Elliotts Trackside Diner (est 1-1-07)

[SilverSpike]

Evening folks!

How about a tall chocolate malted shake, Chloe!

Yum! That hit the spot!

LOTFL  Luc, that was too funny! I've already copied that one and emailed it to all in my address book. Great one! Give my sympathies to Mrs. Doughboy.

Scott, yea, that game is just too outdated for today's children. Glad to hear you got the car back. Are you air horns still sounding like a freight locomotive?
Paul, sounds like the live steam is going to get some attention soon. March should not be too terribly cold for North Central Texas, eh!

The new camera went back to Wal-Mart. The so-called good drivers for Windows 98SE wouldn't work, no matter what I did. No sense keeping the camera if I can't upload it into my computer. I'm thinking seriously about going to Windows XP. I'm not even going to think about Vista! That's a * joke! ALL of my friends in IT say to avoid it.

Jeff, it is unfortunate that most new peripherals are not even bothering with drivers for earlier editions of Windows. I too liked Win98SE, and still have it installed on Ben's PC, and I have and still use W2K on this PC, and Monique has WinXP on hers. I even have a Windows 3.1 PC that is still good but not in use anymore, and another PC with Windows 95 on it that works but not in use either. Then I have my server running W2K Server. Speaking of Windows Vista, I just got a call in yesterday at work from a customer who just bought a new PC with Vista OS installed and she could not get anything to work. I instructed her three times on reinstalling Java2 Runtime Environment; she needed it to run one of our web based applications, and got errors every time. I think she was logged in as a general user and needed administrator rights to make the installation. XP would be a good choice for you, especially since most of the kinks are worked out now, and is a stable operating system.

FLASH...just came on the news, Anna Nicole Smith has died in Florida after collapsing at a hotel.

Dick, what the heck! Man that is really strange!

[GMTRacing]

Good Evening All,

     Still working on my CVMW truss bridge. At least it's starting to really look like a bridge. Also have been uploading a picture on rail images from my computer files (so far for 30 minutes). Don't think this is going to work and it'll be back to the drawing board tomorrow. Eventually I'll break down and get one of the kids to do it for me, but eventually they'll grow up and move out and then what will i do? I think i'll just keep trying until i hit the right combo. And to think the experts say a monkey could write Shakespeare given enough time. 35 minutes and counting...............................J.R.

[LSWrr]

Jeff:  How old is your current computer?  If you are still running a PII I wouldn't upgrade to XP. www.pricewatch.com has some good prices on XP Pro and XP Home.

Grayfox:  When I came home from Kuwait in 2003 I had to have my jaw reconstructed, been missing one of my lower molars for years and the DDS talked me into having the new tooth installed.  my gums were all cut back for the jaw work so they drilled the hole and shoved a plastic post in for the gums to grow around.  I think with everything it took 4 months to complete the job.  Now I go to the DDS and everyone has to look at the "bionic" tooth, LOL.

Well I wouldn't mind a nice blizziard here in North East Ohio as long as the power and heat stayed running.  I think it was 2003 Conrail was hauling snow out of Buffalo down to the Berea yards to melt.  Buffalo was worried it cause flooding when it melted in the spring.  I thought my buddies were BSing me so we went to the yards south of Cleveland and sure enough there were open hoppers full of snow.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JEFF: Did you upgrade to Xp yet? WHAT?? You haven't? Son, get right down to your local BestBuy, or Circuit City, whatever, and install it tonight. We expect a full report by 11 tonight!

That won't be happening for another two or three months.

[JPowell]

And, how about poor upstate New York, Oswego to be exact!!! SIX (6) feet of snow and still snowing heavily, at the rate of 5" per hour at times!!!!! And, they are expected to get 100" before this lake effect snow stops......that is over 8 feet of snow !!!!!

Oswego is no more than a 20-30 minute drive from my apartment (weather dependant) and no more than a 20 minute drive from my office.

At my office... about 1 - 1.5 feet has fallen since this began - 5 days ago!

At my apartment... about a foot in the same timeframe!

I know of some guys who live in Oswego county and they told me earlier today they woke up to 2+ feet this morning!

Anyway, just wanted to stop in and say hi real quick. Been busy at work and not feeling too good so i have been limiting myself to very few activities at night (feed the bird, feed the cat, nap till 7, shower and off to bed by 8!).

Take care!

[grayfox1119]

LEE: I think we just might convince Jeff, to upgrade to Xp, as well as any of the other Diner guests who are still using 98 Dinosaur, and, MS stopped supporting 98 back last June.

