Elliotts Trackside Diner (est 1-1-07)

[grayfox1119]

LEE: Take my advice from one who retired at age 62, save every possible penny that you can in your 401K, or any retirement plan that you have. Max it out!!! The way the cost of living is rising each year, you will need $1,000,000 from all sources ( SS, Pension, Investments, 401K's etc. ) to be able to enjoy the same standard of living that you now have. Most people fail to realize, that they may well live 25 to 35 years in retirement if they now are in good health. Each year after retirement, you see your life savings drawing down and down and down until you wonder how you will survive unless you go back to work at least part time. Just sit down and do the math some day. If you need say $60,000 a year to live the way you want in retirement, how many years can you survive financially if you draw down $60K minus Social Security? Lets say that works out to be  a drawdown of $60K - 22,000 (SS check) = $38K per year from your savings and investments. After 10 years you have withdrawn $380,000!!!!! And, I have not even figured in the cost of living increases, like oil, gas, medical premiums, food, taxes, etc, etc and of course MRR expenses. I think you get the picture...SAVE, SAVE, SAVE until you retire.

[LSWrr]

Thanks Paul, Well I could be retired on September first, but if I work 10 more years I can double my retirement.  I missed the lottery by 4 numbers so I guess I'll be doing the four letter word that starts with a "W" for 10 more then retire. 

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang:

Lee it's good to see you in the diner. Besides woo, woo, woo. I can't say that word. You know that thing I used to go to 5 days a week.

I got the first section of track done. It turned out pretty well and it's is heavy. I'm going to try building the next section upside down. It will save on some of the welding and cut the time down. As it is it's taking about 16 min just to cut the slots in the ties. I've got to get all 12 pieces done by next Friday. The train show is on the 10th and 11th. Next weekend John is having a workday out at his ranch to get the 2 road crossings built. So time is running out. I still have to get the engine out of my diesel switcher and take it over to my friends house so he can work on the carburator. We need it for the show.

Well I'm going tohead out and see what else is going on.

JimCG; I hope you get to feeling better.

RT: Add my thoughts to Elliot.

Good Night All

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

 

 Jeff: You make me hungry with your posts.

Everybody:  Thanks again for the warm welcome to the "diner".

Also, for those interested,  the Grand Children Central held an operating session over the weekend. The Cincinnati crew of li'l engineers was in town for a couple of days.  Operations on my Heartland division were suspended in their honor.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey people,

Colby, that's neat that you took some time off the events.

Anyone And Everyone That Wants To Listen, I am looking at weathering my rolling stock, and one is a tank car. does anyone know what paint i should use to simulate oil spills?

thanks,

Alex 

 P.S. i'll try to give you a get some pics of my rolling stock and i'll list what i have sometime. For my engine, I have a deisel Santa Fe i know you will think that it is the junkiest engine on earth, because I got it for only 5 bucks        at a train show Colby and I went to! In fact when we saw the price on it, we thought it was dummy engine. then we to the "top" off, and found the motor. we tested it and it works great.  no one has the right to say something must be bad because it's cheap, 'cause that's not true, as I proved.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Dinner time. I'll have steak and onion today.

And I'll wash that down with a diet Coke.

Now let's give a hand to the band.

 

[LSWrr]

Evening all,

Been busy at work and haven't been able to stop by much.

Lee

[JimRCGMO]

Afternoon, Janie, a cup of hot cocoa and a bowl of your homemade chicken noodle soup, please. Oh yeah, and a large glass of Ed's oj. Got to get plenty of fluids into me and kick this (whatever - flu, nasty cold, virus...) out on its bt. My sinuses must have drained as much as half of Lake Superior over the past 3-4 days. Well, maybe not quite that much, but you get the drift). Thanks for the grub, Colby!

