Elliotts Trackside Diner (est 1-1-07)

[JimRCGMO]

Hi, Diners - just stopping in for a cup of coffee (too early for lunch yet).

Clouds have been coming and going here - would rather it just rain some and get it over with (we can use the rain, like some of the rest of you).

Yesterday afternoon, I'd gone through some of my boxes of buildings and scratchbuilding/kitbashing supplies. I decided I need to get working on some of my buildings before I get many more. But then again, I probably need even more to get going on the wiring so I can have power and run some trains!

Well, I'm out of here for now.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[ModelTrainLover]

Afterno......................

       well I didn't get any sleep last night. fell asleep at 1am woke up at 6:30am 'ZZZZZZZZZ'

[pcarrell]

Hey!  What's this doing back here in the middle of page 2?

What up y'all?

(There's your hillbilly moment,......brought to you by the fine folks in central Indiana!)

[ModelTrainLover]

 

[ModelTrainLover]

This is what my bedroom window looks like every morning

[ModelTrainLover]

Y'all had better be careful when your dealing with the turbines...

Jawn Henry is rumored to have a foul temper.

Ah yes,....the Jawn Henry,.......very possibly the ugliest thing to ever ride a rail, but thats just my opinion.

 

You are not alone there! 

And now you know the "ditto" tree factor.

well what have we here?? Hey PC I thought we redid the boys and girls bathroom toliets, and this was your responsibility.

 

[Cox 47]

Evening All....Its been sunny and hot here today weather feller on TV says rain maybe tonite and next couple of days and cooler....I'll have a Bar-BQ,onion rings and a Diet Coke please...Thank You...I been doing a little armchair'in this afternoon reading new mags...Jeff...I kept up with your "test" out in the main forum and I got just one thing to say..You just got just to much time on your hands...but I can't wait for your next....and Colby...I will sleep much better knowing what your bedroom window looks like in the morning again just to much time on your hands....PC...Thanks for heads up on Bachman passenger cars I think I have a couple located....Well Cards pulled one out in the 9th last nite gonna see how they do tonite withe the Brewers....well you all have a good evening....Jerry

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff...I kept up with your "test" out in the main forum and I got just one thing to say..You just got just to much time on your hands...but I can't wait for your next.

I've got nothing but time.

[pcarrell]

PC...Thanks for heads up on Bachman passenger cars I think I have a couple located.

Yeah, no problem!  I meant to get you some measurements the other day, but I spaced it.  I just went and checked, and a Model Power full length heavyweight passenger car is 6" long and has 6 wheel trucks.  The Bachmann heavyweight Harriman cars have 4 wheel trucks and are 4 1/2" long.  It's a pretty good space savings.

Here's some I found on that unmentionable site (I got mine much cheaper, and so can you):

http://cgi.ebay.com/LOT-OF-12-BACHMANN-N-GAUGE-PASSENGER-RAIL-CARS_W0QQitemZ260161447067QQihZ016QQcategoryZ19122QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bachmann-Plus-Pennsylvania-6-Car-Pass-Set-Mint-In-Box_W0QQitemZ230174071545QQihZ013QQcategoryZ19122QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[grayfox1119]

Good evening...another great day here in central NE, 84F, low humidity, gentle breezes. Doing all the last minute chores outside to get ready for the Winter season, it is so nice outside, that you just don't want to be inside yet.

ROB: If you have a tractor, don't worry about taking the tree down. Just make sure you have a very big rope, or chain, and connect it high enough up on the tree to be beyond the midpoint, the higher the better, but around the tree trunk itself in a slip knot. Connect it to your tractor and be back far enough from the fall of the tree, and in the direction that you want the tree to fall. Make sure you have steel wedges, at least 2. Make your hinge cut no more than 1/3 the way in the tree, on the side and direction that you want the tree to fall, and make sure it forms a nice open "V". Then, start your backside cut 2 to 3" above the hinge cut on the opposite side of the tree from the hinge cut. When you get deep enough into the tree to safely place the wedges, drive them in a bit at position 5 and 7 o'clock. Carefully continue your cut in front of the points of the wedges, don't let the saw kick back or you will dull your teeth faster than you can say s***!!! Also, once the wedges are in place, have the person on the tractor keep tension on the pull chain or rope ( make sure the tractor is in reverse, this may seem obvious, but I have seen people forget and that gets very tense ). Don't cut all the way through to a fall, just cut a little more, then drive the wedges deeper. When you see the tree start to fall, the tractor operator can just keep backing up just enough to keep the same tension on the line, you don't want to risk too much tension or the rope/chain "could" snap under extreme tension. You may have to go back into the cut two or three times inbetween driving the wedges, the idea here is to go slowly once the wedges are in place.

