi gang! Only 12 pages behind, and just passing through. I've heard from Krump, in the interior of British Columbia.  His wife's health is slowly improving, and he has asked for prayer for a member of his church, Phil Baker, who was pinned in the cab of his truck by a falling tree.  Here's what Krump passed on to  me. 

Hi John (and the Train guys),  Hi Lynn (for BT distribution)

this is a prayer request from within our church here in Salmon Arm.  The note below explains the current circs - written by Phil's sister.

Last weekend in a strong wind storm in Kamloops, a large tree toppled and landed directly on the cab of the pick-up that Phil was driving.  The two young boys in the vehicle with him had relatively minor injuries.  I heard about this on Sat and we have been praying since.

Tonight (Fri) is critical for Phil Baker as he clings to life.  Medical staff are considering (another) surgery within the next 12-15 hrs, in order to save his life.  This is overwelming his young wife and extended family.

Phil and his wife (both late 20's- early 30's) have children under 10 yrs old.

We pray that there is improvement through the night, but this is a very difficult time.  God is in control, though we may not understand what is happening.

This is a general (global) prayer request that you may share with your church family.

Corwin and Christina Kruk
Salmon Arm

I've just written to Krump to ask for an update, as the "crisis" night was last night (Friday).  I'll get back as soon as I hear anything extra from him.

Grandsons go home tomorrow, but that doesn't mean more mrr time, as there's way too much yard and museum work getting inn the way.  It would be good if we could see the sun sometime soon, but the forecasters say not.

TTFN. 

[rtraincollector]

Well will finish uo packing in the morning then heres what looks like what will be what for the next week anyway

Well all my plans are as follows monday about noon take cable boxes back to cable company (that means taking modem out of putor and the box on desk for it so that will be the end of me coming in for a while)

tuesday go get truck to move rest of stuff.

wed drive to Newport, TN and start off load.

Thursday finish off load.

Friday take truck to knoxville to turn in. call budget to come and get me. rent car to drive back to VA. to get my truck (to big to tow behind theres and CFO doesn't drive)

Saturday Drive back to Tn.

Sunday pass out for the day.

Monday try to find unemployment office in newport start looking for a job using the VET Rep thats there.

When I find the library I will try to get back on line and say hi. Will call a inch to let know whats going on and let him update you all.

[gear-jammer]

Good evening. Coffee please.

We think that we have youtube figured out.  Here is my attempt to share.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pO1fjQDLFLc 

Hope it works.  Sue

[jeffrey-wimberly]

All I get is 'Page cannot be found'.

[gear-jammer]

All I get is 'Page cannot be found'.

Jeff,

Try again.   I we have been fiddling with this all day. Sorry.

Sue

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Got it. It's working fine now. That's a good looking loco.

[ModelTrainLover]

Hey guys!

Friday Muggle Fest. Went for trains. NOT Harry Potter.

Muggle Fest was SOLD OUT!! 5,000 tickets for the event were sold.

Oh Boy!! Should you guys have seen how many people rode the Hogwarts Express (Thanks to MNGRR). The consist was Monson 0-4-4 #4, 2 coaches, 2 open-air cars and the caboos. Hogsmeade station (Cutter St. RR crossing) was loaded with people, and every trains from there to Platform 7  3/4 (Portland Co. Station, and home termanial) was full. 

  First run from Hogsmeade Station, just as the train is leaving. CRASH!! somebody in the coach in front of me had broke a window because they tried to open it, and there was nothing to hold it open. Thankfully the glass broke out and not into the car.

Many people had to wait 2 or 3 trips before they could get on board. All volinteers who were car hosts had to stand on the platform of the car they were on.        Small children had to sit of their parent's lap so there would be more room. We (being the train crew) had to turn away a group of 36 for 2 trips because the train was so full, and we even told them that they would be the first ones on the train and graninteed a car when the train got back 15 min later. Train pulled up. No group.

  The best part was when I got to fire Monson #4. I had a exelent teacher in the cab, and my friend that I saw at North Conway was also in the cab. I need to work on shoveling coal into the firebox quickly and put the coal on dark spots. Over all I did great and I gave the fireman a break. Can you say cheep teenager labor? it's enjoyable labor

My mom took these of me.

Ringing the bell while checking the fireman's side of the train for problems

Watering the tender. When the water first came on I didn't have the hose far down enough and the end flapped back and forth. It was an experience.

Yes. I'm shoveling coal and checking the pressure gauge.

When it was all said and done, the Hogwarts express moved over 4,000 people, from 1pm to 10pm.