Colby, I feel your pain (as the saying goes) about the weekend ending (and going back to sch**l or w**k). If I haven't had a brain freeze, IM would be Individual Medley, correct? (As in: so many laps using the br**st stroke, so many with side stroke, so many with butterfly, etc.). Congrats on shaving down your time - how often do you have to go practice each week? And I'm certainly hoping they have an indoor pool for your practices...

Jerry, you might check these two places for decals:

Champ Decals - http://www.minot.com/~champ/

and/or

Microscale Decals - http://www.microscale.com/

They do have HO decals, and I would expect that they may also make them for N scale.

I got some more track nailed down this afternoon - and again, had to re-cut a filler piece that fits between a couple of turnouts. Is there a Murphy's Law about tracklaying - like measure twice, cut four times? Hopefully, these sections will (with a bit of work with the NMRA gauge and the file) produce smooth-running track. But the cars and engines won't be going that fast, since it's a switching area off the mainline, and in a town. I have a couple of places where I'll need to solder in some power feeder wires. For some places this afternoon and last night, I was using the Atlas rail joiners (that have the feeder wires pre-attached). Will need to drill holes and stuff the wires down 'em yet. Oh, yeah, I had to cut a piece of cork roadbed to widen the mainline curve on one end of the sections - not enough clearance between the two tracks the way I'd eyeballed it. Hey, it'll all be covered up when I put ballast over it, right?

Called my boss to let her know I won't be in in the morning. From my voice, she agreed I should stay out. I said I'll call her back after I talk with my doctor tomorrow. I rarely get sick - former small business owner here, and you know how rarely we allow ourselves days off...

Before I called my boss, I went by the store and got 2 liters each of Dr. Pepper (for now), and 7-Up (just in case I need it), plus a few cans of various chicken soups (noodle, rice, you know! ) I have some chicken thighs and some salmon steaks in the freezer so long as my stomach behaves itself.

We have had a bit of a windy afternoon outside - winds around 16 mph - but at least no more rain (or that white stuff). But they're talking chance of rain tomorrow, so we'll see.

I didn't mention earlier, but last Thursday I got my new glasses. They're okay so far, and I have noticed that my eyes (which I'd been having some burning feelings at times earlier) feel somewhat better. I think the frames are of the flexible/snap-back kind and come with a 'hardshell' case (that's good on both counts).

Still need to try to get some of the figures for the club's diner painted.

Take care, and remember to drink Ed's orange juice - I slacked off on it, and see what happened to me! I asked Janie and the twins to order us another couple of tank cars full of the good stuff.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[Anonymous]

Evening All.....Mostly cloudy and lite rain off and on....I'll have a Diet Coke and onion rings please...Thankyou....I havn't been in for a while....One of the kids is having some problems and thats been taking most of my time.... been mostly resting today.....I finaily got a pretty good deal on Ebay...Got a LL FA in Ann Arbor new in the box for 11.00 They share a paint job with Wabash so I am going to make it over into Wabash just by changing name..I am not sure If any body makes any Wabash decals but I will  do a Google search Monday...I also got a Atlas Illinois Central E 7 shell to make  my Union Pacfic  to IC.....Inch....Some more good pictures.....PC...I got a kick out of your "speed" bumps..Looks like some of my track work....You all have a good rest of the week end.....Jerry

[ModelTrainLover]

hey guys back from a swimmeet. I cut time in my 200 IM, and I made the qualifing time for Winter Champs in the 200 bre*st stroke, and the 200 IM, (alex knows what I'm talking bout) and I did the 500yd Free I was 6 sec off my best time. over all I did good. sadly school starts tomarrow.....

Colby

and I'm paying

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning, Janie - I'd like some scrambled eggs and bacon like Jeff has, and a glass of milk. Thanks! I'd better sit over at the table here - a bit sickly today. I think it's some kind of cold or bug; runny nose, a little coughing, sore throat (post-nasal drip down the back), and this morning I was running a couple of degrees fever. No nausea or Montezuma's revenge though - thank Heaven for not having that! Bad part is, I doubt this will go away by tomorrow (I'm hoping to be able to reach my doctor in the a.m. to see about getting in), so I guess at work they'll get to find out why they really need another therapist besides me on a full-time basis to cover crises and walk-in clinic. I rarely get sick, but this thing started with the nose runs on Friday, some coughing on Saturday, and the fever today. Anyway, will need to rest up and get lots of fluids in me today. I opted not to go to church or small group and share this with them - I don't think they'll mind.