GARRY: Very nice scenery !!!!! Maybe you should get your layout in MRR !!!!

ED/JP: I guess you two guys are still celebrating the Red Sox making the Playoffs, and with the Yankees losing to Toronto today, the magic number is 5 for Boston to win the Eastern Division. And the Yankees go on the road, three against the Devil Rays, and two against Baltimore.

TIFN

[Flashwave]

Y'all had better be careful when your dealing with the turbines...

Jawn Henry is rumored to have a foul temper.

Ah yes,....the Jawn Henry,.......very possibly the ugliest thing to ever ride a rail, but thats just my opinion.

 

You are not alone there! 

And now you know the "ditto" tree factor.

well what have we here?? Hey PC I thought we redid the boys and girls bathroom toliets, and this was your responsibility.

 

One for each cheek.

I kinda Like the Jawn Henry actually, but the Varanda and the Turbotrain take top.

My vote for the ugliest definately goes to the M-1000. It had a bloody cleft in the front, and that gawdly brown and yellow could be described in such a way as to be innappropriate.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

DICK SAID: "GARRY: Very nice scenery !!!!! Maybe you should get your layout in MRR !!!!"

Thanks, Dick!

Actually I'm wondering if any diners here saw my layout photo on page 102 of October MR trackside photos and what they think of it.

Happy Model Railroading

 

 

[Cederstrand]

in a UP mug, please and thank you.

***Dick, I'll snap a pic of the tree in question for you. I have cut down a fair number of large trees ever since those youthful Eagle Scout days and your advice is excellent. Have never used wedges, but certainly understand the usfullness of them. It's really the way this particular tree bends, where it is in relation to our new house, and no place to pull it with the tractor (even if I had a long enough rope, which I sadly do not). I "probably" could fell it fine, but IF I blew it...

There is a smaller tree that has threatened our powerlines for many years, again I see no safe way to fell that one either. Will snap a pic of it as well for your amusement. At least that one is small enough for a skidder, although the power company prefers they fall on the lines first.

Rob

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang:

Rob if I tried to send you the 52 Mary Ann would have my head. That's her tractor and untouchable. It will do the job with the bailer. The bailer is a smaller Vermer round bailer that is rated at least 40 hp. Of course more with more hp you can bail faster.

We looked at New Holland tractors today. a new 75 hp is $38,400 with cab, loader and 4 wheel drive. I'll check John Deere tomorrow.

Mary Ann's wash house is now open for her to use. It really looks nice. The boys did a bang up job. There are a few things to do yet but she can use it so she's happy.

Time for bed.

Dang totp again. Be gental please. You all know what I'm looking for.

Good Night All

[Gryphon]

While picking up an application at CEECO today I did some railfanning unfortinately I have no digital camera or I would have pictures for us all to view.  But here is a list of what I saw.

AC44CWCTE ~ 5821 minor cab damage to right rear of engineer's side of the cab. Will probably have to replace the whole right rear side of the engine's cab.

E9 ~ MILW 36A

F9A ~ SP 630A

GP38-2 ~ HLCX 3835 Freshly painted.

GP35 ~ MRL 571

SW9 ~ 3516  Freshly painted. 

 

 

[egmurphy]

Good Evening Coffee Clubbers,

Well, we're back from the big (very big) city.  The trip went fine, no problems, the best way.  I didn't get any real railfanning in.  The closest I came to that was riding the subway.  They do have a great subway system there.  Very extensive, frequent service, and an $0.18 (yes, 18 cent) fare.

What I'm really waiting for in Mexico City is the completion of Phase I of their new commuter rail system.  Should open next year.  Phase I will run from the old main passenger station (Buenavista) up to a point north of the city known as Lecheria.  That's a favorite spot for railfanning around Mexico City as it is the main entrance to the city for most rail lines from north, east and southeast.  Very busy spot.  Getting there now by public transit is long and a bit of a pita.  It will be easy next year.  A number of the photos in the "Railfanning in Mexico" album in my Rail Images gallery were taken at Lecheria.

Not much to report.  Catch you tomorrow.

Hasta mañana,

Ed

[grayfox1119]

GARRY: sorry to say I have not read my copy of October issue yet, but you can bet I will tomorrow.

ROB: Yes, I would love to see those photos, take a longer view also so that I can get a perspective of house and the tree/s.

bon soir

[jeffrey-wimberly]

First train over the newly ballasted track.

http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q186/forum-1/?action=view&current=Mpg_0001.flv

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana.

09-25-07

[pcarrell]

Mornin' all!

Jeff, now you're cooking with gas!  Pretty soon you're going to be able to take pics of your layout and have us guess whether it's real or a model!  Lookin' good!

 

Record High Set Yesterday!  Monday's high hit 92, breaking the old record high of 91 in 1891.