[Cederstrand]

NICE! 

Better leave my old Rivarossi Mallet in it's box where it can't see or hear that gorgeous new PROTO of yours. Now that would be an especially fun locomotive to have and run. Like all those coal cars, too. Some sure are piled high.  Enjoy! (made me drool on the keyboard)

Rob

[rtraincollector]

Very nice Sue almost wants me to concider ho instead of O lol NOT!!!!!.

But still very nice.

[pcarrell]

Evening all!

Been battling computer problems all day.  Kids downloaded some nasty stuff.  Keep tellin' them to not download things, but oh well.

Hang in there Bob.  Each day will get just a little better.

Sue, you've gotta stop that!  You're going to make me sell all of my N scale stuff to buy HO, and my wife isn't going to be happy about the bill!

[der5997]

Good evening Diners: I got to talk to one of the service chaps from the phone company that’s also our ISP. Asked him about the high speed internet (since he was at the site of what I think will be our local hub on the DSL.) Proved correct on that, and he said he thought they would run fibre to the hubs, and use regular copper line from there to the homes. When?...by the end of the year. I didn’t ask which one.

 

JR:

Did go to the LHS yesterday looking for metal wheel sets for the uNseeable display at the museum. They didn't have any - does anyone know who makes replacement metal wheels for the N trucks? Just changing all the rolling stock on the display will cut a lot of the dirt issues on the track. Probably need to get 100 or so as half the passenger cars and most of the older freight cars are on plastic.

…It may depend a bit on what axel length you need, as Micro-trains (aka Kadee) are slightly different from Atlas. (Think Beta and VHS, except not as radical a difference.) The trucks of each are just enough different for it to matter, but I find that if I’ve got the “wrong” wheel set I can usually make it work by bending the side frame until the wheels revolve normally. By the time it’s back on the car, weathered, etc. it’s really difficult to see bending. Now, with that out of the way, to answer your question….I’m using InterMountain Railway Co. Part IRC 60050. That’s 33” wheels in packs of 12 wheel sets. Atlas has Part # 150-22020 = 33” and Part # 150-22036 = 36” Both are also in 12 packs. I expect that Jay Bee Enterprises also do them, but they aren’t listed in the 2005 Walthers, my most current source. Try online, maybe.

Building woodlands is easy though. Just use all the scrub brush left over from the Horribly Oversized display.

…yeah! Isn’t it great how well that works out? I’m doing the same on my layout.

OZJim: Ouch! Not enough warm up? Hope it clears quickly. Did your team win?

I’m still 50/50 on the DC or DCC thing… the NCE system is attractive but I’ve already got three DC controllers…

… Although I don’t use very many of the features of my DCC (It’s an NCE, as it happens), I really appreciate not having to flick block switches, and also like having the polarity of my two return loops taken care of automatically by a stationary decoder.

RT: Hope the move goes well, that’s quite the schedule you’ve got for yourself! Good luck on the job search too, and take it slow, eh? I seem to remember that you have some track-like scars that would suggest caution.

Now to plough back through the other pages a bit…..

Duke:

For those of you that have been around since the days of the old CS you will remember Bill North.

…sure do Duke, did you see him at the show?

Fergie: I haven’t got back to your medical report page yet, but the comments about your mishap point to a painful incident. Hope everything is now on the mend! BTW, how’s you dad doing?

That’s about it for me for tonight. Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers continuing for all in need of healing, comfort and peace. Crump has sent me this “no further news” update on Phil Baker this evening.

Thanks John - I have heard nothing further today, and I've checked the email several times. I will let you know. Thanks again.

[Cederstrand]

"D'oh"...thanks for snapping me out of my stupor, RT. I thought I was looking at N scale, my mistake. Sorry Sue, just know that I LOVE N, so take it as a compliment. I was very impressed with the sound for an N loco...oh well. Guess my old Mallet can come out to play after all.

Don't suppose there is any fresh coffee brewing? Still have some work to do here tonight and am beginning to fade.  Rob

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: Sue your video worked fine. I've been woundering how the P2000 2-8-8-2 ran and sounded. Nice train also. I enjoyed seeing the Milw Rd hopper cars.

Der I think that you need to de-bug your puter.

The only RR work I did today was to clear a nother 100 yards of brush on the U.P. right of way. It's like a jungle there. Actually the jungle wasn't that bad. I'm going to move over to the southeast side of the crossing tomorrow if I do anything down there. The telegraph lines on the north of the RR are in real bad shape and the wires are tangled in the trees. I'll have to get in touch with the suppervisor for this district and get someone out here to take them down. They fell across my neighbors road and they just cut them and rolled them up. They told him that they had abandoned them. I hope so, the poles are falling down and I don't want our crossing blocked.