Got more track nailed down yesterday - but had to pull up and re-do a couple of places. Still have my back industrial tracks to finish, and if I feel well enough, I'll do it this afternoon. Then sit in bed and read RR mags until suppertime.

Inch - nice photos! That looked like some major loco power there, and good shots of the signals (even if it was cloudy).

Sue and Chuck & Kathy, good to hear from our Northwestern contingent. Chuck, sorry to hear about the hand, but hope it will improve for you. I snuck a taste of the cheesecake when Janie was busy - tasted good! Good luck with your projects. Sounds like up there you get a fair amount of snow if you're up the mountain any.

Time for me to head home before I infect Janie or anyone else in here. Take care, and we'll see you later in the day (if I don't take a nap - I'm almost like a ROF today...)

Janie, you probably better use disinfectant on the table and this area after I get gone.

 

Blessings and prayers for all those ailing (including me),

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[grayfox1119]

RT: I forgot to add this song for Elliot.....it is so touching, and so appropriate for him. Please send this to those who can get this song to him by Patsy Cline.... ( Mountain Railroad )

http://heavens-gates.com/patsycline/lifesrailway.html

[grayfox1119]

Good morning everyone, just got back from an annual train show over at the Auburn, Ma Elks Hall, some real good buys, but you need cash for most of it ( no Charge cards ). I saw some Steward F3's for $35, and A/B set powered, for $100, Phase IV. Many other good buys also.

It is clear here today, temps at 34F, and it looks like the big storm that is hitting the upper midwest is going to slide south of us, giving us only a dusting of snow from the Mass Pike (I-90 ) northward.

RT: Please forward our feelings and prayers to that other website for Elliot and Tammy, that is really sad news.

CAPE JIM: I have had Broadband since about 1998, so downloads are no problem for me, I have 3 meg service via Charter, which is home based in Missouri I believe.

CHUCK & KATHY: Good to hear from you guys on the far Northwest coast. We still have about a foot of snow on the ground here, but with March here in 4 days, the Equinox is just around the corner and that Spring sunlight will melt this fast. Glad to hear you guys are doing well, just watch the Carbs, they are the #1 cause of Diabetes issues.

PC: Hope your feeling better Philip, this is the toughest time of the year for colds, Flu, coughs, sinus infections, you name it, Feb and March are the worst months, once we get into April, we should be home free. Keep drinking Ed's OJ !!!!!! And take hot showers to kick start your immune system!!.

 Time for lunch...talk later guys,

[pcarrell]

PC, hope your wifes feelin betters and they got the meds figured out.

Thanks!  Yeah, the coughing is still going on, but it's better.  To be honest, she just needs to stop coughing long enough to get some sleep.  That would help a bunch.  As far as the meds, they're still working on that.

[pcarrell]

Philip,

I have been away for a few days.  These are great.  At least the facilities are not on the mainline.

Sue

Indeed!  If there were to be a cornfield meet it could get ugly!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Those are some good shots there, Inch.

Today's Weather for:  
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      2/25/2007 
Live Conditions 6:24 AM

Sundown Fire Dept., Station 23
 
Wind Chill:  49°F
Humidity:  46%
Dew Point:  31°F
 
So Far Today
High:  60°F
Low:  51°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  9mph WNW
 
Your Local Forecast

High: 66 °F
Low: 36 °F

Today  High: 68    Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. Northwest winds around 10 mph.  

Tonight  Low: 38    Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 30s. Light and variable winds.

Scrambled eggs for me today.