SEVERE WEATHER TODAY?  There is a strong cold front that is approaching the state today, which will eventually put an end to the record heat of the past several days.  That change will bring a lot of instability to the area, and the possibility of severe storms.  Here is a map of where the slight risk of severe weather could set up later today.  Damaging winds and large hail are the biggest threats. Here is a the weather setup by this evening.

We expect to see some decent rainfall with the system as well.  Here is a map of rainfall potential by Thursday morning.

Before the storms arrive, highs will hit the middle to upper 80's.  Here is a map of expected highs today.

EXTENDED OUTLOOK: Rain chances will end Thursday morning. Right now, it looks like mild air will linger into next weekend.  We'll see, huh?

[JimRCGMO]

Good morning, Diners - Zoe, a glass of Ed's OJ,

a cup of coffee and one of those donuts Bill T. brought in this morning: 

Oh, Garry - nice photo in the October MR! Looks like the driver had better get that red car moved out once they get the van loaded up with the packages that came in on that train.

In Cape G., we're getting some light rain today, and the humidity's about 89 percent, with S-SW winds at 7mph. Supposed to reach 80 F today, so could get a bit muggy, eh? But the gardens and crops in the area can use the rain (today and tomorrow is the same forecast, though a little cooler for tomorrow's high - 77 F).

Time to get going - I have to take the car by the mechanic's this morning and get a ride to work. I swapped my on-call to Thursday, so if they have to take a couple of days to fix the turn signal switch, I should still have the car back in time.

See everyone later!

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

Today's Weather for:  
Leesville, LA  71446-6114      9/25/2007 
 
Heat Index:  80°F
Humidity:  89%
Dew Point:  72°F
 
So Far Today
High:  75°F
Low:  73°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  6mph ESE
 
Tuesday  High: 85    Mostly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms likely. Highs in the mid 80s. Light and variable winds. Chance of precipitation 60 percent. 
 
Tuesday Night  Low: 68    Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Light and variable winds.

[pcarrell]

C'mon now guys!  Thats two days in a row that I've picked this up off of page two!

[GMTRacing]

Good Afternoon All,

   Guess everyone's busy at w..k as we're one post off page two again. Still buried with jobs at the shop and getting ready to leave for Danville Thurs early. Oldest son is taking half day off tomorrow to go see the Mets butI'll stay here trying to catch up. Time to get back to it and get stuff done.  CUL, J.R.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Did I hear the dinner bell, by chance?  I'm ready!

Jim CG wrote: "Oh, Garry - nice photo in the October MR! Looks like the driver had better get that red car moved out once they get the van loaded up with the packages that came in on that train."  THANKS JIM!  BTW, the bus has full interior with seats, gear shift lever, brake lever, steering wheel, and people.

Dick has a thread entitled, "Has anyone taken this RR trip?" pertaining to the Rocky Mountaineer in western Canada.  I posted photos of our 2002 trip on the train just now. Any of you who may be interested in seeing the pictures may look at the thread.

 

[Cederstrand]

in a Southern mug this evening, Please & Thank You!

***Dick, the first 2 pics are of the tree by our new house. The second is of the power line threat (much greater lean than the photo captures...note insert showing strait lamp post and lean of power pole...then look at the tree). Last is of an old tree we allow to fall one branch at a time because it is surrounded by fences and out buildings.

 

My foot is still sore from the horses trampling over it (well, one hoof caught me good). Looks pretty today, like a paint pallet. My own fault for not paying attention. That hasn't happened in many years. Thank goodness it's just soft tissue damage...don't have time to break anything these days.

Rob

[inch53]

Evening, just coffee Cleo I've had supper already.

Getting some much needed rain here finally, to late to help any crops, but it will help the when it's time to sow winter wheat in a couple-3 weeks maybe. It'll slow harvest down a couple days maybe, but it's so dry it won't hurt much.. From what I've heard the yields are mostly average to above, so looks like a good year even with the weather.

I haven't been round much, been busy with kids n chores and thought I'd stop in n catch up some and post a couple pics from last weekend. First is from the Paris yard.

This one another pusher on a coal drag at Cline Orchard crossing

ROB,, what DICK said bout dropping trees is the way I do them. Only I use plastic wedges or I make them out of oak 2x4, they're a lot nicer to saws. From the pics of the trees by the house and the dead one wouldn't be to bad to get down safely. The one by the power line would be their problem.

Best get going, I've been watching ken Burns documentary; the war on PBS and it's on now. Mother hates it when I watch them, but I do it anyway. Hope ya'll has a gooden n stay safe

[pcarrell]

Recently, a large corporation hired several cannibals so as to increase
their diversity. "You are all part of our team now," said the Human
Resources rep during the welcoming briefing. "You get all the usual
benefits, and you can go to the cafeteria for something to eat. But,
please don't eat any employees!" The cannibals promised they would not.