Right now I need to hit the shower and then bed.

Good Night All

[Cox 47]

Howdy All...Just dropped in for a Diet Coke to go...Sallie and i drove down to Robinson for a Birthday party first time we had been out since March together...brought 2 of the grand daughters home with us...So gonna be kind hard to checkin for a few days you all have a good one....Jerry

[bjdukert]

Paul

The next time you see Bill Of The North tell him I said hello.

Will do and don't tell him what I said. He's mmmuuuucccchhhhh bigger than I am.

Der

...sure do Duke, did you see him at the show?

You are one week early. If all goes well it will be next Sat and maybe meet Garry too,if he happens to be at his friends table.

Talk to you later

Duke

Looks like breakfast,lunch,and supper is on my tab today,so enjoy.

[pcarrell]

*Yawn*

Just getting ready to head of to bed.  Thought I'd stop in and have some pie.  Thanks Zoe!

My son (who's FINALLY getting excited about this MRR project) and I just hung the rest of the backdrop for the RR.  Still have a lot to do, but it's looking more and more like a RR all the time!  Maybe I'll take a pic or two for you all tomorrow.

Well, I didn't realize how late it was......guess I'll shove off!

Later!

[james saunders]

OZJim: Ouch! Not enough warm up? Hope it clears quickly. Did your team win?

 I always make sure I warm up plenty! As i'm the opening bowler. I'm hoping it's just a strain and not a full blown injury.

We did win! we have now won 8 games in a row we've lost two games this season and have one round to go. If we beat the team we play next week we will finish first and go straight to the grand final. if we finish second or third we have to play a semi final to ge into the grand final, as a result i'm really hoping i'm fit for this week, because there is the chance i'd have two weeks off. I'll just take plenty of pain killers and I should be okay.

 Oz.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

My son (who's FINALLY getting excited about this MRR project) and I just hung the rest of the backdrop for the RR.

Got yourself a late bloomer there, do ya? My nephew got bit by the train bug when he was 15.

Looks like it'll be a good day to tear down my P2K GP38 for repainting.

Today's Weather for:  
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      7/22/2007 
 
Heat Index:  78°F
Humidity:  89%
Dew Point:  71°F
 
So Far Today
High:  78°F
Low:  74°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  6mph NNE
 
Today  High: 92    Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 90s. Light and variable winds becoming north around 10 mph in the afternoon.  

Tonight  Low: 65    Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s. Light and variable winds.

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana.

07-22-07

[ModelTrainLover]

Morning guys! I'll have a ham and cheese omlet

Friday Muggle Fest. Went for trains. NOT Harry Potter.

Muggle Fest was SOLD OUT!! 5,000 tickets for the event were sold.

Oh Boy!! Should you guys have seen how many people rode the Hogwarts Express (Thanks to MNGRR). The consist was Monson 0-4-4 #4, 2 coaches, 2 open-air cars and the caboos. Hogsmeade station (Cutter St. RR crossing) was loaded with people, and every trains from there to Platform 7  3/4 (Portland Co. Station, and home termanial) was full. 

  First run from Hogsmeade Station, just as the train is leaving. CRASH!! somebody in the coach in front of me had broke a window because they tried to open it, and there was nothing to hold it open. Thankfully the glass broke out and not into the car.

Many people had to wait 2 or 3 trips before they could get on board. All volinteers who were car hosts had to stand on the platform of the car they were on.        Small children had to sit of their parent's lap so there would be more room. We (being the train crew) had to turn away a group of 36 for 2 trips because the train was so full, and we even told them that they would be the first ones on the train and graninteed a car when the train got back 15 min later. Train pulled up. No group.

  The best part was when I got to fire Monson #4. I had a exelent teacher in the cab, and my friend that I saw at North Conway was also in the cab. I need to work on shoveling coal into the firebox quickly and put the coal on dark spots. Over all I did great and I gave the fireman a break. Can you say cheep teenager labor? it's enjoyable labor

My mom took these of me.

Ringing the bell while checking the fireman's side of the train for problems

Watering the tender. When the water first came on I didn't have the hose far down enough and the end flapped back and forth. It was an experience.

Yes. I'm shoveling coal and checking the pressure gauge.

When it was all said and done, the Hogwarts express moved over 4,000 people, from 1pm to 10pm.