I don't have the temp post and cap yet. They stitched the gumto close it around the two surrounding teeth, then in 4 months the base gets installed to my jawbone followed by the fabricated tooth installation and cap over it attached to the adjacent teeth. I have the same thing on the other side also, it has worked well for over 15 years. I wonder if we can get a job as "Jaws" for the new James Bond movies? LOL

JEFF: Did you upgrade to Xp yet? WHAT?? You haven't? Son, get right down to your local BestBuy, or Circuit City, whatever, and install it tonight. We expect a full report by 11 tonight!

Mid Atlantic Guys: Get ready...I'm making a long range prediction on the weather. You are going to get WHACKED next Monday or Tuesday.....big storm, so don't laugh at Oswego, or Paris, New York.

10-4

[LSWrr]

Good evening all:

Jeff:  Not sure what your computer's statistics are but XP Pro is a great platform and runs almost everything effortlessly. 98SE was a great plug and pray operating system but about every year I found it necessary to scrub the hard drive and re-install everything to keep peace and harmony with the computer.  I have XP Home on my laptop and XP pro on my desktop.  XP Pro is hands over fist better than the home edition.  XP Pro is more "automatic" than the home edition.  Over the holidays my computer has switched back and forth between 8 different cameras without installing one driver or program.  XP Pro sees cameras as removable hard drives.

 MS Vista:  I'm the guinea pig in my office for Microsoft Vista; the IT department installed it on my work computer last Monday.  For those interested on how things go with it I would be happy to tell you about my experiences.  So far everything works fine but I'm not impressed enough to run out and spend $200.00 to upgrade my XP Pro on my home computer.  If you're planning on switching you should first upgrade your current computer to 1 Gb of Ram.  The computer at work is about 6 years old and running 512 Mb of RAM.  It has slowed down quite a bit.

Grayfox: I had an tooth implanted in 2004, best thing I ever did.  As I get older and start loosing teeth I'm going implants all the way around!  Good luck with yours, the tempoary post and cap are a little tricky to keep clean, but well worth the little bit of inconveniance.

Well I guess Anna Nicole won't be responding to my marriage proposal :(

[grayfox1119]

Good afternoon gents, just got back from the Dentist, had the stitches removed from the extraction last week. Now we wait 4 months for the gum to heal over, then the base goes in for a implanted tooth. I wonder if I can get a canine tooth...LOL

FLASH...just came on the news, Anna Nicole Smith has died in Florida after collapsing at a hotel.

JERRY: I upgraded from 98, to 98SE, then to Me which was very unstable, and then to Xp. Xp was by far, the best and most stable OS that MS designed. The only problem with Xp is that there were so many security issues under certain conditions, many of which the average user never sees anyway. In 5 years I never had one system crash. So please don't have questions about Xp.....do that at the very least. And, I'll bet the Digital camera driver will work with Xp also!!  As for VISTA, I have been using this system since June '06, it has been very stable, no crashes, no security issues, and there are many new video and audio features to mention a few, and it will support 64 bit processors which are now available. But at least upgrade to Xp, you should be able to get a real good price on that purchase.

It is still snowing hard on the eastern shores of Lake Ontario, some areas are now over 7 feet, and the kids went to school today!! Around here you get anything over 4" and they close the schools...what pansies.

Have you guys noticed the quality of Atlas, Athearn, and Intermountain cars lately? The detail is really nice. I was comparing my latest purchases to some made a few years ago.

Supper bell!!!!! Talk later,

[inch53]

JERRY,

I called the mall and the swap meet is still next weekend, 17 and 18'th

inch

[Derrick Moore]

<*Sound of four Big Boy locomotives stopping*>

<*Whisle sound*>

Sorry I was late for lunch. Large pizza, anyone?

  

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeffery, how's the new camera working for you? Hey, the Eggs Benedict looked really good there! We used to make them for every Sunday Brunch at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans.

The new camera went back to Wal-Mart. The so-called good drivers for Windows 98SE wouldn't work, no matter what I did. No sense keeping the camera if I can't upload it into my computer. I'm thinking seriously about going to Windows XP. I'm not even going to think about Vista! That's a * joke! ALL of my friends in IT say to avoid it.