Four weeks later their boss remarked, "You're all working very hard and
I'm satisfied with your work. We have noticed a marked increase in the
whole company's performance. However, one of our secretaries has
disappeared. Do any of you know what happened to her?" The cannibals all
shook their heads, "No."

After the boss left, the leader of the cannibals said to the others,
"Which one of you idiots ate the secretary?" A hand rose hesitantly.

"You fool!" the leader continued. "For four weeks we've been eating
managers and no one noticed anything. But NOOOooo,
you had to go and eat someone who actually does something!"




A favorite website of mine...... http://bored.com/getannoyed/office.htm





UNDERSTANDING WOMEN
(A MAN'S PERSPECTIVE)
I know I'm not going to understand women.
I'll never understand how you can take boiling hot wax,
pour it onto your upper thigh, rip the hair out by the root,
and still be afraid of a spider.




Did you ever wonder what a husband does while he is in a store waiting on his wife to shop? Read on.......

Dear Mrs. Fenton,

Our store is considering banning your family from ever shopping with us again, unless your husband stops his antics. Below is a list of offenses over the past few months ... all verified by our surveillance cameras.

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the restrooms.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone, "'Code 3' in House wares!" ... and watched what happened.

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and asked to put a bag of M&M's on lay away.

6. September 14: Moved a "CAUTION - WET FLOOR" sign to a carpeted area.

7. September 15: Set up a camping tent in the sporting goods department, and told other shoppers he'd invite them in if they'd bring pillows from the Bedding department.

8. September 23: When a clerk asks if they can help him, he begins to cry and asks "Why can't you people just leave me alone?"

9. October 4: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror, and picked his nose.

10. November 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, asked the clerk if he knows where the antidepressants are.

11. December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously loudly humming the "Mission Impossible" theme.

12. December 6: In the auto department, practiced his "Madonna look" using different size funnels.

13. December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled "PICK ME!, PICK ME!"

14. December 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumes the fetal position and screams "NO! NO! It's those voices again!!!!"

...and last but not least

15. December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door and waited a while; then yelled very loudly, "There is no toilet paper in here!"






The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but
shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more,
but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and
smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees
but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more
problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too
little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too
tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. ;We have
multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much,
love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to
life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but
have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor We conquered
outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better
things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the
atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more,
but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build
more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than
ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small
character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of
two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are
days of quick trips , disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night
stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to
quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window
and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this
letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this
insight, or to just hit delete...
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not
going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because
that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the
only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but
most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes
from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person
will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the
precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments
that take our breath away.


George Carlin






Shown below, is an actual letter that was sent to a bank by a 96 year old woman. The bank manager thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times.

Dear Sir:

I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it.

I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire salary, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years.

You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of a penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank.

My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that whereas I personally attend to your telephone calls and letters, when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has become.

From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person.

My mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank, by check, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate.

Be aware that it is an offense under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope. Please find attached an Application Contact Status which I require your chosen employee to complete. I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative. Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof.

In due course, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me. I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modeled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Let me level the playing field even further. When you call me, press buttons as follows:

1. To make an appointment to see me

2. To query a missing payment.

3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.

4. To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping.

5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.

6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home

7. To leave a message on my computer, a password to access my computer is required. Password will be communicated to you at a later date to the Authorized Contact.

8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 7.

9. To make a general complaint or inquiry. The contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service. While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.

Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.

May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous New Year?

Your Humble Client

(Remember: This was written by a 96 year old woman. Bless all seniors






I'll go back in my corner now........

[jeffrey-wimberly]

[egmurphy]

Good Evening Coffee Clubbers,

Another beautiful, if slow and hot, day down here in Paradise.    Not much to report, no progress on the layout, a bit of railroad related reading did get accomplished.

Probably the most exciting thing today was that   Fran made her first Key Lime Pie, using limes from our own grove.  Turned out great!  I'm enjoying a piece right now    along with some good hot coffee (from the mountains of Veracruz, of course).

Gary:  I'm wondering if any diners here saw my layout photo on page 102 of October MR trackside photos and what they think of it.

What is this "October MR" of which you speak?    Oh, yeah, forgot that you people NOB get your issue the month before.  By the time "Burro Express" gets my copy to me it will be around the 10^th of next month.  But I'm looking forward to seeing the photo.

Dick - a rail trip in Canada, on the Rocky Mountaineer no less!!!  I'm envious.  I've heard and read great things about the trip.  Way out of our budget, I'm afraid.  I look forward to living the trip vicariously through your photos.

Hasta mañana,

Ed