[inch53]

Mornin, Coffee please Janie

Alls quiet for now with the weather, but the radar showing some more rain that might move back in later. Had a round of it yesterday, with the temps moving up an down, high winds, rain and a wintery mix.

Most the snow and ice is gone now, theres still some in the shaded areas, with the high and lows predicted for this week, it might be there awhile longer, OH well.

RT, if you hear any thing on ELLIOTT, tell him we're thinking of him an his here and wish the best for them.

PC, hope your wifes feelin betters and they got the meds figured out.

Did get some photos before the rain started. First one is from the crossing in down town Casey.

These next two are about 2 mile west of Martinsville

Those pics would have been better if the sun was a shining

No big plans for the day, just our normal Sunday stuff, hope'n to get some play time on the layout. I've got kids bout everyday this week, KC and Leroys other grandma is out of town, so nothin will get done this week other than running trains a couple times a day. Best get a moving, hope ya'll has a good day

inch

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good morning ! from Indiana.

02-25-07

[sunsetbeachry]

  HI! ALL,

Back to one hand. Not much happening here, just our usual rain; 46/49 90% rain 1/2 inch sunday 45/49 80% rain 1/2 inch ; mtns mon nite 18-30 inches of snow 2000 and obove; most of passess to the other side of cascades are above 2500 ft; I-5 south on the border between calif and or were closed for a few hours today; more snow tonite and also tomorrow; but we can get to store just 8 miles away and it is beautiful ;  sunny when it doesn't rain and that is sometimes weather guessers are not always right.     my thermometer said 51 most of the day and we didn't have much rain........

costco cheesecake have a piece all, kathy lets me get one once in a while so i'll just share with youall......may i have a cup of mud with choc , please....thank you....not much done on rr just drawing up plans for a few buildings; thenits measure the plans; and start a cutting guide;; set up the saws tocut wood and on, and on, ..............

   i'm going to try to do one step or part of step a day.

.......c.s.i. is starting so off i go to watch same

............prayers to all on our lists and massess for all.

                   chuck and kathy   love to all.

[gear-jammer]

News Flash!

 

CSX tests new in-rail speed bumps!

UP follows suit with their own design!

Meanwhile, railworkers on the job rejoice as new facilities are made available!

Philip,

I have been away for a few days.  These are great.  At least the facilities are not on the mainline.

Sue

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: Well I didn't get to the basement last night. Just too tired. Anyway today I got one of the track panels ready for welding. Tomorrow I'll wire up the welder and get it done. Then only 11 more to go. The weather didn't get real rough last night. We had a few rain drops and that was about all. I guess that Jeff will be getting hit tonight if not sooner. Hey Jeff, DUCK! We did have  one heck of a dust storm today. The wind was really something else. I haven't heard what the speed was but it was high. I've got a bunch of tree branches and one large limb to clean up.

I'm not going to say that I'm going to the basement tonight. Bad luck. So I'll just say Good Night All

[JimRCGMO]

Good afternoon, Diners! Chloe, I'd like a cup of coffee, some oyster crackers, a bowl of that chili (been cooking it up since this morning, eh? Sounds good!), and some cheese and onions to top the chili off with. Oh yeah, and a glass of milk so I can line my stomach before the chili hits it! Good thing to have for a lunch on a rainy afternoon like we're having today. Rainy (slacked off from the downpour it was earlier) and 45 F (with a wind chill of 42). One of those uncomfortable, almost nasty winds that isn't freezing, but will suck the heat out of you if you aren't wearing a warm coat or jacket.

JP, the apartment hunt is slowed for now - waiting on another apartment in that one complex to get finished with some remodeling (carpet, bathtub - wonder what kind of party they had before they left...?). It's supposed to be done around the end of this month, so I'll check back with them then. 

OzJim, sorry to hear about only tying the school cricket record - I'll have to go read up on cricket (or have someone write me a long explanation...) before I probably understand the rest. Except for 'dodgy' - I think I've used it myself a while back (and I think at that time, it had to do with a referee, too ). Have fun with building your kits while you wait for the other order to arrive.