[Cox 47]

Afternoon All.....Sunny and 14 here now.....I'll have a bowl of Pinto beans, cornbread and a Diet Coke  Please and thank you.....Sallie just got home from her Dr. apointment she has surgery next wednesday which is Valentine's day and also our 39th wedding aniversary....Not doing much today..Started another transfer caboose using a frame i had in scrap box...Havn't worked on yard office gotta check out my window collection and see what I got that will work.....Scott...Hope things work out on your car Insurance companys can be very frustrating at times but don't let them push you around....Mike..I am beginning to wonder about the show at Mattoon next week Becky told me it was on but I checked to mall site and they don't have anything about it and Coryville still has last years show what do you think? You all have a good day....Jerry 

[grayfox1119]

Good morning everyone, finallt got all the morning chores completed and few minutes to sit at the computer. I see in the news that we have another train accident, this one at a grade crossing in Alabama. A van carrying 8 people tried to beat the train and lost, 4 dead for injured. CSX is having a bad time lately.

In another incident, I see where 3 chemical tankers were lost sitting on a siding in that bad chemical storage plant explosion and fire in Kansas City!!

We may see the 20's here today in central New England, as it is 18.6F now at 11:15am, and we don't see the highest temps until about 3pm this time of the year.

And, how about poor upstate New York, Oswego to be exact!!! SIX (6) feet of snow and still snowing heavily, at the rate of 5" per hour at times!!!!! And, they are expected to get 100" before this lake effect snow stops......that is over 8 feet of snow !!!!!

SCOTTY: I had a person run a red light and hit the side of my 1975 Ford F250 years ago. They tried to get out of it. Their insurance company totalled my truck, but they wanted the truck and would give me $500. I was really upset, told them the truck was completely operative, worth $1500 because you could not buy a F250 for $500 anywhare at that time. So I went for Property Damage on my insurance, who in turn would go after THEIR insurance company. I met with my guy, told him I want MY truck, and $1500 to fix the truck MYSELF. And, ( between me and MY agent ) "tell their agent that I was starting to get headachs where I hit my head, and if they wanted to play "hardball" , they could pay a lot more in doctors bills.  Two days later I have a check for $1500 and I kept my truck. I fixed the drivers door myself.

          A word friendly advice, in keeping with what PC just stated; many of our Diner members do NOT have Cable, and therefore hi-speed internet service. For the rest of us who do.....remember those day back in the late 80's, and the 90's of Dial-up at 18kb per second, or 28.8Kb if we were lucky? A royal PITA!!!!!! Lets not fill up the pages with useless crap like repeated Ditto copy replies, it takes our good buddies considerable time to download useless crap, and discourages them from coming into the Diner.... Thank you guys for your kind consideration in advance..... the Diner management ( Cloe, Zoe, Jane )

  

[pcarrell]

Mornin' all!

Chilly 'round here this morning again!  It's starting to warm up now though.  It was -5 when I got up this morning to go to work!

Got lots to do today. 

How 'bout you guys?

mornin,

Found this over on Train Board. It's an ABC pod cast, on how all us rail fanners are help terrorist and now are being watch by the FBI and home land security [stupidaty in this case]

http://a.media.abcnews.com/podcasts/20070206brianross.mp3

Reckon we'll be on a terrorist watch list now. At least I'll have some good company on the rail roading part

inch

Too late....I already am!  Remember my escapade last summer?

See I was right PC on the good company part.

Indeed!

Scott, don't ya just hate when they do that?  Maybe the amount they give you to total it will allow you to buy it back from them and leave you with enough money have it fixed too?  My Dad did that 5 times with our old Mustang (1966).  It was totaled 5 times by the insurance company, he bought it back from them with the money he got, then took it out and had it fixed.  Car ran and looked great.  Matter of fact, it became my first car!

All, one last thing...............

NO DITTO TREES!!!!!!!

YOU'RE KILLING THE DIAL UP GUYS!

[Hoople]

To think that railfans are helping terrorist is

(and I do not appoligis)

B U L L  S H I T!!!!!

** All railfans give a standing ovation! **

dito tree aanyone?? (this time it's for a good thing!!

 

[Anonymous]

Good morning

Happy MRRing

[ModelTrainLover]

To think that railfans are helping terrorist is

(and I do not appoligis)

B U L L  S H I T!!!!!

** All railfans give a standing ovation! **

dito tree aanyone?? (this time it's for a good thing!!

 

[GMTRacing]

Good Morning All,

      Cold and dank per usual this morning. Hard to get enthusiastic about railyard work in weather like this. I'll have a regular and a toasted hardroll with butter please.