RT, sorry to hear the news on Elliott. We probably need to add him (and Tammy) to the prayer list.

I was wondering too, how Ed and Fergie and Duke were doing. Hopefully, they are busy with good things - and that Ed's family grove hasn't been hit by the locusts! We need that fresh oj in here!

And where's Sue been? Seems like ages ago when I last saw one of her posts. We've had a few of our (semi-)regulars missing from the Diner over the past few days, seems like. 

Dick, you had a very worthwhile trip to the not-so-LHS - sounds like you got some excellent bargains. I forgot - did you just recently get broadband?

It was interesting getting laundry done this morning, and trying to time bringing the laundry in from the car so I didn't do it right before a downpour started. This afternoon, I want to see about getting the figures painted that I'll be putting in our MRR club's diner. That, and I want to get the rest of the track nailed down (and feeder joiners in place for when I get their holes drilled). Feels like a lazy kind of afternoon, though. I might just practice nap-taking - I hear that comes in handy when you join the ROF club.

Well, finished off my chili, and Chloe said the exhaust fan hasn't been working all the time, so in the interest of public safety in the Diner here, I better get going. See everyone later!

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Possible causes for your derailments:

Kinks. Check the track very carefully with a NMRA gauge. Kinks can push out as well as in.

Rails not level. If one rail is level and the other has a rise or dip, it can play he** with your loco and/or rolling stsck. I had a problem with this myself.

Curve too sharp for locomotive. In some cases, a curve can be a tighter radius than the loco was designed for. I make sure a loco can take 18" radius before I buy it. If it doesn't say it on the box and the LHS clerk doesn't know, I don't get it.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know how to clean up track so there are fewer derailments? on my layout the cars and/or engine derails every 1-2 times around. someone previously suggested that i rub my track with a block erasor. i did that and it seems to help, but it still derails quite often. i've also checked out the trucks and wheels, so i know it has to be the track.

thanks,

Alex 

[Hoople]

Good morning.

Nothin real new over here... Just playing with my Zephyr.

HA! I've only had one cornfield meeting for the week I've had it. HA!

[Anonymous]

moring guys! I have a swim meet today warm ups are at noon. wish me luck! also States are in March they are my last chance to make New Englands for my 50yd free I need a 26.6. I currently have a 27.6,

I added a couple of song to my MP3 player. Wabash Cannonball, and Midnight Flyer I put on today.

Colby

 

Good luck Colby! Hope you make it!

[ModelTrainLover]

moring guys! I have a swim meet today warm ups are at noon. wish me luck! also States are in March they are my last chance to make New Englands for my 50yd free I need a 26.6. I currently have a 27.6,

I added a couple of song to my MP3 player. Wabash Cannonball, and Midnight Flyer I put on today.

Colby

[rtraincollector]

Well guys It doesen't sound great for our freind elliott here is a quote that was posted in ctt coffee shop by chief

"Elliot has refused cemo as only a 10% more chance of survival.  As far as "reoccurance", still 50/50.  Keep him in your prayers."

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Today's Weather for:  
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      2/24/2007 

Sundown Fire Dept., Station 23
 
Wind Chill:  65°F
Humidity:  89%
Dew Point:  63°F
 
So Far Today
High:  66°F
Low:  63°F
Rain:  0.02"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  25mph S
 
High: 71 °F
Low: 47 °F

Important Message
 
Lake wind advisory in effect until 5 PM cst this afternoon. 
 
Today  High: 75    Showers and thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe. Highs in the mid 70s. South winds increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.  

Tonight  Low: 45    Partly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Cooler. Lows in the mid 40s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.

I'll have bacon and eggs today.

[james saunders]

Trent, My condolences, I know what it's like, and it's not nice.

 

PC, It's good to hear your wife is feeling better. I hope she gets through it, OK.

 

 

Looks like i've got TOTP... I'll put the coffee on for you guys, sounds COLD over there.

 

Oz