The bit about railfans and terrorists is silly. Each time the news reports stuff like this I cringe. Already there are bans on cameras in some locales and last year one of the museum members and some friends were detained while taking pictures trackside. The guys were released without arrest, but were put (unknown to them) on the federal watch list which made it interesting when they had to fly anywhere on business. I can sympathize as my name is the same as one on the list and I'm not allowed to download E-tickets or get on planes without going to the counter first. It always comes up - please see agent. I agree with Dick. Instead of trying to stamp us out, the feds should be asking us for help since there are far more railfans than federal agents and we are more likely to spot suspicious activity. As far as posting information valuable to an enemy, we have had so much information out in the public domain for so long that the only bad guy that might be helped is a really lazy one. Lets face it, trains run out in the open and vigilence is the answer, not secrecy. Jeff summed it up best but i won't repeat his words on a family forum (we'd put the blush smiley here if only it would work). Before I get off my soapbox, remember the immortal words of Ben Franklin. "We will hang together or hang seperately.    Time for work .    CUL,J.R.

[inch53]

Mornin, just some coffee Zoe,

Weather today, bout the same, just no snow, might make into 20's. Weather guessers think we might get above freezing next for a day or two. Seen a 60 day forecast ; calls for below normal through March.

mornin,

Found this over on Train Board. It's an ABC pod cast, on how all us rail fanners are help terrorist and now are being watch by the FBI and home land security [stupidaty in this case]

http://a.media.abcnews.com/podcasts/20070206brianross.mp3

Reckon we'll be on a terrorist watch list now. At least I'll have some good company on the rail roading part

inch

Too late....I already am!  Remember my escapade last summer?

See I was right PC on the good company part.

Nothing much going on round here. Haven't done anything as far as trains for a couple days. Best get ta chores, KC n Leroy will be here later

inch 

 

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana.

02-08-07

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: Not much here today. We burned the brush pile and grubed up some mesquite. The grubber didn't want to dig into the ground. I hung a couple hunks of RR rail on it and it worked better. One was a piece of 132lb and the other was a piece of139lb.

I did get to the basement for a few minutes of work on the mine head frame. I had just put the first piece of metal on when Mary Ann hollered for help rounding up the kittens. I'll go back for a bit later.

Tomorrow I need to get out to Clarke Gardens and see about the show coming up in March. We will be showing our live steam equipment. I'm going to run my locoomtive on compressed air. We can't fire up for insurance reasons. We may have a diesel and my steamer and the Mack rail bus running.

If I'm going to get back to the basement tonight I'd better get going. I'll see you all tomorrow.

Good Night All

[TrainFreak409]

Evenin' y'all.

Welp, got my car back; it isn't fixed thanks to AllState. They have changed their minds and am going to consider my car a total loss. I don't know what's going on, they are changing their story and offer around with me...So looks like I have a bit of a battle to fight here.

Jeff: Yes, "Kick the Can" is a great episode. It's going to be fun. This is my first major performance. I'm so excited right now. And the pictures look real good.

Fargo: I haven't been bad...Dealing with Allstate, grrr, I just want to snap right now...

J Der: The car is driveable, and now it'll be even longer before it's fixed. And yes, I am a thespian; I thought I would persue another of my passions...Acting.

Silver Spike: I know of no kids who play Kick the Can anymore...We played it one day just for the helluvit; it's a fun game.

Well, hope y'all have a good week and then weekend. I'll be around here at some other undisclosed time...

[Anonymous]

The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, two children, John Dough and Jane Dough , plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.

Hope you enjoy!!!!

Happy MRRing

[rtraincollector]

Hi all just passing thru still read on a daily bases just don't post much take care see you all later

[james saunders]

BOO!!  

Did I scare you guys? not much happening down under... pretty boring actually, except all that rain up in North Queensland...

MR News... I'm ordering the track next week sometime, 35-40pcs of 12mm gauge Tillig C83 Weathered track it looks real good. Cork and track should all be complete in a fortnight, depends how often I can work on it... Looks like you guys up over are getting some wild weather!! Tornados one week, snow the next...

 
Gotta run,

 
Oz
 

[SilverSpike]

Good afternoon!

Not much to report from my neck of the woods.

Oh, it was 11 degrees F. yesterday morning on the way to work, cold here.

I see Indianapolis was -15 degrees F and a wind chill yesterday, Phillip! And congratulations on the COLTS and the new tools for the layout building! And I have to agree with you on the Super Bowl commercials, not that many good ones this year.

So far so good, the heater is working without a flaw or a glitch. Thanks for all of you who were concerned about our "burning" incident last week.

Now catching up with the Diner from my last post on page 55.....

Jeffery, how's the new camera working for you? Hey, the Eggs Benedict looked really good there! We used to make them for every Sunday Brunch at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans.

Paul, snow in North Central Texas last week, eh! And congratulations on the official retirement! How does it feel? Oh, okay, seems like retirement is treating you well, and antiquing shopping too!

Der John, the docks are looking great! And the scenery is taking great shape too!

Flip, glad to hear you made it through that storm! I saw some of those "Train Wreck" shows on Spike TV the other day, and it is all about stupid people doing stupid things.

Scott, the "Kick the Can" episode of TTZ is one of my favorite. Sounds like a lot of fun too! Do kids even play that game anymore?

Dick, the Alberta Clipper missed us, only hit the far northeast points of North Carolina. As a matter of fact, due to cloud cover the temp this morning was 41 degrees F.

Good afternoon everyone, I see that the bosses are keeping PC and RYAN busy, haven't seen them in the Diner for while!!!!

Yep! You hit the nail on the head. One of the members on our team has taken a leave of absence for the entire month of February and since I am his backup for change management I have been quite busy. I also have been training for support on the air quality systems application since he was the designated backup on that, I have to be scheduled for a late duty shift each week now in his absence. I have finally gotten the time to catch up with the Diner.

Attaboy, sorry about the computer issues! Glad you are back up and running again!

Sunset, glad to hear you and Kathy are doing well!  

BTW, I thought this was a no smoking facility!!!!

Cheers,

Ryan

P.S. Duke , got any pie left over there in the corner booth?

[sunsetbeachry]

 HI ALL:

 Jerry: I have been using all sorts of different things to build with since I was a kid . Dad started me with shirt board thats the kind of stuff that came with his new white shirts. Used corragated for floors and he would bring home from work some very fine veneer that was used on baby beds over plywood this is the 50's and late 40's .He taught me how to slice thin wood with a steel straight edge and my pocket knife, and after mom fixed my fingers a few times and I wound up going to the ER a few times I learned how not to slice my fingers up!!!!!   I now use a tool just for slicing wood stips and still have all my fingers left .  We usually buy balsa in 1/16 and 1/8 by 4" and 3' also bass wood sometimes I can get cedar at home and also alder, I've gotten maple,ebeony and some other strange woods from the cuttings left over from the cabinet maker that lives next door and borrows some of my tools and help at times. And this is fun being able to match the insides of a building as it really is.

 ALL; The drs are having fun with us nowadays Kathy and I have both had our yearly physicle [ spelling police ] . She has had some of her meds changedso have I, more of one thing less of another spent all day and part of today at clinic ,thats enough clinics untill next month . Well I'll drink my coffee here in the corner light another butt and relax because Kathy is sleeping for awhile.

Prayers for all..........chuck

P.S.  FERGIE how is your Dad doing and the same with your new building????? We both hope all is well....

[Cox 47]

Good Afternoon All....Mostly cloudy and a little warmer here.....I'll have a pork burger onion rings and a diet Coke ...please  thank you....So we are all terroists now!! I guess I been one since i was about 4 years old and I have no plans to stop now!!..I laid the walls out for the little yard office in the new RMC....May get doors and windows marked in latter....I have a nice piece of cardstock that came out of a candy box from Christmas gotta check and see if I got enough Balsa to brace inside...I forget how easy card stock is to work with...If you havn't tryed it you oughta.....There is a great post out on the main page about those of us who love to pick up others treasures [from their junk box] and try to get it running and back in service...Well I'll just set here and sip this diet Coke and see who comes in...You all have a good one ....Jerry

[grayfox1119]

Good afternoon everyone, I see that the bosses are keeping PC and RYAN busy, haven't seen them in the Diner for while!!!! Another cold day here in Central New England, 17.8F, wind chill at 5F, clear skies, wood burner at full throttle.

JEFF: Real fine job with that F unit!! You are quite an artiste' Are you staying warm down there in Louisianna?

Model Train Lover: Don't get your coal wet, there are those in this country that thrive on getting  out of control and overboard whenever the threat of terrorist arises. The true fact is....Railfans are the BEST deterrant that this country has against terrorism on the rails because we provide many more eyes than the authorities could ever hope to have. "We" are Homeland Security!!!!

DER JOHN: Ok John, now that you have delivered all those dogs in Cloe's trunk of her car,  she said "you can go clean on the dog poop out of her new car!!!" LOL

Back to layout, see you guys later,

[jeffrey-wimberly]

To think that railfans are helping terrorist is

(and I do not appoligis)

B U L L  S H I T!!!!!

** All railfans give a standing ovation! **